AY About You March 2025

Peak State Aims Higher Recovery

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Photo by Sarah Oden

As the state comes to grips with the prevalence of substance abuse disorder in Arkansas, efforts at every level, from the legislature to local communities, have been aimed at providing resources to those in recovery. That lifesaving support is especially critical in rural areas, where the problem can be more pronounced and support farther away. Residential treatment facilities are an indispensable method of bridging the gap for individuals as they attempt to enter into a new stage of life. Not far outside of Ouachita National Forest in the Saline County town of Paron, Chris and Nicole Dickie are giving people in recovery a new kind of option when it comes to detox programs — one with a different approach and one they hope will become a cornerstone of the community they now call home. Following a symbolic groundbreaking Feb. 18, the couple is hard at work transforming a former school building to bring their vision, Peak State Recovery, to life.

Why did you start Peak State Recovery?

Chris: Honestly, it’s personal. I’m an overdose survivor. More than 17 years ago, I was on the other side of this, struggling, lost and not sure if I’d make it out. Recovery and mentorship gave me my life back, and I knew I had to do something bigger with that 10th “second” chance. I’ve spent years in this field, leading recovery initiatives, founding treatment programs and consulting for organizations dedicated to addiction medicine and community wellness. Those experiences taught me not only how to build programs but how to build communities. Peak State is about energizing people to reclaim their lives and transform their futures like I did. Recovery is always possible, but with the right support, it becomes inevitable. We aim to manufacture dream outcomes for those we serve.

Nicole: For me, it’s about creating a space that feels dynamic and transformative. Addiction

treatment doesn’t have to be sterile or cold. It should feel like the beginning of a new chapter. We set out to build something warm, vibrant and full of life, a place where people can heal in every sense of the word. Every element is designed to nurture the mind, body and spirit. We want people to leave here not only sober but recharged, empowered and ready to fully embrace life with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility.

What inspired the name?

Chris: “Peak State” is about reaching the optimal mental, emotional and physical condition where you’re not surviving but thriving. Nicole and I were blown away after attending a Tony Robbins event where we learned how powerful it is to align your mind, body and emotions to achieve personal transformation. That experience stayed with us. It made us realize that recovery isn’t about what you’re leaving behind but about the life you’re building ahead. We wanted our center to reflect that energy and empowerment. We want people to feel like they’re climbing toward something incredible instead of escaping from their past.

How did you decide on the location?

Chris: Paron just felt right. It’s peaceful, surrounded by nature and perfect for the kind of holistic healing we believe in. More than that, we wanted to be part of a community that values connection. When we first introduced the idea, there were some concerns, sure, but over time, people saw our heart. They realized we’re here to make a difference for the whole community.

Nicole: And the fact that we’re converting an old school into this facility, there’s something poetic about that. It’s a place that once nurtured young minds, and now it’s going to help people rebuild their lives. This space facilitates growth and transformation, whether that’s in education or recovery.

What makes Peak State Recovery different?

Chris: We’re not just treating addiction. We’re reigniting lives. Our detox program isn’t some cold, clinical space. It’s designed to feel like a rejuvenating spa integrated with top-notch medical care. We want to help people feel truly alive again, and this includes working with families too. At Peak State, we’re combining evidence-based treatments with holistic therapies to address the whole person — mind, body and spirit. That’s something you won’t find in traditional programs around here.

Nicole: We’re big on community. Recovery can’t happen in isolation. That’s why we incorporate group activities like art and music therapy, team-building exercises, and mindfulness workshops to foster connections. Beyond traditional therapies, we will offer aromatherapy, guided meditation, yoga and breathwork sessions. Clients will also engage in fitness classes, nutritional counseling, massage therapy, infrared sauna

treatments and life skills coaching. We want our clients to feel connected, supported and inspired while they’re here and long after they leave.

How does Peak State prepare clients for life after treatment?

Nicole: Our work doesn’t stop when someone finishes the program. We focus on building life skills, offering motivational coaching and providing a strong aftercare support system. Whether it’s learning how to manage finances, building healthy relationships or finding a purpose beyond addiction, we want them to leave feeling charged up and ready to tackle whatever comes next.

You mentioned breaking the stigma surrounding addiction. What does that look like at Peak State?

Chris: Stigma is one of the biggest barriers to recovery. At our groundbreaking event in February, we wanted to make a statement. Instead of the usual ribbon cutting, we built a wall with the word “stigma” painted across it. Then we tore it down in front of the entire community. It showed that we’re serious about breaking down the barriers that keep people from seeking help.

Nicole: It was incredible to see the community rally around that message. Addiction isn’t a moral failing; it’s a health issue, and it’s time we start treating it that way. By breaking down that wall, we were inviting the whole community to join us in changing the narrative around addiction.

What are your goals for the future of Peak State Recovery?

Nicole: We’re starting here in Paron, but our vision is to reach communities across Arkansas. There are so many areas in this state where people are struggling, and access to holistic, compassionate care is limited. We want to bring Peak State’s energized approach to places that need it most, but no matter how much we grow, we’ll always stay rooted in our mission to empower individuals for a lifetime of wellness and personal growth.

Chris: We’ve faced a lot of roadblocks getting here, but if there’s one thing recovery has taught me, it’s to keep going. This is about sparking a movement within Arkansas, showing that recovery can be vibrant, holistic and deeply personal. My journey in recovery, combined with years of leading and innovating in this field, is proof that transformation is possible. We’re just getting started.

To learn more about Peak State Recovery and stay up to date as the grand opening approaches, visit peakstaterecovery.com, or follow on social media @PeakStateRecovery.

make your mark! FIND YOUR FIT,

For families new to Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD), registration for the 2025-2026 school year opens March 10, 2025. Beyond advanced academics and competitive athletics, PCSSD offers many extracurricular opportunities for its students. These clubs allow students to make their mark through developing a hobby, honing a skill, or trying something new. Visit each school website for more information about extracurricular options.

At Mills University Studies High, the Campus Beautification Club’s mission is to create a positive school environment one poster at a time. Led by sponsor Lakesha Foote, the students decorate for holidays, school events and more. Foote aims to share a simple, but profound lesson with club members. “I hope our students realize how giving back can brighten others’ days. We hope our students understand that it doesn’t take much to make a positive difference in their school and the lives of others.”

At Sylvan Hills Middle, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) allows students to develop essential skills like leadership, professionalism, organization, and confidence. Co-advisors Haley Frakes and Jessica Spurlock guide students through conferences, competitions and community service initiatives. Frakes highlights the importance of opportunities like FBLA for students, “They provide hands-on experiences that extend beyond the classroom, which equip students with real-world skills such as leadership, teamwork, time management, and problem-solving.”

Students in Robinson Middle’s Beta Club have been hard at work serving their school. Beta Club is an honor society that recognizes students who excel in academics, demonstrate strong character, and show leadership and service skills. This year, club members coordinated a Veterans Day program and created gifts for residents at local nursing homes. Club sponsor, Mrs. Preachers, hopes the club will strengthen the students’ concept of community. “I would like the students to learn that by helping others they can enlighten their hearts and strengthen their understanding that not everyone is the same.”

The Technology Student Association (TSA) at Maumelle High allows students to compete in over 50 competitions, lead as chapter, state, and national officers, and serve their local communities through service projects. Club advisor Sherri Keesee shares the value of extracurricular options like TSA. “TSA allows students to apply what they’ve learned in class to a novel project that they have interest in, which often leads to them doing their own research and learning, giving them a leg up in their chosen career fields.” Students develop projects in fields like Architectural Design, Board Game Design and Technology Problem Solving.

About PCSSD | Pulaski County Special School District spans more than 600 square miles in central Arkansas and requires highly skilled and passionate personnel to adapt educational policies and personalization to 25 schools. Every school is accredited by the Arkansas State Board of Education. PCSSD has served schools across Pulaski County since 1927. PCSSD is committed to creating a nationally recognized school district that assures that all students achieve at their maximum potential through collaborative, supportive and continuous efforts of all stakeholders.

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Joe David Rice, born in Paragould and reared in Jonesboro, probably knows Arkansas as well as anyone alive. The former owner of an outfitting business on the Buffalo National River and the state’s former tourism director, his Arkansas Backstories is published by the Butler Center.

Steve Lewis is a proud graduate of Little Rock Central High who moved away a long time ago. His accomplishments include jumping freight trains through the Canadian Rockies in the summer of ’97, finally getting a bachelor’s degree and surviving more than 10 years as a photojournalist before returning home to contribute to AY Media.

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Springtime Celebrations

Hello, March!

I, for one, cannot wait for spring to arrive. After the cold winter we have had, longer, warmer days feel like something worth celebrating. Just as we celebrate the start of a new season, we’re celebrating a whole lot in this issue of AY About You

We start with our cover story, a sit-down with one of the kings of stand-up and former latenight host Jay Leno, whose show at Oaklawn in Hot Springs kicks off this month’s entertainment. Leno is a celebrity who needs no introduction, and we were thrilled when he agreed to take some time to discuss the state of entertainment, comedy longevity and what makes him laugh.

This being the month of the green, we provide a preview of the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Hot Springs, as well as check in with some of Arkansas’ Irish pubs on how they are preparing for St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

Our “AY’s Readers’ Restaurant Poll” results are in, decided by you, loyal AY About You readers. To celebrate, we give you a taste of some great places to eat, drink or grab something to go all over the Natural State. We also speak to some of the city’s favorite servers from local restaurants, people who work hard at keeping us fed and happy.

This month, we meet a family benefiting from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana in advance of the organization’s annual Chocolate Fantasy Ball. Our health articles also focus on family and the physical, mental and emotional well-being of children and youth.

Finally, do not miss our feature from Norwood-Day Floral Co. about how to arrange bulb flowers. May it inspire you as the weather warms, the grass greens and Arkansas’ famous buds come into bloom. Take time to enjoy it all — and take us along for the ride.

Cheers to springtime and a new issue. We hope you enjoy every page of it.

Heather Baker, President & Publisher hbaker@aymag.com

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AY ABOUT YOU FEBRUARY COVER

Thank you for featuring our beautiful jaguar, Maderas, as the cover. We are thrilled! Little Rock Zoo

AY’S ARKANSAS TREASURES — BOBROOK FARMS AND RIVER BOTTOM WINERY

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A SILENT THREAT: CENTRAL ARKANSAS GALA RAISING FUNDS TO BATTLE T1 DIABETES

Great family doing great things!

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“BUY WHAT YOU LOVE” — THREE ARKANSAS INTERIOR DESIGNERS

DISCUSS 2025 TRENDS, OFFER TIPS

Such a fun article to be a part of! Thanks for including me!

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LOVE, PLATED: RŌBER :: COCKTAILS + CULINARY, BENTON

Rober has remained excellent throughout the time it has been open. Fantastic place to eat and service is wonderful. Christi Wilkins McPherson

TRANSFORMING DREAMS INTO REALITY: AT 15 YEARS, HINES HOMES IS COMING INTO ITS OWN

Congratulations! I’ve seen some of your work. Beautiful. Kurt Jansen

UAMS HEALTH’S SIX BRIDGES CLINIC: A LINK TO SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT FOR YOUTH

Raising kids — especially teens — takes a community. Having a specialized clinic like this at UAMS gives parents a place to turn when their children need help navigating substance use challenges. No one should have to do this alone!

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund

AY’s Best of 2025

Crustacean Nation: Cousins Maine Lobster Returns to Arkansas! Does This Arkansas Country Singer Have Famous Parents?

Top Weekend Events

Arkansas Country Music Awards Reveals 2025 Nominees In February’s story about romantic restaurants Scott Landers, owner of Draft + Table in North Little Rock, was misidentified. We regret the error.

The Arkansas Travelers recently revealed that they will pay tribute to the Little Rock Nine with commemorative uniforms during the 2025 season from Aug. 21 through Aug. 23.

May 19.

Halsey will bringing the Halsey: For My Last Trick Tour to the Walmart AMP in Rogers on

New old-fashioned fun blooms this spring.

Spring is just around the corner and so are brand new ways to play at Silver Dollar City during our new Spring Exposition! The festival comes to life April 10 with loads of new entertainment like an old-fashioned hoedown with the Kinfolk Bluegrass Band, fast-footed cloggers, a ragtime piano and the sounds of Dixieland, Cajun & Polka bands throughout The City. The skies above become more colorful with the new Parasol Sky and master gardeners share the secrets to their green thumbs. Plus, taste the flavors of the Ozarks by the plateful, alongside Bayou eats, dishes from the deep South and even Midwest Sheboygan specialties. Fun is always better with friends so plan your visit today!

• Windows and More

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• Beauty Boss

• Pea Farm Bistro

• Cabot Area Chamber of Commerce

• Popcorn Spot

Be sure to go to www.visitcabot.com and vote until March 24 • Building Bridges

Cabot Freshman Academy • Synergetic Social • C&C By the Lake • Overtime Cabot • Invigorate Weight Loss & Wellness

• Blind Tiger Chandlery • Staley Glass • Lyon College

• Cabot Tire & Offroad

• Sage Tea and Treats

• Forbes and Associates

• Humble Thread

• A little Formal and More

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you just can't miss!

JAY LENO

March 1

Oaklawn — Hot Springs

Prepare for a night of side-splitting laughter as stand-up comedian and late-night talk show host Jay Leno performs at Oaklawn in Hot Springs. The performance is set to be one of the biggest comedy shows in Arkansas this year.

LITTLE ROCK MARATHON

March 1-2

Starting at La Harpe Boulevard — Little Rock

Lace up those sneakers because the Little Rock Marathon is back. Offering a marathon, half-marathon, 10K, 5K and kids race, there is something for runners of all skill levels. With this year’s race being Mardi Gras themed, the day is sure to be full of festivities and maybe even some beads.

2025 MARDI GRAS PARADE AND FESTIVITIES

March 1

Little Rock Zoo — Little Rock

Join Amos the alligator and Gambit the king snake for some fun and king cake during this event. Do not miss the zoo staff moving through the area with Mardi Gras-themed floats, golf carts and even animals. Guests are welcome to join the parade with decorated wagons or strollers but are asked to not include balloons, beads or plastic decorations.

CHOCOLATE FANTASY BALL

March 8

Statehouse Convention Center — Little Rock

Join Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana for an evening of sweet treats to benefit families of critically ill children. The event will feature a dinner, live and silent auctions, live entertainment, and dancing. The Whittenton family will also share their story about how support from donors supported and provided them with a home away from home for more than 300 nights at the Ronald McDonald House.

THE WORLD’S SHORTEST ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

March 16-17

Bridge Street — Hot Springs

Taking place on the world’s shortest street in everyday use, Bridge Street in Hot Springs, the parade may be short, but the party is not. The two days of festivities feature a Blarney Stone and even reported leprechaun sightings in the nearby forests. While a lot has changed since the parade first began in 2004, the organizers still remeasure Bridge Street every year to make sure the parade’s length is the world’s shortest.

Escape to Oaklawn in Hot Springs and enjoy the luxury of Arkansas’ ONLY Forbes Four-Star Rated Spa and Forbes Recommended Hotel.

Oaklawn Hotel

Laughing Matters

After five decades, Jay Leno still knocking them dead

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos courtesy of Jay Leno’s management

With a career that spans more than five decades, including a long stint hosting one of the most hallowed late-night shows in television history and fame and fortune beyond anything a wisecracking kid from the East Coast could have imagined, Jay Leno is still out on the road, doing what he does best.

The comedian plays about 200 dates per year, including a March 1 gig at Oaklawn in Hot Springs. It was not his first visit to Spa City, not by a long shot, but he was as ebullient as ever about being back in the Natural State.

By all accounts, Leno does not need the work; in between stand-up gigs, he has a variety of television projects going, including the long-running Jay Le-

no’s Garage and stints on various sitcoms, such as the new Tim Allen effort Shifting Gears. He has even taken a turn at movie acting lately, playing Ed Sullivan in Midas Man, a biopic about Beatles manager Brian Epstein.

No, Leno does not do it for the money, for the next gig, to impress people or to somehow cling to the skirts of celebrity. His formula of working clean, staying nice and, most of all, being genuinely funny is still as potent as it ever was, and Lord knows there is enough potential material walking around out there to put it to work.

Time does not wait for anyone — not even comedy king Jay Leno — but nothing says aging cannot be fun.

AY ABOUT YOU: At what age did you realize that you were funny and that this was something you wanted to do for a living?

JAY LENO: I did it in college. Boston had thousands of students with no money willing to be entertained by people with no talent, so every weekend, they’d put candles in the cafeteria, and it would become the Two-Tone Café, and it’d be folks saying, ‘Stop your war machine, man’ — you know, all that kind of stuff. Comedy was not something people did, so I was kind of on my own. I figured I’d do it until I had to get a real job. I just never got a real job, you know?

My dad was an insurance salesman, and he became manager, and once a month, to help motivate the sales force, he would say, ‘I’m gonna learn to juggle.’ Then he’d juggle at the next meeting, and he’d juggle eggs, and they would hit him in the head, and he would say, ‘You can’t give up!’ I thought, well, maybe I’ll be an insurance salesman. At least he got a show once a month, you know? But no, I just started doing comedy. It seemed to pay off, and I enjoyed it. It was fun. So that’s where we are.

AY: You are one of the last Johnny Carson disciples, the ones that learned and understood how to work an audience, how to skewer everybody and still be lovable. Do you mentor young comics like that today? Do they reach out to you?

LENO: It’s different because everybody now just seems to want to play their audience. I’m a left-wing comic. I’m a rightwing comic. I just do colleges. I just do corporate. The idea of being a populist, it doesn’t seem to have survived, you know? To me, you’ve got to be able to play a college and then do the Sand and Gravel Convention in Las Vegas, and you can, if you’ve got stuff that’s funny. That’s really what it is.

Plus when I was coming up, you could say to the audience, “You ever see this TV commercial where this happens?” and everybody would go, “Oh, yeah, yeah.” They all knew what you’re talking about. The idea of Americans having shared experiences doesn’t really happen anymore, except for we all watch the Super Bowl or some event. When I watched the Academy Awards, I didn’t know any of these movies, whereas 20 years ago, I would’ve seen six out of eight of them. That part’s a little bit different.

LENO: Yes, it does get easier as you get older. If you’re well known, you realize life is like high school, you know? It’s like high school with money. That’s what it is. Everybody kind of knows who you are. Here’s the thing: When you’re unknown, you’ll hear comedians go, “It took me 20 minutes before I got them,” or “I never got them,” or “It only took me three minutes to get them.” When you’re starting out, you have to get them; when you’re well known, you’ve got them from the get-go. Now you have to keep them. Then it becomes, “I had them for the first 20 minutes, and I lost them.” It sort of goes the other way, so you just try to find things. You begin to pick up the tricks to the trade and how to make it work.

AY: One thing that has always been admirable about you is this sense of authenticity. You never tried to reinvent yourself to be trendy. You did not turn into an insult comic. You did not, all of a sudden, go on roasts and everything. You just did what you did and did it exceptionally well.

LENO: Well, it’s so funny. I’m not a roaster. I used to like the early Dean Martin roasts because they were silly. I watch roasts now, and it’s, I mean, some of it is really ugly and cruel. It’s pretty nasty, and it just seems to be how low can you go? I know a lot of people loved the Tom Brady roast, but I was just done, you know?

I like to play all types of audiences. I find it fascinating just to get a good cross section as opposed to just one particular type of person.

AY: One specific thing from your career that, maybe, rubbed off from Carson is the ability to take shots at famous people and political leaders equally in a way that we rarely see today.

LENO: Rodney Dangerfield was a good friend of mine, and I knew Rodney 40 years. I had no idea if he was Democrat or Republican. We never discussed it. We only discussed jokes, you know — is this funny? Just the stupid things that you try to get a laugh with, and that’s what I try to do.

I like to play all types of audiences. I find it fascinating just to get a good cross section as opposed to just one particular type of person. I mean, I’m a little old school in that regard, and I don’t assume that my way is necessarily the right way, but it seems to work for me. I just found out since I announced about 18 months ago that I wasn’t doing political jokes anymore that my ticket sales were up 20, 30 percent.

AY: A lot of people may not understand how hard you really have to work to make comedy look easy. As you’ve gotten older, does the process get easier, or is it as hard now as it ever was?

To me, the fun thing about doing politics back in my day or whatever you want to call it was you liked the person. When you generally dislike someone, it’s hard to do jokes because your opinion overwhelms your sense of humor in the subject. To me, it was always fun to go, “You know, I don’t think George Bush quite understands,” and then people would giggle because they knew what you were talking about as opposed to just outright insulting someone.

AY: What has kept you out on the road all these years?

LENO: I mean, I enjoy the process. I like it. It’s fun. I don’t do Netflix specials; I would rather do 150 shows than do one show and get paid for 150, you know what I mean? I like meeting people. I try to learn something from each person you meet, and again, you have to be authentic.

For example, I don’t drink. I have nothing against it; I just don’t drink. When I was doing The Tonight Show, you got offered a million bucks to hold up a can of Budweiser, but then if I went into a town: “Hey, lemme buy you a Bud.” “Thanks, I don’t drink.” “What? What do you mean? You sell it.” OK, now I’m a hypocrite.

So you try to keep true to what you do, and that works for me. It’s kind of like the Chick-fil-A guys. People get mad at them for not being open on Sunday. Well, I get it. They’re religious, you know, and they don’t want to open on Sunday. I like the fact that you have certain values that you stick to.

AY: There was a period not too long ago where it seemed like no comedian could tell a joke about anything without ticking somebody off. Do you see that correcting now, as a society? Are we getting our sense of humor back?

LENO: Well, I have to admit, political correctness used to be called politeness. For example, I don’t really get heckled that much, but when I do, I try to, like, if it’s a big fat guy heckling me, I’ll make fun of his tie or something else. You sense that the person realizes, “Why is he not

calling me a big fat guy?” The audience may even sense that you’re trying to let him down easy.

You don’t have to go for the throat. Every shot doesn’t have to be a kill shot, you know? Sometimes it’s just about wounding the person a little bit. That’s what I do, and that always works for me.

It also keeps the audience on my side because audiences think like a group, and if you really attack somebody, the audience will side with that person because, “Whoa, whoa, I thought Leno was a pro. Why is he attacking this guy?” If you sort of let yourself be the victim for a second and then come back slowly, they’re like, “Oh, OK,” you know? Bob Newhart was always a master. He could always do it very gently.

AY: What is funny to you?

LENO: Well, to me, hypocrisy is wonderful humor, people who say one thing and do another. That’s the classic, you know — the religious preacher that gets caught with the church secretary, those kind of things. Men behaving badly, the real-world foibles of human beings — that’s always pretty funny to me.

I had a joke about something I saw on the news, and I tried it. There’s a group of women up in Portland, Oregon, and they’re, like, a protest group, you know? What they do is they go to public places, they take off all their clothes, they lay down on the ground, and with their bodies, they spell out the word “peace.”

I said, “You know who I feel sorry for there? The girl that has to be the ‘A.’”

That joke always gets a laugh with women because you’re not hitting it right on the head, you know?

AY: Fundamentally speaking, what is humor to you, within the context of your life?

LENO: Well, it really is my livelihood. It pays the rent. It does everything. It gets you through life. It’s great. I always tell comedians, you know, you’re not gonna be happy with a spouse or a partner until you’re happy with your act. A spouse or a partner will be an equal, at best — in fact that’s what you want, an equal. It’s never going to be more important than your act.

say, “I don’t know if I want to be a comedian or a writer.” I go, “You’re a writer,” because if you have to think about it, if you are willing to settle for something else, go do it. You have to really put a lot into this and go through a lot of nonsense to be in comedy, but it’s worth it, you know? I think it is. I think it’s great fun. I enjoy it. I can always tell real comedians when I meet them, because they really keep trying, you know, and that’s the fun part.

AY: How many dates do you play in a year these days?

LENO: 175, 200 maybe — something like that.

AY: Have you ever played Arkansas before?

LENO: Oh, many times. Yeah. I’ve been doing this for 50 years, you know? I’ve been to Hot Springs. I was in Arkansas before Clinton, during Clinton and after Clinton.

There’s an old joke that comedians get but the general public doesn’t necessarily get. It’s a joke about a guy, first time playing Vegas, and he goes back to a hotel room. At 1:30 in the morning, the phone rings, and it’s a sexy voice: “Hi, is this the comic?” “Yes. Yes. This is.”

“Oh, my name’s Felicity. I’m the lead dancer at the Folies Bergère show across the street, and I saw your show tonight, and I thought you were kind of funny and sexy, and I thought maybe I could come over, we could fool around.” The comic says, “You see the first show or the second show?”

The moral is all he really cares about — did you see the big show or the other one? That’s the way comedians are. I meet comedians who

AY: What are you most looking forward to when you get to town?

LENO: I mean, the idea is to have things that work with everybody, so obviously, there’s some localized jokes, you know? People think, “Oh, he’s gonna make fun of this or that,” and well, you don’t want to make fun of things you don’t really know about because then it’s obvious you don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s like when people talk and they mispronounce the name of a neighboring town. The whole audience knows you have no idea what you’re talking about. You also want jokes that are working. You know, comedians say, “God, this joke worked six weeks ago in Denver, but it hasn’t worked since.” Well, get rid of it. The fact that you like it and it worked once, I’m sorry, it’s like guys that have one line they use on women because it worked once in some town and they’ve been saying it ever since — nothing. No, it doesn’t work. That was a fluke.

AY: In the annals of entertainment or even just as a citizen of the human race, how would you like to be remembered when it is all said and done?

LENO: Well, I don’t think anybody will be remembered, you know? I really don’t. I was talking about Elvis to some young people, and they weren’t that young, and they were like, “Elvis? You mean Elvis Costello?” No, no — Elvis, Elvis Presley. “Oh. No, don’t know Presley.”

I was doing a game show for a while, You Bet Your Life, and there were two contestants, and it was movies, and the answer was Harrison Ford. One contestant was 26. The other one was about 25 or whatever, and I said, “The correct answer is Harrison Ford.” They both went, “Who’s Harrison Ford?” I go, “You know, Raiders of the Lost Ark?” They had no idea what I was talking about, and I thought, “Really? Really? OK.”

So the idea of how would I like to be remembered? Please. I don’t worry about that. I just try to be a good person while I’m alive.

2025

The excitement is building as AY About You’s “Best of 2025” poll has unveiled its final slate of candidates.

From among tens of thousands of nominations, the final five have emerged across hundreds of categories, all vying for the coveted title of AY’s “Best of 2025.”

In a media market crowded with polls and surveys, AY About You’s annual “Best Of” poll stands head and shoulders above all the rest in participation and prestige. The winners are chosen by a vote of the general public — including many loyal AY readers — which make the finalists a select group indeed.

The nomination process began at the first of the year, when anyone could nominate their favorite business, professional or individual in the hopes of advancing them to the “Best of 2025” final ballot. Nominees only come from the field — there is no way to buy one’s way onto the ballot, and there is no selection committee determining who makes the cut. This is the true voice of the people, speaking up for the companies and service providers that deliver the best to their customers every day.

Each year, tens of thousands of nominations pour in during the nomination period, and when the votes are tallied, only five per category advance to the final voting round. Just think — out of 4,400 primary care physicians, 4,000 physical therapists, 1,400 dentists, 5,800 restaurants, 6,300 attorneys, 78 banks and all the other subcategories that add up to the more than 280,000 small businesses in Arkansas, only five per category reach this stage of the voting.

Is it any mystery, then, why AY’s “Best Of” status has become such a source of pride and the mark of excellence for companies that are privileged enough to receive one? Our past winners proudly display their achievement, and who can blame them? To be a finalist is to be in select company, being in the top three is a major achievement, and to win is the ultimate statement of one’s art and craft.

No wonder honorees plaster their AY “Best Of” credentials on billboards, in waiting rooms, in print advertising, on websites, on social media and even on company vehicles. When people see it, they know the company has been recognized as a top-tier business that delivers quality and value with every customer interaction.

Now it is time for the cycle to begin anew. The slate of finalists has been set, and voting began on Feb. 24. Through March 24, the people of Arkansas will once again let their voices be heard as they cast their vote for the businesses that exemplify the highest standard of excellence — in other words, the “Best Of” their fields.

To participate, visit aymag.com to cast a vote once per day per email address until March 24. Then watch AY About You this summer as we announce the winners.

Let your voice be heard, Arkansas!

Sources for statistics: Arkansas Department of Health, National Restaurant Association, Arkansas Bar Association, iBanknet and the U.S. Small Business Administration

resort plumber sports bakeryboss surgeon museum lawn HVAC and many pizza hospital

5

Many Talents, One MISSION

Hunt Design Group brings

global

perspective to Arkansas design

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos courtesy of Hunt Design Group

For top interior designers, perspective is everything, and perhaps no designer in Arkansas today brings a wider, more comprehensive perspective to commercial and residential projects alike than Tracy Hunt. Through her award-winning design firm, Hunt Design Group in Conway, she has carved out a stellar reputation over more than three decades for tasteful designs that stand the tests of time and utilization.

“Each project is an ‘original’ for me,” she said. “On some projects, I finish construction plans and specifications, and others, I do furniture order only. On some, I do full rendering sets for marketing. On others, I only add accessories and refresh a design that needs an update.

“Most of all, I make each project unique to the vision or goal decided upon. In other words, no ‘cookie-cutter’ design.”

Hunt’s career has taken her all over the country and to four continents around the world. The variety of projects she has tackled combined with the global influences her travels have provided coalesce seamlessly into a breadth of experience that is hard to match.

“I have been blessed to design spaces in all 50 states, and I do nationwide and international projects,” she said. “We are a full-service design firm, so we have the ability to work on as much or as little as needed for a project, and we have connections all around the world, so anything a client wants is within our reach.”

The roster of completed projects is impressive. Hunt has shown an equally deft touch designing resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean as she has with projects in Europe and Asia. Schools, universities, churches, fire stations, hospitals and Veterans Administration projects all jostle for space on her resume alongside manufacturing plants and office buildings, performance art venues and retail stores, shopping malls, medical office buildings and warehouses.

She is equally adept at designing living spaces, having worked on projects ranging from government housing and apartment complexes to assisted living facilities and nursing homes to single-family homes ranging from 700 square feet to 15,700 square feet.

Commercial

Whether a sleek corporate headquarters building or a stylish residential project, Hunt Design Group has the capacity and expertise to serve clients in many ways. A small sample of her firm’s services include interior and exterior finish selections, space planning, sustainability evaluations and compliance, furniture, fixtures and equipment packages, project management and consultation services, feasibility studies, commercial kitchen design, artwork packages, and market/branding design for multiple site locations.

“Hunt Design Group strives to be innovative with each design,” she said. “With every client, we seek to find creative ways to maximize the use of square footage, promote accessibility within the facility and deliver an overall aesthetically pleasing environment while maximizing budgets for the best possible outcome for the facility.”

The diversity of Hunt’s work may be extensive, but her design process for all jobs shares some important characteristics, she said.

“As a full-service international interior

Hunt Design Group in Conway has worked on commercial projects ranging from universities and medical buildings to warehouses and retail spaces.

“When

I graduated, I specialized in health care design, since I knew the inside of health care, and it made me a better designer for hospitals, clinics and offices.”

—Tracy Hunt Hunt Design Group

Residential PROPERTIES

design firm, I have the ability to work on as much or as little as the client needs for each project,” she said. “We perform an independent analysis of each project for the design and to formulate a unique solution that surpasses each client’s and group’s expectations. Each design project is tailored to the client’s individual needs, both functionally and aesthetically, to achieve a result that can leave a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.

“Finally, on individual projects that are project managed by Hunt Design Group, we’re known for mandating that each project be finalized under budget and under the set time period.”

Hearing the passion in Hunt’s voice when discussing her work, one might assume she had held a lifelong ambition to go into interior design. In fact, the inspiration to go into her career field did not come along until college.

“I was actually a biology major. I always wanted to be a surgeon from the time I was 9 years old,” she said. “I took extra science classes in college and shadowed doctors and interned at clinics for fun.

“One semester, I needed an extra class to fulfill my scholarship requirements, and I took an art class. I had never allowed myself to take an art class, and I absolutely loved it. By the end of the semester, I had changed my major and would end up staying an extra year to graduate with a completely different degree.”

Hunt’s decision would prove the correct one, since her previous course of study had an immediate impact on her new career.

“When I graduated, I specialized in health care design, since I knew the inside of health care, and it made me a better designer for hospitals, clinics and offices,” she said. “Today, I work with CEOs to make better use of their health care spaces to ensure the best use of square footage per specialty or department for the greatest financial return for the hospital, clinic or doctor’s office.”

The commingling of medical academic training and serving the health care industry is not the only time Hunt’s interests have crossed paths with her professional opportunities. An avid traveler, she found great inspiration in experiencing other cultures because it gave her a unique perspective of her design work.

“My parents took me on safari to Africa when I was 14 years old and, after that, to Europe. That changed my perspective quite a bit,” she said. “I learned so much by just being able to see other cultures and architecture. I’ve continued that as I travel now, and it energizes my mind to see a completely new perspective in each new country I visit.”

Hunt combined such inspiration and her natural eye with advanced professional training that rounded out her skill set. In addition to her academics in college, that included apprenticing under a registered architect for two years and then earning her National Council for Interior Design Certified Interior Designer credential in 1999 via a six-part test taken out of state over two days.

She is an allied member of the American Institute of Architects and a professional member of the International Interior Design Associates, and she is registered in Texas. She also teaches a senior-level class in interior design at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway called Professional Practice that teaches students ethics, international design practices and how to form their own companies.

Far from cookie cutter, every project the firm takes on is tailored to each client’s specific needs.

All of that, she channels through an exhausting work ethic that often sees her putting in 18- to 20-hour days during peak seasons of the year to keep projects on schedule and under budget.

“I work with the belief that my last design is the only design that counts, so I try to make sure each project is done with every item well thought out and benefiting the public welfare and safety while providing a jaw-dropping interior,” she said.

“Form follows function, as they say, so my designs must work for the client, be a durable design, and offer low maintenance and longevity for me to accept the design as final. I only use referrals for my business marketing, so each client must be pleased.”

In addition to her design work, Hunt has recently been busy on a personal remodel project she has named Black Wolf Manor, a more than 10,000-square-foot residential revival project in Faulkner County. Through that, she is bringing new life to a massive home with a stunning river view via a complete remodel. The project was so big and involved that the three-year renovation is being filmed for a future television show and has provided enough challenges to match her considerable determination and drive.

Before After

“Along the way, we have had lots of hiccups,” she said. “We have had to replace all the plumbing, electrical, a majority of the walls, a majority of the floors. We’ve had fireplaces and porches completely taken out, and we have found hidden rooms and closets. It has been my most incredible remodel in 32 years.

“There was just something about it, though, something that said we could really turn this into a revitalized property, go modern with it. We’ve taken a house with a lot of history, and we’ve turned it into something very contemporary design. I think there’s a niche for that.”

Hunt said her definition of work-life balance is unlike most people’s and that her nonstop schedule of career, community and family life is not for everyone. Nevertheless, she sees it as an extension of who she is. Asked for a word to describe her as a person and entrepreneur, she said “fearless.”

“When we live fearless, we are able to set our mind to accomplish things we have only dreamed about,” she said. “Most of the time, the only thing that can hold you back is your own fear — fear of starting something new, fear of leaving something, fear of opening that next door. When we are bold and leave fear behind, we can accomplish so much more. God always prepares us for the road ahead, and fear is never in His plan.

“My parents never let me believe that I could not accomplish something, and because I did not have that fear initially, I prayed about it, and I boldly reached for my dreams. Fear can creep in slowly over time if we don’t know how to quiet our negative thoughts. We can do so much when we realize we can.”

Owner Tracy Hunt’s personal remodel, Black Wolf Manor, is one of her most ambitious undertakings yet.

From large projects to small, international to local, house plans to weddings and events, we have you covered! Call now to see how we can help you complete your next project.

A Breath of Spring Tulips, hyacinths and other bulbs abundant throughout season

By CHRIS NORWOOD

Spring is here, and gardeners who planted bulbs in fall are now being rewarded for their efforts. This season is the best time to entertain with cut flowers that sprout from bulbs and welcome a breath of spring into the home.

Flowers such as tulips, daffodils, irises, hyacinths and jonquils will be an abundant and economical choice through May, and as with any flower, the blooms are the most durable and lasting at the peak of their season. When temperatures rise at the end of May, the flowers will begin to wilt faster because of the heat.

Until then, enjoy the rainbow of colors that appear in spring. Hyacinths offer big, showy blooms available in pink, lavender, white and peach. Jonquils and daffodils offer sunny yellows and whites ideal for chasing away the winter blues. Potted daffodils and hyacinths are available at many florists and garden stores.

While many are familiar with

Photos provided by Norwood-Day Floral Co.

the bearded irises that grow in landscapes throughout spring, florists tend to favor Dutch irises, which come in whites, purples and a range of blues.

Then there are tulips, perhaps the most emblematic of the spring bulb flowers. During the 17th century, tulips were so coveted in the Netherlands that the bulbs were used as currency, and the flowers remain a symbol of Dutch life today.

Tulips also have a special association with Easter. For Christians, spring signifies the resurrection of Christ and the renewal of hope and joy. Just as Jesus rose from the dead, so do flowers rise after the darkness of winter. In fact, it is said that when Jesus died on the cross, the angels wept, and tulips bloomed from their tears.

Tulips can be found in most any color, from pinks, yellows, oranges and purples to deep eggplant shades that almost appear black. The flowers also offer a variety of shapes. There are single-petal tulips that have a sleek, delicate egg shape, as well as peony tulips with more voluminous blooms.

The great thing about tulips or any kind of bulb is they do not like to have preservatives in the water. You can just use clear, clean water. Be sure to recut the stems and change the water regularly. I do not suggest using additives such as quick

Arrange tulips and other bulb flowers in clear, clean water without additives.

dip because rushing the blooming process causes the flowers to wilt faster. Just let nature take its course.

I recommend using water, rather than foam, for bulb flowers because the stems are too soft for the foam. The flowers will not drape correctly in a foam base, and the foam also forces them to take in air through the stem, causing wilting. Tulips can also be displayed in a tulipiere, which has separate holes that each hold one or two flowers.

I call tulips the “wild child” because the blooms continue growing an inch to an inch and a half after they are cut. The flowers grow toward the light, so they may be positioned one way when they are arranged and find a different position the next day. For that reason, it is a good idea to turn the container a little bit every day so the tulips grow evenly.

Unless an arrangement is going to be used immediately for an event or photoshoot, I tend to cut my tulips a little shorter than I want them to be in the finished product. That way, the tulips still suit the arrangement as they grow and do not end up looking lanky.

Sometimes people get frustrated with tulips, but I always say, “Let go and let God.” Just let the flowers do what they want to do, and then fix them later.

When making an arrangement, it is important to have a focal point. Color blocking can be an effective way to make a strong statement with bulb flowers. Hyacinths work well as a base because they are so bulky, and then more delicate flowers such as tulips can be added.

Pay attention when designing with darker colors, which can be lost in a base, giving them a black look. I often arrange darker flowers such as irises up and out, further away from the base of an arrangement.

Spring brides can walk down the aisle holding a beautiful clutch of tulips in a single color. The simple, biomonochromatic look is timeless and provides a cost-effective way to make a huge impact.

For those who have not visited already, stop by our new storefront at 7509 Cantrell Road, Suite 4, in Little Rock to check out some of the pretty spring arrangements.

Chris Norwood and Christina Day-Essary are co-owners of Norwood-Day Floral Co. in Little Rock. For more information, visit norwood-day.com.

•

West 3rd Street | Little Rock, AR 72205

“Gary Houston has done all the electrical work in my nearly 100 year-old house for over a decade. They’ve been able to diagnose and fix some thorny issues. The electricians are always prompt, cheerful, and happy to answer any questions. I highly recommend this company.”

— Karen Bradford

Good Graces Katie Grace Designs has a dream team to create dream spaces

Katie Grace Designs in Little Rock is a full-service interior design studio that curates warm, inviting havens for the whole family. Whether clients are building from the ground up, remodeling an existing home or simply putting the final touches on a room, Katie Grace can grace families with a dream space.

Owner Katie Rees established Katie Grace Designs in 2012, after her natural eye for design collided with her passion to help others cultivate their personal spaces.

“I grew up around many creative women,” Rees said. “My mom and Aunt Faith always had inspiring style and an eye for all things design.”

She said her aunt had a design firm and encouraged her to join the field, as well.

In 2015, Little Rock became the home base for Katie Grace Designs, and over the years since, Rees has expanded her team and her reach to clientele all across the south.

Along with her associate designer, Leslie Dennis, and her lead e-designer, Mallory Williams, Rees and her team specialize in a variety of projects, from full residential remodels to commercial designs.

“We always tell our clients our job is to make the design process and building process stress free and even fun,” she said. “I am the liaison between the client and the builder so that I can streamline the process for the homeowners and help design a cohesive,

“

Our job, when we take on a new project, is to figure out the heartbeat of each family.

— Katie Rees, owner

beautiful and tranquil home that will last for years to come for them and their family.”

Her appreciation for a variety of design styles allows her to work well with a wide range of clients and that adaptability really makes her stand out from the crowd.

“Our job when we take on a new project is to figure out the heartbeat of each family,” she said, “so we make sure we have a full picture of how the family functions and what their top priorities are in their design. We don’t ever want to design something that isn’t completely personalized and functional for each family.”

To learn more and start working with Katie Grace Designs, visit katiegracedesigns.com. katiegracedesigns

RestaurantRoad Trip

Take it from readers — these spots are worth the drive

BEST PASTA

Pasta Grill, Conway/Russellville

It is amazing what one can accomplish with a lot of faith and little patience. For example, over 30 years owning and operating Pasta Grill, Suzanne and Wes Hall have transformed from rank amateurs to serving some of the most acclaimed food in Arkansas. The couple’s deep and abiding faith was a big part of the process too.

“The only reason Pasta Grill works, and I’m not just saying this to be noble or anything else, is because God’s blessing is on it. He is with us. He makes it work,” Suzanne said. “I got saved in our first restaurant in Russellville, which is where it all began, and He grew it from there. We didn’t know what we were doing, how to do it, how to cook — none of it. This doesn’t work without God.”

Given the heavenly taste of their handmade pasta

By DWAIN HEBDA

dishes, the Halls may be onto something. AY About You readers voted the restaurants — operating in Russellville since 1994 and in Conway since 2012 — Best Pasta in the 2025 “AY’s Readers’ Restaurant Poll.”

“I feel like God put a love for food in me,” Suzanne said. “I’m not a reader, but I read my Bible, and I read cookbooks with a pen in my hand. Very slowly, we went from a very basic menu to what we have today, and over the years, I’ve just grown so passionate about food.”

Pasta Grill’s artfully prepared dishes blend flavors and cultures into something new and exciting with every bite. Highly recommended are the fettuccine Alfredo, the shrimp and grits, and Suzanne’s personal point of pride, the beurre blanc chicken. She also endorses the steaks, which surprise a lot of people given the pasta-forward focus.

“A lot of people don’t know us for steaks, but they are amazing,” she said. “Our filet mignon with a side of fettuccine Alfredo, that would be about as good as it gets for me.”

The couple has seen a lot over three decades, from rapid expansion to contraction to franchising a location in Van Buren. Through it all, their love of people has remained the same.

“The reward for me is when you put a dish down in front of someone and their eyes get bigger, and then they tell you how much they enjoyed it,” she said. “I love pleasing people with food. It’s a good thing to gather together with people and enjoy company and fellowship.”

Among the favorites on Pasta Grill's menu are shrimp Alfredo and Parmesan leek risotto.

(Photos by Suzanne Hall)

One of the joys of getting out and driving the Natural State is the unexpected treasures that lie around nearly every bend in the road. Getting off the interstate and into the countryside yields a treasure trove of sights and flavors that turns any casual drive into an adventure.

That said, there is nothing in the state constitution that demands such discoveries be happy accidents. There is something equally enticing about spots that are a destination in themselves, especially when it comes to good food.

The following restaurants fall into that category, standing as culinary beacons in the Arkansas landscape. Check them out while enjoying the lovely scenery and do not forget to bring home leftovers.

BEST DESSERT

Charlotte’s Eats & Sweets, Keo

The first thing people ask Kesa Sharp upon meeting the owner of Charlotte’s Eats & Sweets in Keo is always the same.

“You’re not changing the pies, are you?”

Sharp, who took ownership of the Keo institution last September, said she understands peoples’ concern. Arguably the most famous pie stop in the state, the beloved cafe has a reputation that goes back decades. Even today, people line up ahead of operating hours, just to ensure they get a slice of their favorite dessert before the day’s allotment sells out. True regulars are even known for their habit of ordering pie first and then their meal, a fandom that runs as deep as the meringue billows high.

For the record, Sharp is all about enhancing the formula,

not changing it, something she learned from someone who knows.

“It’s kind of funny because a lot of people think that [original owner] Charlotte Bowls still owns the restaurant. Charlotte hasn’t owned it for about five years,” she said. “She sold to Maegan Norsworthy, who I purchased it from, and [Maegan] learned from Charlotte. Charlotte spent a couple months with her and worked through all of the recipes, making sure everything was gonna be exactly the same. When I bought it from Maegan, she did the exact same thing, and I spent a month there working with her, learning how to do everything Charlotte’s way.

“The thing Maegan said was, ‘Don’t mess with anything. Don’t mess with any of the recipes, or you’re gonna have some really not happy customers,’ so the pies will never change. That’s one of those things where you don’t mess with something that’s not broken, and they’ve never been broken.”

Aside from adding a few nondesserts and kicking around the idea of opening additional hours, Charlotte’s way remains untouched under Sharp’s watch. So far, so good.

“It’s the quality,” she said to describe the pies and their enduring appeal. “They’re made fresh every morning. The pie crusts are rolled every morning. The fillings are made every morning. The meringue is handdone by one person — me. That’s what I do.

“The pies themselves, they don’t go in the refrigerator until you take them to your house. They’re made and done by 9 o’clock in the morning, they sit for a couple hours and when we open up at 11 o'clock, they're fresh. They’re still warm. That’s what makes the difference.”

meringue crowns the star attractions

Sky-high

at Charlotte's Eats & Sweets. (Photos provided by Kesa Sharp.)

BEST COCKTAIL LOUNGE

Lefty’s on the Square, Magnolia

Lefty’s on the Square in Magnolia is one of those places that personifies a local treasure: a romantic throwback to a wilder age with an authentic gangster backstory to match. It is not the kind of place most people might expect to find in the genteel-sounding Magnolia, Arkansas, but ever since it opened, locals and visitors alike have embraced it as their own.

smash, winning Best New Restaurant honors in AY About You’s 2024 “AY’s Readers’ Restaurant Poll,” and one big reason why is the showstopping bar with elegant cocktails to match.

“At Lefty’s, balance is the cornerstone of every cocktail we craft,” Ouei said. “It’s about more than just the right ratio of ingredients — it’s a harmony of flavor, aroma, texture and visual appeal. Balance makes sure that every sip tells a story, delivering complexity without chaos.”

Developing the restaurant’s signature drink menu is a collaborative effort among Ouei, employees Lorenzo Stephens and McKenna Caudle, and lead bartender Josh Hawboldt.

“Whether it’s a twist on a classic or one of our signature creations, we focus on making drinks that feel sophisticated yet approachable,” Ouei said. “We recognize that south Arkansas is at the end of the trend curve and firmly in the ‘late majority.’ However, we push the envelope and enjoy being considered trendsetters instead of followers.”

“When we started this, we started looking at what we could bring to Magnolia that wasn’t already here. The answer was actually a lot,” said

Specialties of the house include Lefty’s Luck, a concoction of Irish whiskey, citrus juice and peach liqueur, and the Triple Berry Margarita featuring house made syrup and rim of hibiscus sugar. Another solid sip is the Lavender Lemon Dandy composed of Arkansas-made Delta Dirt vodka, distilled from sweet potatoes, which comes garnished with gold sugar and a stem of dried lavender.

Those with a taste for adventure should opt for Midnight Mist, a new creation for which Hawboldt refused to divulge the ingredients, and the off-menu smoked Secret Handshake, described by Ouei as “a riff on a traditional old-fashioned.”

“We do not see ourselves as being in the food and beverage industry or the service industry,” Ouei said. “We are hosts to our friends, new and old, and welcome them into our house to celebrate all of life’s special moments.”

BEST RESTAURANT WORTH THE DRIVE

Hoots BBQ, McGehee

There is a lot to love at Hoots BBQ that does not immediately meet the eye. There is the size of the place for one thing. At a glance, it does not look like it could seat more than 300 people, counting the banquet room, but it does.

The name — in part an homage to the local high school mascot — suggests there should not be as wide and varied a menu of Southern and regional favorites and great steaks alongside the smoked meats, but there is.

oysters,” said owner Susie Powell, who opened the place with her late husband, David, “but we started with barbecue because barbecue is just that one food that everybody likes.”

As anyone who has done it likely knows, running a restaurant is hard work, and when the headliner is slow-smoked brisket, ribs, pork and other proteins, it is even more so.

“Our smoker, we start it Sunday afternoon about 3 o’clock, and it runs nonstop until Saturday at about 5 o’clock,” Susie said. “We cook fresh food daily. I’ve got an employee here at quarter to 5 in the morning, dealing with getting the night meat off, putting the ribs and chickens on. Then we put our butts and briskets on about 4:30 in the afternoon to cook all night, a minimum of 14 hours. That’s done daily, and when it’s gone, it’s gone. We don’t serve leftovers.”

Another thing the crew at Hoots does not do is overcomplicate things, particularly when it comes to the barbecue. During an era of secret spice rubs and complex marinades, all Susie adds to the meat are two simple seasonings and experience.

“I just have my own thing. I have my own style,” she said. “We don’t inject our meat. We use straight salt and pepper and put it on the smoker. The wood does all the work.

“We built this business, and it’s really a labor of love. It’s just my child, my baby, you know? I’m just proud of it. I enjoy seeing people enjoy what they’re eating, and I’m not going to serve my customers anything I wouldn’t eat.”

The BBQ at Hoots is not to be missed but the steak and sandwiches ain't

The highways and byways of Arkansas are a great way to see the state, experience its natural beauty and, most of all, enjoy the food. An appetite for adventure and a taste for the unique is all that is needed for a satisfying road trip.

Supe Sips

local spots voted best for cocktails and libations

The readers of AY About You have spoken about their favorite places to grab a bite, savor a dessert and enjoy a beverage. This year’s winners for the best local beer, spirits and mixology offer artisan sips close to home. Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees.

By DWAIN HEBDA

BEST COCKTAILS:Cache Restaurant

Known for its chef-inspired menu and luxurious ambiance, Cache Restaurant in Little Rock has quickly made itself the go-to spot in the River Market for memorable meals on occasions large and small.

Those who have experienced the beautiful spot are also aware of the high-quality cocktails on the menu, which are crafted with care and precision from the stunning bar area.

When describing the restaurant’s process in approaching cocktails, General Manager Courtney Wellborn revealed a thought process that pays as much attention to what is being handed over the bar as what is coming out of the kitchen.

“When you’re creating a cocktail, you want to make sure you hit all sorts of flavor notes,” she said. “You want sour. You want sweet. You want bitter. You really want to make sure it hits every part of the palate. We also always want to be liquor-forward because we do use higher-end spirits, and we want that liquor to actually speak for itself within the cocktail.”

Cache breaks its drinks down into two categories. The signature menu has the elevated house standards that are always available, of which Wellborn recommended the sophisticated French 75 and the always-reliable old fashioned.

The seasonal menu, meanwhile, changes every four months to accommodate the changing seasons. All new creations are developed in-house to match both menu and calendar, Wellborn said.

“We start with seasonal flavors, and that’s something that we do consult with Chef Payne Harding about, as well as a lot of research online for what fruits are in season, what spices,” she said. “Obviously,

when it’s cold outside, you go more dark. You do your bourbons. Your gins come alive with the right berry. Right now, we’ve done a spin-off of the bee’s knees because we’re in winter, it’s honey, it’s warm.

“Then we go lighter for our spring and summer menu. We also always have a frozen option during spring and summer, as well.”

Like any good business thinking, staff also take trends in consumer tastes into consideration when developing new drinks.

“Tequila became the main spirit ever since the [COVID-19] pandemic. That is the one everyone is looking for,” Wellborn said. “People want a twist on a margarita, or they want ranch water — soda, citrus and tequila. Another upturn that we are seeing is espresso martinis have made their way back. Here at Cache, we have two different takes on that. We have a smoked bourbon espresso martini, and we have your traditional vodka martini.”

BEST LOCAL BREWERY:

Lost Forty Brewing

Staying true to the brewmaster’s art and in touch with its ravenously loyal clientele has grown Lost Forty Brewing in Little Rock into a beer institution in the Natural State. As Amber Brewer, creative director and chief marketing officer for the brewery’s parent Yellow Rocket Concepts said, the humble spirit of the acclaimed establishment is still alive and well.

“This brewery started in my garage in Pleasant Valley [in Little Rock],” she said. “We opened Lost Forty 10 years ago this past December, which is a big milestone and a great time to reflect on how we got here.

“I think one of the things that helped us remain stable and growing is that we didn’t start too crazy fast. We started with three beers available draft only. We were only open three days a week when we started the restaurant side with a very limited menu. We really took our time to get our sea legs and develop those recipes and understand how to make really incredible beer.”

From that core of three brews, Lost Forty brewmasters developed a well-rounded roster that anchors the yearround menu, including the solid Rockhound IPA and runaway hit Love Honey Bock. A parade of special and seasonal creations followed, including a selection of balanced India pale ales that mark the changing seasons. Despite the brewery’s success, experimentation never stops.

Lost Forty Brewing in Little Rock is one of central Arkansas' go-to craft breweries.

(Photos courtesy of Lost Forty Brewing.)

Cache Restaurant in Little Rock is a standout for both food and beverages.

(Photos by Jaimie Lee)

BEST DISTILLERY: Rock Town Distillery

Most anyone that has followed the arc of Rock Town Distillery in Little Rock knows its origin story — the first legal distillery in Arkansas since Prohibition and an idea so far out at its inception that regulators did not even have permitting paperwork to establish it.

None of that deterred founder Phil Brandon much — Brandon, the mad dreamer who took the ultimate gamble and changed the face of Arkansas libations in the process. Fifteen years and plenty of awards later, he is still a little taken aback by all the fuss his acclaimed whiskeys and other spirits engender.

“Our value proposition is that we make good, all natural, great-tasting spirits that provide exceptional value,” he said. “We don’t charge too much for what we do. We’re just good people, easy to do business with.”

From its original warehouse location in East Village, the company moved into roomier digs on a choice corner in the trendy SoMa district of Little Rock. From there, the company supplies 18 states with products headlined by its bourbon line and accentuated through the years by a line of regular and flavored vodkas, gin, moonshine and assorted liqueurs. Brandon has expanded the product line to cover consumer bases without straying too far from the core mission.

“Experimentation does not always mean let’s make something wacky,” Brewer said. “Sometimes experimentation is done to yield a better or more refined version of a current beer, tweaking it with age, something about the water, something about the hop profile. It’s really drilling down on quality possibilities and refinements. Then maybe a quarter of it is brewing those small batches of things that are true experimentations, like what happens if we put this and this together?”

Even while it honored the generational traditions of brewing, Lost Forty always looked to forge its own path. In addition to constant experimentation in the brewhouse, ownership also took a decidedly different view of what the brewery stood for and, thus, how it would operate.

“We kind of planted a flag for Arkansas, and I really do think that one of the reasons we’ve been able to stay true to that," Brewer said. “We believed you can grow higher and wider and stay strong the deeper your root system is. That’s why we made the commitment four years into our business to never brew or sell outside of the state. Our beer will always be an Arkansas-only experience.”

“The alcohol industry as a whole has had two down years, and in 2023 and 2024, bourbon is down as well,” he said. “It’s not quite as hot as it once was, but it’s still way above historical levels. People are still nuts for bourbon, and vodka, meanwhile, is by far still the No. 1 consumed spirit in the United States."

Distillery in Little Rock is known for topnotch spirits and mixed drinks.

(Photos courtesy of Rock Town Distillery)

Sticking with the basics — albeit extremely wellmade basics — has allowed Rock Town to weather changing tastes without drifting into the trendy. Brandon said expansion in the product line is more likely to be a new flavor of vodka versus veering into canning premixed cocktails, for example.

“The big players are all in that now, and it’s huge, the packaged cocktails and the White Claws of the world,” he said. “Those are all huge for massive companies, and for a little guy to compete price-wise, it’s really cost prohibitive.”

It is not that Brandon decries being small; in fact, it is something he considers a competitive advantage for the nimbleness it affords him and the closeness of staff it develops. Asked about expansion, he just chuckled.

“Oh, no, no,” he said. “We’ve got all we can handle right now.”

Rocktown

The Argenta Plaza is an outdoor event venue and community space right in the middle of North Little Rock’s historic arts district. With a covered stage, shaded front porch seating area, and water features, the Argenta Plaza is a perfect space for

big events and festivals as well as local community gatherings. Argenta Plaza is also located in the Argenta entertainment district which means visitors can bring food an drinks from the local restaurants down to the plaza to enjoy.

TOP 5 for nominating ARGENTA PLAZA as one of AY’s Best Event Centers and NLR TOURISM as one of the Best CVB’s! Voting round will be February 24 through March 24.

Stuffed

This classic comfort food is simple to make

STUFFED COLLARD GREENS (Cavoli Ripiene)

Prep time: 25 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour

Total time: 1 hour, 25 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 8 large collard leaves

• 8 1/2 ounces ground beef

• 5 ounces ground pork

• 1 free-range egg

• 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs

• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

• 2 cloves garlic

• 1/4 cup white wine

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste

• 1 cup chicken stock

• Salt and pepper, to taste

By MARGIE RAIMONDO // Photos by MARGIE RAIMONDO

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

2. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, pork, egg, panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, one clove of minced garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix everything thoroughly with hands and set aside.

3. Carefully lay the largest collard leaf on a tray without tearing it. Blanch the leaves in the boiling water for 5 minutes until softened. This may need to be done in batches.

4. Drain the leaves on kitchen paper and pat them dry. Cut the thick middle stalk from each leaf to create two halves. Discard the stalks.

5. Place one heaping tablespoon of the meat mixture on the widest part of a leaf. Roll it up tightly, tucking in the sides, and place it in a baking dish. Repeat this process with the remaining meat mixture and leaves.

6. For the sauce, heat 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 clove of finely chopped garlic and saute for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in the white wine and simmer until it is reduced by half.

7. In the saucepan, whisk together the chicken stock and tomato paste. Let it simmer for 5 minutes. Pour the sauce over the stuffed rolls, cover the dish with foil and bake in the oven for 35 minutes.

8. Remove the dish from the oven, uncover it, and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Yield: 4 servings

VEGETARIAN OPTION

Substitute the ground meat with mushrooms and apples. Place them in a food processor and pulse into a ground mixture. Vegetable stock can be used instead of chicken stock.

GLUTEN-FREE OPTION

Use gluten-free panko breadcrumbs.

OTHER TIPS

• Use the highest-quality stock available (preferably homemade or high-quality storebought stock). Since the sauce simmers briefly, an outstanding stock will significantly enhance the flavor.

• The entire dish can be prepared in advance without the sauce and stored in the fridge until it is time to bake.

• Be sure to bake the stuffed collard rolls covered to prevent burning or drying out.

• Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for a few days and reheated in the oven until piping hot. Removing the rolls from the sauce and storing them in separate containers is best.

Collard rolls are a comforting and easy dish to make. For a complete meal, serve them with grated Parmesan cheese and crusty bread.

"AY 's Readers' Restaurant Poll" reveals hottest dining spots from breakfast to dessert

TopBanana

By AY STAFF

From a quick bite at a local food truck to an elegant meal at one of the most sophisticated establishments in town, restaurants are a requisite part of everyday life and the site of some of life’s most important moments. Where else would one go to celebrate a birthday, promotion or anniversary?

Restaurants work their way into family traditions and stories, and they work their way into diners’ hearts. Think of the nostalgia evoked by a favorite out-of-the-way eatery or how a certain spot can turn a bad day into a good one by dessert.

Each year, AY About You asks readers to share their best-loved dining options during “AY’s Readers’ Restaurant Poll.” The poll covers a wide range of categories, from french fries and chicken wings to dinner theater and late-night dining.

In addition to the full list of winners, this issue highlights a few of readers’ top

choices. Read on to see what makes Mainline Sports Bar, one of three winners at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, such a good place to watch the game. See why Arthur's Prime Steakhouse in Little Rock stands out not just for its melt-in-yourmouth steaks but for its hospital ity, and add a catfish meal at Zeke & Lizzy’s Seafood and Steakhouse to the to-do list for the next visit to Heber Springs. Seeking the ultimate in vino? O'Looney's Wine & Liquor in Little Rock is the place.

The list of winners covers nearly every category of food, beverage, service and ambi ance showcasing talented chefs, local flavors and the best of times. Poll winners represent the ultimate Arkansas Foodie Bucket List, providing a tasty roadmap to the Natural State.

Perhaps the best thing about the list is how all of the honorees are locally owned and operated by people who live in the community and remain responsive to customer tastes. Independent dining is alive and well!

Being voted into “AY’s Readers’ Restaurant Poll” is truly a mark of excellence for any food or beverage business in the state. It is an honor recipients proudly point to as a way of setting themselves apart from all other eateries and attracting guests who can be sure each establishment was selected amid very steep competition by everyday Arkansans.

There were more than 80 categories during this year’s “AY ’s Readers’ Restaurant Poll,” so do not be surprised to find a new favorite haunt in the pages that follow. With more than 5,800 restaurant locations in the state, according to the National Restaurant Association, being voted the cream of the crop by AY readers is an honor like no other. Bon appetit!

10!

READERS’ RESTAURANT WINNERS Style and Substance

Fine dining is alive and well at Arthur’s Prime Steakhouse

By DOUG CRISE

Everything — absolutely everything — that one needs to know about Arthur’s Prime Steakhouse in Little Rock and the man behind it can be found in the bananas Foster.

It comes to the table big enough for two — choice bananas waiting for a dip in an elegant pool of high-end brandy. Because the brandy needs to be set on fire (and nothing beats a dessert that has to be set on fire), tableside service is required. Each member of Arthur’s dressed-to-the-nines waitstaff doubtless knows how to prepare the bananas Foster and set it aflame, but do not be surprised to see owner Jerry Barakat present the dessert, produce a lighter and do the honors.

It is not a gimmick. To make Barakat miserable, stick him in a back office. There are orders to tend to, a kitchen to staff and a never-ending chain of customers who know Arthur’s reputation for excellence. It is that obsession with detail, day in and day out, that explains why Arthur’s has been voted Best Hospitality by AY About You readers.

That means Barakat is on the front lines, pitching in, welcoming diners and, yes, sometimes setting bananas on fire. Otherwise, he is fond of saying, what is the point?

“That was yesterday,” Barakat said, summing up more than 40 years in the restaurant business. “Today’s a different day. I’m working today. I’m going to try to make it. If you blink, you’re done.”

Whatever it is that makes people become complacent with success skipped over Barakat completely. When he speaks about Arthur’s, he does so with great passion, the words coming out in a staccato “rat-a-tat.” When he says there are still challenges to face, when he says he will retire “in a funeral home,” he means it. In his mind, every day he wakes up, the scoreboard has reset to 0-0. He cannot have it any other way.

“It takes consistency,” Barakat said. “Don’t try to

Photo courtesy of Arthur's

outsmart your friends and customers. I will not try to cut a single corner. It’s always fresh. It’s always quality.”

Arthur’s is a physical manifestation of Barakat’s world view. The interior space is done up in beautiful, warm, wood paneling accentuated by gentle light coming off overhanging chandeliers. The food itself is top shelf, starting naturally with steaks that are dry-aged on site for a minimum of 28 days.

The cornerstone of Arthur’s steak menu is the Alley’s bone-in filet, which is so popular that supplies are limited. The Chicago bonein ribeye is a worthy choice if the filets have been taken, and that is not even getting into Arthur’s extensive selection of Australian Kobe wagyu beef, which is available as a filet, ribeye or tomahawk. A truly decadent experience lies in the wagyu sampler, which offers the best of all worlds.

Going further, Arthur’s wine cellar boasts more than 350 fine wines and a staff that knows how to pair the ideal wine for each and every order. Another Arthur’s trademark are the side dishes: Barakat is a stickler for sides, insisting that the same care go into them as it does for the entrees. It is hard to go wrong with the garlic basil mashed potatoes or the signature mac and cheese, and one is unlikely to find a pecan maple sweet potato mash anywhere else.

That is not bad for a plot of land on Chenal Parkway that began as an Acura dealership of all things.

“It was sitting idle for over five years,” Barakat said. “The owners themselves were completely surprised, but I had a vision.”

That vision came with risks and still does. One does not have to dig deep to read about consumers reeling from inflation and other economic factors passing on dining out. The sea change in spending habits has hit casual diners hard, never mind high-end restaurants such as Arthur’s.

Yet Arthur’s sails along. Barakat believes firmly there is a place for fine dining in Arkansas and that Arkansans are willing to pay

Upscale fare may be the calling card of Arthur’s Prime Steakhouse, but the establishment stood out for its hospitality in this year’s “AY's Readers’ Restaurant Poll.”

for quality. The restaurant took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, no doubt helped by Barakat’s uncompromising insistence on social distancing and masks. Barakat regrets none of it and said Arthur’s is peaking back up to its pre-COVID-19 numbers.

“I put my friends and regulars first,” Barakat said. “People are receptive. We’ve got the best friends in the world.”

Barakat uses the word “friends” a lot, and it can mean his customers or his staff. Yes, Barakat is a hard charger and a demanding boss, but at heart, he is a people person working in a people business. People come to Arthur’s for the steak — and the lobster and the pork chop and the veal — but they return for the service. Unsurprisingly, a large number of the staff have been around for the long haul.

The way Barakat sees it, genuinely caring for his employees allows him to push them to be their best daily.

“Treat them like family,” Barakat said. “Treat them with respect. That’s another blessing I have, the staff. Without them, we are nothing. Just treat them the way you would like to be treated.”

That might as well be Barakat’s model, and it is on display daily and nightly at Arthur’s. Not only is it a longtime Little Rock mainstay; it hosts plenty of outof-towners who gladly make the trip for the steaks, prime seafood and comprehensive wine list — not to mention, of course, the bananas Foster which, it is a good bet, Barakat will be all too happy to light up to the delight of his customers for years to come. He would not have it any other way.

“As long as I’m standing, I’m going to do this,” Barakat said. “If you give people what they want, they will give you what you want.

Photo by Jamie Lee

READERS’ RESTAURANT WINNERS

Best Place to Watch the Game Slam Dunk Slam Dunk

Mainline

Sports

Bar named

By SARAH DECLERK // Photos courtesy of OAKLAWN

What makes game day so good? Many would say it is food, fun and friends — not to mention a top-notch TV setup.

Mainline Sports Bar at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, voted Best Place to Watch the Game in this year’s “AY's Readers’ Restaurant Poll,” has all that and more, including 90 big-screen TVs and what Sous Chef Meghan Ramthun described as “the best wings in Arkansas.”

“As soon as you come there, you’re going to order wings,” she said. “Everybody gets wings.”

Wings are not the only fan favorite at Mainline, of course. Hungry sports lovers can also chow down on nachos topped with beef, chicken or pulled pork or choose from a selection of Stadium Burgers ranging from the Main Line, a standard cheeseburger, to rotating offerings such as the Hot-to-Trot, a spicy delicacy featuring white cheddar, roasted red pepper, pepperocini, house-made pickles, Jamaican seasoning and sriracha mayo.

There is also a lineup of hand-tossed pizzas topped with house-

made sauce and a three-cheese blend, including a chef’s choice pizza that rotates between options such as taco, reuben and kickin’ bourbon chicken, in addition to staples such as cheese, pepperoni and supreme.

Sports and pizza aficionado Dave Portnoy tried Mainline’s cheese pizza during a One Bite Pizza Review in 2023, giving the pie a 5.9. While not the 8.7 famously awarded to Hot Springs neighbor Deluca’s Pizza, given Portnoy’s high standards, the score is certainly nothing to sniff at.

The menu changes every six months, Ramthun said, so guests who came to Mainline to catch the Razorbacks’ bout against Pine Bluff at the start of football season can bank on having something different to eat come March Madness.

The bar does not disappoint, either, and not only includes a range of cocktails and whiskeys, but among the

draft offerings is the establishment’s own Mainline Light, created by Lost Forty Brewing in Little Rock. Ramthun also recommended the Mermaid Water for those who like their drinks strong and fruity.

During the summer, the restaurant hosts beer and whiskey pairing events that showcase Mainline’s dedication to both beverages and cuisine.

“We try to get different, unique stuff that other places don’t have that we can pair with different foods to be able to try out those different alcohols and those different beers,” Ramthun said.

Food and drink alone do not make a sports bar, however; getting serious about ball is just as important. Those nearly 100 televisions have broadcast most every sport imaginable, including lesser-known sports during the 2024 Summer Olympics. With Oaklawn’s Sportsbook open at both the casino and Mainline during major game days, the sports bar is, perhaps, the best place to bet on the game, as well.

“It gets lively,” Ramthun said. “It gets really cool, sometimes, because you get the Arkansas games in there, and everybody is rooting for the Razorbacks or, you know, the Kansas City Chiefs. The Patriots [fans] come in. They watch their games. So do Cowboys fans.”

There is also a dedicated area for watching the ponies. The restaurant is situated in the racing grandstand, making it easy to walk out the doors and join the excitement during live races.

Guests can also squeeze in a little playtime between plays, since Mainline has ax throwing, shuffleboard and Topgolf Swing Suites that not only offer simulated golf but baseball, hockey, soccer, Zombie Dodgeball and more.

“The staff is always excited to see everyone, and we’re always

Superb pizza and wings staff claim to be the best in Arkansas await diners at Mainline Sports Bar at Oaklawn in Hot Springs.

ready to serve whatever the need of the customer is,” Ramthun said. “We enjoy having the big, exciting games and stuff like that, our watch parties.”

What makes “AY's Readers’ Restaurant Poll” win even more impressive is Mainline’s relative youth.

Opened in December 2022, the restaurant is midway through only its third racing season, yet it is already a front-runner among sports enthusiasts.

“We’ve been trying as hard as we can to be able to provide the best place to watch the games, to come during live meets,” Ramthun said. “We’ve challenged ourselves to become one of the better places to try at Oaklawn.”

That, in itself, is no mean feat, considering Oaklawn has “AY's Readers’ Restaurant Poll” honors across the board. The Bugler won Best Overall Restaurant, and the OAK room & bar was named Best Restaurant to Impress Out-of-Towners.

“I think it’s fantastic. It’s been very challenging, and it’s been very exciting to learn and try new things and for us to be able to grow as a company in the culinary world to be able to accept these three different awards,” Ramthun said. “In our culinary work, we actually get to grow and show that we have varieties of different things on our property.”

Food is most certainly one of the highlights at Oaklawn, whether one orders a hot dog at the track or a steak dinner at the OAK room & bar. Also on site are Silks Bar and Grill and Big Al’s Diner & Deli, both of which offer exceptional culinary experiences in their own right. The Bugler was also a finalist in the fine dining category in the AY About You Best of 2024 readers’ poll, and the OAK room & bar was a finalist for cocktails.

As for Mainline, Ramthun said she hopes to continue winning the patronage of the Hot Springs community and those who visit the city for its many events and attractions.

“We want to expand and become one of those places in Arkansas that when you think of Arkansas or think of Hot Springs, it’s automatically Mainline to go watch the game, to watch the UFC, to watch whatever we can provide on our big screens for our fan base,” she said.

She added that she is grateful to readers for helping the restaurant secure the top spot in the poll.

“We appreciate every single one of you guys and thank you for coming to Mainline and supporting us,” she said. “We hope to see you in the future.”

Storytellers Soothsayers

O’Looney’s staff, connoisseur team demystify wine

By ALEX HARDGRAVE

Behind a great libation is a great liquor store — and behind a great liquor store is a great staff helping patrons make the right choices in a sea of options. That is the experience the staff at O’Looney’s Wine & Liquor in Little Rock works to provide to its patrons.

At the heart, O’Looney’s staff are storytellers, owner Jonathan Looney said. By connecting the clients with wine, O’Looney’s connects them with generations before them and to countries they may have never stepped foot in — the terroir of the wine.

The term terroir refers to the soil the wine comes from, but it means so much more than that.

“It’s not just the land,” Looney said. “It’s the land and the people and the history and the space and the sun and the rain and the weather patterns. It’s the story of humanity.”

The O’Looney’s story started with a phone call. Looney was working at Ozark Outdoor Supply in Little Rock, putting himself through college. Once he graduated, his parents, who owned a convenience store, asked him if he wanted to start a liquor store. It was a no-brainer for him.

In 2000, O’Looney’s was built off of Chenal Parkway. At the time, it was the second business in the area, the other being a dress shop. Since then, the store has stood proud at 3 Rahling Circle as other businesses have been built up around it.

A quarter-century later, Looney joked that he hopes the business becomes an “overnight success.”

The business has become a staple in the community not just for being there but for the evolution and development of its owner. Looney has learned a lot about business since opening up the shop more than two decades ago,

and he has learned a lot about wine.

“Very quickly, when I got into this business, I realized that I had completely outkicked my coverage,” he said. “My client base was infinitely more knowledgeable about wine and about liquor and about beer than I was. I just liked to drink it, and I liked to spend time with family and friends, enjoying a beverage, so then I went down that rabbit hole.”

Ever since, Looney has gone on to learn a lot about the beverage industry in general and about wine specifically. He is a certified wine specialist, a certified sommelier, and possesses an advanced certification from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. He said through his time becoming educated about wine, he realized a lot of wine experts were not in client-facing positions, and he wanted to be.

Photos courtesy of O’Looney’s

A top-notch selection of wines coupled with a knowledgeable staff earned O’Looney’s Wine & Liquor a spot as Best Libation Creator in the 2025 “AY's Readers’ Restaurant Poll.”

“I always get jazzed about serving people and helping them find the amazing beverage for their particular event or their dinner party,” Looney said. “I’ve been on a mission of helping customers find delicious wines and helping my team members grow and learn about the alcoholic beverage industry.”

He described himself as a wine “soothsayer,” foreseeing what clients want even if they do not have the wine vocabulary to talk about what they like. By doing so, he helps reduce the paradox of choice for people.

“If I can translate what you mean as opposed to what you say and use my technical knowledge to deliver a heightened experience and a heightened awareness for you and your palate, that’s the bee’s knees,” he said.

Through O’Looney’s private client group, people have access to a wine connoisseur team, which includes Chuck Magill, Bob Harrison and Jeff Franzetti. Any member of the knowledgeable team can help customers select the ideal drink for any occasion.

The O’Looney’s team has also connected with local bartenders and groups so they can deliver fabulous cocktail recipes to clients. Even though Looney is formally educated in wine and not cocktails, his olfactory knowledge and astute palate lends itself to knowing how to mix together flavors, he said.

“Although we don’t publish recipes, we spend an awful lot of time with events and brides, customizing their event,” Looney said, “creating a craft cocktail, naming it — all the trappings of delivery of awesomeness.”

That dedication and service mindedness has earned the store the distinction of Best Libation Creator in the 2025 “AY's Readers Restaurant Poll.”

The staff also partners with local businesses for wine and food pairings.

Looney said he knows the business is ever evolving, but his team has stayed on the forefront. O’Looney’s was the first liquor store in Arkansas to set up the infrastructure for and get permission to sell wine online. That paved the way for local microbreweries to be able to sell their growlers and the like on their websites.

Today, Looney said he sees people drinking less, but they are buying higher-priced wines when they do drink.

“People are looking for wines that have a sense of place and have a story behind them, and we specialize in telling the winemaker or the wine owner’s story,” he said.

Looney said for all of his knowledge, he hesitates to make sweeping suggestions when asked for specific recommendations about choosing the right vino.

“I’m more curious about, ‘How does this smell to you? How does this taste to you?’ because I’ve got a lot of formal training, and I know what it’s supposed to taste like, and I know whether I like it or not, but it’s more interesting to me to discuss, ‘What do you smell? What are you experiencing?’” he said.

Asking questions — such as what drinks a person orders when they go out to dinner, what wines they typically reach for and even what one’s favorite nonalcoholic beverage is — helps decipher which wines one should take home.

“At the end of the day, I think this is important: Drink what you love, and love what you drink,” he said.

READERS’ RESTAURANT WINNERS

It had to be Heber

Zeke & Lizzy’s brings Louisiana to the lake

By MAK MILLARD // Photos courtesy of Sherrye Ginn

For Louisiana native DeWitt Ginn, cooking is both a second act and a first love. Ginn and his wife, Sherrye, took the long way around to becoming restaurateurs, but they have never been strangers to the art of culinary entertaining. Even while pursuing other professions — DeWitt in the medical field for 22 years and Sherrye an elementary school teacher for nearly 30 — the pair were known for hosting parties and catering events, including their sons’ weddings. Perhaps it is little wonder, then, that their Heber Springs restaurant, Zeke & Lizzy’s Seafood and Steakhouse,

has been able to hit the ground running.

“Zeke & Lizzy’s is a second career for both [of us],” Sherrye said. “Our previous job experiences have been instrumental in the success of managing our restaurant, even though we are still learning each and every day.”

It was Sherrye who would light the spark destined to become Zeke & Lizzy’s. Knowing that DeWitt had long harbored a desire to go to culinary school, she surprised him with a visit to the Louisiana Culinary Institute in Baton Rouge as an anniversary gift. He wasted no time in

enrolling that fall. After cutting his teeth at respected establishments in the Baton Rouge restaurant scene and making a name for himself as an executive chef, DeWitt and Sherrye went north in search of new digs. As is often the case with those moving to the Natural State, the scenery was a major selling point.

“We visited several places in Arkansas, including Heber Springs,” Sherrye said. “The Little Red River was a draw to [DeWitt], and I immediately fell for Sandy Beach.”

Tucked away in northcentral Arkansas, it turned out — and just a hop, skip and a jump away from Greers Ferry Lake — Heber Springs was the ideal location for the Ginns’ new steak and seafood concept.

“After one restaurant didn’t work out for us, our current location fell into our laps,” DeWitt said. “We couldn’t pass it up. We went home to Louisiana, sold almost everything we owned, moved to Heber Springs and opened Zeke & Lizzy’s in 30 days.”

In just a little more than two years since that leap of faith, Zeke & Lizzy’s Seafood and Steakhouse has made fans out of locals, lake vacationers and traveling out-of-towners from all over. The restaurant has even opened up a satellite spot at Eden Isle Marina on the lakeshore. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Zeke & Lizzy’s at the Wavebreaker serves up more boat-friendly fare while still giving patrons their gourmet Louisiana cooking fix.

“We felt there was a need for our flavor profiles and our vision for our restaurant,” Sherrye said. “Heber Springs and the surrounding areas, including guests from Memphis and Little Rock, have come to enjoy our food and embrace our vision.”

DeWitt’s made-to-order culinary creations make it an easy vision to embrace. The couple has garnered national attention, as well — Zeke & Lizzy’s landed in an episode of America’s Best Restaurants last year. This year, the restaurant endeared itself to the foodies among the AY About You readership and claimed the title of Best Catfish in the 2025 “AY's Readers’ Restaurant Poll.”

“We are thrilled to be named Best Catfish in Arkansas,” Sherrye said. “Our thin-fried, Mississippi farm-raised catfish is simply delicious.”

“Simply delicious” is an apt description for a no-frills dish such as catfish. Zeke & Lizzy serves it up on a platter with lemon, house-made tartar sauce and fries. There are no hush puppies and cole slaw, since “you can get [that] anywhere else in the state,” Sherrye said. Rest assured, though, the thin-fried champion can also be had a few other ways. Get it with fried shrimp, or tack on fried oysters for the full seafood platter. Order it on a po’boy, and enjoy a side of gumbo. The most serious appetites can tackle the catfish Atchafalaya, featuring DeWitt’s signature spicy etouffee crowned with a giant catfish fillet.

When it comes to other seafood offerings on the menu, being in a landlocked state is no excuse to skimp on quality,

From catfish and seafood to beignets and boudin balls, Zeke & Lizzy’s Seafood and Steakhouse brings a taste of the Pelican State to Heber Springs.

so DeWitt gets the fish of the day flown in from New Orleans. Freshness is paramount, and local ingredients are incorporated into the restaurant’s scratch-made plates as often as possible.

“We stand on our promise to provide high-quality, well-seasoned Louisiana dishes by offering fresh fish, fresh vegetables and high-quality steaks,” DeWitt said. “We have the freshest seafood around.”

From Sunday brunch to lunch plates and dinner, the menu is loaded with specialties such as boudin balls, crab cakes, shrimp and grits, and muffulettas made with locally baked bread. Even stuffed to the gills, diners would be remiss not to end the night with a classic dessert such as beignets or bread pudding.

Discerning readers may have noticed that neither proprietor’s name is Zeke nor Lizzy. That is no marketing gimmick. The name, much like the restaurant itself, is a testament to the Ginns’ relationship, their shared dream coming to fruition and a couple of four-legged companions who were there at the start of it all. When the couple first met, DeWitt owned a yellow lab, Zeke, and Sherrye had a “pound-puppy rat terrier” called Lizzy.

“Sixteen years later, when it was time to organize Zeke & Lizzy’s, we knew we had to go with our original plan to name our restaurant after our pups,” she said.

Without knowing better, one might assume Zeke & Lizzy’s was a decades-old hidden gem. The Ginns have taken what Sherrye once described as a “quirky-looking hole-in-the-wall building” from the 1950s and transformed it into a bustling, upscale-casual dining spot. In the Heber Springs Room, local art adorns the walls as a nod to the community that has embraced the pair with open arms and big appetites. The Louisiana Room, meanwhile, pays homage to the couple’s Pelican State history and roots. The most recent addition is Ben’s Retreat, an adults-only dining room. No matter where one sits, friendly staff round out an atmosphere meant to make every patron feel right at home.

“Our team is second to none,” Sherrye said. “Many have been with us since day one and are just the best.”

Suffice it to say, Zeke & Lizzy’s has secured its place in the fabric of the Heber Springs community. As the years go on and the joint acquires that patina that only a well-loved restaurant can hope to achieve, the couple are keeping their minds open to what might be next in store. If everything goes according to plan, Arkansans in other corners of the state might not have too long to wait — or too far to travel — to get their hands on DeWitt’s cooking.

“Time will tell about the future of Zeke & Lizzy’s,” Sherrye said. “We are hoping one day to branch out into Hot Springs.”

READERS’ RESTAURANT WINNERS

Little Rock

Little Rock

Hot Springs, Little Rock

Bryant, Cabot, Conway, Hot Springs, Little Rock, North Little Rock, Searcy

Heber

Benton, Bentonville, Conway, Fayetteville, Jonesboro, Little Rock, North Little Rock

Little Rock, Maumelle

Little Rock

BEST CINNAMON ROLL

Cinnamon Creamery Bakery

Little Rock

BEST CLASSIC RESTAURANT (20+ YEARS)

Brave New Restaurant

Little Rock

BEST COCKTAIL LOUNGE

Lefty’s on the Square

Magnolia

BEST COCKTAILS Cache Restaurant

BEST DINNER THEATER Murry’s Dinner Playhouse

Holly’s Country Cookin’

Conway BEST DATE NIGHT

Little Rock BEST COFFEEHOUSE Nexus Coffee & Creative Little Rock BEST COMFORT FOOD

Hogg’s Meat Market and Catering North

Charlotte’s Eats & Sweets

Little Rock BEST DISTILLERY Rock Town Distillery

Little Rock BEST DIVE BAR Town Pump

Little Rock BEST DOUGHNUTS

Sina’s Donuts & Eatery

Conway

ENTERTAINMENT

Revival :: restaurant + beer garden Benton

people

Kylie Blankenship

Favorite Servers

By PAUL SAGE // Photos by DEWAINE DUNCAN

The Sunshine of the Croissanterie

After two years of serving at the Croissanterie in Little Rock and only 24 years on earth, Kylie Blankenship has become a local personality because of her infectious laugh and genuine passion for customer service.

Blankenship’s adventures in food service began by mashing mix-ins with ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery when she was a student at Joe T. Robinson High School in Little Rock. That early experience set the foundation for her customercentric approach to serving.

“I fell in love with the whole working situation, just helping people,” she said. “I like [serving] because I can communicate with people and get to know them on a more personal level.

That approach has earned her a loyal following, and some regulars even check on her well-being via text when they do not see her at the Croissanterie. Her passion extends to creating a welcoming atmosphere, and her cheerful attitude and natural talent for hospitality make her a rising star in Little Rock’s casual dining scene.

“When people would come in, I ask them, ‘Do you have socks on? You better hold on to them. This place has been known to knock your socks off,’” she said. “I like to make them feel like they’re part of a family.”

The Croissanterie, a breakfast and lunch eatery known for its French-style pastries, as well as Southern delicacies such as biscuits and gravy, has become a second home for Blankenship. She thrives in the morning atmosphere, enjoying the cozy ambiance and the opportunity to serve coffee all day. Her dedication to her work and her customers has made the self-proclaimed “chronic optimist” an integral part of the award-winning restaurant’s success.

“We have the best food ever,” she said. “I’m just grateful about life, so there’s no reason for me to be in a bad mood.”

A Little Rock Landmark

Maggie Cordell has worked at Doe’s Eat Place in Little Rock for almost 20 years and has a total of 35 years in the service industry. Originally from Corning, Cordell found her calling in restaurant serving after moving to Little Rock in 1990. She said she loves her work but that serving requires a special temperament.

“I don’t think it’s for everybody. It does take a certain personality to do it,” she said. “I love to meet people, and I love to serve people.”

A Little Rock institution since 1988, Doe’s is a popular feeding ground for worldfamous politicians and celebrities who savor the down-home menu of steaks, tamales and marinated salad. Cordell has met and served a slate of stars at her workplace, most notably former President Bill Clinton, who signed one of his books for her.

“I’ve probably met [Clinton] there four or five times,” she said.

Cordell’s A-list of diners also includes actor David Arquette, sportscaster Kirk Herbstreit and music legend Willie Nelson.

“Oh, yes, I’ve met Willie,” she said. “They were in the back room, and I walked in there, and I looked at the group. They all looked like Willie, but I found him and talked to him for a minute, told him I was a huge fan. He was very, very nice.”

Cordell’s approach to customer service is rooted in empathy and problem solving.

“When you go out to eat, you want a nice, friendly server,” she said. “You want the food the way you want it. If you need to make modifications, you want that done. If the customer doesn’t like something, we take care of it.”

With nothing but high praise for Doe’s owner Katherine Eldridge and head chef David Brown, Cordell spoke affectionately about the people she has met while on the job.

“I have great co-workers. They’re absolutely wonderful — experienced waiters and, of course, the back of the house, kitchen,” she said. “We’ve also got the best customers.”

Maggie Cordell

Ricardo Morales

A Passion for Service

Ricardo

Morales has been a fixture at Brave New Restaurant in Little Rock for the past 20 years. He began his serving career in Mexico City when he was a college student. At age 22, he joined his family in Arkansas, completing a short stay in Hot Springs before settling in Little Rock.

The secret to Morales’s success can be summed up in three P’s: passion, patience and personability.

“You have to have the passion, and you have to be patient. You keep [giving] 100 percent and just listen to your customers, and everything will be great,” he said. “I really love to be interactive, one on one, with my customers.”

Morales emphasized the importance of added attention and effort to ensure customer happiness.

“I like to take care of my customers and go an extra mile for whatever they need,” he said.

At Brave New Restaurant, known for its upscale American cuisine and stunning river views, Morales has become an integral part of the dining experience.

“I have a really great connection with my clientele,” he said. “They always want me to come to their table to say hi.”

Morales also plays a mentoring role for newer staff members. He emphasized the importance of “working smarter, not just harder.” He advises his colleagues to make their work easier by being efficient in their movement throughout the restaurant and paying attention to more than one table at a time.

“I’ve got people looking at me as an example,” he said.

Morales’s advice to aspiring servers captures his approach to the profession.

“Just be patient, listen, always bring a great attitude to your table, and then just be professional,” he said.

Morales’s commitment to his craft and his genuine care for his customers’ experience have made him an invaluable asset to Brave New Restaurant and a beloved figure in Little Rock’s dining scene.

Maddie Stokes

Just Like Home

Serving runs in Maddie Stokes’ family. She started as a server at age 15, following in her mother’s and aunt’s footsteps by working at BJ’s Market Café in North Little Rock. When her family moved to Houston, Texas, she added more restaurant experience to her resume before returning to Arkansas. Since 2022, Stokes has been a full-time server at Homer’s Kitchen Table in Little Rock.

“I like [working at Homer’s] because I can communicate with people and get to know them. I bond with them, I guess, more than most servers do,” Stokes said. “I like to be personal. I like to make [customers] feel like they’re part of a family.”

At Homer’s, known for its Southern home cooking, Stokes has found her niche. She focuses on the little details to deliver exemplary customer service and takes pride in remembering diners’ preferences.

“I’ll remember people’s names, their drinks, their food to where they don’t really have to say much. It’s like they’re going over to their grandma’s house to eat,” Stokes said.

She understands that some customers do not want to leave as soon as the eating is over.

“There are some people that I can tell will sit there for a little bit because they haven’t seen each other for a while, so I’ll prebus their table to where all they have is their drinks in front of them.”

The servers at Homer’s cooperate as a team and cover for each other.

“We all communicate with each other when we’re in the weeds,” Stokes said. “When we’re behind and we know that we can’t give our best effort to the table, we’ll ask one of the other servers if they have time to help us out so every table can get good service and good food.”

Stokes thrives on social interaction and loves serving large groups.

“I do not get overwhelmed with big parties. I make them laugh,” Stokes said. “I had a party of 18 people last night, and I just made them laugh the entire time.”

than just a PARTY MORE

Arkansas Derby is one of the biggest days in all of horse racing

By DOUG CRISE // Photos courtesy of Oaklawn

When Louis Cella says that everybody loves coming to Oaklawn Racing Casino & Resort for the Arkansas Derby, he means the four-legged patrons, as well as the two-legged ones.

Cella, president of the Oaklawn Jockey Club, turns 60 in May, and he likes to say he has been running around Oaklawn on Derby Day for almost 60 years. He is right, too — Cella literally learned the business at the knee of his father, Charles, who previously oversaw Oaklawn on its biggest day.

“I’ve gone from hanging around while I was growing up to running the joint now,” Cella said.

Going from the crib to the boardroom, Cella has seen and heard plenty, and he has plenty of stories to tell. One of the neater things, he said, is how appreciative the owners, trainers and jockeys are of the atmosphere the Arkansas Derby crowd brings every March.

It is not just for the cheering or pomp and circumstance, Cella said. Most fans of thoroughbred racing know the Arkansas Derby is one of the most important — if not the most important — run-ups to the Kentucky Derby, but they may not know that trainers with an eye on a Kentucky Derby spot say the noise and enthusiasm occurring at Oaklawn actually mentally prepares the thoroughbreds for racing at Churchill Downs. In fact, legendary trainer Bob Baffert once confided to Cella that he likes bringing horses to the Arkansas Derby because the crowd effect is so close to that in Kentucky.

“The horses will hear it like it’s in Kentucky,” Cella said.

The idea of “mentally preparing” the horses for the year’s biggest event may sound strange coming from Cella, but those involved on the Arkansas Derby’s ground floor say he is absolutely right in his assessment.

“The largest race in the world is the Kentucky Derby,” longtime trainer and Arkansas Derby participant Ron Moquett said. “When you come to the Arkansas Derby, it’s the closest thing you get. We’ve got the same atmosphere. There’s lots of action.”

The Arkansas Derby has long brought excitement to racing fans.

As passionate as Cella is about Oaklawn, the Arkansas Derby and all the offerings that come with it, he could probably call on Moquett if he needs some free public relations.

An Oklahoma native, Moquett has trained racehorses since 1997, including 2017 Kentucky Derby hopeful Petrov. He has crisscrossed the country, living the life of a trainer, and he said there is nothing quite like Derby Day at Oaklawn Park.

In fact, as popular as the Arkansas Derby is in Arkansas, Moquett sees opportunity for even more people to come through the gates. Arkansans, Moquett said, know the Derby is big, but he wants casual fans to realize just how big it is.

“Everyone knows sports,” Moquett said. “Like, maybe in basketball, this is like the Final Four. Winning the Arkansas Derby, the impact it has on your value, it’s next level. In my

The Arkansas Derby is one of the most important run-ups to the Kentucky Derby.

“The largest race in the world is the Kentucky Derby. When you come to the Arkansas Derby, it’s the closest thing you get.

— Ron Moquett longtime trainer and Arkansas Derby participant

mind, it’s a premier race nationally. It’s a huge deal. Every time you’re here, you get to see the best in the world.”

Indeed, for the participants, the Arkansas Derby may very well be the most important race of the year at the biggest and loudest venue. The stakes for those involved, Moquett said, are unbelievably high. Years of work go into just making the field, much less having a shot at Kentucky Derby immortality.

“Race after race, there’s drama unfolding,” Moquett said. “When you get a chance to get that close, it’s a pretty good feeling.”

Not once has Cella let the Derby coast on its own reputation. Starting in 2021, Cella oversaw a $100 million expansion of Oaklawn that included a luxury hotel complete with fine dining, a spa and an expansion of the existing casino.

The result has been a facility that can easily absorb the over 75,000 people expected for the Arkansas Derby weekend.

Excitement among fans and trainers cultivates an atmosphere that is similar to the Kentucky Derby.

“We’ve matured enough that we now know how to operate for big things,” Cella said. “It’s a true resort property. It’s great for Arkansas. The whole community has embraced it. On paper, we knew what it would be like, and we’re excited to say the pieces do fit together. If you go to a race in California, it’s all spread out. Here, it’s all in Hot Springs.”

Indeed, while the Arkansas Derby is a bona fide statewide (and then some) event, there remains a love affair between the race and the people of Hot Springs.

“At Churchill Downs, you can go three blocks and find someone who’s never been to the Kentucky Derby,” Moquett said. “At Oaklawn, it’s different. Everybody in Hot Springs loves horse racing.”

They love it, and they follow it. The Arkansas Derby may be Oaklawn’s biggest day, but it is preceded by months of racing attended by fans hoping to catch the next big thing in thoroughbred racing.

“This time of year, we start hearing talk about horses,” Cella said. “Who’s the next American Pharoah? They don’t know, that’s why they come to the races.”

Cella may have fallen in love with horse racing by the time he was old enough to walk, but he is also a businessman. He knows that many of the fans that walk through the gates

March 29 are catching their only thoroughbred race of the year. That, he said, is why the new additions such as the hotel, casino, restaurants and spa mean so much. Somebody who has never been to a horse race before can come to Oaklawn, not wager a penny and still have a weekend to remember.

Just to sweeten the pot, this year, anybody

The

Arkansas Derby will take place March 29 at Oaklawn in Hot Springs.

I’ve gone from hanging around while I was growing up to running the joint now.

— Louis Cella president of the Oaklawn Jockey Club

coming through who swipes their driver’s license for admission is automatically entered into numerous giveaways — and, of course, there are the fancy outfits, legendary corned beef sandwiches and first-rate people watching that have long made the Arkansas Derby what it is.

“They swipe their card, they’re going to get something,” Cella said. “The fans love it.”

It is worth noting that neither Cella or Moquett brought up betting. Wagering is the heart and soul of thoroughbred racing, but it can also be complex and intimidating for newcomers. Oaklawn provides plenty of resources, both on the web and on-site, to guide firsttimers through the process.

Listen to either man talk about the Arkansas Derby, and it is clear they have great passion for the event and its people. It is a source of state and civic pride and one of the biggest yearly events in all of Arkansas. Visitors do not have to come for the wagering or the casino or even Hot Springs’ famous spas.

They can simply come as they are, do as they wish and leave happy.

“You can gamble and have a drink,” Moquett said, “but come and get to know these horses. I don’t know. It just feels different. Don’t read win percentages or pay odds. If you want to bet, fine, but come get to know these amazing animals.”

arts & culture

Irish bars prep For St. Patrick’s Day

Ready to (Sham)rock

By ALEX HARDGRAVE

COPPER PENNY PUB

Nestled among historic Hot Springs buildings on Central Avenue is Copper Penny Pub, a place where the Jameson flows freely in fun cocktails and all the food is made fresh daily.

The town’s population swells for the holiday as people take to the streets to enjoy the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade and festivities. Activities start March 16, and the parade takes place March 17.

Owner Saddiq Mir invites people inside the pub for some respite during the fun-filled weekend.

“You want to get off your feet?” he said. “Then come inside, have a great cocktail and great food.”

This is not his first rodeo, and the team starts prepping early for the holiday.

“We started off already in January because it is a huge event for the city, and we’re an Irish bar, and we’re in the main guts of everything here,” he said.

On the day of the parade, the pub opens at 11 a.m., and a DJ will already be spinning tracks. Throughout the day, there will be live music until the pub closes.

Mir said during past years, the crowd has been a mix of locals and people from out of town attracted to the city for the parade. His No. 1 priority for St. Patrick’s Day is that every single person gets great service, no matter how busy the bar gets.

For the weekend, the team makes sure they have a lot of Guinness to keep up with the thirsty crowd.

“We’ll be stocking up Guinness beer and anything we can make Guinness,” he said.

Mir also plans to sell about triple to quadruple the amount of Jameson Irish Whiskey than the pub does on a normal weekend, which is usually still busy. He said the bar will feature an Irish Moscow mule, a Jameson margarita and more. It is sure to be a fun-filled time.

The restaurant is also rolling out a new menu full of fun traditional and fusion Irish items in time for the holiday. They include Irish nachos, corned beef egg rolls and other delicacies. Coming soon, the pub will start serving brunch.

Mir knows the hospitality business. As president and CEO of J&S Hospitality, he owns three other concepts in Hot Springs, including J&S Italian Villa, the Ohio Club, and Indulge Sweet & Savory. He and his wife, Jeannie Mir, acquired the pub about 2 1/2 years ago.

He said they have learned two main lessons about hospitality: One is that a person needs passion to serve people. Second, no matter who a person is, they should leave the restaurant having had a memorable experience.

Copper Penny Pub in Hot Springs is a favorite stop during the World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade. (Photos by Genevieve Townley)

This time of year, people talk about of the luck of the Irish, but do Irish pub owners leave anything up to luck when preparing for their biggest celebration of the year, St. Patrick’s Day?

The answer, at least in the Natural State, seems to be a resounding no. Arkansas’ pubs start prepping months in advance, booking DJs, stocking up on extra Jameson and prepping kitchens, all so their patrons can come in their best green getups and have a great time.

DUGAN’S PUB

If one is taking in Little Rock’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities downtown, there is, perhaps, no better place to keep the party going than at Dugan’s Pub on Third Street. Since 2011, Dugan’s has hosted the St. Patrick’s Day Block Party, and it is no small feat. This year, it will take place March 15.

“I wanted to throw the biggest party in Little Rock for St. Patrick’s Day,” owner Don Dugan said. “So far, we’ve succeeded at that. It’s probably a solid four to five months of planning to make sure that one day goes off extremely well.”

Expect all the fixings of a great party: step dancers, live music, beer tents, food vendors and more.

Dugan said the pub partners with other businesses on the street and the Irish Cultural Society of Arkansas, which runs the parade to create business for the whole community.

“It’s been nice to have good partnerships with different companies and corporations that we work with,” he said. “We realize it’s Irish Christmas. It’s our Super Bowl, so they’re good about helping out and chipping in and doing what they need to do to help us succeed that day.”

After the parade, performances on the main stage and fun in the streets continue until about 9 p.m., when the party continues inside with more music on the Dugan’s stage. Dugan said one band patrons can expect to hear this year is the Dilemma, which will play to what is almost always a packed house

“Folks are all here to have fun, have a good time, and we try to help facilitate that as much as possible,” he said.

To serve food to that many people, the team completes three to four solid days of food prep beforehand and limits the menu. It is also all hands on deck that day, and there are about 15 to 20 staff members on duty.

The top-selling items are classic fare such as fish and chips and shepherd’s pie, but Dugan said the business also sells a lot of cheeseburgers. All beers that day are $7 to make it simple for the staff, who went through about 30 kegs of beer last year.

One item of note is that because the pub is located in the city’s entertainment district, people can purchase a drink inside Dugan’s and carry it outside to watch the festivities, so even if a beer tent cannot accommodate the drink one wants, staff can still make it happen.

Dugan said he feels lucky to be in the restaurant business. He

loves what he does not just on St. Patrick’s Day but every day.

“It’s a fun business,” he said. “You’re serving drinks. You’re serving food. You take people when they come in the door, and they may have had a terrible day or a rough moment or something going on, but by the time they leave, they’re like, ‘OK, alright, I’m good.’”

Dugan's Pub is the life of the party during the St. Patrick's Day celebration in Little Rock. (Photos by Jamie Lee)

HIBERNIA IRISH TAVERN

Those looking for something off the beaten path but with an authentic Irish vibe might want to find Hibernia’s Irish Tavern in Little Rock

“I would regard us as the most authentic Irish place around,” owner Gerry Ward said. “Might be the most authentic place in the whole state. It’s Irish owned, Irish operated.”

On St. Patrick’s Day and the weekend of the parade, Hibernia is packed with people looking to celebrate the holiday. People can expect entertainment, including a bagpiper and Irish dancers, he said. On St. Patrick’s Day this year, Ward said Hibernia is doing something different by having a DJ who will play modern Irish pop music.

Even though St. Patrick’s Day is on a Monday this year, he said it would still be a “madhouse.”

“It’s the busiest day of the year by far,” he said. “If you’re looking for a traditional Irish experience, St. Patrick’s Day is not the day for it.”

He said the menu is limited to just a few Irish items such as bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie, and fish and chips. The team starts prepping the items days before so they can get orders out quickly on the big days.

While it is not easy staying authentically Irish in music, food and entertainment all the time, he said he thinks Little

Owner Gerry Ward demonstrates proper pouring form behind the bar at Hibernia Irish Tavern in Little Rock.

(Photos by Jamie Lee)

Rock is an “oasis in a little desert when you’re trying to be authentically Irish.”

“There’s not much going on here, but usually, when Irish bands are passing through town into one of the bigger cities, they usually call us. If it’s possible, then they play here,” he said.

Of course, the bar is heavily stocked with Jameson and Guinness poured Ward’s way, which he affirmed is the only right way. The technique requires the correct type of glass, the correct type of tap, and even the proper amount of waiting time between the first pour and topping off the glass.

No matter the time of year, Hibernia is full on Saturday nights, hosting regulars enjoying musical performances or a few drinks with friends.

“We never want to be the biggest bar in town; we just want to be the most authentic Irish place in Arkansas, and I think we’ve accomplished that,” he said.

arts & culture

Playing Music, Preserving History

Local traditional Irish session still going strong

Patrons and musicians filter in, ordering their favorite libations and saying their hellos to owner Gerry Ward, who mans the bar at Hibernia Irish Tavern in Little Rock.

The musicians pull various instruments from cases and tote bags to start tuning them and warm up. On this particular day, the group consisted of fiddles, a guitar, an accordion, a banjo, a whistle and a bodhrán, a traditional Irish drum.

The musicians do not get out any sheet music, and they have no set list. Instead, they follow each other’s lead. One person starts a song, and others quickly join in. The traditional Irish session has begun.

“It’s probably one of the oldest continuously running Irish sessions,” member Scott Moye said.

He said the group started in 1996 or 1997, and he joined after moving and meeting Ellen Stern, the group’s founder.

Moye picked up his instrument of choice, the accordion, when he was about 16 because his aunt played it. He plays a different type of accordion more traditional to Irish music than a layperson may think. Instead of a keyboard on the side, it has buttons, and it’s in a different tune than the accordion most people are familiar with.

During the Irish session, members learn songs from one another, creating a web of musical connection that comes with deep memories for its members.

“We pass tunes around to each other, so if you pick up a tune from another person, that tune stays with you kind of as that person,” Moye said. “I have tunes that I learned from people who have passed away, and so when you play those tunes, you think about those things.”

Moye said the Irish sessions’ venue has not always been Hibernia but has been set up at almost 20 other locations through the years. He recalled the River Market Pavilions, a Barnes & Noble and Kelly’s Bistro in Little Rock, which has since closed.

Beyond the Sunday sessions, the group plays at wakes and, of course, gets booked for many St. Patrick’s Day events. Moye recalled playing to a particularly raucous St. Patrick’s Day crowd or two while

The musicians do not get out any sheet music, and they have no set list. Instead, they follow each other’s lead.

with the group.

“For Irish musicians, this is kind of like New Year’s Eve,” he said.

Linda King, who plays guitar and sings, currently runs the group. King encouraged anyone who plays or has an interest in learning the genre to come learn because it is a distinctive sound and something different for a musician to play.

She said there can be various people from week to week. They play with whatever group can show up that Sunday.

Moye recalled musicians of all genres — country, rock, punk — coming into the Irish session over the years. The group also ranges in age from the youngest, who is in high school, to the oldest, a player who is 70-something.

Beyond music playing, the group has a lot of fun.

“Lots of joke telling,” Moye said. “Lots of that.”

People also come to connect with Irish heritage and history.

“Irish musicians, we’re actually trying to preserve a culture,” Moye said. “We’re basically preservationists.”

The Irish session runs from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday at Hibernia. For more information, visit hiberniairishtavern.com.

By ALEX HARDGRAVE // Photo by JAMIE LEE

Get Ready to

G

et out the green duds because the time is nigh for a Hot Springs tradition like no other: the First Ever 22nd Annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Small in distance but big in personality, the event packs live music, celebrity guests, local royalty and outrageous floats into Hot Springs’ entertainment district, drawing more than 30,000 celebrants. Festivities begin March 16, and the parade takes place March 17.

Originally conceived as a way to boost tourism in Spa City, the parade complements Hot Springs’ quirky and historic charm. As the story goes, Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs, and some local co-conspirators, originally dreamt up the idea over pints at a German restaurant next to Bridge Street — the world’s shortest street in everyday use. One idea stuck: a St. Patrick’s Day parade contained entirely within Bridge Street’s 98 feet.

The fun starts with a 0K race, which “honors a lack of speed and endurance” and benefits Tri-Lakes Court Appointed Special Advocates. Victory goes to the slowest finisher of the 299-foot course.

The World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade

returns for 22nd Year

By MEGAN BLANKENSHIP// Photos courtsey of Bill Solleder at Visit Hot Springs

Entrants can count on an aid station at the halfway point to refuel with water, a snack or a beer. There is also a costume contest.

The preparade excitement builds with DJs, vendors, bounce houses and performances by the much-loved Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. This year marks their 10th year at the parade, where they are known for mingling with fans and handing out beads. Local food trucks and restaurants provide refreshments for both children and grown-ups.

This year’s parade’s star power includes legendary hip-hop hype man Flavor Flav, who will kick off the festivities as the official parade starter. Like the parade itself, the rapper is a big character with a lot of heart, Solleder said, plus his birthday is March 16, so the parade

will double as a birthday party.

“We couldn’t have been luckier to land Flavor Flav,” said Bill Soll eder, longtime Hot Springs resident and director of marketing at Visit Hot Springs, noting that this year, for the first time ever, there is an official parade souvenir. An enormous bead styled after Flavor Flav’s famous clock necklace will be available on Bridge Street and at of ficial merch tents.

Flavor Flav will be joined by actor Valerie Bertinelli of One Day at a Time and Hot in Cleveland fame. Lately, the former Mrs. Eddie Van Halen hosts an award-winning Food Network show called Valerie’s Home Cooking. Over the years, other celebrity guests

Expect green costumes aplenty at this year’s World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

O’Furniture and the Irish Sitters, where lawn chair choreography was involved.”

Fleischner recalled attending the very first parade in 2004.

“I tried to wear a little green to avoid a pinch or to receive a pinch, depending on the situation,” he said. “It’s hard to believe that the St. Patrick’s Day Parade began 22 years ago. As goes the growth of the parade, so goes the growth of downtown Hot Springs. It has been incredible.”

Solleder said this year’s event will be replete with celebrities, festivities and general hijinks, from a free concert by Grand Funk Railroad to the aforementioned Blarney Stone Kissing Contest, a drama of talent, costume and courtly manners.

“You sing to it, you dance to it, you bend over backwards, and you give it a kiss,” Solleder said. “People will be judged on their presentation to the Blarney Stone itself — maybe their singing, what they’re wearing and how polite they are to the stone.”

For first-timers, Solleder recommended arriving early for a prime spot.

“Check out the city maps,” he said. “There’s lots of parking around the Hot Springs convention center that’s free.”

At heart, it’s a true community event, I’ve loved it as a spectator for years, and I took part for several years in a fun group of friends. Every year, we had a different name and a different theme.

— Parade Queen Liz Robbins “

have included actor Ralph Macchio, NFL great Emmitt Smith and Cheech Marin of Cheech & Chong.

This year’s parade royalty are Queen Liz Robbins, executive director of the Garland County Historical Society, and King Mark Fleischner, owner of Lauray’s the Diamond Center, both of whom have deep ties to Hot Springs. The titles honor Hot Springs heroes and entail duties such as presiding over the Blarney Stone Kissing Contest and generating fanfare during the parade. Past honorees include actor Joey Lauren Adams and Arkansas Razorback football coach Sam Pittman.

“At heart, it’s a true community event,” Robbins said. “I’ve loved it as a spectator for years, and I took part for several years in a fun group of friends. Every year, we had a different name and a different theme, like Paddy

He added that while the entire district is accessible, wheelchair users will find the best access near the staging area on Orange Street.

Rounding the corner onto Bridge Street, every float and act gets 60 seconds in the spotlight, accompanied by a personalized soundtrack. Floats range from local businesses and attractions such as Garvan Woodland Gardens and Oaklawn to eccentric troupes from near and far.

Two particularly popular entrants are the International Order of the Elvi, an Elvis impersonator group at least 300 Elvi strong, and the Cousin Eddies, who come dressed as the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation character.

Unexpected moments abound at the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade. More than one wedding has taken place in 60 seconds or less. In 2023, a Tom Cruise impersonator caused a delighted frenzy.

The parade also fosters new traditions. When Solleder first joined Visit Hot Springs, he was surprised there was no high school marching band involved. Owing to the holiday’s association with

adult beverages and the fact that it falls near spring break, many local schools were hesitant, so he reached out to rural Mountain Pine High School. With about a dozen members, the ensemble was a great fit, and Mountain Pine has been a parade staple ever since.

“The smallest high school band for the world’s shortest parade,” he said. “The next year, their marching band quadrupled in size.”

Planning for the parade is a year-round effort, and Solleder said attention is already being paid to 2026. Hundreds of people, including city teams, sanitation crews, police, paramedics and volunteers, work behind the scenes to ensure the event is safe and fun.

The formula is working; the parade has grown into Hot Springs’ largest event outside of the Arkansas Derby, drawing tourists from across the country, especially Texas and Louisiana.

It has also spawned its share of imitators claiming to be the shortest parade. For all of the other frivolity, that part of the weekend is no laughing matter. A crucial preparade ritual is measuring the route to defend the title — one that has faced plenty of challengers over the years.

The most recent is a purported 89-foot parade in Adamsville, Rhode Island. The notoriety has helped Adamsville raise $20,000 for a local homeless shelter, which Solleder finds admirable, just not world-record-title worthy.

“Anybody can take a road and just use 50 feet of it,” he said. “We have to remember that the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade is actually using the entirety of Bridge Street, which is 98 feet long. That’s what sets it apart.”

“In the end, there’s substance behind [Adamsville] that’s been very beneficial to a great cause in Providence, but for the record, they’re still No. 2, OK?”

The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders are a traditional highlight of the parade, which takes place on Bridge Street.

BABY MONITOR

Birth rate and negative birth health reaching crisis levels

Of all the existential activities that organisms perform during their lifetimes, reproduction and raising of young are about as born-in as it gets. Without a suitable number of healthy offspring to replace the parents, the fragile numbers game that enables a species to survive crumbles into decline and extinction.

Humans have come a long way overall in the age-old drive to advance the bloodline, but recent statistics show just how tenuous humanity’s grasp on matters of propagation can sometimes be, whether by choice or by negative health outcomes.

As reported by North American Community Hub last year, the U.S. birthrate hit a historic low in 2020 of just fewer than 56 births per 1,000 women between the ages of 15 and 44. That mark, the lowest birthrate since collection of national data began, followed a 20-year decline.

The decline narrowed the country’s ability to replace each generation, something that for decades was a given in the U.S., hovering around 2.3 children for every woman. By 2023, that ratio had shrunk to 1.6 children per woman.

Experts point to various societal factors affecting the rate, including uncertainty about national economic conditions, the rising cost of having children overall, and people generally waiting longer to marry and start families in recent years.

However, as March of Dimes points out, there are far more serious issues facing the country besides merely personal preference. In its annual report card, the longstanding nonprofit gave the United States a gloomy assessment of performance in regard to maternal and infant health.

The nation’s preterm birth rate, children born before 37 weeks of gestation, was 10.4 percent; the infant mortality rate recently increased for the first time in 20 years; and maternal deaths numbered 22.3 per 1,000 live births, 5 percent higher than in 2018.

Within these numbers were variables for race, with

By DWAIN HEBDA

mothers and babies of color dying at higher rates than other demographic groups, and areas of the country. Most of the poorestperforming states are located in the South, Arkansas among them.

The Natural State received a dismal F grade on the March of Dimes report card, exceeding the national numbers in preterm births, maternal mortality, inadequate prenatal care and, especially, infant mortality, for which Arkansas ranked last in the country at nearly 8 deaths per 1,000 births.

Such facts have pushed the issue of maternal and infant mortality to the top of the list of health care crises in the state, grabbing the attention of lawmakers along the way.

Both the Arkansas House of Representatives and the Arkansas Senate have advanced identical bills to address the issue this session, measures that have the endorsement of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who has taken up the challenge of improving maternal health for all.

If passed, the bill would streamline Medicaid enrollment for pregnant women and allow the federal health program to pay for various pregnancy and delivery professionals, such as doulas and community health workers. It would also increase reimbursement to doctors and hospitals for deliveries and other pregnancy-related services.

In addition to legislative solutions from the statehouse, many of the state’s hospitals have doubled down on their pregnancy and delivery services, from education to medical technology. Baptist Health is one such hos-

pital system that continues to invest heavily in that area of medicine, starting with education.

“We offer a whole range of classes to help prepare people before they ever deliver, not only from the clinics and the OBs that are available but prenatal classes and once they get to the hospital,” said Nicki Knowles, Baptist Health’s director of women and children’s services. “The more education we get these moms before they get the baby home, the better, and so we start prenatally to make sure that they have that education.”

“We have in-person prenatal classes, breastfeeding, Babysafe CPR. We also offer all these virtually because a lot of parents don’t have time to come up here and sit for a three-hour class on a Monday night. If they do the online Baptist Childbirth Academy, they can just watch it on their couch and just watch bits and pieces of it throughout their pregnancy to educate themselves.”

Another major issue when it comes to a healthy pregnancy, especially in Arkansas, is access to high-quality prenatal care. Here again, Baptist Health has shown innovation with its unique home program.

“We currently have 64 moms enrolled in our home program, and we partner with social workers that help drive their care,” Knowles said. “They go into their home. They provide the prenatal education. They make sure they get to their doctor’s appointments. They make sure they have access to all the food and stuff they need.

— Nicki Knowles director of women & children’s services at Baptist Health “

We offer a whole range of classes to help prepare people before they ever deliver, not only from the clinics and the OBs that are available but prenatal classes and once they get to the hospital.

Nicki Knowles

New parents commonly feel some anxiety about the health of their little ones, and organizations across Arkansas are working to ensure parents give children the best possible start in life.

(Photo courtesy of Baptist Health)

“After they deliver, they follow the mom and these children all the way through to 2 years old to make sure they’re making all their pediatrician appointments. That’s something we’ve started doing here just in central Arkansas on our Little Rock campus and our North Little Rock campus, focusing on women who are underserved.”

Another consideration that faces many families are children experiencing developmental delays, which is a failure to reach certain milestones such as creeping, walking or talking.

“Developmental delay is the umbrella term,” said Dana Conrad, director of Easterseals of Arkansas’ Stacey & Allen Homra Child Development Center in Stuttgart. “Sometimes it’s specifically a speech delay or a motor delay. We have students with cerebral palsy, autism and other genetic disorders, which can be diagnosed as early as birth.

“We enroll students ages 6 weeks until they transition to kindergarten, and some parents may choose to waive kindergarten so we keep some of our students until they’re age 6, transitioning into kindergarten.”

Such conditions can be particularly difficult for rural families to navigate, since they may live far away from the nearest therapeutic facility, which is exactly why Easterseals Arkansas decided to place the developmental preschool in Stuttgart. Conrad said the school helps families in the area access the care their children need without having to drive hours to get it.

“We’re the only developmental preschool in our area. The closest one is 30 miles away, and then it’s 60 miles to Little Rock,” she said. “For our area, we’re about the only one.”

Still, marketing and public outreach is a must just to make parents aware that the school is there.

“A lot of times in small towns, if your child is born with any sort of developmental delay or even starts to show those signs, if you don’t know, you don’t know,” Conrad said. “We try our best to advertise and let people know that we are there. We’ve got to educate the community, and we try our best to educate our parents with trainings at least twice a year.”

Conrad said one unique feature of the school is that it accepts children without developmental delays to help socialization and help create better awareness and tolerance for differences in others. The school also works hand in hand with parents and, whenever possible, with the family’s physician.

Conrad said parents should always have the final say when it comes to the health and welfare of their children.

“It’s very important that parents are listened to, whether that’s a physician or a school like ours,” she said. “A lot of times, I feel like parents do not give themselves enough credit for feeling something is wrong when they’re told, ‘Oh, boys just develop later. He’ll grow out of it.’ If a parent feels like something isn’t right, they should be able to say that or get a second opinion. We’re absolutely on the same team with the parent. We want to help them advocate for their children.”

“

A lot of times in small towns, if your child is born with any sort of developmental delay or even starts to show those signs, if you don’t know, you don’t know.

— Dana Conrad director of Easterseals of Arkansas’ Stacey & Allen Homra Child Development Center in

Stuttgart

Baptist Health provides an assortment of prenatal classes to teach parents about breastfeeding, infant CPR and more. (Photo courtesy of Baptist Health)

Dana Conrad

Voted AY’s Best Place to Have a Baby

PERSONAL TRAINER

HOSPITAL

Conway Regional Health System

IN-HOME CARE

Conway Regional Home Health

ALLERGY CLINIC

Conway Regional Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic

CARDIOLOGY CLINIC

Conway Regional

Cardiovascular Clinic

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Bill Pack

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Conway Regional Health System

DENTIST

Gary Jones, DDS

FAMILY PRACTICE

Conway Regional Health System

FITNESS CENTER/GYM

Conway Regional Health & Fitness Center

FOOT & ANKLE SURGERY

James Head, MD, Conway Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center

FUNDRAISER

Arkansas Duck Derby

GASTROENTEROLOGY CLINIC

Conway Regional Gastroenterology Center

HAND SURGEON

Bryan Head, MD, Conway Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center

HEALTH COACH

Hunter Little, Conway Regional Health & Fitness Center

NEUROLOGIST

Keith Schluterman, MD, Conway Regional Neuroscience Center

NEUROSURGEON

Regan Gallaher, MD, Conway Regional Neuroscience Center

OB-GYN CLINIC

Conway Regional Renaissance Women’s Center

ORTHOPEDIC GROUP

Conway Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center

ORTHOPEDIST

Tom Roberts, MD, Conway Regional Health System

OVERALL COMPANY

Conway Regional Health System

PLACE TO WORK

Conway Regional Health System

PAIN CENTER

Conway Regional Advanced Pain Management Center

PAIN SPECIALIST

Mikio Ranahan, MD, Conway Regional Advanced Pain Management Center

Erika Setzler, Conway Regional Health & Fitness Center

Cassidy Teague, Conway Regional Health & Fitness Center

PHYSICAL THERAPY CLINIC

Conway Regional Therapy Clinics

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

Brooke Money, PA, Conway Regional Renaissance Women’s Center

PLACE TO HAVE A BABY

Conway Regional Health System

RADIOLOGY CLINIC

Conway Regional Imaging Center

REHABILITATION HOSPITAL

Conway Regional Rehabilitation Hospital

SPORTS MEDICINE CLINIC

Conway Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center

SURGEON

Anthony Manning, MD, Conway Regional Surgical Associates

Michael Stanton, MD, Conway Regional Surgical Associates

SURGEON (LOWER EXTREMITY)

James Head, MD, Conway Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center

SURGEON (UPPER EXTREMITY)

Jay Howell, MD, Conway Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center

Safe

PASSAGE

Experts explain how to meet the challenges of preadolescence

By TODD TRAUB

As children move into the elementary school and preteen years, they begin to take on more activities and develop a busier social schedule.

Kids make new friends and set play dates, visit new places or start a sport. There are pool parties and skateboards and bicycles. There are new things to learn in school and to do afterward.

It can be fun and exciting for the kids, but for the parents having to gradually let go, it can be a little frightening. There are injuries and illnesses to worry about, challenging homework in more difficult subjects, and stress and anxiety that can result.

How can bewildered parents get their kids safely to adulthood without locking them up until they are 18?

Relax, Mom and Dad. Whatever path children are setting out

to follow, they can follow it safely and healthily with the help of a little care, understanding and prevention.

“I would say that it’s common to be fearful, and one common reaction is to want to be in control and to control everything,” said Dr. Laura Sisterhen, medical director at the general pediatric clinic at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. “If we are able to control things, we have this, maybe, false sense of security.

“I would say trust your children, that they’re going to make good choices if you’ve been parenting well all along, and building the child’s self-esteem and having a strong relationship with your child, and that they can have confidence and they can begin to let go and trust their child to make good decisions.”

PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE

A good relationship with a family physician or pediatrician coupled with a strong parent-child connection is a key to keeping kids healthy, Sisterhen said.

“Pediatricians and health care professionals are here to support them and their parenting and have discussions with them about their fears and [show] that they’re not alone,” she said.

Among the more common challenges to

A good relationship with a pediatrician is important to keeping children healthy. (Photo courtesy of Arkansas Children's)

elementary and preteen health, mental health looms large, Sisterhen said, along with peer pressure and social media, obesity, vaccination concerns, and asthma.

“We encourage well visits to have those conversations when the child is well,” Sisterhen said. “Prevention is so much better than managing something that could have been prevented. It’s hard to think about when things are going well. You take for granted your health and well-being until it’s not there anymore.”

One of the most important available preventatives is vaccinations, Sisterhen said. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Cancer Society, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention all recommend children between ages 9 and 11 have the human papillomavirus vaccine. The very common virus can lead to cervical cancer in women and head and neck cancer in men, and Sisterhen said she begins discussing the vaccine with parents at the 9-year-old wellness visit.

“The earlier you get that vaccine, the better it is,” she said.

Unless parents get an exemption, the Tdap vaccine is also required for age 11 schoolchildren. The shot is a booster for a vaccine children get as infants, and it helps prevent tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, also known as whooping cough.

The meningococcal vaccination, also recommended at age 11, is required, as well, for school meningitis protection, and there is a booster at age 16. Additionally, there are seasonal respiratory

Medical care for youngsters includes regular checkups and vaccinations.

(Photos courtesy of Arkansas Children's)

vaccines for flu and COVID-19.

“It’s really one of our country’s greatest scientific achievements,” Sisterhen said of the vaccines.

SAFETY SKILLS

As elementary and preteen kids take on organized sports or become more adventurous on bikes, ATVs, and at pools or lakes, there are physical risks to be mitigated.

A good sports physical coupled with a thorough family history may not only clear a child to play; it may reveal underlying issues such as cardiovascular risks, previous injuries, vision problems and muscular-skeletal conditions.

Sisterhen recommended the child’s primary care physician be involved.

“They know your child,” she said. “They can provide all the preventive screenings and participatory guidance. We can also provide that in primary care; it’s a little more confidential and more personal, I think, with your privacy in mind, too, rather than a mass physical at school.”

Education and safety practices can head off a host of potential bruises, cuts, sprains, breaks or worse.

Sisterhern recommends properly fitted helmets for bikes and ATVs. Also for ATV riders, gloves, long pants and boots — as people often go off road into overgrown areas — should be worn.

It is prudent to scout the area and note the locations of obstructions such as ditches and fences.

Kyla Templeton operates Bike School Bentonville, which offers mountain bike training to kids, teens and adults. Templeton and her team of 25 coaches have had three full seasons of programming since Bike School Bentonville began in 2022.

“It’s really just a lot of cautions,” Templeton said, “kind of like defensive driving but for cycling.”

Templeton and the coaches stress bike handling and control skills such as braking and body positioning to create balance.

“Physical literacy is a huge deal, especially for younger ones,” Templeton said.

Bike School Bentonville teaches safety measures such as being aware of one’s surroundings and stopping to look before crossing roads.

“Between a bike and a car, the car is always going to win,” Templeton said.

Students mostly bring their own rides, but the school can work with bike shops to help those who need one find a bike that is the right size. Children should always wear safety gear, including properly fitted helmets, closed-toe shoes to protect feet and better grip the pedals, and gloves to improve grip and protect hands from scrapes if there is a fall.

Safety gear needs might increase as young bikers begin attempting jumps and improving their skills.

“None of these things have to be fancy or cost a lot of money,” Templeton said.

When starting lessons in a physical activity or sport, experts agree that the younger the better.

“Yesterday,” Karen Lamoreaux, founder of swim safety education provider Safety Before Skill, said when asked when kids should start swimming lessons.

For 15 years, Little Rock-based Safety Before Skill has provided drowning prevention information and swimming skills to people of all ages, as well as outreach in aquatic fitness, aquatic

As children begin to ride their bikes more often, it is important for young cyclists to practice safety skills and wear appropriate protective equipment.

rehab and lifesaving. Located at the former YMCA building on Sam Peck Road and with another location in Conway, Safety Before Skill offers swimming lessons, CPR training beginning at age 10, and lifeguard training and certification. The organization is also launching a fitness and rehabilitation program.

“What we’re trying to go after is all the pillars of aquatics,” Lemoreaux said.

According to the CDC, drowning is the No. 1 cause of accidental death for children ages 1 to 4 and is the No. 2 cause of accidental death for those ages 4 to 14. There are more than 4,000 drowning deaths in the U.S. each year. Arkansas has a drowning rate of 1.93 deaths per 100,000 people.

Risk factors include lack of supervision, lack of ability and lack of barriers such as proper swimming pool fencing.

The majority of child drownings happen at private pools, but lessons, Lamoreaux said, reduce drownings by up to 88 percent. Children moving toward their teens might benefit from private lessons to give them a sense of dignity, as opposed to being in a pool with 4-year-olds.

Coast Guard-approved life jackets are recommended — and mandated by the state for rivers and open water — as is assigning a water watcher responsible for monitoring pool traffic while the adults are mingling.

“Eight out of 10 pediatric drownings happen when the adults are right there,” Lamoreaux said.

Home pools should have fencing that meets certain specifications, including locks and alarms, and Lamoreux said it does not hurt to maintain a landline in case someone cannot find their phone during an emergency.

THINKING AND FEELING

As schoolwork becomes more challenging, learning disabilities might reveal themselves. Independent study, complex concepts and standardized testing can draw a line under comprehension problems or conditions such as dyslexia.

“Kids may struggle academically, and they don’t know why, so we come at it with a really big lens.”

— Kimberly Newton director of the ACCESS Group Evaluation and Resource Center

The ACCESS Group Evaluation and Resource Center provides evaluations and strategies to help children reach their full potential. (Photos courtesy of ACCESS Group)

“Kids may struggle academically, and they don’t know why, so we come at it with a really big lens,” said Kimberly Newton, director of the ACCESS Group Evaluation and Resource Center in Little Rock, which provides evaluations and strategies for children with learning disabilities.

Common indicators include trouble with letters and sounds or connecting a sound to a letter; trouble with basic words; consistent reading and spelling errors; trouble with reading comprehension; problems communicating; problems copying information from the board; continued childlike handwriting; difficulty with math concepts and fluency; poor vocabulary; and difficulty organizing and punctuating writing in a way that makes sense.

Children may make it through early elementary and hit a wall when the work gets harder in junior high, Newton said, while in high school, the stakes become higher as parents and students begin thinking about standardized tests and grade point averages that can affect college admission.

Parents, Newton said, are the ones who know their children best and can tell if something is wrong and seek out an evaluation.

“It’s important not to let that voice be squashed,” said Newton, who recommended follow-on consultations and reevaluations every two or three years.

A comprehensive evaluation can reveal underlying conditions aside from a disability, including anxiety. Once the disability is identified and strategies are recommended, parents who may have worried their child is lazy or hates school should remember to be empathetic.

PEDIATRICS PLUS PROVIDES INNOVATIVE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN

One of the most innovative treatment centers in Arkansas, Pediatrics Plus started by offering a modest array of pediatric therapeutic services through its brick-and-mortar clinics and has steadily expanded its suite of services to meet the needs of the community. Today, Pediatrics Plus operates 10 locations in Arkansas and Texas, offering developmental preschool, applied behavior analysis/services for autism, and physical, occupational and speech therapy. It also hosts its own summer camps, serving children with special needs, in Alma, Conway, Little Rock and Van Buren.

In 2014, the firm introduced behavioral, emotional and educational needs, an area of operations rebranded in 2020 as Rise Counseling & Diagnostics. With main locations in Conway, Benton and Little Rock and five satellite locations in Arkansas, Rise provides a full continuum of outpatient care.

It is not the first time the company has shown such innovation and progressive thinking. In 2021, the company opened its first two locations, known as the Farm, in Conway and Bryant, followed by another in Cabot last year, and the company is expected to bring a fourth Farm online in 2025 in Little Flock.

“The Farm is less medical clinical setting and offers more of a natural, functional environment,” said Ashley Gregg, vice president of central Arkansas. “It’s still very collaborative and applies a holistic approach to skill acquisition for the child. It also takes in a more functional environment where they can work on those core deficits of communication and social development and maybe even some behaviors via a functional, natural approach.”

Clients access the Farm on an outpatient basis structured to meet their individual needs and circumstances.

“They come throughout the day. Some of our children will be there all day. Some come for different parts of the day,” Gregg said. “We really personalize it to what best fits what they’re needing. It can be a transitional setting for some kids, or we have kids who have a hybrid set up where they go to school and also come to us. It just kind of depends on the family’s needs.”

Its drive to expand from strictly developmental needs into behavioral health services has allowed Pediatrics Plus to tear down the silos that often isolate one form of health care from another. It is a model of care that serves the community today while allowing the flexibility for growth into future services, be they physical, behavioral or some other as-yet unknown category.

“I think there are several things that set us apart,” said Toni Del Cid, team lead. “One is we do have a very collaborative approach among all of our disciplines. We focus a lot on what’s best for the family and the child.

“We are also constantly trying to see how we can raise that bar. We look into research, education courses. We try to support our therapists if there’s an area they’re particularly interested in and want to specialize. We want to do everything we can to grow.”

Ashley Gregg

Toni Del Cid

The

Mind of a Teenager

Experts: Health challenges abound for today’s middle and high schoolers

By DWAIN HEBDA

The teenage years are a period of challenge and change for most any family. Seemingly overnight, parents witness their youngster crossing over from the realm of childhood into the opening chapters of their adult lives and all of the physical, emotional and relationship baggage that comes with it.

Many parents may recall their own experiences being a teen, that alternatingly awkward and exciting no-man’s land between relying on adults and yearning for independence. According to physicians

and mental health professionals, the hurdles many teens face today are every bit as challenging as what their parents faced, if not more so.

What is more, many youngsters are dealing with issues and problems that used to fall in the teenage years much earlier than they used to.

“We’re seeing more behavioral issues at younger ages due to environmental issues, social media. There’s so many factors. It’s getting younger and younger,” said Brooke Butler, therapist at northwest Arkansas-based Springwoods Behavioral Health. “We’re seeing increases in depression, anxiety and behavioral issues.”

Butler said the need in the community was so pronounced that the

practice has twice dropped its minimum age of patients in her 4 1/2 years of employment there.

“When I first started at Springwoods, we started with 12-year-olds,” she said. “About a year ago, we dropped it to 10, and then this past October, we dropped it to age 8. I’ve heard from elementary school counselors and teachers and parents who are just like, ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you,’ because they’re seeing the need.”

Experts suggest part of the reason such issues are presenting earlier is that physical changes are also occurring sooner than in past generations, especially in girls. An article in the Journal of the American Medi-

“

We’re seeing more behavioral issues at younger ages due to environmental issues, social media. There’s so many factors. It’s getting younger and younger.

— Brooke Butler, therapist at Springwoods Behavioral Health

cal Association noted the age of puberty has been dropping for decades, which is a likely culprit for kids having difficulty processing complex feelings. During early puberty, the parts of the brain linked to emotions and social behavior hold sway over behavior, while the prefrontal cortex, which handles cognitive control of behavior, is struggling to catch up.

In other words, kids are literally living in their feelings as their brains develop, which does not always provide the best in decision making or impulse control. Throw in the very real pressures of craving acceptance, experiencing bullying and the toxic elements of social media, and it is little wonder that preteens and teenagers are laden with stress and anxiety without sufficient tools to cope.

Butler said the situation is made worse by adults who fail to recognize what their child may be dealing with, thereby leaving the young person to handle their issues the best way they know how.

“In younger patients, the reality is they might not have the words for depression. They just know that they’re sad,” she said. “They feel lonely. Their parents work all the time, or they only have a single mom who is not at home when they get home. They’re alone, and then they’re just thrown in front of their TV or thrown their cellphone, and they’re reading negative things or seeing really aggressive video games and all that. They just don’t know how to react to it.”

Brooke Butler Dr. Gus Ramey

The scenario faced by an increasing number of juveniles often plants the seeds for mental health issues that only intensify during the teen years. Statistics released last summer by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that in 2023, 18 percent of adolescents aged 12 to 17 reported a major depressive episode, 13 percent of which resulted in severe impairment.

The report also noted 12 percent of kids in the age range had serious thoughts of suicide, and 3 percent attempted suicide over the past year. Nearly 1 in 3 adolescents in the U.S. received mental health treatment in 2023, and mental health issues are often an underlying contributor to physical conditions, as well.

“We’ve really seen an uptick of teenagers in mental health issues, things that, in the past, have not been recognized as much as I feel like we’re seeing today,” said Dr. Gus Ramey, who practices at Conway Regional’s Dardanelle facility. “We’re having just so many issues with it, whether that’s kids coming in with positive screeners for depression who just haven’t talked to anybody about it or are just struggling with anxiety over schoolwork, peer interactions, the future in general.”

Ramey said a major contributor to that situation is not a new one and pointed to social media as a leading element in the erosion of mental health among preteens and teens.

“It’s a benefit and a curse, just how connected everything is,” he said. “With the touch of a button on your phone, you have access to everything and anything in the world. You can talk to friends across the globe, but you also have peer pressure of seeing all these different people. Everyone has opinions and will tell you, ‘This is right, this is wrong. You’re doing this right or wrong.’

“You’re also seeing this beauty standard, as well, that I feel can be overwhelming with teenagers because they’re still developing and learning and trying to figure themself out. Meanwhile, they’re being constantly bombarded with other people telling them what they should be feeling and doing instead of having the benefit of what we had growing up, which is the ability to figure things out for themselves.”

The solution to the latter element is fairly obvious — limit screen time and boost one-on-one interaction — but as Ramey pointed out, it is not necessarily as easy for parents to implement as one might think. Considering the youngest demographic of parents today have themselves grown up surrounded by technology, he said it is hard for them to set boundaries for themselves, let alone for their kids.

“That’s a pretty good problem with it, as well,” he said. “I’m a millennial, and I remember getting my first Razr phone when I was 13. Back then, there were no true limits on it. You used it because you had it. As there’s been more and more screens, we’ve never really limited that time either, so I think parents can work on their own screen time, as well, putting their own phone down and interacting.

“It’s difficult to tell a teenager, ‘Hey, you need to get off your phone,’ when you’re also sitting there scrolling.”

Full Access

Arkansas health care expands locations, services statewide

By DWAIN HEBDA

In its assessment of trends for 2025, Cigna Healthcare offered the following overarching view of where the nation’s health care system is headed:

“The health care landscape is undergoing a significant transformation as we begin 2025,” wrote Giselle Abramovich, editor-in-chief of Cigna Healthcare’s newsroom. “Trend No. 1: Unprecedented focus on customer experience in health care will improve benefit utilization and outcomes. The emphasis on enhancing the customer experience in health care will be paramount.

“The focus … will be on delivering reliably simple health care experiences that align with individual needs and preferences to guide people to the right care at the right time, on their terms.”

Health care systems throughout the country, including those in Arkansas, have already gotten the message on what the consumer

Arkansas health care systems are focused on improving access and streamlining care.

(Photo provided byBaptist Health)

wants and are expanding access points such as stand-alone general, emergency and specialty clinics through strategic partnerships with a myriad of providers that allow for greater personalization of care.

“We have 250 access points across the state, and that continues to be one of our strategic focuses,” said Will Rusher, CEO of Arkansas Health Group and vice president of Practice Plus for Baptist Health. “When we talk about clinics, we have primary care clinics and rural health clinics, which are also traditionally primary care clinics.

“We also have a lot of specialty practices, and while those are frequently housed around our metro and regional hospitals, they do have satellite practices where physicians will spend some time at some of our primary care practices across the market. We actually have clinics for almost every field of medicine or surgical service line that Baptist Health offers. Not all of those are in every regional facility, but we can help get the patient connected no matter where their initial starting point is.”

The underlying reason for such expansion, at Baptist Health and elsewhere, is to provide easier access for a wider portion of

“What we want is for patients to receive the right care, and if the right care should be in the primary care clinic, we want it done there. If it’s something not quite an emergency but more of an urgent acute care issue that really is more appropriate for an urgent care clinic, we try to direct patients there.”

— Will Rusher CEO of Arkansas Health Group, vice president of Practice Plus

(Photo by Jason Masters)

“With the nationwide physician shortage affecting availability and access for patients everywhere, new technology and innovative ways to provide services will continue to change the future of health care, especially in rural communities like we have in Arkansas.”

— Carter Dodd associate administrator, Conway Regional

the state. There is an operational advantage, as well, by helping to spread out the patient load to locations other than the emergency room in an effort to minimize capacity issues and bottlenecks.

“Our folks on the hospital side do a great job continuing to focus on throughput so that there’s not those big backlogs in ERs and ER waiting rooms, and patients that need to be admitted can go quickly through that process,” he said. “What we want is for patients to receive the right care, and if the right care should be in the primary care clinic, we want it done there. If it’s something not quite an emergency but more of an urgent acute care issue that really is more appropriate for an urgent care clinic, we try to direct patients there.”

Clinics today are also outfitted with more technology and expertise than in the past to improve the quality of the care being brought within reach.

“The goal of our provider network is to create convenient access for patients,” said Carter Dodd, associate administrator at Conway Regional. “Conway Regional has nine primary care locations in our eightcounty service area serving a population of more than 300,000 Arkansans. These clinics provide care to patients in their local communities, ensuring they can receive the care they deserve close to home.

“These locations also allow Conway Regional to bring much-needed specialty care services to patients in these communities without the need to travel to Conway. With our primary care clinics housing visiting specialists for their satellite locations, we can bring access to specialties such as orthopedics, cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, general surgery, pain management, obstetrics/gynecology and maternal-fetal medicine to communities who may otherwise have to travel for these services.”

Dodd also noted that as medical technology continues to rapidly evolve, the clinic model will become even more essential to the delivery of care.

“With the nationwide physician shortage affecting availability and access for patients everywhere, new technology and innovative ways to provide services will continue to change the future of health care, especially in rural communities like we have in Arkansas,” he said. “There is certainly a trend already being seen as care shifts away from the more acute settings.

“For surgeries and procedures, more and different cases can be performed without the need for a hospital stay. In the clinic setting, primary care providers will be able to manage and treat more complex issues using technology and innovative training and education, such as the rural training residency

program that prepares primary care doctors to practice in rural areas with limited access to other specialists.”

Among the general medical clinics that have grown up all over Arkansas are specialty care clinics focused on a specific medical field such as orthopedics, urology or women’s health. CARTI has deployed this very model for cancer treatment through its network of 18 locations in 15 communities.

“CARTI is focused on growing our statewide footprint to meet the needs of our patients,” said Jeremy Land, CARTI’s senior vice president of regional operations. “Whether opening Arkansas’ first cancer-focused surgery center, expanding CARTI Urology or deploying innovative strategies such as low-dose radiation therapy for arthritis, we’ve strategically added locations and offerings to ensure those we serve have access to trusted care.

“In 2025, we will finish the expansion of CARTI Cancer Center in El Dorado, bringing advanced imaging, breast services, radiation oncology and urology to south Arkansas. This follows our recent expansion of oncology rehabilitation, as well as genetics and risk management services in Conway, North Little Rock, Russellville and Pine Bluff.”

CARTI has also broadened its medical horizon through the Bridge, an on-site support services center in Little Rock. Developed to reduce individuals’ stress and help them gain a greater sense of control during treatment, the innovative facility offers access to a patient assistance program and various other services, such as a breast health support group, financial advocacy, healing arts, pastoral care, nutritional programming and yoga.

“Cancer affects patients’ physical, emotional, financial and mental well-being,” Land said. “Research shows that a holistic approach can help improve treatment outcomes and quality of life. From delivering leading-edge care to offering free comprehensive support services, now available through the Bridge, we’ve seen how a coordinated strategy helps ease the journey for those we serve.”

Among the services CARTI offers its current and former patients is physical therapy provided by vendor Advanced Physical Therapy. President and CEO Melissa Holland said while many people do not automatically equate cancer treatment with physical therapy, the therapy can be vital for cancer patients both during and after treatment.

“As patients go through their cancer treatment, there are things they can experience along the way,” she said. “They can experience fatigue. They can experience muscle weakness. They can experience gait and balance issues.

“We always use the term ‘motion is lotion.’ It’s just our way of keeping these patients moving, helping them regain from any

muscle weakness or any gait and balance issues they may experience through their treatment. It’s a supplement to what they’re already doing just to make that experience go a little bit better for them.”

Holland said while the CARTI location is reserved only for CARTI patients, Advanced Physical Therapy’s locations in North Little Rock and Maumelle, as well as its two locations in Little Rock, accept all patients. In fact, Holland said, one of the big misconceptions about physical therapy is that it can only be accessed by referral, which is not the case.

“Arkansas is a direct access state, and what that means is, in most cases — I’m not going to say all cases — you do not have to have a referral to access physical therapy,” she said. “The general public thinks that physical therapy is just a reaction measure to pain or injury or any type of issues that are presenting physically. Physical therapy can also be a preventative measure to things that you could experience physically. It is a form of holistic preventative care that has to do with a person’s physical ability.”

Holland said another misnomer people buy into is that the physician dictates where the patient can receive their physical therapy. Again, Holland said, even among those who are being referred, the patient retains the right to choose their provider, not unlike choosing a pharmacy to fill a prescription.

“That should be a way that we’re continuing to try to make health care as convenient as possible for these patients,” Holland said. “People seek out health care when they don’t

CARTI is working not only to expand its locations but to bring more services to patients.

feel well, and sometimes the physical therapy place they prefer is the one that’s close by. Other times, someone has had or knows someone who has had a good experience at one particular physical therapy company or clinic.

“In health care, you have to advocate for yourself and say where you want to go or just pick up the phone and call them and say, ‘I would like to get on the schedule. Here’s what I’m experiencing.’ We want to continue to educate the community that they have options and to advocate for themselves and advocate for their care."

(Photos by Jason Masters)

Jeremy Land

Melissa Holland

Little Rock, North Little Rock and Benton

Advanced Physical Therapy was founded in 2006 with a focus on providing patient-centered, outcome-oriented and scientifically based treatment for general orthopedic problems, lymphatics, prenatal and postpartum conditions, and pelvic floor dysfunction for men, women and children of all ages. Over the almost two decades since, the company has expanded into more communities while retaining the same passion and dedication to patient wellness it started with.

The practice is staffed by a growing team of experts with the highest credentials in physical and occupational therapy, personal training, and sport-specific therapy. With the addition of orthopedic and lymphatic therapy, the exceptional therapists at Advanced Physical Therapy advocate for holistic

care, educating patients about their health and bodies and providing best practices that lead to a healthy, pain-free life. Advanced Physical Therapy has multiple clinics in the central Arkansas area, but they all share one purpose: to make a positive impact on the health and well-being of each patient who walks through the doors.

Advanced Physical Therapy was also one of the first private, outpatient physical therapy clinics to provide pelvic health services to central Arkansas and to educate members of the community in all seasons of life that their issues are common but not normal. Patients may turn to Advanced Physical Therapy when they have a specific ailment, but when they leave, they are equipped with the tools and techniques needed to maintain both a healthy body and mind.

Staff

Members of the Advanced Physical Therapy team prioritize relationships above all else. They listen to patients’ ambitions and aspirations with intention, and they build connections to help heal holistically. APT clinicians specialize in a variety of areas, including sports-specific screens from the Titleist Performance Institute, which is geared toward golfers; OnBaseU for athletes focused on throwing and hitting; and medical bike fits for cyclists.

Reach

Advanced Physical Therapy has grown to include multiple locations across central Arkansas, allowing its experienced therapists to serve even more people. At every location, APT prioritizes cleanliness and employs the most up-to-date features. Current locations include three in Little Rock — on Rodney Parham Road, at the CARTI Cancer Center and in the SoMa district — in addition to clinics in North Little Rock and Maumelle.

Services

Patients should note that one does not need a referral to see a physical therapist. APT takes all major insurances, and most, including Medicare, cover therapy without a referral. The APT team verifies benefits for patients so that there are no surprises on the cost of their services. In addition to general orthopedic prehab and rehab, APT clinicians can treat for issues such as:

• Vertigo

• Headaches

• Jaw pain

• Bowel, bladder and sexual dysfunction

• Pediatric pelvic health

• Undergoing or recovering from breast cancer treatment

• Lymphedema/lipedema

• APT also provides Lee Silverman Voice Treatment-BIG, or LSVT BIG, for Parkinson’s disease.

Community

As a center of whole health, Advanced Physical Therapy partners with a variety of providers, including medical doctors, counselors, nutritionists and more, to provide patients with the most holistic and well-rounded care. The APT team also constantly seeks opportunities to give back, educate and support, whether that means putting therapists on the sidelines for sports teams, educating hospitals and providers about the benefits of therapy, or contributing to organizations in the communities it serves.

North Little Rock

Arkansas Surgical Hospital was founded by surgeons who wanted to create a better, more personalized experience for their patients. As a physician-owned hospital, ASH surgeons are directly involved in decision making, ensuring that patient care remains the top priority. Specializing in orthopedic and spine procedures, as well as breast oncology and interventional pain management, Arkansas Surgical Hospital’s goal is simple: to help patients regain mobility, find relief from pain and return to the activities they love.

As one of the only five-star hospitals in Arkansas, Arkan-

sas Surgical Hospital consistently ranks among the best in the country for patient experience. From advanced surgical care to private patient suites with beds for family members and room service, ASH prioritizes both safety and comfort. With a focus on excellence, every surgeon, nurse and staff member is committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality care.

In addition to the main hospital in North Little Rock, Arkansas Surgical Hospital operates specialty clinics in Hot Springs Village and Russellville, and physicians see patients across the state.

ARKANSAS SURGICAL

The staff

Nurses and staff are the heart of what Arkansas Surgical Hospital does. Many choose to work at ASH because of its patient-centered approach, strong team environment and commitment to employee well-being. The staff’s passion, dedication and expertise create a supportive atmosphere where patients feel heard, cared for and valued throughout their stay. Plus, in a recent hospital survey, 100 percent of ASH nurses agreed that they like the people they work with.

The facility

With 41 private patient suites, 13 advanced operating rooms and two interventional pain procedure rooms, Arkansas Surgical Hospital is designed to provide a seamless surgical experience and a smooth recovery process. Patients and their families have access to comfortable accommodations, ensuring peace of mind before, during and after surgery.

The services

Arkansas Surgical Hospital is the leading hospital for joint replacements in Arkansas, performing more than any other facility in the state. The hospital was specifically designed to provide the highest quality of care for orthopedic and spine procedures. ASH’s expert surgeons specialize in total joint replacements, spine surgery and advanced orthopedic procedures, helping patients regain mobility and improve their quality of life. With a patient-centered approach, cutting-edge technology and a team dedicated to excellence, ASH sets the standard for orthopedic and spine care in Arkansas.

The patient experience

Arkansas Surgical Hospital is proud to rank in the top 5 percent of hospitals nationwide for patient experience, a reflection of the dedication of every single team member. From the friendly face that greets patients at the door to the skilled hands in the operating room and even the team that prepares and delivers the hospital’s highly praised meals, everyone plays a role in making a patient's stay as comfortable and positive as possible.

Baptist Health is more than just a health care provider — it is a trusted partner in each person’s wellness journey. As Arkansas’ largest, most comprehensive health system, Baptist Health is dedicated to delivering exceptional care to individuals and families across the state. With a network of hospitals, specialty clinics and primary care offices, the health system offers convenient access to top-tier medical services. Whether one needs preventive care, advanced surgical treatments or specialized rehabilitation, Baptist Health’s team of highly skilled professionals is there to guide patients every step of the way.

Family health is Baptist Health’s top priority. The health system’s family clinics provide expert, compassionate care close to home. With locations throughout Arkansas, Baptist

Health Family Clinics offer primary care services including preventive care, wellness checkups, chronic disease management, pediatric care and same-day visits.

Baptist Health also understands that health care is personal, which is why the health system emphasizes patientcentered care tailored to each person and each family’s unique needs. Baptist Health’s mission is to improve lives through innovative treatments, cutting-edge technology and Christian compassion.

From routine checkups to lifesaving procedures and countless visits in between, Arkansans can trust Baptist Health to provide the highest standard of care. In everything the health system does, it embodies its unwavering commitment to each patient: Baptist Health. For You. For Life.

Comprehensive recovery

Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute offers specialized therapy and rehabilitation services to help patients regain strength, mobility and independence. As Arkansas’ largest rehab facility, the institute provides inpatient and outpatient programs for stroke recovery, spinal cord injuries, orthopedic rehab and neurological conditions.

Comprehensive women’s health services

Baptist Health offers comprehensive preventive services and treatments for women of all ages, including yearly mammograms, cyst removal and innovative breast procedures. By providing essential care in pregnancy, primary care, childbirth and pediatrics for women and families, the newly opened Comprehensive Women’s Clinic in North Little Rock is a shining example of the health system’s dedication to compassionate and personalized care.

Advanced surgical care

Baptist Health is the first in central Arkansas and the River Valley to utilize the da Vinci 5 for robotic-assisted surgery. This minimally-invasive system boasts enhanced precision for a wide range of surgical procedures. This state-of-theart technology allows for minimally invasive procedures with greater precision, reduced pain and faster recovery.

Accessible urgent care

When an illness or injury cannot wait, Baptist Health Urgent Care is there. With locations across Arkansas, Baptist Health Urgent Care offers walk-in services seven days a week and extended hours to accommodate busy schedules. Urgent Care clinics treat common illnesses such as colds, flu and infections, as well as minor injuries such as cuts, burns and sprains. There is no need for an appointment — individuals can access convenient and compassionate care backed by the state’s most comprehensive health care provider.

North Central Arkansas and the River Valley

Conway Regional brings together key service lines, providers, technologies and more across central Arkansas and the River Valley to create patient experiences that are highly intentional and refreshingly personal. With an eight-county service area centered on a 180-bed acute care medical center, the health system provides patients with a variety of services, including heart health, orthopedic care, neuro-spine surgery, gastroenterology services, women’s health, surgery and rehabilitation.

Conway Regional’s providers and clinics blend access and excellence tailored for each patient. With a focus on familiarity, relationship building and a fierce commitment to advocating for patients, the health system empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their unique health journeys. As a trusted partner for patients, Conway Regional is not mass-produced health care; it is curated care crafted to

meet the specific needs of its community.

Conway Regional’s compassionate care is widely recognized as among the best in the state. The health system has been named a best place to work by numerous publications and has received the honor from Modern Healthcare for seven years in a row. Conway Regional also features regularly throughout AY About You’s “Best Of” rankings, being named the Best Hospital and Best Place to Have a Baby for the past five years. As a Magnet nursing hospital, Conway Regional has further demonstrated its commitment to high-quality, clinical patient care services.

Conway Regional has a vision to be the regional leader in health care excellence. With a mission-driven culture and a commitment to constant improvement, the health system’s promise to its community is to be bold, be exceptional and always respond to its call to assist others.

Memory clinic

The Conway Regional Memory Clinic is dedicated to quickly identifying and treating memory-related issues. The comprehensive approach includes evaluations, advanced testing and treatment. Staff offer multidisciplinary services, partnering with physical, occupational and speech therapists to address daily life challenges. Nutrition consultations and behavioral health professionals support patients and caregivers emotionally. Using advanced tools such as the BrainCheck platform and MRI technology supported by artificial intelligence, staff detect early signs of cognitive decline and neurodegeneration.

Labor and delivery

Conway Regional is home to a 16-bed labor and delivery unit that welcomed 1,900 babies in 2024. Along with that growing service, Conway Regional Maternal-Fetal Medicine Center of Arkansas provides high-quality, compassionate care for women with pregnancy complications. Services include targeted ultrasounds, genetic screening, prenatal consultations, high-risk pregnancy management, diabetes care and more. Conway Regional was also the first hospital in Arkansas to partner with Arkansas Children’s Hospital Nursery Alliance, allowing more babies to receive care closer to home.

Bariatric care

Conway Regional Medical Center, accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, is central Arkansas’ trusted provider for bariatric surgery. Conway Regional pioneered central Arkansas’ first-ever da Vinci bariatric program for those seeking a weight loss alternative. In 2024, Conway Regional received the Medical Excellence Award for best bariatric surgery in the market from CareChex. Once on a path to bariatric surgery, patients have access to a bariatric support group through a Facebook community of like-minded others who have gone through bariatric surgery or are about to.

Sports medicine

Conway Regional Health System’s sports medicine services are provided by orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists and athletic trainers who collaborate to ensure players receive the highest quality of care before, during and after an injury. That philosophy extends beyond individual recovery, emphasizing injury prevention and long-term health — empowering athletes to make informed choices about their care and future. The Conway Regional approach focuses on prevention, education and a team-centered strategy that engages the entire health system in the well-being of its athletes. Orthopedists work closely with over a dozen athletic trainers and numerous physical therapists, providing services to hundreds of athletes at local schools and universities throughout north central Arkansas.

Little Rock

Discover the path to radiant, healthy skin at Franks Dermatology and SKN at Franks Dermatology, Arkansas’ trusted provider for comprehensive skin care and aesthetic services. Franks Dermatology is led by Dr. Hayden Franks, alongside board-certified physician assistants Bailey Pollock and Liz Turbeville. The Franks Dermatology team brings expertise and compassionate care to patients across the state, treating everything from chronic acne to skin cancer with precision and dedication.In addition to his commitment to superb health care for his patients, Franks is also committed to helping prepare the next generation of providers. Franks Dermatology has a robust gap year program for medical assistants on the path to medical or physician assistant school.

For those seeking advanced aesthetic treatments, SKN at Franks Dermatology, guided by Rachel Sims, RN, and her skilled team of Katie Davidson, RN, and Barron Cheek, licensed aesthetician, offers personalized solutions that help individuals embrace and enhance their natural beauty. The integrated approach at both clinics means patients will find all their skin care needs met under one roof, from medical dermatology to cutting-edge aesthetic services.

The team at both practices believes in the power of listening and understanding patients’ unique needs, crafting personalized treatment plans that deliver results they can see and feel. Experience the difference between truly comprehensive skin care at Franks Dermatology and SKN at Franks Dermatology.

Aesthetic injectables

At SKN at Franks Dermatology, patients do not have to let their worry lines and wrinkles keep them from looking as young as they feel. SKN provides a variety of injectable solutions to ensure patients always look their best. Sims and her team have extensive knowledge and experience with injectables, fillers and personalized treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration and designed to keep patients looking youthful.

Weight loss injectables

SKN at Franks Dermatology is excited to offer a new option when it comes to living, looking and feeling healthy. After a consultation and qualification with Pollock or Turbeville, patients can embark on a healthy weight loss journey and be on the way to looking and feeling their best.

Wellness checks

The skin is the biggest organ in the body, yet it is frequently overlooked for checkups. Regular skin exams are vital not only for addressing skin-related issues but for understanding how those issues can impact other areas of one’s health. The team at Franks Dermatology utilizes advanced technology and smart screens in each room to give patients a clear picture of how skin conditions relate to their overall health. Online scheduling also makes it easy and convenient for patients to schedule, get checked and get on with their day.

In-house treatments

For those with skin concerns, running around town for basic care can be a headache. The experienced practitioners at Franks Dermatology listen closely to patients’ concerns and, when possible, treat issues in-house. Individuals get the care they need without spending more time in various offices. Franks Dermatology treats a wide array of conditions, including:

Acne

Birthmarks

Cysts

Dry skin

Eczema

Full-body skin exam

Mole check

Molluscum

Nail disorders

Psoriasis

Rashes

Rosacea

Skin cancer

Skin growths

Sun damage

Warts

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock is the state’s only health sciences university and combines cutting-edge clinical care, groundbreaking research and top-notch education for the health care workforce of the future. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprises. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. It is the state’s largest public employer and has more than 12,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS and its regional campuses around the state, as well as Arkansas Children’s, the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system and Baptist Health.

UAMS Health is a leader in state-of-the-art cancer care, orthopaedic care, adult heart care, neurology, neurosurgery, urology, organ transplants, family care, geriatrics and more. The university has received some of the highest ratings in the country for its treatment of heart failure, pneumonia, respiratory failure and brain surgery. UAMS is also the only hospital in Arkansas to offer adult liver and kidney transplants, and both programs are consistently recognized among the best in the United States. In November, UAMS Medical Center earned Magnet status, the highest honor for excellence in nursing. UAMS Health strives to ensure Arkansans have access to the best care close to home.

The UAMS Health Heart Center provides world-class cardiovascular care with advanced treatments for heart disease, valve disorders, arrhythmias and more. The heart team utilizes cutting-edge technology for diagnostics, minimally invasive procedures and complex surgeries. From preventive care to lifesaving interventions, the Heart Center delivers the most comprehensive heart care in Arkansas, ensuring the highest level of expertise and innovation for every treatment.

Orthopaedic and spine care

Cancer care

The UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Radiation Oncology Center offers the most sophisticated, cutting-edge radiation delivery technology available in the United States, providing advanced radiation treatments to children and adults with cancer. The center also houses the Proton Center of Arkansas, a collaboration between UAMS, Arkansas Children’s, Baptist Health and Proton International. Proton therapy uses positively charged proton particles to destroy tumors, often in hardto-reach areas, with greater precision and significantly less damage to healthy organs and tissues than other treatments. Patients who receive proton therapy have fewer and less severe side effects than conventional X-ray radiation.

Neurosurgery

UAMS neurosurgeons perform research and multiple clinical trials and work to be the leaders of simple and complex surgeries not available at other hospitals in Arkansas. More physicians refer patients to UAMS for neurosurgical procedures than elsewhere in the state. UAMS neurosurgeons come from diverse backgrounds and have a range of expertise in a variety of subspecialties, including:

• General neurosurgery

• Neurosurgical oncology — specializing in brain tumors and spine tumors

• Vascular neurosurgery

• Functional neurosurgery for chronic pain, movement disorders and seizures

• Neurosurgery for the spine

• Neurotrauma

The Orthopaedic & Spine Hospital at UAMS is the most specialized of its kind in Arkansas, offering patients access to the latest technology and most innovative care delivered by UAMS Health’s premier team of orthopaedic, spine and pain management experts who are focused on reducing pain, improving mobility, and, most importantly, getting patients back to living their lives.

Heart Center

Caring for an Aging Parent

CMyth Versus Fact

areLink is a nonprofit agency on a mission to provide resources for older people and their loved ones. By offering services such as information and assistance, in-home care, Meals on Wheels, family caregiver support, and more, CareLink offers peace of mind for aging Arkansans and their families.

MYTH: I will know exactly when my parents need help.

FACT: “The signs that your parents might need assistance aren’t always obvious,” said Outreach Director Todd Price. “You might look for things like changes in their mood. Have they missed any medication? Are they having difficulties with daily tasks? Observing and having open conversations early to prevent the bigger challenges down the road is always key.”

MYTH: My parent does not want my help, and every time I introduce services, it overwhelms them. There is nothing more I can do.

FACT: “Sometimes it seems like your parent may be resisting assistance, but a lot of the time, we’re finding it’s really about them keeping their independence rather than rejecting support,” Price said.

He suggests starting with small changes, such as having someone help in the home just a few hours a week.

MYTH: I have to do it all on my own.

FACT: “Navigating a caregiving journey is inherently hard, but you don’t have to do it alone,” Price said. “CareLink is here to help connect families to caregivers and resources they need. Our goal is to make caregiving more manageable so that families can focus on what really matters, and that’s spending quality time with their loved ones.”

carelink.org | 501-433-4731

is the only pediatric health system in the state. Our system includes two pediatric hospitals, a pediatric research institute and USDA nutrition center, a nursery alliance, statewide clinics and a philanthropic foundation. To learn more about how we meet the unique needs of the children of Arkansas and beyond, visit

Todd Price

Hear, There, Everywhere Hear Again America comes to Arkansas

Hearing health is still an often-overlooked area of medical care, even though it can impact individuals at every stage of life. According to the Hearing Health Foundation, about 80 percent of hearing loss cases can be treated with hearing aids, but only 1 in 4 individuals who could benefit actually use them.

Matthew Douglas and his wife, Ashleigh, are on a mission to change that. Opening the state’s first Hear Again America location in Little Rock last December, the couple hope to help more Arkansans take charge of their hearing health, from preventative services to device maintenance and more.

“The reason why I got into this business is because I wanted to help people, and I wanted to provide the most professional, high-quality care for patients,” Douglas said.

Located in Pleasant Ridge Town Center next to Belk, the Hear Again America hearing center provides an array of hearing-related services such as tinnitus testing, hearing exams and wax removal. Hear Again America works with the five major manufacturers of hearing aids, Douglas said, and accepts most major insurance, third-party insurance and private pay. His goal is to make such care not only more accessible but more authentic.

“This is an industry that has turned very transactional, and it has kind of lost its care for the patient side,” Douglas said. “This business is about personal experiences and patient experience, and we’re happy to provide that. It’s building a connection with the community to help them have a better quality of life.”

Partnering with licensed doctors of audiology such as ‘Dr. Keith,’ the Douglases want to make sure Little Rock’s Hear Again America center prioritizes the human side of hearing health care.

“Dr. Keith has been practicing for almost 20 years,” Douglas said. “He is well known in the industry, and he greatly

cares about patient care. Just to give you an example, one of our patients is a 96-year-old who has a hard time leaving his home. We have gone out to his residence multiple times to help him with his device, help him with his accessories, and just to sit down and have a conversation with him.”

Another area of the focus is challenging stigma around hearing devices. The common perception of hearing aids is that they are clunky, obvious and unfashionable. Improvements in technology, however, have modernized the devices and even expanded their range of capabilities.

“They come in all different colors. They come behind the ear or in the canal, so you can’t see them,” Douglas said. “A lot of famous people actually wear hearing aids, but you would never know it because you can’t see the device.”

Advancements related to artificial intelligence have allowed manufacturers to innovate with features such as speech translation, transcription and health-tracking technologies. While those are exciting developments, Douglas said, it is important to remember the main goal of the devices — improving quality of life for those experiencing hearing loss.

“It’s not an accessory that you just take off and on when you want,” he said. “It’s a medical device that addresses a true need for people.”

With 36 locations nationwide, Hear Again America has established itself as a trusted name in audiology services. Douglas decided to bring the company to Arkansas because of its growing brand presence, reputation for quality, and shared vision for patient care and community outreach.

“As part of the Hear Again America brand, current and future patients have the comfort of knowing any Hear Again America location can service their needs outside of Arkansas,” Douglas said. “We at Hear Again America have various solutions to meet the public’s need and budget. Come experience the joy of hearing!”

MORE THAN MEETS THE EAR

Hearing Health is Whole-Body Health

Hearing loss is the third most prevalent chronic health condition facing older adults. Meanwhile, 3 in 1000 babies born in the U.S. have a hearing loss, and the CDC reports an estimated 5.2 million children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years and 26 million adults aged 20 to 69 years have suffered permanent damage to their hearing from excessive exposure to noise. Hearing health is related to numerous aspects of overall wellness, including:

SOCIAL:

• Hearing loss can interfere with one’s ability to communicate with family and friends, which may lead to increased isolation and depression.

• Childhood hearing loss can impact language development, literacy, self-esteem and social skills.

PSYCHOLOGICAL:

• According to the Hearing Health Foundation, for every 10 decibel decrease in hearing, there is a significant decrease in cognitive ability.

• Research indicates seniors with hearing loss are significantly more likely to develop dementia.

PHYSICAL:

• People with low-frequency hearing loss are considered at risk for cardiovascular events.

• Hearing loss can be an early sign of diabetes or cardiovascular issues.

• Hearing loss is twice as likely for those with diabetes, and high blood pressure can be an accelerating factor of hearing loss in adults.

• People with mild hearing loss are three times more likely to have a history with falling. Frequent falls can cause serious complications, especially in older adults.

11525 Cantrell Road, Suite 407, Little Rock Pleasant Ridge Town Center next to Belk 501-508-6268 hearagainamerica.com Hear Again America (Little Rock, AR)

Into Camp Aldersgate expands camp programs for young adults Woods the

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos courtesy of Camp Aldersgate

Faith Foster is a woman of strong opinions, and she is not shy about expressing them. Seated with her parents, the 24-year-old chimes into a conversation — thoughts tumbling, words tangled but spoken, a voice clear and sharp.

At times, the urgency of her thoughts builds to where her folks, Tanya and Erby Foster of Conway, gently remind her of her inside voice, to lower the volume, but they never hush the young woman with the big thoughts. Their voices are instead soothing, a mantra of love and compassion that is the mooring point of their daughter’s world.

It takes a moment for the visitor to fall into the cadence of Faith’s speech, but not her parents. They know the depth of what their daughter has to say, yearns to say for herself. The rest is all in the listening.

In 2020, Faith, a 20-year-old presidential scholar college student at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, was involved in a head-on collision during which her seatbelt was severed and she was thrown from the car. Her injuries, including traumatic head injury, were so severe she underwent extensive surgeries, suffered three strokes and spent about 100 unconscious days in the hospital.

From there, she spent about six more months at a rehabilitation facility in Colorado where, at last, she regained consciousness then

moved on to a facility in Texas, from which she finally returned home one year to the day of the collision.

To say that life changed dramatically for the young woman and her dedicated parents is a monstrous understatement. Tanya quit her job at a local construction company to care for Faith full time, spelled by Erby, a software developer at Acxiom in Conway. For the next nearly two years, Faith was never out of close orbit with one or both of her parents.

So it was with no small dose of trepidation that last summer the Fosters made an important decision to send Faith to a new program at Camp Aldersgate in Little Rock, a decision which would pay dividends in ways they said they could not have imagined at the time.

“We had been recommended to check out Camp Aldersgate because

they had started a young adult program,” Tanya said. “It was a weeklong camp for young adults, which we saw as an opportunity for her to be independent of all of us and do some fun things with people her own age, people who had similar challenges as her.”

The camp was the first time Faith had been separated from her parents since the accident, a proposition that challenged everyone in the household.

“I won’t lie, I was leery about her being gone,” Erby said. “We had just, honestly, moved out of the room with her, and we still had on a monitor at nighttime just because it made me feel good. I just didn’t know what to expect, but we did it.”

Not long after Faith joined the other campers at Camp Aldersgate, Erby and Tanya received a photo they could scarcely believe.

“Some of the first pictures they sent to us, they had Faith in the pool,” Erby said. “She always loved the water, and you could tell from some videos they sent us that she was loving every second of it. That’s when we realized she was in the right place.”

Camp Aldersgate has hundreds of similar stories to tell from among the thousands of campers with various medical conditions who, because of the nonprofit’s programs, were finally given the chance to attend summer camp the same as their peers and siblings without disabilities. The joy of the various camps was rivaled only by the heartbreak of campers aging out of the program, which prompted leadership to introduce young adult summer camps serving individuals ages 19 to 40.

“For this population, a lot of them, as youths, have a plethora of opportunities in their schools and through community programs for socialization and recreational opportunities,” said Katie Hall, program manager. “Once they age out of those at 18, 19 and, in some instances, 21, de-

“

Some of the first pictures they sent to us, they had Faith in the pool. She always loved the water, and you could tell from some videos they sent us that she was loving every second of it. That’s when we realized she was in the right place.

— Erby Foster parent

Camp Aldersgate in Little Rock gives children and young adults with special needs an opportunity to experience the joys of summer camp.

pending on the program they’re in, those opportunities just end.

“We were in that same boat when campers would age out of our program once they turned 19. To be able to welcome some of those campers back, some of whom we hadn’t seen in years, and to extend an opportunity to others was wonderful.”

Throughout its history, Camp Aldersgate has made a habit of such innovative thinking and progressive programming. Situated on 120 wooded acres that seclude it from the bustling west Little Rock commercial district lying just outside its gates, the nonprofit traces its origins to 1946.

That year, a group of women of the Little Rock Methodist Council requested a grant of $25,000 from the women’s division of the General Board of Global Ministries of the Methodist Church, intending to use the funds to establish a camp for interracial fellowship, meetings and Christian training. The group bought a turkey farm that was christened Camp Aldersgate in the summer of 1947.

The early days were fraught with harassment and resentment, given the camp’s stated purpose of promoting racial harmony and its use by integrated groups. According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, state police kept records of license plates of the vehicles traveling in and out of the camp, yet the authorities largely ignored attempts

by vandals to destroy the camp’s lake with dynamite and the fires that were set in its wooded areas.

Over the decades to come, the camp’s mission expanded into camping opportunities for marginalized groups, including children with mental challenges, patients from the Arkansas State Hospital in Little Rock and Department of Veterans Affairs Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center in North Little Rock among them.

In 1971, Little Rock physician Dr. Kelsey Caplinger developed the concept for which the camp would gain its widest recognition, establishing a camp for 12 children who were prohibited from attending other camps due to medical conditions. The idea was an immediate hit, and local health agencies quickly began partnering with Camp Aldersgate to provide weeklong camps designed for children with spina bifida, cerebral palsy, arthritis, epilepsy, asthma, diabetes and other conditions.

Through the years, other camps have been established for burn survivors and children dealing with grief, and there is also Kota Camp, where children with and without physical disabilities attend camp together.

Named a Most Admired Company by Arkansas Money & Politics

Over the decades to come, the camp’s mission expanded into camping opportunities for marginalized groups, including children with mental challenges.

Campers pursue

fun activities during overnight, weekend and weeklong camps.

magazine, a visit to Camp Aldersgate today shows just how much the dynamic organization continues to invest in facilities and programming on behalf of the hundreds of campers who utilize the grounds annually. Boating, swimming, fishing, archery and zip lining are just a few of the activities that campers of all physical abilities can enjoy, things most would never get the chance to experience were it not for Camp Aldersgate and its trained, compassionate staff of camp counselors.

Hall said the latest expansion into young adult camping opportunities has been enthusiastically received by the community.

“We’ve received rave reviews from parents of participants,” she said. “We continue to offer a variety of program offerings for our young adult participants, from an overnighter weekend camp to a full weekend in the spring and in the fall to the full, weeklong summer camp. That variety is something which we’ve received good feedback on because some of our young adults have part-time jobs, and they may not be able to do a week in the summer with us, but they can do a weekend getaway with their friends, so there’s a little bit of something for everybody.”

The camp has also been sensitive to the financial aspect of attending camp and offers tiered pricing discounts and scholarships to accommodate campers from a wide range of incomes. That is made possible by Camp Aldersgate’s donors and special fundraising events, including Mystique After Dark, slated for 7 to 11 p.m. April 11 at the campground. Proceeds from the tropical island-themed event will help individuals from all financial backgrounds afford the camp experience.

“All of the money that we raise from our fundraising events, especially Mystique After Dark, goes right back into our programs and what we’re able to offer our participants,” Hall said. “That comes in the form of camper scholarships and financial assistance for families. In the 12 summers I’ve been here, I’ve never seen a family turned away based on their ability to pay. We just care very passionately about the populations that we serve and for giving everyone access to these opportunities.”

“The camp is right here in the middle of Little Rock but it also serves the whole state,” said Debbie Teague, longtime volunteer and board member who, with her husband, Michael, is co-chair for Mystique After Dark. “It is life-changing not only for the campers but also for families who get to really take in the fact that their child’s getting to do all the same things any other child gets to do at camp.”

Michael noted it takes $3,700 per person for a week’s stay at camp, which is what makes Mystique such an important event. This year’s happening will offer food, libations and entertainment in a soothing tropical ambiance created by spectacular decorations and island chic attire.

“This year, we’re also going to do 10 silent auction experiences, so attendees can bid on an experience like a fishing experience, a hunting experience, boating experience,” Debbie said, adding that several levels of sponsorship are also available.

The Fosters can attest to the lasting impact of Camp Aldersgate programming and said they saw an immediate difference in Faith when she returned home from camp last summer.

“I think it helped Faith come out of her shell a little bit more,” Tanya said. “She was away from us, and she had to express things for herself. We weren’t always there to interpret for her, not that she needs a lot of interpretation.”

“It was just amazing looking at the video of her swimming and smiling, and when we got back home, we started checking into pool therapy,” Erby said, “and now we have her enrolled at McMaster [Physical Therapy Clinic] here in Conway. She does pool therapy on Monday evenings.”

The Fosters also realized another benefit, that of the respite provided them, during which they could recharge their own physical and emotional batteries from the unrelenting challenges of being caregivers.

“It was so needed; it allowed us to not have to be full-time caregivers during that time period. It was wonderful, honestly,” Tanya said. “Not only did we

For event information, to purchase tickets and for sponsorship opportunities, visit: Mystique After Dark | 7 to 11 p.m. April 11 campaldersgate.net

Over the years, Camp Aldersgate has expanded its programming to provide camps for a range of disabilities and age levels.

know that Faith was having fun; we knew [the staff] was absolutely prepared to deal with anything that came up.

“When we went to drop her off, we spent a good deal of time with the nurse, and we saw they have doctors on staff and on-site. Knowing there was nothing they couldn’t handle helped us feel good about allowing her to attend and have a good time. There really is no other place like Camp Aldersgate.”

‘Natural State’

Great American Cleanup runs through May

By MARK CARTER

A Keeping Arkansas the

rkansas did not officially become “The Natural State” until 1995, but it has long been known for pristine and, in some cases, even primordial landscapes. It has remained that way over the years because Arkansans are good stewards of the land.

As with anything, however, there is always room for improvement. In 1989, the state’s Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission was established by then-Gov. Bill Clinton, mark-

ing an official commitment to litter prevention, beautification and environmental stewardship.

McKenzie McMath Coronel, KAB director, said former Arkansas first lady Janet Huckabee picked up the baton in the late 1990s and played a key role in expanding the commission’s reach. She advocated for its formal integration as a state agency under what was then called the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

“Her efforts helped secure funding, raise

public awareness and grow KAB into a statewide initiative that continues to engage communities in preserving Arkansas’ natural beauty,” Coronel said.

A conservation sales tax of 1/8 of a cent was passed in 1996, funding KAB, as well as Arkansas State Parks, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission.

“This dedicated funding has allowed KAB to expand its volunteer-driven programs, environmental education initiatives and large-scale community projects to reach all 75 counties,” Coronel said.

KAB and other groups, public and private, will spread the stewardship

word during the 2025 Great American Cleanup, which runs in Arkansas March 1 through May 31. Coronel said the event gives schools, civic groups, businesses and individuals the opportunity to host local projects focused on revitalizing parks, roadways, trails and shared spaces. Participants receive free supplies such as trash bags, gloves and safety vests to assist with their efforts, she added.

“As a Keep America Beautiful affiliate, KAB’s mission is more than just improving aesthetics,” she said. “It’s about fostering community pride, protecting natural resources and inspiring Arkansans to take action. Through strong partnerships and statewide engagement, KAB empowers people to create lasting change and ensure the Natural State remains a place of beauty for future generations.”

Coronel said the Great American Cleanup is Arkansas’ largest community improvement initiative, bringing together volunteers from every part of the state to enhance public spaces, care for the natural surroundings and strengthen communities. It also represents a unique opportunity for students.

“High school students can earn required service-learning hours by participating, making it a hands-on way to contribute to their communities while fulfilling school or graduation requirements,” she said.

Through strong partnerships and statewide engagement, KAB empowers people to create lasting change and ensure the Natural State remains a place of beauty for future generations.

— McKenzie McMath Coronel, director

The Little Rock Zoo, meanwhile, in partnership with Keep Little Rock Beautiful and the Little Rock Sustainability Office, hosts quarterly Little Rock Recycling Days, the most recent being March 1. The events occur in the zoo’s east parking lot and provide opportunities for members of the community to bring in old documents for secure shredding; anything with a power cord except for refrigerators and window

McKenzie McMath Coronel

Keep Arkansas Beautiful volunteers pick up liter along a boat ramp on the Arkansas River.

(Photo courtesy of KAB)

Volunteers participate in the Great American Cleanup in central Arkansas. (Photo courtesy of KAB)

air conditioning units for proper disposal; and recyclables such as plastic bottles and jugs, plastic tubs, cardboard, paper, aluminum and steel cans. Also accepted will be plastic bags and wraps; glass containers; old bikes in good condition for donation; and housewares in good condition for donation to Goodwill Industries of Arkansas.

“The zoo recognizes that recycling and other sustainability actions contribute to conservation and overall health of our ecosystems, and we are honored to be a resource for our community in that regard,” said Laura Bernstein-Kurtycz, the zoo’s conservation director.

She is also the zoo’s liaison for other recycling events, such as Gorillas on the Line and Lights for Lions, which help raise money for global conservation efforts.

Gorillas on the Line is a recycling program for old cell phones and other handheld electronics, for which drop-off stations are placed at zoos and aquariums across the country. Many handheld devices are made with coltan, a metallic ore mined in wild gorilla habitats, and recycling the devices reduces the need for new mining. Proceeds from donated devices are sent to the Gorilla SAFE program, which is dedicated to habitat protection and gorilla conservation efforts.

Each November, a similar program ben-

efits lions. The program collects used holiday lights and extension cords. Proceeds from the copper found in the items are used for global conservation efforts that benefit wild lions.

Private companies are active conservation partners, as well, and perhaps none more so than Entergy Arkansas. The electric utility has numerous programs dedicated to minimizing humanity’s negative impacts on the environment. In 2024, Entergy’s conservation efforts in Arkansas helped lead to 200,000 gallons of oil and 8 million pounds of metal recycled.

“Entergy Arkansas has an unwavering commitment to powering life throughout our service territory,” said Laura Landreaux, president and CEO. “Our focus on environmental stewardship is an integral part of who we are and how we help create sustainable value for our communities. Our recycling and conservation efforts are important and necessary in order to meet the needs of our customers today and for future generations.”

Entergy has implemented water management and waste minimization/management programs, and its Grassroots Sustainability Champions program recognizes employees who engage in local environmental initiatives. Since the program was launched in 2022, more than 150 Entergy employees have become Grassroots Sustainability Champions.

The Entergy Environmental Initiatives Fund also supports projects aimed at helping reduce emissions, protect natural resources, and restore wetlands and forests. In 2023, the fund distributed roughly $1 million to partnering organizations.

Last year, Entergy Arkansas’ avian and wildlife protection program placed three utility poles around Lake Ouachita for bald eagles to use for nesting.

“This project is more on the proactive side of that program, where we are setting a utility pole with an eagle nest on top and a perch,” said Tasha Hill, environmental supervisor at Entergy, when the program was launched. “What it

Laura Bernstein-Kurtycz

Quarterly recycling days are held at the Little Rock Zoo.

(Photos courtesy of Little Rock Zoo)

Entergy’s Grassroots Sustainability

Champions program recognizes employees who engage in local environmental initiatives, right, and its avian and wildlife protection program placed three utility poles around Lake Ouachita for bald eagles to use for nesting.

(Photos courtesy of Entergy Arkansas)

does is it helps us to make sure that the wildlife is not interacting with our energized utility poles and lines.”

In addition, Entergy Arkansas’ annual refrigeration recycling program picks up old, working refrigerators for free and recycles them at no cost. Entergy customers who donate receive a $25 rebate. Once old fridges are picked up, Entergy technicians can recycle up to 95 percent of the materials found inside, helping create new appliances and properly removing the toxic compounds such as mercury found in them.

KAB, meanwhile, has expanded far beyond traditional cleanup efforts, Coronel said. It reaches all 75 counties with initiatives focused on:

• Beautification and revitalization: enhancing parks, trails, roadways and community spaces.

• Education and outreach: providing schools and community groups with environmental education and service-learning opportunities.

• Conservation and sustainability: supporting projects that promote responsible waste management, recycling and eco-restoration efforts.

• Community engagement: building partnerships with local governments, businesses and volunteers to create lasting environmental change.

The agency is so much more than a roadside cleanup initiative.

“KAB’s evolution continues as we incorporate eco-restoration projects, wildflower plantings and expanded volunteer engagement programs to broaden our impact,” Coronel said. “Many Arkansans think of KAB solely as a litter cleanup organization, but our mission is much broader. Beyond cleanups, KAB is deeply involved in conservation, beautification and community revitalization efforts.”

She noted several KAB initiatives with which Arkansans may be unfamiliar.

• Wildflower planting initiatives: “We’re working with communities to plant native wildflowers in both urban and natural spaces, helping to support pollinators and enhance natural beauty.”

• Community grants for large-scale projects: “KAB provides mission grants

to support beautification, conservation and waste reduction efforts across Arkansas.”

• Environmental education programs: “We provide learning resources for youth and educators to instill environmental responsibility at a young age. High school students can also earn required community service hours by participating in our initiatives, providing them with a handson opportunity to contribute to their communities while fulfilling school or graduation requirements.”

• Affiliate and volunteer network: “KAB partners with local affiliates, municipalities and volunteers statewide to ensure that all parts of Arkansas have the resources and support needed to sustain long-term beautification efforts.”

This year, KAB will expand several key existing initiatives, including mission grants, high school service learning and wildflower planting.

“We are offering 16 grants of $2,500 each to support large-scale beautification, conservation and waste-reduction projects across Arkansas,” Coronel said. “We are actively working with schools to integrate service-learning hours into KAB volunteer opportunities and partnering with organizations to beautify roadsides, trails and public spaces while promoting pollinator-friendly native plants.

“KAB’s work is always growing, and we’re excited to continue empowering Arkansans to take action and preserve the beauty of the Natural State.”

Our focus on environmental stewardship is an integral part of who we are and how we help create sustainable value for our communities.

— Laura Landreaux, president and CEO of Entergy

Laura Landreaux

Before Easter Sunday 2024, Amy Jackson did not know much about Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana.

“Before this hospital journey, I was pretty unaware of it,” she said.

Jackson has learned a lot this past year. She learned about HELLP syndrome, which stands for hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets. The rare pregnancy complication can, without immediate medical intervention, prove fatal.

“Essentially, the mother’s body is shutting down,” Jackson said.

Jackson has also learned that surviving HELLP is just the first step in a long, lifeconsuming process. Even if an expectant mother receives treatment early enough to combat HELLP, the effects on the child can be fatal. This is especially true if — as in some cases — the only course of treatment is to induce labor immediately.

So it was that Justice Jackson was delivered by emergency C-section at Mercy Hospital in Rogers. The date was Jan. 31, and Jackson had been carrying Justice for 27 weeks. To put that

Amy, David and Tristan Jackson, 10, pose with a photo of baby Justice.

(Photo by Steve Lewis)

Sweets, treats and a worthy cause

Local businesses and donors come together for Ronald McDonald House

By DOUG CRISE

While Justice is recovering from complications from bronchopulmonary dysplasia, his family stays close by at

Ronald McDonald House in Little Rock.(Photo courtesy of Amy Jackson)

One hundred percent of all donations stay right here in Little Rock . We provide Arkansas families with a safe place to rest, a good night’s sleep, nourishment to help them sustain long days and nights at the hospital, a community of support, and all of their basic necessities — at no cost to families.”

— Janell Mason CEO of Ronald McDonald House

Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana

in perspective, a normal pregnancy typically lasts 40 weeks.

In addition to the usual laundry list of complications that arise from a premature birth, Justice was also dealing with the side effects of his mother’s HELLP syndrome. He was placed on a ventilator immediately after birth, and while the ventilator saved his life, he developed bronchopulmonary dysplasia due to the air pressure forced into his premature lungs.

That brought mother and child to Easter Sunday. Justice was flown from Rogers to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock for long-term intensive care while his mother sat in the waiting room, far from her home of Colcord, Oklahoma, wondering what was next.

It was then a staff member suggested she fill out an application for the Ronald McDonald House in Little Rock. That was more than 290 days ago.

Amy is still residing at the Ronald McDonald House, joined by her husband David, and their 10-year-old son, Tristan.

“It was nice to have a place right outside the hospital,” she said. “It was very touch and go for the first several months in Little Rock. Having a space where our family could be together is probably one of the biggest blessings.”

Providing a positive, nurturing space for families dealing with medical crises has been the goal of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana since 1981. Keeping it accessible for families like the Jacksons is the driving force behind the annual Chocolate Fantasy Ball. This year’s event is tabbed for March 8 and is already sold out, not that that surprises the people behind the ball.

“The stories of the families supported by the Ronald McDonald House have always touched my heart,” said Kelly Straessle, chair of the ball’s chocolate committee.

Straessle arguably has the best job of those involved with the ball. She helps contact local businesses and donors to arrange what the ball is known for: wall-to-

wall chocolates and sweet treats. This year, patrons can expect creme brulee, bite-sized cheesecakes, macaroons and even a life-sized tree with edible chocolate leaves donated by a local casino.

As a committee member, Straessle comes by her work honestly. Her oldest daughter, Caroline, has asthma, and Straessle spent many a day and night walking the halls of Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where she saw families whose lives had been thrown into chaos due to a medical emergency.

“Caroline was my initial reason to serve,” Straessle said. “Meeting those parents and hearing their stories, I saw firsthand their appreciation for the house because they were able to stay close to their ill child. Families were able to remain intact because the house welcomes the entire family, siblings and all.”

Being inclusive to the whole family has been a boon to the Jacksons. Not only are they close to Justice, but they have been able to continue homeschooling Tristan in a welcoming environment while they are away from home.

“It’s been very important,” Amy said. “He has a place to play. It’s way better than us being cooped up in a hotel room.”

“One hundred percent of all donations stay right here in Little Rock,” said Janell Mason, CEO. “We provide Arkansas families with a safe place to rest, a good night’s sleep, nourishment to help them sustain long days and nights at the hospital, a community of support, and all of their basic necessities — at no cost to families.”

Ronald McDonald House’s cost-free alternative is a blessing to families that would otherwise have to pay for lodging to be near their hospitalized children.

“You do have to look at the financial benefit of being able to stay there,” Amy said. “It’s one less thing to have to think about.”

That sort of long-term lodging for families in need requires donations, making the success of the ball vitally important. Paula Styers, one of the event chairs, said interest and participation has grown every year, making it one of the biggest nights on Little Rock’s social calendar.

“I’ve noticed a steady increase in our volunteers and donors, which I [attribute] to the staff and volunteers cultivating

Janell Mason

meaningful relationships over the years, and to a community that demonstrates remarkable selflessness and a strong desire to support this vital cause,” Styers said. “It truly is heartwarming to see everyone come together to help these families living their worst nightmare.”

The Jacksons face a long road. Justice still requires a ventilator and recently underwent a tracheotomy. He’s facing another six to 12 months in the hospital, and there is a chance he will not be completely weaned from ventilation until he is about 4 years old.

The good news is that Justice’s lungs are growing and developing, and his long-term prognosis is good. The best news for the Jacksons, however, may not be medical but psychological. Doctors and researchers who have been around BPD say one of the long-term effects of the illness can be overall

It was nice to have a place right outside the hospital. It was very touch and go for the first several months in Little Rock. Having a space where our family could be together is probably one of the biggest blessings — Amy Jackson parent

mental development. A child born into long-term hospital care can suffer setbacks due to not being around their parents for a prolonged period of time.

Justice’s doctors, however, say he is developing right on schedule and should grow up to be healthy and happy. Thanks to the Ronald McDonald House, Justice sees his parents every day and will likely continue to do so until it is time to come home.

It has been a long road for Justice and his family, but thanks to the Ronald McDonald House and the Chocolate Fantasy Ball’s ever-growing popularity, there is a happy ending in sight.

“It plays such a big role,” Amy said. “The doctors, his team, have repeatedly told us our son is doing so well because we’re there every day.”

SHERWOOD

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At Sherwood Nursing and Rehab we are committed to providing the highest quality of patient care. Our qualified staff is here giving support for the tasks of day-to-day living, allowing for the enjoyment of more pleasant and carefree activities.

We specialize in Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care services. 245 Indian Bay Drive Sherwood, AR

Phone: 501.834.9960 Fax: 501.834.5644

The Lost Cause

Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from Joe David Rice’s recently released thriller/ mystery novel, The Lost Cause, the fourth novel in his Randy Lassiter and Leslie Carlisle mystery series. Set in Arkansas in the not-too-distant future, the book weaves together a tale involving the state’s business and political communities.

CHAPTER ONE

How much can you learn, really learn, about a person or a workplace in a single hour-long conversation?

That’s why I’ve never been a big fan of job interviews whether I’m being interviewed or doing the questioning. In my opinion, the interview is, with rare exceptions, little more than a temporary ceasefire between two competing entities. Both parties are wary of the other, often trying to keep little secrets tucked away. And perhaps some larger ones as well.

But there are times when the interview dance is unavoidable. So it was when my executive assistant at Lassiter & Associates received a well-deserved promotion within the agency. Given our organization—me, in particular—functioned far better with someone filling the position, it was important we find the right person. And necessary, alas, for us to conduct a round of interviews.

As for Lassiter & Associates, it’s an up-and-coming advertising firm in Little Rock now entering its second decade of service. A dozen and a half or so of us rub shoulders in a cramped office between the downtown skyscrapers a quarter mile to the east and the State Capitol five blocks in the opposite direction. We work hard to

By JOE DAVID RICE

keep our existing clients prosperous and happy and make the occasional pitch to bring in a new account.

My name is Randy Lassiter. I’m the primary owner, although I’ve instituted a profit-sharing plan giving each of my colleagues equity in the company after 18 months on the payroll and then more as their tenure advances. Through trial and error, I’ve come to endorse an uncomplicated theory of personnel management: having skin in the game improves one’s attitude and performance. And adds to the agency’s bottom line.

I’d established Lassiter & Associates after graduating from the University of Arkansas and putting in months of eye-opening and character-building grunt work for other agencies in town. To be sure, our billings aren’t yet approaching those of our top competitors. But the good news is we’re trending in the right direction, eking out a small profit while trying our best to disrupt the status quo, and even upsetting several of the industry’s old-timers along the way. Bringing in a new top-notch team member will contribute to our positive momentum.

The selected candidate will become a key player on the Lassiter team, operating across all facets of the organization

with a full load of responsibilities. He or she will maximize use of my time, schedule and set agendas for staff meetings, handle travel arrangements and expense reports, participate in strategy sessions with current and potential clients, and serve as our unofficial director of corporate culture. For those who assume this position is little more than a glorified secretary, think again. I figure bringing onboard a top applicant is going to run at least $85,000 a year. More if you include insurance, retirement, and other perks.

We’d advertised the vacancy for four weeks, both in professional outlets and the local media. Some 25 individuals responded. Of those, eight looked to have the desired combination of education and experience to invite in for interviews. When we called to schedule the meetings, two declined, having already agreed to other offers. Six, however, accepted our requests to meet with me and two of my colleagues to discuss the position and its duties.

Over the years, I’ve found questioning by a threeperson committee seems to yield the best results, helping to achieve a balanced evaluation. An entire day — Wednesday, April 19 — had been set aside for the series of hour-long meetings with the prospective employee. I’d spent a good deal of time the previous afternoon and evening reviewing résumés of the six finalists. Although dreading the process, I felt encouraged with our prospects.

The first contender, a pleasant man with an undergraduate degree in communications, made a favorable impression. Favorable, but not great. He had a fair grasp of the field of public relations, maintained decent eye contact, and asked germane questions. My chief concern was he displayed no understanding whatsoever regarding the agency or our clients. Once he’d left the room, I complained to my fellow committee members I suspected he hadn’t bothered to spend any time on the company’s website.

passed, I stepped outside our conference room and asked the receptionist if she’d received a call from a late-running prospect. She hadn’t.

At 10:25, the door opened and the woman was ushered into the room. She introduced herself with a broad smile and shared updated copies of her CV before occupying the seat at the head of the table. She thanked us for the opportunity to visit about the job and provided more than satisfactory answers to our queries. Yet she never bothered to explain her late arrival and never apologized. The three of us went through the motions, asking the same questions we’d posed to our first applicant. However, my colleagues knew I had no interest in hiring anyone who didn’t respect the time of his or her peers.

Unlike our first two candidates, the next — a female in her late 20s or early 30s — failed to wear what I’d call job-appropriate attire. Her dress, a provocative bright red number, might have been fine 10 hours later in another venue altogether.

Through trial and error, I’ve come to endorse an uncomplicated theory of personnel management: having skin in the game improves one’s attitude and performance. And adds to the agency’s bottom line.

“Maybe the next one will be better,” said Abigail Ahart, one of my veteran employees and a member of our interview team. “She has one heck of a résumé.”

I, too, had high hopes for this applicant. She had almost 10 years of relevant experience, including a lengthy stint in a similar position with a prominent advertising outfit in Houston. Her husband’s transfer had brought her into the Little Rock job market in recent weeks. But ten o’clock, the hour of her confirmed appointment, came and went without an appearance. After 15 minutes had

Megan Maloney, the third member of our team, shook her head after the lady had left the room.

“I have no real objection with a woman taking her girls out for a walk,” she said, “though parading them in the River District this evening would have been a smarter choice.”

Remembering the stern sexual harassment warnings I’d heard time and again from my lawsuit-conscious attorney, I refrained from any remarks and pushed away from the table. Likewise, I resisted the temptation to comment on the woman’s perfume, the musky aftereffects of which lingered well past her departure.

We had an hour until the next applicant was scheduled to arrive. I darted into my office, grabbed a handful of almonds and an apple for lunch, and checked telephone messages and e-mails. None of the phone calls were urgent, but I opened a text from Leslie, my bride of six months. A magazine’s photo editor had sent her into the Ozarks of north Arkansas to shoot the spring waterfall season in the Buffalo River country. An accomplished professional photographer, she’d been away most of the week on this assignment.

“Hiking down into Hemmed-In Hollow; will be outof-service for four or five hours,” she wrote. “Day going well. Wish me luck!”

“Interviews have been underwhelming so far,” I replied. “Would rather be with you. The Buffalo’s special!” I added a pair of heart emojis for good measure.

We’d met on the banks of the Buffalo River a year and a half earlier. I was on a camping trip with Dr. Gib Yar-

berry, my annoying brother-in-law, and Leslie had been pulled from her home base in Texas with an assignment to capture the peak of fall foliage for Southern Living magazine. A quirk of fate had thrown us together in the middle of a vast wilderness and the rest, as they say, is history. And, so far, we’ve compiled a fine history.

Our fourth interviewee was an intense young man who’d relocated from Seattle to Little Rock so he and his wife could tend to her elderly parents. During the course of his short career, he’d held responsible positions with two Fortune 500 companies, accumulating an admirable track record. And he’d done his homework, surprising us with his sense of Lassiter & Associates. But one of his mannerisms unnerved me: the man kept fiddling with his cell phone. He’d placed it in front of him on the conference table and every five minutes or so glanced at the screen, seemingly waiting on an urgent message.

Noticing the same thing, Megan cut to the chase.

“Are you expecting an important call?” she asked.

Embarrassed, the man slipped the phone into a pocket. Too late; the damage was done.

When time came for the next session, our receptionist informed us contestant number five on the day’s schedule had telephoned, cancelling the interview without any explanation, and freeing an hour of our afternoon. I again retreated into my office and began returning missed calls. The last was to a reporter with Arkansas Business, a weekly newsmagazine headquartered a few blocks down the street.

“Mr. Lassiter,” she began, “how would you react to news the advertising account for the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, & Tourism will be open for review?”

Her question left me dumbfounded. Like most of my competitors, I’d fantasized for years about landing this account. Not only did it involve a considerable amount of money—something on the order of $25 million annually in billings—the department was among the most visible and prestigious clients in the state. And it would be a “feel good” account, too, promoting positive things like state and national parks, tourist attractions, festivals, musical events, restaurants, museums, and such. Even the most dedicated and creative folks can grow weary producing ads pitching used cars and vinyl siding and furniture closeouts, not to mention bankruptcy filings or cremation services.

And then there was the matter of the incumbent advertising agency, a powerful institution holding the account for much of my life. Established almost half a century ago as Andrews Bingham Carter, it was known by most of us in the industry as ABC. Its principals had developed exceptional political instincts throughout the past couple of decades, cultivating valuable personal relationships and currying favor as the state shifted from blue to red. Although I’d never heard any hints or allegations of improprieties, it was understood ABC held a solid lock on the account. Other advertising firms, mine included, no longer wasted any time responding to the state’s official “Request for Proposals” landing on our desks every two years, realizing we had no chance in hell of unseating the agency of record.

“Mr. Lassiter,” she asked, “are you still there?”

I cleared my throat. “Yes, but I’m rather curious. Do you have this on good authority?”

“You could say so,” she replied. “I heard it from Governor Butler herself less than an hour ago.”

Governor Patricia Butler had been in office not quite three months. A moderate Democrat with no prior involvement in politics, she’d run an aggressive campaign, promising voters she’d use her knowledge of the commercial world to transform state government. And her private sector experience was indeed remarkable. Butler had started an organic-based cosmetics company in her basement a decade ago, a business now employing over 1,200 folks in a sparkling factory in her hometown of Jonesboro.

Along the way, Butler had become something of a Wall Street favorite. She’d breezed through the Democratic primary without a runoff and had walloped her Republican opponent by a three to two majority in the general election. While I’d never met her, I felt comfortable with Butler’s platform, especially her commitment to public education, and had no qualms voting for her. And for the first time in recent memory, I wrote a personal check—modest, to be sure—in support of a candidate in a statewide race.

“To tell you the truth,” I said to the reporter, “I’m speechless. Have you gotten a comment from ABC’s management?”

“Nothing official,” she said. “I believe there’ll be a statement released in the next day or two. Needless to say, this had to be a shock. As you know, Andrews Bingham Carter has held the account for more than 30 years.”

“Has anything been made public regarding the review process?” I asked.

“I was told a schedule will be made available next week,” she said. “Will Lassiter & Associates be making a pitch?”

“We’ll take a look at it,” I said, “although it’s too soon to say for sure.”

That was an outright lie. I’d been coveting the account most of my adult life and would make every effort to land it. I couldn’t wait to share this development with my colleagues. Like me, they’d be stunned by the news.

As the call ended, the door opened and Abbie stuck her head inside my office.

“Our last candidate has arrived if you’re ready,” she said.

I trailed her down the hall toward our conference room.

“Let’s hope this one is superior to the others.”

“She looks competent on paper,” Abbie said. “And I recognized a name among her references: Leslie Carlisle.”

I stopped in my tracks, surprised by this revelation. I pay little attention to references shown on résumés, unwilling to put much stock on the biased recommendations of an applicant’s close friends or acquaintances, preferring instead to call previous employers.

Abbie handed me a copy of Erin Askew’s résumé. Sure enough, in black and white at the bottom of the last page, was this listing among four other references: Leslie Carlisle, professional photographer, followed by a familiar telephone number and e-mail address.

Shutting the pantry door, I came face-to-face with a bulky man holding a pistol 15 inches from my nose. His face an angry red and his lips glistening with spittle, he gave the barrel of the gun a little wave. “You know I have every right to kill you on the spot!” A cold sweat broke out over my face and my pulse skyrocketed. I stared at the man who held my life in his hands. He was tall and wide, a generation or so older than I, and his wrinkled khaki uniform included a shiny badge above his left breast pocket. His eyes were mere slants, boring into me. “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t go ahead and shoot you,” he muttered, his breath reeking of garlic and onions. “You might want to make it a good one.”

In The Lost Cause, the fourth novel in the Randy Lassiter/Leslie Carlisle series, our determined pair find themselves dealing with a situation far different from anything they’ve ever encountered. Working with Booker Arrison, Randy’s eccentric yet techno-savvy uncle, they strive to make sense of a sequence of disturbing discoveries Booker has made in the deep recesses of the Dark Web. Then, State Senator Somerset Spartacus Smith, a dear friend, is savagely attacked via a calculated social media campaign. Soon thereafter, Senator Smith is held hostage following a brazen kid- napping—with his captors making extraordinary demands for his release. Meanwhile, Randy is attempting to land the advertising account of his dreams and Leslie is busy with her professional photography assignments. But their routines are unexpectedly upset and their lives forever changed— this time by the actions of a secretive group of political extremists.

THE LOST CAUSE

A Randy Lassiter & Leslie Carlisle Mystery

“Of course, I’ll still expect you to love, honor, and obey me.”

Leslie had punched me on the shoulder. Gently.

“You’ll have to settle for two out of three.”

* * *

When Erin Askew and I shook hands, I noticed her tailored navy-blue pantsuit, thinking Leslie had one similar to it. Or maybe it was because of the startling contrast with the attire of the previous female applicant.

As our interview with Ms. Askew progressed, it became obvious she was head and shoulders above the others we’d seen. Despite her youth—she appeared to be in her mid- to late-20s—she displayed an unexpected level of maturity. Ms. Askew had a fine sense of humor and demonstrated an amazing familiarity with Lassiter & Associates and its clients. Taking notes as we talked, she handled our inquiries with refreshing candor. In fact, she had as many questions for us as we did for her, one of them regarding the office environment at the agency.

“I have no desire to be just another person in a tense and stuffy business,” she said. “I want to look forward to coming in daily and developing friendships among the staff—with the possibility of advancing through the ranks.”

A burst of raucous laughter in the hallway partially answered a portion of her concern.

Megan provided further elaboration. “I’ve been here half a dozen years after having been employed at three other companies, two in Dallas and one local. Without question, this place is the best of the lot,” she said. “We put in the hours, but have fun, too.”

“And Randy’s sincere when he says Lassiter & Associates believes in career development and promotion,”

Abbie added, chiming in. “Take this position we’re discussing today. Of the past four executive assistants, three have advanced within the agency. The other moved to Tulsa with her husband. As for me, I’ve received several promotions since joining the firm, and the same goes for Megan.”

When the interview came to an end, we stood and shook hands. I thanked Ms. Askew for her time and promised she’d hear from us soon.

As she started to turn and leave, I said, “Oh, I have one more quick question. What’s the relationship with one of your references, this Leslie Carlisle person?”

I noticed a subtle exchange between Abbie and Megan.

“I’ve been working another job as a model through one of the local talent agencies,” she said. “During evenings and weekends for the most part.”

Her second career wasn’t hard to imagine, I thought. Given her tall and trim physique, sparkling eyes, and ready smile, she had the classic “girl-next-door” look.

“I’ve participated in photo shoots with Ms. Carlisle on a number of occasions in the past six months,” she said. “We seem to have developed excellent rapport, and she agreed I could list her as a reference.”

I grimaced and shook my head. Megan and Abbie tried to hide their snickers.

Ms. Askew’s face fell.

“Do you have problems with Ms. Carlisle?”

“Each and every day,” I said, giving her a smile. “Leslie Carlisle is my wife.”

When you walk into the Robinson Nursing & Rehabilitation Center you will feel a comfortable atmosphere different from any other facility you have visited. We feature tall ceilings and an open floor plan. We have a lovely dining room and a covered outdoor patio area.

When you walk into the Robinson Nursing & Rehabilitation Center you will feel a comfortable atmosphere different from any other facility you have visited. We feature tall ceilings and an open floor plan. We have a lovely dining room and a covered outdoor patio area.

We specialize in short-term rehabilitation and long-term care services. The short-term rehabilitation area has its own dining area and day room. From the moment you enter our facility, we want you to experience the difference our facility has to offer. From our light-filled day areas to our beautiful outdoor areas, we want you and your loved one to feel comfortable and safe when staying with us. You will also notice the pride we take in our facility by keeping our building sparkling clean from the inside out.

We specialize in short-term rehabilitation and long-term care services. The short-term rehabilitation area has its own dining area and day room. From the moment you enter our facility, we want you to experience the difference our facility has to offer. From our light-filled day areas to our beautiful outdoor areas, we want you and your loved one to feel comfortable and safe when staying with us. You will also notice the pride we take in our facility by keeping our building sparkling clean from the inside out.

Our team is dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable environment. Robinson Nursing and Rehab offers modern conveniences in a gracious setting. We provide daily planned activities led by certified activity directors, like social events and outings and pastoral services with spiritual care for all religions. We strongly encourage family participation in group activities, meals and celebrating family birthdays and special days.

Our team is dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable environment. Robinson Nursing and Rehab offers modern conveniences in a gracious setting. We provide daily planned activities led by Certified Activity Directors, like social events and outings and pastoral services with spiritual care for all religions. We strongly encourage family participation in group activities, meals and celebrating family birthdays and special days.

To help you plan your visits, we provide a monthly event calendar and a monthly meal planner. Robinson Nursing and Rehab does not have set visiting hours. We view this facility as the “home” of each resident.

To help you plan your visits, we provide a monthly event calendar and a monthly meal planner. Robinson Nursing and Rehab does not have set visiting hours. We view this facility as the “home” of each resident.

We try our best to communicate with patients and families to help alleviate the anxiety that accompanies this journey. Our team of nurses, therapists and support staff work closely together to develop a plan based on the individual needs of each person. We recognize that rehabilitation involves not only the patient but the entire family.

We try our best to communicate with patients and families to help alleviate the anxiety that accompanies this journey. Our team of nurses, therapists and support staff work closely together to develop a plan based on the individual needs of each person. We recognize that rehabilitation involves not only the patient, but the entire family.

MURDER MYSTERY

What happened at Heber Springs?

By SARAH RUSSELL

The two deaths came several weeks apart but at the exact same location. Both the man and the woman died from gunshots to the head. There were no witnesses.

Was it murder, suicide or a bit of both? The mystery of what happened at Heber Springs has lingered long after the gun smoke has cleared.

As night descended on Jan. 13, 2013, so did the first responders to a house on Fox Chase Road. With urgency, a bloodied man was loaded into an ambulance, but despite the best efforts of a team at a local hospital, he was pronounced dead after fewer than two hours.

The deceased was David Wilson, 34, a Nashville songwriter and music producer, the boyfriend of country music artist Mindy McCready. At the time of the incident, the couple had been staying at the Heber Springs home for more than a year. Yes, McCready had been there when the fatal gunshot was fired; in fact, she would be the next to die, but not just yet.

The story begins in 1994, when a teenage McCready packed up her karaoke tapes and headed for Nashville, the city known as the cradle of country music. Her mama made McCready promise she would be back in Florida in college somewhere if she did not make something happen

in a year. Eleven months in, BNR Records announced its newest singer, the very determined McCready.

The album Ten Thousand Angels was released in 1996, and industry insiders sat up straight as it went double platinum, propelled in part due to the saucy No. 1 hit “Guys Do It All the Time.” McCready’s nomination for Top New Female Artist at the Academy of Country Music Awards signaled success just might be there to stay.

However, the next year, McCready’s sophomore album If I Don’t Stay the Night failed to uphold the promise of her first record. By 1999, her third album, I’m Not So Tough, dropped and flopped like the second, costing McCready her contract with BNR. Her 2002 self-titled album, produced by Capitol Records, was hoped to offer redemption but failed to deliver, and it was clear it would take more than a change of management to stop her career free fall.

The buzz was that McCready herself was the problem and that the doors of the country music industry had slammed hard and fast on her as a result. In 2012, a year before her death, McCready posted to her fan website: “I haven’t had a hit in almost a decade. I’ve spent my fortune, tarnished my public view and made myself the brunt of punch line after punch line. I’ve been beaten, sued, robbed, arrested, jailed and evicted, but I’m still here.”

So was the media. McCready’s multiple parole violations, drug overdoses and three suicide attempts, one of which happened while she was pregnant with her first son, kept her in the headlines long after the music died.

In fairness, she fed the media what they wanted. In 2008, she publicly outed a major league baseball player, a married father of two, as a longtime lover. In 2010, porn channel Vivid Entertainment announced the release of the sex tape Mindy McCready: Baseball Mistress. Sometime prior, McCready had not only given legal permission for the film to be made, but she embraced her part in it with a boyfriend of the moment.

In between those headlines, she joined the 2009 cast of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew Pinsky on VH1. There, her substance abuse issues were fully revealed, although McCready firmly maintained her only true addiction was violent relationships.

Despite rehab, McCready relapsed again in 2010. That year, she also released an album with Iconic Records titled I’m Still Here. There were no major hits from it, but the album had positive feedback from the music critics, at least. It might have been a career Uturn had it not been for the events to come.

Mindy McCready and David Wilson

McCready had a 6-yearold son, of whom McCready’s mother had custody. During an allowed visit in 2011, McCready took the boy without the court’s permission. Realizing Nashville was too obvious of a destination, she took the child to the Wilson family summer home on Fox Chase Road.

By 2012, she had not yet delivered on the book or the reality show promised to fans, but she did deliver Wilson’s baby boy. Her intense battle for her first son continued to make headlines, and by December, she was successful in regaining custody. Her life with Wilson and her babies was now perfect, she declared to her fans. In weeks, it would all implode.

Following the event of Wilson’s death, the headlines multiplied exponentially after the National Enquirer quoted then-Cleburne County Sheriff Marty Moss:

“It could take weeks for the state crime lab to complete tests on Mr. Wilson’s body, and if you’ll notice, it was Mindy McCready’s spokesperson — not anyone involved in the investigation — who made the determination that Mr. Wilson’s death was due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”

What the sheriff did not mention was results were pending from the gunshot residue test officers had taken on McCready shortly after Wilson was taken to the hospital.

During a Dateline interview conducted in Heber Springs by reporter Andrea Canning, McCready adamantly denied killing Wilson, saying the police were on a “witch hunt.” Asked if she was sure it was suicide, not murder, she replied, “I don’t know.”

The implication there might be a third party involved was catnip for any reporter, but Canning did not push harder. That might have been because of McCready’s obviously fragile state during the interview.

To those who knew him, Wilson’s death, whether by suicide or murder, was unfathomable. Friends described Wilson as a quiet, calm guy who always found the positive in things even after the deaths of both his parents. It was not like him to stay down, much less be suicidal.

A level of shock swirled at his memorial service — held in Fayetteville where he had been University of Arkansas student and Sigma Nu member — as did a number of unanswered questions. McCready was noticeably not in attendance.

Then, one friend told E! News he had been in contact with Wilson just days before the death. He revealed that Wilson, on his 35th birthday on Feb. 11, was to inherit a considerable sum of money. His friend added that Wilson had started celebrating early, buying a new truck.

What the friend told E! News next was equally explosive: For a short time prior to his death, Wilson had been staying at a hotel instead of the Heber Springs house. Clearly he was enthusiastic about his role as a new father, but the happy relationship that McCready was now claiming to the media was simply not there.

“He wanted a way out, and he didn’t know what or how to get out,” the friend said.

It was a painful repeat of the end of McCready’s 1999 engagement with actor Dean Cain, who played Superman on the television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. As their relationship deteriorated, Cain also fled the home he shared with McCready for

The Wilson family summer home on Fox Chase Road in

a hotel. Interviewed after her death, he explained what had happened to reporters.

“She would start arguments, start drama,” Cain said. “Things weren’t allowed to be good.”

McCready seemed unable or unwilling to sustain personal or business relationships, something even she seemed to understand as per a revealing interview with the Associated Press

“My entire life, things have been attracted to me and vice versa that turn into chaotic nightmares, or I create the chaos myself,” she said. “I think that’s really the life of a celebrity, of a big, huge, giant personality.”

Cain made it a year with that big, huge, giant personality, and Wilson was on his second. The child they had together, conceived shortly into their relationship, might have sustained a relationship that Wilson would not have otherwise intended to make permanent. Nashville had been the center of his personal and business life, but he had stayed with her in Heber Springs, supporting her during the pregnancy and the yearlong custody battle.

Meanwhile, the 37-year-old McCready, mother of two, might have felt threatened by the possibility of his leaving, especially if there was the chance of a custody battle over the baby. With his death, though, her life was once again in shambles.

A friend who stepped in to help her after Wilson’s death said, “I was trying to make things as normal as possible for the kids because they weren’t being taken care of by Mindy. She needed her Adderall and her Xanax on a daily basis, but also, she was drinking straight vodka.”

At the request of her concerned father, the courts ordered McCready into rehab Feb. 6 for mental health and substance abuse evaluations. She packed up and went home in less than 48 hours. It was an empty house to which she returned, her children having been taken by child protective services when she went into rehab.

Midafternoon on Feb. 17, 2013, a second call came into the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Department. On the front porch of the home on Fox Chase Road, law enforcement found McCready dead of a single gunshot wound to the head. Wilson’s dog had also been fatally shot.

An autopsy later confirmed McCready’s death as suicide. But Wilson’s? RadarOnline in February 2015 pressed then-prosecuting attorney Holly Meyer.

“The Wilson case is still considered open with insufficient evidence to conclusively determine whether homicide or suicide,” Meyer said.

Suicide or murder, and, if the latter, who murdered who? Was a third party ever a suspect? The mystery continues.

McCready’s very public life had long careened between a dance with death and a will to live until reaching its tragic end, leaving behind nothing — not even the answers to what happened to the couple in Heber Springs.

Heber Springs

Briar wood Nursing and Rehab is a 120-bed skilled facility located in an urban setting within the heart of Little Rock, in the neighborhood of Briarwood. We are located just minutes from downtown Little Rock and are only one block off interstate 630.

We provide long-term care and short-term rehab care. All residents are monitored throughout the day with assistance in providing daily care as is needed: bathing, dressing, feeding and providing medications. Briarwood staff also work at ensuring the best care for residents through individual care plans of residents' needs, as well as daily activities, which allow for a variety of interests and abilities.

Nearly all - 98 percent - of our rehab residents return to the community as a result of positive, caring therapists. Briarwood's approach has provided healing to many people in the community.

At Briarwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, we are committed to ensuring that the best possible care is given to you or your loved one in an atmosphere that is calm, quiet and focused on healing. We endeavor to ensure that all aspects of your well-being — mental, physical and spiritual — are cared for in a peaceful and safe environment. Our staff strive to promote dignity, respect, and independence as much as possible, in a beautiful, soothing enviornment that was designed with our residents' comfort in mind.

Briarwood's service-rich environment is made possible by its dedicated staff, from our nursing staff and therapists, to our operations and administrative employees. At Briarwood, our residents enjoy three generations of staff and families. That is over 30 years of service to the community!

Rehabilitative

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

By Joe David Rice

Johnny Cash’s favorite singer was a fellow Arkansan. Seventeen years his senior, she spent her early years in Cotton Plant, a farming community about 100 miles southeast of his hometown of Dyess. Not only was this woman Cash’s idol, she also influenced an amazing collection of other musicians — artists such as Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, Jimi Hendrix, Etta James, Little Richard, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Jerry Lee Lewis, Isaac Hayes, Alison Krauss, Chuck Berry, Bonnie Raitt and Elvis Presley.

Who was this godmother of rock and roll? None other than Sister Rosetta Tharpe, an African American gospel singer and guitar player extraordinaire from Woodruff County.

Born on the Tilman Cooperwood farm near Cotton Plant on March 20, 1915, to Katie Harper, Tharpe got an introduction to music via her mother’s singing, piano and mandolin skills and her father’s talents with the guitar and harmonica. Her mother’s active participation with the Church of God in Christ, an emerging Pentecostal denomination, also regularly exposed Tharpe to joyful and exuberant music.

Tharpe began entertaining crowds at age 4, playing her guitar and singing “Jesus is on the Main Line.” While her voice was strong, Tharpe’s guitar skills were nothing short of exceptional. Even at a young age, she did not merely strum chords on her guitar but was developing a unique style and even throwing in the occasional riff.

As Harper got more involved in her evangelistic work, Tharpe accompanied her on stage as they traveled from one religious service to another. Covering a variety of gospel and secular songs, Tharpe soon became known as a “singing and guitar-playing miracle.”

landed a contract to sing at Harlem’s famous Cotton Club for $500 a week — not bad considering the average weekly salary in 1938 was about $30. Decca Records signed Tharpe that same year, recording her first 78s during a single session on Halloween. That successful launch was the beginning of a business relationship that kept Tharpe with the Decca label through the mid-1950s. As 1938 drew to a close, Tharpe appeared before a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall.

Tharpe’s initial recordings with Decca were traditional religious songs — “Rock Me,” “That’s All,” “The Man and I” and “The Lonesome Road” — but to the consternation of her devoted gospel fans, she also delved deeply into the nightclub world, giving spellbinding jazz and blues performances with the likes of Lucky Millinder, Cab Calloway and Benny Goodman. Tharpe’s unique guitar style combined with urban swing and blues and a hint of traditional folk arrangements was a direct forerunner of today’s rock ‘n’ roll.

Harper and her then 6-year-old daughter, Tharpe, left Cotton Plant one day and caught a train in Parkin, which took them to Memphis. From there, they traveled by rail to St. Louis and then on to Chicago, following a route taken by many other African Americans leaving Arkansas in the 1920s and ’30s. Tharpe worked with her mother for several years in the Chicago area and was singing full time by her 12th birthday.

She married the Rev. Thomas Tharpe, an itinerant preacher, Nov. 17, 1934, and the couple toured for a while with Harper, often performing in southern Florida, but the tall, handsome minister did not necessarily follow his own admonitions, and the marriage suffered. About 1938 Rosetta made several big decisions. First, she divorced her hypocritical husband; second, she opted to expand her career to include secular performances; and third, she moved to New York City.

All three choices proved wise, especially the third, since she soon

Tharpe’s flamboyance was also a precursor of contemporary entertainment. Much like current rock-star divas, Rosetta knew something about showmanship — or its female equivalent. Take her third wedding: On the evening of July 3, 1951, Tharpe married Russell Morrison at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C., in front of 22,000 adoring fans, outdrawing the Washington Senators’ major league baseball crowd that same night. Outfield seats went for 90 cents, but prime seats down the first-base line cost $2.50. Arriving as if dressed for church, many fans brought wedding gifts for the new couple — jewelry, silverware, rugs and even television sets.

The wedding procession, with Tharpe wearing a $1,500 white lace dress (about the cost of a new car in 1951), took 20 minutes to congregate at the altar on a stage at second base. Once the vows were exchanged, the concert began. Still wearing her wedding gown, Tharpe belted out one spiritual song after another while playing her guitar. It was midnight by the time a fireworks show wrapped up the festivities.

In subsequent years, Tharpe continued to entertain in the United States and also toured several times in Europe, where she was warmly received. It was during her 1970 European tour with Muddy Waters that Tharpe fell ill and returned home. She later suffered a stroke, and then complications from diabetes led to the amputation of a leg. Although slowed down, Tharpe kept performing until her Oct. 9, 1973, death in Philadelphia.

A 2013 inductee into the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame, Tharpe — a precocious little girl from Cotton Plant — transformed American music.

Joe David Rice, former tourism director at the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, wrote 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 — a story to be proud of and one certainly worth sharing.

Each month, AY About You will share one of the 165 distinctive essays. We hope these stories will give readers 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 on Amazon and at the University of Arkansas Press.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

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