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February 2014

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New Life Youth Home Denton - Baker Wedding Batesville’s Monthly Community Meetings A Publication of Meadowland Media, Inc.

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In This Issue 6/Editor’s Note Snuggle Up

7/We’re Still Out Here

Can Festivals Create Community Identity?

12/Cover Story

New Life Youth Home, Administrator Holly Sandridge

14/Feature

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22

8

23

9

30

18

36

Batesville’s Monthly Community Update Meetings

15/Your Health

A “Touch” of Advice about Germs

18/I Do

Denton-Baker Wedding

20/Smith’s Verdict Top 13 of 2013

22/Red Hot Ladies Luncheon 23/Tales Of a Transplanted Fashionista A Visit From Jerry

24/Things To Do 25/Notes from the Clearing One of Those Days

26/Faces 30/The Myopic Life Networking

32/Experiencing God in the Everyday What Does It Mean to be Blessed?

33/Batesville Area Arts Council 34/Downtown Guide 36/Women’s Run Clinic

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February 2014

Independence

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Batesville’s Monthly Comm

unity Meetings

A Publication of Mead

owland Media, Inc.

Cover Photography by Robert O. Seat Cover Design by Joseph Thomas

Meet Your Writers...

Tommy Bryant is the ward 1, position 1 alderman on the Batesville City Council. He also serves on the Independence County Equalization Board and previously served on the Batesville Planning Commission. A graduate of Lyon College, he is a strong advocate for community and economic development, and for improving Batesville's roads, water and wastewater infrastructure.

Chad Grigsby is a 32 year old native of Tennessee but now calls Arkansas home. He is the Pastor for Teaching & Shepherding at the Compass Church. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to Jessica and they have one son, Ezra.

Leigh Keller is a high school guidance counselor and colorguard instructor at Batesville High School. She is the director of the BHS Glass Slipper Project. Leigh lives in Batesville with her son, Cole, and a pack of dogs.

Alisa R. Lancaster is an advanced practice nurse for the U of A Medical Sciences North Central. She has been in healthcare since 1983, the last 18 years with the UAMS system. Alisa and husband, Scott, have four children, two grandchildren, and two spoiled puppies. Alisa’s mission is to improve the health and wellness of others through education and practice. She welcomes feedback or comments at AlisaAPRN@gmail.com or 870.698.1023 Bob Pest is the president and Co-founder of Ozark Foothills FilmFest and the T Tauri Film Festival and Movie Camp. He works as a community development consultant for First Community Bank, teaches film classes at UACCB, and currently serves as vice-president of the Ozark Gateway Tourist Council.

Kristi Price spent all her life as a transplant, having grown up military. The Ozarks have always been in her blood though, and she’s proud to call Batesville her home after many years on the move. Kristi holds a BA in English and blogs about family and other mishaps at www. themyopiclife.wordpress.com. She is married to Erin and mother to Ethan, Emily, and Maggie.

Tanner Smith is a native of Manila, Arkansas. He has written movie reviews for the T Tauri Galaxy (www.ttauri.org/galaxy) for several years and is a five year veteran of the T Tauri Movie Camp.

He has made a number of films, ranging from horror to documentary, and has won awards in filmmaking and screenwriting.

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Tickets Available at Citizens Bank (Main and Eagle Mountain locations) THIS PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED BY: MeadowLand Media, Inc. P. O. Box 196, Grubbs, AR 72431 870.503.1150 kthomas@eyeonmag.com PUBLISHER: Kimberlee Thomas Associate EDITOR: Bob Pest MANAGING EDITOR: Joseph Thomas ADVERTISING: Kimberlee Thomas Creative Director : Joseph Thomas AD DESIGN Department: Kimberlee Thomas Joseph Thomas PROOFING Department: Joseph Thomas Kimberlee Thomas Staff PHOTOGRAPHERS: Kimberlee Thomas Joseph Thomas Robert O. Seat PRINTING COMPANY: Rockwell Publishing

Eye On Independence is a publication of MeadowLand Media, Incorporated. Editorial, advertising and general business information can be obtained by calling (870) 503-1150 or emailing Kimberlee Thomas at kthomas@eyeonmag.com.

Mailing address: P. O. Box 196, Grubbs, AR 72431.

Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements, unless otherwise noted, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Publisher or the staff. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information presented in this issue is accurate and neither MeadowLand Media or it any of its staff is responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. Copyright © 2010 MeadowLand Media, Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the Publisher.

All pictorial material reproduced in this book has been accepted on the condition that it is reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the photographer concerned. As such, MeadowLand Media, Incorporated, is not responsible for any infringement of copyright or otherwise arising out of publication thereof.

For advertising, distribution, or editorial contribution, contact Kimberlee Thomas, 870.503.1150, kthomas@eyeonmag.com.

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Eye On Independence received the 2012 Innovative Project award, which is presented to an agency or organization for outstanding, innovative, continuous or effective coverage of literacy issues, resulting in positive change or improvement.

Editor’s Note Snuggle Up

Joseph Thomas All I’ve been hearing about lately is how harsh February is supposed to be, so stay safe and snuggle up when you can and enjoy this month’s Eye On! Bob Pest studies communities and their festivals and brings us Ozark Foothills FilmFest news. Hannah Keller brings us all things Lyon. Tommy Bryant invites us all to the Batesville Community Update Meetings.

Joseph and Kimberlee Thomas Leigh Keller introduces us to Jerry, her newest temporary pet and Chad Grigsby asks what being blessed really means. Tanner Smith brings us his Best 13 from ‘13.

Annie McCallister-Solis brings us all things WRMC. Bruce Oakley talks about an upcoming Women’s Run Clinic, Alisa R. Lancaster gives us a Touch of Advice about Germs and Kristi Price discusses Networking.

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6

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Kimberlee Thomas shares, our friends, JoAnna and Jeff Baker’s wedding and I write about Holly Sandridge and the New Life Youth Home.

Please enjoy and don’t forget to join us at www. eyeonmag.com and look for us on Facebook at Eye On Independence and Eye On Jackson. N

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We’re Still Out Here

Can Festivals Create Community Identity?

Bob Pest

Once again I have found an intriguing article in the Daily Rural, the most-engaged publication devoted to life and culture in Rural America. The article attempts to answer the question in the title by telling us “How Festivals Can Create Community Identity” with confidence.

Robert Wuthnow is a Professor of Sociology at Princeton University. In his widely acclaimed book, SmallTown America: Finding Community, Shaping the Future, he asserts that “small towns are not so different from big cities but the way small towns define themselves and create community is different.” Wuthnow’s experience lead him to the conclusion that “small towns can only be understood by paying attention to the cultural constructions that give them meaning.” Small towns that prosper must create community identity and cohesion.

People in big cities live close to each other, shop at the same stores, eat at the same restaurants, send their children to the same schools, and belong to clubs and other organizations that help them consider themselves as relevant and cohesive. Their identity is largely defined by their location.

Rural citizens may live miles away from town and even farther from stores, restaurants, and schools. They may only see their neighbors a few times a year, instead of bumping into them on the sidewalk or in the elevator.

For example, I identify myself with Batesville although I live in Locust Grove, with a few residents and thousands of acres surrounding us. There are no stores within twenty miles, only a gas station and a post office. Most Locust Grove residents, like me, identity themselves with Batesville, a town of 10,000. Although it is a small town, Batesville does not consider itself rural. It has several hotels, a small downtown shopping district, a few good restaurants, a library, a hospital, several banks, a book store, and a movie theater.

Batesville has worked to establish itself as relevant over the past decade by attracting new businesses, but many locals still complain of having little to do and spend their free time and shop in the larger cities—Memphis

and Little Rock. Like Texas, Arkansas considers sports a religion and the names of college teams, like the Arkansas Razorbacks, can be seen on jackets and jerseys all over Batesville. Batesville’s identity remains overshadowed by the Razorbacks.

The Ozark Foothills FilmFest was founded as a nonprofit in 2001 and held its first festival in 2002. Many locals were convinced this would never work due to the small size of the town and its isolation from larger cities.

Fortunately, Levon Helm, a native Arkansan who played in the legendary music group, The Band, helped attract a large crowd to the first festival, even though most of the community was convinced that the festival would fail in a city with a population of only about 10,000. Because of its size, it took the community several years to understand and appreciate the festival and what it could eventually mean to the community.

The small audiences in the first few years led the festival to screen some films in nearby communities.

However, the local community convinced the festival to hold the entire event in Batesville and maintain its identity. By 2006 the festival had become established: it was attracting attendees from beyond the region and earned considerable coverage from local and regional newspapers and magazines. Of course, the revenue that came in from attendees who stay in the hotels, eat in the restaurants, and shop in town, demonstrated the possibilities for economic growth. The festival became one of the most popular events in the region and the state. Batesville banks and businesses became festival sponsors and local businesses bought ads in the festival program. The festival added a summer movie camp for youth up to 18 that engaged parents and educators.

The community was very happy to see their sons and daughters learning about film, writing, and technology; many parents became involved.

The Ozark Foothills FilmFest has elevated the quality of life in Batesville and in doing so helped create an identity as a community that supports both entertainment and education. People talk about the films in previous festivals and the ones coming up; they also pride themselves on the hospitality Batesville provides We’re still out here continues on page 39

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February 2014 7

Arkansas’s Community Bank now in 22 more communities.

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Russellville 2

Dardanelle

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Lyon College Unveils New Athletic Logo Hannah Keller

The athletics department at Lyon College opened a new chapter as it unveiled a new logo for the Scots during a recent press conference.

“We’ve developed a stronger athletic brand that will allow us to better market ourselves to prospective students,” said Kevin Jenkins, athletics director at Lyon.

With new additions to the athletic program such as football and men’s and women’s wrestling, Jenkins said the time was ripe for creating a strong athletic identity for the Scots.

The new logo features the Rampant Lion from the College’s seal, a symbol that embraces Lyon’s Scottish heritage. Joshua Tate, director of marketing and communications, created the new logo along with a custom word mark and style guide for usage of the new athletic brand.

“It was clear that the Lyon Scots needed a new visual identity that not only would represent who they are, but also create a traditional yet current brand that fell more in line with the history of the College.

Using the Rampant Lion that is part of the College seal seemed a great opportunity to play to our Scottish heritage, while creating a strong symbol that is uniquely Lyon,” Tate said.

Lyon President Donald Weatherman said the changes in the athletic department were part of a grander process designed to promote growth at Lyon. The College recently approved the construction of two new residence halls to accommodate Lyon’s rapidly growing student body.

“This [logo] will be something unique to us. It will give us an identity that we lacked, and is part of the process of clarifying who we are,” Weatherman said.

Jenkins presented Weatherman with the first polo shirt adorned with the school’s new logo at the press conference.

The design received positive

feedback from those in attendance.

Bruce Johnston, vice president for student life and dean of students, said he loved the new logo.

“I’m trying to not just say, ‘Wow!’ I think it’s great. I love the look. I love the lettering,” he said.

Tracy Stewart-Lange, women’s head basketball coach, said she was resistant to change but thought the new look would give the Scots a strong, unified look.

“I’m not a real change person.

I struggled to let go of the Pipers, because I was a Piper. But I really do like the new logo. It’s very clean and very strong. My favorite part is the font. I think it’ll be great that we have one cohesive look,” she said.

The new logo replaces the image of Scottish warrior brandishing a claymore sword and carrying bagpipes on his back that was designed in 2009. Those in attendance at the press conference received T-shirts featuring the new logo.

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Kevin Jenkins, athletics director, left, presents Lyon College President Donald Weatherman with the first polo shirt featuring the new Scots logo.

Mirranda Sprayberry, left, and Cindy Gillaspie unveil the new Lyon College Scots logo and word mark.

Joshua Tate, director of marketing and communications at Lyon College, hands out T-shirts with the new Lyon Scots logo at a press conference Monday.

February 2014 9

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Lyon Scholarship Fundraiser Offers Chance to Kick Up Boot Heels Hannah Keller Lyon College is hoping to raise a record-breaking amount for its Annual Scholarship Fund with its third annual Black Tie Blue Jeans Ball that will begin at 5:30 p.m. February 28, at The Cow Palace at Chimney Rock in Concord.

College representatives are hoping this year’s ball will surpass the more than $250,000 raised by previous balls.

“This is the biggest event we hold all year to support the Annual Scholarship Fund,” said Jon Vestal, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. “All of our students receive scholarships, and about a third are the first in their families to enroll in college. We award $7 million a year in scholarships and grants to our students. Lyon doesn’t want to see any student denied a quality education because of financial need. The Annual

Above, Kenton Adler and Maria and Christo Kiffer at a past Black Ties Blue Jeans Ball. Below are Josh Manning, Eddie Manning, Jo Ann Manning and Mike and Sandy Forbis.

Scholarship Fund is a vital resource that without which some students would be unable to attend college.”

Tickets for the ball are on sale now for $100 each.

Four levels of table sponsorship are available. Sponsors receive special benefits in exchange for their generous contributions. Seating is limited, so purchasing tickets early is encouraged. The evening will include a gourmet dinner, cocktails, dancing and silent and live auctions.

Danny Dozier and the Lockhouse Orchestra will provide entertainment.

The live auction will include “Dollars for Scholars,” a unique reverse auction where donors bid the amount they wish to pledge to give. All bids serve as outright gifts to the Annual Scholarship Fund. This event has become the highlight of the ball. Each gift is 100 percent tax deductible.

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Carly Dahl at 870-307-7278 or email carly.dahl@lyon. edu.

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February 2014 11

Eye On Cover Story New Life Youth Home, Administrator Holly Sandridge Joseph Thomas

December 2, 1995 was a tragic turning point in Holly Sandridge’s life; her daughter, Tammie, was killed in an automobile accident. Sandridge turned forty that following February and continued to work at a sewing factory. She recalls that it was like waking up from a daze that fall. Wondering why she was just going through the motions led Sandridge to make a bold decision. Just when Tammie should have been starting college, Sandridge enrolled herself. She decided to be a social worker, “I’ve always been a social worker, I just didn’t know it,” admits Sandridge. She earned a BS in social work with special training in crisis intervention at the University of Vanderbilt. “My entire college career I doubted my ability to compete with the younger students, but I always heard Tammie’s voice driving me on, telling me I could do it and that I was just being silly,” shares Sandridge. “I really had to buckle down, but I did and it paid off.”

Sandridge landed a job as a supervisor in a Level Two Therapeutic facility near her home in Tennessee. It was mostly teenage girls from inner city Nashville, girls who were born to mothers addicted to crack. Sandridge worked there until she graduated and was planning on moving to Florida when a close friend advised her to come home to Arkansas, “Your family is here, this is where you need to be.” Sandridge made herself a deal, if she could land a job while visiting Arkansas before

leaving for Florida, she would remain in Arkansas; that is exactly what happened. Sandridge was hired as a child abuse investigation supervisor in Batesville.

Sandridge, originally from Pocahontas, Arkansas, was not very familiar with the area but was soon promoted to supervise five counties. For twelve years she held this position and saw many unfortunate children in horrible circumstances, “in an average state, I believe the foster care system is broken.”

Tim Bumpus, a good friend of Sandridge, would call her from time to time and was always asking when she was coming to work for him at one of the many safe havens he and his wife have set up around the area for adults and youths alike. Sandridge would laugh and explain that her state job had great benefits and she was hesitant to leave it. Sandridge, however, prayed over this decision many times and was finally led to Bumpus’ program and when he next asked her to join his staff, she startled him by saying, “I believe I will.”

July 16, 2012, Sandridge did just that and became the Administrator for the New Life Youth Home in Oil Trough, Arkansas.

The facility was under going changes and it was the perfect time for Sandridge to completely revamp the layout. They now house children of all ages from Family in Need of Service Court (or FINS Court), children before they are sent to foster care and even unsupervised children who get into trouble. “We keep them in school, give them tutoring when they need it, and stabilize their lives as best we can,” explains Sandridge. “In 2013, we had a girl graduate high school with a 4.0 and obtain a full scholarship to ASU. Another girl wouldn’t go to summer school and is now achieving straight A’s and on the annual staff, she loves school and can’t believe she’s a popular girl in school now. We show them love and try to build up their self-esteem which is typically very low.

That is what these children need most, a soft place to land and we do our best to give them that.” The children attend church three days a week, have movie nights, and space of their own.

The New Life Youth Home currently has two cottages full and hoping to fill a third when the right parents are found. House parents live in a home with six to eight children; six for a single house parent and eight for a couple. “We are very strict when it comes to placing a house parent. You can never be careful enough when it comes to safeguarding these children,” declares Sandridge. She says being a house parent is a calling, not a job; they live here five days a week and are off two.

She admits they are not here for the money, it is a nonprofit organization run by those individuals that want Cover photography by Robert O. Seat The background is a picture from one of her New Life kids.

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to make a positive difference in these young lives.

The office holds a monthly calendar filled with court dates for Sandridge in regard to these children.

There are boards filled with pictures of these children in various happy moments within the facility. The goal of New Life Youth Home is to keep these children safe in a nurturing environment until a relative or loving foster parent can fill that need. Sandridge says she always thought the state foster care system could be improved, but thought they had a good handle on all of the children in need. It wasn’t until she became involved with the New Life Youth Home that she found out just how many go unseen. Sandridge adds, “Most people just don’t realize how many children live with abuse in their community everyday. I can tell you that the abusive parents don’t get prosecuted or charged, it just doesn’t happen,” adds Sandridge. “And this is in every state, not just Arkansas.” The stability of New Life Youth Home is partially achieved in the structured daily life and Sandridge also tries to raise enough money every month to take the children out, one at a time, for a meal, reinforcing manners in public situations.

The progressive goals of Sandridge are to open more homes in the community and hopefully do away with the waiting list of local children needing what this nonprofit organization offers. Expanding this program into Honduras in Central America is a bigger goal and Sandridge feels this is where her path is leading. “First, we need to open this third cottage and help some

local children,” says Sandridge. If you would like to help with funds, goods or time for this facility and the children they safeguard, call Holly Sandridge at 870264-3757 or email her at newlifechildrenshome10@ yahoo.com. The New Life Youth Home website is www. newlifechildrenshome.org and they are eager to hear from you.

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Holly’s daughter, Tammie Turner at the Rodeo.

February 2014 13

Eye On Feature Batesville’s Monthly Community Update Meetings Tommy Bryant

When Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh took office in projects.

January of 2007 his goal of making city government more The monthly meetings are held on the first Thursday transparent and accountable to the public started “day one” of every month from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Locations for the with a policy that his office door would always be open to meetings varies and have included Josie’s Steakhouse and anyone who wanted to “bend the Mayor’s ear”. He began FoxCreek BBQ with additional venues planned for 2014. televising City Council Meetings on the local cable channel Members of the business community continue offering because he wanted the public to be better informed about to sponsor the meetings saying that community leaders city government. Under Mayor Elumbaugh’s leadership the getting together every month to learn more about each City of Batesville has continued moving forward and in other, listen to others points of view and to discuss issues 2013 he expanded on this policy by creating the “Mayor’s in our community is a good thing.

Monthly Community Update Meeting” in partnership with The Thursday, February 6, 2013 meeting, sponsored the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce. The meetings by the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, is being held have been a huge success with 46 in attendance at the at the Eagle Mountain Country Club from 5:00 to 6:30 recent January 2014 meeting, the largest crowd ever! p.m. If you would like additional information, would like Citizens, business professionals and others often to sponsor one of the meetings or have your email added have something they want to share with the mayor but to the mailing list, please contact the City of Batesville just don’t have the time to drop by city hall and Mayor at (870) 698-2400 or the Batesville Area Chamber of Elumbaugh wanted to create an informal setting in a Commerce at (870) 793-2378. relaxed atmosphere where members of the community The public is invited and encouraged to attend the would feel comfortable exchanging ideas and concerns meetings. N with the Mayor as well as with other elected officials in attendance.

Along with Mayor Elumbaugh, County Judge Robert Griffin, Economic Development Director Larry Jones, City Council and Quorum Court Members and other elected officials usually attend the monthly meetings. Personally getting to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere improves communication between elected officials enabling them to better understand each other’s point of view and resulting in more willingness to work together to solve problems.

The meetings provide citizens easier access to their elected representatives and gives public officials the opportunity to listen to their thoughts and concerns on Mayor Rick Elumbaugh a wide range of topics including taxes, job opportunities, economic development, trash pickup, law enforcement, street and drainage concerns, recreational opportunities for their children and other issues important to them.

The first 30-45 minutes of the meeting are in a “meet and greet” format followed by Mayor Elumbaugh’s update on topics of interest to the community such as the progress on the ongoing wastewater project, street and drainage improvements, the status of the sports complex projects, the new community center or the recent Christmas Lights Display.

County Judge Robert Griffin and Economic Development Director Larry Jones usually provide updates on projects such as the new Business Park, the outlook for new companies and additional jobs, new economic development opportunities and updates on county projects including road and bridge construction, the shooting sports complex, the status and concerns involving law Kennadi Pretty enforcement, the jail, library and other ongoing county Photo by Stacy Pretty 14

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Your Health

A “Touch” of Advice about Germs Alisa R. Lancaster

I’ve always been cognizant of germs, even as a child.

Those that know me would probably, hopefully lovingly, label me as a germaphobe. I’m sure having a career in healthcare has pushed me over the top, but I can proudly boast of rarely, ever being ill ~ physically.

Germs are a part of life…they are here 24/7/365.

Most of the exposure we have to these little guys helps boost our immunity. But, sometimes they prevail and can wreak havoc on our health such as during the cold and flu season. One study reported that the cold and flu viruses can survive for up to 18 hours on a hard surface. Since germs are here to stay, let’s see what we can do to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

According to AARP, Prevention Magazine, and others, an average adult touches up to 30 objects in any given minute. (I can only imagine the number for children.)

Recent publications have noted some of the germiest places frequented by the public. I was aware of all but one that made the list. * Restaurant Menus - have you ever thought about how many hands touch a menu in any given day? How many times have you seen a menu being washed, and if so, properly? So be sure to wash your hands after placing your order and never let the menu touch your eating utensils. * Condiment Dispensers - the same hands touching the menus are also touching the salt, pepper, ketchup, etc. containers. Though I’ve seen menus wiped off in a couple of places, I’ve never seen the condiment containers

ClassiC

cleaned. Unfortunately, many people do not wash their hands before eating, so grab your bottle of hand sanitizer and wipe away. * Restroom door handles - ever notice how many people do not wash their hands after using the bathroom and then exit by touching the door handle? Grab a paper towel and grasp the knob to exit or wait and let someone else open the door. * Soap dispensers - up to 25% are contaminated with fecal bacteria. Scrub thoroughly with hot water for 15-20 seconds. Use your alcohol based sanitizer as well. * Grocery carts - take advantage of the disinfectant wipes available at most shopping facilities as 2 out of 3 carts tested in a 2007 study in Arizona were contaminated with fecal bacteria. (You might skip the free food samples also as they are a hand-to-germ-to-mouth free for all zone.) * Doctor’s Offices - always a thriving place for germs.

Bring your own books, magazines, and toys for children.

Leave a couple of chairs between you and others as germ droplets can travel 3 feet after a cough or sneeze before hitting the floor. * Airplane bathrooms - it’s probably not the air on the plane that makes passengers sick, but the bathroom faucets and doorknobs contaminated with fecal bacteria. * Lemon Wedges - according to a 2007 study in the Journal of Environmental Health, nearly 70% of lemon wedges tested were contaminated with 25 different disease causing microbes. Ask your server for a beverage sans wedge!

So, stock up on personal alcohol based hand sanitizer and USE it, frequently!

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Arkansas Craft School Announces Session III Community Craft Classes Session III of Arkansas Craft School Community Classes will begin the week of February 26, and will run through May 6, 2014. Classes will be held at the Craft School’s Artisan Studios at 110-112 East Main Street; conveniently and safely located right off the Square and next door to the Arkansas Craft Guild, and at Ozarka College’s Mountain View campus.

Pottery classes will continue on Thursday afternoons, and will again be taught by local ceramic artist, David Dahlstedt. Students learn to throw on the potter’s wheel, or improve techniques that they already possess. Clay is available for purchase at cost to students, and completed work can be fired in the Craft School’s pottery kiln. Pottery classes meet at the Craft School’s main studio at 110 East Main Street. Classes resume March 6, will run through May 1, and will meet from 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tuition for the class will be $275.00, plus materials fees according to student use of clay and glazes.

Starting February 28 and running through April 25, Sage Holland will be offering a class on “Glass Bead Making.” The class will be in session on Fridays from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., from which students may choose a 3-hour time slot.

Materials fees will include glass use, and oxygen and propane use, payable directly to the instructor. Tuition for the 9-week class will be $275.00, and the class will also be held at 110 East Main Street.

In keeping with our mission statement to “educate aspiring and practicing craft artisans for success in the creative economy,” John and Terri Van Orman will be 16

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teaching “Professional Practices for Artisans.” The class will be held at Ozarka College in Mountain View on Tuesday nights from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. beginning February 26, and running through May 6. The class will encompass the skills needed to be a successful artisan in 2014, covering such topics as creating a business plan, how to write an artist statement, how to deal with galleries and know which shows are worth your time, how to present professional images of your work, how to price your work, and how to market and promote your business. The history of craft will also be covered, demonstrating the social forces that have shaped American craft since the Industrial Revolution. This is an 11-week class, and will be worth 33 CEU credits, equivalent to 2 college credit hours. Tuition is $275.00. There will be no materials fee.

Scholarships for tuition are available to financially qualifying students. Class registration forms, scholarship applications and further information on these and other class offerings of the Arkansas Craft School may be found on the website: www.arkansascraftschool.org. Students may also sign up for classes by calling Terri Van Orman at (870) 269-8397.

The Arkansas Craft School, located on Main Street in Mountain View is dedicated to the education of aspiring and practicing craft artisans for success in the Creative Economy. The Craft School partners with Ozarka College and Pulaski Technical College, who offer Continuing Education credits for all courses. Support for the Arkansas Craft School is provided, in part, by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, and the National Endowment of the Arts. N

February 2014 17

I Do

Denton-Baker Wedding Kimberlee Thomas

JoAnna Denton and Jeff Baker met each other on JoAnna’s door step on a December afternoon in 2009. JoAnna’s son, Ralei, and Jeff’s son, Gage, were attending first grade together and had become fast friends.

The boys were eager for an afternoon of playing after school and had finally convinced JoAnna and Jeff to arrange the play date.

When asked if it was love at first sight JoAnna explained, “We both were happy to meet one another. Being single parents we were cautious, we took our time to get to know each other and became good friends. We spent all of our early time together with our kids; it was three months before we went on an actual date.” JoAnna recalls Gage telling her he knew his dad liked her right off because of the way he smiled at her and by the look in his eye.

The couple continued to spend time together mostly in the company of their children. In the late summer of 2012, Jeff proposed. JoAnna admits, “I got cold feet. There was more than just Jeff and I to consider.

We each had children and we were asking them to blend together to become one family. It’s a lot to take in.” So the couple took a short break.

“We spent a little time a part, but we just could never let one another go completely.” One day while sitting at her office, JoAnna received a phone call from Jeff, “Marry me. Let’s do what we always planned to do.” As JoAnna took in the words and began to make her reply of “yes” Jeff came walking into her office, phone still in his hand. “It was sweet and a long time coming. It is a different situation and takes much thought when you consider blending families. It’s not just the two of us, but a whole family.”

On June 29, 2013 JoAnna and Jeff were united in Holy matrimony.

JoAnna’s father, whom is a retired minister, presided over the double ring ceremony. “My father has Alzheimer’s so it was incredibly special for him to do our ceremony. My brothers, Bruce and Bryan Denton stood with him and helped in the ceremony. It is a very, very special memory for all of us,” JoAnna shared.

The wedding took place at the Barnett family’s beautiful historic farm in Batesville. The weather was splendid as family and friends gathered in the shade of the beautiful trees to witness the union of two wonderful families. Lauren Creighton played “1000 Years” on the violin as the Bridal party made their way from the house to the waiting groom. Jeff’s

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daughter, Kendell, served as flower girl. His son, Gage, served as his Best Man. JoAnna’s son, Ralei, walked her down the lawn and presented her hand in marriage. “We all gathered together for the ceremony with our family and friends under the trees, it was wonderful,” JoAnna recalled.

A small reception followed in the historic farm house. “We had less than thirty days to put the entire wedding together. We could not have done it without the help of our many friends,” shared JoAnna. She credits; Beth Boyce, Penny Clayton, Robin Sweet, Bill and Hayes Olson, Dale Moore, Rhonda Rademacher, Renee Denton, Kim Pearson and Carol Barnett-Heringer, along with both their families for making the day come together so wonderfully.

JoAnna’s dress was a tea length Ivory strapless gown that was made just for her. The flowers were almost all from her mother’s yard. “Mary Painter and the gals at House of Flowers did an outstanding job of putting them all together beautifully,” JoAnna shared. Jeff even got in on the reception action by whipping up the couple’s wedding cake. JoAnna smiles as she recalls, “It was chocolate, strawberry and carrot. I protested against him making the cake forever. He did run out of time and a lovely lady graciously finished up the final decorating of the cake. But he impressively did a great job.”

Later that evening family and friends gathered for an old fashioned Southern Soiree under the stars complete with a whole roasted pig. There was lots of music and laughter, “It was the perfect ending to a wonderful celebration of the beginning of a new family,” JoAnna stated.

Jeff is a Cushman graduate and a UACCB alumni. He owns his own landscape and lawn maintenance company, True Lawns.

JoAnna is a Batesville graduate and attended college at Arkansas State University. She is employed by Delta Air Lines but due to an extensive illness she no longer flies, but remains inactive with the company.

The couple resides in Batesville with their three children.

JoAnna and Jeff agree, “We love living in the historic district and working on our bungalow style home. We plan on raising these special children that are in our lives with God as our center. We count our blessings every day.”

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February 2014 19

Smith’s Verdict

Top 13 of 2013

Reviewed by Tanner Smith 1. The Spectacular Now—A truly wonderful film that starts out as a sweet, tender high-school story with appealing leads, and then it gets better and better as it continues with a great resolution in the final half. It’s a very touching, sometimes hurtful payoff that brings things into perspective for these kids. This mixture of sweetness and harsh reality, with a terrific script and two richly-developed characters, is what made this film my personal favorite of 2013.

2. Her—An odd concept made into a heartwarming story with many effective emotional moments, great performances, and a story that’s unpredictable as well as original.

3. Gravity—The main goal was to put the viewer in space with Sandra Bullock and George Clooney; mission accomplished. I saw this film twice in Cinemark XD screens; it got me both times.

4. Before Midnight—Will there be another “Before” film after the heated argument between Jesse and Celine at the end of this film? Guess we’ll find out in nine years.

5. Mud—Great acting; very entertaining; effective coming-of-age story. This is writer-director Jeff Nichols’ third film, following Shotgun Stories and Take Shelter; pretty good track record there.

6. Saving Mr. Banks—One of the best films I’ve seen about the collaborative process in Hollywood filmmaking; walking out of the theater, I even found myself humming “Let’s Go Fly a Kite.”

7. Fruitvale Station—Definitely one of the strongest films I’ve seen in quite some time, based on a true, tragic story that happened in Oakland, California on

New Years 2009. Great performance by Michael B. Jordan.

8. Captain Phillips—Very tense and kept me on edge.

That’s the power of director Paul Greengrass (United 93).

9. The Way, Way Back—Yet another effective comingof-age film that came out this year. Seamless blend of comedy and drama; terrific, believable characters; great ensemble acting including Steve Carell and Sam Rockwell.

10. Short Term 12—What could have been a sappy, overly sentimental melodrama turned out to be a wellwritten, deeply effective film that features complicated people trying to move from their pasts. Additionally, it might be a deserving career breakthrough for actress Brie Larson.

11. All is Lost—Haunting film with moments I won’t forget easily, as well as an excellent performance

by Robert Redford.

12. This is the End—Seth Rogen, James Franco, Danny McBride, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, and Jay Baruchel playing themselves as they survive (gulp!) the Apocalypse? I’m all for it!

13. The World’s End—The third entry in Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s “Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy” is not only very funny but also surprisingly insightful in presenting its lead character—I’d even say it’s arguably Simon Pegg’s best work as an actor too.

HONORABLE MENTIONS—Blue Jasmine, Frances Ha, The Great Gatsby, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Prisoners, Warm Bodies.

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Red Hot Ladies Luncheon, ‘Loving Your Sweet Hearts’ Chuck Jones A highly respected cardiovascular and geriatric expert will address Citizens Bank’s “Red Hot Ladies Luncheon” on Friday, February 14, in Independence Hall at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville.

The annual event focuses on raising women’s awareness of health issues and promotes good habits for healthy lifestyles.

Jeanne Y. Wei, M.D., Ph.D., is Professor and Chairperson of the Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics and Director of the Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. She will speak on the topic of “Loving Your Sweet Hearts.”

“We are so pleased to be able to host such a renowned expert as Dr. Wei to talk to us about the cardiovascular system and practical, effective care of our hearts to maintain functional independence,” said Joyce Prickett, who co-chairs the event with Candace Morrow. “Dr. Wei will provide important information that we all can use to make positive changes for a healthy lifestyle Dr Jeanne Y. Wei

You may find it ironic that we used a small heart to get your attention,

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for ourselves and our families.”

Doors open at 11 a.m. for a silent auction prior to the luncheon. Reserved sponsorship tables for eight guests are available for $200. All other tickets, which cost $25 each, will be open seating. To reserve a table, purchase tickets or receive sponsorship information, call 870-698-6349.

Jonathan’s Fine Jewelry is donating a Chamilia bangle bracelet with 5 charms, valued at $595, for a drawing at the luncheon. Drawing tickets are $5 each, or three for $10, and may be purchased at Citizens Bank’s Main Branch in downtown Batesville.

The proceeds from the Red Hot Ladies Luncheon will benefit the Christian Health Center of Batesville, which provides services to uninsured members of the community, including medical care, medicines, and pastoral counseling.

“The Christian Health Center offers comprehensive care by not only providing for physical needs but also for the spiritual and emotional concerns of the people they treat every day,” said Joyce Prickett. “Together, we can make Batesville a healthier place for all and provide the necessary services to many of our neighbors who need it most.”

Known worldwide for her work in the field of aging, Dr. Wei has more than 30 years of experience Red hot ladies luncheon continues on page 39

Tales Of a Transplanted Fashionista A Visit From Jerry Leigh Keller

I have always loved animals. Even when I was a little girl, most pictures taken of me had a kitty in my bicycle basket, or a dog in my wagon getting some kind of dog therapy, staring deeply into my eyes. In high school and then into college, I was a vegetarian (do not ask my parents about it, it’s still a touchy subject); and even now, I do not like to eat things I might be inclined to hug if they looked at me the right way.

I have had cats, and nothing really beats the comfort of a cat in your lap on a cold night, but a few years ago at the beginning of my adult life, I adopted my first dog that was all my own, then another a few years later. Those two both adored car rides, and ended up taking one big car ride and moving with me to Batesville in 2010. Cole and I love coming home to the unconditional love of our dogs. Only recently did we come to find that we were not alone in our home.

I opened the pantry one sunshiny morning of Christmas break (the time after Christmas when most parents are simply begging to send their kids back to school), to see something scurrying behind my pasta jars, the unmistakable scurry of a vagrant, no good, mouse.

Now, Cole has recently developed quite the admiration for Tom & Jerry, so when he came to investigate my screams, he was delighted to think that “Jerry” was a part of our family now.

I called everyone I know, once my heart went back into rhythm, to tell them about our unwelcome guest.

Then I started cleaning out my pantry. It’s no wonder “Jerry” had found it such a fabulous home, with the thousand packages of tortilla chips shoved in the back.

He was not a lover of fruit, because he had eaten a couple packages of snack mix, only leaving me the raisins (do you blame him?). We made the trek to the grocery store to buy mouse traps.

Cole and I made plans to attend a matinee movie that day, and my dad came by and set our traps for me. As we were leaving, more because I did not want to be home to hear that awful “snap” sound, Cole opened the pantry door and said “Bye Jerry!! We made you a little snack!

Come out and play!”, then turned to tell me “I hope we

catch him. I cannot WAIT to play with him!”. Great. Add to that therapy savings plan for my one and only.

After the movie, we rushed to the pantry to see not one, but two, mice scurrying away (which means I probably have 457 living in my house somewhere.

Fantastic). I screamed my head off again, like it mattered to anyone at this point. An hour later, I heard the sound I dreaded...the snap. I opened the pantry door, to find a mouse running out to me and one of our 100 pound dogs, who did not so much as bat an eyelash, thanks so much guard dog. At some point when I leaped into the air screaming, I stepped on “Jerry” and he squealed. I think I hung from my pantry doorway for at least a minute, just screaming, just long enough for the mouse to corner himself in the hallway. Upon realizing that I was, indeed, the person who had to take care of the situation, I scooped “Jerry” up into a sack, all while the 100 pound dog kind of hopped around and sniffed the air, and Cole bounced up and down on the couch cheering for me. Rhino (guard dog) and I then took “Jerry” outside and let him go (I urged him towards the neighbors’ house, no lie).

I invested in glue traps, even though everyone told me not to. I was desperate. We went to see an afternoon movie, only to arrive home and find a mouse stuck on a trap. I took it outside and called Allen, who told me to drop a big rock on it (eeeeeeeekkkk!). I felt sorry for the mouse and tried to unstick him, and he bit me. So then I grabbed my scissors and cut a mouse pattern around him (don’t judge, it gets worse), put him in a box in the sunroom with a blanket and some food within reach (now you can judge), and left him waiting for his death at the hands of someone stronger than me.

I thought that was the end, but it wasn’t. I have since killed three more mice, and I know there are more. We adopted a kitty from the humane society, and haven’t really seen more mice since then. I am not sure why the mice chose our house, maybe the high volume of cheez its and cheese puffs, or the lack of a good mouser? Even so, I am not happy sharing our home with unwelcome guests, and I know others are lurking. *When the mouse bit me, he didn’t draw blood.

After a quick google, my mother is completely convinced I am carrying the Black Plague or some other horrible disease.

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February 2014 23

Things To Do Preparing for the Job Hunt Today’s job market is very tough. When there are 80 applicants for a position, how do you write a resume that gets noticed? And, what happens if you get the interview? This class will cover the basics of writing a clean and professional resume. It will also cover the dos and don’ts of a job interview.

If you are facing the employment market for the first time or if you need to brush up your skills, this is the class for you. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required 5 days prior to the class.

Beth Bruce, instructor. FREE! February 25, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Main Campus Building, Room 240.

To register for this free class, contact 870-612-2082 or emailkatrina.stevens@uaccb.edu.

New Year, New You Master your health in 2014. Many of us have heard how diet and nutrition affect our health but do we really understand that interplay? This class seeks to address whether we truly are what we eat and how to identify other factors that directly affect our health. Health coach, Daniela Liscio, will teach you how to make better decisions on fueling your body, how to make simple adjustments to improve your day to day routine, how to prepare easy meals (including cooking for kids) and weight loss tips. Fee: $15. Date: February 17, 6:008:00 p.m. Row Johns Building, Room 815. To register, contact 870-612-2082 or email katrina.stevens@uaccb.edu.

Beginning Access 2010 Students in this class will learn to use this award-winning software to create and customize tables, use data entry forms and smart lists as well as other sophisticated controls. No textbook required. Elizabeth Turner, instructor. Fee: $55.

Dates: February 18, 20, 25, 27, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Main Campus Building, Room 223. To register, contact 870-612-2082 or email katrina.stevens@uaccb.edu.

Introduction to Grant Writing Participants will learn the basics of grant writing: Who, What, When, Where and Why. Designed for beginners, this will be an information-packed, interactive professional workshop consisting of practical case studies and group work.

Karla Rush, instructor. Register by February 6 and receive $4 off! Fee: $29. Date: February 20, 6:00-9:00 p.m. Row Johns Building, Room 803. To register, contact 870-612-2082 or email katrina.stevens@uaccb.edu.

Annex Building, Room 404. To register, contact 870-612-2082 or email katrina.stevens@uaccb.edu.

Sign Language for Beginners Learn to sign and explore the culture of the deaf and hearing impaired in a relaxed setting. Participants will learn some basics of conversing in sign language such as key phrases, numbers and finger spelling. Diann Anderson, instructor. Fee: $45 plus textbook (inquire when registering). Dates: February 24, March 3, 10, 17, 31, April 7 (No class March 24) 6:00-8:00 p.m. Row Johns Building, Room 803. To register, contact 870612-2082 or email katrina.stevens@uaccb.edu.

Crocheting for Beginners Feed your brain, exercise your fingers and discover the art form of crocheting! Whether you’re a first-timer or looking to expand your crocheting skills, Lisa Krause will show you how to choose the right tools, create basic stitches, and finish off your work. Bring one skein of acrylic yarn in a color that is not too dark or too bright and a crochet hook, any size from H through J. Fee: $20. Dates: February 24, March 3, 10, 17, 6:008:00 p.m. Row Johns Building, Room 815. To register, contact 870-612-2082 or email katrina.stevens@uaccb.edu.

Lap Quilting Learn how to make an heirloom while you are waiting for appointments or picking up children from activities or learn how to finish one that a mother or grandmother started in the past. Bring an unfinished quilt top or 2 yards of cotton fabric to make a top and enough batting and cotton fabric for backing. You will need hand quilting thread for the quilting and regular thread for piecing blocks. Bring scissors, pins and needles. A sewing machine will be handy if you want to piece your blocks but come on even if you don’t have one. Cindy Gillmore will show you how to quilt on the go or in front of the TV. Cindy Gillmore, instructor. Fee: $35. Dates: February 27, March 6, 13, 20, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Annex Building, Room 402.

To register, contact 870-612-2082 or email katrina.stevens@ uaccb.edu.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow The Arkansas Arts Center’s Children’s Theatre on Tour presents The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Journey with Ichabod’s haunted imagination as he fights for the affection of a beautiful woman, suffers ridicule of the town bully and encounters the tale of the Headless Horseman. Don’t miss this American classic legend in the Independence Hall at UACCB Monday, February 17, 2014 at 7p.m. This presentation is free, but tickets are required for seating. Tickets are available at First Community Bank’s main, Cave City, and Southside branches and at the UACCB cashier office. Call 870-612-2040 for more information.

Karate Training Need to kick the winter blues? Sensei Don Gregory, fourth degree black belt/full range close combat instructor, will teach a traditional martial arts class which offers present day applications of Shorin-Ryu karate techniques. Ages 13 and up.

Fee: $45. Dates: February 21, 28, March 7, 14, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

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Kresge Gallery Exhibitions Emily Wood — Until February 21, in the Kresge Gallery, Alphin Building. Emily Wood is the chair of the Painting and Drawing Department and an instructor at the Arkansas Arts Center Museum School.

Juried Student Show February 24-March 21, Kresge Gallery, Alphin Building.

An awards reception will be from 5-7 p.m. February 27. An annual competition juried by an external artist, this show gives Lyon College students a chance to compete for monetary awards and prestige.

West Endowed Concert: Quapaw String Quartet 7:30 p.m., February 7, Bevens Music Room, Brown Chapel.

The Quapaw Quartet, the resident string quartet of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, will perform a selection of classical music in the annual West Concert, endowed by former Lyon president Dan West and Sidney West.

Harlequin Theatre Production Performed in the Dining Room, by A. R. Gurney at 7:30 p.m.

February 13-February 15 and 2 p.m. February 16, Holloway Theatre. Fonzie Geary will direct this comedy of manners.

Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and non-Lyon students. All those with a Lyon I.D. are admitted for free.

Log onto www.lyon.edu for more information.

All Over Independence INDEPENDENCE COUNTY LIBRARY 368 East Main Street Batesville, Arkansas 72501 (870) 793-8814 www.indcolib.com Hours of Operation: Sun. 1:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.

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Notes from the Clearing

One of Those Days Joseph Thomas

The streets of this neighborhood quarantine my soul with its concrete veins, side-walking past my home and its cuts of lawn that overlay the soil that is my birth rite.

It is there that I will give up my name and replenish it’s minerals with my wasted life. The days that came before will remember on like the leaves in the wind and the days after will unfold with no glamour or great fashion, just simply as the chase of the moon upon the sun’s light.

The story of us all will be told, who will hear it is the question...and in the end, does it need to be heard? N

Miller’s Gym Community Center Fundraiser Terrence Ford, also known as Godframe, will be in concert benefiting Miller’s Community Center (formerly known as Miller’s Gym). Concert will take place on Sunday, April 27, 2014. Doors open at 6:30 concert starts at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $5.00 Kiwanis Spaghetti Dinner The Kiwanis Spaghetti Dinner will be held Tuesday, February 11 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at First United Methodist Church’s Fellowship Hall. The spaghetti dinner will also include entertainment by locals, a live auction and raffle of themed baskets and information advertised about the many projects the club does for the community of Batesville. The club did not have the annual Christmas Auction, nor will they have the Sweetheart Banquet this year. This event is to take the place of those events in hopes to raise funds AND awareness.

Tickets are $5 each.

Monthly Fish Fry and Chicken Dinner The Hutchinson Mountain Community Center at 3370 Camp Tahkodah Road will be hosting their monthly Fish Fry and Chicken Dinner on Friday, February 7 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Cost for adults and children 12 and up is only $10.00.

Children 11 and under eat FREE. Buffet, drink, and dessert are included. Take-out is available $10.00 for adult and $5.00 for children. For more information you may call 870-251-3458.

The center is also available for rental by contacting Lea Barber at 870-612-4718.

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Faces

Kevin Rose (left), Community Bank President of Centennial Bank (formerly Liberty Bank) of Batesville discusses future plans of White River Medical Center (WRMC) with Gary Bebow, CEO (Center), and Matt McDonald (right), Director of the White River Health System Foundation.

Rose delivered $50,000 on behalf of Centennial Bank, completing the bank’s gift to the WRHS Foundation’s East Tower and Emergency Room Expansion Campaigns.

White River Medical Center and Ribbons of Hope held a Cookies, Cocoa, and Christmas Music event in its East Lobby in December.

Musical performances were given by WRMC Chaplain, Doc Spurlin (top right); Steve Moody (top left), a member of the WRMC Maintenance Department; and the local gospel group The Anointed Ones. Members of The Anointed Ones from left to right are Crystal Cross, Grace McShan, Markeita Williams, Baretta Robinson, and Donna Roberson.

The performance can be seen on White River Health System’s YouTube channel.

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Citizens Bank Adds More Hope to ‘Christmas Brings Hope’

Ladene Bray Celebrates Retirement From Citizens Bank Approximately 100 of Ladene Bray’s friends, customers, family members and co-workers attended her retirement reception on Friday, January 3, at Citizens Bank’s Main Branch in downtown Batesville. N

Ladene Bray shows off her cake at her retirement reception on Friday, Jan. 3, at Citizens Bank. Ms. Bray concluded more than 43 years of service to Citizens Bank, retiring as Senior Vice President and Senior Commercial Loan Officer/Special Assets.

Citizens Bank Directors (from left) Jay Shell, Rog Rogers and Kay Southerland present a proclamation to Ladene Bray, honoring Ms. Bray upon her retirement from the bank at a reception on Friday, Jan. 3. Ms. Bray began her employment with Citizens Bank on September 1, 1970.

CELEBRATING A SUCCESSFUL DRIVE – Christmas Brings Hope Treasurer Greg Shaver (left) and Chairman Ted Hall discuss Citizens Bank’s $2,500 donation and the results of the organization’s 2013 non-perishable food drive which provides boxes of food that help feed needy families of four for four to five days. Shaver and Hall said they are grateful to everyone who contributed to the 2013 drive which – despite two separate snow and ice storms –managed to collect and distribute contents for 1,080 food boxes, about equal to last year’s donations.

Ladene Bray is greeted at her retirement reception by Raye Rogers (center), wife of the late Doyle Rogers, longtime Chairman of the Board of Citizens Bank.

See Eye On Independence’s Facebook page for the February Senior Circle schedule!

Gin Brown Elected Arkansas Craft School’s New President Terri Van Orman During the last quarterly board meeting of the Arkansas Craft School, held Friday, January 10, 2014, Gin Brown was elected as the new President of the Board of Directors. Gin replaces, Dr. Mike DeLong, who has served as President since November 2010, and is currently Provost/Executive Vice President at Pulaski Technical College in North Little Rock.

Gin Brown recently retired from her position as campus coordinator of Ozarka College, Mountain View.

She has been a prominent leader in the community of Mountain View, and in the state of Arkansas, having served as both secretary and treasurer of the Arkansas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions, president of the Mountain View Area Chamber of Commerce, a board member of Stone County Youth Leadership, a board member of the Ozarka College Foundation, and as a member of the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service Family and Consumer Science Advisory Committee.

Visit the Arkansas Craft School’s website, www.

arkansascraftschool.org for more information on upcoming classes, as well as registration forms and scholarship applications. Students may also sign up for classes by calling Terri Van Orman at (870) 269-8397. The Arkansas Craft School, located in Mountain View, Arkansas is dedicated to the education of aspiring and practicing craft artisans for success in the Creative Economy. The Craft School partners with Ozarka College and Pulaski Technical College, who offer Continuing Education credits for all Craft School courses. Support for the Arkansas Craft School is provided, in part, by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, and the National Endowment of the Arts. N See more of our FACES at www.eyeonmag.com/photo album.

Learning Through Serving Hannah Keller

White River Medical Center had 30,739 patients visit the emergency room in 2013 according to U.S. News and World Report. The hospital hopes to see that number reduced with the implementation of a new Community Care Network that involves a health coach training program at Lyon College.

In April 2013, WRMC CEO Gary Bebow and two local physicians attended a seminar on innovative ways to improve community healthcare. At the seminar, Dr. Barry Bittman, chief innovation officer at Meadville Medical Center in Meadville, Penn., spoke on how he partnered with Allegheny College to form a program designed to train pre-health career students to become “health coaches” to work with the hospital’s most vulnerable patients — those at the highest risk of being readmitted.

WRMC representatives presented the idea to Lyon College in June 2013, and the first training class was held in the fall last year. Dr. Mark Schram, associate professor of biology and the principle pre-med adviser, said the program is beneficial to more than just students on a health profession track.

“For the spring class, we have five psychology students. We could even insert students in the business field into this program if they have an interest in hospital administration. There’s a great diversity among the students taking the program,” Schram said.

Virginia Wray, vice president for Academic Services and dean of the faculty, was part of the group at Lyon that heard the initial presentation for the program.

“The health-coaching program is a wonderful addition to Lyon’s curriculum. The lecture component gives students an excellent overview of all aspects of medicine from clinical practice to healthcare costs, legal issues to preventative practices. In the practicum component, students actually help real people become healthier and, as a result, hospital costs to lower,” Wray said.

Students will be paired with patients discharged from the hospital and help assure they are following physicians’ instructions, including attending follow-up appointments, getting prescriptions filled and taken as ordered and getting proper nutrition. As a result, the hospital hopes to see fewer emergency room visits and fewer re-admittances to the hospital, thus preventing the unnecessary use of expensive healthcare resources, Bebow said.

Hospital representatives, including managers, clinicians and administrators who are considered experts in their fields, are teaching several of the courses, which cover a variety of healthcare topics such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity and medical insurance. The lecture portion of the program is held at Lyon, and then students participate in the practicum portion at the hospital. As students work with their patients, they will be mentored and supervised by Michelle Brewer, director of the WRMC Community Care Network and patient care coordinator, and Dr. Chris Steel, medical director for the WRMC Community Care Network.

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“They will reinforce what is taught to them by teaching their patients. The best way to learn is to teach someone.

So one week they might focus on a pharmaceutical plan for their patient and meet with a pharmacist to go over the patient’s medications, and the next week they might meet with a dietician to go over a diet plan for the patient.

In the end, they’ll know all the steps of community healthcare, and hopefully this will encourage more students to consider going into primary care, which is in high demand in rural areas like Batesville,” Steel said.

Steel added that students in the Pennsylvania program were found to receive preference when applying to medical school. He said he and Schram are planning to visit with representatives from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to discuss the experience Lyon’s students will receive in the health coach program.

“This program is not only a benefit to the community, but it also gives these students hands-on experience that gives them a leg up when applying to medical school,” Bebow said.

Students were nominated by Lyon faculty to participate in the first health coach training class last fall.

Among those was Ryan Waddell, a junior biology major with an emphasis on medicine. Waddell said the choice to participate in the course was a simple one.

“You can’t say no to this. It’s great experience, and we’re learning how to interact with patients and making great connections at the hospital. This is experience we’re not going to get in a classroom. We’re learning from healthcare professionals,” Waddell said.

Taylor Sanders, a senior biology major who plans to study to be a physician’s assistant, said she was uncertain what to expect from the course at first, but now believes it will be a great asset to starting her career.

“I think we’ll learn a lot in this program that we would not have known otherwise starting our careers. We’re learning how to help patients change their lifestyles,” Sanders said.

Steel said one of the main goals of the program is to develop a community network by identifying civic, federal, state and religious organizations that patients may not be aware provide healthcare services to the community. Students will be supplied information about these services that they can then pass on to their patients.

Sanders and Waddell, both from small towns, agreed that the greatest benefit of taking the health coach program is that they are learning skills that they can apply in their own communities to make them better.

“I think this is going to be great for the kids,” Schram said, who teaches an ethics class as part of the program.

“It gives the students a greater insight into the medical world. I’ve actually learned a lot myself about the inner workings of the hospital and the business side of it. I think it’s really cool that students are getting information covering the whole scope of healthcare.

“It’s going to be a huge community service, and I think once it’s out there, it’s going to gain momentum.”

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A & B Custom Meats ribbon cutting.

Pamela Street, pharmacy director, center, shows Lyon College students Ryan Waddell, left, and Taylor Sanders how to take inventory in the Pyxis vault at White River Medical Center. Narcotic medications are stored and tracked in the vault. Sanders and Waddell are part of a health coach training program at Lyon College. The program, in partnership with WRMC, teaches students basic skills to help patients after they are discharged from the hospital.

White River Family Fun Center ribbon cutting.

From the left, Ryan Waddell, Jody Smotherman and Taylor Sanders look over a log in the pharmacy at White River Medical Center. Smotherman, pharmacy director and director of quality and case management at WRMC, is teaching a class in the health-coach training practicum.

Smotherman is also a Lyon College alumnus.

Cellphone Central ribbon cutting.

See more of our FACES at www.eyeonmag.com/photo album.

WRMC ICU Gets State-of-the-Art Monitoring System Annie Solis

White River Medical Center (WRMC) Intensive Care Unit (ICU) recently implemented eICU care, a monitoring program through Baptist Health that gives patients an additional team of critical care specialists who will watch over them 24/7. eICU, or electronic intensive care unit, is a two-way monitoring system that, through the push of a button, allows physicians and nurses at WRMC’s ICU to be instantly joined at their patient’s bedside by the eICU care team, located in Baptist Health’s control center in Little Rock. The eICU care team includes physicians and nurses specialized in critical care who aide in reducing the number of serious complications by prompting earlier interventions.

The two-way video and “cockpit-like sensors” of this advanced telemedicine technology enables the eICU care staff to detect even the slightest change in the patient’s condition and communicate more effectively with the bedside team, aiding them in responding quickly to problems that may arise.

“This state-of-the-art technology gives our ICU staff an extra set of eyes and ears,” said Jamie Nguyen, ICU Nurse Manager. “With it, we can enhance the overall care we provide to our ICU patients.”

Staffed round-the-clock, every day of the year, the Baptist Health eICU care command center and its staff help rural hospitals like WRMC provide state-of-the-art intensive care to its sickest patients.

WRMC currently has two eICU units.

Hospitals across the country using eICU technology with critical care specialists have seen reductions in complications, reductions in death rates, and better outcomes for patients. N

White River Medical Center Anesthesiologist, Dr. Chris Steele, and ICU Nurse Rachel Vaughn, RN, discuss a patient’s health with a physician from Baptist Health’s Command Center in Little Rock through a two-way monitoring system called eICU care.

The Myopic Life Networking Kristi Price

I remember when I first heard the term networking.

I was a junior in Future Business Leaders of America, and I had no idea what it meant. Over the years, though, I’ve become adept at networking, and I’ve moved through different stages in understanding the term. I’ve evolved from seeing it as a necessary evil, to something quite beautiful.

A network is a basic structure of shared information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest. Networking is the means by which one creates that structure, or participates in it.

Networking is a required component of public services positions. Networking is what attracts new clientele, builds business, eliminates needless overlap, adds value to services, and makes agencies, civic groups, and businesses stronger.

As a younger woman, fresh out of college and established in a career in public relations and recruitment, networking is what gave me a competitive edge. I saw it as a tool for my own advancement and job security. Fifteen years later, in a role for my church, I see networking differently. Networking is no longer a simple business tool that involves lunches and sharing cell numbers. Networking is something much, much different. Instead of an abstract net of connections, 30

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networking creates an actual net that catches us all and holds us together in safety.

For example, I am a big fan of the Walking Dead on A&E. On the show, groups of people who stick together and share their talents in diversified ways typically do better during apocalyptic times than people who go solo. This is networking. Here in Batesville, we are fortunately not yet living in apocalyptic times, but we are in a time where need is great. Loneliness is pervasive. Disconnect abounds. Fear is disabling. And resources are slim. Networking is the action wherein we pay attention to where needs exist so that we can connect the need to the resource. We might be the only slim fiber between these two, but because we pay attention and tie our knot in the net, someone else eats for a day, or gets a job interview, or finds a specialist who knows about their condition.

We should all be networking, all the time. I am grateful for the agencies and outlets in Independence County that seek to weave a stronger net. The health of our community depends on this.

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Southside Southerners, Citizens Bank Support ‘Be A Santa To A Senior’ Chuck Jones Southside High School students and Citizens Bank employees assembled and delivered Christmas gift baskets to the “Be A Santa To A Senior” program this past December. Purchased through equal donations from students and bank employees, the baskets and contents included a nice warm blanket, snack foods, fruit, candy, a $20 gift card and a personalized stocking for each Senior.

In November 2013, when the school dedicated its new open gathering area as the “Citizens Bank Quad,” the Southside students announced they had raised $251 to be donated to the Citizens Bank employees’ charity fund. Bank employees donate $1 each week to wear blue jeans to work on Fridays, generating $5,000 in donations to worthwhile causes and organizations in the past year. Southside students contributed $1 each to wear caps to school.

“Be A Santa To A Senior” is one of several programs in the area that are intended to bring some measure of Christmas cheer to seniors in the area who may not otherwise enjoy the holiday season due to lack of finances or friends and family.

About The Citizens Bank Citizens Bank of Batesville was established in 1953 by a group of local businessmen who shared a vision of creating a bank that would be committed to serving the working people of Batesville and Independence County.

Today, Citizens Bank is Independence County’s largest financial institution by market share, and has expanded its service area to include Lawrence, Randolph, Sharp and Stone counties. The bank operates 10 fully staffed financial centers in Batesville, Cave City, Imboden, Mountain View and Pleasant Plains.

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Helping assemble baskets in the Quad for “Be A Santa To A Senior” were (front row) Citizens Bank employees Penny Thornton and Janelle Shell; Southside Senior Class President Savanna Wyatt; (standing, from left) students Lane Callahan and Hannah Butler; Joyce Prickett and Candace Morrow of Citizens Bank; and students Katie Kramer and Dalton Lamons of Southside.

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White River N Chiropractic Life Center Dr. Thomas D. Taylor, D.C., FICA & Dr. Dustin Taylor, D. C., CCEP

1361 White Drive, Batesville, AR 72501 Call 870-698-1650 to Schedule Your FREE Consultation February 2014 31

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Experiencing God in the Everyday What Does It Mean to be Blessed?

Pastor Chad Grigsby

Think about that question for a moment. Don’t rush past it. What does it really mean to be blessed? If you had to list the top three things in a person’s life that would designate them as blessed, what would they be? What words would come to mind?

They may look something like this…

1. Good relationships 2. Good job 3. Comfortable living If not those three exactly, maybe a variation of them would be prominent in our responses. For many of us, our culture has shaped our definition of blessedness. The American Dream is the ultimate reality to be enjoyed. The more stuff, more success, and more influence you have the more blessed you are.

But is this an accurate description of success? Is this the only definition that matters?

In Matthew 5, Jesus delivered the most famous sermon ever, the Sermon on the Mount. He opens the sermon with his description of blessedness. Notice what he says: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for 32

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righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Poverty, mourning, meekness, hunger and thirsting for righteousness, mercy, purity, peacemaking, and persecution—aren’t these the words that come to mind when you think of what it means to be blessed? Me neither.

Jesus has a very different definition of blessing than our culture does and often a different definition than we do. He turns the world’s values on its head. Everything that the world values, he doesn’t. Everything he values the world often doesn’t. So, whose definition is right?

The choice is ours. When we give our lives to Jesus, he begins to shape in us this other-worldly character. He leads us into a new way to be human. The kingdom of God redefines everything in our lives. The gospel transforms us into citizens of another country. And the best part is, we never feel more alive then when we have the blessedness of Jesus take root in our lives.

What do you think? What does it mean to be truly blessed? N

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Autry’s White River Furniture

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Women’s Run Clinic Bruce Oakley

Women looking to get on a fitness kick in the new year are invited to join an energetic, supportive group in a free 10-week program that will step off in March.

The Women Run Arkansas-Batesville clinic is one of dozens of free clinics around the state designed to take beginning runners and walkers from their first steps through a graduation 5K (3.1 miles) in Conway in May. The clinics emphasize help for beginners, but women of all ages, running experience and abilities are welcome. Athletes are divided into groups by running experience, and many of the group leaders are past participants whose 10-week plan became an enjoyable lifelong habit. The Batesville clinic meets Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings.

The statewide Women Run Arkansas program is in its 17th year and has encouraged thousands of women.

The Women Can Run 5K caps the training program on the Saturday before Mother’s Day, this year May 10.

Clinic participation is free, but the graduation race has a separate registration with a fee. The race features an open competition for all women, a competition for clinic participants only, and a special clinic Mother-Daughter combined category. Last year’s clinics in more than 40 communities drew some 7,000 participants, and more than 2,000 took part in the 5K. In 2013, Batesville runners claimed first place in the 5K race’s youngest age group, Clara Nikkel in 0-9 years, and the oldest, Caliene Coop in 75 and older. Mrs. Coop was the oldest finisher, while Clara was one of the four youngest, all 7-year-olds.

The local clinic receives coaching support from the White River Roadrunners, who this year will provide leaders who recently received certification as coaches

by the Road Runners Club of America: Club President Bruce Oakley along with past clinic participants Suzy Oakley and Rebecca Patterson. The Oakleys co-direct the clinic with Suzanne Dickey and Stacey Cossey.

The directors have tentatively set a local registration/information night for Tuesday, February 27, with the first workout to follow Tuesday, March 4.

Further details will be announced in area media and in fliers at area businesses.

The statewide Women Run Arkansas club and the White River Roadrunners are affiliates of the Road Runners Club of America. Those Web pages are http://www.womenrunarkansas.net, http://www. wrroadrunners.org and http://www.rrca.org. The Batesville clinic has a Web page of its own, http://www. wrroadrunners.org/WomenRun/WRA-index.htm, with links to general information about the clinic and basic information for all beginning runners. The Web pages also all point to related Facebook groups.

Support Bruce’s Take Steps CCFA team: http:// online.ccfa.org/goto/boakley.

Support Suzy’s CCFA half-marathon: www. suzyandspice.com/donate.

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Gina Mohlke, left, sports her second place medal with Caliene Coop and Clara Nikkel with their 2013 first place medals 36

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110 Environmental Drive Batesville, AR

13th Annual Ozark Foothills FilmFest Poster Unveiling Bob Pest The Ozark Foothills FilmFest will hold its annual Poster Unveiling and Schedule Release on Tuesday, February 25, at 11:00 AM at the Batesville Area Arts Council Gallery at 246 E. Main Street. Coffee and refreshments will be served.

This year’s poster artist is photographer and graphic designer Mandy Maxwell of Paragould. Ms. Maxwell also designed the poster for the 2012 Ozark Foothills FilmFest. She holds a B.F.A. In Fine Art from Arkansas State University and created all of the branding art for the Arkansas produced feature film 45RPM directed by Juli Jackson, also of Paragould. Her work has been exhibited at Brooks Museum of Art, the Batesville Area Arts Council Gallery, the Crittenton County Museum, and the Arkansas State Fine Arts Gallery.

The complete schedule for the 13th annual Ozark Foothills FilmFest, which takes place April 2 through 6, will be announced after the unveiling. Screenings will take place at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, Old Independence Regional Museum, and the historic Landers Theater Building (now home to the Fellowship Bible Church of Batesville). The complete schedule will also be available on the festival website, www. ozarkfoothillsfilmfest.org, beginning February 26.

Ozark Foothills FilmFest, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit organization dedicated to excellence and accessibility in the media arts. The organization presents the annual Ozark Foothill FilmFest and the annual T Tauri

Movie Camp, which offers video production workshops for kids and teens.

The 2014 Ozark Foothills FilmFest is sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Independence County Recreation Fund, the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, Lyon College, First Community Bank, WRD Entertainment, White River Distributors, FutureFuel Chemical Company, Citizens Bank, Suddenlink Communications, and numerous Batesville businesses and non-profit organizations. A complete sponsor listing can be found at www.ozarkfoothillsfilmfest.org/sponsors. N

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13th Annual Ozark Foothills FilmFest Receives Grant Award Bob Pest

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that the 2014 Ozark Foothills FilmFest is the recipient of a festival grant aimed at exploring the power of the film medium to advance cultural understanding. Grant funds will support a program of screenings, post-screening discussions, and a filmmaker panel, titled “Breaking Through: Promoting Cultural Understanding through Film.”

The films were selected on the basis of their potential to expand understanding of diverse cultures and help bridge the divide between rural America and other cultural realities.

According to FilmFest Executive Director Judy Pest, one goal of the Festival Grants program of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is to encourage film festivals to bring audiences together with films and filmmakers that they might not otherwise encounter. Through its Film Festival Grants program, the Academy has awarded $5.3 million to film festivals since 1999. Other 2014 awardees include the Cleveland International Film Festival, the New Orleans Film Festival, the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, and the St. Louis International Film Festival. This is the second Academy Film Festival grant to be awarded to the Ozark Foothills FilmFest.

The 13th annual Ozark Foothills FilmFest takes place April 2-6, 2014 at several venues in Batesville, Arkansas. Information about the films included in the Academy-funded program, as well as the complete festival schedule, will be posted at www. ozarkfoothillsfilmfest.org on February 26.

In addition to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the 2014 Ozark Foothills FilmFest is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Independence County Recreation Fund, the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, Lyon College, First Community Bank, FutureFuel Chemical Company, Citizens Bank, Suddenlink Communications, and numerous Batesville businesses and non-profit organizations.

A complete sponsor listing can be found at www. ozarkfoothillsfilmfest.org/sponsors.

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Big sister, Zaylee, 6, proudly holds her little brother, Zaiden.

Zaylee, Earl, Beverly and Zandrea with baby Zaiden, WRMC’s first baby of 2014.

WRMC Welcomes First Baby of the New Year Annie Solis

When asked how she felt about the arrival of Zaiden, her new baby brother, six-year-old Zaylee Cousins exclaimed, “I feel like I’m going to explode with happiness!”

Zaiden Earl Lynn Cousins was White River Medical Center’s first baby of 2014. Born to parents Beverly and Earl Cousins of Floral, Zaiden came into the world weighing 6 pounds, 11 ounces, and was 18 inches long.

While there were several patients in the Maternity Department at WRMC on January 2, it was ultimately Zaiden who was delivered first Thursday evening by Dr. Keith Harville.

The day after his arrival, Zaiden’s big sister’s Zaylee, and Zandrea, 4, were still reeling with excitement at the thought of having a little brother.

As the family makes plans to settle into their home with their new arrival, Zaylee made note of the jobs everyone will be responsible for. “We all have jobs to do,” she said. “Daddy is going to burp him; Mommy is going to feed him; I am going to lullaby him,” she said.

“And Zandrea will change his diaper.” To which Zandrea objected. “Then Mommy will change his diapers, too,” Zaylee corrected.

Dad, Earl, chimed in that he would help with the diaper changing as well.

“And I’m just going to love on him has much as I can,” admitted Grandmother, Karen Thomas.

Despite being exhausted, Mom, Beverly, smiled and said that Zaiden’s arrival makes her feel blessed and she is proud to have the first baby of the New Year.

As the family gathered together to admire their new addition, Zaylee gently stroked his head and proudly declared, “He’s just such a cutie!”

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in conducting geriatric and gerontological research, mentoring geriatric fellows and junior faculty members, and developing new academic programs and initiatives. Her current research interests include the cardiovascular system and cost-effective care of frail elders.

Dr. Wei has served on the faculty at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, and as Director of the Division on Aging at Harvard Medical School and Chief of the Gerontology Division in the Department of Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She has written more than 200 publications and six books, including “Aging Well: The Complete Guide to Physical and Emotional Health.” She holds four medical-related U. S. patents.

About The Citizens Bank Citizens Bank of Batesville was established in 1953 by a group of local businessmen who shared a vision of creating a bank that would be committed to serving the working people of Batesville and Independence County. Today, Citizens Bank is Independence County’s largest financial institution by market share, and has expanded its service area to include Izard, Lawrence, Sharp and Stone counties. The bank operates 10 fully staffed financial centers in Batesville, Cave City, Imboden, Mountain View and Pleasant Plains.

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We’re still out here continues from page 7

visiting filmmakers. In fact, it is the hospitality that leads many well-known filmmakers to attend more than once. More and more locals attend the fiveday festival and are proud to share their experiences with their friends from nearby towns. Other art groups and events have added to the enthusiasm and pride that will help in shaping the future.

Batesville now embraces the film festival; some even use the word “love.”

The organization has created partnerships with the two local colleges, civic groups, city and county government, and the press and electronic media.

The festival holds receptions after the festival that are made possible by local restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries, and beverage distributors. Local banks and businesses proudly offer their financial support and lend their names.

Local teens look forward to staying home for college and taking film studies courses. Even our senior citizens look forward to special “brown bag” lunch screenings that take place in the Old Independence Regional Museum.

The Ozark Foothills FilmFest has given the Batesville community a reason to be proud, a reason to celebrate, and a reason to invite their friends and families to attend the festival with them. Locals and visitors collect festival posters and proudly wear festival t-shirts.

Batesville has other reasons to be proud: the restoration of the Landers Theater, the annual White River Carnival, the Arkansas Scottish Festival, and the White River itself. But it was the film festival that Batesville thought could not succeed that started a cultural revival that continues today with the new arts council building and a restored Pocket Park for outdoor concerts and events.

This year the festival will celebrate its 13th anniversary. Batesville citizens will congratulate and thank the festival staff, board, and filmmakers for maintaining the community’s identity as open, festive, generous, creative, and successful. Thanks to a community that worked to create that identity, the future looks bright.

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American Floor Care------------------------34 Anytime Fitness-----------------------------10 Autry’s---------------------------------------35 Back In Time Antiques----------------------34 Bad Boy Mowers----------------------------15 Batesville Furniture-------------------------32 Batesville Poultry Equipment, Inc.---------10 Batesville Printing---------------------------6 Batesville Title Services--------------------34 Carlee’s Crown Shop------------------------18 Centennial Bank----------------------------8 Citizens Bank--------------------------------13 Coldwell Banker Choice Realty-------------20 CustomEyes Vision Care, Inc.--------------40 Dairy Queen---------------------------------6 Debra Thompson, C.P.A.--------------------10 Downtown Guide----------------------------34 Elizabeth’s Restaurant & Catering----------35 Etta’s Attic-----------------------------------34 First Community Bank----------------------2 Independence County Recycling Center---36 Janet Smart Farmers Insurance Agency---10 Jonathan’s Fine Jewelry--------------------3 Kallsnick, Inc.-------------------------------4 KBAP 88.1 FM-------------------------------7 Kent’s Firestone-----------------------------3 Living Spaces-------------------------------16 Mark Martin Kia-----------------------------21 Merchants and Planters Bank--------------22 Mexican Mamas-----------------------------10 NADT Dance Academy----------------------35 Natalies Restaurant and Catering----------25 Olde Towne Mall-----------------------------34 Purdy’s Flowers and Gifts-------------------23 Red Hot Ladies Luncheon-------------------5 Reeves Propane-----------------------------26 Renee Taylor Travel Company--------------11 Richard Hawkins, Modern Woodmen-------10 Robert O. Seat Photography---------------37 Serenity Massage---------------------------10 Skin Vitality---------------------------------6 Small & Hip Children’s Boutique-----------34 Something Extra----------------------------37 Southern Bank------------------------------17 Southern Jewelry and Loan----------------10 Southern Tire Mart--------------------------6 Studio Salon--------------------------------34 The Batesville Chamber of Commerce-----16 The Property Shoppe-----------------------29 Thompson’s Jewelry------------------------10 Thompson’s Jewelry------------------------17 Thompson’s Jewelry------------------------34 Welcome To Independence-----------------10 White River Chiropractic--------------------31 White River Health System-----------------22 White River Insurance Agency-------------34 Wood-Lawn Nursing Home-----------------19 February 2014 39

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