Eye On Mag March 2021

Standing For Progress, B.R.A.N.C.H. . The Soda Alarm . Enhancing Our Relationships . Home

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Editor’s Note Cutting Back Joey Thomas The buzz words for this issue were Snowcream, Shelter, and Heat. We hope you had all three in the recent cold; Brrrrr!

We are cutting back to save where we can as cost in the printing industry rise and business for the entire country suffer through this Pandemic Economy. We hope that changes for the better as this year progresses.

We invite you to read on to find articles from Dr. Johnny M. Moore with ASUN (welcome to our pages Good Sir), Randy Chlapecka, The Barnett’s, Leigh Keller, Caroline Beauchamp, Michelle Foshee, Hannah Rogers and Cherri Rodgers. Kimberlee wrote our cover this month and it is a special one; Roderick and Latasha Robinson and their work with B.R.A.N.C.H. and the old Branch School renovation.

Curl up in your heat and stay warm and safe as the Winter passes. Thank you for picking us up and giving us a read, and as ususal, we will see you next month!

Do you want to share your story, your experiences? Reach out and share with us on facebook or email me. You can find our usual drop list by clicking on the drop list tab at eyeonmag.com. While we are delivery during this shut down, I’ll post our drop list each month. If you are seeing our magazines in your area and have something to share, please email me at eyeonjoseph@gmail.com. Photos here taken by Dakota Thomas. N

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TEN YEARS STRONG

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March 2021 3

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THIS PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED BY: MeadowLand Media, Inc. / 504 Guffey St. / Newport, AR 72112 870.503.1150 / eyeonjoseph@eyeonmag.com.

PUBLISHER / ASSOCIATE EDITOR / MANAGING EDITOR / CREATIVE DIRECTOR / AD DESIGN: Joseph Thomas ADVERTISING: Kimberlee Thomas, PROOFING DEPARTMENT: Joseph Thomas, Kimberlee Thomas STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS: Kimberlee Thomas, Joseph Thomas, Robert O. Seat PRINTING COMPANY: Corning Publishing Company Eye On Magazine is a publication of MeadowLand Media, Incorporated. Editorial, advertising and general business information can be obtained by calling (870) 503-1150 or emailing Kimberlee Thomas at kthomas@eyeonmag.com. Mailing address: P. O. Box 196, Grubbs, AR 72431.

Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements, unless otherwise noted, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Publisher or the staff. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information presented in this issue is accurate and neither MeadowLand Media or it any of its staff is responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. Copyright © 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 Photo taken by Alton Walker Cover Design by Joseph Thomas

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

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

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

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In This Issue 3/ Editor’s Note

18/ Cover Story

7/ Cherri Design

21/ In The Field with Randy

8/ Unity Health Harris

21/ Thyme Enough

10/ Tales of a Transplanted Fashionista

22/ DownTown Guide

Cutting Back

Standing For Progress

Automatic Foundation Vents

Burndown Herbicide Applications

Building a Better Us

Brown Sugar Muffins

The 40-Day Social Media Fast (or at least pause)

11/ Trending @ ASUN

Kallsnick, Inc.

Home

12/ Seniors, Can We Talk?

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

What Is Your Backup Plan?

13/ Things To Do 14/ Local Faces 15/ Church Directory 17/ Tasty Talk

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

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Family owned and operated Scott Kallsnick , Vickie Kallsnick Moser, Joan Kallsnick TEN YEARS STRONG

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March 2021 5

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

Cherri Design

Automatic Foundation Vents 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.

As you should be fully aware of by now, I am always looking for ways to save money, especially in my home. I did not know this type of foundation vent was available, until a couple of years ago. Each spring and winter, I manually open or close my foundation vents, but I learned from my Terminix man that these automatic vents know when to open and close, according to the outside temperature. This vent system not only increases your home’s energy efficiency, but it also reduces moisture in your crawl space.

Since automatic foundation vents open and close as the weather changes, it takes the worry out of remembering to do it manually. When the temperature reaches 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the vents open fully to provide fresh air and closes fully at approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit to protect pipes and conserve energy. Vents help improve energy efficiency by allowing air to circulate in warmer weather and keep colder air out during cooler months. These vents have a bi-metal coil that does its job without electricity. Also, temperature vents fit into a standard block opening.

Benefits of crawl space temperature vents include

TEN YEARS STRONG

protecting pipes, lowering heating cost and prevent foundation decay. This system helps remove moisture leading to costly damp rot that attracts termites, which also are quite costly and damaging to your home. When protecting the wood in your home, effective crawl space ventilation is vitally important.

Two threats to wood under your home is destructive wood-decay fungi and non-destructive fungi. Brown wood rot from destructive fungi commonly occurs when wood is in dry-to-wet and wet-to-dry situations, and wood is very dark, brittle and often has a charred appearance. White rot infests wood exposed to continuous moisture, generally in poorly vented crawl spaces. This type of rot has a bleached appearance and is spongy and fibrous. A third type is woodconducting rot, a specialized fungus infesting sound, dry wood. This fungus grows from a water source that is often many feet or yards away.

Non-destructive fungi include surface mildew, molds and sap-stain fungi, feeding on starches and sugars in wood cells. But this type of fungus does not damage the cellulose in the wood. Even though the wood will have an unattractive appearance, the wood retains its structural strength.

Automatic foundation vents are easily installed using screws or screw anchors and retaining clips. No mortar is required for the installation of this system. Temperature vents can be purchased at most any home improvement store. Terminix also installs them, as part of their termite and pest control. No more remembering to open or close your vents, as this system does it for you. N

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March 2021 7

Unity Health Harris Building a Better Us 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.

Enhancing Our Relationships by John Martinez, LPC, Behavioral Health Therapist Recently, we celebrated Valentine’s Day and as I was preparing to write this article, I became fixated on not only the holiday but also on the concept of relationships. So, I wanted to share a few of my thoughts and clinical insight about relationships and how we can enrich them by some simple steps.

Early in my career as a therapist, I worked with an individual that was dealing with anxiety and depression that had impacted not only his work performance, but it had taken a serious toll on his marriage. I remember him saying, “I don’t know what’s wrong with us. We have everything that we ever wanted and more. Still, my spouse and kids are distant from me – well, no, we are all pretty much distant from each other. What’s going on?” As we worked together, it became clear that my patient was a great provider for his family, but through the process of life, work, and other activities he began to lose connection with his spouse and realized that he no longer knew how to communicate with her. It is important to note that there was no major calamity that befell this patient and his marital relationship; rather they simply got lost in the hustle and bustle of life.

Communication is key when it comes to many things: whether it is teaching a skill to someone else or working together to complete a task. Communication is also a necessary element in establishing and maintaining long and meaningful relationships with others, such as a marriage.

So, how do we maintain communication when it feels as if life is going a million miles per hour? I remember this being the question and turning point for my patient, when I confronted them with probably the most obscure and ridiculous analogy. I asked them, “Did you know that a relationship is like a smartphone?”

Yes, you read right – RELATIONSHIPS ARE LIKE SMARTPHONES! Whether you get the latest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy there is typically a sense of excitement when you unbox your device and turn it on for the first time. Some of the typical things that we do when first using the device are that we customize it by going into its settings and adjusting the brightness, the ringtone, the wallpaper, etc. Once we have covered the basics of customizing it, we download every app and/or widgets. But it does not stop there! Our devices give us the ability to capture memories with its camera and video mode. We can do all these things because the potential seems endless.

Likewise, when we enter relationships, such as

romantic ones, there is a sense of excitement and thrill. As the relationship grows, we begin to negotiate and create a mutual vision and dream of the future as a couple. As time passes, we acquire many things ranging from children, real estate, vehicles, family vacations to Disney, job promotions, and so forth while capturing these moments and triumphs in photographs and video. Indeed, a relationship can have endless possibilities.

Unfortunately, the inevitable happens, and wear and tear catches up to our smartphone, causing the device to experience lag when opening apps, losing charge quicker than expected, and hitting its limitations on its storage capabilities. These concerns often lead the owner to go back into the device settings and see what can be deleted or updated to improve the device performance, but in some cases, there is no hope but to replace the device with another one. However, this is where my analogy ends because a smartphone is designed to have an expiration date and become obsolete. After all, it cannot adapt to changes in technology.

Likewise, a relationship will have its ups and downs which can cause a lag in the connection between each partner and the members of the household. It can also become bloated with unnecessary things such as material goods which take away from the relationships’ main priority which is the relationship itself. Thus, it is necessary for every relationship, albeit a marriage, financial/occupational partnership, or a friendship, to mutually set aside time frequently to examine their settings as this will allow adaption and longevity to occur and thus enriching the relationship.

In my clinical practice, I often encourage patients that have relational issues to set aside time each week to discuss the settings or foundational roots of their relationship with their partner while focusing on the following items: • Commit to the notion that the goal for this “settings checkup” is to mutually enhance and enrich the relationship.

• Allow each partner to share their needs and wants while commenting on both the positive and not so positive areas of the relationship.

• Closely related to the previous items, agreeing to discuss topics from each other’s perspectives and not using language that would make it appear as if one is speculating or assuming things about the other partner. Doing this allows for there to be a reduction in the possibility for conflict within the relationship.

• Should a conflict arise and it will some of the time – be open and honest with yourself and your partner because the things we hide and do not say become the giants and the eventual war cries that cause disruption and/or destruction of the relationship; • Agree that the purpose of problem-solving is to

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

•

address the problem and resolve it rather than try to prove yourself right and the other person wrong – we are all capable of having our own bias and hidden agendas. It is reasonable to have them but unreasonable to exploit them.

Upon ending a “settings checkup” give your partner a small physical gesture such as an embrace or kiss as physical touch inhabits the powerful message

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that we are connected as a couple. However, if you are applying these items to a platonic relationship then a handshake is sufficient.

Remember Valentine’s Day is a once-a-year celebration of love, but for love to truly grow deeper, become more meaningful, it must be communicated every day, and be intentional.

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TEN YEARS STRONG

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March 2021 9

Tales of a Transplanted Fashionista The 40-Day Social Media Fast (or at least pause)

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.

2020 took everyone I know through the ringer. My work is specifically with teenagers, as a high school counselor, and while they typically get a bad reputation for being sassy and not always kind, I have the opportunity to see a different side to them, most days. When we made the switch (I officially detest the word “PIVOT” now, as in “we are going to PIVOT to virtual learning”. That word used to make me giggle thinking about the episode of Friends with the couch on the stairs, but now, not so much) to virtual learning in March, due to Covid-19 regulations the week before spring break, I honestly thought we would return at the beginning of April. April and May are the cuhraziest months in schools, as we try to navigate graduation, prom, awards, testing, spring fever, CAP conferences, assemblies, and all of the general busy/happiness that accompanies spring in a high school. But all of that came to a screeching, silent halt.

Like most people, I tried to make the most of at home learning and working from home, since I was blessed to be able to do that, and turned heavily to social media. 2019 was not kind to my family, and going into 2020, we knew we faced a year of grieving the loss of my dad. I went through all of the ugly steps of grief, angry, sad, thankful to know that my dad is in heaven and out of pain, and back to angry, sometimes all in a day (whew). Since long ago I adopted the concept of transparency on social media, and being who I am all the time, in every part of my life (sorry for all of the office dancing and show tunes), everyone got a front row seat to the show, yikes.

I think my snapping moment with social media was Christmas Eve, 2020. I was scrolling away, because that’s what I would do for hours on end, just scroll and scroll, and saw my 100th picture of a family in matching pajamas, in front of a mound of perfectly wrapped presents. I remember that Christmas growing up was always so magical, and I know from those Polaroid pictures and tiny square pictures from the 80s and 90s, that the mound of presents I remember from my childhood was really quite modest. The magic came from my parents, from baking cookies, to the Christmas programs at school and at church, from the security of knowing just how much my sweet parents loved us. I do remember a specific Christmas gift now and then, but I remember that magic of stockings on Christmas morning more than anything. I even remember how excited I was to have my parents open the gifts I had picked out for them. As Cole gets older, I do think he is learning that Christmas is so much more than a pile of gifts. BUT, I recognize that you never know that whole big story behind a picture. Maybe that family has faced some unbelievable odds this year, maybe they have faced huge losses, a job or a family member gone too soon, and they are just going through the motions of trying to make things seem normal. I get it, I don’t remember much about Christmas of 2019, losing my dad just a short week before. A few days after

my snapping moment, I was waiting to check out at Hobby Lobby, and am always so drawn into their book section. I found “The 40-Day Social Media Fast”, by Wendy Speake, and felt like this may be something I needed in my life, having logged off of social media with such irritation a couple of days before.

I have always admired people who can fast and focus on what matters most to them. For the last few years, I have played with the concept of Lent, doing 40 bags in 40 days to get rid of the nonsense in my junk drawers, pantry and life; I am a master of eliminating junk from my diet, since I know how much better I feel when I do; and I quote Dave Ramsey ad nauseum, I believe in his theories about paying off debt so that I can be able to provide for my little family and give so much more to those who need it. But ceasing the noise of my constant social media interactions and putting down my phone because I realize as a mental health professional that I am addicted to constantly interacting with 2000 people I barely even know? NONSENSE. After praying about this little book I bought at Hobby Lobby, I started reading, still not convinced I had to do it. I read the foreward and the guidelines and then moved on to Day one, and that’s where I felt that sting, my friends. The author, who does a social media fast every year, because she says that social media and sugar are her two issues. “God wants us focused; Satan loves us frazzled. God wants us devoted; Satan loves it when we’re distracted. God wants us content; Satan loves us discontent- dissatisfied, depressed and dejected. God wants us to know His incomparable love, while the devil wants us comparing our lives with others as we search for a different sort of love, a love that looks more like “likes”. “ Ouch.

I didn’t like to think of myself as someone who needed the constant approval and feedback of everyone in my life, but if not, why was I constantly posting on multiple social media accounts, my mind moving all the time, thinking of this angle or that post, and if people would respond well (I blame all of my time spent in direct sales for that nonsense in my brain, mostly)? I realized that I had a stinking problem with social media. I told my mama, Cole (the actual humans who makes me keep all of my promises), the people at work who expect me to post for work, and anyone who would listen that I desperately needed to unplug from social media for a hot minute. I did, however, put the guideline on my short fast that I would log in every day to retrieve my social media memories to savor, because I didn’t want to miss anything about Cole, my mom or my dad.

I happened to be home with Cole from school and work one day when he had strep, and that’s when some great big world news happened. I went to switch some game show on for him on Hulu (he is basically a little old man, he loves his game shows) and instead found the National news discussing the chaos in Washington DC instead. After being completely out of it for several days, I felt a little bit like I needed to go back into my rabbit hole. I was suddenly very thankful to be off of social media, away from the tweets, the memes and the chaos. I realized at that moment how at peace my mind had been, away on vacation for a few days from the constant posting and scrolling.

As my fast continued, I saw how much I just naturally 40 Day Fast... continues on page 13

Home Dr. Johnny M. Moore is the third Chancellor for Arkansas State University-Newport. Moore returns home to Arkansas after spending the last four years as president of Pierpont Community & Technical College in Fairmont, West Virginia, and began his duties effective February 8, 2021. A native of Old Washington, Arkansas, Moore has spent 30 years in higher education including president and CEO of Philander Smith College in Little Rock from 20122014.

I am sitting at my desk as the new Chancellor at Arkansas State University-Newport when a strange and yet exhilarating feeling comes over me. It is a sense of clarity; a sense of comfort; an aha moment, if you will. Most simply put, it is the moment I realize that my life has come full circle. I find myself, after nearly 25 years, at home.

I was born and raised in a small town just outside of Hope, Arkansas. After graduating from Old Washington Lincoln High School, I attended Philander Smith College in Little Rock on a basketball scholarship. After graduation, I moved just down the road to Jonesboro, where I continued my studies at Arkansas State University. During that time, I accepted a full-time instructor of mathematics position at East Arkansas Community College in Forrest City. After completing my master’s degree, I made my first venture outside the great state of Arkansas – I moved to Florida, where I earned my Doctorate of Philosophy in Mathematics Education from the Florida Institute of Technology. While in Florida, I taught mathematics for nearly sixteen years and served as District Vice President for Student Affairs at Indian River State College.

I then moved to Texas to serve as Executive Vice President at Tyler Junior College.

After nearly three years in Texas, I had the opportunity to return home to Arkansas and my alma mater, where I served as President and CEO at Philander Smith for two years before venturing back east to serve as President of Pierpont Community & Technical College in West Virginia. After five years in West Virginia, my family and I decided we were ready

to return home for good. Suffice it to say that I have taken the scenic route back to Northeast Arkansas, where I began my career in higher education over 30 years ago.

I am pleased to be returning to my roots with my wife, Sequoyah (also born and raised in Arkansas), and our two wonderful children, Johnathan (16) and Jayna (9). Sequoyah has been an elementary school teacher for nearly 20 years.

Johnathan is currently a 10th grader at Newport High School – Go Hounds! My wife was Jayna’s 3rd grade teacher while in West Virginia, and Sequoyah will home-school Jayna for the remainder of this year. Our family enjoys watching and playing sports, listening to music, reading books, eating great food, and spending quality time together. We are all excited to be back in Arkansas, where we are close to family and where we feel most at home.

I am honored and thrilled to be coming to Arkansas to serve as the Chancellor of ASU-Newport. This is a very special time to join ASUN, as it celebrates 20 years of excellence as a stand-alone institution. This strong history would not be possible without the unwavering support, commitment, hard work, and dedication of the university’s dynamic faculty and staff. It would also not be possible without the on-going support of partnerships within the community including those with local school districts, businesses and industries, community and civic organizations, the ASUN Board of Visitors, the ASU System, and the many outstanding students, alumni and friends of the university – they will continue to be instrumental in ASUN’s success. It is also important that I acknowledge the strong leadership of ASUN’s former chancellor, Dr. Sandra Massey. To you, Madam Chancellor, I give sincerest thanks for leaving behind a legacy of serving students through high quality academic and workforce Home... continues on page 22

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TEN YEARS STRONG

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March 2021 11

Seniors, Can We Talk?

What Is Your Backup Plan?

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?’.

What will you do when you need help doing things you consider very basic daily activities? Ruth told me about two friends she’s concerned about. One has a hole in her heart and there is no treatment to repair it. The other has a long history of cancer diagnoses and now, in an already weakened state, has lung cancer and is taking chemotherapy.

Neither of Ruth’s friends are able to live by themselves – they simply are unable to take care of themselves. Basic needs like food preparation, dressing, washing clothes, cleaning house, bathing and going to the grocery story cannot be done without help or done at all.

The friend with the hole in her heart has two (2) daughters who live in the same town. Both daughters have jobs and take turns staying with her. They go to the grocery store, prepare meals, wash clothes, etc. Since she won’t be able to drive again, they have decided to sell her car – a VW bug that’s always been her signature car. Her car is old, and they don’t expect to get much for it but at least it will be one thing they won’t have to do “later”.

The friend with cancer is too weak to take care of herself

and certainly can’t do basic home or personal chores. She has four (4) children; two live in the same town as she does.

Her children have committed to take turns staying with her. Her daughter told Ruth that she has a new respect and attitude toward good caregivers – they are angels!

What will you do when you need help? What is your plan? Do you have children who live nearby? If so, are they willing and able to help you? Or do you have children who are not willing to be your “caregiver”? Or maybe you have no children or children who live out of state.

Ruth recently had emergency gall bladder surgery. She went to the doctor thinking she would get a prescription and ended up in the emergency room! From the ER room to admitted for surgery. Not in Ruth’s plan at all. The doctor told Ruth she needed someone to stay with her at least 2 days. Since Ruth does not have children nearby, she was fortunate to have a few friends who took care of her. They went to the grocery store, provided prepared foods, and checked on her. Ruth needed help for just a few days. What would she have done if she was like either of her friends who need ongoing care?

Because your health needs and income change over time, doesn’t it make sense to revisit your plans every year.

Revisit your benefits, their costs, and look at where the “holes” are, that you don’t have any or enough help?

Were you more concerned over the election than your plan for care? Let’s talk. Call 501-868-6650 and say “Caroline, can we talk?”

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

Things To Do

Bald Knob Batesville

www.facebook.com/bald.chamber/

Batesville Motor Speedway Enduro Race, March 20th at 4pm. batesvillemotorspeedway.com Murder Mystery Night Hollywood Bowl presents Murder in the Alley on March 26th, 6-8pm, as a Save The Lanes Fundraiser.

Tickets are $35 per person and includes hors d’oeuvres, silent auction, and interactive Murder Mystery. Masks required. Call (870) 793-5781 for tickets and more information.

Melbourne

www.mymelbournearkansas.com.

40 Day Fast... continued from page 10

grab my phone and go to Facebook or Instagram, checking my notifications. I realized how much of my life I have undoubtedly missed by staring at my phone. I know that I have been using social media to help me cope with sadness and grief, and just as a connection to other humans. How shameful when I can see most people in person every day now?

Now that my 40 days is over, I know I have to put boundaries on my social media time, in general. I do utilize social media for several parts of my life, so totally getting rid of it is out of the question. But I do need to exhibit some self control. The author, Wendy Speake, suggests a few rules that she set for herself.

Choose when to be online- I can see staying completely off until Cole goes to bed. I already have to share my time with him with his dad, so I want him to know that I am all in on his little life. At some point in this book, the author asked the question, “what if you interacted with your spouse and your kids as much as you interact with people online?”. Most people use social media as a way to get away from the reality of their lives. It’s when you’re constantly getting away and not paying attention to the people right in front of you when you know you need to set some boundaries.

Unfollow people whose posts cause you to feel stress or negativity- YES. Facebook snooze is your friend, my friend.

This last year, all of the political and Covid arguments made me understand that simply gently snoozing or unfollowing someone might be the best way for us to stay friends.

Create a feed that feeds- Social media is not all bad. God wants us to meet people where they are, and they are all on social media. You can use your social media to encourage people rather than discourage them. The stress of watching people argue online with hostile disagreements is not something I just noticed (and I am probably guilty of that too, seriously) but going dark for a minute really hammered

Mountain View

Arkansas Craft School If you are able, please consider donating to an arts organization, like the ACS, and invest in the future of the arts in Arkansas. If you are not a member of the ACS family, join us. Already a member, you are greatly appreciated.

Why not consider increasing your membership level or donating? Please check out the ACS website for membership information or join our email list for the latest schedules at www.arkansascraftschool.org. Now is the time to support your favorite arts and cultural organizations, like the Arkansas Craft School. Thank you for being part of our creative family.

Questions can be directed to arkcraftschool@gmail.com.

Newport

www.facebook.com/newportarchamber

Foster Recruitment Team Meeting.

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

N the point home that God calls us to be the light of the world, and we can still be gentle with people and disagree with them.

Day 32 deals specifically with fasting from fighting online, and there is so much wisdom in the words there.

Turn off your notifications, hide your apps, or take social media entirely off of your phone- I have used the excuse for several years that marketing our school is a big chunk of my job, but let’s be honest, I would post for work, and then stay and stay and stay. Seeing that little IG square or Facebook notification sign is like scratching an itch, and it’s difficult to turn off in your head.

Take a social media sabbatical every Sunday- In the words of this brilliant author, “If God called us to lay down work for one day a week, I imagine that’s the day I should lay down my phone as well. #fundaysunday is a popular hashtag, but that doesn’t mean you need to share your fun online with everyone”. I am looking forward to keeping the Sabbath in this way too.

Take a 40-Day Social Media Fast every year- Yes! If you have done it once, you can do it again. This fast really opened up my eyes to how much time I was spending online, mostly mindlessly.

Keep following the One who set you free- We have all faced so many issues in the last year, and it’s so easy to become distracted away from our purpose in life. I hope I can continue to keep tabs on myself and my time online, because the amount of time I was spending was pretty shameful. *I do realize that so many of the people we love the most, my mama, for one, is battling the loneliness of being mostly home, during this pandemic time, and getting used to her new life as widow. She values her connections to family and friends online, and her time online is pretty healthy, because she knows when to disconnect to stick her head back into a good book. Like the author says, social media is not all bad, if you use it the right way. XO N

Local Faces

Ethan and Kennadi Pretty

Sulphur Rock Spelling Bee Winner for County Spelling Bee Lori Campbell “5th grader Silas Rudisill represented Sulphur Rock Elementary in the Independence County Spelling Bee on Tuesday, January 26th.” N

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Eagle Mountain Elementary Wins Computer Coding Award Pam Baxter Computer Science is currently one of the most in-demand careers and is almost certainly going to be even more important as the future progresses. Through the tutelage of Mr. Jody Tosh, Eagle Mountain third, fourth, and fifth graders were able to participate in the first “Hour of Code- Codemaster” event sponsored through the Northcentral Arkansas ESC. Our 5th grade also received special recognition for having the greatest percentage of fifth grade students participating from one school.

Congratulations to everyone who participated and to Mr. Tosh for the outstanding effort! N

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

University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville 870-612-2000 www.uaccb.edu

The Best of Modern Praise and Worship Independence Counties very own local, contemporary worship station

Fellowship Bible Church of Batesville

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

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

Quail Valley Freewill Baptist

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

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

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

Church Directory

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

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

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

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www.asun.edu

Wright Joins UACCB Board of Vistors

Arkansas State University-Newport selects 2021 NISOD Excellence Award recipient

Hannah Keller Flanery It is said that a true leader must have a servant’s heart. Calvin Wright, manager of the Batesville Home Depot store, is the embodiment of this ideal. In addition to a number of community service roles, Wright recently became the newest member of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville board of visitors.

In addition to serving on UACCB board of visitors, Wright is also a member of the advisory board for Batesville Parks and Recreation; the advisory board for White River Medical Center; and the board of directors for the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Wright is also a 2016 graduate of the Batesville Area Leadership Program. “That was a great networking opportunity that led to me being a part of so many great organizations,” Wright said.

Looking to the future, Wright said if he had his way, he would stay in Batesville and retire. “The community and the organizations I have become a part of have made me feel so welcomed. It would be hard to ever leave the community.”

N

Mallory Jordan

Calvin Wright

Mark Constant

An Arkansas State University-Newport faculty member is the recipient of the annual NISOD Excellence Awards. ASUN’s 2021 honoree is Mark Constant, Advanced Instructor of Energy Control Technology. Mark Constant is a longstanding faculty member at ASU-Newport and received this honor because of his dedication to his students and the institution.

“Mark continually strives to improve the Energy Control Technology (ECT) program as he has done for two decades,” said Robert Burgess, Dean for Applied Science at ASUN. “Through advisory boards, professional development, curriculum research, etc., Mark ensures his students receive the most up to date training possible. It is not uncommon for Mark to take a phone call from a current or former student needing assistance while on the job during the workday, night, and on weekends. Of course, Mark is always happy to help!”

Please join us in congratulating Mark Constant.

N

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

Tasty Talk

M -Th 10 to 6 / F & S 9 to 5 24 hr book drop

The Soda Alarm

Hannah Rogers recently returned home after serving 5 years in the U.S. Coast Guard as a cook. She enjoys time with her dog, baking, hiking, and serving others.

Hannah is currently in the process of establishing Hananel Bakery in Batesville.

The mission of the Independence County Library is to inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge, and strengthen our communities.

267 E Main www.indcolib.com 870.793.8814

A healthy diet is not just about the foods you eat, but it is also about what you drink. Americans seem to be obsessed with their soda, as it is the most consumed beverage in our country. More than $75 billion of soda is purchased every year. Overall, sales have decreased over the past few years, but price increases have made up the difference in money lost by the companies.

The average American consumes 450 cans of soda per year.

Men typically drink more soda than women. According to studies, men who drink soda have a higher risk of developing gout. One soda a day increases the risk of heart disease in men by 20%. In women, one soda a day increases the risk of diabetes by 25%. The likelihood of obesity in both genders increase by 27%. Studies show one soda a day increases the risk of childhood obesity by 60%, and the average child consumes 500 cans annually! Sadly, the United States spends about $190 billion a year treating obesity-related health conditions. Weight gain is a risk factor for many health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and depression.

Studies show that soda increases the risk of metabolic syndrome, which causes heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, obesity, and high cholesterol. Kidney problems are also linked to soda consumption. Both regular and diet soda, according to another study, show a correlation between soda and low bone density in women. This low density can lead to osteoporosis and an increased risk of bone fractures.

For a long time, diet sodas were thought to be a healthier option, especially with the introduction of zero calorie options.

But research has shown that diet soda drinkers have the same health issues as regular soda drinkers. A twenty (20) ounce bottle of soda contains the equivalent of sixteen (16) teaspoons of sugar in the form of high fructose corn syrup. We all know by now that high fructose corn syrup causes many diseases and health issues.

A sixty-four (64) ounce soda can have up to 700 calories! That many calories are about half of what we should consume in food each day.

Our human brain reacts to sugar just as it does when it receives any rewards-based substances. Eating or drinking sugar feels good, so our body craves even more sugar. Consuming sugar-laden sodas makes our body feel better than consuming a healthy drink, such as water, as there is no psychological reward in consuming water.

This is why food companies put sugar in so many of the foods that we consume, such as ketchup.

While sugar makes us feel good, this short-term reward causes many long-term consequences, such as so many health issues and diseases. So next time you reach for that soda, weigh the negative against the positive and choose wisely.

N TEN YEARS STRONG

eyeonmag.com

Support Our Advertisers ASU Newport--------------------------------- 16 Attention Medical Supply-------------------- 4 Bank of England----------------------------- 22 Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce----- 14 Citizens Bank--------------------------------- 20 Coldwell Banker Choice Realty-------------- 5 Crowly’s Ridge Development Council------- 6 CustomEyes Vision Care of Newport-------- 6 Delta Medical--------------------------------- 7 DownTown Guide---------------------------- 22 Elizabeth’s Restaurant----------------------- 22 First Community Bank----------------------- 2 Greenway Equipment, Inc------------------- 21 Independence County Library--------------- 17 Independence County Recycling Center---- 16 Kallsnick, Inc.-------------------------------- 5 KBAP 88.1 FM-------------------------------- 15 Kent’s Firestone------------------------------ 9 Merchants and Planters Bank--------------- 12 M & P Insurance and Investment Services-12 Red Tie Meat Shop--------------------------- 14 Southside School District-------------------- 6 Studio Salon--------------------------------- 22 Thompson’s Jewelry------------------------- 11 UACCB---------------------------------------- 15 Unity Health Harris Medical Center--------- 23 White River Health Systems----------------- 24 White River Medical Center------------------ 3 Woodcrest Assited Living-------------------- 9

eyeonjoseph@eyeonmag.com

March 2021 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.

Standing For Progress Roderick Diarius Robinson was born and reared in Newport, Arkansas. He is the son of Monitina Burgess and Adrian Robinson. Roderick was reared by his father and grandmother, Shirley Robinson, both of whom are Newport High School alumni; Adrian Class of 1991 and Shirley Class of 1971. Roderick spent a large amount of his youth in the country with his great grandparents, Claud Robinson Jr. and Maxine. Claud and Maxine are both Branch High School graduates, the Class of 1952 and 1955 respectively.

Roderick’s great-great grandparents, Claud Robinson Sr. and Margarett were also an influential part of his life. It was with his grandparents that Roderick learned a great deal about the business of farming. “I am the fifth generation of Robinson’s here in Newport,” Roderick proudly shared.

Roderick is a member of the Newport High School Class of 2007. He graduated from Arkansas State University in 2010 where he minored in Telecommunications and Fiber Optics.

Roderick’s wife, Latasha, was born and reared in Memphis. She is the daughter of Randy and Pamela Lott. After completing her Associates Degree in both Accounting and Business and Legal Studies, Latasha and her family moved to Newport in 2013. She and Roderick where married in 2015.

As a couple they became deeply involved in their community, Roderick striving to do what he could to help preserve and grow opportunities for those in his community.

The Branch High School Building is one such project that drew the couple’s attention. In June of 2020 the youth in the community had approached Roderick, Latasha and other black leaders with their desire to stage a march in honor of George Floyd. Roderick shared, “We were proud of our youth for wanting to organize the march. We agreed to lend our support and I helped set up several meetings with state and city officials to discuss the concerns of the community.”

It was after the march that the topic of Branch High School came up. Roderick shared, “After the march was a success, we celebrated and a few of us got together to form a board to continue addressing the concerns of the community.” The board was formed and from there the nonprofit B.R.A.N.C.H. (Bringing Resources and Navigating Community Help) was established. Board member Bryon Elston is credited for creating the name.

The organization began to hold regular meetings at the Branch High school building. Roderick shared, “I remember attending the Willa Black Daycare and Newport Head Start and enjoying many events and programs formed by the Brotherhood.” As more and more people were invited to the Branch board meetings they began to share their stories of attending school in the building “They were so filled with joy

Cover Story just from sharing the memories and the good times,” Roderick commented.

Roderick expressed it was due to Mr. Kenneth Fitz that they were able to hold the B.R.A.N.C.H. meetings in the old high school building. Mr. Fitz, a current B.R.A.N.C.H. board member, shared many stories with Roderick and Latasha, “He began sharing the history of the old colored school and it sparked a fire inside us. We wanted to make sure this generation could learn their history. It is critical that each generation understands and knows where they come from,” Roderick expressed. *Originally known as the Newport Colored School, the school provided education only for elementary students in the two-story frame structure. According to the Arkansas Gazette in 1891, the “Colored school in Newport is said to be the finest and best arranged building of its kind north of the Arkansas River.” A twostory red brick building was erected in 1923 to meet the needs of a growing student population. Grades eight through twelve were added to the school between 1925 and 1948. After 1954, the school changed its name to W. F. Branch to honor William Franklin Branch, who had been the school’s principal for twenty-three years, retiring in 1948 - https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net.

Roderick shared, “The Branch has been here for almost 100 years and has been a staple of this community to many.

So many learned their ABC’s and to read in that building. It stands for progress and reminds us of where we have been.”

He also noted that Mr. Fitz is currently working on all the W. F. Branch Memorabilia in order to create a museum inside of the restored Branch High School building.

It is the couple’s hope that preserving the Branch School building will bring life back to a dilapidated part of their city.

Roderick shared, “When people look at this community they think of it as being unsafe.” The area was overgrown with trees, roads were negated due to flooding and poor drainage conditions, and neglected street lights were not working and run-down properties sat in extreme overgrowth. According to Latasha, “Roderick took this as a challenge in 2020 to repair the community he loves and grew up in.” The demolition cost of four houses and the cleaning of 14 vacant lots in the vicinity of the school have been covered by the couple who have poured upward of $100,000 into the project. They both agree that it is important to demonstrate just how much they support the project. Roderick noticed that the community needed a win, a spark, “Right now we are being a source for the community.

We stand as a pillar of hope,” he stated. Their aim is to show there is still plenty of opportunity in Newport.

Roderick is working hard to provide daily employment opportunities to anyone willing to work. He is also working to provide resources for personal growth. Latasha helps those who have felony backgrounds get their voting rights restored.

She also offers opportunities to work off community service hours. Roderick shared, “Branch listens to the needs of the community and then provides solutions and resources. We offer a Youth Small Business Initiative Program that provides a mentor and a scholarship to start ups. We currently provide 20 to 75 jobs each day at B.R.A.N.C.H. and around the community daily. We ask for help from the city and all who

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

want to contribute.”

Their one year goals set the standard for their long term success, “We would like to turn the Branch High School building into a full technology ecosystem center for tourism including a visitor’s center. It would house a museum, commercial office spaces, a day bar and café, hotel, and gift shop. There will also be space for a Telemedicine Center. Once the community center is up and functioning, Branch will offer a variety of programs, events, and a banquet hall for the community,” explained Roderick.

In five years the organization plans to expand by building onto the “tech eco” system, “We hope to create the spark by providing opportunities for the youth to explore and be exposed to the latest in technology. We would like to offer coding classes and introduction to renewable energy and more,” Roderick expressed with enthusiasm, “By that time, we should have a fully renovated building with every room occupied by all new business.”

The B.R.A.N.C.H. organization is currently building an Alumni Memorial Sidewalk to help boost tourism and to support those who once walked the halls of the historic building. The walkway will include customized bricks with inscriptions from those who attended or anyone who has ties with the B.R.A.N.C.H. and wants their name included. Bricks are $125 order forms and information can be found at www.Facebook.com/BRANCH. There are other ongoing fundraisers to help support the project that include T-shirts or sponsoring a bench, flag pole or light pole and have your family name inscribed on it. Please contact Latasha Robinson at 870-217-6284 or Roderick Robinson at 870201-1518. Feel free to email your order forms to wfbranchway@ gmail.com.

N

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In The Field with Randy Burndown Herbicide Applications

Randy Chlapecka is an agronomist with Farmers Supply Association. He is retired from the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture - Cooperative Extension Service where he served as a County Extension Agent for over 32 years. He is an avid ASU Red Wolves fan and has announced Newport Greyhound sporting events since 1996. He also enjoys vegetable gardening.

As I compose this article on February 15th, planting season feels a long way off. It’s 10 degrees with about 10 inches of snow on the ground and a forecast low of 0 with more snow on the way. But we know that planting season could literally start in less than a month if the weather would cooperate after we’re done with this so we’ve got to be ready.

This month I want to focus on burndown herbicide applications. There are 2 general situations I want to discuss, one where you eventually plan on some type of tillage before planting and the other where you’re either going to plant no-till or stale seedbed with no additional tillage.

If tillage is going to come at some point, you don’t need to try and keep things perfectly clean. You can just keep the weeds beat back enough that they don’t interfere with the fields drying out and they can be fairly easily controlled with tillage. Often a full dose of Roundup (40 oz.) will be sufficient in these situations.

If no more tillage is planned then you need to try and keep things pretty clean. In these situations, you will want to add something to the Roundup to enhance activity on weeds that Roundup is weak on or on weeds that have resistance to Roundup. FirstShot, Sharpen, and 2,4-D can all enhance the activity on certain weeds. If you expect an extended amount of time before planting, then the addition of a residual can be beneficial. Feel free to call me or consult the MP-44/Extension Service to see which weeds these herbicides are effective on and also if there is a plantback that may prohibit their use.

While Roundup is often the base herbicide in these burndown applications (especially the early ones), Paraquat (Gramoxone) can also be the base herbicide when it can be used. I especially like it when pigweeds are the driver weed.

The addition of a PSII herbicide can enhance Paraquat activity and should be used if possible. They help the Paraquat get in the weed for more effective control. These include Metribuzin if soybeans are going to be planted, Atrazine if corn or grain sorghum are going to be planted, and Direx if cotton is going to be planted. There is not a PSII to be used if rice is to be planted due to plantback restrictions. Only a few ounces of the PSII herbicide can be enough to enhance the Paraquat activity.

If ryegrass is a weed that needs to be controlled in these situations, there are a couple of options. Clethodim (the active ingredient in Select) can be effective early. Section Three is a formulation of clethodim. Paraquat plus a PSII can also be an option on ryegrass that is a little bigger.

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

N TEN YEARS STRONG

Thyme Enough Brown Sugar Muffins

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.

We have enjoyed many meals in many good restaurants over the years. Both of us have always liked ‘eating out’ and that indulgence is one that we have really missed during the pandemic, or ‘pandemonium’ as Sandy calls it. One of the memorable places that we have loved and missed since it closed was Katy’s Korner in Eureka Springs. Housed in a vintage Victorian bungalow near the historic Crescent Hotel and painted bright yellow, this restaurant was called a tea room but offered so much more than tea. It was started and owned by Katy and Russell Clay, who knew inspired cooking and created an atmosphere of warmth and charm. A favorite from one of their cookbooks, On the Corner Too, is Brown Sugar Muffins. This recipe they discovered in the cookbook Under the Mushroom which was from another favorite restaurant of ours, The Little Mushroom in Dallas, Texas. This little bread would be good for breakfast, but we like it served as a sweet addition to a meal.

Brown Sugar Muffins 1 ½ cups flour, ¼ cup sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, 3 ½ teaspoons baking powder, ¼ cup light brown sugar, 1 egg lightly beaten, ½ cup oil, ½ cup milk.

In a mixing bowl, sift the first five ingredients together, blend in brown sugar. Combine egg, oil and milk and stir into the dry ingredients until just moistened. Fill greased muffin tins or baking cups ⅔ full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until done.

Makes 12-14 muffins. N eyeonmag.com

eyeonjoseph@eyeonmag.com

March 2021 21

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Home... continued from page 11

development programs. I also send my best wishes in your much-deserved retirement. You have earned the right to spend quality time with your family and to pursue your personal interests – job well done!

My vision is for ASUN to build upon the impressive foundation that has already been laid, and to strategically adapt, grow, and expand the university’s alignment with business and industry partners. Now more than ever, we must find the most equitable approach to developing the workforce in Northeast Arkansas. Given the economic, political, and educational climate, it has never been more important that colleges and universities build a pipeline of highly skilled workers. This is particularly true in the era of COVID-19.

Legislators, businesses, funders, and the general public are watching higher education closely to ensure that the dollars being invested are yielding dividends by equipping our future workforce with the skills necessary to thrive in today’s rapidly changing workforce.

The pandemic has forever changed our world, but that

will not stop us. ASUN will remain a driving force by tackling these changes head on using imagination, ingenuity, and hard work. Twenty-first century students require a wide range of support services to accomplish their unique educational and professional goals. Whatever a student’s goal – industry certification, associate’s degree, transfer to a four-year university, midlife career change, personal enrichment or something in between – ASUN is uniquely positioned to help students achieve it. Without question, we have much work to do. Nevertheless, the good news is that ASUN has been and will continue to be a leader in preparing students for a prosperous future.

I am so grateful to join team ASUN, to share in this great work, and to help champion further success for our students and the communities we serve. I am passionate about capturing the imagination of all three of our diverse campuses (Newport, Jonesboro and Marked Tree) and inspiring the college’s future with boldness, excitement and confidence. I am thrilled to begin this new adventure, and I am honored to lead Arkansas State University-Newport into the next 20 years. Thank you for welcoming me home, and GO AVIATORS! N

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

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National Doctors’ Day is March 30th!

Remember to let your doctors know that you appreciate them.

We salute the physicians who make a difference in the lives of their patients every day. Together, we are working to provide quality healthcare and improve the health of our communities.

Need a Provider? Call our Physician Referral Line at 1-870-698-WRMC or Toll Free at 1-800-WRMC-DOC.

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