AY About You March 2021

AR K ANS AS’ LIF E ST Y LE MAGAZINE | MARC H 2021 | AY MAG. C OM

Spring Travel | Pancake/French Toast Bucket List | COVID-19 $5.00 U.S.

your

DESTINATION for something different

At Brashears, we believe furniture shopping should be an enjoyable experience.

That’s why we do things a little differently—creating a relaxed shopping environment where you can find unique, quality items that fit your lifestyle and personality.

Visit us in-store or shop online at brashears.com

© 2021 Brashears Furniture

SUMMER BODIES start in the Spring

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WHAT’S INSIDE

Publisher’s Letter Connect Top Events Murder Mystery Arkansas Backstories

10 12 14 142 144

HOME&GARDEN

Snow Daze

16

FOOD&DRINK

B atter Up 32 Pancake Recipes 34 New Kids on the Block 44 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame 54 Readers’ Restaurant Poll 24

TRAVEL ARKANSAS

Get Out of Town Observing Overlanding Some Like it Hot (Springs)

72 74 78

ARTS&CULTURE 90 The Ghost Light 96 Cave Class 102 The Arkansas Hitchhike Killer 106 Living Art from Dead Wood 112 Death by Retail

HEALTH

Pancake Bucket List Pg. 28

118 Coronavirus Delivered 130 Letters from the Front

MENTAL HEALTH 124 Teens and the Pandemic ‘Affect’

ABOUT YOU

64 Businesses About You 138 This Side of Seven

Photo by Jamison Mosley

ON THE COVER And they’re off! Oaklawn is back in swing, and we took a trip to Hot Springs in this issue.

So, why not horses on the cover?

Photo by Casey Crocker.

Read more: Page 78

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PUBLISHER

Heather Baker hbaker@aymag.com EDITOR

Dustin Jayroe djayroe@aymag.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Mark Carter mcarter@aymag.com

ONLINE EDITOR

Tyler Hale thale@aymag.com

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Lisa Fischer lfischer@aymag.com

FOOD EDITOR

Kevin Shalin kshalin@aymag.com

STAFF WRITERS

Katie Zakrzewski katie@aymag.com Emily Beirne ebeirne@aymag.com

ART DIRECTOR

Jamison Mosley jmosley@aymag.com

PRODUCTION MANAGER Rebecca Robertson rrobertson@aymag.com

Dwain Hebda is president of Ya!Mule Wordsmiths in Little Rock. A writer, editor and journalist of some 30 years, his work appears in more than 30 publications in four states. Nebraskan by birth, Southern by the grace of God, he and his wife, Darlene, have four grown children and two lovely dogs.

Janie Jones began her journalism career by writing features for the River Valley & Ozark Edition. After finding her niche as a true crime writer for AY About You, she acted as a consultant for Investigation Discovery. With her husband, she coauthored two books: Hiking Arkansas and Arkansas Curiosities.

Ebony Blevins After obtaining her bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from Arkansas State University, Ebony Blevins has worked for and with numerous publications and marketing companies around Arkansas. Along with freelancing, she is currently developing her fine art photography body of work.

Andrea Patrick has spent most of her childhood and adulthood in Little Rock.

She loves the local food scene and believes that we all eat with our eyes first. This led her to a passion for experimenting with recipes, designing and plating at home. Find her on Instagram, @DishedbyDrea.

Angela Forsyth lives in Northwest Arkansas.

Her articles have been published in AY About You, Arkansas Money and Politics, Food & Drink, Modern Home Builder, Manufacturing Today, Inside Healthcare, Retail Merchandiser and many more magazines.

She’s a happy wife and mom to four kids and a dog.

Jason Pederson spent 20 years as KATV’s “Seven-On-Your-Side” reporter. He now heads up the Office of the Ombudsman for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. Jason and his wife, Mary Carol, have two biological children and one bonus son, all now adults. They are long-time members of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock.

DIGITAL MEDIA DIRECTOR

Kellie McAnulty kmcanulty@aymag.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Lora Puls lpuls@aymag.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Stephanie Wallace swallace@aymag.com Linda Burlingame lindaaymag@aol.com Tonya Higginbotham thigginbotham@aymag.com Mary Funderburg mary@aymag.com Tonya Mead tmead@aymag.com

ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Jacob Carpenter ads@aymag.com

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Ginger Roell groell@aymag.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Kaitlin Barger, Jordan Knight, Meredith Mashburn, Tony Milligan, Sarah Russell, Philip Thomas

ADMINISTRATION Casandra Moore admin@aymag.com Vicki Vowell, CEO

TO ADVERTISE:

501-244-9700 or hbaker@aymag.com

TO SUBSCRIBE:

501-244-9700 or aymag.com

Nic Williams, an Arkansas native, is a practicing lawyer and contributor to AY About You. He has developed original recipes for more than half a decade and considers Ina Garten as his inspiration.

Most importantly, he’s a proud doggy dad and is grateful for his supportive friends and family.

AY Magazine is published monthly, Volume XXXIII, Issue 11 AY Magazine (ISSN 2162-7754) is published monthly by AY Media Group, 910 W. 2nd St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201. Periodicals postage paid at Little Rock, AR and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to AY Magazine, 910 W. 2nd St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201. Subscription Inquiries: Subscription rate is $20 for one year (12 issues). Single issues are available upon request for $5. For subscriptions, inquiries or address changes, call 501-244-9700. The contents of AY are copyrighted ©2020, and material contained herein may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. Articles in AY should not be considered specific advice, as individual circumstances vary. Products and services advertised in the magazine are not necessarily endorsed by AY. Please recycle this magazine.

8

publisher's letter

wherefore art thou

spring?

As I’m writing this, the historic snowmageddon of just a few weeks ago is still at the top of my mind. In classic Arkansas fashion, the once-in-a-century blizzard was quickly followed by shorts weather, but since then (also like that ole girl Arkansas is famous for), the weather has swung back and forth, and forth and back. There’s a political analogy there somewhere, but I’ll spare you that pain. (Check out AY About You’s sister publication, Arkansas Money & Politics, for your political fixins.)

Don’t worry about me, though. If we don’t find the stable sunshine of the next season by the time spring break rolls around, I’ll surely find plenty of it at the beach.

(Don’t call me between March 20-28; I’ll be sand-in-my-toes busy.)

But we couldn’t let all that snow go to waste, even for a March issue. So, we asked you to share your favorite snow pictures with us on social media last month and published a few of our favorites in this issue to lock the snowpocalypse in AY history forever.

On warmer fronts: this issue (like most) is all about the food. We came up with a pancakes/French toast bucket list and recipes to match, our annual Readers’ Restaurant Poll is back, and we have the latest news in the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame world — the 2021 winners. And our food editor, Kevin Shalin, wrote about restaurants that defied pandemic gravity by opening new brick-and-mortars over the past year. He called it “New Kids on the Block,” and we didn’t argue. Did I mention I’m a beach gal? “I think about you in the summertime …”

Even though my spring break plans are concrete, we know that there are quite a few still out there in pending mode. So we brought a few ideas to the table for you. Our newest staff writer, Emily Beirne, wrote about overlanding, a way to adventure combining the road with the destination.

We’ve also got our annual Get Out of Town special section in this issue if you need a few more ideas. And, of course, a feature on one of my personal favorite places to visit, Hot Springs.

This month also marks the one-year anniversary of COVID-19 in Arkansas, and we found some ways to reflect and look forward to what lies ahead. Mike Linn penned his family’s personal journey with a COVID-positive labor and delivery, Angela Forsyth has the latest on teenage mental health during the pandemic, and Dwain Hebda talked to some of the people who’ve been on the frontlines for the past year.

Oh, and our favorite murder mystery writer, Janie Jones, has a new book out! It’s called The Arkansas Hitchhike Killer, and she was kind enough to provide an excerpt for you to read in this issue.

Hope you enjoy!

Heather Baker, Publisher hbaker@aymag.com

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Thank YOU for voting Dr. Montgomery Heathman one of AY’s Top 5 Family Dentists in Arkansas!

At Montgomery Heathman and Associates, our team is 100% focused on your oral health. We offer our patients the very best that dentistry has to offer through advanced technologies and procedures.

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TRENDING ON AYMAG.COM Recipe: Marinated Pork Chops The City of Progress: Pine Bluff Lives Up to its Motto Recipe: Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake Murder Mystery: The Murder of Jennifer Cave Top 10 Pizzas in Central Arkansas Nominees Announced for 2021 Arkansas Country Music Awards

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READER FEEDBACK WHERE TO EAT IN ARKANSAS: RESTAURANTS OPENING AFTER WINTER WEATHER “Thanks for keeping everyone informed and supporting all these great local businesses. Cheers.”

Jim Alley SONYA IRVING MAKES BIG IMPACT THROUGH COMMUNITY COACHING “Everyone take a moment to give a shout-out to one of our admins, Sonya Irving, for her commitment to our city and youth! We are #BetterTogether. Thank you, Katie Zakrzewski for this nice piece.”

Michelle Whitlock Cadle LE BURGER IS A BIG HIT “Thank you, AY Magazine, for sharing our story! The response to our new food truck venture has been amazing. Thank you, Jimmy Black at JIDONA Farms, for offering an amazing product, and thanks to each and every one of our #flakeyfriends that has supported us along the way!”

The Croissanterie MADE IN ARKANSAS: DENETTE WOODWORKS “Thanks for the awesome write-up, guys!”

Russell Dennette

INSTAGRAM

CONTESTS

Keep your eyes out for our new racks, and pick yourself up a copy. We love your feedback. Let us know your favorite articles and your favorite AY covers.

AY Publisher Heather Baker drops by Eat My Catfish to chat with owner Travis Hester and eat some delicious catfish.

AY Magazine is honored to be one of the nominees for Publication/Blog/Podcast of the Year in the Arkansas Country Music Awards!

Contest deadline is March 14! Go to aymag.com and click on the “Contests” tab.

1. TIPTON & HURST Looking for that perfect gift for a loved one?

You’re guaranteed to find it at Tipton & Hurst, which has been providing expert florist services since 1886. Whether you need a beautiful bouquet of flowers or a unique gift basket, this Arkansas mainstay will have it. Drop in to find what your heart desires – it’s on us!

CODE: TIPTON

2. LOBLOLLY

There’s nothing like a scoop of delicious ice cream, no matter the season. When it comes to ice cream, you can’t beat Loblolly Creamery. This Little Rock favorite serves up mouth-watering smallbatch ice cream, using fresh ingredients and unique flavors. Come and get your favorite flavor, on us.

CODE: LOBLOLLY

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3. TURPENTINE CREEK

Take a walk on the wild side at Turpentine Creek.

This Eureka Springs refuge provides a home for abandoned and neglected big cats, from tigers to lions to leopards. Win two tickets to tour the refuge and see all the amazing animals!

CODE: CATS

AY About You talks with Melanie Mata, an assistant professor of nursing at Arkansas State University.

!

February WINNERS Homer’s West: MICHELLE RADLEY Loblolly: CARRIE CRAWFORD Turpentine Creek: LAUREN SPENCER

Take a look at Pat’s book picks at PatBeckerBooks.com

Because every pet has a story.

Great gifts for kids and pet lovers of all ages.

PLUS DVD

These well-illustrated books are autographed by the authors and are now available in audiobook (audio version available where indicated) — Pat Becker, author and hostess of DogTalkTV.com

PatBeckerBooks.com

agenda

5

Top

you just can't miss!

VINTAGE MARKET DAYS March 5-7

Arkansas State Fairgrounds — Little Rock Vintage Market Days, an upscale vintage-inspired market, is presenting its “Hello Spring” event at the State Fairgrounds on the first weekend of March. Expect plenty of art, antiques, clothing, jewelry, handmade products, home décor, outdoor furnishings, consumables, seasonal plantings and more.

RHEA LANA’S March 7-13

El Dorado, Little Rock One of the nation’s largest names in children’s consignment is back in two Arkansas locations this month: El Dorado and Little Rock. The Little Rock event will be held at the Shackleford Crossings Shopping Center and El Dorado’s at the old JCPenney on West Avenue.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM March 12, 13

Walton Arts Center — Fayetteville A classic Shakespeare tale is coming to Fayetteville this month and will be performed by NWA Ballet Theatre. The Walton Arts Center is implementing a number of safety protocols to make this showing a reality and ensure the safety of all who attend.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS BRIDAL EXPO March 13, 10 a.m.

Red Wolf Convention Center — Jonesboro Did the pandemic delay your day of matrimony? Or, perhaps a year of quarantine gifted you a ring of engagement. Either way, if a wedding is in your future, the Northeast Arkansas Bridal Expo is a must.

WILD WEEK: SPRING BREAK 2021 March 19-28

Little Rock Zoo — Little Rock The Little Rock Zoo has a very wild week in store for your close-to-home spring break plans this year, featuring a photo scavenger hunt and all kinds of other adventures and activities.

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events

Top 3 events to do at home Editor’s Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the events and information listed are subject to change.

For the events you do attend this month, please remember to be safe and abide by the most current guidelines set forth by Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the Arkansas Department of Health.

“WITH GREAT POWER . . .” – THE LESSONS OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE (VIRTUAL) March 1; 6:30 p.m. www.cals.org

MEMOIR WRITING FOR SENIORS: HOW TO WRITE YOUR STORY (VIRTUAL) March 10; 10 a.m. www.cals.org

AGFC VIRTUAL NATURE CENTER www.agfcnaturecenter.com

15

aymag.com

Ari Fason’s horses living it up in Ferndale.

Lake Willastein Park in Maumelle. (Brian Kutsch)

Olive. (Jordan Cole)

Snow Daze

Lakewood Lake in North Little Rock. (Vickie Gillespie)

The Harvey’s Hens. (Lindsay Harvey)

Dustin Jayroe

It’s hard to shake the weirdness of writing about a historic snowfall for a March issue of the magazine. But, here we are, amid the pendulums of #ArkansasWeather. And what a sight that snow was last month, shattering practically every wintry record known to the state.

For me and my household, our Little Rock home saw more than 20 inches of the stuff. Our 9-month-old loved to look at it, but his temperament changed as soon as we sat him down. The dogs needed some coaxing but quickly fell in love with bounding around the thick white ocean that became our backyard.

But enough about me. What about you? Well, we asked that very question on social media last month, and our readers turned out in record numbers (matching the snowfall) to share their experiences with us. Here are just a few of our favorites from the thousands of pictures you shared. We may not see anything like that snow week for a very long time — or ever again — so cherish your memories made and scrapbook your pictures. Let those “daze” live on forever!

Queona Maupin.

Hazel Grace dressed as Elsa.

(Tracy Rawls Johnson)

Molly Allen and her pooch, Bo.

Savanna’s first snow. (April Wills Hearne)

Zane shoveling the snow.

(Sheena Theriot)

“Snow” many friends to play with. (Lucy Baehr)

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Nora Grace, age 3. (Allyson Pittman Gattin)

Rowan’s first snow. (Taylor Long)

Kiauna Hughes in Little Rock.

Briley, age 3. (Taylor Thompson)

Bundled up in Park Hill. (Lacy Gill)

Jourdan and Clayton Williams with their children.

Nikki Danaher and family.

19

aymag.com

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By DWAIN HEBDA Photography by JAMISON MOSLEY

The Pancake Shop.

24

French toast at the Pancake Shop.

n times like these, what we crave most are things that time cannot change. The moments we can steal from under Father Time’s nose and, freezing all technology, we hold it in our hands, soak up and smell and taste. That unmistakable scent of a newborn; the racing pulse of first love; freedom and joy that’s often only fully realized as it shrinks to a dot in life’s rearview mirror.

It’s hard to understand where such memories go, much less how a good meal can instantly summon them back.

Walk into The Pancake Shop, for instance, that venerable Hot Springs landmark, and you can be any age you want again with memory so close and vivid it’s like having another dining companion.

“For me, it’s just nostalgic, and it’s comforting and it reminds me of my mother,” says Keeley DeSalvo, whose family has owned the 81-year-old restaurant since 1966. “I grew up in that restaurant and not a lot has changed since my parents bought it.

“There is something, especially in this day and age I think, about a consistent, constant, comforting feeling that people need right now. That makes me happy.

That’s what I think I’m most proud of.”

If anyone should have built an immunity to the magic of breakfast — especially pancakes — it would be DeSalvo, having consumed as much of the family product as she has. Yet it never fails; bring her a stack of the plate-sized cakes (buckwheat with blueberries is her favorite) and time stands still.

“Our recipe is as old as the restaurant is. It hasn’t changed in all these years and that’s got to be the main secret. That, and then the heat that we’re able to get on that grill,” she says. “We serve our pancakes with whipped butter, and if you want hard pat butter we can certainly do that. We offer our maple syrup which has not changed since the restaurant started.

Everybody loves our apple butter; a lot of people put apple butter on the pancakes.”

Contrary to its name, The Pancake Shop also churns out a mean plate of French toast, though not in the same quantity as the flapjacks. That, too, is given the heritage treatment, with a family batter that provides a gentle, loving crispness to bread thinner than the Texas toast you find in many restaurants. It’s great, but it doesn’t command its own section of the menu like the pancakes (find it grouped with the other toast). Nor, safe to say, does it line them up for an hour

like the griddle cakes do, especially at peak times.

Which leads to the inevitable question: Are there ways to experience the legendary landmark without an excessive wait? Surprisingly, the answer is yes, with understandable caveats (the diner isn’t that big, and it’s only open 6 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., and that’s before COVID-19 kicked in, so adjust your expectations and be nice.)

“Generally, if you get there before 8 a.m. you’re not going to Pancakes and French have much of a wait,” DeSalvo toast at Littlefield’s Cafe. says. “In fact, ‘Get there before 8, no wait,’ is kind of our little moniker.”

A little common sense helps, too.

“This past year, things have been anything goes, and there’s no rhyme nor reason to it,” she says. “But in a perfect world, say on a Saturday or Sunday during the Oaklawn race time, you could have a line starting at 7 a.m. in the morning going all the way to till 1 p.m. in the afternoon. I mean we’ve got a constant turn of tables.”

And of course, it wouldn’t be Hot Springs without a little skullduggery when it comes to the Batter Line.

Asked if there was a secret VIP list of those who have back door privileges, DeSalvo only smiles.

“I think I’m going to decline to answer that question,” she says.

In his 1984 HBO comedy special Carlin on Campus, George Carlin interspersed “telegrams” from international breakfast organizations representing pancakes, waffles and French toast badmouthing each other. And while we cannot directly quote the comic genius in a family magazine, the premise of groups dedicated to the advancement of morning carbs was itself ludicrous enough to be funny.

So, you can imagine the shock of discovering such entities actually exist, or at least they did. Pancakes have had not one but two fan groups — international chapters of Pancake Lovers Association and National Pancake Association. Waffles and French toast, Eden Restaurant in Hot Springs serves French toast made from challah bread, while enjoying their own respective Nationcarmalized bananas, toasted pecans and creme anglaise. (Courtesy) al Day, apparently have no such backing, which may be why they took the worst of it

by Carlin all those years ago. out. Every major European civilization to follow had At any rate, all three of the dishes are much older than their version of the pancake until it finally landed in the most people realize, and therefore subject to a variety of New World where it was common fare in the American theories/legends as to who gets the credit for their incolonies. vention. According to National Geographic, stone age Waffles seemed to spring from the same food family man ground-up plant grains which were probably held except much more recently, reports manyeats.com. They together with water and “fried” on a hot rock, closer to a surmise that Crusaders picked up various flatbreads from crepe. Apparently, Otzi the Iceman, who was discovered the Middle East and took them back home in the Middle frozen in an Italian mountain pass in 1991, was found Ages. The origin of the honeycomb pattern is odd and in to have such cakes in his system when they thawed him dispute: Some theories say a random blacksmith added

26

the pattern while forging a cooking utensil. Another says a knight sat on his cake by accident and his armor left the marks that proved useful for holding whatever one poured onto it. In any case, it arrived in America with the pilgrims.

French toast has the strangest provenance, per Food & Wine. They say Romans perfected bread fried in butter and doused in honey and carried the sweet treat throughout the empire. As nations emerged over time, different cultures developed their own twists with the most frou-frou being in the royal courts of France. There’s also a less-accepted theory that puts the dish’s creation in the enterprising hands of American chef Joseph French in 1724.

A better cook than speller, the story goes that he forgot the apostrophe-s and so the dish was christened “French toast” instead of “French’s toast.”

Wherever they came from, the three dishes are definitely here to stay in the American diet. IHOP alone reports selling 700 million pancakes a year; Waffle House reports it sells 145 waffles a minute, and French toast has enjoyed growth in consumption of more than 21 percent, annually.

There’s no wait to get into Littlefield’s Café, even at 9 a.m. on a Saturday, but everyone who enters gets the same greeting and most by first name. It’s just the clientele you’d expect who know a good place to eat, even without a sign out front. The neon “OPEN” is all they need to see.

Places like North Little Rock’s Littlefield’s used to be everywhere on Main Street and the fact that there aren’t as many only adds to your delight over what you’ve found.

Leave your pretense at the door — this is straight-ahead, get-the-job-done fare, done simple and well. It’s not as old at The Pancake Shop by any stretch, but it’s still a dream spot for owner Spencer Littlefield.

“Basically, my mom had wanted to go into the restaurant business for a while,” he says. “She and dad were looking around for places to either buy or rent. Then he

27

Cinnamon raisin French toast at Mueller’s Bistro & Bakery. (Photo by Heather Baker)

got sick so my brother and I kind of took his spot and started helping her look for places. We started out at the old Starlite Diner on McArthur. We were there for a year, and we’ve been in our current location ever since.

It’s just her and I now.”

The motherson tandem quickly found their groove, and they’ve stayed with it — breakfast and lunch, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., every day but Monday. And about those breakfasts: Take care when ordering anything with the pancakes.

Not because they’re not great, but because they’re as big as Frisbees.

“Honestly, we get a lot of reaction to the size of them because we don’t do the small pancakes.

We basically do it the size of the plate,” he says. “I’ve taken orders out to tables and they go, ‘Oh my gosh! The pancakes are so big!’ And we’ve had people that can’t finish it. Like our Big Boy Breakfast — you get the short stack, which is two pancakes, and they

can’t make it through it. It’s funny.”

There’s an art in making something so basic as griddled batter taste so good and whatever that is, Littlefield’s has caught it. You feel it in the air as much as taste it on the plate. Maybe it’s the coffee cup that never runs dry. Maybe it’s the house-made gravy ladled over biscuits or the waitstaff — a mix of longtimers and teenagers in first jobs — that lend just that little extra something. The appeal is universal and satisfying.

“We get a lot of people that come from Little Rock who are searching for breakfast. We’ll get them coming in from Cabot, from everywhere. It’s awesome,” Littlefield says. “It’s just an awesome experience to meet new people. We’ve got airbase people coming in that are from out of state that want breakfast. We get to meet people from New York and all over the country.

“It’s an awesome thing to be able to give people the experience that they want and also meet these new types of people.”

aymag.com

Pancakes French Toast Bucket List AY’s ARKANSAS

Presented by

l At the Corner

l Frontier Diner

eal’s Cafe l N

renda’s Cafe l B

l Gadwall’s Grill

hil’s Family Restaurant l P

ucket List Cafe l B

l Gina's Place

l Prelude Breakfast Bar

alico County l C

l Homer's

l Raduno Brick Oven &

annonball Cafe l C

l Hotel Hale

l Cathy’s Corner

l Johnny B’s

hit, Chat & Chew Cafe l C

l Kemuri

olonial Pancake & Waffle l C

l Lavender’s Barn

Little Rock

Mountain Home Center Ridge

Fort Smith Pea Ridge

Siloam Springs

Searcy

House Hot Springs

ountry Kitchen l C

Pine Bluff, White Hall

l Delicious Temptations Little Rock

l DownHome Restaurant & Catering Little Rock

den Restaurant l E

Hot Springs

l EJ’s Eats and Drinks Little Rock

l Eureka Springs Coffee House Eureka Springs

l Fat City Grill Jonesboro

Little Rock

North Little Rock

Jonesboro

Little Rock

Hot Springs

Texarkana

Little Rock Pine Bluff

l Littlefield’s Cafe

North Little Rock

l Louise at Thaden Field Bentonville

l Lucky's Cafe Pine Bluff

l Lybrand’s Bakery & Deli Pine Bluff

l Mel’s Diner

Mountain Home

l Mud Street Cafe Eureka Springs

l Mueller's Bistro & Bakery Hot Springs

l Mugs Cafe

Little Rock, North Little Rock

Springdale

Hot Springs National Park Fayetteville Barroom Little Rock

l Red Door

Little Rock

kinny J’s l S

Conway, Jonesboro, North Little Rock

l Stoby’s Restaurant

Conway, Russellville

usan’s Restaurant l S

Springdale

he Buttered Biscuit l T

Bentonville

l The Cozy Kitchen Mountain Home

he Farmer’s Table Cafe l T

Fayetteville

he Grumpy Rabbit l T

Lonoke

l The Hurley House Cafe Hazen

he Pancake Shop l T

Hot Springs

he Root Cafe l T

Little Rock

3C heck off the Pancakes/French Toast List as you visit a small sample of our favorite places.

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food recipes

Caramel Coconut Pancakes

By Nic Williams INGREDIENTS 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon kosher salt 3 eggs 1 tablespoon sugar 1 cup heavy cream 1 tablespoon butter, melted (plus 2 tablespoons for griddle or skillet) 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes 12 ounces of good caramel sauce, such as Torani brand 1 cup shortbread cookies, crushed 8 ounces of good chocolate sauce PANCAKES 1. I n a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

2. In a separate bowl, beat eggs and sugar together until incorporated and no traces of egg whites remain. Add cream, and stir until combined.

3. Fold egg mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined, making sure to not overmix or pancakes will be tough. Fold in 1 tablespoon of melted butter.

4. A dd remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to a griddle or skillet over medium heat. When butter starts to bubble, pour on pancake batter to form 4- to 6-inch circles. When the edges are a light, golden brown, flip pancakes, and finish until cooked through. Transfer pancakes to plates, and add topping.

TOPPING 1. I n a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, stir coconut flakes continuously until they reach a light brown.

Transfer coconut to a bowl immediately to prevent overbrowning.

2. For each pancake, add the toppings in the following order: spread 2 tablespoons caramel sauce, coating the pancake from edge to edge; sprinkle 1 tablespoon of cookies, evenly; sprinkle 1 tablespoon of coconut flakes, evenly; using 1 tablespoon of chocolate sauce in a large spoon, drizzle the chocolate across the pancake, making four to six parallel lines.

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recipes

Applesauce and Cinnamon Pancakes

By Kaitlin Barger INGREDIENTS 1 cup flour 2 tablespoons sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup applesauce 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1-4 tablespoons water, as needed Butter or cooking spray INSTRUCTIONS 1. C ombine flour, sugar, baking powder and cinnamon in a bowl. Whisk together.

2. A dd applesauce, egg and vanilla to dry ingredients.

Mix until combined. Stir in water by the tablespoon until batter is thin enough to pour.

3. Let batter sit for about five minutes. Heat a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-low heat, and grease lightly with butter or cooking spray.

4. P our batter onto skillet. Once you see bubbles on your pancakes and the edges look a little dry, it’s time to flip.

Depending on your heat level, this should take two to three minutes.

5. C ook second side until lightly browned. Repeat with remainder of batter.

6. Enjoy!

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food

Brood & Barley. (Courtesy)

on the

T

From full-service restaurants to mobile eateries, these 10 places have done the unthinkable and opened during a pandemic.

by Kevin Shalin

he task of opening a restaurant, even during the best of times, is a difficult one.

And let’s face it — the past year has not been a thriving period for eateries of all shapes and sizes. Here is a look at 10 spots in Central Arkansas that have braved a challenging climate and risen to the challenge of helping expand our growing food community.

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Did you think a little thing like a global pandemic would stop the Keet family from expanding their restaurant empire? Their latest project, a complete revamp of the old Cock of the Walk space, has helped pump new life in the North Little Rock and Maumelle food scenes with a menu featuring already popular favorites of Homemade Cypress Cornbread, Delta Style Hot Tamales, Redfish Pontchartrain and Shrimp & Grits.

Much like its sister restaurant across the river, Petit & Keet, Cypress Social’s beautifully modern interior is highlighted by a vibrant bar and an outdoor patio area with views of the pond. The restaurant is even available to be rented out during its off hours for weddings and special events.

Photo by Jamison Mosley.

The North Little Rock pizza scene got a major shot in the arm this past June with the addition of Old Mill Pizza on John F. Kennedy Blvd. If you are a first-timer, try out Old Mill’s Supreme Pizza topped with pepperoni, sausage, beef, green pepper, mushrooms and onion. The sauce, with its heavy hand of oregano, shines, but so too does the crispy bottom crust and doughy, braided edges which are just perfect for dipping in some accompanying honey. The relaxed setting even showcases works of art from local artists, a nice touch by a restaurant looking to become a neighborhood hangout.

Photo by Kellie McAnulty.

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Copper Mule Table & Tap

Congrats to Bryant for landing Copper Mule Table & Tap, another option that is a major step up in quality from many of the area’s chain restaurants. This relaxed setting, complete with a fresh interior and an expansive outdoor seating, is the perfect spot for enjoying a burger and one of the restaurant’s signature cocktails. The menu leans toward Cajun cuisine with offerings of VooDoo Pasta, red beans and rice, and chicken and andouille gumbo, but folks can also expect to see classics like the New York strip steak, bone-in pork chop, and seafood pasta. For lunch, focus on the handhelds section of the menu, with delicious and sizable sandwiches, including the grilled shrimp po’boy, club or chargrilled chicken breast.

Photo by Jamison Mosley.

Afrobites The Afrobites food truck is stationed at 1702 Wright Avenue on the weekends, but this small window of limited hours has created a strong demand for authentic African food staples like okra stew, lamb fried rice and jollof rice with chicken. The lamb shank with tender, fall-off-the-bone meat is not to be missed. The food is packed with flavorful spices, and while some of the dishes might be foreign to many patrons, here is hoping our community continues to embrace Afrobites. Co-owners Pap Diop and Madere Toure have something special on their hands.

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Cajun Trouxth As you might imagine, it has been one heck of a year for food trucks. With socially distanced outdoor dining at an all-time high, several mobile eateries have capitalized on a somewhat new way of dining out, which entails scarfing down food in the confines of your own car. Enter Cajun Trouxth, a food truck churning out an irresistibly tasty menu of Cajun classics like chicken and sausage gumbo and red beans and rice.

Charles Gilmer and his crew even serve jambalaya egg rolls, a fun meal starter to share with a friend, as well as a beautiful dish of golden fried catfish over dirty rice and topped with shrimp etouffee called the “Down and Dirty.”

Brood & Barley

Brood & Barley, a gastropub from the folks at Flyway Brewing, is yet another brick in the building up of Argenta District’s burgeoning food community. The setting is casually sophisticated with steampunk touches throughout and expansive windows with views of Main Street and its sidewalk pedestrians.

The Legit Cheesesteak will transport you to Philadelphia, while the Raclette Burger, which is served with a tableside melted cheese pourover, captivates the senses. The four-course beer tasting menu is a nice way to partake in the restaurant’s house brews. One of Brood & Barley’s signature cocktails — like the Sweet Potato Lemonade or David’s Old Fashioned, both created by beverage manager David Burnette — is also a nice option.

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The Croissanterie Here is another food truck that has seemingly come out of nowhere to wow an audience with its Le Burger, a croissant bun concoction complete with local Jidona Farms beef, lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, mustard and a slice of Gruyere. The rich and buttery bun holds up to the juicy beef, making for a truly unique burger experience. If that is not your thing, The Croissanterie offers up a variety of dishes, many of which focus on French and Southern classics, like the croissants, French onion soup, chicken pot pie, BBQ chicken flatbread and meatloaf sandwich.

La Pasadita What a journey it has been for La Pasadita. Originally a Mexican food stand on the side of Cantrell Road, the business then transitioned to a truck tucked a few blocks away off Keightley Drive. And while the wheels are still there serving up tacos, tortas and burritos to an adoring fan base of midtowners, La Pasadita also recently opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant in west Little Rock. It boasts a large menu, complete with options like enchiladas, tamales, gorditas, fajitas and even a Pasadita Burger. The affordably priced taco trays, including 10, 20 and 30-pack tacos for $10, $30 and $45, have also been a hit among customers looking for value and a ton of quality food.

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Rock n Roll Sushi The regional chain sushi restaurant has opened not one, but two locations in Little Rock, with its most recent addition in the SoMa neighborhood, joining the inaugural spot off Chenal Parkway. All the “Classics” are there, like the California, Rainbow, Spider and Volcano rolls, along with musicthemed creations like the Abbey Road, Zeppelin and the Axl Roll, a delightful roll with fried shrimp tempura, salmon and cream cheese topped with spicy mayonnaise, eel sauce and crunchy flakes. “Opening Acts” like tuna tataki and egg rolls join a menu that also includes a hibachi service with chicken, filet mignon, shrimp and lobster.

The Filling Station Our last entry technically is not a restaurant at all, but rather a food truck court/farmer’s market that houses a rotating list of mobile eateries. The Filling Station, a revamped former gas station, is the brainchild of Kristi Scott and Joy Evans. The business has been a welcome addition to North Little Rock’s Park Hill neighborhood and a big boost for our food trucks. Keep an eye out for Lindsey’s Lunchbox, Delta Biscuit Co., The Croissanterie, Filipino Munchies and Zay O’Neil’s, just to name a few. There is even plenty of seating for patrons, both covered and uncovered, so carve out a little time and check out this gem.

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Thank You for nominating me for AY ’s Best of 2021 Surgeon.

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THANK YOU! YOU, THANK ARKANSAS!

We are honored We are honored to to be be nominated nominatedas in the Top 5 best one of the Top 5 Accounting Firms Firms Accounting in Arkansas.

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2 0 2 1

WINNERS

Arkansas Food Hall of Fame

By DUSTIN JAYROE Photos By JAMISON MOSLEY

On Feb. 22, the newest inductees into the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame were announced by Arkansas Heritage. This group of newfound royalty was selected from a packed cast of finalists, announced in January, and an even larger group of nominees.

The pandemic certainly made things a little more interesting this year, but this being the fifth event, it seemed ironically fitting that it would look different than usual. The winners were announced in a virtual ceremony that was months in the making, an exciting cap to another successful year for the program.

Like in past years, winners were announced for the following categories:

• • • • •

Arkansas Food Hall of Fame Proprietor of the Year Food-Themed Event People’s Choice Gone But Not Forgotten

Arkansas Heritage also named the Food of the Year, one of the latest categories added to the mix, as corn.

Finalists and winners are whittled down by a special selection committee, which this year included the likes of Paul S. Austin, Jimmy Bryant, Chip Culpepper, Cindy Grisham, Stacy Hurst, Montine McNulty, Rex Nelson, Tim Nutt, Kat Robinson, Christina Shutt, Donna Uptigrove, David Ware and Stanley Young. People’s Choice is the only exception, as it is decided by votes from the community.

“Each year we take pride in honoring some of the incredible restaurants and industry stakeholders within our state, but something felt extra special this year,” Stacy Hurst, secretary of the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, said in a statement. “Celebrating Arkansas food is a great way for all of us to enjoy our state’s heritage and share it with others, especially during uncertain times. We are thankful for each person across the state for getting involved.”

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN “This award remembers the collective culinary legacy of a once-and-always influential Arkansas restaurant that has since ceased operations.”

Fisher’s Steak House

1947 - 2005 | North Little Rock

Fisher’s was a landmark on Broadway in North Little Rock for the better part of a century, where many memories were made and even a movie was filmed. Incepted and helmed by Roy Fisher and later run by his family, the Central Arkansas staple was a hotspot for politicians and celebrities, as well as simply local families after church service.

WI

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Past Winners 2020, Shadden’s BBQ 2019, Klappenbach Bakery 2018, Cotham’s Mercantile

2021

PEOPLE’S CHOICE “This award identifies the public’s favorite. It is truly in the hands of Arkansans. The restaurant or food truck that receives the highest number of votes wins.”

The Bistro Helena

BAR & GRILL

For years, The Bistro Bar & Grill has been one of the Delta’s favorite places to grab a bite. Its menu boasts a wide range of food fit for anyone’s palate, with appetizers ranging from homemade salsa to mozzarella sticks and southwest eggrolls, baskets featuring fried shrimp and juicy hamburgers and house specials like the porterhouse steak and catfish.

Past Winners 2020, The Ohio Club 2019, Honey Pies 2018, JJ’s Lakeside Cafe 2017, Grotto Wood Fired Grill and Wine Cave

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2021

PROPRIETOR OF THE YEAR “This award honors a chef, cook and/or restaurant owner in Arkansas who has made significant achievements in the food industry.”

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2021

Matthew McClure Executive Chef, The Hive

Little Rock’s own Matthew McClure is serving up some of the best dishes in the entire state at The Hive, located in the 21c Museum Hotel in Bentonville.

McClure studied at the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont, before settling in and cutting his teeth at a number of highly regarded restaurants in Boston. After building up this years-long resume, McClure returned home to work under Lee Richardson at Ashley’s at the Capital Hotel. In 2012, he took his talents to Northwest Arkansas, joining the opening team at The Hive.

He was awarded Food & Wine Magazine’s “The People’s Best New Chef ” award for the midwest in 2015 and is a six-time semifinalist for the James Beard Award “Best Chef: South.”

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FOOD-THEMED EVENT

“This award honors a community food-themed event or festival that makes our state a great place to live and visit.”

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Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival 2021

Now in its 65th iteration, the Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival is an annual celebration of the area’s favorite red berry.

Ever since the 1920s, the farmers of Bradley County have been growing and selling tomatoes. But not any strain would do; they chose a variety that would export well, picked when the tops of the tomatoes just barely turned pink. In 1956, after 30 years of plenty, a group of merchants in Warren decided to put on an event to commemorate the fruit (yes, fruit). A ripe celebration. The Pink Tomato Festival.

Today (outside a pandemic), the gathering boasts more than ever before. There is live music every night, a parade and beauty pageants, an all-tomato luncheon, street dance and arts and crafts. Past year’s events have also included eating contests and a golf tournament. Some 35,000 people attend the event each year, including every Arkansas governor since 1956.

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Bradley County — Warren

aymag.com

FOOD HALL OF FAME “This award recognizes those long-standing restaurants that have become legendary attractions in Arkansas.”

Star of India WI

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2021

LITTLE ROCK

The story began in northern India, where Sami Lal learned to cook in his mother’s kitchen. He cut his culinary teeth in Germany and then became the co-owner of an Indian restaurant in Dallas. Little Rock presented an opportunity to introduce his vision of Indian food. Star of India opened in 1993, and its flavorful food and incredible service set it apart.

Lal never forgets a face and is dedicated to ensuring his customers have the best experience and are, of course, treated like family.

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FOOD HALL OF FAME “This award recognizes those long-standing restaurants that have become legendary attractions in Arkansas.”

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2021

Feltner’s Whatta-Burger Robert “Bob” Feltner understood the ins and outs of proprietorship when he was looking to set up a restaurant in Russellville in the late 1960s. Bob sat down in a lawn chair and counted cars. He opened Feltner’s Whatta-Burger in 1967.

The simple but delicious menu and fantastic staff are the keys to success, but the mouthwatering hamburgers don’t hurt. It’s no wonder the current owners, Missy and Randy Ellis, call their team the “Whatta-Family.”

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RUSSELLVILLE

aymag.com

FOOD HALL OF FAME “This award recognizes those long-standing restaurants that have become legendary attractions in Arkansas.”

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2021

Monte Ne Inn Chicken ROGERS

Monte Ne Inn Chicken was founded in 1972 and has been an enduring Rogers staple ever since. The family-style restaurant dovetails with the area’s poultry industry and is one of several restaurants that boast the “best fried chicken in the state.”

With a simple, perfected menu, Monte Ne Inn Chicken’s signature phrase is “bringing family and friends back to the table.” Good, old-fashioned cooking made with care is the key to its success.

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MADAM SECRETARY Q&A with Secretary Stacy Hurst What was the motive behind creating the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame?

In 2015, a member of Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s staff sent to me an ad for the Alabama Bar-B-Que Hall of Fame and suggested it was something we might want to consider. I pulled together a small group of foodies and historians, and we talked about the concept of creating our own Arkansas Food Hall of Fame. Everyone was enthusiastic about the idea.

The Arkansas Food Hall of Fame is essentially a way to engage the state in a conversation about food as history and heritage and culture and to celebrate our iconic places, people and events in our state’s food industry.

Once that decision was made, what considerations were taken in crafting the program?

We didn’t want this to be just another hall of fame. We wanted to use this as an opportunity to recognize not just the most popular restaurant, for example, but rather the iconic old restaurant that is locally owned and is a part of the fabric of a community. We wanted to highlight those food-related events that have happened in local communities for decades and are unique to our state. Everyone has a memory and an opinion related to food. We wanted this program to help us tell the story of Arkansas.

What sort of feedback has the department received about it, from both restaurants and residents across the state?

The program has been very well-received. Those in the food industry love it because it’s a huge honor, and it’s all about local. Residents love it, too, because they like seeing their favorite local restaurant or proprietor honored. We have a category called “Gone but Not Forgotten,” and that’s been a great way for residents to reminisce about their hometowns.

Tourism professionals have embraced the program because eating is such an important part of travel. We receive a lot of feedback on social media and a lot of interest every year from the media.

How does the department go about choosing the selection committee?

The founding committee was very small and composed of foodies and historians, but we all knew we needed additional qualified people to grow the program and to grow it in the right way. So, I called on food writers, a few folks within the broader food industry and a few more historians to round out the body. When I travel the state and talk about the program, I always get volunteers who want to serve on the committee. The members have remained the same with a few exceptions.

Is that one of the hardest jobs in the state right now, choosing from so many great nominees and finalists every year?

It is a tough job! We had over 2,000 nominees this year, representing all 75 counties of Arkansas. We intentionally induct very few winners each year, so it’s highly selective.

What are the kinds of factors that influence the committee’s decision-making process?

Selecting the inductees into the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame is always a robust conversation within the committee. There are a few very important factors: • How long has a restaurant been operating or how many years has an event been held?

• Is this an iconic, well-loved entity with a robust history in Arkansas?

• Has this proprietor contributed substantially to the food industry in Arkansas?

Five years later, what about the program makes you the proudest?

I’m very proud that we found a way to engage Arkansans in a robust conversation about food as history, as heritage and as culture. Everyone has an opinion about food or a memory about food, and we’ve found a way for our residents to share something or learn something about their state and have fun with it.

What does the future of the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame look like in your eyes?

We’ve always wanted to grow the program to include a day-long workshop on food topics. The pandemic slowed us down, but I hope we resurrect that idea. And we might need to add a new category or find a way to celebrate longtime Arkansas food or agribusinesses.

We shall see!

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About You

eaders’ estaurant Winner

2021

12 Top 10 Things To Do 80 Final Thought

dwell 20 24 26

Home: Picture Perfect P. Allen Smith: Roses All Through Your House

interests 38 42 44 46 58

Excursion: A Day at the Races Historical Gems: Dr. Fred Thomas Jones Travel Arkansas: Romantic Getaways Art Scene: Art for the Body Good Will: Wolfe Street Center

edibles 61 62 66 69

Look Who’s Cookin’: Diana Bratton Create: Chocolate Desserts Dining Spotlight: Flyway Brewery Notables: Rick’s Beignets

about you 72 74 54

Living: Eating Disorders Awareness Month Health: NWA AHA’s Go Red for Women

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Loblolly.

who’s HUNGRY?

Thank you AY readers.

You voted us the BEST COFFEEHOUSE!

301 B PRESIDENT CLINTON AVE. / LITTLE ROCK AR., 72201 (501) 295-7515 / NEXUSCOFFEEAR@GMAIL.COM

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READERS’

CHOICE

BEST STEAKHOUSE

Thank you ARKANSAS

16100 CHENAL PKWY LITTLE ROCK, AR 72223 501-821-1838

Voted Best Sandwich & Dessert

8201 Cantrell Road, Ste 100 Little Rock, AR 72227 Phone: 501-221-3330 triosrestaurant.com

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n

Tacos Godoy Little Rock

BEST FOOD TRUCK

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Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe Statewide

BEST MEDITERRANEAN

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DeLuca’s Pizza Hot Springs

BEST BURGER

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Kemuri Little Rock

BEST JAPANESE

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Shotgun Dan’s Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood

BEST PIZZA

Heights Taco & Tamale Co.

The Hangout.

Three Fold Noodles + Dumpling Co.

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n

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BEST TACO

Heights Taco and Tamale Co. Little Rock

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The Hive Bentonville

Cheers Little Rock, Maumelle

At the Corner Little Rock

WORTH THE DRIVE

BEST WINE LIST

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BEST BREAKFAST

Mexico Chiquito Little Rock

BEST CHEESE DIP

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Nexus Coffee & Creative Little Rock

BEST COFFEEHOUSE

Mermaids Seafood Restaurant Fayetteville

Whole Hog Cafe North Little Rock

BEST SEAFOOD

Arthur’s Prime Steakhouse Little Rock

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Cache Restaurant Little Rock

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BEST STEAK

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Cypress Social North Little Rock

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

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Petit & Keet.

BEST BARBECUE SANDWICH

Zangna Thai Cuisine Little Rock

BEST THAI

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Local Lime Little Rock, Rogers

BEST MEXICAN

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Sauce(d) Bar and Oven Little Rock

BEST COCKTAILS

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Scott McGehee Yellow Rocket Concepts

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Petit & Keet Little Rock

BEST PEOPLEWATCHING

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At the Corner Little Rock

BEST BRUNCH

BEST HAPPY HOUR Sauce(d) Bar and Oven Little Rock

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Bruno’s Little Italy Little Rock

Petit & Keet Little Rock Superior Bathhouse Brewery Hot Springs

BEST ITALIAN

BEST PATIO DINING

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BEST BEER SELECTION

Petit & Keet Little Rock Arthur’s Prime Steakhouse Little Rock

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BEST DATE NIGHT

Maddie’s Place Little Rock The Pantry Little Rock

BEST RESTAURANT

BEST CAJUN/ CREOLE

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BEST LATE-NIGHT DINING

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Superior Bathhouse Brewery.

The Root

Trio’s Restaurant Little Rock

BEST DESSERT

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Corky’s Ribs & BBQ Little Rock

BEST BARBECUE RIBS

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Skinny J’s Statewide

BEST APPETIZER

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Lost Forty Brewing Little Rock

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BEST LOCAL BREWERY

Three Fold Noodles + Dumpling Co. Little Rock

BEST CHINESE

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The Hangout Maumelle

BEST PLACE TO WATCH THE GAME

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Lost Forty Brewing.

HUNGRY?

who’s

Nexus.

Shotgun Dan’s.

n

BEST DELI

Corky’s.

Shipley Do-Nuts Statewide

Eat My Catfish Statewide

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n

BEST DONUTS

Town Pump Little Rock

YGBFKitchen Conway

BEST CATFISH

BEST DIVE BAR

BEST SALAD

Delta Biscuit Co. Central Arkansas

Loblolly Creamery Little Rock

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BEST ICE CREAM

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The Root Cafe Little Rock

BEST VEGETARIAN

BEST BISCUITS & GRAVY

ZAZA Fine Salad + Wood-Oven Pizza Co Conway, Little Rock

Scallions Little Rock

BEST CHICKEN SALAD

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Pea Farm Bistro Cabot

BEST CHICKEN & DUMPLINS

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The Preacher’s Son Bentonville

BEST SEASONAL FARE

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Community Bakery Little Rock

BEST BAKERY

Baja Grill Benton, Little Rock Boulevard Bread Company Little Rock Charlotte’s Eats & Sweets Keo

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BEST NACHOS

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BEST PIMENTO CHEESE

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BEST PIES

The Pancake Shop Hot Springs

BEST GYRO

Scallions Little Rock Trio’s Restaurant Little Rock

BEST PANCAKES

BEST SANDWICH

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BEST SOUP

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Buffalo Grill Little Rock

Sonny Williams n

Scott McGeHee.

BEST FRENCH FRIES

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Burge’s Hickory Taziki’s Mediterranean Café Smoked Turkeys and Hams Statewide Lewisville, Little Rock n n

BEST CATERER

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Samantha’s Tap Room & Wood Grill Little Rock

BUSINESS LUNCH

n Sauce(d) Sonny Williams’ Steak Room BEST WINGS Little Rock Great American Wings Little Rock n BEST PLACE FOR n

BEST CLASSIC (20+ YEARS IN SERVICE)

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Taziki’s Mediterranean Café Statewide

BEST CHAIN RESTAURANT

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The Purple Cow Statewide

BEST KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

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Cache Restaurant Little Rock

BEST FRIED CHICKEN

DeLuca’s Pizza

AY readers voted Charlotte’s Eats & Sweets pies a winner.

Congratulations!

ed b ot

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Burger!

Charlotte’s Eats & Sweets

831 Central Avenue, Hot Springs Open Thursday - Sunday!

501-609-9002

290 Main / Keo, AR / 72083 / 501-842-2123

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SHORT-TERM REHAB, LONG TERM CARE & RESPITE SERVICES We specialize in Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care services. From the moment you enter our facility, we want you to experience the difference our facility has to offer. From our light-filled common area to our beautiful outdoor patios, we want you and your loved one to feel comfortable and safe when staying with us.

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aymag.com

BUSINESSES ABOUT YOU

By Lauren McLemore & Dustin Jayroe

For years, our publication has registered familiarly with thousands of Arkansans as AY Magazine. It’s concise, straight forward, catchy. And while we continue to live by the popular nickname, last year we made a concerted effort to make commonplace our full name: AY About You. We didn’t do this for us, and we won’t correct you for using the shortened title (in fact, we still use it, too). We just wanted to make sure that it was clear what we put first — our readers and the wonderful stories that they, and the other residents of our state, have to tell.

But this backbone is not singular to us. It’s a customer-first philosophy that the best enterprises have adopted for centuries or more. And there are a number of Arkansas run businesses that do the same.

Because of that, we created this special section to showcase some of the other companies around the state who live by this customer-focused code and operate for the betterment of the state and the people in it, no matter the vocation or specialty.

Thank you to the following businesses for taking part in this edition of AY’s Businesses About You. And thanks also to you, for reading our magazine and utilizing these companies for the many services each provides.

Anything that we do is only possible with your support. It’s about you.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

businesses about you

CARELINK, CENTRAL ARKANSAS AREA AGENCY ON AGING

C

areLink, founded in 1979, is an Arkansas nonprofit headquartered in North Little Rock that services elderly people in the counties of Faulkner, Lonoke, Monroe, Prairie, Pulaski and Saline.

The organization provides information and assistance to seniors and their families to help them overcome the challenges of aging, included among the many services are inhome care, Meals on Wheels, family caregiver assistance, pet assistance and urgent needs.

But despite the many ways in which CareLink is available to help folks navigate later life, it’s still quite a secret to many.

“Most people either don’t know that we exist or that we have offerings beyond Meals

on Wheels,” says Meredith Hale, director of marketing and development. “As one of eight Area Agencies on Aging in Arkansas, we are the go-to source for aging-related information and services in Central Arkansas.”

It’s a selfless and service-oriented vocation that the organization and its diverse team have chosen, but it is also these very attributes that make Hale and her colleagues the proudest.

“It’s not about us; it’s about you or your aging loved one — making sure they have access to the information and resources they need to live safely and independently in their homes,” she says. “That’s what it’s all about. Whether we are providing answers to questions, giving peace of mind to long-

“IT’S NOT ABOUT US; IT’S ABOUT YOU OR YOUR AGING LOVED ONE - MAKING SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES THEY NEED...” distance family or building a friendship with a homebound senior, we are there.”

The loss of complete independence is one of the most difficult parts of getting older, especially without the right support system to lean on. CareLink knows how hard that can be for aging Arkansans and their loved ones and wants to be part of the solution. Enjoying the beauties of life doesn’t have to stop at retirement or old age and doesn’t have to result in leaving the comfort of home.

“Our information and assistance specialists are ready to answer any question about aging,” Hale says. “All you have to do is give us a call.

Aging is a natural part of life. You should know your options and know who to call when the time comes. As long as growing older is around, so is CareLink.”

(501) 372-5300 • CareLink.org

businesses about you

DAWN REALTY & ASSOCIATES/ L & D INVESTMENT PROPERTIES

L

Write the vision and make it plain.

Habakkuk 2:2

Dawn Realty & Associates continues to seek innovative, talented and result driven Real Estate Sales Agents, Realtors, and Executive Brokers. We understand that each client is different, and we want to ensure that we have a diverse TEAM to provide effective and efficient services to each client we serve. Dawn Realty & Associates provides services to our clients understanding that we are to cater their Real Lives, Real Experiences and that we execute each transaction by providing Real Results!

aboya and Keisha Walker the husband and wife team have made quite a mark on Central Arkansas real estate with their passion projects Dawn Realty & Associates and L & D Investment Properties.

L & D Investment Properties is a new construction company that strives to assist each client with making their vision — whether it is a duplex, traditional home or custom-built home — come to life. In a complementary fashion, Dawn Realty & Associates provides brokerage services to help its clients navigate the waters of real estate, including credit counseling, first-time home buying, and listing and selling homes.

“Dawn Realty & Associates not only have team members who specialize with First Time Homebuyers, Military Replacement Program, Relocations, New Construction, and Luxury homes, we also have a team member who specializes in foreclosed, short sales and investment properties. Our goal is to provide preventative measures in assisting clients in saving their home before going into foreclosure. If the client is unable to save their home we will provide our clients with assistance in selling their home. If the home goes into foreclosure, it can take the buyer up to three years to purchase another home.”

Together, it’s a duo as dynamic as the Walkers themselves.

The passion behind both projects stems from the personal experiences of theirs, which have prepared the two for more relatable service to their clients.

Keisha found a life in real estate after her experience as a first-time homebuyer. She was a full-time employee at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, a part-time student and full-time mother to two young boys. She worked diligently to understand the process, raise her credit score for qualification and come up with the up-front funds necessary, only to be denied mere weeks before she hoped to close.

“This was a memorable experience that I could not forget which sparked one of the reasons my husband and I decided to start our real estate brokerage,” she says.

And as proud as they are to help more and more Arkansans find and build homes, the two are also available to serve the next generation of industry professionals through a high school real estate mentoring program, which they hope to unveil in August.

“Our mission for L & D Investment Properties and Dawn Realty & Associates is to continue to enhance our team with a diverse group that will enable us to provide diverse solutions to our clients and businesses,” Keisha says. “We make the needs of those who we serve a priority, as we focus on exceeding their expectations.”

(501) 444-8055 • dawnrealtyandassociates.com (501) 944-7503 • L & D Investment Properties.com

businesses about you

BARRY M. CORKERN & COMPANY, INC.

B

arry M. Corkern & Company provides fee-only, comprehensive wealth management services.

Using state-of-the-art software and methods, coupled with nearly 40 years of experience, Barry M. Corkern & Co. provides expertise for clients to make informed financial decisions.

Comprehensive wealth management requires objective analysis, discussion and decision-making regarding elements of the client’s financial circumstances, such as investments, savings, insurance, banking, retirement, estate planning and many other things. Their process works best for clients who are fully engaged. However, committing to the relationship isn’t a big ask for most clients, because of the company’s reputation for pursuing excellence.

The firm is the first in Arkansas to have a CEFEX (Centre for Fiduciary Excellence) certification, joining other elite groups of certified investment advisers.

“In the financial services world, fee-only fiduciary advisers are in the minority,” Barry Corkern, says. “We are committed to the mission of providing objective comprehensive advice that is not clouded by sales rhetoric or a sales pitch. We are committed because we know that some people prefer to pay a fee for objectivity.”

Prior to forming his own firm, Corkern recognized that selling financial products for a commission was an impediment to the client making informed financial decisions.

Charging a fee for objective advice was a novel idea at the time, which led Corkern

to become the first person in Arkansas to register solely as an investment adviser and not conjointly as a broker-dealer. To Corkern, establishing a fiduciary relationship with the client leads to peace and confidence when making financial decisions. Corkern hopes fee-only fiduciary advisers will one day become the majority and change how financial decisions are made by people and their families.

That desire to drive change is what inspires its motto: “It’s a different relationship.”

“We consider all aspects of our client’s financial situation because it is essential to think through how a decision in one area affects other areas. Client situations can quickly become complex; our thorough approach and advice considers not only the client’s current situation but also their future,” Corkern says.

While many of their clients can be relatively affluent, the firm works with individuals and families who desire ongoing professional guidance on strategies to reach their financial goals. The company has worked with clients in many unique experiences such as selling a newspaper, selling farmland and timberland, starting a new business, selling a business and various real estate endeavors.

“I traveled to East Africa 12 times in 10 years to manage an ostrich farm which was converted to a vegetable farm that shipped products to England and Holland. These collective business experiences add a local and global perspective which is important to clients,” Corkern says.

What Corkern started in 1982 as a two-

501-664-7866 • bcorkern.com

“WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE MISSION OF PROVIDING OBJECTIVE COMPREHENSIVE ADVICE THAT IS NOT CLOUDED BY SALES RHETORIC OR A SALES PITCH.” room office with cardboard boxes as furniture is now a company that has landed him the designation as one of the best financial planners in the United States by Money magazine and Bloomberg Wealth Manager magazine. All his impressive national accolades aside, Corkern still remains passionate about helping Arkansans.

He was the founding president and former chair of the Arkansas Chapter of the Financial Planning Association (FPA), became the first Accredited Fiduciary Investment Analyst (AIFA) designee in Arkansas, previously hosted a local radio program on financial planning and held a partnership with a local news affiliate for wealth management television segments.

“I am continuously committed to bringing Arkansans the best fiduciary knowledge, skills and expertise,” Corkern says.

businesses about you

KELLCO REAL ESTATE S

ince 1994, real estate professional Tracie J. Kelley has dominated the market at every angle and her business has evolved into a collaboration of more than 35 team members delivering exceptional services and unwavering customer service at every level. Kelley recognizes that her many successes through the industry continue to be deserved only by the team that she has carefully grown. “My work is only as good as the people I chose to work with,” she says.

As President and Chief Executive Officer of KellCo Custom Homes, Inc., Energy Air, Inc. and KellCo Real Estate, Inc., Kelley maintains the ability to provide powerful insight for her clients, whether it be the design or building of a new home, selling her homes or the overall mechanics of the home, this level of service has set Kelley apart from the market.

KellCo Real Estate is proud to team with its Principal Broker, Mary A. Freeman, who instills a wealth of knowledge into the firm.

Mary has been in the real estate industry since 1984 and delivers outstanding customer service.

Together, the team at KellCo Real Estate works hard for its clients and delivers only the best in expectations. Whether you’re in the market to buy, sell, or even build, they stand ready to overdeliver and outperform, any day — serving all of Central Arkansas.

930 E Kiehl Ave., Sherwood • (501) 993-5232 • kellcocustomhomes.com

businesses about you

TOM’S LOCK & KEY “WE TRAVEL JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE. I USUALLY SAY WE GO TO A 200-MILE RADIUS.”

T

om’s Lock & Key in Jonesboro is the largest locksmith in the area, with a certified team of professional locksmiths and technicians that delivers efficient locksmith services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The shop was once a mom-and-pop grocery store until 1974 when it became a locksmith’s shop. Three owners later, it now belongs to Tom Smith, who showed up one day more than 30 years ago in search of employment.

“In 1990, I was just looking for a job. I didn’t know I was looking for an adventure, but my job is an adventure, every single day.

You don’t know who you’re going to meet or

what you’re going to be doing next,” Smith says.

After buying the business in 2002, Smith now runs four vans across town, serving as many people as possible.

“We travel just about anywhere. I usually say we go up to a 200-mile radius,” Smith says.

Its most common business is in assisting with lockouts, providing car key replacement and lock re-keying. However, from time to time, the team will work on safes, old desk locks and a variety of other unique items that find their way into the shop.

Smith says many people are surprised to find out, after calling Tom’s Lock & Key to help them get into their vehicle, that the shop

also provides replacement keys, saving them a trip to the dealership.

From emergency lockouts in the middle of the night to the average re-keying of locks on a brand new home, Smith’s philosophy is to not only provide quality service but to get it done as quickly as possible, because he knows the assiduous, get-it-done attitude of his customer base.

“I want to get it done today, if at all possible,” Smith says. “In Arkansas, people are hard-working people. We work hard every day to satisfy Arkansan people. People here in Jonesboro, they want something done. They don’t want to wait. They want it done and we work hard to get it done.”

121 E Strawn Ave., Jonesboro • (870) 972-1450 • locksmithjonesboroar.com

businesses about you

Discover a complete decorative resource for Arkansas: • porcelain and ceramic tile; • natural stone tile, mosaics, and countertops – as well as economical manufactured stone;

ACME BRICK TILE & STONE

• hardwood and laminate flooring;

• sturdy cladding from MAC Metal Architectural;

• products for gracious outdoor living, such as fiTile replaces, fire pits, cme Brick & Stone strives to make and kitchen equipment; and a roof, products that outlast a mortgage,

A

even a lifetime. When you see the Acme

• name decorative doors that on make a stamped iniron the end of a brick your new home, you know that you’re getting both Acme strong first impression. quality and the 100-year guarantee. But Acme is

more than justTile a product and name; it is its people.

Acme Brick & Stone is Arkansas’ Many different jobs come together to ensure the best resource notcustomers. only forFrom brickdrivers but to satisfaction of our accounting, from and sales service. representatives to kilnalso for quality Ready to workers, all employees of Acme work together think outside the brick? See us soon,to create a positive experience to match the lifetime orofvisit brick.com/arkansas its brick.

“What I most enjoy about my job is seeing the skills and knowledge of our staff come together to provide a great customer experience,” says district manager Chad Bowie. “Our company is over a century old and built on a foundation of brick manufacturing, but we continue the pursuit to offer more than just the essentials to homebuyers, builders and architects.”

An Acme Brick home delivers benefits that transcend curb appeal, including natural insulation, reduction in maintenance costs, lower insurance rates, a higher resale value and fire protection.

Acme offers a vast selection of natural and manufactured stone, custom iron doors, outdoor living products and one of Arkansas’ largest selections of designer tile.

“Nothing makes us more proud than a customer leaving educated and ready to say, ‘Acme Brick is the best thing to have around your house.’”

Little Rock• •brick.com/littlerock 10921 Maumelle Blvd, NLR • 501-812-5574 (501) 812-5574

Northwest Arkansas • 4877 N 45th St, Springdale • 479-756-0550 Fort Smith • 2001 Old Greenwood Rd • 479-782-7974

A healthy smile makes the best first impression!

Voted Northwest Arkansas’ Best Cosmetic Dentist

ALL PHASES OF DENTISTRY

/

GENERAL & FAMILY DENTAL

/

DENTAL IMPLANTS

Congratulations Dr. Jeff Wisener on being chosen as one of AY Magazine’s Best Dentists.

/

COSMETIC DENTISTRY

/

INVISALIGN

Wisener, Cooper & Fergus, DDS

479-636-7100 wisenercooperfergusdental.com

THANK YOU ARKANSAS! We are honored to be nominated as one of AY’s Best of 2021 Top 5 Medical Spa/ Nonsurgical Cosmetic Clinic.

Dr. Bruce Sanderson is the practicing physician at Lasercare Skin Clinic. The clinic offers: • Botox • Anti Aging • SculpSure • Contouring • Skin Tightening • Body Contouring • Tattoo Removal • Laser Facial Rejuvenation • Microneedling • Ultherapy • Acne Treatments

• lasercareskinclinic.com 501-664-5119

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of town

LITTLE ROCK ZOO Imagine a Spring Break trip to the wilds of Africa — to your left, rests a family of majestic lions; to your right, stands a pair of towering elephants. Or perhaps you and yours have something a little more tropical in mind for your weeklong holiday this month — maybe taking a trip down to South America and spotting a green crested basilisk or an eyelash palm pit viper? But, there is that pesky pandemic that might be a hindrance to your travel plans, or maybe it’s just logistics — a trip across the globe is not planned overnight. Fortunately for us, we can get all that (and more) right here in Arkansas, at the Little Rock Zoo. In addition to the mainstays that we all have come to know and love (elephants, big cats, great apes), the Zoo has experienced a number of new developments during the pandemic, including refurbished pathways, new animal arrivals and renovated exhibits — some that are already available, and others that are very near completion.

As the state’s only zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Little Rock Zoo bears a lot of responsibility in not only engagement, but also education. Today, like always, it has risen to that challenge, finding ways to adapt and involve the community during the height of the pandemic, and working around the clock to ensure the safety of its animals, staff and visitors, since it reopened.

So, save yourself the headaches of plane tickets and bag packing this month; the Little Rock Zoo is just a short drive away.

Little Rock Zoo 1 Zoo Drive, Little Rock littlerockzoo.com

TURPENTINE CREEK WILDLIFE REFUGE, EUREKA SPRINGS EXPERIENCE DOWNTOWN FAYETTEVILLE With spring right around the corner, many of us need a weekend getaway to say goodbye to winter and start enjoying the warmer weather, longer days and sweet smell of springtime air.

Fayetteville is an ideal in-state destination this time of year. Downtown Fayetteville features all of the great things about the city: restaurants, nightlife, trails, shopping, entertainment and more.

Two great places to stay downtown are the Dickson Street Inn, a boutique bed and breakfast, and Graduate Fayetteville, located on the square and designated “Bike-Friendly” by the League of American Bicyclists. The Razorback Regional Greenway runs right through the heart of downtown, so many guests ditch their keys, opting to bring a bike — or take advantage of the city’s ride-share bikes and scooters.

For shopping, both The Milk Carton and modern mercantile City Supply are excellent stores for gifts. Maude Boutique caters to fashion-forward ladies, and Block Street Records caters to music lovers with an eye for vintage and vinyl.

Art enthusiasts can do a scavenger hunt for public art, which is always popping up. Recent installations by L.A.-based Bumblebee and local artists Octavio Logo and Eugene Sargent are awe-inspiring.

The Walton Arts Center host two plays this month: A Midsummer Night’s Dream March 12-13 and Broadway’s Next Hit Musical March 18-19.

When it’s time to fuel up, downtown restaurants are diverse and delicious.

Hammontree’s serves gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, Xuma Kitchens features Mexican high cuisine, and Wake and Bake is a new bakery and brunch spot with a rooftop patio.

Want to enjoy a cocktail or local craft beer?

Downtown Fayetteville is within the newly formed Outdoor Refreshment Area, which allows you to take drinks outside from more than 60 businesses.

However you like to unwind, downtown Fayetteville has it!

TITANIC MUSEUM On this March afternoon, Irish music skirls through the parking lot of our Titanic Museum Attraction.

A laughing little boy attempts to imitate his sister’s lively Irish jig as their parents smile, clapping.

“That’s right, Bobby,” she says. “Put your leg out like this, then back.”

Others exiting vehicles glance over, smiling as they near the museum. It is Irish Month, and guests will be swept into the history of this magnificent ship, its passengers, its sense of adventure, with an Irish twist.

Children in our Music Gallery express their responses to Irish culture as they enthusiastically engage the music. Two little girls with matching tartan skirts seem enchanted, twirling and moving their arms in graceful, birdlike rhythm.

Museum guests may encounter Irish passengers, including John Kiernan who, with his brother Phillip, helped the Murphy sisters obtain tickets. Guests may also see Anna Kelly, one of only three survivors of the Addergoole 14 from Addergoole Parish, County Mayo, Ireland. Guests might even glimpse Joseph Dawson, smudged with coal dust from working as a trimmer near Titanic’s boilers.

Throughout Irish Month, Titanic Museum Attraction honors Irish culture, which endured its hardships over the centuries and reminds us that, despite setbacks, life is to be celebrated.

3235 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO (800) 381-7670 titanicbranson.com

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Spring is the perfect time to visit Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The weather is typically mild, and the animal residents are welcoming the warmer days. Bam Bam, our thirteen-year-old grizzly bear, will be out hamming it up for guests as he shakes off his winter sleepiness.

This nonprofit sanctuary is home to various exotic and native animals – think lions, tigers, and bears (Oh my!) – and has been nominated as a topfive Family Attraction and Local Tourist Attraction in Arkansas by AY Magazine's Best of 2021.

The organization is also one of only a handful of big cat facilities in the nation accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.

Hence, a visit to the Refuge is appropriate for all animal lovers interested in advocating for animals in need. Legitimate sanctuaries like TCWR are a sharp contrast to exploitative roadside operations.

So don’t let negative experiences at other facilities keep you from visiting this true Arkansas treasure.

Just check out their social media – or better yet, go to TripAdvisor and other online review sites – to learn why the Refuge has earned praise from hundreds of thousands of guests.

The Turpentine team’s passion for protecting survivors of the exotic animal trade and their ambition to provide a positive guest experience is evident in everything they do. They give their animal residents huge natural grass habitats to enjoy, and the animals are often seen pouncing and playing on fun toys and other enrichment throughout the day.

The team also pampers their human lodging residents by offering an unforgettable Africa in the Ozarks experience in their family-friendly and adults-only accommodations. Extra precautions are being taken against the COVID-19 virus because the big cat population is susceptible too! Rooms have strict cleaning protocols, and the tour tram is disinfected between every tour. Tours are included when you stay at the Refuge.

So come spend a night, listen to the lion’s carol and the tiger’s chuff, and feel good knowing every dollar goes to their care. Be sure to visit www.TCWR.org for more information about this amazing sanctuary!

239 Turpentine Creek Lane Eureka Springs turpentinecreek.org (479) 253-5841 aymag.com

travel

OBSERVING

OVERLANDING

By Emily Beirne

T

“Arkansas Offroad.” From the Northwest region of Arkansas, Willbanks has always been a fan of the outdoors and camping, but exposure to overlanding shifted his mindset.

“I didn’t really know what overlanding was until about five years ago. I’m heavily involved with the mountain bike community, and the more I went to different public campgrounds, the more I saw people in the parking lot with decked out vehicles. I started looking at all their gear, and they had camping gear in and around their vehicles and bikes and everything,” Willbanks says. “So I kind of dug into [overlanding] and found a rooftop tent online, and thought, ‘You have a fort on top of your truck? How cool is that?’ And so in college, I built a vehicle and started adding camping stuff to it. I slowly started doing more and more harder trails, and it just felt much more rewarding

he call of the wild runs deep in Arkansas.

Surrounded by such a bounty of diverse geographical features, it’s easy to only skim the surface of what our state has to offer. Going more inland and off the beaten path, overlanding is a growing style of camping that takes exploring the great outdoors to a spiritual level.

In print, overlanding is defined as “self-reliant adventure travel to remote destinations where the journey is the primary goal,” and to those who have done overlanding, it is this and so much more. The best way to understand what overlanding is: Pack up your car with camping gear and drive to one of Arkansas’ many parks.

Anyone can stumble into overlanding — just ask Grant Willbanks, an Arkansas YouTuber with a channel called

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than just going to a regular campground.

The integration of off-roading and camping is super cool.”

Off-road vehicles are great means for traversing rugged terrain and Mother Earth’s more difficult features, but any car able to withstand some time off the pavement should be able to provide you with a taste of why people fall in love with the process. “You don’t have to have an expensive Mercedes Sprinter van to go camping. You can take whatever car you have, throw a few accessories and gear in it, and go,” Willbanks says.

Not wanting to break the bank, people can be wary to try new things. Frankie Post, along with his brothers-in-law, Jordan and Wes Travis, opened Overland Rentals in Fort Smith this past year to help

Overlanding is defined as “self-reliant adventure travel to remote destinations where the journey is the primary goal.”

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people interested in the activity to get their tires wet. Overland Rentals has camping gear, tents and even a selection of vehicles already decked out in gear for campers to take out on their own. Post has been overlanding for as long as he can remember, and the curiosity of Arkansans inspired this business venture.

During an 8,000-mile overlanding trip with his wife and kids, the Posts’ travel updates on social media highlighted a need back home. “So many people were like, ‘Hey, I would love to do that, but we could never afford it,’ or, ‘That would be amazing, but we could never do something like that.’

aymag.com

I thought there had to be a practical way to make all of this happen,” Post says. “And so I told my wife, ‘When we get home, I want to see what we can do about starting a business where people could cover the Ozarks and the Ouachitas,’ because the whole time we were on our trip we thought, ‘Yeah, this is all beautiful, but we have beauty right here in our backyard in Arkansas.’” Not long after returning from their trip, Post sat down with his brothers-in-law and created the idea for Overland Rentals LLC. Traveling is still risky, but the outdoors has become a popular destination for those wanting to get out of their house amid the pandemic — and luckily for Arkansans, this state has sights to rival the more mainstream vacation spots. From the Ouachitas to the Ozarks, Devil’s Den to Petit Jean, Arkansas provides it all. Warm weather is right around the river bend, and with that comes the perfect opportunity to get your hands dirty — CDC permitted, of course.

A popular attraction among seasoned overlanders, the Ozarks cover an expansive portion

of the state with numerous trails to drive and places to sleep under the stars. However, a warning for first-time visitors to the Ozarks: frequent campers of the area have found that the terrain and trails can be difficult to navigate. Matt McClellan, an avid overlander and Arkansas YouTuber with a channel called “Ozark Overland Adventures,” has mapped out the perfect tour of the Ozarks for those wanting to explore something different in Arkansas while staying safe and following Motor Vehicle Use (MVU) map guidelines.

“Earlier last spring, a buddy and I were talking around a campfire about creating a five-day trip through the Ozarks and sharing it with the world,” McClellan says. “After a 10-day trip in Colorado, we came back and started designing this route called the Ozark Overland Adventure Trail (OOAT). We set out for five days videoing and documenting all the campsites we found, points of interest and scenic sights along the trail.” For easy access to the OOAT, McClellan has a video series on his channel with separate videos for differ-

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ent sections of the trail for those interested to decide which they would like to explore. For a black and white layout, links are in the descriptions of the video series to a PDF that can be downloaded and programmed into a GPS. “The trail really is customizable. If [campers] only have one night or one day, they can pick a section and turn it into a day trip. Or, they could combine three different sections and make a three-day trip out of it,” McClellan says. “This trail has been incredible and has really helped a lot of people gain access to the Ozarks when they otherwise may have been intimidated by [it].”

With so many notable features in Arkansas, ranking one too highly over another can be difficult, but the Ozarks come pretty close. Post recommends a few other trips to consider when planning an excursion for the family. “[You] can ultimately run forest roads from almost anywhere. From Devil’s Den, [you] can connect to the interstate and go to Mountainburg, and from there, [you] can take

The ins and outs of overlanding can seem like a foreign language to some, but like with any new language, practice is key to learning.

forest roads and trails all the way to Russellville,” Post says. “Tim Ernst’s Arkansas Waterfalls Guidebook has a lot of routes that take [you] to the waterfalls along with areas to camp as well.”

Trails upon trails upon trails can become overwhelming, but the overlanding community swears by an app that not only gives precise location but also logs routes and trails that other overlanders have taken. “A big mapping software we recommend is Gaia GPS,” Post says. “It’s a $40 a year subscription, but it has all of the routes and maps that I’m talking about. [Gaia] also records you as you go so you’re able to run those routes and other people’s routes that have uploaded their own.”

Willbanks recommends Gaia to keep your travels legal. The MVU maps are regulated trails that have been deemed accessible to the public in order to maintain wildlife upkeep and protect certain areas of parks. “A lot of people don’t realize these trails can be super hard to navigate. Some trails might look like they’re legal, just because they look well-traversed, but they’re not,” Willbanks explains. “A lot of vendors use Gaia, and there’s a map layer on [Gaia] called MVU map, so anything that shows up on that is a perfectly legal route.”

The ins and outs of overlanding can seem like a foreign language to some, but like with any new language, practice is key to learning. The fluent speakers in overlanding have given some words of wisdom on how to start.

“Just keep it simple,” McClellan says. “One thing about the overland community is we tend to be major gear junkies. There are a lot of gear options available that are tailored and promoted to the overland community, and some of [it] is super handy to have, but some of it can get silly. So I tell people starting out: just keep it simple. You know you need a place to sleep, and obviously a vehicle, and if all you have is a two-wheel-drive pick-up

truck, an old tent and a Coleman camp stove, take that.”

Even though his business has all the gear any camper could dream of, Post wholeheartedly agrees. “I’ve got a friend who’s driving a Dodge Challenger, and he’s pulling a little trailer behind it with a dirt bike hooked up.

He’ll take that, set up his ground tent, camp and then he’ll jump on his old dirt bike and explore,” Post says.

“That’s really what it’s all about, just getting out, exploring and meeting people.”

The overlanding community is a close-knit one. People meet each other as strangers on a trail and end the night sharing life stories around a campfire. Arkansas has plenty of explorers and places to be explored for you to find your campfire, so load up the dogs, kids or neighbor down the street and get some mud on your tires.

travel

HOT (Springs)

By Emily Beirne Photos by Casey Crocker

An aerial shot of downtown Hot Springs.

he Valley of the Vapors, mobster paradise, spa city, and today, an Arkansas treasure that keeps producing: Hot Springs. This long revered travel destination is known to Arkansans as a fun and relaxing day trip or weekend getaway, but its springs run deep in rich and colorful history dating back maybe thousands of years.

The story goes that Native American tribes used the area of Hot Springs as a neutral territory for opposing tribes to peacefully dip into the healing waters and acquire novaculite for making tools and weapons.

By the mid-1500s French and Spanish explorers had taken over the land with Hernando de Soto — an infamous Spanish conquistador — being the first European in Hot Springs in 1541.

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Fast forward about 300 years, and the territory was met with the Dunbar-Hunter Expedition in 1804 to explore southern regions of the Louisiana Purchase. A town grew around the springs as stories of their magical healing powers spread across the young nation. The area became known as the “American Spa.” Many people may not know that Hot Springs indirectly became America’s first National Park after President Andrew Jackson declared the area as a federal reservation in 1832, years before Yellowstone’s establishment in 1872 when “National Parks” became the official title.

Bathhouse Row currently features eight bathhouses built between the late 1800s to early 1900s following the declaration of Hot Springs as a federal reservation. The gov-

Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa.

By Emily Beirne | Photography by Casey Crocker

Garvan Woodland Gardens.

ernment took over four pieces of land to preserve 47 hot springs as the water did not have the pungent odor of sulfur that most thermal springs possess. The buildings were constructed in neoclassical, renaissance-revival, Spanish and Italianate styles and named Buckstaff, Fordyce, Hale, Lamar, Maurice, Ozark, Quapaw and Superior. While only one bathhouse is still functioning as it was originally intended (Buckstaff ), the others still serve the community in some capacity.

A lasting moment in Hot Springs history that continued for decades involving organized crime, violence and under the table deals with authority, the gangster era supplies endless legends and stories of the darker history of Hot Springs.

From the late 1800s to the 1960s, Hot Springs was a hot

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spot for organized crime and major names in the gangster world — Al Capone, Bugs Moran and Frank Costello to name only a few of the infamously powerful men that would roll through Hot Springs looking for some fun. Decades of illegal gambling in dark hotel rooms, behind closed doors and in alleys where eyes couldn’t reach, habits learned in big cities were brought to this bustling little town. Owney “The Killer” Madden, or as some know him “The English Godfather,” ventured out to Hot Springs in the 1930s for a more relaxed way of life compared to New York City. His reputation and character helped establish a new set-up in Hot Springs that was down-low and hush-hush from federal authorities. Once word got around that Madden had found a quiet place to gamble where authorities turned a blind eye, more and more gangsters arrived. aymag.com

Oaklawn.

The “quiet” gambling ring in Hot Springs didn’t remain a hideout for too long. By the 1960s, federal authorities got wind of Hot Springs and began clearing out what the government considered to be “the site of the largest illegal gambling operation in the U.S.” Unlike the police officers, judges and elected officials in Hot Springs that looked the other way, accepted payments or also took advantage of the gambling, prostitution and bootlegging, federal authorities didn’t see the appeal.

Around that same time (but much more legal), Hot Springs had become the place for baseball spring training. A homerun for sore and exhausted major-league players, Hot Springs offered thermal mineral waters and a growing nightlife to relieve the pains of the game. Albert Goodwill (A.G.) Spalding and Cap Anson brought the Chicago White Stockings (now the Cubs and White Sox) to Hot Springs in 1886. From there, the area became the annual location for spring training with five fields for players and teams to use before taking advantage of the luxuries the town had to offer in the evenings. The Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Monarchs, Pittsburgh Crawfords and numerous other teams all flocked to Hot Springs for warm Southern weather to get their players in shape. Names like Jackie Robinson, Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron are a few of the notable players who walked down Central Avenue.

Pat McCabe, a local business owner and mayor of Hot Springs, looks at the history of the town as one of the most unique and diverse in Arkansas. “If you can imagine in the early 1900s with the gangsters coming down from Chicago and New York, Kansas City and St. Louis, and all the noted baseball players of that same era,

all mixing in along with all the movie stars and entertainers that would come to Hot Springs and entertain, it was a very vibrant place,” he says. “Hot Springs has a very colorful history, and we continue today with different varied activities. Downtown revitalization has been underway now for the last 12 years, and there’s always something different for visitors who return to Hot Springs that they haven’t seen before.”

For those intrigued by the roller-coaster history of Hot Springs, there are museums and trails to guide you right down memory lane. The Gangster Museum of America is located in downtown Hot Springs featuring old roulette tables, slot machines, weapons and exhibits on Madden and Capone. The Historic Hot Springs Baseball Trail brings modernity to history with available codes for visitors to scan and see photos, listen to audio and feel like baseball legends are walking the trail alongside them. While on the baseball path, be sure to make a stop at the Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo to learn about the Babe Ruth home run ball that landed there — and say hello to the chompers, too, of course.

Kids can have a good time practically anywhere, and Hot Springs offers a unique hands-on learning experience that is captivating for all ages. “We have one of the top 10 children’s science museums in the country at Mid America Science Museum,” McCabe says. The Mid America Science Museum includes interactive exhibits for children to learn about motion, light, nature and anything and everything else under the sun. Scientots, Home School Days, Girls in Stem and Summer Camps 2021 are only a few events to look forward to in the coming weeks and months as days become warmer and kids become more rest-

“Hot Springs has a very colorful history, and we continue today with different varied activities.”

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Bathhouse Row.

Cutline here.

less cooped up at home. Neighboring the Ouachita National Forest, Mid America covers an expansive 21-wooded acres for endless learning opportunities as families explore the natural wonders Hot Springs has to offer in geological features, flora and fauna, and other mysteries of the natural world.

While appreciating the authentic beauty of Hot Springs outdoors, drive down to Garvan Woodland Gardens for an unforgettable experience that’s good for any visit or for a specific and special one. “Garvan Woodland Gardens and Anthony Chapel provide a great venue for wedding ceremonies and other events,” McCabe says. Garvan includes too many show-stopping sights to count along with the gorgeous Anthony Chapel, the Bob and Sunny Evans Tree House, and the Garvan Pavilion to name just a few of the distinctive architectural constructions nestled in the grounds.

To fully understand the vast natural scenery of Hot Springs, you might want a bird’s eye view. If the thrilling, looping Gauntlet or the “x-treme” X-Coaster at Magic Springs isn’t your first choice for getting that aerial view, the Hot Springs Mountain Tower, 216 feet above the ground, is the place to go for the idyllic panoramic view of the geographically diverse area. “The National Park has been here before national parks were officially designated as such because we have an abundance of lakes, mountains and rivers,” McCabe says. “There’s a whole host of activities to participate in.

We have some of the finest mountain biking in the world right here in Hot Springs.”

The Northwoods Trail System can attest to how massive the mountain biking community in Hot Springs really is, especially in recent years.

“Arkansas’ Diamond Lake Region is no stranger to mountain bike tourism. We have three IMBA Epic trails within a 30-minutes to an hour drive from Hot Springs, as well as Iron Mountain trails that are a short, 45-minute drive. The addition of almost 30 miles of trails in the Northwoods Trail System, which is just a

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short, five-minute drive or 10-minute ride from downtown Hot Springs, has mountain bikers not just driving through, but instead making Hot Springs their ‘base camp’ for their riding adventures,” says Traci Berry, the Northwoods Trails coordinator. Pro or beginner, there’s a trail for any level of difficulty. A laid-back ride through cross-country, rugged terrain or jump lines, bring the bikes. “We have green trails that are beginner-friendly, blue trails for those intermediate riders and black trails for the most advanced riders that love a tight technical cross country ride or catching air hitting big jump features like table tops, step-ups and downs, or even gap jumps. We have riders coming from all over the country to experience our trails and our unique town. They get the feel of being on a remote trail with all of the added amenities that our city has to offer.”

Local riders in the surrounding areas of Garland County have the opportunity to lock into the ever-expanding biking community. “Not only have we seen the impact by way of tourism, we are also seeing the impact in those that live and work here. Our local mountain bike community is growing with more women and children taking up the activity. We also now have a local trail advocacy organization, TACO (Trail Advocacy Coalition of the Ouachitas),” Berry says. “The Northwoods Trail System includes trails not only in the city of Hot Springs but also Cedar Glades Park in Garland County as well as just over a half-mile of trail across Hot Springs National Park property.”

After exploring so many extraordinary sites, hunger comes without question. Luckily, Hot Springs offers some of the best cuisines in Arkansas (and maybe even the entire South) if you go to DeLuca’s Pizzeria. With large brick oven pizzas, homemade pasta, meatballs, vegan and vegetarian options, and the best cheeseburger in Arkansas, DeLuca’s has something for everyone.

For dessert, walk down the street to Fat Bottomed Girl’s Cupcake Shoppe for cupcakes that have made a name nationally through Food Network’s Cupcake Wars. Grab a cupcake or twelve, a cup

aymag.com

Gulpha Gorge Trail.

of iced coffee and watch the Central Avenue traffic as your sweet-tooth is sated.

While you’re on the strip, you can’t leave without strolling down to Lauray’s the Diamond Center. An actual gem in Hot Springs, Lauray’s has been selling high-quality diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, pearls and other treasures since 1924. Fully intertwined with the colorful history of Hot Springs, Lauray’s reflects the entrancing beauty of the town in each intricate jewelry design showcased. Creating relationships as solid as a diamond, Lauray’s has been praised by customers for the staff’s friendliness and expertise that can be accredited to 90 years cushioned on Bathhouse Row. Another century-old business in Hot Springs is the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort. Transitioning from illegal gambling to legal fun was made easy with the evolution of Oaklawn — from a Jockey Club in 1904 to the all-encompassing resort it is today. What began as an off-spin venture for John Condon and Dan Stuart, owners of Southern Club and Turf Exchange — a gentleman’s “resort” and nightlife hub in Hot Springs — led to a prestigious platform for countless title-winning horses. Triple Crown winner American Pharoh gained popularity at Oaklawn, along with champions Temperence Hill, Curlin, Cigar, Smarty Jones, Lookin At Lucky and countless more hooves.

Today, Oaklawn offers services for those just looking to get away and experience the finer things of Las Vegas right here in Arkansas.

“Early 2020, Oaklawn opened 28,000 square feet of expanded casino floor space, including a new High Limits area with balcony lounge.

We opened a new fine dining restaurant — The Bugler — in late December 2020 and a new lounge — The First Turn — in January 2021.

The luxury hotel, spa and event center are scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2021,” says Jennifer Hoyt, media relations manager for Oaklawn. “These additions to Oaklawn’s footprint continue to

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enhance its premier thoroughbred racing program in the country.”

Also offering luxury while at the same time restoring historical beauty and purpose, Mayor McCabe and his wife, Ellen, own Hotel Hale, a structure that was once an original bathhouse on Bathhouse Row. “Our building is the oldest structure on Bathhouse Row, built in 1892,” Ellen says. As with anything in Hot Springs, there’s always something unique that dives back to Hot Springs’ history. Eden, the eccentric restaurant tucked inside the hotel, features a few surprises for guests.

“There’s a steam cave in [Eden] behind a big steel door. It isn’t glamorous or anything; it’s very crude, but we left it there to show people what life looked like back in the day. It looks like a cave with water dripping and steam coming up. They would dig into the mountains over a hot spring, and it’d be a naturally occurring steam cave. They would go in there and take their sauna. Back in the day, that was medicine for them.” A live wall covered in tropical plants with an irrigation system and a vast skylight complements the steam cave in natural wonders.

The hotel itself is like walking back in time from approaching the bathhouse to entering.

“One of the interesting things in the front area is our historic footprint,” Ellen says. Not making major changes to the construction of the building or layout, the McCabes made minimal adjustments in order to maintain the authentic vision the architects of the building had in mind over a century ago. With seven rooms and two suites, each with a soaking tub that Iron Mountain Trail. draws thermal water straight from the springs, luxury is not a question. “If you book a room here, you’re going to take as many hot soaks as you want.” High-arched windows in the front allow guests to look out on the busy and picturesque Central Avenue where local shops and eateries continue to keep visitors coming into town.

“The last three to five years, entrepreneurs with different concepts for businesses have ventured to Hot Springs, and they’re really making it work here,” Mayor McCabe says. “You might walk past a number of storefronts that appear to be competing in the same area, but when you walk past, no two storefronts look the same.” Bathhouse Soapery, Hot Springs Hat Company, boutiques — you name it, Hot Springs has it. “We’ve been really fortunate with attracting entrepreneurs with different mindsets.”

With more than 1.5 million visitors each year, it’s no wonder how Hot Springs has stayed on the map since Native Americans found peace and magic in its waters. Business owners, locals and frequent visitors only see progression in Hot Springs’ future as prosperity continues to flow from the ground.

“Come out to Hot Springs in Garland County,” Pat says. “We’re here to serve and make your visit memorable, enjoyable and one that’ll make you want to return.”

HOTEL HALE: The Phoenix of HOT SPRINGS he road to Hotel Hale’s rebirth has been quite the journey for Ellen and Pat McCabe. Nearly a decade ago, the pair took responsibility for the old bathhouse on the eponymously named “Row” in downtown Hot Springs, which had been vacant and defunct since 1978. In just a few years, the McCabes — in coordination with the state and the National Park Service — have transformed it into one of the most coveted gems in all of Hot Springs.

“It was in September of 2013 that I came home from work one day and told Ellen that if she wanted to get into business downtown, we would need to begin to look at what the opportunities were for leasing storefront space,” Pat recalls. After touring a few bathhouses with some architectural friends of theirs, Hale stood out from the rest. “It was basically a blank slate. We could pretty much do with it what we wanted.”

The McCabes procured the financing for the undertaking in summer 2018 and haven’t looked back since. But just as challenging as it was to secure those monies — having to coordinate everything through both the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program as well as the National Park Service — so too was it to put the capital to use in the right way. As Ellen recalls, it was a balancing act of refurbishment to make the location a luxurious place to be without losing the soul of what it was before. The property is the oldest remaining on Bath-

Deluxe

Suites

house Row, after all, dating back to 1892. So they built out what they wanted, replaced what was needed, but also kept what they could. A few estate sales to get furniture and some help from a designer friend later, the results paid off.

“I didn’t want it to look like a museum,” Ellen explains. “I wanted it to have a blend of modern and mid-century.”

In May 2019, Hotel Hale opened to the public. Save for the time spent closed during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been quite the hit with both locals and outof-towners alike.

And for good reason. Its tally of nine rooms makes it a quaint and quiet place to board in a world with so many high rises filled with hundreds of carbon-copy hotel rooms. But the Hale’s accommodations are unique — not only from the competition but also from each other. All nine rooms are fitted with different furnishings and unique flare, so no two (or nine) stays are the same. And it’s the only location on the Row where the “bathhouse” part of the experience is available from the comfort of your hotel room; each room’s bathtub boasts the steamy thermal waters that have made Hot Springs a hub for hundreds of years.

Then there’s, of course, the on-site restaurant, Eden, which serves up some of the most delicious food and refreshing cocktails in the whole city.

“To be able to preserve and bring back a structure to full use is really rewarding,” Pat says.

“It breathes new life into downtown. It’s just one of many, many reasons to visit downtown Hot Springs. We look forward to continuing our part in making this a destination spot for tourists, whether they come for an overnight stay or just come for dining.”

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Saracen HAS has itITallALL SARACEN

By DUSTIN JAYROE

as Vegas is quite a trek for us in Arkansas. No matter which city or town you call home, it’s at least a 1,000-plus mile journey that’s either a multi-day car ride or about a three-hour plane ride. Don’t misunderstand: Vegas is not out of reach; thousands of Arkansans make the trip every year. But, we don’t have to in order to find the Vegas experience anymore. Pine Bluff has a shiny new spot that feels just like “the Strip,” maybe even better: Saracen Casino Resort.

Jefferson County’s new place to play opened with a bang in October (well, maybe not quite the bang they would have hoped with the pandemic and all) and its commodities have been turning heads ever since. But creating such a destination that is self-described as the “best bet in Arkansas” did not happen overnight. It took years of planning and a team of motivated and missiondriven minds. People like Carlton Saffa and Todd Gold — already known among the best of what they did before, but have garnered even loftier reputations since joining the project.

In fact, Saffa was the first official employee of the venture, hired after years of prosperous work for Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

“I was pegged as an ‘action junkie,’ and a number of legislators and stakeholders always knew I was interested in something that had a lot of action, a lot of activity,” he says. “I never worked a bill for the governor that we did not pass.”

One of these projects that Saffa worked was as the go-between for the racing commission and the governor’s office.

He and John Berrey, the former chairman of the Quapaw Nation Business Committee, developed a good working relationship, which turned into the organization asking the governor for permission to offer Saffa a job.

“I remember the governor asked me, Carlton Saffa ‘So, are you going to go lobby for them?’”

Saffa recalls. “And I said, ‘No, they want me to run this thing.’” Saffa would leave the governor’s office in June 2019 to become the chief market officer for Saracen Development, LLC. “We had no gaming license. We had one employee: me. And for a year, we worked it. In that first year, we got the gaming license; we got everything permitted; we got the casino largely under construction. I will tell you that I’ve got sweat and scars from most of it, but it was the vision of then-Chairman Berrey and the leadership of now-Chairman Joseph Byrd that keeps us going.”

Also pivotal to Saracen’s development was Gold, who also left a place of comfortability for the exciting challenge that the new venture presented. He had spent nearly 30 years at the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College’s culinary program, most recently serving as associate dean and south site director. In addition, Gold was also the president of Purple Cow and served a term as president of the Arkansas Restaurant Association. Anyone in the local food scene knows his name and what he brings to the table; Saracen wanted him to be the food and beverage

director.

“I’m a project guy. I love projects,” Gold says. And Saracen presented plenty of those for the venerable Gold. “I’d never opened a facility with this many concepts.” There are nine in total if you include the employee dining and all the bars. “I wasn’t scared of it. I embraced it all with arms wide open.”

With him at the helm, Saracen has developed itself as one of the most unique attractions in the state and the South. Of course, there is the gambling dynamic that both Saffa and Gold admit receive the lion’s share of attention and recognition. And for good reason. But, the culinary experience colors Saracen a cut above and keeps people coming back. You can gamble at most gas stations these days; you can’t get food like the fare at Saracen just anywhere.

Both men are proud to boast the magic words to sum it all up: farm to table, pasture to plate and bean to cup. The food crew at Saracen has complete control over almost every ingredient in every dish served. “I wanted us to be a culinary and hospitality destination in the region and in the state,” Gold says.

For Saffa, the prime attraction is Red Oak Steakhouse, which he believes is the best restaurant in Arkansas. The beef served comes from its own cattle herd that grazes in Oklahoma (with “perfect genetics”), is processed at the Quapaw meat processing facility, aged and then sent directly to Pine Bluff.

At that, Saffa is quick to add another motto which he thinks is an even better designation for the food at Saracen: “Our food, our table.” His favorite meal on-site is the bison tenderloin, the filet mignon of bison. “It is almost impossible to find on menus anywhere, but it’s something you’ll find with us.”

The list of “firsts” and “only” that Saracen has accrued runs off the page. It’s the first casino to open in Arkansas since 1956; the first purpose-built casino in Arkansas history; the first Vegasstyle casino; the first casino with a brewery on site.

Gold and Saffa have no plans to stop there. Coming soon: a hotel, event center and amphitheater. We’re still about a year or two out from those amenities (the pandemic introduced some delays), but you can rest assured that all that, and more, are to be on the menu at Saracen.

“We just want to continue to raise the bar and then re-raise the bar,” Saffa says. “Everyone has the same slots. Everyone has the same table games. It is the little extras that we offer in terms of your experience that make the difference. And the core of that is just our incredible team. The Quapaw should be lauded for what they’re doing. A) in terms of investing in Pine Bluff to B) the risks they’ve taken.”

This month, Saracen is giving away $75,000 in prizes including a new Ford Bronco. Whether you want a shot at those or just to see what all the fuss is about, Gold, Saffa and the rest of the 850-person team of locals would love to host you.

Theghost arts&culture

Light

By SARAH RUSSELL

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he Ghost Light: Since mid-March of last year, it has been on at the Walton Arts Center (WAC) stage. In the world of theater, this tradition is practical in its intent, providing light that enables a safe return to a dark stage. For performing artists and organizations, the Ghost Light has become, with the advent of COVID-19, a very poignant symbol.

The Walton Arts Center Ghost Light actually represents its two venues — Fayetteville’s venue of the same name as well as the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion (AMP) in Rogers.

Both present touring performances, albeit differently — WAC being an indoor venue, AMP being an outdoor site. Together, the range and depth of the performances they offer have undeniably made them this state’s largest and busiest host of the arts. Before the brakes hit hard with the pandemic, a normal year would see WAC hosting about 200 public performances with the shorter season of the AMP being about 30 events.

As both COVID-19 and March rolled out, the most immediate events in Fayetteville had to be canceled and/or rescheduled. WAC’s leadership team rapidly went also in a proactive mode.

They began modeling business scenarios, which proved to be frustratingly based on nothing but uncertainty. It was very clear, though, that a prolonged shutdown could be financially staggering.

But in June, that being 2020, perhaps AMP, they thought, would be able to honor its commitments to the artists, touring companies and ticket holders? At this point, the AMP was completing its expansion project. That proved to be ironic considering that it, too, would soon find itself being canceled out either by the organization or by the performance groups themselves.

In the midst of these dual shutdowns, WAC was still determined to pivot constructively. The first order of business was to figure out how to stay alive until normal activities could return.

But how to do that when your primary source of income — ticket sales — is decimated? How

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Above: In September, the Walmart AMP went red, joining venues across the country in observing #RedAlertRESTART, supporting the extension of financial assistance for displaced workers.

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“Staying as busy as possible ... wherever I can get bookings.”

Kelsey Lamb. (Photo by Molly Lins)

do you take care of your employees and their families? And how would it be possible to continue to generate revenue for other businesses and individuals who depend on these revenues as their lifeline?

Here you see is where the Ghost Light became more than a tradition. It became a plan, a force of will to prevail for the good of all involved. WAC set up the Ghost Light Recovery Fund — a sort of GoFundMe, if you will. If successful, it could possibly provide funds for the continued employment of staff at the two locations, allow the venues to be physically maintained and offset losses until it could again be self-sustaining. It was a glimmer of light tossed into the darkness, but would it be seen?

After all, the economic impact of COVID-19 would also affect many of the same people being asked for help. Would they respond?

“We have a great group of patrons,” says Jennifer Wilson, the publicity director for the Walton Arts Center. There is a great deal of respect and appreciation in her voice as she recounts how approximately 800 individuals and businesses raised $1 million by October to support the venues and all those they impact.

Like a torch, the light given to them by these donors would be, must be, passed on.

Wilson says, “It really has become the heart of the WAC and [AMP] to evaluate the needs of the community right now and try to fill them.”

As the shutdown eased, there was still much to be overcome with its replacement of COVID regulations. Time to, Wilson says, “rethink how we do it differently.”

How about expanding on the number of blood drives held since there was more space on the schedules? Besides the obvious benefit to the community, their blood drives offered a unique thank-you to the donors — live entertainment.

It made for some happy donors too, as it served the dual purpose of providing work and income for some of the community’s artists.

The multiple series of the event known as “Happy Hours” had been created prior to last year by several local nonprofits to generate funds. It had previously been held elsewhere, but now the group and WAC agreed that the AMP’s new expansiveness was an unprecedented opportunity to hold the event while meeting social distancing requirements. In the series held in the fall, “Happy Hours” and their pop-up bars provided live entertainment, food and drinks to those who were beginning to feel socially starved. “Happy Hours” segued to a similar seasonal event of food, beverage and

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entertainment known as “Holidaze.” With only 18 tables possible, Holidaze, nonetheless, in its timeframe of 40 days garnered an attendance of 9,000 people.

Keeping safety in mind, WAC also utilized creative reconfiguration to resume small performances in Fayetteville. Normally a “small” performance is held in a 200-seat theater. By moving them to its 1,200-seat theater, they were able to accommodate what would have been the normal-sized audience by skipping every other row and leaving four seats empty between parties.

No matter what event it was or the size of it, it served the purpose that meant the most to WAC: thanking those who had supported that Ghost Light by giving back, serving the local and regional performers and communities who had long been with them. It reassured all that the Ghost Light would simply not be allowed to shine indefinitely on empty venues.

The resiliency of the WAC has been matched by a multitude of performing artists who now also face major life challenges due to the pandemic. Little Rock native Kelsey Lamb had left the state and her alma mater, Ouachita Baptist University, several years previously to seek success as a singer and songwriter. Like

Left: The Walmart AMP designated socially distant bubbles for an October screening of Star Trek.

Below: A Ghost Light illuminates a vacant stage at White Water Tavern in Little Rock. (Photo by Jamison Mosley)

many independent artists, Lamb’s normal year is primarily, she says, “staying as busy as possible on the road — wherever I can get bookings.

I play a lot in Florida, Georgia and Alabama.”

Time home in Nashville was also spent playing its bars and breweries as well, with the spaces between bookings dedicated to writing songs, networking with other singer/songwriters, getting studio time and being virtual.

Early on when everything shut down, many artists quickly pivoted to a heavier online presence. “Everyone was just so ready to jump on and communicate that way. It just seemed like second nature to everybody to just throw ourselves out there to survive, write over Zoom and communicate that way,” Lamb relates.

There were drawbacks, of course, mainly in the inability to get audience reaction to the work. To Lamb, the Zoom writing at first seemed “kind of like talking to a robot.” This was complicated by the fact that she doesn’t play guitar. It was tough for her, and no doubt other creative souls were also feeling that it was only a necessary substitution.

Nevertheless, her Ghost Light was determined to stay on until she could hit the stage again. Just as WAC and AMP found unexpected good in change, so did Lamb. Being

grounded in Nashville freed up the time to really focus on her music as opposed to sharing the music with performing. The year saw her writing and getting into the studio much more than ever before. In fact, the sum of last year proved to be substantially greater than the total of the years previous. In turn, this ability to create more finished products allowed her to become a larger online presence by continuing to connect with existing fans and finding new ones among those who were also shut down.

“It’s really been a time of pushing the music out there,” she says.

Lamb’s new singles have been coming out about every six to eight weeks, in a strategy intended to continue and maximize exposure.

As she explains, “We live in a content world.”

2021 has been a continuation of that direction — Lamb has already put out the well-received song “Come Here to Talk.” “When I Remember You” is the next scheduled single to drop — this month in fact. In both of these, listeners will find that the same high-level skills that deemed some of her previous work worthy of being used in several Hallmark movies. When you check out her videos, you may even recognize her — not only her songs but her face, as she has made it into some of those Hallmark

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movies as an actress. Admittedly, the sales of her online music, as well as the generosity of tips from socially distanced gigs in Nashville, have been her new financial lifeline, just as they are for many other artists across the country.

The hard reality for the artists and venues is summed up by Wilson, “We were one of the first industries to shut down, and we will be one of the last ones to return to full-scale operations.” Yes, the vaccine is rolling out, but as Wilson adds, “We still have a long way to go to continue supporting these artists and art organizations because you do want them to be around when we do come back to normal.”

When everything shut down, people turned to the virtual just like the performance industry and its artists. It was and is only a substitute for live performances. The overwhelmingly positive reaction of people to just being able to attend even the most socially distanced performances is telling. The Ghost Light has perhaps served too in its illumination of one truth about the arts, which is, as Wilson says, “Just to be able to have that shared experience is really important to us as a humanity.” We will keep the Ghost Lights on in our hearts and in our communities until we can once again come together to share in our celebrations of the arts and each other. aymag.com

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CELEBRATING an ICON:

T

Ealgie Gilbert Sr. “

here aren’t enough adjectives to adequately sum up the life that Bro. Ealgie Gilbert Sr. lived and the legacy that he left behind when his time on Earth came to pass two years ago this month.

Fortunately, his wife, Jerome Sally Gilbert, is still around to explain the many layers of the man he was as simply as it is accurate: “His love of God.” And for as long as his list of accomplishments and contacts became during his 91 years on earth, it all started with his bride, with whom he spent nearly 70 years.

Gilbert was born on June 22, 1927, but he wouldn’t truly find faith until she came into his life and taught him about the Father and His church.

The two wed on April 1, 1950; he was baptized just a few months later in August, and in 1951 his Church of Christ ministry began, initially serving congregations in Cotton Plant, England and Russellville while also working for the 3M Company in Little Rock.

Over the years, Gilbert would establish ministry as far as his arms could stretch, including the Dixie Church of Christ in North Little Rock; Sweet Home Church of Christ in Sweet Home; College Heights Church of Christ in Pine Bluff; East Side Church of Christ in Little Rock; and East Moline Church of Christ in Malvern.

He also spent time in Wrightsville and Grady through his prison ministry. During his 64 years

Some of my best moments with dad were in the woods or on a boat. Not only did dad make it fun, but always an opportunity to have fun learning about life in the process. He had an extraordinary way of making you think about choices and consequences. And don’t forget about turtle and making a raccoon taste like the best beef roast this side of heaven — and it was! — Jack

of service, he was known to have baptized hundreds of new Christians into the faith, according to his family, and he touched the lives of far too many to count.

But just as large as his church family grew, so too did his family tree — a blessing that, like all those in his life, he credited to his Creator. He and his wife had seven children together: Wayne, Erma, Clara, Ealgie Jr. ( Jack), Larry, Annette and Adron (AJ). He was also blessed with 45 grandchildren and 35 greatgrandchildren at the time of his passing.

For all of his family — both of blood and through Christ — he served as a lodestar. He didn’t just spend his life preaching the gospel and teaching the way of Jesus; he embodied it. He was a man of devout faith but also a charismatic people person who never met a stranger and made no enemies. He made his time available to anyone who needed it, either for a spiritual lesson or a simple helping hand. And his list of contacts was filled with

people from all over creation, from mayors like Frank Scott Jr. to senators like David Pryor to governors like Bill Clinton, but also to the incarcerated and the elderly in nursing homes. No matter your status or the walk of life from which you came, he was there, just like Jesus taught — ready to meet you at your level and add to the followers of Christianity.

His surviving family shares that his presence was a pleasure for everyone with whom he came in contact, and they still receive mail from folks who — like his relatives — miss him dearly but treasure the time they were all lucky to have with him. They remember him for his serious nature but also his charming sense of humor, his gardening skills and his delicious cooking.

As we come off the heels of another February spent observing Black History Month, the Gilbert family would hope that you not stop in your celebration of Black men and women just because the month on the calendar flipped. This month, to honor the date that Gilbert left for heaven, March 14, 2019, they’ll be celebrating his life, and they hope you’ll join them. In their eyes, he showed us the way down a road that all can walk — a street of service, faith, humility, selflessness, family and love.

“

Dad always made me feel valued, even when I did wrong. He chastised us without hurting our self-esteem. Corporal punishment was always a last resort. But he didn’t play around when the time came! His talking to me was usually enough; so, therefore, I got few spankings. Dad loved people. He would strike a conversation with anyone. He wanted to make you smile or laugh with his wit. He was patient and kind and would go the second mile, even at the expense of his own feelings. He could cook too! Growing up, we had many a meal for breakfast with rabbit, squirrel, deer or chicken with mom’s — Clara gravy and biscuits. Oh, how I miss him!

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arts&culture

CAVE CLASS – By KENNETH HEARD

L

ong before there were benchmark exams, school funding formulas or even the Arkansas Department of Education, there was a cave.

Snug in the canyons that lined the spring-fed Hall’s Creek in what is now western Randolph County is a small cavern that served as a school in the early 1800s — before Arkansas had even received statehood. Settlers of the area envisioned the school and five springs discovered in the canyons that locals claimed healed various ailments would create a bustling boomtown, much like what Hot Springs became more than a century later.

The area, near what is now Ravenden Springs, was remote and wild, full of brush at the eastern foothills of the Ozark Mountains at the beginning of the 19th century. But small communities began popping up as farmers migrated to Arkansas from Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina.

Hix’s Ferry to the east became a vital spot for crossing the Current River. The Columbia, Walnut Hill, Kingsville and Fourche de Thomas communities began to grow as more settlers moved in. The children who lived there needed education, and Caleb Lindsey, a Baptist minister who moved to the area around 1815, soon found the cave while exploring the creek.

In 1817, the “School Cave” opened with a handful of children learning Bible lessons, reading, writing and arithmetic.

“There wasn’t much of an appetite for education at first back then,” says Rodney Harris, an associate professor of history at Williams Baptist University in Walnut Ridge.

“There was no state funding. There were no school buildings. They used kerosene to heat the cave.”

There were no classroom records kept then; Harris thought Lindsey may have charged for lessons to help pay for the needed school supplies.

“Education was typical for those who were better off,” Harris says. “There was no territorial money, no taxes. Arkansas wasn’t granted statehood for nearly 20 years. I’m almost certain he had to charge for the school.”

Classes may not have been held every semester, Harris adds, if there were not enough students to warrant holding school in the cave.

Because the cave was at the bottom of the canyon, getting there required scaling down rocky bluffs. A century and a half later, Arkansas State University’s ROTC teams

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would conduct rappelling training down some of the more sheer cliffs.

Locals built a series of steps leading to the cave to make the trek easier.

Harris says students could have stayed at nearby farms during the week rather than travel back to their homes because of the distance. He pondered if some students may have slept in the cave to avoid climbing back up the bluff and making the long journey home.

History records do show that B.J. Wiley, Randolph County’s first clerk and third county judge, taught in the cave in the early 1830s. He was paid, Lawrence Dalton wrote in the book History of Randolph County, with farm produce, furs and a place to stay at a local resident’s home. Records also indicate others held classes in the “School Cave” during the Civil War time of the 1860s.

The cave’s entrance was about 12 feet high by 15 feet wide.

A photograph in the History of Randolph County shows locals standing proudly at the cave’s mouth. A wooden staircase spans from the entrance to the top of the bluff.

Today, a concrete wall built in the late 1940s keeps visitors from going inside.

Along with the school, Lindsey also founded the first Baptist church in the state when he began one in Columbia. Not to be outdone, his cousin, Eli, became the first Methodist church “circuit rider” in the state, visiting churches from the Ravenden Springs area into Independence County.

The school was one catalyst for continued growth.

A good marketing plan was another. The town of Ravenden Springs, named for the thousands of ravens Methodist minister William Bailey saw in a rocky den near the town, was founded in 1880.

Bailey has a reoccurring dream of descending to the bottom of the canyon near the school and drinking from a spring.

In the dream, which he said he had for three consecutive nights, the crystal clear waters healed his stomach ailments.

Bailey actually made his way to the spring one day, repeated his actions from the dream and said he was soon cured of his stomach issues.

Four other springs, locals claimed and promoted, also had healing properties. In addition to the Stomach Spring, there was the Eye Spring, Arthritis Spring, Kidney Spring and Heart Spring.

Years later, scientists discovered the Stomach Spring contained water with traces of lithium, magnesium, aluminum, iodine and carbonic acid.

Word spread, and Ravenden Springs gained the nickname, “The Dream Town.” Soon, people traveled from as far as St. Louis and Chicago to drink from the springs.

Railroad captain R.D. Welch was so impressed with the springs and the locals’ claims, he built a 40-room hotel above the canyon in 1883. The hotel remained for 60 years, but once the newness of the springs wore off, the town size dwindled and never became the thriving area Welch and others had hoped for.

The area was hilly and woodsy which limited further expansion. Other than the hotel, the springs, the cave and hiking trails through the rough terrain, there wasn’t anything else.

“They couldn’t add golf courses or more hotels, like Hot Springs did later,” Harris says. “Prior to the 1940s, you had to travel from Jonesboro to Ravenden Springs to stay in a hotel.

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Photos provided by Rodney Harris.

After World War II, the horizons broadened. Transportation became better, and areas like St. Louis and Kansas City were [more easily] accessible.”

The Depression also hampered potential growth. By the late 1940s, the hotel closed and was eventually torn down for its lumber.

Locals still visited the springs and the cave, swimming in the rushing waters and hiking along its trails.

Gary Gazaway, a Pocahontas musician whose great-greatuncle was Lindsey, says he remembers hiking and seeing Needle’s Eye, a crack in the canyon wall large enough for people to climb inside and scale to the top of the bluff.

“We’d go out there to go swimming when I was a child,” says Gazaway, who plays trumpet and has toured with musicians such as Joe Cocker, Phish and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan. “We’d hike through the trails. It was a great place.”

His daughter, Lindsey, is named after the Lindsey family line.

Landowners Sandra and Louis Decker donated 33 acres to the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission on Feb. 14, 2019.

The commission, which is an agency of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism (ADPHT), will manage the tract of land called the Hall’s Creek Canyon Natural Area for conservation, says Stacy Hurst, ADPHT secretary and a state historic preservation officer.

The steep canyons are rare for the area, which usually has less rugged and more gently rolling hills, Hurst says. It is also the only known site in the state for the wall-rue spleenwort, a rare fern of vertical cliff faces.

The commission had planned to create walking trails at the natural area but has yet to find funds to build the system, says Ruthie Berryhill, commission education and information coordinator.

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arts&culture

THE

ARKANSAS

HITCHHIKE KILLER:

JAMES WAYBERN “RED” HALL

By JANIE JONES

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Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from Janie Jones’ new book, The Arkansas Hitchhike Killer. The true-crime drama was released on March 1 and is available on many platforms, including Amazon, Walmart and Target.

Death, in all forms and species, was a part of life when Red Hall was growing up on his father’s farm in Happy Valley. Hog killing time was a cause for celebration. Taking place after the year’s first cold spell, neighbors got together and had a high ol’ time socializing at the expense of the hog. After slaughtering the animal, they dunked it in a fifty-gallon wash pot filled with scalding water, making it easier to remove the hair. Then they used ropes and pulleys attached to a strong tree limb to hoist the animal by its hooves. One of the men took a knife, split the hog open, and eviscerated it. Nothing was thrown away, not even the bladder, which became an inflated balloon for the children to toss back and forth. Red was usually in the midst of all the fun. His daddy was the man who actually killed the hog, shooting it right between the eyes and then slitting its throat.

The children were accustomed to the day-to-day chore of providing meat for the family. Most did not escalate to the killing of their fellow human beings. But one did, and this is his story.

T

o the outside world, Samuel Jerome Hall was a well-respected man of the cloth, devoted to following the Good Book. That he was a stern disciplinarian with his children was just another way he lived by the Word of God. But his pious mien disguised a sadistic, foul-tempered side that only his family saw. His brother, John Phillip Hall, was the exact opposite; he earned the love and respect of his wife and children with his kind and gentle nature. One of John’s daughters, Connie, said her “Uncle Sam was meaner than a junkyard dog,” and she recalled an incident she witnessed as a child that caused her to look upon her uncle as “a preacher with horns. Diablo,” she said.

John Hall owned a farm with bottomland, and on one occasion when Sam and his family had come over to help in the fields, Red said something that enraged his father.

“I saw him beat that poor little boy with a cotton stalk, branches and all,” Connie recalled.

“Beat him something terrible. Like an animal.

I’d never seen anyone do that. I guess Red was about ten or twelve years old.”

Sam Hall’s family was, indeed, a troubled one. His wife, Eva, was a mouse, unable to talk back to her overbearing, demanding husband.

Her father and mother were cousins, and some of Eva’s siblings had mental problems; one brother seldom had a conversation with anyone but himself, another was considered a moron, and a third took off as a hobo, and it was discovered later that he had been killed.

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Sam and Eva’s first child, Lucy, was born in 1914 and was mentally disabled. Her siblings, except for Red, were normal, and for that matter, Red was healthy, aside from a bout of typhoid fever when he was around four years old.

He grew to be a strapping young fellow and was the only one in the household who would stand up and talk back to his father. It was difficult to say which one had the bigger ego.

The father recognized himself in Red, and Red could see himself in his father, and neither one liked what he saw. Though Sam was hard on his entire family, he unleashed his wrath upon Red with greater frequency and with more ferocity.

Della Fogerty, an acquaintance of Red’s, put forth the idea that Preacher Sam saw his son’s red hair as a sign of heresy and betrayal. Was not Judas red-haired? Whatever the reason for Sam’s intolerance toward his own progeny will never be known, but it should come as no surprise that the little boy slipped away into the woods as often as he could, sometimes traveling around the entire county. But his father chased after him and dragged him back home, an inconvenience that riled the man to no end.

Later, while still just barely a teenager, Red started staying away for longer intervals, wandering even farther astray to other states. At the age of fourteen, he journeyed to Topeka, Kansas, where he cut corn to make a little money.

Shortly before that, however, he sustained a head injury in a farming accident. While bailing hay, a pole slipped over and struck him on the head. He was unconscious for an hour or

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Red Hall.

so, and he was sick and nervous and not himself for several days after the injury. It was two or three weeks before he recovered completely.

Some people said he was never himself again.

Several schools were in close proximity to Happy Valley; Union Gap, Cadron Gap, Cadron Valley, and Marcus Hill. Most of them consolidated with the Enola school system in the late 1930s, but Red had moved on by then.

He’d gone to school regularly enough to be promoted from the eighth grade to the ninth but dropped out in early 1937 when he couldn’t refuse the beckoning call of the open road.

This was at a time when hobos were a familiar sight along the American backroads. They were mostly honest men who hopped trains in search of employment, and they drew a distinction between themselves and tramps. Hobos worked for their meals. Tramps didn’t. The public, however, sometimes used the terms interchangeably, especially in rural households without men.

Farm women often needed help with the hard labor in the fields, but when only a screened door separated them from a scruffy-looking stranger, the ladies were suspicious and turned the itinerant away. They gave little thought to the possibility that the hobos themselves might become victims of foul play. In one year alone, 6,500 were killed in the United States. Even after the Depression, men still rode the rails, but the increased use of cars and trucks signaled a

decline in travel by train. Rovers such as Red adapted. He found hitching rides to his liking. He seemed to come by it naturally.

When school let out in the summer of ’38, two other Faulkner County boys, 16-year-old Jackie Anthony and his cousin, Johnny, decided to go hitchhiking, too, only they had a particular destination in mind.

They had heard about guys going to Detroit and getting good jobs in the auto industry there.

The problem was their age. The factories weren’t hiring workers as young as they were. The boys didn’t want to return to Arkansas, and after a short discussion, they opted to hitchhike to California.

“We got to Okmulgee, Oklahoma,” Jackie recalled. “A branch ran under a nice bridge right there in town next to a big grocery store.

We got a job there and made forty cents a day apiece. It kept food in our bellies. We slept under that bridge, and you’d be surprised at what a good bed that was. We were helping them clean up at the store one Friday evening, getting ready for the weekend. We worked all day, and they gave us a dollar apiece, so now we’re in the money. We were sitting there in the early evening — it was still light — and we had just finished our meal when we saw a guy coming down the street. Now, Red Hall ran — he didn’t walk — he ran left-handed. In other words, he traveled sideways, the left part of his body first, and he was running, so the first thing Johnny and I thought was that maybe he had stolen something and the law was after him. He came up to us, recognized us, and said, ‘Tell me something. Do you boys have any money?’ We told him, ‘No, no.’ He had nothing else to say and took off, left foot first, the way he went.”

1938 was an important year for Red. It was during this time that two momentous events occurred in his life. He met his first wife, and according to him, he committed his first eleven murders.

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Living Art

from

dead

By Matthew Milton Photography by Jamison Mosley

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WOOD

Lee Halbrook Makes Chainsaw Carving Look Easy Few people come to something as naturally as Lee Halbrook took to his craft. The North Little Rock native has the artistic acumen of an Arkansas Bob Ross; but instead of paintbrush strokes begetting trees from happy little accidents, Halbrook wields a chainsaw and shapes awe-inspiring sculptures from solid wood.

“I guess it really all started when I was six years old,” Halbrook says over the phone as he makes his way out of town to see about his next project.

He sold out of his inventory, and Halbrook asked his father to take him to the store to buy more chalk. Not knowing what his son had been up to, the elder Halbrook was surprised, and impressed, to learn that Lee had not only found a way to make carvings from what he found around him, but also that he was able to earn enough money to buy the supplies he needed to make more.

They went straight to the store to buy more chalk. And that Christmas, Halbrook was gifted his first pocket knife.

Lee Halbrook

Inspired by having seen someone whittle away at a small piece of wood, Halbrook asked his father for a pocket knife.

Rightfully hesitant to put a blade in the hands of a child, his father declined.

So, Halbrook found the closest alternative. A piece of chalk from school would be much easier to shape with the sort of tools he could get his hands on, so that became his medium. He started whittling chalk into figures and selling them to classmates for quarters. He probably didn’t realize at the time that doing so would be the start of a fulfilling career.

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It would be a few more years before Halbrook jumped into the trade with both feet. He spent more than a decade working as a dental technician, working with tools that helped him hone his attention to detail. He would then take his natural artistic ability to the field of taxidermy, working as what might be referred to as a “finished artist.” Working full time in that role, he was tasked with making his subjects look alive again. There, too, he would apply his skills to wood mounts, gun stocks and other projects that kept his creative juices flowing.

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It wasn’t until a call came from a friend and neighbor that Halbrook would take his skills, and his vision, to another level.

“I had a friend call and ask if I might be interested in working on this stump in her yard,” he recounts.

“Her father had passed away a little while back, and it had been a wish of his to have that stump turned into an eagle.”

“Well, that’s just fine,” he thought. But he didn’t have a chainsaw. And he had never carved with one, either.

“I agreed to do it,” he says. “And the price would be one chainsaw to do it with.”

And as had been the case with just about everything else he had tried thus far, Halbrook proved to be a natural at chainsaw carving.

Like Michelangelo chiseling away at a block of marble, Halbrook’s new chainsaw unlocked a beautiful eagle from inside an old stump.

His work on that inaugural chainsaw carving caught the attention of the community. He soon had another commission. This time it was from the city of North Little Rock.

In a 2018 interview with KTHV-Channel 11, Terry Hartwick, then director of North Little Rock’s Department of Parks and Recreation, said he saw Halbrook’s stump-turned-eagle and was in awe.

“I saw Lee doing some eagles and so I drove up to him, introduced myself, and I told him I was going to make him famous,” Hartwick told a reporter at the time.

Hartwick tasked Halbrook with turning a dead tree at the Burns Park Golf Course into their own “putter boy.”

“If you’re familiar with Pinehurst, you’ve probably seen or heard about putter boy,” Halbrook says of the iconic bronze statue, also known as “The Lad,” that has stood at the historic Pinehurst golf course for more than a hundred years. “Well, they wanted me to carve our own putter boy at Burns Park.”

And that’s exactly what he did, turning a tree waiting to be cut down into North Little Rock’s very own iconic golfing lad. It took

88 hours in total. “Putter boy has gotten more comments than you can ever imagine,” Hartwick said in that THV11 interview. “People love putter boy.”

Somebody, perhaps, loved putter boy too much.

Not long after the masterpiece was complete, Halbrook’s work was vandalized, and the vandals stole lad’s hands and club. Halbrook calmly told reporters following the incident, “I don’t hate them for what they did. … I feel sorry for them.” And then he went to work restoring the work of art.

Hartwick kept Halbrook busy, tasking him next with crafting a sign for North Little Rock’s historic Old Mill. Halbrook made a sign out of a tree that included an ornate drawing of the Old Mill. It was then that his skill began to catch the eye of others outside of the region, and he began working on commissions for clients from across the globe.

That was in 2018. And in the time that spanned from then and today, Halbrook continued to spend most of his working in taxidermy and relegating chainsaw carvings to part-time activities. But a few months back, he got the call, and the invite, to pursue his passion full time.

Halbrook was invited to set up shop full time at Pickles Gap Village, a unique roadside shopping village that pays homage to German immigrants and settlers along Highway 65 in Faulkner County that features a fudge factory, flea market, knife shop and more.

The Custom Log Carvings team in action.

Cutline here

Cutline here.

“

... an artist in every sense and across many mediums.

”

For an artist like Halbrook, it was the studio he needed to thrive. It was a no-brainer. There, he’d join forces with Alex Ward and Don Nichols, the three of whom make up Custom Log Carvings.

At Pickles Gap, Halbrook has been honing in his skills — not that they ever needed it. In recent months, he’s turned large pieces of wood into elaborate sea turtles, elegant birds, and even a few SEC mascots. Over the holiday season, he brought to life a wooden Tom Hanks as the conductor of the Polar Express.

Each new project is an adventure for Halbrook. Part of what makes him so special is that he sees the f inished product in a raw chunk of wood well before he makes his f irst cut. “I can look at a piece of wood, and I can see in it what I want to carve,” he says. “It’s already there. I just have to get it out.”

Unlocking his vision from each piece of wood he works on is incredibly fulf illing for Halbrook. But none of his works to date have been more fulf illing, he says, than what he was able to create for Easterseals Arkansas in Little Rock.

Easterseals Arkansas is a nonprof it organization that provides critical services, education, outreach and advocacy so that people with disabilities can live, learn, work and play in their communities. A tree in the courtyard of their facility off Highway 10 in west Little Rock had died, and they reached out to Halbrook to see what he could do.

“That is, by far, the project that most resonates with me still today,” he says. “I told them, ‘I would like to turn this into something from Winnie the Pooh.’ I could see it: Pooh at the bottom, holding up Eeyore; Tigger doing a handstand on

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Eeyore’s head, with Piglet propped up on his feet at the top.

They couldn’t see it at f irst, but they said, ‘OK, do it.’”

And he did it, bringing to life the beloved A.A. Milne characters from hard, dead wood. As he was cleaning up his work and collecting his tools, the administrator who had commissioned the work stopped him. Unbeknownst to him at the time, Halbrook had an audience while he worked on the cartoon carving.

“She said, ‘I’ve got some things for you,’” he recalls. “She handed me several drawings and cards from the kids who had been watching me the whole time through the window, thanking me. I get choked up even thinking about it because that was special to me. I cherish those, and that was by far the most special work to me.”

While he’s modest over the phone, it takes no time to realize that Halbrook is no f ly-by-night chainsaw carver. He’s an artist in every sense and across many mediums. Scroll through his Instagram or his Facebook and one would f ind incredible sketches, relief carvings, etchings and more. It’s a wonder it took as long as it did for this career to f ind him.

And now that he’s settled into his new place of business at Pickles Gap, Halbrook is just as much mentor as he is artist.

Now considered one of the best around at his trade, Halbrook is passing on his knowledge to the next generation of chainsaw carvers, teaching them how to turn dead wood into living art that they can sell and make a living.

Halbrook encourages anyone, whether they be in the market for a piece of art or interested in taking up the trade, to come see him. You wood knot regret it.

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aymag.com

Death by

Retail

By DWAIN HEBDA

The Promenade at Chenal. (Photo by Jamison Mosley)

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s a species, the shopping mall is in trouble. Battered by years of changing consumer behavior and strafed by the public’s fears over COVID-19, the once-gleaming beacon of social interaction and commercial enterprise is free-falling, flirting with extinction.

Coresight Research predicted last summer that the U.S. would see as many as 25,000 stores close permanently by the end of the year, sucking malls down the drain with them (Forbes magazine reported Dec. 31 the number was closer to 15,500). It’s the second straight record year for retail business failures, easily eclipsing 2019’s 9,800 shuttered locations. The majority of these closings were predicted to occur in malls already bleeding out from the gaping wounds left by the bankruptcies and death of longtime anchor tenants.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated a lot of trends that were happening prior to the pandemic,” says Elliot Nassim of Mason Asset Management, one of the owners of Northwest Arkansas Mall (NWA) in Fayetteville. “Our goal is always to add value to our properties, and we are actively exploring all our options in terms of what might bring people to our center.”

The Northwest Arkansas Mall, opened in 1972 and acquired by Namdar Realty Group in 2016, exhibits the classic design ubiquitous to suburban malls over the past four decades, as does the neighborhood. The large enclosure beckons cars from the highway into a sprawling ecosystem of strip malls, fast food and other attendant businesses snagging crumbs of traffic destined for the yawning parking lots of the retail mall.

The occupancy of the structure exposes the same potential Achilles heel that has plagued other such operations — among its 89 current tenants, several familiar faces have either filed for bankruptcy protection this year or announced widespread impending store closures. JCPenney alone both entered and exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020, changing ownership hands in November.

While NWA mall ownership accurately points out only a handful of its tenant stores have actually closed since 2018, the financial condition of many of these national brands attests to the fragile state of the malls that house them. This, Nassim says, is forcing the company to reimagine use of mall space going forward.

“In terms of shopping malls, a lot [of square footage] will be used for non-retail experiences,” Nassim says. “For instance, industries such as health care, offices, housing and other non-traditional retail industries could move into vacant anchor spaces to attract more foot traffic.”

The stakes in the mall game are high not only for ownership and tenants, but for the community at large. Overall, 32 million Americans are directly employed in the retail sector, per the National Retail Federation. In 2011, U.S. department stores alone employed 1.2 million employees across 8,600 stores, per estimates from research firm IBISWorld.

By 2020, there were fewer than 700,000 employees working across about 6,000 locations, with each closing spiking the local unemployment rate in a category of worker often unskilled to do much of anything else.

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Northwest Arkansas Mall. (Courtesy)

In fact, as traditional malls have foundered — some predictions foretell 25-33 percent of the nation’s roughly 1,000 malls to disappear by the end of 2021 — creative repurposing has been required in malls across the country to buck the downward trend. In some cases, this involves public money as cities step in to save jobs and keep major property assets on the tax rolls. As Recode reported on Vox last year, this effort is particularly acute in small- to medium-sized cities.

“In Bartlesville, Okla., a city of 36,000 near the border of Kansas, local officials have embraced discount chains as the local Washington Park Mall has struggled,” writes Jason Del Rey of Vox and Recode. “The city provided $1.5 million in incentives in 2016 to develop an outdoor shopping center with popular discount retailers TJ Maxx and Ross to help offset the longtime troubles of the mall, once anchored by the department stores Sears, JCPenney and Dillard’s.

“The city also provided a $200,000 incentive to divide an old Kmart into five smaller retail establishments, including outlet stores Ollie’s and Burkes Outlet, as well as a Dollar Tree store. ...

Taxable physical retail sales dropped in 2015 and 2016 in Bartlesville but grew modestly in 2018 and 2019.”

All of this comes as something of a shock to people who came of age in the 1970s and 1980s, when shopping malls loomed so large on the social and commercial landscape — literally and figuratively — that the idea of their untimely demise was all but unimaginable. Malls were the de facto community center for suburban kids and a special occasion destination for those who lived in outlying rural areas. First jobs and first dates all unfolded while cruising the mall, punctuated by bites of food court fare and often capped by the latest first-run movie.

“By the 1980s and into the ’90s, malls had vanquished Main Street and colonized pop culture,” wrote Josh Sanburn in TIME magazine in 2017.

“By 1992, the New York Times could count 48 malls within a 90-minute drive of Times Square.

“That same year, the Mall of America opened its doors in Bloomington, Minn., with an amusement park at the center of 5.6 million square feet of retail that eventually grew into more than 500 stores. All told, 1,500 malls were built in the U.S. between 1956 and 2005, and their rate of growth

often outpaced that of the population.”

But it doesn’t take an economist or social scientist to understand why these once juggernauts are as likely today to be home to nondenominational churches or community colleges as Hot Topic or Orange Julius. The most obvious, of course, is the growth in online retailing versus in-person shopping. The U.S. Department of Commerce reported last February that consumers spent $601.75 billion online with U.S. merchants in 2019, a whopping 14.9 percent increase over 2018, which saw growth of its own to the tune of 13.6 percent over the previous year.

As startling as that was, it paled in comparison to the adrenaline-fueled gains that were to come, thanks to COVID-19. The Commerce Department reported in November year-over-year quarterly increases in online shopping reached a staggering 44.4 percent in Q2 2020 and 37.1 percent in Q3. Worse, much of this increase wasn’t coming from the sites of brick-and-mortar retailers, but represented existential-level competition from retail titans such as Amazon.

As Stephanie Bedard-Chateauneuf noted for an editorial on CCN.com last fall, the trend isn’t likely to reverse itself in the near term, either. She wrote that analysts predicted the return to precrisis levels in offline discretionary retail sales will be gradual. The shopping habits which drove down brick-and-mortar sales in 2020 would not rebound to pre-pandemic levels until 2022, she wrote. As online keeps rolling up market share, that’s time many retailers simply don’t have.

That pace of recovery also assumes the pandemic slows down, as further spikes in cases could delay the comeback even more. Although, in a cruelly ironic twist, NWA ownership said the very pandemic that stoked the fires of many retailers’ demise also drove respectable numbers into the Fayetteville mall during the second half of the year.

“People are starving for the human connection as they have been stuck inside during the pandemic,” Nassim says. “In the late summer and early fall of 2020, as retail stores reopened across the country, we saw large numbers of people returning. We expect this trend to continue and believe in-person shopping will rebound profoundly in 2021.”

Not all malls are struggling. Analysts point to luxe developments catering to upscale tenants generally outperforming less-exclusive proper-

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ties, as well as malls that have upped attractions and amenities, such as fine dining in place of food courts. Mall design appears to influence shopper preferences as well, with many outdoor, walkable developments outperforming the enclosed model of yesteryear.

“The movement of shopping centers is going from an enclosed, stale environment to an open-air environment that’s more of a lifestyle and a destination,” says Chris Moses, president and CEO of Newmark Moses Tucker, exclusive leasing agent and property management firm for The Promenade at Chenal in West Little Rock. “I’m seeing more outdoor food and beverage, more patios dabbled in with retail.”

“I think Europe got it right years and years ago with some of their open-air markets and food and beverage being on the sidewalk outside with limited seating inside. It’s just a better feel and that’s where I think retail is going. And, it’s not going to be just retail; if you don’t have mixed-use design, the retail will typically suffer.”

The outdoor-oriented Promenade is a unicorn among its peers, having turned in what Moses called, “a great, great year,” anchored by brisk holiday sales. While not immune to market trends (Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt and the bankrupt Justice store sit vacant while Victoria’s Secret is most industry-watchers’ odds-on favorite for Chapter 11 in 2021), Moses is effusive on the mall’s performance.

“While most of our competitors were losing retailers, we gained Urban Outfitters, Sephora, Lush. The holiday sales were solid even in this terrible pandemic.” he says. “We were able to renew some really marquee folks out there, got several other very exciting tenants we’re going to announce soon.”

Moses said the management company inadvertently laid the groundwork for accommodating last year’s onset of COVID-19 restrictions, which helped blunt any negative impact on traffic and sales.

“One thing we always do when we take over a property is: one, engage with the merchants; and two, promote a safer, friendlier, walkable environment,” he says. “We had that plan in place in 2019, actually in November when we took [Promenade] over. As COVID-19 came in March we were, through dumb luck, ahead of it, beefing up the

The following is a partial list of the stalwart mall retailers that have declared bankruptcy since 2018. Bankruptcies do not automatically mean companies are liquidating, although store closures are often leveraged as cost-cutting measures during reorganization.

2018

exterior and really trying to create that walkability and pay real close attention to what our merchants wanted.”

Outdoor malls buck design trends that have traditionally earned traditional malls scorn from urban planners. The boxy monoliths surrounded by acres of asphalt did little to blend in with the neighborhood or make smart use of space including residential and office to go with retail.

But it wasn’t meant to be that way. The trend back toward a design that incorporates the outdoors and accentuates a sense of place fulfills the vision of the father of the shopping mall, Victor Gruen.

Fleeing the Nazis in 1938, the Viennese socialist architect eventually settled in Los Angeles where in 1943, he proposed a fully self-contained space of stores, public art and concert halls that he hoped would revolutionize urban design, saving it from the sprawl of suburbia. That vision first came to life in the mid-1950s with malls in Edina, Minnesota and Detroit, however as malls multiplied like kudzu, many of the artistic and community-forward elements were discarded.

In fact, Gruen would later denounce his own concept for exacerbating the very problems he sought to solve.

If the Promenade, and malls like it, are any indication, Gruen’s original design ideas were right all along.

“Gimmicks are a fancy way of saying guerilla marketing. We just don’t do them,” Moses says. “From a retailer standpoint, it’s about sales per square foot, and retailers want to go in the centers that promote the highest sales per square foot for their tenants. So that’s always been our angle whether we’re scouting out new tenants to call on or to promote our existing tenants. That’s the mix and the balance that I think you need for healthy retail these days, high-quality assets that thrive in vibrant areas. If we have to use a gimmick, we brought in the wrong asset.

“On the consumer side, we promote the value of an experience that’s high-end, fun and familyoriented. It’s where not only the mother can go to shop, but also her husband and the kids along with upscale restaurants and walkability. That’s what we try to promote, with safety paramount to it all. If you don’t have that, you can’t do anything else.”

• Bon-Ton • Brookstone • Claire’s • David’s Bridal • Kiko USA • Mattress Firm • Nine West • Rockport • Samuels Jewelers • Sears Holdings

2019

E H T DY BO NT U O C

• Avenue • Barneys New York • Destination Maternity • Diesel USA • Forever 21 • Fred’s • Gymboree • Innovative Mattress Solutions (Sleep Outfitters, Mattress Warehouse, Mattress King) • Payless Shoesource • Shopko • Things Remembered

2020

• Aldo • Ascena (Justice, Lane Bryant, Anne Taylor, LOFT, Catherines, Maurices, Dress Barn) • Brooks Brothers • GNC • Guitar Center • Furniture Factory Outlet • J. Crew • JCPenney • Lord & Taylor • Lucky Brand • Modell’s Sporting Goods • Muji USA • Neiman Marcus • Pier 1 • RTW Retailwinds (New York & Co., Fashion to Figure, Happy x Nature) • Stage Stores (Bealls, Palais Royal, Peebles, Stage, Goody’s, Gordmans) • Stein Mart • Tailored Brands (Men’s Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank, Moores Clothing for Men, K&G) • True Religion • Tuesday Morning Source: Retail Dive

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health

Delivered CORONAVIRUS

How Our Family Handled COVID-19 During Childbirth

By Mike Linn

A

few hours after the birth of our second child, Parker Joseph, a nurse walked into the 300-square-foot hospital room at Baptist Medical Center wearing a long blue gown, face shield, gloves and an N95 face mask.

“Sorry it took me a while to get here after your call,” she told my wife, “but I had to get suited up in PPE (personal protective equipment) because you tested positive for COVID-19.”

“I’m sorry, what?” asked my wife, Adrienne, as she sat up in her bed, the needle from her labor-induction medication IV bag still stuck in her arm.

“The test you took a few hours prior to delivery came back positive for the coronavirus,” the nurse repeated.

As the heaviness of that statement filled the air, the light, happy feeling of having a perfectly healthy baby evaporated into a fog of fear.

By the time Parker took his first breath, at 4 p.m. on Oct. 13, the United States had 7.8 million confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus and 215,000 confirmed deaths related to the disease. Four months later, the United States caseload had more than tripled to nearly 28 million infections, and the number of deaths increased to 468,000.

Nearly everyone in America was required to wear a face mask in public, and state governments forced bars and restaurants to close indoor dining for extended periods of time.

Signs posted outside businesses read, “Do not enter if you have recently had a fever, cough or feel sick,” and, “No shirt, no shoes, no mask — no service.”

The nightly news showed hospital ICUs filled with deathly ill patients, and refrigerator trucks parked outside hospitals served as temporary morgues in coronavirus hotspots across

Adrienne and Parker Joseph just after delivery, before finding out about the positive test.

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the country. At one point, an American died from the coronavirus every 20 seconds.

Knowing these statistics was hard enough; becoming a part of them was surreal.

My wife burst into tears as the nurse gave us the news. She had mild symptoms the night before Parker’s scheduled delivery but didn’t think much of it. A mild headache, sneezing and runny nose, she assumed, was a reaction to cleaning the dog beds earlier that day.

“We did everything to be careful,” Adrienne told the nurse as she wept. “We haven’t even had our oldest son, who is almost 2, in daycare since March. And now this. I’m worried about the boys and Mike’s mom.”

“It’s not your fault,” the nurse said. “You did do everything you were supposed to do.

Don’t be hard on yourself.”

My mother, Luisa Bosso, arrived from Florida the night before Parker was born, and when I met her at the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport baggage claim, she had on two face masks and a face shield, conscious of potentially getting exposed to the virus on the flight. By the time Luisa landed, Adrienne was already symptomatic.

Given this, it was clear Luisa did not spread the virus to Adrienne. Furthermore, she had quarantined for 10 days before her arrival in Little Rock.

Some contact tracing made it somewhat clear, although not for certain, that Adrienne was probably exposed to the virus when an ultrasound technician checked on Parker three days before his birth. Parker hadn’t been moving like normal that day, and when we called to explain this to the on-call nurse, she suggested Adrienne come in for a checkup to be on the safe side.

Unfortunately, the ultrasound tech was experiencing a mild cough during the procedure, explaining it away to Adrienne as “just sinuses.” The baby, who at this point was almost a week past his due date, was perfectly fine during the checkup. He began moving and wiggling once the sonogram tech hooked the machine up. Little stinker!

After receiving news of Adrienne’s positive test result, our nurse told us that Parker needed to stay in a closed incubator to protect him from exposure unless Adrienne was breastfeeding. She also handed my wife an N95 mask with a filter, the kind that protects the wearer, not the people they encounter.

Adrienne didn’t need a mask to protect herself — she already had COVID-19. She needed a mask to protect the baby and potentially me, although at the time I was certain kissing Adrienne after the birth of Parker gave me

The light, happy feeling of having a perfectly healthy baby evaporated into a fog of fear.

Mike and Parker.

little to no chance of evading the pathogen.

The filtered N95 masks are banned on all airplanes as people wearing the masks can still spread the virus to those around them. To account for this, Adrienne put on a second mask.

The next few hours involved several phone calls and text messages to family and friends.

My biggest fear, apart from Parker or me getting the virus, was my mother, Luisa, who was exposed to Adrienne the night before Parker’s birth when she arrived from Florida. Luisa was relatively healthy, but she was 67, an age the CDC considered high risk for having a severe case of COVID-19.

I called and gave her the news.

“Mom, I think maybe you should consider going back to Florida or getting a hotel in town,” I said. “When we come back, we don’t want you to catch the virus.”

“No way, Michael, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said. “If you guys are sick, how are you going to rest and get better while caring for a newborn and toddler?”

In retrospect, she probably was stuck with us anyway. She had already been exposed, so she would be banned from traveling on a plane. And since she was watching our 21-month-old son, William, while we were in the hospital, she had few other options. We needed her, and she was there to hunker down with us and ride it out.

The next morning, one of the doctors came in and said that Parker and I needed to also be tested for COVID-19. She could give Parker a test, but since I wasn’t technically a patient in the hospital, I would have to leave the hospital

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to get tested.

“Great, I will get tested at my PCP’s testing line this afternoon and come back,” I said.

I had already received three negative tests in July after attending my brother’s wedding in Florida. I had also quarantined from Adrienne and William — who stayed at her parent’s house — after the July wedding as a precaution.

“Once you leave the hospital, since you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you can’t come back in,” the doctor said.

“Well, I’m not leaving my wife and newborn here alone,” I said. “They need me. Can I just get a test here? The nurse who delivered Parker offered me a test, but I said I didn’t need one. I just assumed if Adrienne tested positive then I would also be positive.”

“Let me check on that,” the doctor said.

“I don’t think they are offering husbands tests down in labor and delivery.”

The doctor came back a few hours later and tested Parker, whose results came back negative later that night. She said labor and delivery did not offer tests to husbands, and that I would need to get tested somehow. She said I could walk down to the emergency room; they had testing there.

“But it’s not an emergency,” I said, slightly upset now. “I will just assume I have it and act accordingly.”

“But we really need to get you tested,” she said.

I pulled my head back and exhaled, slightly annoyed, while also conscious of the fact the medical staff was doing their best given the

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circumstances.

A few hours later, a nurse came back and said I could leave the hospital to get tested if I promised to come directly back. She made a phone call and got me on the list at a location across from the hospital. Within 30 minutes, I had that horrible swab up my nose, tickling the front of my forehead from the inside. No bueno!

As I waited for the results, in the hospital room with my wife and newborn, the fear set in. What if I get sick and go on a ventilator, or worse, die? What if Parker gets it and must stay in the hospital for an extended period?

Or my mom gets sick and goes to the hospital? What about hospital bills? My mom was on Medicare and had great coverage, but I did not have regular insurance. (I had a plan through Christian Healthcare Ministries, a medical bill sharing organization). I was aware having a baby qualified me for a special election period to get coverage through the Affordable Care Act. I called the Obamacare hotline and confirmed this, but when they told me how much my insurance would cost — close to $500 a month — I opted to wait, against my wife’s wishes. (I did get coverage for Parker, however.)

“It’s OK, sweetheart,” I said. “If I get sick and need medical treatment, I can call them back and get coverage back-date effective to the day Parker was born.”

As the sun went down on our second night in the hospital, I attempted to help my wife navigate her fears while also attempting to navigate my own.

I settled on the little couch in our post-delivery hospital room, fully aware that COVID-19 viral particles were likely circulating in the air.

The bright pink sign outside our hospital door probably best described it: “Confirmed airborne.”

The fear of the unknown and what the future held, compounded with lack of sleep and a poor hospital food diet, had me on edge. I had seen on television how perfectly healthy men my age died from COVID-19 after weeks in the hospital. The fear of not being able to breathe, as if I was swimming underwater from one end of the pool to the other, stuck in my mind like a barnacle on an old sailboat. There was nothing I could do, and nowhere for me to go, to evade this virus.

I had also not slept more than an hour or so in two days, and about the time my racing mind finally allowed me to doze off for a quick

nap, Adrienne yelled my name.

She was up by the incubator reaching for Parker when it hit her, a quick lightning strike of cold chills. She rushed to her bed and threw her covers over her, and I grabbed my covers and threw on a second layer.

She was shaking violently and moaning.

I quickly called the nurse.

“My wife is shaking, can you send someone down please,” I said, apparently not clearly enough because I was asked to repeat myself.

Then I went to the incubator, grabbed Parker and moved to the other side of the hospital room, floored by what I was witnessing.

“Hang in there, babe,” I said. “The nurse is on the way. She will be here any second.”

I stood near the bathroom door in a state of shocked fear, holding a cryParker made it home safely to meet his family. ing, 7-pound newborn, mouth aghast, trying to make sense of what I was witnessing. I froze in that spot — trying to be supportive — and watched as my wife’s chills dissipated. outcomes for me and my family. Every time The first set of chills lasted 30 seconds, and I had felt this impending doom in the past, by the time the nurse arrived, Adrienne felt I thought of Mark Twain’s quote: “I’ve lived fine. Her vitals were OK, and she had no fever. through some terrible things in my life, some She experienced milder chills off and on of which actually happened.” for the rest of the night, but the initial onThe quote generally sets me at ease. Peoslaught was like nothing I had ever seen. It ple tend to worry too much, myself included, was much more intense than your typical cold about potential dangers. The “what ifs.” But or flu chills. maybe this time something terrible would happen. I could not avoid this angst.

In the morning, we were greeted with a pleasant surprise. Our pediatrician, Dr. Aaron Strong, came in with the nurse, each carrying a breakfast tray. The food was not the pleasant surprise, no offense to the chefs at Baptist Mark Twain Medical Center.

Dr. Strong had a sympathetic smile on Still, it is possible the chills were related his face, greeting us as if we were family home to the labor-induction drug Pitocin. After the for the holidays — minus the hugs and handbirth of our firstborn in January 2019, Adrishakes, of course. His soft-spoken tone was enne had chills as well, directly after delivery very calming to us nervous parents, something and for weeks thereafter. Doctors and nurses we had learned after taking our firstborn, Wiltold her then it was normal and a sign of all liam, to see him for checkups. the hormones of childbirth and the labor-inWe immediately drew up a game plan, duction medication exiting the body. which helped ease our anxieties. For the next We got little, if any, sleep that night. My two weeks or so, Adrienne, Parker, William, mind was racing, fearing the worst possible Luisa and I would have to quarantine at our

,

I ve lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.”

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1,800-square-foot home in Little Rock. We would need to get William tested, too, and Adrienne would need to isolate in the back bedroom unless she was breastfeeding or watching Parker. We needed to wear masks in the house unless we were showering or sleeping. We would not be able to bring Parker in for his first checkup at Little Rock Pediatric Clinic for at least two weeks, so we purchased a baby scale on Amazon and promised to call every couple of days to report his weight to the clinic. Furthermore, Parker’s bilirubin levels were slightly elevated — a precursor to infant jaundice — and if we left the hospital that day as we desired, we needed a plan to get his blood drawn. Since Parker was exposed to the coronavirus and we were all in either isolation or quarantine, nobody could technically bring him inside the hospital or to the pediatrician’s office.

Dr. Strong suggested we could have his blood drawn in the parking lot, as long as I social distanced from the nurse, and a couple of days later we did exactly that. It was slightly chilly — 50 degrees or so — and, like a good infant, Parker wailed the entire time the nurse took his blood. He sat bundled in blankets in his car seat in the back seat of my Hyundai Santa Fe, the cold wind whipping across his little face. I wanted to console him, but I also didn’t want to get too close to the nurse, so it was a difficult balancing act. His bilirubin levels, by the way, were fine.

The next two weeks were difficult, though.

My first COVID-19 test came back negative on Oct. 15, two days after Parker’s birth. But a couple of days later, I developed a nagging cough, and when I couldn’t smell the dirty diapers, I knew I had the virus, too. A test I took four days later came back positive.

The only symptoms I experienced were a nagging cough and loss of smell for about a week. Adrienne had the initial stuffy nose, sneezing and headache the day before Parker was born, the chills the night after Parker was born, and no smell or taste for a couple of weeks. Both of us were super tired, but any parent of an infant will tell you that’s the norm anyway.

William and my mom had no symptoms of any kind, and both tested negative a week after Adrienne tested positive.

Meanwhile, a positive test result for Adrienne and me meant communicating with a contact tracer and filling out a daily symptom report.

Adrienne’s initial conversation with the

The Linn family, happy and healthy and together.

contact tracer lasted at least an hour. Mine was much shorter. I explained to them that they already had my information from my wife, but for some reason, the contact tracer couldn’t find her in “the system.” This was strange because Adrienne had been filling out the symptom report online every day.

The contact tracer told us it’s possible another company contracted by the state to do contact tracing had my wife and another one had me, and the two didn’t cross-reference their cases. At any rate, I told the contact tracer that my contacts were the same as my wife’s, and she already gave hers to the nurse who contacted her.

I also agreed to fill out the daily symptom report, and the nurse told me to isolate from people for 10 days from the onset of my symptoms — in my case, the nasty cough that came about four days after Parker’s birth.

This meant none of us in the house could go grocery shopping or even pick up dinner at a drive-thru. Thankfully, we have some amazing friends who brought us food and offered to go grocery shopping for us.

Thanks to family, friends, Wal-Mart and Amazon, we survived the chaos and were super-excited to be done with our quarantines and isolations.

The contact tracing company continued to call me. They interviewed me numerous times and asked the same questions; apparently, my initial conversations with them were not in-

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putted in the system.

After a couple of days, I stopped answering their calls because I knew they had everything they needed from me. When I finally answered the phone at the end of my isolation period after numerous attempts to reach me, the nurse asked me how I was feeling and whether I had made it out of the hospital.

“I was in the hospital?” I asked. “I was there for the birth of my child not because of the coronavirus. I hope you didn’t have me listed as a hospitalization.”

“Oh, no I didn’t,” she said. “I have like 100 people I am calling. I must have you mixed up with someone else.”

“Oh, OK, great,” I said. “I had a mild cough, but otherwise felt fine. I was tired too, but that could easily have been from lack of sleep.”

The nurse was extremely kind and said the Arkansas Department of Health would email me a letter releasing me from isolation, the same letter they emailed Adrienne a few days prior.

We were through with the virus, and everyone was healthy. We were lucky, for sure.

We still couldn’t understand how the children and my mom never tested positive or got sick.

But this virus has been confusing health experts for more than a year now, so I am OK not knowing why.

I am also grateful Mark Twain’s quote still held true. None of the terrible things I feared actually happened.

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health

teens and the

Pandemic ‘Affect’ A

By Angela Forsyth

s we complete one year since first being asked to quarantine, it’s clear the year has taken a toll on all of us. As the physical risks become better managed and we begin to see light at the end of the tunnel, the emotional toll has become more apparent. For one year, we have been asked to stay away from family and friends. We’ve canceled our favorite activities, worked from home and taken on virtual schooling. There have been many challenges and several disappointments. In truth, it’s been a lot to bear.

For teenagers, a year of quarantine has brought its own harsh realities as they struggle through social, emotional and academic difficulties. Having to physically distance themselves from their favorite support systems — friends, significant others, family or worship communities — has been difficult. There has been real grief in skipping events and rites of passage they had looked forward to for years — graduations, dances, birthday parties, spring break and senior trips.

One 16-year-old, Anthony, confesses, “The hardest thing has been not seeing change at all. Every day just seems the

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same as the rest, being by yourself most of the day, not seeing people outside of your house. I miss seeing my friends, going to the football games. I didn’t have prom this year, I miss school social events in general. We’re not meeting new people or interacting with anyone, even when we’re at school because you don’t get the chance to talk to anyone.”

MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS ON THE RISE According to research by the Kaiser Family Foundation, about four in 10 adults nationwide have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder throughout the COVID-19 pandemic — a four-fold increase from pre-pandemic levels.

Young adults (ages 18-24) have been especially hit and are about twice as likely as all adults to report new or increased substance use (25 percent vs. 13 percent) or recent suicidal thoughts (26 percent vs. 11 percent). Locally, counselors who work directly with adolescents are seeing major increases in the number of families seeking help for their teenage kids.

LPC and Certified Mediator, Juvenile Division, Dawn Spragg, has noticed first hand an increase in teens with de-

pression and anxiety. As co-founder and director of Teen Action and Support Center (TASC) in Rogers, Spragg says the counseling sessions at the center have tripled since April 2020. “Teens are experiencing an increase in both depression and anxiety,” she notes. “We have seen a number of teens who have sought counseling in the past come back this summer as the challenges of isolation increase.” Sadly, there has been a rise in suicide assessments and referrals at the center,

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but families have been faced with admission delays for inpatient care because the beds are full. “School has definitely been a challenge for teens,” she adds, citing that school instability — switching back and forth between virtual, in-school and blended learning — has been tough on students. “The rise in depression has impacted motivation for education.”

Dan Luttrell, LMFT, LPC, a therapist at Summit Family Counseling in Northwest Arkansas, has seen similar issues at

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“School has definitely been a challenge for teens,” Dawn Spragg adds, citing that school instability — switching back and forth between virtual, in-school and blended learning — has been tough on students. his practice. In recent months, his client load has increased by 50 percent to 60 percent — most of them teenagers — and the number of clients referred to psychiatrists for medication has doubled. Luttrell believes changes in education have been a major factor in mental health, beginning with the move to virtual school a year ago. Students struggled with the lack of classroom interaction and live teaching. “Initially, they weren’t getting the eight hours of engagement they were used to. They were logging on for a couple of hours and that’s it,” he explains. “That has led to the decline we’ve seen in mood and anxiety. They’re not being mentally stimulated.

Just like physical exercise, they also need the right challenges put in front of them mentally.”

WHAT TEENS ARE FEELING Luttrell shares that many of his clients have been rightfully grieving over the loss of sports, prom, pep rallies — all the things that make high school fun and worthwhile for students. Athletes with hopes of getting college scholarships have lost opportunities to compete and have seen those dreams slip away.

Many teens have also expressed a lack of confidence in school administration and educational decisions. “The way we’re doing school right now doesn’t feel efficient,” Anthony says. “School feels like a chore, and we’re not really learning anything. When we’re in class, teachers are more worried about being safe, and keeping COVID standards instead of teaching.”

According to Luttrell, teens are feeling cheated. They’ve reached a phase in their lives they’ve looked forward to for a long time. They’re just beginning to establish independence.

Some have reached driving age and are finally old enough to do many of the things they’ve been waiting for, but all of a sudden, the rug has been pulled out from under them.

They’re missing out on privileges those ahead of them have enjoyed, and no one is able to tell them when they’ll be able to go back to doing all the things they want to do.

Another thing teens are feeling is resentment. The majority of kids recognize their age group doesn’t get as sick as older groups, yet they have been asked to carry much of the burden in slowing down the spread of the virus. Luttrell shares he has heard from kids who are frustrated with the responsibility imposed on them to protect elders. Being told to not go to a soccer game because they might come home and get grandparents sick puts a lot of pressure on kids. In some instances, he has worked with families asking them to cut back on that pressure.

Spragg agrees there has been too much stress put on teens and notes it’s important at this time to reset expectations, including school performance and grades.

Anthony confesses that school has been a major source of anxiety. “Adults don’t understand how hard it is to stay on top of school because nothing feels like it really matters this school year. I don’t feel any motivation. If I’m not going to learn anything, why should I really be trying?”

WHAT ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION LOOKS LIKE The common signs of anxiety and depression are harder to identify in quarantine. “If you look at depression, the most common symptom is isolation, and we’re all in it,” Luttrell says. Another red flag is “a lack of interest in things they used to enjoy, but we took away the things they used to enjoy.”

This means parents have to look more closely and be more aware. He recommends watching for downtrodden and defeated posture. Other signs include insomnia, changes in eating habits and mood swings.

Luttrell describes depression as what happens when you take negativity — such as boredom, anger and disappointment — and you turn it inward, keeping it bottled up inside. It starts to manifest into those symptoms we recognize.

Many teens, especially, don’t have the skills to explain what they’re feeling, and they don’t understand it themselves — resulting in a lot of bottling that’s being allowed to fester and become a bigger problem.

WHAT NOT TO SAY:

WHAT TO SAY: • • • • • • •

I get it.

I understand.

You’re not alone.

It’s normal to feel this way.

This is hard for me too.

I feel the same way.

What can I do to help?

If you see some of these characteristics, Luttrell suggests helping your teen find an outlet physically, mentally and emotionally. Exercise helps. Getting endorphins going and the heart rate up can help increase mood. Finding any type of mental stimulation will also help to “get out of that idle.”

Getting as much socialization as possible, even if it’s in a group Zoom, can help fight isolation, “which is the root of so much of this.”

Anthony says going anywhere that gets him out of the house helps. “Even if it’s just to go to a store, or a restaurant or to run an errand, it helps the day to not feel so repetitive.”

WHAT PARENTS CAN DO Helping a child feel some sense of normalcy in the midst of the chaos and know they’re not alone goes a long way. “We can bond in pain, and we can handle more pain if we’re not alone in it,” Luttrell says. One of the best things we can do for our teens is to listen to them and understand what they’re going through. Sometimes our impulse is to fix the issue, or worse, make it sound like there’s no problem at all, but that approach will most likely backfire.

“It’s important to validate where they are and not try to explain away the problem,” Luttrell says, adding that when

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• • • • • •

It’s not that bad.

Get over it.

Move on.

Stop complaining.

I’m tired of hearing about it.

Just think positive.

adults start to argue that things are not as bad as they think, kids assume adults are oblivious and don’t know what they’re talking about. The better thing to do is to show you understand where they’re coming from, do some “self-disclosure” and share how this has been difficult for you as well.

“Parents need to really be listening to their kids’ needs,” Spragg adds. She recommends parents pay attention to big changes in their teens’ behavior and ask how to help them get through this challenge. “Working together is what teens need right now,” she notes. “Giving teens a safe space to process the losses they are experiencing and the frustrations they are feeling without criticism or comparison is important right now.”

Therapy is not a last resort. If you see your child is not interested in doing things he or she used to enjoy or is losing friends, it’s time to start getting help.

The Mental Health Council of Arkansas recently launched a program called Stay Positive Arkansas with coronavirus-specific crisis counselors available across the state at no charge. You can call the crisis support line at (833) 993-2382 and find more information at staypositivearkansas.com.

Note: The student’s name in this story is a pseudonym to protect their anonymity

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Letters 130

Health Care in the Age of COVID-19 and Beyond Dr. Cam Patterson (middle) and his team at UAMS have been at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 in Arkansas. (Photo by Ebony Blevins)

from the

By Dwain Hebda

FRONT 131

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A

rkansas’ health care landscape, like that of the industry across the country and around the world, has been fundamentally changed by COVID-19. From small-town hospitals and rural clinics to the state’s largest and most comprehensive health systems, the people, technology and systems that keep us healthy have been tested to the core by the events of the past 12 months.

As a result, say experts, such institutions have emerged smarter, if more scarred because of it.

“Our whole operation has changed,” says Cam Patterson, chancellor of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). “You can’t enter the hospital without appreciating that we have had to change our way of doing business. No. 1 has been the work we have had to do to keep our health care workers safe while they’re providing care. I would say that’s absolutely our No. 1. No. 2, right behind that, is we’ve had to rapidly develop expertise in a disease we’ve never seen before.

“Frankly, if COVID went away today, and tomorrow there was never another COVID-19 patient and we never saw one in the hospital again, the damage due to this pandemic would still continue for decades. The severity with which health care systems have been impacted and the immense damage that has happened to our ability to provide care is going to reverberate for a long time.”

In the July article, “COVID-19 — Implications for the Health Care System,” the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) underlined the continuing market pressure and operational inadequacies of the nation’s health care system. As well, the article highlighted how COVID-19 showed the many disconnects between health systems and government, which handcuffed response and added to the difficulty in dealing with the disease.

The piece called for reform in four specific areas — undermined health insurance coverage, financial loss for providers, racial and ethnic disparities in health care and a flawed public health system — considered the leading existential challenges to what the health care industry does and how they do it.

“The novel coronavirus pandemic has spawned four intertwined health care crises that reveal and compound deep underlying problems in the health care system of the United States,” wrote the authors. “In so doing, however, the pandemic points the way toward reforms that could improve our ability not only to cope with likely future epidemics but also to serve the basic health care needs of Americans.”

“YOU DIDN’T KNOW WHAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW” This summer marks the 40th anniversary of the dawning of the AIDS epidemic, when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on unusual clusters of Pneumocystis pneumonia in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report newsletter. It was the last time physicians faced a health crisis of such scale and grave consequences of which they knew so little. Until COVID-19.

“With HIV, there was no cure, no treatment. In a lot of ways, COVID-19 is like that, but compressed from a decade down to a couple of months,” Patterson says. “The difference between HIV and COVID, in my mind, putting medical issues aside, is the difference in the societal and political response. There were some political overtones for HIV; Ronald Reagan was criticized for not mentioning the disease. But at

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the end of the day, whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican didn’t determine whether you wore a condom or not.

“That’s not the case now. Just seeing social discourse driving maladaptive behaviors has been one of the most difficult aspects of my career. There’s never been a situation in my life where there’s been as much bad information around a health care problem as has occurred here. Frankly, we’ve had public voices to adjudicate some of that.”

Misinformation about COVID-19 emanated from a number of angles, not just Capitol Hill. Health care administrators said some of the stiffest challenges in combating the disease early on came from a lack of understanding within the medical community itself.

“Unfortunately, with this virus, you didn’t know what you didn’t know,” says LaDonna Johnston, vice president of patient services with Unity Health in Searcy and the group’s Newport hospital administrator.

“The one thing we come back to all the time was ventilators. Initially, it was, ‘You’ve got to have ventilators. Get ventilators. As soon as you know they’ve got COVID, put them on the vent! Put them on the vent!’ And then we learned, ‘Patients don’t tend to do well. Don’t put them on the vent! Don’t put them on the vent!’

“We learned a lot by watching the northern states, and we tried to follow suit, but we just learned things as we went along. What we initially thought would help didn’t and we had to be agile. We had to make some changes. I think [the state and CDC] were trying to communicate with us, but they did not know what to tell us to do.”

Dealing with the scenario gave smaller organizations such as Unity a foxhole mentality in relation to the virus. While there was no shortage of communication going on, health care teams quickly wised up to the

Far left: Meghann Holmes Injecting Dr. Ahmad Tarawneh with the COVID-19 vaccine.

Middle: Meghann Holmes.

Left: Dr. Nayana Paul decked out in PPE. (Photos courtesy of Unity Health)

fact that reinforcements would be slow in coming.

“For small, rural hospitals out there in states like Arkansas, there was the realization that you’ve got to do this yourself,” Johnston says.

“You can’t wait for UPS to drive by and drop off N95s, you can’t wait for FedEx to bring you vaccines. The state’s not doing that for you, the government’s not doing that for you, the magic fairy isn’t going to show up to do that for you.

“We learned quickly that you couldn’t count on typical resources to help you. The agility of [Unity’s] leadership to recognize that and then to perform at that level guided us through last year. Our leaders stepped up and they did not take no for an answer. They just kept bird-dogging until we got what we had to have to not only take care of patients in our community but also take care of our associates and ensure they were safe.”

THROUGH THE MIND’S EYE The mental health challenges presented by COVID-19 last year were also substantial. Not only did clinics and behavioral hospitals have to implement the same medical precautions as other health care organizations but also consider the pandemic’s impact on their patients’ mental treatment (or lack thereof ).

“Our parent company, Universal Health Services, conducted a national survey in Spring 2020 to assess and quantify Americans’ views and perceptions on mental health amidst COVID-19,” says Bruce Trimble, director of business development for The Bridgeway. “The survey revealed one in four people were unclear what action to take if they had a mental health crisis. Fear of virus exposure was the key barrier to mental health treatment during this time, followed by the cost of copay and negative perception of telehealth.”

Trimble says the impact of these considerations was a mixed bag.

Some populations showed a marked decrease in the number of people seeking help while other demographics turned out in greater numbers than before.

“Initially, the pandemic precluded some people from seeking help,

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primarily in the elderly population,” he says. “We experienced a decrease in referrals from nursing homes and assisted living centers and based upon these trends, we suspended our senior care program operations.

“At the same time, we saw an increase in adults with substance use disorders and in June expanded our substance abuse continuum of care by adding an acute rehabilitation program. We now have medical detoxification, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs for substance use disorders.”

In response to patient concerns, the mental health care community began to lean heavily on technology to maintain contact and continue treatment. Trimble says while these tools were relatively easy to implement, the learning curve for patients proved challenging.

“We launched telehealth for partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs rather quickly and we adapted it for our mobile assessment team in April. However, we found that many people were unaware of telehealth and the app we use, Zoom,” he says.

“We were talking with people in a mental health crisis and trying to educate them on how to download and use new technology, which was challenging. In response, we developed some downloadable tools that are available on our website.”

This system is expected to remain in place for many in the mental health field, Trimble says, even if it isn’t the preferred methodology for treatment in all cases.

“Now that health care providers have worked with this platform, I expect to see more mental health providers adapt to this technology,” he says. “While telehealth has proven to be a useful tool, I believe most people prefer face-to-face interaction with health care professionals.

I think this is especially true in mental health where non-verbal communication is so vital.”

THE POLITICS OF HEALTH CARE No discussion about the saga of the COVID-19 response can be held without talking about the social and political climate in which it unfolded. Health care workers may have been portrayed as the life-

aymag.com

“This isn’t going to be the

last pandemic. If this country thinks it is, we’re sadly mistaken.”

Dr. Jordan Torres in PPE. (Unity Health)

and-death heroes they are, but the institutions where they performed yeoman’s work are still on shaky ground, especially in the state’s rural areas.

It’s a cruel irony for health care systems like Unity, which performed admirably in the heat of battle only to face the same pre-pandemic financial uncertainties due to reduced reimbursements and escalating costs.

“There are 26 hospitals in Arkansas that are open because they’re getting funding either from the county or city level, and there are 18 hospitals in Arkansas that were on the verge of closing before COVID hit,” says Steven Webb, Unity Health’s president and CEO. “Supply costs have gone through the roof as we try to just get the basic supplies of gloves and gowns and masks. Some things have gone up 800 percent in cost. Drugs have gone up.

“Staffing urban hospitals has been very competitive, and that’s made it a real challenge in rural hospitals across the state and across the country. It’s a competitive market a lot of rural hospitals don’t have the financial ability to compete with. Unfortunately, I think it puts more pressure on rural hospitals, and I think it will have a negative impact on our rural facilities across the state.”

Health care systems are also under scrutiny for the manner in which they provide health care to all segments of the community. Such issues are top of mind for Patterson, who says equitable access, treatment and mitigation efforts such as vaccine distribution are paramount to ethical medicine.

“You can’t have health care without having equity. When inequity exists, health care, by definition, doesn’t exist,” he says. “The vaccine is going to be our test of the application of equity, and it’s going to be a challenge for several reasons. One is simply for practical reasons; it’s much easier to vaccinate in one clinic, 1,000 people a day in Little Rock, than it is if you are in Mena. It’s just because of density.

“To the extent that the faster we get more people vaccinated, the quicker this will abate, there’s going to be the temptation to say, ‘That is what we should do first and then, we should go to less-densely populated areas that are going to take us longer, on a per-person basis, to vaccinate.’

We have to be practical, but we have to resist the temptation to overlook areas that are in need, merely based on size.”

It’s not just Arkansas that is struggling with equitable access,

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particularly in communities of color, as the July NEJM report highlighted.

“Black persons constitute 13 percent of the U.S. population but account for 20 percent of COVID-19 cases and more than 22 percent of COVID-19 deaths, as of July 22, 2020,” the report noted. “Hispanic persons, at 18 percent of the population, account for almost 33 percent of new cases nationwide. Nearly 20 percent of U.S. counties are disproportionately Black, and these counties have accounted for more than half of COVID-19 cases and almost 60 percent of COVID-19 deaths nationally.”

Patterson says, “We have to understand that there are communities across our state, especially African American, Latino and, in Northwest Arkansas, the Marshallese population, that are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 and more likely to have consequences from COVID-19,” Patterson says. “We’ve got to do the work — and it’s extra work, sometimes, but it’s good work — to make sure that those communities are not forgotten when it comes time to roll up somebody’s shirt sleeve and put a shot in their arm.”

SAME SONG, SECOND VERSE? Experts say the wider, ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 experience are substantial, from spurring telehealth to attracting more people into the medical field. They also say society at large has changed irreversibly, citing things such as working from home, wearing masks and calling in sick when it is warranted.

But in other areas, the lessons of 2020 are already starting to fall by the wayside. Buoyed by the introduction of vaccines and emboldened by a general desire to get back to life as it once was, the general public has begun demonstrating disturbing trends in behavior, say medical professionals.

“There is some pandemic fatigue that’s going on as we round the corner on our one-year anniversary,” says Dr. Roddy Lochala, Unity Health’s chief medical officer. “People are tired, they’re weary and they may see the cases and hospitalizations have gone down. But the numbers could just as easily go back up; there is concern about the different strains and their higher rates of transmission. We still have finite resources in things like ventilators, not just in our hospital system, but throughout the state.

“We’ve seen the horrific toll that COVID-19 can take, and we continue to take it very seriously. Members of our hospital system have been vaccinated with two shots and we’re still following all the rules, just as if we had never had the shot. We’re not letting our guard down here, and we hope the community continues to stay vigilant and helps increase these vaccination numbers and decrease our hospitalizations.”

“It’s lessons learned,” adds Johnston. “There will be another event.

Now, will it be in five years? Will it be in 20 years? I don’t think, in this country, we know what’s ahead of us. We all need to be very mindful that this could happen next year, and it could be another virus. It could be another disease that comes across this country.

“This isn’t going to be the last pandemic. If this country thinks it is, we’re sadly mistaken.”

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This side of

SEVEN – By Jason Pederson

I Forbid

You To Go I

forbid you to go.”

That was my father’s initial reaction when I told him back in the spring of 1993 that I had accepted a job in south Arkansas.

The money wasn’t great ($250 a week) and the distance from home WAS great. Generations of Pedersons have lived within a 30-mile radius of my western Wisconsin hometown for nearly 200 years.

But I was 22 years old. An adult. A college graduate. Too old to be forbidden.

And besides, after three months of applying for jobs in journalism all over the country, I had only this one offer.

“Dad, you can’t keep me from going. I already accepted the job. I leave in 10 days.”

And for the next seven days, nothing more was said.

I didn’t know it, but Mom was working on Dad behind the scenes. She was trying to convince him that his oldest son was going to leave with or without his blessing.

And it was going to be hard either way.

But Dad’s blessing would make leaving a little easier, if not for him then at least for his son.

Dad gave me his blessing two days before I left. We tried to say our goodbyes before

The Pedersons visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

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my 1985 Pontiac Parisienne backed out of the driveway and set sail for El Dorado, but we were all crying uncontrollably. It was a really hard goodbye.

Another hard goodbye recently seemed imminent, and this time it was the son’s job to do some work behind the scenes.

The thought crosses the minds of adult children from time to time: I wonder who will live longer, Mom or Dad? It certainly crossed my mind as I stood outside of my mother’s hospital room in freezing temperatures and talked to her via cellphone.

For the first eight months of the pandemic, nobody close to me contracted COVID-19. Then Dad got it. Mom didn’t avoid Dad or do anything special to protect herself. She figured if he had it, she would get it too. And she did. But while Dad recovered quickly, Mom was hospitalized several times and seemed to lack the energy and desire to get better. Things got so dire that I made an emergency trip back home to see her … even if it would be only through a window. I said, through tears, everything I wanted to say and everything she needed to hear. Then I left, doubtful I would ever see her again.

Dad’s quick recovery surprised no one.

He’s tougher than a one-eared alley cat.

On Halloween Day in 2019, Dad fell from a ladder, shattering his pelvis. The x-ray looked like a jigsaw puzzle. He had a spring vacation booked for Arkansas and made no changes. At age 74, he was determined to defy any doctor’s predictions and exceed any physical therapist’s expectations.

He was golfing in Hot Springs Village in April. He shot a 38 on his hometown course in June. Amazing!

If only he could transfer that determination and willpower to his wife of 53 years.

When Mom had COVID-19, she didn’t want to eat. She didn’t want to drink. She didn’t want to move around much. Just sleep. Or at least rest. She looked weak. She sounded weak. And Dad was frustrated.

He was angry. It seemed that another departure was coming to which he had no control.

It was hard to accept his son changing states; it was impossible to accept his life partner changing realms.

I asked Dad on that recent visit if he remembered forbidding me to move to Arkansas. Not exactly, he said, although he did remember thinking the money was too low and the new location too far away.

I reminded him about how he gave me

his blessing and told him how much that meant to me before I left.

“Dad, I am praying Mom makes a full recovery. That is what I want to happen.

But if that isn’t happening, and it becomes obvious that Mom is ready to move on … please give her your blessing.”

“I don’t know how to do that.”

“I know. I know it seems like you are giving her a green light to give up, and you don’t want her to give up. You want her to fight. But she doesn’t need your anger and frustration. She needs to know you will be OK without her. She needs to know you love her enough to let her go and give her your permission to leave. She doesn’t need your blessing. She will leave either way when she’s ready. Just like I did.”

“Well, I believe she is going to pull out of this. She just needs to work at it.”

Dad has that strong Midwestern work

ethic: no excuses, no quitting, no questions, no complaints. It has served him well his entire life, both as an employee and as a small business owner. But it wasn’t working as the caregiver of an uncooperative patient.

It took several more weeks, but Mom did recover. It appears likely I will be able to see her again and hug her again. When we visit on the phone every Sunday night, as we have for years, the strength of her voice has returned. So has her dry wit.

But if you asked me, based on their COVID-19 experience as well as some other factors, who I think will outlive the other … I would have to say Dad. And if the day ever comes when Mom is ill and ready to go, will Dad be able to let her go? Will she get his blessing?

I pray so.

She’s too old, too stubborn and too cherished to be forbidden.

A hospital visit was through glass and over the phone during the time of COVID-19.

JASON PEDERSON For two decades, Jason Pederson served as KATV-Channel 7’s “Seven-On-Your-Side” reporter. Now on the other “side” of his awardwinning time on the news, he leads the Office of the Ombudsman for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. His perspective-filled and thought-provoking column, “This Side of Seven,” publishes exclusively in AY About You magazine monthly.

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MURDER MYSTERY:

Murder in the Ozarks: Closer to Closure – By Janie Jones

A

break in the long-unsolved Rebekah Gould murder case came in November 2020 with the arrest of 44-year-old William Alma Miller. Gould, 22, went missing on or about September 20, 2004. At the time of her disappearance, she was staying with a friend, Casey McCullough, in his mobile home near Melbourne. A week later, searchers found her partially clad body in a ravine off AR Hwy 9. Her nose was broken, and she had sustained multiple skull fractures, which caused her death. It could not be determined if a sexual assault had occurred, due to the body being exposed to the elements. Dental records confirmed her identity. Her car, keys, purse and money were still at the mobile home.

Miller, who is McCullough’s cousin, worked in the oil industry and had been in the Philippines prior to his arrest in Lane County, Oregon. He was extradited to Arkansas and arraigned in Izard County Circuit Court on a first-degree murder charge. He entered a plea of not guilty. Prosecutor Eric Hance was quoted as saying, “Miller’s name has appeared in the case file from day one.”

Gould had attended Ozarka College in Melbourne before transferring to Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville. She planned to enroll at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where she shared an apartment with her sister, Danielle. Their father, Mountain Home dentist Dr. Larry Gould, once described Rebekah as, “a daughter that any father would be proud of.”

The original detective on the case said he knew who committed the murder but lacked the evidence to move forward with charges. After it languished for years without any developments, Catherine Townsend, a writer and private detective, started a podcast called Hell and Gone with the purpose of using that as a

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Rebekah Gould. tool to jump-start the Gould investigation. She says, “There was literally dust on the case file,” when she got it. Townsend felt a personal connection to the case because her sister was a friend to one of Gould’s sisters.

The podcaster spent time in the area getting to know the local people and earning their trust. They opened up to her, saying everybody knew who committed the murder. The podcast received more than 100 tips, and among them was a call from the alleged killer himself.

Miller said he had heard something at work but wasn’t specific.

Besides inserting himself into Townsend’s podcast, Miller also wrote to a Facebook page created by private detective Jen Bucholtz and journalist/author George Jared. Bucholtz and Jared hosted the online discussion for people following the case. Miller joined it and was on it for a year prior to his arrest.

Bucholtz says, “Obviously, there were no huge red flags or I would have reported it. He was like any other member of the group who wanted to brainstorm the

William Alma Miller.

case and explore different aspects of it.”

Killers have been known to insinuate themselves into investigations of crimes they have committed in order to keep abreast of what detectives know. Some may do it for a thrill, thinking they are outsmarting the officials.

Wayne Williams, believed by authorities to be the Atlanta Child Murderer, was a police groupie, listening to their actions through a scanner. He decked out his vehicle with flashing red lights and once impersonated a policeman. Serial killer Mark Alan Smith joined volunteers in searches for his own murder victims and even led them to the bodies.

Eventually, Arkansas State Police (ASP) Special Agent Mike McNeill was assigned to the Gould case.

With a pair of fresh eyes on it, the investigation kicked into high gear. McNeill went back to the beginning, according to Bucholtz, and brought in people who had been interviewed in 2004. They took polygraph tests and gave DNA samples. It isn’t known what forensic evidence detectives may have.

“They’re being very tight-lipped,” Bucholtz says.

Indeed, law enforcement officials were asked to comment on the case for this article, but they were not at liberty to do so.

The location where Gould’s murder occurred was always thought to be McCullough’s residence, specifically in the bedroom. Although the killer or killers tried to clean it up, a considerable amount of blood was found there; a bloody mattress had been flipped over, and bloody bed linen was in the washing machine.

Bucholtz wonders aloud, “Why does [the killer] care about taking that immense risk? Staying at the scene, transporting the body in whatever vehicle he used, cleaning up blood, doing laundry. He took a huge risk. He doesn’t know if a member of the family’s going to show up, or if a neighbor comes knocking.”

In a statement regarding Miller’s arrest, the ASP said he was a Texas man visiting Izard County in 2004.

Bucholtz adds, “His mom and younger brother had

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moved up to the Melbourne area sometime in the summer of 2004, and he came up a few days before the murder to see them. In September of this past year, I got tips from two different people who don’t know each other, and it was the same tip, and the tip was that the brother had been unenrolled from Mount Pleasant High School (in Izard County) a day or two after Rebekah went missing, and that he and his mother left the state of Arkansas and went back to their home in Texas.”

Miller is being held in the Izard County Jail at least until a bond hearing scheduled for March 30, 2021. A jury trial is set for August. The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic would not violate a defendant’s right to a speedy trial.

Most court records pertaining to Miller are sealed.

When a judge takes that action, he or she might be considering the possibility of more developments in an ongoing investigation. The high-profile nature of the case may also be a factor in the judge’s ruling. Defense teams can make allegations of jury bias caused by too much exposure, corrupting the court of law in the court of public opinion.

Internet sleuths bat around theories and suppositions and can keep a spotlight on a dormant case until it is revived. On the flip side, they could spread misinformation unintentionally. What then, is the general effect of social media in criminal analyses?

“It’s kind of a double-edged sword,” says Faulkner County Sheriff Investigator Kent Hill. “We ask for the public’s help if a person is missing or if we have a wanted person out there. On the other hand, they may release something that doesn’t need to be released right now.

There’s nothing really we can do to stop it. Usually, we’ll ask them not to say anything on Facebook or anything like that. Normally, they don’t, but sometimes the victims don’t think we’re going as fast as they want us to go, and they’ll just do it themselves, and sometimes that hinders us.”

Meanwhile, the Gould case seems to be inching closer to a conclusion, but as Bucholtz says, “This is a whole new chapter in a whole new book, and we’re just basically on the first paragraph. At least we got some progress on the case.”

aymag.com

F

ortunately, we don’t read much about mobsters in Arkansas these days. There are exceptions, of course, such as the occasional traffic stop on an interstate highway which yields an inordinate amount of illicit drugs — with rumors abounding that the shipment was destined for an out-of-state criminal syndicate.

Back in the late 1950s when Arkansas Sen. John L. McClellan and his chief counsel, a young Massachusetts lawyer by the name of Robert F. Kennedy, investigated organized crime via a series of high-profile congressional hearings in Washington, speculation suggested the Arkansas lawmaker had not endeared himself with the mob. The March 2, 1957, disappearance of Maud Crawford, an attorney with McClellan’s former law office in Camden, led some to conclude certain unsavory characters had taken extreme measures to get the senator’s attention. That bizarre and mysterious case has yet to be solved.

A full generation earlier mobsters regularly arrived on the Arkansas scene, most making a beeline for Hot Springs. In 1926, mayoral candidate Leo McLaughlin’s platform included a promise to make Hot Springs an open town. When McLaughlin won, he kept his word and the quaint resort city operated on an anything-goes basis — as long as everybody remained reasonably well-behaved.

Meyer Lansky, Frank Costello, Bugsy Siegel and Al Capone were among the city’s notorious visitors. In fact, Capone’s suite on the fourth floor of The Arlington Hotel is marked with a plaque and is a favorite with guests.

While many accounts claim the community provided a safe haven for those operating on the fringes of society, Capone might have felt otherwise. On March 14, 1927, another Chicago mobster by the name of Vincent “The Schemer” Drucci tried to kill Capone in Hot Springs as he left the Belvedere Country Club, but his shotgun blast missed its mark.

When Drucci’s life came to a tragic end a few weeks later, Capone was seen smirking at the graveside service.

But the real boss in Hot Springs from the

Mobsters

By Joe David Rice

mid-1930s until his death in 1965 was Owen (“Owney”) Madden. He was a prominent underworld figure in New York City who reportedly killed at least five members of a rival gang before reaching his 19th birthday. During his reign in New York, he owned the famous Cotton Club in Harlem, handled such boxers as Rocky Marciano and Max Baer, and underwrote the film careers of both George Raft and Mae West. Following an assassination attempt, doctors removed six slugs from Madden’s bulletriddled body but left five others in place. Seven days later, six of the 11 rivals who’d attempted to murder him were dead.

In 1932 Madden got caught up in a politically motivated crackdown on crime ordered by New York Gov. Franklin Roosevelt who was pulling out all the stops in his campaign for the Democratic Party’s presidential bid. As a result, Madden wound up serving another stint at the infamous SingSing prison (his first incarceration followed a manslaughter conviction in 1915) on an alleged parole violation charge. After his release, Madden — growing tired of constant police pressure and apparently in cahoots with the National Crime Syndicate — moved to Hot Springs and soon married Agnes Demby, the daughter of the local postmaster (whom he’d met several years earlier during a visit to the popular resort city).

On the surface, Madden was a model citizen in “Bubbles” — the nickname bestowed upon the city by visiting underworld dignitaries. He supported a variety of worthy causes, with special devotion to Boys Club. On one occasion Madden bought the complete sporting goods inventory of the local Stearns Hardware store and gave the stockpile of baseballs, gloves, bats, boxing gloves and other gear to the club.

But there was another side to Madden.

He acquired an interest in the Southern Club on Central Avenue, a longtime favorite gambling and entertainment haven for locals and tourists alike, along with silent positions in other gaming venues to include the Vapors.

He regularly entertained his high-powered

gangster friends when they came into town, often taking them to Lake Hamilton for rides in his sleek Chris Craft speedboat, a gift from George Raft. Working with Carlos Marcello, the famed New Orleans mobster, Madden established a network of telephone wires which connected every bookie joint in Hot Springs.

That relationship with Marcello caught the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice. In 1961, shortly after his brother’s inauguration as president, Attorney General Robert Kennedy took aim at Hot Springs, in particular one Owen Vincent Madden. “How can he [Kennedy] do this?” Madden asked his attorney. “I was in partnership with his father back in the bootlegging days.” After getting his subpoena, Madden flew to Washington where he was questioned by Sen. McClellan, his good friend and also the recipient of many campaign contributions from Madden and his associates.

Madden stated his occupation as retired, and then took the Fifth Amendment for most of the remaining questions. He flew back to Little Rock on the same plane with McClellan — and that was that.

Beginning in 1933, J. Edgar Hoover tried to get his hands on Madden and ordered his agents to collect everything they could on the man.

Constantly berating his staff, Hoover fired off directive after directive, demanding a photograph of Madden for his treasured “Hoodlum Album.”

Decades went by, and finally, on May 12, 1964 — after countless botched attempts using concealed cameras, telephoto lenses, and blatantly obvious stakeouts — the FBI got a satisfactory picture, the only official shot of Madden since his prison days.

In the spring of 1965, Madden died of chronic emphysema at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hot Springs. His funeral attracted hundreds of friends, many of whom flew in from Chicago, New York, New Orleans and Los Angeles. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery beside his beloved Agnes who died in 1991.

There’s no question that Madden wasn’t the typical American mobster. For one thing, he passed away in his sleep at the ripe old age of 73.

Joe David Rice, former tourism director of Arkansas Parks and Tourism, has written Arkansas Backstories, a delightful book of short stories from A through Z that introduces readers to the state's lesser-known aspects. Rice's goal is to help readers acknowledge that Arkansas is a unique and fascinating combination of land and people – one to be proud of and one certainly worth sharing.

Each month, AY will share one of the 165 distinctive essays. We hope these stories will give you a new appreciation for this geographically compact but delightfully complex place we call home. These Arkansas Backstories columns appear courtesy of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Central Arkansas Library System. The essays have been collected and published by Butler Center Books in a two-volume set, both of which are now available to purchase at Amazon and the University of Arkansas Press.

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