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Date Night Eat Right, Play Hard Mary Woods on the Move The Ozark Gateway Keeper, Cathy Drew A Publication of Meadowland Media, Inc.
June 2013
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In This Issue 6/Editor’s Note
Watching the Weather
7/Read On
Kind of Kin by Rilla Askew
9/We’re Still Out Here
How about a Little Respect?
6
24
14
28
16
38
18
46
10/Travel On
What’s on Your Bucket List
12/Batesville Area Arts Council 13/Downtown Guide 14/I Do Thacker & Rogers Wedding
16/Your Health
Eat Well, Play Hard, Make It Balance
18/Cover Story
The Ozark Gateway Keeper, Cathy Drew
21/Celebrate America and the OFLP Triathlon 24/Feature Date Night, Dandelions and the Beatles
26/Things To Do 28/Faces 38/The Myopic Life Caring for Mary
41/Tales Of a Transplanted Fashionista The Wonder Place
43/Smith’s Verdict **** The Impossible
45/The Mary Woods No. 2: An Opportunity For Batesville 46/Notes from the Clearing Conviction...Pure
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Cover Photography by Robert O. Seat Cover Design by Joseph Thomas
Meet Your Writers... Vanessa Adams is a Jonesboro, Arkansas native and became the Independence County Librarian in July 2011. She holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in English from Arkansas State University. She also holds a Master of Arts degree in Library Science from the University of Missouri.
Leigh Keller is a high school Spanish teacher and Colorguard instructor at Batesville High School. She is the director of the BHS Glass Slipper Project. Leigh lives in Batesville with her son, Cole, and a pack of dogs.
THIS PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED BY: MeadowLand Media, Inc. P. O. Box 196, Grubbs, AR 72431 870.503.1150 kthomas@eyeonmag.com PUBLISHER: Kimberlee Thomas Associate EDITOR: Bob Pest
Alisa R. Lancaster is an Advanced Practice Nurse for the U of A Medical Sciences North Central. She has been in healthcare since 1983, the last 18 years with the UAMS system. Alisa and husband, Scott, have four children, two grandchildren, and two spoiled puppies. Alisa’s mission is to improve the health and wellness of others through education and practice. She welcomes feedback or comments at AlisaAPRN@gmail.com or 870.698.1023 Bob Pest is the president and Co-founder of Ozark Foothills FilmFest and the T Tauri Film Festival and Movie Camp. He works as a community development consultant for First Community Bank, teaches film classes at UACCB, and currently serves as vice-president of the Ozark Gateway Tourist Council. He has most recently become a member of the board of the new Arkansas Motion Picture Institute, formed to support the three major film festivals in Arkansas-Little Rock Film Festival, Ozark Foothills FilmFest, and Hot Springs Docs.
MANAGING EDITOR: Joseph Thomas ADVERTISING: Kimberlee Thomas Creative Director : Joseph Thomas AD DESIGN Department: Kimberlee Thomas Joseph Thomas PROOFING Department: Joseph Thomas Kimberlee Thomas Staff PHOTOGRAPHERS: Kimberlee Thomas Joseph Thomas Robert O. Seat PRINTING COMPANY: Rockwell Publishing
Eye On Independence 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.
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Kristi Price spent all her life as a transplant, having grown up military. The Ozarks have always been in her blood though, and she’s proud to call Batesville her home after many years on the move. Kristi holds a BA in English and blogs about family and other mishaps at www. themyopiclife.wordpress.com. She is married to Erin and mother to Ethan, Emily, and Maggie.
Tanner Smith is a native of Manila, Arkansas. He has written movie reviews for the T Tauri Galaxy (www.ttauri.org/galaxy) for several years and is a five year veteran of the T Tauri Movie Camp. He has made a number of films, ranging from horror to documentary, and has won awards in filmmaking and screenwriting.
Eye On Independence received the 2012 Innovative Project award, which is presented to an agency or organization for outstanding, innovative, continuous or effective coverage of literacy issues, resulting in positive change or improvement.
Editor’s Note
Watching the Weather
The Spring weather has always kept us watchful, living on the fringe of Tornado Alley, but watching Oklahoma’s recent tragedy has put us ever more on guard. We send our regards to those in and around Moore, Oklahoma. My cousin Curt Kissling lives a mile from what they are calling ground zero and he says it is the worst devastation he has ever seen. Luckily he and his are safe, but our thoughts and prayers go out to those unfortunate Photo by Robert O. Seat enough to have lost loved ones and or homes. We hope all is well with you and ask you to tag along as Bob Pest highlights some recent disrespect rural areas have received and why we should be appreciated. Vanessa Adams reviews Kind of Kin by Rilla Askew and Kimberlee Thomas brings us another wonderful wedding and our Feature on our latest date night in Batesville. Kristi Price discusses the move of the Mary Woods 2 to Batesville and Alisa R. Lancaster shares an article from Susi Epperson on Balance. Leigh Keller tells the tale of The Wonder Place and our movie reviewer, Tanner Smith, critiques The Impossible. I bring you Cathy Drew and a Father’s Day tribute. And with that we bid you a safe and happy Spring! Happy Father’s Day, love you Dad! N
Joseph Thomas
“I love you, dad!”
Happy
Father’s Day
Creating Memories...
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Read On
Kind of Kin by Rilla Askew
Vanessa Adams
I’ve been trying to read outside my usual genres, but I find that reading simply for entertainment leaves me feeling empty. I get a little bored with crafty criminals and droll detectives. Like many readers, I need something to “chew on” for a while after I read that last page of a book. Maybe that’s why I enjoyed the story I’m reviewing this month so much; it points to many sides of an issue affecting this county at the present. I felt as if I had seen more perspectives of the subject than I’d ever considered. Oklahoma native, Rilla Askew, spins a tale with a true Southern feel in her latest novel, Kind of Kin. Askew tackles a subject that divides countries, yet through her characters in the small town of Cedar, Oklahoma, she approaches the subject on a level that most of us will relate. Some of her characters see immigration policy as a path to their political success, while others see it as a way to keep their families together, or tear them apart. And, there are others involved in the story who just want to get from one day to the next, causing as little damage as possible. No matter how black and white the subject may seem to most of the characters, they eventually come to the realization that there are many shades of gray to the issue, and, although much damage is done, many of them learn to understand one another. Georgia Brown Kirkendall, known to all as Sweet, is at the center of the story, trying to keep her family together, yet pulled in so many directions even the most extraordinary person would find it difficult to function, much less thrive. Her father, a born-again Christian standing up against the bigotry of the community, is in jail. Her orphaned nephew has run away after her own son beat him to a pulp, her husband is working offshore and is rarely home, while she is caring for his elderly stepgrandfather. Then, her niece calls her because she is in a world of trouble and needs her help. Sweet has so little money she robs her grocery budget to help her niece, only to find herself in trouble and lying her way out of it with the local sheriff, Arvin Holloway. Once the schoolyard bully, Holloway parlays that talent into the job as chief law officer of his small Oklahoma hometown. Askew’s portrayal of the self-serving, bloated, intimidating sheriff is hilarious at times, and doesn’t seem stereotypical because of her clever writing. Monica Moorehouse, the local politician, is runner-up in the self-serving competition, just a slight notch below the sheriff’s character. Moorehouse will do whatever is necessary to exalt her position, and will do so wearing the perfect shade of blonde hair and turquoise green dress. Although Askew presents Moorehouse as quite one-dimensional, which I feel is something lacking in the writer’s work, Askew’s sarcastic, biting descriptions of Sheriff Holloway and Representative Moorehouse help push the story in its inevitable direction. Throughout the chapters, the feeling is subtle, yet ever
present, that something bad is going to happen. There is a cultural/moral/political clash about to occur that will push residents of Cedar, Oklahoma to do things they never thought they would do. A sense of dread grows, chapter by chapter, until the climactic showdown takes place at the local Baptist church. As I read this book and began to sense the building tension, I was reminded of a book I read several years ago about a clash of cultures between the “haves” and the immigrants of a community in T. C. Boyle’s Tortilla Curtain. Boyle’s characters, like Askew’s, are in survival mode most of the time and seem to have little control of their surroundings. Comparing these novels favorably is an enormous compliment to Rilla Askew, and places her in very good company since Boyle is considered one of the best writers of our time. I certainly hope both writers continue to offer us their extraordinary works of art. What else is new with the Independence County Library? We have a treasure trove of new books, DVDs, and audiobooks awaiting your discovery. Our television series DVDs are becoming so popular; we’ve added more titles to our collection, such as The West Wing, 30 Rock, Home Improvement, and Justified. We have some exciting new fiction, such as Edward Rutherfurd’s Paris, Elizabeth Strout’s The Burgess Boys, and Khaled Hosseini’s latest, And the Mountains Echoed. We do our best to keep you busy with our nonfiction, too, including some new titles such as Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls, by David Sedaris, and Living the Good Long Life by Martha Stewart. I’m also increasing our eBooks collection. Digital books are so convenient and I’m pleased that we are able to offer them to our community. Our Summer Reading Program begins this week and goes until July 26. Preschoolers through sixth grade will participate this summer in story time, crafts, videos, and weekly prizes for reading. On June 7, at 10:00 at the Citizen’s Bank Annex, we will host Tommy Terrific and his magical show. Admission is free, of course, and we hope to have lots of kids there to see this amazing show. We have lots more going on at the Independence County Library this summer, so when you’ve had enough of the heat, join us in the air conditioning and Read On! N
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We’re Still Out Here
How about a Little Respect? Bob Pest
Late in 2012, Associated Press feature writer Mary Clare Jalonick wrote a long account of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s assault on rural America. The USDA chief was far from sensitive, calling rural America “less and less relevant.” A month later after the election, Vilsack, the former Democratic governor of Iowa, one of our most important agricultural states, was quoted in public as saying “It’s time for us to have an adult conversation with folks in rural America.” He went on to say, “ It’s time for a different thought process here, in my view.” The remarks clearly suggest that Vilsack thinks of rural people working in agriculture as childlike and stupid. Vilsack also claims that “rural America’s biggest assets—the food supply, recreational areas, and energy for example—can be overlooked by people elsewhere as the U.S. population shifts more to cities, their suburbs and exurbs.” First of all, thousands of people leave the cities and suburbs every month to escape the high crime levels, the noise, the clogged traffic, and the inflated prices on almost everything. More importantly, rural people have no particular interest in what “people elsewhere” think. They are too busy raising families, growing vegetables, caring for live stock, working to improve the quality of life in their communities, supporting local schools, fishing, hunting, and going to church. In short, rural America’s biggest asset is its people. Although the Agriculture Department points out that “about 50% of rural counties have lost population in the past fours years, it also points to the booming agriculture economy. Despite his somewhat insulting comments about rural America, Secretary Vilsack has made the revitalization of rural America a priority, encouraged farmers to embrace new kinds of markets, worked to promote global exports, and replace a “preservation mindset with a growth mindset.” To conclude his comments, “We’ve got everything to market here,“ he said. We’ve got something to be proactive about. Let’s spend our time, our resources,
and our energy doing that and I think if we do we’re going to have a lot of young people who want to be part of the future.” Like most patriotic Americans, I respect cabinet officers, selected from a pool of dedicated, talented Americans with energy, vision, and compassion. Secretary Vilsack has earned endorsements from the Corn Refiners Association, the National Grain and Feed Association, the National Farmers Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and the Environmental Defense Fund. He is to be commended for his hard work and his long-range vision. Rural America does indeed face many challenges and with the support and the guidance of leaders like Secretary Vilsack these challenges can be met and new opportunities unveiled. Vilsack, for example, supports improving the technology used to produce cellulosic ethanol as a way of guaranteeing energy security, work now being conducted at our own Future Fuel Corporation. But Secretary Vilsack’s first step should be abandoning the notion that rural America is “irrelevant” and appreciating the hard working farmers and other rural citizens who are as relevant as any other Americans. This is how we can work together to create an America that embraces and respects its people. All of us are relevant. N
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
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June 2013 9
Travel On
What’s on Your Bucket List Renee Taylor
We have all heard it said a thousand times over, “There is no time like the present!” Senior citizens of Independence County are living out the very essence of this saying by traveling the world, crossing off items on their bucket list and enjoying the freedoms that this stage of their lives brings them. Melanie Graysmith, eHow Contributor, states in her article regarding senior lifestyles, “Senior citizens today are not like the nursing-home-bound stereotypes of the past. Today's seniors enjoy lifestyles that let them get out and have fun, while being active and learning something new.” If you are in the age group of 50+ and ready to pack your bags for a wonderful vacation, here are a few pointers that you may find helpful as you begin planning: Travel with groups - If you want to travel but are apprehensive about managing the mayhem of the airports, checking in your hotel, and finding your way around in strange places, then consider traveling with a group of people of your age group who have similar interests. Check with your local travel agency to locate escorted group tours. You may also check your local banks, garden club, churches, or other special interest groups to see if they have a travel club. Or, start one yourself with a group of friends. Batesville residents Bob and Jeanne Fitzgerald met with me because they wanted to take a cruise in the fall of 2012 along the coast of New England and Canada. They were so excited about the cruise we planned that they began sharing the information with friends. Before we knew it, they had a group of 14 people joining them. Bob sent me a note afterwards saying, “Thanks for setting up the cruise for us. It was fantastic and we wish we could go again soon. We are saving up for our next adventure!” Consider Bus tours - Bus tours are an excellent way to see local attractions of a city or region, usually with an informative narration along the way. These sightseeing adventures can last for a few hours, a full day, or multiple days. Bus tours are a great way to get to know other people with the same interests and meet potential future travel buddies. Bus tours are great for those that want to stay within the U.S. and want to avoid air travel. Cruises – Special interest and themed cruises, such as photography, cooking, music, ecology and art are popular with seniors. Most cruise companies have special rates for seniors, usually 55 and up. The cruises that offer senior rates are often from seven to fourteen days, although longer cruises are available. Cruises offer a convenient way to see multiple destinations while only having to unpack once. They also alleviate the fear of dining in a foreign area, as all meals are provided on the ship. If you require special equipment, such as a wheelchair or motorized scooter, your travel agent and cruise line will work with an outside company to have the equipment waiting for you when you arrive 10
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What is on your Bucket List?
There is no time like the present to take the trip of your DREAMS
727 W. Beebe Capps Expressway Searcy, AR (501) 305-3780 or (877) 305-3789 renee@rtaylortravel.com
at the pier. There are many destinations today that capture the interest of seniors. The most popular bucket-list destination I have seen recently is Europe. Ireland and Italy are very popular. Alaska, historical cities containing war monuments, New England states, and Niagara Falls are also very popular among the senior travel group. Travel by rail is also becoming very popular. Whatever your travel dreams, remember: you are in the prime of your life and your age should not be an issue preventing you from seeing this world that is waiting to be discovered. Grab your bucket list and get going! N
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Father
Bob and Jeanne Fitzgerald enjoying their cruise.
A boy becomes a man when he realizes that working hard for someone else while sacrificing his wants for the well being of others makes him feel far better than the minute luxury of selfishness. A man becomes a father when he is willing to set aside his dreams of greatness only when it is needed to hold up the dreams of his children so that they may test their wings within the safety of his support and guiding arms. A father is a man who is, within the presence of his newborn babies, instantly taller than the heavens and heart-broken for the seemingly fragile life that is his honor to protect from the harsh world that breaks over us like an angry ocean. We become knights in a quest older than our knowledge and silently swear our loyalty in the anxious, empty nurseries all over the world as we stare into the darkened rooms that are waiting to be filled with our children, rather than the doubt that we consume them with prior. I raise a toast to all of you fathers out there who have given merely of yourselves and your smiles to any children out there that desperately needed it to become the best of themselves. Joseph Thomas
Batesville Area Arts Council Gallery at 246 E. Main Street, Batesville, AR 72501 Tuesday - Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. www.batesvilleareaartscouncil.org (870) 793-3382
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Thacker & Rogers Wedding Kimberlee Thomas
Ashtin Thacker and Jonathan Rogers have known each other since the tender age of eight. They grew up attending the same school and played among the same group of friends. However it would be much later in their lives before they would find themselves star struck and head-over-heels in love with one another. Ashtin was a junior in college and Jonathan was a sophomore. Ashtin recalled, “One night we just clicked, we became inseparable.” The young couple has everything in common according to Ashtin. They love to fish, hunt, be outdoors, and spend time with their tight knit group of friends. “We are so blessed to have one another and such a great support system of family and friends. We are blessed beyond words,” shared Ashtin. It was Father’s Day 2012 and the young couple was on vacation in Hilton Head, South Carolina with Ashtin’s family when Jonathan proposed. Jonathan, who was not feeling well, had gone out to rest by the pool. Ashtin went out to check on him and as they visited they made their way casually to the shade of a large palm tree. “Before I even knew what was happening, Jonathan was down on one knee asking for my hand in marriage! My whole family got to watch,” recalled Ashtin. The wedding was held outdoors March 16 of this year on the Beller family farm. “We set the date so Jonathan could easily remember it, John 3:16,” stated Ashtin. The wedding party included five bridesmaids
and five groomsmen. Ashtin’s brother and Jonathan’s sister made up part of the group. Wedding planner, Theresa Elms did an outstanding job. The theme for the wedding was big country and outdoors. Church pews decorated with daisies and burlap were nestled under a large tree. Colorful circus tents were set up for the reception and decorated with mason jars and daisies and a large checkered dance floor. Ashtin recalls, “There was a touch of classy country everywhere you looked. It was breath taking.” Pastor Paul Seay presided over the double ring ceremony. Over two hundred friends and family members were in attendance to share the couple’s special day. Ashtin and Jonathan honeymooned in the Dominican Republic. “It was amazing; it was like walking through a picture book!” Ashtin shared. The young couple have returned to Batesville after completing college in Conway. Ashtin is a UCA graduate and is a registered nurse at WRMC. Jonathan is a UACCM graduate and is a surveyor for Garver Engineers. “We are glad to be home! We are also the proud parents of two wonderful dogs; Jackson our six year old shih tzu and Loretta, our 11 month old terrier. We are a very happy little family loving life,” shared Ashtin. N
Leah Smith Photography
June 2013 15
Your Health
Eat Well, Play Hard, Make It Balance Susi Epperson
Through the Communities Putting Preventions to Work (CPPW) initiative, “EAT WELL, PLAY HARD, MAKE IT BALANCE”, the Independence County Hometown Wellness Coalition partnered with all school districts in the county and other area agencies to improve the health of the community. In the past two years, these organizations were awarded funding through the Affordable Care Act and have worked together to implement SPARK, a Centers for Disease Control approved physical education curriculum and program, in ALL K-6 elementary schools in the entire county. All physical educators in the county received in-depth professional development and SPARK curriculum and equipment packages. Funds were also used to provide FREE physical activity and nutrition education/weight management opportunities for ALL Independence County residents by utilizing all county school district facilities during non-school hours. County residents were able to attend classes at any school site regardless of what school district they live in. In Independence County, 42% of the students enrolled in the public school system are overweight or obese which is higher than the state average. According to the Arkansas Center for Health Statistics, the percentages of Independence County adults who are overweight, physically inactive or smokers are higher than the percentages found in the state overall as well. Unfortunately, this may be due to the fact that the 2011 County Health Rankings Report shows that Independence County is ranked 62 out of 75 in regards to their access to recreational facilities and access to healthy foods. Funds granted or donated for the Communities Putting Preventions to Work program would enable the existing partnerships with all school districts
16
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in the county and other area agencies to continue to work to improve the health of the community by providing organized physical activities that are accessible and affordable. Funds are used to pay program staff including site coordinators, aerobic instructors, weight management/nutrition advisors, and a fiscal manager. If donations are received, we will also use some funds to promote the program in the local newspaper in order to increase participation. You can help us by providing funds in the form of a donation. Any donation amount would be greatly appreciated, but the coalition’s goal to sustain the program is $10,000. Checks would need to be made payable to City of Batesville, who have committed to acting as the fiscal agent for the Independence County Hometown Wellness Coalition. At your convenience, if you would like to set up an appointment to meet with the Leadership Team to discuss this proposal, please call me at 870-307-9379. On behalf of the team, we would love to meet you and provide you with more information or a PowerPoint presentation about our program. Thank you in advance for your consideration. N
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Eye On Cover Story The Ozark Gateway Keeper, Cathy Drew Joseph Thomas
Cathy Drew was born in Downtown Batesville, but lived in Jamestown with her parents until moving to Charlotte with her mother when she was nine. After finishing school at Cord-Charlotte, she went to work at the Media Market, an ad agency located in what is now the Citizens Bank Annex building. She talks of meeting owner, and later Batesville mayor, Jim Sherrill, Charlie Morris, Laura Cornett and Barth "Mr. Hot Dog" Boyd. She says they were quite the family and she misses working with them all. She credits her interest in the Ozark Gateway to working at the Media Market and producing the Ozark Gateway Tabloid. "It was a big job and we did all of the sales and pasted the entire book together in a time before digital publishing, which consisted of cutting and pasting, running the typesetting machine and layout. We put it out every Christmas, so there were many long Christmas Eve nights spent trying to finish the tabloid," laughs Drew. Her ten years at the Media Market were followed by a year with WRD Entertainment marketing helping with the Arkansas Weekly. Donna Baker was in her 22nd year as Ozark Gateway Tourism Director when The Media Market closed and she knew Drew was her perfect replacement as tourism director. One year later, in June of 2000, Baker retired, trained Drew, and Drew assumed the Directorship officially the following month. "I've been tourism director now for thirteen years and if you count the previous ten years at The Media Market and my work with The Ozark Gateway Tabloid, that is twenty-three years of Ozark Gateway involvement,” says Drew. “When I started, I finally convinced the board we needed to change the tabloid to the magazine format. We have a number of people that collect these magazines and they are far more durable in this medium than the tabloid." The Ozark Gateway Tourist Council prints over one hundred and eight thousand magazines a year and may have to print more next year because they are already running low this year. Drew saw a rise in tourism every year with the birth of the magazine, until 9/11/2001, when the numbers remained stagnant until the last three years. Drew attributes the recent increase to a change in marketing strategy. She now markets more locally, reminding Arkansans that we have the richest of vacation spots right here in our own backyard. She also stresses the cost effectiveness and time saving advantage of simply exploring an hour away from home in any direction. Drew’s wealth of information on the Ozark Region is evident when she quickly lists many of the 18
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area’s great attractions, such as Mammoth Springs; Mountain View's Loco Ropes, along with their crafts, music, and theatre; Walnut Ridge's Parachute Inn and Guitar Walk; Horseshoe Bend's golfing, lake, and music. She mentions that Blanchard Springs Caverns is celebrating forty years of tourism; Batesville has Second Friday Folic, Ozark Foothills Film Fest, T Tauri Film Camp, the Annual Antiques Festival, and a plethora of outdoor activities which will soon include the Mary Woods Steam Boat. Drew is very excited about the Nomad brothers who have begun a rock climbing business in the Jamestown area that is bringing in climbers from all over. She is glad to see her family’s hometown reaching out so far and becoming one more reason for the world to visit Arkansas. Drew explains her passion for this job, "I get to promote this area that I love. Each town has something unique to offer and getting to know all of these wonderful people that care so much about there home towns." Drew describes her typical fall season, making sales calls for the Ozark Gateway magazine in eight counties, preparing and sending information to the printer, and tying up any loose ends in hopes of getting the publication out by January. As the magazine is being printed, Drew sets about the task of having the magazines delivered throughout the region. Drew shows Kimberlee Thomas, of Eye On Independence, a days worth of inquiries she receives from people all over the world requesting information about the area. The dozen or so cards on her desk this day, to which she responds daily, are from Illinois, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Oregon, New Mexico, California, New Jersey, Indiana, and Africa, requesting tour guides, as seen on www.arkansas.com. Drew sends an Ozark Gateway magazine, along with other information requested, to each inquiry. Drew travels throughout the region two to three days a week delivering magazines, and she also travels to hotels outside the region hoping to keep tourist in Little Rock, for example, a few days longer than they planned so they can visit our area and spend their tourist dollars on some of the attractions our area offers. In addition to attracting more visitors to our area, Drew states that advertising relocation to our area is something the Ozark Gateway Tourism Board is beginning to focus on. “This is a great place to visit but an even better place to live and retire,” Drew says. “Our region brought in $221, 841,965 tourism dollars in 2012. This breaks down into $40 million in travel generated payroll with over 2000 travel generated jobs, $13 million in state tax, and $5 million in local tax - all from 926,000 visitors in one year.” Drew also points We are word of mouth for your EYES!
Ozark Gateway Tourist Council P.O. Box 4049 • Batesville, AR 72503 870-793-9316 • 800-264-0316 crdrew@sbcglobal.net www.ozarkgateway.com
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out that tourism money changes hands many times, from a tourist visiting a local restaurant and spending $20, to that restaurant owner spending that money on their business and keeping the money circulating within the local economy. “With a job like mine,” Drew states, “I travel all over the area, and although I’m not considered a typical tourist, I do spend money on food and lodging. All the while, I’m helping to attract visitors who will spend their money all over this area. I do love my job,” admits Drew with a smile. Cathy’s and her husband of twenty-two years, Jeff Drew, are avid motorcyclists and enjoy hunting and fishing. June 2, 2013 marks their twenty-third anniversary. Both Drew‘s husband and nineteen year old son, Jonathon are welders at Bad Boy Inc. Jonathan’s girlfriend, Devyn Stewart, is now Drew’s jogging partner and a fun part of their lives now. Her step-son, Corey Richardson, is twenty-four and also an important part of her life, along with his girlfriend, Lydia Long, and her daughter, Zaya. The family also consists of a beautiful fourteen year old Labrador Retriever, Sasha, two stray Rat Terriers, one of which gave birth to ten puppies shortly after being taken in, and one of the puppies. Drew has been a member of the Rotary Club for twenty-three years. She served as 2008 club president and currently sits on the Felicity Committee and Youth Exchange Committee. She is proud of Arkansas and very much enjoys sharing her home region with the rest of the state and the world. N
June 2013 19
Progress for Independence county. Meeting the needs of our elderly as individuals.
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Carlee’s Hallmark
Angels seem to resonate greatly with all ages and cultures of people. To some they represent protection, to some they are an outward reminder of inner peace and virtue, and to some they represent a way to remember those who have left this earth. Regardless of personal conviction, angels seem to provide comfort to those searching for answers in a world with so many unknowns.
682 Harrison Street Batesville, AR / 870-793-8086 20
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Celebrate America on the Fourth in Batesville Chuck Jones
For the 16th consecutive year, Citizens Bank will sponsor “Celebrate America” at Riverside Park in Batesville on Thursday, the Fourth of July. “This year’s ‘Celebrate America’ fireworks display promises to be more spectacular and breath-taking than anything ever witnessed in North Central Arkansas,” said John Dews, Citizens Bank President and Chief Executive Officer. “We appreciate the loyal base of local sponsors, entertainers and vendors who help ensure a fun-filled day of family entertainment and music.” Since 1997, Citizens Bank has served as corporate sponsor of Batesville’s “Celebrate America” fireworks display. WRD Entertainment Inc. and the Batesville Daily Guard have again signed on as “Sonic Boom” and “Big Blast” sponsors, respectively. The fireworks display is one of Arkansas’ largest and Citizens Bank decided to “kick it up a notch” this year. Without giving too much away, people attending the event can expect to see a white to blue to red fireworks waterfall in the sky. “Celebrate America” activities at Riverside Park will run continuously during the day. Groups and organizations seeking to be vendors at the event can contact the Marketing Department at Citizens Bank at (870) 698-6381. N
The Ozark Foothills Literacy Project presents the 2nd annual Kids Triathlon for Literacy! Saturday, July 13, 2013 Lyon College : Batesville, AR Ages 5-18: Swim / Bike / Run * A benefit for the Ozark Foothills Literacy Project * Age 5-6: Pool Swim 25 yards, Bike .5 mi, Run .25 mi Age 7-9 : Pool Swim 50 Yards, Bike 1 Mile, Run ½ Mile Age 10-12 : Pool Swim 100 Yards, Bike 2 Miles, Run .75 Mile Age 13-18 : Pool Swim 150 Yards, Bike 3 Miles, Run 1 Mile
409 VINE STREET | P 870.793.2378 |
WWW.MYBATESVILLE.ORG
REGISTER TODAY: Please register at racesonline.com, or call 870-793-5912 or email info@literacyindependence.org for assistance. N June 2013 21
Welcome to Independence
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Arkansas Craft School Sustainability Weekend Announces Menus Mark your calendars now for Sustainability Weekend May 31 – June 2, presented by the Arkansas Craft School in partnership with Meadowcreek LINKPROJECT. Activities for the weekend include classes in craft, foodways, and sustainable agriculture, artisan lunches prepared by local cooks, a farm-to-table candlelight dinner, and concert by the band Finnegans Wake. All activities will take place at Tomahawk Creek Farm in beautiful rural Stone County, 10 miles southeast of Mountain View. Participants must preregister, and may choose from various components to create a fun and enlightening weekend. Artisan lunches will be prepared all three days by some of the county’s favorite cooks - R.C. Schroeder, Kayt Matheson Fosler, and Patricia Stewart, who have dreamed up some delicious noon meals. In addition, Patricia Stewart will be preparing the Saturday night meal, a complete farm-to-table dinner. Cost for lunch is $12.00 each day, and will be served from 12:00 – 1:00; the Saturday night dinner is $25.00, and will be served from 5:00 – 6:30. You do not need to be enrolled in classes to share a meal with us, but you will need to purchase meals at least three days in advance, to allow our cooks to purchase supplies. A reminder: meals are not included in the cost of a workshop. Friday’s lunch menu, prepared by RC and Jane Schroeder will consist of Ultra Supreme Pizza (Veggie Choices Available), Heavenly Tossed Salad with Homemade Dressing, and Blackberry Cobbler with Ice Cream. On Saturday, Kayt Matheson Fosler will be preparing Herb-Crusted, Blue Cheese & Bacon Stuffed Chicken Breast, Mixed Wild Greens, New Potatoes in Parsley Lemon Butter Sauce, a Marinated Veggie Salad, an Herb Biscuit, and a Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookie. Sunday lunch, prepared by Patricia Stewart includes a Grilled Marinated Pork Tenderloin on Herb Buttered Bun, Fresh Cucumber Salad, Garden Spinach Squares, and Crème Filled Lemon Cake. Lunches are $12.00 each, and include iced tea, plain or sweet, and coffee, regular or decaffeinated. Saturday night’s Candlelight Farm-to-Table Dinner features Trish’s Pasture Raised & Fed Beef Cube Steak in French Onion Sauce, Oven Roasted Herb Potatoes, Fresh Seasoned Green Beans, Corn Bread Salad (Home Grown & Ground Corn Meal), Squash Casserole, Fresh Cabbage Slaw, Home Baked Bread, and Fresh-Picked Pumpkin Cupcakes with Home Made Cream Cheese Frosting. All items on the dinner menu are naturally grown, naturally raised, and lovingly prepared by Patricia Stewart from
Star Gap Farm in Mountain View, AR. The $25.00 dinner includes a wine tasting along with choices of ice tea and coffee; and immediately precedes the Finnegans Wake concert. Visit the Arkansas Craft School’s website, www. arkansascraftschool.org for more information on craft or foodways classes, meals, and the concert during the weekend, as well as registration forms and scholarship applications. Find out more about the sustainable agriculture classes by visiting Meadowcreek LINKPROJECT’s website, www.meadowcreeklink.com. Students may also sign up for classes, or purchase meals or concert tickets by calling Terri Van Orman at (870) 269-8397. The Arkansas Craft School, located in Mountain View, Arkansas is dedicated to the education of aspiring and practicing craft artisans for success in the Creative Economy. The Craft School partners with Ozarka College which offers Continuing Education credits for all of its courses. Support for the Arkansas Craft School is provided, in part, by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, and the National Endowment of the Arts. Article and photo submitted by the Arkansas Craft School. N
Let Us Advertise For You EYE ON INDEPENDENCE is word of mouth...for your eyes. Let us promote your business and let’s grow together. email kthomas@eyeonmag .com or call Kimberlee at (870) 503-1150
June 2013 23
Eye On Feature Date Night, Dandelions and the Beatles Kimberlee Thomas
As many of you know, Joseph and I share five beautiful children between us, ranging in age from sixteen to twenty-four. We are also the proud grandparents of one very amazing fifteen-monthold crackerjack, Gage “Little Man” Wolf. Between the children, grandchild, and magazine production, Joseph and I do not get much down time for just the two of us. I’m not complaining, but all work and no play make Joseph and Kimberlee very dull indeed! When I saw the poster advertising the Artistry of the Guitar concert featuring Danny Dozier, Steve Davison, and Muriel Anderson, to be held at Fox Creek Bar-B-Q, I knew we had to go. We were so excited: a date night! Reservations were made and all there was to do was wait for Thursday, May 16 to arrive. And arrive it did, rainy and damp, but this did not deter my spirit, nor did the fact that the power went out just minutes after I stepped out of the shower. I applied make-up in the dim light the sky light provided and towel dried my hair, worrying about how it was going to look in an hour with no blow dryer or flat iron to assist me in taming it. Finally, after a little reassurance from Joseph and three children that it “looks fine mom, different, but fine,” we left the house Batesville bound. Fox Creek Bar-B-Q, which is located inside the old train depot at 129 Lawrence Street, was bustling with activity when we arrived. The parking lot was full and those lucky enough to have made reservations were settling in at their awaiting tables. If you have not been to Fox Creek Bar-B-Q you are truly missing out, as Bill Daum and his wife, Jayne, have a true talent for BBQ. The “member’s only” restaurant has a menu which includes pulled pork, chicken, beef brisket, Angus ground chuck burgers, chicken fingers, BBQ baked potatoes, homemade fried pies in a variety of flavors and much more. Much of the original brick interior is exposed and the original architecture of the depot shines through, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. There is an ample stage tucked in the east end of the building where you will find local musician, David Grimes, performing most every Friday night with Saturday evenings showcasing other area bands. Tuesday evenings are dedicated to karaoke. On this particular evening the stage was set with three chairs, three mics, and a variety of well-worn acoustic guitars, and one amazing guitar harp! I knew right away we were in for a real treat. Artistry of the Guitar was advertised as, “a feast not only for guitar lovers, but also for anyone with a passion for acoustic music.” As the three guitarists performed “in the round” and traded songs and stories about their 24
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compositions and their approach to the guitar, I felt as if I had been transported to another place altogether. Their music focused on contemporary instrumental American Fingerstyle Guitar with folk, jazz, Celtic, classical and blues influences. Dozier played several Beatle’s tunes, and even had the audience testing out our vocal skills with his rendition of “All We Need Is Love.” Davison and Anderson each shared their tributes to the legendary Chet Atkins, whom they both had the pleasure of knowing and playing with. Anderson shared a new song she had recently written and asked for the audience to interpret the song when she was finished. As audiences go, we were pretty spot on. The song was very haunting, full of passion, longing, and love. She has titled it “Dandelion” and this listener is anxiously awaiting its release. Each guitarist brought their own style to the night and they were a pleasure to listen to individually, but the real delight of the evening was when they played together. They had had no time to rehearse prior to the show but you would have never known it. They were amazing, absolutely amazing. Following is a brief glimpse of each artist as provided by Steve Davison – Artistry of the Guitar. Muriel Anderson, a world renowned artist, is the first woman to have won the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship. An engaging performer, her obvious joy of music and facility across musical genres is revered by guitarists and audiences worldwide. She has recorded with country legend Chet Atkins, performed in New York with Les Paul, at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall with the Chicago Symphony and in Tennessee with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra. She is founder of the All Star Guitar Night® and the Music for Life Alliance charity. Muriel Anderson
Danny Dozier is a legendary guitarist in the state of Arkansas. Danny’s solo performances showcase his wide range of guitar styles and his superb choice of material. We are word of mouth for your EYES!
He has performed at the Ozark Folk Center in many configurations over the years, fronts the Danny Dozier Band at gigs around the state and the country and is the two-time winner of the Merle Travis Fingerstyle Guitar Championship at the Ozark Folk Center. Danny Dozier
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Cafe - Casseroles - Catering
1335 College Street (870) 698-0200
Plate Lunches Daily Specials Paninis Soups Fresh Fruit & Pasta Salads Take and Bake Casseroles
Steve Davison is a Little Rock guitarist who performs on the 6- and 12-string guitar. He tours the country with Ken Bonfield as Artistry of the Guitar. They have performed at acoustic venues around the country and shared the stage with artist such as Larry Coryell, Muriel Anderson, Peter Janson, Tim Farrell, and Dakota Dave Hull. Steve was also the winner of the 2005 Arkansas Acoustic Music Festival in the solo category and has been a featured artist on AETN Presents. Batesville is truly blessed to have such talented performers in its midst. We are further blessed to have several venues in which to dine and listen to such wonderful talent. The next time you and your significant other are planning a date night, check the local scene for a great night out. I know Joseph and I will! N
Summer is Here! Cool down with your favorite chilled Salad from Natalie’s Deli Cooler!
Steve Davison
June 2013 25
Things To Do UACCB to Offer Sign Language Classes Advanced Sign Language: Jun. 3, 10, 17, 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the Row Johns Building, Room 816 with instructor, Stephanie Patterson. There is a $35 fee plus textbook to be purchased through UACCB Bookstore. Prerequisite: Intermediate Sign Language or prior experience. Pre-registration and full payment should be received five business days prior to the first day of class. For more information or to register, please call 870-612-2082 or email katrina.stevens@uaccb.edu. UACCB Roaring 20’s Bunco Blitz Costumes are optional. A prize will be awarded for best costume. Proceeds support UACCB’s Kids’ College program. Registration fees include fun, food, prizes, and more! Registration Fee is $25 for this June 4th event from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Elizabeth’s Restaurant and Catering at 231 E. Main Street in Batesville. For more information call Tina Paul at 870-612-2017. www.uaccb.edu/coming-events.html Thinking Strategically About Benefits How will ObamaCare affect your business in 2013? The landmark legislation Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)-popularly referred to as “ObamaCare”-passed in 2010 -- sets a timeline through 2018 for phased implementation of employment-related provisions. How do you prepare your organization for all the changes? UACCB will host a workshop that will help you focus on the planning process and tools used to formulate a strategic plan for benefits that is also aligned with the overall goals and strategic plan of the organization. You will be given guidance on penalties, tax deductions, and cost comparisons of the option of offering health insurance, versus the option to no longer offer health insurance to your employees. Class will be Wednesday, June 12th from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at UACCB. For more information, contact Kathleen McNamee at 870612-2081 or kathleen.mcnamee@uaccb.edu www.uaccb.edu. UACCB Snorkeling Class Want a good snorkeling adventure? In this class, you will learn what equipment is necessary and optional to begin snorkeling. You will discuss facts, medical requirements, physical aspects of water on the body and safety procedures. Upon completion of this class, you will have the knowledge and skills to have a fun, safe time in the water. Bring a mask, fin, and snorkel to class. Your instructor will be Bruce Fletcher and registration and full payment should be received at least 26
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five business days prior to the first day of class, Sunday, June 16th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in room 102 in Independence Hall at UACCB. For more information contact Katrina Stevens at 870-612-2082 or katrina.stevens@uaccb.ed www.uaccb.edu. Hunter Education Course This is a free class sponsored by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. To hunt in Arkansas, anyone born on or after January 1, 1969 must complete a hunter education course and carry a valid hunter education card. Youths under age 16 may hunt without hunter education as long as they are under the direct supervision of an adult who is 21 years old. There is no specific age requirement to enroll in hunter education. Reading material is based on a sixth grade reading level. Join us Saturday, June 29 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the UACCB Nursing Allied Health Lecture Hall room 902. For more information, contact Mary Zirkle at 501-3450367 or katrina.stevens@uaccb.edu
NADT Peter Pan will be performed by the NADT in Brown Chapel on June 1st at 3:30 p.m. Contact Cindy Hubberd at 866-468-6238.
ACT/ Outdoor Adventure Camp Camp will begin on June 2nd at 6 a.m. and run through June 12. This is a fun camp setting for teens to prepare for the ACT. Trike Theatre Summer Camps Monday, June 3rd through June 7th in the Temporary Dining Hall, this Summer program hosted by The Batesville Area Arts Council is a Summer Theater Camp. Students K-2nd grade will be in the Pirate Camp session from 9 a.m.-noon, and students 3rd-8th grade will be in the Acting Out Loud session from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Registration is $75 per student. To sign up your child, call (870)793-3382 or email baac@ suddenlinkmail.com to contact Carly Dahl & Paige Dirksen. Lyon College Soccer Camp Registration fees are $75-1 child, $140-2 children, and $200-3 children. For ages 5 to 14 and registration forms due by June 6. Please mail registration forms to 2300 Highland Rd. Batesville, AR 72501. This camp will be held on Lyon College Campus Monday June 10th through the 13th from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information, please contact head men’s soccer coach, Michael Brookshire, at michael.brookshire@lyon.edu or We are word of mouth for your EYES!
head women’s soccer coach, Ben Parman, at ben.parman@lyon.edu. Big Brothers Big Sisters Karaoke for a Cause Big Brothers Big Sisters invites you to come out and enjoy great entertainment, food and fun. This year’s theme is “Country Legends”-a hee-hawing good time-and is sponsored by First Community Bank. The event’s proceeds help BBBS match children facing adversity with a positive role model to help them succeed in life! Registration is now open for performs in the 2013 competition. Anyone interested in becoming a contestant should contact Amanda Roberts. Contestants will perform country music classics and will need to register by June 1. Saturday, June 15th 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Edwards Commons at Lyon College in Batesville. For more information contact Amanda Roberts at 870-612-8888 or amanda@bigbrothersbigsistersnca.org.
All Over Independence
its annual summer fundraising event. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door. Admission includes dinner, drinks, a silent auction, and live entertainment performed by Danny Dozier, Sarah Roark, and John Parks. Tickets are available at Carlee’s Hallmark and the BAAC Gallery on Main. Friday, June 14th 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 424 E. Main Street in Batesville For more info email batesvilleareaartscouncil.org. Loosen Up with Acrylics The Batesville Area Arts Council will be hosting a “Loosen-Up with Acrylics” painting workshop on Saturday, June 22nd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the BAAC Art Gallery on Main Street. A 1-hour lunchbreak is included in the agenda. Turn your creative spirit into exciting colorful art duirng this one-day workshop! Using acrylic paints, participants will explore “drip tree” and “make a mess” techniques that are suitable for all levels of painters. The cost for the workshop is $45. To sign up, please stop by the BAAC Gallery on Main or call to register. For more information, please visit the BAAC website. www.batesvilleareaartscouncil.org.
Sprint for Seniors Sprint for Seniors 5K is June 1st at 8 a.m. at the West OIRM Native American Day Camp Baptist Church at 1100 N Central Avenue in Batesville. Please 1st through 3rd graders will Explore Arkansas’ visit www.wrroadrunners.org for registration and additional Native American heritage at the 6th Annual Old information. Please consider sponsorship of our event. Please Independence Regional Museum Native American contact Becky Box at 870-793-5358 for further information or Day Camp! Some activities include making medicine e-mail becky.box@wraaa.com. N pouches, coil pots, and corn husk dolls. Campers will be able to sample Native American foods, but please bring a sack lunch. The deadline to register is June 1st with a registration fee of $10 per child. INDEPENDENCE COUNTY LIBRARY Camp will run from Monday, June 10 from 9 a.m. 368 East Main Street to 1 p.m. at the Old Independence Regional Museum Batesville, Arkansas 72501 located at 380 S. 9th St. Batesville. For more (870) 793-8814 information, contact April White at 870-793-2121 or www.indcolib.com email april@oirm.org
Hours of Operation: Sun. 1:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. Mon. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tues. - Sat. 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
8th Annual Chamber Golf Classic The 8th Annual Chamber Golf Classic will be held on June 7th with a shotgun start at 10am. Team registrations are $375 and available online or by calling 870-793-2378. from 9 a.m. thru 3 p.m. at the Course at Eagle Mountain in Batesville, Arkansas.
3rd Annual Hwy to Heaven Poker Run All proceeds benefit the Make a Wish Foundation. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be served at no cost to riders and passengers, and there will be drawings for free prizes. All donations are welcome. This event will be held on Saturday, June 8 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Batesville’s Kennedy Park. First Bike Out at 10 a.m. and Last Bike In at 2 p.m. Batesville Area Arts Council Summer Fiesta The Batesville Area Arts Council will be hosting
Competition Team Home of the North Arkansas Dance Theatre “A Performing Troupe” June 2013 27
Faces
“Shop Where Your Heart Is” Is a Success! Josie’s had a great turnout as host of the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce’s first “Shop Where Your Heart Is” cash mob location on Friday, May 3rd. Lunch hour at Josie’s was busier than usual. One “cash mobber” said, “Our server told us she normally works in the back during lunch hour but was called to the floor to help out.” A cash mob is a group of people who assemble at a local business to make purchases with a common goal of supporting the local economy and the overall community. The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce organized a series of cash mobs every Friday throughout the month of May. The next cash mob was May 10th at Morningside Coffee House at 616 Harrison Street. May 17th, the cash mob took over Southside Sonic and May 24th they captured Ivory Owl. We wanted to thank the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce for such a creative and successful campaign as well as all of the participating businesses for their discounts and taking on the mobs as they sought to shop local.
The top two pictures show local faces in the May 3rd Cash Mob taking over Josie’s. Middle left and immediately above is Morning Side Coffee House being mobbed May 10th. Left you’ll find more familiar faces in the May 17th Cash Mob at Southside Sonic. Photographs submitted by our friends at the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Best of Modern Praise and Worship Independence Counties very own local, contemporary worship station
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World Wide Live Internet Stream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kbap-88-1-fm Phone: 501-203-6953
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AFMC program recognizes excellence in healthcare
Annie McCallister - Solis
White River Medical Center (WRMC) earned a Hospital CAUTI (catheter-associated urinary tract infection) Reduction Award from the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC) at their annual Quality Awards program. Over the past year, WRMC has reduced the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infections by approximately 50 percent. The Quality Awards are designed to recognize improvement in individual health care organizations’ performance in AFMC’s quality improvement projects. The Hospital CAUTI Reduction Award recognizes hospitals that have committed to focus efforts in the reduction of catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Robin Anderson, WRMC Quality Management Supervisor and Infection Preventionist, attended training sessions and worked with a team of nurses and nurse leaders from across the hospital to reduce catheter infections by implementing the Stop CAUTI project frameworks. On the CUSP: Stop CAUTI is a two year program aimed at reducing the rates of catheter associated urinary tract infections by working with state organizations and hospitals across the country to implement the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) and CAUTI reduction practices. According to the website forOn the CUSP: Stop CAUTI, catheter-associated urinary tract infections are the most common type of healthcare-associated infection in the nation. “Urinary catheter infections plague healthcare facilities across the nation. We want to make sure we are doing everything we can to prevent them,” said Anderson. “This is about more than being recognized for an award; it is about providing the best care for our
White River Medical Center (WRMC) Chief Nursing Officer, Dede Strecker, shows a video on the importance of teamwork to employees attending the most recent ACE (All Committed to Excellence) Training. Strecker assists the Patient Experience Team, a team focused on improving the overall patient experience at WRMC. The Team leads the four-hour training session monthly with approximately 60 employees in attendance each time. Other topics include attitude, discharge phone calls, fundamentals of service, hourly rounding, ownership, patient satisfaction reports, service recovery, standards of behaviors, and values.
patients.” WRMC is a 235-bed regional referral center and the flagship facility of White River Health System (WRHS). WRHS is a not-for-profit healthcare system serving residents throughout North Central Arkansas. The system includes hospitals, outpatient facilities, primary care and specialty physician office practices. White River Health System is a member of the Premier Alliance, the American Hospital Association, and the Arkansas Hospital Association and licensed by the Arkansas Department of Health.
Robin Anderson, White River Medical Center (WRMC) Quality Management Supervisor and Infection Preventionist, and Jody Smotherman, Director of Quality, Case Management, and CDI at WRMC, accept an AFMC Quality Award on behalf of WRMC. WRMC was recognized for reducing its rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
Several White River Medical Center (WRMC) employees gather at the recent WRMC Employee Emergency Room Campaign Celebration. The celebration acknowledged the success of the campaign, which was conducted by the White River Health System (WRHS) Foundation. A total of $256,905.46 was pledged by 491 employees, which will go towards the upcoming expansion and renovation of the WRMC Emergency Department. The Employee Emergency Room Campaign Celebration also marks the beginning of the Foundation’s Capital Campaign for the ER Expansion. Construction is expected to begin later this year.
Tabitha Breshears, RN, CEN demonstrates the EZ-IO® intra osseous device on an egg to simulate starting an IV. The presentation and demonstration was a part of the UACCB Career Cluster Camp featuring Health Professions for Cave City eight grade students. The event was made possible through a collaborative effort of the U.S. Department of Education, Arkansas Dept. of Career Education (Arkansas Works, Arkansas Dept. of Higher Education, and local Health Professionals.
WRHS Awarded Grant for Free Mammograms
Annie McCallister - Solis
For the seventh consecutive year, White River Health System (WRHS) in Batesville has been awarded a grant from Susan G. Komen for the Cure Arkansas. This year, WRHS was granted $18,800. With this grant, WRHS and the physicians of North Arkansas Radiology will continue to provide potentially life-saving mammography screenings to women in North Central Arkansas who are uninsured or underinsured. The program primarily serves women ages 40 to 64 who cannot afford mammography services and are not covered by commercial insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or Arkansas BreastCare. Younger women may also qualify if their physician determines they have a significant clinical risk or family history of breast cancer. Those who cannot afford an office visit to a family physician for a mammogram may qualify for an office visit at no cost. In 2012, nearly 230 women in the area received services at no cost as a result of the grant. “For several years now, this grant has brought many women through our doors that might not otherwise have been able to receive a mammogram,” said Michelle Warden, MD, Radiologist at North Arkansas Radiology Associates and on the Medical Staff at White River Medical Center. “If nothing is found, it brings women peace of mind; however, if something is found, it brings the opportunity to get treatment early, which is key to successfully fighting breast cancer.” This year marks the 19th for the Komen organization to award grants to programs around the state who are working in the fight against breast cancer. “We worked hard to earn this money and we are so proud to distribute to such trustworthy, valuable, impactful programs. Our fight continues until a cure is found,” says Komen Arkansas Board Chair Ellen Kreth. Susan G. Komen for the Cure Arkansas Affiliate handed out 20 grants totaling over $1.1 million to Arkansas organizations. Additionally, $427,000 has been used for breast cancer research to help find the cure. Women interested in taking advantage of free mammograms provided by WRHS and Komen are encouraged to call 870-262-1035 to see if they qualify. Komen for the Cure was established as the Komen Foundation in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. Thanks to more than 75,000 volunteers dedicated to the fight against breast cancer, Komen for the Cure with its Affiliate Network is the world’s largest private funder of community-based breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment programs. Together with its Affiliate Network, corporate partners and donors, Komen for the Cure has raised over one billion dollars for the fight against breast cancer.
Members of the White River Health System (WRHS) Board of Directors recently received certifications after completing a six session training course in Essentials of Healthcare Governance given by Best On Board, LLC. Essentials of Healthcare Governance is a comprehensive course that helps strengthen the ability of participating trustees and leaders to serve on a health care organization governing board. The course was made available by the Arkansas Hospital Association and WRHS. Pictured with their certificates (L to R) are WRHS Board members Dianne Lamberth, Debbie Frazier, Connie Schirmer, Leo Sutterfield, Charlie Schaaf, WRHS Board President, Steve Case, Dick Bernard, Dr. Doug Bernard, and James Mack Street, WRHS Board Treasurer. Not pictured were Boris Dover, WRHS Board Vice-President, Dr. Rob Emery, Leslie Frensley, WRHS Board Secretary, and Gerald Meacham.
Marsha Oliver (Center), Grant Chair for the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure Arkansas, presents a check to White River Health System (WRHS) in the amount of $18,800. Accepting the check are Angela Dugger (Right), WRHS Assistant Foundation Director and Dana Thomas (Left), WRHS Grant Project Manager. The money will allow women who qualify to get their necessary mammograms at no charge.
Citizens Bank Launches 60th Anniversary Celebration Citizens Bank launched a 60-day celebration of its 60th Anniversary on Tuesday, April 23 – 60 years after it opened for business in 1953. The bank hosted receptions at its Airport Road, Eagle Mountain, Main and St. Louis branches in Batesville, and in Cave City, Imboden, Mountain View and Pleasant Plains. A ceremony was held at the Main Bank to dedicate the Board Room as the “J. K. Southerland Board Room” and its art corridor as the “Josephine Raye Rogers Art Gallery.” “These dedications recognize two important families that have significantly contributed to our bank’s success,” said John Dews, Citizens Bank President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are proud to hold the title of Batesville’s oldest community bank, but we are equally proud to offer our customers the very latest technologies and electronic banking services.”
Leteveryone ndyou wherethey’realreadyat... EYE ON INDEPENDENCE
As part of the 60-day anniversary celebration, customers can register at any of Citizens Bank’s lobby branches to win beautiful jewelry – a ½-carat ladies diamond pendant on an 18-inch 14K white gold chain from Thompson’s Jewelry, or a “Citizens” ladies watch with a Mother of Pearl dial and diamond bezel from Jonathan’s Fine Jewelry. Additional drawing prizes include $60 savings accounts, $60 gas cards, sixty $10 gift cards, and sixty one-dollar coins. Article and photographs submitted by Chuck Jones.
UACCB holds student awards reception; Hooper receives Outstanding Service Award
Kim Whitten
Mallory Hooper received the Outstanding Service Award at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville during a reception recognizing outstanding students and student choice awards held on Wednesday, April 17, 2013. Hooper has maintained exemplary grades in her coursework, including some difficult science courses she is taking at Lyon College. She has done this while remaining active in campus activities including: Student Government Association, Phi Theta Kappa, Circle K, and being a student ambassador. She also demonstrates her service with her work as a tutor in the Student Success Center. She states, “I love helping others to better understand the concepts covered in class. Not only do I get to help others learn the material, but I also learn more for myself.” Mr. Dennis Broadwater, Director of the Student Success Center, states, “One of Mallory’s most outstanding attributes is her willingness to put others above herself. Mallory knows what it takes to become a successful student, and she passes that knowledge on to other students. Mallory gets along very well with everyone, is dependable and always finishes anything she starts.” Mr. John Dempsey, who works as a professional tutor in the Student Success Center describes Mallory as “a very intelligent, talented tutor who can handle all of the algebra and chemistry questions and most of the calculus questions that our students ask; as well as doing a superior job of proofreading English comp papers.” He adds, “Mallory is an absolute delight to work with!” In 2012, Mallory was selected to represent UACCB as Academic AllStar during the Arkansas Association of Two Year Colleges fall conference. This honor will benefit her as she continues her education at a four year institution with a full tuition scholarship, which will allow her to focus on her academics as she hopes to obtain a degree in math and/or science. Receiving division awards for outstanding students include: Science Jamie Price, Math - Mallory Hooper, Arts and Humanities - Tracy Myers, Business - Verlinda Cullum, Technology - Gary Mason, Public Service Heather Miller, Industrial Technology - Dalton Palmer, Aviation - Austin McCord, GED - William Coles, ESL - Carmen Galvan, Student choice awards were given to the following faculty and staff: Van Taylor, outstanding organization advisor; David Carpenter, outstanding faculty; Dorianne Dias, outstanding academic advisor; Sharon Gage, outstanding staff. Students named to Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges were also recognized. Those students include: Sandra Anderson, Brandy Ayers, Alicia Campbell, Aaron Farrier, Scott Goodwin, Jacob Green, Tam Henderson, Amanda Hicks, Mallory Hooper, Jason McCandlis, Tracy Myers, Mary Roberson, Kathryn Sanders, Eve Sims, Tamara Steadman, Lisa Summers, and Jodie Young. Also recognized were student ambassadors and members of SGA. The 2012-2013 student ambassadors are: Mallory Hooper, Micah Magee, Dianira Medina, C’aira Norris, Lauren Piker, Jeremiah Sanders, and Jameka Taylor. 2012-2013 SGA members are: Mallory Hooper, Marcus Kolton, Dianira Medina, Dalton Palmer, Lauren Piker, Michael Robinson, Ashley Stephens, Ben Stone, and Mollie Wolfe. UACCB AllStar Mallory Hooper
Student Choice – left to right: Gage, Dias, Carpenter, and Taylor.
Ambassadors - left to right: Sanders, Hooper, Taylor, Norris, Medina, and Piker.
SGA – Front row, left to right: Medina, Wolfe, Stephens, and Hooper; back row, left to right: Palmer, Kolton, Stone, and Piker.
Division Awards - front row, left to right: Hooper, Galvan, Price, and Cullum; back row, left to right: Coles, Palmer, Miller, McCord, Mason, and Myers.
Whos Who – Front row, left to right: Roberson, Ayers, Steadman, and Henderson; back row, left to right: Goodwin, Hooper, Anderson, Hicks, Farrier, Greene, Sanders, and Myers.
UACCB PN Students Win Awards at State Competition
Kim Whitten
The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville hosted the 17th Annual Arkansas Licensed Practical Nursing Association’s (ALPNA) annual convention and competition April 11-12, 2013. UACCB has been hosting the ALPNA convention since 2006. This year UACCB welcomed over 230 students and 21 instructors from seven institutions, along with nine ALPNA board members and three community judges on campus for the two day event. The purpose of ALPNA is to support all licensed practical nurses in the State of Arkansas and promote contacts on national, state and local levels with groups interested in the improvement and extension of nursing service. ALPNA accomplishes this in a number of ways including: keeping the membership informed concerning matters of interest to practical nurses and practical nursing; seeking to advance educational standards of practical nurses’ and the continuance of their education; alerting the membership to pending legislation pertaining to nursing or practical nurses’ and leading the membership in a concerted effort in support of, or in opposition to proposed legislation; and to establish and maintain high standards of integrity, honor and character among licensed practical nurses’ and promote and protect their welfare, interest and advance their education standards. Along with UACCB, the other institutions participating in the 2013 ALPNA convention and competition were: Arkansas State University Beebe – Searcy campus, Arkansas Tech University – Ozark campus, College of the Ouachitas, National Park Community College, University of Arkansas Community College at Hope, and University of Arkansas at Monticello – Crossett campus.
UACCB nursing students who placed in the competition were: Megan Brown (Sulphur Rock), first place, prepared speaking; Kandice Conway (Kensett) and Whitney Swindle (Bald Knob), first place, two man CPR; Tifney Roberts (Batesville), first place medical terminology; Jennifer Bratton (Judsonia), second place, medical terminology; Teresa Harris (Cave City), second place, job interview; Stephanie Swaim (Batesville), second place, spelling bee; Megan Marmet (Poughkeepsie), third place, nutrition; Karrabi Wilson (Batesville), third place, nursing skills; Tracy Pollard (Newport), tie for second place, solo talent; “Fire in the Hole” group of Brown, Swindle, Harris, Swaim, Grace Hawkins (Batesville); Alicia Campbell (Batesville); Susie Rodriguez (Batesville); Crystal Burns (Cave City); Julia Copeland (Newport); Jessica Kennedy (Evening Shade); and Nichole Seymore (Lynne); second place; group talent.
Front row left to right: Karrabi Wilson, Kandice Conway, Megan Brown; back row left to right: Jennifer Bratton, Whitney Swindle, Tifney Roberts, Stephanie Swaim, Teresa Harris, and Megan Marmet;
Autry’s White River Furniture
The “We Love Customers” Store!
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The ground breaking for the new ball parks was well attended and should be a great source of revenue for the city as ball tournaments bring in crowds for the upcoming seasons.
Merrill Self Storage Ribbon Cutting
Ozark Gateway Tourism Week kickoff and Main Street’s May Second Friday event were a great success. The Pocket Park on Main Street was bustling with folks who came out to enjoy a fun Friday afternoon. The beautiful music of the bagpipes filled the Pocket Park thanks to Jimmy Bell and Kenton Adler, pipers from Lyon College. Bob Pest and Cathy Drew welcomed everyone to the ceremonies and County Judge Robert Griffin along with Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh cut the ceremonial
ribbon to kick off the festivities. Citizen’s Bank was on hand with free hotdogs and burgers for everyone. Pepsi America’s made sure the crowd didn’t go thirsty. WRD Entertainment broadcasted live from the event. The Fox Blossom Venture band kept everyone entertained throughout the afternoon. Festivities for the day wrapped up at the Batesville Area Art Gallery.
The picture above is the ARCare Southside ribbon cutting. Roger Rich, Southside Superintendent is cutting the ribbon with ARCare Employees, ARCare Board of Directors, Southside School Board, and State Representative David Wyatt. Below, on May 10, 2013 over ninety runners showed their support for Reese Gardner who has been diagnosed with a form of leukemia. The Cord Charlotte campus of the Cedar Ridge school district was the site for the first annual Reese Run. The Gardner family would like to thank all those who participated in the event. The funds raised have been donated to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Oncology Department.
Here are some local faces taking a test run in an ATV during Independence County Off-Road's After Hours as they celebrated 10 years of success in April. Looks like fun to me! The photographs above and the following message were submitted by the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce to the Southside graduates on Southside Signing Day on April 26th. “Congrats to the Southside Seniors who received scholarships!” We, of course, extend our congrats as well. Good Job!
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Team Liberty Bank won the Community Quintathlon at the 34th Arkansas Scottish Festival at Lyon College. Teams competed in a scavenger hunt, Frisbee toss, Highland fling, Bravecostume contest and a race. Lyon College President Dr. Donald Weatherman and Scottish Heritage Director Jimmy Bell presented Team Liberty Bank with a bagpipe trophy.
Batesville Oncology Clinic Moves to New Location
Annie McCallister - Solis
The Batesville Oncology Clinic, offices of Dr. K. Raman Desikan and Dr. Muhammad A. Khan, recently moved into a new location on the ground floor of White River Medical Center’s East Tower, with the entrance being at the end of the Tower. The new location is more than double the size of the previous clinic. Patients and their families have a much larger seating area, employees have a more efficient space to check patients in and store patient records, the number of exam rooms increased from four to six, and the large, open chemotherapy suite holds fourteen chairs with pre-installed televisions. The new location also includes a nutrition area where chemotherapy patients can grab a drink or a snack; and an in-house pharmacy where medications can be mixed right away for use. The new area allows for the quickest, safest delivery of chemotherapy medications and allows patients to get treatment comfortably, as well as support each other during the treatment process. “We are proud of the new facility, and the opportunity it gives us to provide our patients with a more comfortable
White River Health System CEO, Gary Bebow, Oncologist-Hematologist, Muhammad A. Khan share smiles and show visitors around the new Batesville Oncology Clinic.
healing environment,” said Gary Bebow, CEO of White River Medical Center. Also featured in the new location is artwork contributed by local artists. Hanging art can create a soothing, relaxing environment for patients, especially those undergoing treatment. The local artists who contributed artwork to the new facility include: Diane Allgood, wife of Radiation Oncologist, Dr. John Allgood; Peter Gavin, husband of Tammy Gavin, Chief Operating Officer; Aliya Khan, sister of Oncologist/Hematologist, Dr. Muhammad A. Khan; and Ruby Schaaf, wife of Board President Charlie Schaaf. Additionally, artwork was donated by Diane Williams Ziemski, a watercolorist from Little Rock. Ziemski’s work has been published worldwide, and she has been juried into renowned art shows across Arkansas, Texas, and Missouri. Her work can also be seen in the first Arkansas Governors’ Mansion Calendar, as well as the Delta Cultural Center in Helena, Arkansas. Ziemski is the mother of Dr. David Yarnell, General Surgeon, and mother-in-law of Dr. Katherine Yarnell, Psychiatrist. The Batesville Oncology Clinic’s new address is 1710 Harrison Street. The clinic’s office hours are Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. To contact the clinic, call (870) 262-1750.
This floral painting by Diane Williams Ziemski is one of the many art pieces created for the clinic. Ziemski, as well as several local artists, donated art for the clinic walls. The entrance to the new location of the Batesville Oncology Clinic is on the East side of White River Medical Center’s new East Tower.
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Maggie Goodall (left) and Sarah Rudd (right) stand by the painting they created and donated to White River Medical Center. Maggie and Sarah, recent Batesville High School graduates, painted the mural in their EAST (Environmental and Spatial Technologies) class, where students work to find ways to make an impact on their community. For their project, they chose to cheer and inspire people through their love of art, according to EAST instructor, Jeanne Roepcke. The mural was the top pick of six mock designs created by Maggie and Sarah and was chosen by the Art Gallery Board at WRMC. It currently hangs in the east seating area on the second floor of WRMC. N
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The Myopic Life Caring for Mary Kristi Price
I've been reading accounts of the early days of Batesville, just to get a feel for the evolution of our city over time. In my capacity with Fellowship Bible Church of Batesville, I'm interested in who we are now as a collective of citizens, and where we've come from. What passions and pursuits went into the building of this city? Why were certain choices made instead of others? I'll probably never even scratch the surface www.panaramio.com of this project, though I will love trying! I can say, though, that just a bit of reading introduces even the most casual observer to the role of the steamboat in the formation of Batesville. That's why I was pleasantly surprised to hear talk of plans to restore the Mary Woods No. 2, which you can read about on page 45 in this magazine. While history is beautifully preserved in our Old Independence County Regional Museum, the thought of using the Mary Woods to tell her own story of the White River, while floating on the river, is thrilling to me. I consider it something akin to the kind of history my children get when visiting popular historic landmarks like the Battleship USS Alabama. It’s www.tiedyetravels.com by Kat Robinson one thing to read accounts or see pictures, but to actually stand on and tour the vessel itself makes a strong impact. There’s also a sentimental value that is priceless: I visited the USS Alabama as a small child. Taking my own small children there is special. To think that people might make Batesville a tourist 141W. Main Street, Batesville destination, for much the same reason with the Mary (870)-698-9998 Woods, is exciting! I have stated here before – I don’t want Batesville Providing Quality Hair Care for the Entire Family Cut / Color / Perm / Up-do’s for Pageants & Weddings to attempt to be another Fayetteville or another Jonesboro. As much as I enjoy those cities, I think we Select Name Brand Hair Care Products Available can do better. We can be a thriving regional hub based on a distinct identity wholly ours. In his last career See Amber for your Healthy Glo Spray Tan or Teeth Whitening with another company, my husband would interview prospective candidates, while I would entertain their It Works and AVON products also available wives. One wife stands out in my memory because of one specific question she asked me. Upon learning Kennadi Pretty Photos by Stacy Pretty of our (also) small town with limited commercial shopping, she asked bluntly, “How far to the nearest Kohl’s?” Personally, I don’t think we’ve “reached civilization” when we’ve landed the next big-box department store or (fill-in-the-blank). When we cooperate and carefully manage our limited resources to maximize our particular strengths and refine our specific place-on-the-map, then we will have made Batesville a place people seek year round. I am eager to see this project unfold, and I thank the visionminded citizens who have embraced it. N
Studio Salon
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2080 Harrison Street, Batesville 870-793-2161 40
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Tales Of a Transplanted Fashionista The Wonder Place Leigh Keller
So. My best friend says to me, "there is this great place in Little Rock that Cole is going to love! We need to take him". Being game for almost anything that doesn't involve a prom gown or decorating for a Moroccan feast (go prom 2013), I was in. We loaded up my mommy SUV with all sorts of riding toys (because Aunt Jennifer sadly does not have any...much to my little man's dismay) and snacks and were off for the day to the "Wonder Place" (Yes. It is just as amazing as it sounds) I worked at Chuck E Cheese for several years when I was a teenager, so I have an aversion to even the smell of one. But, kids love the place, so I didn't want to deny my little LoveBug, simply because I did some time with the big cheese. It happened to be a rainy day, so the Wonder Place was packed with tiny children with cabin fever, and very tired looking parents. When we walked in, Cole just took off in a dead run, which freaked me out, because what if there is a serial killer in there, just lurking and waiting to kidnap my child?? When he came back into my vision, then we were off again. My best friend, let's just call her Jennifer Townsend, Jennifer, for short, does not have children yet, but loves them....and I think just loves going home to her quiet, beautifully decorated home after spending time with them. She made note of the number of shell shocked looking parents just following their children from room to room of this giant, indoor playground type place. The more that I am around other parents of tiny, super energized little boys, the more I start to feel like I am in some type of support group, or I begin to hope that maybe this place has a secret mommy wine and cheese room in the back....or at least a pedicure massage chair? Please, Lord? Cole spirited himself from room to room, and I just tried to follow behind, as he discovered all of the new, exciting things (it was pretty cute, all joking aside), gripping my cute Kate Spade tote, packed with a tiny
Cars umbrella. I only almost said something to another child one time, when he jumped onto a table where Cole was playing (he was probably nine and his mom was sitting in the middle of all of this happy noise, reading a book?), and Cole enjoyed the atmosphere enough that we will go back. Daycare has helped him learn how to play alongside other kids (notice I didn't say sharing? At one point he gathered up all of the balls in one area and simply walked away with them). If you are up for running wildly from room to room in a toddler and preschooler packed place, from sand play to indoor fishing, from climbing and sliding to playing the drums (Cole's personal favorite), this was a great place to level the playing field between parents and children. It was a successful day, and while Cole did not stop moving for pretty much the whole time we were there, there is a cupcake store right around the corner. Be strong. N
Kallsnick, Inc. A Coleman 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
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793-3303 755 St. Louis Street Batesville June 2013   41
UACCB to Offer Affordable Health Care Act Training
Kim Whitten
The Community and Technical Education Division of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville will offer a seminar on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) on June 12, 2013, from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in the lecture hall of the Nursing and Allied Health Building. The session regarding this landmark legislation more commonly referred to as ‘ObamaCare’ which passed in 2010 will be led by Cammie Scott, LUTCF, REBC, RHC, CLTC, SPHR and ChHC. The PPACA sets a timeline through 2018 for phased implementation of employment related provisions. She will help prepare organizations for the changes that will take place. Scott is owner and president of CK Harp and Associates, a full-service multi-line insurance agency and interdisciplinary business services firm since 1996. She has served as the President of the Northwest Arkansas Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA – Northwest Arkansas), and President
of the Arkansas State Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA – Arkansas). This session will offer key topics for businesses including guidance on penalties, tax deduction and cost comparisons for offering health insurance versus the decision to no longer offer health insurance to employees. There will be information presented on the basics and tools of a plan for benefits and aligning it with overall goals and strategic plan of the organization, guidance on best practices, and execution strategies to ensure a successful implementation of the plan. Handouts will be provided with resource materials for ongoing learning and integration of strategic principles and ideas. The cost to attend this training is $59. To register for this seminar, please contact Lynn Bray in the UACCB CTE Division at 870-612-2080. N
Cammie Scott
JUNE 1, 2013 Aerospace Camp 2013
Kim Whitten
July 8-12 Junior High (Entering Grades 7-9) July 15-19 Senior High (Entering Grades 10-12) Cost: $150 Time: 9:00-3:00 p.m. Location: UACCB Airport Hangar Students entering 7th grade in Fall 2013 are eligible for summer Aerospace Camp. Aerospace Camp will introduce students to the exciting world of aviation. Students will learn about engines, brakes, electricity and aviation as a career path for both men and women. Weather permitting, students will build and launch a model rocket and fly a balsa model airplane. A limited number of partial scholarships are available for students eligible for the free or reduced school lunch program. To Register call 870-612-2080 or email lynn.bray@uaccb.edu. N 42
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Smith’s Verdict **** The Impossible
Reviewed by Tanner Smith Knowing what “The Impossible” was about, a feeling of nervousness overwhelmed me and yet a feeling of fascination followed it. The fascination came from the notion that this movie would set up many things that would pay off later after a harrowing journey. The first few minutes feature the central characters—a family of five—enjoying their vacation time at a resort beach in Thailand. They’re solidly developed and feel like a real loving family. But then when there’s a shot of the family looking at the peaceful-looking beach at sunset, a feeling of horror took hold of me because I knew that this was to be a huge amount of irony for what will happen very soon. And surely enough, the next day, they’re enjoying the day after Christmas; the kids are playing in the pool with their father; the mother is reading a book on a beach chair. And then there’s an ominous wind… Describing it like that would make “The Impossible” seem like a clichéd disaster movie, but there’s something about the way director Juan Antonio Bayona sees these scenes that make them convincing and unnerving. The audience is seeing this movie because of what is going to happen to them and for them, and thus seeing these opening scenes play themselves out as peacefully as possible works in the film’s advantage as an element of suspense. “The Impossible” tells the story of this family as they endure one of the worst natural disasters in the world—the 2004 tsunami that devastated the Pacific Basin. You would think after Clint Eastwood’s 2010 film “Hereafter,” there couldn’t be another film to portray the outcome of its survivors. Well, “Hereafter” relied on a character’s psychic connection as a need for redemption in that case. Here, it’s pure hope— hope that all your close friends and family members are still alive after a disaster that claimed the lives of millions. That’s the case here, with this central family in “The Impossible.” They’re based on a real family— though their nationality has been changed from Spanish to British for international appeal. This is the story of how they were separated from each other and struggled to survive in the catastrophe’s aftermath to be reunited. But first, a word about the tsunami sequence. My mouth was open the entire time at how phenomenally brilliant the special effects were, and how masterful the scene was executed. I could barely breathe—you read that right; I could barely breathe. I felt like I was there with the characters just struggling to stay afloat as the water rushed through the village. This was a brilliantly-executed sequence—one of the most terrifying disaster scenes I’ve ever experienced in a movie theater. Maria Bennett (Naomi Watts) and her oldest son, 12-year-old Lucas (Tom Holland), are separated
from Henry Bennett (Ewan McGregor) and the two younger sons, Simon and Thomas (Oaklee Pendergast and Samuel Joslin), as they struggle through the aftermath (floodwaters and mud) to seek help. A good portion of the movie is seen through the eyes of young Lucas, who has to learn to grow up fast. His mother is badly injured with punctures to her right leg and chest, and so he must help her to keep going. But he also fears the worst for his father and two little brothers, so his mother has to keep hope alive for him. Lucas and Maria do find refuge at a hospital, where many of the tsunami survivors are being treated. It’s then that Lucas is asked to seek patients’ family members who may be around the hospital somewhere. And it’s here that hope comes for Lucas—if they’re alive, then maybe his father and brothers are too. This makes “The Impossible” an effective coming-of-age tale as well as an effective disaster movie. Extreme devastation; a paradise turned into a wasteland; many people dead; separation from loved ones; not knowing who’s dead or alive. All of these elements are ongoing in “The Impossible” and they’re all powerfully portrayed. The fear and despair that come with these characters are existent. You really get a sense of what they’re all going through, and sincerely hope for the best (although, those who know the true story of this family already know the outcome). The performances from the principal actors are spot-on. Naomi Watts has the most physicallychallenging role, since her character is mostly confined to a hospital bed as she’s in critical condition. Her Oscar nomination for her work is well-deserved. Ewan McGregor, as her husband, is powerful as well. Of the three child actors, Tom Holland, as Lucas, is just brilliant in his feature debut. He has Lucas’ emotions down to a T and delivers the complexity of a little kid looking to live through this crazy situation. I don’t want to say too much about “The Impossible,” especially for the sake of those who don’t know the story of this family. I didn’t know, when I saw this movie. I think the less you know, the more emotionally involved you are with the story’s execution. From the beginning to the middle to the end, I was absorbed by “The Impossible.” If you’re looking for a disaster movie in the style of Michael Bay or Roland Emmerich, then just keep looking. “The Impossible” is not escapist entertainment. It’s much more complicated than that. N
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SOUTHERN BANK NAMED TOP COMMUNITY BANK Southern Bank was included in the 2012 edition of SNL Financial’s annual listing of top 100 community banks. Among all publicly-traded community banks in the United States, Southern Bank’s 2012 performance was ranked eleventh. Among all public and privately owned community banks in the listing, Southern Bank was ranked 45th. Southern Bank is a subsidiary of Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc., which trades under the ticker “SMBC” on the NASDAQ Global Market. Information which may be of interest to current or potential investors is available at http://investors. bankwithsouthern.com. From its 1887 founding as a building and loan association, Southern Bank has grown to a full-service commercial bank focused on pairing community bank service with the latest technology in delivering financial services to its valued customers. The bank operates 18 physical branches in Missouri and Arkansas, and also makes electronic banking services available through its website at http://www.bankwithsouthern.com. Southern Bank was selected by SNL Financial based on criteria including its profitability, asset quality, efficiency, and loan growth. This marks the third consecutive year that Southern Bank has been included in SNL’s annual listing of top community banks. At December 31, 2012, Southern Bank reported 44
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assets of $764 million; its $613 million in loan balances represented 13% growth from one year ago. “At a time when some consumers and small businesses continue to express frustration about availability of credit, Southern Bank is eager to provide financing to local borrowers,” said Greg Steffens, President and CEO. SNL Financial is a leading provider of news and data on a number of industries, including banking, financial services, insurance, real estate, energy, and media/communications. Leading investment banks, investment managers, corporate executives, rating agencies, government agencies, consulting firms, and media rely on SNL to provide the best possible information on companies in the sectors they cover. N
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The Mary Woods No. 2: An Opportunity For Batesville Bob Pest
National Tourism Week, celebrated in downtown Batesville on May 10th, reminded me that Batesville does not have a major tourist attraction. Visitors to Batesville come to attend festivals or seasonal events: www.arktimes.com the Arkansas Scottish Festival at Lyon College, the White River Water Carnival, the Batesville Speedway, Woods needed a more durable boat. The boat was the Ozark Foothills FilmFest, and Mark Martin Fan transformed from coal-burning to steam in 1937 and Appreciation Day. But we lack the kind of attractions from oil-burning steam power to diesel engines in that bring scores of visitors—zip lines, amusements 1949. The boat also underwent a three-year restoration parks, water attractions, professional sports, concert completed in 2000 after the 1997 tornado did serious halls, and first-rate theaters. The Mark Martin Museum damage to the town of Jacksonport, the park’s 1872 and Old Independence Regional Museum do attract County Courthouse, and the Mary Woods No.2. The boat visitors, and both are interesting and well-maintained, had previously suffered from a frozen winter in 1984 but neither one is an “all day” museum. that led to intake lines freezing and cracking. The boat Batesville’s proximity to the White River gives it an was finally righted and restored again and continued opportunity that other cities and towns have embraced. to be the only stern wheeler on the White River. The Large cities like St. Louis and Pittsburgh and smaller 2010 salvage operation indicated that estimated costs ones like Padukah, Kentucky and Wheeling, W,Va. to reconstruct the boat were prohibitive. have developed their river fronts with attractions, Batesville now has the opportunity to restore the restaurants, hotels, and outdoor theaters. In 2008 Mary Woods No. 2 and bring the legendary boat up the the Looney, Ricks, and Kiss architectural firm from river to land on the river and become a museum. This Memphis was hired to discuss the potential for the project will require a significant fund-raising campaign, White River riverfront area. The ideas that were support from local government, cooperation from identified included hiking/biking trails, kayak and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, and canoeing, places to easily fish from the river, better community engagement. The museum has the potential access to the Sandy Beach area, and a setting for to become a tourist attraction where visitors can stand retreats, family gatherings, or as a wedding destination. in the pilot house and imagine themselves piloting a Also included in the discussion were a hotel/conference river boat. The museum will also give local students a center, condominiums, a ferris wheel, and a pedestrian hands-on experience of life on the White River. bridge across the river. As we begin to develop the river front with the Mary Unfortunately, a weak economy and other local Woods No. 2 as the anchor, more visitors will head our government priorities have held this project back. Now, way and discover more things to do, more places to however, we have an opportunity that could be the eat, more places to shop, more events to attend, and a catalyst to revive the riverfront project by obtaining and proud, healthy, and inviting community. N restoring the Mary Woods No. 2 riverboat. The historic stern wheeler that was moored in an inlet of the White River at Jacksonport State Park sank on January 30, 2010. The Mary Woods had operated since 1931 when it replaced the first Mary Woods. The first boat had a wooden hull and the owner, Mr.
www.arkansasstateparks.wordpress.com
This photo from www.rd.com shows a line of passengers eager to step back in time in the proud days of the Mary Woods 2 in JacksonPort. June 2013 45
Notes from the Clearing
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Conviction...Pure
Captain, my Captain, thank you for this voyage. The sea has been calling and I need her cleansing. My heart has been wounded and my head has been aged by this steady ground and these motionless surroundings. Might I be of some service, I owe you such gratitude. Perhaps I could ride the crow's nest and be vigilant of eye. I would help you and your men in any latitude and ride these seas until in her arms I die, for the life I leave behind is a death, in fact. This loss of innocence has brought on a new act. The birth of cynical suspicion and this artful tact within the ever retuned body of a maniac. Seasoned by loss and weathered by day, fought by humanity and protected by they of an insatiable thirst and too much say of how things should be. That doesn't make them right or mean they win. Not if I can stand up again and again. Not if I have my say and not if when, I return to my feet, I take my sin and virtue and flawed chaotic nature and become all of myself, completely un-fractured. Divided by only my many diverse urges and surges that merge within my conviction...pure. N
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