ABOUT | October 2013 by ABOUT the River Valley Magazine

a home in the clouds

Reflecting the Character of the Arkansas River Valley October 2013

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Date

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Saturday, Oct. 12

Southern Arkansas (Family Day)

6 p.m.

3 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 26

Ouachita Baptist (Homecoming)

3 p.m.

noon

Saturday, Nov. 9

Southeastern Oklahoma State

2 p.m.

noon

Saturday, Nov. 16

Harding

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October 2013 8 Historic Home in the Clouds

Judi Baker and retired Air Force General John Baker own an historic home located near Sunset Point at the top of Mount Nebo. This privately owned structure dates back to the days when the 1,350 foot tall mountain was the site of a thriving resort community.

14 Who's Dinging You Now?

Carving Lasting Memories Chainsaws and art. The two words may not fit together to some, but when driving up to one unsuspecting house in Atkins, people get an inyour-face experience about how the two somehow cut into one another.

20 ABOUT...Community

Vampire Season a Reality

Flooding Rivers and Everyday Songs

Hunters have approached the state wildlife commission for several years about the possibility of a vampire season. Rumors surfaced last year that a 2012 season would happen, but due to typical bureaucratic complications the plans for the hunt were put on hold.

38 On a Personal Note

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Miss Another Issue! Send $20 check or money order for a One-Year Subscription (10 Issues) to ABOUT Magazine P.O. Box 10176 Russellville, AR 72812 Or subscribe online at www.aboutrvmag.com Call 479.857.6791 for more information 4 ABOUT | October 2013

Russellville School District Russellville High School Presents: LittLe SHoP of HoRRoRS One of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows of all time. This affectionate spoof of a 1950s sci-fi movie has become a household name, thanks to a highly successful film version and a score by the songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. Charming, tuneful and hilarious, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS never fails to entertain.

November 14, 15, & 16 at 7:30 PM Sunday, November 17 Matinée at 2 PM the Center for the Arts tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students

Fall Musical Theater

The Center for the Arts

Russellville Junior High School Presents: SCHooLHouSe RoCk Live! JR.

November 14, 15, & 16 at 6 PM

ScHOOLHOuSE ROck LIvE! JR. is a flashback to the songs that helped us to learn as children! come sing along as RJHS students perform favorites such as “I’m Just a Bill” and “Interjections”. You will be smiling and tapping your foot to these fun songs and many more.

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October 2013 | ABOUT 5

A PAGE FROM

The Editor’s Notebook

ABOUT

the River Valley

Tell us what you think

A Publication of Silver Platter Productions, Inc Vol. VIII, Issue 8 – October 2013 Owner/Publisher: Nolan Edwards

I have lived my entire life within 30 minutes of my birthplace. This wasn’t something I’d given a lot of thought to until my third decade was in the rearview mirror and the exit ramp to middle age was coming on fast. Living four decades within a half-hour of the humble hamlet in which you were born should be one of Webster’s definitions, under noun, for local. I don’t need to tell you I’m from around these parts for you to know it though. Take another read of the first sentence in this editorial. Translating distance into time is a distinctly small-town thing. I don’t think they do that in New York City. There are a few other clues that tell you I’m a River Valley lifer. Like how I chuckle while watching a visitor freak out when the sirens go off at noon on Wednesday. Or that I know one of the best ways to spend an October Saturday starts with viewing the sunrise on White Oak Mountain above Hector and ending with a Sunset on Mt. Nebo. You can fill up the middle part with all kinds of fun stuff and good eats on the trip in between. It’s those little things that we here in the River Valley sometimes take for granted, that we here at ABOUT want to remind you of. That’s what we hope this issue, really all issues, of ABOUT…the River Valley Magazine do for you. You don’t need to burn through a tank of gas to enjoy beautiful scenery, friendly people and lots of fun activities. It’s all right here. So there it is, our purpose as a magazine is to inspire you to get out and enjoy the place that we all call home. We here at ABOUT want to know how we’re doing in this regard, and this is where you come in. Tell us what you think. You can find us on Facebook at ABOUT the River Valley Magazine, and we’ll be posting some questions asking about your thoughts in the coming weeks. We want your feedback. We are also going to diversify the voice of the magazine a bit. In this issue we’ve added a guest column on the back page. This is a column we’ve slated to run in future issues too and will feature various invited writers from the River Valley community. They can tell personal stories, discuss some history, spin some yarns or whatever it is they want to write about. This month’s column is from our illustrator Cliff Thomas. I won’t be a spoiler here, but it’s a great story to wrap up an issue with. Johnny Sain, Editor And I’m confident that it will inspire you 479.857.6791 as well. johnny@aboutrvmag.com

DIANNE EDWARDS | founding editor NOLAN EDWARDS | publisher nolan@aboutrvmag.com JOHNNY SAIN | managing editor johnny@aboutrvmag.com BENITA DREW | advertising benita@aboutrvmag.com LYDIA ZIMMERMAN | advertising/columnist lydia@aboutrvmag.com KECHIA BENTLEY | columnist kechia@aboutrvmag.com CONNIE LAS SCHNEIDER | freelance connie@aboutrvmag.com STEVE NEWBY | photography stevenewbyphotography@aboutrvmag.com CLIFF THOMAS | illustrator maddsigntist@aboutrvmag.com CHRIS ZIMMERMAN | layout/design chris@zimcreative.com

ABOUT… the River Valley is locally owned and published for distribution by direct mail and targeted delivery to those interested in the Arkansas River Valley. Material contained in this issue may not be copied or reproduced without written consent. Inquiries may be made by calling (479) 857-6791. Office: 220 East 4th Street Email: johnny@aboutrvmag.com Postmaster: Please send address changes to: SPPI, P.O. Box 10176, Russellville AR 72812.

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Nolan

Steve

Kechia

Connie

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Newby

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Bentley

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Benita

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6 ABOUT | October 2013

Zimmerman

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Thomas

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about | October 2013 Calendar of Events Oct. 4 - Golden Suns Volleyball vs. Southeastern Oklahoma State Tucker Coliseum at Arkansas Tech 6 p.m. Contact 968-0645 Oct. 5 - Digital Photography for Beginners. 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Lake Point Conference Center, 171 Lake Point Lane Business Services Building, Training Room A. Contact 498-6035 Oct.8 - Extreme Couponing 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Lake Point Conference Center, 171 Lake Point Lane Guest House, Training Room B. Contact 498-6035 Oct. 9 - Water Color Painting Classes at the River Valley Arts Center 9 a.m. Contact 968-2452 Oct. 12 - Augsburg Fall Fest, Zion Lutheran Church at intersection of Highway 333 and Augsburg Road, 93 Augsburg Road, London. 8:00 a.m. bicycle ride, other festivities start 10 a.m. Contact Earl Schrock at 479-331-3483 or Rusty Dorn at 331-2302. Oct.12 - Arkansas Zombie Challenge benefiting CASA 5th Judicial District. 8:30 a.m. Hector. Contact http:// www.arkansaszombiechallenge.com or 880-1195

Oct. 12 - Ghostly Galla Night at Potts Inn Museum. Pumpkins for sale starting at 10am, Pumpkin carving contest at 4, bank robbery of 1926 re-enactment at 6, followed by night tours by lantern and ghost stories in the attic. Come and enjoy s’mores, weenie roast and apple cider by the fire! Contact 968-8369. Oct. 15-17 - Petit Jean State Park. A weekend of fun-filled activities designed for Senior citizens with free guided walks, talks, demonstrations and entertainment. All ages are welcome to join in on the fun. Contact (501) 727-5441. Oct. 22-23 - American Red Cross Wilderness and Remote First Aid. 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. Lake Point Conference Center. Contact 498-6035 Oct. 25-27 - ATV Rocktoberfest - At Byrd’s Adventure Center located along the Mulberry River in Franklin County. Sponsored by the Rock Crawlers 4x4 club. Features off-road action, trail rides, Halloween activities for the kids, a charity raffle and fun for the whole family. Contact 667-4066

Oct. 26 – Petit Jean State Park. Family friendly Halloween activities, costumes are welcome. Admission: Free. Contact (501) 727-5441. Oct. 26 - Downtown Fall Fest and Chili Cook Off. Contact 967-1437 Oct 31 - Fall Fest at Dover First Baptist Church, 149 SR 164 East Dover. 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Games, Cake walk, Bingo and more. Contact 331-2250.

*Unless otherwise indicated, all area codes are 479. To have your event included in the ABOUT Calendar of Events, email: editor@aboutrvmag.com or fax to (866) 757-3282. Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication.

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Historic Home in the

Clouds

Story by Meredith Martin Moats Photography by Steve Newby

UDI BAKER FLIPS THROUGH THE PAGES OF A PHOTO BOOK DOCUMENTING the renovations of the 1889 home she shares with her husband, retired Air Force General John Baker. Located near Sunset Point at the top of Mount Nebo, this privately owned structure dates back to the days when the 1,350 foot tall mountain was the site of a thriving resort community. The Bakers acquired the house in 2006, taking four years to restore and renovate the twostory home. “I couldn’t decide what color to paint house,” Judi explains, pointing to photos of the house under construction. Before they removed the outside boards to install insulation, the house was painted what she referred to as a “Pepto-Bismol pink.” After they replaced the siding with locally milled yellow pine, Judi found that that the tans and creams she first imagined didn’t work well with the home’s original rock base. “So I sat across the street and just looked at the house, and I said, “Okay, you have to tell me what color you want to be because I can’t decide. And I looked down and there was lichen on the rock, and I thought, that’s it!” The soft sage gives off a calming and inviting presence, echoing the colors of the trees and adjacent hills of the Ouachita Mountains. The home and its outlying buildings were once property of Colonel Tom Steele who built the house while surveying for the railroad. A member of the Mt. Nebo Improvement Company, an organization of landowners who worked to turn the mountain into a tourist destination, he helped to create the Summit Park Hotel, a popular spot for those traveling by steamboat up the Arkansas River. Before the hotel burned in 1918 and the state park acquired much of the land on the mountain, Mt. Nebo was a popular tourist destination boasting a population of 5,000 people during the summer months. During the early 1900s Steel’s home served as an overflow building for the nearby Mount Nebo Lodge, providing overnight shelter for regional visitors who came to enjoy the cool mountain air and attend the evening dances held in the gazebos. By the 1920s the kitchen doubled as a post office for longterm summer guests. Around 3:30 everyday they’d stroll down the pathways and gather around the back of the house to see if the postmistress called their name, indicating a letter from home. >>

8 ABOUT | October 2013

Eventually Mount Nebo became a state park with several private properties dotting the landscape. When General John and Judi Baker acquired the column-lined two-story structure, it hadn’t been lived in full-time since the 1960s. Green carpet covered the original hardwoods, the windows were nailed shut, and the backside of the

house needed foundation repair. Yet structurally, the house was in great shape. “We were able to take our time with it,” General Baker explains, as he speaks of their attention to detail. The Bakers have deep roots in the region. General Baker’s family first came to Pope County before the Civil War. As a young boy he spent summers exploring the mountain’s pathways and trails with his cousins. By the time he was in high school his parents acquired property on the mountain, turning it into a summer home. When he and Judi were dating in the 1969 they carved their initials on a rock in one of the mountain bluffs not too far from the house. It’s since worn off, but the cornerstone out front reads JB + JW, just as it once did in the nearby stone. General Baker’s service in the air force took the couple to Japan, Turkey, and cities throughout the U.S. But they regularly returned to the mountain, often taking time to stroll past the house, wondering what might happen to the structure as the years took their toll. As they neared retirement and began looking for places to settle down, Mrs. Baker joked that her husband would have to buy that house for her once his service ended. After retirement they moved back to Russellville, in part to be near Mr. Baker’s mother who was then in her nineties. John says he was on the mountain one afternoon when he called Judi and said, “Why don’t you and mother come up here?” He suggested they all take a walk down to Sunset Point, leading them right past what was then an empty pink house. As they walked by they

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10 ABOUT | October 2013

noticed the basement door was open and John went down to close it. He walked back over to his wife and mother and asked if they’ be interested in walking through the inside of the house. Judi was concerned about what the owner might think of them wondering around uninvited, John explains. “Well, I have a key,” he replied. “We might be the owner.” “She almost passed out,” Baker continued as he recounted how he keept the purchase a secret. His mother was equally excited. “She remembered the house from when she was a little girl, when it had a big gazebo across from here and teenagers had dances,” he explained. They originally estimated about three and a half years of work to ready the home for full-time living. In the end it took about four, in part due to the intense heat of summer and cold of winter. As they labored to bring the home back to life, they made a concerted effort to use resources close to home. “We focused on using local materials and hired regional craftspeople,” explains Mr. Baker. After removing the exterior siding and installing insulation, they worked with three different lumberyards in the region to acquire the clear, yellow pine they needed to replicate the house’s exterior. It took two years to gather all the wood before they began working with a regional sawmill to mill the boards similar to the originals. The handmade rails on the front porch were created by craftsman Walter Hudson of Russellville and replaced those that were water damaged. As they turn the pages of the book filled with photos, they talk

about Hudson’s skilled labor and his tireless push to restore the home with both historic accuracy and modern conveniences. In the living room, for example, two long columns were added to help break up the space of the large room while also echoing an older design they’d seen in both American and Japanese architecture. >>

October 2013 | ABOUT 11

Inside the columns they installed plumbing to allow for bathrooms in both the guest and master bedrooms located upstairs. Near the columns sit two Duncan Phyfe sofas; a square grand piano sits up against the wall and two original

Maria Theresa chandeliers hang from the ceiling. All of these items were here when they moved in, remnants of the home’s former life. The original pine planks can be found in almost all the rooms and the original one-

inch bead board paneling covers the walls. It was Frank and Darla Bates of Pottsville, the Bakers explain, who scrubbed the dark walls with steel wool and denatured alcohol to removed decades of dust and dirt. Today they shine with a warm glow, giving the house a welcoming and airy feel. In the kitchen, ornate white tin tiles cover the celling. Though not original to the house, they date from the same time period and were salvaged from a condemned house on Ithaca Street in Russellville. Near the back wall, where the post office once sat, there’s an old icebox they found in the home. After some reconstruction and a fresh coat of paint, it blends seamlessly with the home’s modern stove and refrigerator. The house tells a story of the mountain’s history, now interwoven with the regional stories of the Baker family. Walking up the stairs, the Bakers point to a long wall of family photos both historic and modern. In the master bedroom Judi shares the story of the hand carved bedframe, made from a cherry tree that once grew in her grandmother’s yard in Cave Springs. A family member created the bed for her grandmother and she later inherited it. “I played under that Cherry tree as a child and now I sleep under it at night,” she adds.

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12 ABOUT | October 2013

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In Mr. Baker’s study, Air Force regalia line the walls, including a painting of a spitfire plane similar to one that he once flew. Deep blue tiles gathered from their time in Turkey are found above the reconstructed fireplace and beautiful stained glass designs catch the afternoon sun in the bathroom and guest bedroom windows. Designed by Mrs. Baker and created by local dentist Dr. Bob Griffin, they feature the elegant lines of the Turkish tulip. The original claw foot tub makes its home near a modern shower, complemented by the black and white design Judi created in the floor tiles. The Bakers laugh and note that people often ask them if they’ve had any

experiences with ghosts in their home. So far they’ve experienced no visits from the supernatural. But in the early days when they were working on the house they’d often keep both the front and back doors open. As the clouds would descend onto the mountain the balls of white would “come in and just roll down the hall,” Judi explains, “So I can see why people might think that.” You can see why in the early 1900s, adds John, the mountain was once known by locals as the “city in the clouds.” In 2012 the Baker’s received the award for Excellence in Personal Projects from the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas. In the future they plan to add the home the

National Register of Historic Places. Walking outside, the views from the porches, back deck, and sunroom are breath taking. From the second floor deck you can see Lake Dardanelle; the front porch boasts a view of the rolling mountains. Mr. Baker points to the blue ceiling on the porch. “My mother said painting the ceilings blue would keep out wasp nests.” So far this has proven to be true, making it a perfect spot for taking in the views and visiting with passersby. In the evenings when visitors ascend the mountain and gather at nearby Sunset Point, the Bakers often leave their porch and join them, walking to the edge of the mountain to watch the sun sink below the bluffs. n

October 2013 | ABOUT 13

about | family

Who's Dinging You Now? Story by Kechia Bentley Illustration by Cliff Thomas

Now before anyone gets the wrong idea, no we have not come up with a new name for … Just know it is not that. It’s the question my husband will ask, in a very perturbed tone, when one of my friends texts me in the middle of the night. Now let me clarify. To my husband the middle of the night is anytime between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. The man is sound asleep most nights by 10:30 p.m. and apparently, he believes the rest of the world should be as well The problem is that I am a mother. And as a mother I have been trained to keep a phone by my bedside just in case there is an emergency in the middle of the night. I don’t know who came up with this rule, but as far as I know it is a universally understood and non-negotiable requirement of all mothers. We must be on call at all times and in a moment’s notice. I have explained this rule to my husband more than once, but every time I get one of those dings he says, “Turn it off!” You see, he thinks if my children really needed me they would call, not send a text. But as a mother I have also been trained to consider all worst case scenarios. And as a mother I have played out in my mind – over and over again those scenarios in which they may need to text instead of call. Let me share a few with you: There is a robber in their home and they need to stay quiet; they are hiding from a crazy person, and the crazy person is standing close by; they are injured somehow to where they can’t speak. Ok, I know that last one is a long shot, but it could happen. And as much as my husband and children make fun of me for always considering the worst, IT COULD HAPPEN! Anyway, I don’t think I am the only momma that thinks this way. I am pretty sure, for a lot of us, when our child is born some switch in our brain gets flipped and we see danger everywhere.

14 ABOUT | October 2013

I guess he might have the right to complain - a little - since all of the texts I have received of late during the “middle of the night” have been from friends. He tells me there is a setting I could use on my phone to allow only certain numbers to get through at certain times of the day. He has strongly suggested that I use this app to allow only my children and family access to my phone during the “middle of the night”. Well, there is a problem with that: I consider all of the friends who text me in the “middle of the night” family. This is the same This has nothing to do with being a mom; it has to do with being a woman. We women man who slept right know that just like there are certain rules through crying babies, for moms, there are certain rules for close girlfriends. Nobody ever gives us a manual on children throwing this, but we all know that you are on call for up, people stealing your friends 24/7. So what if the current texts pumpkins off our are all non-emergency related. Someday they might be, and I need to be ready to go. front porch, massive Now, the really annoying thing for me in this thunderstorms and whole situation is that my husband actually wakes up to the sound of a ding. This is the teenagers sneaking in same man who slept right through crying babies, and out of the house! children throwing up, people stealing pumpkins off our front porch, massive thunderstorms and teenagers sneaking in and out of the house. People, I could go on and on with how frustrated I have been in our marriage about his ability to sleep right through the events that have shot me like a rocket straight out of the bed in full battle mode. Not only would I have to wake him up, but I would have to “give him a minute to get his bearing”. You have no idea how many times that man nearly lost his life while I stood there covered in vomit while he “got his bearings”. And as I think about all those moments, I think for his own safety the next time he hears a ding in the middle of the night he had better just pretend that he is still sleeping. Because if he doesn’t then the answer to the question, “Who is dinging you?” might very well end with me dinging him right on top of the head with my phone. Of course I will check to see if the text is an emergency first, then I will ding him. n

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October 2013 | ABOUT 15

16 ABOUT | October 2013

CARVING

LASTING

MEMORIES Story by Cindi Nobles | Photos by Johnny Sain

Chainsaws and art. The two words may not fit together to some, but when driving up to one unsuspecting house in Atkins, people get an in-your-face experience about how the two somehow cut into one another. Paint brushes and saw dust litter the front yard amongst several large wood art pieces. Some pieces are full tree trunks with faces carved into them. Some are smaller branches with the full face of Native Americans with intricately carved feather headdresses. On one side of the yard sits a pile of wood that strangers have dropped off for the artist to work with. The homeowner and artist, Atkins native James Bratton, said some people think his yard is, “too busy.” He just thinks of it as his own art gallery. Bratton started up a chainsaw. He put the bar to a piece of wood and as the sawdust began to fly and the smell of cedar seared the senses he explained, loudly, how each piece begins. “I always start with the eyes on the face,” Bratton said crisscrossing on either side of a log with the chainsaw bar. “Then I go toward the nose.” With a glance at all the pieces in Bratton’s yard one might think he has been working with wood most his life, but it has only been eight years. He said it all began when a friend found a walking stick in the woods one afternoon and carved his name into it. “He brought me this walking stick and said I could carve a face in it,” he explained as he picked up a gnarled piece of wood. “I was like yeah, right. He said he knew I could do it and I thought to myself I probably could. I took it home that night and borrowed a Dremel tool and got to work.” Bratton seems almost surprised at his ability. “I don’t know nothing about wood, nothing about carving, nothing about art,” he said. “It’s just something I picked up one day and started doing. Before I started doing this I couldn’t draw a circle and make the two ends come together.” A couple of years after Bratton began carving he was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder. He said his doctors prepared him for the worst-case scenario and sent him home. He had been working as a car salesman for more than 20 years, but as his health began to deteriorate he could no longer work. He said that working with a piece of wood kept him distracted

throughout the ups and downs. Bratton then decided to move on to larger projects – with chainsaws. “When I started chainsaw carving I had never picked up a chainsaw before,” he said. “I just went at it. I didn’t even know how to put oil or gas in the thing.” His introduction to the chainsaw turned into something quite comical. After dulling his first chain, he wasn’t aware a chain could be sharpened so he purchased a new chain. “I apparently put the brand new chain on backward,” Bratton laughed. “I felt like an idiot when I took it to my brother and him telling me I put it on backward. It’s just one of those things. When there is something out there you decide you can do and you just jump in and do it you are going to run into things like that. It wasn’t about the chainsaw, but about what I could do with the chainsaw.” >> October 2013 | ABOUT 17

When our helpers come in, I can go outside and just go to work on something and it helps. For me not ever being an artistic kind of guy, I feel like God just put this in my hands. Something for me to do. It really is a Godsend in so many ways.” The Bratton’s have two adult daughters and six grandchildren. His grandson Braxton stood nearby. He said his hobby has also brought him closer to his grandchildren. “Braxton is my eldest grandchild,” he said pointing at the tow-headed kid. “He has been a great deal of help to me. He is learning to carve, and he is loving it. If there is a piece I don’t really care to finish I will throw it out on the burn pile. I can’t tell you how many times he’s gone out a pulled one off the burn pile and had me finish, and that is good for me.”

Bratton’s work started out and remains popular amongst many of his neighbors. He said it isn’t unusual to draw a few onlookers while he is outside working. At other times, people’s reactions come as a surprise to him. “I came up over the hill to my house one day after I had just started chainsaw carving. My neighbor across the road had one of the bears I had carved over his shoulder,” he pointed across the street to a large bear standing on a porch. “My neighbor said, ‘When you get ready for it back it will be over here on my porch.’ It’s been over there ever since.” Bratton said he firmly believes God put the first walking stick in his hands in preparation for obstacles to come. “I’m just not a man who likes to sit with

18 ABOUT | October 2013

nothing to do,” he said. “I think God knew I would need something to do on down the road to keep me occupied.” James has been married to his wife, Sandra for 35 years. Doctors have deemed her terminally ill. The family has home health care nurses that help with her caretaking, but most of the caretaking falls on the immediate family. Bratton said that getting out to his wood shop, or out in the yard to work on projects, helps take his mind off what is going on inside his home. “My family is my life,” he said. “I’ve vowed not to put her in a nursing facility. With the help of our daughters and home healthcare, I believe we can make it work. I don’t like to leave her, but sometimes I need to get away from being on top of the situation.

Braxton nodded his head in agreement. A can of polyurethane sat propped up against his wood shop. Braxton said going inside the shop is one of his favorite moments with his granddad. “We can go in that wood shed and talk for hours,” Bratton said. “We don’t solve the world’s problems, but we solve mine and his problems.”

Every piece placed throughout the yard had a different story. One piece in particular stood out from the rest – a woodcarving of a woman with her hair in a conservative bun, high-collared full-length dress, holding a Holy Bible and tissues sticking out of pocket “That is a carving of my mother that passed away about three years ago. I started work on it about a year before she passed,” Bratton held out a picture. The photo was a striking resemblance to the carving. Bratton said his mother was in a nursing facility suffering with Alzheimer’s when he began working on the piece. He also said he never goes out to work on a particular piece; the idea just comes to him when he picks up the chainsaw. “I just came outside one day and picked up a piece of wood and started working on it. It just kind of comes over me. I know it might sound crazy, but it just does,” he said. “Everyone who knew her always called her Grandma Bratton. It didn’t matter if you were related or not. To this day, when people see this carving, they know exactly who this is. Everywhere she went she had her bible and her tissues in her pocket.” He said she held a prominent role in the family and was close to many. “She was a very special lady to me, her grandkids, great-grandkids and everyone who knew her. This is just a little way I can kind of have a piece of her for all of us to remember, and through my art this is what I’m leaving for all my family. We don’t have much, but we have each other and they can always have a little something like this to remind them of me.” Braxton said his art is strictly a hobby. Many of his pieces he gives to friends and family, but can’t imagine charging anyone money for something he often times will just leave in his yard to rot. A lot of his friends have picked pieces from his yard and found homes for them in their own. “My grandkids, my kids, my brothers, sisters, in-laws, friends, everyone I know has a piece of my work,” Braxton said humbly. “I don’t know, maybe it’s because I’m sick, I don’t know. But seven years ago the doctors said I’m dying, then three years ago they say I’m dying. Everyone is born and everyone dies. To me, this wood stuff; if I give it to somebody I know it’s a part of me. If I sell it, it’s just something somebody bought. “My favorite thing to tell people is all a poor man can leave is memories, and if you’re going to leave memories make them good,” Bratton said. “I push myself real hard to leave them something good. Hopefully when they look down at something I made they will think only good thoughts.” n

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cleanliness testing. Our hygiene standards are 20% above the Environmental Services Healthcare Industry averages and we even exceed our own standards and have been doing this consistently for several months,” said Baxter. Since ATP testing started, Baxter said she also noticed a dramatic improvement and sense of ownership by the environment services departments as a member of the hospital’s health care team.

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Arkansas Women to Watch Textile Exhibit

Stephens Gallery at the Walton Fine Arts Center of the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville is now showcasing textile-based works created by five top-rated Arkansas women artists. The Arkansas Women to Watch Exhibition will be on display until October 22, 2013, with an opening reception held from 6-7 p.m. on October 11, 2013. The exhibit features the innovative works of Louise Halsey of Little Rock, Barbara Cade of Hot Springs, Jennifer Libby Fay (formerly of Rogers), Jane Hartfield of Fort Smith, and Deborah Kuster of Conway. Halsey, who creates woven tapestries as small commentaries on life, was chosen by the National Museum of Women in the Arts to show her work in the exhibition High Fiber: Women to Watch 2012 in Washington, D.C. Artist Barbara Cade is showing felted and mixed media works, Jennifer Libby Fay’s “textile paintings’ explore the relationship between art, nature and spirituality, Jane Hartfield’s hand-dyed and painted quilts explore color relationships, and Deborah Kuster, a Professor of Art at the University of Central Arkansas, creates art quilts whose creation goes beyond the loom. Women to Watch 2013 is a project of the Arkansas State Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, which is a non-profit volunteer organization established as an affiliate of the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA), located in Washington, D.C. NMWA brings recognition to the achievements of women artists of all periods and nationalities by exhibiting, preserving, acquiring, and researching art by women and by teaching the public about their accomplishments. The Arkansas State Committee is thrilled to bring talent from the state to the forefront, and the national stage. Stephens Gallery is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday through Friday. There is no charge for admission. 20 ABOUT | October 2013

MISTLETOE MARKET PREPARES FOR 6TH YEAR

SAFETY IS “A” RATED AT SAINT MARY’S REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

An antiseptic environment is vital to patients in health care facilities. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) about 1.7 million health-care-related infections occur annually in the U.S., resulting in 99,000 deaths. “Proper and thorough environmental hygiene in hospitals is critical for the prevention of healthcare-acquired infections or HAIs; the most common complication of hospital health care,” says the CDC. Recent studies by the World Health Organization also suggest implementing strict prevention practices, including rigorous cleaning of high touch surfaces, can lead to 70 percent reduction in HAI’s. Patients at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center can feel confident in the hospital’s high safety standards against HAI’s and other hospital contagions, said Saint Mary’s Infection Preventionist Monica Baxter RN, MSN CIC. The facility was awarded an “A” for patient safety for the second year in a row by a top hospital safety index score. Saint Mary’s is one of only three hospitals in the state of Arkansas to receive this “A” ranking for spring 2013 and one of four Arkansas hospitals given the prestigious honor last period. The Hospital Safety Score is administered by The Leapfrog Group, a national leader and advocate in hospital transparency. “Many patients are not even aware of our firm commitment to environmental hygiene, because our sanitation protocol is done behind the scenes, but Saint Mary’s is one of very few hospitals doing this intense level of

Russellville- The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Arkansas River Valley is proud to announce the 6th annual Mistletoe Market-shop for a Cause set for Friday and Saturday November 8 and 9, 2013 at the L.V. Williamson Boys & Girls Club, 600 E. 16th St., Russellville. The event will offer 40 plus merchants’ gift items under one roof with proceeds benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of the Arkansas River Valley. For the past years this has been a very successful event where merchants, shoppers and the Boys & Girls Clubs end up big winners. It is a great opportunity to do your holiday shopping in one place, support area businesses, save a little gas money and, most importantly, help the children of the area that are involved in the outstanding programs offered by the Boys & Girls Club. Gift items and merchandise will include art, beauty products, clothing, fall and holiday items, home décor, baby items, food, jewelry, toys and other gifts of all kinds. At the door a $5 donation is requested of all shoppers which entitles them to a 2-day shopping pass for Friday and Saturday Nov. 8, 10am to 7pm and Nov. 9, 10am to 4pm. An additional “Preview Party” will be held the evening of Thursday, November 7. Tickets for this event are priced at $25 and include lots of good food and a first chance at plenty of great shopping. Tickets for the Preview Party will be available at the Boys & Girls Club or at the door that evening. For those who wish to have the first opportunity to shop, don’t forget that when you spend $100 total from the Mistletoe Market merchants, you will then qualify for the “Dash for Cash” $500 prize. This is only for the first 40 shoppers that turn in their receipts. For more information or to become a vendor, contact Cathy Andrasik at 479.968.7819.

ETERNAL THREADS GATHERING SALE

The 6th Annual Eternal Threads Gathering Sale will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2012 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Family

WELCOME TO STEPHANIE BEERMAN

Center of West Side church of Christ, 201 N. Waco, in Russellville. This is a unique shopping experience that showcases Fair Trade products from twelve countries across the world. Established in the year 2000, Eternal Threads is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and children most as risk of extreme poverty, trafficking and other forms of exploitation. Eternal Threads provides sustainable livelihoods through income generating projects that directly pay a fair and living wage. Proceeds from sales also help fund vocational training, anti-trafficking border units and literacy programs. Come browse beautiful hand crafted items made by skilled artisans in exotic countries. Items include hand crocheted

totes from India; hand-loomed silk scarves and shawls from Madagascar; hand-knitted woolen items and jewelry from Nepal; hand crafted jewelry using semiprecious stones from Afghanistan and Thailand, and many more crafts from Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria, Mongolia, Peru, Bulgaria, and the Philippines. With your Eternal Threads purchase, you not only possess a quality item that you will treasure. You also give a gift of hope to a woman in the developing world. Join us in “weaving hope and justice” into the lives of hundreds of families. Your single purchase really does make a difference! Visit Eternal Threads website at www. EternalThreads.org. For more information about this event, contact Molly Turner at mollycturner58@gmail.com or 479.970.5445.

The Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Stephanie Beerman has accepted the position of Executive Vice President. In this position Stephanie will be responsible for managing the Chamber programs and committees, such as the Business Expo, Leadership Russellville, Business After Hours, the Redcoat Committee and Sunset Cinema. Stephanie is originally from Mount Ida, Arkansas and has lived in Russellville for over ten years. She is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University with a bachelor degree in Hospitality Administration and Management, and was previously employed with the Schumacher Group at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center. "We are very excited and lucky to have Stephanie join our team here at the Chamber." stated Jeff Pipkin, President and CEO. "Her positive attitude, business and hospitality experience, personality and enthusiasm make her a perfect fit for this position and an asset to our organization." Commenting on her new position Stephanie stated, "The mission of the Chamber of Commerce is to promote progress for our community. I consider it both a privilege and honor to join this great team and to work for the people and businesses in the Russellville area. I will work diligently to support our members and their businesses, and am glad to be able to serve in what I consider to be my hometown." Stephanie resides in Russellville with her husband, Josh Beerman, and daughter Julia. We invite all of our Chamber members and friends to stop by the Chamber and meet Stephanie. n

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about | food

Things I love about Fall... Story by Lydia Zimmerman, Food Editor

umpkins, scarecrows, corn stalks and colorful leaves. These are a few of my favorite things. Fall is needless to say my favorite of the four seasons. I love to decorate and cook using pumpkin. Therefore, I have done pumpkin recipes for this month. Coming into fall also brings to mind a favorite childhood memory of trick or treating to the neighbor’s houses. My favorite neighbor to visit was Mr. and Mrs. Rayburn Bowden who lived over the road from us. They, like my parents, had a slew of kids and Miss Juanita made the best homemade popcorn balls that I looked forward to getting each Halloween. In memoriam to Mrs. Bowden I am including her homemade popcorn ball recipe. Thank you Mrs. Bowden. As always enjoy!

PUMPKIN SPICE CAKE

1 box Yellow Cake mix 1 can (15oz) pumpkin puree 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp allspice

3/4 c sugar 1/2 c oil 1/2 tsp nutmeg 4 large eggs

Combine all the above ingredients in a large mixing bowl and beat for 3 minutes with mixer. Pour into a greased bundt pan and bake in oven at 350 degrees for approx 1 hour. Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn over onto cake tray to remove from pan. GLAZE 1/2 c margarine 1/2 c brown sugar 1/2 c pecan pieces Place the above three ingredients in a microwave safe bowl and set for 20-25 seconds or until butter is melted. Remove from microwave and stir well. Pour onto cake and serve. Recipe courtesy of Wilma Gray (my mom) 22 ABOUT | October 2013

MRS. BOWDEN’S POPCORN BALLS 1 T Butter or Oleo 1 c molasses or dark Karo syrup 4 qt popped corn

1 c sugar 1/2 tsp salt

In saucepan melt butter, add sugar,salt and molasses. Cook to hard boil stage (244 degrees F). Pour over popped corn and with butter hands quickly form the popcorn balls. BE CAREFUL THE MIXTURE WILL BE HOT! Lie on wax paper to cool, then wrap with plastic wrap. Recipe courtsey of Sandra Franks, Pottsville (Mrs. Bowden’s daughter)

PUMPKIN GINGERBREAD 2 1/2 c sugar 4 eggs 2 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp cinnamon 3 c pre sifted flour 1/2 c brown sugar 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree 1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 c cooking oil 2/3 c water 1 tsp ground allspice 1 tsp ground cloves 1/3 c molasses 1/2 c apple sauce 2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease (2) 9X5 loaf pans. In a large mixing bowl combine sugars,oil,eggs, molasses and water and beat until smooth. Then stir in pumpkin,apple sauce and spices. In a medium mixing bowl combine flour,soda,salt and baking powder. Add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture and blend just until ingredients are mixed. Divide batter into two parts and pour equally into the pregreased loaf pans. Place pans into preheated oven and bake for about an hour or until (when inserting) toothpicks come out “clean”.

AU BON PAIN PUMPKIN SOUP

1 can (15oz) pureed pumpkin or a * halved and baked pumpkin* 1/2 onion 1 stalk celery 1 carrot 2 T brown sugar 2 T butter 1 tsp cloves 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp allspice Fresh,chopped Ginger (Approx 2 T) Mix the above ingredients together and place into a pot. Add, 3-4 c chicken stock 1 c tomato sauce 1/2 c apple cider Puree all of the ingredients together with immersion blender. Heat to desired temperature and serve. Keeps in the refrigerator for 2 days. Garnish with roasted pumpkin seeds or croutons before serving. If you opt to use fresh pumpkin you can cut a med sized pumpkin in half, remove the seeds and “goo”(strings) then add your vegetable, spices,and butter to the inside of the pumpkin halves. Place these on a greased baking sheet and put into a oven heated to 350 degrees and bake for 45 minutes. Then check your pumpkin to ensure it is cooked using a toothpick or knife blade inserted into the pumpkin, if it is soft then scoop the vegetables and pumpkin out of the rind and place into the pot. Then add the remaining 3 ingredients also to the pot and puree with blender, heat to desired serving temperature. You may garnish with roasted pumpkin seeds or croutons immediately before serving. Yum! Recipe courtesy of Teresa Fine, Clarksville

Mommy and Me Recipes SWEET PUMPKIN DIP

15 oz. (1 can) pure pumpkin puree 16 oz. (2 pkgs) softened cream cheese 2 c. sifted powdered sugar 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground ginger (Mommy) Beat cream cheese and pumpkin in a large bowl until smooth. (Little helper) Add sugar, cinnamon and ginger.(Mommy) Mix thoroughly with mixer. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Serves up great with graham crackers. Recipe courtesy of Deanna Yates, Coal Hill

SPICED PUMPKIN BUTTER

4 c Pumpkin Puree or two 15-oz. cans pumpkin 1 1/4 c pure maple syrup 1/2 c apple juice 2 T lemon juice 2 tsp ground ginger 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg 1/4 tsp salt Chopped hazelnuts (optional)

In 5-quart Dutch oven combine all ingredients except nuts. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat, stirring frequently, 25 minutes or until thick. (If mixture spatters, reduce heat to medium-low). Remove from heat; cool. Ladle into jars or freezer containers, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Cover; store in refrigerator up to 1 week or freezer up to 6 months. To serve, top with chopped nuts. Recipe courtesy of Better Homes & Garden

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PUMPKIN-SHRIMP BRUSHETTA

CARAMEL-PUMPKIN TART WITH PECAN CRUMBLE

20 fresh or frozen jumbo shrimp in shells 1 c pureed pumpkin 1/2 c crumbled goat cheese,at room temperature (2 oz) 1 T lemon juice 1 T honey 1 c arugula 1/2 c finely chopped red onion 1/2 c toasted pumpkin seeds* 1/4 c bottled Italian vinaigrette salad dressing 20 3/4 in-thick slices of Baguette style French bread 2 T olive oil 2 oz Parmesan cheese,shaved (optional) Peel and devein shrimp, leaving tails intact. Rinse shrimp. In a large skillet, cook shrimp in a large amount of boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes or until shrimp are opaque. Drain well. Preheat broiler. In a medium bowl, whisk together pumpkin, goat cheese, lemon juice, and honey; set aside. In a large bowl, combine shrimp, arugula, onion, pumpkin seeds, and salad dressing; set aside. Brush both sides of baguette slices lightly with olive oil. Arrange on a large baking sheet. Broil 3 to 4 inches from the heat about 2 minutes or until toasted, turning bread over once. Spread pumpkin mixture on one side of toasted baguette slices. Top each with a shrimp and some of the arugula mixture. If desired, top each with shaved Parmesan cheese. Makes 20 appetizers. *To toast pumpkin seeds: Place pumpkin seeds in a dry large skillet; cover. Heat over medium heat about 5 minutes or until seeds are toasted, shaking skillet occasionally. Recipe courtsey of Better Homes & Garden

60 Vanilla Wafers, divided 1/2 c butter,melted and divided 1/3 c chopped pecans 2 T brown sugar 1-3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice,divided 1 (8 oz) cream cheese, softened 1 c canned pureed pumpkin 1 (3.4oz) Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding 1/2 c milk 1 c cool whip, thawed 12 caramel candies 1 T water

CROCKPOT PUMPKIN SPICED LATTES

2 c milk 2 T canned pumpkin puree 2 T sugar 2 T vanilla (for stronger flavor add vanilla syrup) 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or 1/4 tsp cinnamon,1/8 tsp nutmeg,1/8 tsp ground cloves, and tiny piny of ground ginger) 3/4 c strong brewed coffee (or 1/2 cup brewed espresso) garnish with whipped topping In a 4-quart crockpot (but as small as a 1.5 quart will work with these amounts) place the coffee/espresso and milk to the crockpot. Whisk in the pumpkin, spices, sugar, and vanilla. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours if everything is cold,then whisk again. Ladle into mugs, and garnish with whipped cream and additional cinnamon. Add a cinnamon stick for garnish. Recipe courtesy of Food.com

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Crush 50 wafers to form fine crumbs; mix with 1/3 c butter. Press onto bottom of 9-inch tart pan. Coarsely crush remaining wafers; place in medium bowl. Add remaining butter, nuts, sugar and 1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice; mix well. Spread onto bottom of shallow pan; place in oven along with crust. Bake 10 to 12 min. or until both are light golden brown; cool. BEAT cream cheese and pumpkin in medium bowl with mixer until well blended. Add remaining pie spice and dry pudding mix; beat until blended. Gradually beat in milk; spread over crust. Top with COOL WHIP, spreading to within 1/2 inch of edge. Refrigerate 4 hours. Meanwhile, break cooled baked nut mixture into smaller pieces; store in airtight container until ready to use. SPRINKLE nut mixture over tart just before serving. Microwave caramels and water in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until caramels are melted, stirring after 45 sec. Drizzle over tart. Recipe courtesy of Kraft foods

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PUMPKIN, CHICKPEA, AND RED LENTIL STEW

1lb pie pumpkin or winter squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes 15 oz chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained 3 medium carrots, sliced 1/2 inch thick 1 c chopped onion (1 large) 1 c red lentils, rinsed and drained 2 T tomato paste 1 T grated fresh ginger 1 T lime juice 1 tsp ground cumin 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp ground turmeric 1/4 tsp ground black pepper 4 c chicken or vegetable broth 1/4 c chopped peanuts 2 T chopped fresh cilantro Plain nonfat yogurt (optional) In a 3-1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker, combine pumpkin, chickpeas, carrots, onion, lentils, tomato paste, ginger, lime juice, cumin, salt, turmeric, and pepper. Pour broth over all in cooker. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 8 to 10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours. Top each serving with peanuts, cilantro, and if desired, yogurt. Makes 6 (11/3 cup) servings. Recipe courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

PUMPKIN MUFFINS WITH OATS AND ORANGE MARMALADE 3/4 c all-purpose flour 3/4 c whole-wheat flour 2/3 c rolled oats

1/2 c sugar 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground ginger 1 c pure pumpkin puree 1/2 c orange marmalade 1/3 c buttermilk 1 T cider vinegar 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 1/4 c vegetable oil 4 T unsalted butter, melted and cooled 2 large eggs 1/3 c rolled oats 2 T sugar 1 T melted unsalted butter Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick baking spray. In the bowl of a large food processor, combine both flours with the oats, sugar, baking powder, salt, and ginger. Pulse for 10 seconds. Add the pumpkin puree, marmalade, buttermilk, vinegar, and vanilla and pulse several times to combine. Scrape down the side of the bowl. Add the oil, butter, and eggs and process until fully incorporated, about 10 seconds. In a small bowl, mix the oats with the sugar and butter. Fill the prepared pan with heaping 3 T -size scoops of batter. Sprinkle on the oat topping. Bake in the center of the oven for about 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then turn them out onto a rack to cool completely. Serve the muffins slightly warm or at room temperature. Recipe courtesy of Food and Wine magazine

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PUMPKIN MAC AND CHEESE

2 c dried elbow macaroni 2 T butter 2 T flour 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground black pepper 1 c heavy whipping cream 1 c whole milk 1 c (4 oz) Fontina cheese,shredded 1 can (15oz) pureed pumpkin 1 T snipped fresh sage or 1/2 tsp dried leaf sage, crushed (optional) 1/2 c soft bread crumbs 1/2 c grated parmesan cheese 1/3 c chopped walnuts 1 T olive oil Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook pasta in a large pot following package directions. Drain cooked pasta, then return to pot. For cheese sauce,in a medium saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour, salt, and pepper. Add whipping cream and milk all at once. Cook and stir over medium heat until slightly thickened and bubbly. Stir in cheese, pumpkin, and sage until cheese is melted. Stir cheese sauce into pasta to coat. Transfer macaroni and cheese to an ungreased 2-quart rectangular baking dish. In a small bowl combine bread crumbs, Parmesan, walnuts, and oil; sprinkle over pasta. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until bubbly and top is golden. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. If desired, sprinkle with sage leaves. Recipe courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

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"And I can’t stress this enough,” said V.H. “It is very, very important that you do not miss the finishing shot."

This large vampire bat (Pteropus vampirus) is a true trophy.

Vampire Season a Reality for 2013

Vampires are common in the urban areas of Arkansas, most notably the Little Rock and Conway area. Fayetteville, Springdale and Fort Smith are also known vampire Story by Johnny Sain home ranges. This places River Valley Hunters have approached the state hunters in a prime position: Right in the wildlife commission for several years about middle of a major migration route. the possibility of a vampire season. Rumors A rather well known professional surfaced last year that a 2012 season would vampire hunter, who prefers to be happen, but due to typical bureaucratic identified only by the initials V.H., offered complications the plans for the hunt some tips and tactics for first time were put on hold. However, according to hunters. V.H. traces his ancestry back to commission officials, the 2013 season will Eastern Europe -- easily the eeriest chunk be a reality. Bag limits and season dates will of geography on Earth – and comes from a long line of monster hunters. He makes be finalized in the following weeks. In preparation for this exciting new it clear that a mature vampire will provide sporting opportunity, Arkansas hunters will the most challenging hunt an Arkansas have many questions. Fortunately, we were sportsman will ever experience. able to gather tips and tactics to help you “Mature Vampires are very clever,” said V.H. “They have likely lived for a few collect the trophy of a lifetime.

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hundred years and eluded numerous wanna-be heroes and angry villagers” While very wily, Vampires can assume only two different forms, human and bat. “Vampires do not have a wolf-form,” said V.H. “That’s just typical Hollywood fantasy world misinformation.” Unfortunately, this misinformation has spread across the globe. “Even experienced hunters in Europe have shot wolves thinking they were shooting at the fabled third body form of a vampire,” said V.H. “This always leads to disappointment when it is discovered they instead shot a werewolf. I wish Hollywood could just be more realistic, it’s a real disservice to all of us” Human-form vampires are sometimes difficult to distinguish from your neighbors and friends, but there are a few dead giveaways to look for as V.H. explains. “For starters, they look…dead. Pasty skin and sunken eyes are some signs that you’re looking at a vampire. Be sure not to pull the trigger based on these two clues alone, which can also be signs of someone with the flu or a bad hangover. An aversion to crosses and garlic in combination with

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and opt for either a bow or crossbow shooting sharpened wooden arrows dipped in holy water. While the only lethal shot is through the heart, any wound will slow a vampire down and allow a finishing shot. “And I can’t stress this enough,” said V.H. “It is very, very important that you do not miss the finishing shot. Safety will be the most important issue facing Arkansas vampire hunters. So be careful if you choose to hunt the most dangerous quarry here in the Natural State. n

GREAT DEALS ON THE WORLD’S Wooden arrows dipped in holy water are the traditional route for weaponry. White fletching makes it easy to follow arrow flight in dim lighting.

pasty skin, sunken eyes, horrible breath, and failing the mirror test means that you need to be locked, cocked, and ready to rock doc. You’re looking at a vampire.” V.H. offers an explanation as to why you will see some jugular junkie in the daylight and offers a baiting tip as well. “Vampires are typically nocturnal critters. You may catch them prowling around at sunrise and sunset, but most of your trophy bloodsuckers won’t be active until after 10 p.m. and then back in the ground before the rooster crows. If you do happen to see what you think is a vampire out and about during daylight, pay special attention to their appearance in direct sunlight. Is the suspected vampire shimmering as if coated in glitter? If so you need to be looking for a killing shot, it’s a vampire. Human form vampires are often seen hanging around high schools during daylight hours and are attracted to melancholy teenage girls that live in fantasy worlds. That’s good news for hunters with melancholy teenage daughters because there has never been better bait for vampires. You could fill your tag right on your own property.”

Bat-form vampires are relatively easy to spot and offer challenging wing shooting opportunities. Vampire bats are much larger than native Arkansas bats and tend to congregate around old houses and cemeteries. V.H. has taken his share of neck nibblers. However, in recent European seasons he has turned his attention to trophy vampires “When it comes to vampires, tooth size is what makes a trophy. You want to look for teeth in the 2-3 inch range. A 3-inch tooth will rate a high ranking in the record books. It’s difficult to judge teeth on bat-form vampires, but the human-forms are quite easy to dupe into flashing their choppers; just tell them a joke. Vampires are notorious suckers for dumb blond jokes. The canines aren’t fully deployed unless feeding, but if you notice more than a half inch difference in the canines and the other teeth while not in feeding mode – and feeding mode is something you never want to see up close-you’re looking at a sure enough trophy.” Most vampire hunters prefer to take the traditional route when choosing a weapon

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Flooding Rivers and Everyday Songs The Stories and Music of Floy Bearden Story by Meredith Martin Moats

Photos of grandchildren and great grandchildren line the walls of Floy Bearden’s home in Dardanelle. A bag of crochet peaks out from under the piano, the platform above the keys lined with even more photos. Among the framed images is a gospel song she wrote in 1979 entitled “God Made the World.” It’s written in shape notes, a form of musical notation begun in the early 1800s and made popular in congregational and community singing. She laughs and says her preschoolaged great grandson keeps the song out so he can play it when he visits. “It was done up by Roland Green,” she adds, the late choral director from Dardanelle.

28 ABOUT | October 2013

I first heard about Floy’s music when I was a young girl growing up in the Dardanelle Church of Christ. During the singing I always sat next to my grandmother and her sister, both women who’d grown up in the cotton farming communities outside of town. As young girls they learned how to sing the shape note harmonies in the singing schools popular in the region in the early 1900s. We never used any instruments in church, placing emphasis on the blending of voices. In the front cover of our Sacred Selections for the Church was a copy Floy’s song “God Made the World,” her name in black letters in the top left hand corner. Sometimes the song leader would call out her song and we’d all join in. My grandmother often reminded me we were all related—my great grandfather, Ira Taylor, and Floy’s father, Bryan Taylor, were brothers. Knowing that I was curious about her music, Floy inserted a copy of that song into a card she gave me when I was married in 2003, decades after my grandmother had passed. It is a prized possession that I will always cherish. Over the years I discovered Floy had written other songs as well: songs about visiting the Grand Ole Opry, the bittersweet feelings of watching a child get married, and the hilarious antics of grandchildren. Though she’s never had a hit record, she’s a regional treasure. “I wrote my first song in seventh grade,” she laughs. “A girlfriend and me wrote a song about our teacher.” They let a fellow classmate read the lyrics and she threatened to share it with the teacher, a thought that terrified young Floy. She’s not sure what happened to that first song, but wishes now she wouldn’t have been so hesitant to let others read what she’d written. In the 7th grade Floy was living in Dardanelle, having recently moved from the cotton farming community of Stringtown, a now non-existent dot on the map between the former communities of Riverside and Carden Bottoms. A rich flood plain once known for its cotton crop, the area is located near Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge and both the Petit Jean and Arkansas Rivers. In those days, everyone in the so-called bottoms picked cotton.

Before she was old enough to pick on her own, her parents pulled her along with them on their sacks. “They had their sack on their shoulder and I’d be sitting on the sack and I’d have to get off while they shook their cotton down, and then I’d get back on and ride,” she recalls. When she was about five or six her mother made her a tow sack of her own, and she picked right along with her relatives. “I used to take three rows with my daddy when I got up bigger,” she recalls. In going to the field with him, she wanted to prove she could pick just as much as the adults and would boast that together they picked a full three rows. “It took me a while to know what he was doing,” she says smiling. “He’d pick really hard, and I would pick on that middle row and it would make me get behind. And he’d turn around with his sack and help me on that row and then go back to his row,” she laughs. “He never said a word,” she says, or let others know she wasn’t as fast as her him. It’s a tenderness that left a huge impression. Many years later she wrote a loving song to her late father entitled, “Daddy, I Love you.”It’s one she doesn’t share often, though I once had the opportunity to hear a home recording she made of the song years ago, before she came down with breathing problems. The voice on the tape was a ringing soprano layered with waves of vibrato. “Growing up we didn’t listen to a lot of music because we had a battery radio,” she says, recalling her first exposure to country songs. Her father saved the battery, turning it on only for the news and the Grand Ole Opry. She remembers an old record player they had and their time spent listening to the Chuck Wagon Gang, Jimmy Rogers and Bill Monroe. “I still think a lot of Jimmy Roger’s songs,” she adds, remembering

Her time at that small Riverside School was formative; musically and socially. In addition to serving as a refuge during floods, the building was an all-purpose community structure offering school during the week and church services on Sundays. Though the community seldom had a preacher, her grandfather, who’d been a preacher earlier in life, gave the Sunday lesson and her Uncle Ira led the singing. “In those days,” she recalls, “It was songs like the Old Rugged Cross.” Taking a minute to recall some of her favorites she remembers one she doesn’t hear led anymore entitled, “Don’t Let Your Light Burn Low.” Too young to attend to the singing schools that were popular just a few years before she was born, she grew up hearing the harmonies and knowing the power of human singing. With few toys and even fewer conveniences, life in the bottoms centered around family and neighbors. She recalls living across the street from an African American family during the days of Jim Crow. Though they went to different schools, at the end of the day all the children in the area -- black and white -- played ball together, and sometimes, she says, all the girls would get together and roll their hair. And everyone, regardless of race, worked together in the cotton fields. “When it was time to move to Dardanelle I cried,” Floy remembers. “It was the only place I had ever known.” In later years, Floy’s travels led her far from Yell County, influencing her music in new ways. When her husband was in the service in Texas she and a fellow army wife went to visit their husbands at base. While there they wrote a song about the town. “We went down stairs and sang it to our landlord,” she laughs. “She really liked it because it was her hometown,” she chuckles. “Myra Texas,” Floy continued. “Probably not even on the map because it had just a store, and I think a church and a station.”

"Sometimes I’d get up in the middle of the night thinking of something and have to write it down.” her father. “He would sit in his chair and sing his songs with him and yodel with him.” Years later he ended up selling his records to buy the children shoes for school, she recalled. “I know he hated to do that, but he did.” Flooding was common in the bottoms in those days, often leaving the pickers with few possessions and no place to go. “We lived in the bend,” she recalls, “and we had to walk about three miles to get to school. It rained for about two weeks once and our radio battery was down, so we couldn’t get any news.” The mail came to the grandfather’s nearby, but the water was too high to leave the house. One afternoon when the sun came out her brother decided to take the wagon over to their grandfather’s. “He ran into Uncle Ira,” she explains, who told them they had to move out. “They’re expecting the levy to break,” her uncle informed them. “So we had to get what we could, like bedding and cooking supplies and clothes.” They loaded up the wagon and headed to the nearby school at Riverside where several other families were also waiting out the flood. When the waters receded, they moved back to Stringtown where they had to boil water, wash the mud out of the houses, repaper the walls and try to get life back to normal. Some years later, after her father had begun farming in Dardanelle, the river eventually took Stringtown completely, Floy recalls. In the deep, muddy water, people said the roofs of the houses “looked like chicken coops.”

For years Floy worked at the POM plant in Russellville, first filing parts and later making balance wheels for the meters. Working with her hands, she was able to construct songs in her head, often enlisting her fellow co-workers for feedback. One of the songs she wrote at the plant she called, “Rockwell International,” named after the POM plant’s previous owner. “They told me Rockwell made parts for space shuttles,” she recalls, “and so I had to write a song about that.” While working at the plant she and a fellow coworker traveled to Nashville to tour the city. When they returned a young man they worked with “took to calling me Nashville,” she laughs. “Nashville write a song about me,” he requested. “So I did,” she says smiling. “I wrote the ‘Grand Ole Opry Blues’ and put his name in it.” Continued on page 31

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30 ABOUT | October 2013

Continued from page 29 The tune to the song features a Jimmy Rogers style yodel, the kind her father would sing while sitting in his chair in the evenings. When asked which song is her favorite she says “Little Angie,” a tale of a younger sister who incessantly follows her big sister around. “One afternoon my son Johnny came over with his daughter, Angie,” she explains. “And she run through the kitchen and as I picked her up I said, “Little Angie.” Johnny said, “Now don’t write a song about her,” she laughs. “Well, of course, that give me the idea,” she adds with a smile. “Little Angie” is one of a handful of songs recorded by Mary and Pat Fulz of northwest Arkansas, relatives of Joe Clark, the singer from Dardanelle. A bluegrass style tune, it tells the story of a little girl who follows her big sister around like a shadow, driving her crazy despite the flattery her adoration brings. Floy is perhaps best known for the many years she spent as a caregiver, tending to children from all over Dardanelle. Everyone who stayed with her has a story about the ways in which she taught empathy and compassion. “That was the hardest job I ever quit,” she says. “It was nothing for me to have fourteen kids a day,” she continues. “Crying is one thing I did not allow,” she adds. “Now they could start to cry, but we all had to find out what was wrong. If they were hurt we had to all get in there and doctor them,” she laughs as she recalls teaching the older children how to sooth a baby’s tears. Nearing ninety years old, she’s still working on her music, and speaks of a few songs she’s completing. “Sometimes I’d get up in the middle of the night thinking of something and have to write it down,” she says, explaining her song writing process. Over the years she’s taken her songs to songwriter’s roundtables, receiving positive feedback from the participants. She routinely claims she’s never been a singer, laughing and saying that her singing made her grandchildren cry. “So if that tells you anything,” she laughs. Though I hate to argue with her, her voice on those tapes proves otherwise. It’s a raw voice, both powerful and tender. And her songs capture stories of everyday life—the importance of family, humanity’s endless curiosity about faraway places, and our desire to tell others just how much we love them. n

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October 2013 | ABOUT 31

about | education

Arkansas Tech University enrollment exceeds 11,000 Arkansas Tech University maintains its trend as one of the fastest growing institutions of higher learning in the United States with 3.7 percent enrollment increase and a school-record headcount enrollment of 11,379 students for the fall 2013 semester. It is the 15th consecutive record enrollment for Arkansas Tech and the first time that enrollment at the institution has exceeded 11,000. The number of students choosing to attend Arkansas Tech has increased by 168 percent since 1997, a record of sustained growth that no other public university in Arkansas has achieved. Arkansas Tech was named one of the five fastest growing public master’s degree-granting universities in the United States by The Chronicle of Higher Education in the printed edition of its “Almanac of Higher Education 2013” published on Aug. 23, 2013. Arkansas Tech has 9,223 students on its main campus in Russellville and 2,156 students on its Ozark campus. Enrollment figures for fall 2013 became official as of the end of the 11th class day for the semester, which was Thursday, Sept. 12. Growth at Arkansas Tech has included many enrollment milestones along the way. Arkansas Tech exceeded 5,000 students for the first time in 2000; 6,000 students in 2003; 7,000 students in 2006; 8,000 students in 2009; 9,000 students in 2010; 10,000 students in 2011; and now 11,000 students in 2013. “The responsible and managed growth of Arkansas Tech University is a reflection of the quality of our academic programs and the dedication of our faculty and staff,” said Dr. Robert C. Brown, who is serving his 21st and final academic year as active president at Arkansas Tech. “The secret is out. Arkansas Tech 32 ABOUT | October 2013

provides students with access to the lifechanging benefits of a college degree in a nurturing environment at the best value among the five largest universities in Arkansas. That is our formula for success. Our enrollment figures, and more importantly our graduation figures, demonstrate that the plan is working and making a difference in the lives of Arkansas Tech students.” Arkansas Tech conferred 2,617 degrees during the 2012-13 academic year, the most in a single year in the 104-year history of the institution. Annual degree production at Arkansas Tech has increased by 268 percent since Brown was elected as the 11th president of the university in 1993. Among all of the degrees that have been earned in the history of Arkansas Tech, 57 percent have been earned during Brown’s two-decade tenure as president. Included in the fall 2013 student body at Arkansas Tech in Russellville are 1,433 first-time freshmen. The Arkansas Tech Class of 2017 completed high school with a cumulative grade point average of 3.23 and an average ACT score of 22. This marks the 19th consecutive year in which the Arkansas Tech freshman class has beaten the national and state averages on the ACT exam. For more information about Arkansas Tech University, visit www.atu.edu.

AGRICULTURE FACULTY MEMBERS VISIT CONFERENCE ON CAREERS FOR STUDENTS

Two members of the Arkansas Tech University Department of Agriculture faculty recently attended a conference that provided them with information about emerging career trends for students from their academic disciplines. Dr. Malcolm Rainey, head of the Arkansas Tech Department of Agriculture and professor of animal science, and Dr. Lucas Maxwell, assistant professor of agricultural education, participated in the 2013 North American Ag and Food HR Roundtable in Johnston, Iowa. The conference brought representatives of the educational community and the private sector together to discuss the career opportunities that exist in agriculture and how students can prepare themselves to pursue those careers. AgCareers.com, the presenting sponsor for the conference, reported to those in attendance that the number of agriculturerelated job postings on its site set a new record in 2012 by approaching 44,000. Among the job listings that specified a minimum education level, 66 percent required a bachelor’s degree or higher. “One of the most significant numbers that I was presented with during the conference was the fact that 82 percent of job listings in

the agriculture field are in the Midwest and the South,” said Rainey. “That number confirms that students who are interested in living in this part of the country can find numerous career opportunities in agriculture.” Data presented at the conference indicates that 92 percent of agriculture companies anticipate salary increases for staff during the upcoming year. The Arkansas Tech Department of Agriculture offers Bachelor of Science degrees in agriculture business and agricultural education. Students in agriculture business may pursue options in animal science, feed mill management, horticulture and public relations. The department also offers a pre-veterinary medicine program. To learn more about the Arkansas Tech Miss UACCM 2011 Chelsy Jones crowns Miss UACCM Department of Agriculture, visit www.atu. 2012 Adrienne Ackley. edu/agriculture or call (479) 968-0251. The pageant will run throughout the day, beginning with a welcome at 10:00 a.m. UACCM PAGEANT followed by the Baby Miss, Tiny Miss, COMING SOON The University of Arkansas Community Petite Miss, and Little Miss competitions. College at Morrilton Phi Beta Lambda At 1:15 p.m., the Princess Miss, Pre-Teen student organization announces plans for Miss, and Teen Miss competitions will the seventh annual UACCM Pageant. The take place ending with the competition pageant will be Nov. 9 at the Fine Arts and crowning of Miss UACCM. Admission to the pageant is $3. Children under age Auditorium of the UACCM campus. The pageant is open to current UACCM four get in free. students and girls between the ages of The pre-registration deadline is Oct. birth and 17 years competing in seven 28 at 4:00 p.m. with a $30 fee. The final other categories. Those competing for registration deadline is Nov. 4 at 4:00 p.m. the title of Miss UACCM will be judged with a $40 fee. The fee to participate in on beauty, professionalism, speech competitions for prettiest smile, prettiest presentation, and interview skills. The eyes, prettiest hair, and most photogenic is winner of the Miss UACCM division will $5 for each category. information, including receive a $1,000 scholarship to UACCM, Additional registration forms and rules for entry, is and the first alternate in that category will available at www.uaccm.edu. receive a $500 scholarship.

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MORRILTON, AR—The Theatre Department at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton announces its fall production titled “Kindertransport.” The cast will hold five performances of the play from Oct. 10-13. After the violence of Kristallnacht (known as the Night of Broken Glass) against Jews across Germany and Austria, the British government authorized the massive transport of Jewish children (kinder) to Britain via ship and train to rescue them from the injustice and atrocities inflicted by Hitler and the Nazis. Between 1938 and 1939, over the course of nine months, 10,000 Jewish kinder were brought to safety—separating them from their parents and sparing them the horrors of the death camps where many of their family members were exterminated. The play, written by Diane Samuels, examines the life of one child over a 40-year period, and is based on interviews with many kinder. This powerful drama will be presented Oct. 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 12 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Oct. 13 at 2:30 p.m. at the UACCM Fine Arts Auditorium. Seating is limited for each performance. General admission tickets are $10 and are available at the Student Accounts window of the University Center lobby on the UACCM campus from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. UACCM students and employees may obtain a ticket free of charge if they present a UACCM I.D. to the cashier. A small number of tickets may be available at the door before each performance on a first-come first-served basis. Continued on page 35

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October 2013 | ABOUT 33

about | outdoors

Story and photo by Johnny Sain

The crunching gravel was audible for almost a mile on this calm and clear late October afternoon. This was something the hunter driving the old pickup had failed to consider. Other ears were very aware of this, however, and knew exactly what the popping sounds meant. The old deer, bedded in the bottom of a nearby hollow, locked-in to the sounds of change in the woodlands. In his fifth year, the buck had reached his absolute prime. Antler and body mass at its peak. The decreasing autumn sunlight had triggered a release of hormones; his chest and neck were massive from the steroid infusion. Increased aggression was part of this annual transformation as well. Young trees stood no chance as he marked each one with deep gouges and scent. His core area was ablaze with the orange of shredded cedar saplings. This buck was an extraordinary specimen, the product of superior genetics and a lot of luck. Southern highlands are skimpy on nutrients. When coupled with generous hunting seasons on this public land the odds of a buck reaching his potential were long at best. Most were killed during their second autumn, before their caution outweighed their primal urges, but this buck’s wisdom had grown along with his body and antlers. Nothing escaped his notice. Even those primal urges took a backseat to awareness. The hunter had done everything right up until this point. His scouting had revealed a funnel used by the local whitetail herd. A narrow saddle made an easy travel lane from one hollow to the other across the ridge. The majority of deer took this path. He had also found another, more obscure trail. It ran through a small dip in the ridge top. A steeper climb and more rugged terrain than the trail chosen by the masses, but it had some noteworthy items that caught the hunter’s attention: Three large rubs, one on a tree the size of a utility pole. The tree-stand was strapped in a white oak to the side of this trail, facing down into the thickly grown old clear-cut that dominated the hollow. It put the hunter in the best position to kill the old deer. The hunter had waited for a perfect southeasterly breeze to hunt this stand. Care was taken to travel on the ridgeside opposite of the hollow, and he took considerable time walking to the stand. No noise and no sweating were very important. Climbing into the stand, he almost had a smirk on his face. As he settled in and went through a mental checklist of all the things that were so important to this hunt being successful, the warm feeling of confidence enveloped him. It was just a waiting game now. Sooner or later the old buck would try to slip through this trail. It might not be today but the hunter had two weeks of vacation ahead of him. It was just a matter of time. The sound of tires on gravel had focused the buck’s attention on the ridge top. He knew what the sounds meant. He had 34 ABOUT | October 2013

noticed the increase in traffic on the lonely dirt road since the days had started growing shorter and the nights cooler. The scent of two-legged predators was common during this season and it made him even more of a recluse. His travels from the safety of the clear-cut were mostly nocturnal now and he was suspicious of everything. While the does and young bucks would sometimes let their curiosity lead them into a bad situation, he lacked that curiosity. One unfamiliar smell, sound or sight was enough to send him slinking back into the cover of the greenbrier and young cedars. Faint metallic pings and scraping sounds filtered through the tangled saplings in the hollow as the buck listened. Finally, and suddenly, the sounds stopped. The background noises of the forest returned, but the old whitetail kept his focus on the ridge top. For the rest of the afternoon the buck lay in his bed, a mere 200 yards from the hunter, hidden in the thicket. As the sun dipped below the Ozark hills, the deer came to his feet and slowly eased up the ridge. He paused after a few yards and became a statue for 8 minutes. A faint movement, sixtyyards away confirmed his suspicion. Silent as a thought, the buck turned and slipped into the thicket. A single crunching oak leaf betrayed his stealth. The buck would likely never use this trail again. A deer of his age learned lessons quickly and thoroughly. As darkness gathered and the trees became silhouettes, the hunter began to gather his things. No deer sighted today. Right at the end of shooting light, a crunching leaf had him peering into the hollow, but he could never identify the sound. This was just after he had slowly raised his arm to scratch a maddening itch on his back. The hunter had seen nothing except a few squirrels and one gray fox, but he wasn’t discouraged. The weather forecast called for identical conditions tomorrow. He would be back. After all, it was just a matter of time. n

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Just a Matter of Time

Continued from page 33 The performance of “Kindertransport” contains some adult language and may not be suitable for children under 14 years of age. For more information about “Kindertransport,” contact Jim Harris at harris@uaccm.edu or call 501-977-2118.

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ARKANSAS TECH OPEN HOUSE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS OCT. 12

High school students and other individuals interested in learning more about the educational opportunities at Arkansas Tech University are invited to the 17th annual Tech Open House on Saturday, Oct. 12, 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 the 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 1-3 p.m. “Each year, we are pleased at the diverse student population that attends Tech Open House,” said Shauna Donnell, assistant vice president for enrollment management. “Faculty and staff answer questions about attending college from high school students and questions from students who are considering a transfer. It is a great information exchange for all who visit.” 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 Family Day football game between Arkansas Tech and Southern Arkansas at 6 p.m. that evening at Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field. The Tech Open House door prize will be a fall 2014 tuition scholarship to Arkansas Tech. The scholarship winner will be announced at halftime of the Tech-SAU game. For more information about Arkansas Tech Open House, call (479) 968-0343, (800) 582-6953 or visit www.atu.edu/ admissions. n

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about | 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.)

~ September 21 ~

~ November 2 ~

Gail Harper and Brian Sullins

Holly Erickson and Brian Townsend

~ October 5 ~

~ November 9 ~

Leah Epperson and Nicholas Horton

Haley McGrew and Logan Hughes Meggan Schuemann and Kaleb Dickey

~ October 12 ~

~ November 12 ~

Jilliann Jacimore and Jimmy Wilson

Lauren Huckabay and Phillip Riedmueller

~ February 1, 2014 ~

~ October 13 ~

~ November 16 ~

Sarah Wright and Britt Schluterman

Haley Higginbotham and Jake Biggleston

Whitney Baker and Cole Davison

~ October 18 ~

~ November 30 ~

~ May 17, 2014 ~

Leigh Sadler and Mackenzie Carter

~ October 19 ~ Kelsey Coulter and Keith Duke Lauren Tracy and Jack Mann

~ October 26 ~ Hannah Pickens and James Watson,

Cassy Hewett and Matt Karp

~ December 14 ~ Rebecca Bradley and Jon Shanklin Sara McClure and Brandon Dodd

~ December 28 ~ Kelly Conley and Kevin Martin Mary Lauren Hollis and Alex Wilson

Megan Brunetti and David Lensing, Jr.

~ May 23, 2014 ~ Paige Griffin and Caleb Bubbus

~ May 31, 2014 ~ Allie Pipkin and Jacob Sparks

~ June 14, 2014 ~ Amanda Gordon and Brandon Weaver

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.

36 ABOUT | October 2013

October 2013 | ABOUT 37

On a Personal Note They’re good people

Jerry’s wife, Trudy, cleaned the ring and was

Guest Written by Cliff Thomas

back. Without a thought of selling the solid gold

concerned that whoever lost it might want it

piece of jewelry, they called the Russellville High

School office and gave a full description of the Bad things happen to good people, that is an unfortunate fact of life. This story deals with

something bad that happened to someone good,

but the story isn’t actually about that. The true subject of this story is the fact that good people

sometimes happen to bad things, and when they do, it can be nice to stop and enjoy the show.

Good people sometimes happen to bad things, and when they do, it can be nice to stop and enjoy the show.

Robbie Sims is the type of neighbor you would

like to have. Born and raised in the River Valley, he

is known and liked by many long-time residents. Active in his church, a member of Awana, Robbie manages S&S Trailer leasing. If you saw him, he

might seem familiar to you since he has served for over 15 years as a Sheriff’s reserve officer. Unfortunately, the afore mentioned bad thing happened to him.

About 5 years ago Robbie was the victim of a burglary. His family lost a number of valuable

items, but only one thing in particular bothered him, his Russellville High School class ring. When

class ring time rolled around he wanted to order a replacement, but the plates used to produce his ring were destroyed after the 85 school year. Of

course the loss of a class ring, while regrettable, is certainly not life altering. He let it go and only thought about it at the end of every school year. Until, that is, this year.

On August 23, Jerry Bartlett of Yell County was using a metal detector around the Dardanelle

side of the Lock & Dam. After getting a faint

ring. From there it was a simple matter of going

through the 85 yearbook to see if they could find an R.T.S, the initials from one side of the ring.

Three days later Robbie was on the phone with the Bartletts arranging to meet them at Wal-Mart. “How will I know you?” Robbie asked.

"We’ll be in the pickup truck with the Ten Commandments on the tailgate.” Jerry replied.

As Robbie tells the story he plays with the ring;

spinning and then handing it to me to show me the now irreplaceable design on the side.

“They were just really good people,” he says.

“They could have sold it for the gold, but they went

through the trouble of contacting the school, then drove in from Haney Hollow to bring it to me.”

He is smiling really big now, not simply at having

his ring back but at the joy that comes with the realization that there are some really great people in the world.

“I tried to pay them,” he says. “Tried really hard,

but they just wouldn’t take it. In the end the best I could do was to buy them dinner. Mr. Bartlett said they really did enjoy a nice buffet from time to time, so they at least let me do that.”

How the ring made it to the dam is a mystery. How it returned to Robbie is the good part of the

story, good people happening to a bad thing. If you see a pickup in town with the Ten Commandments

covering the tailgate, tip your hat or smile and wave. They’re good people.

signal and digging a bit, he found what he at first thought was an old dirty piece of aluminum. This

story would of course not be interesting if it were indeed just junk, but as some of you might have guessed by now, Jerry’s find was in fact Robbie’s

ring. Found as mentioned before on the 23rd of August, Robbie’s birthday.

38 ABOUT | October 2013

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.

We Take Care Of Ours ...... PERIOD

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Don't have A Paint Guy? Give us a call, we'd love to be yours! That's the Motto of Your Paint Guys

At D & R Paints, our #1 Focus is our customers. Whether you need 1 quart to paint your shutters or 10000 gallons to paint your production plant, YOU are our only Focus. Don't have A Paint Guy? Give us a call, we'd love to be yours!

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D & R Paints D & S. R Paints 1003 Rogers 1003 S. Rogers Clarksville, AR 72830 Clarksville, AR 72830 479-754-7075 479-754-7075

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