Volume 9 - Nov. 42 by South Arkansas Leader

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Dec. 11, 2013

EADER Holiday opera Volume 9 – No. 42 WANT MORE?

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Question of the Week

What is one thing that gets you into the holiday spirit?

SouthArk to present ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors’

The performance and media arts department at South Arkansas Community College will present the oneact Christmas-themed opera “Amahl and the Night Visitors” by the Italian-American composer Gian Carlo Menotti at 7:30 p.m. nightly, Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 19-21. Tickets are $10 for general admission seating and free for students. “Because this opera takes place at the time of the birth of Christ, it is a perfect Christmas present – a time for families to enjoy beautiful music and a beautiful story making for an enjoyable evening together,” music director Victoria Harden said. “This is my fifth opportunity to present this wonderful opera and I think it might be the best cast yet.” The characters are Amahl, a crippled boy (Sophia Meyer);

« Lydia King “Seeing Santa Claus.”

» Chenelle Sapp “My child.”

« Delilah Pennington “Music.”

AMAHL continued on Page 9

» William Beck

Christmas Opera: Sophia Meyer will star as Amahl in South Arkansas Community College’s production of “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” The show will open at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19 in the South Arkansas Arts Center in El Dorado. — Courtesy photo

“Christmas shopping.”

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‘Homefront’ is a fun throwback to ’80s action movies James McDonald

she and Statham are on screen together, they have indisputable chemHomefront istry, which in movies these days A former DEA agent moves his is quite rare. » Release date: Nov. 27. family to a quiet town, where he The real surprise for me though, » Run time: 100 min. soon tangles with a local meth was James Franco. I’m not a Fran» Stars: Jason Statham, James Franco, Winona Ryder, Kate Bosworth, Izabela drug lord. co admirer; I often find him to be » Rated: R for strong violence, Vidovic, Clancy Brown, Marcus Hester, pretentious and full of himself and pervasive language, drug content and Omar Benson Miller, Rachelle Lefevre, Jason Statham has done pretty well I never thought he was a great acbrief sexuality. Chuck Zito and Frank Grillo. for himself since he broke onto the tor, despite that he has given some » RCC Rating: 3 out of 5 stars. » Director(s): Gary Fleder. scene back in 1998 in Guy Ritchie’s good performances. The fact that he violent “Lock, Stock and Two would take on a bad-guy role in a Smoking Barrels.” He started out After the death of his wife a year Bosworth, Winona Ryder, Clancy movie that could be best described as a tough guy and quickly worked earlier, Broker and his daughter are Brown and James Franco. Sta- as B-movie material shocked me. his way up to action hero with such trying to adjust to living by themtham is, indeed, surrounded by But, giving credit where credit is starring vehicles as “The Trans- selves. While at school, Maddy beats due, Franco’s Gator Bodine, the porter” movies and “Death Race.” up a bully whose mother, Cassie great actors here. Bosworth and Ryder start out as main bad guy, is probably the best And, next summer, he’ll take on the (Kate Bosworth), happens to be the character in the movie. bad-guy role opposite Vin Diesel, sister of the local drug lord Gator clichés but over the course of the He’s a bad guy with a conscience. Dwayne Johnson and Kurt Russell Bodine (James Franco). Thus begins movie, they develop into somewhat He actually examines situations belikable but sympathetic characters. in “Fast & Furious 7.” a battle between families, culminat- Brown is always watchable, but fore he proceeds and contemplates if In recent years, a lot of big action ing with the inevitable showdown here, as the town’s sheriff, he gets he’s doing the wrong thing; though stars have made movies that started between Broker and Bodine. nothing more than a few rumbles when it comes right down to it, he going straight to DVD – Wesley Sylvester Stallone wrote the does what he has to do. This level of Snipes, Jean-Claude Van Damme screenplay and it’s rumored that this and grumbles and in a movie of this observation by a bad guy is practiand Steven Seagal, to name but a idea was a possible setting for a new scope that’s a real shame. Vidovic, as Statham’s daughter cally unheard of; so it was refreshfew – and it looked like Mr. Statham Rambo movie, obviously after he ing to see an actor of Franco’s caliwas heading in that direction, too. has come back home to America. I Maddy, brings a genuine tenderness ber pull it off with such confidence. Thankfully, however, that is not the think Stallone ended that story on to her role. Her character has been “Homefront” is rated R for action case. With “Homefront,” Statham a good note with the fourth Rambo through a lot with the loss of her and violence and while it doesn’t proves that he is more than capable movie. Although, honestly, imag- mother but having a dad like Sta- shy away from bloodshed, it does of holding his own with any action ining Rambo tearing up another tham really helps, especially when HOMEFRONT continued on Page 8 star on screen today. town, á la “First Blood,” sounds like he teaches her self-defense. When The movie starts out with Phil a lot of fun. Broker (Statham), an undercover Statham gets a lot of flak for not DEA agent who has infiltrated a being a real actor, but I digress. In biker gang who call themselves The “Homefront,” we get to see a softer Outcasts. When a bust goes wrong side of him as a single father lookand a lot of people die in the ex- ing after his daughter, and the two change, Broker decides he’s had do share some genuine emotional enough bloodshed and carnage and moments together. retires, along with his young daughWhen I first saw the trailer for ter Maddy (Izabela Vidovic), to a “Homefront,” I was surprised with small Louisiana town. the cast it had assembled: Kate

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With baby on the way, couple should wait before purchasing a new home Dear Dave, I’m in the military, and my wife and I have $13,000 in the bank along with $35,000 in a Roth IRA. We also have no debt, and we put $3,500 into our savings account each month. Our new baby is due to arrive in January, so do you think this would be a good time to buy our first home? — Tom Dear Tom, Based on the market alone, it’s a great time to buy a house. Interest rates are fantastic, and prices are recovering but still buyer-friendly. However, considering your wife’s delivery date and the fact that it takes a while to find and complete the process of buying a home, I think I’d wait on this. Moving is stressful enough under normal circumstances, but combining that with a pregnancy could shoot your wife’s stress levels into the stratosphere. I really don’t think you want to do that to her. And speaking as an old married guy, it’s something you don’t want to experience either. Another thing to consider is if there’s a good chance you’ll be reassigned in the next four or five years. We work with the military a lot, and that means we see people who buy, and get stuck with, homes all over the country. These places usually become rental homes because they don’t sell quickly. And this is a situation you want to avoid because being a long-distance landlord is a real pain. If everything falls into place, you could easily have enough set aside for a big down payment a few months after the baby arrives. At that point, things will feel a little more settled. I know the temptation is great right now to move into a place you can call your own, but you want buying a home to be a blessing, not a curse. Take a little more time, and see how

DAVE Says

things feel career- and family-wise in a few months. That’s my advice. — Dave Dear Dave, Is it better to keep your emergency fund in a certificate of deposit or a money market account? — Tiffany

Dear Tiffany, Right now, a short-term certificate of deposit (CD) pays about the same as a money market account. The problem is you’re only going to make about 1 percent with either one. The good thing about a money market, though, is that there are no early withdrawal fees attached. In my mind, an emergency fund isn’t there for the purpose of making money. It needs to just sit safe and sound until it’s needed. It should also be in a program where it’s easily accessible and there are no stupid fees or penalties for simply using your own money. So, yeah, savings interest rates right now are aggravating. But you don’t have 3- or 4-percent-homemortgage world without a 1-percent CD world. They kind of go together. Just remember that interest rates aren’t the end game when it comes to your emergency fund. You want three to six months of expenses just sitting there, waiting for life to happen. Trust me, it will! — Dave Dave Ramsey has authored four New York Times best-selling books: “Financial Peace,” “More Than Enough,” “The Total Money Makeover” and “EntreLeadership.” The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 5,000,000 listeners each week on more than 500 radio stations. Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the Web at daveramsey.com.

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Heating Up: As the weather outside becomes wintry, many homeowners may heat up the fireplace. The Cooperative Extension Service reminds everyone to exercise caution when using the fireplace this winter. — Courtesy image

As winter weather bears down fireplaces heat up Mary Hightower

Cooperative Extension Service U of A Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — When winter’s snow and temperatures come down, flames in the fireplace usually go up. However, homeowners should be careful about what gets burned, said Tamara Walkingstick, associate director of the Arkansas Forest Research Center and an extension forester for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Before lighting that first fire, “homeowners should check their chimneys, fireplaces, woodstoves

Extension Service provides safety reminder

and other heat sources that use wood to see if there is any creosote buildup, or birds, rodents, insects or bats that may have taken up residence in there,” she said. Creosote is flammable and any added nesting materials mean that “all it takes is a stray spark to turn that creosote into a torch,”

FIRE continued on Page 9

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SouthArk commencement is set for tomorrow, Dec. 12 Cardiologist Dr. Donald Voelker to speak

South Arkansas Community ColHe is a founding member of the lege will hold Fall Commencement Society of Cardiovascular Comat 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12 at the puted Tomography, and in 2010 was El Dorado Conference Center. recognized as one of only 77 physiThe guest speaker will cians in the world desigbe Dr. Donald Voelker, nated as a Fellow by the an interventional cardiSociety of Cardiovascular ologist at the Medical Computed Tomography. Center of South Arkansas At MCSA Voelker is in El Dorado. the director of the cardiac Voelker, an extensivelycatheterization laboratory published and frequentlyand of business developinvited faculty lecturer at ment; co-director of carnational and international diac computed tomograconferences, has been at phy services; and medical Voelker MCSA since late 2005. director of cardiovascular He brought a complete rehabilitation services. cardiovascular heart team with He is a member of the American him in the effort to create a state- Heart Association, where he is a of-the-art heart surgery program at member of the Council on Artethe hospital. riosclerosis, Thrombosis and VasBoard certified in interventional cular Biology and of the Councardiology, cardiovascular disease cil on Cardiovascular Radiology and cardiac computed tomography, and Intervention. Voelker is an adjunct clinical proFor more information, go online fessor of medicine at the University to www.southark.edu, or follow the of Arkansas for Medical Sciences college at facebook.com/southark or in Little Rock. on Twitter @SouthArkCC.

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N O E L Organization carries the season of giving to area nursing homes A tradition of giving will continue this year as one resident’s efforts to make the holiday season a bit brighter for nursing home residents continues for a second year. Last year, Katie Roberson launched NOEL: Not One Elder Left out with the goal of bringing Christmas to area nursing-home residents who may spend the holiday alone, without receiving any cards or gifts. “I didn’t realize, honestly, how many people there were who don’t have family come visit on the holiday,” Roberson said. According to Roberson, NOEL will distribute gifts mostly at Hillsboro Manor where a higher need was identified. However, the organization will also be distributing to other area nursing homes, and hopes to fill at least 40 gift bags. Items accepted include, but are

not limited to: tissue paper for the gift bags, fleece blankets, lotions, socks, lip balm, facial tissue packets, sugar-free candy, large print crossword and word search books, pens and bookmarks. Roberson said that anyone who would like to help can prepare their own gift bag, donate any of the items listed, contribute funds to purchase the items, or volunteer their time on the day of the delivery. The deadline to send in donations is 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21. All donations can be dropped off at Discount Tobacco No. 3, located at 3214 North West Ave., in El Dorado. NOEL will distribute gifts at 3 p.m. on Dec. 23. For more information, call Roberson at 870.310.4003 or Brenda McLelland at 870.314.3622, or go online to http://on.fb.me/1bsX6cz.

Baseball legend hails from modest roots in central Arkansas Ken Bridges

South Arkansas Historical Foundation

It was an incredible career in baseball, and it all started in Arkansas. Starting from modest roots in Little Rock, Brooks Robinson Jr. would build one of the most successful careers in baseball history. Born in 1937 to a firefighter and semi-professional baseball player, Brooks Robinson showed a lot of athletic promise from an early age. In high school, he ran track and played basketball for a time, but his real passion always lay with baseball. Immediately after his graduation from high school in 1955, he signed a contract to play for the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles sent him to their minor league farm team in York,

Penn., and he was called up to Baltimore late in the 1955 season. Robinson would play 23 seasons with the Orioles, mostly as third baseman. He became almost unstoppable defensively, getting the nickname “the human vacuum cleaner” for his fielding ability. In 1960, he won the first of 16 consecutive Gold Glove Awards for his defensive play, the most for any third baseman in baseball history. That year, he also elected to play in the All-Star Game, his first of 15 consecutive appearances. He would lead the American League in fielding percentage 11 times and had a career .971 fielding average, the most for any third baseman ever. Robinson would have a career .267 batting average with 268

South Arkansas Historical Foundation presents

ist o ry minute

home runs, going on to be named the Most Valuable Player for the American League in 1964 and the Most Valuable Player for the 1966 All-Star Game. The Orioles would go on to win the 1966 and 1970 World Series, with the key home runs and catches by Robinson seen as essential to the Oriole wins. In 1970, he would bat .429 in the World Series and would be named the Most Valuable Player for the World Series. The Orioles would lose the 1971 World Series. And though

Robinson’s career was starting to decline, he was still widely respected for his sportsmanship and abilities as a player, winning the Commissioner’s Award (later named the Roberto Clemente Award) in 1972 for his play. In 1977, Robinson retired from baseball and would become a commentator for televised Orioles games on WMAR. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983 and is still a popular figure among players and throughout the Baltimore area. Organized in the 1970s, the South Arkansas Historical Foundation has been dedicated to educating the public about Arkansas’s rich history for over 30 years. The SAHF offices are located at 422 North Jackson in El Dorado. For more information, about SAHF call 870.862.9890.

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HappyHolidays

» HOLIDAY RIDES — Each Friday and Saturday night through the holidays, hay rides and the PJ’s Express train will take passengers on a tour of the Union Square District to see the holiday lights. The hay ride will load in front of La Bella’s, while PJ’s Express will load in front of PJ’s Coffee. Both rides cost $5 for adults and $3 for children. There is no charge for infants and toddlers sitting in an adult’s lap. There will also be a Romance Carriage Ride available for $30 per group. When: Now through Dec. 21, from 6 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays Where: Union Square District, downtown El Dorado Contact: For more information, go online to the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce at goeldorado.com. » MUSEUM’S HOLIDAY LIGHT EXTRAVAGANZA — The Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources will light up Oil Field Park with more than 200,000 lights during its Holiday Light Extravaganza. The walking tour is wheelchair accessible and features a number of lighted vignettes and scenes from the holiday season. Admission costs $3 for children under the age of 12 and $5 for adults; children under 2 get in free. Package deals are available for $15 for a family of four (two adults and two children, plus $3 for each additional child); and $3 per person for groups of 10 or more. When: Now through Dec. 23, 6 to 8:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday Where: Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources, 3835 Smackover Highway, Smackover Contact: For more information, call the museum at 870.725.2877. » HUGH GOODWIN’S ‘THE NUTCRACKER’ — Second graders from Hugh Goodwin Academy for the Arts elementary school will present their performance of “The Nutcracker.” The school’s third- and fourth-grade choir will also perform at the event. When: Thursday, Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. Where: El Dorado High School Auditorium, 2000 Wildcat Drive Contact: For more information,

call Hugh Goodwin at 870.864.5071.

» FRIDAY NIGHT GROOVE TOY DRIVE — HealthWorks Fitness Center will hold the Friday Night Groove Toy Drive to collect toy donations for the Salvation Army. The center will offer one-hour Zumba and line dancing classes to members and non-members in exchange for one toy donation. When: Friday, Dec. 13 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Where: HealthWorks Fitness Center, 304 North Madison, El Dorado Contact: For more information, contact HealthWorks at 870.862.5442. » CAMDEN HOLIDAY MOVIES ON THE RIVER — The City of Camden presents Movies on the River Holiday Series. The public is invited to bring blankets, lawn chairs and stadium seats to watch holiday Hollywood blockbuster movies under the stars on a giant movie screen with theater-style sound. While guests are welcome to bring their own drinks and snacks, concessions, including warm drinks, will be available for sale. Admission is free. Movie: “Arthur Christmas” (rated PG). When: Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m., following the Christmas parade Where: Riverwalk Amphitheater, 405 Washington St. SE, Camden Contact: For more information, call the city at 870.837.5500 or visit the website at www.camden.ar.gov. » PICTURES WITH SANTA AND GIFT WRAPPING — The Girl Scouts – Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas Union Service Unit will hold a fundraiser, offering pictures with Santa and gift wrapping. Pictures with Santa will cost $5 per photo, and gift wrapping will cost $1 for small packages, $3 for medium and $5 for large. Donations will be used to support the Girl Scout Troop 2322’s annual Senior Scholarship Award. When: Saturday, Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: Inside the doors of T.J.Maxx, Mellor Park Mall, 1865 North West Ave., El Dorado Contact: For more information,

contact Elizabeth Pratt at 870.875.2692 or email enurseark@suddenlink.net.

» LI’L WILD ONES — On the second Saturday of each month, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources will team up to offer Li’l WILD ones, a 90-minute program offering interactive, hands-on outdoor activities that will immerse participants in the environment of South Arkansas. The program is free and open to children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Space is limited, so registration is requested. Program: Christmas for the Birds. Participants will make treats for birds that spend the winter months in Arkansas, and get a bird’s-eye view of visitors on the museum grounds. When: Saturday, Dec. 14 at 10 a.m. Where: Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources, 3853 Smackover Highway, Smackover Contact: For more information or to register, contact the museum at 870.725.2877 or Laura Rogers with the AGFC at larogers@agfc.state.ar.us. » SALVATION ARMY ANGEL TREES — The Salvation Army will be collecting toys, food and Angel Tree gift donations during its Walmart Fill the Truck drive. The organization will also be open that day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its location at 419 South Madison in El Dorado to accept monetary, food and toy donations. The last day to return Angel Tree gifts will be Sunday, Dec. 15 between 1 and 5 p.m. at either the El Dorado or Camden Walmart locations. The Salvation Army will distribute its Angel Tree gifts in El Dorado from 8 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4 p.m., and in Camden from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday, Dec. 20. When: Saturday, Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Walmart locations in El Dorado and Camden Contact: For more information, contact Capt. Bobby Carr at 870.863.4830. » SANTA AT THE SPOT — Santa Claus is taking over the Spot, located between PJ’S Coffee and the El Dorado

Creamery on West Main Street in El Dorado. Children of all ages are welcome to come visit with Santa from now through the holidays. When: Dec. 14 from 3 to 6 p.m.; and Dec. 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. Where: The Spot, adjacent to PJ’s Coffee on West Main and Washington streets in El Dorado Contact: For more information, go online to http://on.fb.me/170bSck.

» SYMPHONY’S ‘THE NUTCRACKER’ — The South Arkansas Symphony will present its traditional Christmas concert, “The Nutcracker,” featuring the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet and local community dancers, along with the South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $15 for K-12. All children attending the event can also sign up for a free pizza and drink from Larry’s Pizza in El Dorado. When: Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Where: El Dorado Municipal Auditorium, 100 West Eighth St., El Dorado Contact: For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the SAS office at 870.862.0521 or 800.792.0521; or visit the website at www.South ArkansasSymphony.org. » TUBACHRISTMAS — For the second year, El Dorado will bring TUBACHRISTMAS to the community for the holidays. This year the concert will feature two members of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. The concert is free and open to the public. Spectators are invited to bring lawn chairs. In case of inclement weather, the event will move inside the courthouse. Registration and rehearsal for performers will be held in the choir room of El Dorado’s First Baptist Church at 11 a.m. the day of the concert. There is no cost for participation. When: Saturday, Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. Where: Union County Courthouse, 101 North Washington Ave., El Dorado Contact: For more information, contact coordinator Erick Wiggins at 870.814.0985. More information about TUBACHRISTMAS can be found online at www.tubachristmas.com.

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Museum to offer workshop in light painting this Saturday SMACKOVER — In keeping with the colorful displays of light during the holiday season, the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources will host the tinkering workshop, “Light Painting.” The museum invites participants to create a unique piece of art using only a camera, recycled holiday lights and other light sources (i.e. flashlights) from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 14. Instead of using paint, a brush and paper, light painting is a novel way to create painterly-like images. When the camera shutter is open and the room is dark, the camera acts as a blank canvas, recording the movement of the light source as if it were drawn or painted. This activity will enable the artist to experiment with the color and other qualities of a light source while expressing their creative side. Light painting may be literal representations, such as writing one’s name; or impressionistic, color-filled images, such as a rainbow swirling around a person. Due to the low-tech nature of

Light Painting: Participants at the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources’s Tinkering Studio workshop will learn how to create light paintings similar to this one using a camera and various light sources this Saturday. — Courtesy image

light painting, this particular tinkering workshop can be replicated at home. Participants can experiment with long exposure images of a cityscape, planes flying overhead, as well as the moon and stars moving across the sky. Like many activities in the Tinkering Studio, light painting combines artistic

creativity, scientific inquiry and technology, along with the use of recycled materials. Participants are asked to submit a valid email address at the workshop, as the light painting images created by each participant will be sent to his or her email address following the event. The workshop will take

South Arkansas Leader’s

Dear Santa

PLAYERS WEEK OF THE

6A STATE

W CHAMPIONSHIP I . PINE BLUFF ZEBRAS STADIUM L WAR MEMORIAL LITTLE ROCK D SATURDAY, DEC. 14 @ 6:30 p.m. C LISTEN LIVE! A T S vs

Submit your child’s letter to Santa to be published in the Leader! What: Send in your child's letter to Santa and his/ her name and age. Where: send an email to leader@noalmark.com or a message to facebook.com/saleader. When: Submit entries no later than noon Dec. 20.

place in the Tinkering Studio of the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources, located at 3853 Smackover Highway in Smackover. The workshop is free and open to the public; however, space is limited so reservations are required. For more information or to register, contact the museum at 870.725.2877.

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Make A Smile Happen toy drive

M*A*S*H Join KIX 103 and 13th South CASA to gather toys for children in need and make a smile happen!

Dec. 12–14

10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Walmart parking lot North West Avenue in El Dorado

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Cozy up by the fire with one of these new reads at SouthArk Lauri Wilson

ex-military cop Reacher finally finds his past catching up with him in the familiar confines of his old unit in Virginia. But his welcome home isn’t quite what he expected, and our hero must react in his usual manner when threatened – aggressively – as he seeks to understand the unbelievable news that he received when he returned to his former home.

South Arkansas Community College

At the South Arkansas Community College Library, the staff can help you find books on history and biographies, books for fun reading and a multitude of topics. Library hours are from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday; 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday; and 7:30 a.m. to noon on Friday. Residents are welcome to come by and get their own library card. Photo ID is required. Some of the library’s newest selections include:

‘Happy, Happy, Happy’

by Phil Robertson. If you’re a fan of Duck Dynasty you’ll want to read, read, read this one: “Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander” by Phil Robertson with Mark Schlaback. You may find out a few things that you didn’t know about this

‘The Girls of Atomic City’ Louisiana legend who grew up not so far from here. Did you know that he played football with Terry Bradshaw at Louisiana Tech? Well, there’s a lot more to learn about Phil and his family and how they created and managed their families, their faith and their duckcalling empire.

‘Never Go Back’

by Lee Child. In the new Jack Reacher novel “Never Go Back” by Lee Child,

HOMEFRONT

Gary Fleder does a solid job having surrounded himself with a superb continued from Page 2 cast and crew. After seeing Statham playing a more emotional and caring feel a little tame in parts. character, I would love to see what For me, it was very reminiscent he could do in a comedy or even a of the action movies of the ’80s romantic comedy, but that doesn’t where Hollywood wasn’t so politi- mean he can’t also remove a few cally correct and we saw an awful body parts along the way. lot more mayhem on screen. I can only imagine what this movie would Red Carpet Crash provides review writing on films, DVDs and television; news have looked like if it had been made and updates on all things entertainment; in the mid-80s and had Stallone in and the occasional free stuff. the starring role. Find RCC at www.redcarpetcrash.com or The film looks great, and director facebook.com/RedCarpetCrash.

by Denise Kiernan. Oak Ridge, Tenn., is more than the name of a famous singing quartet; it’s also the home of a oncesecret city where a government project was underway. Thousands of people were employed there, including many young women, who had no idea of the magnitude of their seemingly trivial work. At least not until the end of the war, when they discovered they were working for the Manhattan Project. Denise Kiernan is the author of

“The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II.”

‘Animal Wise’

by Virginia Morell. Pet owners and animal lovers know already that our furry, scaly and feathered friends share the same feelings and emotions that we do – but are you skeptical? Read “Animal Wise: The Thoughts and Emotions of Our Fellow Creatures” by Virginia Morell. Science writer Morell delves into the latest studies to discover what animal-cognition researchers are learning about the abilities of animals such as ants, elephants, wolves, rats, dolphins and chimpanzees. Lauri Wilson is a library technician at South Arkansas Community College. All of the books mentioned in Shelf Life are available at the SouthArk Library, located at 300 Summit Ave. in El Dorado. The library is open to the public. For more information, call 870.864.7115.

AdoptMe Pet adoptions are available at the Union County Animal Protection Society shelter, 1000 Sunset Road, El Dorado. UCAPS’s is open from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For information about adopting or sponsoring a pet, call 870.862.0502.

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Paya and her siblings, Mango and Kiwi, have been working really hard to get ready for their forever homes. Though they were feral at one time, this trio of cats is now available for adoption and ready to move into a loving home.

Stella would make someone an excellent watch dog! She is an alpha female and needs to be the only pet. She is beautiful, has a calm disposition and walks great on a lead. Adopt Stella from UCAPS and let her protect your home!

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Make A Smile Happen CASA partners with KIX 103 for M.A.S.H toy drive this week

“It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” – It’s a song we at 13th South CASA have found ourselves humming a lot lately. Many of us are preparing for the holiday season, making our lists and checking them twice, planning our family gatherings, and pulling out the decorations. Even though we have commercialized the holiday and it seems to start earlier each year, it still holds a sense of wonder and joy. It’s a time, no matter what our age, we can get lost in childlike innocence and expectation. Unfortunately, a harsh fact that we are reminded of daily is that some children’s innocence has been taken away from them; for some, there is no sense of joy or wonder. There are no visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads on the night before Christmas, rather, images of horrific and unspeakable circumstances they have endured. For many children, uncertainty exists for what the future will hold. Some wonder where their next meal will come from, where their next home will be, or even worse, what painful conditions await them in their own home. Waking up to a morning filled with joyful laughter and a decorated tree with wonderful surprises underneath is inconceivable.

100% of your contribution stays right here in Union County! United Way of Union County partner agencies include: » American Red Cross » Boy Scouts of America » Boys and Girls Club » Camp Fire USA » 13th South CASA (CourtAppointed Special Advocates) » Community Living Arrangements

David Joyner and Jim Roomsburg); and various villagers (the SouthArk continued from Page 1 Choral Society). The opera will take place in the his mother, a poor widow (Liz Slater); Kaspar, Melchior and Balthasar, Callaway Theatre of the South the Three Kings (Steve Harrell, Arkansas Arts Center, located at Ricky Green and Shelton Harden); 110 East Fifth St., in El Dorado. For more information, contact Page (Joe Smith); shepherds (Beth Moses, Anne Moses, Rick Morgan, Harden at 870.864.7176.

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Union United is a section showcasing the news and happenings of the 14 nonprofit partner agencies of the United Way of Union County. For more information, call 870.862.4903, email liveunited@uwucar.org or visit the website at www.uwucar.org.

» Girl Scouts » HOPE Landing » Literacy Council » Salvation Army » Single-Parent Scholarship Fund » South Arkansas Developmental Center for Children and Families » South Arkansas Fights AIDS » Turning Point.

AMAHL

FIRE Thirteenth South CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates) works with children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect or both. We are honored to once again partner with KIX 103 for the annual M.A.S.H (Make A Smile Happen) Toy Drive, which enables us to provide Christmas gifts to all of the children CASA serves. This year’s event will be Dec. 12-14 on the parking lot of El Dorado’s Walmart, located at 2730 North West Ave. Community members are asked to bring a new toy or make a donation to help us make a smile happen this holiday season. For more information about the M.A.S.H toy drive, contact the CASA office at 870.862.2272. More information about 13th South CASA can be found online at 13thsouthcasa.com.

South Arkansas Leader

Walkingstick said. If homeowners have to resort to the fireplace for heat in the event of a power loss and a limited supply of firewood, Walkingstick said they should not burn lumber, especially old boards. “Salvaged timber may have been treated with an arsenic-based compound,” she said. “Burning that wood will put those chemicals into the air you’re breathing. “Burning green wood or resinous wood like pine can make flammable creosote accumulate in the chimney even more rapidly and green wood also causes heavy smoke,” she said, adding that charcoal meant

for your grill should never be burned in the fireplace. “Read and follow package directions.” It’s also a good idea to check chimneys and stovepipes for leaks. “If the electricity goes out and you need that heat, the last thing you want to see is a house full of dangerous and damaging smoke coming out of your chimney and stovepipes,” Walkingstick said. Space heaters need to be used with care. Be sure there is nothing flammable around – no stacks of paper, drapes or furniture near by that could go up in flames. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. For more information, go online to www.uaex.edu.

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COMMUNITY calendar

» ATOKA OPEN HOUSE — The new engineering and environmental company ATOKA will join the local community with an El Dorado Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting and open house. Refreshments will be served and guests will have a chance to win door prizes, including three $50 gift cards from Bass Pro Shop, Walmart and Fayrays. When: Thursday, Dec. 12 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Where: ATOKA, 313 East Main St., El Dorado Contact: For more information, contact the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce at 870.863.6113. » NATURE NIGHTS — On the second Thursday of each month, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and South Arkansas Community College’s Corporate and Community Education will team up to offer Nature Nights, a series for the entire family. The program is free and open to the public. Space is limited, so registration is requested. Program: Oh, Deer! Participants will learn a little about the white-tail deer and make something using its antlers. When: Thursday, Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. Where: Center for Workforce Development, SouthArk East Campus, 3696 East Main, El Dorado Contact: For more information or to register, contact CCE at 870.864.7192 or email Laura Rogers at the AGFC at larogers@agfc.state.ar.us. » SOUTHARK GED FALL COMMENCEMENT — South Arkansas Community College will hold fall 2013 commencement for its

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general education development graduates. When: Thursday, Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. Where: Room 121, Center for Workforce Development, SouthArk East Campus, 3696 East Main St., El Dorado Contact: For more information, visit the website at www.southark.edu or follow the college on Facebook at facebook.com/southark.

» COUNTY HOT CHECK OFFICE CLOSED — The offices of the Union County Hot Check Program will be closed to process the end of the year, with the last day open to the public on Tuesday, Dec. 17. The office will still accept payments through the mail or in the drop box located at the Hot Check Office. When: Closed from Dec. 18 through Jan. 2, 2014 Where: Room 113, 307 American Road, El Dorado Contact: For more information, contact program coordinator Debra Stevens at 870.864.1963. » U LEAD CLASS 3 OPENS ENROLLMENT — The El Dorado Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for Leadership Union County Class 3, sponsored by Great Lakes Solutions and NexansAmerCable. The 10-month program, which begins Feb. 26, 2014, is designed to strengthen the community by developing leadership through community interaction, teamwork, networking and hands-on experiences. Application Deadline: Deadline to apply is Jan. 17, 2014. Where: Applications are available

Tell Us Something Good! Submit your event, announcement or story idea to the South Arkansas Leader at leader@noalmark.com at least one week before the date of the event. All material must be received the Friday before publication on Wednesday. For more information, contact the Leader staff at 870.863.6126 or by email.

online at goeldorado.com/leadership, or at the Chamber office, located at 111 West Main St. Contact: For more information, contact the Chamber at 870.863.6113 or email chamber@goeldorado.com. » SOUTHARK WRITERS’ INK CONTEST — South Arkansas Community College is seeking entries for the creative-writing contest that is the basis for the literary magazine, Writers’ Ink. The contest is open to all Union County high-school students, and 18 cash prizes will be awarded in three literary genres (poetry, essays and short fiction), with first, second and third place winners in the junior (ninth and 10th grade) and senior (11th and 12th grade) divisions. Winning manuscripts will be published in the spring in the 17th volume of the magazine along with other entries selected by a panel of SouthArk judges. Submission Deadline: Feb. 21, 2014 Rules: A complete set of rules, requirements and guidelines are available at www.southark.edu/writersink. Contact: Students who wish to enter should contact their English teachers for more information. Home-schooled students can submit manuscripts by enlisting high-school English teachers in Union County to serve as a sponsor. » LIFESHARE REQUESTS BLOOD DONATIONS — Those interested in donating, are asked to contact LifeShare Blood Centers of El Dorado during business hours. Hours: Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: LifeShare Blood Centers, 443 West Oak St., El Dorado

Contact: For more information, contact LifeShare at 870.862.2150. » FOOD AND CLOTHING DONATIONS — Saint James Village Outreach Facility provide only food donations during the week. Those who wish to donate clothing can place items in the blue containers in front of the building. Saint James does not accept furniture. When: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where: Village Outreach Facility, 1108 East Hillsboro, El Dorado Contact: For more information, contact Bishop George Calloway at 870.875.2621. » BARTON LIBRARY LOCATING ANNUALS — Barton Library is participating in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections’ Yearbook Project, which digitizes high school yearbooks free for libraries and high schools. The library has 1960-1979 on disc, but is missing several volumes in several decades. If members of the public will loan their annuals from 1944-46, 195354, 2009 and 2012, the library will give them a free copy of the digitized yearbook. Each disc contains several years. Turnaround time for the process is less than one month. Contact: For more information or to loan a yearbook to the project, contact the Barton Public Library at 870.863.5447 or email inquiries@ bartonlibrary.org. Have an event to announce? Submit your event or announcement to the South Arkansas Leader at leader@noalmark.com. Call 870.863.6126 for more information.

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SUDOKU

EADER

To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes.

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Editor Brooke Burger brooke.burger@noalmark.com Advertising Harry Dyer harry@noalmark.com Stacey Turner stacey.turner@noalmark.com

The South Arkansas Leader is owned and operated by Noalmark Broadcasting Corporation. The views and opinions expressed in the South Arkansas Leader are those of the staff and contributing writers and do not represent the official views of Noalmark Broadcasting Corporation. All material published in this newspaper and on its website is copyrighted. The South Arkansas Leader publishes every Wednesday. All materials for publication must be received no later than noon the Friday before publication. For more information on submitting news releases, photos, event announcements, story ideas or photo opportunities, please contact the editor. The South Arkansas Leader is a weekly communityinterest newspaper serving Union County, Arkansas.

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2525 North West Ave. El Dorado, AR 71730 Office: 870.863.6126 Fax: 870.863.4555 leader@noalmark.com

South Arkansas Leader

WEEKLY RECIPE Warm up winter with a dish that evokes the colorful days of summer Hearty winter meals have a tendency to lack the color and vitality that comes with fresh summer produce. But just because the days are shorter and people are bundled up against the cold weather does not mean meals cannot benefit from fresh produce. Year-round availability of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables means that fresh produce can still be the centerpiece of wintertime meals. The rich antioxidants and vitamins in produce can help fend off illnesses and ensure you have plenty of energy. Wild rice is the only grain native to North America and is celebrated across cultures as a prized ingredient because it is chock full of nutrients and said to contain higher levels of antioxidants and protein than white rice. Get rid of those cold weather blues with this salad, courtesy of Nicole Presley, author of the recipe blog “Presley’s Pantry.”

Wild Rice, Mango and Arugula Salad Ingredients:

» 1 cup wild rice » 2 1/3 cups chicken broth » 1 cup cucumber, chopped into cubes » 1 cup panela cheese, chopped into cubes » 6 basil leaves, chopped into strips » 20 cherry tomatoes, halved » 1/4 cup pine nuts

Directions:

» 1/2 cup dried cranberries » 1/2 cup diced pear » 1 cup arugula » 1 large avocado, diced » 1/2 cup red onion, chopped » 1 cup mango, diced

For the dressing: » 1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 4 limes) » 1/4 cup olive oil » 1 teaspoon salt » Pepper to taste

In a pot over a medium-high flame, add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add in rice and return to a boil. Once boiling, place a lid on the pot and lower the flame to a simmer. Simmer for 45 minutes. Remove pot from heat and let rice rest in pot for 10 minutes. Place rice in a strainer and rinse under cold water. Let drain completely. In a large bowl, add cucumber, panela cheese, basil, cherry tomatoes, pine nuts, dried cranberries, pear, arugula, avocado and red onion. Mix well to combine. Pour drained wild rice into veggies. Mix well. Then add in the mango and give it another mix. In a small bowl or cup, mix all ingredients for dressing and pour over the salad.

CLUES ACROSS

1. Binder 5. Move up and down 11. Wild sheep of northern Africa 12. Annoys 16. An upward movement 17. Ducktail 18. Town in central Minnesota 19. Philatelist’s delight 24. Carrier’s invention 25. Foreign travellers 26. Aurochs 27. Batter advanced score 28. Show the way 29. Steep rugged mass of rock 30. Valley 31. Digital data device 33. Insert mark 34. Breakout

CLUES DOWN

38. Dissention from dogma 39. Kuhil and clown fish 40. Unconsciousness 43. Czech River 44. Johann Sebastian 45. Flows to the Danube at Belgrade 49. World data organization (abbr.) 50. Comedian Sahl 51. Porch furniture wood 53. Potato state 54. American Pickers 56. Yellow-fever mosquitoes 58. Edison’s company 59. Axis and offshoot angle 60. Standard 63. Blame (Scottish) 64. Esoteric 65. Pronounces

1. Any wrist bone 35. More hearty, firmer 2. Baltimore bird 36. Taxis 3. Czar’s nation 37. Single pip card 4. Regulated food 38. 50th state 5. Space next to someone 40. A source of worry 6. Expunction 41. Eight sided 7. Trauma center 42. Highest military valor 8. Spanish yes award (abbr.) 9. Matters 44. Former Harvard Pres. 10. Twist out of shape Derek 13. Toward 45. Drinking tubes 14. Renders able for a task 46. Loss of coordination 15. An extended social group 47. Self-love 20. Article 48. Talus joints 21. GMA anchor’s initials 50. Accumulator 22. Streetcar 51. Rural delivery 23. Summer month (abbr.) 52. Lady Soul’s initials 27. Not widely distributed 54. Prefix indicating 29. Plays great music abstraction 30. Female 1776 descendants 55. Hawaiian goose 31. Speed gauge ratio 57. Prince William’s mom, 32. Old English Lady __ 33. After B 61. Aid organization (abbr.) 34. Expressing sorrow 62. Farm state Answer key on page 10.

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