The Polk County Pulse - March 6, 2024

Chamber bestows 2024 Community Awards

Page 11

By Ethan Nahté

The Mena/Polk County Chamber of Commerce held their annual membership banquet Thursday night at the Ouachita Center on the UA Rich Mountain campus.

The evening began with a cocktail hour and live music by Brothers and Sons. Papa’s Mexican Cafe catered the event, offering an option of either mushroom and rosemary chicken breast in a parmesan cream sauce or chopped brisket steak topped with caramelized onions and brown gravy as the entrees. Yard

See AWARDS continued on page 2

Stolen vehicle results in a damaged helicopter

By Ethan Nahté

A man has been arrested after a series of incidents that ended with a stolen truck damaging a helicopter.

According to a press release from Polk County Sheriff Scott Sawyer, on Monday, March 4, 2024, at approximately 8:55 a.m., Polk County dispatch received a 911 call of a break in at a residence at Heavenly Acres Mobile Home Park on Lisa Way in Mena. Mena Police Depart-

See HELICOPTER continued on page 9

Freedom Pharmacy LLC was one of four award winners of the 2024 Community Awards. (Ariel Varner/Pulse)

In the background in front of the center building, a helicopter was damaged when it was struck by a stolen truck Monday morning. The helicopter in the foreground was not involved in the incident (Submitted photo)

AWARDS

continued from page 1

There was also a live auction and a silent auction. The proceeds go to the Mena Chamber of Commerce, and the Mena Chamber of Commerce Foundation Scholarships. 2024 Community Award winners:

- Business of the Year - Freedom Pharmacy LLC

- Non-Profit of the Year - The CALL in Polk County

- Citizen of the Year - Ravan Wagner

- Member of the Year - UA Rich Mountain

Chamber Executive Director said, “I wish we could’ve given a trophy to all the nominees, because you all are so worthy! What a wonderful group! Thank you for all you do!”

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An article from The Western Journal dated 02-252024, by Warner Todd Huston reads “Hundreds of Non-Citizens Removed from Arizona Voter Rolls, Reportedly Registered by Third Parties.” Two counties were named, Pima and Maricopa. The information was reported by the Public Interest Legal Foundation located in Alexandria, Virginia. Pima had 186 non-citizens removed and Maricopa had 222 removed. What are the chances this is a problem throughout the entire United States?

burden for illegals as well.

I heard someone recently say it was paid for by the government and was free, not to worry. Wake up! Where do you think the government gets money? From taxes that we all pay, even into retirement! Even that is not enough. We have passed $34 trillion in debt and climbing!

Want to share your opinion?

The Polk County Pulse welcomes letters to the Editor addressing any topic of interest to our readers. To be published, letters must not contain obscene or libelous language. Letters do not reflect the viewpoints or opinions of Pulse Multi-Media.

Currently non-citizens are allowed to vote in local elections in California, Maryland, Vermont, and Washington, D.C. I was not able to verify what, if any, safeguards were in place to prevent those non-citizens from voting in federal elections.

On Feb. 22, 2024, my wife and I early voted in the primary elections with a few other issues on the ballot as well. Most notably was an issue of for or against a tax. Many times, I have urged you to get informed and vote, never for who or what, but vote and be heard.

Before casting our votes, we were asked to provide our ID. It was checked against voter rolls and verified our right to vote. I was happy to comply. You don’t have to look far to see how many states do not require ID to vote or prove citizenship other than your word you are a citizen. If you have illegally entered our country, your word lacks credibility in my mind. But not to worry. Our laws seem to apply only to tax paying American citizens.

If you watch any news at all, surely you have seen states that are giving money to illegal immigrants. Some even say health care is a right and provide that as well. Not sure of your situation, but I worked for my retirement. I pay dearly for a prescription plan and health care supplement. It galls me that we, as taxpayers, shoulder the financial

The integrity of our elections is important and needs to be protected. Do not be so willing to give away that which so many have fought and died for. Ask the citizens of North Korea, Russia, or Iran how much they enjoy their freedoms or if they have a voice in their own countries.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record I implore you to ask questions, become informed and vote, or someone else will do it for you. Looking where these illegals come from, I doubt you will like seeing the mess their vote can make here.

As always, I thank you for a forum to voice my thoughts though we may peacefully disagree.

With respect and kindest regards, Ronald Goss, retired, Mena

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By Richie Lawry

As a windshield installer, one of the things that I am often asked to do is glue the rearview mirror back onto a windshield when it has fallen off.

One day, a friend of mine came by my shop. “My rearview mirror fell off my Bronco’s windshield. Can you glue it back on?” he asked. I assured him I could and got the rearview mirror adhesive kit off the shelf.

After removing the mirror from the windshield bracket, I carefully cleaned and prepped the wind-shield and the bracket. I used the two-part adhesive and activator to reattach the bracket to the windshield. After the adhesive cured for a few minutes, I reattached the mirror to the windshield.

A few days later, my friend returned his Bronco to the shop. “The rearview mirror has fallen off again,” he said. I glued the bracket back on the windshield and reattached the mirror. I could never figure out the issue with his windshield, but over the time he owned the Bronco, I reattached the rearview mirror four times. The Bronco’s rearview mirror became a running joke with us, and he still gives me a hard time.

Have you ever driven a car without a rearview mirror? It can be uncomfortable. Why do cars have a rearview mirror? Sometimes, we need to know what is behind us.

Do we need a spiritual rearview mirror? Yes, we need to know what is behind us. When Moses pre-sented the Feast of Unleavened Bread to his people, he said, “Remember this day, the day you left Egypt. You were slaves in that land, but the Lord with his great power brought you out of it.”

Exodus 13:3 (NCV)

We need to look back and see what God has done for us in the past. It gives us something to base our belief on. God wants us to remember. The word “remember” is used 230 times in the New King James Version of the Bible.

An Arkie’s Faith

The rearview mirror

Psalms 105:5 (VOICE) says, “Remember the wonderful things He has done, His miracles and the wise decisions He has made.”

Just like a glance in your car’s rearview mirror can put your mind at ease, remembering what God has done for us is very reassuring.

A rearview mirror is excellent for checking out what is happening behind you, but there is some-thing that a rearview mirror isn’t good for. Would you want to be on the road with me if I spent all my time looking in the rearview mirror? That would be very dangerous. Spending all our time in the past is also dangerous in our spiritual lives.

In Philippians 3:12-14 (NLT), Paul wrote,” I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race

and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Paul says the first step in pressing forward is forgetting what is behind. We are to remember what God has done for us in the past, but we are to forget our own past. The past can be a terrible enemy. John MacArthur said about Paul’s statement in Philippians 3, “Churches are full of spiritual crip-ples, paralyzed by the grudges, bitterness, sins, and tragedies of the past.”

Writer Max Lucado likens holding a grudge to being in quicksand. When we have a grudge, we can’t seem to get out of its grasp. The more we think about and struggle with it, the deeper we sink. I think the only way we can get ourselves out of the quicksand of holding a grudge is through the power of God.

In Ephesians 4:26,27 (NLT), Paul writes, “Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

Our conflict with the devil is hard enough without us intentionally giving him a mighty foothold. Don’t look in the rearview mirror at all the wrongs done to you.

The Bible makes it clear that Christians should forgive, not hold grudges. In Matthew 6:14-15 (NCV), Jesus says, “If you forgive others for their sins, your Father in heaven will also forgive you for your sins. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.”

Can forgiveness change the past? No. What will forgiveness do? It sets us free from the past so we can move into the future.

Sometimes, I think that accepting forgiveness is the only thing harder than forgiving. When I was growing up in Colorado, my pastor was Pastor George. I still remember his teaching on the scripture 1 John 1:9 (KJV). “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 became my favorite verse.

Over the years, I have come to realize that there is a problem with this verse. The problem is not with the verse but that many Christians don’t believe it. They say they believe, but their actions show they don’t feel forgiven.

In Isaiah 43:25 (NASB), God tells us, “I alone, am the one who wipes out your wrongdoings for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.”

David wrote in Psalms 103:12 (ISV), “As distant as the east is from the west, that is how far he has removed our sins from us.”

And Micah 7:19 (NIRV) says, “You will completely wipe out the evil things we’ve done. You will throw all our sins into the bottom of the sea.”

When you are forgiven, God wipes out your sins; He has removed them as far as the East is from the West and thrown them into the bottom of the sea. Don’t be looking in your rearview mirror for your sins.

Joke of the Week: I don’t trust trees. They seem shady to me.

Don’t be looking in your rearview mirror for your sins. (Photo by Richie Lawry)

From the State House of Representatives

From classrooms to healthcare, the state budget has a direct impact on our daily lives. Weeks before the legislative session begins, the General Assembly reviews the state’s current fiscal position and budget requests for the upcoming fiscal year.

port released showed net available general revenue at 5.6% below levels from one year ago. After seven months into the fiscal year, net available revenue is above forecast by $231.2 million or 6.0 percent.

Budget hearings this year will begin on March 6 and are expected to continue through March 8.

These hearings will be held in the MAC building located directly behind the Capitol. The hearings are open to the public and will be live-streamed on our website.

The Department of Finance and Administration will present the Governor’s recommendation for a balanced budget on the first day of budget hearings which will begin at 9 a.m.

After the balanced budget proposal is presented, the Joint Budget Committee will then begin hearing budget requests from state agencies. Historically, the two largest categories of funding are education and human services. Higher education, public safety, and health are also top budget priorities.

The most recent general revenue re-

All of the information gathered during these hearings will help in drafting appropriation bills.

Members can begin pre-filing bills on March 11. The Arkansas General Assembly will convene for the 2024 Fiscal Session at noon on April 10.

Fiscal Sessions began after Arkansas voters approved Amendment 86 in 2008. This will be the 8th Fiscal Session held in state history.

Fiscal Sessions are held in February in years in which the primary elections are held in May. The Fiscal Sessions begin in April in years, like this year, in which primary elections are held in March. Fiscal Sessions are limited to 30 days unless ¾ of the General Assembly agrees to a one-time extension not to exceed 15 days.

You can watch the meetings and find the daily agendas at www.arkansashouse.org

From the State Senate

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas is one of several states that have restricted their public retirement systems from investing in funds that refuse to trade in the stock of fossil fuel companies, energy companies, ammunition manufacturers and firearms makers.

make the decisions about whether Arkansas public systems should take its money out of specific investment funds. It should make divestment decisions in a few months.

Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky and West Virginia have drawn up a list of financial institutions that are restricted from handling investments for retirement systems.

The attorney general of Tennessee recently filed a lawsuit against BlackRock, an investment firm with assets of about $10 trillion. The lawsuit alleges that BlackRock misled its customers who live in Tennessee by downplaying the extent to which its investment strategy emphasizes ESG factors. The acronym refers to environmental, social and governance related factors.

For example, there are mutual funds that promote themselves as focusing on clean or renewable energy. Other funds may say to investors that they won’t purchase stock in a business that doesn’t have a strong inclusion and diversity policy.

Act 411 of 2023 creates a process for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System and the state Public Employees Retirement System to remove its holdings in restricted companies. Texas has a law similar to Act 411 and so far has listed 15 companies whose energy divisions will be restricted from Texas public investments.

Kentucky has 11 companies on its restricted list. Oklahoma has six and West Virginia has five.

At a recent meeting of the Joint Performance Review Committee, the director of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System updated lawmakers on the progress of divestment efforts mandated by Act 411.

The act created a five-member ESG Oversight Committee, which will

The Teacher Retirement System has about $1.2 billion in three funds managed by BlackRock. The largest is about $1 billion in an index fund, which is set up to track the movements of enormous national and worldwide stock market indexes. It has investments in a large variety of businesses.

The teacher retirement system has $260 million in a bond fund and $13.8 million in a private infrastructure fund that has financed fossil fuel production, pipelines and power companies.

The lawsuit by the Tennessee attorney general specifically identifies 27 investment products offered by BlackRock. The Arkansas Teacher Retirement System has no investments in any of those 27 products. The Public Employees Retirement System has no investments in BlackRock funds, nor does the Local Police and Fire Retirement System.

If ESG Oversight Committee identifies a BlackRock fund that Arkansas is prohibited from doing business with, the teacher retirement system would take out its money and place it elsewhere. The director estimated that the administrative costs of divesting would not exceed $10 million, which would not affect the overall financial health of the system because of its size.

The Arkansas Teacher Retirement System has assets of about $21.4 billion and the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System has assets of more than $11 billion. Their investment managers will have to certify every month that they’re in compliance with Act 411, and that their investment decisions are based on monetary factors, with no consideration of political factors.

John Maddox

Terry Rice

Lisa Ann WidlundDiaz

Lisa Ann Widlund-Diaz, age 64, of Hatfield, Arkansas, passed away on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at her home. She was born on August 14, 1959, to Shirley Jean English of Arlington, Texas.

At a very young age Lisa moved to southern California to be raised by her aunt and uncle after the passing of her mother. During her childhood she developed a passion for horses and enjoyed rid-ing them along the beach. After graduation from Marina Highschool in 1977, she took an interest in raising Egyptian Arabian horses and starting a horse-breeding business, which she named “Antiquity Farms”.

In 2004, after both of her children had left to serve in the Air Force, Lisa moved with her horses from Aguanga, California, to Hatfield, AR, to enjoy the peace and quiet and continue pursuing her business and expanding her legacy. To this day she has pedigrees recorded in various online breed registries.

Lisa was a strong, intellectual woman, with a sentimental heart and a delightful sense of humor to match. She will be laid to rest alongside her mother, Shirley.

Lisa is survived by her son, Austin Diaz of Beaumont, California; and her daughter, Geneva Diaz of San Antonio, Texas.

Services are planned for Saturday March 23, 2024, at 10:00 am at Moore Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens in Arlington, Texas. Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena, Arkansas.

Online Guestbook: bowserffh.com

Medcalf

Edward Medcalf, a former prominent citizen of Mena, Arkansas, passed away February 21, 2024, just a month before his 94th birthday.

Ed was active in the Little Theatre and a former member of Mena Fire Department. Ed was also responsible for getting the 911 project in Mena.

Susan Westbrook

Susan Westbrook, age 72, of Mena, Arkansas, passed away on Friday, February 23, 2024, at her home. She was born on November 7, 1951, to Harry Peterson and Bertha Walseth in Alameda, California.

Susan moved from Oakland, California, at a young age to Proctor, Minnesota, where she grew up on a farm, lovingly assisting her stepdad with all the chores, including feeding, milking, and cleaning stalls, as well as all the other tasks farm work entails. One of her favorite stories to tell was about her experiences riding bulls. Susan took great pride in her stepdad’s service in the army during WWII. She had a deep affection for both animals and people.

After college, she began working as a legal secretary for one of the leading law firms in the St. Paul/Duluth area. In 1995, Susan welcomed her daughter, Elizabeth, whom she adored. Together, they enjoyed horseback riding, dirt biking, and baking.

During this time, Susan also took up riding her Harley to destinations such as Sturgis and beyond. An experienced animal trainer, she trained two dogs and contributed to search and rescue efforts, aiding law enforcement and the FBI in solving numerous cases. Susan cherished this work, particularly training her German Shepherd, Hannah, for the job.

Life eventually led her to Texas, where she met her husband, Tracy. Life and God brought them to Mena, where they married in June of 2015 and enjoyed a happy marriage together. Susan was an active member of First Freewill Baptist Church in Mena until her debilitating back pain confined her mostly to home.

She approached every endeavor with unwavering commitment, embodying toughness and readiness for any challenge. Susan held independence, autonomy, and freedom in high regard. A

captivating storyteller, she could always bring a smile to anyone’s face with her very animated renditions. Susan’s passion for cooking and baking led her practice her recipes until they were perfect, with everyone especially enjoying her desserts. She was a remarkable woman who touched the lives of all she met and will be deeply missed by many.

She is preceded in death by her parents; and her stepfather, Olbert Nygren. Susan is survived by her loving husband, Tracy Westbrook of Mena; her daughter, Elizabeth Stuebner of Tustin, California; two sisters, Karen and Donna; three grandchildren, Ciarra Westbrook, Rain Roberts, and Cammi Westbrook; several nephews and nieces and a host of other relatives and friends. No services are planned at this time. Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena, Arkansas.

Joseph Vincent Quirk

Joseph Vincent Quirk, age 70, of Mena, passed away on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at the St. Vincent Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was born on Monday, June 29, 1953, to Joseph and Terry Kane Quirk in Boston, Massachusetts.

Joseph served proudly in the United States Navy for 28 years before retiring. He was a loving husband, brother, and a great father and grandfather. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Joseph is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Karen Quirk of Mena; and two sons and daughter-in-law, Zack and Madison Quirk of La Mesa, California, and Travis Quirk of California; one granddaughter, Charlotte Quirk of California; two sisters and brother-inlaw, Terry Donovan of Massachusetts, Linda and David Jackson of Massachusetts; several nephews and nieces and a host of other relatives and friends.

No services are planned at this time. Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena, Arkansas.

Online Guestbook: bowserffh.com

Larry Allen Lein

Larry Allen Lein, 75, of Shady, Arkansas, passed away on March 2, 2024. He was born November 10, 1948, to Fred Lein and Ruth Lein in Shady, Arkansas. He was a jack-of-all-trades kind of man, but most of his life he was a carpenter. He was the type of person who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He loved to be in the outdoors especially hunting, hunting with his sister and close friends, fishing, and making people laugh with his jokes and pranks.

Larry is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 26 years, Shirley Lein, his daughter, Laura Mattson of Florida, stepdaughter, Crystal Roberts of California, stepson Bruce Calvery and wife Cheryl of Oregon, his sisters, Patsy Lein of Shady, Arkansas, Carol and husband Tom Sipes of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Debbie Kveum of Little Rock, Arkansas, his grandchildren, Kyle Wallingsford of California, Samantha Mattson of Florida, and Zachery Mattson of Arkansas. He is also survived by his two best friends who were more like family, Jimmy and Jean Lawrence, and Johnny Payne, along with many other family and friends.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at New Hope Baptist Church in Shady, Arkansas at 1:00 pm with Brother Danny Minton to officiate. Inurnment will be at Shady Cemetery. Cremation is under the direction of Beasley Wood Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers the family asks donations to be made to St. Jude’s Childrens’ Hospital, or any other charity of your choosing.

Online obituary and guestbook at beasleywoodfuneralhome.com

Edward

March 2024 programs at Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area

As the days get longer and temperatures rise, activities by the river resume. Join the park interpreters for an educational program or guided hike this spring break.

Pack a lunch and make a day of it, allowing time to explore the interactive exhibits of the visitor information center, take a short trail walk, or just play and be with nature along the riverbank.

Friday, March 8

Moss & Lichen Hike - 11 a.m.

Meet at Brushy Creek Trail Head (TH)

Explore the non-vascular life forms that surround us on the trail and debunk common misconceptions. ~0.75mi loop

Friday, March 8

Skins & Skulls - 1-3 p.m.

Meet at Cossatot Falls

Cossatot River State Park is home to many! Join the park interpreter by the river to explore the critters of the area.

Saturday, March 9

Nature Bingo Hike - 1 p.m.

Meet at Stan’s Bridge ‘TH’

Did somebody say BINGO? Join the park interpreter on this ~2 mi. hike out and back to Stan’s Bridge (TH located between Cossatot Falls and Sandbar access points). This trail is moderate so please wear sturdy, closed toe shoes and weather appropriate clothing.

Sunday, March 10

Micro-Hike - 2 p.m.

Meet at Waterleaf TH

Join the park interpreter on this .5 mile stroll to the river. Slow down and observe the smaller elements in the landscape… you never know what you might find! Easy to moderate, great for kids/ families.

Friday, March 15

Owl Pellet Dissection - 1 p.m.

Visitor Information Center

Join the park interpreters in the class-

room as we investigate the life of an owl. Hands on and fascinating for all ages!

Saturday, March 16

Color Wheel Hike - 1 p.m.

Meet at Harris Creek TH

Can you find every color on the color wheel? Hike the Harris Creek Trail with the park interpreter and see how many colors are out on the trail. ~3.5mi roundtrip

Saturday, March 16

Skins & Skulls - 1-3 p.m.

Meet at Cossatot Falls

Cossatot River State Park is home to many! Join the park interpreter by the river to explore the critters of the area.

Wednesday, March 20

Mammals of AR - 2 p.m.

Visitor Information Center

From the majestic American Black Bear to the elusive Bobcat, there are 28 different types of mammals thriving in Arkansas! Join the park interpreters in the classroom as we discuss characteristics, habitat preferences, and behaviors of each mammal, offering a glimpse into their lives.

Thursday, March 21

Moss & Lichen Hike - 11 a.m.

Meet at Brushy Creek TH

Explore the non-vascular life forms that surround us on the trail and debunk common misconceptions. ~0.75mi loop

Friday, March 22

Color Wheel Hike - 11 a.m.

Meet at Harris Creek TH

Can you find every color on the color wheel? Hike the Harris Creek Trail with the park interpreter and see how many colors are out on the trail. ~3.5mi roundtrip

Friday, March 22

Skins & Skulls - 1-3 p.m.

Meet at Cossatot Falls

Cossatot River State Park is home to many! Join the park interpreter by the river to explore the critters of the area.

Saturday, March 23

Micro-Hike - 10 a.m.

Meet at Waterleaf TH

Join the park interpreter on this .5 mile stroll to the river. Slow down and observe the smaller elements in the landscape… you never know what you might find! Easy to moderate, great for kids/ families.

Saturday, March 23

Toads v Frogs - 2 p.m.

Visitor Information Center

At first glance, toads and frogs appear similar, but a closer look reveals they differ significantly! Join the park interpreter in the center to explore these beloved critters.

Friday, March 29

Campfire Cooking - 2 p.m.

Visitor Information Center

Join the park interpreters for a tasty camp treat by the fire! We’ll be making S’more Dump Cake and discussing the history of Dutch ovens.

Saturday, March 30

A.M. Power Hike - 9 a.m.

Meet at Harris Creek TH

Work up a sweat with the park interpreter on the Harris Creek Trail! All hikers are welcome but this will be at a swift pace. Bring plenty of water and a snack. This trail is moderately difficult, so please wear sturdy, closed toe shoes and weather appropriate clothing. ~3.5mi loop

For more information about these programs, call Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area: 870-385-2201. Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area, 1980 Hwy 278 W, Wickes, AR 71973

Application period opens for Arkansas Heritage Grants

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Community-based non-profit groups and others interested in supporting the mission of Arkansas Heritage are encouraged to apply for Arkansas Heritage Grants. Arkansas Heritage is a division of the Department of Arkansas Parks, Heritage and Tourism which identifies, preserves and promotes our state’s cultural, historic and natural resources as a source of pride and enjoyment for all.

“The heritage of our state is influenced greatly by the big and small actions of community leaders,” said Marty Ryall, director of the Division of Arkansas Heritage. “That’s why we’re encouraging Arkansans to apply for these grants and further support their local programming, events or offerings.”

Arkansas Heritage Grants are designed to help groups promote awareness and enjoyment of Arkansas’ heritage; increase community-based non-profit groups’ ability to create heritage related programs, especially in places where they would otherwise not occur; foster cooperative efforts among organizations, businesses and government to increase the size and scope of events; and create ongoing components to existing heritage-related celebrations.

Grants cannot exceed $5,000, and for-profit organizations or events are not eligible. Money must go toward the proposed program, but cannot be used to fund ongoing operating costs, staff salaries or brick-and-mortar infrastructure. More information on grant criteria can be found at ArkansasHeritage.com

There are two deadlines in 2024 for submitting proposals: April 12 and Oct 11. For more information, please contact Debra Fithen, grants manager for Arkansas Heritage, at debra.fithen@ arkansas.gov.

Elvis tribute performance is a joyful flashback

Article and photos by Ethan Nahté (Part 2 of 2)

In last week’s issue, we introduced the 31-year-old Elvis tribute performer Josh Davis, who put on a rockin’ show at Shady Mountain Events on Feb. 24 to a full house.

Davis had no formal training. His singing came about naturally.

“I sang a lot with my grandmother, because she brought me up on Southern gospel music. I would always sing for her… songs like ‘The Old Rugged Cross,’ ‘Blessed Assurance,’ and ‘When We All Get to Heaven.’ A lot of times I would also sing for my great-aunt and my great-uncle, as well.

“About that time, when I was starting to sing, I would never perform in public at that point. When I got the call in 2007 when I started out to do a show as Elvis, and I didn’t have no backing tracks or nothing like that, I just went in with my guitar and in a suit. After that I start doing it.”

It takes practice to get the nuances of Elvis’ performance down. It’s the voice, the movements, the energy and attitude. By 2015, Davis won the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist contest at IP Casino (Biloxi, Mississippi) where he did perform with a live band.

“The voice took a lot. Basically, the voice and the moves, both of them, took the most. I also had to find the ones I was comfortable with. There was a lot of watching Elvis and I’ve also had a few fellow tribute artists take me under their wing and be like, ‘Hey, I know you do this with your hand, but let’s do this.’ Watching a lot of Elvis, I’d go, ‘Oh, Elvis did this with his left hand while I do it with my right. Let’s change hands.’ The moves definitely took a lot more.

“Of course, the voice and learning how to breathe properly and also learning how to go for the notes where you’re not singing from here a lot”

Davis said as he pointed to his throat. “Especially learning how to change my voice because if you listen to Elvis throughout the years, if you notice, the voice changes.”

“When I started out, I didn’t want to tie myself down to just Elvis Presley,” Davis said. “I’ve always loved other music. With my grandmother, I was listening to a lot of gospel quartets in the and a lot of the Gaithers. I had my great-aunt Gladys (same name as Elvis’ mother) and my uncle Bernard that basically introduced me to Roy Orbison. I just love how that guy’s voice was. Even though he was shy, and he wore dark glasses all the time. He wasn’t blind.

Then I started listening to a lot of Buddy Holly. Also, around that time — you’re going to be shocked when I tell you this — Rod Stewart was coming out. I am Rod Stewart fan.

Stewart had just released “The Great American Songbook” volumes at the time, which were five albums of pop standards that Stewart released between 2002-2012.

Davis does several artist’s songs: Orbison, Stewart, Holly, etc. in addition to Elvis. It’s basically an audition.

“People that want to potentially hire me can see I’m not just tied to Elvis.”

The look

Like many who perform as Elvis, which

brings to mind scenes from the film “3,000 Miles to Graceland,” Davis has some well-made, professional outfits.

“Jumpsuits all together, I’ve got about 12 or 13 Elvis suits. Trust me, they are not cheap. The one you saw tonight comes from B & K Enterprises out of Indiana.”

Looking at the company’s website, there are three amazing looking Elvis jumpsuits complete with belts on clearance… yes, clearance, ranging from $1,250-$3,600 at the time of this writing. How much Davis paid, he did not say, but he’s got a small fortune tied up in those outfits. Perhaps he should get showcases like the ones at Graceland displaying Elvis’ outfits.

“They’ve made practically all of my suits, and they were also the ones that did that made all the costumes for the movie — the Baz Luhrmann Elvis biopic (2022). Each and every one of those suits are hand sewn. The rhinestones or put on by hand; not put on with a machine. The capes are also custom made. I’ve got four of those.

“There’s a few I got from other companies. There’s a lot of guys been going to AJM Elvis Costumes over in Thailand. There’s another lady out of Canada that has a company. A new suit I got recently was from a buddy of mine made by a lady named Kathy Kiddle.

“Some of them are pretty pricey. It

just depends on who you work with. The look also includes a flat top guitar with an “Elvis Presley” fretboard inlay.

Where to find Josh Davis

Typing Josh Davis’ name into YouTube’s search engine brings up several options to watch his performances. He’s also at Facebook/JoshDavisETA and has a personal page, JoshDavisElvis.com

“You can easily find me because my profile picture is me in a royal blue suit that Elvis also had. There’s also a direct line you can call which is 903-619-1532 and then you can also private-message me on Facebook and you can also text me that number and then I’ll be going also find me on Instagram.com/JoshDavis.ETA.

“I’m just glad everybody enjoyed it.”

If you were in the audience and did enjoy the show, there’s a good chance Davis will be back in Mena before the end of the year.

If you missed the show, keep your eyes peeled and ears open for his hopeful return.

Meanwhile, Elvis has left the building.

Jordan’s Way fundraiser returning to HSO

Submitted by Cheryl Murphy

Kris Rotonda, of Jordan’s Way, is visiting Humane Society of the Ouachitas once again on March 21. Rotonda will be leading out with his fun-loving antics like he did on his previous visit where he featured

72 hours inside some shelter cages with the animals? Sound crazy? Yes, that’s what he does in his love for animals.

Pulse Multi-Media participated in the event held July 28, 2022, and raise $2,000 during their stint. Pulse staff called and facetimed friends,

HSO’s shelter pets and encouraged fundraising for HSO while livestreaming.

Rotonda definitely puts the “fun” in “fundraising!” You will laugh and enjoy this crazy guy, who is seemingly full of boundless energy. Your heart will be glad when you realize how strong his love is for shelter pets. That’s why Rotonda travels the country to promote local animal shelters.

Did you know Rotonda spent

family and businesses to request the bail money to release them from the kennels where they were closed in with some loving dogs. Overall, the event helped HSO raise approximately $7,275.

Please visit facebook.com/hsomena today to check out his 72-hour “caged” video and other posts.

Join HSO’s live feed on Facebook during Rotonda’s visit from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 21.

HELICOPTER

continued from page 1

ment units responded to the residence.

A short time later, Polk County dispatch received a 911 call stating that a suspect had stolen a truck pulling a dump trailer from the parking lot at Southern Disposal. Polk County deputies, Mena Police Department units, and a trooper from the Arkansas State Police all responded to the scene.

While arriving on scene, the stolen truck and trailer were observed crossing Hwy 8 E. and entering onto Mena Intermountain Municipal Airport. The truck drove through a gate and onto the runway. After driving the length of the runway, the truck turned around and attempted to exit the airport by the Dallas Valley Fire Department where it struck a helicopter parked on the helipad at the USFS flight center. The helicopter, a Bell 407, received major damage as a result of the collision.

According to the FAA Registry, the aircraft is registered to Reiner Russell and Muse Concrete Contractors Inc.

Reportedly, some bystanders were concerned the driver of the truck would jump out of the cab waving a gun and start shooting. The suspect did not wave a gun but did have a knife.

The police reported the suspect then exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot while brandishing a knife. The suspect, later identified as Brandon Earl Powell, age 39, was arrested without incident by Mena Police Department Officers.

a gate and a damaged Bell 407 helicopter had been damaged in the general area of the tail rotor and vertical stabilizer. Ogden believed the helicopter belonged to one of the forest service contractors for use during the prescribed burns.

“There was a lot of law enforcement when I got there,” Ogden said. “At least three state troopers, Mena Police Department, and the sheriff were there. A sheriff’s deputy was just driving away. The U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer showed up a little later.

“We’re not sure yet how much damage has been done. They moved the helicopter into a hangar to start taking it apart to survey the damage.”

Mena Police Chief Tommy Stueart and Polk County Sheriff Sawyer both wanted to commend the responding officers. “If not for the great work of all the Law Enforcement Agencies involved, this could have been much worse. They all did a great job in stopping and apprehending this dangerous criminal.”

Ogden said, “That impacts that contractor greatly, as well as the forest service. It’s not going to be cheap to fix and they’ll probably be sending a mechanic here from somewhere else to fix it. I don’t think anyone here has the right certification to work on that. Plus, it’ll be a loss of time.”

Fred Ogden, airport manager, said he was called somewhere after 9 a.m. and notified of an incident at the airport. Ogden arrived to find that a vehicle had driven through

Sheriff Sawyer said, “We are working the truck theft, the Mena Police Department is working the trailer [house] he broke into, and the Arkansas State Police is working the wreck where he hit the helicopter.”

Ogden also was in the process of reporting the incident to the FAA. [All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.]

Kris Rotonda livestreams “HSO prisoner” Ashley Moore locked in a kennel as she calls for fundraising bail money. Jodi Croft shoots live footage to show her hopeful donaters what was happening. (Ethan Nahté/Pulse)

Master Gardener’s Yard of the Month community project

Submitted by Polk County Master Gardeners

Polk County Master Gardeners are pleased to announce the start of a community project. A Polk County resident will be honored each month as having the Yard of the Month. The competition starts in April and continues through November. December will be chosen for best decorated home.

A committee made up of volunteer master gardeners will look at yards that are nominated by community members.

Judging is based on the following:

- Well-groomed and attractive

- Are Regularly mowed and edged

- Weedless flower beds

- Seasonal color

- Regular mulching of flower beds

- All shrubs trimmed

- Insect control Green healthy lawns

- Yard must be free of debris, trash cans, recycle bins, etc.

To nominate a yard, fill out the form below or pick one up at the Polk County Extension Office, 211 Dequeen St. in Mena. Each nomination submitted will be given a drive-by judging.

The winner will receive a specially designed Yard of the Month sign placed in their front yard for one month, a certificate of recognition signed by a Polk County representative, along with their picture being taken for the local newspapers, the Master Gardener Website and Master Gardener Newsletter.

The nominee must be a resident of Polk County and can only receive this award once a year. April is coming up quickly so please make your nominations soon and tum them into the Polk County Extension Office.

Kathleen and Philip Ference were selected as Yard of the Month for June 2023. (Photo courtesy of the Polk County Master Gardeners)

WomeninBusiness

March is Women’s History Month, and March 8 is International Women’s Day. The Polk County Pulse asked community members to honor local women by nominating them for our annual Women in Business for 2024. But, we do not seek women solely who are business owners or work at a business. Nominations are open to women who volunteer within the community and/or work with non-profits, educators, emergency or health services, and law enforcement. Basically, we asked the public to nominate a woman they found to be outstanding and deserving of attention.

The Pulse team was delighted to receive numerous nominations from the community. The comments from neighbors, business partners, family and friends showed tremendous support of the hardworking women whom they felt should be highlighted.

From established businesses to new careers and ventures, to volunteering and acts of service, there is no doubt all who were nominated are deserving of recognition. Eight women were selected by a third party to be honored as outstanding women in business. The Mena-Polk County Chamber of Commerce Board was gracious enough to read through the nominations and make the difficult selections. We sincerely appreciate the Board’s time and participation, which allowed the Pulse to remain unbiased in highlighting the deserving ladies.

To the many community members who took the time to submit nominations, thank you. It is a great privilege to have been able to read your kind words and support for women in our community.

Please helps us congratulate the honorees and nominees on their dedication to their careers, families, service organizations, volunteer efforts, faith and our community. We are proud to know you and thank you for setting an example for us all to follow.

It is our great pleasure to introduce the Outstanding Women in Business for 2024!

* Tiny Campbell

* Meagan Davis

* Amber Goodner

* Alyssa Green

[Profile interviews by Ethan Nahté.]

* Barbara Klutts

* Nina Moore

* Naomi Ryals

* Shelley Staggs

Tiny Campbell

Tiny (Fairless) Campbell is the owner of Tiny’s Place in Hatfield. It’s a small shop next to Hatfield City Hall. The shop is used in part for hairdressing and in part quilt making, as she has a longarm quilting machine on the other side of the building.

That atmosphere — as she is surrounded by friends talking and laughing while music plays on a TV, and her husband Kevin works on making improvements to the porch as a train goes by — feels a bit like stepping into Truvy’s shop in the film “Steel Magnolias.”

Campbell has been cutting hair

for 48 years and is about to apply for her lifetime license. After graduating from Smithville, Oklahoma, in 1976, she attended beauty school and got her cosmetology license in Dec. 1976, graduating at the top of her class.

From 1977-1980 she worked full time at Aalf’s in Mena, felling inseam.

She then went to work at her first salon, The Foxy Lady, in ‘80.

She eventually went back and got her teaching certificate in cosmetology in ‘87 at Talihina, Oklahoma. She also drove a school bus for Mena Public Schools.

Campbell said, “I drove a school bus I think for 13 years in Mena. I got my first cosmetology license in 1976, and then in 1980 I started driving a school bus. I cut hair during the day and drove the bus in the morning and afternoon. I had the Shady Mountain route.”

From The Foxy Lady, she went to Connie’s Style Shop.

“When they closed Connie’s down, I went and started Shear Pleasure with a friend in Mena. I think we had that for 15 years or something like that. In 2000, I bought this place in Hatfield and opened it up.”

She drove the bus off and on for many of those years.

Since the purchase, she has built on to the building, remodeled, and jokes that they never quit remodeling.

Helping the community

“We like to be pretty active in the community,” Campbell said. “When I say community, I mean surrounding areas like Smithville, Cove, De Queen. We go as far as anybody, if they ask, we try to help them out.

“I do a lot of donating of hair [services]. I have a lot of customers who leave me money, so I can pay for people who don’t have the money to pay for their hair.”

For those who have no/limited mode of transportation, or may be nonambulatory, she makes the effort to go to them.

“I go to the nursing home, go to people’s homes and do hair, and go to the funeral home to do hair.”

She’s has a customer who moved to Peachtree Assisted Living in Mena, so she’s hoping to go there more and do hair for others, as well.

With the donations left by other customers, it helps her from having to charge for much of that.

Campbell said she doesn’t have a lot of overhead, so it helps her to keep prices down considerably for doing hair.

“I made sure to get my building and stuff paid for so I could do that,” Campbell said. The low rates make it easier for some of her customers on a fixed income. “I mainly want to serve the community the best that I can… and you can do that in a lot of different ways.”

Quilting

She and her friends also quilt, so they do a lot of donating of their quilts. As a matter of fact, she has a beautiful wilderness-themed quilt for the FFA’s upcoming banquet this spring. Her granddaughter Claire Walston is the president of the Mena FFA and was one of the students featured in the National FFA Week issue (The Pulse, Feb. 21).

They have another quilt they’ll be donating the Down Syndrome 5k Run & Walk in Mena on March 23. They’ve donated quilts to the Li-

oness Club and The CALL in Polk County in the past. Campbell took up quilting in 2000.

There are also donations of quilts, haircuts and hair products to those who have cancer burnout.

She also does a lot of volunteering and donating of haircuts to many other causes and events.

Church and family

If that wasn’t enough, she volunteers with events for the church and Vacation Bible School (VBS). She attends church in Muse, Oklahoma, but also helps with churches around Hatfield, Cove and Mountain Fork. “I’ve helped with several different churches on stuff.”

Working with children at VBS and driving a bus, one would think Campbell loves kids. Her greatest joy is her children and grandchildren.

She has three children: Matthew Walston, who is married to Heather. Their children are Claire and Ryan. Timothy Walston, who is a counselor at Mena Public Schools. Ayla Campbell is married to Rusty and lives in Siloam Springs.

“One thing about kids is most of them will tell you the truth and they love you. If they don’t love you, you’ll know that. I do like working with kids and with older people.”

“I want to work and say I’ve worked 50 years. I basically have two more years after this to work full time. I don’t foresee me ever quitting.”

Odds are Campbell will always be lending a helping hand where and when she can.

“There’s always a need to help someone, if you just look around. There’s a big need for the elderly.”

Meagan Davis

Meagan Davis is a Polk County native who graduated from the Van-Cove High School in 2008, then went off to college and a career as lawyer. Some might remember the article in the June 28 issue of The Pulse, announcing her return to Polk County. Davis has an office in the Maddox and Maddox Law Firm facing the Polk County Court House and the Mena Police Department is across the street.

As Davis puts it, they’re office is “… very general practice. Everything but criminal.” The attorneys at Maddox & Maddox serve legal clients on a variety of issues including estate planning, domestic relations, real estate, business, civil litigation, and personal injury.

Davis attended University of Central Arkansas (UCA) for her undergrad courses with a bachelor’s in history. She completed her Juris Doctorate Degree at the William H. Bowen School of Law in 2015 and passed the Arkansas Bar Examination the same year. After passing the bar exam, Davis worked for the late Justice Robin F. Wynne, at the Arkansas Supreme Court. In 2019, while working full time as a practicing attorney, Davis completed a master’s in business administration with a concentration in Finance

at UCA.

She served as In-House Counsel for a real estate development company in North Little Rock, focusing on complex real estate transactions including Low Income Housing Tax Credit Developments. Next, Davis served as Chief Deputy County Attorney for Pulaski County where she practiced civil litigation in county court, circuit court, and appeared before the Arkansas Supreme Court. Most recently, Davis served as Vice President of Government Relations and Strategic Partnerships for inVeritas, a global public affairs firm based in Little Rock. There, Davis led the firm’s government relations division and advocated priorities before the Arkansas legislature, regulatory entities, and at the local government level.

Overall, she was gone for 15 years.

During that time, she covered some very unusual types of cases for a young lawyer, but it definitely broadened her field of expertise.

It’s also obvious while speaking with the affable Davis that she seemed to enjoy the quirkiness of her burgeoning career and likes a challenge.

It was a combination of things that drew her back to Polk County. “My parents are still here, and my partner’s family is here as well. He was in Texarkana, and I was in Little Rock. We were trying to figure out where we wanted to live. We had both been in our towns for a decade and neither one of us was committed enough to stay and make the other person move there with us.

“I had always wanted to be back closer to family. It was just the time to do it.”

She had met John Maddox when she was a lobbyist at the state capitol. We had a chance to get to know one another.

“I had never intended on being a lobbyist. It’s weird that getting into that industry facilitated a way of me getting home.”

While in Central Arkansas, she did a variety of volunteer work. She served as Development Vice President for the Junior League of Little Rock, Chair of the William H. Bowen School of Law Young Alumni Board, Secretary of the Judges and Lawyer’s Assistance Pro-

gram (JLAP) Foundation Board. Now that she is home, Davis has jumped on board with a couple of organizations as of the beginning of 2024. She is currently a member of LeadAR Class 20. LeadAR is an 18-month intensive leadership program through the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. The program is designed to help Arkansans broaden their understanding of issues and opportunities facing our state and strengthen their ability to make a difference. LeadAR strengthens participants’ knowledge, skills, and network and empowers them to positively impact communities and advocate for long-term economic development. Members travel to different parts of Arkansas and learn about what does and doesn’t work for that particular area. They each take that knowledge back home to present it to community leaders for potential application to improve their own region.

Later this fall, Davis will begin her Community Leadership Service Project through LeadAR, which will offer a variety of educational sessions for the Polk County community, designed to

increase awareness of common legal situations and solutions such as estate planning and family law issues.

Once again, before moving back home, she was an Advocacy Chair for the ACANSA Arts Festival Board of Directors. Now that she’s back in Mena, she has become one of the newest members of the Mena Art Gallery’s Board of Directors.

It only makes sense as Davis is an artistl. She owns and operates the art company Davisdrew, LLC. founded in 2018. She specializes in live event painting such as weddings and fundraisers and custom acrylic art. She describes an idyllic view and serenity of where she and her partner are having a new house built.

She may need a little of that peacefulness between the new home and she has a baby due on Apr. 13, but there is the slight possibility of the baby being born early as an expected wave of tourists visits the area for the 2024 Great Solar Eclipse, which would make it a memorable birth for certain.

The energetic Davis said she’ll be ready to be back to work sometime in June.

Amber Goodner

Amber Goodner is more than just a pretty face, she is also the owner of The Fair Lady Boutique, and co-owner at AmeriChemm, LLC. A 2009 graduate of Mena High School, she went on to graduate from The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) in 2013 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.

She moved outside of Nashville, Tennes-

see, doing a master’s program in business education.

Goodner said, “During those six months I was always dreaming of owning a clothing boutique. Fashion has always been a love of mine. It’s a way to express myself.

“I moved back home and started out in my dad’s building. Whenever the building on Mena Street opened up, it was about six months before I was able to move in.”

Although she did pageants at an early age, shewas into sports. “I did pageants until I was about probably 5 or 6. Then my dad got a hold of me. I was softball, basketball, volleyball, you name it, and I was playing all of the sports.

“I could’ve gone on to play college softball, but I chose not to. I wanted a different experience for my college career, so I joined a sorority, and I started competing in pageants again.

“I think that’s where my love for fashion came because I was able to design a lot of my own outfits that I was competing in, and I still get to do that to this day.

A select list of titles Goodner is proud of includes, “In 2020, I was the Royal International Miss. I took 2021 off, competed again in 2022 and won World Imperial Beauty Ms. My favorite trip from that year, we got to go to Jamaica and build a home for a family.

“I was the Polk County Fair Queen in 2008. My sister, Holly Cummins, won it two or three years after me. It used to be run by The Lady Ouachitas and they just got burned out. The pageant didn’t happen for probably three or four years. My sister and I were approached by some of the people on the fair board and asked… ‘Would you be interested in being the directors of this pageant for us?’” We were like ‘Yes, we would love to bring this back and offer this to our local girls so that they have the experience that we were able to.’”

The return of The Miss Polk County Pageant had success and had grown in size. “I think our largest year we had over 70 total contestants. This past year we had about 55.”

There’s also scholarship money to be had. “Last year, we gave out over $2,000 to the Miss contestants, which is ages 16-21.”

Contestants also must do a lot of community outreach.

“I’m the current Rotary Club president. I thought it would be fun to throw another good thing they could do if they wanted into the pageant this year — collecting non-perishable food items for the Rotary Club’s “Blessing Box” at the Polk County Court House. We collected close to 6,000 items.

Goodner is a two-time recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award and will be honored a third time this summer. The award recognizes U.S. citizens who volunteer to their communities. To date, she has served over 700 hours in the past twoand-a-half years. The majority of hours have been served in Polk County.

Rotary Club

Rotary does several fundraising events, including the popular Wheel A’ Mena Tour of the Mountain.

Goodner is on the board of the Polk County Single Parent Scholarship Fund. Pete Chambers was over the fund, which was through a different non-profit.

“They reached out to Rotary Club this past year and asked them to take it over. It’s separate from Rotary, but an organization you can serve in.”

She is part of the steering committee for Move Mena Forward that involves pedestrian and bicycle trails within town.

The Fair Lady Boutique

“My parents were very supportive. They actually helped me get it up and running. Her shop is women’s clothing for sizes XS-

3X. Goodner says she’s got something for everyone and that her boutique is not geared toward any particular age group, plus accessories such as purses, jewelry.

AmeriChemm, LLC

Goodner’s dad began AmeriChemm, LLC. It is a water and wastewater treatment chemical business that services all of Arkansas, including the wastewater plant for Mena, southern Missouri, and the eastern half of Oklahoma.

“We go in and help different cities, counties or whoever is treating the water to come up with the chemistry they need for their specific raw water that they’re using. We sell them the chemicals they’ll use to treat it so they can meet state and federal regulations.”

Goodner began helping in admin since 2018. Her dad has finally retired. She and her sister are now partners and co-owners of the company.

Both of their husbands are with the company. Wes Cummins is the operations manager.

Jacob Goodner is a CPA. He began in January to take care of all the admin office work while Amber deals with the operations, admin and the customers.

M.A.P.P.

Goodner was diagnosed with Melanoma at age 22. She had difficulty believing her being so young could have skin cancer.

“I have to go every year now for testing ever since.”

She started The Melanoma Awareness and Prevention Program (M.A.P.P.) to educate others. Partnering with the AIM at Melanoma Foundation, she was their 2019 honoree AIM at Melanoma Walk in Dallas.

She’s partnered with the non-profit Phil’s Friends. She’ll be going to their headquarters during spring break to volunteer in their Hope Center. They send care packages all over the U.S. to people fighting cancer. .

“On March 11, I’ll be with for 4-H in Polk County making fleece-tied blankets together for the care packages.

Her sister started Angelic Airbrush, a spray tanning business located inside Lipstick and Curls on Mena Street.

“I thought that was something that was kind of cool we share that she started because of what I went through.”

For anyone wanting to start a business, take over the reins of a business, or compete in pageants, Goodner has set the bar extremely high.

Alyssa Green

Alyssa Green is the coordinator for The CALL in Polk County, which was featured in the Jan. 10 issue of The Pulse. The organization assists foster families and children. They also help in reunification to bring a family back together.

The evening prior to this interview was the Mena/Polk County Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Banquet. The CALL was awarded the Non-Profit of the Year. Green was onstage with several of her volunteers to accept the award.

Green was also nominated for the Citizen of the Year award. “My friend Ravan [Wagner] won. I was so happy for her. I told her I voted for her. She’s done a lot for The CALL. Our sons are best friends, too.”

The organization had an open house in December 2023 and things have picked up.

“We’ve had lots of volunteers. We’ve had lots of people come in to help with visits. We got one of our fundraising coordinators back. We’ve had people coming in to organize our CALL Mall.”

Something mentioned on one of the nomination forms for Green is when they were considering the Polk County Chapter of The CALL, which she had been volunteering with for three years. She agreed to take over as a volunteer with no pay until they could get the chapter showing a profit. Later that year, they offered her a paid part-time position as director. Still, she spends some of her own money to keep it going and for her travel expenses.

Green said with a laugh, “I don’t speak about things like that. I just feel like that money belongs to God because I’m doing his work. I feel like most of the time putting that back into the ministry, keeping it thriving and building. That’s a good way to glorify God with it.

“I heard stories about my memaw living in the children’s home and all that transpired. Also, my dad is the baby of nine children. Some of his siblings were adopted out when he was growing up. I was exposed to a little bit of all of it hearing the stories. There were some pretty traumatic stories from my aunts and uncles that were adopted. It’s hard to hear growing up because these are the people that you love and respect and look up to. When you hear those things, it just kind of makes a place in your heart. I think that it really makes you have a weak spot for that.”

Heart Gallery

Green attends and volunteers at the larger conferences in the state where, she networks and advocates for children.

“We get to partner with Every Child Arkansas and things like Project Zero which is one of my favorite organizations in the state I am in.

“Project Zero is the adoptions specialist here in Arkansas. What they do is they work with all of the adoption specialist from each county’s DHS. They have something called a Heart Gallery and it’s a wall of children’s biographies up for adoption. We have about 300 in the state of Arkansas that are on the wall. Some of them have been there for years. It’s really nice to work with them and see the work they are doing because that number has been cut in half in the last couple years. They just really put out information on these kids who are needing homes and things like that.

One of Green’s best friends growing up was actually adopted by the Lyle family. Just hearing some of the things she had been through. She didn’t even really know herself or understand herself because she didn’t know her biological mom very well. It was hard to hear.

I have a very close relationship with my mother, and it really impacted me. I had my mom convinced for years I was

going to adopt all the babies. Everyone calls our house the Kool-Aid house because that’s where all the kids gathered.

“I think it was easier for me when I was younger and got into nursing. You start seeing the trauma. You see the other side of how people are.

“I think my eyes have been opened from both sides of things. I need to work on this side of it now, but it definitely changes your perspective on life to meet people where they’re at and you don’t understand why they have certain behaviors.

“Working with The CALL has been really cool because the conferences we go to have material that teaches us how to parent children or even adults that have been through trauma. I really enjoy that aspect of my job.”

“In high school I did I did my childcare credits with the completers program, so I worked in daycares. When I graduated, I got my CNA license, and I went to the college here to do that.

“Then after I got my CNA license, I went back to the college here and I have my nursing degree. I’ve been a nurse for 14 years.

“I’ve literally help deliver babies and I’ve literally worked with 105-year-old people. I’ve worked on every end of it, literally.

“I felt a tug on my heart a couple of years back. Nursing really wasn’t for me anymore as far as clinical nursing. I just felt like I couldn’t serve people the way God wanted me to. I had quit my job during COVID-19 and had to come home and homeschool my kids.”

She also works as a substitute teacher. Green has taken on something new

for her as an Independent Living Plan (ILP) sponsor that is operated by DHS.

“This is all new territory to me and the kid that I have. He’s great. He’s just aged out of care. He’s really just starting fresh, and he is so wonderful. He’s been such a joy to our family to be around.

“He’s really working on some life skills. The place he came from was hard. It’s not a background where people will really look at someone and give them a chance. It’s been heartbreaking to see people’s response to him to tell you the truth.”

As a sponsor, Green and the family are there to help their young man cope, teach him skills, help him to learn how to get a job, managing his budget and responsible payment or bills, etc. They take him to church.

“I wish more people would step up and do this for these kids.

“Right now, he’s working on his GED. I took him this week to apply for a few jobs. We’ve made some goals and talk him through them.

“He’s never really had a great male role model, so my husband, Daniel, will talk to him about guy stuff when they’re alone, like ‘Do you like the outdoors? Would you like to go fishing?’.”

She and her husband own 6G Construction business together. They have four children, oldest to youngest: Chelsey, Jayden, Nevaeh and Jase. If all that weren’t enough, Green is also a part of the National Nurses Honor Guard and a part of the Quality of Life team. “And then my kids play every sport under the sun. We’re constantly running a circle, but it’s good.”

Barbara Klutts

Barbara Klutts is probably recognized by many throughout the area. If not from her advertisements, she can be seen in businesses such as Walgreens, set up at a table to help people with obtaining insurance. She describes herself: “I’m an agent broker— I do Life and Health — one is an agent, and one is a broker.”

She started at Healthy Connections in 2013 as their community care liaison for healthcare for anybody needing insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

“I also organized all the events for Healthy Connections. I decided to become an agent and then get my license and go on my own in 2018.”

Anyone driving out of Mena on Highway 71 may have noticed recently that Klutts has a location in part of the Gilchrist Tractor building. She still has her office located on the wooded property she and her husband Preston own in the Cherry Hill area to accommodate those folks between Cherry Hill to Mount Ida. For clients that are in Hot Springs, she drives to their homes.

“Events at Walmart were during the annual enrollment period (AEP). They would allow us to set up a table where we could do enrollments. … Walmart has changed their rules, so we can’t go in there anymore. That’s the reason I opened an office in Mena for all my

Hatfield, Cove, and Grannis people.”

Understanding the healthcare market can be confusing, including when there is now Medicare parts A through D, and possibly an E. It can be difficult to know if you qualify. Her services are free. She gets paid if you choose a plan, but you aren’t paying her.

With the ever-changing laws and rules, Klutts has to stay on her game.

“I get recertified every year, so recertification for Medicare and recertification for the ACA, and the federal government. To sell Medicare, I’ve got to go through testing first and get recertified. I get three chances, and I have to get at least a 90% and it’s questions that play with your mind, so I’ve got to read the question. I think I have two hours to take the test of either 50 or 100 questions.

“After passing that, I have to get certified with every insurance company that I carry for all my Medicare clients, which is med subs to prescription drugs to Advantage. I’ve got to get recertified for all of those and then go from there. It’s not just one company, it’s all of the companies.

“ACA I also get recertified for that too. It’s a little easier because I’ve been doing it so many years.

Klutts uses the marketing firms Healthquest Insurance Inc. or Drennan Insurance Marketing, which assist independent brokers. Among their many services, they act almost like legal counsel for agents. Integrity is out of Texas, and they have purchased Drennan. With Medicare we have to follow all the guidelines.

Klutts would also go down when ARVAC would distribute food commodities. She’d visit with people waiting for their commodities.

“I would bring bags in the summertime or winter time full of water, my information, and a snack, because 164 people on Wednesdays that have to qualify for ARVAC sit in line. It might be 90 to 100 degrees, or it might be 32 degrees.”

In her spare time, she enjoys camping, fishing and hunting —rifle and crossbow — as well as getting online to interact with her new grandson Miller.

Nina Moore

Nina Moore is vice president of retail at Union Bank, working out of the Mena location. She’s a transplant from Texas who fell in love with her husband Frank’s hometown. They moved here with their children 31 years ago. Frank has Moore Transportation and 71 Diesel. They’ve been married 41 years. “I took one year off. I had 3-year-old

twins, Steven and Jason,” Moore said. “As soon as they started preschool, I started working here in 1994.” She’s been at Union almost 30 years.

She first worked at a law firm in Texas. “I was a financial assistant for 11 years. I started there in high school and worked my way up to financial assistant. They don’t have financial assistants at the law firms here, so I chose something else. I came to the bank, and it’s been great.

“There’s a lot more customer service, which I found liked because I was very shy.”

At Union, she began in bookkeeping, then new accounts (1996), assistant vice president and security officer (2008), and then she was named vice president (2019) and is still the security officer.

“I don’t work with many customers anymore in my role, but when I was working with customers on a daily basis the challenge was trying to figure out their problems and making them happy.

Moore said one of the things she enjoys most is speaking to customers. “When you’re done with your work, and you can just have a conversation and

get to know them. … I’ve made several close acquaintances.”

Volunteering

Union Bank contributes a lot to the communities they serve, including volunteer work, such as working the concession stands at sporting events.

“My kids went to Acorn schools. My twins are now 34, so it was a long time ago. Whenever Acorn needs something, they always reach out to me because I’m one of the Acorn-ites as they call them here at the bank. I get a team together. We love working the concession stand there. We do Mena — it’s just a fun time.

“We do a lot with the Polk County Fair. We work in either the bank fair booth or we go watch the kids show the animals. We’re very proud of that.”

Moore has also served three times in the last 15 years on the Mena/Polk County Chamber of Commerce Board. Her term ended in December. She was treasurer for two years once in the previous terms. This past year she was treasurer once again.

Then there is the Backpack Program

through the Mena Lioness Lions Club.

“I love the Backpack Program and everything Lioness does, which a lot of it is the Backpack Program.” The program provides food for children who may be food insecure.

Moore also spent nine years on the Acorn School Board.

She also helped with the Veterans Day lunch for several years.

“My father was in World War II, my husband was in the Army, and both of my boys. One is still in the Navy and the other one has gotten out of the Navy.

“Jason is married to Pamela, a Brazilian girl he met at the University of Arkansas, and we have a 19-month-old grandson that we just absolutely adore.

“Steven is stationed in Washington State. He intends the Navy to be his career, so he’ll spend his 20 years and decide what he wants to do there.”

Moore seems content with her work, her volunteering and the community.

“I’m proud to be part of the community. This is definitely different from how I was raised. So glad chose we chose to come here and raise our kids here.”

Naomi Ryals

Naomi Ryals is part of DLR Offroad and Rentals, along with her husband Daniel. Not long after they married, she began helping with his paperwork and finding him an accountant at the repair shop. They currently repair ATVs, UTVs and motorcycles.

Ryals said, “I’ve done a lot of business management and a lot of personal taxes, but on the level of our growth, we decided we needed to hire Allen Herod.

“I am co-owner with the rental part of it. They pretty much call me a manager. We did start the rental company together,

Ryals does a lot of networking, and it seemingly works. “We were up 76 percent last year and 60-something

percent the year before. The shop is really growing, and we want to focus on the tourism part of it. He just lets me go crazy with that. The shop is open Monday through Friday, but the rentals are 365.

Their goals include eventually having cabin rentals within five to 10 years. “We want to do the whole family adventure with cabin rentals on site, and eventually I want to do guided horseback rides up in the mountains.

Family

Her son Ash recently moved here from Baltimore. He is finishing up his GED and then plans to take college courses here while he works at DLR.

“He’s extremely intelligent, but he has epilepsy and that’s caused some complications. Daniel… can trust him to do stuff. It really puts a lot into ‘family owned and operated’ because it’s always ‘bring your kids to work day’ at DLR. Even if I’m home with the kids, I’ll come in around 11 or 12, do the paperwork, check the emails, make sure the orders went out, let the kids play a little bit and then I’ll go home.

“Every other week we have 50-50 custody with the kids. I go full-time mom to full-time business manager and owner.”

The rest of the family includes Owen, 8, and Lucy, 7, whom Ryals describes as her wild child.

“I keep up with three phones all of the time.” When her personal or shop phone rings, Owen leaves them be. When the rental phone rings, he finds the phone. “He knows my whole spiel…” and can imitate her voice.

Owen has a photographic memory, which comes in handy as he gives customers rates and other rental details until the customer is ready to be placed on the schedule for a rental, then he passes them off to his Omie. He doesn’t have a list to read from as Owen is blind.

Anytime there is a school party or anything going on like we want to do stuff for their classrooms. One thing that we do with the schools is every

year if the high school yearbook club comes in there, we always donate to their yearbook plan, or their prom or something like that.

Ryals describes herself as a professional student after having eight years of college. She’s just shy of having enough to obtain her bachelors. “I’m going to take business law here just because DLR’s just getting big, and I need to know things. I’m going to take some family law. I was actually studying Communications and Journalism. I was going to be a political journalist until I realized how bad that would be for me. I would be one of those journalists who gets assassinated because I told the truth.

“I am a very good writer. I took every class there is to do with English or World History. I used to tutor for History papers. One day I’m going to write a book about Owen and tell his story.”

Volunteering

Ryals volunteers with different things such as the Chamber of Commerce. “Anytime Melanie needs like a spur of the moment thing, she can call me, and I’ll make it work.

“I volunteer at the Feeding Hope Ministry at the Assembly of God church every second Thursday of the month. I help the administrators run the line to keep it moving smoothly and I do the paperwork. I’ve been doing that for eight or nine years now. I used to not miss it, but we’ve had so much going on at the shop. I still try not to miss two months in a row.

“I really enjoy the Feeding Hope Ministry because I’ve been on the other side of that line. I love helping the people that are just trying to get back on their feet. I love seeing people that have been through addiction get clean and just trying to get their family back right. Those people when they see me there, they know I’m not going to judge them right and I’m going to treat them nice.

When the KCS Polar Express train would come to the area, Ryals was an

official elf for Santa.

She sums it all up with, “I’m really I’m really good at managing chaos.”

She boasts of having a pretty good knowledge of mechanics, but Daniel does not want her in the back and covered with oil. Yet, they do have her detailing with the power washer and scrubbing off dirt and mud. She laughs because they don’t mind her getting wet or dirty.

They are also with a friend group of riders with the CMA. They are not current members, but they ride motorcycles with the local chapter. “We always promote their benefits. We donate to the Run for the Son.

“We also have a small off-road group that meets up at a certain trailhead. We’ll spend the day riding, and fellowshipping and we’ll bring our own lunch. We sometimes do the Toys for Tots with them.”

One other item on Ryals’ to-do list is getting her Outfitting and Guiding permit.

“There’s so much more we can do if I get my guiding license. I can charge people after that, but I just want to be able to legally do It. It’s not so much for the money. It’s more the fact that I can. I am really into conservation and doing things right. I love the woods and I love primitive camping. I want to be able to take people out here… You know it’s literally getting paid to do what you love to do.

“I love that people come to our state to enjoy what we call home, and I love showing them the places — like where we had our off-road wedding.”

Whether she’s caring for family, caring for customers or caring for the business, Ryalsseems ready to meet it all head on.

“In just three years, we have grown so much together, our business has grown, and our customers love us.”

DLR’s slogan is “An adventure to remember!”.

Presented by THE POLK

COUNTY PULSE

ACORN HIGH SCHOOL

Baseball

03/11 - Acorn @ Waldron

03/12 - Acorn @ Magazine

Softball

03/08 - Acorn @ Mount Ida

03/11 - Acorn @ Mansfield

03/12 - Acorn @ Magazine

--------------------

COSSATOT RIVER HIGH SCHOOL

Soccer

03/07 - CRSD @ De Queen

03/11 - Arkansas High (Girls)

--------------------

MENA HIGH SCHOOL

Baseball

03/06 - Mena vs. Magnolia (Updated)

Soccer

03/07 - Mena vs. Malvern (Updated)

03/11 - Mena vs. De Queen

Softball

03/07 - Mena @ CRSD

03/11 - Mena @ Murfreesboro

Track

03/11 - Mena @ Booneville

--------------------

MT. IDA HIGH SCHOOL

Baseball

03/06 - Mount Ida @ Jessieville

03/09 - Mount Ida @ Magnet Cove

03/10 - Mount Ida vs. Waldron

Softball

03/06 - Mount Ida @ Jessieville

03/07 - Mount Ida vs. Centerpoint

03/09 - Mount Ida @ Magnet Cove

03/10 - Mount Ida @ Caddo Hills

--------------------

UA RICH MOUNTAIN

Baseball

03/07 - UARM vs. Arkansas State Mid-South

03/09 - UARM @ Arkansas State Mid-South

03/12 - UARM vs. Seminole State

Softball

03/07 - UARM vs. Western Oklahoma State College

03/09 - UARM @ SAU Tech

Post season ends for Acorn and Mount Ida UARM girls making program history

By Ethan Nahté

Last week closed out the hopes for both the Mount Ida and Acorn girls’ basketball teams. Both teams were the only two from the immediate area that advanced to the state tournaments. Although they did not advance to the championship round, both teams had a good run and a strong season.

Mount Ida played in the 1A State Basketball Tournament in the first round against Augusta on Thursday, Feb. 29, in which Mount Ida lost 6845.

Acorn

Scorebook Live’s list of Arkansas high school girls’ basketball top stars and best performances for the last week of February during the state tournaments included three Acorn Lady Tigers: Harlei McCourtney, Sophie Strasner and Daisy Dollar. All three girls are seniors.

The Lady Tigers beat Lavaca 60-43 in the first round of the 2A playoffs. McCourtney compiled a double-double, 13 points and 14 rebounds, in Acorn’s win. Strasner finished with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals against Lavaca.

Acorn advanced to the second round to take on Izard County Consolidated. Acorn put up a good fight, but fell short, losing by two points. Daisy Dollar put up a gamehigh 24 points in Acorn’s 71-69 loss to Izard County.

Quinn Johnson of Izard County also made the top performers list. The junior led the Lady Cougars with 30 points in their 77-55 win over Earle. She also put up 22 in the win over Acorn.

By Ethan Nahté

For the first time in program history, UARM Bucks Softball has been ranked in the NJCAA DII Softball Poll at No. 13 in the country two weeks straight.

The girls went 5-3 the previous week and had an overall record of 10-6 on the season. They began conference play last week.

They played at home last Thursday against Arkansas State - Newport, winning the game 9-1. Saturday, they played Arkansas State University - Mountain Home, and sent their opponent home with a pair of goose eggs as UARM swept Mountain Home 13-0 and 9-0. Their record is now 13-6.

UARM Baseball

The UARM Bucks men’s baseball team played National Park College (NPC) Nighthawks in a 10-inning game on Feb. 29, winning 5-2. They split the difference on Saturday as National Park came to Mena. The Bucks were tied 4-4 at the bottom of

the sixth. Neither team scored in the seventh. NPC scored a run in the top of the eighth. The Bucks could not answer and lost the first game.

The opening inning of game two did not look promising as the Nighthawks led with a 3-run homerun. By the bottom of the fourth, the Bucks trailed 4-2.

A fire was lit in the bottom of the fifth as the Bucks plated six runs, making it 8-4. NPC would plate one more in the seventh, but it wasn’t enough as UARM took the 8-5 victory and won the region series.

The Bucks play North Arkansas College at home Tuesday. First pitch is 2 p.m. at Union Bank Field. They’ll take on Arkansas State MidSouth at 2 on Thursday before traveling to Arkansas State Mid-South on Saturday for a doubleheader.

Currently, the team has a 4-15 overall record this season, but the season is still young. The final regular season game for UARM baseball is May 4.

Visit BucksAthletics.com for schedules and times.

Many scholarships available through ARCF

Submitted by Arkansas Community Foundation

Arkansas Community Foundation recently announced that scholarships are now available for Arkansas students.

Arkansas students that are pursuing education at two- or four-year colleges or universities, vocational schools or technical training programs can apply for the Community Foundation’s scholarships.

Community Foundation president and CEO Heather Larkin said, “Since 1976, the Community Foundation has partnered with individuals and organizations who want to support students in their pursuit of higher education.”

Scholarships with statewide eligibility include:

- Advancing Women in Transportation Scholarship, provides a scholarship to female students who plan to pursue a career in a transportation related field in Arkansas

- Anne Pressly Scholarship, to memorialize the legacy of Anne Pressly and support a graduating high school senior woman who plans to pursue a career in Journalism

- Arkansas Service Memorial Scholarship, for students who are children of Arkansans who lost their life in service in the state, nation or community

- Barbara Mashburn Memorial Scholarship, provides a scholarship for a graduate of an Arkansas high school pursuing an education as a vocalist

- East Student Scholarship, provides a scholarship to a graduating senior who attends any high school with an EAST program

- Elizabeth G. Redman Republican Party of Arkansas Scholarship, for students who are members of or

active in the Republican Party of Arkansas

- Herchel and Melba A. Fildes Scholarship, provides a scholarship to students studying nursing and attending Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas or Arkansas State University in Beebe

- Lillian McGillicuddy Republican Party of Arkansas Scholarship, for students who are members of the Arkansas Federation of Young Republicans or are active in the Republican Party of Arkansas

- Marie and Bob Marshall Republican Party of Arkansas Scholarship, for students who are members of or active in the Republican Party of Arkansas

- Merwin T. and Agnes Bowman Nursing Scholarship, for students seeking a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or equivalent degree from a qualified institution

- Poultry Federation Scholarship, provides scholarships to students pursuing a degree related to the poultry industry and attending a school in the University of Arkansas system, Arkansas State University system, Arkansas Tech University or Southern Arkansas University

- Robert P. Atkinson Hospital Leadership and Scholarship, provides a scholarship to students pursuing an advanced degree with an emphasis in healthcare and/or hospital administration

- Ryan Mondy D.A.S.H. Memorial Scholarship, provides scholarships to graduating seniors whose lives have been affected by cancer

For more information about these and other scholarships, visit www. arcf.org/ scholarships. Deadline for scholarships can be found on the application portal.

Robertson completes required hours for graduation

By Ethan Nahté

Finleigh Robertson of Mena is the first student out of the Class of 2027 to complete all 75 state-required community service hours that she will need to graduate. First Financial Bank donated a gift basket to recognize this achievement. According to the Arkansas Department of Education’s website for current ninth grade students, Arkansas Code Annotated §6-16-1901 states that “beginning with

(Submitted photo) the graduating class of 2026-2027, a public high school student shall complete a minimum of seventy-five (75) clock hours of documented community service in grades nine through twelve (9-12), as certified by the service agency or organization with which the public school student volunteers, in order to graduate.

There is no minimum community service hour requirement per grade level or a limit on the number of hours a student can earn towards the 75 hours in a year.

Scholarship offered by Rich Mountain Conservation District

Do you know someone who could use some extra money at college next year? Thinking about studying agriculture, environmental science, or conservation? Then listen up!

As part of a statewide education program, Rich Mountain Conservation District is offering a first place $1000 scholarship and a $500 second place scholarship for a local high school senior according to James Watkins, chairman of the district. As well as receiving the local district scholarship, the winner will be eligible to compete at both the area and state level. The Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts awards two scholarships ($1,000 and $500) based

on student’s essay.

The rules are simple, and the contest is open to all high school seniors with a minimum 2.5 grade point average who are Polk County residents and will follow a conservation or agriculture related course of study. Contest entries must be submitted by March 29, 2024, to the Rich Mountain Conservation District at 508 Seventh St., Mena, AR 71953.

High school counselors and FFA sponsors have entry forms and rules. Those interested should call the Rich Mountain Conservation District office at 479-437-6054 or come by 508 Seventh Street in Mena.

(L-R) Paula Jewell from First Financial Bank, Finleigh Robertson, Heather Lackey from First Financial Bank, and Ladatha Hobson, Community Service Learning Lead.

- SERVICES -

Mobile lawnmower repair and repair flats. Minimum, $20 service call. For details, call Bill Duff (479) 216-5204. T0306

Carter’s Excavating - Licensed Contractor: Heavy and light dozer work, heavy excavation, soft ground to rock excavation, heavy off-road hauling, road design and construction

50 years in trade, 40 years in area. Subsidiary of RCI Construction (479) 394-9227

T0306

Mena Shuttle - Ground transportation to AR and TX airports. Doctor and emergency appointments. Also, light deliveries. (870) 490-1191 T0327

Construction, steel buildings, welding, pads, ponds, roads, tree services, and mulching. Insured. Give RC Customz a call for free estimates at (479) 216-2976. T0430

Need your yard mowed? Free estimates. Referrals available. Call (479) 234-0509. Leave a message. T0710

Carter’s Excavating - Licensed Contractor: Roads, bridges, house pads, building pads, basements, land clearing, small lots to large tracks, ponds, stream crossings, farm roads, building demolition, site planning & prep.

50 years in trade, 40 years in area. Subsidiary of RCI Construction. (479) 394-9227

T0306

- FOR RENT -

Two-bedroom furnished home for rent, Opal, AR, area. $1,175 per month plus deposit.. Call. (214) 793-3313 T0313

- WANTED TO BUY -

Buying U.S. pre-65 silver coins. Paying 12 times face value. Also buying scrap gold, rings, teeth and coins. Come see me every Friday and Saturday at the Duke’s Junction

Flea Market-booth 78 from 9 a.m.to 3 p.m. Call during the week (479) 234-3409 T0306

- HELP WANTED -

F.M. Dix Foundry is accepting applications for general labor positions. Applications may be picked up at the office, located at 301 Maple Avenue in Mena, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Competitive starting wages with benefits available.

Notice to Applicants: Screening tests for alcohol and illegal drug use may be required before hiring and during your employment.

T0424

Brodix, Inc. is accepting applications for a technical/phone sales position.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, answering technical inquiries, providing product information and recommendations, troubleshooting with potential and current customers, and processing orders in a fastpaced office setting.

Parts, automotive, and computer experience would be helpful. Applications may be picked up at the Brodix office, located at 301 Maple in Mena, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Competitive starting wages with benefits available.

Notice to Applicants: Screening tests for alcohol and illegal drug use may be required before hiring and during your employment.

T0313

Brodix, Inc. is accepting applications for an experienced CNC Machine Operator. Applications may be picked up at the Brodix office, located at 301 Maple Avenue in Mena, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Competitive starting wages with benefits available.

Notice to Applicants: Screening tests for alcohol and illegal drug use may be required before hiring and during your employment.

T0424

Brodix, Inc. is accepting applications for general labor positions. Applications may be picked up at the Brodix office, located at 301 Maple Avenue in Mena, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Competitive starting wages with benefits available.

Notice to Applicants: Screening tests for alcohol and illegal drug use may be required before hiring and during your employment

T0424

Brodix, Inc. is accepting applications for an experienced TIG Welder/Manual Machinist for Cylinder Head Repair. This is for a permanent day shift position. The applicant must be proficient in welding aluminum and have manual machining experience. Applications may be picked up at the Brodix office, located at 301 Maple Avenue in Mena, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Competitive starting wages with benefits available.

Notice to Applicants: Screening tests for alcohol and illegal drug use may be required before hiring and during your employment. T0327

The Polk County Democrats will meet on March 11 at Papa’s Mexican Cafe, 1317 Hwy. 71 South, Mena. Come early to eat and socialize for the meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Any questions call Linda Johnson at (479) 234-7966. Bring a friend.

The Lioness’ will be selling pulled-pork sandwiches, bag chips, a cookie and water for $10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., March 15, at First United Methodist Church in Mena. The proceeds go to the Backpack Program. Call or text to preorder (479) 234-1351 or 234-1138. Delivery is available for orders of 10 or more.

GriefShare at First Presbyterian Church Mena meet every Wednesday at 1 p.m. for anyone in the community who is grieving the loss of a loved one.

Women for Jesus Group meeting for monthly prayer and study. Everyone welcome. The meeting for March will be Tuesday, March 12 at Dallas Avenue Baptist Church in Mena, Arkansas, at 6 p.m. Food will be provided. Bring Bible. For more information call Dr. Cynthia Perkins at (918) 429-8538.

GriefShare at The Crossing in Mena meets every Thursday from 6-8 p.m. for anyone in the community who is grieving the loss of a loved one.

The Polk County Social Seniors will meet at noon on March 12 at Papa’s Mexican Cafe, 1317 Hwy. 71 South, Bring a friend or two to socialize and eat to meet new friends. Any questions? Call Linda Johnson at (956) 241-2633.

Christ’s Church of Cove, 5234 Hwy. 71 S, Cove gathers every Tuesday, 8:30-9:30 a.m., for free coffee and conversation.

The Polk County Disabled American Veterans and Auxiliary will be holding

Around Town

their monthly meeting on Thursday, March 7, at Veterans Park in Acorn. A potluck will be served at 6 p.m. with meeting to follow.

The Food Pantry at the Mena Seventh Day Adventist Church is open every first and third Monday of each month, 4-6 p.m., located at Fair Grounds Road. For more information, call (479) 437-4018.

Country, Western, gospel singing and music in the Daisy Room (behind Janssen Ave. Florists), 800 Janssen Ave., Mena, 6:309:30 p.m. every Thursday. Free event. Bring finger food. For information call Lloyd Knight (479) 234-3547.

First Presbyterian Church will be presenting a series on the Book of Revelation in its Adult Sunday School class on Sunday mornings beginning at 9:45. Earl Harrell will be the presenter and will focus on the titles of Jesus as revealed in the Book of Revelation. The public is invited to attend. Classes will be in the Helen Barham Room at the church, 904 Church Avenue, Mena.

Join the Ouachita Beekeepers Association on the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. (new time) in the Education Building of the Polk County Extension Office, 211 DeQueen St., Mena. Enjoy bee education, door prizes, and socialization with other beekeepers. Contact: Tommy Payne (903) 5214611.

Jam session every Tuesday night, 6-9 p.m. at Shady Mountain Events, 428 Hwy. 375 East, Mena. No charge, everyone is welcome. All genres of music. Bring your own instrument, come watch or dance. Call (479) 234-7174 with questions.

The Back Country Extension Homemakers Club meets the second Friday of each month at 1 p.m. at the UA Ex-

tension’s Education Building, 211 DeQueen St., Mena. We are a service organization affiliated with UA’s Division of Agriculture with a mission to have fun and learn new things while enriching our community and creating a more contented family life. We believe the greatest force that molds character comes from the home.

Come join new friends and old as we together grow. For more info, contact Ginger at Gingerkm@protonmail.com.

The Polk County Housing Authority has Rental Vouchers available. They are also in need of Applicants and Landlords. Contact them at 509 S. Morrow, Mena, (479) 394-1565 or polkarhousing.com.

Hatfield First Baptist Church “Shepherd’s Closet” Open Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-noon. Large selection of good, used clothing & a limited supply of non-perishable food items. Free to anyone in need.

Narcotics Anonymous meet at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Monday, noon - 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 7 p.m. on Thursday, 7 p.m. on Friday, and 6 p.m. on Saturday at the old bus barn at The Crossing church. For information call Erica at (479) 234-5289 or Candice at (501) 356-8300.

The Hatfield Branch Library is open every Tuesday and Friday from noon-4 p.m. The library is located at 121 Cemetery Rd. (old Agri building) in Hatfield.

Alcoholics Anonymous meet at The Crossing Church, 3 p.m., Sundays; at 5 p.m., Tuesdays; and at 8 p.m. Saturdays at the old bus barn. For information call (479) 2348366 or (479) 216-3786.

The Mena/Polk County Senior Center will have The Gator and Friends band performing in Mena every Thursday, 10:3011:30 a.m.

The Center has an exercise class on Mondays and Thursdays, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Contact Trena Looney with questions, (479) 394-5459.

The Cove Branch Library is open Monday and Thursday from noon-5 p.m. The Library is located next to Cove Town Hall at 5568 Hwy. 71 S.

The Cossatot Senior Center in Wickes has meals and activities for seniors.The hours are 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Tuesday-Friday. If you need to make delivery arrangements or changes call (870) 385-2373.

American Legion meets every 2nd Tuesday at the Legion Hall in Acorn. Potluck at 6 p.m., meeting follows.

Come play Bingo, Saturdays and Mondays, starts at 6 p.m., doors open at 4 p.m.

Reynolds Gardner Community Men’s Breakfast every Tuesday, First United Methodist Church, Mena, 8 a.m. (full breakfast for small donation). All men from the community are invited to attend.

Alcoholics Anonymous meet at 7 p.m. Fridays at the First United Methodist Church, Ninth Street and Port Arthur. Discussion/Book Study for information call (479) 243-0297.

It’s easy to have your event listed in Around Town, which will be read on radio stations KENA and KQOR daily. Simply send your Around Town announcement to news@mypulsenews.com or call (479) 2439600 and let us know about your event! To have it in the Polk County Pulse newspaper, we need to know by FIVE on FRIDAY. We look forward to continuing to serve the community!

The following information was received from Polk County law enforcement agencies. The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts. Individuals charged and whose names appear in this column may submit documentation to us at a later date that the charges have been dismissed, or that they have been found innocent, and we will include that information in this space in a timely manner.

POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S LOG

February 26, 2024

Deputies responded to a walk-in complainant in reference to a theft.

Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Polk 13 near Wickes in reference to a trespasser.

A traffic stop on Hwy 71 S near Potter led to the arrest of Ryan Bartlett, 36, of Vandervoort on charges of DWI and Driving Left of Center.

February 27, 2024

Kenneth Compagna, 62, of Hot Springs was arrested on a Failure to Appear Warrant.

Deputies were dispatched to an incident at a residence on Polk 87 near Ink leading to the arrest of Shawnna Morris, 27, of Mena on a charge of Disorderly Conduct.

February 28, 2024

Joshua McRae, 36, of Bella Vista was arrested by an officer with the Grannis Police Department on charges of DWI, Driving on a Suspended DL, Violation Ignition Interlock Device, and on a Parole Hold.

February 29, 2024

Deputies responded to a walk-in complainant in reference to a scam.

Scotty Swift, 39, of Grannis was arrested on a charge of Rape.

A report of a reckless driver on

Hwy 8 W near Mena led to the arrest of Dennis Heiskill, 38, of Mena on charges of DWI, Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test, Driving Left of Center, Careless and Prohibited Driving, and Driving on a Suspended DL.

Curtis Womack, 61, of Hatfield was arrested on a warrant for Disorderly Conduct.

March 1, 2024

Deputies responded to a walk-in complainant in reference to a theft of property by deception.

Deputies responded to a report of a theft from a residence on Hwy 8 W near Mena.

Jozie Baugh, 44, of Whitesboro was arrested by an officer with Probation Parole to be held for another agency.

March 2, 2024

A traffic stop on Hwy 71 S near Mena led to the arrest of Joshua Bolton, 46, of Mena on a charge of Failure to Appear.

March 3, 2024

Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Polk 136 near Cove in reference to an unattended death.

Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Polk 28 near Hatfield in reference to harassment.

Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Polk 87 near Ink in reference to a verbal dispute.

Mark Birtcher, 56, of Mena was arrested on charges of Driving on

a Suspended DL, Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Liability Insurance, and Fictitious Tags.

James Smith III, 20, of Cove was arrested on a warrant for Theft by Receiving.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office worked 0 vehicle accidents this week.

Polk County Detention Center

Jail Population: 48 Incarcerated Inmates with 16 Inmates currently on the Waiting List for a State Facility.

MENA POLICE REPORTS

February 25

Christopher Thomas, 34, was served with warrants at Walmart. Colton Ward, 28, was charged with DWI and Possession of Marijuana after a traffic stop on Highway 71.

Vicki Beck, 63, was served with warrants at the airport.

February 26

Anthony Martinez, 19, was served with a warrant after a traffic stop on Mena Street.

February 27

A report of domestic battery was taken from a walk-in complainant.

February 28

No report.

February 29

No report.

March 1

Charles Solo, 51, was charged

with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Misdemeanor), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Felony), Possession of Schedule VI Controlled Substance, Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance. And served with a warrant at a residence on Bethesda Road.

Jennifer Solo, 46, was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Misdemeanor), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Felony), Possession of Schedule VI Controlled Substance, A Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance, and served with warrants at a residence on Bethesda Road.

A report of theft was taken from a walk-in complainant.

Fredrick Harder, 31, was charged with Terroristic Threatening and Disorderly Conduct at Mena Regional Health System.

March 2

A report of theft of motor fuel was taken at Murphy USA.

A report of dog running at large was taken at Executive Inn.

James Jewell, 33, and Jason Morris, 39, were served with warrants after a traffic stop on Highway 71.

Richard Fox, 62, and April Scroggins, 41, were served with warrants after contact on Highway 8 East.

Shelley Staggs

Shelley Staggs is the district treasure for the Ouachita River School District (ORSD). Although the district is comprised of the Acorn and Oden schools, which are 30 miles distant of one another, Staggs works in the administration building on the Acorn campus but handles the responsibilities for both of the K-12 campuses.

The campus sits below the mountains with half of the sprawling property surrounded by trees while ball fields and a track and field take up most of the southern side. Staggs enjoys the view and tranquility of the campus.

Staggs has served as the district treasurer for eight years. She leads and supervises a staff team in a key role for the district’s fiscal and human resources operations.

“I work really closely with Mr. Strasner on the budget and financials,” Staggs said of her working relationship with ORSD Superintendent Jerrall Strasner. “I also do all of the HR type stuff. I have a lady that runs payroll, but we work together on that end of it. We have a lot that goes on in this office.

“I also work on child nutrition, which does the food service. We have a director that’s in our staff, Sydney Strother. That’s currently the way we run that. She manages two cafeterias: Acorn

campus and Oden campus. She has a nutrition background, but she also teaches so she’s halftime director and halftime teacher. She teaches FCCLA on the Oden campus. Her background is very similar to Mindy Lyle’s in that she teaches nutrition and all that kind of stuff so she’s very familiar with it.”

Staggs handles the financial side of it and the reporting to the Child Nutrition Unit on how many meals they’ve served and other reports. Around the nation, there’s been a lot of talk lately with families trying to keep up with the payments for their child’s school meals.

Staggs replied, “We don’t have that issue here. I know that statewide that’s an issue, but here we do pretty well with that, so we don’t have a problem. I think it’s in part with the way we work with parents; the way we interact with our parents. We do try to stay on top of those outstanding lunches and accounts. The parents know we’re gonna try and collect that. They work really well with us. We don’t have any issue whatsoever.”

Another important aspect of her job is insurance for the staff. She mainly deals with the staff and their needs, taking care of them to make sure they have what they need — the benefits and helps Strasner to ensure they have the funds to do what they need to do. Her leadership, experience and expertise have led to automation of the audit processes and knowledge of public and private insurance has benefitted health services for staff and families.

“I have a 24-year background in banking, so that’s going to help me quite a bit. Some of the products that we offer for our employees, like annuities, I am more familiar with that stuff to help them and guide them in a direction. We have tried to do a lot of stuff automated, which helps them a lot so they’re not having to manually do a lot of their benefits.

Staggs was not planning on going into banking. Despite having no degree, she has done well for herself.

“I started out as a safety depos-

it box person and worked my way up to a mortgaging and consumer lender. I started at Bank of Waldron, went to Charleston, and ended up in Fort Smith.”

Staggs is from Mena and grew up here. Her husband Danny is from Waldron. He got a job and they moved to Fort Smith.

While in Fort Smith, she worked at what was at that time Superior Federal Bank. Then they got bought out by Arvest. “I worked there 18 years a loan assistant and then worked up to mortgage and consumer lender.

“I went to college one year and that was it. I took Accounting 1 and 2. I was very interested in that kind of stuff, but that direction didn’t go until later on in my life. I really wasn’t looking for that kind of job, but it was offered to me. I actually worked for a newspaper at that time. I was selling adds to the bank in Waldron. That’s how I got my job in banking. It was good. Once I got in there, I really enjoyed it for a long time.

“God just opened those doors for me.

I got into a field that I never thought I’d be in. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was married and trying to find a job. God just opened those doors, and we were able to step through them.

“When that time was over, I went into banking and that brought me here. I love it here. I worked at the tower at Fort Smith and then went to Paris and worked there for almost eight years. I left there and came to Mena. I worked at Arvest in Mena. Then I left and came here.”

When they moved to Mena, her parents were living here. “They were older, and they needed some help. So again, God just opened those doors. I was able to move from Paris Arvest to down here and work at Arvest here. It was good because my parents were older, and my husband’s parents were older.”

Staggs has two sons: Shawn, 33, and Joshua, 25. “My youngest was into baseball, archery, and trap shooting. He is a pastor at Hon Baptist Church in Waldron. He and his wife Alexandra

live in Mena.

“Shawn is going to college in the Eureka Springs area right now for HVAC for air conditioning and stuff like that.

“I just enjoy it out here. It’s like one big family and we all take care of each other. What I was hired to do is take care of the staff so they can take care of the students.

“Someone told me this position was open, so I applied. My youngest was a junior at the time. I just felt like I needed more time with him and my family. And there were some law changes happening in banking. I enjoy it out here. It’s a lot different than banking, but different stresses. the district treasurer does have similarities to banking, but then it also is totally different. School finance is totally different.

“Mr. Strasner does a good job out here to run our school financially sound. It makes my job easy. There are some stresses with stuff, but it’s all good.”

“My staff makes it very easy. I’ve got a really good staff that takes pride in their job and do a very good job. You can’t ask for anything better, which makes my job look easy. I have three people that work for me. All three of them do multiple jobs because we’re a small school district, but they do a fabulous job.”

The farm

When Staggs isn’t crunching numbers and taking care of the ORSD staff, she spends her free time on the farm or taking time to do some reading.

“I usually leave here and go home to the farm. We raise our own beef, so we usually process the beef. It’s just been kind of a hobby for us. Most of our cows have been there forever. We sell our bulls but that’s about it. My husband pretty much runs the farm.”

“We like to travel and camp. I enjoy sitting on the front porch and enjoying the country life. We enjoy it out where we live, so we are usually at home.”

Ariel Varner

By Ethan Nahté

The Pulse Multi-Media staff does not enter a nomination for Women in Business. Regardless,we wanted to acknowledge the hard work by office manager Ariel Varner.

Varner began at Pulse Multi-Media near the end of Sept. 2021 as the receptionist. It didn’t take her long to get into the swing of things, and there’s much more to her position than answering phones and assisting walk-in customers by taking their information for classified ads, obituaries, or tracking down answers regarding an invoice. She works closely with the home office to handle some of the duties for accounts payable and accounts receivable, making deposits, and lots of filing… including important filing in a very short turnaround time with the FCC when certain types of radio advertising require such paperwork.

Varner does not have a business background, but she does have an associate degree in liberal arts and she also holds a current cosmetology license.

She is also very creative, having performed in school plays and musicals, as well as singing opera. She once sang with her class onstage at Carnegie Hall.

She enjoys painting on anything and

everything. During her time at The Pulse, she’s painted on canvas, denim jackets, rocks, and vinyl LPs and 45s.

A mother of two, she encourages her children to be creative, as well. Her “wildflowers” (sometimes “chickens”) as she calls them, like to color, draw, and paint. This past year the three of them got into showing animals through their 4-H group. Both Soni (10) and Daisy (5) took home seven ribbons apiece in their first year showing their chickens and rabbits at the Polk County Fair.

Varner, not afraid to take on a challenge, built the coops and cages by hand all on her own.

She not only manages her career and the children, but her household also consists of her mother and her nana. It makes for hectic moments at times, yet somehow, they manage to maintain the peace and keep their sanity between home, school, and our office. It’s comparable to a controlled chaos, especially as one of her children has some special needs that includes autism.

In addition, she likes to ride Harley-Davidsons with her dad, who she also helps out once or twice a week with cooking and cleaning. The woman stays very busy.

At the office, she soon added more duties assisting the general manager, Ashley Moore, then Jamie Hammack, making her more of an administrative assistant. She is responsible for the social media advertising on both the Pulse and the Ouachita Broadcasting-Mena Radio Facebook pages. She helps with placing some of the news and events on Facebook, too. Some of that experience was part of her former job as an assistant manager at Mena Silver Screen where she handled all advertising amongst her many duties.

Varner had similar duties while working at Gabriel Clothing Co. by coordinating advertising campaigns, sales promotions, preparing ad copy and merchandise displays. She also took over the coordination and supervision of the drivers, inserters and routes for delivering 8,000 copies of The Polk County Pulse to over 200 locations. Keeping track of the de-

livery vehicles maintenance is another constant.

She began taking on more clients for business advertisements. That role fluctuates, requiring her assistance during periods the company was seeking new sales executives. Varner handles the Thrifty Thursday sales and many of the advertisements for our Church page and other religious promotions.

Speaking of church, Varner has been a volunteer for church fundraisers, Vacation Bible School, and other church youth programs.

The summer of 2022, she took on the additional role of being a co-host on Wake up With Trey. Varner already had some experience as a sound operator and handling the livestreaming at Mena First Assembly of God. This led to her also assisting during live broadcasts at events such as the health fairs or a grand opening, and co-hosting Swap Shop in the morning and afternoon. The morning show didn’t last but a few months, but Varner kept doing Swap Shop, taking over the morning spot on her own. She had to learn

how to use the mixing boards and software to transition from satellite to live broadcasts.

The experience gave Varner more confidence. She began writing, voicing and producing radio spots for clients. That included learning to operate Adobe Audition software to record and edit. She assists clients on occasion that come in to record their own radio spots or religious programming.

Many customers who have never met her walk in the front door and hear her speak. It’s not uncommon to hear a customer say, “Your voice sounds familiar.” When they discover she’s The Swap Shop Lady, they complement her on how much they enjoy listening to her.

Although the tight deadlines and multiple hats many of the staff wear around here can get stressful at times, it’s rare to not see Varner smiling or joking about something. The overall consensus is we think we’ll keep her and she has to give a two-year notice if she ever decides to leave.

STAY ALERT. STAY INFORMED. STAY SAFE.