Cherri Design

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.

Choosing a new mattress is a very stressful and difficult decision for most people. There are many options, brands, features, price points and much more to confuse any shopper, but this daunting task is not really that stressful, if you just focus on a few important key points. I have helped many people choose a mattress that they are quite comfortable sleeping on and all without breaking the mattress budget bank. This month, we are looking at a few of the key points to choosing a mattress that you can be happy with for many years.

Mattress companies tell us that a mattress generally only lasts five to seven years, because as we all know, they just don’t make anything like they used to make it. Most people know when their mattress is worn out and needs replaced, so trust your body to tell you. A good mattress is of upmost importance to a good night’s sleep and is worth the investment. Mattresses range in price from a few hundred dollars to whatever your budget allows, so unless you want lots of ‘bells and whistles,’ choose wisely. A word of advice though: bells and whistles are not needed in a mattress, unless you have special needs. For most of us, we just need a quality mattress that fits our body and promotes a good night’s sleep.

When mattress shopping, you must lay on the mattress just like you are going to sleep, in order to get a good feel for it. Also, lay there for at least fifteen minutes, so allow plenty of time for your shopping excursion (and do not be embarrassed, as you are making a very important purchase). If you sleep on a pillow, you might even bring your pillow or pillows. You need to replicate your sleeping patterns and habits as much as possible. If you are a side sleeper, a softer mattress is generally the best option. A softer mattress allows some give in the mattress for all the curves of your body. This give will help in not waking in the morning with back pain. A firm mattress is generally not suitable for side sleepers, as there is no give, thereby potentially causing waking back pain.

If you are a back or stomach sleeper, a firmer mattress is typically the best option for you. You do not need the give, but rather you need support for your body, so your body does not sag. If your mattress is soft and you sleep on your stomach or back, consider a firmer mattress, especially if you wake with back pain.

As you can see, I did not recommend a brand name for a new mattress, but just a few suggestions for selecting your most important piece of furniture. There are so many mattress brands out there, but it is all about what suits you well for your sleep patterns and habits. Here’s wishing you a wonderful night’s sleep, feeling refreshed and ready to tackle your world in the morning! N

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Farewell

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.

After more than 36 years of employment, including ten years with Arkansas State University-Newport, I have decided it is time for me to retire. Working for ASU has been a lifetime dream of mine, and becoming ASUN’s Chancellor was an honor for which I will be forever grateful.

My professional pathway has provided incredible opportunities to serve others, especially as Chancellor of ASU-Newport. It has been a privilege to serve in that capacity and I will dearly miss ASUN’s most important constituents – the students. Community colleges offer such a unique opportunity for students from all walks of life to succeed. Our students face many challenges: they are working fulltime jobs, raising families, and caring for others, all while trying to better their futures. Their resilience and determination are qualities I will always admire. I will miss seeing our students, hearing their stories, and watching them reach goals beyond their wildest dreams. At the end of the day, I know that my life’s work has been worth it to better these students’ lives.

I will also sincerely miss ASUN’s exemplary faculty and staff. I have always felt blessed to work with the caliber of employees that ASUN has been fortunate enough to attract. Yes, they have great talent; but they also have heart. That is what sets them apart and made me fall in love with ASU-Newport. Our employees are willing to make personal and professional sacrifices every day to serve the good of the community, most especially our students. They touch lives in a way that truly transforms people, gives them hope, and helps them to succeed. Our employees’ excellence has been consistently reinforced in my mind as I have watched them navigate the ongoing pandemic. They have demonstrated flexibility, innovation, resilience, and compassion, while creatively engaging students and successfully operating the college remotely.

I have also been blessed with an outstanding System Office and Board of Trustees who truly understand the two-year college mission and genuinely care about our students and employees. It has been my pleasure to work with an amazing System President who has given me the space to run ASUN’s campuses but also been there to provide valuable guidance and support. I am confident that ASUN is anchored on a solid foundation and will continue to be successful in the decades to come.

Finally, I would be remiss not to mention another most essential group of ASUN constituents – our community members. A community college simply cannot exist without the community, and many of you have contributed to my success and the success of the college more than you will ever know. Through advocacy, partnerships, service on our boards and committees, support of the sales tax, and generous donations, you have played a pivotal role in making ASUN the outstanding institution that it is today. As I attend my last community meetings, I look around the rooms and can’t help but marvel at how many wonderful individuals I have had the pleasure of working with. Many of us have become deeply connected, and I will always call you my friends. We have shared a love for the college and community, and your engagement has made working here an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

I am excited about my impending retirement and spending more quality time with my family, as well as pursuing some of my personal interests. My husband, Ward, and I received a warm reception from everyone we met early on, and our feelings for the community have continued to grow with each year. It is hard to believe how quickly time has flown by, and on some level, it feels like we have lived here our whole lives.

I will close with one of my favorite sayings: “Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts…And we are never ever the same.” You have all left footprints on my heart, and I will never be the same. I am leaving ASUN, but I am taking many great memories and years of friendship with me. And for that, I thank you. N