Eye On Independence January 2016

Eye On Independence www.eyeonmag.com

Allison Cantrell Serenity Refounded Making the Commission Great Again

January 2016

Creating Memories

(870)793-8287 / 2401 Harrison Street Batesville, Arkansas www.jonathanssnejewelry.net

In This Issue 6/ Editor’s Note 365 Days of Possibilities

8/ Batesville Area Arts Council 9/ DownTown Guide 11/ Tales of a Transplanted Fashionista 25 Days of Kindness

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12/ Cover Story

Allison Cantrell

22/ Smith’s Verdict ***1/2

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

23/ The Myopic Life Love One Another

25/ Things To Do 27/ Notes from the Clearing Serenity Refounded

28/ Your Health

Don’t Let Good Hygiene Habits Hibernate!

30/ Seniors, can we talk?

Medicare Prescription Plans

33/ Experiencing God in the Everyday Making the Commission Great Again

34/ I Do

Wade - Goodman Wedding

The Best of Modern Praise and Worship Independence Counties very own local, contemporary worship station

World Wide Live Internet Stream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kbap-88-1-fm Phone: 501-203-6953

Alisa R. Lancaster is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse with the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences (UAMS) North Central office and serves as faculty for the UAMS College of Nursing. She has been with the UAMS system since 1994. Alisa earned her Master’s and two post Master’s certificates in Advanced Practice Nursing from UAMS. She is passionate about the health and wellness of others. Alisa is married to Scott Lancaster, General Counsel for Bad Boy Mowers, Inc. and its affiliated companies. Together, they have four children, two daughter-in-laws, five grandchildren, and two very spoiled puppies.

Caroline Beauchamp is a local insurance agent for M & P Insurance & Investment Services. She offers personalized life and health insurance solutions and is known for her widely-published informational column, ‘Caroline, Can We Talk?’.

Kacey Clare Burge received her Master’s degree in Professional Writing from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2011. Relocating to Tampa, Florida proffered the opportunity to write for a Southwest Florida lifestyles magazine.

Her outstanding work won her the attention of editors and readers alike, prompting her to be featured in REAL Magazine as a contributing copy writer and editor. She has also done work as a debt content writer for a financial advice website and had a successful freelance career for several years. Kacey spends most of her free time with her husband and three rescue dogs, enjoying the outdoors and exploring what the state of Arkansas has to offer.

Kristi Price is on staff with Fellowship Bible Church of Batesville as Ministry Coordinator. She enjoys conversations about community and connection, and she loves small town living. Kristi is married and mother to three children.

Chad Grigsby is a church planting strategist with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. Chad is a graduate of Williams Baptist College and Mid-America Seminary. He is passionate about seeing the gospel become central in the life of every Christian and in every church. Before joining the convention he was a church planter and Pastor for Teaching and Shepherding at Compass Church in Batesville for 6 years. Chad also served at a church plant in the Memphis, TN area. Chad enjoys running, cycling, and watching soccer. He lives with his wife Jessica and son Ezra in Northwest Arkansas.

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.

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.

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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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.

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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: Joseph Thomas MANAGING EDITOR: Joseph Thomas Cover Photography by A Raye Of Sunshine Photography Cover Design by Joseph Thomas

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AD DESIGN Department: Kimberlee Thomas Joseph Thomas PROOFING Department: Joseph Thomas Kimberlee Thomas Staff PHOTOGRAPHERS: Kimberlee Thomas Joseph Thomas Robert O. Seat PRINTING COMPANY: Corning Publishing Company

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Editor’s Note

365 Days of Possibilities Joseph Thomas

Awe, another year past and I’m ready for new opportunities to learn and grow into a better man. I hope you all are also ready for it, because its here regardless. It always feels like a time for new beginnings and new opportunities and I enjoy it more and more as photo by Robert O. Seat the years go by.

The January 2016 issue of Eye On Independence has much for your reading pleasure.

Our Cover for this Powerful Women Series is Allison Cantrell. She is a local artist and International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness competitor.

We also have Leigh Keller’s 25 Days of Kindness, Kristi Price suggests that we Love One Another and Tanner Smith reviews Star Wars Episode III in honor of the current new release. Chad Grigsby speaks of Making the Commission Great Again, while Alisa R. Lancaster talks of Good Hygiene and Kimberlee shares the ? - ? wedding. Caroline Beauchamp shares her thoughts on Medicare Prescription Plans, there are many Local Faces, local events and Things To Do, so read on and put this new year to good use.

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6 We Make Light of the Day that Falls So Heavy Upon Our Shoulders.

Central Magnet News Pam Baxter

Central Magnet Elementary recently had children's book author, Maria Hoskins, come read and talk to the students about her childhood experiences and the process of writing. Her books all come from growing up in Mayflower, Arkansas on her grandma's farm. She read her most recent book, "Christmas Night on the Farm". Before she started writing, she was a Congressional aide in Washington DC. N

Author, Maria Hoskins, signs one of her books for Central Magnet student, Addie Gillmore.

Author, Maria Hoskins, reads one of her books to the students at Central Magnet Elementary.

Local Faces

Donors Choice For Anderson

Pam Baxter Glenita Anderson, STEM class teacher at Central Magnet recently received a Donors Choose award of Science Fair boards for all the 4th-6th grade students.

They came in a variety of colors and every child will receive a board for their Science Fair project.

Donors Choose is a program for people to donate money to teachers and organizations for their projects.

The non profit organization takes care of all the payments and ordering.

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5th grade Central Magnet students (left) Keely Brewer, Callie Moffit, and Gabby Dockins hold up one of the boards that was recently received from Donors Choose for Mrs. Glenita Anderson’s STEM Science Fair Projects.

January 2016 7

8 We Make Light of the Day that Falls So Heavy Upon Our Shoulders.

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Tales of a Transplanted Fashionista 25 Days of Kindness Leigh Keller

Christmas can be a very stressful time for parents, especially when you are on a limited budget, or you are trying to teach your children the reason why we celebrate Christmas. What child does not dream of waking up on Christmas morning to find piles and piles of gifts (most of which will never be played with after that morning, I speak from experience with my own child here)? No one wants to raise a child who never hears no (please tell them no at some point, from high school counselors and teachers everywhere), and a child who has gotten everything they have ever asked for and desired, because that is simply not realistic for the rest of their life. I often talk about the obligation we have as parents to create members of society that other people can tolerate and work with, since the world is so much bigger than just us.

I had seen the 25 Days of Kindness before, and have always wanted for Cole to do that for Advent, instead of 25 different treats (I am too tired for that). We did keep our tradition of the 25 books of Christmas, because I am raising another lover of reading and books, and books can be fairly inexpensive if you buy them all year. Cole was so excited to brainstorm “nice things� he could do in his school, church, neighborhood, and for the people he loves the most. Some things on our list included giving a treat to his coach, they got some yummy marshallow Santas, since he adores his PE coaches,

Coach Buzbee and Coach Smith, leaving a package of microwave popcorn on the RedBox machine with a note, telling his principal, Mr. Difani, how awesome his teacher, Mrs. Hance is (she truly is, the woman is a saint), and thanking his precious librarian Mrs. Fagan for always letting him have a book (he so adores library day on Wednesdays). I was intimidated by the task of coming up with 25 different things to do, so I let Cole lead, and I also found some great resources online from other parents who had done this.

I want to raise a giver, and a young man who understands that kindness is so easy. Sometimes it is simply being polite, or smiling at everyone you meet and knowing their names. It does not have to be about buying someone something, although he adores giving gifts to others, like the day I found him on his floor counting out 20 quarters, so that he could buy a pencil from the fun pencil machine for every kid in his class, or when he insisted that I buy his favorite kind of cookies so that we could share them with our elderly neighbors who are always so kind to us. Children learn by your example, so if they see you being kind to people, they realize that for some, your kind gesture might be the nicest thing someone has done for them in a very long time. I highly recommend adding in the 25 Days of Kindness into your family’s Christmas traditions (or 365 days of kindness, like I am hoping we will do), because it has been such a blessing to us, from getting up in the mornings and selecting a bag, wondering what we will do today, to hearing that sweet little voice tell me about his day, and how much joy he got out of sharing kindness (and pencils), with others. *My disclaimer is that my precious little guy is a human, and did have quite the extensive Christmas list.

I wanted him to pare it down to three major things, since baby Jesus got three gifts, and he opted to tell Santa he wanted a real sheep, a real train and a real plane (so that we can go anywhere we want all the time).

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January 2016 11

Eye On Cover Story Allison Cantrell Joseph Thomas

Originally from Pine Bluff, Allison Cantrell moved to Batesville with her parents in 1995, along with her brothers and sister (her older brother Andrew, younger brother Alex and little sister Amy). Mother, Sheila Ann Cantrell, is an amazing local artist and father, Ron, is President of NPO Builders, LLC and, word is, a great dulcimer player.

Cantrell says her mother was always a great artist, but waited until her children were born to take some community classes in Pine Bluff and nurture that talent.

She remembers very fondly sitting below her mother’s art table painting or drawing along with her mother as a little girl. Her mother would hand her blank paper and Allison would mimic her, always wanting to be as good as her mother. As you can see by some of her sketchings on the next page, she is indeed a great artist in her own right. She says her talent for art became an ability for music in all of her siblings. A talent that skipped her she claims, although her sister has a talent for art, as well, Cantrell claims. Cantrell says, “I get my love for drawing from my Mom, who says she got her passion from her Father and I get my love for cowboys and western things from my Father, who says that came from his Father.

So, it is nice to feel like I pull those two sides of myself and family together into what I do.”

Cantrell talks more about her Mom’s art work, “Dad just built her a studio and she just had an open showing of her work with drinks and snacks. I can’t wait to have my own little studio someday.” You can catch Allison and Sheila Cantrell in a February duo Art Show at the Batesville Area Arts Gallery at 226 East Main Street, details to follow in the February issue. Cantrell earned the Best In Show award in her first Juried show when she was eighteen in Harrison, Arkansas. She began participating in Duo Shows with her mother ten years ago in their first show together in Leslie, Arkansas.

Cantrell says she was hooked after that first show, but loves doing the shows with her mother.

A more recent love of Cantrell’s is fitness. She says she was anti-fitness up until recently. “In the 2nd grade at Pine Bluff, the entire school would get together for a kickball tournament and I threw a kicking, screaming fit to get out of it,” Cantrell says she sat on the side playing with her Polly Pockets. She says she tried out for the basketball team in the 7th grade and until then didn’t realize that they would keep people off the team if they didn’t make the cut, and says she learned this lesson by not making the cut. “I tried running track and was horribly slow, so, I was just never into it. I was always one of those people that could eat anything and stay skinny. Well, I hit my mid twentys and that was no longer the case, so I figured I better do something.”

Cantrell started running, but hated it. Father Ron and mother Sheila had begun running around the same time, “My father told me that It would be far easier to get into shape in my twentys than later in my life and that made a lot of sense to me.” Her feeling of running led her to try other things and she discovered weight lifting. “It is such a great workout; I wished I’d tried it earlier! Lifting weights reinvigorates your metabolism, it gives you the shape you want and it’s so much nicer than running,” Cantrell laughs. Still no running for her, but you could find her around the squat rack or benched under a barbell on a regular basis, and sometimes on a tread climber when she is in the mood for some cardio.

Asked about the AnyTime Fitness ad in Eye On, she laughs, shrugging off the notoriety and says, “I started out at Main Street Gym, which is great, but what makes AnyTime work for me is that I am a member everywhere and I am able to use the same key to get into any of them 24 hours a day. I’ve used the one in Rogers, visiting my little brother; in Conway visitng my little sister; in Searcy visiting T. J.’s parents (T. J. Free is Cantrell’s boyfriend who she speaks very highly of). She has also used the facility in Dallas, Texas.”

Cantrell and her boyfriend love to hunt and fish together. “I’ve shot doe before, but the first time T. J. took me hunting, a huge buck stepped out into a clearing. I very quickly decided I would just watch and stay out of the way, but T. J. looks at it through his scope and says, ‘Nope, you are gonna get this one.’ Oh, so much pressure. But I lined up the shot, took it and when we found it, discovered it was a ten point. T. J. was more excited about my success than I was. He is so great!” She says T. J. is just getting into Bow Fishing and is good at it. T. J. Free works at Smith’s Plumbing and doesn’t really have the time for lifting with Cantrell, but she says he is very supportive, “He sat in the front row at my first competition. He’s always telling his friends how much I can lift.” Cantrell speaks of her first International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness competition. June of 2015 in a smaller competition in NorthWest Arkansas was a good place to start to get her feet wet, she says, “It is a whole new world. Some people prepare twenty weeks out, most typically twelve weeks and it is in this prep time that you focus on diet. It’s lots of chicken and tilapia and asparagus and....you are just dying for that piece of cake,” she laughs. “Some people have mastered that and I just haven’t yet.” She adds that you take this time to lose fat because you should never lose more than a pound a week or your body starts to eat into its muscle reserve, which is a huge no no. As long as you are still lifting on a regular basis, she says, your body knows not to use the muscle and focus on

12 We Make Light of the Day that Falls So Heavy Upon Our Shoulders.

the fat, but you have to keep your protein up while keeping fat and carbs low. Cantrell adds, “I’ve done two shows now and the last few weeks of prep I’m always thinking, ‘Why do I do this to myself. I’m never doing this again.’ And then I get to competition, and have this glamour day of hair and makeup and I meet all of these other girls who have been putting themselves through the same torture like I have and they understand. It is so wonderful at the show. I sit there between divisions and look up the next possible competitions on my phone.” Her last show was October tenth and she says she is up about seventeen pounds from where she was that day. She admits that you are so fatigued from putting yourself at such a low fat percentage and that is why competitors give themselves a prep time because nobody wants to feel this way year round.

Cantrell says you have to find what you love for exercise; what motivates you. If her only option was running, she’d be in trouble she says. Try everything and do what best suites you, she suggests. Cantrell says she began competing to have something bigger to work towards, but also to help show that weightlifting has a fit, body conscious side besides the extreme muscle bulging side that is seen most often. Cantrell works at Legendary Supplements on St. Louis Street North of the White River Bridge and loves working there to be close to her passion. In addition, she does commissioned art and is a great example of a powerful woman. She says weight lifting has given her a self confidence she didn’t expect; an empowerment that she never knew.

I thought of Cantrell for this Powerful Women Series because

The NPC All South Championship Cantrell did in October, Cantrell placed 5th in her novice division. Photo credit: Doug Jantz.

Watcher, one of Allison’s favorite.

T J’s Portrait

To Run With Storms January 2016 13

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of her determination and drive to follow her passions.

Making a living at what you love to do, in her case, drawing beautifully realistic pieces of art, is a choice to live lfe on your terms. Also, her drive to shape her body and health while competing and perhaps eventually earning from that as well. It is too easy to let dreams go with youth and the passion it takes to continue to fine tune your talents and restoke the fires of passion, deserve admiration. Allison Cantrell deserves that admiration. Thank you Allison for being a great role model for so many young powerful women yet to be. You can find her work displayed in the hallways of the White River Medical Center, in Dallas and Tulsa at some juried shows and at facebook.com/ AllisonCantrellFineArt. N

Annual vision exams are an important part of preventative health care. Many eye and vision problems have no obvious signs or symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment of eye and vision problems are important for maintaining good vision and eye health and possibly preventing vision loss.

Dr. Gavin McDowell and Dr. Amy Tolbert

www.seeourdocs.com

Learning To Give

Allison’s Studio shots were taken by Camee Stevenson of A Raye Of Sunshine Photography.

GroundTied, this drawing is currently featured at Southwest Gallery in Dallas, Texas.

14 We Make Light of the Day that Falls So Heavy Upon Our Shoulders.

CLOSED FOR THE WINTER We would like to thank all of our customers who made our first Season a great one!

We will see you in the Spring!

Unique: {adj.} Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else.

Nosh: {n} A snack. {v} To eat a snack.

220 E. Main - Batesville, AR 870-569-8050 January 2016 15

Leadership Batesville Class of 2015

Mandi Curtwright Melba Theatre

Billy Corter City of Batesville

Justin Ledbetter First United Methodist Church

Megean Oliver US Pizza

Bill Olivia Community Insurance Professionals

Tina Paul University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville

Darrel Snedker Batesville Water Utilities

Sandy Starnes Citizens Bank

16 We Make Light of the Day that Falls So Heavy Upon Our Shoulders.

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he 2015 Leadership Batesville Class was composed of eight attendees from various industries within our Chamber. The class began with an overnight retreat facilitated by the Arkansas Leadership Academy. Retreat sessions focused on building communities, core beliefs, creation of mission and vision statements, team building and effective planning.

Other sessions included an introduction to state and local government, education, manufacturing, community and economic development and overall leadership development. The class was also active in the development of the IMPACT Independence County strategic plan.

I had an amazing experience during 2015 Leadership Batesville and I have met some amazing people that I will have lifelong friendships with.

My knowledge of state and local government procedures has greatly increased through this program. - Bill Oliva

Leadership Batesville has been an amazing opportunity. The program has provided unique experiences and education, igniting in me an added enthusiasm to lead in a community I call home.

- Sandy Starnes

WHAT IS LEADERSHIP BATESVILLE? Leadership Batesville is an annual program of the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce designed to identify, educate and prepare potential leaders for leadership roles in our community.

WHY DO WE NEED LEADERSHIP BATESVILLE? Independence County is the hub of North Central Arkansas.

The growing community brings forth new opportunities and challenges. It is crucial to our success as a county that we are led by educated and qualified leaders in business and government.

The Leadership Batesville program provided me the opportunity to learn more about my community from various viewpoints that included education, business/industry and government. As a life-long resident of Independence County, I learned things I never knew that affect me both professionally and personally.

Thank you to the UACCB administration for allowing me to participate in this program and to the staff of the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce for organizing this worthwhile endeavour.

The impact the Leadership Batesville program has on future community leaders will be felt for years. - Tina Paul January 2016 17

18 We Make Light of the Day that Falls So Heavy Upon Our Shoulders.

82 graduate at UACCB RN pinning ceremony Hannah Keller

Eighty two graduates walked across the stage at the pinning ceremony for the registered nursing program December 4 at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville.

Several awards were given to recognized graduates for their outstanding achievements. The Nightingale Award, named after Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, is awarded to the student that not only shows that he or she adheres to the standards that Nightingale set forth, but also incorporates the “heart” of nursing. This award recognizes a student who spends time with the patient who is lonely, listens to a patient’s fears and anxieties and holds the hand of the patient in need of human touch. An award was given to a student in the traditional RN track and a student in the online RN track. The winners of the 2015 Nightingale Award were:

Karen Bush, left, and Kimberly Wright-Smith receive the Academic Achievement Award at the RN pinning ceremony Dec. 4 at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville. Bush received the award for the traditional RN tract, and Wright-Smith received the award for the online tract.

Online- Jonathan Miller, Traditional- Nichole Rogers.

The Academic Achievement Award is given to the student who has the overall highest GPA throughout the program. An award was given to a student in both the traditional and online RN tracks. They were: OnlineKimberly Wright-Smith, Traditional- Karen Bush.

The Community Award is given to a student (both online and traditional) that logs in the most community service hours worked during the entire program.

Although all students are required to do community service, many students go beyond the required number of service hours. Students that had a number of service hours close to the winning total were given certificates of appreciation. Winners included: Community Service Award, Online- Charles Michael Morgan, TraditionalHanah Bettis.

Community Service Certificates of Appreciation: Tammie Murphree, Raini Stewart, Robin Rushing, Casey Carle, Shenikka Davidson.

Of the 82 graduates in the program, 25 were recognized for perfect attendance throughout the program’s entirety. They were: Traditional track: Tammie Murphree, Keressa Campbell, Craig Stallings, Maggie Henderson, Hanah Bettis, Megan Marmet, Pamala Coltharp, Lindsey McHalffey, Jessie Bechdoldt, Victoria Bales, Nicole Rogers, Kati Linn, Cimi Ward, Angie Riley, Stacy Garcia, Karen Bush, Selena Fouse, Jade Bookout.

Online Track: Kasey Carle, Keshi Cruz, Amanda Brewer, Julie Bays, Bethany Gossett, Jamie Deken, Katharyn Glascock, Alisha Carter.

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Janice Inloes presents Nicole Rogers with the Nightingale Award in the traditional RN tract.

Janice Inloes presents the Nightingale Award for the online RN tract to Jonathan Miller.

Rachel Lee celebrates after the RN pinning ceremony December 4 at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville.

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Central Magnet 6th grade students, Kamryn Moore and Angel Huynh are mixing salt solutions and rubbing alcohol solutions to extract DNA from their own cheek cells. The solutions allowed the DNA to accumulate by the thousands in order for the students to see their own DNA. The activity was part of the 6th grades Heredity Unit and the 5th grades Cell Unit in Ms. Pam Baxter's (Ms. B) science classes.

LocalFaces

Students at Eagle Mountain Magnet recently competed in grade level Spelling Bees. Winners are: left to right 5th grade Callie Davidson, 3rd grade Rafael Thomas, 4th grade Alexander Tenace, 6th grade Jolene Heathcoat, 2nd grade Victoria Nelms, 1st grade Knox McCalla. Students in grades 5th-8th will compete in the Independence County Spelling Bee at UACCB on January 19th at 6:00 p.m.

20 We Make Light of the Day that Falls So Heavy Upon Our Shoulders.

Arkansas State Fair Queen from Lawrence County, Holly Looney, came to Central Magnet Elementary and read, "A Wish to be a Christmas Tree" to the first grade and kindergarten. In addition, she gave them all Christmas candy canes. Kindergarten has also been studying a unit on agriculture in their engage New York. State Fair Activity Books were left with both grades but will coordinate with the activities of kindergarten.

Holly will compete in the first annual Ms. International Fair Queen Pageant, to be held July 17-23, 2016 at Barton Coliseum, in Little Rock. She will be the Arkansas representative, competing with fair queens from across the U.S. and Canada.

The Best of Modern Praise and Worship Independence Counties very own local, contemporary worship station

World Wide Live Internet Stream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kbap-88-1-fm Phone: 501-203-6953

Miss Jenny Keesee's 4th, 5th, and 6th grade Select Choir held a Christmas Concert for the staff and parents at the school.

The students have try outs to be selected for the choir and have weekly practices in preparation for their performances.

Cuddle Cot Donations Annie Solis

After her son, Silas Prayer Karns, was stillborn in 2013, Jessica Karns felt compelled to find a way to give other mothers who go through the same thing more time with their little ones. Karns decided to purchase a Cuddle Cot, a medical device with a cooling feature that slows the natural changes that occur in death.

The cot allows mothers to spend many more precious hours with their babies before saying goodbye. Karns started a fundraising campaign in Silas’ name and raised $3,000 through the generosity of donors. With the little leftover money she had after purchasing the cot, Karns bought fabric to sew baby blankets. She also received donations in the forms of crocheted hats, and wedding dresses. The dresses were used to make Angel Gowns.

Karns recently donated all items, including the Cuddle Cot, to the White River Medical Center Maternity Unit.

Pictured left to right are Michelle Snow, RN, BSN, CLC, Clinical Lead of Maternity Services; Karns; and Melanie Creighton, RN, BSN, CLC, Director of Women’s Health Services.

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Smith’s Verdict ***1/2

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) Reviewed by Tanner Smith

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT!!!

“The fear of loss is a path to the dark side.” –Yoda It can be argued that “Revenge of the Sith” is the most complex story in the “Star Wars” franchise, delivering the tragic end of Jedi student Anakin Skywalker and the becoming of the dark lord Darth Vader. Though, I won’t go as far as to say it’s the best film in the series, as it does have its problems that keep it from the status of either the original “Star Wars’ or “The Empire Strikes Back.” But it is still an important chapter in the series that, in a way, improves the other chapters.

“Revenge of the Sith” is the entry in the saga that fans have waited for since the late-1970s. How did Anakin become Darth Vader? In 2005, with George Lucas’ third prequel, they finally got their answer. Anakin was not merely seduced by the power of the dark side of the Force but influenced into believing the dark side can help him save the one he loved, only to pay a hefty price in the end as he became the ruler of the evil Empire we know from the original trilogy. His passion and fear was exploited by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, who turned him away from the Jedi. The Jedi themselves can’t be ignored either, for they played a part in the creation of Darth Vader by making poor decisions.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. The film begins with one of the best extended action sequences in the history of the franchise, as Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Anakin (Hayden Christensen) are on a mission to rescue Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) from the clutches of Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) and his droid ally, General Grievous. This takes up the first half-hour of the film. It’s thrilling, it looks great, and even has time for some humor and banter between our two heroes.

(I also give it extra points for our favorite droid, R2-D2, managing to take out enemy droids with his resources—I don’t care who you are; that is awesome.) What they don’t know is that it was all staged to give Palpatine a chance to connect with Anakin in order to manipulate him. Palpatine works like the devil, doing a very good job getting to Anakin and feeding his inner demons. This is a crucial time in Anakin’s life—his secret wife, Padme (Natalie Portman), is pregnant, which is going to be an issue seeing as how Jedi are forbidden to fall in love. Anakin also has visions of Padme dying in childbirth and fears for her life. At the same time, the Jedi council have their doubts about Anakin as a Jedi, despite Yoda claiming he is “the Chosen One.” Thus, when Anakin has to decide what to do for Padme as well as his own life, Palpatine is there to lure him over to the dark side…

Manipulation. Betrayal. Tragedy. Irony. All that and more help make “Revenge of the Sith” become, in my opinion, one of the best “Star Wars” films. Even if we know how it will all end (with Anakin turning evil, the Jedi facing defeat in the war, Obi-Wan confronting Anakin, and Anakin becoming Darth Vader), the joy comes from seeing how everything will play out. It leads to an ending that is all the more tragic in that the very thing he swore to protect has died (in childbirth, having given birth to Luke and Leia, the heroes of Episodes IV-VI), and now he has joined the Empire as a dark lord. To add on to

that final nail in the coffin, Palpatine makes Anakin believe it was his fault, and by default, the Jedi’s fault too!

Palpatine is one of the most joyfully despicable villains in film history. Fans are quick to make fun of him for his cackling and screaming (and his infamously silly “NO…NO… NO!!!” scream), but when he’s not doing any of that nonsense, he’s cold and calculating, manipulating Anakin cunningly and effectively. He’s able to use Anakin’s fear, guilt, hopes, etc. to make the Jedi see in a different way and lose sense of who he is and what he’s fighting for. He’s responsible for the Empire’s most horrifying ally and you can see he’s able to make anyone join him if given the right amount of time.

George Lucas has always been a masterful storyteller, even if his direction and writing still don’t work as strongly as they should. Some of the dialogue is better than in the previous prequels, “The Phantom Menace” and “Attack of the Clones,” with the exception of some (thankfully-) brief romantic banter and moments when they simply bellow how they feel (I’ll get to Darth Vader’s big reaction at the end later), but his direction still shows some weaknesses occasionally. He’s much better at directing darker material than comedic moments and when it comes to directing actors, he has a lot of responsibility he sometimes isn’t able to follow through with. (I’ll get to that latter element in the next paragraph.) The bigger moments in the film are very well-handled and give fans probably more then they expected to see, especially after seeing what Lucas did wrong with the previous two films.

Hayden Christensen is often criticized for his performance as Anakin Skywalker. But I think it’s unfair, because personally, I think Lucas has had some trouble directing actors to say dialogue properly in these movies. Christensen does his best when reciting these lines, and honestly, he’s better as the tragic figure than as the whiny teenager Anakin was in “Attack of the Clones.” But there are times when he is unable to successfully pull these lines off (especially when he yells), and he comes off as dull. I can’t blame it on him, because he’s not the director— Lucas should have given more guidance to this performance, as well as the other actors’ performances, for that matter.

Even Ewan McGregor, who is usually known as the best actor in the prequels, has his offbeat moments as well (remember the close-up on his eyes, during which he taunted and grunted sporadically?) that can be blamed on mediocre directing. That can also explain McDiarmid’s silliness in certain parts of the film. And so, I’d leave Christensen alone—he’s trying, he’s acted well in other films (like “Shattered Glass”), he’s better here than in “Attack of the Clones,” and when his character turns to evil, it’s very believable.

And yes…let’s get to that infamously laughable reaction from Darth Vader upon learning of Padme’s death. He stands himself up and shouts “NO!!!” Audiences were laughing and/ or groaning at this response…but I didn’t mind it that much.

Yes, it can seem silly and out of context and it is another example of Lucas allowing his characters to shout how they feel rather than physically show it. But when you really think about the situation and what Anakin went through to try and

22 We Make Light of the Day that Falls So Heavy Upon Our Shoulders.

save Padme (really think about it—the very reason he joined the dark side in the first place was to protect the woman he loved), it’s hard to blame him for having that reaction. It is a bit perplexing for one of the most badass villains in cinema history to do something Anakin Skywalker would do (hey wait a minute!), but when you think of the dread he must’ve been feeling, it’s a sensible response.

Overall, I feel that “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” is a good film. It’s leaps and bounds above Episodes I and II and arguably even better than Episode VI (which is a fine chapter in its own right). It’s suitably dark, full of several little moments that make up for the film’s weaknesses (Anakin’s

reaction to Padme being pregnant; the scene in which Palpatine uses a story to further influence Anakin; moments that lead into Episode IV, which the film obviously brides into; and more), and adds plenty of depth to all the other chapters of the series. And you can tell this is the “Star Wars” film Lucas has wanted to make for a long time and it’s the story fans wanted to see. The result is not a perfect sci-fi film but a compelling one nonetheless.

NOTE: I forgot to mention the final confrontation between Anakin and Obi-Wan on a river of lava… It looks like a video game level. There, I said it. This review’s already pretty long, so I’ll just say I’ll forgive the film for that flaw.

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The Myopic Life Love One Another Kristi Price

We live in what is commonly referred to as the Bible Belt. In this culture, Christians claim certain collective principles, and non-Christians expect Christians to claim certain principals. Unfortunately, it just seems to add another layer to the bickering. That’s why Christ said, in his ultimate commandment, to “Love the Lord your God, and love your neighbor as yourself.” You cannot get around the ultimate call to love, nor should genuine love and compassion ever draw criticism. Love is more important than reason and rational thinking.

Love is more important than security. Love is more important than our retirement accounts, our property value, or our “rights.”

What is love? Ultimately, it is looking into another’s eyes – even our enemy – and asserting their God-given dignity. No matter our ethnicity, nationality, or race, we are every one of us crafted in God’s image.

Love does mean holding people accountable to their own higher callings and not allowing them to devolve into baseness or evil, but we do this because we love. It also forces us to consider that we must sacrifice ourselves and our agendas for the good of another. This is what

affirming dignity does. It levels the field. It eliminates our self-importance and asserts the equal importance of another, no matter what.

I’ll be the first to admit that, when my security or power feels threatened, I draw in. I gather to me what is precious, and I desire to hold and protect what is mine. But I must examine this faulty thinking every day in light of scripture, for it is not biblical. I must force myself to admit that my desire for security is trumping my Christian call to love, and therefore, I might be wrong.

What I hope is that, in those areas where we feel threatened, we would place our fear in the light of Christ’s call to love. I would hope that we would go against our own grain and stand for affirming the worth of another. Maybe we could lead in this area instead of hunkering down and saying, “mine”. But even if, at the end of the day, you disagree with me, my call is to love you. Because I share your fears, I understand them. I just want a life where we are released from fear and walk in the light of Hope.

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January 2016 23

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Things To Do

Museum To Offer Free Program for Senior Citizens The staff and volunteers at Old Independence Regional Museum (OIRM) will be hosting a Christmas program for area senior citizens on Tuesday, December 16 at 10 a.m. Museum volunteer Ann Mobley will demonstrate a variety of homemade Christmas crafts. Afterwards, participants will create their own Christmas tree ornament.

This program is free. Space is limited to 25 participants and reservations are required. Please call the museum at (870) 7932121 to reserve your space!

This humanities program is made possible by local support from Independence County and the City of Batesville, as well as by Challenge Grant Endowment funding from the National Endowment of the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Old Independence serves a 12-county area: Baxter, Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Marion, Poinsett, Sharp, Stone, White, and Woodruff. Parts of these present-day counties comprised the original Independence County in 1820s Arkansas territory.

The museum is open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday. Regular admission is $3 for adults; $2 for seniors; and $1 for children. The museum is located at 380 South 9th St. (between Boswell and Vine Streets) in Batesville. During your visit stop by the OIRM gift shop. They stock many items from local artists, authors, and crafters, as well as historical toys and games.

BACC Anounces 2016 Annual Meeting & Imagine Tomorrow Gala The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce has announced its plans for its 2016 Annual Meeting. Present by Centennial Bank, this meeting will be held at Josie’s Steakhouse on Friday, January 22 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The Imagine Tomorrow Gala will immediately follow the Annual Meeting. General admission tickets cost $100 each and are inclusive of dinner and enterainment. Corporate tables are available, contact Jamie Beck at jamie.beck@mybatesville.org for additional sponsorship and ticket information.

West Baptist Church Invitation Everyone is invited to West Baptist Church on February 7, 2016 at 10:15 a.m. as we welcome two couples who have remarkable stories to share. Brad and Jill Sullivan’s daughter, Hannah, battled a storm in her life in the form of brain cancer, and went to Heaven at the age of 17. Larry and Janice Brown’s son, Adam, overcame drug addiction and multiple injuries to reach the elite status of Navy SEAL Team SIX, and was killed in action in Afghanistan at the age of 36. “Fearless”, a New York Times best-selling book by Eric Blehm, was written about Adam’s life. God has brought the Sullivans and the Browns together to form While We’re Waiting, a ministry to parents who have lost children. Through

in January this ministry, the Browns and Sullivans host retreats which bring bereaved parents from around the country together to share together, to pray for one another, and to encourage each other as they seek to live well while they’re waiting to be reunited with their children one day. Join us for the 10:15 a.m. morning service of February 7, 2016, as these two couples share a story of a storm, a story of redemption, a story of hope, and a story of salvation.

For more information, contact West Baptist Church at 870-793-3302 or visit While We’re Waiting: www. whilewerewaiting.org.

Hutchinson Community Center Available The Hutchinson Mountain Community Center at 3370 Camp Tahkodah Road is available for rent by contacting Lea Barber at 870-612-4718.

Alzheimer’s Arkansas Caregiver Support Group of Batesville As a caregiver, family member or friend of someone who lives with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or another memory loss disorder, there may be times when you feel overwhelmed or frustrated.

The Caregiver Support Group of Batesville provides an opportunity for you to talk with others who really understand what you are going through, others who know just how you feel.

Please join us every second Thursday at 5:45 p.m. in the WRMC Josephine Raye Rogers Women’s Center Conference Center. Contact Deanna Green at 443.651.9686 for more information.

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West Baptist Church on February 7, 2016 at 10:15 a.m. as we welcome two couples who have remarkable stories to share.

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870-307-0582 Toll Free: 877-313-2453 The Southside Elementary 3rd Grade Honor Choir recently stopped by White River Medical Center (WRMC) to spread Christmas cheer. The choir, led by Southside Elementary Music Instructor Dawn Harris, sang songs like Nice, Nice Christmas, Blitzen’s Boogie, and Silent Night (in German and English), for visitors and employees in WRMC’s East Lobby.

Commercial and Residential Your Termite and Pest Control Services Specialist Serving North Central Arkansas Waymon Long President

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Hardwoods have been redone. Formal dining room along with a breakfast nook in the kitchen. Washer and dryer convey and can either be used inside or in the basement. There is a shop/garage and 2 car covered parking. Exterior and yard are very low maintenance. No repairs needed; just move on in.

WRMC Announces New Provider Clinic Annie Solis

Gary L. Bebow, Administrator/ CEO of White River Medical Center (WRMC), is pleased to welcome Dr. Russell DiPonio, Internal Medicine physician, to Batesville. Dr. DiPonio is seeing patients at WRMC’s newest clinic, WRMC Family Practice ClinicWhite Drive, located at 1301 White Drive in Batesville, formerly the office of Dr. Lackey Moody.

Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults of all ages. His scope of practice ranges from primary care to complex chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and congestive heart failure.

Dr. DiPonio received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the

University of Dominica School of Medicine (currently Ross University School of Medicine) in Portsmouth, Dominica in the British West Indies.

He completed Residency in Internal Medicine at McLaren Regional Medical Center in Michigan. He also has a degree in Psychology from the University of Detroit Mercy.

“Dr. DiPonio has been in practice for 33 years. He is very experienced in his specialty, and we are confident he will serve our community well,” said Bebow.

Dr. DiPonio and his wife, Mary, have been married for 25 years and have three grown children.

“I appreciate the opportunity to practice in Batesville,” said Dr. DiPonio. “Dr. Moody was a trusted provider to the families he cared for and I welcome the opportunity to

26 We Make Light of the Day that Falls So Heavy Upon Our Shoulders.

provide the same level of service to patients in the Batesville area. My nurse, Lanae, and I are proud to be working alongside the same team who worked for Dr. Moody.”

To reach Dr. DiPonio, call (870) 793-6887.

For more information about Dr. DiPonio, visit whiteriverhealthsystem.com.

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Dr. Russell DiPonio

The Wal-Mart foundation recently awarded Arkansas a $25,000 grant for use in its Blessings in a Backpack food distribution program in schools around the state. Mary Eary, counselor at Sulphur Rock Magnet, accepts the check along with Daniel, manager of a Wal-Mart in Little Rock. Sulphur Rock Magnet received $11,000 of the grant for its food program.

Gary Bebow, White River Health System CEO, recognized Stephanie Wade, RN from the Maternity Department as White River Medical Center’s (WRMC) 2016 Employee of the Year during a recent Reveal Ceremony. Wade was chosen by employee votes.

Notes from the Clearing

Serenity Refounded Joseph Thomas

Time is a filter, changing our ideals and perspectives as we earn those human tree rings around our eyes. Peace is an ever changing image as the days and nights clear us on their march onward.

Perhaps it goes unchanged for some, like a bright sunny blue sky over the swing of a hammock, secure in the knowledge that your babies have grown and nurtured to the fullest extent within your love and are adventuring in the arms of that life they have made their own. Perhaps that is my unchanging happy thought that allows me flight. Knowing I’ve tried until my bones are spent is my endeavor, my days spending bone with a smile are cherished for the pain, loss and sorrow that can only be known for the love, happiness and triumph of a truly lived life. N

Nominees for WRMC Employee of the Year consisted of the 2015 Employees of the Month. Pictured: (Back Row, L to R) Jami Smotherman, Shirley Davis, Allan Wood; (Front Row L to R) Johnna McDaniel, Pat Reynolds, Stephanie Wade (Employee of the Year), Daralis Williams, Toi McMullin, with CEO, Gary Bebow. Not pictured are Cheyenne Cairns, Sara Gilbert, Tara Grady, and Linda Pospisil.

Local Faces

Kennadi Pretty at the Exceptional Abilities Pageant.

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January 2016 27

Your Health

Don’t Let Good Hygiene Habits Hibernate!

Alisa R. Lancaster

Winter can be a very busy time with all the parties, dinners, shopping, celebrations, and altered schedules.

Don’t get so busy that you forget to take care of yourself. Good oral hygiene should be practiced on a regular basis, especially with all of the starchy, sugary treats present that could wreak havoc on dental health.

Dentists recommend brushing thoroughly at least twice a day, flossing once a day, and rinsing with mouthwash when necessary to remove plaque and keep the mouth free from bacteria. You might also consider keeping supplies at your place of employment and adding a third opportunity for daily oral care.

Regular care is recommended because of the small amount of time it takes for bacteria to invade the mouth, even if it's clean. Studies have shown that plaque will regrow on teeth that are completely clean within three to four hours of brushing. That’s why oral hygiene begins with brushing. This should be done a minimum of twice a day with a soft bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste.

Brush gently at a slight angle with the bristles pointing toward where the gum and tooth meet. And don’t forget to brush your cheeks and tongue! One should brush for a minimum of two minutes. Optimal brushing time is right before eating or drinking or an hour after those activities.

Many foods and drinks contain acid and soften the enamel on your teeth immediately after consumption.

This time frame ensures that teeth aren’t being brushed when the enamel is at its softest. Your toothbrush should

be stored in an upright position and be allowed to air dry. A toothbrush should be replaced when the bristles become worn or every three to four months, whichever comes first.

It is impossible for your toothbrush to reach the tight places between your teeth. That is why daily flossing is so important. It removes food particles that otherwise rot in place. It requires patience and dexterity, but with time and experience a person can learn to floss. In our fastpaced world, many people don't have the patience to give flossing a chance to become second-nature, but it can tremendously improve their oral health.

The third component of good hygiene is an antimicrobial mouthwash. This reduces bacteria and plaque activity (which cause gingivitis and gum disease), and helps reduce and prevent tooth decay. (Fluoride rinses are not recommended for those 6 years or younger as they may swallow it.) These rinses should be used on a daily basis.

You should visit your dentist twice a year for cleanings, as well as anytime you have red, tender, swollen gums; gums that bleed when brushed or flossed; any loose of a permanent tooth; any changes in the alignment of your teeth; unusual sensitivity to hot and cold; or persistent bad breath or an unusual taste in your mouth. Children should be taught oral hygiene as early as possible and should have their first dental visit by their first birthday and every six months thereafter. Good oral care is an inexpensive, simple way to improve your overall health.

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Smart Thoughts Janet Smart

Winter Weather Driving Tips Whether facing snow in the midwest, icy conditions back east or wet conditions on the west coast, chances are we will all face some sort of weather situation when driving during the winter months. Here are some driving tips to help you arrive at your destination safely, whether you’re a new or experienced driver.

Driving in rain Decreased visibility, increased stopping distances combined with fog or fogged windows make driving in the rain more challenging than many realize, and can make even a short trip a risky one. To start, leave additional space between the car in front of you and reduce your speed. While maintaining the proper following distance (which is generally around 3-4 seconds) is a great place to start, this distance needs to be increased in wet weather, (generally to at least 8-10 seconds). This added distance will give you much more time to react. Turn your headlights on in rainy, foggy or overcast conditions. They’ll help you see the road, and other drivers see you. Finally, never drive through moving water if you can’t see the pavement beneath.

Did you know: If your car’s front windshield becomes fogged up,

turning on your air conditioner with the defroster will quickly remove condensation and frost from the interior of a window.

Many cars automatically do this when you choose the defrost setting.

Driving in snow One of the toughest situations you face when driving in snowy conditions is stopping and starting on hills. In general, avoid applying the brakes on a hill if you can, whether going uphill or downhill, as you can easily lose traction. When approaching an incline, you may want to consider speeding up slightly before reaching the hill to give you the momentum to get up the hill. Declines are perhaps more difficult to deal with. When approaching a decline, consider slowing down before you reach the crest, and then coast down as safely as you can. Avoid letting your vehicle gather too much speed on long, steep declines, as it could be very hard to stop or you can lose control. Apply the brake as needed to keep your speed to a manageable level.

Did you know: Bridges and overpasses tend to freeze first due to the exposure to cold air below the road surface, making the surface condition worse on a bridge than the approaching road. Exit ramps are also a greater challenge during winter conditions, as they may receive less anti-icing material than the main road. These areas often

are the first to freeze and likely to stay frozen during a winter storm.

Driving in icy conditions This can be one of the most treacherous types of driving, especially at night, as ice can be hard to spot on roadways.

One of the biggest dangers to drivers in icy conditions isn’t always apparent: “black ice.”

Black ice is a very thin layer of frozen water containing few bubbles of air, making the layer of ice transparent and causes the surface of the roadway to look slightly wet, rather than icy. Black ice is most commonly found on roads located near bodies of water such as lakes, rivers or on overpasses. Moisture in the air freezes when it comes in contact with a cold roadway.

Additionally, a sudden drop in temperature can cause an already wet roadway to quickly freeze. Be aware of weather conditions and areas that are prone to flooding or moisture and pavement that looks dark, wet or like new asphalt.

In general, to deal with icy driving conditions, accelerate and decelerate slowly, trying to make smooth, careful movements behind the wheel. Abrupt turns or acceleration/deceleration can cause you to lose traction. So, for example, when approaching an intersection, allow for long, slow braking to avoid skidding.

You can also help reduce the likelihood of skidding by

anticipating lane changes, turns and curves.

Slow down and arrive safely Plan enough time for your drive and observe speed limits.

Remember, speed limits are based on ideal driving conditions, with little traffic and good visibility. Ease up on the accelerator and allow more time to get to your destination.

Stay alert and focused on what’s going on around you. Turn on your headlights: it’s the law in all states when visibility is reduced, and many states also require having your headlights on when windshield wipers are in use. The best advice however may be this: stay home. If you can wait until conditions improve and avoid driving in bad weather it’s best to do so.

Please note: This information is of a general nature for educational purposes only. It must not be taken as advice and does not signify an endorsement. Farmers Insurance Group is not responsible for any injuries or loss incurred.

Sources: www.smartmotorist.com; www.edmunds.com; msn.autos.com

Janet Smart Agency 870-793-5757 jsmart@farmersagent.com 11 Eagle Mtn Blvd Batesville, AR 72501 Arkansas Insurance Producer License No. 344724

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Local Faces Seniors, can we talk?

Medicare Prescription Plans Caroline Beauchamp

Ruth, Betty and David reviewed their prescriptions plans during the Annual Enrollment Period that just ended. I hope you did, too. If you did not review your current prescription or Medicare advantage plan your next opportunity is October 15 through December 7, 2016.

During this enrollment period some of Ruth’s friends asked about reviewing their Medicare supplement plans.

They were interested in a different Medicare supplement plan with either more coverage/benefits and less out of pocket expenses when they go to the doctor or hospital or a lower premium. Since this enrollment period did not apply to Medicare supplement plans, changing plans was not guaranteed.

If you already have a Medicare supplement plan like Ruth, Betty and David, you will have to answer medical questions to change plans and you can be accepted or declined. Once accepted, your new plan will cover medical conditions you have now. If you’re thinking about changing plans, make certain that you compare not only premiums, but the benefits. And make sure you don’t cancel your existing policy until the new policy is approved and in effect.

These enrollment periods can be really confusing.

There are actually three (3) different enrollment periods.

The Annual Enrollment Period that we just finished which is October 15 through December each year. There’s also your Open Enrollment Period. This is the best time to enroll in a Medicare supplement policy because it is guaranteed. It is a one-time 6 month period. The clock

starts ticking on the first day of the month that you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. (You must also be enrolled in Medicare Part A.) You are guaranteed that your policy will be issued and no medical questions can be asked!

Not sure if you have Medicare Part A and Part B? Check your Medicare red white and blue card – it’s shown there.

There are also Special Enrollment Periods when you can get a Medicare supplement plan without having to answer any medical questions. One of these is when you leave an employer group health insurance policy. For example Ruby is getting off her group health insurance plan February 1. She has 63 calendar days after her group coverage ends to apply for a Medicare supplement policy with no medical questions asked.

Another Special Enrollment Period has to do with enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan when you were first eligible. If during the first 12 months that you have the Medicare Advantage plan, you decide you don’t like it and want to go back to Original Medicare. You have a Special Enrollment Period of 63 calendar days after your Medicare Advantage plan ends or 60 calendar days before your plan ends to enroll in a Medicare supplement plan – guaranteed (sometimes this enrollment period is extended to 24 months).

There are lots of enrollment periods. If you’re not sure which enrollment period applies to you, call me at 501868-6650 and say “Caroline, can we talk?”

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30 We Make Light of the Day that Falls So Heavy Upon Our Shoulders.

UACCB recognized for excellence in student loan default prevention

By Hannah Keller, contributing writer: Hannah Sturch The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville has been awarded a certificate of excellence from USA Funds for lowering its federal student loan default rate. The university overall reduced its student loan default rate from 31.6 percent to 16.7 percent, totaling in a 47 percent decrease. Working with the Arkansas Student Loan Authority (ASLA) and Edfinancial to provide operational support, UACCB made various initiatives to help students effectively manage and understand their loans.

“Dropping the default rate among students is fundamental in promoting collegiate success,” said Kristen Cross, UACCB financial aid director. “We want to help students become as financially literate as they possibly can, as often we see students as first-time borrowers. We are pleased that the steps UACCB has taken to counsel students has paid off.”

UACCB has worked to lower default rates by enhancing entrance counseling efforts. In conjunction with the forms students fill out on the internet to take out loans, a counselor in the financial aid office sits down one-on-one with students once per academic year to talk to them about the loans they are planning to take out. There also is a new student loan orientation that all new borrowers must attend.

Second-year borrowers are taught by the financial aid staff to set up their online account with their student

loan provider and review the loans they currently have.

“Student loan default prevention is beneficial to students because it helps them stay in school,” said Greg Thornburg, UACCB vice chancellor for student affairs.

“Once a student goes into default, they are no longer eligible for Pell Grants or any other federal aid at any college or university. Defaulting on a loan also makes students not eligible to work for state agencies, colleges, financial institutions, and many other jobs. We hope by coaching our students and former students not to default will help prevent a negative credit history that can be detrimental in their future.”

Other efforts UACCB has taken is to strongly urge students to be careful with their borrowing and to verify they are taking out loans to help them on their collegiate track. In addition, student borrowers meet with the vice chancellor for finance and administration when refund checks are issued. Students receive information on the impact of student loan debt, the importance of repayment and strategies on preparing a financial budget.

“At the end of the day, we want students to make decisions they are proud of, and we think furthering their academic careers is something that should result in victory,” Cross said. “We hope that by helping students do what is best for them in their college years will bring them success in the years to come.”

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Experiencing God in the Everyday Making the Commission Great Again Pastor Chad Grigsby

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

(Matthew 28:18-20 ESV) The final verses of Matthew 28 have typically been referred to as the “Great Commission.” The reason is because Jesus “commissions” his disciples to pick up where he is leaving off. He is leaving the mission with them. He is going back to the Father and someone must take the good news of this risen Savior to all the nations. This is indeed great.

But in the church I’m afraid that this commission has lost its greatness. Or at least it’s not as great as it once was.

Don’t get me wrong it’s still great but is it great in our lives?

Does it have the priority it should in our lives?

Let me point out two reasons why the great commission has lost its greatness and how to get it back.

First, to make the great commission great again, we have to see that we have taken the commission away from the people and given it to professionals. For many of us the work of the ministry or missions is for paid, vocational clergy. We pay clergy to minister in our city and our congregation. We support our missionaries to take the gospel across the world and share it with those that have never heard. And while this isn’t all bad and has yielded great results in the past, we are at a place in our country and in our world where this is no longer good enough.

Kevin Ezell, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s North America Mission Board said in the forward of a book recently that in order for us to reach just North America with the gospel of Jesus we must plant, “Tens of thousands of new churches.”

Let that sink in for a moment. Tens of thousands. Could he be right? Is the pace at which our country is embracing secularism driving us to this point? Is it really that bad?

I believe it is. I believe we have to return the great commission to the people. Because Jesus did so. Think about this motley crew that is standing before Jesus in Matthew 28. We don’t know who all was there but we certainly know some of who were there. It was likely not a group of seminary trained Pharisees, but the same fisherman and tax collectors that had followed Jesus for the last 3 years. In other words, if Jesus gave the great commission to normal everyday people, why have we taken it from him only to give it to vocational Christian ministers?

If we are going to penetrate the lostness of North America and beyond (3 billion people in the world don’t have the gospel) we have to return the great commission to the people. We have to do what the believers have done in China. According the Alan Hirsch, anytime a Chinese Christian came to Jesus they told them they were a church planter. We must do similar things if we are going to see the commission become great again. We need to see ourselves as the missionary. We need missionaries and church planters who are businessmen, school teachers, lawyers, plumbers, electricians, mayors, etc.

Second, to make the great commission great again we have to return to the command in the commission. What is the command in Matthew 28? Most people will look at the word go. And while it’s true that the word “go” (going in the Greek) is a verb, it’s not the imperative in this passage.

The word “go” here is a participle as is “baptize” and “teach.”

So the idea of this passage is going, teaching, baptizing. But those verbs only describe HOW to do something not WHAT to actually do. So what is Jesus telling us to do here? It’s found in verse 19. Jesus says, “Go therefore and MAKE DISCIPLES.” That’s the command! The command is not to go, baptize, or teach. The command is to make disciples.

How do we do that? We go, we baptize, and we teach.

For too long the church has relied upon the culture to come to them. But the culture is not coming to us. We have to go to them and make disciples. Jesus didn’t say, “Make converts.” He said “make disciples” and the difference is huge.

Most of our evangelistic efforts have the aim of making converts. We come into an area, share the gospel, and then pull out. Like a battalion of ground troops we come in, do the mission, and get extracted out. And many people respond to the message. But how many disciples have we really made? And how should we measure the effectiveness of our mission?

Here are some differences between converts and disciples. Converts are temporary but disciples are eternal.

Converts are not necessarily connected to the local church, disciples are. Converts may or may not continue to follow Jesus after their initial response to the gospel, disciples follow Jesus for the rest of their lives. The gospel typically dead ends in the life of a convert but in the lives of disciples it multiplies.

In order to see the great commission become great again in our lifetime, we have to return to the command which is to “make disciples.”

Charles Spurgeon has said that every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter. Which one are we? The great commission will only be great again when we realize that God has commissioned us all to be disciple makers.

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What the new year brings to you will debend a great deal on what you bring to the new year! - Vern McLellan

I Do

Photography by Family and Friends

Wade - Goodman Wedding Kimberlee Thomas

Kayla Renea Wade never dreamed a simple post on Facebook would result in finding her Prince Charming.

“It was May 17, 2014 and I had come down with a cold and was feeling terrible. I posted on Facebook about it, seeking advice from friends on what might help. Blake messaged me, ‘This may sound stupid but put Vick’s Vapor Rub on the bottom of your feet.’

Who knew that would be the beginning of something wonderful.” Kayla and Blake had seen each other several times at the bank where Kayla works and would have considered themselves acquaintances.

Two weeks after trying the tip and recovering from her cold. Kayla and Blake met at a mutual friend’s home and romance blossomed. Kayla is certain for her, it was love at first sight. She could tell that Blake was hard working and devoted to his daughters. They soon discovered they had much in common. They both enjoy spending time on the back roads, fishing and pretty much anything that involved being outdoors.

When Blake decided to propose to Kayla, he knew he wanted his girls to be a part of the moment. He picked up the girls on Christmas afternoon. When they were all together for the evening, Kayla was instructed that she had to open her gifts in a certain order saving a special one for last. This gift proved to be a bit challenging as it was several pretty boxes wrapped and nested inside one another. When she reached the final box there was

a note inside that read, “Ha ha, did you think you were getting a ring? The joke is on you. P.S. Look at me!” As you can imagine Kayla was more than a little confused and bewildered, “Upset, I looked up at him. There he was on one knee. I gasped and leaped into his arms.”

On June 13, 2015 friends and family gathered at an old house located on Kayla’s parent’s property.

The couple wanted an outdoor rustic wedding and the little house was the perfect backdrop. Pastor David Insell presided over the double ring ceremony. Kayla’s best friend, Kelsi Garrett, served as her maid of honor.

Blake’s father, Roy, stood witness as his best man. Addy and Rilynn Goodman served as flower girls. The couple had written their own vows. “I was so very nervous about writing them. There seemed to be so much I wanted to say.” Kayla also wrote vows that she read to Blake’s daughters, “I gave them rings as well. I wanted Addy and Rilynn to know I didn’t just marry their daddy, I married them too.”

The couple honeymooned at Norfork. They spent their time fishing, swimming, bow fishing and grilling.

It was the perfect honeymoon for this outdoor loving couple.

Kayla is employed at The Citizens Bank in the New Accounts department. Blake is employed at Bad Boy Mowers. Their future plans include building a new home and expanding their family.

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34 We Make Light of the Day that Falls So Heavy Upon Our Shoulders.

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Local Businesses and Volunteers Ensure United Way Angel Tree Success Allison Phelps

United Way of North Central Arkansas’ Angel Tree distribute to the families in need. Over the three-day Program helps hundreds of children each year know distribution period, over seven hundred volunteer the joy of opening a gift on Christmas morning. This hours are logged helping United Way check-in, sort, year, thanks to numerous businesses, organizations buy/supplement and distribute the items donated by and volunteers United Way was able to help nearly 500 local businesses and volunteers. “Our volunteers work children in the Independence County area. On Monday, hard to make sure this process runs smoothly and that December 14th over 500 bags filled toys, clothing and all the gifts go to the correct families,” Colin Patterson, bicycles were dropped off at the Independence County Angel Tree Chairman said, “many of our volunteers Fairgrounds for United Way Angel Tree distribution. have been helping us with Angel Tree for years and Families lined up Wednesday morning to pick up ensure that distribution runs flawlessly. This year, their gifts, as the nearly three month process of United nearly 100 individuals showed up to help out over the Way Angel Tree Program came to fruition. “This day is three-day period and we couldn’t be more grateful for what we have all worked so hard for,” Allison Phelps, their help and dedication to our mission.”

Executive Director of United Way said. “Many of these United Way would like to thank each and every families have told us that without this program they business, organization, volunteer or member of the wouldn’t have “Christmas morning” at their house. community who had any part in making the Angel Tree Our community gave generously to Angel Tree; we are Program a success. For more information about United thankful for the incredible support of local businesses Way or the Angel Tree Program, please contact the and volunteers that helped make this possible, we United Way Office at 870-793-5991. N couldn’t have done it without them.”

The United Way Angel Tree Program began in October with the month-long application process, where Arkansas DHS and UACCB assisted United Way with processing and cataloging the applications. After the close of the application process, local businesses acted as a distribution-hub to help individuals in the community adopt an Angel. “Having the distribution locations for names is key to the success of the program. These businesses ensure that each Angel Julie Hinkle of Southern Bank, her son Carson, and Wendee they have at their business is adopted by a member Saffell of Citizens Bank help sort and organize gifts. of the community, many of them being employees of their businesses,” Phelps said, “We owe a huge deal of gratitude to Anytime Fitness, Centennial Bank, Citizens Bank, First Community Bank, First Presbyterian Church, FutureFuel Chemical Company, LaCroix Optical, Merchants & Planters Bank and Southern Bank for serving as distribution locations this year.” Our partners distributed names to be adopted and collected gifts during late-November and early-December and delivered them to the Independence County Fairgrounds for the United Way team of volunteers to

Wal-Mart employees help load up extra bikes for United Way Angel Tree.

Citizens Bank employees load semi-truck full of over 90 bags of toys, clothes and bicycles for United Way Angel Tree.

January 1, 2016 is the first blank page in a 365 page book, write a good one.

Central Magnet Elementary held a decorating door competition for the month of December and 1st place winner was first grade teacher, Katie Jackson for her penquin door.

Mayor Elumbaugh was also a judge.

2nd place winner was the SPED department for their Gingerbread House Display with Sheriff Steve Jeffrey and State Representative James Sturch were the judges.

Local Faces

3rd place winner was 4th grade teacher, Mark Hall for his Razorback door.

Kallsnick, Inc. A Hiland Dairy Distributor 423 Lawrence Street, Batesville, AR (870) 793-3924

Serving Batesville and the surrounding area for over 48 years Dairy Products, Deli Meat, Frozen Foods, Fresh Produce Paper Products, Concession Items . . .and More Walk-Ins Always Welcome Open Mon.-Fri. 8-5 and Sat. 8- 1

Family owned and operated Scott Kallsnick , Vickie Kallsnick Moser, Joan Kallsnick

ARcare Southside School-Based Health Clinic Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 2450 Batesville Blvd in Southside.

Images from recent events at Sulphur Rock Magnet.

Sulphur Rock EAST students attend training in Little Rock.

SRM students raining in Little Rock.

793-3303 - 755 St. Louis Street - Batesville

38 We Make Light of the Day that Falls So Heavy Upon Our Shoulders.

Support Our Advertisers CLOSED FOR THE WINTER We would like to thank all of our customers who made our first Season a great one!

We will see you in the Spring!

Unique: {adj.} Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else.

Nosh: {n} A snack. {v} To eat a snack.

220 E. Main - Batesville, AR 870-569-8050

Laina Shearon Joins UACCB Cosmetology Program as New Instructor Hannah Keller

The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville has announced a new instructor joining its staff for the 2015-2016 school year.

Laina Shearon of Batesville is the new cosmetology instructor.

Shearon, originally of Ina, Ill., graduated from The Salon Professional Academy in 2010. She then pursued a career as a stylist at the French Twist in Murfreesboro, Tenn. While there, she built a steady client base, specializing in advanced haircuts and specialty colors. After three years of working in Nashville, Shearon and husband, Michael, moved to the Batesville area. In addition to her new position at UACCB, Shearon also works full-time at the Studio Salon on lower Main Street in Batesville.

“I’m so excited about earning this position at UACCB,” Shearon said. “I hope to be a great addition to the program, and I can’t wait to see how the school will continue to grow and succeed”. Shearon is a part-time employ of the college as of now, but she will begin her full-time position in January 2016.

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Laina Shearon

American Floor Care--------------------- 10 Anytime Fitness-------------------------- 15 Autry’s------------------------------------ 10 Back In Time Antiques------------------- 10 Bad Boy Mowers------------------------- 28 Batesville Poultry Equipment, Inc.------ 24 Batesville Spine & Health Solutions----- 35 Batesville Title Services----------------- 9 Carlee’s Crown Shop--------------------- 20 Charlie Bee Studio----------------------- 18 Coldwell Banker Choice Realty---------- 26 CustomEyes Vision Care of Newport---- 14 DownTown Guide------------------------ 9 DQ Grill & Chill--------------------------- 38 Eagle Pest ------------------------------- 26 Elizabeth’s Restaurant & Catering------- 9 Etta’s Attic-------------------------------- 10 First Community Bank------------------- 2 Flowers Baking Company---------------- 11 He Delivers------------------------------- 10 Independence County Recycling Center-27 Janet Smart Farmers Insurance Agency-24 Jonathan’s Fine Jewelry----------------- 3 Kallsnick, Inc.---------------------------- 37 KBAP 88.1 FM---------------------4, 21, 30 Kent’s Firestone-------------------------- 32 Merchants and Planters Bank----------- 18 NADT Dance Academy------------------- 7 Natalies Restaurant and Catering------- 15 Newark Furniture, Flowers and More--- 24 Purdy’s Flowers and Gifts---------------- 23 Robert O. Seat Photography------------ 18 Robert O. Seat Photography Workshops-- 3 Smart Thoughts-------------------------- 29 Southern Tire Mart----------------------- 38 State Farm, Carter Ford----------------- 24 Studio Salon----------------------------- 10 The Batesville Chamber of Commerce-- 16 The Batesville Chamber of Commerce-- 31 The Property Shoppe-------------------- 29 Thompson’s Jewelry--------------------- 9 Thompson’s Jewelry--------------------- 24 Unique Nosh------------------------------ 14 Unique Nosh------------------------------ 39 Welcome To Independence-------------- 24 White River Health System-------------- 6 Wood Family Dealership----------------- 40 Wood-Lawn Heights---------------------- 6 January 2016 39

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