2021
Congrats Dr. Yee! Named one of AY’s Best Healthcare Professionals
love
“I Dr. Yee and her incredible staff! After getting back in the gym regularly, I still had some stubborn fat areas, so I did CoolSculpting at Dr. Yee’s office and love my results!” - Heather Baker, President/Publisher AY Media Group
Dr. Suzanne Yee is one of the Natural State’s most accomplished cosmetic surgeons. Dr. Yee graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and was ranked 1st in her graduating class. She completed her surgery internship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and her facial plastics and reconstructive surgery fellowship at the University of Texas at Houston. Dr. Yee has been serving the state of Arkansas through her medical skills and fashion sensibilities at her cosmetic and laser surgery center since 2003. Congratulations to Dr. Suzanne Yee for being named About You’s Best Health Care Professional! 12600 CANTRELL RD. • STE 100 • LITTLE ROCK 501.224.1044 • DRSUZANNEYEE.COM
Oaklawn has all you need for the ultimate getaway. Book yours at Oaklawn.com.
A NEW LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT OAKLAWN.COM • 1-800-OAKLAWN
R A C I N G • C A S I N O • H O T E L • S PA • E V E N T C E N T E R • D I N I N G Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700.
M Y L A G O S M Y W AY
C AV I A R C O L L E C T I O N S
We Keep People All
Caitlin’s amazing new smile with porcelain veneers
Make 2021 Your Year For The Beautiful...
Over Arkansas Smiling
“People all over Arkansas trust Drs. Lee Wyant and Alyssa Lambert with their smile. With a combined 40 years of experience in providing clinical excellence you know your smile is in good hands. Dr. Wyant is Arkansas’ only Fellowed Cosmetic Dentist. Credentials, experience and caring concern for each individual patient insures that you’ll receive exceptional esthetic results regardless of the challenges presented. Learn more how Drs. Wyant and Lambert can help you have an incredible smile by calling today for your complimentary smile consultation.”
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C. LEE WYANT, DDS ALYSSA LAMBERT, DDS
16524 Chenal Pkwy Little Rock, AR 72223 501.819.3608 smilearkansas.com
All photos of beautiful smiles created by Drs. Wyant and Lambert.
Smile You Deserve!
WHAT’S INSIDE
10 Publisher’s Letter 12 Connect 14 Top Events 156 Murder Mystery 160 Arkansas Backstories
HOME&GARDEN
Minimalist Magic Livin’ in Little Rock Deep Roots
16 23 36
FOOD&DRINK
Found in Translation Asian Food Recipes Laying Down Roots FJames ace Behind the Place: Hale 58 Cool Cocktails 38 46 48 52
ARTS&CULTURE
Dog Daze of Summer P aris, Pamplona, Piggott A Nasty Way to Die State of Redemption Butter Beans and Ice Cream Evel Obsession
62 82 88 94 98 102
SPORTS 106 The People Behind Your News: Steve Sullivan
War Pigs
112
Asian Food Bucket List, page 42
HEALTH
Photo by Jamison Mosley
118 AY’s Best Health Care Professionals
154 Doing Good in the Neighborhood
MENTAL HEALTH 70 Dogs and Mental Health
ON THE COVER AY: ABowWow You? It’s all about dogs this month for our annual “Dog Daze of Summer” special. Read more: page 62. Photo by Heather Baker.
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FAMILY FUNERAL HOMES
PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER
Heather Baker hbaker@aymag.com EDITOR
Dustin Jayroe djayroe@aymag.com
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Katie Zakrzewski katie@aymag.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Mark Carter mcarter@aymag.com
STAFF WRITER
Emily Beirne ebeirne@aymag.com
FOOD EDITOR
Kevin Shalin kshalin@aymag.com
EDITOR-AT-LARGE
Lisa Fischer lfischer@aymag.com
ART DIRECTOR
Jamison Mosley jmosley@aymag.com
PRODUCTION MANAGER Rebecca Robertson rrobertson@aymag.com
DIGITAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
Kellie McAnulty kmcanulty@aymag.com
Dwain Hebda is president of Ya!Mule Wordsmiths in Little Rock. A writer, editor and journalist of some 30 years, his work appears in more than 30 publications in four states. Nebraskan by birth, Southern by the grace of God, he and his wife, Darlene, have four grown children and two lovely dogs.
Janie Jones began her journalism career by writing features for the River Valley & Ozark Edition. After finding her niche as a true crime writer for AY About You, she acted as a consultant for Investigation Discovery. With her husband, she coauthored two books: Hiking Arkansas and Arkansas Curiosities.
Julie Craig began her magazine career while living in New York City as an intern at Seventeen. With fashion and home design as her forte for the past 15 years, Julie is a blogger, writer and editor who has reported stories for Us Weekly and written about and photographed New York Fashion Week.
Ebony Blevins After obtaining her bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from Arkansas State University, Ebony Blevins has worked for and with numerous publications and marketing companies around Arkansas. Along with freelancing, she is currently developing her fine art photography body of work.
Angela Forsyth lives in Northwest Arkansas. Her articles have been published in AY About You, Arkansas Money and Politics, Food & Drink, Modern Home Builder, Manufacturing Today, Inside Healthcare, Retail Merchandiser and many more magazines. She’s a happy wife and mom to four kids and a dog.
Jason Pederson spent 20 years as KATV’s “Seven On Your Side” reporter. He now heads up the Office of the Ombudsman for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. Jason and his wife, Mary Carol, have two biological children and one bonus son, all now adults. They are long-time members of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock.
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Lora Puls lpuls@aymag.com
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Stephanie Wallace swallace@aymag.com Linda Burlingame lindaaymag@aol.com Tonya Higginbotham thigginbotham@aymag.com Mary Funderburg mary@aymag.com Tonya Mead tmead@aymag.com Shasta Ballard sballard@aymag.com
ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER
Jessica Everson jeverson@aymag.com
ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Jacob Carpenter ads@aymag.com
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Ginger Roell groell@aymag.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Kaitlin Barger, Ken Heard, Meredith Mashburn, Tony Milligan, Sarah Russell, Jared Sorrells
ADMINISTRATION Casandra Moore admin@aymag.com Vicki Vowell, CEO
TO ADVERTISE:
501-244-9700 or hbaker@aymag.com
TO SUBSCRIBE:
501-244-9700 or aymag.com
Nic Williams, an Arkansas native, is a practicing lawyer and contributor to AY About You. He has developed original recipes for more than half a decade and considers Ina Garten as his inspiration. Most importantly, he’s a proud doggy dad and is grateful for his supportive friends and family.
AY Magazine is published monthly, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4 AY Magazine (ISSN 2162-7754) is published monthly by AY Media Group, 910 W. 2nd St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201. Periodicals postage paid at Little Rock, AR and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to AY Magazine, 910 W. 2nd St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201. Subscription Inquiries: Subscription rate is $20 for one year (12 issues). Single issues are available upon request for $5. For subscriptions, inquiries or address changes, call 501-244-9700. The contents of AY are copyrighted ©2020, and material contained herein may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. Articles in AY should not be considered specific advice, as individual circumstances vary. Products and services advertised in the magazine are not necessarily endorsed by AY. Please recycle this magazine.
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COMING SOON
publisher's letter
‘Pawfully’
Perfect
Can you believe it’s already August? I’d be more concerned about where the year has gone if not for the excitement I’ve felt all month about this issue. You see, it’s one of my favorites of the entire year: Dog Daze of Summer. It’s a “BowWow” You blowout here at AY About You this month. First, how cute is this cover? This is my family’s “pawfect” little pooch, Charlie, hanging out in the pool on one of this summer’s scorching “dog days.” (See what we did there?) Also in this issue, the one-and-only Dwain Hebda tracked down a true hero who rescues dogs — by the hundreds — for a living. We also have the ins and outs of adopting, and why canines are so good for our mental health. You don’t want to miss any of it. And you know it wouldn’t be an issue of AY without plenty of food talk. Our pride and joy this month is the Heather Baker and the sales team at AY’s AY’s Arkansas Bucket List: Asian Food. We also have 2021 Men of Distinction event. some delicious Asian food recipes from contributors Nic Williams and Kaitlin Barger. Our food editor, Kevin Shalin, tracked down the venerable James Hale of Lonoke’s new shiny thing, The Grump Rabbit. The restaurant has been turning heads far and wide to the quaint little town, and Shalin set out to find the secret sauce to its success. Oh, did you know that the famous author Ernest Hemingway has deep ties to Arkansas? Did you also know that the 60th anniversary of his death was this summer? Our northeast Arkansas contributor, Kenneth Heard, penned a fantastic piece on some of this interesting history. Then, we commemorated the occasion even further by featuring a few local authors, like Richard McKeown, Tina Johnson and our very own Joe David Rice. Whew. It’s been quite a year for all of us, but even more so for our selfless health care workers, who have been on the frontlines of this ongoing pandemic since day one. That makes this edition of our annual AY’s Best Health Care Professionals even more special in my eyes, to be able to shine a spotlight on the people who deserve it most. There’s so much more great content teed up for you in this issue, so I’ll leave you to it. As for me and my pooch? Time to hit the pool.
Heather Baker, President & Publisher hbaker@aymag.com
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TRENDING ON AYMAG.COM Movie Starring John Cusack and Emile Hirsch Filming in Downtown Little Rock Eureka Springs Restaurant Named One of Tripadvisor’s Best in the U.S. 14 Picture-Perfect Places to See in Arkansas Simone Biles Coming to Simmons Bank Arena 13 Rivers to Float in Arkansas
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READER FEEDBACK TIME TO FIND THE PRICKLY PICKLE “Thank you Kevin Shalin and AY Magazine for this wonderful article! We are so excited and grateful for the support!” The Prickly Pickle ARKANSAS’ FIRST JEEP GRAND WAGONEER UNVEILED IN SHERWOOD “We couldn’t be more excited about the all-new Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Thanks so much to AY Magazine and Shasta Ballard for coming out!!” Frank Fletcher Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram-Sherwood DAVID YERBY LAUNCHES FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN FOR ‘DEAF AMERICA PROJECT’ “Thanks, AY Magazine for the great write-up!” David Yerby MADE IN ARKANSAS: SPANKY’S CUSTOM CUES “Thanks for acknowledging Shon’s amazing unique craftsmanship, hard work, dedication and passion!” Spanky’s Custom Cues
CONTESTS
Have you made it to Costco?
Arkansas Caves to Explore this Summer
A hometown product is an NBA champ. Bobby Portis and the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA Finals.
Contest deadline is August 14! Go to aymag.com and click on the “Contests” tab.
1. TIPTON & HURST
Looking for that perfect gift for a loved one? You’re guaranteed to find it at Tipton & Hurst, which has been providing expert florist services since 1886. Whether you need a beautiful bouquet of flowers or a unique gift basket, this Arkansas mainstay will have it. Drop in to find what your heart desires – it’s on us! CODE: TIPTON
2. LOBLOLLY
There’s nothing like a scoop of delicious ice cream, no matter the season. When it comes to ice cream, you can’t beat Loblolly Creamery. This Little Rock favorite serves up mouthwatering small-batch ice cream, using fresh ingredients and unique flavors. Come and get your favorite flavor, on us. CODE: LOBLOLLY
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3. TURPENTINE CREEK
Take a walk on the wild side at Turpentine Creek. This Eureka Springs refuge provides a home for abandoned and neglected big cats, from tigers to lions to leopards. Win two tickets to tour the refuge and see all the amazing animals! CODE: CATS
For the weekly segment Woman Wednesday, AY About You sat down with LaTresha Woodruff, the public information officer for the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management.
!
July WINNERS Rock Town Distillery: LAUREN SPENCER Loblolly: DEANA EIDSON Gadwall’s: LINDA COOMBS
We are here for you and your loved ones even in these unexpected times. We understand COVID-19 has drastically impacted our community in many different ways. It's times like these that we must look after one another. With our senior population at higher risk, we want to provide quality support and peace of mind for families to ensure good health and safety for all. Contact us for safe and reliable home care services. • Provide one-on-one care while in a skilled nursing, assisted living or in-home setting. • Offer transitional care from hospital or rehab to home. • Give comfort to family members knowing their loved one is safe and their necessities are being met.
(501) 847-6102
www.ElderIndependence.com
agenda
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Top
you just can't miss! ASHLEY MCBRYDE Aug. 7
Robinson Center — Little Rock The Grammy-nominated and ACMA winner from Hardy is back on the road. She’ll be making a stop in downtown Little Rock on her “This Town Talks” tour this month.
2021 ARKANSAS DEMOCRATGAZETTE FALL BRIDAL SHOW Aug. 22
Statehouse Convention Center — Little Rock One of the largest bridal shows in all of Arkansas is back at the Statehouse Convention Center. Wedding vendors from all four corners will be in attendance to help all the newly engaged couples with the most exciting event planning of their lives.
FAYETTEVILLE ROOTS FESTIVAL Aug. 26-28
Pratt Place — Fayetteville The beloved Fayetteville Roots Festival has officially returned. This year, things will be a little more cautious than usual with the entire event being held outside, but it still promises to be a can’t-miss occasion.
LUKE BRYAN Aug. 27
Walmart AMP — Rogers
Luke Bryan’s latest tour is called “Proud to be Right Here,” and now that he has a stop set for Arkansas, we’re proud to have him … right here.
ARKANSAS UROLOGY 25TH ANNIVERSARY SILVER BALL Aug. 28
Little Rock Marriott For a quarter of a century, Arkansas Urology has provided invaluable health care service for Arkansas. This month, they celebrate in style with this formal, black-tie ball.
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events
Dog Days of Summer Top 3 events to do at home Editor’s Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the events and information listed are subject to change. When attending events this month, please remember to be safe and abide by the most current guidelines set forth by Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the Arkansas Department of Health.
PERSEIDS METEOR SHOWER Aug. 11, 12
Your nearest dark sky
FINDING FAMILY FACTS (VIRTUAL) Aug. 9; 3:30 p.m. www.cals.org
AGFC VIRTUAL NATURE CENTER www.agfcnaturecenter.com
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home
MINIMALIST
MAGIC By Julie Craig // Photos by Chris White, 3wire Photography
For the last 10 years, Erica York has played all the many roles of homebuilding, placing her magic touch on this Benton beauty inspired by Beverly Hills
The open floor plan and wide range of natural lighting creates an inviting atmosphere throughout the home.
E
rica York of EY Custom Homes is no stranger to the homebuilding industry and certainly one woman to watch. For the past 10 years, she’s worked in construction on both residential and commercial as well as renovation projects. From construction materials sales to managing the business operations behind the scenes from the office and creating and managing budgets, she’s done it all. “As a female in a male-dominated industry, I want to show that women are just as capable of succeeding in construction as men,” York says. “No matter what role they play in the construction process.” It’s not uncommon for York to handle all the details by hiring subcontractors and completing project management from start to finish while consistently making sure deadlines are met. What’s more, she also loves designing projects and working with clients to bring their design vision to life. This captivating new home located in Westlake Village in Benton immediately comes to life upon first glance. A 3,460-square-foot, two-story-masterpiece, it mirrors a work of art. And it truly is. If the road were a runway, this home certainly would demonstrate the perfect collection. “One of my favorite places to visit is Beverly Hills, California,” York says. “You see so many different home designs, but my personal favorites are always the contemporary and modern homes. I haven’t seen many of those being built here in Arkansas and thought, ‘Why not?’” Inspired by her love of the 90210 zip code, it was apparent
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to York she should get busy back home and put her enthusiasm for modern, unique design to work. “When I drove past Westlake Village with my daughter, I thought this is the perfect neighborhood to build a ‘Beverly Hills’ style, modern home,” she says. The ultimate goal for this particular project, York says, was to design and build a home that represented and showed off her personal design style and skills as a new home builder. “This home was my first build from the ground up,” she says. “Prior to building this home, most of my experience was in construction finish out/remodel, construction material sales and real estate.” Talk about curb appeal. The exterior design is a flat thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) commercial-style roof trimmed with steel drip edge flashing, crisp white stucco, Vesta steel plank siding and black Andersen 100 Series windows and sliding doors. These features give that immediate flair and what fashion might dub as both sleek and chic. Even the front door was custom made for the home by Rustica Hardware. Peek inside and the interior has a minimalist color palette of bright white walls, doors and ceilings, along with concrete and wood floors, matte black hardware, stair railing and window trim. “Even though the home is minimal, I wanted it to be very warm and inviting,” she says. “I wanted there to be lots of natural light, which is why I put large windows and sliding glass doors throughout the house.” Without a doubt, the most eye-catching feature of all is
A palette of neutral tones carries from the living area to the bathroom.
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The stunning view from the second-story balcony.
“
I hope whoever buys this home loves it as much as I do and enjoys making memories in it. the mesmerizing, floating staircase, designed to be the main feature. “It’s the first thing you see when you walk in the front door, and I wanted it to be eye-catching,” York says. The stairs are supported by two steel beams attached to steel beams hidden in the walls, which give them a cool, floating appearance. The stairs themselves are pine wood treads with a clear matte stain. One side of the railing is horizontal, and the other is vertical which gives it a fun criss-cross effect. But perhaps York’s own personal favorite room in this multi-functional home — whether it’s a growing family making memories or a single person entertaining guests — is the kitchen. “I designed the floor plan to have the kitchen, living and dining all open,” she says. “I put sliding glass doors in the kitchen and dining room so it could all be open to the patio for entertaining. The ceilings are almost 13 feet in height, which makes the area seem even more open.” The main focus of the kitchen is definitely the extra large island with its unique design, perfect for entertaining and adjacent to the gas linear fireplace in the living room. To continue the clean appearance, the cabinets are custom beech
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with matte black tabs instead of pulls, while the countertops are Calacatta Diamond marble to add to the clean lines of the room. Minimalism is key with flooring as well. The downstairs floors are clear polished concrete floors. “I didn’t want much of a stain color added to them because I wanted everything to be very natural,” York says. “Just like I wanted the cabinets and stair treads to be stained with a clear matte stain, the upstairs floors are a natural pristine hickory.” Just because minimalism is a common theme doesn’t mean luxury isn’t incorporated. The master and upstairs bathrooms both have freestanding soaker bathtubs and separate walk-in showers with floating cabinet vanities and overmount sinks. Modern premier Kuzco light fixtures illuminate each room of the house, and the bathrooms/laundry room have honed black soapstone countertops for a nice contrast. “This home was my first build from the ground up and will always be special to me for that reason,” York says. “It’s also very special because I had complete design freedom and was able to build my dream home for someone else. I hope whoever buys this home loves it as much as I do and enjoys making memories in it.”
Erica York Homes
Contact Erica today for all of your residential remodeling, new construction, and custom design services. 501-366-5115 // www.eycustomhomes.com
Prepare for Fall • Heat-rated vented logs • Sizes 21” to 36” • Natural or LP gas • Installation available
19650 I-30, Benton congofp.com
501.316.4328
YOUR KITCHEN SPACE
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1-5 Day Kitchen Updates
Refacing • Redooring • Custom Cabinets 1 Day Tune-Up • More Each franchise is locally owned & operated.
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501.223.8888 kitchentuneup.com @KTULittleRockAR
Livin’ in Little Rock Best-kept secret wouldn’t necessarily be one of the descriptions for Arkansas’ capital city. It’s the most populous place in the state (by a large margin) and is a hub for travel, be it I-40, I-30 or the Clinton National Airport. But just because one knows of Little Rock, doesn’t mean one knows Little Rock. In this special section, we take a look at some of the highlights of the city, as well as some of the things/places/businesses that aren’t as well known in the mainstream. 23
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Where you live is everything – sanctuary, office, hangout space and more. So choose a neighborhood that makes the most of scenery, outdoor amenities and community connection, with beautiful options to build or buy. Come discover the expertly planned communities of Chenal Properties. After all, you’re not just planning a home. You’re building a life. chenalproperties.com 7 Chenal Club Blvd. Little Rock, AR 72223 501-821-9108
PotlatchDeltic is an expert at selling quality real estate. Having established some of the most sought-after developments in Central Arkansas, including Chenal Valley in Little Rock and Red Oak Ridge in Hot Springs, the company also offers a wide variety of recreational properties for sale around the state.
FOCUSING ON MENTAL HEALTH Pulaski County Special School District is committed to serving our families and students in a way that best fits their needs, no matter their circumstances. This includes students with physical, emotional, and learning disabilities, including autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and more. Administrators and teachers across PCSSD are trained to look for the symptoms of ADHD, including inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, in order to locate and identify children in need of early intervention or special education related services. • Inattention can look like disorganization, problems staying on task, constant daydreaming, and not paying attention when spoken to directly • Impulsivity can look like spur-of-themoment decisions without thinking about potential harm or long-term effects. Children with impulsivity often act quickly to get an immediate reward and may regularly interrupt teachers, friends, and family • Hyperactivity can look like squirming, fidgeting, tapping, talking, and constant movement.
“PCSSD conducts Child Find activities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),” said Stephanie Cole, PCSSD Director of Special Education. “Under the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Special Education Rules and Regulations Eligibility Criteria and Program Guidelines, ‘Children with ADHD and
ADD may be classified as eligible for services under the other health impairment category in instances where the ADD/ADHD is a chronic or acute health problem that results in limited alertness, which adversely affects the child’s educational performance resulting in the need for special education and related services.’” Teachers across PCSSD are committed to helping all students fulfill their potential and continue to work toward finding the best ways to communicate, plan, and support families and children with ADHD. PCSSD provides a free, appropriate public education for all eligible children with disabilities. The Child Find program is an ongoing cooperative effort involving state and local education agencies, parents, and the community to identify all children who are possibly in need of early intervention or special education and related services.
ABOUT PCSSD
About PCSSD
Pulaski County Special School District spans more than 600 square miles in central Arkansas and requires highly skilled and passionate personnel to adapt educational policies and personalization to 25 schools. Every school is accredited by the Arkansas State Board of Education. PCSSD has served schools across Pulaski County since July 1927. PCSSD is committed to creating a nationally recognized school district that assures that all students achieve at their maximum potential through collaborative, supportive and continuous efforts of all
501.234.2000
pcssd.org
livin’ in little rock
Top Attractions Little Rock Zoo William J. Clinton Presidential Library Pinnacle Mountain State Park Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site Riverfront Park Museum of Discovery Arkansas State Capitol River Market District William J. Clinton Presidential Library. (Jamison Mosley)
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Source: Tripadvisor
WILD WINES at the
VIP: 9/17
“Mane” Event:
9/18
Visit littlerockzoo.com for more details.
Beverage Sponsor
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livin’ in little rock
Top Restaurants Kemuri Restaurant Star of India Restaurant Brave New Restaurant Livin’ in Little Rock Layla’s Gyros and Pizzeria Lost Forty Brewing The Root Cafe. (Courtesy)
The Pantry Bruno’s Little Italy The Root Cafe Samantha’s Tap Room & Wood Grill Whole Hog Cafe Source: Tripadvisor
Lost Forty. (Courtesy)
Star of India. (Courtesy)
The Pantry. (Jamison Mosley)
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How Do You Roll?
Rock N Roll Sushi Mixes Flavor and Flair in Little Rock
R
ock N Roll Sushi is one of Little Rock’s latest hotspots for good food and good vibes. With two locations in the capital city now, it’s staked quite a claim on the local scene with its hip, happening and, dare we say it, slightly anomalous nature. In a world with so many eating options and amid the growing popularity of Asian food — in all forms — it helps to stand out. And “stand out” might not even do things justice for the folks at Rock N Roll Sushi. “We take pride in our unconventional style of sushi and hibachi, and when that blends with the rock ‘n’ roll theme and nostalgia, it makes for a really special night out,” says Chris Kramolis, CEO. “Seeing moms and dads point up to the Guns N’ Roses video playing, and explaining how they saw them in concert when they were young, is so fun to watch.” The jukebox joint doesn’t stop with just the music and decor. The menu keeps up the theme with “Opening Acts” instead of appetizers, as well as other headers like “Classics,” “Green Room,” “Headliners,” and “Raw Tracls.” Oh, and the kids’ menu is called “Kids Rock,” and the dessert menu is simply labeled “After Party.”
“Rock N Roll makes sushi approachable to people that have been either scared to try it or didn’t feel comfortable ordering something they didn’t understand,” Kramolis says. “I can’t tell you how many people I’ve talked to that have told me Rock N Roll Sushi is the first time they have ever tried sushi.” While the brand itself is a national name, the people behind Arkansas’ are all locals. Kramolis hails from Heber Springs but called Little Rock home for years. Partners Chris and Jason Alley have spent their whole lives in Little Rock. “In 2019, I was introduced to Rock N Roll Sushi by a friend, and visited the location in Birmingham, Alabama,” Kramolis says. “They were doing great. I knew then we needed to bring this concept to Little Rock since there are many similarities in the two cities.”
WE ARE THE ORIGINAL,
AMERICAN-STYLE SUSHI 12800 Chenal Pkwy, Little Rock, AR 72211 www.rnrsushi.com
rocknrollsushi_lr
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Twisted Chicks I
f the homebound time of the pandemic caused you to identify every blemish or potential upgrade in your home, the folks at Twisted Chicks Designs are here to help. Twisted Chicks specializes in custom resin artwork design and instruction. They can completely redesign your space to look classy and creative, while still retaining its long-term durability. Whether it’s furniture for the living area or countertops in the kitchen and bathroom, Twisted Chicks can make it happen at a fraction of the traditional cost. Custom creations also include one-of-a-kind artwork, as well as stunning charcuterie boards, serving trays and more. Best of all, if you’re looking to really lean into DIY, Twisted Chicks also hosts art classes for beginners so you can learn how to make your own custom resin pieces from home.
See you at
Handmade in the Heights September 25
Custom Resin Artwork Design & Instruction
Adult classes • Children’s classes (ages 10 & up) Team building classes Custom countertops & serveware Mention seeing this ad in AY for
10 % off
(501) 444-2421
1824 Bryant Street, Ste. 2 • Little Rock
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Colonel Glenn Health & Rehab is central Arkansas’ newest premier-skilled nursing and long-term care facility. Our skilled team is focused on serving you and your family with excellence.
LONG-TERM CARE
REHABILITATION
RESPITE CARE
13700 David O Dodd Rd, Little Rock, AR 72210 501.907.8200 • colonelglennhr.com 31
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Shopping Outlets of Little Rock / Park Plaza Mall / Shackleford Crossings Shopping Center The Promenade at Chenal / Midtowne Shopping Center / Pleasant Ridge Town Center
Source: City of Little Rock
livin’ in little rock
The Promenade at Chenal
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Ashley McBryde Aug. 7 Robinson Center Central Arkansas Women’s Expo With A Cause Aug. 14, 15 Arkansas State Fairgrounds
livin’ in little rock
Events
2021 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Fall Bridal Show Aug. 22 Statehouse Convention Center
Ashley McBryde. (Jamison Mosley)
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CareLink, Central Arkansas’ Area Agency on Aging L
iving and growing old in Little Rock is the goal for so many men, women and families. But with living comes learning, and sometimes we are faced with obstacles that can throw a wrench in even the most well-thought-out plan. Whether for ourselves or someone close to us, growing older presents its own set of challenges that aren’t always met with open arms or knowledge. At CareLink, we’ve been working with friends, families and older people to navigate this part of their journey to help them age comfortably, happily and safely in their homes since 1979. As Central Arkansas’ Area Agency on Aging, our mission is to connect older people and their families with resources to meet the opportunities and challenges of aging. While many people know us for our Meals on Wheels program, we provide a host of services that supports seniors’ efforts to live out their best days in their own homes and communities. Serving a six-county region, we provide those services directly or indirectly through a network of providers, or by sharing information for organizations who can meet a person’s needs where they are in life. Located in Central Arkansas, we deliver meals from our Community Kitchen in North Little Rock, provide in-home care, socialization through telephone reassurance, fitness and wellness classes through local senior centers, family caregiver support, and other resources through information and assistance. At CareLink, we will listen to the needs of Central Arkansas’ aging community, assess the best way to serve them — either through CareLink or through other resources or connections — and then work with the community member and families to provide the quality care and assistance needed to make growing older a joyous part of life. For more information about CareLink services for you or someone you know, give us a call at 501-372-5300, toll free at 800-4826359, or by emailing info@carelink.org. If you would like to know more about supporting CareLink through charitable giving or volunteering, visit our website at CareLink.org.
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helping seniors
Live in Little Rock since 1979 For more than 40 years, Central Arkansas’s Area Agency on Aging has worked with countless families and their older loved ones to navigate the opportunities and challenges of aging with services like in-home care, Meals on Wheels, information and assistance, transportation, family caregiver support, fitness and wellness classes, and Medicare Part D counseling. If you or someone you know could benefit from a little extra help in order to continue living gracefully at home, contact CareLink’s information and assistance team today. 501 372 5300 | 800 482 6359 | CareLink.org
garden
DEEP ROOTS: Heights Corner Market’s Neat Take on Farm Fresh By Dustin Jayroe Photography by Jamison Mosley
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arm to table is a buzz phrase that often gets tossed around in boast. Many live up to the moniker, especially in a Natural State such as ours where the farms and markets and roadside stands are nearly as ample as banks and gas stations. But the folks at Heights Corner Market in Little Rock have unleashed a new spin on the old trope: farm to grocery to restaurant. It’s fairly unique in execution, involves a tad more logistical leaps, but, then again, unconventional was always sort of the name of the game for owners Lou Anne and Eric Herget. The husband-and-wife duo took over the Kavanaugh Boulevard location four years ago, formerly occupied by Terry’s Finer Foods, a historic staple with big shoes — or pots — to fill. To make things even more arduous for the Hergets, neither of them had much experience in the fresh produce industry; Eric is a longtime veteran of the insurance sector, and Lou Anne a keen-eyed interior designer. “We had no experience in grocery or restaurant, and my guess is there were probably some side bets out there that we wouldn’t make it three months,” Eric says with a laugh. Simply taking over the storefront and doing their best to do right by the staff and patrons, many of whom had either been shopping or had worked at Terry’s for decades, was one thing. Once that part of the promise was fulfilled, the Hergets found more ways to make it theirs, rather than just what had come before. Sure, a mission to serve an assortment of locally sourced products is paramount — be it the okra and tomatoes or the steaks and deli meat. But, what if as much of that product was grown in house as it is outsourced? About a year ago now, Eric says they purchased some land in Heber Springs to start a farm. Again in their unconventional ways, neither of the pair was an expert farmer coming in, but they embraced the challenge for the betterment of the beloved market. “We’re in our first year of growing produce for the store,” Eric says. “We still continue to use our traditional partners that we’ve always bought Arkansas product from, so we’re not trying to cut them out by any means. It’s just, we’re trying to supplement what they have.” Between their own farm and their local partners, the shopping side of Heights Corner Market has a bountiful selection of summertime favorites, such as strawberries, peaches, cantaloupe, okra, squash, tomatoes and watermelon. Then there are the lady peas, which he doesn’t believe anyone else has as readily available as they do. “We want fresh produce in the store that we’ve grown, but we still want to use the folks we’ve used for years and who have supported that store for so long,” he says. One would be a fool to not make note of the other thing that keeps the people coming back for more: Walter’s Green Room, the Hergets’ on-site eatery, where the “to restaurant” part of the mission comes to fruition. The executive chefs, David and Angel, do theirshopping for menu items right there in the grocery part of the business. They work hand-in-hand with the store manager, Nathan Horn, as well as Lou
Anne. This is one of the Herget duo’s proudest accomplishments, providing a place that is fluid to the needs of the customer — where you can come to shop for home or sit down for lunch or dinner. Either way, the food’s all coming from the same place. For those with budding residential green thumbs who are inspired to go “farm to table” from home, Eric is happy to provide some tips and tricks for all to generate fresh produce in no time. Ironically, that begins with him suggesting an alternative route to the one he took. “Don’t get visions of a giant farm like I did,” Eric jokes. “Maybe start a little smaller and kind of take a couple of years or a year to learn what it takes.” And while we are in the waning hours of summer, it’s not too late to build up a few experimental blooms here and there. He says that many of the aforementioned products they have in stock, such as watermelons and strawberries, can all still provide plenty of buds. As far as rudimentary beginnings go, Eric suggests tomatoes, squash and okra, first and foremost, as some of the easiest to grow for the backyard gardener. “If you’re going to try the organic route, you have to pay attention to what the bugs are doing,” Eric advises. “What are you going to do when you get the squash bug? It may mean you’re out there physically squishing bugs to get them off the plants. If you’re going to go organic, for sure start simple.” But if you’d rather just play it safe and peruse the already-picked miscellany at Heights Corner Market, the Hergets will certainly oblige a basket of vegetables and fruit or a plate of pork chops and pasta (two of Eric’s favorite dishes on the menu) any time — during business hours, of course. As for the secret fertilizer to such a worthwhile and profitable endeavor, well, that’s pretty simple in their eyes, too. “It’s just a lot of hard work, great customers that support this little neighborhood grocery and our staff — that’s why we’re still here and thriving today,” Eric says.
“It’s just a lot of hard work, great customers that support this little neighborhood grocery and our staff — that’s why we’re still here and thriving today.”
Lou Anne and Eric Herget.
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d n oF iun n o i t a sn l
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By DWAIN HEBDA Photography by JAMISON MOSLEY and IAN LYLE
Three Fold Noodles + Dumpling Co.
Bulgogi Korean BBQ.
Lisa Zhang is a Little Rock restaurateur willing to put her money where your mouth is. Seven years ago, with no prior experience in food service, she opened Three Fold Noodles + Dumpling Co. on her savings and the firm belief that Arkansans were missing out on something special: authentic Asian cuisine. “When I immigrated here, I always saw there is a part missing, not only in Little Rock but in general, how the Chinese cuisine has been altered too much in a way to please American taste buds,” she says. “It lost the authentic goodness of authentic cooking. However, Chinese cuisine is a really big range. There is what I call unlimited variety or flavor. It’s much, much more than current American society has it from the to-go or buffet. “I just wanted to do something to introduce from the very local small scale the authentic Chinese cuisine than what was currently in Arkansas. I want to give people at least a window to explore the variety of authentic Chinese cuisine.” Ever since humanity first began to travel over long distances, they’ve brought their food traditions with them. Invariably, this caused ethnic cuisine to change with the address. Imagine immigrating from coastal Japan or Vietnam to say, Kansas, and the effect it would have on your Nana’s traditional dishes.
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Economics has also played a major role in the evolution and sometimes outright fabrication of cultural dishes, in the name of suiting local tastes. Ask any restaurateur, and he or she will readily tell you one of the primary rules for surviving in such a cutthroat business is to give people what they want. When what you’re cooking is new or unfamiliar, this can be a problem. In a community with a healthy percentage of your fellow expats, you might survive sticking to the traditional recipe. In the hinterland, you have to evolve or perish. All of this change — evolutionary and market-driven — has been the way of the world for centuries. But today, where the internet has made the planet much smaller and people can get around the world in an hours-long flight versus a years-long ship voyage, people have begun to reconnect to cultural origin stories, both their own and others, as often as not spelled out on the dinner table. “There’s a big Korean community in Little Rock and Jacksonville; there’s a lot of churches and a Korean community in Arkansas,” says Jenny Lee, who with her husband, David, own Bulgogi Korean BBQ in Conway. “We didn’t expect who our clientele would be. aymag.com
Both Bulgogi and Three Fold offer their own unique takes on Asian favorites.
l a u s a c e h t For p a r t a ke r o f A sian f ood, much has be en los t in r e v o n o i t a l s t r an t h e ye ar s . 40
“To our surprise, it’s been more Americanized people. There are quite a few that know about Korean cuisine, especially those that were in the military and stationed in Korea. We’ve seen a variety of people here, even people who lived out of state or people who have been stationed overseas. It’s been a great blessing to see it.” For the casual partaker of Asian food, much has been lost in cultural translation over the years. You might be surprised to learn how many of the bestknown and best-loved dishes in America would be unrecognized in their supposed homeland. Not all are complete counterfeits, mind you, but those that aren’t have strayed so far from their source material they might as well be. Love orange chicken? You should, it was invented in the late 1980s with American taste buds in mind and promulgated to the mainstream by Panda Express and later P.F. Chang’s, says the website First We Feast. Perhaps a plate of authentic beef with broccoli is more your speed, which is fine, it’s just not Chinese. Western broccoli doesn’t grow in China, and the population there eats very little beef anyway, per Business Insider. Other staples on many a Chinese restaurant menu in the States tell the same tale: Either they have evolved beyond any reasonable semblance of their inspiration (chow mein, for instance, or sweet and sour pork) or their heritage is completely American (crab rangoon, egg rolls and chop suey to name a few). There’s nothing wrong with any of this, of course, as even Zhang is quick to point out. But in the process, the public is missing out on the bigger picture and broader world of Asian dishes in their original, unfiltered form. That includes within the Asian community itself where, as with any ethnic group, culinary traditions can dilute or disappear altogether over time as succeeding generations get farther from their immigrant roots. “Don’t get me wrong, [Asian-American chefs] are amazing to do that alteration,” Zhang says. “For a hundred years, that’s been their wisdom. We’re just trying to do something more traditional, more authentic, and give local people an opportunity to experience it. We are very lucky this concept has been accepted and received very well here.”
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In fact, simply calling a category of food “Asian” does very little to properly educate people on the breadth and depth of the cooking genre. For example, to the untrained eye and palate, all Chinese food may seem identical when in fact there are striking regional differences in flavor, ingredients and cooking techniques of the real thing. Imagine Arkansans wandering downtown Hoboken in search of real Southern sweet tea or fried chicken, bless their hearts, and you get the picture. “Traditional Chinese cooking is really unlimited,” Zhang says. “It’s pretty much different from region to region and more focused on cooking technique, like French cooking. It can be very fine cooking; it can be very spicy cooking or very light and fresh with more priority on vegetarian using tofu and whey protein.” And that’s just China; move throughout Asia, and the story repeats itself in Vietnam, Korea, Thailand, Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia, to name a few. That’s both the joy and the challenge for restaurateurs such as the Lees. “When we were thinking about a restaurant, it was ongoing for two years with different ideas,” Jenny says. “We knew there was no Korean restaurant except for one in Little Rock, but we wanted to bring one to Conway and the surrounding areas. We wanted to make it where it was the traditional Korean spices and sauces but putting our twist to it. We were thinking of different ideas where it didn’t scare off people.” The couple has enjoyed being creative in the ways they blend the traditional ingredients and cooking techniques of their heritage and combining them with the very familiar. “Bulgogi” may sound completely foreign at first, but when they explain it’s marinated and thinly sliced ribeye, they have people’s attention. Use it in a Philly cheesesteak or serve with waffles, and they’re building bridges that can lead the diner to explore other, more adventurous grounds. “The enjoyment of working together as a family and seeing and showing the public new cuisine is what I like about this business,” Jenny says. “Having people try new things and seeing their faces when they enjoy it, especially when they don’t know about Korean food or never tried it so they’re scared, is really great. “Twenty years ago, when you said ‘sushi’ people didn’t know what it was. Now, at least people know what sushi means, whether they like it or not. That’s what we’re trying to do for Korean food. If they hear bulgogi 20 years from now, at least they’ll know what that is.”
aymag.com
AY’s ARKANSAS
l A.W. Lin’s
Little Rock
l Agape Asian Noodles Conway
ian Food AsBucket List
sian House l A
Bryant
lO saka Japanese
Steakhouse & Sushi Bar Hot Springs
Presented by
l Pine Bluff Hibachi
amboo Hibachi l B
Little Rock, North Little Rock
anana Leaf Indian Cuisine l B
Little Rock Conway
Sherwood
Little Rock
l Kob Jai
Russellville
l Bulgogi Korean BBQ hang Thai l C
Pine Bluff
l Kiyen’s
l Kyoto Teriyaki Texarkana
& Asian Cuisine
hao’s Asian And American l C
Foods Fayetteville
l Linh Vietnamese Cuisine Russellville
l Mama Tang Restaurant Springdale
hef Lee l C
l Modoko Asian Kitchen
l Chen’s Garden
l Mong Dynasty Restaurant
l Chi’s
l Mount Thai Cuisine
usit Thai l D
l Mr. Chen’s Authentic Chinese
Pine Bluff
Mountain Home
Little Rock Cuisine Mountain Home
l Fantastic China Little Rock
l Hunan Manor Fayetteville
l Hunan Palace Hot Springs
l Jade China Conway
Rogers
Fayetteville
Mountain Home
Cooking Little Rock
l Mt. Fuji Japanese Restaurant Little Rock
l Orient Express 2 Bentonville
l Oriental Express Pine Bluff
lO riental Gardens El Dorado
ock n Roll Sushi l R
Little Rock
ai Thai Cuisine l S
Jonesboro
ekisui l S
Little Rock
l Star of India Restaurant Little Rock
ushi Cafe l S
Little Rock
l Taj Mahal Indian Kitchen Little Rock
l The Pho House Hot Springs
hree Fold Noodles + l T
Dumpling Co. Little Rock
l Tiny Thai Place Monticello
l Top China
Bella Vista
ok Express l W
Hot Springs
en Thai and Ramen l X
Conway
angna Thai Cuisine l Z
Little Rock
l Kemuri
Little Rock
3C heck off the Asian Food list as you visit a small sample of our favorite places. 42
Kasper’s. For your special occasion, or no occasion at all.
kasper’s 501 N. Johnson, Clarksville Tuesday - Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5-9 p.m.
kaspersclarksville.com
(479) 647-4332 43
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AY About You
Arkansas Bucket List
Tune in to KARK 4 every Wednesday morning at 6:40 to watch AY’s Bucket List segment. aymag.com 44
SHERWOOD
NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER, INC
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.
SHERWOOD
NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER, INC
245 Indian Bay Drive Sherwood, AR 72120 Phone: 501.834.9960 Fax: 501.834.5644
s t a E
SPICY PEANUT
Chicken By Kaitlin Barger
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S • R ECIPE
HELPFUL HINTS: This has always been one of my favorite dishes. Sometimes it takes a few tries to get the sauce just right, but you can always add more of any ingredient. I like mine very spicy, so I use both Sriracha and chili garlic sauce. You can leave those out if you’d like a milder sauce. I like to use pad Thai noodles, but you can also use rice. You can also substitute with any veggies of your choice.
INGREDIENTS 2 chicken breasts 2 cups noodles or rice of your choice, cooked ½ tablespoon fresh grated ginger 1 tablespoon minced garlic ½ cup creamy peanut butter 1-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup 4 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce or tamari 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 1 tablespoon sesame oil ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce 1-2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce 1 small zucchini or half of a large one, diced ¼ cup red bell pepper, diced Sesame seeds, roasted peanuts and green onions to garnish ¼ warm water if sauce needs to be thinned
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Cook chicken breasts and cut into cubes. 2. Cook noodles or rice according to package instructions. 3. In a pan, heat oil and add ginger and garlic. 4. Cook garlic for a minute (until it sizzles), then add all the remaining ingredients of peanut sauce. 5. Let simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes. 6. Sautee zucchini and red pepper until golden brown. 7. Mix chicken, sauce and vegetables in a large pan, and let simmer for about 5 minutes on low heat. 8. Add a sprinkling of sesame seeds, roasted peanuts and diced green onions for garnish.
Nani’s
POTATOES By Nic Williams (with Lakshmi Patel)
INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon of kosher salt 1 pound of yellow potatoes, washed ½ teaspoon ground cumin ½ teaspoon ground coriander ½ teaspoon ground fennel 3 scallions, chopped 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or ghee 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt, such as Maldon 1 lime, halved
ORIGINAL INSPIRATION: My friend, Lakshmi, and I set out to recreate this recipe from her grandmother, or Nani. Raised in Mumbai, India, Lakshmi remembered her Nani’s potatoes having crisp skin, buttery centers, and tossed with Indian spices, flaky sea salt and a hit of lime. Because of the bold flavors, this pairs well with lamb and pork.
INSTRUCTIONS 1. In a large pot, add water and kosher salt. Bring to a boil, and add potatoes. Boil for 18-22 minutes, or until the potatoes are soft but not mushy. 2. Meanwhile, combine cumin, coriander, fennel, scallions and melted butter in a large bowl. 3. Once potatoes are cooked, allow them to drain in a colander for at least 1 minute. Make sure skins are dry so they will get crispy. 4. While potatoes drain, add vegetable oil (or ghee) to a large skillet set to medium heat. Carefully add potatoes and cook until skins are browned and crispy, turning regularly for about 5 minutes. 5. Remove pan from heat and, using a spoon, cut potatoes in half, tossing each one into spice and butter mixture as you go. Once all potatoes are in spice and butter mixture, toss until thoroughly combined. Remove to a serving plate, sprinkle with flaky sea salt, and squeeze lime halves over top.
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LAYING DOWN ROOTS The husband-and-wife duo of Paula and Karl Lowe have helped elevate the Jonesboro food community with Roots Restaurant, a place that blends cultures and cuisines. – By Kevin Shalin – Photos by Tony Milligan
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he’s from Ecuador. He’s from northeast Arkansas. And in the summer of 2019, Paula and Karl Lowe opened their own restaurant in the heart of downtown Jonesboro at 303 S Main St. Called Roots Restaurant, the concept blends the two chefs’ backgrounds, with an eye towards incorporating local ingredients into a rotating menu, along with interspersed popular mainstays. While it is their first restaurant, they are no strangers to working together in the kitchen. “We fell in love over burners and knives,” Karl says. As for sharing a restaurant kitchen? He says, “It can be difficult at times since we are both stubborn, but we complement each other very well and inspire each other to be better.” Inspiration also comes from a host of farmers whose hard work can be found on the Roots Restaurant’s menu. The Lowes use locally sourced products as much as they can, and this includes items like Berkshire pork from Newman Farm, Wagyu beef from JB Kobe Farms and vegetables from Sanctified Soil, just to name a few. “As a young boy growing up here and always having fresh vegetables from my Grammy’s garden, it inspired me to use local farmers and artisanal products from the area,” Karl says. “I think northeast Arkansas is a very strategic location for local sourcing. Some of our farmers are located in the Southeast area from Missouri to Tennessee, and it really helps to have the best products this close to our reach. “Having an understanding of where your product comes from and the care the farmers put into it makes it easy to have great food on our plate.” And great food on the plate is exactly what I had during a recent lunch at Roots Restaurant. Highlights included a starter of Hurricane Shrimp and Street Corn, along with entrees like the
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Having an understanding of where your product comes from and the care the farmers put into it makes it easy to have great food on our plate.
”
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Karlitos Burger with local Wagyu beef and a wonderfully creative Fried Chicken Salad Sandwich. This marked my first experience with fried chicken salad, but I have to say that I really enjoyed this slight spin on a typically straightforward dish. The dinner menu, while I’ve yet to partake in it, looks to be every bit as exciting as lunch, with a move from handhelds to more refined plates. “Our more popular dishes are the only four items that stay on the menu every season,” Paula says. “Our menu is small and changes completely every new season. The Hog and Hominy, Llapingacho, Hornado and Meli’s Bananas always stay on the menu. The first three are Ecuadorian dishes. The last is my favorite dessert from my mom. “The first three dishes are either completely traditional, like the Hog and Hominy, or have a Southern twist. We try to blend both cultures by substituting certain products on traditional recipes with something equivalent from the area. The Llapingacho, for example, is traditional from Ambato, a city located in the Andes of Ecuador. This dish is also known as ‘Plato Ambateño.’ We substitute the Chorizo Ambateño for andouille sausage. The Hornado, on the other hand, is traditionally a whole pig roasted in a wood-fire oven. We use the same condiments, but we do a dry rub and smoke. We substitute techniques, product, and even just memories from our childhood of homemade food that always brought us home every time we felt homesick. We will go back and forth with this with every dish we make, either as Southern-based, an Ecuadorian dish, or just nostalgic food from our family.” The food is only one aspect of the dining experience at Roots Restaurant. The gorgeous interior is a nice mix of old and new. Exposed brick walls from the 100-year-old building provide a perfect canvas for bold, bright modern art throughout the restaurant. Even the dishes and cups are designed by the Lowes and handmade by James Tinker, who has a local pottery store in downtown Pocahontas. “We both had the vision of how the restaurant should look and feel,” Paula says. “Preserve the essence of the building, and add a modern, hip, and energetic atmosphere. We wanted a minimalistic, clean and simple look, with art by local artists. Karl is the one who materialized that idea. Karl and I, along with three more friends, painted, tiled and redesigned the tables and floor.” An expansive bar sits toward the right as you enter, and it, too, only adds to the overall atmosphere. While I did not partake in an alcoholic beverage during my lunch at Roots, it is obvious that the bar program is every bit as important to get right as the food is for the owners. “It is a true craft cocktail bar with great variety of bourbons and whiskeys,” Karl says. “We take pride in doing all of our bitters in-house, from orange bitters to our own special blend of house bitters. We have developed eight so far, since we change the craft cocktails every season. We also do syrups, teas, juices, fermentations and macerations in-house from scratch.” When it comes to phenomenal dining experiences, the Lowes know there are no shortcuts, as evident by their attention to details. Success lies in consistent execution of both food and service, and so far, the community has taken to their downtown restaurant. “We believe northeast Arkansas has a lot to offer and is growing every day,” Karl says. “There is a lot to see, experience and eat here, and we are immensely proud to be part of it. The location is perfect. We are surrounded by farmland, which is very strategic for local sourcing. The area deserves the light to shine.” I completely agree with him. What is good for northeast Arkansas is also great for Arkansas as a whole. These are exciting times for downtown Jonesboro, the restaurant and diners looking for a unique experience. There is only one thing left to do, and that’s to go experience Roots Restaurant for yourself.
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James Hale.
Tomas Bohm.
Face Behind the Place:
James Hale of The Grumpy Rabbit By Kevin Shalin Photos by Jamison Mosley
James Hale has seen and done it all, and he’s up for the latest challenge, maybe his biggest one yet. Chef James Hale is a straight shooter. That much I gathered from our 45-minute interview. Any pretentiousness one might expect after a history that includes a James Beard nomination for Best Chef in the Southwest followed by manning the kitchen in one of Little Rock’s most respected restaurants (Capital Bar and Grill) simply does not exist. The prestigious nomination came back in 2008 during his time as chef and owner at Acadia. You remember Acadia, right? “The restaurant was a little hole-in-the-wall I bought when I was 27,” Hale says. “It was upscale by accident. I couldn’t afford glass tabletops, so I got a contract with a linen company. Suddenly, I had white tablecloths. I couldn’t get beer taps installed, so I started serving more of a wine list.” Acadia started in 1999 and had a successful 16year run before its closing in 2015. Hale attributes much of its downfall to a changing dining scene, and while the closure was difficult on him, I sensed no bitterness as we spoke about the subject.
“For years and years, I made a great living out of it,” he says. “But the restaurant scene in Little Rock exploded, and that’s when you started seeing a lot more restaurants in downtown. When I opened Acadia, there were a few restaurants around but nothing like there is now. I don’t know if a kid could pull off an Acadia in this town now with no financial backing. “I was really proud of that restaurant. It was ‘the little engine that could’ for so many years.” Exhausted and looking for a totally different challenge, Hale became a plumber’s apprentice, a job he did for well over a year. Yes, he went from being a James-Beard-nominated chef to a plumber’s apprentice — quite a change, but one that was needed. “Digging ditches is hard,” as Hale notes, and before he knew it, the kitchen came calling once again, this time in the form of the Capital Hotel. He ran the day crew at One Eleven before taking over as executive chef across the lobby at Capital Bar and Grill. Hale was there for just over a year before COVID-19 hit, temporarily shutting down the hotel and with it, the restaurant. That is when he heard about plans for a restaurant with a funny name in the heart of downtown Lonoke. Owners and the husband-andwife team of Gina and Jim Wiertelak connected with Hale, and by their second meeting had brought him on board to take over the kitchen at The Grumpy Rabbit. For Hale, the new opportunity came with its fair share of challenges, not the least of which was helping ensure a successful opening for a restaurant located in a small Arkansas town 30-minutes east of Little Rock, all during a global pandemic in 2020.
“I have never been afraid to take a risk.”
“
“I’ve been doing this long enough to experience it all.”
day-to-day stressors of restaurant ownership. “My job is to make sure the food is right, as well as watch food and labor cost,” Hale says. “There are lots of headaches that I don’t have as an executive chef versus being a chef and owner.” After two visits, I can safely say Hale has done an excellent job of getting the food right. In addition to lunch and dinner services, The Grumpy Rabbit is open for brunch on the weekend. Popular offerings like The Grumpy Burger, Rueben and BLT rule the day shift. At night, the “Supper Entrees” section is highlighted by favorites like the ribeye, blackened redfish and beef tenderloin. One item that is always available is the house-made tater tots appetizer. These tots come smashed flat, fried right, and are perfect for dipping in your choice of three sauces. I recommend the spicy ketchup, fry sauce and ranch. For dessert, the small slab of carrot cake with its thick layer of cream cheese frosting, is the way to go, as is the chocolate sheet cake that’s about as down-home as it gets. Both are heaping portions best shared between a table of two to four patrons. Overall, the menu is approachable, familiar, and like Hale, straightforward. Most folks seem to approve. “So far, it has been a great response,” Hale says. “We have been so appreciative of the support, and not just from Lonoke but all the surrounding communities. It is beyond anything I could have imagined. People are so excited about this restaurant.” That excitement seems to be shared by Hale. When asked if he was happy at The Grumpy Rabbit, an exuberant response came without hesitation. “Oh yeah!” That is good news for Lonoke and beyond.
Quwicithk bites
James
1. Who makes your favorite cheeseburger? The one place that I will go out of my way to get a cheeseburger is when I am in New Orleans at Port of Call.
2. Who is the most famous person to dine in at a restaurant you’ve worked at? We cooked for Bill Clinton
“I have never been afraid to take a risk, and it seemed like a fun challenge,” Hale says. “I’ve been doing this long enough to experience it all. I’ve been a James-Beard-nominated chef but also a chef who closed his restaurant and went out of business. I’ve been extremely successful, and I’ve also taken my fair share of bumps. Again, I am not afraid of a challenge.” How is that for honesty? And while Hale enjoyed his time at Capital Bar and Grill, the reality is he did not know what the future would hold for the restaurant. Plus, there’s no denying the quick bond he formed with the Wiertelaks. He also respected what the couple was trying to accomplish. Says Hale, “It said a lot to me that they wanted to do this in their hometown of Lonoke.” Part of what that entailed was a complete revamp of a more than 100-year-old building. On top of that, just opening a restaurant and handling various pandemic restrictions proved challenging. As for Hale, it was just nice to concentrate on the kitchen and not have to worry about the various
at Acadia, and I actually got to talk politics with him for five minutes. Jesse Jackson came to the restaurant as well, but probably my all-time favorite story involving Acadia and famous people is Roy Scheider. Jaws is my favorite movie. He came into the restaurant many times, and one night I asked for his autograph. It’s the only time I’ve done something like that. He signed a menu: “To James, Smile you son-of-a-bitch. — Roy Scheider.”
3. Where would you like to travel to on your next vacation? I want to do the drive out West. I’ve flown but have never done the drive.
4.What was your first car? 1979 Firebird. My dad got it for me.
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Gary
ALL DOGS GO TO By Dwain Hebda
T
he last quarter mile to Gary Robbins’ property, folded into the foothills of Van Buren County, is a doozy. Turning off a crumbling country blacktop, the visitor stares down a remnant cowpath and hopes the GPS has its signal straight. Like its owner, the weedy trail is rutted and blind and, frankly, doesn’t care much if you make it in here or not. But for the members of Robbins’ pack, it’s a glory road. Canines of all shapes, sizes and hues took the same path to get here, literally and figuratively. Just like the 40 or so currently on-premises, they’re large, small, young, old, hurt and wounded, inside or out, but safe at last — the happy epilogue to a common, harsh backstory. At the center of the clearing, Robbins’ battered and pock-marked double-wide towers on cinder block stilts like a landed space capsule, from which radiates a crop circle of homemade kennels and wood-andtin outbuildings. From each, the hounds salute Robbins’ passing-by, acknowledging him as master, bearer of food and a two-legger apart from their last one in that he doesn’t kick them just for the hell of it. Yes, somehow, it seems, each pup understands that but for this thin, slightly bent man, who’s the only human here most days, life would still be painful and survival an hour-to-hour commodity. Their then-and-now existence couldn’t be more different than if the lot of them boarded the double-wide spaceship and flew away, far from the savagery of past lives, yonder into the stars, tails wagging. Welcome to the world headquarters of Gary’s Adoptable Dogs, Robbins’ one-man rescue operation that has saved the lives of countless canines by connecting them directly with families, as well as partnering with out-of-state agencies that place them in their forever homes. “If you hear me out here in the daytime, you’d swear I hated dogs,” Robbins says with a dry chuckle as he winds his way around the various
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pens. “I’d have some choice words for them.” Since he began in 1980, Robbins’ commitment to the lost and forsaken has resulted in an average of 250 dogs rescued each year, including during the pandemic. He’s attracted a few helpers here and there, but most of the work — and expense — falls directly to the 74-year-old U.S. Navy veteran. He never knows what each day will bring or how many. “Well, this guy called me up and told me he had a lot of dogs. And I told him he could bring them in a few at a time, and I could process them,” he says. “The next morning, here he was in the truck with all the dogs crammed in, 22 of them. I mean, these things were 6 inches deep in poop. “In one pen, I took the dog out, and something didn’t seem right. So, I took a look further in there, and there were four little babies buried in it. They lived through that.” The enormity of Robbins’ effort surrounds you on his property. Despite being legally blind, every pen and shed out here is built with his own hands, sometimes from scraps and donated materials, mostly out of his own pocket. He rolls out of the rack at 4:30 every morning to begin his daily chores, cleaning pens, feeding dogs and seeing to their medical attention. While he does attract some donations, mostly supplies eat up the majority of his monthly military pension. “I go through 75 to 100 pounds of food a day,” he says. “Last month was $700 for feed and wormer. And I just bought $350 worth of medicines for the dogs out of one little check. It don’t go very far.” Some ongoing projects — putting a raised floor in one building, finishing the roof on another — have been put on hold due to the lumber shortage, and even if he could get it, there’s only so much to spend each month. His veterinarian is accommodating, but the tab there is as
constantly over his head as the hawks that swirl through the trees across his 50 mountain acres. “It all has to be out of donations or out of my checks,” he says. “There’s no money in this.” *********
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), there are roughly 6.5 million homeless animals in the U.S. every year, and about half of them are dogs. And while just under half of those dogs will find homes, 20 percent are put down. Statistics such as these don’t tell the whole story when it comes to the adoptability of dogs, which is by no means a level game. When viewed at a shelter, any number of things can put hounds in the “no” column, from the color of their coat to their size, age or breed. Pit bulls, for instance, make up 40 percent of the dogs that are euthanized in shelters annually, on the basis of the breed’s reputation and stereotype. Special needs canines, senior animals and dogs that are perceived to have behavioral problems (such as barking or cowering) also stand a far slimmer chance of finding a forever family than puppies or animals that don’t have these characteristics, according to various animal advocacy sources. In fact, some shelters have become so good at handicapping a dog’s odds at being adopted; some have started turning away problem surrenders in favor of those with a better chance of finding a home. While this practice helps shelters turn over animals at a higher rate — thus making room to take in more pets — being rejected is usually a one-way ticket for any dog. That’s where Robbins comes in. He knows something about all of the dogs that come to him, some of it documented, much of it by intuition and all painted over by simple, logical deduction: If they’re here, life hasn’t been kind. The rest is just details.
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“Quite a few of these dogs have been taken to the vet to be put down. I take all of them that come in that way,” he says. “These here upset me some of the most. These old dogs, they get too old for people, and they just dump them. I just had a call about an hour ago. They’ve had the dog, they said, for six years. The dog started to have seizures, so they wanted to get rid of it.” Walking through the compound, Robbins casually shares one horror story after another about what he’s seen over four decades as a rescuer. Nothing surprises him anymore, but for the newcomer, it’s a sickening eye-opener of humanity’s capacity for cruelty. Some of the backstories make you shake your head; others turn your stomach. “That’s Betty, she doesn’t trust women. A woman used to beat her when she was a puppy. But she’s a real good dog,” Robbins waves at pens this way and that. “Those little dachshunds, the vet said the guy was still kicking them when he brought them in to be put down.” Robbins stops at a large kennel where a bright-eyed spotted fluffer barks warily at the stranger. He shushes her then sticks his fingers aymag.com
“I get the misfits,” he says. “The only ones I used to deal with was just the ones nobody else would take. Now, I’m taking just everything.”
through the gate, scratches her nose, tells her what a good girl she is. “The one over here, Violet, they was using it for a bait dog,” he says, as casually as reporting the weather. “They teach little pit bulls to attack them. What they’ll do is they’ll tape this dog’s mouth closed, where it can’t bite the other dog. And then, they’ll sic the other dog on it, and it just has to defend itself.” He strokes the side of Violet’s muzzle, and his voice drops. “It’s pretty cruel.” *********
Robbins came south from his native Michigan in 1974 with the overriding desire to be left alone, be it from ex-wives or the public in
general. “When I got this place, I told the real estate guy I wanted a place that nobody would buy around me,” Robbins says. “I bought it and then, all of a sudden, everybody built. I never pictured anybody buying out here. I mean, when I bought this here, it was all woods.” After a land-locked six-year stint in the U.S. Navy — spent in the desert of Beeville, Texas, where he worked on ejection seats — he’d wandered to the Natural State. He secured his spot in the woods and paid the bills as a stoneworker. Six years later, he answered his life’s true calling and hasn’t looked back. Robbins moves dogs via local adoptions through Gary’s Adoptable Dogs and, over time, he’s made other connections with individuals and organizations that help more animals go from desperate circumstances to loving homes. “We do local adoptions, if we can. There’s not a lot of people here wanting these dogs,” he says. “A decent percentage of them go to New York and New Jersey. That was just word of mouth. People knew I had the dogs, somebody called me up and asked me if I had a certain kind of dog, so I shipped that. Then they were wanting more. “A lot of dogs they have in the South, we don’t have up here,” says Donna Casale of Staten Island, New York, who since 2017 has been an intermediary between Robbins and rescue agencies back east. “I mean, we have mainly pit bulls and Chihuahuas here. And Arkansas has everything. Like, I never heard of these breeds until I started doing all of this. So,
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these dogs that come up here, people really want them, you know?” Casale, a fellow animal lover who knows what it means to fund her passion for rescue out of her own pocket, says she’s never seen anyone with the commitment Robbins has for his cause. “He’s like a living saint,” she says. “He doesn’t turn any dog away. They could be blind, they could have no legs, I mean, it doesn’t matter, the breed or anything. There’s nobody like him. He’s got a lot of health problems, he lives in subpar conditions. I don’t even think he has air conditioning. “I don’t know anybody that does this kind of sacrifice. He uses all his money, all his retirement funds, for the dogs. Everything, his whole life, goes to the dogs. This is like a saint, if you ask me.” *********
It’s a long-held belief that one human year equals seven in dog years. While that may or may not be true, it’s clear that a year of caring for dogs takes out its multiple in time, resources and work. Compounded over 40 years, it’s easy to see this is a mission one man can’t carry forever. So it was with a grateful heart that he found out recently a colleague in Conway would take in his pups come the day he can no longer do his rescue work. “It really is a load off my mind,” he says. “Before, I didn’t have anybody. The only one we had was [an organization] out of Chicago. They said they’d come down, but they’d put half the dogs down. I mean, they come up to pick the cream of the litter and put the rest of them down. Now, the dogs will be taken care of. They’ll all have a chance.” Not that he’s planning on stepping aside any day soon. Despite the urging of his three daughters, one of whom lives across the road, and the demanding toll the work takes on him, his end game is clear. “I’ll do this ’till I die,” he says simply. Until then, there are pens to build and floors to lay and dogs to feed. Robbins looks across his property to a pine-blanketed ridge in the distance, a beautiful backdrop for his labor of love. “I just consider them all mine,” he says. “I’ve had dogs that came in here, just not adoptable. I’ve got some inside that are very unsocial. If they’re too bad to re-home, I keep them, and they become my dogs. “I just always preferred the unadoptables. I don’t know why.” By now, the pack has settled down, ignoring the visitor, and Robbins soaks in the quiet of the woods like a hot bath. Still searching for the why to his work, words fail him so he motions: here, the sleek puppies that were in danger of being shot on sight by their owner’s neighbor; over there, the ones dumped in the woods and at the mouth of the property; and beyond that, the ones brought in by families as far away as Fayetteville and Texarkana. Some are bound for homes from Grady to Gotham; some will never leave this peaceful mountainside. But all are alive solely because of him. “To see pictures of the dogs that were in bad shape and now they’re up there in New York and have got good homes, it makes you feel good,” he says as Belle, the only pup on the loose here, races up and demands a hug, which Robbins obliges, tenderly. “I get the misfits,” he says. “The only ones I used to deal with was just the ones nobody else would take. Now, I’m taking just everything.” At this, St. Gary gives a gentle shrug. “I like dogs. I just don’t like people.” Check out Gary’s Adoptable Dogs at garys-adoptable-dogs.glitch.me or find him on Facebook. To make a donation of money, supplies or materials, call (501) 745-7346 or email garysadoptabledogs@gmail.com.
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Adopters Wanted as Shelter Numbers Return to Normal While it was widely reported that shelters were cleaned out during the pandemic, statistics show the truth is more complicated, a goulash of statistical anomalies. Adoptions of pandemic pets did create waiting lists and long lines in some parts of the country, however, as The New York Times reported in May, pet adoptions were actually down in 2020. Per PetPoint, which tracks such data from shelters, dog adoptions were off 19 percent for dogs, and cat adoptions down 11 percent compared to 2019. Experts say adoptions only appeared to be up due to slower surrender rates in 2020 by people afraid to venture out during lockdown. And while the Times article cited multiple animal advocacy groups as saying people are not returning pandemic pets en masse, shelters are returning to crowded conditions, as people surrender pets they might have otherwise given up in 2020. PetPoint statistics showed nearly 16,000 dogs were surrendered in April of this year, up 80 percent from April 2020, though well below April 2019’s 20,000. Arkansas is not immune to these trends, but as Clayton Morgan, director of the Humane Society for Animals in Rogers, says, the situation is not as dire as the general public may think. It’s just starting to return to normal levels. “All summers are the same way; we stay at capacity. Our hardest months where we get the most dogs in are June, July and August,” he says. “We have a lot of adoptions also, but there are times in there that adoptions slow down. The first two and a half to three weeks of July are horrible because people take vacations. So that affects your adoptions there.” Morgan says the two shelters under his supervision will do adoptions to out-of-staters, but only under certain conditions. “The reason why is, I want a safety net. I want that person to come here,” he says. “I have had people this year drive from Minnesota, Rhode Island, Chicago, Colorado, Texas. I want them to come and spend time with a dog here. People find this dog on the internet, and it’s kind of like dating online. You don’t know what you’re really getting. “One of my requirements is I want the people to come here and spend three hours with a dog. I’ll do some preliminary stuff, like take them for car rides and things like that to make sure the dog is going to travel, because there are some dogs that just don’t travel.” Morgan does work through out-of-state rescue organizations, again on the basis of providing a safety net if the animal and potential family don’t mesh. “I’ve sent dogs to Florida this year; I’ve sent dogs to Iowa, Kansas City, up into Illinois and the Michigan area,” he says. “But they have to have a rescue sponsoring them, not a person. That way, they’ve got a safety net where if something doesn’t work out with the adoption, the animal goes back to that rescue.” Despite the constant flow of homeless animals and working more hours per week than he’d care to admit, Morgan says his operation in one of the best places it’s been in his career. “I’ve been here 26 years, and it’s a whole lot better than it was 26 years ago. I’ll tell you that right now,” he says. “A lot more access to low-cost spay and neutering. And that is the answer to this situation we’re in now, is to spay and neuter. At some point in time, and no one likes to hear it, there is going to come a time that we’re going to have to be forwardthinking as citizens and have mandatory spay and neuter. “Colorado has done that in several places, Clear Lake, Iowa, has done it. There’s a lot of places where shelters are empty because there are not the unwanted pets, and that cuts down on the animal cruelty and cuts down on a whole bunch of things.” aymag.com
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First-time Parents: Preparing to Adopt a New Dog By Lauren McLemore
I
was babysitting when I got the text from one of my friends: a photo of the most adorable black dog I’d ever seen. Young and living at home, I’d never considered taking on a pet, but my friend — after having recently adopted the dog in the photo and realizing he didn’t get along with her other pets — was desperate for someone to take him so she didn’t have to take him back to the shelter. I’d had an apartment application pending approval, but I felt confident everything would work out. So, I told her I would take him, and a few days later, a happy 6-month-old Trooper was running around my parents’ house watching us pack up my stuff for the move into my luckily approved apartment. Trooper was my only dog for a few years, and his temperament fit perfectly with apartment living and my college lifestyle. I was fortunate for his easygoing nature, but to make sure that you and your new pup are going to be happy in the space you’ll be sharing, it’s a good idea to take a look around at your routine and overall day-today and how a dog will fit in.
Do a Lifestyle Audit
All in all, pets are good for us. They bring us JOY and do wonders for our mental health.
Do you work from home or commute to your 9 to 5? Do you have a big backyard or stay cozied up in a studio apartment downtown? Do you have kids or plan to have them soon? All of these questions are great for taking into consideration how you’ll be able to care for your new dog, taking into account everything from age to breed to energy level. With rescue organizations located all over the state and more than a handful of dogs needing homes, heading to the local shelter is a common first choice for many first-time pet owners. I went to CARE: Central Arkansas Rescue Effort For Animals, located on Kavanaugh Boulevard in Little Rock, last year when I was ready to adopt my second dog, Madeline. When I ran across her profile on its website, it listed everything from her estimated age to all of her known health issues. CARE’s volunteer coordinator Cameron Dill says that its caseworkers include as much information as possible in each pet’s “bio” on the website, making sure to include things such as behavioral traits and whether or not the dog gets along with children and/or other pets. Most shelters also try to list as much initial information as they have available, which can be extremely helpful when your family has decided to adopt a dog of a certain breed, age or size. Puppies are adorable and may sound fun in theory, but if you don’t have the time to invest in crate training, housetraining and taming their crazy energy levels, an older dog might be the way to go. Similarly, if you live in an apartment and tend to be a homebody, a smaller dog who prefers long afternoon naps instead of 3-mile runs is going to be more along the lines of your ideal dog.
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Build Trust & Establish a Routine That being said, even with a Tinder-worthy owner and pup match, there are still things that every new dog owner should consider. When I adopted Madeline, all the information in her website profile was compiled into a packet by CARE, along with vet records and a variety of infographics on new pets, including a flyer about the 3-3-3 rule. The 3-3-3 rule is an outline of some common behaviors that pets are known to exhibit within three days, three weeks and three months of being in a new environment. It’s not so much to encourage new pet owners to do anything, but more to just make them aware of reasons why Fido might not be acting as excited as he was the day they brought him home — and of course, encourage them that this behavior will pass once they settle in and become more comfortable. “Of course not every dog is going to follow [the 3s], but it’s a general guideline on how to help them settle in,” Dill says. The first few weeks of having a new pup in the house are crucial to building structure for them, especially if they came from another home where things were done a little differently. “Most dogs could be alone for an entire workday, but if the dog isn’t used to that, it might take them a little bit to get into that routine,” Dill says. “Routine is also very important for a dog, so if they get taken out two or three or four times a day, you probably want to keep on top of that. It can be very confusing, especially to a dog who is new to the home
if that is messed up. If you like to party at night and forget to walk your dog, you’re probably going to come home to an accident.” Another thing commonly seen in the first few days of a new pet being home, especially if the dog is a rescue with a traumatic history, is lack of trust. Nicole Winstead, owner and founder of WoofCat, a local organic handmade pet treat company, has rescued more than 32 dogs to date. “Every rescue is different; some take more time than others to adjust, trust and let their guard down,” Winstead says. “Humans may have let them down, abused them and abandoned them. Have lots of patience.” Bored, stressed and anxious dogs are generally quick to become unhappy and/ or destructive dogs. Winstead says one of the ways you can work with your new dogs who are showing signs of anxiety — especially rescues — is to crate train as soon as possible. “Nine times out of 10, rescues have anxiety about being alone and will chew out of separation anxiety, being upset and not really knowing why, and bored,” Winstead says. “So, for the safety of the animal, your home and nerves, buy a crate, and properly train them so you can leave with confidence. Learn the proper way to crate train. Don’t buy a crate, get the dog and then the next day, stick the dog in a crate for hours on end and think everything will be okay. I have seen dogs injure themselves trying to escape the crate, and I have seen dogs escape crates and do damage to homes.”
Budget for Care Speaking of crates, it’s one of many investments you’ll need to prepare for financially when you bring your new pet home. The pet industry is overflowing with high-tech cameras for you to watch your dog from your phone at work, along with expensive enrichment toys and food brands that will deliver prepackaged meals for your pup right to your door. However, you don’t necessarily need all of the newest gadgets to give your dog a good and healthy life. Over all of the dozens of toys at our house, Trooper prefers the cardboard box he came in, and Maddie would choose a nap over fetch any day of the week. What is important is that you have the ability to afford healthy dog food to provide daily, the annual and monthly required vaccines and disease preventatives, and a way to make sure the pups are cared for while you’re on your yearly beach vacation. Because monthly flea and tick prevention and monthly heartworm prevention comes in many brands and is dependent on the dog’s size, it’s hard to put an exact number to how much your specific dog will run up in costs, but one thing is for sure: You do not want to skimp out on these two things. One of Dill’s dogs, before she’d learned about the availability of prevention, contracted heartworms, and the treatment was intense. “I had no idea the financial burden I was about to take on with [my dog] or that treatment,” Dill says. “Heartworm prevention and flea and tick prevention would probably be necessities, especially if you’re in the South, where mosquitoes are so prevalent and heartworm disease basically runs rampant. It is a lot cheaper in the long run to do prevention than to do the treatment.” Along with necessities are the dog’s annual vaccines, especially the one required by the state of Arkansas — rabies. The others that nearly every veterinarian (and boarding facility) strongly recommends are Bordetella, distemper, parvovirus, parainfluenza, hepatitis and, in some cases, Leptospirosis. Brian Peters, DVM, chief veterinarian of Lake Hamilton & Hot Springs Animal Hospitals, says that it’s important to know these things beforehand, especially if you’re planning on buying from a breeder, bringing home a puppy or adopting an older dog. “The common thing we get is, ‘Well I can’t afford that because I just spent $2,500 on the puppy,” Peters says. “What I try to do within three days of [a family] getting the puppy is offer a no-charge type of health check where I’m going to listen to the puppy’s heart, look at its eyes, check its bite, check it for worms and those kinds of things.” For Trooper, from 6 months to now 3 years old, my annual spend has always been the sum of his monthly preventative care, his vaccinations, however many bags of generic brand $30 dog food he goes through per year and the few weekends that he gets to play at the boarding facility while I’m away. He’s fairly low maintenance. However, when I adopted Madeline, I quickly learned that she was an older dog with diabetes that requires daily insulin injections and a special, more expensive bag of food. Her vet costs were more frequent and more expensive, and she even required an unexpected surgery a few months after I brought her home. “Dogs can get most of the same old-age diseases that people get,” Peters says. “We want to make sure it’s heartworm-free, we want to make sure it’s intestinal-parasite-free, but I may offer some bloodwork to make sure the pet’s kidneys are functioning normally, their liver is functioning normally, they’re not diabetic, their heart sounds good and doesn’t have a heart murmur. I have seen people adopt them, and then all the sudden they have a dog that’s in complete kidney failure.”
Don’t Let FOBB (Fear of Being Busy) Keep You From the Joy of a Pet All in all, pets are good for us. They bring us joy and do wonders for our mental health. If you have questions about the costs or the responsibilities of adopting a dog for the first time, call your local veterinarian and ask questions. Many times, the entire clinic staff is trained to help you get all the answers and confidence you need. Take it from Peters, who says that if you wait until you’re ready, you’ll never bring Fido home. “I hear a lot, all the time, of, ‘I don’t want to get a puppy because I’m never home,’” Peters says. “But if you look at it, you’ll never always be home, so then you’re going to short yourself and your family of having a pet. Our pets, interestingly enough, pretty much mold into our individual lives. Of course, I want people to be financially prepared, but I also want them to enjoy pets because we know pets are healthy for us and healthy for our psyche and help older people have something to depend on and take care of — all those things.”
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How Dogs Impact Our
Mental Health By Katie Zakrzewski
D
ogs have been considered man’s best friends for centuries, and the bond between the two goes back thousands of years. This companionship has changed over time, from the years of hunting and gathering to the days of dog parks and working from home. While the purpose of the bond between humanity and dogs may have changed, the interconnectedness between the two species is as rich as ever. Nowadays, dogs not only keep our beds warm and provide us with a loving welcome when we come home, but the beloved canine also offers us a host of mental health benefits. Recent studies conducted by The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) have shown that the bond between people and their pets, specifically dogs, is deeper than ever before. HABRI is a nonprofit organization that funds research regarding the health benefits of owning and interacting with a pet. HABRI summarized its findings regarding the impact of dogs on stress, depression, post-traumatic stress and the overall management of mental health. HABRI’s research shows that dogs can help their owners manage their emotions while providing a distraction from stress. Therapy dogs helped reduce stress in college students, while service dogs have helped alleviate symptoms of PTSD in veterans. A HABRI study focused specifically on veterans and the impact of service dogs revealed a host of benefits, including lower overall symptoms of PTSD, lower levels of depression, greater life satisfaction, a greater state of overall psychological well-being, lower levels of social isolation, increase in social life, higher levels of resilience and higher levels of companionship with others. Dogs — and not just registered emotional support animals and therapy dogs — help their owners in other ways, too. Studies have shown that dogs curb loneliness, boost the moods of their owners through the release of the hormone oxytocin, help their owners develop healthy routines and can improve their owner’s heart health
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through exercises like walking and playing fetch. Additionally, just being around your dog can lower the stress hormone cortisol, leading to a more relaxing environment. The American Heart Association points out that pets can be of special benefit to older owners as well, instilling in them a sense of purpose and greater social connectedness. Pets increase productivity, especially in the workplace, by lowering stress when faced with overwhelming tasks and deadlines. Further, dogs provide a sense of togetherness, community and accomplishment, which helps to lower anxiety and decrease the likelihood of negative thought patterns. Also, studies show that pet owners have lower symptoms of depression. Lauren English, licensed professional counselor and business development representative with Pinnacle Pointe Hospital, shares more details on how dogs help us to live a fuller life. “The calming presence and the special bond that pets bring can be very powerful,” English says. “Dogs allow their owner to focus on something else instead of the negative thoughts a depressed person is prone to have.
Pets are pros at giving unconditional love and acceptance just when we “Pets are need it.” Dogs relieve stress and teach pros at giving us mindfulness. “Dogs teach us how to be unconditional love mindful and take each moment as it comes,” English shares. “If and acceptance just you are feeling stressed, try taking when we need it.” a page out of your dog’s playbook. Stop and bask in the sun, smell the flowers, take a moment to rest. As you go about your day, take a moment to bring your attention to the sensations in your body. Take a few deep breaths, and notice how that you have a dog, you probably take him or her makes you feel. Engage your senses, and savor outside for walks several times a week. Being what is happening around you. Then, take in nature offers people enhanced mood and time to pet your dog, and thank him or her for stress relief. being a good example.” “Even if you live in a more urban area, beDogs offer empathy — they just have a ing outdoors with your dog for a period of way of knowing how to offer comfort. Therapy time will increase physical activity and boost dogs can often sense an owner’s anger and your mental health,” English reaffirms. anxiety building and will give a signal to the Whether we’re at home or in the office, all owner to start using mindful breathing and pets — especially dogs — provide a sense of other tools to calm down until she senses his meaning and fulfillment in our lives, proving negative emotions have diminished. even today why they are still considered man’s Additionally, dogs lead us to nature. If best friend.
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No matter what the route of care or service — be it training or boarding or something in between — Paws Mahal takes a unique, holistic approach to your dog. “Our goal is to support people with education and guidance,” the staff proudly boasts. “People have the power and ability to choose to be committed to the animals in their lives. We want to encourage people that they have what it takes to make the commitment to their animals and to achieve contentment for themselves.” Altogether, the staff has more than 50 years of experience. At Paws Mahal, it’s all about peace of mind and peace of pup.
(501) 952-7765 or pawsmahalllc@gmail.com 73
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arts&culture
Paris,
Pamplona,
Piggott – By Kenneth Heard
– Photos courtesy ASU
Now at the 60th anniversary of his death, we recall Ernest Hemingway’s deep ties to Arkansas 82
E
rnest Hemingway would often refer to Piggott as “the pig,” and he hated the humid summers, calling them “Christ-offal,” when he visited the Clay County town and the home of his wife, Pauline Pfeiffer. But he also loved to hunt quail there and enjoyed the seclusion of rural northeast Arkansas, which offered fewer distractions and more of a chance to write. At times, he said he preferred Piggott to Paris. “Me, I like it better out on the ranch or in Piggott, Arkansas, in the fall,” he wrote in a letter to Esquire magazine in 1933. Now, 60 years after Hemingway’s July 1, 1961, death, historians think his love-hate relationship with the town helped craft a writing style that many believe propelled him to the claim as one of America’s greatest authors. He wrote much of A Farewell to Arms, a brooding tale of two lovers in war-torn Italy, while in Piggott in 1928. The book was published a year later and confirmed Hemingway as a serious novelist. He won the Pulitzer Prize for literature in 1953 for The Old Man and the Sea, but Hemingway felt he deserved the award more for A Farewell to Arms. “Piggott shaped his work,” says Ruth Hawkins, the former director of heritage sites at Arkansas State University who oversaw the university’s purchase of the Piggott home in 1997 and its conversion into a museum and a research center. “A lot of his art was more biographical. His stories were influenced by his experiences.” One of his short stories, A Day’s Wait, featured the Pfeiffer home. Hemingway, who was born in Oak Park, Illinois, was a world traveler at an early age. When he was 19, he drove an ambulance on the Italian front during World War I. He was also a reporter for the Kansas City Star and covered Paris for the Toronto Star where he met Pfeiffer. He was married to Hadley Richardson, but met Pfeiffer in the spring of 1925. Pfeiffer first found Hemingway “oafish and insensitive” to his wife. Pfeiffer’s father, Paul, moved his family to Piggott from St. Louis in 1913 after, legend has it, he was stranded there when flooding prevented a train he was on from traveling any further. Paul saw farming potential in the fertile Delta soil and bought more than 60,000 acres in Clay County and eventually opened the Pfeiffer Cotton Gin in Piggott. Pauline earned a degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and became an assistant to the editor of the fashion magazine Vogue in Paris. Hemingway, enamored with Pfeiffer, divorced his wife, Hadley, on April 14, 1927. He and Pfeiffer were married on
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May 10, 1927, and soon the two were spending time in Piggott. “He found he liked getting away,” says Hawkins, who is also the author of Unbelievable Happiness and Final Sorrow: The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Marriage. “He had peace and quiet. He wasn’t bothered by his friends like he was in Key West.” His wife’s uncle, Gus Pfeiffer, took a liking to Hemingway and often gave him money while he was writing. He also converted a carriage barn behind the Oak Street home into a writing studio where Hemingway worked. As a result, Hemingway dedicated A Farewell to Arms to her uncle. “That book gave him his first commercial success,” says Adam Long, director of the Arkansas Heritage Sites at ASU. “A Farewell to Arms made him a famous writer.” His next novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls, was also a major success. Hemingway earlier published The Sun Also Rises, a plodding tale of American and British expatriates who travel to Pamplona to watch bullfights and visit coffee shops and bars, in 1926. It had received mixed reviews, and critics said the theme was more suited for a short story. Even Hemingway’s friend, author John Dos Passos, wrote in a review of the book, “What’s the matter with American writing these days? The few unsad men of this lost generation will have to look for another way of finding themselves than the one indicated here.” Dos Passos later apologized to Hemingway for the criticism. After his Piggott days, however, acceptance of his writing became more positive. “He is one of the greatest short story writers of all time,” Long says. “I think he was one of the top two or three influential writers after changing his style and his storytelling.” Despite his success, Hemingway was viewed by the Piggott townsfolk as just another person. He was more Paul Pfeiffer’s son-in-law than any famous writer. And he was a tad eccentric. He would stand at a desk to write. Children would peer through gaps in the carriage barn walls to watch him, angering the author. “I am just about as pleasant to have around as a bear with sore toenails,” he once said of his writing process. At times he sported a scruffy beard and wore clothes more suited for the flashy Key West than the more-reserved Arkansas. He was a hulking figure, and when he jogged around the neighborhood, he scared the children at a nearby elementary school. In 1930, Hawkins says, Hemingway was injured in an automobile accident and had to use a crutch. He walked from the Clay County courthouse up the hill to the Pfeiffer home one
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winter day and the school children, thinking he was a hobo who had just jumped off a freight train, pelted him with snowballs and derided him until he hobbled away. He didn’t ingratiate himself when Paramount Pictures released the movie version of his A Farewell to Arms in 1932 and held a premiere of the film at the New Franklin Theater in Piggott. The film starred Helen Hayes and Gary Cooper. Hemingway, some accounts say, was angered that the movie studio gave the film a happy ending (in his book, the protagonist’s wife dies in childbirth at the end) and skipped the showing. Some say he got drunk and staggered back to his Piggott home. Others said he escaped to St. Louis to avoid the premiere. He also once called Piggott the “disease capital of the world” because of a smallpox epidemic there in the 1930s, and he took his wife to a Kansas City hospital to birth their son, Patrick, because he was distrustful of Piggott’s lack of medical services. He was critical of the town, complaining about the constant sweltering climate in the summer of 1928 when temperatures baked the area for days. “Am damned sick of the heat,” he wrote in a letter. “Been over 90 degrees almost every day for nearly a month.” In 1933, Long says, an improperly vented stove in the car-
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riage barn caught on fire. Hemingway and others rushed into the barn to save things; Hemingway tossed pages of his new manuscript out of a window in an attempt to preserve it. Unfortunately, Hawkins says, firefighters inadvertently doused the pages with their fire hoses as they battled the blaze. As was his habit, Hemingway couldn’t remain faithful to his wife and had an affair with Martha Gellhorn. He decided to marry her, and he and Pauline divorced in 1940. Pauline died in 1951 of a tumor in her adrenal gland. Ten years later, Hemingway died by suicide, fatally shooting himself in Ketchum, Idaho. In 1997, fueled by a $200,000 donation from a Rector couple and $135,000 appropriated by the state legislature, Arkansas State University bought the home from a Charlotte, North Carolina, woman The two-story house at 1021 W. Cherry St. has five bedrooms, maids’ quarters and a wraparound porch. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. A scene in the 1957 movie A Face in the Crowd, starring Andy Griffith and Patricia Neal, was filmed by a swimming pool behind the Pfeiffer house. Hemingway told director Elia Kazan about Piggott, enticing him to shoot a portion of the movie there. Hawkins says the Pfeiffer home has two major functions
Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum.
“It puts Piggott on the map. A lot of people who come here had never heard of our community before. But the home draws people. It gives them a sense of familiarity with Hemingway.”
now. “First, it serves as an educational lab for students,” she says. “People can read Hemingway where he wrote.” Students from colleges, high schools and elementary schools can tour the center. Students can now stand in the same spot he stood to write. “It also serves as an economical catalyst for this rural community,” she says. Within two years of the opening of the museum, locals opened 14 tourist-related businesses, including a bed and breakfast. It also changed some opinions of Hemingway, years after his death. “People who once thought negatively of him because of his divorce with Pauline and his actions, now see him as a great writer,” she says. Just before the COVID-19 pandemic altered travel, more than 30,000 people visited the museum each year, Long says. The center also hosts writers’ retreats for aspiring authors, and each year, the university invites someone to be a writer-in-residence who lives in Piggott for a month, teaches writing classes in the house and writes where Hemingway did.
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“It was daunting to work where he did,” says Hugh Martin, an Athens, Ohio, English professor, who was the writer-inresidence in July. Martin earned his doctorate and will teach this fall at Holy Cross. “Working in the studio where he did was powerful,” Martin says. “You think of the work he did here and how influential it was. There are a lot of feelings. It’s a lot of pressure. I think it’s one of the more special opportunities I’ve ever had.” The home now draws international attention to Piggott, a town of slightly more than 3,600 people, and puts in mention with Hemingway’s other homes and vacation spots in Paris, Cuba and Key West. “It puts Piggott on the map,” says Piggott Chamber of Commerce president Tim Blair. “A lot of people who come here had never heard of our community before. But the home draws people. It gives them a sense of familiarity with Hemingway.” The home is open for hourly tours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, which begin at the museum store. A portion of the tour takes visitors through the carriage barn. “People go there,” Blair says. “They stand in that studio and immerse themselves in the spirit of Hemingway.”
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arts&culture
A NASTY WAY to
Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from Joe David Rice’s
recently released thriller/mystery
novel, A Nasty Way to Die, his second
novel and follow-up to last year’s An
Undercurrent of Murder. Both are part of his
Randy Lassiter and Leslie Carlisle mystery series. By Joe David Rice
CHAPTER ONE I knew something was wrong half a block before I reached J.J.’s house. While my best friend could make no claim as a master gardener, he’d always maintained his property in good shape if for no other reason than to mollify a nearby pair of widows with too much time on their hands. But there were enough fallen limbs and branches on his front lawn to fill a wheelbarrow many times over. A severe spring thunderstorm had hammered Little Rock a couple of days earlier and wreaked havoc throughout the city. Only one yard on the entire block still showed ill effects: J.J.’s. I pulled my pickup to the curb, got out, and stopped in my tracks. Up close, it looked even worse. The zoysia grass stood about shin-deep, the flowerbed bordering his driveway needed a major overhaul, and his privet hedge seemed to have been fertilized with anabolic steroids. Picking up two candy wrappers and a crumpled cigarette pack from the sidewalk, I made my way to the deep front porch running the width of his house. As I climbed the worn concrete steps, anxious thoughts filtered through
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my mind. The house appeared vacant. A wrinkled flyer from a commercial window-washing outfit hung from the doorknob. After ringing the doorbell, I peeked in the mailbox. Empty. I rang again and eyed the porch. It hadn’t been swept in a while. The sole tracks in the gritty dust ended at my feet. Unless he’d left in a big hurry, J.J. would have called. That’s what I told myself as I cupped hands around my face and gazed through the picture window. The dark living room appeared unchanged—a floor-to-ceiling bookcase on the far wall, stone fireplace to the right, and massive leather sofa opposite. J.J.’s antique roll-top desk and a companion captain’s chair completed the furnishings. Except for a potted ficus tree next to the window, I saw no signs of life. And even it looked unhealthy; an assortment of withered leaves lay scattered on the hardwood floor beneath the plant.
Like a peripatetic peeping Tom, I circled the house and peered into every window displaying the slightest hint of a crack in the curtains. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The rear half of the property mirrored the front, desperate for attention. After depositing the handful of trash I’d collected into J.J.’s otherwise empty garbage can, I stood, dumbfounded, and stared across the expansive backyard. The overgrown lawn resembled a pasture, soggy leaves and pine needles filled both birdbaths, and at least a bushel of pine cones blanketed the driveway leading to the detached garage. When I turned to leave, my addled brain began to function again and I remembered a key stashed deep in the recesses of the glove box in my truck. We had exchanged house keys years earlier, soon after J.J.’s move to Little Rock. He checked on my home during those rare occasions when I traveled on extended trips, and I did the same for him. A crash course on houseplant stewardship and aquarium maintenance had been part of the arrangement. With his house key gripped in a sweaty palm, I returned from my Toyota and climbed the grimy steps to the back stoop. The key slid into the lock and the kitchen door swung open. Inside, I immediately noticed the smell. Musty. As if the place had been abandoned for days. “Anybody home?” I eased down the long hallway and flipped lights on at every chance, stopping first at J.J.’s bedroom. The bed had been made, more or less, and there were no dirty clothes to be seen. A thin layer of dust covered his nightstand and dresser, but everything looked in order, much to my relief. The same was true for the rest of the house. No jimmied windows or doors, no ransacked rooms or closets, no bloodstains. But no J.J. Newell either. I walked back to the den, drawn by the gentle gurgle of J.J.’s aquarium, a 50-gallon tank of tropical waters far removed from coral reefs and mangrove bights. A slimy film of algae coated much of its glass walls, but what I could manage to see unnerved me. The fish population had been reduced by three-fourths, and the few survivors looked weak. I searched without success for J.J.’s pair of prized angelfish. Several flimsy skeletons littered the sandy bottom, picked clean. A miniature saltwater catfish, the sole scavenger of the lot, provided the only healthy exception to this dismal picture. He swam about with vigor and
“
stirred up tiny clouds of sediment while nosing among the brittle bones. I sprinkled some food onto the water and watched as the remaining fish darted back and forth like frenzied piranhas. Pulling myself from the aquarium, I made another pass through J.J.’s home, hoping I might have overlooked something. A faint but peculiar smell in the hallway teased my nostrils. I followed my nose into the laundry room where a large load of damp towels had soured in the washer. I tossed a cup of detergent on top and started the machine. What could have caused J.J. to have left his laundry unfinished? For half an hour, I tended to my friend’s houseplants. Some had wilted and would recover, but others had already given up the ghost. I then treated and added two gallons of water to the aquarium and was about to leave the den when my eyes locked on a guitar propped against the sofa. What’s that doing here? I wondered. To the best of my knowledge, J.J.’s musical talents were pretty much equal to mine. Non-existent. But it was a handsome thing, and the brand—Gibson—was one I recognized. A beginner’s guidebook to chords lay on a nearby end table, all but hidden under a small stack of sheet music. The piece on top—Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”—caused me to momentarily freeze. Baffled, I returned to the kitchen. A swarm of gnats circled above a bowl of mushy apples. I tossed the fruit into the backyard, figuring the squirrels and birds would solve that dilemma. I then examined the refrigerator, and my nose again recognized . a problem. A dull layer of mold hid what remained of a pint of raspberries. Those disappeared down the disposal, but the subtle smell didn’t go away. I rechecked every shelf and drawer and soon discovered an expired carton of milk stored in a compartment on the refrigerator door. About to gag, I poured the thick, lumpy liquid down the drain and then backtracked to the laundry room where I heaved the load of towels into the dryer. The unexpected jangling of the telephone made me jump. I lifted the receiver on the third ring, took a deep breath, and said, “Hello.” My pulse raced. After a brief hesitation, a timid female voice asked, “J.J., is that you?” The woman sounded nervous. Maybe frightened. “No, it’s—” The line went dead. I stared at the phone, the same land line that had gone unanswered time and again when I’d called over the past two weeks. I wished J.J. owned an
The line went dead. I stared at the phone, the same land line that had gone unanswered time and again when I’d called over the past two weeks
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answering machine or one of those caller ID gadgets. But my independent friend had never been one to embrace technology. More than once I had kidded J.J. that he was the last man in America without a cell phone. “And I sure don’t want Fritter or Spacebook,” he’d said earlier this spring. “That’s Twitter and Facebook, not—” “I don’t need them either,” he had replied with a dismissive wave of his hand. My heart still pounding, I spotted a remote control for the garage door, one of J.J.’s few concessions to technical paraphernalia. I stepped onto the back porch, pushed the button, and watched as the large door lifted. Before it reached the halfway point, I realized J.J.’s classic Jaguar convertible was gone. I fingered the device once more to close the garage and was about to lock the house when the ringing of the telephone again startled me. “Hello,” I said. “Professor Newell.” Another female voice. “I’m Natalie Yee at—” “Excuse me,” I said, interrupting. “This is Randy Lassiter, one of J.J.’s friends. He’s . . . uh . . . unavailable right now.” There was silence at the other end of the line. “May I take a message?” I asked. “Yes,” she said. “Thank you very much. J.J. missed his last appointment with us and he’s scheduled to be here late this afternoon. I’m calling to confirm.” I paused a moment and tried to collect my wits. “You may have to fill me in a bit,” I finally said. “I’m with the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Arkansas Children’s Hospital,” she said. “We have a program called Child Life where adults volunteer to hold infants — and J.J. has always been one of our most dedicated and reliable participants.” “Hold infants? What do you mean?” Ms. Yee shared a light chuckle. “You’re by no means the first to ask. Our hospital screens and trains adults to hold newborn babies, providing them with warmth and comfort and soothing voices. The results have been nothing short of miraculous.” “And J.J. does this?” “Oh yes! He’s one of our original volunteers—we call them ‘the cuddlers’—and he’s never missed one of his sessions. Until week before last, that is.” An image of a tiny baby nestled in J.J.’s brawny arms filled my mind. I’d known him half my life and had no idea he participated in such a program. Were there other secrets to be uncovered? “Mr. Lassiter, are you still there? Can you pass my message along to J.J.?” I had to clear my throat. “Yes, I’m still here. And . . . uh . . . when I see J.J., I’ll tell him you called.”
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“Do you think we can count on him later today?” It was a question I didn’t want to answer. “I’m afraid not,” I said. “I don’t believe I can reach him in time.” “I understand, but thanks for your help. And please give me a call if you’d like to volunteer. We need more folks like J.J. Newell to get these precious newborns out of bassinets and into human arms. As I’m sure you know, he’s a very special man.” “He is that,” I said with a sniff. “A very special man.” “Goodbye.” I placed the phone’s receiver in its cradle, leaned against the kitchen counter, and wiped away a tear trickling down my cheek.
J.J. had bought the craftsman-style bungalow half a dozen years ago after moving to the city from Baton Rouge. He must have inspected 25 houses before a desperate seller accepted his low-ball offer on what his weary agent charitably called an “extreme fixer-upper.” Ever the perfectionist, J.J. had devoted most of his first summer in Little Rock to a steady stream of do-it-yourself home improvement projects. He jokingly claimed to be on a first-name basis with the entire staff at Home Depot. He scraped and sanded layers of old paint, cut and laid tile, replaced siding, glazed and caulked windows, and even built a deck. Repainted in beige—or antique champagne, to use real estate jargon—with a rich burgundy trim, the house was a showplace. Or at least used to be. On the way back to my truck, I encountered a young man on the sidewalk. “It looks like you need some professional help,” he said. I stopped and looked him hard in the eyes. “I beg your pardon.” He met my stare with a practiced smile and then handed me a business card. “Your yard,” he said. “I have the best lawn service company in town.” He gestured over his shoulder to an extended-cab pickup with a trailer full of mowers, blowers, and edgers parked in front of my Toyota. Two tanned college-age young men leaned against the hood. “My men and I can make this property sparkle. Guaranteed.” Following a quick round of negotiations, I shook the youthful entrepreneur’s hand and gave him one of my cards. “Please send the bill to this address.” “You bet.” I turned and stared at J.J.’s empty house. When I shut my eyes, I recalled the tour he had given me the day the deal had closed. Located in the city’s old but chic Hillcrest neighborhood, his home occupied a large corner lot a few blocks north of War Memorial Stadium. “Perfect for the Arkansas-LSU football games,” he’d said before we
reached the front door. It was also near enough that we sat on the front porch and eavesdropped on concerts on occasion, including a standing-room-only performance by the Rolling Stones in the same stadium earlier in the spring. The acoustics were lousy, but parking spaces were guaranteed and J.J.’s beer selection couldn’t be beat. And I never had to wait in line for his restroom. The roar of a two-cycle engine brought me back to reality. I sidestepped a roiling cloud of bluish smoke, gave my new friend behind the lawnmower a nod, and climbed into the truck. I wished for enough time to check with some of J.J.’s neighbors, but a moody, high-maintenance client was scheduled to arrive at my ad agency in fifteen minutes. Punctuality was one of her few good traits. That and she paid her bills on time. I’d known James Joseph Newell — called J.J. by everybody — for years, and we’d been close—almost brothers—after his move to Little Rock. We often talked by phone and saw each other a couple of times a month. He had never left town for any length of time without letting me know. My mind searched for a reasonable explanation. But my heart knew otherwise.
On the drive back to my office, a flurry of random, disjointed thoughts fought for recognition. As I remembered a pivotal conversation J.J. and I’d had years earlier, a smile worked its way across my face. I had just set up shop as Lassiter & Associates, the newest addition to Arkansas’s already overcrowded advertising scene. J.J. resided in Baton Rouge at the time, wrapping up his Ph.D. in zoology. While he’d gone to Louisiana State University for graduate work following our days together at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, I had settled in Little Rock to undertake a less formalized continuing education program of my own design. Hopping from one ad agency to another every six months, I filed away a wealth of experiences — good, bad, and awful — and somehow managed to survive the 70-hour weeks expected of junior employees. After two long but memorable years in the trenches, I submitted my final resignation. I then threw caution and common sense to the wind, acquired a ragtag collection of secondhand office furniture, and opened my own agency. Located on the wrong end of a semi-fashionable street near the city’s Amtrak station, my quiet one-room workspace overlooked a world of winos and wannabes. I didn’t have a single client, but I could claim a spiffy logo, a fancy telephone, and
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an irrepressible urge to be my own boss. The first call on my new phone came from Baton Rouge. “Randy, I’ve got some good news,” J.J. said. Something was up. Always before he had called me at home in the evenings to take advantage of cheaper rates. “Let me guess . . . Your tests from the Health Department came back negative?” “Go to hell,” he said with a laugh. “It’s official. I got the degree and—” “Congratulations!” I interrupted. “Shall I address you as . . . Dr. Newell?” “How does Professor Newell sound? I’ve accepted a faculty appointment.” This sounded serious. I slid my crossword puzzle to the side, certain that I had the rest of the week to work on it. “Don’t tell me you’ll be in a position to influence the lives of young, impressionable students?” “It’s a full-time job.” I noticed a hint of excitement in his voice. “Let’s hear the sordid details,” I said. “The biology department is small, but it’s in an upand-coming institution.” “And where might that be?” “The University of Arkansas Little Rock.” He paused for a moment. “I’m scheduled to move next week.”
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Empty Nester Richard McKeown’s ‘Novel’ Idea By Emily Beirne | Photos by Ian Lyle
lthough he was born on the East Coast, Arkansas can still claim new author Richard McKeown. Perhaps you’ve heard of his hometown, St. Albans, Vermont, but in case you haven’t, do not worry — McKeown’s recently released novel State of Redemption paints the perfect picture of the quaint small-town life. But with a dash of murder and the pursuit for justice to add a little more excitement. McKeown may have spent his childhood in Vermont, but after his father’s job sent the family down south to the state of Arkansas, McKeown became fully immersed in Natural State life. He attended Rogers High School and later received his degree in journalism from Arkansas State University. Now, with his children out of the house and an army of grandchildren giving orders, McKeown proves that it’s never too late to do something big. “I never really thought that I would write a book one day,” McKeown says. “I had this concept and this story wallowing around inside my head for several years, and I finally decided to just sit down and write.” The story in question is based on a real event that happened while McKeown was living in St. Albans. Like all great settings for a murder, St. Albans was always peaceful. A small town with normal people living mundane lives, nothing as sinister as murder would have ever been expected. “There was Main Street with all the shops, the big park in the middle of town, Church Street with all the churches, but in the middle of town was the city hall, which housed the police department,” McKeown says. “As a paperboy, I delivered papers, and I’d read the news. When I was 10 or 11, I remember there being a murder behind the city hall, where the police department was. You hear that all the time,‘That never happens here,’ but it really never did. And I just remember that record, and I thought how ironic that [the murder] happened right behind the police
Richard McKeown. department. This has just always stuck in my head, and then at some point, I decided that might make an interesting unsolved murder.” Based on locations in St. Albans, McKeown created a fictitious town in Vermont called “Milford’’ for the novel. The events that take place may have been inspired by the murder from McKeown’s childhood, but everything else — from characters to story to details — are all products of his creative mind. State of Redemption follows the main character, Matt Matheny, as he moves back to his hometown as an adult after 30 years of being away. While back in Milford, he recalls a murder that took place when he was a child that, of which he was a witness. In comes District Attorney Tommy Branscum, who is the only other witness to the murder of Caroline Dawson, a girl who was not born with the same privilege and status as Branscum and his family. Uncovering the truth and corruption buried in the past, McKeown’s story makes readers explore the world of justice and redemption. Writing this complex story of morality, McKeown, a journalist by trade, found himself in uncharted territory when it came to developing the characters. Characters are naturally the focal points of stories — next to theme and plot, of course — so he quickly realized how present the characters become in an author’s life.
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“Somebody wisely told me during the writing process that people read novels as much for the characters as they do for the story,” McKeown explains. “That really kind of stopped me in my tracks for a little while. I had to develop the characters a little more deeply and focus on how they would react to certain situations or what they would say. I had them in my head, and they basically lived with me during the entire process. I was constantly thinking about their next moves.” One character, in particular, Branscum, held a special place in McKeown’s focus. His story may be the most layered in the novel, and McKeown is always eager to find out people’s opinions of the man. “I always enjoy hearing feedback about the book from readers,” he says, “but what I really love is asking readers, ‘What do you think about Tommy?’ There are always different opinions about him, and I did that on purpose. He could be the villain, or he could be a sympathetic figure; he’s a character that’s supposed to make you feel a bit conflicted.” The new author took his time piecing the story together and deciding how each character’s story ended. The details and interwoven storylines at times felt overwhelming for McKeown. “One of the challenges was when I would go away from the novel and come back trying to string the book together in chunks,” aymag.com
McKeown shares. “I didn’t see writing sections as chapters so much as portions of the book because the book isn’t really a mystery; we know who did it about a third of the way through. But the big question for me writing the story is ultimately: What is the character going to do in the end? I really didn’t know what they were going to do until I got around two-thirds of the way through the novel. I had to stop and write the final chapter just so I knew where to place the pieces building up to the end. “But on the flip side, it was kind of fun for me to not really know myself what was going to happen until I finally made the decision at the end what the character was going to do.” Although we are surrounded by technology, especially during 2020 when McKeown wrote the novel, the journalist made the choice to handwrite the novel’s first draft. Considering the length of the book, 431 pages, you can imagine the state of McKeown’s hand at the book’s completion. “I chose to write the story on legal pads. [Writing by hand] was easier for me in terms of I think I’m able to create better when I’m handwriting rather than keying in information if that makes sense,” McKeown laughs. “[Writing by hand] is a little more of a reflective process, to be able to cross things out
rather than go back and correct them on the computer. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that to anybody else, because the process of going back and reading my scratches in my notes and in the margins was pretty tedious, but in the end, it was worth it. Although, I had this fear while seeing these notebooks stacked up in piles on the floor that if there were a fire, I’d be done.” For a journalist who never imagined writing a book one day, he’s already making plans for a second novel. McKeown is excited about the reviews he has received on his debut. As any reader agree, there are books that you read and enjoy, and there are books that you read and can’t put down. McKeown is thrilled to hear that State of Redemption is being regarded as the latter. “The most gratifying thing to me is to have people say, ‘I wanted to find out what happened to these people in the story, so I wanted to get back to the book every chance I got,’” he says. “I think the phrase that describes a book as a ‘real page-turner’ is a little bit overdone ... but if I can generate in people a need to continue reading my story, I’ve written the story right. I wanted to create some curiosity on how this story is going to play out, and I’ve heard people say that they just couldn’t wait to get home from work or
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to put the kids to bed because they really wanted to finish my book. I think that is probably the highest compliment I’ve gotten, and the fact that somebody has enjoyed it makes it even better.” He had doubts in himself at the start, as many writers do. Writing an extensive piece, especially a novel, takes a large amount of time out of the day, so you have to be passionate about what it is you’re putting out there. McKeown recalls going through an internal conflict of whether or not he had the skills to tell the story. “I knew I wanted to write about justice, but I always thought, ‘Can I do it the right way?’ I always had that in mind,” he says. “I knew that I had the nuts-and-bolts of a good story, but being able to tell it — and tell it well — is something completely different. Ultimately, I just had to write it. If the story stays in the head, it’s not doing anyone any favors. I just had to write.” His confidence is regained, and his creative mind is still running with potential stories to tell. This New England boy-turned-Arkansas writer plans to stick around the literary scene for a while. “As long as I have a story to tell and I enjoy what I’m doing, I’m going to write,” he says.
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ice cream After decades as an educator, Tina Johnson is ready for her next endeavor — children’s book author. By Sarah Russell
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here was a stand-off in Philly. The Riley family of Wilmar, Arkansas, had gone to Pennsylvania to visit relatives. Everything was going great. Until it wasn’t. Two females were squared off over a dinner table. This issue wasn’t going to just be pushed to the side. Firmly, Christene Riley insisted. And just as firmly, her 5-year-old daughter, Tina, resisted. She wanted ice cream. But what stood between her and that ice cream wasn’t just her mother. It was what was on her plate. “I don’t want butter beans! I hate butter beans — those ugly, wrinkled beans!” Tina wailed. The ice cream might have been a little melted around the edges by the time Tina saw her way through the forkfuls of beans, but she did. The ice cream came and went. And those beans? Well, they were kind of good after all, one of those you-justgot-to-swallow-hard-and-try-it kinds of things. Butter beans and ice cream — who could know back then that the firm love of a mother would leave her daughter with a lesson that she packed up and took with her long after she had left Philadelphia. Tina Riley Johnson, now a wife, mother and grandmother, explains, “The moral of the story was just because something doesn’t look like what you think it’s supposed to, don’t knock it till you try it. It could be something you really like. Then, you’ll have your reward.”
In her childhood household, Johnson learned a lot more about handling kids. After all, she was the only girl in a family of eight boys. Not only that, but she was smack dab in the middle — four boys older than her and four born after her. The latter, she says, “became like my own because they were younger.” Life was busy with the boys, family, school and church. But through it all, she was sticking to her plan of being a movie star in Hollywood. She ended up married and in McGehee. Her head had been saying Hollywood, but her heart was having the final word. That job she got there in the school district as a pre-K paraprofessional confirmed it — she was born to work with children. Whether she was living in Wilmar, McGehee or subsequently Little Rock and then Bryant, Johnson was — and is — a Pied Piper to the little ones. Even now, she says, going into a grocery store often means ending up with a child wrapped around her, much to the astonishment of their parents. “They come to me. They’re drawn to me. It just melts my heart. They see something in me that I don’t see in myself,” Johnson says. Now there are decades of children who have found the specialness in Johnson. From her start as a pre-K paraprofessional, Tina segued into being a physical education teacher and then became a Certified Child Development Associate. Children who were around her not only got hugs but books. The
requests came, “Mrs. Johnson, I want a book. Can I have one?” And the answer was always, “Yes,” even if it was out of her own pocket. She taught them all: “Readers make achievers.” Before her own babies had even been born, she read to them. It worked. Her kids proved to be a lot more excited about getting their very first library cards than she had been about butter beans. Whether it was at school, the library or church, Johnson was reading to the kids. As one fellow educator said to her, “That’s one thing I know you can do — read. The kids are just in awe when you read.” The wannabe actress had found her stage, immersing herself into the characters as she read, delighting her young fan club. Those first kids in McGehee are all grown up now. So are her own. It was becoming time to think about what she would do next. After she had closed her final classroom door, Johnson and her husband, Dartanion, moved on down the road to Bryant. After she had joined a new church there, one of the ladies who was also a member came up to her with a message. “God told me to tell you what are you waiting for? The baby has already been born. It involves children and a school bus,” the woman said. That was all well and good, but whatever did it mean? That part wasn’t clear to Tina at all. That is, until one day when she was working on her computer. And there it was — filed right where she had put it all those years ago. Yes, she had written it, typed it up, and then saved it: her children’s book, the one she wrote based on that long-ago day in Philadelphia … about butter beans and ice cream. What now? What was she supposed to do with this? Back to church. Again, she got a divine nudge. Someone knew someone who was with Living Waters, a Christian bookstore and publisher in Little Rock. Would Johnson be willing to let this person read her work? It was a big, fat YES! The book that had been germinating for a lifetime was now about to take on what is mach speed in the literary world. In less than a year, it has been edited, illustrated, put on preorder and now on release. It is not only the first children’s book for her, but also a first for Living Waters. “It just went from there,” Johnson says. “It started flourishing; everything started coming together.” Those who know her are literally going to see some familiar faces on the cover. There’s Johnson herself with two special people in her life. Pictures of her two grandchildren, Cam and Caleb, were given to the illustrator. The results were a happy surprise for her. “It’s amazing — they look like my grandkids, even though they are cartoons.” The book, Butter Beans and Ice Cream, has remained close to the basics of that day in Philly. There is a mother — her mother still, she says — but two children this time, with her granddaughter Cam representing her younger self. And who could leave out Caleb? The message she learned that day has remained but further deepened, as has her spirituality in the years since then. “Everything might not be peaches and cream, but God is with you always, even to the end, she says. “He is with you, so you can always expect the reward.” The message is rippling out further and further. The preorder numbers are reflecting the success that is coming as the book officially launches. Soon, Johnson expects to be back in some classrooms, reading and signing books just like a movie star writer. Will there be more books for her to read? Oh yes, indeed. “I have so many ideas in my head,” she says. “Just so many books I want to write for children. “I just have a heart for my babies. I just want to see them all do well and thrive in life.” And so, now in a different but wonderful and rewarding way, Tina Riley Johnson — books in hand — is going forth to serve her babies. But they better not even think about skipping the butter beans for the ice cream.
Tina Johnson. (Photo by Jamison Mosley)
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This side of
SEVEN – By Jason Pederson
OBSESSION
n Dec. 31, 1967, at the age of 29, Evel Knievel’s body was broken and battered when his motorcycle jump over the fountains at Caesars Palace ended in a crash landing. Knievel credited his helmet with saving his life. On Sept. 23, 2020, at the age of 59, Lawrence Sorenson’s body was in even worse shape. His colon ruptured, and cancer was discovered in both his colon and liver. Sorenson credits his surgeon, Dr. Scott Marotti, with saving his life. Well, Dr. Marotti and a whole lot of prayer. “I had people praying for me all over the country,” recalls Sorenson as he sits in his southwest Little Rock bicycle repair shop. You know that cluttered desk, office, or garage that looks like a tornado hit it, but you know exactly where everything is? That is Sorenson’s shop — 6,500 square feet of organized chaos. It was not Knievel’s faith that made him Sorenson’s idol. In fact, Knievel didn’t profess a belief in Christ until the last year of his life. He was baptized by Pastor Robert Schuler on April 1, 2007, and died eight months later. Actor Matthew McConaughey delivered the eulogy at Knievel’s funeral: “He lived full throttle. We’re celebrating an American hero who talked the talk and walked the walk. Who rode the bike and made it fly.” Both Sorenson and Knievel grew up poor. Both put a high value on the importance of keeping your word. And both made a living in the entertainment industry; Knievel serving up death-defying jumps and stunts aboard his motorcycle, and Sorenson serving up cotton candy and snow cones aboard his food trailers. “My parents were in the carnival indus-
Lawrence Sorenson try,” Sorenson recalls. “We left the East Coast for a warmer climate and landed in Little Rock in 1969 when I was 9. Our family has had a presence at the Arkansas State Fair for 50 years.” Sorenson also has booths at DickeyStephens Park and War Memorial Stadium. And his two sons have joined the family business, operating trucks that sell funnel cakes, lemonade, corn dogs and soft-serve ice cream. “They both had to get real jobs last year because of COVID,” chuckles their mom and Sorenson’s wife, Linda. Sorenson was a young teen when Knievel was jumping stacks of cars and lines of buses aboard his Harley Davidson XR-750. A special bike was used for Knievel’s 1974 attempt to jump Snake River Canyon. At one point, seven of the highest-rated ABC’s Wide World of Sports broadcasts were Knievel jumps.
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Sorenson had a much smaller audience when he was popping wheelies or standing on the seat of his Honda Hawk 400 motorcycle going 40 miles per hour down the streets of Little Rock. But he did it for the same reason Knievel did it — to sweat in his boots a little. But what really caused Sorenson to sweat in his boots as a young man were women. One woman in particular. “I worked at Barton Coliseum with my mother as a ticket taker, and year after year, I would see and visit with Lawrence, who was working with his parents,” Linda recalls. “I would get 15-minute breaks and beeline over to his food truck. I knew we liked each other, but he just wouldn’t ask me out.” After eight years of this, Linda’s mother grew tired of her complaining and told her to ask Sorenson out. So, she did — to an upcoming concert at Barton featuring Ricky Van Shelton and Alabama. Three months
later, Sorenson used the money he had been saving for a new motorcycle to put a ring on her finger. The couple recently celebrated 31 years of marriage. “Linda has always been in charge,” Sorenson quips, only half-joking. And it is Linda who gets the credit (or the blame) for getting Lawrence hooked on Evel Knievel memorabilia. Sorenson was at a carnival convention in Las Vegas when he saw an Evel Knievel photo collage for sale. He wanted it, but came home emptyhanded. He shared his regret with Linda, who tracked it down and bought it for him. It was the start of his “Evel” obsession. “I’m not the only sick one,” Sorenson points out. And he’s right. There is an “Everything Evel” Facebook group that has nearly 12,000 members. Many of those members prayed for Sorenson during his hospitalization and continue to lift him up during the chemotherapy that he endures twice a month. There is also an Evel Knievel Museum in Topeka, Kansas. It’s home to motorcycles Knievel rode, along with helmets, leather jumpsuits and capes that he wore. Several of the pieces in the museum can also be found in Sorenson’s collection: a pinball machine, bicycles and tricycles, toys and posters. He has the bicycle my brother rode in the mid-’70s. I’m still jealous. Sorenson has hundreds of Knievel collectibles. Some have great financial value. The value of other items is more sentimental. He currently has about 40 Evel Knievel bicycles. His goal is to acquire 100. While Lawrence only buys, he fully expects his wife and sons to start selling after he is gone. “I don’t have a 401(k) or retirement fund,” Sorenson admits. “The collection and shop will be left to Linda and the boys (Lawrence Jr. and Chris). They don’t share my passion for Evel. I hope each will pick out one or two choice pieces as a memento to remember me by and find new homes for everything else.” Not that Sorenson is planning on checking out anytime soon. When it comes to his cancer battle, he may not be as fearless as his idol, but he is optimistic. “I just know I’m going to beat it,” Sorenson says. Even during his chemo weeks, Sorenson finds his way to the shop. It’s his landing zone — the place he feels most at peace. He loves it when unfamiliar faces reveal that they are customers from long ago. Many people who got their first bike from Sorenson return to buy bikes for their kids. The business will celebrate 50 years in 2023. “I used to sell the really expensive bikes, but years ago I made a business decision to focus on selling and servicing bicycles that cost $350 and below,” Sorenson says. “I leave the high-end bikes to the other shops. Somebody has got to work on all the bikes sold at Walmart, and we don’t mind working hard for our money down here.” After Knievel survived his failed landing at Caesars Palace, he became an advocate for motorcycle helmet usage. Cancer has stirred some advocacy in Sorenson too. “Watch your health,” he says. “I had been living with abdominal discomfort for several months. It was divine intervention that I went to the ER on the day my colon burst. God spit the words, ‘Take me to the ER’ out of my mouth. My inclination has always been to tough it out. Had I stayed at home, I would have died in my bed within 12 hours. Listen to your body, and take care of yourself.” In the end, Sorenson knows that none of us — not even a man who seemed as indestructible as Evel Knievel — escapes death. Lung disease took Knievel at 69. But until the sands in his hourglass run out, Sorenson plans to live a life of integrity, loyalty, imperfection and faith. Much like Knievel. “He is forever in flight now,” McConaughey said, concluding Knievel’s eulogy. “And you know what? He doesn’t have to come back down. He doesn’t have to land. He doesn’t have to. He’s in that spirit of grace for the rest of time. In flight.”
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For two decades, Jason Pederson served as KATV-Channel 7’s “Seven On Your Side” reporter. Now on the other “side” of his award-winning time on the news, he leads the Office of the Ombudsman for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. His perspective-filled and thought-provoking column, “This Side of Seven,” publishes exclusively in AY About You magazine monthly.
JASON PEDERSON
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NURSING & REHABILITATION LIVING PROFILE
Briarwood 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!
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THE PEOPLE BEHIND YOUR NEWS:
Steve SULLIVAN By Dwain Hebda • Photos by Jamison Mosley
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Steve Sullivan.
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sk any prominent person for the recipe for his or her success, and you’ll likely hear it is attributed to more or less three things — hard work, good relationships and more than a dash of good luck. It’s a formula Hall of Fame sportscaster Steve Sullivan knows well. “The best toolbox for me was the people I worked with,” he says. “I never felt like I was the best guy on the set. I had some great mentors, true professionals, and I got to see how they worked. I think the more you’re around good people like that, you take things from them and that helps you. “I had a couple chances to leave, but things worked out here where I could stay. It was never solely about money; the longer you’re in an area the more ties you get. I’ve basically had my entire professional life here, and I like what I’m doing. I didn’t think going to other stations would really be a more fun job. I have no regrets.” As for the lucky part, two episodes from Sullivan’s professional life stand out as fateful. The first brought him to Arkansas, to begin with, under the unlikeliest of circumstances. “A buddy of mine was a trainer at a dog track,” he recalls. “A dog got its muzzle off and got in a fight with another dog, and they were going to get rid of him. To make a long story short, my buddy said he was going to buy it and asked, ‘Do you want to go in half on a greyhound?’ So, I take my college money, and I spend it on a dog named Keentwister.” This encumbrance forced Sullivan to find an affordable college with a broadcasting program that was close to a dog track. Upon discovering Jonesboro was a mere 60 miles from Southland Park Gaming and Racing, now Southland Casino Racing, in West Memphis, he was off for the Natural State. “So sight unseen, because I couldn’t afford for my parents to come down with me, I got myself to school, and it was like a new world,” says Sullivan, a native of Framingham, Massachusetts, who grew up a fanatic of everything Boston sports. “It just started there.” Sullivan’s second stroke of luck came in his first job after graduating from Arkansas State University. Landing a typical rookie gig at a radio and TV station in Fort Smith, his was the FM news and sports report from 4 a.m. to noon. But all that would change, thanks to a big break that should have landed him on the street. “I did news updates on an 8-track tape where you could put on five newscasts at once,” he says. “But if you messed up when you recorded it, you had to do the whole thing over. “Now I seldom swear, but I did a newscast one day, and I did all the news updates, and the fifth one I messed up. And I said the F-word over and over. I went back to retape, and the guy following me said, ‘No, I’ll play the first four and do the last one live. It won’t get on.’ “I got a call the next day; apparently at 4 in the afternoon, the whole thing played on air. He had forgotten about it.” Sullivan was summoned to an audience with the station owner, fully expecting to be canned. He couldn’t have imagined what
would come next. “I was fortunate enough to have an owner who thought differently,” he says. “If I had another guy that wasn’t like him, I probably would’ve gotten fired. He pretty much got the point across that the mic is always live.” “He basically said, ‘40 people called in; 39 were just appalled, one person actually liked it, but no one mentioned your name,’” Sullivan chuckles. “He liked me, so he moved me to TV on weekends.” It’s as tempting as it is cliché to draw a heavy line from Sullivan’s good fortune back to his heritage, but if anyone could exude the so-called Luck of the Irish, it’s only fitting to be he, the son of Emerald Isle immigrants. “In Ireland, they didn’t play a lot of sports, but Dad was a sports fan,” Sullivan says. “There are six of us kids in the family, and the only one who was eaten up with sports was me. I can remember covering the TV with a towel and entertaining everyone by calling plays. I learned a lot of skills that do you no good later in life, like learning batting averages while my brother learned how to rebuild houses. “My dad, Mike, worked in a factory all his life, and he said you need to do something you like. He decided I was going to be the next play-by-play guy for the Red Sox.” Sullivan’s love for televised sports led him to play throughout his growing up, although it was clear early on which side of the mic would his sports career play out. And play out it did; from his gaffe at radio station KFBW, he moved to KHBSTV while also doing high school gigs on the side. “One of the only play-by-play jobs I was doing at that time was for Fort Smith Christian High School,” Sullivan says. “Their star player was Gus Malzahn; he was a basketball and football star. Then, I did Fort Smith Northside in football and worked with some great people over there as well.” Sullivan’s move to Little Rock came thanks to Bob Steel, who hired him to KARK-Channel 4 where he’d spend 12 fruitful years. He then moved to KATV-Channel 7, working at the elbow of legendary broadcaster and longtime Hogs play-by-play caller, the late Paul Eells. “Paul never rushed anything; even if we had a late afternoon interview, he’d do it unrushed. He had no clock,” Sullivan says. “He never worried about a bad show; the reality is, people aren’t hanging on every word, and he prioritized the right things. “Some people aren’t the same person they are on the air. When I was at Channel 4, he was at Channel 7 and he’d always end saying, ‘Everybody have a great, safe rest of the night.’ I’d think, 'Does he really mean that or is he just saying that?’ When I got to working with him, I found him to be completely sincere. He really was one of a kind.” Today, Sullivan looks back on those days as some of the most formative and important to him personally and professionally. Not just because of Eells, although that’s certainly primary, but for all of the people he worked with and who influenced him. “Your goals change the longer you’ve been in the business,” he says. “Relationships in TV are far more important to me than they
Your goals change the longer you’ve been in the business. Relationships in TV are far more important to me than they were years ago.
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were years ago.” Of course, you don’t stay 30 years in a field as competitive as television unless you’re pretty good yourself, and “Sully,” as he is known to thousands of viewers and colleagues, has proven just that. He's been recognized with multiple Arkansas Sportscaster of the Year awards and decorated for Best Sportscast by the Associated Press more than a dozen times while at KATV. He also holds the Arkansas Activities Association Distinguished Media Member Award and has been inducted into the Arkansas Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame. And, as any true veteran does, he’s got hours of stories about his time interacting with the state’s sports heroes and legendary coaches. “I tell you who had kind of an aura about him — The Sullivan family. (Courtesy) Coach [Frank] Broyles was kind of an intimidating figure,” he says. “He was great to me and to work with, but if you were in the room with him, he had that aura, and you didn’t want to screw up. “Houston Nutt was great; Bielema wasn’t a great coach, but he was entertaining. On the flip side, Bobby Petrino was a disaster; he did not want to talk to you, and he made it clear he saw no use for you.” Sullivan saves his highest praise for another famous Razorbacks coach whose legacy and image is often misunderstood. “The all-time best was Nolan Richardson. He was so good,” Sullivan says. “At Channel 7, we had so much great stuff with him, he was open to everything. It was an era where broadcasters and coaches had such a good relationship. He was the last coach where you’d mic him up for the entire locker room, and he didn’t care, he trusted the TV station. I don’t think you'll see that relationship again. And there will never be another Nolan Richardson. he says. “If you have the right coaches and facilities, you can put “It ended ugly, yes, and did he have a chip on his shoulder? I together a year like this. Baseball, Dave Van Horn, I have no conthink he had a mountain on his shoulder. But if you saw him on a cerns. Basketball, Eric Musselman seems to be the right guy, with daily basis, you’d have a great appreciation for him as a man, not the transfers. This guy’s been doing it since he was at Nevada. He just as a coach.” is so far ahead. [Women’s basketball coach] Mike Neighbors told For all of his success, one goal has eluded him — the play-byme you don’t want to be the one guy in the room that’s not winning play seat for the Razorbacks. He said he would have loved to have because you stick out. He’s another one that’s so good.” followed Eells into that chair after the former’s untimely death in 2006, but it wasn’t to be. Instead, he’s served in the booth for “[Head football coach Sam] Pittman stunned me; the Razormultiple schools, most notably the University of Central Arkansas backs are far better than I thought we’d be. So, he’s the right guy at (UCA) football team. the right time, and I’m excited about this upcoming football season.” “Of course, if you’re in Arkansas, you want to be the voice of It’s been a long time since Steve Sullivan has had to take his cue the Razorbacks,” he says. “I think I would’ve done a good job, but from others in his career; three decades have cemented him among I don’t have the traditional voice. I don’t think I was considered for the elder statesmen of the craft. Yet he still never fails to give credit that [job], although I got to do a couple of radio games. When Paul to the people around him, especially his wife, Toni, and grown was doing football, I’d do basketball. daughters, Kayla and Keely, who’ve put up with the missed week“Everybody has different likes for their play-by-play guy. Perends and holidays that built his career. And, he’s never far from a sonally, I think passion and being on the action, giving all the dereminder of the man who set the tone for his lifelong journey. tails is more important than having a classic voice. It turned out “I think if my dad didn’t say I’d be the next voice of the Red Sox, well for me with UCA.” I wouldn’t be doing this,” he says. “He worked in a factory all his Today, Sullivan is like any of his peers in TV sports in Arkanlife, and it was a rotten job. He died at 60, he died young. sas, enjoying the Hogs’ recent success nearly across the board and “He got to see me do one show on a Friday night, and he looking forward to what lies ahead for the school, competing in the couldn’t believe someone could have so much fun doing their job. nation's toughest conference. “We’ve got a great situation now with the coaches up there,” In this business, it just takes one person to believe in you.”
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• SHORT-TERM REHABILITATION • LONG-TERM CARE • RESPITE SERVICES
Russellville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is nestled in the heart of the River Valley in Russellville, Arkansas. Our staff provides skilled professional care in a compassionate and supportive atmosphere. Russellville Nursing & Rehabilitation Center not only provides long-term care services, we also offer a wide range of rehabilitative services. Our physicians, nurses and staff all believe strong relationships with residents and their families is essential to the healing process. The entire staff is devoted to providing quality care, which celebrates the dignity and grace of every single resident.
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Our rehabilitation gym offers state-of-the art rehab and features interactive equipment to enable our licensed therapists to create a comprehensive therapy program designed to get our residents back to their prior functional level, regain their self-reliance and facilitate a return to home as quickly as possible.
625 Tommy Lewis Drive • Conway, AR• 501-585-6800 • superiorhrc.com
Sam Pittman.
KJ Jefferson.
WAR PIGS: Odds Stacked Against Them Again, but the Fighting Razorbacks Have Returned By Mark Carter Photos courtesy UA Athletics
Bumper Pool.
Myron Cunningham.
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T
he 19th-century transcendentalist and accidental libertarian Henry David Thoreau noted, presumably on a long walk, that perception trumps reality. What one looks at, he reasoned, matters less than what one sees. And college football fans in the 21st century “see” Arkansas as a bottom-dweller in the Southeastern Conference. The casual fan can look at the Razorbacks’ challenging assignment to the vaunted SEC West, the NFC South of the Power 5; can consider that the Hogs seemingly own the nation’s toughest schedule on an annual basis; can note how Arkansas has been to the SEC championship game three times; and can even recall that the Hogs turned in back-to-back top 10 seasons under Bobby Petrino just a decade ago. But the casual fan sees that Arkansas, once a regular at the relevant table, is struggling and now fights for scraps under that very table with also-rans, wannabes and never-wills. That’s the perception. The reality, plain for those who bother to consider the nuances of the picture before them (and they are few), is that Arkansas likely would have challenged for a Power 5 division title or two outside the SEC in last year’s COVID-influenced 3-7 campaign, its first under Sam Pittman. More reality? In 2020, the Hogs were robbed, in the literal sense of the word, of a win at Auburn and dropped two more games on last-second field goals. (Reality for Hog fans, of
course, consisting of the reliable-as-death-andtaxes gut punch. The most recent coming from the diamond this past June.) And the league office book-ending the Hogs’ 2020 slate with Georgia and Alabama as the extra two league games was either a sick joke or, at best, another example of its general apathy regarding all things cardinal. Sometimes perception and reality coalesce, of course. Anyone considering Arkansas football’s 2017-19 run, worst in program history, would recognize a mess. And the Arkansas tradition of playing “what if ” won’t erase recent history or change the record books. The perception heading into 2021 is that the Hogs are a sixth- or seventh-place finisher in the West, despite the expectation of further improvement under Pittman and his staff. After all, other teams can get better, too. And the reality that looms just ahead as the Hogs open fall camp in early August promises another season saddled with the nation’s toughest schedule. But cautious optimism is warranted for more than just the Kool-Aid drinkers. The Hogs “won” four SEC games last year and were two kicks and a betrayal away from finishing 6-4 against an all-SEC schedule that included six teams ranked Nos. 1, 4, 6, 8, 13 and 16 at kickoff. And Arkansas was competitive in all but two games. The SEC relearned in 2020 that Razorbacks — the Morris and latter-day Bielema eras notwithstanding — will fight, win or lose. A
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winning culture, at least, has been restored, even if the Hogs are nowhere near competing for SEC titles just yet. But under Pittman, the outof-left-field hire many outside the state were ridiculing a year ago, a full squad of Fighting Razorbacks, indeed, of War Pigs, is back. Also back are 20 starters from 2020.
*************** It’s pretty close to common knowledge by now that the Hogs’ 2021 fortunes rest to a large degree on the shoulders of redshirt sophomore quarterback KJ Jefferson. The 6-3, 240-pounder is built in the Cam Newton mold, and his performance at Missouri last fall recalled some of Newton’s collegiate exploits at Auburn. Jefferson, starting for the injured Feleipe Franks, completed 18-of-33 passes for 274 yards and three scores, including the 14-yarder to Mike Woods and subsequent 2-point conversion that gave the Hogs a 48-47 lead with 43 seconds left to play. (That Pittman opted to play for the win there is all the evidence one needs that he’s the right man for the job.) He also ran for 32 yards and another score. With talented redshirt freshman Malik Hornsby waiting in the wings but raw, not to mention early enrollee Lucas Coley, Jefferson is the captain. Against Missouri — and the Tigers’ defense actually wasn’t that bad so recently removed from Odom’s influence — Jefferson and the offense clicked to the tune of almost 600 yards. OC Kendall Briles had Missouri guessing, and aymag.com
more so than any other game in 2020, his offense looked like it had the personnel to execute his playbook. Jefferson is entering his third year removed from high school and second in Briles’ system. Physically, he looks the part. The Hogs’ success this season could ride on his readiness to take the next step. Despite the unexpected last-minute transfer of Woods, Jefferson will work with an underthe-radar good corps of receivers led by allAmerica junior Treylon Burks, Razorback football’s next big thing. Burks quite simply is the Hogs’ best receiver since Jarius Wright, another Warren product, who played eight seasons in the NFL with the Vikings and Panthers. In a 10-game season, Burks hauled in 51 passes for 820 yards and seven scores. That’s an average of more than 16 yards per catch. He also ran 15 times for 75 yards. De’Vion Warren, a big-play machine but injury-prone, is back, as is Trey Knox, the 6-5 junior with through-the-roof potential. Woods’ departure could represent an opening for him, or perhaps for newcomers such as speedy Oklahoma transfer Jaquayln Crawford or highly touted true freshman Ketron Jackson. And pass-catching tight ends Hudson Henry and Blake Kern, the latter a COVID senior and former walk-on, will give Jefferson options. Power-plug junior Trelon Smith returns after taking over as the primary running back midway through the 2020 season. The former Arizona State Sun Devil finished with 710 yards and five scores despite limited play early. Smith is a gamer, elusive at 5-9 but powerful enough to run through arm tackles. Highly touted freshmen A.J. Green, Javion Hunt and Raheim Sanders help give the Hogs a deep pool of talent inside the RB room. And a potential pleasant surprise is 240-pound freshman battering ram Dominique Johnson. Expect a lot more RPO from the Hogs in ’21. Of course, the skill players will only go so far as the offensive line will let them. It’s no secret that the line hasn’t been a strength since Pittman’s time as OL coach in Fayetteville under Bielema. Program insiders say the biggest jump on the team will be seen here, despite the spring loss of OL coach Brad Davis to hometown LSU. This is still a Pittman team, after all. On day one in Fayetteville as head Hog, he began transforming the trench men into something resembling an SEC front after Morris’ “left lane, hammer down” experiment turned Hogs into shoats, a collection of glorified fullbacks. Virtually everyone is back on a unit that got better as the season progressed, and Pittman’s reputation as an OL whisperer is paying off. Highly regarded newcomers Ty’kieast Crawford, Jalen St. John and Marcus Henderson will push for PT, while returning starters such as tackle Myron Cunningham
and center Ricky Stromberg are candidates for post-season recognition. By the eye test alone, strength coach Jamil Walker is crafting the OL into something like the monsters Pittman coached in Fayetteville during his first run on the Hill and then at Georgia. Meanwhile, the Razorback defense was razor-thin again last year. But first-year coordinator Barry Odom, the former Missouri head coach, mustered a Broyles Award-worthy effort from a unit that finished dead last in the SEC, and comfortably so, in 2019. But under Odom’s guidance, the Hogs improved to 10th in the SEC in total defense in 2020, giving up a yard less per play and essentially defeating the Mississippi schools on defense alone. In those wins, the defense bewildered, adapted and more importantly, swarmed. Three things that seemingly weren’t a priority of the previous staff. An inevitable late fade, resulting from depth issues but compounded by key untimely injuries and COVID wiping out roughly the entire D-line for the LSU game, pulled some of the shine off the Hogs’ 2020 defensive performance. But the Hogs had some bite on D. Restoring the full two-deep on defense remains a work in progress, especially at linebacker, but the Hogs should again pack some of that bite with more numbers to spell several starters who essentially never left the field last season. Savvy senior linebackers Grant Morgan and Bumper Pool return — Morgan a sixthyear COVID senior — and on their mantle are the 212 tackles recorded between them in 2020. New LB coach Michael Scherer, an Odom protégé, just needs help behind them. Opportunities abound, especially for talented incoming freshman Chris Paul. For much of last season, the Hogs employed a 3-2-6 alignment, and we may see more of that in ’21. The D-line returns many contributors but not a pass-rushing ace among them. Of course, it’s hard to generate much of a rush with a three-man front and virtually no blitzing, an approach warranted by the game’s evolution to fast-paced attacks and the Hogs’ personnel issues. It looks like Odom will stick with a threeman front again to start 2021. Regulars Dorian Gerald, injury-prone and from whom much has been anticipated; Eric Gregory, Marcus Miller, Isaiah Nichols and Taurean Carter are back and will be bolstered by a trio of transfer newcomers — the highly touted John Ridgeway from Illinois State, Markell Utsey from Missouri and the massive run-plugger Jalen Williams from JUCO. Once Odom eventually takes another D-1 head coaching job, and he will, don’t be surprised to see secondary coach Sam Carter considered as his replacement. The players reportedly love him, and under his tutelage, his position group is becoming formidable, perhaps even ready to
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Trelon Smith.
take on more man and press coverage this fall. Jalen Catalon returns at safety to build on his freshman all-America season, and his mere presence on the field impacts game plans. His ejection for a bogus targeting call against LSU enabled the marshland mousers to pull out a game the Hogs should’ve won. Catalon is in the Atwater/Hamlin/Kennedy mold, and the Arkansas D finally resembles units of old with a mobile sledgehammer roaming the back forty and providing punishing run support. (Arkansas has recruited talent, even in the lean years, but Catalon probably is one of two current Hogs, along with Burks, who would be a for-sure starter at Alabama.) Also back are an entire room of old reliables that Hog fans know well by now — Joe Foucha, Montaric Brown, Greg Brooks, LaDarrius Bishop. And Myles Slusher, Simeon Blair, Khari Johnson, Malik Chavis and Hudson Clark, he of the Ole Miss three-pick fame, provide competitive depth when not starting themselves. (And yes, that includes Clark. He may not be a lockdown corner, but he’s a ball hawk and a gamer and valuable in certain packages.) Plus, the Hogs welcome to the secondary promising newcomers in Penn State transfer Trent Gordon, true freshman Jayden Johnson, plus early enrollee and likely future star Jermaine Hamilton-Jordan.
True optimism, cautious but sincere, hovers over the program for the first time in a while. ***************
THESE HOGS ARE HOOONGRY!
Treylon Burks.
WOO PIG
Ricky Stromberg.
Special teams remain a work in progress, a cut-and-paste phrase for season previews of late. The Hogs improved last year, for sure, but there was nowhere to go but up. Hog fans continue to wait for the notable results that special teams coach Scott Fountain, a Pittman confidante, provided at other SEC stops, including Auburn and Georgia. Fountain couldn’t afford to stick many starters on special teams last year because of overall depth issues, but more progress is expected this year. The return game was almost nonexistent all season, and blocked punts continued to haunt the Hogs early in the year. But things settled as the season progressed, and Reid Bauer developed into an effective punter. If Burks and Warren are available as return men, don’t be surprised to see at least one taken back. The Hogs bring in true freshman kicking sensation Cameron Little, a rarity as a scholarship kicker, from whom much is expected. He’ll battle Matthew Phillips for kicking duties. Can Hog fans be comfortable this season lining up for a last-second kick for the win? Time will tell. *************** The national general consensus for the Hogs in ’21 seems to be 5-7 with a couple of SEC wins — maybe 6-6 and 3-5 with an upset. Close to guaranteed non-con wins over Rice, UAPB and Georgia Southern (although the
latter might pose a test coming on the heels off an emotional game with Texas). Probable losses to Bama, Georgia (what do you know? Bama and Georgia, again), LSU (I think we beat ’em) and some might say A&M. The rest, right now, look like probable toss-ups. But mark it down: the Hogs will deliver at least two unexpected, marquee wins, starting with Texas, it of the hideous burnt orange Barad-dûr in Austin. That long-awaited return game, scheduled for ESPN primetime the night of Sept. 11, is a bellwether for Arkansas’ season. Win it, and it could be “Katie bar the door” for a squad as hungry as any in program history. (On the flip side, don’t be surprised to see Marc Curles assigned to Fayetteville that weekend and a late review costing us another one.) Still, the Arkansas program sits in the “buy” column. True optimism, cautious but sincere, hovers over the program for the first time in a while. These Hogs are “hooongry,” as the lady on the radio used to say, maybe even hangry after TCU’s lame, last-minute bailout from the Texas Bowl last December. (We should still get credit for a bowl appearance and a forfeit win, if you ask me.) That leaves the deceiving blowout loss to Bama as the team’s last taste of 2020. The Hogs, coming off the heart-wrenching loss at Missouri, were without an injured Franks, and
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the thin defense, which had battled all year like Dain’s Iron Hills dwarves atop war pigs in the shadow of Erebor, was quite simply out of gas. (Note to UA brass: you have my permission to use that footage from the movie with Sam’s face photoshopped on Dain as Sabbath’s “War Pigs” blares just before the band starts Arkansas Fight, and the players run through the A.) Pregame choreography and excuses notwithstanding, there’s a quiet, confident intensity emanating from the Hill. It’ll be fun to see what that translates to on the field. And assuming we don’t end up with a COVID lockdown 2.0, it’ll be pretty nice to welcome back college football in its natural, intended state replete with campuses buzzing, bands marching and stadiums full and loud. (A&M and Florida can go back to OVERinflating attendance numbers …) Two factors to consider, and they’re significant ones: Pittman finally got to have a spring camp at Arkansas after COVID forced a shutdown before the Hogs could even start spring ball last year, and he’s no longer a first-time D1 head coach sidestepping his way through a pandemic. Whatever the perception, the reality is this: The culture is changed, and the War Pigs are in formation. aymag.com
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offers skilled professional care in a supportive and compassionate atmosphere.
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Best of
2018
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501.753.9003 •• 519 519 Donovan Donovan Briley Briley Boulevard, Boulevard, NLR NLR •• www.robinsonnr.com www.robinsonnr.com 501.753.9003
2021
Blake G. Scheer, MD Little Rock Allergy & Asthma Clinic
Jevin Smith, MD Conway Regional Health System
Collie Shaw, MD Central Arkansas ENT Clinic
Brent Walker, MD OrthoArkansas BARIATRIC PHYSICIAN
Eddie Shields, MD Arkansas Allergy & Asthma Clinic Karl Sitz, MD, FACP, FAAAI Little Rock Allergy and Asthma Clinic Lindsey Still, MD Arkansas Allergy & Asthma Clinic ANESTHESIOLOGY
Central ARKANSAS
The professionals of the vast landscape of health care are responsible for so much of what goes into our quality of life today. Whether it be a routine annual check-up, an appointment while we are under the weather or assistance with a chronic condition, our health care professionals are to thank for keeping us on our feet. To provide the much-deserved recognition for a superior quality of service, AY About You is proud to present our 2021 Best Health Care Professionals, which is derived from the thousands of votes cast by you — our readers and their patients. The sections and professionals within them are listed in alphabetical order.
ALLERGY & IMMUNOLOGY Kelly Burks, MD Arkansas Allergy & Asthma Clinic Sheva Chervinskiy, DO UAMS Health Meredith Dilley, MD, MPH Arkansas Otolaryngology Center Gene France, MD Little Rock Allergy & Asthma Clinic Melissa Graham, MD Advanced Allergy & Asthma Jim Mark Ingram, MD Little Rock Allergy & Asthma Clinic Brian D. Jackson, MD Jackson Allergy and Asthma Clinic Teresa Jeffers, MD Four Seasons Allergy and Asthma Clinic Stacie Jones, MD Arkansas Children’s Hospital Lori Michelle Kagy, MD Arkansas Allergy & Asthma Clinic Josh Kennedy, MD Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Samuel Bledsoe, MD Arkansas Heart Hospital J.D. Fuller, MD Arkansas Heart Hospital Anthony Manning, MD, FACS Conway Regional Health System
Carol Angel, MD Conway Anesthesiology Consultants
Eric Paul, MD Baptist Health
Jonathan Aronson, MD UAMS Health
Lewis Porter, MD Saline Health System
Brent Blakely, MD Anesthesiology and Pain Management Associates
James “JJ” Tucker, MD Arkansas Heart Hospital
Vernon Brewer, MD Unity Health
Gary Villines, MD CHI St. Vincent BREAST CANCER SURGERY
W. Brooks Gentry, MD UAMS Health Mark Brown, MD Anesthesiology and Pain Management Associates Donald Crabtree, DO Advanced Spine and Pain Centers Timothy Diles, MD Pinnacle Anesthesia Consultants Ahmed Ghaleb, MD Advanced Spine and Pain Centers Johnathan Goree, MD UAMS Health William Hogan, MD Baptist Health Harjot Hunjan, MD Arkansas Health Group Anesthesia Robert Humphreys, MD National Park Medical Center Lydia Hunjan, MD Arkansas Health Group Anesthesia Angela Robinette Lovett, MD Anesthesia Specialists of Arkansas Carlos Roman, MD Proper Pain Solutions Majid Saleem, MD Advanced Spine and Pain Centers Nadir Sharawi, MD UAMS Health
Dana Abraham, MD, FACS Abraham Breast Clinic Jerri S. Fant, MD, FACS CARTI James E. Hagans III, MD Baptist Health Surgical Clinic of Central Arkansas Ronda Henry-Tillman, MD UAMS Health V. Suzanne Klimberg, MD UAMS Health Daniela Ochoa, MD UAMS Health Sirinya Prasertvit, MD, FACS CHI St. Vincent Yara Robertson, MD, FACS CARTI Michael Spann, MD Little Rock Plastic Surgery CARDIOLOGIST/CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE Michael Bauer, MD CHI St. Vincent Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic Leon Blue, MD Unity Health Cardiology Clinic Renee Bornemeier, MD Arkansas Children’s Hospital/UAMS Health
Timothy Bowen, MD National Park Medical Center John Robert Busby, MD Baptist Health Gary Collins, MD, FACC, FACP Arkansas Cardiology
Dennis Woodhall, MD Conway Regional Health System CHIROPRACTOR Darren Beavers, DC Dr. Darren Beavers, PA Chris Blackmon, DC Blackmon Chiropractic Clinic
Thomas Conley, MD, FACC, FSCAI Baptist Health
Amanda Bledsoe, DC Bledsoe Chiropractic
Scott Davis, MD, FACC Arkansas Cardiology
Courtney Carmack, DC Hope Family Chiropractic
Jay Geoghagen, MD, FACC Arkansas Cardiology
Beverly Foster, DC Chiropractic Health & Rehabilitation
Joe Hargrove, MD, FACC CHI St. Vincent Heart Clinic
Ben Pittman, DC Back to Life Health Center
Prabhat Hebbar, MD CHI St Vincent Heart Clinic
Kyler Pomeroy, DC Root’s Chiropractic
David Jones, MD, FACC Baptist Health
Richard L. Riley, DC Little Rock Chiropractic Clinic
Carl Leding, MD Arkansas Heart Hospital
Dwight Stewart, DC Pain Care Associates CLINICAL BREAST RADIOLOGIST
Vasili Lendel, MD Arkansas Heart Hospital Frederick Meadors, MD CHI St. Vincent Heart Clinic J. Paul Mounsey, MD, PhD UAMS Health Tena Murphy, MD CHI St. Vincent Heart Clinic Gary Nash, MD Arkansas Heart Hospital Blake Norris, MD, FACC Arkansas Cardiology Alexander Orsini, MD, FACC Baptist Health Paulo Ribeiro, MD Arkansas Heart Hospital Eric Robinson, MD Unity Health Cardiology Clinic
W. Conan Mustain, MD UAMS Health
Lee Wyant, DDS Smile Arkansas
Angela K. Nutt, MD GastroArkansas
Suzanne Yee, MD Cosmetic & Laser Surgery Center
Lewis Porter, MD Saline Health System
DENTISTRY
Lee Raley, MD, FACS, FACSCRS CHI St. Vincent Colorectal Surgery Clinic Patrick Szeto, MD, FACS, FASCRS CHI St. Vincent Colorectal Surgery Clinic COSMETIC DENTIST
Anita Aebersold, DDS Arkansas Dental Centers Sarah Atkins, DDS Conway Family Dental Bryan Austin, DDS Austin Family Dental Drew Bannerman, DDS Bannerman Family Dentistry Wes Buchman, DDS Buchman Family Dental
Rhys Branman, MD Cosmetic Surgery Center
Christopher Chandler, DDS Chandler Family Dentistry
Jordan Cooper, DDS Cooper Family Dentistry
John Cloud, DDS Cloud & Hill Dental Care
Michael Cooper, DDS Michael Cooper Dentistry
Dale Colclasure, DDS Crestwood Dental Care
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
DJ Dailey, DDS Smile Dailey
Lewis Cox, DDS Hamilton West Dental
Cornerstone Pharmacy at Chenal
Michael Devlin, MD Devlin Cosmetic Surgery
Brad Cruse, DMD Little Rock Dentistry
Custom Compounding Center
Leslie Dickinson, DDS Dickinson Dental
DJ Dailey, DDS Smile Dailey
Jim English, MD English Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery Center
Drake Hawkins, DDS Hawkins Rainwater Dental Group
Stacy Smith-Foley, MD CARTI
Kavanagh Pharmacy The Pharmacy at Wellington COLON AND RECTAL Lance Burns, MD, FACS, FASCRS CHI St. Vincent Colorectal Surgery Clinic Angelo G. Coppola, MD Premier Gastroenterology Otis Gordon, MD CHI St. Vincent Gastroenterology Clinic Kevin Heath, MD GastroArkansas
Donald Steely, MD Conway Regional Health System
Steven Jones, MD Premier Gastroenterology
Jeffrey Stewart, MD Central Arkansas Cardiology Associates
Brenda Ketcher, MD South Central GI
Wilson Wong, MD Arkansas Heart Hospital
Byron Wilkes, MD McFarland Eye Care
Gregg Alford, DMD Dr. Gregg Alford Laser, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry
Ernesto Ruiz-Rodriguez, MD, FACC Arkansas Cardiology
Thomas Wallace, MD CHI St. Vincent Heart Clinic
Karl Landberg, MD Conway Regional Health System
Whitfield Lewis Knapple, MD Arkansas Gastroenterology Dean Kumpuris, MD CHI St. Vincent Gastroenterology Clinic
Jeff Garner, DDS The Smile Doctor
Montgomery Heathman, DDS Heathman Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
Jennifer Hall Hill, DDS Austin Family Dentistry
Nathaniel Hill, DDS Cloud & Hill Dental Care
Montgomery Heathman, DDS Heathman Family Dentistry
Scott Hill, DDS HMS Dental
Leif Lorenz, DDS Lorenz Dentistry
Christopher Houk, DDS The Heights Dental Clinic
Barry Quick, DDS Orthodontic Associates
Denesh Khullar, DDS, FICOI, FAGD Dentalways
David Rainwater, DDS Hawkins Rainwater Dental Group
Leif Lorenz, DDS Lorenz Dentistry
Samuel M. Strong, DDS Dentalways
Randy Machen, DDS Little Rock Family Dental Care
Daron C. Praetzel, DMD Arkansas Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons
Chad Matone, DDS Arkansas Dental Centers
Courtney Gray, DO Baptist Health
Daniel Felton, MD Little Rock Family Practice
Johnny Jones, MD Premier Gastroenterology
Leslie Monroe, DDS, FAGD Dental Solutions of Little Rock
Wade Gregory, MD Conway Regional Health System
Barry Ford, MD Little Rock Family Practice
Dean Kumpuris, MD CHI St. Vincent
Matthew Moudy, DDS HMS Dental
Randolph Maddox, MD UAMS Health
Kim Dawn Gartman, MD Baptist Health
David McElreath, MD Premier Gastroenterology
Jeff Powell, DDS Jeff Powell, DDS, PA
Clay Nash, MD National Park Medical Center
Laura Hardin, MD Central Arkansas Family Practice
Brian L. McGee, MD Arkansas Diagnostic Center
David Rainwater, DDS Hawkins Rainwater Dental Group
Justin Phillips, MD CHI St. Vincent
Erin Hekmatpour, MD Autumn Road Family Practice
Martin Moix, MD Conway Regional Health System
Steven Ray, DDS Ray Dental
Elizabeth Storm Rule, MD Arkansas Children’s Hospital/UAMS Health
Kevin Hiegel, MD Little Rock Family Practice
Debra F. Morrison, MD GastroArkansas
J. Timothy Hodges, MD Barg Family Clinic
Dhaval A. Patel, MD Premier Gastroenterology
Stephen Humbard, MD Humbard Family Practice
Lewis E. Porter, MD Saline Memorial Hospital
Tara Scallion, DDS Austin Family Dental Lendall Shell, DOS Shell General Dentistry
Jason Skinner, MD Conway Regional Health System ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
Lane Smith, DDS Saline Dental Group
Castro Bali, MD CHI St. Vincent
John Jayroe, MD Little Rock Family Practice
R. Paul Svoboda, MD Premier Gastroenterology
Robert Tramel, DDS Little Rock Family Dental Care
Donald Bodenner, MD, PhD UAMS Health
Michael Kittell, MD Kittell Clinic
Alonzo D. Williams Sr., MD Arkansas Diagnostic Center
DERMATOLOGY
Beth Crowder, APRN Arkansas Heart Hospital
Mark Lefler, MD Family Medicine and Wellness Clinic
Nidhi Jain, MD CHI St. Vincent
Amber Norris, MD UAMS Health
Paul Williams, MD Baptist Health GENERAL SURGERY
Archana Jarathi, MD CHI St. Vincent
Chris Pittman, MD Little Rock Family Practice
Irina Lendel, MD Arkansas Heart Hospital
Philip Pounders, MD Autumn Road Family Practice
Allen Redding, MD CHI St. Vincent
Bart Throneberry, MD Throneberry Family Clinic
Ashely Cornett Robb Conway Regional Health System
Brad Tilley, MD Tilley Family Medicine Stephen Tilley, MD Tilley Clinic
Andrea Mabry, MD Pinnacle Dermatology
James Thrasher, MD Arkansas Diabetes and Endocrinology Center FAMILY MEDICINE
Kayla Mohr, MD Pinnacle Dermatology
Camille Braswell, MD CHI St. Vincent
Ray K. Parker, MD Dermatology Group of Arkansas
Julian Calhoon, MD Jacksonville Medical Care
Dowling Stough, MD The Dermatology Clinic of Arkansas
Jeffrey Carfagno, MD Carfagno Family Practice
Brian Wayne, MD Little Rock Dermatology Clinic EMERGENCY
Charles Clifton, MD Greenbrier Family Clinic
René Bressinck, MD Dermatology Group of Arkansas Scott M. Dinehart, MD Arkansas Dermatology Gregory Dwyer, MD Little Rock Dermatology Clinic Jay A. Flaming, MD Jay Flaming Dermatology Clinic Jerri Hoskyn, MD CHI St. Vincent Jay Kincannon, MD Arkansas Children’s Hospital/UAMS Health
Brian Baird, MD Cabot Emergency Hospital Michael Fahr, MD Conway Regional Health System
Stephanie Cody, MD Baptist Health William Cole, MD National Park Medical Center Kent Covert, MD Little Rock Family Practice
Gregory Whorton, MD CHI St. Vincent GASTROENTEROLOGY
Janina Bonwich, MD UAMS Health Robert Breving, MD, FACS National Park Medical Center Chris M. Cate, MD The Surgical Clinic of Central Arkansas Benjamin Davis, MD UAMS Health Patrick Fleeman, MD The Surgical Clinic of Central Arkansas Christian Latham, MD National Park Medical Center Rex Luttrell, MD Saline Health System
Terence Angtuaco, MD Premier Gastroenterology
Lewis Porter, MD Saline Health System
Daniel Brown, MD CHI St. Vincent
Michael Stanton, MD, FACS Conway Regional Health System
Meenakshi Budhraja, MD Digestive Wellness Clinic
April Turner, DO The Surgical Clinic of Central Arkansas GENETICIST
Brian T. Hughes, MD Premier Gastroenterology Bruce Johnson, MD GastroArkansas Steven Jones, MD Premier Gastroenterology
Marianne Lotito, MS, LCGC CARTI G. Bradley Schaefer, MD UAMS Health
A Growing Health System for a Growing Community
More Specialists
Expanded Access
Innovative Services
Award Winning Care
Down the Hallway, Not the Highway Conway Regional has been the community’s hospital for 100 years, providing high-quality, compassionate care. As our community continues to grow, we are growing alongside you to ensure all of your healthcare needs are met right here in Conway. With our award-winning staff, including more than 55 AY’s Best Healthcare Professionals, you can trust us to provide you with the best comprehensive care you deserve when you need it most.
We’re not just growing—we’re growing together.
New Medical Offices
2021
2021
WE WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE
DR. JERRY LORIO
FOR BEING VOTED ONE OF AY’S TOP HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN ORTHOPEDICS.
ASI Hip Replacement Shoulder Surgery Patient Specific Knee Replacement
2010 Active Way • Benton, Arkansas 72019
501-315-0984 • www.arboneandjoint.com
Legacy offers a comprehensive team approach to deliver outstanding neurological care.
2021
Thank you to our patients! Welcome Dr. Dominic Maggio, Legacy Spine & Neurological Specialists newest neurosurgeon!
8201 Cantrell Road | Suite 265 | Little Rock 72227 | 501.661.0077 Legacy Surgery Center 5800 W 10th St. | Suite 206 | Little Rock 72204 | 501.661.0910
Scott Schlesinger MD
legacyneuro.com Kelli Schlesinger MD
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Bowen Hefley Orthopedics is proud to congratulate Paul Edwards, M.D. as one of AY ’s Congratulations to Dr. Hefley and Dr. Stewart for being ranked among AY Magazine’s Best Healthcare Professionals! Best Orthopedic Surgeons in Central Arkansas.
2021
With over 50 years of experience between them, Dr. Hefley and Dr. Stewart have improved the lives of
Dr. Paul Edwards specializes in the treatment of countless patients in Central Arkansas. From patients suffering from joint pain to athletes with acute sports injuries, theyhip haveand seen and treated it all. Dr. Hefley, Dr. Stewart, arthritis of the knee. He performs hip andand rest of our incredible team are dedicated to restoring quality of life toincluding all of our patients. That’s why year after year our surgeons are ranked among the best knee replacement surgery, revisions for in their respective specialties in Arkansas, beyond. failed replacements. Dr. Edwards has and received numerous awards, grants and accolades and If you or a loved one suffers from bone or joint pain of the hand, elbow, foot, ankle, knee, hip, or shoulder, call participates today in research to further improve to schedule studies an appointment with a surgeon at Bowen Hefley Orthopedics. Return to a more pain free the design and function of total joint replacement. and active lifestyle with help from the best of the best!
THE BEST SURGEONS. THE BEST TREATMENT.
ALL FOCUSED ON YOU. www.bowenhefleyortho.com
bowenhefleyortho.com
Little Rock: 501-663-6455 | North Little Rock: 501-771-1600 | Jacksonville: 501-771-1600 | Cabot: 501-771-1600
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Edwards call 501-663-6455 or 1-800-336-2412.
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GERIATRIC MEDICINE Annette Anderson, MD Conway Regional Health System Sanjay Dass, MD CHI St. Vincent Laura Otter, MD CHI St. Vincent Burcu Ozdemir, MD Baptist Health Ann Riggs, MD Baptist Health Claudia Tolleson, MD Baptist Health HAND SURGERY Jeanine Andersson, MD OrthoArkansas G. Thomas Frazier Jr., MD UAMS Health J. Kirk Grynwald, MD OrthoArkansas James L. Head, MD Conway Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center James T. Howell, MD Conway Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center Brian Norton, MD OrthoArkansas David Rhodes, MD Bowen Hefley Orthopedics Clayton Riley, MD Martin Orthopedics Thomas Roberts, MD Conway Regional Health System Theresa Wyrick-Glover, MD UAMS Health HEMATOLOGIST
Ryan Dare, MD UAMS Health
MEDICAL ONCOLOGY & HEMATOLOGY
Anthony L. Capocelli, MD Baptist Health
Amanda Novack, MD Baptist Health
Brad Baltz, MD CHI St Vincent
J.D. Day, MD UAMS Health
Naveen Patil, MD, MHSA, MA, FHA, FACP, FIDSA Arkansas Department of Health
Joseph Beck II, MD CHI St Vincent
Regan Gallaher, MD Conway Regional Health System
Rhonda Gentry, MD CARTI
Noojan Kazemi, MD UAMS Health
Issam Makhoul, MD UAMS Health
Ali Krisht, MD, FACS CHI St. Vincent
Lawrence Mendelsohn, MD CARTI
James Z. Mason, MD Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Neurological Surgery Associates
Mallory Smith, MD Conway Regional Health System Gary Wheeler, MD Arkansas Children’s Hospital/UAMS Health Joseph Wyble Jr., MD CHI St. Vincent Heather Young, MD Arkansas Children’s Hospital/UAMS Health INTERNAL MEDICINE Jennifer Co, MD CHI St. Vincent Mark Dyer, MD CHI St. Vincent
Diane Wilder, MD CARTI MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC/ FACILITY Conway Behavioral Health Hospital Counseling Services of Jacksonville
Gerry Ezell, MD Baptist Health
Pinnacle Pointe Hospital
Elizabeth Gath, MD UAMS Health
Professional Counseling Associates
Greg Kendrick, MD Conway Regional Health System
Rice Clinic
Mark Martindale, MD Saline Health System Tyler Nelson, MD Saline Health System Tracy Phillips, DO Phillips Family Medicine Bruce Sanderson, MD Lasercare Skin Clinic Robert Stanley, MD Baptist Health
Peter Emanuel, MD CHI St. Vincent
William Thorpe, DO Baptist Health
Rachana Yendala, MD Conway Regional Health System HOSPITALIST
Larry Wright, MD UAMS Health
Rebecca Aleck, DO Jefferson Regional Medical Center
Marianne Lotito, MS, LCGC CARTI
Jesse Cooper, MD Jefferson Regional Medical Center INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Kent McKelvey Jr., MD UAMS Health
Mary Burgess, MD Conway Regional Health System
Sue Tsuda, MD Conway Hematology Oncology
MEDICAL GENETICS
Gerald Schaefer, MD Arkansas Children’s Hospital/UAMS Health
Rivendell Behavioral Health Services Riverstone Wellness Center Salt Counseling and Consultation The BridgeWay UAMS Health Psychiatric Research Institute NEPHROLOGY Michael Gersch, MD Arkansas Renal Group, PA Shane Kimball, DO Baptist Health Saritha Ranabothu, MD Arkansas Children’s Hospital Mary Jo Shaver, MD Nephrology Associates, PA NEUROLOGICAL SURGEON Timothy Burson, MD Baptist Health
T. Glenn Pait, MD UAMS Health Viktoras Palys, MD UAMS Health Ali Raja, MD, FAANS, FACS Neurosurgery Specialists of Arkansas Stylianos Rammos, MD, FAANS CHI St. Vincent Analiz Rodriguez, MD, PhD UAMS Health Scott Schlesinger, MD Legacy Spine & Neurological Specialists Brad Thomas, MD Arkansas Surgical Hospital/Little Rock Neurosurgery Clinic NEUROLOGY Umair Afzal, MD CHI St. Vincent Robert Archer, MD UAMS Health Beverly Beadle, MD CHI St. Vincent Duane Birky, MD Baptist Health Bradley Boop, MD CHI St. Vincent Kathryn Chenault, MD CHI St. Vincent Tim Freyaldenhoven, MD, PhD Conway Regional Health System Erika Horta, MD UAMS Health Ali Krisht, MD, FACS CHI St. Vincent Rani Lindberg, MD UAMS Health
Being the Best is Something We Work Toward Everyday. Dr. Bev. Foster
Thank you for voting us among AY's Best Healthcare Professionals!
2021
Dr. Bev. Foster has been one of Central Arkansas’ favorite Chiropractic physicians for 30 years and has been continually voted “Best Chiropractor” by readers of Arkansas Democrat Gazette, the Arkansas Times and AY Magazine. Board certified in Chiropractic Orthopedics, Dr. Foster has been a guest lecturer at UAMS and has served the Arkansas and National Chiropractic examining boards in various capacities. CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH AND REHABILITTION 2701 W. Markham Street Little Rock, AR 501.371.0152 • drbevfoster.com
Dr. Eric J. Wright
Your Beauty, Our Expertise 501-575-0088 1701 Centerview Dr, te 201, ittle oc , 72211 drwrightplasticsurgery.com
A Winning Team
Anesthesia Specialists of Arkansas
Dr. Dwight Stewart, Dr. David Vang, Dr. Dana Browning and Gena Woodward, MS PT
2021
Paige Kelly, BSN, RN
Congratulations
Thank you, Arkansas, for voting us among the top Chiropractic and Physical Therapy Clinics!
Dr. Angela Lovett!
2021
2016
Dr. Lovett
Anesthesiologist, minimally invasive spine procedures Dwight Stewart, D.C.
500 S. University Ave,. Ste. 219, Little Rock, AR 72205
501-227-7797
Little Rock 501.223.3314 • www.paincarelr.com
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Thank You for voting Dr. Montgomery Heathman one of AY’s Best Healthcare Professionals!
2021
At Montgomery Heathman and Associates, our team is 100% focused on your oral health. We offer our patients the very best that dentistry has to offer through advanced technologies and procedures.
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501-223-3838 heathmanfamilydentistry.com 12501 Cantrell Rd., Little Rock HeathmanFamilyDental 126
Sanjeeva Onteddu, MD UAMS Health
Savannah Bradbury, PA-C Conway Regional Health System
Tesa Ivey, CNP UAMS Health
Julia Ponder, APRN Arkansas Heart Hospital
Stylianos Rammos, MD CHI St. Vincent
Jennifer Burke Saline Surgical Associates
McKinsey Jansen, RN Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Amelia Ray, CNP UAMS Health
Kelli Schlesinger, MD Legacy Spine & Neurological Specialists
Angela Case, RN Prince Plastic Surgery
Mollye Jenay Koonce, APRN, FNP-C Jefferson Regional Medical Center
Matt Reynolds, PA-C Arkansas Dermatology
Keith Schluterman, MD Conway Regional Health System Vishank Shah, MD UAMS Health Karthika Veerapaneni, MD UAMS Health Tuhin Virmani, MD, PhD UAMS Health Elaine Wilson, MD CHI St. Vincent Sisira Yadala, MD UAMS Health NON-SURGICAL COSMETIC CLINICS Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Arkansas Aesthetics Conway Women’s Med Spa Doctors MedSpa Prince Plastic Surgery Rejuvenation Clinic & Day Spa Sei Bella Med Spa SkinStar Laser MedSpa NURSING DIRECTOR Suzanne Harris, RN Conway Regional Health System NURSING/NURSE PRACTITIONER/ PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT Rebekka Amick, APRN Vigilant Health Audra Arant, MSN, APRN, BCACNP UAMS Health Rachel Ashcraft, APRN Cornerstone Clinic for Women Laura Barganier, CNP UAMS Health Ashley Benton, RN, BSN UAMS Health Lauren Blansett, APRN Conway Regional Health System
Rhonda Dixon, APRN Conway Regional Health System Rachel Dooley, RN, BSN UAMS Health Tammy Drake, RN, BSN UAMS Health Blakely Edmund, CNP UAMS Health Lisa Edwards, NP Ozark Health Abby Emanuel, RN Arkansas Children’s Hospital Ben Emanuel, RN CHI St. Vincent Stephanie Farmer, APRN Bryant Medical Clinic Angela Foster, APRN Conway Regional Health System Lindsey Gillum, MSN, APRN, FNP-C Revive Lifestyle Medicine
Jarrod Jerry, APRN Conway Regional Health System Sonya Justice, RN, BSN, MHA, CEN Medical Center of South Arkansas Paige Kelly, BSN, RN Wright Plastic Surgery Brittany Lacy, NP West Gate Family Medicine Dana Lawrence, CNP UAMS Health Wanda Lusk, ANP CHI St. Vincent Meghan Mallett, APRN Conway Regional Health System Meredith Marsh, RN Saline Memorial Hospital Karen Martin, APRN Arkansas Pediatrics of Conway Ashley Martindale, PA Saline Med Peds
Myra Grantham, MSN, RN, APRN FNP-C, RD UCA Student Health
Donna McGhee, APRN Arkansas Renal Group, PA
Jessica Greaser, RN CHI St. Vincent
Alexa Medlock, RN Arkansas Aesthetics
Ebonye Green, CNP UAMS Health
Richard Milam, RN, BSN, CCRN UAMS Health
Lisa Grummer, APRN Cornerstone Clinic for Women
Theresa J. Moix, APRN Conway Women’s Med Spa
Nancy Haese, RN CHI St. Vincent
Ashley Murphy, RN Skin Fix Med Spa
Honey Hall, APRN Pain Treatment Centers of America
Pamiela Parsons, RN, BSN UAMS Health
Kelly Hall, APRN Arkansas Heart Hospital
Angela Paulson, RN Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System
Kara Hillburn CHI St. Vincent Roxann Hughes, APRN, CNS Little Rock Pulmonary Clinic Jack Hunley, RN, BSN UAMS Health Bethany Hutchins, CNP Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Holly Pettit, RN Arkansas Children’s Hospital/UAMS Health Jaclyn Piasta, APRN Cornerstone Clinic for Women
Rachael Rickford, APRN Arkansas Women’s Center Amanda Sexton, RN UAMS Health Gaye Sink, RN, BSN, RNP, CRNA UAMS Health Markitta Sims Travel Nurse Brandi Stricklin Arkansas Department of Health Katherine Thomas, RN Arkansas Aesthetics Kristy Thompson, APRN Pain Treatment Centers of America Melissa Tillman, RN, BSN UAMS Health Megan Tucker, APRN Cornerstone Clinic for Women Cat Waters Arkansas Department of Health Dia Watson, PA-C Arkansas Bone & Joint Audrey Weatherred, RN Saline Memorial Hospital Jennifer Wilson, APRN Cornerstone Clinic for Women Deonna Wissler, CNP UAMS Health Paige Womack, RN UAMS Health Taylor Youngblood, APRN CHI St. Vincent OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY Kevin Breniman, MD Cornerstone Clinic for Women Brian Burton, MD The Woman’s Clinic Kay Chandler, MD Cornerstone Clinic for Women Christie Cobb, MD Little Rock Gynecology and Obstetrics
PRESERVING SIGHT FOR LIFE Thank you for choosing Amerine Eye Care as one of the Best Healthcare Professionals. The mission of Amerine Eye Care is to “Preserve Sight for Life” by maintaining your eye health through professional and comprehensive eye examinations. Call today!
SERVICES • Comprehensive Eye Care • Pediatric Eye Care • Contact Lens Evaluation • Dry Eye Center
501.223.2020
amerineeyecare.com West Little Rock 11401 Financial Center Pkwy, Suite 102 A
North Little Rock 4120 E. McCain Blvd, Suite 104
Amerine Eye Care
2021
Named one of AY’s Best Orthodontist
As our THANK YOU, please accept our offer:
$300 OFF Invisalign for ALL Ages PLUS! Free
Whitening! Expires 12.30.2021
Arkansas’ PLATINUM Invisalign Provider Dr. Carmella M. Knoernschild is a Board Certified Orthodontist with the American Association of Orthodontists. Dr. K is a top rated Orthodontist in her field according to America’s Top Dentist.
479-968-2138 2015 West Parkway Drive, Russellville Arkansas 72802
Andrew Cole, MD Conway Regional Health System Ashley Deed, MD Central Clinic for Women Shelly Gibbs, MD The Women’s Clinic Christina Green, MD Central Arkansas Women’s Group William Greenfield, M.D. UAMS Health Melissa Helmich, MD UAMS Health Lindsay Heulitt, MD Central Clinic for Women Cindy Hubach, MD Central Clinic for Women Jill Jennings, MD The Woman’s Clinic Amy Johnson, MD Conway Regional Health System Nirvana Manning, MD UAMS Health Brandie Martin, MD Conway Women’s Health Center Lauren Nolen, MD Conway Regional Health System Lindsey Osleber, MD Arkansas Women’s Center Ananth Ranganathan, MD Arkansas Women’s Center James Robb, MD Central Arkansas Women’s Group Ken Singleton, MD Cornerstone Clinic for Women Dora Mah Smith, MD UAMS Health Michael Smith, MD UAMS Health Alicia Stone-Zipse, DO Baptist Health Julia Watkins, MD West Little Rock Women’s Center Amy Wiedower Eble, MD Central Clinic for Women Michael Wood, MD Conway Regional Health System
OCULARISTRY/ANAPLASTOLOGY Mike Kaczkowski The Center For Alloplastic Facial Reconstruction ONCOLOGIST
Edward Penick III, MD Central Arkansas Ophthalmology
John Stuckey, OD Doctors Park Eye Clinic
George Schroeder, MD Eye Care Arkansas
Charles Todd, OD Todd Eye Clinic ORTHODONTICS
Sami Uwaydat, MD UAMS Health
Brad Baltz, MD CHI St. Vincent
John Daniel, DDS Daniel Orthodontics
Joseph Beck, MD CHI St. Vincent
Byron Wilkes, MD McFarland Eye Care OPTOMETRIST
Peter Emanuel, MD CHI St. Vincent
Perry Amerine, OD Amerine Eye Care
Rhonda Gentry, MD CARTI
Tracy Baltz, MD Little Rock Eye Clinic
Issam Makhoul, MD UAMS Health
Steven Bravard, OD Bravard Eye Clinic
Balan Nair, MD CARTI
Shelby Brogdon, OD McFarland Eye Care
Grace Raja, MD CARTI
Kathryn Brown, OD UAMS Health
Thomas Sneed, MD CARTI
Ronald Burks, OD Burks Vision Clinic
Diane Wilder, MD CARTI
Stefan Calloway, OD Calloway Eyecare Center
David Wardlaw, DDS Wardlaw Orthodontics ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON
Rachana Yendala, MD Conway Regional Health System OPHTHALMOLOGY
John Daniel, DDS Daniel Orthodontics
B.J. Bailey, MD Arkansas Bone & Joint
Sarah Davis, OD DeBlack Eye Care Center
Grant Bennett, MD Conway Regional Health System
Kennan Doan, OD Eye Care Arkansas
David Bumpass, MD UAMS Health
Julie Dolven, OD James Eyecare & Optics Gallery
Cari Cordell, MD CHI St. Vincent
Penny Freshour Griggs, OD Penny Freshour Griggs
Paul Edwards, MD Bowen Hefley Orthopedics/Arkansas Surgical Hospital
Tracy Baltz, MD Little Rock Eye Clinic Katherine Baltz, MD Central Arkansas Ophthalmology Susan Blair, MD Little Rock Eye Clinic Romona Davis, MD UAMS Health
Daniel Hennessey, OD Little Rock Eye Clinic
Jennifer Doyle, MD Little Rock Eye Clinic
Graham Holt, OD Holt Eye Clinic
Christian Hester, MD Little Rock Eye Clinic
Jeff Holt, MD Holt Eye Clinic
Justin Lieblong, MD Hardberger Lieblong Eye Center
Bill Patterson, OD Patterson Eye Care
Stephen Magie, MD Arkansas Retina Clinic
Mary Price, OD UAMS Health
Mike McFarland, MD McFarland Eye Care
Greg Ramer, OD Ramer Eye Care
Evan Newbolt, MD McFarland Eye Care
R. Hunter Scaife, OD Arkansas Eye Care Group
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Adam Hall, DDS Hall & Koppel Orthodontics Carmella Knoernschild, DDS Carmella M. Knoernschild Orthodontic Clinic David Myers, DDS DJM Orthodontics Clayton Owen, DDS Owen Orthodontics Tom Phelan, DDS Phelan Orthodontics Jason Timmons, DDS Timmons Orthodontics
William Hefley Jr., M.D Bowen Hefley Orthopedics/ Arkansas Surgical Hospital Michael Hubbard, DO National Park Medical Center Lawrence O’Malley, MD UAMS Health Samuel Overley, MD UAMS Health Christopher Young, MD CHI St. Vincent ORTHOPEDICS Troy Ardoin, MD OrthoArkansas
Thank You
2021
FOR HONORING OUR DOCTORS AS AY’S BEST HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS!
Since we opened our doors in 1938, we continue to focus on the ultimate patient experience. We now have four clinic locations to bring the best pediatric care closer to you. We have a dedicated staff with over 200 years of combined experience to provide the highest quality medical care for your child. We invite you to visit APC to see for yourself why parents have trusted us as their child’s healthcare team.
Dr. Scott Sanders
Dr. Anton Duke
WEST LR 16115 St. Vincent Way Ste. 320 Little Rock, AR
Dr. Kristi Hawkins
MIDTOWNE 500 S. University Ste. 317 Little Rock, AR
Dr. Gene Lu
MAUMELLE 11749 Maumelle Blvd. North Little Rock, AR
BRYANT 1412 Woodland Drive Bryant, AR
www.arped.com • (501) 664-4117
2021
Thank you
to our patients!
Kayla Mohr, M.D. | Andrea Mabry, M.D. | Marla Wirges, M.D.
501-817-3923 16115 St. Vincent Way | Suite 300 | Little Rock CLINIC LOCATIONS: Clinton | Little Rock | Russellville
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We proudly congratulate our best Healthcare Professionals. 2021
We congratulate the outstanding UAMS healthcare providers voted as Best Healthcare Professionals by the readers of AY magazine.
To find a doctor, visit UAMS.Health/BestHealthPros or call 501-686-8000.
At UAMS, we’re here to ensure you have access to the best care, right here close to home. With a staff of the best and brightest, personalized medicine and convenient access to clinics, you can feel confident knowing the state of your health is in exceptional hands.
hope Is The Foundation. recovery Is The Journey. Quality Care Rooted in Arkansas
In response to the growing needs of our community, The BridgeWay has expanded its continuum of care for substance use disorders. The acute rehabilitation program will provide hope and recovery for adults struggling with substance use disorders. Led by Dr. Schay, and a Board Certified Psychiatrist and Addictionologist, the Substance Use Disorder Rehabilitation Program is for adults at risk of relapse. Rehabilitation requires the supportive structure of a 24-hour therapeutic environment. To learn more about our continuum of care for substance use disorders, call us at 1-800-245-0011. Physicians are on the medical staff of The BridgeWay Hospital but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of The BridgeWay Hospital. The facility shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.
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Dr. Schay
Medical Director Of Substance Use Disorders & Patriot Support Program
2021
2021
Left to right: Jesse D. Abeler, D.O.; David M. Rhodes, M.D.; Samuel A. Moore, D.O.; William F. Hefley, Jr., M.D.; Jason G. Stewart, M.D.; W. Scott Bowen, M.D.; Jesse B. Burks, D.P.M.; Larry L. Nguyen, M.D.; Paul K. Edwards, M.D.
The Best Surgeons. The Best Treatment. All Focused On You. Our skilled physicians are committed to the care, improvement and quality of human life. We provide state-of-the-art, comprehensive musculoskeletal care in a compassionate manner — greatly improving quality of life for our patients. Our emphasis on patient education and rehabilitation helps motivate, encourage and support patients and their families before, during and after surgery.
Call 800-336-2412 To Schedule An Appointment
We’re also pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Paul Edwards and Dr. Jesse Abeler. Dr. Edwards is a Fellowship Trained Hip & Knee Joint Replacement surgeon and Dr. Abeler is Fellowship Trained in Orthopedic Hand Surgery. Dr. Edwards is joining us in July and Dr. Abeler in August.
Hand Surgery David M. Rhodes, M.D. Orthopedic Surgeon Paul K. Edwards, M.D. William F. Hefley, Jr., M.D. Podiatrist Jesse B. Burks, D.P.M. Orthopedics/ Orthopedic Surgery Jason G. Stewart, M.D. Larry L. Nguyen, M.D. Samuel A. Moore, D.O. W. Scott Bowen, M.D. William F. Hefley, Jr., M.D. Physical Therapy Debbie Williamson, M.S.P.T. Matt Thornton, M.S.P.T. Steve Longinotti, M.S.P.T. Lisa Sallings, M.S.P.T.
LITTLE ROCK | NORTH LITTLE ROCK | JACKSONVILLE | CABOT | RUSSELLVILLE | HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE
bowenhefleyortho.com
and the winners are... Edwin Diaz, M.D.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR AY TOP HEALTHCARE HEROES
Tim Goodson, M.D.
We’re so proud to work with the top healthcare providers in Arkansas. All of our AU providers work day in and day out to improve the lives of Arkansans, and we are grateful to have them on our team. Thank you for all you do! Book an appointment online with one of our outstanding providers at Arkansas Urology. Gail Reede Jones, M.D.
Robbie Hurtt, M.D.
Ronald G. Kuhn, M.D.
Tim Langford, M.D.
Jeffery Marotte, M.D.
Keith Mooney, M.D.
Taylor Moore, M.D.
Join us on Saturday August 28th for The AU Foundation’s Silver Ball celebrating 25 Years of Arkansas Urology. For more information please email silverball@arkansasurology.com
Thank You to Our Sponsors! Print Sponsor
Presenting Sponsors
Media Sponsor
Athena Health | Boyette Trust | Ellon Cockrill | Commercial Realty Inc. | Amy & E. Scot Davis | Decimus Fund | Delta Dental of Arkansas | Jan-Pro of Arkansas Meadors Adams & Lee | Cindy & Jim Shenep | UA Little Rock/IMG College Denice & Dr. Caleb Bozeman | Sarah & Dr. Adam Childs | Dr. Kevin Claybrook | Sharon & Dr. David Coussens | Chris & Dr. Richard D’Anna | Kristi & Dr. Edwin Diaz | Dr. Max Anne & Dr. Scott Ferguson | Judith & Dr. Tim Goodson | Dr. Lauren Hendrix | Lindsay & Dr. Jay Heulitt | Megan & Dr. Robbie Hurtt | Dr. Gail Reede Jones & Jesse Mason | Angela & Dr. Matthew Kincade | Dr. Ronald Kuhn | Terri & Dr. Tim Langford | Dr. Jeffery Marotte Laura & Dr. Taylor Moore | Barbara & Dr. Mack Moore | Dr. Keith Mooney
C. Lowry Barnes, MD UAMS Health Scott Bowen, MD Bowen Hefley Orthopedics/Arkansas Surgical Hospital William Hefley Jr., M.D Bowen Hefley Orthopedics/Arkansas Surgical Hospital
Adrian Williamson, MD Arkansas Otolaryngology Center PAIN MANAGEMENT & REHABILITATION William Ackerman III, MD Pain Medicine Consultants Rob Baker, MD Pain Treatment Centers of America
Jerry Lorio, MD Arkansas Bone & Joint/Arkansas Surgical Hospital
Garlapati Butchaiah, MD Arkansas Pain Center
Kenneth Martin, MD Martin Orthopedics
Donald Crabtree, DO Advanced Spine and Pain Centers
Samuel Moore, DO Bowen Hefley Orthopedics/Arkansas Surgical Hospital
Johnathan Goree, MD UAMS Health
Gordon Newbern, MD OrthoArkansas Larry Nguyen, MD Bowen Hefley Orthopedics/Arkansas Surgical Hospital Richard Nix, MD Baptist Health Sam Overley, MD UAMS Health Tom Roberts, MD Conway Regional Center for Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Kenneth Rosenzweig, MD Orthopedic Spine & Sports/Arkansas Surgical Hospital Jason Stewart, MD Bowen Hefley Orthopedics/Arkansas Surgical Hospital Scott Walsh, MD Arkansas Bone & Joint OTOLARYNGOLOGY Jennings Boyette, MD UAMS Health J. Chris Colclasure, MD Arkansas Otolaryngology Center H. Graves Hearnsberger III, MD Arkansas Otolaryngology Center Barbara Morris, MD Arkansas Otolaryngology Center Collie Shaw, MD Central Arkansas ENT Clinic Jason Smith, MD Arkansas Otolaryngology Center Melanie Smith, MD Arkansas Ear Nose & Throat
James Hunt, MD Pain Treatment Centers of America Mikhail Ivanovsky, MD Pain Treatment Centers of America Jonathan Lee, MD Conway Regional Health System Chris Maranto, MD Conway Regional Health System Heath McCarver Conway Regional Health System Christopher Mocek, MD Mocek Spine Clinic Vadim Petrov, MD Pain Treatment Centers of America Amir Qureshi, MD Arkansas Spine and Pain Mikio Ranahan, MD Conway Regional Health System
Stacie Jones, MD Arkansas Children’s Hospital/UAMS Health Tamara Perry, MD Arkansas Children’s Hospital/UAMS Health Amy Scurlock, MD Arkansas Children’s Hospital/UAMS Health Eddie Shields, MD Arkansas Allergy & Asthma Clinic PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY Rachel Deal, DDS Rachel T. Deal, DDS Aaron Forrester, DDS Groovy Smiles Pediatric Dentistry Gerald Friend, DDS Conway Pediatric Dental Group Keith Jones, DDS Small Bites Pediatric Dentistry Brandon Kitchens, DDS Kitchens’ Pediatric Dentistry Joseph Mazurek, DDS Dr. Joseph M. Mazurek, DDS John Scott, DDS Conway Pediatric Dental Group Blayne Tipton, DDS Tipton Pediatric Dentistry PEDIATRIC DEVELOPMENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS Atif Akhtar, MD Counseling Associates
Zane Henley, MD Henley Pediatrics Fred Levin, MD Little Rock Pediatric Clinic Dawn Martin, MD All for Kids Mark Martindale, MD Saline Health System Steve McNabb, MD Arkansas Pediatrics of Conway Amanda Merrick, MD Central Arkansas Pediatric Clinic Joshua O’Neill, MD Little Rock Pediatric Clinic Catherine Robben, MD Little Rock Pediatric Clinic Chad Rodgers, MD Little Rock Pediatric Clinic Marsha Salman, MD All for Kids Laura Sanders, MD Little Rock Children’s Clinic Scott Sanders, MD Arkansas Pediatric Clinic Kimberly Skelley, MD All for Kids Aaron Strong, MD Little Rock Pediatric Clinic David Weed, MD Central Arkansas Pediatric Clinic September Westbrook, MD All for Kids
Meraj Siddiqui, MD Pain Treatment Centers of America
Jill Fussell, MD Arkansas Children’s Hospital/UAMS Health
Gregory Whorton, MD CHI St. Vincent
G. Lawson Smith, MD UAMS Health
Buster Lackey, PhD NAMI Arkansas
James Wilkins, MD Unity Health
Jevin Smith, MD Conway Regional Health System
Methodist Family Health
Laura Williams, MD PrimeCare Medical Clinic
Pediatrics Plus Dwight Stewart, DC Pain Care Associates Brent Walker, MD OrthoArkansas
Pinnacle Pointe Hospital PEDIATRIC GENERAL
PEDIATRIC ALLERGY
Jerry Byrum, MD All for Kids
Kelly Burks, MD Arkansas Allergy & Asthma Clinic
Terence Champlin, MD TLC Pediatrics
Meredith Dilley, MD Arkansas Otolaryngology Center
Ashley Halpain, MD All for Kids
Melissa Graham, MD Advanced Allergy & Asthma
Laura Wilson, MD Baptist Health PEDIATRIC SURGEON Melvin Dassinger, MD Arkansas Children’s Hospital PHYSICAL THERAPY Brenda Aldridge, OT Department of Veterans Affairs Dede Cravens, PT Advanced Physical Therapy of North Little Rock
SO, YOU ALWAYS LOOK LIKE YOU. A next-generation dermal filler designed to help support your skin while keeping you looking like you.
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Physician Owned and Operated Anne R. Trussell, M.D.
2021
10310 W. Markham, Ste. 202 Little Rock 501.228.6237
2021
Get Your Life Back! Get back to the things you use to do: kayaking, hiking, traveling, fishing, hunting or gardening with Arkansas Spine and Pain!
5700 W Markham Street | Little Rock | 501-227-0184 | ArkansasSpineAndPain.com 136
2021
The Arkansas Dermatology family would like to congratulate Scott Dinehart, M.D. on being named one of Ay’s Best Dermatologists of 2021!
Dr. Dinehart is a dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon who specializes in the treatment of skin cancer.
4261 Stockton Drive, Suite 200 | P: 501-791-7546 North Little Rock, AR 72117 | www.arkansasdermatology.com
YOUR SKIN DESERVES THE BEST!
2021
The Arkansas Dermatology family would like to congratulate Matt Reynolds, PA-C on being named one of Ay’s Best Physician Assistants of 2021!
Matt Reynolds, a Northwest Arkansas Native, is a dermatology physician assistant, educator, clinical researcher, and national speaker.
Same day or next day appointments available! 4261 Stockton Drive, Suite 200 | P: 501-791-7546 North Little Rock, AR 72117 | www.arkansasdermatology.com
YOUR SKIN DESERVES THE BEST! 137
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Mitzi Gibson, MSPT Advanced Physical Therapy of Little Rock Antonio Howard, MD UAMS Health Sarah Hunton, MD UAMS Health Matt Jackson, MSPT Lonoke Physical Therapy & ProMotion Physical Therapy Thomas Kiser, MD UAMS Health Crystal Lackey, PT The Center Health & Wellness Derek Lageman, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT Physical Therapy Institute Steve Longinotti, MSPT Bowen Hefley Orthopedics
Michael Spann, MD Little Rock Plastic Surgery Eric Wright, MD Wright Plastic Surgery Zachary Young, MD Arkansas Plastic Surgery PODIATRIST Calvin Perry Britton, DPM Foot and Ankle Associates of Central Arkansas Jessie Burks, DPM Bowen Hefley Orthopedics R. Alex Dellinger, DPM Foot and Ankle Associates of Central Arkansas Naval Patel, DPM CHI St. Vincent
Ben Milholen, DPT Arkansas Osteopractic
Aaron Seiter, DPM Seiter Foot and Ankle PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS
Marla Murphy, DPT Exceptional Physical Therapy
Gabe Galster, CP New Hope Prosthetics & Orthotics
Lisa Sallings, PT Bowen Hefley Orthopedics
Mike Horton, LPO, CPO Horton’s Orthotics & Prosthetics
Sarah Stagg, PT Baptist Health
Frank Snell, CPO, LPO, FAAOP Snell Prosthetics & Orthotics PSYCHIATRY
Matt Thornton, MSPT Bowen Hefley Orthopedics Rob Tillman, PT, MOMT Ortho Rehab & Specialty Centers Leah Tobey, PT, DPT, MBA UAMS Health Nathan Tumlison, PT, MS Associates Physical Therapy Debbie Williamson, MSPT Bowen Hefley Orthopedics Gena Woodward, MSPT Pain Care Associates PLASTIC SURGERY Jim English, MD English Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery Center Edward J. Love, MD Love Plastic Surgery and Skin Solutions Melanie Prince, MD Prince Plastic Surgery Kris Shewmake, MD Shewmake Plastic Surgery Gene Sloan, MD, FACS Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Ronald Wauters, MD Unity Health PSYCHOLOGIST Lisa Green, LPC Baptist Health Rebecca Schlau, PSY Saline Psychological Services Allen Sherman, PhD UAMS Health PUBLIC HEALTH Gloria Bastidas Arkansas Department of Health RADIATION ONCOLOGIST Xiang Gao, MD CARTI RADIOLOGY Thomas St. Amour, MD, PhD Radiology Consultants John Baden, MD Radiology Consultants Keith Bell, MD Conway Regional Health System Janice Brooks, MD Radiology Associates, PA Jonathan Fravel, MD Radiology Associates, PA
Jan Alexander, MD Conway Regional Health System
Aaron Janos, MD Radiology Associates, PA
Annette Anderson, MD Conway Regional Health System
David Kolb, MD Radiology Consultants
Leigh Anne Bennett, MD Arkansas Psychiatric Clinic
Hemendra Shah, MD, FACR UAMS Health
Jeffrey Clothier, M.D. UAMS Health
David Tamas, MD CHI St. Vincent
Jessica Coker, MD UAMS Health
RHEUMATOLOGY
John Downes, MD Baptist Health Betty Everett, PhD UAMS Health Stephanie Harrington, PhD, LCSW Rice Clinic Raymond Molden, MD Arkansas Psychiatric Clinic Asim Raza, MD Counseling Associates Gary Tharp, MD Vivid Health
James Abraham III, MD CHI St. Vincent Swetha Boddeda, MD Conway Regional Health System Columbus Brown IV, MD Arkansas Rheumatology Center Jasen Chi, MD Chi Arthritis and Rheumatology Richard William Houk, MD Houk Rheumatology Thomas Kovaleski, MD CHI St. Vincent Cummins Lue, MD CHI St. Vincent
Zainab Siddiqui, MD CHI St. Vincent Laura Trigg, MD CHI St. Vincent Taylor Warmoth, MD UAMS Health Rachel Wayne, MD CHI St. Vincent SURGEON Ali Krisht, MD, FACS CHI St. Vincent Gene Sloan, MD, FACS Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Michael Stanton, MD, FACS Conway Regional Health System April Turner, DO The Surgical Clinic of Central Arkansas SURGICAL ONCOLOGY Dana Abraham, MD Abraham Breast Clinic Michael Pollock, MD The Surgical Clinic of Central Arkansas Scott Stern, MD CARTI James Suen, MD UAMS Health UROLOG Caleb Bozeman, MD Arkansas Urology Stephen Canon, MD Arkansas Children’s Hospital Edwin Diaz, MD, MBA Arkansas Urology Timothy Goodson, MD Arkansas Urology Robbie Hurtt, MD Arkansas Urology Gail Reede Jones, MD Arkansas Urology Ronald Kuhn, MD Arkansas Urology Timothy Dean Langford, MD Arkansas Urology Jeff Marotte, MD Arkansas Urology Keith Mooney, MD Arkansas Urology Taylor Moore, MD Arkansas Urology
2021
Congratulations NAMI congratulates our Executive Director DR. BUSTER LACKEY for being named as one of the best pediatric developmental and behavioral problem healthcare professionals in 2021!
NAMI Arkansas NAMI Arkansas is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to help people living with mental illness, their families, and the community. NAMI Arkansas operates a statewide organization providing and coordinating a network of local support groups providing support, education, and advocacy throughout the state.
2021
(800) 844-0381 • namiarkansas.org 1012 Autumn Rd., Suite 1 | Little Rock
Congratulations - Lewis E. Porter, MD - Meredith Marsh - Rex Luttrell, MD - Audrey Weatherred, RN - Jennifer Burke - Tyler Nelson, MD - Stephanie Farmer, APRN
For being named among AY’s Best Healthcare Professionals of 2021!
2021
# 5 MEDICAL PARK DRIVE | BENTON
(501) 778-4862 | salinesurgical.org 140
Congratulations!
Katherine Thomas and Alexa Medlock of Arkansas Aesthetics for being chosen as one of AY Magazine’s Best Healthcare Professionals
2021
Katherine Thomas, RN Owner, Aesthetic Injector
Alexa Medlock, RN Arkansas Aesthetics in Conway
Specializing in Botox, Dysport & dermal fillers
Specializing in Botox, Dysport & Dermal fillers Named one of the top 100 aesthetic injectors in America out of 50,000 and the only injector in Arkansas 10301 N. Rodney Parham C7 Little Rock, AR 72227
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2021
Lyon m and Dr. Joshua ey, Dr. Jerry Byru ell Sk m Ki . Dr , ny Elias ber Westbrook back row: Dr. To and Dr. Septem Our physicians, Dr. Dawn Martin , ain lp Ha y hle Front row: Dr. As
All for Kids Pediatric Clinic wants to thank our patients for nominating us for AY’s 2021 Best Healthcare Professionals. Help us welcome Dr. Joshua Lyon to the team!
501.224.KIDS (5437)
904 Autumn Rd., Ste. 100 | Little Rock, AR | afkpeds.org
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9 OF THE BEST REASONS TO CHOOSE
OUR HOSPITAL
Thank you, Arkansas, for recognizing our surgeons as some of AY Magazine’s Best Healthcare Professionals! For 15 years, Arkansas Surgical Hospital has been a trusted resource for patients and their families as they seek safe, high-quality healthcare. With a lineup like this, it’s easy to see why. Thank you for continuing to recognize our surgeons as some of the best the region has to offer! BEST OF NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY
Dr. Zachary Mason Dr. Brad Thomas BEST OF BREAST CANCER SURGERY
BEST OF ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY
Dr. Scott Bowen Dr. William Hefley, Jr. Dr. Jerry Lorio
Dr. Dana Abraham
Physician Owned. Patient Focused. 866-260-0542
| w w w.arksurgicalhospital.com
Dr. Samuel Moore Dr. Larry Nguyen Dr. Jason Stewart
Congratulations Dr. Michael Devlin 2021
Voted one of the top healthcare professionals in cosmetic surgery by the readers of AY Magazine for 2021.
Best of
2018
10801 Executive Center Dr, Ste 101 | Little Rock | drdevlin.com | 501.227.8811
Jeff Wisener, DDS Wisener, Cooper & Fergus DENTIST Heather Adams, DDS Heather Adams Dentistry
2021
Michael Carter, DDS Carter Family Dentistry Dr. Gary Hawthorne, DMD Gary A Hawthorne, PA Ron Hubbard, DDS Hubbard’s Dental Clinic DERMATOLOGY Kattie Allen, MD Premier Dermatology
Nort hwest ARKANSAS
ALLERGIST/IMMUNOLOGIST Steve Cashman MD ENT and Allergy Center Curtis Hedberg, MD Hedberg Allergy & Asthma Center Tina Merritt, MD Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Northwest Arkansas John Simmons, MD Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics, A MANA Clinic ANESTHESIOLOGY Patrick Chase, MD Northwest Anesthesia Associates Rodger Dunigan, MD Northwest Medical Center CARDIOVASCULAR Geetha Ramaswamy, MD, FACC Washington Regional Lance Weathers, MD Mercy Health CHIROPRACTOR Cindy Beemer, DC Beemer Back Center Philip Bland, DC NWA Chiropractic Jason Collins, DC Collins Chiropractic and Diagnostics
Carol Reynolds, DC Bella Vista Back Center Jeffrey Smith, DC Smith Family Clinic Jeffrey Tucker, DC Tucker Chiropractic Center Eric Walker, DC Millennium Chiropractic, A MANA Clinic CLINICAL BREAST RADIOLOGY Danna Grear, MD The Breast Center, A MANA Clinic Steven Harms MD, FACS The Breast Center, A MANA Clinic Kevin Pope, MD The Breast Center, A MANA Clinic COLON/RECTAL David Magee, MD Northwest Medical Center
Rebekah Baltz, MD Premier Dermatology Robert Brown, MD Ozark Dermatology Missy Clifton, MD Premier Dermatology Caroline Cunningham, MD Premier Dermatology Lance Henry, MD Advanced Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center Cheryl Hull, MD, FAAD Hull Dermatology & Aesthetics Chris Schach, MD Ozark Dermatology Wendell Weed, MD North Hills Dermatology Blake Williams, MD Premier Dermatology ENDOCRINOLOGY/METABOLISM Nadine Alex, MD Alex Endocrine Associates Lyndell Horine, MD Mercy Health Prajesh Joshi, MD Mercy Health
Anne-Marie Magre, MD MANA Family Medicine John Nolen, MD MANA Family Medicine Joseph O’Connell, MD MANA Family Medicine Janelle Leigh Potts, MD Mercy Health Jennifer Schroeder, MD Embrace Family Medicine and Obstetrics Tammy Stallings, MD Mercy Health Jason Vickery, MD MANA Family Medicine Justin Voris, MD Baptist Health GASTROENTEROLOGY Chad Paschall, MD Fayetteville Diagnostic Clinic, A MANA Clinic Stephen Stagg, MD Mercy Health Robert Wells, MD Mercy Health Allan Weston, MD Northwest Medical Center GENERAL SURGERY Donna Johnson, MD Mercy Health GERIATRIC MEDICINE Jose Fontanilla, MD Northwest Medical Center Amy Irwin, MD Northwest Medical Center Margaret Taylor, MD Taylor Functional and Integrative Medicine Larry Wright, MD UAMS Northwest
Adam Maass, MD Mercy Health
INFECTIOUS DISEASE Raymond Luther Bandy Jr., MD Mercy Health
Hollis Rogers III, MD Highlands Oncology Group COSMETIC DENTISTRY Heather Adams, DDS Heather Adams Dentistry
FAMILY MEDICINE Jamal Abdin, MD Washington Regional
Stephen Hennigan, MD Infectious Diseases Specialists of Northwest Arkansas
Bryan Abernathy, MD Abernathy Clinic
Marcus Black, DDS Marcus Black Dentistry
Derrick Gray, MD Family Medical Center
Jeffrey Swetnam, MD Swetnam Cosmetic Surgery
Ashish Mathur, MD Gentry Medical Center
Mark Stillwell MD, FACS Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine INTERNAL MEDICINE Steven Edmondson, MD Washington Regional Medical Center
Jason McKinney, MD Mercy Health
Taylor Kelamis, APRN Mercy Health
John Price, MD Northwest Medical Plaza
Cathee Reed, RN Mercy Health
James Salmon, MD Fayetteville Diagnostic Clinic, A MANA Clinic MENTAL HEALTH Jacob Boydstun, DO Springwoods Behavioral Hospital
Karen Reynolds, FNP-BC North Arkansas Hospice
Shefa Rahman, MD Springwoods Behavioral Hospital Susan Shackelford, PhD Psychology & Counseling Associates NEPHROLOGY James Henry, MD Renal Care Associates Michael Moulton, MD Renal Specialists of Northwest Arkansas
Kara Richardson, PA Premier Dermatology NURSING/NURSE PRACTITIONER/ PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT Baillie Carmichael, RN Premier Dermatology Julie Davenport, RN, CANS Premier Dermatology
Tony Flippin, MD Mercy Health Stephan Rosenfeld, MD Highlands Oncology Group Patrick Travis, MD Highlands Oncology Group OPHTHALMOLOGY Austin Bell, MD BoozmanHof Eye Care Center
Michael Clouatre, MD Creekside Center for Women Audra Cole, MD Lifespring Women’s Healthcare
J. Todd Hannah, MD Lifespring Women’s Healthcare
J. Marcus Heim, DO LaVida Massage and Medspa
Lynsay Brautnick, MD Highlands Oncology Group
J. Thaddeus Beck, MD, FACP Highlands Oncology Group
Alan Diamond, DO Washington Regional Senior Health Clinic
Luke Knox, MD, FACS Northwest Arkansas Neurosurgery Clinic NON SURGICAL COSMETIC CLINICS Missy Clifton, MD Premier Dermatology
Brooke Brander, DO Highlands Oncology Group
Dana Treat, APRN Hope Medical Clinic OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY Scott Bailey, MD Parkhill The Clinic for Women
David Duke, MD Parkhill The Clinic for Women
Ryan Kaplan, MD Mercy Health
ONCOLOGY/HEMATOLOGY Daniel Bradford, MD Highlands Oncology Group
Kara Richardson, PA Premier Dermatology
John Wu, MD Renal Specialists of Northwest Arkansas NEUROLOGY/NEUROSURGERY Larry Armstrong, DO Washington Regional Northwest Arkansas Neuroscience Institute
Dimitry Fomin, MD Mercy Health
Tiffany Weathers, MD Mercy Clinic Obstetrics and Gynecology
Chad Betts, MD, RPh McDonald Eye Associates Paul Henry, MD Henry Eye Clinic
Amy Fry, MD Northwest Medical Center
Kellye Smith, MD, FAAO The Eye Center
James Gorman, MD Parkhill The Clinic for Women
Steven Vold, MD Vold Vision Michael Waggoner, DO BoozmanHof Eye Care Center OPTOMETRY Philip Brandon, OD Brandon Eye Clinic
Randall Hightower, MD, FACOG, SGO Washington Regional Gynecologic Oncology Emily Hinton, MD Parkhill The Clinic for Women
Allyson Mertins, OD Mertins Eye & Optical
Robert Hix, MD Parkhill The Clinic for Women
Greg Philpott, OD Roberts-Philpott Eye Associates
Paige Patridge, MD Parkhill The Clinic for Women Greg Reiter, DO, FACOOG Creekside Center for Women Nicole Scally, MD Northwest Arkansas Family Medicine & Obstetrics Lindsey Seale, MD Parkhill The Clinic for Women
Mary Sullivan, MD BoozmanHof Eye Care Center ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY Chris O. Daugherty, DO, FAOAO Agility Center Orthopedics C. Kris Hanby, MD Ozark Orthopaedics Jacob Kaler, MD Mercy Health
Amber Sills, MD Women’s Health Associates
Mark Powell, MD Advanced Orthopaedic Specialists ORTHOPEDICS Chris Arnold, MD Advanced Orthopaedic Specialists
Julian Terry, MD Parkhill The Clinic for Women
Haley Endacott, APRN-BC, AE-C ENT and Allergy Center
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George Deimel, MD Ozark Orthopaedics Jason Pleimann, MD Ozark Orthopaedics OTOLARYNGOLOGY Steve Cashman, MD ENT & Allergy Center Felicia Johnson, MD ENT Center of the Ozarks Lance Manning, MD, FACS ENT of the Ozarks Michael Marsh, MD Arkansas Center for Ear, Nose, Throat and Allergy PAIN MANAGEMENT & REHABILITATION Robert Baker, MD Pain Treatment Centers of America Stephen Irwin, MD NWA Interventional Pain Lance Manning, MD, FACS ENT of the Ozarks PEDIATRIC ALLERGY Matthew Bell, MD Arkansas Children’s Northwest Tina Hatley-Merritt, MD Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Northwest Arkansas PEDIATRIC DEVELOPMENTAL/ BEHAVIOR Jarrod Adkisson, MD Ozark Guidance Saadia Haneef, DO Chenal Family Therapy - Rogers Diane Lyddon, MD Ozark Guidance PEDIATRIC GENERAL Hannah Beene-Lowder, MD Arkansas Children’s Clinic Laureen Benafield, MD Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics, A MANA Clinic Orrin Davis, MD Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics, A MANA Clinic Meredith Deaton, MD Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics, A MANA Clinic Stacy Furlow, MD Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics, A MANA Clinic
aymag.com
2021
Congratulations to Dr. Kevin Hurlbut for being voted as one of the best in Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital in AY’s Best Healthcare Professionals! At Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital, a partner of Washington Regional, we are committed to helping patient’s regain independence after a life-changing illness or injury. Located in Fayetteville serving northwest Arkansas, we are a leading provider of inpatient rehabilitation for stroke, hip fracture, Parkinson’s disease, amputation and other complex neurological and orthopedic conditions. Using clinical collaboration and advanced technologies, we provide a personalized care plan designed to meet a patients unique needs and help them achieve their goals. Our inpatient rehabilitation hospital uses an interdisciplinary team approach that includes physical, speech and occupational therapists, rehabilitation physicians, rehabilitation nurses, case managers, dietitians and more, combined with our advanced technology and expertise, to help patients achieve their goals. Patients will receive at least three hours of therapy five days per week while under the constant care of registered nurses, many of whom specialize in rehabilitation, and frequent independent private practice physician visits.
153 East Monte Painter Drive • Fayetteville, AR 72703 • 479-444-2000
T H A N K YO U FOR VOTING ! We are honored to be the Best Healthcare Professionals in Arkansas!
D r. M i s s y C l i f t o n Board Certified Dermatologist & Laser Surgeon
D r. K a t t i e A l l e n Board Certified Dermatologist & Mohs Surgeon
D r. B l a ke Williams Board Certified Dermatologist
D r. R e b e k a h Baltz Board Certified Dermatologist
D r. C a r o l i n e Cunningham Board Certified Dermatologist
Kara R i c h a r d s o n , PA Physician Assistant
Baillie Carmichael, NP- C Nurse Practitioner
J u l i e D av e n p o r t , RN, CANS Aesthetic Injector
Magan Jones, RN Nurse
G e n e r a l D e r m a t o l o g y, M o h s S u r g e r y, Cosmetic Dermatology & Med Spa
2021
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World Class Care Locally
T
ank You! 2021
For voting us one of AY’s Best Healthcare Professionals.
Felicia Johnson, MD
Lance A. Manning, MD, FACS
Board Certified Otolaryngologist
Mayo Clinic trained surgeon in Otolaryngology
Fellowship trained Laryngologist from Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Triple Board Certified in Otolaryngology, Sleep Medicine, and Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Kevin Lollar, MD, FACS, FAAOA / Jared R. Spencer, MD / Cory Vaughn, MD • Comprehensive Ear, Nose and Throat Care • Integrated, Multi-Disciplinary Team
• Pediatric and Adult Ear, Nose and Throat Care
Dr. Jeffrey Smith
2021
Thanks for voting us as the best! Cardiologist - Michael Isaacson, MD, FACC Family Medicine - Douglas Maglothin, MD Gastroenterology - Michael Hightower, MD General Surgery - Russell Degges, MD Hematology/Oncology - Carol D. Scroggin Jr., MD Nephrology - Michael G. Mackey, MD Nursing/Nurse Practitioner - Kass Mellow, RN Orthopedic Surgery - Jason Brandt, MD Obstetrics/Gynecology - Christopher Bellamy, DO Obstetrics/Gynecology - Jodi Turano, DO Pediatrician - Tomorrow Potter, APRN Urology - John Allen, MD Urology - Michael Suminski, MD
Voted one of the top healthcare professionals in chiropractic medicine by the readers of AY Magazine for 2021.
1300 S.E. 14th Street, Suite 2 Bentonville, AR 72712
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Providing High Quality Care
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Get Better.
Smith Family Clinic 147
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Charles Jackson, MD Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics, A MANA Clinic Sean Livingston, MD Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics, A MANA Clinic PEDIATRICIAN Charles Ball, MD Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics, A MANA Clinic Ezra Cole, MD Sager Creek Pediatrics Stacy Furlow, MD Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics, A MANA Clinic Bryan Harvey, MD Harvey Pediatrics Liz Lewis, MD, FAAP Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics, A MANA Clinic Meredith Mahan, MD Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics, A MANA Clinic Virginia McCord, MD Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics, A MANA Clinic Joe Robinson, MD Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics, A MANA Clinic John Simmons, MD Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics, A MANA Clinic
PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS Hanger Clinic: Prosthetics and Orthotics PSYCHIATRY Angela Chapman, MD Psychology and Counseling Associates Mary Daut, MD Optimal Pain and Wellness
Theodore Hronas, MD Medical Associates of Northwest Arkansas
Rachel Fiori, MD Mercy Health
Kelly Pierce, MD The Breast Center, A MANA Clinic
Lisa Fitzgibbons, PhD Mercy Health
James Thorpe, DO Mercy Health RHEUMATOLOGY Michael Saitta, MD Arthritis Center of the Ozarks
Lance Foster, MD Northwest Arkansas Psychiatry Kevin Hurlbut, MD Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital
Walton Toy, MD Mercy Clinic Rheumatology SURGERY Wayne Hudec, MD Ozark Surgical Associates
Jacob Mays, DO Youth Bridge Randal Scholma, MD Mercy Health
Ronald Mullis, MD Ozark Surgical Associates Philip Woodworth, MD Mercy Health SURGICAL ONCOLOGY Michael Cross, MD, FACS Breast Treatment Associates Joseph Ivy, MD Highlands Oncology Group Hollis Rogers III, MD Highlands Oncology Group THORACIC SURGERY Edgar Chauvin, MD Mercy Health James Counce, MD Washington Regional Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Robert Jaggers, MD Washington Regional Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery UROLOGIST John Brizzolara, MD Washington Regional Ozark Urology
Jeffrey Kellar, MD, FACS Ozark Surgical Associates
Regina Thurman, MD Optimal Pain and Wellness
Celebrate your Independence! Presbyterian Village has everything you need under one roof
Ashlee McBride Baptist Health PLASTIC SURGERY H. Daniel Atwood, MD Surgical Arts Surgery Center
D. Heath Stacey, MD Northwest Arkansas Center for Plastic Surgery
Jessica Short, MD Washington Regional Rheumatology Clinic
Travis Jenkins, MD Ozark Guidance
Julie Tate, MD Living Tree Pediatrics PHYSICAL THERAPY Zach Brothers, MS, PT Trinity Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine
Mark Kendall, MD Plastic Surgery & Hand Center
Kathleen M. Wong, MD Bridges to Wellbeing RADIOLOGY Britton Lott, MD The Breast Center, A MANA Clinic
Tired of home maintenance? Presbyterian Village can handle the repairs, do the yard work, and provide you with a fulfilling carefree lifestyle. Stop by and see us for an information packet, a tour and lunch, or just to talk.
Robert Taylor, MD, FACS Taylor Plastic Surgery
Independent Living | Residential Care Skilled Nursing | Short-term Rehab
2021
R. Douglas Vanderpool, MD Vanderpool Cosmetic Plastic Surgery
501.225.1615 | www.presbyvillage.org
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2021
Dr. Joseph Ivy is the first and only surgeon in Arkansas to earn the Master Surgeon in Robotic Surgery accreditation. Robotics allows for more precise surgery with less pain and quick recovery after surgery for uterine and ovarian cancers. That’s the Highlands Advantage.
Springdale | Fayetteville | Rogers 149
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A healthy smile makes the best first impression! Voted Northwest Arkansas’ Best Cosmetic Dentist
ALL PHASES OF DENTISTRY
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GENERAL & FAMILY DENTAL
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DENTAL IMPLANTS
Congratulations Dr. Jeff Wisener on being chosen as one of AY Magazine’s Top Healthcare Professionals.
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COSMETIC DENTISTRY
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INVISALIGN
Wisener, Cooper & Fergus, DDS
479-636-7100 wisenercooperfergusdental.com
SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE Nearly one in five adults lives with a mental illness, and they are increasingly looking for support. Employers can’t afford to ignore mental health in the workplace. The workplace is especially vulnerable to the financial impacts of mental illness, as untreated mental health conditions can lead to costly challenges, including absenteeism, lost productivity, decreased retention, and more. The BridgeWay is here to assist you and your employees.
1-800-245-0011 *National Institute of Mental Health, 2019
Monthly Mental Health Tip:
Create a safe environment to talk about mental health.
For more tips on how to promote mental health at work, visit our LinkedIn via QR code.
Join us for our monthly mental health series for entrepreneurs
Quality Care Rooted in Arkansas
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Thank you for recognizing these champions for children as "AY's 2021 Best Healthcare Professionals." As the only health care system in the state devoted solely to caring for children, Arkansas Children’s statewide network of care ensures children have access to pediatric healthcare close to home in all four corners of our state and beyond. ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY Dr. Josh Kennedy Dr. Stacie Jones CARDIOLOGIST Dr. Renee Bornemeier EMERGENCY Dr. Elizabeth Storm INFECTIOUS DISEASE Dr. Heather Young Dr. Gary Wheeler
MEDICAL GENETICS Dr. Gerald Schaefer NEPHROLOGY Dr. Saritha Ranabothu NURSING/NURSING PRACTITIONER/PHYSICIAN’S ASSISTANT Holly Pettit, RN McKinsey Jansen, RN Bethany Hutchins, APRN
PEDIATRIC ALLERGY Dr. Amy Scurlock Dr. Stacie Jones Dr. Tamara T. Perry PEDIATRIC DEVELOPMENT AND BEHAVIORAL Dr. Jill Fussell PEDIATRIC SURGEON Dr. M. Sidney "Sid" Dassinger UROLOGY Dr. Stephen Canon
2021
archildrens.org
Andy Snider, DC Snider Performance + Spine CLINICAL BREAST RADIOLOGIST
2021
Sharp Malak, MD St. Bernards Healthcare Josh Roberts, MD St. Bernards Healthcare COSMETIC DENTISTRY Sarah Yarnell, DDS Woodsprings Family Dentistry COSMETIC SURGERY
Nort heast ARKANSAS
W. Tomasz Majewski, MD Majewski Plastic Surgery DENTISTRY Brett Burris, DDS Dental Solutions Robert Kaloghirou, DDS Woodruff Family Dental Stan McPike, DDS Jonesboro Dental Care Katy Wagner, DDS Taylor Wagner Family Dentistry
BREAST CANCER SURGERY Jennifer DiCocco, MD St. Bernards Healthcare CARDIOLOGIST Michael Camp, MD Baxter Regional Health System Michael Isaacson, MD, FACC NEA Baptist Clinic
Sarah Yarnell, DDS Woodsprings Family Dentistry DERMATOLOGY Mallory Hurst, MD St. Bernards Healthcare Adam Sills, MD Sills Dermatology
Jack McKee, MD St. Bernards Healthcare
David Weingold, MD St. Bernards Healthcare EMERGENCY
Devi Gopinath Nair, MD St. Bernards Healthcare CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY
Dusty Boyd, MD St. Bernards Healthcare FAMILY MEDICINE
Louis Elkins, MD Baxter Regional Health System CHIROPRACTOR
Kristie Branscum, APRN Baxter Regional Health System
John Bibb, DC Bibb Chiropractic Center Chris Curtis, DC Curtis Chiropractic & Wellness
Nicholas Guinn, MD St. Bernards Healthcare Len Kemp, MD Paragould Family Care Douglas Maglothin, MD NEA Baptist Clinic
GASTROENTEROLOGY Michael Hightower, MD NEA Baptist Clinic GERIATRIC MEDICINE Bradley Bibb, MD Baxter Regional Health System Homer Brooks, MD NEA Baptist Clinic INTERNAL MEDICINE Tyler King, MD St. Bernards Healthcare David Pyle, MD St. Bernards Healthcare MEDICAL HEMATOLOGY/ ONCOLOGY Carroll Scroggin, MD NEA Baptist Clinic MENTAL HEALTH Kerri Garrison, LPC Life Strategies Counseling, Inc. NEUROLOGY Lucas Bradley, MD Baxter Regional Health System NEPHROLOGY Michael Mackey, MD NEA Baptist Clinic NURSING/NURSE PRACTITIONER/ PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT Sara Brown, CPNP Paragould Pediatrics Steffany Calloway-Benton, DNP MNSc, APRN, FNP-BC HealthTech Arkansas Kelly Chronister, RN Southern Eye Associates Shannon Pogue, APRN Access Medical Clinic Kristy Wilson, APRN St. Bernards Healthcare Ronette Wise, APN Family Practice Clinic of Paragould OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY Christopher Bellamy, DO NEA Baptist Clinic
Drew Dunham, MD St. Bernards Healthcare Joseph Sams IV, MD, FACOG St. Bernards Healthcare Jodi Turano, DO NEA Baptist Clinic OPHTHALMOLOGY Matthew Margolis, DO Southern Eye Associates Thomas Nix, MD Vision Eye Care Thomas Stank, MD Southern Eye Associates Thomas Woods, MD St. Bernards Healthcare OPTOMETRIST Thomas Hall, OD Southern Eye Associates
PEDIATRICIAN Amy Duch, APRN Jonesboro Pediatric Clinic Angela Edwards, MD The Children’s Clinic
2021
Tomorrow Potter, APRN NEA Baptist Clinic Kristina Wenger, MD Paragould Pediatrics PEDIATRICS GENERAL Kristina Wenger, MD Paragould Pediatrics PLASTIC SURGERY W. Tomasz Majewski, MD Majewski Plastic Surgery PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS
Sout h
Hayden Sowers, OD White River Eye Care
Harold Calkins Scope, Inc RADIOLOGY Dana Coker, MD St. Bernards Healthcare
Jami Veal, OD Southern Eye Associates
Seth Little, MD St. Bernards Healthcare
DERMATOLOGIST
Vanessa Wall, OD Southern Eye Associates ORTHODONTICS
Cade Martin, MD St. Bernards Healthcare SURGERY
Jennifer Jacks, MD, FAAD Jack’s Dermatology GERIATRIC MEDICINE
Kolin Weaver, DDS Weaver Orthodontics ORTHOPEDICS/ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY
Russell Degges, MD NEA Baptist Clinic
Pamela Schonefeld, MD South Arkansas Center on Aging FAMILY MEDICINE
Matthew Hoffman, OD Visionary Eye Care
Jason Brandt, MD NEA Baptist Clinic Brian Dickson, MD St. Bernards Healthcare Spencer Guinn, MD St. Bernards Healthcare PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY Brett Burris, DDS Dental Solutions Summer Tyson, DDS Jonesboro Pediatric Dental Group
Matthew Margolis, DO Southern Eye Associates UROLOGY
ARKANSAS
John Allen, MD NEA Baptist Clinic
Timmothy Reece, MD Family Medicine of White Hall NURSING/NURSE PRACTITIONER/ PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
Ladd Scriber, MD St. Bernards Healthcare
Bobbette Carter, LPN Family Medicine of White Hall
Michael Suminski, MD NEA Baptist Clinic WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
Estee Sneed, APN Family Medicine of White Hall OTOLARYNGOLOGY
Access Medical Clinic
Samuel Vallery, MD ENT Associates of South Arkansas
McClurkan Clinic
health
Celebrating
25 Years of Doing Good in
the Neighborhood – By Angela Forsyth
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D
ust off your formal wear — Arkansas Urology is celebrating a major milestone in style. On Aug. 28, the health care network will hold its 25th Anniversary Silver Ball to commemorate a quarter of a century in urological care. The black-tie affair will highlight the physicians, nurses and staff who have touched the lives of thousands of men and women across the state and will recognize the remarkable growth of this health care organization. Held at the Little Rock Marriott, the Silver Ball is open to all patrons and promises to be a fun time honoring the past while raising funds for the future. The night will include live musical entertainment by The Rodney Block Collective, a local favorite quartet known for its smooth jazz. There will also be live and silent auctions to raise funds for future community programs. The ball offers a unique opportunity to showcase the continued mission fulfillment work of Arkansas Urology and the organization’s vision: “Together, we will help someone today.” “We believe all men in the state, regardless of cultural background, financial resources or proximity to care, should have access to information, diagnosis and state-of-the-art treatment,” Arkansas Urology Foundation and Marketing Director, Chris Shenep, says. According to Shenep, funds raised the night of the event will support the Arkansas Urology Foundation and the newly established Dr. Mack Moore Annual Health Fund, which will be formally launched at the ball. Moore, who started practicing in urology in 1970, came together with other local physicians in 1996 to create Arkansas Urology. “Since then, Dr. Moore and our physician partners have pioneered the AU practice and the growth we have experienced,” Shenep notes. “Your gift today will impact lives tomorrow. Our goal is to raise $25,000 the night of the event in honor of Dr. Moore, and we are well on our way to making that happen.” HELPING MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER BEFORE Today, Arkansas Urology (AU) employs 19 physicians, 17 physician extenders and a 300 clinical and business staff system. As Arkansas Urology has grown, the health care provider has strengthened its resolve to reach individuals most at risk, especially in underserved communities in rural Arkansas and the Delta region. Through the Arkansas Urology Foundation, AU provides health screenings that can identify, not only urological conditions, but can also provide insights into medical concerns such as diabetes or heart disease. The Arkansas Urology 10 Point Check Up is a free exam available to men for quick and easy first-time health screenings. “It’s a way to encourage men to make health a priority, so they can continue to care for friends and family.” Shenep says. Arkansas Urology has provided thousands of free prostate cancer screenings to Arkansans at its annual National
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Prostate Cancer Awareness Month events. Why do they do it? Even with all the success the organization has seen, the doctors and staff still continue motivated to do more. “At AU, our mission is working as one,” Shenep emphasizes. “We will improve someone’s life today. And, I can tell you that our entire team believes this — from our doctors to our nurses, including our admin team, call center, various managers and other leaders throughout our practice. “It’s all about our patients and their families. Walking with them in their shoes and making sure we do all we can to equip them with everything they need during their journey. Whether that be a routine checkup, preventative medicine, and/or cancer — we are here to fight the fight with our patients. As the director of the foundation and marketing, I’m inspired daily by the doctors and nurses and the great work they do in the lives of our patients. They truly are superheroes. It’s an honor and privilege to be highlighting their good work and the impact they have in the lives of Arkansans every day.” GROWING STRONG Arkansas Urology has come a long way in its 25 years, especially in the last decade. The transformation is nothing short of phenomenal. According to Shenep, CEO Scot Davis has had a lot to do with that, since most of the growth has happened under his leadership. Since 2013, AU has expanded from seven locations to its current 14 sites, which cover all the major areas including Conway, Pine Bluff, Northwest Arkansas and its home base Little Rock. AU sees approximately 110,000 patients each year, performs 10,000 procedures annually and has grown to $60 million in revenue — “all of which is double what it was eight years ago,” Shenep notes. “During his time as CEO, Davis has done a great job of creating a vision of being within a 45-minute drive of anybody who wants access to an Arkansas Urology physician or Arkansas Urology technology,” Shenep says. Over the years, AU has also branched out to launch a Clinical Research Department and Foundation. This has led to some of the greatest clinical pathways, best equipment and most knowledgeable providers and staff of any practice in the country. “We have the latest technology in the state, stuff most groups don’t have in terms of treating prostate cancer,” Davis says. “We have three robotic surgeons who have done more robotic prostate procedures, what we call RPs, than anyone in the region. If you’re going to go to see any type of specialist, any professional, you want someone that’s done it a lot and is really good at it. In our mind, there’s no one in the state that treats prostate cancer more than we do, or that has more successful outcomes with prostate cancer than Arkansas Urology. You don’t have to leave Arkansas to get the best treatment for prostate cancer — it’s right here.”
aymag.com
MURDER MYSTERY:
The Pursuit to Solve the Missy Witt Murder Continues With New Documentary – By Lauren McLemore
O
n Dec. 1, 1994, 19-y e a r-old Melissa Witt drove to Bowling World in Fort Smith but never made it inside. After some time, Witt’s mother filed a missing persons report, and police found her car still parked at the bowling alley days later. Next to it was a trail of blood from the back of her car to the place where another car had earlier been parked — a car we would later find out belonged to the person who abducted her. An arduous 45 days after Witt disappeared, the Franklin County Sheriff ’s Office called Fort Smith police to let them know that a couple of trappers traveling an Ozark National Forest trail found a body. The lifeless, nude body found in the forest 50 miles from Bowling World was that of Witt, who police later determined was brutally strangled. Witt’s case is still unsolved, 27 years later. Both of her parents are deceased. Two people witnessed the kidnapping,
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yet no one has been able to provide a description. One of the top suspects was on death row and executed in Texas in 2019. Many say her story has become something of a legend. How close are we to getting justice for Witt? It depends on who you ask. If you ask LaDonna Humphrey and Connor Holmes, it’s right around the corner. The duo came together last summer to begin creating the documentary Uneven Ground: The Melissa Witt Story, which is planned to release at the end of August. Humphrey is a mom of seven with a background in journalism who, before coming onto Witt’s case, founded and ran the national nonprofit Let’s Bring Them Home. The organization helped provide resources for families with missing adults but phased out after about 10 years with the development of new technology, including government database NamUs. Holmes is a 22-year-old, almost-graduated double major
in film production and broadcast journalism at the University of Central Arkansas. He befriended Humphrey’s daughter at a thespian festival years ago when they were both in high school and has since maintained the relationship with the family. The conversation about a documentary came up for the first time six years ago as a part of Humphrey’s nonprofit. “My team got together, and we just kept coming back to Melissa Witt’s case, and although she wasn’t missing, it was like a case that we all grew up with,” Humphrey says. “I didn’t know Melissa, but we have friends in common, so it felt really personal in a lot of different ways. So we decided that this is it. This is the case.” She said they simply made a phone call to the Fort Smith Police Department and asked to meet. Humphrey’s team was invited to a meeting with retired detectives of the case including the original detective, JC Rider, whom she now talks to on a daily basis. That meeting eventually led to Humphrey asking to see the case file — a request she expected would be denied because the investigation is still open. To her surprise, they said yes. “Melissa’s case file, in addition to what’s on the computer, is about 15 full notebooks worth of information and loose-leaf paper,” Humphrey says. “I’ve read everything in the case file at least six times. I would say I’ve spent five, six, maybe 700 hours in the case file. … I organized all of it, I found some information about some things we needed to follow up on, and then I took all of the old media for them and our team helped transfer it to something more modern that they could play. We did everything we could to make Melissa Witt’s case file as easy and accessible as possible. There’s a lot of information in her case file, because they’ve interviewed over 330 people as potential suspects in the case, so it was really overwhelming for me.” As Humphrey became more invested and passionate
about the case, her original production team dissolved, and she started crafting a much more specific vision for the documentary. “I’m so close to this that I feel like the story has to be told a certain way to preserve Melissa’s memory, and I ended up meeting Connor,” Humphrey says. “Connor is incredibly talented, so I feel really proud that he’s working on this project, and honestly I can’t imagine trusting anybody else with it.” In the middle of the summer following UCA’s campus closure due to COVID-19 in 2020, Holmes was working 40 hours a week delivering pizzas and doing freelance video editing on the side. Exhausted from the long hours of work, he decided to quit his delivery job, and two days later, Humphrey called. “[Humphrey] kind of took a big risk on me, because I want to make documentaries for the rest of my life,” Holmes says. “That’s kind of what I’d known what I wanted to do for the past three or four years. And this is my first feature, my first documentary ever. I think it was perfect. I think it’s exactly what should have happened. Because if I hadn’t quit, I would not have had time to do any of this.” Holmes agreed to help with the film, and their partnership as indie documentarians began. After Holmes was caught up on the details of the case, the two of them were exposed to the part of the investigation that would be a turning point for them both. Detective JC Rider asked if they’d like to visit the place where the body was found. “I said, ‘OK, this needs to be a part of what we’re doing, so let’s go out and see where they found Melissa,’” Humphrey says. “And I remember that day. It was cold, and we were standing in front of the Fort Smith Police Department so we could decide who was going to ride with who. And he said, ‘Well, let’s go to the dumpsite.’ And I remember thinking, ‘Dumpsite. Wow. You don’t think of it like that.’ The entire
“It’s kind of hard not to get passionate about it just because she seemed like such a sweet girl … I’ve seen so many pictures. I’ve edited so many videos. I’ve heard so many stories. I feel like I know her.”
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aymag.com
Witt’s gravesite.
hour-long drive out to Ozark National Forest, that’s all I could think about. He called it a dumpsite. She was 19 years old.” When they got out of the car, Rider looked at them and said, “If you screamed right now, nobody would hear you.” “The fear that I felt in the safety of law enforcement made me just imagine how horrible it must have been that night for Melissa, because she was alive when they took her out to that spot,” Humphrey says. “Seeing it and being there, it made me dedicated to finding justice for her. It’s one thing to read about it … it’s another thing to stand in a place where they found a 19-year-old’s naked body on a cold mountaintop that had been there for almost six weeks.” Not only did seeing the site strike a chord with Humphrey as the director of the documentary, but also, as a mother. “Putting yourself in that position as a mom, it changed me,” Humphrey says. “That day completely changed my outlook. It became more than just we’re going to do this documentary in six months and be done. It became something that I’m incredibly passionate about.” If there’s one word to sum up the process of filming this documentary in order to bring justice for Witt, it’s passion. From hundreds of hours spent poring over case details, Humphrey and Holmes have developed a connection to Witt herself. “I’ve always loved true crime … and especially for it to be so close to home,” Holmes says. “And [Witt and I] are so close in age. And it’s really, it’s so different seeing it firsthand instead of just hearing about it … like talking to her friends and talking to the detectives and seeing where her body was found and seeing the warehouse and seeing where she was kidnapped. It’s hard to describe; it’s a lot more daunting. It’s kind of hard not to get passionate about it just because she seemed like such a sweet girl … I’ve seen so many pictures. I’ve edited so many videos. I’ve heard so many stories. I feel like I know her.”
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Beyond seeing the existing footage of Witt, Humphrey has had “the distinct honor” of reading her diary. “It was difficult at first because here are the very private, intimate thoughts of a 19-year-old girl who is now deceased,” Humphrey says. “I can tell you it made me feel like I knew her in so many ways, and it really shed a lot of light on who she was. It matched up with everything everyone said she was, just a good girl, a good person. She was in college at Westark Community College, which is now UA Fort Smith, she worked, she held down a job, and she’d just gotten a brandnew car from her dad. [She was] boy-crazy like anybody is at 19 and really active in her church. Really cared about her grades. And really naive. She was a very, very innocent girl. The most she talks about in her diary is holding hands or kissing a boy. I can’t say enough good things about her. For this to have happened to her, it’s tragic. For it not to be solved for as long as it’s gone on, it’s heartbreaking to me.” The diary left such an imprint on her that she sought out a permanent reminder and now has the word “ justice” tattooed on her wrist, along with hand-drawn hearts taken directly from a page in Witt’s diary. Because Witt has no living parents and few close family members, Humphrey has taken on an important role in all of this: “I’ve become Melissa’s voice.” When it comes to the film, she planned to offer a private, online showing, expecting to reach an interested audience of a few hundred or so, given that their Facebook page, “Who Killed Missy Witt?” has a following of more than 12,000 and more than 1 million visitors. Initially, the offer was for 100250 seats. More than 25,000 people have since asked to see the documentary, and the production team is considering expanding the number of seats at the showing, after which they will begin hitting the film festival circuit, where even more people will have the opportunity to see the film.
An original sketch of a potential suspect.
“We were not prepared for that kind of response. Even saying that number out loud, it scares us a little bit,” Humphrey says. For Holmes, the unprecedented response to the private showing is not only giving him hope for the case to be solved, but also for his personal career in film. “The first priority is always going to be to get her case solved,” Holmes says. “But, I mean, there are 17,000 people that have signed up to see the documentary, and I’ve never dreamed that 17,000 people would want to see a film that I’ve made, especially this early on. … Trying to get it on a streaming site would I mean, could literally make my career for the rest of my life.” Holmes has been reflecting on his time at UCA and how the passion he’s developed from working on the documentary has shaped his love for film. “You can teach how to turn up an F-stop and what it does, you can teach about millimeters on a lens, but you really don’t know what it’s like to be storytelling until you’re out there storytelling,” Holmes says. “When you’re out there with her friends and her family at her tombstone, you just develop this passion for storytelling and this empathy for what happened to her. You can’t teach that stuff in the classroom.” However, working on the case has also exposed him to certain things that go along with true crime and the line of work in general. “I don’t know if I could just continue making true crime docs the rest of my life, because it would be pretty taxing on my mental health,” Holmes says. “There are a few moments when making this documentary where we just kind of have to sit back and just be quiet and just be like, ‘This is hard to process.’ It’s a story, but it’s real. It’s two hours away, and my sister lives in Fort Smith, and she’s just a couple years older than Missy [was] when she died.” Humphrey has also experienced the dark side of working on such an intense case, citing unnerving instances where
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strangers would call her phone, show up to her house and even approach her in public. Ultimately, to both of them, it’s still every bit worth it, and they hope the documentary will help shine a light on the quest for and the need for justice. “Our efforts have even brought in new leads, so that’s been exciting,” Humphrey says. “We have an active lead on the case. I can’t discuss it, but we think it should be resolved very, very soon.” The nearly-hourlong film will feature information about those leads, a variety of interviews, original media footage from Fort Smith’s KFSM-Channel 5, and brand new information about the case not yet shared with the public. “I’m hoping it will jog someone’s memory to say, ‘Wait, I remember this,’ or, ‘So-and-so told me this,’ because I really do think we have our suspect pool narrowed down, and I think this documentary could potentially help push it over the edge so they can charge somebody with murder,” Humphrey says. “We want her to be remembered for more than just the murder. She is more than what they did and what happened to her.” Humphrey hopes to also keep Witt’s memory alive through a book she wrote titled The Girl I Never Knew, which is being published by Genius Books and is scheduled to be released next April, following the documentary’s completion of the film festival circuit this year. To watch the documentary trailer, donate or request a seat at the private showing, you can visit their website. If you have a lead, you can call the anonymous tip line at 1-800440-1922 and leave a message, or you can reach out to the Fort Smith Police Department at (479) 709-5000 and ask for Detective Marion. “I believe the answer is out there,” Humphrey says. “I think it’s just somebody who needs to be brave and come forward.”
aymag.com
Hemingway By Joe David Rice
I
n a late 1933 letter, posted in Paris, to the editors of Esquire magazine, Ernest Hemingway wrote, “Paris is very beautiful. … Me, I like it better … in Piggott, Arkansas, in the fall.” Although in print less than a year, Esquire had already attracted 200,000 subscribers, but it’s unlikely that more than a few dozen, if that many, had ever heard of Piggott, a fine little community of about 1,900 residents in Arkansas’ northeastern corner. It was also the home of Pauline Pfeiffer, Hemingway’s second wife. Earning a degree from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism in 1918, Pfeiffer first worked with newspapers in Cleveland and New York before her writing/editing skills and familiarity with fashion landed her a coveted job in Paris. Serving as assistant to Vogue magazine’s Paris editor, she also enjoyed the glamorous social circuit in the City of Lights. It was at a party in 1925 where she met Hadley and Ernest Hemingway. A struggling writer at the time, Hemingway soon became smitten with the vivacious and chic Ms. Pfeiffer. He divorced Hadley in early 1927 and married 31-year-old Pfeiffer in Paris a few months later. She bore him two sons — Patrick and Gregory — prior to the couple’s divorce in 1940. Before the marriage ended, Hemingway — who went on to win both the Nobel and Pulitzer prizes — visited Piggott regularly with her during the late 1920s and throughout the
1930s. They would stay in northeast Arkansas for weeks at a time with her parents, who were among the wealthiest folks in the area. With more than 60,000 acres of northeast Arkansas land in their possession, the Pfeiffer family provided plenty of opportunities for hunting — one of Hemingway’s favorite pastimes. Quail were his usual quarry, although on at least one occasion he took his legendary New York editor, Maxwell Perkins of the Charles Scribner’s Sons publishing house, on a southeast Arkansas duck hunt. Hemingway also found time to write during his stints in Arkansas. In fact, he composed a large portion of A Farewell to Arms while in Piggott, working in an adjacent barn the Pfeiffers converted into a writing studio for their increasingly famous son-in-law. That studio, now restored to its original condition, is open for the public’s enjoyment, as is the Pfeiffer home at 1021 West Cherry St. in Piggott. Artifacts in the studio are similar to the furnishings and accouterments present when Hemingway was at work, but few are
original — exceptions being Hemingway’s poker table, some clay pigeons, and an antique cabinet. The Pfeiffers essentially cleared out the studio when Hemingway left their daughter for another woman (something he was prone to do). One of Pauline’s uncles, Gus Pfeiffer, provided substantial financial assistance for Ernest and Pauline throughout their marriage. Hemingway, grateful for this help, recognized Gus by dedicating A Farewell to Arms to him. The movie version of A Farewell to Arms, which won two Academy Awards and starred Helen Hayes and Gary Cooper, had its world premiere in Piggott on Dec. 7, 1932 — complete with searchlights sweeping through the Clay County sky. Although dignitaries and critics had filled the town for the gala, Hemingway didn’t attend. He’d walked downtown that afternoon and apparently overheard two women at the soda shop complaining the special viewing of A Farewell to Arms had postponed the scheduled showing of Tarzan the Ape Man. Hemingway stomped back to the loft and got drunk on a bottle of scotch. The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center in Piggott, a handsome site maintained by Arkansas State University, anchors the north end of Crowley’s Ridge Parkway, one of Arkansas’ national scenic byways. Visits during the fall are especially enjoyable, but don’t take my word for it. Let Ernest Hemingway be your inspiration.
Joe David Rice, former tourism director of Arkansas Parks and Tourism, has written Arkansas Backstories, a delightful book of short stories from A through Z that introduces readers to the state's lesser-known aspects. Rice's goal is to help readers acknowledge that Arkansas is a unique and fascinating combination of land and people – one to be proud of and one certainly worth sharing. Each month, AY will share one of the 165 distinctive essays. We hope these stories will give you a new appreciation for this geographically compact but delightfully complex place we call home. These Arkansas Backstories columns appear courtesy of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Central Arkansas Library System. The essays have been collected and published by Butler Center Books in a two-volume set, both of which are now available to purchase at Amazon and the University of Arkansas Press.
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