Editor’s Note

April Flowers

Joey Thomas

April Showers bring May Flowers, or so they say. We’ll see, but the flowers thus far bloomed sure are lovely. It is nice to get outside and see the world, even with the bugs that are enjoying us being out there. It is always a give and take, and finding the zen space to be joyful more often, despite what has to be given up in the moment, can be difficult. It is learning to take the irritations for the pleasant sensations they can be. Good Luck! It is also about letting go of what we were taught to think about

National Junior Auxiliary Week

Lindsey Allen

Junior Auxiliary of Jackson County celebrated National JA Week, April 2-8, 2023. This annual celebration is a time to pause and thank the community, sponsors and volunteer members who work so hard year-round to make a positive difference.

The week began with our 5K run out at ASU Newport April 1st and continued with an honorary proclamation from Mayor Derrick Ratliffe. He commended the JA volunteers for their work in the community.

JA of Jackson County has been a part of the county community since 1994 and has many active members who donated over 120 hours in 2021 – 2022 to the Chapter's various projects. The chapter raises funds each year through butterbraid sales, sponsors, and our first 5K.

"It was an exciting week for us, because it gave us a chance to thank all of the citizens of Jackson County for supporting us in this work, and to recognize our wonderful corporate sponsors who finance these projects," President Lindsey Allen, said. "The families and children we serve are so deserving and thankful for this assistance, and none of that would be possible without the support of the entire community."

As we hit the second half of the 81st year for everything, and see that every thing has its place, even the mosquitoes. Either way, we got over a couple of months before they are in full swing, enjoy all that you can! the National Association of Junior Auxiliary, we are sharing our challenge and theme this year put forth by our National President, Noel Smith-Howe. She asked us all to have a “Heart of a Warrior”. This message has tremendous opportunity during JA week to spread hope, and share what we do in our local chapters. Let it serve as an inspiration for others to get involved. There is no better subject to receive hope than the children that benefit from Junior Auxiliary and its projects.

Also, TRIPPING NEVADA is up for preorder on Amazon.com. This is my third novel, a psychological thriller about a young man chasing freedom. A road trip through Nevada reveals the cracks in his soul as he is caught up in a traumatic web of deceit and darkness.

Junior Auxiliary of Jackson County is a part of the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries (NAJA), a non-profit organization founded in 1941 with headquarters in Greenville, MS. NAJA has 16,028 active, associate, and life members in 93 Chapters in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. Junior Auxiliary members (worked or volunteered) 100,256 hours in their communities in 2021-22 to serve 226,516 people, and invested $3,600,000 in seven southeastern states.

The NAJA slogan is “Caring hearts. Helping hands. Changing lives.” Junior Auxiliary chapters are working more than ever to provide care to those less fortunate in order to make their tomorrows better.

For more information, or to make a tax deductible donation to JA of Jackson County, call our treasurer Taylor Honey-Shelton at 870-217-2239 or email us at jaofjacksonco@gmail.com. For more information on NAJA, visit www.najanet.org or call (662) 332-3000.

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Eye On Independence received the 2012 Innovative Project award for outstanding, innovative, continuous or effective coverage of literacy issues, resulting in positive change or improvement.

The Ozark Gateway Tourist Council awarded Eye On Independence the 2014 Wilson Powell Media Support Award for its dedication to tourism in the Gateway Region and Arkansas.

Cherri Design

Shower and Tub Finishes

The average adult spends 200 hours a year in the bathroom, making it one of the most used rooms in your home. As much as we use our bathrooms, they are one of the first rooms to deteriorate without constant maintenance. This is especially true the older your bathroom, as today’s latest bathroom materials are engineered to last longer without the need for constant cleaning and maintenance. Renovating your bathroom can be the ideal home improvement project, as bathrooms affect the value of your entire home and a first impression to guests.

Renovating a bathroom can include many features, but upgrading your shower is generally the most impactful. There are numerous shower finishes available, but one of the most popular is tile. Tile increases the value of your home, making it a great addition to any home. Due to the expense, tile can get quite costly, so compare prices before choosing, if budget is an issue. Also, tile tends to have a long life, making the cost worth it in some cases. Tile is available in a wide range of materials, such as ceramic, porcelain, stone and glass. Tile also adds character, and you can choose a design and/or pattern that makes a statement in an otherwise typically boring room.

Porcelain and ceramic tend to be smooth and uniform, while stone tile has a natural look, in addition to adding texture to your bathroom. Stone tile is more expensive than porcelain or ceramic. Glass tile is typically the most expensive option, and installation is more difficult, as glass tile is fragile and breaks. Glass tile is a great way to give the perception of a larger shower, due to the light reflecting capabilities of glass.

Crushed shower walls are a blend of crushed stone, along with other natural materials that provide reinforcement and strength. When combined, these make a surface stronger and longer lasting than tile, acrylic, and other common shower surfaces. Crushed stone shower walls do not chip or discolor with time, giving you a beautiful custom shower that stands up to your busy family.

For those of us on a tight budget and wanting the easiest shower wall option, fiberglass and acrylic are a great choice. Fiberglass and acrylic materials are the most widely used shower materials in new home construction and seen in older homes, as well. These options are so popular, because these surfaces are low maintenance, extremely durable and budget friendly. High quality materials specifically engineered to resist mold and mildew make acrylic showers very easy to clean. These surfaces come in prefabricated sheets, engineered to fit easily over your current shower walls.

Wall board is also an option, but this material is not used much anymore with all the newer, longer lasting options available. Wall board is easy to install with adhesive, cut to fit your space and more budget friendly.

An updated shower adds beauty, value and a fresh look to your bathroom. Shower updates are money well spent.