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EDITOR’S LETTER

The word, “fad” can be defined as an intense and widely shared enthusiasm for something, especially one that is short-lived and without basis in the object’s qualities – a craze. In short, it’s something that quickly becomes popular and then disappears as fast as it came. Fads can be tied to all sorts of things: clothing, hairstyles, toys, dances, etc. I mean who can forget shoulder pads, perms, beanie babies, and the Macarena?

With all the different fads that come and go, the one that I have the most trouble getting behind is a fad diet. Nobody wants his or her long-term health to be dependent on a trend that disappears as fast as a boy band. But these diets have been popping up for centuries. In the early 1900’s Horace Fletcher came up with the “chewing craze” diet, insisting that you could eat as much as you like as long as you chewed each mouthful a minimum of 100 times.

Over the next 100+ years, there have been an endless variety of weight loss wonders that have gained traction. More recently, options such as the South Beach Diet, Weight Watchers, Atkins Diet, and Paleo Diet have risen in popularity. Many dieters have tried them all in search of a rapid weight loss “quick-fix” that doesn’t require them to exercise. Just as many find it difficult to continue eating a restricted diet for a lifetime.

Now it’s time for my moment of truth. I recently tried the Keto diet in preparation for our family’s trip to the beach. The Keto diet is a very low-carb, high-fat diet that works by putting your body into a metabolic state called ketosis which makes it more efficient at burning fat for energy. Let me say this, for a guy whose favorite foods are chips, bread, and pretty much any desert under the sun, it was a daunting task to stay on this diet. The good news is that after eight weeks I lost almost 15 pounds. The bad news is that after my strict new “beach diet” consisting of fried foods and ice cream, I gained the majority of the weight back in just a fraction of the time.

Regardless of how we choose to do it, we should make it our goal to be the healthiest version of ourselves. Our community offers a vast range of fitness options that can make sure our quest for a healthier lifestyle isn’t just another fad!

Your town. Your Life. Your Magazine.

2019 Volume 12, Issue 5

PUBLISHER & EDITOR Josh Elrod

jelrod@ignite-mediagroup.com

ART DIRECTOR Krystal Neuhofel krystal@salinecountylifestyles.com

CONTRIBUTORS Contributing Writers Carrie Amox Keith Brooks Carolyn Buckner Ed Buckner Cody Calhoun Charles Crowson Brent Davis Justin Elrod Jillian Jacuzzi Ashley Leopoulos Nate Olson Dr. James W. Robb Contributing Photographer Lela & Lyla Photography

IDEAS/COMMENTS If you have a story idea or comment, please email us at: feedback@salinecountylifestyles.com

ADVERTISING

JOSH ELROD Publisher & Editor

If you are interested in advertising in Saline County Lifestyles please email us at: info@ignite-mediagroup.com Saline County Lifestyles is published by:

Ignite Media Group P.O. Box 861 Bryant, AR 72089 www.salinecountylifestyles.com Articles should not be considered specific advice as circumstances vary per individual. Advertised products and/or services are not necessarily endorsed by Ignite Media Group.

2 • Saline County Lifestyles

CONTENTS OLD FASHIONED DAY

NOTES FROM DR SAM

WEATHER UPDATE

04 07 08

ANYTIME FITNESS.................10 FULL OUT BARRE...................14 HOTWORX.............................18 LEGACY ATHLETICS...............22 McCLURE FITNESS................26

32 34 36 38 40 42

HEALTH & WELLNESS EVENT

HEALTH UPDATE

SERVING OUR HEROES

MyFarmers.Bank

INSURANCE INSIGHT

FAITH FOCUS

THE TALE OF THREE JOGGERS

Saline County Lifestyles • 3

MAKING

OLD FASHIONED DAY NEW AGAIN NEW A GA IN

With the popular Third Thursday outing and up-and-coming businesses going strong, historic downtown Benton is hopping. It’s a place for citizens and business owners alike to take pride in all year long. From long-standing events like the lighting of the courthouse to the Saline County Fair parade and Spook City, downtown Benton is a place that musters up memories for the older generations and creates new ones for the younger. It’s these time-honored traditions that have paved the way for newer events like Third Thursday.

“This festival is such a sweet time for families and friends to shop, visit and enjoy the launching of the fall season.”

One such trailblazing event is Old Fashioned Day. “The excitement of Third Thursdays will hopefully carry over to this event,” says organizer Cheryl Farmer. “It will be similar to Third Thursday but will be all day and evening.”

4 • Saline County Lifestyles

Old Fashioned Day has been around for decades—45 years to be exact. It’s the oldest festival in Benton. And with the old comes some new. To shake things up a bit, the zombie parade and coffin races will return like last year during the evening portion of the event. People may get their makeup done to look like zombies, and participate in the parade. A street dance will follow.

The festivities kick off at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, and take place around the courthouse square.

Vendors don’t have to shut down when the sun sets and have the option of keeping their booths open into the evening if they choose, Cheryl says.

“This year, we are trying to bring back more arts and crafts booths, like it was in years gone by,” Cheryl says. “This festival is such a sweet time for families and friends to shop, visit and enjoy the launching of the fall season.”

Included in the festivities are food trucks and a beer garden; live entertainment, such as music and local dance studio performances; and a children’s area with bouncy houses and other activities on the courthouse lawn. The Saline County Quilt Guild will be raffling its annual quilt to benefit the quilt guild. Even a knifemaker will be on hand to demonstrate how to

make knives. In addition, the historic Shoppach House on Main Street will be open for visitors.

Proceeds from the festival benefit the Benton Senior Wellness Center.

They use the proceeds to help feed those in need, and to provide programs to entertain and foster

the independence and well-being of the local older population. “It allows for more opportunities of social interaction and basic support and needs services,” Cheryl says.

This event provides much-needed funds for the senior center, Cheryl adds. “People are living longer than ever, and this center provides socialization that they otherwise may not have. It enhances their lives.

But it takes funds to keep the center going, and they rely on this event to help continue their services.”

In an effort to make the event bigger than last year’s festivities and establish a base for future growth, participation will be more affordable to attract more vendors. Booth space is now available for $50, and volunteers will help unload and park vendors’ cars.

“This festival is such atosweet “We are working be a hospitable time for families friendsmore crafts, and atmosphereand to attract to shop, visit and enjoy the people trying to sell their wares. It’s a launching of the fall season.” good opportunity for people to come and shop and get ready for the season,” Cheryl says. “Hopefully, after this year, the event will get better and better.”

Time slots for entertainers are also available. The stage will be set up between Cleo’s Furniture and the federal building on Main Street.

Old Fashioned Day provides a good opportunity for entertainers

to be heard, from the budding artist to the more well-known, Cheryl says. Participation is free.

Other activities are taking place in connection to Old Fashioned Day. That morning, a pancake breakfast hosted by the American Legion will take place at the Republican building on Market Street and a 5K hosted by the Royal Players begins at the River Center to benefit the Royal Theatre. Retail stores and businesses that are normally open on Saturdays will be open that day as well.

After being a small part of the event last year, Cheryl, whose husband Tom Farmer was elected mayor of Benton last year, says she wanted to get more involved to see it grow and get back the same greatness it once had.

“Third Thursdays have been a big hit, but they stop in September,” Cheryl says. “They won’t return until May, so Old Fashioned Day gives us an opportunity to stretch the popular Third Thursday vibe into October.”

Cheryl encourages more vendors and entertainers to contact her to be part of the long-standing Benton tradition that Old Fashioned Day is.

She may be contacted at cjanefarmer@ gmail.com or 501-590-6192, if you need to reserve a space or want to find out more information.  Jillian Jacuzzi

Saline County Lifestyles • 5

FAMILY

Lifestyle

6 • Saline County Lifestyles

Good Day, I hope this note finds you well.

Embedded deep in our psyche is the drive to “live long and prosper.”

The idea of a long, happy, fulfilled life surrounded by family and friends is a dream shared by people of every station in life. Snake oil salesmen of all stripes have feasted at this trough of human desire with promises of virility, happiness and long life since the beginning of time. Throughout history, one charlatan after another has preyed upon mankind, contending that they have the “secret” to a life without illness or pain.

Well, I have a secret for you, and it’s simple: There is no secret.

There is no potion or elixir, no magic pill, no surgery that will cure all your ills. There is no silver bullet that will cut to the heart of every problem you have. There is no shiny stone you can stick under your pillow while you sleep to cause you to shed pounds painlessly. There is no mechanical contraption you set in the corner of your den and watch gather dust while you turn into a super model.

Don’t misunderstand, there are many things you can do to ‘live long and prosper’ but they aren’t secret or new. They are:

Begin by assuming that you are responsible for your own health, because you are.

Surround yourself with family and friends whom you love and who love you and don’t ever let them go.

Start exercising today and don’t ever stop. No single form of exercise is perfect for everyone: find something you enjoy and do it every day.

- Eat a good diet that is low in simple sugar, fat, salt and alcohol. Eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates and modest amounts of low-fat protein.

- Be generous and kind with yourself and get adequate rest and relaxation.

- Learn to reduce the level of stress in your life and find a way to effectively manage the remainder.

- Do not use tobacco, do not use tobacco, do not use tobacco.

- If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.

- Strive to stay physically, intellectually, and emotionally active until the day you die.

Not matter how old or young you are, fill your days with something that you find gratifying and fulfilling.

Illness will come in life, it is the nature of life; deal with it early, then repeat the first ten items.

Pursue the spiritual side of your nature, however you understand it.

These are the elements that form the basis of a long, happy, productive life.

It’s difficult to argue with any of the points above; they are simple, clear, straightforward and not especially complex. For once in history, the hope of a long life is no longer a pipe dream. The death rate from heart disease and stroke is dropping like a rock and we are making great strides with all the common cancers. With longer life, it becomes more important that we focus on health and wellness.

Not only will you live longer, you will have a better quality of life, you will feel better and be more productive.

Have a good journey, Sam Dr. Sam Taggart is a retired doctor/ writer/ marathon runner in practice in Benton for the last 35 years. He recently published The Public’s Health: A narrative history of health and disease in Arkansas, published by the Arkansas Times.

His two other books, With a Heavy Heart and We All Hear Voices are available at your local booksellers or online at Amazon.com.

Saline County Lifestyles • 7

8 • Saline County Lifestyles

URBAN

Lifestyle

WEATHER WATCH The Right Weather for The Hunt

By Ed Buckner, THV11 Chief Meteorologist

A successful hunt usually includes perfect weather. As hunters know, and as they tell me all the time, they need the temperature, wind, pressure and moon phase all in perfect agreement. It rarely happens that way—but when it does, I can’t be blamed, and the hunt is all on them.

According to Trey Reid with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, there are so many variables to consider when it comes to hunting success, that it’s hard to pinpoint precisely how one type of weather or another affects a game, whether animal or fish. Predicting animal behavior is a lot like predicting the weather: we can make some very educated guesses based on things we know and how they’ve behaved in the past, but it’s still a difficult endeavor with no absolute certainty, because it’s part of a natural process that we can’t control.

Barometric Pressure: Barometric pressure is a factor that hunters may often overlook because it’s not something we can see. Some observational data seem to point to a moving barometer (whether that’s a rising or falling pressure) as leading to increased movements of deer. When it comes to duck hunting, it seems low pressure systems often coincide with migration events in waterfowl, but that may also be an outcome of precipitation and wind that often

results from low pressure systems.

Wind: There’s some observational evidence that deer move better with light to moderate wind speeds. Wind direction certainly is a factor most deer hunters consider when setting up in a certain stand or location, mainly because of the way the wind will disperse human scent in each location. With waterfowl hunting, wind is often critical to success.

Calm days are typically terrible for duck and goose hunting because the birds just don’t seem to fly much when conditions are very calm.

Precipitation: You’ll hear a lot of deer hunters say they like to hunt on drizzly days, but there’s some evidence that hard rain may slow down deer movement. There’s also some evidence that deer and other wildlife will move more after a long period of rain, ostensibly moving to find food or moving for other reasons after longer periods of inactivity due to rainfall. With duck hunting, rainfall is a key indicator of duck abundance in Arkansas, or more precisely, water on the landscape in the form of flooding in river bottoms and sheet water in agricultural fields is a key indicator.

Temperature: This is a key factor in all types of hunting, and it’s supported by observational data when it comes to deer hunting. It seems

that there’s a zone of temperatures in which deer are more active.

However, when it’s extremely cold or unseasonably warm, my experience is that deer activity shuts down. This also holds true for duck hunting.

We can reason that animals have to move around to find food to keep them warm when it’s very cold, or perhaps they move to increase their body temperatures. But when it’s extremely cold, like single digits or teens, deer will sometimes hunker down and save body heat. Of course, snow and ice cover brought on by cold fronts can add to waterfowl movements locally as well as migration movements on a larger scale.

Saline County Lifestyles • 9

AARON HOLSCHBACH & LYNN JOHNSON

Anytime Fitness is a national franchise chain, but as with any national companies, how it is run is up to the local owner. Saline County is known as an exceptionally kind and hospitable community that takes pride in its small-town and family friendly feel, although it is a rapidly growing and thriving area of the state.

When you put these two factors together, the result is a wonderfully unique branch of a national fitness company that offers group workout classes, personal training, unlimited facility access and a close-knit membership spanning several generations. And to take it one step further, it is also a community of people working towards their personal goals who are eager to encourage each 10• •Saline SalineCounty CountyLifestyles Lifestyles• •Fall FallInto IntoFitness Fitness 10

other on towards the finish line.

Lynn Johnson, owner of Anytime Fitness, has had a lifelong love affair with fitness and wellness. She shares, “My college degree is in finance, but my passion has always been in fitness and wellness. It is so wonderful to use my knowledge and training in a business that I find both enjoyable and rewarding.”

When asked why she decided to open Anytime Fitness, Lynn replied, “From my high school days teaching children’s swimming lessons, I have had an intense interest in physical fitness. I enjoyed being on the swim team in college and began to do triathlons and marathons. Upon learning about the new franchise offering of Anytime Fitness, it seemed like a natural fit for me. It was among the first in the area with the specific business plan that meets the needs of people to get their workout done and get on with life; I became one of the first to open in this area. The result

has been a lot of hard work, but it has brought great rewards as I help members achieve their fitness goals.”

Saline County is a community with a lot of top-notch workout facility

THERE IS NO WAITING FOR EQUIPMENT, AND OUR MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. options. Anytime Fitness is excited to be a part of this thriving, healthconscious community, and believes it is their atmosphere of helpfulness and friendliness that sets them apart from others in the area. “While we have the equipment of many “big box” gyms, our members can plan their time in the gym at their convenience.

There is no waiting for equipment, and our members have access 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” says Lynn. “Our members also have the advantage of access to over 4,000 Anytime Fitness locations nationwide. And our trainers are knowledgeable and very willing to spend the

extra time needed to design a program that fits the goals of the trainee. We are small and able to provide a lot of one-on-one complimentary services.”

When asked what is on the horizon for Anytime Fitness in Bryant, Lynn shared, “There are plans to reinvent the facility with a new look and programming soon, and while we offer group classes, it is personal coaching that our members prefer most. We also plan to offer more group classes in the near future and incorporate more functional training as well.”

While there are a lot of positives about being involved in the everyday life of clients, it is the front-row seat into their personal fitness goals—and seeing the hard work they put in to meet those goals—that is the most meaningful. According to Lynn,

Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness • 11

ACTIVE

Lifestyle

WITH MEMBERS THAT SPAN THREE GENERATIONS, ANYTIME FITNESS CREATES A FITNESS ATMOSPHERE THAT ACCOMMODATES ANY AGE, FITNESS STYLE, OR EXPERIENCE LEVEL. “Having the opportunity to see people transform their lives, no matter what the goal, is incredibly rewarding.

It’s not just about weight loss. It’s seeing them live healthy, independent lives that is so meaningful.”

Anytime Fitness participates in two programs for seniors. Silver Sneakers is a national program designed for adults ages 65 and over that is included in many Medicare programs. Silver & Fit is an exercise and healthy aging program that helps older adults improve their health by offering club and exercise center memberships or options that allow seniors to do their workouts at home.

It is no secret that Saline County offers an incredibly high quality of life to its residents, which in turn attracts quality people to the community. Lynn is quick to add that one of the most unique aspects of Anytime Fitness is the members. She says, “We have the best gym members! We’re one big gym family that is continually growing. We even have one family that has three generations who are club members.

We love our members and the friendships that have been formed!”

Anytime Fitness in Bryant has programs for all ages and levels of fitness and believes the flexibility they offer to members is the key to success. Those who are looking for health and wellness options in a welcoming, supportive community need not look any further.

With members that span three generations, Anytime Fitness creates a fitness atmosphere that accommodates any age, fitness style, or experience level.  Carrie Amox

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12 • Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness

ACTIVE

Lifestyle

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Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness • 13

Boutique fitness is all a buzz in the fitness world these days.

People on a quest to start a healthier lifestyle or those looking for something different are pulling away from the bigbox gyms in favor of the smaller facility that feels more personal. It’s sort of like getting personal training but in a small group setting and without the extra costs.

Full Out Barre tends to these needs and more.

Established in Little Rock in 2018, the Bryant location just opened in August. Its website calls Full Out Barre a challenging and super fun variable intensity program that combines the best of high intensity training and barre for the individuals 14 • Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness

ready for a “killer barre workout that knocks it up a notch from what you have experienced in barre before.”

Full Out Barre instructors are trained in ballet and fitness knowledge to help protect participants’ bodies in challenging ballet positions. All classes are built and structured to reduce lagging, wasted time in class, providing quick transitions and mixing smaller muscle group work thoughtfully between interval work.

A unique aspect of this place of fitness is the support it gives to the local arts. “We do this by renting space from local studio owners to help support their mission of bringing the art of dance to their community,” says Ashley Trover, owner of Full Out Barre in Bryant.

The Bryant studio is located at 22095 I-30 Front Road inside the Arkansas Dance Center. The Little Rock studio is located inside Shuffles and Ballet II. The main mission at Full Out

Barre is “to help people live full out,” Ashley says. “We are more than just a gym, and we are about more than just exercise. We focus on community and building women up and helping them see the amazing, strong incredible

IN AN HOUR-LONG CLASS, FULL OUT BARRE WILL GIVE EXERCISERS STRENGTH TRAINING, MUSCLE TONING, HIGH CALORIE BURN, AND FUN AND UPLIFTING MUSIC. women they are inside and out and encouraging them to live their full out best, while delivering (in my opinion) the most high-end, efficient and effective workout around.”

Full Out Barre is for anybody and everybody, Ashley assures.

Whatever your current level of athleticism, you’ll always fit in with the Full Out Barre tribe, she says. “Every single exercise we do has several options so there is an option for the fitness novice to an option for the most experienced athlete.

Our instructors are trained to work with each client to find what works best for them.”

Ashley discovered Full Out Barre three years ago. “It was the most intense and fulfilling exercise class I had ever taken,” she says. “I loved the community built into the class, founded by the amazing Catherine Thorpe, and I loved the efficient fullbody workout that I got in one class.

“In an hour-long class, Full Out Barre will give exercisers strength training, muscle toning, high calorie burn, and fun and uplifting music,” says Ashley, a runner and former cheerleader. After having children and becoming a stay-at-home mom, Ashley’s outlet was going to the gym to get an hour of self-care. Full Out Barre fulfilled (and still fulfills) her mind, body and soul needs. She tried

Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness • 15

FULL OUT BARRE IN BRYANT IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, OFFERING DIFFERENT CLASS TIMES BASED ON THE DAY. barre at another gym but felt like she still needed to do extra exercise to reach her maximum effort.

“I did not love the barre classes I had tried before Full Out Barre.

I enjoyed the muscle-burning movements but missed the cardio I enjoyed in my other classes. Then I found Catherine Thorpe and her creation of Full Out Barre, where she combined the muscle burning balletinspired barre exercises with high intensity intervals. Problem solved.”

Full Out Barre in Bryant is open seven days a week, offering different class times based on the day. Childcare is available to those who can’t leave their child at home. It is advised to book your class in advance to secure a spot for your child in childcare. Pricing varies at Full Out Barre. Prospective new clients can enjoy their first week free for an unlimited number of classes. Monthly specials are going on as well and different class formats are available. Details are explained on the website at fulloutbarre.com.

The Fundamentals class introduces you to Full Out Barre’s methods and the science behind those methods.

Free classes will be held at the Outlets of Little Rock at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, and 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3. Follow the studio on Instagram and Facebook (@ fulloutbarre) to keep up with news.

The most challenging part about trying Full Out Barre for the first time might be walking through the door, Ashley says. “If you are nervous, we will meet you in the parking lot and walk you in. Once you’re there, we’ve got you. Our office staff and instructors are friendly, kind and knowledgeable, and we want you to have a full-out amazing experience every time you walk through our doors. We try to meet you where you are, each day.  Jillian Jacuzzi

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“No matter which location you visit or call across the state, someone will be there who can help you with whatever you need. And if you have an outof-the ordinary situation, we bring in our subject matter experts to offer creative solutions to your needs.”

Bank of Ozark, as it was then called,

16 • Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness

Member FDIC

was purchased in 1979 by George Gleason, a 25-year-old attorney. At the time, the bank had just two locations in Ozark, Arkansas and 28 employees.

The bank has since grown to employ over 2,600 and is now among the top 60 banks in asset size in the nation. 3 “We have banking offices in Arkansas, Texas, Florida, California, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and New York,” McDonald said.

While the growth of the bank is impressive, Robi McDonald says Bank OZK’s approach is the same as it was more than a century ago: provide the finest customer service and community support in every location, and now additionally through digital access.

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Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness • 17

MICHAEL McNAMARA

It’s been said that change is one of the only constants in life. It applies to our careers, our popular culture, even our habits. Now, thanks to years of trial, error and technology, you can see how “change” applies to our physical fitness.

Gone are the days of venturing to gyms with only free weights, exercise machines and a few treadmills from which to choose.

Today, facilities are becoming more appealing and far more advanced, relying on research and evolutionary practices to help you achieve your best while also saving time to accommodate your busy schedule.

One gym fusing exercise with such new techniques is HOTWORX in Benton. The premise centers around what 18 • Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness

owner Michael McNamara calls 3D training—a combination of fitness, heat and infrared energy.

“It works great because it’s all part of the full process,” he said. “When you’re in one of our saunas, you’re getting the heat (approximately 125-degrees), the exercise and the infrared. You could be doing yoga, Pilates or a hot core class, allowing for a full workout with reduced soreness in much shorter time.”

So how does the HOTWORX 3D approach work, especially where infrared energy is concerned? “(Infrared) strengthens and activates the regenerative properties within the body, accelerating the recovery after a workout,” he said. “It penetrates an inch and a half into the muscle tissue. If you’re really sore or if you’ve had an intense work out, it helps stimulate muscle recovery and get the lactic acid out of your muscles.

“Infrared also has a lot of medical uses,” he added. “Several people come

in who’ve had knee replacement or hip replacement just to get their mobility back. By relying on the heat and the infrared, they get their muscles warmed up and can stretch much better once they get the combination of the two.”

A lifelong entrepreneur and a Bryant

MCNAMARA SAYS WEIGHT LOSS REMAINS THE MAJOR BENEFIT OF THE HOT WORKOUTS, WITH SOME CLIENTS BURNING UP TO 500 CALORIES IN A 30-MINUTE SESSION. native, McNamara discovered the HOTWORX approach to fitness after he began experiencing severe soreness following his own cross fit sessions.

“I started doing some research and began learning a little more about infrared and saunas,” he said.

“After trying a few alternatives that really didn’t work out for me, I learned more about the infrared component with the sauna and drove to Memphis to research the HOTWORX locations. It was a nightand-day difference from what I had experienced from other saunas, and I realized we had to have this here in Saline County.”

McNamara says the “heat”

component is self-explanatory, where exercising in a room at such a high temperature allows for calories to be burned at a higher rate and the body will stretch and become more flexible faster.

“The heat speeds up your metabolism,” he said. “You warm up quickly, meaning a better workout in less time. In the past, you might have to warm up for 10 or 15 minutes leading into your workout, but not with heat. You can get in more work in less time.”

McNamara says weight loss remains the major benefit of the hot workouts, with some clients burning up to 500 calories in a 30-minute session.

Other clients have seen improvements lowering their blood pressure, reducing

Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness • 19

THE HOTWORX BENTON LOCATION ALLOWS FOR 24-HOUR ACCESS TO FIT YOUR SCHEDULE, AND SCHEDULING WORKOUTS IS INCREDIBLY SIMPLE. stress and improving circulation.

McNamara does say, though, if you have a history of medical concerns, you should consult a doctor before going all-in with HOTWORX. “We want everyone who joins us to have the best experience, so if you have any questions, it’s best to get checked out first,” he said.

Response to HOTWORX has been overwhelming. Currently, the facility has just over 400 members, and McNamara says the results he’s seen are more than impressive. “We’re in the business of selling fitness in a safe and time-friendly environment.

It’s great to hear from so many about the positive results they’ve seen, and that’s the real point for us.”

The HOTWORX Benton location allows for 24-hour access to fit your schedule, and scheduling workouts is incredibly simple. McNamara says all you need is a smartphone.

“This is what helps make the process so simple,” he said. “Sessions are booked through the app, and the classes range from yoga and Pilates to core training and rowing.

“Once you’re in the sauna, the workout is what you experience with your virtual trainer on the television screen in your room,” he added. “Often, we encourage our clients to continue the same types of workouts for several sessions so they can see exactly how much they are improving. In a class like hot yoga, someone may not be able to touch their toes at first. Within a month or two, their hands’ palms will be down on the floor. Those are the results we really want people to see.”

In addition to his Benton location at 20320 I-30 North, McNamara plans to expand HOTWORX locations to Little Rock and Conway. For more information, go to www.hotworx.net/ studio/Benton/.  Charles Crowson

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Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness • 21

JOEY ZELLERS & JASON MILLER

Jason Miller dreamed of owning his own gym. He put that dream on hold for a teaching career. Finally, his entrepreneurial spirit took over, and he was a gym owner. Well, okay, he trained clients in his garage, but it was the start of a new career—the career he really wanted.

“I told myself I didn’t want to regret and look back at 50 or 60 years old and say, ‘I should have tried that,’” Miller said. “I found the means and the type of gym I wanted to do and loved. I just told myself and my wife at the time that I would rather lose a few thousand bucks and give it a shot than look 22 • Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness

back and wonder why I never tried.

“I have been able to put so much into it because I do truly love what it has morphed into, and what it is going to be in the future. We are still changing and growing, and I am constantly trying to innovate.”

Miller began the business Cross Fit Legit in 2011 (The name changed to Legacy Athletics in 2017). A little more than two years later, he had quit his teaching job in Little Rock to run the business fulltime. There have been times of uncertainty, but Legacy Athletics has grown enough that it has moved four times. When Miller trained clients at his house eight years ago, he couldn’t imagine the spacious facility that sits at the north end of Military Road in Benton.

“It’s a good feeling to love what you do,” said Miller, who is also a Little Rock fireman. “I love it. It’s my passion, and I am proud of Legacy.”

Miller was born in Arizona but raised

in Benton. He earned a kinesiology degree at the University of Central Arkansas and embarked on a teaching career. While he liked teaching, the fitness fanatic started the foundations of his small business dream. After

A STEADY STREAM OF CLIENTELE FILTERS IN AND OUT OF GROUP CLASSES AND PRIVATE TRAINING SESSIONS AT LEGACY AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY. balancing a full-time job and business, he quit teaching almost three years in.

Miller was able to rent a small space near Middleton Heat and Air in Bryant, and word spread thanks to a group of faithful clients.

“There would be times of nice growth, and there would be times just sweating bullets constantly because things were falling apart or not working the way you thought they would,” he said. “Or things were working great and then out of nowhere things completely out of your control took over.”

Times got bad enough that Miller contemplated

selling the business.

“I thought I needed to get out because I was going to ruin my family,” he said. “I read a quote that said something to the effect that if you stick with things just past the point it looks like things are over, it will work out. Most people quit at that point.

“I said, ‘I am going to go down with it, I am not going to sell it.’ I just couldn’t do it. I had put too much time and effort into it. It was just crazy; it turned around and blew up.

Now, we are on an amazing path and trajectory and new things are coming.”

A steady stream of clientele filters in and out of group classes and private training sessions at Legacy at different times of the day. In each group class,

Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness • 23

REBEL 7 OFFERS PATRONS DAY-TODAY NUTRITION AND FITNESS COACHING clients can choose from a Fitness or Performance workout. Fitness is for the beginners or folks just looking for a great workout, and Performance for the seasoned students looking to push their limits a little more.

Miller says Legacy is attracting clients from around Saline County because of the family environment that trickles down from him, manager and business partner Joey Zellers, and the coaches.

“In the beginning, it was completely word of mouth,” Miller said. “We still definitely get a lot [of clients] by word of mouth. We treat our clients well, and they can’t wait to tell their friends and family to come check us out. They share stuff on social media.”

Miller’s new online program, Rebel 7, offers patrons day-to-day nutrition and fitness coaching with the ability to work out remotely, and also allows his business to expand “around the world.” Miller paid a designer to build a website a few years ago, but he wasn’t happy with it, so he learned to build sites on his own.

Rebel 7 is a nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle program designed to be completely sustainable and mesh with anyone’s daily life. Rebel 7 is included in the membership fee, but the daily nutrition program is $20 a month extra. Longtime Legacy clients Laryssa Calley, Kenzee Wineland and Kelsey Kerhees serve as remote coaches helping clients navigate workouts and the nutrition program.

“You can work out from afar and have the remote coaching online and get the help you need,” he said. “You can communicate daily or multiple times a week.”

“I want people’s lives [to be] better,” Miller said. “I don’t just want to give them a workout. I want them to say, ‘Pretty much everything in my life is better because I was doing some of the things Jason taught us,’” he said.  Nate Olson

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Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness • 25

MARIETTA McCLURE

These days, everyone is on the go. Between work, school, family and community obligations there are plenty of excuses that make it easy for all of us to set aside self-care. But Marietta McClure, owner and operator of McClure Fitness, has curated her studio to meet the needs of newcomers and seasoned clients alike with a mission focusing on their health.

Marietta has always enjoyed group fitness classes. As a young professional working for a United States Senator, she would gladly find time to fit in a workout into 26 • Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness

her busy schedule. During a federal holiday and off from work, she took a fitness class in the middle of the morning and made the comment to her husband Kent about how much she enjoyed working out at that time of day. Jokingly, Kent said, “If you can find a way to make a living doing that, you should go for it.”

That was all the motivation Marietta needed. Fast forward a year later, and Marietta was a certified instructor.

She would travel the state while working for the US Senator, all while teaching a class in the morning and in the evening at her local community center when she returned home.

“Every dollar I made, I put into a savings account,” said Marietta.

Within just a few months, not only was Marietta putting her earnings back in savings, but establishing a robust clientele. Her first class was a bootcamp, which quickly grew from five to 100 people over

the next three years. “I joke if I can get you in the room with me, I’ve got you,” said Marietta.

With her savings and a clientele in place, Marietta and Kent began to

MCCLURE FITNESS OFFERS A MYRIAD OF CLASSES DESIGNED FOR SEASONED ATHLETES AND BEGINNERS ALIKE, AND THEY OFFER FREE CHILDCARE. scour Saline County for the perfect place to establish their business. “It was the only location I could find that had air conditioning,” Marietta laughs. She quit her job and one month before her twin daughters were born, she and Kent opened McClure Fitness.

“My husband is super supportive. There were lots of early mornings and late nights and Kent and I missed each other a lot that year,” said Marietta. “Kent is behind the scenes and super involved in the decision making. I think people underestimate what types of decisions need to be made. There is a whole other level of the business

that people never see or understand.”

Six years later, Marietta and Kent have two locations, and will complete their second expansion by the end of 2019. With the completion of this third location, McClure Fitness will expand to 11,000 square feet and will house a gym and five studio spaces all under one roof. “I like to do a lot of different types of workouts; it’s how I modeled the business, and we are still going six years later.”

Kent and Marietta now have four children and her girls especially love attending Marietta’s bootcamp.

Whether it’s pushups or burpees, Marietta’s twins are up for the fitness challenge. Marietta hopes that working out with her girls

Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness • 27

MCCLURE FITNESS CLASSES ARE ALWAYS SHIFTING AND CHANGING WITH WHAT CLIENTS WANT. at a young age will inspire them to continue to work out with her well into their adulthood.

McClure Fitness offers a myriad of classes designed for seasoned athletes and beginners alike, and they offer free childcare. Although finding that motivation can be difficult at first, Marietta encourages everyone to approach fitness with an open mind.

“I want people to know that a fitness class can be intimidating—I don’t take that for granted at all,” said Marietta. “We all have those same thoughts and anxiety about taking that first class. There are many people who are there for their quality of life.

They are there to keep up with their kids or play with their grandkids.”

Even if the thought of crossing the threshold of the gym makes you anxious, you can still find ways to move your body. Each class at McClure Fitness is streamed online.

“We have quite a few people who will complete the online workouts for 4 to 8 weeks and they are building up confidence/endurance before walking into class,” says Marietta.

“They feel they know the trainer after weeks of doing her classes online. It’s affected us in ways I didn’t realize.”

McClure Fitness classes are always shifting and changing with what clients want. “There are so many different class options offered at McClure,” said Marietta. “I’ve worked hard to find a specialized teacher in each of those classes. The future of fitness is in boutique studios. I have five studios under one roof.

You don’t have to pay a premium, you pay one price, and you won’t be bored because you have different options. I’ve worked so hard over the last several years to craft what’s offered at McClure Fitness. We love our clientele.” Ashley Leopoulos 28 • Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness

Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness • 29

FITNESS STATISTICS Who is moving, how they’re moving and how the U.S. stacks up againts other countries around the world.

54% MEN

46% WOMEN

LIKELIHOOD OF MEETING THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GUIDELINE FOR AEROBIC ACTIVITY.

90%

30%

Over 90% of high school students don’t get enough exercise to stay fit and healthy

OF ADULTS AGED 20 AND OLDER ARE OBESE.

HALF

OF PEOPLE STARTING AN EXCERCISE PROGRAM WILL DROP OUT IN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS...

MOST POPULAR WAS TO STAY ACTIVE #1 Walking

30 • Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness

#2

Running/ Jogging

#3 Treadmill

7 TIPS

FOR JOINING A GYM

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

START WITH A GOAL: Knowing what you want out of a fitness program may dictate the type of gym you join. If you have big goals, you’ll likely want to join a more personalized gym, perhaps hire a personal trainer.

KNOW YOU: What type of exercise do you like?

High intensity? Join a circuit-based or perhaps boxing gym. Like “me time” on the treadmill, perhaps join a bigger 24-hour gym. Consider what you enjoy most before choosing the gym!

GET A PROPER INDUCTION: Most gyms offer a free induction or complimentary session with a trainer. Take advantage of it! Get to know all of the equipment and perhaps pick up some tips on a specific training method to get you to your goals sooner!

PLAN TO SUCCEED: We all live busy lives, but to make sure you will be able to get enough workouts in during any given week, map out the times you can train at the start of each week so that you are prepared in advance.

SEEK KNOWLEDGE: If you’re unsure about the

best way to go about achieving your goal, find out! The answers you seek are likely just a Google search or a visit to Youtube away.

TRACK YOUR PROGRESS: Most fitness apps

nowadays have inbuilt workout programs, calorie counting, and even diet tips. Download one right away and start using it because if it isn’t measured it can’t be monitored and improved upon.

GET AN ACCOUNTABILITY BUDDY: It’s the

moments when you’re just about to skip a workout until an accountability partner gives you a gentle nudge that can be the difference between achieving your goals or not, so find a friend or family member to be your accountability buddy asap!

There you have it, a seven-step guide to joining a gym.

Now it’s over to you – time to move!

Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness • 31

HE LTH & WELLNESS AT THE OSAGE EVENTS

A quick search of the internet finds that the Top 10 Trends in Physical Fitness include group training, highintensity interval training (HIIT), fitness programs for older adults, bodyweight training, employing certified fitness professionals, yoga, personal training, functional fitness training, exercise as medicine, and wearable technology. Other trends include virtual/online training, outdoor activities and ax throwing.

While a review of what’s trendy may seem an odd way to introduce a new venue in town, it actually makes good sense. Especially when you paraphrase an old saying: “The family

that works together, stays together.”

Such is the case for Fran Nichols and her son, T.J. On October 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a community event called the Fitness and Wellness Showcase will be held at The Osage, a new venue in Benton that Fran, T.J. and other members of their family created in the old Sears location on 1110 Ferguson Drive, Suite A. Fran describes the event. “Our co-sponsor is HOTWORX. Manager Michael McNamara is very knowledgeable in the fitness field, and with me being a registered nurse, we wanted to combine the two and offer an opportunity for the public

32 • Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness

to visit all that Saline County has to offer in the health and fitness field. We are inviting all interested medical clinics, fitness gyms, dance gyms, martial arts, physical therapies, dental, vision, mental health, drug dependence, skin care, restaurants serving healthy menus, police, fire, and the list goes on. And yes, we have a bakery coming. This event will be interesting and extremely informative for all ages with door prizes and lots of fun.” As you can see, trends in physical fitness and a new venue do have something in common.

As for the history of The Osage and the “family working together” part, we must go back to the year 2013.

T.J. started BluStream Media while he was still in college. “It began out of our home,” says Fran, “and the business has grown significantly. Thus, we needed a new home for it. The old Sears building was purchased and not only did BluStream Media have a new home, but a new business was launched.”

Fran suggested an event venue would fit nicely in the extra 6,400 square feet not used by T.J.’s business.

And the concept for a venue named “The Osage” was born.

But from where did the name originate? According to Fran, it’s another example of family togetherness. “T.J. and his new wife Mary Katherine came up with the name ‘The Osage,’ after the restaurant near Branson where we all witnessed their big marriage proposal in December 2018.”

If you are keeping score, that’s three family members thus far. But wait, there’s more.

T.J.’s father is a businessman who was invaluable in making this new venue happen.

to see what they could do to help.”

Bookings for all types of events are coming in from both local and out-ofstate sources. The main bookings so far are conferences, seminars, holiday parties, birthday bashes, and weddings.

“Also, our goal is to plan some community events for Saline County to come together in an ‘uptown’ atmosphere to network, socialize, and just have a good time,” says Fran. “Our grand opening consisted of 20+ vendors that came together in one space to promote their event products and services. We had DJs, bakeries, florists, make-up and hair artists, print studios, hotel planners, wedding planners, photographers, and even a brass band! It ended up being an awesome party in itself, and we can refer all of these vendors to our clients that book with us.”

“What separates us from some of the other event venues is that we have inhouse audio/visual production support from BluStream Media,” says T.J. “It’s

WE ARE INVITING ALL INTERESTED MEDICAL CLINICS, FITNESS GYMS, DANCE GYMS, MARTIAL ARTS, PHYSICAL THERAPIES, DENTAL, VISION, MENTAL HEALTH, DRUG DEPENDENCE, SKIN CARE, RESTAURANTS SERVING HEALTHY MENUS, POLICE, FIRE, AND THE LIST GOES ON. a one-stop service and our guests save money by bundling lights, audio, video, photo, projectors, staging, etc. We can accommodate groups as small as fewer than 20 up to 250.”

With the flexibility The Osage provides, it seems the Nichols family should be busy for a very long time.  Brent Davis

“Terry, Sr. has been instrumental with the project as well, as the four of us have worked very hard to make this a go,” says Fran. “Mary Katherine and TJ are pretty good at laying floors. You can usually find me with a paint brush or a roller in my hand, and Terry, Sr. is usually cleaning up behind us.”

Since BluStream Media has been in the industry for seven years, T.J. and his family have been in event venues all over the country. “We were able to implement the best qualities of what people need in a venue as we launched The Osage,” says T.J. “So many folks who come to see The Osage having previously been in the old Sears store reply, ‘What a big difference; it’s so nice now.’ We now have a new floor, new paint, kitchen, a conference/hospitality room, two restrooms, a studio area, and an editing room…plus the new warehouse for BluStream Media. It was all an extended family effort, along with several friends dropping in Saline County Lifestyles • Fall Into Fitness • 33

HEALTHY

Lifestyle

HEALTH UPDATE SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER

By Dr. James W. Robb, MD Saline Memorial Hospital

As the fall and winter months approach, it is an important time to focus on your mental health. These months can be stressful. Not just because school has started back up and your morning commute is twice as long, or even because there are more football games. The shorter fall and winter days can contribute to a condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which affects up to 3 million people per year in the US. SAD is a type of depression that comes and goes with changes in the seasons. It is important to recognize the symptoms so that treatment can be started. Symptoms to look out for are many of the symptoms in standard depression most people think of, including: • Sleep changes (loss of sleep at night OR increased sleeping during the day) • Loss of interest in activities • Feelings of guilt or worthlessness • Lack of energy or fatigue • Difficulty concentrating • Loss of appetite • Agitation or anxiety • Thoughts of self-harm or harm toward others Just because SAD will come and go with the seasons does not mean it doesn’t warrant attention 34 • Saline County Lifestyles

or treatment. Like other forms of depression, there are multiple methods to treat SAD. The exact cause of SAD is unknown, but research shows that increased exposure to daylight can improve symptoms.

Sometimes artificial light can be used to simulate natural light and can change chemicals in the brain linked to mood. Standard therapies for depression such as psychotherapy and medications, or a combination of any of the three are frequently used for treating SAD. In the field of OB/GYN, we typically will see depression arise during the postpartum period.

It can also present during the pregnancy.

Many of the symptoms of SAD are similar to expected symptoms of pregnancy and after delivery, making the diagnosis difficult.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimates that 14-23% of pregnant women experience depression during pregnancy, and 5-25% experience depression postpartum.

With a significant number of women

experiencing post-partum depression (PPD), standard screening techniques are recommended at every postpartum visit. Postpartum surveillance should be individualized for every patient because every pregnancy can come with new experiences that can increase or decrease the risk of PPD. The seasons affect pregnant patients as well. A recent study by Deepika Goyal, a professor of nursing at San Jose State University, found a significant difference in the rate of depression based on the time of year a woman delivered her baby.

HEALTHY

Lifestyles

The shorter fall and winter days can contribute to a condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder, which affects up to 3 million people per year in the US. They found that if the third trimester coincided with the shorter daylight hours of winter, there was a 35% risk for depression. On the other hand, if the third trimester coincided with longer daylight hours of summer, the risk of depression was 26%.

So, as we see our days get shorter, be aware of your mood changing. If you notice that you are starting to feel down more than usual, try to spend more time outside. If it’s too cold to take a walk, even driving around or taking a short trip to go shopping or out to lunch can help boost your mood. And if you feel that you need additional help, please call your provider and make an appointment. 

Saline County Lifestyles • 35

With the holidays come countless parties, busy schedules and full shopping carts—but the season should first remind us to be thankful, to serve and to try to make a difference in the lives of others. According to The American Homefront Project, a group that reports on military life and veterans’ issues, about 1.5 million veteran households rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs benefits each year. Still more shocking is the fact that while homeless vets and the elderly have long been at risk for food insecurity, younger veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are increasingly in need. Whom better to serve, this holiday season, than the heroes who risk their lives for our freedoms?

For the third consecutive year, Snell Prosthetics & Orthotic and THV11 are coordinating a holiday food drive to benefit the non-profit organization Feed the Vets. The pantry is in Cabot, but it is available to veterans from anywhere in the state regardless of income. The organization’s website, feedthevetsorg.com, explains, “We are a food pantry set up for military Veterans only. We are located in central Arkansas, but we serve the whole state of Arkansas. 100% of the donations 36 • Saline County Lifestyles

stay in Arkansas. We are here to serve you: Veterans helping Veterans.”

According to William “Doc” Sheets, Adjutant and Past Commander of American Legion Post 71, the pantry is the only one of its kind in the state. “When families arrive, they are not given boxes of food. The pantry is set up like a grocery store, with shopping carts available so everyone has the chance to pick out the food they like and need.” 2018 was a big year for Feed the Vets. “In 2018, the Feed the Vets food pantry received over 5,000 pounds of food, including 927 pounds of frozen turkeys, which fed 73 veterans and 253 military families.”

Snell first became involved with the program in 2017, when THV11 asked if they wanted to partner in the endeavor. “ [THV11] knew it would be extremely important to us, because of our love for, and long history with, the veterans of our state. In the 108-year history of our company, we have served veterans going back to the SpanishAmerican War!” says Snell’s Vice President of Operations, Brant Snell.

The official kick-off for the 2019 food drive will be Tuesday, October 1, at Snell Prosthetics & Orthotics’

newest location in Bryant, featuring possible guest appearances from THV11 personalities. The public should first drop off non-perishable (canned, bagged, or boxed) food items perfect for a holiday dinner.

The food drive concludes just before Thanksgiving with a THV11 live broadcast from a local grocer to collect perishable food items, such as frozen turkeys, for our Arkansas veterans. (Please, no perishables before the final collection day!)

Craig O’Neill has been broadcasting live from the collection site for the past few years and remembers the impact it has had on him. “You get out there and ask viewers to come by to feed hungry vets and their families, and within a matter of minutes you get caught up in the response of what you’re doing for these people who put their lives on the line for us, and it will move you for life.”

While the previous years’ food drives have begun around the first of November, the Snell Prosthetics team decided to begin earlier this year to allow additional time to collect donations. Also new in 2019 is a contest between the company’s ten locations to determine who can raise the most donations.

“Within a matter of minutes you get caught up in the response of what you’re doing for these people who put their lives on the line for us, and it will move you for life.”

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“Nobody deserves it more than our veterans. One of the most rewarding things is to discover that an extra pick-up is needed, because of our employee food donations alone,” says Snell. As sponsor of the food drive, Snell will provide manpower hours, collection facilities, and advertising for the initiative.

“It is a real blessing to be involved in this opportunity. The first year, the goal was to feed 33 families, and the outcome was so successful that 70 families were fed, and there were enough donations left over to go into the Christmas season as well! In the previous two years, I am thrilled to say that 11,000 pounds of food have been donated. My hope is that we can work together with all of Saline County to break records again this year!”

The Feed the Vets pantry, located at 1212 S. 2nd Street in Cabot, is open on the third Saturday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to all military veterans including guardsmen, reservists and retirees. All that is required is the completion of a form upon arrival, and proof of past or current service by either a DD214, Retired Military ID, Active Duty ID or VA Medical Photo ID Card.

To make a non-perishable food donation after the October 1st kickoff, stop by Snell Prosthetics & Orthotics at 612 Office Park Drive, Suite 4 in Bryant or any of their other locations. For more information about perishable food collection day, visit snellarkansas.com, feedthevetsorg. com or amlegionpost71cabot. org.  Carolyn Buckner

MEET DENA: ARTIST, CAR ENTHUSIAST, DRIVEN WOMAN “When I overheard that women my age don’t really walk again after this type of injury, I thought: Just watch me.”

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RESTORING MOBILITY AND INDEPENDENCE SINCE 1911 Little Rock n Bryant n Conway n Fayetteville n Fort Smith n 800-342-5541 Hot Springs n Mountain Home n North Little Rock n Pine Bluff n Russellville

Saline County Lifestyles • 37

FAMILY

Lifestyle

INSURANCE INSIGHT 7 Moments When You Should Check Your Insurance

By Keith Brooks, State Farm Insurance

Insurance protects you, your family, your home, your car, and your property from the unexpected.

But it can only do its job if the coverage is up-to-date. Review your insurance coverage to ensure it is there when you need it. There are key times during the year to review your home, renters, and auto insurance.

This is also a good time to examine your need for products such as life insurance or umbrella insurance.

There are 7 key times to consider reviewing your insurance needs: 1. WHEN YOUR CURRENT INSURANCE POLICIES ARE ABOUT TO EXPIRE - If your

home, auto, life, or health insurance policies are about to expire, make time to meet with your agent.

As your needs change, so should your coverage. Your agent can help you review what you want to protect and what you may need.

2. IF YOUR FAMILY STATUS CHANGES- Planning a wedding,

expecting a baby, or adopting a child? You’ll want to protect your growing family with adequate life and disability income insurance. Losing a family member through death or divorce also should prompt a policy review. Remember to review and change the beneficiary designations 38 • Saline County Lifestyles

on your existing policies, as needed.

3. ONCE YOUR CHILDREN HAVE MATURED TO DRIVING AGE -

When you have a new teen driver, adequate auto insurance is a must.

Your agent can review options with you. Whether your child is leaving for college, or has recently graduated, it’s time to consider renters insurance.

Personal property and liability protection are typically provided under renters insurance. Discuss with an

agent the amount of coverage needed to protect your child’s new home.

4. IF YOU MOVE OR REMODEL YOUR HOUSE - When you make

upgrades, the replacement cost of your house will likely increase. If you move and downsize your home, you may be over-insured. If you move into a larger home, you may be under-insured. In all three instances, you’ll want to review your coverage to ensure you’re sufficiently protected.

FAMILY

Lifestyles

THERE ARE KEY TIMES DURING THE YEAR TO REVIEW YOUR HOME, RENTERS, AND AUTO INSURANCE. 5. WHEN YOU’RE STARTING A BUSINESS - Whether you’re renting

office space or opening a home-based business, include a thorough insurance review in your start-up plans.

Depending on your operation’s size, you may have to consider property and liability insurance as well as commercial vehicle insurance. If you have employees, you may also need workers’ compensation coverage and a healthcare plan. If you’re working from home, review your homeowners plan to see that your business and equipment are fully covered.

6. WHEN YOUR EMPLOYMENT STATUS CHANGES - In today’s

rapidly changing healthcare environment, protecting your family’s health can be a challenge.

Here are three examples: • Your current healthcare plan is up for renewal.

• You’ve started a new job.

• You’ve been downsized and need brand-new coverage.

We protect it.

You live it.

In each instance, it’s important to take the time to compare plan features against your family’s current anticipated needs. Also, consider disability insurance to help protect against disabling illnesses and accidents.

7. ONCE YOU’VE DECIDED TO RETIRE - In prepping to retire, make

sure you know how your employer handles health insurance coverage once you’re Medicare eligible. For out-ofpocket costs not covered by Medicare, supplemental coverage may help.

These are just a few times when you’ll want to review your insurance policy, but they are key times. Start a conversation today with your insurance agent about customizing your coverage and keeping your insurance up-to-date. 

Keith Brooks, Agent Insurance Lic#: 16679114 www.keithbrooks.net keith@keithbrooks.net Bus: 501-778-7243

I’m here to help life go right™ – so you can enjoy it, while I help protect it. Let’s talk about your life insurance options.

CALL ME TODAY.

State Farm, Bloomington, IL

1601816

Saline County Lifestyles • 39

FAMILY

Lifestyle

FAITH FOCUS We Love to Watch Change

By Cody Calhoun, Pastor at Fellowship Bible Church

The fall season will bring the change of leaves and temperatures we’ve been longing to see. Our community is changing: there are buildings going up and roads widening. You’ve also read articles in this wonderful magazine about how you can make changes for your health and wellness. But truth be told, while we like to see change from a comfortable distance, we can often resist when change happens to us.

The fear of change goes back to some familiar struggles for all of us. If there are hints of control or comfort issues in our lives, we run from change. We make sure that nothing disturbs our little utopia. Control and comfort provide us the shelter that change ruptures. Don Carmont said, “People don’t fear change. They fear the loss that change brings.”

What’s amazing to see is that the Bible talks clearly about change. The Bible is adamant about God’s never changing. Malachi 3:6 says, “I am the Lord, and I do not change.” “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever,” Hebrews 13:8 tells us.

What a comfort for us! In a world that is shaking, rapid and outraged, God doesn’t change. He is consistent.

However, that’s not the case with 40 • Saline County Lifestyles

us. Once we come to know Him, we instantaneously and continuously change. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Our nature, destiny and position are completely changed.

I’m now rescued from darkness to light. In this case, thank God for change! We ought to be happy we don’t stay the same way we came in.

THE FEAR OF CHANGE GOES BACK TO SOME FAMILIAR STRUGGLES FOR ALL OF US. IF THERE ARE HINTS OF CONTROL OR COMFORT ISSUES IN OUR LIVES, WE RUN FROM CHANGE.

God changes us! And that’s necessary, because we aren’t who we are supposed to be. I’m a pastor and will be the first to acknowledge that’s so true for me. I’m broken, sinful and in need of grace. The older I get, the more aware I am of my need. But, by God’s grace, I’m not who I used to be either.

around us. It’s the same with transformation. Change has a venue: the church. The best place for all this to take place is in a body of people going through the same process who can both know you deeply and love you deeply. Transformation is a team sport. If you’re not plugged into a church, someone is missing out by having you right next to them.

There has been change in me.

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.”

Transformation happens as we behold Him. It happens, not out of selfeffort and discipline, but beholding.

Any change we make always happens best when we have others

It’s easy to coast. The great theologian Bob Dylan said, “People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent.” The challenge is not doing the convenient, merely what’s comfortable in our control. Have hope in the One who can not only change the world, but can change you! 

Helping People Find

and Experience

God’s Best We have a casual atmosphere, great classes for Babies - 5th grade, and a *Special Needs Class during the 9am service! *Visit our website to Register for the Special Needs Class.

Sunday Service Times:

9am, 10:30am, 6pm

Check out our website MidtowneChurch.com Saline County Lifestyles • 41

FAMILY

Lifestyle

THE TALE OF THREE JOGGERS

By: Justin S. Elrod, Certified Elder Law Attorney, The Elrod Firm It seems to me that people run for a wide variety of reasons. When questioned by curious observers on his famous run across the country, Forrest Gump said he “just felt like running.” I’m sure Forrest is not alone. Surely there are others who run just because they feel like it, right?

But I wonder if Forrest may have been trying to run off some steam, too, considering Jenny, the love of his life, disappeared on him the very morning he started his epic journey.

Others seem to run because they feel they need an excuse to be outside enjoying the weather. That can’t include many Arkansans in July and August, but we do have some pretty nice days in the other, less stifling months. Of course, there’s the group that takes running far more seriously, the ones with all the right clothes, shoes, and gear. These are the runners who track their routes on their devices, post about them on Facebook, and (surely unintentionally) make the rest of us feel guilty.

Just as there are all sorts of runners 42 • Saline County Lifestyles

in the world, there is wide variety when it comes to planners, too.

Unfortunately, one of the easiest ways to categorize planners is by where they went wrong. To see what I mean, consider the tale of three joggers.

The first jogger set out to run off some stress. He had a beautiful wife, two great kids, an amazing house…but no estate plan. He was worried, and he knew he needed to do something, but he didn’t know where to start. He assumed it would all be very complicated, so he kept putting it off even though he knew his delays put his family at risk. This jogger failed to plan.

The second jogger was not stressed at all. She was blissfully ignorant, just enjoying fall in Arkansas. She was retired and financially secure.

She also had her legal affairs in order...or so she thought. Her entire estate plan was based on a last will and testament. She had no idea that a will would not keep her estate out of probate court. In her case, probate would be extremely expensive and would take forever.

This jogger had a plan, but for her situation it was the wrong plan.

The third jogger thought he was ahead of everyone. He had all the right gear and newest equipment (the kind that could share all his record breaking times with the world), but he didn’t know how to use it.

He was financially secure, too, and seemingly prepared for the future.

He had an estate plan. He even had a trust. He knew enough to realize that a will would not keep him out of probate court, but a trust could.

What he didn’t realize, though, was the importance of funding his trust.

He didn’t do anything to title his assets correctly so that his trust would work for him and his family. Like the second jogger, he was headed toward probate court, even though he had a trust. Unlike the second jogger, this jogger generally had the right plan, but because he didn’t use it right, it was a plan that was destined to fail.

We all have different priorities and different reasons for planning, but everyone needs a plan. We work with clients looking for very

FAMILY

Lifestyles

HOSPITALIST GROUP Get to know your doctors at Saline Health System.

It’s a team of many experts with one focus: caring for you.

Director

We all have different priorities and different reasons for planning, but everyone needs a plan.

(501) 776-6000 SalineMemorial.org

simple plans designed primarily to protect young children. We work with clients looking for more complex plans designed to protect qualified retirement money, to look out for heirs with disabilities, or to shelter assets against the rising costs of long-term care.

In every case, we work to keep our clients out of probate court.

Most of all, we strive to ensure that no one with whom we come into contact fails to plan, gets stuck with the wrong plan, or winds up with a plan that is destined to fail.  Saline County Lifestyles • 43

44 • Saline County Lifestyles