ABOUT | October 2015 by ABOUT the River Valley Magazine

tracking a legend

Reflecting the Character of the Arkansas River Valley October 2015

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October 2015 8 Tracking a Legend

As an autumn breeze filters through oak leaves on the cusp of turning the tired green of late summer to autumn russet, we embark on a search for the legend.

14 Every Day Life

Kaleidoclasm

Daniel Freeman started making art as soon as he could hold a pencil. He honed his trade at the Memphis College of Art, and has now brought his talents and passion back to the River Valley.

22 It's Chilly/Chili Time

28 24th Annual Downtown Fall Festival

38 2015 Pope County Fair Photo Gallery

Can you still smell funnel cakes and candied apples, buttered popcorn and cola? Once again, the Pope County Fair was fun for all ages, and we've got a few memories for you.

Backyard Living

44 Liar's Bench

Cover Illustration by DANIEL FREEMAN

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ABOUT...the River Valley | October 2015

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October 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley

A PAGE FROM

The Editor’s Notebook

ABOUT

Ah, October… how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

the River Valley

I love the crisp mornings and lengthening shadows. I love the colors, from a brilliant azure sky wiped clean after a cold front to the crimson and ochre forest with accents of evergreen scattered throughout. I love the smell of the forest floor covered with leaves and the anticipation that every twig snap brings. I love the smell of pumpkins and that first spicy spoonful of chili because it’s been nearly eight months since my last spoonful of chili, and well partner, that’s been too long. And I love Halloween. I love everything about it, and I really love the stories seasoned with a bit of Halloween that we can tell in ABOUT… the River Valley Magazine. We’ve had some doozies. Just the ones I’ve written include stories about the Dover Lights, a vampire hunting season and the investigation of a legendary haunted hospital with Duane Ledbetter and Russellville Paranormal Investigators. There’s just something about those stories that push us to the edge of science and belief, make us question the fabric of all that we think is real, that seem to resonate with so many folks. And I’m one of those folks. I love listening to the stories almost as much as I like telling them. So with this history in mind, we present another October issue with a nod toward Halloween. And I worry that we’ve nowhere to go for future October issues. We’ve jumped the shark and everything else will pale in comparison. I mean, how can you top an interview with a Bigfoot researcher searching for the beast in our surrounding Ozark Mountains? Can anything top that? Can the tales grow taller than Sasquatch? I reckon we’ll have to wait for next October to answer that question. But for now, kickback by the backyard fire pit with a warm cup of cocoa and comfortable jacket. Smell the woodsmoke. Listen as the cricket symphony bids farewell the warm days, and barred owls whoop in the gathering dusk. Watch the moon as it glides through the heavens casting curious shadows with its mystical glow. Read October’s ABOUT. Then listen for the tree knocks and ask yourself… “What if?”

A Publication of One14 Productions, Inc Vol. X, Issue 9 – October 2015

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

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

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ABOUT...the River Valley | October 2015

Calendar of Events Oct 2 — Creatures of the Night at Lake Dardanelle State Park 6 p.m. Join a park interpreter at the amphitheater and learn what animals come out when we go to sleep. We will be outside so dress for the weather. For more information contact 967-5516. Oct 9 — Arkansas Rehabilitation Services: Harvesting Vocational Potential: Honoring 25 years of Americans with Disabilities Act. For more information contact 890-5751. Oct 10 — Tanya Tucker in concert at The Center for the Arts in Russellville. All day event including: helicopter rides, color run, fair food, tethered hot air ballon rides and wing ding cook off. For more information go to www.tanyatuckerconcert.com or call 304-7777. Oct 15 — QuickBooks for Beginners (Hands on) at the Arkansas Tech University campus from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. For more information contact 356-2067. Oct 16-18 — Phases of the Moon Music + Art Festival on Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, AR. This year’s headliners include: STS9 Axe the Cables, The Disco Biscuits, moe., Warren Haynes & The Ashes & Dust Band, Yonder Mountain String Band, Lunar Landing Conspiracy, Beats Antique and more. Phases of the Moon Music & Art Festival is a multi-day camping event that will feature four distinct components: feel good music, performance art,

visual art and the Sanctuary plus an eclectic variety of activities and attractions. For more information go to phasesofthemoonfestival.com. Oct 17 — Benefit Breakfast JDRF at Knights of Columbus Hall from 8-10 a.m. Vision Screening by Lions International. Glucose Screening by ATU Student Nursing Club. No contact information available. Oct. 17 — West Central River Valley Community Band, “Superheroes 2: The Sequel” at the Center for the Arts. All of the band members will be dressed as superheroes and they will be joined by members of COBRA, a cosplay organization from Central AR. The 4 PM show is for families with special needs children and adults. The 7 PM show is open to the general public. Audience is invited to dress in costume to join the festivities. For more information call 479264-9107 or visit www.ac-me.org. Oct 17 — Paranormal Activity Tour at Potts Inn from 6:30 p.m. - 11p.m. Here’s your chance for a paranormal experience, and just in time for Halloween. Limited number of tickets available. For more information contact 567-5651. Oct 17 — 2015 River Valley Tee Up To Cure Diabetes at Chamberlyn Country Club. For more information contact 567-3920. Oct 19 — Chamber Classic and Chairman's Reception at the Russellville Country Club. Team registrations and sponsorship

registrations are now open for our first ever Chamber Classic and Chairman's Reception. Tee time is 1 p.m. Stay after for awards presentation and an open reception for our members. For more information contact 968-2530. Oct 24 — Paranormal Activity Tour at Potts Inn from 6:30 p.m. - 11p.m. Here’s your chance for a paranormal experience, and just in time for Halloween. Limited number of tickets available. For more information contact 567-5651. Oct 31 — Downtown Fall Festival and Chili Cook-off in downtown Russellville. For more information contact 967-1437. Oct 31 — Halloween Fun at Petit Jean State Park. Celebrate the “spooky season” on Petit Jean Mountain! Family-friendly activities will be provided, and costumes are welcome. Contact the park for a schedule. For more information contact (501) 727-5441.

*Unless otherwise indicated, all area codes are 479. To have your event included in the ABOUT Calendar of Events, email: editor@aboutrvmag.com or fax to (479) 219-5031. Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication.

October 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley

TRACKING A LEGEND Story by JOHNNY SAIN | Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN

ABOUT...the River Valley | October 2015

An autumn breeze filters through oak leaves on the cusp of turning from the tired green of late summer to autumn russet.

I’m standing atop a ridge on the Ozark Plateau. Carved and rough hewn by eons of wind and water, a deep and rugged hollow yawns below. “Did you hear that?” whispers Rich Goodall (not his real name). And indeed I did. A single hardwood knock thumped from the hollow’s dark

belly. It could have been a pileated woodpecker, but the big crimson crested birds usually rap with faster rhythm and more beats. Woodpeckers sound like a drum roll. This was a heavy and deliberate thud with sharp tones and woodland acoustics shaping the sound. It sounded solid. Most likely wood on wood or maybe even flesh on flesh, a massive hand clap or gorilla-like chest thump. Definitely not avian, or so says Goodall. “No, that was no woodpecker. Too much weight behind it.” But like the woodpecker’s rat-a-tat-tat, this sound was also communication. “You can hear them from over a mile a way,” says Goodall. “One knock is just like a ‘hello.’ Two knocks is ‘I hear you.’ And three knocks means ‘I’m on my way.’ If we hear three knocks things could get real interesting real fast.”

October 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley

oodall prepares to answer the knock by whacking a heavy club of dense hickory against a white oak tree twice the diameter of himself. That’s a big tree because Goodall is a bear of man, standing well over six and a half feet and he’s got to weigh close to 300 pounds. He unloads on the white oak and a wallop rings through crisp mountain air like batting practice in the big leagues. The reply is not long in coming. Two knocks, sounding even more powerful than Goodall’s, boom back up the hollow. The sound waves seem to vibrate our bones. Goodall grins with affirmation. “Nah, that’s no woodpecker.” Goodall is a Bigfoot researcher specializing in the Southern Mountain sub-species of Bigfoot or Sasquatch or skunk ape or a hundred other names and nicknames associated with the mysterious creature. Goodall’s research territory stretches from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Appalachia, west to the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains here in Arkansas. And it just so happens that the River Valley region sits between two Bigfoot hotspots — one is in the Ouachita Mountains near Perryville and the other is here, somewhere in northern Pope County, at an area Goodall made me swear not to disclose. It’s an area I am familiar with through hiking, hunting and fishing. And it’s an area in which I, personally, have observed some strange happenings. Large rocks, boulders even, are stacked in an unnatural manner just a few feet from the white oak Goodall uses as a woodland percussion instrument. The cairns stand about seven-feet tall and some of the rocks weigh north of 200 pounds. The stack looks like a monument of some sort. But on this roadless, isolated ridge it’s hard to believe a man would do this. It seems impossible without heavy equipment or at least block and tackle. And then you’d have to ask “why?” Trail marker? Memorial? Altar?

ABOUT...the River Valley | October 2015

“Maybe all of the above,” said Goodall. “But they’re definitely not man-made.” He scratches his beard and eyeballs the rocks again. “Or maybe that depends on your definition of a man.” Beside the rock towers, Goodall points to another sign — a thick vine, big around as my wrist, twisted like a wrung out dishrag around another vine. Few animals in the Ozarks could do that kind of specific damage to a vine this size. “Maybe a bear or a large whitetail buck that got his antlers wrapped around it, but it’s really too high for a deer,” said Goodall. The twist is at the eight-foot mark on the tree. “And I guess maybe an elk, but the whole thing about the antlers twisting up a vine strikes me as improbable. You really need some opposable thumbs to twist things. Only two animals with opposable thumbs in North America, and I don’t think humans or possums (opossums have opposable thumbs on their hind feet) have the strength to do this.” Bigfoot is not an individual. Bigfoot are what Goodall believes to be a population of bipedal primates in North America. “I think they probably came across the Bering land bridge like the first humans in North America did,” said Goodall. “They’re probably most closely related to orangutans, an Asian ape and descendent of Gigantopithecus (an extinct 10-foot tall ape) what with the red hair and all.” Goodall has some semi-solid science behind his speculations. He’s right about the Bering land bridge and orangutans and even Gigantopithecus. But from there the evidence gets flimsy. The problem is that no scientist

maybe that depends on your definition of a man.

has ever been able to examine a Bigfoot, dead or alive, in order to substantiate the speculations. Plaster casts, shaky video, fuzzy photos and a lot of “eyewitness” accounts make up the body of evidence for the existence of the creature. What science needs is a real flesh and blood body. Goodall believes a body will come along soon, though. “I think we’ll have a specimen within the next decade.” And that’s what Goodall is working toward. He believes a better understanding of the biology, physiology and habits of Bigfoot will lead to a solid physical encounter of the type that can be documented by science. So this afternoon and evening we’re running ridges, looking and listening for signs of a beast that most rational people don’t believe exists. Goodall is undeterred by overwhelming public opinion or science, and he notes that Bigfoot sign — visual and audible — is everywhere in the mountains of Arkansas. “What people don’t think about is that Bigfoot is a primate; it’s an ape. And like all apes they are extremely clever,” said Goodall. According to him, this intelligence in combination with a sparse population is why Bigfoot are rarely seen. “Arkansas has around 4,000 black bears, but how often do folks see a black bear? How many times do people come across a black bear carcass? The answers are rarely, unless the bears are baited, and

never,” said Goodall. “Now, think about a population of, say, 500 great apes, animals nearly as smart or maybe even smarter, in a different way, than we are. Yeah, good luck finding one.” But, their one weakness, according to Goodall, is that Bigfoot is not above the laws of physics and biology. “Their Achille’s heel, the one chink in their stealth armor, is that an animal of that size must leave signs — tracks, droppings, feeding sign— and, since they are social animals, they must have ways to communicate. This includes visual communication, like twisted trees and cairns, as well as audible communication” Feeding sign is one of the easiest for Goodall to explain. “Well, we know what other great apes eat,” said Goodall. “They’re mostly herbivores. The biggest, gorillas and orangutans, are almost exclusively plant eaters. I think acorns and other mast make up a big part of the Bigfoot diet. Plants with high sugar content, like maple leaves and fruits, are probably eaten as well.” But Goodall thinks that animal protein might play a role in Bigfoot diets. He thinks Bigfoot have some chimpanzee eating habits as well. “I’ve heard reports of them catching fawns and raiding bird nests, but I think insects are what they really crave,” said Goodall. “And I think they use tools to capture insects.” >> October 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley

His thoughts spring us into action, and we pilfer along the ridge top in the golden afternoon light looking for a specific insect gathering site: an ant hill. “Here we go,” said Goodall as he points to a pile of sticks laying rather neatly around an ant mound. “We know chimps use grass stems and twigs to capture ants. They poke the stick in there and as the ants attack and cover the stick, the chimp has an ant lollipop. Then, it’s just slurping ants and poking around for more,” said Goodall. “And doesn’t that kind of look like what happened here?” As a seasoned woodsmen and naturalist I’m poring over the catalog of animal sign in my mind. And I’m coming up with nothing. There is not a known Arkansas animal that would leave this kind of sign. But Bigfoot communication is what we are mostly relying on tonight. Besides tree knocking, Goodall said that Bigfoot communicate with chirps, whistles, growls, howls and hoots. “They can mimic just about any sound in the forest,” said Goodall. “And they use this mimicry to communicate right under our noses. For instance, they often hoot like a barred owl. The difference is a slight growl at the end of the call and a slightly different rhythm. But the differences aren’t noticeable to the untrained human ear. Luckily, I can tell the difference after hearing Bigfoot calls literally hundreds of times.” We have in fact heard what I took to be a barred owl earlier in the afternoon. Goodall was unsure about the call’s creator. The distance was too great for an accurate assessment. Screams and hoots can be explained away as coyotes and owls. Tree knocking? Well, that’s a little tougher, but the human ear often hears what it wants to hear. Twisted vines are strong evidence of a critter we haven’t identified yet. But these cairns — five piles of heavy rocks stacked higher than a man’s head — are tough to explain. Hoaxers come to mind first, but you’ve got to ask “why?” And it seems especially unlikely given the remoteness of our location. Goodall could be the instigator. But there is no sign of equipment use and, robust as he is, there is no way he could stack 200-400 pound stones in five separate piles and each one over head high. And, again, you must ask “why?” Goodall doesn’t make any money in his research. He’s not marketing a book or a career of any kind. He’s simply a man looking for answers in the wilds of our eastern highlands. “I don’t really know why I do it,” said Goodall. “I’m broke most of time and most everyone thinks I’m crackpot. The wife left me some years back because of this obsession. I’m just one of those guys that’s got to find an answer. And so far, I haven’t found much, just enough to keep me digging.” The shadows lengthen as Goodall and I lean against the ancient white oak. Sundown is nearly here and darkness creeps up from the creek bottom. Still, we wait. Nothing. A pearly moon lights our ridge-top path back to the truck parked over a mile away. Goodall doesn’t use electronics because he

They’re watching us now...they're always watching us.

ABOUT...the River Valley | October 2015

believes Bigfoot can sense them, and artificial lights are especially discouraged. We stop occasionally to check the compass by moon beam and here in the wilderness, miles from any other known soul, I catch his spirit. There is a chance, there is a possibility however slim. But then it’s gone, and I know in my logical mind that a giant North American ape is an impossibility. The bright moon reflecting off the truck’s windshield tells us we’ve made it back, and as we take the last steps through crunchy leaves Goodall pauses with one hand on the truck door. “Well, it didn’t go as well as I hoped it would,” he said. “But you did get to hear a couple of solid tree knocks.” I nod and start to say thank you… but I’m interrupted by two thudding tree knocks echoing through the Ozark forest. We decide to sit in the woods for just a little while longer. After a few more hours of primate silence, Goodall speaks. His voice sounds graveled and rough in the early morning darkness. “They’re watching us now,” he croaks. “You know they’re always watching us. They don’t have jobs and vacations and planning to do beyond the next second. They live by the wind and the seasons, by sunshine and night. And that’s why they can see us and we can’t see them. They really live in another dimension that we can’t even imagine anymore.” As the first pink rays of dawn peek over mountains to the east, I nod in approval. If they are indeed here and watching us from deep in the forest, there is no doubt as to which species is more advanced. l

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ABOUT...the River Valley | Every Day Life

Stray Cats and Expired Dogs

Story by OTIS HIBBARD | Illustration by CLIFF THOMAS

saw a metal sculpture of a cat once. When I see a metal sculpture I wonder what it would bring in cash at a scrap metal recycling center. I guess I am uncultured. Our homestead will never have a cat sculpture. Unfortunately, it has more than our share of cats. They are always reproducing. They don’t just have one baby, like our horses and cattle. They have multiple births and that may be why many cultures eat cats. We do not. Susan, my wife, is allergic to cats, but she did appreciate the fact that our barn had no mice. The allergies won out, however, so I tried to give the cats away. The market was saturated, as it always is, when one is trying to get rid of strays. So whenever I sold anything the buyer had to take at least one cat. If you bought a dozen fresh Rhode Island red eggs, you got a free cat — any color, any size, any age, just pick one. Please. I became desperate. I drove to a neighbor’s place about a country mile away. Quietly, I coasted down their dirt driveway. Without a sound I managed to open my truck door and release some cats. They ran directly toward that house with the porch light as their beacon. Yes! I was so happy, mission accomplished! Unfortunately, I wasn’t home five minutes and the phone rang. It was Shirla, the neighbor. “Otis, did you drop off some cats at our house?” Long pause, but I couldn’t lie. “Yes, that was me. Sorry, I’ll be over to get them back.” We had acquired so many strays that I was convinced families drove up on the mountain just to let their cats out. I can hear them now, “Billy, here’s a nice little farm to let our cat live his life. They’ve got chickens, horses, ducks, geese and a cow for fresh milk.” I decided to get on our party line phone and try to give away some cats. When we bought our mountain homestead and had the phone hooked up we were told there was no choice. We had to have a party line. No private service on Linker Mountain at that time; it was just too rural. As a child, I grew up watching Hee Haw, and I remember Jr. Samples on a party line saying, “BR 549.” That image was imbedded in my brain. But being a former city dude, I thought a party line might mean having disco or country background music on your calls or maybe give us an update on which still has moonshine ready. A party line was a good thing. I was elated! I was wrong. It means that everyone within several miles of that telephone pole has the same phone line. Your neighbor could pick up and listen to your conversations so you really needed to be careful with what was said.

ABOUT...the River Valley | October 2015

But the party line did not help our cat infestation. I had to look elsewhere for a solution. Dale, a good friend I had met at work, had a primitive homestead north of Dover. After asking and pleading I finally offered Dale cash if he would take some cats. Dale took the offer but only after I agreed to deliver. So Joseph, our youngest son, helped me catch some of the strays. We used leather gloves because some had never been handled and, of course, they had no rabies shots. Another neighbor, Harold, sort of gave us a hand with the cat catching. He was always feeding the strays left over hot dogs from a local grocery. I had asked him many times not to feed our animals, but he would always stick his hand to his ear and act like he couldn’t hear me. Harold would throw the hot dogs over the hog wire fence so all the cats would stay on our property. He gave them expired hot dogs with that red dye. I figured the dye would kill them all, but I guess all it did was make them more fertile and slow, too. The cats were easy to catch with bellies full of hot dogs, and we put several in a large cardboard box and carefully loaded the box into the front seat between Joseph and myself. Dale had told me not to let the cats look out the window because they would find their way back to our home. I had heard of cats being lost on vacation and walking across several states to get back home so I figured maybe Dale was right. I told Joseph to keep their heads down and not let them look out of the box. We drove some pretty winding roads on our way to Dale’s. All of a sudden, this awful smell filled the truck cab. Joseph peeked into the box to check on the strays. “Dad,“ he yells, “ugh! That cat is barfing red!” I guess the hot dogs were good for something else. After partial cat digestion you could use them to clear a room. We delivered those cats to Dale, but our truck never smelled the same after that fateful day. I did, though, finally achieve my goal — no more strays. l

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Kaleidoclasm Story by MEREDITH MARTIN-MOATS | Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN

Daniel Freeman started making art as soon as

he could hold a pencil. A teacher at Dover High School helped him recognize his potential, encouraging him to consider art as a career. “I started staying after school and doing as much art as I could,” he recalls. “I started leaving with the janitors at night. I was so passionate about it.” After graduating from Dover High in 2003 he went to Memphis College of Art. “You don't eat; you don't sleep,” he recalled about his college experience. “You just do a lot of art,” he says, describing those intense years as something akin to a “brain training exercise.” 16

ABOUT...the River Valley | October 2015

But by the time he graduated art school in 2007 Freeman says he was ready for a break from the field. “I was so tried of drawing and painting and making things that I didn't want to be an artist anymore,” he recalls. So he went to work helping his stepfather as a boilermaker. The labor intensive work allowed him to travel around the region, and he wound up in the touristy town of Natchitoches, Louisiana for about a year where he took a side job in a local art gallery. It was there that he realized just how much he missed being in the art world and soon made his way back to the River Valley.

“Everyone can have an idea. It's how hard you want to work.” they call Kaleidoclasm. Freeman's art work receives a great deal of support from the local community, and he says a large part of his success can be traced back to a partnership with Buster Smith, the owner of a Conversation Piece, a local store in downtown Russellville who supplied the

In recent years, his art and graphic design has received a great deal of acclaim. He's done design work for Honda, Chevrolet and MTV. His commissioned work hangs in the Boys and Girls Club of Russellville. He uses his skills in book binding to make handmade art journals and offers commissioned work for homes around the region. In partnership with his girlfriend and fellow artist Korri Hodges, he is helping to bring art accessibility to downtown Russellville. Freeman also teaches art classes, in partnership with Hodges, in the studio

space for the studio. Freeman's first exhibit was called “The Box.” “I had art work all down the hallways,” Freeman explains. “People just loved it,” he recalls. Freeman's work includes everything from photography to portraits to city scenes, and he draws from everyday life for inspiration. “I like to walk everywhere,” he says. “You are not going to draw something unless you look at it constantly. I'm always observing things; taking everything in,” he adds. Recently he has begun to focus on a series of cityscapes, which have a more painterly look than some of his earlier work, he explains. These large canvas pieces are an outgrowth of time spent thumbing through early college sketchbooks and

beginning to mesh some of his darker, gritty pieces with the lights and colors of a city. “A lot of my work,” he says, “is about hard truths, about life and situations and problems and moral values,” he explains. “So I wanted to change and get away from that.” These cityscapes, he says, have given him a space for moving away from that while also still tapping into something deeper. “ I hide my true self in these cities,” he explains. His cityscape pieces can be found hanging in Penny University Coffee Shop and Midtown Coffee in Russellville. >> October 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley

It's rare for an artist to make a living doing art, especially in a small city. When asked how he manages to make it work he points to his tenacity. “Everyone can have an idea. It's how hard you want to work,” he says. In many cases it's a process of trial and error and enduring persistence. “Sometimes you may find yourself just walking and treading over the same footsteps over and over and over. Sometimes that's what it takes. Eventually you’re going to find a different path and things will fall in place. But for a long time you're just going to keep walking into the same footsteps,” he says. He acknowledges that it can be easy to look at his success and assume it all came easily. “A lot of people don't see how hard I've worked for it and how hungry I was to get to where I am,” he adds. His hard work has taken the form of multiple sacrifices. “I don't get a lot of free time with family and friends. I constantly draw and paint. But I'm cool with it because it's fun and I love to do it.” In addition to selling his pieces and operating a studio, Freeman also teaches classes alongside Hodges. She teaches Pre-K through age 13 classes, and he teaches 13 and up. They offer instruction in drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, missed media and art journaling. Classes can include ladies nights, group classes and parties. “I have been influenced by many different cultures,” Hodges explains. “My love for weaving and other textile art forms comes from seeing and experiencing the amazing artists on the streets and in the markets of Guatemala. I love teaching kids all different forms of art and seeing their thoughts and ideas come to life, whether it is through drawing, painting, or their awesome 3D sculptures,” she adds. She tailors the classes based on the students interest and abilities, letting them move in a direction that feels most comfortable. “I always look forward to the looks of accomplishment I see on the faces of my students when they complete an awesome piece of artwork, and I love helping them achieve their goals.” This past summer she offered eight sessions of the KaleidoKids Summer Art Camp which culminated in the First Annual KaleidoKids Student Art Show. “We had so much fun, and I was so happy to see my students' artwork up on the walls of the Gallery,” she explained. “The show included artwork from 12 students and awards were given for Best of Show, 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place and Honorable Mention.” Plans are in the works for another student art show this summer. Freeman says his favorite part of teaching is watching another person learn something new about themselves.

ABOUT...the River Valley | October 2015

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I enjoy seeing how other people's minds work when they are in a creative environment, when one thought sparks another thought and they begin to merge ideas together. Seeing the evolution of a thought process in my students is truly mind blowing to me.â&#x20AC;? To learn more about Freeman and Hodge's art work and

their classes, you can follow them on Facebook at Kaleidoclasm and KaleidoKids. Freeman's next show will be entitled "Into the Forest" and will take place October 16 beginning at 5 p.m. at the Kaleidoclasm gallery on West Second in Russellville. He will have limited numbers of the ABOUT magazine cover for purchase. l

October 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley

ABOUT...the River Valley | Valley Vittles

AL'S GOURMET CHEESECAKES | 201 West Parkway, Russellville

Gourmet Indeed

Story by JOHNNY SAIN | Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN

When you think of cheesecake and its origins, you likely think of New York. But think back a bit further, about 4,000 years to be exact. And then move east, across the Atlantic to the Greek Island of Samos. Some historians believe the creamy and decadent dessert was born here, crafted with simple ingredients of wheat, flour, cheese and honey, placed in a wood-fire oven, emerging golden and delicious, and then served chilled. But it doesn’t really matter where cheesecake started. What matters is that the slice in front of you is an exquisite representation of all cheesecakes. And cheesecakes are only as good as their ingredients and the baker preparing them. The River Valley is home to a cheesecake artisan and some delectable cheesecakes that pay homage to the ancient art of cheesecake baking — quality ingredients and the master’s touch honed through years of trial and error in quest of the quintessential cheesecake. It’s in a humble little food truck, home to Al’s Gourmet Cheesecakes. Gourmet is sometimes an overused word, but not when it come’s to Al’s creations. In celebration of autumn, I had the pumpkin cheesecake. In a world of fall-pumpkin-flavored overkill, Al’s pumpkin cheesecake was a refreshing reminder that pumpkin flavor can be done right. Creamy yet firm texture, delightful sweet pumpkin taste with a contrasting hint of sour chased by buttery graham cracker crust. Gourmet indeed. l 20

ABOUT...the River Valley | October 2015

October 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley

ABOUT...the River Valley | Countertop Creations

It’s Chilly/Chili Time Story by LYDIA ZIMMERMAN, Food Editor

s the saying goes: “when the weather starts feeling chilly, it’s time for some chili”. It sounds lame but this time of year, when football and fall festivals are held, we all look forward to the wonderful varieties of chili out there to try. Chili could be classified as a food group of its own. It can be catered to vegetarians or a variety of meat eaters. So whether you like turkey, chicken, deer or just the “run of the mill” beef chili, I have a recipe for you. As always, enjoy!

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT (1980 World Champion Chili Cookoff Winner) 1 T oregano 2 T paprika 2 T MSG 9 T chili powder (light) 4 T cumin 4 T beef bouillon (instant crushed) 2 cans beer 2 c water 4 lbs extra lean chuck (chili ground) 2 lbs extra lean pork (chili ground) 1 lb extra lean chuck (cut in “cubes") 22

ABOUT...the River Valley | October 2015

2 lg onions (finely chopped) 10 cloves garlic (finely chopped) 1 c Wesson Oil or kidney suet 1 tsp mole (powdered) 1 T sugar 1 tsp coriander 1 tsp Tabasco 1 8-oz can Hunts Tomato Sauce 1 T Masa Harina flour Salt to taste In a large pot add paprika, oregano, MSG, chili powder, cumin, beef bouillon, beer and two cups water. Let simmer. In a separate skillet brown 1 lb meat with 1 T

SLOW COOKER TWO BEAN BUFFALO CHICKEN CHILI 1 1/2 lb chicken breast (must not be frozen) 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper 1/2 tsp chili powder 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp ground black pepper 3/4 c yellow onion, chopped 3/4 a celery stalk, chopped 3/4 c carrots, chopped 3/4 c corn 4 cloves garlic, minced 28 oz petite diced tomatoes, drained 15 oz black beans, drained and rinsed well 15 oz northern white beans, drained & rinsed 2 1/2 c chicken broth 1/2 c buffalo wing sauce Toppings: Blue cheese crumbles Green onions Celery sticks Add whole chicken breasts to the bowl of a 5-6 quart slow cooker. Sprinkle chicken with seasonings, followed by chopped vegetables, beans, tomatoes and chicken broth. Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours. Remove chicken breasts to shred. Return shredded chicken to slow cooker. Add buffalo wing sauce, stir to distribute. Serve warm with optional toppings. Recipe courtesy of BakedbyRachel.com Wesson Oil or kidney suet until meat is light brown. Drain and add to simmering spices. Continue until all meat has been added. Saute finely chopped onions and garlic in 1 T Wesson Oil or kidney suet. Add to spices and meat mixture. Add water as needed. Simmer 2 hours. Add mole, sugar, coriander, Tabasco and Hunts Tomato Sauce. Simmer 45 minutes. Dissolve Masa Harina flour in warm water (pasty) and add to chili. Add salt to taste. Simmer 30 minutes. For hotter chili, add additional Tabasco to taste. Recipe Courtesy of chilicookoff.com/Bill Pfeiffer

CORNMEAL-CHILE PEPPER BISCOTTI 1 c sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded 1/4 c butter 1 (4 oz) can diced chile peppers, drained 2 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 2 eggs 1/2 c cornmeal 2 c all-purpose flour Using mixer beat cheese and butter on high speed for 30 seconds. Add chile peppers, baking powder, salt, and pepper, beating until well combined. Add eggs, add cornmeal and flour, mix well, dough will be stiff. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a 9-inch long loaf. Place about 5 inches apart on greased cookie sheet. Flatten with fingers till it is about 3 inches wide. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until light brown. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 hour. Transfer loaves to cutting board; cut each loaf diagonally into 1/2 inch thick slices. Place slices cut side down, on cookie sheets. Bake in a 325 degrees F oven for 15 minutes. Turn slices over and bake 15 minutes more. Transfer to wire rack to cool. Recipe courtesy of recipegoldmine.com/ CookieBaker

SOUR CREAM, CHEDDAR AND GREEN ONION DROP BISCUITS 2 c all-purpose flour 1 T sugar 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp baking soda 3 T chilled butter, cut into small pieces 3/4 c (3 oz) shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese 1/4 c finely chopped green onions 1 c fat-free buttermilk 1/2 c fat-free sour cream Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 450°. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add cheese and onions; toss well. Add buttermilk and sour cream; stir just until moist. Drop dough by 1/4 cupfuls onto a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 450° for 15 minutes or until edges are brown. Remove biscuits from pan; cool on wire racks. Recipe courtesy of cookinglight.com

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THE PERFECT CHILI RECIPE 1/4 c olive oil 1 lg yellow onion, diced 1 medium shallot, diced 7 cloves of garlic, minced 2 green bell peppers, diced 1 seranno chile pepper, diced with seeds 1 lb. ground sirloin 1 lb. chorizo sausage (if you can’t find this mexican ground meat, you can substitute hot italian sausage) 1 packet of low sodium taco seasoning (or 2 T of homemade) 1 T chili powder 1 T of cumin a dash of cinnamon 1 tsp cayenne pepper 2 tsp salt 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper 1 can of black beans, rinsed and drained 1 can of kidney beans, rinsed and drained 2 chili peppers in adobo 1 can/bottle of beer 2 28 oz. cans of crushed tomatoes in juice/ puree 1 sm can tomatoes and green chilies 1 sm can tomato paste 10 oz. frozen corn Garnishes: Sour Cream Chives Cilantro Shredded Cheese Tortilla Chips In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add onions, shallot and garlic and saute until fragrant. Add green peppers and serrano chile pepper. Meanwhile, brown ground meats in a large skillet and

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drain. Add drained, browned meat to onion mixture and cook for 5 minutes more. Add all spices and stir to combine. Chop the chile peppers in adobo and add (with seeds and the extra sauce on your cutting board) to the meet mixture. Add everything else except the tomato paste and corn. Bring to a boil and cook for 30 minutes. Turn down the heat and simmer for an hour or until you are ready to eat. When ready to serve, turn the heat back up to medium high and add the tomato paste and corn. Cook just until corn is tender- about 5 minutes. Serve in large bowls with lots of garnishes! This chili freezes in gallon bags really well. When you are ready to eat it, just thaw it out on the counter or in the fridge for a day or so and pop a bowl in the microwave. Recipe courtesy of thesweetersideofmommyhood.com LIFE CHANGING CHILI (OLDHAM ALE SMOKED CHILI) This recipe requires the use of a smoker (Amounts of the first 4 ingredients depends on serving size and liking) 80/20 ground beef Chili beans in sauce Black beans Jalapeño ranch style beans 2 chopped Bell peppers 1 chopped Yellow onion 2 lg cansCrushed tomatoes 1 lg can Tomato sauce SPICES Salt/pepper (to taste preference)

1 c Worcester sauce (or to taste) Montreal steak seasoning (to taste) 1/2 c Mexican taco sauce (Tapatio) Hot Mexican chili powder (to taste) Regular chili powder (to taste) 1 c Brown sugar (may add additional to taste) 12 oz Ale of choice This recipe like most of mine comes with little or no measuring instruction. Depending on serving size and mixture preference (bean ratio to meat) you can tailor to your liking. Here are the steps. In large chili pot, crumble ground beef and start to cook. As the beef becomes about half cooked, add tablespoon or so of both chili powders. Stir and continue to cook. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add 1 chopped onion and 2 bell peppers and continue to stir until beef is medium. Take off heat and add large can of tomato sauce and two large cans of crushed tomato. Incorporate mixture (no heat) add beans making sure to strain all beans from sauce except the chili beans. Add them to the pot in sauce. Once blended and stirred, add both chili powders until desired spicy/heat value has been reached (your opinion). Add Montreal steak seasoning until it's tasted in each test. Add one cup (or to taste) of Worcester sauce. Add 1/2 cup of Mexican taco sauce(Tapatio). Start with one cup of brown sugar and continue adding until sweetness is reached to compliment the spice (heat). Add 12 oz of Ale Place entire pot into smoker with your choice of woods for six hours at 275.

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ABOUT...the River Valley | October 2015

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Remove and let stand for 30 minutes before serving. Recipe courtesy of roseandcoblog.com LICK-YOUR-LIPS CHILI 1 T olive oil 1/2 lb lean ground turkey 1 medium onion 1 medium red bell pepper 1 poblano pepper 1 clove garlic 2 T chili powder 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground coriander 1 4-oz can chopped green chiles Kosher salt and pepper 5 thin slice prosciutto (optional) 6 c low-sodium tomato juice 1 28-oz can diced fire-roasted tomatoes 3 oz semisweet chocolate 1 15-oz can chickpeas 1 15-oz can kidney beans 1 15-oz can black beans Sour cream, shredded Asiago and *cornbread (recipe below), for serving Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the turkey and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until no longer pink, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the onion, peppers, garlic, chili powder, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, green chiles, and ½ tsp each salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are just tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Meanwhile, if using the prosciutto, cook it in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool, then chop into pieces and add

to the saucepan. Add the tomato juice, tomatoes and chocolate and bring to a simmer. Add the chickpeas and beans and gently simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. Uncover and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 1 to 1½ hours more. Serve with sour cream, Asiago, additional cinnamon and cornbread, if desired. Cinnamon Buttermilk Cornbread w/ Cumin and Cardamom Honey Butter Oil for the pan 2 c all-purpose flour 1 c finely ground cornmeal 1/2 c sugar 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp kosher salt 1 1/4 c unsalted butter, at room temperature 3 lg eggs 1 c buttermilk, at room temperature

3 T honey 1/4 tsp ground cardamom 1/4 tsp ground roasted or regular cumin Heat oven to 400°F. Oil a 9-in. cast-iron skillet, an 8- or 9-in. square baking pan or a 12-cup muffin tin. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; set aside. Melt ¾ cup (1½ sticks) butter. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, buttermilk and melted butter until blended. Add the reserved flour mixture to the egg mixture and stir to combine. Spread into the prepared pan and bake until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes (15 minutes for muffins). Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together the honey, cardamom and cumin and the remaining ½ cup (1 stick) butter. Serve with the warm cornbread. Recipes courtesy of womansday.com/ Kris Wrede >>

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Taylor Nursery 130 S Cumberland • 479-968-2778 October 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley

EASY VENISON CHILI CON CARNE 1 16-ounce can tomatoes, diced 3 tsp minced canned chipotle chile in adobe sauce 5 slices bacon, finely chopped 4 lbs venison stew meat, cut into 1/2-inch cubes Kosher salt and pepper 2 T olive oil 1 lg onion, chopped 1 jalapeno chile, seeded and chopped 1 can kidney beans 3 T chili powder 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1 1/2 tsp oregano 4 garlic cloves, minced 4 c beef broth 1 T packed brown sugar 2 T yellow corn mix In a food processor, place tomatoes and chipotle chile and puree until smooth. This should only take about 10 seconds). In a Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp. Transfer bacon to paper towel. Leave the fat in the pan.

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Pat venison dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat the fat until smoking hot. Brown half of the venison. (Do not crowd the pan). This should take about 6 to 8 minutes). Using a slotted spoon, transfer to bowl and repeat. Add the olive oil, onions, and jalapeño to Dutch oven and cook for about 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in kidney beans, chili powder, oregano, and garlic. Cook for about 30 seconds. Stir in broth, tomato mixture and brown sugar and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 1 hour. Uncover and simmer for about 30 minutes longer. Ladle 1 cup chili liquid into mediumsized bowl and stir in yellow corn mix. Whisk mixture into chili and simmer until chili thickens. Check seasonings. Serve with a dollop of sour cream or cheese and cornbread. Recipe courtesy of gameandgarden.com

1 T olive oil 1 sm onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 jalapeno pepper, diced 1 lg carrot, peeled and chopped 2 celery stalks, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1 med zucchini, chopped 2 (15 oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed 1 (15 oz) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed 3 (15 oz) cans diced tomatoes 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce 2-3 T chili powder, depending on your taste (we used 3) 1 T ground cumin Salt and black pepper, to taste Optional toppings: green onions, avocado slices, cheese, sour cream, Greek yogurt, chips, crackers, etc.

VEGETARIAN QUINOA CHILI 1/2 c quinoa, rinsed 1 c water

In a medium sauce pan, combine the quinoa and water. Cook over medium heat until water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Set aside.

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ABOUT...the River Valley | October 2015

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201 North Arkansas Ave.

479-968-2929

www.PetersFamilyLiving.com

In a large pot, heat the olive oil over high heat. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, jalapeño, carrot, celery, peppers, and zucchini. Cook until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the black beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Stir in the cooked quinoa. Season with chili powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Simmer chili on low for about 30 minutes. Serve warm. Note-garnish the chili with green onions, avocado slices, cheese, sour cream/Greek yogurt, chips, crackers, if desired. This chili freezes well. Recipe courtesy of twopeasandtheirpod. com EASY AS 1-2-3 VEGETABLE CHILI 1 can (28 oz.) tomatoes, un-drained 1 jar (16 oz.) Taco Bell Home Originals Thick ‘N Chunky Salsa 1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed, drained 1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen whole kernel corn 1 c halved zucchini slices 1 tsp chili powder 1 pkg. (8 oz.) KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Reduced Fat Mild Cheddar Cheese

cheese. Garnish with hot red pepper slices. Recipe Courtesy of championchilirecipes. com/Chili Master

CHRIS’ FAVORITE CHILI 2 lb ground beef 1 lg can stewed tomatoes 1 envelope Chili-O-Mix 1/2 tsp chili powder On medium heat, bring tomatoes, salsa, 1/4 c catsup beans, corn, zucchini and chili powder to a salt & pepper to taste 1/2 c brown sugar (optional) boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to low; simmer 10 minutes. 1 can of chili beans (optional) Sprinkle in 2 tablespoons of cheese into Brown ground beef, with onion if the bottom of each serving bowl. Add chili and additional 2 tablespoons desired. Mash tomatoes in dutch oven.

CHRIS’ FAVORITE CORNBREAD 1/4-1/2 c sugar 1 1/2 c self-rising corn meal mix 1/2 c self rising flour 1 egg 1 1/2 c milk Combine first 3 ingredients and stir. Add milk and egg, stir well and pour into a greased pan. Bake at 400 degrees approximately 25 minutes. Recipe courtesy of Dottie Zimmerman (my mother-in-law/Chris’ mother)

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Combine all ingredients in pot and simmer 1-2 hours. Serve with corn bread, recipe below.

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MANUFACTURING DAY In observation of Manufacturing Day, UACCM is proud to host the free Workforce Strong event for for Central Arkansas.

Your opportunity to get a closer look at the career paths that are available to you and visit with instructors and potential employers

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Event held on the UACCM Campus located at 1537 University Blvd in Morrilton, Arkansas

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October 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley

Story provided by MAIN STREET RUSSELLVILLE | Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN

Ghosts and goblins may run the streets of Russellville after sundown on October 31, but the daylight hours will be filled with good food and community spirit. It’s finally fall y’all and time for Russellville’s 24th Annual Downtown Fall Festival & Chili Cookoff! This year’s event will be held on Saturday, October 31st, throughout the Russellville Downtown Historic District. Fall Fest originated as a fundraiser for the Main Street Russellville program and since its inception in 1992, has grown into something akin to a combination of a community-wide reunion and harvest homecoming. Held each year on the last Saturday in October, the day’s schedule begins with a Pancake Breakfast at 7 a.m. and ends with the final musical performance on stage at 4 p.m. – a day filled with live music, great food and fun for all ages. Admission to the festival is free. “This daylong celebration hearkens back to the ‘good old days’ when carnivals set up on the streets of Russellville Downtown and the entire community turned out for the event,” according to Betsy McGuire, MSR Executive Director. The day’s events include: Arts and Crafts, Car & Truck Show, Children’s Costume Contest, CASI-sanctioned 28

ABOUT...the River Valley | October 2015

and Local Chili Cookoff, Tour de Pumpkin Bike Ride, 5KRun/Walk and 1K Kid’s Run and a children’s game midway, hosted by Central Presbyterian Church. The Knights of Columbus will be hosting a pancake breakfast at the American Legion Hut in addition to the variety of festival foods available in the food court. The streets will be filled with a variety of booths that include arts and crafts, nonprofit organizations, commercial business and local politicians. Early set up for vendor booths is from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday evening, October 30th. All exhibits must be set up by 8 a.m. and remain until 5 p.m. the day of the event, October 31st. The streets will be closed to all vehicle traffic at 8 a.m. on Saturday, October 31st to allow for safe pedestrian access. Streets will not re-open until 5 p.m. on October 31st. Handicap accessible parking will be provided by Central Presbyterian Church at the corner of W. Main and El Paso. An information desk will be located in front of the Depot at 320 W. C St. (at the intersection of W. C St. and N. Denver Ave), and an attendant will be present to direct registered participants to their assigned spaces, if needed. Additional information regarding the day’s events includes:

KNIGHT OF COLUMBUS PANCAKE BREAKFAST Festival-goers are encouraged to begin their day with the Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast from 7:00 until 11:00 a.m. at the American Legion Hall located at 215 N. Denver Ave. The Mountain Boomers will provide old time fiddlin’ music while guests dine on pancakes, sausage, coffee, milk and juice. Tickets are available at the door: $5 for adults, $3 for kids 12 and under, and free for kids under 6. Tickets may be purchased at the Russellville Depot, from any of the KOC volunteers or Wayne Eastman, committee chair at 479-567-3920. 5K RUN/WALK & 1K KIDS RUN The 5K Run/Walk and 1K Kids Fun Run, hosted by the River Valley Runners, will begin with registration and packet pick-up at 7 a.m. at the west end of the Russellville Depot. According to organizers the course is flat and fast, making it a great race to beat your personal record. The 5K Run/Walk begins at 8 a.m. The kids run follows, beginning at 8:45 a.m. Fees are $20 for early registration and $25 on the day of the race. Registration for the kids run is $15. The race course will close at 9:15 a.m. Following the race runners may turn in their race bibs at the Chili Cookoff tent for a Tasting Kit to sample all of the competition chili for FREE. Parking for runners will be available at the former location of the Farmers Co-op on West C Street. Race Director Michael Witt may be contacted at 479-477-0909.

TOUR DE PUMPKIN BIKE RIDE The annual Tour de Pumpkin Bike Ride, the official bike ride of the Downtown Fall Festival & Chili Cookoff will leave from the Depot at 9:30 a.m. Registration will be held on the west end of the Depot from 7 a.m. until 8:45 a.m. There will be three routes. The beginner route is 3.5 miles, the intermediate route is 17.5 miles and the advanced route is a 30‐mile course. Maps will be available on race day. All riders must wear helmets. Break stations, a SAG wagon & course markings will be provided. There will be drawings for door prizes after the ride as well as trophies awarded for youngest riders, best costumes, and farthest traveler, plus other awards. Riders can pick up their pre-registration t-shirt the day of the event. Participation Fee is $20. Make checks payable to: Main Street Russellville. Registrations will be taken up to and on the day of the ride. Parking for riders will be available in the Sugar Creek Foods parking lot on West C Street. Craig Witcher and Michael & Whitney Stoker are event co-chairs.

CAR AND TRUCK SHOW The 2015 Car and Truck Show is being presented by Chris Turner and Terry Altman at Trique Manufacturing. The registration fee is $15 for pre-entry before October 25 and $20 after that date. Registration takes place from 7:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Awards include merchant and best of show trophies. A Pre-show Get Together will be hosted on the Friday night before festival day. Pre-registrants will be escorted by Russellville Police Department north of town to Trique Manufacturing in Dover for tire kickin’ and a good meal. Car show registration is required to attend. For additional information, contact Chris or Amber Turner at 479967-3366 or 6449 Market Street, Russellville, AR 72802. CHILDREN’S COSTUME CONTEST The Children’s Costume Contest will begin with registration from 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. on stage at CARQUEST Auto Parts parking lot. The contest begins at 11 a.m. Forms must be completed to participate and include pertinent information including the appropriate age group. The contest is free for children aged infant – 12 years. Prizes will be awarded by age group. The event is sponsored and conducted by volunteers with Junior Auxiliary of Russellville, Inc. >> October 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley

Happy Fall Ya'll!

407 N. Arkansas Ave, City Mall • (479) 280-1933

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Russellville • 1805 East Parkway 479-968-1361

ABOUT...the River Valley | October 2015

CASI-SANCTIONED CHILI COOKOFF The eagerly-anticipated Chili Cookoff begins with cooks and teams setting up at 6:30 a.m. Registration is from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. The Cook’s Meeting is conducted at 9:30 a.m. Prepared entries must be submitted at noon. Showmanship is judged between 10 and 11 a.m. Chili turn in time is at 11:30 a.m. and chili tasting kits go on sale at noon. Chili is sold after judging and proceeds will go toward defraying costs of the event and to benefit Main Street Russellville, a non-profit downtown revitalization organization. Chili-tasting kits will be sold for sampling at noon from the ARVEST tent located at the intersection of Commerce Ave. and W. B Street. Price per kit is just $4 or get a kit plus a cold drink for $5. The presentation of awards will begin at 1:00 p.m. and announced on stage at CARQUEST Auto Parts parking lot. Entry fee is $25 per 10’ x 10’ team space with prizes awarded in the following divisions: CASI (Chili Appreciation Society International), Local (“Anything Goes”) Division, ATU Division, Best Costumes, People’s Choice and Showmanship Awards. The event is sanctioned by the, so CASI rules apply to compete in that division. The Local/ Anything Goes Division has similar rules to CASI entries but organizers describe this division as...”Chili that is made of anything but the kitchen sink!” The Showmanship Category allows participants the chance to “ham it up” with booth decorations and “chili Charisma!” Showmanship judging will be based on the following criteria: theme, costume, booth set up, action and audience appeal. For a complete listing of rules, visit mainstreetrussellville.com. Co-chairs Nicole Finkenbinder, Stefanie Jones, Christy Scott and associates of ARVEST Bank sponsor and coordinate the Chili Cookoff. K-9 CAPERS DOG SHOW While the K-9 Capers Committee thinks any day to encourage caring for pets is a great day, what better day to have dogs in costumes than on Halloween! This year, Bob, Debra, Madeline and Shadow Fithen; Joe, Sarah, Courtney, Emily and Chester Keating and Larry, Sandy, Abby and Chloe Cheffer are organizing the K-9 Capers Dog Show. They are also working with other animal lovers including the 4H K9 Club; 4H Hilltop Kids; Price’s Town and Country Store; Johnny Story and River Valley Radio; Arkansas Tech University and the Green and Gold Club; Sylvia Wright CPDT-KA, owner and trainer for the Wright School; photographer, Vicki Jones; the Russellville Animal Shelter; Cass Capen-Housley with Four Dogs Bakery; No Kill Russellville and several local vets and several pet supply businesses. Numerous local sponsors are providing great prizes for participants. This year’s judged categories will be: Cutest Costume, Best Talent, Highest Jump, Longest Stay, Best Look Alike (Dog and the their Person). There will also be prizes for Best Showmanship. Registration for the K-9 Capers will begin at 1 p.m. next to the main stage on the CARQUEST Auto Parts parking lot. Dogs and their persons will line up for the Grand Parade beginning at 1:45 p.m. The contest will begin at 2 p.m. and judging will be

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Design Work by-the-hour From a Single Room to Your Entire Home limited to the first 35 registered. While the judges are tallying the results, Sylvia Wright, CPDT-KA, will demonstrate part of her dog training program. This contest is for youth–grades K-8 and his/her dog. Guardian must remain at the show with contestant, but youth must show the dog. Owners must bring proof of dog’s current vaccination. Dogs must be on leash and under owner’s control at all times. Any dog (or their person) may be excused for disruptive or aggressive behavior, or acting inappropriately. For more information, call 479-857-8046 and look for the K-9 Capers Dog Show on Facebook. ENTERTAINMENT This year, the Fall Fest entertainment stage will be located on the CARQUEST Auto Parts parking lot. Performances include Some Guy Named Robb, Jamie Lou, Jazz Reunion, Larissa Gudino, Tena’s Gymnastics and the LTD Edition Cloggers. An opening ceremony with an invocation, the Pledge of Allegiance and performance of the National Anthem will begin at 9 a.m. APPLICATION FORMS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Registration for many of the events and activities may still take place on the day of the festival. Forms for all events are available from the Depot or online at: mainstreetrussellville.com. Checks for registration should be made payable to Main Street Russellville (indicate activity on the memo line) and mailed (or delivered) with completed application to: Main Street Russellville, 320 W. C Street @ the Depot, P.O. Box 694, Russellville, AR 72811. For additional information please call the Main Street Russellville office at (479) 967-1437 or msrsvl@centurytel.net. Main Street Russellville, is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the revitalization of the historic heart of the city. l

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October 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley

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ABOUT...the River Valley | Community and Events

Arkansas Tech Open House for prospective students Oct. 10 High school students and other individuals interested in learning more about the educational opportunities at Arkansas Tech University are invited to the 19th annual Tech Open House on Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center in Russellville. Representatives from every degree program offered at Tech will be available to answer questions and speak with prospective students. Personnel from academic advising, admissions, financial aid, residence life and university honors will also be on hand to provide information. The event, which is sponsored by the Arkansas Tech Office of Admissions, will last from 10 a.m.-noon with campus tours departing from the library every 15 minutes. “One of the strengths of Arkansas

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ABOUT...the River Valley | October 2015

Tech is our wide variety of academic programs and campus life opportunities,” said Shauna Donnell, director of admissions and associate vice president for enrollment management. “Tech Open House provides high school students and students who are considering a transfer with a chance to learn about all that our university has to offer and receive oneon-one answers to all of their questions about Arkansas Tech.” In addition to prospective students, current Arkansas Tech students seeking more information about a potential major field of

study are also invited to attend the event. Prospective students who attend Tech Open House will receive complimentary tickets to see the Homecoming football game between Arkansas Tech and Ouachita Baptist University at 3 p.m. that afternoon at Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field. The Tech Open House door prize will be a fall 2016 tuition scholarship to Arkansas Tech. The scholarship winner will be announced at halftime of the TechOBU game. Prospective students must be present at the football game in order to be eligible for the scholarship door prize.

For more information about Arkansas Tech Open House, call (479) 968-0343, (800) 582-6953 or visit www.atu.edu/ admissions.

the opening of classes for the fall 2015 semester. Visit www.atu.edu to learn more about Arkansas Tech.

ARKANSAS TECH RANKED AMONG FASTEST-GROWING UNIVERSITIES IN AMERICA

MOTT JOINS ARKANSAS TECH OFFICE OF PRESIDENT AS CHIEF OF STAFF

For a third consecutive year, Arkansas Tech University has been named one of the 10 fastest-growing institutions in its category in the United States. The 2015 Almanac of Higher Education, which was published by The Chronicle of Higher Education, lists Arkansas Tech as the 10th fastestgrowing public, master degree-granting university in the country. Arkansas Tech achieved the distinction with 81.9 percent growth in enrollment during the 10-year span (2003-13) utilized for the listing. The 106th session of Arkansas Tech began on Wednesday, Aug. 26, with

Dr. Jeff Mott already knew that he enjoyed working for Arkansas Tech University President Dr. Robin E. Bowen. When he heard a recording of Bowen’s speech from her inauguration ceremony in April, he knew he was ready to work for her again. “I listened to her inauguration speech, and the four points that she made (distributive leadership, grit, social justice and community involvement) were bold,” said Mott. “That was exciting. The studentcentric perspective she spoke of…I’ve witnessed the same thing since I have been here. The students are the primary reason why all of us are here.”

Mott previously served under Bowen’s leadership at Washburn University, where he was director of the leadership

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institute and she was vice president for academic affairs. “I absolutely loved working for her and her leadership style,” said Mott. “She is very forward thinking. Anytime you have an opportunity to work for someone like that and you know you work together well, that is appealing. She walks the talk of distributive leadership. As people build their trust with her and her style, and they see it in action, this university is going to blossom even more. People

will feel empowered.” In addition to his work at Washburn, Mott has also held the roles of vice president for loyalty and retention marketing at Sprint Corporation and executive assistant to the president/chief operating officer at Sprint Corporation. Most recently, he was project consultant for the Next Level Coaching Academy at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. “My wife and I have always been

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involved in the community wherever we’ve been,” said Mott. “What really compelled me about Tech is the critical role that it plays in this community. Tech is at the center of whether this community will thrive or not thrive. When I heard (Bowen’s) vision for how Tech could take the community to a new level…that was exciting to me. In visiting with her, I felt like I could make an impact at Arkansas Tech and in the community. “When I got here and met the people, instantly I could feel this was a group I could work with and that they would be fun to work with,” continued Mott. “I think that’s probably the most important part of any job…that you enjoy the people.” Mott, who joined the Arkansas Tech staff on Aug. 31, said that much of his first few months on the job will be concentrated on representing the Office of the President at various functions and meetings. He said that he hopes to serve as a resource for implementing initiatives once the on-going strategic planning process is complete in 2016. “If you were to ask chiefs of staff at various universities to describe their jobs, I think the responses would be all over the map,” said Mott. “It’s very much tied to the personality of the president and the personality of the university. Dr. Bowen is going to be very involved in key strategic initiatives that are critical to the future of the institution. There are so many responsibilities that a president must attend to, particularly a new president. My role is to be feet on the ground for her and accurately represent her in attending to some of those responsibilities.” Mott and his wife of 25 years, Brenda, have three children: daughter Carly (20), son Griffin (17) and daughter Peyton (14).

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The Rialto Gallery in Morrilton will be hosting “Artist Educator”, an exhibit of Artwork created by educators. The exhibit will open on October 2 and continue through November 9, 2015. This show hopes to raise awareness of the creative talent possessed by those involved in the educational system. This includes

public and private school instructors, independent teachers, college and secondary educators, administrators, staff and anyone associated with education even if they do not teach Art. The Rialto Gallery is part of the Rialto Community Arts Center on Broadway in Morrilton, Arkansas and includes the Rialto Theater. Built in 1910, the building occupied by the Gallery was originally a hardware store which closed in the 1980’s. It was converted into an art gallery in the 1990’s. There are plans for an extensive renovation of the facility in 2016. In May 2015 artist George R. Hoelzeman assumed the role of Director for the Rialto Gallery and given the task of bringing new life to the venue. A number of new exhibits have been added to the Gallery’s calendar this year including themed exhibits. The Gallery’s traditional shows have also been significantly revamped in order to include a younger generation of artists and show a more diverse body of work. The current exhibit, “Artists in Our Midst” has 43 works by 18 artists, many of whom are students and new artists. It is hoped that “Artist Educator” will continue the trend toward exciting new work in a wide variety of media. A series of special events has also been developed in order to further promote appreciation of the Arts and Artists. “Artist Educator” will emphasize the creative talent that exists within the education community. It is easy to forget that there are many creative and talented individuals in education other than the Art teacher. By providing a place for such creative talent to be showcased, we hope to encourage appreciation for those who add beauty to our lives and our children’s educational experience. The Rialto Gallery is located next to the Rialto Theater on Broadway in Morrilton. Open from 11:00am to 2:00pm most Fridays and Saturdays, admission is free and all are invited to vote for their favorite artwork as part of the People’s Choice Award. For information on submitting works for this exhibit contact the Director George R. Hoelzeman at gallery@ grhstudios.com l

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ABOUT...the River Valley | October 2015

2015 Pope County Fair Can you still smell funnel cakes and candied apples, buttered popcorn and cola? Is your aunt still showing off the blue ribbon for peach preserves and your grandpa still gloating about that champion rooster? Or maybe your head is still a little woozy after a few rides on the pendulum. Whatever your memories, the Pope County Fair was fun for all ages, and we can’t wait until September rolls around again.

October 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley

ABOUT...the River Valley | Backyard Living

Read more from Meredith at www.boileddownjuice.com

The Boiled Down Juice

Flowers of Fall

Story by MEREDITH MARTIN-MOATS

his past week we moved to a larger house. This is the fifth move we've made since we started gardening about a decade ago. We've gardened in the Ozarks, in western Kentucky, and in both large and small towns near the Arkansas River. We tell ourselves our next move — the one where we build a house in the country by the creek at the foot of the mountain — will be the last time we box up our belongings and set out for larger spaces. We'll see. Moving boxes is tedious and sometimes backbreaking. Moving a garden is a process of letting go. You have to weigh the risks of removing each plant versus leaving it behind. The day after we'd moved our belongings over to our new house I sat in my front yard with spade in hand running through my options: Should I move this rosemary? Would digging it up kill the roots? What about this foxglove? Will the next people who live here care for the plant? If not maybe I should just dig it up and take my chances? Some decisions were easy to make. I quickly dug into the roots of the yarrow. It's easy to move, hardy and always defies the odds. The echinacea, too. 40

ABOUT...the River Valley | October 2015

The lavender is a bit more delicate, but I decided it was worth the risk. As expected, the milkweed and marigolds have made the move just fine. But I think I killed the mums. My favorite thing about Chrysanthemums is their ubiquity. By October they're in full bloom, lining the garden beds with deep shades of red, orange, and burgundy. They're simple, colorful, and — despite my own recent experience — terribly easy to care for. When temperatures are dropping and leaves are falling from the trees, mums help close out the flower garden. These particular mums were at least four-years-old, a bright orange variety

that matched the pumpkins. In theory they should have lasted several more years, but I've been gardening long enough to know that sometimes plants just die. I haven't been gardening long enough to always know exactly why this happens. In this case, I probably didn't get enough of the root. Of course, you can never garden long enough to know all the whys. Gardening is just like that. Sometimes things die. Sometimes they live despite the harshest of odds. This is

Gardening is just like that. Sometimes things die. Sometimes they live despite the harshest of odds. This is why gardening is both a release from and an immersion into life itself.

why gardening is both a release from and an immersion into life itself. Since the mums bit the dust I've started thinking back on all the mums in my life. My husband and I were married on a cold November day over a decade ago, and we filled the Civilian Conservation Corps building where we said our vows with mums of all shades. We gave most of the plants away, but took a few home and planted them around the alley near the house we rented from Marcia, our wonderfully eccentric, cat-loving landlord. When we moved to Kentucky we took the brightest red mum with us and left it there when we moved two years later. I like to imagine it's still adding color to that little yellow house on High Street. My mother always loved mums. She loved autumn in general. As the air begins to change I find myself daydreaming about how we used to pick out a pattern for a Halloween costume, the smell of soup on the stove as I walked through the front door, or her front porch filled with hay bales and kitschy seasonal decorations. She died during an October. The mums that were given to us for her funeral I planted in my own garden the month after she died. When we moved to Little Rock I started fresh with several new varieties, most of which are still safely in the ground awaiting a new renter. They'll be blooming just in time to welcome in the new folks. Except that orange one, of course; it's a goner. After we get settled in at this new place I think I'll probably go pick a few new mums from a local grower. I can't imagine a fall garden without them. I'll let my sons pick out the colors, and I'm sure my toddling daughter will want to help dig up a place for flowers or eat some of the dirt while I'm busy digging the hole. I think when it's time to move again — you know, to our dream home with nearby creek and water catchment system and six dogs and three goats and a donkey and mule running around in the yard — maybe I'll just leave the new mums here. I'll buy some from a Yell County grower for the new place. I kind of like the idea of leaving a trail of fall flowers across the state. l

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October 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley

ABOUT...the River Valley | Community Commerce

AMCARE Senior Life Partners 914 West B Street, Russellville, AR • (479) 880-1112 Story and Photos by EMILY LANGFORD

"If you don't love what you do, you won't do it with much conviction or passion.”

─ MIA HAMM

here are 24 hours in a day. Some days that feels like too many, but for most it does not feel like nearly enough. From the minute we wake up to the minute we find rest, we are doing something with the time in between. For the majority of us that time is spent working. For Avona Kasselman, co-owner and co-founder of Russellville’s AMCARE Senior Life Partners, the work that fills her time is certainly done with much conviction and passion. She truly loves what she does. AMCARE is a faith-based, non-franchise, in-home personal care agency that assists clients with non-medical activities of daily living. Activities such as personal care (bathing, grooming), mobility, transportation, medication and appointment reminders, meal preparation, light housekeeping, companionship, grocery shopping and more. Their services are not just for senior citizens,

ABOUT...the River Valley | October 2015

(back) Misti Chansley & Kacie McCurrie; (front) Avona & Monty Kasselman

but also for anyone over the age of 18 who is experiencing chronic illness, post-operative recovery, Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Parkinson’s and physical or mental disability. In 2004, after a long, successful career in banking, Kasselman took a “leap of faith” and resigned from her position to accompany her husband and now business partner, Monty, to Mississippi for a job opportunity.

Eager to be back home and their commitments in Mississippi fulfilled, the Kasselman’s moved back to Arkansas in 2006. Avona was ready to dig back into a career, but unsure of what her next move was. “Monty told me I needed to pray about it and that I was at a time in my life that I could do what I was passionate about, and to think about what I felt like my calling and mission was,” said Kasselman. “In my praying, I found that I’ve always been someone who wants to be needed. I didn’t know where that would lead, so Monty told me to Google.” After much research, Kasselman discovered in-home care services. That was the spark that lit what would be the bright future of AMCARE in Russellville. “We saw a huge need in this area for this type of assistance. What we do complements home health care. We follow the same guidelines and certifications as home health, but home health is medical assistance in the home. We are classified as home care,” said Kasselman.

Although AMCARE’s services are not medical, the part of their industry that they occupy requires a heavy load of responsibility and compassion. “We take pride in our hiring process. I meet and interview every care assistant. They go through thorough training, skill checks, and are certified and properly trained,” said Kasselman. In addition, each caregiver’s personality is considered when being matched with clients. Furthermore, AMCARE is licensed by the Arkansas Department of Labor, Arkansas Department of Health and certified by Arkansas Department of Human Services and the Division of Aging and Adult Services. “We have two nurses on staff. One does admissions, research and supervisory visits, and our other RN does all of our auditing. We are probably taking more steps than necessary, but it is important to us that each client receives the best care,” said Kasselman.

If you are a compassionate, kind person looking for work, you may want to look into pursuing a career with AMCARE, who is dedicated to making education and opportunities accessible. “We now have our own PCA training. We are willing to work with individuals who want to go into this industry and do not have certification. We also have online classes so most of the training can be done online. As far as skills training, we have them come in and work with our nurse,” explained Kasselman. “We are hometown folks taking care of hometown folks. You don’t talk to a corporate office, you talk to someone right here that has grown up in the River Valley,” added Kasselman. If you or someone you know could benefit from AMCARE’s services or you are interested in the possibility of a career with AMCARE, call 479-880-1112, visit their website, www.youramcare.com or stop by their office located at 914 West B Street in Russellville. l

October 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley

ABOUT...the River Valley | Outdoors

Liars' Bench

Read more from Billy at www.cabinpeople.com

Story & Photo by BILLY REEDER

Along the side of a highway that you’ve probably never traveled there sits an old stone building. It was built before the road was paved and it was built strong. It was small because it fit the place in which it lived. It was a place of community. It was a place for lost souls and where men gathered to tell their tales. It was there, sitting on an old church pew, that I got the education that every boy should get. How to spit. How to cuss. And how to tell a good lie. Will Human ran The Human Store in the shadow of the Ouachita Mountains for as long as I could remember. It was every bit the type of old country store that nostalgia is made from. Will could almost always be found sitting in his rocking chair in the back watching one of the stacks of VHS movies he’d rented that week and smoking a cigarette. There was no air conditioning, just a chicken house fan running during the summers, a stove for the winters and a hand written sign taped to the wall that said, “No betting on Texas games.” It was here that we would venture to get a Coke when the summer’s heat needed escaping or to air up a tire with the ancient air compressor that sat on the wrap around porch. It was here that we would get our picture taken when we checked a deer and flip through Will’s stack of photos of other hunters’ kills. It was here that I was dropped off by the school bus and would weed the garden out back in exchange for a coke and a candy bar until somebody came to pick me up. And it was here that on most afternoons you could find old men sitting along an old bench simply being old men. They were old farmers and old carpenters and loggers. Men who lived life using their brains and their well-worn hands. And now, apart from 44

ABOUT...the River Valley | October 2015

piddling around, most had traded hard labor for quiet days in the company of their neighbors. The bench was an old church pew, probably oak, worn from the weather and denim overalls. I’m not sure where it came from or what still held it together besides determination, rusted nails and the hope for another story. But whatever it was, time had turned that old pew into a bona fide, no fooling, sure enough liars’ bench and cemented its place in my soul. Day after day they would gather telling jokes and stories, philosophizing on younger days and the sins of youth, often with more fondness than remorse. I remember vividly realizing that every single one of them were missing at least one finger and occasionally the missing digits would come up in conversation. Sometimes the story of how they lost it would change from the last time they told me. Once I was taught that if I ever lost a finger of my own to make sure it got wrapped up good before I buried it. Otherwise the ants would get on it and cause an itch that simply couldn’t be scratched unless you dug it up. It was to this bench that I snuck late one night to use the pay phone to make a long distance call to a blonde-headed girl that my parents didn’t know about. It was on this bench that I professed my love to her as long as my quarters held out. It was alongside these old men that a boy grew into adolescence. And while the church pew I occupied on Sundays taught me about the good Lord in heaven, the pew I occupied the rest of the week taught me much about living a good life on earth. It was by the liars’ bench that I passed as I left for college and though I stopped back by every now and then, time has a way of speeding up once you turn 18. Eventually, Will got too old to manage the store and closed it down. A piece of local history gone. And one by one, all of those old men returned to the earth that they’d spent their lives working. As the years crept by the building began to fade, and is now simply sitting as a shell of its former self along the side of a road you’ve probably never traveled. But on the porch there still sits an old church pew. Empty and covered with dust, waiting for its old men to come home. Waiting for their stories. Waiting for their laughter. Waiting for a young boy to take his place beside them and learn what it means to be a man. l

ABOUT...the River Valley | Engagements

Save the Date!

Calendar listings of engagement, wedding and anniversary announcements on the pages of each issue of ABOUTâ&#x20AC;Śthe 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.)

~ October 3 ~

~ November 6 ~

Sarah Ellis & Aaron Lensing Rachele Jack and Brock Stuart Monica Nill & Ryan Cook Lessica Portugal & Joey Duncan

Whitney Walters & Cole Hollowell

~ October 10 ~

Mindy Cooper & Derick Echols

Scarlet Cowger & Danial Evans Khianna Wilson & Adrin Bentley

~ October 15 ~

Breckan Gatlin & Micah Piker

~ October 16 ~ Kelsi McClanahan & Clint Collins

~ October 17 ~ Hailey Bednar & Kyle Gambill

~ October 24 ~

~ November 7 ~ Emily Blackard & Clayton Frazier

~ November 14 ~

Bridgette Anderson & Jason Groves Ramie Hay & Ethan Domerese

~ November 22 ~ Emma Zachary & Thomas Hunt

~ December 5 ~ Natalie Whitehead & Chris Hall

~ December 20 ~

Photo by Benita's Photography

~ January 30 ~

Amanda Lutz & Kirk West

Savannah Sage & Ricky McKnight

Erin Duvall & Bobby Possage

~ December 28 ~

~ February 13 ~

Amanda Stoops & Grayson Taylor

Lucy Busch & Andrew Behrendt

Sloane Roberts & Zach Hocker

~ November 1 ~

~ January 2 ~

~ April 16 ~

Sally Bubbus & Billy Alvarado

Savannah Callan & Drew Hancock

Bailey Craig & Casey Nickleson

Lauren Berdin & Mike Strong

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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October 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley

On a Personal Note Unforeseen Circumstances at the Pet Fair Guest Written by Adele Williams

“Speak with your animals like they are people. Every time I went on a trip I laid my suitcase on the bed and my cats crawled in, nervous looks flooding their faces. Once I told them in advance I was leaving they never crept into the suitcase again or showed signs of high anxiety.”

Trusting your gut feelings (paying attention to how your body responds to any person, thing, or situation the first 15 seconds you come in contact) is one of the first lessons I teach my students in Psychic Classes. When I received a call from The Needy Paws Animal Shelter in Clarksville, AR to volunteer as the Pet Psychic for a fundraiser, I accepted without a moment’s hesitation. The energy felt so good — the best of intentions for a worthy cause. The Woofstock 2014 was sponsored by Subaru; the focus was to manage as many adoptions as possible. Reading animals is just like reading people. I open my upper energy centers or chakras and begin receiving information, from God or what some call the Divine Source. When this started happening to me I was in my early 30’s and I tested it to the maximum, never wanting to give false information. When I was involved in solving a murder and a missing person case, I was spurred on to the psychic road. Having been provided with so much positive feedback, I knew I was to use these intuitive gifts. In 1981, I learned what it meant to “have a calling.” Debra Davis and Amanda Bosley, two of my talented assistants arrived shortly thereafter. Suddenly, people were realizing the pet psychics were here. Schnauzers, dachshunds, German shepherds, bull terriers, Rottweilers, mutts, all sizes and shapes were on parade. One lady with two adult dogs and four puppies in a baby stroller careened in as her loud smoky voice drew my attention. This cracked Debra and me up, but we quickly regained our composure. The stroller lady pleaded “My dog is nervous and not sleeping.” I could see the dog slept with her, and the woman’s nervousness kept her pet awake. I suggested putting on soothing music before bedtime. One pale puppy had digestive upsets so a different type of food was recommended. Next in line was a shivering dachshund. Flashes of the past owner burning this precious animal with cigarettes seared my mind. The present owner said the shelter suspected abuse. I told her to never

ABOUT...the River Valley | October 2015

approach her dog in a threatening manner. The owner’s eyes glistened with tears as she said, “I will love Tina and keep her close.” I suggested Rescue Remedy, a Bach flower essence which is safe for pets and people. A black and grey striped cat sauntered up as if he owned the room. I sensed pain in his lower back and heard kidney stones. He flinched as I gently touched the area. My recommendation was a special food and pineapple which would dissolve the stones. The next patient was Crimson, a large grey poodle who began nudging my leg. She spoke “I just don’t like Margaret leaving on so many trips! I get so lonely! I want to be around more animals to play! ” After relaying Crimson’s message, sorrow clouded Margaret’s eyes. “I travel a lot. She is missing her sister Poppy who recently died.” Margaret hugged me tightly. I kneeled by Crimson, thanking her for speaking. Licking my hands and nudging me, she returned the love. Days later, Margaret phoned saying, “I followed your advice about play dates and Crimson is a different dog after your reading. She walks with a spring in her step and is so relaxed!” One small skirmish showed me that Debra, my assistant, was on point. A large tan dog attacked two pups and Debra said, “I read the large dog and he was disturbed by the costumes the little pups were wearing!” Working alongside my dear friends Debra and Amanda made the day extra special. I took a moment to address the crowd: “Speak with your animals like they are people. Every time I went on a trip I laid my suitcase on the bed and my cats crawled in, nervous looks flooding their faces. Once I told them in advance I was leaving they never crept into the suitcase again or showed signs of high anxiety.” Thus ended our day of volunteering for a cause so dear to our hearts. Being a psychic, all kinds of adventures come my way. I thought of a cartoon a friend gave me with a sign on the front of a psychic’s door that said: “Office closed due to unforeseen circumstances.” This thought continues to make me laugh and I certainly need a good sense of humor to be involved in this type of work. 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.

Develop

Your Passion for the

ARTS

At Russellville School District, we offer many opportunities for our students to discover their interests. With classes such as Theater Performance, AP Music Theory, and Art History students can explore jobs they are interested in before they graduate. Students interested in a career as a graphic designer, music director, or a set designer can take classes including: • • • • • • • • • • •

Art Art History Intro to Theatre Arts Theatre Tech Theatre Performance Forensics Oral Communications/ Debate Band Music Appreciation AP Music Theory Concert Choir

• • • • • • •

Chamber Choir Music Technology Fashion Merchandising Digital Communications Creative Writing Journalism EAST

October 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley

OUR CARE FOR THIS COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GROW STRONGER. LEADING PHYSICIANS. EXCEPTIONAL CARE. Millard-Henry Clinic and Saint Mary’s Regional Health System welcome Dr. Suzanna Chatterjee, OBGYN. Dr.Chatterjee brings her expertise in women’s services to a highly experienced team of physicians at Millard-Henry Clinic Women’s Center. Dr. Chatterjee is now accepting patients.To make an appointment with her, please call 479.890.2428. Suzanna Chatterjee, M.D. | OBGYN Millard-Henry Clinic Women’s Center

R E G I O N A L

H E A L T H

S Y S T E M

Millard-Henry Clinic | 105 Skyline Drive | Russellville, AR | millardhenry.com | saintmarysregional.com