Eye On Magazine June 2022

Eye On Peace, Love, & PRIDE

June2022

Magazine www.eyeonmag.com

first community bank ’s

YOUTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT

Come join the fun! Teach your children the importance of saving by opening a Youth Savings Account for them.

No minimum to open and no monthly service fee* Interest paid quarterly at current Youth Savings rate (subject to change) Unlimited deposits, up to 6 withdrawals per statement cycle. A withdrawal fee of $1 will be charged for each debit in excess of six per statement cycle.** Club membership kit when you sign up

Each Member that saves over $100 will receive a Free Squirrel Squad T-Shirt!

firstcommunity.net | 870.612.3400 BATESVILLE 1325 Harrison St. • 3 Eagle Mountain Blvd. • 301 E. Main St. SOUTHSIDE 1 Allen Chapel Rd. CAVE CITY 102 S. Main St. NEWPORT 2525 Malcolm Ave. CHEROKEE VILLAGE/HIGHLAND 1 Iroquois Dr. *Checking accounts without activity may be charged dormant account fees. **Transfers or withdrawals from the account to another account or to third parties by pre-authorized, automatic or telephone transfer are included in the six transactions per statement cycle.

Editor’s Note Happy to Be Here Joey Thomas It’s nice to work hard, to sweat in the heat and accomplish a goal, but, after that...when I’m burnt and run down from the effort, it sure is nice to come inside and put this lovely magazine together for all of you wonderful readers. I do enjoy my work and have added a new title to my name since last month’s issue; I am a published author.

I say this, not to brag (because whether I am any good or not is for my readers to judge for themselves), but to relish in another goal accomplished. I’ve been writing most of my life, able to finish a novel since 2017, and hopefully, getting better with every 10,000 new words. It is nice to come back to this work, this publication with that goal under my belt. It makes this more localized work all the more enjoyable; to reach out to neighbors, to share their stories and their images for other neighbors.

I am glad to be a part of Jackson, Independence and surrounding counties. Small town space and ethics have helped shape me and by the character of my kids, I would say my family and community raised me right.

Thank you all for reading, continue to find your favorite articles from our terrific writers and enjoy this month’s issue of Eye On Magazine!

Oh, and if you’d like to see my book, look for Twisted, Turned, and Bent at Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble. com.

N

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 The Course at Eagle Mountain 800 Gap Road, Batesville, AR

We're your local lender. Which means we know the community you're wanting to live in. You can be confident that we'll find the best loan to fit your financial goals - we've been doing it since 1898!

Kenny Thaxton – Senior Loan Officer / NMLS#

73845 1

2105 Malcolm Ave., Ste. 118 Newport, Arkansas Ph o n e: ( 870) 495- 3931 Email: k thax ton@boemor tgage.c om

Bank of England Mortgage is a division of Bank of England. NMLS 418481. Member FDIC

SCAN THIS CODE for more information, to register a team, or to become a sponsor.

10

15

18

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.

Cover Photos by Storyteller Images Cover Design by Joey Thomas

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.

Class B CDL School Bus Training Starts June 14, 2022; 2-weeks Theory Practice Range Behind the Wheel Training https://uaccb.coursestorm.com

Welding for Production Manufacturing Starts June 6, 2022; 4-weeks Basic Hand Tools Power Tools Gas Metal Arc Welding Metal Preparation Machine Setup & Maintenance https://uaccb.coursestorm.com

4 Batesville . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Tuckerman

ATTENTION MEDICAL SUPPLY

“Where you get the ATTENTION You deserve!”

- Up to 15.5 miles on one battery charge - Larger foot platform - Tubular design disassembles into 4 lightweight pieces - Unique under-seat storage basket comes standard over full-size stadium seat - Tight 28.5” turning radius - 6 Color options

LiteRider Envy

2200 Malcolm Ave., Suite C Newport, AR 72112 (870) 523-2408

In This Issue 3/ Editor’s Note

18/ Cover Story

6/ Cherri Design

21/ In The Field with Randy

7/ Things To Do 8/ Unity Health Harris

22/ Thyme Enough

Happy to Be Here

Peace, Love & PRIDE

Grand Entrance

Annual Sedge Control in Rice Paul Prudhomme’s Crawfish Etouffee

Mental Health Month

10/ Tales of a Transplanted Fashionista

Eric Shoffner, BPhram, P.D. Pharmacist / Owner

Feeling 2022

1117 Mclain Street Suite 400 Newport, Arkansas 72112 (870) 523-5555

12/ Seniors, Can We Talk?

Life Insurance in the Age of COVID

13/ Local Faces 17/ Book Review

www.iCareRx.com

The Further Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

TWELVE YEARS STRONG!

eyeonmag.com

eyeonjoseph@eyeonmag.com

June 2022 5

Cherri Design Grand Entrance

Cherri Rodgers has a B.S. In Interior Design from UCA. She is active in several local ministries & community projects. Most of all, she values time with her family and grandson. Cherri's Interior Design is available for both residential & commercial design or decorating needs. Cherri owns The Kitchen Shop at 610 Saint Louis Street in Batesville for all your kitchen needs.

The first area of our home that most visitors see is the hallway or entryway. Many times, this is the only part of our home that visitors will see. Since first impressions are important, make this space as warm and inviting as you can.

When choosing your color scheme, the amount and kind of light the hallway receives is an important factor. If your space gets little natural light, be sure it has plenty of artificial lighting. If using artificial lighting and little natural light, avoid pale colored walls, as they tend to look dull and dingy. Warm colored walls, such as golden yellows and warm tans, are welcoming and work well in natural or artificial light. Your entryway can introduce a color that will be used throughout your home or just an accent color. Also, wall colors can compliment a feature of your home, such as a staircase or a piece of accent furniture.

Generally, a hallway/entryway is a high traffic area, so consider practicality for your family and lifestyle. Painted walls need to be touched up and eventually repainted.

Wallpaper is quite durable, and if you do not want a pattern, you can purchase textured paper that can be painted.

Another option is chair rail at about waist high. Below the rail, a different color paint, wainscot or a wood panel can be used to break up the walls and add interest.

Flooring is also a major design element in your entryway and is an ideal place to go bold. Since the hallway is high traffic, choose a durable flooring suitable for your family.

Dirt, grit and leaves are tracked in on shoes, so take into consideration the amount of unwelcome dirt collected on your floor. Several options are available, such as tile, wood, stone, marble or linoleum, and patterns can be created with one or more of these materials. When choosing flooring, slip-resistant may be needed. Our shoes track in rain and mud, causing the floor to be wet and slippery. The hallway is probably the best area in your home to make a bold statement in flooring, as the area is typically not a large area.

Bold patterns in rooms, such as bedrooms or living room, can be overstimulating and overwhelming.

Already emphasized several times, our hallways/ entryways are the first area most visitors see in our homes and are sometimes the only room people see. Therefore, create a warm and welcoming space through various features. Choose an overhead lighting fixture that makes a statement about who your family is or speaks of your home’s style. Rugs also make great accent pieces, but be sure they are secure and will not slip. Lamps and artwork add to the feel of your space as well. Greenery is always welcoming and adds life, no matter what room it is in.

Let your hallway be a welcoming area to your guests, drawing them into your home!

N

6 Batesville . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Tuckerman

Things To Do

Batesville

FATHEAD Grill, Minnie Bell’s, the Orange Spoon, Pack’s Shaved Ice, Irma’s Hand Churned Ice Cream, Cora’s Kettle Corn, and other food vendors will be available.

June 3, Big Fun on the Bayou! See mainstreetbatesville.org (870.569.1572) for more information.

NADT’s The Little Mermaid, June 3 @ 6:30pm. nadt.info 870.213.5758.

Main Street Batesville Farmer’s Market begins June 4 in the Citizens Bank Pocket Park. mainstreetbatesville@gmail.com.

UACCB First Responder Course June 6-14 @ 5pm with Ms. Jennifer Davidek/ register by May 27/870.612.2082/ katrina. stevens@uaccb.edu.

Stop Bugging Me! (Garden Pest)June 7 @ 10am. oirm. educator@gmail.com / 870.793.2121.

Who’s Who Business Expo June 8 @ 10am. Evie Clauss, 11am to 3pm, the business-to-business trade show 10 to 11am, all at the Batesville Community Center. 870.793.2378/tourism@ batesvilleareachamber.com.

UACCB Safe Sitter Essentials with CPR June 11 @ 9am to 4pm. 870.612.2082/katrina.stevens@uaccb.edu.

UACCB Class B CDL Training June 14 @ 4pm.

870.612.2082/katrina.stevens@uaccb.edu.

UACCB Inside Engineering Camp June 20 @ 8am.

870.612.2082/katrina.stevens@uaccb.edu.

Arkansas Geology June 21 @ 10am. oirm.educator@gmail.com / 870.793.2121.

Gränges Hiring Event is Friday, June 10, at the Newport Economic Development Commission from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Gränges starting pay is $15.37/hour with opportunities to advance quickly.

Mountain View Newport

Arkansas Craft School https://arkansascraftschool.org/calendar

The Joe & Helen Harris Foundation and the Harris Center for Opportunities are pleased to announce the schedule of their 2022 SUMMER OPPORTUNITY CAMPS! All camps will be held at the Harris Center for Opportunities (2000 Fairground Road). The Harris Foundation is excited to bring these camps to our community this summer FREE OF CHARGE thanks to their Corporate Sponsors, Unity Health-Newport, Arkansas State UniversityNewport and Tech Depot. For more information check Joe & Helen Harris Foundation page on Facebook. FOR QUESTIONS OR TO REGISTER FOR ANY OF THESE OPPORTUNITY CAMPS CONTACT: Sheridan Chadwell, Projects Administrator, (870) 512-8565 – cell or info.theharrisfoundation@gmail.com – email.

Creating Art: Traditional and Digital Styles” – June 13th – June 15th (3-Day Camp) - This Opportunity Camp is offered through a partnership and sponsorship with TECH DEPOT. “The Know-Hows of Knitting” – June 15th – June 17th (3-Day Camp) “Baseball Hitting Clinic with Coach Caleb Spears” – June 13th (One Day Only) “Softball Hitting Clinic with Coach Jordan Malone” – June 15th (One Day Only)

www.facebook.com/newportarchamber Also see newportarcity. org/calendar/ Mark your calendar for the Delta Arts Festival on Friday, June 3rd and Saturday, June 4th in downtown Newport. The Delta Arts Festival will feature 200 visual artist, 40 authors, 27 concerts, 10 film screenings, adult and children’s workshops and more.

“VEX Robotics Camp” – June 27th – July 1st (5-Day Camp) This Opportunity Camp is offered through a partnership and sponsorship with Arkansas State University-Newport.

“Cooking/Meal Prep Camp” – July 6th – July 8th (3-Day Camp) - This Opportunity Camp is offered through a partnership and sponsorship with Unity Health.

N

Thompson’s Jewelry Serving you since 1924 870-793-7136 255 E. Main Street - Historic Downtown - Batesville Where your hometown jeweler should be

AVAILABLE NOW The Newest Batesville Puzzle A Portion of the proceeds are donated to Maxfield Park

TWELVE YEARS STRONG!

eyeonmag.com

eyeonjoseph@eyeonmag.com

June 2022 7

Unity Health Harris Mental Health Month 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.

In support of Mental Health Awareness Newport Mayor, David Stewart, made a Proclamation declaring May as Mental Health Awareness Month in the City of Newport.

Thank you, Mayor Stewart, for your support of Mental Health Awareness. There are many circumstances that can impact overall mental health including stress, trauma, loss, depression, anxiety, and much more. You are not alone. If you or someone you know is struggling in one of those areas, call Unity Health – Clarity Health & Wellness outpatient clinic: Searcy 501.203.0055, Cabot 501.422.6431, Newport 870.495.1260.

N

8 Batesville . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Tuckerman

Ad Space Available

Independence County Recycle Center

870.503.1150

Kallsnick, Inc.

We Recycle:

Plastic Bottles Steel Cans Aluminum Cans Cardboard Newspaper Glass Magazines

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

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

870 793 8892 110 Environmental Drive Batesville, AR Call to receive your FREE RECYCLING BIN today!

Haleigh used her single-parent scholarship to earn a nursing degree so she can take care of patients — and her daughter.

Ready to help hardworking single parents succeed? Donate now at aspsf.org.

“I was not alone in this journey. There were people who wanted to help me!”

Haleigh S. & her daughter Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund Recipient

Quality Name Brand Clothing for the Entire Family

2105 Malcolm Ave, Suite 105 - Newport / 870-495-3004 TWELVE YEARS STRONG!

eyeonmag.com

eyeonjoseph@eyeonmag.com

June 2022 9

Tales of a Transplanted Fashionista Feeling 2022

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.

As we close this chapter of high school for so many of our kids, with graduation and just the end of the school year, I realize that not everyone looks forward to a happy summer like my own child does. He is personally looking forward to down time at home, time with friends and time by the pool (or really any body of water).

This school year has certainly had its challenges and successes, major highs and major lows. The 2021-2022 school year began with strict Covid regulations for class spacing, class numbers, masks and quarantine, and ended with lots of wonderful normal, like field trips, Graduation and laughter in the hallways again.

My own child started junior high, which ended up being a huge transition for him. He had some periods of profound loneliness (he would be horrified that I spoke the truth here), but landed on his feet. We have always had a strong bond and a relationship where we can talk through most things, so he is definitely supported at

home. He thrived in his classes and really enjoyed his Math teacher so much (he enjoyed all of his teachers but Math has always been his favorite class!).

As a counselor, I have seen so many of the same issues walking around our campus as I saw in my own child; just a struggle to make sense of the weirdness of the last two years, deaths of significant important adults in their lives, depression and anxiety. Additionally all of the normal high school stressors never went away, the stress of thinking everyone else has things all together and you just don’t, the struggle over belonging to a group or being around a group of people with like interests, and just the ebb and flow of hormones and feelings that normal teenagers experience, sometimes with all of the feelings all in one day!

Here’s to the Class of 2022 and everything they have accomplished and overcame. In this class we see so many kids trying to figure out the next step. Several have chosen the military, several are going directly to work, and so many more are going to college in the fall. I’m so proud to know that in this group, as an old woman, I will have personal attorneys, plumbers, nurses, mechanics, doctors and bankers. I hope they remember my patience and kindness with them all of these years too. We are on to the next group of seniors, and to our glorious summers, with happy time off with the people we love the most.

N

10 Batesville . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Tuckerman

Riverside Park | Display at 9:15 PM more info on social

Seniors, Can We Talk?

Life Insurance in the Age of COVID 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?’.

“Ok, Ruth, what do you want to talk about that you think is an unusual question but has been on your mind?”

Ruth said she hesitated to say the “5 letter word – COVID” because so many are tired of talking about it. Yes, it still exists and has made an impact on people’s lives.

Ruth has been reviewing her life insurance. The 15-year term “period” for her policy is almost up and she’s wondering what to do - she still needs the insurance. Did Covid impact life insurance rates and make rates higher for a new policy? Will a life insurance policy pay if death was caused by Covid?

First, yes, life insurance does cover deaths from Covid. Some have already called and asked that question.

The cost of life insurance claims has been high – an increase of over 15%

from 2020. Will life insurance premiums increase because of this rise in claims?

Most life insurance companies say it is unlikely that life insurance rates will go up – at least not immediately.

Why? Life insurance rates are based on actuarial tables that extend out a century (100 years).

Th early deaths from Covid were mostly older people who were less healthy. A lot of them did not have any life insurance.

Due to the lockdowns, isolation and lack of social functions and activities, there has been an overwhelming spike in suicides, alcohol related deaths and drug overdoses. Ruth told me about her friend who never stepped foot out of her house during Covid – not even in her yard. She had groceries delivered, talked with few, and did not see anyone – just four walls. This friend tends to “get down” and Covid certainly caused a spike in her depression. She is now working to get out of that depression.

Yes, there is still uncertainty about the future effects of Covid. A neighbor, who has compromising medical issues due to medications she takes, had Covid

12 Batesville . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Tuckerman

in January. She was hospitalized a week while on oxygen. She continues to be followed by her physician who checks her lung capacity. She continues doing exercises blowing into a device to help increase her lung capacity.

Covid did create a big demand for life insurance. People were scared.

Many were concerned about financial protection for their families and their own final expenses. Yes, Covid did increase the awareness of life insurance.

(Some businesses struggling to find workers are offering life insurance as an employee benefit/incentive.)

Inflation is driving prices up for about everything. Since it costs more to live day to day, people are rethinking their need for life insurance and how much their family may need when they die.

When was the last time you looked at your life insurance? How much does your family need? You probably review your car insurance every year. Which is more important – your car or your family’s financial needs when you die? Call me at 501-868-6650 and say “Caroline, can we talk?”

N

ASUN Awarded Grant to Fund Manufacturing Training Program Jeremy Shirley The Arkansas Office of Skills Development awarded Arkansas State University-Newport more than $200,000 to support a new manufacturing training program that will help local industries.

Manufacturing continues to be a growing industry across Northeast Arkansas, and several industry leaders voiced concerns about the need for more specialized training for technical operators. S&H System, Hytrol and Intimidator UTV are three industries that approached ASU-Newport about providing training to help strengthen their workforce.

With specialized training, these industries hope their workforce will operate more efficiently and at a faster pace.

Thanks to the Arkansas Office of Skills Development, ASUN will utilize $234,823 to design a non-credit training program called the Manufacturing and Conveyor Technician (MCT) program. “This is another great example of ASUN working to create sector partnerships with business leaders developing innovative programs that alleviate current and future workforce needs”, said Office of Skills Development (OSD) Director Cody Waits. “The mission of OSD is to strategically invest in the Arkansas workforce raising education and skill

Citizens Bank, Batesville Schools honor Cody Blevins for going ‘Above & Beyond’.

Local Faces

levels meeting the needs of companies operating in Arkansas”.

The curriculum will consist of safety training, production techniques, basic mechanical skills, conveyor systems’ logic control, pneumatics and hydraulics and programmable logic controls training.

This funding helps drive ASUN’s mission of supporting the regional economy by helping train the workforce.

“ASU-Newport is very excited to be partnering with our regional manufacturers, and the Arkansas Office of Skills Development to provide this Manufacturing and Conveyor Technician (MCT) program,” said Jeff Bookout, ASUN’s Vice Chancellor for Economic and Workforce Development. “We hope this program will provide an infusion of workers to this field that will offer a sustaining wage for its participants, while also acting as a springboard for long term careers in the Manufacturing field.”

ASU-Newport plans to begin accepting students in early 2022. For more information about this program or other workforce initiatives, contact ASUN’s Office for Economic and Workforce Development at 870-680-8743. N

The West Splash Park is the City of Batesville’s newest park and is located on the southern side of West Elementary, near the intersection of E Carter Street and N Hill Street. The West Splash Park is an interactive splash pad with unique water features that offer fun for all users.

TWELVE YEARS STRONG!

eyeonmag.com

eyeonjoseph@eyeonmag.com

June 2022 13

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

UACCB Announces Student Awards Jodie Hightower The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB) announced the 2021-2022 Academic and Outstanding Student Award winners. The most distinguished of these is the Academic All-Star Award, which has been awarded to Samantha Wilson. Wilson, a nursing student, serves as a tutor for the Student Success Center and TRIO Support Services.

She is involved in the Student Government Association and volunteers with various student organizations. She also assisted with organizing group sessions for mental health needs and is an advocate for mental health crisis response. She is a strong leader both in and out of the classroom.

N

UACCB Welcomes Hankins as Chief Financial Officer Jodie Hightower Mr. Bruce Hankins has been hired as the Chief Financial Officer at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB). Hankins joins UACCB after serving as Chief Financial Officer/Controller at National Park Community College in Hot Springs, Ark. “I am excited to join UACCB and look forward to providing support to ensure the success of the college, our students, and community,” Hankins said. With over 20 years of experience in higher education administration, Hankins brings a wealth of knowledge about payroll administration, cash management, student billing, accounts payable and financial reporting to the college. He has a firm commitment to the mission of UACCB and is focused on student success and community development.

In his new role, Hankins supports the chancellor and works closely with the UACCB finance team, budget managers, and others to oversee the daily accounting and finance operations of the college and is responsible for the annual budgeting processes, year-end financial reports, and auditing processes. Bruce is a lifelong resident of the area, and he understands well the needs of UACCB, our students, and the community. We are fortunate to have someone with the experience and expertise of Mr. Hankins overseeing the

financials for the college. I personally look forward to working with Bruce and to him being a part of our administrative team,” Dr. Brian Shonk, chancellor of UACCB, said.

Hankins currently resides in Independence County and grew up in Oil Trough. Hankins began his new role April 18, 2022. N

14 Batesville . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Tuckerman

BAAC Held Ribbon-Cutting for New Mural Chris Hill The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the unveiling of a newlyfinished mural on the side of Siloe Boutique in Batesville on Tuesday.

The mural, designed and painted by Lyon College senior art major Daisy Hall, is located on the north side of the building. The mural features large colorful flowers and the word Batesville in bold typography and is a bright and colorful photo-worthy destination for the historic downtown district.

“I worked closely with Siloe to finalize the design,” said Hall. “There was a desire for it to say ‘Batesville’ to celebrate the community and draw people in for a photo opportunity. We wanted the design to be something that everyone could enjoy.”

Hall’s art meets the IMPACT Independence County Placemaking goal to improve the county’s appearance and continue the development of historic downtown Batesville.

“My students are fortunate to have a great

community in which they can practice their talents.

Daisy repurposed this public space into an interactive, inspiring, and photogenic destination at the heart of the community,” said Lyon College Art Professor Dustyn Bork. “And now we all get to enjoy it.”

Bork continued praising Hall’s work, saying, “Daisy is quickly leaving her mark in the Batesville community.

She goes above and beyond and does tremendous work.

Daisy is hardworking and creative.”

After graduating in May, Hall plans to start a professional mural design and production business.

“The mural is not only a beautiful aesthetic addition to the Main Street area, but it also is a strong visual reminder of the natural beauty in our community,” said Bork.

“I hope people will feel pride for our community and appreciate all of the art here,” concluded Hall.

Prints and stickers are available at the Batesville Area Arts Council at 226 East Main Street in Batesville to commemorate the mural’s unveiling. N

Rich Realty Celebrates $100M Sales Year The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate a recordbreaking $100 million sales year for Rich Realty.

Earlier this year, Arkansas Business Publishing Group (ABPG) recognized Rich Realty's record-breaking year in their Book of Lists. Rich Realty was ranked the 40th "Largest Residential Real Estate" by 2021 sales volume.

"We're very proud of our team here," said Joey Markowski, Principal Broker of Rich Realty. "We are the first agency in Batesville, Arkansas, to have $100 million in production in a single year."

Team Markowski, comprised of Joey and Jeanne Markowski, had $69 million in production. Making them the sixth most productive real estate team in Arkansas last year. N TWELVE YEARS STRONG!

eyeonmag.com

eyeonjoseph@eyeonmag.com

June 2022 15

Dwight Ford Named Chief Lending Officer at First Community Bank. Also promoted at First Community Bank are, Dwayne Dickey to senior vice president, information technology director, and Jennifer Wyatt, promoted to vice president, information security risk officer.

Congratulations to all 2022 Graduates. Kenneth and Kathy Tubbs with their grandaughter, Rebecca Tubbs. She is an amazing person with all the potential of a bright future leader.

Red Hot Ladies Luncheon gives largest donation to date for beneficiary New Hope Refuge Sara Doerfler Miranda Childers (middle) learns that the recent Red Hot Ladies Luncheon raised its largest donation to date of $15,000 to support the work of New Hope Refuge of Independence County.

Representatives of the Red Hot Committee, (From Left) Joyce Prickett, Kay Southerland, Ashley Engles, and Paula Terrell presented her with the generous donation on Wednesday.

16 Batesville . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Tuckerman

Book Review

The Further Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Terrell Tebbetts has taught English at Lyon College for over 50 years.

There’s a book out there just waiting for lovers of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn. It’s Greg Matthews’ 1983 The Further Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

At the end of Twain’s great novel, Huck says he can’t stand being “civilized” and will be “lighting out for the territory”—heading west. That’s exactly what he does in Matthews’ novel.

But he does so as a wanted man. Huck’s Pap isn’t dead, as Jim reported in Twain’s novel, and he and a crony have murdered people in St. Petersburg. No one knows they’re there, and the blame falls on Huck. Tom Sawyer and Jim help him escape jail before he can be hanged, and he and Jim decide to flee to California during the 1849 gold rush.

What adventures they have!

Riding westward in mid-winter proves harsh, so they welcome the invitation to join a traveling tent revival also heading west, its wagons providing shelter. But they soon discover the revival is mainly a front for a traveling bawdy house they want no part of.

As they pass through towns heading for St. Joe, Missouri, the starting point for westward wagon trains, they discover wanted posters featuring them both and news stories about the dastardly murders and the famous detective hired to track them down.

They join a wagon train under false names, Huck being as inventive a liar as he is in Twain, and they make it to Ft. Kearney before the detective catches Huck and imprisons him at the fort. But through a trick right out of Twain, Huck escapes, rejoins Jim, and lives a spell with an Indian tribe, even

gaining Indian-style buffalo-hide clothes.

They leave the tribe after it skirmishes with some white travelers, only one of whom, a poet, survives and joins their trek west, and they make it to Fort Laramie unharmed. Trouble comes when the poet and the fort commander’s wife fall for each other. Huck and Jim leave the fort with the eloping couple and a gambler named Randolph when the commander is out on a week-long scouting patrol.

Of course, they haven’t escaped trouble. Cholera, which has been decimating the wagon trains, kills the happy couple as they enter the Rocky Mountains, and the detective tries to capture Huck again at a primitive waystation in the mountains. Huck escapes again with the aid of mountain men who don’t much cotton to detectives, and he, Jim, the gambler, and two troublesome thugs continue west through the mountains.

Indians capture the detective just as he catches up with Huck again, and they plan to torture and kill him in revenge for some Indian deaths at the hands of white travelers. Against Jim’s advice, Huck rescues the detective through a clever trick but leaves him temporarily horseless so he can escape his clutches once again.

They nearly die crossing the desert between the Rockies and the Sierras but finally make it to Sacramento and the gold fields.

Their adventures there and then in San Francisco are full of ups and downs, near captures and narrow escapes, reunions with earlier fellow-travelers, predicaments and clever solutions, and lots of fun clear up to the final solution to the false charge dogging Huck’s trail.

Matthews has captured Twain’s spirit well, and he has nailed Huck’s character and added to it as Huck’s experiences bring him from boyhood to young adulthood with the beginnings of facial hair.

Huck’s experiences are for more mature readers than they were in Twain. That’s partly because of the repeated presence of whores, TWELVE YEARS STRONG!

eyeonmag.com

though they never get to Huck.

And it’s also partly because those experiences put the kibosh on any hope that Huck will be a believer, though he maintains a strong moral sense of how people should treat one another.

Besides its great adventures, the novel’s best part is the maturation of Jim. Freed from slavery by the end of Twain’s novel, Jim grows as a free man during Matthews’ novel, confronting white men when he should, but also realizing that racism will always limit his freedom even now that he’s beyond slavery.

Matthews has combined fanfiction with historical fiction, giving readers adventure after adventure in settings that come across as accurate portrayals of the old, lawless West. N

Support Our Advertisers ASPSF--------------------------------------- 9 ASU Newport-------------------------------- 16 Attention Medical Supply------------------- 5 Bad Boy Mowers---------------------------- 21 Bank of England---------------------------- 3 Citizens Bank-------------------------------- 11 CustomEyes Vision Care of Newport------- 6 Delta Medical-------------------------------- 8 First Community Bank---------------------- 2 iCare Pharmacy----------------------------- 5 Independence County Library-------------- 20 Independence County Recycling Center--- 9 Kallsnick, Inc.------------------------------- 9 KBAP 88.1 FM------------------------------- 14 Merchants and Planters Bank-------------- 12 M & P Insurance and Investment Services-12 Rae’s Clothing Co.-------------------------- 9 Southern Tire Mart-------------------------- 13 Storyteller Images-------------------------- 10 Studio Salon-------------------------------- 20 The IMAD Village Community Talk Show-- 22 Thompson’s Jewelry------------------------ 7 UACCB--------------------------------------- 4 Unity Health Harris Medical Center-------- 24 White River Health Systems---------------- 23 White River Medical Center----------------- 3 eyeonjoseph@eyeonmag.com

June 2022 17

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.

Cover Story Peace, Love & PRIDE I recently had the opportunity to visit with a friend of mine, Shannon Hix, concerning a wonderful event he brought to our community, PRIDEfest, which is now celebrating its 3rd year! I was privileged to be a part of the first event in 2019 as a friend and vendor.

Eye On: Shannon for those reading this who may not know you, share a little bit about yourself.

Shannon: I was born in Batesville and grew up in the Batesville area. I Graduated from Cord-Charlotte Public Schools and Lyon College. I currently work in non-profit and community development. My family has many generations of history in the area going back to the mid 1800’s. Sometimes I feel like I am related to most everyone in the county!

Eye On: Share with me why PRIDE is such an important event for you and why you feel it is important for the community.

Shannon: PRIDE in Batesville is very important for many reasons. Diversity is the strength of a community, and celebrating that diversity is important. Most have no idea why PRIDE was even started here. Before our first PRIDE event in 2019 our community experienced 9 suicide attempts with 2 lives being lost way to soon as a result. After finding out that most of these were teenage kids who identified somewhere on the LGBT spectrum, I wanted to try and understand what was causing so many teens to feel so alone and lost that they turned to something so devastating and potentially final. After speaking to survivors, and family and friends of survivors, it seemed to be bullying and a feeling that no one here cared. I have worked across the state and surrounding states on Equality and Civil Rights, but I had forgotten about my own hometown. After hearing the suffering of these teens here in this area I knew something had to be done. PRIDE seemed like the obvious choice. We needed an occasion to celebrate our community, our diversity, our identity, our friends, our family, ourselves.

Eye On: Take me through from the beginning of the first PRIDE event in 2019 to now.

Shannon: So me and my husband, Andrew, planned the first ever Batesville PRIDE event in less than 4 weeks. We knew we wanted to have anyone there that would celebrate and support the community and prove to these teens and anyone else feeling

alone that they were not alone and that many people here supported them. I was hoping for 100 people our first year, but I was so amazed and elated when over 1,000 people showed up to celebrate equality and diversity in Batesville.

Businesses, churches, non-profits, restaurants, along with vendors selling handmade items were at the event showing their PRIDE for our community. I have never EVER felt that sense of love and community that I did that day. Andrew and I could have never asked for a better event.

We initiated the plan but it was the entire community that shined with glowing success that hot June day in 2019. Covid halted our 2020 event but 2021 blew it out of the water when our event tripled in size. Pride 2021 had 63 vendors and over 3,000 in attendance.

Eye On: What are your plans for the future of Batesville Pride?

Shannon: After the success and growth in 2021 we decided to organize Batesville Pride.

In August of 2021 the organization elected a 12 member Board of Directors and is in the process of obtaining its non-profit status from the IRS. Because of the hard work and efforts of so many, we are growing and adding new events to the calendar which will be announced at this year’s PRIDE event, JUNE 11th. We could not do the important work we do for our community without the support from our sponsors and allies in the community and state, including a grant from the Arkansas Community Foundation we received earlier this year.

Eye On: I understand this year’s event is going to be, to quote my ten year old grandson, “Epic”!

Shannon: Indeed it is. Batesville PRIDEfest 2022 will be held on June 11th beginning at 5pm in downtown Batesville. We will have vendors, music, live entertainment, drag performances, food vendors, bouncy houses, games and some HUGE announcements. This year things will NOT end at 9pm. Instead Batesville PRIDE will host a GLOWING Street Dance from 9pm-11pm on Main Street with a DJ that knows how to make people want to move to the groove of the music. Glow necklaces and bracelets will be for sale. We hope to make downtown GLOW as we celebrate one another and our community.

We hope that everyone will come out for this amazing event.

Eye On: I personally feel it is important for the success of humanity that we break down the walls that keep us separated; to step outside our bubble and embrace the beauty and diversity of life and one another. I want to thank Shannon, Andrew and everyone involved with PRIDEfest for stepping up and leading the way in celebrating our diversity. I hope to see you at this year’s event…Peace, Love & PRIDE. N

Happy Father’s Day, Dad! r the are fo Hair Ce Family Entir

Studio Salon 141 West Main Street, Batesville, Arkansas

20 Batesville . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Tuckerman

Call (870) 698-9998

In The Field with Randy Annual Sedge Control in Rice

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.

It looks like we’re going to have a rice crop after all.

After an extremely slow start with very little planted for most of April, we were able to get a 4 day window from April 28-May 1 and then things kind of broke loose the week of May 9th. Of course, some of the river bottoms have been a different story.

In this month’s Eye On article, I want to discuss annual sedge control in rice. I feel that we are often reactive in our control of annual sedge rather than proactive. I have been guilty as charged in my advisory role and we need to be more proactive.

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 broader, thicker

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. Some of the root system will be older and browner looking while the annual sedges will have a more fibrous (newer, whiter looking) root system.

The surest way to identify rice flatsedge is to crush the leaves between your fingers. If you smell a cedarlike 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 white-silver look to the backside of the leaves.

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

Control can vary somewhat between these sedges.

Although a little late for this year, 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. White-margined sedge is most effectively controlled postemergence by Basagran and Loyant.

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

N

Welcome to BAD BOY COUNTRY

TWELVE YEARS STRONG!

eyeonmag.com

eyeonjoseph@eyeonmag.com

June 2022 21

Thyme Enough

Paul Prudhomme’s Crawfish Etouffee 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.

When I asked Sandy what she would like for me to cook for her Mother’s Day Dinner, she immediately said Etouffee’! Yep, Crawfish Etouffee’! And Paul Prudhomme’s recipe! Now folks, if you don’t know, that’s a little complicated. However, I asked her to supervise and that I would try. All of you probably know Paul Prudhomme was a chef in New Orleans who owned K-Paul’s, the extremely popular Cajun restaurant in the French quarter in NOLA. He was a giant in every way. He was very big, he was, charming, he had a generous personality and he had enormous culinary talent. His master cookbook, “Paul Prudhomme’s Louisiana Kitchen” is a must in our house, although one has to cook from it sparingly. Otherwise, one will have to do battle with the bathroom scales. Prudhomme was raised in Louisiana and taught by his mother how the Cajun peoples of Louisiana cook. And, he came along at just the right time as this cooking style was beginning to become very popular outside of his home state.

Do these things before you make your roux.

Seasonings: Mix: 1ish plus teaspoons salt, ¼ to ½ teaspoons ground red pepper (preferably cayenne), 1 teaspoon white pepper, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon dried sweet basil leaves, ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves. Thoroughly combine the seasoning mix ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

Chop: ¼ cup chopped onions, ¼ cup chopped celery, ¼ cup green bell pepper. Put all into a separate bowl.

Warm/ Heat: 3 cups, in all of Basic Seafood Stock (Chicken stock works), Have ready: ½ lb. unsalted butter (2 sticks), 2 lbs. peeled crawfish tails or medium shrimp or mix, 1 cup very finely chopped green onions. See *Annoyance at the bottom of this recipe.

Words about the Roux.

What you’ll need: 7 Tablespoons vegetable oil. ¾ cup allpurpose flour In today’s recipe as you see there’s a moderate amount of PRE-chopping and PRE-mixing, and PRE- heating to do in order TO BE READY to make your roux. I have learned this from experience. The roux. The secret. The magic. Unfortunately it’s the only intensely, personally demanding part in this recipe and it should almost be your last step. The roux has to be right, and as you mix your oil and flour and begin slowly browning it you must be careful not to burn it, and not to let it splash on you.

It’s very hot. The tricky part is to mix thoroughly your flour into very hot vegetable oil that you are heating in an iron skillet or heavy bottomed pan (almost smoking, about 4 minutes.) Stir this mixture constantly. DO NOT WANDER OFF. Do not skip off to the john, or to answer the phone, or get distracted by TV, or WWIII. Stir it constantly with a whisk until it is dark golden to medium chamois in color, but not dark brown and certainly not black! This roux is the magical flavor of etouffee. Then Once the Roux is Perfect. Remove pan from heat and all those PRE chores are ready to be added IMMEDIATELY. Stir in the vegetables, the hot roue cooks them, ADD 1 tablespoon of the seasoning mix with a wooden spoon; continue stirring until cooled about 5 minutes. In your warmed broth bring 2 cups up to heat (light boil?). Gradually add the roux and broth together and whisk until thoroughly dissolved. Reduce heat to low and cook about 2 minutes, whisking constantly but slowly. HOT. Remove from heat and set aside. *Now this is an annoyance because in all my preps I forget to do this and have to scurry about doing it: In a 4 quart saucepan melt 1 stick of the butter over medium heat. Stir in the crawfish (or shrimp) and the green onions; saute about 1 minute, stirring almost constantly. Add the remaining stick of butter into the remaining cup of stock (When I make this recipe I usually eliminate this second stick of butter. I think it is already rich enough.); but if you do cook until butter melts and is mixed into the sauce, about 4 to 6 minutes, constantly shaking the pan in a back and-forth motion (versus stirring).

Add the remaining seasoning mix; stir well and remove from heat.

You’re Etouffee is finished. When you are ready to dine and groan in pleasure, serve on rice. Add a nice salad, or slaw, and a bit of homemade garlic bread. Oh, don’t forget a cool glass of wine. You could be enjoying the wine while you’re whisking, and stirring. As long as you don’t get distracted.

N

22 Batesville . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Tuckerman

JOIN OUR TEAM SIGN-ON BONUSES, STUDENT STIPENDS, TEMPORARY IN-HOUSE CONTRACTS, & CLINICAL LADDERS (FOR IN-HOUSE, DIRECT BEDSIDE STAFF ONLY)

White River Health System is hiring! WRHS recently increased starting rates for all entry level positions with generous benefits for full-time employees, part-time employees working at least 30 hours/week, and weekend option employees. Be a part of a team creating healthier communities. For more information or to apply, SCAN THE QR CODE.

WhiteRiverHealthSystem.com