AY About You May 2024

ARK ANSAS’

“I love Dr. Yee and her incredible staff! After getting back in the gym regularly, I still had some stubborn fat areas, so I did CoolSculpting at Dr. Yee’s office and love my results!”

AY Media Group Thank You, Arkansas!

- Heather Baker, President/Publisher

Best Cosmetic Surgeon in Arkansas

Dr. Suzanne Yee is one of the Natural State’s most accomplished cosmetic surgeons. Dr. Yee graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and was ranked 1st in her graduating class. She completed her surgery internship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and her facial plastics and reconstructive surgery fellowship at the University of Texas at Houston. Dr. Yee has been serving the state of Arkansas through her medical skills and fashion sensibilities at her cosmetic and laser surgery center since 2003. Congratulations to Dr. Suzanne Yee for being named AY About You’s Best Cosmetic Surgeon in Best Of 2024! for naming us

Dear class of 2024,

As we wrap up another school year, it’s time to reflect on the senior class of 2024 and their accomplishments during their time in high school. The following messages are from each of the high school principals.

As we approach the end of the 23-24 School Year, I find myself reflecting on the journey you’ve shared together at Joe T. Robinson High School. It’s been four years filled with challenges, triumphs, and countless moments that have defined this class as individuals and as a community.

As Senators, you have exemplified the true meaning of community and student voice. From your involvement in extracurricular activities to your contributions in the classroom, you have demonstrated time and time again the power of unity and collaboration. Your voices have been heard, your actions have inspired, and your impact will be felt for years to come.

As you prepare to embark on the next chapter of your lives, whether it’s pursuing higher education, entering the workforce, or serving our country, I have every confidence that you will carry with you the lessons learned and the memories shared during your time at Robinson High. Remember the friendships forged, the challenges overcome, and the dreams pursued, for they are the foundation upon which your future successes will be built.

On behalf of the entire faculty and staff, I want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2024. You are truly a class like no other. May you always carry the spirit of the Senators with you, knowing that you are capable of achieving anything you set your mind to.

With warmest regards,

Michelle Camp Principal, Joe T. Robinson High

The Class of ‘24 is certainly leaving a legacy at Sylvan Hills High School. Your class has produced a record

SEVENTY-SEVEN Honor

Graduates with at least a 3.5 GPA. You boast several Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship recipients, a National Merit Scholar as well as a THEA Foundation Scholarship recipient. Several of your classmates have been honored to attend Governors School, Boys State and Girls State programs, representing Sylvan Hills well. For many, you have conquered private challenges we could never have anticipated. The Class of ‘24 has excelled in the classroom and is prepared for whatever challenges are encountered in the future.

Class of ‘24 - you are community service warriors, racking up more volunteer hours than any class that has come before you. You aided in tornado cleanup and recovery, completed service learning days within the community, and volunteered thousands of hours at local shelters, food pantries, and other nonprofits.

In addition, some of you contributed to our choir and band programs receiving superior ratings, the wrestling teams were dominant, led, in part, by one female wrestler who has not experienced defeat in competition. You and your classmates have excelled in all areas of school life and I am certain you are prepared to conquer the next chapter of your journey.

I wish you all the best in your future endeavors! Go Bears!

Tracy Allen Principal, Sylvan Hills High

Can you believe it? You’ve made it to the end of this chapter and the beginning of something new. Your graduation is a testament to your hard work and dedication. For many of you, you’ve conquered private challenges that we could never have predicted. We have overcome a mountain of issues this year to appear clean on the other side. So, I want to challenge you to know your WHY and set your goals to achieve your dreams. Take the lessons you’ve learned during your time at MUSH and use them to guide your actions as you move forward. I wish you all the best as you achieve in every field of human endeavor.

Damian Patterson Principal, Mills University Studies High

It has been a great year of change and excellence. You all have risen to the challenge and reached a major milestone in life. Your high school graduation is an accomplishment that comes with great reward. As you embark on your next journey in life, I encourage you to embrace the spirit of service and continue to give back to your community. You all have exhibited the spirit of perseverance and dedication. Because of your efforts and commitment to your education, you are now at the finish line. As you continue your daily walk, remember that you are the master of your fate and captain of your soul. There is nothing you cannot do, unless you determine that you can’t. Be true to yourself and accomplish all you can in life. Remember that there is no task too large for you, just set your minds to it and see it through. Maumelle High School will never be the same without you, but the world will be a better place because of you. Now go forth and conquer. Be the Hornet that you are and continue to do great things! I am proud of you all. Thank you for sharing your Senior year with me. I look forward to seeing your success now and beyond.

Dr. Nick Farr Principal, Maumelle High

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 26 schools. Every school is accredited by the Arkansas State Board of Education. PCSSD has served schools across Pulaski County since July 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.

Jason Pederson spent 20 years as KATV’s Seven On Your Side reporter. He is now deputy chief of community engagement for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. He and his wife, Mary Carol, have two biological children and one bonus son. They are longtime members of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock.

Amy Gramlich is a wife, mom, blogger and public school educator proudly planted in Arkansas. She loves to celebrate all occasions big and small with fun outfits, creative recipes and fresh home decor (which must always include plants). She enjoys all the details that go into planning the next trip or party.

Angelita Faller is the news director for the office of communications and marketing at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. A native of Newton, Illinois, Faller has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Eastern Illinois University and a master’s degree in digital storytelling from Ball State University in Indiana.

Kelli Reep is a writer and public relations practitioner in central Arkansas. When she is not looking for the best pie in the state, she is being ordered around by three cats. She likes to read, cook, sleep and help out when she can.

Lori Sparkman, owner of Lori Sparkman Photography, has traveled the globe to work extensively with beautiful brides and grooms, fierce fitness clients, growing families, as well as high-profile and corporate clients. She prides herself in capturing their personalities with a sophisticated and lighthearted style.

Jamie Lee is a native of southwest Louisiana now residing in Little Rock. She is a freelance photographer and writer who focuses on food and restaurants. Jamie has been a photographer for 15 years, shooting seniors, families, portraits, branding and food. She also has more than 25 years of experience with marketing in the travel and tourism industry.

Chris Davis was born and raised in Sherwood but now resides in North Little Rock with his wife and 7-year-old son. When his son was born, his wife asked for a new camera to take pictures of their little one. From there, his love of photography grew, and he is proud to be one of the contributing photographers at AY magazine.

AY Magazine is published monthly, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1 AY Magazine (ISSN 2162-7754) by AY Media Group, 910 W. 2nd St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201. Periodicals postage paid at Little Rock, AR and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to AY Magazine, 910 W. 2nd St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201. Subscription Inquiries: Subscription rate is $24 for one year (12 issues). Single issues are available upon request for $5. For subscriptions, inquiries or address changes, call 501-244-9700. The contents of AY are copyrighted ©2024, and material contained herein may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. Articles in AY should not be considered specific advice, as individual circumstances vary. Products and services advertised in the magazine are not necessarily endorsed by AY Please recycle this magazine.

IT’S THE BIG ONE!

This time of year is always exciting for me because it signals the beginning of new chapters and exciting adventures. Driving through any neighborhood in Arkansas, one can see the lush green and beautiful blooms of a new growing season. At high schools and colleges across our great state, the graduation season is nearly upon us and, with it, a new crop of young people eager to start the next chapters in their lives.

Perhaps most exciting of all for those of us here at AY About You, it is time to honor the best our state has to offer through the “Best of 2024” reader’s poll. In this issue, you will find the finalists for the prestigious honor as voted on by you, the loyal readers. And vote you did! Hundreds of thousands of votes were cast to determine the best companies, organizations and individuals in hundreds of categories.

Being nominated is an honor, being a finalist is an honor of the highest order, and so we take the time to recognize this select group before revealing the overall category winners next month. Browse through our “Best Of” section (the biggest in our history) to see where your favorites ranked.

Also in this issue, we visit Fort Smith for our “Bucket List” section and bring you a taste of the food, fun and history that makes this former frontier town so unique. You may also want to check out our profile of Chanley Painter, an Arkansas native who is making waves through her career in the national media.

Finally, it would not be May without a nod to the hard-working moms out there. Our “Super Moms” feature shines a light on women who juggle it all — family, home and career — and make it look easy.

As a working mother myself, I understand the challenges of keeping everything in balance, and I salute every mother out there who gives so much of herself to her job, her family and her community.

Thanks for picking up this issue and taking us along as you head into your summer adventures. Happy Mother’s Day to all, and a very happy Mother’s Day to the best mom in the world — my mother, Becky Hardwick!

Heather Baker, President & Publisher hbaker@aymag.com

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heatherbaker_ar

Heather Baker, left, and her mother, Becky Hardwick

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READER FEEDBACK INSTAGRAM

THIS SIDE OF SEVEN: BUT GOD

"Incredible and amazing couple who are an inspiration to all of us!!!"

Glenda Longmore Watson

THIS SIDE OF SEVEN: BUT GOD

“Beautiful article!!! God’s blessings for you and your lovely wife!!!”

Linda Forte

ARKANSAS BACKSTORIES: SPEED TRAPS

“Good magazine—interesting articles.”

Vickie Ferrell Barrett

HOLLAND BOTTOM FARM OFFICIALLY LOOKS LIKE STRAWBERRY PARADISE!

“Got mine this weekend and made Homemade Jam. They’re so sweet I had to use a low sugar recipe.”

Danielle Morris-Scott

RELEASE YOUR ANGER AT SMASH MAMAS RAGE ROOM!

“Thanks AY Magazine. We are now booking smash sessions!”

Smash Mamas rage room

SERVER SAYS: CANDACE GIFFORD OF ROPERS RESTAURANT

"Beautifully written about one beautiful woman!! She’s absolutely awesome!”

Jaci Jones Birdsong

ARKANSAS NATIVE JOSH LUCAS RETURNS HOME FOR SPECIAL SCREENING

“I love this show OMG I can’t wait.”

Elovely EJ Lovett

LOVE LIKE A RED, RED ROSE

“The love Brittany has for her job shows down to the last detail of the event she is working on. One of the best for sure ! Highly recommend her and Silks A Bloom .”

Tammy Copeland TRENDING ON AYMAG.COM

People Behind Your News: Garrett Lewis

Server Says: Candace Gifford of Ropers Restaurant

Arkansas Native Josh Lucas Returns Home for Special Screening

Murder Mystery: The Road at Romance

Volstead Proper to Bring Bourbon Flights, High-Class Eats to Conway

Head server Candace Gifford, who will have worked at [Roper’s Restaurant in Greenbrier] 16 years in August, is almost as much of a fixture as the restaurant itself.

You only live once, the saying goes, but Garrett Lewis, former chief meteorologist at KFSM in Fort Smith, has something of a new life after starting a new career in finance. However, the weather watcher still has an eye on the sky as the founder of OZ Weather in Rogers.

Jewel, a four-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and mental health pioneer, will debut her inaugural museum venture at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art on May 4.

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

What is it about a great story that draws us in? There’s something in all of us that is captivated by masterful storytelling. It’s why we love books, movies and entertainment. Stories transform us from being an observer of information to a participant in a narrative. We see ourselves reflected in the characters and find hope in their triumphs. There’s something about stories that help us find our way.

In today’s world, we have access to stories like never before. It’s easy to reach for our devices that seem to have “all the answers” while our Bibles sit collecting dust. How do we ignite a passion for God’s Word in the midst of this struggle for our attention?

Sight & Sound’s founder sought to answer that question when he turned his gift of storytelling into a family business — growing from humble beginnings as a dairy farmer to producing live stage shows with a ministry focus. He was passionate about using stories, just like Jesus used parables, to help people understand Scripture. What started as a small traveling multi-media show has grown into the Sight & Sound Theatres ® many know today. With two of the largest live theater venues in the country, Sight & Sound

has drawn more than 40 million people to its two locations in Branson, Missouri and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A lot has changed in our nearly 50-year history, but one thing remains the same: a passion for bringing Bible stories to life on stage.

There is a reason the Bible is the bestselling book of all time. It is because God is the Master Storyteller, and the Bible is His master script. At Sight & Sound, we bring the Bible to life because we believe these stories matter and that they’ve been transforming lives for thousands of years. We can’t take credit for them, but we can tell them in a new way. There’s nothing we love more than watching families come together and experience Scripture in a way that leaves an impact that lasts far beyond the stage.

This year, QUEEN ESTHER returns to Branson for one final season. This captivating tale of beauty and bravery takes you on an unforgettable journey alongside an unlikely queen. With a crown on her head and a secret in her heart, will Esther find the courage to trust in God’s plan and believe that she was made for such a time as this?

Don’t miss your chance to experience the final reign of QUEEN ESTHER on the Sight & Sound Theatres stage in Branson, MO — now through October 5th!

5Top

you just can't miss!

BRAVO

May 2 to 5

Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts — Little Rock

Bringing the company’s 45th season to a climax, Ballet Arkansas is proud to present Bravo, which features world-renowned pianist Fei-Fei Dong. Performed at the museum’s acclaimed theater in grand style, Bravo is an extraordinary union of dance and live music.

BROOKS & DUNN REBOOT 2024 TOUR

May 10

Walmart AMP — Rogers

Get ready for a boot scootin’ good time with the legendary duo that redefined country music. Boasting 20 No. 1 hits, two Grammys, induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame and millions of fans worldwide, Brooks & Dunn will bring the party to northwest Arkansas.

RODNEY CARRINGTON

May 10

Hot Springs Convention Center

A multitalented comedian, actor, singer and writer, Rodney Carrington has played worldwide and is one of the top 10 highest-grossing touring comedians for the past two decades. Be sure to catch this chance to experience his grown-up brand of humor in Spa City.

BLIPPI: THE WONDERFUL WORLD TOUR

May 16

Simmons Bank Arena — North Little Rock

Get ready to dance, sing and learn. Bringing the ultimate curiosity adventure to central Arkansas, Blippi and special guest Meekah will discover what makes different cities unique and special. Get ready to shake those wiggles out and OJ Twist to the heart’s content.

FRESHGRASS | BENTONVILLE

May 17 and 18

The Momentary — Bentonville

A two-day, all-ages festival featuring the best of today’s bluegrass and progressive roots music, Freshgrass invites guests to enjoy knockout performances and world premieres accompanied by fun, family-friendly activities, great local food and drink, and more.

1

Greta Van Fleet

Walmart AMP, Rogers

3 Chroma Night AMFA Little Rock

2

NeedToBreathe with Judah & The Lion Walmart AMP, Rogers

3

KIX 104 Presents: Parker McCollum Walmart AMP, Rogers

3

Whiskey Myers Simmons Bank Arena, North Little Rock

9

JA Hall of Fame Gala Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock

11

Whiskey Myers Walmart AMP, Rogers

2-5

Wellness Festival Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville

3-4

Sixth Annual Mountain View Iris Festival Courthouse Square, Mountain View

9

Noon2Moon Mountain Bike Race Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, Bentonville

11

Faulkner County Master Gardeners 2024 Plant Sale Conway Expo and Event Center

19 Fayetteville Strawberry Festival Historic Downtown Square, Fayetteville 18 21 Savage Walmart AMP, Rogers

24-26

Old Friends Music Festival Old Friend Farms, Prairie Grove

4

“The Portal: An Art Experience by Jewel” Exhibit Opening Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville

9 Presbyterian Village Cinco de Mayo Festival Little Rock

11

Kristine Potter “Dark Waters” Exhibition Opening The Momentary, Bentonville

23

Brit Floyd - P.U.L.S.E World Tour

Simmons Bank Arena, North Little Rock

27

Holi Fest The Momentary, Bentonville

4 Little Rock Comedy Festival Simmons Bank Arena, North Little Rock

9-11

Peel Compton Foundation Hanging Basket Sale Peel Museum & Botanical Garden, Bentonville

13-14

Zach Bryan: The Quittin’ Time 2024 Tour Simmons Bank Arena, North Little Rock

30 HARDY Walmart AMP, Rogers

31

23

ALS In Wonderland: A World of Pure Imagination Junior League of Little Rock

Hootie and the Blowfish Walmart AMP, Rogers

home

Dream Lake

Retreat

Schrader Homes builds reputation one satisfied client at a time

By

KELLI REEP // Photos by LORI SPARKMAN

Developer and builder Alan Schrader, founder and principal builder of Schrader Homes in Benton, has had construction in his blood from a very early age.

“I had an uncle who was an old-school carpenter who would do everything in the house,” he said. “I learned with him and, at age 14, started working with him. When I was 15, he needed an extra framer, so I started doing that. I would work every day of the summer, riding to work with him. That’s when the dream started for me.

“While I was in college I married my wife, Ginger, and we built our first home at 21 years old. It’s still one of the most prideful builds I’ve ever built. We touched every part of it, from building the cabinets to painting to wiring to framing to flooring — everything.”

Today, those early lessons have combined with years of experience to set Schrader Homes in a select tier of Arkansas builders, thanks to the company’s stellar reputation for quality workmanship and timeless design. Those elements all combine beautifully at Schrader’s personal lake residence on Lake Hamilton, which serves as a fine example of the homebuilder’s art.

Schrader said he could see the stunning four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath home complete in his mind’s eye the first time he stepped foot on the property.

“I just knew instantly what it could be. I could see the finished product sitting there and what it offered for the view,” he said. “I wanted this home to emphasize the property’s beautiful natural features, such as the natural stone vein that extends out from the property’s point into the lake. The home was cut into this earth to look like it was part of the stone feature. It was very important to Ginger and I that each guest would be able to enjoy the lake view from each room and feel the home was connected to the lake.”

The home, which took 11 months to build, was inspired by a mountain retreat Schrader once saw during a trip to Montana that had a style he described as modern mountain rustic. The vision was brought to life with the help of Hot Springs architect Chris Sheppard, with whom Schrader has worked on both residential and commercial projects, the latter through Bascon General Contractors, Schrader’s Benton-based commercial construction company.

The vision Sheppard helped Schrader bring to life is the very definition of “dream lake retreat” and includes a number of creature comforts, including a game room, an office, a bunk room, indoor and outdoor living spaces, a swimming pool, and more. Inside, the rooms reflect refined yet inviting living spaces, thanks to the talents of Christina Gore, owner of Christina Gore Design Studio, who helped with the interior finishes.

I’m proud of every project that we’ve ever built and every step along the way that we’ve taken to get here.

— Alan Schrader, Schrader Homes

Alan Schrader, founder of Schrader Homes, built his property at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs to complement the natural beauty surrounding it.

Schrader Homes focuses on new construction in Benton, Bryant, Hot Springs, Little Rock and other parts of central Arkansas.

“I approached this project with the mindset of having one shot to get it just the way we wanted it,” Schrader said. “I don’t think there’s anything else that I would change on it, to be honest. There is no such thing as a perfect house, in my opinion, but this one is close to fulfilling our needs exactly.”

Schrader said the best thing about the property is how well it accommodates family gatherings, a primary joy in his life and one that is shared by many of his customers.

“Family is a huge part of our lives, just like it is for many of our clients,” he said. “The difference between a house and home is what happens inside, in my opinion. We never forget that when we’re building something for somebody.”

The Lake Hamilton home may qualify as Schrader’s opus project, but it is hardly the company’s last. Even after years of building in Benton, Bryant, Hot Springs, Little Rock and other locations throughout central Arkansas, Schrader still thoroughly enjoys what he does.

“I have been blessed with wonderful clients along the way, and I am grateful for each one of them,” he said. “I also could not do all that I do without the best team and staff. Those people are the best.”

Longevity has also afforded the company the luxury of working on projects that are interesting or provide unique opportunities, whether for the challenges they present or their backstories. For Schrader, the scope and location of projects past, present and future may vary, but the company’s commitment to quality remains as strong today as it ever was.

“We work hard to help our clients complete the building projects of their dreams,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if we’re building a 10,000-squarefoot house or a 600-square-foot house; what matters is doing something creative with that space and trying to fulfill what it is that the owner wants.

“I don’t want this to be taken as arrogance or boastfulness in any sense, but I’m very proud of every project that we’ve ever built and every step along the way that we’ve taken to get here. Having built a good reputation is the most important thing to me, and when we get a job on a recommendation or get to do something good in the community, that, to me, brings the biggest sense of accomplishment.”

designer

The S unny S ide

Shine Studio grows rapidly thanks to potent partnership

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos provided

In 2020, Shine Interior Design Studio in Lonoke was a 1-year-old firm just starting to gain momentum among residential and commercial clients when COVID-19 turned the planet upside down. The company’s phones stopped ringing, giving founding partners Stacey Breezeel and Natalie Biles serious pause about the future of the company.

Two weeks later, clients came back in droves, and the interior design firm was off and running harder than ever. Today, the partners can list clients in multiple states and

AY About You: Talk about your background and training in design.

Natalie Biles: I live in Lonoke, my husband and I and our three boys. I graduated in 2004 from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville with my degree in interior design, worked in the residential field after getting out of school, where I gained extensive experience in high-end residential interiors, newconstruction renovations, those sorts of projects, before I took time off with kiddos.

Stacey Breezeel: I grew up in Beaumont, Texas. I went to Harding University [in Searcy] and graduated in 2009. I started practicing at an architectural firm and was able to gain my national licensure while I was there. I’ve been in the commercial industry ever since I graduated. I now live in Little Rock with my husband and our daughter.

AY: How did you two find each other and form a partnership?

Breezeel: I was right out of school and started working at an architecture firm where her husband worked. He kept saying, ‘You’ve got to meet my wife. She’s amazing. You guys would hit it off.’ We became friends and just stayed in touch, even through different moves and different life stages, just encouraging each other while figuring out how to be an interior designer and a business professional. We always joked about the idea of collaborating and having a business together but didn’t really have an opportunity until 2019, when things

projects ranging from the acclaimed Grumpy Rabbit restaurant in Lonoke to sleek commercial design and tasteful homes all over Arkansas. The firm, an AY About You Best of 2024 finalist, is also a leader in creating healthy, sustainable living spaces, having recently been awarded for its work in that area.

AY About You caught up with interior design’s dynamic duo to talk about the growth of the firm, the drive to maintain balance and the goal for spreading Southern charm and function worldwide.

just started lining up to where kids were in school and the timing was right.

We also wanted to set something up that supported women. We’d seen a lot of women professionals leave the industry because it was very difficult to be a woman or a mom in the workplace in the design field. We wanted to establish something that was sustainable, something that was encouraging and supportive and a little bit different than what we were seeing in our area.

AY: So much of success in design projects relies on chemistry. Are you two a good match

because of how different you are or how similar you are?

Biles: Both of us have different strengths and different personalities and different areas that we’re very strong in. Stacey’s very detail-oriented and works very well on project management and project coordination and can really shine in that part of a project. I love the big picture and the starting out and the finishing up. That has worked really well for us, and it gives us a balance to pull the other one to maybe zoom out more or zoom in more. That really helps us be able to offer a wide range of things, and I think our staff all together,

Members of Shine Interior Design Studio in Lonoke include Stacey Breezeel, left, Natalie Biles, Heather Kramer and Ashley Fiant.

everybody has very different experiences, and we’re able to bring those different experiences to our clients.

Breezeel: I think with every project, we start with a similar process, and it’s a foundation that we learned through formal education and through work experience. We want to convey to clients, here’s your time to dream, here is your time to set the stage for how you want the space to reflect your personality. We start that conversation, and every single project is based on the individual or the company. We want it to represent them and their goals and their passions.

AY: What sets the firm apart?

Breezeel: We are very efficient with our time. We hit the ground running on every project that we work with. We’re very collaborative as a company and with other consultants that we work with. We feel like there is a good balance of using that precious time at work, but also, the time outside of work is really precious with our families. We’re wanting to strike a balance, and I think we’ve been successful at that. We’ve been in business for five years now, and we’ve brought on staff. It’s been a process, and I feel like we are achieving that goal. Biles: We complement each other very well. Stylistically, I tend to lean a little bit more traditional, a little bit more Southern, but I like to blend it with clean lines. Stacey brings a contemporary look and style to things, but you see common threads through our designs that do not necessarily repeat the exact same style. Our overall passions for friendliness and approachability are exactly the same. People say all the time, and it’s one of the biggest compliments to us, that they’re able to talk to us, we’re approachable, and we make the process less scary and less intimidating.

AY: How wide is your market area?

Breezeel: I would say our main focus area is across the state of Arkansas; however, we’ve built relationships with different professionals in Mississippi, Texas, and we’ve done projects in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Oklahoma. We have the capability to work on projects all across the United States, and we have.

AY: Did the COVID-19 pandemic help prepare you for working with out-of-state clients? In what way?

Biles: In some ways, we were already practicing. We were already setting up Zoom calls. We were working with a digital platform where we share our design boards and messaging with our clients. When COVID hit, it got very quiet for us for about two weeks, and then it went crazy, and we had so many projects, so much work. People were sitting at home, going, ‘I need paint. I want to remodel my entire kitchen.’ They weren’t spending money on va-

cations. They decided to spend money on their homes and businesses, so it really was a huge boost and increased our business, but I think the tools that we already had in place to be remote and flexible really helped us make it through it.

AY: A lot of designers talk about idea books and Pinterest as a good tool for setting a starting point. How do you take those ideas and turn them into something original?

Breezeel: A lot of times, we can see commonality. I think starting with Pinterest and inspiration is absolutely a great way to start with a client. It kind of narrows the focus. We then take the commonalities found in those inspiration photos, whether we keep seeing a certain light fixture that shows up in a photo or a certain tile or a certain style that keeps popping up, and we can pick up on those commonalities and integrate them into a space. A lot of times, your space defines what is actually possible, what you can do. Sometimes your budget defines what you can do. Maybe you can’t take down the wall you want to take down. Maybe an opening needs to be created instead, or maybe you can’t fill this wall with tile because it’s mainly windows. We also push our clients. Even though we start with an inspiration, we like to bring something new that they have not seen before. There’s a

whole world to choose from, and we like to see something new.

AY: What is something that a prospective client can do before engaging a designer to better imagine the form and function of a space?

Biles: It’s always very helpful when someone has taken good notes and just writes down, even if it’s very free-flowing stream-ofconsciousness, what they would like out of the space, what they would like to do, how their family lives, how their business works, what they want to convey. When people have confidence in that, that goes a long way in defining their project.

Some people aren’t ready to do a project yet. Some people need to take stock of what they want to convey, what their end purpose and their end goal is. “I want to entertain 12 people.” “I want to be able to host my family’s Easter dinner.” “I want my business to be able to serve better or have a more fun environment.” Having their goals helps us so much. We want to be able to cheer our clients on to reach those goals.

Shine Interior Design Studio 115 N. Center St., Lonoke 501-777-5373 shineidstudio.com

Shine Studio provided interior design services for the Grumpy Rabbit in Lonoke, and the studio also offers services for a variety of residential projects.

TheWinning TICKET

Oaklawn chefs have eyes on elite prize

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos By LORI SPARKMAN

It is late afternoon, and the kitchens at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Arkansas, are already humming, turning out plate after beautiful plate of cuisine to satisfy every taste. A few steps off the casino floor, the tantalizing aromas are just starting to meld as a cadre of professional, experienced chefs work their magic over the freshest ingredients.

Stephen Greer takes in the culinary choreography playing out in one of the sprawling kitchens and smiles. As Oaklawn’s vice president of hospitality, his first, last and primary concern is ensuring guests have an unforgettable experience when it comes to food. It is a mission shared by every member of the talented team, one assembled specifically to enhance the reputation of Oaklawn as the state’s premiere dining destination.

“I can sum it up to you in one sentence,” Greer said. “What we’ve set out to do here is to build a culinary dream team, and I think we’ve accomplished just that.”

The lofty description is not mere hyperbole. As one of the biggest and longest-tenured tourist draws in the state’s history, Oaklawn has demonstrated a deft touch when it comes to providing the entertainment and amenities its patrons want most. Thus has the storied racetrack grown into one of the most respected thoroughbred venues in the country, if not the continent, augmented by the come-lately casino, the brand-new Forbes Recommended luxury hotel and Arkansas’ only Forbes Four-Star rated spa.

The genius of Oaklawn lies in the recognition that while not every person gambles, not every tourist arrives during racing season and not every patron is from out of town, most everyone everywhere wants to eat and eat well while there. That makes the culinary program the mortar that connects all of Oaklawn’s other attractions, and as such, ownership has poured untold resources into the property’s dining options to ensure consistently high quality, value for the money and unparalleled service from one end of the food spectrum to the other.

“The legacy of the Cella family, the longtime owners of Oaklawn, is vision, the ability to take what has already been built and expand on it for new generations of guests,” said Ken Bredeson, executive chef. “That vision, as it applies today, is simple. We are in the process of becoming

a Forbes Four-Star-rated property, and we’re achieving that. Our hotel is Forbes Recommended, and our spa is now fourstar, as well. From a restaurant perspective, we’re going after four-star designation.

“In order to do that, to become one of the premier destinations in the United States, has required us to elevate every aspect of what we do in order to offer a level of food and beverage that has never been done on this property before, ever.”

As the head of all food and beverage operations throughout the resort, Bredeson is a primary architect of the food renaissance currently underway. On his watch, The Bugler, Oaklawn’s signature fine-dining space, opened to great acclaim, and the statement-making restaurant is at the heart of the lofty ambitions of the culinary team.

“For years and years, if you talked about food at Oaklawn, all it was really known for was the corned beef sandwiches at the racetrack. Don’t get me wrong — they are amazing, with corned beef made right on the property, but that was about it as far as food goes,” Bredeson said. “From that very utilitarian style, we wanted to set a baseline of food and service across the board that’s unprecedented.

From sumptuous entrees to skillfully prepared sides and decadent desserts, Oaklawn’s chefs lay claim to the best in Arkansas.

As described by Stephen Greer, vice president

of hospitality, opposite, Oaklawn’s dream team of chefs includes Craig DeMars, from left, Omar Escobar, Ken Bredeson, Aaron Lyons and Eli Tapia.

“We have a lot of people who travel from Texas, from Memphis. They come from Louisiana, and many of them stay in bigger market cities. We easily compare with a lot of those very high-end restaurants in those larger markets, not only in the service we offer, but in the quality of the food and the elevation and the creativity that we put into it.”

Applied throughout the resort’s food options, this expectation of excellence results in all dishes being elevated, regardless of price point. Guests that opt for a burger or conventioneers who sit down to a luncheon presentation are shown just as much care and consistency as those dining at The Bugler or the historic OAK room & bar.

Most importantly, Bredeson said, the relentless drive for exceptional food demands constant refinement and attention to detail to keep a sharp competitive edge and an expert creative touch.

“One of my mentors in my career was Anthony Bourdain, and while a lot of people say that chefs are artists, he said, ‘We’re not artists; we’re craftsmen. We don’t create masterpieces. We build things,’” Bredeson said. “Building something requires a foundation, and you have to constantly work at it. You don’t build something and just let it go because it’ll fall apart. It’s a constant process of building and rebuilding all the time.”

Helping to carry out this vision is the company’s team of chefs, all of whom bring a slightly different style and approach to the common goal of providing the freshest, most creative and most skillfully prepared dishes possible night in and night out. People like Omar Escobar, chef de cuisine, who brings 34 years of experience to his role preparing the fare at The Bugler, along with his hand-picked kitchen team.

Oaklawn’s culinary offerings include elevated fare to suit any occasion or mood, complemented by outstanding service and wonderful surroundings.

“We take pride in every single dish that goes out, whether it’s a salad or a dessert. We believe in presentation. We believe that you eat with your eyes,” he said. “We especially believe in the quality of the food. I want to make sure that every guest that comes to The Bugler comes in here hungry and they leave full.

“To me, it’s about pleasing the guests that come in here. Sometimes they don’t have a good night gambling, but they can come in here and have a great meal. We put our heart into it, and that’s what matters to me. When I come in here and check on them — ‘How was your dinner tonight?’ — and the guest tells me they loved it and they had a great time, that’s what counts for me.”

Escobar said the restaurant’s acclaimed sea bass and lamb chops are among the biggest sellers, along with USDA Prime Iowa steaks, custom-butchered to Oaklawn’s exact specifications and wet aged for at least 21 days to impart exceptional tenderness and flavor.

“That’s my personal favorite on the menu,” Escobar said. “I’m a steak guy.”

Maintaining the high standards for consistency of food and service is another element of the Oaklawn experience that is of primary importance, said Eli Tapia, multi-outlet chef, whose versatility in the kitchen allows him to work across the resort’s many food clients. Tapia said the teamwork-over-ego mentality of the chef corps is one big plus at Oaklawn as compared to other kitchens.

“It’s great because we get along really well. We all put in new recipes, make everything from scratch. Everyone helps everyone,” he said. “I myself go to different rooms whenever they need help. We have a great team here across the board.”

Tapia, who graduated from culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu

in 2007, has a history of opening restaurants locally in his career, as well as serving as a restaurant consultant for clients in California, Texas and Chicago. He joined the Oaklawn team in 2022.

“I love every hour that I spend here,” he said. “Chef Bredeson, his mind is trained to elevate the culinary prospect here. It’s making Hot Springs a destination. That’s what we’re trying to accomplish.”

Craig DeMars, chef de cuisine, who oversees the event center, is another industry longtimer who carries the focus on food quality and elevated service into meetings and conventions, an area often overlooked in favor of rubber-chicken dinners. He also credits the collective skill and creativity of the chef’s corps for keeping menus exciting and corporate clients and groups coming back.

“The difference here is everybody works together as a team,” he said. “Sometimes it’s hard to find restaurants or a corporation where everybody’s on the same page or everybody’s working together as a team, getting the job done, whether that’s in fine dining, casual dining, bar food or an event center that hosts functions.”

A native of Ohio, DeMars brings four decades of foodservice experience to the table, during which time he has worked in everything from submarine sandwiches to barbecue and conference fare. Given that, he said the variety of Oaklawn’s food operations makes him feel right at home.

“We’ve got such versatility of our different restaurants, between OAK room and the Bugler, for fine dining. We have sports bars via the Mainline, and then we have the events side of things,” he said. “We’ve pretty much got a little bit of everything when you come to Oaklawn, and it’s all given the same attention to detail and level of quality.”

We take pride in every single dish that goes out, whether it’s a salad or a dessert. We believe in presentation. We believe that you eat with your eyes. We especially believe in the quality of the food.

— Omar Escobar, chef de cuisine

Rounding out the team is Chef Aaron Lyons, who hails from Fordyce and who, for the past two years, has served as sous chef for the OAK room. As a chef with 19 total years experience, he has seen the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to work teams, and he said the camaraderie at Oaklawn is second to none.

“I would say at your standard restaurant, it’s very much every man for himself, whereas here, it’s a group effort,” he said. “There’s a lot of talent in this building that you usually don’t find, and everybody’s got each other’s backs. When you’re having a rough night, another chef will come in and help bust it out, whereas at other places, you’re on your own.

“That’s the main thing. You’ve got to show support. If you want people to support you, you have to support them back. For me, I run a really tight crew with a lot of camaraderie because at the end of the day, I know I can count on those people, and they can count on me, and we’ll see it through together.”

Like his coworkers, Lyons said the most energizing thing about working in the Oaklawn kitchens is the esprit de corps shared among teams and individual chefs.

“As we’re trying to grow our culinary prowess in the state, there’s a lot of eyes and pressure on what we’re doing. I definitely feel that pressure sometimes as we’re trying to build a system and reach Forbes designation, which no one’s ever done in Arkansas before,” he said. “At the same time, I embrace the chaos that comes with it. There’s just something magical about working together in the moment to make a beautiful plate and then sending it out and seeing someone smile while they eat it.”

You’ve got to show support. If you want people to support you, you have to support them back. For me, I run a really tight crew with a lot of camaraderie because at the end of the day, I know I can count on those people, and they can count on me, and we’ll see it through together.

— Chef Aaron Lyons

From appetizer to dessert, the Oaklawn dining experience is unlike any in Arkansas.

THE NATURAL PLACE TO FISH

Arkansas is home to over 300 public fishing areas, many of them stocked by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Whether you’re a beginner looking to get your feet wet or an expert in search of your next challenge, our state offers fishing opportunities for anglers of all ages and skill levels.

Now that spring has sprung, it’s the perfect time to take advantage of Arkansas’s time-honored, family-friendly tradition! Be sure to get your fishing license if you’re 16 or older.

Fiesta!

By AMY GRAMLICH // Photos by AMY GRAMLICH

With Cinco de Mayo here, it is time to consider easy appetizer ideas for parties and other casual entertaining. These taco wontons, made with taco meat and wonton wrappers, are the ideal party appetizer for Cinco de Mayo or any fiesta.

WONDERFUL WONTON WRAPPERS

Wontons come to us from the world of Asian cuisine. However, over the last decade or two, dough-based wonton wrappers have been found in a variety of popular party appetizer recipes. Wonton wrappers are typically made of flour, milk and egg and are found in the refrigerated sections of supermarkets.

The square shapes of thin dough are just the right size for wrapping or folding in fillings, which are then fried or oven-baked for a satisfying nosh of individual-sized party food.

Wontons are also incredibly versatile, offering multiple fillings and topping ideas that are easy to change based on preference. Working with the wonton wrappers is as easy as removing them from the package and placing them inside the wells of a greased muffin pan.

For this appetizer, consider making a halfand-half style with each half offering different toppings, or guests might prefer to add their own toppings from a small toppings bar.

DO NOT SKIP THE SPICE

This recipe calls for taco seasoning blend, which is simple to make and does not take much longer to put together than opening a seasoning packet. That is especially true if one chooses to make a large batch of seasoning in advance to store in the pantry. However, store-bought taco seasoning works fine for this recipe, as well.

Cooks may opt to make a larger batch of the taco seasoning, which is versatile for adding to many dishes. This blend maintains a ratio of chili power to the other spices, but feel free to experiment until the desired flavor profile and heat is achieved. Store the mixture in a recycled jar with a tight-fitting lid in the pantry.

INGREDIENTS

24 wonton wrappers

1 pound ground beef

8 ounces tomato sauce

1 cup refried beans

2 cups shredded cheese

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

Suggested toppings

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, chopped

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

1/2 cup lettuce, shredded 1/2 cup black olives

Optional

1/4 cup salsa and/or pico de gallo for dipping

DIRECTIONS

In a small mixing bowl, combine chili powder, crushed red pepper flakes, ground cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt and black pepper.

In a large skillet, brown ground beef and drain thoroughly. Return drained meat to the stove, and add the seasoning.

Add tomato sauce and simmer for 3 to 4 additional minutes until meat seems evenly seasoned and moistened with the warmed tomato sauce. Do not overcook, which may cause the meat to become dried out.

In this recipe, a criss-cross layering method helps to provide a shell that overlaps and rises all the way around the taco wontons. Grease the wells of a standard muffin pan and place a wonton wrapper inside each muffin cup.

Add 1 tablespoon of refried beans on top of each wrapper, and then place a second wonton wrapper over the beans in a criss-cross fashion.

Top the second wrapper with 1 tablespoon of drained taco meat, and sprinkle the meat with shredded cheese. Repeat for all 12 wonton appetizers.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes at 350° F. Remove from the oven, and place wonton cups on a serving tray, allowing them to cool slightly.

Add toppings — a scattering of lettuce, tomato, onion, cilantro, shredded cheese and/ or olives — as desired. Optionally, set out a bowl of salsa or pico de gallo for dipping, and enjoy.

Hidden Gem on the WESTERN FLANK

With attention shifted elsewhere, Fort Smith goes about its impressive business

By MARK CARTER // Photos provided

Hidden gems in Arkansas are not exclusive to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro. The ones found in the dirt there are real, but there is another diamond of a more symbolic nature guarding the state’s western flank.

Fort Smith is Arkansas’ unique capital of the River Valley and a once-true gateway to the West from which U.S. marshals embarked into Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, to hunt down outlaws as pioneers launched westward pilgrimages in search of new lives.

For essentially the entirety of the 20th century, Fort Smith was firmly established as Arkansas’ second city — not just in population, but also in cultural and political influence. Fort Smith had the state’s western back, and the city’s influence extended far, to residents of the Ouachita Mountain wilderness to the south, the River Valley as far as Russellville, eastern Oklahoma’s expansive Sequoyah and LeFlore counties, and even into the Boston Mountains in the north. For perhaps more than a century, folks in those spots were oriented to Fort Smith as the regional hub.

Times change, of course, and as the 20th century began to fade and U.S. 71 between Alma and Fayetteville became an interstate, prominence began to shift decidedly north. Interstate 540, as it was originally designated, ferried people, products and, ultimately, influence across the hill-like floodwaters overwhelming a bank of the Arkansas River.

Some might even argue that the string of burgeoning municipalities stretching across Washington and Benton counties now challenges greater Little Rock as the state’s primary metro in influence if not yet in population.

Like the hardy souls who populated it from the 1840s, however, Fort Smith carries on, sure-footed and steadfast. The city now boasts more than 90,000 residents that anchor its own metro of more than 280,000. It may no longer be the state’s second-largest city in terms of population — that distinction now belongs to Fayetteville — but it has never seen a census population decline and has maintained steady growth over the decades. Northwest Arkansas is the state’s rock star now, but city leaders have discovered there are benefits to operating somewhat under the radar. As NWA hogs the news cycles, perhaps rightfully so, Fort Smith has transformed into what Fayetteville used to be: Arkansas’ true hidden gem.

The U.S. Marshals Museum on the riverfront is expected to become a big tourism driver to the city.

“One thousand percent, this is true,” said Ashleigh Bachert, executive director of the Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau. “There has been such a focus on NWA and what they are doing — for good reasons — that Fort Smith has been left out of conversations. That hasn’t stopped the community from continuing to develop and grow.”

A former athlete, Bachert likened Fort Smith to the basketball player who consistently records double doubles but surrenders the spotlight to the player who hits the game winner at the buzzer. Caitlin Clark may hit improbable game-winners, but a team goes nowhere without a Jaylin Williams, the Fort Smith native, former Razorback star and current member of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder — a player who is lowkey, dependable and, above all, indispensable.

“Right now, NWA is hot in its development and big wins, but Fort Smith continues to be consistent and does its thing quietly,” she said. “I personally love that about our community.”

Indeed, Fort Smith never left the game; it just took on a different role. Central Arkansas has its Amazon distribution centers and northwest its Fortune 500 companies, but Fort Smith continues to pull down those all-important economic defensive rebounds. They include the prominent Chaffee Crossing, a retail, business and residential development on land once a part of Fort Chaffee, currently an active Arkansas Army National Guard installation and former home of the U.S. Army’s 5th Armored Division. For four days in 1958, Fort Chaffee was the home of a young and recently drafted Elvis Presley. It was also where the

emerging king of rock ‘n’ roll received his first military haircut, images of which were transmitted across the globe.

Fort Smith’s other notable spots include the impressive new U.S. Marshals Museum, which honors the U.S. marshals of the mid- to late19th century who were based in Fort Smith and worked to maintain law and order in what was then considered the Wild West. Many Americans are familiar with a pair of them, one fictional, the other very real. Rooster Cogburn, of course, was a primary character — the gruff old marshal with a heart of gold — in Arkansas native Charles Portis’ acclaimed novel, True Grit, set in Fort Smith.

The other, Bass Reeves, was a deputy marshal in Fort Smith who stood out for a couple of reasons. He was very good and efficient at his job, and his life and career are noteworthy because Reeves, born into slavery in Crawford County, was the first Black U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. A limited television series based on his life and set in Fort Smith, Lawmen: Bass Reeves, premiered on the Paramount+ streaming platform in November 2023.

The Marshals Museum anchors a Fort Smith riverfront that is coming to life.

“It’s really starting to blossom,” Fort Smith Mayor George McGill said.

established there in 2017 and includes the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine. Another economic driver in Chaffee Crossing is multibillion-dollar integrated logistics provider ArcBest, which was founded in Fort Smith in 1966 as Arkansas Best Corporation.

The city is home to another multibillion-dollar company, ABB Motors and Mechanical, which was founded in 1920 as Baldor Electric in St. Louis. Its headquarters were moved to Fort Smith in 1967, and the company was acquired by ABB in 2018.

Another important piece of the city’s economic pie is on campus at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Center for Economic Development. The center is designated an official University Center program by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, which means the center works with EDA partners to develop, implement and support regional strategies for job creation and business expansion.

“Over the past five years, I think people in Fort Smith and elsewhere have started to recognize that we do live in a great place.”

In addition to the Marshals Museum, he noted the new Community School of the Arts on the river downtown, a new RV resort, an outdoor concert venue, and, of course, the thoroughly underappreciated Fort Smith National Historic Site, home to Judge Isaac Parker’s legendary courtroom and gallows.

—George McGill, Fort Smith mayor

“There’s now 1 1/2 miles of fun and recreation down along the riverfront,” McGill said.

The National Historic Site is just upriver from the Marshals Museum. It represents a notable tourist draw because of Parker, who served as the federal judge for the United States District Court in the Western District of Arkansas and had jurisdiction over Indian Territory from 1875 to 1896.

Things are buzzing along the river in Fort Smith but also at Chaffee Crossing. The state’s second medical school and first of the osteopathic variety, the private Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, was

The CED at UAFS is one of two such recognized EDA university centers in the state and one of only 73 nationwide.

The CED houses the regional Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, the Jim Walcott Family Enterprise Center, and the Center for Business and Professional Development. The CEC offers non-credit workforce development courses and professional development courses, as well as strategic planning and business development opportunities.

“Last year, our ASBTDC alone had an economic impact of almost $7 million through new business startups,” said UAFS chancellor Terisa Riley. “Beyond our CED, the university is at the table for every visiting business owner who is considering building new or expanding businesses in the River Valley to ensure that we have the types of educational programs and workforce development options that will provide an educated and trained workforce.”

Last year, Fort Smith did much more than grab the economic equivalent of a crucial rebound. It pulled off the municipal version of signing hall-of-famer John Calipari as head coach. The city was selected as the site for a U.S. Air Force’s Foreign Military Sales program pilot training center. The center will serve as home to thousands of pilots from other countries training on F-16 and F-35 fighter jets.

Left: The Fort Smith Trolley Museum operates a streetcar line. Right: Downtown Fort Smith is known for its large and colorful murals, including this one celebrating the city’s Native American heritage.

Top: Homegrown ArcBest chose Chaffee Crossing to build its new headquarters. Bottom: The Fort Smith National Historic Site includes the courthouse where the famous —or infamous — “Hanging Judge,” Isaac Parker, presided.

The training center is being built adjacent to Fort Smith Regional Airport at Fort Smith’s Ebbing Air National Guard Base, which will essentially function as an active air force base. Ebbing will become the new home of the 425th Fighter Squadron, the F-16 Fighting Falcon training unit for the Republic of Singapore. The unit is currently based at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.

Initially, the mission will bring roughly 850 foreign military members and their families to Fort Smith — about 230 USAF personnel, 300 military personnel from Singapore and 300 dependent family members. Pilot trainees will be deployed to Fort Smith for roughly 18 months to two years. The new training center will be home to 24 F-35s and 12 F-16s.

Pilots from other countries that purchase U.S. jets — such as Germany and Finland — will come to Fort Smith to train, as well. USAF and state officials have estimated the economic impact of the center at $750 million to $1 billion annually, but McGill said he believes it “could very easily soar to $1.5 billion.”

He said the selection of Fort Smith for the training center represents one of the biggest economic development investments in Fort Smith and perhaps even the state.

“As the mission [of the training center] has expanded, we’ve spoken with a few other countries interested in training their pilots,” he said. “This is going to be big for the entire state.”

Founded as a frontier military

outpost in 1817, Fort Smith maintained a western vibe over its two-plus centuries. As such, it has always been home to a diverse community, and McGill said the influx of pilots and their families from other countries will add to the city’s colorful tapestry.

“It will be a beautiful fabric of cultures,” he said. “We’ve gained statewide, national and international attention, and the countries [that are sending pilots to the training center] have found out about the place where their pilots and families are going to be. There has been a lot of positive activity here, which sets us up for a great future.”

Fort Smith delivers on infrastructure, as well. Work has begun on the Interstate 49 corridor through town, specifically the bridge over the Arkansas River that will connect Alma to Barling on Fort Smith’s southern edge. The section between Alma and Texarkana represents the final piece of the I-49 corridor in Arkansas to be completed, although an interstate-quality I-49 bypass is set to open in south Fort Smith.

McGill said the federal approval for funding of a slack water harbor in Fort Smith will have a major impact on the cost of transporting goods such as grain down the Arkansas River to the Mississippi River. The infrastructure work will “play a major role in attracting people to come to Fort Smith,” he said.

What those people, whether they be new residents or visitors, will notice about Fort Smith is a laid-back vibe coupled with a blue-collar work ethic. Tim Allen, president and CEO of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, said the city has always projected an entrepreneurial feel with an eclectic mix — where “modern meets turn of the century.”

“Look back on our history, and you can find example after example of individuals pulling up their bootstraps and creating something from nothing,” he said. “Legacy companies that have stood the test of time, upstart businesses proving that it makes no difference where you are located to be successful and a welcoming environment that makes any potential company looking in from the outside interested in why they should be here.”

Riley, who landed at UAFS in 2019 after serving as senior vice president for student affairs and university administration at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, said residents’ friendliness and community involvement stuck out to her when she first arrived.

“The community has maintained a small-town culture where people look out for one another while developing the amenities of a city, which means that there are always fun, educational and entertaining things to do,” she said. “Having worked in a variety of cities and states, I was very particular about where I was willing to relocate in the world. I was specifically looking for a safe community where people were kind and welcoming. I found that immediately in Fort Smith. My neighbors have become best friends, and everywhere I go in town, I can find friendly, unassuming people who are proud of the university.”

Riley said the university’s relationship with the city is a symbiotic one.

“We understand the power of education to pave the way for social mobility of our citizens, and the community invests in the university to ensure that our programs meet the needs of regional employers,” she said. “We are all ‘rowing the boat in the same direction,’ which is not

Mayor George McGill Terisa Riley

Ashleigh Bachert Tim Allen

always the case in large, complex communities.”

McGill is eager to tout his hometown, and why not? He seems to embody the city itself, a blend of lawman Reeves and actor Morgan Freeman. Everything about the mayor screams Fort Smith.

McGill is the city’s first Black mayor and formerly served the area in the Arkansas House of Representatives, where he held multiple leadership positions, including service as deputy speaker pro-tempore. In a patriotic city that prides itself as the hometown of Col. William O. Darby, founder of the United States Army Rangers, it does not hurt that McGill is a U.S. Army veteran who served with honor in Vietnam.

He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in education and Master of Business Administration degrees from the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Back home in Fort Smith, he was a small-business owner and worked as a sportswriter at the Southwest Times Record newspaper under legendary publisher Jack Moseley.

He said he got to witness “leadership at its best” from Fort Smith residents during the aftermath of the 2019 Arkansas River floods that devastated parts of the city and “put everything on hold.”

When asked about Fort Smith natives such as Williams and fellow Northside High School alumnus Isaiah Joe, who in recent years parlayed successful college basketball runs with the Razorbacks into NBA careers, McGill practically bursts with pride.

“Not only are they successful at the pro level; they are genuinely good kids,” he said. “I love them because they have not forgotten Fort Smith.”

Indeed, each has been active in supporting local philanthropic causes and is not shy about coming back home since landing in Oklahoma City with the Thunder.

All that to say, when McGill speaks with excitement about the city’s future, he is not dispensing typical “mayor talk.” He is thinking about all those good kids that Fort Smith produces, about the supportive neighbors, the thriving businesses, and the engaging modern and old-school mix that envelops the city.

McGill is thinking about the graduates of UAFS and ACHE and presenting the city as a place where they might want to settle and practice. He is thinking about the airmen who will serve at the foreign pilot training center.

“At some point when they retire, I hope they consider this place,” he said. “Arkansas has great retirement benefits. Arkansas is a great state, a great place for anyone who enjoys an outdoor life, and we’re close to it all in Fort Smith.”

McGill and other city leaders see Fort Smith emerging from the shadow of NWA and recognizing that the city never has to play second fiddle — or third or fourth, for that matter — to anyone.

“That is the goal,” McGill said. “We want to present our city as the special place to live it is. Over the past five years, I think people in Fort Smith and elsewhere have started to recognize that we do live in a great place.”

Welcome Home

New senior care community to open soon

At 73, Michael Morton could be forgiven for sitting back and enjoying the fruits of a long career in the nursing home business, but the entrepreneur in him would not abide a rocking chair. Instead, the president of Fort Smith-based Central Arkansas Nursing Centers will soon christen a new 130-bed senior community in nearby Barling.

“On [U.S.] 71 south, I’m building a 130-bed skilled-care facility that’s a 90,000-square-foot building that will have all private rooms,” he said. “I’m building some independent living, one- and two-bed independent living deals. Then I’m building some three-bed units that will house an independent caretaker for those three. That’ll be people that still have independent living that can be out of a nursing home but they need some help with certain things. We’re building an extra bedroom in those for a caretaker to live with them.”

Brooken Hill Health and Rehab is slated to open this summer and will employ about 150 when fully staffed. Like Morton’s existing previous skilled-care facility in Barling, the 120-bed Ashton Place, Brooken Hill will offer a range of services to meet residents’ needs.

“Our bread and butter is made with skilled-care patients that have had knee and hip and all kinds of joint replacements and stuff like that,” he said. “A lot of times, people want to stay close to their doctors while they’re going through that process, so we’re able to supply them with that.”

From the time he broke into the nursing home industry as a young college grad and accountant in the 1970s, Morton knew he had found his calling. Within six years, he had purchased his first nursing home in Booneville, a property that laid the cornerstone for a corporate empire that spans generations.

As long as his career in the industry has been, Morton knows more about successful nursing homes than a lot of people, and it allows him to balance new trends against the tried and true. It is a vantage point that only comes with time on the job.

“I don’t have but one assisted living facility. I’m not really wild about the assisted living model, if you want to know the truth,” he said. “There’s so few employees in assisted living that they put them in a building, and they go to their room, and they’re just there, and they don’t see many people. Even in a nursing home, you see nurses and stuff all the time. People get pretty social. Independent living residents can go out, get in their car and go see their kids, or their kids see them. They’re still independent, but they’re scaling down. We think that socialization is very important.”

Morton’s successful formula also includes staying humble and keeping an open ear for feedback, be it from his staff or residents, including his father, who lives at one of his developments.

“My dad’s still in a nursing home in Fort Smith, in a third one I have called Chapel Ridge. He’s 98. He just had a pacemaker put in,” Morton said. “The nursing home business has gotten a lot more sophisticated with so many rules and regulations, but my parents grew up Depression-era people, and if you deal with many of those people, they judge you very simply. Those people want good food, they want good care, and they want everything kept clean — simple.”

FORK

SMITH

Exceptional eateries can be found

across the land

By SARAH DECLERK and DWAIN HEBDA

Photos provided

While there are more chain restaurants than there used to be in Fort Smith, the city’s tradition of local restaurants is still going strong. From the picturesque downtown to the up-and-coming Chaffee Crossing area and all parts in between, diners can find unique culinary experiences to please any palate, and the stories behind the restaurants are just as flavorful as the cuisine.

TALIANO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Perhaps no place is better equipped to tell the story of the Fort Smith food scene than Taliano’s Italian Restaurant downtown, which bills itself as the city’s oldest family-owned restaurant. It was founded in 1970 by Tom Caldarera and Jim Cadelli.

Second-generation owner Joe Caldarera said the two entered the restaurant business after the insurance company where they were working was bought out by a company in Little Rock. Rather than move away, the pair decided to stay in Fort Smith and start a restaurant.

“[Dad] got with my grandmother, and Jim’s mother was actually from Italy, and so between my dad and Jim and our grandmothers, they formulated all of the recipes they wanted to serve and the food and the menu,” he said.

The youngest of seven children, Joe Caldarera grew up in the restaurant business and has had a role in Taliano’s his entire life.

“A lot of people have chores growing up,” he said. “Our chore was to be employed at the restaurant.”

The establishment is housed in the 1887 James Sparks House, a Victorian structure that Tom Caldarera owned as an investment property. Although he and Cadelli upgraded the plumbing and electric systems, glassed in the front porch, and added an additional sun porch, Joe Caldarera said the structure retains much of its historic character, including original woodwork, marble fireplaces and light fixtures.

Because the restaurant is in a renovated house, it offers five cozy dining rooms, rather than one large one.

“I have customers who have been eating here for decades,” Caldarera said. “They’ve got their favorite table or their favorite room that they like to sit in, and we’ve learned which customers like what spaces. It’s unique, for sure.”

The upstairs party room, which seats 40 to 50 people, is equally a part of guests’ memories.

“I don’t know why, but we were kind of known as the rehearsal dinner place,” Caldarera said. “We have so many people that have gotten married over the years that, even to this day, they say, ‘Yeah, we had our rehearsal dinner there.’ In fact, it’s so funny — now their children are getting married, and they’re starting to have their rehearsal dinners [here].”

Caldarera said Taliano’s offers its own style of Italian fare served much the same way it has been for more than 50 years.

“The whole key to success, in my eye, is consistency,” he said. “We’ve had generations of Fort Smith and River Valley people eating at our restaurant, and what we try to do is make our recipes the same way they were made in 1970. That’s the key to us.”

House-made sauces enliven the dishes, which include Italian favorites such as lasagna, homemade meatballs, spaghetti and fettuccine alfredo. Caldarera recommended the combination meals or the Italian platter, which allows guests to sample the unique chicken-filled ravioli, spaghetti with a meatball, chicken cacciatore and cannelloni, which is made by hand.

“We boil the beef and pork. We grind it by hand and roll it,” he said. “It’s definitely a labor of love with a lot of our menu items.”

The dessert menu offers Italian staples such as tiramisu, ricotta cheesecake, cannoli and tortoni, a frozen treat made with whipped egg whites and whipped cream. The restaurant also offers a full

beverage selection, including a rotating wine list.

Taliano’s offers off-site catering for all manner of events, which Caldarera said has taken on additional importance as a revenue generator as Fort Smith restaurant offerings have increased.

“Fort Smith’s a little unique in that 30 years ago, we didn’t really have that many chain restaurants in town,” he said. “I remember in the ‘90s, we had an Applebee’s that popped up on Rogers Avenue, and it was one of our first chain restaurants, and since then, our population has grown, and our food scene has grown, as well.”

Located two blocks from Garrison Avenue, the main downtown thoroughfare, Taliano’s witnessed the heyday, decline and revival of downtown Fort Smith, a pattern familiar to downtown areas across the country.

During the city’s early days, downtown was the epicenter of activity in Fort Smith, Caldarera said, but from the 1970s to the 1990s, more and more buildings became vacant as commerce moved to different parts of the city.

“In the last decade or so, 10, 15 years, Fort Smith’s downtown has evolved and kind of had a revival,” Caldarera said. “There’s lots of activity in downtown Fort Smith, and we’re proud to say that we’ve kind of been there since the beginning, and we’ve always taken pride in being a downtown restaurant.”

201 N. 14th St., Fort Smith 479-785-2292 | talianos.net

Tuesday to Saturday: Doors open at 5 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday

The oldest family-owned restaurant in Fort Smith, Taliano’s Italian Restaurant is situated in a renovated Victorian home and serves Italian favorites.

Taliano’s Italian Restaurant

CALICO COUNTY

When it comes to a country-famous breakfast or a hearty meal of America favorites, it is hard to beat Calico County, which, having opened in 1984, is another wellestablished restaurant in Fort Smith. Antique metal signs hanging from the walls speak to the back-road charm reflected in both the menu and the decor.

“Usually on a monthly basis, I get somebody trying to buy the signs off the wall,” said Lance LaRoche, co-owner, who said his parents, co-owners Jerald and Carole LaRoche, collected the signs while traveling.

After leaving the Navy, Jerald joined his brother, Bob, in the beauty supply business just before Bob sold his shop. The brothers then decided to join the restaurant industry and, after being stood up by a franchisor in Dallas, received training and recipes from a different restaurant there. The brothers opened their first restaurant in Amarillo, Texas, where Bob lived, and the second in Fort Smith, Jerald’s home. The Amarillo restaurant is now closed.

Lance helped his father and uncle open the first restaurant after graduating from high school and waited tables, washed dishes and cooked before working his way up to management and eventually buying a share in the company. Over the years, his family also brought on Scott Blair and Ryan Kirk as partners.

The menu has grown over the years, Lance said, but has always included the restaurant’s trademark cinnamon rolls.

“They started out with kind of a limited menu. It was about half the menu we have now,” Lance said. “Obviously, the cinnamon roll that we serve before our meal was kind of the hook, so we served that. That was a big winner with the customers.”

Calico County makes the cinnamon rolls from scratch every day and serves them before meals the way other establishments serve breadsticks or chips and dip. According to Calico County’s website, it has served nearly 10 million cinnamon rolls.

Of course, the sweet, sticky treats are not the only reason to visit. Chicken-fried steak is popular, and the catfish is marinated 24 hours before being grilled, blackened or fried. Another popular dish, added to the menu by Lance’s aunt in Amarillo, is Yphon’s smothered steak, an inside round that is sliced by hand

Homemade cinnamon rolls are the start of a delightful meal of country favorites at Calico County in Fort Smith.

before being pan-fried and cooked in mushroom gravy for two hours.

“The food that we serve is just home cooking,” Lance said. “It’s the same stuff in the South that our mothers and grandmothers and great-grandmothers have cooked for years, and a lot of customers come in, and there’s certain stuff on the menu that, ‘Oh, I haven’t had this since my great-grandmother made it, you know, 20 years ago,’ which I hear a lot about, like, our chocolate gravy that we serve in the morning with our biscuits and gravy.”

Other down-home favorites include sweet potato casserole, baked squash and green beans.

“We still cook everything with a lot of spices,” he said. “We use a lot of bacon lard, you know, with pinto beans, black-eyed peas, green beans. We just cook it the way that Mom and Grandma used to cook it, so we’ve been very successful doing that.”

Although it does not have the plethora of national chain restaurants that diners find in major metropolitan cities, Fort Smith is home to an assortment of long-standing local restaurants, he said, adding that a great staff and consistent service are keys that can help Calico County remain a local staple for years to come.

“The last two or three years, all the restaurants have had to take their pricing up quite a bit to keep up with food costs and labor costs,” he said, “and because of that, we’ve just told our staff and our managers, ‘Hey, we’ve got to work harder now than we did before because everybody is looking for values, and with the prices the restaurants are charging these days, their values is going to come in your service and your food, obviously, so it’s got to be consistent.”

Calico County

2401 S. 56th St., Fort Smith

479-452-3299 | calicocounty.net

Monday to Saturday: 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

STONEHOUSE

Opened in 2015, StoneHouse serves steaks and more in the historic 1937 Maness Schoolhouse, the only building in the area not moved or destroyed to build Camp Chaffee, and its patio was built by German prisoners of war in 1943.

Rachel Cannon, executive chef and director of operations, joined the restaurant in 2023, returning to her hometown after spending 20 years working for restaurant groups, appearing on TV cooking shows and studying under James Beard-awarded chef Lorenzo Polegri in Italy.

“I really strive to take what we had and really make you feel like you were really in a larger, metropolitan city,” she said, “like you were dining out, almost like it was an experience, kind of like a little bit of a destination, so taking that rustic vibe and then doing high-end craft cocktails and more of that fine-dining, steak-and-chophouse vibe.”

She said she took the restaurant’s steakhouse concept and ran with it, serving up approachable new American meals with some Italian offerings and a few French and Japanese twists. Handmade pasta is always on the menu, and lamb chops with chimichurri are a personal favorite.

For starters, she recommended the firecracker cauliflower, an Asian take on fried buffalo cauliflower with a light tempura batter. Highlights from this year’s spring/summer menu include salmon crudo, short-rib tortellini, and bones and toast, a dish that consists of bone marrow with smoked-shallot jam and chimichurri.

One unique offering for diners is the Iberico pork chop, which comes from Spanish pigs that primarily eat acorns and produce meat that has a velvety, nutty flavor.

“It took me a year and a half to be able to source Iberico pork to Fort Smith, Arkansas, so it was a pretty big deal,” she said. “I’m the only person in this area that utilizes that pork.”

When it comes to dessert, creme brulee flights are a specialty, and diners can sample bourbon, pistachio and espresso creme varieties. Other sweet treats on the spring/summer menu include a towering chocolate cake, a key lime pie and an orange citric olive oil cake, Cannon said.

Known as a whiskey den and beer garden, StoneHouse primarily serves up an assortment of draft beers from local breweries and bourbon-based craft cocktails that include a smoked old fashioned. Cannon said the restaurant plans to offer more gin and vodka cocktails for the spring and summer.

The restaurant’s romantic atmosphere is hard to overlook, and couples can enjoy a special three-course date-night menu on Wednesdays, Cannon said. The three-level patio lends itself to live music, and she added that diners can catch performers from a variety of genres on Thursdays and Saturdays. The restaurant also hosts wine dinners.

“That’s kind of my fun playtime where I get to really kind of go wild on some different ingredients,” she said.

The Chaffee Crossing area has grown enormously, she said, and new restaurants and housing, along with Fort Smith Brewing Co., have moved into the area since StoneHouse opened.

“StoneHouse really took a big risk in 2015 with opening out here,” she said. “It was definitely a trek to get out here. There wasn’t really much out here. The whole Chaffee area has always been known for the military base area, so there wasn’t a lot out here, and slowly over the past five years, things have really started to develop.”

Her homecoming has been a welcoming experience, she said, adding that although she has had to go without some of the ingredients she was used to using when she worked in bigger cities, she said the challenge has led her to take a backto-basics approach to her work. She said StoneHouse encourages diners to try new culinary offerings and that she hopes new restaurants in Fort Smith will continue to bring the latest in culinary trends to the area.

“I would like to see a wider variety of cuisines and more restaurants opening that are bringing in some higher-level chefs that are willing to push the community to try more things and expand their culinary palate,” she said.

StoneHouse

8801 Wells Lake Road, Fort Smith 479-668-2828 | stonehousecc.com

Lunch hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday

Dinner hours: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday

An elevated new American menu with some Italian, French and Japanese influences awaits diners who visit StoneHouse in Fort Smith.

PAPA’S PUB & PIZZARIA

NEUMEIER’S RIB ROOM & BEER GARDEN NEUMEIER’S WHIPPOORWILL RESTAURANT

It is hard enough to keep one restaurant running over multiple years, let alone three, yet that is precisely the legacy the Neumeier family enjoys in Fort Smith as the city’s premier restauranteur family.

“We have been honored to have served Fort Smith for as long as we have,” said Joseph Neumeier, proprietor. “Among our three restaurants, we offer a little something for everybody, all served with a smile in a great atmosphere.”

The three restaurants offer their own unique fare, but the modus operandi remains the same: great food at fair prices served in a relaxed environment to suit most any taste. From the landmark Papa’s Pub & Pizzaria to the equally famous Neumeier’s Rib Room & Beer Garden to relative newcomer Neumeier’s Whippoorwill Restaurant, the formula has been proven again and again.

The flagship Papa’s Pub & Pizzaria has specialized in, as the restaurant’s motto reads, “the best darn pizza in Fort Smith … perhaps the world,” for decades. Each pie is handmade, served bubbling from the oven and includes the recommended Goob’s Special, which turns the pepperoni pizza up to 11 with extra meat and a sprinkle of Neumeier’s Rib Room dry rub. The Trash Can, a concoction that provides the ultimate in toppings and taste, is also a favorite of regulars.

Speaking of Rib Room, the downtown joint offers the best in smoked meats and delicious made-from-scratch sides. The ribs are award winning, and the pulled pork shoulder, chicken, brisket and pork loin are also not to be missed. Accompany that platter or sandwich with delicious sides headlined by barbecue

Papa’s Pub & Pizzaria and Neumeier’s Rib Room provide variety to the dining scene in downtown Fort Smith.

beans, creamy coleslaw and cheesy hash browns.

The “neucomer” to the family of eateries — Neumeier’s Whippoorwill Restaurant — offers a menu loaded with Southern favorites, many of which came straight out of family recipe collections. Among the comfort food entrees are Mimi’s meat loaf, chicken fried steak and Garrison Swiss chicken. There is also a selection of great burgers and sandwiches accompanied by fresh cut french fries. Every homestyle item on the menu makes for a hearty meal that will remind one of Nana’s house on Sunday.

One note — customers must be 21 to dine in at Papa’s Pub & Pizzaria, but families can order off the pizza menu at either Neumeier’s Whippoorwill or the Rib Room. That is just one more advantage of keeping things all in the family.

Papa’s Pub & Pizzaria

508 Garrison Ave., Fort Smith

479-783-9941 | papaspub.com

Monday to Saturday: 11:00 a.m. to midnight

Closed Sunday

Neumeier’s Rib Room & Beer Garden

424 Garrison Ave., Fort Smith

479-494-7427

Monday to Saturday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Closed Sunday

Neumeier’s Whippoorwill Restaurant

509 Garrison Ave., Fort Smith

479-769-2095 | whippoorwillrestaurant.com

Monday to Thursday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 9p.m.

Closed Sunday

Lightning in a Bottle

Fort Smith’s Uncork’d provides unique night out

By MAK MILLARD // Photos provided

Before 2018, when Scott Clark looked around Fort Smith for the kind of quality dining options one could find in other metros, he was sorely disappointed. With a three-decades long career as an independent insurance agent to his name, Clark had no ambitions to enter the hospitality business initially. Still, there was a problem to be solved and, as it so often does, “life can lead you down different paths,” he said.

“It all evolved from Sodie’s [Wine & Spirits], my next-door retail operation, which is a liquor store,” Clark said. “When I built Sodie’s in 2015 here on Phoenix Avenue, I bought a 4-acre tract of land and only needed 2 acres for that project… The idea of having a business that supported another business made a lot of sense to me, and I felt like a restaurant would help grow Sodie’s.”

Tired of watching locals travel out of town to get their restaurant fix — and losing out on weekend shopping and dining tourism dollars to boot — Clark got to work researching successful concepts in other regions in order to bring something unparalleled to Fort Smith. The result was Uncork’d, a place for guests of all sorts to gather around cocktails and tapas.

An emphasis on atmosphere with a rich wood decor, a wine-barrel ceiling and areas tailored for any manner of occasions helped Uncork’d strike the right balance between upscale refinement and a warm welcome. The 21-and-older restaurant is the only one of its kind in the area, and visitors have

plenty of space for whatever they are in the mood for, from romantic date nights to cheering on their favorite sports teams to relaxing in the cigar room.

“We have to be really good because our demographics are a lot tighter,” Clark said. “I wanted to play it so that people in their 20s or people in their 80s were comfortable. You can dress up, you can come in with a blazer on, you can come in with shorts, or you can actually come in with your dog and sit on the patio if you want to.”

Aesthetics alone do not a successful restaurant make, however, and it was clear that there would need to be a mastermind in the kitchen to help Uncork’d truly sing. Enter executive chef and general manager Jasmine Williams. Her culinary experience runs the gamut from McDonald’s to food trucks to high-end farm-to-table restaurants in San Diego, so it took a bit of convincing from Clark to get her on board with the idea of small plates. Where the concept did not excite her, however, the vision did, and Williams decided to give it a try.

“It has definitely grown a lot since then, more than me and Scott probably thought it would have,” Williams said. “Just like the restaurant has grown, our relationship has grown, so it’s been really great being here and being in a restaurant business with Scott.”

As it turned out, Williams was onto something with her initial hesitation. While successful in its first few years, it became apparent that visitors wanted even more from Uncork’d, and both Clark and Williams were happy to oblige. About four years ago, they expanded the menu to include a variety of full plates by which Williams is able to bring her Pacific palate to bear on diners in even more ways by offering creative takes on familiar flavors.

From tapas to full plates, Uncork’d offers diners a wealth of food and drink options.

“It really hit home with me one evening when I took an Uber, and the Uber driver said, ‘You know, I hear a lot about your place. I hear a lot of good things, but the thing that I hear the most is they’d love to eat a meal there,’” Clark said, “and I thought, wow, that’s coming unsolicited. I don’t know this guy, but I agree that I’m going to have to do this, so I talked to Jasmine, and we invested in the kitchen.”

While the menu changes seasonally, every iteration is a reflection of Williams’ skill, bringing flavor profiles together in unique ways while still keeping everything consistent — and consistently delicious.

“We had a dish for a couple of winter menus. It was my pork and beans, and that derived from eating pork and beans at home,” Williams said, “but it was a pork tenderloin with jalapeno cornbread croutons and brown beans that I made here. I make everything from scratch. I want people to look at the menu like, ‘Oh, I had that when I was little. Oh, I know what that is.’ I want them to be able to read it. I don’t want them to have to pull out their phone and Google it.”

Other popular items include chef’s buttermilk fried chicken with roasted corn risotto, as well as a porkchop dish that changes depending on what ingredients are in season, such as the order of Georgia peaches Williams expects this summer. Also coming up in the warmer months are the inventive collard-green egg rolls, which feature collard greens, smoked turkey and sweet peppers and are served with a hoisin aioli. Clark, for his part, said the fried deviled eggs are a must on any order.

“I try to have different things that people have seen, but I just try to kind of spin it,” Williams said, “and, of course, I have specials during the week. I have my fish special again, so I’ll be able to do a different recipe. That’s always fun and refreshing, to be able to think and create something.”

With a name like Uncork’d, one would be remiss not to linger for a while on the restaurant’s expansive selection of libations, from the 40 craft beer taps, a bourbon tap and seasonal cocktails to an unrivaled wine menu. Making visits even more extraordinary are the 32 wines featured in the restaurant’s Italian-made Enomatic wine dispensers.

“They’re the best of the best in terms of wine dispensing,” Clark said. “The whole purpose behind that is to give recogni-

The Uncork’d menu changes with the seasons, but the fried deviled eggs are a year-round favorite.

tion to the winery without it being a bottle purchase. With this concept, they can take a one-, three- or six-ounce pour, enjoy it with their meal and then go across the street, literally, to Sodie’s and purchase it.”

Like the rest of the offerings at Uncork’d, the unconventional dispensing option is novel to an end: interaction. Guests can recommend their favorite labels to one another without having to take the plunge on a whole bottle, giving the experience a more intimate — but not too exclusive — feeling.

For those inclined toward other spirits, the specialty cocktails always pair well with whatever is on the menu at a given time of year. Williams works closely with the bartending staff to harmonize flavors, whether they come from the kitchen or behind the bar.

“We’re able to really draw some things together, and I feel like that makes them really proud of their drinks,” Williams said. “When you create something and have pride in it, it also comes off to the customer. They’re able to talk to the customer like, ‘Yeah, I made this one.’

“We use really great ingredients. We make all of our simple syrups and our purees from scratch. Some places you go in, they’re pretty, but the flavor is not there, but I will say our bartenders, they hit both points on flavor and presentation.”

In addition to the skilled bartending lineup, Williams relies heavily on her other team members, nine of whom are in the kitchen. Part of the crew since day

one back in 2018 has been server Janet Bizzell, who provides customers with a friendly and familiar face every time they visit. The strength of the Uncork’d team comes in large part thanks to that of its leadership, Williams said.

“My main thing is, I try to treat everyone the same, honestly,” she said. “I also try to imitate Scott’s leadership. He’s a really great boss. He’s active. Everybody knows him. He knows everything about everybody, and he stops in and talks to everybody.”

“I think it’s just a showing of respect that I have towards everybody,” Clark added. “Nobody’s any better than another person. It takes a team to be successful, from the dishwasher up to the general manager. If one is out of place, then the wheel kind of comes unglued a little bit. I just respect everybody and appreciate them and am certainly not any better than any one of them.”

Clark’s hands-on approach is one that extends to the customer base, as well. He and Williams make it a point to talk to and listen to guests about their needs and expectations for the space. That flexibility and constant push for improvement ensures Uncork’d caters to exactly the kind of patrons it wants — just about all of them.

“When it comes to the live music, when it comes to sports, we talk to them, and we try to figure out how we can work it out,” Williams said. “We brainstorm: ‘OK, how can we make sure music lovers still come here, but how can we make sure people eat? How can we make sure people can still smoke a cigar?’

“We really think on and try to figure out how we can make the space work, and honestly, every month, I feel like we’re adapting to something different.

— Jasmine Williams, executive chef and general manager

“We really think on and try to figure out how we can make the space work, and honestly, every month, I feel like we’re adapting to something different. We have the space to do so, to make sure that everybody that comes in here can kind of get what they want. We have our happy hour menu. We have our beer, our bar area, people can sit and just have tapas if they want. It’s not super intimidating.

“It just takes them getting in the door and trying it once, and then they’re pretty set on the fact that they actually like the place and that they [know] that anybody can come in here.”

Fort Smith finds itself on the precipice of a host of exciting changes, such as the recent opening of the U.S. Marshals Museum, upcoming expansions at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, and more and more investment coming into the River Valley at every turn. Uncork’d is poised to follow right along in that growth, welcoming newcomers and locals alike as the city looks ahead.

“We’re going to be able to adapt and maybe make those people feel welcome with a dish or a drink or something that reminds them of home,” Clark said. “Not being a chain and with Jas’ talents, we can do those kinds of things. That’s certainly something we’re going to explore.

“We’re investing back in the facility because when people are here from out of town, we want them to come to Uncork’d. A lot of times, the memory you have of [a place is] where you stayed that night in a hotel or what you ate for food, so if it’s a good experience at the restaurant, then it’s a good experience for Fort Smith.”

Tapping Into Fort Smith

By SARAH COLEMAN

// Photos provided

Mad Ox Bar & Tap

Historically, Fort Smith was built to keep peace between the native Osage and Cherokee tribes in 1817. Today, visitors may find it difficult to believe the quaint city was ever home to any sort of strife because it exists as a mid-sized area full of small town charm. Additionally, the city has continued to grow throughout the years, topping at nearly 90,000 residents in the 2022 U.S. Census.

As with many cities larger and smaller than Fort Smith, there has been an increased effort to revitalize the downtown neighborhood. Created on the site of a beloved piece of Fort Smith history, the Bakery District has blossomed into a multi-use space, its most recent endeavor being the freshly opened Mad Ox Bar & Tap.

The Bakery District was originally home to Shipley Baking Co. in 1921 but now exists as an upbeat hub for the city. The 35,000-squarefoot building where loaves of bread and other wheat-based goods once rolled off is now home to multiple businesses, all of which are geared toward community connection.

Mad Ox owner Derek Campbell first got involved in the River Valley’s culinary sphere after his return to Mena from Seattle. As a young entrepreneur with ambitions of creating a culinary space with an emphasis on community, he set out to open The Ouachitas, a coffee bar and roastery, in 2018.

By 2019, The Ouachitas had expanded to serve a variety of food with the opening of the brand’s restaurant portion, and in 2020, the business began offering select brews in its newly opened taproom, as well as options from its brewery. Today, The Ouachitas has two locations in Mena. One serves as the dining, coffee bar and taproom, and the other serves as the brewery space.

Campbell first got involved in the Bakery District project after the owner, Bill Hanna, sampled some of the beers offered at The Ouachitas.

“He really liked it. They had been looking for somebody to operate a brewery or a bar at the Bakery District for several years, and they asked me if I would be interested in doing so,” Campbell said. “I met with him and his family, and they met my family, and we toured the property. We all liked one another and agreed on a vision for what could occur in that space.

“We all felt that this would be a good partnership, for me to open a space on their property,” Campbell said, adding that Mad Ox Bar & Tap was built up from the studs.

Campbell, who said he is fond of downtown areas, was encouraged by the rejuvenated feel that the Bakery District has offered since being under Hanna’s control.

“It is a great collection of other businesses, from a coworking space and business offices to a great coffee shop and a collection of food trucks,” Campbell said. “There’s a good variety of people that are in and around here each day,

and we get to enjoy being in the heart of downtown.”

The Bakery District is not necessarily the focal point of the energetic area downtown, which left Campbell with the additional opportunity to build around the community hub.

“We get to be a little bit off the beaten path, around some great folks. It provides a great atmosphere with a large patio that you can go out and have drinks and enjoy food. There’s also yard games in and around everywhere, making a trip to visit us an entire experience,” Campbell said.

The partners worked in unison to develop the floor plan and a model for what the bar would eventually look like. The construction phase started in fall 2023, and the bar officially opened its doors in March.

Campbell, who has been in and around Fort Smith most of his life, recently became even more keen on the idea of opening a creative space for locals and guests to enjoy.

“I’ve been around the different venues and the different locations that people have to hang out in downtown. I’ve always loved downtown atmospheres, and I noticed that there was a style of bar that was missing,” Campbell said. “There were plenty of regular bars that had been here for a long while that have a late-night scene, and then we have some really high-end bars, as well, but we didn’t have that middle-of-the-road, comfortable bar where people could go to have a really nice, crafted cocktail or enjoy a great craft beer.”

Mad Ox Bar & Tap helped to fill this gap in the city’s entertainment offerings, filling in a missing niche with a picturesque environment ideal for meeting up with friends and family.

“We wanted to have an elevated service with elevated drinks, and we wanted to create a place with a great experience. We wanted to just kind of be that place that people would be able to gather and really appreciate the beverages made for them,” Campbell said.

Mad Ox, named after The Ouachitas staple brew, Madd Ox, has built its menu with a variety of specialty and classically crafted cocktails but also has wine and local brews on tap.

While Mad Ox Bar & Tap sits in the heart of a historically significant location, its name is also a nod to the city’s Old West days and the famed Judge Isaac Parker, who helped put the frontier city on the map.

“We wanted to kind of have that subtle Western Americana feel,” Campbell said. “At the same time, we wanted to be able to highlight some of The Ouachitas’ brewing products that we have and kind of reflect back on it.”

The bar and taproom keeps its locally brewed Madd Ox in stock, which has a Western India pale ale feel and what Campbell describes as one inspiration for the design of the bar. With notes of floral, fruit, citrus and pine, the beer has been a successful staple for The Ouachitas.

Also keeping with the owners’ small-town roots, guests visiting the bar for the first time can expect to be warmly greeted by staff while walking into a classic space with a contemporary feel. Sitting at a table or the bar, visitors can relax, be provided with terrific customer service and sample great drinks, such as Campbell’s personal recommendation among the brews, La Clara, the bar’s Mexican lager.

“We have great selections of beer, wine and cocktails, but beyond that, our goal is for guests to be able to walk up and have a conversation with one of our bartenders so that they can find a drink perfect for them,” Campbell said. “Even if it isn’t on our menu, we want to be able to create something that they haven’t ever had.”

Whether it is a guest’s first bar experience or a traveler’s introduction to Fort Smith, Campbell and his team aim to provide a unique visit that is hard to forget. The bar and taproom have plenty of local options to enjoy.

“In our taproom in Mena, we had 29 different draft options, and up to half our selection was filled with other Arkansas craft beers. We wanted to continue that theme here, as well,” Campbell said. “While the majority of our draft wall is Ouachita Brewing beers, we have some guest taps where we feature brews from Bentonville Brewing or Lost Forty [in Little Rock].”

While Mad Ox certainly has a huge tie-in with craft beer, the location also offers signature cocktails for guests to sip. Campbell said it was hard to pick a favorite because he enjoys all of the bar’s signature cocktails. However, if he had to choose, he said he would probably go for the Burning Daylight.

“It’s a surprising choice because I normally wouldn’t say that a rum-based cocktail is my favorite, but it is a great cocktail that we use a cinnamon simple syrup in. It also has some lime juice, with floating bitters on top,” Campbell said. “As far as our classic cocktails go, I prefer the Modern Cocktail.”

The Modern Cocktail has a range of ingredients but is primarily made of scotch and sloe gin, creating a well-blended flavor profile.

Where there is community, there is also music, and Campbell created Mad Ox with the intention of highlighting live entertainment. The Ouachitas has hosted music in Mena every Saturday, and he has made Mad Ox Bar & Tap a live music destination on Friday evenings.

Building up the local music community has been one of Campbell’s favorite parts of owning both The Ouachitas and Mad Ox Bar & Tap. In addition to the well-known local artists he has on speed dial, Campbell is always looking for upand-coming artists in the area.

“We’ve built a good collection of musicians that we love working with. We love their music, we love their stories, and we’ve been able to pull from the people we’ve already been working with,” Campbell said.

All in all, Campbell’s first cocktail bar and tap room endeavor has been nothing short of a fun learning experience.

“Overall, it’s been great. I have a really good team that I can lean on and some talented individuals to learn from, as well as very smart people that do have experience in the bar industry,” Campbell said. “It’s been neat to get to work with them.”

Mad Ox Bar & Tap may be new but has a bright future ahead if Campbell has anything to do with it.

“I would love for anybody that finds themselves in the Fort Smith area, especially downtown, to come by and see us,” he said. “Give us a try, and see if we can’t just make something that you’ve never had or that you haven’t experienced. We want to become one of your favorite bars.”

Mad Ox Bar & Tap

70 S. Seventh St., Fort Smith

Located inside the Bakery District, Mad Ox Bar & Tap was renovated to fit a classic aesthetic that captures a contemporary feel for guests to enjoy.

Experience FORT SMITH

whether it's your first time or your 30th time, Fort Smith has something new to offer. Diverse food, BIG EVENTS, public art and OUTDOOR FUN are waiting for you. Learn more at FortSmith.org

Fun on the Frontier

Frontier

Former border town now a center for art, history

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos provided

When assessing the attractions that make Fort Smith such a special place to visit, one word adequately sums them all up: culture. Attempt to define exactly what type of culture, however, and the former frontier outpost and military installation defies all common denominators.

Military history, public art, cowboys, music festivals and law enforcement all stake their claim there through engaging attractions, fascinating experiences and family-friendly entertainment. Visitors for a weekend or for a full vacation will find plenty of things to satisfy what interests them, punctuated by friendly locals, unique shopping and delicious food. Make plans now to attend one of the community festivals held throughout the year, or plan a visit around one or more of the following unique attractions.

HISTORY

The beginnings of Fort Smith may date back to Hernando de Soto’s expedition in the 1500s, and the area was likely visited by early French trappers making a living on pelts and trading with the local tribes, namely Osage and Cherokee.

Early settlers were attracted to the rich bottomland soil and ample water, the Encyclopedia of Arkansas states. A river bluff known as Belle Point was quickly identified as an excellent spot for a military installation due to its elevation and position on the Arkansas River. Troops arriving in November 1817 began to build the first structures, and within five years, a settlement had grown up around the fort.

John Rogers, a seminal figure in the city’s early development, supplied the fort and trappers and successfully lobbied to bring the Army back to Fort Smith after it withdrew to redeploy in present-day Oklahoma for a short time. The returning military force resulted in a new fort being built and the seeds being sown for incorporating the town, which occurred in December 1842.

Fort Smith was every bit the gateway to the west that St. Louis claims to be, equipping miner forty-niners headed to California and soldiers headed for the Mexican-American War. In fact, one of the first wagon trains headed to the west

coast during the gold rush left from Fort Smith due to the abundant grass that the more southerly route offered.

The Civil War brought Arkansas’ secession, and the fort changed to Confederate and Arkansas volunteer hands, only to be reclaimed by federal troops in 1863. Union forces would not relinquish the fort again during the war, but the wider environment was dangerous, rife with bushwhackers and Confederate regular and irregular units causing havoc on personnel and supply lines, in addition to three official military encounters in 1864.

Today a national park, visitors to Fort Smith can tour a visitor’s center at the south end of the barracks, courthouse and jail building to get an up-close look at the garrison’s military history from 1817 to 1871, including elements that detail western expansion, the federal court’s impact on Indian

John Rogers

Territory, now Oklahoma, as well as Federal policy toward Native Americans and the Indian Removal Act of 1830.

Also located on the grounds, the National Park Service states, are the foundation of the first Fort Smith (1817-1824), the Commissary building (circa 1838) and a reconstruction of the gallows used by the federal court.

Another popular attraction for history buffs is the Fort Smith National Cemetery, a 32acre tract that dates back to the building of the original fort. The site received national cemetery status in 1867, and many military dead removed from battlefields and private cemeteries were reinterred there. Hundreds of Confederate fallen are also buried within the cemetery, including Gen. James B. McIntosh and Gen. Alexander E. Steen.

Two other attractions chronicle and preserve different chapters in the city’s colorful history, the Fort Smith Museum of History, located downtown, and Miss Laura’s Social Club, now home to the welcome center of the Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau. Miss Laura’s, the sole surviving building of Fort Smith’s once-thriving red light district, is the only former bordello on the National Register of Historic Places.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

As wild as frontier life could be, Fort Smith is closely associated with the development of law and order in the unsettled West. That can be most clearly traced to two related entities that are now enshrined forever within the city’s attractions.

The first comes in the form of Judge Isaac Parker, a legendary figure in Wild West chronicles. Parker, a former congressman, arrived in town in 1875 and, unlike his predecessor, immediately proved an incorruptible and strident disciple of the law. For the next 21 years, Fort Smith was known as a cornerstone for law enforcement as Parker showed no compunction to meting out the strictest sentences allowed.

Labeled the “Hanging Judge,” a nickname he disliked, Parker’s judgeship was prolific. He tried nearly 13,500 cases and sentenced 160 people to the gallows, of which 79 actually hung. The rest either died in custody, received a pardon or had their sentences commuted.

Despite his notorious reputation, Parker’s time in Fort Smith was equally noteworthy for his humanitarianism. His community service included serving on the local school board and as the first president of St. John’s Hospital. He also held a sympathetic view toward people of color, specifically Native Americans. That earned him the ire of many white people who he censured for attempting to encroach on native lands or to sell liquor there. Despite that, upon his death in 1896, Parker’s funeral was the largest ever attended in Fort Smith.

Judge Isaac Parker, below, is credited with bringing law and order to Fort Smith, and many historic sites speak to the city’s frontier history.

One thing that made the judge as successful as he was in bringing order to the territory was his use of the U.S. Marshals Service. His frequent deployment of marshals and deputy marshals to round up fugitives was devastatingly effective thanks to the likes of Bass Reeves, one of the most celebrated marshals of the day. Reeves was born a slave in Arkansas and moved to Texas when his owner relocated the family there in 1846. He was then pressed into military servitude during the Civil War but escaped to Indian Territory, which was outside the reach of white authorities.

Reeves lived among the Seminole and Creek tribes until slavery was abolished. Then he returned to Arkansas, where he married and started a family. A decade later, he joined the U.S. Marshals and is today noteworthy not only as the first

Bass Reeves, one of the first African American lawmen west of the Mississippi River, is honored at the U.S. Marshals Museum and elsewhere in Fort Smith.

and only Black agent commissioned west of the Mississippi at that time, but for his effectiveness as a lawman. As biographer Art T. Burton wrote, Reeves is said to have arrested more than 3,000 people and killed 14 outlaws without sustaining a single gunshot wound.

Fort Smith memorializes Reeves with a statue located in Ross Pendergraft Park and exhibits at the U.S. Marshals Museum just outside downtown. After more than a decade in the making, the museum opened last year and offers numerous immersive exhibits detailing the history of the agency from its founding following the Revolutionary War through present day.

COWBOYS

Equally central to the frontier ethos is the role of the American cowboy, a heritage Fort Smith celebrates through one of its biggest and longest-running community events, the Old Fort Days Rodeo.

The rodeo dates back to 1933, when it was billed as the Pawnee Bill Rodeo for Gordon William “Pawnee Bill” Lillie, famed Wild West showman and contemporary of William

Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody. Pawnee Bill appeared in person during the early years, riding in the downtown parade and appearing in grand entrance before every performance. His widespread celebrity helped the event gain momentum.

Organizers eventually secured their own rodeo grounds, Kay Rodgers Park, named after R.K. Rodgers, the rodeo’s first chairman, and built its own rodeo arena. The event grew into one of the premiere rodeos in the country, withstanding in its history World War II, river flooding and the COVID-19 pandemic. Cowboys and cowgirls from across the United States compete every year in saddle bronc riding, bull riding, bareback riding, calf roping, barrel racing and steer wrestling for some of the largest cash-prize purses in Arkansas. A crowd favorite is the kids’ mutton busting where little buckaroos attempt to ride a runaway sheep to the buzzer.

This year’s Old Fort Days Rodeo is May 27 to June 1.

ARTS

The latest element of Fort Smith’s reputation is that of a haven for the arts, especially public art. Everywhere one looks in the city, one can spot the handiwork of a talented cadre of international artists, brought to life via The Unexpected.

A program of the nonprofit 64.6 Downtown, The Unexpected began in 2015 as a means of community redevelopment through urban and contemporary public art. The group quickly gained national attention for its murals project, which features the talents of international artists that include D*Face, Ana Marietta, Askew, Okuda San Miguel, Bordalo II, Maser, Hoxxoh and many others.

Now numbering more than 30 works, the Fort Smith murals appear throughout downtown and have been the catalyst for the creation or expansion of other cities’ murals and public art projects statewide ever since.

The work of The Unexpected is the latest chapter in the community’s love affair with the visual and performing arts, which stretches back generations. Art lovers can also check

Annual events such as the Old Fort Days Rodeo, the Steel Horse Rally and Peacemaker Festival draw visitors to Fort Smith.

out the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, which originated in 1948 under the Arkansas branch of the American Association of University Women. In 1951, the Associated Artists of Fort Smith began exhibiting art and offering classes in various locations throughout Fort Smith. In 1960, space for an art center was purchased, and in 1968, the Fort Smith Art Center was incorporated.

The museum received a major boost in 2009, when Arvest Bank donated a 16,000-square-foot adjacent building to the art center, which rebranded under its current name upon reopening after renovation of the new, larger space in 2013.

Music and theater lovers will want to check out the long-running Stacy Jones Season of Entertainment, a series of performances sponsored by the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. Named in honor of faculty member, the late Stacey Jones, who spearheaded the Season of Entertainment for nearly 50 years, the series brings professional productions and university ensembles alike to the campus performing arts center.

Finally, the city is host to multiple music festivals during the year, including Riverfront Blues Festival in February; Peacemaker Festival in October and musical entertainment as part of the Steel Horse Rally in May.

RESTAURANTS

& BAKERIES

5th Street Cafe

21 West End

Amigo’s Bar & Grill

Art’s BBQ & Burgers

Benson’s Grill

Birrieria La Jefa

Blue Ember Smokehouse

Boondocks Fort Smith

Bricktown Brewery

Calico County

Club House Kitchen

Confectionately Yours

Dairy Freeze

Diaz Bakery & Tortilleria

Delicias Michoacanas

Dewey’s Cafe

Doe’s Eat Place

The Donut Palace

Ed Walker’s Drive-In

The Egg of Fort Smith

El Cholito

El Olvido Mexican Restaurant

El Zarape Mexican Grill

Eunice’s Country Cookin’

Fulmer Candy Company Fort Smith

George’s Restaurant

Grand Central Station

Green Papaya

Harvest Moon Bakery

Irish Maid Donuts

JJ’s Grill

Jerry Neel’s BBQ

Jim’s Razorback Pizza

Joe’s Pizza & Pasta

Joe’s Grill & Cantina

La Huerta Grill

La Americas Restaurant

Larry’s Pizza

Lewis’ Family Restaurant

Miguel’s Taqueria

Miss Anna’s on Towson

Neumeier’s Rib Room & Beer Garden

Neumeier’s Whippoorwill Restaurant

Ninja Japanese Express

Pad Thai Cuisine

Paizi’s Gyros

Papa’s Pub & Pizzaria

Patrick’s Butcher Boy Burgers

Pattaya Thai and Laos Cuisine

Pho Dana

Pho King

Piatto at The Hub

Pizza Parlour

Prima Italia

Fort Smith Bucket List

Pupuseria Virolena

R & R Curry Express

Rincon Latino

River City Bistro

Rolando’s Nuevo Latino Restaurante

Roosters On The Avenue

Smith Doughnuts

StoneHouse at Chaffee Crossing

Sunny Donuts

Taliano’s Italian Restaurant

Thai Chicken Bowl

Thai Curry Uncork’d

COFFEE & TEA

1127

The Artistic Bean

Everett James Tea Co.

Fort Smith Coffee Co.

Moka Joe’s Coffee & Cafe

BARS & CLUB

906 Lounge

Arlie Muck’s Tavern

The Cactus Club Kinkead’s

Electric Cowboy

Fort Smith Brewing Co.

Hero’s

Hilltop Club

Lost Beach

Old Town Grain & Feed

Prohibition

Roosters on the Avenue

Shooters Bar & Grill

Tipsy’s Pub

ARTS & EVENT VENUES

Chaffee Crossing Historic District

Community School of the Arts

Fort Smith Little Theatre

Fort Smith Symphony

The Gallery on Garrison

Hidden Talent Fine Art Gallery & Restoration

McClure Amphitheater

The Bakery District

Majestic

The Unexpected Project

UAFS Gallery of Art and Design

Western Arkansas Ballet

SPORTS & LEISURE

810 Billiards & Bowling

Bowling World

Chaffee Crossing Pickleball Complex

Deer Trails Golf Course at Chaffee Crossing

Fort Smith Marshals Baseball

Jack’s Skateland

Midland Family Bowl

The Monkey House

Spartan Adventure Park

Riverfront Skate & Bike Park

Tilles Park Disc Golf Course

Trinity Junior High Disc Golf

Vertical Horizons Climbing Gym

Fort Smith Escape Room

MUSEUMS, HISTORY & CULTURE

Belle Grove Historic District

Cherokee Heritage Center

The Clayton House

Elvis Barbershop Museum

Fort Smith Air Museum

Fort Smith Museum of History

Fort Smith National Cemetery

Fort Smith National Historic Site

Fort Smith Regional Art Museum

Fort Smith Trolley Museum

Massard Prairie Battlefield Park

Miss Laura’s Visitor Center

U.S. Marshals Museum

Zachary Taylor Chimney

PARKS, TRAILS & OUTDOORS

Arkansas River Valley Nature Center

Ben Geren Regional Park & Golf Course

Carol Ann Cross Park

Creekmore Park & Pool

Downtown Splash Pad

Fort Chaffee WMA

Fort Chaffee West Trail

Fort Smith Bikeway

Fort Smith Fishing Pavilion

Greg Smith River Trail

Kay Rodgers Park

Lake Fort Smith State Park

MLK Splash Pad

Massard Road Trail

Mill Creek Trail

Parrot Island Waterpark

River Bluff Nature Trail

Riverside Rides

Ronnie Udouj Walking Trail

Sunnymede Trail

Torraine Lake

The Park at West End

Tilles Park Splash Pad

Wells Lake Fishing

Woodlawn Park Splash Pad

Join us at Harry E. Kelley Park at Fort Smith’s Riverfront for the Mayor’s 4th of July Celebration!

The annual event will feature free transportation, giveaways, food trucks, a star-spangled lineup of LIVE entertainment, and the largest fireworks display in the region!

The event is always free to the public.

Gates open at 5:00 pm on Thursday, July 4th for this familyfriendly Fort Smith tradition that welcomes 10,000+ residents/ visitors each year. Fireworks begin at 9:30 pm.

For more information, visit www.fortsmithar.gov/mayors4th

THE FINALISTS

Ladies and Gentlemen, may we present...

In 2014, AY About You’s 25th year in publication, the May issue touted the results of the “Best of Arkansas” reader’s poll. The list had fewer than 100 categories, about half of which were related to food and beverage.

In the decade since, “Best Of” has grown into a preeminent reader’s poll in the state. This year’s slate includes more than 200 categories, and the following pages represent the largest collection in the 36-year history of the magazine. Favorite food and drink are still represented, as well as many other fields, from cardiac surgeons to funeral services, dog groomers to salons and radio personalities to children’s clothing.

The process of becoming a “Best Of” honoree starts with a simple nomination process from the field. Companies, nonprofits and individuals statewide that receive the most nominations make up the five-name ballot during the voting round in March. Hundreds of thousands of votes are cast during that window, making “Best Of” one of the largest and most comprehensive reader’s polls in Arkansas.

Once online voting closes and tallies, the top three vote-getters are compiled as listed on the following pages. Making it that far is a major accomplishment because the finalists represent a very slim fraction of all businesses, organizations and individuals in their categories statewide.

Consider that there are about 250,000 companies of all sizes doing business in Arkansas, the Small Business Administration states. Of those, 99.3 percent meet the definition of small businesses, which supply about half of the state’s total employment. That not only gives an idea of how crowded the field is in some of the “Best Of” categories, it also shows how imperative it is for the state that smaller companies get it right, deliver excellent products and services, make payroll, and support local economies.

For years, much of the day-in, day-out work went unsung except within local communities. “Best Of” changed all that, providing from the beginning a means for the best service providers, physicians, places to work, retailers, hospitality, media, nonprofits, automotive companies, construction firms and many other businesses to stand out and receive statewide recognition. Best of all, the accolade is determined by the most important component of these organizations: their loyal and satisfied customers.

The impact of “Best Of” on companies, entrepreneurs and organizations is palpable. Drive through any community of any size in Arkansas or leaf through the pages of AY About You and the pride “Best Of” finalists and winners feel about the designation is readily visible. On billboards, on the sides of company vehicles and in print, honored companies have earned the right to display the coveted “Best Of” badge, which they do eagerly. The emblem denotes their status as best in their field in the state of Arkansas. Companies cannot buy the badge for any amount of money; it must be won via “Best Of” polling, and more than that, it is earned every single day with every single customer transaction.

In next month’s issue, AY About You will reveal the winners of “Best of 2024,” but in May, we honor tradition by allowing the top three in each category to get their due and take a bow. Only one can win, but making it into the top three is an honor in itself worth celebrating.

The entire staff at AY Media Group salutes these outstanding Arkansas businesses, nonprofits and individuals for the work they do, the customers they serve and the standard of excellence they uphold. Their commitment to their cause in good times and bad inspires us all, and the impact on their communities strengthens the state we all love, making it the wonderful place it is to work, live and raise a family.

Congratulations!

A Winning Team.

Foot & Ankle Surgeon

Jesse B. Burks, D.P.M. We’re

Jesse B. Burks, D.P.M.

Larry L. Nguyen, M.D.

Sports Medicine Clinic

Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

Hand Surgeon

David M. Rhodes, M.D.

Jesse D. Abeler, D.O.

Surgeon (Lower Extremity)

Jesse B. Burks, D.P.M.

William F. Hefley Jr., M.D., FAAOS

Orthopedic Group

Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

Orthopedist

Samuel A. Moore, D.O.

William F. Hefley Jr., M.D., FAAOS

Surgeon (Upper Extremity)

Jesse D. Abeler, D.O.

Podiatrist

www.bowenhefleyortho.com

One of AY’s Best APRNs

Rhonda Dixon, APRN

Conway Regional Medical Clinic - Prince St

One of AY’s Best PAs

Brooke Money, PA

Conway Regional Renaissance Women’s Center

Voted One of AY’s Best Cardio Clinics

Ronak Soni, MD, Don Steely, MD, Rimsha Hasan, MD, and Yalcin Hacioglu, MD

Beauty and Health

Aesthetic Nurse

• Sidney Bennett Selakovich, R.N.

Radiant Wellness

• Rebecca Perkins

THE SPA’AH

• Paige Kelly, R.N., BSN

Wright Plastic Surgery & Med Spa

Allergy Clinic

• Advanced Allergy & Asthma

• Jackson Allergy & Asthma Clinic

• Little Rock Allergy & Asthma Clinic

Assisted Living Facility

• Fox Ridge Luxury Senior Living

• Good Shepherd Community

• Presbyterian Village

Audiology Clinic

• Miracle-Ear

• Pinnacle Hearing

• Wolfpack Hearing Clinic

Cardiology Clinic

• Arkansas Cardiology

• Arkansas Heart Hospital Clinic

• Conway Regional Cardiovascular Clinic

Chiropractor

• Bledsoe Chiropractic

• Shawn McGehee, D.C. Lamey Chiropractic

• Pain Care Associates

Cosmetic Dentist

• Arkansas Family Dental

• Smile Dailey General and Cosmetic Dentistry

• Smile Hot Springs

Cosmetic Surgeon

• Michael Devlin, M.D. Devlin Cosmetic Surgery

• Suzanne Yee, M.D.

Dr. Suzanne Yee Cosmetic & Laser Surgery Center

• Byron Wilkes, M.D. McFarland Eye Care

Dental Practice

• Arkansas Family Dental

• Jolly Family Dental

• Smile Dailey General and Cosmetic Dentistry

Dentist

• Dean Dental Solutions

• Heathman Family and Cosmetic Dentistry

• Smile Arkansas

Dermatology Clinic

• Arkansas Dermatology

• Franks Dermatology

• Pinnacle Dermatology

Doctor-Owned Hospital/Facility

• Arkansas Surgical Hospital

• Cabot Emergency Hospital

• OrthoArkansas

Esthetician

• Ashley Cooper Pamper Me Pretty Aesthetics

• Madie Massey

Radiant Wellness

• Maegan Whitehead, L.E.

Wright Plastic Surgery & Med Spa

Dr. David Vang, Dr. Dana Browning, Gena Woodward, MS PT, Dr. Dwight Stewart

Voted Two of AY’s Best Neurologists

Tim Freyaldenhoven, MD, and Keith Schluterman, MD

Voted One of AY’s Best

Neurosurgeons

Regan Gallaher, MD

Voted One of AY’s Best Pain Specialists

Conway Regional Advanced Pain Management Center

Heath McCarver, MD, and Mikio Ranahan, MD

Beauty and Health

Family Dentist

• Bryan Austin, DDS

Austin Family Dentistry

• Meg Dunn, DDS

Dunn Family Dental

• Jeff Wisener, DDS Wisener, Cooper & Fergus

Family Practice

• Autumn Road Family Practice

• Conway Regional Health System

• Little Rock Family Practice

Foot & Ankle Surgeon

• Jesse B. Burks, DPM

Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

• Larry L. Nguyen, M.D.

Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

• James Head, M.D.

Conway Regional Health System

Gastroenterology Clinic

• Conway Regional Gastroenterology Center

• Brian McGee, M.D.

Digestive Care

• GastroArkansas

Hair Salon

• Entanglements Salon

• Salon Jádore

• The Fix Salon

Hand Surgeon

• David M. Rhodes, M.D.

Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

• Jesse D. Abeler, D.O.

Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

• Bryan Head, M.D.

Conway Regional Health System

Health Coach

• Ablaze Fitness

• Hunter Little Conway Regional Health & Fitness Center

• Meg Green, M.S., RDN, L.D., IFNCP

Hormone Therapy

• Beyond Wellness

• Pamela Volner, APRN, FNP-C Painted Rock Health and Wellness

• Anne Trussell, M.D. Sei Bella Med Spa

Hospice

• Arkansas Hospice

• Baptist Health Hospice

• Hospice Home Care

Hospital

• Arkansas Children’s

• Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock

• Conway Regional Health System

In-Home Care

• Conway Regional Home Health

• Elder Independence Home Care

• Superior Senior Care

Jessica Crump (stylist, manager), Jamie Young (stylist), Sophee Kingsmill (owner, stylist), Faith Webb (stylist), scarlet Beggs (esthetician), Josie jones (stylist), Madie Brennan (reception, assistant), Darby Dunn (stylist), Renata Bodor (stylist), Mayra Godoy (stylist), Dana smith (reception), Madi Jeter (stylist), Janie Hardin (permanent cosmetics)

Voted one of AY’s Best Hospitals

Conway Regional has been the community’s hospital for more than 100 years, providing high-quality, compassionate care. As our communities grow, we are growing alongside you to ensure all of your healthcare needs are met right here in Conway. When your family needs medical care, you can trust our board-certified providers to provide you with the comprehensive care you deserve when you need it most.

Beauty and Health

Long-Term Care Facility

• Greenbrier Nursing & Rehabilitation

• Lake Hamilton Health and Rehab

• Parkway Village, A Baptist Health Community

Massage Therapist

• Brooke A. Slais, LMT, MTI

• Rooted in Wellness

• Michelle Christen

The SPA’AH

Medical Spa/Nonsurgical

Cosmetic Clinic

• Ageless Aesthetics of Arkansas

• Painted Rock Health and Wellness

• Sei Bella Med Spa

Memory Care Facility

• Parkway Village, A Baptist Health Community

• Pinnacle Place Memory Care (formerly Avenir Memory Care at Little Rock)

• Willow Grove of Maumelle

Mental Health Facility

• Argenta Counseling and Wellness

• Levi Hospital

• Renew Mental Health and Wellness

Neurologist

• Brad Thomas, M.D.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital

• Keith Schluterman, M.D.

Conway Regional Health System

• Tim Freyaldenhoven, M.D.

Conway Regional Health System

Neurosurgeon

• Ali Krisht, M.D.

CHI St. Vincent

• Regan Gallaher, M.D.

Conway Regional Neuroscience Center

• Dominic Maggio, M.D.

Legacy Spine & Neurological Specialists

Nurse Injector

• Brande Daniels, R.N., BSN

Ageless Aesthetics of Arkansas

• Sidney Bennett Selakovich, R.N.

Radiant Wellness

• Paige Kelly, R.N., BSN

Wright Plastic Surgery & Med Spa

Nurse Practitioner

• Rhonda Dixon, APRN

Conway Regional

• Pamela Volner, APRN, FNP-C

Painted Rock Health and Wellness

• Danielle Lynch

Renew Mental Health and Wellness

Nursing Home

• Briarwood Nursing & Rehabilitation

• Good Shepherd Community

• Russellville Nursing & Rehabilitation

OB-GYN Clinic

• Conway Regional Renaissance Women’s Center

• The Woman’s Clinic

• University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Health Women’s Center

For Voting Us Among The Best in Arkansas For Medical

“Our dedicated team of experienced professionals at Ageless understands the unique needs and concerns of each individual. We pride ourselves on providing personalized care and creating a warm, welcoming environment where you can feel completely at ease.”

CEO, Brande Daniels, RN, BSN

Medical Director, Jeffrey Herrold, M.D.

We provide effective and affordable skincare treatments and procedures that will bring out your best self.

A few of the procedures we offer:

• Laser treatments

• Botox/Dysport injectables

• Dermal fillers

• Sculptra

• Threadlifts

• Body contouring

• Coolsculpt Elite

• Cooltone

• Morpheus

• Radio frequency

• Chemical peels

• DiamondGlow

• And More!

501.623.2500

135 Medical Park Pl Hot Springs, A AR 71901

info@agelessaestheticsar.com

Laney Scroggins, Tammy Hughes, Ronda Klatt, RN; Sam Bollan, APRN; Abby Gibson, Kandi Ellars, Estheticians

Beauty and Health

Oncologist

• Rhonda Gentry, M.D.

CARTI

• Brad Baltz, M.D.

CHI St. Vincent

• Cesar Giancarlo Gentille Sanchez, M.D. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Ophthalmologist

• Christian Hester, M.D.

Baptist Health Little Rock Eye Clinic

• Evan Newbolt, M.D. McFarland Eye Care

• Stephanie Willett, O.D. McFarland Eye Care

Ophthalmology Clinic

• BoozmanHof Eye Clinic

• Little Rock Eye Clinic

• McFarland Eye Care

Optometrist

• Tiffany Brown, O.D. Little Rock Eye Clinic

• Shelby Brogdon, O.D. McFarland Eye Care

• Russell “Rusty” Simmons, O.D. Simmons Eye Care

Orthodontist

• Carmella Knoernschild, DDS Knoernschild Orthodontic Clinic

• Vondran Orthodontics

• David Wardlaw, DDS Wardlaw Orthodontics

Orthodontic Clinic

• Daniel & Jones Orthodontics

• Hall Orthodontics

• Knoernschild Orthodontic Clinic

Orthopedic Group

• Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

• Conway Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center

• OrthoArkansas

Orthopedist

• Samuel A. Moore, D.O.

Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

• William F. Hefley, Jr., M.D. FAAOS

Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

• Thomas Roberts, M.D.

Conway Regional

Pain Center

• Conway Regional Advanced Pain Management Center

• Natural State Pain and Wellness Clinic

• Pain Treatment Centers of America

Pain Specialist

• Ahmed Ghaleb, M.D.

Advanced Spine and Pain Centers

• Mikio Ranahan, M.D.

Conway Regional Advanced Pain Management Clinic

• Jill Flaxman, M.D.

Natural State Pain and Wellness Clinic

Pediatric Clinic

• Central Arkansas Pediatric Clinic

• Hot Springs Pediatric Clinic

• Little Rock Pediatric Clinic

Beauty and Health

Pediatric Dentist Clinic

• Aaron Forrester, DDS

Groovy Smiles Pediatric Dentistry

• Kitchens Pediatric Dentistry

• Leap Kids Dental

Permanent Cosmetics

• Blush Ink & Beauty Studio

• Painted Rock Health and Wellness

• Sweet Grass Beauty

Physical Therapy Clinic

• Advanced Physical Therapy of Little Rock, North Little Rock and Benton

• Conway Regional Therapy Services

• Peak Performance Physical Therapy

Physician Assistant

• Eva Barlogie, P.A.

Arkansas Children’s

• Brooke Money, P.A.

Conway Regional

• Tim Shipp

Radiant Wellness

Place to Have a Baby

• Baptist Health Medical CenterLittle Rock

• Conway Regional Health System

• University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Plastic Surgeon

• Zachary Young, M.D.

Arkansas Plastic Surgery

• Michael Spann, M.D.

Little Rock Plastic Surgery

• Eric Wright, M.D.

Wright Plastic Surgery

Podiatrist

• Jesse Burks, DPM

Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

• Cody Gaupel, DPM

Foot & Ankle Associates of Central Arkansas

• Aaron Seiter, DPM

Seiter Foot & Ankle Specialists

Prosthetics Clinic

• Horton’s Orthotics & Prosthetics

• New Hope Prosthetics & Orthotics

• Snell Prosthetics & Orthotics

Radiology Clinic

• Arkansas Surgical Hospital

• Conway Regional Imaging Services

• Radiology Associates

Rehabilitation Hospital

• Arkansas Surgical Hospital

• Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute

• Conway Regional Rehabilitation Hospital

Retirement Community

• Chenal Village

• Cherokee Village

• Hot Springs Village

Spa

• Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa — Turtle Cove Spa

• Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort — Astral Spa

• THE SPA’AH

CONGRATULATIONS

beauty is more than skin deep.

Pamela Volner, APRN, FNP-C

Lucinda Posvar, RN, PMU Artist 9421 W. Markham St. Little Rock, AR 72205 (501) 658-8557

Voted One of AY’s Best OB/GYN Clinics

Voted One of AY’s Best CEOs

Matt Troup, President and CEO

Beauty and Health

Specialty Hospital

• Arkansas Heart Hospital

• Arkansas Surgical Hospital

• Cabot Emergency Hospital

Sports Medicine Clinic

• Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

• Conway Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center

• OrthoArkansas

Surgeon

• Mike Stanton, M.D.

Conway Regional Surgical Associates

• Lewis Porter, M.D.

Saline Health System

• Logan Lynch, M.D.

St. Bernards Healthcare

Clothing

Children’s Clothing

• Clara Jane and Jax

• Doodlebugs & Grow

Children’s Boutique

• The Toggery

Surgeon (Lower Extremity)

• Jesse B. Burks, DPM

Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

• William F. Hefley Jr., M.D., FAAOS

Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

• James Head, M.D.

Conway Regional Health System

Surgeon (Upper Extremity)

• Jesse D. Abeler, D.O.

Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

• Jay Howell, M.D.

Conway Regional Health System

• Lewis Porter, M.D.

Saline Memorial Hospital

Tattoo Parlor

• 7th Street Tattoos & Piercing

• Black Cobra Tattoos

• Love Spell Tattoo

Therapist

• Kellee McCoy, LPC, LMFT Argenta Counseling and Wellness

• Maureen Skinner, LPEI

Catalyst Counseling

• Mindy Moore Mindy Moore Psychotherapy

Urology Clinic

• Arkansas Urology

• CARTI

• St. Bernards Healthcare

Local Men’s Clothing

• Domestic Domestic

• J. Duke & Co.

• Mr. Wicks

Local Women’s Clothing

• BARBARA/JEAN

• OAK Boutique

• Willow + Grace Boutique

Dining

Asian Fusion

• Kemuri

• Mt. Fuji Japanese Restaurant

• Three Fold Noodles + Dumpling Co.

Bakery

• Ambrosia Bakery Co.

• Dempsey Bakery

• The Croissanterie

Barbecue

• McClard’s Bar-B-Q

• Ouachita Bar & Grill

• Whole Hog Café North Little Rock

Breakfast

• Big Bad Breakfast

• Stoby’s Restaurant

• The Croissanterie

Brunch

• Lost Forty Brewing

• Taco Mama

• The Croissanterie

Burger

• Big Orange

• Crissy’s Pub Style

• Deluca’s Pizza

Caterer

• DownHome Catering

• Rx Catering

• The Croissanterie

Catfish

• Bubba’s Catfish

• Eat My Catfish

• Riverside Grocery

Cheese Dip

• Baja Grill

• El Porton Mexican Restaurant

• Heights Taco & Tamale Co.

Chef

• Aaron Bradshaw

Crissy’s Pub Style

• Jamie McAfee

• Jill McDonald The Croissanterie

Cocktails

• The OAK room & bar

Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort

• RŌBER :: Cocktails + Culinary

• Sauced Bar & Oven

Coffee Shop

• Kollective Coffee + Tea

• Mugs Coffee Co.

• Petit Jean Coffeehouse & Mercantile

Creole/Cajun

• Copper Mule Table & Tap

• Mike’s Place

• The Faded Rose

Saddiq and Jeannie Mir, along with the entire team at J&S Italian Villa, would like to thank AY About You readers for voting J&S Italian Villa as one of the best Italian restaurants in Arkansas. To every guest who has dined at J&S, from locals to travelers from far and wide, thank you for allowing us to serve you.

J&S Hospitality would also like to thank the hardworking staff members — many of whom have been part of the team since day one — for creating a flawless dining experience day in and day out. Their dedication and enthusiasm ensures that every visit to J&S Italian Villa is an unforgettable one. Each and every guest who walks through the doors is treated with the utmost respect, from the first greeting to the final goodbye.

J&S Italian Villa takes great pride in using the freshest ingredients, flying in fresh fish, and making our pasta and sauces in house daily. Paired with high-end service and a fun and trendy atmosphere, guests are in for a memorable dining experience that is unrivaled anywhere else.

Diners can expect that level of quality at J&S Hospitality’s other concepts, as well, from the historic Ohio Club to the lively Copper Penny Pub. What’s more, J&S Hospitality has an “indulgent” new concept coming to Hot Springs this summer, so keep an eye out for yet another award-worthy offering from the minds behind some of Spa City’s favorite spots.

Dining

Dessert

• Charlotte’s Eats and Sweets

• Red Oak Steakhouse Saracen Casino Resort

• Trio’s Restaurant

Dining for Kids

• All Aboard Restaurant & Grill

• Shotgun Dan’s Pizza

• The Purple Cow Restaurant

Fine Dining

• Cache Restaurant

• The Bugler

Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort

• Red Oak Steakhouse

Saracen Casino Resort

Food Truck

• Crissy’s Pub Style

• Ouachita Bar & Grill

• The Prickly Pickle

Italian

• Bruno’s Little Italy

• J&S Italian Villa

• Pasta Grill

Mexican

• Baja Grill

• Local Lime

• Taco Mama

Pizza

• Deluca’s Pizza

• Different Dough Pizza Co.

• U.S. Pizza Co.

Restaurant (General)

• Cypress Social

• Holly’s Country Cookin’

• The Bugler Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort

Restaurant (NEWLY OPENED)

• DONS Southern Social

• Lefty’s

• Ouachita Bar & Grill

Salad

• Taziki’s Mediterranean Café

• U.S. Pizza Co.

• ZAZA Fine Salad + Wood Oven Pizza Co.

Seafood

• Fisherman’s Wharf Steak & Seafood

• Oceans at Arthur’s

• The Oyster Bar

Special Occasion

• Arthur’s Prime Steakhouse

• RŌBER :: Cocktails + Culinary

• Sonny Williams’ Steak Room

Steak

• Doe’s Eat Place

• Red Oak Steakhouse Saracen Casino Resort

• The Butcher Shop Steakhouse

Sushi

• Kemuri

• Rock N Roll Sushi

• Umami Sushi Lounge & Grill Fusion

Wine Bar

• Ciao Baci

• Splash Wine Bar

• Zin Wine Bar

Entertainment & Leisure

Art Gallery

• Art on the Square

• Legacy Fine Art Gallery

• Red Door Gallery

Bike Shop

• Angry Dave’s Bicycles

• Phat Tire Bike Shop

• Spokes Giant Little Rock

Casino

• Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort

• Saracen Casino Resort

• Southland Casino Hotel

Cigar Lounge

• Cigar Republic

• The 1836 Club

• The Humidor

Concert Venue

• Murphy Arts District

• Reynolds Performance Hall

• Simmons Bank Arena

Event Venue

• C&C by the Lake

• Rusty Tractor Vineyards

• Sassafras Springs Vineyard & Winery

Family Attraction

• Little Rock Zoo

• Mid-America Science Museum

• Museum of Discovery

Festival/Fair/Event

• Arkansas State Fair

• Wild Wines Little Rock Zoo

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

Happening/Entertainment

Restaurant

• Murry’s Dinner Playhouse

• Revival :: restaurant + beer garden

• The Rail Yard

Hotel

• Capital Hotel

• Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort

• The Waters Hot Springs, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

Live Theater

• Argenta Contemporary Theatre (formerly Argenta Community Theater)

• Arkansas Repertory Theatre

• The Maxwell Blade Theatre of Magic

AN

Entertainment & Leisure

Local Musicians

• Bad Habit

• Cliff & Susan

• Jacob Flores

Local Tourist Attraction

• Garvan Woodland Gardens

• Little Rock Zoo

• Magic Springs Theme and Water Park

Museum

• Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts

• Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

• Mid-America Science Museum

Out of State Travel

• Big Cedar Lodge

• The Titanic Museum Attraction

• Viking Cooking School

Resort

• Gaston’s White River Resort

• In the Trees

• Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa

Seasonal Attraction

• Garvan Woodland Gardens

• GloWild at the Little Rock Zoo

• An Old Time Christmas Silver Dollar City

Home, Home Services & Finance

Accounting Firm

• Bell & Co.

• Denman, Hamilton & Associates

• Todd & Associates CPAs

Bank

• Centennial Bank

• First Security Bank

• Stone Bank

Cabinetry

• Duke Custom Cabinets

• Kimberly Cabinets

• Smedley Cabinets

Countertops

• Countertop World

• Emcar Marble & Granite

• Granite Transformations

Whiskey Bar

• 501 Prime Bourbon Bar

• Rock Town Distillery

• Red Oak Steakhouse

Saracen Casino Resort

Credit Union

• Arkansas Federal Credit Union

• Hope Credit Union

• Telcoe Federal Credit Union

Design-Build Team

• Bennett’s Handyman Services

• Sandy Sutton and Justin White

Home, Home Services & Finance

Development/Neighborhood

• Chenal Valley — Little Rock

• Hurricane Lake Estates — Bryant

• Pinnacle Heights — Rogers

Electrical Company

• Browning Electric

• Gary Houston Electric Co.

• Thompson Electric

Fabrics, Draperies & Window Treatments

• Debi Davis Interior Design

• Made in the Shade

• Sandy Sutton Design Center

Fireplace & Patio

• Congo Fireplace & Patio

• Ken Rash’s Arkansas

• Ouachita Hearth & Patio

Furniture Upholstery

• 12th Street Upholstery

• Robby Chism Upholstery and Furniture Repair

• White Furniture Co.

Gutters

• Excel Roofing and Restoration Corp.

• High Caliber Exteriors

• LeafGuard of Arkansas

Home Accessories

• Art of Design — Sha Davari

• Debi Davis Interior Design

• Howse

Home Automation

• HomeTronix

• Omnitech Automation

• Sound Concepts

Home Builder

• Household Solutions

• Parkinson Building Group

• Schrader Homes

Home Contractor

• Household Solutions

• Menco Construction

• River Rock Builders

Home Glass

• Jones Glass

• Pella Windows & Doors of North Little Rock

• West Little Rock Glass

Home Security

• Advanced Alarm Technologies

• Natural State Security

• Triple-S Alarm

Insurance Firm

• G&G Independent Insurance

• S&P Insurance Partners

• State Farm — Charlotte Potts

Interior Designer

• Debi Davis Interior Design

• Sandy Sutton Design Center

• Shine Interior Design Studio

For more than 40 years, Gary Houston Electric Company has served Central Arkansas with affordable, quality and timely Commercial and Residential electrical contracting services with a strong emphasis on customer service. We service both new construction and existing structures needing electrical repair or being remodeled.

•

•

•

Home, Home Services & Finance

Investment Firm

• Edward Jones — Cassandra Rector

• Gadberry Financial Group — Jay Gadberry

• GenWealth Financial Advisors

Kitchen Store/Supply

• Eggshells Kitchen Co.

• Haynes Ace Hardware

• The Kitchen Store & More

Lawn Care

• Dave’s Turf Management

• Orange Lawn Service

• Top Notch Turf

Mortgage Lender

• Arvest Bank

• Bank of England

• Signature Bank of Arkansas

Real Estate Agent

• Kassi Bell

Back Porch Realty

• Dione Jessup

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

• April Findlay

The Charlotte John Co.

Real Estate Company

• Adkins & Associates

• The Charlotte John Co.

• The Janet Jones Co.

Repair/Remodeling

• Hartness Construction Co.

• Household Solutions

• Menco Construction

Solar Power

• Delta Solar

• Seal Solar

• Today’s Power

Swimming Pools

• Diamond Pools

• Household Solutions

• Luxury Pool & Spa

Title Company

• Commerce Title & Closing Services

• First National Title Co.

• Lenders Title Group

Kids & Education

Community College

• Arkansas State University-Beebe

• National Park College

• University of ArkansasPulaski Technical College

Private College

• Harding University

• Lyon College

• Ouachita Baptist University

Private School

• Catholic High School for Boys

• Episcopal Collegiate School

• Little Rock Montessori School

Public School

• Conway Public Schools

• Little Rock School District

• Pulaski County Special School District

Public University

• Arkansas State University

• University of Arkansas

• University of Central Arkansas

Special Education School

• ACCESS Group

• Arkansas School for the Deaf

• Easterseals Arkansas

Media

Advertising Agency

• Agency GWL

• SixtyOne Celsius

• Stone Ward

Columnist/Reporter

• John Allen French Pocahontas Star Herald

• Kevin Shalin The Mighty Rib

• Dwain Hebda Ya!Mule Wordsmiths

Marketing Consultant

• Dan Sawyer Agency GWL

• Amanda Propst

• Turnbow & Winning Local

Marketing Firm

• Dave Creek Media

• SixtyOne Celsius

• The Communications Group

Radio Personality

• David Bazzel

• Justin Moore

• Poolboy

Social Media Specialist

• Jeff Turnbow

• Rock City Digital

• Synergetic Social

Little Rock Montessori School

TV Personality

• Kevin Kelly Fox 16

• Ansley Watson KATV

• Melinda Mayo KATV

Weather Person

• Melinda Mayo KATV

• Tom Brannon THV11

• Todd Yakoubian

If helping clients navigate real estate transactions is a love language, then that is, in fact, what Kassi Bell’s love language is. An accredited Real Estate Negotiation Expert, she opened Back Porch Realty, where she is principal broker, in her hometown of Beebe in 2023.

“I assist a builder in designing his new-construction home from start to finish and maintain the relationship with our clients along the way,” she said.

To give back to her community, she started Homes Closed, Lunches Paid, a program that provides a portion of the proceeds generated by Back Porch Realty to resolve school lunch debts at the local district. She also serves as a member of the Beebe Chamber of Commerce and the North Pulaski Board of Realtors.

“Giving back was something I wanted to do when I started Back Porch Realty,” she said. “I’ve loved watching this town grow but still have a hometown feel.”

& COMPANY, PA IS

People & Places

Chamber of Commerce

• Cabot Chamber of Commerce

• Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce

• Little Rock Regional Chamber

CVB

(Convention & Visitors Bureau)

• North Little Rock Tourism

• Visit Bentonville

• Visit Hot Springs

Fundraiser

• Arkansas Duck Derby

Conway Regional Health Foundation

• Hot Springs Prohibition

• Wild Wines Little Rock Zoo

Services

Architect

• Bram Keahey

Taggart Architects

• Charley Penix

Cromwell Architects Engineers

• Reese Rowland

Polk Stanley Wilcox

Person of the Year

• Jim Keet

• Pastor Mark Evans

• Butch Rice

Stallion Transportation Group

Place to Worship

• Calvary Baptist Church

• Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church

• The Church at Rock Creek

Wedding Venue

• Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa

• Rusty Tractor Vineyards

• The Venue at Oakdale

Auction

• Blackmon Auctions

• I-40 Auto Auction — Gaylen McGee

• Wilson Auctioneers

Customer Service

• Conway Regional Medical Center

• David’s Burgers

• Superior Senior Care

Services

Dog Groomer

• Dat Pooch

• K9 Kleaners

• Schnazzy Grooming

Doggy Day Care

• Chenal Pet Palace

• Hounds Lounge Pet Resort & Spa

• The Barking Lot

Dry Cleaner

• Hangers Cleaners

• Oak Forest Cleaners

• Tide Cleaners

Financial Advisor

• April Pollard

Edward Jones

• Red Dog Investment Group

• Scott Daniel

WealthPath Investment Advisors

Funeral Home

• A Natural State Funeral Service

• Roller Funeral Homes

• Smith Family Funeral Homes

Heating & AC Service

• Dash Heating, Cooling & Plumbing

• Middleton Heat & Air

• Rood Heating & Cooling

Housekeeping

• Bless the Mess Cleaning Co.

• Merry Maids of Little Rock

• Molly Maid of Greater Little Rock

Jewelry Designer

• Cecil’s Fine Jewelry

• Sissy’s Log Cabin

• Underwoods Fine Jewelers

ROLLER FUNERAL HOMES

Law Firm

• Taylor King Law

• The Law Offices of Katherine E. Blackmon

• Wright Lindsey Jennings

Nonprofit

• Junior Achievement of Arkansas

• Renewal Ranch

• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana

Party Planning/Products/Rentals

• Just Peachy

• Party Time Rental and Events

• Tipton & Hurst

Pest Control

• Empire Pest Solutions

• Legacy Termite & Pest Control

• The Bug Man

Photographer

• Cassie Jones Photography

• Jeff Fuller-Freeman Photography

• Lori Sparkman Photography

“Love Dat Pooch taking care of Charlie Brown!” — Heather Baker

Erin Wilson Photography and Films

Services

Plumber

• Advantage Service Co.

• Ray Lusk Plumbing

• Victory Plumbing

Promotional Services

• Print X Press

• RockStar Passes

• Trivia Marketing

Seasonal Designer

• Sandy Sutton

• Silks A Bloom

• Tipton & Hurst

Siding/Windows/Roofing

• Elevate Roofing

• Pella Windows & Doors of North Little Rock

• Wilson’s Home Improvement

Special Events Planner

• Anne-Claire Allen Owens

• Roseberry Farms

• Signature Events

Travel Agency

• Poe Travel

• Small World Big Fun

• Sue Smith Vacations

Veterinarian

• Lake Hamilton & Hot Springs Animal Hospitals

• Pleasant Valley Veterinary Clinic

• Sartin Animal Care Clinic

Video Production

• Cranford Co.

• CWP Productions

• Dave Creek Media

Web Design

• Rock City Digital

• Turnbow & Winning Local

• Webmonster

Thank you to the thousands of readers who nominated Conway Regional as a top 3 finalist in multiple categories:

Best Hospital

Best Overall Company

Best Place to Work

Our team is also a proud top 3 finalist for

In-Home Care – Conway Regional Home Health

Conway Regional Therapy Clinics

Conway Regional is committed to bringing you innovative services, new clinics, more specialists, and expanded access to care.

Shopping

Arkansas Handmade Products

• Aromatique

• Fischer’s Honey

• Rock Town Distillery

Bridal Store

• Inverness Bridal

• Low’s Bridal

• The Bridal Cottage

CBD Store

Garden Center

• Hocott’s Garden Center

• Lumber1 Home Center

• The Good Earth Garden Center

Florist | Gift Store | Seasonal Designer Party Planning, Products, Rentals

Brewpub

• Flyway Brewing

• Lost Forty Brewing

• Superior Bathhouse Brewery

Happy Hour

• Dugan’s Pub

• Petit & Keet

• Sauced Bar & Oven

Sports

Fitness Center/Gym

• 365 Fitness

• Conway Regional Health & Fitness Center

• The Athletic Clubs

• Ozark Outdoor Supply Spirits

Liquor Store

• Lake Liquor

• Legacy Wine and Spirits

• O’Looney’s Wine & Liquor

Golf Course

• Maumelle Country Club

• Pleasant Valley Country Club

• The Alotian Club

Personal Trainer

• Brooke Walker

365 Fitness

• Erika Setzler

Conway Regional Health & Fitness Center

• Jean Paul Francoeur

JP Fitness

Sporting Goods Store

• Fort Thompson

• Mack’s Prairie Wings

Top Employers

Boss

• Suzanne Yee, M.D.

Dr. Suzanne Yee Cosmetic & Laser Surgery Center

• Ryan Flynn

Network Services Group

• Nicole Hurst Puckett

Superior Senior Care & Puckett Auto Group

CEO

• Troy Wells Baptist Health

• Matt Troup

Conway Regional Health System

• Quincy Hurst

Superior Senior Care

Chief Financial Officer

• Bill Pack

Conway Regional Health System

• Sylvia Murchison

Goodwill Industries of Arkansas

• Jennifer Bridges

OrthoArkansas

Overall Company

• Conway Regional Health System

• Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort

• Superior Senior Care

Philanthropy Company

• Renewal Ranch

• Stallion Transportation Group

• Tacos 4 Life

Vehicle Dealers and Services

Auto Dealership Service Department

• BMW of Little Rock

• Everett Buick GMC

• Russell Chevrolet Co.

Auto Glass Repair

• Bentonville Glass

• Capitol Glass Co.

• Glass Doctor

Place to Work

• Conway Regional Health System

• Everett Automotive Group

• Superior Senior Care

Boat/Marine Dealership

• Gregg Orr Marine

• Hot Springs Marina

• Lacey’s Narrows Marina and Boating Center

Butch Rice

Person of the Year

Stallion Transportation Group

Best Philanthropy Company

Stallion is truly humbled to be recognized for these awards, and we would like to thank everyone who participated in the voting process. It is an honor to serve our customers, our community, and the great state of Arkansas.

Vehicle Dealers and Services

Car Salesperson

• Chris Puckett Puckett Auto Group

• Shawn McAnulty Smith Ford

• Saif Tareen BMW of Little Rock

Car Wash

• Puckett Auto Group

• Splash Car Wash & 10-Minute Oil Change

• Take 5 Car Wash

New Car Dealership

• BMW of Little Rock

• Fletcher Auto Group

• Russell Chevrolet Co.

Pre-owned Car Dealership

• Puckett Auto Group

• Russell Chevrolet Co.

• Smith Ford

RV Dealership

• Moix RV Supercenter

• Razorback Camper Sales

• RV City

Tire Center

• Austin Brothers Tire & Service

• Discount Tire & Brake

• Vaughan Tire Co.

Window Tint

• Conway Glass Tinting

• D&D Sun Control

• The Tint Studio

What is kindergarten readiness?

A child that is ready for kindergarten has the social, emotional, and academic knowledge, skills and behaviors for school success, which results in lifelong learning.

Partner for success

Preparing for school begins at birth. Daily interactions with family and other caregivers promote learning. Talking, reading, and playing may seem simple but are critical activities that help children’s minds and behaviors develop.

Better Beginnings early childhood educators prepare children for kindergarten with positive experiences, research-based curriculum, and learning through play.

Families can partner with their early childhood educators at child care to focus on getting their child ready for kindergarten.

Better Beginnings has tools to help families focus on kindergarten readiness. The Kindergarten

Better Beginnings is administered by the Arkansas Department of Education.

Readiness

Written by Kelli Hilburn, Better Beginnings Program Administrator

Readiness section of our Family Resource Library helps families learn the skills and knowledge expected of children starting school. Families can follow weekby-week activities for learning at home in the Getting Ready for Kindergarten Calendar. All resources are free and available online for download.

Scan the code or click Kindergarten Readiness in our website footer for the tools to get started.

Help your child start school with confidence

We encourage families to partner with their child care early educators to help their child start kindergarten with confidence. Looking for your early education partner?

Click the orange banner at ARBetterBeginnings.com to find star-rated quality early educators who help children get ready for kindergarten through positive learning experiences.

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M O M S 2024 S U P

Moms are special. They welcome us to the world, watch us grow, sing us to sleep, and bandage our knees and elbows.

Moms are resilient. They hold their breath when we climb tall trees or swim in the deep end, occasionally pulling us from the rapids.

Moms are sentient. They know our fears, cheer us on, worry over us, soothe our disappointments and mend our broken hearts.

Moms are all those things and a hundred more, putting in long hours without complaint, juggling career, household and children, serving as cook and counselor, driver and confidante, with a ready ear and an understanding nature.

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Don’t forget to turn everything CMYK and make sure every photo is at least 200 dpi. Please remove all color swatches that are not used and make the remaining swatches are CMYK.

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May is the month of Mother’s Day and an occasion to recognize the special women who have given so much to help us become the people we are. It is also the month AY About You spotlights Super Moms: very special women who consistently answer the call of duty on behalf of their families. Super Moms do it all and make it look easy, and we are proud of each and every member of this year’s class.

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Here’s to you.

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Carrie Carr

LLooking back, Carrie Carr described it as “probably out of the ordinary” for her coworkers and clients to encourage rather than discourage her from having children. Since her twins did not come along until she was 43, however, Carr felt that it was “now or never” — and what a rewarding “now” it has been. Her favorite part of motherhood, she said, is the laughter, and she enjoys going to museums and theater performances with her family. While there may be a misconception that there may not be enough time to be a mom, for Carr, it all comes down to time management, “blocking time for Mom’s work and interests and blocking time for togetherness and their interests.”

How did you get into your career?

When the Iraq War started, I was teaching as a civilian instructor for the U.S. Navy so that sailors could gain college credits in English composition while at sea. I taught on six different ships on missions around the world. The program seemed in jeopardy with the start of the war, so a local investment bank where I worked during college summers asked if I wanted to join full-time to onboard new advisors across the country. I accepted and started doing that after passing my Series 7 and 63 exams.

What has been the most unexpected part of being a mom?

How much they remember!

Does your family have any interesting traditions? Seafood gumbo and homemade eggnog on Christmas Day.

What is the most memorable piece of advice you received about motherhood?

Benign neglect. When a mom with grown kids told me this, it seemed a harsh phrase at first, but motherhood, for better or worse, is mostly about raising

CHILDREN: Valerie Hill and Wentworth Hill (5)

OCCUPATION: Investment Advisor

EDUCATION:

B.A. and M.A. in English Literature; Series 7 and Series 63 licenses

FAVORITE SONG: “Dancing Queen” by ABBA

DREAM VACATION:

Taking a train from the English Channel to the Caspian Sea with many stops in between.

independent souls to make their way in the world. The mom who told me this raised a prolific film producer and a congressperson and attorney, so I think she’s onto something.

How did your upbringing influence your parenting style?

Dad is from a military family that lived around the globe slightly before and after World War II. He was taught that it’s easy to make friends and to speak to as many people as he could. Mom was raised on the frontier of south Texas in the 1940s and ’50s, where she scouted around with a big imagination on her horse in her dad’s orchards. My parents taught me to be a friendly explorer, and I hope my children learn to be that from me.

What advice would you give to new or soon-to-be moms?

A late friend once told me that children “pick their parents.” I have always taken comfort in that thought and in how many meanings it may have. For me, it means if I listen and concentrate, my children will show me their futures, dreams and goals, and I’ll head there with them.

Photo by Steve Lewis

Melissa Chance

RRather than slowing down now that she and husband Larry have an empty nest, Melissa Chance has instead been hard at work on another project. Her first book, Parenthood: Project Protection, out this June, is a parent’s guide to “navigating the dangers our children and teens face in today’s world, such as social media, bullying and sex trafficking, just to name a few.” Chance is also keen to remind others that parenting does not end just because the kids leave home. “As you watch them make big life decisions, you are right there with them, praying for them and coaching them,” she said. “I believe being a mom is a job for life!”

What is the most memorable piece of advice you received about motherhood?

When my first child was about 2 years old, a wise older lady told me, “There will be so many ‘nos’ in your child’s life. When you are able to, say ‘yes’ to them.” So many times, our children ask something of us that requires our time, and it is easy to say no because, of course, moms are always exhausted. When my children were young, if they asked something of me, I would take the time to think it through before giving them my answer. Saying “yes” when you can also makes the “nos” you give them less frustrating.

What has been the most unexpected part of being a mom?

When my kids left home, they became my friends. I respect who they are and the choices they make. They are all truly wonderful people, and spending time with them is an absolute joy. Yes, there are times I have to keep my unsolicited advice to myself, but I think that is one of the reasons they like spending time with me. They know I have their back, and they absolutely have mine.

What other “moms” or mother figures in your life do you look up to?

When I was newly engaged, I realized I had no idea how to be a wife or a mother. There was a lady in her 70s at my church named Kitty Longstreth, and I always admired her from afar because she was so wise and kind. One day, I called her out of the blue and asked if she would mentor me. She had no idea who I was, but she agreed, and I met with her once a week for several years. I still have the five-page handwritten letter of blessing she wrote to me when I got married.

Does your family have any interesting traditions?

We have gone to the beach together every year since they were babies, and we still do so. The fun part is now we have added my daughter’s husband, Matthew, and my son’s fiancee, Katie. It is a great bonding time for us.

What advice would you give to new or soon-to-be moms?

When a mom has young children at home, it is so tempting for some to believe they must have a perfectly clean house, serve only organic meals, etc. When your children are older, they will not remember shiny floors but the quality time spent with their moms.

AAt 81, Bobbi “Nanny” Helton has plenty of hard-won advice to give to the younger parents out there. Toward the top of her words of wisdom is: “Always keep in mind that there is more time behind you than there is ahead of you as you get older,” she said. Helton and husband Bill started Helton’s Wrecker Service shortly after their marriage in 1961, which led the Miami native to Conway. There, Helton attended the University of Central Arkansas, and she and her family still love UCA football tailgating and cheering on the Bears. Rather than presenting obstacles, Helton said, her children were raised in the family business and “involved in every bit of it.”

CHILDREN: David (passed 2018); Shelley Young (56); Scotty (passed 2023)

OCCUPATION:

Owner, Helton’s Wrecker Service; EMT (retired); Social Services (retired)

EDUCATION:

University of Central Arkansas, EMT School

FAVORITE SONG: “Kentucky Rain” by Elvis Presley

DREAM VACATION:

Going back to my home, Miami, Florida — the beach!

Bobbi “Nanny” Helton

How do you make “you time” to recharge?

I played softball and spent all my time with my children. I never needed to recharge.

What is a typical day like for you?

Caring for my two doggies and kitty and being with my daughter, my grands and great grands.

How did your upbringing influence your parenting style?

I knew exactly what I was and was not going to be like. I have always been devoted to my family.

What has been the most unexpected part of being a mom?

Losing my two boys so young and only five years apart.

What other “moms” or mother figures in your life do you look up to?

My grandma. She was my favorite person.

Does your family have any interesting traditions? Not really. Everything we do is interesting, and there’s never a dull moment.

What is the biggest misconception people have about being a mom?

That it’s not all fun and games. I had three children, and in so many ways, they were just alike and yet nothing alike at all. You just do your best and always let them know they are loved.

What is the most memorable piece of advice you received about motherhood?

Always stop what you are doing and hug them — always!

What advice would you give to new or soon-to-be moms?

Walk away from those dishes in the sink. They will always be there. The moments won’t.

What is your favorite part of motherhood?

Everything! There hasn’t been a moment that wasn’t my favorite.

What kind of legacy do you hope to leave behind for your children?

Be nice. “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothin’ at all.”

Photo by Chris Davis

CHILDREN:

Leyla (14); Leia, Elle and Brison (6)

OCCUPATION:

Founder, ALS In Wonderland; CEO, Team Up World

FAVORITE SONG:

“As” by Stevie Wonder

DREAM VACATION:

St. Martin in the French West Indies

LLife in the nonprofit sector is often nonstop. Add four children to the mix, including triplets, and it is a wonder Lara Blume McGee finds any time for herself. Thankfully, the former model turned business owner and philanthropist makes me time a priority; she understands that time spent recharging ultimately makes her better equipped to navigate challenges, support others and lead a fulfilling and balanced life. It is also a lesson she is eager to impart on new mothers. “Whether it’s finding time for a relaxing bath, engaging in hobbies, or seeking help from family and friends, it is important to carve out moments for self-nurturing,” she said. “Remember, you are not alone, and it’s OK to ask for help.”

Lara Blume McGee

What has been the most unexpected part of being a mom?

The most unexpected part of being a mom is the overwhelming surge of unconditional love that fills your heart. It’s a love that surpasses anything you could have ever imagined or experienced before. From the moment you hold your babies in your arms, you are consumed by an indescribable bond that is both incredibly powerful and humbling. This love brings immense joy and a deep sense of purpose, but it can also be overwhelming at times as it comes with a newfound vulnerability and a constant worry for your children’s well-being.

What are some of your family’s favorite activities? Traveling with my family is incredibly important as it allows for quality time together, creating lasting memories and strengthening our bond. It provides an opportunity to explore new places, cultures and experiences, fostering a sense of adventure and curiosity. Our trips also offer valuable educational experiences, teaching our children about the world beyond their everyday lives.

What is your favorite part of motherhood?

My favorite part about being a mom is witnessing the incredible growth and development of my children. From their first steps and words to their unique personality shining through, it is a privilege to be a part of their journey. I cherish the precious moments of laughter, cuddles and exploration together, as well as the opportunity to nurture and guide them toward becoming their best selves. Being a mom allows me to experience the purest form of love and to witness the magic of life through their eyes.

What kind of legacy do you hope to leave behind for your children?

My greatest desire is to leave a legacy of love, strength and resilience for my children. I try to instill in them the values of compassion, kindness and empathy, teaching them to treat others with respect and understanding. Above all, I want to leave a legacy of unconditional love and support, creating a safe and nurturing environment where my children feel cherished, valued and empowered to become the best versions of themselves.

Alyvia Morris

FFor Alyvia Morris, taking care of others has always been easy — even when it gets especially tough. Her desire to make a difference in the lives of others led her to nursing, where she gives her all to patients and families for 12 hours at a time. The days are just as nonstop at home, between getting the oldest to school, entertaining the little ones and still somehow making time for chores and meals. Despite the oftentimes frantic pace, Morris cannot get enough of parenthood, and she still finds herself surprised by just how endless that motherly love can be. “I want them to know that I tried my best every single day to give them the life that they deserve,” she said.

Did having children present any obstacles in your career?

Yes, oh my goodness. I’m so thankful for the village of people who help me when I have to work because working as a nurse is hard. After all my kids are in school, I plan on going back to school for my APRN in psychology. Right now, my kids need me more at home, so eventually, with God’s timing, I’ll be right where I need to be.

How do you make “you time” to recharge?

My parents just bought me a massage for Christmas and a spring break gift, and I cannot wait to use them. Usually, I just like being at home with all my kids. They really make my world go round. I enjoy spending time with my husband and my kids, riding our side-by-side out on our lease.

How did your upbringing influence your parenting style?

My mom is the best mom there is. I watched her do it all, and every single day, I strive to be more like her. She was patient when I was a teenager with all my mood swings. She is also the most giving person I

CHILDREN: Brynnleigh (7); Maisyn (2); Hollyn (7 months)

OCCUPATION: Registered Nurse

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s in Psychology and Family Consumer Science, Associate’s in Nursing

FAVORITE SONG: “Spin You Around” by Morgan Wallen

DREAM VACATION: 10 days in Bora Bora with a good book.

know. I always tell her, “I want to be like you when I grow up.”

What other “moms” or mother figures in your life do you look up to?

My husband’s grandmother, Sandra, aka Mawmaw, is the epitome of a Southern grandma. She is someone who is always there for her family. She is at every one of her grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s activities. It doesn’t matter the location; you can always count on her to be there. Every holiday, even the small ones, she has a basket of goodies to give each of us. Sunday after church, we can always go to her house for lunch or stop by unexpectedly, and she will always feed us and love on my girls. She is the best of the best.

What advice would you give to new or soon-to-be moms?

“You got this, Mama.” Just try your best for your babies, and be the best version of yourself for them. You deserve the world. You just created the most precious gift, and at the end of the day, a happy mom is the best mom to have.

IIt can be easy to approach the family business with the intention of keeping things pretty much the way they have always been. That was not the case for Rachel Parker Harding, however. In her 15 years at Parker Luxury Group, she has worked all over the company — from sales to marketing and from service to business operations — making improvements and focusing on growth at every stop along the way. As a mom, Parker Harding has another kind of growth on her mind: that of her two boys. The advice she would give to new mothers is the same reminder she was given just a few days after the birth of her first son, “This is the last day they will be this small.”

OCCUPATION: General Manager, Parker Luxury Group

EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of Arkansas in Fayetteville

CHILDREN: Five (11) Wilder (7)

Rachel Parker Harding

How do you make “you time” to recharge?

I rise long before the sun because it’s the only time of day I am guaranteed to get uninterrupted time alone.

What is a typical day like for you?

My schedule changes from day to day, but two constants remain — my early morning coffee and stretching. If time allows, I go for a run, walk or attend an exercise class, and no matter what the day entails, we end it playing “high-low,” where we talk about our day and share one positive and one negative.

What other “moms” or mother figures in your life do you look up to?

There are so many incredible women I admire, from my mother and mother-in-law to my best friends, and the many women alongside me at Parker Luxury Group. While I feel fortunate to have such strong women as part of my daily life, there are two women

no longer here I think about every single day: my two grandmothers, “Grandma” and “Mimi.” They both set incredible examples in their differing circumstances.

What are some of your family’s favorite activities?

We love to fish. Whether it be on the banks of Lake Ouachita or in the deep sea, if we have the opportunity to fish, we take it, and I would like to mention that I always out-fish everyone! I grew up fishing with my grandfather, so I am proud to carry on his fisherman legacy, as well.

What is your favorite part of motherhood?

Laughing with my family. I am a big believer in having a laugh every day. Being a mom of two boys, there is never a dull moment, and they provide plenty of material. There is no sweeter sound to me than hearing my boys’ laughter.

Maggie Polk

TThey might be new parents technically speaking, but Maggie and Nick Polk have been praying and preparing for the arrival of baby Palmer Grace for nearly a decade now. After Maggie was diagnosed with unexplained infertility, the couple jumped headfirst into treatments, resulting in four rounds of IUI and three rounds of IVF. Last year, the Polks matched with an adoption agency and were finally able to welcome Palmer into the world. “All of the struggles and obstacles that we had to face in our journey to become parents have made us realize how truly blessed we are by such an incredible group of family and friends,” Maggie said. “She truly has no idea how much she has changed and completed our lives, as well as the lives of so many others.”

How did you get into your career?

I completed my degree in May 2012 and was fortunate enough to jump right in and start teaching first grade that August. I have switched back and forth, teaching first grade for four years and pre-K for eight. When I was approached and offered my current position as pre-K director in the early summer of 2020, I was a little hesitant to take on the new title, but I’m incredibly grateful that I did.

Did having children present any obstacles or speed bumps in your career?

Oh man, did it! I was having to wean off of my anxiety medication, endure the hundreds of needle pricks, insane hormone levels and the resulting heartache and disappointment of another failed round, all while going back into my classroom every day without letting my students see my pain and despair.

What is a typical day like for you?

Palmer and I usually get up around 5 a.m. and have our coffee and formula dates. After I get her changed and ready for the day, she hangs out with her bestie, Bluey, while I start getting ready for school. We chat about our plans for the day while I’m getting ready and

CHILDREN: Palmer Grace (4 months)

OCCUPATION: Pre-K Director, Lead Teacher

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s in early childhood education, Arkansas State University

FAVORITE SONG: “Gold Dust Woman” by Fleetwood Mac

DREAM VACATION: Bora Bora

waiting for her daddy or Nonna to tag in. Nothing about my work day is typical or predictable as a pre-K teacher. It is non-stop chaos, crazy and fun, and I love every minute of it.

What are some of your family’s favorite activities?

My family loves to do anything that involves spending time together. We love having cookouts, traveling, going to Chicago Cubs baseball games, watching any type of sporting event or just hanging out at home, laughing and playing games.

What is the most memorable piece of advice you received about motherhood?

When we came home from the hospital, my mom offered to stay the night with us to take care of Palmer so that we could get a full night’s rest. I woke up the next morning and started crying, telling her how thankful I was for her help. She looked at Palmer, then looked at me, and said, “I would do anything at all to help you, because I love you so very much. Now you know that type of love too, huh?” It wasn’t necessarily advice, but it was a monumental moment in my relationship with my mom.

Photo by Sarah Wallace

RRobyn Richardson is nothing if not eager to learn. That work ethic is what took her, communications degree fresh in hand, from “the greenest rookie on the block” as a KTHV producer and reporter to the coveted role of morning news anchor. Along the way, Richardson married and embarked on a very different journey — motherhood. After juggling her family and demanding broadcast schedule for a time, Richardson decided to hang up the microphone in 2007. Her retirement did not last long, however, and she soon found her next gig in the world of interior decorating, where she continues to collaborate with Richardson Properties and RichSmith Management to bring beauty and style to every project.

CHILDREN: Alexandra (34); Olivia (23); Lowery (20, not pictured); Parker (19)

OCCUPATION: Decorator, Former KTHV News Anchor

EDUCATION: Bachelor of Arts in Communication

FAVORITE SONG: “It’s Tricky” by Run-D.M.C.

DREAM VACATION: Iceland for a Northern Lights tour

Robyn Richardson

Did having children present any obstacles to your career?

My challenge was having three children so close together. Alexandra was 10 years old and a big help, but your babies still need you for everything. Working overnight also presents speed bumps. However, I was fortunate enough to work for an understanding company and with supportive co-workers.

How did your upbringing influence your parenting style?

My parents divorced when I was 5 years old. They worked together to provide me with a loving upbringing. My mother, Trish, is the most nurturing human I know. From my father, I inherited a sense of adventure and zest for life. My grandfather, John Lowery, taught me about giving back to my community and helping others. He also taught me the importance of an education and setting goals. I think I combine all of these aspects into raising our children. They have rules, and they know the repercussions of breaking them. but they also know we love them and will always be there for them.

What are some of your family’s favorite activities? Our family loves to play games. We are a competitive

crew. Some of our favorite activities include UNO, cornhole, bocce, pickleball and cooking meals together.

Does your family have any interesting traditions? We travel together every Christmas. We also collect Christmas ornaments from our travels and display them on what we call our travel tree. It’s fun to look back and think about the places we’ve been and the memories we’ve made.

What advice would you give to new or soon-tobe moms?

In the end, you have to do what’s right for you and your child. In fact, I’ve learned that there’s no “right way.” There is just the right way for you and your family. No one is a perfect mom. but there will also be days you win the freaking championship.

Is there anything else we should know about your family?

My husband, Keith, is my absolute lifeline in this wild ride of parenting. He’s not just my partner; he’s my rock, my shield and my favorite person to share every moment with. I’m truly grateful to have him as my sidekick in this crazy adventure we call life.

Photo by Steve Lewis

GGrowing up, Faiza Samad was always close to her mother, and having three children of her own has given her a more profound appreciation for all the duties — and joys — that role entails. Now, she said she is fortunate to have both her own mother and her mother-in-law as influences. Drawing on their examples, Samad hopes above all to leave a positive legacy for her children, and she believes that the most valuable things they can inherit from her are the “intangible treasures,” such as precious memories, strong characters and a deep sense of charity. She knows that her children look to her for guidance, and she cherishes that responsibility. “I can truly say that being a mother has been my life’s greatest role!” she said.

CHILDREN:

OCCUPATION: Licensed Professional Counselor

EDUCATION: Masters in Educational Counseling

DREAM VACATION: African Safari

Faiza Samad

How did you get into your career?

Since high school, I’ve been interested in the idea of becoming a therapist. This passion led me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology and, later, a master’s in counseling. Over the years, I’ve gained valuable experience in many settings, including schools and private practice. For the past seven years, I’ve been part of the dedicated team at Chenal Family Therapy.

How do you make “you time” to recharge?

I make it a point to wake up early and get in a workout before the day starts off. I enjoy a peaceful cup of coffee in the morning, undisturbed, which helps me ease into the day feeling fully alert. In the evening after putting the kids to sleep, I enjoy spending quality time with my husband and discussing our day. Whenever my schedule allows, I like to take trips, catch up with friends and volunteer my time for community service.

Does your family have any interesting traditions?

In our family, we celebrate the holiday Eid, which follows a month of fasting (Ramadan). My husband and I make it a point to create a festive atmosphere for the

kids. With the day off from school and work, we gather with friends and family, enjoying a day filled with socializing, exchanging gifts and indulging in delicious food.

What is the most memorable piece of advice you received about motherhood?

Empower your children with the tools and resources they need to thrive independently. While it is important to support and guide them along their journey, allowing them the space to learn and grow on their own is crucial. As parents, it is natural to want to solve all of their problems, but doing so can hinder their ability to make their own decisions in the long run. Encouraging independence fosters self-reliance and resilience, preparing them for the challenges they’ll face in life.

What is your favorite part of motherhood?

Whether it is their first day of school or scoring their first soccer goal, sharing in their joy is an indescribable feeling. I also enjoy observing how their personalities develop over time.

Aydin (8); Ayaan (5); Zara (2)

Anita Scott

WWhen it comes to motherhood, Anita Scott could happily talk all day. She always wanted to be a mom, and she considers it the highest honor in the world to have made a “career” out of raising her three daughters, McKenna, Marit and Micah. She said they brought out the best in her, and she feels that putting them first made her a better person. “I tell my daughters all the time that they will never experience the love that their father and I have for them until they become a mother one day,” she said. “I am more than blessed.”

How did you get into your career?

My major was early childhood education, but after marrying in 1986, I began working for an ophthalmologist and in part-time sales at Dillard’s.

How did you make time to recharge?

My husband, Michael, and I strolled our three daughters 5 miles, three to four times a week, and we made time to go to the gym. Anything I did without my girls, my husband was there to help with.

How did your upbringing influence your parenting style?

I was adopted by two wonderful Christians, and they raised me in the church. I did my best to imitate their example as they were the best role models.

What has been the most unexpected part of being a mom?

The amount of love that I feel for my children, and how my identity turned into “McKenna, Marit and Micah’s mom,” which I cherish!

Does your family have any interesting traditions?

I grew up in Panama City, Florida, and after our

CHILDREN: McKenna (31); Marit (28); Micah (25)

OCCUPATION: Homemaker

EDUCATION: Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama

FAVORITE SONG: “That’s What I Love About Sunday” by Craig Morgan

DREAM VACATION: Dublin, Ireland

daughters were born, we made a wonderful tradition of vacationing and spending spring break there by way of Oxford, Mississippi, and Fairhope, Alabama. Our vacations were three weeks at a time to ensure we could enjoy each place we visited.

What is the biggest misconception people have about being a mom?

That it’s easy, you still get lots of personal time and that you can sleep through the night.

What other moms or mother figures in your life do you look up to?

I was raised in the church surrounded by many Christian women who always put their children first. When our girls were small, I would go to various “Mommy and me” classes, and I was able to witness wonderful mothers by surrounding myself with them.

What advice would you give to a new or soon-tobe mom?

Don’t compare yourself to other mothers. Do not set unrealistic expectations. Form groups with mothers around the same age.

IIf anyone thought life slowed down once the kids moved out, allow Regina Parks Seelinger to correct the record. Her three sons all live locally, and their demanding health care careers mean Seelinger has plenty of opportunity to help out with her 11 — soon to be 12 — grandchildren. Whether it be school drop off or pickup, watching the little ones during the day, or ferrying them to all manner of dance practices, piano lessons, ball games and competitions, Seelinger cherishes every chance to spend time with her still-growing family. “I drive a van with 10 car seats, and I wish I had all the seats filled everyday,” she said. “I like to think that at this stage of my life, grandkids are my ‘calling.’”

CHILDREN: Mason (37); Payton (36); Carson (31)

OCCUPATION: Owner, Spokes Little Rock

EDUCATION: Northeast High School

FAVORITE SONG:

“I Speak Jesus” by Charity Gayle

DREAM VACATION:

Hawaii, with my husband, Mat, for our 40th anniversary.

Regina Parks Seelinger

How do you make “you time” to recharge?

This is something I should probably work on. I enjoy getting out on my bike. I’m a casual rider, definitely not a racer, and I often bring some grandkids along for the ride. I also like working in my yard. I get the love of flowers from my mom and have been accused a few times of having too many around our home.

What has been the most unexpected part of being a mom?

I thought being a boy mom was the best it could possibly get, but grandkids are way up there too. Our first six were girls, so I’m getting to experience girly things this go around. In the nine years I’ve been Gigi, they’ve taught me a lot!

What other moms or mother figures in your life do you look up to?

My mom, Frances Parks. She passed away in August of 2022. She taught me so much. She had a servant’s heart, and I hope to be just like her and cook half as well.

Does your family have any interesting traditions? We love to eat and appreciate tasty food. I enjoy

cooking, so birthdays are celebrated with the birthday person choosing the menu, and I get to prepare it.

What is the most memorable piece of advice you received about motherhood?

Your children’s friends greatly impact their lives and make a huge difference. There is a reason why children from the same family, the same upbringing, turn out so different. Teach your children to choose friends that are like-minded with the same morals and characteristics they want to have.

What is your favorite part of motherhood?

Watching my boys grow and develop. When they were toddlers, I thought they were the perfect age. The older they became, my feelings never changed. Even when we had three teenagers in the house, I wanted to freeze time because I enjoyed them so much. Now they are grown, educated and have careers, spouses and children of their own, and I still feel like they’re the perfect age.

What kind of legacy do you hope to leave behind for your children?

Keep Jesus close to your heart. In the world we live in today, they will need him often.

Photo by Chris Davis

The Dreamers of DREAMS

ALS in Wonderland invites supporters to imagine a world without ALS

By SARAH DECLERK // Photos provided

AALS in Wonderland Foundation, a nonprofit that assists patients who have Lou Gehrig’s disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, will present A World of Pure Imagination, its 10th annual soiree, at 7 p.m. May 23 at the Junior League of Little Rock. The event will provide an evening of fashion, inspiration and sweet treats a la Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Lara Blume McGee, founder of ALS in Wonderland, said the soiree, like the organization’s name, a play on Alice in Wonderland, is meant to provide a sense of wonder and a break from the daily trials of ALS.

“Dealing with ALS on a day-to-day basis, your life is surrounded, everything, by ALS from everything you do when you wake up in the morning to how you’re sleeping,” she said. “When it came to the events, I wanted them to kind of take their mind off of that. Let’s come to a whimsical world, and join us as we bring education and awareness and light and hope to our patients’ lives.”

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, the ALS Association states, causing a progressive loss of muscle control. Blume McGee learned how hard it is to watch a loved one with ALS decline after her father, Richard Blume, was diagnosed in 2009.

“ALS takes so much from you,” she said. “My father was an athlete, and he was never sick. I can’t ever

remember him being sick a day in his life, and when he was diagnosed, he progressed so quickly. … ALS took away the ability for him to do everything — to talk, to eat, to ride his bike, play golf.”

She said she did not know much about the disease when she first learned about the diagnosis. She looked up the disease, believing that her father would recover after receiving treatment. However, there is no cure for ALS, and he died in 2015.

Originally from Little Rock, Blume McGee moved back home from California in 2012. While assisting her father, she realized there was a huge need for an organization that supports ALS patients in Arkansas. At the time, only one other organization provided assistance, and there was a lot of red tape patients had to go through to access services, she said.

“I wanted to create something that was more benevolent, where if patients needed something, they asked us, and we got it done,” she said. “We try to help them a lot financially because there’s so much other stuff to worry about. Finances are the last thing you want to worry about.”

The

organization provides free medical equipment, organizes fundraisers for patients who need expensive items such as wheelchair-accessible vans, helps patients pay for medicine, connects patients to caregiving grants and even helps with small needs, such as groceries.

The organization provides free medical equipment, organizes fundraisers for patients who need expensive items such as wheelchair-accessible vans, helps patients pay for medicine, connects patients to caregiving grants and even helps with small needs, such as groceries, she said. ALS in Wonderland also pays for hotel stays for patients who travel to the ALS clinic at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.

“When they come to town — and ALS patients are coming from all over rural areas in Arkansas — it’s a very long day at the clinic,” she said. “They’re there for, like, eight hours, so we usually pay for their rooms the night before and the night of just so they’re comfortable and they don’t have to get back on the road and drive.”

Blume McGee said one of the organization’s long-term goals is to build a house in Little Rock that will provide respite care for people with ALS.

Since its inception, the organization has granted more than $600,000 in direct funds to people living with ALS in Arkansas, she said. The organization is staffed entirely by volunteers and works to maintain very low overhead costs so the money raised goes directly to patients.

Support has grown over the years and skyrocketed in 2015, when the “ice bucket challenge” helped bring ALS to the front page of social media, she said. The ALS in

Lara Blume McGee

Wonderland Foundation Facebook page now has more than 13,000 followers, including many outside Arkansas.

“I get messages all the time, ‘Wish there was an organization like you guys in our city,’” she said. “They’ve asked us to open one, but it’s not that simple because it takes people that are volunteers, No. 1, and it takes people that are really passionate about the cause.”

There are currently 30 ALS patients in Arkansas registered with the organization, and there are an additional 145 patients who registered with the organization and are now deceased, she added. Although the organization does not help with ALS research, Blume McGee said she hopes there will be a time when patients no longer need ALS in Wonderland because there will be a cure.

“We’re just not there right now,” she said. “I think there will be a treatment within my lifetime, but there’s just not enough funds out there for the research as of now.”

The annual soiree, which takes place during ALS Awareness Month in May, has been a part of the organization since the beginning.

“We’ve grown so much,” she said. “I think the first show that we did was in July of 2012, and we did it over — literally over — we built a runway over the pool at Chenal Woods, which is a condominium in west Little Rock. There were probably 100 people there and we have grown to where there’s between 450 and 500 guests every year.”

The soiree took a two-year break during the COVID-19 pandemic but returned for its ninth year last year.

Ashton Hall

“This year, the theme is ‘A World of Pure Imagination’ Willy Wonka theme,” she said, “so there’s going to be lots of sweets, lots of candy, lots of chocolate.”

Although the event usually occurs on a Saturday, this year’s soiree is scheduled for a Thursday because of the availability of the Junior League event space.

“I’m really picky about where we do our event. I want it to meet our theme,” she said, adding that last year’s Greekthemed event took place at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Little Rock. “Every year, we kind of do a search, like, what’s our theme? What venue would be the best? This venue is the best. When you walk in, it already has that dark wood that already looks like chocolate, dark chocolate.”

Other previous themes have been based on The Wizard of Oz, The Secret Garden, Peter Pan and, of course, Alice in Wonderland

Heather Baker, president and publisher of AY Media Group, will host the event, which will include a fashion show by the Ashton Hall Collection, as well as a children’s fashion show, themed fare by Vibrant Occasions Catering in Benton, servers dressed in theme by LUV boutique in Little Rock, a live auction hosted by Gaylen McGee, a chocolate river and a memorial cherry blossom tree.

Five ALS Warriors will be honored at the event, including Eric Wichelt of Maumelle, Jesse Sanders of Little Rock, Elaine Hill of Newport, Dennis Roberts of Little Rock and Michael Murphy of Maumelle.

The fashion show is a traditional highlight of the soiree. Because of the milestone anniversary year, the Ashton Hall Collection will be the only designer showing at the soiree, which usually includes a few different designers. Hall, Little Rock-based creative director at the Ashton Hall Collection, was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in New York City, where he graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology.

I think there will be a treatment within my lifetime, but there’s just not enough funds out there for the research as of now.

— Lara Blume McGee, founder of ALS in Wonderland

To purchase a golden ticket or sponsor the event, interested individuals can visit the ALS in Wonderland website, alsinwonderland.com.

He said he began supporting ALS in Wonderland after meeting family members of patients who have ALS and being inspired by their drive to help others despite their personal challenges.

“I am excited to work with Lara Blume McGee again,” he said. “Last year, I presented a small capsule of my collection to a sold-out audience. Each year, the team pushes the envelope for an afternoon of fun and enlightenment about the ALS organization.”

His collection for ALS in Wonderland will include mens and womens designs featuring bold colors, patterns and prints, as well as classic silhouettes and whimsical details, he said, adding that each garment will be custom designed for each model.

“Come out for a great time, a wonderful experience, an unforgettable experience,” Blume McGee said. “What you take away is going to be invaluable.”

Other annual events include the Kevin Thompson Golf Tournament in August, the Arkansas Ale Run in fall and Christmas gift wrapping. Additional ways to support ALS in Wonderland include volunteering and donating to the organization through Coin Up and Walmart Spark Good, Blume McGee said.

“It’s been a long, long journey, and we’ve met so many families, and we’ve helped so many people,” she said. “I do wish my father was here to see it. I know he’s looking down, and he’s really happy and excited about the progress that we’ve made.”

ALS in Wonderland presents A World of Pure Imagination

7 p.m. May 23

Junior League of Little Rock

401 Scott St., Little Rock alsinwonderland.com

Fun themes and a fashion show help make the ALS in Wonderland soiree one of the most enjoyable charity events of the year.

By

Stueart Pennington’s World Championship

Running of the Tubs returns to Hot Springs

SARAH COLEMAN // Photos provided

Racing costume-coordinated teams with bathtubs on wheels careening down historic Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs may seem like an odd image, but it is the dream that a local merchant had nonetheless. This year will mark the wacky idea’s 19th year in practice, and Stueart Pennington’s World Championship Running of the Tubs will take place May 31 to June 1. Judging by the number of teams that will return to compete, the event is just as fun as it sounds.

Free and family-friendly, the Running of the Tubs is a decidedly unique event, and Pennington’s idea came to fruition in celebration and acknowledgement of Hot Springs’ rich history. Countless thousands of tourists have flocked to the world-famous thermal waters through the years to bathe in the warm springs and engage the therapeutic offerings provided by the many locations along Bathhouse Row.

Pennington’s dream was built with the goal of acknowledging the past and creating fun for the future. The idea was just offbeat enough to catch the attention of a local tourism council known for its own offbeat events such as the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Spa-Con pop culture convention.

“As the lore goes, [Pennington] had this idea to have a bathtub race, and everybody thought he was crazy. They thought it was a ridiculous idea,” said Bill Solleder, director of marketing at Visit Hot Springs.

“Imagine staying at a hotel in downtown Hot Springs, waking up in the morning to take a stroll to the promenade, and all you see is costumed teams pushing bathtubs down Bathhouse Row. It’s just ridiculous and super fun.”

— Bill Solleder, director of marketing at Visit Hot Springs

“He unfortunately passed away unexpectedly, and the powers that be decided to honor him and his crazy idea.”

The event seems like a fever dream in the best way possible, described properly as costumed teams pushing bathtubs filled with water down historic Bathhouse Row while spectators douse them with water guns.

Solleder said the event is fun for tourists and locals alike, and many of the original judges still participate as judges today. At this year’s races, the categories will include the following divisions: traditional, which are classic cast-iron tubs; modified, where tubs are created from other materials, such as fiberglass and sheet metal; and stock, which are small tubs created by Visit Hot Springs for those without access to a tub.

“We were finding that there were people interested in racing, but they didn’t have the wherewithal or knowledge to build a tub on wheels, so we built a couple of small tubs and introduced the stock tub races,” Solleder said.

“Any team can race on behalf of a nonprofit organization in the tub we provide for them, which then

enables anybody to be able to race. We were hoping to make [Running of the Tubs] more accessible, and we found that there was a rejuvenated energy. Then ESPN and PBS got involved.”

Such national attention created a snowball effect, and the bathtub races grew exponentially, gaining teams statewide and across the country. Downtown merchants witnessed new life being brought in by the races, and the title eventually changed to include World Championship in its branding.

“Ever since then, it’s just been going gangbusters,” Solleder said. “It’s been a huge and super fun success for people who come to see it every year.”

Solleder said there have been several teams repeating throughout the years as they compete for the official title of World Champion, including teams from the local police and fire departments, Riser Ford in Hot Springs, and, notably, the Austin Weirdos, who are accustomed to the best of the wildest events.

It is to nobody’s surprise that teams and regular attendees have fun at the event, but according to Solleder, some of the people that have the most fun are those who have traveled to the area. He said the reactions of those visitors, most of whom have unknowingly stumbled upon grown adults acting like kids, is priceless.

“Imagine staying at a hotel in downtown Hot Springs, waking up

in the morning to take a stroll to the promenade, and all you see is costumed teams pushing bathtubs down Bathhouse Row. It’s just ridiculous and super fun,” he said.

For first-time guests, Solleder recommended stopping by the races on Saturday. The actual running of the tubs is only half of the fun; the other half comes from people on the sidelines creating what feels like the world’s largest water fight.

“Definitely bring a Super Soaker. If you don’t already have one, go buy one, because it makes it so much more fun,” Solleder said. “A lot of the downtown merchants are setting up refill buckets so you can refill your water toy, and that’s a great way to get into it.”

The Running of the Tubs is as serious as it is fun, and competition ramps up both the night before and during the races. Friday night marks the judging of the tubs, for which teams present their costumes and tubs. While most teams have been courting judges for weeks at this point, they still come prepared as best as they can for the written rules, as well as the larger, unspoken rule, which states that judges have the right to modify the rules at any time.

While there are victors in every category, judges are arguably the ultimate winners as gracious teams attempt to bribe each judge with tasty and sometimes outlandish gifts. Solleder said teams such as Riser Ford give out free oil changes, and the police department passes out get-out-ofjail free cards.

“Bribing really ramps up the closer we get to the judging of the tubs, and as the judges go around from tub to tub to judge them. It becomes kind of like Christmas at every tub,” Solleder said. “They’re given boxes of drinks and food and toys and T-shirts and who knows what. It’s all really fun for everyone.”

With their costumes on and their tubs dressed up, teams gather at Hill Wheatley Plaza. Judges walk around to each tub to check for four wheels, a steering wheel, a flag and whatever else may be in the rules for the year. As far as costumes go, teams tend to go all out, and with the rules in place, it is kind of hard not to.

Costume-coordinated teams racing bathtubs on wheels may be unconventional, but Stueart Pennington’s World Championship Running of the Tubs has erupted into a much-anticipated event for Hot Springs.

“They all have to wear hats and have suspenders. Each team also needs to have a bar of soap, a bathmat, a loofah and a towel,” Solleder said. “They’re all voted on these things and other things like team spirit, originality and creativity.”

Many of the rules, such as the suspenders, were created just to add additional amusing qualities to the race. By the next morning, teams are aware they can be told to do whatever judges want at essentially any time, and the bribes pour in even more.

“Teams can be told to do whatever they want, pretty much at any time. They are looking for ways to get a head start at the starting line, or to pass through the obstacles without having to stop,” Solleder said. “If you bribe the right judge, they might just let you through the obstacle, but if you get to the wrong judge, they might just hold you at the obstacle.”

With a recipe for an unforgettable memory on every front, the Stueart Pennington World Championship Running of the Tubs is truly an event like no other. Folded with a dash of unpredictability that makes the event so beloved, Solleder said he and Visit Hot Springs have high anticipation for this year’s race.

Steeped in HISTORY

New growth springs from old at historic Black church in downtown Little Rock

By

SARAH DECLERK // Photos by SARAH DECLERK

Renee Hubbard, trustee at First Missionary Baptist Church in downtown Little Rock, was 13 when she heard Martin Luther King Jr. speak from the church’s pulpit to inform the Black community that it was midnight — time to move and time to work to grow as a people.

The year was 1963. King had just been released from prison in Alabama, having written “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” and he was four months away from delivering his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C. For Hubbard and the other teens at the church, it was like watching a mythological figure come to life.

“He was actually in our presence, and we were overwhelmed,” she said. “We didn’t have to be told to sit down and be still that day because you did not want to miss anything that he said because everything he said was prolific. It was like you weren’t there, but you were there. It just consumed you so because of who he was.”

Adjacent to the church is a small white house where King slept.

He was not the only civil rights leader to speak at First Missionary Baptist. His contemporary, Benjamin E. Mays, then president of Morehouse College in Atlanta, spoke at the church, and years before either of them became known, famed orator Booker T. Washington spoke there the Sunday after the grand opening of the nearby Mosaic Templars of America building.

Hubbard said part of the reason King and Mays chose to speak at First Missionary Baptist was because of their relationship with the Rev. Roland Smith, who was pastor at the time. He was fraternity brothers with King, she said, and the two worked together to organize various rallies, as well as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.

More recently, Hubbard watched thenGov. Bill Clinton speak for the church’s 145th anniversary shortly before announcing his run for president. She described the experience as “history in the making.”

“It was almost like it was written over the top of his head when he was in the pulpit that I am going to be the next president of the United States,” she said. “You just knew it was going to happen.”

However, the history of the church dates back long before those speakers were born.

The oldest Black congregation in Arkansas, First Missionary Baptist Church was founded by slaves in 1845. Hubbard said the slaves asked their master, Mr. Fields, whose first name is unknown, for permission to build a church. At the time, they worshiped with the white congregation at Missionary Baptist Church. The white parishioners sat downstairs, and the Black congregants sat upstairs, Hubbard said. Fields said yes.

The Rev. Cameron Mitchell, senior pastor at First Missionary Baptist Church in downtown Little Rock, showed off some unique features, such as a hidden baptismal pool, a 1915 pipe organ and original stained glass windows.

The first pastor was the Rev. Wilson Brown.

The congregation first worshiped at a small government building downtown, and then they built a church on 10th Street. The congregation soon outgrew the building, so members of the church built a small church at the location of the present church at Seventh and Gaines streets. Even more people began to attend, so, in 1882, the congregation laid the foundation for the iconic structure that exists today.

The red-brick cathedral includes Gothic details, such as the pointed arches encasing its doors and stained-glass windows. Corbeled brickwork adorns the exterior. A sharply pitched gable roof shelters the worship hall, and the entrance is flanked by two rectangular, buttressed towers, a three-story tower on the left, and a two-story tower on the right.

The true beauty of the stained-glass windows is revealed inside, where a magnificent pipe organ added in 1915 sits behind the original pulpit where King spoke. A balcony with two wings overlooks the worship hall.

One unique feature of the church is the baptism pool, which was built beneath the pulpit because the parishioners of the day did not feel they could freely baptize members in public. Other treasures of the church include a Bible that predates the Civil War.

Hubbard herself is a fixture at the church. Now 73, she said she was in a baby contest at the church, which she has attended her entire life. She said she enjoys the essence and history of the church, as well as the many people who have touched her heart there.

“The members of our church have always fed us,” she said. “When we were young, when we were off and gone away to college, when we came back from college, they were there for us. Whatever was going on, they seemed to have a second sense about us, so they were very careful with us. They were very caring with us, and I miss those members who are gone on, and it’s so many of them who are no longer with us who were so valuable and who had such wisdom and such love for us as young people.”

She added that although the church has been downtown for a long time, few people know about it, and many assume it is a white church. However, like a phoenix, the church is rising to embrace a new era of worship.

“My hope for the future of the church is that we can revitalize and we can restore, that we can renew and we can reimagine what we can be in the next 10 years,” she said. “I think that — I know that we’re going to evolve. I know that we’re going to change, and I know that we’re going to grow, and so I’m looking forward to all those things happening.”

The Rev. Cameron Mitchell, senior pastor, came to the church through unusual circumstances two years ago, when First Missionary Baptist merged with his church, Mount Harmony Baptist Church at 13th and Ringo streets. Although he grew up attending Gaines Street Baptist Church — another beautiful downtown Little Rock church highlighted by a recessed facade with a rose window — he said First Missionary was always on the radar.

“Everyone knew about First Missionary Baptist Church, so it was one of those churches that has had a great history of educators, of senators and so forth to actually be a part of the congregation,” he said.

The building is incredible, he said, adding that he would like to one day turn it into a museum and provide tours to the public. He said he also hopes to have the church renovated so that the balcony is more usable in time for the 180th anniversary.

“The building is elaborate. It’s been maintained and functioning,” he said. “You can feel the greatness when you walk in and when you’re standing there in the pulpit.”

While the church’s history is a point of pride, Mitchell said it is also intimidating to some who expect the church to be highly traditional. It is quite the opposite, he said, adding that the church encourages worshippers to be themselves.

“I do believe wholeheartedly that any church that is stifled in traditionalism is not going to survive this new wave of worship,” he said, “because there is a new wave of worship that is going on now where all should be free to worship how they want to worship.”

Although Mount Harmony was a Baptist church, it was not a traditional Baptist church

in that it welcomed female ministers, he added.

“You don’t have women evangelists at a traditional Baptist church,” he said. “Well, I licensed women preachers at the old church, and I brought those women ministers with me, and they’ve been openly accepted.”

He added that Black churches in general tend to be open when it comes to denomination. A Baptist church may have members who come from Methodist, Coptic or nondenominational churches, he said, and that intermingling of worship styles was on full display after Mount Harmony merged with First Missionary.

“Some were used to lifting up hands. Some were used to bowing down. Some were used to running, and others were used to just sitting there, rocking, and some were used to shouting,” he said. “When you mix that all in together, somebody’s going to be offended. Somebody’s not going to know how to handle somebody else’s theology or what they learned or what they believe per se, and so now it’s to a point where it is an open space. It’s free because we’ve had all of these particular people to merge in. Now it is a true open-worship space, and I feel wholeheartedly that it is one of the best worship places that you can visit.”

Added to that is a mix of older and younger generations that Mitchell said has become more cohesive over the past two years.

“I don’t know that some of the older members were totally accepting of exactly how some of the younger members would worship or the music choices, but now it’s to the point where, oh God, it is a beautiful scene in there,” he said. “Honestly, I think this is my first time ever really speaking out about this because now I can see the difference and I can see the change within these two years of how they’ve grown to just openly accept them.”

He added that the church is in a rebuilding period following a decline that was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The church was perhaps one of the most thriving churches in the city, and slowly but surely, it started to kind of decline and die off.” he said. “It’s been maintained real well, but it was falling fast, and then when COVID hit, COVID took a major, major, major, major plunge

Mitchell said the pulpit conveys a sense of greatness from the time when Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at the historic church.

Mitchell said he plans to renovate the upper loft area of the church and, eventually, would like to provide tours of the church to the public.

“The building is elaborate. It’s been maintained and functioning. You can feel the greatness when you walk in and when you’re standing there in the pulpit.”

— The Rev. Cameron Mitchell

out of the church because it was an older congregation, and so a lot of things that were once in place were no longer in place.”

Mitchell said he works to feed the homeless population around the church, and the church now partners with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Interdistrict Magnet Elementary School in Little Rock to mentor children who may not have male role models at home. In addition, the church has a thriving health ministry that teaches parishioners about fitness and nutrition, as well as an active new-member orientation program.

Most importantly, he said, since he arrived at the church, it has accepted more than 100 new members and baptized more than 70 worshippers.

“A lot of people don’t know that we are doing some of the moves and making some of the moves that we are making,” he said. “Everybody knows about the church, but nobody knows that the church is back, thriving and back on this side of the Promised Land, if you will, to where it’s doing great things again.”

He added that it is significant to have such a prominent Black church in the downtown area of Arkansas’ capital city.

“There’s not a lot of Black churches within the downtown area,” he said, “and so for us to be in the downtown area, it puts an extra weight on our shoulders, but it also gives us a weight that we can carry, too, because I know without a shadow of a doubt that we can handle it. It’s just a matter of getting certain things in line so that they will know without a doubt, hey, look, we’re back here, and we’re doing great things.”

heart health

‘Queen of Hearts’

Dr. Jean McSweeney recognized for groundbreaking research into women’s heart health

By MARK CARTER // Photos provided

Millions of women with cardiovascular disease across the globe whose symptoms were detected in time to stave off a heart attack can thank Jean McSweeney. Her name may not be as prominent outside heart health circles as it perhaps should be, but her work at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock has nonetheless greatly impacted millions of women in the United States and beyond who suffer from heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women in Arkansas and the U.S.

A biomedical nurse researcher at UAMS, McSweeney was one of the first researchers in the world to recognize that women with heart disease experience different symptoms than men.

In her role as professor, associate dean for research and co-director of the doctorate program at the UAMS College of Nursing, McSweeney is one of the country’s leading voices on cardiovascular disease in women. In 2018, she was invested in the UAMS Women’s Cardiovascular Health Professorship.

Her work will be recognized at American Heart Association’s annual Go Red for Women luncheon, to be held at the Benton Event Center, where the central Arkansas chapter will bestow upon McSweeney its inaugural Women in Medicine Award. AY Media Group is the media sponsor for the event, and president and publisher Heather Baker will serve as the event’s honorary chair. Cori Keller, Miss Arkansas 2023, will be the guest speaker and share the stage with Baker.

To be considered for the award, nominees have to meet certain criteria, including work as a medical professional impacting women’s heart health in central Arkansas, community advocacy, philanthropic efforts within the local Go Red for Women community and more.

McSweeney checked all the boxes and then some, said Nikki Smith, executive director of AHA in central Arkansas.

McSweeney shows off the medallion she received from her investiture in the Women’s Cardiovascular Health Professorship to associate dean Jeannette Shorey of the UAMS College of Medicine in 2018. (Photo courtesy of UAMS)

“Jean is an active member of the Circle of Red and attends the Go Red for Women event annually,” she said. “Her first research grant to conduct a study on women’s heart attack symptoms was funded in part by the American Heart Association, and her study resulted in clinical tools that are utilized by doctors worldwide.”

McSweeney said the Women in Medicine Award is especially gratifying given its source.

“Coming from AHA, this award means a great deal because [the organization] supported my early work,” McSweeney said. “I’m very honored just to have been nominated for this very first award and am glad to see [AHA] doing this award.”

McSweeney became an international voice in women’s heart health starting with the 2004 publication of research identifying heart attack symptoms exclusive to women. Her findings were

Nurse researcher Jean McSweeney is the recipient of the inaugural Women in Medicine Award from the American Heart Association’s central Arkansas chapter. (Photo by Jason Burt)

McSweeney received the national Volunteer of the Year Award from the American Heart Association in Dallas in 2019. (Photo courtesy of UAMS)

“Dr. McSweeney has affected the lives of patients across the world. The knowledge she’s generated has changed the ways women recognize the symptoms of a heart attack and the way clinicians listen to women and their symptoms. She is, indeed, the queen of hearts — women’s hearts.”

—Cornelia Beck, retired faculty member, UAMS colleges of medicine and nursing

published in the American Heart Association journal, Circulation, and became global news. McSweeney was interviewed by foreign media, including one live radio broadcast originating from South America.

In addition to her research, McSweeney has been a strong local advocate of women’s heart health since it became the focus of her research more than 20 years ago. She is an active volunteer for AHA and other heart health-related events, is a past board member of the central Arkansas chapter of AHA, serves on the chapter’s advisory board and is a member of AHA’s Circle of Red. In 2016, she served as chair of the first national AHA scientific statement devoted to cardiovascular disease in women.

McSweeney has published often in medical journals about women’s heart health, has mentored other researchers who went on to have their own impact in the field and is a long-standing reviewer for national AHA research grant programs.

McSweeney started researching heart attack symptoms in women in the 1990s after landing at UAMS in 1994. Part of her work has been identifying factors that contribute to heart disease in women, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, she said. More than 40 percent of Arkansas women with high blood pressure are not managing it, AHA data shows.

McSweeney said for many years, women’s symptoms that differed from those of men were often written off, sometimes as anxiety related.

For example, “women tend to develop chest pain symptoms later in the process,” she said. “There is a little different presentation in a lot of women when it comes to heart attack symptoms.”

Science continues to play catch up in many aspects of women’s health care, McSweeney said, and before her research was published, the industry did not separate heart health research by gender. She said some women who participated in studies told researchers they were happy to learn they had experienced a heart attack because the diagnosis confirmed what the medical profession could not.

Women from across the country have participated in studies that helped lead to the research originating from UAMS, McSweeney said.

“Women have given a lot for this study,” she said. “It’s really been women helping women.”

McSweeney’s research led to the development of an instrument measuring heart attack symptoms in women that has been translated into more than 40 languages. Currently, UAMS is home to roughly $1.2 million in AHA-funded research.

Awareness of heart disease symptoms in women increased following publication of McSweeney’s research but lately has started to decline again, she said.

“We’re seeing more heart attacks and heart disease in younger women, especially in women who are most at risk,” she said. “We really have to continue to push the message.”

McSweeney said she is grateful to have been a part of something so important.

“It’s been a blessing,” she said. “We’ve been very fortunate to be funded for studies that are so vital. It’s taken a lot of time and money.”

She gave special recognition to funding from AHA and the National Institute of Nursing Research, part of the National Institutes of Health.

“I’ve been cognizant of using taxpayers’ dollars very wisely,” McSweeney said. “We want to make our research the very best it can be so we can get results and help more women.”

Cornelia Beck, a retired faculty member in the UAMS colleges of medicine and nursing, told the Healthcare Journal of Arkansas in 2018 that McSweeney’s compassion is what drove her to her numerous accomplishments.

“Dr. McSweeney has affected the lives of patients across the world,” she said. “The knowledge she’s generated has changed the ways women recognize the symptoms of a heart attack and the way clinicians listen to women and their symptoms. She is, indeed, the queen of hearts — women’s hearts.”

The Go Red for Women luncheon begins at 10:30 a.m. May 8 with an expo, and the luncheon program begins at 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact Smith at nikki.smith@heart.org.

For 100 years, the American Heart Association has saved and improved lives, pioneered scientific discovery, and advocated for healthy public policies in communities across the country. Those bold moves are fueled by AHA’s mission to be a relentless force for longer, healthier lives. The organization has helped transform the nation’s health and significantly reduce heart disease and stroke death rates, but those gains have not been shared equitably. Black, Hispanic, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Asian American, Pacific Islander and LGBTQ+ people have suffered and died disproportionately, and so have people in historically underrepresented communities all over the country. With bold hearts and powered by science, AHA pledges to work relentlessly to eliminate heart disease and stroke, optimize brain health, and ensure equitable health in every community.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS GO RED FOR WOMEN LUNCHEON SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Every

is “heart

heart health

Survivors

By AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION // Photos By LINDSEY FISHER

Judy Kosters

March in central Arkansas is rife with allergy-causing agents, and Judy Kosters figured she was suffering from allergies when she woke up unable to breathe the morning of March 1, 2022. She said she could not seem to catch her breath, she could not talk, and her voice was gone.

Her husband took her to the emergency room (the American Heart Association recommends calling 911 in the case of a medical emergency), where doctors determined she was in congestive heart failure.

“It stunned me. It was the last thing I would have thought was wrong,” she said.

Kosters wore a cardiac LifeVest for the next three months. The vest is a lightweight wearable defibrillator with a built-in device that monitors the heart. If the device senses abnormal heart rhythms, it restores the heart’s normal beat.

She eventually received a CardioMEMS implant, a remote monitoring system that sends a daily report to the hospital.

Kosters had to retire early due to her health. She said she still feels fatigued and “I’m not used to not going all the time.”

She is still able to do the things she loves, such as camping and spending time with her family. She and her husband have been married more than 50 years.

“My sons and daughters-in-law are also a wonderful support system,” she said.

Tina Craig

Tina Craig was diagnosed with high blood pressure in March 2016. She said she was overweight and had a strong history of heart disease — her dad had his first heart attack at age 51, and her mom had one at 60.

She noticed she was short of breath and that her blood pressure was “creeping up.” When Craig finally decided to have a heart scan, it showed a high level of plaque.

“It was recommended that I see a cardiologist sooner than later,” she said.

A heart catheter and two stents later, she was told if she ever had chest pain, assume she is having a heart attack and get to the nearest emergency room immediately.

“That piece of advice helped save my life three months later on June 29, 2016,” she said, adding that on that day, she experienced not only chest pain, but dizziness, pain in her left elbow, nausea and shortness of breath.

At the ER, she was told that she was indeed having a “widow maker” heart attack. Because she was on blood thinners, it took several days before her platelets were at a safe level for surgery.

Craig had a triple bypass on July 4, and after 11 days in the hospital, she went home. Recovery was difficult and painful, but each day got a little easier, she said. Since then, she has reached a healthy weight and has been able to enjoy kayaking, swimming and other activities that she could not do before.

“My scar is a daily reminder of how God protected me and gave me this opportunity to share my story with others,” she said.

Sofia Grace Young

Sofia Grace Young’s mother, Alisha, said the 7-year-old is “full of sunshine and sass” despite being born with five congenital heart defects, as well as liver disease and lung disease.

A CHD results when the heart or blood vessels near the heart do not develop normally before birth. Such defects result when a mishap occurs during heart development soon after conception — often before the mother is aware she is pregnant.

CHDs affect nearly 1 percent of births per year, or about 40,000 babies. Virtually all children with simple defects survive into adulthood, and while exercise capacity may be limited, most people lead normal or nearly normal lives. With more complex problems, limitations are common; some children with congenital heart defects have developmental delays or other learning difficulties.

Sofia, a second grader in Beebe, has had five open-heart surgeries, the first of which she had at just five days old. Next up is a heart transplant.

The American Heart Association is working to better support CHD patients through increased awareness of their challenges, access to specialty care, and recognition of the unique physiological and psychological impacts of their condition. Through an ongoing research funding collaboration, the American Heart Association and the Children’s Heart Foundation have pledged nearly $15 million over the past 10 years.

Sherri Blunk

ACT scan in March 2015 to diagnose a gastrointestinal problem revealed that Sherri Blunk had a “shadow on her heart.” The GI doctor recommended she get to a cardiologist as soon as possible.

“What a shock it was when the technician brought the doctor into the room during the test,” Blunk said. “The doctor took a look at the screen and told me that I had a golf ball-size tumor taking up almost my entire left atrium [one of the two upper chambers in the heart]. I could not even comprehend this. It was like a punch to the gut.”

Blunk underwent open-heart surgery to remove the tumor on April 1, 2015, but developed a subclavian vein thrombosis, a serious condition where one or more blood clots form in the blood vessels or heart. When that happens, the clot can block blood flow where it forms, or it can break loose and travel elsewhere in the body. If a moving clot gets stuck in a critical area, it can cause life-threatening conditions, including stroke and heart attack.

Initially, Blunk was told that she would most likely require another surgery to resolve the thrombosis, but fortunately, it began to dissolve with medication. She also credits her faith as a healing power.

“I definitely can say that I listen to my body now, and I have learned to trust my instincts regarding my health,” she said. “I am thankful for good health and that I get more time on earth to spend with my family and loved ones.”

Ellen Dykes

Ellen Dykes, 49, has experienced a lifetime of heart issues, many of which required procedures to normalize her heart’s function. Before the American Heart Association existed, people with heart disease were thought to be doomed to complete bed rest — not anymore.

When Dykes was 12, she was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, a type of heart valve disease that affects the valve between the left heart chambers. At 19, doctors discovered she had developed long QT syndrome, a problem with the electrical system in which the heart takes too long to recharge. She was put on medicine, which worked for a while, but at age 35, she started battling horrible fatigue and experienced lightheadedness.

“I would come home from work and be so tired that I would attempt to change my clothes and end up asleep on my bed for the night,” said Dykes, a wife and mother of two daughters.

One day, her heart started racing while she was driving.

“I was dizzy and alarmed enough to pull over, and shortly after, I passed out,” she said.

She was given a heart monitor to wear, and after three months, it was determined that her mitral valve had become diseased, and the tissue was not opening and closing properly. Dykes had open-heart surgery, by which her cardiologist was able to repair it.

At age 40, her heart began to race, even when she was at rest. This time, she was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia, a fast, abnormal heart rhythm, and supraventricular tachycardia, which is a very fast heartbeat that affects the heart’s upper chambers.

Because her heart was dealing with several ailments at once, she had surgery to receive an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. The small, battery-powered device continuously checks the heartbeat and will deliver an electric shock, when needed, to restore a regular heart rhythm.

Dykes is now on heart medication and blood thinners to help prevent stroke. She will receive new batteries for her ICD in April 2025.

Jessica Haner

In March 2023, Jessica Haner went into sudden cardiac arrest while talking to her husband.

“He said I turned blue,” she said.

Her husband immediately performed CPR, which he learned through the American Heart Association. In fact, he had been a CPR instructor.

With her breathing restored, she was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, then taken by helicopter to another hospital. Doctors told her a virus had attacked her heart six to eight months earlier.

“I learned my heart would never be the same again,” she said.

She received an ICD to monitor her heart rate and deliver an electric shock to restore a normal cadence if an abnormal heart rhythm is detected.

Haner said her heart issues and the therapy that followed have been an adjustment for her family.

“I’ve regained a sense of normalcy that, six months ago, I wasn’t so sure I’d ever have again,” she said. “I’m standing here today because of the love of my husband and the knowledge he had to save my life.”

LaToya Geter McElroy

When LaToya Geter McElroy was born in 1991, she was a tiny baby weighing less than four pounds with pulmonary stenosis, a type of heart valve disease that involves the narrowing of the pulmonary valve.

“My mother did not allow open-heart surgery or the diagnosis to hinder me from living my life,” she said.

She had open-heart surgery when she was 8 years old and began taekwondo shortly thereafter. She received her first-degree black belt at age 10 and was one of the first children to wear a chest protector for tournament sparring before the apparatus was required. In 2021, she became a third-degree black belt.

Through her school years, she participated in the pep squad and drill team and was on the flag line in band. She even participated on the flag line in college at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

Geter McElroy holds a doctorate in human and social services, is a published author, and owns her own bookstore, Re’Nique Publishing Bookstore and More in Little Rock. For all her accomplishments, there is at least one left that she is ready to undertake.

“I want to be a mother,” she said.

A cardiologist has told her that if she chose to have a baby, her pregnancy would be considered high risk. She currently lives with mild stenosis but is not about to let it stand between her and having a family.

The American Heart Association recommends scheduling a pre-pregnancy evaluation with a physician and cardiologist to discuss any concerns connected to pregnancy and heart disease. Women with repaired congenital heart disease can have a safe pregnancy with very little risk.

Jessie Ward Bennett

Jessie Ward Bennett has always been an active and busy mom who manages the demands of a career and household. She also enjoys being involved with her community as an advocate for issues near and dear to her.

At age 38, she developed an arrhythmia that caused her to rethink her busy schedule. Ward Bennett experienced a sudden onset of debilitating fatigue, a rapid heart rate and a general brain fog that made it difficult for her to even communicate at times.

She had a previous medical condition — a transient ischemic attack, a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain that developed when she was pregnant with one of her children — so she was acutely aware of her health risks. A family physician was able to see the problems with Ward Bennett’s heartbeat and referred her to a cardiologist.

By making lifestyle changes and several visits to a clinical cardiac electrophysiologist — a health care provider who treats heart rhythm problems — Ward Bennett has learned how to better listen to her body. She ramped up her physical activity and strengthened her cardiovascular health to alleviate most of the symptoms.

“I am so thankful for physicians who listen carefully to patients like me and look for resources and support that allow patients to recover and thrive beyond cardiovascular dysfunction and disease,” she said.

Caring Hearts Beating as One

Photos by LINDSEY FISHER

American Heart Association Central Arkansas is blessed by volunteers and contributors who advance the organization’s mission in the fight against heart disease and stroke. Atop the long and distinguished list is the Circle of Red, a collection of individuals who have gone above and beyond in their support of AHA’s work. Tireless in their advocacy, the outstanding individuals represent the best our state has to offer against these dreaded diseases that have impacted so many families. We are proud to recognize this year’s Circle of Red members and ecpress our profound gratitude on behalf of the thousands of Arkansans who have benefited from their generosity.

Heather Baker President and Publisher AY Media Group

Debi Barnes Debi Barnes Consulting

Gina Pharis 2024 Circle of Red Chair Community Supporter

Director of Special Projects & DEI

Circle of Red members not pictured:

Olivia Ramsey Community Supporter

Principal Education Associate Fetterman and Associates International

Owner and Attorney

Law Office of Danyelle Walker

Dr. Arnessa Bennett

North Little Rock Mayor’s Office

Dr. Charity Smith

Katrina Banks, APRN

Danyelle Walker

Trish Birch Community Supporter

Char Boulch

Chief Nursing Officer

Saline Memorial Hospital

Tjuana Byrd Manning Circuit Judge

Pulaski County

Donna Hall Chief Financial Officer Bank of Little Rock

Kimberly M. Lee Financial Inclusion Officer Hope Credit Union

Brandy Harp Principal Broker Jon Underhill Real Estate

Dr. Jean McSweeney Professor Emeritus University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Jamie Jones Partner Friday, Eldredge & Clark

Lisa Gaddy Early Childhood Educator Arkansas State University

Dr. Karla Montgomery Medical Doctor Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System

Katrina Owoh Chief Financial Officer Clinton Foundation

Sarah Thomas Community Relations Specialist Healthy Connections

Alexandria Washington CEO The BIG Agency

Nikki Smith Executive Director American Heart AssociationCentral Arkansas

Dorothea Wilson Reporter KARK/Fox 16

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From Fiddle to Fox

Arkansas native Chanley Painter a woman of many talents

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos provided

The secret lives of the famous often yield some strange and fascinating facts, such as unexpected hobbies and unusual talents that do not always make it into the history books.

This holds true for presidents: George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, for instance, were hemp farmers, and Millard Fillmore was such a committed firefighter he once joined a bucket brigade while president to douse a blaze at the Library of Congress on Christmas Eve 1851. Richard Nixon was a poker shark, fleecing his fellow sailors while in the Navy and, of course, Arkansas’ own Bill Clinton played a mean saxophone.

Celebrities also present a world of hobbies and pastimes that range from the interesting to the peculiar to the downright bizarre. Actor and director Ben Stiller is reportedly an avowed Trekkie, game show host Bob Barker studied karate under Chuck Norris, and Sarah Jessica Parker is a committed knitter. Angelina Jolie is known for her dagger collection, and both celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and classic rocker Rod Stewart began life as former rising stars in elite-level soccer.

Arkansas native Chanley Painter, who recently made the move to Fox News from Court TV, can hang with the best of them when it comes to an unusual range of skills and a varied backstory. Painter, a native of Conway, is a journalist, attorney and pageant winner who was named Miss Arkansas USA in 2009, as well as a devout Christian, an accomplished fiddler, a former model, an accomplished martial artist and, it has been reported, someone who bakes a stellar batch of cookies.

With such a laundry list of interests and skills, one might wonder if settling on a single career path was difficult for the now-40-yearold. She said it was not, thanks to a lifelong fascination with the law and true crime.

“I think my family recognized pretty early on that going to law school was a natural fit for me,” Painter said. “Instead of Saturday morning cartoons, I watched Matlock reruns and Perry Mason episodes. That and my natural love of history and the process of government and reading and writing classes [made law] a fit for me.”

After earning a degree in political science from her hometown University of Central Arkansas, Painter took advantage of a unique

current degree program offered by the Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock that included a juris doctor. Life did not exactly settle into a single-track rhythm after graduation; she started a private practice and served as a part-time prosecutor, all while still feeling the nagging pull of TV news.

“Growing up, the news was always on at my home 24/7, and I carried that on to college and my adult life,” she said. “I would watch legal analysts on the news, and I thought, ‘Maybe I could do that.’ I submitted my resume to the news director at NBC and Fox in Little Rock several years ago, and I said, ‘If you ever need a legal analyst, here’s my resume. I’d be happy to do whatever to get some experience.’”

Several months later, in 2016, a local station reached out, inviting her on-air analysis in connection with coverage of the trial in the case of Beverly Carter, a Little Rock real estate agent who was kidnapped and killed two years earlier. Carter, who worked for Crye-Leike Real Estate, had been lured by her assailants to a listing in Scott, thinking she was meeting a couple interested in buying the property. Despite the horrifying events surrounding the case, Painter was hooked.

“I had to make a decision. In order to be on television, I could not be a sitting prosecutor. I had to decide which path I wanted to take, so I quit my job as a prosecutor to pursue other opportunities,” she said. “I told the news director, ‘What else do you have for me? I quit my job. I want to learn.’ He gave me opportunities to learn journalism, learn the news business, by doing it.”

The early gigs she was assigned were also meant to test her mettle in the 24-hour, often exhausting world of news reporting. As station personnel soon discovered, Painter was not one to back down from a challenge.

“I think the first opportunity that opened up was the 2 a.m. early morning shift at KARK. I believe someone was on maternity leave. They gave me what nobody else wanted, right, to test me, to find out if this is what I really wanted to do,” she said. “Over the course of about two years, I learned how to find stories, pitch stories, how to write a package and a story for the news. I learned live-shot reporting. I also had to learn how to work the camera and how to edit my own pieces for air before I was qualified to be hired there full time.”

After three years with KARK, Painter made the jump to Court TV, which achieved wide publicity during the O.J. Simpson trial and was being relaunched in 2019. She was the only on-air legal correspondent the network had at the time, and that gave her a head start on all the reporters that were to follow because the most senior correspondent generally handles the most high-profile cases. A few of her most recognizable assignments since were trials involving Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, the Murdaugh Murders, Harvey Weinstein and Derek Chauvin, who was on trial for killing George Floyd.

Arkansas native Chanley Painter, who had a career in law before pursuing journalism, recently moved from Court TV to Fox News.

“All of the big trials that I got to be present for, I’m very thankful for the opportunity,” she said. “Sometimes it comes down to seniority. I’d been here the longest, and I’m the most experienced one. The biggest trials, they usually send the most senior correspondents or anchors who want to be in the field to go to that trial.

“A lot of times in breaking news situations, however, it almost comes down to the luck of the draw. For example, in 2022, four college students in Idaho were brutally stabbed. I had just finished a trial in Waukesha, Wisconsin, the trial of the man who drove through a parade. The very next day, they wanted to send someone to the breaking news of the students stabbed, and it happened to be me. I got in early, and it was my story after that.”

Working at the intersection of journalism and the law was a dream job for Painter. She said she saw her role as one of public service, showcasing the workings of an important mechanism of civilized society and bringing them into the living room.

“Our nation’s courtrooms are public courtrooms,” she said. “At Court TV, our goal is to bring people in. A lot of times, courtroom space is very limited, and even if you wanted to attend some trials, there’s not room inside the courtroom to watch it unfold in person. Also, each state varies as far as the laws concerning access of cameras and how public the trials can be.

“We’re all about transparency and shining the sunshine into our public courtrooms and on our public officials to make sure that they do their job appropriately, ethically, and are held accountable when they don’t.”

Painter said cameras and publicity do not distort for TV what might normally be a pedestrian trial save for the famous participants.

“Let’s talk about the Derek Chauvin trial, who was convicted of the murder of George Floyd,” she said. “That was the first trial in Minnesota that allowed a camera inside the courtroom, and it was very restricted and limited to that one camera and certain things you could show. It was during [the COVID-19 pandemic] so there was not a

After quitting her job as a prosecuting attorney, Painter spent three years learning the ins and outs of the news business at KARK before moving to Court TV.

gallery open to people of the public. That was the reason the judge allowed the camera was to make up for the fact that there wasn’t room inside the courtroom for a public viewing space.

“A trial like that, that had divided opinions on both sides, was a way to showcase the evidence instead of people being able to speculate about this or that or to question a ruling by the judge as biased. They can watch it for themselves and hear the arguments for themselves and see the witness on the stand and decide for themselves that this happened or that happened and can better understand why a jury would reach the verdict that it reached.”

As for the personal toll her job has taken, Painter said it is not as bad as one might think, although she said she is probably wired for this kind of work.

“I get asked a lot about how difficult it may be to talk about murder all day long and go through life not being depressed or affected a lot by it,” she said. “As an attorney and a prosecutor, I had to deal with a lot of negative issues, and you learn to compartmentalize those issues that you’re dealing with at work away from your private life.

“I am also the weirdo who can watch a documentary about a serial killer and sleep peacefully at night or veg out on the couch on Saturday to Dateline and 48 Hours episodes and Forensic Files. I just love and am fascinated by true crime and the science of solving crime and the investigation of it all.”

Upon further reflection, Painter took a step back as if plumbing the depth of the question.

“I shouldn’t say it doesn’t ever affect me. There have been moments,” she said. “I think it’s a different layer when you’re there in person. I can cover it from the studio or watch it from my couch, but when you’re there in the courtroom in the gallery and on one side you see the victim’s family crumbling, and on the other side you see the defendant’s family, who didn’t ask to be there or didn’t want this to happen, it’s another dynamic. You can’t help but be affected by what’s happening around you.

“There’s been a couple times when I couldn’t do a live shot because of something that happened in the courtroom. I had to take a moment to collect myself before I got in front of the camera.”

Two particularly impactful moments in her career illustrate what she means. The first was an on-air encounter with Beth Holloway, mother of Natalee Holloway, the Alabama teen who disappeared in 2005 while on a graduation trip to Aruba. Last October, longtime prime suspect Joran van der Sloot officially confessed to the slaying in federal court.

“Beth Holloway is an inspiring tower of strength and grace and determination. It really was an honor for me to meet her and sit down with her,” said Painter, who added that she and Natalee are about the same age. “She had finally learned what she’d been fighting to hear for 18 years.

She told me she can put it behind her. She can finally move on. She believes his confession is true.”

The second moment that stands out involved the 2019 trial of Amber Guyger, an off-duty Dallas police officer who had arrived home to her apartment complex, went to the wrong floor and entered the wrong apartment. Seeing the occupant, Botham Jean — who, incidentally, graduated from Harding University in Searcy and worked in Dallas as an accountant — Guyger shot the unarmed man dead on his couch, thinking him an intruder. Guyger received 10 years for the crime.

“What moved me the most was during sentencing hearing,” Painter said. “In Texas, once you’re convicted of a crime, the jury sits on and hears impact statements, defense witness statements and mitigation, and then they determine the sentence. It was very difficult to sit and listen to family and friends talk about him in the courtroom. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the place.

“The very last witness was the younger brother, Brandt Jean, and he told Amber Guyger that he forgave her, and he asked to hug her in the courtroom. I was one of the few inside the courtroom who saw that transpire in person, and I’ve never seen a judge grant permission for anything like that during a trial. ‘It was the hug felt around the world’ is what we said.”

“I think that spoke volumes,” she added. “Of all the controversy over the issue and the racial aspects to this case that were brought in, the people who were clearly divided over what happened and how it should have happened and what the jury sentenced her with. To me, that hug helped symbolize how it should be handled. Clearly, I’m still affected by that.”

As for her new role at Fox News, Painter is philosophical about the change, saying her faith tells her that career experiences and opportunities, like anything else in life, are directed from above.

“I’m a person of faith, and my faith has been tested in this job, absolutely,” she said. “It started when I became a prosecutor in Arkansas, and I was assigned to juvenile court. To hear and see things that happened to babies reaffirmed to me that true evil exists in this world, that there is a battle [between good and evil]. It could be scary if I didn’t have my faith. I don’t know how people handle it without having some sort of faith.

“As for a specific job, I believe that God has a plan for your life, and whatever that is for me, I want to do it to my best ability. I’m always about continuing to grow and learn and challenge myself. I like to say I’m open to a lot of possibilities.”

Working

“I believe that God has a plan for your life, and whatever that is for me, I want to do it to my best ability. I’m always about continuing to grow and learn and challenge myself. I like to say I’m open to a lot of possibilities.

at the intersection of law and journalism, Painter said it is a matter of public service to shed light on the inner workings of the legal system.

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– By Jason Pederson

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

“Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:30-31

Austin, Cody and Kaden Nguyen were definitely faint, weary and exhausted in 2010. The brothers were 8, 10 and 11 and being raised by a mother who was unsuccessfully trying to manage a drug addiction.

“I was very addicted,” said their mother, Kelli Hale. “I couldn’t pay my utilities anymore, and we were just losing our vehicle and were down to pretty much nothing. The boys were in a city shelter for a little while, and I remember they had to be interviewed to come here.”

“Here” is Soaring Wings Ranch, a beautiful piece of property near the center of Faulkner County. In 1997, the concept of land and homes dedicated to raising children had yet to fully form in the head of a young Conway juvenile probation officer, but the idea was germinating in Andrew Watson’s mind. He was seeing firsthand the importance of a loving, stable home in the development and success of children.

Not long after marrying his wife, Marla, the couple began serving as relief houseparents at Big Oak Ranch in Gadsen, Alabama. That is where Andrew observed the mighty ways that a collection of homes with Christian houseparents could impact families and break unhealthy cycles that had persisted for generations. The kids were given the love, support and stability they craved, while their parents or guardians were given time and support to become the caregivers and providers their children needed.

In 2007, the first kids here in Arkansas would arrive at Soaring Wings. Three years later, the Nguyen brothers showed up.

“We got here, and obviously we were excited to be

Austin, from left, Kaden and Cody Nguyen (Photos provided)

=together,” said Cody, the middle son. “That’s all that mattered at the time. Everybody was so welcoming. As soon as we walked in the door, they had gift baskets. They had dinner already waiting for us. They had stuff planned for us for the weekend. You know, we were just going to have fun.”

“They had nice clothes,” said Kelli, fighting back tears. “They had their own room. They had everything I couldn’t give them at the time. At the time … it seemed … it seemed like the life I wanted to give them, but I didn’t know how.”

Kelli began working on a plan to get her boys back. It included nine weeks of inpatient rehab; getting a steady job and a reliable, insured automobile; taking parenting classes; and finding a home. She says she also started praying, and not long after that, she met her future husband and the boys’ future stepfather, Tracy. They started going to church, and soon, Kelli said, she made the decision to trust Christ with her life and future and to let go of the past.

“Everything changed,” Kelli said. “The atmosphere, the way I saw things, the way I perceived things, you know, the shame, all of that just started falling off. And the perseverance — you know, I am their mom, and I’m creating this household, and this is happening. All that confidence and stuff just came back.”

Meanwhile, her boys were changing too.

All our funding comes from individual or corporate donors. We do not accept government funding and the strings that are so often attached.

“I was pretty rebellious when I first got here,” oldest son Austin said. “I bucked the rules a lot, but it started to feel like a home. It didn’t feel like a part of the system.”

“I learned a lot,” said Kaden, the youngest. “I developed a work ethic. I learned to work here. You know, I was always helping out with the house parents, whatever they wanted. I learned about God and keeping faith and just being a kid.”

“Coming in, I never knew what stability was, you know?” Cody said. “I never knew what life was supposed to look like as a kid. I never knew how we were supposed to have it, and we got here, and we grew a lot. I learned a lot, so when we left, I took a lot of that with me.”

“Somebody said to me, you know, you’re their mom,” Kelli said. “God chose you to be their mom. This is a place to take care of them while you are taking care of you so you can take care of them. It was that place.

“No one here ever made me feel less of a person when I would come visit. It was, “Show me this,” and “Show me that,” and “Tell me about their progress,” and it was like a second family. They mentored me like they were mentoring my kids.”

That is just one family’s story. I have served on the board of Soaring Wings since before we found the land to build our homes on. Four homes can serve up to 31 children, and a major addition is under construction that will serve all the children at the ranch. It is the WLCC, or Welcome, Learning and Counseling Center, part of which will be named in honor of long-time board member and supporter of Soaring Wings, Charlie Weaver.

Weaver epitomizes the spirit of the ranch: faithful, selfless, generous and determined.

“The first time we met, I stopped by Mr. Weaver’s office unannounced to talk with him about gravel for the roads that were to be

built on our newly acquired 195-acre campus,” Watson said. “That day, Charlie committed to provide all the gravel needed from his mining company. That’s where our friendship started. Charlie and his wife, Linda, love the mission of Soaring Wings, and they have been great ambassadors.”

Several of the same things that attracted me to this ministry have also attracted others. Soaring Wings is a debt-free operation; the borrower is a slave to the lender, so we move forward with a project only after we have raised and saved the money necessary to pay for a building or a phase of a project.

Second, all our funding comes from individual or corporate donors. We do not accept government funding and the strings that are so often attached. We operate the campus in a way that glorifies God without reservation or restriction. Finally, we always fight for what is in the best interests of the children we serve — children like Austin, Cody and Kaden.

“This is where I learned how to bait my own hook,” Cody said. “This is where I learned how to fish. It’s where I learned how to hunt — you know, how to become a kid.”

“It totally shifted our family,” Kaden said.

“No matter how hard it is, I mean, this is a great place to be,” Austin added. “It’s a wonderful place.”

It is easy to spot the buildings under construction, but the lives and families under construction are really what Soaring Wings is all about.

To learn more about Soaring Wings and see artist’s renderings or photos of ongoing construction of the Welcome, Learning and Counseling Center, or to become a member of the Faithful 500 donors who support the ranch financially every month, visit soaringwingsar.org or contact Andrew Watson directly at 501-849-2253 or andrew@soaringwingsar.org.

JASON PEDERSON

For two decades, Jason Pederson served as KATV-Channel 7’s Seven On Your Side reporter. Now on the other “side” of his awardwinning time on the news, he now serves as deputy chief of community engagement for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. His perspective-filled and thought-provoking column, “This Side of Seven,” publishes exclusively in AY About You magazine monthly.

Austin with his mother, Kelli Hale

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. 501.753.9003 • 519 Donovan Briley Boulevard, NLR • www.robinsonnr.com

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.

Rehabilitative

Hometown Girl MURDER MYSTERY:

By SARAH RUSSELL // Photos provided

In early 2021, a TikTok video exploded across social media. It showed a young girl sitting between two men in the back seat of a car, her two black eyes matching her dark hair. Without emotion, she looks at the camera. Soon, an Instagram made by the same girl appeared. Her name, she said, was Haley Grace; she was not Cassie Compton. The black eyes? Well, she had been mugged. Adamantly, she insisted she was just fine. Clearly she was not, but just as clearly came FBI confirmation that despite the incredible resemblance, she was not the missing hometown girl from Arkansas.

According to the official report, 15-year-old Cassie Kay Compton left home late afternoon Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014, to get cigarettes — at least, that is what the Stuttgart Police Department was led to believe. The most credible information about Cassie’s movements that weekend came from Tracy Snyder, the mother of Cassie’s friend, Hunter.

On Saturday, the Snyder family took Cassie with them to the demolition derby in DeWitt. Afterward, as was fairly common, Cassie spent the night at the Snyders’. Their home, Tracy said, was sort of a safe harbor for the girl.

time. Her husband, Roy, Cassie’s father, had sexually assaulted Judy’s daughter from a previous relationship. His 23-year jail sentence reflected the level of the abuse suffered by that girl. Judy Compton denied knowing the abuse was happening, but the Oklahoma judicial system saw it differently.

It was not only Judy Compton’s past but her latest relationship that kept her name — and Cassie’s — on the lips of locals in Stuttgart. By the time Cassie disappeared, Judy, then 42, had been in a three-year relationship with 24-year-old Brandon Lee Rhodes. Rhodes had moved into the Compton home with no job, no car and no driver’s license, supposedly leaving behind his meth use and squatting in abandoned houses.

Cassie was one of those kids whose main challenge in life was to survive childhood. Studying for her GED by homeschooling, Cassie had chosen to drop out of public school. Sometimes the cruelest of places are the school hallways where kids often do the time for their parents’ crimes.

When Cassie’s mother, Judy Compton, moved back to Arkansas, she was required to register as a sex offender, one of 15 in Stuttgart at the

Hunter Snyder told police that when he dropped Cassie home around 6:30 p.m., Rhodes was standing outside. Cassie went straight into the house, but what happened to her after she walked through the door? Well, that depends on who you ask and when you ask, since both Judy and Rhodes’ subsequent accounts contradict not only each other, but even themselves.

The only constant in Judy’s stories is that having taken medication, she was laying down in the back bedroom. First she said she heard — but never saw — Cassie come in, change her clothes, then leave a little after 7 p.m. Her next version was that she slept until after 8 p.m. Inexplicably changing their stories from Hunter’s, Rhodes and Judy initially said Rhodes was in the kitchen, cooking dinner, when Cassie came in. Rhodes later said he was instead in the back bedroom with Judy at the time.

After 9 p.m., Rhodes started contacting Tracy Snyder, the first time oddly asking if Cassie was still there. During his third and final call, Rhodes told Tracy that he had gone to the Stuttgart PD, as she suggested,

Cassie Kay Compton

but was told he would have to wait 72 hours before reporting Cassie missing. In fact, there is no legal wait period, nor is there evidence that Rhodes ever contacted SPD.

Midmorning Monday, Judy went to the police department, saying she discovered Cassie missing after she woke up. That did not square with authorities because if Judy had been awake when Cassie came in or even if she slept till 8 p.m., wouldn’t she have been aware that by 9 p.m., Rhodes told Tracy that Cassie was gone? And if Rhodes had been that concerned, why would he not have woken Judy?

No Amber Alert was filed, allegedly because the SPD and Judy both felt Cassie had run away. Why that stance changed is unknown, but by the last week of September, searches by multiple agencies had begun.

On Oct. 3, police went to Compton’s home, confiscating cell phones. The question remains: Did they find Cassie’s phone as well, or did she, like Rhodes claimed, leave with it? Shortly after the SPD left, the Compton house was seen burning, but only one area was damaged.

By Oct. 11, Judy announced that she and Rhodes had split up. That was after they both failed polygraphs, which Judy blamed, for her part, on medication. Sticking to the runaway scenario, Judy said she hoped Cassie would come home now that she knew Rhodes was gone. That was in contrast to her previous assertion that the two had a good relationship.

In fact, insiders told media that after Rhodes moved in, Cassie left home several times. Whether she believed Cassie was a runaway or not, as a registered sex offender, Judy faced serious legal problems if evidence emerged that showed sexual abuse had happened to another child under her care.

Judy further distanced herself from Rhodes, saying that he left the house Sunday night, and when he came back, she could hear him in the bathroom, vomiting. Around 7 p.m., Hunter got a text, supposedly from Cassie, saying she was going to get cigarettes. If she did actually smoke, she could not legally purchase smokes, being just 15 years old.

Even though he had a bike, Rhodes was known to “borrow” Judy’s car — a blue Chevy Impala with a disabled tag — if she was sleeping. Did he leave, as Judy said, and would Cassie have gone with him, hoping to get cigarettes?

Fast forward to Oct. 16, 2018: Rhodes is pulled over for a traffic stop in Pleasant Plains, where law enforcement found it intriguing that he had an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle in the car. A subsequent investigation revealed Rhodes had been paid $200 by a married man to kill the man’s supposedly cheating wife. Rhodes’ rap sheet, lengthened since he left Stuttgart, now got a significant boost with a charge of conspiracy to commit capital murder. His next major squat would not be an abandoned house but, instead, the big house.

In 2019, Kaila Lafferty, then a KATV reporter, created the podcast Timeline: The Disappearance of Cassie Compton. Working with her was Tina Storz, a private investigator at Halo Investigations, who has, since 2015, been on Cassie’s case. Detained at the Independence County Jail in Batesville, Rhodes told the women that his charges of being a hit man were a con of his own making. He had wanted to be imprisoned, he said, so he could work undercover on Cassie’s case.

Recently, the successful Hell and Gone podcast released an episode about Cassie. Arkansas native Catherine Townsend, the force behind the podcast, is also a private investigator who is known for doing the kind of deep dive that retrieves

information rarely found elsewhere. Townsend found a 2023 request for an order of protection filed by Rhodes’ terrified ex-girlfriend, who had learned he was about to be released. Rhodes self-describes as a “violent person, very volatile,” and a man who “did not like women.” The document shows that Rhodes had repeatedly verbally, physically, and sexually assaulted the ex-girlfriend. It is also notable that the woman described Rhodes putting her in a chokehold, a move that can quickly incapacitate or kill someone.

Another important statement given by this woman was that Rhodes had forced her to give him control over her social media. Remember the text to Hunter that was supposedly from Cassie? After her disappearance and subsequent investigation, law enforcement officers determined that more than one person had access to Cassie’s Facebook page. Could the text have been a manipulation by Rhodes to make it appear that not only had Cassie left the house on her own that night, but that she was just a runaway?

All of that amounts to conjecture and speculation because there has never been enough evidence to charge Rhodes, Judy or anyone else in the case. A decade later, it is still not known whether Cassie is dead or alive. Is she a girl who ran from a bad situation or a girl who may still need help?

On Feb. 24, 2021, the girl in the video, Haley Grace Phillips, was found dead of an overdose in a Los Angeles motel. Her arrests and warrants across multiple states for drugs and prostitution indicate that she was being trafficked. After the second video, Haley Grace had gone silent on social media; the FBI involvement may have made her too much of a liability for those around her. Was her overdose murder or accidental?

It is unknown how Haley Grace came to such a dark place, but she was perhaps once just a hometown girl, like Cassie, who needed help. If you have information that can help Cassie Compton, please call SPD at (870) 673-1414 or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 800-843-5678.

A decade after Cassie Kay Compton’s disappearance, the status of the Stuttgart girl remains unknown.

Brandon Lee Rhodes

Swinging Bridges

By Joe David Rice

Wooden barns, stone fences, ferries, brick streets, grist mills and cotton gins have slowly disappeared from the Arkansas scene over the years. One can also add swinging bridges to the sad list of diminishing cultural artifacts.

The first one I ever encountered — a classic swinging footbridge — spanned the narrow upper reaches of the Buffalo River outside Boxley. I still remember the wonderfully strange sensation as I crossed the stream — the unnerving side-to-side and up-anddown motion of the suspended walkway combined with the exhilaration of almost floating in air. Unfortunately, that bridge now exists only in my memory, some fading 35 mm slides and on the occasional postcard.

After all these years, I am still trying to figure out why swinging bridges hold such fascination for me beyond the thrill of gently bouncing 10 or 15 feet above the water while crossing one of these venerable structures. Certainly they are picturesque reminders of far simpler days, and that is part of it, but they are also tangible evidence of the resourcefulness and ingenuity of our hill-country ancestors.

Spring rains and flash floods could make fords and low-water bridges dangerous, if not impassable, sometimes for several days. Folks living on the wrong side of the creeks and rivers needed to get their kids to school, check the mail, or maybe drive into town for work or supplies, so they constructed swinging bridges using steel cable, wooden planks, fieldstone and their native intelligence. Maybe we should recognize the results as vernacular engineering, similar to the vernacular architecture phrase used to describe the houses, barns, sheds, smokehouses and shops they built.

at Zinc, where a handsome footbridge drapes across Sugar Orchard Creek. Some five miles north of Harrison on Cottonwood Road is an impressive swinging bridge over Bear Creek. Originally constructed by Works Progress Administration crews in 1941 to handle automobile traffic, the 160-foot structure was restored by local residents in 1977.

As noted earlier, the historic marvels are becoming scarcer every year. The swinging bridge at Caddo Gap I used to float under when canoeing the Caddo River is gone as is a celebrated span over the Little Red River east of Heber Springs.

Boone County can claim at least two swinging bridges. One is

To expand hiking and biking opportunities in northwest Arkansas, the Arkansas State Park system built a swinging bridge in Devil’s Den State Park that spanned Lee Creek — and then rebuilt it in 2010 following a flash flood. Meanwhile, down in southeast Arkansas, the 18-mile trail around the lake at Cane Creek State Park includes dozens of water crossings, including at least three swinging bridges.

In central Arkansas, the Marylake Carmelite Monastery grounds include a first-rate swinging bridge over a cove on the property’s 40-acre lake. Located on Arkansas 367 about 15 miles south of Little Rock in the East End community, the monastery is open to the public by appointment only.

More advanced versions of the engineering marvels are the suspension bridges built for vehicular traffic, and they too are scarce. Just north of Mountain View, an elegant suspension bridge over Sylamore Creek built in 1945 with a 200-foot span accommodated cars until the recent past. Those curious individuals who enjoy driving across a splendid swinging bridge should check out Beaver Bridge on Arkansas 187 a few miles north of Eureka Springs. Known as the “Little Golden Gate,” the one-lane suspension bridge spanning the White River is more than 550 feet long and has been featured in at least one movie.

Finally, the $336 million U.S. 82 suspension bridge in southeast Arkansas across the Mississippi River near Lake Village is a wonderful example of modern-day technology.

This list is not comprehensive, but it is close. Set aside a day on your calendar, and enjoy a swinging bridge experience in Arkansas before they are all gone.

Joe David Rice, former tourism director of 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 will share one of the 165 distinctive essays. We hope these stories will give you a new appreciation for this geographically compact but delightfully complex place we call home. These Arkansas Backstories columns appear courtesy of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Central Arkansas Library System. The essays have been collected and published by Butler Center Books in a two-volume set, both of which are now available to purchase on Amazon and at the University of Arkansas Press.

A swinging bridge over the Mulberry River

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