SCHOOL ATHLETIC PROGRAMS teach students many important life skills, including balance, time management, and hard work. The Pulaski County Special School District is proud of the many accomplishments of our student athletes and athletic programs, both on and off the field. Each of the four feeders in PCSSD has their own athletic director who oversees the success of student-athletes on and off the field.
“Statistics have shown that students who are involved in extracurricular activities during high school make higher grades, have a higher graduation rate, lower discipline issues, and increased opportunity for college scholarship monies,” said Robinson athletic director Todd Eskola. “At Robinson, we not only encourage all students to be involved, but we strongly encourage students to not specialize. We want our student-athletes to be well rounded and be involved in more than one sport or activity! Try out for an athletic team, join the band or choir, find an organization or club on campus to be plugged in with!”
Denny Tipton, Sylvan Hills athletic director said his favorite part is watching the students grow, “I encourage our coaches to get into the hallways at their schools to get to know the students, which makes them want to participate in sports if there is already a relationship with the coach. I love when athletes have success in the classroom and on the field.”
Mills athletic director, Raymond Cooper, said, “Studentathletes today are students FIRST. The days of athletes getting passed along and not performing academically are long gone. The training and the rigor it takes to be successful has increased drastically. Sports have become year round. There is no more offseason.”
Meanwhile, big things are happening in the Maumelle feeder. Athletic director Kirk Horton is excited to watch the upcoming additions come to life. “Maumelle High School stands to gain a new baseball field, softball field, regulation track (with a turf infield where soccer or football could be played), and an indoor practice facility. This will allow our student athletes to be able to practice and play games on campus. The project will also give our current field house a facelift and make all of our facilities for athletics up to date. The project is set to start Fall of 2022 and finish in Fall of 2023. This will be a huge selling point for future enrollment.”
Maumelle’s $11 million dollar project is part of PCSSD’s Building for the Future bond restructuring that was passed by voters in November 2021.
The PCSSD Athletic Department provides studentathletes the opportunity for involvement on a variety of athletic teams. While striving for excellence, the athletic programs serve as an extension of the school district’s academic goals, supporting success in the classroom as well as on the field. The PCSSD Athletic programs aim to instill loyalty, teamwork and leadership while maintaining honesty and integrity in every student athlete.
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.
Dwain Hebda is president of Ya!Mule Wordsmiths in Little Rock. A writer, editor and journalist of some 30 years, his work appears in more than 30 publications in four states. Nebraskan by birth, Southern by the grace of God, he and his wife, Darlene, have four grown children and two lovely dogs.
Kaitlin Barger is a Little Rock native who has been contributing to AY Magazine for nearly four years. She has an affinity for animals and serves as an officer on the board of directors for the Friends of the Animal Village. Kaitlin earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Arkansas.
Julie Craig began her magazine career while living in New York City as an intern at Seventeen. With fashion and home design as her forte for the past 15 years, Julie is a blogger, writer and editor who has reported stories for Us Weekly and written about and photographed New York Fashion Week.
Nic Williams, an Arkansas native, is a practicing lawyer and contributor to AY Magazine. He has developed original recipes for more than half a decade and considers Ina Garten as his inspiration. Most importantly, he’s a proud doggy dad and is grateful for his supportive friends and family.
AY
Becky Gillette, based in Eureka Springs, is a freelance writer/ photographer whose work has been published in about 50 magazines and in newspapers nationwide. Her articles have appeared in Ladies Home Journal, Organic Gardening, Utne Reader, E, The Environmental Magazine, Arkansas Medical News, BioScience and Stockman Grass Farmer.
Angela Forsyth lives in Northwest Arkansas. Her articles have been published in AY About You, Arkansas Money and Politics, Food & Drink, Modern Home Builder, Manufacturing Today, Inside Healthcare, Retail Merchandiser and many more magazines. She’s a happy wife and mom to four kids and a dog.
Jason Pederson spent 20 years as KATV’s Seven On Your Side reporter. He is now Deputy Chief of Community Engagement for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. He and his wife, Mary Carol, have two bio logical children and one bonus son. They are long-time members of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock.
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Please recycle this magazine.
I really want to take this time to share my appreciation for those who have made this year’s thanksgiving the most beautiful time of the year. I have so many wonderful people to give thanks to this season; my office and all the hard working members of the entire AY Media team, the amazing members of my family, my church, and all of our readers and supporters, you really are amaz ing.
I’m thankful for the opportunity our work gives to work with our community and help people be connected with their state.
This year more than ever I am thankful for the health of my family, a husband who I love dearly and is always there for me, and a career that I love.
I’m thankful for my family and friends -- the ones who are here and the ones who aren’t. I’m thankful for my sister, who’s my day one and deserves at least the entire world. I’m thankful for good books, takeout Chinese food, and (almost) every dog I’ve ever met. Mostly, I’m just grateful to exist, to love and be loved for as long as I’m around.
I am so thankful for my family, who is always there for me. And I’m thankful for my cat, Cappie, who makes me get out of bed every day and is always happy to see me when I get home.
This year, I am so thankful for wonderful friends and family.
While I have many things for which to be grateful, I am most grateful for wonderful family and friends. As the (Maroon 5) song says, “Here’s to the ones that we got, cheers to the wish you were here, but you’re not ... toast to the ones here today, toast to the ones that we lost on the way.”
This Thanksgiving I am so grateful to make memories with family and friends that bless me everyday with kind words and actions. Thanksgiv ing is also a special time for me remember others and make a difference in someone’s life.
This year, I am grateful for my parents who support me endlessly and for my dog, Ollie, who’s always down for a trip to the dog park to play fetch or a long walk. I am also endlessly thankful for a year full of really great live music and the opportunity to further my education while pursuing a master’s degree.
There are so many things in my life that I’m thankful for. Each day I have a heart of gratitude for my Mother, my son, my family, my health and for Jerry McCoy. I’m truly a blessed woman.
I am very thankful for all of the many years of family gatherings I have been a part of for Thanksgiving. I am blessed with wonder ful memories of these gatherings that I treasure.
‘PAUL’S PROMISE’ MOVIE HIGHLIGHTS HOLDERFIELD’S LIFE OF FIGHTING FOR GOOD “Such an inspiring story that reminds us to never lose hope and that it's never too late to turn one's life around! I want to see this movie again!”
Keith-Laura Hamilton
“The loaded fries are the best!”
“I have watched with admiration for over 20 years as Heather Baker has learned and adapted her publications to address an ever changing market. It's a very tough business, like mine. She has never compromised on quality and her work has always had a nice touch of class. Her publications, and outside work, have been very good for our industry at a time when we need all the help we can get. Thank you Heather for that. Here's to many more years of good work!”
Mark Abernathy - Owner, Loca Luna and Red Door Restaurants
MCCLARD’S & DOWNHOME CATERING HOLD GRAND OPENING
“Suzanne Clark this is my favorite BBQ place in Hot Springs so we are gonna have to go!”
Sarah Johnson
STOBY’S: FACES BEHIND THE PLACE “So awesome! Loved this read!!!!” Kassi’s Cookies
WITHOUT MEXICO CHIQUITO, THE CHEESE DIP BUCKET LIST WOULDN’T EXIST “That PUNCH though! Please tell me everyone else has eaten Mexico Chiquito.”
Brittany Rush
LUXURY LAKE OASIS:
“Love
Cynthia Fordyce DePriest
Have you tried Kemuri’snew location? Kemuri West is located at 17200 Chenal Parkway, Suite 100, in thesame shopping center asChi’s Chinese Cuisine.
The Little Rock Zoo recentlyasked for the help of thepublic with naming threeadorable female tiger cubs!
There was a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Wienerschnitzel in Bentonville on Thursday, Oct. 20.
We recently enjoyed a beautiful weekend at Schaefers and Collins Pumpkin Patch!
When Randy’s wife gifted him a heart screening at Arkansas Heart Hospital, it was meant to be precautionary. But what it found changed everything.
Randy’s cardiovascular risk profile revealed three heart blockages, despite him showing no prior symptoms. As a result of his precautionary screening,
he was able to have triple bypass surgery to fix the blockages and prevent a heart attack.
Heart disease often doesn’t show warning signs until it’s too late. That’s why regular early screenings are so important – they’re sometimes life-saving.
Family gatherings are a great time to encourage your loved ones to take precautionary measures to protect their health. One simple appointment can make sure they’re around for many holidays to come, so encourage them to talk to their physician or visit arheart.com to set up a screening today.
FIND OUT
HEART SCREENINGS.
November 5
Conway
This free public event encourages community spirit through family-friendly fun, entertainment and educational activities. This year’s theme is “‘C’ is for Community,” allowing families to enjoy all that public media and its partners offer Arkansas, from A to Z. Special guests for the day include Alma from “Alma’s Way,” Buddy from “Dinosaur Train,” Clifford the Big Red Dog, Curious George and Daniel Tiger. During the event, Arkansas PBS will kick off the 2022 Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Sweater Drive, so everyone is encouraged to bring their new and gently used sweaters to donate and help keep their neighbors warm this winter. It will be held at 350 South Donaghey Ave. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Families are encouraged to RSVP at myarpbs.org/familyday.
November 10-12
Eureka Springs
The Ozark Folk Festival returns for three days of the best regional and national folk music. Headliners include Hot Club of Cowtown, Pokey LaFarge, Shiny Ribs, Rachel Ammons and more.
November 19
Maumelle
The 2nd annual Little Rock Whiskey Festival is an upscale tasting event featuring a wide assortment of whiskey, bourbon, scotch and other fine spirits. The festival will gather whiskey enthusiasts and 50+ of the most fascinating distilled spirits and feature a whiskey cocktail contest. Guests must be 21 years or older to attend. Valid photo ID required.
November 29
North Little Rock
The Eagles – Don Henley, Joe Walsh, and Timothy B. Schmit, with Vince Gill – have added a show in North Little Rock to its “Hotel California” 2022 Tour. The concert, which marks the first time the Eagles will perform in North Little Rock since 2015, will feature “Hotel California,” performed live in its entirety from start to finish, accompanied by an orchestra and choir. After a short intermission, the band will perform a full set of their greatest hits. The performance will begin at 8 p.m.
December 3
Little Rock
Please help the American Cancer Society finish the fight against cancer. The Cattle Barons Little Rock benefiting the American Cancer Society is a one-of-a-kind evening featuring great food, dancing, a spectacular auction and much more. The Central Arkansas ACS has a specific goal of raising funds to provide transportation grants to local hospitals and clinics which, in turn, assist patients in getting to/from treatment.
Bright lights line streets, build ings, pathways and trees dur ing Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas, run ning November 5 through December 30. This season marks the debut of a new production show Coming Home For Christmas, along with over 6.5 million lights, an elaborate 8-story animated Christmas tree, a light parade, holiday foods and more. Silver Dollar City shines bril liantly with so much entertainment that the park is the five-time reigning champion for Best Theme Park Holiday Event in America by USA Today’s 10Best.
Throughout the streets of The City carolers sing and stroll, while the centerpiece of Joy On Town Square, an 8-story Christmas tree, and surrounding lights glow spectacularly. Even brighter is Christmas in Midtown with its remarkable display of light tunnels, wreath portals, fly ing angels and special effects 9-stories tall. For thrill seekers, rides soar under the Ozark Mountain starlight with all the Christmas lights visible below. Plus, craftsman in the Christmas spirit demonstrate glass-blowing, wood carving and pottery, creating oneof-a-kind heirlooms.
The City’s stages offer more than 30 shows each day and night. Including the longtime favorite production, A Dickens’ Christmas Carol. The all new show, Coming Home for Christmas, features a live band and a cast of 14 sing ers and dancers presenting holiday music, stories and family traditions. Other productions include The Living Nativity and the Saloon Frontier Fa-La-La Follies Rudolph’s Holly Jolly ™ Christmas Light Parade winds through The City each evening with lighted floats, characters, dancers and performers. Guests aboard the Frisco Sing-Along Steam Train en joy a Christmas story and sing-along to their favorite holiday tunes all while getting a unique view of The City’s 6.5 million lights.
To add to the festivities, menus offer a variety of seasonal treats such as a Holiday Dinner with smoked turkey, ham, prime rib and trimmings; specialty soups like potato leek; Silver Dollar City’s Miner’s Beef Stew; plus, a variety of sweets such as hot chocolate and wassail, s’mores or warm apple dumplings with homemade cinnamon ice cream. Tasting Passports let guests sample their way through The City.
The two-month long holiday event boasts impressive statistics, including 680 miles of lights, 1,000 decorated Christmas trees, 600 wreaths and more than three miles of garland and ribbon, and so much more. You and your family and friends will make memories that shine for years to come at Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas!
By Julie Craig // Photos courtesy of KellCo Custom Homes, Inc.
FFiercely passionate about modern archi tecture, custom home builder and designer Tra cie J. Kelley, president and CEO of KellCo Custom Homes Inc., doesn’t follow trends –– she sets them!
The Hallen Estate in Chenal Valley was one of the builder’s most exciting designs. Kelley’s biggest challenge? Herself! “I’m al ways eager to step it up and raise my own bar,” she says.
Chenal Valley in Little Rock is home to hundreds of pristine, high-end luxury homes, where character and sophistication abound. Known as a “master-planned-community,” residents in Chenal experience a self-con tained environment where there’s plenty of opportunities for shopping, dining, work and play.
As a builder, one of the most important decisions for Kelley is location –– where she will purchase property for any of her custom homes to come alive. Kelley says, “I don’t pur chase just to build, and I don’t build just to sell. My passion for custom home building extends far beyond ordinary, and each home that I design reflects a distinct character that is often hard to find in today’s homes, and quite
frankly, shouldn’t be.”
Having a unique vision, then putting that vision to work, takes great knowledge, a com prehensive and well-thought-out plan, many sleepless nights and, of course, hard work. “I love and appreciate the consistency and pow erful aesthetics Chenal Valley offers its resi dents, and that’s exactly my plan in each home that I design and build,” she says.
KellCo Custom Homes doesn’t hesitate when having the opportunity to design and build another breathtaking luxury home, es pecially in Chenal. “Chenal offers something different; it’s special all on its own, and that’s totally my drive,” Kelley says.
That is where Hallen Estate came to life. It’s surrounded by unique amenities –– such as golf, a members-only club, walking trails and gated entries –– to mention a few.
“Hallen Estate is such an amazing home and on so many levels,” Kelley says. “I believe every home carries a testimony within, and Hallen Estate has something very powerful. I’ve been unbelievably blessed to have the op portunity to build this special home. I’m giv ing God all the glory.”
Aside from its immediate breathtaking aesthetics, what started out as a custom spec home, Hallen Estate was designed and built for great energy efficiency. It features insulated
metal roofing (metal reflects energy from the sun up and away from the home, unlike as phalt shingles which absorb the energy and transmit heat down into the home) and a high-efficiency 18 S.E.E.R. (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) heating and cooling system provided by Energy Air, Inc. The higher the number, the more efficient the system will be, and more money the homeowner can save each month.
The builder’s favorite part of the design is its massive, clean, “sleek and sassy” casement windows throughout the home. Produced by Pella Windows and Doors, the windows were custom-made for the home and make a stun ning statement. “A home filled with light has much joy,” Kelley says.
Thermal white oak hardwood flooring is flanked throughout the home, which further defines its interior character, reflecting soft, yet bold impressions, immediately upon entry. And the interior LED lighting throughout the home, provided by Tech Electric, boasts its own attitude altogether. “Lighting styles in a home say a lot,” Kelley explains.
KellCo Custom Homes provides high-end lighting to highlight special features and alter interior designs of a specific space. “Luxurious lighting throughout a home offers uniqueness and enhances architectural allure,” she adds.
As featured, this 16-light chandelier Z-Lite 737 embraces a sleek boldness and doubles down on contemporary attitude. It features a linear silhouette fashioned with a sexy, matteblack finished steel, while infusing modernis tic style and class.
From exotic Quartzites and stone coun tertops within the home, to glass splashes, an iron-railed-lighted staircase and invigorat ing massaging shower systems, Kelley doesn’t back down when it comes to custom. “My homes are so spoiled!” she says.
There are so many fun and unique features of the Hallen Estate home, it’s hard for Kel ley to pick a favorite. “If I just had to choose,” she says, “it would undoubtedly be the family room. This is where my heart is.” The space is joined with a gourmet kitchen, overlooking a grand, linear fireplace stacked with granite stones and iron railings, and provides space for great family time, entertaining and a nice kick-back.
The kitchen is also one of Kelley’s favor ite areas of the homes she designs. Show cased here, hickory cabinets are stained using a white-wash method, back wiped through different applications and dressed in black iron pulls. Hickory shows off a unique char acter, such as veins and knots, and that is what makes the wood product so grand. “It truly takes getting out of your comfort zone to make the unique happen,” Kelley says. She states that hickory-anything is expensive, and that it’s certainly worth it. She says to play around and test this application on such ex pensive material takes much grit. “Just go for it!” she adds.
Kelley highlights mixes of modern masses and aesthetic intrigue and incorporates ma terials such as glass, steel, granite stones, metals, iron and wood to play together in exciting new ways for many of her custom
builds. “I like to keep it stirred up!” Kelley says. “Who wants what everyone else has? Boring. Boring. Boring.”
Kelley says that growing up, she remem bers her grandmother saying, “Take it out side!” Now, that’s exactly what she does when designing her custom homes. Hallen Estate demands attention, and for an obvious rea sons. The exterior of the home is shanked with true granite stones, while seamlessly sur rounded by cypress and black iron. The large, black-trimmed windows draw attention to the amazing, multifunctional flex room, while gazes are focused on the exquisite glass chan delier below the 30-foot custom ceiling.
“I decided to take this room to the next level,” Kelley says. “With so many folks working from home today, who wants to feel trapped inside?”
Featuring open spaces, entertaining patios,
Left: Looking out from the back patio of the estate, which boasts a whole new standard of outdoor relaxation.
Below: Kelley proves bathrooms can be traditional while still pushing the envelope on style.
flex rooms, outdoor kitchens and in-ground pools, Kelley’s designs are invigorating and fun at the start of any design. “Let’s go!” she says. “Exceptional designs have no boundaries. KellCo has a focus on design for the needs of each family while providing a unique modern, transitional and traditional aesthetic to those who “dare to be different.”
While building a new home is exciting, there are several important decisions that should be considered and made well ahead of any build project. “Do your homework,” Kelley advises. “Hiring the right builder is crucial,”as each builder has something different to offer, from design and quality to craftsmanship and knowledge. Know how to separate the so-so from the superb. Check to see how the builder engages within their job sites. Is there a builder absence? Of course, with permission from the builder, take a tour of the builders’ homes, if
possible, including while under construction. Find a builder who can guide you with sta bility and leadership –– particularly in today’s market –– and look for a builder whose emo tions don’t fluctuate like the price of lumber.”
With this said, it’s equally important that the builder do their homework. Kelley says, “While I’ve learned I can’t be all things to all people, I have gained much wisdom and insight in knowing that not all are meant to build together.”
• What is the cost to build per square foot?
“This is a great question,” Kelley says. “It depends. 40% of the final cost of a cli ent’s custom home is outside of the build er’s control and is determined by the level of the buyer’s desired finished product.”
Kelley strongly states, “Don’t try to build a home that is more than you can afford. Be honest and upfront with the builder about your budget. Otherwise, it will always add unnecessary stress to the build process.”
“Realizing that ‘little changes’ make big impacts is important,” she says. “CHCH-CHANGES in a custom home building process are inevitable. Be gra cious and remember when designed by KellCo, [your] home is a one-of-a-kind custom home that has never been built be fore; therefore, budgets and floorplans are likely to be tweaked on-site. From paper to site, things often change.”
Kelley states that while a lower quote may seem appealing, you’ll pay for it in other ways. You’ll often hear Kelley say, “Our success stems from the dedication and hard work of the builder and the quality of our subcontractors and suppli ers. Using your builder’s resources keeps all points of accountability with the builder.”
Open, frequent and respectful communi cation throughout a build process is key. A client-builder relationship isn’t unlike one be tween spouses. “It’s like a marriage should be,” Kelley says.” “Make a plan with your builder of how and when you will communicate, so it doesn’t become a barrage of texts, emails and phone calls that can’t be effectively fielded.”
When building a custom home, mistakes are inevitable. Just because your builder has decades of experience doesn’t mean they will be flawless. “There will always be challenges to occur. It’s the nature of the beast,” Kelley says. “Ultimately, you will hire a builder for good reason, mostly, and hopefully, based on trust.
The builder’s favorite part of the design is its massive, clean, “sleek and sassy” casement windows throughout the home.
Trust your builder to live up to your initial expectations while keeping it real!”
“A great builder will do everything possi ble to keep calm through the chaos,” she adds. “It’s important that clients trust they hired the right builder and trust in our ability to execute even through the chaos. The most important factor when building a home is trust. Some times it’s best to stay out of the kitchen until the final product is ready!” she jokes.
Kelley enjoys working closely with every client throughout the build process. “As a gen eral contractor, we witness and face numerous and unprecedented changes within the indus try, especially over the past couple of years,” she says. “To say they can be challenging is merely an understatement.”
Despite the previous demand in supplies, sky-high lumber and labor prices, Kelley says it’s all worth it in the end. “We must be real istic and understand the process of building a custom home will always include bumps along the way,” she says. “Be nice to your builder and trust their advice, as they are the experts. If you’re looking for a smoother process, buy a SPEC home at paint-phase!”
Kelley says she is in the design phase of several custom homes, which are soon to break ground. “I get excited with each and ev ery home as if it were my very first!” she says. Kelley’s upcoming custom homes will be in Chenal Valley and surrounding areas of Little Rock, Sherwood, North Little Rock, Conway and Greers Ferry.
By JULIE CRAIG
Tipton & Hurst shares how holiday gatherings are finally making a comeback and how to make your gatherings gorgeous.Photo courtesy of Tipton & Hurst
The holiday season is in full swing, so let the decorating begin. After several seasons of a nationwide pandemic, 2022 appears to be the year of the gathering comeback. And we could really all hope for it. After all, local busi nesses like Tipton & Hurst thrive on it, and have been a part of making it a special time for families across the country since 1886, when Joseph B. Hurst and David Tipton started the business in downtown Little Rock.
Flowers, plants, table tops, gifts and accessories. You name it. The holidays wouldn’t be the same without adding a little bit of extra de cor to brighten things up.
“We’re much more than a florist,” says Howard Hurst, company President and CEO and grandson of Jo seph B. Hurst. “We’re also a gift, bridal, china and crystal store. And Thanksgiving is huge because it’s a big meal, and you’re dressing your table. That’s probably the no. 1 thing people do.”
“Customers say, ‘I want to match this with my napkins, or I want to match that with the tablecloth.’” “They might mention they want to match something to the decor in their living room or where the family is going to gather, so they want a fall wreath on the door or planter containers in the room. In Arkansas, it could be on the back porch, whenever it might be warm. So all that is taking place, and I like to say “dressing the table,” but we’re really dressing up everything.”
Hurst continually collaborates with his expert team who have been at the company for decades, including Chris Norwood, vice president and design guru. Norwood has worked at Tipton & Hurst for 33 years and who Hurst refers to as the “creative master.”
Norwood previously served as the National President of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD), President of the Arkansas Florist Association, and CEO and Chairman of the AIFD Foundation. He was induct ed into the American Academy of Floriculture. Basically, Norwood knows flowers.
While there are many components to holiday decorat
ing, obviously flowers plays a huge role in holiday decorat ing. Norwood says, “If you think about it, as inflation goes on, you may not be able to go out and buy a new car every year, but you definitely get a beautiful bouquet of flowers,” he says. “It’s a fact that flowers make people happier; they make you feel better. No matter what, that’s why we’re here - to make people feel better and to take them to a happier place. Whether it’s through sympathy or just everyday living, flowers are definitely a perk and an affordable perk that helps people get through the day.”
So what’s a great flower to lean on if you’re having several holiday gatherings and want to get the most out of your de cor? “We have a ton of a new variety of garden roses that, be lieve it or not, last a long time,” Norwood says. “They provide a lot of visual appeal because they open so large, so it may sound expensive to buy one stem, but really the one stem covers the same as something else, and they last quite a long time,” he says.
Norwood adds, “They are all these beautiful new tones like cantaloupe and toffee and caramel, the color trend that’s very popular with the younger generations right now.”
Another aspect to the company’s floral planning is deliv ery. “A lot of people can’t make it for Thanksgiving,” Hurst says. “We deliver all over the world through our affiliate, so
we’ll call our partner florist anywhere when someone maybe can’t make it to their mother’s house, but still wants to send her a centerpiece.”
Hurst also mentions there are many organic materials that come from the landscape in Arkansas that people can use for decorating, whether they’re dried fall leaves or cattails that pair with burgundy or yellow tones.
Norwood himself tends to lean on the “simple” side of
things when it comes to decorating for Thanksgiving. “I still like runners of pumpkins, organic and different tones and tex tures down the table with the leaves and accents that are more natural,” he says.
“I think that this year will be the year that everyone really tries to get together more than in the past, so you’ll see a lot more entertaining at home and a lot more tabletops, hopefully.” As far as color palettes, it’s still pretty traditional, he says. “You might go with the traditional fall color scheme of burgundies, maroons and reds as well as orange, pumpkin, yellow, and even some purple and marine.
“But, we’re also seeing a lot of nude or tone on tone white, cream, white with a lot of sage green, and dark, magnolia, green and toffee with kind of a brown caramel color to it. That’s go ing to be more traditional and also a little bit more of a younger trend, while the brighter colors are going to be a more mature audience and traditional.”
Hurst thinks of the stores, which also sell online and via so cial media, as a collection. “Someone might say, ‘I bought some napkins, so then I also found some candles along with it,’” he says. “And ‘I was going to get some sunflowers, so I bought some berries to go in a vase to make it look even nicer.’”
I think that this year will be the year that everyone really tries to get together more than in the past, so you’ll see a lot more entertaining at home and a lot more tabletops, hopefully.Photo by Heather Baker Photos By DEWAINE DUNCAN Photo by Heather Baker
Most anyone who visits a Tipton & Hurst soon real izes there are many different types of items to choose from, but especially when it comes to fresh greenery. “We have the largest display of fresh flowers and plants of anywhere,” Hurst says.
It’s no secret that when you visit, you’ll not only find just what you need to coordinate with your home and de cor collection, but you’ll be able to get the customer service you always expect to help find just what is needed with the same standard of excellence. That’s why the trusted name of Tipton & Hurst has so many repeat customers during the holidays each year.
“Number one is the people because customers will say, ‘Oh, well, you know, I’m gonna come in and talk to Barbara, or I’m gonna talk to Jessica because the same people have been with us a long time so it becomes very familiar,” Hurst says. “You know, where do you get that now in retail? We’re very much about local and taking care of our communities, so that’s a huge thing for us.”
“We try to treat everybody like it’s our grandmother,” Hurst says. “I mean, what are you gonna do for your grand mother? You’re gonna do everything. You trust her implicitly, and so that’s kind of the way we think about things.”
1. Come with inspiration! The store employees can help you put to gether your favorite Pinterest look or a gift basket for someone.
2. On a budget? Simple is key. Use a runner of pumpkins and insert some flower heads in between, or let your dishes be the center of at tention. “A lot of times you can actually just do fruits and vegetables on the table as a fun, organic look to it,” Norwood says.
3. Get nostalgic. “I think we’re all kind of nostalgic at heart,” Norwood says. “So even if you have some of your grandparents’ china or a piece or two of items selected over the years, those add meaning.”
4. Use reversible decorations. Transitioning from Halloween to Thanksgiving can be so much easier when you can use the same pieces.
5. Seated tabletop decor should not reach any taller than the elbow to avoid having to see over it.
6. Clear, direct water keeps flowers fresh longer than foam (and flower food is always helpful).
7. When storing decor, invest in great containers and wrap items like you would any other important piece that you want to keep forever and then store away.
Sweet, simple and southern, nothing says “welcome to the South,” like a good, old - fashioned plate full of the delica cies that lie within southern comfort meals. Whether it’s fried chicken or mac and cheese – there is a whole wide world full of classic comfort meals to satisfy any craving. There’s also several places where guests can enjoy Southern comfort food in the Natural State, with McClard’s & DownHome being one of the many eateries to choose from.
By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos By DEWAINE DUNCAN
Let’s just call it like it is, folks – it’s been a hell of a decade so far.
From global conflict to political backbiting to runaway inflation to that dadgum COVID popping up like crabgrass in the lawn of life. It makes you wonder who dusted off the ol’ Ouija board and cracked open some portal they shouldn’t have.
In times as complicated, discombobulated and just downright weird as these, the simplest things in life become the most sacred. Take a walk through Arkan sas’ silent woods sometime – your phone won’t work, forcing you to contemplate life in tranquil, unplugged surroundings. It will blow your mind. Or personally reconnect with a long-lost classmate, your next-door neighbor or your spouse, for that matter. Some times the longest distances are found within the shortest proximity. These, and a hundred other simple things, can strip away the noise and madness of mod ern life and get you to the essence of what makes you happy. And it might lead you, as it often
Times like these are what comfort food was made for. Your Mama and Nana were onto something when they healed your teenage broken heart with pie, warmed you inside and out with chicken soup and greased your soul with fried chicken and greens. And what that didn’t
“Home cooking, it’s not frilly, it’s not white-linen table service,” says Tori Morehart, who founded Little Rock's DownHome Catering nearly 20 years ago. “It’s meatloaf, country-fried chicken, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, that kind of stuff. It’s not fancy; it’s just Arkansas,
Morehart holds as close to a comfort food Ph.D. as one can get, having learned in the kitchen at the elbow of her mother and alongside her sister. She recently conjoining her longtime catering outfit with the legendary McClard’s Bar-B-Q of Hot Springs. The resulting company – McClard’s & DownHome Catering – cut the ribbon last month, christening their
“People have been coming in here asking, ‘When is McClard’s going to be here?’” Morehart says. “I’m like, ‘It’s coming. It’s com ing. It’ll be here in three weeks; it’ll be here in two weeks; it’ll be here in a week. We’re working on it.’ When it finally did get
Comfort food can vary widely from one region of the country to another, as generations of self-taught cooks prepared whatever was at hand and in season. In cold er parts of the country, where the growing season is shorter, you’ll find different home cooking than you
Comfort food in the South, while not im mune to these regional influences, is more cohesive and, for many people’s money, done better than anywhere else on the planet.
McClard’s & DownHome’s menu is Ar kansas to the bone with a lineup that stands as a cultural touchpoint for Southern food, almost as if some one cut the state in half to
show off its culinary rings.
“My customers, these are all regular people,” Morehart notes. “We know their names, know their kids and their grandkids. We walk around here and hug and kiss on all of them. We’ve always made it like a family-oriented thing. McClard’s is so like that, too. My gosh, it’s 94 years old! So, it’s kind of the perfect little marriage of two really good things.”
At this, Lee Beasley nods his head in agreement. Hot Springs born and bred, Beasley bought the McClard’s assets when the latest generation of the family decided they wanted live life at an easier pace than what a res taurant demands. The sale preserved the iconic Spa City original location, a move that let barbecue fanatics the world over heave a collective sigh of relief.
But Beasley wasn’t content with just curating Arkan sas history; he wanted to spread the Book of McClard to smoked meat true believers elsewhere in the state. That meant opening a Rogers location last year, before joining forces with Morehart.
He says the toughest thing about expanding a threegenerations-deep legacy like McClard’s barbecue was consistency.
“My friends tease me and say, ‘Well, what did you change?’ I say, ‘I didn’t spend X number of dollars so I could put my BBQ in there. I want to keep it exactly the way they did it,’” Beasley ex plains. “We have added, but not changed things. We want to keep it the same.
“Now, a great question is how do you replicate some thing exactly or what do you do when you have something that isn’t broken? That’s my key in barbecue: You don’t want people saying it doesn’t taste the same. We may look for a better way to light the fire or to do this or that, but the recipe, we don’t want to attack that.”
῾cue), there are plenty of other home-cooked dishes available. Asked for her ultimate plate, Morehart recommended chicken-fried chick en paired with the bacon-forward green beans and either mashed potatoes or maca roni and cheese. Polish it off with a slice of possum pie then, if you can swing it, go home and sleep it off.
“Everything on the menu, I can draw a direct line to someone in the family,” More hart explains. “We couldn’t do this without those people. It’s everybody’s combined years of experience like, ‘This is my grand ma’s recipe, or this is my mom’s recipe, or this is how my dad did it.’”
The essence of comfort food lies in simplicity, but there’s a real art to pulling something so extraordinary out of everyday ingredients. If you’re wondering what kind of voodoo it takes to elevate meat and veg etables to a cultural touchstone, watching Morehart at work reveals a clue. She’s chat ting up a table of gal pals; upon entry of a longtime regular, she lets out a squeal of greeting and hands out for a hug. She’s less a woman at work than a neighbor at home with her friends.
The new space doesn’t yet have that soaked-into-thewoodwork barbecue aroma just yet, but don’t let that sway you; Beasley said the brisket stacks up against anything in Arkansas. In fact, at its grand opening, the place sold out of its signature item, something Beasley chalked up to one of many adjustments needed to translate the fare from the tiny original restaurant to its much bigger sister in Little Rock.
“We’ve already ran out of brisket today. Didn’t cook enough,” he notes. “That’s one of the things we’ll learn; we just don’t know how to gauge yet. But it has to be right; I’m telling you, there are diehard McClard’s fans out there.”
And all at once you get it: Comfort food, especially the Southern variety, is much more than the sum of its parts. It’s the fact that everything on the menu comes right out of someone’s recipe box, handwrit ten index cards or yellowed church cookbook. It’s the pie that’s done to perfection by feel and the vegetables Pawpaw used to take such pride in raising. It’s a hundred Easter dinners and a thousand ordinary Wednesdays. It’s work and joy and loss and faith set out on the good plates, leftovers sent home like love letters, signed, ‘Y’all come back now.’
“We have some big shoes to fill, both of us, because we’ve got to make this right for these people,” Beasley says, scanning the diners hunched over plates or toting togo orders to the parking lot. “People need comfort food now more than ever. Comfort food at a good price, that’s the formula. Take me, for example; you give me a good brisket, some fries and a piece of pie, and I’m happy.”
Lee Beasley, Tori Tisdale Morehart and Dean Jennings
By
There are many roads that lead to opening a restaurant. Some people work their way up through food service gigs and management, dreaming of a place to call their own. Others are born into the family business and have no plans of closing up shop. For a few, however, the decision to make food a career is as simple (and as complicated) as a single moment of clarity – and thousands of hours spent bringing that vision to life. That’s the path that Tori Tisdale Morehart has walked for nearly two decades now, building DownHome Catering into the go-to caterer for busi nesses, offices and hungry customers across the state. DownHome’s success, including its recent evolution into McClard’s DownHome, has come largely from the sheer force of Morehart’s personality, and, just as essentially, her collection of can’t-be-beat comfort foods done right.
It’s 2016, and Morehart has just gotten married. Only two days after the ceremony, around 9 a.m. on Sunday morning, Morehart’s cellphone – the catering line – rings. It’s Entergy, whose storm crews are being deployed after a wave of severe weather had made its way through the state. The request? Box lunches for 450 people by 11:30 a.m. – just a little over two hours to gather ingredients, assemble and send them out. Without missing a beat, Morehart says yes.
“I didn’t have the truck,” she recalls. “I’m going to Sam’s to buy bags of chips, tomatoes, everything. My husband, my sister and a guy that used to work for me came to help. We were all like an assembly line, and Entergy was coming to pick them up as fast as we could get them made. We took the rest over ourselves.”
Though she describes it as “one of the fastest, most hectic ones,” Morehart wasn’t fazed by the scale or the timeline of the job. In fact, she has yet to say no to just about any order, no matter how last-minute the call comes in. Her website greets visitors with the message that “CATERING HOURS ARE 24/7.”
And they really are. Morehart has endless stories of customers calling at every hour of the day for any kind of event. Whether she’s serving lunch at film sets, feeding late-night festival volunteers or even getting a 6 a.m. office breakfast together with no head’s up, Morehart comes through time and again.
“This phone – my cellphone – is our catering number. It’s been my number for 20 years. I answer it 24 hours a day. I have one guy who calls and says, ‘Have you got food for 50 people laying around?’ He’ll call an hour before their lunch. We’ll do anything at the last minute.”
It’s not a job for the faint of heart, but Morehart thrives on the challenge. She’s a self-described early bird, and she worked as a nurse before venturing into the catering business in 2003. In fact, it’s the connections she made while working in doctor’s offices that helped get DownHome off the ground in those early years. Having been on the receiving end of countless lunches provided by traveling pharmaceutical reps, when Morehart decided to try her own hand at catering, she pitched herself to customers in the medical industry first.
“I went to every doctor’s office and doctor’s building in town. I took flyers; I baked cookies and put them in bags,” she says. “I went to the family practice conventions – I snuck into the family practice conven tions, literally – and passed out menus and cookies to all the pharmaceutical reps. That was about 90% of my busi ness when I started out.”
Eventually, Morehart needed a storefront. DownHome’s original lo cation was far enough out of the way that any clientele Morehart secured would be hard-won. Once she did get them in, however, her customers were hooked.
“I just started. I was out in the county in a little bitty flat block build ing. Twelve booths, one server, paper tickets — if you didn’t know we were out there, you would never find it. I used to drive everywhere in town. Lit tle Rock, Conway, North Little Rock. If there’s more than 5 or 10 cars in a parking lot, I’m pulling in there, hand ing out menus and cookies. Finally, it
just caught on.”
Morehart has a contingent of long time customers, many of whom followed DownHome to its new location on Stagecoach Road in 2015. In fact, many of her regulars are so committed to More hart that they’ll roll silver ware while waiting on their orders. Nothing – not even a pandemic – would keep them away from their favorite South ern comfort food spot.
“When COVID first hit and the restaurant got closed, these ladies would come and wait in their cars,” Morehart says. “They’d bring chairs and hang out there with a little umbrella and their food, just sitting farther away from each other.”
For a long time, the restaurant played second fiddle to the catering gigs. Morehart’s customers include busi nesses of all types and sizes, from FedEx and Entergy to those still-loyal pharmaceutical reps making their way around the state. Being on-call 24/7 for catering kept the restaurant on limited hours – only open through lunch and closed on the weekends. That’s where local restaurant magnate Lee Beasley and business partner Dean Jennings came in.
Though primarily focused on buying and selling properties, Beasley has made a name for himself as the owner of eateries like Bone’s Chophouse (now JB ChopHouse), Copper Penny Pub and J&S Italian Villa. As Beasley’s head of operations, Jennings takes care of all the menu and kitchen logistics that make or break each restaurant. In 2020, Beasley added an even bigger gem to his portfolio: McClard’s Bar-B-Q, the legendary Hot Springs barbecue joint that’s been in business since 1928.
“McClard’s was too good of a brand to just let go,” Beasley says of the purchase, and he’s been hard at work trying to expand the McClard’s name to other places in the state. Crossing paths with Morehart wasn’t in his original plans. Once he arrived, however, it was clear that their meeting was meant to be.
“A friend encouraged me to come look at this place, and I didn’t really care for over a month,” Beasley says. “The day I came inside, I knew we’d be here – because I met her. It looked the part, but she is what tipped the scales.”
Beasley bought DownHome Catering in the middle of 2022, but he and Jennings knew that this was about more than owning the building. It was about the brand Morehart had been growing, one bag of cookies or lastminute tamale spread at a time.
“In this world, where everybody is trying to find their spot, customers are not calling DownHome any more,” Jennings says. “They’re calling her. That’s what makes the difference.”
“I told her that’s the only way I really wanted it,” Beasley adds. “With her as part of it.”
Rather than one or the other, Morehart, Beasley and Jennings have come up with a way to marry the best of McClard’s barbecue legacy and the wide-ranging country favorites DownHome is known for. The restau
rant cele brated its grand opening as the newly-christened McClard’s DownHome in October, and now, on top of the already mouth-watering options Morehart was accustomed to serving up, she can cater world-renowned barbecue as well.
“This is really a fabulous match,” Beasley says –it’s a sentiment that rings true both for the food and the people behind it.
“I never really wanted to go,” Morehart explains. “I just needed some help with it, to be honest. I wouldn’t be anywhere else. This is my baby, and this is my new family. We’re all in this together.”
With Morehart at the helm and Jennings behind the scenes, Mc Clard’s DownHome serves the most popular dishes from both menus and has expanded its hours to serve dinner and stay open on Saturdays. DownHome’s catfish and country-fried chicken; McClard’s fall-offthe-bone ribs and famous sauce. McClard’s seasoned and loaded fries; DownHome’s widley-adored tamale spreads. Not to mention the pies: based on recipes from Morehart’s mother and homemade by her sister Toni, the flavors of the day might change, but the made-from-scratch quality never wavers.
The DownHome team, many of whom have been with Morehart for nearly a decade, still keep the daily specials on rotation, even for the offmenu items. “We’ve got a good group back there,” she says.
Fried chicken is a Wednesday staple, and plates like blackened chicken Alfredo and pork fritters with “sweet potato smash” on the side make regular appearances as well.
“Meatloaf, chicken spaghetti, pot roast, whatever – comfort food,” Morehart says. “Just home cooking.”
On the catering side, customers have a wider array of options, and Morehart is confident in her ability to provide just about anything that an office party, wedding or holiday table could need.
“The holidays are very, very busy,” Morehart says. “Thanksgiving is huge for meals and family meal packages. And then there’s Christmas. It’s our busiest time of the year.”
DownHome’s holiday catering specials boast turkeys and hams –whole or sliced by the pound – alongside cornbread dressing with giblet gravy and cranberry sauce. Then there’s the garlic and cheese mashed
potatoes, green bean casserole, macaroni and cheese and yeast rolls, to name just a few sides. Throw in one of those pies – coconut cream, pe can, key lime, possum – and it’s no wonder Morehart has her hands full this time of year.
From biscuits and gravy to sweet potato casseroles, from hor d’oeuvres to barbecue – McClard’s DownHome has it all.
“And if she doesn’t have it, she’ll find it,” Beasley adds.
When asked to explain what keeps her getting up for 4 and 5 a.m. breakfasts, driving from Little Rock to Rogers to make sure a lunch setup goes smoothly and answering the phone every time it rings at midnight, Morehart doesn’t hesitate.
“I love all the people. Seriously. All these people depend on me. I love having tons of catering. I love the restaurant being full. I love going and talking to every single table in this whole building. That’s my favorite part.”
For his part, Beasley adds, “It’s for the buzz. It’s not about the money – it is the money to be profitable, but it just feels good. What else would you do?”
Morehart has poured the last 20 years into building her flourish ing catering business, tackling everything between driving the delivery trucks and cutting the grass. Despite the round-the-clock hours, she’s not letting up anytime soon.
“I don’t think I’ll probably ever really retire,” she says. “I love work ing. It drives me crazy sometimes, but I still love it. It’s a good crazy. Maybe I’ll take a vacation one day without my cellphone.”
For now, though, Morehart and the catering line are attached at the hip – literally. Towards the end of the interview, a call comes through:
“If you text me what you want, I can get you a quote. No, don’t worry about that. Just tell me what you want. I can do stuff in there that you can’t.”
She certainly can.
2 sticks salted butter, softened and sliced into cubes
1 cup sour cream
1 cup whole milk
8 medium russet potatoes, about 6 pounds
3 tablespoons canola oil
½ pound bacon
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
2 teaspoons seasoned salt
Salt and pepper to taste
3 green onions, sliced
By Savvy BakerDIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 400°.
2. Take out butter, sour cream and milk and set aside; they shouldn’t be cold when combined with potatoes.
3. Scrub potatoes clean, pat dry, then rub with canola oil. Arrange on baking sheet and bake for 40 minutes, until they can be easily sliced through.
4. While potatoes bake, cook bacon in a large pan, slowly, on low heat. Set aside on a paper-towel-lined plate to cool once finished.
5. Remove potatoes from oven, decrease baking temperature to 350°.
6. Leave skin on 2 potatoes, and discard remaining skins. Cut each potato into thirds, and add to a large mixing bowl.
7. Crumble cooked bacon, and set some aside for topping casserole. Add the rest to mixing bowl along with butter, sour cream, milk, cheddar cheese, seasoned salt and salt and pepper.
8. Smash potatoes with potato masher until well-combined and creamy.
9. Add potatoes to a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish.
10. Top casserole with reserved bacon and additional cheddar cheese.
11. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes. Top with sliced green onions and serve.
2 cups apple cider
Braised in sweet apple cider and balanced with a subtle hint of sage, these easy, restaurant-style carrots will pair perfectly with any dish on your table this Thanksgiving.
8 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon black pepper
3 fresh sage leaves , plus 3-5 more leaves for garnish
2 pounds of carrots, trimmed, peeled and cut across into 1-inch chunks
1 teaspoon Kosher salt, (more to taste)
1. Set a large Dutch oven over medium heat, and add cider, butter, black pepper and 3 sage leaves. Whisk to combine.
2. Add carrots and cover. Simmer over low heat for 30-40 minutes, or until carrots are tender. (Frequently check to ensure liquid is not boiling.)
3. Discard sage leaves from pot, and transfer the carrots to a plate with a slotted spoon, leaving the liquid in the pot. Sprinkle carrots with salt, adding more to taste. Turn heat to high, and boil the liquid until it has the texture of thin syrup. Pour over carrots, garnish with additional sage leaves and serve.
a
a
and it’s a good way to switch it up during the
to the usual dishes.
By Kaitlin Barger
Learn how you can impact your cause at arcf.org.
When I want to put my vision into action, I look to the Community Foundation to support the causes that move me.
Jane Hunt, Fundholder
““
By KATIE ZAKRZEWSKI
Look up Goobertown, Arkansas, and some of your first search re sults will be lists of towns in America with the strangest names. In regard to Goobertown, the most common statement in the comments section is, “Blink and you’ll miss it.”
Goobertown started when a handful of Confederate war veterans decided to settle down in northeastern Arkansas and farm goobers, or as they’re more commonly known today, peanuts. The town was put on the map when Goobertown Grocery – a former pit stop on U.S. 49 owned by the Banks family – began selling Goobertown T-shirts, complete with an anthropomorphic peanut graphic.
When famous country singer Trace Adkins passed through town, he grabbed a shirt, which he wore underneath a blazer at his next concert – and the word about Goobertown spread like wildfire.
Today, Goobertown is an unincorporated town that’s directly attached to the growing community of Brookland. If you head North on U.S. Highway 49 from Jonesboro, you’ll pass through Brook land on your way toward Paragould. Once you’ve left the incorporated part of Brookland, you’re in Goobertown.
With Goobertown Grocery closed and demolished, it was hard to find someone who knew something about the town other than Trace Adkins or peanuts.
While looking for clues, a kind fellow named Jeremy at The Party Store in Paragould offers a word of advice.
“I know a guy who seems to own half of Goobertown,” he says.
Enter Rich Johnston. Johnston graduated from Brook land High School and now owns several businesses in Goobertown. He works alongside a host of Goobertown residents, including Zach Slater.
The Goobertown highway sign, indicating to travelers that they have crossed over into the town’s limits.
“Most people my age can place Goo bertown by where the old, now gone, Goobertown Grocery con venience store used to be,” Johnston recalls. “It was a scene straight out of South ern novel. Dusty, old wooden floor, large metal oil and beverage signs, etc. It was positioned right across the road from my business es, at the corner of U.S. 49 N and County Road 792, known affection ately as Goobertown Road.”
When you look up Goobertown in Apple or Google Maps, you’ll be point ed to the aforementioned intersection. You’ll also notice Emerald’s Triangle, which is one of Johnston’s businesses.
“We offered a glass shop, vape accessories and CBD initially, within Emerald’s Triangle. We now have several large saltwater aquariums (with fish and coral for sale) as part of ‘The Reefer Gar den’ and hippy-esque clothing and accessories, crystals, rocks and trinkets in our ‘Faded Walls’ section. That is all in unit one.”
In unit two, visitors to Goobertown will find Shaman’s Reach, also owned by Johnston.
“Shaman’s Reach is where we produce our CBD products: smallbatch, tested, safe,” Johnston says. “After we found that many CBD products on the market were fake, filled with synthetic chemicals that cause a ‘high’ . . . we put a stop to that in our area by providing natural-ingredient-only CBD products. We opened unit one with just the vape shop/glass shop/CBD in 2016, and vertically integrated the other business as we grew and found needs to fulfill.”
Units three through seven in the Goobertown strip mall are also owned by Johnston, and include Emer ald’s Print Shop, Emerald’s Woodshop and Hotwired Car Audio.
Johnston acknowledges the influence of Brookland, while also revealing the uniqueness of Goobertown.
“Typically, when referencing what it’s like living in the area, people tie Goobertown into Brookland. It’s a quiet, small town, positioned between two rapidly growing cit ies. The school system is one of the state’s best for K-12. The crime rate is low. And we have a mix of people from all walks of life, age, sex, creed, religion and political affili ation,” he says. “As far as Goobertown goes, our little strip here is genuinely it, outside of a used car dealership, a vet erinarian, a few mechanics, a gym and a church or two.”
Johnston gives a nod to the nutty roots of Goobertown as well.
“My assumption would be a history of peanut farming. As you may have found out, the history of Goobertown isn’t an easy one to seek out,” he says. “It’s a blip – literally, on the map – but we
Merchandise hangs in a multipurpose store in Goobertown. The store serves as a vape, glass, fish and swag store in town.
Goobertown Grocery no longer exists, but when it was running, was one of the main indicators of being within the town’s limits.
love it. We’ve got Goobertown swag as well, popular with those who remember that old grocery store and for those who find themselves traveling through and chuckle at the little town with a unique name.”
We have a mix of people from all walks of life, age, sex, creed, religion and political affiliation.”
When it comes to the holiday season, everyone has got that “something” they just can’t go without. Maybe it’s your favorite festive sweater. Others might be counting down the days until peppermint mocha makes its debut on café menus everywhere. There is, however, one part of the fall and winter months that is beyond debate. It brings together families and friends. It dazzles, excites and inspires people from age 9 to age 99. It’s an excuse to get outside, bundle up and grab your favorite warm winter drink. It is, quite literally, a bright spot in the darkness wrought by the end of daylight saving time: Lights!
We’re not just talking about any old string of bulbs, though. This year, from Nov. 3 to Jan. 7, we’re looking at the best and brightest of them all. GloWILD, the stunning lantern exhibit that lit up the Little Rock Zoo for the first time last year, is back again with even more to see and experience. It’s a whole new way to see the Zoo after hours, and it brings visitors from all over to explore and bask in the twinkling glow.
Right off the bat, the sheer magnitude of GloWILD sets it apart from the myriad lights that dot trails and houses across the state. The Zoo partners with Tianyu Arts & Culture, the larg est Chinese lantern festival producer in North Amer ica, to design and put on the event. The exhibit spans across the
A fox peers off a ledge at the Little Rock Zoo’s 2022 GloWILD exhibit.
Zoo, with a winding path of expertly designed displays lit by more than 50,000 LEDs.
Dustin Bean, special events coordinator for the Zoo, explains that guests can not only enjoy the beauty of the lanterns, but take a bit of Tianyu’s culture home with them as well.
“There’s a lot of pride that goes into the construction,” Bean says. “They’re handcrafted steel frames, lit with LED light bulbs, cov ered in silk and hand-painted before they’re set up around the Zoo. There’s a lot of work that goes into these beautiful lanterns.”
He also highlights the hard work that everyone involved in GloWILD puts in.
“It’s about trusting our staff to shine,” Bean explains. “When you look around and all of the departments of the Zoo are excited to work together on a common project — that sense of pride we have for our community is the same one we have for our staff, who are willing to roll up their sleeves and do whatever it takes to make it successful.”
All of the work that goes into GloWILD — the research, the crafting of lanterns, the countless staff and volunteer hours put in — comes together to create a truly one-of-a-kind nighttime holiday experience.
Zoo Director Susan Altrui stresses the unique nature of the exhibit. “Once you see it, it’s something that you won’t forget,” she says. “It’s really not like any light show you’ve ever seen before.”
According to Joy Matlock, the Zoo’s director of Marketing and Development, the Zoo received over whelmingly positive feedback from last year’s exhibits, with com ments rolling in even through the spring and summer months. Visitors described the experience as though they were being transported out of the city, the state and even this reality.
“The feeling that you have walking through, and the feeling that you walk away with, is very mystical and ethereal,” Matlock says. “People felt transported to another place. It’s otherworldly.”
In an effort to make this year’s GloWILD “twice as bright,” the Little Rock Zoo and Tianyu have nearly doubled the number of lanterns and elements. All of the animals featured last year will make their return alongside a variety of new displays in three uniquely themed zones.
The Tranquil Forest path includes a whole host of animals, along with interesting additions like the Cactus Corridor. A ma jor focal point along the path this year is the Wisteria Corridor, which is a gorgeous tunnel of draping wisteria filled with twin kling LEDs. Not only is it a thrill to walk through, it’s also the perfect photo op for everything from date night to family night.
The animal lanterns are modeled largely after current inhabit ants of the Zoo. Rhinos, elephants, tigers, bears — even salaman ders and frogs (on a much, much larger scale) will be on display.
“Another cool thing to see is that we’re exploring other ani mals that aren’t in our living collection,” Bean adds. “It’s great to expose people to animals beyond just what we have here.”
Altrui says, “it grows appreciation for the animals in a differ ent way, too. We have some conservation facts that go alongside each of these animals, so it’s an interesting way to learn about animals in a new light,” pun intended.
The second of GloWILD’s themed zones is perfect for ev ery kid (or kid at heart). New this year is an entire Prehistoric
Once you see it, it’s something that you won’t forget.
”(Above) A peacock’s feathers are outstretched and glowing on a path at the Little Rock Zoo as part of the 2022 GloWILD exhibit. (Bottom) A golden brown bear and its cub sit on the ground next to glowing grass blades at the Little Rock Zoo.
Creatures section dedicated to the scaly behemoths. Lanterns in this sec tion include an animated stegosaurus, a triceratops pair, several other gi ant lizards with difficult-to-pronounce names and, of course, the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex.
Besides being incredible to look at, Altrui explains the educational pur pose the artfully crafted lanterns serve. “I think dinosaurs can teach us a lot about conservation in our world right now,” she says. “We have a lot of ani mals that are headed toward extinction, so dinosaurs are a reminder of the animals that we might lose. It’s a great way for us to reflect on the past and to think about our future.”
Not very often does a light display serve as an object lesson, but this is a lesson that’s vital to the Zoo’s purpose. Though the extinction of the dino saurs was eons ago, the fact that they no longer roam the Earth is a poignant reminder that none of the beautiful live animals at the Zoo are promised to be around forever. Many of the Zoo’s animals are endangered species, and GloWILD plays a part in educating the public on the importance of protect ing their habitats and our shared environment.
“That’s ultimately why the Zoo is here,” Altrui adds. “We want people to learn about the conservation of animals, about wildlife and wild places. If you come away with a little token of knowledge, and that sparks your curiosity to learn more about the living animals we have here and their wild places, then that means we’re doing our job.”
Last but far from least, GloWILD has added a special section and a few aesthetic touches to bring home the holiday-lights feel and expose guests to animals they wouldn’t get to see during the day. In the Arctic Winter zone, visitors can see lounging polar bears, snow owls on the hunt and a pack of arctic wolves, among others. Not only found among the cold-weather-
inclined animals, a handful of holiday-themed displays, like snow men, presents and Christmas trees, will be placed along the path. “You can walk around, enjoy the lights, maybe drink some hot cocoa and enjoy time with your family,” Altrui says. “That’s the great thing about the Little Rock Zoo, that we are family-friendly and that anyone can enjoy this event.”
Along with the stunning visuals, GloWILD features several interactive elements for kids and adults alike to enjoy. The Zoo’s Nature Play playground will be open during the event and will be enhanced with LED moon swings, color-changing cubes and stepping stones. Throughout the actual display path, several of the lanterns will be animated through movement and light changes. Perhaps the king of them all is the massive peacock — a crowd favorite and returning exhibit from last year — that greets visi tors at the main entrance, raising and lowering its feathers. The Zoo’s Over-the-Jumps Carousel and Arkansas Diamond Ex press train will also be operational every night.
To round out your visit, Café Africa will have a variety of warm wintery treats and drinks available; the Safari Gift Shop will remain open as well. With the snacks, sips and sights all covered, it’s easy to make a whole night (or several) out of a visit to GloWILD.
In keeping with the Zoo’s mission to make visits accessible for all, regardless of their accommoda tion needs, GloWILD will have a special “sensory night” with dimmer lights, softer sounds and plenty of ar eas to step away from all the action. Mat
A pathway is lit up in shades of pink and purple at the Little Rock Zoo as part of the GloWILD Exhibit.
An owl glows in the dark at the Little Rock Zoo as part of the GloWILD exhibit.
lock describes it as “a softer, gentler GloWILD.” She stresses that everyone deserves to visit, learn from and enjoy the Zoo, and that no one should have to miss out because of a light, sound or other sensitivity.
For the first time this year, the Zoo is also hosting a variety of themed “appreciation nights’’ to give back to the community heroes who’ve given so much to all of us. On Sundays throughout November, first respond ers (Nov. 6), members of the military (Nov. 13), teachers (Nov. 20) and health care workers (Nov. 27) will each be recognized. Members of these groups who show up to their appreciation night will receive a discounted admission price.
Also helping to celebrate the holiday season are Santa Sundays, taking place on the last Sunday of November and the first three Sundays of Decem ber. On these days, Santa will be in Café Africa to hang out, listen to your holiday wish lists and take photos. There will also be live music courtesy of singer/songwriter Christine DeMeo.
Last but certainly not least: To ring in the New Year on Dec. 31, the Zoo will hold a New Year’s Eve party from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Games, prizes and party favors will abound at this family-friendly event, and there will be a live DJ as well. Each of these additional events is complementary with the price of the ticket, so there are plenty of ways to fit a visit to GloWILD into your holiday calendar.
It’s worth mentioning the “re peatability” aspect of GloWILD. Guests can visit multiple times and enjoy different facets of the ex hibit. Since the event runs through the entire holiday season, it’s also a great place to bring family and friends visiting from out of town — and, depending on where your “festive stress levels” are at this time of year, it’s a great way to get relatives and children out of the house for a few hours. There’s a lot to see this yearn and plenty of time to see it, over and again.
“We want it to create tradi tions for families,” Bean says. “It’s something where families can come and escape that chaos, whether it’s one hour or four hours that they’re here.”
(Top) A pink dinosaur stands at the edge of green glowing shrubbery at the Little Rock Zoo. (Bottom) Glowin-the-dark snails are lined up around trees at the Little Rock Zoo as part of this year’s GloWILD exhibit.
In just two years, the event has quickly become the largest event the Zoo puts on, both from a pro duction and an attendance stand point. Over 30,000 people visited the exhibit last year, and the Zoo hopes to smash that record this time around. It’s clear that GloWILD is on its way to becoming a beloved holiday staple, and for the Little Rock Zoo, its success couldn’t come at a better time.
“There was a void in Central Arkansas for something that was so unique and so different from other holiday traditions,” Matlock says. “Having some thing new, different and magical was something this area needed.”
Matlock also emphasizes the need for a “lifted experience” during this time of year. Many of the stressors that come naturally around the holidays have been exacerbated by the pandemic, and that feeling doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. A few hours spent among the glowing lanterns, secluded and safe from the outside world, can be a source of hope and relief that’s increasingly hard to find these days.
The event, hosted in partnership with the Arkansas Zoological Founda tion, is also a major source of fundraising. As the nonprofit fundraising arm of the Zoo, AZF is a key player in garnering sponsors for the event and ensuring that GloWILD goes off without a hitch.
“Any time we have an event like this, we like to remind people that money
you spend at the Zoo goes directly to support our operations,” Altrui explains, “which directly supports the care of our animals and to help our mission of conservation and learning.”
In capturing the Zoo’s overall feeling about GloWILD, and why everyone was eager to bring it back this year, Altrui says, “We’re really proud of this light show. We’re really proud of our partnership with Tianyu, and we’re proud of the sponsors that have helped make this possible. We’re especially proud to be able to bring this to Little Rock and the Arkansas community.”
Everything the Zoo does is to further its mission of inspiring people to value and conserve the natural world. Seeing all of these breathtaking creatures in lantern form is an essential addition to any holiday plans, but they’re not a replacement for the real thing. The Zoo hopes that in addition to making their way through the dazzling lighted paths at night, visitors will be inspired to come back and see their favorite animals in the flesh — and to learn a little more about what they can do to make sure these beautiful creatures are around for years to come.
Arkansans at Risk.
We call Arkansas The Natural State, but ours is a rural state, which places Arkansans at risk.
Empathetic Careis Available. We offer compassionate care to people of all ages.
Suicide rates are higher in rural America than in urban America, and suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in America.
This trend is alarming, but we are here to help.
Our physicians help adults with mental health or substance use disorders and adolescents and children with behavioral health issues.
Also, our services are available at any time.
Rocky Lindsey, DVM, is an associate profes sor of animal science at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM). He and his wife, Alicia, and their two sons, Isaac and Jonah, were recently named as the Drew County Farm Family of the Year for sustainable practices on their generative farm that is used to grow hay, sheep and goats.
Pasture-raised animals are favored by many consumers who consider them healthier to eat because of high levels of beneficial omega fatty acids. And, increasingly, people who care about animal welfare like the idea of consuming animals who have lived a natural life outside in the sunshine instead of being raised inside. Pastured animals benefit the environment by producing manure that provides natural fertil
izer while improving the organic matter in the soil. That helps make pastures more productive and droughtresistant while preventing runoff that can pollute nearby bodies of water.
Rocky’s grandfather, J.S. Gibson, started farm ing Peyton Place Farms after World War II pri marily raising cotton before changing over to cattle farming. When Rocky’s parents, Michael Joe and Alice Lindsey, took over, they added chicken houses and used chicken litter as a natu ral fertilizer source to raise grass for hay for cattle.
“Before he died, my father had been sick for a while, and the pastureland was unimproved in many places,” Lindsey says. “The farm was in pretty bad shape. I had a crash course in how to make the farm cash flow. We started with selling hay. Then I got cattle and sheep so
I could improve our pasture. We also had 40 acres of mature pine that we put goats on to clear the underbrush.”
Lindsey says there are advantages and disadvantages between sheep and cattle. Sheep are their own species. They act a little differently, require a different diet and more care.
“You will be more hands-on with sheep than cattle, but they are an easier animal to handle because of their size,” Lindsey says. “In our hot, humid climate, sheep have parasite issues, and dewormers don’t work anymore. You have to choose breeds of sheep and individuals that are resistant. We raise Katahdin sheep, which are a good breed for parasite resistance. Even within that breed, I take care to breed sheep that are more resistant to parasites. Parasites are something that can make or break a farm in our area.”
Another issue due to the humid, hot climate is that sheep can be prone to malignant foot rot. Their hooves need to be trimmed. You also have to be careful about not feeding them anything moldy or rotten.
“Both of those conditions you need to stay ahead of,” Lindsey says.
Buttercups are beautiful yellow spring flowers that can be a ma jor pest in pastures. Cattle don’t like buttercups, but sheep do. In pastures where sheep have been, there are no buttercups nor a lot of other weeds that sheep like to eat, which eliminates the need for spraying herbicides.
Pasture-raised animals are favored by many consumers who consider them healthier to eat because of high levels of beneficial omega fatty acids.Katahdin sheep stand together in the pasture at the Lindsey farm.
Alice Lindsey remembers being in the fields with cotton pick ers when she was a toddler.
“The thing I find fascinating about all of this is that Rocky is the third generation to use the same piece of property,” says Alice, who teaches hospitality courses at UAM. “It’s been interesting to watch it evolve. Every generation has used it in a different way. Cattle and hay are the common denominators for the three gen erations. Rocky put in place cattle and sheep grazing the same land but eating different plants. By using the sheep, we were able to eliminate chemicals. There comes your sustainable part, for sure.”
The sheep actually increase the production of hay.
“Sheep prefer a forb, plants that cows don’t like,” he says. “Sheep are good for hay production, and it allows us to be able to sell hay grown with no herbicides or commercial fertilizers, which is im portant for people who want all-natural hay for their animals. We market locally primarily to small operations, people who will come for 10 or 15 bales of hay.”
Sheep require proper fencing. They can push right through barbed wire or even electric fences because of their wool. Another issue can be predator control. Seven of their sheep were killed by a neighbor’s dog a year ago. The Lindseys have guardian dogs but, in this case, the guard dog didn’t do its job. They had to get another guard dog.
The Lindseys also have a donkey, and donkeys can sometimes be used as guardian animals. But they have found their donkey will kick the sheep to compete for food.
“When I’m feeding sheep in the win tertime, I can’t have the donkey with them,” Lindsey says. “I don’t completely trust him. If you are going to have a sheep operation, you have to have guardian dogs.”
They have 70 sheep on 30 acres of pasture. Their little hooves act like little aerators tilling and improving the soil. Lindsey could grow more sheep on that amount of land, but is being selec tive about retaining low-maintenance sheep.
The benefits of pasture-raised animals in clude creating soil that is rich in nutrients and retains moisture.
“We don’t have runoff,” Lindsey said in midOctober. “Our pasture is as green as green can be, and that is not normal right now because we are in a severe drought. The way we farm protects from drought.”
In the past, they have grown cattle on rye grass in the winter. They sold their herd this past winter and are currently in a hold pattern with cattle.
One of the biggest problems impacting their pastures — a problem on farms, parks and at homes across the state — is wild hogs. The Lind
seys work with a state program that has helped trap about 200 wild hogs in recent years.
“The state program is very much needed and has helped a lot,” Lindsey says. “We have about 20 hogs right now we are trying to catch. Hogs destroy soil health. They rut in the soil and greatly damage fields. Our pasture abuts a big creek bottom that is a para
dise for hogs. They come out into our pasture at night. It costs us thousands from lost production and from damage to equipment driving over areas they have torn up. There is a lot of water and soil runoff in areas they have damaged.”
The state has cameras out and baits the pigs into pens. Lind sey has a list of people he calls when they trap the pigs. While they have donated meat to many, if you trap 20 pigs in one night, it is hard to get enough people to take an undressed hog. There is not a meat processor who will take them; people have to pro cess the pork themselves. Although they would rather see the meat used, sometimes the Lindseys have to dispose of the hogs by burying them.
Hunters don’t help that much. Some hunters will castrate boars, which are not good to eat, and then release them so they can be hunted again. That is illegal, but it happens. About a dozen cas trated hogs have been caught in traps at Peyton Place Farms. With no libido, the castrated boars only care about eating. And hogs reproduce rapidly.
“Hogs are just very prolific,” Lindsey says. “At six months of age, they can have a litter of 10 offspring. Then in another six
Pastured animals benefit the environment by producing manure that provides natural fertilizer while improving the organic matter in the soil.
months, all the offspring can breed.”
The Lindseys raise goats on a separate 40-acre farm planted as a pine plantation. There is a five-strand electric fence around the whole place and two guard dogs there. They initially put 40 goats out there. By the end of summer, they had eaten all the underbrush. Now they keep 10 to 12 goats to keep the place cleaned up. In the next year or two, they plan to harvest some of the trees and create pasture for more goats or sheep.
“My wife feeds the goats and the guard dogs,” Lindsey says. “Goats are more difficult to raise than sheep. They have more parasite issues. You have to select for those that do well, just like with sheep. The Kiko breed does pretty well and is the easiest to find in our area.”
They sell goat meat or lamb primarily to immigrants from
Hispanic, Middle Eastern, African and Asian countries. Those countries include many places where there is no refrigeration. A small ruminant can feed a village. When a cow is processed, a lot goes to waste.
“Goat and lamb are their preferred sources of protein,” Lindsey says. “Little marketing takes place. The customers come to you. The market is predictably strong around Muslim holidays and Easter.”
Probably one of the biggest mistakes Lindsey has made is buy ing used equipment that needs a lot of repairs.
“I’m not a mechanic,” he says. “When things break down, it is usually at an inconvenient time. And it is a big mistake not having infrastructure in place. You have to have proper fencing and preda tor control. Have a fence and plan in place to protect them before you buy them.”
Rocky Lindsey, DVM, has a passion for providing veterinarian care for animals owned by people in impov erished countries around the world during missions through the organization Christian Veterinary Mission. CVM works to help people with the health and productivity of their livestock that is often critical to a fam ily’s survival.
“One of the places I went to was Haiti af ter Hurricane Matthew in 2016, which cre ated terrible devastation,” Lindsey says. “The people who survived the storm might come up with one or two goats. That was how they stayed alive. We would vaccinate the goats and treat their injuries. These animals and their offspring could provide money for people to buy food or send their kids to school. The missionaries brought in Nubian milk goats to cross with the Haitians goats providing milk for people to drink. It really makes a huge impact on those people. It is a very effective mission.”
Although he is a vet, he didn’t have a lot of experience with goats and sheep, which he and his family raise now on a farm near Mon ticello, until he started doing mission trips.
Lindsey owned two veterinary practices in Southeast Arkansas when another veterinar ian moved to the area. He sold his practice to her in 2015.
“We are both Christians and felt God told us to do that,” Lindsey says. “I started teach ing animal science classes at UAM and doing short mission trips.”
He has worked in many foreign countries. Twice a year he travels to Belize, where he works with a horse ministry that uses equine therapy to help children who come from bad situations. He also participates in a spay and neuter clinic for pets.
“There is a local ministry there trying to help the community with medical and dental issues,” Lindsey says. “When we did the vet erinary mission, one of the missionaries there came up and said, ‘You see that man there? We’ve been trying to talk to him for two years with no success. But you do something for his dog, and he shows up.’ That is the mission work in a nutshell.”
Lindsey also works in the Southeastern
region of the U.S. to encourage vets and stu dents to consider volunteering with CVM. That organization also does some inner-city work, and a lot of work on Native American reservations, including those for the Lakota and Navajo tribes.
While he still works part-time at UAM, Lindsey is considered a long-term CVM mis sionary in the U.S., and that includes raising the funds to do the work.
“If I’m going to continue to do this work, I need to have people who help me fund the mission,” Lindsey says.
For more information, visit the website cvm.org/long-term-staff/lindsey.
AY About You is proud to present the 2022 Faces of Arkansas, some of the most influential leaders and businesses in the entire state. From banking and real estate to fitness and interior design, these men and women are at the top of their games, cementing lifetime legacies in their respective fields.
Flip through these pages to learn what makes this year’s class exceptional and deserving of such acclaim.
All of the medical professionals and staff that make up CARTI are unified around a singular vision: to be the destination for cancer treatment in Arkansas. An independent, not-for-profit organization, CARTI receives more than 90,000 patient visits each year from every county in the state, as well as from across the country.
CARTI is disrupting the traditional standards of care delivery in order to make trusted cancer care accessible for every patient. Instead of expecting patients to travel far out of their way seeking treatment, the medical, surgical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists and additional medical providers at CARTI deliver the world’s most advanced techniques to patients in their own communities.
Everyone at CARTI knows how critical it is to lean into the latest and most effective methods of cancer treatment and to avoid getting bogged down in outdated standards of care. Just because something has always been done doesn’t make it the only path to healing, especially in an ever-evolving field like cancer treatment.
Pictured above from left to right: Rhonda Gentry, M.D.; Matthew Hardee, M.D., Ph.D.; Sam Makhoul, M.D.; Donald B. Norwood, M.D.; Yara Robertson, M.D., F.A.C.S.; Scott Stern, M.D.
In spring 2023, CARTI will open Arkansas’s first cancer-focused surgery center. The on-site CARTI Surgery Center, with its extended stay capabilities, will offer a more convenient and comprehensive alternative for patients in order to enhance patient experiences and outcomes.
In addition to leading-edge, expert treatment, CARTI’s professionals always prioritize the human side of health care. To help deal with the myriad of fears and uncertainties that follow a cancer diagnosis, CARTI’s resource coordinators provide specialized services designed to facilitate treatment and improve quality of life for the patient and their families. Areas of assistance for those who qualify include housing and transportation, as well as financial, emotional and nutritional counseling.
At CARTI, innovation goes hand in hand with compassion. Not everyone can handle such a strenuous field of work, but the team at CARTI is a special group, dedicated and called to serve Arkansans everywhere. No matter where, no matter how – people are CARTI’s purpose.
— 501.906.3000 — CARTI.com
In 1941, Denver and Christine Roller opened the first Roller Funeral Home in Mountain Home. In the decades since, generations of the Roller family have worked together to grow the Roller Funeral legacy across the state.
From offering Arkansas’ first and most trusted funeral pre-arrangement plans through Citizens Fidelity Insurance Company to operating a number of funeral homes, cemeteries and flower shops, each subsequent generation has expanded the company’s reach while keeping the Roller family tradition of excellence and care at the forefront.
Vice President Renata Jenkins Byler, third generation of the Roller family, points to the company’s strong Christian values and consistency as the key to its long-lasting success.
“If you call on Roller at 2 a.m., you will see the same level of professionalism as you will at 2 p.m.,” she says. That standard of care first set by Denver Roller continues today. The guiding principle of Roller Funeral Homes is “With All Our Respect,” and it infuses every aspect of the business. As the industry leader, Byler hopes to continue partnering with other family-owned funeral homes that align with her family’s values. At the end of the day, Byler's goal is to give families the best possible experience.
“The entire focus of our next year ahead should be on the very next family we serve,” Byler says. “They will have our full and undivided attention to every detail.”
Empathy and heart are two of the qualities that have kept Roller Funeral Homes at the top of the funeral profession for so long. No matter how many people they serve, the team at Roller knows that every family is unique, and every grieving process is different.
“It is our passion to get to know you, your family and your loved one,” Byler says. “It is our honor to put ourselves in your shoes and create the loving tribute that your family deserves.”
Roller Funeral Homes helps people make informed decisions while going through one of the most vulnerable times of their lives. Byler sees her work, and the work of every member of the Roller team, as a healing mission. Connecting deeply with people, treating them like family and helping them cherish lost loved ones instead of remaining stuck in cycles of grief — all of these are essential to the part Roller Funeral Homes plays in helping Arkansans move forward from loss.
Roller
Acme Brick Tile & Stone strives to make products that outlast a mortgage, a roof, even a lifetime. When you see the Acme name stamped in the end of a brick on your new home, you know that you’re getting both Acme quality and the 100-year guarantee. But Acme is more than just a product and name; it is its people. Many different jobs come together to ensure the satisfaction of our customers. From drivers to accounting, from sales representatives to kiln-workers, all employees of Acme work together to create a positive experience to match the lifetime of its brick.
“What I most enjoy about my job is seeing the skills and knowledge of our staff come together to provide a great customer experience,” says District Manager Chad Bowie. “Our company is over a century old and built on a foundation of brick manufacturing, but we continue the pursuit to offer more than just the essentials to homebuyers, builders and architects.”
An Acme Brick home delivers benefits that transcend curb appeal, including natural insulation, reduction in maintenance costs, lower insurance rates, a higher resale value and fire protection.
Acme offers a vast selection of natural and manufactured stone, custom iron doors, outdoor living products and one of Arkansas’ largest selections of designer tile.
“Nothing makes us more proud than a customer leaving educated and ready to say, ‘Acme Brick is the best thing to have around your house.’”
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At more than 6,000
Since 1915, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has been hard at work keeping the “natural” in The Natural State. The mission of the AGFC is to conserve the state’s wildlife and their habitats while promoting sustainable use, public understanding and support from nature lovers everywhere.
The work the commission does has wide-ranging benefits, and not just for the wildlife. Outdoor recreation is an economic cornerstone for the state, supporting 96,000 jobs annually and generating more than $9 billion a year through customer spending.
At its core, conservation is a human-centered project, and people are the most critical and treasured asset for the AGFC. Behind everything the commission does is a passionate workforce committed to the wild places and wild things in Arkansas. In addition, the agency partners with organizations and volunteer programs to bolster its outreach efforts across the state.
The AGFC leads the nation in innovative ways to add public opportunities for hunting, fishing, shooting recreationally or otherwise enjoying the outdoors. Attracting and retaining outdoor enthusiasts from all walks of life – and educating them about how best to manage the spaces they love – ensures that generations of Arkansans will be able to appreciate, understand and enjoy the state’s natural resources.
Whether it’s educational programs, fishing and hunting regulations or environmental awareness, the AGFC is dedicated to both safeguarding the lifeblood of the state’s wild places and wild things and enhancing the culture of outdoor life in Arkansas.
Dr. Zachary Young has had a passion for medicine from a young age. At just 14 years old, he went to work at his father’s optometry clinic filing charts. After high school, he worked as a patient care technician at St. Bernards Hospital in Jonesboro, and he spent his college summers working at his two uncles’ ear, nose and throat clinic. He decided to pursue plastic surgery during his residency at UAMS and completed a fellowship in South Carolina before returning to Arkansas.
“My mission is to provide the best possible care to my patients,” Young said. “I strive to not only provide excellent surgical and clinical care, but to educate patients about their procedures in order to reduce anxiety and make the whole journey much less stressful.”
Young and the team at Arkansas Plastic Surgery help patients from around the state meet their aesthetic and reconstructive goals.
One of the clinic’s many specialties is breast surgery, including reconstruction following cancer. “Being able to positively improve an otherwise negative health condition is something that I have always taken great pride in being able to provide,” Young said.
Young’s technical aptitude, coupled with a knack for patient care, has made Arkansas Plastic Surgery the industry standard when it comes to achieving results and having a positive surgery experience.
Young currently lives in Little Rock with his wife and two children.
Arkansas Surgical Hospital was founded by surgeons seeking a more direct and rewarding experience for their patients. The hospital continues to be physician-owned, meaning surgeons are the decision-makers. This allows them to control their patients’ care at a greater level and have direct input over the best course of treatment.
The surgeons at Arkansas Surgical Hospital have extensive experience, and their specialties range from orthopedic and spine treatments to breast oncology and interventional pain management. No matter how involved a procedure is or what area of the body is affected, the goal of every surgeon is to help patients improve their quality of life so they can get back to doing the things they love.
Arkansas Surgical Hospital is one of the few 5-star hospitals in the state, and for good reason. In addition to the expertise of staff and surgeons, patients consistently rate the hospital highly for its overall care experience. Private suites, catered room service and spaces for loved ones to rest all complement the outstanding level of surgical and nursing care that patients receive in the hospital’s state-of-the-art operating rooms.
Arkansas Surgical Hospital takes pride in its disciplined focus on safety and comfort, and every surgeon, nurse and staff member is committed to excellent outcomes for patients and their families.
When it comes to picking the best urology care in the state, the numbers don’t lie: upwards of 130,000 appointments annually makes it clear that Arkansas Urology has the most experienced and respected urological practice in the region. Arkansas Urology is recognized across the state as the standard of urological care. Since 1996, it has provided comprehensive treatment services to people of all ages. Headquartered in Little Rock, it has facilities in North Little Rock, Benton, Bentonville, Conway, El Dorado, Fayetteville, Gravette, Jonesboro, Monticello, Pine Bluff, Russellville and Stuttgart. No matter where you are, you’re never too far away to receive the care you need.
The key to Arkansas Urology’s continued success lies in its commitment both to the people it serves and to the continued improvement of that service. As a testament to its mission to provide quality care no matter what, Arkansas Urology provides free prostate screenings through the Arkansas Urology Foundation. The practice also constantly implements the latest and most effective technologies and techniques, so patients can rest assured they’re getting the most up-to-date care available.
At Arkansas Urology, every physician, clinical and business staff member – a team that is currently 367 strong –works as one to improve patients’ lives. As it grows, the practice will continue adding to its highly-trained staff and expanding its health care offerings throughout the state. With cutting-edge techniques, attentive service and expert care guaranteed, the choice in care couldn’t be clearer. Arkansas Urology — 501.219.8900 — arkansasurology.com
ar_urology
PICTURED (L TO R): DAVID COUSSENS, MD; KEITH MOONEY, MD; TIM GOODSON, MD; GAIL REEDE JONES, MD; KEVIN CLAYBROOK, MD
Aromatique began in 1982 as a way to decorate a friend’s home for the holidays. Thanks to the vision of founder Patti Upton, the fine decorative fragrance brand has since found its way into thousands of department stores, gift shops and private label goods. After Upton’s retirement in 2013, Chad Evans took over as president and COO with the goal of carrying on that unique vision and furthering the brand’s reach.
The Aromatique line currently includes over 300 products – many of which are still handmade – shipped all over the world. Every product carries the “Aromatique, Heber Springs, AR” label and reflects the pride that Evans and the rest of the team at Aromatique have in “the Hills of Heber Springs.”
Aromatique’s goal is “to provide customers with the finest decorative fragrances on the market,” Evans says. “That’s been our mission from day one – why change a good thing?”
Evans also emphasizes the importance of “assembling an outstanding team” to further Upton’s founding legacy. Evans has been with the company since 1983 and spent many years on the manufacturing side before his role as president and COO. Steve Lawrence, Vice Chairman and CEO, has been with the company for 29 years, and June and Jordan Upton joined the team in 2016 to lead the design and marketing teams.
The not-so-secret ingredient to Aromatique’s success is every team member’s commitment to quality in all the products they produce. That eye for detail and passion for delighting the senses through sight and smell has made Aromatique a leader in the industry – a place it's sure to keep for years to come.
The Baptist Preparatory school is in its fifth decade of serving the families of Central Arkansas. In all those years, the school has maintained its mission of glorifying God by assisting families in the Christ-centered, biblically-directed education of their children.
Baptist Prep’s perfect size means that the school is small enough to be a close-knit community, but large enough to provide a fulfilling experience to each student. The curriculum is crafted to challenge and grow students from preschool through twelfth grade. In addition, the school provides opportunities for mission and service trips on local, national and international levels.
The school prides itself on its Biblical Worldview Training, as well as comprehensive support for students with different learning needs. According to Dr. Greg Jones, President and Head of School at Baptist Prep, the curriculum and supporting co-and-extra-curricular opportunities “prepare students spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, physically and socially for life beyond graduation.”
Baptist Prep produces leaders that are prepared to thrive in higher education and throughout their lives. The school boasts a 100% college acceptance rate, and alumni often become community leaders that invest in and add value to the state, both in Central Arkansas and beyond.
Baptist Prep is currently in a season of expansion, with a Maumelle campus added in August of 2022 and plans to open a fourth campus in the fall of 2023. As the Baptist Prep community expands, each campus will remain committed to providing prepared and engaged teachers, strong academic, athletic and
and a robust and comprehensive learning environment for every student.
Thomas Blackmon isn’t just running the family business – he’s constantly looking for ways to improve it. Thomas joined Blackmon Auctions full time in 1995, and he took over operations in 2010. In that time, he’s expanded the business with a real estate division and three permanent facilities in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. Blackmon embraces the challenges that expansion brings head-on and hopes to continue adding locations across the South.
The fast-paced world of auctions keeps Thomas on his toes, and he loves the unpredictability that comes with it. At its core, though, his goal is to be open and honest with his customers. Thomas gives clients the good, the bad and the ugly so they can make the best decision for themselves no matter what.
The personal side of auctions is also important to Thomas. “A lot of auctions happen due to rough times in life,” he says. “As the auctioneer, I end up being a counselor, accountant, advisor and sometimes just a shoulder to cry on.”
When it comes to day-to-day operations, Thomas stays true to the hardworking ethos that Eddie Blackmon started the business with back in 1938. The most important things to Thomas, and to everyone at Blackmon Auctions, are hard work, honesty and integrity.
“At the end of the day, your business is only as good as your reputation,” Thomas says. “A good reputation can take years to build and minutes to tear down.”
When Dr. Amanda Bledsoe was 14, she was diagnosed with major scoliosis of the spine, but fear and uncertainty kept her from seeing a chiropractor until the age of 18. After finally learning firsthand the power of chiropractic care, Bledsoe decided to dedicate her career to helping others discover its benefits.
"I missed out on critical years of chiropractic care,” Bledsoe says. “I want to help others who were afraid like I was to experience just how amazing chiropractic care can be."
Bledsoe attended the Cleveland Chiropractic College in Kansas City, where she honed her skills in several different adjustment styles. Bledsoe offers patients a variety of options to fit their needs, including instrument adjusting for nervous or elderly patients.
Bledsoe and her team are passionate about spreading hope through healing and allowing people to get back to doing the things they love. The care that Bledsoe Chiropractic provides is affordable for patients and safe for all ages. Bledsoe Chiropractic also believes in giving back to the community through organizations like United Way, Bethlehem House and Deliver Hope.
The relief that a healthy muscular, skeletal and nervous system has to offer can’t be overstated. It can promote recovery, improve immune response, increase energy and improve your mood. The highly-trained doctors at Bledsoe Chiropractic not only understand what is going on with your spine, but how your spine can be affecting other areas and functions of the body.
Bledsoe Chiropractic has recently expanded to include a satellite location in Maumelle, and Bledsoe and her team hope to continue expanding their healing reach throughout the state.
Bledsoe Chiropractic — 501.504.6999 —
OF CHIROPRACTIC BLEDSOE CHIROPRACTIC
For more than 30 years, Briarwood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center has prided itself on being a place and a face that its community can trust and its residents can feel comfortable in.
Briarwood is a 120-bed facility that specializes in both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care, providing the flexibility to meet each and every client’s needs, without sacrificing care quality — of which the team at Briarwood aspires for the highest of standards.
Be it transient rehabilitation or extended stay retirement, the staff is committed to creating and maintaining a supportive relationship that reinforces the dignity of every resident. This relationship-building transcends the here and now and translates to generational resident care. There is, perhaps, no better example of this embodiment than the center’s administrator, Joan Robbins.
Robbins was literally raised in a nursing home by her mother, who also worked in the profession. Robbins became a nursing assistant at age 13 and has dedicated her entire life since to the practice. After attaining her LPN and RN designations, Robbins became the director of nurses at Briarwood. When her mother retired from the administrator position at the center, Robbins was next in line, and the torch was seamlessly passed to the next generation of leadership at Briarwood.
“Our organization is special because we are third-generation employees providing care for, oftentimes, thirdgeneration residents,” Robbins says proudly. “We are like a family with everyone — staff and residents.”
As the saying goes: “Love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” This is especially true for Jo Ann Camp, owner of Camp Yoga & SUP (stand-up paddleboarding). Her secret to running a successful yoga practice? "It's just about following my heart,” she says.
Camp’s original retreats found participants out in the woods for two nights, practicing their poses and enjoying each other’s company. Since then, Camp Yoga has grown into a brick-and-mortar location with yoga teacher training, HIIT and pilates classes and – as Camp explains it – “sharing the love.”
But Camp Yoga is much more than a studio space. Camp’s mission is to “create a space for the community to connect energetically, building lifelong relationships and lifting each other up in life.” Camp Yoga is about being empowered, then using that newfound energy to bring others into the fold.
Though it may have moved into an indoor location, Camp Yoga still offers plenty of opportunities to get out and about. “Taking people outdoors has been my goal for the past eight years,” Camp says, “with SUP, Yoga on the Little Maumelle River, Rooftop Yoga in Downtown Little Rock and Goat Yoga in Ferndale.”
As far as the future of Camp Yoga & SUP, Camp’s goal is to continue to grow, indoors and out, and to “never settle.” For her, growth comes down to one fact: “There are always opportunities to share the love of yoga.”
Crave Catering Company became an LLC in 2017, but the delicious creations started long before. Owners Brooke Williams and Gina Marshall met in culinary school. Though they came from different career paths – Williams as a registered nurse, and Marshall in the auto finance industry – they bonded over their similar cooking styles and became fast friends.
Williams and Marshall attended culinary school in the evenings while still working full-time jobs, and they had their first big break catering an event of 50 people in 2014. Having completed their degrees, the pair is enthusiastic about growing the business and going along with whatever adventures come their way.
Thanks to training, customers of Crave Catering can enjoy virtually any kind of menu and know that it will be exceptionally prepared every time. The mission of Crave Catering is to provide extraordinary food, personal service and lasting memories for your special event.
Expanding their reach while staying true to their roots is at the heart of Crave Catering’s plans for the future. Regardless of the menu, the pair prioritizes the use of locally sourced ingredients and makes food to suit any Arkansans' taste.
Williams and Marshall have learned a lot in just a few years, and they are constantly sharpening their techniques. Their culinary talents and flexibility make a Crave Catering menu the perfect addition to your next event, no matter what or where it is.
As a nonprofit health care organization and healing ministry committed to improving lives, the CHI St Vincent Heart Institute is continually expanding access to cardiologists and heart care resources across the state. When it comes to heart disease and other conditions, having adequate access to high quality, compassionate care close to home can make a world of difference.
The diverse team of cardiologists and heart surgeons at the CHI St. Vincent Heart Institute believes in a coordinated and personalized approach to heart care. From routine checkups to detect early signs of heart disease to the latest surgical procedures and heart health education, the institute is committed to helping Arkansans enjoy longer, healthier lives.
Heart disease impacts Arkansans at a disproportionately high rate nationally and is the state's leading cause of death. With hospitals in Little Rock, Hot Springs, Sherwood and Morrilton, along with more than 25 community clinics around the state, the Heart Institute is able to provide immediate specialist insights and improve outcomes from anywhere in The Natural State.
CHI St. Vincent has been widely recognized as the best hospital in Arkansas for cardiology, and for good reason. The dedicated physicians and staff at the Heart Institute make it their mission to put the “heart” into heart care and to continue serving that care sensitively and passionately.
St.
OF HEART HEALTH CHI ST. VINCENT HEART INSTITUTE
The Arkansas Neuroscience Institute believes that every patient deserves the opportunity to spend more quality years with their friends and loved ones. This belief is what inspires ANI to advance the field of neurosurgery from both a scientific and a personal perspective, combining innovative practices and a patient care experience that is sought by patients and surgeons the world over.
The institute provides Arkansans with access to the best available care in their own backyard, and the comprehensive program incorporates all aspects of neurosurgery and the spectrum of neurological disorders. ANI is able to achieve this through a team of talented surgeons who are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and backed by the highlyskilled support staff at CHI St. Vincent North.
Patients from all 75 Arkansas counties, all 50 states and many other countries come to Arkansas to seek treatment, and neurosurgeons come from universities around the country and the world to train at the ANI.
In many cases, patients come to the institute after being told elsewhere that their conditions are untreatable. At its core, the goal of the Arkansas
Institute is to redefine what is “untreatable” and to improve outcomes for patients in every community.
Dr. Don Steely, his work as an interventional cardiologist is a labor of love. His mission, along with the rest of the team at Conway Regional Medical Center, is to deliver the best and fastest emergency cardiac care to every patient who comes through the door.
to depend on in those critical moments is key to the hospital’s success.
emergency medicine, every second counts, and having the right
specialty in interventional cardiology is distinguished from cardiology and cardiac surgery. Being an interventional cardiologist allows him to perform intricate life-saving procedures, such as inserting stents in clogged arteries to permit proper blood flow, and otherwise treat patients who enter the emergency room with heart-related concerns.
is constantly working to better his team in order to provide patients with quick and compassionate emergency care.
have the most talented staff and doctors that I have ever worked with,” Steely said. “My goal is to continue to expand the cardiac program’s
by
our services,
and physician teams.”
facet of Steely’s work furthering the Conway Regional mission is in his community outreach. He lends his expertise to schools in the area, from serving as the
School to being part of the sports
the
Central Arkansas
Matt Troup, president and CEO of Conway Regional Health System, the
of family, faith and work are deeply intertwined. He is deeply passionate about the organization’s promise to be “bold, exceptional and called.”
promise reflects our culture and my view of life as a father, husband and Christian,” Troup said. In fact, the entire Troup household is committed to this combination of service and faith. His youngest son passes out cookies during hospital rounds, his other children are working towards careers in health care, and even the family pet is a certified therapy dog.
it comes to the mission of Conway Regional, Troup emphasizes being accountable to the community and providing quality, compassionate health care services.
Regional aims to be the leader in health care excellence, which means engaging highly skilled team members who constantly raise the bar of what the organization has to offer.
more than ever, we need a resilient, realistic, loyal and willing team to challenge the status quo,” Troup said. “We want team members who feel like they share a vision and values with us.”
Troup at the helm – and a compassionate network of providers and staff at every level – of the organization,
Regional Health System is furthering its vision of providing excellent
care to every corner of the state.
Ultimately, the goal of Dr. Dawn Hughes and the team at Conway Regional is to keep women safe. “While pregnancy is beautiful and natural, it can also be a risky and volatile time,” Hughes says. Through her work in maternal fetal medicine, Hughes educates women so that they are empowered to make the best decisions for their health and their families.
A key mission for Hughes and Conway Regional is lowering the state’s maternal mortality rate, which is among the highest in the nation. Through comprehensive planning and the support of a multidisciplinary care team, patients are able to address comorbidities ahead of time to improve outcomes for both mother and baby.
“It is such an honor to be entrusted with the care of someone’s unborn child,” Hughes says. When it comes to her vision for the future as more women and families place their trust in her, the support provided by Conway Regional Health System will continue to play an integral part.
“Conway has given me an opportunity to create my ideal practice,” Hughes says, “which is one where I have time to focus on each patient.” Taking the time to get to know both patients – mother and child – is critical when creating a care plan that is unique to their needs and concerns.
In her line of work, Hughes emphasizes that empathy and meticulousness are the most important skills a provider must have. She and the team at Conway Regional continue to raise the bar for maternal fetal medicine across the state.
For over three decades, the dental professionals at DDS Dentures + Implant Solutions in Conway have been helping patients rediscover their smile and improve their quality of life through tooth replacement. Patients receive excellent care from an experienced team – every patient is greeted with compassionate staff who are ready to serve their dental needs.
DDS Dentures + Implant Solutions offers a wide variety of dental services, including dentures, dental implants, implant supported dentures (fixed and snap-in dentures), extractions and other general dentistry services such as partials, crowns, bridges, root canals and hygiene services. In most cases, DDS is also able to provide same-day service on dentures through its on-site lab.
The clinic can work with any budget to provide exceptional dental care at affordable prices. The newest financing option offered exclusively by DDS Dentures + Implant Solutions has a 99.99% approval rate. The staff at DDS believes that dental care should not just be for the privileged, and they will work with you to ensure that you get the treatment and care you deserve.
“To see our patients go through such transformations — to see it impact their confidence and self-esteem, to be able to touch people’s lives and see them smile again — it’s more rewarding than I could ever put into words,” says Clinic Manager Laura Brunson.
Everyone at DDS is committed to offering quality, affordable dentistry services to the residents of Arkansas. DDS Dentures + Implant Solutions is delighting patients and changing lives, one smile at a time. DDS Dentures + Implant Solutions — 501.229.5993 — conwaydentures.com
Dr. Michael Devlin believes the key to providing excellent care is getting to know a patient on a more personal level. He and his aesthetic team take time to get to know your lifestyle, personality and your aesthetic goals in order to provide you with the results that you will love. He has helped thousands of men and women across Arkansas and beyond to feel more beautiful and confident in their bodies through skillfully performed breast, body and facial cosmetic surgery.
Practicing cosmetic surgery since 2001, he has mastered the art of blending science and art.
“The most important thing with cosmetic surgery is that you make it look as natural as possible,” says Dr. Devlin.
His most common surgical procedures include breast augmentation, tummy tucks and liposuction for the body and facelifts, browlifts and eyelid surgery for the face. Dr. Devlin also offers nonsurgical options, injectables, lasers, peels and medical-grade skincare products.
Dr. Devlin’s work demonstrates the importance of looking good and feeling even better. “I treat every patient as if they are my own family.”
For 24 years,
has been and continues to serve clients throughout Central Arkansas, finding strength and success in its intimate, personalized approach to in-home care. Elder
isn’t a franchise
in the comfort and safety of their own
That
that assist clients in leading dignified, independent
allows it to focus on what really matters: high quality, client-centered and
Every caregiver at Elder
understands the importance of meeting clients and loving them where they are – literally.
are selected for their quality, honesty and compassion. At the end of the day, keeping loved ones in their own homes for as long as possible is the mission – caring is their calling.
has big goals for the coming years.
To better serve families across the state, expansion is key, and owner
is in the process of
offices in Sherwood and Hot Springs, with more on the horizon.
No matter where you are,
wants to show you that “your
is
family.” Being trusted with in-home
takes lightly, and their promise to every family is to show
is not something
ones the same
they provide for their own.
Retirement and legacy planning, like building a home, requires a solid foundation and a knowledgeable team. That’s why the mission of Empire Financial Architects is turning everyday information into well-designed, customtailored strategies that build and protect a solid financial house.
Empire has an approach that combines the technical knowledge clients need to navigate tricky financial waters with a passion for people that allows them to be a trusted partner through life’s ups and downs. The firm offers life insurance and other financial solutions that build, protect and preserve wealth, which in turn contributes positively to Arkansas’ economy.
Empire’s growth and staying power is tied to its commitment to the community. The firm prides itself on giving back by serving and donating to various nonprofit organizations. On the business side, the firm plans to increase its support of entrepreneurs and to launch the Money Matters on Main series. The series will promote meaningful, casual conversations on wealth while reinforcing the guiding philosophy that “this isn’t Wall Street – this is Main Street.”
Empire is a legacy story itself, having been formed by the late Sharon Welch-Blair in 1987. Her daughter and granddaughter continue to participate in the day-to-day operations, while the Empire team ensures the historical value of the oldest home on Main Street. In every regard, President Wendy Blair and Vice President Lesley Nalley work to carry on the firm’s mantra: “Building the Empire, Protecting the Legacy.” Wendy and Lesley are Registered Representatives offering securities through NYLIFE Securities
Empire Financial Architects is not owned or operated by NYLIFE Securities or its affiliates.
WENDY BLAIR, PRESIDENT; LESLEY NALLEY, VICE PRESIDENT; OTHER STAFF, NOT PICTURED - JAQUELINE JOHNSON, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING; JESSICA PULLIAM, LICENSED SERVICE ASSISTANT
Energy Air, Inc. has been serving many of Central Arkansas’ multifaceted heating and cooling needs since 1992. From residential new construction to commercial, Energy Air provides exceptional service and the most energyefficient systems available.
At the helm is President and CEO Tracie J. Kelley, who grew up watching her father serve the same great Arkansans that she does today.
“I have been surrounded, supported and loved by a multitude of intelligent and powerful people who provided me with much wisdom over the years – and I took great notes!” Kelley says. “I’m all about providing the very best for my clients, from a simple service to an extensive system replacement.”
Kelley's experience and proven track record gives the customer complete confidence, and they can rest assured they're getting the best service possible every single time. Energy Air partners with only the very best in manufacturing products and backs the most efficient, environmentally-friendly comfort systems available.
Kelley says, “As a licensed general contractor and homeowner myself, along with serving the industry for well over 30 years, I firmly believe your HVAC system is only as good as its installer,” and the best of warranties backed by the manufacturer.
Opting for the best in the business saves you time and money, both now and in the future. From installation to longterm maintenance, Energy Air is the most trusted name in heating and air conditioning Energy Air Inc. — 501.913.8001 — 501.993.5232 — energyairAR.com
TRACIE J. KELLEY, PRESIDENT AND CEOOF HVAC ENERGY AIR, INC.
Episcopal Collegiate School prepares students to live principled and fulfilling lives of leadership and service through the pursuit of academic and personal excellence. Whether they’re in the classroom or the studio, on the playing field or on the stage, every student is challenged and nurtured in mind, body and spirit. Education is fundamentally interpersonal in nature, and relationships are at the heart of Episcopal’s work. Students are immersed in rigorous learning experiences where they are both accountable for meeting high standards and encouraged in realizing their full potential. The success of “the whole child” depends on having a robust support network, and Episcopal works to ensure every student is challenged and supported in equal measure.
As the only accredited Episcopal school in the state, Episcopal Collegiate School is built on a foundation of academic excellence, inclusive faith-based culture, an emphasis on character development and service to others. This program has yielded extraordinary results, with Episcopal Collegiate School widely recognized as one of the finest independent schools in the nation.
Episcopal Collegiate School leads Arkansas with respect to college matriculation to the most selective universities, earned merit-based scholarships, performance on national assessments and graduating students that are exceedingly well prepared for their next steps in life. The Episcopal Board of Trustees continues to identify areas for improvement and growth, with across-the-board enhancements to the school’s programs planned in the coming years.
From the academic to the athletic, from fine arts to personal development – Episcopal Collegiate School is elevating education in the Natural State.
School —
(L TO R): DR. CHUCK MCCORMICK, HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL; DR. JAMIE GRIFFIN, HEAD OF SCHOOL; CATHERINE SCHUHMACHER, HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL; DR. KELLEN GRAHAM, HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL
At Founders Classical Academies, a well-rounded education is all about getting the basics right. Founders Classical Academies offer a content-rich, comprehensive curriculum based on a mastery of reading, writing and arithmetic, a systematic study of language, a fact-driven and inquiry-based study of the sciences and a thorough study of the classic works of the Western and American tradition.
A classical education stands out among other forms of education because it follows the vision of the American Founders and other civic leaders throughout history. The emphasis of a classical education is on the growth of students academically and personally, not on rote memorization or checking off one-size-fits-all learning standards.
Founders Classical Academies believe that a traditional, liberal education provides students with a firm foundation to flourish not only individually, but as intelligent, responsible and active members of their community. Through the pursuit of knowledge and the promotion of virtue, students of all backgrounds and abilities are prepared to live prosperous lives.
This tuition-free classical education is currently available in Bentonville, Rogers and West Little Rock. Founders Classical Academies aims to continue growing these campuses while opening new locations across the state to ensure that all students have access to the lifelong benefits of a classical education. The foundations laid today at Founders Classical Academies are building the free citizens and just society of tomorrow.
Classical Academies
THE FACE OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FOUNDERS CLASSICAL ACADEMIES ARKANSAS
The mission of Good Day Farm is simple: help people feel good. The success of that vision depends on “good people” at every step, especially in an industry like cannabis. The knowledgeable team at Good Day Farm has a passion for natural medicine, and staff use their expertise to better the lives of patients around the state with high-quality plant medicine.
Good Day Farm considers itself ambassadors of cannabis in the South and uses that platform to advocate, educate and uplift the communities it serves. Good Day works with local nonprofits like Lucie’s Place, Habitat for Humanity Central Arkansas and EPIC Glass Recycling, as well as with larger, national organizations supporting other “good people.” The work that Good Day Farm does doesn’t just help Arkansans feel their best – it helps to reverse decades of inaccurate stigma around cannabis and its uses.
Good Day Farm is constantly looking for ways to expand its reach and improve its impact in order to provide patients with the best possible experience. Good Day Farm is more than just a store; the compassionate associates at Good Day Farm get to know and love the patients they serve, walking with them along their healing journey.
At the core of it all, Good Day Farm is just good people serving more good people. The tagline says it all, and says it best: Good People. Good Cannabis. Good Day.
Gretchen Larkan Events launched in 2021, though owner and lead event designer Gretchen Larkan had spent several years prior in various areas of the hospitality industry. Thanks to that background, Larkan is able to serve a diverse clientele. From couples to nonprofit leaders, from corporate executives to any individuals planning their oncein-a-lifetime events, Gretchen Larkan Events brings the highest level of service to every client.
With expertise in investment management, styling, planning and execution, the goal of Gretchen Larkan Events is to save clients time, resources and the headaches that event planning can bring. Gretchen Larkan Events is able to design, build and execute every element of an event, whether it’s an intimate wedding, a milestone birthday, a bridal or baby shower or even a corporate event.
According to Larkan, community support has been crucial for growing her business. Word-of-mouth spread is the main way she’s able to connect with new clients, and building strong relationships with other small businesses and vendors allows her to pour back into the local community.
Larkan has goals of not only expanding her team to better serve clients, but also ushing in the next generation of young entrepreneurs. She’s adding interns to the mix in 2023 and hopes to teach others about her journey in the hospitality industry.
No matter what kind of event, no matter the size, no matter how intricate the details are – Gretchen Larkan Events creates memorable experiences that allow clients to be the host and the
of the party.
Monty Heathman, DDS, is the founder and owner of Heathman Family Dental in Little Rock and The Dental Clinic at Stuttgart. Heathman has been serving families in Arkansas for over 22 years, and his commitment to excellence keeps patients coming back.
Heathman’s passion for quality dental care is matched only by his compassion for patients. He treats patients of all ages, and his practices offer services including general dentistry, implant restoration, oral surgery, comprehensive reconstruction and Botox. Heathman’s clinics use state-of-the-art techniques to ensure the latest and most effective treatments possible.
“Our team members are integral to our success,” Heathman says. “Our mission is to treat our patients like family in a caring and compassionate atmosphere.”
Heathman and his team also believe that one of the most important things they can do is to educate patients and guide them along the journey to attaining optimal oral health. Listening to patients’ needs and concerns allows Heathman to tailor custom treatment plans and establish long-lasting relationships in the communities he serves.
From routine cleaning to total smile makeovers, patients can trust that their oral health is in good hands with Heathman Family Dental and The Dental Clinic at Stuttgart.
Heathman
Clinic at Stuttgart — 870.673.2687
FAMILY DENTISTRY HEATHMAN FAMILY AND COSMETIC
When it comes to creating the home of your dreams, choosing the right custom builder can be one of the most important decisions you make throughout the entire process.
KellCo Custom Homes specializes in taking a build vision to the next level to create a unique, one-of-a-kind home that will stand up in the day-to-day and for years to come.
Tracie J. Kelley, President and CEO of KellCo Custom Homes, has a passion for designing truly unique homes and a dedication to excellence in every respect.
years of experience and hard work has solidified KellCo’s status as one of the most recognized and sought-after custom home builders in Central Arkansas.
“KellCo Custom Homes delivers a complete design package to help you execute the design, starting with the architectural phase,” Kelley says. “Having a strong team on every level during construction is critical.”
KellCo is about far more than just “curb appeal” and has zero tolerance for cookie-cutter. Every process is different based on the individual’s unique situation. All kinds of needs can be accommodated, from home offices and study spaces to outdoor kitchens and inground pools.
“As a custom designer and residential builder, I am constantly driven to new levels of uniqueness and architecture, and that continues to be the drive for all my endeavors within the real estate industry,” Kelley says. KellCo Custom Homes builds one-of-a-kind custom homes while combining
with exceptional functionality.
beyond the predictable!
Since 2004, Kendall Riggins has been one of the driving forces in selling new residential neighborhoods in Northwest Arkansas. Riggins, SVP and an executive broker at Lindsey & Associates, has earned not only the trust of his clients, but a reputation as the most trusted realtor of new homes in the region.
“Whether you are new to home buying or a growing family, I try to make sure there is a new community and a home that will fit your needs,” Riggins says.
Economic uncertainty and low supply have put stress on every aspect of the real estate industry. That’s why Riggins has been working with developers, builders and banks to find solutions that serve buyers and sellers alike.
“The goal over the next couple of years is to keep the housing market strong in our area while continuing to give buyers and sellers the information and the tools to make a smart decision,” Riggins says.
When asked about the qualities that make him successful, Riggins keeps it simple: Be knowledgeable, be honest, and be hardworking. Given his track record, it seems like he’s found the winning formula. Lindsey & Associates, Inc. — 479.721.2701 — lindsey.com
FACE OF NWA REAL ESTATE LINDSEY & ASSOCIATES
The Little Rock Zoo provides engaging experiences for families to connect with animals and nature in ways not possible through any electronic device. Through up-close-and-personal encounters with wildlife and education about wild places, the Zoo inspires people to value the world around them.
Brad Cazort has been a volunteer for the Zoo for nearly three decades, and he has been a part of the incredible comeback the Zoo has made since the �90s. For the past six years, Cazort has chaired the Zoo’s board of governors, pushing the Zoo to improve even more and look towards the future. “Every great city has a great zoo,” Cazort said, “and Little Rock should be no exception.”
Today, Cazort and the rest of the team at the Little Rock Zoo are working to help it not just survive, but thrive. There are currently several renovation projects underway to update habitats and guest facilities, as well as plans for new habitats. As always, the Zoo is also looking for ways to improve its educational content. All of these upgrades will bring the Zoo closer to its ultimate goal, which, according to Cazort, is to make the Little Rock Zoo “not just an attraction for Little Rock and Arkansas, but a must-see attraction for the region.”
Exceptional animal care and conservation efforts are top priorities for the Little Rock Zoo, an organization accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Coupling with a commitment to giving guests the best possible experience – one that is as educational as it is inspirational – Cazort and the Little Rock Zoo are on track to make the Zoo even more of a premier attraction in the state and beyond.
Little Rock Zoo — 501.661.7200 — littlerockzoo.com zoolr littlerockzoo littlerockzoo
Since Low's Bridal first opened in 1977, it has been a labor of love. The Low’s Bridal experience is anything but onesize-fits-all, and that goes for more than just the gowns. Each bride works one on one with her own personal consultant, and every Low’s consultant upholds the standards of care and professionalism.
Thanks to its close working relationships with designers and manufacturers, Low’s is able to provide one of the largest selections of wedding dresses in the nation. Low’s enjoys a variety of traditional and fashion-forward styles in a wide range of sizes, and brides even travel from neighboring states to visit the store.
The team at Low’s knows that finding the right wedding dress is a journey, and they are ready to help brides no matter where they are in that process. Whether that special day is in one month or a year away, Low’s has a number of gowns that can be taken home on the same day.
Low’s has a reputation through the decades for excellence and quality, and that keeps generations of women returning to the same place their mothers, grandmothers and sisters trusted to find the perfect dress.
The store resides in a former hotel that is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The building only adds to that sense of legacy and grandeur that Low’s has achieved over the years. True to form, Low’s Bridal embraces history and follows trends – something old, something new…
The mission of the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission is to promote and preserve Dr. King’s life and legacy throughout the state. Under the leadership of Executive Director DuShun Scarbrough and through a variety of programs and messaging, the MLK Commission promotes youth empowerment, economic development, financial literacy and nonviolence education.
“I believe my executive position is an assignment from God,” Scarbrough said. “It’s an opportunity that I don’t take for granted, to carry the mantle of the late, great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “My position is further inspired by my relationship with Dr. Bernice A. King, whom I view as my big sister. She is the daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King.”
One youth program under Scarbrough, the L.E.A.D. program (Leadership, Education, Acceptance of Diversity), connects youth throughout the state with leadership opportunities. As executive director, Scarbrough also ensures King’s message reaches every corner of the state, from big cities to rural towns. Through impactful programming, for instance, Scarbrough has worked to improve race relations with several cities across the state.
Scarbrough has further coordinated record-breaking fundraising campaigns during his tenure, and the Arkansas MLK Commission is frequently requested to train other commissions on sustainability and outreach implementation. It also currently hosts the largest Day of Service in the nation – making Arkansas the fourth largest volunteerism destination during the King holiday. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in the coming year, the MLK Commission continues to empower communities, train other organizations and agencies and develop leaders – statewide and worldwide into the future. As such, the Arkansas MLK Commission is working to expand its national presence – an especially important goal, given its current example.
Moreover, the MLK Commission sponsors a license plate dedicated to the civil rights leader, making Arkansas one of only five states in the nation to boast one.
For Scarbrough, the secret to success is found in having a strong support system, being inclusive and having wise counsel. He stresses King’s belief in partnerships and collaboration–a belief permeating all of the MLK Commission’s efforts. Bringing communities together through service and brotherhood takes many forms but ultimately returns to a commitment to love and of acceptance.
said. "In the words of
“Not to act is to abandon our own responsibility of trying to make the world a better place,”
Martin Luther King,
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Minton Law Firm is a boutique, personal injury firm that takes pride in only accepting cases where it is sure its attorneys can add value for their clients. At its core, Minton Law Firm is committed to fighting in order to overcome the disparity between clients and large, economically powerful corporations and insurance companies.
The firm’s founder, Justin Minton, attributes his success to “a good balance of hard work and the people in my life.” As Minton sees it, his success is intertwined with the success of the community around him. That’s why Minton Law Firm handles many cases on a contingent or pro bono basis.
“The legal system has gotten to be so expensive that a lot of folks are excluded from access,” Minton said. “I don’t stand for that. The way I look at it, our successful cases provide us the opportunity to donate time and to put money back into the community.”
In addition to accessibility and communication, Minton Law Firm values truth and integrity at every step. The priority of every member of the firm is to “provide competent, truthful advice to clients, civility towards peers and candor towards the tribunals.”
JUSTIN MINTON
If you ask father/daughter duo Matt and Amy Counce, the way to a city’s heart is through its taste buds. What started as an idea scrawled on the back of a napkin in 2016 has since grown into Nexus Coffee & Creative — a gathering well where people of all backgrounds can enjoy good company, good coffee and good times.
The Nexus motto is “Be the Light.” Their emblem, the lighthouse, represents Nexus’ goal of being a space that is safe, solid and focused on taking care of one another. According to Amy, “coffee is a universal love language that unites us all.”
The community vision of Nexus all depends on the love and work that its people are willing to put in. Luckily, they’ve got that covered, too. “Our team of 10 is so passionate, creative and talented,” Amy said. “They each have a special role and skill set that adds to our mission.”
That mission also extends to other aspects of community, like bridging the gap between local coffee lovers and family farms abroad through fair trade coffee — in addition to all of the local relationships they’ve fostered. Nexus is proud to educate customers on their coffee partnerships and give back both at home and abroad.
One of those partnerships is extremely local --- Nona Bakes, the café's business and bakery partner. Nona Pruitt started visiting as a customer in 2017 and joined the Nexus team in 2019. Pruitt serves up baked goods inspired by her childhood and the memory of her mother.
“Our top priority is people,” Amy said. “We are united in community, on the common ground of spreading human kindness through coffee.”
Oasis of Northwest Arkansas provides safe, sober housing and resources for women in recovery and their children. For Executive Director LaDonna Humphrey and the rest of the team at Oasis, their success is found in helping women conquer addiction, recover from trauma, reunify with their families and gain essential economic, social and emotional tools.
Like any disease, addiction cannot be taken on alone, so providing a community of support is integral to the work Oasis does. The critical programming Oasis provides guides women in recovery towards becoming strong, contributing members of society.
Right now, Humphrey’s goals for Oasis are centered around continually improving the services they provide and expanding those services to reach more people. Additionally, Humphrey is working to change the perceptions and beliefs society has formed about women who struggle with addiction.
Everyone at Oasis models honesty, empathy and hard work. Humphrey says these qualities are “absolutely critical” when it comes to working with women in recovery and their children.
“I am passionate about walking alongside women in recovery as they rebuild their lives,” Humphrey says. “It's lifechanging and life-giving for me, my staff and the women that we serve.”
Oasis of Northwest Arkansas — 479.268.4340 — Bella Vista
RAY AND KRISTI IMBRO Ray and Kristi Imbro bought Party Time Rental and Events in 2005, and since then, they’ve continued to expand their reach and serve the community by creating once-in-a-lifetime events of all kinds. Their mission with every event is to listen and understand a client’s vision in order to bring it to life in spectacular fashion.
Ray serves as president of Party Time, and Kristi runs the showroom. According to them, “the key to our success is the people on our team.” Their long-term leadership team, in addition to Kristi, consists of Warehouse Manager Mark Sheard and Field Supervisor Billy Rudley, who have both spent over a decade with the company. They train and foster the sales, operations and field teams, all while keeping everyone committed to Party Time’s client-first vision.
The Imbros and their team have worked with individuals, corporate and even municipal and government clients. For nonprofit groups, Party Time not only puts the events together, but sponsors, donates and makes in-kind contributions to the causes themselves. Their commitment to community service extended even further during the pandemic, when the team at Party Time put up and helped create testing and vaccination sites all over Central Arkansas.
Planning a large event can be stressful, even for the most organized among us. Party Time works with clients to relieve this stress and “think outside the box” to find innovative solutions. The Imbros and their team can transform even the most intricate events into a smooth experience, leaving clients to focus on what’s important:
time!
Quraishi Law Firm and Wealth Management is a one-stop shop for clients seeking the absolute best strategies for retirement, business, estate and tax planning. Founded in 2013 by lead attorney and financial planner Carrie Russom Quraishi, the firm combines legal expertise and sound financial advice for an integrated approach to wealth management.
As a boutique firm, the lawyers and financial planners at Quraishi Law & Wealth are able to devote personal attention to clients every step of the way. Team members work as independent fiduciaries, meaning they are obligated to serve the client’s best interests and are not beholden to a broker or dealer with limited investment options.
As a strong believer that knowledge is power, Quraishi and her firm are also devoted to educating people about important financial, legal and tax concepts. Educating clients on how to build better lives and plan for a secure future has a positive impact on entire communities. The firm provides free workshops, books, articles, podcasts, webinars and more so Arkansans can make the best decisions for themselves and their loved ones.
Trust is key when it comes to protecting your legacy, and Quraishi Law & Wealth builds that trust from the very first contact by treating every client like family. Each plan created by the firm is comprehensive and customized to be just as unique as your story and needs. Whether it’s a call, an email or dropping by in person, Quraishi Law Firm and Wealth Management is ready to welcome you and help protect your legacy.
The goal of every person at CHI St. Vincent Breast Center is to save lives through early detection of breast cancer while giving patients a caring experience.
The radiologists at CHI St. Vincent Breast Center all have decades of experience serving the people of Central Arkansas, and the Center strives to use the latest available technology. Highly-trained physicians and staff treat patients with compassion while working to obtain the highest image quality possible for the best chance at early detection.
Patients that are found to be at a high risk have the option to participate in the CHI St. Vincent Breast Center High Risk Program. These patients are closely monitored through a combination of screening mammograms, breast MRI and clinical breast exams, all coordinated through a certified navigator.
The Breast Center works to make breast imaging more available and convenient, with screening locations in midtown and at the CHI St. Vincent West campus, as well as extended Thursday hours for patients who prefer to schedule an after-work appointment. CHI St. Vincent Breast Center is also dedicated to educating people on the importance of breast cancer screenings through luncheon events and social media.
1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer, so it is important to have a mammogram every year starting at age 40 –early detection saves lives. The health care professionals at CHI St. Vincent Breast Center every step of the way, from detection and diagnosis to treatment. CHI St. Vincent Breast Center — 501.661.9766 — rapaxray.com
HEALTH
ST. VINCENT BREAST
At just 13 years old, Katie Beth Evans knew she wanted to own a salon. In 2019, that dream became a reality in the form of Salon J’adore, and it’s been a dream come true for her customers, too.
There are a few things that set Salon J’adore apart: luxury, consistency, and personality. The moment customers arrive, they are met not only with the personable staff, but with an atmosphere that’s the perfect blend of high-end and family friendly. Clients recognize Salon J’adore as “the one with the Louis Vuitton canvas chairs,” and thematic touches – like columns and framed Hermés silk scarves – speak to the sense of opulence that the Salon J’adore Team hopes to convey.
The Salon J’adore Team knows that decor alone doesn’t make a great haircut. The mantra of the salon is “luxurious hair care for a beautiful you,” and everyone at the salon takes their craft seriously. That’s why every stylist, regardless of experience or background, is trained to the same carefully-selected standards.
“Our goal is that a client can sit in any chair and know what they’re getting,” Evans says. “Whether there’s one stylist they see all the time, or they’re working with someone new, our customers are confident that they’ll come out looking and feeling great.”
Striking the balance between classy and comfortable isn’t easy, but the Salon J’adore Team brings together fashionforward styles, friendly faces and the expertise to match any taste.
When describing Saracen Casino Resort, Chief Market Officer Carlton Saffa returns to the idea of an “Arkansas soul.” Saffa has been there since the beginning; he was the first employee of the organization, hired by the Quapaw Nation of Oklahoma to build the Saracen brand and gaming in Arkansas more broadly.
Saffa’s goal is to make sure that even in the midst of an experience that rivals Las Vegas, the Natural State’s unique offerings stay in the mix. In the award-winning Red Oak Steakhouse, the menu has room for both premier cuts of Kobe beef and Arkansas-grown ingredients. The casino boasts talent from the likes of MGM and employs local residents – in fact, a majority of Saracen’s employees are from Jefferson county, and Saffa is extremely proud of what the organization has been able to do for the local community.
Saracen is proving that southern hospitality and a world-class gaming experience are more than compatible, all while reinvesting that growth back into Pine Bluff and the state.
The way that Saracen has grown also proves its unique position compared to other casinos, even in neighboring states. Rather than cannibalizing the market share of its competitors, Saracen has seen growth in the market as a whole, proving, as Saffa explains, “what we’ve built here is something that people were looking for.”
For Sei Bella Med Spa, honesty really is the best policy. Since opening the spa in 2010, Dr. Anne R. Trussell has developed an impressive patient base. The key to developing a loyal following, according to Trussell, is to “Focus on what's best for your patient, work within their budget, and always be honest about how to best spend their dollars.”
Every specialist at Sei Bella is highly trained and has been with the spa for many years. “We are like family,” Trussell says, “and we strive to have our patients feel like they are part of our family as well.” She and her team prioritize patient satisfaction and are constantly researching the latest techniques, products and services to improve their practice.
Trussell is also passionate about community outreach; she hopes to continue using Sei Bella as a platform to advocate for charities that are close to her heart. She has served on the board of the Children’s Tumor Foundation for 10 years, and she also fundraises for animal welfare groups like the Faulkner County Animal Shelter and Paws in Prison.
Trussell’s mission with Sei Bella is to help people feel better about themselves and give them confidence in their appearance. Whether it’s body contouring, age management or hormone therapies, Sei Bella Med Spa has a cuttingedge solution and a knowledgeable specialist who can help patients achieve their dream results.
Sissy’s Log Cabin is synonymous with fine jewelry, but for Chief Operating Officer William Jones IV, it’s their extraordinary customer service that truly sets the business apart. “Our mission is to provide the best retail experience — not just in jewelry, but in all industries,” Jones said.
A culture of caring starts from the inside, and that is why Sissy’s Log Cabin invests heavily in the local community and the well-being of its employees. “Our family believes in Arkansas,” Jones said. “We’re committed to raising our kids here, along with doing all we can to support the families of our employees.”
Throughout the business’ growth into the state’s go-to fine jeweler, Sissy’s has stayed committed to hiring team members who will provide the best possible customer service. As the definition of that quality service evolves, so does the Sissy’s approach. One of the company’s recent priorities has been to expand and improve the brand’s virtual avenues.
For Jones, the other key to Sissy’s continued success is trust. Customers trust that they’re not only getting the best purchasing experience, but that they’re also buying the highest-quality products. Building those relationships keeps the Sissy’s Log Cabin brand strong and ensures that customers keep coming back for all of their jewelry needs. “Our client relationships mean everything to us, so much that we post our cellphone number outside of every location in case of a jewelry emergency," Jones explained.
From growing the family-owned-and-operated business across the state to supporting local charitable organizations – the Jones family’s goal is to do everything they can to make Arkansas the best it can be.
WILLIAM JONES IV, COO
Pine Bluff, Little Rock Heights, Little Rock Promenade, Conway, Jonesboro and Memphis
Staci Medlock considers herself “blessed with a drive to serve others and a dedication to hard work.” Her record of success more than proves it: She’s consistently one of the top-performing real estate agents in Central Arkansas and is a Justice of the Peace – serving her fourth term representing District 15 on the Pulaski County Quorum Court – to boot.
Medlock has extensive experience in new construction, custom home building and working with first-time homebuyers. For sellers, she is highly adept at identifying changes to be made that ensure a faster and more lucrative selling process. She caters to a wide range of clients across Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, Maumelle, Jacksonville, Cabot, Searcy and Beebe.
“There’s never a dull moment,” Medlock says. “There is a lot of extreme multitasking, but I love to take care of people.”
Medlock is also continuously sharpening her skills. Currently, she’s working with lenders to learn new loan structures that can be useful for clients navigating a changing market. She’s also exploring new marketing strategies to ensure she’s offering the best possible advice when it comes to selling a home.
Medlock is a cheerleader and an advocate for Arkansas in every facet of her life. Showing potential buyers what The Natural State has to offer, and working to give buyers and sellers the best deal possible, is her mission. When it comes to the qualities that have made and kept her so successful, Medlock points to “integrity, a servant’s heart and dependability.”
The Taco Society, made up of the four businesses owned by restaurateurs Heather Baber-Roe and husband Craig, is a go-to dining destination for Central Arkansas. Most foodies will be familiar with the likes of Baja Grill, Valhalla and Valkyrie, but also on the horizon is Baber-Roe’s newest fine-dining venture, ROBER, set to open in late 2022.
With even more projects on the horizon, Baber-Roe has no intention of slowing down. The couple has recently dubbed their block of businesses in downtown Benton the “South Street Entertainment District,” with plans to open a gourmet market called South Street Provisions, in the works. Bigger, better and bolder is the vision for Baber-Roe.
She attributes her success to the strength of her team and the support of her family. “I have a true passion for what I do,” Baber-Roe says. “I want to always persevere, not just for myself, but for all of the people who work hard in our businesses.”
The mission of the Taco Society is to deliver an exceptional dining experience in every way, from the quality of the food to the warmth of the customer service. Baber-Roe prioritizes having a good working environment for her staff and bringing the freshest ingredients to each restaurant’s menu.
“Quality is of the utmost importance,” she says. “I love food and creating recipes, but it's the overall experience that people crave. Our restaurants are full of regulars every day — I love seeing it.”
Not everyone is up to the task of spinning so many plates — literally and figuratively — but for Baber-Roe, there’s no place she’d rather be.
HEATHER BABER-ROE, OWNER Baja Grill Benton — Baja Grill Heights — Valhalla — ROBER — ValkyrieAs the old saying goes: necessity is the mother of invention – or, in this case, mouthwatering tamales and steaks. George Eldridge, of Doe’s Eat Place fame, had recently sold his tamale-producing operation and started making them himself at his family farm in Gregory, Arkansas, just south of Augusta. There was only one problem with the setup, and it’s another familiar phrase – too many cooks in the kitchen.
The more time he spent back home, the more he also saw the need for quality restaurant options nearby. For Eldridge, those two problems had one convenient solution: he converted a section of his quarter horse barn into a USDA-approved kitchen and opened up a restaurant in the front. Ten years later, that operation is producing 5,0006,000 tamales per week.
The restaurant, aptly named The Tamale Factory, has expanded twice and has established itself as one of the state's premier destination restaurants. It’s in a converted horse barn, nestled between the White and Cache Rivers at the gateway to the Delta.
Eldridged handed over the reigns to Tamale Factory in 2021 but still hangs his hat at the end of the bar usually regaling friends, old and new, with one of his many anecdotes. Every Friday and Staurday night you'll find a room full of people from all over the state enjoying some of the highest quality tamales and steaks that the Mid-South has to offer. While the steaks are Tamale Factory's signature, the goal of making sure everyone feels like they are at home in Gregory is what makes Tamale Factory worth the trip.
Thaden School is an independent school in Bentonville, Arkansas serving grades 6-12. The school opened in fall 2017 with 50 students and will grow incrementally to an enrollment of 525. Thaden currently has more than 300 students and celebrated its first graduating class in 2021.
Thaden School was born with a history that continues to enrich the character and content of the school’s connection to this community. The 30-acre campus, nestled in the heart of Bentonville’s Market District, was formerly the site of the Benton County Fairgrounds. Prior to that, it was the site of Bentonville High School in the early 1920s when its namesake, aviator Louise Thaden, was a student there. From the choice of physical location to the architecture and design of its indoor and outdoor spaces, the features of the campus ensure that students develop a real and enduring sense of place. In addition, Thaden’s program recognizes that learning is strongest at schools where students have abundant opportunities to make real connections to the world around them.
The school offers a challenging and balanced educational program that ignites a passion for discovery and learning, prepares students to succeed in college, and inspires them to lead lives of integrity, and purpose to become responsible global citizens. In these and so many other ways, Thaden School gives students roots and wings — strong foundations in the history and culture of their community, and soaring aspirations for the future.
Zen Recovery Care provides post-surgery care in a one-on-one, spa-like setting, relieving patients and their families of the stress that recovery care can bring. Zen Infusion provides mobile IV infusion therapy to clients throughout Central Arkansas, combining an innovative approach to hydration with the convenience of in-home care.
In reality, it is a foundation of people-first core values that motivates owner RaeAnn Wilson to use such cutting-edge techniques. “Our compassion for our patients is the main reason for our success,” Wilson explains.
As a breast cancer survivor herself, Wilson understands the challenges that recovery can bring. She found IV therapy to be an integral part of her own journey back to health, and now she and the rest of the professionals at Zen Infusion and Zen Recovery Care aim to bring those benefits to clients across Central Arkansas, whether they are post-op patients or just people wanting the additional health benefits of IV hydration and vitamin infusion.
“I am particularly proud that we donate IV therapy sessions to patients undergoing cancer treatment,” Wilson says. “This might be the most challenging time in a person’s life, and IV fluids and nutrients can give them the boost they need to power through even the most brutal treatment regimen.”
Zen Infusion and Zen Recovery Care use preservative-free vitamin mixes, and each bag is custom prepared to order. Additionally, trained nurses provide top-of-the-line care to ensure patients have the best recovery experience possible.
Randy Zellers remembers sitting on the back of a truck’s tailgate eating Cadbury Fruit & Nut bars with his father during one of his first hunting trips as a child.
Zellers, who is an assistant chief of commu nications for the Arkansas Game and Fish Com mission, also reminisces on the cold hunting trips when he’d huddle in the floorboard of his fa ther’s truck to get as much warmth from the vehicle’s heater vents.
“Some of the best hunts I remember, I can’t tell you if we got many ducks or harvested any deer,” Zellers said. “But I can remember the other things.”
Now, as the Arkansas hunting seasons are in full swing this fall, there’s an increase in new hunters heading to the woods and making new memories. It’s a shift in the trend of hunting over the past decade – perhaps driven, oddly, by the COVID-19 pandemic – and as the newbies begin their hunts for squirrels, ducks, deer, turkeys and other animals, longtime hunters like Zellers offer several tips to make the experience enjoyable.
“Hunters need to focus on the memories,” he said.
Fewer people have taken up hunting over the last few decades. In the 1980s, about 17 million hunting licenses were issued in the U.S. At
the start of this decade, that number dwindled to 11.5 million.
The decline can be blamed on several reasons. Urbanization is one factor. As populations grow, there are fewer areas for hunting. A lack of free time for those wanting to hunt, development of more private farmland for those who hunt without licenses, economics and a simple change in demographics, both in population and socialization, are other reasons.
Last year, 293,356 Arkansans bought hunting licenses, representing 9.7% of the state’s population. That ranks Arkansas as the 15th highest state with the most registered hunters per capita. South Dakota, with 24.1% of its residents registered to hunt, ranks first. With only 0.7% of its population holding hunting licenses, California is last in the country.
But there seems to be an uptick in hunting in The Natural State.
Taylor Denniston, the vice president of Fort Thompson, a major hunting outlet in Sherwood, is seeing an increase in customers.
“There is a resurgence of people coming back,” he said. “Some are literally starting over. A lot spurs from guys who don’t know about hunt ing, but their friends do. They go with friends or family and are hooked.”
Both Denniston and Zellers credit the pandemic for leading some into hunting. With the phrase “social distancing” becoming a mantra during the virus’ peaks, what better way to observe that concept than being out in the woods? The Game and Fish Commission tailored a hunter recruitment campaign based on that, Zellers said.
Families, often quarantined together because of the virus, draw clos er and that age-old hunting tradition of passing knowledge down to the youngsters thrives, Zellers said.
So, what do first-time hunters need to know and do before searching for wildlife and to ensure positive experiences?
The first step is obvious, hunters say. People need to find the right equipment. Choosing a weapon is key. The type of rifle or shotgun need ed depends upon the type of hunting. A .22-caliber rifle is good for squirrel hunting, but impossible for hunting duck. A more powerful rifle is needed for bigger game like deer and elk.
“Getting to know your firearm is the biggest, most important thing,” Zellers said. “It can be intimidating. You need to feel comfortable carry ing a firearm in the woods.”
The Game and Fish Commission offers scores of youth shooting programs and safety classes. Zellers suggested hunters visit local shoot ing ranges to practice with their weapons before hitting the woods. You don’t want the first time you pull your rifle’s trigger when you see a deer stalking through brush.
“Be familiar with what you have,” he said.
Ammunition is another necessary item.
Keeping warm may be one of the more important aspects, Denniston said.
“You’re out there waist deep in water waiting for ducks,” he said. “You want good waders that don’t leak.”
He said warm jackets are also a good investment.
“You don’t want to ruin a hunting trip by being cold all day,” he said. “You want to stay warm and dry.”
He said new hunters who come to Fort Thompson can spend about
$1,000 to buy all the needed items for duck hunting. Shotguns range from about $450 to $1,900; waders cost about $350; and a good jacket goes for about $200, he said.
Of course, there are many other pieces of equipment available. Hunt ers may need duck decoys, calls, gloves, warm clothing, rifle scopes, bin oculars, glasses, containers to keep drinks and food warm, compasses, tree stands and harnesses, boots and shoes, for example.
“It’s a pretty extensive list,” Denniston said.
Fort Thompson, located on U.S. 67 and 167 in Sherwood across from Sam’s Club and near the McCain Mall, opened in 1931 as a grocery store on East Broadway in North Little Rock. The store sold sporting goods along with groceries and eventually branched out into the fullstocked hunting store that it is today. Denniston’s family bought the business in 1985 and moved to its present location in 2006.
Zellers advised first-time hunters to consider the game they are seeking.
“Many go straight to deer hunting,” he said. “That’s the most popular game in Arkansas.”
He said first-time hunters may succumb to the pressures of deer hunting. If they don’t get a large buck on their first hunt, they may be come discouraged. Zellers said he fell for that years ago when he went on a mule deer hunt in Nebraska.
Within the first 10 minutes of the hunt, Zellers saw a mule deer, but
“Getting to know your firearm is the biggest, most important thing.”
opted not to shoot at it, thinking it was too small.
“I didn’t see another one the rest of the day,” he said. “I let the pressure of getting the ‘big deer’ in my head, and I was worried about what people would say.”
He suggested people try squirrel hunting first.
“You’ll see more squirrels, and there are more opportunities to get some,” he said. “You don’t have to be quiet like you do with deer hunting, and you can move around the land more.
“There’s not as much precision required to bag a squirrel.”
Zellers said hunting squirrels also gives the hunter a chance to see the woods and look for any signs of deer that he or she can use for later deer hunts.
Squirrel hunting is a bit more leisurely, and it allows the hunter to inspect the location and terrain. Sneaking through deer woods for the first time in predawn hours may sound like a typical hunting adventure. But suddenly finding an un known canyon or waterfall in that element is not a good idea.
Archery
Statewide: Sept. 24-Feb. 28
Muzzleloader
Deer zones 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11: Oct. 15-23 and Dec. 10-12
Deer zones 4A, 5A, 14 and 15: Oct. 15-23 and Dec. 17-19
Deer zones 9, 12, 13, 16, 16A and 17: Oct. 15-23
Deer zones 4 and 5: closed
Modern gun
Deer zones 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11: Nov. 12-Dec. 4
Deer zones 4 and 5: Nov. 12-20
Deer zones 4A, 5A, 14 and 15: Nov. 12-Dec. 11
Deer zones 9, 12 and 13: Nov. 12-Dec. 18
Deer zones 16, 16A and 17: Nov. 12-Dec. 25
Christmas holiday modern gun deer hunt Statewide (excluding WMAs that are closed during modern gun deer season): Dec. 26-28
Special modern gun youth deer hunt
All zones (excludes certain WMAs where a modern gun or muzzleloader permit is required to hunt): Nov. 5-6 and Jan. 7-8
Private land antlerless only modern gun deer hunt Deer zones statewide: Dec. 29-31
Core Elk Management Zone (all private and public lands within Boone, Carroll, Madison, Newton and Searcy counties)
Public Land Elk zones 1, 2, 3, and 4: Oct. 3-7 and Oct. 31-Nov. 4 (Permit required)
Youth Hunts: Oct. 1-2 and Oct. 29-30 (Permit required)
Private Land
Private Land Core Elk Zone (Boone, Carroll, Madison, Newton and Searcy counties; excludes Boxley Valley): Oct. 3-7 and Oct. 31-Nov. 4 (Permit required)
Youth Hunt: Core Elk Zone (Boone, Carroll, Madison, Newton and Searcy counties; excludes Boxley Valley) Oct. 1-2 and Oct. 29-30 (Permit required)
Elk found outside of the Core Elk Management Zone may be taken during deer season with weapon legal for that season.
Elk Permit Application Period – May 1-June 1
Statewide: Sept. 1-Feb. 20. (Thursday-Monday hunting only)
Archery
Bear zones 1 and 2: Sept. 17-Nov. 30 (Zone 1 closes earlier if quota is reached)
Bear zones 3, 4, 5, 5A, 6 and 7: closed
Muzzleloader
Bear zones 1 and 2: Oct. 15-23 (Zone 1 closes earlier if quota is reached)
Bear zones 3, 4, 5, 5A, 6 and 7: closed
Modern gun
Bear zones 1 and 2: Nov. 12-30 (Zone 1 closes earlier if quota is reached)
Bear zones 3 and 4: Dec. 10-16 (closes earlier if quota is reached)
Bear zone 5: Nov. 26-Dec. 4
Bear zone 5A: Nov. 19-Dec. 4
Bear zones 6 and 7: closed
Special modern gun youth bear hunt
Bear zones 1 and 2 (does not include WMAs requiring a deer permit to harvest a bear): Nov. 5-6
Bear zones 3, 4, 5, 5A, 6 and 7: closed
Statewide: Nov. 1-Feb. 5
Statewide: Sept. 1-Feb. 28
Statewide: May 15-Feb. 28
Furbearer trapping (other than coyote, beaver, nutria): sunrise, Nov. 12-sunset, Feb. 28
Coyote trapping: sunrise, Aug. 1-sunset, March 31
Beaver, nutria trapping: sunrise, Nov. 12-sunset, March 31
Gray fox, mink, muskrat, red fox hunting: sunrise, Sept.1-sunset, Feb. 28
Raccoon, opossum, striped skunk day or night hunting: Jan. 1-Dec. 31
Bobcat hunting: sunrise, Sept. 1- sunset, Feb. 28 and during turkey season.
Coyote day hunting: Jan. 1- Dec 31
River otter hunting: sunrise, Nov. 12-sunset, Feb. 28
Nutria, beaver hunting: sunrise, Sept. 1-sunset, March 31
800-364-4263 (Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) www.agfc.com or use the AGFC
Denniston and Zellers both advocate finding mentors for first-time hunters.
“Some people get introduced to shooting programs while in school,” Zellers said. “But then they get sidetracked and rejoin as adults. It’s best to find a mentor friend.”
Churches may offer hunting mentors, and there are social clubs that provide hunting tips, he said. Game and Fish Commission Nature Cen ters also hold yearly mentor hunts and other programs.
“You can learn the basics from YouTube and from books,” Zellers said. “Just the other day, I watched a video of a guy fishing for crappie on [Lake] Nimrod. I didn’t learn a lot other than crappie are there in Nimrod.
“A mentor is someone who will walk with you through the rough terrain and the mud.”
Zellers has been taking his son hunting for the past two years and has tailored those instructional times based on his son’s interest.
“Go at the pace of the person who is learning,” he said. “My son is good for four or five hours before he gets tired of it. Bring snacks, make it comfortable for them.
Zellers says, “The memories are part of the fun. Learning is part of
“Arkansas hunters harvest less than an average of
a person per
the hunting experience.”
Hunter safety is vital, and having a mentor can help the novice hunter as well. Scores of injuries occur each year when hunters fall from deer stands attached to trees. The International Hunter Edu cation Association reports that about 500 people die in tree stand accidents, and another 6,000 are injured each year.
Some falls happen when hunters fall asleep, but others result from faulty harnesses, poorly attached stands to trees or a lack of skill. A mentor can help avoid some of those pitfalls, Zellers said.
“It’s best not to go by yourself on your first hunt,” Denniston added.
Yet another important tip for the new hunter is to let others know where you will be hunting and when you plan to return home. Cellphone service could be limited in rural areas, and if a hunter is injured and can’t make it back, others know where to start looking.
A Craighead County Sheriff’s Deputy ended her law enforcement career when she fell from a deer stand and shattered her ankle last year. She was able to make it back to her vehicle and then to a hospital; it wasn’t carelessness, she said. She just slipped when getting into the stand and fell.
Take hunter safety and hunter education class es before beginning to hunt, Zellers said. “Those classes can provide in-person experience, and they can walk you through situations.
“There’s a lot of information that goes into hunting.”
Finally, hunters should recognize and enjoy the bonding experiences with other hunters.
Wading in cold water while waiting for ducks to show up may not sound too enticing. But the camaraderie and shared experiences are what makes hunting more enjoyable, Zellers said.
“Misery loves company,” he joked.
Deer hunting is a solitary sport and can get boring, Zellers said. “You’re alone in the woods for hours waiting for deer. Then, there’s deer camp.”
Sometimes, like with fishing, the stories of the ones that got away are more fun.
“Arkansas hunters harvest less than an average of one deer a person per year,” he said. “It’s not like [hunting shows] on television that por tray deer parading out after five minutes.
“Most hunters are like, ‘Where are all the deer?’ ” he added. “Don’t be
fooled by those shows. They give a false sense of reality.”
The increase in new hunters gives Zellers and Denniston hope for the hunting future. The Game and Fish Commission relies of the sale of hunting and fishing licenses in part, along with a one-eighth cent sales tax passed by state voters in 1996. However, license sales only make up about 30% of the commission’s budget, and the commission shares the sales tax revenues with the Arkansas State Parks and the state Natural Heritage Commission.
A federal tax placed on the sale of rifles, ammunition, boats and troll ing motors also helps fund the Game and Fish Commission, and federal funding is apportioned to states based upon the number of active hunt ers they have.
“When we lose a hunter, it has a spiral effect,” Zellers said. “It’s not just the license sales we lose. There’s also the apportionment and the new people those hunters may bring in.”
The commission plans to continue recruiting new hunters.
“We’re seeing a big mix of ages coming in,” Denniston said. “The majority, though, is younger people. People who are 30 and under.
“All those who have been hunting for a while are still going. But we’re not getting as many of them now. We are seeing those who are just starting are coming back.”
Important tip for the new hunter: Let others know where you will be hunting and when you plan to return home.
There’s no better place to hunt than The Natural State. Arkansas is full of hunting destinations, some of them world-famous. The best part is, for Arkansans, none of them are too far from home. Map out your hunting season around these wildlife management areas.
Start planning your next hunting trip now. Find a wildlife management area near you:
A WMA is property that is set aside and managed to increase wildlife habitat and provide outdoors opportunities such as hunting, fishing, wildlife watching and hiking. The AGFC owns dozens of WMAs and works with many other state and federal agencies to provide more than 3.2 million acres of public hunting opportunity in The Natural State.
Ihaveearly memories of hunting with my father – putting on bright orange vests over our camou flage (which always seemed counterproductive), sitting on the cold, metal deer stand in the early morning, maybe not being so patient or quiet as my father would have liked, and occasionally see ing deer, but never managing to actually shoot one. On one of my earliest hunts, I did take great pleasure in bringing my BB gun and putting holes in the leaves of various plants.
I sometimes felt badly that we never shot anything, but I only much later realized that my father almost certainly did not take me out hunting with the expectation that I would increase our odds of success.
If anything, I probably made enough noise to scare off any deer in the area. Rather, he took me hunting because it was something he wanted to share with me — a journey for its own sake, with no regret if we failed to reach the stated destination.
Tony Frizzell, author of children’s book “A Hunting I Will Go,” realized that a lot sooner than I did.
As passionate as he is for the sport of hunting, his first published work emphasizes, above all, the value of hunting as a shared experience that creates lasting memories, a value which has greatly enriched his own life.
Originally from England, Arkansas, Frizzell now lives in Maumelle with his wife, Cindy, and has worked a day job as a sales manager at Bruce Oakley Fertilizer for 29 years. He has been an avid deer and duck hunter ever since he first went out with his father at the age of 5, carrying a pop gun. When he was 6 or 7, he killed his first duck, and his first buck when he was 13.
“I was just raised in it,” Frizzell said. “I was born in November, and that’s usually when duck hunting started, so my birthday present was always to get checked out of school early on Friday and spend the weekend [hunting].”
Through the experiences and time spent hunting, he became very close to his father and grew to appreci ate the beauty and quiet of nature.
“I think, if I look back, there are really three stages of hunting,” Friz zell explained. “The first is when you start hunting. All you think about is the kill, gotta kill the ducks, kill the deer, and that’s all you think about. As you get older, it’s not the kill that’s important, it’s about who you’re going with, the fun that you have with your friends and your family.”
The third stage, which he realized after his father passed away, is that “Today’s a gift, and you never know what tomorrow will bring. So what you have is just the memories that you make, and I’ve got a world of memories with my family and especially my father and son once he was able to start hunting. It’s about the fellowship and the memories that you can take with you.”
Indeed, he has hunting stories aplenty, such as when he and his fa ther saw a buck while hunting with muzzleloaders. Frizzell pulled the trigger … and the gun didn’t fire. The deer simply stood there as he tried to fire again, but no luck. Finally they took the gun apart and got it working again, all while the deer politely waited for them to fix the problem and shoot it. All of his stories are tied to family members in some way, from taking his daughter out to hunt, to seeing his son, Anthony’s, excitement upon killing his first 8-point buck, to duck hunt ing with his father and grandfather, where his grandfather would never shoot but always claimed credit for shooting the ducks.
More than anyone else, his stories are about his father. He recounted a time when he was meant to meet with his father at a certain place in the woods, but his father didn’t arrive. Frizzell went looking for him, and found him limping along with a broken ankle; even aside from the memories made, it’s a very good thing that Frizzell was there to help. He was also there for the last buck his father ever killed. It was a longdistance shot, and the deer fell right in its tracks, leading his father to excitedly says, “That’s the way you do it!” Because he was there, that
memory lives on. Another line his mother would tell him is: “Enjoy the hunt. Cherish the memory!”
“My daddy and I spent a lot of time talking about things because we were together that we didn’t have time to during the week,” he said. “We
Through the experiences and time spent hunting, he became very close to his father and grew to appreciate the beauty and quiet of nature.Tony Frizzell smiles next to a deer after a hunting trip. Tony Frizzell (right) stands next to his father, both wearing hunting gear.
would have a lot of time to sit out there, and I would run things by him, share things and problems I might be having, and get a lot of advice from him on certain things.”
Writing has not been the lifelong passion for Frizzell that hunting has. Prior to writing “A Hunting I Will Go,” he had no professional writing experience, and hadn’t done much in the way of writing since his days of college papers. What he did write were riddles, short rhymes that he would use to go the extra mile when doing something like sign ing a birthday card or something of the sort for a family member.
He wrote one such rhyme while watching his grandson, Judson, play on the floor, recalling memories of hunting with his own father and son and looking forward to a future of quality time spent together in the woods. When he showed it to his family, they suggested that he turn it into a book. He had noticed that there were very few children’s books about hunting, and wanted his work to show people that hunting is re ally about cherishing the memories you gain.
Frizzell is not a long-winded man, and to hear him tell it, the pub
lishing process almost sounds simple. He looked around the internet to find a publisher and was picked up by Dorrance Publishing Co. From there, it was a string of meetings and emails with the publisher and the illustra tor, approving or rejecting changes, a process that took over a year, thanks to the pandemic.
The end result is a brief but delightful children’s book with charming illustrations full of warm autumn colors and a lesson that is surprisingly rich in mean ing. The narrator and main character of the story is an unnamed young boy who is looking forward, much as Frizzell did, at the sight of his grandson – immediately tying hunting to family bonds. The first two lines read: “When I grow up, I will get to hunt too! Just like my dad gets to do.”
The boy imagines the thrill of a successful hunt, of course, but just as prominent in his daydreaming is time spent with his father and in nature. Attention is given to the preparation before a hunt, the activities of small animals and the changing of seasons. And if they do not bring back a deer, the hunt is not seen as a fail ure, because that is only one small aspect of what makes hunting great.
One of the final lines carries perhaps the most weight, when viewed in light of Tony Frizzells’ stories and the very existence of the book: “I will cherish these memories as I grow old, and one day my kids will hear them told.”
As much as Frizzell talks about memories, he’s not a man to get stuck in the past. Forming new memories is just as important as appreciating the old, and he’s got plans for the future. Fall has come to town, and hunting season with it, and it would take a great deal to keep him out of the woods. Anthony is still his closest hunting buddy, and the time they’ve spent together has allowed them to talk and grow close, much as Frizzell did with his father.
As for his grandson, who is not yet old enough to hunt, Frizzell said, “I do plan on taking him [out hunting] if he wants to, and I’m going to do everything I can to make him want to.”
He also revealed that he’s been working on an idea for another “A Hunting I Will Go” based around duck hunting. While it’s in a very early stage, not even sent to the publisher yet, he does hope to publish it some day and help even more people to enjoy the hunt and cherish the memories.
“I will cherish these memories as I grow old, and one day my kids will hear them told.”(From left) Tony Frizzell’s son, Tony and his father pose next to each other after a hunting trip. Father and son after a successful day hunting.
Tony Frizzell reads to his grandson.
By JOE DAVID RICE
Arkansas is home to a little over 3 million folks – many of them creative people with varied experiences, vivid imag inations and a natural urge to tell stories. It’s no wonder that the state has produced such noted novelists as John Grisham, Donald Harington, Joan Hess, Douglas Jones, Charles Portis, Eli Cranor and Grif Stockley.
Maybe you, too, have a hankering to write a book. If you set your mind to it, you can draft your own novel within the next 12 months.
Let’s begin with the 30,000-foot overview: how to produce 87,500 words (the length of an average novel) in a year’s time. Setting a reason able goal of writing 350 words a day for 5 days a week will yield 1,750 words per week. Do that for the next 50 weeks, and you’ll hit your target within a year.
While 350 words a day may appear to be an ambitious objective, it’s roughly equivalent to 1 1/2 typed pages, double-spaced. To put that in perspective, you’ve already read about 175 words in this article. Twice this much, and a day’s output is reached!
Before we go any further, let me remind you upfront that writing a novel is hard work: coming up with an intriguing story idea, choosing a point of view, develop ing characters, writing dialogue, pacing, maintaining conflict, establishing a sense of place . . . the list goes on and on and on. Ernest Hemingway, himself an intermittent Arkansan, wasn’t kidding when he said, “It often took me a full morning of work to write a paragraph.”
So, what are some of the basics required for one to write that single paragraph and then the hundreds to follow? A diction ary and a thesaurus will be helpful, but
don’t assume that you have to own a computer and the latest word-pro cessing program. James Patterson, who’s sold 425 million books world wide and finds his name regularly perched high on the New York Times bestseller list, still writes longhand in pencil on legal pads.
But the best tool is an inquisitive mind, one that’s been exposed to the works of a wide range of authors: young, old, male, female, Black, white, Hispanic, current and classic. Cormac McCarthy, generally re garded as one of America’s greatest contemporary writers, offered a oneword suggestion for aspiring authors: read. By exploring the fiction of other writers, you’ll slowly discover the style most in tune with what you’d like to produce. Developing a familiarity with and an appreciation for their novels lays the foundation necessary to embark on a writing adventure of your own.
For instance, do you enjoy the “stream of consciousness” method of William Faulkner and his long, rambling sentences? Or are you more
Hemingway House, PiggottJohn Grisham holds his novel, The Reck oning. Grisham has authored several other novels, some of which can be seen in the graphic placed behind him.
likely to favor the lean, spare narrative technique of Hemingway? Little Rock native Donald Harington, described by Entertainment Weekly as “America’s greatest unknown writer,” mastered a unique, quirky style that served him well. Bestselling novelist Sue Grafton, creator of beloved private investigator Kinsey Millhone, captivated readers with her breezy, casual approach. Likewise, Peter Mayle developed a charming, lighthearted manner that carried through his series of whodunits even while his leading characters dealt with mobsters and other serious reprobates. Although more than a few scholars will argue that John Grisham isn’t a great writer in the technical sense (he even admits, “This isn’t serious literature”), there’s no question that this Jonesboro original is a master storyteller, having sold more than 300 million books to date.
Now, how to come up with the central idea for your novel? Maybe you recall an interesting experience or encounter from earlier in your life that, with some creativity, could be expanded into a compelling story. Say, a canoe trip down the Buffalo River or a weekend in Hot Springs. Or perhaps you have a relative or friend whose exploits could serve as the basis for the lead character in your book providing, of course, that you add enough fictitious embellishments to mask his/her true identity. Or consider using a natural disaster (flood, tornado, earthquake) to set the stage for your thriller.
If you’re wondering about a setting for your book, you have two options: using real-life locales or making up your own. In his many novels, John Grisham has in corporated both actual communities (Memphis in “The Firm” and the Delta of northeastern Arkansas in “The Painted House”) and fictious ones (Clanton, Missis sippi, in “A Time to Kill”). Donald Harington invented an Ozark town (Stay More) in “The Architecture of the Arkansas Ozarks,” but it was based on Drakes Creek, a village in Madison County, where he spent much of his youth. Grif Stockley’s novels take place in Arkansas, but he created fictitious settings such as Blackwell County and Bear Creek. Farberville, in the Claire Malloy myster ies by Joan Hess, is clearly modeled on Fayetteville. Eli Cranor set his recent “Don’t Know Tough” in Denton, Arkansas, a town straight from his imagination. Fans of Charles Portis will recall how he brought Dardanelle and Fort Smith to life in his classic “True Grit,” and the same for Little Rock in “The Dog of the South.”
Before jotting down those first words, think about your point-of-view. In short, do you want the story to be told through the eyes of the main character (first person) or through a narrator (third person) who can describe what’s happening with the characters along with their thoughts and feelings? Each approach has its own advantages. Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mocking bird” is a fine example of first-person narration, where as J.K. Rowling’s seven-volume series of Harry Potter books use the third person.
While a number of novelists insist that an outline is absolutely necessary before sitting down to start a draft, others cringe at the very idea, preferring instead to let the characters and plot emerge as they write. But there’s no getting around the fact that at some point you must face that blank screen (or sheet of paper) and begin.
There’s a lot to be said for establishing a routine, such as writing from 7 to 10 a.m. each day. Unfortunately, that’s a luxury few of us – especially beginning authors – can expect. But it’s important to try to write a little each day, even if it’s just jotting down ideas to pursue at a later date. Some successful authors rise before the rest of the household stirs and make the most of the quiet time; others opt to tap onto their creativity over the lunch hour.
Salado native Rhona Weaver, author of “A Noble Calling” and “A Sacred Duty,” writes when she can – often from 8 p.m. until midnight –and tells me she’s “a bit of a night owl.” Sitting at her desktop computer, she envisions the scenes in her novels much like a movie unfolding, and lets her characters direct the plot. She relies on a key group of “beta readers,” five to seven individuals who critique her drafts, looking for flat characters, confusing plotlines and other inconsistencies.
Weaver has only recently become a writer, although at the age of 24, she put together a list of life goals, and No. 5 was “to write a best selling novel.” Retiring in late 2015 af ter a 35-year career in agricultural land appraising, she was ready to try some thing different. After praying about an opportunity to become a partner in a real estate outfit, she declined the job offer and began typing. She showed the first chapter to her assistant who said, “This is what you’re supposed to do.”
A year later, Weaver finished “A Noble Calling,” a book that’s been recognized
Rhona Weaver and her book A Noble Calling: an FBI Yellowstone Adventure
as “Best First Book” by the Independent Book Publishers Association and “Best Christian Fiction” by the New Genera tion Indie Book Awards. It and the sequel feature character Win Tyler, an Arkan sas-born FBI agent taking on challeng ing assignments and tough adversaries, both natural and human, in Yellowstone National Park.
Asked about advice for new writers, Weaver says, “We’re Southerners; we come from a culture of storytelling. Each and every one of us has a story. Write yours!”
During his boyhood, Richard McKe own delivered 70 newspapers every morning before going to school. That may account for his interest in getting a journalism degree from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, and later working for several newspapers before eventually settling into a career with Central Arkan sas’ advertising community. But that quest for a good story never left him, resulting in the 2021 publication of “State of Redemption,” his novel weaving political intrigue into a crime thriller. The sequel, titled “Murder by the Book,” should be available next year.
With one book under his belt and another on the way, McKeown has thoughts to share with others wanting to write. “Readers are invested in your characters,” he says. “Fully develop them, and make sure they remain consistent in what they do and think.” Likewise, don’t try to
include a scene or a character just because the writing is cute or clever. “If something doesn’t work,” he says, “delete it.” He ends our interview with this: “Good writers are readers.”
For those who might appreciate a short list of suggested references, here are four that I can recommend: Stephen King, “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft”; John McPhee, “Draft No. 4: On the Writing Process”; Roger Rosenblatt, “Unless It Moves the Heart: The Craft and Art of Writing”; and Sol Stein, “Stein on Writing.”
Over the years, the South has produced an inordinate number of accomplished writers. Set your mind to it, and you could be next! But let me conclude with one of my favorite Cormac McCarthy quotes: “No sane person would ever sit down and write a novel.”
Over the years, the South has produced an inordinate number of accomplished writers. Set your mind to it, and you could be next!
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas — and Thanksgiving and the New Year and all things in between — everywhere we’ve been going. The five and ten is glistening once again. Back in seasonal vogue are the candy canes, silver lanes, just as well as the plump turkeys and honey hams or tofurkey and candied yams.
All right, we know — it’s only November. But some of us with planning genes like to stay ahead of the crowd and check our lists (twice) a little early. It’s the most magical time of the year, after all, where’s the harm in enjoying it before it’s even begun?
Anyway. One thing most can agree on is that the holiday season can be overwhelming at times. Presents here. Christmas lights there. A theater show here. Food over there. So, this year, we wanted to help you (and us) through it all with this resource guide to navigating the season in Arkansas. It’s not exhaustive by any means, but it is at least a great jumping-off point for all to utilize. From shopping to shows and bakeries to bows, we’ve got a little bit of everything for you here.
Arkansas
Bathhouse
Historic
Creekmore
Downtown
Edgewater
Finney’s
November 17
Robinson Center, Little Rock
The Nutcracker Ballet November 18-22
The Foundation of Arts, Jonesboro
Christmas by Chip Davis November 23
ArcBest Performing Arts Center, Fort Smith
Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s
The Nutcracker November 25-27
Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville
Ballet Arkansas’ The Nutcracker Spectacular December 9-11
Robinson Center, Little Rock
Mannheim SteamRoller Alton Brown Live: Beyond the Eats the Holiday Variant December 9
ArcBest Performing Arts Center, Fort Smith
The Snowman: A Family Concert December 11
Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville
Doktor Kaboom: The Science of Santa December 12
Reynolds Performance Hall, Conway
It’s a Wonderful Life December 16-18
The Foundation of Arts, Jonesboro
November 29 - December 30
Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Little Rock
A Christmas Carol December 1-24 TheatreSquared, Fayetteville
A Christmas Story December 2-11
Pocket Community Theatre, Hot Springs
Elf The Musical December 2-12
The Royal Theatre, Benton
Million Dollar Quartet Christmas December 2-3
Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville
White Christmas December 7-17
Argenta Community Theater, North Little Rock
A Tuna Christmas December 9-18
Arkansas Public Theatre, Rogers
A Charlie Brown Christmas December 10 Reynolds Performance Hall, Conway
A Very SoNA Christmas December 10 Walton Arts Center,Fayetteville
The Prophecy Show’s Tribute to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra December 21 Robinson Center, Little Rock
The Polar Express December 23
Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville
Springdale
Blue Cake/Honey Pies
Little Rock
Bobbie D’s Southern Cuisine Little Rock
Boulevard Bread Co. Little Rock
Burge’s Hickory Smoked Turkeys and Hams Little Rock
Capitol Smokehouse and Grill Little Rock
Community Bakery Little Rock
Crave Catering Company
Little Rock
McClard’s DownHome & Catering Little Rock
Etcetera Stuttgart
Fire Dancer BBQ Benton
Gina’s Catering Benton
Glee! Festivities & Confectioneries Little Rock
Good Eatin’ Arkansas Little Rock
Gretchen Larkan Events Central/Northeast Arkansas
Petit Jean Meats Morrilton
Postmasters Grill Camden
Rabbit Ridge Farms Bee Branch
Heritage Catering Little Rock
Homer’s Restaurant Little Rock
Honey Baked Ham Company
Little Rock, North Little Rock, Bentonville, Jonesboro
Lindsey’s BBQ and Hospitality House
North Little Rock
Loca Luna Little Rock
Low Ivy Catering Little Rock
Myrtie Mae’s Cafe Eureka Springs
PattiCakes Bakery Conway
Simply Divine Catering Rogers
Southern Food Company Fayetteville
Taylor’s Made Cafe Conway
Three Sams BBQ and Catering Mabelvale
Trio’s Restaurant Little Rock
Two Sisters Catering Sherwood, Little Rock
Vibrant Occasions Catering Benton
YGFBFKitchen Restaurant and Catering Conway, Little Rock
North Little Rock
Alber’s Christmas Decor Fort Smith
Amy Baker Interiors Hot Springs
Bethany Finch Interiors Cabot
Camden Flower Shop Camden Carrington Electric Pine Bluff
Christina Gore Design Studio, LLC Little Rock
Christmas Decor of Northwest Arkansas Lowell
Guess and Company Des Arc
Handsome Holiday Heroes Rogers Ho Ho Ho Lights Fayetteville
Holiday Decorating by Amanda Moore Hot Springs
Lights By Sparky, LLC Benton
Noel Lighting, LLC Rogers SheFlair Searcy
Silks A Bloom Little Rock
Tanarah Luxe Floral Little Rock
The Details Fayetteville
The Everyday Chef Jonesboro
The Lighting Master Fayetteville
Tipton & Hurst Conway, Little Rock, North Little Rock,Pine Bluff
Curly Willow Designs Cabot
Design and Events By: Ari Little Rock
Eve’s Interior Decorating North Little Rock
Four Season Landscaping Springdale
Ground Crew, LLC Jonesboro
Heber Springs
Art Group Gallery Little Rock
Box Turtle Little Rock
Cinnalightful Gourmet Cinnamon Rolls Little Rock
Eggshells Kitchen Co. Little Rock
Fayettechill Fayetteville
Fischer’s Honey Co. North Little Rock
Flowers & Home Benton
Freckled Hen Fayetteville
Fort Thompson Sporting Goods Sherwood
Gearhead Outfitters
Jonesboro, Rogers, Fayetteville, Bentonville, Little Rock
Gifts of Arkansas Little Rock
High Cotton Decor Bryant
City Supply
Fayetteville
Curly Willow Designs Cabot
House of Webster Rogers
Kitchen Store & More Conway
Laura Stanley Personal Jeweler Little Rock
LIVSN Outdoor Apparel Bentonville
Midtown Vintage Market Little Rock
Ozark Outdoor Supply Little Rock
Riffraff Fayetteville
Rock City Outfitters Conway
The Vintage Mercantile Sherwood
Tipton & Hurst Conway, Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff
Townsend Spice and Supply Melbourne
Whimsy Whoo Springdale
November 17th: Holiday Lighting Nov 18: A Magical Cirque Christmas Nov. 19- January 2nd: MAD on Ice
November 20th: Downtown Open House December 1st: Christmas Parade (Largest in South Arkansas)
The Haywood is
located in downtown across from the Murphy
District
hotel.
December 3rd: Rejoice! - South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra December 10th: Santa on the Square Dec 16: Lee Brice and Scotty McCreery January 21st: Persian Tale - South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra For More information: www.goeldorado.com
www.ashtonplacehr.com
479-831-6518.
479-831-6518.
479-452-8181
479-452-8181
Three steps into Booneville’s Oak Manor Nursing Center yields the signs of renewal. The facility’s main hallway is getting a fresh coat of paint, so workmen have laid down drop cloths and hung sheets of industrial plastic from the ceiling to con tain any spatter.
On the other side of this protective curtain, a line of doors studs the corridor walls in taupe and tan, one of which yawns open a few steps to the left, the home of Eustace “June” Roberts. You apologize for being late as he extends his hand in greeting. Traffic was heavier than expected, you say, eliciting a look.
“I sit here every day and look out that damn window at the pretty girls going to their cars,” he said. “I’ve got nothing but time.”
Indeed, it appears time has made its peace with Roberts. Born just up the road yonder in Magazine, he’s rounding the corner on 103 years this month, a significant milestone for anyone but espe cially for him. A century ago, life was much harder in these parts – harder work, harder to make a dollar, harder to get by. A simpler time, to be sure, but then everything in life is simple when boiled down to its essential elements, starting with the first: Survive an other day. And then another. And another. Before you know it, the count reaches 37,621 days and a century-plus has disappeared in the rearview mirror.
“Michael Morton, he owns this place,” Roberts said, as you ex amine the proclamation from the Arkansas legislature congratulat ing him on becoming a centenarian. “He put me on a big birthday, a 100th birthday here out at the back.”
What’s the plan for 103, you ask.
“Nothin,’” he said. “It’s another damn day.”
Roberts is the third of Eustace and Mabel Shannon Roberts’ eight kids, seven of them boys. His father was the local veterinarian, which sounds more profitable than it was, given the time and place.
“We was poor as they come,” he said. “Daddy would go out and doctor an old mule and maybe get two or three old hens or maybe some meat for his doctoring. Nobody had no damn money. Nickel was big as a cartwheel.”
The facts of life weren’t spared on the Roberts kids, especially the one about hard work. In addition to his father’s practice, the family lived on raising cotton and corn. Somehow, they got by.
“In our little town growing up, everybody had a damn milk cow, chickens and always killed ῾em a hog or two every year,” he said. “Our family, we killed hogs and killed beef. We raised a hell of a big garden; done a lot of canning. Didn’t have deep freezes and all that stuff.”
He attended school locally until he had his belly full of it, walking out in seventh grade.
“Not worth a damn,” he said of his academic career. “I hated it.”
“I hung around the garage, and I’d wash cars and stuff. I’d wash a car for a dollar and clean it up. The garage got 50 cents, and I got 50 cents. That was a lot of damn money then.”
By the time he was out of his teens war had come, the tentacles of which reached even the hollers and hamlets of Arkansas’s River Valley. Young men walked away from farms and sweethearts and shops and schoolrooms to join the effort in Europe and the Pacific. In time, they would be known as the Great est Generation, but in the moment, they were just kids
emerging from every corner of the nation.
Roberts, at 20, came out from the protec tive shadow of Mount Magazine to join the Army and enter a world at war, an experience that would test his survival skills like no other.
“My brother just older than me was already at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, getting ready for the damn war,” he said. “My oldest brother joined the Army. My brother that’s younger than me joined the Seabees, and he got blowed off a damn barge over in the islands and sent back
home, discharged. My baby brother was in the Navy; he’s out in New Mexico at White Sands. We was all military.”
Every patriot who fought in World War II had a ringside seat to history, and in Rob erts’ case, especially so. Enlisting in 1941, he found himself a year later defending the is land of Corregidor in the Philippines, where in addition to his duties as a soldier, he served as a mechanic.
“Oh hell, it was a dream when I got over
there and didn’t have to do KP,” Roberts said. “Had a Philippine boy to make our bunks and shine our boots. We just went to work and come back. It was wonderful.”
Officially called Fort Mills, Corregidor was a relatively small hunk of rock south of Bataan that guarded the mouth of Manila Bay, a strategically critical port. As such, massive fortification had been built up over the years, including an extensive tunnel network, into which the American forces would dig in.
Sometimes called the Gibralter of Asia, Corregidor was thought to be all but im penetrable. But the value of the natural port it guarded made it a priority for the Japanese looking to capitalize on the devastating dam age done to the U.S. Pacific fleet in the Dec. 7 surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The Japanese assault on Corregidor fell to the 14th Japanese Imperial Army under the command of Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma, according to worldwar2facts.org. It began with a massive bombardment com mencing Dec. 29, 1941, and continued unre lentingly throughout the campaign.
By mid-March, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was worried enough about the situation to order Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who’d used the tunnels at Corregidor for his headquarters, off the island to avoid potential capture. MacArthur and his team were evacu ated to Australia, where upon landing he de livered one of the most famous lines in history, “I shall return.”
Back in the Philippines, however, the de fenders’ days were numbered. Despite on-theground heroics that ferociously held off the enemy for nearly two more months, lack of reinforcements and resupply, incessant bomb
I hung around the garage, and I’d wash cars and stuff. I’d wash a car for a dollar and clean it up. The garage got 50 cents, and I got 50 cents.
ing and Japanese tank assault finally brought the inevitable surrender on May 6, 1942.
The official accounts testify to the American’s courage under fire. Japanese forces lost 900 troops with 1,200 wounded compared to 800 Allied casualties and 1,000 wounded. Still, the fall of Corregidor was a bitter defeat that further wobbled the Allies in the Pacific Theater, as the loss of Manila Bay meant the loss of Asia at that point in the global conflict. Moreover, 11,000 Allied prisoners fell into enemy hands, among them June Roberts of Magazine, Arkansas.
By all accounts, the POW experience at the hands of the Japanese rivaled anything seen on the battlefield in terms of cruelty, suffering and death. Per historycollection.com, the death rate for Western prisoners was 27 percent, nearly seven times that of Allied prisoners held in Nazi Germany or Fascist Italy. In the years following the war, the horrific conditions to which prisoners were subjected would come to light.
Roberts granted several interviews over his lifetime to talk about his experiences as a
POW, and these accounts provide a look at the capacity of the human spirit in ways both shocking and resolute. Just getting transported to a Japanese prison camp from the Philippines was dangerous; grossly overloaded ves sels nicknamed “hell ships” weren’t marked as carrying POWs and thus were routinely fired upon by their own troops. Roberts once said in a Booneville Democrat article that two POW vessels he was on were sunk be neath him before he finally reached his camp.
Only a fraction of the prisoners who started the journey from the Philippines lived to see Japan, and among those who did, many died from disease, exhaus tion, maltreatment and especially hunger. Roberts told the Booneville Democrat of being issued three small bowls of rice per day, leaving prisoners to supplement their diet anyway they could. Over the course of his captivity, meat from dogs, cats, rats and snakes would allow him to live to see another day.
Roberts was being held in a prison camp 60 miles from Nagasaki when the Allies dropped the atomic bomb Fat Man on Aug. 9, 1945, three days after a similar attack on Hiroshima. On Aug. 15, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s surrender, an act made of ficial Sept. 2 aboard the USS Missouri. By then, June Roberts was already on his first leg of the journey home.
According to a 2005 Booneville Democrat article, he was transported by C47 “Jungle Jim” to Okinawa, from which he continued back to the Philippines. There, he passed up several seats on planes headed stateside, responding instead to a ship transport.
“The sergeant wanted to know where in the hell I’d
In 1985, after Glenda’s prolonged letter-writing campaign, Roberts got his long-overdue medals for valor, a dozen in all, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
been,” he said in the piece. “I told him I had been hearing [my name called] but I didn’t want to fly.”
Anchoring in Seattle, Roberts caught trains to Chicago, Memphis, Hot Springs and finally home, arriving Halloween 1945. He met his wife-to-be Glenda, a war widow, that very night, and the two married Jan. 31, 1946. The years would bring three sons, stints as Magazine’s mayor, city councilman and vol unteer fire chief, and a career from which he retired as shop foreman of the transportation motor pool at Fort Chaffee in Fort Smith.
In 1985, after Glenda’s prolonged letterwriting campaign, Roberts got his long-over due medals for valor, a dozen in all, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. At the medal ceremony, held at Fort Chaffee, he was informed that a flag would fly over the U.S. Capitol in his honor. Taking the rostrum, he asked the audience to join him in a mo ment of silence in honor of that flag and all the MIAs around the world it represented.
Roberts doesn’t talk about the crucible of his wartime experience anymore, figuring if he leaves the ghosts alone maybe they’ll return the favor. He can never fully divest himself of what he’s been through, however, especially when he takes stock of the country he gave so much to defend.
“I’ve lived through the best part of Ameri ca, and we’re going downhill now,” he said, his voice deep as a coal mine. “Bad problems. We haven’t got leaders with any damn backbone like we had back then. All of them’s up there for the damn money. It ain’t for the country or the people; it’s for the money they can put in their pockets.”
Roberts’ advice for a successful life is sim ple as the code he lives by. Tell the truth, don’t try to keep up with the Joneses, behave your self. Having a wife and family to love and be proud of is the greatest of accomplishments as is earning the fidelity of even one true friend. All that, and having a place you can call home, is everything a guy needs in life, even a life as long as his.
“Work like hell. You’ve got to work,” he said. “I’m pretty damn lazy, now. I don’t even get up and walk like I should.”
He chuckles, then his favorite nurse, Leah
Herman, comes in. She gives him a hug, pats his head and reminds him they’re going out side later to soak in the gentle autumn sun shine. The invitation brings his gaze forward; much of his world has shrunk to the size of his window, but most days he likes what he sees.
“I’m doing good. I’m wondering what the hell I’m hanging around for. When you’re gone, you’re gone,” he said. “Y’know, I pay this outfit every month to stay here when I could go to Greenwood or to Danville to a veter an-approved deal, and it wouldn’t cost me a nickel. But I want what I want, and I’m able to do it. So, this is where I stay.
“This area has always been my home. I lost my wife six years ago up here. I said if it’s good enough for her, it’s damn sure good enough for me.”
Roberts’ advice for a successful life is simple as the code he lives by. Tell the truth, don’t try to keep up with the Joneses, behave yourself.
Russellville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is nestled in the heart of the River Valley in Russellville, Arkansas. Our staff provides skilled professional care in a compassionate and supportive atmosphere. Russellville Nursing & Rehabilitation Center not only provides long-term care services, we also offer a wide range of rehabilitative services. Our physicians, nurses and staff all believe strong relationships with residents and their families is essential to the healing process. The entire staff is devoted to providing quality care, which celebrates the dignity and grace of every single resident.
Briar wood Nursing and Rehab is a 120-bed skilled facility located in an urban setting within the heart of Little Rock, in the neighborhood of Briarwood. We are located just minutes from downtown Little Rock and are only one block off interstate 630.
We provide long-term care and short-term rehab care. All residents are monitored throughout the day with assistance in providing daily care as is needed: bathing, dressing, feeding and providing medications. Briarwood staff also work at ensuring the best care for residents through individual care plans of residents' needs, as well as daily activities, which allow for a variety of interests and abilities.
Nearly all - 98 percent - of our rehab residents return to the community as a result of positive, caring therapists. Briarwood's approach has provided healing to many people in the community.
At Briarwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, we are committed to ensuring that the best possible care is given to you or your loved one in an atmosphere that is calm, quiet and focused on healing. We endeavor to ensure that all aspects of your well-being — mental, physical and spiritual — are cared for in a peaceful and safe environment. Our staff strive to promote dignity, respect, and independence as much as possible, in a beautiful, soothing enviornment that was designed with our residents' comfort in mind.
Briarwood's service-rich environment is made possible by its dedicated staff, from our nursing staff and therapists, to our operations and administrative employees. At Briarwood, our residents enjoy three generations of staff and families. That is over 30 years of service to the community!
To be transformed is to be changed, and change happens to individuals as a whole at a seemingly constant rate. That’s why, according to Lorenzo Lewis of The Con fess Project of America, the barbershop is such a special place – walking in the shop ready for change and get ting up from the chair feeling renewed. Understanding the importance of mental health has become increasingly important in recent years –made possible by real people speaking about their real struggles. Lewis, a public speaker, author, mental health advo cate and grassroots organizer from Little Rock, has made it his life’s mission to create an environment for people – specifically Black men – are able to address their mental health in a safe environment.
Lewis is a change maker and above that, he is the Chief Visionary Office for The Confess Project of America, which is the first mental health awareness movement that focuses spe cifically on African American mental health advocacy. From starting in Arkansas, to becoming a national movement, Lewis has been able to provide training for more than 1,300 barbers in more than 20 cities around the country.
Lewis and his team teach barbers and stylists active listen ing, valid listening, positive communication and productions. In building rapport, being authentic and creating a space of trust, stylists and barbers are better able to provide support to their customers, and direct them to available resources.
“Community means a village. It means support. It means that someone has my back and it’s reciprocated,” Lewis said. “I believe that in my community, we should always feel supported and feel connected, and in that context, it means that there is wrap-around support from the everyday people in your com munity like barbers, police officers and teachers.”
It is well-known now that mental health does in fact matter, and that it is just as important to take care of the mental as it is to take care of the physical. Lewis explained that how you treat yourself daily impacts you more over time than you might think, and how you treat yourself sets up the framework for how other people will also treat you.
“It’s important because it is who we are. It is how we treat ourselves and how our environment looks,” Lewis said, explain ing that examining the impact of your own mental health is in creasingly important in understanding how to take care of your self. “We [The Confess Project of America] are looking to shift the conversation about mental health away from one that sup ports stigmas. How are you feeling? How are these things help ing or not helping you in your life? The barber shop is the perfect place to start these conversations about how we live our lives.”
Lewis has both firsthand experience and professional expe rience in dealing with mental health. In his lived experience, Lewis spoke of being born in jail and growing up with his own struggles with depression, anxiety and anger.
“I became such a big advocate for mental health because it was my own journey. I worked in hospitals and clinics around
It is well-known now that mental health does in fact matter, and that it is just as important to take care of the mental as it is to take care of the physical.
Arkansas for about 10 years. I resonated and recognized my own challenges in patients, and from my own experience, I saw the lack of cultural competence in mental health,” Lewis said. “I’ve worked in the field as a case man ager, and I went to Little Rock Public Schools. I fully understand how different institutional dynamics are.”
As the founder of several initiatives focused on elevating the Black community in Arkansas – and motivating others nationally – Lewis sees himself as more than the founder, but also as a community visionary and a leader.
“I look at everything I am working on from a 1,000-square-foot level. I look at how innova tion and human kindness can be applied to all of these spaces. Historically, the frame of men tal health for minorities was not built as a space where there was a sense of belonging,” Lewis said. “This is about creating opportunities, hope, accessibility and belonging for minorities.”
Intersectionality is important when studying the relation ship between the groups people are part of. To consider things – such as the gap in mental health services among minorities –from an intersectional perspective, people are able to better re ceive the services that ultimately help them to elevate their po
sition. Lewis is also a champion for encouraging generational wealth, which is a concept that has also been largely discussed in various Twitter threads, academic journals and in day-today conversations among friends. By definition, generational wealth is created from financial assets that are passed down from generation to generation.
Lewis explained what many know to be true, that there are so many factors that play a role in the state of each individual’s
“This is about creating opportunities, hope, accessibility and belonging for minorities.”
mental health. Some common factors include financial status, employment status, age, gender and predisposition to mental illness. According to Lewis, the negative stigma – that is slowly being debunked – has created more challenges for people who are seeking mental health providers and resources.
“There are so many things that can create distance in receiv ing services for people who are seeking them. These include the reinforced stigma, the racial wealth gap, insurance, having ap propriate medical coverage, the environment of your workplace and how employees are introduced to the services they have available,” Lewis said, adding that having access to appropri ate providers is also a major obstacle people face when seeking mental health services.
Lewis is in the field of helping people and helping other people know how to help people when they need it.
“It starts with the desire to want to be better and to know more, and then it continues with the community,” Lewis said. “It involves doing the really hard and challenging things, and if you’re a provider – it means being trained on cultural specifics.”
Lewis’ approach is somewhat unorthodox, because the barbershop seems like an unlikely space to create a commu nity of support, and for that very reason, it is also why it has been so successful.
“Real people have real value, ordinary people bring value to
the field and we’ve all seen how everyday people can make a difference, and that is what The Confess Project of America is committed to. We can only do our part but the goal is to shift the paradigm within our communities,” Lewis said.
The Confess Project of America started in Little Rock, however, it is now currently headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
“We will always look at Arkansas as the starting place for The Confess Project. There are so many initiatives offered in the state that should receive the same backing and national phenomenon. Startups, community organizations, small com munity businesses all play such large roles in creating a positive environment within the community,” Lewis said. “My wish is that everyone would continue to have hope, vision and authori tative stances in wanting to do more and have more.”
Lewis has embarked on several endeavors to create a posi tive community experience in Arkansas and around the coun try, all with prosperity being his main goal. Training business professionals about mental health and diversity, he also has trained human resources departments on how to create positive workplace environments and better support minorities.
For more information about The Confess Project of Amer ica, visit its Facebook page, and to learn more about Lorenzo Lewis, visit his website at lorenzoplewis.com.
“Real people have real value, ordinary people bring value to the field and we’ve all seen how everyday people can make a difference."AY Media Group
Colonel Glenn Health & Rehab is central Arkansas’ newest
By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos Submitted By AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
Shoptaw never envi sioned herself as a cancer warrior. But when she ac cepted an invitation last year to co-chair the annual Cattle Baron’s Ball, benefit ing the American Cancer Society in Arkansas, the Little Rock communications professional felt an immedi ate connection to the cause.
“I got bit by the bug,” Shoptaw says. “I love this mis sion and the fact that the proceeds we raise stay here in Arkansas – that they’re not being shipped out across the country – and that they provide access to care grants that touch real people. They help some of the sickest people, not wealthiest or poorest, but sickest people get the treatment they need. It’s just a beautiful thing.”
This year, Shoptaw is again chairing the organizing committee for Cattle Baron’s, one of the most anticipated events on the social calendar. Slated for Dec. 3, the event is headed for the Arkansas State Fairgrounds, an apt set ting for the come-as-you-are gala that bills itself as boots and bling.
“In years past, Cattle Baron’s was held in downtown Little Rock,” Shoptaw notes. “But we’re very limited on the number of people who could be there, so we moved the event to the historic Barton Coliseum. It is the perfect venue because it is the home of state fairs and rodeos, and it just has that whole Western vibe to it.”
Behind the gourmet, heavy hors d’oeuvres, signature cocktails, live music and plenty of fun and games lies the all-too-serious mission of the American Cancer Society. Money raised from the event will help fund the organi zation’s ever-broadening scope of services, from early de tection to supporting hospitals and health centers as they treat the sick and comfort their families.
“I think we’ve come full circle here at the American Cancer Society,” says Krista Kirksey Thomas, strategic partnership manager for the society in the state of Arkansas. “When we first got going, it was a very short kind of vision. We were very patientdriven – you have cancer, what can we do for you?
“Through the last several years, we’ve adopted a much bigger vi sion where it’s more about prevention and early detection. It’s more the whole scope of the cancer – the life of the cancer, from early detection on. It’s a much bigger spectrum now, and we call that the continuum of care, from the very beginning to the very end.”
If it seems like cancer has always plagued humanity, it’s because it has. The earliest known description of cancer, though not referred to as such, dates back 3,000 years to the ancient Egyptians. Eight cases of breast tumors and the surgical steps taken to remove them are described in archeological writings, summed up gravely by the line, “There is no treatment.”
Having been around as long as it has, cancer has had time to worm its way into every family. And for each person stricken and suffering physically, there’s an entire brigade of family and friends who suf fer emotionally out of love for them. Cancer strides caustically across the invisible yet indelible boundaries by which we divide ourselves and each other, striking alike the young and old, male and female, rich and poor, Black, white and everything in between. Before there was bubonic plague, polio, measles or influenza outbreaks, in the midst of AIDS and yes, well beyond COVID, there has been cancer.
Arkansas’ dance with one of humanity’s greatest adversaries has been a plodding two-step. As with other health measurements, the state ranks high on the wrong end of prevention, risk factors, disease prevalence and mortality. Per American Cancer Society statistics, almost 19,000 new can cer cases will be diagnosed this year in Arkansas and nearly 6,500 deaths will occur. Lung, prostate and women’s breast cancer lead new cases, while lung cancer is far and away the most common species of killer in both men and women, both for 2022 and over the past five years.
Lifestyle has much to do with these sobering statistics. Though just a few percentage points behind the national average in the rate of en doscopy and women with up-to-date mammograms, it’s enough to rank Arkansas 43rd and 37th in the country, respectively, when it comes to these critical early tests.
Meanwhile, risk factors are everywhere. Arkansas holds the third highest rate of adult and teen smoking and adult obesity in the U.S. Arkansas has the highest rate of obese teens. While cancer death rates nationally have fallen sharply between 1991 and 2019 – to the tune of 3.5 million fewer deaths – Arkansas’s prevalent risk factors suggest The Natural State is missing out on much of that progress.
The combined effect also casts a shadow on the state’s medical capac ity, as health care centers are stretched beyond their limits by patients who need care and the shrinking reimbursement rates to help pay for it.
“CARTI is the largest oncology provider in the state of Arkansas,
and still CARTI isn’t everywhere and can’t serve everyone, unfortunate ly,” says Jeremy Land, senior vice president for CARTI’s Regional Op erations and president of the American Cancer Society Arkansas board.
“Historically, there’s only so much money in the billfold, especially when it comes to the many nonreimbursed, nonbillable services that pa tients benefit from, such as nurse navigation, genetic counseling, pathol ogy. Some of the funds that Cattle Baron’s and the American Cancer So ciety bless us with every year go to paying for nonreimbursed services as well as patient needs such as transportation, housing and lodging.”
Into this void steps the American Cancer Society which, through its state offices, assists hospitals in funding the kinds of services that would be difficult to provide otherwise. Last year, the Arkansas office distributed $42,500 in transportation grants to four hospitals statewide to provide patients with rides to medical appointments; in 2022, that program grew to $137,500 across six hospitals.
In addition, the society distributed $75,000 in lodging grants to CARTI and UAMS to assist out-of-town cancer patients and their families, a grant program the organization would like to expand in 2023.
“We have a very rural state,” Land explains. “We are very much a commuter state, where patients have to travel, in many cases substan tial distances, to be able to access the care they need, especially when it comes to specialty oncology care. Those resources, distributed at the local level, assist with those expenses.”
Much of this funding comes as a result of new American Cancer So ciety grant programs rolled out last year. Kirksey Thomas says one em phasis on this year’s gala is to raise money to directly fund those grants, keeping Arkansans’ money right here at home serving their friends and neighbors in ways that help them the most.
“We had lots of programs through the years that made people feel good, but weren’t doing much to actually get people through their treat ment,” Thomas says. “That’s been a big mind shift for us is providing access to care and what that need looks like. Is it a gas card? Is it a bus ride? Is it a volunteer that takes you back and forth to your treatment? Is it we get you here and we pay for your hotel for all week because you’re getting 35 radiation treatments in a row? How do we help you get through your treatment?
“The coolest thing about that to me is, we give that money to the hospital, and the social workers determine where it goes. They know their patients best; they know the need and they use the grant money however they see fit. We’re very hands-off with it.”
Shoptaw says when it comes to American Cancer Society programs, Arkansans can be proud of what their state chapter is doing. For this reason, she adds, Cattle Baron’s stands out from other worthwhile causes and fundraising events as a way to directly impact the lives of others.
“Cancer affects everyone,” she says. “This is an opportunity to, on a large or small scale, do something that really impacts Arkansans who are going on that cancer journey. It is such a personal journey, and often times, just a little bit of extra support is all someone needs to either feel more comfortable when they’re getting their treatments, or to actually get to their treatments. It’s such a lovely way to give back and to help others who are maybe struggling right now.”
Cancer strides caustically across the invisible yet indelible boundaries by which we divide ourselves and each other, striking alike the young and old, male and female, rich and poor, Black, white and everything in between.
This year’s event will also honor the work of Misti Coker, founder of the nonprofit Per sonal Pep Rally. Based in Stuttgart, the or ganization prepares and ships gift boxes to cancer patients as a means of encouragement in their fight against the disease. Packages reach more than 500 patients in 100 communities in Arkansas as well as 37 states and into Canada. The group’s 5K obstacle race, Endure the Dirt, is one of the most popular races in the Grand Prairie region of Arkansas and the pri mary fundraiser for the nonprofit.
Personal Pep Rally grew out of the family’s grief over the loss of a loved one to cancer. Marc Stringer, husband to Misti’s daughter Lauren and a former col lege athlete, was a popular boys basketball coach at White Hall High School when he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. The diagnosis came a little more than a year after the couple were married in 2015. Ex periencing his courage in the face of a killer disease right up to his death in 2020 inspired Coker to serve other cancer patients with care packages that have be come the core of Personal Pep Rally’s mission.
Lauren Coker Stringer and her mom, Misti Coker
We are devoted to providing high quality care which celebrates the dignity and grace of every person who enters our facility.
At Sherwood Nursing and Rehab we are committed to providing the highest quality of patient care. Our qualified staff is here giving support for the tasks of day-to-day living, allowing for the enjoyment of more pleasant and carefree activities.
We specialize in Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care services.
245 Indian Bay Drive
AR 72120
Phone: 501.834.9960 Fax: 501.834.5644
Customized physical, occupational and speech therapy programs are conducted by licensed therapists who focus on improving mobility and motor skills following an injury or illness. The enrichment of daily physical function can significantly improve a resident’s selfreliance and overall happiness.
Our staff provides residents with specially tailored treatment plans designed to recapture health, independent living and facilitate a return home.
Jamestown features separate rooms and private suites with a private entrance for the comfort and convenience of shortterm residents and their families focused on returning home. A full meal service with snacks is prepared daily.
Trauma therapy and mental wellness have come a long way in the last few de cades. Just one example of the recent advances in therapy includes the incor poration of horses into the healing process, a tool which The Natural State is aptly designed for.
Kim Copps is a licensed social worker, and is the owner and therapist of Corral Coaching and Counseling, PLLC. She has a diverse population of clients, from indi viduals to couples, to families, and to veterans.
Copps moved to Northwest Arkansas in the early 2000s to offer their children a rural lifestyle. Copps already had a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in social work and began to fulfill her continuing education hours in 2001. This opened her career — and her world — up to the role that horses play in therapy.
“This continuing education really changed my thoughts about horses and how they work,” she said.
Copps explains how staying up to date on her career field got the ball rolling.
“My work evolved; I worked at the VA here in Fayetteville, and my specialty was trau matology. Equine-assisted psychotherapy is a really hard thing to do, between liabilities and having training, but I was able to start a program while I was at the VA,” Copps explains. “After five years, I went into private practice and went into coral coaching, studying all over the country. I already had the VA training, and my husband, a lawyer, was very instrumental in setting up my business plan and working with the VA.”
Copps is known for working primarily with veterans and started working with an organization called Sheep Dog Impact Assistance. Sheep Dog has a mental health pro gram called Warrior PATHH training. That’s where Copps came in.
“Sheep Dog is a fascinating organization that started in Rogers,” she says. “One of my former acquaintances at the VA was talking about a new mental health pro gram with Sheep Dog at the VA, and she fulfilled the equine compo nent and asked me to join her. One of the primary populations that I work with is veterans, first respond ers, and their families. I find Sheep Dog’s mission especially important because they focus on post-trau matic growth and recovery.”
Equine-assisted psychotherapy is unique, with roots that go back thou sands of years.
“Equine-assisted psychotherapy has grown. Horses and humans have had connections since the begin ning of time, but there wasn’t a lot of real evidence-based study related to equine therapy,” Copps explains. “I helped develop a course at UA called equine activities and therapies, and what we hoped to do was to allow anyone to take that elective. A lot of therapy students could take that class. The only facility that did this when I moved here was in Bentonville. It’s grown since then.”
Copps points out that there is a huge difference between horseman ship and equine therapy.
“A lot of people who own horses think that they can do this too over night,” she says. “You can’t just throw up a round tin in your backyard be
cause you have horses and do this too. You need to be a licensed profes sional in order to do this. As a mental health professional, my specialties are trauma and equine specialties. Every equine-assisted psychotherapy organization usually will have two people, one who specializes in horses, and the other who specializes in therapy, and both of them work together.”
As a result, there’s no such thing as too much training.
“Mental health and equine-assisted psycho therapy with the specific population of veterans and their families requires highly trained profes sionals. I am very grateful for my years at the VA [Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks] in Fayetteville for the massive amounts of training they provide specific to PTSD and other diagno ses, such as depression and substance use disor ders,” Copp says. “There’s no such thing, in my opinion, as too much training. My personal and professional code has always been to honor those people with meaningful work that is very, very dif ficult. The population and work require a commit ment to excellence.”
Copps explains that there are different types of equine-assisted psychotherapy.
• Therapeutic riding programs require physical therapy, which helps patients strengthen physical aspects or work through medical is sues by riding horses and working with horses. The team consists of a horse handler and a physical therapist. The horse walks with patients, who are better able to work on their balance.
• Hippotherapy, which is also considered a mounted program, can have physical therapists or occupational therapists who help pa tients work on their fine motor skills by leading the horse, in addi tion to working through tasks and activities.
• Equine-assisted psychotherapy is the mental health component of working with horses through emotional bonding and working through various diagnoses, including trauma.
“Anyone can benefit from equine psychotherapy— practitioners across the country work with children and adolescents, couples, families, and groups. Anyone can benefit. It really is not diagnosis specific. Ado lescents and students who struggle with social or generalized anxiety
can also benefit. Connection and communication are the foundations of our work that horses help us with. Horses are excellent communicators recognizing that effective communication is nonverbal.”
Copps explains that equine-assisted psychotherapy is effective be cause humans and horses share a bond that goes back thousands of years.
“Horses as herd animals need the herd for survival, not living alone. Many people with trauma struggle with isolation. Just putting their hands on a horse can begin the healing process.”
One of the reasons the horses are so different, Copps shares, is be cause humans are connecting with a prey animal. This is different from connecting with a dog, which is a predator animal.
“In order to feel safe with a 1000-pound animal, you have to start at zero and work your way up. By the end, when you step off and
“Anyone can benefit from equine assisted psychotherapy— practitioners across the country work with children and adolescents, couples, families, and groups.”
walk, the horse steps off and walks with you,” Copp says. “If you are anxious, the horse is anxious. If you are relaxed, the horse is relaxed. Of course, this bond, like therapy, can take time. If I were to push someone to do something that they’re not ready to do, they wouldn’t establish a good relationship. Horses don’t get in a hurry, they’re good at staying in the present moment. Many people who come here struggle with anxiety.”
Copps emphasizes the role of communication; that’s what makes equine-assisted psychotherapy so unique.
“I tell young people that the most important relationships are not social media relationships. Spending time with someone and doing things together is most important.”
Copps says that the sky is the limit on patients who can work with horses. Many children will engage in play therapy with horses, while veterans will work with horses to help their anxiety.
“I have people who have service dogs and work with service horses. You work with your service dog every day. You only occa sionally work with a service horse. That’s part of the uniqueness of equine-assisted psychotherapy. Knowing that the horses are dif ferent helps different people. People have different preferences for animals. That does make them wrong or right that’s just a prefer ence,” Copps says. “Therapy is not intended to last forever. Some people start frequently, and then they start to tamper off. You have to have the willingness to look at scary things and address the dif ficulty and not ignore it. The arena gives people the support of a therapist to do things differently and better. It’s a combination of confidence and competence.”
Today, Copps says she also likes taking the time to help students, social workers, and therapists find out more about equine-assisted psychotherapy and how to fit into this unique therapy subset.
“My goal is to help people understand this and the work that goes into this so they can find a practitioner and figure out how to get involved and trained,” Copps says. “The principle of con nection is so important in this work. Most of our problems as humans come from when we aren’t connected with one another and communicating well.”
We specialize in Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care services. From the moment you enter our facility, we want you to experience the difference our facility has to offer. From our light-filled common area to our beautiful outdoor patios, we want you and your loved one to feel comfortable and safe when staying with us.
When you walk into the Robinson Nursing & Rehabilitation Center you will feel a comfortable atmosphere different from any other facility you have visited. We feature tall ceilings and an open floor plan. We have a lovely dining room and a covered outdoor patio area.
When you walk into the Robinson Nursing & Rehabilitation Center you will feel a comfortable atmosphere different from any other facility you have visited. We feature tall ceilings and an open floor plan. We have a lovely dining room and a covered outdoor patio area.
We specialize in short-term rehabilitation and long-term care services. The short-term rehabilitation area has its own dining area and day room. From the moment you enter our facility, we want you to experience the difference our facility has to offer. From our light-filled day areas to our beautiful outdoor areas, we want you and your loved one to feel comfortable and safe when staying with us. You will also notice the pride we take in our facility by keeping our building sparkling clean from the inside out.
We specialize in short-term rehabilitation and long-term care services. The short-term rehabilitation area has its own dining area and day room. From the moment you enter our facility, we want you to experience the difference our facility has to offer. From our light-filled day areas to our beautiful outdoor areas, we want you and your loved one to feel comfortable and safe when staying with us. You will also notice the pride we take in our facility by keeping our building sparkling clean from the inside out.
Our team is dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable environment. Robinson Nursing and Rehab offers modern conveniences in a gracious setting. We provide daily planned activities led by certified activity directors, like social events and outings and pastoral services with spiritual care for all religions. We strongly encourage family participation in group activities, meals and celebrating family birthdays and special days.
Our team is dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable environment. Robinson Nursing and Rehab offers modern conveniences in a gracious setting. We provide daily planned activities led by Certified Activity Directors, like social events and outings and pastoral services with spiritual care for all religions. We strongly encourage family participation in group activities, meals and celebrating family birthdays and special days.
To help you plan your visits, we provide a monthly event calendar and a monthly meal planner. Robinson Nursing and Rehab does not have set visiting hours. We view this facility as the “home” of each resident.
To help you plan your visits, we provide a monthly event calendar and a monthly meal planner. Robinson Nursing and Rehab does not have set visiting hours. We view this facility as the “home” of each resident.
We try our best to communicate with patients and families to help alleviate the anxiety that accompanies this journey. Our team of nurses, therapists and support staff work closely together to develop a plan based on the individual needs of each person. We recognize that rehabilitation involves not only the patient, but the entire family.
We try our best to communicate with patients and families to help alleviate the anxiety that accompanies this journey. Our team of nurses, therapists and support staff work closely together to develop a plan based on the individual needs of each person. We recognize that rehabilitation involves not only the patient but the entire family.
repeat after me: “Honey, I know I watch way too much sports this time of year. So, I am willing to watch whatever YOU want to watch tonight and forget about Tuesday Night Football.”
You love sports, you love your woman, and you love harmony. With just a little subterfuge on your part and naivete on her part, a real man can have it all!
But here’s a question to consider: what is a real man? I mean, other than loving sports, what qualities do real men possess? There are plenty of males in grown-man bodies who act like boys. Adult hood and manhood are not the same thing. When does a boy become a man in America?
In some cultures, every answer would be the same. These cultures, usually small and indigenous, recognize the need to mark the transition from boyhood to manhood through a ritual.
For example, all boys born into the Satere-Mawe people of Brazil have to do to become a man is repeat the same ritual 20 times over a period of several months. Each puts on gloves full of hundreds of bullet ants and wears those gloves for 10 minutes. The sting of a bullet ant’s bite is considered the most painful in the world.
To become a man on Vanuatu, a small island in the South Pacific, boys must partake in a ritual called land diving. It’s like bungee jumping, only without the bounce. The boys launch themselves off towers up to 100 feet high. The vines secured to the jumper’s ankles must be mea sured exactly right in order to ensure contact — but minimal contact — with the earth below.
Fulani tribes in West Africa pit boy against boy in a whipping match. Each boy whips the other three times. The boy who inflicts the most pain and flinches the least is declared a man.
And boys belonging to Ethiopia’s Hamar tribe must strip naked and climb atop one of the tribe’s largest bulls. Alongside that bull are three other large bulls, and to become a man, the boy must leap from bull to bull until he has been atop each three different times.
Unlike fraternity hazing or gang initiation, which allow participants to enter into a brotherhood, these rituals are designed to bring partici pants into manhood. Most involve three phases. First, the boy is separat ed from his mother and community and taken out into the wild. Second, the boy is guided by men through a ceremonial process that involves sto rytelling, physical challenges and most likely pain. And finally, the boy returns to his community recognized, respected and treated like a man.
So, back to the original question: When does a boy become a man
in America? Is manhood based on a legal recognition like becoming old enough to drive, vote, join the military or drink alcohol? Is man hood based on a change in status like becoming a grad uate, a husband or a father? Maybe it’s a physical change like having his voice drop or growing a decent beard? Or is it achievement-related like getting his first “real” job or killing his first deer?
That’s the problem: there is no one answer, which leaves a lot of males confused and guessing, or worse, tak ing risks and engaging in behavior that they believe to be man-like in order to prove to themselves and others that they are now indeed men.
In order to figure out when a boy becomes a man, it would help to have a defi nition of manhood. It would also be nice to have some shining examples of manhood that boys can admire and aspire to become.
Back in 1977, author Tim LaHaye (who would later go on to coauthor the highly successful “Left Behind” series of books) wrote a book titled “Understanding the Male Temperament.” On page 12, the first example of a “modern-day manhood hero” he identifies is … Bruce Jen ner. The second? O.J. Simpson.
Another book, “The American Male,” written by Myron Brenton, laments the portrayal of men in comic strips and on TV, especially sit coms. “In most of these shows, Father can be classified as the village imbecile. When he tries to fix a faucet, he winds up with a flooded base ment (either his bride or a husky repairman comes to the rescue). When he attempts to fend for himself, he nearly sets the whole house afire, trying to cook a meal. Bring a beautiful sexpot into his orbit — usually a teacher he is all set to give hell to because she has been picking on Junior — and he degenerates into a drooling adolescent.”
“The American Male” was written in 1966, way before Homer Simp
son, Joey Tribbiani, Al Bundy or even Archie Bunker. In other words … things didn’t get better. Looking to the worlds of entertainment, sports, and politics for pil lars of manhood is a risky endeavor.
The 5-pound, deluxe edition Web ster’s Dictionary that my father pre sented to me in 1992 when I graduated from college defines manhood as “1. Manly qualities collectively; manliness; courage. 2. The state of being of age; man’s estate. 3. The state of being a man, or a human being as distinguished from other animals or beings.”
In trying to figure out how to act like a man, these definitions aren’t very helpful. And besides, dictionary definitions often change over time. Reputations and opinions are also subject to change (see: Bruce Jenner and O.J. Simpson). So, I choose to base my definition of manhood on something that doesn’t change: the word of God.
There are many biblical verses that relate to manhood. One man who knows them all is Dr. Robert Lewis. Back in 1990, Lewis was serving as a teaching pastor at Little Rock’s Fellowship Bible Church when he developed a curriculum called “The Quest for Authentic Manhood.” He did so at the request of a group of men in their 30s who wanted to bring their purpose and responsibilities as men into clearer focus. In 1996, at the age of 27, I joined over 1,000 other men every Wednesday morning for Lewis’ “Men’s Fraternity” sessions. They were truly transformative.
Part of that curriculum included the following definition of man hood: “A real man rejects passivity, accepts responsibility, leads coura geously and invests eternally.”
The conventional definition of manhood focuses on taking care of one’s self, competition with other men, success, justifiable aggression and personal rewards. In other words, the things a man DOES. A biblical definition of manhood focuses on service to others, community with other men, significance, self-control and eternal rewards. In other words, the things a man IS.
LaHaye writes on page 141 of his book: “The man who responsibly toils day after day at a job he detests, in order to support his family, may not feature a robust constitution or physical ‘animalism,’ but he is more of a man than the hulking lumberjack who abandons this family to satisfy his own selfish desires.”
Lewis suggests fathers make it easier for their sons to recognize their manhood by creating a ritual or ceremony (preferably one that does not involve physical pain or trauma). He suggests it should be expensive, involve other important men and include a symbol or gift a boy can take into manhood. My father instinctively presented me with a family heirloom - a ring that had been worn by my grandfather for 25 years and then by my father for 25 years. As a man, it was now mine to wear. Dad and Mom also treated me differently from that point forward, no longer offering unsolicited advice or much assistance. The world was mine to explore, and any poor choices would be mine to learn and grow from.
When you think about others more than yourself, when you exercise self-control in thought and action and when you provide for your loved ones financially, emotionally, and spiritually … well, then you can rest assured you are a real man.
It turns out it has less to do with sports than we thought.
JASON PEDERSONFor two decades, Jason Pederson served as KATV-Channel 7’s Seven On Your Side reporter. Now on the other “side” of his award-win ning 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.
Road • Bella Vista
CABOT HEALTH & REHAB, LLC is a skilled nursing facility offering resident-centered care in a convenient and quiet location. Cabot Health & Rehab, LLC is located in beautiful Cabot, AR near the city center, medical offices and hospitals. Our team consists of licensed nurses, physicians, therapists and other medical specialists who believe in building strong relationships with our residents and their families. We believe this is essential to the healing process.
Cabot Health & Rehab, LLC offers both semi-private and private rooms (when available). Our staff is dedicated to ensuring that our residents are provided a robust activity calendar, a superior dining experience in a warm, family-like setting. When recuperation and convalescence is needed, our staff works as a multi-disciplinary team to develop a comprehensive rehabilitation program to facilitate a return to home.
When indicated, our team of therapists work with residents to customize a rehabilitation program which can include physical, occupational and speech therapy with a focus on improving mobility, endurance, safety and facilitating a return to home. A tailored treatment plan will allow residents to recapture health and an independent lifestyle when possible. The enrichment of daily physical function can significantly improve a resident’s self-reliance and overall happiness.
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El Dorado police had cuffs on the killer almost before the blonde was even lifted onto the gurney. With a rap sheet for a resume, James McAlphin was one local the cops could identify on sight. They recognized the victim, too. Her name was Mercedes, a young woman who was new in town. Police had a crime scene, a killer and a victim – but they didn’t realize that this murder had a twist.
The Whitehall Court – where the couple lived – wasn’t the kind of place you would book your mother for a stay. McAlphin called himself her boyfriend, in the territorial way pimps do. His fierce, frequent beat ings of her caused alarm among the emergency room staff, fears shared by local cops.
There was something different about this one. She’d smile sweet ly, glancing downward sheepishly when she talked. The good vocab ulary and the careful enunciation of her words were odd for a girl of that lifestyle. There was, too, a cer tain vulnerability about her. They tried to get her away from him. She tried, too.
But on July 10, 1991, McAlphin caught the fleeing Mercedes in the parking lot, grabbed her by the hair and dragged her back to their motel room. This time, he didn’t beat her. Instead, he fired a single fatal gunshot to her head. Her family, of course, would have to be notified.
Cheryl Ann Wick – that was the name on her driver’s license, social security card and birth certificate. Using her birthplace as a starting point, officials located the Wick family in Minneapolis. A
surprised and very much alive Cheryl Ann Wick hadn’t realized the contents of her stolen purse had been used for identity theft. And no, she didn’t recognize the girl in the pictures.
That girl now had a new name – El Dorado Jane Doe. Her description was posted: between 20 to 30 years old, 162 pounds, skin marked with scars mixed in with freckles and most notably, she was al most 6 feet tall.
McAlphin got 15 years for her mur der. While he was serving his sentence, Cathy Phillips was rising in the ranks of the El Dorado Police Department to the position of captain. She became the protector of a cold case file that told little about the life that came bearing a single suitcase. Nothing in the contents helped to identify her – not the pictures, the journal or the Bible listing family members sharing the last name “Stroud.” The clothes in the suitcase were, as Phil lips sadly noted, “just rags.” And oddly among the items was an old evening gown. Clearly whatever money was made, this girl hadn’t benefitted from.
Phillips worked the case until her re tirement, which lasted all of one week. She was so attached to the Jane Doe case that all parties involved gave Phillips permission to take the file to her new position, as an investigator with the Union County Sheriff’s Department. Phillips wasn’t the only one holding on to the case. Other local cops and au thorities couldn’t let go of Mercedes either. Even the coroner tried, while on his vacation, to locate the Stroud family. Night dispatch ers scoured social media for clues. Persistent online crime sleuths found nothing more than their own frustration. Year after year, de cade after decade, El Dorado Jane Doe remained “nobody’s child.”
On the web was another investigator who didn’t seem to settle into retirement any better than Phillips. Within law enforcement, Yolanda McClary draws immense respect. Almost 30 years with Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and an investigator on over 7,000 cases, McClary is renowned for her serious forensic skills. Pub licly acknowledged as the real deal behind the character of Catherine Willows on long-running network television series, “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” McClary works the front of the camera, too. Previously featured on the Oxygen network’s “Cold Justice” series, this year, McClary debuted her own Oxygen series, “The Jane Doe Murders.”
“Closing the Case,” McClary’s website, reflects another role she fills as a genetic detective. Recent advances in DNA technology, combined with traditional genealogy, are impressively accurate tools for targeting criminals and giving names to the unidentified. McClary wanted a shot at El Dorado Jane Doe. She made the call. El Dorado officials had tried everything within their power, but still had nothing. Their response to McClary? “Thank you, ma’am.”
El Dorado Jane Doe’s real name has now been returned to her –it is Kelly. In their findings revealed in May of this year, McClary’s team says Kelly was 23 years old when McAlphin took her life. Her maternal family has requested that her last name and actual birthdate remain private. The paternal side of her family has chosen privacy as well. Both families are prominent Virginia natives. The team traced Kelly’s biological father to two brothers, one of whom is deceased. The other man, who is either her father or her uncle, has refused to take the DNA test, as have others on that side of the family. Kelly never knew of him, and if he knew of her existence is uncertain. Another unanswered question was whether Kelly was conceived before or during her mother’s first marriage.
Did the man Kelly thought to be her biological father know that he wasn’t? Maybe, maybe not – but within three years, Kelly’s mother, Brenda, had another daughter and a pending divorce. Kel ly’s exposure to violence came with her second stepfather, who for seven terrorizing years, spared neither his wife nor her daughters. A third stepfather committed suicide two months after that marriage, leaving Brenda with a large life insurance settlement.
She took it and ran to Virginia Beach, effectively abandoning her daughters to her sister’s care for almost two years. At this point, Kelly had no paternal parent and a “gone girl” mother – effectively leaving her as nobody’s child. When her girls hit their early teens, Brenda reclaimed them, taking them back to Virginia Beach with her. However, she wasn’t succumbing to maternal urges. To get money, Brenda entered her 13-year-old in a bikini contest. It was a foreshadowing of what was to come for Kelly.
Kelly’s sister quickly returned to her aunt. But Kelly stayed. There would be no more school; the 15-year-old’s education was of no use to Brenda. Kelly’s life would now start to unravel by her mother’s choices. With no money coming in now from family or husbands, Brenda and her cocaine habit increasingly became de pendent on a series of men, crimes and her daughter’s paychecks.
When the law and the drug dealers began closing in, Brenda ran again, taking Kelly with her to Florida. Now the girl’s aliases began lining up like beads on a rosary, one coming right after the other: Cheryl Wicks; Shannon Wiley; Kelly Lee Karr; Cheryl Kaufman and more. The common thread was that all the aliases came with a legal age – necessary for Brenda to get her 16-year-old daughter into the more lucrative world of strip clubs.
The exact details of what happened to Kelly over the next few years emerge only in bits and pieces. “Flailing amid Texas, Florida and Virginia, it seems Kelly was just trying to survive,” Phillips says. Life was the men’s clubs, homeless shelters, broken-down mo tels and, briefly, her aunt’s home in Texas – her arrival with a drug problem of her own didn’t make it a permanent stay. Kelly’s subse quent rehab stay wasn’t a sure thing, but her mother’s dependency on her was. It was clear, as McClary notes on her website, that even though Kelly understood the toll her mother’s choices were taking on her own life, she still chose to be there for her. Kelly’s mother’s decisions continued to devour her daughter’s vitality. And in some ways, her mother wasn’t the worst of the evils she would face.
Kelly finally broke free from Brenda when the first of three “boyfriends” took control of her. The third one, McAlphin, found her at the Carousel Club, a Dallas strip club. From 1986 on, Kelly was working strip clubs in Little Rock and possibly Fayetteville as well. It’s believed that McAlphin, the El Dorado man, was the link to her presence in Arkansas, and had brought her to the local scene. Phillips says that by this point, like her mother before her Kelly was depending on men for everything she had. “She wasn’t working it on her own,” she notes. It was in early 1991 that McAl phin brought “Mercedes” to El Dorado. Why did Kelly call herself Mercedes? It was her mother’s favorite car.
It is easy to avert our eyes from these women and their lives. But every one of them has her own story, and it is all too often an ugly tale tainted by neglect and others’ greed.
“Sometimes they don’t choose that life; that life chooses them,” Phillips says. “Sometimes they’re just not strong enough to get out of it.”
Kelly, the sweet, shy, upper-class girl from Virginia is a testa ment to that. In many ways, she was then, and is still, nobody’s child. Yet in one small Arkansas town and across the internet, Kelly has lots of people who have adopted her in their hearts.
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By Joe David Rice
When I mention in conversations that Helen Gurley Brown hailed from Arkansas, most listeners are surprised, some even incredulous. Are you absolutely certain, they ask, that the late author of “Sex and the Single Girl” – which sold 2 million copies in three weeks – is a native Arkansan? Can it be true that the longtime editor of Cosmopolitan magazine – who dispensed advice on affairs, orgasms and orgies during her 32-year reign and was responsible for the infamous 1972 center fold of Burt Reynolds in the buff – was born in the small Ozark town of Green Forest? Is it accurate to state that the personality who set the stage for Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw character in HBO’s award-winning’s “Sex and the City” series was one of us? Correct on all counts.
Helen Gurley was indeed born in 1922 in Green Forest, a Carroll County community of some 900 residents at the time, located about halfway between Harrison and Eureka Springs. Her father, Ira, a schoolteacher who had served in the Arkansas Gen eral Assembly from 1919 to 1920, finished law school a year after her birth.
The Gurley family left Green Forest for Little Rock in 1929 and settled in the neighborhood now known as Hillcrest. First living on Rose Street, they soon moved a few blocks away to 404 N. Spruce. Ira worked for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commis sion and also clerked for the House of Representa tives. Helen was a student at Pulaski Heights Elementary School when her father – who’d been rumored as a likely candidate for Secretary of State – died in a particularly gruesome elevator accident at the state Capitol in 1932. Following his death, the remaining family (Helen, her mother, Cleo and her sister, Mary) relocated to 419 N. Monroe.
In a 1967 interview with an Arkansas Gazette reporter, Helen fondly recalled her childhood days in Little Rock. After elementary school, she at tended Pulaski Heights Junior High, took dance lessons, enjoyed movies at the old Prospect Theater and played in Allsopp Park. But her father’s death left the family in bad financial shape.
Seeking better opportunities and proximity to relatives, the Gurley clan moved to Los Angeles in 1937, where Helen attended high school and was valedictorian of her class. A 1941 graduate of Woodbury Business College, she worked a variety of jobs before accepting a secretarial position with one of the city’s prominent ad agencies. Helen climbed the corporate ladder, winning accolades from her peers, and eventually became one of the coun
try’s highest-paid copywriters.
Helen married Hollywood producer David Brown in 1959, who urged her to write a book based on her days as an unmarried woman. “Sex and the Single Girl” was the result, and this 1962 bestseller was published in 35 countries. Helen Gurley Brown authored nine more books during her career although none achieved the notoriety of her first effort.
Her next big step occurred in 1965, when the Hearst Corporation hired her as editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan which had been steadily losing read ers. With Helen’s makeover featuring provocative covers and titillatingly titled articles, the publica tion’s circulation more than tripled to nearly 3 mil lion copies an issue. Advertising revenues skyrocket ed. Her transformation of the magazine likely kept Hearst from filing for bankruptcy.
Targeting young and working-class women readers, Helen made sure Cosmopolitan dis pensed advice on relationships that couldn’t be found elsewhere. She clearly knew a thing or two about relationships. Shortly after assuming con trol of the magazine, she confided to one of her associates that she’d bedded 178 men over the course of her career.
The rejuvenated publication soon claimed 43 in ternational editions. As she guided Cosmopolitan through three tumultuous decades, Helen caught her share of criticism, especially from vocal femi nists who felt she’d betrayed their cause. Sales eventually declined and, fearing that Helen had lost her magic touch, Hearst replaced her as edi tor-in-chief in 1997, although she continued to work on the magazine’s foreign editions.
A classic overachiever, Helen was self-conscious of her modest upbring ing and basically disavowed any connection with Arkansas until late in her life. With her early role models claiming trendy, big-city backgrounds, Helen did everything to avoid the “ordinary, hillbilly and poor” stereotype she loathed.
Helen Gurley Brown died on Aug. 13, 2012, at the age of 90, in New York City. She’s buried with other members of her family in the small Sisco Cemetery near Osage, her grandmother’s hometown a few miles south of Green Forest. As for Green Forest, it’s now about three times the size it was during Helen Gurley’s youth, but remains a quaint country community. Yet this quiet hamlet somehow produced the very worldly Helen Gurley Brown.
Joe David Rice, former tourism director of Arkansas Parks and Tourism, has written Arkansas Backstories, a delightful book of short stories from A through Z that introduces readers to the state's lesser-known aspects. Rice's goal is to help readers acknowledge that Arkansas is a unique and fascinating combination of land and people – one to be proud of and one certainly worth sharing.
Each month, AY will share one of the 165 distinctive essays. We hope these stories will give you a new appreciation for this geographically compact but delightfully complex place we call home. These Arkansas Backstories columns appear courtesy of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Central Arkansas Library System. The essays have been collected and published by Butler Center Books in a two-volume set, both of which are now available to purchase at Amazon and the University of Arkansas Press.
Left to Right: Ronak Soni, MD, Don Steely, MD, Rimsha Hasan, MD, and Yalcin Hacioglu, MD of Conway Regional Cardiovascular Clinic
