First Community Bank
NOW OPEN IN DOWNTOWN BATESVILLE!
Please visit us at our newest location at 301 E. Main Street in historic downtown Batesville. You can experience true community banking at our one-stop financial center. Our revitalization project is now complete, and we are excited to open our doors to the public. We hope you will love it as much as we do!
Banking Hours: 8:30 am to 6:00 pm Monday - Friday
BATESVILLE 1325 Harrison St. • 3 Eagle Mtn. Blvd. • 301 E. Main St. 870-612-3400 SOUTHSIDE 1 Allen Chapel Rd. 870-612-3480 CAVE CITY 102 S. Main St. 870-283-3190 HIGHLAND 1 Iroquois Dr. 870-856-4212
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THIS PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED BY: MeadowLand Media, Inc. / 504 Guffey St. / Newport, AR 72112 870.503.1150 / eyeonjoseph@eyeonmag.com. PUBLISHER / ASSOCIATE EDITOR / MANAGING EDITOR / CREATIVE DIRECTOR / AD DESIGN: Joseph Thomas ADVERTISING: Kimberlee Thomas, Adrienne Freeman PROOFING DEPARTMENT: Joseph Thomas, Kimberlee Thomas STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS: Kimberlee Thomas, Joseph Thomas, Robert O. Seat PRINTING COMPANY: Corning Publishing Company Eye On Magazine 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.
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Eye On Independence received the 2012 Innovative Project award for outstanding, innovative, continuous or effective coverage of literacy issues, resulting in positive change or improvement. The Ozark Gateway Tourist Council awarded Eye On Independence the 2014 Wilson Powell Media Support Award for its dedication to tourism in the Gateway Region and Arkansas.
Serving Bald Knob, Batesville, Cave City, Melbourne, Mountain View, Newport, Southside, Swifton & Tuckerman.
WWW.KENTSFIRESTONE.COM 1316 E. Main, “at ST. Louis and Main”
In This Issue 6/ Editor’s Note
21/ Local Faces 32/ Things To Do 34/ In The Field with Randy
Here We Are Again
7/ Trending @ ASUN 9/ The Often Overlooked
Rice Variety and Hybrid Selection
December
34/ Tales of a Transplanted Fashionista
11/ Service Guide 12/ Cherri Design
Be a Bucket Filler
36 / I Do
Plants Part 4
Jones - Johnson Wedding
13/ Cole’s Canine Corner
38/ Cover Story
14/ A Minute in Mich’s Mind 17/ DownTown Guide 19/ Thyme Enough
42/ Myers-Davis Life Coaching
20/ Seniors, Can We Talk?
46/ Batesville Area Arts Council
All About Soldier
Richard Allin’s Oyster Loaf
Sandra Provence The Power of Passion
45/ Notes from the Clearing The Weight of One Sock
Change and Save, Perhaps
21/ Tasty Talk
Eating Your Way to Happiness
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Editor’s Note
Here We Are Again Joseph Thomas
It is something we each other for those all notice eventually, just beautiful eccentricities as we all heard the old that we all should show timers of our time (or so off rather than hide at the we thought) talk about cost of our happiness. it, how everyday time photo by Robert O. Seat May this fine month speeds up; years speed of December find you by like months and months like weeks, in its good graces as you read this, and weeks like days and days like hours. At please, read on to find: Scott Parker’s least we have time to watch it speed by. I love for December, Sandy and Nelson honestly believe that it is just that by the Barnett’s take on Holiday-Gotta-Haves, time we figure out how to use our time Cherri Rodgers’ fourth Plant installment efficiently, there is just so much more and my final installment in my year we wish to accomplish. I believe that long serial, The Weight of One Sock. youth is wasted on us all. Or, perhaps, Hannah Rogers’ speaks of Eating Your we are all lucky if we ever feel like there Way to Happiness, Caroline Beauchamp is not enough time to do everything we talks Medicare enrollment savings, Cole want to do and while we all spend time Keller introduces us to Soldier, Leigh here and there wishing we were better Keller fills a bucket and Kacey Burge or more, we could just realize how very graces our cover with a Jackson County perfectly-flawed we all are and cherish favorite and local power house, Sandra
Provence. Dr. Sandra Massey shares ?, I have another great and local wedding to share with the Jones-Johnson Wedding and Randy Chlapecka shares tips on Rice Variety and Hybrid Selection. We have more Faces, Things To Do and all things local, so tag along and Merry Christmas! You can find our drop list by clicking on the drop list tab at eyeonmag.com. If you are seeing our magazines in your area and have something to share, please email me at eyeonjoseph@ gmail.com. N
Kallsnick, Inc. A Hiland Dairy Distributor 423 Lawrence Street, Batesville, AR (870) 793-3924
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6 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman
The Spirit of Giving Can Change the Course of a Life Dr. Sandra Massey has been Chancellor of Arkansas State University-Newport since September, 2013. Previously serving in student affairs and academic leadership posts in Arkansas and Oklahoma, she and her husband Ward make Newport, Arkansas home. They have two children, Brittany and granddaughters Maggie and Ava of Jonesboro, Arkansas and Reese and granddaughter Maybelle Scout of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dr. Massey enjoys running, lake activities and spending time with her granddaughters.
At Arkansas State University-Newport, we cannot succeed without selfless individuals who give and give. Through your giving, ASUN can offer unique and innovative ways to help students succeed. Our students rely heavily on us every day for financial, emotional and social support to complete their programs of study. The truth is, many don’t have the support at home to help them overcome the obstacles life and school can bring. From the single parents to those juggling work, school and home responsibilities, ASUN serves a number of unique students. The struggles they face are real, but with the help of giving individuals who see the value of an education and the investment in these students, they can succeed. ASUN offers a variety of programs that help students finish their degree. Career Pathways is one of those programs. It’s a grant-funded program that helps support eligible parents. Career Pathways provides extensive personalized support like tutoring, mentoring, childcare assistance and gas cards. These things may seem small to some but to a parent trying to manage the many obstacles in life, this support can be the difference in getting a job with a high school diploma versus getting a job with a college degree. DeSire Rogers will graduate this month with her Associate of Science in Criminal Justice. She has received support and assistance from Career Pathways. She’s excelled in her studies while also raising her daughter Kailey. Rogers isn’t stopping there. She wants to continue her education and become a Juvenile Delinquent Probation Officer. Because of others giving, she has succeeded. Tessa Jones is an ASUN graduate who said her success would not be possible without Career Pathways and ASUN. She faced many obstacles while trying to get an education. She took college courses but eventually had to focus her energy at home. She spent
two-and-half years being a stay at home mom. As soon as her son was accepted to a daycare system, Jones was ready to fight for her education. With the help of Career Pathways, Jones graduated from ASUN’s Surgical Technology program. She now works for White County Medical Center in the operating room. These are just two examples of students who succeeded with the help of Career Pathways and other ASUN programs. While these programs give directly to students, they are also important to our community. As these students complete their education, workforce development continues to diversify. Education helps spur employment and economic prosperity along with positive social outcomes. Studies have shown that educated community members contribute more and take less from society. They take less from unemployment, welfare and other social programs. There’s a greater likelihood that those who are employed have access to health insurance and retirement benefits. They’re less likely to be incarcerated and more involved in their children’s education. They have a greater understanding of political issues and are more likely to vote. The list goes on. The bottom line is when our kids succeed, we as a community reap the rewards. But they need our help to get there. It takes a village of people to help them succeed. Funding will always be a top challenge facing community colleges and students. It’s too much to ask of just one person but with the help of another and another, your charitable giving makes a difference right here in Jackson County and the Northeast Arkansas region. Through the generosity of alumni, parents, students and friends, each year the ASUN Annual Fund creates opportunity for thousands of Arkansas students. Student scholarships, faculty and staff enrichment opportunities, purchasing new equipment for our many academic programs, these are just a few things we can do with your help. Every contribution, of any amount, given to ASUN is cherished. We understand you could give to many other wonderful and worthy causes, but we are so grateful you choose to support your community college. Your gift makes a direct and immediate impact on the life of a student and your community. For that, we cannot thank you enough. At ASUN, we will continue to work hard and show you that your investment in our community’s future is invaluable. N
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December 2018
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Check us out on FB for NEW HOURS!!!
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220 E Main Street - Historic Downtown Batesville
220 E Main Street - Historic Downtown Batesville
Open: Tue - Thur Noon to 9 / Fri & Sat Noon to 10 CLOSED MONDAYS
Open: Monday - Friday 11am Saturday & Sunday at 1pm
The Often Overlooked December
Scott Parker is a native of Harrisburg Arkansas who never felt the need to stray very far from home for any real length of time. He is an amateur Herpetologist, amateur Entomologist, amateur Mycologist, amateur Botanist, amateur Woodworker, amateur Writer, and a professional Dog and Cat lover.
While each month of the year is wonderful in its own right, December is, to me, plainly and simply better. It is, for me, a time to reflect on the past year and recall the memories of years past. And of those memories it never ceases to amaze me at how many of my sweetest, most cherished Christmas memories are of things that most people would think of as little things. For example... Every Christmas my mom would make a fruitcake. It was a delicious once a year treat that my father and I both enjoyed, rationing slices of the spicy, fruit laden goodness, trying to make it last as long as possible. There was only one problem with the Christmas fruitcake... After the cake was baked, it had to sit in the refridgrator for two weeks being daily drizzled with an apricot nectar sauce, slowly aging and becoming sweeter, more flavorable with each passing day. Each time I opened the fridge, there it sat, resplendent in its white cotton wrapping, teasingly close, but inaccesible. At night it called to me in my dreams. Torture is what it was, plain and simple. I must now confess that one night it became too much. I snuck into the kitchen, unwrapped the cake, cut a thin slice, pushed the cake back together, rewrapped it and retreated to my room to enjoy my plunder. About halfway through eating it, a horrible thought flashed into my mind... SANTA!!! This DEFINANTLY was not being good. I didn’t let it keep me from finishing my pilfered slice of cake, but I did walk on eggshells till Christmas morning. Looking back, I’m sure that both Santa and my mom forgave my weakness. Or maybe... Towards the end of November one year our dog, an Austrailian Sheperd named Shelia, gave birth to seven adorable puppies. Then about a week before
Christmas my dad started half jokingly mentioning to my uncle that everyone in his family was getting a puppy for Christmas. On Christmas afternoon dads side of the family traditionally met at my grandma Essies house for a family dinner and exchange of presents and I had noticed a large unfamilar package when we had carried our gifts in, but there was too much going on to give it much thought. After a huge meal, everyone one filtered into the living room for the exchange of gifts. As the presents were being distributed, the laughing and conversation suddenly began to fade, quiter and quiter, until you could have heard a pin drop. Well, maybe not a pin, the sound of whining puppies would have drowned that out. After a quick investigation it was determined that the sounds were coming from the large package tagged “ Uncle Carlos and Family”. As the package was handed to my uncle a small amount of liquid dribbled out of one corner... That moment occured better than 40 years ago and the look on my uncles face has never faded from my mind. As it turned out, my dad had made a cassette recording of the puppies and put the cassette player in the box. By leaving about 30 minutes of blank tape at the begining he was able to start the player while everyone was still eating. The simulated puppy pee was a paper dixie cup half full of water that he had placed in the box after putting it under the the tree knowing it would spill when the package was lifted. The man was a master of details. So, now that I’ve reached the age at which I actually look forward to getting new socks, and even though snowy days mean a dicey drive to work, or that frosty mornings mean higher heating bills, I’m noticing that Christmas never really changes. Family, food, and making new memories doesn’t change, no matter what your age. So take this month to reflect and remember the past, but be sure and endeavor to make next years memories. Peace, Love, and Happiness to you all! N
201 Hazel, Newport 870-523-1009 “The mission of the Newport Economic Development Commission is to facilitate an environment that will be conducive to economic growth and stability. The commission will work to enhance, promote, and create increased opportunities for economic well being by developing and implementing strategies that will improve quality of life, community aesthetics, and encourage new investment in Newport and Jackson County.�
10 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman
Let us be “Sweet” to you! Across from Post Office Downtown Newport / 201-1516
The UPS Store
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Management, LLC 1775 P orter Street Batesville, Arkansas
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December 2018
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Cherri Design
Plants Part 4
Cherri Rodgers has a B.S. In Interior Design from UCA. She is active in several local ministries & community projects. Most of all, she values time with her family and grandson. Cherri's Interior Design is available for both residential & commercial design or decorating needs. Cherri owns The Kitchen Shop at 2485 Harrison St. for all your kitchen needs.
This month concludes our discussion of those amazing houseplants and how they protect our health. If you are interested in more options, an internet search will give you more information that you can remember. There are several informative books available also. In my research, I have gained a deep appreciation for God’s wonderful design in houseplants. I wish that I could share more information with you, but I tried to choose top rated plants for our series. Spider plants are a very popular indoor plant, gaining popularity after studies confirmed how effective it is at improving indoor air quality. It is excellent at removing formaldehyde (in NASA’s top three), styrene, xylene, benzene, carbon monoxide and toluene. One plant can effectively filter a 200 square feet room. An easy care plant, it is a good choice for novices. This plant can perform photosynthesis under even minimal lighting, but it likes bright, indirect light. Lots of water is also recommended for this plant. You will need to repot the spider plant in the spring to allow for growing room. Snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue has become one of my favorite, and I now have one in my bedroom and one of my guest bedrooms for better breathing at night. It releases more oxygen at night, making it a great bedroom plant. This plant offers some of the broadest protection from indoor toxins, and it also works especially well with a
Peace Lily. Toxins this plant removes include formaldehyde and nitrogen oxides. It is just about indestructible, making it an easy care plant for beginners. This wonder plant can tolerate low levels of light but prefers light. It does not need to be watered often, as the leaves hold water a lot like a cactus. Water it only a few times during colder winter months. Snake plants are very forgiving, so if you make a mistake, it will be fine if you make the corrections needed. When you purchase the houseplants with the most benefits to you, be sure to note if they can be divided immediately for more plants in your space. The two snake plants I purchased can both be divided now, so I got more for my money. Be sure to divide plants so they can grow properly, and you can reap more benefits. Remember to use no chemical fertilizers, as you are now defeating the purpose of the plant. It should be working for you and not against you. The more I have learned, the more excited I have become about houseplants. They are truly amazing and much more than I even imagined. Studies have shown they can actually prevent diseases just by being in your home. If you followed my horror story with my floors and chemicals, you will understand why I am so excited about these plants doing the cleaning for me and making me healthy again. If I can be of any service to you in this area, please contact me. It would be an honor. Now have fun doing some quick research (that’s all it takes because you will immediately pull up a plethora of information), and go play in the dirt! N
12 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman
Cole’s Canine Corner
All About Soldier
Cole is a third grader at Central Elementary. He loves Math, Playing outside, laughing with friends and family, tortellini, and of course, dogs.
Soldier is a 2 year old male dog who is not fixed and also is very, very sweet and nice (once you get to know him). He is a black dog without a heartworm or microchip. Soldier has a Bob Tail with black and brown fur. He is a Rottweiler/mix who is a medium size and is located at the hot box outside at the Humane Society of Independence County, if you wanted to go and meet him. Nobody knows if he is housetrained, good with other dogs, or good with cats, but he is good with kids (once you get to know him). N eyeonmag.com
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December 2018
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A Minute in Mich's Mind Michelle has been a licensed Property/Casualty & Life/ Health agent since 2007. Before joining Randy and the Reichardt Insurance Agency, she was the owner of multiple small businesses. Outside of work Michelle enjoys volunteering, beekeeping, reading, and travel with her family. She loves being mom to daughter Bailey, and fur-kid Abby.
It’s a Wonderful Life is considered one of the greatest films ever made and is one of my personal favorite Christmas time movies. If you’ve watched it numerous times, like me, you know why it’s a must-see. If you have never seen it- I highly recommend watching! The plot centers around the life of George Bailey and his desperate prayers during a time that he is contemplating suicide. His prayer reaches heaven where Clarence, a lowly ranked angel, is given the task of saving George’s life and if he is successful-he will earn his angel wings. In the time that follows, Clarence allows George to see what life would be like if he had never existed. Seeing how his absence drastically alters the lives of his family and others whom he had touched in sad and negative ways, George asks to go back to his original life. Clarence allows George to go back, and here, the story goes on. Like most of my favorite movies, this one has a happy ending! As the plot continues, all the reasons that George had for being at such a low point turn around, and he realizes how very rich in blessings he is. Later, a bell rings on the Christmas tree, where he is gathered with family and friends, and his daughter recalls a
story in which the sound means that somewhere an angel has earned his wings. It’s a feel-good moment when you realize that Clarence the angel has, in fact, earned his promotion. So, if you’ve seen it, or not, It’s a Wonderful Life is a short-list favorite for movie night with the family. During this season of thankfulness and memory making, while you’re snuggled together in your pajamas with family, or gathering with your extended family, work family, and friends we ask you to consider what would life be like for those you’ve touched if you were no longer present? Could your family keep the home where those memories of past movie-nights were made? Would your mother and father-in-law be called upon to help support your loved ones? Would they be able? What about the small business you own-would there be any capital to keep the doors open and to help keep your employees in jobs? Would friends be called upon not only for emotional support, but financial support for your family? These are all sobering thoughts, but ones that are so important to the security of the family that you love and the relationships you’ve built. If you haven’t sat down with an insurance advisor to secure life insurance for yourself and your family, nothing is better than the present time. There are lots of options available and we will gladly help. It really is a wonderful life! Merry Christmas to all of you who trust us to insure your lives and to our readers! From your friends at Reichardt Insurance.
14 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman
ely v i s u Excl ble at a avail
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Christmas Sale in Progress! 255 E. Main Street, Batesville - Historic Downtown -
Where your hometown jeweler should be 870-793-7136
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16 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman
Olde Towne Mall Upscale Flea Market
Expanded! New15,000 sq ft of Shopping Delight!
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Old and New Merchandise - “Just a Fun Place to Shop!”
Etta’s Attic Primatives . Furniture . Glassware .
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Vintage Photos and Much More! Find Your Re-Purpose at
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129 E. Main Street - Historic Downtown - Batesville http://www.autryswhiteriverfurniture.com
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December 2018
17
18 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman
Thyme Enough
Holiday …”Oh, And We Gotta Have ….” Richard Allin’s Oyster Loaf Nelson and Sandy Barnett met in college. They have been happily married for 58 years and are still having fun cooking and living! Find Sandy’s newly published thriller Dead in the Shadow of Doubt on Amazon. com.
I’ve been talking and talking to family, and friends, and running through recipe files, and recipe books, and boxes, with the good intention of writing our December Thyme Enough column about Holiday favorites. You know, those dishes on your Christmas menu that year after year are always on your Christmas menu, and if they are not, then it just isn’t Christmas dinner. Or you’ve gotten yourself somehow mixed-up in the Twilight Zone. We all have them the “Gotta Haves.” Nelson’s Gotta Haves are Scalloped Oysters and Asparagus Casserole (He’s special, he gets two!), Lindley’s is Brown Beer Gravy, Carol and Elmer always gotta have Twice Baked Potatoes, and I can’t imagine Christmas dinner without Mama’s Corn Bread Dressing. Browsing recipes for Christmas Dinner may often be a waste of time because it is so prescribed. But not this time. In a tightly packed, mostly uncategorized box of recipes I found this yellowed bit of a newspaper clipping from years ago. I wish I had dated this scrap of newspaper, but I had not. But the date is not as important as the memory of an Arkansas Gazette
columnist Richard Allin (1930-2007) who informed and delighted many of his readers with his humor, wisdom, and fondness for food. You’ll have questions like, how much, and how many, and lemon wedges? Like with or without peel, like what size, quartered, slivers? My clipping had no ingredient list. So, cooks use your best judgment and just go for it. We did. So, here in Allin’s own Words…. Richard Allin’s Oyster Loaf Now … lest we forget the oyster loaf: Remove and hollow out an unsliced pullman loaf (or baguette), a day old. Brush melted butter on the inside and toast in the oven. Roll in meal and fry until crisp and brown enough oysters to fill it. Cram into the loaf, alternately, the oysters, bite-sized pieces of celery, olives, lemon wedges. And as you build add ketchup and mustard and pickle here and yon until the loaf is filled. Put back into the oven to reheat a bit, and serve. Wine or beer is fine too. A loaf will serve three or four. We ate it only on Christmas Eve. Tell us what you think. sandbar38@gmail.com
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December 2018
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Seniors, Can We Talk?
Change and Save, Perhaps
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 widelypublished informational column, ‘Caroline, Can We Talk?’.
Ruth and several of her friends have called about the Medicare Annual Enrollment (Election) Period that started October 15 and ends December 7. Here are some of their questions and/or concerns - you may be thinking the same thing. Susie said several of her prescriptions have changed and wondered if there is a cheaper plan for her in 2019. She gave me her list of prescriptions, the dosage she takes, the quantity she gets and the pharmacy she uses. Based on her prescription information, we reviewed the 26 different Medicare prescription plans available to her. Susie can change prescription plans and save $457 in 2019 compared to what she would have spent, if she kept her current plan. She’s thrilled. Jamie wanted to talk about her prescription plan and wanted to look at a dental plan. Based on the prescription information that she gave me, her current plan will be the lowest cost (premium + deductible + copays) for her in 2019. We then talked about dental plans. Currently Jamie does not have dental insurance; she writes a check for all dental bills. It really got her attention when she wrote checks for over $4000 to her
dentist this year– paying not only for checkups 2 times a year, x-rays 1 time a year plus the expensive stuff like root canals and crowns. There are some new dental plans available in 2019 and Jamie decided to enroll in one with more benefits (wishing all along that she’d enrolled last year). My cousin Mike called kinda complaining about the cost of his Medicare Supplement plan. He liked the coverage and didn’t want to change plans but did not like the premium increase. I reminded him that this enrollment period does not include Medicare Supplements and that he can look at and change Medicare Supplement plans anytime. He must answer medical questions and he may be accepted or denied coverage. We talked about his medical history, I checked with a few companies then he decided to apply and try to reduce his monthly premium (nothing to lose). Boy, was he happy when he found out that he was accepted and will be saving about $50 a month for the same plan! Now Jo is another story. Jo has never had a Medicare prescription plan and she’s 81. She’s never taken any prescriptions so she never enrolled; she didn’t think she needed one. Jo just went to the doctor and now has 3 prescriptions – ouch! We found a plan that will help her with her 3 prescriptions and she’s happy with that. But, she will have to pay a late enrollment penalty for every month she could have had a prescription plan and did not. There is no way for her to avoid this penalty and Medicare will determine the amount of the penalty. What’s your story? Review your prescription plan? Medicare Advantage plan? Update or get a dental plan? Call me at 501-868-6650 and say “Caroline, can we talk? N
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20 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman
Tasty Talk
Eating Your Way to Happiness
Hannah Rogers recently returned home after serving 5 years in the U.S. Coast Guard as a cook. She enjoys time with her dog, baking, hiking, and serving others. Hannah is currently in the process of establishing Hananel Bakery in Batesville.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is what is the commonly known medical term for the winter blues. Some causes of being depressed during the winter are due to lack of sunlight (vitamin D and K deficiency), poor diet with the holiday feasts, lack of exercise, financial stress, and more. However, you can eat your way to happiness to beat the traditional winter blues. When talking about mood-boosting foods, it is important to note that our thoughts can control more than we give them credit. The saying “mind over matter” rings true in altering our health, happiness, relationships, etc. Therefore, remember to always eat with a mind of gratitude and positive outlook. Fruits and vegetables are known to produce a calming effect, create more energy, and increase overall happiness. The best fruits are apples, bananas, and berries. Bananas are a wonderful mood-altering fruit that can help beat depression with its high levels of vitamin B folate. Berries contain certain flavors with a chemical similar to valproic acid, a mood-stabilizing prescription. The flavonoid anthocyanidin reduces inflammation that has been linked to increased rates of depression. Oranges contain vitamin C and increase collagen production that helps reduce your chance of a dry, lined face in the cold weather. Quercetin, a flavonoid in quinoa, has been shown to have a significant anti-depressant effect in the body.
Spinach is a good source of folic acid, which alleviates depression and reduces fatigue. Mushrooms contain high amounts of vitamin D, greatly improving one’s mood. They help maintain the right amount of serotonin to ward off depression. Beans are rich in magnesium, lowering energy levels when deficient. Probably everyone’s favorite is chocolate. Quality dark chocolate is a good source of antioxidants, raise endorphin levels, and reduce the stress hormone cortisol. Walnuts are another good source of health benefits, including improving brain function, high antioxidant content, vitamins, minerals, and large amounts of alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3. Oysters can be hard to find in our area, but they contain zinc that combats anxiety. Salmon is packed full of omega-3 fatty acids that improves mood and fights depression. Fish oil supplements are said to have the same effect as salmon. The spice turmeric contains curcumin that enhances mood and fights depression. Parsley is a great source of vitamin K and produces healthy blood clotting, reduces inflammation, and maintains bone strength. Green tea is what I like to call a super drink, as its health benefits are vast. Japanese studies show that drinking five or more cups a day lowers psychological stress. It also helps slow weight gain. According to JAMA Internal Medicine, coffee has been linked to lower levels of depression. Eating foods high in vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin B6, magnesium, zinc, folic acid, and omega-3 will help improve mood. If you start to feel the winter blues come on, remember that you can eat your way back to happiness. N
Local Faces Registration for Youth Basketball for the Winter 2018/2019 season Lown Lermitte Through December 16th, Batesville Parks and Recreation will have registration open for it’s Fall Youth Basketball Program. Practices and games for the season will be select Thursday Evenings and Saturday mornings. The season begins January 3rd and will end February 14th. The Batesville Youth Basketball program is a developmental, recreational league made up of coed Kindergarten through 6th grade students. Our program is designed to encourage athletic activity and provide the necessary skills to play basketball. Teams are randomly assigned and coached by volunteer parents. Age groups are broken up into 4 groups: Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd grade, 3rd & 4th grade, 5th & 6th grade. Registration fees are $60/child. Included in your registration fee is a jersey for your child to keep. More information is available at www.batesvilleparks.com/youthbasketball or by calling the Batesville Community Center at (870) 698-2427. N eyeonmag.com
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December 2018
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Citizens Bank Employees’ Fund Supports ‘Kups for Kids’ to Fight Hunger Chuck Jones
The Batesville High School EAST Lab will use a $500 donation from Citizens Bank employees to help fund its “Kups for Kids” program to help alleviate child hunger throughout the area. The program was created by EAST, an acronym for Education Accelerated by Service and Technology, which provides students the opportunity to have relevant, individualized, life-changing educational experiences, according to EAST Facilitator Jeanne Roepcke. “At the beginning of the school year, one of our elementary campuses expressed an urgent need to restock their supplies for their Friday backpack program, which provides food for students who might not have enough to eat over the weekend,” said Ms. Roepcke. “Our EAST classes began bringing food to donate in order to give them a quick stock of food. The discussion then began about how we could provide more food for this program and any program in Batesville that might need supplies to help feed hungry children in our area.” The result was “Kups for Kids” for teachers, students and visitors to buy coffee, cappuccino or hot chocolate in the commons area of Batesville High School each day. The project raises funds for hunger-related needs of children, but also provides money to sustain itself. “To begin this program, we needed to acquire a cart and coffee machines as well as the supplies to make and serve the coffee,” Ms. Roepcke said. “All profit of the Kups for Kids cart will go to providing food for children of Batesville. However, the cart is not just for the high school; we will be glad to bring it to other events in the community. We welcome any opportunity to help gain proceeds for the food program.” “It is precisely this kind of compassion that we seek to reward with our Citizens Bank Blue Jeans Fund donations,” said Joyce Prickett, who helps coordinate the fund for bank employees. The Blue Jeans Fund has provided more than $21,000 in financial support to worthwhile causes and
charitable groups over the past five years. The fund grows as Citizens Bank employees make $1 weekly donations in return for being allowed to wear blue jeans to work on Fridays. Whenever the fund accumulates $500 in donations, an employee committee selects an organization to receive a donation. “Citizens Bank is always our partner in service, always willing to come running when we need help,” Ms. Roepcke said. “We hope our project will encourage others to find ways they can also help in the community. This might not be a huge endeavor and might not feed all the children of Batesville, but it is a start. If everyone in the community would just start small, imagine what a difference could be made.” N
Promoting the service project are (from left) Ashley Engles and Jeffrey Freiert of Citizens Bank; EAST students Lily Gillihan, Lauren McDaniel, Madison Denham and Jack Allen; and Joyce Prickett and Tracy McClurg of Citizens Bank.
Eagle Mountain Students Help with Pancake Day Pam Baxter The Eagle Mountain Elementary K-Kids Club made a trip downtown to help the Kiwanis Club with the Chubby Bernard Pancake Day. Most of the funds from the Pancake Day go to support the Kiwanis' Youth programs so they came to help serve and of course eat pancakes. N
Jacqueline Ferrer (left) and Faith McClurg helps hand out Elizabeth Heng help serve pancake pancake meals in the to go line. meals to those in line.
Members of the Eagle Mountain K-Kids club pose in front of the Kiwanis sign at the Chubby Bernard Pancake Day sign.
Ribbon Cuttings Shelly Hendrix
BACC Held Ameriprise Financial – Andrew Walmsley Ribbon Cutting A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for Ameriprise Financial – Andrew Walmsley, Tuesday, November 6, 2018, for their new location at 3244 Harrison Street in Batesville. Andrew Walmsley has been advising for more than 11 years. To learn more about their financial services, please call them at 870-793-9110. BACC Held Batesville Montessori School Ribbon Cutting A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for Batesville Montessori School’s new infant addition on Tuesday, October 23, 2018. Montessori staff saw an increased demand for infant care and began planning to expand to provide that care. The school has space for 20 infants and is now accepting enrollment applications. Batesville Montessori is located at 195 11th Street in Batesville. For more information call 870-698-1341. N
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In October, the WRHS Foundation and Wood Family Dealerships sold Breast Cancer Awareness apparel to benefit the WRMC Breast Care Center. On National Pink Day, Phillip Brissey (Wood Family Dealerships) presented a check for $2,190.
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Eagle Mountain Elementary Student Reads Her Book about Cancer Battle Pam Baxter Sophie Krug, a 3rd grader in Mrs. Strickland’s class at Eagle Mountain Elementary, is reading her book from St Jude’s Hospital about how she battled and won her fight over childhood cancer. Her book is called, “Sophie’s Rebellion, a St. Jude’s Story”. Sophie was both the author and illustrator of the book. N
Eagle Mountain Kindergarten work on their “R” Words Pam Baxter Mrs. Bryant’s Kindergarten class went on a rock hunt to study the letter Rr and it’s sound. They built the letters and used rocks to write r words. N
Genesis Olvera-Alfaro shows her rocks.
Jacob Castro shows his rock R.
Cindy Killingsworth, Saidy Garcia Cardona and Beckham Cummings write r words with their rocks.
24 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman
Melba Theater Announces ‘A Very Melba Christmas’ Lineup Mandi Curtwright This year marks the third annual ‘A Very Melba Christmas’ presented by the Melba Theater of Batesville, with the assistance of local business partners. The past two Christmas seasons have brought thousands of movie goers from far and wide to see old classic films on the big screen. For many, attending the Melba has become a holiday tradition. Theater Owners, Adam & Mandi Curtwright and Joe & Janelle Shell try to bring something new and exciting each year, aiming to fulfill their mission of offering “An Experience to Remember”. This year the series consists of 10 different movies with 17 showings beginning on Friday, November 23rd. The series kicked off with “The Star.” This animated film tells the story of Jesus’ birth through the perspectives of the animals surrounding the event. Thanks to community business partners, “A Very Melba Christmas” series movies are offered free to the public while seats last. The theater holds 410 and can accommodate 6 wheelchairs. “Doors open one hour before showtime and often times the line begins forming before our workers have even arrived to prepare for the show,” says Adam Curtwright. “To see the excitement on the kids faces, and honestly their parent’s faces as well, makes all the hard work and preparation worth it.” It’s more than simply booking the films and popping the popcorn. The Curtwrights and Shells have recruited more staff, scheduled dozens of school groups, contacted local businesses for partnerships and of course, decorated the interior and
exterior of the theater to add to the overall ambiance. “We want our decorations to flow with and compliment the wonderful lights put on by the city,” Joe Shell proudly states. “It’s a lot of work but something we are very proud of.” Adding to the overall experience last year was fake snow. Thanks to Precise Heating & Air, Mandi Curtwright’s dream of a snowy Christmas came true. “We wanted to create something to take our movie goer’s experience over the top and the fake snow was perfect!” Mandi said. The machines were sponsored by Precise and were positioned above the marquee so that as attendees exited, they would walk out to a gentle snow fall. “It was magical!” Mandi exclaimed. Another special surprise this year was confirmation that Judge Reinhold, supporting actor in “The Santa Clause will return for a fundraiser event benefiting The Arkansas Sheriff’s Youth Ranch. “We loved having Judge Reinhold attend previously and are excited to have him return” says Janelle Shell. “He was so down to earth and answered audience questions which was very cool.” It has also been confirmed that Cousin Eddie and his rundown RV will be back as well. Each year Brad Cheatham has donned the bathrobe and entertained guests as they wait in line. It would be hard to estimate just how many pictures he has been tagged in on social media. The Leg Lamp will reappear in the ticket booth window and other surprises will surface during the series as well. It is safe to say, you’d better mark your calendars and make plans to attend as seats fill up quickly. Visit www.melbatheater.org or the Melba Theater Facebook page for updates and information. N
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Allder Named UACCB 2018 Outstanding Faculty Hannah Keller Flanery In 1998, Gateway Technical College merged with the University of Arkansas System to become the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville. That year, Dr. Ted Allder was named the Outstanding Faculty member. Twenty years later, Allder has come full circle as he was named the 2018 Outstanding Faculty member. Allder received his award during the college’s annual community picnic in September. Allder began working at Gateway Technical College in 1991 as the site director for Arkansas State University managing and teaching courses offered by ASU on Gateway’s campus. He officially joined the faculty at Gateway in 1995. “This is a great place to work. I liked it here, so I stayed,” Allder said. He saw the college transition to UACCB in 1998 after the citizens of Independence County passed a sales tax that made it possible for the institution to become a community college. “It was a very close vote. I believe it passed by less than 60 votes. Everyone was very excited,” he said. From 1999-2003, Allder served as the division chair for arts and sciences. He currently teaches Oral Communication, English Composition I and II, World Literature I and II and Mythology. Allder added that, like his students, he is learning on a daily basis. “I enjoy learning, and I try to get our students excited about learning. Most of them already are, and I try to reinforce
Ribbon Cuttings
that excitement. Our students are motivated to do well, and that really makes my job enjoyable,” Allder said. Allder earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a bachelor’s in art from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He has a master’s degree in English from the University of Central Arkansas and a doctorate in English from Southern Illinois University. “I enjoy both English and art. That’s part of why I am here [UACCB]. I want to help people achieve education so they can do something they enjoy doing for a living. It’s valuable for the community to have UACCB here. Those who couldn’t afford to attend college somewhere else can get an education here, and I love being a part of that,” he said. N
Ted Allder
Shelly Hendrix
BACC Held Real Goods Market & Eatery Ribbon Cutting A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for Real Goods Market & Eatery, Thursday, October 25, 2018. Real Goods is an organic and health food store, with a variety of local products and grab-and go-fresh meals. They also carry health and beauty items. Real Goods is owned by Paige Hubbard. For more information please call 870-569-7999 or visit their location at 2065 Harrison Street. BACC’s Any Events, LLC Ribbon Cutting The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Any Events, LLC, Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. The event was held at 2080 Harrison Street in Batesville. N
26 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman
UACCB Student Learns Best Practices at the Newport Extension Center Hannah Keller Flanery When the opportunity to intern with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service presented itself this summer, Ricki Gilbert rolled up her sleeves and dug right in. Gilbert, an agriculture technology major at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, studied cotton crops and soil health during her internship with the Cooperative Extension Service at the Newport Extension Center. “I was excited for the chance to intern,” Gilbert said. “I know some who have walked into the jobs they currently have because of internships. It also gives you an opportunity to see if you like the profession and if you will work well with the employer.” Gilbert had a previous connection with Dr. Bill Robertson, cotton extension agronomist, which helped lead to her internship at the extension center. “I met him and his wife through 4-H showing sheep at the state fair,” Gilbert said. Gilbert said she had early aspirations of being a veterinarian. “But I discovered in high school that I wasn’t cut out to be a vet,” she said, “so I had to change my focus. I really enjoyed my plant science classes and love seeing plants grow. I want to work with the National Resource Conservation Service, and this internship really opened my eyes to what that would be like. I learned about cover crops and no-till crops [both promoted by NRCS] and got to see how those crops really work and the difference between the two.” The internship required Gilbert be up some mornings at 4:30 a.m. to arrive to work on time. Among her duties, Gilbert learned about the different stages throughout the cotton plant’s life cycle, how to set up soil and moisture sensors, taking accurate plant counts, and pest control. She was also exposed to conducting applied agronomic research in producer fields relating to irrigation timing, fertility, and variety performance testing. Gilbert also had the opportunity to present a poster at the national meeting of the Soil Health Institute held in Albuquerque, N.M. during the internship on an applied soil health demonstration she conducted. Robertson said Gilbert’s interest in soil health helped steer the focus of her internship. “Ricki has an interest in soil health, which is a big factor for NRCS. It helped us design an internship geared towards her goals and where she wants to be down the road. She was able to be involved in some of the things we do to improve soil health, measure and monitor our environmental footprint, work with farmers, and implement best practices,” he said. Gilbert, a Batesville native, graduated from Batesville High School in 2016. She had a familiarity with UACCB long before she chose to attend as her mother also attended the college. “My mother was a student here. I would come here with her and play on
the computer while she was taking classes,” Gilbert said. Gilbert said she plans to transfer to Arkansas State University after graduating from UACCB to pursue her bachelor’s degree in plant/soil science. She’s keeping her eye out for additional internship opportunities and hopes to intern with the NRCS in the future. N
Ricki Gilbert
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Ribbon Cuttings Shelly Hendrix
Bump & Company Clothing Boutique Ribbon Cutting Held A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for Bump & Company Clothing Boutique, Tuesday, November 20, 2018. Bump and Company is owned by Amanda Hollowell. The stylish boutique carries women’s clothing, maternity clothing, and accessories. For more information please visit their Facebook page or call 870-834-3632. N
The Stage Awaits You. Registration is open now. 870-612-2000 uaccb.edu
28 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman
Merchants & Planters Business After Hours Party Full of Holiday Fun Shelly Hendrix The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) held a Holiday Block Party on Tuesday, November 20 on the corner of Central & Main. The event was hosted by Merchants & Planters Bank and featured fun for the whole family including food, giant yard games, face painting, rock painting, music and a “Free Bird” give-a-way. Residents packed into the Melba to watch “Free Bird” free of charge courtesy of Merchants & Planters Bank following the event. N
UACCB TRIO Student Wins Statewide Scholarship Competition Hannah Keller Flanery Abby Summers began writing short stories when she was 7 years old, but her passion for writing intensified when she was diagnosed with Type I diabetes at age 14. At that point, writing became an escape from the reality of living with an autoimmune disease. Her passion for the written word continued to grow and by the age of 15, she was a published novelist. “I started writing to create a different world for myself. All the things I wished I could say about myself, I could write about someone else,” she said. Summers’s book, The Unknowns, was published in 2014 by Xlibris US, a self-publishing company. Summers was invited to the Book-to-Scene Pitchfest in Hollywood where she had the opportunity to pitch her book within two minutes to 11 Hollywood executives. “If they liked your idea, they would send it to producers who might turn it into a movie or television series,” she said. Now a student at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville pursuing her associate of arts in general education, Summers writing talents have led her to success once again. She was selected as the recipient of the Walter O. Mason Education Foundation Scholarship. The foundation provides an annual scholarship to TRIO students in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas who have demonstrated a commitment to educational excellence. Summers was selected as the Arkansas recipient by the Arkansas Association of Student Assistance Programs. She was required to submit an application, letters of recommendation and an essay to compete for the scholarship. A native of Tuckerman, Summers skipped a grade during her home schooling and was able to begin her college journey early. “I love college. I wanted to have the experience of being in a classroom setting with teachers. I came to UACCB and fell in love with it. I knew this was where I needed to be and that UACCB will prepare me for whatever I decide to do next,” she said.
“I was scared to death the first time I attended classes, but it was also very exciting. Everything I do here has helped me develop better people skills.” And she has taken advantage of multiple opportunities to develop those skills. Summers is a student ambassador, a member of the Renaissance Club, secretary for the Student Government Association and has been a student worker in TRIO. Summers said she is considering transferring to the University of Central Arkansas or Arkansas Tech University after completing her associates. She would like to double major in creative writing and theatre. “I’d love to be a screenwriter or a novelist. I have to do something in entertainment. That’s my passion,” Summer said. N
Abby Summers holding her scholarship.
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December 2018
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Ribbon Cuttings Shelly Hendrix BACC Held Impact Nutrition Ribbon Cutting A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for Impact Nutrition, Thursday, November 8, 2018, at 3050 Harrison Street. Impact Nutrition is a carrier of Herbalife Nutrition, which is a plant-based nutrition supplement to help support a healthy life style. They offer shakes, meal replacements, teas, and coffee. To learn more about Impact Nutrition please contact them at 501-368-9927. BACC Held Children’s Advocacy Center Ribbon Cutting A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Independence County, Tuesday, November 13, 2018. The Children’s Advocacy Center of Independence County is the 17th children’s advocacy center (CAC) in the state of Arkansas. The CAC will see child crime victims from Independence, Izard, Stone, Sharp, and Fulton counties. The CAC’s mission is dedicated to providing a safe place for children to find their voice, tell their story, and begin to heal. They offer advocacy services, forensic interviewing, sexual assault examinations, mental health referrals, and community education. The event was held at 510 E. Boswell Street in Batesville. To learn more about their financial services, please call them at 870-613-2710. N
Candler Named UACCB 2018 Academic All-Star Hannah Keller Flanery Ashlyn Candler’s college experience began before she left Cave City High School. As a concurrent student, Candler took numerous college courses at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville before she graduated to get a jump start on her college degree. Her determination and academic success led to Candler being selected as the UACCB 2018 Academic All-Star. Candler anticipates graduating from UACCB generic registered nursing program December 7. She said her mother was a great inspiration in her decision to become a nurse. Candler’s mother, Marietta Candler, is the nursing and allied health division chair at UACCB. “I always wanted to be like mom, and I love helping people,” Candler said. “I especially love geriatric medicine, but I plan to work in medical-surgical nursing in the beginning to gain experience.” As an Academic All-Star, Candler received a $500 to UACCB for the fall 2018 semester as well as a full-tuition transfer scholarship from a public four-year university in the state. Candler plans to attend the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville to earn her bachelor of science
in nursing. “I was very excited and grateful to be selected for this award,” she said. “It takes a big load off my shoulders financially. It’s good to see that all the hard work has paid off. I’m thankful for my family and the UACCB faculty who have supported me.” Candler’s academic accomplishments are numerous. She has been named to the Chancellor’s List the last three semesters and was named to the Dean’s List last semester. She is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and has served on campus as a tutor and provided numerous volunteer hours with various organizations including Help and Hope, St. Jude’s, and the Independence County Humane Society. She was recognized in October at the Arkansas Community Colleges annual conference. However, Candler did not attend the conference because she did not want to mar her perfect attendance record at school. Candler’s ultimate career goal is to become a nurse practitioner. She said she believes there are certain characteristics an effective nurse must embody to be
30 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman
successful. “A nurse must be trustworthy and honest. You must have empathy. You have to be strong willed, but you also have to be able to compromise and always put the needs of others first,” she said. N
Sulphur Rock teachers, Kathy Hyslip & Claire Chapman, lead a group of teachers to the "party bus" on Monday as they traveled to lunch at Colton's. Businesses and FANS parents sponsored activities throughout the day for students, as well as teachers, in honor of being named an "A" rated school for the second consecutive year.
Ashlyn Candler
Grade “A” Celebration @ Sulphur Rock Elementary Lori Campbell Sulphur Rock Elementary was recognized as the only "A" performing school in all of Independence and Sharp counties this year. This is the 2nd consecutive year that Sulphur Rock has made an "A". Monday, students, teachers, and staff members were treated to a school-wide celebration complete with cupcakes, bounce houses, a dance party, and movie time. Community businesses sponsored a lunch for all teachers and staff. N
Sulphur Rock 5th grader, Deuntay Ross and teachers, Andrea Hammack and Marieta Fraiser, lead a Conga line of students exiting the celebration assembly Monday. Each month, Sulphur Rock Elementary holds a celebration to recognize high achieving students. Students are recognized for showing growth in a subject area, reaching a classroom goal, and exhibiting good citizenship among many other awards.
Sulphur Rock principal, Stacey Lindsey, (second from left) receives the check for being an "A" rated school from Dr. Michael Hester, superintendent, Jennifer Douglas, assistant superintendent, and school board members, Kathy West and George Latus.
Chamber member, Shelly Hendrix, and several chamber ambassadors lead Sulphur Rock students in a cheer about being an "A" rated school. A school-wide assembly was held Monday to celebrate.
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Eagle Mountain Sea Camp Pam Baxter The fifth grade students at Eagle Mountain were able to attend Sea Camp on Dauphin Island, Alabama for the first time this year. It was an experience they will never forget. Some students seeing the ocean for the first time. They attended classes everyday while working on STEM activities. They jumped in to the ocean and learned how to measure waves and debris beaches. They crawled in the marshes and discovered animals
they never knew were there. They set nets out and discovered how many baby animals live along the beaches, grasses, and marshes. These places all protect the babies until they get big enough to survive on their own. The classes seined for plankton, the largest food source in the oceans, and then went to the lab to look at it under the microscopes for observations. They learned how to build robot submarines and test them in their pools with contests. In the labs they learned about water density and squid dissections. They got to board a fishing boat and set
Catch of the Day after setting out the nets on the fishing boat.
From the right at the table, Angel Ferrer tries on the deep sea Josey Dishon, Lawanda diving helmet at the museum. Moore, Gwen Goodwin are looking at the plankton they netted at the docks. Nicole Rendon is at a microscope in front of them. Mai- Lan Ho is working with an instructor at a table behind them on the left and Landon Massey is working at a table behind Josey.
Kinley O'Conner and Chloe Schultz display their baby fish and jellyfish they have netted at the shallow beach by the marsh.
Things To Do Batesville Very Melba Christmas Dec 4 @ 6:30pm “Elf”. Dec 6 “Christmas in Conneticut”. Dec 9 “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”. Dec 13 “Polar Express”. Dec 16 “Its a Wonderful Life”. Dec 19 “A Christmas Story”.
out nets in the ocean to see what kind of animals live in the Mobile Bay area. Feeding the dolphins and seagulls following the boats were a highlight of the trip. They also went to Fort Gaines, one of the oldest forts in the United States, and learned how the soldiers lived. Mrs. Cathy Laney, 5th grade science teacher, got to set off the cannon. The Estuary Museum was wonderful letting them see animals that live in the deep waters and waterway around the Mobile Bay area. It even had a live ray tank where they could touch the rays. N
Stevie Rose Holmes fell in the muddy marsh while Abby Campbell tries to Help her up. Behind them, parent and para, Mrs. Jessica Ward and Landon Box try to crawl out of the mucky water.
Lacei Horne is standing, James Bailey is kneeling and Coley Rogers is sitting while preparing their sub for testing. The classes are netting for plankton along the docks.
Church of the Nazarene Arts & Crafts Sale December 1st, 9 am - 2 pm / First Church of the Nazarene is having their 6th annual arts and crafts sale, “Christmas in the City.” Rental booths are available inside for $20 or outside for $15. There will be a wide variety of arts & crafts. This craft fair is definitely worth coming to. We are in a very good environment
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and location. Lunch will be served in the dining room. Will also have many baked goods for sale. Proceeds from the event go toward supporting the Sr Adult and Children’s ministry projects at the church. Call 870-6981994 or email bnazchurch1925@gmail.com to reserve your booth. Batesville Kiwanis Christmas Parade Mon, December 3 at 6pm on Main St Batesville.
Cookies with Santa December 15 at Sweetie Cakes on Main Street from 3pm to 4:30pm. Joy of Living Ladies Bible Study The Joy of Living ladies Bible Study are from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. This community wide, interdenominational Bible Study meets each Tuesday during the school year and is hosted by West Baptist Church. This year the study will focus on the life of Christ. Childcare is provided and all ladies are welcome!
Melbourne Find out what’s going on in Melbourne when you log onto www.mymelbournearkansas.com
Mountain View Log onto the link below to find all of the great things going on in Mnt. View, too many to add here. Great food and events all year. www.yourplaceinthemountains.com.
Newark Santa’s Craft Shop & Pancake Breakfast The Cedar Ridge PTO is excited to host the 4th Annual Santa's Craft Shop & Pancake Breakfast on Dec 1, 2018 from 8am to 2pm at the Cedar Ridge Elementary School. Join us for Shopping, Pancakes, a Silent Auction, Pictures with Santa and more! If you'd like to purchase booth space at the craft shop, please mail your check to 400 East 9th, Newark, AR 72562 or contact Shanda Stout at 870.799.7560.
Newport
Christmas for Jackson Co. Foster Children Jackson County Division of Children and Family Services is reaching out for community support to help provide Christmas to Jackson County foster children. Jackson County has 58 foster children that are in need of Christmas assistance but only have 18 children adopted for Christmas so far. Anyone interested in adopting a foster child for Christmas, please contact April Stokes at 870-217-9824 or email april.stokes@dhs. arkansas .gov. Christmas lists are ready for pick up. All unwrapped presents need to be returned to the Jackson County DHS office by Friday, December 7th. Thanks to this great community, our foster children have had wonderful Christmas experiences in the past, and it is hoped that this will be a great year too!
Merchants Holiday Open House Mark your calendar for the annual Retail Merchants Holiday Open House on Tuesday, Dec. 11. Enjoy extended shopping hours, one-day-only deals, refreshments and discounts at the following locations: 1. Get surprise one-day-only specials at 2 Chicks Nursery from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. 2. Stop and shop at all of the booths at Charee’s Emporium from Noon until 6 p.m. 3. Enjoy refreshments plus, gift wrapping for purchases made at the Pink Poodle booth. 4. Darling’s Fine Things welcomes the G. Spinelli Trunk Show plus door prizes from 2 to 7 p.m. 5. Buy one, get one free vitamin, plus refreshments and door prize give away at iCare RX Pharmacy from 2 to 6:30 p.m. 6. Enjoy the annual “Taste of Christmas” with samples of holiday gourmet food items at Purdy’s Flowers & Gifts from 2 until 7 p.m. New this year - Holiday Upcycled Glass Creations design class with local artist Julie Reardon at 6 p.m. Reservations must be made by calling 523-5872. Cost is $50 for 10x10 and $60 for 10x20. 7. Get 10% off during the Open House at Tickled Pink Boutique inside Harris Medical Center from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Enjoy food samples and taste testings. Newport Christmas Parade The Newport Christmas parade will be Thursday, Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. The parade committee is seeking floats, antique vehicles, beauty queens, horseback riders, etc. from school groups, area clubs or businesses. Participants will be traveling down Hwy. 69 to Malcolm Avenue then down to Village Mall parking lot. Plaques will be awarded for first, second and third place for both the commercial and non-commercial categories. Entry is free, and participants may choose their own holiday theme. However, since the real Santa will be flying in early as the last entry in the parade, please do not incorporate a “fake” Santa into your float. Float judging will begin at approximately 5:30 p.m. Forms are available in the school office. In the event of inclement weather, parade participants will be notified of an alternate date. For an entry form, go to www. newportarchamber.org or call 523-3618. Manna Manna Food Pantry is located in the Newport Pentecostal Church of God at 205 Ray Street in Newport. They open every Tuesday at 8 a.m. until food is gone. First Tuesday of every month is for Jackson County pickups only. They have partnered with the NEA food bank in jonesboro. Donate to the pantry by contacting Gail Poole at 501-473-1560 or log on to www.newportpcg.com. Accepting food donations. If your community is not represented here, please send us any upcoming event information and we will be happy to share with our other communities/ eyeonjoseph@gmail.com. N
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In The Field with Randy
Rice Variety and Hybrid Selection Randy Chlapecka is an agronomist with Farmers Supply Association. He is retired from the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture - Cooperative Extension Service where he served as a County Extension Agent for over 32 years. He is an avid ASU Red Wolves fan and has announced Newport Greyhound sporting events since 1996. He also enjoys vegetable gardening.
Hopefully, by the time you read this the 2018 harvest will be over, but I wouldn’t bet on it. A wet fall has led to one of the toughest harvest seasons in a long time. Yields have mostly been good, but it’s been a battle to get it out with stories of combines having to be dug out with excavators and all kinds of other problems. Quality-related problems such as low milling rice, damaged soybeans, and poor germinating soybean seed for next year have added insult to injury. Even though the 2018 crop may not be completely finished, planning has to be ongoing for the 2019 crop. This includes rice variety and hybrid selection. I’ll use performance trial results, variety and hybrid characteristics, and some of my own personal thoughts for the remainder of this article. I’ll divide this into conventional long grains, medium grains, conventional Clearfields, hybrid Clearfields, non-Clearfield hybrids, and the Provisia variety PVL01. Diamond is pretty much the only conventional long grain in town although there could still be a little LaKast, Roy J, and even Wells around. Yields of non-hybrids in general were a little erratic in places this year but it certainly is not unusual to see Diamond yields in that 200 bushel range. Disease-wise, the main issue with Diamond is its susceptibility to False Smut so a preventative treatment with a fungicide containing propiconazole would be a good idea. Looking at the medium grains, Titan and Jupiter are the predominant varieties. I think Titan has been seen as a replacement for Jupiter, but there are still several out there that prefer Jupiter. Looking at yields, it’s pretty much a toss-up with Titan winning some tests and Jupiter winning others. It pretty much comes down to personal preference. Jupiter is more susceptible to lodging and stem rot so I prefer Titan somewhat over Jupiter. Clearfield 272 is an
option if you want to grow a medium grain on fields with red rice and it can have respectable yields especially in cooler years when Bacterial Panicle Blight is not an issue. Clearfield 151 and 153 are the ones to consider when you look at the conventional Clearfields. I think 153 was seen as a replacement for 151 but 151 just won’t go away. Just like with Jupiter and Titan, 151 wins some tests and 153 wins others. 151 does have that top end potential, however, when everything goes right (early planting, ability to hold a good flood, high potash levels, etc.). 153 does have better disease and lodging resistance. Clearfield 172 also has improved standability and disease resistance but lower yield potential. Moving to the hybrid Clearfields, Rice Tec Gemini 214 and 7311 have emerged as the leaders and are beginning to push 745 to the side. Both have excellent yield potential and pretty typical hybrid characteristics, although Gemini 214 does have a milling advantage over 7311. Gemini 214 is rated very susceptible to False Smut and may benefit from a propiconazole application. The highest yield potential is in the non-Clearfield hybrids. Rice Tec 753 continues to have the highest yield in pretty much every trial it is in, although 760 does occasionally beat it. 760 is another one that is rated very susceptible to False Smut, otherwise both have typical hybrid characteristics. PVL01 will be the only Provisia variety available again in 2019, with a new one hopefully available on a limited basis in 2020. Yield potential is limited with this variety although I did hear some respectable yields up in the 160170 range, but if you are going to plant rice in a field that has red rice that is resistant to Newpath then you need to plant PVLO1. The grass and red rice control was excellent in the Provisia fields this year. As always, evaluate each field individually when selecting varieties and spread your risk by planting multiple varieties. For more information, feel free to contact me through Farmers Supply Association at 870-318-0739, my e-mail is randychlapecka@gmail.com. N
Tales of a Transplanted Fashionista Be a Bucket Filler
Leigh Keller is a high school guidance counselor at Batesville HIgh School and the director of the BHS Glass Slipper Project. She lives in Batesville with her son, Cole, and a pack of dogs.
The day started out happily enough. It was the day before Thanksgiving week, which meant that the next week was a two day work week, so we decided to
celebrate our Friday morning with some chocolate doughnuts. I pulled our car into Shipley’s and rolled down my window. My driver’s side window had been acting wonky for awhile. I keep saying I can see the light at the end of the tunnel with our car being paid off, and our car knows it, so the window had been doing some crazy, car possessed, car that knows I don’t want to invest more money into it, stuff. Cole got his doughnuts and off we went, and my car window disagreed.....it went up, it went down, and it pulled down the window lining (I am sure there’s a technical term for that rubber
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lining, don’t judge me). I took some deep breaths and pulled over, committed to not allowing this inanimate object to ruin our Friday chocolate doughnut happiness, only to have the window be permanently stuck halfway down, lining hanging down. So of course I did what any reasonable, high strung, single mama working hard to pay all of those bills by myself would do, I cried....hard. I did exactly what I caution other mamas not to do, “Do not put adult stressors onto your children”. Cole silently sat in the back, eyes wide, eating his doughnuts (because if your mama is losing it, you are probably going to need your strength, you should probably eat your doughnuts). I got the name of a place to take my car, after calling my old faithful mechanic, who was busy until after Thanksgiving, and actually weighed the options of leaving my window down until then, and decided against it. After I calmed down, I snapped back to my rational brain, and told Cole I would figure it out, I promise. I heard a little voice say “I know you will, Mama. You always do”. That made me take a deep deep breath, knowing that my child always believes in me, even when I am in a stupid crazy panic. I took my car to Lenney’s on Lawrence (my new besties, I am gonna invite those people to Christmas dinner, they are gems), and a very calm Lenney Rush said to me in a dad voice, “I am pretty sure I can take care of you”. I sat myself down on their squishy couch and Lenney’s wife, Jimmi, talked to me like I was a rational person. She couldn’t have known I had just wailed in my car driving my child to school. She talked to me about my job, and about how blessed I was to have that job, where people trusted me with their children. She was so very right. It was my car window (and my battery), not my motor. It was easily fixed (not by me, of course), and I was on my way within an hour. In the grand scheme of my life, this was minor and could be fixed. We know so many who have big big problems that simply cannot be remedied in an hour, sadly. It’s funny that I happened upon such malady that morning, as Cole and I are doing the Bucket Filler Challenge this month, with a different challenge each day, on how to fill someone else’s bucket. When Cole was a student at Central, his counselor, Ms. Toy, gave each of them a sheet with a list of ways to be a Bucket Filler, and we have kept it on our fridge as a reminder. We decided (actually me, my attitude has been pretty cranky) to take that challenge and do one per day, in a ramp up to our 25 days of kindness in December. Mrs. Rush could not have known that morning that she was filling up my empty bucket. She could not have known that I needed to snap back to reality and take a minute to breathe, and be thankful for all of my blessings. God had a plan to get me there to that mechanic’s shop that day, as of course my battery was the original battery in my car, and looked pretty wretched too, and was trying hard not to start my car each morning. Being a bucket filler doesn’t always mean buying things for people, it usually means being kind to others, forgiving them, thanking them, taking responsibility for
the things you say and do that might hurt other people. Sometimes I even caution Cole to simply “do not get on people’s nerves”, such a good rule for life, really. If you model kindness and encouraging others for your children, they learn such valuable lessons about how to treat people, how to lift them up, instead of tearing them down. This does not go to say that my child does not behave like a gremlin from time to time, because he saves it allllll for his mama at home. Try that Bucket Filler Challenge with your kids, friends or coworkers and I promise you will begin to train your brain to see the good in other people, and other situations, even when you really do not want to at all. N
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I Do Joseph Thomas is a native of Grubbs, a graduate of ASUN and owns and runs Eye On Magazine with his powerhouse wife, Kimberlee. He is the graphic designer, editor and one of the various writers of this publication. He is elevated by five children, four grandchildren and is trying to waste less time everyday.
Jones - Johnson Wedding Ryan Jones met Brandi Johnson while working at the Arkansas Department of Corrections. For three years, they never really talked. Then, Brandi signed up on a dating website for a friend, to do some secret spying on a guy, and Ryan and Brandi matched. He sent her a message saying, “What the heck are you doing in here?” Brandi had the same question for Ryan and they never stopped talking. The proposal was definitely one of a kind, Brandi says. “We had just bought a house and I was at work at St Bernard’s Medical Center in Jonesboro on a thirteen hour shift. So, Ryan calls to tell me the water is turned on but that something went wrong with the meter. He said when he and the water guy went in the house, our whole kitchen was flooded. He said that I needed to come out as soon as I got off work.” Brandi still had two hours left on her shift and she is thinking the worst! “Finally I am off, speeding to the house to see how bad it all is. I pull up and there are all kinds of wet towels and
mops in the garage. He tells me that he’s cleaned most of it up, but that the problem he thought was coming from over there (pointing to under the sink).” Brandi took a look and there was a vase of flowers and a sign that says will you marry me. “I turn around to find him on his knee, I was SCHOCKED! Of course I said YES!” “Our wedding was without a doubt the absolute best day of our life!” adds Brandi. The couple married on a beautiful, fall day at James Ranch in Pocahontas, Arkansas with all of their family and friends, making the day even more memorable! Ryan is a Captian in the Army National Guard, so he wore his dress blues along with his groomsmen, who are also military men. The bridesmaids wore different shades of a nuetral beige. “We honeymooned in Sarasota, Florida, right on Seista Keys beach! It was beautiful and relaxing!” “Our future plans include continuing to live in Bono, Arkansas and starting a family.” They are both continuing their education, Ryan planning to earn a Masters in Geological Engineering for both his Military career and his civilian career and Brandi for Child Counseling. Their first priority is to persist in enjoying life together as one! N
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Sandra Provence Kacey Burge graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, and later received her Master of Art degree in Professional Writing from Chatham University. She has had a successful writing and editing career as both an on-staff writer, as well as on a freelance basis for almost a decade. She has written dozens of features for a Southwest Florida Lifestyles publication, as well as a wide array of content for the web. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. Kacey is a health and fitness enthusiast, yoga aficionado and animal lover.
Cover Story The Many Hats of Sandra Provence Sandra Provence is a special woman. A woman with a heart to serve, whose wide reach has touched people near and far from her hometown of Tuckerman, helping them, encouraging them and inspiring them. She wears many hats. She is a mother, a grandmother, a teacher, a volunteer. A board member, play director, philanthropist. But most of all, she is a beautiful force of positivity in the lives she touches and a strong pillar in the community. Generations of Strength Provence is a proud Tuckerman native who comes from a long line of strong women. Among the inspirational figures in her life growing up in the small farm town, was her grandmother, the late Betty Runsick. “She knew how to persevere under pressure of hard times and extreme struggles, yet she always emerged with dignity and grace,” Provence shares. “I loved her so much and admired her dearly.” After her grandmother’s passing at the age of 108, Provence was able to find strength in her mother, Violet, another one of the inspirational figures and strong women she was fortunate enough to have in her life. “She was an excellent listener, never judgmental, a hard worker, a good servant to her family and community,” Provence says. “A woman of wisdom, with love beyond measure, and a joy to those who knew her.” She remembers the strength of her mother in a memory. “When my Daddy died, I remember sitting next to my mother at his funeral. I was beyond consolable,” she recalls. “My mother leaned over and whispered to me, ‘Sandra, you must get yourself together’. I remember thinking ‘this is her mate for over 60 years, yet she has the strength to comfort me’. I instantly stopped my tears and began counting my blessings to have such strong parents.” Provence believes that both triumphs and tragedies contribute to the strength of a woman, but tragedy is of the most powerful. “We have all suffered tragedies, and the women I consider my best friends and the ones who have influenced me most have all used their personal tragedies to add strength to their character,” she shares. “Throughout my life, I have had so many people influence me, help shape me and guide me to becoming a better, stronger person.” Igniting the Passion Provence graduated from Tuckerman High School in 1967 and later attended ASU Jonesboro with an interest in business. As she started her college experience, she never would have thought she’d spend the next three decades of her life teaching. “I didn’t begin my college career to finish as a teacher,” she says. “Teaching found me.” Once she began taking all of the writing and literature classes the school offered, she realized there was so much she didn’t understand about human nature
and the world around her became much clearer. “I was hooked,” she says of her newfound, budding passion. She went on to earn her Master’s degree in English and became certified in oral communication and journalism, teaching English, literature, speech, and journalism for 17 years at Tuckerman High School and 13 years of English, literature, and an education course at ASU Newport. Being a graduate of Tuckerman High School turned teacher, Provence has been witness to the many changes that have taken place over the years within the Jackson County School District and local community. While the community has suffered economically and financially over the years, she explains how the school system has continued to progress- a rare situation. “The Jackson County School District is a Community Service School and works continuously to meet the needs of our students by placing resourceful and effective teachers in the proper classrooms and to sustain and update technology as necessary,” Provence explains. “We are fortunate in having outstanding administrators in all three divisions of our campuses and to have an efficient leader at our helm who shares a strong vision for our future.” Her teaching years were rich at Tuckerman, as she had the opportunity to work with some amazing students and fellow teachers, like mentor Mrs. Billye Crawford, that have taught her a lot about herself. “My favorite group of high school students were the Seniors,” she shares. “They were always such an interesting group…so ready to graduate, yet so unsure of what to do next. Rather like a Dickens statement: ‘It was the best of times and the worst of times.’” Interestingly, many of her former students are now teachers themselves for the Jackson County School District. When Provence decided to make the switch from the public school setting to Secondary education around the year of 2000, her mentor Mrs. Billye Crawford gave her some sage advice. “She told me to make a decision and then convince myself, regardless, that it was the right and the best decision for me and to work toward that goal.” Provence declares that was one of the best decisions she had ever made. Eventually she became Coordinator of the Associate Arts Teacher’s Degree. “I don’t believe that everyone has to attend college or be a college graduate to find their calling in life, but I do think that learning as much as possible throughout life will lead a person to a more productive and substantial life,” she shares. “ASU Newport is possibly Jackson County’s greatest asset. I wish more high school students would take advantage of the degree and technical programs offered locally.” A Heart of Service Currently, Provence considers herself semi-retired, but while she might not be found teaching from the classroom on campus, she still has a very active role in the community. She is grateful for her teaching experiences as her journey in education has led her
to many extraordinary destinations and experiences. “I have visited schools in New Zealand as a liaison with ASU Jonesboro, helped sponsor a summer tour group of students in Greece, and through the National Endowment of the Humanities Summer Seminar award, I attended Sara Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York,” she says. “I have presented several workshops for the AATYC concerning Process Writing, and I have presented to the ASBA about the importance of being a Community Service School such as Jackson County School District. I have been a State Praxis Assessor, and a State GED grader. My last endeavor was as ASU Newport Concurrent Facilitator where I visited and evaluated our concurrent classes that are taught on the various high school campuses.” Now, Provence immerses herself full time in the community. Presently, she is a board member of Every Child Is Ours (ECIO), a non-profit organization that provides many different services for the low income, the children and the elderly of the Jackson County School District including a backpack program, a middleschool Boutique, and a food pantry. JCSD and ECIO work hand in hand to offer the school and community numerous resources to continue to improve life for their residents. At the Swifton campus Boutique, Provence shares volunteer duties with her lifetime friend and fellow educator, Mrs. Tammie Clausen. “She is the brains of The Boutique, I am the brawn!” Provence says. “We gather from various contributors, sort, stock, and prepare to open The Boutique 6 times a year for our middle school students.” These students are then able to earn ECIO bucks to use at The Boutique from teachers when they do something worthy, such as anti-bullying, not missing any school, helping a teacher, and being kind to others. She and Tammy also share in preparing soup and chili for Martin Luther King Day, which is considered a community service day at JCSD and ECIO. With the principle of “Learning to Serve; Serving to Learn” they, along with school principals, superintendent and chosen students, prepare and deliver over 70 meals to the elderly and shut-ins who request a meal. The community and school come together to prepare sandwiches and cookies to go with the soup or chili. The elementary teachers focus in the classroom on the importance of community service and the dream of Dr. King. The high school students help box and organize the meals, and school administrators drive school buses that deliver the meals to those who have signed up. “All of this requires a great amount of time and effort, but the reward is in seeing the smiling faces of those children and elderly that we serve,” Provence says. “Plus, anytime our school and our community work together, everyone reaps the rewards.” Provence also gives back to her community through creative channels, directing the play, “Love Letters” for The Iron Mountain Arts Council of Newport and being cast as Margaret Houlihan in the ASU Newport play, M*A*S*H. And, she has been the recipient of various awards throughout her career including the Walmart
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Teacher of the Year Award, National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award, and the Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges (AATYC) Outstanding Faculty Award. She is a member of the Concurrent Adversary Committee at ASUN, a member of the Tuckerman High School Alumni Association, The Trails to Tuckerman, and has been a member of the Jackson County School Board for 18 years. Home Sweet Home Provence has a special place in her heart for Jackson County, which is why she’s never strayed far from home for very long. “The word ‘home’ has many connotations to me,” she explains. “It is a place that I feel needed and welcomed, a place of solace, a place full of friends and loved ones, a place to raise children because it does take a village, a place to plant and harvest crops, a place to invest and improve when the opportunity is offered, and it is a place where I can make a difference.” Something Bigger Than Ourselves She isn’t only passionate about her hometown and the people in it but has a deep-rooted passion for advocating for public education, in general. She says: “I am passionate about teachers being in the classroom, yet I think technology is a wonderful
resource that offers an education to those who cannot come to the classroom setting. I question the validity of an online education as a ‘for all’ remedy. I am passionate about teaching the whole student, not just the standards issued by a certain group. I am passionate about our children’s safety and the effect that technology (cell phones, gaming tools, etc) has on their mental stability and their overall health. I am passionate about parents being involved in their children’s lives, to be present and available and wise disciplinarians. I am passionate about being accountable for the choices one makes. I am passionate about equality in all areas of life and about serving our country and our fellow man. I am passionate about being a good steward to our earth and preventing environmental contamination. I am passionate about making the world a better place and believing in something greater than oneself, and I believe education is the link that can help us achieve that goal.” Sandra Provence has dedicated her life to helping others realize their potential. She has used her position as an educator to help elevate the students fortunate enough to pass through her classroom, equipping them with knowledge that would help them succeed and the encouragement to go after their dreams. They say a good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning. That’s Sandra Provence. N
St. Michael’s Place of Newport is a certified skilled nursing facility. The facility offers 24 -hour nursing services to you and your loved one. We have a team of registered nurses, licensed nurses and nursing assistants dedicated to providing the highest quality of care by working hand in hand with physicians. The facility offers Rehab to home program/Short Term Rehabilitation. Our rehab team is dedicated to helping our residents achieve their highest possible potential. They help rebuild confidence, hope, and self-respect.
If you have any question about the facility’s rehab program or any other services, the facility offers please feel free to call.
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Myers-Davis Life Coaching
Dr. Edward P. Myers & Angela D. Davis founded Myers-Davis Life Coaching Institute. They both have leadership experience and are Certified Professional Life Coaches. "Doc" is the author of seven books and contributor/editor of several more. He received his Ph.D. from Drew University, is a Certified Professional Life Coach, a Certified Master Life Coach, a Certified NLP Practitioner, and a Certified Practitioner of the Law of Attraction. Angela D. Davis, received a M.S. degree in Psychology and has been successful in promotion and personal development in chambers, schools and businesses.
The Power of Passion The drive for accomplishment in life is often based on the passion a person has for doing what they do. Passionless accomplishment is an oxymoron. While the goal may be reached, it will be hard to sustain without passion. Passion is what drives people to go beyond what they would normally do because they believe it is worth pursuing. It might be, then, that we should begin talking about the power of passion with trying to understand the power of belief. Henry Ford is often quoted in the following way: “Whether you believe you can or can’t; you are right.” In other words, the ability to believe you can do something is important to its beginning. Maybe then, we would begin talking about the power of the mind. I have read and heard any number of statistics on this matter. Some say that we only use 10% of our brain power. If that is true, there is nothing that can’t be accomplished once we put our mind to it. But whether we are addressing passion, belief, or the mind; it boils down to trying to identify what drives a person. The power of a dream. Do you remember dreaming as a child? Dreaming about what you wanted to be when you grow up? Dreaming about when you got old enough to start school? Dreaming about being old enough to start dating? To drive a car? To attend college? The job you would have when you graduated college? I recently read this statement: “Only those who dream in the day accomplish great things.” Dreamers can get into trouble with those who walk with the crowd because they seem always out of step with everyone
else. The power of Tenacity. The word tenacious means, “tending to keep a firm hold of something; clinging or adhering closely.” Firmly holding on to something means there is value associated with it. It not only takes recognizing that value but also a passion to fight for it. If it is something you believe, it might be more difficult when others do not see the same thing you do. All this means is that you need to paint, with words, a verbal picture in their minds so there can be a buy in by others. The power of passion. Passion is the drive that keeps the dream going. It is the fuel for the trip and the GPS system that keeps one on track. It is also infectious. The more passionate you are about something, the more energy and excitement you will display. Some people are just not early adopters of a new idea or a change that is to be made. They are of the mindset that says, “I’ll wait to see if this works. If it does, then I’ll jump on board.” If you want to get them on board earlier, speak and do all that you do, with great passion. Seeing this, the chances are they will become passionate about it as well. Approaching what we do as leaders is important. Having the ability to influence others is often based on our ability to successfully show that what we are talking about is important. One way of doing this, is understanding the power of passion. N
The Best of Modern Praise and Worship Independence Counties very own local, contemporary worship station
42 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Southside . Swifton . Tuckerman
World Wide Live Internet Stream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kbap-88-1-fm Phone: 501-203-6953
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The Skating Rink in Batesville’s Riverside Park is back! Brandon Shrader The Skating Rink in Batesville’s Riverside Park is back for the holiday season! Batesville’s White River Winter Wonderland will be in full swing, with one of its main attractions, which is a 40-by-40-foot ice-skating rink under the Riverside Park Amphitheater in Riverside Park. The Batesville Parks and Recreation Department manages and operates the skating rink each year as a part of White River Wonderland. In addition to Winter Wonderland’s gorgeous light displays and horse carriage rides, the event features the synthetic ice-skating rink drawing in residents and guest from all over. Groups may rent the facility as well. Open Skate began November 23rd and will go through December 31st with the following schedule. Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. then 4 p.m. to midnight on Friday’s, 1 p.m. to midnight on Saturday’s, and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday’s. Open skate pricing is $5 per person. Party Reservations will also be available for Sunday evenings beginning November 25th for $125 per hour (30 skater max). Call Batesville Parks and Recreation at (870) 698-2427 to make a party reservation, or book online at www.batesvilleparks.com. N
Independence County Recycle Center
We Recycle:
Plastic Bottles Steel Cans Aluminum Cans Cardboard Newspaper Glass Magazines
Creating Memories
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870 793 8892 110 Environmental Drive Batesville, AR Call to receive your FREE RECYCLING BIN today!
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Notes from the Clearing
The Weight of One Sock Joseph Thomas
Part XIII
Chief Holder raised the ladder, climbed up to Maddi, damsel that she was, and studied her situation. Her stuck foot was her situation. Maddi didn’t say a word after, “Hey,” when he arrived at the top of the ladder. She was too curious just how he would do what she couldn’t do. “Hey yourself. I didn’t expect you to call so soon,” he grinned and became quickly all business as he studied her foot. He looked as though he were deep in calculation, when another smile spread across his face, “You won’t believe this.” “I just picked this up after I left you this morning,” Holder was saying a she pulled something from an inner pocket of his fire jacket. “I make custom leather pauldrons and weapon holsters and sheaths. This really conditions the leather well,” he finished, looking at the small bottle he held in his hand, and then to the confused look on Maddi’s face. “Oh, pauldrons are shoulder protection, armor for battle.” “I didn’t see you as a LARPer!” Maddi said incredudiously and, she realized due to Sarah’s questioning that she said this, louder than she meant to. “What’s a larper?” Maddi looked at Holder and said quietly, “Sorry.” Then down to Sarah, “It stands for Live Action Role Player. They dress up like knights and wizards and the like.” “Oh.” Sarah said simply. “It’s okay,” Holder said to Maddi, “I’ve got a lot of friends in the community, but I just make their gear. Well, some of their gear. My grandfather taught me to work leather and I really enjoy doing it.” “I’d like to see your work, that sounds really awesome.” “Well, let’s see if this light mineral oil works your foot loose, first.” The oil was light enough to slide over her foot, allowing the Fire Chief to cover her foot in it between most of the trunk that held her up to this point. He rubbed at her foot, trying to ease it out of the trap before Maddi even had time to realize what he was doing. The wrong movement would work against her. He was able to pull her foot just enough to realize it was now free. She was trying to watch his work on her foot, but he realized she had drifted off into watching Sarah below, lost in thought it appeared. Holder stood with a grin, “I’m afraid it’s no good. Looks like you’ll be up here for years to come.” Maddi looked shocked and then suspicious, of his grin no doubt. She looked down at her foot and pulled it free without the slightest trouble. “Looks like.” She agreed matching his grin. “I owe you a bottle of light mineral oil,” she said reading the bottle in his hand, “and drink. How ‘bout tonight?” “You know what? I’m free. And thirsty.” “You know what? I’m free too. Thank you.” Maddi reached out her hand to Chief Holder for the second time today. They shook looking at one another. She pulled her hand back when the shake was done and she gasped, “Oh, I just remembered, my car’s shot.” “Hmmm. I noticed the hood was up when I pulled around, but I forgot about it after I saw you. What’s it doing?” The chief looks her engine over and as we drift up above them, turning ever so slowly like water running up, we can see Maddi, Chief Holder and Sarah all looking and talking mechanics, growing ever smaller as we continue to drift like the milkweed seeds in the air around them. The hood of the car finally blots them out as they duck under pointing and talking and in the end we drift away. The car getting smaller as the ladder truck comes into view and begins pulling away from us. The terrible day, wrought with Murphy’s Law, grows smaller as the day’s light diminishes and the new friends, lose trouble...and find...well, discovery and laughter, love and pain. Every great and grand thing, all wrapped up in issues and troubles, darkness and fear. They find life...and they live it. N eyeonmag.com
eyeonjoseph@eyeonmag.com
December 2018
45
46 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sydney . Tuckerman
YOU’RE
INVITED
a tribute to gary l. bebow
Retiring CEO of White River Health System
Friday, December 14th 2:00–3:30pm
White River Medical Center’s Josephine Raye Rogers Conference Center
The Care You Need. Where You Need It.
1710 Harrison Street | Batesville, AR
We Deliver
THE MIRACLE OF LIFE BEGINS HERE
Each year, Unity Health - Harris Medical Center delivers more than 350 babies, and we are committed to making sure that each birth is special.
Karen Jones, M.D. | Jabez Jackson Jr., M.D. | Omar Aziz, M.D. 1205 McLain St. Newport, AR 72112 (870) 523-3289 (870) 523-8911 Unity-Health.org