Mandi Curtwright
Community is EVERYONE
Brian Goff
Ron Carter
Robb Roberts
Chris Milum
Leann Siler
Hank Pearce
Randy Rewis
Matt McDonald Michael Barnes
Bill Oliva
AND EVERYONE NEEDS A GOOD LENDER Our team of professional lenders is here to help you achieve your dreams. When you work with a First Community Bank lender, you are working with someone you know and can trust to have your best interests at heart. At First Community Bank, community is everything. Call us today and see the difference it can make when a bank puts community first!
COMMERCIAL LENDERS!
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. Offer of credit is subject to credit approval.
Editor’s Note Abundance
Joey Thomas Between ordinary days and hectic, fretful work-overload days and even days of tragic loss, there is so much good, an abundance, in fact. Beautiful sunrises and sunsets bookend ordinary days regularly, with a gorgeous moon waxing and waning all the while. The busiest days are usually ripe with achievement and the satisfaction of work well done. Losing a loved one brings family and friends together in remembrance, thoughts of the end of suffering and the beginning of something fascinatingly new for that soul we label as lost. Feeling abundant and reframing our thoughts in abundance can dramatically shift our typical perceptions of day to day life. If you believe in the placebo effect, believe that it works the other way too. We surround ourselves in Nocebo thinking all too often and it leads us directly to those negative feelings and situations we most fear. You know, the ones that plague us with worry. They are a great waste of imagination and every one the loss of a great feeling of wellbeing. Why do we waste such great moments of the greatest potential on wasteful worry and imagined arguments just to practice our best responses? Think better of yourself and the world around you, we’re all worth it. And then, read on and enjoy this March issue of Eye On Magazine! N
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? Visit our website to find a provider near you.
WhiteRiverHealthSystem.com
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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 Shelby Simpson of 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.
The Best of Modern Praise and Worship Independence Counties very own local, contemporary worship station
4 Batesville . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Tuckerman
World Wide Live Internet Stream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kbap-88-1-fm Phone: 501-203-6953
with
It's
at ASU-Newport! FLEX TERMS START EVERY 8 WEEKS!
FAST TERMS FAST TERMS
START EVERY 4 WEEKS! START EVERY 4 WEEKS!
FLEX 2 starts March 9th FAST 3 starts March 14th FAST 4 Starts April 11th
APPLY ONLINE TODAY AT
WWW.ASUN.EDU! In This Issue 3/ Editor’s Note
17/ Book Review
6/ Tasty Talk
18/ Cover Story
7/ Things To Do 8/ Unity Health Harris
21/ In The Field with Randy
Abundance
The Ninth Hour by Alice McDermott
A Biblical Diet: Fruits & Vegetables
Evolution
Burndown
Pelvic Floor Therapy
8/ Tales of a Transplanted Fashionista Duke
22/ Thyme Enough
Welsh Rarebit on Toast
22/ Notes from the Clearing This Amazing Place
10/ Trending @ ASUN
Caring Campus Initiative
12/ Seniors, Can We Talk? Now What?
13/ Local Faces
TWELVE YEARS IN MAY
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March 2022 5
Welcome to BAD BOY COUNTRY
Tasty Talk
A Biblical Diet: Fruits & Vegetables 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.
When people think of a Biblical diet, they often think of a vegetarian/ vegan type diet. In Genesis 1:29-30, God clearly states that we are to eat food produced from every tree and plant that bears seeds, as well as plants of the field. This includes a broad array of fruits and vegetables with sufficient nutrition for our bodies and to heal ailments. Daniel 1 recounts a powerful story of food and health. In chapter 12, it was requested they be tested by being fed just vegetables and water, and then compared to those who eat the king’s delicacies. The result was so great in Daniel’s men that the king’s steward took away the delicacies and wine. Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables has many health benefits.
Natural and raw fruits and vegetables have fewer calories than other foods and are easier to digest. Studies show that this type of diet leads to little or no health complications, resulting in a longer lifespan. A high fruit and vegetable diet can reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, inflammation, diabetes and other diseases. Eating right increases energy, balances hormones, and improves our mood. In addition, a 2008 study by “Journal of School Health” found that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables results in higher test scores for children. A healthy diet includes fruit, as it increases a child’s focus in the classroom helping them learn and retain new information. Vegetables are one of the top healing foods in the Bible. They are undoubtably the most nutrient-dense food with no risk of overconsumption. According to the National Cancer Institute, cruciferous vegetables are rich in glucosinolates, helping prevent cancer by slowing down and reversing cancer cell growth. Also, it has been reported that they treat inflammation, bacterial and viral infections, carcinogenic toxicity, tumor migration, and blood
6 Batesville . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Tuckerman
vessel formation. Citrus fruits and berries are among the best fruits to consume, being considered a “powerhouse” for nutrition, prevent sun damage, boosts brainpower, and a great source of iron. Many University studies show that fruit contains essential nutrients needed to retain muscle mass, prevent osteoporosis, and keep bones and muscles strong. Fruit’s high water content keeps our body hydrated and cleansed of toxicity. All fruit contains antioxidants that combat free radicals, causing aging, cancer, and damaged cells. They contain high amounts of fiber, aiding weight lose, blood sugar, blood cholesterol levels, and preventing constipation, hemorrhoids, and diverticulosis. When God created the earth, He created it in sync with our bodies. Nature works in a miraculous way with our climate to produce the right type of foods for our bodies. Even the Bible states that everything has a season. When choosing fruits and vegetables, it is essential to choose produce in season for optimal freshness and nutrition. N
Things To Do
Batesville
The 2022 Main Street Batesville (MSB) Winter Gala will be held on Saturday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Main Street Loft located at 267 East Main on the third floor. The gala is a fundraiser for the non-profit, Main Street Batesville, Inc. The 2022 Winter Gala will feature drinks, hors d’oeuvres, a live + silent auction, a tattoo parlor, and an art show. The art show will feature submissions from the community. Guests to the gala will vote on their favorites during the event. The winners will receive a prize. Among the items for the live auction are a youth four-wheeler and an all-expenses-paid VIP trip to the birthplace of rock n’ roll—Memphis. Tickets are $35 for individuals and $500 for a VIP table of 10. Tickets are available online at mainstreetbatesville.org. Other ticket locations include Merchants and Planters Bank, Studio Salon, and Batesville Mercantile. For more information, email mainstreetbatesville@gmail.com. Jason Aldean Giveaway /Greenway Equipment Inc., is kicking off 2022 by launching efforts to combat food insecurity. The company will be hosting a one-ofa-kind fundraiser where they will give away two Gator utility vehicles that were previously owned by country music star, Jason Aldean. The giveaway will take place on March 11, 2022. All proceeds from the fundraiser will go to raise funds for Backpack Programs at local food banks. To donate, text GOBACKPACK to 44321. Austin Shae Davis Memorial Trap Tournament (March 12 @ 9am), proceeds go toward the Austin Shae Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund of which two or more are awarded each year to students planning to attend trade school or college. Cindy Davis 870.834.0070, cindydavis1988@aol.com. www.facebook.com/ indcotrap/. Introduction to Embroidery / Learn how to embroider names, initials, and patterns on clothing and Eric Shoffner, BPhram, P.D. Pharmacist / Owner
1117 Mclain Street Suite 400 Newport, Arkansas 72112 (870) 523-5555 www.iCareRx.com
household items (March 1/ 6-8pm/$59). Katrina Stevens / 870.612.2082 / katrina.stevens@uaccb.edu. Growing with Grief (March 3 @ 6pm). Katrina Stevens 870.612.2082 / katrina.stevens@uaccb.edu. Introduction to Welding / Learn the basics (March 1, 8, 15 / 6-8pm/ $89). Katrina Stevens / 870.612.2082 / katrina.stevens@uaccb.edu. Introduction to Digital Photography / Learn the basics of operating your DSLR camera (March 5/ 9-11am/$29). Katrina Stevens / 870.612.2082 / katrina. stevens@uaccb.edu. Electrical Cod Update/ Learn the most significant changes to the 2020 National Electric Code (March 12/ 8am-5pm/ $95). Katrina Stevens / 870.612.2082 / katrina.stevens@uaccb.edu. 2022 Human Resources Virtual Workshop Series (March 9 / 11:30am - 1pm Basics of Recruiting) (March 16 / 11:30am-1pm Screening, Selection, and Interviewing) (March 23 / 11:30am-1pm Hiring and Onboarding). Register for each at http://asbtdc.org/ asbtdc-events/. W.I.O.A. free training event (March 31 / 1-2:30pm Land a Job and Pay Your Bills | 2:45-4pm Interviewing Skills and Techniques). Taught by Myers-Davis Life Coaching in UACCB’s Independence Hall Banquet Room. Contact Elizabeth Smith at 870.793.5233 or liz@wrpdd. org.
Mountain View
Arkansas Craft School https://arkansascraftschool.org/calendar
Newport
www.facebook.com/newportarchamber newportarcity.org/calendar/
Also
see
Cyber Security Coffee Talk (March 3 at 10am) Newport Chamber of Commerce, 201 Hazel St. in Newport. RSVP Julie, director@newportchamber.org. N
Kallsnick, Inc. A Hiland Dairy Distributor 423 Lawrence Street, Batesville, AR (870) 793-3924
Serving Batesville and the surrounding area for over 48 years Dairy Products, Deli Meat, Frozen Foods, Fresh Produce Paper Products, Concession Items . . .and More Walk-Ins Always Welcome Open Mon.-Fri. 8-5 and Sat. 8- 1
Family owned and operated Scott Kallsnick , Vickie Kallsnick Moser, Joan Kallsnick TWELVE YEARS IN MAY
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March 2022 7
Unity Health Harris Pelvic Floor Therapy 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.
Pelvic Floor Therapy is a small specialty area of physical therapy that addresses muscles, joints, connective tissues and nerves within and around the pelvis that not only house the above-mentioned components but also assists in bowel, bladder and sexual function. Most often, people associate pelvic issues with women and motherhood, but many pelvic issues are present in men and children as well. Pelvic therapy is shown to be effective in men with pelvic pain, incontinence particularly after a prostatectomy, as well as many other gender neutral diagnosis mentioned above. Children who bed wet after age 7 and young athletes who leak with activity can be helped with this type of therapy too! Pelvic Floor Therapy conditions treated include: urinary leakage, urinary urgency and frequency, painful
Independence County Recycle Center
sex, pelvic pain, endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, sacroiliac joint and pubic bone pain, tailbone pain, pelvic organ prolapse, constipation, fecal incontinence, fecal urgency and frequency, and trigger point dry needling for trigger points and scar adhesions. Pregnancy and postpartum conditions treated include: low back and hip pain, abdominal and pelvic scar pain/adhesions, trigger point dry needling for trigger points and scar adhesions, diastasis recti (abdominal separation), core and pelvic floor weakness, recovery from vaginal or cesarean birth, and postpartum return to exercise. Pelvic floor disorders affect a significant amount of people and can have a marked effect on one’s quality of life. Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy is an effective way to address many of these conditions and may be a treatment option that you wish to explore. Every patient is different, and treatment is designed to address your individual needs. Talk to your provider about a referral. Marysa Carter, PT, DPT sees patients at Newport OB/GYN Clinic located at 1201 McLain Street in Newport on Thursdays. N
Tales of a Transplanted Fashionista Duke
We Recycle:
870 793 8892 Plastic Bottles 110 Environmental Drive Steel Cans Batesville, AR Aluminum Cans Call to receive your Cardboard FREE RECYCLING BIN today! Newspaper Glass Magazines
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.
Living on a busy street in the middle of town, it’s not rare to see people walking their dogs past our house. Our own dogs are on high alert for any other dogs, stray cats, plastic bags and UPS deliveries. So this snowy day, I was not surprised to hear my dogs losing their minds over a stray making his way past our house. A large blonde dog ran past our house, quickly trying to get to wherever he was going. An hour later, the same dog reappeared at the end of our driveway. He looked very distressed, and ran all the way to the Kroger parking lot and back up to us. This time I was determined to catch him and check his collar for a tag. I grabbed my coat, a leash and some trusty dog treats and off I went. A neighbor came out and saw me following the dog and helped me track him down to a driveway. After many treats, I was able to get the big guy on a leash and walk him back up the street to our fenced in
8 Batesville . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Tuckerman
ATTENTION MEDICAL SUPPLY
“Where you get the ATTENTION You deserve!”
backyard. After posting his picture on several lost animal sites, I was horrified to discover that someone had witnessed him being pushed out of his previous owners’ car in the Kroger parking lot, only to have them drive away and leave him. The witnesses said he even chased their car, trying to get back in. After receiving several messages, it was determined that whoever those people were, they were never going to have the opportunity to see this big guy again. We fostered “Duke” for three weeks, and he became a bit of a local celebrity, the “Kroger dog”. He met two sweet families until he made an absolute love connection with his forever family. When my son and I drove him to their house for the first time, we told Duke in the car that he needed to aim to win over the wife first, kids second, but also try to sweeten up the dad (who pointed out the dog house in the backyard where “Duke” was to be sleeping). Fast forward almost a month later and “Duke” is now Asher. He lives his days on squishy dog beds, watching cartoons with his little boy, and having his colored handkerchief changed with the holidays and seasons. He truly has had a foster dog Cinderella story; and I am pleased to report that he has never spent one night in that dog house. We are so very thankful for a community of animal lovers who support foster and rescue animals, and to the Clark family for giving Asher his forever home N
2200 Malcolm Ave., Suite C Newport, AR 72112 (870) 523-2408
Kennadi and Ethan Pretty.
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
Mallory Black
Caring Campus Initiative Arkansas State University-Newport is one of eight community colleges across the U.S. selected to participate in an initiative to improve and better prioritize student experience and relationships. The Institute for Evidence-Based Change’s (IEBC) Caring Campus initiative, funded through a $600,000 grant provided by the ECMC Foundation, is a nationally focused foundation investing in initiatives that improve educational outcomes and support post-secondary education and career success among underserved populations. Despite the challenges of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic on higher education, ASU-Newport is committed to finding ways to implement its college-specific Caring Campus approach to student success. According to the National Student Clearinghouse, Research Center, community college enrollment declined 5.6 percent in fall 2021, after declining nine percent in fall 2020. The cumulative decline since fall 2019, is 14.1%, with the sharpest declines at campuses with a greater percentage of low-income and racially diverse student populations. The freshman class of 2021 is now 20.8% below the number for the freshman class in 2019. “Course retention and success
has never been more critical, and this is precisely what Caring Campus can address,” said Brad Phillips, President and CEO of IEBC. With Caring Campus, colleges see improvements in course retention and success, increased term to term persistence, and improved completion and transfer. Achievement gaps are being closed rapidly among participant campus populations. ASUN staff members participating in the Caring Campus initiative are coached by IEBC using an approach ensuring all staff play a role in enabling students to achieve success. The team works to adopt and implement behaviors that make each and every student feel better connected to the college – that they are welcome, belong and are cared about. ASU-Newport works with a vast student population every day. It’s ASUN’s goal to utilize the Caring Campus team to learn and plan for the future. ASUN strives to provide individualized service to each student, and Caring Campus will help each employee better serve students and turn transactional interactions into relational transactions. Other participating universities report positive outcomes from the Caring Campus approach, including cultivating a sense of unity, enhancing staff knowledge, and increasing the potential to improve equity. Caring Campus will help ASU-Newport provide an environment of connectedness to increase the likelihood that students will continue towards, and succeed in attaining their educational goals. Faculty and staff interactions with students can set the stage for successful enrollment, persistence, and completion. Successful students and graduates in turn help our communities and local economy. ASUN is excited to embark on this new initiative in 2022 and has already started coaching sessions with staff. N
10 Batesville . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Tuckerman
WWW.KENTSFIRESTONE.COM 1316 E. Main, “at ST. Louis and Main”
TWELVE YEARS IN MAY
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March 2022 11
Seniors, Can We Talk? Now What?
Caroline Beauchamp is a local insurance agent for M & P Insurance & Investment Services. She offers personalized life and health insurance solutions and is known for her widelypublished informational column, ‘Caroline, Can We Talk?’.
Last month we talked about enrolling in Medicare Part A and Part B. Ruth asked me to meet with a couple of her friends who wanted to know “now what”? What’s the next step? Let’s talk about your options. There are three (3) options – have Original Medicare only, enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan or enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. Most do not feel comfortable only having Original Medicare. Since Original Medicare has no annual maximum out-of-pocket (no maximum you may have to pay in a year), you may find yourself in a situation owing several $1000’s due to hospitalizations (or repeated hospitalizations), frequent doctor visits and numerous testing (ever had only 1 test/procedure?) When you enrolled in Original
Medicare, you may not like the hassle of wondering what your annual outof-pocket expenses may be or if your doctor, who accepts Medicare patients, is part of a network. You can put those worries/concerns behind you and choose the option that gives you the peace of mind you deserve – a Medicare Supplement plan. The cost of a Medicare Supplement plan is based on where you live, the plan you select and the company you select. With most Medicare Supplement plans, you may know your maximum annual out-ofpocket expenses. Easy – you can budget annual health costs and there is no network of providers - it’s accepted by all providers who accept Medicare. Does a Medicare Supplement plan premium fit in your monthly budget? If so, you have the privilege of knowing what to expect with no surprises when you have a sudden hospitalization, frequent doctor visits and numerous tests. You may like all the benefits you get with a Medicare Supplement plan, but the premium just does not fit in your monthly budget. “Life” is expensive. Medicare Advantage plans have co-pays (what you pay when you have a procedure done), a deductible and a
network of providers. Unlike Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans do have an annual maximum out-ofpocket cost. If you’ve had group health insurance or an individual insurance plan, a Medicare advantage plan may look like the plan you’ve had. Because of the deductible, copays and network of providers, the monthly premium you pay is less than a Medicare supplement plan’s premium. In fact, based on where you live, the premium may be -0-. Yes, no monthly premium. Having a Medicare Supplement plan does offer peace of mind allowing you to budget your annual medical costs and not being concerned about a network of providers but . . . does the premium fit in your monthly budget? Having a Medicare Advantage plan has a lower monthly premium but . . . you may have to pay every time you go to the doctor or have a test run or are hospitalized. You will also need to check to make sure your provider is in your plans’ network. Which plan fits you, your health needs/concerns, and your budget? Call me at 501-868-6650 and say “Caroline, can we talk?” N
Merchants and Planters Bank salutes & appreciates
Women in Banking
www.mandp.bank
(870) 793-3600
12 Batesville . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Tuckerman
Local Faces
Haney Hired as UACCB Director of Development Jodi Hightower Shannon Haney has been hired as the Director of Development at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB). Haney has experience working with non-profit organizations and fund-raising. “It’s the missions of these organizations that motivates me,” said Haney, “that’s why I was so excited to come to UACCB, because they have such an important role in this community and that’s the mission I want to support.” Haney, a native of the north-central Arkansas area, lived in northwest Arkansas and Little Rock before moving back. Her work on revitalization and fundraising projects are both a source of joy and key experiences for her new role. “It is just so fulfilling to see something change for the better,” Haney said, “I think it’s an exciting time to be at UACCB because the type of education we provide is more important than ever to our community and economy.” Dr. Brian Shonk, Chancellor of UACCB, expressed his excitement for Haney’s work, “We are excited to welcome Shannon to UACCB. Her mission-driven focus
will strengthen our community partnerships and ensure student success through access to scholarships.” Haney wants to build on UACCB’s strong network of support and ensure everyone is involved. Haney’s goal is to reach out to the people who have always supported UACCB: alumni, community members, everyone who has been connected to UACCB. “I want to reach out to them and say we still need you; we appreciate you, and we want you to be part of this journey with us,” said Haney. The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville is a comprehensive two-year community college serving Independence County and the surrounding communities with both transfer and career-technical programs. Students can complete their first two years of a bachelor’s degree affordably and close-to-home, then transfer virtually anywhere. Students can also complete a credential in a variety of work-ready programs such as allied health, construction, welding, cosmetology, and more within a semester to one year. For more information call (870) 612-2000 or visit www.uaccb.edu. N
Kinder Bird Feeders Pam Baxter
Eagle Mountain Elementary Kindergarten students made bird feeders and hung them in the trees around the school to help the birds that did not fly south in the winter. It was a STEAM class project as an Act of Kindness.
Thompson’s Jewelry Serving you since 1924 870-793-7136 255 E. Main Street - Historic Downtown - Batesville Where your hometown jeweler should be
TWELVE YEARS IN MAY
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March 2022 13
Chamber Celebrates Community Leaders Chris Hill The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) recognized the 2021 graduating class of Leadership Batesville at the annual meeting on January 28, 2022. Leadership Batesville, presented by Citizens Bank, prepares emerging leaders to serve our community. Through shared experiences and frequent interactions, participants engage in a nine-month curriculum inspired by IMPACT Independence County. "These leaders committed to the program, many with perfect attendance," said BACC CEO Crystal Johnson. "Participants are highly-motivated individuals interested in learning, pursuing first-hand experience, and interacting with community leaders, businesses, and organizations." Leadership Batesville is a diverse program centered around the newly revised IMPACT Independence County strategic plan. The plan identifies four areas of importance for the overall growth and sustainability of Independence County: Economic Prosperity, Educational Excellence, Placemaking, and Healthy Living and Well-being. "Leadership Batesville is a program designed to educate and prepare individuals for leadership roles in the community," continued Johnson. "The program includes everything from a team-building retreat
with personalized leadership insights to industry tours, diversity training, a trip to the state capitol, and sessions that focused on healthy living and wellbeing, tourism, and education." 2021 Leadership Batesville graduates include Jesse Cargill (UAMS North Central), Amy Crouch-Howard (Old Independence Regional Museum), Dustin Dayberry (Bank of Cave City), Matt Douglas (Batesville Junior High School), Clint Howard (First Community Bank), Jason Jones (City of Batesville), Brandon Langle (White River Medical Center), Aaron Moody (Independence County Sheriff's Department), Megan Renihan (Batesville School District), Brenda Rivera (First Community Bank), George Sitkowski (Southside School District), Rickie Westbrook (Centennial Bank), Alicia Williams (Citizens Bank), and Melissa Wood (Citizens Bank), BACC is now accepting applications for the next class of Leadership Batesville presented by Citizens Bank. Learn more and apply at batesvilleareachamber.com. N
14 Batesville . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Tuckerman
First Community Bank to Preview Tour Through Colorado Rockies Angela Connell The Adventure First Travel Club will host an incredible nine-day tour through the Colorado Rockies on September 17-25, which will include visits to amazing national parks, forests and monuments, as well as excursions on two historic trains. Reservations are already being accepted for this tour. The contrasting beauty and charm of the Rockies in Colorado and Utah will range from towering peaks to deep canyons, and from Old West towns to dynamic cities. A few highlights include: • A scenic ride aboard an 1881 steam train of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad through the San Juan Mountains; • Travel to the Garden of the Gods to take in the towering sandstone formations that dot the landscape; • Marvel at the vast landscape of gorges carved by the Colorado River in Canyonlands National Park; • View the incredibly well preserved ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park; and • Embark on a journey aboard the Pike’s Peak Cog Railway, the world’s highest cog railroad, for an 8.9 mile trip to the top of Pike’s Peak. Those who book reservations now will save $200 per person, reducing the cost to $3,099 per person, based on double occupancy. Single reservations are available for $3,799 per person, and “triples” (three to a room) are $3,049 per person. The price includes roundtrip airfare to Denver, all hotels, attractions, 11 meals during the tour, and motor coach transportation between Batesville at the Little Rock Airport. Space is limited on this tour, so interested travelers should reserve their spaces now.
“All activities of our Travel Club are designed with the health and safety of our customers and guests as the top priority,” said Dale Cole, chairman and CEO of First Community Bank. “We constantly monitor the COVID19 situation to ensure we follow best practices and protocols to offer a safe, secure experience for everyone who participates in our program.” For additional information on this tour of the Rocky Mountains or any of the Travel Club’s monthly activities, call First Community Bank at 870-612-3400, and ask for Chuck Jones. N
This 1881 coal-fired, steam-powered locomotive of the Durango & Silverton Railroad made its name hauling silver and gold ore from the San Juan Mountains.
32 acres on Woodard Dr, Melbourne MLS #21-630 / $120,000
1310 Banner Loop, Concord MLS #21-463 / $259,900 Quiet country living on this 20 plus acre mini farm with beautiful views that is fenced and ready for your livestock. The 3 bedroom 2 bath home has an open floor plan, large kitchen and a sunroom along with a metal roof. Several outbuildings include a 14 x20 garden shop, 24 x 30 detached 2 car garage, barn and chicken houses.
510 W Moore Street, Heber Springs MLS #21-391 / $172,500
32 wooded acres with creek frontage. Great place to get away and hunt.
Historic (1931) totally remodeled home in the heart of beautiful Heber Springs on two city lots. Walking distance from schools, downtown shopping and Spring park. Home has sun porch, spacious fenced back yard with large shade trees in front and back. Includes one-year home warranty. Refrigerator, microwave, washer and dryer, entertainment center with flat screen TV and all window coverings convey with property. Would be great for family with children, vacation home or weekend rental income property.
Buying? Selling? Relocating? The Choice is Clear...Choice Realty www.BatesvilleRealEstate.net 513 Batesville Blvd., Batesville, Arkansas TWELVE YEARS IN MAY
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March 2022 15
Built for you. Built by women.
Ashley Engles Community Engagement Officer
March 8th is International Women’s Day. We celebrate all of our female leaders paving a way in the industry.
Helen Shaw VP, Corporate Security Officer
Comprised of 78% women, the Citizens Bank team represents a talent group that is different than the national average in banking. We are proud of that.
Chelsey Dockins Asst. Retail Branch Manager
Karen Shaw EVP, Chief Financial Officer
Book Review
The Ninth Hour by Alice McDermott
Terrell Tebbetts has taught English at Lyon College for over 50 years.
In “The Ninth Hour,” according to one early reviewer, Alice McDermott “found the epic in the ordinary, found Homer in the homespun.” I couldn’t agree more. This novel is the saga of two families in early twentieth-century Brooklyn, NY. One family is that of the story-tellers. They’re our own age, the early twenty-first century grandchildren of the Irish Catholic parents and grandparents whose saga they recount. They start with the suicide of their grandfather Jim, an Irish immigrant who killed himself after losing his job, leaving his wife Annie, also an immigrant, alone and pregnant in this new city and new land she followed him to. They tell how the nuns at a nearby convent hired their grandmother Annie as a laundry assistant and how their mother Sally grew up with that convent’s basement laundry room as the center of her youthful life. They don’t hide the troubled parts of the saga. They tell of widowed Annie’s long affair with the milkman, Mr. Costello, who is trapped in an empty marriage with a self-centered, whining, sometimes cursing invalid utterly ungrateful for all the ministrations she receives from her husband and from the nursing sisters from the convent. If there’s a villain in the novel, it’s Mrs. Costello. They tell of their mother Sally’s decision to become a nun and of her long train trip to the mother convent in Chicago to begin her life as a nun, a trip that turns into a Homeric descent into Hades that convinces Sally that she is not called to life in the convent after all. They also tell of their father’s
side of the family, of their father Patrick, who knew their mother Sally from childhood, and of the lifelong estrangement between Patrick’s father and grandfather. The older man had paid another man to take his place in the Civil War and then sheltered him, a double amputee, for the rest of his life, but he had cut off his own son for marrying “below himself.” They tell of another family as well—the family of nuns at the convent where their Grandmother Annie worked and their mother Sally grew up after Jim’s suicide. These nuns are as alive and distinct and as fully human as the storytellers’ own extended family. There’s Sister St. Saviour, so bedeviled by age and ailments that her role has shrunk to daily begging in the streets for the support of the convent. Infirm as she is, she takes charge when she comes across Jim’s suicide while returning to the convent one evening, getting Annie the job at the convent while doing her best to circumvent the church’s rule refusing Jim a Christian burial. The grateful Annie names Sally for this nun. There’s Sister Iluminata, who runs the laundry and becomes Annie’s and Sally’s confidante, full of tales of her youth in Ireland as she washes the soiled laundry clean, resurrecting, as it were, the bloody, mucus-filled bandages, dressing gowns, and bed linen of the sick and dying whom the nursing sisters attend. There’s Sister Lucy, strong as a man, no-nonsense in words and action, the nurse-practitioner of her era, who dismisses both Mrs. Costello’s complaints and the young Sally’s impulse to address them. Here’s a sampling of her wisdom: “There are women who marry with no idea of what marriage entails. Some of them suffer for it. Others impose the suffering on their men.” And there’s Sister Jeanne, as young as Annie in the early days of the saga and an aging visitor to ELEVEN YEARS STRONG
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Patrick and Annie’s home mid-way through. She’s a sweet, kind nun, drawing children to her, instructing them gently in the ways of God, who she insists always “intends to be fair,” bringing truth to light and compensating for unearned suffering. Yet she also harbors a secret, something she did that she feels will keep her out of heaven. McDermott makes these two “families,” ordinary humans living ordinary lives, both highly sympathetic and deeply interesting. We learn about a time, place, and culture long gone. But we also learn how much the people who lived then and there are very much like people in this time and place—people like ourselves. N
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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 Evolution
When I think of Mandi Curtwright I immediately see a smiling face and can almost hear her laughter. She has a vivacious energy that is contagious. I first met her during her time with the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce. Mandi credits her time there with preparing her for her journey as Executive Director of Main Street Batesville, “I formed a passion for serving the committee during my tenure at the Chamber. I learned from people all over the state about economic development and the impact non-profits have on the communities they serve. I also learned how fortunate our area is to have so many businesses that financially support initiatives to grow our local economy.” It is no secret that by 2013 the Main Street Batesville (MSB) organization had hit rock bottom. There was no director and the program had been put on probation after not meeting accreditation requirements. At that time Main Street itself had more empty storefronts than full. A new board was formed and community meetings began being held. Mandi shared, “I was involved with the community meetings and consultations with Dan Burden. Dan was the consultant with Walkable + Livable Communities Institute who came and laid out the new streetscape for Main Street Batesville. Shortly, after a plan was laid out, I started serving on the Main Street Batesville Board of Directors.” While serving on the board, Mandi worked with Joel Williams (former MSB director) and Robert Carius (MSB Board Chairman) to form a professional capital campaign. Mandi explained, “MSB needed financial support for the new streetscape and for community events. During this time, most of the buildings downtown were vacant and foot traffic was minimal. But, there was a plan in place for a revitalized Main Street and the board believed wholeheartedly in the organization’s future.” The board and community volunteers worked tirelessly to carry out the tasks that were at hand. Mandi’s belief in the revitalization project saw her and her husband, Adam, jump into what would become one of the major turning points for Main Street. She explained, “In 2015, right in the middle of the new streetscape installation, my husband and I, along with Joe & Janelle Shell, purchased the Melba Theater. We knew a theater rehabilitation would help further the progress downtown and could be an even greater asset to the Batesville area.” Shortly after announcing their plans, two other community members shared plans to open businesses on the neighboring block. Mandi recalled, “The community was excited
and Batesville was getting noticed. Even the residential area at the top of Main Street was starting to bustle with renovations and properties being sold.” In 2016 a fully renovated Melba Theater opened its doors. Mandi’s gratitude was apparent as she reflected on the past 7 years, “We have been overwhelmed by the support of the community and organizations across the state. We truly feel like the theater is not OUR theater, it’s the community’s.”
Shelby Simpson of Storyteller Images Maxfield Park at Night by Kris Caraway
Submitted by Mandi Submitted by the BACC
In 2018 Mandi was offered the position for Executive Director of Main Street Batesville. “What I loved most about the job was the merchants. I was able to personally understand the struggles and successes of having a business downtown.” During Mandi’s time as Executive Director Main Street was growing, evolving if you will. There were a few businesses that closed and several more that opened taking their place. There are currently very few empty storefronts, those that are dark at the moment have been earmarked for new growth. I am excited to see where the future takes us. Mandi shared with me a few of the grants and awards Main Street has received since 2019. These grants have provided for wonderful state and national recognition, safer walking and fun visual art installations along with more planned projects that will come to fruition in 2022. 2019 - AARP Community Challenge grant awarded to install a new sidewalk that connects Main Street and Maxfield Park. Part of this grant also included a directional mural for the new public restrooms at Maxfield Park. 2019 - Public Art Grant was awarded for installation of “Blossoming Main Street”. Lyon College students and professor, Dustyn Bork, created a mural that was reflective of the transformation Main Street had experienced and new beginnings. 2020 - Main Street Batesville received six awards at the Main Street Arkansas Awards Ceremony. The awards included Best Creative Fundraiser - The River Haunt; Best Public/Private Partnership - Citizens Bank Impact Loan Program; Best Adaptive Re-Use - Public - Maxfield Park; Best Adaptive Re-Use Private - The Royal on Main; Best Facade Renovation - First Community Bank; Best In-Fill Rehabilitation Project - Independence County Library 2021 - A second Public Art Grant was secured and will help create an “instagrammable” canopy over Citizens Bank Pocket Park. Installation of this public art should begin Spring 2022. 2021 - Secured a grant through ARCare to install a mural along the east wall of Olde Towne Mall located at 407 E. Main Street. The new mural will include depictions of where it all started - the White River and Poke Bayou. Work will begin Spring 2022. Muralist Jason White will be conducting the painting. The mural will cover the entire side wall. The evolution of Main Street Batesville continues as we march strong into 2022. The board has wonderful plans for the continued growth of our beloved downtown shopping, living and entertainment district. Eye On will bring you more stories as those plans blossom. Mandi and her vivacious energy will be missed as she has stepped away from her work as the Executive Director of Main Street. Her life too is evolving as she takes time to focus on the Melba Theater and her family. N
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In The Field with Randy Burndown
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.
Planting season is upon us and many will be considering the use of burndown herbicides. Burndown herbicide programs are used to keep fields clean where stale seedbed or no-till systems are going to be planted with no further tillage. They are also often used to keep the weed situation manageable which allows the fields to warm up and dry up more quickly in situations where tillage is planning on being used. Roundup has traditionally been the basis of many burndown programs. I have typically recommended Roundup or a Roundup combination application (with 2,4-D, Sharpen, or FirstShot) in many of the earlier burndown programs before pigweeds emerge. With price and season long availability concerns, some will be at least considering other options. The other commonly used burndown program is based on Gramoxone. I have typically switched to a Gramoxone based program after pigweeds begin emerging due to resistance issues with several other herbicides. Many will likely be considering this option in the early situations this year as well due to the Roundup concerns. If you’re considering Gramoxone, look at using a PSII inhibiting herbicide in a tank mix with Gramoxone. PSII inhibiting herbicides help the Gramoxone get into the plant better. Gramoxone is an outstanding contact herbicide but doesn’t translocate into the plant very well itself. For that reason, control may be lacking on some weeds because of that failure to translocate into the weed plant. The addition of the PSII inhibitor herbicides (metribuzin before soybeans, atrazine before corn or milo, or diuron before cotton) help the Gramoxone get
into the plant and therefore raise the level of control. If you look at the ratings in the MP-44, many of the weed ratings from Gramoxone are increased 1 or 2 points with the addition of the PSII. There is not a PSII available to use in front of rice. Another burndown situation becoming more common every year is ryegrass. I think we need to be looking at using more preemergence herbicides in the fall to keep ryegrass from ever emerging. Dual can be used if corn, grain sorghum, or soybeans are going to be planted the following spring. Command got a label last fall to be used if rice is going to be planted the following spring, but there still needs to be some rate issues worked out in order for us to be more comfortable with its use on certain soils. In burndown situations in late winter/early spring, clethodim (Select and generic Select formulations such as Section Three) can be used prior to jointing of the ryegrass. After jointing, we need to switch to Gramoxone or preferably Gramoxone plus a PSII if rice is not the crop to be planted. It may take 2 applications to get adequate control. A residual herbicide such as Valor should be considered to keep fields clean after a burndown. Always consider plantback intervals with any of these herbicides with soil activity. For 2,4-D, the plantback is 21 days for rice, 14 days for soybeans, and 7 days for corn and grain sorghum. For FirstShot, the plantback is 14 days for corn and grain sorghum, 7 days for soybeans, and 0 days for rice. With Sharpen, you’re typically good on everything with the only possible concern being soybeans planted on extremely sandy soils. Don’t forget that there is a 30 day plantback for rice, corn, and grain sorghum when following a clethodim application. For more information, feel free to contact me through Farmers Supply Association at by e-mail at randychlapecka@gmail.com or by cell at 870-318-0739. N
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Thyme Enough Welsh Rarebit on Toast
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.
A Romantic little brunch, lunch or supper for Two. Wow, this one jumped right out of the past. Welsh Rarebit, a taste invention for a simple meal particularly if you happen to have some really nice homemade bread or other good bread sitting around wanting/needing to be used. Welsh Rarebit, aka Welsh Rabbit, is basically a fancy dish of gooey, slightly tangy, spicy warm cheese poured on toast. Serve it with a nice green salad on a cold night in front of the fireplace, and you’ll sigh with pleasure. This little dish, however, has a rejoinder. The last time I made Welsh Rarebit it was for a bride’s brunch. Everything was going so well in the living room where all the guests were laughing, chatting and anticipating some delicious something soon to arrive from the kitchen. They were happy. I could hear them. … But in the kitchen, I was not so happy. I was wringing my hands …. I should hesitate offering you a recipe that can fail,
right? But I am. Live dangerously. If it fails, blame Alton Brown. I threw my recipe away. * (This recipe is sorta like some love stories. It may start off beautifully, but somewhere along the line it loses its will to live. It just won’t meld. In fact, sadly, it can separate.) Ingredients: 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter 2 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour 1 Teaspoon Dijon Mustard 1 Teaspoon Worcestershire sauce ½ Teaspoon kosher salt ½ Teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper ½ Cup Porter Beer (I used Guiness Extra Stout) ¾ Cup Heavy Cream 6 Ounces (approx. 1 1/2 Cups shredded Cheddar 2 Drops of Hot Sauce 4 Slices of Bread toasted In a medium sauce pan over low heat melt the butter and whisk in the flour. Cook, whisking constantly for 2-3 minutes being careful not to brown the flour. Whisk in the next 4 ingredients, Add beer and whisk to combine. Pour in cream and whisk until well combined and smooth. (As I recall I think you’re safe to this point. It’s this next step that can go to hell in a hand basket….) Gradually add cheese stirring constantly, until cheese melts and melds and the sauce is smooth; this will take 4 to 5 minutes. (If it doesn’t meld by now, give it up. Because it probably won’t. Prayers and Crossed fingers won’t help.) But if all is well, add the 2 drops of hot sauce, pour concoction over toasts and serve immediately. Goodluck. I’m going to make this for our supper. N
Notes from the Clearing Joey Thomas
Custom Eyes Vision Care of Newport 1920 Malcolm Ave
The cloud ladened sky was full to bursting with ice. The frozen shrapnel dropped to the blue planet at the center of the atmosphere where the driving species slipped and slid to and fro in their ususal hurry. The keeper of this moment listened to the pixie pecks upon the skylight above and cherished his warm shelter all the more. He wasn’t chosen, at least as far as he knew, but the moment unfolded around him, none the less. Experience told him that he wasn’t the only one experiencing this moment in time, but he also knew that he was indeed, the only creature sensing this moment from his perspective; sitting here, hearing, seeing, feeling all of this in this particular spot. He didn’t claim to be special or better or even different, just alone in his exact sense of the world. He knew that this was what made the world so unique and beautiful and hard and tragic. It allowed us to feel alone in our darkest moments and connected when the roll of the dice fell our way. He knew that this was the simple truth of it all, somehow, and also the deepest mystery of every unexplained occurance in This Amazing Place within the Milky Way. N
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