— Pat Becker
“Every
— Pat Becker
We started Sudar Group in April of 2021 in Northwest Arkansas We have since grown to 47 Agents, 7 Brokers, 2 Brick and Mortar offices and serve NWA, the River Valley, Oklahoma and Missouri
We have the tools, experience and resources to assist you with any and all of your real estate goals! Or if you ’ re ready to take your real estate career to the next level we would be honored for you to join us!
SEPTEMBER 22-29, 2024
Support for the Six Bridges Book Festival is provided, in part, by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, and the National Endowment for the Arts. This project is also supported in part by a grant from HumanitiesAR and the National Endowment for the Humanities and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Central Arkansas Library System gratefully acknowledges the support of the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau; the Brown Chair in English Literacy at the University of Arkansas and the Community Literacies Collaboratory; the Rebsamen Fund; and the many other donors and partners who make this festival possible. The Junior League of Little Rock is a partner for the Little Readers Rock events.
Book talks featuring more than 40 award-winning and bestselling writers and illustrators from around the country. Enjoy workshops plus a full day of family-friendly events. View the full schedule at SixBridgesBookFestival.org.
Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Shake It Off!
The Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD) boasts many dedicated educators and administrators from 25 schools across central Arkansas. PCSSD Director of STEM, Dr. Justin Luttrell, is looking forward to another STEAM-powered year for every student in the district. Educators will continue taking a creative approach with their elementary students.
“Outside of our core curriculum programs, the elementary schools will experience our fourth consecutive STEM is LIT! Initiative,” shares Dr. Luttrell. This program combines a piece of children’s literature with a challenge in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. “This year, we will explore scientific processes and mathematical dialogue,” says Dr. Luttrell.
As students progress to secondary schools, their STEM options grow with them. PCSSD middle school students have the opportunity to accelerate their learning and gain credits for Algebra I, Algebra II, and Physical Science before entering high school. In high school, students will have a chance for real-world application with the district’s Career and Technical Education and Academy programs.
“Students can experience STEM through
these industry-driven contexts,” shares Dr. Luttrell. PCSSD will also continue to expand other opportunities like competitive robotics and STEM-focused fairs and events.
The benefits of STEAM go beyond Science, Technology, Engineering, art and math. STEAM programs also provide students with opportunities and experiences that increase innovation, encourage curiosity, inspire creativity, build confidence and perseverance, and foster community and collaboration.
PCSSD is seeing success related to STEAM with the implementation of these programs.
“The University of Arkansas Office for Education Policy just published a report indicating PCSSD outperformed other districts in the metro area in elementary, middle, and high school,” says Dr. Luttrell. “Additionally, the same published report indicates that PCSSD outperformed the state average.”
For the 2024-2025 school year, the district’s goal is simple, “We hope to continue our upward trajectory and mitigate areas of concerns as we strive to give our students the best educational experiences
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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.
Heather Swayze is a mom of two boys and has been married to her high school sweetheart, Dakota, for 10 years. She attended Arkansas State Three Rivers and Henderson State University. Since 2014, she has served the central Arkansas area providing photography for weddings, couples and families.
Amy Gramlich is a wife, mom, blogger and public school educator proudly planted in Arkansas. She loves to celebrate all occasions big and small with fun outfits, creative recipes and fresh home decor (which must always include plants). She enjoys all the details that go into planning the next trip or party.
Lori Sparkman, owner of Lori Sparkman Photography, has traveled the globe to work extensively with beautiful brides and grooms, fierce fitness clients, and growing families, as well as high-profile and corporate clients. She prides herself in capturing their personalities with a sophisticated and lighthearted style.
Kelli Reep is a writer and public relations practitioner in central Arkansas. When she is not looking for the best pie in the state, she is being ordered around by three cats. She likes to read, cook, sleep and help out when she can.
Jason Pederson spent 20 years as KATV’s “Seven On Your Side” reporter. He is now deputy chief of community engagement for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. He and his wife, Mary Carol, have two biological children and one bonus son. They are longtime members of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock.
Jamie Lee is a freelance photographer originally from southwest Louisiana who now resides in Little Rock. With a strong focus on portrait, branding and food photography, she loves capturing people’s stories and cultures through the lens, helping businesses build their brands visually, and showcasing the local food scene and small businesses.
Chris Davis was born and raised in Sherwood but now resides in North Little Rock with his wife and 7-year-old son. When his son was born, his wife asked for a new camera to take pictures of their little one. From there, his love of photography grew, and he is proud to be one of the contributing photographers at AY magazine.
AY Magazine is published monthly, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5 AY Magazine (ISSN 2162-7754) by AY Media Group, 910 W. 2nd St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201. Periodicals postage paid at Little Rock, AR and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to AY Magazine, 910 W. 2nd St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201. Subscription Inquiries: Subscription rate is $24 for one year (12 issues). Single issues are available upon request for $5. For subscriptions, inquiries or address changes, call 501-244-9700. The contents of AY are copyrighted ©2024, and material contained herein may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. Articles in AY should not be considered specific advice, as individual circumstances vary. Products and services advertised in the magazine are not necessarily endorsed by AY Please recycle this magazine.
Discover a lifestyle of freedom, fun, and fulfillment in Northwest Arkansas’ community. Our facility is designed to provide a vibrant and engaging environment, where you can embrace an active lifestyle while enjoying the comforts of a well-appointed home.
Grand Village offers:
• Indoor Pool
• Fitness Center
• Saunas & Massage Therapy Rooms
• 100 seat theatre
• Outdoor grill and dining areas
• Library
• Lounge and bar
• Pool table and shuffle board
• Card games
• Hiking trail
• Frequent outings throughout Northwest Arkansas
• Chef prepared meals included in monthly rent
• Full size houses also available to rent
Get in touch for floor plans, pricing, and availability! www.grandretirement.com • 479.435.7500
It might not feel like it outside just yet, what with the late Arkansas summer weather, but there’s definitely a change in the air. Soon, leaves will change color, hot chocolate will be sipped around fire pits, and “Wooo Pig Sooie” will echo throughout the Natural State.
It is fall, y’all, and it is one of my favorite times of year.
As you can probably tell by our gorgeous cover art, September is our home issue and features our annual Home Innovation Awards and “AY Best Realtors” list. Our writers have been hard at work, interviewing the best home builders, remodelers and pool designers plus experts in real estate, insurance, mortgage lending and everything else you need to buy, improve and protect your dream home.
Fall also marks the start of fundraiser season.
AY About You salutes three worthwhile charities this month, including the Children’s Tumor Foundation, Miracle League of Arkansas, and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana. Check them out to see everything these worthwhile groups are up to.
Last but certainly not least, we take a visit to Jonesboro for our Bucket List feature, exploring where to eat, what to do and all there is to see for a weekend or more. Join fellow football fans and catch the Red Wolves in action, and then head downtown for dinner and musical entertainment – Howl, Yes!
As we bridge the seasons from the hot, carefree days of summer to the cooler nights and glorious feel of autumn, may you and your family find time to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the many activities going on in communities all over Arkansas. We love it when you take us along to share your adventures, so drop us a line and tell us where you’re headed.
Thanks for being a loyal AY About You reader!
Heather Baker, President & Publisher hbaker@aymag.com / heatherbaker_ar
AYISABOUTYOU | AYISABOUTYOU | AYISABOUTYOU | AYMAGAZINE | AYMAG.COM
FACES OF HOT SPRINGS: J&S HOSPITALITY GROUP
J&S Italian Villa is our favorite restaurant! We are so fortunate to have you both in Hot Springs! Thank you for your wonderful cuisine and everything you do to improve the community.
Karen Haney
FACES OF HOT SPRINGS: TACO MAMA
Locals know best, and they know Taco Mama!
Camp Diggity Dogs
FACES OF HOT SPRINGS:
BRANDE DANIELS, CEO, AGELESS AESTHETICS OF ARKANSAS
Thank you for featuring Ageless Aesthetics of Arkansas in the Faces of Hot Springs! Brande Daniels
BARKING UP THE RIGHT TREE: DOGGONE GOOD ENTREPRENEUR FINDS SUCCESS ONE HAPPY CUSTOMER AT A TIME
You are cheating yourself if you do not have a bottle of this cleaner. Saying it is a pet stain remover is an understatement. I use it for everything and IT WORKS!!!
Manley Clark
HERE’S WHEN YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE ‘BIG BOY’ IN ARKANSAS AGAIN
He’s coming through my town, Kingsland, the birthplace of the late great Johnny Cash!
Karen Wiscaver
ARKANSAS’ HENDRIX YANCEY WINS BEST SUPPORTING YOUNG ACTRESS
Thank you so much for all the support! Love representing my amazing state! Hendrix Yancey
Arkansas Gets First LEGO Store
Justin Moore Honored by Hometown of Poyen
This Side of Seven: When the Vow Breaks
Cajun Boilers to Reopen in September
2024 Arkansas State Fair Concert Series Lineup
In the August issue of AY’s 2024 Best Health Care Professionals section, Suzanne Harris was incorrectly listed as director of nursing at Cabot Emergency Hospital, but she is not employed there. Nicole McMinn was listed as an M.D. at Cabot Emergency, but she is the director of nursing at the facility.
Belén Arriola may be a triple threat as a barista, coffee roaster and owner of Just Bee Coffee Bar and nuJava Coffee Co. in Eureka Springs today, but her java journey started more than a decade ago when she was going through a rough patch in Phoenix in 2010. Read story at aymag.com.
The world’s largest operating steam locomotive, Big Boy No. 4014, can be seen by Arkansans this fall as part of Union Pacific’s Heartland of America Tour.
Legendary musician Kenny G will be bringing the Miracles Holiday and Hits Tour to Oaklawn in Hot Springs at 7 p.m. Dec. 15.
Every child deserves the best start possible and the opportunity to start kindergarten with a solid foundation from which to continue their education.
The first five years
90 percent of your child’s intellect, personality and social skills are developed by age 5.
Research tells us the most effective learning happens through play and positive interactions with adults and caregivers.
You and your family can help your child learn by holding and talking to them, by sharing stories, and playing.
Better Beginnings quality early care and education providers are your partners in helping prepare your child for kindergarten through positive experiences, research-based curriculum and learning through play.
Early care and education is the foundation for a life of learning and success in life and in the workplace.
Better Beginnings is administered by the Arkansas Department of Education.
Quality early care and education is vital to your child’s development in the first five years.
Written by Kelli Hilburn, Better Beginnings Program Administrator
Families can go to work or seek higher education knowing their children are in a quality learning environment.
Employers can see higher workforce efficiencies, and a stronger economy for their community.
Better Beginnings supports families with free online resources that help them make early care choices, and get tips and activities for learning at home through play in the Family Resource Library or Biblioteca de Recursos.
Scan the code to visit the Parents and Families pages on our website.
90 percent of your child’s intellect, personality and social skills are developed by age 5.
Find your quality early education partner at Better Beginnings
Click the orange banner at ARBetterBeginnings.com to find star-rated quality early care and education providers who can help your child start kindergarten with a solid foundation from which to continue their education.
Give your child the best start with quality early care and education.
you just can't miss!
Through Sept. 29
Dragonstone Springs — Mount Vernon
The Arkansas Renaissance Festival is making its debut at Dragonstone Springs. Guests can get ready to step back in time for an immersive experience of the magic of the Renaissance with special events such as opening weekend, pirate/fairy weekend, Viking/Celtic invasion, high fantasy weekend and Scottish weekend.
Sept. 5 -22
Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts — Little Rock
Fans of F1 racing will not want to miss this one-of-a-kind exhibit at Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. The exhibition, presented by Stephens, explores the interplay of both form and function through the lens of Williams Racing’s high-performance auto design.
Sept. 13-15
Robinson Center — Little Rock
Sept. 16-17
Walton Arts Center — Fayetteville
Fly away to Neverland this September with the Broadway hit Peter Pan, which will come to both the Robinson Center and Walton Arts Center stages. As the ideal family-friendly musical, the production is great for all ages. Check respective box offices for ticket availability.
Sept. 23-29
Pinnacle Country Club — Rogers
Presented by P&G, the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship will return to Rogers as part of the LGPA tour. Since starting in 2007, this event has become a tradition in the world of women’s professional golf, making for a great experience for volunteers, patrons and competitors. This year, Bite Experience @ the LGPA will also take place at Pinnacle Country Club Sept. 27 to 29.
Sept. 27-28
Downtown Jonesboro
As the premier barbecue event for the entire state of Arkansas, Jonesboro BBQ Fest is free and open to the public. Taking place in the downtown area, guests can enjoy the best barbecue the state has to offer, vendor shopping and live music from artists such as the Band of Heathens, Stephen Pearcy, Al Kapone and more.
CCentral Arkansas offers many scenic options for building one’s home, and nowhere is that more apparent than in Hot Springs. The famed city, with its mountain views, lakefront lots and nonstop dining and entertainment, has proven an irresistible lure through the years and, especially, lately as people flock to Spa City for weekend lake life or as full-time permanent residents.
Gently sprinkled with builders that excel in custom homes, Hot Springs is a haven for outstanding architecture and design that is laced with some of the most scenic backdrops in the country. Bree Calley has not only had a ringside seat to the new boom in the city, his 7-year-old residential construction company, BKC Home Builders, has helped make it happen.
Famed for its attention to detail and ability to bring even the most intricate or elaborate blueprints to life, Calley and company have been operating under full steam.
“We’ve been blessed,” he said, “to come from having only a couple of houses in our inventory several years ago to now enjoying a healthy demand to create beautiful luxury homes.”
The luxury home market has moved in counterintuitive circles of late. One might think with inflation and high interest rates, the demand for houses that cost millions and can take years to build would be shaky if not bottomed out. That has not been the case, at least as far as Calley is concerned, as there is lots of demand for showstopping luxury homes.
“Our total focus has been to build homes swept with extraordinary touches from start to finish,” he said. “Our client base is far-reaching, with second home and out-of-state retirement folks seeking the wonderful lifestyle Hot Springs offers.
“Lake life is a huge draw. Approximately 85 percent of our clientele include doctors, dentists and business owners who have discovered that Hot Springs is the perfect platform for a lifestyle peppered with beauty and relaxation.”
BKC Home Builders cut its teeth in the remodeling field and still does a select few of those jobs as scheduling permits. The company’s main thrust, however, is in its new builds, which fall in the heart of the market range from about 3,000 square feet to 9,000 square feet in size and $800,000 on up to the $2 million neighborhood, not counting the lot.
Calley focuses his attention on building along Hot Springs’ famed lakefronts, a residential building environment that demands a high level of skill due to the terrain and the elements. That and the many features clients in that category demand makes each project a complicated endeavor that challenges the art and science of homebuilding.
“There’s a marked difference from a gated community build,” he said. “A lake lot focuses on being aesthetically pleasing both from the front and rear view of the home. Typically, if building on Lake Hamilton or Lake Catherine, people will only see the waterfront view, which dictates our emphasis on capturing a fantastic blueprint for the rear of each home.
“The center point of living on the lake is to relish in the enjoyment of outdoor living. A 6,000-square-foot home may encompass 2,500 square feet of outdoor space where many of the finishes are more expensive than the indoor finishes. Oftentimes, outdoor kitchens exceed the price of the interior home kitchen, with hardscape priced more than fine touches that are included in the interior of the home. This highlights the importance that the homeowner places on the joy of outdoor living.”
Specializing in lake living, BKC Home Builders in Hot Springs pays the back of a home as much attention as the front.
My greatest satisfaction is met when a finished product exceeds the expectations of what the client had envisioned.
— Bree Calley, owner
A Benton native, Calley said the key to addressing myriad details of several projects simultaneously is honest and consistent communication with clients at each stage of the building process. Calley compared the client-builder relationship to a marriage in many ways, saying it can be time-consuming to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Each project presents its own set of challenges and is often built in concert with the prospective homeowner’s personal architect or designer. BKC’s skilled staff incorporates the various ideas and input with the overriding goal of delivering a dream home precisely how the client envisioned it. Open communication shines as structural integrity, square footage and budget are seamlessly blended to accommodate adjustments and compromise.
“First and foremost, we are a hired gun,” Calley said. “If I am presented with a set of plans that aren’t the style to which I am accustomed, we simply adapt. It is quite common for a future homeowner to be challenged in visualizing exactly how something is going to play out in real life. My company’s forte is showing the customer that even though the plan calls for certain things, this is the reason that a slightly different idea actually works better.
“We recognize that ultimately it is the client’s decision. However, they appreciate that we are their trusted advisor, and they appreciate our ability and willingness to draw from our well of experience. My greatest satisfaction is met when a finished product exceeds the expectations of what the client had envisioned.”
Calley’s methodology has helped forge his reputation among a highly discriminating clientele. Having achieved this in his mid-40s further underscores his status as one of the region’s most sought-after builders.
“Both my great-grandfather and great-uncle built houses. As a child, I was constantly around construction and the world of real estate,” he said. “I obtained a real estate license at age 19, but regrettably, it was hard to build a client base that trusted a 19-year-old to handle their real estate transactions.
“After obtaining my appraiser license at 21, I began working for a local company as an on-site appraiser. My next step was forming my own company. Realizing I wanted to construct homes, I embraced my creative side and launched BKC Home Builders.”
Ever since his first opportunity to work on some Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine projects in 2017, Calley has steadily grown the company’s reputation by consistently exceeding client expectations in the luxury home market.
“The anchor of our company is a desire to build the very best,” he said. “I give God all the credit that our work has been recognized and led to the success we enjoy today.”
Big Adventure Custom Pools + Outdoor Living transforms backyards into retreats
In today’s highly specialized workplace, Paul Barkley is about as far from typical, in any sense of the word, as one can get. An avowed bookworm with a list of interests and life experiences that could fill volumes, he is the very image of the modern Renaissance man, invested with an insatiable curiosity and and guided by a bottomless well of faith.
It is little wonder, then, that his business approach via his company, Big Adventure Custom Pools + Outdoor Living, is a comprehensive one, an operational philosophy that leaves no stone unturned in the effort to deliver the ideal backyard oasis.
“The vision behind Big Adventure Pools was to be the best,” he said. “We didn’t want to build pools like anyone else. Our plan was to build pools that stood out from every other pool as the epitome of luxury and high-end living, and we wanted to attract those clients looking to own their own slice of paradise. That comes with understanding who our clients are and how we can best serve their needs.”
We didn’t want to build pools like anyone else. Our plan was to build pools that stood out from every other pool as the epitome of luxury and high-end living, and we wanted to attract those clients looking to own their own slice of paradise.
— Paul Barkley, Owner
Barkley said such a strategy is not particularly novel in theory, but the difference lies in the execution. The process he has developed to serve each customer to the highest standards bears this out, a meticulous set of steps that help ensure complete customer satisfaction.
“When I sit down with a prospective client, I first start off as their designer,” he said. “I walk through the process of understanding what the customer needs and how the pool will function for their family. I interview that client, I spend time with their family, I go to their homes.
“I help them decide between what they truly want and what they’re actually willing to invest in. Then, I create a design tailored to meet those specific needs in my detailed 3D animation software, which brings those dreams to life right before their eyes.”
Barkley is so thorough in his initial homework that he is even known to help the client look past what is being built today and envision what may come in the future. That helps create a long-range plan of construction in which each future component can more easily be added as time goes along.
“For most of our clients, I try to start with ‘What’s the five-year vision for this outdoor space?” he said. “Waterfall, tranquil sitting garden, cabana, outdoor kitchen; maybe the husband loves to barbecue, maybe the wife loves gardening. We try to look down the road to future celebrations, maybe a daughter or granddaughter’s wedding or a 50th wedding anniversary, and we want to plan for those photo ops back here.”
“I work to put all those pieces together in a master plan, which for some people, they’re fortunate enough to pull the trigger on the entire master plan on day one. Most, however, do it in stages, but because we planned properly, we can put Part 2 in, and it’s not going to cost a fortune, and there’s no headache or destruction. Then, Part 3, we’re going to go ahead and tie these other elements into it until we’ve built things out using that long-term vision.”
If that all sounds time consuming, it is, and intentionally so. Barkley lived through a growth phase of his Alexander-based company that took Big Adventure in so many directions, he could not execute quality control throughout. The experience left him even more obsessed with sweating the details.
“Post-COVID-19, everybody and their brother wanted a pool, and in order to try to maintain a reasonable level of supporting that demand, it was easy to get overloaded really quickly,” he said. “We were managing 15 active projects at a time, and we could’ve booked 100 more. We went to using project managers, and it just wasn’t working, and we started losing the reputation for quality that we had worked very hard to create.
“We ultimately decided we were going to go back to a core foundation where I’m going to manage every project we have. We have cut down how many projects we take on in order to ensure that each job can be directly overseen, providing assurance of quality control. We don’t take on just any pool either; we are not a cookie-cutter pool builder. We don’t want to stamp them out. We don’t want your neighbor having the same pool you have. That’s not the most profitable business model but we’re not doing this solely for money; we’re doing it so that we can experience building great quality pools.”
While it is not particularly unusual for a pool company’s head man to have his fingerprints on every project, Barkley’s diverse skills are something to behold. Owing to a varied work history and an insatiable curiosity, he brings a wide range of expertise to each client the company takes on to better serve the long-term vision for the space.
“Most pool companies aren’t drainage engineers. Most of them aren’t irrigation experts. Most of them aren’t landscape designers and architects,” he said. “Very few of them have the licenses and general contracting background to do the outdoor kitchens and the pergolas and those other things. We wanted to be different. We wanted to be a one-call solution for the client.”
The extra lengths to which Barkley is willing to go to create stunning outdoor amenities goes beyond his desire to be regarded as one of the best builders in his industry. It is also rooted in his belief that a pool is a unifying element for any family, something he has seen in his own household. He said being able to provide cherished experiences for others is the highest degree of job satisfaction there is.
“I’ve got three daughters, 21, 18 and 12, and I know personally what having a pool at our home and what outdoor living has done for us,” he said. “As a family, our goal was for our girls to grow up with all their friends here, and the experience of seeing how it brings people together. I didn’t necessarily have that as a kid, and now that I’ve seen what that’s like, I want to give all of our clients that same means of creating happy memories.
Very few [pool companies] have the licenses and general contracting background to do the outdoor kitchens and the pergolas and those other things. We wanted to be different. We wanted to be a one-call solution for the client.
— Paul Barkley, Owner
I'm honored to be recognized as a 2024 AY Best Realtor and excited to join the McGraw REALTORS® team. With over 25 years of experience as a business owner, licensed contractor, and luxury designer, I approach each client with integrity, dedication, and care. My transition to McGraw REALTORS® is an opportunity to continue serving you with the same commitment to delivering the luxury results you deserve.
If you're ready to find your dream home, I’d be grateful to guide you on that journey
By DWAIN HEBDA
Demand for home renovations has soared in recent years.
Ever since COVID-19 shut down the world and kept people at home, the demand for quality remodelers has been record-breaking. Despite supply chain snarls, materials shortages, soaring inflation and high interest rates, homeowners who caught sight of their aging interiors during lockdown have spent heavily to improve the look and functionality of their residences.
Scott Lucas, owner of Scott Lucas Bath & Kitchen in Conway, is only now seeing a little relief from the crush of demand. Lucas, whose expertise and workmanship have been recognized through multiple AY About You “Best Of” wins and legions of satisfied customers, said projects large and small have come from every direction. The one element that most seem to have in common is a taste for larger, more open spaces.
Lucas, who also has a background in home building, brings an experienced eye and a deft touch to projects that require removal of walls to create a more cohesive, communal space.
“Kitchens are all open-area now,” he said. “You know, years ago, when they designed a house, they tried to put as many walls in a home as they could and just basically closed off the entire [kitchen] area. Well, let’s be honest — the kitchen and living room are the central location of the house. It’s where you entertain. It’s where everybody sits and visits.
“People want that open space. I couldn’t imagine having a Super Bowl party at my house and having walls up everywhere where nobody could eat their chips and dip and watch the game at the same time, so yes, that is definitely the trend. We get calls for that all the time.”
Knocking down walls is no big thing now that open kitchens are all the rage.
The same can be said for bathrooms, which, although obviously closed off for privacy, are also featuring more open concept floor plans within.
“You take a house from 20, 30, even 40 years ago, it seemed like even master baths were almost designed to look like what we would call a half bath now,” he said. “Today, again, people want the open concept. Most people want the laundry room close to their master closet or the master bathroom. We’ve got a project we’re working on now where the client took her bathroom, her laundry room and her closet and made it one humongous suite.”
One of the reasons kitchens and bathrooms are getting so much attention these days is due to their utility; in the everyday lives of occupants, few rooms can compare to them in terms of usage. Investing in kitchens and bathrooms is also money wise, being rated highly year in and year out for return on investment at sales time.
Just last year, RenoFi estimated the average ROI on mid-range kitchen and bath remodels — mid-range defined as about $27,000 for the kitchen and $23,000 for the bath — at 86 and 67 percent, respectively, and up to 100 percent in the nation’s hottest housing markets. Larger remodeling spends also have the potential to return well depending on how out of date the room was to begin with.
In each of these high-traffic areas, trends continue to emerge, from changing color choices to the more substantial elements of countertops and appliance finishes.
“Colors and styles are constantly evolving and changing,” he said. “Color-wise right now, we’re seeing a majority of grays and whites with some of the blues and the greens. We’re also starting to see a few of the browns trickle back in.
“The in finishes for fixtures right now are chrome and black and gold. When I say gold, it’s not the old brass-style gold but different types of bronzes and golds. We actually did our house in that. Then, you know, the satin finishes, the brushed nickel, I mean, those are timeless. They’ll always be around.”
One change that has come along recently has been the introduction of smart appliances that are integrated and controlled remotely. Lucas said they do not require any special installation or wiring connections because the appliances simply plug into the wall like their predecessor models. That aside, he said getting used
to a new smart kitchen can make for some amusing moments.
“We installed these in our house. I’ll be sitting there watching Netflix, and all of a sudden, all the appliances will start turning on in the kitchen,” he said. “The first time it happened, I was like, ‘I just built this house. I know there’s not a ghost in here yet.’ Come to find out my wife was driving down the road, and she was heating everything up, getting prepared for dinner.”
Trends in bathrooms include the continued elimination of tubs, be they the jetted type or the soaker models, Lucas said.
“It seems like everybody wants the bathtub out, replacing them with big walk-in showers to open the space up,”
Lucas' craftsmanship and attention to detail combine to create stunning bathroom spaces.
he said. “A bathtub is almost like a fireplace; it’s what they used to put on a multiple listing service to make it look fancy and pretty to sell a home. In reality, it’s one of the things that gets the least use in the home. Tubs are just a thing of the past.”
As for those showers, Lucas said he recently saw a new design trend that is quickly catching on among homeowners.
“A lot of folks don’t want tile in the showers anymore, so we’re seeing a lot of the solid surfaces,” he said. “I started getting calls about three years ago from people who just don’t want tile, who don’t want to deal with cleaning the grout.”
In its place, Lucas said, engineered marble is becoming the hot choice for showers. Available in a range of colors, the building product offers a textured surface underfoot while eliminating the porous characteristics of natural marble.
Master bathrooms are becoming larger, often part of a suite with a master closet and laundry room.
Engineered marble is becoming the hot choice for showers. Available in a range of colors, the building product offers a textured surface underfoot while eliminating the porous characteristics of natural marble.
“I initially thought it would be hard to locate the materials until I was looking at a house in Cabot and I saw it in the shower. I thought it was beautiful,” Lucas said. “The builder happened to be there, and he said ‘That’s marble,’ and I said, ‘No, it’s not.’ He gave me the supplier’s phone number, I called him, and two years later, we’re doing three or four of them a week.”
Lucas said he enjoys the slower pace of projects compared to a few years ago but is hardly sitting around with a lot of time on his hands. He said expanding the company to serve clients outside of central Arkansas is an intriguing idea but one not currently necessary due to the sustained demand for his company’s expertise and craftsmanship.
“It’s obviously slower from what it was two years ago, and that’s for everybody across the board. No matter what contractor I’ve talked to, what vendor I talked to, everything is slower right now,” he said. “Fortunately we’re so well-established that we’re still keeping our head well above water and business is still good for us. In fact, we just signed up to do another five bathrooms, so for right now, we’re just going to sit tight and focus on central Arkansas and continue to take good care of our clients here.”
LeafGuard brand by Englert is the original and only one-piece gutter system, with a built-in hood that covers the gutter bottom and deflects leaves and other debris. This unique, seamless design keeps debris from collecting in your gutters which:
• Prevents clogs from forming
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• Makes climbing ladders to clean gutters unnecessary
As a premier HVAC company, we pride ourselves on innovation. Having seen major technological advances, market changes, product advances and widespread industry growth over the last 48 years, we’ve continued to innovate so we can maintain our dedication to provide each and every customer with the best service the industry has to offer. And we couldn’t do it without our dedicated team of experts who continue to learn and innovate with us.
We are so thankful for this recognition. It motivates us to continue evolving so we can serve customers with cutting-edge, professional and friendly service for years to come.
Welcome to the future of home! In this section,we shine a light onArkansas businesses pushing the boundaries of what a home can be.These innovators use cutting-edge technology to create spaces that are not only beautiful but also comfortable,efficient and truly inspiring.From smart-home systems to sustainable building materials,these companies are transforming the way we live.Get ready to discover the best of inArkansas home innovation,and prepare to be amazed by what the future holds.
Congratulations to this year’s honorees.
In Arkansas, protecting one’s abode all the more important
By MARK CARTER
Compared to their counterparts in other parts of the country, Arkansas consumers in the market for a new home get more bang for their buck. When it comes to insuring those homes, however, the Natural State’s location in Tornado Alley and along the New Madrid fault means Arkansas homeowners pay more than the national average to insure their abodes.
In Arkansas, the average annual cost to insure a dwelling valued at $300,000 is $2,839, according to data released by Bankrate and updated as of Aug. 1. That is $569 above the national average, as calculated by the site.
The March 2023 tornadoes that swept through central and northeast Arkansas and the recent twister that touched down in Rogers reminded Arkansans of the potential for extreme weather that exists almost yearround. Violent storms that drop tornadoes are no longer relegated to spring, and the threat of a major earthquake is a looming concern. The state has seen its share of flooding, as well, and while Arkansas does not get much snow, ice storms are common and cause much more damage.
That constant threat of severe weather, the rising cost of building materials and kinks in the national supply chain since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic have combined to raise rates in Arkansas.
Given those considerations, it is more important than ever for consumers to visit with a local agent about home insurance coverage and ensure they are getting the most bang for their buck. No two policies are the same, and home insurance is not a product for which one can afford to skimp.
Mike Watson, who owns a State Farm agency in Highland with an office in Melbourne, said one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is only looking at a policy’s price tag.
“I have often heard it said that there are no free lunches, and it is especially true when it comes to your insurance policy,” he said. “If a policy has a much lower premium as compared to another company, then a wise consumer should ask plenty of questions and compare coverages that will be critical to them come claim time. All insurance companies insure the same properties, but they leave out potentially vital coverages in order to get the premium down.”
not always the best and can cost you big time if you have a claim. The purpose of insurance is to be there when you need it the most, but if you need it and don’t have it, what’s the point in saving money when it actually costs you?”
Consumers are inundated with talking geckos, emus and physical manifestations of mayhem espousing the benefits of bundling products or paying only for what is needed, and home insurance can easily be purchased online. Easy, however, is not always better, and Watson said he urges consumers to sit down with a local agent and ask questions. His agency makes it a priority to do just that, he said.
“The response we often receive is that they, one, don’t understand their policy and two, have never had anyone sit down with them and explain to them what their coverages, endorsements and options are,” he said. “This is when the real conversation begins and allows us to ask questions and better understand what our customers need and how we can best protect what is often their most valuable asset.”
What questions should homeowners ask? Brolo said she advises homeowners to consider rebuilding costs versus market value when buying coverage. Make sure the policy covers the full cost of rebuilding a home and not just its market value, something many consumers fail to consider, she said.
“The cost to rebuild could be higher due to rising material and labor costs, especially after a widespread disaster,” she said.
Brolo said consumers should remember to make sure their policy accounts for the loss of personal property.
“Not all personal belongings are automatically covered to their full value. Items like jewelry, art or collectibles may require additional riders or endorsements to be fully insured,” she said.
As an example, Watson cited limiting coverage on a water loss or only paying actual cash value on a damaged roof when a customer seeks a replacement cost policy.
“These are two of the most common claims homeowners have, and insurance companies know that and try to limit their exposure to those claims by excluding them from the policy or placing the max amount they will pay out in case of a loss,” he said.
Allstate agent Brooke Brolo in North Little Rock said understanding one’s coverage should be a consumer’s top priority.
“There are different policies out there with all sorts of limits and exclusions, and you need to educate yourself on what you are buying,” she said. “The cheapest is
Watson said consumers should understand that all homeowner policies are not the same. There are several forms of policies that companies offer, from stripped down to comprehensive, he said.
“There is policy language in every contract that customers need to understand before they purchase a policy and, especially, before they have a claim,” he said. “I want my customers to understand how much total coverage they have, what their deductibles are in case they have a claim, what the claim process is going to look like for them and what endorsements are available in order to better protect themselves.”
Not all damage is automatically covered by most policies, and that could include anything from water damage from flooding to earthquake coverage and simple wear and tear.
“Every policy has exclusions. It’s important to understand what isn’t covered so you can add additional coverage if needed,” Brolo said. “Standard home insurance typically doesn’t cover events like floods or earthquakes. Depending on your location, you might need separate policies or endorsements for these risks.”
Brolo said those homeowner policies that do cover earthquakes require a minimum deductible, usually 10 percent of the home value.
If your stuff gets stolen, damaged by a fire or even destroyed by a natural disaster, renters insurance helps cover the cost to replace them. It also covers you if someone gets hurt in your rental and you’re held responsible.
— Brooke Brolo, Allstate agent
“If you have an earthquake claim on a $400,000 home, you would have a $40,000 deductible that you would need to meet first before anything would be paid,” she said. “However, individual earthquake policies are fairly inexpensive and, on average, cost around $200 a year or less.”
Other important factors to consider are liability coverage and coverage for additional living expenses, the latter of which protects homeowners in the event a home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered loss.
“If someone is injured on your property, your liability coverage can protect you from lawsuits,” Brolo said. “Depending on your assets, you might need more coverage than the standard amount. Increasing liability coverage is inexpensive and a no-brainer. We live in a sue-happy world. ALE covers the cost of temporary housing, meals and other living expenses. Ensure your policy provides adequate ALE coverage, especially if you live in an area prone to disasters.”
Policyholders should also remember to examine coverage for detached structures on their property such as a shed, detached garage or fence and consider the impact of home upgrades such as a new roof or finishing out a basement.
Brolo said some standard policies limit coverage on detached structures. Consumers should also notify their agents about any home improvements to ensure that their coverage reflects the current value of a home, she added.
What about protection for renters? Renters insurance protects a policyholder’s personal belongings and provides liability coverage.
“If your stuff gets stolen, damaged by a fire or even destroyed by a natural disaster, renters insurance helps cover the cost to replace them,” Brolo said. “It also covers you if someone gets hurt in your rental and you’re held responsible. Most renters insurance policies cost less than $300 a year, which includes your personal property and liability coverage and protects you from unexpected financial losses.”
Watson said the first thing he recommends for consumers is meeting annually with their agent to make sure they are taking advantage of all available discounts.
“Ask if there are opportunities to lower the premium by adding a security system or water-loss mitigation devices that could potentially add a discount,” he said.
Consumers benefit from asking questions. After all,
that is why agents are there. Brolo said she had hundreds of clients impacted by the March 2023 tornadoes, including several total losses.
“In fact, I was the most impacted Allstate agent in the state,” she said. “We worked around the clock for months, helping our clients work through the claims process. Catastrophic losses are overwhelming for all parties involved. They are time consuming and can be an anxious process. We try to support our customers however we can through the entire process.”
Watson said he has never had a customer ask him about their premium when their house was burning down.
“They only want to know about how much coverage they have on the structure and their personal property and how soon they can expect to get their life back in order,” he said. “That is where we shine because helping people is what we do best.”
Whatever the price range or style you can buy with confidence at White’s Furniture. Over 95% of our upholstered furniture is American-made. And, we now proudly carry two lines of Amish-made case goods. Once you have made a purchase you will find our delivery service to be as outstanding as the furniture we sell.
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Home Innovation Award winners strive to serve clients
By LANCE BROWNFIELD
The definition of innovate, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is to make changes in something established, especially by introducing new methods, ideas or products. That is exactly what the winners of this year’s AY About You Home Innovation Awards do.
While innovation looks different from company to company and house to house, there is a common drive among this year’s winners to give clients the very best. Parkinson Building Group in Little Rock and Overnight Digs in Hot Springs are typical of the elite roster of honorees and show a willingness to think creatively and strategically to improve the customer experience.
“We’re excited to be getting this award, and we feel honored,” said Bill Parkinson, founder of Parkinson Building Group. “I feel like we have been pushing the envelope on the way we do business in this market and the type of experience we’re trying to give to our clients.”
“[A Home Innovation Award] is a huge honor and a testament to what we are doing as a company,” said Carey
Antoon, founder of Overnight Digs. “The company was founded just within the past two years, and to be recognized on that level with such a large audience is really cool."
Innovation in the home industry starts at the foundation — building the house. Parkinson started Parkinson Building Group in 1999 with a focus on high-end construction in west Little Rock. A first-generation builder, he transitioned into homebuilding from a career in banking, a career he entered right out of college despite studying architecture and construction management.
Possessing a natural talent for design and quality home construction, he started to build homes on the side before making the leap to full time. His firm grew exclusively on projects in west Little Rock for 18 years before branching into other neighborhoods in the capital city. Five years ago, his company also started building a presence in Little Rock’s Heights and Hillcrest neighborhoods, Rockwater Village in North Little Rock, and similar areas.
Parkinson Building Group focuses mainly on homes $1 million and up and is known for extremely high-quality work. The firm has also been innovative when it comes to operations, including employing a team approach over the past five years that enabled the company to keep service levels high across a large customer base in central Arkansas.
The staffing model is one of the biggest changes the company has made recently. Employing a total of 15, Parkinson’s production crew is comprised of three teams featuring project managers, field superintendents and project coordinators. Supporting them is a back-office team that handles accounting, operations, estimations, warranties and more. This organizational structure helps Parkinson Building Group give
A team approach that results in luxury is a hallmark of Parkinson Building Group. (Photos provided by Parkinson Building Group)
clients the best experience and the most bang for the buck.
“Even though we are serving the upper-end market, we still pride ourselves on delivering a lot of value,” Parkinson said. “Having multiple people on the team to take care of each job gives the client a first-class experience.”
Always innovating, Parkinson is looking to expand into the Hot Springs market in 2024 after a quarter century in business. The company will start its first project there this fall, and another is set to begin either later this year or early next year.
“We’ve got a couple team members that work with us who are from Hot Springs, so it’s a natural kind of place to look at for an additional office for Parkinson Building Group,” he said.
As for the future, Parkinson said there is plenty of opportunity to take the company in any number of directions, some of which make more business sense than others. More immediately, the company’s strategy is to develop the central Arkansas team to be the best it can be and leave any new markets alone until things are honed “just like it needs to be,” Parkinson said.
“I can’t rule out multistate expansion, but really, our focus is Arkansas — right now, central Arkansas,” he said. “With the growth in northwest Arkansas, there’s always that carrot hanging out there that you think, ‘Well, maybe one day.’”
Known for its sparkling lakes, beautiful botanical garden and storied historic downtown, Hot Springs has been a hot area for people looking to build homes or purchase an existing property.
At the same time, as the nation’s first national park, home to healing thermal waters and the state’s only horse racetrack, many interested in the Spa City are looking for more temporary accommodations without giving up luxury. That is where Overnight Digs comes in.
Coming off the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic and at an interesting time in the short-term rental market, Hot Springsbased Overnight Digs was founded in 2022 and manages highend stays around the tourist destination.
Carey Antoon and his partners came up with the idea of Overnight Digs as a way to manage their own properties and possibly a select few others who wanted the same done with their properties. Within a year, the group came to manage more than 15 properties, and the company recently signed a deal to take on yet another portfolio of five more properties to bring their total listings to 49.
“We knew there was a great need, and it exploded on us just in the first year,” Antoon said. “Clearly, there was a very large demand for this level of property management in the market. What started as a service for our personal investments has grown into a very large business that we plan to continue to grow and maintain.”
Antoon said along the way, the company has hired some talented, hardworking people who make all the growth possible. While the company has pursued isolated opportunities outside the state, he said there are no immediate plans to expand beyond Arkansas
“We do help manage some property [elsewhere], but our primary focus is the Hot Springs market, and it will remain our primary focus regardless of what other opportunities present themselves,” Antoon said.
Antoon’s foray into housing comes after a completely unrelated career working in medical device sales. Three years ago, he began investing in the vacation rental market, and that is when he and his partners saw the need, especially in Hot Springs, for high-end luxury property management.
Leveraging the demand right outside of his door, the company launched on the mindset of being the property management services company that cared about the client enough to “create guest experiences with high-end hospitality.” He said that mindset applies from the top down, starting with him, and is shared by every member of his team out in the field and in the office.
“God’s really blessed us with some really awesome local people on our team that work out in the field and in the office, managing our guest experiences and our clients’ homes,” he said.
The strategy is paying off, and Overnight Digs has quickly made a name for itself by offering great service and great homes. The team includes personnel that make each property presentable for renting, as well as a maintenance team. Antoon added that the guests themselves have been key to the company’s growth, pointing to the company’s ratings on online travel agencies as proof.
“I don’t know that you’ll find anyone who manages the volume that we manage that has a higher rating,” he said. “That speaks to the quality of our team and the dedication we have to the hospitality side of the business, providing the absolute best guest experience that we can provide.
“Some of that is in the design of the beautiful properties that
(Photos by Eric Frazier)
our clients trust us with, but I think it’s also the behind-thescenes work with the team to market those things the way we do that’s allowed us to be in the position we’re in.”
While Antoon says there is a portfolio of at least five or six “true showstoppers” under the management of Overnight Digs, he has a hard time picking a favorite, even from the homes he has designed himself. The retail appraisal value of the properties represented by the company ranges from $500,000 to $3 million.
“We have something for everybody,” he said. “From two bedrooms all the way up to eight bedrooms, they’re all top-ofthe-line properties.”
Guests can make arrangements to rent the company’s accommodations through Airbnb, Vrbo, booking.com and its own website, overnightdigs.com. The company is also in talks with Marriott Homes & Villas to allow renting through their site.
“I never imagined that we would be where we are today two years ago, and there is no telling where we’re going to be in five years” Antoon said. “Wherever God wants to take it, we’re going to let him take it.”
Chris H. Olsen is a well-known, award winning landscape designer in Arkansas. “My goal has always been to out-do myself. I am inspired by color and design, so it made sense to become a landscape designer who not only specializes in plantscaping, but also hardscaping ,” Chris says. Botanica Gardens, his main company, is headquartered in central Arkansas, though his projects reach to all corners of the state and beyond.
Botanica Gardens strives to lead the market with inspiration and designs that have not been seen before in Arkansas. Botanica Garden’s offers different divisions to suit every need, from landscape and hardscape design to installation, maintenance, and sprinklers. “Plants are just part of the equation,” Chris says. “Pools, water features, walkways, and design walls help make breathtaking landscapes.” Additionally, Botanica Gardens is committed to always putting clients first. “I am a person who listens to what my clients really want. My job is to make their dreams become a reality.”
By DWAIN HEBDA // Photo provided by Charlotte Potts
Afew years back, when Charlotte Potts reached a professional crossroad between leaving her successful career as a pharmaceutical representative and entering the insurance field, the pros and cons of each lined up so neatly she had to go to an unusual tiebreaker.
“I really loved the idea of insurance but was scared to absolute death about leaving pharmaceutical sales to do it,” she said. “I have made three career moves in my life off of the same quarter, so I flipped that quarter, and I left [pharmaceutical sales]. That was 11 years ago.”
The wisdom of the quarter notwithstanding, the decision has proven to be the correct one several times over. Potts would grow her North Little Rock-based agency, from operating out of Argenta since before it was the fashionable district it is now to recently launching her second location in the upper-crust Chenal neighborhood in west Little Rock. Along the way, throughout all the wind and rain and hail that has befallen her clients, Potts has consistently been, to borrow the company’s words, like a good neighbor to those in need.
“I built up the book of business, initially, by pouring back into the community,” she said. “People do business with people they know, like and trust. State Farm is not always the least expensive product. Sometimes we’re less; sometimes we’re not. What sets us apart is the client’s experience with my office, where we really try to make people feel like they’re family.”
Potts said that kind of connectivity takes work to reinforce the client relationships that lie at the heart of her business
— as much when the skies are clear as in the wake of destructive storms.
“We really try to deliver the kind of customer service like you would get in a small town where everybody knows everybody,” she said. “It’s harder to do in Little Rock, but I’ve just tried to make it more of a hometown feel. We try to touch all of our customers at least three times a year. We do birthday calls, we do outbound calls and then just to check in.
“If a storm hits in a ZIP code, I run a list of every single person in my book of business in that ZIP code, call them and say, ‘Did you get hit? Do you need us?’ It’s that level of personalized service that has allowed us to grow our business by word of mouth and referrals.”
Growing up the child of entrepreneurial parents in the small Delta community of Hazen, Potts was raised to be well-versed in the finer points of sales and business from a tender age.
“My parents raised me to never have trouble talking to people,” she said. “We had beehives in our backyard, and we would harvest the honey, and my mom and dad would put me at the corner of the only stoplight in Prairie County. I would sit up there on Saturday mornings with my mom, selling honey on the square, starting when I was 5.”
During her adolescence, Potts’ parents modeled plenty of examples of the kind of extra-mile customer service for which her agency would later become known. In high school, Potts also gained a more sobering understanding of the important role her agency plays in her clients’ lives at the times they need help most.
“My dad died when I was in high school without any life insurance,” she said. “I would love to know what that situation would’ve looked like if he had had it. I
would’ve liked to have seen what it could have done for my mom financially, where she wouldn’t have had to worry about money.”
Potts attended the University of Central Arkansas in Conway on a scholarship, earning a degree in business education. She taught school for a couple of years while working on her master’s degree in corporate training, something she uses to this day by educating clients about insurance products. She said one of the most common mistakes people make is looking at insurance as a “get it and forget it” purchase instead of treating it like an important part of their overall financial health, along with savings, tax liability and investments.
“The savvy consumers do not commoditize their insurance,” she said. “I have clients where I’m on conference calls with their financial planner and estate attorney and CPA, where everyone at that table is working in concert to protect the client and make sure all of their finances, all their documents, everything’s in order.
“I have other clients who don’t have any of these [other professionals], which is fine. Whatever their financial sphere looks like for their family, I can plug into that and have the right conversations, especially for business owners.”
Between the evolution of insurance products, the servicing of existing clients and the constant drive for new business, Potts’ career offers a little bit of anything on any given day, including healthy doses of the unexpected. What does not change, she said, is the mission-driven lens through which she sees her work.
“I really find joy in knowing that what I do is meaningful,” she said. “As a teacher, I had a classroom of 30 kids, and I was hopeful that I could change lives by being their teacher. When I was in pharmaceutical sales, I always felt like I was changing lives by getting the right medicines into doctors’ hands.
“I want to do the same thing in insurance, making sure the client is better off because they know me or my team. At the end of the day, it’s really important to me to have left a positive mark on somebody or on their family.”
“I really find joy in knowing that what I do is meaningful. ... At the end of the day, it’s really important to me to have left a positive mark on somebody or on their family.”
— Charlotte Potts
From simple residential closings to complex commercial real estate deals, Commerce Title & Closing Services excels thanks to its expertise and commitment to customer satisfaction.
For 15 years, Commerce Title has provided clients around Arkansas with a wide range of real estate services. At the helm are owners Brian Scott and Mike Sage, who lead by example when it comes to setting a high standard for customer service and professionalism. Their dedicated team of escrow officers, processors and research staff draw on years of experience to successfully coordinate between agents, lenders and attorneys.
Commerce Title takes the security of its clients seriously. Real estate is a prime target for scams such as wire fraud, so the company protects its clients with various fraud prevention programs. Commerce Title also works to keep overhead costs low and pass those savings on to clients, all while never compromising on the thoroughness of its work.
Whether the company is helping a young family fulfill dreams of homeownership or aiding a business owner as they navigate a tricky commercial deal, Commerce Title has the knowledge, skill and attention to detail to ensure a smooth translation for both buyer and seller.
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By MARK CARTER //
Of all transactions, those involving real estate can represent some of the most stress-filled endeavors a consumer may endure.
Those in the market for a new home or looking to sell must navigate a host of considerations, many of them complicated and intimidating.
Making sure a property is ready for inspection, getting finances in order, determining a budget and selecting an agent, not to mention that not-so-slight task of actually shopping for a new home and negotiating a price, all come with built-in variables
that can lead to bumps in the road.
With a few exceptions, consumers are reliant on the real estate professionals involved in the home-buying process to help make each transaction a smooth one.
Co-owners Brian Scott and Mike Sage built Little Rock’s Commerce Title & Closing Services with a mission to make the closing process as simple as possible and smooth out any bumps that may arise. Since opening the business in 2009, Scott and Sage have grown their team to 10 professionals who offer a variety of real estate services, including title services and title insurance in all Arkansas counties.
Consumers have taken notice of the firm’s customer service-centered approach, and AY readers named Commerce Title a winner of an AY About You Home Innovation Award for 2024.
Scott and Sage credited their staff for the company’s success.
“Our staff combines years of experience coordinating between agents, lenders and attorneys. Our experience allows you the opportunity to close without needless delays or complications.”
— Brian Scott, Co-owner
“Our staff combines years of experience coordinating between agents, lenders and attorneys,” Scott said. “Our experience allows you the opportunity to close without needless delays or complications.”
Scott and Sage, both Little Rock natives and graduates of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, worked together in the industry for more than two decades before teaming up and eventually deciding to open up their own shop.
“Brian and I have worked together for over 25 years, and we decided to open our own shop 15 years ago,” Sage said.
Closing represents the final step in the home-buying process, in which titles are transferred, and it can be the most fraught with potential hiccups. Before prospective home buyers even make it to a title company for a closing, there are home inspections, home appraisals, title searches and purchases of title insurance, final mortgage underwriting, the purchase of home insurance coverage, setup of utilities, and a final walk-through with a real estate agent. Once at closing, there is still much paperwork involved, even in a digital age, and the process can take up to an hour. This is why Commerce’s hyper-focus on customer service is so valuable.
Working together for so long with Scott is an advantage, Sage said, but having a good team is just as important. He said nine of 10 staff members at Commerce Title have been with the company for more than 10 years.
“We have a very dedicated and experienced staff, and we would not be where we are without all the hard work they do,” he said.
Real estate transactions entail many moving parts, and smoothing out the rough edges inherent to the closing process can be challenging, Sage said.
“Sometimes the difficult part of our job is dealing with all the parties in a real estate transaction and getting to the closing table in a smooth manner to meet the contract closing dates,” he said.
The reward is generally worth the trouble, he added.
“What gives me the most satisfaction is helping and seeing first-time homeowners purchase their first homes,” he said.
For Scott, helping clients realize the American Dream of home ownership represents the why of what he does. Scott said he got into the title business by chance in 1984 when he was helping his mother, a teacher at Joe T. Robinson High School in west Little Rock, prep her classroom for the new school year.
“The school’s work-study director mentioned a friend at a title company who needed someone to fill in for a few months,” Scott said. “A career was born.”
In the real estate industry, some constants remain, but changes can come fast. Sage said that means his team must be ready to pivot when necessary.
“Regulatory issues always affect our process, and we must adjust with those changes,” he said. “Automation has helped streamline most aspects of closing. COVID[-19] lockdowns presented extreme challenges but also made the industry adapt to streamline many of the processes.”
Sage said the firm is always open to growth opportunities but likes to operate at a size that enables it to remain nimble and focused on personalized customer service.
“We are always looking at opportunities for growth if the growth is in line with us being able to provide exceptional service,” he said. “More locations do not always equal better service options.”
The firm handles a wide array of transactions, from the simplest residential closing to the most complex commercial real estate deal. Scott said the company’s mission is the same regardless of the size of the transaction.
“Commerce Title is committed to providing unmatched expertise and exceptional customer service,” he said.
Commerce Title is located in the Mountaire building on Napa Valley Drive just off Hinson Road in west Little Rock. For more information, visit the company’s website at commercetitlear.com or call 501-588-3980.
By AY STAFF
For everything that is exciting about finding the ideal home — be it a first-time purchase or a retirement dream home — there is a comparable list of things that are confusing, timeconsuming and, if done incorrectly, needlessly expensive. Atop the list is securing a mortgage to fund the American Dream.
Aside from the 1 percent that can afford to pay cash for a home, the vast majority of people need the assistance of a qualified mortgage lender to complete the deal. As a legal matter, borrowing that kind of money has never been what one would call easy, but at least the process was relatively straightforward. Today, mortgage options are extremely complex, and the multitude of companies — both brick and mortar and online only — makes the task of finding a qualified, capable loan officer a daunting one for many people.
AY About You asked two mortgage lending professionals, Centennial Bank’s Hope Hart (NMLS #280845) and Collin French (NMLS #1903024), for their best advice on completing that important step in the home-buying process.
AY: What do you consider some of the most important attributes of a quality mortgage lender?
Hart: A quality mortgage lender needs to possess a blend of technical expertise and soft skills. On the technical side, a deep understanding of the mortgage market, loan products and regulatory requirements is essential. This knowledge allows a lender to offer sound advice, identify the best loan options for each client and navigate any complexities that arise during the process.
Equally important are soft skills such as communication, empathy and problem-solving. Ultimately, a quality mortgage lender combines these attributes to provide a seamless and positive experience for their clients, guiding them through one of the most significant financial decisions of their lives.
AY: What advice or best practices would you suggest for someone looking for a mortgage lender, especially if they are first-timers or have not bought or sold in a long time?
French: I would say stay local. Local lenders often have great products where they are able to provide incentives that could be credited towards closing costs or even 100 percent financing. Local lenders usually offer personalized services, and you can deal with the lender directly versus being online.
Hart: My advice is to prioritize communication, transparency and experience. Start by researching lenders and reading reviews or asking for referrals from friends or family. When you’ve identified a few potential lenders, schedule consultations with them to get a sense of their approach and whether you feel comfortable working with them.
AY: What are some good questions to ask or things to look for when considering a mortgage lender?
French: Ask about fees and payments. Make sure the lender explains that closing costs and down payment are different. Ask about all the programs they offer as some programs will be a better fit for you than others could be. Compare programs with rates, monthly payments and closing costs. Ask about credit scores as each lender can be different and each product may have a different requirement.
AY: Is there a particular segment of the population you particularly enjoy working with? What is fulfilling about serving that part of the clientele?
French: I love working with first-time homebuyers. They come in nervous and not knowing what to expect, and I make them feel comfortable and confident, knowing what they are doing. There is nothing greater than being at the closing table with first-time homebuyers because I know purchasing their first home will be something they will never forget.
AY: As a mortgage loan officer yourself, what makes you good at your job?
Hart: I believe what makes me good at my job is a combination of industry knowledge, a strong work ethic and a genuine commitment to my clients. Over the years, I’ve gained a deep understanding of the mortgage market, which allows me to navigate complex situations and find the most suitable solutions for each client. Building trust through clear communication and transparency is key, and I take pride in being a reliable partner in my clients’ home-buying journey.
All loans subject to credit and property approval.
Afamily home is a lot of things – a big investment, a place of sanctuary, a setting where once-ina-lifetime events take place. Homes come in all shapes and sizes, from petit starter houses with loads of charm to the family home where the kids grow up and come back to, year after year, to the empty nest space that has been dreamed of for years. There is a reason a home is part of the American Dream.
Central to this dream are realtors, the professionals who put in the long hours and late nights to help families find the right house and make it their home. Realtors help thousands of people in Arkansas find just the right address every day, building communities as they go. AY About You is proud to once again recognize the very best members of this honorable profession, listed in the following pages. We salute them for their hard work and congratulate them on their success.
We are so proud of our agents who have been selected by their clients as top agents in the area based on customer satisfaction. We strive to create a better experience for consumers and we are delighted these agents have been recognized by AY and our clients for those efforts!
SARAH BAILEY
BAILEY & CO. REAL ESTATE
Don’t send me a termination because I guarantee I can figure out a way to make this work.
By MAK MILLARD // Photo by JASON MASTERS
Although Bailey & Co. Real Estate in Little Rock only opened its doors in 2022, owner and principal broker Sarah Bailey’s two decades of industry experience have given her a good idea of what kind of firm she wants to run.
“We work together as a group. Everybody’s more of a team,” Bailey said. “It’s easier to do, I think, when you have a close-knit group of people who are also really good friends. You want each other to succeed. At bigger firms and corporate firms, I feel like it’s a little more cutthroat.”
Bailey was set on the real estate track by a family friend who invited her to work for what was then Phillips-Moudy-Duke in her hometown of Benton in 2003. Later, she was offered the chance to serve as executive broker of a Rector Phillips Morse branch in Bryant.
Now with her broker’s license in tow, Bailey followed that up by partnering with Erik Bailey and Matt Lamb to form iRealty Arkansas in 2013. The group started out in Little Rock before expanding into Benton, eventually selling to current owner Kristen Kennon in 2016.
Bailey stayed on as principal broker after the sale and worked at iRealty Arkansas for another year. In 2018, Bailey teamed up again to form Pixel Properties, this time with business partner Ray Ellen, opening offices in Little Rock, Benton and Fayetteville.
In 2022, Bailey channeled her entrepreneurial experience once more to found Bailey & Co. Real Estate. The Little Rock-based firm has 21 agents and offers both residential and commercial services. While the company mainly focuses on Little Rock, Benton and Bryant, Bailey’s agents have also branched out into Conway and Hot Springs.
“[The Hot Springs] market has been crazy, like, it never slowed down,” Bailey said. “I have about three agents who work that area, and even $2 million homes are still moving just like nothing’s going on in the world.”
The buzz in Hot Springs aside, low inventory and high interest rates continue to be issues for the central Arkansas market writ large, Bailey said. While an expected rate cut in the fall might convince more homeowners to move, many are understandably still reluctant to give up the low rates they were able to score in years past.
“Nobody can really upsize again because anybody who’s in at 2.5, 3, 3.5 [percent], you can’t get into a big-
ger home or you’re going to have a bigger rate,” she said. “You might as well stay put.”
Rate cut speculation notwithstanding — and with regulatory shakeups in mind — it is hard to predict what the future will bring for the industry. Bailey remains optimistic.
“I hate to be so cliche, but I really think the outcome of the election is going to have a lot to do with it,” she said. “I hope that whoever is elected that they do some things for the real estate industry to help boost the economy, boost sales and get some more inventory out there for us.”
Bailey, who has worked as a managing broker since 2006, said she has never received a complaint, and managing a closer-knit group of agents makes it easy to keep an eye on everyone. The firm’s size also allows her to provide more hands-on, one-on-one training, which she prefers. Bailey’s motivations are not about micromanaging, she said, but leveraging her experience to guide agents through even the most difficult situations and get them to the closing table successfully.
“There are not many problems that come up that I can’t get a solution for. I always tell my agents, ‘Don’t send me a termination because I guarantee I can figure out a way to make this work,’” Bailey said. “I’ve just seen too many things, whether it’s an issue with a VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] loan or negotiating repairs between a buyer and a seller. I’ve been in almost every situation possible.”
Bailey spends most of her energy on the management side of the business these days, in addition to a few clients who return to her whenever they want to buy or sell a house. She usually helps her agents with their own deals, although they are all experienced in their own rights, as well. Bailey’s agents have a minimum tenure of five years, and many of them have followed her from her previous posts.
At this point in her career, Bailey is not concerned as much with growing the company as she is doing good work with the trusted team she already has.
“My loyalty is to them, and I want to spend my time focusing on them. When I’m not doing that, I want to be with my family,” she said. “I want to focus on my loyal people and keep it where everyone’s happy and then go spend time with my family and travel too.”
From top left to right: Karen Hudspeth, REALTOR®/ Tracy Cravey, Executive Broker/ Svetlana Simmons, Central Arkansas Regional Broker Haley Ward, REALTOR®/ Renee McDougal, REALTOR®
From bottom left to right: Royce Duncan, Executive Broker-Property Manager/ Kayla Jones, Managing Executive Broker/ Tonia Hobbs, REALTOR® Lisa Kraps, Managing Executive Broker/ Lindsey Roddy, Executive Broker
By MAK MILLARD // Photo by ALEX GARNER/SHEER PORTRAITURE
Many people find themselves interested in a real estate career after experiencing the process from the buyer’s point of view. Few make the transition quite as literally as Shelby Finch, now an executive broker at the Sudar Group, who was offered an assistant job by her own agent while shopping for her first home alongside her husband.
“In a matter of months, I was helping him open his own brokerage,” Finch said. “I spent several years assisting him and 20 of his agents with their marketing, prepping their listings, converting leads, and learning the ins and outs of the industry.”
In 2019, Finch met Corrine Sudar, who shared her dream of starting a woman-owned and -operated brokerage that would offer the support women and mothers need to succeed in the industry. She encouraged Finch to complete her real estate license, as well. After two years of laying the groundwork, the Sudar Group officially opened in April 2021 and now boasts 47 agents between locations in Fort Smith and northwest Arkansas.
Sudar, owner and principal broker of the firm, considered a few different home-related careers before settling on real estate. She enjoys architecture, interior design and sales, she said, but helping people find homes is what really drew her in. Sudar is licensed in Oklahoma, as well as Arkansas, and she helps clients throughout northwest Arkansas, the River Valley and eastern Oklahoma.
“I think homes are beautiful, and it’s really fun to see the creativity that builders have when they build homes and how they meet clients’ needs,” Sudar said. “There’s just really nothing that compares to helping someone accomplish a goal like buying a house, whether that’s their first house or an investment property or a big portfolio. It’s always rewarding.”
Real estate is already a competitive field, let alone in the exploding northwest corner of the state. To stand out, the Sudar Group has branded itself as a powerhouse boutique firm specializing in residential, commercial and investment properties. A Sudar Group agent is expected to be a dedicated negotiator and high-level producer. A sizable number of team members are among the top 5 percent of agents in northwest Arkansas and Fort Smith, Sudar said.
“Our agents are very serious full-time agents who represent builders and are very focused on meeting client goals,” Sudar said. “I want to know that my agents are here for the whole journey
because selling a house can be really hard, finding the right house can be hard, and we are really committed to the journey of helping them find exactly what they and their family are dreaming of.”
Sudar strives to maintain a collaborative culture at the firm, she said, as well as set the pace for her team through her own high performance. She is a Triple Diamond award-winning principal broker and owner who sells at a large volume and represents several builders to boot.
“I think Sudar Group is the fastest-growing boutique brokerage in Arkansas,” she said. “We are extremely aggressive, we curate our process to each individual buyer or seller, and we’re very client centered. … We understand the market and control a lot of the market share. We’re a great place to help people meet their real estate goals.”
Between her sharp marketing skills and hometown expertise in the Fayetteville market, Finch embodies the ideal Sudar Group agent well. No two days are the same for Finch, who can often be found bouncing between different aspects of office work, touching base with clients, agents, lenders and title companies while still finding the time to gather listing photos and attend home inspections.
All of that, of course, is not to mention showing the houses themselves. Those appointments are dictated by a prospective buyer’s schedule, meaning Finch’s workday sometimes lasts well into the evening. She prioritizes being available for her clients whenever they call, and that requires her to remain flexible and quick on her feet.
While Finch relishes the fast pace and creative demands of her work, she is also keenly aware of the importance of building real relationships with each client. Not every move is a cause for celebration, she said, and an agent needs to be able to meet people where they are, whether that means upgrading to their dream home or selling a late parent’s estate. Navigating that journey with compassion is a crucial part of Finch’s work.
“I become a friend to all my clients, and I do whatever I can to assist them with the emotions that come with buying or selling,” she said. “I really don’t think it’s talked about enough that there’s not always champagne being popped at the closing table.”
As northwest Arkansas continues to grow at a rapid pace, it can be especially exciting for people who, like Finch, were born
and raised in the area to see how far it has come. Having a frontrow seat to new businesses, restaurants and places to explore has been amazing, she said, and she is eager to see what the future holds. That influx of newcomers is naturally bound to have an impact on homebuyer tastes, and while they “see it all in NWA, and there is a market for most of it,” Finch has noticed a few changes.
“I think we are shifting from the modern farmhouse aesthetic to a more traditional home with pops of color. Buyers are loving a soft neutral palette with some bold design choices mixed in,” she said. “In new construction, I’ve seen a lot more accent colors being used in cabinetry and in tile, specifically blues and greens, and I’ve been told black hardware is out and gold is in. I’ve also seen a ton of wallpaper lately. It’s like the ’90s came back with a vengeance.”
Sudar, for her part, is optimistic about the amount of inventory coming to market across northwest Arkansas and the River Valley, especially on the cusp of widely anticipated interest rate cuts heading into the new year.
“I would say for the first time, I have not felt like the summer’s been a buyer’s market or a seller’s market. I’m really looking forward to the fall,” she said. “I also expect a surge of buyers with what’s happening with Walmart, and I think you’ll have more people selling their houses and upgrading with interest rates dropping.”
Even with the industry holding its breath over what the next few months will bring, Sudar and Finch both stuck to the classics in their advice to homeowners and prospective buyers.
“Always get preapproved before you start shopping so that you understand your budget. A local lender is really important because a local lender can connect you with a great agent if you don’t yet have one,” Sudar said. “Interview several agents because they all offer different things. Interview different lenders, [don’t house shop] before you’re prequalified, and make a list of the 10 things
We are extremely aggressive, we curate our process to each individual buyer or seller, and we’re very client centered.
— Corrine Sudar, owner and principal broker
that are most important to you in a house. That way, you can try to get eight of them.”
On the design side, Finch encouraged people not to stress too much over matching the style du jour.
“Trends come and go,” she said. “Find what you like and embrace it.”
Many first-time buyers start out nervously, unsure of what to expect and far from confident that things will turn out the way they hope. Finch has helped more than 30 first-time homebuyers in the past few years, a feat that, as she pointed out, is no small task in a competitive market. She said she considers her clients’ business a privilege and getting them to the closing table the ultimate accomplishment.
“I have made so many new friends in this career, and I just want to continue to meet new amazing people and help them with their real estate goals, whether that’s buying, selling or investing,” she said. “I want to continue to serve others and my community, all while being a good friend, mentor and mother.”
Guiding People Home Since 1955
Jamie Grantham, Inez reeder, kim floyd, andrea bakewell, anna kaye dover, jerald gardner, amber cullipher, kara kellerman, Eleanor foltz Day, melinda purvis, thomas lipsmeyer, angelica rogers, stephanie hurst, becky biggs-Hartin, carolyn cobb, marva caldwell, laKesha Crow, Dana Kellerman, ALlison Pickell, Eden Roberts, Spencer Hawks
Not Pictured: Angela Rhodes, lynn pangburn, pat hitt, sarah kemp, shelby norfleet, stacy
BENTONVILLE 479-464-4995
EUREKA SPRINGS 479-253-5080
HARRISON 870-204-6890
FAYETTEVILLE 479-695-6100
FORT SMITH 479-783-7793
DANVILLE 479-495-2281
HARRISON 870-391-8012
JASPER 870-446-2244
ARKADELPHIA 870-246-2821
MOUNTAIN HOME 870-425-2264
MARSHALL 870-448-5450
GREERS FERRY 501-825-6800
GREENBRIER 501-679-0600
HEBER SPRINGS 501-365-1260
CONWAY 501-327-6723 501-932-2828
BENTON 501-315-5900
MALVERN 501-332-5767
CABOT 501-259-9003
NLR / SHERWOOD 501-819-0212
LITTLE ROCK 501-221-0101
BRYANT 501-943-5260
SHERIDAN 870-942-8084
El Dorado 870-863-6053
STUTTGART 870-455-1083
DEWITT 870-455-1081
• Residential Closing Services
• Commercial Closing Services
• Escrow Services
• Title Insurance
• 1031 & Reverse 1031 Transactions
• Abstracting
• Witness Closings
Given what is at stake for Realtors, banks, buyers and sellers during a real estate transaction, it makes sense to turn to a title company that even the competition relies on to get the job done well. Since opening its doors in 1997, First National Title Co. has grown into the state’s largest independent title company at 25 locations and counting. A wide network of title plants and dedicated local teams in several counties gives the company an edge when it comes to the accuracy and quality of its title searches. Owner Jim Pender and Executive Vice President David Harrison are also attorneys, providing clients with an additional level of in-house legal insight that few others can match.
“The fact that we have such a large scale allows us to keep our costs down and provide a service at a reasonable price,” Pender said. “We don’t try to be the cheapest. We meet whatever price we need to get a deal, but we worry more about giving quality service.”
First National stands apart for its longevity and steadfast commitment to closing even the most complicated real estate transactions. A reputation for results has led First National to be called upon frequently by out-of-state title companies needing to get deals over the line in Arkansas.
The company also works behind the scenes with plenty of companies based in the Natural State, as well.
“We have other title companies who may have an office in Pulaski County but don’t have an office or a title plant in Saline County or in Hot Springs Village,” Pender said. “They call us, and we do the title work for them. People don’t even know we’re involved because it will all be under their name, but we provide that service for other title companies.”
First National also regularly acquires title companies in rural or underserved areas that might otherwise have closed due to financial reasons. This practice ensures clients across the state continue to have access to local, high-quality closing services at a fair price. Even insurance underwriters recognize the benefits of working with First National.
“Because of us running it like an old-fashioned title company and spending a little extra money on the front end, we have a really good claims history with our underwriters, where our claims are smaller and we have less of them than a lot of our competitors,” Pender said. “We’ve developed a reputation that we can get the difficult deals closed.”
We are honored to be recognized as one of the best real estate brokerages in the state. Your support means the world to us. We are equally proud of Tracey Wheelington and Amber White for being nominated
Their
By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos by KELLY WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY
To say that real estate is in Amber White’s blood, as the old saying goes, is a massive understatement. The principal broker and CEO of White Stone Real Estate in Hot Springs was exposed to the industry so early and consistently in life, it is hard to imagine she could have wound up doing anything else.
“I grew up in a real estate family,” she said. “My mom and stepdad married when I was a toddler, and he was already in real estate. His uncle was the project developer for Cooper Homes and recruited him right out of high school to come and sell real estate. I remember even as a little girl watching him sell real estate and always having to keep the car clean on the way to school because he was going to have clients in the back of his car that day.”
White’s early exposure to the industry gave her a keen understanding of the work and ethics it took to build a thriving career. Since jumping in with both feet in 2007, she has done just that, steadily growing from a hungry young newcomer to a top producer in her hometown of Hot Springs and launching her own firm, which she has built into a major player in central Arkansas.
Nearly two decades in, the business has delivered financial and reputational success, and the grind of earning it has given White a quiet but very palpable strength.
“The No. 1 ingredient to survive the first two or three years in real estate is tenacity,” she said. “If you do not have the tenacity and a whole lot of grit to survive that uphill climb for the first three years, you won’t make it. The stats show that over 80 percent of new agents don’t make it past the two-year mark.
“It’s just one foot in front of the other, doing all the right things, knowing you’re going to get knocked down, knowing you’re going to hear ‘no’ a lot.”
White proved to have no quit in her and spent her formative years in the business learning as much as she could about what separates successful salespeople from the herd.
She said one of the things that helped her development the most was the ability to make an honest assessment of her own strengths and weaknesses, adjusting her style and approach accordingly.
“People are surprised to find out that I’m an introvert,” she said. “I never considered myself to be one of those people that has a lot of charisma. It’s definitely not my favorite thing to speak in front of people or get in front of big crowds. One thing I learned in the beginning of my career is although this is a sales job, I found it to be better not to be a ‘salesy’ person.
“Nobody wants to be sold. They want to know that you’re a genuine person who is safe to do business with. For many clients, they see those qualities in people who are a little quieter, a little more reserved, but still have a lot of tenacity and a lot of quiet strength about them.
White’s considerable relationship-building skills struck a note with the public, as evidenced by her impressive career sales numbers, but she has also applied her philosophy to her leadership role at White Stone. There, she heavily invests herself in the development of her team, imparting advice and coaching expertise that has been years in the making. A keen motivator, she is equally effective at leading the cheers as she is at handing out tough love and is never shy about delivering the facts of life in real estate.
“Believe it or not, I try to talk a lot of people out of selling real estate,” she said. “We have 19 agents at White Stone, and every
Nobody wants to be sold. They want to know that you’re a genuine person who is safe to do business with.
single one of them knows I’m going to lay it all out for them because it’s all hard in real estate, you know? Every single aspect of building your business is not easy.
“At the same time, I’ve coached a lot of new agents to understand they don’t have to do all the things everybody else appears to be doing. If you’re not comfortable door knocking, then find something that is the least painful thing for you to do. Finding a club or group or organization to get involved in and network that way, you know, whatever that might be. Discover your niche, and go with whatever your strengths are.”
Throughout her stellar career, White has witnessed a great deal of change come to her profession, from online marketing to more women ascending to positions of leadership to clients today who would rather handle the entire buy-sell process online. Those changes and more she has taken in stride as she continues to focus on the fundamentals that got her where she is.
“In sales, there are the tried-and-true things that never change, OK? I don’t care if it’s the 1940s or current times,” she said. “Building relationships, definitely, being genuine, having integrity — if you look at the top 10, top 20 real estate professionals in Hot Springs, those are the things they all hold in common. There are specific things people do that have come along over the years, like buying leads and social media strategies, but those things only go so far. If you really want to build a business that has deep roots, you have to build genuine relationships with people.”
“One thing that goes with that, something I always come back to and that never changes, is every single day I interact with clients, I’m putting their well-being before a paycheck. It’s a true honor and a privilege to help guide a customer through their home purchase or home sale, which, most of the time, involves their largest asset. I feel the weight of that on a daily basis, and I consciously make the decision that when it comes down to it, their wellbeing will always come first.”
We’re truly thankful for the recognition as AY’s Best Realtors. This honor is a testament to the trust and support of our incredible clients. Your success motivates us, and we look forward to continuing to serve you with the dedication that earned this recognition. Thank you for letting us be a part of your journey.
Being a real estate professional in today’s world requires a constant ability to adapt and to dedicate a significant portion of one’s life to the trade. From late-night and weekend home showings to the fielding of texts and phone calls 24/7 to the unprecedented nature of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the best REALTORS® are available, approachable and always ready to serve their clients. All of the following men and women exemplify each of these traits and then some. Each has been nominated to be the Arkansas REALTOR® of the Year by his or her local board or association for outstanding achievements and honorable service to the communities served.
for being selected as Realtor of the Year by the Eastern Arkansas Realtors’ Association!
As a dedicated real estate agent, I am committed to working for you every step of the way. With a strong network of top-notch lenders and partners, I ensure you have the best support team working with you. Whether you’re searching for your dream home, buying for the first time, or selling your property, I am passionate about guiding you through every aspect of the process. My priority is to make myself fully available to you and to ensure you feel confident and comfortable with your transaction. Your success is my success, and I am the agent who will make it happen for you.
Harrison District Board of REALTORS
Weichert, REALTORS — Market Edge
Springs Village Board of REALTORS
Big Red Realty
Area Board of REALTORS
Select Realty
North Pulaski Board of REALTORS
iRealty Arkansas
Hot Springs Board of REALTORS
Lake Hamilton Realty
Johnson County Board of REALTORS
Coldwell Banker Premier Realty
Little Rock REALTORS Association
Keller Williams Realty - Little Rock
North Central Board of REALTORS
Century 21 LeMac Realty
Northeast Arkansas Board of REALTORS
Halsey Thrasher Harpole Real Estate Group
“This holistic approach has equipped me with the insights needed to thrive,” she said. “I have always had a passion for serving others, leveraging a diverse background in the beauty industry and real estate to help individuals achieve their goals.”
Medlock said the most challenging aspect of her job is the shared disappointment when a client’s dream home appears out of reach in a fiercely competitive market.
“The most rewarding part is witnessing the eventual resolution and realization that things have a way of falling into place as they should,” she said. “Finding the right home for my clients and seeing their joy makes every hurdle worthwhile.”
Medlock credited the “many remarkable women” throughout her life for leaving a lasting imprint, and she strives to do the same for young women in her path.
”
SUCCESS IS NOT JUST ABOUT PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS, BUT THE RELATIONSHIPS YOU NURTURE AND THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
Education has always been at the forefront of Staci Medlock’s journey. The North Little Rock-based Realtor called education vital in laying the foundation for her work in real estate.
“While obtaining my real estate license provided me with the necessary technical knowledge, real estate is a dynamic and ever-evolving industry that demands continuous learning,” she said. “I have embraced a mindset of perpetual growth, seeking to stay abreast of the newest technologies, refine my marketing skills and adapt to the latest industry changes.”
One of central Arkansas’ top sellers, Medlock’s almost two decades in the business have shown her that invaluable lessons are learned through real-life experiences.
“Just as the women before me have influenced and inspired my journey, I am committed to passing on wisdom, support and encouragement to the next generation of women,” she said. “I believe in the transformative power of mentorship, guidance and empowerment in nurturing the potential of those around me.”
Medlock’s advice to young women starting a career in real estate is to approach work with a genuine passion for helping others and to keep clients’ best interests at the heart of every decision.
“Uphold a strong sense of integrity, and always strive to do the right thing, even when faced with difficult choices,” she added. “Success is not just about personal achievements but the relationships you nurture and the difference you make in the lives of others.”
Medlock said she is most proud of her own personal journey that led to her becoming a Christian and her role as a mother and grandmother. On the professional front, Medlock is proud of the positive impact she has had on clients.
Medlock is also an active community volunteer through her church, local schools and a nonprofit dedicated to helping the homeless. She also serves as a Pulaski County Justice of the Peace.
“I aim to make a meaningful difference, foster positive change, and contribute to building a more compassionate, inclusive and thriving community,” she said. “I love what I do, and am very blessed to do what I love.”
Northwest Board of REALTORS
Heather Keenen Real Estate
Searcy Board of REALTORS
RE/MAX Advantage REALTORS
Southeast Arkansas Board of REALTORS
Rawls-Campbell Agency
Tri-County Board of REALTORS
United Country — Scenic Rivers Realty
Paragould Board of REALTORS
Real Estate Partners
South Central Arkansas REALTORS Association
Crye-Leike Pro Elite Realty
Texarkana Board of REALTORS
Gerald Haire Realty
Western River Valley Board of REALTORS
Heritage Group Real Estate
Kim Wilichowski
AY About You is proud to present its “2024 Best Realtors” listing, which celebrates the best that Arkansas’ real estate market has to offer. The following professionals occupy an industry that we are proud and humbled to admire, for as much as we staple ourselves on being about you, the best Realtors operate under the same mission, delivering families᾽ forever homes while, at the same time, turning partnerships into lifelong relationships.
AY’s Best Realtors is a list tallied from hundreds of nominations and votes cast by you, our readers. If you are in the market to buy or sell a home, these honorees will get the job done. Congratulations to this year's honorees!
1 Percent Lists Arkansas Real Estate
Steven Young
1 Percent Lists Arkansas Real Estate
Jeremy Cupp
12 Stones NWA, Brokered by Coldwell
Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette
Jeff Kennedy
1st Choice Realty
Shelly McDonald
1st Choice Realty
Tara Dixon
1st Choice Realty Hot Springs
Archie VanGorder
1st Choice Realty Hot Springs
Elizabeth Douglas
3% Realty NWA
Ana Bridges
AB Realty
Dennis Adkins
Adkins & Associates
Jennifer Adkins
Adkins & Associates
Brooks Jansen
Adkins & Associates
Lacey Gramling
Arkansas Elite Realty
Susan Penn
Arkansas Elite Realty
Trey Clifton
Arkansas Land & Realty
Kyle Hood
Arkansas Real Estate Collective
Kassi Bell
Back Porch Realty
Eddie Bailey
Bailey & Co. Real Estate
Sarah Bailey
Bailey & Co. Real Estate
Jessica Baxter
Bailey & Co. Real Estate
Lindsey Blaylock
Bailey & Co. Real Estate
Krystina Bullard
Bailey & Co. Real Estate
Jared Coleman
Bailey & Co. Real Estate
Maggie Emerson
Bailey & Co. Real Estate
Rachel Furrer
Bailey & Co. Real Estate
James Harkins
Bailey & Co. Real Estate
Barbara Jordan
Bailey & Co. Real Estate
Amy Landers
Bailey & Co. Real Estate
Elisabeth Roedel
Bailey & Co. Real Estate
Jessica Rogers
Bailey & Co. Real Estate
Will Smith
Bailey & Co. Real Estate
Kirt Thomas
Bailey & Co. Real Estate
Francesca Tolson
Bailey & Co. Real Estate
Joanna White
Bailey & Co. Real Estate
Mary Bassett
Bassett Mix & Associates
Jesse Baxley
Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors
Tom Baxley
Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors
Jennifer Carter
Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors
Mark Chilton
Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors
Kim Creighton
Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors
Dan Moudy
Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors
Charles Penfield
Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors
Lance Penfield
Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors
Layne Penfield
Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors
Clinton Bennett
Bennett Commercial Real Estate
Amy Glover Bryant
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Nikki Funk
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Jean Hurst
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Abigail Miller
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Robin J. Miller
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Courtney Rice
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Scott Sandlin
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Mark Shoptaw
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Cindy Cooper Trammel
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Kenny Van Patten
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Marion Aust
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Journey
Ellie Combs
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Journey
Natalie Edwards
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate
Journey
Mayer Team
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Journey
DuWayne Futch
Big Red Realty
Lydia McCarthy
Big Red Realty
Ryan Blackstone
Blackstone & Co. Real Estate
Cody Burnett
Burnett Real Estate Team
ConnectRealty.com
Rebecca Allred
Capital Sotheby's International Realty
Melissa Glidden
Capital Sotheby's International Realty
Maradyth McKenzie
Capital Sotheby's International Realty
Courtney McNally
Capital Sotheby's International Realty
Karen Moulton
Capital Sotheby's International Realty
Lauren Boozman Northey
Capital Sotheby's International Realty
Dee Rodes
Capital Sotheby's International Realty
Susan Desselle
Capital Sotheby’s International Realty
Chris Marsh
Capital Sotheby’s International Realty
Karen Moulton
Capital Sotheby’s International Realty
Dale Carlton, JD
Carlton Realty
David Erstine
CBRE — Fayetteville
Justin DuBar
Century 21
Amber Green
Century 21 Heartfelt Homes
Colista Cevela
Century 21 Parker & Scroggins
Dione Jessup
Century 21 Parker & Scroggins
Courtney Stott
Century 21 Parker Scroggins
Stacy Murry
Century 21 Portfolio
Leslie Morris
Chenal Properties
Michelle Sanders
Chenal Properties
Kathy Samson
Classic Country Realty
Mimi DeVol
Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette
Sherry Hardie
Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette
Kelsie Hinson
Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette
Patsy Simmons
Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette
Russell Wren
Coldwell Banker Heritage Homes
Andrea Bakewell
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Becky Biggs
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Marva Caldwell
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Carolyn Cobb
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
LaKesha Crow
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Amber Cullipher
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Eleanor Day
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Anna Kaye Dover
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Whitney Elmore
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Kim Floyd
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Jerald Gardner
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Reed Gibbons
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Jamie Grantham
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Stacy Hamilton
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Spencer Hawks
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Pat Hitt
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Stephanie Hurst
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Dana Kellerman
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Kara Kellerman
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Sarah Kemp
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Thomas Lipsmeyer
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Shelby Norfleet
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Tara Norwood
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Lynn Pangburn
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Allison Pickell
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Melinda Purvis
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Inez Reeder
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Angela Rhodes
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Eden Roberts
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Angelica Rogers
Coldwell Banker RPM Group
Calah Andelman
Collective Real Estate Partner
Jill Bell
Collier & Associates
Nicky Dean
Collier & Associates
Margaret Schloss
Collier & Associates
Jim Irwin
Colliers | Arkansas
Todd Rice
Colliers | Arkansas
Lenore Cottrell
Concierge Realty NWA
Amanda Gainey
Concierge Realty NWA
Toby Crawford
Crawford Real Estate and Associates
Doug Gibson
Crye-Leike Rogers
LuAnn Campbell
Crye-Leike
Clark Kitchens
Crye-Leike
Brad Miles
Crye-Leike
Kim Ngân Phan
Crye-Leike
Nedra Plumlee
Crye-Leike
Scott Smith
Crye-Leike
Sherry Smith
Crye-Leike
Annette Gore
Crye-Leike Bentonville
Jean Lance
Crye-Leike Bentonville
DelRae McGee
Crye-Leike Brock Real Estate
Delton Williams
Crye-Leike Gentry
Karol Bailes
Crye-Leike Hot Springs
Valerie Moran
Crye-Leike Kanis Road
Lisa Holloway-Sugg
Crye-Leike Maumelle
Donna Ibbotson
Crye-Leike Maumelle
Roe Team
Crye-Leike Pleasant Grove
Brian Dandy
Crye-Leike Real Estate Services
Brian Curtis
Curtis Realty Group
David Kirkland
David Dalton Real Estate, licenced under
Danali Real Estate
Keisha Walker
Dawn Realty & Associates
Scott Deaton
Deaton Group Realty
Debbie Donham
Donham Realty
Amber Wilson
Donham Realty
Ashley Branch
Edge Realty
Caleigh Dumas
Edge Realty
Corbin Kidd
Edge Realty
Tamara Miles
Edge Realty
Shane Stogsdill
Edge Realty
Jim Young
Edge Realty
Leah Childress
Elevation Real Estate and Management
Joel Hernandez
Elite Realty
Greg Hughes
Elite Realty
Bethany Adams
Engel & Völkers Little Rock
Samantha Brown
Engel & Völkers Little Rock
JoJo Carter
Engel & Völkers Little Rock
Laura Gerstner
Engel & Völkers Little Rock
Victoria Killough
Engel & Völkers Little Rock
Jena Selva
Engel & Völkers Little Rock
John Selva
Engel & Völkers Little Rock
Ryan Stephens
Engel & Völkers Little Rock
Selen Strickland
Engel & Völkers Little Rock
David Turner
Engel & Völkers Little Rock
LD Westendorf
Engel & Völkers Little Rock
Ron White
Engel & Völkers Little Rock
Shelli Stine
EPIC Real Estate
Taylor Baker
Equity Partners Realty
Stephanie Hall
Equity Partners Realty
Ryan Russell
Equity Partners Realty
Kerri Turner
Equity Partners Realty
Beau Durbin
ESQ Realty Group
Jeffery Vaughn
ESQ Realty Group
Mark Braziel
Evermark Realty
Michael Dang
eXp Realty
Renita Trumbo
eXp Realty
Dustin Turner
eXp Realty
Laura Labay
eXp Realty
Jill Beasley
First Star Realty
Shelley Dowell
First Star Realty
Brett Hash
First Star Realty
Melissa Sims
First Star Realty
William Payne
Flat Fee Realty
Ashley Cook
Gateway Properties
James Gibson
Gibson Real Estate
Amber Latimer
Gibson Real Estate
Nicholas Rhoads
Gibson Real Estate
Jared Smith
Gibson Real Estate
Kim Shelton
Halsey Thrasher Harpole Real Estate Group
Cass Harris
Harris Heights Realty
Nikki Scheafbauer
Home Adventure Real Estate
Sarah WIngate
Homequest Realty
Deanna Crook
Homescape Realty
Jimmy Williams
Homescape Realty
Anthony Walker
Homeward Realty
Hope Hartness
Hope & Co. Realty
Scott Garibay
Hot Springs Realty
Fay Garner
Hot Springs Realty
Harolyn Holmes
Hot Springs Realty
Callie Bell
iRealty
Lora Blair
iRealty
Sam Carrasquillo
iRealty
Tamika Edwards
iRealty
Kelly Fernandez
iRealty
Austin Franks
iRealty
Alexia Frederick
iRealty
Denise Hipskind
iRealty
Christine Johnson
iRealty
Jon Kennon
iRealty
Kristen Kennon
iRealty
Alice King
iRealty
Sara Lynn
iRealty
Aleisha McIntire
iRealty
Louis Petit
iRealty
Brittany Rasdon
iRealty
Rachel Rushing
iRealty
Jennifer Smart
iRealty
Blake Sumner
iRealty
John Hagberg
John Sells NWA Real Estate/Collier & Associates
Brandy Harp
Jon Underhill Real Estate
Jon Underhill
Jon Underhill Real Estate
Langston Carr
Keller Williams Realty Little Rock
Karl Freeman
Keller Williams Realty Little Rock
Johnny Mitchum
Keller Williams Realty Little Rock
Christy Robinson
Keller Williams Realty Little Rock
Carl Bell
Keller Williams Realty Little Rock
Tracy Cryder
Keller Williams Realty Little Rock
Kerry Ellison
Keller Williams Realty Little Rock
Becky Finney
Keller Williams Realty Little Rock
Gwendolyn Parker
Keller Williams Realty Little Rock
Lolly Honea & Michelle Honea-Frueauff
Keller Williams Realty Little Rock
The Sumbles Team
Keller Williams Realty Little Rock
Kelley Cullen
Kelley Cullen Real Estate, Brokered by Collier & Associates
Kendall Riggins
Kendall Riggins & Associates
Kendra Murphy
Kendra & Co Realty
Connie Alford
Lake Hamilton Realty
Deborah Libby
Lake Hamilton Realty
Dayton Myers
Lake Hamilton Realty
Heather Vaughn
Lake Hamilton Realty
Sally Adams
Lake Homes Realty
Rachelle McClard
Lake Homes Realty
Jim Gallagher
Landmark Real Estate & Investment
Aaron Hawes
Landmark Real Estate & Investment
Daniel Hawes
Landmark Real Estate & Investment
Lauren McClure
Lauren McClure Real Estate
Keith Marrs
Legend Realty
Somer Adams
Lindsey & Associates
Rachel Fulfer
Lindsey & Associates
Martha Haguewood
Lindsey & Associates
Angela Warner
Lindsey & Associates
Colley Bailey
LoneRock Realty
Tara Helgestad
Lotus Realty
George "GT" Ikard
Lotus Realty
Main St. Team
Main St. Real Estate
Tracy Cravey
McGraw Realtors
Royce Duncan
McGraw Realtors
Tonia Hobbs
McGraw Realtors
Karen Hudspeth
McGraw Realtors
Kayla Jones
McGraw Realtors
Lisa Kraps
McGraw Realtors
Renee McDougal
McGraw Realtors
Lindsey Roddy
McGraw Realtors
Svetlana Simmons
McGraw Realtors
Haley Ward
McGraw Realtors
Jeff McKenzie
McKenzie Realty Group
Mark McKenzie
McKenzie Realty Group
Kathy Namour
McKenzie Realty Group
Carla Scarbrough
McKenzie Realty Group
Suzette Elmore
McKimmey Associates, Realtors
Michelle Hagerman
McKimmey Associates, Realtors
Brooks McRae
McKimmey Associates, Realtors
Stan McLellan
McLellan & Associates Real Estate Group
Misty McMullen
McMullen Realty Group
Don McNaughton
McNaughton Real Estate
Shirley Anderson-Jones
Meyers Realty
Tonya Bagwell
Meyers Realty
Gina Myers-Gunderman
Michele Phillips & Co. Realtors
Tina Newsome
Michele Phillips & Co. Realtors
Lizzi Phillips
Michele Phillips & Co. Realtors
Michele Phillps
Michele Phillips & Co. Realtors
Karen Thornton
Michele Phillips & Co. Realtors
Kari Clay
Mid South Realty
Crystal Beatty
Modern Realty Group
Patti Bennett
Modern Realty Group
Amanda Mercer
Modern Realty Group
Tiffany O'Dwyer
Modern Realty Group
TJ Mohler
Mohler NWA Homes
Aaron Brewer
Mountain Vista Real Estate
Claire Brown
Move Realty
Eric Eby & Amanda Buck
Naturally NWA Home Team
Heather Keenen
Northwest Arkansas Board of Realtors
Stephen Brooks
NWA Real Estate HUB Team
Ronnie Davidson
NWA Realty and Property Management
Aaron O'Neal
O'Neal Real Estate
Brent Owens
Owens Realty & Auction
John Tate
Ozark Gateway Realty
Jose Esparza
PAK Home Realty
Hallie Dennis
Pixel Properties
Ray Ellen
Pixel Properties
Matthew Ferrell
Pixel Properties
Sara Thorpe
Pixel Properties
Monica Hale
Plush Homes Co.-Realty
Alicia Averitt Haley
PorchLight Realty
William Michaels
PorchLight Realty
Tonya Perkins
PorchLight Realty
Tim Wang Team
Prestige Management & Realty
Mike Parker
Prime Real Estate & Development
Lindsay Ermann
Public Realty
Megan Morrow
Rackley Realty
Chase Rackley
Rackley Realty
Ramsy Shuffield
Rackley Realty
Blake Wiggins
Rackley Realty
Scott Vise
Rainbow Realty
Mandy Rawls
Rawls-Campbell Agency
Matt Grissom
RE/MAX
Robin Jones
RE/MAX Elite Conway
Mindy Strand
RE/MAX Homefinders Jacksonville
Jody Huffmaster
RE/MAX - Cabot
The Moldenhauer Group
RE/MAX Associates
Megan Cain
RE/MAX Elite
Dana Patterson-Sims
RE/MAX Elite
Staci Medlock
RE/MAX Elite North Little Rock
Veolette Pennington
RE/MAX Homefinders - Jacksonville
Patricia Bollier
RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village
Susie Burns
RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village
Jane Hollansworth
RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village
Val Hansen
RE/MAX Properties: Val Hansen Team
Kim Minor
RE/MAX Real Estate Results Bentonville
Bob Dodson
RE/MAX Unlimited
MaryAnne Campbell
RE501 Realtor Partners
Lisa Coulter
RE501 Realtor Partners
Mike Hoffman
RE501 Realtor Partners
Joanne Homeyer
RE501 Realtor Partners
Kathy Kane
RE501 Realtor Partners
Lila Pearsall
RE501 Realtor Partners
Allison Phillips
RE501 Realtor Partners
Tiffany Hoffman Smith
RE501 Realtor Partners
Andrew Webre
RE501 Realtor Partners
Lee Ward
Realty Concepts
Reagen Kirkland
REALTY STUDIO | Northwest Arkansas
Real Estate
Courtney Kohrs
Resource Realty
Rebecca Seyller
Rice Realty
Jamie Hoffman
River Rock Realty Co. — Hoffman Team
Stephen Inman-Crawley
Rix Realty
Chris Rix
Rix Realty
Elizabeth Rowe
Rowe Real Estate
Michelle Blalock
Signature Properties
Amy Bush
Signature Properties
Jay Calhoun
Signature Properties
Haley Davis
Signature Properties
Diana Dominguez
Signature Properties
Holly Driver
Signature Properties
Tracy Norwood
Signature Properties
Ashley Parker
Signature Properties
Megan Seyler
Signature Properties
Lee Smith
Signature Properties
Mitsy Tharp
Signature Properties
Tracie Walker
Signature Properties
Bill Williams
Signature Properties
DJ Williams
Signature Properties
Bob Smith
Smith and Associates Real Estate Services
Sarah Gersch
Southern Homes Realty
Gene Tabor
TABOR Real Estate
Sarah Barnett
Taylor Realty Group
Kim Taylor
Taylor Realty Group
Tyrone & Andrea Parmelee
Team Parmelee Real Estate
David Austin
The Charlotte John Company
Mollie Birch
The Charlotte John Co.
Jonie Burks
The Charlotte John Co.
Jill Childers
The Charlotte John Co.
Jenn Cook
The Charlotte John Co.
Tami Cooper
The Charlotte John Co.
Stacie Corbitt
The Charlotte John Co.
Courtney Corwin
The Charlotte John Co.
Gayle Doll
The Charlotte John Co.
April Findlay
The Charlotte John Co.
Amber Gibbons
The Charlotte John Co.
Myranda Grulke
The Charlotte John Co.
Margaret Holt
The Charlotte John Co.
Erica Ibsen
The Charlotte John Co.
Mandy Jackson
The Charlotte John Co.
Charlotte John
The Charlotte John Co.
Brandy Jones
The Charlotte John Co.
Jeff Ledbetter
The Charlotte John Co.
Tiffany Lindsey
The Charlotte John Co.
Sheryl McKelvey
The Charlotte John Co.
Heather McNeil
The Charlotte John Co.
Michelle Miller
The Charlotte John Co.
Matty Ross
The Charlotte John Co.
Amanda Shue
The Charlotte John Co.
Jowaun Wright
The Charlotte John Co.
Emily Young
The Charlotte John Co.
Christopher Dinwiddie
The Exclusive Real Estate Group
David Hall
The Goff Group Real Estate Co.
Dustin Turner
The Home Team at eXp Realty
Bob Bushmiaer
The Janet Jones Co.
Shawn Clark
The Janet Jones Co.
Tanya Craft
The Janet Jones Co.
Mary Crismon
The Janet Jones Co.
Donna Dailey
The Janet Jones Co.
Lynn Dickey
The Janet Jones Co.
Sarah Duke
The Janet Jones Co.
Joanna Fureigh
The Janet Jones Co.
Conley Golden
The Janet Jones Co.
Kelly Johnson
The Janet Jones Co.
Casey Jones
The Janet Jones Co.
Margaret King
The Janet Jones Co.
Catherine Langley
The Janet Jones Co.
Sarah Beth Lowe
The Janet Jones Co.
Denise Luft
The Janet Jones Co.
Susan Reynolds
The Janet Jones Co.
Dawn Scott
The Janet Jones Co.
Debbie Teague
The Janet Jones Co.
Shannon Treece
The Janet Jones Co.
Phillip Bridges
The Property Group
Cara Hazlewood
The Property Group
Kristen Hinson
The Property Group
Hannah Howe
The Property Group
Margaret Bell Hughes
The Property Group
Nikolas Jefferson
The Property Group
Robert Klein
The Property Group
Nate Perry
The Property Group
John Porter
The Property Group
Abbie Stalnaker
The Property Group
Dana Yates
The Property Group
Megan Banks
The Sudar Group
Ashley Boyd
The Sudar Group
Lily Dighero
The Sudar Group
Shelby Finch
The Sudar Group
Ravonne John
The Sudar Group
Joseph Long
The Sudar Group
Brenda Maxwell
The Sudar Group
Mika McKinney
The Sudar Group
Rhonda Porter
The Sudar Group
Charity Stevens
The Sudar Group
Corrine Sudar
The Sudar Group
Charlene Wade
The Sudar Group
Gina Washburn
The Sudar Group
Shannon West
The Sudar Group
Alexis White
The Sudar Group
Makaila Wilson
The Sudar Group
Kate Gaffigan
The Summit Home Team Realtors
Ryan Hill
The Virtual Realty Group
Bart Hester
Third Street Realty Services
Rick Marshall
Trademark HSV Real Estate
Sharon Tremor
Trademark HSV Real Estate
Marsha Baker
Trademark Real Estate
Jenny Bledsoe
Trademark Real Estate
Bethany Brasfield
Trademark Real Estate
Tammy Browning
Trademark Real Estate
Melissa Chadick
Trademark Real Estate
Jan Culp
Trademark Real Estate
George Dooley
Trademark Real Estate
Team Galloway
Trademark Real Estate
Cynthia Gildner
Trademark Real Estate
David Hanson
Trademark Real Estate
Judy Hanson
Trademark Real Estate
Debi Jones
Trademark Real Estate
Wendy Landes
Trademark Real Estate
Debbie Mills Matlock
Trademark Real Estate
Rachel Mundy
Trademark Real Estate
Vianey Soria
Trademark Real Estate
Cody & Kyndra Hill
True North Realty Group
Sam Coster
Twin Oaks Realty
Dan Schwieder
Twin Oaks Realty
Tracy Stephens
United Country NWA Real Estate
Jeff Van Patten
Van Patten & Co.
Travis Martin
VineBrook Homes
Chad Beebe
Weichert REALTORS — The Griffin Co.
Zach Brothers
Weichert REALTORS — The Griffin Co.
Heather Campbell
Weichert REALTORS — The Griffin Co.
Marcy Chavez
Weichert REALTORS — The Griffin Co.
Yuliya Colvin
Weichert REALTORS — The Griffin Co.
Sandra Kelley
Weichert REALTORS — The Griffin Co.
Brandon Long
Weichert REALTORS — The Griffin Co.
Marcus Necessary
Weichert REALTORS — The Griffin Co.
Beckie Seba
Weichert REALTORS — The Griffin Co.
Charlotte King
Weichert REALTORS — The Griffin Co.
Christopher King
Weichert REALTORS — The Griffin Co.
Tracey Wheelington
White Stone Real Estate
Amber White
White Stone Real Estate
Connor Wilkerson
Wilkerson Real Estate Company
Despite
By SARAH DECLERK
It is no secret that restaurant prices have gone through the roof. According to the National Restaurant Association, the consumer price index for food away from home grew more than 4 percent from June 2023 to June 2024, and both fullservice and limited-service menu prices grew by about 4 percent during that time period.
Grab-it-and-go items fared even worse. Traditional fast, cheap options — vending machines and mobile vendors — saw a price index increase of 5 percent.
Although Arkansas diners are certainly feeling the strain of rising prices, restaurants in the South had a lower increase than in other parts of the country. While the West and Northeast saw the worst of the increases at nearly 5 percent for all menus prices, the Midwest saw an increase of less than 4 percent, and in the South, the increase was a little more than 3 percent.
That said, from a big-picture standpoint, the year showed some signs of relief. The increase in full-service menu prices has subsided since peaking at 9 percent in 2022, and the year-overyear increase in limited-service menu prices has dipped slightly to show the slowest growth rate since June 2020.
Why are prices so high? Inflation is largely to blame. Rising food and labor costs have left their mark on the bottom line, and restaurants are passing those costs on to the consumer.
For a typical restaurant that has annual sales of $900,000, the increases in food and labor prices are enough to decimate pre-tax income about 75 percent, the National Restaurant Association states.
EPrices for food and labor have increased steeply since the COVID-19 pandemic, and 88 percent of restaurant owners reported that their total food costs are higher than they were in 2019. Wholesale food prices rose more than 13 percent between March 2021 and March 2022, and labor costs increased more than 15 percent between December 2020 and December 2021.
Inflation has left a mark on most every business but has had a particularly dramatic impact on the restaurant industry. Restaurants have a much slimmer margin than other small businesses and have a typical pre-tax margin of 3 to 5 percent, the National Restaurant Association states. Food and labor costs each consume a third of every sales dollar, and after accounting for other costs, restaurants are left with about 5 cents of every dollar they receive.
Prices for rent, energy and supplies also skyrocketed after the pandemic, and 83 percent of operators said operating costs were higher in December 2021 than December 2020, 63 percent said they had accumulated additional debt over the past two years, and 57 percent said the restaurant fell behind on expenses.
USA Today reported in July that Arkansas was in the top five states for restaurant inflation. Average restaurant spending rose from an average of $84.35 in November to $102.09 for a 21 percent increase.
Despite the high prices, customers continue to come in. A 2023 US Foods survey of American dining habits found that Americans dine out three times a month, on average, and order delivery an average of 4.5 times a month. With participants spending an average of $166 a month dining out, the amount households allot for restaurant dining is no small potatoes.
Fear not, lovers of take-out and dine-in fare; there are still plenty of places where foodies can stretch a dime. In central Arkansas, a number of restaurants provide meals for an affordable price without compromising quality or dining experience. Here are a few finds:
Established in 1987, the family-owned and -operated eatery Iriana’s Pizza in downtown Little Rock hangs its hat on offering brick oven pizzas and more made from scratch daily using fresh ingredients, making it a favorite among the downtown workforce.
Fans of premium pies can delight in the lunch special. Priced at $7.99, the lunch special includes a massive slice of pepperoni pizza and a salad Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday or two slices of pepperoni pizza served a la carte on Thursdays. Those who order the lunch special can reportedly walk in and receive their meals in less than 15 minutes.
There are plenty of other budget-friendly finds at the restaurant, including a small cheese pizza that comes in at less than $10 with tax, and a small pepperoni pizza that rings up at less than $12.
201 E. Markham St., Suite 100
Little Rock
501-374-3656
irianas.pizza
Tuesday-Saturday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Closed Sundays and Mondays
With its swinging decor, outdoor seating area and live music, Stickyz Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicken Shack in downtown Little Rock’s River Market district is known as a happening spot for entertainment, but it is also a great place to grab some affordable grub. A half order of three World Famous Sticky Fingerz with one sauce costs $6.99, and the weekday lunch special of Fingerz and french fries provides a dine-in lunch option for $9.99 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Appetizers that double as a light meal include the Cluck Puppies, four biscuit-breaded chicken hush puppies served with Woo My Lawd sauce, for $7.49, and the fried green tomatoes at $6.99 also provide a low-cost snacking option. Fans of libations can partake of beer for $1 off from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily or sample the beer of the month for $4.50.
107 River Market Ave.
Little Rock
501-372-7707 stickyz.com
Bar hours:
Tuesday- Friday: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Saturdays: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sundays: 11 a.m. to midnight
Kitchen hours:
Sunday-Thursday: 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays: 11 a.m. to midnight Closed Mondays
Stickyz tenders and fried green tomatoes. (Photos provided.)
IIn a restaurant category that is well saturated with low-cost favorites, Pizza Cafe sets itself apart by putting signature touches on its pie recipes. High-quality cheese adds some gooey goodness to each slice, and the flakey, crispy crusts include a touch of honey.
Diners can enjoy these special touches without breaking the bank. For lunch on less than $10, diners get two slices or a slice with a side salad. Coming in around $20, the large pizzas provide an affordable dinner option for two or three guests.
Not in a pizza mood? No problem. The restaurants tasty sandwiches can be had for less than $10. Plus, the deals on grub are just part of the story; guests can also purchase discount drinks during Monday and Tuesday’s all-day happy hour or during regular happy hour from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. other weekdays.
1517 Rebsamen Park Road Little Rock 501-664-6133
14710 Cantrell Road, Suite 14A Little Rock 501-868-2600
pizzacafelr.com
Sunday-Thursday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
WWhat makes Cache so iconic? An emphasis on approachable luxury and chef-focused attention to craft exemplified by the open-air kitchen and tastefully elevated recipes lends the River Market restaurant an air of prestige.
It might come as a surprise, then, to find the upscale downtown Little Rock spot on a list of cheap eats, but Cache has a surprisingly reasonable lineup of weekly lunch specials that provide a budget-friendly way to impress business associates. At $15 a plate, the specials include chef’s pasta on Mondays, beef taco salad on Tuesdays, a chef’s handheld option on Wednesdays, fried
catfish on Thursdays and fried chicken on Fridays. If the daily special does not entice, there are a few other lunch items for $15 or less, including the turkey burger, a selection of pizzas, and a variety of sandwiches and salads.
425 President Clinton Ave. Little Rock 501-285-8381 cachelittlerock.com
Monday-Friday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5 p.m. to last seating
Saturdays: 5 p.m. to last seating Closed Sundays
Zucchini boats provide flavorful meals all summer long.
By AMY GRAMLICH
As fall draws near, zucchini remains in ample supply in Arkansas. The plant thrives until frost, and the Natural State’s climate means plenty of the versatile veggie to come. For a hearty dinner idea, put those zukes to use with this delicious stuffed taco zucchini boat recipe for dinner tonight.
Stuffed zucchini boats offer a healthier alternative to pasta dishes. This dish involves layering ingredients in a fashion similar to lasagna. However, rather than lasagna noodles, carved zucchini halves serve as the base ingredient.
This entree is an ideal all-in-one meal by itself, but it can be served with a side salad or a bed of seasoned rice. Zucchini boats can be stored in an air-tight container for two to three days in the refrigerator.
When selecting zucchini, try to select zucchini of similar size that are not overly round. The really rounded zucchini may not lay flat, and the stuffing may spill out.
To prep the zucchini, wash and trim off the stems, and then slice each zuke in half lengthwise. Using a spoon or a melon baller, scoop out much of the inner flesh. When finished, the zucchini halves should look like little johnboats with flat bottoms and higher sides. The enemy in this dish is the moisture within the zuke itself. Like a lot of veggies, zucchini has a relatively high water content, which can quickly turn a boat into a soggy mess. To avoid this, keep two rules in mind:
1. Zukes do not tend to freeze well due to the excess moisture they carry, so prep and consume this dish as close to purchasing the zucchini as possible.
2. Roast the zucchini halves prior to stuffing, then roast again to the oven to finish the dish. The first trip to the oven helps remove some of the moisture, preventing soggy zucchini.
GRAMLICH
When roasting the empty zucchini halves, use a baking sheet and place them with the cut sides facing down. Another good technique is to place a baking rack on top of the baking sheet and then place the zucchini cut side down. That way, the air is allowed to circulate on all sides of the zucchini, allowing moisture to evaporate.
The stuffing for the dish generally includes ground beef, although that can vary. Feel free to experiment with different ingredients, including the following options:
• Marinara: Enjoy meatless zucchini boats simply topped with marinara and fresh herbs.
• Ground beef with spaghetti sauce or marinara: This is a common combination for zucchini boats.
• Ground sausage: A flavorful twist is to substitute ground sausage in these tender zucchini boats.
• Ground turkey: For leaner zucchini boats, swap out the ground beef for ground turkey.
• Grilled chicken: Leftover grilled chicken chopped into small pieces also works well as a healthier meat option for this hearty dish.
• Veggie medley: Skip the animal protein altogether in favor of a delicious mix of mushrooms, peppers and onions roasted with the zucchini.
• Ricotta and roasted peppers: For a creamier filling, use ricotta cheese and roasted red peppers for a flavorful variation.
• Rice: Arkansas’ favorite grain adds another layer of hearty filling.
• Quinoa and chickpeas: For a Mediterranean twist, try quinoa and chickpeas as the filling option.
• Choice of cheeses: Any Italian-style cheese that melts well makes a nice topping in this recipe. In addition to the mozzarella used here, experiment with provolone, Monterey jack or pepper jack.
Also, remember how prepping and freezing the zukes was a no-no? Not so with the filling! Preparing the meat filling in advance (without the zucchini flesh) and freezing it saves some time when it comes to making the zucchini boats. Leftover taco or spaghetti meat also provides some options for use in quick and easy dinners.
3 medium zucchini
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 pound ground beef
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/2 small yellow or white onion, chopped
1/2 small red pepper, chopped
10 ounces taco seasoning
3/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
Optional garnishes: jalapeno slices, chopped tomato, chopped onion or herbs
1. Preheat the oven to 375˚ F.
2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper, or spray with cooking spray.
3. Using a cutting board, cut the zucchini in half lengthwise. With a spoon or melon baller, scoop out the filling and reserve for later. Leave a 1/2- to 1/4-inch sturdy rim. The hollowed zucchini halves should now look like boats, flat on the bottoms but with rounded edges.
4. Rub the zucchini with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Roast in the oven cut side down for 15 minutes until soft.
5. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, brown 1 pound of ground beef with the garlic, chopped onion and pepper.
6. Drain meat when browned.
7. Returning the pan to the stove, add taco seasoning and water. Bring to a strong simmer on medium heat.
8. Add the reserved scoops of zucchini into the mixture and stir.
9. Turn the heat to low, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce is thickened.
10. Remove the zucchini halves from the oven and flip over so they are cut side up
11. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of meat filling into each boat until the zucchini halves are adequately stuffed.
12. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
13. Bake for another 12 to 15 minutes until cheese is melted and zucchini boats are soft.
14. Top with additional cheese, jalapenos, chopped tomatoes, fresh herbs and/or other garnish.
ife in northeast Arkansas revolves around the regional hub of Jonesboro. The city, which has seen consistent growth throughout even the most difficult seasons for the state, has become an example of what revitalization efforts can do. Now the city’s government and civic organizations are making policy and zoning changes to focus on safety and to attract new residents and guests.
“I feel like downtowns in general, it’s pretty overplayed is the phrase I’m going to use, but I truly feel like that’s the heart of your town,” said Sarah Doss, executive director of the Downtown Jonesboro Alliance. “Jonesboro is no exception to that. I feel like if you’re coming to Jonesboro for the first time and really want to get a grasp of our local talent and the heartbeat of our community, downtown’s the place to start.”
By LANCE BROWNFIELD // Photos provided
district. The alliance’s ordinance was just approved by the city council at its Aug. 6 meeting.
“With city and state support, we feel confident this is the best direction for downtown,” Doss said. “We are hard at work getting everything in order. That way, we can start off strong when the district goes live in early September.
For the past two years, Doss and her group have met with leaders from other cities and worked with state officials to draft an ordinance rezoning part of downtown as an entertainment
Sarah Doss
“[The entertainment district] will really just change the entire environment for us. This is something that we are eager for and feel is the right move for us. Just from a business economic standpoint, it is vital for us to do this, in my opinion.”
Eight of the top 10 largest cities in the state have already established an entertainment district, while the remaining two, Jonesboro and Conway, are working to introduce their own. Doss called the change a “multi-fold initiative” that business owners and residents are excited about.
Another effort by the downtown alliance is making the area safer and the outlook a little brighter.
As of June, the alliance had installed $80,000 worth of lighting
across downtown since 2018. Using mostly string lights, which improve the look and charm of the area, the money for the project came through fundraising events and grants, and that is not the only project shining a light on Jonesboro. The city recently was awarded a $5 million grant to light up about 4 miles of infrastructure.
“We have really shifted our direction in safety,” Jonesboro Mayor Harold Copenhaver said. “We’ve invested, since I’ve become mayor, in a lot of cameras, and that has helped us in so many areas. That way, we’re proactive not only when it comes to policing, but we’re proactive when it comes to traffic control. We’re solving many more open cases that would not have been solved, and we’re seeing our crime numbers drop, as well, at the same time, which is very unusual in this day and age.”
Total crimes in the city since 2014 peaked in 2016 at about 24,000, a report by the Jonesboro Police Department states. The department reported the lowest total number of crimes for the 10-year period in 2023 at about 21,000. Crimes against property are down by almost 700 incidents since a decade ago, and major crimes against persons are trending downward from the height of about 580 in 2020.
Nearing the end of his first term, Copenhaver said the city’s realtime crime center has hosted police forces from Little Rock, North Little Rock, Cabot, Conway, northwest Arkansas, Fort Smith and other areas to share policing methods. Jonesboro has adopted several tactics to engage the city and assist nearby communities to ensure a safer region.
Hand in hand with crime reduction have been the city’s efforts toward revitalization. Jonesboro’s historic West End has become an overlay district, which maintains that any new property purchase in the area has to be built to newer standards. The administration has also gone after blighted homes in the city, removing or upgrading 170 structures in the last 18 months.
“This has really revitalized a certain area and neighborhood in Jonesboro,” Copenhaver said. “I see that kind of gaining ground for other areas in Jonesboro. People want to take pride in their property, and this is what we’re seeing.”
An abundance of housing downtown gives residents lots of living options, including townhomes and lofts above the local shops. Couple that with an environment that is friendly to short-term rentals, and the streets of downtown Jonesboro always feel alive, Doss said.
While the entire area already has a historic charm, one local business owner has another ambitious plan to revamp the look and feel of parts of the downtown residential area. Ted Herget and his wife, Amanda, own Gearhead Outfitters and live in downtown Jonesboro near their company’s world headquarters.
Ted Herget said he fears his hometown is being outpaced by cities in the other northern corner of the state and has committed to improving the walkability in the city, specifically a mile stretch between downtown and Arkansas State University that he calls the Bridge District.
The plan calls for activating areas there by adding new restaurant spaces and reworking more than 50 residential spaces in the area, as well as a similar swath in the midtown area. Herget said he is copying the development he has seen in Bentonville but on a very small scale.
“The future of Jonesboro really relies on the on-campus enrollment of ASU,” he said. “I think the whole goal is attract and retain the best and the brightest. It’s kind of like trying to give these 18-year-old freshmen amenities and cool spots to hang out.”
Herget said the “live, work, play” model has changed the way cities attract residents. While generations before moved for work and figured out amenities later, younger people often move to towns where they want to live and find jobs later. He said his development efforts have taken him outside of his wheelhouse and are both challenging and time-consuming. His team has learned a lot of lessons along the way, he added.
“I’m not a developer,” he said. “I sell shoes for a living.”
“[Ted], arguably more than anyone else, sees the value in our downtown and chooses to purchase these properties and renovate them in a way to better the community and raise property values,” Doss said. “It’s a really exciting investment for downtown Jonesboro, an investment unlike any we’ve seen before.”
While options for living, dining and entertainment in the city are constantly improving, Jonesboro also draws many of the area’s workers. Copenhaver said the city swells from almost 80,000 residents to about 120,000 people during a typical workday. With two major health care institutions, good schools and the second-largest university in the state, there is plenty of work to go around and a highly educated workforce to boot.
Arkansas State University boasts an enrollment of more than 14,000 students, and the incoming freshmen class is the largest on record. The city also features the presence of some of the biggest brands in the world, including Nestlé, Unilever, Frito-Lay and Post Consumer Brands, as well as lesser-known companies like Hytrol Conveyor Co., one of the world’s largest conveyor-systems companies. Hytrol builds systems for Amazon, FedEx and the U.S. Postal Service, to name a few.
“There’s not a house in the state that doesn’t have a product produced in Jonesboro,” said Craig Rickert, executive director of the Jonesboro Advertising and Promotion Commission. “If you’ve ever gotten a package at your doorstep, it’s been touched by Jonesboro hands.”
Rickert said the tourism industry continues to set revenue records at more than $16 million in hotel revenue from reporting hotels from Jan. 1 to May 31, 6 percent higher than the same period in 2023. There are more than 2,200 hotel rooms, including Embassy Suites and Red Wolf Convention Center on the A-State campus, and a soonto-open boutique hotel is about to add even more options for guests.
“Having a quality convention center in Jonesboro now is a perfect complement to the host of other quality hotels we offer,” Rickert said. “We’re a destination, for sure.
Hospitality is what we do best. We’re always there with a handshake or a hug, whichever you prefer.”
“[Jonesboro] is the epicenter of northeast Arkansas,” Copenhaver said.
The city has made it a point to work with the university and businesses to attract new companies and keep educated workers in the town. The mayor started a youth caucus, which this year has 81 members of all ages from all the town’s public and private schools.
“The foundation to the future of Jonesboro is investing in your youth,” Copenhaver said. “These kids are engaging with each other in the city, understanding the city.”
Another effort of Copenhaver’s is the Northeast Arkansas Mayor’s Caucus, which he started with Paragould Mayor Josh Agee. Ten counties are represented in the caucus, which meets quarterly to “share concerns and ideas of how to create a better region in northeast Arkansas together.”
“These are just a few things we’re doing to think outside the box,” Copenhaver said.
Some of Jonesboro’s enhanced amenities include a new community pool, renovated parks and an upcoming new sports complex, which Copenhaver hopes to break ground on by the end of the year. The $80 million public project, which was funded by a 2 percent tax on the sale of prepared foods, will feature upwards of 24 volleyball courts, 12 basketball courts and a 50-meter swimming pool with a warmup pool in a more than 200,000-square-foot facility.
The SportsPlex will offer more than 100,000 square feet of court space and a 60,000-square-foot natatorium with seating for more than 1,200 people. The design also calls for plans for an outdoor water recreation area, Rickert said.
The city is also working to keep people active by upgrading and adding side paths, which are slightly larger than sidewalks. Copenhaver said about 20 percent of the community walks to work.
“We’re seeing that pedestrians have become more viable resources,” he said.
With the importance of public and alternative means of transportation becoming more evident, the city is revamping its existing bus transportation system and deploying new trolley cars, as well. The trolley cars, provided by grant funding, should come online by October. The community currently has about 75 bus stops.
For drivers, the city works hand in hand with the Arkansas Department of Transportation, which has resulted in about $100 million worth of state and city roadway infrastructure upgrades currently underway in the Jonesboro area.
“Again, it’s what can we continue to do to provide the best resources available for all of our community?” Copenhaver said.
While there is always a reason to visit the city, which sits atop the unique geological feature known as Crowley’s Ridge, Rickert said the best times to see the town are the spring and fall. A lot of people come to
see the ASU Red Wolves play at Centennial Bank Stadium, while other mainstay events, such as the Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival, bring crowds of about 10,000. The city’s BBQ event happens annually during the last weekend in September and features good food and live music on several stages. Past acts have included Bret Michaels of Poison, Brothers Osborne, the Commodores, Rick Springfield and Smash Mouth. The festival returns Sept. 27 and 28 following Local Fest Sept. 13 and 14.
Downtown is also a great place to experience live music, Rickert said, adding that areas of the district are blocked off to vehicular traffic several times a year to fill the streets with people, food and fun, something that will be enhanced by the new entertainment district.
“You can hear the beats behind the bricks, as we like to say,” Rickert said.
Other community events include the recently added JoyFest, the city’s annual Christmas celebration the first Saturday of December. That goes along with Christmas at the Park, for which Joe Mack Campbell Park is covered in hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights. Foodie Fest, Fall Fest, OASIS Film & Digital Media Fest, and OASIS Arts & Eats Fest are among other favorites. Many of the events are put on by the Foundation of Arts.
“The OASIS Arts & Eats Festival drew a large crowd this year due to it being the day before the Great [American] Eclipse,” said Mark Young, president and CEO of the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The FOA hosts more than 90 events per year, teaches classes on dancing, acting and more, and puts on performances in the local playhouse, the Forum Theater. Other performance venues include the Link Theatre and the Fowler Center.
The town has an assortment of museums, as well, including the Arkansas State University Museum, which offers displays of the region’s natural history and cultural heritage. Also in town is the Bradbury Art Museum, which features contemporary art, photography and other exhibits, and the Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center, which contains exhibits about the origins and history of the ridge, native plants and live animals, along with a theater and a scenic walking trail.
Rickert said a group has formed in the last few weeks to bring a children’s museum to town.
“Jonesboro offers a blend of charm and diverse opportunities that make it a great place to call home,” Young said. “At the heart of the community are the people, and the friendly atmosphere they create fosters a sense of belonging. Jonesboro boasts a lower cost of living compared to larger cities, allowing both individuals and families to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle without sacrificing financial stability.
“The city’s diverse economy, driven by health care, education, manufacturing and agriculture, provides a wide range of employment opportunities. With excellent schools, parks and downtown events, Jonesboro caters to everyone and offers a well-rounded quality of life.”
Young said projects like the new sports complex, the construction of a new airport terminal and the creation of the Arkansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine will have an enormous impact on the community.
Consistently one of the fastest growing communities in the state, Jonesboro is primed for a renaissance of sorts. With a new entertainment district, safer and more walkable streets, and new amenities, there is a lot in store for the unique Upper Delta city.
Keep up with everything going on in the city at Always Jonesboro (alwaysjonesboro.com), a resource sponsored by Jonesboro Unlimited. The site features videos of city hotspots, a weekly calendar of events, and great suggestions for dining and fun.
COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
Scheduled to open in fall 2026, the A-State College of Veterinary Medicine will fulfill a major need for Arkansas and allow students to chase their dreams without leaving the state.
CENTER FOR ADVANCED MATERIALS & STEEL MANUFACTURING
Northeast Arkansas is the new steel capital of the U.S. A-State is partnering with the industry to provide a workforce ready to thrive in the new age of steel manufacturing.
NYIT COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE
A-State is home to the first osteopathic medical school in Arkansas and is the only institution in the state where a student can progress from freshman to physician on one campus.
WINDGATE HALL OF ART & INNOVATION
Construction will begin soon on this state-of-the-art facility, designed to fuse art across disciplines such as engineering, science, business and more.
Taste Jonesboro, where every meal is a winner.
JBy SARAH COLEMAN // Photos provided
onesboro, not unlike other quaint college towns, has continued to grow throughout the years, its culinary offerings expanding alongside it. From establishments with unique game day vibes to sophisticated coffee shops, there is truly something for all diners to enjoy, no matter what they have a taste for.
The Recovery Room
223 S. Main St.
Downtown is a popular part of the Jonesboro area, and the Recovery Room has become a key part of the historic strip since opening in September 2022. Owned and operated by Brian and Sarah Nobles, the establishment is a full service coffee shop, wine bar and bistro.
The Nobles have both worked in the restaurant industry and have more than 40 years of collective experience doing what they love.
“My favorite thing about Jonesboro is the tight community vibes, and being downtown is truly a family,” Sarah said. “We have lived and worked in downtown Jonesboro for 20 years and are thrilled to call a place our own on Main Street.”
“We named the Recovery Room because there was a need for a place to recover. Whether it be from a long week, or a rough day or night, come recover at the Rec Room,” Sarah said. “Guests can expect a warm and friendly atmosphere with local art, fresh, made-from-scratch food and delicious craft beverages such as coffee, mocktails and cocktails.”
While the menu is decked with both savory and succulent options, Sarah said one of the biggest crowd favorites is a scrambler. The smoked salmon scrambler is made with toasted sourdough bread, a dill spread, tomato, soft-scrambled eggs, cold smoked salmon and green onions.
“My favorite coffee is the Lavender Love. It has soft lavender tones with a house-made syrup, espresso and oat milk,” Sarah said.
The Rec Room has also become a place where live music and events take place weekly. Every Saturday night, customers can enjoy live music with local artists from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and occasionally, guests can enjoy music during brunch on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Additionally, the restaurant hosts open mics every third Thursday of the month and a monthly comedy showcase with NEA Comedians.
The establishment is home to the only true craft cocktail program in
JTown’s Grill
2610 E. Johnson Ave.
Chances are those raised in the 870 or those who proudly cheer for the Arkansas State Red Wolves know and love JTown’s Grill. As an iconic eatery in the area, the establishment offers a lot to be enjoyed, from game day eats to everyday treats.
With autumn quickly approaching and football season underway, JTown’s is the exact place one might expect to exist in a college town on game day. It is the place where locals go and one that both college students and local families enjoy.
“I tell my workers all the time that it’s hard enough to get somewhere and stay successful in the restaurant world, but Jonesboro, ASU and the NEA community as a whole are a huge support. It always feels like a big family reunion here,” owner Jeffrey Higgins said.
Sweet and savory delights light up the menu at the Recovery Room.
downtown Jonesboro, which is unique because the community is in a dry county. The Rec Room has been in business for two years, and the Nobles said they arew excited to continue bringing good eats and good memories to locals and visitors alike.
Higgins, who is a huge college football fan himself, noticed Jonesboro was missing a classic game day spot like those often found in college towns, so he set out to create the ultimate college bar and grill at home. Now, in its tenth year in business, JTown’s is more than just a game day location but still offers a game day vibe, since it is the only restaurant across from the stadium.
“When you step into JTown’s, you’ll notice that everything is decorated in ASU stuff. This is a big location for tailgating, and fans often come back after the game if they don’t stay to watch it here,” Higgins said. “On away games, this is the best place to get together with a group of friends.”
As a hub of activity and Red Wolves pride, JTown’s hosts local
With a lineup of football favorites, JTown's Grill is a great place to root for the home team.
radio stations during football season for live radio shows at the restaurant and hosts live bands after the game. Higgins said the fall season is the busiest time of the year for JTown’s, and it’s an exciting time to visit. With game day specials and all drinks served in red solo cups, the bar and grill makes for the ideal tailgating location.
While JTown’s has several popular menu items, the biggest sellers include smoked wings, burgers and sandwiches.
“Personally, brunch is my favorite here, and on Thursdays, we offer a really great brunch menu,” Higgins said, adding that the mimosa towers are also popular and come in orange, cranberry and pineapple varieties.
Higgins also owns The Social, a newer restaurant with a bigger footprint, which has a similar vibe. While he said JTown’s is more of a local secret or hole in the wall, it is a place welcome to everyone.
“JTown’s is for everybody,” he said. “It’s a big family thing where anybody feels welcome, no matter who they are. We want everybody to feel welcome, chill and have a good time.”
Lemonade House Grille
237 S. Main St.
Named after a classic thirst-quencher, Lemonade House Grille may serve more than good drinks, but it is known for its rejuvenating twist on the quintessential American refreshment. With locations in Paragould and Fort Smith, there are also several locations across Missouri, Oklahoma and Florida. Chad and Monica Campbell own the Jonesboro location, which opened in November.
Chad said the restaurant is based on a nostalgic 1970s diner and has paintings and a disco ball included in the location. As a comfortable place to meet with friends and family, Chad said Lemonade House Grille is the ideal hangout spot, offering the motto of “good friends, good food and good times.”
“The best thing about opening in downtown Jonesboro is the feedback from the community that we’ve gotten,” Chad said. “The community involvement that comes with being located downtown is great. We have people who come from all over to enjoy what we’ve put together.”
Lemonade House Grille offers several unique Easy Squeezy Lemonade flavors, including gummy bear, cotton candy, pink pineapple, mango tango and more. In addition to the original flavors, the restaurant also offers several sugar-free options such as fresh strawberry, old fashioned, pineapple, peach berry and more.
“All of our lemonades are handcrafted and specially made. All of our lemons are squeezed fresh every day,” Chad said. “My favorite flavor is currently Main Street, which has a black raspberry base. That’s our signature flavor, and it’s named after where we are located.”
Brandon and Audra King first got their start in 2018, when Audra decided to make a strawberry hand pie using her grandmother’s pie crust recipe. Starting in their home, the Kings began to take orders and sell the hand pies, which they did for about a year before the business outgrew the hobby stage.
Deciding to take a leap of faith, Audra quit her job, and the couple started their brick and mortar in Jonesboro. With a single oven and big prep table, they opened their doors and quickly began to offer more sweets, starting with cinnamon rolls and cookies.
Not much longer after, COVID-19 hit, and Brandon and Audra began to work together at the bakery. While the pandemic undoubtedly impacted the restaurant industry, Audra said they considered themselves lucky to not have to shut down but actually grow to employing four others by the end of the year.
“The pies have a following all of their own, but our cinnamon rolls remain a popular item. We offer different rolls throughout the year aside from cinnamon too,” Audra said.
Today, the Kings operate two businesses under one roof, where 23 employees eagerly serve customers baked goods and coffee. When they first opened their second brick and mortar, coffee was not offered, and the Kings were not big on coffee themselves. However, after traveling and dabbling more in crafted coffee, the duo decided to add coffee to their offerings.
“Neither of us were coffee drinkers, but we also really hadn’t had good coffee before traveling and visiting local cafes and bakeries,” Audra said.
IV Kings Coffee is partnered with Onyx Coffee Labs and serves the northwest Arkansas-based beans in house, along with its own craft syrups. Currently, the most popular drink is the Southern
Lemonade House Grille may be named for its drinks, but the burgers do not disappoint.
However, lemonade is not the only thing special that the restaurant offers guests. While there is a wide variety of American food, from fries and flatbreads to salads and hot dogs, Chad said the most popular menu items are typically the burgers. With 13 different burger varieties, there are toppings for every taste.
“Our burgers are definitely our most popular menu item, especially our Main Street Burger and our Route 66 Burger,” Chad said.
The Main Street Burger includes a fresh battered onion ring resting on a double bacon smash burger topped with American cheese and homemade fry sauce, and the Route 66 is an all-American classic with cheddar, ketchup, mustard, raw onions, lettuce, tomato and pickles.
Chad also said the restaurant will introduce a new lemonade for football season. Though the Campbells have yet to name the new flavor, it will be named to show support for ASU. Chad added that the restaurant will change some of the bar offerings by offering a special bar menu for the season, as well.
“This is a place you can come to if you’re on a first date or if you’re celebrating your 50th wedding anniversary. It’s a spot where everyone would feel comfortable coming in,” Chad said.
Delight, a traditional latte with cinnamon, Madagascar vanilla beans and Mrs. Angie’s Farm Fresh Honey, which is local to Jonesboro.
As for food, the coffee shop and bakery offers a couple of different housemade avocado toasts and the couple’s favorite, the breakfast burrito.
“When we were working out the breakfast menu, I told Audra we had to have the breakfast burrito there because it’s so different from what you can get anywhere else,” Brandon said. “We also do scratch biscuits and gravy and Southern puff pastries, which are both popular.”
Local ingredients shine at Southern Confections and IV Kings Coffee.
This spring, Southern Confections and IV Kings Coffee introduced a full lunch menu, which includes a variety of high-quality, scratch-made flatbreads, salads and sandwiches.
“We want to create uncommon experiences for every customer, and we want everyone to have a high-quality experience where they feel welcomed,” Brandon said.
The Parsonage
305 S. Main St.
The Parsonage has been in business for almost 10 years in Jonesboro and existed as Parsonage Bakery & Catering at its previous location in Marion. The restaurant is known for its excellent, Southern-style menu options. Owners John and Ramey Myers said they are both grateful for the support they have received from their regulars and the entire community.
John is also the chef at The Parsonage and comes with classical training from St. Louis, where he is originally from. While he has mastered many professional techniques, he said his main focus remains on creating flavorful meals with a motto following that of the, “Keep it simple, Stupid,” acronym.
“Southern comfort food is all about the utilization of locally sourced food and keeping it really simple,” he said. “You know, Grandpa wasn’t this classically trained chef, but he used what he had and pulled it off everytime, and that’s what we’re about.”
The Myers’ biggest goal is to create an experience that stimulates the part of the brain that crafts a positive memory. John said they want their guests to have not just positive food memories but positive memories in relation to the restaurant in general.
“As we get older, we’ve realized a lot of good memories are food memories,” he said. “What we’re offering is an elevated version of simple Southern cuisine. It’s kind of like our customers are coming to eat at Grandma’s house, but they don’t have to do the dishes.”
While there are several popular mainstay dishes on the menu, Ramey said John likes to add a lot of specials.
“Chef is able to produce these beautiful dinners, and the soups will blow you away. They’re all made from scratch,” Ramey said. “Menu-wise, everything is our favorite, but I really enjoy the scallop pomade.”
Every season, The Parsonage offers fresh items for customers to indulge in. Since the location spans more than 10,000 square feet, Ramey said they like to go all out for every occasion they can.
1009 Canera Dr., No. 105A
Named after dopamine, endorphins, serotonin and oxytocin — the four happy hormones — DESO Chocolate opened in 2023 and is unlike any other chocolate-based business in the area.
Owner Ibrahim Al Elamat said he loves to travel and is big on bringing bold international flavors to the local market. In 2013, he opened his first venture in his home country of Jordan, and after moving to Jonesboro to complete his master’s degree, Al Elamat opened Pella Cafe, a Greek and Mediterranean restaurant, in 2020.
“I travel a lot, and everywhere I have gone to in the Middle East and Turkey has a similar concept to this one, and I wanted to bring something like this to Jonesboro,” Al Elamat said.
The chocolate shop serves Belgian chocolates and menu items that range from crepes to sushi, along with an excellent selection of waffles. Do not worry; the sushi does not contain raw fish or seaweed but a variety of unique crepe rolls with different fillings topped with the customer’s choice in chocolate dip.
Southern comfort can be found in the food and atmosphere at the Parsonage.
“We love to make this place completely themed for every holiday and occasion, especially Halloween, Easter, Christmas and weddings. We have huge parties here, and we’re so fortunate to be part of so many people’s special days,” Ramey said.
She added that the most popular items The Parsonage sells are the cinnamon rolls and the Parsonage Wyngatte, which is a pimento cheese.
“Chef John hides to make [Parsonage Wyngatte]. He won’t let anybody see how he makes it because it’s truly something special,” she added. “The Parsonage Wyngatte is his home pimento cheese with peppered candy bacon on cheddar bread. It’s definitely one of the crowd favorites, and it’s heaven.”
The Parsonage often has specials, and while the fall menu is not complete yet, John and Ramey said they are certain guests will enjoy whichever unique eats make it to the seasonal spread. John said The Parsonage utilizes as many local farmers as possible and crafts menus based on what is in season. For example, the establishment serves chicken salad during the summer months but switches to fried chicken and waffles on the first day of fall.
Soup flights typically have three to four soups for customers to pick from.
“Our entire concept when we decided to open our restaurant was based on wanting people to be able to walk into this place and feel a really comfortable environment,” John said. “It’s very relaxing, and we want our guests to come in and hear great music playing, enjoy great food and have wonderful conversation.”
Al Elamat said DESO’s entire menu has done well, but the most popular items include his personal favorite, the DESO Roll, and the DESO Mystery Pouch. The DESO Roll is a crepe roll filled with DESO special cream, strawberries, brownies and bits of Belgian eclair and topped with milk, dark and white Belgian chocolate. The DESO Mystery Pouch is a crepe stuffed with DESO special cream, a scoop of vanilla ice cream,
Decadent treats delight chocoholics at DESO Chocolate.
strawberries and brownies and topped with gold and dark chocolate. The establishment also offers six different types of waffles, all of which incorporate Belgian chocolates, plus a kids menu and a sharing menu.
DESO Chocolate is looking to expand and begin franchising into two or three other markets, including Dallas, Little Rock and Memphis, Al Elamat said.
By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos provided
Earlier this summer, Jackson Spencer, onequarter of the ownership team behind Jonesboro’s Native Brew Works, appeared on the company Facebook page dressed as Buzz Lightyear from the movie Toy Story. The post explaining the photo was just four words long: “See store for details.”
Two weeks later, another photo, this time of an employee in a braided blonde wig, was again explained by the same cryptic message. Spencer chuckled when asked about the posts — and several others like them — that litter Native’s social media.
“You’ll see some things where you’re like, ‘What in the hell are they talking about?’” he said. “We try to do funny things that are kind of like, ‘If you know, you know.’”
Spencer and his ownership partners — Dustin and Ellen Hundley and Heath Gammill — do not engage in such tactics to be cute or ironic but out of necessity. The dream that became Native Brew Works was a moot point just a few years ago, at least in Jonesboro, which resides in dry Craighead County. In 2019, the Arkansas legislature quietly passed a law offering a framework by which microbreweries could operate in such counties in the name of economic development.
The catch? Such ventures were subject to some pretty rigid restrictions as to how much beer the business could produce, how it could be sold and, most notably, how the headlining product could be advertised — which is to say it could not be at all. Think blacking out a beer in the hand of a customer in an Instagram photo or picturing a lager glass stuffed with a yellow napkin to simulate a frosty brew on Facebook or even using wingdings in posts instead of letters to spell craft b**r.
“This article is considered news. You guys have freedom of the press, and since we are not paying you to be a part of this, you can ask us questions, and we can talk about the beer,” head brewer Dustin Hundley said. “If you call over the phone and want to ask what we have on tap, I’m not allowed to tell you that.”
This see-no-beer, speak-no-beer element of the business creates an odd-yet-effective insider’s vibe for the 3-year-old establishment, the first in the city and one of the first to form under the new law. Occupying the former home of local landmark Brannon’s Auto Parts, where the owners brightened the industrial space with 1970s-remeniscent furnishings and decor, the place is hardly hidden. The uninitiated would be forgiven for mistaking it as merely a cool new restaurant lurking behind large signage letters spelling “Native” on the front when what it is, in fact, is the very epitome of the speakeasy in plain sight.
“We have to get really creative with how we advertise our products without saying anything ‘beer,’” Spencer said. “The whole Buzz Lightyear costume thing was a reference to our Buzz Light Beer, which is a light American lager brewed with Arkansas rice. The one with Tanya [Howe], one of the ladies who works with us, in the Goldilocks outfit is about our Goldilocks beer, which is a hoppy blonde.
“It’s kind of fun, but I mean, don’t get me wrong, I would really love to be able to advertise what we do fully. As it is, it’s challenging.”
The idea for Native Brew Works was first planted when Hundley and Spencer started dabbling in home brewing. Having known each other throughout their childhood in Jonesboro, they talked openly about taking their passion for craft beer and opening a brewery one day. By the time the new law allowing such a venture in their hometown hit the books, Hundley was unhappily working as an engineer in Memphis, and Spencer, who had spent a stint in Bluff City himself, had just moved back home.
“The first thing I did was I texted Dustin, and I was like, ‘Hey, dude, moved back to Jonesboro. Let’s open a brewery.’ He responded ‘No,’” Spencer said. “Four days later, he sends me a text, and he’s like, ‘OK, this is the equipment I think we need, and this is how much I think it’s going to cost.’”
“I think it was just, you know, sitting in that cubicle all day and thinking about it,” Hundley said of his change of heart. “It’s always appealing to move back home and be closer to family. We said if we were ever going to do [a brewery], we need to do something cool for Jonesboro, a place we would want to go to. This was the pathway to do that.”
Another requirement of the brewery law stipulates that food must be served on premises. The partners embraced this requirement, even though it complicated the venture considerably, resolving to make Native as much a destination for grub as for suds.
As a brewery in dry Craighead County, Native Brew Works in Jonesboro operates under restrictions that inadvertently lend a kind of insider’s charm to the establishment.
Investing in the local community was the “cherry on top” of opening the brewery, co-owner Jackson Spencer said.
“Just because we were required to have food doesn’t mean that we were just going to halfa-- it,” Spencer said. “We’re really proud of our menu. We make nearly everything in-house. We do our own pico. We soak our own black beans. We make our own slaw. All of our sauces are made in-house. All of our dips are made in-house. We cook and braise all of our own meats.
“Everything’s fresh too. If we’re doing something with cauliflower, we get heads of cauliflower, and we process it ourselves, you know? We get actual tomatoes. Ideally, nothing comes out of a bag. I like to tell the story that when we first opened, we were crazy busy, and we ran out of black beans. Well, you can’t make more black beans just like that, so I had to run to the store and pick up cans of black beans. I get back, and we realize we don’t have a can opener. We’re stabbing at these things with a chef’s knife, trying to open them. So yeah, we focus on freshness.”
In just a few short years, the once-oddity Native Brew Works has implanted itself comfortably in the neighborhood. This is, in part, due to location – both Hundley and Spencer live within blocks of the place — and partly by the
“We have to get really creative with how we advertise our products without saying anything ‘beer.’”
— Jackson Spencer, co-owner
owners’ mission to give back to the community in ways large and small. Despite all of the regulatory Jenga and the nearterm prospect of the county turning from dry to wet being unlikely at best, they have never doubted where their dream should take root, even if it would have been substantially easier just across the county line.
“We really wanted to invest in our community. We wanted to build something that we could be proud of and that other people could be proud of,” Spencer said. “This is an area of town that needs a lot of love and attention. It had been kind of forgotten about.
“This building, I’m not gonna lie to you it was affordable, but one of the biggest things about it is it’s in our neighborhood. We both grew up on the west side of town, and we’d come down Gee Street to go grocery shopping. It’s just part of our community, and seeing an opportunity to revitalize it and invest in an area that needs that kind of attention was, you know, the cherry on top of our decision.”
By MAK MILLARD // Photos provided
It takes more than sheer luck to turn a town into the fifth most populous municipality in the Natural State. In fact, it has taken well more than a century of intentional growth to turn Jonesboro from just another city on a hill — or rather, a ridge — into the kind of community that families, professionals and college students are all glad to call home. From kindergarten to doctorate and every playdate, doctor’s appointment and outdoor excursion in between, Jonesboro’s amenities are the example to beat in both northeast Arkansas and beyond.
The largest district in the region at approximately 6,500 students, Jonesboro Public Schools are a force to be reckoned with — literally. A particularly poetic description of the football team in 1924 gave rise to the “Golden Hurricane” moniker, and the high school will celebrate the mascot’s 100th anniversary this school year with all manner of alumni events and activities. The district itself has been a cornerstone of northeast Arkansas since the late 1800s and is a regional leader in academics, athletics and fine arts.
“Jonesboro Public Schools has built a positive and inclusive culture in our district where everyone — teachers, students and parents alike — can find their place and thrive,” said JPS Superintendent Kim Wilbanks. “At Jonesboro, we believe that everyone belongs and that success is within reach for all.”
The district sets students up for success early with a pre-K program that introduces children to music, art, drama, Spanish and even coding. Students learn foundational skills at the Jonesboro Kindergarten Center before heading off to one of five magnet elementary schools, where focus areas include visual and performing arts; international stud-
ies; health, wellness and environmental studies; leadership; and math and science. After junior high, parents and students choose one of three high school academies that prepare students for a certain field, whether it be business, communications, art and law; health and human services; or science, technology, engineering and math.
“Having a major university at our backdoor is an advantage to students in our area. Not only do we partner with [Arkansas State University] for concurrent courses, our students have access to sports activities, the ASU museum, and a multitude of camps and summer activities hosted by the university,” Wilbanks said. “In addition, the Northeast Arkansas Career and Technical Center partners with ASU-Newport and Black River Technical [College in Pocahontas] to offer students enrolled in technical center courses college credit and industry certifications.”
Made up of 18 local board members, the Foundation for Jonesboro Public Schools has awarded $20,000 to $30,000 yearly for the past five years, the district states. The payoff from those and other investments in student success are clear to see. The JHS class of 2024 had 12 students score 30 or higher on the ACT, 65 graduate with a 4.0 GPA or higher, and more than $7.2 million in academic scholarship offers, not to mention a host of Arkansas Scholars and honor graduates. JHS has also received more than 20 state championships in multiple sports since 2012. A robust fine arts program has seen accolades for both junior high bands, the high school’s concert and symphonic winds, and the 120-member marching band, in addition to multiple award nominations for the choral and drama programs.
The flagship campus of the ASU system and second-largest university in the state, Arkansas State University boasts an enrollment just shy of 15,000 and an alumni network more than 90,000 strong. A-State was founded in 1909 atop Crowley’s Ridge, initially as the First District Agricultural School. Fast forward to today, and the university offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in more than 150 areas of study and has trained scores of Arkansas leaders in education, health care, business and other professions.
ASU is known for the caliber of its research and prides itself on being a catalyst for progress in the region. In 2018, the university was recognized with the R2, or high research activity, classification from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The designation allows the university to continue investing in research by students and faculty members, as well as attract more prospective students. AState’s reach can be felt as far away as Querétaro, Mexico, where ASU created the country’s first American-style university, and Doha, Qatar, where the university recently secured approval for a campus in partnership with the Global Studies Institute.
The university is also staying ahead of changes in health care education via the state’s first osteopathic medical school, which is offered in partnership with the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine. In 2023, ASU announced plans to develop a college of veterinary medicine with a target opening date of 2026. The college will keep veterinary students from having to travel out of state to pursue a degree, in addition to attracting out-of-state students, and has a goal of keeping more future veterinarians in Arkansas.
The university has worked to remain competitive on cost, as well. The university’s last-dollar scholarship, A-State Promise Plus, covers the remaining costs of attendance once federal grants and the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship are applied. The program has allowed more students to pursue a degree. More than 20 percent of the university’s incoming firstyear students in 2024 are Promise Plus recipients. The updated version of the scholarship for Arkansas high school graduates arriving in 2025 will cover 100 percent of qualifying students’ tuition, fees and housing.
A-State offers more than 150 student organizations, and the university’s leadership center encourages students to deepen their relationships to the community through service. The Red Wolves represent ASU across 16 Division 1 sports, and the $18 million Red W.O.L.F. Center, opened in 2010, affords ample space for intramural sports, exercise and other activities. Recent years have seen increasing investments in upgrading academic, athletic and other campus amenities as A-State continues to attract attention from both in-state and out-of-state students.
“At Jonesboro, we believe that everyone belongs and that success is within reach for all.”
— Kim Wilbanks, JPS Superintendent
There are 22 parks around Jonesboro for residents and visitors to enjoy, but Jonesboro Parks & Recreation Director Danny Kapales rightly described Craighead Forest Park as “an absolute treasure and the crown jewel” of the system. The 700-plus-acre campus includes a recreation lake, multiple playgrounds and pavilions, and more than 15 miles of hiking and biking trails, a 3.2-mile hard-surface pedestrian trail with 12 workout stations placed along the path, and a 2.5-mile loop along the lake’s edge.
Jonesboro’s largest competitive sport facilities are the Joe Mack Campbell and Southside sports complexes, both of which can host soccer, baseball, football, softball, tennis and pickleball. Five community centers provide space for basketball, volleyball and more. The parks system hosts more than 12,000 participants annually in traditional sports, but a variety of specialty sports programs have continued to grow in popularity, from rock climbing and rugby to target golf and trap shooting. There are also events year-round that showcase local art, music, sports and food, and Kapales is adamant that the Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Fest is home to “some of the best barbecue you will ever eat.”
Accessibility is top of mind for the city across its park spaces. Rotary Centennial Playground, nestled in Craighead Forest Park, was the first playground in Jonesboro designed for universal access. Miracle League Park of Jonesboro was the city’s second space prioritizing universal access and has a fully accessible ball field. The city is also building a connectivity trail system throughout Jonesboro. Once complete, the system will provide a safe and convenient route to many of the amenities around town.
More and more, Kapales said, the quality of public space is a deciding factor for young professionals selecting where to anchor their lives and careers. With that in mind, the city is continuously investing in its offerings to make the case for choosing Jonesboro.
“It is important that our park system not only provides great sports programming but that it also helps to improve urban quality of life, as well, through pocket parks, reimagining water-detention areas and building unprogrammed greenspace,” Kapales said.
The city is currently assessing budget space for the first steps of the recently approved master parks and recreation plan. One cornerstone of the project, a large park planned for east Jonesboro, was the direct result of community feedback. Kapales said the master plan will be a roadmap not only for improving current facilities but for setting a vision for the next 10 years of the parks system.
“With the continued support of city administration and the residents of Jonesboro, the city will continue to lead the way in recreational opportunities for everyone,” he said. “We have made significant advances in recent years because we have been blessed with a significant amount of new funding to improve our system. We look forward to continuing to invest in the community as a whole. The parks department is a big piece of that vision, and we want it to be a shining spot in a wonderful city.”
St. Bernards was founded by the Olivetan Benedictine Sisters in 1900, when Jonesboro had a population of about 4,500. Needless to say, both the city and the hospital have more than grown up. St. Bernards is now a regional health care system that serves 23 counties in northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri, but its roots remain firmly intertwined with Jonesboro through the flagship St. Bernards Medical Center. The health system’s commitment to “Christ-like healing to the community” rests on the pillars of education, treatment and health services.
St. Bernards Medical Center and many other St. Bernards entities exist within the Matthews Medical Mile, a hub of more than 100 leading health and wellness organizations located in the heart of Jonesboro. Matthews Medical Mile represents a collaboration of health-related businesses and organizations dedicated to making the best health and wellness services and products available and accessible to people across the region.
The hospital continually updates its health care services to keep community members from having to travel to Little Rock or Memphis for adequate care. Over the past 18 months, the hospital has expanded its neonatal intensive care unit, surgery floor, robotic surgical options, maternal health services and heart care services. For many of those services and others, St. Bernards is the only destination in eastern Arkansas and southeast Missouri where locals can receive such specialized care, making the hospital’s constant improvement even more crucial.
The health system plays an active role in the community through
St. Bernards Medical Center is a showpiece in the Matthews Medical Mile.
economic impact and local outreach, as well. St. Bernards Medical Center provides care to more than 463,000 individuals annually, and the hospital’s 3,500 team members create a regional economic impact to the tune of $1 billion.
In addition to recruiting students in partnership with A-State, St. Bernards is able to attract health care professionals from outside of Jonesboro thanks to the city’s small-town atmosphere, proximity to major metros, and a wealth of high-quality cultural and educational opportunities.
St. Bernards connects new residents to local health care services through its welcome kit, which provides a hotline to make appointments for primary care and other services, including urgent care, emergency care, heart care, OB-GYN care and more. Through its multiple community benefit programs, St. Bernards has been able to serve nearly 300,000 people each year, and three-quarters of those efforts reach disadvantaged community members. Congregational wellness efforts in partnership with local churches, maternal support clinics, and organizations that provide support for patients with food or housing insecurity are just a few examples of St. Bernards’ indispensable place in the community.
501 Steakhouse
Bamboo Japanese Cuisine
Ben Yay's
Biscuits & Grace
Bistro on the Ridge Catering
Bliss Cupcake Café
Blue Ember Smokehouse
Carroll’s Candies
Casa Maya
Delilah’s Ice Cream
Demo’s Barbecue & Smokehouse
DESO Chocolate
Fat City Steak & Grill House
Fuji Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar
Huntington Square
IV Kings Coffee
JTown’s Grill
Kandela Grill
Kazoku Hibachi Express
Lemonade House Grille
Local Culture
The Lounge at Huntington Square
Native Brew Works
Omar’s Uptown
Papa Cella’s Pizza Chef
The Parsonage
Papitos
Rice Box Hibachi & Poke Bowl
Sandy’s Bakery & Catery
Shadrachs Coffee
Skinny J’s
Smalls Sliders
The Social
The Southern Chef
Southern Confection Pie
Sue’s Kitchen Express
Sugar Grits
Sumo Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar
Unwind
The Upper Crust Pizza Co.
Wings To Go
Bradbury Art Museum — ASU
Delta Symphony Orchestra
Fine Arts Center Gallery — ASU
First National Bank Arena
Forum Theater
Foundation of Arts
Fowler Center — ASU
Malco Jonesboro Towne Cinema
Allen Park & Community Center
City Water & Light Park
Craighead Forest Park
E. Boone Watson Community Center
Earl Bell Community Center
Fairview Park
Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center
L.M. Stotts Park
Joe Mack Campbell Sports Complex
Jonesboro Pool Center
Jonesboro Shooting Sports Complex
Jonesboro Youth Center
Julian James Memorial Park
Lake Frierson
Midtown Dog Park
Miracle League Park
Miles Park
Optimist Park
Parker Park & Community Center
Phillip Evans Community Park
Ralph “Pop” Stricklin Park
Rev. Lewellen Park
Rotary Club of Jonesboro Centennial Plaza
Southside Softball Complex
University Heights Lions Club Park
William Evans Memorial Park
By SARAH COLEMAN // Photos provided
It is a frequent argument to whether or not life imitates art or art imitates life, but regardless of where one stands on thatparticular subject, it is almost universally agreed upon that theater is important in communities. Whether audiences prefer Broadway or want to enjoy dinner theater with friends, there is value in every type of production coming to Arkansas.
This year, there are big things that can be expected at all of the state’s theaters. Institutions such as the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, Celebrity Attractions in Little Rock, Argenta Contemporary Theatre in North Little Rock, the University of Central Arkansas’ Reynolds Performance Hall in Conway and Murry’s Dinner Playhouse in Little Rock have a lot for patrons to look forward to within the coming months.
As broadway.org puts it, Walton Arts Center is a pinnacle for entertainment in Arkansas. The state’s largest and busiest center for the performing arts, WAC houses three resident companies, in addition to hosting several Broadway shows on tour each season.
According to Jennifer Wilson, senior director of public relations, Walton Arts Center has and will continue to introduce new concepts this season. For example, WAC hosted two weeks of technical rehearsals leading up to its first performance of Hamilton, which was a Broadway Bonus Show. Additionally, WAC will be hosting its first sensory-friendly Broadway performance for the Thursday matinee of The Grinch, and this year, the center will have a Broadway show each month through May.
This year’s schedule includes the following six shows in its P&G Broadway Series:
• Sept. 24-29: Peter Pan
• Oct. 22-27: Beetlejuice (Arkansas premiere)
• Dec. 17-22: Shucked (Arkansas premiere)
• March 18-23: Funny Girl (Arkansas premiere)
• April 8-13: Back to the Future: The Musical
• May 20-25: MJ (Arkansas premiere)
All six shows are coming to northwest Arkansas on their first national tours, and four of the series productions and one of the bonus shows are Arkansas premieres.
The remaining Broadway Bonus Shows include the following:
• Nov. 12-17: Eight shows of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
• Jan. 22-23: Three shows of Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations (Arkansas premiere)
• Feb. 21-23: Five shows of The Book of Mormon
While the list of shows this season bodes an impressive overall lineup, Curt Owens, director of programming, said he is most excited about Shucked and Beetlejuice.
“Beetlejuice sells out wherever it goes on the road, and I saw Shucked on Broadway,” he said. “I don’t think I had laughed that hard since seeing the original company of The Book of Mormon.”
Jennifer Ross, vice president of programming, said she is thrilled that WAC is bringing Funny Girl to Fayetteville.
“Funny Girl is classic Broadway that everyone loves. There have been productions of it across the country, but it’s never actually toured. The show itself is charming and wonderful and so much fun,” Ross said.
Several subscriber benefits exist for those interested, including the best seats for the best price, priority purchasing opportunities for WAC shows and special engagements, early access to Broadway Bonus Shows, 10 percent discounts on most shows during WAC season, no ticket exchange fees, and more.
Season subscriptions range from $339 to $554 and are available for purchase through the last day of Peter Pan For those who do not want to subscribe to the entire season but are interested in seeing three or more shows, Ross said the Create Your Own package is a great offer that allows patrons to bundle productions and save.
This year, the WAC will continue to offer its cocktail classes before many of the shows. The classes, which have proven to be wildly popular and are taught by the organization’s staff mixologist, will be expanded and open to the public.
“We’ve seen them grow so much this year. The cocktail classes have been connected to shows in the past, but they’re also a way for us to encourage others who aren’t seeing the show to get involved in the arts,” Owens said.
“We are proud to be able to present touring Broadway and professional theater to students, families and adults so that they are able to see the top level of performing artists,” Ross said. “We know people may never make it to New York to see a show, so we love that we’re able to bring New York to them.”
Located on the University of Central Arkansas campus, Reynolds Performance Hall is a professional theater that seats 1,200. For the venue’s 25th anniversary, guests will be able to enjoy highly acclaimed national and international touring artists. As an added bonus, parking is always free at UCA, and according to Amanda Horton, executive director of UCA Public Appearances, Reynolds Performance Hall prides itself in providing a welcoming environment where patrons are put first.
This year’s Broadway season at Reynolds includes four shows:
• Sept. 9: Shrek the Musical
• Oct. 22: STOMP
• Nov. 24: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
• Feb. 23: Pretty Woman: The Musical
“I love that our season is so diverse and offers something for all tastes. Our Broadway audience is going to have so much fun with crowd favorite STOMP and beloved movie turned musical, Pretty Woman,” Horton said.
In addition to the musicals, Reynolds Performance Hall will also bring in a variety of other acclaimed productions, concerts and comics, including Indigo Girls, who will perform Oct. 13, and Malevo, which will hit the stage on Oct. 3.
“For our lovers of folk music, you can’t beat Indigo Girls, and our dance enthusiasts are going to love the artistry and talent displayed by Malevo,” Horton said. “We have some amazing award-winning musicians, including Larry Fleet, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Hot Club Cowtown, and we also have eclectic offerings such as comedian Heather Land and dance performances by Argentina-based Malevo and Step Afrika!”
Horton also noted the excitement around Ghostbusters: In Concert with the Conway Symphony Orchestra, which will take place on Feb. 8.
Additionally, the Main Stage Education Series, which brings children from across
Located at 6323 Colonel Glenn Rd., Murry’s Dinner Playhouse has served up food, fun and live entertainment since 1967. Originally known as the Olde West Dinner Theatre, the venue has hosted notable performers such as Marjorie Lord, Marie Wilson, Margaret Truman, Nat Polen, Lee Meredith, Larry Ward, Linda Kaye Henning, Mike Minor and Veronica Lake.
The building was remodeled in 1977 and reopened under its current name. As a member of the National Dinner Theatre Association, Murry’s is one of longest-running dinner theaters in the country. Recently, actors George Newbern, Amy Lee, Natalie Canerday, Wes Bentley and Candyce Hinkle have all made appearances in different shows.
“It’s a blessing to continue to honor my grandfather and to provide quality entertainment for customers. We are truly fortunate to have great employees and tremendous talent in our area,” said Ike McEntire, owner. “First-time guests can expect good food, great service and a fabulous show, all at one low price. We pick shows with high entertainment value, and we want everyone to leave the theater happy.”
Murry's Dinner Playhouse in Little Rock originally opened as Olde West Dinner Theatre in 1967.
When possible, Murry’s ties something specific from each show into the menu. For example, the next production of Steel Magnolias will be paired with dinner featuring a Southern flare, McEntire said.
Performances coming to Murry’s through the end of the year include:
• Aug. 21-Sept. 14: Steel Magnolias
• Sept. 17-Oct. 12: Alone Together
• Oct. 16-Nov. 9: Murder on the Nile
• Nov. 13-Dec. 31: White Christmas: The Musical
According to McEntire, Murry’s offers the best entertainment value in the state with its season ticket offer. Going on sale in mid-October, guests can save up to $260 or pay as little as $33 per dinner and show.
the state to daytime performances, will celebrate its 10 year anniversary this year. According to Horton, the educational and entertaining experience has served more than 65,000 students, many of whom had not experienced live professional theater or even been on a college campus before such opportunities.
“Reynolds has grown so much over the last 25 years, and we have continued adding shows to our season. When we opened the hall, we started with eight professional shows, and we are now hosting 23 to 24 shows a year,” Horton said. “We are also excited about the addition of the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts to our campus and the ability to present musical performances in the concert hall.”
Horton said the Windgate Collection is the newest series coming to UCA and will host Vitamin String Quartet, Some Enchanted Evening and Suzy Bogguss.
Season subscriptions are available throughout the entire year, allowing guests to reserve their seats in advance and, in many cases, choose the same seats for each show. Season subscribers receive big savings with discounted tickets and no service fees. Horton said another big perk of becoming a subscriber is being assured an invitation to the debut party, where the new season is announced and guests have the opportunity to renew subscriptions before they go on sale to the public.
Those interested in buying season subscriptions can purchase them online at uca.edu/pa or call the box office at 501-450-3265.
“Our Christmas show is always something spectacular, and this year, it is the musical White Christmas,” McEntire said. “I’m also looking forward to Natalie Canerday playing the role of Ouiser in Steel Magnolias.”
McEntire says he enjoys a lot about running Murry’s but finds the most joy in seeing guests leave with smiles on their faces after every production.
“We now have third and fourth generations of families coming to see us,” McEntire said. “We value your patronage and look forward to entertaining you.”
Celebrity Attractions, a Broadway presenter for Little Rock, offer six performances that will be gracing the Robinson Center stage in its 2024-2025 season.
The season will kick off in September, and season subscriptions will be available for purchase through the first show. The lineup will include something for every dreamer, believer and groover, said Deana McCormack, marketing director.
The 2024-2025 Broadway season includes:
• Sept. 13-15: Peter Pan
• Oct. 11-13: Dear Evan Hansen
• Nov. 9-10: Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
• Jan. 31-Feb. 2: Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of the Temptations
• March 12-16: Back to the Future: The Musical
• April 25-27: Hadestown (central Arkansas debut)
McCormack said Celebrity Attractions has presented the Broadway series at Robinson Center since 1997.
“We love being in Little Rock, and we love being able to bring in national tours. We try to bring things that are fun for everyone that have a massive appeal and bring things that will introduce children to theater,” McCormack said, adding that Celebrity Attractions always tries to have a blockbuster on the ticket.
While McCormack is excited about every show on this season’s lineup, she is particularly excited to bring Peter Pan and Back to the Future: The Musical to Robinson Center.
“We have something for everyone this season. If you’re an ’80s lover, we have Back to the Future: The Musical with a real-life flying DeLorean here for a whole week. It’s still on Broadway, and it’s a hot-ticket item,” McCormack said. “In September, we’ll have Peter Pan, which is the ultimate show for a family. Every time I listen to the music, I get goosebumps because it makes you want to fly away to Neverland with Peter.”
McCormack also praised Dear Evan Hansen because even if a guest is unfamiliar with the show, they are guaranteed to recognize the pop hits featured in the musical.
Every show offers something unique for audiences to experience, and with the season subscription option, showgoers receive the convenience and flexibility to attend all six performances. Season subscribers enjoy several other benefits, McCormack said, including the best seats at the lowest prices, the same great seats for every show and the ability to buy additional tickets to individual shows before the public, when permitted.
Season tickets range from $178 to $549 for all six productions and can be purchased through celebrityattractions.com, at the Robinson Center Box Office or by calling 501-244-8800.
“Those who haven’t been to Robinson Center need to come. It was renovated in 2016, and we have 2,200 seats. It’s a giant theater, but the sound is fantastic, and there’s really not a bad seat in the house,” McCormack said.
Argenta Contemporary Theatre in downtown North Little Rock has continually brought top-notch productions to the public.
Alyson Courtney, director of development, is passionate about the continued growth of Argenta Contemporary Theatre, previously known as Argenta Community Theater, and the impact it has had on children and those interested in working in professional theater.
Courtney said this season has a lot to offer and seven shows left on the docket. Tickets are currently on sale and going rapidly.
The remaining shows for ACT’s 2024-2025 season include:
• Sept. 11-21: The Sunshine Boys
• Oct. 9-19: My Fair Lady
• Dec. 4-22: A Christmas Story: The Musical
• Feb. 12-22: School of Rock: The Musical
• April 9-19: Gypsy
• May 14-24: On Golden Pond
While Courtney is excited for every production coming to ACT, she said she is most excited for A Christmas Story: The Musical.
“It’s a beloved Christmas classic. People are certainly familiar with the movie, and a lot of people watch it on repeat all season long, so it has a lot of nostalgia that goes along with it,” Courtney said. “It’s family friendly, and you’re going to leave feeling good.
Courtney said to accommodate the number of people who want to attend the Christmas production, ACT has extended the run of the performance.
“We always look forward to our Christmas show because we’ll have more people through our doors during the holidays than we do for any other production.”
ACT is a nonprofit organization and relies on the generosity of patrons, organizations and donors to put on the high-level of theater for which it is known.
“We’re finding year-round that the theater community is alive and well. We have amazing donors, patrons, sponsors and volunteers who make it all happen, and we’re excited to see how involved everyone is this year,” Courtney said, adding that she and the businesses downtown are trying get a leg lamp in every restaurant in Argenta during the run of A Christmas Story: The Musical.
Courtney is also eager to bring School of Rock: The Musical to Argenta, where it will make its inaugural showing in the Little Rock area. Courtney said the show will be particularly special because ACT will host auditions for kids who might be interested in playing the featured instruments in this production.
“For younger kids, it’ll be like they’re at a big rock concert, but for those who grew up on the movie with Jack Black, it’s nostalgic. It’s one of those universal experiences that all families can enjoy and participate in,” Courtney said.
The rapid growth of ACT has been driven by the community’s backing, and Courtney said she believes the theater has a space for everyone.
“There’s great things about all of the local theaters, and we are super supportive of every theater that is here. We do believe in the power of the arts to collectively transform lives, and that’s why we often work so closely with all the theaters,” Courtney said.
Although the name has changed, Courtney said the enduring goal at ACT is to make sure the theater stays part of the wider community of central Arkansas. Season ticket sales closed in July; however, individual show tickets and flex passes are still available for purchase at argentacontemporarytheatre.org.
DOGTOWN THROWDOWN
September 13 & 14 October 11 & 12
Any card-carrying football fanatic will agree that there is no real substitute for the in-person game day experience. That said, there are only so many seats in the stadium, and there is only so much time during the weekend in which to climb the Hill.
Coming to the rescue are spots all across Arkansas that make it easy to enjoy the energy of a sports-loving crowd without having to turn out one’s wallet for tickets, transportation, parking and concessions. After all, a seemingly endless supply of wings, burgers, brews and more is ideal for making victory that much sweeter — or taking some of the sting out of defeat.
By MAK MILLARD // Photos provided
Great food and a festive atmosphere make Brewski’s Pub & Grub in Little Rock the place to be on game day.
Brewski’s Pub & Grub in Little Rock is the sports bar experience to beat for many. More than 20 screens in ideal viewing positions makes for wall-to-wall coverage of the day’s action. The headlining game gets special treatment on an even bigger, centrally located screen dubbed the Brewskitron. Plus, owner Brad McCray said, Brewski’s has pretty much every sports package a fan could want, including NFL Sunday Ticket, so it is virtually impossible to miss a game.
“Our biggest difference is that Brewski’s is 100 percent Arkansas-born and -bred, and our passion for football and our customers is authentic,” McCray said.
The Brewski’s menu is packed to the brim with classics, from nachos and loaded fries to tacos, wings and smashburgers. McCray recommended either the All Star wings or the Spicy Smashburger. Neither option, he said, will disappoint, especially when paired with some of the most competitive drink specials around.
There is also plenty to do while waiting for the game to start or celebrating afterwards. Brewski’s has pool, shuffleboard, Golden Tee, beer pong and other games, and those wanting to make a full night of it can join in karaoke starting at 9 p.m. and head to the basement for the late-night party until 2 a.m.
Brewski’s is a gem, but it is far from hidden. There is always sure to be an energized game day crowd, especially anytime the Razorbacks suit up. No matter what team one reps, sports fans can expect to be met with a passionate atmosphere and an all-around great time.
“Best place to watch the game outside of being there live,” McCray said.
One could be forgiven for thinking that Little Rock’s Fassler Hall is best suited for that other kind of football. The German beer garden’s large tables and spread of seven TVs, however, make for a communal and convivial viewing experience no matter what sport is on.
“People can expect great food, great beer and plenty of other sports fans on game days,” said bar manager Jordan Baker. “We love having our sports fans come in and cheer on their favorite teams.”
Fassler’s bar-style service allows guests to come in and grab a table before making their way up to the bar to order. The downtown spot offers a serious upgrade on stadium hot dogs, as well, with a selection of house-made sausages ranging from cheddarwurst to lamb sausage and classic concoctions like the Chicago dog. Pretzels, pork rinds, schnitzel sandwiches and more round out the hearty menu, but it would not be Deutschland-inspired dining without the Oktoberfests, lagers and hefeweizens on draft to match. Be sure to ask what seasonal options are on tap, or go in for an $18 domestic bucket during any game.
Fans with a particular channel in mind may want to come early, since TV dibs are first come, first served. There are plenty of board games and patio games to enjoy in the meantime, including giant beer pong, giant Jenga and bean bag toss. Game days at Fassler bring in a decent crowd, making it easy to find fellow fans and enjoy the ride.
Cajun grub plus football fare equals Hog heaven at Boudreaux’s Grill & Bar in Maumelle.
This Maumelle fixture is perhaps the closest thing to an ultimate Hogs fan experience outside of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium itself. Boudreaux’s Grill & Bar in Maumelle is home to the Razorback watch party with Morning Mayhem co-host Roger Scott of 103.7 the Buzz, who is on-site for every game to amp up the crowd, host a bit of trivia and give away prizes.
The restaurant’s 20 TVs and 110-inch projector are all tuned in to the Hogs whenever they are on, but they can also play up to five NFL games at a time for those in need of even more action. There is also a room with pool tables and games to entertain guests before and after games.
“First-time visitors should ask our servers for all the specials that we have,” said owner Ljuba Cunningham. “Also, first-timers need to know it will be loud in the restaurant, as we call the Hogs often. There is no quiet time during the games.”
Boudreaux’s usually makes its name on the high caliber of its Cajun plates and seafood specialties, but game days unlock a whole other side of the menu. The football-only offerings include tried-and-true sports bar favorites such as potato skins, wings and nachos plus combinations such as the Hog Heaven pizza with a pitcher of domestic beer on the side. Most famous of Boudreaux’s drink options are the declining Fireball shots: for every quarter that the Razorbacks are tied or winning, the cost of the shots go down by one dollar.
With all that in mind, it almost goes without saying that Boudreaux’s draws an impressive crowd on game days, so Cunningham advised large parties to call ahead and reserve their seats.
This south-Louisiana-based chain now boasts four locations in Razorback territory and has more on the way, but Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux made its official Arkansas debut in Conway. The concept, dreamed up by two former college basketball players, epitomizes the sports bar aesthetic with a decidedly Cajun flare.
Asked what makes Walk-On’s a go-to for sports fans, operating partner Scot Albright had one word: atmosphere. Game day
guests need not strategize to find the spot with the best viewing angle because it is possible to see most any TV from any seat in the house. Walk-On’s has 62 TVs, seven of which are on the patio, and can play up to nine games at one time. The biggest TVs sit above the bar, and that is where fans will find the biggest games, as well as an eager crowd when the Hogs are on.
“If it’s your first time to visit us, come in early for the game that you want and sit back. We can change any TV to any game, so we can make sure everyone gets what they want,” Albright said. “From any seat in the dining room, it’s possible to watch three or four games on different TVs if you want to.”
While the staple burgers, wings and loaded fries abound, WalkOn’s promises game day with a taste of Louisiana, and it delivers in spades. Find boudin balls and fried alligator appetizers, plus entrees such as po’boys, crawfish etouffee and fried catfish atchafalaya. The restaurant has game day specials that bring tailgate taste without the parking lot hassle, and the sheer variety of options can keep every fan in the group happy.
The competition for football fans’ attention could not be stiffer than it is in Fayetteville, let alone on Dickson Street, the college town’s premier bar-hopping hub. As a Nashville-based chain, Tin Roof is no stranger to lively crowds and all-night parties, and the venue’s focus on live music and a signature experience have allowed it to stand out since opening up shop in Hog country in 2022.
As is to be expected, the average game day experience is “busy and festive,” said Tin Roof CEO and President Bob Franklin. The joint’s prime location at the corner of Dickson and West Avenue makes it hard to miss. More than 40 TVs are placed throughout
As a sports bar in Fayetteville, Tin Roof wins big on the home turf.
both levels, and a 20-foot LED wall on the large patio gives fans plenty of viewing options.
Tin Roof has built its reputation on quality live music, hosting “the famous, the should-have-been-famous and everyone in between.” That makes pre- and postgame entertainment a cinch, and multiple stages host live bands before and after games.
Just as important as pleasing the ears, however, is satisfying the taste buds, and Tin Roof shows up in that department too. Tin Roof’s “better than bar food” menu offers everything a hungry fan could want, from fried pickles and Nashville hot chicken sandwiches to quesadillas and more. Franklin recommended the chicken tenders, which are hand-cut and served with house-made sauces. Wash everything down with one or several of Tin Roof’s signature drinks, such as a Hog Wild Hurricane.
It may be an out-of-state transplant, but Tin Roof looks right at home packed to the gills with Razorback fans. Franklin’s advice to first-time visitors was simple: “Arrive early and enjoy.”
Taking in a game at Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff allows fans to sate their competitive appetite with everything from slots to table games to poker. Those looking to have a little more skin in the game can place bets using the BetSaracen app, at a kiosk or with a sportsbook cashier.
“The crowds arrive early with the peak being about an hour before kickoffs,” said Neal Atkinson, senior director of table games and sportsbook at Saracen. “We see many who make a full day of it, sweating out their games, eating great food and enjoying adult beverages, all while hoping to cash their bigwinning tickets.”
A state-of-the-art video wall can be configured into a giant full-screen for watching the Hogs, or it can show as many as nine different games on multiview. That is not to mention the other TVs peppered throughout; there are 24 in the table games area and an additional 15 in the poker room plus 14 more currently being added in the bar area.
Saracen’s Legends Restaurant has become so popular that the casino is actually in the process of doubling its capacity to accommodate the demand. For dining, Atkinson recommended the burnt end chicken club, adding that the SCBC beer-braised chili is another go-to when fall football weather arrives. Draft options range from the usual suspects and Arkansas brewery favorites to suds from the casino’s own Saracen Craft Brewing Co.
Fans looking for a game day fix in West Memphis will find no shortage of options at the recently expanded and updated Southland Casino Hotel. The casino’s Betly Sportsbook and Betly Sports Bar & Grill check every box when it comes to bets, bites, brews and ballgames. A whopping 50 TVs, including a behemoth 18-foot screen, can show up to 45 different games at one time. Just outside the sports bar are newly added table games, and guests can place bets at one of Southland’s conveniently placed kiosks or with a sports betting agent.
True to the hallmarks of a sports bar menu, Betly Sports Bar & Grill’s offerings include pizza, piled-high nachos, and sandwich options ranging from jerk chicken to Philly cheesesteak, just to name a few. On top of 19 draft beer options are a selection of featured cocktails. Particularly apt for football season is the Razorback Long Island iced tea, which includes Absolut vodka, Bacardí Superior rum, Camarena tequila, Tanqueray gin, triple sec, lemon sour, Sierra Mist and cranberry.
After enjoying the game with an energetic Southland crowd, the casino has plenty left to explore, from the gaming floor to live music at various venues. It is also easy to turn game day into a quick weekend getaway, since Southland is just a hop, skip and a jump away from downtown Memphis.
As the cornerstone of Spa City gaming, Oaklawn Hot Springs has options to suit most any sports fan. For the 21 and up crowd, Silks Bar and Grill is located in the casino and gives game day guests access to their favorite slot machines and table games. At the Mainline Sports Bar on the racing side of the property, Razorback-loving families can enjoy shuffleboard, ax throwing and Topgolf Swing Suites while keeping a close eye on the game from any of the restaurant’s 90 large-screen TVs.
“What other bar in Arkansas can offer this combination of extras for all ages?” said Chris Ho, vice president of marketing at Oaklawn. “Mainline Sports Bar also boasts the best wings in Hot Springs, and we update the menu seasonally.”
The Mainline menu brings its own kind of excitement to the table, from fried green beans and trash can nachos to specialty meals like the Kansas City barbecue platter. There are also plenty of bottled and draft beer options, and fans of Lost Forty Brewing can also sample the Mainline Light, a beer made exclusively for Oaklawn.
Ho advised making reservations ahead of time for Mainline, especially for guests wanting to get in on the ax throwing and Topgolf action. Reservations are especially recommended during the racing season from December to the first week of May. Fans can keep up with Oaklawn on Facebook for updates on game day watch parties, specials and more.
Shots and slots, plus a range of restaurants, make casinos a great place to call the Hogs.
By LANCE BROWNFIELD
Photos provided by the Children's Tumor Foundation
For many people, countless yearly fundraising events can all start to bleed together, each with the same format, the same finger foods and the same speakers. One central Arkansas event, Dancing with Our Stars, has set itself apart from the rest, bringing some of the biggest local celebrities out of their comfort zones all for a good cause.
The 17th annual gala, which supports the Children’s Tumor Foundation, returns Sept. 12 at the Wally Allen Ballroom at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. The fundraising event aims to raise both awareness and money for neurofibromatosis, a group of genetic disorders affecting the nervous system that cause tumors to form on the nerves anywhere in the body at any time.
The fundraising event, much like the hit television program it is named after, pits local celebrities against each other in a dance competition, 100 percent of the proceeds from which go towards research and care.
This year’s list of contestants includes six well-known local figures, each looking to take home the coveted mirror ball trophy. They include Monica Alexander, certified pediatric nurse practitioner at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock; Austin Booth, executive director of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission; Linda Harding, philanthropist and fine art photographer; Sara Hurst, owner of Bella’s Kitchen and Wellness in Little Rock; Tiffany Mays O’Guinn, managing partner at Mays, Byrd & O’Guinn in Little Rock; and Wallace Smith, director of federal services at Garver.
Introducing the contestants at this year’s event are husband and wife co-chairs Dawn and William Jones IV. William recently took over as president of his family’s company, Sissy’s Log Cabin, which will sponsor the evening. The hosting honors are made even more special by the family’s connection with the group and event; in 2022, Dawn participated in DWOS and returned to judge the next year.
“She was so nervous doing it,” William said. “Throughout the process of doing it, meeting the people with the condition, she became very passionate about it.”
About 4 million people worldwide live with NF. According to a press release by CTF, the Food and Drug Administration has approved the first-ever treatment for inoperable plexiform neurofibromas, but there is still no cure for the condition.
In Arkansas, multiple resources for families have been created through the work of the Children’s Tumor Foundation’s Arkansas chapter, which is led by longtime chapter president Lesley Oslica and made possible, at least in part, by funds raised by Dancing With Our Stars. There are now two clinics in the state that deal with the condition: a children’s clinic and the newly finished adult NF clinic at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. The new clinic represents a push for more adult care, since many NF patients go untreated as adults.
health scare with one of their children.
“When my youngest son, Matthew, was born, things didn’t go as smoothly as originally expected,” Dawn said. “When he arrived, instead of the doctors placing him safely in my arms the way they did with my first son, Matthew was immediately whisked away and swarmed by NICU nurses. I have never been so scared, so terrified or felt so helpless in all of my life.
“Words cannot express my gratitude for the overwhelming support and participation we have seen when it comes to Dancing with Our Stars,” said Oslica, whose daughter is a NF patient. “It is this unwavering commitment that makes our community so special and advances our mission to drive NF research, expand knowledge and improve NF care here in our state and beyond.”
The Joneses said while the disease has not directly affected their family, the cause still hits close to home because they experienced a
The experience inspired Dawn’s participation as a competitor. Even though she described herself as “not much into dancing,” she felt compelled to compete on behalf of the children. The move paid off not only by raising funds for the organization but personally, since Jones brought home the title.
“When Lesley first asked me to dance back in 2022, I wanted to say no out of my own personal fear of dancing and being on a stage like that,” Dawn said. “I said yes because I flashed back to those horrifying moments when Matthew was first born. I remember vividly the pain and heartache brought on by not knowing if our child was going to be OK.
“I feel for the parents of those affected by NF. My husband and I were fortunate enough to only have to deal with those awful feelings briefly. The parents of the children suffering from NF go through it every single day. I felt we had to do our part in helping to find a cure, and we have been doing so ever since.”
The more the couple got involved, the more they learned about the challenges many families face while dealing with NF. For example, NF as a category does not get a lot of funding compared with more well-known diseases, especially for adult patients, which is what makes Dancing With Our Stars so critical to helping fund
treatment and research. When the opportunity came to chair the event, the couple jumped at the chance.
“There’s a lot of people in Arkansas who put a lot into this,” William said. “We’re just a small part of this.”
“I fondly remember the year Dawn danced on stage and delivered a beautiful performance that won the championship trophy,” Oslica said. “The dedication of the entire Sissy’s Log Cabin team is truly inspiring.”
The event has expanded over the years to include a second competition, the springtime Northwest Arkansas Dancing with Our Stars Gala, the fourth installment of which is slated for March 8, 2025, at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville. With the two events, Arkansas CTF will surpass $4 million in funds raised for NF research since first organizing in the state.
William said while chairing the central Arkansas event has been “nerve-wracking” and “intimidating,” the event stands out among other fundraisers for its fun nature and the light it sheds on people living with NF. He said he believes the event will continue to grow into a premier event.
As for handicapping this year’s field, the Joneses were not shy about naming their favorite competitors. Booth, a personal friend, is one favorite, as well as Harding, whose husband, Rush, was a judge the same year Dawn was a judge.
“All of the competitors are amazing just for saying yes,” Dawn said. For more information or to purchase tickets or sponsorships, visit ctf.org/dwoslr.
“ It is this unwavering commitment that makes our community so special and advances our mission to drive NF research, expand knowledge and improve NF care here in our state and beyond.
— Lesley Oslica, president of the Arkansas chapter of the Children's Tumor Foundation
By SARAH DECLERK // Photos provided
When Melanie Peraza Mancia, now 5, was born, her father, Oscar Peraza, noticed something that had eluded even doctors — his daughter’s face was not quite right. After pointing it out to hospital staff, he learned something startling about Melanie.
“After they did everything, they were like, ‘Well, we have news. She doesn’t have one eye,’” he said. “It was bad because we weren’t expecting it.”
Melanie was born with anophthalmia, a condition in which one eye does not develop properly before birth. She has had two surgeries to help the socket that is missing an eye develop proportionally to the other one, Peraza said, and she also wears ocular prosthesis devices to help stretch the socket so it develops normally. She received her first ocular tissue expander at just a few days old, he added.
“To be honest,” he said, “she’s just a tough girl.”
The family lives in Springdale and regularly makes the three-hour drive to Little Rock for appointments at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
They also have appointments with Dr. Michael Kaczkowski, owner of RealLifeFaces in Little Rock, a leader in craniofacial prosthetic technologies.
“It would be nice to have someone like Dr. Mike around this area, to be honest with you,” Peraza said. “The more that I go see him, the more that I find out about other people that are going through the same thing or just lost their eyes in accidents or something, and they have to travel there.”
Kaczkowski said Melanie has received at least two prosthetic eyes that stimulated tissue and bone growth, in addition to providing the appearance of an eyeball. However, as she was growing, the prosthetics were not enough to laterally stretch and expand her palpebral fissure, the gap between eyelids that exposes the eyeball when the eye is open.
To solve the problem, Kaczkowski invented the pediatric palpebral fissure tissue expander.
“Typically, when I design the pediatric prosthetic eyes, I design the shape to function like a type of orthosis, stretching and pushing the body tissue, but this was not fully possible in Melanie’s case due to her birth defect,” he said. “Thus, I had to develop a new method to expand the socket, fissure and lids, so I developed the pediatric palpebral fissure tissue expander. The measurements we’ve been getting so far are encouraging. It’s working.”
Melanie will soon receive a new, realistic prosthesis —
Dr. Michael Kaczkowski, owner of RealLifeFaces in Little Rock, pictured with patient Connor Deimel, 5, said prosthetics can be important to children’s development.
although her father said she requires another surgery first — and may still need to wear the tissue expander at night to continue expanding her palpebral fissure to match her sighted eye.
“As far as I know, nothing like this has been developed before,” Kaczkowski said.
“Dr. Mike,” as he is widely known, is no stranger to invention, creating all his devices and hyper-realistic prosthetics custom at his Little Rock clinic. In addition to the tissue stretcher, he also developed RealLifeEye ocular prosthesis technology to mimic the irises of natural eyes.
“Having a prosthetic eye look real is obviously extremely functional, whether vocationally or just in life in general,” he said, adding that aesthetics are not the only reason properly fitted prosthetic eyes are important. Especially for children, the devices are essential to the body’s development.
“The general idea is when you have a child born without an eye or a child born with a tiny eye, what’s called a microphthalmic eye, or a growth such as a tumor and there’s surgery that needs to happen, the anatomy is compromised and smaller.” he said. “The skull and the tissue will not grow proportionally to the other side of the face because the skull and tissue grows proportional to the eyeball that is present.”
Such facial asymmetry can lead to conditions such as malar hypoplasia — underdeveloped cheekbones — and has a “cascading effect” as children grow, which prevents the sinus cavities, particularly the maxillofacial sinus cavities, from developing correctly. That frequently causes sinus problems, he said.
“You also have other issues that are systemic when you’re dealing with an asymmetrical anatomy, such as headaches and other general discomforts from the body not being symmetrical,” he added. “When the body is not weighted symmetrically, you have systemic issues that permeate.”
For children who are born with missing or underdeveloped eyes, it is best to fit them with a prosthesis soon after birth so their anatomy can begin developing normally from the get-go, he added. However, parents and even hospital staff sometimes do not understand the importance of having that work done immediately, he said.
“A lot of hospitals don’t really realize that when a child is born without an eye, we need to go ahead and get in there and start expanding and stimulating bone and tissue growth right away,” he said. “The parents aren’t aware of this either, and by the time they start, maybe, doing some research on their own or they bump into somebody else, then they’ve come late.”
Kaczkowski said great work can still be done to even out a child’s face, even if the process is delayed. He and his team work with physicians and surgeons at local hospitals, including Arkansas Children’s and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, to treat pediatric patients, many of whom come from across Arkansas and neighboring states.
Frequent appointments are also important to ensure appropriate prosthesis for children’s growing bodies, especially in newborns, who require a second device at only a couple weeks of age. The devices are made of soft medical silicone until children are old enough to handle the rigid material used for lifelike prosthetic eyes.
Kaczkowski said fitting children with ocular tissue expanders and prosthetic eyes can be a stressful and emotional process for both families and his staff.
“It’s exhausting work,” he said. “It’s very rewarding work, and it’s very important work, and this is where our heart is in our work and in the community.”
Furthermore, providing orthotic devices for a growing child can be expensive, and while Medicare helps pay for Melanie’s ocular prosthesis devices, Peraza said, Kaczkowski said many patients struggle to pay for their devices, even with Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance.
The clinic works to ensure patients receive treatment regardless of their ability to pay, he added, but noted sometimes parents do not return when they are short of funds. That leaves children in a vulnerable spot.
“The child’s health is being compromised in that situation because we’re not enlarging the prostheses or the conformers or the tissue expanders properly,” he said “They’re not getting proper care, so they’re going to grow up with asymmetry.”
Although the clinic is already engaged in charity work, which it funds itself, Kaczkowski said he is working with local physicians and hospitals to expand the clinic’s charity activities by creating a nonprofit dedicated to providing financial assistance to children with craniofacial asymmetry and their families.
Kaczkowski said he hopes the nonprofit will help not only financially but by raising awareness of the importance of treating craniofacial asymmetry and the health issues associated with conditions such as anophthalmia and microphthalmia.
“Maybe we’ll help or encourage other oculofacial specialists in other states,” he said. “Maybe it could stimulate other funding sources in other states so that for children everywhere in the United States, families could feel encouraged to be able to have this work done.”
AR clinic offers artificial eyes for patients across the the country
The Center for Alloplastic Facial Reconstruction/ Arkansas Artificial Eye Clinic serves the needs of patients needing artificial eyes and prosthetic facial reconstruction. The results are extraordinarily lifelike, giving the recipients a sense of closure and restoration to a long and painful journey.
Clinic Ocularist and Anaplastologist, Michael Kaczkowski (aka “Mike Kaz”) creates these life-changing prostheses not just for practitioners and patients in the United States, but for patients throughout the world who seek the exclusive experience and services of the clinic.
Says one patient: “Everyone is amazed at how real it looks; people can’t tell it’s a a prosthesis. I love it!”
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 Sherwood, AR
Phone: 501.834.9960 Fax: 501.834.5644
By DWAIN HEBDA
ike many new moms, Stephanie Burrell has a phone full of pictures of her 8-month-old, Birdie Lindeman, but that is about as far as the similarities go. While many take photo after photo of babies in the arms of grandparents and starting life in their new homes, sleeping in a freshly unpacked crib or headed on various stroller adventures, Birdie’s gallery is shot against a backdrop of medical monitors and the nondescript Plexiglas bassinet at the neonatal intensive care unit. In many, she is draped in wires and tubes, the accoutrements of a child born early and sick, struggling to get a foothold in life.
“Birdie was so tiny when she was born,” Burrell said. “She had some other things going on. She has Down syndrome, and she has a heart defect and pulmonary hypertension. We just had a big meeting where they said Birdie’s lungs are strong enough to handle open heart surgery, so we’ll know a schedule for that soon.”
Birdie Lindeman, 8 months old, may be in the hospital, but her family enjoys home-like comforts at the Ronald McDonald House in Little Rock.
As Burrell talks about the maladies her daughter is facing, most of which she will battle throughout her childhood and for the rest of her life, one hears a mother’s unshakable resolve to see this through. One of the things that sustains her fighting spirit throughout the ordeal has been the Ronald McDonald House in Little Rock. Operated by Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana, the Ronald McDonald House offers lodging for families whose children are undergoing treatment for serious or life-threatening medical conditions.
The house offers suite-like accommodations and a variety of common areas, including a large dining room and laundry facilities for families, some of whom live in the house for months during their children’s treatment. Room and board are provided at no charge, and while freewill financial contributions are gratefully accepted, no family is turned away for a lack of means.
“The Ronald McDonald House is amazing,” Burrell said. “There are so many benefits for a family whose child is critically ill. It provides a safe place to sleep. It allows for my son and husband to come up on weekends without worrying about how we’re going to pay for a hotel room or meals.
“Also, being located right across the street from [Arkansas] Children’s Hospital is very beneficial. We could get a phone call in the middle of the night, and having a place where we can just run over and be there for our child is very important. We’re so lucky this is here.”
Staying at Ronald McDonald House, which has served families since 1981 and
been in its present location since 2016, has saved families substantial amounts of money over hotel rooms and buying groceries or takeout during treatment. Last year alone, the organization provided 1,900 families more than 11,600 nights of rest, served 92,500 meals and saved those families almost $2 million thanks to the work of staff and the many volunteers who contributed 9,100 hours of service.
Welcoming that many people over that many years takes a deep well of compassion and commitment, to say nothing of funding. Nichole McGeorge, chair of this year’s A Night in Vegas fundraiser, said knowing the event will directly benefit families is enormously gratifying.
“When our company was looking for a charity to get behind, we toured the house, and we saw how the organization is really providing a home,” she said.
“There are so many of us who take having a home for granted, and we don’t stop to think what would happen if we were in the situation these families are facing. This is a place where they can come and not have the burden of figuring out how to pay for everything.”
A Night in Vegas, slated for Sept. 19 at The Hall in Little Rock, will raise funds to aid the organization’s work. The event will offer entertainment, food and drinks, as well as give attendees the chance to try their luck at their favorite casino games. Chips won at the tables can then be used to win prizes at the end of the evening.
“We have some really amazing prize packages that people can win,” McGeorge said. “Our list of prizes is still growing, but as of right now, we’ve got an item from Sissy’s
‘‘
The Ronald McDonald House is amazing. There are so many benefits for a family whose child is critically ill. It provides a safe place to sleep. It allows for my son and husband to come up on weekends without worrying about how we’re going to pay for a hotel room or meals.
— Stephanie Burrell, parent
Log Cabin, and we have some spa packages that people are really going to love.
Tickets for the 21 and older event, for which AY Media Group is a media sponsor, are $100 per person or $150 for a couple. Golfers who competed in the previous week’s Ronald McDonald House annual golf tournament are provided a complimentary ticket with their entry fee. Attire for the fundraiser is, in McGeorge’s words, “Vegas casual.”
“A lot of people will just be coming from work, and with A Night in Vegas, they don’t have to go home and get all dressed up and then get back out,” she said. “I think that is something that is really attractive to people.”
The money raised will also help support the group’s expansion, including construction of two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock and St. Francis Medical Center in Shreveport and a three-story, full-service house nearing completion in Shreveport. None of those big projects, however, can compare to helping the smallest of causes, including a little girl named Birdie.
“At the end of the day, honestly, we’re all worn out,” Burrell said. “We come back to the house to a warm meal and a bed, and it’s amazing. When people donate, their money goes so far with Ronald McDonald House. People’s lives are changed.”
For more information on A Night in Vegas fundraiser, visit rmhcarkansas.org.
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By
HEBDA
Peggy McCall understands the significance of small things. The Illinois native grew up in a community of just 600 residents, 32 of whom comprised the members of her high school graduating class. Landing in Arkansas in 1977, she built a career in youth ministry, reaching teens one soul at a time, then gravitated to Kidsource Therapy, a Benton practice that provides children with occupational, speech, language and physical therapy, health care services for which progress is often slow, but the accomplishments are major.
Of all the small things that McCall has watched make a resounding impact during her lifetime, few compare to that day in fall 2006 when a small group gathered to participate in a kids baseball game. There, on a small patch of ground, four teams took part in the inaugural games of the Miracle League of Arkansas, teams made up of children with various physical challenges. No one remembers the score from that day, but no one who was there ever forgot the many personal victories achieved by the players.
“We’ve got three rules in Miracle League,” said McCall, the organization’s executive director. “There’s no judgment, no one gets hurt, and everyone has fun.”
Miracle League of Arkansas gives children with disabilities, many of whom would otherwise be on the sidelines of school or Little League play, the same opportunity to experience being on a team as their able-bodied peers. The program, which operates leagues in Little Rock and Springdale, is built on the premise that every child deserves a chance to play and every family is entitled to the happy memories that result from it, memories that sometimes come none too soon.
Miracle League of Arkansas provides children with disabilities with a chance to compete in sports.
“A lot of people don’t see some of this stuff as a big deal, but you never really know what’s a big deal and what isn’t,” McCall said. “When we had our first game, it was important to me that we had a run-through beforehand so we would kind of know what we were doing during the actual game. I held this trial run, and a girl named Cassie came out. That didn’t seem like a big deal at the time.
“Cassie didn’t make it to the first game because she was in [Arkansas] Children’s Hospital. She ended up staying in Children’s Hospital the whole season, and after the last game, I went over and gave her her trophy. She died on Wednesday of the next week.”
In Miracle League baseball, the game is modified to accommodate as wide a range of athletes and abilities as possible, some as young as 4. Each team bats through the entire order, and there are no putouts. The last player in the lineup hits a homer to clear the bases and run the bags.
“We’ve got three rules in Miracle League: There’s no judgment, no one gets hurt, and everyone has fun.”
— Peggy McCall, executive director
“We switch up the lineup so each time, a different kid can get a home run,” said Marisha Gardisser, who heads up the northwest Arkansas program. “Everyone is cheering them on the whole time they’re running the field. It’s a big deal to be that home run person.”
The league goes to great lengths to help make the game accessible to every athlete, regardless of physical ability. Some of the technology in play includes a ball that beeps, giving kids with sight limitations a reference point while batting. For children in wheelchairs or those who cannot otherwise swing a bat, there is the knock block.
“We have a tee with a ball on it and this knock block is set up, and it has this big red button on it,” Gardisser said. “When the player is ready to hit the ball, they hit the button, and it makes an arm swing around, and it hits the ball.”
Even with such technology, the most important assistive devices are the volunteer buddies who pair with an athlete for the game. Buddies help children participate during the contest, guiding them around the basepaths, pushing wheelchairs to the plate and providing batting assistance to the degree needed. In the field, the
buddies help players run down the ball and generally help keep things fun and safe.
“We rely heavily on the buddies,” Gardisser said. “Every ball game, it takes about 350 volunteer hours to make that work. Here in northwest Arkansas, we need about 55 people per game day to staff the ball field, including a buddy for each of our players.”
League officials are quick to point out that the most important role of a buddy has little to do with the rules of the game but everything to do with creating the spirit of acceptance and inclusiveness. It is not unusual for players to bond with their buddies, some coming out of their shell over the course of a season and others making fast friends right away.
“My oldest son was buddying a 7-year-old with Down syndrome, and I looked out at one point, and my son was lying on top of him in the field. I was like, ‘What are you doing?’”
Gardisser said. “He told me after the game, ‘He really likes wrestling, and he would get on top of me, and I had to tap out, and then he made me get on top of him, and he’d tap out.’”
The experience of Miracle League is such that it is often hard to determine who is most impacted, the volunteers and onlookers or the athletes. Both of Gardisser’s sons volunteer as buddies and are so into the activity that they have each organized groups of friends and fellow athletes to volunteer as a group. Parents are often swept up with emotion while watching their children participate, some scarcely believing what they are seeing.
“We rely heavily on the buddies. Every ball game, it takes about 350 volunteer hours to make that work.”
— Marisha Gardisser, NWA program coordinator
“Miracle League has changed my outlook for sure,” Gardisser said. “I remember standing there, talking to that 7-year-old’s mom, and she said, ‘This is the first time that he has ever been able to play a team sport, and this is the first time that I have been able to watch him.’ I started crying because I was like, I take my boys’ life for granted. I take my life for granted that I have children who I can just drop off at a practice or at the ball field and not have to worry about it.”
Families’ modest registration fees do not buy many uniforms, so fundraising is of paramount importance to keep the games going. This year, the group is sponsoring two events: the Miracle League Double Header Sept. 26 in Little Rock, which will feature food, beverages and live music by Midnight South, and the NWA Burger Competition Sept. 21, in which the Best Burger winner will advance to the World Food Championships in Indianapolis in November.
Watching the league grow to its current proportions — all told, about 150 players, some of whom play in a Friday night league that is geared toward higher functioning, more competitive players — has been enormously satisfying for McCall, who said experiencing the organization’s impact on individual athletes and their families is something she never grows tired of. She said her goal is to continue to grow the league to give more kids their time in the sun while still maintaining focus on the little things that make the experience special.
“This is a passion I have. It’s interesting that what some people think is just a small thing is over the moon for somebody else,” she said. “Sometimes a child just coming up to bat is a huge step. We’ve had kids where it took three years for them to get there. We have parents come into our program who are grieving, they’re grieving the child they thought they were going to have and because of this league, in some small way, they are able to accept the child that they do have.”
For more information about Miracle League of Arkansas (not affiliated with the national group, the Miracle League), or to learn more about the September fundraisers, visit miracleleaguear.com.
There is something to be said about preparing great women for the world, but there is something more to be said about preparing the world for great women, and the Miss Arkansas organization is focused on both of these things. The Miss Arkansas pageant program, founded in 1932, has been in the business of empowering young women for decades, providing them with the means to continue their educational endeavors and develop essential life skills, including poise and leadership.
Miss America is the largest scholarship provider to young women in the world and makes millions of dollars in scholarship assistance available to candidates every year. As part of the Miss America organization, Miss Arkansas is the No.1 provider of scholarships to the state winner, and 100 percent of state candidates receive a scholarship for competing. In the last five years alone, more than $1 million in scholarships have been awarded to candidates.
In addition to those funds, the Miss Arkansas organization proudly supports educational goals of women via opportunities for advocacy in communities across the state. All of that is based on allowing young women to achieve their educational goals while developing presentation skills, talent and confidence.
This year, Camille Cathey was crowned
Miss Arkansas, and Peyton Bolling was crowned Miss Arkansas’ Teen. Both said they have been thrilled to serve the state of Arkansas this year in their respective roles and have also been directly — and positively — impacted by the scholarships they have received.
Upon winning Miss Arkansas, Cathey was awarded a $30,000 scholarship by the Ted and Shannon Skokos Foundation and more than $75,000 in awards, wardrobe, transportation and gifts.
Peyton said she received a $10,500 scholarship, courtesy of Pafford Medical Services, for being crowned Miss Arkansas’ Teen plus more than $25,000 in awards, wardrobe and gifts. Peyton also received a full scholarship to Arkansas State University in Jonesboro valued at over $40,000 and a $20,000 scholarship to the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.
Cathey, originally from Wynne, was crowned Miss Arkansas’ Teen in 2018, which afforded her the ability to attend the University of Alabama at no cost.
“I remember realizing how big of a deal it was at that time, but it didn’t really set in until I received my student bill back from the University of Alabama every semester, and it would say ‘Balance: $0,’” Cathey said. “It was such a significant and jaw-dropping heaviness lifted off of me. It’s a feeling you don’t understand until you see it.”
By SARAH COLEMAN
Cathey joined the Miss Arkansas program at age 6 and was perviously Miss Arkansas’ Teen.
(Photo by Danny Barger Photography)
Having earned a bachelor’s degree in communication studies with a pre-law track, Cathey was accepted to the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville and originally planned to attend this fall. Now, given that she is Miss Arkansas, Cathey will defer her enrollment until next year. She has a full ride again thanks to the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Foundation.
ready and knew she could take on the responsibilities of the role.
“Even though I went to school in Alabama, I always knew I wanted to compete for Miss Arkansas because Arkansas gave me the opportunity to even be at Alabama,” Cathey said.
With the platform of Proudly Volunteer, a broad service initiative, Cathey said she has several goals she wishes to accomplish during her Miss Arkansas reign. One goal is to partner with the entire 2025 class of Miss Arkansas contestants to help shed light on their community service initiatives.
“My biggest goal is to leave a legacy of compassion wherever I go and to really be someone that people say, ‘You know, I couldn’t even tell she was Miss Arkansas. She made me feel like we were the only two people in the room,’” Cathey said.
In her official capacity, Cathey has had the opportunity to travel the state far and wide, supporting causes that directly impact the lives of everyday Arkansans.
“It’s been so exciting, getting to volunteer in all four corners of the state. I’ve been able to see what Arkansans are passionate about and really use my platform as Miss Arkansas to make a difference,” Cathey said. “I can’t wait to continue promoting Proudly Volunteer and, hopefully, change volunteerism statistics in our state.”
As a former Miss Arkansas’ Teen, Cathey said she is excited to work alongside and mentor Peyton throughout the year, as well.
“My biggest goal is to leave a legacy of compassion wherever I go and to really be someone that people say, ‘You know, I couldn’t even tell she was Miss Arkansas. She made me feel like we were the only two people in the room.’”
Camille Cathey, Miss Arkansas
“It’s such a cool feeling having a Teen now. I know how much I looked up to my Miss Arkansas when I was Arkansas’ Teen, and so I feel like I have an extra duty to help and mentor Peyton in any way I can,” Cathey said. “We have had so much fun together, and I hope I’m impacting her in ways leave a lasting impression.”
Cathey has been involved in the Miss Arkansas organization since she was 6 years old, when a Miss Arkansas’ Teen contestant discovered her photo hanging in a hair salon. The contestant approached Cathey’s hair stylist and, later, Cathey’s mother about the Miss Arkansas Diamond State Program. The mentorship program for girls ages 5 to 12 is focused on introducing young people across the state to the Miss America organization.
“I was hooked as a little girl,” Cathey said. “I got to see all of these young women with dreams turn into women with vision. I thought they were the most beautiful, intelligent and coolest girls ever because they would get down on my level and talk to me like I was the most special girl in the room.
“For me, that was a ‘wow’ moment. I realized you can be all the things you want, that you can work really hard and be pretty and be part of this.”
Cathey began competing for Miss Arkansas’ Teen as soon as possible, and by the time she entered her junior year of high school, she achieved her goal of winning the title. Her year as Miss Arkansas’ Teen was nothing short of eye-opening and inspirational and gave her the goal of one day competing for the title of Miss Arkansas.
Although she was eligible to start competing for the Miss Arkansas title at age 18, Cathey decided to wait and compete at a time when she truly felt
A Bentonville native, Peyton also got her start by participating in the Diamond program. She won her title her first year of Miss Arkansas’ Teen competition. She echoed Cathey’s sentiments about the value of their relationship, saying she appreciates the input from her Miss Arkansas mentor.
“Camille, having been Miss Arkansas’ Teen in the past, is incredible,” she said. “I have been able to use her as a reference and a mentor. I know she’s always in my back corner and that I can text her about anything.
“This is such a tight-knit community, and having a Miss that has been in your shoes and is now fulfilling greater things is really inspiring. She’s a great mentor to show how to be the ideal Miss Arkansas’ Teen.”
Peyton said one of the biggest things she has learned thus far is the ability to monitor situations and adjust.
“That’s kind of a slogan that goes around because you can’t plan everything, and at times, you have to go with the flow,” she said. “There’s a lot of people in your corner that want to help make
things happen for you, so if you can rely on them, they’ll rely on you. It will turn out so rewarding in the end if you stick to that monitor and adjust your mindset.”
“I’m just so excited for all of the opportunities and networking I’ll be able to do this year,” she said.
Peyton said she has always had an interest in the Miss Arkansas program and grew up in the Miss Arkansas world, watching the Miss Arkansas and Miss Arkansas’ Teen competition for years.
“Being a Diamond, I saw what the Teen does and what the Miss does,” she said. “That kind of started my obsession in seeing who won and watching how they do at Miss America.
Despite that long fascination and fandom, she did not decide to compete herself until this year.
“I knew I was going to age out of the teen competition this year, so I thought I might as well try it at least
“Getting to meet and interact with people has shown me so much, and I love that I don’t just get to represent teenagers but that I get to be able to be involved with so many different people.”
— Peyton Bolling, Miss Arkansas’ Teen
once,” she said. “Seeing how other girls started out as Diamonds and transitioned up to the title of Miss Arkansas showed me how I could also transition up.”
She also drew inspiration to compete from her mother, who was Miss Dogwood back in the day.
“I was able to be Miss Dogwood’s Teen as my preliminary, and I got to wear her dress when I won my preliminary,” Peyton said. “It was a full-circle moment.”
even going to go to school. Because of this organization, I have won two full rides to college, one partial scholarship and $20,000 to attend any school,” she said. “That is life-changing. I won’t have to worry about student debt or where I can go. It’s so amazing to see Arkansas put that money toward girls that want to be involved and are talented and well spoken.”
Of all the pageant organizations that exist around the country, Peyton said she is particularly proud to be a representative of an organization that she feels brings out the very best in every aspiring Miss Arkansas or Miss Arkansas’ Teen.
“Every single girl in this organization has their own accomplishments and their own sense of identity that contribute heavily to the organization,” Peyton said. “I think that’s what sets the Miss Arkansas organization apart. It really just shows how it’s the best of the best.”
As for the competition itself, Peyton said she enjoyed the interview and talent sections the most because they combined her favorite things: talking to people, making people laugh and dancing.
“Talent was the one part of the competition that I felt like I was preparing for my entire life because I’ve grown up dancing and felt at home,” Peyton said. “I’m a competitive dancer, and in a way, I feel like this is what I was made to do.”
Now, as Miss Arkansas’ Teen, she is excited to represent the entire state.
“Arkansas is the best state in the country. I think everyone knows that,” she said. “It’s so incredible to see how Arkansas has come together to create the best scholarships and sponsorships for our girls and seeing how the community of Arkansas comes together. Everyone knows everyone, and if I ever wanted to do something, I know that I have at least 20 people who will want to help.”
Like Cathey, Peyton has already felt the massive impact of the scholarships she has won through the organization. Going into her senior year at Bentonville High School, she expressed relief in knowing she will be able to afford her college education.
“I had no idea how I was going to pay for college or where I was
Peyton has assisted Cathey’s platforms and has also been excited about getting the opportunity to advocate for her own personal platform, Simple Acts of Citizenship and the American Heart Association.
Simple Acts of Citizenship is all about encouraging citizens to show up and get involved with the things they are passionate about and advocating for those things through government civics, not necessarily politics.
“Getting involved with the government is so incredibly special when it comes to your dayto-day life,” Peyton said. “Just by knowing what’s happening in government and being thoughtfully concerned about the future is the importance of citizenship.
“My big goal is to advocate for Simple Acts of Citizenship and continuing a curriculum for young kids in middle school and in high school. I have gained so much confidence in this already. I’m very passionate about this platform and [advocating] for local government and being able to do it on a wider, statewide scale.”
Both Cathey and Peyton have a goal of visiting a wide cross section of the state during their reigns, connecting with people from one end of the state to the other.
“Getting to meet and interact with people has shown me so much, and I love that I don’t just get to represent teenagers but that I get to be able to be involved with so many different people,” Peyton said. “When I put the sash and the crown on, I’m no longer Peyton Bolling; I am Miss Arkansas’ Teen, and there’s something so special about that.”
In addition to serving the state, Cathey and Peyton will represent Arkansas at the Miss America and Miss America’s Teen competitions. In the meantime, Cathey encouraged community groups and city officials across the Natural State to book appearances at missarkansas.org/book.
“My whole job this year is to serve the state, and I want to be all around Arkansas this year,” she said. “If a community wants me there, I can be there, and I would love to be in as many counties as I can this year. My job is to serve Arkansas, and that’s exactly what I want to do.”
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!
– By Jason Pederson
If I shared a book with 135 of my colleagues, you could bet I would agree with most, if not all, of what was in that book. Otherwise, why bring it to their attention?
So when I read that Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders had shared the book The Anxious Generation with all 135 members of the Arkansas General Assembly, I immediately assumed that the governor agreed with most of what is presented in that book. That led me to want to read it for myself.
The author, Jonathan Haidt, describes what he calls “The Great Rewiring of Childhood,” a transition from a play-based childhood to a screen-based childhood. He discusses childhood of the past — full of outdoor activities, in-person relationships and risk-taking — and how that has been replaced by more and more hours spent staring, scrolling and existing in front of screens. Haidt argues that the most intense period of this rewiring occurred between 2010 and 2015.
As the parent of two children who were preteens and early teenagers between 2010 and 2015, that assessment really hit me. American families with children born around the turn of the century had no idea it was coming, but we were guinea pigs of sorts.
The launch of the iPhone in 2007, the addictive “like, share and retweet” features added by social media companies in 2009, and the introduction of the front-facing camera in 2010, which made “selfies” possible, made us and, particularly, our children, made us unwitting participants in a great social experiment.
I have seen the results of this social phenomenon firsthand. Rarely is a smart phone out of the reach of our now-young-adult children. Even if they are not looking at it, it is on the table, in their lap or in their pocket. As Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Sherry Turkle wrote in 2015 about life with smartphones, “We are forever elsewhere.”
“Even when members of Gen Z are not on their devices and appear to be doing something in the real world, such as sitting in class or eating a meal or talking with you, a substantial portion of their attention is monitoring or worrying (being anxious) about events in the social metaverse,” Turkle wrote.
Haidt and others argue that while this dynamic has the
potential to negatively impact any of us, it is especially so for children. He noted four areas in particular where the results of this technological experiment are not going so well for Generation Z. First is social deprivation, which is choosing time online or in front of a screen over time face-to-face with people. Second is sleep deprivation — phones in bedrooms that rob a person of proper rest. Third is attention fragmentation from the constant notifications and alerts that make it hard to focus on any single task at hand for an extended period. Finally, there is addiction. While most smartphone users do not become addicted to the point where their lives are ruined or dramatically altered, the designers of apps and video games do their darndest to occupy as much time and attention as possible.
When we took our annual summer trip to Wisconsin this year, our 24-year-old son chose to sleep on an uncomfortable pullout couch in a condo living room rather than in a bed in a room of his own at a cabin. Why? The condo had Wi-Fi. The cabin did not. He skipped the July 4 family picnic and chose instead to sleep until 3 p.m. because of the phonefueled sleep deprivation mentioned above. His mood was often surly and irritable during daylight hours.
As parents, we fought the good fight during the preteen years. Our kids were among the last in their friend groups to get smartphones and the last to create social media accounts. We kept TVs and electronic devices out of the bedrooms and tried to walk the line between proper
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders shared The Anxious Generation with members of the Arkansas General Assembly as part of her push to encourage cellphone-free schools.
monitoring and state surveillance. We had data limits and would sometimes ground them from phone usage for a month at a time, which we referred to as a “scorched-earth” punishment that made life truly miserable for all involved.
As Haidt noted in the book, however, “Few parents want their preteens to disappear into a phone, but the vision of their child being a social outcast is even more distressing,” and we felt that. Honestly, we had more battles over smartphones than grades, curfews, clothes, dating and everything else combined. It was rough.
One of the things that made it so rough was a lack of guidance and support. Society has age markers or protectors for children in many areas. For example, age 13 is cleared for PG-13 movies, age 16 for driver’s licenses, age 18 to vote and enlist in military service, and age 21 to buy alcohol/tobacco/vaping products and gamble in casinos. There is actually a law on the books that sets 13 as the age at which a child can create a social media account and enter into a contract with a company, but the law is not enforced.
Haidt — and Sanders in her letter to lawmakers — offers four key suggestions for children regarding smartphone usage:
1. No smartphones before high school
2. No social media before age 16
3. Phone-free schools
4. More outdoor play and childhood independence
These are guidelines that would ideally be enacted and enforced at the family level but could also be implemented at the school, community and even state levels, just as it has in one enterprising Arkansas school district.
Students at two Fort Smith middle schools, Kimmons and Ramsey, will not have access to their phones during the school day this year. Fort Smith was awarded a $52,000 grant to buy pouches that all students will be required to put their phones in during the school day. While many schools have “no phones in class” policies, students can still check their phones in between classes and sneak peaks during class. The locked pouches will prevent that temptation and prevent teachers from having to police cellphone usage.
The movement is catching on elsewhere. In Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin has issued an executive order directing his department of education to draft guidelines about cellphone-free schools and education. Louisiana and several other states have passed laws that require porn websites to verify, via a government-issued ID, that users are older than 18.
Federally, the Biden administration has urged tech companies to beef up protections for children and teens online, but Haidt called on state governments to take the lead on the issue.
“Given the long-standing paralysis of the U.S. Congress, it has fallen to individual states and governors to try to protect the children in their states from predatory online practices,” he wrote.
It appears Sanders has heard that call. In her letter to lawmakers, which was accompanied by a copy of The Anxious Generation, she warned “Arkansas’ kids are facing a mental health crisis.” She plans to pursue an
agenda that will help and urged lawmakers to join her.
Ultimately, the people who pay the phone bill can implement whatever phone-usage rules they desire, and we adults need to lead by example. How often do we allow our own smartphones to distract us from paying full attention to our children? The answer, according to Haidt: 17 percent of parents admit to often being distracted, while another 52 percent admit to being sometimes distracted. Our own self-control needs to increase, and our desire for control via constant monitoring and over-protecting needs to decrease.
In the meantime, the verse that spent considerable time on our refrigerator during our children’s formative years can guide us all as we decide how to spend our valuable time and attention: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).
For two decades, Jason Pederson served as KATV Channel 7’s 7 On Your Side reporter. Now on the other “side” of his awardwinning time on the news, he now serves as deputy chief of community engagement for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. His perspective-filled and thought-provoking column, “This Side of Seven,” publishes exclusively in AY About You magazine monthly.
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.
Rehabilitative
By Joe David Rice
Way up in the northeast corner of the state, an hour or so outside of Memphis and about halfway between Crowley’s Ridge and the Mississippi River, is the community of Dyess (pronounced “dice”). By Arkansas standards, the Mississippi County town is not particularly old (founded in 1934) nor is it particularly large (population 515 at last count), but Dyess is, well, different.
The typical Arkansas settlement sprang up to meet needs of the surrounding countryside and, eventually, its own citizens by establishing banks, schools, stores, churches, bakeries, feed mills, clinics, repair shops and the like. The origin of Dyess, however, did not follow the usual formula.
In the early 1930s, the entire country remained firmly in the grip of the Great Depression — and rural Arkansas had been especially hard hit. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his advisors desperately searched for solutions. One idea was to create a series of new communities that would provide fresh starts for impoverished farm families on land they could own. Dyess was the first of a dozen such towns organized in Arkansas and easily the largest of any established in the nation.
school, cotton gin, canning factory, two-story administration building and miles of gravel roads. When first lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited Dyess in June 1936, the colony claimed some 2,500 residents.
Among the Dyess residents were Ray Cash, his wife, Carrie, and their youngsters, who had moved from Kingsland in south-central Arkansas to a five-room, 1,000-square-foot house in Dyess in 1935. Upon reaching age 5, each Cash child worked in the fields alongside the parents, singing as they went. After supper, the family huddled around the radio and listened to music of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Jimmie Davis and others or sang with Carrie as she played the piano or the few chords she knew on her guitar.
Cash boyhood home
Dyess got its location and its name from William Reynolds Dyess, a prosperous Mississippi County farmer and political activist, who ran the Federal Emergency Relief Administration’s efforts in Arkansas. In a decision that would be questioned by political opponents and the press, Dyess purchased about 16,000 acres of poorly drained lands in the county’s southwestern region for his “colony” at an average cost of $2.50 an acre, much of it from the son of one of his best friends. Following his death in a January 1936 plane crash, the town was named in his honor.
In 1934, hundreds of workers, most receiving $1.60 a day, were hired to dig canals, cut timber, build roads, erect bridges and construct houses. One permanent sawmill and six portable mills provided lumber for 500 whitewashed houses, which were completed by May 1936. The clapboard houses, placed on individual 20- or 40-acre plots, ranged from three to five rooms and had wells, chicken coops and 16-by-24-foot barns. Although wired for electrical service, the houses in the colony were not connected to the electrical grid for another decade.
Successful applicants — experienced, healthy and white Arkansas farmers younger than 50 who had been victimized by the Depression — were invited to move into the colony for a one-year trial period, their relocation expenses fully covered. Those hard-working families who made the most of their new opportunities were retained; the others went elsewhere.
By the time of Dyess Colony’s first anniversary on May 12, 1935, 347 homes had been built, along with a commissary, community center,
The middle child of the seven siblings — called J.R. because his parents allegedly could not agree on a name at his birth — had a particularly rich voice and was not ashamed to share it at church or via a local radio station.
“You’ve got a gift, J.R.,” his mother said after hearing him sing through an open window. “God’s got his hand on you.”
Upon graduation from Dyess High School, where he served as vice president of the senior class, on May 19, 1950, J.R. enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, handing the recruiter his birth certificate, which read “J.R. Cash.” When told “You have to have a first name,” Cash answered “John.” During his European tour of duty, Cash wrote songs, learned to play the guitar and performed with other musicians.
Settling in Memphis after his military discharge and using Johnny Cash as his stage name, the young entertainer from Dyess soon became an international recording star. Several of his songs, such as Five Feet High and Rising, based on the historic 1937 flood, hearken back to the times his family struggled to cope with the relentless challenges posed by homesteading the flood-prone gumbo soils of eastern Arkansas.
In his autobiography, Cash recalled those childhood days, writing, “When we finally got to Dyess ... I saw the Promised Land: a brandnew house with two big bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, a front and a back porch, an outside toilet, a barn, a chicken house, and a smokehouse — to me, luxuries untold.”
Doomed by management problems, political feuds and the declining role of small farms due to mechanization, Dyess fell into decline. Most of the original farmsteads have vanished, replaced by broad cotton and soybean fields.
Thanks to the work of visionary individuals and organizations in northeast Arkansas, especially the fine folks at Arkansas State University, Johnny Cash’s boyhood home at 4791 W. County Road 924 is open for tours, as are a handful of key community buildings in the center of what is left of the old colony. Located a short distance west of Interstate 55, it is definitely worth a visit, Cash fan or not.
Joe David Rice, former tourism director of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, wrote Arkansas Backstories, a delightful book of short stories from A through Z that introduces readers to the state’s lesser-known aspects. Rice’s goal is to help readers acknowledge that Arkansas is a unique and fascinating combination of land and people — a story to be proud of and one certainly worth sharing.
Each month, AY will share one of the 165 distinctive essays. We hope these stories will give you a new appreciation for this geographically compact but delightfully complex place we call home. These Arkansas Backstories columns appear courtesy of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Central Arkansas Library System. The essays have been collected and published by Butler Center Books in a two-volume set, both of which are now available to purchase on Amazon and at the University of Arkansas Press.
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