Eye On Magazine May 2023

Joey Thomas

Here we go, further up the path toward tomorrow. I’ve learned a lot about being present recently, realizing that the now is the only time we have that isn’t already used or merely potential; it is real.

It is in our face and when we don’t focus on the NOW, we are living in the past or intent on how to control tomorrow. Now is the only time we are currently living and it is an amazing feat of physics that has us living here at all. Next will take care of itself via my actions today. Yesterday is already taken care of, nothing left to worry about. Boom!

We are here to experience JOY! That is our mission. I find it easy to feel the magic, when I think about the science; Our eyes percieve 0.0015% of the light spectrum (how much more is really around us), we live in a perfect set of statistics for life (distant from sun, our moon just far enough to remain the same size as our sun for solar and lunar eclipses), the way our blood and tissue and thoughts are made of tiny balls of energy held together by...what? Bonds of energy, our own gravity? Our bodies and souls are light energy. Let’s put our light out there.

THIS PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED BY: MeadowLand Media, Inc. / 504 Guffey St. / Newport, AR 72112 870.503.1150 / eyeonjoseph@eyeonmag.com. ASSOCIATE EDITOR / CREATIVE DIRECTOR / AD DESIGN: Joey Thomas

ADVERTISING / PUBLISHER / MANAGING EDITOR: Kimberlee Thomas, PROOFING DEPARTMENT: Joey Thomas, Kimberlee Thomas STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS: Kimberlee Thomas, Joey Thomas, Robert O. Seat PRINTING COMPANY: MAGNA 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: 504 Guffey Street / Newport, AR 72112. Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements, unless otherwise noted, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Publisher or the staff. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information presented in this issue is accurate and neither MeadowLand Media or it any of its staff is responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. Copyright © 2010 MeadowLand Media, Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the Publisher. All pictorial material reproduced in this book has been accepted on the condition that it is reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the photographer concerned. As such, MeadowLand Media, Incorporated, is not responsible for any infringement of copyright or otherwise arising out of publication thereof.

For advertising, distribution, or editorial contribution, contact Joey 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.

Cover Photos submitted by ASUN

Cover Design by Joey Thomas

Tasty Talk

The Rise of Plant-Based Products

In recent years, the demand for plant-based foods has surged. Grocery store sales are growing three times as fast as overall food sales. In the United States alone, plant-based foods are a $7.4 billion market, but make up only 1% of the country’s retail meat market.

While plant-based meat products were designed for vegetarian consumers, it is actually flexitarians that created its considerable market growth. As a result, research shows that 98% of people who buy plant-based meat also buy conventional meat. Even though they do not completely give up meat, flexitarians choose plant-based options with concern for their health, the environment, or animal protection in mind.

Over the last decade, there has

been an explosion of innovation, due to a sense of urgency to develop plantbased meats. This urgency comes from the concerns about food security, sustainability, and the environmental and public health impacts of industrial animal agriculture. Food security affects over 42 million people in the United States. Identifiable food-security problems include hunger, malnutrition, obesity, inadequate food storage, low crop yields, poor sanitation, and related political instability. Current insecurity comes from a rise in inflation, disruptions in supply lines, and pandemic relief measures being revoked, like the Child Tax Credit. In addition, due to animal welfare and health benefits, there has been an urgent need to reduce greenhouse gases. Since animal agriculture is considered a major contributor to global warming, consuming fewer animal products has seemingly become a solution.

Research studies show that consuming legumes, nuts, and other plant foods instead of red meat can lower mortality and chronic disease risk. It is not possible to draw the same conclusions with processed meats made

with purified soy or pea protein. Plantbased foods have the misconception of being healthier than meat. Just because the label states “vegan,” “plant based,” or anything else similar does not automatically equal healthier. A great example is donuts – no matter what diet the donut follows, a donut is still a donut and should be eaten in moderation. In addition, all plant-based foods are technically processed. The ingredient mixture of plant-based foods must undergo processing to make it feel and taste like meat. Highly processed foods often contain added fat, salt, and sugar.

However, there are alternatives that are a nutritionally better option. This is why it is essential to know brands, products, and ingredients. Reading ingredient and nutrition labels can help determine if the plant-based product is a better alternative than meat products. Choosing products that are less processed will help encourage good health. Of course, the best alternative to animal meat will always be vegetables, nuts, grains, and other natural nonmeat foods. N

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.

Things To Do

Batesville

7th Annual Tommy Willhite Memorial Car Show, May 6, Noon to 4pm, antiques (pre 60’s), classic (60-90), modified classic (60-90), late model (90-present), street rods. New for this year Motorcycles; baggers, cruisers, street bikes, sport bikes, custom. Burgers, chips, and drinks available, Chance Tickets Proceeds are for Chemo pts and St Jude’s Hospital. Lots of fun, beautiful rides, for great cause. $20 registration, or $30 with Car Show T-shirt.

Bad Boy Mower Giveaway, purchase raffle tickets for a brand new 2022 Bad Boy Avenger with 60 inch deck and full warranty, to help our Furry Friends! The Live Facebook Drawing is May 13! HSIC is selling tickets for $10, 6 for $50, or 13 for $100 until May 12, so purchase yours now at hsicshelter.org/shop, by phone at 870.793.0090, or in person at Fleaman Barkus (480 S Central Ave in Batesville / Shelter (5 Environmental Drive in Batesville).

Annual Summer Celebration: ThrowBAAC To Prom, June, 10 (6 to 9pm). In The Loft on Main Street in Batesville, will tribute proms of the past, combining healthy doses of nostalgia with live music by Luke Middleton, food & drink, silent auction of unique artwork, the crowning of Prom Royalty, and a classic prom dance with a live DJ playing favorite throwback hits. Tickets are $45 or $40 for BAAC members, presented by First Community Bank. Other even sponsors; FutureFuel Chemical Co., Intimidator Group, UACCB, Southern Bank, White River Health, and Batesville Printing. 870.793.3382.

Mountain View

Arkansas Craft School

https://arkansascraftschool.org/calendar

Newport

www.facebook.com/newportarchamber

Also see newportarcity.org/calendar/

PROVIDER SPOTLIGHT

Hannah Hare White, APRN has been working in Newport for the past six years. She is a Family Nurse Practitioner certified through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and is certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Hannah focuses on gynecology, infertility, and cosmetic injections here at Unity Health.

Hannah was born at Harris Hospital (now Unity Health) by Dr. Jabez Jackson and raised in Newport She grew up south of Newport on her family’s farm She says, “I was raised by rice and bean farmers, swimming in well water during the hot summer months ” She attended elementary school in Newport and cheered for the greypups in junior high, then finished her high school education at Harding Academy in Searcy After high school, she attended Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, where she received her bachelors in 2014 and Masters in 2017 She worked at St Bernard’s Medical Center in Jonesboro for five years, before coming to Newport

Hannah pursued a career in medicine because she feels we all have a purpose and hers is to help people during their most vulnerable and sometimes scary or exciting times in their lives Her goal is to make sure that her patients experience is the best it can be She says, “I try to treat patients how I would want to be treated. I try and live up to that motto every day.”

When not at work, Hannah enjoys cooking for her family

Some of her favorite memories involve a good meal and fellowship with her family She also loves to duck hunt in the winter months with her dad and enjoys being on the family farm during the summer months. Hannah has been married to her college sweetheart, Brandon for almost 7 years and they have one child, Allie. It took them several years of struggling with infertility and miscarriage to get pregnant with Allie She feels like God called her to OB/GYN because she can relate to infertility personally. She recently became certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility so that she can help patients struggling with infertility as well. She stated, “I find obstetrics amazing, seeing life be born into this world is an incredible experience ” Hannah offers a unique prospective of care to our community and Unity Health – we are pleased to have her on our team.

Hannah White, APRN practices at Unity Health Newport OB/GYN Clinic located at 1201 McLain St in Newport Office hours are Monday through Thursday 8 a m - 5 p m and Friday 8 a m – 3 p m

To schedule an appointment, please call (870) 523-3289.

Provider Spotlight | Hannah White, APRN

HANNAH WHITE, APRN

ADVANCING STUDENTS, COMMUNITIES, AND INDUSTRIES IN ARKANSAS AND BEYOND.

Seniors, Can We Talk?

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?’.

Last month Linda (Ruth’s sisterin-law’s sister) was concerned about her upcoming dental work. She needs a crown.

Dental plans usually must be in effect 6 months before a crown is covered. Since Linda had a dental plan previously and she applied for a new plan within 30 days of cancelling her old dental plan, she was able to have the 6-month waiting period waived.

Linda talked with her dentist about her dental insurance and her concern about the crown not being covered. Luckily her dentist was able to wait until April to put her crown in. Now Linda will only have to pay 50% of the cost of the crown instead of paying the entire, 100% cost. Linda is thrilled.

When Ruth and I had lunch, I shared a customer’s experience. My customer, Nita, who is 68 lost her job March 31. Nita had Medicare Part A

which was effective when she turned 65. She needed to enroll in Medicare Part B to be able to enroll in the Medicare Supplement plan she wanted.

Since Nita had Part A, she was able to enroll in a Medicare prescription plan.

Luckily Nita is healthy but accidents happen and medical conditions may arise at any time (Like my emergency gallbladder surgery; what a surprise because I had never had any gallbladder issues. You’re fine one day and the next day you’re in the ER then the hospital for surgery the next morning.)

Nita needed Medicare Part B to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan. She completed the process on Medicare.gov to be effective April 1. Three (3) weeks later she did not have a new Medicare card showing Part B. Nita went to the Social Security office. She was told “yes, she was enrolled in Part B. She would be getting a new Medicare card soon.” Ten (10) days later no new Medicare card. Now it’s getting to be crunch time for her to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan

that will be effective April 1. She called the Social Security office. Oops! Yes, her enrollment in Part B was in their system but someone forgot to hit the button to complete the process.

“Wait 5 business days for your new Medicare card.” On March 31, the 5th day, Part B showed up in the Medicare. gov website and she got her new ID card.

Now to hustle to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan to be effective April 1. She reviewed the plans and completed the paperwork – she did not want one day without a policy to pick up what Medicare does not pay.

Nita took a deep breathe. She enrolled in everything before her April 1 deadline.

The moral of Nita’s story is to start the enrollment process in Medicare Part A and B either 3 months before you turn 65 or as soon as you know you’re going to need them.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Call 501-868-6650 and say “Caroline, can we talk?” N

AgHeritage Farm Credit Services Announces 2023 Scholarship Recipients

Rebecca McGraw

AgHeritage Farm Credit Services is proud to invest annually in the education of the next generation through our scholarship program. This year, 11 scholarships are being presented – nine $1,000 Customer Scholarships, one $2,000 University Scholarship and one $1,000 Ken Shea Memorial Scholarship. We offer our congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients.

Customer Scholarship Program: The nine students receiving $1,000 Customer Scholarships from AgHeritage Farm Credit Services are: Neal Alumbaugh of McCrory High School, Ryce Bennett of Marvell Academy, Logan Bevis of Lonoke High School, Travis Lane Hardin of Sloan-Hendrix High School, William Jacks of Star City High School, Evan Johnson of Quitman High School, Harley Martin of Southside Charter High School, Anna Morgan of Monticello High School and Lauren Spoon of Stuttgart High School.

Ken Shea Memorial Scholarship: Daniel Curtis of Dumas High School is the recipient of the $1,000 Ken Shea Memorial Scholarship.

University Scholarship Program: Madison Dains of Frisco, Texas, currently attending the Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas, is being awarded the $2,000 University Scholarship. N

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund Raising Scholarship Amounts

Jen

Para

Single parents can apply for the financial aid through June 15 for the Fall 2023 semester.

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF) is excited to announce individual scholarship amounts will increase starting with the Fall 2023 semester.

Full-time eligible single parents can now receive $1,600 per semester, up from $1,200. Part-time students will receive a prorated amount based on the number of enrolled hours.

ASPSF is accepting scholarship applications for the Fall 2023 semester through June 15 at www.aspsf.org/applynow. Eligibility guidelines are available online at www.aspsf.org/ eligibility.

“Everything’s gotten more expensive, and the single parent scholarship doesn’t stretch as far as it used to. We know that, and we want to help,” ASPSF Executive Director Ruthanne Hill said. “We hope the increase scholarship amount will offset some of those increases.”

THE ASPSF MODEL

ASPSF’s "scholarships" aren’t scholarships in the traditional sense. Single parent recipients receive a check they

can use to pay for expenses that will help them stay in school. Awardees often use their funds for child care, laptops, tuition, etc.

Plus, ASPSF provides workshops, mentoring, and encouragement to help single parents along their journey through school, to graduation, and onto a professional job with family-supporting wages.

ASPSF awards scholarships to single parents attending school full-time, part-time, and online pursuing associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and certificate programs. Eligible applicants have a GED or high school diploma, a 2.0 GPA in past courses, and a household income typically not more than 250% of Federal Poverty Guidelines.

For more information about the nonprofit — which has awarded more than $35 million in scholarships across the state to single parents since 1990 — contact ASPSF Communications Director Jen Para at jpara@aspsf.org or 479.318.2885 N

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund Spring 2023 recipient Brittany Cruthis celebrates her achievement. Currently a paraprofessional at Clarendon High School of Innovation, she’s working on her bachelor’s degree in education so she can provide a better life for her children as a special education or middle school science teacher. (Photo Courtesy ASPSF)

High School Students Take Home ASUN Scholarships at Skills Competition

Jeremy Shirley

Arkansas State University-Newport at Marked Tree hosted 31 area high school students to test their skills in three competitions. Students competed in Automotive Service Technology and Computer & Networking Technology.

On March 30, 2023, students were tested on their knowledge of parts and tools used in each division as well as troubleshooting skills. Each winner received a renewable scholarship to ASU-Newport.

Automotive Service Technology Winners: Tyler Lipsey of Valley View High School took first place in Automotive Service Technology. Landon Renigar of Brookland High School won second and Clay Roemer from Brookland High School took third.

Computer Networking Technology Winners: First place in Computer Networking Technology went to Dimas Suryanto from Jonesboro High School. Second place went to Tyler Dean from Jonesboro High School.

Dean for Applied Science, Michael Nowlin said “these competitions are a fun way to challenge students, and it gives them an opportunity to test their knowledge and skills against their peers.” Students from Brookland, Buffalo Island Central, Greene County Tech, Harrisburg, Jonesboro, Nettleton, Paragould, Trumann and Valley View competed in the skills competition. N

From Left: Michael Nowlin, ASUN's Dean for Applied Science, Daniel Adamson, ASUN Advanced Instructor of Computer Networking Technology, Dimas Suryanto (First Place), Tyler Dean (Second Place), Glenn Hudspeth with NEACTC.

From Left: Charley Marble, Instructor of Automotive Service Technology, Landon Renigar (Second Place), Tyler Lipsey (First Place),Clay Roemer (Third Place), John Oberg with NEACTC.

TUGGLE JOINS MORTGAGE TEAM AT FIRST COMMUNITY BANK

Angela Connell

First Community Bank has announced that Garrett Tuggle has been promoted to secondary mortgage originator for the organization’s home lending division. In his new role, Tuggle will guide customers through the mortgage approval process.

“I’m excited to join the outstanding team of mortgage originators at First Community Bank,” said Tuggle. “I have always been impressed with their commitment to customer service and their dedication to service. My family and friends are part of this community, just as I am. And I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to care for our communities in this capacity as a secondary mortgage originator.”

Tuggle earned his bachelor’s degree in media communications from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. With five years of experience in the banking industry, he has previously held positions at First Community Bank as a marketing assistant and merchant services account representative.

In his free time, he enjoys

BACC Ribbon Cuttings

Chris Hill

spending time with family and his wolf-dogs, and working on his farm. He and his wife, Kristen, have a daughter, Lenna.

“We are very excited to bring Garrett Tuggle over to secondary mortgage,” said Amy Tuggle, senior vice president, secondary mortgage production manager for First Community Bank’s home lending division. “Garrett has been a valuable asset to our First Community Bank family, and we know he will continue to be a great addition to our growing mortgage department.”

First Community Bank’s main lobby is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays. The drive-thru is open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

In addition to the Batesville main location, First Community Bank also has three other Batesville locations: 301 E. Main Street, 3 Eagle Mountain Boulevard, and 1 Allen Chapel Road. First Community Bank offers competitive loan and deposit products and an impressive array

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce held back-to-back Ribbon-Cutting ceremonies for two new Network of Community Options facilities.

Network of Community Options (NCO) is a family-oriented organization working for people with developmental challenges. NCO fulfills its mission by providing services based on the core values: PRIDE — Patience, Respect and Responsibility, Integrity, Dignity, and Empowerment.

Attendees enjoyed a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house at Network of Community Options' new headquarters at 555 East Main Street in Batesville.

"Network of Community Options has been proud to serve this community for over forty-nine years," said NCO Executive Director Lisa Pinkston. "We provide services for adults and children with developmental disabilities."

They also cut a ribbon at NCO's New Directions

of online and electronic banking services. Some of these include mobile banking and deposits, online bill pay, online/mobile account opening and custom eAlerts.

For more information about First Community Bank, call 870-612-3400 or visit www. firstcommunity.net. N

facility, located at 285 East College Street in Batesville. New Directions is an NCO adult day treatment program encouraging individuals to strive to improve all areas of their daily living skills. The New Directions curriculum includes computer skills, functional math and reading, social and communication skills, budgeting, home safety and maintenance, physical fitness, nutrition, and other activities. Learn more about Network of Community Options at networkofcommunityoptions.org.

The Chamber also held a groundbreaking ceremony for Vital Link EMS. Vital Link provides advanced life support emergency and non-emergency medical services to Independence, Izard, Stone, and surrounding counties in Arkansas. A partnership with Southside School District has provided an ideal location for this base of operations. For 40 years, Vital Link has served Independence County with emergency response, interfacility transfers, sporting events, fire stand-bys, and helping people up when they fall. Images on page 17 N

Garrett Tuggle

John 3:16 to Hold Reunion for 20th Anniversary

Andrea Bruner

Twenty years ago, Bryan Tuggle looked around the grounds at 75 Holmes Road in Charlotte, Arkansas, and didn’t see much. He sure didn’t envision the 20 faith houses, multi-purpose building, amphitheater and more, all sitting on 200 acres down a country road.

Instead, from the top of the hill, overlooking the overgrown fields where only deer and rabbits had roamed for so many years, Tuggle saw lost souls like himself needing a way out of their addictions. He himself had attended a faith-based ministry to recover from addiction and felt like something similar was sorely needed in his home community.

To mark the anniversary, John 3:16 will host a reunion event on May 6 at the camp, with a fish dinner served at 5. Every graduate who attends will be automatically entered into five grand prize drawings: a Spartan Mower donated by Dale Scrivner of M&I Electric and John 3:16; and a $1,000 cash prize and three $500 cash prizes, all donated by First Community Bank.

In addition, the sponsors will have an opportunity to win a custom Jeep, donated by Brian and Michelle Chapman from Homer Skelton Group.

Tuggle said he is hoping for a great turnout to celebrate two decades of the ministry’s mission of saving lives and restoring families. Tuggle said in 2003 he was in debt to a

bank, who asked him to clean up and refurbish the property so it could be put on the market and sold.

“My dad and I were out working on it, and we saw a sparrow hanging upside down in the pavilion,” he said, recalling how they both assumed the bird had died in that position. They walked on down to the lake and on their way back they saw it move, so they cut it loose. “We took it down to the lake to give it some water, and that bird flew off. That’s when I said, ‘We’re taking it off the marketwe’re going to buy it.’”

They formed a board, named it John 3:16 Ministries, obtained a bank loan, and started making plans around the four cabins, shop, chapel and bathhouse that were there. “It was about to fall in when we got it,” but to honor the 11 years that John and Donna Steer had operated their own refuge, called Fort Steer, each of the buildings was refurbished and is still standing today.

“I couldn’t see that we were going to build a kitchen or a dorm or any more rooms; I just saw guys like me down there. That’s all the vision I had to have, and God would do the rest. But I had to have me in it because I needed that worse than anybody,” Tuggle said.

David Bulla was the first man to arrive at the ministry. “I began hearing about Bryan Tuggle when I was in prison in Louisiana,” Bulla said. “My mom said Bryan had come to

Desha Baptist Church and gave his testimony and shared his vision about what he wanted to do.”

On March 18, 2003, the 42-year-old Bulla was saved in prison. “When you get saved, you better hang on because sometimes God’s plan comes pretty quick. They told me while I was in prison that if I could come up with $400 I could be released.” Eight days later, Bulla found himself heading to Arkansas. He called Tuggle about coming to the ministry, and started working with him to get the camp in shape.

Although Tuggle wasn’t planning to take men until June or July, Bulla moved in on May 5. “It was just me, Bryan and Jesus,” Bulla said. At that point, Bulla said he didn’t have a working shower and had to take showers at Tuggle’s house. “We didn’t have a cafeteria, we didn’t know how we were going to eat, but the Lord provided,” he said.

Within a week or so, Bulla said the next man arrived and got into the routine of Bible study, meal and manual labor. “It was just so peaceful. I was saved and I was looking to get my feet on the ground and get started with my new life because the old man was dead.”

Bulla stayed six months and graduated on his birthday, Nov. 1, 2003.

Tuggle said his bank took a big leap of faith on his idea, as he was writing hot checks to cover gas and lumber and groceries, but the bank kept covering the checks. Tuggle went with the men to churches to garner support and raked leaves.

“I gained 65 pounds going from one lady’s yard mowing and eating pecan pie to the next lady, mowing and eating chocolate pie with ice cream, to the next one, with dumplings. Because you have to eat,” Tuggle said, laughing. “But that’s how we made it.”

The grand opening event was a free fish fry, not really a fundraiser. But someone wrote him a five-figure check. Then the fundraisers began. “Those three years of crawling around kept us broke all the time,” Tuggle said. When the instructors came on board, however, everything changed. One of those was James Ashley, a Charlotte area native who had moved to Fayetteville and was going through a divorce about that time. Ashley said he turned back to drugs “pretty heavily” and was running with some old buddies. His mom fell ill and “went downhill fast.” In 2006, he was in jail with no hope.

“I gave myself one more shot because I couldn’t do it on my own. Jail didn’t fix me. I came out here to try something,” Ashley said. He recalled sitting through an interview at Tuggle’s house, when Tuggle asked if he thought Jesus could fix him. “That was the first time I was asked a question that I didn’t have the answer to immediately. I thought for a second and said, ‘I gotta believe He can because no one else can.’”

“There was always something about James, something special,” Tuggle said. Ashley became the 61st graduate of John 3:16’s program and stayed on as one of the instructors. Tuggle said it was the instructors that allowed for the growth - not only in those early years but ever since. He knew he could handle 20 men, but the need was so

much more. There were always more men trying to get into the camp. Ashley said after three months there, he thought he had a handle on his addiction and was ready to give up his bed to someone more in need than himself, but Tuggle shut him down on that quickly.

“He was getting shaky on me,” Tuggle agreed. “We didn’t have an instructor, but I was maxed out. I couldn’t do any more without instructors, but I knew I didn’t want to lose James. He was too good for the camp.”

Ashley decided he was going to stay, and with three others became the first group of instructors. Dorms, known as faith houses, began popping up, but beds were often filled as soon as the building was finished.

“Guys would come on Sunday and we’d say we don’t have a bed for you - but we do have a couch,” Ashley recalled. “And that’s what they were sleeping on anyway, somebody’s couch, or the floor, or their backseat, or a jail cell,” Tuggle said.

“John 3:16 didn’t ever fix anybody. John 3:16 didn’t fix me. The relationship with Jesus is what fixed me,” Ashley said. “And John 3:16 isn’t a perfect place, but we teach the perfect One and that’s the opportunity that everyone, not just residents, who come to this place have to know Jesus.”

He said there have been sisters, moms, dads, and other loved ones of residents who have ended up changing their lives, as well. “That’s because of Jesus.” Ashley said Ephesians 3:20 is in a way the motto of the camp, stating God is able to do far more abundantly above all we ask or think

Ashley said it’s like eating an elephant one bite at a time. “You think about the faith houses and the buildings and the men, but it all gets done with one piece of sheetrock at a time, nail at a time. When it is of God, it gets done.” Tuggle summed what he has learned in the last 20 years with Isaiah 58:11, “Where God guides, He provides.”

Over the years, the original 13 acres was expanded to 200 as more land was purchased. There would be additions like a children’s playground, a large multi-purpose building the ministry is quickly outgrowing, and a total of 19 faith houses with two more in the works, bringing the number of residents to 260, Tuggle said.

Men stay six months to a year, and the camp typically graduates about three to five men each Sunday, with the total of graduates currently topping 1,900. John 3:16 has even had a few residents from other countries, including South Africa. A man had come to the States and was working for a farmer in Arkansas when got a DUI, and his employer recommended he come here.

As of Jan. 21, 2018, Brent Waugh became the 1,000th graduate, staying on as an instructor, as well. “As long as there’s a genuine desire to change, there’s a genuine desire to help. That keeps me motivated as the next guy needs to be motivated, needs Jesus. It’s a genuine need this world has,” Waugh said, pointing out, “It took 15 years to get 1,000 graduates, but only five years to get the second thousand.”

Bulla, who has worked for Wade’s Heating, Cooling & Electrical for approximately 15 years, said when he visits the camp these days, it never ceases to amaze him how

87%

average of 41% 11:1

much it’s grown from its humble beginnings. “The peaceful feeling that comes over me - it’s the same feeling now, I don’t care how big it gets.

“Bryan has grown so much since those early days, both of us have. Iron sharpens iron,” he said. “John 3:16 gave me a foundation and set me on my path. … If I’m struggling I go out there and it regrounds me, reconnects me to where I need to be.”

Bulla said they could not imagine what the ministry would be like 20 years down the road, “But that’s how awesome God is - and it’s not just helping guys but the families too.”

“For some reason God uses a guy that don’t know how to build a doghouse, to build a ministry. But it will come to a day when the building won’t be going on but what’s already there will be doing much more,” Tuggle said.

2300 Highland Rd., Batesville, AR 16 Batesville . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Tuckerman

John 316 residents and instructors.

John 316 future.

Kimberlee Dannette Thomas is a Chandler, Oklahoma native. She relocated to Jackson County in 1986. She has five children, five grandchildren, is co-owner and creator of Eye On Magazine. She is recognized from her years of co-hosting on many Cable Channel 15 & 6 broadcast with Bud & David Black. She earned her Associates from ASUN in Fine Arts.

A Historical Endeavor

Women’s Softball Coach and Men’s Basketball Coach. Ike stated, “These leaders have been instrumental in leading the college forward in the athletic endeavor.”

As an ASUN alumnus, I am always excited to share the news of growth and new opportunities offered by my alma mater. I recently had the opportunity to speak with Ike Wheeler, Vice Chancellor for Leadership and Community Engagement, about the addition of men’s and women’s sports at ASUN. It is with his assistance that I bring you the following article.

When I asked Ike for a brief history on ASUN he replied with a wonderfully in depth paper he had written for a previous occasion in September 2022. I believe this one paragraph sums it all up quite well, “Arkansas State University-Newport looks vastly different emerging into the third decade of the twenty-first century than it did as a small vocational technical school, or a branch campus of a larger twoyear college. New facilities house state-of-the art programs; new faces share the eagerness and optimism connected to opportunity; new initiatives challenge and draw the very best faculty, staff and students have to offer. However, some things remain the same; the empowerment of students to obtain their dreams; the chance for young professionals to achieve career goals unimaginable; the desire to impact positive results for shareholders and the community.” While the paper was full of stories that tell the journey the school has been on to arrive where it is today, the history itself is not my focus in this article as much as the making of it. With the welcoming of sports to ASUN the journey of history making continues.

Ike was quick to note, “ASU-Newport has always been passionately interested in offering student involvement options, coupled with community participation. From the college’s inception, ASUN has looked for ways to encourage student life.” A task force was enacted in the fall of 2022, led by Chancellor Johnny Moore, comprising a broad spectrum of levels of the college to investigate athletic opportunities. Ike shared, “The “think tank” bantered many ideas and involvements, and from a grass roots perspective investigated which options worked best for ASUN.” The decision was made to add Men’s Basketball and Women’s Softball effective the fall 2023 semester. In December, 2022 ASU System Board of Trustees approved this endeavor and an application was sent to the National Junior College Athletic Association, which gave its approval in January, 2023. Plans were then underway to market and secure athletic leadership for this new endeavor. In March, three pivotal positions were added, an Athletic Director,

Let’s take a moment to meet these new leaders. They each bring their own wealth of knowledge, experiences, and excitement to the newly formed ASUN sports program.

Brad Phillips is the Athletic Director. He is a 1993 graduate of Maynard High School, 2002 graduate of Williams Baptist College, with a graduate degree from Emporia State. Brad is a resident of Pocahontas. He has been Athletic Director and Men’s basketball coach at Southeastern Baptist College, men’s and women’s basketball coach at UA Cossatot and women’s basketball coach at Crowley’s Ridge. Brad noted, “The athletic arena provides a tremendous proving ground for students. Each day they perfect skills they will use for a lifetime.”

Kevin Pearce is the Women’s Softball coach. He is a 1998 graduate of Newport High School, where he played basketball, baseball and football. He is a 2002 graduate of ASU with a degree in Sports Management. Kevin is married to his wife Shannon, and they have three daughters. He is one of the voices of the Newport Greyhounds and recently received the Sully Award in recognition for his involvement with high school athletics throughout Arkansas. Kevin shared, “There is nothing more exciting than molding a young person and exposing them to valuable leadership and team building skills. Athletics accomplishes this task. I could not be more excited.”

Logan Nutt is the Men’s Basketball coach. He is a 2007 graduate of Jonesboro High School where he participated in basketball, football and track and field. He is a 2011 A-State graduate, and in 2013 obtained his graduate degree from Southeast Missouri State. His coaching career includes Culver Stockton, Woodland High School, Doniphan High School and Crowley’s Ridge Academy. Logan shared, “Athletics brings so much to an educational setting. The lessons learned both on and off the field are immeasurable, and create a life-long imprint.”

ASUN will begin softball in late summer with the season extending through the middle of November. Basketball will begin October 1 and extend through February/March. Softball will resume in late January and extend through the first of May.

Chancellor Johnny Moore is very excited about athletics at ASU-Newport. “The experiences and

community engagement opportunities provided by Junior College athletics remain immeasurable. From every conceivable perspective, the trajectory and history of ASU-Newport will be forever altered in the most positive of ways by the addition of women’s and men’s athletic opportunities.”

It is without a doubt that the addition of athletics has generated great community interest and

excitement. In closing Ike noted that ASU-Newport has consistently enjoyed tremendous community support. “The success of ASUN is directly attributed to the benevolence of community partners. We would be so remiss without remembering our ASU System Board of Trustees, President Chuck Welch as well as our ASUN Athletics Task Force for their hard work and support as we undertake this historical endeavor.” N

Book Review

Russel Banks’ The Magic Kingdom

God.”

So one part of the enjoyment of reading this novel comes from seeing how all this works in the day-to-day lives of the Elders and other principal characters.

Novelist Russell Banks’ last novel, “The Magic Kingdom,” has both historical roots and a wholly fictional love triangle.

Published last year, this novel will be Banks’ last in the full sense of the word, for he died this last January. Fittingly, in it he brought to bear interests seen in previous novels.

It is not his first historical novel, for instance. He based “Cloudsplitter” on the life of abolitionist John Brown. He based “The Magic Kingdom” on a long-ago Shaker community named Olive Branch near Orlando, FL, and the present-day Disney Magic Kingdom.

Re-naming the community “New Bethany,” Banks is faithful to the time and place of the real Shaker community, which owned over 7,000 acres in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. And he did a lot of research on how Shaker communities were organized and operated, all of which makes the novel an educational read.

The two-dozen Shakers in Banks’ New Bethany live as a commune, with no private property. They follow the dual leadership of a male and a female elder, named Elder John Bennett and Eldress Mary Glynn. All the Shakers perform tasks assigned by the elders, mostly herding and farming but also woodworking, tailoring, shoemaking, cooking, and teaching, making the community self-sufficient and also enabling the Shakers to sell their excess on the open market.

They are Christian in the main, believing in the divinity of Jesus. But they add a second divinity, their founder Mother Ann, who they believe abides with Jesus and will return with him at the Second Coming. They pray to both and conduct regular church services. Their work and religious lives come together in their guiding principle, “Hands for work, hearts for

The other part comes from the fictional plot involving the love triangle among the narrator Harley Mann, his love interest Sadie Pratt, and Elder John—a surprising basis for the plot given that Shakers lived celebate lives of sexual abstinence. Here’s how Banks works it out:

It seems that Harley came to New Bethany as a twelve-year-old when his widowed mother moved the family there around 1900 and became a practicing Shaker. They’d lived in a different idealistic but secular “Ruskinite” community beforehand. The plot follows Harley for the next ten years of his life there.

The community expects youths who turn 18 either to make professions of faith and become Shakers or to leave the community. Harley lives outwardly as a Shaker but inwardly does not believe, secretly calling himself a scientific rationalist and an atheist.

Though Harley never makes a profession, the Shakers never force the point and he continues living there as a Shaker beyond 18. It seems that Elder John, who has become a father figure and mentor, is grooming him as the most likely community member to lead the group when he passes the torch.

Then there’s Sadie, a former patient at a nearby tuberculosis sanitarium who comes to live at New Bethany when the sanitarium closes. Like Harley, she is not a Shaker but follows Shaker customs while living there. She is a few years older than Harley, but as he matures that difference matters less and less. Finally they become secret lovers.

And that’s when the simmering crisis comes to full boil. Harley has long been jealous of Elder John’s attention to Sadie, suspicious that he is also a secret lover of Sadie, though she denies it. As Sadie’s disease progresses and

she grows weaker and weaker, readers know some drastic event is looming. I won’t reveal what happens as I don’t want this review to be a “spoiler,” but I will say that the catastrophe is based on a real, historical catastrophe that shook the real community of Olive Branch over 100 years ago.

Banks’ way of telling the story adds to its realism and interest. He pretends to have come across a cache of audio tapes recorded by Harley Mann as an 82-year-old retiree living in St. Cloud, FL, in 1971, with each reel of tape becoming one chapter in the novel. Banks has made young men his central characters in earlier novels like “Rule of the Bone” and “Lost Memory of Skin,” but this is the first time he has made the same character both a youth and a senior citizen. He carries off the task admirably, giving readers the wisdom of an older man reflecting on his own actions and motives as a much younger man.

Banks himself was 82 when he died last January. N

Terrell Tebbetts has taught English at Lyon College for over 50 years.

Thyme Enough

Heloise’s Shrimp Dijon

Nelson and Sandy Barnett met in college. They have been happily married for 59 years and are still having fun cooking and living! Find Sandy’s newly published thriller Dead in the Shadow of Doubt on Amazon.com.

It’s Spring! Spring means summer’s coming and I’m already thinking about the beach. And the beach always turns my mind to seafood. Shrimp, cooked any which a way, Quick boiled shrimp with plain ole ketchup and horseradish sauce, or a good Low Country Boil with shrimp, sausage, potatoes and corn spread on the table on top of a pile of newspapers. Po’boys on baguettes. Then there is Crab, as in Crab Cakes, and Crab legs. Scallops.

Well, a few days back our most daily newspaper on Wednesday must have been thinking about the beach too because there was a request from one kindred soul for a Heloise recipe called Shrimp Dijon. We tried it, Nelson prepared it, The Preacher (his wife was Out of Town), Nelson and I ate it, and we all pronounce it worthy. In fact, it was so worthy I’m going to nominate it for Dish of the Week here at our house. Try it, and you can almost hear the waves lapping against the shore.

Heloise’s Shrimp Dijon

¼ Cup Butter

1 ½ lbs Peeled and Deveined Shrimp

1 Medium Onion, thinly sliced

¼ Cup Flour

1 ½ Cups Milk

2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

6 oz Cream Cheese, softened.

Basmati rice, cooked.

Heat butter in large pan or stainless skillet add shrimp and onions and sauté for three minutes. (I remove shrimp at this point to keep from over cooking it.)

Sprinkle flour over the onions and butter stirring and thinning with the milk a little at a time to keep it from lumping.

Add mustard, nutmeg, salt and pepper and cook for three to five minutes.

Stir in cream cheese until blended…. Add shrimp back into mixture and warm through, but do not boil, and do not overcook. Serve on prepared hot rice. Enjoy. N

In The Field with Randy

Annual Sedge Control in Rice

As I write this Eye On article on April 14th, we’re off to an incredible planting start. A whole lot of rice, soybeans, and corn have been planted. The days of planting these crops in a certain order are a distant memory. It wouldn’t be unheard of to see all 3 crops being planted on the same day on the same farm. This is clearly one of the fastest starts I can ever remember. As I’ve been telling everybody the last few days, the good Lord has a way of humbling us when we have a start like this. But who knows, we may stay on the fast track all summer and end up getting to harvest a lot of crop in August. That would be nice, especially if it turns out to be a good crop. This month I want to review annual sedge control in rice. The annual sedges have become a major problem due to becoming resistant to the ALS herbicides and the increase of a couple of formerly uncommon sedges that we’re having to deal with.

You have to be able to identify what you have. First, you must distinguish between yellow nutsedge and the annual sedges. Yellow nutsedge has thicker stems and broader leaves especially early on. You may or may not be able to find the tuber (nut) when you examine the root system. If you do, that’s a dead giveaway that you have yellow nutsedge. The root system is a complex underground network of vegetative structures including bulbs from which the shoots arise, rhizomes, tubers, and a fibrous root system extending up to 4 feet deep. The annual sedges have a much simpler root system.

The surest way to identify rice flatsedge is to crush the leaves between your fingers. If you smell a cedar-like odor, that is a sure way to know you have rice flatsedge.

The annual sedge that seems to be increasing the fastest is white margined sedge. The best identifier for it is the whitesilver look to the backside of the leaves. Also, the roots are a rusty red color.

Another annual sedge that we can see is smallflower umbrella sedge. The seedlings of this weed have needle-like leaves with the first leaves forming a V-shape.

Control can vary somewhat between these sedges. Sharpen and Bolero both have decent preemergence activity on rice flatsedge and white-margined sedge. Sharpen has good activity on smallflower umbrella sedge. Propanil, Basagran, and Loyant are effective against rice flatsedge and smallflower umbrella sedge from a postemergence standpoint. Whitemargined sedge is most effectively controlled postemergence by Basagran and Loyant.

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

Notes from the Clearing

Joey Thomas

The dawn brought a gilded sky that promised every conceived desire. The birds were silently in awe and the large body of water at his feet, placid with ancient respect. He had plans and ideas about what the day could hold, but this waking still frame conjured exhuberance yet dreamt. As if the world had shifted in the night and wishes no longer held for display at arms length. This new day was different and pulled like a magnet at his desire to manifest the first words of his last book.

Randy Chlapecka is an agronomist with Farmers Supply Association, 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.