ALT Magazine October 2015

Health In The Ark-La-Tex

TEXARKANA’S TOP LAWYER NOMINEES

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October 2015 | Vol. 9, Issue 10

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October2015

CONTENTS REGULARS 50 64 66 72 75

Financial Focus A Degree if Distinction F i s h Ta l e s Te x a r k a n a A n i m a l L e a g u e Calendar of Events

EXTRAS

14 k / On The Cover

FEATURES 14 20

26

T h e G i f t o f L i f e Ta k i n g Yo u r L i f e I n t o Yo u r Own Hands Painting A Life

32 Omega Professional Building 36 A Career of Passion 42 Te x a r k a n a ’ s To p L a w y e r Nominations 54 D r i n k i n ’ I t L o c a l - -

Arkansas Craft Beer 57 O k t o b e r f e s t Te x a r k a n a 60 What Is The Matter With Him? 70 Halloween Special

ALT Sales

magazine

covering the ark-la-tex

2015

Vo l . 9 , I s s u e 1 0

©2015 ALT Magazine For advertising information, call 903.334.9605 6

ALT Magazine

October 2015

EVENTS 62 Apraxia Walk 71 CASA Colorful 5K 74 Cinnabon & Schlotzsky’s

Grand Opening 74 H e a l t h S o u t h Te c h n o l o g y Fair 74 J o h n n y Ta m a l e ’ s G r a n d Opening

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Publisher

Photography

Debbie Brower

Debbie Brower, Jaclyn Gooding, Lindsey Gordon,

Editor

Sylvia Jennings, Studio 5A

Lindsey Gordon Feature Writers Associate Editor

Debbie Brower, Brooke

Jaclyn Gooding

Ferguson, Anne Fruge, Jaclyn Gooding, Lindsey Gordon,

Sales & Marketing

October

k / Oktoberfest Texarkana

LETTERS FROM PUBLISHER & EDITOR

Welcomes Tim Johnson to t h e A LT Te a m

ALT

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Susan Whitten

Debbie Brower, Lindsey Gordon, Tim Johnson

Contributing Writers

903.334.9605

Mike Brower, Lisa Myers, Dustin Stringer

Graphic Design Debbie Brower, Jaclyn Gooding, Lindsey Gordon Cover Photo Studio 5A

If you have an event you would like to include in our Upcoming Events section, please email us at: info@alt-mag.com.

Keeping It Real Chasing Dreams

w w w. a l t - m a g . c o m info@alt-mag.com 101 Slaton Dr. Nash, TX 75569 (903) 334-9605

ALT Magazine is published the 1st business day of every month.

Reproduction in whole or part without written permission of ALT Magazine is strictly prohibited. ALT Magazine is distributed free of charge. Direct mail subscriptions are available for $42.00 per year. Contributions from our readers are welcome. We reserve the right to edit or reject any material.

KEEPING IT REAL From The Publisher

This past month has been full of wonderful happenings. I love this time of year and it always seems to never disappoint. The cooler weather just makes me smile – especially when it allows me to ride with the top down in my mid-life crisis convertible! Pony tails flying, I love to feel the wind blowing as I am driving down the road. I have traveled many roads in my lifetime!

One of those roads led me to Camille Warren, who is on our cover this month. Writing about her brought back so many memories – memories of late nights typing, proofing, getting mounds of depositions and court transcripts ready to go. We always seemed to be on deadlines that were never ending. Although I still work with deadlines, it isn’t quite the same.

Camille and I grew up a lot in the years we were together. Court reporting at that time was really booming and we made our business thrive. But not just business partners, we were friends. We vacationed together, both with small children who loved going places. We laughed together and we cried together. And although we drifted apart after I left the business, we still remained friends.

The struggle with breast cancer was one that Camille has really never shared with many other than her close friends.

She is not one for a lot of attention – won’t she be surprised to find her photo on the cover? (I may be in trouble! LOL) She is just one of those really great people who do their thing, praising God, knowing that whatever happens will be what He deems to be appropriate. I am so glad she is my friend and will always be.

My daughter-in-law has also fought for her health, and continues that fight. Addison’s Disease is not as well known as breast cancer, but it is a real problem for those who have it. I have seen her struggle to get out of bed when energy levels drop for no apparent reason. My son, Michael, has told me horror stories of crashes where he had to administer shots to keep her from dying in his arms. Only with the public’s input will the disease get the recognition it needs to garner additional research.

Hopefully that will come soon. Lacretia is a wonderful example of someone who works hard, loves her family, and tries to help others understand this horrible disease.

One thing she has done that has thrilled both her, her family, and me, is get a therapy dog. Although Boomer is great, her new puppy, Bella, is adorable and is going to help make her life better. You can read all about how service dogs help those with diseases such as Addison’s in her article. They make such an impact!

With all the education we have done this month, we hope you will take action and do something for one of these causes to help. I know I will.

God bless you and your family…

Publisher

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October 2015

CHASING DREAMS From The Editor

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”

-- L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

It is my absolute favorite time of year, fall. The air is crisper, the weekends are filled with football games and hunting,

crock pot meals are back in full swing (makes for a much easier, healthy supper), Starbucks has the Salted Caramel Mocha and Pumpkin Spiced Latte back, and fall festivals are taking over the towns! It’s the beginning of the holiday seasons and pumpkins are everywhere, which I love!

What better way to enjoy this magical time of year than to support your local community at the First Annual Oktoberfest

Texarkana in downtown Texarkana, Arkansas? It’s a great event for the whole family, hosted by the Texarkana Friend’s of the Shelter and A&P Commission of Texarkana, Arkansas. All proceeds from the event will go back to help the Animal Care and Adoption Center of Texarkana.

The day starts with a 5K timed race and 1 mile Family Fun Run and Dog Walk, then the festival opens at 9am! The

festival will host arts & crafts, furniture, and boutique vendors from across the four states, as well as many great local food vendors. There will also be a special kid’s section with bounce houses, games and face painting. At 11am the beir garten will open. What better way to celebrate Oktoberfest than to sample some of the best local craft beers from a state known for it’s craft breweries? Throughout the event, local entertainment will be streaming from the Front Street Stage. From singer/ songwriters, musicians and artists to fun contests and games, there is sure to be something for everyone. Wrapping up the festival will be local country music favorite, Greg Gardner, performing some of his greatest hits from 5:30pm to 7pm. It will be an event you do not want to miss!

So lace up your tennis shoes, grab your fury friend and come on down to front street Texarkana on October 24, 2015

for a day full of arts, crafts, food, beer, music and lots of fall fun!

Lindsey Gordon Editor

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October 2015

OYS T E R P E R P E T UA L G M T- M A S T E R I I

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1-30 & Richmond Road Texarkana, TX

The Gift of Life WORDS BY Debbie Brower

PHOTOS BY Studio 5A

That appointment proved to be terrifying. The

We met years ago. She was blonde haired, brown surgeon tried to draw fluid and none would come out, so eyed, and full of energy. I was 10 years older and, as usual, an appointment was made to do a biopsy the following day. coming up with new adventures. At that time, court reporting Although terrified, she was more afraid was what had my attention. Camille Life is good. not to know what was going on. The Cowling Warren chose to go on the tumor, about the size of a Jawbreaker, adventure with me. And so we did.

God is good. was indeed cancer. As she woke up Opening a court reporting firm, building Marriage is good. from anesthesia to find her husband, a business, raising children, we were in Kids are good. mom, step-mom and business partner it together. It is still so fresh in my mind there, she was told the news. By the I can see her son Jordan’s blonde head But grandsons are God’s gift. time she got home, her entire church swimming in the pool at Gulf Shores, had been asked to start praying for her having fun and laughing hysterically -- so and the phone started ringing and didn’t stop. Her friends many memories and so much fun. were supporting her in whatever happened.

Years later, after leaving the profession, Camille still

One of those friends, her pastor’s wife, had just reports, only instead of taking depositions (formal questioning finished breast cancer therapy at Baylor Hospital and spoke of witnesses by the attorneys to a lawsuit), she works for highly of it, so Camille took her advice and chose to go to one of our local district judges. I chose to return to college, Baylor for treatment by a surgeon and get a degree and go a different direction oncologist. First step was to have a with my life, leaving the legal profession mastectomy and what is called a TRAM behind but remaining friends with many procedure. TRAM stands for transverse attorneys, legal assistants, and other court rectus abdominous, a muscle in your personnel. Camille is one of those I still lower abdomen between your waist and treasure. your pubic bone. A flap of this skin, fat,

Camille met her husband, Doug, and all or part of the underlying rectus in 1998. Although they lived hours away abdominous (“6-pack”) muscle are used from each other, they somehow made to reconstruct the breast in a TRAM flap dating work and in July, 1999, decided procedure. to get married. With happily ever after Overall, TRAM flaps are the most on her mind, Camille made plans for the commonly performed type of flap wedding, on July 27th. reconstruction, partly because TRAM flap

Sometimes, however, things tissue is very similar to breast tissue and happen and happily ever after doesn’t makes a good substitute. happen immediately. Just two weeks

On September 17, Camille had before her wedding, she found a lump in what is called a Pedicled (or attached) her right breast. She confided in a friend TRAM flap: In a pedicled TRAM flap, fat, who worked for a physician and was able skin, blood vessels, and muscle from to make an appointment with a surgeon your lower belly wall are moved under on July 29th, just two days following her your skin up to your chest to rebuild your wedding. She constantly thought through breast. The blood vessels (the artery and all of the probable outcomes and by the vein) of the flap are left attached to their time of her wedding shower the Friday original blood supply in your abdomen. (The artery and the night before, she had totally discounted the idea that it might vein are the “pedicle.”) Pedicled TRAM flaps almost always be cancer. Surely God wouldn’t allow that to happen right use a large portion of the rectus abdominous muscle and when she was about to get married. She was in denial.

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are known as “muscle-transfer” flaps. Recovering from a pedicled TRAM flap can take longer than recovering from a muscle-sparing free TRAM flap because more muscle is used.

Following a month of recovery, chemotherapy treatments began. She was to have 8 treatments, 3 weeks apart – 4 of Adriamycin and Cytoxan and 4 of Taxol.

This newly married woman, who had just started her blended family with her son and Doug’s daughter, lost her hair, suffered bouts of nausea, fatigue, body pains, and burning in her palms and the soles of her feet. “I was shopping one day, and my feet started burning. They had told me it might happen, but I had no idea what to expect.

After a few minutes, standing in line to check out, I couldn’t stand it anymore,” Camille shares. “I told the lady behind me in line what was happening and she told me to go sit down and she would watch my items. At the time is was very cold outside and I can remember keeping ice packs on my hands and feet after each treatment for about a week before it would subside.”

She luckily had a wonderful, loving husband, who helped take care of everything at home. With Jordan only 10 years old, the addition of Doug’s daughter Ashley, who was 14, that was wonderful. They kept each other company and things at home were as well as could be.

In March, 2000, the chemo was finished and Camille was told she was cancer free. For the next 3 years, she went back to the oncologist every 6 months, then every years.

Now she gets a yearly mammogram and chest x-ray with her surgeon. She has been cancer free for 15 years.

Life now is a little different – the kids are grown, she and Doug have 3 grandsons, and son Jordan just got married. “I remember my pastor calling me after I had just been diagnosed and telling me there was life after breast cancer and I wasn’t sure I believed that. Although it was comforting to hear, it was difficult to believe. Now I know.” Camille smiles as she thinks about it.

What exactly does she know? When she was diagnosed, she put on a good public face.

However, when she was alone, she was angry, bitter and depressed. “Why me?” She had a superficial relationship with God and now she knows that. “In fact, until three years ago, I really didn’t understand the gospel. Now I know there are worse things than breast cancer. Sin is a soul cancer and only the blood of Jesus can cure that,” Camille explains. She is eternally grateful that he chose to let her live and not die with a false sense of assurance. Although life is not always easy, life goes on,

Now, for Camille Warren, life is good. God is good.

Marriage is good. Kids are good. But grandsons are God’s gift. Thank you, God, for the gift of life.

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Taking Life Into Your Own Hands WORDS BY Anne Fruge

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ALT Magazine

October 2015

The effects of chronic illness extend much further than the symptoms of the disease.

Learning to live with Addison’s disease has changed Lacretia Bates’ entire life and taught her that being proactive with your medical care can make a huge difference.

Lacretia grew up in the Dallas area and attended Seagoville High. Though she had originally planned to become a registered nurse, she fell into computer support instead. “Looking back, I realize it was a blessing that this happened as working in the medical field with my condition is not an option,” Lacretia says. “The medication I take suppresses the immune system, so working around patients who are sick could have been deadly for me.”

Lacretia met her “greatest support,” Michael Bates, while they were both working for a computer support company. Though they worked on separate teams, they would see each other at staff get-togethers, but they did not start dating for another three years. “I joke and say that he was just really bad at flirting!” Lacretia says. “But, honestly, we had both gone through a divorce and were not looking for anything at the time. Now, my husband is my everything!”

The couple has three children between the two of them: Shawn, Kayla and Skyler. Lacretia and Michael have since moved on from the job where they met. Now, they both work for Choice Solutions, a virtualization consulting company, as systems engineers. They make their home in Prosper, and though their life has been changed by Lacretia’s diagnosis, it has only brought them closer. “I wouldn’t be alive without Michael,” Lacretia says. “He’s been there for me through the worst hospital trips one could ever imagine! We have a joke that he still married me after seeing me put a tube down my nose into my stomach! He gives me injections and keeps an eye on me.

He’s the only person I know that can see when I am having an episode before I can even realize it sometimes.”

The beginnings of Lacretia’s diagnosis go back to her mid-twenties, when she sought medical attention for allergy symptoms. She told her allergist that she was itching all over but didn’t have any hives. They ran many different kinds of tests, but they could never find the problem until her doctor suggested that itching could be a rare symptom of thyroid disease. Her doctor ran different tests, and it was then that Lacretia finally had some answers. She was diagnosed with Hashimotos Disease, a thyroid autoimmune disease. However, this was only the start of a long journey with medical tests, procedures and theories. Five years later, Lacretia sought medical help again. This time, she was suffering from extreme fatigue and weight loss. “Most mornings, I would dry heave before getting ready for work and some days, I could barely swallow food without wanting to gag,” Lacretia says. “I visited the doctor several times complaining of fatigue, but essentially, who isn’t fatigued in today’s world? So, my complaints were dismissed. But, soon, the fatigue got so bad I could barely stay awake while driving to and from work. I would literally have periods in the day where I had to take a walk to stay conscious.”

Lacretia’s doctor performed more tests, all of which were inconclusive. But one day, Lacretia told her physician that she “wished she had a home lab” so that she could take a blood sample when one of the episodes occurred. The doctor decided to leave an open order in the lab and next time Lacretia wasn’t feeling well, she could come right in and have blood drawn. “Finally, we were able to find that my cortisone was low, and it was a huge relief that I was not crazy and just making up the symptoms I was experiencing!” Lacretia says. “Little did I know, this was the beginning of my ongoing fight that would last a lifetime.”

Labeled “adrenal insufficient,” Lacretia was put on steroids as needed up to 20 mg. The doctor said that her adrenals, endocrine glands that produce a variety of hormones, might begin working again or might not, but either way, the low cortisone would have to be treated with steroids.

At first, Lacretia saw the steroids as a “magic pill” that would solve all her symptoms; however, the pills only lasted up to 4 hours, and pretty soon, Lacretia was up to 30 mg and still wasn’t feeling well. She would become deficient on and off through the day: a roller coaster that left her having crashes and then coming back up again. Then she learned about an ACTH test that could be ordered by endocrinologist to assess the function of her adrenal glands. However, the doctor reasoned with Lacretia that it didn’t matter what the root cause of her adrenal problems were as the treatment would be the same: steroids.

Undeterred, Lacretia tried seeing an endocrinologist for answers and hopefully a solution to the symptoms she was still experiencing. She was still tired, nauseated, cold all the time and had low blood-pressure. Unfortunately, Lacretia’s new doctor posed another dead end. Concerned with what was showing up in the blood work only, the new doctor erroneously suggested that she was receiving too much thyroid medication. He suggested a different medication that Lacretia had October 2015

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already tried and did not care for. He even tried to diagnose with her Fibromyalgia. He performed an ACTH test and said that she passed it, but later, when Lacretia had it reviewed by the Adrenal Disease Foundation, they determined that it was not performed correctly, and she had failed it. “At this point, I was so naive and trusting of my doctors,” Lacretia says. “I would blindly follow along with their plans, but I also knew what my body was telling me. As my condition progressed, I could see that I wasn’t getting any better, and I wasn’t finding the answers I needed. So, I started reading and learning on my own.”

At this point, Lacretia’s research lead her to another doctor who had been a speaker for the Endocrine Society and had a book published. Though it was difficult, Lacretia was able to get in to see him, and she explained her history, that she’s still wasn’t feeling well and that she wanted to run more tests on her adrenals in order to get a proper diagnosis. “He explained to me that once you are on steroids, you cannot take an ACTH test, as it makes the test invalid,” Lacretia says. “The endocrinologist told me that I would have to wean off the steroids and that my doctor was a ‘quack’ for putting me on them. He told me my adrenals were fine and they would start working again once I got off the steroids. I thought, ‘If he is right, I could cure my adrenal problem!’ Who wouldn’t want to do that?”

As she started to wean off the steroids, Lacretia began to experience exacerbated symptoms. “It got to the point where I was vomiting all throughout the day,” Lacretia says. “I went to the doctor and told him I just couldn’t work like that any longer. I could barely walk and I was vomiting all day. He agreed and put me on disability, but ten months later and I still had not been able to get off the steroids.”

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Frustrated and sick, Lacretia had lost so much weight, her ribs were showing. She slept most of the day, she lost her job and was in the process of losing her house due to financial constraints of not working. All of the systems that were in place to aid people with chronic and debilitating diseases failed her. Fed up, Lacretia and Michael revisited the doctor and wanted to see results from the process. After ten months and all this stress, shouldn’t Lacretia be able to have a clear ACTH test and learn more about her diagnosis? “My doctor just kept telling me, ‘It takes time, and it can take up to two years.’

Two years? I couldn’t do two years.

My whole family was suffering,” Lacretia says. “My husband and I made a choice and decided to stop seeing the doctor and to stop trying to fix my adrenals. I wanted to share that there wasn’t any help in this situation in the state of Texas. I must have spoken to every organization you can think of to see what my options were.”

Lacretia had short term disability that she used up immediately with her vacation time at work. Then, there was a three month waiting period for her long term disability to start up, and in that three month period, Lacretia had to pay her company for health insurance while she wasn’t getting paid. “Know that you need to be prepared in case you become chronically sick. Most individuals are healthy and have never had to be involved in the medical system.

When you become chronically ill, you learn how bad things really are,” Lacretia says. “I want to bring awareness to a healthy individuals. You could become sick at any time with something that will last for life.”

Lacretia encourages those she knows to ask important questions about their insurance and coverage: How is your disability handled? Do you have a waiting period

between your short term and long term disability? How would you pay for your medical insurance while you are waiting to be approved for long term disability? How would you pay for doctor appointments, medications, and ongoing medical bills?

How would you pay your house payment and bills? “Be sure you work out what happens beyond just short term disability, which can only last 2 weeks sometimes,” Lacretia says.

She found out that her long term disability would last two years, but then would have to apply for social security disability. She investigated applying for social security benefits and was told by an attorney that it would take a minimum of three years to receive it with her age, even though she had three qualifying conditions at the time. “I asked the attorney what I was supposed to do in the meantime, and she said, ‘Eat a lot of ramen noodles,” Lacretia says. “I definitely saw and experienced the financial toll it can take on a family. It basically taught me that you can lose everything if you get sick.”

Lacretia got back on the steroids and accepted that she would have to take them for life. Though she’s never been officially diagnosed, Lacretia is adrenal deficient and steroid dependent, which is essentially Addison’s disease. Addison’s is a disorder that occurs when your body produces insufficient amounts of certain hormones produced by your adrenal glands. Also called adrenal insufficiency, Addison’s disease occurs in all

age groups and affects both sexes, and it can also be lifethreatening. Treatment for Addison’s disease involves taking hormones to replace the insufficient amounts being made by your adrenal glands, in order to mimic the beneficial effects produced by your naturally made hormones. Not many people know that President John F. Kennedy was said to have Addison’s. “I have challenges every day trying to predict how much stress my body is going through and medicating it appropriately,” Lacretia says.

“I’ve learned that emotional stress requires a lot more steroids than physical stress. As you can imagine, my condition has taken its toll on my family and relationships. It’s hard for people that aren’t chronically ill to understand or not to think that I’m just ‘overreacting’ or ‘being lazy.’”

Day by day, Lacretia learns how to live her life with her illness. Her new job allows her to work from home a lot but to also go on-site for customers as well. The only negatives on her previous work reviews had been absences, but now, working from home when needed keeps her from missing a day. She also joined an online group for Addison’s disease. “The group really saved my life,” Lacretia says. “As I started learning about this disease, coping with the symptoms and realizing that I was not finding answers from my physicians, I began to read on my own. The group posts about treatments and medications. I was able to learn so much from their own experiences, and it

一漀 䤀渀琀攀爀攀猀琀 椀昀 倀愀椀搀 椀渀 䘀甀氀氀 眀椀琀栀椀渀

㄀㔀 䴀漀渀琀栀猀

匀甀戀樀攀挀琀 琀漀 挀爀攀搀椀琀 愀瀀瀀爀漀瘀愀氀⸀ 䌀愀氀氀 昀漀爀 搀攀琀愀椀氀猀⸀ October 2015

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helped me not to feel so alone.”

From her research, Lacretia was able to learn several important facts about living with her condition. For example, there’s not a way to test when cortisone gets low, like someone who suffers from low blood sugar and can use a glucose meter. The only way to know is by symptoms which can come on rather fast. The symptoms are often different making it difficult to know what to do. “Sometimes I find myself wondering ‘Which pill do I take to fix this?’” Lacretia says. “If you can’t react quickly enough, then you have what is called an ‘adrenal crisis,’ in which you vomit over and over with severe pain around your kidneys, and shake uncontrollably. If you do not get an injection right away, you could die. Before my first one, I had asked the question, ‘How will I know when I’m having an adrenal crisis?’ But, once you’ve had your first one, you never have to ask the question again because you know.”

From the online support group she’s learned that she should wear an emergency bracelet, carry an emergency injection kit, and should alert emergency medical personal to her condition, even though an ambulance driver is not allowed to give an injection. “These were all things that my doctor never made me aware of until I called and asked for them. It’s scary to think that I could be in an accident and emergency workers are not allowed to give me an injection. I would have to rely on strangers to give me an injection with the current laws in place,” Lacretia says.

A few years ago, Lacretia read a story about a dog in Europe that could sense and alert its owner when her cortisone was low. Since there aren’t any available test

methods to tell Lacretia when she is low, this was a welcome option. She has since started working with dog trainers and doing her own research to learn how to train a service dog for Addison’s disease. She has been reading, emailing, and Skyping with trainers as well as working at a local training facility that helps train therapy dogs. “My dog’s name is Bella, and she’s a seven month old Labradoodle,” Lacretia says. “We just passed our canine good citizen test a few weeks ago, and we are working on the ability to retrieve my medication, alert me when my cortisone is low, and alert others if I’m unconscious and need help. So far, it’s a lot like coping with my illness: a process of trial and error.”

Through it all, Lacretia’s greatest support system has remained her husband. “He helps me cope and has been more understanding than I could ever have asked for,” Lacretia says. “He puts up with my studying and research.

He knows how difficult it is for me, and he can sense when I’m sick before I can.”

One of the biggest reasons why Lacretia wanted to share her story is to share her message of being proactive in your own medical care. “I’ve learned so much and grown so much through this process. I’ve learned not to take things for granted,” Lacretia says. “Always read about the medication your doctor is giving you. Understand how it works and what not to take it with. Know the side effects. Make sure your team of doctors is on the same page, everyone from your physician to the pharmacists. Do your own research and join a group that understands what you are going through.

Be educated and don’t be afraid to question things until you understand. It might just save your life.”

COMING TO THE RICHMOND MARKETPLACE

THIS OCTOBER!

3626 RICHMOND ROAD TEXARKANA, TX 903-223-0533 24

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October 2015

4059 Summerhill Sq. Texarkana, TX 903.792.0056

October 2015

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Painting a Life WORDS BY Brooke Ferguson

PHOTOS BY Studio 5A 26

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October 2015

“You have cancer.” This is not the phrase you expect to hear following a mundane trip to your family doctor to get prescriptions refilled. As if this moment wasn’t hard enough, Vicki Friesen was hit with another blow: “You have an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.” Her family doctor at the time, Dr. Gregory Trevino, saw some telling signs in some routine lab work and took quick action. As soon as the panel of doctors determined the extent of her bladder cancer and the position and severity of the aneurysm in her abdomen, Mrs. Friesen was inundated with doctor visits, tests, and sound advice.

Vicki Friesen is a Texarkana home town lady, but after Ron, her husband of 37 years, retired the two decided to move to Naperville, IL to be with some of their children.

Since much of her family had either moved off or passed away (most due to cancer), Vicki was looking forward to the move and to living in a place that “actually has four seasons.” It was a new scene; however, she had no idea what would show up in the background.

“It’s like you don’t know what to be scared about,” Friesen said of her reaction to two potentially terminal diagnoses. Vicki thought, “of course I have cancer, almost all of my family has had it.” In fact, Vicki lost both of her parents, some grandparents, and an aunt to cancer. While undergoing a CT Scan to see the extent of Vicki’s bladder cancer, the doctor noticed a large, blown up artery in her abdominal cavity, called an aneurysm. All at once, she tries to cipher all the long medical terms and possible treatments for her bladder cancer and ponder the gravity of having a large engorgement of her Aorta that could burst and take her life at any moment. As I listen to her tell this story, describe this scene, I sit, mouth agape, at the utter devastation she must have felt. Understanding the impact of such is unimaginable. I lean forward as she tells her story, as if being closer to her words would help me understand how traumatic these diagnoses must have been.

In a whirlwind of doctor’s offices, Vicki began a battle for her life. A team of doctors would soon be Vicki’s biggest allies. Dr. Gregory Trevino played a crucial role in discovering some telling signs. Norman Kumins, M.D. and Michael Gaffud, M.D. are vascular surgeons who were charged with the task of navigating a way to eliminate the threat of one the most challenging aneurysms they had

ever seen. They teamed up with Vicki’s urologist, Dr. Mark Fisher, whose specialty is bladder cancer, to plan the best way to treat her as a whole person and get her back in good health. This would be a long road.

It took the vascular surgeons two months to “map out” the process of the surgery and how to ensure blood flow to all the proper organs. Her urologist planned along with them to ensure that all of the cancer would be removed. Before the lengthy and risky surgery for the aneurysm, the urologist would do his best to remove all signs of the bladder cancer. The surgery incision to repair the aneurysm would stretch the entire length of Vicki’s abdomen.

She would spend close to a month in the hospital recovering from the surgeries. When the doctors attempted the surgery, it ended up taking nearly triple the amount of time initially expected, due to unforeseen circumstances.

This almost certainly lengthened her expected recovery time. As an additional treatment, Vicki would take a bacillus Calmette-Guerin solution or BCG treatments.

This means, the urologist would inject her bladder with a tuberculin bacteria in order to kick start her immune system to attack the cancer cells. At the same time, the ballooned artery began to atrophy; however, as it began to die off, so did the blood flow to her spleen, leaving her asplenic and at a disadvantage for fighting off infections and diseases. When the hospital room got to be too much, she would stand up, with some struggle, to look out her window. She was astonished at the beautiful view. She could see a pond with swans swimming around. It was in these times that she could feel God calming her nerves and concerns. It was as if He said, “I’ve got you; I’ll get you through it.”

As she described what seemed like months of pain and struggle and moments of lost dignity, her tears flowed. Most of the time I spent with Vicki, she had me laughing, but in that moment, I cried with her. She spoke of how her “angel of a husband” never once complained, never made her feel like a burden, and stayed by her side through all the struggles of fighting such a ravenous disease. She can remember walking all 13 steps (yes, she counted them often) in her house with trepidation. I am almost certain that she wondered if she would ever feel

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better, able. She needed the help of her family now more than ever. I cannot help but think of how she had somehow earned this support. When her son was only six months old, her mother moved in with her and her family. They worked as a unit. Then, her mother was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Vicki cared for her, along with the help of her family, until her last breath in 2004. Now, in her time of most dire need, Vicki’s family, especially her husband, was reciprocating what she gave to her mother many years previous.

As the “real” seasons washed over their home from 2011 to 2012, Vicki slowly gained strength. She began to enjoy life again. She felt like each day was a gift, after all her chance of surviving the surgery was only 5050. Considering all the family she’d lost to cancer, she wondered why God spared her. A self-described “spiritual person,” Vicki quickly felt like God had a plan for her survival. “I’ve always heard, ‘If God will bring you to it, He will get you through it,’” but Vicki wondered where He would lead her to next.

As she began to feel some normalcy back in her life, her family suffered another loss.

Vicki’s sister lost her husband. The situation grew worse when her sister, Sandra Clapp (but Vicki just calls her Kay), who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, fell and injured herself. Although Sandra’s children are a huge help to her, they have young families. Vicki thought of this and decided that this was her new direction, her new purpose. With the unending support of her husband, Ron, they moved back to Texarkana to help care for Sandra. Here again, Vicki is continuing the cycle of love and care that her family gave her.

“She’s my baby sister,” she said and that explained it all. Vicki has certainly earned the right to be bitter about all of her suffering and loss, but she is quite the opposite.

“It’s like having another birthday.” Vicki knows that she has a brand new chance to live life to her fullest potential

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and to enjoy her time with her husband and family. She is honored to help care for her sister. In fact, she has been caring for her family her whole life, and I can see the joy she gleans from it.

I was astounded at her unrelenting positive attitude about all the loss she’d suffered, her entire ordeal, and her sister’s situation. I commented about her ability to maintain such joy and asked her what was her secret. “I paint,” she said. She goes to Painting With A Twist here in Texarkana to “purge” her mind for a bit and simply think on her painting. She loves to “paint and laugh” either alone, with a group, or with her “painting buddy,” Bert Morgan. They joke around while painting and just have fun, “we like to call ourselves outlaws.”

What makes Painting With A Twist such a sanctuary for Vicki is that “Stacey and Curtis allow us to be silly and let go.” Pablo Picasso once said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

That is certainly the case for Vicki.

She can sit down, look at her palette, and focus on the picture she must complete.

Immediately my mind was transported across town to my very own living room. I have a wall decoration that says, “Paint with all the colors in your palette.” At once, I knew that Vicki was the embodiment of such an adage.

After all, she has experienced so much loss and suffering yet she remains more than simply positive; she lives in joy. Each time life presented her with a change, she sat down and painted with the colors she had. She remains grateful to her family who were such an incredible support, and the doctors who cared for her. “I’m not going to forget these men; they saved my life.” She left me with one final piece of advice: “Be thankful,” people should not complain about getting older, instead they should be proud for “reaching ages denied to many” and simply sit down and paint with whatever colors they have and on whatever canvas God has provided.

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Fall for Smiles H

lloween fr a H y p om ap Pediatric Dentistry of Texarkana

Dr. Mitchell Glass • Dr. Jason Gambill • Dr. Brittany Bunch

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October 2015

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Omega Professional Building WORDS BY Lindsey Gordon

Prestigious. Convenient.

Resourceful. Private. All of these and more describe the appeal of the Omega Professional Building. From the striking, historic architecture to the mid-century modern designs and office space, this building has something to please every tenant both inside and out.

Owned and operated by the Osborne sisters, Gwen Osborne, Brenda Osborne and Sheila Osborne Wagnon, they are providing a new twist on office space. “We believe the Omega Professional Building provides an environment that stimulates creativity, productivity and, ultimately, wealth for our tenants! No one walks through the front door without offering comments about how beautiful the building is,” says Sheila.

Upon entering the lobby, guests are greeted with great energy, not only from the friendly receptionist, but also the open, vibrant waiting area.

The two story space is full of flare sure to keep the eye entertained.

The building is equipped with Class A office space that conveys a strong sense of professionalism on every 32

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level. Each office is handsomely furnished with desk, executive chair, side chairs, filing cabinets and original artwork unique to each room. Office spaces and meeting rooms can be leased by the day, week, month or year, offering great flexibility for both local and outside attorneys.

As open as the layout may seem, there is also a great sense of anonymity within the building.

There is also back door access to private offices and meeting rooms.

Omega Professional Building is conveniently located right in the middle of Texarkana’s Downtown Business District. Not only does it sit near the Bi-State Courthouse, Federal Courthouse and Miller County Courthouse, but it is within walking distance to some of Texarkana’s finest eateries. Just steps away from Zapatas, Hopkins Ice House, Joe’s Italian, TLC Burgers & Fries and Pecan Point Brewery,

there is something sure to please every appetite.

Location is not the only convenience harbored at the Omega Professional Building. They go above and beyond to meet the needs of their tenants. With access to a commercial printer, metered mail, dry cleaning pickup and delivery, and a kitchenette with coffee and water, this office space provides every convenience to complete the experience. If assistants, paralegals or legal secretaries are needed, the owners of Omega will arrange for one to be available. All tenants have access to meeting rooms, and Omega will even deliver lunch or dinner to a meeting. They are there for whatever their tenants need.

The building offers free wired and/or wireless secure internet throughout the entire flexible floor plan.

If the impressiveness of the Professional Building didn’t seal the deal, the Osbournes are also offering newly renovated executive loft apartments within walking distance to Omega. There are four units ranging from 450-650 square feet, all one bedroom with full kitchen and open living area, as well as an on-site washer and dryer.

Easily distinguishable by the “golden door” that greets the tenants, they are loaded with 216 Olive St | Texarkana, personality and can be leased 870.330.0400 by the day, week, month and year.

The Osbornes did not just stumble upon this great opportunity to create a stimulating office environment for the community of Texarkana. They have grown-up in business and are more than excited to be coming together for this family business venture.

The Osborne family, including their five children, originally migrated to Texarkana in 2000 from Camden, Arkansas. The sisters have not lived together for more than two decades and used this opportunity to build a business as a family. “We all bring something different to the table, that’s what makes us so strong in business,” says Sheila.

“We were raised in business, and we are very intentional about making sure the generations to come know the family culture,” Sheila explains. They are a family built in business and we want to continue that legacy.

Not only are they very business oriented, but they are a family that believes in advancing their community.

“We are all about people and people groups,” Sheila explains. They work together as a family to gain and grow working relationships throughout the community that span generations.

Everything the family does is done with excellence.

If they are going to enter a community event, which they do regularly, such as a parade, they are going to enter as a family with the mind-set to win.

The Osborne family and the people of Omega Professional Building are builders. They are builders of structures, they are builders omega216.com of people, they are builders of organizations, and they are builders of relationships whether those are within the family, within their work or within the community.

Executive Loft Apartments

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For more information on office space or executive loft apartments, call (870) 330-0400.

October 2015

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Taste & See

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A Career of Passion WORDS BY Lindsey Gordon

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Rewarding is an understatement compared to how Steven Beil and Mary de Bie consider their job. Although new to the veterinarian career, their passion for the work and for helping animals gleams through their personalities everyday.

Steven comes from a small family, consisting of his mom, two aunts and his cousin. He attended undergrad at Carroll University then went on to vet school at the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery in Scotland, United Kingdom. He decided to become a veterinarian at a young age. Steven always had dogs growing up, and his first dog ended up getting cancer. Feeling helpless, Steven decided then he wanted to be able to help animals. He also had the urge to become a fighter pilot, but his eyesight was not good enough. That made going to veterinarian school an even easier decision.

Mary grew up in Texarkana with her mom, dad and younger sister. She got her undergrad from Texas A&M University, College Station and went on to study at the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery in the United Kingdom, where she met Steven.

When Mary was young, she admired the comfort her vet always provided to both her and her animals. She decided she wanted the knowledge to help animals as well as to be a source of reassurance to the people who love them.

During vet school, the students had to complete 26 weeks of clinical extra mural studies. Mary asked to shadow Dr. Stacey Hendershott at Pleasant Grove Animal Hospital, who enthusiastically agreed. “To be offered a chance to work alongside her and her team was an honor,” Mary says. Steven and Mary began dating their first year of vet school. He would spend his summers visiting Mary, and even spent a week at Pleasant Grove Animal Hospital and enjoyed working with Dr. Hendershott and her staff. When the two were nearing graduation and looking for jobs, Dr. Hendershott made them an offer to come work for her, “it seemed like the perfect fit,” Steven exclaims.

The two begin each work day fresh. They show up to Pleasant Grove Animal Hospital early each morning, reevaluates their current patients and their treatments, updates their records, and give the owners the updates. Appointments then begin and continue to lunch. These appointments may be for basic annual exams and vaccinations, rechecks, a sick animal, or even surgery. If they’re lucky, they get to take a quick lunch break, but there are days that they must work straight through. For some this may seem liken a daunting task, but for Steven and Mary, having such great co-workers and work environment, makes the work day much more enjoyable. “Everyone is always upbeat, even on the difficult days. We all have a passion to help animals and their owners.

It is great knowing that I can count on everyone at PGAH to work as a team to complete the tasks at hand,” says Steven.

Afternoons are filled with more appointments as well as discharging patients towards the end of the day. “There isn’t a much better feeling than watching an animal improve when they are under your care and sending them home to their family,” Mary explains. After closing the office, work for Steven and Mary is still not finished. They recheck their inpatients one last time and call all of the owners to give most current updates. Lastly, the two finish up their notes for the

day. The best part of their work day is, “sending recovered happy patients home to their families after they have come in for a procedure or have been hospitalized and receiving treatment for certain medical conditions,” explains Steven.

Not all days are filled with happy patients and good news. “Everyone hopes that when their sick pet comes in for help everything will turn out OK, but it does not always work out that way; having to tell an owner, that despite all our efforts, that their pet did not make or is not responding to treatment is one of the hardest things we have to do,” Steven says. But they have received some pretty good advice to help make it through the tough times. “During vet school James Herriot’s son, who was also a vet, came and spoke to our class. He said even the best vets get down sometimes and that is OK. He said to not feel like you are the only one and that there will be plenty of good days to make up for the bad ones,” Mary explains.

To keep those good days more prevalent, both Steven and Mary could not stress more the importance of preventative care. “From vaccines to heartworm preventatives and many others, taking care of the health of our furry friends doesn’t have to start when they first have a problem,” says Mary.

“Early treatment or prevention is always better than waiting until problem develops. I know it may sometimes be financially difficult to see the veterinarian, but it is often less expensive than waiting and seeking treatment later. Even more importantly we must prevent unnecessary pain and suffering for our pets by treating them early on,” explains Steven.

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October 2015

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TEXARKANA’S TOP 5 1 LAWYER NOMINATIONS 20 Administrative/Regulatory Law

Bankruptcy & Creditor

George Matteson Moore, Giles & Matteson

David James Miller, James, Miller & Hornsby, LLP

John Tidwell Mercy Carter Tidwell, LLP

David Ruff Law Office of David Ruff

Brent Langdon Langdon Davis Law Firm

Rodney McDaniel McDaniel Law Office

Lisa McPherson Langdon Davis Law Firm

Business Organizations

Appellate Practice

Fred Norton Norton & Wood LLP

James W. Smith Dunn Nutter & Morgan LLP

Howard Mowery Spicer Rudstrom PLLC

John Mercy Mercy Carter Tidwell, LLP

Mark Burgess Mark Burgess Law Firm

Lauren Sutton Richards Bowie County Assistant District Attorney

Nick Newton Langdon Davis Law Firm

Troy Hornsby Miller, James, Miller & Hornsby, LLP

Tina Green Capshaw Green, PLLC

Banking & Finance Law

Wes Jordan Jordan Law Firm LLP

Nick Newton Langdon Davis Law Firm

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Commercial Litigation

Kyle Davis Langdon Davis Law Firm

Brent Langdon Langdon Davis Law Firm

Rob McGinnis Law Office of Rob McGinnis

Cary Patterson Nix Patterson Roach LLP

ALT Magazine

October 2015

David Carter Mercy Carter Tidwell, LLP Howard Mowery Spicer Rudstrom PLLC Marshall Wood Norton & Wood LLP

Barrett & Tyler, Llp

Attorneys at Law

Corporate Law Howard Mowery Spicer Rudstrom PLLC Nick Newton Langdon Davis Law Firm Tina Green Capshaw Green, PLLC

We are pleased to have our partner, Joe Tyler, nominated as one of Texarkana’s Top Lawyers!

Nominated for:

Criminal Defense: Non-White Collar Criminal Defense: White-Collar Family Law Texarkana’s Top Young Lawyer

Wes Jordan Jordan Law Firm LLP 611 Pecan St Texarkana, AR 71854 870.772.2070 jtyler@kglawfirm.com

Criminal Defense: Non-White Collar Jason Horton Jason Horton Law Firm Jeff Harrelson Harrelson Law Firm Joe Tyler Barrett & Tyler, LLP John Pickett Young Pickett Law Offices Mark Elliott Langdon Davis Law Firm Craig Henry Law Office of Craig Henry Criminal Defense: White-Collar Jason Horton Jason Horton Law Firm Jeff Harrelson Harrelson Law Firm October 2015

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Joe Tyler Barrett & Tyler, LLP John Pickett Young Pickett Law Offices Mark Elliott Langdon Davis Law Firm DUI/DWI Defense Darren W. Anderson Anderson Law Firm Jason Horton Jason Horton Law Firm John Pickett Young Pickett Law Offices Mark Elliott Langdon Davis Law Firm Mike Lusk Law Office of Mike Lusk Employment Law Brandon Cogburn Atchley, Russell, Waldrop and Hlavinka David Glass Smith Weber Law Firm Ernest W. Brown, Jr. EWB Law Firm Glen Hudspeth Murry & Hudspeth Louise Tausch Atchley, Russell, Waldrop And Hlavinka, LLP Demaris Hart Langdon Davis Law Firm Family Law

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October 2015

Howard Mowery Spicer Rudstrom PLLC

Jasmine Crockett Crockett Law Firm Jim Cranford Cranford Law Firm Joe Tyler Barrett & Tyler, LLP John Delk Law Office of John Delk Marshall Moore Moore, Giles & Matteson Michael Friedman

Teresa Severns TX Law Firm Health Care Law Bobby Howell Langdon Davis Law Firm Brent Langdon Langdon Davis Law Firm Insurance Law Brent Langdon Langdon Davis Law Firm Hawley Holman Hawley Holman Law Office Howard Mowery Spicer Rudstrom PLLC Jeff Elliott Elliott Law Firm John Delk Law Office of John Delk Mark Burgess Mark Burgess Law Firm Labor Law Bill Bullock Bullock Law Firm

We are honored to be nominated as Texarkana Top Lawyers 2015. Thank you!

903.223.3246 5902 Summerfield, Suite A Texarkana, TX 75503

Licensed to practice in Texas and Arkansas

903.628.5571 625 Sam Houston Dr. New Boston, TX 75570

October 2015

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Medical Malpractice - Defendants

David Glass Smith Weber Law Firm

Brent Langdon Langdon Davis Law Firm

Glen Hudspeth Murry & Hudspeth Louise Tausch Atchley, Russell, Waldrop and Hlavinka, LLP Mediation

Demaris Hart Langdon Davis Law Firm

John Greer Greer Miller Louise Tausch Atchley, Russell, Waldrop and Hlavinka, LLP Paul Miller Miller, James, Miller & Hornsby, LLP

Frank Poff Law Offices of Frank Poff

Medical Malpractice - Plaintiffs Brent Langdon Langdon Davis Law Firm

John Greer Greer Miller

David Carter Mercy Carter Tidwell, LLP

John Mercy Mercy Carter Tidwell, LLP

John Greer Greer Miller Law Firm Mike Smith Smith Weber Law Firm Personal Injury - Defendants

Moore, Giles & Matteson, LLP Attorneys At Law

Brandon Cogburn Atchley, Russell, Waldrop and Hlavinka, LLP Brent Langdon Langdon Davis Law Firm Howard Mowery Spicer Rudstrom PLLC

Marshall Moore Greg Giles George Matteson* License to practice in Arkansas, Texas and Florida*

1206 North Stateline Avenue Texarkana, Arkansas 71854

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October 2015

(870) 774-5191 office (870) 773-1102 fax

Jeff Elliott Elliott Law Firm Jon Beck Dunn Nutter & Morgan LLP Mark Burgess Mark Burgess Law Firm Paul Miller Miller, James, Miller & Hornsby, LLP

Thank You, Texarkana, for Placing Your Trust in Me!

Howard Mowery, Attorney at Law

Celebrating One Year of Serving Our Community

Offices in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Little Rock and Texarkana www.spicerfirm.com

October 2015

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Personal Injury - Plaintiffs Brent Langdon Langdon Davis Law Firm Darren W. Anderson Anderson Law Firm

Mike Smith Smith Weber Law Firm Real Estate Law

David Carter Mercy Carter Tidwell, LLP

Bobby Howell Langdon Davis Law Firm

Howard Mowery Spicer Rudstrom PLLC

Don Capshaw Capshaw Green, PLLC

Jeff Culbertson Patton Tidwell & Schroeder

Kyle Davis Langdon Davis Law Firm

Kelly Tidwell Patton Tidwell & Schroeder

Phillip Jordan Jordan Law Firm LLP

Mark Burgess Mark Burgess Law Firm

Wes Jordan Jordan Law Firm LLP

Monty Murry Murry & Hudspeth

Trusts and Estates

Product Liability - Defendants

Ed Miller Miller, James, Miller & Hornsby, LLP

Brandon Cogburn Atchley, Russell, Waldrop and Hlavinka

Fred Norton Norton & Wood LLP

Brent Langdon Langdon Davis Law Firm

John Ross Ross & Shoalmire, LLP

Howard Mowery Spicer Rudstrom PLLC

Kyle Davis Langdon Davis Law Firm

Mark Burgess Mark Burgess Law Firm

Lisa Shoalmire Ross & Shoalmire, LLP

Product Liability - Plaintiffs

Tina Green Capshaw Green, PLLC

Brent Langdon Langdon Davis Law Firm

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Mark Burgess Mark Burgess Law Firm

Workers Comp - Claimants

David Carter Mercy Carter Tidwell, LLP

David Glass Smith Weber Law Firm

Howard Mowery Spicer Rudstrom PLLC

Greg Giles Moore, Giles & Matteson

ALT Magazine

October 2015

Workers Comp - Employers Bill Bullock Bullock Law Firm David Glass Smith Weber Law Firm Howard Mowery Spicer Rudstrom PLLC Jeff Elliott Elliott Law Firm

Texarkana’s Top Lawyer Cary Patterson Nix Patterson Roach LLPN Darren W. Anderson David Carter Mercy Carter Tidwell, LLP Demaris Hart Langdon Davis Law Firm Jerry D. Rochelle Bowie County DA John Mercy Mercy Carter Tidwell, LLP John Ross Ross & Shoalmire, LLP

Texarkana’s Top Young Lawyer Jason Horton Jason Horton Law Firm Jeff Culbertson Patton Tidwell & Schroeder

Joe Tyler Barrett & Tyler, LLP

Mark Elliott Langdon Davis Law Firm

Katie Curry Carter Bowie County Assistant District Attorney

Sara Cooper Bowie County Assistant District Attorney

Kelly Crisp Bowie County Assistant District Attorney

Tony Kline Pillow Ross & Shoalmire, LLP, LLP

Kimberly Smith-Morris Smith-Morris Law Office Lauren Sutton Richards Bowie County Assistant District Attorney

Visit www.alt-mag.com to vote for your choices in Texarkana’s Top Lawyer October 1 - October 31!

Winners announced in the December issue of ALT! October 2015

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Submitted by Dustin Stringer Stringer Wealth Management LPL Financial www.stringerwealthmanagement.net

Getting All Your Social Security

By Dustin Stringer

Social Security benefits are complex and you can often miss benefits you are entitled to. If you fit into one of the categories below, pay attention.

Widow or widower younger than 70. If your deceased spouse earned benefits,

Married with two incomes. If both you and your spouse earn benefits, coordinate both payouts with your other income.

Let’s say Jim and Jane, both 60, are a married couple who

Total Cumulative Benefit* Strategy 80 85 90 Both take at FRA $900,000 $1,200,000 $1,500,000 One defers to 70 $885,600 $1,233,600 $1,581,600 Both defer to 70 and one takes Spousal only at FA $931,200 $1,327,200 $1,723,200 * assumes no inflation increases you may be able to collect those payments while you delay your own benefit and let it grow.

I recently had a widower client who planned to build up her own Social Security benefit and delay receiving it until she turned 70, to maximize the monthly income. She was not aware, though, that she can collect survivor benefits now between ages 60 to 70, on her late husband’s Social Security record with no effect on her own benefit.

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both have significant benefits coming. Jim, the primary earner, plans on deferring his benefit until age 70 and Jane will start taking hers at her Full Retirement Age (or FRA, which ranges from 65 if you were born in 1937 or later to 67 of you were born in 1960 or later).

Both Jim and Jane get an FRA monthly benefit of $2,500; both expect to live to 90. Jane plans to take a spousal only benefit at FRA, which is half of her husband’s FRA benefit, and allowing her own benefit to increase until she turns 70, which provides a better result.

Divorced. You might qualify for benefits off your ex-spouse’s record. This comes with a lot of conditions: You must be unmarried and your ex must be at least 62; and you must be divorced for at least two years after a marriage that lasted at least 10 years.

Claiming this benefit doesn’t affect your ex-spouse’s other potential benefits and your ex-spouse will not be notified of your claim.

If you get married again, you lose this benefit.

Minors. Children of a deceased worker who are younger than 18 (or younger than 22 if the living worker is disabled ) are entitled to a monthly benefit.

A child’s death benefits depend on how long the deceased person worked: The longer the worker’s employment,

the larger the benefit to the surviving minor. Each child can receive 75% of the basic benefit.

Benefits to a surviving family are limited. If your surviving spouse also receives a survivor benefit, for example, each of your children’s benefits drops. The maximum benefit allowed per family ranges from 150% to 180% of the deceased’s basic benefit; if the family total exceeds this amount, each person’s monthly allowance decreases.

If you die and your surviving spouse collects benefits while still working, he or she can forfeit those benefits to potentially free your kids from a reduction in survivor’s benefits.

None of the above. It’s still important to meet with a financial advisor to plan your Social Security claiming strategy and coordinate benefits with your other sources of income.

4058 Summerhill Sq. Texarkana, TX 903-792-0088

Follow AdviceIQ on Twitter at @adviceiq . John Dragstrem is a CFP at Wheaton Wealth Partners in Wheaton, Ill., and Naples, Fla. AdviceIQ delivers quality personal finance articles by both financial advisors and AdviceIQ editors. It ranks advisors in your area by specialty, including small businesses, doctors and clients of modest means, for example. Those with the biggest number of clients in a given specialty rank the highest. AdviceIQ also vets ranked advisors so only those with pristine regulatory histories can participate. AdviceIQ was launched Jan. 9, 2012, by veteran Wall Street executives, editors and technologists. Right now, investors may see many advisor rankings, although in some areas only a few are ranked. Check back often as thousands of advisors are undergoing AdviceIQ screening. New advisors appear in rankings daily. The appropriate professionals should be consulted on all legal and accounting matters prior to or in conjunction with implementation of the plan. Securities and Advisory Services Offered Through LPL Financial - A Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA / SIPC.

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DRINKIN’ IT LOCAL

Craft Beers Of Arkansas

WORDS BY Lindsey Gordon

Beer is one of the most popular beverages in mankind history. No wonder craft beer, local, handcrafted and fresh, is taking over the state of Arkansas. Craft beer is created in small batches, independently owned by local people with traditional flavors. When trying to define craft beer, each beer lover and creator has their own unique interpretation and discovery that makes their brews one of a kind.

So what makes craft beer so special? Is it the freshness of the brew? The diversity of the flavors? Or is it the camaraderie of getting to meet the masterminds behind the beverage? All of these and more tie into the fantastic tastes of craft beers produced by local breweries that have boomed across the state of Arkansas recently.

“CRAFT BREWERS TAKE REAL PRIDE AND PASSION IN THEIR WORK, AND EACH INDIVIDUAL BATCH IS A LABOR OF LOVE.” -- Jonathan Martin Bubba Brew’s Brewing Company 54

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Craft beer includes the same basic ingredients of mass produced beer: malted barley, water, hops and yeast. It is the exclusive ingredients to craft beer that make it so unique. Ian Beard, from Stone’s Throw Brewing, gives examples of these elements -- smoked malts, spices, herbs, pumpkin, chocolate, vanilla beans, whiskey barrels, chipotle peppers, ribbon cane syrup, honey and orange peels -- and points out the brewer is really, “only limited by [their] imagination.” The most important ingredient found in craft beer, though, is passion.

In recent years, craft beer productivity and consumption has boomed across the state of Arkansas. “The number one reason, in my opinion, is that it is a superb product,” explains Jonathan Martin, with Bubba Brew’s Brewing Company. Craft brewers make beer for beers sake. By definition, craft breweries are independently owned and produce less than a specified amount of beer per year. Craft breweries and the beer they brew are done in a small batch, primarily handcrafted, and serve a local or regional marketplace. Craft brewers also use much more of the base ingredients of barley and hopes per batch. This addition lends to a different body of the brew, with a stronger flavor, color and aroma than can be produced at the “macro” level.

Basically, microbreweries are “different” than mass distributors.

“The skill required to make the beer is high in either case, it’s just a matter of how creative and bold you get,” states Ian. What really sets them apart is the freshness of the beer. Local beer is fresher beer, simple as that. Craft breweries can brew a much more diverse line-up in smaller batches and only travels across towns instead of oceans and continents.

Beer drinkers love the appearance, aroma and taste of craft beers over mass produced lagers, but taste aside, “folks like drinking beer from places they know,” explains Jonathan. People have local pride, “they like to try what’s coming out of their own neighborhood,” says Ian. At most craft breweries, people can meet the brewers, tour the brewery and actually see the work done by local craftsmen and tradesmen.

Aside from the freshness and locality of craft brews, there is also a ton of variety. “If you don’t like a certain style, you are sure to find another that you do like,” explains Jonathan. “Craft brewers relish their role of introducing new tastes and twists with each new batch. Craft breweries specialize in tailoring brews to the seasons or to events,” explains William Scurlock, Pecan Point Brewing Co.

One of the favorite, or most popular, brews at Bubba Brew’s Brewing Company is the 10-Point Buck. “People love it,” Jonathan says. “It is malty, smooth and has a ton of flavor. It’s an approachable beer, but still very much craft. People also love the name, which is intended to be a play on “ten point buck.”

The customer favorite at Stone’s Throw Brewing Company is Amadeus Vienna Lager. “After an expansion, we had room to brew some of the beers that took more time, namely lagers and high alcohol beers. Our first batch of Amadeus was a huge success, but we couldn’t keep up with demand so we had to ditch the slower beers. When we expanded once again, we had room for one year round lager. We

“CRAFT BEER IS LOCAL & FRESH” “BEER FOR BEERS SAKE”

“CREATIVE AND BOLD FLAVORS”

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decided to give Amadeus another chance, and it quickly became by far our most popular offering. On any given day as many as half of our fermenters will be making it,” explains Ian.

Pecan Point’s first beer was Pecan Point Ale. It is a Northern English pub brown ale. The recipe was based on a recipe kit William had brewed several times at home. The unique ingredient Pecan Point added is toasted pecans, which is probably what made it Pecan Point’s best seller, that is up until Iron Mountain IPA took that top spot in August. “Both are easy to drink and good representatives of their respective styles. Both of these are based on recipes given to me by a friend in Colorado, who is a professional brewer,” says William.

“Our first beer was Shamus Stout, a beer made with toasted oats. It was one of our homebrew recipes and we thought it would be a good place to start. We brewed it on July 4, 2013, because it was the first day all four of us had off together after we got our brewing permit on July 1. Our new equipment worked too well, and a beer that was supposed to be 6%abv ended up at 8.5%! We celebrate our mistake every July 4 with our Anniversary Stout, brewed to replicate that same beer. The Shamus we now make year round, but in the 6% version.”

-- IAN BEARD STONE’S THROW BREWING

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?

WHAT MAKES BEER-DRINKERS TEND TO GRAVITATE TOWARD LOCAL BREWS RATHER THAN MASS ADVERTISED BEER?

“Like so many others, I started by brewing at home. While our brewery is obviously a much larger scale and slightly more technologically advanced, the basic procedures are the same.

It’s a fine way to learn the process and science, and at the end there is beer to drink!”

-- JONATHAN MARTIN BUBBA BREW’S BREWING COMPANY “All four partners started as homebrewers, bringing a combined 40 years experience as brewing amateurs. “ -- IAN BEARD STONE’S THROW BREWING

“I think that it’s the freshness and variety of the product.

There is also a movement toward eating and drinking locally produced food and beverages. We tap into that with our microbrewery and our restaurant.”

-- WILLIAM SCURLOCK PECAN POINT BREWING

I started out brewing at home with 5-gallon batches. I received initial encouragement from two friends who live in Virginia and West Virginia, as well as my wife.

-- WILLIAM SCURLOCK PECAN POINT BREWING WHAT IS THE FIRST BEER YOUR BREWERY PRODUCED AND HOW DID IT COME ABOUT? “We started our brewery with two initial beers: Buckshot Pale Ale, an American Pale ale, and 10-Point Bock, an amber lager. Of those two, Buckshot was probably the first beer we brewed at a large scale. American Pale Ale was the style that ostensibly started the American craft beer movement. I remember drinking a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale some twentyplus years ago, and still remember the flavor and aroma of that beer. Our Buckshot is our attempt at that style, and somewhat an homage to Sierra Nevada.”

-- JONATHAN MARTIN BUBBA BREW’S BREWING COMPANY

Photos Courtesy Stone’s Throw Brewing

You can check out these awesome Arkansas breweries and more at the First Annual Oktoberfest Texarkana coming to Downtown Texarkana, Arkansas on October 24, 2015

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Presented by the A&P Commission of Texarkana, Arkansas

SAT OCT.

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Join us Downtown Texarkana, Arkansas from 9am - 7pm for food, arts & crafts, contests & entertainment from across the four states & help us raise money for the Animal Care & Adoption Center

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Arkansas Craft Beer Festival: 11am - 7pm

Country Music: 5:30 Plus Local Entertainment All Day e

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The Texarkana Friends of the Shelter and A&P Commission of Texarkana, AR present the

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To pre-register for the Pork Chop 5K or 1 mile Family Fun Run and Dog Walk at https://runsignup.com/Race/AR/Texarkana/OktoberfestPorkChop5k Sponsorships Still Available!

For sponsorship information, e-mail Debbie@alt-mag.com 58

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Vendor Spots Still Available!

For vendor information, e-mail Lindsey@ alt-mag.com

ANIMAL CARE & ADOPTION CENTER TEXARKANA USA

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In a state known for its great craft beers and local breweries, Texarkana Friends of the Shelter is proud to host the First Annual Oktoberfest Texarkana! Not only will there be a biergarten for tastings and beer purchases from many of the unique craft breweries of Arkansas, but there will be other awesome arts & crafts vendors, furniture vendors and boutiques, as well as delicious foods from across the four states, and entertainment throughout the day.

We’ll kick off the event with the timed Pork Chop 5K as well as a 1 mile Family Fun Run and Dog Walk!

The Pork Chop 5K registration is from 6:30am to 7:30am. The race starts at 8:00am at the Front Street Stage. All participants who pre-register for the 5K will receive a free official Pork Chop 5K t-shirt on race day. The Family Fun Run and Dog Walk begins at 9:00am. After the race, Hopkins Icehouse will be hosting a breakfast special for all participants! For $10, race participants get to choose one of many select breakfast/brunch menu items along with a mimosa or choice beer.

The Oktoberfest Texarkana festival will open at 9:00am for all arts, crafts, furniture and boutique vendors as well as food vendors. We will also have a special children’s section with multiple bounce houses, face painting and games for kids.

At 11:00am the beir garten will open! Here, festival goers will have the opportunity to sample some of the best craft beers from across the state of Arkansas. There will be souvenir glasses, koozies, t-shirts and more available for purchase.

The Front Street stage will feature many local singers, artists and dancers from the Ark-La-Tex, as well as fun contest all day long! Wrapping up the day will be Texarkana favorite, Greg Gardner, performing some of his best country hits at 5:30pm!

This will be an experience you don’t want to miss! So come on down to Texarkana, Arkansas and enjoy a day of great beer, lots of laughter and a fun time, all while giving back to the Animal Care and Adoption Center of Texarkana!

October 2015

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WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH HIM? WORDS BY Susan Whitten

Childhood Apraxia of Speech is a neurological motor speech disorder.

Children with Apraxia have problems saying sounds, syllables, and words. This is not because of muscle weakness or paralysis. The brain has problems planning to move the body parts (lips, jaw, tongue) needed for speech.

The child knows what he or she wants to say, but his/her brain has difficulty coordinating the muscle movements necessary to say those words. In most cases, the cause is unknown.

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When you discover that your child has Apraxia or any other significant special need, often the quest begins to not only learn about the problem but also to find a way to fix it, or at least improve the problem. However, there are many stops along the way in that journey. You ask yourself so many questions. There are all of those ‘WHY’ questions with the biggest being: WHY my son? You wonder IF he will ever be ‘normal.’ Will he get to enjoy the things that other children do?

As you search for answers, you wonder if some of the ‘professionals’ that you have sought guidance from are right about all the seemingly ugly statements they made so matter-of-factly: Will he ever be able to talk? Will he ever speak in sentences?

Will he ever say a three-syllable word?

Will people ever be able to understand him? And, because he loves music, will he ever be able to sing and enjoy it the way his brother does? There are so many questions, so many fears, and not many answers.

When our Scott was diagnosed, in the beginning we were just thankful to have a diagnosis. We knew something was wrong. He just was not developing the way he should and it was so challenging to find our ‘what.’ But then, it was not relief that sat in, more questions followed. What the heck is Apraxia? I had a degree in Special Education and I had no idea. His Dad was a pastor and yet in all of the churches we had served, no one ever had Apraxia. Scott is now 16; so, his diagnosis came in the world before Google was what it is today.

There were not many resources. Our journey took many twists and turns, many doctors’ visits, but ultimately, we moved forward and hoped for a simple solution.

Maybe it is out there somewhere – if we just keep looking (and praying). The thought and mere possibility that we could help our child was compelling. No one wants people they love, much less their little boy, to struggle.

The truth is, our son’s having Apraxia has taught us so many things, not just about speech but about people, about love, about respect, about the human spirit, and about perseverance. Awareness and living outside your box is key. As your children are growing up, there are the inevitable comparisons with other children.

People often make well-meaning and sometimes not so thoughtful comments.

Apraxia is not something that can be fixed by reading more to your child. Your child does not catch Apraxia because he has

been babied and not made to do enough for himself. There is not an operation that can simply ‘fix’ the problem no matter how many places you go or medicines that you try. And most importantly, there is nothing the matter with him!!!! As with any disability, not everyone will understand or care to try to do so.

Apraxia isn’t a visible challenge. Your child appears just like other children on the surface. And, yes, you will want to punch someone in the face for saying things like “they’ll grow out of it” or “have you looked for answers?” Everyone but you seems to be an expert. One of the hardest things is having both children and adults state directly in front of your child, “What’s the matter with him?” Your child is not deaf and he is not dumb. He can both hear and understand.

You respond in protection mode, always ensuring that he is with family, if not you, yourself.

Simply put, you begin to create a safe world for him because the world around apparently is not. If he gets lost in a grocery store, he cannot ask for help. He cannot tell someone who he is much less who you are or ‘his people’ are.

Can you imagine not being able to hear you child say aloud something as simple as ‘I love you, too, Mom?’ Not being able to know exactly what is wrong with your child or what he wants or needs because he cannot tell you.

If something happens at school, he is not able to tell you or share much because he cannot speak on demand. He cannot ask to go to the bathroom at school because he may raise his hand and have no words. There are many challenges in life but Apraxia has so many silent ones.

In time, you begin to understand that although people will say callous things, hurtful things, they either ask lots of questions about ‘what is wrong’ or they never mention it and pretend that your child is invisible because they do not understand and they don’t know how to respond or react to what they don’t understand, even when it is a human being.

My Dad was fond of saying a simple but so profound statement to me growing up. “Be gracious,” he would say.

Remember that most folks just don’t understand, ‘they just don’t get it’ and the amazing thing is that my Dad never knew about Apraxia. He would say, “pray for those people.” And, I do. He would also always share a Bible verse with me, “I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me. “Faith is important. Scott has taught us so much about faith. He lives that verse everyday. Another truth is, some folks will simply never know how amazing our child really is!

Our child truly is amazing! Communicating differently than the people around you is a feat of amazing proportions.

The perseverance to go through session after session of therapy is something a lot of adults don’t have the drive to do but we have amazing children all around with Apraxia who just keep going and going and making baby steps (occasional leaps) toward their goals. There are so many moments in our journey that many other parents take for granted. (We

did, before Scott.) You begin to have ears to hear and eyes to see the small miracles happening around you daily. Scott developed his own way of living with Apraxia as well as his own way of communicating. When he cannot find words, he hugs people because he wants everyone to know and feel love. He, in fact, does not see himself as special or as having a disability. He is like most 16 year olds in that he is looking forward to a car and driving, to living life and having a future.

This year was just the second Walk for Apraxia in our area. Our goals are to raise awareness as well as to raise funds (for education, speech therapy and ipads). We want people to hear the word Apraxia and know that although it is a challenging diagnosis, it is not the end of the world. There are so many things in life that are so much worse. Even so, it is so important to offer families in our area a support network.

Everyone needs to know they are not alone. Local families should not have to drive to Dallas, Little Rock, or farther. “The village” approach is so important.

We are so proud of Scott but no more so than of our son Parker. In fact, part of Scott’s accomplishments and who he has grown to be can be attributed to having a fabulous and loving brother and he has an incredible Father. Scott has benefitted from an amazing family that simply loved him period. They always played with him, shared with him, and basically treated him like everyone else in our family.

Families come in all shapes and sizes. There is a saying that there is family you are born with and family that you choose. We have chosen well and have been blessed by both! Our family includes church members, friends, gifted teachers, and truly amazing speech therapists. We highly recommend Fountain Therapeutic Center (fountaintherapeuticenter.com) and are so thankful to a special person who recommended Darla Fountain so many years ago. Scott began with Darla at four years old. What a difference speech therapy makes. We have had quite the journey and there is nothing the matter with Scott.

How can you help a child with Apraxia?

• Don’t ignore them. They have answers in their heads but need you to give them more time to answer maybe. Be patient. Don’t forget to look at the child directly in the eye and to smile. Kindness is a language that everyone understands.

• Understand it makes a child feel bad when they hear people say they don’t talk or they talk funny. Remember to speak to the child not at them or all around them.

• Most importantly, love them. If they can’t find their voice, share yours with them because after all, every child deserves a voice – even one on loan.

Learn more at apraxia-kids.org or through the CASANA (The Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America) website.

If you would like to donate to our cause, the website is: www. casana.apraxia.org/arklatexwalk.

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Apraxia Walk

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John Harris has over 15 years of experience in “Aging In Place” Remodeling.

His design concepts and materials used are universal in nature, meaning the homes are equally useful and comfortable for a healthy young person as they are for a senior citizen with hip or knee problems.

John explains, “Of course, there are some elements of a home that are specifically tailored to certain special needs, such as a person who is bound to a wheelchair, but the overall concept of Aging in Place Remodeling is to adapt the home that you love so that it accommodates your changing life, body and health, and still maintains an attractive, comfortable design that can be enjoyed by everyone.”

“I got into this business because I love the work, and I have stayed in this business because it is my calling.

Your life, your personal situation, and ultimately your property matter to me.”

- John Harris, John Harris Construction

John believes that helping people with their Aging In Place designs is his true calling, and he genuinely cares about the physical, mental and emotional condition of everyone he assists. “When a family is sitting in the doctor’s office discussing the options after their loved one has just had hip surgery or a knee replacement, I want to make going back home a possible option.

Typically, when the home is not ready for a person who is immobile, extended time in a rehabilitation hospital, nursing home care, enrollment in an extended care facility or some combination of these are the only available options.”

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Texas A&M University-Texarkana Student Nominated for National Award WORDS BY LISA MYERS

Each year, the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) recognizes someone they believe exemplifies the character of a true learner: someone who perseveres in spite of difficult circumstances, someone who goes above and beyond and never settles for just good enough, and someone who realizes the benefits of learning extend beyond the person doing the learning. Esther Pippins, a senior in the Bachelor of Applied Arts & Sciences program at A&M-Texarkana, absolutely fits that description, and this year she has been nominated as CAEL’s Learner of the Year. ***

Esther grew up the youngest girl of 9 children, and when she looks back she says, “Bathroom lines were the times when we caught up with each other’s activities. In a line of nine kids, you always had time to hear the interesting stories from the previous day.”

Esther is that kind of person even today, the kind who uses her time to listen to other people’s stories and to help them in any way she can. In spite of the financial challenges she grew up with and thanks to her mother and father’s determination to instill in their children a respect and awe for education, today Esther believes part of caring for people is introducing them to the power of learning.

Esther is a lover of learning, but her initial experience with college was short-lived. Just as she prepared to start classes, her mother had a massive heart attack. Her recovery and rehabilitation was a long and lengthy process. With her father working two full time jobs, it fell to Esther to support her mother by accompanying her to her medical appointments.

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Esther is quick to point out that caring for her mother was very rewarding; however, it made starting a collegiate career increasingly difficult. Still, even with this hardship, Esther did manage to accumulate 25 semester units in general studies at Jarvis Christian College in the spring of 1978 and at Paris Junior College in the fall of 1979.

Throughout Esther’s life, her family traveled back and forth from Northeast Texas to Los Angeles, California.

It was in California that Esther found work that would afford her a wealth of knowledge, knowledge she would later utilize to earn college credit through prior learning assessment.

Working at the Los Angeles County Metro Transportation Authority, Esther soon became a go-to person when something needed to be done well, and her performance there led to a managerial position in training that awarded her many accolades.

After enjoying many years at Metro Transportation Authority, one of Esther’s daughters, Charisma, became very ill and required skilled care. It became necessary to move the family back to Northeast Texas, so Esther took an early retirement and planned to get work once she was back home. The only job open to her, however, was a position at U.S. Steel that did not recognize or utilize the knowledge and skills Esther had garnered over the years.

She and her daughters desperately needed the income, so she took the job only to lose it a short time thereafter due to a back injury. Esther and her last remaining daughter at home were destitute, even at times being left homeless.

In the midst of this extreme hardship, however, Esther’s drive for learning still beat within her heart. She made sure

Essie-Elizabeth, her youngest daughter who was still with her, received a solid education in spite of their forced mobility.

She home schooled her and judging by Essie-Elizabeth’s recognized academic performance in college, she did a fine job in teaching her!

When Essie-Elizabeth joined her older sister Christian at A&M-Texarkana, they began noticing the nontraditional students on campus, and they immediately began coaxing Esther to go back to school. They would not take no for an answer. One day after much debate, they insisted she get in the car, and they drove her to the campus.

Both girls ushered Esther to the Office of Experiential and General Studies and once there continued their encouragement for Esther to go back to school.

“Mama, you can do this. You are so smart.”

“Yes, Mama, we know you can do this, and so do you.”

Lisa Myers, Esther’s advisor and instructor at A&M-Texarkana, reports she has never witnessed such an academic intervention. She also notes that she wasn’t sure which moved Esther more, her own desire to complete her degree or the strength and resolve she was witnessing in her two daughters as they reminded her of what she taught them – when life offers difficulty, keep pushing forward.

By the end of the advising session, Esther had agreed to step back into the role of student after being out of school for 20 years. ***

Today, Esther is two months away from walking across the stage as a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences graduate. In the short 18 months that she has been at A&MTexarkana, Esther has gone from being a mother listening to her daughters’ counsel to being the following: • campus leader with a 3.7 GPA • Honors Program inductee • Alpha Chi Honor Society inductee • Prior Learning Assessment Extraordinaire with 55

hours in earned credit • BAAS Peer Mentor • AmeriCorps Volunteer for the Literacy Council • Pre-graduate student with two graduate courses in

Adult and Higher Education

What has Esther learned along the way? She says, “The college of yesterday is not the college of today. It’s for people like me, too.” She goes on to say, “I want others like me to know they can come back and do something. You can pull yourself up, you can survive, and you can accomplish the things you want.”

The non-traditional college experience has been so transformational for Esther that she now states, “Nontraditional and adult learners are a special breed of student, and I would like to dedicate myself to finding nontraditional ways to help them work toward enhancing their skills.” She goes on to say she believes this to be her calling in life and says her favorite quote comes from Mark Twain – “The two most important days of your life are the day that you were born and the day that you find out why.” Esther says that college helped her identify that second day. She was born to lead others into the transformational power of learning, and she has first-hand experience to share.

Congratulations, Esther! We are so proud of you!

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by Mike Brower

Fall Fishing

Fall is finally upon us and with the cooler air temperatures come cooler water temps. With the cooler water, the shad will be moving into the creek mouths and to the back of the pockets and the bass will be right behind them feeding up for winter. I know it’s hard to go with smaller baits to catch those bass running shad, but it’s worth some consideration.

This time of year shad are still small from all the spawns and will be in the shallows feeding on plankton as the water cools. Small crankbaits and spinnerbaits are the baits of choice in this situation because they mimic the small shad. You most likely won’t see any “schooling” bass, but they are there and will feed several

times a day. If you go to an area and catch a couple, come back later and you will catch more.

Since shad spawn all summer there are tons of them and they are easy pickin’s until the water gets into the lower 60’s then they will start their migration to deeper water for the winter. As spring approaches and the water temps get into the 50’s, they will once again move to the back of the pockets feeding again on plankton, only this time those that survived the winter are mature and a lot bigger than they were in the fall.

So remember small baits will catch more fish this time of the year. Enjoy!

LEGE N D A R Y F irearms INDOOR SHOOTING RANGE - CLASS 3 DEALER

903.336.6139

101 SLATON DR., NASH, TX NASH BUSINESS PARK OFF HWY 82.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR UPDATES AND SPECIALS!

OPEN TUES-SAT: 10:00-7:00, SUN: 1:00-6:00

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LG

LINDSEY GORDON PHOTOGRAPHY

Lindsey@alt-mag.com | www.facebook.com/pages/Lindsey-Gordon-Photography

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INVITATIONS | BANNERS BUSINESS CARDS

T-SHIRTS

WHAT WE DO We are a full service graphic design and marketing company. We design, build and print in house. Some of our printing includes: T-Shirts, Invitations, Business Cards, Flyers, Banners, Holiday Cards, Event Tickets, Wood Work, Pillow Cases, Flags, & Print Media.

We are also a Web Design Company. We can create websites from scratch, or just better existing sites.

CONTACT 903.334.9605 info@alt.graphics.com 101 Slaton Dr., Nash, TX 75569 ww.alt.graphics

EVENT TICKETS | FLYERS PRINT ADVERTISING

WEBSITES

90% of parents admit to sneaking candy from their kids’ Halloween trick-or-treat bags

72%

of adult Americans report handing out candy on Halloween.

Nearly

120 MILLION AMERICANS

There are

36 MILLION CHILDREN

in the U.S. between the ages of 5 and 13 - the prime age for trick-or-treating.

70

24 lbs

of candy each year.

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October 2015

11.5% of Americans dress up their pet for Halloween.

of Americans decorate their yards for Halloween.

30% of kids report that they sort their candy after returning home from trick-or-treating.

(children and adults) dress up in costumes for Halloween.

The average American consumes

50%

More than

35 MILLION POUNDS

of candy corn are sold annually. That equates to nearly 9 billion pieces - enough to circle the moon nearly 21 times if laid end to end.

CASA Colorful 5K Amanda Fussell Woodman Memorial

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The CASA Colorful 5K is named in Amanda Fussell Woodman’s honor for her many years of devotion to child abuse prevention in Texarkana and the surrounding 12 counties. Amanda worked tirelessly to promote the CASA for Children program, fundraising, recruiting and training volunteers along with her support for every aspect of the program. This family fun event is exactly what Amanda would have envisioned as the next step in our pursuit to end child abuse.

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Texarkana Animal League’s 9th Annual Unleashed Party

and the 2016 Tails of Two Cities Day Planner WORDS FOR TEXARKANA ANIMAL LEAGUE BY NOMI BERGER

It’s that time of year again…time for Texarkana Animal League’s 9th Annual Unleashed Party, unveiling the 2016 Tails of Two Cities Day Planner.

If you haven’t attended a TAL Unleashed Party before, you have missed a wonderfully relaxing evening with good food, fun “animal people”, and unique “pet-focused” silent auction items. This year’s event will take place on Thursday, October 29, 2015, from 6:30 pm until 9:30 pm at Northridge Country Club. Tickets are $40.00 in advance (Texarkana Animal League volunteers and Day Planner sponsors will be our guests) and are available by visiting our website www.texarkanaanimalleague.org or by calling us at (877) 525-4825, ext. 3. Save the date and make plans to join us this year.

Many of you may recognize this year’s Day Planner cover artist, Jeannie Knod Edwards. But no peeking is allowed; the cover art is a secret from all but 2 or 3 people (even board members and other volunteers are in the dark!) until it is revealed at the Unleashed Party. And the 2016 cover art is the first item available for bid in our silent auction at the party.

Come and bid on your favorite items!

The TAL Day Planner, pictured, was first conceived in 2008 and was the result of countless hours contributed by the Founding Committee comprised of Judy Folsom, Darlene Chambless (Hardin), Julie Sanderson, Suzy Hlavinka, Mike Richardson, Prissie Hickerson, David Warrick, Julie Tidwell, Megan Shroeder, Tina Veal-Gooch and their committee members. These individuals developed a template and process that we have continued to use for 9 years.

For the first 2 years, proceeds from the TAL Day Planner helped pay for operation of the Texarkana Animal Care and Adoption Center (ACAC—the local Animal Shelter).

Then in 2009, the City of Texarkana AR resumed day-to-day management of the shelter, which enabled TAL to expand our animal welfare focus to include not just assisting the ACAC shelter, but to also develop new ideas and programs to benefit more animals in our local area.

Money raised from the Day Planner and the Unleashed Party is now used to promote animal welfare through various programs and services that mutually benefit animals and people in our local communities: • Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) to help pet 72

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owners with a very low-cost way to avoid unwanted litters and even some types of medical and behavioral problems, • Rescue Assistance Program (RAP) to work with area dog and cat rescues with fundraising and Community Adoption Events, • Dog & Cat Foster Care Programs designed to work with the animal to bring it back to good medical and emotional health, and ready for adoption into its forever home; and our PetsMart Cat Adoption Room, • Community Education Program available to area schools and civic groups, • Vaccination & Medicine Program for Texarkana AR ACAC (the local Animal Shelter), and • Special Community Projects such as supplying various types of assistance for area pets and their people who are in need (food, veterinary, transport, etc.).

The Day Planner is TAL’s major fundraiser of the year. We are fortunate to have continued support from our loyal underwriters without whom the Day Planner would not be possible. A special Thank You to Cary and Lois Patterson who have been Day Planner underwriters all 9 years of publication.

We also count on individuals to purchase pages in the Day Planner, featuring their beloved pets, both past and present. It is a great way to show off your darlings and so much fun to peruse all the pages containing cherished pets belonging to friends and members of our community. It’s like a small glimpse into someone’s soul, when they share that intimate part of their life, that is, their pet.

If you are interested in including your pet (or grand-pet) in the 2017 Day Planner, like our Facebook page and watch our website www. texarkanaanimalleague.org for more information. We will start taking applications after the first of the year (2016).

Texarkana Animal League is a community-minded group of volunteers dedicated to improving the lives and welfare of animals. Our main emphasis is the protection and care of abandoned, abused, neglected, and unwanted companion animals in Bowie and Cass counties in Texas and Miller and Little River counties in Arkansas.

Be sure to mark your calendar for Thursday, October 29th, 2015 for the TAL Unleashed Party, and visit us on our Facebook page and website www.texarkanaanimalleague. org or call us at (877) 525-4825. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Cinnabon & Schlotzsky’s Grand Opening 3652 Richmond Road, Texarkana, TX - 9/17/15 1

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Johnny Tamale Grand Opening

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Calendar of Events OCTOBER

Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council presents Art for Everyday – A Celebration of Functional Pottery, from August 20 – October 24, 2015. Featuring the work of local artist and potter, Chris Thomas. Open and free to the public. Call TRAHC at (903) 792-8681 for more information. Her strong devotion to clay has been growing ever since resulting in pieces exhibited in TRAHC’s Annual Juried Exhibitions and a thriving business producing functional pottery.

OCTOBER 2

Let’s GLOW for a Run 5k hosted by the Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce, this unique 5K is always a blast! A night run, we work diligently to provide a safe route while still providing a unique race experience! We don’t sweat... we GLOW! For more information: https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/Atlanta/letsGLOWforarun.

OCTOBER 3

TAPAS/Wine Tasting event benefitting HandsOn Texarkana at the Collins Building, 1915 Olive Street. Tickets can be purchased by calling or emailing Kathey Graves at 903-701-6032 or handsontxk@ aol.com.

OCTOBER 3

Saturday Scavenger Hunts. Ace of Clubs Lawn (420 Pine, Texarkana, USA.) Exploring the history of the city of Texarkana. FREE!!! Scavenger Hunts the 1st Saturdays in October, November & December. This program was made possible in part with a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Feel free to drop in anytime between 10 am and 3pm to participate in these Scavenger Hunts! Complete ALL THREE and earn yourself a PRIZE! For more information, 903-793-4831.

OCTOBER 3

Looking for something fun and FREE to do? Join us for the Texarkana Gallery Hop, from 12 pm to 4 pm! The Gallery Hop is about promoting local art venues and artists in the Texarkana community. There are eight wonderful businesses and organizations to visit during this Hop. Visitors will celebrate art throughout the afternoon with new gallery exhibitions, special events, refreshments, and art demonstrations throughout Texarkana. Visitors begin at any location and visit as many or as few participating venues as they would like. Admission is always FREE. “The Texarkana Gallery Hop is a great opportunity to showcase talented artists in Texarkana, help local galleries and businesses to work together, and to make the art experience fun for everyone!”

“I think it’s an asset to the community to visit their local galleries.”

“Support your local art scene by getting out and seeing art!”

OCTOBER 3

Pink U! Girls can attend college for the day and get a crash course in living their best life. Join us from 10am-3:30pm to learn about fashion design, first aid, fitness, beauty, and health. We will end the day with a Pink fashion show so come dressed in your craziest pink attire. Girls of all ages welcome to attend, cost is $5 in advance, $10 at the door. Contact Emily at 870-773-2151 for more information.

OCTOBER 17

Texarkana Race for the Cure. Gates open at 7:00am, race begins at 9:00am at the Four States Fair Grounds. For more information: http://www.komentexarkana.org/

OCTOBER 22-24

Silvermoon Children’s Theatre How to Eat Like a Child. This musical romp through the joys and sorrows of being a child is hilarious.

Children give 23 lessons in such subjects as how to beg for a dog, how to torture your sister, how to act after being sent to your room and how to laugh hysterically. The pace is fast, the tone subversive and the recognition instant. Tickets can be purchased at www. silvermoonkids.com or call 903-278-9077 for more information.

Showtime on the 22nd: 7:00pm; 23rd: 5:00pm and 7:00pm, 24th: 2:00pm and 5:00pm.

OCTOBER 24

Oktoberfest by the Texarkana Friends of the Shelter! In a state known for its great craft beers and local breweries, Texarkana Friends of the Shelter is proud to host the First Annual Oktoberfest Texarkana!

Not only will there be a biergarten for tastings and beer purchases from many of the unique breweries of Arkansas, but there will be other awesome arts & crafts vendors as well as delicious foods from across the four states along with entertainment throughout the day, as well as many of our local animal rescue groups with adoptable animals. We’ll kick off the event with the timed Pork Chop 5K as well as a 1 mile Family Fun Run and Dog Walk! The Front Street stage will feature many local singers, artists and dancers from the Ark-LaTex, as well as fun contests! Wrapping up the day will be Texarkana favorite, Greg Gardner, performing some of his best country hits!

This will be an experience you don’t want to miss! Some come on down to Texarkana, Arkansas and enjoy a day of great beer, lots of laughter and a fun time, all while giving back to the Animal Care and Adoption Center of Texarkana! For more information, www. oktoberfesttexarkana.com.

OCTOBER 29

The Texarkana Animal League 2016 Tails of Two Cities Day Planner “unleash” party. Jeannie Knod Edwards donated one of her fabulous paintings for the cover of the 2016 day planner so you will definitely want to get one. Don’t forget – these are great gifts for animal lovers young and old. Children truly love to look at all the great photos of the dogs and cats. It is priceless. This fundraiser helps us help many animals in our community throughout the year. For more information, http://www.texarkanaanimalleague.org.

OCTOBER 29

Annual Ducks Unlimited Banquet to be held at Elks Lodge at 6:00pm. For more information contact Greg Knowles at 870-6486565 or email him at gknowles@cableone.net.

OCTOBER 30

Dine on the Lawn from 5:00-8:00pm. To celebrate our Twin Cities!

Tickets $20- admission to block party, seating at the table (online and at gate if available.) $15- admission to block party at the gate, no food. $10- for kids 12 and under, admission to block party, 6th Annual Jeans & Bling at the Texarkana (TX) Convention Center. seating at the table (online and at gate if available.) Tickets will be Get ready for a whole new Bling! $75 Tickets will include food, drinks, sold online with each ticket reserving a spot at “The Table.” For more information, 903-792-7191. music, dancing and entertainment.

OCTOBER 10 OCTOBER 13

18th Annual Capital One Golf Tournament benefiting HandsOn Texarkana’s programs at Northridge Country Club. Golfers can register by contacting us at 903-798-3211.

OCTOBER 15

The Salvation Army Annual Fish Fry will take place from 5-7 PM at our Center Of Hope Homeless Shelter located at 316 Hazel Street Texarkana, Arkansas. This event is held every year so as to draw attention and spotlight our Center Of Hope Homeless Shelter. We house 65 men, women and children who have had to seek shelter due to an emergency situation. We are the only family shelter in this area. In addition to fried fish and all the fixings there will be outdoor entertainment and a silent auction. Tickets can be purchased for $15.00 each or 10 tickets for $100.00 at the Salvation Army Administration Office located at 400 E. 4th Street Texarkana, Arkansas. Proceeds from this event go to aid operational costs at the shelter. For more information please contact Sann Terry at 870-774-2701.

OCTOBER 30-31

TRAHC presents Ghost Tours at the Perot Theatre during the very spooky Halloween season! Many of you may have heard about the hauntings at the Perot, and now’s your chance to experience them first hand! Bring a flash light, your camera and any paranormalsensing equipment you might have and explore the theatre from top to bottom… Guides, story-tellers and Perot Theatre staff will relate tales of spectral sightings from over the years. And learn a little bit of history of the Haunted Perot Theatre! Three (3) tours each night: 8:00PM, 9:15PM & 10:30PM (Each tour lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes.) Tickets: $12 per person in advance; $15 per person at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets: http://www.trahc. org/other-events/25738-ghost-tours-at-the-perot-theatre

NOVEMBER 7

2nd Annual Gifts Galore & So Much More, Holiday Expo at the Texarkana Convention Center (Tx). 10:00-3:00. Over 75 Vendors for all your Christmas Shopping! Plus a Christmas Tree Silent Auction benefitting 10 Local Charities! General Admission (12 and up) $5. For more information, please contact Monica Beeman at www. simplyperfectmarketing.com or 903-293-8525

PIPPER

FABIO

KRISSY

HUFFLE PUFF

NAE NAE JAMES KIM BERKY

The Animal Care & Adoption Center of Texarkana, Arkansas is located at 203 Harrison, Texarkana, AR, 71854. For more information, call 870.773.6388, or visit: www. animalcareadoptioncenter.org or www.facebook. com/AnimalCareAdoptionTXK.

We are always in need of caring, capable volunteers to assist in with duties at the center, adoption events, fund-raising activities and more.

NATALIE

ANNA MAY

JOE TOBY BELLA RICOCHET SAMPSON LAURIE

Your tax-deductible donation will help have this done for only $20! care for and assist in the adoption of loving animals

Please note, all dogs adopted from this to good homes! Please contact our Friends of the shelter MUST be spayed or neutered. Spays cost Shelter group to find out how you can help! www. $89-$104, neuters are $76-$92 depending on the facebook.com/friendsoftheshelter weight of the dog.

We’re open Monday-Friday from 11:00 We also have SPONSORED dogs and 5:00 and Saturday 11:00 - 2:00. cats! This means someone has already paid for their

Is your pet microchipped? If not, come vetting! Come see who’s waiting!

SOLANA ue Boxer Resc

PANDA

Poodle Patch Res

cue

ELSA Rescue Muttley Crew

ARKLATEX COCKER SPANIEL RESCUE www.facebook.com/ArklatexCockerSpanielRescue ARTEX ANIMAL WELFARE, INC. (mostly horses) - 903.824.1990 ATLANTA ANIMAL LEAGUE www.facebook.com/AtlantaAnimalLeague BOXER RESCUE OF TEXARKANA www.facebook.com/BoxerRescueOfTexarkana FAITHFUL FRIENDS RESCUE www.facebook.com/FaithfulFriendsTXK

IGGY

MAMA MOLLY BOO BOO ne Faithful Friends Texarkana Huma Society

SCRUFF

s Passion for Pooche

ANNIE

Arklatex Cocker Spaniel Rescue

KITTIES PAD RESCUE https://www.facebook.com/thekittiespad LITTLE PAWS RESCUE www.facebook.com/LittlePawsRescueTexarkana MUTTLEY CREW RESCUE (mostly German Shepherds)

www.facebook.com/MuttleyCrewRescue POODLE PATCH RESCUE INC (903) 244-9137

DARBY

Texarkana Animal League

LITTLE BIT

ELLA, BEL LA, Kitties Pa BENTLEY d Rescue

l League

Atlanta Anima

MISS HARVEY

Texarkana Humane Society

PASSION FOR POOCHES (mostly small dogs) www.facebook.com/passionforpooches TEXARKANA ANIMAL LEAGUE www.facebook.com/TexarkanaAnimalLeague TEXARKANA REPTILE & AMPHIBIAN RESCUE www.facebook.com/TkReptileRescue TOBY’S TALES (mostly wildlife) www.facebook.com/Tobysname STRAY CAT ALLIANCE - TEXARKANA www.facebook.com/TexarkanaStrayCats

LEGE N D A R Y F irearms INDOOR SHOOTING RANGE

903.336.6139

GIFT CERTIFICATES PRIVATE LESSONS CONCEALED HANDGUN CLASS RENTAL GUNS AVAILABLE

101 SLATON DR., NASH, TX NASH BUSINESS PARK OFF HWY 82.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR UPDATES AND SPECIALS!

OPEN TUES-SAT: 10:00-7:00, SUN: 1:00-6:00

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Hope Is Here

HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Texarkana

At HealthSouth, never before has knowledge, technology and teamwork merged so completely to inspire those facing personal journeys of rehabilitation after an illness, injury or surgery. HealthSouth is committed to making a difference for patients and families by developing personalized programs that target patient goals, overcome challenges and embrace progress with refreshing optimism.

With HealthSouth by your side, there is hope to reach your goals and get back home, expanding a horizon full of possibilities. For some, it’s the first glimmer of light. For others, it’s a powerful reminder that with HealthSouth, hope for renewed independence is never far away.

To learn more about HealthSouth rehabilitation programs, call 903 735-5000.

The Joint Commission Disease-Specific Care Certification in Hip Fracture Rehabilitation and Stroke Rehabilitation

A Higher Level of Care®

“Nobody thought I would make it, but,

515 West 12th Street • Texarkana, TX 75501 • 903 735-5000 healthsouthtexarkana.com

HealthSouth knew I could. They took me aside— made me feel special—and told me I could do it.”

– Kim Rau bRain injuRy Patient

Model shown

©2014:HealthSouth Corporation:598027A-04