AY About You January 2022 by AY Magazine

ARKANSAS’ LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022 | AYMAG.COM

State Parks | Hibachi Bucket List | David Arquette $5.00 U.S.

Make mental health a priority. I'm the parent of one of a million kids showing signs of #MentalIllnessInTheUnitedStates. I #CantExplainWhatsWrong with my son. His father and I are #MadAtHim too often. He's constantly in #TroubleAtSchool. He #DoesntGetInvited to parties. He's #AlwaysAlone. We #DontKnowWhatToDo. Eventually, without help, he'll start #SkippingSchool, #StealingThings and #UsingDrugs. Soon he'll #DropOut. We'll have to #EvictHim from our home. He'll end up #OnTheStreet hustling money until he #GoesToJail. With no hope, he'll become more and more #SelfDestructive. His whole life will be a #WasteOfPotential. Unless we get help.

Quality Care Rooted in Arkansas

thebridgeway.com 800-245-0011 Reaching out for help can be frightening, but our professional admissions team is here to guide you through every step of the process. The need for treatment may not arise at the most convenient time and that’s why people may be referred, assessed and/or admitted 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.

There is help for everyone. If my son gets help, our #FamilyWillComeTogether. We'll be able to #ProvideSupport. His #TeacherWillUnderstand. He'll #HaveFriends. Other #ParentsWillTreatHimNormally. He'll #LookForwardToSchool. We will #NoLongerFear the ring of the phone. Friends will #InviteHimOver. He'll #SpendTimeOutside instead of in the darkness of his room. He'll start to look up and #SmileMore. He'll #FeelLoved and accepted. He'll share his #PlansForTheFuture and feelings about the past. As he #ComesOutOfHisShell he'll #TryNewThings and learn to #BelieveInHimself. Our family will be whole.

1 5 IN

U.S. ADULTS WILL BE AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS EACH YEAR. 60% DO NOT RECEIVE TREATMENT.

CHILDREN • We offer a dedicated inpatient program for children, ages 4-12 years. ADOLESCENTS • We offer a dedicated inpatient program for adolescents, ages 13-17 years. ADULTS • We offer separate inpatient programs for adults with serious mental illness or any mental illness, and dual diagnosis or substance use disorders. We also offer flexible outpatient care for adults with mental illness or substance use disorder through partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient therapy.

NO W UNT IL JAN 15, 202 2

GLOWILD! A LARGER THAN LIGHT EXPERIENCE

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Arts & Culture, Inc.

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

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Make 2022 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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All photos of beautiful smiles created by Drs. Wyant and Lambert.

Smile You Deserve!

WHAT’S INSIDE

Publisher’s Letter Connect Top Events Murder Mystery Arkansas Backstories

10 12 14 142 144

HOME&GARDEN

New Year, New You, New Home

FOOD&DRINK

Hoppin’ for Hibachi FJoeaceVincent Behind the Place: II 36 Conversations, Cocktails + Connections 40 W inter Recipes 24 30

ARTS&CULTURE

Country Music Stars T he Grove The Arkansas Arquettes

42 54 60

TRAVEL

Pocahontas R esolutions: State Parks Edition A New Season for Pine Bluff

66 72 80

HEALTH 110 The Doctor Is In 115 Ask an Expert:

Health, Wellness & Beauty

124 Technology and Orthopedics

ABOUT YOU 88 98

Are the Kids All Right? This Side of Seven

Hibachi Bucket List, page 28

ON THE COVER We’re “wild” about GloWILD! at the Little Rock Zoo. This month is your last chance to visit the special event until next season. Photo by Jamison Mosley.

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING When you buy a hunting and

ARKANSAS GAME

AND

FISH COMMISSION

Licenses and Permits

fishing license, you are giving the gift of the great outdoors. Hunting and fishing licenses fund conservation, so that wildlife and wild places are available for everyone to enjoy.

Bo Archer CID: #000-000-001 HE Verified DOB: 05/24/1972

BUY A GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR A HUNTING OR FISHING LICENSE AT AGFC.COM

PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER

Heather Baker hbaker@aymag.com SENIOR EDITOR

Dustin Jayroe djayroe@aymag.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Mark Carter mcarter@aymag.com

STAFF WRITERS

Emily Beirne ebeirne@aymag.com Sarah Coleman scoleman@aymag.com Katie Zakrzewski katie@aymag.com

FOOD EDITOR

Kevin Shalin kshalin@aymag.com

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Lisa Fischer lfischer@aymag.com

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Mike Bedgood mbedgood@aymag.com

ART DIRECTOR

Jamison Mosley jmosley@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

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 Amanda Moore amoore@aymag.com

ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER

Jessica Everson jeverson@aymag.com

ADVERTISING COORDINATORS Jacob Carpenter ads@aymag.com Virginia Ellison ads@aymag.com

CIRCULATION

Ginger Roell groell@aymag.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Kaitlin Barger, Kenneth Heard, Meredith Mashburn, Tony Milligan, Sarah Russell, Jared Sorrells

ADMINISTRATION Casandra Moore admin@aymag.com

INTERN

Maitlyn Harrison mharrison@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 9 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 ©2022, 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.

New Year, New Smile!

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. Achieve your healthiest smile in 2022 with a dedicated family dentist, Dr. Montgomery Heathman.

2021

501-223-3838 heathmanfamilydentistry.com 12501 Cantrell Rd., Little Rock HeathmanFamilyDental

publisher's letter

Finding A Resolution Are New Year’s Resolutions still a thing? The way the past two years have gone, it seems the calendars just blend in with one another, rather than a hard restart on Jan. 1. It’s easy to feel like the last time “Happy New Year” actually meant something significant was on Dec. 31, 2019, the eve of 2020. And, well, we all know what has happened since then. That seems like a good place to start. A good resolution, for all of us, could be simply feeling grateful for the days we have, rather than feeling sorry for the days “lost” amid this pandemic or spending too much time daydreaming about hypotheticals of the future. The here. The now. The present is a gift in and of itself. As is our beautiful state. So if you’re on the hunt for even more resolutions for 2022, we’ve got a good one for you in this issue: Visiting all of the Arkansas State Parks. (Spoiler: There are quite a few. Better get started.) If there’s one thing I know about this time of year, it’s that warming up your soul during these winter nights starts in the kitchen. For that warmth, we’ve got another edition of AY’s Arkansas Bucket List on the fiery fare of hibachi, as well as some soul-soothing chili and soup recipes. You know what else happens this month? A new Scream movie hits theaters, the first of the franchise in more than 10 years. If you’re wondering why I’m telling you about this in AY About You, you’ll be happy to read one of this issue’s features about the Arquettes — which includes David from Scream, and his wife Christina, from Hope. Together, they’ve become quite a tandem in the filmmaking world, and are among the major players putting Arkansas on the cinematic map. Speaking of entertainment in the Natural State, this issue also includes a lineup of local country music stars — Mae Estes and the Render Sisters. I think it’s safe to say that we see (and hear) great things in these girls’ futures. Oh, and if your New Year’s Resolutions are a little more conventional — like, health- and looks-related — then we’ve got you covered there, too. Once with our inaugural special section Ask an Expert: Health, Wellness & Beauty, where local experts answer all the questions you need answered. Then with our special health focus about some of the detriments technology is having on our physical health, and what you can do to help. I hope you enjoy this issue as much as we did. Happy New Year! “For last year’s words belong to last year’s language, and next year’s words await another voice.” — T. S. Eliot

Heather Baker, President & Publisher hbaker@aymag.com / heatherbaker_ar

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READER FEEDBACK PARIS, PAMPLONA, PIGGOTT “Cool story. … Good job, and thanks for sharing the story of our city and museums.” Tim Blair ARKANSAS BACKSTORIES: TURKEY SCRATCH “Love it! Thank you for sharing.” DIANE WHEELER BUTTS BAKED: AREA BAKERIES READY FOR THE HOLIDAY RUSH “Thank you to AY Magazine for the sweet write up! We appreciate you!” Ludwig’s Bakery GILBERT: A TOWN THAT TIME FORGOT “Thanks for writing about our wonderful Searcy County town of Gilbert!” Darryl Treat

INSTAGRAM

CONTESTS

Fave Five: We listed our five favorite cheesecakes in the Little Rock area.

You owe yourself a break, and the Hot Springs Treehouses are the perfect place to take one.

Justin Moore is joining George Strait for a concert at Simmons Bank Arena.

Contest deadline is Jan. 14! Go to aymag.com and click on the “Contests” tab.

1. ROCK N ROLL SUSHI Little Rock has two locations where you can rock (to the jukebox) and roll (with some sushi). Try out some of Rock N Roll Sushi’s flare and flavor on the house with this gift card to either of its capital city locations. CODE: SUSHI

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

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

Top 10 pet names of 2021.

December WINNERS Rock N Roll Sushi: MICHELLE BISHOP Loblolly: AMY VENT Turpenting Creek: TRACY PERRY

agenda

Top

you just can't miss! GLOWILD! Nov. 4 to Jan. 15

Little Rock Zoo — Little Rock This month is your last chance to see the Little Rock Zoo’s special attraction that has been turning heads — and paws. The experience features thousands of silk-covered lanterns and more than 30 lighted displays throughout the grounds.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Jan. 6-8

Robinson Center — Little Rock The latest stop of Celebrity Attractions’ 2021-22 Broadway Season arrives to Robinson Center with special showings of Fiddler on the Roof, featuring a talented cast, lavish orchestra and stunning movement and dance.

2022 ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BRIDAL SHOW Jan. 16

Statehouse Convention Center — Little Rock One of the region’s largest bridal shows is back, perfect timing for all those holiday engagements. Featured exhibitors will span every facet of your big day, from jewelry to music and dresses to venues.

ELTON JOHN Jan. 29

Simmons Bank Arena — North Little Rock The iconic Elton John is making a stop in Arkansas on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, which might just be the last time you have the chance to see the “Rocket Man” himself live in concert.

NICKELODEON’S JOJO SIWA Jan. 31

Simmons Bank Arena — North Little Rock JoJo Siwa is bringing her flair to Central Arkansas this month, part of her debut concert tour — “D.R.E.A.M. The Tour.”

JANUARY

4-9

7, 8

An Officer and a Gentleman Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville

AGFC’s Arkansas Big Squirrel Challenge Statewide

calendar

20-23

Antique Alley Antique Show Conway Expo Center

Shen Yun Robinson Performance Hall, Little Rock

Northwest Arkansas Wedding Show Four Points by Sheraton Bentonville

Ozark Mountain Music Festival Basin Park Hotel, Eureka Springs

Prohibition 2022 Hamp Williams Building, Hot Springs

The Silver Ball Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock

7-9

30 Kiss The Brides Expo in Northwest Arkansas Northwest Arkansas Convention Center, Springdale

aymag.com

home

Some of the most popular homes from AY’s past were built by Acme.

New Year, New You,

New Home

Y “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” That’s as apropos a tagline for the work that Acme Brick Tile & Stone does as any. When someone sees your house for the first time — whether a stranger driving down the street or a friend coming over for game night — what does its curb appeal say about you? There are a number of ways homeowners can achieve such eye-catching envy, and the folks at Acme specialize in all of those areas. From the elements in its name — brick, tile and stone — to custom doors, flooring, countertops and outdoor essentials, there’s not much Acme can’t do. And with a 100-plus year legacy, Acme has a level of trust, history and experience like few others. “All Acme Brick is backed by our 100-year guarantee, ensuring the exterior of the home to be not only aligned with the customer’s tastes but also efficient and longstanding,” says David Messersmith, an outside sales representative for Acme. “Nothing gives us more satisfaction than having homeowners happy to agree that Acme Brick is the best thing to have around your house. At Acme, we pride ourselves on providing the highest quality materials, combining sustainability and style, used to help each homeowner’s vision come true. Our wide range of blends, variations and textures allows each individual the opportunity to make a selection that will be unique and beautiful.” When many customers think of brick, both “traditional” and “exterior” come to mind first. But, Acme Brick is much more than that. When it comes to brick, the company creates traditional and cutting-edge styles on both the exterior and interior. In fact, many homeowners are choosing special effects from full, beautifully painted brick to a unique whitewash off finish, mirroring the look of historic Europe and your favorite pair of distressed jeans. ROMABIO Classico Limewash is a popular product used to expose brick for that aged, antique farmhouse style. In only a couple of hours, this one-coat

finish can transform unpainted brick or masonry without any primer at all. For the best results with limewash, choose a warm or cool color in the same tones as your home. For the weathered look that’s on-trend right now, parts of the product are washed off just after application. “Our wide range of blends, variations and textures allows each individual the opportunity to make a selection that will be unique and beautiful,” says Messersmith. Acme is on the cutting edge in trends with more than just brick as a material. MAC Metal Architectural siding is a new way to incorporate the look of wood in a modern way without the maintenance. Not only is it pleasing to the eye as it mixes up the textures on any exterior to give it a certain pop with its rich color, but the top-of-the-line metal siding can add even more durability. The siding requires absolutely no maintenance and has a 40-year warranty that brings any homeowner peace of mind and true excitement when it’s added to the mix. Its resistance against UV rays, bad weather and extreme climate make it the perfect choice for homeowners who want the look of wood without the constant upkeep. But Acme is more than just a product and name; it is the people that hold it all together. Many different divisions come together on each project to ensure the complete satisfaction of every customer. From drivers to accounting, sales representatives to kiln workers, all employees of Acme work together to create a positive experience to match the lifetime of its brick. “What I most enjoy about my job is seeing the skills and knowledge of our staff come together to provide a

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great customer experience,” says Acme district manager Chad Bowie. “Our company is built on a foundation of brick manufacturing, but we continue the pursuit to offer more than just the essentials to homebuyers, builders and architects.” An Acme home delivers benefits that transcend curb appeal, including natural insulation, reduction in maintenance costs, lower insurance rates, a higher resale value and fire protection. “Acme Brick gives the homeowner the opportunity to achieve almost any look and style they desire with a product that will last for generations to come and that’s something I am very proud to be a part of,” says Jefferson Baldwin, residential field sales representative at the Northwest Arkansas office. “No doubt, the homeowners feel the same way when they see the Acme name stamped at the end of the bricks. To know that I’ve played a role in something that will last many generations because my customer chose to use Acme Brick brings me a tremendous amount of satisfaction.” With top-of-the-line products and even better people, first impressions come easily at Acme.

Discover a complete decorative resource for Arkansas: • porcelain and ceramic tile; • natural stone tile, mosaics, and countertops – as well as economical manufactured stone; • hardwood and laminate flooring; • sturdy cladding from MAC Metal Architectural; • products for gracious outdoor living, such as fireplaces, fire pits, and kitchen equipment; and • decorative iron doors that make a strong first impression. Acme Brick Tile & Stone is Arkansas’ best resource not only for brick but also for quality and service. Ready to think outside the brick? See us soon, or visit brick.com/arkansas

Little Rock • 10921 Maumelle Blvd, NLR • 501-812-5574 Northwest Arkansas • 4877 N 45th St, Springdale • 479-756-0550 Fort Smith • 2001 Old Greenwood Rd • 479-782-7974 Hot Springs • 226 Cornerstone Blvd • 501-520-4516 Jonesboro • 2905 Dan Avenue • 870-935-5182 Russellville • 110 W Modesto Ave • 479-968-6900 Texarkana • 1902 Piney Rd (TX) • 903-832-8566

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fischerhoney.com

CABOT HEALTH & REHAB, LLC

is a skilled nursing facility offering resident-centered care in a convenient and quiet location. Cabot Health & Rehab, LLC is located in beautiful Cabot, AR near the city center, medical offices and hospitals. Our team consists of licensed nurses, physicians, therapists and other medical specialists who believe in building strong relationships with our residents and their families. We believe this is essential to the healing process.

ACCOMMODATIONS & SERVICES

Cabot Health & Rehab, LLC offers both semi-private and private rooms (when available). Our staff is dedicated to ensuring that our residents are provided a robust activity calendar, a superior dining experience in a warm, family-like setting. When recuperation and convalescence is needed, our staff works as a multi-disciplinary team to develop a comprehensive rehabilitation program to facilitate a return to home.

health &

C si n

ab reh

cabo t

REHABILITATION

198

CABOT HEALTH & REHAB, LLC 200 North Port Drive Cabot, AR 72023 Phone 501-843-6181 Fax 501-843-6736

When indicated, our team of therapists work with residents to customize a rehabilitation program which can include physical, occupational and speech therapy with a focus on improving mobility, endurance, safety and facilitating a return to home. A tailored treatment plan will allow residents to recapture health and an independent lifestyle when possible. The enrichment of daily physical function can significantly improve a resident’s self-reliance and overall happiness.

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food

Chicken, Shrimp and Filet Mignon Hibachi at Rock N Roll Sushi.

Xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxx xxx.

HOPPIN’FOR Hibachi he walk of shame — it’s here again. Those resolutions made in good faith simply leave you feeling defeated weeks later. You intended to start eating in ways that support, rather than defy your body — getting leaner, healthier, more energetic. Setting good intentions is never wrong, but maybe it is the same old approach that is the failure. Diets are big changes that are often unsustainable in busy lives. Success might be better found in a gradual, mindful shift — eliminating a few bad choices at a time, replacing them with better options. Are you the person who darts out for lunch, grabs fast food for the kids before practice and orders online for dinner? In our multicultural society, there are many Asian foods — Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese — that support a busy lifestyle. When you think of Japanese, though, you might relate it to performance restaurants or quick sushi pick-ups. In reality, Japanese cuisine offers many options that rival other Asian fare for flavor and nutrition. Its benefits definitely surpass American cuisine. Comparisons of weight and longevity between Americans and Japanese show major gaps, among all age groups. Uh-huh, you know who’s doing better! To the observant, a stop at Kyoto Hibachi Express highlights the positive differences in preparation and ingredients that Japanese cuisine offers. At this Springdale food truck, the “hibachi” is the type of food cooked, not the method by which that is done. Hibachis — i.e., “fire bowl” — were never used by the Japanese for cooking, only for heating. Nor is there a Chinese wok in sight. Owner Hioe Wijaya uses a teppanyaki, a flat grill that cooks the food at 300400 degrees. This allows the food to quickly become crispy on the outside while retaining the moisture and flavor of the ingredients internally.

BY SARAH RUSSELL PHOTOS BY JAMISON MOSLEY In Japanese cooking, less is more, and that extends to the amount and types of oils and seasonings used. Salt, pepper and soy sauce are applied sparingly. Wijaya also uses Hondashi, a Japanese stock. Sauces? Just a subtle dip, not a douse. Anything added is to enhance the natural flavors of the food, not to artificially create a taste. Central to this cuisine is the use of quality, fresh ingredients. It is another reason flavor is achieved without unnecessary additions. At Kyoto, Wijaya grills the best available steak and chicken, as well as shrimp, salmon, scallops and tuna. What you won’t see on his teppanyaki is pork, a Chinese ingredient. If Japanese is new to you, Wijaya can start you with something familiar, like chicken teriyaki with fried rice or lo mein (egg noodles). Also

No wok, no worries: Rock N Roll Sushi whips it up on a flat top. aymag.com

on the menu are egg and spring rolls as well as cream cheese Rangoon — (lightly!) fried items. It’s always fun to watch Wijaya cook, although it’s recommended to call ahead if you have certain food preferences. Food allergies? Lactose-intolerant? No worries — vegetarian and vegan dishes are routine here as well. It makes Kyoto an easy choice for catering, too. Want delivery? Grubhub, Doordash and Waitr are available. “Visit just one time, and you’ll become a regular. It’s just that good,” commented Northwest Arkansas Travel Guide. It named Kyoto to its Rock N Roll list of “Top 10 Food Trucks” in 2020. That Sushi was one was even before the latest menu item — of the first new breaded coconut flour shrimp with sweet restaurants of chili sauce. the pandemic in Not on the menu? Sushi. Little Rock. Sushi can be a polarizing item. It ei-

ther has people smiling or flinching. The latter is often due to a common misconception. It was not — and is not now — raw fish. In the 18th century — read: non-refrigerated — Japan, fish was served cooked, not raw. In fact, now many sushi rolls are served baked or fried. Yes, even locally! “We make sushi a lot more approachable than the typical Japanese restaurant experience,” explains Chris Alley, Director of Operations for Little Rock’s two Rock N Roll (RNR) Sushi restaurants. “So while we do lean on the traditional Japanese methods, the presentation and the recipes we use are a lot more geared to Americans.” Case in point: the fried Sweet Home Alabama Roll. This tribute to the franchise’s birthplace is smoked salmon, Krab stick, cream cheese and avocado, which with its toppings of spicy mayo, eel sauce and crunchy flakes round out to the best 806 calories you have ever had. They’ll happily bake or fry any roll you like. Oops — got that low calorie thing going on? Just know this is actually one of the few higher-end caloric menu

Medleys of shrimp, chicken and steak at Kyoto Hibachi Express. (Courtesy)

items on the menu (it can be your cheat day). One of the truly great things about RNR? Every item gives the calorie count, even differentiating if fried or baked. Grab that calculator. You can eat guilt-free easily and have multiple items — more to love! Another bonus? Eating here is just a whole lot of fun. You knew that with a name like Rock N Roll Sushi there would be more than a few wild riffs going on. The doorway greets you with the sight of adults and kids alike rocking out to music videos, doing the ’80s and ’90s thing. How cool is this place? Think booths of red leather, chrome chairs, a look as sleek as Fonzie’s hair, but totally contemporary. Things are just getting started. Yes, the menu has calorie counts, but it is also set up in a

way that makes it easy to understand what you’re ordering if this is new territory for you. It goes like this: Opening Acts (appetizers), Green Room (salads), Headliners (rolls, see Classics, also), Hibachi Back Stage and After Party (desserts). Within each category are menu items wrapped in a great sense of humor, like the Veelcro Pygmies roll. Kids’ menu? Yep, complete with chicken nuggets. Don’t expect to see much of that here though. “I am blown away weekly by the adventurous kids that come into our restaurants,” Alley says. “Often without the slightest bit of hesitation they will try things the adults hesitate over. Kids palates these days are very advanced. They’ll probably drop you with their chopsticks moves too.” If you think mixing rock ‘n’ roll with traditional Japanese recipes commingled with Southern accents was unthinkable, here’s the whole backstory.

The first location in Little Rock opened in May 2020, just as COVID-19 had us all in bunkers. The second location was hard on its heels, opening in July. This defied the statistics for survival in the restaurant business. Things are only going to be amplified soon. In the first quarter of 2022, two more locations — Conway and Benton — will be opening. DoorDash, Bite Squad, Uber Eats and Grub Hub will bring it to you, as will their own in-house delivery service. Curbside is available too, as well as online orders picked up inside. With a little thought — and great choices — this year will be the last walk of shame ever. A Japanese tradition? Before the meal, say “itadakimasu” (pronounced ee-tah-dah-deemah-su). Translation? “I humbly receive.” To the great Japanese and American chefs, we happily offer our thanks for their awesome food. It’s eat more, grow less time!

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i h c a Hib AY’s ARKANSAS

Bucket List

Presented by

l Bamboo Hibachi Express

Little Rock, North Little Rock

l Benihana

North Little Rock

hicot Hibachi Express l C

Bryant, Fayetteville, Little Rock, North Little Rock

l Kobe Sushi

l Sumo Japanese Steakhouse

l Kosuke Japanese Steakhouse

l Super 1 Hibachi Japanese

l Kotaro Hibachi Express

l Takashimura Hibachi Express

Bentonville and Sushi Maumelle Conway

razy Samurai l C

l Kyoto Hibachi Express

l F uji Japanese Steak House

l Meiji Japanese Cuisine

l Fuji Steakhouse

l Osaka Japanese Steakhouse

Hot Springs Jonesboro Conway

l F ujiyama Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Mountain Home

Springdale

Fayetteville

& Sushi Bar Hot Springs

l Pine Bluff Hibachi Express Pine Bluff

achi Hachi l H

l Rock ‘N’ Roll Hibachi

l J oJo Hibachi Sushi Express

l Rock N Roll Sushi

El Dorado

Hot Springs

Hot Springs Little Rock

l Kanpai Japanese Steak & Sushi l Samu Bar Sushi Hibachi North Little Rock

l Kemuri

Little Rock

obe Hibachi Grill & Sushi l K

Fayetteville

l Kobe Japanese Steakhouse &

Little Rock

l Sky Modern Japanese Little Rock

Jonesboro

Express Cabot, Lonoke

Rogers

l Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar Cabot

l Two Guys Hibachi Express Morrilton

l Umami Sushi & Grill Russellville

mami Sushi Lounge & l U

Grill Fusion Conway

illage Hibachi l V

Hot Springs

l Wasabi

Fayetteville

l Wasabi Sushi, Bar & Grill Little Rock

l Wok N Roll Hibachi Bentonville

um Yum Hibachi Express l Y

Benton

Sushi Little Rock

3C heck off the Hibachi bucket list as you visit a small sample of our favorite places.

AY About You

Arkansas Bucket List Every Wednesday morning on KARK 4

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food

Face Behind the Place:

Joe Vincent II of

ROCK CITY

KITCHEN The man with many talents takes hard work to another level. By KEVIN SHALIN // Photos By JAMISON MOSLEY

oe Vincent II is the general manager of Rock City Kitchen and Rock City Tacos. In total, he now oversees three restaurants in the downtown Little Rock area, all under his family’s FAB44 business umbrella. And while running these food ventures is enough to keep anyone busy, his day does not begin how you might expect. “Man, you wouldn’t even imagine. I start my day at the cemetery,” he says. And before you get any weird thoughts, just know that is thanks to the lawn service he also runs. “I go out and do about 63 acres on a 10-day cycle, every day,” Vincent says. “I am out there at 7 a.m. and finish up at noon.” Afterward, Vincent gets dressed and goes into full Rock City Kitchen and FAB44 mode. By 2 p.m., he is delivering meals to schools as part of their reimbursement meal program. Yes, he does that, too. This goes until about 6 p.m. He then finishes up his work by checking on all the company’s social media and online presence. It is a full day, but after chatting with him inside his inaugural Rock City Kitchen location, a spot that gives patrons the best view in town of the iconic Arkansas State Capitol, I can’t imagine he would want it any other way. But how did he get here? How did a man with strong marketing skills, yet a limited background in the restaurant industry, manage to do all this?

Joe Vincent II.

“

I have always been intrigued by entrepreneurship. I love to see something grow.

”

“I normally would be more on the development and concept side. That’s what I’ve always done,” Vincent says. “I played with the Rock City Kitchen concept. I love everything about the name and the brand. I worked on it for two years and was hoping to deliver it to someone else and just be on the design side. But the pandemic hit, and no one was trying to get into the restaurant business.” With the help of his mother, Faith Sherman, who maintains the accounting and behind-the-scenes logistics, the two opened their first restaurant inside the Department of Finance and Administration building in downtown Little Rock at 1515 West 7th Street in July 2020. One month later, they opened the second Rock City Kitchen location, right down the block inside the Central Revenue Office building at 1816 West 7th Street. In May 2021, Rock City Tacos opened at 415 East 3rd Street. At Rock City Kitchen, the menu consists of breakfast and lunch classics. Items like breakfast burritos, omelets and bacon and eggs make an appearance during the morning hours, while Faith’s Fish Plate (with fried catfish), burgers, salads and sandwiches fill the lunch menu. If you have a hankering for wings, Rock City Kitchen’s country-fried version with Truth Sauce is some of the very best you will find in town. Opening the two Rock City Kitchen restaurants in the middle of a global pandemic was no easy feat, but the need was certainly there. The buildings and area, in general, were filled with essential workers who

Quick Bites

were in need of breakfast and lunch options during a crazy time. “Everything down here was still moving,” Vincent says. He and his team got to work and followed strict guidelines with how they ran the restaurant and served food. “People had a sense of trust,” he says That trust was the catalyst to Rock City Kitchen’s success. All three restaurants continue to grow, and so does the aforementioned meal program. “We started the FAB44 meal program about three years ago,” Vincent says. “We had a community youth intervention program through the City of Little Rock, and we had to provide meals for the program.” The program went from feeding 21 students with a separate meal provider to now cranking out more than 1,200 meals a day, all made inside Rock City Kitchen. The majority of the kids being fed each day are Little Rock School District students. For Vincent, it is community first, with a focus on youth. “I see what a big difference the meals make,” he says. Mentoring makes a big difference as well. Oh yeah, Vincent does that, too. The future continues to look bright for both the meal program and the restaurants. “We are still on a good pace to grow in the future, considering what we are dealing with economically and globally,” Vincent says. Through it all, he maintains a positive outlook. “I have always been intrigued by entrepreneurship. I love to see something grow. I think we have made a name for ourselves within the community and the city and state departments. I am looking forward to getting ready for that final piece, which is a standalone dinner concept.” I have no doubt that Joe Vincent II and his family will make it happen. Hard work and determination have a way of making dreams come true. Here is to continued success down the road.

with Joe

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING IN YOUR FREE TIME? I love playing basketball, but I have also helped train my son over the past eight years. He’s now the starting point guard for the University of Central Arkansas. His name is Camren Hunter.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD AS A KID? Spaghetti. I love spaghetti — still love it to this day.

IS THERE SOMEONE ALONG THE WAY WHO HAS INSPIRED YOU?

There are a couple people. First, there is definitely my mother, and I have had great mentors like Pastor Hester and my stepdad, who was a pastor at his church. My dad is incarcerated, but he always tried to give me any bit of knowledge to help me along the way.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT MOST FOLKS MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU? People probably do not know that I cut grass every day during the season.

DO YOU HAVE A SWEET TOOTH? Sometimes, at night, I love those Little Debbie Unicorn Cakes. They are not available all year, but I’ve got a stash!

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C food

CONVERSATIONS

Cocktails + connections By KEVIN SHALIN // Photos By JAMISON MOSLEY

Get to know t cocktail-cen he ladies behind the po p tric podcast based in Litt ular, le Rock

Amy Hester and Emily Reeves Dean.

my Hester and Emily Reeves Dean are best of friends. The two have known each other for more than 20 years, and as I found out over a recent interview at Ciao Baci, they nearly complete each other’s sentences. But here’s the thing, Hester, a hair stylist and owner of Red Beauty Lounge in Little Rock, and Reeves Dean, a marketing and advertising guru, are completely different, at least on the surface. “We have a lot in common, but our skill sets and personalities are very different,” says Reeves Dean. Emily is a self-professed introvert, quiet in large groups, but ready to open up at our table of three. Amy, on the other hand, is the outgoing, chatty one, but on this night, she yields much of the conversation to her cohort. It is a beautiful friendship to see up close, and one I imagine has only grown stronger over the past two years with the development of their podcast, Conversations Cocktails + Connections. “We had talked about doing it for many years,” says Reeves Dean. Then in May 2020, with a global pandemic in full force and a little extra time on their hands, the friends pulled the trigger on the venture. More than 160 episodes later, the podcast is as strong as ever. The duo cranks out two, hourlong episodes each week, no small feat when you consider the time and effort it takes to generate that amount of content. “I spend about 15 hours a week on the podcast between editing, creating all of the graphic content, and getting it posted. That’s the hardest part for me because I do have a full-time job,” says Reeves Dean. “I feel a real sense of pride in what we put out. Listen, generating content is hard. To put out two hours of it each week does not sound like a lot, but that two hours is 15 to 20 hours behind the scenes.” While Reeves Dean focuses on all the technical, behind-the-scenes work, Hester is responsible for booking each guest, a well-organized process that entails each prospective interviewee filling out a detailed online questionnaire. Although Hester loves having old friends on the show, she also loves the excitement of booking new guests. “I geek out when I get someone I don’t know,” says Hester. “It’s so awesome to meet someone new.” The Tuesday show features an interview with a guest, while the Saturday “Happy Hour” episode is the two by themselves, just gabbing it up about anything and everything going on in their worlds. At the center of it all is great conversations, and, like the name suggests, a featured cocktail that Reeves Dean makes during the show. They both love a good Old Fashioned, as evident by their latest side project of finding which restaurant in the Little Rock area makes the best one. The two also embrace the challenge of trying and creating new-to-them spirits

and concoctions, but at the heart of it all is great conversation and establishing those impactful connections. “It’s really about exploring curiosities,” says Reeves Dean. “We talk to people who we are interested in learning from because we both have a strong interest in continued education in all aspects of life.” Featured guests come from varying industries, from politicians to restaurant owners to authors to local news anchors. Past guests include Heather Smith of Domestic Domestic, Little Rock City Director Antwan Phillips, Paul Perroni of The Pizzeria, Phil Brandon of Rock Town Distillery, Amanda Jaeger of THV-Channel 11, Hilary Hunt of KARKChannel 4, and Chris Kent of The Argenta Downtown Council, just to name a few. Each interview is professional and informative, but with a

“We talk to people who we are interested in learning from because we both have a strong interest in continued education in all aspects of life.” good dose of the co-hosts’ laid-back, engaging personalities. “I want each interview to be fun,” Hester says. “I want it to be funny. I don’t care if we embarrass ourselves.” Over the past year and a half, the podcast has evolved quite a bit, going from a virtual-only experience to face-to-face interactions inside a formal studio. The 150-square-foot space inside a Heights neighborhood office building is quite small but provides the perfect setting, one that often surprises new guests upon entry. That is thanks in large part to the technological equipment it takes to pull off a proper podcast. Reeves Dean is savvy in this department. When they were running the show from home, setting up and breaking down computers and cameras each week proved to be too time-consuming. “That’s why we ended up getting a studio,” says Reeves Dean. Although the studio ended up being a total game-changer for the podcast, Reeves Dean was initially a little hesitant about the idea of having to pay rent for a passion project. That’s when Hester, the yin to her yang, stepped in and pushed for it.

“I always pull back, and she always dreams big,” says Reeves Dean. The show is now a professional, real deal operation. However, the two ladies never lose sight of its importance on their friendship. “I just love hanging out with my friend, and the podcast allows me to do that even more,” Hester says. Reeves Dean nods her head in agreement, and is quick to point out all the twists and turns this still new adventure continues to take. That includes acknowledging some of the unforeseen challenges with hosting a podcast, like a bit of stage fright for certain guests. “There are a lot of people who are not comfortable with being on camera or being on microphone. Even though they know they are coming to a podcast, they do not always think about that. You do assume everybody is going to do this comfortably, but that is not always the case,” Reeves Dean says. She smirks, “Booze often helps.” Yes, it does. Here’s a toast to future success for Amy Hester and Emily Reeves Dean as they continue to connect our community — one interview and cocktail at a time.

aymag.com

Recipes

Cajun Chicken Chili

White chicken chili is a delicious, classic recipe for wintry nights. This updated version turns up the flavor and heat, helping you stay warm on even the coldest of days. The kick of chipotle powder and Cajun seasoning pack an extra punch of flavor into the recipe, making it an easy and comforting dish to warm up with while sitting under a cozy blanket next to the fire. If you want to make a smaller pot, this recipe can be halved.

INSTRUCTIONS

INGREDIENTS

1. Place chicken breasts in bottom of a large slow cooker or Instant Pot. 2. In a bowl, mix together onion, garlic, beans, corn, Rotel, ranch dressing packets and seasonings. Pour mixture over chicken breasts. Place blocks of cream cheese on the top, and cover with lid. 3. Turn slow cooker to low, and cook for 6-8 hours. Note: If using an Instant Pot, use the slow cooker function, open the steam valve, and turn heat to medium because it does not get as warm as a slow cooker. 4. After 6 hours, tear chicken apart with two forks, and mix. If chicken does not shred easily, cover and try again each half-hour until they are ready. If you like a thicker chili, dissolve cornstarch in 1 teaspoon water, and stir into chili; cook on high until thickened (about 5 minutes). 5. Garnish with cilantro, if desired, and serve hot.

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 yellow onion, diced small 1 clove garlic, minced 2 15-ounce cans black beans, drained and rinsed 2 15-ounce cans corn, undrained 2 10-ounce cans Rotel, undrained 2 1-ounce dry mix ranch dressing packets 2 tablespoons chili powder 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning 2 teaspoons chipotle powder 2 teaspoons cumin 1 teaspoon garlic powder 2 8 -ounce packages light cream cheese, softened 1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional) ¼ cup chopped cilantro (optional)

By Nic Williams

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

Winter is here, and sometimes you just need some old-fashioned chicken noodle soup to soothe your soul. You can always double this recipe to make more to freeze for later. You can use any parts of the chicken to add flavor and strain them out before eating. You can also cook your noodles by putting them in the slow cooker with the soup for about 15-20 minutes, but I like to cook them separately to avoid mushiness.

1 cooked rotisserie chicken, shredded (about 4 cups) 8 cups chicken broth 1 cup yellow onion, finely chopped 1 cup carrots, thinly sliced ½ cup celery, thinly sliced 1 teaspoon garlic, minced 2-3 bay leaves 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon dried thyme Salt to taste 8 ounces egg noodles

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Add all ingredients except noodles to slow cooker, and stir well. 2. Set to high for 3.5 hours or low for 7 hours. Make sure to stir a few times during the cooking time. 3. Cook noodles separately as directed on packaging. 4. Remove bay leaves, and pour soup over noodles. Enjoy!

Recipes

INGREDIENTS

By Kaitlin Barger

arts&culture

Country Music Over the years, AY About You has frequently shined a spotlight on the modern-day country music talent of Arkansas, previously covering the likes of Justin Moore, Erin Enderlin, Matt Stell, Ashley McBryde, Bailey Hefley and more. Joining that star-studded lineup of AY’s past is this group of gals, well worth keeping your eyes (and ears) on.

country music

Making Mama Proud

Mae Estes is Hitting All the Right Notes By SARAH COLEMAN Photos courtesy MAE ESTES

In 1999, a 7-year-old named Mae, determined to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” better than the LeeAnn Rimes’ taped version, took the cordless microphone that her mom handed her, walked into the center of an Arkansas rodeo arena and belted out the notes of the anthem a cappella style. From that day forward Mae Estes sang at almost any event in the area that needed the anthem. This included every rodeo she competed in, sporting events, ceremonies and opries, and only cemented her goal to become a music artist. Estes says that, in a way, she was born into country music, creating an unavoidable passion for it. Growing up, her family always played in bluegrass bands, which she says goes hand-inhand with country music. Above all, she credits her mom with starting her country music education at a very young age. When Estes began middle school, she also began to perform every Tuesday night on an AM radio station, where she discovered her passion for country music ran deeper. Estes explains that she takes inspiration from traditional country artists like Lee Ann Womack and Keith Whitley to cultivate her unique sound, all while enjoying the popular and catchy modern melodies. “Like most, I really look up to Dolly Parton,” she says. “I share the same dream of using any success or influence that ever comes from my music to make a difference outside of the industry.” She holds the utmost respect for traditional country music and modern melodies. These days, Estes has a playlist featuring “Dyin’ for a Livin’” by Muscadine Bloodline and “Hate Me if You Have To” by Ella Langley. She also makes sure to play Ashley McBryde and Cody Johnson, as they’re both some of her favorite artists at the moment. Estes has accomplished much since her early rodeo and radio station days. This proves to be true with an impressive Spotify Wrapped — the infamous endof-year recap exclusively for Spotify listeners and artists that releases all recorded data — that included 2.1 million streams, 333,000 listeners and 105,000 hours played in 125 countries for 2021. Her current discography on Spotify includes nine singles, including “Hell You Raised,” “Roses,” “Naked,” “Best Side” and “Recycled,” which were among her most popular releases. Estes released her first single, “Naked,” in 2019. “Roses,” which was released in 2021, has surpassed 1 million streams on Spotify and Apple Music, after reaching more than 100,000 streams in only three days. On both Apple Music and Spotify, her recent co-release with Kenny Foster, “Love You Now” sits atop her personal popular songs lists. At the 2021 Arkansas Country Music Awards, Estes was nominated for Song of the Year with “Recycled” and awarded

Estes with her 2020 Arkansas CMA award.

Female Vocalist of the Year. In 2015, like many country music artists before her, Estes journeyed to Nashville. In order to afford to chase her dreams, she worked as many as three jobs at a time, often serving at restaurants. While reaching major goals in between, she says the biggest recently was signing her first publishing deal with Plaid Flag Music, an independent music publishing company in Nashville. “Signing meant that I no longer had to work as a server and could now be a full-time musician. It still doesn’t seem real, and I pinch myself often,” she says. “Signing my first publishing deal last year was definitely the biggest goal I’ve reached so far.” As a full-time artist, Estes expresses how amazing it is to be surrounded by passionate and talented people. “I’m constantly inspired by my friends and collaborators, and I think that kind of magic only happens in Music City,” she says. While she currently has a Nashville address, Arkansas will always be home to her, as her family still resides in the Natural State. “My favorite part about Arkansas is my family,” she says. “I hate that they are so far away from me in Nashville. Any time I spend in Arkansas is jam-packed with time with my family.” Estes credits her musical talent as a gift from God. “I feel like God gave me the gift of connecting with other people through music. I’m motivated to continue to pursue it by that feeling,” she says. “I hope that by being vulnerable and completely myself that others feel safe doing the same.” Driven by this force, Estes wants young artists to chase their dreams as well, even if it includes difficult times. Her biggest tip includes diving deep while allowing yourself to feel your emotions. “Be honest with yourself through the whole process, feel all the things, and live in the moment,” she says, adding emphasis to the beauty found in the struggle. “It tastes so much sweeter when you finally reach your goals if you’ve had to work your [butt] off to get there.” This is only the start of her dreams coming true; she not only is still focused on her goals but also has ambition driving her passion. She recently traveled overseas with Armed Forces Entertainment to perform at the U.S. Air Force bases in Guam, Diego Garcia and Singapore, as well as across the United States, which is the most incredible thing she says she’s experienced so far. With her debut EP coming in 2022, her biggest goal is to one day play at the Grand Ole Opry, which is regarded as the biggest stage for traditional country music. While, sometimes, dreams are mostly thought of in terms of career growth, Estes also aspires for personal growth. Singing country music might be her gift, but her ultimate passion is helping others. “I dream of being happy and helpful. I definitely have crazy goals set for myself, but at the end of the day, I don’t need fortune or fame. I just want to be able to sing country music and use that to help people,” she says. “I’m just trying to make mama and Keith Whitley proud.”

The

country music

Best of Both Worlds

The Render Sisters Juggle Music Career with High School By EMILY BEIRNE // Photos courtesy THE RENDER SISTERS

Mary-Keaton and Stella Render.

aymag.com

For most high school students, days consist of studying for anatomy tests and preparing for the future after graduation, but adolescent life looks a little different for sisters Mary-Keaton and Stella Render. Between homework and weekend plans, the duo from Pine Bluff is making moves as up-and-coming country music artists. Known locally and professionally as the Render Sisters, Mary-Keaton, 17, and Stella, 16, have been preparing for their successful career for as far back as they can remember. “We grew up singing,” Stella shares. “We would always go to our grandma’s house, she was a music teacher, and she would play the piano for us while we would sing. One day she told our mom, ‘These girls, they’ve got talent, they have something.’” The sisters started out as most do in this area, singing with family and at church, but matters took a turn for stardom at around the ages of 11 and 13 when the Render Sisters were officially discovered. “We were going to Jettway Performance, and they had a group coming in called PCG Artist Development,” Mary-Keaton says. “We got in contact, started commuting to Nashville every month and really became the Render Sisters.” In their monthly trips to Music City, the girls would spend about two days working and writing music to kick off their careers. The young musicians quickly realized how their lives could be forever changed. “When we sat down in Bernard Porter’s office, the CEO and owner of PCG Artist Development, he said, ‘Stars have sat in the chairs that you’re sitting in right now,’” Mary-Keaton says. “I was like, ‘Wow,’ you know, they started out just like we did. This is for real; this could really be our life. We could do this.” Stella chimes in, “I believe it was our second trip to Nashville when we wrote our first song, ‘Count On Me, Count On You.’ I think it’s one of my favorite songs we’ve ever written because it’s about our bond, and we wrote it about each other. This song definitely has some of the most work put in because it’s hard to make your first couple of songs.” Just as the two bounce off of one another in conversation, the sisters agree that the same goes for their careers. The best friends, sisters and business partners each have their own strengths and weaknesses that when put together, produce music wise beyond the girls’ years. “We work off each other to make music,” Mary-Keaton says. “For our song ‘Little Dreamer,’ we were driving home from school, and we saw a stray dog on the side of the road. Stella goes, ‘You know what, boys are just like stray dogs. You feed them once, and they keep coming back.’ And I was like, ‘Oh my God, that’s a song.’ She put the idea in her notes, and so whenever we brought it back to our producer and co-writer Britton Cameron, he said, ‘Yeah, that’s a good idea. But let’s back up and think about some more things.’ So we did, and that became our song ‘Little Dreamer.’ Stella is better with finding a melody and just the musical part of the song, and I’m really not. I’m better with words. She knows where I’m going with my vocals and the sound we need, and I know how to fit in the lyrics.”

Whatever the two girls are doing, they’re doing it well. So well, in fact, that they were nominated for two Arkansas Country Music Awards in 2021. The sisters were nominated for the categories Young Artist of the Year and Video of the Year for their debut music video for “Lost Boy.” The Render Sisters were also the first Young Artist of the Year nominee to be nominated in a second award category. “[Arkansas Country Music Awards] was a really awesome experience. We were just sitting back in the green room with Billy Dean chatting, and it’s just crazy the people that we met that night,” Mary-Keaton says. To make the experience that much sweeter, the Render Sisters gave their debut Arkansas CMAs performance. “Just getting to be on that stage was an honor.” From the stage to the school hallways to home, the girls are rarely apart. Some sisters might be at each other’s throats because of this, but for the Render Sisters, it works out just fine. “Well, we are best friends, and we do a lot of stuff together,” Stella says. “I mean, we have a career together, we live together, I can’t drive, so she drives me everywhere. We’re together 24/7, so we do have to take our breaks and decompress, taking a little bit of time to just separate. Honestly, we’ve been blessed with the personalities that God’s given us that we are alike enough that we can be around each other for so long, but also that we’re opposite enough to know our strengths and weaknesses. It’s a pretty good dynamic.” As self-proclaimed simple people, Mary-Keaton and Stella live the normal teenage life — just with the addition of producing music and planning the next steps in their career. “I’m a senior this year, and I get out of school at noon, and I go to work,” Mary-Keaton says. “So I go to school, and I’m taking college classes through my school, and I have a job, and I have a career. ... It’s definitely about finding a balance, but I love every single thing that I’m doing, so I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” Stella says with a laugh, “I am not as busy as that. I don’t really do much besides school and making music. I go to church, and I don’t have a car so I don’t really go anywhere without [Mary-Keaton]. I’m pretty relaxed.” When it comes to plans for life after high school, the girls have slightly different outlooks on what’s to come individually, but they can both agree on the fate of their music. “I’d actually like to go to college, so I’m planning on going to college while Stella is still in school, and we’re planning to continue with our music and see if we can grow while we’re apart,” Mary-Keaton explains. “It’s going to be so weird not being together 24/7; we’re so used to being together all the time. I kind of don’t know how we’re going to do it next year, but I know I’ll be coming home.” Stella says of the future, “I really have no idea. I want to keep doing music, and that’s about all I know. I’m just trying to get through high school at this point.” “I’m the kind of person that has a checklist on everything that could happen for the next five years, and Stella’s just like, ‘Well, I hope I wake up tomorrow,’” Mary-Keaton says

while her sister laughs. The upcoming year will be an eventful one for the Render Sisters, with new material being released for their ever-growing number of fans. “We are going to be releasing one more song in the next few months, and then we’re going to be releasing an EP with all of our songs on it that we have up until this point,” Stella says. “For our local people, we’re going to be getting some CDs because we have a lot of, let’s just say ‘mature’ fans who aren’t very familiar with Spotify and Apple Music.” Comparing their sound to the likes of Kacey Musgraves and the Everly Brothers, the Render Sisters are certain about the message they want to send to listeners. Every song might be different and come from a different place, but the intention is always the same. “I think all of our songs give hope,” Stella says. “We just always

want to show that there’s something to look forward to and a chance for everybody. We hope people can hear that through our harmonies and lyrics. We also try to stay as simple as we can. We want to be relatable.” Any sister out there can find the Render Sisters’ bond to be relatable in both their harmonies and their chemistry. Mary-Keaton and Stella’s grandmother knew what she was talking about when she took a glimpse into the girls’ futures and saw something special. “My sister always has something to say. In any situation, she knows the right words to use,” Stella shares before prompting her sister to return a compliment. “Stella is very constant,” Mary-Keaton says. “If she feels a certain way about me or about somebody or a problem, I know she’s going to stand by what she believes, and I know she’ll always stand by me.”

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A Man of Many Hats Kristian Nelson of I Sell 4 U, War Horse Ranch and Hawgz Blues Cafe When asked if he identifies as an entrepreneur, Kristian Nelson prefers taking it a step further — an “Entrepreneur’s Gladiator.” And in a world where most businesses and start-ups dissolve or fizzle out shortly after inception, he’s blessed to have a hand in many — namely, I Sell 4 U Auto Sales, War Horse Ranch and Hawgz Blues Cafe. “Everything that I do has a connection and supports the other business in some fashion,” he says. I Sell 4 U is a car dealership that Nelson says “provides respect for people who have been treated without respect,” honoring automobile sales to folks of all walks of life, “regardless of who you are, where you work or your past.” “What makes us special is we are not the No. 1 dealership in the nation, but we are a dealership that treats our customers like they are No. 1 and are never just another sale,” Nelson says. Speaking of horsepower, Nelson’s War Horse Ranch takes the phrase literally. The ranch boards, trains and rescues horses, and also offers guided trail rides for small groups. There is also a setting on site for a “beautiful barn wedding.” Perhaps the most notable of his endeavors is Hawgz Blues Cafe, a Central Arkansas eatery that recently moved from a brick-andmortar location in North Little Rock to mobile food service. “Hawgz came about because I am a super foodie and wanted more choices for home cooking,” he says. Now it is rebranded as Hawgz Blues Mobile Cafe, which Nelson says is related to an ongoing litigation battle and the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic. By early 2022, he hopes to have all of

those strifes in the rearview mirror of this kitchen on-the-go, and plenty of delicious food on the table for its patrons. “I love being able to serve people — cooking a good meal that people enjoy and providing a clean and safe environment for my customers and employees,” he says. As for his motivation to be involved in so many different local businesses, his answer is simple. “I don’t want a handout; food tastes better when you earn it,” he says. “I’m just like anyone — if I work, I just want to get paid for the work I do. “For those who are my customers, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me the benefit of doubt and the words of encouragement and prayers. For those who will give me a chance to make them a customer, I will never make you feel like another sale and never take you for granted.”

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arts&culture

Small-Town Venue, Big-Time Talent

By CARL KOZLOWSKI Photos By JARED SORRELLS

t’s a Saturday night in the often-overlooked Northwest Arkansas town of Lowell, but things are anything but sleepy inside the packed confines of The Grove Comedy Club. A crowd of 160 fans has turned out for one of five sold-out shows headlined by John Crist, the top Christian-circuit comic in the nation. And with tickets costing $35 apiece, business is booming. Such success has been a regular thing for the club, which opened its own standalone location two and a half years ago after 18 months as an 80-seat venue located in a strip mall. According to general manager Collin Adams, the club’s wide seating layout enables audience members close proximity to each week’s performers, thus enhancing the intimate feel and resulting high energy of its shows. “We can have more people in here than our old venue, but it’s still an enjoyable experience because you’re so close to a comedian versus going to an auditorium where you might barely see them,” Adams says. “You’re within not spitting but throwing distance of the comedian, and it makes it more personable.” Adams notes that the club puts a premium on providing patrons with an allCollin Adams around quality experience to give them a full night of fun. The current location’s menu moved away from the “greasy bar food” of its original incarnation, allowing for full dinners including steaks, with all patrons guaranteed a table or bartop seat that ensures a comfortable dining experience rather than struggling to balance food in their laps. He’s able to oversee an ace staff of about 20 cooks and servers because Adams has done just about every job in the joint himself on the way up to his current post. “I’ve done a little bit of every job except performing onstage, but I have done the announcements even,” Adams explains. “I’ve been a dishwasher, I’ve been a server, I’ve been a cook, and a bartender and, boy, it’s been whatever they needed me to do.” One skill that Adams grew into is perhaps the club’s most important: booking the headliners. While Little Rock’s Loony Bin primarily relies on rock-solid regional acts who’ve built a strong following on the club circuit, The Grove has been willing to take a chance pursuing more stars who’ve been featured on Comedy Central, America’s Got Talent and even Saturday

“... to make money, you have to spend money.”

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Night Live. The pay scales for comics, and the attendant ticket prices vary depending on the size of the name involved. “We still have our regional favorites too, with a mural on the side of the building featuring four of our top comics, who also have drinks named after them on the menu,” Adams says. “But to make money, you have to spend money. We knew if we had these big superstars where the average person is going to know their name, people are going to come out to see them. If we wanted to have a couple weeks at a time where people are going to buy tickets to the shows, then we’d have to go for the names. Advertising is tough for us, but word of mouth goes a long way.” The Grove manages to fill its seats because Lowell is in the heart of a thriving five-city hub that includes Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville, all of which have diverse audiences with money to spend. Among the biggest draws that The Grove has featured are former SNL star Rob Schneider, who sold out an incredible 14-show run, working three weekends in a row in the club while shooting a movie the rest of the week in Louisiana. Other recent SNL alums have included Jay Pharoah and Tim Meadows, with ’80s superstar Bobcat Goldthwait another big name gracing the stage, and Rodney Carrington’s “wild” fan base provided the most boisterous weekend the club has seen. “We have to treat all these stars nicely of course, because if you treat even one badly, they’ll spread the word to everyone else on the scene,” Adams says. “So the waitstaff always treats them respectfully, and the owners are always on hand to take care of their every need. We want to make sure that they have a good time because if they have a good time here, they’re going to perform better.” Ultimately, the secret to offering a standout experience to Hollywood-level stars lies in the fact that Arkansas itself manages to step up and shine when it matters most.

“A lot of people think, ‘Arkansas, I don’t want to go to a redneck state where there’s nothing but trees and deer meat,’” Adams says with a laugh. “But in Northwest Arkansas, it’s very nice and respectable, and that’s been a surprise to a lot of comedians that have never been to Arkansas. They’ve not seen how well puttogether we are.” To learn more about The Grove and find tickets, visit grovecomedy.com or call (479) 347-4966.

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David Arquette in a promotional poster for the upcoming Scream movie. (Paramount)

the

Christina McLarty and David Arquette Helping to Make Arkansas a Main Attraction BY DUSTIN JAYROE

David and Christina at Filmland. (Courtesy)

Fate and destiny are some of cinema’s most powerful storytelling tools. You’ll find it everywhere, from rom-coms to horror and everything in between. It works because it’s popular, and it’s popular because it works. We humans are a romantic sort, so stories — and life — just feel better when it seems like it was all meant to be. It’s hard to miss that romanticism when it comes to David and Christina. He, a descendant among a lineage of Arquette actors and actresses, a perennial journeyman and Jack of many trades; she, the journalistturned-producer and daughter of one of Ar-

kansas’ favorite families. Fate, for the sake of this story at least, brought them together. And they’ve got quite a script cooked up for Christina’s home state. She says they first met at a mutual friend’s ’80s boat party. The New York University alum and former journalist at KATV-Channel 7 was well into her career trajectory to this point, which had taken her from those roots at KATV to blossoming at Entertainment Tonight. So “mutual friends” being actual movie stars had become fairly commonplace for her. David, however, was rather uncommon. “David had about eight outfit changes because he loves costumes and wardrobe changes,” she says with a laugh about the aymag.com

night they met. “I guess it could be a ‘meetcute.’ Is that what everybody calls them now [in] these rom-coms? It was definitely a random meeting, but obviously now we have two children together.” The two dated for a few years and then married in April 2015. But it was actually after having their first child together, Charlie, in 2014 that this current trajectory took shape. Christina had taken some time off to be home with him, and around this same time one of David’s friends, filmmaker Matthew Cooke, was having trouble finishing a documentary called Survivors Guide To Prison. The two agreed to come on board to help Cooke, and Christina felt her old flame for news and documentaries rekindle. The film, which features the likes of Cynthia Nixon, Danny Trejo, Susan Sarandon, Danny Glover, Patricia Arquette, Ice-T and Macklemore, was released in 2018. It would be Christina’s first official producing credit, and actually motivated her to pursue a master’s degree in clinical counseling. The Hope native was just getting started.

Like that night with eight outfits when he met Christina, David’s career has mostly followed the beat of his own drum, without much of a cast or mold to confine him. Sure, most are familiar singularly with his work as an actor, foremost for his role as Dewey Riley in the Scream franchise. But that’s only a piece, a sliver of what’s brought him to where he is today. David is quite the dabbler, also working as a producer, director, writer and professional wrestler. “If you’ve been in this business long enough, you know that waiting around for the phone to ring or your next audition is going to drive you crazy,” he tells AY About You. “So you have to have other things going on. And you also never know what’s gonna become a reality and what’s not.” He recalls a recent example of a script he worked on for nine years that, as it turns out, “nobody wanted.” So he and his friend converted it into a comic for Heavy Metal Magazine.

“You never know when things are going to come together,” he says. “So it’s good to have a lot of different pots on the fire.” Recently, one of those pots has become quite clownish. Toward the end of 2020, he acquired the rights to Bozo the Clown, a project that he says took 15 years to finalize, but really his entire career to be able to pull off. All for a simple motivation, really — he loved Bozo as a kid, and always dreamed of bringing him back. That and, well, a rather comical analogy. “Clowns often reflect society, and it’s just sort of a reflection of where we are, the fact that scary clowns are taking up all the air in the room,” he says. “So I really just want to help kids not be scared of clowns, to put a face out there of a clown that’s doing good and having fun, making people laugh. “He had a saying, ‘It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.’ So if we can all sort of start adapting attitudes like that, that’s sort of the goal of it.” But it was actually his grandfather — not Christina — that established his first connection to Arkansas. Cliff Arquette was famous in the 1950s for his fictional persona Charley Weaver, the “wild old man from Mount Idy,” a place that sort of sounds like Mount Ida, the Arkansas town. Mount Ida would eventually claim Charley Weaver as a “favorite son,” and even establish an official “Charley Weaver Day” in his honor. If Cliff were around today, one imagines the comedian would get a kick out of the irony that his grandson wound up with a woman who was born just a few miles south of “Idy.” Whether destiny or coincidence, it’s a pretty good punchline.

After working on Survivors Guide to Prison together, the Arquettes became a production tandem — Christina feeling like her background in journalism had prepped her well to break into producing, and David always happy to have a few extra pots on the stove. They screened the documentary at that year’s Filmland, a film festival put on annually by the Arkansas Cinema Society. Christina now serves on the organization’s board, and in December was elected president. “It was that experience that led us to turn our attention toward Arkansas,” Christina says. That attention began with 12 Hour Shift, a horror-comedy produced by the duo that was shot almost entirely at a hospital in Jonesboro. “It was really a fun experience to come back to the Natural State and shoot a film,” she says. “And everybody was so supportive and kind and lovely, and it was just such an amazing experience.” Off the heels of that came a project that hit even closer to home than home — You Cannot Kill David Arquette. The critically acclaimed documentary tracked David’s triumphant return to professional wrestling 20 years after winning the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. It won Best Documentary at the Charlotte Film Festival in 2020, and the Adobe Editing Award at that year’s SXSW Film Festival. “He was tired of being trolled, and came back and proved himself,” Christina says. “And that was a really huge growing experience for me as a producer because I pretty much did every job on that film. So I really learned a lot, just as far as my own capabilities and also just learning all the different roles in film.” The two, along with Bryn Mooser and Christina’s cousin Franklin McLarty, also founded a nonfiction entertainment studio called XTR. The company has worked on a number of different high-profile productions since its inception, including an untitled docuseries in the works about Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr.

(From left): Alison Williams, Chief of Staff to Gov. Asa Hutchinson/ACS board member, Jennifer Gerber, executive director of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, Christina Arquette and Kathryn Tucker, ACS executive director, at Filmland 2021. (Courtesy)

In summer 2020, still among the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, an Arquette production called Ghosts of the Ozarks was approved to film in Arkansas. It made national news as one of the first films greenlit for production after the entertainment industry’s screeching halt. The film stars Thomas Hobson, Tim Blake Nelson, Phil Morris and David himself, as well as another venerable Arkansas filmmaker, Graham Gordy. As the Arquettes and their ilk have brought more Arkansas scenes to the big screens, the state has become more accepting and hospitable to filmmakers in lockstep, thus creating an equitable snowball effect. In April 2021, legislators passed a pivotal bill providing more incentives to productions filmed in Arkansas, a move that makes the state a more attractive destination for actors, directors and producers, and also will provide a positive kinetic force to local communities. “It really helps because when you provide these tax credits, it really has a halo effect for restaurants in the area, hotels … I think it’s just a great opportunity,” David says. He goes on to offer his respect to the people who made it happen because he knows it’s not easy deciding what the hard-earned dollars of taxpayers will go toward. But he believes that initiatives like this are the kind that “pay back and give back” through jobs, opportunities, tourism — a cinematic economic flow-through, so to speak. Both David and Christina participated in the 2021 Filmland festival in Little Rock, to which Jessica Chastain, a Golden Globe-winning and Academy Award-nominated actress, was a special guest. When she arrived, one of the first things out of her mouth was how excited she was to be in Arkansas, and how many good things she’d heard

about filming in the state. “That kind of narrative is what we love to share with people,” Christina says. “Don’t go to Oklahoma City, don’t go to the other markets around us. Come to Arkansas because it’s just an incredible state, and really is its own character. “I mean, if you look at other states that are really successful, like Georgia, New Mexico, obviously we’d love to be competitive with them — especially Georgia. We’re not quite there yet, but we’re moving in the right direct direction.”

During one of the recent trips David made to town, he visited the Arkansas State Capitol. The typical fanfare may or may not have ensued, complete with a legislator (who will remain unnamed) asking the star to sign his childhood Scream mask. “I got all nervous,” David says with a laugh. “I think I misspelled something on his mask that he had from school. I feel so bad about it. I messed up his cherished mask.” One supposes that is another bit of comedic irony surrounding the filmmaker and Arkansas. “Ghostface” has always been a thorn in his side. As he (or she) will be again this month, with the release of the latest installment in the Scream franchise, for which David is reprising his role as Dewey. It will be the first film in the series in more than 10 years, and David is joined by most of the familiar faces of the beloved horror series, such as Neve Campbell and ex wife Courteney Cox, as well as some newcomers in Melissa Barrera, Jack Quaid, Dylan Minnette and Jenna Ortega, who all appear to be this next generation’s targets — or killers. aymag.com

“Scream is a classic whodunnit, so you never know what’s gonna happen,” David says of the upcoming film. “Matt [Bettinelli-Olpin] and Tyler [Gillett], the directors, were so incredible. They were inspired by Wes [Craven] and other filmmakers. They love horror. Their film Ready or Not had a great balance of horror and comedy. So the film’s really scary; it’s really funny as well. It elevates all the ... worlds it came from before, and now Woodsboro’s more diverse. We have this incredible

care that much with no other intentions behind it, who just really want the best for you and believe in you.” It’s a Craven-sized canyon the whole original cast likely felt when making this film. But David says he definitely felt his presence on set, like in the way the wind moved during certain scenes. “It definitely felt like Wes was around.” Scream may be a wrap, but

David and Christina led panels and workshops at Filmland 2021. (Courtesy)

cast. I saw them all getting to know each other. It really reminded me of the original cast. … So I think people are really going to be pleasantly surprised.” But for as comfortable as David has become in the role, one he’s played almost a half-dozen times over the span of more than 20 years, this addition to the saga was also new territory for him. It was the first Scream movie without director Wes Craven, who passed away in 2015. “I missed him a lot,” David says. “He was a really influential person on my life as a mentor, as a … collaborator. It was a dream to work with him. He was just such a kind man. “Originally, he didn’t even want to direct Scream. He was sort of trying to get out of the horror film world. But after they asked him a few times, he did. And thank God he did, because of just … some of the advice he’d given me on set. My mother was dying during Scream 2, and he sat me down — I was having a really hard time. He gave me a really fatherly, very kind, just man-to-man conversation. And I do feel it kind of changed the course of my life. There’s not a lot of people you meet along this road who

there’s still plenty of pots staying active in the Arquette home. The two spend most of their time in Nashville, Tennessee, with their two sons. David’s daughter from his previous marriage lives in Los Angeles, so he also fits in plenty of time to fly west to be with her. In between — both literally and figuratively — is Arkansas. A home away from home where they can make movies, inspire the next generation of talent, and celebrate holidays with the McLarty family. So as you head to the movies this month to see Scream, or grab a bite to eat in the River Market, or take a stroll through the downtown streets of Hope, keep your head up. You never know what Hollywood character you’ll rub shoulders with in Arkansas these days. As for David Arquette — it’s a place he has grown to love as much as any other.

THE END

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Powhatan Courthouse.

HISTORIC, HOSPITABLE, HOME:

Pocahontas Story and Photos By JOE DAVID RICE

ow can you not love an Arkansas town whose very origin can be traced back to barbecue? Not quite a century ago, the residents of Randolph County went to the polls to determine which community — either Bettis Bluff or Columbia — would serve as the official seat of county government. Ransom Bettis, founder of Bettis Bluff, and Thomas Drew, who’d married Bettis’ daughter Cinderella, hosted a party on their property on election day, providing free barbecue and an assortment of alcoholic beverages. Much like today, that proved to be a winning combination, and Bettis Bluff won the vote. Bettis had chosen a fine place to establish a town, a knoll overlooking the Black River. For reasons now lost to history, the locale became known as Pocahontas a few years later, one of nine towns in the country (and another in Canada) named in honor of the Native American princess. To see a life-sized statue of Pocahontas, visit the Black River Overlook Park just across U.S. Highway 67 from downtown. It’s a great photo op! Although it’s among the most historic communities in the Natural State, and I grew up in nearby Jonesboro, I didn’t know much about Pocahontas. So, I called up an old friend to get the lay of the land, who shared some helpful insights. For one thing, he credits Del Boyette and his Arkansas Economic Development Commission colleagues for getting the town on the right track in the 1990s. Working with local leaders, they eventually convinced several national companies to locate manufacturing plants in Pocahontas, creating key employment opportunities and igniting growth. Those efforts have paid off with Poca-

HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE AN ARKANSAS TOWN WHOSE VERY ORIGIN CAN BE TRACED BACK TO BARBECUE? Heritage Museum. Among the exhibits are: the River Room (dedicated to the five rivers coursing through Randolph County); the Medical Room (tracing the early practice of medicine in the county); and the Crosby Button Factory (explaining how buttons were produced from the mussel shells extracted from the Black River). Be sure to ask for a map of the Randolph County Quilt Trail before you leave (50 historic quilts have been reproduced on the exterior walls of buildings in the national historic district). Another downtown point of interest is The Downtown Playhouse. The 2022 season will offer three long-time favorites: Our Town, Crimes of the Heart and The Mousetrap. Surrounded by a small fence and located on the grounds of the current Randolph County

Buttercream Bakery (right) and the Randolph County Courthouse (below).

hontas registering an 11.5 percent population gain for the 2010-20 decade, far greater than many Arkansas communities and better than three times the growth of the entire state. Wendy French, interim director for the Randolph County Chamber of Commerce, agrees. A transplant from nearby Lawrence County, she’s been with the chamber a full decade now. She’s especially proud that the industrial development continues, mentioning the new Peco Foods plant, which employs some 1,300 workers. She also notes that Pocahontas offers a surprising array of tourism opportunities, many of which have gone unrecognized by the rest of the state. We’ll start with the historic downtown district, a 17-block complex highlighted by the imposing 1872 courthouse in the middle of the town square. The district also includes the state’s oldest continuously operating drugstore (Futrell’s Pharmacy, dating from 1854, with a 1950s-era soda fountain) and Arkansas’ oldest continuously operating barber shop (the 1893 Sanitary Barber Shop). Other businesses in the historic district include The Buttercream Bakery, Black River Beads & Pottery (now celebrating its 20th year), art gallery, flea market, day spa and a variety store featuring Arkansas products. A highlight of the Pocahontas Downtown Historic District is the Randolph County

Gift shops and historical sites are plentiful throughout the city and in the downtown square. Courthouse is one of the state’s more unusual attractions: the Pocahontas Meteorite. Legend has it that the heavy stone blasted across the skies of northeast Arkansas in the summer of 1859 before crashing to earth, landing just north of the present-day Black River Overlook Park. It was eventually relocated to a residence near downtown where souvenir hunters whittled away about two-thirds of the stone over the years before its relocation to the courthouse lawn. Unfortunately, scientists have determined that this stone has no heavenly origins, but is simply a regular old rock. Civil Rights enthusiasts will appreciate the Eddie Mae Herron Center & Museum. Occupying the building that housed the original St. Mary’s African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Pocahontas Colored School, the facility preserves and interprets the history of slavery and African Americans in northeastern Arkansas. Traditional quilt-making classes are held weekly and, during February’s Black History Month, hog-butchering and sausage-making demonstrations can be observed. Eddie Mae Herron was the sole teacher in the Pocahontas Colored School, instructing children in grades one through eight; older students were bused

an hour south to the segregated high school in Newport. The Pocahontas Colored School closed in 1965 when the city integrated its public school system. One of Pocahontas’ many advantages is its very location. Nicely situated on the historic Southwest Trail, the original community is perched above the rich Black River bottoms. Hunters have been bagging limits of ducks in recent years and anglers and canoeists/kayakers have taken to the Current and Eleven Point Rivers. Truckees Canoe and Cabin Rental rents a variety of watercraft, offers several options for vacation packages, and will even shuttle those arriving with their own equipment. Folks interested in pioneer life will want to consider a couple of easy side-trips from Pocahontas. Fifteen or so miles northwest of town is the community of Dalton on the Eleven Point River. As you approach Dalton, you’ll spot the Rice-Upshaw House on your left. Now fully restored, this dwelling will soon celebrate its 200th anniversary. Although only open on certain Saturdays in the summer and fall, this classic structure, the oldest log dwelling in Arkansas, is readily visible from Arkansas Highway 93. Just a short distance further

up the road is the Looney Tavern, the state’s oldest log commercial building. This one-anda-half-story dog trot is only open to the public on the selected occasions noted above and is not readily accessed. About a dozen miles northeast of Pocahontas is the Maynard Pioneer Park and Museum. The original log cabin is more than 100 years old and is filled with historical artifacts. The site also includes a playground and four RV hookups. Pocahontas is also fortunate to have two fine state parks in the area. Old Davidsonville State Park is located about 10 miles southwest of town. Originally boasting the first post office (established in 1815) in the

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Arkansas Territory, Davidsonville gradually faded away when it was bypassed by the railroad. But “ghost structures” have now been erected to give visitors a sense of what this historic community could have looked like 200 years ago. A series of easy walking trails help guests glimpse a sense of the past. Another few miles beyond Old Davidsonville is Powhatan Historic State Park. This small but significant park overlooking the Black River features the magnificent 1888 courthouse with interpretive exhibits, a log cabin, church, school and a jail (always popular with children). Readers interested in the Arkansas music scene will be interested to know that Pocahontas anchors the north end of Arkansas’ Rock ‘n’ Roll Highway 67. Gary Gazaway, a Pocahontas musician who performed with such artists as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Steve Winwood, Joe Cocker and Phish, suggested the idea for a “Rockabilly Highway” back in 2005. It would commemorate the role that nightclubs up and down U.S. 67 had on the careers of Arkansans Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, Sonny Burgess and Billy Lee Riley, along with other recording stars such as Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison and Jerry Lee Lewis. During the political process, the project got a new name: Rock ‘n’ Roll Highway 67. Gov. Mike Beebe signed the legislation on March 20, 2009. And, now, back to barbecue. Nearly 100 years later, it’s still a fine tradition in Randolph County. On the south side of town is Brown’s Delta Bar-B-Que. To the west is Hickory Bar-B-Que. Both are worth a visit.

Powhatan Historic State Park.

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s ’ e r G u t Y a A N PL Make Arkansas State Parks Part of Your New Year’s Resolutions By SARAH RUSSELL Photos courtesy ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, HERITAGE AND TOURISM

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xcuse me — your inner child would like to have a word with you. Yes, it knows being an adult is hard work, but your subsequent fast-food binges, constant couching and 24/7 electronics are a downward slide — mentally, physically and emotionally. Every child knows the obvious solution: playtime! Mother Nature has your back with her Arkansas State Parks, playgrounds for all ages. “Been there, done that,” grumbles the adult that you are. Maybe yes, maybe no. You see, there are lots of things to do that you never imagined would be available in a state park. The adult in you wails, “Winter!” Yes, indeed, winter — trees bared for better views, fewer people and pests, cooler temps for the hotblooded types … perfect. One of the most fun activities doesn’t even require weaning from electronics. Basically, a treasure hunt, it’s called geocaching. Using a GPS or smartphone, coordinates are downloaded which tell you where every cache (rhymes with “stash”) is hidden. Generally, caches — i.e., containers — hold “treasure” for you to take and to replace, some sort of fun or interesting mini-items. “When I became Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, I set a goal to visit all 52 State Parks,” says Sec. Stacy Hurst. Want to challenge yourself as well? Know that there is not only a cache in each park, but also a 53rd bonus cache out there too. Once found, document your cache officially and sure, go ahead — post to Instagram, Twitter, with a visual diary of your conquests. While you’re out and about geocaching, you can also try some

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When Hurst says, “There is literally something for everyone at our Arkansas State Parks,” she is most certainly true to her word.

other new things in the parks. Okay, so what do postal workers and golfers have in common? Rain, sleet, snow, they’re out there. Golf aficionados, sometimes critiqued by a few Canadian geese, can be found at the well-regarded courses at DeGray Lake Resort State Park and Village Creek State Park. What you might not know is that both locations have the newest in town — Fling Golf. You might have seen this combination of golf and lacrosse on Shark Tank. Easier to learn than standard golf, players use a “fling stick” to toss the ball down the course and to then complete their putt. Long-term, it proves to be much less expensive than conventional golf. And it can be a fun way to introduce others to golf. Want to try? The parks will loan you the stick for your play, just pay the usual green fees. By the way, there are no entrance fees at the parks. The other golf doesn’t require any fees, any sticks or clubs — just bring a frisbee. Yes, that’s the only equipment needed for disc golf, another great activity for the gym-averse. The

frisbee was created by toy inventor “Steady” Ed Headrick, who enthusiastically said of his product, “What could possibly be better than walking through a beautiful park and throwing at trees, drinking fountains, open car windows and an occasional coed?” No doubt with the protection of coeds and wildlife in mind, DeGray set up its own disc golf course. “Steady” Ed didn’t have a hand in this, just Mother Nature and professional disc golf designer, Arkansan Matt Loyd. By the time you have finished, you will have been through forest, over rolling hills and streams as well as along the lake’s incredible shoreline, leaving calories behind with every “swing.” While you are out and about, don’t forget to look up, especially during a trip to the Ozark Folk Center. The National Geographic Adventure Magazine named Mountain View, the town in which the park is located, as one of its top 50 adventure towns. And how many state parks offer a high wire rope course? This one offers 30 challenges with varying difficulty levels. Give it your all on the Flying Pig

Take up a game of disc golf, visit a historic museum or just trek through nature with the whole family.

Zipline, the Hotshot Freefall or the Planks Peak Climbing wall. Serious wing watching is to be had at Mount Nebo as well as Mount Magazine, the state’s highest point. Each park offers launch sites and totally different views for certified hang gliders. Can’t glide? Just watching is an adrenaline rush. Birds, too, will be showing off their aerial skills. The state’s geography is unique in that it provides a rare corridor, a sort of interstate for winged creatures. Species that you would normally have to travel to see will be coming to you, multiple migrating species of hawks, falcons, ospreys and, yep, that was a vulture! A notable visitor is the bald eagle, America’s national symbol. International birders, too, will be visitors, drawn to this bird’s known winter mecca. You will be in awe watching the eagles make a descent of up to 100 miles per

hour as they go to pick up their fish dinner. With a wingspan that can go over 7 feet and distance vision almost four times that of a human, they are a formidable rival for fishermen and other birds alike. No doubt, Arkansas birds — of which there are more than 400 species! — have long since learned who has the right-of-way in the skies. Pop quiz: What’s the Arkansas state bird? That would be the Northern Mockingbird, which not only has a repertoire of 200 calls, but also the ability to remember individuals. You might want to be nice if you plan to come back. They’ve been known to show some serious attitude. Among all this macho is a rather gentle sort. At Mount Magazine, migrating butterflies can be seen using the same updrafts the gliders and eagles use to clear the mountains. To avoid the traffic jams, these creatures start

passing through in late summer to early fall. On their way to their winter vacation in the Mexican mountains, they’ll pause to munch on the park’s wildflowers or stay together in its “tree hotels.” Tagged and released, some of these monarchs will later provide valuable information for conservationists. Rather jump in? Snorkeling and scuba diving are great at DeGray and the Cossatot River, as well as Lake Ouachita. At 40,000 acres, the latter is the state’s largest lake and one of the country’s most pristine. That allows exceptional viewing as you swim among multiple fish species, harmless jellyfish, sponges,

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rocks, plants and mussels. The word “OuachiParks Passport — the only passport you might Can you bring your tent to stay? Sure, ta” loosely translated from its Native Ameribe able to use this year. Get it at any park, but know you have options — including can origins means “big hunt.” You might want then have it stamped as you go. Kids in tow? Yurts, the modern take-off of the nomadic to launch your own hunt for the underwater Expand their experiences exponentially by tents used by the Mongolians. There’s also memorial Fearless Rock. It’s a tribute to Hot signing them up for the State Park Explorer Camper Cabins, a lower-priced option to the Springs native and Navy Seal Adam Brown Program. It’s designed for kids 6-14, but this standard cabins as well as the Rent-An-RV who lost his life in Afghanistan as a member is one place where fudging on your age is just option available at several parks. Not feeling of the Seal’s legendary Team Six. fine. And know too that if you’d like, there is a quite so outdoorsy? There are hotels available, Your chosen hunt might be with trowels. whole team of highly trained and experienced including the Jailhouse Bed and Breakfast at The Crater of Diamonds State Park is literRangers and Interpreters who really do enjoy the Washington State Park. Resident ghost ally Mother Nature’s jewelry box. She and sharing their passion for Mother Nature with and former inmate, Mr. Evans, might show the Arkansas State Parks system don’t mind you. Not only do they offer guided tours of all himself for a harmless hello. sharing, meaning you can keep what you sorts, but the parks teams are quite the event When Hurst says, “There is literally somefind. That might be white, brown and yellow planners, constantly changing up classes and thing for everyone at our Arkansas State diamonds, amethyst, jasper, agate as well as activities. Before you know it, you’ll be transParks,” she is most certainly true to her word. other crystals and minerals. Rains that come formed — sparkly as a Crater diamond, fun as If you decide to challenge yourself with with winter and early spring make spotting Fling Golf and soaring with the eagles. Your Hurst’s goal of visiting all 52 parks this year, easier in this more than 30-acre field. Hog inner child is going to be so proud of you! then you’ll want to pick up the Arkansas State farmer John Huddleston found the first gems. Spreading rock salt on what was then his field, he found some “rocks” of his own. He left plenty. This past year, close to 300 From the caves of Devil’s Den to the lodges of Mount Magazine and the diamonds diamonds alone were found. One former and camp sites in between, Arkansas has a lot to offer. park diamond named the “Kahn Canary” has been spotted at two gubernatorial and one presidential inauguration, worn by one Mrs. Hillary Clinton. Kahn is an impressive 4.25 carats, but top dog status belongs to the “Uncle Sam” diamond — 40.23 carats. Speaking of dogs — yes, you can bring your leashed dog to any state park. Heck, for that matter, bring your horse. Various parks such as Crowley’s Ridge at Village Creek State Park, Devil’s Den State Park and Mount Magazine offer you miles of rides. Want to spend the night? Some of the state’s parks have special campgrounds for you and your horse to bed down under the stars. Seasonally, horses are available not only for rent but also for a guided tour at DeGray Lake Resort State Park, Lake Catherine State Park and Pinnacle Mountain State Park.

Arkansas State Parks ARKANSAS MUSEUM OF NATURAL RESOURCES

HERMAN DAVIS STATE PARK

LOUISIANA PURCHASE STATE PARK

ARKANSAS POST MUSEUM

HISTORIC WASHINGTON STATE PARK

LOWER WHITE RIVER MUSEUM STATE PARK

BULL SHOALS-WHITE RIVER STATE PARK

HOBBS STATE PARK-CONSERVATION AREA

MAMMOTH SPRING STATE PARK

CANE CREEK STATE PARK

JACKSONPORT STATE PARK

MARKS’ MILLS BATTLEGROUND STATE PARK

CONWAY CEMETERY STATE PARK

JENKINS’ FERRY BATTLEGROUND STATE PARK

MILLWOOD STATE PARK

COSSATOT RIVER STATE PARK-NATURAL AREA

LAKE CATHERINE STATE PARK

MISSISSIPPI RIVER STATE PARK

CRATER OF DIAMONDS STATE PARK

LAKE CHARLES STATE PARK

MORO BAY STATE PARK

CROWLEY’S RIDGE STATE PARK

LAKE CHICOT STATE PARK

MOUNT MAGAZINE STATE PARK

DAISY STATE PARK

LAKE DARDANELLE STATE PARK

MOUNT NEBO STATE PARK

DAVIDSONVILLE HISTORIC STATE PARK

LAKE FORT SMITH STATE PARK

OZARK FOLK CENTER STATE PARK

DEGRAY LAKE RESORT STATE PARK

LAKE FRIERSON STATE PARK

PARKIN ARCHEOLOGICAL STATE PARK

DELTA HERITAGE TRAIL STATE PARK

LAKE OUACHITA STATE PARK

PETIT JEAN STATE PARK

DEVIL’S DEN STATE PARK

LAKE POINSETT STATE PARK

PINNACLE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK

HAMPSON ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM STATE PARK

LOGOLY STATE PARK

PLANTATION AGRICULTURE MUSEUM

Smackover Gillett

Bull Shoals Star City Bradley Wickes

Murfreesboro Paragould Kirby

Pocahontas Bismarck

Helena-West Helena West Fork Wilson

Manila

Washington Rogers

Newport Leola

Hot Springs Powhatan

Lake Village Russellville

Mountainburg Jonesboro

Mountain Pine Harrisburg Magnolia

Brinkley Des Arc

Mammoth Spring Fordyce

Ashdown

Marianna Jersey Paris

Dardanelle

Mountain View Parkin

Morrilton

Little Rock Scott

POISON SPRINGS BATTLEGROUND STATE PARK Camden

POWHATAN HISTORIC STATE PARK Powhatan

PRAIRIE GROVE BATTLEFIELD STATE PARK Prairie Grove

QUEEN WILHELMINA STATE PARK Mena

SOUTH ARKANSAS ARBORETUM El Dorado

TOLTEC MOUNDS ARCHEOLOGICAL STATE PARK Scott

VILLAGE CREEK STATE PARK Arkansas State Parks Map.

Wynne

WHITE OAK LAKE STATE PARK Bluff City

WITHROW SPRINGS STATE PARK Huntsville

WOOLLY HOLLOW STATE PARK Greenbrier

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Desoto County MISSISSIPPI

Don’t let the frigid weather freeze your travel plans this season. Here are some of our favorite places to visit during the winter months.

With activities that cater to the whole family, DeSoto County, Mississippi, is a wonderful weekend getaway destination. Home to Hernando, Horn Lake, Olive Branch, Southaven and Walls, DeSoto County offers unique and varied experiences, all of which are just minutes from Memphis.

January 24 - January 30, 2022

From small businesses to designer brands, DeSoto County boasts plenty of options for those looking for a little retail therapy. Tanger Outlets in Southaven has more than 70 stores on site, and the town boasts many locally owned boutiques such as Stella Ivy and Janie Rose in Southaven, Jimberly’s Boutique in Olive Branch or Pink Zinnia in Hernando, just to name a few. If you’re looking for unique pieces to elevate your home decor, Side Alley Gifts & Cafe in Hernando or Ultimate Gifts in Southaven provide just what you need to complete your space.

After working up an appetite, head to Olive Branch. It’s home to many locally owned establishments found just outside the town’s historic area. Visit the talented teams behind SideStreet Burgers, OB Pizza Co., Mississippi Ale House and Backwater Cider Company for delicious bites and drinks. Elfo Grisanti’s in Southaven is a must, too. If upscale dining is what you’re after, prepare yourself for a Northern Italian menu complete with original Grisanti family recipes. Finally, stop by City Hall Cheesecake at Silo Square in Southaven or on Commerce Street in Hernando for a sweet treat you won’t soon forget. No weekend trip to the top of the Magnolia State is complete without outdoor activities and a little history. You can cast a line or bike along the Mighty Mississippi at the Hernando DeSoto River Park in Walls. Have a green thumb? Brussel’s Bonsai Nursery in Olive Branch is the largest of its kind in the United States and is devoted entirely to growing beautiful bonsai trees of all shapes and sizes. Speaking of trees, dig a little deeper into our roots with a drive along the Mississippi Blues Trail or by touring The Lewis Ranch, home of musical mastermind Jerry Lee Lewis.

Support your favorite local restaurants (or find a new fav!) for the chance to to win prizes. Details: www.northlittlerock.org

Just minutes from Memphis, DeSoto County is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by … YOU! For more information, visit www.visitdesotocounty.com.

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Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, located in Eureka Springs, and sprawling across 459 acres atop the Ozark Mountains is home for some of these victims. Their mission is to provide a lifetime refuge for abandoned, abused and neglected big cats. In 2021, the Turpentine Creek family rescued 18 animals over five rescues. As a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, the sanctuary depends entirely on the support of donors to keep these animals fed and to provide the necessary medical care to ensure quality of life. With almost 100 animal residents, that is a hefty food and veterinarian care bill!

There are more captive exotic cats in America than live in the wild. Fewer than 1,000 live in Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoos and sanctuaries. An estimated 6,000–9,000 live in often deplorable conditions in backyards, roadside zoos and sideshows. Many are held in speed-breeding private ownership facilities to supply the demand for cub-petting services. But what happens when the cubs become too dangerous? Many find their way into private ownership as pets. It isn’t long before the owners realize they bought a large and dangerous predator consuming 10 or more pounds of meat daily that at full size will weigh more than 400 pounds. They realize they have a predator, not a pet.

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge has received accreditation through the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) as well as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). They earned Guide Star’s Platinum Seal of Transparency in 2020. Charity Navigator scored them 100 out of 100 for their Financial and Accountability score. All of this makes Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge a great place to visit. Every dollar from admissions, gift shop sales and revenue from their unique lodging options goes back to caring for the animals. Through public education they work to end the Exotic Animal Trade, making sanctuaries like Turpentine Creek no longer necessary.

Together, we can preserve and protect these magnificent predators in the wild for our children’s future. So go WILD for wildlife and be sure to visit TCWR.org for more information about this amazing sanctuary, one of the best attractions in the nation and proud to be in Arkansas!

239 Turpentine Creek Lane • Eureka Springs, AR • 479-253-5841 • TCWR.org

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travel

A New Season

The city of Pine Bluff gets a lift with a brand-new, innovative public library that is aesthetically pleasing, advanced in technology and a refreshing resource. By JULIE CRAIG // Photos By JAMISON MOSLEY 81

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ocated in downtown Pine Bluff at the corner of 6th Avenue and Main Street sits a two-and-a-half-story, 34,000-square-foot getaway. It’s the new public library, and its eye-catching, modern exterior, in sharp contrast to the historic, more traditional buildings that surround it, is just the beginning of what lies ahead once inside. Director Ricky Williams has been involved with the Pine Bluff Public Library for more than four years now. He first started as the IT manager, followed by assistant director before his current role. A labor of love, the library took two entire years to complete, half of Williams’ tenure, because of COVID-19 delays. But, the end result was well worth it. Built by East Harding Construction and designed by Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects, the building is a true masterpiece that not only provides a feast for the eyes but a favorable function for the city. “This project will always hold a special place in my heart, because not only did I get a chance to be a part of history in Pine Bluff, but I also got a chance to give the community emerging technology needed in the area,” Williams says. Mildred Franco is the executive director of The Generator, located across the street, and a partner with organizations like the library, leveraging each building’s resources to amplify community reach. The Generator is an innovation hub powered by Go Forward Pine Bluff, an entrepreneur support organization (ESO) and a digital skill learning center that includes a makerspace. This new concept provides coworking space, technology and programs to encourage innovation, collaboration, making and entrepreneurship for young and old alike. “The downtown landscape has been brought into the 21st century by this beautiful facility designed by award-winning architect Reese Rowland,” Franco says. “The community now has a beautiful place to gather, explore and learn. Ricky Williams brings his energy and passion to this new facility. Under his leadership, the library is engaging with the com-

munity and providing more value every day. “The Pine Bluff community felt immense pride in the opening of this new facility, and we have been working extremely hard to revitalize the city to restore downtown. The new library signals the beginning of a new era for Main Street.” The library’s futuristic exterior is modern in design because of its many geometric angles and a facade of glass, which also aids with energy efficiency. The building includes many low e-glass windows that allow natural sunlight and minimize energy costs. Plus, an LED lighting control system saves on energy by dimming the lights according to how much natural light the building receives. For now, the community can stay warm inside, but once warmer weather arrives in the spring, the library will offer outdoor seating areas in the front and rear so that patrons can grab a book and enjoy the weather at the same time. Dr. Ryan Watley, CEO of Go Forward Pine Bluff says, “The library’s unique architecture and services make it a point of destination. To date, the library has hosted two Leadership Arkansas Classes, the Arkansas Highway Commission and many more influential groups. “I’m excited that we have such a facility to help address one of the more threatening stats to our community - the literacy rate. It must improve, and it will be improved through this facility and intentional leadership. Mr. Williams does a great job.” Inside, regal — and still modern to complement the exterior — hues of rich, bright gold are awash throughout, covering a striking oval shape that runs across every floor space. Many walls remain off-white to show off bolder accent colors of lime green, purple and powder blue. A mixture of stained concrete covers 80 percent of the flooring, while luxury vinyl tile is used in the meeting rooms with carpet in the labs. Oddshaped furniture completes the modern adventure and sets the library apart from many other businesses in the area. Williams says, “The city of Pine Bluff has been working on rebuilding the downtown area, and the library being built on Main Street paved the way for more similar-style buildings to be constructed in the future here in downtown Pine Bluff.” Vice President of Economic Development for the Economic De-

velopment Alliance for Jefferson County Nancy McNew says, “The new library has added a state-of-the-art educational piece to our community. It offers much more than your typical library and has been a beautiful architectural addition to our downtown. I’m very proud that we have a facility that boasts so many amenities for our community to utilize.” Besides the overall beautiful aesthetics of the exterior and interior, the library has several standout rooms not found in the former library. “The most popular areas in the library are the recording studios, public lab, study rooms, cafe and meeting rooms,” Williams says. “The recording studios, study rooms, cafe and meeting rooms are a few of many areas that we did not have at the old library, and patrons really enjoy the new additions that came along with the construction of the new library.” McNew adds, “My personal favorite part about the new library is how there is a section in the library for everyone. There are books for all ages, a teen lounge, a children’s area, computer room, kitchen area, recording studio, genealogy room, and they offer several classes throughout the year.” The training lab, in particular, stands out from many other areas within the library. “We decided to use iMacs for the training lab instead of PCs due to software programs exclusive to only Apple products,”

Williams says. The training lab is viewed as an area where patrons can deepen entrepreneurship skills by giving them a space to be creative with software programs such as Adobe Elements, Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro X. This area also includes two 3D printers that patrons can use to create and print objects. “The goal was to create a new staple in the community that attracts all patrons by providing advances in technology and access to programming that the community wouldn’t normally have access to,” Williams says. The teaching kitchen is another new area where patrons throughout the Pine Bluff community can come and gather to share nutritious meals and recipes. In the upcoming year, twice a month, there will be cooking classes centered around making many different restaurantstyle foods. “We hope to attract more teens to the kitchen by offering classes on foods they like to eat,” Williams says. The recording studios have been a very popular area for teens and young adults. The studios have primarily been used to record music of many different aspiring artists in the Pine Bluff area. Recording music is not the only function of the studios, however. “We also have a Canon 6D Mark III camera with a multiple lens option that can be checked out to use with a retractable green screen to host podcasts or create YouTube videos,” Williams says. “The construction of the new library has provided many citizens throughout the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County area with a sense of hope. The new library is one of the key pieces of the city of Pine Bluff revitalization. City and county leaders have gained the trust of the citizens within the community by making things happen here in Pine Bluff.”

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kin

ine

AT Bluf IO f N

ince becoming director of the Pine Bluff A&P Commission in 2018, Sheri Storie’s goal has been to develop new heritage tourism products and experiences that focus on the city’s rich, unique and multi-cultural history, which is predominantly African American. “This goal is in alignment with national and international tourism trends where visitors are seeking authentic locations that interpret true history,” she says. “Since heritage tourism had not been a priority in promoting Pine Bluff as a destination in the past, we basically had to start from scratch to develop new strategic brand language, marketing plan and products that we could implement immediately while the city began its revitalization efforts. Our approach was to promote the untold stories of the past, along with the structure, organizations and institutions that provided access to those stories at the time.” In just the past few years, the revitalization of Pine Bluff has rivaled anywhere else in the state. A few examples of this include: • “Rock Me Baby” bus tour • Civil rights, music, theater and film digital experiences created for its website during the pandemic • Downtown Pine Bluff ’s Delta Rhythm & Blues Cultural District • The Freedom and Blues Exhibition • Saracen Casino Resort • Pine Bluff Library

All this is in addition to the mainstays of the city, such as the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff Regional Park, the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, and more. “When people can see and experience for themselves everything Pine Bluff has to offer, they are greatly surprised and make plans for a return visit,” Storie says.

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Investing in Pine Bluff and Jefferson County since 1936.

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TROTTER TOYOTA

3801 BOBO ROAD PINE BLUFF • AR 71603 870-535-4321 trotterford.com

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There’s so much to explore in Pine Bluff.

Whether you’re a history buff, a nature lover, or you’re seeking an experience in the arts, Pine Bluff has something for you. Explore our contributions to the Blues genre, our connection to Native American tribes, our culinary treasures, and experience our history, arts, and culture at our many museums. For more information on all the great things to see and do in our city, visit ExplorePineBluff.com. 623 S. Main St, Pine Bluff, AR 71601 • 870.534.2121 v

Our

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Pine Bluff is Anything but Simple.

For more than 80 years FBT Bank has been committed to Southeast Arkansas communities. We happily call Pine Bluff home, and we’re proud to be a part of the city’s future and its ecnonomic growth. We’re here today, and we’ll be here tomorrow!

WE TAKE

PRIDE in PINE BLUFF!

Pine Bluff has been our home since 1873. We’ve educated and inspired many of the great minds who have enriched the city’s community and its economy. We are excited to be a part of Pine Bluff’s rich history, and look forward to playing a vital role in its exciting future.

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education

Are the Kids All Right By DWAIN HEBDA

A year ago, many educators and parents wondered what imprint the dramatic shift in delivering educational content brought about by COVID-19 would leave on their children. Cut off from face-to-face interaction with friends and teachers for months at a time, would the Pandemic Generation ultimately be the most resourceful in American history or spend years catching up to what had been lost to distance learning, mask mandates and fear?

ow, nearly two years since the COVID-19 reached Arkansas, education experts are beginning to get some answers to these essential questions. “We do have test results from last spring, and of course those test results are reflective of a school year with a lot of disruption, where a lot of students were either fulltime virtual students or virtual for a period of time based on circumstances,” says Ivy Pfeffer, deputy commission of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education with the Arkansas Department of Education. “We did see declines in test scores. The largest were in the lower grades, and that’s understandable because you had some of the students who had been out for quite some time and did not have that regular interaction with their teachers.” Arkansas isn’t alone in this category; when schools worldwide shut down or went virtual in 2020, the general assumption was it would have some negative effect. Test scores in the U.S. have borne this out, with what education advocates are calling the “COVID slide,” an enhanced version of the summer slide where children forget a percentage of coursework during summer break. As one education nonprofit has noted, that’s exactly what has happened. Through its MAP Growth adaptive assessment, Portland, Oregon-based NWEA compiled results from 5.5 million students in grades 3 through 8 who took the assessment in math and reading during the 2020-21 school year. They recently reported average reading scores were down 3 to 6 percentage points and math scores down 8 to 12 percentage points, compared to pre-pandemic levels. In state after state, news headlines carry the same sobering message: On average, K-12 students lost ground during virtual learning, returned to schools at a steeper knowledge deficit and are suffering smaller gains in learning as they’ve returned. Even private schools, which generally market themselves on higher academic achievement, couldn’t escape the drag virtual classes had on overall learning. “This generation of kids has shown resiliency in a way that none of their forebearers had to. Their resiliency came through in unique and trying circumstances, and it is an absolute fact that this generation of kids value greatly their education,” says Steve Straessle, principal of Catholic High School for Boys in Little Rock. “But with that realization came some complications. “Students have the world at their fingertips at any moment during class with the use of Chromebooks or other personal devices, but even the kids have realized the importance of in-person education and the importance of just old-fashioned being present. The [digital] alternative was a good option for the times, but in no way was it the full-

throttle, fast-moving, all-encompassing education that it could have been.” It should be noted that many schools in Arkansas are staging a comeback after having been derailed by the challenges of the pandemic. Statistics from the Department of Education’s Schools on the Move campaign show many are bucking the national trend, improving their index scores related to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which measures schools on several components. These include weighted achievement, growth, school quality, student success, progress to English language proficiency and graduation rate.

Parkview Elementary School in the Van Buren School District and the Academic Center for Excellence in the Cabot School District each improved their ESSA score by more than 10 points during the 2020-21 school year. Five other elementary schools, in the Ozark, Rogers, Greenwood, Poyen and Harrisburg school districts, increased their ESSA score between 5 and 6.5 points. Overall, 125 schools in Arkansas improved on the ESSA scale. What’s more, graduation rates have remained steady statewide, compared to some states where the number of new graduates fell by thousands of students. Still, while noting many schools are moving in the right direction, Pfeffer admits the challenges of educating Arkansas’ youth, pandemic or not, are as steep as ever. “I think the very first thing we have to continue to do is keep that focus on foundational literacy. We cannot let our foot off the gas when it comes to that,” she says. “That is absolutely the key to all of the successes that students are going to realize. When we think about foundational literacy, that extends even beyond 12th grade and ensuring that students all the way through their post-secondary education and into their careers are continuing to get those supports and opportunities that they need to take that next step.”

COVID ILLUMINATES CHALLENGES

hile it’s a squeamish feeling to think of COVID-19 as a catalyst for positive change, that’s exactly the case. Simply put, cracks throughout the foundation of the American education system — from technology disparity to teacher burnout to student mental health — were only marginally talked about until the pandemic shoved them into the spotlight. Technology inequities were a particularly difficult hurdle for most school districts and highlighted the gap between communities — sometimes between adjoining neighborhoods — when it came to access to devices and connectivity. Overnight, news reports became commonplace about students doing term papers on smartphones or families camping out at the local McDonald’s to use the free Wi-Fi in order to complete homework. Jessica Duff, executive director of communications for the Pulaski County Special School District, says seeing these issues up close continues to impact the district’s efforts to serve all children. “I think the biggest thing in terms of what it’s taught us and where we stand now is understanding that not all of our students and families are as successful as we assumed they were,” she says. “We understand now we have what we call the donut of Central Arkansas; several families that are more rural and have less access to readily available internet or reliable internet. “It’s really opened up our eyes to improving communication for the students and for the families, and as a result, I think right now we’re probably more connected to our families than we would have been had we not inherited this obstacle that made us reassess where we were with those com-

munication processes.” Duff says the district also reinforced connections with community resources, either created or strengthened to help the effort of providing for students’ needs. “When COVID first hit, we immediately made contact with churches and community groups to open up their doors,” she says. “We provided hotspots in their lobbies, and they would open up to families to have a healthy, safe space to do their learning. “When we did our meal programs, we again used those churches and those groups to help us with distributing the meals. If mom and dad were working and the kids couldn’t find a way to come and pick up their meals, they helped us facilitate getting it to them.” The increased stress of the pandemic also highlighted the need for schools to be particularly vigilant for signs of mental health issues among the student body. Straessle says, “Starting the school year last year, at our opening faculty meeting one thing that we absolutely agreed on — teachers, staff members, front office, maintenance, everybody — was that when it comes to the kids, we were going to employ the important cultural aspects of the words ‘I see you. I. See. You.’ “We committed ourselves to enhancing our already good grasp of where kids come from, who they are, their names, their interests and joys and so forth. But we were going to augment that even further by making sure that whether they are a square on a screen or sitting in a classroom 6 feet apart from everyone else with a mask on their face, they would know that we still see them and are actively seeking engagement in a variety of ways.”

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THE FUTURE

hen it came to the pandemic, Little Rock Christian Academy was about as stalwart for safely maintaining the status quo as one could find. When an online option was offered, a mere 7 percent of families took that route, a percentage that dropped by more than half the following semester. This fall, the doors opened to a campus that takes all requisite safety precautions while being fully in-person. It’s a blow struck for routine in a period that’s anything but, and it’s working, as the long wait list to attend here attests. “We knew things wouldn’t be normal, but we knew we could ‘do school,’” says Dr. Gary Arnold, president and head of school. “There was this deep appreciation among students for being allowed to do it, and it wasn’t because now they could study more or take tests more. It was because they could be back in a social environment and have the interaction and engagement and stimulation of being in community learning processes that are three-dimensional and not two-dimensional. “We had that advantage of presence and participation, which are self-perpetuating in school life. We struck gold on that note.” Such is not to say that Little Rock Christian doesn’t have its own pandemicrelated challenges. For one thing, the sputtering economy has put many families in a tenuous position as far as affording a private education. “During the official COVID pandemic season, we were especially sensitive to this and sought special gifts for tuition assistance we called Families Helping Families,” Arnold says. “There were some people who wanted to donate to help people who had lost their businesses or lost their job or needed to relieve themselves of their job to be with their children. “Now, we’re in the year of recovery, and we’re finding that demand for our education is up. And while we kept the tuition increase at a minimum during the COVID maelstrom, now we’re going to have to figure out the balance of how to not lose a step in inflationary times, and how do we not add extra burden onto families who are still under pressure. It’s that formula between tuition and tuition assistance that we’re grappling with right now.” One thing all school systems in Arkansas appear to be facing, public or private, is a dearth of teachers. Not unlike front-line health care workers who are leaving their jobs in droves over burnout, job stress and other factors, a similar trend is afoot among teachers. “What’s happened in the health care sector is happening in education, where teachers were considered superheroes, and that has waned this year,” Duff says. “Morale is lower because teachers are still going through the same hardships that they had before, but they don’t have as much of that support. In the mindset of some parents, and I’m not speaking

for every parent, but for some it’s, ‘Last year was crazy, but now we’re in another year.’ However, COVID is still impacting the way these teachers do their instruction and work with these students. “As a result, we are seeing that burnout. It’s evidenced in this teacher shortage that we’re seeing across the country. It’s evidenced in the substitute teacher shortage that we have. We have, on a daily basis, a handful of teachers who would have taken the day off because they need that mental health

day, they need that break, but we don’t have the substitutes to fill for whatever reason.” To help reverse this trend, the Arkansas Department of Education is rolling out a new teacher residency program, says Pfeffer, set to go live with the fall 2022 term. “The teacher residency is a model for the future,” she says. “It’s a new way to provide teacher preparation in that it brings together our higher education partners with our school districts. Much like in the medical field where a physician would complete a residency, thus getting on-the-job, hands-on experience, it would be the same type of model for teachers.” The program allows some coursework to begin in high school, where students can be credentialed as certified teaching assistants and then continues as they work on their education while also getting to work in a public school. Over time, the number of hours and level of responsibility would gradually increase, in the hopes of making first-year teachers’ transition to full-time in the classroom smoother than it is now. “I think, from a foundational aspect, what we are working to define is a Day One-ready teacher,” Pfeffer says. “What we hope is that the residency program is going to create a framework within schools where they are generating their own pipeline through their teachers in training. We hope to provide the basic foundational pieces that a person needs in order to be a successful teacher.”

Arkansas Schools List 2021 Sources: Niche; Arkansas Department of Education

ENROLLMENT

PRIVATE Little Rock Christian Academy: 1,446 Little Rock Christian Academy is all about mission fit; the mission of your family and the mission of the school. LRCA is first and foremost a school, here to educate well. Additionally, there is an authentic sense of joy and accomplishment at LRCA that warrants the sacrifices families make. Little Rock Christian is Christ-centered and student-driven. They believe faith and intellect should have the ability to not only grow together but to thrive together.

Pulaski Academy: 1,393 Shiloh Christian: 1020 Episcopal Collegiate School: 782 Central Arkansas Christian Schools: 781 Catholic High School for Boys: 760

Baptist Preparatory Schools: 701 Founded in 1981, The Baptist Preparatory School is steeped in a tradition of excellence. As a constant in Central Arkansas, the school was created to provide a Christian education to students. This education would be one where not only the Word of God was taught but students would learn how Christ was interwoven into every aspect of our history and our lives. Our founders believed that this was critical for students and families in our area. From our humble beginnings as First Baptist School, we have evolved from Arkansas Baptist School System to The Baptist Preparatory School.

Harding Academy: 677 Christ the King: 658 Life Way Christian School: 583 Providence Classical Christian Academy: 562 Mount St. Mary Academy: 533 Conway Christian School: 500 St. Joseph School: 492 Our Lady of the Holy Souls School: 458

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PUBLIC, GRADES K-5

Bryant School District: 4,187 Bryant Public Schools is determined to create opportunities for success. BPS is committed to recognizing and developing the best in each student, knowing strong schools are the foundation of a strong community. They are very proud of the accomplishments of its students and staff, and believe with the help and support of its patrons and staff, the school system will be recognized as the premier learning environment in Arkansas. At Bryant, you will discover how the staff values a close working relationship with parents, community members and business partners in an ongoing effort to ensure the district is the first and best choice for students.

Little Rock School District: 9,974 Springdale School District: 9,622 Bentonville School District: 8,743 Rogers School District: 7,018 Fort Smith School District: 6,183 Fayetteville School District: 5,120 Pulaski County Special School District: 4,866 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 their maximum potential through collaborative, supportive and continuous efforts of all stakeholders.

PUBLIC, GRADES 6-8

Springdale School District: 5,205 Little Rock School District: 4,627 Bentonville School District: 4,353 Rogers School District: 3,645 Fort Smith School District: 3,335 Pulaski County Special School District: 2,696 Cabot School District: 2,363 Bryant School District: 2,349 Fayetteville School District: 2,302 Conway School District: 2,300

Conway School District: 4,600 Cabot School District: 4,583

Creating Opportunities for YOUR Student’s Success

BUILDING SUCCESSFUL FUTURES FOR OUR STUDENTS THROUGH … • • • •

Challenging and diverse learning experiences Innovative STEM curriculum (K-12) iPads for students (grades 6-12) Concurrent college credit

• • • •

Internship program Diverse extra-curricular programs Visual and performing arts Athletics beginning in 7th grade

FIND YOUR OPPORTUNITY AT BRYANTSCHOOLS.ORG. @BryantPublicSchools

@BryantPublicSchools

PUBLIC, GRADES 9-12

ASIAN (PERCENT)

Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas: 33.89

Springdale School District: 6,968 Little Rock School District: 6,185 Bentonville School District: 5,423 Rogers School District: 4,930 Fort Smith School District: 4,310 Pulaski County Special School District: 3,699 Cabot School District: 3,326 Fayetteville School District: 2,927 Conway School District: 2,918 Bryant School District: 2,858

DEMOGRAPHICS

Founders Classical Academy seeks to provide an excellent and distinctive classical education that pursues knowledge, promotes virtue and prepares students for prosperous lives in a free society. Founders Classical Academy utilizes a classical approach to education characterized by a traditional liberal arts and sciences curriculum and whole-group teaching methodology with an orientation toward truth, beauty and goodness. Its approach to classical education is a mindset, a body of knowledge and an instructional method.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES (PERCENT)

Haas Hall Academy: 14.58 Clarksville School District: 9.19 Green Forest School District: 8.59 Gentry School District: 7.99

Calico Rock School District: 16.13 Jackson Co. School District: 15.29 Arkansas Arts Academy: 14.61 Mansfield School District: 14.31 Magnet Cove School District: 12.68

BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN (PERCENT)

Friendship Aspire Academy Southeast Pine Bluff: 97.06 Scholarmade Achievement Place of Arkansas: 96.15 Earle School District: 95.7 Friendship Aspire Academy Pine Bluff: 95.06 Pine Bluff School District: 93.28

AMERICAN INDIAN (PERCENT) Imboden Charter School District: 9.26

Siloam Springs School District: 4.71 Foreman School District: 4.06 Lincoln School District: 3.77 Gentry School District: 3.27

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HAWAIIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER (PERCENT)

PERSONNEL

Springdale School District: 13.7 Pocahontas School District: 13.3 Berryville School District: 5.06 Green Forest School District: 4.73 Dequeen School District: 3.96

TEACHERS WITH ADVANCED DEGREES (PERCENT) Haas Hall Academy: 9.88

Jonesboro School District: 9.2

Jonesboro Public School District was founded in 1899 and is the largest school district in the city and region, located in the heart of Jonesboro with 6,000-plus students, and has received the Jonesboro Occasions Magazine Readers’ Choice Award for “Best School District” nine years in a row. JPS was also chosen by NEA Kids’ Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards for “Best School District” the past four years. The JPS district is home to The Academies at Jonesboro High School, which has an impressive list of advance placement courses and 33 hours of concurrent credit available. JHS now offers core emphasis Academies: Science Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM); Business, Communication Arts, and Law (BCAL); and Health and Human Services (HHS).

HISPANIC/LATINO (PERCENT) Exalt Academy of Southwest Little Rock: 75.88 Responsive Ed Solutions Premier High School of Springdale: 66 Dequeen School District: 60.01 Danville School District: 48.05 Springdale School District: 47.88

WHITE (PERCENT) Mammoth Spring School District: 97.88 Norfork School District: 97.76 West Side School District: 97.62 Maynard School District: 97.23 Viola School District: 97.11

Omaha School District: 8.57 Helena/West Helena School District: 7.04 Conway School District: 5.81

TWO OR MORE RACES (PERCENT) Hope Academy of Northwest Arkansas: 12.24 Cedarville School District: 11.64 Hot Springs School District: 10.49 Gentry School District: 10.35 Malvern School District: 9.91

AVERAGE YEARS OF TEACHER EXPERIENCE South Pike County School District: 17.51 Nashville School District: 15.49 Helena/West Helena School District: 15.03 Corning School District: 15.02 Gosnell School District: 14.56

FOUNDERS

A PRIVATE SCHOOL ATMOSPHERE AT A TUITION-FREE SCHOOL

SERVING GRADES K–3 & 6–12 | NOW ENROLLING!

Enroll For Grades K–3 & 6–12 November 1–January 31 at Founders-WestLittleRock.com Or call 501-781-0428 for more information! 96

2022-2023

REGISTRATION REMINDERS JANUARY 3 - MAY 1, 2022 Arkansas School Choice applications will be accepted JANUARY 10 - 28, 2022 Letter of Intent for returning students entering 1st - 12th grade for the 2022-2023 school year. MARCH 1, 2022 Online registration opens for NEW students entering Kindergarten - 12th grade for the 2022-2023 school year. MAY 2, 2022 Office of Equity and Pupil Services will begin accepting permits

This side of

SEVEN – By Jason Pederson

ARKANSAS’

FIRST SCHOOL SHOOTER

s I sit down to write this, authorities in Michigan are sifting through the death and emotional wreckage caused by another school shooting. Four students were killed and another seven students were injured at Oxford High School, north of Detroit. For many Arkansans, hearing about four students killed in a school shooting brings to mind Stephanie Johnson, Natalie Brooks, Paige Ann Herring and Brittney Varner. Those four preteens, along with teacher Shannon Wright, were gunned down by fellow classmates Mitchell Johnson and Andrew Golden outside Westside Middle School near Jonesboro on March 24, 1998. Ten others were wounded. The FBI defines a mass shooting as a single incident in which a shooter kills four or more people. Those are the incidents that generate national attention. Those are the shootings that people remember years later. Columbine, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Sandy Hook. Thankfully, Westside is the only school shooting in Arkansas that meets this FBI definition. But just three months before that infamous school shooting in Craighead County, another Arkansas school shooting occurred in Lafayette County. Fourteen-year-old Joseph “Colt” Todd shot two of his Stamps High School classmates with a .22-caliber rifle. He hid in the woods and shot the students while they congregated in the parking lot before school. Both survived. The eighth-grader told law enforcement that he was tired of being bullied, although neither of the students he shot had been bullying him. This was not Arkansas’ first school shooting. It wasn’t even the first school shooting in Stamps. Four decades after what is believed to be Arkansas’ first fatal school shooting, David Hampton is finally ready to talk about it. “My brother was a little bit slow developing,” Hampton tells a group of Hope police officers and staff. “He had some issues at childbirth that created some mental problems with him. And he ...was just different. When he got in the seventh grade, he came to the high school, and there was a guy who began to bully him. And that was a major thing that took place, and that is what I want to talk to you guys about.”

On Nov. 30, 2021, Hampton was invited by Hope Police Chief J.R. Wilson to talk about his brother, Evan Hampton, and what happened in Stamps 42 years ago. “He would step on his heels and push him down in the hallway,” Hampton told the group. “My brother was about [5 feet 6 inches tall] and weighed about 135 pounds. This guy probably was 225 … big, tall … big boy. He was a senior when my brother was in the ninth grade. And my brother had issues, and he talked with my parents about it, and they went to the school and said, ‘Hey, this guy continues to pick on our son, and will y’all do something about it?’ And they brought both of them into the office, and guess what they did? They said, ‘OK, you act right, and you act right, and if y’all don’t act right we’re going to kick both of y’all out of school.’ And that was pretty much it.”

The bullying continued, until Jan. 7, 1980. “We was raised in the woods, and we would shoot guns at early ages, and he borrowed a .22 pistol that my brother (22-year-old Kenny) had, and he said he wanted to go shoot up some ammunition that he had, which was common for us. My brother was 16 years old. And he took that .22 to school one day, and he walked up behind this boy in the classroom, shot him in the back of the head, and turned and shot him two more times as he fell to the ground, and he killed that bully.” Evan then handed the pistol to his teacher, walked to the school office, and waited for police to arrive. He was later convicted and served four years of a 20-year sentence. When he was released in his early 20s, he began experiencing delusions. He was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic. David says that when his brother took his medication, he was OK. The problem was that, more often than not, Evan refused to take his medication. And Evan also refused the help offered by his brothers and others. “He never would get back on his medication, and he died just about a year ago,” David says. “We found him in his driveway. His house was a total wreck … nothing like it used to be. It was obvious that he was not mentally stable. Thank goodness that he never became violent again. That he never, that we know of, owned or possessed another firearm.” David has spent his life working as a probation, parole and law enforcement officer. It is a career, he says, that was likely sparked by his brother’s life. And now, more than 40 years after Evan killed 19-year-old Mike Sanders, and more than a year after Evan’s death at age 56, David is ready to share a message about bullying. And mental health. “We need to try and understand mental illness,” Hampton told members of the Hope Police Department. “It’s a major issue. And I know you do. You’re on the streets. You see it. You know what it’s all about. But that opened my eyes a lot to paranoid schizophrenia. What it does … what is in the mind of these people. And what can happen.” In 1997, Joseph “Colt” Todd told investigators that students took his money and threatened him, and that teachers did nothing about it. Following that shooting, a Texarkana Gazette reporter tracked down Evan, who was then 34 years old and still living in Stamps. From the article: “Hampton said he was home when Monday’s shooting occurred and only learned of the violence after he drove into town. These days, Hampton is a practicing Mason who focuses on

An old photo of Evan Hampton. (Courtesy)

being a better person by helping people. But beneath each calm, cool exterior, Hampton says, the ability to kill lurks in everyone. ‘I’m no different from anybody else,’ he said. ‘You can only take it so far and then something has to go.’” Like most schools in Arkansas, the Lafayette County School District now has a bullying policy that is several pages long. It lists 14 examples of bullying and lays out a course of action to be followed if bullying is reported. Anti-bullying signage is to be posted “... in every classroom, cafeteria restroom, gymnasium, auditorium and school bus.” But David fears that too many teachers, school officials and parents still have a “kids will be kids” mindset when it comes to bullying. “The rules are there, but schools ignore or pass off many cases of bullying,” he says. “Cyberbullying is major now. Mental or social bullying may be worse than physical bullying. It can lead to suicides and other issues.” Those “other issues,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, include, “Depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, lower academic achievement, and dropping out of school.” And while all of these can negatively impact mental health, the existence of mental illness is what can cause, in rare cases, teens like Evan Hampton to take drastic action. “Would my brother have ever shot this kid in school like that?” asks David. “I don’t think he would have, had he not had the mental illness. We didn’t know it was there.” In addition to being a lawman, David is also a pastor. He has led the same church for the past 29 years. Romans 8:28 assures him that, “In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” He admits that it has been a challenge to identify any good that came out of Jan. 7, 1980. Maybe a member of the Hope Police Department will handle a situation involving bullying or mental illness differently after listening to David. Maybe more speaking engagements will lead to a greater awareness of bullying and a greater understanding of mental illness. Maybe David’s platform and the message he shares will be the good born out of this bad. Romans 8:28 doesn’t say the good will come quickly. It just promises that it will come.

JASON PEDERSON For two decades, Jason Pederson served as KATV-Channel 7’s Seven On Your Side reporter. Now on the other “side” of his award-winning time on the news, he now serves as Deputy Chief of Community Engagement for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. His perspective-filled and thought-provoking column, “This Side of Seven,” publishes exclusively in AY About You magazine monthly.

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Prohibition Gala Highlights Hot Springs’ Past

By KATIE ZAKRZEWSKI

100

ith the New Year upon us, many groups have begun planning next year’s fundraisers and charity drives. Holly Heer, the fundraising chair for the Junior Auxillary ( JA) of Hot Springs is working hard to make sure that the JA programs that support children in Garland County are thriving. JA of Hot Springs has several important programs that benefit different groups of children. One program, “Life” teaches life skills to children preparing to age out of foster care. The “HeArt for Art” program educates students in Garland County about heart disease and its prevention through educational art curriculum and creative art activities. The program “JA Fun Day” is a field day designed for all elementary special needs students in Garland County. JA also supports families in“The Call”, a non-profit organization that mobilizes local churches to serve local children and youth placed in foster care. Members offer assistance for any needs the families may have, whether it’s toys, clothes, or meals. In addition, JA’s scholarship project provides scholarship opportunities to local graduating high school seniors and/or currently enrolled college students.. But in order to fund all of these fantastic programs in Garland County, Heer and the JA of Hot Springs need all of the financial support they can get. To achieve this, the JA of Hot Springs hosts an annual fundraising event called “Prohibition.” “This event, Prohibition, funds all of these programs for kids in Garland County. It’s the only fundraiser during the year, and we didn’t have one last year because of COVID, so we are really hoping to make up for it this year,” Heer explains. “This is the 7th Prohibition that we’ve done.” Heer says that Prohibition has ties to Hot Springs gambling and under-the-table liquor past, both of which boomed during the Prohibition era. Event-goers can expect to step back in time 100 years

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to 1922, with flappers, derby hats, gaming tables, live band music, as well as live and silent auctions. With Tito’s as the presenting sponsor, and with AY Media Group as the presenting media sponsor, Heer anticipates that this will be the best year yet for the event voted as Hot Springs’ best charity gala by the city’s residents. Heer says that they are still accepting sponsorships from businesses across Arkansas, who use the gala to advertise and raise awareness for a worthy cause. There are several sponsorship levels and benefits, such as The Real McCoy ($500 level), The Cat’s Meow ($1,000 level), Bee’s Knees ($2,500 level), The Ritz ($5,000 level), and The Great Gatsby ($10,000 level). Heer explains why she and the Junior Auxilary feel compelled to help fundraise for foster kids in Garland County. “Junior Auxiliary of Hot Springs represents a serious endeavor by women to render charitable services in their community, with an emphasis on children,” Heer explains. “Junior Auxiliary members strive to be active and constructive participants in the communities in which they live and to assume responsible leadership in meeting community needs. It provides the members with the opportunity to serve and to be a vital part of the community through various projects.” Heer says that many people believe JA members enjoy leisurely hangouts but explains that hard work towards events like Prohibition has proved these claims untrue. Heer and other members of the Junior Auxiliary have even started a hashtag for their events, explaining that they are #notjustladieswholunch. Prohibition will be held on January 22nd, 2022 from 7 P.M. to 11 P.M. at the Hamp Williams Building in Hot Springs. Attendants must be 21 and older, and tickets are $75.

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HOT SPRINGS

happenings Jan. 2022

LIVE HORSE RACING Every Weekend Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort

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PURPLE REIGN - A PRINCE TRIBUTE SHOW Jan. 1 Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort

AUDITIONS! CINDERELLA POCKET THEATRE YOUTH PRODUCTION Jan. 3 Pocket Community Theatre

1ST ANNUAL OFFROAD PRODUCTS EXPO Jan. 7 Hot Springs Convention Center

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ARKANSAS SHORTS — A NIGHT OF SHORT FILM Jan. 8, 9 The Malco Theatre

JOCKEY MEET & GREET Jan. 8 Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort

YOGA FOR BEGINNERS Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30 The Yoga Place

VCA PRESENTS “WINTER DANCE PARTY” Jan. 13, 14 Woodlands Auditorium

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PROHIBITION 2022 Jan. 22 Hamp Williams Building

GUN & KNIFE SHOW Jan. 15, 16 Hot Springs Convention Center

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Garvan

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since day distancing, and the Hot Springs kick off our really create Film Festival Documentar 30th year,” Gerber a safe environment will celebrate Following the says. its 30th anniversaryy this month to intergeneratio ceremony, a Street — right nal event. Oct. with a nine-day multicultural block party Springs will in will be held be filled with 8-16, the streets of downtown and food and drinks the heart of downtown on Bridge — which will return to in-person thousands of for attendees. Hot offer music, visitors of all “I think the celebrations. ages for a The oldest all-document next eight days energy from that night will carry on of the longest-runn ary festival in of the festival,” through the North America While holding Gerber says. Springs Documentaring nonfiction festivals and one some events to the history in the world, outdoors exposes y Film Festival more than 100 and the Hot the festivalgoers steps the organizers charm of Hot Springs, dedicated volunteers. is put on by a small staff and Attendees will es allow for social have taken to ensure it is also one of many go on a cinematic that, when possible, exposed to 35 adventure, where tionally, to attend distancing and have maximum feature films spacboth domestic and they’ll be any part of the ventilation. Addishow proof of and international a similar number of short festival, guests are scheduled COVID-19 , films, will in documentary be vaccination within the last from screenings that or a negative required to 48 hours. Masks “[Films] will morning to evening. lab test taken able for free be available are also required on-site. platform so both in theaters and will be availpeople New restrictions and on our most comfortable,” can watch in either and limitations setting, wherever virtual implementati says Executive aren’t on the since they Filmmakers Director Jennifer are inspired organizers the pandemic, however. festival’s only new Gerber. line platform, began submitting films Its to create a in January through health. and new program presence has also until being viewed from there went through an onfocused on “We felt personally mental multiple screenings by the programming decisions. This within our community team, who makes there is a strain year, 1,100 films few dozen will [on] the mental the and the world gling through appear on screen were submitted, of which final this pandemic,” health of every single person that “It’s so hard only a arise from employment, to narrow those at the festival. Gerber says. we love that “All the challengesstrugfilms down; personal just all struggling there are so many that space,” Gerber don’t make the cut just with the things health, emotional health films because we don’t our lives. So, says. — we’re that COVID-19 this last year, have the The festival will has brought we mental health into Springs’ submissionsalso feature films that and wellness.” started a new program focusing on are announced, In 2020, when have closed, International after Hot the festival was at larger festivals ees were able Film Festival, held completely to join a free Telluride Film Venice International such as Toronto online, attendtwo-part virtual Pickens, the Festival. Film Festival author of Your workshop led “We tend to and participants Art Will Save by to reflect on there that would look at their programs Your Life, who Beth the emotional and say, ‘Is there providing coping be a good fit guided challenges of process of confirming anything for us?’ And mechanisms 2020 while event received then for we the it,” go Gerber says. obstacles still through the that are big such “Those tend centerpieces ahead. The health has become positive feedback to be the that the focus This year’s opening — like opening and focus is threaded a permanent part of on mental closing night.” films night festivities the festival. Hall in the Hot This will take place yoga class and into three events — a Springs Convention bicycle parade, year, that an inspiration Center to allow in Horner an attendees to hike, during outdoor for more “caHot which a guide pate in a guided Springs Mountain Tower will lead where they will meditation at the top. partici-

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The gs. We come hotelha and diSciin the early down from exhibits for Mid America Science Hot Sprinwhether they and St. Louis, light, nature 1900s with Chicago and children Museum ts, .9010 and and all the the touris entots, Home anything and everything to learn about noted baseball New York, Kansas motion, 501.760 City players of else under 2021 are only School Days, Girls that same the sun. Sciin Stem and era, and months a few events to look Summer Camps forward as days become warmer and to in the coming weeks kids become more rest-

Deluxe

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Food

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AY will bring customers TO YOUR front door!

“Hot Sprin gs has a very color ful history, and we continue today with different varied activities.”

PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE AND NURSERY TRADESHOW

For more information on advertising in AY magazine, call Amanda Moore at 501-282-5024.

Jan. 27 Hot Springs Convention Center

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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 106

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!

501.224.9000 • 516 S. Rodney Parham Rd., Little Rock • briarwoodnursingandrehab.com 107

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Connecting Families with Residents

with

Alma Nursing and Rehabilitation Center’s residents and staff are ready to roll up their sleeves so they can do away with FaceTime visits and visits through the windows, and get back to life as normal with friends and family.

Alma Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 401 Heather Lane • Alma, AR

479-632-4343

Bradford House provides skilled professional care in a compassionate and supportive atmosphere. Our licensed nurses, physicians, optometrists, dentists and other specialists believe that building strong relationships with residents and families is essential to the healing process. The entire staff is devoted the Bradford House provides skilled professional care toinproviding a quality of careOur which celebrates the dignity compassionate and supportive atmosphere. licensed and grace of every single resident.

nurses, physicians, optometrists, dentists and other specialists believe that building strong relationships with 1202 SE 30th Street The residents and families is essential to the healing process. Bentonville, AR 72712 entire staff is devoted to providing the quality 479.273.3430 of care which celebrates the dignity and grace of every BradfordHouseNR.com single resident.

Bradford House provides skilled professional care in a compassionate and supportive atmosphere. Our licensed nurses, physicians, optometrists, dentists and other specialists believe that building strong relationships with residents and families is essential to the healing process. The entire staff is devoted to providing the quality of care 108 which 1202 30th | Bentonville, celebrates theSE dignity andStreet grace of every single resident. AR

72712 | 479.273.3430

Customized physical, occupational and speech therapy programs are conducted by licensed therapists who focus on improving mobility and motor skills following an injury or illness. The enrichment of daily physical function can significantly improve a resident’s selfreliance and overall happiness. Our staff provides residents with specially tailored treatment plans designed to recapture health, independent living and facilitate a return home. Jamestown features separate rooms and private suites with a private entrance for the comfort and convenience of shortterm residents and their families focused on returning home. A full meal service with snacks is prepared daily.

Nestled in the center of a quiet neighborhood, Innisfree Health & Rehab is a unique, family-oriented facility offering skilled care in loving, supportive atmosphere. Our licensed nurses, physician assistants, dentists, podiatrist and other specialists believe that our residents need strong relationships with their families and is key to the healing process. The entire Innisfree staff is devoted to providing the highest quality care possible, in a manner which celebrates the dignity and grace of every resident.

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Our home is conveniently located just off Walnut in Rogers close to Walmart, under the medical directions of Dr. Kimberly Burner.

Our home is conveniently located just o to Walmart, under the medical direction 301 S. 24th Street | Rogers, AR 72758 | 479-636

301 S. 24th Street | Rogers, AR 72758 | 479-636-5545 | www.InnisfreeHR.com

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health

the

Doctor is In By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos courtesy ARKANSAS UROLOGY

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r. John Moore Jr. is a man intensely passionate. It starts with his family, of course, and the unwavering love affair with his wife, Barbara Ann, the lightning bolt who struck him decades ago and with whom he’d welcome and raise two sons. Moore’s passion infused his medical career, invested in the legions of patients he’s treated and the generation of physicians he’s impacted through a gentle, supportive nature. It radiates back to his beginnings and the esteem he holds for the example of his parents and the embrace of his hometown, Arkadelphia. No person ever had a better place to grow up, he’ll tell you, from the dinner table to Main Street, and from that yeast rose his passion to commit to the greater good, from serving in the Air Force to going into medicine. And, there’s more than a little passion left over for the game of golf, too. Moore, who’s better known to thousands as Mack, would compete for Ouachita Baptist University, the University of Arkansas and, in his later years, on the National American Senior Team in international competition, landing in the Arkansas Golf Hall of Fame in 2012. Beyond a competitive outlet, the game is a perfect metaphor for his life — social, congenial and set to an honor code of resolute personal behavior and ethics by which he is known in all other endeavors. “Mack is a true Southern gentleman and

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an amazing, caring, knowledgeable doctor,” says Ellon Cockrell, a friend of Moore’s for 40 years. “Everybody adores Mack.” It can well be assumed that having read this much of the story, Moore is starting to fidget. He’s proud of what his career has done to improve health care in Arkansas, he just doesn’t like it underscored publicly as anything unique or special. But that’s an uneasiness he’s having to get used to of late. Moore’s lifetime contribution to the field of urology in Arkansas will be feted this month at the Silver Ball, a gala celebrating the 25th anniversary of Arkansas Urology, the practice Moore helped found and grow. Proceeds from the event will go to a fund named for him, managed through the Arkansas Urology Foundation. “When we started having discussions about establishing a fund, he was the first on the list to name it after,” says Cockrell, the foundation’s first chair. “Not only is he a founding member [of AU], he’s still active in the community. He makes himself accessible, and he still can give you great information and advice on how to maneuver your medical journey.” The new fund will underwrite outreach efforts and special events to promote men’s health statewide. Mostly, though, it will stand for all time in honor of a man who has changed for the better the lives of so many. “My reaction to this being named after me was, ‘This is a lot of fuss over me, and it shouldn’t be,’” Moore says, an impish grin rounding into a chuckle. “It’s not about me, really. I just lived long enough, so I guess I was chosen because I Dr. John Moore Jr. was accessible.” He then pauses, and his eyes shine.

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Dr. Moore (right) with Jesse Mason Jr. (left) and Ellon Cockrill (middle).

“It makes me feel very humbled,” Moore adds, quietly. “It makes me feel a great deal of self-satisfaction.” ******

Mack Moore decided on medical school as a young boy. After hearing his father talk about how he’d wished he had gone into medicine — settling instead for becoming a successful businessman and community leader — the younger Moore made up his mind to become a physician and that was that. “I’m an only child, and as I like to say, a spoiled one,” he says. “Dad was a wonderful guy, and he shared with me that he had wanted to be

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a doctor but the Depression hit at that time, and he could not afford to go to school that long. “I respected my dad so much, I know I was influenced by his wanting to be a doctor. That planted a seed in the back of my mind. Because of that, I did pay a little more attention to my early schooling than I would have otherwise.” Moore might have cracked the books with more intent, but he was also popular and liked to have a good time. Voted president of his high school senior class, he reported to Ouachita Baptist for his freshman year on a golf scholarship, transferring to Fayetteville a year later. “I applied for medical school, was accepted, and you could go to

medical school in those days after just 90 hours of preparation,” Moore says. “But I said, ‘Heck, I’ll never be a senior in college again. I’m going to stay for that experience,’ and that’s what I did. I decided to postpone it a year.” As all aspiring physicians must, Moore would eventually give thought as to what type of medicine he wanted to practice. He weighed several options while serving an internship at the University of Miami in Florida, selected because, “I thought I could get a good education and have a good time doing it,” he says. Sandwiched between school and sun was a bout with kidney stones. Moore was so impressed by the care he received through that ordeal, he made urology his focus. “At the same time, one of my close friends in medical school, Johnson Baker, told me he was going into urology,” Moore says. “We always teased each other that we’d go in practice together, and it looked like this might be a possibility. So that’s what kind of got me on the track.” These days, urological conditions such as prostate and testicular cancer and erectile dysfunction are much more publicly discussed than they were in 1970s Arkansas where Moore first began his life’s work. Well-worn generational statistics show men have always been loath to talk about health issues, especially those emanating from the body’s distal end. But while it might have been a challenge to get men in the door, then as now, once there Moore worked a singular magic. “I’m a gregarious guy, and I don’t have any trouble talking to people,” he says. “I knew the only thing I needed to do was make a patient comfortable and make him aware that I was interested in his well-being. I was going to be transparent with him about what we were going to do and why we were doing it, and I was going to respect him.”

great of a bedside manner and personal approach that he had to his practice. “His networking across the state in terms of friends and colleagues and what he did as a physician laid the groundwork for what we do today. The money we raise through the Silver Ball and afterward allows us to remember that and honor him through those funds for years to come.” Moore says for as much as technology has given the science of health care, it’s also taken in equal measure from the art of healing. Now 84, he enjoys the fact that the practice he helped launch is continuing his personal belief in the value of humanity in medicine. “I don’t like it when people come in and get a biopsy and the doctor says, ‘My nurse will call you in two weeks to let you know the results,’” he says. “The physician needs to be on the other end of the phone or be standing in front of the patient so they can answer their questions and allay their fears and handle things. “I would like to see present-day doctor education stress the human side — looking people in the eye, doing your dead-level best to respect the patient’s time. It’s the human touch that I don’t want to see us get too far away from in medicine.”

Mack said more than once his friends were always his patients, and his patients were always his friends.

******

In time, Moore would join several colleagues to form Arkansas Urology as a way to increase their reach and resources for treating patients. Over the next 25 years, the practice expanded greatly, today operating multiple clinics statewide and treating more than 100,000 patients annually. Though he’s been retired from active practice for a while now, Moore’s legacy continues to carry forward, says Chris Shenep, director of the AU Foundation and marketing at Arkansas Urology. “From the start, the whole practice was founded on the precept that we’re here to serve people,” he says. “Mack said more than once his friends were always his patients, and his patients were always his friends. That’s a very relevant line, because that’s just how

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Join the AU Foundation as we raise funds for the Dr. Mack Moore Annual Health Fund. The Arkansas Urology 25th Anniversary event will be held on January 29th at the Statehouse Convention Center. Cocktails and social hour will start at 6 PM with the dinner and program to follow at 7 PM. Join us as we honor our past to build for the future by making a donation: www.arkansasurology.com/foundation/

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ASK AN EXPERT It’s that time of year again — time to set New Year’s Resolutions to which we may (or may not) remain faithful. According to Finder, more than half of Americans come into a new year with resolutions on the table. These can run the gamut — from learning something new to traveling more or making a lifestyle change. But every year, the vast majority are related to health and wellness. Statista identified last year that 50 percent of resolutions involved more exercise; 48 percent for losing weight; and 39 percent were to improve one’s diet. To conclude its study, Statista stated simply that “it’s obvious that people still just want to be healthy and happy.” Given the wide popularity of such resolutions — and perhaps to help you (and us) hold true to the goals we set — AY About You is happy to present this inaugural special section:

Ask an Expert: Health, Wellness & Beauty.

With the advice and guidance of these experts, we’ll start 2022 on the right foot. And who knows — we might just look and feel better than ever before.

Ask the Experts of Aesthetics

Katherine Thomas, RN

Owner, Aesthetic Injector of Arkansas Aesthetics

Specializing in Botox, Dysport & Dermal fillers

Named one of the top 100 aesthetic injectors in America out of 50,000 three years in a row, and the only injector in Arkansas 10301 N. Rodney Parham C7 Little Rock, AR 72227

501-319-4064

@facesbykthomas //

@the_lipinjector 116

2021

Dr. Manning

Dr. Clifton

What causes hair loss? Hair loss affects more than 80 million Americans — approximately 50 million men and 30 million women. There are many different types and reasons for hair loss. Genetics, medications, medical conditions, stress and aging can all cause hair loss. The good news is most of these can be reversed with medical management. Those who are the best candidates for hair transplant have a specific type of hair loss called androgenetic alopecia (also known as male pattern baldness or female pattern hair loss). Female pattern hair loss affects approximately 40 percent of women by age 50. For about 25 percent of men, the balding process begins in their 20s, and almost 85 percent will experience noticeable hair loss by their 50s.

Dr. Ragland How soon will I see results? Once the hair follicles have been implanted, the grafted hair will stay in place for about two to three weeks before shedding. Don’t worry! This is normal and an important part of the new growth process. After shedding, the new growth will begin in three to four months and your hair should continue to grow normally. Keep in mind that individual results and timelines may vary for each patient.

Am I a candidate for hair restoration? If you are seeking hair restoration due to thinning hair, bald spots and/or a receding hairline, then yes! However, if you’ve lost hair as a result of medication, stress or medical treatment, that hair loss can often be reversed without robotic transplant. You must have an adequate amount of hair growth or follicles to use for transplantation. How does the process work? We use a state-of-the-art robotic hair transplant system that utilizes specialized technology and a robotic arm to precisely extract “donor” hair from your own head. We then transplant those donor hair follicles by hand for the most custom and natural-looking results. Feel free to visit our website for more details, or contact us if you have questions.

Before

How natural looking is it? We harvest your own hair and meticulously design your new hairline or crown. Design is based on your original hairline, hair direction and density. Pairing our aesthetic eye with precise technology gives you natural, permanent results.

MD Hair Labs

4100 S. Grand Avenue, Suite B122 • Rogers, AR 479.721.1228 • mdhairlabs.com

After

Alyssa Lambert, DDS

How can I improve my smile and preserve my natural teeth? • Prevention. Practice good oral hygiene, maintain regular dental checkups, and have cavities treated early. • Professional teeth whitening is a great way to improve your smile if you have natural teeth. It can boost your smile up to 10 shades whiter! • Invisalign can improve both the esthetics and health of your teeth by closing spaces and eliminating crowding. Straight teeth are more attractive and easier to clean. • No-Prep Veneers can address a variety of issues to give you an amazing smile. Changing the shade, shape and brightness of your smile can give you the smile you’ve always dreamed of! What are No-Prep Veneers and how do I know if I am a candidate? No-Prep Veneers are fabricated from porcelain. They are designed to fit over your existing natural teeth and allow your natural teeth to be preserved underneath the veneers. The resulting restoration is very strong, natural and lifelike! The best candidates have small, spaced or worn teeth. No-Prep Veneers will help broaden your smile and will also make dark teeth much whiter. I’m interested in No-Prep Veneers but how can I be sure I get the smile that I want? During your dental appointment, your doctor will ask questions to help identify what you desire in your new smile, and the doctor will create a custom design based on your smile preferences. Once your custom smile has been designed, Trial Veneers are placed over your teeth. This provides you with the opportunity to see and approve of the smile design. The doctor can also make any changes in the design at your request! What is the advantage of straightening my teeth with Invisalign vs. traditional braces? Invisalign aligners are subtle and hardly noticeable. Invisalign offers several treatment levels that range from straightening just a few or all your teeth. Traditional braces are less esthetic but are more effective in treating complex cases. When choosing between Invisalign or traditional braces, consider the esthetics of Invisalign and whether you can commit to consistently wearing the aligners. Can my teeth be straightened without Invisalign or traditional braces? Yes. Orthodontically moving teeth is the most conservative treatment option; however, bonding, No-Prep or traditional veneers, as well as esthetic crowns can quickly straighten your smile!

C. LEE WYANT, DDS ALYSSA LAMBERT, DDS

16524 Chenal Pkwy. Little Rock, AR 72223 501.819.3608 smilearkansas.com

Thomas Kennedy, DDS of Arkansas II, PLLC - General Dentistry

What dental services does your clinic provide? Our clinic provides a variety of services, such as extractions, implants, single tooth extractions, full mouth extractions, overdentures, fixed prostheses, along with all forms of general dentistry. I am interested in getting an implant-supported denture; what is the difference between a fixed denture and an overdenture (or snap-in denture)? An overdenture is both removable and rests on your tissue. It is an implant-retained prosthesis. A fixed prosthesis is implant-supported and does not come out without dentist removal. Is there really that big of a difference between a traditional denture and an implant-retained denture? There is an extreme difference between the two. An implant-retained denture maintains the position of the denture through all ranges of speaking and chewing. However, the most impressive change is the increased bite force. A patient can increase the bite force of chewing up to four to five times. What is the process of getting an implant retained denture? A patient will go through the process of scheduling a consultation where they will get a panoramic x-ray, CT, and comprehensive examination with our dentist, Dr. Haynie, to determine the treatment plan. Either I, or one of our treatment coordinators will go over the treatment plan with the patient, review our financing options, and will coordinate with their insurance benefits to determine the best course of action for the patient’s dental needs and their budget and desired outcome. Impressions will also be taken prior to scheduling the procedure. On the day of the procedure, the patient will get extractions (if needed), bone grafting (if needed), implants will be placed, and they will leave with a denture to wear as a traditional denture while the implants integrate with the bone. Once the implants have integrated, our dentist will place the abutments and then shortly after we are able to convert the denture and “snap-in” the implant retained denture. The patient will see our hygienist regularly for implant cleanings and have their denture professionally cleaned.

635 Dave Ward Drive, Suite 101 • Conway, AR • 501.229.5993 /ConwayDentures ConwayDentures.com •

Eric Wright, MD 1701 Center View Drive, #201 • Little Rock

501.575.0088

drwrightplasticsurgery.com What is a tummy tuck? A tummy tuck (also known as abdominoplasty) is a cosmetic procedure used to flatten the midsection and define the waistline. The surgery involves removing excess skin and fat from the abdomen and tightening the abdominal muscle wall underneath. A tummy tuck can: • Improve stretched skin • Flatten a “belly pooch” • Restore damaged abdominal muscles • Enhance your overall body shape The procedure is most commonly used by patients who have experienced significant body changes such as pregnancy or major weight loss. Dr. Wright performs mommy makeover surgery in Little Rock, which often combines a tummy tuck with a breast enhancement procedure like breast augmentation and liposuction. Am I a good candidate for this a tummy tuck procedure? Pregnancy is the most popular reason for a tummy tuck, but loose, stretched-out skin can bother men and women of all ages and lifestyles. Ideal tummy tuck candidates are non-smokers who are: • In good overall health • At or near their goal weight • Not planning to have any future pregnancies While tummy tuck surgery can help define the waistline, it is not a weight-loss procedure. Maintain a healthy BMI for several months before surgery to achieve the best possible results. What is recovery like after a tummy tuck? After surgery, Dr. Wright will place drains underneath your skin. These drains prevent fluid buildup and can be removed after seven to 10 days. Bed rest and gentle movement are required the first week after treatment. Most patients can return to work after two to three weeks. Exercise or strenuous activities should wait until six weeks after surgery.

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Dr. Mimi Lee What is your favorite injection site for Botox? I love using Botox or Dysport to lift the brows and brighten the eyes for a photogenic look. I also like to use it to smooth the chin and relax the depressor muscle to help reverse the downturn of the mouth corners. “Lip Flip” is also a popular request which uses a tiny amount of botox to weaken the top lip muscle to soften the lines and give a little pout. Are there any long-term effects from Botox or Dysport? No wrinkle, age better! What is the best dermal filler to use around the mouth and smile lines? That gives you the longest results overall? Radiesse treats heavier folds and jowls. Juvederm is great to soften the lines around mouth, especially the lip. Restylane is the “lightest” filler that I use to correct the hollowness and dark circles under the eyes. My absolute favorite is to use Voluma to contour cheeks and lift jowls. Every patient is a different canvas and I select the appropriate filler or paint brush to create a balanced natural more youthful look for each individual!

501.224.0880 • DrMimiLee.com

Anne R. Trussell, MD ABAARM, FAARM 10310 W. Markham Street, Suite 202 • Little Rock H E A L T H

W E L L N E S S

B E A U T Y

501.228.6237

seibellamedspa.net What are Emsculpt Neo and Emsella? Emsculpt Neo is the only non-invasive body shaping procedure that provides simultaneous permanent fat reduction and muscle building in a combined 30-minute session. Emsella is also completely non-invasive and FDA-approved to treat urinary incontinence in women and men. How do they work? Emsculpt Neo combines radiofrequency (RF) and high intensity focused electromagnetic energy technology (HIFEM) to permanently remove subcutaneous and visceral fat while stimulating submaximal muscle contractions. It's like doing 20,000 crunches in 30 minutes. Emsella uses HIFEM to strengthen pelvic floor muscles. It's like doing 11,000 Kegel exercises in 28 minutes. What areas can I treat with Emsculpt Neo? Abdomen, buttocks, inner thighs, outer thighs, front of thighs, back of thighs, biceps, triceps and calves. Does it hurt and will I have any downtime? They are both painless and Emsculpt Neo is completely adjustable for comfort. You can resume all normal activities immediately with both devices. How do you know it works? It has had more than 30 clinical trials with seven different investigators and has FDA approval. It’s proven clinically with MRI, ultrasound and CT a 30 percent reduction in fat with a 25 percent increase in muscle mass. When will I see/feel results? EmSculpt Neo is sold in packages of four done about a week apart, so results are documented after your last treatment and improvement continues to occur for up to three months. Emsella is sold in packages of six done two to five days apart. Most patients report improvement in symptoms starting after the second or even first treatment.

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PHYSICIAN SEEING MORE MALE PATIENTS AS CONWAY GROUP RAISES FUNDS FOR MEN’S HEALTH

had Hardin, MD, a family medicine physician and men’s health advocate in Conway, is seeing less reluctance among his male patients to schedule wellness exams. However, the battle has just begun. Hardin points to National Institute of Health findings that the mortality rate for men is twice as high as that of women. Women tend to live longer and are more apt to see a physician. Early visits and diagnoses can increase the survival rate for many of the diseases that Hardin finds in his patients at Banister-Lieblong Clinic in Conway, where he has practiced for more than 10 years. Hardin and a committee of other physicians and community leaders are actively taking on the challenge of improving the health of men by encouraging wellness visits that detect preventable diseases early. “More than half of diseases in men are preventable by quitting smoking, exercising, or controlling your blood pressure,” Hardin says. “A lot of instances of diabetes, heart attacks, are brought about because, ‘I smoke, I don’t exercise, my blood pressure is high, or I don’t take my cholesterol pill.’” With these facts in mind, Hardin and other wellness-minded leaders in Conway teamed with the Conway Regional Health Foundation to establish the Arkansas Duck Derby four years ago. After a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Duck Derby is set to return with a banquet and a duck hunt on Jan. 7. Individuals and corporate sponsors purchased all the current team spots for

the duck hunt portion of the event in two hours. Tickets to the banquet which includes live and silent auctions and raffles for hunting equipment were still available at this publication’s deadline. Readers can learn more by visiting ArkansasDuckDerby.com. The group has raised almost half a million dollars to support men’s health initiatives at Conway Regional Health System, including a mobile health unit that will bring health care providers to private and public events to provide health care diagnostic services. Potential health care services include on-site prostate screenings, mammograms,

hospital setting. “Catching one prostate cancer, a case of diabetes, one super high cholesterol level, or one potential heart attack creates huge downstream implications,” Hardin adds. He notes that Duck Derby funds are also supporting Conway Regional’s fundraising efforts to enhance clinical laboratory services as well as Adult Psychiatric Services, two initiatives that support overall wellness in the Conway area. PREVENTABLE DISEASE As wellness efforts become more successful in detecting disease, Hardin hopes to see fewer patients in the clinic. In many instances, heart disease, stroke and diabetes are driven by lifestyle decisions. A positive factor for Hardin is that many insurance plans are helping his patients avoid high deductibles by paying for initial wellness visits. Some employers are also able to offer

and laboratory testing. Early detection and prevention are the goals behind Hardin’s efforts to take healthcare outside the normal clinic and

additional incentives for wellness activities such as reduced premiums and discounts. “I’ve seen more men in clinic because of the incentivizing of wellness visits,” Hardin says.

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hope Is The Foundation. recovery Is The Journey. Quality Care Rooted in Arkansas

The pandemic has caused people to consume alcohol at unprecedented levels. The BridgeWay offers hope and recovery for adults struggling with alcohol or other substances. Led by Dr. Schay, a board-certified psychiatrist and addiction specialist, our continuum of care includes: • Medical detoxification • Partial hospitalization • Intensive outpatient program 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. Source: Journal of the American Medical Association.

A P

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Medical Director of Substance Use Disorders

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health

Technology and

Orthopedic

COMPLICATIONS Digital advancements, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, have a downside By ANGELA FORSYTH

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or years, experts have been warning us about the negative effects of sitting at a desk for hours on end. We know it’s bad, but most of us just keep on doing it. And as technology advances, we’re handed even more options to sit for longer periods of time. Laptops, tablets, smartphones, video games, virtual conferencing, online shopping, social media — they add value, but at what cost? While technology certainly makes things more convenient — and in many cases, our jobs depend on it — it can also be the root cause of stiff necks, sore wrists and debilitating back pain. The benefits and negatives of technology have become even more apparent in the last two years as the COVID-19 pandemic pushed a digital transformation. In the case of remote working, McKinsey reported that, “Companies moved 40 times more quickly than they thought possible before the pandemic. Before then, it would have taken more than a year to implement the level of remote working that took place during the crisis. In actuality, it took an average of 11 days.” The good news was that technology had enabled us to continue working from home. The downside was we didn’t realize that by working from home, on average, we would actually be sitting longer in front of a computer than before.

INCREASED SITTING Dr. Jesse Abeler is an orthopedic surgeon at Arkansas Surgical Hospital, and he agrees there is a correlation between COVID-19 and techrelated medical issues. Abeler has seen a relative increase in the number of patients with tendonitis within the last two years. It reminds him of a time when he saw an even bigger increase — back when BlackBerry phones first came out. “I’m seeing a similar situation now where people are spending tremendous time on computers compared to even a year or two ago,” he says. “People are sitting longer. They’re not even getting up for that transition to go back and forth between home and work.” Dr. Amanda Bledsoe, chiropractor and CEO of Bledsoe Chiropractic, has seen a similar rise in tech-related cases, particularly among mental health providers. “We know that mental health is a current crisis, so I see a lot of counselors who are on back-to-back Zoom calls and literally can’t get up for eight hours straight,” she notes. “That’s a problem because they’re trying to help people with their mental health, but they’re hurting themselves physically with all these Zoom calls.” Videoconferencing skyrocketed early on in the pandemic and became the go-to mode of communication that replaced in-person visits. Telehealth usage surged. Business trips became Zoom calls, and schools went virtual. According to a blog posted by Zoom founder Eric S. Yuan, the popular online meeting platform “ballooned overnight.” In December 2019, the maximum number of daily meeting participants was 10 million. In March 2020, it was more than 200 million, and by April, Zoom had 300 million daily participants worldwide. This meant students, employees, health care providers and many others were glued to their seats for hours. While schools have returned to in-person learning and many of us have returned to work sites, videoconferencing remains an essential business tool.

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POOR POSTURE The problem is not just that we’re sitting longer, it’s also how we’re sitting. When millions of employees transitioned to working from home, we thought it was a short-term situation. Two years later, many of us are still working at the kitchen table in chairs that were never meant to be sat in all day. According to Bledsoe, many of her patients come in with numbness in their arms and legs from sitting on barstools with their legs dangling. Others arrive with neck tension brought on by bad posture and stress. But most of her patients (75 percent of them) come in with serious lower back pain. All of these issues, she says, are often interconnected and stem from bad posture while sitting. According to Abeler, when we sit in a slouching position, the back muscles weaken, and the chest muscles tighten. Over an extended period of time, the body becomes unbalanced and sore. As a specialist in upper extremities (shoulder to fingertips), Abeler comes across a lot of cases of tendinitis, including carpal tunnel. This irritation of the nerves can happen in the wrist, thumb and elbow. It can cause numbness or a painful sensation of pins and needles, and it is often related to computer use or texting.

BETTER HABITS Texting, swiping, scrolling — smartphones have come a long way since the BlackBerry, while our hands and wrists pay the price. When we overuse phones and tablets, we put stress on small muscles, tendons and nerves. “Text thumb” is the most common complaint. The knuckle area becomes inflamed when rubbing repeatedly at the joint. The wrist and pinky fingers can often feel the pain as well. This happens when we awkwardly bend the wrist and use the pinky finger to prop up a heavy phone or tablet in a vertical position. If we want to enjoy the benefits of technology without the pain, changes are in order. “Many of these issues are correctable, but we need to adjust our lifestyle,” Abeler says. “Cellphones give us tremendous technology, but the way we use them, and the duration with which we use them, can be adjusted, as well as what we do when we’re not using them — like exercising.” Abeler recommends frequent breaks, stretching and drinking more water.

IT MAY SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT ONCE YOU GET IN THE HABIT OF MAINTAINING PROPER POSTURE IT WILL BECOME MORE NATURAL. Bledsoe adds that proper sleep posture is an important subject she discusses with her patients. “Ideally, you want to sleep on your back or your side and use only one pillow under your head,” she says. She also recommends using ice regularly as an anti-inflammatory. “Most people are just lit up with inflammation,” she notes. Another tip she shares is to stretch the neck, shoulders and back daily while running hot water over each area in the shower. Standing desks have gained popularity and are an effective way to prevent bad sitting pos-

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ture. Ideally, you want to be standing or sitting with the screen directly in front of your line of vision. The Mayo Clinic recommends keeping your head centered over your spine. Make sure your shoulders are in a straight line over your hips and your ears are directly over your shoulders. When sitting, knees should be slightly lower than hips. Use the armrests to keep elbows supported and close to the body. Wrists and hands should be in line with your forearms and shoulders relaxed. It may sound like a lot, but once you get in the habit of maintaining proper posture it will become more natural.

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William Hefley, M.D.

BOARD-CERTIFIED ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON FELLOW OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEONS

501.663.6455 BOWENHEFLEYORTHO.COM DRBILLHEFLEY.COM

Samuel A. Moore, D.O.

BOARD-CERTIFIED ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON

501.663.6455 BOWENHEFLEYORTHO.COM DRSAMUELMOORE.COM TWITTER - @SAMOORE03 FACEBOOK.COM/DRSAMUELMOORE

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fter 30 years in orthopedic medicine, Dr. William Hefley, Jr. has established himself as one of Arkansas’ most accomplished faces of the health care industry. His name sits proudly beside his partner’s on the signage, an immediately recognizable surname combination that Arkansans have grown to know well and trust completely. Dr. Hefley graduated from Harding University in 1981 with a bachelor of science in biochemistry. He then obtained his medical degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1985 and completed his orthopedic surgical residency from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1990. During his collegiate and graduate career, the attraction to orthopedics was a natural one for him. “As I went through medical school and considered various specialties and sub-specialties, I was drawn to the fields that involved working with your hands,” Hefley says. “Specifically, orthopedic surgery affords the opportunity to work with patients of all ages. From young people with a sports medicine injury to older folks needing a joint replacement, I get to interact with a lot of nice people [from] all walks of life. In addition, orthopedics is an ever-changing field that is very stimulating — keeping up with the latest technology and treatment options.”

For the past 24 years, Dr. Hefley and his partner Dr. Scott Bowen have led a team of highly qualified physicians at Bowen Hefley Orthopedics. During this time, Hefley has developed specialties in joint replacement surgery, arthroscopy and sports medicine related surgeries for hip, knee and shoulder problems. An avid sports fan and participant his entire life, Hefley finds pleasure in treating patients with sports-related injuries to help them get back in the game. “Orthopedic surgery affords the opportunity to provide a ‘cure’ for serious health issues,” Hefley says. “Whether it’s an ACL reconstruction or a rotator cuff repair or a hip or knee replacement, patients are often very incapacitated and prevented from doing their job or whatever sports activity that they love. Often times, orthopedic surgery can restore pain-free mobility and really change people’s lives. That has always been the most rewarding part of my job.” Such a storied career and track record have led to a number of well-deserved distinctions for Hefley. In addition to his own practice, he is a partner and surgeon at Arkansas Surgical Hospital and has been selected as one of AY About You’s best health care professionals and was voted the best orthopedic surgeon by the Arkansas DemocratGazette.

r. Samuel Moore is an osteopathic physician and board-certified orthopedic surgeon who has been with Bowen Hefley Orthopedic since 2012, and has quickly become one of the state’s best in the practice.

An osteopathic physician, Moore is highly skilled at treating his patients in entirety, as a whole person. This means that, in addition to his proficiencies in orthopedic surgeries of the hip, knee and shoulder, he also excels in treating arthritis and in regenerative medicine.

A native of Fort Smith, Moore attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where he obtained his bachelor of science in microbiology. From there, he branched out to Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences to pursue a doctorate of osteopathic medicine and then to Oklahoma State University where he completed his orthopedic surgery residency.

Despite the wide range of service offerings that he is able to provide, his favorite part of practicing remains straightforward — providing relief and cures for people who have been plagued with pain for years.

For Moore, orthopedics is a family affair. It’s in his blood. “I have always been interested in bone and joint injuries,” Moore says. “My father worked for his entire career in surgery doing orthopedics, and I fell in love with it in medical school. I love to help people who are injured or are in pain and offer them some relief.” 129

“Our practice has been set up and continues to be arranged to focus on patients first and cater to the individual needs of each patient,” Moore says. “We have a smaller group than most orthopedic groups which allows us to provide the individual care that people expect.” In less than a decade of professional practice, Moore has already established significant credibility and acclaim, including being selected as one of AY About You’s best health care professionals from 2018 and 2021. aymag.com

r. Jesse Abeler specializes in treatment of the upper extremities, particularly in cases of degenerative changes and trauma. He has studied and researched a wide range of treatment options for conditions and injuries of the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder. He received his undergraduate degree in athletic training from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California and his medical degree from the Rocky Vista University, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Parker, Colorado. Dr. Abeler completed his internship and orthopedic residency at St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City, performing more than 3,600 operations and serving as Chief Resident. He is trained in general orthopedic surgery and has additional experience in sports medicine. Dr. Abeler completed a Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship at the University of Massachusetts in Worcester with a focus on disorders of nerves, tendons and traumatic injuries.

Jesse Abeler, D.O.

BOARD CERTIFIED ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON

501.663.6455 BOWENHEFLEYORTHO.COM

“I enjoy working with my patients to help with their problem. Sometimes it’s complicated and there are multiple options. It’s important to develop trust with each patient, and it’s my responsibility to be both a teacher and a surgeon to them. If a patient understands their issue, we can work together with cooperation as a team.” Dr. Abeler joined Bowen Hefley Orthopedics in July 2020.

graduate of the University of Arkansas, Dr. Paul K. Edwards has practiced orthopedic surgery in Central Arkansas for the past ten years. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of South Florida and a one-year fellowship in hip and knee replacement at OrthoCarolina in Charlotte, North Carolina.

As such, Edwards has become one of the industry experts in the field and specialty, and the team at the stapled practice, Bowen Hefley Orthopedics, is proud that he joined the group 18 months ago, returning to private practice after spending much of the past decade at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

“I have had a great opportunity to train at several institutions that provide outstanding training and hip and knee replacement,” Edwards says. “I have also had the pleasure of training with mentors that were very passionate about caring for patients with hip and knee arthritis. This gave me the opportunity to witness what a great impact a hip and knee replacement surgeon can have in a patient’s life.”

Paul K. Edwards, M.D.

BOARD CERTIFIED ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON FELLOW OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEONS

501.663.6455 • BOWENHEFLEYORTHO.COM

Above all, he feels that the relationship developed between surgeons and patients is vital, a consideration that he always keeps at the forefront of his mind. “Your surgeon should work hard to earn your trust,” he says. “I believe it is important to build a rapport with your surgeon so trust can be established. I think experience is also critical to successful results.” 130

r. Jason Stewart is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who has been part of Bowen Hefley Orthopedics for 20 years.

Stewart was born and raised in Hope and attended Hendrix College, where he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in biology in 1992. He then enrolled in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, obtaining his medical degree in 1996, and completed his orthopedic surgery residency and fellowship in foot and ankle surgery at the hospital. An orthopedic surgeon by day and woodworker by night, Stewart is a natural in the art of using his hands to “fix” or repair. He most enjoys that his career has provided him the ability to use his mind and hands on a daily basis, as well as the endless variety of challenges and the restoration of his patients’ abilities to enjoy a healthy life. Stewart’s specialty is general orthopedics with an emphasis in adult reconstructive surgery, arthroscopy, sports medicine and workers compensation. In addition to his tenure at Bowen Hefley Orthopedics, he is also a member of the board of managers at the Arkansas Surgical Hospital and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. He was selected as one of Arkansas’ best health care professionals in AY About You in 2018 and 2019.

Jason Stewart, M.D.

BOARD-CERTIFIED ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON FELLOW OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEONS

501.771.1600 • BOWENHEFLEYORTHO.COM

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A Growing Health System for a Growing Community

Left to Right: J. Tod Ghormley, MD, James T. Howell, MD, James L. Head, MD, H. Scott Smith, MD, Grant W. Bennett, MD, Robert F. McCarron, MD, and Tom Roberts, MD

New Medical Ofﬁces

More Specialists

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Orthopedic Excellence At Conway Regional, our team of talented orthopedic surgeons and specialists are dedicated to helping you regain mobility and recover from injury and disease. We are honored to have been voted "Best Sports Medicine Clinic” in the state by the readers of AY Magazine and “Best Orthopedic Care” by readers of Log Cabin Democrat.

We’re not just growing—we’re growing together.

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Hand and Wrist Elbow Shoulder Knee Foot and Ankle Hip Spine Neurosurgery Sports Medicine Work Injuries Physical and Hand Therapy MRI and CT Center

Learn how we’re for you at OrthoArkansas.com 133

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They see more. You keep more. Mako SmartRobotics™ uses 3D CT-based planning software so your surgeon can know more about your anatomy to create a personalized joint replacement surgical plan. By guiding your surgeon during surgery, Mako’s AccuStop™ technology allows your surgeon to cut less by cutting precisely what’s planned to help protect your healthy bone.*

Mako SmartRobotics™ gets you back to the things you love, quicker.

Learn more at makosmartrobotics.com * For full reference information, visit makosmartrobotics.com IMPORTANT INFORMATION Hip & Knee Replacements Hip joint replacement is intended for use in individuals with joint disease resulting from degenerative and rheumatoid arthritis, avascular necrosis, fracture of the neck of the femur or functional deformity of the hip. Knee joint replacement is intended for use in individuals with joint disease resulting from degenerative, rheumatoid and post-traumatic arthritis, and for moderate deformity of the knee. Joint replacement surgery is not appropriate for patients with certain types of infections, any mental or neuromuscular disorder which would create an unacceptable risk of prosthesis instability, prosthesis fixation failure or complications in postoperative care, compromised bone stock, skeletal immaturity, severe instability of the joint, or excessive body weight. Like any surgery, joint replacement surgery has serious risks which include, but are not limited to, pain, infection, bone fracture, change in the treated leg length (hip), joint stiffness, hip joint fusion, amputation, peripheral neuropathies (nerve damage), circulatory compromise (including deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the legs)), genitourinary disorders (including kidney failure), gastrointestinal disorders (including paralytic ileus (loss of intestinal digestive movement)), vascular disorders (including thrombus (blood clots), blood loss, or changes in blood pressure or heart rhythm), bronchopulmonary disorders (including emboli, stroke or pneumonia), heart attack, and death. Implant related risks which may lead to a revision of the implant include dislocation, loosening, fracture, nerve damage, heterotopic bone formation (abnormal bone growth in tissue), wear of the implant, metal and/or foreign body sensitivity, soft tissue imbalance, osteolysis (localized progressive bone loss), audible sounds during motion, reaction to particle debris, and reaction to metal ions (ALTR). Hip and knee implants may not provide the same feel or performance characteristics experienced with a normal healthy joint. The information presented is for educational purposes only. Speak to your doctor to decide if joint replacement surgery is appropriate for you. Individual results vary and not all patients will return to the same activity level. The lifetime of any joint replacement is limited and depends on several factors like patient weight and activity level. Your doctor will counsel you about strategies to potentially prolong the lifetime of the device, including avoiding high-impact activities, such as running, as well as maintaining a healthy weight. It is important to closely follow your doctor’s instructions regarding post-surgery activity, treatment and follow-up care. Ask your doctor if a joint replacement is right for you. MKOSYM-AD-16_Rev-1_25698

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2021 DIAMOND JOURNALISM AWARDS

60 . APRIL 2016

AY Media Group is proud of those staff members recognized in the 2021 SPJ Diamond Journalism Awards, which honor the state’s top journalists.

Heather Baker

Special Section, Print/Online Second Place, Arkansas Mental Health Guide Judges’ comments: “This topic may not be front and center for many, but COVID-19 has brought the issue to a wider audience. These well-written stories document journeys that others may have had. Plus, there is a full listing of resources and help for anyone seeking aid. Good job.”

Dustin Jayroe

Winner, Outstanding New Journalist Judges’ comments: “The mark of a good writer and storyteller is when the reader can glide through a story without stopping. That’s what you get from Dustin Jayroe. The research is spot-on, the writing is conversational. From topic to topic his work stands out. It’s hard to believe he’s only been in the profession for fewer than five years. Congratulations.” Editorials, Magazines

First Place, Editor’s Letter, Arkansas Mental Health Guide

Commentary, Print/Online

Second Place, Deserts for Trees column, AMP

Health, Science & Environment Writing, Print/Online Second Place, Pandemic reporting, AY

Ongoing Coverage, Magazines

Third Place, Substance Use reporting, AY, *Shared with Dwain Hebda

Jamison Mosley

Photo Spread/Essay Second Place, A Fight to End the Fight, AY *Shared with Ebony Blevins and Ian Lyle. Judges’ comments: “Dramatic black and white photo spread of a protest of mostly black young people. The eight pictures showed a lot of emotion. Special use of color in the flag draped around one young man’s shoulders really popped.”

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Mark Carter

Editorials, Magazines Second Place, Editor’s Letters, AMP Sports, Magazines Second Place, “Enjoying the Ride,” AMP Judges’ comments: “The pandemic has given thousands of people the chance to explore the world of road biking and mountain biking. This story puts that into perspective to show how the activity is growing by leaps and bounds. And, it’s important to the state’s economy. A good piece. A good read.” Business Writing, Print/Online Second Place, Pandemic and business reporting, AMP

Rebecca Robertson

Magazine Design First Place, Food and Home series, AY Judges’ comments: “This submission truly reflects the elements of modern magazine design. Large, beautifully composed and well-lit photographs are accompanied by nice page layouts and a combination of fonts and color palettes that fit the mood and theme of the stories, amplifying their messaging and overall storytelling power.” Magazine Design Second Place, Business series, AMP

Lora Puls

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MURDER MYSTERY:

THE CO-ED MURDER – By Janie Jones

outh Duncan Avenue in Fayetteville was a dimly lit street, but the moon was full on the night of April 12, 1971. Mike Adair could see Pauline Storment walking from the University of Arkansas toward her apartment as he was driving home. He also saw a man following Storment. Mere seconds later, Adair and everyone within earshot heard the young woman’s screams. Jack Huff of 24 Summit Terrace ran from his apartment to lend aid, and Storment told him someone had hit her in the chest. As it turned out, she had suffered seven stab wounds to her chest and arm. Other witnesses rushed to Storment’s side, and as they waited for an ambulance, they heard her say that her assailant wore glasses and that he had run toward the campus, which was two blocks away. Joe Clifton, who lived on nearby Nettleship Street, also heard the victim’s screams and later told authorities that he, too, had seen a man following Storment and described him as wearing a brown sports jacket and was about 6 feet tall. Gary Gammell lived near Huff and Pauline Storment. arrived at the scene just as Storment crumpled to the ground in front of her apartment, but he could only reiterate that the attacker had run toward the campus. Storment, 27, died in surgery at Washington Regional Hospital at 11 p.m., an hour and a half after the stabbing occurred. Her last words were: “Don’t hurt me.” About 40 minutes after the fatal assault, police officers noticed a car parked on Dickson Street four blocks away from the crime scene. One occupant of the car, Wallace Peter Kunkel, 17, had blood on his jacket, so he was taken in and held for questioning. Blood was also detected on his shirt and pants. He invoked his right to remain silent and requested an attorney. Investigators sent his clothing to the state medical examiner for analysis. According to autopsy results, the weapon used in the slaying was some kind of cutting instrument similar to a butcher knife

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with a 6- to 8-inch blade. Storment, a divorcee, was a sophomore at the university and had enrolled there the previous fall. She had completed her freshman year at Arkansas Tech University six years earlier. In the interim, she worked as a secretary in St. Louis and for a security company in Memphis and Atlanta. Alice Pat Murphy, Storment’s roommate in Fayetteville, described her as a quiet, studious girl who wasn’t dating anyone. The two co-eds had been roomies for only 12 days but had known each other since mid-semester. Investigators traced Storment’s movements on the night of her murder. She had spent time earlier in the evening at the ROTC offices where she worked, then attended a musical production at the Fine Arts Center. She visited the main library before leaving campus. Murphy said Storment usually arrived home around 10:30 p.m. instead of 9:30 p.m., the time she was attacked. Other than that, nothing out of the ordinary had happened, as far as Murphy knew. She said Storment didn’t drink or use drugs and held down two part-time jobs when she wasn’t attending classes. In addition to her work at the ROTC office, she was an employee at the Malco Theatre. Storment was born on April 3, 1944, and was the daughter of Lillian and Paul Storment. She was laid to rest in Highland Cemetery in her hometown of Ozark. Besides her parents, she was survived by two half-sisters. A half-brother had died at the age of 35, just four years before Storment’s murder. In the nights following the slaying, no women ventured down South Duncan Avenue, and they walked in groups or with escorts on campus. Radio and newspaper outlets tried to run down all the rumors that abounded, and switchboard operators at the police station were inundated with calls from anxious citizens. Students who gathered in clusters to discuss the murder wondered about the youth who was in custody. Detectives questioned his companions and reinterviewed witnesses. On the third day after the homicide, Sheriff Bill Long found a butcher knife thrust into the ground behind a vacant house across the street from Storment’s apartment. Arkansas State Police took the knife to Little Rock for fingerprint and chemical tests. Po-

Original newspaper clippings from the Arkansas Traveler and Northwest Arkansas Times discussing the murder.

lice Chief Hollis Spencer expressed his doubt that the knife was the one used by the killer, but one day after Sheriff Long found the potential weapon, Prosecuting Attorney Mahlon Gibson charged Kunkel with premeditated murder. At arraignment, Kunkel’s lawyer, Richard Hipp, moved to have Circuit Judge Maupin Cummings set aside Kunkel’s arrest due to a lack of probable cause, but Cummings overruled him. Hipp bombarded the court with discovery motions, asking the prosecution for everything they had: results of all tests, type of weapon used, a description of wounds inflicted on the victim, a complete list of witnesses and all physical evidence. Kunkel’s legal nightmare was over soon, however, when Prosecutor Gibson announced that the murder indictment was nolle prossed, which basically is a dismissal of charges. This turn of events was due, in part, to the defendant’s decision to submit to a lie detector examination after being assured by Gibson and Spencer that they would be bound by the results. Chief Spencer said at the time, “Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Kunkel’s attorney agreed to an interview and polygraph test. As a result, we are satisfied that he had no part in the murder of Miss Storment.” Kunkle and his parents held a press conference after his release from jail. He expressed no ill will toward anyone and thanked his parents, friends and attorney for their support during his ordeal. Both of his parents wept with relief and joy upon greeting their son, his father saying to reporters, “I am never ashamed of tears for my son.” Mrs. Kunkel was grateful for the “high caliber care and consideration shown by Chief Spencer and all his employees. They have been so good to us.”

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The university’s student newspaper, the Arkansas Traveler, ran an ad in the classifieds on the day Kunkle was freed. It read, “FOUND: One pair of glasses near the S.E. Auditorium.” Storment said her assailant wore glasses. Could he have lost them in his haste to escape? A month after Storment’s murder, detectives were no closer to solving it. They looked into her previous employment at the security company when she lived in Memphis and Atlanta. Her job was to help catch thieves at department stores that hired the security firm. This meant watching for store employees with sticky fingers, as well as shoplifters. The security company cooperated in trying to trace individual cases in which she was a witness, but this line of inquiry never panned out. Investigators grappled with the lack of an apparent motive for her slaying. Was she just in the wrong place at the wrong time? Did she leave for home early because she encountered the killer at the library and sensed danger? Had the murderer been stalking her, or did he act on impulse? Could her killer still be identified through DNA if the evidence collected is still stored somewhere? Why did this murder not gain more attention? So many questions, so few answers.

aymag.com

Dinosaurs By Joe David Rice

rkansas has an official state tree (shortleaf pine), bird (mockingbird), mammal (white-tailed deer), gemstone (diamond), flower (apple blossom), insect (honeybee), beverage (milk), musical instrument (fiddle), duck (the mallard, much to the chagrin of wood duck devotees), at least four state songs, and has come close to sanctioning a state waltz. Finally, in 2017, at the behest of Mason Oury, a Fayetteville high school student, the Arkansas General Assembly got around to designating a state dinosaur. Our honored prehistoric beast is the Arkansaurus. Known to paleontologists as Arkansaurus “fridayi,” it was named in honor of Joe B. Friday who discovered its foot bones in a gravel pit on his farm near Lockesburg (Sevier County) in southwestern Arkansas during the summer of 1972. These remains from the distant past eventually ended up in the hands of Dr. James Harrison Quinn, a University of Arkansas geology professor, who cleaned and reassembled them and then crafted clay approximations of the missing pieces. The resulting foot, a little over 24 inches in length with sharp claws at the ends of its three digits, was compared to the skeletons of similar dinosaurs to determine significant details about this creature which lived anywhere from 100 to 145 million years ago during what scientists call the Early Cretaceous period. Arkansaurus, a two-legged, bird-like carnivore, stood at least 6 feet tall and probably reached a full-grown height of 15 feet or more. It apparently ate smaller animals, their eggs, and insects, and perhaps plant matter as well. A long, slender neck led to a small head housing a surprisingly big brain, giving it a level of intelligence equal to that of today’s ostrich or emu. With its especially prominent eye sockets, Arkansaurus most likely had superior vision and may well have been able to discern colors. Possessing elongated front limbs and opposable digits on its three-digit “hands,” this dinosaur could grasp its prey. A replica of the fossilized foot can be viewed at the Arkansas Geological Survey’s offices in Little Rock. A decade after the discovery of Arkansaurus, another dinosaur-related revelation surfaced

about 25 miles east of Lockesburg at Weyerhaeuser’s Briar Plant gypsum mine near Nashville. Not dinosaur bones, but dinosaur tracks. Enormous footprints (26 inches wide and 26 to 28 inches long), and thousands upon thousands of them — perhaps the largest dinosaur trackway in the world. The prints were left about 100 million years ago in the Early Cretaceous period by a host of dinosaurs, most of which have been identified as sauropods (huge longnecked, longtailed vegetarians that walked on all fours). This part of t h e world, h o t a n d swampy at the time, was a muddy shoreline of the ancient Gulf of Mexico.The tracks, left in soft sediment, were filled by clay deposits and eventually covered by limestone, preserving them for eons. The Arkansas Geological Survey also displays casts of these gargantuan tracks for the public’s inspection. Yet another significant discovery at this same property occurred in 2011. In addition to tracks similar to those

found earlier, researchers also recorded footprints (one foot wide and twice that long) of a threetoed dinosaur, probably the Acrocanthosaurus atokensis, a predator of the first rate. Not only was this a large animal (up to 38 feet in length) and heavy (weighing in at 6 tons), it stood upright on two legs with a long, thick tail counterbalancing its body and head. That head was especially formidable with the upper jaw alone displaying 38 curved and serrated teeth. This sharp-toothed meat-eater likely preyed on young sauropods and other species which also lived in the area. Next time you’re driving in the Nashville/ Lockesburg area in southwestern Arkansas, pull to the side of the road, shut your eyes for a couple of minutes, and imagine that you’re standing on the shoreline of a much earlier (and much larger) Gulf of Mexico, gazing across the shallow sea. A forest of strange bushes and trees rises behind you. The ground begins to shake and a sudden racket to the rear grabs your attention. You spin around — and can hardly believe your eyes. The largest animal you’ve ever seen, a gigantic sauropod — some 20 feet tall at the shoulder (with a neck extending another 30 or so feet) and more than 100 feet from head to tail — lumbers from a thicket, seeking refuge in the water. Nipping at its heels is a much smaller dinosaur, the dreaded Acrocanthosaurus atokensis, arguably the most fearsome carnivore the world has ever known. This dueling duo is getting closer and closer before the rush of a passing 18-wheeler brings you back to the 21st century. But that mental image of those massive prehistoric beasts, a gripping scene straight from a science fiction movie, won’t go away.

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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