Volume 10 - No. 16

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South Arkansas

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June 11, 2014 Volume 10 – No. 16 WANT MORE?

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Oil Town Fest

Smackover to hold annual Oil Town Festival next week

SMACKOVER — The Smackover Chamber of Commerce will kick off the 43rd Annual Oil Town Festival next week, beginning Thursday night, June 19, and running through Saturday evening.

One of the state’s oldest festivals, the Smackover Oil Town Festival was first held in 1971 to commemorate the discovery of the Smackover oil well, the Richardson No. 1. Over the years, the festival has grown in size and events have changed, but the festival still hosts the Drill Bit Toss, Pipe Tote and Rod Wrenching, contests reflecting the area’s oil boom heritage.

The Oil Town Festival is geared towards all ages, with free contests, tournaments, children’s activities, nightly concerts, vendors and more at Tennyson Park in Smackover. The

OIL continued on Page 5 Roughneckin’ It: Denise Williams competes in the Rod Wrenching Contest at a previous Smackover Oil Town Festival. This year’s festival will take place next week, June 19-22. — File photo

Free concert series – p. 6-7

M*A*S*H camps set for El Dorado, 31 communities across the state LITTLE ROCK — M*A*S*H (Medical Applications of Science for Health) camps will be held in 32 communities throughout Arkansas this summer.

A location change for University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences South to Magnolia will allow the regional center to host camps at four facilities this year. These include Camden, El Dorado, Magnolia and Warren.

The two-week M*A*S*H camps are designed to expose rising highschool juniors and seniors to health care-related vocations. Most of the camps are conducted at rural medical centers in hopes of attracting local students.

“This M*A*S*H program provides wonderful opportunities for hundreds of Arkansas students interested in medical careers,” said Jennifer Victory, rural health specialist for Arkansas Farm Bureau. “It allows them to receive hands-on experience and gain knowledge that cannot be learned in the classroom. Many of these students are from rural areas, and M*A*S*H gives them a chance to see the careers available in health care, while encouraging them to eventually return to practice in

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‘Edge of Tomorrow’ keeps audiences on edge of their seats Derek DiCiccio Red Carpet Crash

There are plenty of Tom Cruise haters out there. Whether it’s his odd real-life persona or the fact that he seems to be spinning his onscreen wheels a bit, it shows in the box office returns.

For his detractors, “Edge of Tomorrow” can offer you this: Sit down and watch Tom Cruise die over and over, well over 100 times.

Those same detractors will also get to watch a fantastically entertaining sci-fi thriller that is equal parts exciting and intelligent.

“Edge of Tomorrow” takes place in the not-too-distant future after an asteroid crashes in Germany.

The asteroid contains an alien race and they quickly take over the entire continent of Europe. The world unites militarily and forms the United Defense Force in order to fight back. The aliens are then named Mimics, as they are able to adapt in battle, almost as if they know what the human fighting force is going to do.

Cruise’s Maj. William Cage is hardly a soldier. Cage is an advertising executive who was ROTC in college and ran a marketing firm, before joining the U.S. Army as

Edge of Tomorrow An officer finds himself caught in a time loop in a war with an alien race.

His skills increase as he faces the same brutal combat scenarios, and his union with a Special Forces warrior gets him closer to defeating the enemy. » Release date: June 6. » Run time: 113 min.

the smiling face on TV that sells the war to the people of Earth. He goes to London to meet with Gen. Brigham (Brendan Gleeson), where he assumes he’ll simply be expected to sell an upcoming invasion into Mimic-controlled France.

Things do not go well for Cage at that point. Brigham wants to imbed Cage on the frontline with a camera crew, documenting what is expected to be a war-winning battle.

After a serious misunderstanding, Cage finds himself strapped into an exoskeleton battle suit, storming the beach.

Cage, so unequipped that he doesn’t know how to turn the safety off on his weapons, does not do

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those rural areas.”

The El Dorado camp will run from July 14 to July 25 at South Arkansas Community College.

Other nearby camps include: Ouachita Medical Center in Camden, June 16-27; Ashley County Medical Center in Crossett, June 16-27; Bradley County Medical Center in Warren, June 23-28; and UAMS South in Magnolia, July 21 through Aug. 1.

M*A*S*H* students complete many activities and rotations, learning selected medical skills and observing a variety of medical professionals in area hospitals and offices.

County Farm Bureau organizations and the Arkansas Medical Mentor Partnership sponsor students so they may attend the camps at no cost. The partnership includes the University of Arkansas for Medical Science’s regional centers, Arkansas

Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Arkansas Farm Bureau, Baptist Health and the Arkansas Health Department’s Office of Oral Health.

More information on the M*A*S*H program can be obtained by contacting Eva McKinney with UAMS at 501.686.5079, or Jennifer Victory of Arkansas Farm Bureau at 501.228.1269.

Arkansas Farm Bureau is a nonprofit, private advocacy organization throughout the state working to improve farm and rural life. For more information, go to arfb.com.

» Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language and brief suggestive material. » Director(s): Doug Liman. » Stars: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Gleeson, Noah Taylor, Jonas Armstrong, Tony Way, Kick Gurry and Charolette Riley.

well during the battle. In fact, the entire battle is a bloodbath, as the Mimics make short work of every human on the beach. However, Cage manages to kill a Mimic and he himself is killed while doing it.

Then he wakes up back at the barracks, complete with Master Sgt. Farrell (a hilariously Southern Bill Paxton) shouting the exact same things to him as the previous day.

Cage, without any explanation, is about to live the same day over again.

This is when “Edge of Tomorrow” goes from your standard aliensinvade-Earth-ho-hum-story to a unique and mind-bending experience. The movie, through fantastic

writing and editing, manages to show the same things over and over, but with tiny twists and turns as Cage learns what is happening and tries his best to alter the inevitable.

Once Cage hears “Find me when you wake up” from Rita (Emily Blunt) during the fight on the beach, “Edge of Tomorrow” soars.

Rita, essentially the military’s super soldier, seems to know what is happening to Cage. She even has a scientist, Dr. Carter (the always great Noah Taylor), hidden on base to help her work out this time anomaly.

Rita trains Cage to fight. They rehearse the beach battle over and over, in hopes of memorizing what will happen so they can win the war. When something goes wrong or Rita thinks things are off-track, she simply pulls a pistol out and shoots Cage to reset the day.

Needless to say, “Edge of Tomorrow” is a slightly dark movie.

Things tend to get that way when you watch the two main stars repeatedly die. It helps that the movie is bitingly funny in moments, which lightens up a depressing situation.

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Stay in control of retirement when changing jobs, roll money into IRA Dear Dave, How should I handle my 401(k) when moving from one job to another?

— Tracy

Locally Grown: As more and more consumers and businesses embrace the locally-grown movement, the state

Agriculture Department program, Arkansas Grown, continues to show growth across the state. — Courtesy image

Ken Moore

now calling me and saying, ‘Hey we want to be part of this program.’”

In 2010, there were about 45 groups registered with Arkansas Grown. Today, there are more than 500. Arkansas Farm Bureau is collaborating with the Agriculture Department and University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service to develop a mobile app that will be a one-stop shop for consumers and retail buyers. Farmers are encouraged to sign up their location by going to localandgrown.org.

This will ensure they are included on the app that should be available later this summer.

One of the local growers who is participating with Arkansas Grown is Barnhill Orchards in Lonoke County. Bob Barnhill established the farm in 1980. Known for its quality strawberries, the farm has expanded to include a variety of fruits and vegetables. Barnhill says demand for locally grown food by

Arkansas Grown program is expanding across state Arkansas Farm Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — More consumers are indicating they want locally grown food when they eat out and to serve their families at home.

To help connect them and local farmers with restaurants and food buyers, the Arkansas Agriculture Department developed the Arkansas Grown program.

First created in 2002, it was redesigned in 2009 with a new website, ArkansasGrown.org. Participation in the program has taken off the past few years.

“When I started at the department in 2010, there was some demand for it, but this local food demand was just taking off,” said Zach Taylor, director of marketing for the Agriculture Department. “It’s really gotten big now, and I have producers – beginning producers and producers that have been producing for 20 years – that have not looked at our Arkansas Grown label before but are

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Dear Tracy, I would roll it to an IRA. Your new company, if you move it there, will have limited choices for your 401(k). You’d also probably have a lengthy waiting period for verification and the potential addon fees and taxes.

Plus, with an IRA you can cash it out if something really bad happens. But I rarely ever advise people to cash out their IRAs. The only exceptions are extreme cases, like to avoid bankruptcy or foreclosure. Even then, hardship withdrawals are very difficult to get. And again, this kind of thing should never be done except in an absolute, worst-case scenario.

Just roll your money into a traditional IRA, Tracy. It’s called a direct transfer IRA, and that way there will be no taxes on it. You want the money to go directly from the 401(k) to the IRA. Then, you’ll have the freedom to choose from about 8,000 mutual funds and move the money around, if you like.

In other words, you’re in control.

That’s the way it should be when it comes to your money!

— Dave

DAVE Says

other teenage stuff for the younger kids, are you going to turn around and give the older child extra money just to “even things up?”

Of course not – that would be silly.

She had her moment in the sun, and now it’s their turn.

Just make sure you hug on all of them equally, and let them know you love them!

— Dave Dear Dave, Would it be okay to go on a 10th anniversary honeymoon while we’re working on our debt snowball?

— Karen

Dear Dave, We have three children – ages 15, 10 and 9. With our oldest starting high school and just being a teenager, we’re spending lots more money on her than the others. It’s almost like she’s the favorite child.

Should we spend more on the other kids to make things seem a little more fair?

— Julie

Dear Karen, I don’t think so. I mean, it’s not against the law or anything like that. I just don’t think it’s a good idea. I wouldn’t do it, and I wouldn’t suggest taking the trip then rolling it into your debt snowball either. I know this probably sounds mean, but I’m just not a big romantic when it comes to people who are deeply in debt.

A rare exception may be a situation where you have a really small debt snowball and a nice, fat income. But most people in your shoes have average incomes and mountains of debt. On top of that, they want to take a big celebration vacation? I would say no.

At some point you have to stop the spending and concentrate on getting your finances in order. Besides, you’ve got a lifetime together to take romantic vacations and celebrate your marriage. Just wait until you can afford something like that. Trust me, you’ll enjoy it even more!

— Dave

Dear Julie, I don’t think so. In five or six years, it’ll be their turn and you guys will be spending that kind of money on them, too. That’s the way it is with teens.

Here’s a question for you: When the 15-year-old is 23, and you’re buying prom dresses and all the

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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SouthArk Library gets all in the family with June releases Lauri Wilson

South Arkansas Community College

It’s June – hope that you have lots of time for family!

We do, as this month’s column is devoted to books on families: historical families, the dysfunctional ones, families searching for their ancestors and families rebuilding after returning from the military.

Also in June at the SouthArk Library, summer hours are Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to noon. Be sure to bring your library card with you.

home with their parents for a variety of reasons – but a trend that can have long-reaching consequences for the futures of these families.

Katherine S. Newman explores the trend in “The Accordion Family: Boomerang Kids, Anxious Parents and the Private Toll of Global Competition.”

‘The Borgias’

by G.J. Meyer.

A notorious family of the Italian Renaissance, the Borgias were accused of being corrupt and decadent, and supposedly sank to unbelievable depths to advance their political ambitions. But were these legends true?

In “The Borgias: The Hidden History,” historian G.J. Meyer examines the facts surrounding the myths about a family – including popes, cardinals and their children – who were probably a lot less exciting than the TV series about their lives.

‘Family History Detective’

by Desmond Walls Allen.

Genealogy can be a fascinating hobby, but the amount of information out there can be overwhelming.

In “Family History Detective: A Step-By-Step Guide to Investigating Your Family Tree,” Desmond Walls Allen will guide you through the process of gathering documents and records, and presenting your family history in an organized way.

Then you’ll learn exciting ways that you can share your new information with others.

‘The Accordion Family’

by Katherine S. Newman.

Are you part of an “accordion family?” It’s a growing sociological trend – adult children still living at

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restaurants and participation in the Arkansas Grown program has been a boon for his business.

“People that want to have locally, home-grown products frequently ask me where they can get my stuff,” Barnhill said. “I tell them where the markets are and where the restaurants are.”

Jack Sundell and his wife own the Root Café on Main Street in downtown Little Rock. He buys fresh produce from Barnhill because it fits his business model, and he can count on the farm to supply a quality product. He expects demand to enable more restaurants to offer locally grown food.

“Our focus, our objective, is building community through local food, so we do everything that we can to purchase directly from local farms and help to support the central Arkansas agriculture community,” Sundell said. “There’s really an abundance of activity right now on the restaurant scene. A lot of people are getting interested in local foods from a consumer standpoint. You

see that with the explosion of farmers’ markets around Little Rock.

And restaurants, chefs like to use the best food they can get. I think restaurants for a long time have been setting the trend. Chefs find that food that comes directly from farms tastes better; it’s fresher. It’s a better quality product.”

Barnhill is pleased that many mothers are buying his produce to serve their families because they trust it’s a quality product.

“I frequently hear from mothers that they’re talking about they’re not feeding their kids anything but locally grown stuff,” Barnhill said. “That pleases me because they’re trusting me with the health of their children. I don’t think you can beat that.”

To locate farms, farmers’ markets, restaurants and other organizations participating in the program visit ArkansasGrown.org.

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.

Adopt a Shelter Cat Month!

UCAPS is offering a special adoption rate on all its cats and kittens throughout the month of June!

Adoption fee costs $25 (regularly $80) with an approved adoption application.

OPT TO ADOPT! Allow a shelter pet to complete your family! Visit UCAPS from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and let them choose YOU!

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Photography course offered for beginners Beginning Photography, with instructor Eric Maynard, is a noncredit class at South Arkansas Community College from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. each Monday for six weeks beginning on June 23.

The course is designed to teach students about camera features and functions, and how to use them to shoot more creative photographs.

Participants will learn about controlling shutter speed, depth of field and how to meter the

light to get correct exposures.

The course will take place each Monday night at the Center for Workforce Development, located on SouthArk’s East Campus.

The cost is $98.

Register at the SouthArk Bookstore, located in the El Dorado Conference Center, or by calling 870.864.7163.

SouthArk Community Education classes, programs, seminars, workshops and camps are designed to offer a

variety of opportunities for cultural, educational and life-enriching activities for all ages. Classes vary and may include instruction in hobbies, crafts, dance, exercise, relaxation, music, golf, art, first aid and safety, self improvement, computer software applications, and entrepreneurship.

Courses are offered throughout the week at various times and locations and vary in length and cost. New schedules are released three times per year. For more information on available courses or teaching a class, contact the SouthArk Community Education office at 870.864.7192 or email ce@southark.edu.

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festival kicks off Thursday night with a Bunko Tournament at 6 p.m., followed by the Gospel Night concert at 7 with The Issacs and Jamie Coulter performing.

A multi-award winning family group from Tennessee, The Isaacs began singing 35 years ago. Vocalists are mother Lily Isaacs and siblings Ben Issacs, Sonya Issacs Yeary and Rebecca Issacs Bowman.

The group plays their own acoustic instruments, along with other band members. They are known for blending harmony with contemporary acoustic instrumentation, influenced by bluegrass, rhythm and blues, folk, and country, contemporary, acoustic and southern gospel.

The Issacs will be joined by the “Little giant of Gospel Music,” Jamie Coulter. A Hamburg native, Coulter is a Christian country and southern gospel performer. Standing at 36 inches tall, Coulter was born with the rare disease Osteogenusis Imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease. Coulter has gone on to perform on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, as well as making numerous television appearances and playing concerts across the nation.

The festivities will continue on Friday afternoon, June 20 with a number of competitions, including a bake off, watermelon eating contest, Bingo and cakewalk. As well, a plethora of arts-and-crafts booths and food vendors will be set up throughout the park.

Friday night will kick off the first

Slow and Steady: A young boy gets ready to put his turtle in the ring for the Oil Town Festival Turtle Race. The

2014 festival will feature all the traditional contests, including the turtle race scheduled for June 21. — File photo

of four live concerts. Beginning at 7 p.m., the Cummins Prison Band, known for its blend of oldstyle rock, blues and jazz, will open for local piano legend Jason D. Williams.

An El Dorado-native, Williams describes himself as a “rockabilly” performer, having joined Sleepy LaBeef’s band in Massachusetts at age 16. Williams’ career took off as a solo performer in the 1980s and he became a regular guest on shows as far-ranging as “Crook and Chase” and “Entertainment Tonight.”

By Saturday, June 21 the festival will be in full force, with the Oil Town Festival Pork Rib Cook-off and 5K Oil Run starting early that morning. Competitions and contests will continue throughout the

day with the Oil Town Dog Show, Turtle Race, Egg Toss, Arm Wrestling Competition and Horseshoe Contest, as well as the Drill Bit Throwing, Rod Wrenching and Pipe Tote contests.

As well, the Tug of War will kick off at noon, with weigh-in beginning at 11 Saturday morning. Each team cannot exceed 1,500 pounds and must include at least one female team member.

Ending the day of competition will be the famed Yellow Duck Race down No Name Creek. Starting at 6 p.m., hundreds of little rubber yellow ducks will be dumped into the creek, with the first duck to cross the finish line winning $1,000 and the last a $1. Second and third will also take home cash prizes totaling

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Local business seeks donations for displaced youth River Valley Community Federal Credit Union is asking the community to join in its mission to answer a need among area youth. The local business is seeking donations of new backpacks or duffel bags for displaced children.

All donations are accepted at River Valley Community FCU, located at 2416 North West Ave. in El Dorado. For more information, call River Valley Community at 870.863.6000 or go online to www.myrvcu.com.

$500 and $250 respectively.

Ducks can be purchased for the race for $1 each at the Smackover Chamber of Commerce office, located at 710 Pershing Hwy. in Smackover. Registration for the rib cookoff costs $50 per team, due by noon Tuesday, June 17 in the Chamber office. Cash prizes will be awarded to first, second and third at $500, $250 and $100 respectively.

The festival will come to a close Saturday night with two free concerts from Louisiana natives and rising country music stars Lainey Wilson and Frank Foster.

Foster, born and raised in north Louisiana, said his biggest influences came from outlaw country and southern rock, from the likes of Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr., Willie Nelson and others. Known as new outlaw country, Foster now plays to sold-out crowds throughout the South.

A self-proclaimed “typical country girl,” Lainey Wilson was born and raised in Baskin, La. She wrote her first song, “Lucky Me,” at the age of 9, and by age 11 had learned to play the guitar. Wilson has entered and won many contests throughout the Ark-La-Miss with her original songs, as well as co-writing several songs with Nashville writers.

The 43rd Annual Smackover Oil Town Festival is free and open to the public. The festival will take place at Tennyson Park, located on the corner of Broadway and 10th street.

For more information, including a complete schedule and registration information, visit the Smackover Chamber of Commerce website at www.smackoverar.com.

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The 2014 Showtime Concert Series, presented by Murphy USA, Main Street El Dorado and KIX 103, will kick off on June 28. The free concert series will feature national music artists performing outside on Union Square in historic downtown El Dorado three Saturdays throughout the summer. » Jaime Lynn Spears, whose debut single “How Could I Want More” is quickly climbing the country charts, will open the concert series on Saturday, June 28.

At 22 years of age, the Kentwood, La. native is already a seasoned entertainment veteran, beginning her career with a small part in “Crossroads” (2002), portraying the fictionalized younger version of reallife sister Britney Spears’ character.

Spears went on to find a home in television, appearing on Nickelodeon’s “All That” and, most notably, starring as the title character of “Zoey 101,” for which she won the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award for best actress in 2006.

Spears wrote her single “How Could I Want More” with Nashville songwriter Rivers Rutherford, who has also collaborated with Tim McGraw and Brad Paisley. Spears’ first single already has critical acclaim and cultural heat, being named a Taste of Country Critic’s Pick. The young artist’s journey has been covered by such outlets as E!, Entertainment Tonight, BuzzFeed, MTV, CMT, People magazine and others. » Joshua Scott Jones will follow Spears, headlining the second performance of the summer

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Annual summer concert series to debut at Union Square in downtown El Dorado on June 28

— Logan Mize

on Saturday, July 26. One-half of the successful country duo Steel Magnolia, Jones is no stranger to hit songs.

After winning CMT’s “Can You Duet,” Jones and his duo partner Meghan Linsey were thrust into the limelight and it wasn’t long before they were a staple in the country

community. The duo’s hits include “Keep on Lovin’ You,” “Just by Being You (Halo and Wings)” and “Last Night Again.” Steel Magnolia was nominated for best new vocal duo at the ACM, CMA and CMT Awards.

Jones’ debut album, “The Healing,” will drop later this year.

His lead single “Honk (If You’re Tonky)” launched worldwide in January and was instantly a fan favorite on radio, including Sirius XM’s The Highway. With a fulllength record, a new music video and a tour coming in the next few months, the country-crooning rocker is set to take the country

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— Joshua Scott Jones

— Jamie Lynn Spears

scene by storm. » Logan Mize will bring the Summer Concert Series to a close on Saturday, Aug. 23.

The heartland-rocker’s latest single, “Used Up,” has seen rising success on Sirius XM’s The Highway and his debut video is currently playing on CMT. Mize spent a good part of 2013 behind the camera in a couple of high-profile turns on the small screen. The Kansas native ended up in a widely viewed “Fabric of Our Life” cotton commercial with Hayden Panettiere of ABC-TV’s

lauded “Nashville.” Mize has gone on to play himself and sing in a recent episode of The CW’s hit drama “Hart of Dixie,” starring Rachel Bilson. He also has a fan in country and pop superstar LeAnn Rimes, who not only tweeted about Mize’s new single, “Used Up,” but also invited him to open her recent shows in Europe.

No stranger to touring, Mize has opened shows for headlining household names such as Lady Antebellum, The Band Perry, Eric Church, Dierks Bentley and Blake Shelton, to name a few.

Each night, the Showtime Concert Series will begin with preevent music on the Showtime Stage at 7 p.m., followed by the headliner at 8. The event will follow Main Street El Dorado’s award-winning Showdown at Sunset performances, which begin at 6 p.m. on the steps of the Union County Courthouse in the center of historic Union Square, located at 101 North Washington St. in downotwn El Dorado.

Showdown at Sunset is an historic reenactment of the 1902 shoot out on the courthouse square of El Dorado between city Marshal

Guy Tucker and his rivals, the Parnell brothers. The shoot out left three men dead and several others wounded. The award-winning event was named one of the Top-100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association and received the Community Trademark Award by the Arkansas Festival & Event Association.

Showdown at Sunset and the Showtime Concert Series are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Main Street El Dorado at 870.862.4747 or go online to mainstreeteldorado.org.

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From a life of poverty to multimillionaire Desha County native John H. Johnson builds an empire

Ken Bridges

South Arkansas Historical Foundation

“Failure is a word I simply don’t accept,” John Harold Johnson once said in an interview.

Johnson faced obstacles and controversy his entire life, but the Arkansas native rose from deep poverty to becoming one of the most successful businessmen in the world, and in the process, gave a voice to a community eager to be heard.

Born in Arkansas City in January 1918, Johnson was the grandson of slaves. His father worked at the local sawmill, while his mother worked as a cook at a levee camp.

Their hard life was made even more difficult when his father was killed in a sawmill accident.

His education stalled in the early 1930s when he completed the eighth grade. Desha County did not have a high school for AfricanAmericans, and possessing such a thirst for education, Johnson voluntarily re-took the eighth grade.

In 1933, he and his mother moved to Chicago, impressed by the many opportunities available to AfricanAmericans there. He graduated high school in 1936, becoming president of his senior class and serving as editor of both the school newspaper and the yearbook.

Johnson won a scholarship to the University of Chicago and got a job with an insurance company.

Through this work, he saw the need for a magazine targeting AfricanAmericans. His mother put up her furniture to get a $500 loan, and Johnson looked for investors and potential subscribers in the AfricanAmerican business community.

In 1942, he launched Negro Digest. He cleverly inflated interest by having 20 friends go to different

“Failure is a word I simply don’t accept.”

John H. Johnson American businessman, publisher

newsstands asking for copies of the magazine, prompting vendors to begin stocking it. Johnson quickly employed the strategy in other cities, and the magazine’s circulation soon reached 50,000. Though this magazine would last only a few years, it would be the beginning of a publishing empire.

In 1946, Johnson launched Ebony

magazine, which would highlight trends and leaders in the AfricanAmerican community. Emboldened by his success, in 1948, he formed Johnson Publishing Company; and three years after that he launched Jet, which covered African-American artists, musicians and entertainers. By the 1960s, Johnson’s magazines had millions

H

South Arkansas Historical Foundation presents

ist o ry minute

of subscribers across the United States, as his publications promoted emerging African-American TV stars to controversies surrounding civil rights legislation, education, culture and employment.

As the civil rights movement continued, Johnson would face criticisms for a number of controversial public statements, but he would press forward regardless.

In 1982, he was named to the Forbes 400, the business magazine’s list of the 400 wealthiest Americans with a fortune estimated at over $500 million. He became the first African-American to be named to the list.

In 1996, President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Even with the honors he received and his many successes, he refused to slow down.

“Every day I run scared,” Johnson said. “That’s the only way I can stay ahead.”

Six years later, at the age of 84, Johnson retired as chairman and CEO, leaving what became the world’s largest publishing company owned by an African-American, turning control over to his daughter.

In 2005, he passed away at the age of 87.

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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Horsing around at HOPE

A Horse of a Different Color: HOPE Landing recently held its summer camps program, featuring a therapeutic horse camp, public horse camp and an aquatics camp for area youth. The camps featured interaction with horses, clowns, crafts, swimming, games and more.

— Courtesy photos

Area youth attend HOPE Landing’s summer Horse Camp HOPE Landing staff, clients and families want to express our tremendous gratitude to the volunteers that make our summer programs so outstanding.

During the summer months HOPE Landing provides a therapeutic horse camp, public horse camp and aquatic camp. These camps provide fun and exciting program experiences for not only clients, but area youth as well. Most importantly, these camps provide unique opportunities for youth and adult volunteers to build lasting bonds with our clients and their families.

Throughout HOPE Landing’s camping sessions more than 100 volunteers spent time with

our staff and clients dressed as clowns, making crafts, riding horses, splashing in the pool, smashing pies in faces … like I said, building lasting relationships.

HOPE Landing exists to serve the entire spectrum of needs of our clients and families, and fun should be on everyone’s list. It’s hard to say who had more fun … the campers or the helpers!

Check out these photos from

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Director Doug Liman has never been better. “The Bourne Identity” (2002) is close, but this is far more impressive. The beach attack is bordering on “Saving Private Ryan” greatness, but without the gore and, well, reality.

Liman shows all the action here.

There aren’t any extreme edits or cuts that distract you from what is happening. It’s very brutal and in your face, almost to an uncomfortable level.

And then there are the Mimics.

These are some of the most impressive CGI aliens ever put in a film. It’s sheer marketing genius to keep them out of all the trailers and marketing for the movie. As soon as the first one rolls (yes, they roll) onto screen, it is breathtakingly scary. The violent jerks and speed in which they move is genuinely frightening.

E.T., the Mimics are not.

If this script was sent out to several actresses, there had to be a massive line of them desperate to play Rita. It’s a brilliantly written

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9

role and Emily Blunt is perfectly cast. She manages to be completely believable as the tough-as-nails war machine, all while remaining feminine.

Cruise’s Cage is kind of a schmuck. At the beginning of the movie, he’s nothing more than a cowardly grin with legs. As he resets the day over and over, Cruise, oozing charm and commanding the screen, creates a character that learns to be the hero, and that struggle is exceptionally acted out

by Cruise.

Yes, Cruise fights aliens and is the hero, but his journey while getting to that point is superb and a thrill to watch. This is Tom Cruise at his best.

“Edge of Tomorrow” will probably fail at the box office. The buzz is low and people just don’t flock to see Tom Cruise anymore.

It’s a shame because everyone will miss out on a very original, nonsequel summer movie that just may be the most fun and exciting movie of the year.

Red Carpet Crash provides review writing on films, DVDs and television; news and updates on all things entertainment.

Find RCC at www.redcarpetcrash.com.

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COMMUNITY calendar

» FREE DINNERS FOR AREA YOUTH — The South Arkansas Family Center and 2nd Chance @ Life have partnered to offer free dinners to all community youth 18 years old or younger on weeknights throughout June and July at two locations.

Murmil School: Meals will be served weeknights from 4:30 to 6 p.m. now through July 31 at Murmil Elementary School, 2000 Ripley St. Victory Church: Meals will be served weeknights from 5 to 6 p.m. now through July 21 at Victory Church, 2027 North West Ave. Contact: For more information, follow South Arkansas Family Center on Facebook at facebook.com/southark familyctr or contact 2nd Chance @ Life at 870.639.3935.

» LIBRARY SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM — Barton Public Library will host the summer program, “Fizz, Boom, Read!”, for those in grades first through sixth. A variety of programs including science experiments, reading and live performances will be available at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

As well, students can participate in a reading challenge to collect coupons for prizes. The program is free, but registration is required.

When: 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, now through July 18 Where: Barton Public Library, 200 East Fifth St., El Dorado Contact: For more information, contact Laura Cleveland at 870.863.5447.

A complete schedule can be found at www.bartonlibrary.org. » CAMDEN MOVIES ON THE RIVER — The City of Camden presents its Movies on the River 2014

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Your guide to events happening in communities in and around Union County.

summer series. Families may bring lawn chairs, stadium seats, drinks and snacks to enjoy the outdoor movie with theater sound every Friday night through June and July. Glass is not allowed and bug spray is recommended.

Concessions, including drinks and popcorn, will be available (cash only).

In case of poor weather and holidays, the viewing will be moved to Saturday.

Movie: “Frozen,” rated PG (102 min.)

When: Friday, June 13 at dusk (about 8:15 p.m.)

Where: Riverwalk Amphitheater, 405 Washington St. SE, downtown Camden Contact: For more information, call the city at 870.837.5500 or visit the website at www.camden.ar.gov.

» FOURTH ANNUAL JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL — Benito Glosson and 2nd Chance @ Life will host the Fourth Annual Juneteenth Festival, a day-long festival featuring live performances, barbecue cook-off, prize giveaways, free food, vendors and more. The event will include performances by LeBryant Crew, Rodnae da Boss, John “JJ” Jackson and more.

Camden’s DJ J Rock will bring in the Mega Xtreme Car Show. As well, there will be numerous youth activities, including games, face painting, carnival rides, jump houses and more. With the theme “Saving Our Children,” Juneteenth is a community-oriented event open to all ages. Admission is free.

When: Saturday, June 14 from noon to 10 p.m.

Where: Mattocks Park, Detroit and Sharp streets, El Dorado Contact: For more information, contact Benito Glosson at 870.866.7763.

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 by noon Monday the week of publication. For more information, contact the Leader staff at 870.863.6126 or by email.

» PERCH JERK CLASSIC FISHING TOURNAMENT — Moro Bay State Park will host its 21st Annual Perch Jerk Classic: Bream and Crappie Tournament, a two-person team tournament. One team member must be at least 18 years of age or older. Door prizes will be given away following the weigh-in at noon. Cash and trophy prizes will be awarded for heaviest combined weight of bream and crappie with first place awarding $100, second $70 and third $50 for each category.

Teams bringing in the largest bream and the largest crappie will each win an additional $20 prize. Registration costs $30 per team and is available at the State Park Visitor Center now until 9 a.m. the day of the tournament.

When: Saturday, June 14 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Moro Bay State Park marina, 6071 Highway 600, Jersey Contact: For more information, contact Moro Bay State Park at 870.463.8555. » LIBRARY TEEN SUMMER PROGRAM — Barton Public Library will host the summer program, “Spark a Reaction,” for teenagers entering seventh through 12th grades. The group will offer teen-targeted crafts and movie and book discussions at 6 p.m. every Tuesday night. Some crafts will include making a lava lamp and creating an intricate labyrinth from colored sand. The program is free but registration is required.

When: 6 p.m. Tuesdays, now through July 18 Where: Barton Public Library, 200 East Fifth St., El Dorado Contact: For more information, contact Laura Cleveland at 870.863.5447.

A complete schedule can be found at www.bartonlibrary.org. » SAU TECH NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION — Southern Arkansas University Tech will hold new student orientation, SOAR, June 17-19 and again July 15-17, with both morning and afternoon sessions.

SAU Tech will also host an evening session at 6 p.m. on July 14. New students should call ahead, and students who have already completed the admissions process can go online to select a time to sign up for SOAR. When: 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on June 1719 and July 15-17 Where: Southern Arkansas University Tech, Camden Contact: New students should call 870.574.4558. Sign up for SOAR is available at sautech.edu. » ANNUAL SPORTS HALL OF FAME BANQUET — Tickets are on sale now for the annual Union County Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet, scheduled for Aug. 2. The UCSHOF will induct six former Union County athletes into the Hall of Fame, spanning five different high schools and covering the 1930s to the 1960s.

Tickets cost $25 and must be purchased in advance. Tables are available for sponsors.

When: Now through Aug. 1 Where: Tickets are available at United Insurance Agency in El Dorado and any branch of Smackover State Bank, located in Smackover, El Dorado and Norphlet.

Contact: For more information, tickets or corporate sponsorships, contact Randy Ross at 870.546.2545 or Rod Mills at 870.866.7809.

Crossword and Sudoku Answer Keys

June 4

06•11•14

... for hundreds of FREE classifieds!

L

SUDOKU

CROSSWORD How It Works

South Arkansas

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.

Union County's free source for community news and more

Noalmark Broadcasting

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

WEEKLY RECIPE CLUES ACROSS

General Manager Jay Helm jay_helm@noalmark.com

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 Monday the week of 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.

South Arkansas Leader

A summertime beverage Summer is a season synonymous with relaxation.

Sitting poolside or relaxing on a patio with a cold beverage is a great way to escape the daily grind and make the most of a warm evening,

and the following recipe for “Summer Cantaloupe” from Andrew Schloss’ “Homemade Liqueurs and Infused Spirits” (Storey Publishing) is tailor-made for summer nights.

Summer Cantaloupe Ingredients:

Simple Syrup Makes 3 cups

» 1 fifth (3 1/4 cups) 80-100 proof vodka » 4 cups cantaloupe chunks » 1 cup Simple Syrup » Finely grated zest of 2 lemons

» 2 1/4 cups water » 2 1/4 cups granulated cane sugar

Makes about 1 quart

Directions:

Muddle the vodka, cantaloupe and lemon zest with a wooden spoon in a half-gallon jar. Stir to moisten everything. Seal the jar and put it in a cool, dark cabinet until the liquid smells and tastes strongly of melon, four to seven days.

Strain the mixture with a mesh strainer into a clean quart jar. Do not push on the solids to extract more liquid.

Stir in the Simple Syrup. Seal and store in a cool, dark cabinet. Use within one year.

Simple Syrup Mix the water and sugar in a small saucepan until the sugar is all moistened. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir to make sure the sugar is completely dissolved, then remove from the heat and let cool. Refrigerate for up to three months.

1. The woman 4. New Rochelle college 8. If not 12. Rotating mechanism 13. Strong sharp smell or taste 14. Squash bug genus 15. Eggs 16. S. African Anglican bishop 18. Draws taut 20. One who tears down 21. Killed 22. Focus during yoga 26. Boxing referee declares 27. Morning 28. Make very hot and dry 29. At right angles to the keel 31. Basalt layers of earth 35. Most abundant rare-earth 36. Possessed 37. __ Hess, oil company

CLUES DOWN

1. People of the lochs 2. Czech playwright Vaclav 3. Gave forth 4. Frozen drinks 5. Many not ands 6. Matchstick game 7. Embellish 8. Goes into 9. Twin Peaks actress Piper 10. Very fast airplane 11. Cologne 13. Benign glandular tumors 14. Used to cut and shape wood 17. __ King Cole 19. Japanese deer 22. Vitrines 23. Princely area 24. Mother-of-pearl 25. A___ - is in accord 29. Get _ _ of 30. Bay of All Saints state

39. They __ 40. 17th state 41. Actress Sarandon 42. Nostrils 44. Speech defect 47. Atomic No. 73 48. Chewing treat 49. Determines time 53. An edict from the tsar 56. Lariate 57. Dreary 58. Cruise/Nicholson movie 62. Seventh Greek letter 63. Tubings 64. “Blue Rider” artist August 65. Trent Reznor’s rock group 66. Recess 67. Picnic playwright Wm. 68. Turner or Danson 32. Supernatural forces (N.Z.) 33. Promotional material 34. Rubicund 38. 12th Greek letter 39. Military weapon 43. No. diving sea birds 45. Place emphasis on 46. P. Reubens’ Herman 50. Dawdles 51. First Japanese Prime Minister 52. Ruth’s Mother-in-law (Bib.) 54. “Socrate” composer Erik 55. African antelope 57. Ice hockey fake 58. Expression of triumph 59. Dandy 60. Actor Aykroyd 61. Microgram

Answer key on page 10.

11 13

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South Arkansas Leader

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Log on to www.eldoark.com ...

HOPE

continued from Page 9

camp and you decide!

HOPE Landing is a communitybased 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable corporation dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to every child in need within the organization’s range and scope of services.

The staff of HOPE Landing provides skilled interventions including occupational, physical and speechlanguage therapies; equine and small pet activities and therapies; and aquatic therapy to children aged birth to 21 who have a cognitive or physical disability. HOPE Landing provides these services to children regardless of their ability to pay.

For more information about HOPE Landing, visit hopelanding.com.

Union United showcases the 14 nonprofit partner agencies of the United Way of Union County. For more information, call 870.862.4903 or visit unitedwayunioncounty.com.

SHELF

with the transition.

‘A Song of Ice and Fire’

continued from Page 4

‘Life After the Military’

by Janelle Hill, Cheryl LawhorneScott and Don Philpott.

Returning veterans have a hard enough time trying to readjust to civilian life, and many of them also have families to care for and support. “Life After the Military: A Handbook for Transitioning Veterans” gathers information from many sources to help veterans and their families return to normal lives.

Some issues covered in the book are returning to school, accessing health benefits for veterans and their families, buying a home and obtaining a loan, finding a job and discussing the emotional and psychological challenges that go along

by George R.R. Martin.

No column about families is complete without mentioning George R.R. Martin’s epic fantasy series.

It’s all about families!

If you’ve only seen the TV series “Game of Thrones,” you’ll find so much more in the books. A warning: Very long books with many, many characters, but there is an appendix with all the characters explained for folks like me.

Hope to see you at the library soon!

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.

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