SEPTEMBER 2018
womensinc.net
2 WINC. | September 2018
womensinc.net 3
6
22
38
DON’T FENCE ME IN
NAna’s kitchen
Hometown Hero
16
30
56
Trendy Life
Falling for fabric
Best of Faulkner
Publisher Kelly Sublett
PUBLISHER’S LETTER I love the month of September in Faulkner County. Mainly, because of the upcoming county fair! Beyond the rides and funnel cakes, the fair is the one place all the county can come together for fellowship, showmanship, hard work and fun. And the parade — the largest fair parade in the state — is something my family looks forward to annually. This issue has a great read by Cindy Beckman looking back at the Faulkner County Fair’s rich 80-year history. And our cover story is all about a woman who dove “herd” first into a life of agriculture — building a successful business in an environment where women haven’t always had leadership roles. And if you know me, I love those kind of stories. And I have to say, I am an unlikely candidate for Fair Queen. But some of my best memories were showing my hogs in high school. Learning how to care for the animals was only one aspect of the experience. What being a 4-H/FFA kid meant to me was so much more. My children, ages 4 and 10, are already involved in our county’s 4-H program. You learn a lot of lessons about who you are as a person.You get up early and stay late. And by the look on my face in the attached photo, you might get a little dirty from time to time, too. The values of fair kids are solid — faith, family, hard work, leadership and success. So many of our Faulkner County Fair alums are paving the way in local and state agriculture. Many of them afford college after years of working hard to raise and show poultry and livestock. Others find good fun in showing horticulture and home economics projects. All those who grow up in the 4-H/ FFA programs here have a lot of options. Projects and contests center not only around agriculture, but current events, Legislature, theater arts, public speaking,
shooting sports … the list of opportunity is incredible. And, probably most importantly, all kids find a fit. Not only that, but they develop lifetime friendships and support systems. It’s a network state and nationwide that is unmatched for young people. And for 80 years, the Faulkner County Fair has supported this breed of student with scholarships and programming on a county level. For the week of Sept. 18-22, the Conway Expo grounds will be covered up in wood chips. Animals will be on display and showmanship will shine in the rings out back. Certainly, I encourage a ride on the Ferris wheel and you can’t miss the candy apples. But venture into the exhibit hall and check out projects from students and members of the community. The student photography showcase, alone, is something to see. And there will be local businesses set up, too. Politicians will be on hand to meet you. Maybe you’ll even see something out of the ordinary. … Continue on through the hall and experience the show barns. Strike up a conversation with a participant about their animals or their contest. It’s worth spending time at the fair. For a complete list of fair activities and schedules, log onto www. faulknercountyfair.net or pick up an official Fair Book at the Log Cabin offices. Registration continues through Aug. 31. The parade is set Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 5 p.m. in downtown Conway. I hope you’ll join us!
Contributing Writers Cindy Beckman Andrea Champlin Eden Corley Melissa Gates – Cover Story Marisa Hicks Andy Robertson Kelly Sublett Photographers Ron Beckman Andrea Champlin Wy Hawkins – Cover Story Kelly Sublett Art Director Jay Prince Advertising Sales Director Lisa Licht Advertising Sales Executives Bobby Eller Crystal Geraldson Leigh Anne Gray Editorial Board Cindy Beckman Andrea Champlin Eden Corley Melissa Gates Lisa Licht Jay Prince Kelly Sublett
Questions or Comments?
Kelly
Call (501) 327-6621, e-mail: WINC@thecabin.net or write to: 1111 Main Street, Suite 102, Conway, AR, 72032 www.womensinc.net
womensinc.net womensinc.net 55
Don’t Fence Me In: 80 year old ranching in a man’s world by Melissa Gates, photos by Wy Hawkins After having spent a couple of hours with Beverly Eads at her Circle Z Ranch I can assure you, you’ll never meet anyone else like her. At 80 years old Beverly can catch running calves, drive a huge John Deere, and slice open hay bales for hungry, impatient cattle looking over her shoulder. She is three-times widowed, exercises every morning, and plays a grand piano. Beverly even finds time to participate in a Billy Graham Christian chat room, ministering to those who are down in the dumps. 6 WINC. | September 2018
She founded Circle Z Ranch in 1984 with her second husband. Beverly says, “We lived in Wooster about l8 years, running a few cattle on our property there. We were both new in our retirement and thoroughly enjoyed working with cattle.” They eventually moved to Florida to be closer to their two daughters; but after her husband passed away, Beverly longed for her Arkansas land once again. She moved back and now owns more than 400 acres in Greenbrier and hundreds of cows. She says, “Being able to ranch such a beautiful spread is a gift from the Lord, and I want to be found faithful in being a good steward of God’s cattle.” Beverly is constantly breeding her cattle to produce the best quality meat around. Her cows are grass fed. No artificial hormones are ever used. Beverly only makes money in the
fall and spring when the baby calves are big enough to sell. To supplement her income she’s recently opened a retail meat business. For $2/pound you can buy an entire cow. That’ll give you hundreds of pounds of meat. “You need a big freezer for that,” jokes Beverly. “But sometimes three or four families will split the meat and share the cost. A steak can be $14/pound in the grocery store!” she says. Beverly says it kills her to see a cow go to slaughter but she says, “I have to remind myself that I’m doing my part in feeding God’s world.” You might wonder how an 80-year-old widowed woman can 1) have the physical stamina to work the ranch and 2) how she makes it in what’s traditionally a man’s world. Her day starts around 5:30 in the morning with 30-minutes of exercise. “I’ve got to keep moving,” she says. Beverly will walk to her front gate and
womensinc.net 7
back. That’s one mile. Or she’ll swim in her in-ground pool. She also has exercise videos she enjoys on bad weather days. I asked her if she struggles with a bad hip or hurting shoulder; surely I thought at 80 years old something is bothering her. She answered, “I have a little bit of arthritis in my fingers that sometimes gets in the way of my piano playing.” But nothing hurts or aches to perform the hard physical labor required on the ranch.You’ll never meet anyone like her. Every morning Beverly also does 30-minutes of Bible study and prayer time. She has read the Bible 62 times through and says she always finds something new each morning. One of her favorite things to do is just look out over her land watching for mama cows about to give birth. She uses her binoculars from her
8 WINC. | September 2018
front porch. Beverly says, “I often think, ‘God if you gave me all this, what did you save for yourself?”’ After losing another husband to cancer, neighbor and third generation rancher Terry Reynolds stepped in to help. He and his wife, Lori, helped Beverly re-establish and vastly improve her operation and increase her number of cattle. Beverly’s son drives up from Maumelle each Saturday to do her book keeping and pay her bills. “The Lord stepped in and gave me wonderful new help,” she says. “Today we are operating with 220 momma cows and over l00 calves – plus the beginnings of an all-registered herd together with six registered bulls. All our cattle are beautiful slick “Ultra Blacks.” They are mostly angus/brangus cross. This breed is coming to be widely recognized for its capability to
“No one in the world loves what they do more than me” thrive particularly in regions that are now experiencing hotter temperatures and drought conditions,” explains Beverly. In our current drought Beverly and her helpers move cattle each day from paddock to paddock to try to capture any grass areas that still exist. Every day she checks 18 fresh water tanks, and makes repairs on the spot if needed. She checks for new births twice a day, also the health of each momma cow. “I would like to note that there is only 11-percent female ownership in this country that are owners/operators. It’s probably a great deal less than that by women my age of 80 years; and active every day with hands on in all facets of the daily work to be done. There is no such thing as an ‘average’ day! Variety is the name of the game about cattle ranching,” Beverly says.
womensinc.net 9
I asked what her biggest challenge is. She says, “both my priority have a great opportunity to pursue their dreams in ranching if and biggest struggle is one and the same; making sure my animals they don’t try to do it too fast – I have waited 80 years and am have the best nutrition possible, keeping them in optimum health, now living MY dream.” and working on excellent genetics – sometimes just being a To order beef visit www.TheCircleZRanch.com. woman in a man’s world. There are not a lot of female owners at the local Cattleman’s Association Meetings – but they are a wonderful group of folks – and most of them attend for the same Melissa Gates has been telling stories in Faulkner County for more than a decade. She has interviewed a wide variety reason I do – we want learn as much as we can about our chosen of interesting people from U.S. Presidents to rock stars, profession.” and countless community leaders. After growing up in the Beverly’s first herd wore pink ear tags in honor of her being a Midwest, she is thrilled to call Conway home, alongside her husband and three kids. girl. She calls them her ‘pink ladies, the sweetest bunch.’ Beverly says, “Our young ladies and girls in the society in which we live
10 WINC. | September 2018
womensinc.net 11
Improving the banking experience Life isn’t lived exclusively Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s happening before your daily commute begins, and long after you’ve arrived home for the night. There’s church on Sunday mornings, soccer practices on Saturday afternoons and a whole host of activities in between. Few things are constrained to “banker’s hours,” so why limit the hours you can bank? FAB&T is new to the City of Colleges, but throughout the financial institution’s nearly 70 years serving central Arkansas, it has been focused on making life easier for customers. With that in mind, FAB&T has opened a Conway branch with personnel who can be reached all seven days in the week. Located at 804 Hogan Lane, the bank features three QŪB (pronounced “cube”) machines, featuring an interactive teller experience than can be accessed during extended hours. Bank personnel are available through QŪB from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. QŪB blends the convenience and independence of an ATM and online banking with the personal touch of being inside a FAB&T branch. With QŪB, you can cash a check down-to-the-penny, make a deposit, pay your house or auto loan, and interact with live account representatives, all without leaving the comfort of your vehicle.You can also access QŪB as an ATM, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with your FAB&T debit card from MasterCard. Additionally, FAB&T offers a 24-hour customer support line — (800) 982-4511 — operated by an Arkansas-based staff. “Over the years we have tried hard to look at new services or changes from the customers’ point of view, and then work back from there,” board chairman, CEO and bank president Larry Wilson said. “What is good for the customer? How can
12 WINC. | September 2018
we help make banking and life easier? Let’s take a look at that, and then build what we do from there.” FAB&T refers to this approach as helping customers “LIVEFirst.” Improving the banking experience and communities in which FAB&T operates is central to the bank’s mission since its founding in 1949. FAB&T was instrumental in securing the Little Rock Air Force Base being located in Jacksonville in the 1950s, and bank founder Kenneth Pat Wilson was a significant force in establishing Rebsamen Memorial Hospital for the town in 1962. FAB&T, which has 22 locations throughout central Arkansas, was recognized as Bank of the Year for the Air Force in 2015 and 2016. The bank recently announced a partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Central Arkansas, and FAB&T’s 3 Degree Guarantee on THV11 has helped spotlight nonprofits throughout its service area. “First Arkansas Bank & Trust has always supported the communities we serve,” said Mark Wilson, senior vice president of FAB&T and a 1998 Hendrix graduate. “We work together with our fellow businesses to help our communities with educational initiatives. We’re excited to join Conway, grow with the community and provide those same banking services we have provided to our customers in Jacksonville, Heber Springs, Greenbrier, Cabot and other communities for the past 68 years.” FAB&T designed the Hogan Lane branch as a modern and welcoming environment for customers. From opening a new account to securing a mortgage, home equity line of credit or small business loan, customers have access to what Mark Wilson describes as “the branch of the future.” “This is not the branch of the 1990s or 2000s. We’re bringing a new style of banking, that’s really the old style - personalized attention and all the financial services you need.”
womensinc.net 13
Thank you, Faulkner County!
.
We are honored to receive this recognition - chosen by you, the readers! Our team at Conway Regional Medical Center and the specialists and staff at Conway Regional Health & Fitness Center will continue our commitment of providing our very best care to you and the community.
Best Hospital Best Fitness Center/Gym Best Weight Loss Center Best Overall Leadership
One Team. One Promise. 14 WINC. | September 2018
Scott Lucas 10007394
womensinc.net 15
‘Trendy’ Living a Life
16 WINC. | September 2018
by Kelly Sublett When it comes to the business philosophy behind Trendy Cleaning Services, it’s not about where you’ve been, says owner Crystal Weekley, but about where you’re going. Weekley started Trendy Cleaning in 2012, taking a leap of faith after working in the cleaning services industry most of her adult life. “I’ve poured my heart and soul into this business for five years,” she says. “I have a true passion for what I do, and I truly like to help people. I cannot imagine doing anything else — no kidding.” Prior to taking the leap into small business ownership, Weekley worked for another local cleaning service. Although she had a full-time job, she took other jobs on the weekends and at night to make ends meet. And eventually, she saw a path for her own company — one that would open doors for people like her. She structured her business with employees in mind, building in incentives and bonuses and opportunity to advance. “I want people to see that there is room for everyone in this,” Weekley says. “More people should find things — a trade — they can do on the side. I mean, it’s how I raised my kid. “Since opening the business, I have tried to help other people, single mothers like me who sought out my help. I just keep saying
to them, ‘You can do this.’ It doesn’t matter what you’re life was like or what you’ve been through. No one is going to hand you anything.You don’t have to have gone to college. And whatever struggles you’ve had, you can overcome.You can turn your life around. But you have to work.You have to have a standard of excellence and you can’t go forward with excuses.” When Trendy first took off Weekley had a storefront, but business was so overwhelming she soon realized her time would be better spent in the field alongside her employees. She also knew she needed to organize a work-life balance for all the things she deserved for herself. “I wanted to cut expenses, simplify my life and get back to what feels good,” she says. “I am focused on relationships with my clients and animal rescues and gardening. There are so many things I like to do and at one point I was so consumed by work … I said to myself, ‘I can’t lose sight of why I’m doing this. It was a scary decision to make. It was an ego thing at that point because I had poured blood, sweat and tears into this business. “But I realized, I can do it all again if I have to — that I wanted to broaden my life. More people should do it.” Now, Trendy Cleaning is a top-rated Faulkner County familyowned business having previously placed as a finalist in the Log Cabin Democrat’s Best of Faulkner County Awards. Weekley has a myriad of services now, including maid services, staging, laundry
womensinc.net 17
services and decorating. Trendy specializes in home and business cleaning, but also new construction cleans and much more — pet care and house sitting are among service offerings. But Weekley says she gets joy from relationships she builds with customers, finding ways to help organizing and decorating. “I’m different, and I wanted a different image for the business. That’s how I picked the name,” she says. “I’m trendy. I’m different. I’m the underdog. But I’m creative, too, and I think that helps. I can help clients on a budget. It is what sets me apart.” Weekley’s 16-year-old daughter has witnessed her mother work hard from infancy. “When I was 22 years old, I would clean apartments with a baby on my hip,” she says. “I am lucky my daughter is different than me. I was a hard head. She has goals for herself and she’s found those things on her own. She has a job and helps me when I need her. “What I’ve taught her, and what I hope to teach others, is to keep pushing yourself.You’ll work harder than you’ve ever thought you could and you’ll have opportunities.”
18 WINC. | September 2018
womensinc.net 19
20 WINC. | September 2018
womensinc.net 21
Nana’s by Kelly Sublett
22 WINC. | September 2018
Living the sweet life Editor’s Note: In honor of the Log Cabin Democrat Best Of Faulkner County awards, this month’s Nana’s Kitchen highlights local bakery owner Julie Goodnight. Julie’s Sweet Shoppe & Bakery won four dining categories and was selected by readers: Best Bakery; Best Doughnuts; Best Dessert; and Best Local Coffee Shop. More than 220,000 votes were cast online and in paper ballots in the 2018 Best Of contest, which culminated in an event held August 9 at The Brick Room in Conway.
womensinc.net 23
F
rom childhood, Julie Goodnight had a sweet tooth. She makes no apologies about her love for anything sweet, and smiles at the memory of her 5-year-old self feasting on cookies and icing while her father, Ed, went about his business as a bakery manager. “My dad managed Simon’s Bakery for years, and one of my fondest memories was going to the bakery on Sundays after church,” she says, smiling. “While Dad checked on [equipment], I would get into everything I could. He had these tubes of icing we would eat and we would try all the cookies.” As Julie came up in the family business — her grandmother Margie Bradley worked for years at Koehler’s Bakery in North Little Rock and her father eventually opened Ed’s Bakery in Conway after many years as a bakery manager — she learned to put that sweet tooth to work, and she passed it on to her children and grandbaby. “My daughter did the same thing I did when we were at Ed’s,” Julie says. “She was as bad as me! Now, my granddaughter does the same thing when she comes in here!” Julie and husband, Larry, have two children, Megan (21) and Bradley (27). Megan is a nursing student at Arkansas Tech on full scholarship and plays on the softball team. Bradley works as a teacher for Arch Ford. His daughter Doreen is the first grandchild and at 2 and a half years old, is probably the sweetest aspect of their lives. Doreen calls her grandmother “JuJu,” and Julie almost giggles at the thought.
Julie’s Sweet Shoppe & Bakery Hours: Mon-Fri 5 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat. 5 a.m.-4 p.m.; Closed Sunday Wednesdays include a lunch special. On the first Wednesday of each month, Frank Brannon’s signature hot dogs are on the menu. Website: http://www.juliessweetshoppe.com Contact: 501-205-4301
24 WINC. | September 2018
“I get to see her any time I want,” Julie says. “We share a driveway with my son, so I always enjoy playing with her, and you can see from the pictures in the bakery she is very loved! We do try to avoid [the Shoppe] as much as we can because of the candy wall. That’s the first thing all the kids go to is the Jelly Belly display!” And family is the key to everything, she says. The Goodnights live in a small area north of Conway surrounded by siblings and in-laws. Recipes used at the Shoppe are often passed on from family members, too. At some points along the way, Julie has called in help, and her family is always at the ready to step in. “My world revolves around family. When we get together as a family for meals, usually on Sundays, it’s always the simple things,” she says. “My family loves my lemon chicken, which I don’t even have a recipe for. It’s just something I whipped up on my own. “I like to cook spaghetti, and I always add Polish sausage in the sauce or on the side. Both my grandmothers are Polish. I try to always have that so we don’t forget our heritage. It’s a small thing, but my grandmother always served Polish sausage. I keep that alive by serving that.” The professional baker doesn’t use recipes at home, she admits. Favorite dishes are made from memory. “My family makes fun of how honest I am,” she laughs. “But I do use cake mixes at home from time to time!” Five years ago on November 11 — Veterans Day — Julie opened the Sweet Shoppe at the Towne Centre on Skyline Drive. It was time, she says, to leave her father’s business (he no longer owned the bakery having sold it to Julie and a partner years before) and start something of her own. And customers followed her in droves, many of them her beloved veterans who share hours together at the coffee spot. And the love for Julie is evident if you spend any time in the Shoppe. Every person who walks through the door is greeted with a smile and a personal hello from the owner. She asks about families and health issues and prayers needed and whether they’ll be ordering the same cake from last year’s celebration or whether they’ll want something new and fun. The bakery is an extension of family, too, Julie says. Her workers are close-knit and lean on each other through life’s journey.
womensinc.net 25
It’s a community atmosphere, and for the veterans, especially, a place of support and sharing. “I was listening to the radio one day a long time ago, and I heard stories of veterans during this one program,” she says. “It just went through me. When I first started celebrating veterans when I was at Ed’s, we had 25 World War II veterans. I have maybe three left. “I had two grandfathers who served in World War II and I don’t know anything about what they did. I was so young and not interested, maybe a little dumb. I regret not knowing, but they just didn’t talk about it. I call these guys my ‘Bakery Dads,’ and I have quite a few.” Five years and too many long hours to count, Julie has built a brand she’s proud of. Her teal cake boxes are purposeful, meant to remind customers of Tiffany & Co. “When my customers get that box, I want them to know there is something of quality and beautiful inside,” she says. Julie’s Sweet Shoppe & Bakery caters for a number of organizations, including the University of Central Arkansas, Hendrix College and area hotels among them. She is proud of the work she does for the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion parties and celebrations, including a multi-tiered 80th wedding anniversary cake designed for the longest married couple in Arkansas, which she completed in February. “I love to decorate more than anything,” Julie admits. “I have seen what that does for people, and it makes my heart so happy.” If you know a favorite family cook and would like to nominate them for a feature, please email ksublett@thecabin.net.
26 WINC. | September 2018
womensinc.net 27
28 WINC. | September 2018
Thank You for Voting Us Your Local Best of the Best! Faulkner County Highest Awarded
#1 Winner! Roofing • Siding • Windows • Gutters, etc. Finalist • Customer Service Arkansas Roofing Kompany
$250 OFF NEW ROOF (Coupon redeemed at the beginning of initial appointment only.) Exp 7/15/2018
We at Arkansas Roofing Kompany are honored to be voted Best Roofing Gutters Siding & Windows in Faulkner County. Honesty, Integrity and Dedication to Excellence are all supported by our faith which is the cornerstone of our business. Thank you Faulkner County & especially thank you to our entire family at Arkansas Roofing Kompany!
ARKANSAS PREMIER OUTDOOR LIVING DESTINATION
Solar Patio Louvered Roof Pergolas/Pavilions/Gazebos
#
Greern Sto e
Retractable Screens Big Green Egg, Evo Grills Upscale Outdoor Furniture Lifetime Amish Poly Furniture and Structure
1915 WALKERS TRAIL CONWAY, AR 501.513.9119 | ARKANSASROOFINGKOMPANY.COM womensinc.net 29
-ing
for fabric by Andrea Champlin I love fall. It’s absolutely my most favorite season. I would give you a list of all of fall’s features, but it needs no introduction. I don’t need to tell you that football starts in earnest, it’s boots and leggings season, and there are so many decorating opportunities! I joke with my husband that fall is the start of my busy season with the big three: Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Although the official start of fall this year is September 22nd, I start putting fall decor out the first cool morning that rolls around. I’ve acquired a lot of decor over the years and one of the easiest ways for me to tie them all together is with fabric. I use fabric for so many things, (and I stopped sewing years ago). Why? Because it once took me two weeks to sew a shower curtain. Anyway, I digress. I love fabric. It’s an easy and inexpensive way to kick up your decor a notch and make everything look tied together. One of my favorite things to do with fabric is to make table runners. I started doing this out of necessity. I change my table runners out at least three times during the fall season and I’ve historically had a hard time finding table runners in the lengths that I need. Now I don’t worry about it. I head to the local fabric shop, pick some fabric, and make my own at home. I’ve been doing this for about a year, and it really adds to my dining room without a big expense. Since my tabletop decor is so colorful, I chose a neutral, patterned fabric to make this fall table runner. (Directions on the blog.) It’s the perfect backdrop to the decor that I have in my dining room. I’ve also used a lot of fabric around my fireplace to tie all of my decorations together. We’ll start at the bottom and work our way up. I have a lot of pumpkins, but I wanted to make them look like they all go together. I used some candlesticks, draped the fabric on
30 WINC. | September 2018
“It’s such an easy and simple thing to do, but it completely changes the look when you add the fabric.”
womensinc.net 31
top of both of them, and placed the pumpkins. It’s such an easy and simple thing to do, but it completely changes the look when you add the fabric. I started doing this by accident. I went to an estate sale at the home of an interior designer a few years ago and bought a huge box of Christmas decor (because I’m obsessed) and it had so much fabric in it! I wasn’t exactly sure what to do with it, so I started putting it under several things in my house that Christmas, and I haven’t looked back.
32 WINC. | September 2018
I also made a pennant banner to hang on the fireplace. I love this fabric pattern, so I used it on the banner, and to drape over the candlesticks. Mesh fabric was so easy to wrap around the base of the greenery and drape over the side of the vase and beneath the pumpkin sitting right beside it. Finally, I had some really thick corkboard fabric that I had leftover from a project. I thought it might be fun to cut it out into leaf shapes. These were then used to hang on the greenery and I used gold thread to tie it around the vase. All of these were really easy to do! I used fall colors here, but you can use any kind of fabric. I generally like to use thinner fabric because it drapes more easily. The possibilities are endless! I’m planning on covering a few pumpkins with fabric in the near future. So happy fall and happy decorating, y’all.
Andrea Champlin is a Conway transplant with a new appreciation for toads and mythical creatures. She’s a wife, mom of three, and likes to create pretty things all while trying to get the mom thing right. Andrea can usually be found toting her kids around or planning their next trip, but always with paint on her hands.
womensinc.net 33
Untreated Hearing Loss Affects Brain Structure and Function by Dr. Sam Kelso, Au.D. Recent studies shed light on the importance of timely treatment of hearing loss. Most people believe that hearing loss is a condition that only affects their ears. In reality, untreated hearing loss can affect so much more, including brain structure and function. According to a 2013 John Hopkins University study, hearing loss may increase the risk of cognitive problems and dementia. A 2011 dementia study monitored the cognitive health of 639 people who were mentally sharp when the study began. The researchers tested the volunteers’ mental abilities regularly, following most for about 12 years, and some for as long as 18 years. The results were striking: The worse the initial hearing loss, the more likely the person was to develop dementia. Researchers say that there are plausible reasons for why hearing loss might lead to dementia — the brain’s hearing center, called the auditory cortex, is very close to the regions where Alzheimer’s first starts. Hearing loss also has a noted link to brain shrinkage. Although the brain naturally becomes smaller with age, the shrinkage seems to be fast-tracked in older adults with hearing loss, according to the results of a study by Frank Lin, M.D Ph.D. through Johns Hopkins University and the National Institute on Aging. The report revealed that those with impaired hearing lost more than an additional cubic centimeter of brain tissue each year compared to those with normal hearing. Those with impaired hearing also had significantly more shrinkage in particular regions, including the superior, middle and inferior temporal gyri, brain structures also responsible for processing sound and speech. When a person is affected by untreated hearing loss, their auditory cortex becomes “impoverished” due to the lack of
34 WINC. | September 2018
sound stimulation. Treating hearing loss in a timely matter, however, can help offset this. These studies indicate the urgency in which hearing loss should be treated. “If you want to address hearing loss well,” Lin says, “you want to do it sooner rather than later.”
womensinc.net 35
36 WINC. | September 2018
womensinc.net 37
WN METO O H
HERO
Hill honors Korean veteran by Eden Corley Guy “Buddy” Carr served as a flight engineer in Korea from 1950 to 1953. During his tour, Buddy took on dangerous missions, braved new experiences and even crashed a plane. Such events ultimately earned him several medals in which he was reunited 65 years after coming home. “I entered the service on December 27, 1950. It was my brother John’s birthday. I went home and told my mom, brother and granddad that I enlisted in the Air Force,” recalls Buddy. His family had no idea he was going to enlist. Buddy packed his bags and headed to Union Train Station in Little Rock to catch his ride to the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. After getting situated, Buddy decided to take a nap, knowing the train ride would take all night. “The next morning I woke up and I discovered our train was still at Union Station in Little Rock,” said Buddy, “We found out they didn’t have a train to pick us up.” It took three days to make the trip to San Antonio, stopping to let other trains pass them along the way as troop trains had no priority back then. 38 WINC. | September 2018
Once they finally made it to the base, the new troops were put into formation and taken to the mess hall. “There was a big sergeant there and he told us before we went through the food line, ‘If you get it you eat it,’” said Buddy, “I didn’t have any problem with that because we hadn’t eaten much over the three days it took us to get to San Antonio.” When they finished eating, they left and were immediately put into another line which took them back through the mess hall. “They told us again, “if you get it, you eat it”. We ate it all, even though we had just eaten,” said Buddy. From the mess hall, the troops were supposed to be taken to training, but Buddy got mixed up with a group who had already been in the service and did not have to go through basic training, because he was with them, neither did Buddy. He collected his clothes and made his way to the next destination; Lowry Air Force Base in Aurora Colorado. There, Buddy went to school to be a turret mechanic. “That’s what a machine gun sits on,” explained Buddy. He also attended Gunner school before being sent to Langley Air Force Base in Virginia where he received more training including combat before flying practice missions.
“That was first time I had ever been in any airplane,” said Buddy who recalls the plane being fairly small compared to his 6-foot stature. “I was on B-50 as a tail gunner one time for 20 hours when we were doing practice missions in the U.S.,” he said, “There was an electrical plant by Broadway bridge in North Little Rock and we would ‘practice’ dropping bombs on that site.” After all his training was complete, Buddy was shipped out California, Hawaii, Wake Island and finally Korea. This was around December of 1951. In Korea, Buddy learned that a majority of his training wasn’t going be of much help. “Everything I went to school for as a tail gunner I didn’t need, because they didn’t have gunners,” he said. Buddy ended up becoming a flight engineer during bombing missions on a B-26. Their main targets became trains. They would direct their bombs to cut tracks off around the train cars. “One time we flew a Chinese man into North Korea. We rigged a piece of plywood in the bomb chute. When we opened doors he bailed out. He parachuted in to spy for us in North Korea,” said Buddy. Buddy and his crew flew 54 missions, all but one at night. “We only crashed once,” said Buddy nonchalantly. “We were returning from a mission and our air strip was closed because of weather. They routed us to Seoul, Korea. On
womensinc.net 39
getting prepared for landing, our landing gear failed and we ended up crash landing.” Upon completing his 54th mission, Buddy was sent home, having had more missions than anyone else in his barracks. “I didn’t want to go home ahead of the crew that I flew with all the time,” he said. “They made me go home because I had 54 missions in.” During his service in Korea, Buddy earned the distinguished Flying Cross, two air medals, the United Nations Korean Service medal and the Korean Service medal. On August 3, 2018, a ceremony was held at Brookdale Senior
40 WINC. | September 2018
Living in Conway to reunite Buddy with his replacement medals. Congressman French Hill presided over the ceremony saying, “We love celebrating [our veterans’s] service and one of the nicest, most touching ways to do that is to reunite a veteran with their medals.” Members of the Flying Cross also presented Buddy with a distinguished Flying Cross license plate and hat, welcoming him into their group. “Mr. Carr truly exemplifies the warrior spirit that has seen our nation through trying times,” Hill said as he presented Buddy with his long awaited and deserved medals.
Customer Relationships are everything for Centennial Insurance Company Centennial Bank continues to reach its clients through a wide variety of services, but it is the staff who make relationships possible. Centennial Insurance Agency is a full line independent insurance agency that began in 1959. On July 1, 2000, the agency was acquired by Centennial Bank. Also in July 2000, a branch office was opened in Cabot. Now, Centennial Insurance Agency partners with more than a dozen companies to provide the very best in personal and business insurance, ranging from auto and home policies to workers’ compensation options. Shelly Strange received her license in 1993, and she says the job chose her. “My personal insurance agent approached me and asked me if I would like to come to work for him, so I did! It was a blessing then and has opened many doors through the years,” she says. Insurance, Strange says, is not the easiest field to talk about, but she has a passion for people and found a fit with her career. “I love talking with them about it and helping them to under-
42 WINC. | September 2018
stand it,” she says. “I think that insurance has been an industry where women have excelled for years but there is always room for more opportunities.” Strange says the ability now to earn a degree in the field has opened a new pathway for young people, offering a broad range of experience and education. No longer does being an insurance agent seem like a desk job. “There are so many levels and areas that you can work in,” she says. “It’s not just behind a desk.” And as a woman, the career choice enhances the value of the job. “I think that the passion for educating the consumer is a huge thing for me,” she says. “You can turn a really bad experience into a real relationship just by taking a few minutes to talk about things.” For more information on Centennial Insurance Agency, log onto www.my100bank.com. Contact Shelly at the Conway location, 501-339-2938.
womensinc.net 43
Trendy Painted Pumpkins For years, my house was neutral. I was single when I bought my first house in 2002 and I’ve lived in three since with my husband. The first three homes I lived in were all decorated with neutral colors. With our current home I finally decided I was sick of beige and monochromatic decor, not that it can’t be beautiful, but I’d been doing it for so long I was getting bored. In the past three years I’ve been trying to bring color into every room of the house. It’s kind of a slow process, but my dining room is one of my favorite rooms and it’s definitely not short on color. I usually do orange or white pumpkins, but I decided to paint some craft pumpkins to match the decor that’s in my dining room. And I’m not going to lie. I’m pretty excited about these pumpkins. My husband is tired of hearing about them, so I’m glad I get to share this stuff with you guys and talk about it in detail. If you want to try this, here’s what you’ll need:
Supplies: 44 WINC. | September 2018
• Craft Foam Primer • Craft Pumpkins (purchased from a local craft store) • Acrylic paint-assorted colors • Liquid gold leaf paint
• Paintbrushes • Gold spray paint (optional) • Stencils (optional) • Tape (optional)
womensinc.net 45
Abstract Pumpkin
• Spray pumpkin with primer. Let dry. • Paint the entire pumpkin the color that you most want to show. I started the two largest ones with a dark blue. Let dry. • Paint abstract shapes in your chosen color. • Fill the pumpkin with different colors. I did not mix the paint colors, and let some of the colors dry between colors. (photos on the blog!) I painted the stem and some random streaks with liquid gold leaf. I love this stuff, but fair warning: it’s stinky so use in a well-ventilated area and it’s very difficult to get out of a paintbrush. I ended up using a cheap paintbrush and throwing it away when I was done. That’s it!
Gold Top Pumpkin
• Spray pumpkin with primer. Let dry. • Paint the entire pumpkin your chosen color. I mixed two colors on these. (Pics on the blog) Let dry. • Using the liquid gold leaf, paint the stem of your pumpkin and the top. Use the brush and swipe down the desired amount.
46 WINC. | September 2018
Stencil Pumpkin
• Spray pumpkin with primer. Let dry. • Paint the entire pumpkin your chosen color. Let dry. • Tape your stencil to the pumpkin. I only taped the top and bottom, not the sides. • Spray lightly with gold spray pain. I wanted the gold to fade out, so I stayed a little heavier in the center, and lighter around the edges of the pumpkin. • Move the stencil to random spot on the pumpkin, repeat. •Continue until pumpkin is covered as desired. There you go. Super easy! The gold paint on these pumpkins definitely kicks it up a notch. Gold is very popular right now, so it’s perfectly on trend. Another thing that I like about this project is that if you get tired of the way these look and want to change it in a few year, you simply paint over it. I like orange pumpkins, but if you want something a little different, don’t be afraid to go a little crazy with the paint! You can see the step-by-step- process on my blog at TheMajesticMama.com.
Andrea Champlin is a Conway transplant with a new appreciation for toads and mythical creatures. She’s a wife, mom of three, and likes to create pretty things all while trying to get the mom thing right. Andrea can usually be found toting her kids around or planning their next trip, but always with paint on her hands.
womensinc.net 47
Conversations with a
Jessica & Brandon Smith Children: Austin, 8; Tinley, 5; Brody, 4 What’s something people wouldn’t generally know about you? Jessica was a roller skating champion in her younger days and still has the moves. What’s the last music you listened to as a family while driving? Jessica: A child’s request, “Our God’s not dead he’s surely alive!” Brandon: They sing this at the top of their lungs over and over! What’s your guilty pleasure? Jessica: Reality TV. I cry when they cry on the Bachelor/Bachelorette. Brandon: Oreos with milk at bedtime. What’s the one thing in your home you want to get rid of but that your spouse won’t allow? Jessica: Hole-y underwear!!! Brandon: Kids trampoline. Who is your favorite animated character? Jessica: Cinderella. Brandon: Popeye the Sailor man. What are you most passionate about? Jessica: Interior Design lights my fire. Brandon: Being a good role model for our children. What is the furthest you’ve been from home and why? Both: St. Thomas US Virginia islands on a cruise we did last spring with the entire family. So memorable when 48 WINC. | September 2018
your kids, cousins and grandparents are all together. Who do you most admire? Our old church pastor, Craig Groeschel, best of the best. He forever changed our lives for the better. Which is your favorite restaurant in town? Serranos $5 Chicken tortilla Soup!! Is your family more Elvis or Beatles? Both: Beatles What is your family’s favorite hobby? Both: Camping. Teaching the kids how to rough it is quite interesting. Where do you go to church? Both: New Life Church -Conway Campus. What is your favorite memory as a family? Both: Carribean cruise Spring 2017. Our kids loved every single second and still ask for “NO TOYS for Christmas, another boat trip please”. Cody Sublett is a native to Faulkner County. He is a local business owner and enjoys sharing the personalities of the people he meets. Whether it is another small business owner or a family he has had the pleasure of working for, the Cadron Creek Craftsman is happy to share a little bit about the people who make Central Arkansas unique and diverse.
womensinc.net 49
Do You Need a PSG? I don’t know about you, but I love learning new things. In fact, you will often hear me use the expression, “you learn something new every day.” Learning something new gives me confidence that my brain is still functioning – at least at a minimal level – and lets me know that I’m not totally useless. Sometimes, learning something new comes in the form of a new life experience. I had a new life experience earlier this month – I had a polysomnogram (PSG). Yeah, I know, it sounds like a multi-sided, irregularly shaped object, but it’s actually an overnight sleep study. Having a sleep study is probably “old hat” for some of you, but for me it was interesting, to say the least. The technician had me hooked up to more wires than Boeing puts in a 787 Dreamliner! I had electrodes attached to my face, scalp, chest, and legs, and harnesses around my chest and my waist. I thought for a minute that my doctor had sent me to the electric chair! Various types of sleep studies are used in order to diagnose or rule out specific medical conditions. The daytime multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) is used to diagnose narcolepsy. The two-night evaluation PSG and CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) titration provides general monitoring and evaluation for sleep apnea. If sleep apnea occurs, the patient returns for a second night to determine the correct air pressure for future CPAP treatment. In my case, I did show a moderate level of sleep apnea and am scheduled for night number two.
50 WINC. | September 2018
The Mayo Clinic defines sleep apnea as to stay asleep, and excessive drowsiness a “potentially serious disorder in which during the daytime, to name a few. Risk breathing repeatedly stops and starts,” and factors include excess weight, large neck is categorized in one or two main types. circumference, an anatomically narrow Obstructive sleep apnea, which is the more airway, being male, being older, smoking, common form, occurs when the muscles in or a family history of sleep apnea. Not the back of your throat relax causing your surprisingly, tonsils or adenoids can become airway to narrow or close as you inhale. enlarged and block the airway, especially in This leads to low oxygen levels in the children. blood. Thankfully, your brain senses this and To get to the “heart” of the matter, we wakes you up enough so you can reopen need to talk about the complications that your airway. Generally speaking, you never can occur with sleep apnea. It is a serious realize this is happening unless you get a medical condition that can fly under the sharp elbow in the side from your wife. ☺ In radar for a long time. Untreated sleep my case, I wake up feeling like I’m choking apnea increases your risk of several serious – and I really am. Frankly, it’s quite a scary medical conditions, namely high blood sensation. pressure, heart attack – sometimes fatal, Another form is central sleep apnea stroke, and abnormal heartbeats such as which occurs when your brain fails to atrial fibrillation. In my case, I’ve had atrial transmit signals to your muscles that control fib for over 30 years and lost my father at respiration. These are the muscles around a young age (47) to a heart attack, so this your rib cage that act like “bellows” to subject has personal significance for me. help you breathe. The inspiratory muscles The website, sleepapnea.org, has a very help you inhale oxygen rich air, and the good article about untreated sleep apnea expiratory muscles help you exhale the and stroke risk, and offers an easy-to-read oxygen-depleted air. These muscles are explanation of how they are related. unique in that they are very resistant to Bottom line, if you think you have a sleep fatigue and are controlled both voluntarily breathing problem, snore loudly or gasp (take a deep breath now) or involuntarily, for breath as you sleep, don’t ignore the when you don’t even think about breathing. obvious. Have your doctor set you up for a Symptoms include PSG. It might just save your life. loud snoring, gasping for air during sleep, David Smith is the owner and chief pharmacist at Smith Family Pharmacy where he works with his wife Shirley and waking up with staff. He graduated from the UAMS College of Pharmacy in an extremely dry 1974 and has been taking care of people in the Conway and surrounding areas for more than 43 years. He loves spending mouth and a tongue time with family and is No1POP to 5 wonderful grandchildren. that feels like sandpaper, inability
womensinc.net 51
Faith on the Field by Andy Robertson After the raucous crowd has settled down, the night lights shine down on a football team on a cool fall evening. The scoreboard flashes zero while teams are huddled around their coach, with the coach giving his thoughts on the game. Right before the final huddle of the night is broken, the team recites the Lord’s Prayer. “Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.” The prayer echoes around the group. This practice has become customary for teams that have just seen a game close or is ending practice. Faith is still a big part of football. Conway Christian coach Justin Kramer said, in an Aug. 8 Kiwanis meeting, the team motto, which is “#28Seven” is relative to Deuteronomy 28. “We use verses 1 through 14. The short story of that is Moses is talking to the Israelites after they had been wandering in the desert and about to go to the Promised Land,” he said. “He told them that if, in essence, they live their life for God, they could contact people positively. If they do that, then they will get blessings.” Conway football coach Keith Fimple points to Jeremiah 29:11, which says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Fimple said he lives with that verse in mind. “I live my life like that everyday because I don’t know what the plan for me is, but God knows and I’m very blessed to be able to coach football.” Last season, near Mayflower’s postgame huddle, one could hear former Mayflower and current Vilonia coach Todd Langrell asking players for prayer requests and asked his players if they wanted to pray. 52 WINC. | September 2018
“ I live my life like that
everyday because I don’t know what the plan for me is, but God knows and I’m very blessed to be able to coach football.” New Mayflower coach Austin Emerson spent a summer a few years ago as a youth group intern at University Church of Christ and sees his new opportunity with Mayflower as a chance to show Christ’s love. “I’m married and have three wonderful kids and my wonderful wife, Terra, who gracefully allows me to do these wonderful things of coaching football,” he said. “I love being in central Arkansas. It’s really a big mission field for us to love on these guys and have them in our home. We want to love on them in ways most people should love on them.” Faith is also not just found at the high school level, but can be found at the collegiate level. University of Central Arkansas coach Nathan Brown spoke about how the coaches preach on four main areas, which are academically, athletically, socially and spiritually. “I don’t take this lightly, but the fourth thing we preach about is spirituality,” he said. “If you have a holistic person, you usually have a holistic football player. If they are all in when it comes to spirituality, social aspects, academics and athletics, usually they are going to be good football players and great men.” After a Saturday scrimmage on Aug. 18, Brown spoke to his players about getting up to get breakfast and head to True Holiness Saints Center for a church service. By this time, the team had already visited New Life Church. Then, if one is scrolling through Instagram and follows the Hendrix football account, a photo posted on Aug. 12 with the caption, “Thank you @oneChurchConway for feeding the Warriors a wonderful meal and for feeding us real spiritual food.” Faith is not just found on the gridiron between the hashes, it can be found as opposing teams surround midcourt after a basketball game or the pitchers mound in a softball or baseball game. Faith in sports is not dead in Faulkner County. In fact, it’s quite strong. So, when the final horn blows, the teams shake hands, the coaches have shared their thoughts on the game, the Lord’s Prayer will echo once again under the lights. womensinc.net 53
54 WINC. | September 2018
womensinc.net 55
2018 Best of Faulkner County Awards Gala
56 WINC. | September 2018
womensinc.net 57
58 WINC. | September 2018
womensinc.net 59
A Look Back...
Scene from the 1978 Faulkner County Fair. From 1946 to 2010, the fair was held at the YBMA Fairgrounds on Robins Street.
60 WINC. | September 2018
The Faulkner County Fair by Cindy Beckman The Faulkner County Fair is a local tradition that has been around since 1909. However it has not always been in the same location, nor was it always a free fair. The first Faulkner County Fair was held October 4-7, 1909. The Faulkner County Fair Association, a corporation organized by the Conway Board of Trade, sold stock to raise the funds to build a fairground on 40 acres in the eastern part of Conway. The first fairground was a 40-acre tract bordered on the south by Oak Street, on the west by Harkrider Street, on the north by Mill Street and on the east by Ingram Street. A 10-foot fence was built around the fairground which included a half-mile horse racing track; a 32’ x 80’ exhibit hall; a grandstand seating 1,000; 25 horse stalls; a judge’s stand and a bandstand. In addition to horse racing, there was a fireworks exhibit, midway shows, concessions, livestock exhibits, textile and culinary exhibits, a baby contest and a reunion of the United Confederate Veterans. According to witnesses, the baby contest was highly competitive since all mothers thought their child to be the cutest. Fair attendees were charged 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for children age 6 to 12. Children under six could attend free. Faulkner County Fair Association stockholders were given season tickets. The Fair Association made a profit of about 10 percent, paid off part of the debt, and started making plans for the next year. Five more fairs were held and the crowds grew. It was estimated that 12,000-15,000 attended the 1913 fair. But in 1914, the fair closed with a deficit of about $500 and in 1915, the fair manager said that due to the losses of the preceding two years, he could find no one to sponsor the event. There would not be another Faulkner County
womensinc.net 61
Fair until 1938 when the Young Business Men’s Association (YBMA) decided to sponsor a free fair. This first free fair was held in a building at the northwest corner of Locust and Oak Street with a 21’ x 42’ tent set up just west of the building to house the livestock. It was a great success so it was decided to hold one every year. From 1939-1942, the fair was returned to the old fairgrounds. From 1942 to 1944, the fair was moved to the northwest corner of Van Ronkle and Markham Street and in 1945, the fair was held at the municipal airport. Finally, in 1946, the fair found a more permanent home when the YBMA organization bought a 40-acre tract bordered by Robins Street on the north, Center Street on the west, and South German Lane on the east. From 1946-2010, the Faulkner County Fair was held at what became the YBMA Fairgrounds. The carnival rides and midway attractions were bordered by the exhibit barns on the west and the livestock barns to the east. The fair was the place to hang out with your friends and be seen with that special someone. It was where little children rode their first merry-go-round. It was the place memories were made. In 2010,YBMA Fairgrounds became Conway Station Park, a 9-field boys’ baseball park. The Conway Expo Center and Fairgrounds, located at 2505 East Oak, is the new home for the Faulkner County Fair. For more information about the Faulkner County Fair and Parade go to www. faulknercountyfair.net (The source for the history found in the column today is Faulkner Land and People published by the Faulkner County Historical Society in 1986).
The CHS Marching Band marches in the 1979 Faulkner County Fair Parade. Local schools and colleges have always been a part of the fair parade.
Cindy Beckman is a local freelance writer. She writes A Look Back, a weekly Tuesday column; A Look Forward, a bi-monthly Sunday column; and the daily Yesterdays column for the Log Cabin. She has also authored several local history books and articles. She may be reached at beckman@windstream.net
A half-mile horse track was a major feature at the first Faulkner County Fair in 1909. The first fair was located on a forty-acre tract bordered on the south by Oak Street, on the west by Harkrider Street, on the north by Mill Street and on the east by Ingram Street. Photo courtesy of FCHS housed in UCA Archives
62 WINC. | September 2018
womensinc.net 63
womensinc.net 65
Why Baton Twirling? Growing up is not always easy! by Janice Jackson Seamands This can be true especially for girls, teens and young ladies. If you visit with a twirler for a while, she may mention her “baton twirling family”. In fact, NBTA-National Baton Twirling Association-has a popular slogan, “We are family”. Having a group to support you, cherish you and help you out is a huge plus! Through twirling, we develop confidence, a sense of strength, awareness of talents and value as a person of worth. Many females struggle with a lack of confidence, self consciousness and uncertainty. It can be a part of growing up for some girls. In twirling, you go at your own speed of learning, achieve small daily goals, develop bigger long term goals and celebrate many types of success. You succeed as an individual and often, as a member of a group. Good time management is a great skill and habit to develop and twirlers must learn this in order to excel in academics, twirling, band and life! They learn to get it done! And, do it well! Confidence in yourself shows in every area of your life. You test your skills on a regular basis and become sure of yourself in presentation and development. You learn to share your talents and knowledge with others while having FUN! Leadership is a quality every twirler develops. Step up, go that extra mile, help others and be an asset to your organization. Twirlers are great role models and school representatives.
66 WINC. | September 2018
Fitness is something we all care about! Twirling is a total body workout and is FUN! Be comfortable “in your skin” and develop your strength. Learn what fuels your body and make good fitness habits while you’re young. Give to your community through performance and spread joy by sharing your talent! Twirling is a great talent for those doing pageants. Three of our students have become Miss Texas and one Miss Washington DC who was top 4 in Miss America! Through some pageant systems, you can earn scholarship funds, be active in community service and help those who are less fortunate. Build your community! Fund your education! Mental toughness and determination to succeed will stay with you throughout your life. Twirlers develop the “mental game” through training, performing and often competing. It is a valuable life skill. Scholarship Many colleges and universities across the country offer scholarships for baton twirling! Join us and share the twirling love! All levels-beginner through elite! Great for homeschoolers! Janice Jackson Seamands is a charter member of the Baton Twirling Hall of Fame, instructs and judges across the USA and Europe, has produced state, regional, national and world champions in every major twirling organization and has had twirlers at over 40 colleges and universities as well as high schools throughout the nation.
womensinc.net 67