Eye On Magazine June 2020

Eye On

Celebrating

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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 Š 2010 MeadowLand Media, Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the Publisher.

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Cover Photo by Paige Floyd Photography Cover Design by Joseph Thomas

For advertising, distribution, or editorial contribution, contact Joseph Thomas, 870.503.2226 or eyeonjoseph@eyeonmag.com.

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.

In This Issue 6/ Editor’s Note 8/ Cherri Design

17/ DownTown Guide 24/ Church Directory 29/ Tasty Talk

8/ Trending @ ASUN

30/ Thyme Enough

10/ Unity Health Harris

31/ In The Field with Randy

12/ Seniors, Can We Talk?

32/ Tales of a Transplanted Fashionista

14/ Things To Do 16/ Local Faces

34/ Cover Story

New Normal

What Happens to our Recycled Items Faculty Innovation Outside the Classroom Behavioral Health

Good Days and Bad Days

Farmers Market Shopping Burnt Sugar Pie

Pigheaded Pigweed

“Things Fall Apart” and other big lessons from 2020 Lance Curtis

Editor’s Note

New Normal

Joseph Thomas I want to thank Dennis Headrick for sharing the news about the Batesville Elite Swimming Torpedoes success that we shared in last months Local Faces. He has been a big fan of this team and proud of the work they’ve put into this program.

I’ve been seeing news clips of verbal and physical assaults on employees of reopening businesses due to the enforcement of safety standards required by the state government in response to COVID19. It is as unsettling as it is confusing.

First of all, it amounts to shooting the messenger, but what is so anger provoking about all of this? Is it fear of change, fear of one’s rights being infringed upon (and if that is it, is it really anger to protect our right to get sick if we want - to get sick and spread a deadly virus to those most vulnerable around us)? I don’t know what it is, but I know that if there are so many of us desperate to defend our rights, should we be more understanding of the rights of those around us? Should we want to protect those rights for all of us and have more understanding that to coexist there must be some consensus as to what is allowed in public settings? You’d think we just started this experiment of living together as poorly as we seem to do it from time to time.

But, I also know that is one dark side to this whole experiment of social living in the midst of a pandemic and that there is a bright side.

As always, there is a mass of giving, caring individuals

endeavoring to help others through these strange times, be it health care workers, non-profit workers or law enforcement employees.

It could be grocery store clerks or barber shop owners, but they are trying to adhere to state governemental policies and protect all of their customers, not just me.

The other side to that coin is the feeling that we have rights provided us by the constitution and those rights supersede this virus or the response to it. I just wonder if that freedom, when it begins to add to an already stressed healthcare system, should be protected at all cost?

There are those that believe that this response is unnecessarily convoluted, that the numbers are misconstrued and overblown by the media.

I try to keep an open mind when the truth seems so fleeting, because we are inundated with so many opinions and half facts taken out of context or made up altogether and shared so readily on mulitple social media platforms.

We all seem so ready to grab memes and posts that fit our ideology and share them without looking for facts to back them up.

I don’t know where this all leads, but I feel this divided country won’t come together until we can all stand to be proven wrong from time to time without getting defensive, until we want the truth to be exposed no matter what.

Whatever side you stand on, we are thankful for you and your health, for those who have to be out so we can have food, policing and healthcare! We hope that you and your family remain safe through out this pandemic and beyond.

Eye On

I have the honor of bringing you a cover article from Jennifer Caughron about her son, Lance Curtis and his success in breaking into the Country Music Industry.

Cherri Rodgers shares more on recycling, Hannah Rogers offers Farmers Market Shopping, Dr. Sandra Massey writes of Faculty Innovation Outside the Classroom, Michelle Foshee submits Unity’s Behavioral Health and Caroline Beauchamp talks of Good Days and Bad Days. Nelson and Sandy Barnett bring us a taste of Burnt Sugar Pie, Leigh Keller writes about Lessons learned in 2020 so far and Randy Chlapecka discusses Pigweed, we have gorgeous Local Faces, a mix of Things To Do and more, so please read on and stay safe!

Do you want to share your story of this difficult time, your experience with social distancing, your loss or struggle. Reach out and share with us on facebook or email me. You can find our usual drop list by clicking on the drop list tab at eyeonmag.com. While we are delivery during this shut down, I’ll post our drop list each month. If you are seeing our magazines in your area and have something to share, please email me at eyeonjoseph@ gmail.com.

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Celebrating

6 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman

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June 2020

7

Cherri Design

What Happens to our Recycled Items

absorbing materials and seed mulch.

Aluminum cans are used to make new aluminum materials. New beverage cans are made in as little as Cherri Rodgers has a B.S. In Interior Design from UCA. sixty (60) days. Tin cans make new steel products, new cans, She is active in several local ministries & community cars, building materials and many more metal products. projects. Most of all, she values time with her family Clear plastic bottles are used in making new plastic and grandson. Cherri's Interior Design is available for both residential & commercial design or decorating bottles, but also Mohawk carpet is made from plastic bottles, needs. Cherri owns The Kitchen Shop at 2485 another great brand to consider purchasing. Jacket and coat Harrison St. for all your kitchen needs. fiberfill are made from recycled bottles as well. Colored This month, we will discuss what happens to the plastic bottles are used in making toys, plastic containers items that we recycle. White River Regional Solid Waste and other plastic household items. Glass bottles make new Management District is our area’s regional government glass bottles and jars, as well as fiberglass insulation. authority serving a ten county district. Sarah Sexton, the Recycled electronics are used to make refurbished recycling coordinator, was very helpful with understanding electronics. The plastic, glass and metal in recycled recycling in our area. It is quite interesting to learn about electronics are also recycled, so there is very little waste. all the various products that can be made by using our trash.

Used motor oil is used to make recycled motor oil.

Recycled corrugated cardboard is used to make new Recycling is made easy in our area, bins are free, so cardboard boxes. Roofing felt and drywall paper are also there’s no reason not to recycle. Just put the bin out with made from recycled cardboard. your trash each week, if your town services your recycling.

Paper is used to make Sparkle paper towels, so next time If you live in an area that the county no longer services, you purchase paper towels, consider Sparkle. Mardi Gras such as where I live, there are trailers located throughout napkins are made from recycled paper, so this another great our area for convenience. Call the center to find out where brand to purchase. Many other paper products are made these trailers are located or drop off at the center. For more from recycled paper as well. Office and school paper are used information about recycling in our area, please contact to make McDonald’s napkins, and “100% Recycled Paper” is Independence Recycling Center at 870-793-8892 (their actually stamped on their napkins. Newspapers and blown phone number is also in their ad in Eye On Magazine each insulation are also made from recycled office and school month). Recycling is a business, as we sell our ‘trash’ and paper. Magazines are used in making roofing materials, oil make money, so please support recycling in our area! N

Faculty Innovation Outside the Classroom 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.

When Arkansas State University-Newport moved to online and remote instruction on Monday, March 16, 2020, we never imagined the creativity our faculty would cultivate to stay engaged with students. As an institution, we have always felt we had some of the best faculty in the state, but this pandemic confirmed our faculty will do whatever it takes to help students succeed and learn.

As the Spring 2020 semester wrapped up online, ASUN’s Academic Affairs Office saw an opportunity to highlight the amazing work of our faculty. A “Show Us What’s Working” virtual meeting allowed for all faculty, staff and administration to see what online techniques they are utilizing while working remotely.

Ten faculty members participated. Check out what they shared.

Chris Hicks, Director of Nursing: Once courses moved online, nursing students were no longer able to do clinical rotations at the many hospitals and facilities that ASUN partners with across the state. Hicks demoed how they are utilizing ATI software to provide simulations for students. The video software allows for students to see clinical examples of healthcare practices and problem solve as patients explain their symptoms. The faculty members received great feedback from students regarding the new clinical tool.

Megan Huffman, Instructor of Life Science: Huffman is utilizing her YouTube page to keep students engaged.

Using Zoom, she holds live lectures that are recorded and shared on her YouTube page. She imbeds the videos into her Canvas course, ASUN’s online learning management software, to allow students to access videos easily. To keep her students engaged at home, Megan took her students on a virtual tour of her reptile room.

Mark Hanan, Coordinator of IGNITE/Advanced Instructor of Computer Networking Technology: The use of computers at home is now at an all-time high as many people work and educate from home. Hanan is using Google Chrome Remote Desktop to help his students troubleshoot

8 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman

IT problems from home. He can watch students take exams and help students one-on-one by actually seeing what is on their desktops.

Karen Young, Assistant Professor of Mathematics: Like many, Young didn’t like her home setup. It just didn’t have what she needed to be successful, so she built what she needed. Using scrap boards and chalk paint, she built a chalkboard to work math problems for video lectures. Young also built her own document camera. Adding these at-home features transformed her Zoom and YouTube lectures.

Young’s at home setup.

Stacey Mooneyhan, Associate Professor of Early Childhood Development: Many of Mooneyhan’s students visit elementary school classrooms to learn hands-on skills.

When schools closed, that opportunity stopped. To keep students engaged, Mooneyhan created new intro slides for her online classes weekly. Those slides may be inspirational or a fun fact about herself. Since her students can’t get real classroom experience, Mooneyhan created a COVID-19 case study for her students. She wanted to be able to replicate observation time virtually. She’s also shifted classroom assignments. Students used to be tasked with designing a classroom lesson or event for their observation school.

Now, ASUN students are planning events they would like to see at ASUN. Those plans will be shared with our Student Development Office in hopes of generating ideas for future activities.

Ken Beach, Associate Dean for Applied Science/Senior Instructor of Welding: Ken Beach admitted right away he had no idea how to take a hands-on program like welding online. He said he learned very quickly from his failures. His first attempt was to design the class like other online classes but soon realized his students didn’t want online classes.

That’s why they chose our welding program. So instead, he started doing live lectures and treated each meeting like an in-person class. He recorded himself in his home welding lab, shared with his students, and asked students questions as he normally would. He also tapped into new educational resources to learn how other welding instructors are navigating online instruction.

Irina Reynolds, Assistant Professor of Oral Communication and College & Life Skills: Public speaking is hard for many people, and it can be even more difficult when you must record it or share it virtually. Irina Reynolds new her oral communication students would need a change of pace to succeed. So instead of the normal presentation topics, she asked students to present what they are doing

during the quarantine. Over video chat, students introduced their families, their children and showcased the ways they’ve adapted during the quarantine. Reynolds also shared virtual tour opportunities with her students so they could learn about other cultures and events while being at home.

Beach's at-home lab.

Marlin Tice, Instructor of Energy Control Technology: Marlin Tice is an instructor for ASUN while also running his own business. To help his students learn outside the classroom, Tice started writing up all his business service calls. He created assignments out of each call so students could help troubleshoot real-world problems. He said this has engaged the students, and they’re collaborating to find the best methods to fix different equipment.

Betsy Walker, Assistant Professor of Science: Betsy Walker was proactive with COVID-19. As soon as she realized instruction may move online, Walker began recording videos to allow students to do individualized labs at home. She said she knew she would have to become the hands of her students to teach them virtually. She recorded virtual lab quizzes with a variety of results. She even did a video dissection. By utilizing playlists on YouTube, all her videos are easily accessible. For her students’ lab notebooks, she taught them how to convert them to PDFs with their cellphones.

Walker's YouTube page.

Stephanie Wilson, Assistant Professor of Mathematics: Continuing the educational process has been important throughout COVID-19, but Stephanie Wilson recognized the need for an emotional connection. Wilson helped students organize virtual study groups. She also crafted individual email messages for each of her students to make sure each student is receiving the specific attention they need.

These are just a few of the amazing examples of innovation happening at ASU-Newport. Many of these faculty members never imagined they would be teaching through online forums, but they are living examples that learning and adapting never stops. They prioritize student success every day. No matter the obstacle, ASUN faculty continue to help students soar.

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June 2020

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Unity Health Harris Behavioral Health

Michelle Foshee is a wife, mother, dog lover, and Newport native who promotes Unity Health Harris Medical Center to improve the quality of health and well-being for the communities we serve through compassionate care. She is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and prior to joining Unity Health, she worked in sales and marketing in Little Rock. She challenges herself and others to be Health Centered – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

At Unity Health, we believe caring for your mental and emotional health is just as important as your physical health. We offer compassionate behavioral health services close to home on both an outpatient and inpatient basis for all ages.

Behavioral Health is a term covering the full range of mental and emotional well-being – from the basics of how one copes with day-to-day challenges of life, to the treatment of mental illnesses, such as depression or personality disorder, as well as substance use disorder and other addictive behaviors.

Our team of psychiatrists, licensed mental health counselors, psychiatric nurses and other specialists provide medication management, counseling and therapy services, and psychological testing to people of all age groups.

Outpatient Services: Unity Health offers outpatient mental health services at our Clarity Health and Wellness clinics in Searcy, Cabot and Newport.

Before

After

Our team of psychiatrists can provide medication management as well as our therapists who provide counseling sessions to people of all ages.

Some specific areas of treatment include: Depression, Anxiety, Grief, Life stressors, Trauma and Psychosis.

If you would like more information about our outpatient services, please call 501.203.0055 in Searcy, 501.422.6431 in Cabot or 870.495.1260 in Newport.

Adolescent care: At Unity Health - Specialty Care in Searcy, our adolescent inpatient acute behavioral unit offers therapy to children ages 12 - 17. Courage is an 11-bed unit for adolescents who are still in school but are having emotional or behavioral health difficulties that require short-term hospitalization.

The young patients at Courage will meet with their psychiatrist and other members of their treatment team daily to review their progress and work on their individual goals. Patients will take part in therapeutic group activities, while an on-site certified classroom ensures that they won’t fall behind in school during their stay.

Adult care: Our Compass program, located in both Searcy and Newport, provides short-term inpatient care and treatment for adults ages 18 and

Before

After

The above results were reached with 18 visits. Call now to set up your FREE Consultation WE ARE HERE TO HELP Neck and back pain Headaches/migraines Bulging/herniated disc Pain, weakness, numbness in arms or legs Spinal remodeling (Chiropractic BioPhysics) Spinal decompression therapy Cold laser therapy Scoliosis: management, rehab & corrective bracing (ScoliBrace)

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Senior care Our Clearview inpatient program, located in both Searcy and Newport, serves adults age 55 years and older. Our Clearview team provides comprehensive treatment to address the unique behavioral health needs of seniors. Clearview offers help for seniors dealing with loss, depression, anxiety and other behavioral health concerns.

Patients may take part in individual counseling sessions, group therapy, family therapy and activity therapy. Our utmost goal is for our patients to move to a more independent lifestyle.

To make a referral to one of our Inpatient Behavioral Health units, please call toll-free 844.255.8229.

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June 2020

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C l o s i n g

To commemorate Mental Health Awareness Month in Newport, Mayor David Stewart signed a proclamation with Unity Health – Harris Medical Center Vice President/Administrator LaDonna Johnston and members of the Behavioral Health Services leadership team.

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older. Patients at Compass receive a full range of mental health treatments for emotional and behavioral difficulties. They will meet with their psychiatrist and members of their treatment team daily. Patients will also take part in therapeutic group activities and recreational therapy.

Seniors, Can We Talk?

Good Days and Bad Days 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?’.

Seniors, can we talk? Have you ever thought about what it is that determines if you have a good day or if you have a bad day?

Could it be whether you’re being positive and confident? When you’re confident, you focus on the present rather than worry about tomorrow or the future.

When you focus on the present, it is much easier to see how to turn obstacles into opportunities, weaknesses into advantages and setbacks into breakthroughs.

When life becomes uncertain, it’s our confidence that usually takes the greatest hit—and it’s the first thing we should look to protect.

When Betty and I had a “virtual” lunch, she told me that she’d read about a three-step process that anyone can use to protect their confidence in times of uncertainty. Betty said it’s called the Three Ps and it looks like this: Be present. Focus only on the 24 hours in front of you. Stay grounded in the “here and now” (rather than worry about what could/might happen tomorrow).

Be positive. When you’re positive, you feel better and other people feel better after interacting with you.

Be productive—Measure your progress at the end of the day.

Betty said she’s been working on using these three steps to structure each day. She is staying confident (and useful) through even the scariest of times.

Even if someone can’t see your smile, they can hear

WAssisted oodcrest Living

that you care. Words really do have power. The act of showing that you care is a gift you can give and give and give again – and costs you nothing! Betty and I were talking about this – hearing a smile over the phone even if you have a mask on. (Betty said a friend and her husband went to the grocery store wearing masks.

When her friend got ready to leave, she realized the person she was enjoying shopping with was not her husband!)

Caring is that valuable gift that you can give that makes you happy . . . even on bad days.

Are you reaching out to friends and people you see at the store asking them how they are or telling them you hope they’re having a good day? Yes, you can still be welcoming and friendly within the “social distance” guidelines.

We’re all learning and adapting. Some have email while others are retired and don’t have email simply because they don’t want it or don’t feel there’s a need.

Either way “appointments” can continue - virtual, by phone, through the mail or email.

People still want dental insurance plans, even though they can’t go to the dentist right now. People are still turning 65 while others may be over 65 and have just decided to retire. If you’re in either situation, you may want to consider a Medicare supplement plan, Medicare prescription plan or Medicare Advantage plan.

Yes, life goes on.

I hope you’re having a good day! You can call me at 501-868-6650 and say “Caroline, can we talk? I hope you’re having a good day.” N

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Woodcrest sets a new standard of luxury in assisted living communities in Arkansas. We have raised the concept of catered living to new heights, bringing together in one community the attention to detail, and service that you associate with quality.

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We cant promise they will drink, but we can lead them to you. eyeonmag.com

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June 2020

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Things To Do During this concerning time of quarantines and contagion fears, please check online or call to see if your choice of Things To Do is still proceeding or has been canceled.

Batesville Check these sites for Batesville local events info www.mybatesville.org www.facebook.com/BatesvilleChamber Batesville Planning and Zoning June 1, 5:30pm at the Batesville Municipal Building at 500 E. Main St. 870.698.2400 cityofbatesville.com.

Continuing Watercolor Classes Guided Art Studio time for all levels, every Tuesday from 10 to noon / every Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Basic supplies provided, $10 per session or 4 for $30. Teacher Aline McCracken at Gallery 246 at 243 E. Main St. in Batesville.

870.262.8066 gallery246.com.

New Mom’s Support Group Open to all new/expecting mothers and their support person. June 6 from 10 to 11am, at White River Medical Center, contact Stephanie Wade 870.262.2662 or email swade@wrmc.com.

Paint With Panache Monthly Acrylics Class Monthly acrylics class with Jim Tindall, second Tuesday June 9, 10am to noon. Supplies provided, $45 per session.

Geared to beginners and developing artists at Gallery 246 at 243 E. Main St. in Batesville, Aline McCracken 870.262.8066 gallery246.com.

Childbirth/Breastfeeding Class Open to all new/expecting mothers and their support person. June 9, 6pm at WRMC, Stepahine Wade 870.262.2662 swade@wrmc.com.

Allgood Racing / Afco Performance Street Stock At the Batesville Motor Speedway June 12 & 13 @ 6pm.

batesvillemotorspeedway.com.

PROJECT SUPPORT BATESVILLE AREA Our June Project Support Batesville Area Prayer Meeting will be June 15th at 5:30 pm. We will meet at Batesville City Police Department, located at 51 Industrial Drive. Please join us each month in praying for our community. For more information, contact Cherri at The Kitchen Shop at 870-569-8181.

Class B CDL School Bus Training 20 hour training course for CDL, $169, must pre-register.

June 16 from 5 to 9pm, Katrina Stevens 870.612.2082 katrina.stevens@uaccb.edu.

Small Business Counseling (By Appointment Only) Free guidance tailored for your startup or existing business, June 18 from 10am to 3pm at the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce at 409 Vine St. Laura Miller 870.972.3517.

First LEGO League Jr. Explore robotics engineering with hands-on activities during a week-long, half-day program for 1st through 3rd graders. $200 engineering-camps.uark.edu June 22 at 8:30am, at UACCB Katrina Stevens 870.612.2082 katrina. stevens@uaccb.edu. Inside Engineering for 5 - 8 grades, June 22 @ 8:30am at UACCB. Soaring High Engineering for 5 - 8 grades same day and time.

Heat Is On 8K The Batesville Community Center, June 27 at 7am, www. facebook.com/events/1343571759186449/.

Hunter Education FREE June 27, 8:30am - 6:30pm at UACCB. www.agfc. com, Katrina Stevens 870.612.2082 katrina.stevens@uaccb. edu.

Melbourne Find out what’s going on in Melbourne when you log onto www.mymelbournearkansas.com.

Mountain View Arkansas Craft School If you are able, please consider donating to an arts

14 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman

organization, like the ACS, and invest in the future of the arts in Arkansas. If you are not a member of the ACS family, join us. Already a member, you are greatly appreciated. Why not consider increasing your membership level or donating?

Please check out the ACS website for membership information or join our email list for the latest schedules at www. arkansascraftschool.org. Now is the time to support your favorite arts and cultural organizations, like the Arkansas Craft School. Thank you for being part of our creative family.

Questions can be directed to arkcraftschool@gmail.com.

Independence County Recycle Center

Newport Check these sites for Newport local events info Newportarcity.org/chamber-of-commerce/ www.facebook.com/newportarchamber

We Recycle:

Foster Recruitment Team Meeting The Arkansas Department of Human Services invites everyone to come together to share ideas and resources to help recruit more foster parents. For more information call Brandy Jones (870) 217-1072 or email brandy.jones@dhs. arkansas.gov.

If you don’t see your community 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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“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.”

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We are here for you. Together we will succeed.

Registration is open for summer and fall classes. 870-612-2000 uaccb.edu eyeonmag.com

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June 2020

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1207 S Edgewater Road, Horse Shoe Bend MLS #20-40 / $329,000

605-635 22nd Street, Batesville MLS #20-29 / $175,000

Gorgeous views and 112 foot of Crown Lake waterfront comes with this fully updated home with dock. House has 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, updated kitchen with new appliances, hardwood, tile, concrete throughout, new roof in 2016, wireless security system, extra parking, propane hookup on deck for grill, wood fireplace that has been converted to propane for back up heat, and a nice size heated and cooled workshop. A 14 x 20 shed with electric. Furniture, hot tub and boat are negotiable.

NEW METAL ROOF on this 4 unit 1 bedroom/1 bath apartments.

Vinyl siding along with quite a few updates in past few years including some flooring, new appliances, some newer decking and new metal and storm doors. Rental income is approximately $1,800/month.

1255-1275 Arch Street, Batesville MLS #20-3 / $150,000 Tri-plex Apartments. Let someone else pay your mortgage payment! 2 - 1 bedroom/1bath apartments, plus a 4 bedroom/3bath (approx. 3100 sq ft) with fenced back yard.

Rents vary with current owner depending of number of occupants.

Buying? Selling? Relocating?

The Choice is Clear...Coldwell Banker Choice Realty

870-793-7778 www.BatesvilleRealEstate.net 513 Batesville Blvd., Batesville, Arkansas

Each office independently owned and operated

Local Faces Keep Building Angela Connell First Community Bank’s Tim Haunert, vice president of consumer lending, presents a donation to Habitat for Humanity of Independence County’s executive director, Shannon Haney. Haunert serves on the board of directors of the nonprofit. Founded in 2007, HFHIC partners with volunteers in our community to help families in need build or improve a place to call home.

Haunert said, “Our local Habitat chapter is always in need of donated supplies, money, and volunteers to help build our homes. Without the involvement of caring members in our community, like First Community Bank, we would not be able to build the homes that we do.”

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16 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman

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Thompson’s Jewelry Serving you since 1924 What’s worse than a missing puzzle piece?

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ASU-Newport Adult Education Student Gets #1 in the State on GED Exam Mallory Jordan Two Arkansas State University-Newport Adult Education students scored in the top 25 on the Arkansas GED exam for the 2019 testing period. Not everyone’s educational journey looks the same, even those seeking a high school diploma. That is why ASU-Newport provides a diverse catalog of educational opportunities including Adult Education.

Bladen Pippinger, of Jonesboro, scored the highest out of the 3,327 students who were awarded the Arkansas High School Diploma in 2019.

Ariel McCormack, of Jonesboro, placed in the top 25 scorers tieing for the 21st best score in the state.

ASUN commends the Adult Education Faculty and Staff for being among the best in the state when preparing students to excel. It is because of this success in the classroom these students will be able to achieve new educational milestones. John Kelley, Director of ASUN’s Adult Education Program, praised his faculty

and the dedication of these students.

“We are delighted for two of our 2019 high school equivalency diploma graduates to have earned statewide recognition,” Kelley said. “Both Bladen and Ariel attended classes with faculty members Debbie Carwell and Nancy Crumbaugh. Thanks to each for their dedication to completing their diploma through ASUN Adult Education. I want to express congratulations to our students, and kudos to Debbie and Nancy for providing quality instruction; because of them, each of these adult learners finished their diploma in less than 90-hours of classroom time.”

Traditionally, the Department of Workforce Services and the Adult Education Section/GED Testing Program recognize the top 25 scorers on the GED test with a special ceremony at the State Capitol Building in Little Rock. That ceremony was slated for April 22, 2020, but has been postponed due to COVID-19. N

Keep Restoring Angela Connell First Community Bank’s Billy Keedy, branch manager/vp lending in Newport, presents a $5,000 check to John 3:17 Ministry, which is a faith-based Christian Recovery Center.

Keedy said, “We know that fundraising efforts have been difficult due to the social distancing requirements at this time, but we believe in the work that John 3:17 Ministry is doing. We want to help them continue to restore the lives of those who are battling addiction, and our hope is that these women will experience recovery and live healthy, happy lives.”

Pictured with Keedy: Melinda Hammonds, John 3:17 facilitator; Kim Mathenia, John 3:17 facilitator; Karen Jones, board president; Suzanne Hutchinson, board secretary and Suzanne Rudd, assistant director. N

Batesville Community Center Reopening Batesville Parks and Rec The Batesville Community Center was scheduled to re-open on May 18, 2020 while adhering to the Governor’s guidelines for social distancing. While we are looking forward to being able to serve our community again, it is our priority to ensure the safety of all of our patrons and our community. The following adjustments to our operations are necessary in order for us to open the facility and ensure the safety of our patrons and employees.

Hours of Operation are Monday - Friday 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

We will reserve 9:00 a.m. to Noon daily for patrons over the age of 55. Although, persons 55 and over are also welcome to use the facility during regular hours of

operation.

Facility Modifications include: All treadmills, exercise bicycles and ellipticals have been moved to the East Basketball Court and persons wishing to use the cardiovascular equipment will enter through the gymnasium entrance at the South end of the building.

The strength training equipment will remain in the Fitness Center and we will be able to allow 10 persons at a time in that area. Entry will remain through the Main Entrance of the Community Center.

The center basketball court will be set up with three courts for Pickleball for SINGLES PLAY only. The West Basketball Court will be reserved for group fitness activities such as Yoga, Zumba, Strong, Step Aerobics and other group fitness classes with a maximum attendance of 24 persons. All participants must bring their own equipment

18 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman

IMPACT Independence County Leadership Announces Review of Plan Jamie Rayford The IMPACT Independence County Steering Committee announced the process has begun to revise IMPACT Independence County’s strategic plan.

IMPACT planning efforts began in 2015 under the direction of three co-chairs: Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, Lyon College, and the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville. After the process was launched, a leadership committee was developed to steer the initiative. The IMPACT Steering Committee has expanded to include resident leaders who have taken a special interest in guiding efforts along with strong representation from the original founders of the plan.

“The Batesville Area Chamber and resident leaders have accomplished tremendous work over the past five years via IMPACT Independence County. Their efforts set into motion economic prosperity and educational access not only for the county but also the state,” said Deborah Frazier, UACCB Chancellor. “This success will allow the communities within Independence County and the region to return to thriving communities once we are past the COVID-19 pandemic. The demonstrated strength of the partnerships created by IMPACT provides trust and promotes engagement that will allow IMPACT to continue to move the region forward.

I am proud to be a part of IMPACT Independence.”

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, which assumes facilitation responsibilities for the plan, intended to host training for resident leaders in March. However, due to the rapid onset of the (Yoga Mats) and take it with them when class is complete.

No weights will be allowed on the gymnasium floor.

The Lap Pool will be re-opening for lap swimming only with a maximum of ten swimmers at a time. Persons wishing to swim will enter through the Aquatics Entrance.

The lockers rooms and showers will remain closed and swimmers are encouraged to shower at home prior to coming to swim. Changing facilities are not available and swimmers need to make preparations to come and leave in their swimwear. Swimmers will be asked to restrict themselves to one swimmer per lane and entry into the pool will be at the East (deep) end of the pool for Odd Numbered Lanes and on the West (shallow) end of the pool for even numbered lanes.

In addition, the lap pool will be closed Monday – Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for lifeguard training.

Facilities that will remain closed due to inability to maintain the required 12 feet of social distance: Walking / Running Track, Children’s Play Pool, Therapy Pool, All Lounge Areas, Racquetball Court, Locker and Shower Facilities.

Memberships and payments will resume ONLY for those people using the facility at this time. Other

COVID-19 pandemic, this was not possible. Adapting to the current state of uncertainty, the Chamber has developed a way to engage leaders and residents through telecommunications and social media in order to move forward with the process and timeline as the Steering Committee intended.

Residents can expect to see public invitations to join Facebook groups utilized for discussion of community development goals and objectives, as well as links to Google forms used to collect their input.

“We are already seeing online activity from residents and community leaders on the IMPACT front.

We are excited to celebrate accomplishments, improve and increase the best parts of the plan released in 2016, and see what new ideas and overall vision the community has five years from the start of this work,” said Crystal Johnson, President/CEO of BACC. “This is obviously not the ideal format. We would much rather engage our residents in face-to-face communication regarding our community’s future, but we also want to capitalize on the number of people openly engaging and the creativity that we are seeing on a daily basis online.”

Lyon College President Dr. W. Joseph King added, “I want to commend the Chamber for its innovation and adaptability during these unprecedented times. The Lyon community has been involved in IMPACT from the beginning, and I am confident that it will continue its support through the Chamber’s social media and telecommunications efforts.” N memberships and payments will not resume until we are able to operate the complete facility.

Rules and Regulations: All persons entering the facility will be required to wear a mask unless they are actively engaged in exercise. If you are not wearing a mask, you will not be permitted to enter the facility.

Temperatures will be taken at points of entry and persons with temperatures at or above 100.4 will not be permitted to enter the facility. We will be unable to loan equipment to patrons during this modified schedule.

Patrons will be required to maintain the 12 feet of distance while in the facility. No congregating will be permitted.

When using the facility, we ask that everyone be courteous and limit their usage to one hour to allow other persons the opportunity to utilize the facility. Patronage will be restricted to persons actively exercising only. Due to the restriction on the number of people allowed in the facility, we cannot accommodate spectators or non-participants at this time.

The Parks and Recreation Department Staff realizes that these modifications are inconvenient, please be patient with us as we navigate our way through the re-opening of the facility. N eyeonmag.com

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June 2020

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UACCB RN student on frontlines of fight against COVID-19 Hannah Keller Flanery and follow very strict procedures for donning and removing their gear, the risk they face daily is all too real. “Even with all of the precautions, we are still at a pretty big risk. We could become exposed, and it wouldn’t be anyone’s fault. We have patients sneeze on us. We have patients vomit on us. It’s not the same as what you see on the media. I’ve never lived through a pandemic like this, much less worked through it.

It’s an eye-opening experience. You hear a hundred different things on the media, but until you see it in front of your face, you don’t know anything,” she said.

Added to the stress of fulfilling her military duties is the stress of trying to complete her RN degree.

Carr said she falls back on the values instilled in her through her military training to help her cope with so many things at once. “It’s taking a lot of dedication.

I come home every day and hit my books. On my days off, I still get up at 6 a.m. and study until dinner time. I think of the things I learned in my training — honesty, integrity, courage. I think if I let this down, then I’m letting myself down, and I’m letting my team down. It’s good to have a background of constant commitment to keep me on the right path.”

Her activation has already been extended twice, but Carr said she’s really hoping she’ll be home in time for her own wedding. “I’d really like to not miss my wedding,” she said laughing. Carr and her fiancé, Chandler McCoy, are planning to get married July 4.

As to the future of her career, Carr said she knows she wants to remain in the military, but she’s taking everything else one day at a time. “I haven’t been able to think very far ahead, and I think COVID has changed everything I was thinking anyway, so I’ve just been taking it a day at a time. I think that’s the most therapeutic thing I can do right now and that’s what I would say to everyone. Just take it day by day and that we’re all here for each other.” N

(870) 569-8192 OPen: Mon - Fri 7:00am to 5:00pm / saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm / Closed Sunday We offer great tasting protein shakes and energy teas. Come in for breakfast or lunch and use as a meal replacement.

159 W Main Street - Batesville

As a private first class in the Army National Guard, Sydney Carr was prepared to serve her community and country in the event of a disaster. But nothing could prepare her for the emotional aspect of being on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is so much more emotional than I thought it would be. Some things I will never be able to shake.

I won’t ever forget this. Some patients are so scared.

We’ve held their hands and cried with them. We’re trying to help them cope through this. I knew I would be helping people through disasters, but I never thought it would be like this,” Carr said. “I had one patient break down crying telling me how she lost all five of her brothers in New York to COVID-19.”

Carr is a student in the generic registered nursing track at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville. She was activated to help conduct testing at a drive-through screening clinic for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Carr conducts the nasal swab to collect the sample needed to conduct the test for COVID-19. Carr said patients come through the clinic and speak with a doctor to determine if they need a test. If the patient needs a test, a medic like Carr swabs the patient to collect a sample for the test.

“Some patients that come in, we can tell they definitely have it. Some people are just being cautious, and that’s good. This virus affects everyone differently. It’s not the same for everyone. It’s been interesting to see the different manifestations of the illness from patient to patient,” she said.

Originally from Chicago, Ill., Carr attended Harding University before she came to UACCB. “When I decided to leave for the military, the timeline just didn’t add up to attend nursing school at Harding.

My fiancé is from the Batesville area, and his mom told me to look into UACCB. I applied, and it felt like I got accepted right away,” she said. Carr anticipates graduating in December with her RN degree.

Carr said her father was her biggest inspiration in her career choices, both as a nurse and her military career. Her father is a nurse and was also an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. “I was in ROTC while I was at Harding, and I met a couple of people who were in the Army National Guard that really influenced my life.

The more time I spent with them, the more I felt it was a good move to join the Army.”

Carr completed basic training in 2018, followed shortly by medic school. “I was gone close to 10 months. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it,” she said.

Carr and her fellow Guard members working at UAMS are quarantined together and transport together to and from the screening clinic. She said that while the team has personal protective equipment

Sydney Carr

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Keep On Entertaining Angela Connell First Community Bank pledges $25,000 to the Batesville Community Theatre for their building revitalization capital campaign. This donation will help the BCT achieve their plan to revitalize a building to house a theatre and workspace on Main Street.

The Batesville Community Theatre is one of the oldest, continually active, community theatres in the state. Since 1974, they have operated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

“First Community Bank is pleased to support the expansion of the Batesville Community Theatre,” said Dale Cole, chairman and CEO of First Community Bank.

“The theatre serves as a contributor to the quality of life in our community, and we want to support their efforts.

The group will be acquiring and renovating the former Van Atkins building in Towne Plaza Shopping Center to create a performance venue, which will be a significant community development opportunity for Batesville.”

“We can’t wait for this performing arts center to be opened so we can host theatre productions, dinner performances, music events, after school programs and workshops,” said BCT board vice president, Tommie McDonald. “The Batesville Community Theatre has impacted many people in the last 49 years. We continue to be a bright spark that ignites the passion of many to become active performers, educators, and writers in music and theatre.”

N Dale Cole, chairman and CEO of First Community Bank; Brandt McDonald, AVP teller operations assistant at First Community Bank and BCT board member; Colyn Bowman, BCT board president; Tommie McDonald, BCT board vice president; and Angie Weaver, BCT board member.

22 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman

UACCB Nursing Students Put Knowledge to the Test in Virtual Escape Room Hannah Keller Flanery

Remote learning in any course comes with its own set of challenges, but for traditional hands-on learning activities, like nursing practicum, recreating lessons in a virtual environment can be particularly daunting.

The nursing faculty at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville came up with a unique way to engage practical nursing students in online simulation with an innovative twist.

PN faculty members Ashley Ball and Amanda Cannon along with Marietta Candler, nursing and allied health division chair, created a virtual escape room that required students to apply skills and knowledge they have learned in order to progress through each level of the exercise. Faculty used Blackboard Collaborate to create and conduct the virtual escape room simulation.

In order to begin the virtual simulation, students had to discover the combination to “unlock” the room. They were presented with a series of nursing pharmacology math problems. The combined answers of all the problems was the combination needed to unlock the escape room. Once inside, they would be able to view an image of a simulation mannequin representing their patient in a room just as they would in a real-life simulation scenario. One of the rooms included a set of orders, the medication administration record (MAR), vital signs and labs. Students were required to find everything wrong with the scenario before they could progress to the next room.

“They can ask for hints but not until they have been in the room for 15 minutes,” Ball said. “Once they find everything that is incorrect in the room, they will unlock the next room. This continues through five to six rooms and then we end the scenario. So it’s basically like an unfolding simulation and a mystery combined. We thought it would be a really fun way to challenge them to pull out all the tools in their knowledge arsenal.”

Makenzie Gipson said she felt the exercise will help prepare her for real-life scenarios she will experience as a nurse. “I loved the escape rooms! I love how we have to get all the things that are ‘wrong’ from the pictures to continue on to the next slide. I think it will help prepare me during shift reports,” she said. Natalie Corona agreed, saying the activity was “fun, exciting, and a great learning experience.” Cheyanne Marshall said, “I love it! It helps me learn so much, and it’s fun! All from the comfort of my pajamas.”

Students worked together in groups of five or six in the online environment to complete the activity. Ball said it took groups 3-4 hours to complete the exercise.

“Instead of a computer program, we can work as a group to solve problems in real time, and get instant feedback,” said student Amy Kreutzer.

“The faculty have surpassed my expectations of clinical replacement in a remote learning environment,” said Candler. “It has been exciting to watch the students interact and think critically through each escape room. I

am very proud of all the nursing and allied health faculty and their willingness to adapt and overcome during this time of adjustment.” N

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KBAP 88.1 FM KEEP BELIEVING AND PRAYING The Best of Modern Praise and Worship Independence Counties very own local, contemporary worship station

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

Church Directory Batesville First Church of the Nazarene

1611 Harrison Street, Batesville, AR 72501 870-698-1994 / Pastor John Wright Sunday School 9:30 am Sunday Morning Worship 10:30 am Sunday Evening 6:00 pm

Batesville First Assembly of God

1949 Lyon St, Batesville, AR 72501 870-793-5489 / www.batesvillefirst.org Sunday 10:30 am services, 9:30 am & 6:00 pm small groups Wednesday: children & youth activities, adult class 7:00 pm

Fellowship Bible Church of Batesville

9 am & 10:45 am Sundays at The Landers 332 E. Main Street, downtown Batesville Office: 276 E. Main, 870-698-9244 www.fellowshipbatesville.com Facebook & Instagram: @fellowshipbatesville

First Baptist Church Batesville

610 E. Main St, Batesville, AR 870-793-9859 Sunday School 9:30 am Sunday Evening Worship 6:00 pm Wednesday Prayer/Children Activities 6:00 pm Thursday Night, The Gathering 7:00 pm www.fbcbatesville.org

Quail Valley Freewill Baptist

4000 East Harrison St, Batesville 870-698-1622 / Pastor Robert Jones Sunday School 10:00 Sunday Service 11:00 A.M. & 6:00 P.M. Wednesday Prayer Meeting 7:00 P.M. You can find us on Facebook!

Sulphur Rock Baptist Church

470 N. Vaughn St, Sulphur Rock, AR 72579 870-799-8641 Sunday School 9:45 am Sunday Morning Praise & Worship 10:55 am Sunday Evening Bible Study 5:00 pm Sunday Evening Praise & Worship 6:00 pm Wednesday Evening Service 6:30 pm Walking the Walk, Talking the Talk – Matthew 28:19-20

The Church of God

1850 Bethesda Rd, Batesville, AR 72501 Sunday School 10:00 a.m.

Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.

Sunday Evening Worship 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m.

Contact: Pastor Rob Montgomery 330-285-0681 rob_montgomery@outlook.com https://www.facebook.com/tcogBatesville/

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

482 East Main St, Batesville, Arkansas Sunday Services: 8:00 am & 10:30 am Morning Prayer: M-F @ 8:30 in the Chapel Wednesday Evening: 5:30 pm in the Chapel www.stpaulsbatesville.org stpaulsbatesville@gmail.com

24 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman

Keep On Healing Angela Connell White River Health System employees accept a check for $5,000 from First Community Bank’s chairman and CEO, Dale Cole, and president and COO, Boris Dover, to the foundation for the hospital’s crisis fund. Dover serves on the board of directors for

WRHS. First Community Bank’s donation will help by providing meals for front-line employees at White River Medical Center.

In addition to the monetary donation, First Community Bank donated over 1,000 N-95 masks to White River Health System.

Dover said, “In the wake of an unprecedented national crisis, First Community Bank wanted to do our part to help our local healthcare providers. We are committed to providing our resources to address critical needs in the communities where our employees live and work.”

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Pictured with Dale Cole and Boris Dover: Sarah Barnett, RN PACU; Yvette Nutt, RN OR; Leanne James, CRNA; Jennifer Wilson, CST and Whitney Scribner, RN Surgical Services Manager.

WWW.KENTSFIRESTONE.COM 1316 E. Main, “at ST. Louis and Main”

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Welcome to BAD BOY COUNTRY

Arkansas Craft School Building Upgrades Arkansas Craft School A MAMMOTH shout out to: TD Home Center, our major sponsor at the 2019 Gala, for building materials and paint.

1. In the wood studio compressed air has been piped to all the workstations and into the clay studio mudroom.

2. Pegboard display for tools and implements have

been added to the wood studio and the glass/jewelry/ metal studio.

3. New shelving in all 4 sections/rooms of the clay studio. Painted trim in the pugmill room.

4. New shelving in the wood studio.

Also, another MASSIVE shout out to Windgate Charitable Foundation.

1. New LED lighting in all the sections/rooms of the clay studio, the fiber, young artists, studio arts/ yoga, wood, and glass/jewelry/metal studios.

N

26 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman

First Community Bank Expands Trust and Wealth Management Specialites Angela Connell First Community Bank has announced an expansion of the company's trust and wealth management divisions with three key promotions. Brandon Brewer, senior vice president and regional trust manager will assume command of First Community Bank’s trust department as the senior vice president and director of trust and wealth management effective May 1. The current manager, Chris Treat, will be stepping into the role of senior vice president, director of sales. Janie Starnes will be promoted to vice president & operations manager.

With a 20-year trust management career, Brewer will bring valuable leadership and experience and will oversee the day-to-day management of the trust department. He has earned his Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) designation from the American Bankers Association (ABA).

Treat, who has managed the department for the past 10 years, will now focus on the continued growth of the wealth management division throughout First Community Bank's footprint, concentrating on reaching customers who have more complex wealth management needs. He has earned his Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) and the Certified Corporate Trust Specialist (CCTS) designation from the American Bankers Association.

In addition to her current role as the lead trust officer over the corporate trust division, Starnes will now

manage the general operations of the department. She brings over 30 years of experience in trust operations and administration and currently holds the designations of Certified Trust Financial Advisor (CTFA), Certified Corporate Trust Specialist (CCTS), and Certified Corporate Trust Professional (CCTP).

As of December 31, 2019, First Community Bank Trust and Wealth Management’s total trust assets were $150,056,000, a 24.46% increase over the previous year-end in which they were ranked 13th Largest Trust Department in Arkansas by Arkansas Business as of December 31, 2018. The team is comprised of seven experienced professionals who provide services across Arkansas and Missouri.

“Our trust team is a well-seasoned group of specialists working in harmony to provide estate planning and trust and wealth management services to help clients plan and prepare for every stage of their financial lives,” said Dale Cole, chairman and CEO of First Community Bank. “This expansion and restructuring of duties will enhance service to our customers by allowing Brandon, Chris and Janie to focus on their specific areas of expertise.”

For more information about First Community Bank Trust and Wealth Management, call 870-612-3423 or visit www.firstcommunity.net. N

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28 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman

Tasty Talk

Farmers Market Shopping

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.

Summer is upon us and so is the season for farmers markets. If you have never attended, it can be a unique experience. However, it can be frustrating for first timers when trying to decide which farmer’s produce to buy. When purchasing produce in a grocery store, the only thing you need to know is how to choose quality produce. However, purchasing quality produce at a farmers market first begins with choosing a farmer.

At these events, farmers are used to being asked questions about their produce and farming practices. It is highly suggested, even by farmers, to ask questions about their products. Farmers want you to understand their farming practices, feel safe and comfortable about their produce, and feel confident in choosing the right farmer’s produce. A good farmer will respect your decision to purchase from a different farmer.

The biggest issue that separates farmers is how they grow their crops. Knowing the difference between a regular farmer, all-natural farmer, and organic farmer is very important.

A regular farmer is one who still uses fertilizers and sprays/ chemicals on their produce. An all-natural farmer properly maintains the nutrition of their soil and adheres to strict federal regulations on the inability to use anything on their

produce. An organic farmer also maintains the nutrition of their soil but is legally allowed to use sprays/chemicals on their produce and bioengineer produce. This type of farming could be thought of as being between a regular and all-natural farm.

Despite what type of farming they say they practice, do not just take their word – ask them questions. If they get irritated with you, then take it as a red flag and move on to the next farmer. Questions might include: how do you grow your crops, what type of sprays/chemicals do you use on each produce, how do you maintain your soil’s nutrition, what kind of fertilizer do you use, what do you use to keep bugs/worms off your produce, do you grow all-natural, do you grow seasonally, how do you grow out of season, what types of varieties do you grow (location and farming practice will determine this), and who inspects your farm.

After farmers have been interviewed, the next step is determining what farmer(s) to support with your purchases.

If you are satisfied with several farmers, spread your money out and try to support them all. Farmers typically all have about the same price on their produce. The quality of each type of produce does differ among farmers, though. Some harvest early, some the morning of the market, and others harvest late. For example, green tomatoes are harvested early, soft produce is harvested late, and vibrant, firm, and strong scented produce is typically harvested that morning. If you are unsure, do not hesitate to ask the farmer more questions about harvesting times and how to choose a good produce.

Asking questions is your best friend at a farmers market! Bon appetit!

N

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Thyme Enough

Burnt Sugar Pie

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.

This can be a tricky recipe. Sandy and her mother, both outstanding cooks, undertook it several years ago.

The end result was delicious but before they got to that point they ended up in consternation because they had a big glob of burnt sugar in the middle of their egg, milk, corn syrup, and vanilla mixture. Fortunately, they both laughed and started over. My wife and mother-inlaw are and were both cute women and laughed a lot, a delightful trait that has carried on to our daughters!

The final pie was excellent and we’ve always had fun telling the story. Years later our daughter, Lindley, and I undertook the pie again. Having the earlier fiasco in mind we were extra careful, but I did note on the recipe that it is a two-person operation. There is nothing really hard, but care does need to be taken. However, the end result is well worth it! The recipe comes from someone named Glenda in allrecipes.com.

Ingredients: 2 9 inch pie shells, baked ½ cup light corn syrup 3 cups white sugar ¼ cup butter, melted 3 cups hot water ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 4 eggs, separated ½ cup all-purpose flour 1 cup evaporated milk ½ teaspoon cream of tartar

Directions: Beat together egg yolks, evaporated milk, syrup, melted butter, vanilla, ½ cup sugar, and flour.

Brown 2 cups sugar in an iron skillet until light brown. Remove from heat. Add water, and return to heat until sugar dissolves. Add 3 tablespoons of the melted sugar to the milk mixture to temper it. Add the remaining melted sugar to the milk. Cook until thickened, then simmer 5 minutes. Pour filling into 2 baked pie shells.

Beat egg whites until foamy. Add cream of tartar and ½ cup sugar; continue to beat until stiff peaks form.

Spread meringue over pies, sealing the edges.

Bake at 325 degrees F for about 15 minutes. N

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

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

Chris and Kennadi Pretty Easter 2011

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

30 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman

In The Field with Randy

Pigheaded Pigweed

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.

We’re in the middle of another tough planting season.

Planting progress is ahead of last year at this time but certainly not where we would like for it to be. As I write this on May 18, area rivers are on the rise with forecasted levels that we certainly don’t like to see during crop season. By the time you read this, rice planting will effectively be over. It will be interesting to see the final acreage totals.

It’s disappointing again to not see a lot of early soybeans planted. More and more farmers are coming to realize the increased yield potential of early planting but have been unable to take advantage the last few years due to wet conditions.

Besides getting planted, the number one thing on most soybean farmer’s mind is probably pigweed control. The only exception would be if they don’t have a pigweed problem, and that is usually not the case in much of our area.

To me, there are 3 big rules when it comes to pigweed control in soybeans: 1.) Start clean. It is a helpless feeling when I get called to a field to make a recommendation and I see pigweeds that were obviously there at planting. They are often difficult if not impossible to control at that point. You need to do whatever it takes to control them at planting. Depending on the situation, tillage or herbicides can be effective. If herbicides are the best option, Gramoxone plus metribuzin is my number one choice.

Most people look at metribuzin as a residual herbicide and it is, but it helps Gramoxone get in the plant and will give you better control than Gramoxone alone. Be sure the soybean variety you will be planting has metribuzin tolerance. If you can’t or won’t use Gramoxone, then Liberty and/or Sharpen might be possibilities although there are pigweeds out there with PPO resistance and Sharpen is a PPO herbicide.

2.) Overlap residuals. While accomplishing number one or as soon as it is accomplished, apply a residual. The best choice is probably a combination of a Group 15 and a Group 5 herbicide. Group 15 herbicides include Zidua, Outlook, Dual, and Warrant. Metribuzin is the Group 5 herbicide referred to here. There are also premixes available such as Boundary

and Moccasin MTZ. Other possibilities with pigweed control include Anthem Maxx, Verdict, Prefix, Authority Supreme, Authority Elite, Authority MTZ, and Valor or one of the Valorcontaining premixes such as Fierce. Any of those Group 15 herbicides can be used as an overlap application after soybeans have emerged.

3.) Make timely postemergence herbicide applications.

Target pigweeds under 4 inches tall. Most of the fields with significant pigweed infestations in our area will be planted to Liberty Link or Enlist E3 soybeans. In the Enlist E3 system, the best pigweed control will come from a tank mix of Enlist One plus Liberty.

For more information, feel free to contact me through Farmers Supply Association by cell at 870-318-0739, my e-mail is randychlapecka@gmail.com.

N

Tales of a Transplanted Fashionista

“Things Fall Apart” and other big lessons from 2020

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.

I remember clearly the day I walked out of my office on March 16th. We had had school that day, knowing that the country was starting to shut down. I think the only kids at Cole’s school that day were teachers’ kids, because, where else is he going to go? Our state announced later that evening we would be out of school, doing AMI work for the rest of that week, with spring break the following week. So many of us honestly thought we would be back in our offices and classrooms by the end of March.

And then all of a sudden we just weren’t. The days at home stretched into April, and my teacher friends adapted gracefully. We picked up a chromebook from Cole’s school, and developed a schedule for school at home (turns out it’s not as fun having your mama as your teacher/counselor/principal/custodian/bus driver/ recess duty teacher), and I kept trying to pry high school kids out of their Netflix hidey holes. Time stood still for a couple of weeks, as we held our breaths as to what was next. I had to beg my mom to stop watching the National news, because, after dealing with the devastating loss of my Dad, the loss of normal life was almost too much for all of us.

In the midst of these months at home, where the days seem to be 30 hours long, no joke, we have adapted pretty well most days. Cole is loving to learn how to cook, he has found solace in books, also one of my favorites, and we have spent so many hours outside than we would have normally. We have missed so many of the big things in our lives, seeing our church family in person, with Kids’ church, Sunday church and life groups, soccer practice and games, field trips, days with friends at school, competitions at school and special trips, spring concerts and Fun Day. When Cole realized his much awaited 4th grade field trip and Fun Day had both been canceled, he took himself to his room for a moment. It seemed like every day was another blow, with every day events being postponed for everyone’s health and safety, only to then be canceled.

And then there are the high school seniors, those kids I have begged and pleaded to JUST COME TO SCHOOL every day. All of a sudden they were finished, if they were in good academic standing (which means you are passing all of your classes, and not lacking credits).

They suddenly started to wish they were actually back in school, working on their senior pranks, getting to walk the halls of the place they loved (or hated, kinda) one

more time, spending one more class with that favorite teacher, walking into the counseling office for a chat, a hug and a snack (gosh I miss hugs) or leaving campus at lunch to go eat with friends. As the days went on, for so many of them and their parents, sad and mad mixed together, since, you know, sad and mad are neighbors.

As a school, we were bound to think outside the box for how to honor those kids, how to reach them and continue to interact with all of our students, without using anything we had used before. In person anything was off the table, no prom, no senior banquet, and certainly no in person graduations right now.

All of a sudden we all got the thing we never say we have enough of, time at home, and time with the people we love the most. Cole and I have spent more time outside than ever, our garden is happy and thriving, our pets are fat and spoiled. I used to lay in my bed at night and think “Ok. Soccer is Tuesday and Thursday, Church is Wednesday and Sunday, we have a game on Saturday and the ACT, not sure how I am gonna do both of those, and then I need to workout somehow, and plan healthy meals, and budget, and drink all the water”. I found myself always longing for just ONE stay at home night, where we could just play outside, or run to get ice cream in our pajamas. Or just be home together. Now, I lay in bed and think about what google hangouts I have the next day, what emails I need to respond to, and what social media posts I need to make for work. While my child misses his friends and school (we are the kind of people who love school #sorrynotsorry), he no longer tells me that he just wants to stop being so busy and just be home for one night.

So here we are. And we get to decide the direction our lives go now. As our state and our lives open back up, and things all look a little different, I just don’t know that I will be as willing to have my exhausted kid tell me he just wants one night home. I am thinking of what we can take off of that super full plate, for eight more delicious years that I get to have him living in my home.

Here’s to all of you doing the best you can right now, managing work from home and school from home, managing working outside of your home and trying to help your kids with school, for those of you simply taking care of yourself, and those of you taking care of your parents (the most stubborn generation, I might add, on a personal note). Keep the faith, and be strong.

N

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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 writing the next great novel.

Cover Story

Lance Curtis When Kimberlee and I were playing in local television before we became magazine owners and operators, we filmed a lot of local talent. One of which was Gage Country at the Swifton Community Center about twelve years ago.

We watched a talented man, his son and his granddaughters (who joined later in the show), perform country hits. It was this man and band that Lance Curtis first played with, his Grandfather, Uncle and his cousins and brother. I am honored to have met them, film them and to have seen them perform. I would love to claim this article as my own, but Jennifer Caughron put it all so well, I will just defer to her and her work. She is Lance’s proud mother and an excellent writer. We are honored to have her share Lance’s story here.

Thank you Jennifer.

Although you may not have heard his name, yet, Lance Curtis has grown up here in our small, historic town of Batesville, AR. Lance is definitely a Pioneer in the music industry and has had stars in his eyes for many years now. He knew without a doubt from the tender age of one, when he first stepped into the spotlight playing music with his Papa Gage and Uncle Shannon, that the stage is where he belonged. Lance greatly admired and respected his Papa, who helped

him develop his craft and his passion for music. It was obvious to his family from an early age that Lance had inherited his Papa’s “ear” for music, and at the young age of only 9 years old, he became proficient in playing the guitar and piano. Lance has a true country soul and expresses that plainly in the songs he writes and the way he performs! Because he was raised on classic country music, Lance wants to hold true to his roots and mix classic sounds with today’s country radio, much like Cody Johnson, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, William Michael Morgan, Jon Pardi, Luke Combs, etc...! Lance is often told by Nashville music industry experts that he is the perfect blend of classic and modern country music!

Lance and Lawson have had several great honors throughout their careers so far, which include things like: meeting Dave Gibson, writer of Ships that Don’t Come In for Joe Diffy; meeting Tony Aretta, writer of The Dance for Garth Brooks; meeting and chatting with Carrie Underwood, Trace Adkins, Kelly Pickler, Phil Vasser, Chris Young, Collin Ray, and Tanya Tucker; and doing a pre-show prior to the Jason Aldean concert at The Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Lance has also had the honor to co-write many songs with hit writers and play in some iconic venues throughout several states.

A few of his co-writes include people like the legendary Jan Buckingham, a hit writer who wrote “Cleopatra, Queen of Denial” for Pam Tillis, Bobby Keel who has 14 Gold and 12 Platinum records with various legendary artists, and many other talented writers which have more fame and notoriety for their lyrics than for their names. Before COVID19 struck fear in the hearts of many Americans, you could find Lance and his brother, 15-yearold Lawson Wayne who is Lance’s drummer and back up vocalist, playing music at famous venues like: The Bluebird Cafe, Douglas Corner, Belcourt Taps, The Commodore Grille, The Dawghouse, and Live Oak in Nashville, TN. They also played often at Puckett’s in Leipers Fork, TN; Storytellers Hideaway Farm and Museum, formally owned by the legendary Johnny Cash in Bon Aqua, TN; as well as many others! In addition, he continues to play for many amazing venues and events in his home state of Arkansas, as well as some iconic venues in the states of Florida, Alabama, and Georgia!

Lance is a three-time nominee for Young Artist of the Year at the Arkansas Country Music Awards, and a nominee for Young Artist and Young Vocalist of the Year at The Josie’s Music Awards in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. One of Lance’s songs, “Sounds Like Country” which was released in 2019, topped the charts at #1 and held the position for eleven weeks on KABF 88.3 Radio in Little Rock, an Arkansas Country Music FM Radio Station. His latest album entitled “Sounds Like Country” was recorded at Off The Row Records in Nashville, TN with PT Houston, who produced the album. There are several songs, from Lance’s Sounds Like Country album, which are currently receiving radio airplay in Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, and Switzerland. He has also been invited to do multiple radio interviews and podcasts from the states and countries listed above.

In fact, you could easily say that Lance Curtis is a hometown Batesville boy who has been taking the music industry by storm as a Nashville Recording Artist, Songwriter, and Performer. Due to the loving support of his friends and family, he has grown leaps and bounds and accomplished great feats in a few short years.

The journey to where he is wasn’t always easy though. Over the years, Lance has sacrificed many childhood activities in order to accomplish his goals. He willingly passed on the opportunity to date many girls, gave up playing a sport that he dearly loved, and even agreed to homeschool so he would not lose sight of his dream! He has faced a lot of hard work, diversity, and negative answers throughout his career, but he never quit and he never backed down, showing his true Pioneer spirit. With every “no” he held his head high, kept a smile on his face, thanked them for the opportunity to grow, and stated, “Well, on to the next thing!” He is a warrior at heart and his parents always tell people, “Music is not just something he wants to do, it’s just who he is!”

Lance’s big break in the music industry recently came when Kent Wells, at Kent Wells Productions, received a phone call from one of his Gospel artists regarding Lance’s talent. The Shown left is Lance with Gene Watson, Tanya Tucker and Debbie Campbell (Glen Campbell’s daughter), bumping fist with Coach Stu Smith, playing with his Grandfather when he was very young, Dolly Parton donning the mask Lance’s grandmother made for her and finaly, with Chris Young and Lawson.

Lance and Lawson with Carrie Underwood.

This is Kent Wells with Lance and Lawson.

Batesville native, Mrs. Debbie Cochran, who formerly hosted music shows at Simply Southern on Main St. in Batesville, invited Lance and his Papa’s band to play on a few occasions. Mrs. Cochran watched Lance grow up in the music industry and when she felt they were ready, she very graciously contacted Kent Wells on behalf of Lance and Lawson. Kent is one of the greatest country music producers in the business. He is also an Arkansas native who now resides in Nashville, TN, and prides himself on being the Legendary Dolly Parton’s producer and lead guitarist for the past 20 years, although his humility would keep him from ever boasting about that accomplishment! Several months ago, Lance’s family was eating lunch in a Nashville restaurant when surprisingly Kent phoned Lance’s mother and manager, Jennifer Caughron, and requested a meeting with the boys at Skyway Studios in Nashville. Thankfully, Lance and his family were already in Nashville for other music-related work and arranged the meeting that very afternoon. The meeting went extremely well and Kent was excited to start working with Lance to launch his career to a whole level! Just a couple of weeks later, the group met again to sign the recording contract between Lance Curtis and Kent Wells Productions at Skyway Studios. Kent has since compared Lance’s talent to great artists like Tim McGraw and Brad Paisley, and all parties are really excited about the new extended play album that is expected to be out sometime this Summer! For the past two months, Kent has been setting Lance up to work with award-winning writers like Bridgette Tatum, Pete Sallis, Jayce Hein, Bill Diluigi, Liz Ann Hill, and Corey Lee Barker who have recorded major hits with artists like Jason Aldean, Maddie & Tae, and Cody Johnson. They have also had success with Billboard chart-toppers and landed numerous cuts in television and major motion films!

In the month of April, Lance had the privilege to do some work at Dark Horse Studios in Franklin, TN with his producer Kent Wells. They were laying down some work tracks for his EP (Extended Play) cd which is his current project. This type of cd is produced for the purpose of pitching an artist to Major Record Labels and third-party investors. Mr. Wells informed Lance that will be their next step in launching his career. It was at this recording session in Dark Horse Studios that Lance was able to give Mr. Wells and the Legendary Dolly Parton the facemasks for COVID19 that his Granny, Kathy Deaton of Batesville, AR had made. Both Kent and Dolly were very appreciative of the thought and loved their unique electric guitar masks! Once Lance returned to his hometown, Batesville, he received a message from Dolly’s cousin asking his Granny Kathy to make her two masks that she could purchase. Mrs. Deaton was happy to make those also, and she hurridly sewed them and shipped them to her!

Lance is scheduled to return for more studio work on his upcoming EP at Dark Horse Studios in the coming weeks! You can find his current album “Sounds Like Country” on Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Play,

36 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Sidney . Tuckerman

iHeart Radio, YouTube, and all other major streaming sites.

Lance single-handly wrote and recorded all but one song on this album between the ages of 14-17. The song entitled “Gotta Be My Way” on the album was co-written with Ms. Jan Buckingham in Nashville. The Sounds Like Country album includes six professional recordings and three bonus tracks from earlier times in his career. Since COVID19 has reared its ugly head, Lance’s opportunities to travel and perform on the road have come to a screeching halt, just like it has for so many other artists! Now his fans can find him singing in his backyard around a firepit with his family while doing Facebook and Instagram LIVE videos. In today’s music industry, social media plays a huge role in an artist’s career life! The industry pays close attention to how many likes, follows, and shares an artist has acquired. If you would like to greatly help this young, local artist rapidly launch his career, please go to his social media pages to like them, follow them, and share all of his posts, stories, and music! You can also be a part of Lance’s journey and keep up with the latest on his career by following him on Facebook @LanceCurtisMusic, Instagram @lancecurtismusic, Youtube @Lance Curtis, and his website located at lancecurtismusic.com.

In Lance’s own words, “The music must go on!” His dream and heart’s desire is for his music to be heard worldwide while being a positive role model for the youth and staying true to God. N Jennifer Caughron shared all of the photos, most of them she took, except the cover photo, the thumbnail in the index, the pose on top of page 35 and the Coca-Cola image, which her niece Paige Floyd with Floyd Photography took.

Stacy Millikin MS OTRL

Brook Taylor PT DPT

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