FEATURES
Michelle Horton
CONTRIBUTING
Debbie Brower, Mike Brower, Alyssa Jensen, Dustin Stringer, Suzie Tyler
please e-mail us at: alyssa@alt-mag.com
From the Publisher...
The month of love…
February is known as a month that we celebrate love. Love does, however, apply to more than just your family or one special person. In talking with the love of my life, Mike, last night, I was lamenting that I had already talked about our love for each other and that we would celebrate by renewing our vows in Las Vegas in March. That took away much of what I would talk about this month. We have had a lot going on this month, and I had no idea what I would say. He always has a way of reminding me of things that I should know but don’t think about. LOL.
So here we go with his thoughts – these are mine as well. Love for our pets is much more than just us and our dogs. Our dogs are our babies. Many people don’t understand. They think, “They’re just dogs.” Boy, how wrong they are. You have missed out if you have never owned a dog or had a dog own you.
Rescues like Dawn Smith’s Passion for Pooches (P4P) are exceptional in their love and care for discarded dogs. She is such a wonderful person—I don’t know how she does it. Some of the animals P4P rescues are a mess, but she nurtures and nurses them back to health, allowing them to have a wonderful life.
There are other incredible rescues in this area. You can see some of the animals for adoption on page 70 in this month’s issue. Please consider rescuing a baby before buying one. I understand many people want a specific breed, so they go to a breeder. I am one of those who has to have particular breeds because Mike is allergic to shedding animals. However, I have bichons and poodles, all from rescuing them. They need homes that will treat them like family.
If you are looking for love this Valentine’s Day, rescue it. You and the animal you fall in love with will be blessed beyond measure.
May God bless you and yours…
A LOVE FOR THE AGES
Written By: Michelle Horton
Love is the origin of the human story. It connects us to each other and drives us to provide and protect one another. Love does not just give us warm feelings and inspire affection; it is more profound. It allows us to bridge divides, cooperate, and show compassion to other human beings.
True love is a way of life that involves putting others before yourself. It is an active, daily choice to commit to another person, care for and serve them. It is selfless, sacrificial, forgiving, and healing. Sam and Sherri Clem are the picture of true love.
A TALENTED WOMAN
Raised on a farm by her parents, Sherri Waters-Clem describes life as a good time growing up in a lovely Christian home. Her father was a vocational agriculture teacher, and her mom was a beautician, owning an in-home salon. The family lived in Carthage, Texas, and Sherri enjoyed the company of her older sister, Sylvia Hunt, growing up. The two sisters were very active with every type of pet imaginable on their property, including a hawk, baby goats, horses, and cows. “My sister loved to talk, but I was more quiet. I enjoyed reading and singing,” Sherri says. “I knew the Lord at seven years old and was called into the ministry at age 15, but that was not acceptable in my faith tradition. I would volunteer and work for churches until I entered the ministry, full time, at age 45.”
Sherri began conducting music at choir camp at the age of 16 as a volunteer. After high school, she earned her Bachelor of Music and Master of Art degrees at Stephen F. Austin State University in
Nacogdoches, Texas. At 27, she became the Director of Music and Fine Arts in Center, Texas. After serving there for 12 years, she began teaching at Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, Texas, serving as their Director of Music and Fine Arts. Later, she was offered a job in Santa Fe, New Mexico, leading music at St. Bede’s Episcopal church. During that time, Sherri worked freelance for two years, doing commercials and movies and even starring in the daytime show Young and the Restless. She even sang for the Santa Fe Opera Educational Outreach Program, touring through New Mexico and Texas, teaching kids about opera music.
A career change was needed, and Sherri began teaching at Los Alamos High School in Los Alamos, New Mexico. “Then, one day, a kid put a bomb in the heat register over my desk, and I watched the Los Alamos Bomb Squad retrieve the bomb. I said, ‘Ok, God, I’m not supposed to be here; what do You want?’ I drove back to my apartment in Santa Fe and pulled the mail out, and there was an ad for a Choir and Fine Arts Director in Jasper, Texas. I applied and I did not hear anything for about two and a half months. Finally, I called one day and said, ‘I sent an application, and I want to make sure you got it. I assume you have filled the job already.’ The man on the other end of the line exclaimed, ‘No, I lost your stuff; get yourself here; you’re hired!’ I had a wonderful eight years in Jasper, Texas,” Sherri recalls.
In 2003, Sherri believed the Lord brought her to Texarkana, where she accepted the Director of Music and Fine Arts position at Williams Memorial United Methodist Church. She just retired from that position two years ago. “I am still part of the choir and am grateful they welcomed me to stay part of the fellowship,” Sherri says. During her time in Jasper and continuing after her move to Texarkana, Sherri furthered her education at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, earning a master’s degree in Theology.
Over the years, Sherri has enjoyed traveling to Russia, Africa, China, Hawaii, and the Drake Passage. She has spent many hours scuba diving all over the world. She is also the mother of four bonus children, two of whom are still living.
A SERVING MAN
Sam Clem grew up in the community of Wamba in Texarkana, Texas. He lived directly across from his Mema and spent many hours at her house. “We had monkeys, animals, three Great Danes, and a goat named Tulip. It was the country way of life. My father was a character, so everything we did was bigger, better, and wilder than you could imagine. Growing up in a construction family, I loved to play on bulldozers. We built roads between Texarkana, Nacogdoches, and Sulphur Springs,” Sam says.
Sam attended the University of North Texas and earned a bachelor’s degree in Business. Shortly after, while running the operations division for a furniture company and living in Dallas, Sam welcomed his first daughter. It was then that a child near the family home was abducted and taken into Mexico. That is when Sam realized he did not want his children to grow up in Dallas. Sam, along with his first wife and children, moved back to Texarkana. He owned a business that built beautiful homes in the Riverlands, planted grass all over the Four States Area, and had a recycling business for the papermill companies.
In the early 1990’s, the Lord impressed upon Sam that He wanted his time. Sam says, “I felt led to champion the special-needs community in town. I immediately resigned from the recycling company, sold it, and began my career at Runnin WJ Ranch in Texarkana, Texas. I feel as though I have a great purpose in my life. Daily, the children at the ranch come in, grab your finger, and ask you to be your hero for the day. To me, that is the definition of joy.”
The transition from a construction and business lifestyle to a ministry life was hard. It led to a mutual dissolution of his first marriage, but Sam knew that God had a specific purpose for him. “Christ is my life, and serving the Lord is a great honor. I want to be nothing because if I am, then Christ is everything,” Sam says.
Sam retired from the Executive Director position after 20 years at Runnin WJ. He still works at the ranch as Director of Development. “We are beginning to assist the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) by creating jobs for our special needs adults to assemble hygiene kits for the organization,” Sam says. Sherri adds that the kids who rode horses at the ranch 20 years ago are grown and have aged out. These kids ask Sam to help them find a job and a reason to get up and out in the morning.
Family means everything to Sam, who is blessed with two daughters and multiple grandchildren. “I love picking up my grandbabies from school and taking them to the Community Café at Williams Memorial, where we feed people. I try to teach them how to be servants,” Sam says.
A MUTUAL FRIEND’S INTRODUCTION
Sam was hard at work as the Executive Director of Runnin WJ Ranch in 2017, the year the couple would meet. “Being in ministry meant that I had my head down, stayed busy, and never looked at other ladies,” Sam recalls. Little did he know, Sherri had been a volunteer for the ranch for seven years, and he had never looked up or noticed her. Sherri says, “I had seen his back through the glass wall, but he was always busy on the phone and raising money for the ranch.
However, the two were not initially introduced at the ranch. It was through their mutual friend Steve Ledwell. Sherri describes a certain phone call by saying, “Steve called me one day and said, ‘Hey, are you coming to my thing?’ I replied, ‘What thing Steve? Do you mean your birthday party? I sent back my reply. Am I not
on the list?’ Steve said, ‘I didn’t look at the list. Are you coming? I replied, ‘Yes, I am coming to your 60th birthday party.’ Steve then asked me if I would go with his friend. I told him that it all depended on who his friend was. When Steve told me it was Sam Clem, I replied, ‘That’s a good man. Yes, I will go with your friend.’”
Steve Ledwell had the same exact phone call with Sam, asking for him to attend his party with Sherri. “I was scared, and I knew she was Methodist, and I grew up Baptist. Steve vouched for her character and I said ok,” Sam says. Shortly after, Sam called Sherri and asked if the two should meet before the party. Sherri agreed it would be a really good idea, and Sam asked her how they could meet. Sherri replied, “Well, you can walk out into the [horse] ring at nine o’clock Tuesday morning.” Sam was shocked as he had no idea Sherri volunteered at Runnin WJ. That Tuesday, Sam walked out into the arena with Sherri and her horse, Rojo, and you could have heard a pin drop. Sam never walked out into the arena, and he was meeting a single woman.
Sherri and Sam met for the first time and decided to go to Sonic for lunch that day. Later, the two attended Steve’s birthday party together. “Dating older is different. You are comfortable in who you are, but sometimes other people have to get comfortable with you,” Sam says. “We had a barrel racing event at the ranch, and everyone kept asking, ‘Where is Sam?’ Once they found me in the stands, eating a peach that Sherri had brought me, they asked, ‘What is Sam doing up there with that woman?’ I had a protective staff at the ranch, and they wanted to ensure I was ok.” Sam also prayed that his daughters would understand his relationship with Sherri but would come to find out they were understanding long before Sam was. They constantly spoke of Sherri and fell in love with her.
The couple dated for two years before marrying. “We were both so careful with each other,” Sherri
says. Sam mentioned that Sherri was the type of girl you dreamed of when you were called to the ministry. “Not only is she a long-legged gorgeous lady, but she is godly. There is peace in her soul that most people don’t have, and I find that amazing,” Sam says. With Sherri in the ministry herself, she understood Sam’s position and the demands required.
WILL YOU?
The couple shared their first kiss nine months after they began dating, and the proposal came about two years after their first date. Before the proposal, Sam had visited Disney World with his family. Sam and his daughters visited the China Pavilion, purchased a Che-San, a foldable fan, and had a marriage proposal
hand-calligraphed on the fan in Chinese. Sam returned from Disney and was sick. Sitting at his kitchen table, he presented the fan to Sherri as part of the proposal. Sherri thought it was lovely, and Sam asked if she could read Chinese. Sam exclaimed, “It says, ‘Will you marry me, Ms. Sherri?’”
Sherri paused and said, “I don’t know; ask me again in a couple of days.” Sherri was unsure if Sam was delirious because he was very sick, running a high temperature and in a cold sweat. Four days later, Sam healed and was no longer running a fever, so the couple visited Twisted Fork. Coming back from the restaurant, Sherri instructed Sam to pull into Bringle Lake, and they settled on a park bench. There was a
monster harvest moon, and Sherri turned to Sam and said, “If you meant that, do it right. Sam knelt down, and it was lovely.”
I DO!
The couple enjoyed an intimate wedding at the Trek Walkway inside Bringle Lake Park in Texarkana on April 26, 2019. The mutual friend that introduced Sam and Sherri would now become their ring bearer, and the couple enjoyed the Dick Eckstein Jazz Group playing music. Family and friends attended the wedding that evening; every moment was special. Sam’s grandchildren, Lucas and Ainslee Collins, walked before the couple with Sam and Sherri’s bibles, and Reverend Karen Jones officiated the wedding.
The newly married couple enjoyed a reception at their home in Texarkana, complete with cheesecake from Twisted Fork. In July 2019, they honeymooned in New York, where they saw several Broadway plays and visited many tourist attractions.
WORDS OF ADVICE
When it comes to premarital counseling… “I believe it is crucial to have premarital counseling. I have seen it work in the marriages I have done. You need to discuss the tough stuff before you have to deal with the tough stuff. You each need to know the other person’s strengths and weaknesses, but more importantly, their values,” Sherri says. “Sam and I talked about finances, family, how we would deal with end-oflife issues and much more.”
When it comes to finances…
“You need a joint account that you both contribute to that the bulk of the bills is paid out of. Then, have separate money with which you can have fun,” Sherri says.
When it comes to spending quality time together…
“We begin each morning at 5a.m. with coffee and a Bible study,” Sam says. “We use the Upper Room devotional book and then ask each other what we gained from the devotional.” The couple then discusses the day’s events, which allows for the best communication.
When it comes to social media… “Minimize your interaction!” Sherri says. “The majority of the people who spend mass amounts of time on social media wind up dealing with depression or are left with the feeling of measuring up. That is not part of a successful life.” Sam adds, “I think we get lost in our technology sometimes and forget about the important relationship in front of us.”
When it comes to disagreements… “Always repeat back to your partner what you think you heard and ask them if that is correct. It will solve problems before they arise,” Sherri says. The couple chooses to put each other before their own desires, eliminating many disagreements.
In general, the couple advises living within your means, doing things with your spouse, and not being afraid of silence. “You don’t have to be talking all the time. It’s ok to be sitting in the living room, quiet. Know that you are secure in your marriage and safe with your spouse,” Sam says. Sherri adds, “Have separate interests, interact with other people, read, and learn things. This allows you to bring something fresh to the table.”
A LOVE FOR THE AGES
Sherri, 74, and Sam, 65, truly have a devoted love for one another. “I don’t know if it can get any better. Sherri accepts me for who I am, and I admire who she is, and we click,” Sam says. Sherri adds, “It is always an adventure!”
Sam describes his wife as solid, grounded, and Christ-like. Sherri describes her husband as genuine, kind, and giving. Together, the couple have parented six children and have 29 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The love their oasis on their back porch, watching the hummingbirds, and soaking in their hot tub as they spend time with one another. This April, they look forward to celebrating their sixth wedding anniversary.
READER'S 2025 NOMINEES CHOICE
GOODS & SERVICES
Appliance Repair Service
WINNER:
Adcock’s Appliance Service
RUNNER UP:
Triple C Repair
Nominees:
Lafferty’s Appliance
Lee’s Appliance
Mr. Appliance
Superior Maytag
Auto Body Repair
WINNER:
Wrights Auto Body & Glass
RUNNER UP:
Texarkana Auto Body Works
Nominees:
Ashdown Collision
Frank’s Paint & Body Shop
Giles Auto Body Shop
Hadaway Body Shop
Haley’s Body Shop
Precision Paint and Body
Auto Service & Tires
WINNER:
Texarkana Tire and Wheel
RUNNER UP:
Discount Wheel & Tire
Nominees:
Cooper Tire Service Center
Daniel Tires
Discount Tire
Southtown Tire
Welch Tire
Wilson’s Tire
Auto Stereo & Accessories
WINNER: Audio Center
RUNNER UP: Texarkana Toys
Nominees:
Electronic Services
ES Mobile Audio
SECA Motorsports
ST Mobile Audio
The Audio Center Bank
WINNER:
Farmer’s Bank & Trust
RUNNER UP:
Commercial National Bank
Nominees:
Bank OZK
Bodcaw Bank
Cadence Bank
Office managers left to right Randy Hall, Jennifer Tussey, Ashley Watkins, and Timmy Brigham.
Diamond Bank
Guaranty Bank & Trust
Simmons Bank
State Bank
Carpet Cleaners
WINNER:
Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning
RUNNER UP:
Bennie’s Carpet Cleaning LLC
Nominees:
Chem Dry
Perfection Restoration and Cleaning Services
Service Master
Stanley Steemer
Chic Clothing
WINNER:
Lindsay Kate Designs
RUNNER UP:
Labels Boutique
Nominees:
Apricot Lane Boutique
Bones & Arrow Boutique
The Cracked Pearl Boutique
Luna Boutique
Moonstone & Moss
Native Soul
Noah Jade’s Boutique
Sweet Caroline’s Boutique
The Rancher’s Wife
Computer Repair / Service Company
WINNER:
Complete Computer Solutions
RUNNER UP:
Texarkana Computer, LLC
Nominees:
MTECH Electronic Services
Bobby Szymanski, Data Stand by WalkerITC
Credit Union
WINNER:
Red River Credit Union
RUNNER UP:
MilWay Federal Credit Union
Nominees:
Domino Federal Credit Union
First Franklin
Morris Sheppard Texarkana FCU
Texar Federal Credit Union
Texarkana Terminal Employees Federal Credit Union
Dance Studio
WINNER:
Judith McCarty School of Dance
RUNNER UP:
Joni’s Cheer and Dance Centre
Nominees:
All Rhythm Dance Alley
All Stars Dance Center
BC Dance
Lana Lavoice School of Dance
Patti Smith Dancing Unlimited
Red Door Dance Academy
Revolution Dance Studio
Studio M Dance Academy
Electronic Repair Service
WINNER:
Phone PROS
RUNNER UP:
Smart Phone EMT
Nominees:
ES Mobile
Fix A Phone
Mtech Electronic Services
Fencing Company
WINNER:
Texarkana Fence
RUNNER UP:
Richardson Fencing
Nominees:
Abercrombie & Fence
C.W. Fence Company
Dodson Fencing
Williams Fencing
Florist
WINNER:
Fields of Flowers
RUNNER UP:
4D Flowers and Gifts
Nominees:
Colley Cottage Trading Company
Flowers on Richmond
Ruths Flowers
The Blooming Mercantile
The Flowerroom Florist & Gifts
Unique Flowers and Gifts
Garden Store/Landscaping
WINNER:
Lawn Doctor of Texarkana - Magnolia - Idabel
RUNNER UP:
Twitty Nursery
Nominees:
Little Country Greenhouse
4M Moya Landscaping
D1 Landscaping
Freeman’s landscaping
H & N Landscaping
Three Chicks
Gift Shop
WINNER:
Harts on Broad - Let There Be Design Gift Shop
RUNNER UP:
Ruth’s Flowers
Nominees:
Fields of Flowers Floral and Gifts Shop
Dreidel. Home + Sundry
Ginger Junction
Salty Boutique & Books
Gymnastics
WINNER:
Joni’s Gymnastics
RUNNER UP:
Twin City Cheer and Gymnastics
Nominees:
NE Texas Elite Gymnastics
Flip N Cheer and Ashdown Gymnastics
Heating and Cooling Service
WINNER:
Big Mike’s Heating and Air
RUNNER UP:
Air Now Heating & Air Conditioning
Nominees:
Bionic Heating and Air
30 Point Service Company
Central heating and Air
Cooks Heating and Air
Goff Heating and Air
Hamiltons Heating and Air
Krause Service Company, Chris Krause
Lonestar Heating and Air
Thomas Bui and Son
Home Builder
WINNER:
Browning Homes LLC
RUNNER UP:
Eppinette Construction
Nominees:
Rogers Equipment & Construction
2b Builders
Dakoda Castle
Greg McKay Construction
Lach-On Construction
Home Improvement
WINNER:
Eppinette Construction
RUNNER UP:
Tony Langford Roofing
Nominees:
Browning Homes LLC
Greg McKay Construction
Oliver’s Construction
Rogers Construction
Yancy Construction
Home
Tech Services
WINNER:
Soundz Good Audio Video
RUNNER UP:
Sound Towne Nominees:
Illuminated Telecom
MTECH Electronic Services
Hotel WINNER:
Hilton Garden Inn
RUNNER UP:
Holiday Inn Texarkana Arkansas
Nominees:
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
Hampton Inn
Residence Inn
Investment Advisor
WINNER:
Joseph Black, Raymond James RUNNER UP:
Dustin Stringer, Dustin Stringer
Wealth Management
Nominees:
Beau Baker, Edward Jones
Flanagan Andrus, Raymond James
Greg Cordray, Edward Jones
Heath Stroud, Stroud Financial LLC
Kale Magness, Magness
Financial Group
Mike Cobb, Cobb Financial Services
Will Huddleston, Magness Financial Group
Jeweler
WINNER:
Micah’s Jewelers
RUNNER UP:
Coopers Jewelry Nominees:
Crocker’s Jewelers
Alexander’s Jewelry
East Street Pawn and Jewelry
Gray’s Jewelry
Liquor Store
WINNER:
Chubby Cheek Liquor
RUNNER UP:
The Party Factor
Nominees:
Bogey’s
EZ Street Liquor
Gilly’s Liquor
Highway 8 Liquor Store
Villa
Locally Made Products
WINNER:
Lavender Thorne
RUNNER UP:
Rowe Casa Organics
Nominees:
Better Bits Bakery
Cowgirl Gems Freshies
Fizz Bizz
Mad Alice Crafts - Shandi Ford
Mayo Furniture
Simply Jess Designs
Manufacturer WINNER:
Domtar
RUNNER UP:
Cooper Tire
Nominees:
JCM
Ledwell & Sons Enterprise Inc.
Mayo Manufacturing
Texarkana Aluminum
Mortgage Company
WINNER:
John Jarvis, Fairway Mortgage
RUNNER UP:
SWBC Mortgage
Nominees:
Red River Credit Union
Cadence Bank
Mortgage Financial Services, Cody Lorance
Commercial National Bank
Farmer’s Bank
TEXAR
Utopia Mortgage, Lacy Coker
New Local Business
WINNER:
Emmie P’s Bistro and Bakery
RUNNER UP:
Concho Hearts Hospice
Nominees:
Beaut’e Realm Lash Salon
Bubba’s 33
Cafe Lucille
East Street Pawn
EMperfected Beauty
Lawn Doctor of Texarkana-Magnolia-Idabel
Libertea House
Local Lore Apparel
Nash Eye Care
The Vault Premiere Flea Market
Triple C Repair
Pawn Shop
WINNER:
East Street Pawn and Jewelry
RUNNER UP:
Tristate Pawn
Nominees:
C & L Pawn
EZ Pawn
Paul’s Pawn & Gun
Pawn Express
Roy’s Pawn Shop Texarkana Arkansas
Pest Control
WINNER:
Lawrence Termite and Pest Control
RUNNER UP:
Pest-Pro Services
Nominees:
Bug Bully Termite and Pest Control
Jones Termite and Pest Control
Lawn Doctor of Texarkana-Magnolia-Idabel
Patterson Pest Control
Pillow Termite and Pest Control
Pet Groomer
WINNER:
Paw Paw Patch
RUNNER UP:
Connie Coker, Westridge
Nominees:
Absolutely A Cut Above
Doggie Divas
Furr Cutz
Georgia’s Pet Salon
Lydia Gill
Paradise Pets
Plumbing Company
WINNER:
Pipe Monkey Plumbing
RUNNER UP:
Central Heating and Air
Nominees:
Absolute Plumbing Solutions
Dr. Plumbington
Evenflow Plumbing
Jory’s Plumbing
Pegleg Plumbing, LLC
Shur-Flow Services
Roofing Company
WINNER:
Tony Langford Roofing
RUNNER UP:
Bohon Roofing & Construction
Nominees:
Born to Roof Texas
GillRay Roofing Co.
Over The Top Roofing
Perez Roofing
R.B.T. Roofing
Skyline TXK Roofing
Shoes & Boots
WINNER:
The Rancher’s Wife
RUNNER UP:
Racquet & Jog
Nominees:
Rocking H Boots & Saddlery
Bones & Arrow Boutique
Boot Barn
Cavender’s
Luna Boutique
Nelsons Boots
Red Wing
Social Media Presence by Company/ Organization
WINNER:
Texarkana Texas Police Department
RUNNER UP:
Texarkana Gameday
Nominees:
Beaute’ Realm Lash Salon
Concho Hearts Hospice
Emmie P’s Bistro and Bakery
Eternal Beauty Medical Aesthetics
Graham Slam Bakery
Lavender Thorne
Metro Texarkana News & Reports
Miller County Sheriffs Office
Peak Fighting Championship
Red River Federal Credit Union
Texarkana Arkansas Police Dept
Texarkana Emergency Center
Texarkana ISD
Title Company
WINNER:
Twin City Title Company
RUNNER UP:
Southwest Title Company
Nominees:
Capital Title of Texas
Miller County Abstract & Title
Stewart Title of Texarkana
Texarkana Title & Abstract Company
Veterinarian Company
WINNER:
Westridge Animal Hospital
RUNNER
Wisdom Animal Clinic
Nominees:
Care Pet Clinic
Cass County Veterinary
Oubre Animal Clinic
Pleasant Grove Animal Hospital
Rankin Veterinary Clinic
Stateline Animal Hospital
Wedding
Wedding Cake
WINNER:
Julie’s Deli and Market
RUNNER UP:
Graham Slam Bakery
Nominees:
Sugar Mills Bakery and Events
Bri Flanagan
Cakes by Carrie
Maddie Cakes
Sweet Art Cakery
The Cake Boutique
Wedding Caterer
WINNER:
Chef on the Run
RUNNER UP:
Julie’s Deli and Market
Nominees:
Garrison Gardens Catering, Mary Colorigh
Main Street Cafe and Catering, Chef Preston
Naaman’s Championship BBQ
Silver Spoon
Sugar Mills Bakery and Events
Wedding DJ
WINNER:
Dj Hollygrove
RUNNER UP:
Fabienne’s Mobile DJ Service
Nominees:
Chris Daly
Chuck Guilbert
Jam Master D
Lynn Roberts Entertainment
Wes Spicher
Wedding Florist
WINNER:
The Flowerroom Florist & Gifts
RUNNER UP:
Ruth’s Flowers
Nominees:
4D Flowers and Gifts
Colley’s Cottage Field of Flowers
Jennifer’s Designs, Winthrop, AR
Unique Flowers & Gifts
Wedding Indoor Venue
WINNER:
Four Fifteen Estates
RUNNER UP:
Garrison Gardens
Nominees:
Blessing Tree Farm Crossties
Ramage Farms
Silvermoon on Broad
The Collins Home Tree Haven
Wedding Outdoor Venue
WINNER:
Garrison’s Garden
RUNNER UP:
Four Fifteen Estates
Nominees:
Blessing Tree Farms
Dee’s Barn & Venue
Ramage Farms
The Collins Home Tree Haven
Twin Creek Lake Pavillion
Wedding Rentals
WINNER:
Dots Rentals
RUNNER UP: J Cole Designs
Nominees:
Events and Moore
Memorable Events Mirror Photo Booth
Sugar Snaps Event Rentals
Wedding Reception Venue
WINNER:
Four Fifteen Estates
RUNNER UP:
Garrison Gardens
Nominees:
Blessing Tree Farm
Crossties Event Venue
Dee’s Barn & Venue
Ramage Farms
Silvermoon on Broad
Texarkana Country Club
The Collins Home Tree Haven
Wedding Rehearsal/Dinner Venue
WINNER:
Verona Italian Restaurant
RUNNER UP: Four Fifteen Estates
Nominees:
Benchmark American Brasserie Crossties Event Venue
Hopkin’s Ice House
Silvermoon on Broad
The Collins Home
Tree Haven
Twisted Fork
Beauty
Barber
WINNER:
Hairy Armadillo Barber Shop
RUNNER UP:
Brandon Frix, Style Studio
Nominees:
Nash Barber Shop
Aaron Hardy, Style Studio
Cody’s Barber Shop
Eye Envy Him
Logan, Meraki Salon
Marlon Evans
Matt Brown
Southern Edge
Southern Grace Barber Shop
Vince2clean, Vince Mcgaugh
Body
Hair Removal Services
WINNER:
Annie Ratliff Skincare
RUNNER UP:
Time in a Bottle
Nominees:
Brooke Odum Esthetics
Emperfected Beauty
Eternal Beauty Medical Aesthetics
Jennifer Latham, Laser Beauty
Lounge and Med Spa
Kayla Lewis Beauty
LoneStar Aesthetics and Wellness
Body Wraps
WINNER:
Time In A Bottle
RUNNER UP:
Sheena Richardson, Massage by Sheena
Nominees:
EMperfected Beauty
ReNew Medical Spa
The Beauty and Wellness Center
Tranquility Spa
Botox/Fillers
WINNER:
LoneStar Aesthetics and Wellness
RUNNER UP:
Eternal Beauty Medical Aesthetics
Nominees:
Elizabeth Williams, About Face Aesthetics
Health Care Express - Age Management & Aesthetics
The Beauty & Wellness Center
Kim Care Hearts on Broad
Renew Medical Spa
Facial
WINNER:
Joyce Miller, The Beauty & Wellness Center
RUNNER UP:
Eternal Beauty Medical Aesthetics
Nominees:
Annie Ratliff Skincare
EMperfected Beauty
Kayla Lewis Beauty
Madison Moody Esthetics
Phe Michelle, Oasis Beauty
Time in a Bottle Day Spa
Hair Salon
WINNER:
Style Studio
RUNNER UP:
Fringe Hair & Beauty House
Nominees:
Adorn Salon
Beauty Barr
Creative Soul Salon
Emmanuel Collective
The Meraki Salon
Michele’s Hair Salon
Natalleys Salon At Hart’s on Broad Salon Haven
Salt & Light Hair Co.
Sheer County
The Edge Salon
Tres Chic Salon
Hair Stylist
WINNER:
Reala Jo Ward, Fringe Hair & Beauty House
RUNNER UP:
Michelle Cox, Bello Capelli Salon
Nominees:
Brittni Layne Smith
Courtney Foster, Bello Capelli Salon
Lisa Harris, Style Studio
Makayla Burns, Style Studio
Morgan Hinman, Adorn
Natalie Durham, Natalleys Salon At Hart’s on Broad Summer Whisenhunt, Salon Haven
Tommie Jones, Style Studio
IV Therapy
WINNER:
Eternal Beauty Medical Aesthetics
RUNNER UP:
LoneStar Aesthetic & Wellness
Nominees:
Kyle Groom, DeKalb Physician Group
Elizabeth Williams, About Face Aesthetics
Red River Health, Red River Infusion Pharmacy
Renew Integrated Medical Spa
Microdermabrasion
WINNER:
Eternal Beauty Medical Aesthetics
RUNNER UP:
The Beauty and Wellness Center
Holly Orr, Creative Soul Salon
Jayme Culberson, Fringe Hair
& Beauty House
Jennifer Nason, The Meraki Salon
Kaitlin Martin, Kaitlin Martin Beauty
Lauren Vera-Gortney
Nominees:
HealthCARE Express - Age Management & Aesthetics
EMperfected Beauty
Kayla Lewis Beauty
Madison Moody Esthetics
ReNew Medical Spa
Time in a Bottle
Spa
WINNER:
The Beauty and Wellness center
RUNNER UP:
Eternal Beauty Medical Aesthetics
Nominees:
EMperfected Beauty
Laser Beauty Lounge and Med Spa
LoneStar Aesthetics and Wellness
Renew Medical Spa
Time in a Bottle Day
Tranquility Day Spa
Health
Emergency Room
WINNER:
Texarkana Emergency Center & Hospital
RUNNER UP:
CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital
Nominees:
Little River Memorial Hospital
SignatureCare Emergency Center
Wadley Regional Medical Center
Fitness Center/Gym
WINNER:
Anytime Fitness – Wake Village
RUNNER UP:
Legend’s Gym & Health Club
Nominees:
GYMBOX Fitness
TXK Fitness
Icon Gym
Planet Fitness
Sling Fit
Thrive Yoga
TXK Elite CrossFIT
Wacha Resolution
Home Health/Care
WINNER: Sitters
RUNNER UP:
Heritage Home Health & Hospice
Nominees:
Ashleys Care and House Call
Chambers Home Health
Enhabit Home Health
Retreat Home Health Services
VitalCaring Group Home Health
Hospice Care
WINNER:
Hospice Texarkana
RUNNER UP:
Concho Hearts Hospice
Nominees:
Chambers Hospice
Dierkson Hospice
Enhabit Home Health and Hospice
Heritage Hospice
Retreat Hospice Services
Retirement / Assisted Living Community
WINNER:
Cornerstone Retirement Community
RUNNER UP:
Cowhorn Creek Estates
Nominees:
Autumn Wind
Brookedale Senior Living
Colonial Lodge Assisted Living
Retreat at Kenwood Assisted Living
The Oaks
Urgent Care
WINNER:
Family Medical Center
RUNNER UP:
HealthCARE Express
Nominees:
Collom & Carney Clinic
Exceed Health Clinic
Total Access Health and Wellness
Twin City Medical
Wine & Dine
BBQ
WINNER:
Naaman’s Championship BBQ
RUNNER UP:
Big Jakes BBQ
Nominees:
Big Gilley’s Smokehouse
Blue Ember Smokehouse
Clay-Bos BBQ
Randy’s Smokehouse BBQ
Silver Star Smokehouse
Desserts
WINNER:
Graham Slam Bakery
RUNNER UP:
Julies Deli & Market
Nominees:
Better Bits Bakery
Cookie Lady
Emmie P’s Bistro and Bakery
Susie Q’s Catering and Bakery
Sweet Arts Cakery
Taste & See
The Cake Boutique
The Cake House
Twisted Fork
Fish
WINNER:
Pop’s Place
RUNNER UP:
Doc’s Seafood & Steak
Nominees:
82 Eats
Flying Burger
Naaman’s
Pelican Fish and Seafood
Pier 27
Roux Ga Roux
The Fishbowl
Fries
WINNER:
Wingstop
RUNNER UP:
TLC Burgers and Fries
Nominees:
Bubba’s 33
Hopkins
Iron Wood
Julie’s Deli & Market
Naaman’s Championship BBQ
Olde Tyme Burger Shoppe
Pop’s Place
Redbone Magic Brewing
Three Chicks Cafe
Hamburger
WINNER:
Old Tyme Burger Shoppe
RUNNER UP:
TLC Burgers and Fries
Nominees:
237 Grocery
82 Eats
Flying Burger & Seafood
Hopkins Ice House
Wayback Burger
Pizza
WINNER:
Gusano’s Chicago - Style Pizzeria
RUNNER UP:
Lost Pizza Company
Nominees:
Bubba’s 33
Hopkins Ice House
Joe’s Pizza and Pasta
Keller’s Coffee Co
Redbone Magic Brewing
Scooter’s Pizza
Twisted Fork
Underground Pizza Co.
Steak
WINNER:
Pop’s Place
RUNNER UP:
Benchmark American Brasserie
Nominees:
Doc’s Steak and Seafood
IronWood Grill
Naaman’s Championship BBQ
Silver Star Smokehouse
Texas Roadhouse
Twisted Fork
Verona Italian Restaurant
Wine List
WINNER:
Verona Italian Restaurant
RUNNER UP:
Benchmark American Brasserie
Nominees:
1923 Banana Club
IronWood Grill
Twisted Fork
CELEBRATING
Wings
WINNER:
Wingstop
RUNNER UP:
Bubba’s 33
Nominees:
Gusano’s Chicago - Style Pizzeria
Hopkins Ice House
Lost Pizza Co.
Redbone Magic Brewery
Brunch
WINNER:
Verona Italian Restaurant
RUNNER UP:
Cafe Lucille’s
Nominees:
Emmie P’s Bistro and Bakery
Hopkins Ice House
IronWood Grill
Julie’s Deli and Market
Keller’s Coffee Co.
Redbone Magic Brewing
The Duke
Date Night Restaurant
WINNER:
Verona Italian Restaurant RUNNER
Benchmark American Brasserie Nominees:
Fuji Kim’s
IronWood Grill
Lost Pizza
Naaman’s Championship BBQ
Pecan Point Gastropub Brewery
Pop’s Place
Redbone Magic Brewery
Twisted Fork
Gourmet Dinner
WINNER:
Benchmark American Brasserie RUNNER UP:
Verona Italian Restaurant
Nominees:
IronWood Grill
Pecan Point Gastropub Brewery
Pop’s Place
Twisted Fork
Happy Hour
WINNER:
Hopkins Icehouse
RUNNER UP:
Zapata’s Mexican Restaurant
Nominees:
1923 Banana Club
Benchmark American Brasserie
Gusanos
Naaman’s Championship BBQ
Pecan Point Gastropub Brewery
Redbone Magic Brewing
Silverstar Smokehouse
Silver Star Smokehouse
Twisted Fork
Locally Owned Restaurant
WINNER:
Pop’s Place
RUNNER UP:
IronWood Grill
Nominees:
82 Eats
Benchmark American Brasserie
Big Gilleys
Cafe Lucille
Dixie Dinner
Emmie P’s Bistro and Bakery
Fuji Kim’s
Hopkins Icehouse
Julie’s Deli and Market
Keller Coffee Company
Naaman’s Championship BBQ
Old Tyme Burger Shoppe
Pecan Point Gastropub Brewery
Redbone Magic Brewing
Roux GaRoux
Sue & Carols
Twisted Fork
Verona Italian Restaurant
Zapata’s Mexican Restaurant
Lunch Spot
WINNER:
Julie’s Deli and Market
RUNNER UP:
IronWood Grill
Nominees:
Bre’s Salad Hut
Cafe Lucille
Emmie P’s Bistro and Bakery
Fuzzy’s Taco
Hopkins Icehouse
The Lunchbox
Mother Kelly’s
Naaman’s Championship BBQ
Old Tyme Burger Shoppe
Tacos 4 Life
Three Chicks Feed and Seed
TLC Burger and Fries
Outdoor Dining
WINNER:
Cafe Lucille
RUNNER UP:
Pop’s Place
Nominees:
Duke’s Bar and Grill
Hopkins Icehouse
Lost Pizza Co.
Naaman’s Championship BBQ
Redbone Magic Brewing
Three Chicks Feed and Seed
Trivia
Bar Night
WINNER:
Lost Pizza Co.
RUNNER UP:
Pop’s Place
Nominees:
Gusano’s Chicago-Style Pizzeria
Redbone Magic Brewery
The Wild Haire
Twisted Fork
Caterer
WINNER:
Julie’s Deli & Market
RUNNER UP:
Chef on the Run
Nominees:
Emmie P’s Bistro and Bakery
JR’s Catering Company
Naaman’s Championship BBQ
Silver Spoon
Sugar Mill Bakery & Events
The Lunchbox
Chef
WINNER:
Cory House, Texas High School
Culinary Arts Academy in Texarkana
RUNNER UP:
Jennifer Tanner, Julie’s Deli & Market
Nominees:
Becky Williams, Cafe Lucille
Jeff Loving, Chef on the Run
Joey Shankle, Benchmark American Brasserie
Pam Elliott
Hector Jimnez, Verona Italian Restaurant
William Harris, Emmie P’s Bistro and Bakery
Community Company to Work For
WINNER:
Total Medical Supply, Inc.
RUNNER UP:
Texarkana Independent School District
Nominees:
CHRISTUS St. Michael
Cornerstone Retirement Community
Farmers Bank & Trust
Lavender Thorne
Ledwell & Sons Enterprise Inc.
PAM Health Specialty Hospital
Red River Credit Union
Retreat Heathcare Services
Texarkana Arkansas Police Department
Texarkana Therapy Center
Elected Official
WINNER:
Michael Rayburn, Justice of the Peace for District 8
RUNNER UP:
Bob Bruggerman, Mayor of Texarkana Texas
Nominees:
Allen Brown, Mayor of Texarkana Arkansas
Mike Brower, Chief Appraiser for Bowie County
Cathy Hardin Harrison, Miller County Judge
Jeff Neal, Sheriff of Bowie County
Wayne Easley, Sheriff of Miller County
Terry Roberts, Ward 1 Director
People
Artist
WINNER:
Darlene Taylor RUNNER UP:
Mary Jane Orr
Nominees:
Daniel Rushing
Jes Weiner
Joel Wright
Joseph Raymond
Shea Phillips
Tyler Arnold
Cosmetic Surgeon
WINNER:
David Whitten
RUNNER UP:
Charles Hollingsworth
Nominees:
Brent Carmony
Zackary Legan
Decorator/Designer
WINNER:
J Cole Designs
RUNNER UP:
Lauren Calloway
Nominees:
Alicia Woodle Designs
Janet Cross
Jeff Brown
Lynlee Builds at home + Work
Dentist
WINNER:
Pleasant Grove Family Dentistry, Nick Cockerell & Torin Marrciano
RUNNER UP:
Chris Ferguson DDS
Nominees:
Mark Addington DDS
Andrew Cury, DDS
Castle Family Dental
David Vammen
John Thane
Josh Talley
Lippian Family Dentistry
Sarah Payne
Pediatric Dentist
WINNER:
Brian Steele, Ark-La-Tex Pediatric Dentistry
RUNNER UP:
Mitchell Glass, Pediatric Dentistry of Texarkana
Nominees:
Chris Potts, The Kids Spot Dentistry
Leslee Higgins, Leap Kids Dental
Danley, Arklatex Pediatrics
Electrician
WINNER:
LiveWire Electrical Services
RUNNER UP:
H & K Electric
Nominees:
Artex Electric
Dennis Bayless
Integrity Electric
Liberty Electric
Lucas Berry, Electrical Wizard
Nantze Electric
Spark Free Electric, Zack Pearson
Family Practitioner
WINNER:
Kyle Groom, Dekalb Physicians Clinic
RUNNER UP:
Wendy Gammon
Nominees:
Andrea Heflin, Texarkana Sr Care Clinic
Angela Ramsey
Brian Bowen
Brittney Ackley
Cara Cook, Family Medical Group
Craig Mueller, FNP
Greg Richter
Mark Gabbie
Patrick Smith Family medical group
San Nix
Steve Allen, Family Medical
Tara Capeheart, Twin City Medical
Trey Pirkey
Troy Potter
Insurance Agent
WINNER:
Kelli Ashbrook, State Farm Insurance
RUNNER UP:
Jake Hambleton, State Farm Insurance
Nominees:
Brian Purtle, Allstate Insurance
Coy Mason, Miller County Farm Bureau
Derrick McGary, State Farm
Justin Magness, State Farm Insurance
Leslie Jordan, Farmers Union Insurance
Scott Sanders, Allstate
Trey Dickens, Texas Farm Bureau
Make-Up Artist
WINNER:
Madison Moody, Madison Moody Esthetic’s
RUNNER UP:
Kimberly Bearden, Kimberly Bearden Beauty
Nominees:
Kayla Lewis, Kayla Lewis Beauty
Carlee Batte
Hailey Cherry Hanson, Hailey Cherry MUA
Katlin Martin, Katlin Martin Beauty
Kristy Glascock, Flawless Faces by Kristy Glascock
Lauren Starkey
Makayla Burns, The Style Studio
Phe Michelle, Arched Brow Studio
Massage Therapist
WINNER:
Reeves Ingram, Beauty & Wellness Center
RUNNER UP:
Time in a Bottle Spa
Nominees:
Chad Hunter, LMT
Dijon Walker at Living Well
Heather Nalepa, Eternal Beauty Medical Aesthetics
Jared Tucker, Ascension Modern Massage
Kinsey Ward, Living Well Chiropractic
Sheena Richardson, Laser Beauty Lounge & Med Spa
Tiffany Winchell, Massage Therapy by Tiffany
Tranquility Day Spa
OB-GYN
WINNER:
Jennifer Thompson, Collom & Carney Clinic
RUNNER UP:
D’Andra Bingham, Collom & Carney Clinic
Nominees:
David Greathouse, Collom & Carney Clinic
James Scales, Genesis Prime Care
Kenneth West, The Women’s Specialists
Sarah Greathouse, Wadley Medical Hospital
Stacy Leonard
Sudheer Jayaprabhu, The Women’s Specialists
Thomas Wilson, CHRISTUS St. Michael
Optometrist
WINNER:
Adam Cox - Family Eye Care
RUNNER UP:
Jessica Trichel, Nash Eye Care
Nominees:
Jeff Philips
Mark Allen, Ark La Tex Eyes
Eric McCall- The Eye Guys
Fant Eye Care- Dr Galdamez
Randall Glass, Fowler Optical
Littleton Fowler
Summers at Eye Guys
Occupational Therapist
WINNER:
Carly Davis at Texarkana therapy center
RUNNER UP:
Mia Kemp
Nominees:
Cori Mobbs
Dorie Pearson
Dr. Brenda J. Stuart-Howel
Lance Vestal
Tammy Heminger, OTR
Pediatrician
WINNER:
Cindy Porter, Collom & Carney Clinic
RUNNER UP:
Rachel King, King Medical Clinic
Nominees:
Clark Green, Collom & Carney Clinic
Cheryl Saul Sehy, Collom & Carney Clinic
Christina Payne, Collom & Carney Clinic
Mark Wright, Collom & Carney Clinic
Tracie Calloway, Healing Hands Pediatrics
Zackariah King, Collom & Carney Clinic
Physical Therapist
WINNER:
Russ Nelson, CHRISTUS St. Michael Outpatient
Rehabilitation
RUNNER UP:
Lauren Foster Norton
Nominees:
Claire Ashby
Jenna Sturgeon
Joel Inglasias
Lesa Shipp
Martha Jennings
Rachel Grimett, Southern Rehab
Realtor
WINNER:
Tracy Spradlin, Impact Realty Group
RUNNER UP:
Sarah Sealy, Griffin Realtors
Nominees:
Amber Gideon-Stewart, Coldwell Banker Elite
Ashley Cooper, Coldwell Banker Elite
Blaken Underwood, Exit Realty Unlimited
Daphne Roberson
Lauren Calloway, PH Realty
Monica Kelley, Monica D. Kelley, Realtor
Lynn Pierce, Exit Realty Unlimited
Kim Williams, PH Realty
Sherry Jo Ingram, Exit Realty Unlimited
Sydney Wicks, PH Realty
Real Estate - Commercial
WINNER:
Impact Realty Group
RUNNER UP:
Jerry Brewer, NAI Real Estate
Nominees:
Brian Henry REMAX Preferred
Mike Ingram
Richard Reynolds
Scout Property Group
Real Estate - Property Management
WINNER:
Impact Realty Group
RUNNER UP:
Raffaelli Property Management- Autumn Wilson
Nominees:
Henry Property Management
PH property management
Snow Development
Total Real Estate Solutions
White Property
Surgeon
WINNER:
Beth Peterson, Titus Regional Medical Center
RUNNER UP:
Trey Mitchell, CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System
Nominees:
Benjamin DuBois, CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic
Douglas Thompson, Texarkana Orthopedics
Jeffrey DeCaprio, Collom & Carney Clinic
John Reid, CHRISTUS Trinity Health
Marcus Smith, CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital
Mark Sutherland, Texarkana Surgical Specialists
Meko Radomski, Collom & Carney Clinic
Randy Schmidt, CHRISTUS Surgery Associates
Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Thomas Young, CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System
Tattoo Artist
WINNER:
Jason Standridge
RUNNER UP:
Joaquin Hernandez
Nominees:
Allan McEneaney
Hunter McCarver
Justin Birtcher
Lyndsey Ellsworth
Matt Hendricks
Michael Clubine
Nathan “Bum” Biddle
Russ Beydler “Redneck Russ”
Buchanan First Baptist Church 100 Year Celebration
From it’s beginnings in 1925 in the home of Mrs. J.J. Vaughn in Red Cut Community with it’s fourteen charter members, to its first move in the 1940’s to Highway 59. There the West Texarkana Baptist Church was built and experienced several additions over the following year’s. The next phase was the move to Buchanan Loop Road in the early 1980’s whre the name was changed to Buchanan First Baptist Church. Buchanan FBC has had a long and faithful history of serving the Lord and the community of Texarkana.
We are excited to celebrate 100 years of ministry on March 30, 2025 during our morning worship service followed by lunch in our Family Life Center. We invite all past present members to joins us for a time of giving thanks to God for his faithfulness throughout the generations!
“A church is not its buildings, it is the people that spend their lives serving and worshiping the Lord and sharing their life of faith with each other.” -Pastor Rich Rothwell
STRINGER WEALTH MANAGEMENT
RAYMOND
JAMES FINANCIAL
FINANCIAL RESOLUTIONS FOR 2025
RETIREMENT & LONGEVITY
Start the new year right by reviewing and revamping your financial plan.
Instead of hauling out those familiar New Year’s resolutions about keeping a journal or drinking more water, how about focusing on your financial well-being? Here’s a set of resolutions that can help ensure your long-term financial confidence.
Update your beneficiaries
If you don’t correctly document your beneficiary designations, who gets what may be determined by federal or state law, or by the default plan document used in your retirement accounts. When did you last update your designations? Have life changes (divorce, remarriage, births, deaths, state of residence) occurred since then?
Update your beneficiary listings on wills, life insurance, annuities, IRAs, 401(k)s, qualified plans and anything else that’d affect your heirs. If you’ve named a trust, have any relevant tax laws changed? Have you provided for the possibility that your primary beneficiary may die before you? Does your plan address the simultaneous death of you and your spouse? An estate attorney can help walk you through these various scenarios.
Create flexible liquidity
Cash has inflation and opportunity tradeoffs, but a lack of access can cause greater problems if you find yourself needing to draw from your investments. Finding a balance in line with your life and goals is important to avoid disrupting your long-term plans.
The right liquidity strategy will be different for every investor and could incorporate cash reserves, cash alternatives, highly liquid securities, lines of credit, margin loans or even structured lending. Multiple
institutions and account owners can be used to hold more than $250,000 with FDIC guarantees.
Evaluate your retirement progress
What changes are needed given your current lifestyle and the market environment? Don’t fixate solely on your assets’ value – instead, drill down into what types of securities you hold, your expected cash flows, your contingency plans, your assumed rate of return, inflation rates and how long you’re planning for. Retirement plans have many moving parts that must be monitored on an ongoing basis.
Review your account titling
Haphazard account titling can create problems down the line. If one partner dies and an account is titled only in their name, those assets can’t be readily accessed by the survivor. The solution may be creating joint accounts, but it’s not always that simple. Titling has implications across a range of estate planning issues, as well as other situations such as Medicaid eligibility and borrowing power, too.
Develop a charitable strategy
Giving comes from the heart, but you can also do well when doing good. For example, consider whether or not it’d make sense to donate low-basis stocks in lieu of cash, or learn about establishing a donor advised fund to take an upfront deduction for contributions made over the next several years. Give, but do so with an eye toward reducing your tax liability.
Sustaining the benefits of wealth for generations is nearly impossible without a mutual understanding among family members. Consider creating a family mission statement that outlines the shared vision for your wealth and legacy. This should include nonfinancial topics, too, like your values, expectations and important life lessons.
Digitize your record keeping
You likely receive emails, letters reports and updates from multiple accounts. Consider going paperless and centralizing important files in one place to reduce frustration and ensure easy access when needed. Your advisor may have access to secure storage tools that can help.
Invest with your values
Your portfolio should reflect what matters to you – and that can mean anything from avoiding particular industries to actively pursuing an ESG (environmental, social and governance) investing approach. So whether you want to promote the transition to clean energy, advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace, or support companies with strong data privacy practices, your portfolio can be tailored to reflect those priorities.
Check in with your advisor
Your advisor can offer specialized tools, impartiality and experience earned by dealing with many market cycles and client situations. Communicate openly about what’s happening in your life today and what may happen in the future. It’s difficult to manage what they aren’t aware of, so err on the side of over-communicating and establish a regular check-in schedule for the year ahead.
These suggestions are a helpful starting point, but no two longterm plans are identical – so reach out to your advisor for more specific guidance about progressing toward your goals in 2025. Investing involves risk, and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of the strategy selected. Not all investments or strategies mentioned are suitable for all investors.
Donors are urged to consult their attorneys, accountants or tax advisors with respect to questions relating to the deductibility of various types of contributions to a donor advised fund for federal and state tax purposes.
To learn more about the potential risks and benefits of donor advised funds, please contact your advisor.
Raymond James and its advisors do not offer tax or legal advice. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.
Tasty Donuts
Suzie TK SnippeTS
By: Suzie Tyler
The Fifties
Why is it that when you ask teenagers today what era they would want to live in if they had a choice, the predominant answer is the fifties?
I used to think it was because of the television show Happy Days. I’m not sure if young people today have seen the show, but the popularity of the fifties remains.
It is the simplicity of life during that time! Everyone had trust in people, and neighbors knew each other by name! By the year 2000, even before COVID-19, people had kept to themselves and utilized the words of Fox Mulder on X-Files, ‘Trust No One!’ The fear of the pandemic only intensified that mentality!
How can we bring back some of the fifty’s simplicity? In some ways, technology has made it impossible. Some of our advances have made for a better life, some not. In a world with so much advancement in communication, we have so few relationships on an individual level. The younger generation cannot communicate except by text messages and emojis. Some of our schools encourage that by allowing them to keep their phones in the classroom.
I believe people miss the values and innocence the fifties had! Church attendance was a given, and most children were taught what was right and wrong in Sunday School each week.
Yes. We had the good life but didn’t realize it at the time! That is why teenagers today are fascinated with the era of the fifties!! Our world would be much better if we could bring back some of those values and innocence.
I wrote a book titled “Growing Up In The Fifties.” I loved reminiscing and writing about Lees Drive-In, Guys Orange Stand, Grim Hotel, Leo Theatre, and the teenagers cruising Seventh Street. If you were a teen in the 50s, you can relive memories of that time without the internet or social media, and if you were born after the fifties, you could experience my growing up in that era.
Follow me, SuzieTKWriter, on Facebook, Twitter (aka X), Instagram, and Amazon Author Page. Tik Tok may be coming soon.
Slowing Down….Maybe
Fish Tales with Mike Brower
This time of year, all bass fishermen believe that to catch fish, they must fish slowly or S…l…o…w…e…r. Well, not necessarily. Winter can be more fun than that by fishing a crankbait, spinnerbait, or trap as fast as you can turn the handle.
Bass tend to be reaction feeders. When something makes them mad, bite. Something startles them, bite. Bass are not quite as lethargic as we think and can swim fast in short bursts. I have caught fish on Millwood, Toledo Bend, Ouachita, Patman, and Greers Ferry in the winter with water temps in the 40’s, turning and burning a bait -- and good fish too.
I run the baits. I fish fast on a 12-pound test, hold my rod tip down close to the water, and crank as fast as my frostbitten hands can turn the crank. This is not a mainstream type pattern, but it has a place in our fishing arsenal. It took four years of hearing about it before I actually found out how to do it. Duke Gunnell and Steve Howard were wearing us out in February using this technique, and Steve showed me how it works one day on Ouachita. After a half day of trying it in practice, I was hooked.
So, next time you are out, give it a try. It’s so easy, even Mike can do it.
THE GIFT OF Homeownership
not too late to give yourself the
of homeownership this holiday season. I can help you assess your financial situation and guide you on the next steps towards getting into the home of your dreams.
February
1-28
TAAC Exhibition:
Good Trouble Quilts
Good Trouble Quilts: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Congressman John Lewis is an exhibition of 35 original quilted artworks that center around the work and impact of the Congressman. Visit the Regional Arts Center Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-4pm.
The Temptations
Purchase your tickets at the Perot Theatre and enjoy the sounds of the Tempations: The Four Tops. It’s the 60th Anniversary of the hit song, “My Girl.”
EVENTS IN TEXARKANA, USA
6th and 13th
Love Poetry 101
Dr. Jenni deBie will facilitate a two-part Love Poetry 101 workshop at TRAHC’s Second space (518 Pine Street, Texarkana, TX 75501). Students will meet Thursday, Feb. 6 from 5:30-7pm and Thursday, Feb. 13 from 5:30-7pm to read, write, and workshop poetry with a particular eye to what we love, whatever it may be: people, places, warm fuzzy socks, or the best dogs in the world.
Silver Bingo!
Join the Texarkana Public Library for BINGO! We have lots of fun prizes to try your luck for. We host this event every second Tuesday of the month at 10am in the Nelson Meeting Room in the Library. We hope to see you there! For patrons 55+.
02.14.2025
February 14th from 6-9pm in Downtown Texarkana!
Bill Spradlin Realtor
903-748-3186
Jan
NOW LEASING
AVAILABLE NOW, Newly built gorgeous townhomes. Take your pick of a three bedroom, two full baths, one half bath unit or two bedroom, two full baths, one half bath unit. LOCATED AT 3445-3475 BROOKE PLACE TEXARKANA TX (Pleasant Grove ISD), at the end of a cul-de-sac, off Richmond Road. Each unit features stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops, open floor concept, breakfast bar, laundry room, vinyl plank flooring throughout, and attached one car garage. Pets welcome 35lbs or less. Walk to Ironwood for Happy Hour and a nice dinner, or Amigo Juan’s for a Margarita! Only 5 minutes to Christus St. Michael Hospital & 12 minutes to Wadley Regional Medical Center, Only 5 minutes to Texas A&M Texarkana Campus & 8 minutes to Texarkana College.
