October 2022 - ALT Magazine

covering the ark-la-tex

COO / PUBLISHER

Debbie Brower

EDITOR

Alyssa Bertrand

SALES & MARKETING Debbie Brower 903.334.9605

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Alyssa Bertrand

PHOTOGRAPHY Debbie Brower

FEATURED WRITER Anne Granado

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Debbie Brower, Mike Brower, Michelle Horton, Dustin Stringer, Suzie Tyler

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From the Publisher..

These past few years have been very stressful for most of us. With COVID causing such an uproar in our communities, many other illnesses have been less in the public focus. However, cancer is not one of those. Cancer can strike at any age. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2022, an estimated 1.9 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed, and 609,360 cancer deaths will occur in the United States.

This year alone, I have had several very close friends diagnosed with different types of cancer. As we get older, it seems we see more and more of our friends struggling with a diagnosis. Maybe we have more friends, or perhaps it’s just more prevalent. Whatever the case, I would love to see a cure. Surely someone can come up with a cure.

In the meantime, you may wonder what you should do. You might want to help in some way or think about stopping by for a visit or sending a gift. Or maybe you simply feel at a loss for what to do or what to say. Here are a few tips to consider.

Ask before you visit your friend. Whether in the hospital or home, understand that they may not feel well enough to have a visitor. If they are up for a visit, don’t overstay your visit. Ask if they would like for you to stay longer or need to rest.

It may be difficult for your friend to ask for help, but some of the most beneficial things you can do are to offer to assist with everyday errands. Make a list of tasks you’re willing to do and ask your friend where you can help. If you’re going out to the store for your family, give your friend a call and see if there’s anything else you can pick up.

Listen to your friend. Let them talk and tell you what they need to share. You don’t have to be the only person with something to say. Sometimes they need to speak to someone they love and trust.

Think about what your friend may need. What about cleaning their house? Perhaps a thoughtful way to help is to purchase a few easy things to prepare. Or maybe hire a housekeeper occasionally to clean the house. Think of things they aren’t able to do easily and make that a priority. Remember that it’s not always at the beginning of an illness that people need support. Find out who is willing to assist in providing support and organize a group to help regularly. It doesn’t have to be every day, but as needed.

Check on your friend often. Sometimes just a text message saying that you are thinking about your friend and praying for them will improve their day.

It’s so hard to know that someone you love is struggling. Help them by being a friend they can count on. Let them know you are there, no matter how small the request is. Just be there.

May God bless you and yours,

Celebrating 21 Years of Loving the Kids

“He can do it again. He told me it would be okay, and I am okay.”

Keeping Faith Through The Tough Times

By: Anne Granado

Cheri Rainer is a wife, mother, employee, and friend. On top of everything she has accomplished with these different titles, she can now add another one: breast cancer survivor. Cheri was diagnosed with Triple Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in January of 2022. She rang the bell at the cancer center victoriously, signaling that she had finished her chemotherapy in July. Now, she is sharing her story, hoping it inspires other women to keep up with their routine mammograms, a dreaded yearly task that saved Cheri’s life.

Cheri grew up in Elgin, Illinois, near Chicago. Then, her family moved to Magnolia, Arkansas, during her junior high years, and she graduated from Magnolia High School in 1981. Cheri married her high school sweetheart, Jay, in 1983, while he was a student in pharmacy school. “We started dating at only 16 years old and dated for four years. We just celebrated our 39th anniversary this past June,” Cheri says. “We have called Texarkana home since 1994. Jay is a pharmacist at Red River Pharmacy, and we raised our three children in Texarkana. All three of them graduated from Pleasant Grove.”

While their three children, Ryan, Morgan, and Hannah, were growing up, Cheri was mostly a stay-at-home mom, but she occasionally worked various jobs. When Hannah started first grade, Cheri went back to school, even though she was in her 40s, and earned her bachelor’s degree and teaching certification. “I taught 4th grade for four years; then I took off for three and a half years to help my parents when my dad had stage four prostate cancer. I drove them to DFW for appointments and treatments and to LSU Shreveport for a trial study. Then, my parents stayed with me while my dad did radiation for pain control at T. Webber Cancer Center at St Michael’s in Texarkana,” Cheri says. “In 2015, I returned to work as a Branch Office Administrator for Edward Jones. Though I loved teaching, I needed a job that was over when it was time to clock out, and teaching is a career that you end up taking home with you.”

Cheri’s father was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1999, diagnosed at stage four in 2012, and passed away in 2015. “He lived with prostate cancer for 16 years,” Cheri says. "Later on, when I underwent genetic testing, I discovered that certain gene mutations are tied to breast cancer and prostate cancer, and others.”

After her father passed, Cheri focused on her passions and her family. Jay and Cheri are active members at Highland Park Baptist Church, serving in the choir and on the praise team. The two love traveling and watching University of Arkansas baseball and football on the back porch. Cheri “dabbles” in painting and loves to spend time cooking for her family. But Cheri says being a grandparent is the best part of her current reality. “My ‘grandma’ name is Honey. Once a year, I put together a ‘Honey Camp’ with my grandson, and we both really look forward to it,” Cheri says. “We didn’t get to do it this summer because I was in the middle of chemo and radiation, but I know we are both looking forward to getting back at it next summer!”

Cheri’s grandson lives in Waco with Cheri and Jay’s daughter, Morgan, and her husband, Sean. Morgan works for Baylor and is also a freelance writer and copy editor, and Sean just earned his Ph.D. and is teaching at Baylor. Cheri and Jay’s oldest, Ryan, and his wife, Leah, moved to Texarkana this past summer from the Nashville, Tennessee, area. Ryan works for Lifeway, and Leah works for Danny Gokey, and they can work from home. “Our youngest daughter, Hannah, and her husband, Jarod, call Ft. Worth home, but they have been in Everette, Washington, for the past two baseball seasons due to Jarod being a pitcher in the Mariner’s minor league team, the Aquasox. Hannah is a graphic designer,” Cheri says. “Even though they each have busy lives, all my children were there for me at every step of my diagnosis and treatment. Each of them even arranged to come to a chemo treatment with me, which provided us with some one-on-one time that we don’t get very often. My

family is such a blessing to me.”

In January 2022, Cheri went in for a routine mammogram, ordered by her primary care physician. “I faithfully get a mammogram every other year, but to be honest, I hate them and only went because my doctor told me to,” Cheri says. I am thankful that my doctor sent me for that test. My tumor was found on the mammogram that I had on January 11. It was deep in the breast and could not be felt by anyone.”

Cheri was stunned when additional tests were ordered because she usually never gave the mammogram a second thought after leaving the Imaging Center. This time, she went back for an ultrasound a few days later and then had a biopsy the following week. “I told my grown children I had to have a biopsy. I remember getting on FaceTime with my son and his wife in Nashville, and I could not get the words to come out because my youngest daughter was sitting next to me, stroking my long hair. We all got choked up,” Cheri says. “That weekend, at separate times, one of my sons-inlaw and my daughter-in-law prayed over me, and it touched me deeply.”

The tumor they found was small (only 1.8 cm), and right away, the doctors believed they had caught it early. Cheri’s first biopsy told them it was cancer. Unfortunately, they did not get enough information from the biopsy samples to make a treatment plan, so Cheri went to a breast surgeon in Little Rock and had a lumpectomy in February. The pathology report came back with Triple Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. “I was so calm the day we went in to get my results. I felt like God had prepared me for that day. He told me it was cancer, but everything would be ok, and He filled me with a peace I could not explain,” Cheri says. “My doctor, whom I have seen for over 20 years, seemed to have more anxiety than we did.”

Cheri says that Jay was by her side, and when they were given the diagnosis, he told her that this was something they were going to get through together. “I had so much support from my friends and family. Jay made sure that I never felt like it was something ‘I’ was facing; instead, it was something ‘we’ were facing,” Cheri says. “I had a lumpectomy and opted for conventional treatment (chemo and radiation) that my oncologist recommended. My cancer was aggressive and could spread quickly, so I did not feel I had time to consider other options.”

Though Cheri does have a family history of breast cancer and other cancers, it was interesting to her that the genetic test came back negative. Her paternal grandmother had breast cancer,

and Cheri found herself thinking about her grandmother quite a bit during this time. “We did not live close to my grandparents, and I don’t know much about her breast cancer journey,” Cheri says. “I wish I knew more. Even other family members do not remember specifics.”

The plan that Cheri’s doctors outlined for her included eight chemo treatments and 21 radiation treatments. Though she went to Little Rock to a doctor specializing in oncology breast surgery, she chose to see oncologists and have her treatment at T.Webber Cancer Center at St. Michaels in Texarkana. “I would like to mention that my care in Texarkana was fabulous,” Cheri says, “Triple Negative Breast Cancer has fewer options for treatment, so I would have been given the same chemo drugs no matter where I went for treatment. Staying close was important to us so we could keep our lives as normal as possible.”

In February, Cheri went to see Lacretia Barry. She has a wig ministry for women who lose their hair due to medical issues. “I took my best friend and my daughter-in-law, and we had a precious afternoon with Lacretia. She helped me choose a wig, and she prayed over me,” Cheri says. “I am so thankful for her ministry. Texarkana is so blessed to have her ministering to women in this way.”

Cheri had four treatments of AC (aka Red Devil) and four treatments of dense dose Taxol, and she tolerated chemo well. She says that she did not have nausea and vomiting that many people experience. “I had treatments every other Thursday, and I normally took off work chemo day and the following day. During the first four treatments, I had fatigue and weakness, and of course, I lost my hair. I experienced leg weakness and major bone pain during the last four treatments. There were days I could barely walk from the recliner to the bathroom, and I had to use a walker. During that time, I did miss a few extra days of work but thank God; there were not many days like that.”

Cheri is so thankful to her boss, Greg Cordray, at Edward Jones, who worked with her and her treatment schedule so that Cheri could still work. “My job at Edward Jones was a reason to get out of bed, get dressed and be as normal as possible. My boss was very understanding and reminded me that nothing in the office was as important as what I was going through. Clients and colleagues called to check on me and even prayed with me over the phone. Many prayed for me every day,” Cheri says. “During the months I was in treatment, I took intermittent FMLA, so I could work most of the time through chemo and radiation without a problem (except when I got COVID). I will admit that there was not much else that I did during the week except go to work. After work every day, I rested and made sure to rest on the weekends.”

Another Texarkana ministry that supported Cheri was the Trinity Baptist Church Quilters. On chemo days, Cheri stayed cozy under a quilt that they made. “The Quilters also prayed for me throughout my journey,” Cheri says.

“On chemo days, I also held tight to a heart-shaped rock my daughter-in-law found. I wrote ‘Faith over Fear’ on one side and ‘You hem me in, behind and before and lay your hand upon me. Psalm 139:5’ on the other side. I had reminders that I was covered by God, which gave me great comfort.”

Cheri’s strong faith in God helped her get through the physical and mental trials she was facing. “I knew that whatever I walked through, He would be right there with me,” Cheri says. “Right away, He filled my heart with peace. Scripture and worship music also gave me lots of comfort.”

Another source of support came from Cheri’s family and friends, who rallied around her to encourage her on the journey. “My best friend, Melissa Mitchell, was with me when I needed her, and I’m so thankful for her. I even had an old friend from Elgin, Illinois, who would make the trip to Texarkana to pray with me,” Cheri says. “We also had so many people send meals and gift cards to restaurants, and someone even paid for a housekeeper to come every other week while I was in cancer treatment. We had blessing after blessing!”

As early as January, Cheri shared her cancer on Facebook because she felt like the Lord was leading her to. At first, she did not plan on sharing her entire journey, but as time passed, her Facebook community rallied around her with prayers and well wishes. “I connected with other women going through similar situations, which activated my prayer circle. Every day I had messages, mail, texts, calls, meals, or flowers from someone. I knew my circle was praying for me and that moved me,” Cheri says. “Even today, it makes me emotional every time I think of it. Knowing people took time out of their day to reach out to or pray for me touched my heart.”

Cheri found that one thing that helped her through the mental strain of fighting cancer was to stay as positive as possible. “I had to let some people know that negativity had no place in my journey and not to bring negativity to my door. In order to get through this, I needed prayers and positive encouragement,” Cheri says. “Now, I must admit that I had my share of worry and negative thoughts, and I cried my share of tears. But, I always had to get out of that mindset and trust God. In the beginning, He told me that it would be ok, and I had to believe His words were true.”

Surrounded by family and friends cheering her on, Cheri rang the bell at the cancer center on July 14, 2022, which is the same bell her father rang in 2014. Then, Cheri completed her radiation treatments on August 24, 2022. “My cancer was removed with clear margins, and my lymph nodes and scans were clear, so we believe I am cancer-free,” Cheri says. “However, Triple Negative Breast Cancer is the hardest to treat and the most likely to recur. I have a 40% chance of recurrence, so I plan to stay in touch with my oncologists and keep up with whatever tests I need. I try to stay positive instead of having a negative doomsday outlook about this, but it is definitely a mental challenge.”

Cheri has several tips for others who may be facing a cancer diagnosis. First, she suggests leaning on God and faith. Second, she urges people not to be scared to let their circle of friends and family know what is going on. “People cannot pray for you on your journey if they do not know,” Cheri says. “Third, let your circle serve you. This is hard, but it not only blesses you greatly but also them. Fourth, listen to your body. Don’t overdo it. Rest when you need to rest.”

However, her biggest tip to any woman who may read this article or find Cheri’s story on Facebook is to get their routine mammogram on time. “My cancer would not have been found at an early stage if I had not shown up for my mammogram that day. If I had waited, it would have spread,” Cheri says. “Get your mammogram because one of them could possibly save your life.”

Through it all, Cheri has been blessed by the outpouring of love from her family, friends, Facebook followers, and the cancer ministries in Texarkana. Every person who reached out to check on her, pray for her, or support her has helped her face the fight of her life. “So much of this journey has been a mental journey as much as a physical one. My faith, family, and community encouraged me every day. Cancer becomes mind-consuming and has been a major player in my mind every day since January,” Cheri says. “Now that treatment is over; I tend to think about the future and the possibility of recurrence, especially with Triple Negative Breast Cancer. However, I know God got me through this once, and if it creeps back up, He can do it again. He told me it would be ok, and I am ok.”

Dan

Martin,

What Doesn't Kill You, Makes You Stronger

By: Anne Granado

Most people cannot imagine hearing the dreaded “c-word.” Though we all know people diagnosed with cancer, it is even harder to imagine one of our friends or family facing it more than once. However, MaryAnn Pavey was diagnosed with a brain tumor and, years later, kidney cancer. Facing her diagnoses with grace and bravery, MaryAnn is now on the other side of both major health scares and is ready to live life to the fullest. “I don’t know the reasons for these bumps in my journey, but I do know that God loves me and has blessed me with life each time I felt like I was facing the end. Never ever lose love and hope because God loves each and everyone one of us,” MaryAnn says. “Why some live and some die, I have no idea, but I know God has a plan for each of us.”

MaryAnn’s story starts in Sulphur Springs, Texas, where she grew up. She had her daughter, Amy, in 1973, as a single mom, and she worked hard to support her daughter and herself. Even at a young age, MaryAnn was strong-willed and tenacious, determined to achieve her goals. For seven years, she worked for HD Lee, the manufacturing company that made Lee jeans, and then she started working for GTE (General Telephone Electric). In 1989, GTE moved to Texarkana, and MaryAnn moved to keep her job, but a year and a half later, they closed in Texarkana and moved to Dallas, leaving MaryAnn without a job. “I was forced to search for another career, and my daughter, Amy, was always interested in doing hair.

She said that she had this dream of us owning our salon, and when I researched it, I thought, this could be something I would like,” MaryAnn says.

Intent on pursuing her new dream, MaryAnn enrolled in Kilgore College in 1995 to become an esthetician. It was the only school in the area that offered training in the field, but Kilgore College was over an hour and a half away. MaryAnn made the taxing drive every day from August to March the following year. “I would leave the house at 5a.m. Monday through Friday, go to school all day, and then get home at 7:30 or 8:00p.m. every night,” MaryAnn says. “It was extremely hard, but I was determined.”

MaryAnn graduated from Kilgore College in 1995 and took her state board exams in Austin, Texas. Then, she opened her dream salon in the building where Twisted Fork is currently located. It was called Salon Visage Esthetique. “I was told I wouldn’t find enough business in Texarkana as only the second esthetician in town, but I worked hard to build an excellent clientele. At the time, I offered skin treatments and a vichy shower for mud treatments, but Texarkana wasn’t ready for some of that,” MaryAnn says. “At one point, I employed ten hairstylists, including my daughter, Amy. We also had two massage therapists, four nail technicians, and six tanning beds. But, some of my stylists thought that ‘the grass might be greener somewhere else,’ so I decided to

close the big salon and go into business on my own.”

MaryAnn rented a building and started offering tanning, facials, and waxing services. She continued doing what she loved until she was told she had a brain tumor on May 24, 2016. On this day, life for MaryAnn changed forever. “I tend to talk about my life in two parts: before and after the brain tumor. Now, I’ve added more because I have before and after kidney cancer as well,” MaryAnn says. “My husband, Kip, who has been wonderful through it all, rolls his eyes, but it’s true. Things changed forever that day.”

MaryAnn met Kip Pavey on a blind date. One of the massage therapists who worked for Amy said she had to meet Kip, who was working at International Paper. “I finally said, ‘Fine, I’ll meet him,’ and the rest is history!” MaryAnn says. “We met in 2003 and got married in 2009. We dated so long because we’d both come from bad relationships and said we would never get remarried. But, after all those years, neither one of us was going anywhere, so we decided we might as well get married!”

In 2016, MaryAnn started having some strange symptoms. She felt like she could not walk in a straight line, was running into walls, and was having “brain freeze” headaches. “I knew something was wrong. I drink wine, so I even gave up drinking wine, but that didn’t change anything,” MaryAnn says. “I went to

my doctor in town, and he suggested an MRI. When we looked at the results, there was this great big white spot in my cerebellum, which is where all your motor skills come from. It was the size of a lemon, and my whole world stopped. I just knew it was a death sentence.”

MaryAnn was sent to Mark Smith, M.D., in Texarkana, and he referred her to a doctor in Little Rock named Ali F. Krisht, who planned her surgery. “I was forced into early retirement. I had to close my salon after 25 years of service,” MaryAnn says. “I loved every one of my clients, but I could not return to work.”

MaryAnn had her first surgery on June 4, 2016, and a second removal surgery on July 13, 2016. This second surgery took nine hours, and MaryAnn spent nine days after surgery in the ICU. “I really never thought that I would wake up from this surgery, and I was thrilled when I did! On top of that, Dr. Krisht told me that he had gotten all of the tumor. It was meningioma blastoma, and it was benign!” MaryAnn says. “I spent three days in the regular hospital room and five days in rehab. Then, I came home and had to adjust to my new normal. It took me almost two years to recover.”

MaryAnn used a walker for three weeks after surgery. To this day, she has balance issues and a heightened sense of smell and taste. She also did not drive for two years following the surgery. “I turned 60 on September 5, 2016, just a few months after the surgery, and it was rough. I felt like I was all over the place,” MaryAnn says. “I found brain tumor support groups online and was able to talk to people going through the same thing. Talking to others kept me from depression. I was so blessed, and there were so many people going through so much worse.”

As she adjusted, MaryAnn learned to love retirement. “I paint, latch hook, and care for our precious fur babies. We have a three-year-old Rottweiler named Maggie and an eight-yearold Yorkie named Cali,” MaryAnn says. “I am also married to the most wonderful man in the whole world. He’s my rock and my soul.”

Looking back on the experience, MaryAnn cannot help but see how God worked through every step in the process. “It honestly was a miracle. God put me exactly where I needed to be when I needed to be there. There is no other reason why I was referred to a neurosurgeon in the top 1% of the world. There is no other reason why my brain tumor wasn’t cancer,” MaryAnn says.

Six years later, MaryAnn and Kip were in Florida visiting his son and their family when a family friend took them out on a boat. Though tropical storms were everywhere, they were protected on the intercoastal canal. However, the smooth, glass-like water quickly changed when the driver steered them onto the volatile, open sea. “We hit these six-foot swells, and everyone was vaulted four feet in the air and slammed back in the boat three or four times. I honestly thought I might have broken my back!” MaryAnn says. “I went in for X-rays, but there was nothing broken.”

A few days later, MaryAnn noticed a lot of blood in her urine and went to her regular doctor to check it out. He ordered a CT scan, and a mass on her right kidney showed up. He referred her to a kidney doctor, who ordered a CT with contrast and an ultrasound. Both showed the hard mass, so MaryAnn was sent to Dallas to see a nephrologist surgeon. On May 24, 2022, exactly six years to the day she was told she had a brain tumor, MaryAnn was told that she had a mass on her right kidney, and it was cancer. “Honestly, that boat ride saved my life! I really thought something was wrong from the whole ordeal, but it made my cancer start showing symptoms,” MaryAnn says, “Every doctor I went to said those exact words, and I knew that everything happens for a reason. God is good.”

Though MaryAnn saw God’s hand in bringing it to light, she was still facing the dreaded c-word. Her fear was only exacerbated by the fact that both of her parents had passed from cancer. Her mother died from multiple myeloma in 2005. Her father died of acute lymphocytic leukemia, or bone marrow cancer, in 2013.

“My diagnosis was really hard on my whole family, especially my daughter, Amy. She thought she was going to lose her mom. Also, I lived at home with my parents until Amy was six or seven years old, and my mom was a second mother to her. We lost my mom, my dad, and then I had a brain tumor,” MaryAnn says. “You don’t think you will live through a brain tumor, and it’s hard to believe that you will live through cancer.”

MaryAnn underwent surgery on July 24, 2022, to remove the bottom part of her right kidney, and she came home the next day. Even though she was home, MaryAnn was in a lot of pain post-surgery. “I’ve never had such horrific pain in my life. I thought I was dying, but I didn’t! What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,”

MaryAnn says, “They were able to remove the entire mass, so I didn’t have to do chemo or radiation. Once again, God got me through it, and I was blessed beyond belief.”

Post brain tumor and kidney cancer, MaryAnn’s new philosophy is to live life for every moment because everything could change in the blink of an eye. “When I could travel again after my brain tumor, we went to see Kip’s two sons in Florida, and while we were there, Kip’s son’s boss offered a ride in his private jet helicopter. Kip said, ‘My wife would never get in that helicopter.’ But, I took off running for the helicopter. Then Kip said, ‘My wife will never get off the ground in that helicopter,’ but we went for the ride. Kip just kept saying he didn’t know who I was anymore,” MaryAnn says. “It is true that I’m extremely scared of heights, but I just wanted to do something I had never done before. And I’m

so glad I did. It was a beautiful experience.”

Now, MaryAnn wants to do something out of her comfort zone to celebrate facing kidney cancer. A few years ago, they were in Costa Rica, and everyone ziplined except MaryAnn, so she has asked Kip to take her ziplining. They are currently talking about going to Las Vegas and ziplining over the Strip. This is just one of many trips the couple plan to take together. Soon, Kip hopes to retire, and the two plan on buying a mobile home and traveling the country on a whim while spending much time in Florida with Kip’s son and grandchildren. “We are looking forward to the memories we still have time to make together,” MaryAnn says.

For other readers facing cancer or a cancer scare, MaryAnn suggests keeping positive, staying hopeful, and

leaning on faith. “Always pray and pray hard. Let your friends and family pray with and over you. I never felt so loved as I did when a client or friend asked if they could take my hand and pray with me,” MaryAnn says. “It’s an awesome, awesome feeling.”

MaryAnn and Kip still keep a close eye on MaryAnn’s health. She goes back for CT scans every three months, and if she continues to get good results, she will go every six months and then, hopefully, yearly. She also gets yearly MRIs to check for new tumor growth. “God, my family, and my friends are the ones who got me through the toughest times in my life,” MaryAnn says. “I don’t know God’s plan for me in the future, but He is now and will always be in my heart. I know He loves each and every one of us and has a plan for our life.”

CATERING YOUR EVERY CRAVING

by: Michelle Horton

Although food has not been officially recognized as one of the love languages, it should, by default, be the sixth language. It incorporates all five senses and speaks boldly about the host and their desire to satisfy each guest. However, with the hustle and bustle of preparing holiday dinners, office parties, Girls-Night-In, and beyond, we are often left scrambling for something to serve. While it is understandable to want a lavish meal, why not give yourself a break and outsource your holiday catering to professionals?

We assembled this catering company review to offer you a glimpse at Texarkana’s local caterers. For groups large and small, for treats savory and sweet, all you need to do is look local!

VERONA RESTAURANT

Verona’s is a fine Italian Restaurant serving traditional classics like Pollo Fettuccine Alfredo and heartier meals such as the Tomahawk Marsala. The interior boasts a luxurious place to host your event, or you may order from their catering menu.

WINGSTOP

Wingstop is the destination when you crave fresh wings, hand-cut seasoned fries, and any of their famous sides. For people who demand flavor in everything they do, I will always recommend Wingstop; it truly is a flavor experience. With three locations in Texarkana,

hosting a party at this wing restaurant is a breeze, just like ordering their 100-piece wing pack! Order for your next Monday-night football party!

BENCHMARK AMERICAN BRASSERIE

Benchmark invites you to savor their French-American cuisine, from scallop provencal to steak frites, roasted duck jalapeños to French dip, and an Un, Deux, Trois Burger. With a relaxed and inviting atmosphere, it is an elegant place to host your holiday gettogether. Their entrees taste both new and familiar, always delicious, as they are prepared by a classically French-trained chef raised local to Texarkana, Chef Becky Williams.

POP’S PLACE

There is something retro and enjoyable about dining at Pop’s Place. With an inviting atmosphere full of great music and a fabulous menu, it’s a go-to favorite among the locals for their holiday parties. I am a fan of the Mushroom Cheese Dip, Prime Rib, and of course, their Fried Fish! For a more casual party with mouthwatering menu items, book your catering or party with them today.

JULIE’S DELI

When you crave made-from-scratch meals and decadent desserts, my first thought will always be Julie’s Deli. Julie’s offers an extensive range of catering, from simple pickup/delivery options to Platinum Full Service catering. Complete with beautiful grazing displays, Tex-Mex Fiestas, and full Dinner Buffet Packages, Julie’s provides the perfect catering for your cravings.

NAAMAN’S

No smoke and mirrors here - Naaman’s has been perfecting their premium BBQ and prime steaks since the 80s. Naaman’s is the cool place to host your party or cater your holiday meal with flavor profiles unlike any other and a large open seating area. My favorites are the Loaded Pork Nachos and Sliced Brisket Plate.

Family traditions sustain bonding and connection with loved ones. Create thoughtful traditions that are meaningful to your family, embracing the changes to come while also honoring the past. Here are a few new family holiday traditions to consider!

Food Traditions

•Make traditional dishes for your holiday meals and include foods from your culture or foods you ate growing up. Ask for recipes from relatives to keep your family food traditions alive.

•Organize a cookie-baking party. Invite friends and family or a group of your kids’ friends. Ask everyone to bring their favorite holiday cookie recipe.

Giving Back Traditions

•Volunteer your time as a family at a soup kitchen or a food bank that hands out food to needy families.

• Find a giving tree that allows you to sponsor a family or purchase toys for children in need. Go shopping for the items together and donate them.

• Start a canned food drive in your neighborhood or at your church. Ask friends to donate canned and non-perishable foods, then donate them to a food bank.

• Go through closets and donate gently used clothing (coats are particularly useful this time of year) to a local shelter.

•Don’t forget senior citizens! Volunteer time at your local senior citizens center or see if there is a giving tree specifically for the residents.

Neighborhood & Community Traditions

•Get a handful of friends together and go caroling. You’ll be surprised by how well-received your singing group is, even if you’re out of tune!

• See a local production of The Nutcracker, held at the Perot Theatre the first weekend in December.

• Check out holiday lights in your area. Get in the car, turn on your holiday playlist, and find brightly lit houses.

Gift Traditions

•Draw names in your immediate family and make a gift for that person. It can be as easy as a photobook of your family’s greatest moments of the year.

•Spend a day and possibly a night in a local metropolitan area and complete your holiday shopping. Ask your mom, sister, or sisters-in-law to come along!

• Start a gag gift tradition. Give a funny gift to a family member. Each year, pass the gift on to another unsuspecting family member.

At Home Traditions

• Have your child start an “I Am Thankful” list on November 1st. Have them add one thing they are thankful for each day. You can turn this into a decoration for your Thanksgiving table.

•Go to a tree farm to locate the perfect Christmas tree. At home, decorate it as a family or let the kids do their thing. Have some treats, hot cider, or cocoa on hand to keep energy levels up!

• Set aside one night each week to watch a holiday movie or television special, such as “Miracle on 34th Street” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

• Start a holiday village display. Add a new house or shop to your collection each year.

CREATING NEW HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

HOLIDAY RECIPES AND MENU PLANS

For your favorite foodie holidays, you will find the best recipes, menu ideas, and more—from ideas for a festive cocktail party to a lavish Christmas feast and everything in between! Here are a few of our favorites!

A Cocktail Party

This festive party features your best friends, sparkly and fun decor, and a menu full of finger foods and big-batch drinks.

What we are serving:

Spicy Cheddar Cheese Straws

Slow-Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs

Perfectly Poached Shrimp

Spinach-Artichoke Dip with Crackers

Cranberry Punch

Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds fresh green beans, trimmed

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

2 ½ ounces Parmesan cheese, shredded (about ⅔ cup)

2 bacon slices, cooked and chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 450°F. Combine green beans, garlic, oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl, tossing to coat. Spread in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven until green beans are tender, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring halfway through. Sprinkle green beans with Parmesan, and continue to bake until Parmesan has melted (about 1 minute). Remove from oven, and sprinkle with bacon. Serve immediately.

Salad

Ambrosia

Perfect Poached Shrimp Ingredients

Ice

4 qt. water

1 lemon, halved

1 tablespoon black peppercorns

2 bay leaves

2 teaspoons salt

2 pounds unpeeled, large raw shrimp (26/30 count)

Directions

Fill a large bowl halfway with ice and water. Pour four quarts of water into a Dutch oven; squeeze juice from one lemon into the Dutch oven. Stir in lemon halves, black peppercorns, bay leaves, and salt; bring to a boil over mediumhigh heat. Remove from heat; add shrimp. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink. Stir shrimp into ice water; let stand for 10 minutes. Peel and devein shrimp.

Fresh & Elegant Holiday Dinner

This beef tenderloin menu inspires the creative cook in you while pleasing guests who love a traditional meal. What we are serving:

Beef Tenderloin

Smashed Baby Red Potatoes

Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

Ingredients

8 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed

1/2 cup vanilla yogurt

1 cup shredded sweetened coconut

11-ounce can mandarin oranges, drained

8-ounce can pineapple tidbits or crushed pineapple, drained

1 cup maraschino cherries, drained

1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows

Directions

In a large bowl, stir together the whipped topping and yogurt. Using a rubber spatula, carefully fold remaining ingredients into whipped topping. Chill before serving.

A Sweet Brunch

Serve a sweet and colorful brunch anytime!

What we are serving:

Banana Punch

Ambrosia Salad

Cinnamon Rolls Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Traditional Thanksgiving

Classic Thanksgiving recipes that you’ll come back to year after year.

What we are serving:

Cranberry Pineapple Tea

Bacon Wrapped Turkey

Green Bean Casserole

Chicken and Dressing

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Banana Punch Ingredients

6 medium ripe bananas

12 ounces frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

3/4 cup thawed lemonade concentrate

3 cups warm water, divided 2 cups sugar, divided 46 ounces pineapple juice, chilled 6 liters lemon-lime soda, chilled Directions

Cover and process the bananas, orange juice and lemonade in a blender until smooth. Remove half of the mixture and set aside. Add 1-1/2 cups warm water and 1 cup sugar to blender; blend until smooth. Place in a large freezer container. Repeat with remaining banana mixture, water and sugar; add to container. Cover and freeze until solid. One hour before serving, remove punch base from freezer. Just before serving, place in a large punch bowl. Add pineapple juice and soda; stir until well blended.

A Savory Brunch

If you always order savory at brunch, we’ve made a brunch menu you will love.

What we are serving:

Arugula Salad with Sherry Vinaigrette Eggs Bendeit Casserole

Oven Roasted Potatoes

Bacon Breakfast Burritos

Oven Roasted Potatoes

Ingredients

2 pounds red or yellow-skinned potatoes

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions

Sweet Potato Casserole

Turkey Gravy

Brown ‘n Serve Rolls

Traditional Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients

Peppercorn-Crusted Standing Rib Roast

Preheat oven to 425°F. Scrub potatoes (do not peel them). Dice into 1” cubes. If time allows, soak potatoes in cold water for up to 1 hour., then drain and dry. Toss potatoes, olive oil, and seasonings. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 30-35 minutes until browned and tender.

1/2 cup salted butter, softened

2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper

2 tablespoons kosher salt

1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary

1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage

1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 (8-lb.) 4-rib prime rib roast, chine bone removed Directions

12-24 hours. Remove roast from the refrigerator; let stand at room temperature 1 hour. Preheat oven to 450°F. Place roast on a lightly greased rack in a roasting pan. Bake in preheated oven on lowest oven rack 45 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F; bake until a meat thermometer inserted in thickest portion registers 120°F to 130°F for medium-rare or 130°F to 135°F for medium, about

TEXARKANA'S TOP LAWYER NOMINATIONS

TEXARKANA'S TOP DISTINGUISHED LAWYER

(Practicing a minimum of 40 years)

Jim Haltom Haltom & Doan

John Mercy

Mercy Carter Tidwell LLP

Ed Miller Miller James Miller & Hornsby LLP

Cary Patterson Nix Patterson & Roach LLP

Winonia Griffin Roberts

The Corcoran Law Firm

Damon Young Young Pickett Law Offices

TEXARKANA'S TOP LAWYER

Mark Burgess

Burgess Law Firm PLLC

Ralph Burgess Burgess Law Firm PLLC

Greg Giles Moore, Giles & Matteson LLP

Ben King Ross & Shoalmire PLLC

Howard Mowery Law Office of Howard Mowery

Monty G. Murry Murry Law Firm

John K. Ross, IV Ross & Shoalmire PLLC

Josh Thane Haltom & Doan

TEXARKANA'S TOP YOUNG LAWYER

(Must be under 40 years old)

Kyle Akin Haltom & Doan

John Mark Burgess Burgess Law Firm PLLC

Erin Keil

Keil Law Firm PLLC

Cole Riddell Haltom & Doan

Randy Roeser Holland & Hart, LLP

ADMINISTRATIVE/ REGULATORY LAW

Darby Doan Haltom & Doan

Jim Haltom Haltom & Doan

Phillip Jordan Jordan Law Firm LLP

George Matteson Moore, Giles & Matteson LLP

Fred Norton Norton & Wood

APPELLATE PRACTICE

Darby Doan Haltom & Doan

Errol Friedman Friedman Law Office

Jim Haltom

Haltom & Doan

Phillip Jordan

Jordan Law Firm LLP

George Matteson

Moore, Giles & Matteson LLP

BANKING & FINANCE LAW

Kyle Davis

Langdon Davis Law Firm

Cade Mayo J. Michael Brock PLLC

Nick Newton Langdon Davis Law Firm

Fred Norton Norton & Wood

BANKRUPTCY AND CREDITOR DEBTOR RIGHTS/INSOLVENCY AND REORGANIZATION LAW

David James Miller, James, Miller & Hornsby LLP

Nick Newton

Langdon Davis Law Firm

David Ruff

Law Office of David Ruff

BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS

Peter Corcoran

The Corcoran Law Firm

Ben King Ross & Shoalmire PLLC

Nikki Laing

Godwin Laing PLLC

VISIT WWW.ALT-MAG.COM TO VOTE FOR YOUR CHOICES IN TEXARKANA’S TOP LAWYER OCTOBER 1-OCTOBER 31. WINNER ANNOUNCED IN THE DECEMBER ISSUE OF ALT!

Langdon

Davis Law Firm

John Mercy

Mercy Carter LLP

Josh Potter Potter & Marks

John K. Ross, IV Ross & Shoalmire PLLC

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

John Mark Burgess Burgess Law Firm PLLC

Mark Burgess

Burgess Law Firm PLLC

David Carter

Mercy Carter LLP

Peter Corcoran

The Corcoran Law Firm

Darby Doan Haltom & Doan

Wes

Law

Jeff Harrelson

Harrelson Law Firm

Jason Horton

Jason Horton Law

John Pickett

Young Pickett Law

CRIMINAL DEFENSE WHITE COLLAR

Peter Corcoran

The Corcoran Law Firm

John Delk John Delk Attorney at Law

Jeff Harrelson Harrelson Law Firm

Jason Horton Jason Horton Law

John Pickett

Young Pickett Law Office

DUI/DWI DEFENSE

Jeff Harrelson Harrelson Law Firm

Jason Horton Law

Josh Potter

Potter & Marks

ELDER LAW

Jon Beck

Morgan, Cook, & Beck LLP

Jim Haltom

Haltom & Doan

Ben King

Ross & Shoalmire PLLC

Ed Miller

Miller James Miller & Hornsby LLP

Cole Riddell

Haltom & Doan

John K. Ross, IV Ross & Shoalmire LLP

Lisa B. Shoalmire Ross & Shoalmire LLP

EMPLOYMENT LAW

Jennifer Doan Haltom & Doan

Mark Elliott

Langdon Davis Law Firm

Greg Giles

Moore, Giles, & Matteson LLP

David Glass

The Glass Firm PLLC

Louise Tausch

Atchley, Russell, Waldrop & Hlavinka LLP

Marshall Wood Norton & Wood

FAMILY LAW

Peter Corcoran

The Corcoran Law Firm

John Delk

John Delk Attorney at Law

Michael Friedman Friedman Law Office

Brent Langdon Langdon Davis Law Firm

Howard Mowery

Law Office of Howard Mowery

HEALTH CARE LAW

Mike Brock

J. Michael Brock PLLC

Darby Doan Haltom & Doan

David Glass

The Glass Firm PLLC

Paul Miller

Miller, James, Miller, & Hornsby LLC

INSURANCE LAW

Mark Burgess

Burgess Law Firm PLLC

Jim Cook Dunn, Nutter, & Morgan LLP

Darla Crawford

Law Offices of Flint, Crawford, & Cogburn

Kyle Davis Langdon Davis Law Firm

Errol Friedman

Friedman Law Office

Greg Giles

Moore, Giles & Matteson LLP

Matthew Soyars Soyars & Soyars

LABOR LAW

Greg Giles

Moore, Giles & Matteson LLP

David Glass

The Glass Firm PLLC

Louise Tausch

Atchley, Russell, Waldrop & Hlavinka LLP

MEDIATION

Ralph Burgess

Burgess Law Firm PLLC

David James

Miller, James, Miller & Hornsby LLP

Jason Horton

John Mercy

Mercy Carter LLP

MEDICAL MALPRACTICEDEFENDANTS

David Carter

Mercy Carter LLP

Darby Doan Haltom & Doan

Jennifer Doan Haltom & Doan

Paul Miller

Miller, James, Miller, & Hornsby LLC

MEDICAL MALPRACTICEPLAINTIFFS

David Carter

Mercy Carter LLP

David Glass

The Glass Firm PLLC

Matthew Golden Matthew Golden Law Firm, PLLC

Mike Unger Unger Law Firm

PERSONAL INJURYDEFENDANTS

Darby Doan Haltom & Doan

Greg Giles Moore, Giles & Matteson LLP

David Glass

The Glass Firm PLLC

Brent Langdon Langdon Davis Law Firm

Josh Thane Haltom & Doan

Marshall Wood Norton & Wood

PERSONAL INJURYPLAINTIFFS

Darren Anderson Anderson Law Firm

Miller

Mark Burgess Burgess Law Firm

David Carter

Mercy Carter LLP

Bruce Flint Law Offices of Flint & Crawford

Monty G. Murry Murry Law Firm

Cole Riddell Haltom & Doan

Matthew Soyars Soyars & Soyars

PRODUCT LIABILITYDEFENDANTS

Darby Doan Haltom & Doan

Brent Langdon Langdon Davis Law Firm

Paul Miller

Miller James Miller & Hornsby LLP

Troy Hornsby

Matthew

Mike

REAL ESTATE LAW

Mike

J.

Kyle Davis

Langdon

David Glass

The Glass Firm PLLC

Tiffany Godwin Godwin Laing PLLC

Phillip Jordan

Jordan Law Firm LLP

Wes Jordan

Jordan Law Firm LLP

TAX LAW

Butch

Ed

Fred

John

TRUSTS & ESTATES

Peter

The

John

Mark

Make your files findable when you leave them to your heirs

ESTATE & GIVING

Living life and facing death can be liberating – and it doesn’t have to be hard.

Depending on the source, about half of Americans know they should have a will but don’t. And a National Library of Medicine study found that in 2017 only a third of us had completed end-of-life forms that outline our wishes for comfort and care during that final transition. Not surprising, maybe, since the process can be confusing and perhaps distressing when considering our own mortality. What may be surprising is the fact that the unpredictable pandemic may have shifted Americans’ attitudes toward codifying our wishes in a very practical sense.

The why

It seems, despite living through a once-ina-century pandemic, our interest in actually completing the task still wavers. However, top of the list of benefits is peace of mind –saving cost, time and heartache. Doing the work to have everything in place means medical professionals will be guided by your voice, your loved ones won’t have to bear the burden of guessing what you would want, and you’ll know that your heirs will receive the accounts and assets that you intended for them. It may not make it easier to say goodbye but should make the aftermath a lot easier.

Another beautiful potential benefit, perhaps even the most important one? Quelling the potential for intra-family strife during an already stressful time. Proper planning could help protect sibling and family relationships, which can get ugly when it comes to medical and financial matters. Experts recommend making your wishes clear and communicating them well before your passing, particularly if you’re part of a blended family.

The what

You’ll want to put some strong safeguards in place. Ask your medical and financial professionals if you need any or all of these documents. Don’t be intimidated. You don’t have to codify everything at once, and many are fairly straightforward.

The more emotional tasks like writing letters of love or an ethical will, which outlines your values, may actually be the hardest.

Financial power of attorney. Durable powers of attorney give someone permission to make decisions on your behalf – anything from communicating with your cable company to dealing with banking, real estate, business and legal matters.

POLST forms outline physician orders for life-sustaining treatment for those with serious conditions, indicating things like whether you’d like CPR, mechanical ventilation, feeding tubes or ICU treatment.

Medical power of attorney. Sometimes called a living will or advanced directive, this outlines medical treatments you want and those you don’t and authorizes a proxy to make decisions for you.

A last will and testament.

Beneficiary forms. For insurance policies, retirement accounts and some other assets, the beneficiary form prevails over the will.

A declaration of guardian appoints someone to look after your minor children. A trust. In many states, a living trust can be used to transfer assets and personal property in an orderly and more private manner than a will and can even stipulate special provisions such as age-based distribution so young adults don’t inherit all at once.

The where and how

If you need help getting started, first get organized

Discover what you already have. For example, you may already have a healthcare proxy. From there, make an appointment with an attorney who specializes in estate or elder care law to review what you have and help you fill any gaps. Include your financial advisor to ensure you’ve made a plan for all relevant assets.

You may want to also make an advanced care planning appointment with your doctor. Often this can be done remotely (two 30-minute appointments are covered by Medicare, as is advanced planning for a cognitively impaired patient). Be sure to ask so you’ll know what your financial liability may be.

Once gathered, store all relevant paperwork in one place. Some prefer a binder in a safe deposit box, but another secure way may be an online vault that allows you to grant differing levels of access to those you trust most. Just make sure your family members and righthand professionals know where to find these important documents and how to access them.

The who

Last, but certainly not least, make time to share your decisions with those they’ll affect. Talk to your loved ones about your healthcare and financial plans and preferences, where important documents live and how to access them. Your advisor can help you set up regular family meetings to address who inherits what and why, as well as other details. Of course, the most important thing is to take the time to tell your family just how much you love them.

Raymond James is not affiliated with any organizations mentioned. Raymond James does not provide legal services. Please discuss these matters with the appropriate professional.

Sources: vox.com; theatlantic.com; compassionandchoices.org; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Health Affairs; nytimes.com; time.com

© 2022 Raymond James Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange / SIPC, and Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA / SIPC, are subsidiaries of Raymond James Financial, Inc. Raymond James® and Raymond James Financial® are registered trademarks of Raymond James Financial, Inc.

Back Initiative Operation Medicine Cabinet

is proud to partner with Texarkana

Center in an effort to remove unused and out of date prescription medicines from your homes.

•It is important to know that law enforcement is only interested in the removal of unused and/or outdated medications from the homes of our citizens.

•It matters not whose name is on the prescription, by whom it was prescribed, where it was prescribed, or where you reside.

•We stress that it makes no difference if you live in Texas or Arkansas.

•We take back all medications, no questions asked. You can remove the label if you desire but it’s not necessary.

•We ask that you do not deposit needles (sharps), inhalers, medication from businesses or clinics, ointments, lotions, liquids, aerosol cans, hydrogen peroxide, or thermometers.

Suzie TK SnippeTS

By: Suzie Tyler

Are you a Texarkana Baby?

The song Texarkana Baby was recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1949. It was one of the first 45 RPM records issued by RCA. We don’t hear it as often now as we did in the fifties.

I can’t say I’m a ‘genuine’ Texarkana Baby because “My pappy came from Arkansas and my maw from Louisiana.” But, I am a real “Texarkana, Arkansas” native! Born and bred here!

When Odis and I dated in 1958, he teased me that I was his ‘Texarkana Baby.’ He said I was his precious thing that had him “twisted round his finger like a little piece of string.” But I did give him “lots of sugar!”

I don’t know about the next line in the song: “If she hauled off and slapped me, I would never feel the sting cause she’s my Texarkana baby.” I never tried it. Lol! I never asked him if the diamond ring he was going to offer me was “with one installment pay.”

In the 50s, our little world comprised the four-state area; Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.

Today, we are such a mobile society. It’s easy to go to the Texarkana Regional Airport and hop a plane to Dallas. Then the world is within our reach.

Texarkana is unique in so many ways. We are a city with two city governments in two different states but share a water department and a post office. We are the only city with a border city exemption for state income tax for Arkansas residents.

You can stand in one place and have one foot in Texas and one in Arkansas. It’s the only small town that was featured in the new Elvis movie. It has been the subject of Smokey and the Bandit and The Town That Dreaded Sundown. Texarkana has been mentioned on numerous television shows.

Jet airplanes and the internet have opened up new horizons and some Texarkana natives cannot wait to leave and find their dreams elsewhere.

For those of us who stay or moved here and love it, Texarkana really is “Twice As Nice.”

***Check out my books on Amazon. On Loan From God For Twenty-Four Hours, My Love Story In A Nutshell and Growing Up In The Fifties.

A new experimental feature called Vella allows writers to post one episode at a time. I have seven episodes available. Look for Finding A Perfect Love

P.S. On October 15th, my 1960 Arkansas High School Class will have our 60th class reunion. If you are a member and haven’t been contacted, please message me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Fish Tales with Mike Brower

The Fish Had A Plan

This past August, Debbie and I took our usual trip to Montana, and I fished while she relaxed. On the second day of fishing, my guide took me to DePuy Spring Creek, where I normally fish. I thought it would be cool to fish there with a guide to show me what I don’t know. We eased up to a spot in the creek and saw several nice trout in between grass patches feeding. James directed me to a three- to fourpound brown trout on the bottom end of the feeding fish. After two drifts, it took my fly, and the fight was on; for about ten seconds when it took me into a grass patch and broke off.

After several choice words and a re-tie, I started fishing for a real nice five-plus pound rainbow feeding in a patch of sand between two patches of grass. It would rise and eat on just about every bug that came into the zone but not ANYTHING I sent drifting its way. The fish would rise about every three to five drifts and look at my bug but would not eat. We spent four and a half hours and probably 15 – 20 fly changes trying to make this fish eat a lure. BUT NO! It would rise up,

look and go back to its feeding position. What makes it so bad is that if something came by other than my fly, it would eat it, including a small leaf.

This is another one of those “life lessons” I hate. I’m very patient where fishing is concerned, but again we spent over four hours on this fish, and many of my drifts were outstanding, but to no avail. We kept saying, “let’s give it five more drifts,” like the dummies we were. This fish suckered us into his plan to keep us tied up all day, and we fell for it.

For the umpteenth time in my life, I had a “character building” moment (or rather, over four hours.) I don’t like them anymore. I want more fish-biting/catching moments, but you can bet another fish somewhere will sucker me into its diabolical plan, and I’ll be all “five more drifts” that turns into all day.

I love fishing. Fishing humbles everyone.

MICHAEL W. SMITH

@ PEROT THEATER

Multi-platinum artist and bestselling author Michael W. Smith returns to the road this fall with The WayMaker Tour. Join Michael W. and his special guest Jon Reddick for an unforgettable night of music and worship. Set at the Perot Theater, The WayMaker tour is designed to bring the fan up close providing a chance to experience Michael W. Smith LIVE in a way they never have before. Find tickets on www.perottheatre.org/tickets

9FALL MARKET BENEFITING

CASA OF TEXARKANA

Join our first Fall Market at The Silvermoon on Broad on Sunday, October 9th, from 3pm-7pm. You’re invited to shop local as talented vendors will be set up showcasing their items for sale from art and jewelry to clothing, food, and more. There will be raffle tickets being sold at the door for $5 benefiting our friends at CASA of Texarkana.

Tasty Donuts

You’ll be entering for your chance to win a basket full of gift cards and merch from the markets’ vendors! We will pull names throughout the afternoon for door prizes and draw for the grand prize at the end of the night!! This event is free for the public to attend. Bring your little ones down for fun, as we will have a kid’s area with hands-on crafts!

For more information on this event or to become a vendor, please contact: Jakie Arellano at 903-7919355 ext. 1087 or Jakie. arellano@gohce.com

14-15

2 events13TH ANNUAL GATHERING OF AUTHORS CHARITY EVENT AND BOOK SIGNING

Come out and help us celebrate literacy and reading, as we raise money for Autism. Friday, October 14th, 6:30 - 8:30 is the Charity dinner, speakers, and live auction. Saturday, October 15th, 10 am to 3 pm, is the Author event with two dozen authors, vendors, kids corner, silent auction, dozens of door prizes and free refreshments. FAMILY EVENT!!!! For more info, go to www.gatheringofauthors.com.

16

HARVEST AT THE HILLS

Join Northern Hills Baptist Church for a fun-filled family event on Sunday, October 16th, from 3-7pm. Lots of fun activities for children of all ages and family entertainment. Bring a lawn chair and join in the fun at 6000 Sammy Lane in Texarkana, AR! Contact 870-773-3580 for more info.

20

TRS-CARE

HEALTH FAIR

T he Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) will host a free health fair for retired Texas public educators in Texarkana from 9am–12pm on Thursday, October 20, 2022.

Register today to get critical health information on your TRS health benefits, talk in person to your health care vendors, learn about your wellness options, get a head start on Medicare, and more. For more dates and locations in Texas, visit TRS Health Care Events. We hope to see you in Texarkana in October!

22

DISCO FOR DOWN SYNDROME

Join us under the disco ball at Studio 72 for a night full of Disco, Dining and Drinks! 100% of all proceeds will be used locally for our Camps, Education Programs and Awareness Campaign!!!

John

Realtor 817-701-8402

Servicing the

Worth Area!

903-277-1222

134 SPRINGHILL, NEW BOSTON, TX

Kasi Copeland Realtor 817-771-3635

Ronnie Olson Realtor 903-280-6831

903-223-0710

Exquisite custom built home in New Boston. Features three bedrooms, two full baths, one half bath, bonus room upstairs could be 4th bedroom, office or game room. Tall ceilings throughout, custom cabinets, granite countertops, dining area, breakfast bar. Beautiful primary bedroom suite with walk in closet. Two car garage and two car detached garage with mancave or workout room and full bathroom. Chain link fenced dog run. This home sits on 2.625 acres of land. Don’t miss this one, schedule your appointment today for showing!!

Brenda Elrod

Manager 903-559-1511

Candace Henry

903-276-0971

Manager Assistant 903-280-2442

Kathy