Searcy Living - Issue 5 2014

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Family Fun & Activities at t h e

SearCy Country Club

Bruce Baxley is the PGA Professional at Searcy Country Club. He has been at Searcy Country Club for almost 10 years. He has a passion for teaching and playing. He was the Arkansas Chapter PGA Player of the Year in 2013. He loves to teach any ages, but most enjoys teaching the youth. Bruce said, “I love to see youth grow to be better players and people.� He also takes the time to club fit when he is selling name brand golf equipment from his pro shop.

He was the 2009 Ping Club Fitter of the Year.

If you would like to have Bruce give you some lessons or fit you for some new clubs, please call the pro shop at 305-4653.

You do not have to be a member to be fitted or take lessons.

2729 W. Country Club rd.

501-268-8577 www.searcycountryclub.com 6 Your Hometown Magazine

Clothing Jewelry ACCessories shoes

shopbellaC Boutique has something for everyone to enjoy; carrying clothing sizes XS -XL with price points starting at $6 for gift items.

Now selling shoes!

2411 w. BeeBe CApps • seArCy • (501) 279-2929 www.shopBellAC.Com open mon-fri 10:30-6, sAt 10:30-4 dowNLoad our New app! proud retAiler of

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issue 5 2014

60

Doctors • Coaches • Babies

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Daughters Of The American Revolution

58

Out & About Sports Photos

Running In Searcy 66 Preparation And Passion 70 Modern Day Barn Raising 72 Sports & Hydration 78 Making Of A Razorback Fan

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Softball Is For All 82

Publisher’s Note 11 Hope Believe 12 Fashion Fun 20 Living In Searcy 24 We The People 30 Out & About 40 Out & About: Sports 60

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I have succeeded.” ~ Michael Jordan

Fab Do It Yourself 62 Out & About: Sports 68 Over The Counter 74 Out & About: Sports 84 Dinner & A Magazine 86 Out & About: Sports 87 Games & Puzzles 88

On the Cover

Dr. Kyle Citty Payton Long Isaiah William Fear Audrey Yielding

Photo by

Taylor Howard Photography

(870) 917-8012

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Publisher Christine Walker Art Director & Webmaster Garrett Johnson Graphic Assistant Ikey Ray Editorial Assistant Cherie Sewell Makeover Coordinator Christine Locke Office Manager Chasity Thomas Contributing Independent Photographers Kimberly Brackins (501)279-1515 George Dillin (501)268-9304 Cassie Jones (501)230-0539 Candace Skarda (501)281-6297 Taylor Howard Photography (870)917-8012 Feature Writer Cecelia Wilson

Searcy Living Locally Owned and Operated 812 South Main Street Searcy, AR 72143 searcyliving@yahoo.com (501) 368-0095 SearcyLiving.com For subscription information go to SearcyLiving.com

Copyright 2014 Shark Promotions LLC. Searcy Living, Cabot Living, and Your Hometown Magazine are trademarks of Shark Promotions. All rights reserved. Ownership, rights, and logos are property of their respected businesses. No part may be reproduced without written permission. Shark Promotions LLC is not responsible for claims, misprints, discrepancies, advice of any kind, or content in advertisements or editorials, but will rectify errors in forthcoming issues.

Copyright Š 2014 Shark Promotions LLC

Searcy Living Magazine is a subsidiary of Shark Promotions LLC.

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Somebody’s Watching Me It was a humbling moment one recent morning when my little girl got out of the van and bounced up to my window for her morning kiss on the cheek before getting on the bus. She started walking away, then bounced back with a big smile and asked, in all seriousness, “Momma, when I grow up am I going to be just like you?” I answered, “Yes, just like me.” To which she replied, “Oh good!” as she bounced away.

Then I started thinking about my faults and short comings, and I yelled after her, “Just the good stuff, you won’t get any of the bad.” She looked back at me with total adoration. That was very humbling for me. What a great reminder to do my best to be a better person, knowing that I am being watched by such precious eyes. I’m not a very cheerful morning person. Might have to start there...

So what does this have to do with this issue? Well, maybe we all need a reminder that we are being watched. Our children, co-workers, friends, family, other peoples children... the list is endless. And I want to personally thank all from this community and beyond who have been such an amazing influence on my family. You know who you are, and I want you to know how appreciated you are.

No one is perfect every moment of every day. I know I’m not. But what a great reminder it was from a precious little girl, that maybe I could try a little harder. Because somebody is watching me... and they are watching you, too.

As always, thanks for reading Searcy Living. I hope this issue brightens your day. :) “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sail. Explore, dream, discover.” ~ Mark Twain

I decided to share my first Razorback game experience on page 80

Find Us On Follow Us On

Remember The Extras On Sports & Hydration “Many friendships are formed and life lessons learned while playing sports.”

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Doctors, Coaches & Babies “God is in control and he has the perfect plan, a plan much larger than ours.”

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Barn Raising “Thank You for the wisdom of those that are older.”

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Hope Believe

Children enter foster care through no fault of their own. Most are in care due to abuse or extreme neglect.

* The Searcy Living Foster Care Boutique is simply a room in the Searcy Living business office that we have dedicated for use in helping foster and adoptive families in need. Our awesome Searcy Living readers bring in donations, and DHS case workers and foster parents are able to “shop” for what they need for foster and disadvantaged children, at no cost. Our office is located at 812 S. Main Street in Searcy. We welcome gently used or new items. Thank you, Searcy, for your generosity and time spent to support the Foster Care Boutique!

We always need volunteers to sort donations and help The Foster Care Boutique stay organized. Below is a testimonial of the rewards of volunteering. Thanks to ALL who help with this project! Searcy Living is simply providing the location. It is YOU who makes it happen!

A wonderful blog post someone shared with us after seeing it on the author’s blog: Seeking to Simplify (seeking2simplify.blogspot.com).

Some good folks in Searcy (about 30 minutes south of us) created a place for foster families to have access to necessities for their foster children. Foster parents are welcome (and encouraged) to “shop” for needed items, which are all available free of charge. The Boutique’s doors are open five days a week.

used t-shirts. I begged her to check back... we would do our best to replenish the inventory as soon as possible. She quickly responded not to worry, she was very grateful for her little sack of shirts. You could see it in her eyes... she was genuinely thankful. Humbling. Very.

Generous donations, from both individuals and businesses, consist of clothing, diapers, shoes, hygiene items, children’s books, baby bedding, baby blankets, and miscellaneous items.

Some items are new and some are gently used, but all are appreciated.

The space is graciously provided by a local business, and volunteers help sort items, stock the inventory, and organize the ‘store.’ Sometimes the biggest need is to lend the foster parents an extra set of hands... for gathering correct sizes, trying shoes on little feet, or entertaining busy toddlers. Getting to hold a baby is the real bonus. :) One of my favorite parts of the Foster Care Boutique is the interaction I have with the foster moms. They are some of the most grateful people I’ve ever encountered. One mom who dropped by to browse had just received a call to let her know she would be receiving a 9-month-old baby boy. [She was] calm as a cucumber and full of joy [as] I asked when she expected his arrival. “He’ll be here in 2 hours,” she said with a smile. Hello? I think I felt more panic about it than she did.

While gathering sweet baby boy goodies, she talked about how excited her biological children were about the news of another brother. “We can hardly wait!” she said. Thank you, God, for such flexible and loving people.

Another mom stopped in on behalf of her 8-year-old child.

He arrived at her home with a trash sack of winter clothes, but had nothing for the warmer months. Unfortunately, that particular day we only had three t-shirts (and no shorts) in inventory that were his size. To hear her express her gratitude, you would have thought she was walking out with an entire wardrobe for the remainder of the year. All she got was three

“ and full of joy, I asked when she expected his arrival. ‘He’ll be here in 2 hours,’ she said with a smile.”

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It’s fun when the kids come along for the ride. :) Recently, a mother came in with her 18-month-old foster daughter.

Adorable, I tell ya. They seemed a very natural mother/daughter pair, so I was shocked when she told me they had only been together a week. It was apparent that the little cutie had already warmed up to her new mom, and she was also very obedient. I asked the young mother how long she had been fostering. Five years. Then I asked how many children her family had opened their home to. Pointing to the sweet little face looking up at her, she smiled and said, “She’s number 57.” I thought I must have misheard her, so I asked for a repeat. Fifty-seven. I’m still overwhelmed at the thought.

I so wish I could share pictures of some of these sweet faces.

But due to privacy issues that, of course, is not allowed. I’m so thankful for those who had the vision to create such a place.

The Foster Care Boutique is meeting a big need, and that’s evident by the mess created. :) What a blessing for foster families to have their burdens lightened just a bit by having access to necessities free of charge. What a blessing these families are to so many little (and big) souls. What a blessing both the place and its people have been to me.

Bless you, foster families. Bless. You. You’re made our world a better one.

It Takes A

Team Rhea Lana Dr. Mike Chance and Band Director Wes Parker of Harding were the faculty members responsible for getting Harding University’s “Thundering Herd” Marching Band to lend a hand in assisting with sorting and other volunteer actions needed to organize the Rhea Lana donation. Several other faculty members from Harding, as well as members from Fellowship Bible Church, also assisted in helping. We want to give them all a big, thundering THANK YOU!

Thundering Herd

Ace Hardware donated bins to the Foster Parent Association for the sorting and storing of off-season clothing to be put in the Foster Care Boutique. Thank you, Homers Ace Hardware! Pictured is manager Ralph Bennett.

Pictured is Justin Holloway from Drive On Time.

Drive On Time was kind enough to loan the Foster Parent Association a U-Haul to move off-season clothing to storage and to pick up the donations from the Rhea Lana sale. Thank you!

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Hope Believe

A Big Thank You!

Searcy Elks Lodge

Thanks!

Thanks!

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o Thank Y

u!

Jaclyn Seiders made baby bags and donated them to The Boutique. She is a teacher at SWMS. What a blessing!

Rachel Miller, her boys Troy and Caleb Miller, and friend Kaden Shreves donated to The Boutique!

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Hope Believe

ou!

Y k n a h T

“Life isn’t about getting and having, it’s about giving and being.” ~ Kevin Kruse

Thank you Bentley and Kayden for your donation of children’s clothes!

Thanks!

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Hope Believe

ou!

Y k n a h T

Thanks!

Thank You!

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K i ng

Before

Our autumn makeover, Kelly King, models a new outfit assembled by Melissa Prince of Hays. Doris Yates of The Cosmetic Studio provided Kelly’s makeup, and Ally Creech of Symmetrix Salon & Day Spa styled her hair. ShopbellaC provided the accessories. Many thanks to all our generous sponsors for making Kelly’s day special!

Celebrate Life!

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Christine Locke Makeover Coordinator

3005 E. Race St. • Searcy (501) 268-0800

By Doris Yates at

In the Heart & Soul Plaza 1623 E. Beebe-Capps • Searcy (501) 279-2526

By Ally Creech at

2904 Hawkins Dr. • Searcy (501) 268-4540 www.symmetrixsalon.com

2411 W. Beebe-Capps • Searcy (501) 279-2929 www.shopbellac.com Turn the page for more fashion & beauty retailers. > > > > > > > > > > > >

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IN SEARCY

williams home

the

C

By Jackie Bacon

all it cliché, call it too good to be true, but for some couples, they genuinely find love at first sight. For all of you naysayers out there, I present to you Philip and Patty Williams. They remember it like it was yesterday: Patty was in sixth grade and Philip was in eighth grade when the couple first met. Even at a young age, they knew there was an everlasting bond between them. Fast-forward about 8 years. Phil served in the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam War and returned July 9, 1970. The couple didn’t waste any time; they were married shortly after his return on August 8, 1970.

44 years later, they are still just as happy together as when they first met.

Among many, there is one blaringly distinctive similarity that Phil and Patty share: a love for any and everything Arkansas Razorbacks! It is no surprise that Phil would go on to become the President of the White County Razorback Club. Phil and Patty have not missed a home Razorback football game in over 23 years. While some people plan out yearly vacations to the beach or foreign lands, the Williams’ spend their vacation budget on season tickets to Razorback games, where they tailgate with fellow Hog lovers every fall.

And, their devotion to the University of Arkansas does not stop at attending games in Fayetteville and Little Rock. Their love for all things Razorback can be seen permeated throughout their lovely home in Searcy. One room in particular has an extra dash of red and white gear. Phil and Patty’s grandson, Grant, has his own personal bedroom in their house, sporting everything from Razorback shaped pillows to photo collages of family tailgating outings.

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Phil and Patty Williams

 Beautiful needlework done by Phil’s mother commemorates cherished events.

One of the best things about being in the Williams’ home was being able to see how important having a close-knit family is to them. There are family photos and heirlooms in every room, serving as reminders of the many great memories that have been made over the years. As a very personal element, beautiful needlework done

by Phil’s mother is displayed in various rooms and hallways. She added a personalized touch to all of her pieces, and there are two frames at the top of the staircase that stand out among the rest. One was made in honor of their marriage, with their wedding date and their names hand stitched on it, while the second commemorates the birth of their daughter, Julie.

The tasteful mix of Razorback pride and the importance of family continue into their charming living room. Everywhere your eye gets lost, a memory can be found. Found on the bookshelves are old University of Arkansas yearbooks from when Patty, and later Julie, attended school there. Near the living is an office desk where various plaques and awards Phil has received on behalf of the White County Razorback Club are displayed.  The Williams home continually has the theme of Razorback pride and the importance of family.

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 The kitchen has always been the hub of activity and memory making.

“Phil and Patty have not missed a home Razorback football game in over 23 years.”

In another room that one may not expect, the Arkansas pride continues. Whether or not it was done on purpose is up for debate, but Phil and Patty Williams’ dining room is painted Razorback red. Do not be mistaken though; the room is incredibly elegant and timeless. Cherry china cabinets and display cases accompany a rich cherrywood dining table. The stunning china featured throughout the room is a combined collection of different family pieces.

While the dining room is certainly a gorgeous aspect of the Williams’ home, the kitchen has always been the hub of activity and memory making. It has played host to everything from routine family meals to big Razorback-themed watch parties. Patty always keeps an eye out for red and white kitchen utensils and dishes. Among her many unique finds are a hog shaped basket and various football-inspired serving trays.

The love for all things Hogs does not stop with their indoor decorations. Both their front and back yards have many fun pieces of Razorback décor, including wind spinners, weather vanes, and even red and white patio chairs. The next large project that Phil is contemplating is whether or not to paint the front door and window shutters Razorback red.

After having gotten a peek into the Williams home, it is impossible to question their devotion to their team. With all of the Arkansas games that have been watched and tailgating parties that have been hosted over the years, there is no doubt that Phil and Patty’s home is where they call the Hogs!

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 Phil and Patty’s grandson, Grant, has his own personal bedroom in their house sporting everything from Razorback shaped pillows to photo collages of family tailgating outings.

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,

,

“One of the best things about being in the Williams’ home was being able to see how important having a close-knit family is to them.”

Both their front and back yards have many fun pieces of Razorback décor, including wind spinners, weather vanes, and even red and white patio chairs.

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 Cherry china cabinets and display cases accompany a rich cherrywood dining table in the dining room.

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Nancy Meadows 501-230-9519 is looking for people to donate Auction Items for this year’s Spark of Life Gala.We are honoring David and Karla Stracener at the gala with the Spark of Life “Living Forward” award. David and Karla lost their home in the April tornado and then 10 days later their only son Ben and his fiancee Samantha Fowler were both killed in a motorcycle accident. David and Karla attended Spark of Life Retreat in Alaska in August.

WCMC Graduates June CNA Class The White County Medical Center Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program graduated 20 students in July.

WCMC offers the CNA training program through a partnership with ASU-Beebe. Curriculum for the three-week program includes classroom and clinical instruction, which prepares students to take the state certification exam to become a CNA. The group includes the following: (first row) Jenni Bajorek of Judsonia , Magan D’Orr of Vilonia, Shelby Smith of Beebe and Angie Taylor of Bald Knob; (second row) Kayla Cornett, Jessica LaBorde, Barbara Copeland and Brenda Richardson, all of Heber Springs; (third row) Trisha Jennings, Katelynn Burton and Victoria Weber of Searcy and Randie Ollis of Bald Knob (fourth row) Bri Cottrell of Prim and Katrina Leal of Heber Springs; (fifth row) Kolton Kelly of Searcy, Pat Perusich of North Little Rock and Jackson Howell of Searcy; (sixth row) Grant Scott of Searcy and Ashley Sullivan of Judsonia; (Not Pictured) Taija Nance of Jacksonville.

For more information about the CNA program, please contact Outreach Education Coordinator Dee DeLoach at (501) 278-3189.

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ASU-Beebe: Several Students Receive Foundation Scholarships Arkansas State University-Beebe private scholarship recipients recently attended a scholarship breakfast given in their honor at the university. ASU-Beebe has campuses located in Beebe, Heber Springs, Searcy, and Little Rock Air Force Base.

(Left to Right): Karen Cagle, Sue Taylor, Marie Herman, Mary Kay VanOven, and Wanna Branch

Ms. White County 2014 Mary Kay VanOven, reigning Ms. White County 2014, was crowned May 19, 2014. Along with the crowning she received many gifts and prizes, including a free oil change and safety check for her car at Gregg Orr Auto in Searcy.

On August 22, 2014, the appointment day for her car to be serviced, Mary Kay was treated like royalty when she walked through the doors. She met and talked with Jeff Pike (Service & Parts Manager), Ronnie Goodman (Assistant Service Manager) and Ron Moss (Client Manager).

Ron Moss also offered to let us use one of their convertibles to ride in the White County Fair Parade. There are no words to say how much we appreciate Gregg Orr Auto for all they do for our program. Mary Kay VanOven, the Seniors and the staff at the Lightle Center who arrange the Senior White County Pageant every year want to say again - Thank You All for your support.

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ASU-Beebe: Regions Bank Donates to Arch Fund Donnie Miller (right), Regions Bank North Central-West Central Arkansas president, and Jamie Mobley, vice president of Regions Bank at Searcy, recently presented $1,000 to Dr. Keith Pinchback (left), vice chancellor for Institutional Advancement at Arkansas State University-Beebe, to be used toward the Rebuild the Arch fund. The arch was destroyed by a storm in April 2011, and was an important landmark at ASU-Beebe. Previously located near the sidewalk that leads to the Ruth Couch Center and to the Admissions Building, the base of the semicircular arch was made of sandstone material with iron work across the top. The arch was thought to have been constructed in the late 1950s by J. Ernest Howell and students, and was first seen in the 1961 yearbook.

Harding University Summer Honor Choir Concert High school students from 12 different states presented a free choral concert July 18 in the Recital Hall of the Reynolds Center on the Harding University campus.

Participants in the University’s summer Honor Choir program were on campus for five days studying voice, sight-reading, staging and choreography, theatre movement, vocal harmonization, and choral music. Dr. Cliff Ganus III, director of choral activities, organized the week’s activities and directed the evening concert.

Other program instructors include Assistant Professor of Music Chuck Hicks, Department of Theatre Chair Robin Miller, Assistant Professor of Music Kelly Neill, University alumna Stacey Neely, and Instructor of Music Susan Shirel. Liz Jones was the accompanist for the concert and rehearsals, and Jenna Thomas, director of theatre at Central Arkansas Christian School, was choreographer for the event.

The concert included a variety of choral selections, with music from Ecuador, Norway and Sweden; a chorus from a comic opera; and Karl Jenkins’ popular “Adiemus.” The final part of the concert consisted of a staged medley from “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”

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Day Of Caring Photos On

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WCMC Graduates July CNA Class The White County Medical Center Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program graduated 16 students in August. WCMC offers the CNA training program through a partnership with ASU-Beebe. Curriculum for the three-week program includes classroom and clinical instruction, which prepares students to take the state certification exam to become a CNA. The group includes the following: (first row) Alicia Graham and Mackenzie Lamphere of Ward, Deshawnna Williams of Searcy and Linda Edwards of Rosebud; (second row) Kelsey

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Varner of Henderson, Tenn., Sarah Smith of Cabot, Wanda Neal of Judsonia; (third row) Katrina Nesler of Searcy, Melanie Edwards of Ward, Shelby Franks of Heber Springs, Hannah Davidson of Bald Knob and Meena Wassner of Conway; (fourth row) Melissa Cook of Pangburn, Chance Tapley of Quitman, Bri Kelley of Cabot and Wendie Briggs of Batesville.

For more information about the CNA program, please contact Outreach Education Coordinator Dee DeLoach at (501) 2783189.

Property Donation Matt House and Donnie Miller of Regions Bank present a property deed to the Searcy Public Schools Board of Education.

Pictured are school board members Dr. Jim Hoffmann, Philip Williams, Linda Benson, and Dr. Michael Liles at the August board meeting receiving the donation. The property donated by Regions Bank to the Searcy School District is located adjacent to the Ahlf Junior High School parking lot.

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Searcy Pediatric Cancer Survivor Heidi Abston Receives $2,500 CARTI Jungmeyer Scholarship Searcy pediatric cancer survivor Heidi Abston received the CARTI Kids Memorial Fellowship Award as well as a CARTI Kids Dennis Jungmeyer Scholarship valued at $2,500 during a special ceremony at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion.

(Pictured, from left: Arkansas First Lady Ginger Beebe; Heidi Abston; fellowship award sponsor Lisa Gondek; and Dennis Jungmeyer.)

Day Of Caring

Hamburgers for Homelessness

(L-R) Auxiliary member David Crouch; Julissa Lynn, RN; and John Henderson, M.D. were three of the 400 volunteers who made the 2014 Day of Caring possible.

Sponsors of the first Ultimate Hamburger Grill-Fest: Hamburgers for Homelessness event to benefit Jacob’s Place Homeless Mission include (l to r): Lisa Schmittou with the Bank of Augusta; Jon Holeman with Southern Bank; Robbie Hare with Simmons Bank; Matt LaForce with First Security Bank, winner of the Golden Grill; Randy Jones with Centennial Bank; Cindy Lynch with White County Federal Credit Union; and, Keith Riley with First Community Bank.

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Awards of Excellence 4-H Banquet Meredith Williams of Searcy was recently awarded the Governor’s Award at the Awards of Excellence 4-H Banquet in July. This is the most prestigious award a 4-H member can receive in the state of Arkansas. Meredith has been involved in 4-H in White County since she was 5 years old. She has won numerous cooking competitions, speeches and vocal contests through 4-H. Meredith was a Teen Star, Ambassador, and scholarship winner on the county and state levels. She served as the Arkansas State 4-H Delta District Vice-President in 20112012 and the Arkansas State 4-H President in 2012-2013. She was inducted into the Arkansas 4-H Hall of Fame in 2013.

Throughout her 4-H career, Meredith was a great role model for the younger 4-Hers, participated in numerous community service activities, and demonstrated outstanding leadership; all of which she continues to do today. Meredith is the daughter of Bill and Ruth Williams of Searcy and is currently in her sophomore year at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.

The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution.

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The Bee’s Knees Upscale Flea Market

Furniture • Decor • Antiques • & More

Painting classes coming this fall!

New Location Behind Colton’s 511 Alexis Drive • Searcy, Arkansas • 501-278-5557 beeskneesfleamarket@gmail.com

Find Us On Facebook! bee’s knees: noun – a highly admired person or thing: cat’s meow

“Either you run the day, or the day runs you.� ~ Jim Rohn

find yourself on 40 Your Hometown Magazine

.com

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Doctors • Coaches • Babies

New York Mets and San Francisco Giants center fielder, Willie Mays once said, “In order to excel, you must be completely dedicated to your chosen sport. You must also be prepared to work hard and be willing to accept constructive criticism. Without a total 100 percent dedication, you won’t be able to do this.”

Athletes of all ages, from high school to professional sports understand the necessity for hard work and endurance in order to reach their goals. Athletes often take the same principles learned through sports and apply them to their own lives to succeed. They work hard and focus to reach their goals to become great leaders, successful community members, mentors, life coaches and more.

Determination, dedication and sacrifice are just a few things that make these White County residents excel at what they do and make them truly great.

In the Field • On the Field Dr. Kyle Citty

r. Kyle Citty, an OB/GYN at Searcy Medical Center, D grew up with a passion for sports. Kyle’s father, family practice physician Dr. Jim Citty, played for the Harding University

football team and later became the athletic doctor for the school, where he has served since 1975. Like his father, Kyle played football for Harding, ran track and developed a love for sports.

Athleticism and sports is undeniably in the Citty blood.

Whether it was in sports or in life, Kyle said much of his motivation came from his parents. “My father always inspired me growing up, not only by his words, but by his life as well, and the way he continues to live,” Kyle said. “My mother was a very strong influence as well, always ready with words of encouragement.

Their biggest form of inspiration though would have to be through the way they live their own lives. Just being able to watch my 44 Your Hometown Magazine

parents and see the wonderful, Christian examples they set encourages me to do the same.”

Along with serving as a mentor and example, Kyle said his father prompted him into the medical field, but also always encouraged him to do whatever he wanted to do, no matter what it was, whether in sports or career-related decisions. “My brother (Dr. Kris Citty) and I were used to being around the medical field,” Kyle said.

“That’s what we knew growing up and where our interests were.

Now I share a very special bond with my father and brother, partly because we are able to serve together as medical doctors.”

The meshing of interests in sports and healthcare has led Kyle to understand and appreciate those who make sports a part of their lives. A number of Kyle’s patients live active lives tied to sports, including several athletic coaches, many of whom he has been able to make personal connections with through common interests, including sports. One of those patients is Winter Yielding, the wife of Pangburn High School Boys Basketball Coach, Chris Yielding.

Chris and Winter Yielding, Boys Basketball Coach at Pangburn High School Chris and Winter both grew up close to White County Medical Center, Chris in Cabot and Winter in Bradford, so when they decided to have their daughters at WCMC, it felt like home.

“Dr. Jim Citty actually delivered me,” Winter said. “I grew up in this area and I’ve always known the Citty family and the wonderful reputations they have as doctors. Having Jim Citty deliver me, I chose to use Kyle Citty as my doctor. When I found out I was pregnant with my first daughter, Abigail, it only made sense to continue to use Kyle.”

Having already made a connection with Kyle, Winter said she and her husband both felt more comfortable and at ease when going in to have their two children Abigail (19 months old) and Audrey (2 months old), which was a large part in why she chose WCMC. “With my first child, I ended up having to have an extended stay,” Winter said. “The staff in the New Life Center was friendly and so

accommodating. When I had to stay a few extra days, they moved us into a room so I was able to have more access to Abigail and see her when I wanted to. The entire staff was genuinely supportive and comforting toward my husband and myself.”

“The birth of my daughter was the first real experience I had within the hospital,” Chris said. “I was thankful for Kyle being so helpful in explaining everything and making sure we understood what was happening,” Chris said. “He would come into the room and talk to me about sports and our basketball season at Pangburn.

Sometimes we would talk about fishing or outdoors, but it helped us make a connection and having that common ground between us really helped in the whole process of putting us at ease with our first child, and then when our second child was born. Kyle is so easy to build a personal relationship with, which helped result in a wonderful experience at the hospital.”

Kyle said he enjoys having parents come into his office, who mention to him that they were delivered by his father, and now getting the opportunity to deliver the next generation. “I really see it as a special honor,” Kyle said. “There’s a connection there to SearcyLiving.com 45

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have people come in and say, ‘Your father delivered me’ or ‘Your father delivered my oldest child.’ Delivering babies is one of the most rewarding fields to be in. You’re bringing children into the world, and the fact that I get to share that bond with my father and see families through several generations is a special thing.”

Meredith and Robert Fear, Volleyball & Assistant Volleyball Coaches at Harding University When Meredith Fear moved to Searcy to become the head volleyball coach at Harding University, she knew if she were to receive any medical attention, she would choose WCMC. “I went to school at Harding and played volleyball for the Lady Bisons from 2004-2008,” Fear said. “During my junior year, I had a bad back accident which required surgery. After the surgery, I saw Dr. Jim Citty who was the athletic doctor for our team. He greatly helped me in my post-injury phase.”

When Meredith and her husband Robert, who serves as the assistant volleyball coach for Harding, found out they were expecting their first child after a year of living in Searcy, Meredith said Kyle Citty came to mind as a possible doctor. “I didn’t really know very many mothers in the area when I moved back, but having used Jim Citty while I was in school, I already knew of Dr. Kyle Citty and trusted that he would be a qualified physician and a good choice,” Meredith said. “I knew his father and knew that Kyle and I had both attended the same school, which meant we knew a lot of the same people. My husband and I really clicked with Kyle.”

When Meredith found out she was expecting their son Isaiah, she was entering volleyball season. Her second and third trimesters fell during her busiest recruiting and tournament months. “My schedule from December to April was constantly busy with tournaments and traveling,” Meredith said. “We had tournaments to play in, I had recruiting trips and I was pregnant throughout the entire time. I needed to be able to stay active as an

athlete and needed to maintain my regular life to be able to do my job as a coach. With Kyle being a former athlete, I knew that he understood how taxing an athlete and coach’s schedule can be. He was able to work with me specifically to help understand my body as an athlete, and as an expectant mother.”

Robert and Meredith welcomed their son, Isaiah William, toward the end of recruiting season on April 14, 2014 in the New Life Center at WCMC. Now Robert and Meredith are enjoying the busy schedules of being full-time parents and coaches. Robert said that no matter what, he is ready to start coaching their son through life and hopes he can be the mentor his father is to him. “My dad was the biggest mentor and encourager in my life,” Robert said. “Whether my son wants to play sports or not, I want to be able to encourage him whichever direction he goes. My parents taught me to live by example and that’s what I want to do now, not only for my players as a coach, but for my son as well.”

“Delivering babies is one of the most rewarding fields to be in.”

– Dr. Kyle Citty

Matt and Miranda Long, Softball Coach at Searcy High School and Assistant Junior High Football Coach Matt and Miranda Long know what it is like to have busy schedules. Matt coaches football and softball, while teaching 5th and 6th grade health and physical education for Searcy Public Schools. Miranda works as an X-ray technician for Dr. Tim Killough’s office and is a full-time coach’s wife. Together, they are first-time parents.

Dr. Kyle Citty with the Long Family, Fear Family, and Yielding Famiy

Taylor Howard Photography

48 Your Hometown Magazine

While their schedules may be hectic, they still understand the importance of being sure to encourage and support each other throughout it all and work as a team on and off the field.

“Matt and I have been married for four years now, but we’ve known each other for 10 years,” Miranda said. “We met while we were both in school. When I decided to go to UCA and then to the Baptist Health School of Radiology to become an X-ray technician, he became my strongest supporter and encourager.”

When they first learned they were expecting their daughter, Payton, to be due in March, right in the middle of softball season, they knew there would have to be a lot of working together. Not only was this during Matt’s busiest schedule with practices and games, but Miranda’s as well. “As a coach’s wife, I’m expected to be at all of the games, and I want to be there,” Miranda said.

“I want to be there to cheer on the team and my husband, but Payton is also number one priority right now and thankfully Matt is very supportive. It really makes us appreciate each other more, and we appreciate the times when we can all be at the softball or football field together.”

Sports undoubtedly plays a huge role for the Long family, but Matt and Miranda both agree that family comes first. When Matt and Miranda found out they were expecting Payton, they wanted to be assured they were going to receive the best care possible. “Several people recommended Dr. Kyle Citty to me,” Miranda said. “I could not have chosen a better doctor. Every time I had an appointment with him, he always treated me like his only patient. He never rushed me out of the office or brushed off my concerns. If I had any worries, especially as a first-time mother, he always made sure that I felt comfortable before I left the appointment.”

Like many new fathers, Matt was faced with the same anticipation of finally being a parent. The idea of becoming a new father felt overwhelming and intimidating; the same feeling countless fathers experience with their newborn child.

“For me, walking into the New Life Center gave me a sense of overwhelming emotions and intimidation,” Matt said. “There I was, trying to contemplate the idea of becoming a father, and when I walked into the hospital Dr. Citty was very down to earth, and talked to us on simple, understandable terms; not in doctor terms. The entire staff was helpful in putting me at ease and making me feel comfortable right away.”

There is a little bit of hope in Matt that one day he can coach his own children on the ball fields. “I would like to be able to coach my own children in the future, but I think it’s important that I let them mold themselves too,” Matt said. “I don’t want to force them into sports. I just hope that if I can corral 20 girls on a softball field – surely I can take care of one,” he added jokingly.

“We’ve learned that there isn’t a set schedule as parents,” Miranda said. “You’re on baby time, and it’s overwhelming.

There’s no sense in planning anything. You wear your heart on the outside and realize your child is your world. She’s our reason for living and we wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

“You wear your heart on the outside and realize your child is your world.”

– Miranda Long

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Dr. Kris Citty with the Wortham Family and McCain Family

“Reject passivity, act responsibly, lead courageously and expect a greater reward; God’s reward.”

– Mike McCain

Dr. KRIS Citty

“I

always knew that I wanted to play football at Harding University,” said Dr. Kris Citty, Ob/Gyn at Searcy Medical Center. “My father (who was the athletic physician for Harding) inspired me to play sports. I grew up going to practices and hanging out in the locker room when I was only seven years old.”

Dr. Kris Citty, who played tight-end for Harding during all four years of his college career, said sports taught him much more than a game. It taught him about learning to be a part of a team and working hard with others, a lesson he said he believes is very important for young adults to learn. “Playing sports teaches you about adversity, winning and losing,” he said. “You learn to work hard, to focus and be determined to dedicate the time to being the best you can be.”

All of these traits and qualities helped Dr. Kris Citty when he decided to be a doctor and attend medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. “My father was really the reason I went into the medical field,” Kris Citty said.

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“I watched how much he was able to help the community, not only the Harding community through the athletic teams, but the Searcy community as well. Medicine was the only thing I planned to do, I knew I wanted be a doctor and I never had another back-up plan. It was always medical.”

Dr. Kris Citty’s experience in sports, in high school playing football, basketball and running track and then playing football in college, trained him to make sacrifices to reach his goals. He said that especially in college, he would often spend so many hours in football practices and training that he would not have time to study until later, when most of his friends were already finished studying and going out to have fun. He had to sacrifice his free time and set priorities, which prepared him for medical school.

Now, Dr. Kris Citty serves the Searcy community as an Ob/ Gyn delivering children and celebrating with new, young families. “It’s a fun and exciting time for the families I serve,” he said. “Any goal worth obtaining will require determination and dedication. You have to work hard and be the best that you can be. If you are going to reach those goals, you are going to have to do those things.”

Mike and Summer McCain, Football Coach for Riverview High School Growing up as a coach’s son, Mike McCain knew he wanted to be involved in sports. Football and sports was what he knew. Now Mike is the head football coach at Riverview High School, where he uses his coaching position as a mission field, not just a job. “I knew I wanted to be a coach when I was in junior high,” Mike said. “After coaching for 12 seasons, I view my profession as a mission field, not a job. God revealed to me that my philosophy of coaching had been backwards. I needed to put all of my focus on the players and students, instead of the wins and losses. Getting to know my players and investing into their lives is way more important than winning ball games.”

Using your professional field to help influence and encourage others is something that both Mike and Summer view as being an important part of working.

Mike’s wife, Summer, is a dental hygienist for Dr. Jason Bolding, a profession that she says was inspired by another hygienist she used growing up. Although she has always enjoyed dentistry, it was her hygienist that motivated her to be a hygienist as well. “The hygienist was so friendly, and she always made life look like it was so fun and great,” Summer said. “She made being a grown up look easy, and I thought that I could handle that. As you grow, you realize life is not always easy, and that your attitude and faith is what sets your disposition for happy, as a choice.”

When Mike and Summer had their children, Sarah and Troy, they chose White County Medical Center because they knew others that worked at the hospital also felt the same way about using their

career as a mission field. “A mentor of mine from Marianna was in WCMC for an extended period of time,” Summer said. “He was taken such good care of, and I saw how the staff took care of not only him, but his elderly wife who was determined not to leave the hospital without him. The staff at the hospital made it possible for them.”

The same caring attitude is what lead them to choose Dr. Kris Citty. “We chose Dr. Kris Citty because my husband had visited Dr. Jim Citty a few times when he played football for Harding,” Summer said. “The nurses and staff were wonderful during the delivery of our baby and following. They made sure I knew how to take care of my little one. As any mother, I was nervous about my child leaving the hospital room, but was at ease knowing the nurses in the nursery would make sure everything would be handled.”

Mike and Summer are now experiencing the fun stages of their children who are every day wanting to be something different when they grow up. “On a daily basis, they find new interests,” Summer said. “When they find something they like, we read and study those things with them. Our son is four right now and is really into dinosaurs, bugs and all things outdoors. Our daughter wants to be a football coach and dentist. We want them to find what God has planned for them, and we want to be there to watch it unfold.”

While their children’s interests may be constantly changing, Mike and Summer hope their children can use whatever field they choose to serve others, and that they remember to “reject passivity, act responsibly, lead courageously and expect a greater reward; God’s reward,” Mike said. “And remember Whose you are,” Summer added.

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Stephanie and Cody Wortham, Volleyball and Track Coach and Assistant Basketball Coach for Rose Bud High School The Volleyball and Track Coach and Assistant Basketball Coach for Rose Bud High School, Stephanie Wortham, knows and understands the importance of having positive coaches in your life, on and off the field. Stephanie, who coaches three different sports and teaches high school science, has seen firsthand the worth of working hard toward one’s goal and struggling through adversity.

Stephanie and her husband Cody, a firefighter in North Little Rock, had been recommended by friends to visit Dr. Kris Citty when they learned they were expecting their first child. Unknown to them at the time, Dr. Kris Citty would serve them in more ways than in just being their doctor. “My husband and I were having our first child, but I had some problems and lost the baby,” Stephanie said. “Dr. Citty was excellent and took very good care of us. He encouraged us not to give up, and when the time was right we would have another baby. He spent time with us, and really showed us that he cared. I was nervous, but Dr. Citty and his nurses made me feel loved and cared about. When I got pregnant with the next child, he made sure everything went perfect.”

The same encouraging and caring spirit was seen through Dr. Kris Citty again when the Worthams found out they were expecting their last child. They noticed while watching the ultrasound that

their son had clubbed feet. “Dr. Citty once again took great care of us, as well as his nursing staff and Kelly, the ultrasound tech,” Stephanie said. “It is such a blessing, and I always feel like I’m well taken care of. What means the most to me, though, is that they are good Christian people and they have kind hearts.”

Much of the endurance and the “never give up” attitude Stephanie has today was something she learned from playing sports growing up. She played basketball and softball for many years, starting at a young age and playing through college. And for as long as she can remember, she has always wanted to be a coach and a teacher. “I chose to teach because I wanted to make a difference in a child’s life,” Stephanie said. “I have always had very positive coaches who have encouraged me to follow my dreams. I have also always had a family who supported me in every sport I played. I chose to be a coach because I love sports and I wanted to be able to share my experiences and knowledge with others.”

While Stephanie says it is not easy being a coach and a mother of two young children, she is blessed and thankful to have a husband and family who are able to support her in many ways. Whether it is bringing her sons to games so they can watch, or helping take care of them, Stephanie says that if it were not for her family she would not be able to do what she does. “My entire family has been there for me and have encouraged me every step of the way,” Stephanie said. “They have prayed for me, been to the games, helped with the kids, and so much more. God truly blessed me with an amazing family.”

“I chose to teach because I wanted to make a difference in a child’s life.”

– Stephanie Wortham

Dr. JIM Citty 1957, Dr. Jim Citty moved to Searcy to attend school at Harding IhighnUniversity (then Harding College). Having been an athlete in school, he continued to be active in track, basketball and

football while in college. The first two years he was at Harding, he played basketball and ran track. In 1959, Harding reinstated their football program after it had been nonexistent for 28 years, and he switched from basketball to football. “Football had really been my game of choice in high school,” Dr. Jim Citty said. “My basketball coach was upset when I first told him, but he also understood.

Football was what I enjoyed the most. I then went on to letter in football in 1959 and 1960.”

Sports was more than just throwing around a football though, or playing a game he enjoyed. According to Dr. Jim Citty, sports was a way for him to prove himself to others, to show people that he was a man. “My father died when I was in first grade,” he said.

“My mother remarried when I was a sophomore in high school, but my step-father and I never got along. I decided to move out of the house when I was 16 because of my step-father, and I really had an orphan mentality because of it.”

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He said his orphan mentality caused him to feel a need to prove himself, not only to himself but to those around him as well.

“Sports was a way for me to prove myself, prove that I was a man,” he said.

Sports played a very important part in his life, not only helping him with his lack of a father figure, but it also helped teach him to be disciplined and focused; two traits that helped him later in life when he chose to go into the medical field. “Some of my best friends today are friends that I met while playing football and basketball in college,” Dr. Jim Citty said. “We shared a lot of different experiences together. We shared laughter, bled together and experienced life together. We also went through a lot of challenges together. They were really some of the people who inspired and encouraged me to do what I’m doing today.”

Dr. Jim Citty said his wife encouraged him to go into the professional field, while several of his fellow teammates from Harding inspired him to specifically choose medical.

He said he believes sports teaches players traits that can often be used later in life. Focus, hard work, sacrifice and discipline are all things he was able to learn through playing sports. “My life has been incredibly blessed,” Dr. Jim Citty said. “I feel that I was born to do what I’m doing. I didn’t earn these blessings, I didn’t deserve it, but God still has blessed my life.

Dr. Jim Citty and the Johnston Family

“When Dr. Citty prayed with us before Shelby was born, I knew that God was completely in control and tears of joy rolled down my face because of the peace I felt in my heart at that moment.”

– Ladonna Johnston

Randy and LaDonna Johnston, Football and Baseball Coach for Bald Knob High School and Junior High Randy and LaDonna Johnston have lived in Bald Knob their entire lives. Having graduated from Bald Knob High School and then attending Harding University, the Johnston’s have loyal roots to the White County community.

Randy, who is the head football and baseball coach for Bald Knob High School and Junior High, always enjoyed sports throughout high school. He said one reason for his passion for sports is that it allows him to impact the lives of his students. “I get to interact with 135 young men every day,” Randy said. “They impact my life every day and I hope I impact theirs as well.”

Randy said one way he tries to influence his athletes is by trying to provide them with direction and discipline; always delivered with encouragement.

Encouragement is important in all areas of life, not only in sports, school or family, but it is also important to encourage

those we serve through our professions. Just as Randy’s athletes receive encouragement, Randy and his wife were able to receive encouragement and care when they had their daughter, Shelby, at White County Medical Center.

LaDonna, WCMC Vice President of Patient Care Services, said they chose to have their daughter at WCMC largely in part to her working at the hospital and her husband having actually been born at the hospital when it was known as White County Memorial Hospital. “We had known Dr. Jim Citty from growing up in this area, and people in the community always spoke highly of him,” LaDonna said. “We had a great experience. We (I) knew all the staff, nurses, CRNA, doctor, dietary workers and the housekeepers.

When Dr. Citty prayed with us before Shelby was born, I knew that God was completely in control and tears of joy rolled down my face because of the peace I felt in my heart at that moment.”

Much like the encouragement a coach gives to his athletes before a game, and how it can make a valuable difference to motivate the players to win, the encouragement given to the Johnstons through the kind caring people at WCMC made all the difference.

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Dr. Jim Citty and the Motes

“I want to help my players look past their current challenges toward the future and help them tackle their life hurdles head on.”

– Roddy Mote

Roddy and Kim Mote, Football Coach for Harding Academy Roddy Mote, a native of Parkersburg, West Virginia, moved to Searcy in 1994 to attend graduate school at Harding University and serve as an assistant football coach for the college.

Like his father, Roddy wanted to be a coach, to be able to influence young people. “My dad was a coach and I played high school football under him,” Roddy said. “I was able to see firsthand the influence my father had on other people and his players, including myself. I knew I wanted to be a coach so that I could have that same influence and help change people’s lives through something that I love to do.”

To this day, Roddy’s father still has a great influence on his son and young people, where he volunteers at Harding Academy and helps Roddy with coaching football. Roddy says having his father so near is such a blessing, and he appreciates the time he is able to spend with his dad.

Roddy and his wife Kim both attended Harding University, where Roddy first became acquainted with Dr. Jim Citty. “Jim actually played football with my uncle, and then, when I attended Harding, I played football from 1984 – 1986,” Roddy said. “Dr. Jim Citty was the team’s physician, which is how I met him. The reason we chose to use Dr. Citty and WCMC when we had our son Ty was because of the relationship and connection we had with Dr. Citty when I was in school. He is a fine, godly man and I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. I’ve also had a chance to get to know his own children and extended family; they’re all wonderful and it is the result of having such a godly man such as Dr. Jim Citty as a leader.”

Roddy grew up with football being a part of his life, and now he uses football to change lives, in hopes of molding future strong leaders. He says being a coach is a blessing in many ways; from being able to watch them grow and develop, to being around the students every day, sharing fellowship and a connection with them.

There are challenges in being a coach, such as seeing young people get hurt, whether physically or emotionally, but Roddy said he believes part of the blessing of being a coach is being there to help the players cope and deal with hurt feelings and helping them overcome the challenges that they face. “Sometimes problems may seem small or insignificant to you, but they’re always important to someone and it’s important to remember that,” Roddy said. “I want to help my players look past their current challenges toward the future and help them tackle their life hurdles head on.”

“God is in control and he has the perfect plan, a plan much larger than ours.”

– Miles Watson

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undergraduate degree from Florida State University in physical education, with an emphasis in sports management,” Amanda said.

“I planned on being a high school basketball coach, but God had other plans. I spent 15 years chasing money in corporate America r. Bruce Thompson, Ob/Gyn at Searcy Medical before I got my priorities straight and God called me to be a stayCenter, learned a lot from growing up and playing high at-home mom.”

The year 2000 brought several major changes to the Watson school sports in Louisiana. “I ran track and then played football and basketball throughout high school,” Bruce said. “Playing sports family. After receiving a phone call from one of Miles’ former high really taught me important lessons that have helped benefit me in school teachers asking him to come back to Searcy to teach, Miles life after school. It taught me about teamwork and self-discipline. and Amanda decided to move back home. “Fourteen years later, and I still love it,” Miles said.

I learned to work hard to pursue your goals.”

That same year, Miles and Amanda had their first child, Gracen.

When Bruce decided to go to medical school, his first exposure was to obstetrics and gynecology. “The medical field was Later, they had Holt in 2003 and their youngest, Worth, in 2013; something that I felt called to do,” Bruce said. “I chose Ob/Gyn all three delivered by Dr. Bruce Thompson. “We knew we wanted specifically because it was really the first experience with medical to have our children at White County Medical Center,” Amanda that I had when I went to school, but also because it’s such a joy said. “My mother worked for the hospital and I kind of grew up around the place. I spent a lot of time there, so much that I knew to deliver babies.” all of the nurses, doctors and Bruce said that working with staff members. I was even expectant parents is one way for in an advertising campaign him to serve others and gives him Dr. Thompson and the Watson Family and worked my first summer enjoyment in being able to work job in the Marketing with people who are excited about Department. Needless to their new life as parents. “It’s a say, I wouldn’t have chosen service people want, in that people anywhere else to have had come into my office excited about my children.” being new parents,” Bruce said.

Amanda’s aunt was the “It’s a very joyful and happy time person to recommend Dr. in the patient’s life. There’s also Bruce Thompson though. a special feeling of being the first “My aunt worked at the person to hold a newborn child.” hospital as a nurse and Bruce said his parents were some knew Dr. Thompson,” of the biggest encouragers he had Amanda said. “And it was growing up, especially his father, a neat connection because who happened to be an athletic Miles ended up teaching Dr. coach. His parents were the ones Thompson’s children when who encouraged him to pursue they were seniors in high his dreams of being a doctor and school.” encouraged his aspirations.

Miles teaches English at Through playing sports and Searcy High School, where working hard in medical school, he also works as the tennis Bruce has learned the importance coach and assistant baseball of finding one’s passion and using the discipline learned through sports to pursue it. “Find something coach. “Teaching and coaching gives me a way to teach kids more that you enjoy doing, and then work really hard at achieving your than just books,” Miles said. “My position allows me to be a life coach as well. I want to teach in the classroom, on the tennis court, passion and goals,” Bruce said. and teach them something bigger than just literature. I try to teach my students about real life; loss, love, relationships and what Miles and Amanda Watson, matters most. I’m really in the perfect position to do all of that.”

Tennis Coach and Assistant Baseball Coach Just as Miles and Amanda learned, life does not always go as for Searcy High School planned. Plans change over time, as well as priorities. Instead of being a college professor or lawyer, Miles teaches and coaches in a Miles and Amanda Watson had different plans for position that allows him to impact the lives of young people daily; their lives. Having grown up together, Miles and Amanda went a job he said he would not trade for anything. Instead of chasing to the same school and were in the same youth group at church. money in corporate America, Amanda recently started her own Miles graduated from Searcy High School in 1989, Amanda in online sewing business, Sew Itty Bitty Designs, so that she can be 1993. He played baseball and she played basketball. They had big a full-time, stay-at-home mother for her children and not miss out plans for after leaving high school, and those plans did not include on the little things of raising a family.

Miles and Amanda said they believe that no matter what Searcy. “When I left Searcy, I went to school at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock,” Miles said. “I knew I enjoyed English in happens, you should keep an open mind when it comes to daily high school, and it was what I was good at. I thought I would teach life and remember that life is not about living for yourself. “Life English on a collegiate level; I even thought about law school. I isn’t always perfect and it doesn’t always go as planned,” Miles went on to receive my doctorate degree in English Writing from said. “There will be obstacles throughout and the future will not Florida State University. My plan was to teach college-level always be definite. You have to remember that you are not the one in control. God is in control and he has the perfect plan, a plan classes, but then I realized having a family was more important.”

Amanda said she spent 15 years chasing the wrong priorities much larger than ours.” before she realized she needed to reevaluate. “I earned my

DR. BRUCE THOMPSON

D

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DR. BILL WILIAMS r. Bill Williams, Ob/Gyn at Searcy Medical Center, grew D up near Searcy in McCrory. And, like most Arkansas residents, he grew up enjoying the great outdoors and spending time in nature with a

fishing rod and sitting in the deer stand.

In high school, he played football and continued playing into his first year of college. Williams said his original plan was to be a football coach, until one of his science teachers encouraged him to seek the medical field.

To this day, Williams still enjoys spending time fishing and hunting. His interest in the outdoors and sports was one way he was able to connect to Rob and Julie Reedy from Rose Bud. Rob and Julie Reedy, Shooting Sports Coach at White County Central

Dr. Williams and The Reedy Family

“Do the right thing, even if no one is looking.”

– Rob Reedy

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Rob Reedy is a shooting sports coach and agriculture teacher at White County Central, while Julie teaches family consumer sciences at Rose Bud High School.

Both have a great appreciation for the knowledge handed down to them from family members of the past. Rob said his grandfather taught him much of what he knows about hunting, fishing and nature and was a big influence in his life along with his mother, who he said was the one who always encouraged him to work harder and keep trying. Julie comes from a line of family and consumer science teachers, learning from her mother, two sisters and three aunts who all taught family consumer sciences.

Just as their relatives passed down knowledge and similar interests to them, they hope they can pass on life lessons to their two boys, Robby and Braden.

In 2003, the Reedy’s had their first child and chose Dr. Bill Williams as Julie’s doctor. “I selected White County Medical Center because I believe it’s an excellent facility with qualified doctors,” Julie said. “Probably my main reason for choosing Dr. Williams was because that was who my sister used. He is an excellent doctor and I would recommend Dr. Williams to anyone.”

Rob said he was thankful Julie chose Bill as her doctor after learning how genuine he was. Rob said the entire process was a great experience.

“Everyone was really helpful and did their job well,” Rob said. “Some of the staff at the hospital would often stop by and say hello or discuss fishing with me. Just being able to talk fishing helped relieve some stress and worry that goes along with having a baby. It was a great experience really.”

Now that their boys are a bit older, they are sharing more of the same interest with their parents, especially in the fields of hunting and fishing.

The Reedy’s said they hope they can teach and inspire their sons as they were inspired by others. “Monty Betts, who served on the White County Medical Center Board of Directors for many years, truly was a great inspiration to my career and life,” Rob said. “When Mr. Betts hired me, he said, ‘You will never be rich as a teacher, but there are rewards you will gain that you cannot put a dollar figure on.’ Now I often find those rewards as a teacher. I try to pass on some of the same inspiration that was shown to me as a new teacher. I am proud of the good relationship I have with my former students and the community where I teach.”

Julie said she strives to inspire and encourage others by her attitude and the example that she gives in the classroom, as well as outside of the classroom.

The two most important lessons they hope to pass on to their children are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength,” (Mark 12:30) and to be honest and treat others the way you want to be treated. “Do the right thing, even if no one is looking,” Rob added.

Playing sports is not easy. It requires work, time and dedication to improving one’s game. It also requires the support from fellow teammates, loyal fans and coaches.

Just like athletes are always working to improve, the White County Medical Center’s New Life Center is also always working toward providing the absolute best care possible for its patients.

In the fall of 2013, the White County Medical Foundation launched its “Miracles Happen Every Day” campaign to raise money for the WCMC New Life Center.

Through generous donations from WCMC fans, the New Life Center has been able to make renovations and additions to its facility. These updates include increased seating for families, showers added to all patient rooms and custom, built-in surface area with storage for patient rooms, rocking chairs, larger sofas and large screen TVs. Other additions include an infant security system upgrade, new state-of-the-art nursery equipment, new triage area with four patient areas, family friendly rooms and new flooring in the nursery and throughout with additional updates as well.

If you like would to get involved and support your White County Medical Center Foundation team and the “Miracles Happen Every Day” campaign, please contact the White County Medical Foundation at (501) 278-3191.

The White County Medical Foundation is a charitable, notfor-profit corporation that serves to provide support for White County Medical Center. Donations to the White County Medical Foundation provide WCMC with funding for renovations, stateof-the-art equipment and special projects to enhance patient care. The Foundation extends the mission of White County Medical Center to create a healthy community through medical excellence and compassionate care.

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By Irene Gray

H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote patriotism, preserve American History, and support better education for our nation’s children. The National Society has a beautiful, historical building in Washington, D.C. where Continental Congress is held annually.

At that time, hundreds of DAR members gather in the nation’s capital, where we honor many military heroes, as well as other patriotic heroes. This year one of our speakers was at that time Vice-Admiral Michelle J. Howard, of the U.S. Navy, who two days later became Admiral Howard, the first African-American female Admiral in our U.S. Navy.

She and General Norton A. Schwartz, USAF, Retired, both told of their dedication to our country and how it was their job to uphold its Constitution. Gen. Schwartz was a Former Chief of Staff of the Air Force. These are just two of the many people we were honored to hear from at our Congress. Three members of our local Frederick Van Patten Chapter of DAR attended Continental Congress this year. The local Frederick Van Patten Chapter was organized three years ago, with ReBecca Smith serving as the first Regent, with a two year term. The current Regent is Susan Hammons, and those two, along with member Irene Gray, attended Continental Congress as delegates from this Chapter.

The Frederick Van Patten Chapter currently has 58 members.

They are a dedicated group of women who love their country and the people who are helping to keep it free.

Our members help furnish refreshments for the local Veterans Clinic Office. We also collect items for boxes to be sent overseas to our men and women serving there, help participate in funerals for Veterans, have programs about our Constitution, furnish refreshments for the Wounded Warrior Duck Hunts each year in White County, and collect needed items for the VA Hospital in Little Rock, among other things.

We also strive to learn and teach more about our flag. Last year we had a Flag Parade at McRae Elementary School in Searcy.

We urge people to fly their flags, especially for certain holidays.

At each meeting, we have pledges to the American flag and the Arkansas flag, and recite the Preamble to the Constitution.

On Veterans Day, we have a Reception for our Veterans at the 58 Your Hometown Magazine

local Veterans Clinic, along with some DAR members from other Chapters in our area.

We have Essay Contests in local schools so that students can learn more about their country and its history. This year our Chapter was able to award a Scholarship to a local high school student.

For a Chapter that is only three years old, we have done alot in our area for our students and our veterans.

Many people now are interested in their genealogy, and we have many members who help others trace their families back to the time of the Revolutionary War so they can become members of DAR. At our National Headquarters in Washington, D. C., we have a huge Library with all kinds of books and resource materials to help people find their ancestors. This is open to all people except

 Irene Gray and Susan Hammons of the Frederick Van Patten Chapter DAR in Searcy are shown entering DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., where they were delegates from their Chapter to Continental Congress the last week of June. Searcy Living Magazine also made the trip. Not shown was delegate ReBecca Smith, and member Kimberly Coffey.

during the time of Continental Congress, when it is open to DAR members only. If you are working on your genealogy and have an opportunity to be in Washington, D.C., you might want to go to the Library and research. It is a large, two-story room. There are computers with information, as well as all of the books.

If you have a close family member who is a member of DAR, you can usually come in through their lineage, with just a little more work on your part. Any information you use must be backed up with proof, just taking someone’s word is not good enough.

While doing some of my own research, I learned a lot I did not know about our country during that time, as well as more about my ancestors.

I will warn you, if you start getting into this, it can be habit forming!

I might also mention that there is a Sons of the American Revolution also. I do not think there is a Chapter in Searcy, but I do know a man in Searcy who is a member of that organization, too. They operate on the same principles that the DAR does.

I hope this has given you just a taste of what goes on in our Chapter, and hope it will make you more aware of our flag, our veterans, our service personnel now serving, as well as our history.

It is amazing to me how much new interest is being shown in our organization. History is not taught in schools now the same as it was years back, so we hope we are helping to keep history alive for our students.

If you have an interest in DAR, I hope you will contact us, as we would be glad to help you any way we can in the Frederick Van Patten Chapter.

The latest project for the Frederick Van Patten Chapter DAR is collecting evening gowns, evening wraps, evening bags and shoes

for wives of some of our Wounded Warriors to wear to the Camp Pendleton Wounded Warrior Battalion West Birthday Ball, which will be held in November. They need 300-400 of these for the ladies. Several DAR Chapters throughout the country are helping to collect these, and our chapter is honored to be one of those.

H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H

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“Do you know what my favorite part of the game is?

The opportunity to play.”

– Mike Singletary

“Just be patient. Let the game come to you.

Don’t rush. Be quick, but don’t hurry.”

– Earl Monroe

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Fab

As a mother of three, I am always looking for ways to include my children in DIY projects.

One of their favorite projects recently was customizing area rugs for their bedrooms. I love this project because it allows the kids’ creative juices to flow. Any theme or color can be used; they may choose to freehand or use stencils. The possibilities are endless! For my son’s Razorback themed room, a football area rug was the perfect choice.

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1

We began by purchasing an inexpensive area rug.

For this project a short carpet pile works best.

2

To create the yard lines of the football field we first marked the rug with masking tape.

3

After taping off the rug, my son painted between the tape lines using permanent fabric paint. If using a light paint color on a dark rug more than one coat may be needed.

4

Once the paint completely dried, we removed the masking tape.

5

6

To number the yard lines we taped stencils to the rug and painted.

We removed the stencils and allowed the paint to dry overnight.

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By Tia Stone It’s 6:30 in the morning but I’ve already seen a few runners, walkers and bikers out on the Berryhill bike trail. The most

“traffic” encountered are the bunnies darting on and off the path. The constant sounds of nature break the silence. The sky is painted with many shades from the sunrise and any picture I could take would not do it justice. This is my quiet time to pray, to think, to dream, and sometimes to visit (if I’m running with a friend).

Believe it or not, Searcy has a growing running community. There are runners and walkers of all ages and at various levels. Whether you are just getting started and are looking for ways to get active, or are a competitive runner looking to improve your best time, the Searcy running community is here for you.

Women Run Arkansas

This state-wide program has been around since 1997. The WRA promotes health and fitness through running and walking.

Each spring, Searcy provides a free run/walk clinic for ten weeks that ends with a 5K. Jennifer Pannell heads up the Searcy Women Run Arkansas Clinic. Check out the Searcy Women Run Arkansas page on Facebook for more information.

Searcy Running Club

We are in the early stages of starting our very own RRCA Running club. This will be an official club in the Road Runners Club of America, and members will be eligible to participate in the Arkansas Grand Prix series. We hope to get our club up and running by December so we can be on the official roster in January 2015.

If you or anyone you know likes to run or walk, we hope you will join the Searcy Running Club. Even if you live outside of Searcy, you are still more than welcome to be a part of the team.

For more information please contact Tia Stone and look for more details to come on the Searcy Running Facebook page.

Searcy Fall Racing Calendar:

Searcy Family Track Night

This local program started in 2009 and is for children ranging in age from one to twelve years old. There are a variety of running events from 50 meters, up to one mile, with different heats for different ages. Weather permitting, this group meets two Monday nights per month from April through October at the Harding University track. This program is free and open to the community. For more information contact Tia Stone and check out Searcy Running on Facebook.

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It’s time to lace up those running shoes and start training!

There are some great races coming up this fall in Searcy: October 11- Micah Rine 5K (Location: Harding Academy High School) November 1- Bison Stampede 5K (Location: Harding University track) November 15- Breakaway 10K (Location: Harding Academy High School) November 22- Distinguished Young Women Be Your Best Self 5K (Location: Harding University campus) Tia Stone is a certified RRCA running coach who has completed 11 marathon races and has been a part of the Searcy running community since 1997. Her blog, www.arkansasrunnermom. com also serves as a helpful resource regarding various aspects about training, races in Arkansas, and running with children.

“ we have track night. It is a great way for kids to get into running in a fun way that is not intimidating, while they are still young enough to see running as a fun thing. Hopefully this turns into a lifelong habit that leads to a healthy life.”

“ about Family Track Night and all three of our girls love it! They share what they have learned with me, ‘Mom, you have to pace yourself to be able to run the whole mile.’

Even our three year old, Bella, joins in with the running and eats and drinks as much fruit and water as her big sisters!”

“ has given me an opportunity to not only take my son to something he enjoys, but also something that teaches him fundamental concepts such as sportsmanship, healthy competition, and healthy habits like stretching and staying hydrated.”

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“Approach the game with no preset agendas and you’ll probably come away surprised at your overall efforts.”

– Phil Jackson

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“My concentration level blocks out everything.

Concentration is why some athletes are better than others.”

– Edwin Moses

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Preparation &

passion A Conversation with Chris Bequette

By Cecelia Wilson

A

rkansas Razorback football fans are I admire about him,” Chris says of Coach Hatfield, “His character

familiar with the Bequette name from three different decades. Family patriarch George Bequette played from 1954-56, his sons Jay and Chris from 1980-82 and 1984-87 respectively, and grandson Jake (Jay’s son) from 200911. George’s progeny were each team captains for the Hogs. Of the four, Jake is currently still in the game after being drafted in 2012 into the National Football League as a defensive end by the New England Patriots. So, it’s not surprising that during a recent sit-down with Searcy Living, Chris Bequette talked a little football and how the sport has shaped his life. After all, it is a family tradition.

“Our summer vacations as a family were spent driving around the country (the mid-west and the southeast) going to NFL training camps,” Chris related. Sitting in the stands was not enough for George Bequette and his sons. No doubt watching a game was an exciting pastime as well, but George wanted his boys to appreciate how the players prepared and see the hard work the players put in before the bright lights were focused on the gridiron.

Lessons on hard work and hard knocks definitely apply on and off the turf, and Chris is passionate about that connection between life and sport: “I’ve just been around football all my life. Love football, love the sport, love the values that stand behind it. Hey, you get knocked down, you gotta get back up. It builds a character…a certain toughness about people.” Chris recited one of his favorite lines from General George Marshall, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during WWII, who said, “I have a secret, dangerous mission – I need an Army football player.” Chris smiled after repeating the quote, “That was a great line!”

And Chris Bequette’s example of an ideal man of character?

“I talked about this the other day at the Searcy Rotary Club and it goes back to Ken Hatfield: consistency of personality. To me, [Coach Hatfield] is one of the finest men of character because he was the same all the time. No matter what setting, no matter who he was with, he was Ken Hatfield, he was the same.” That’s what 70 Your Hometown Magazine

is always consistent…that’s what I admire about people like that.”

Chris grew up in Crystal City, Missouri, where his mother still lives, but he has always considered Arkansas home – the place he aspired to play football and attend college. After living in Illinois and California, he is now back in Little Rock and is happy to be back home. “Any success I’ve had as an adult, you can pretty much say it was here in the State of Arkansas. Going to Arkansas, playing for the Razorbacks, being a prosecutor and all those friends I met along the way…it’s just home.” He even considers throwing his hat in the ring of Arkansas politics, “I’ve thought about it a lot, and perhaps one day there will be an opportunity to once again serve the people of Arkansas like I was blessed to do when I was a prosecutor.” But for now, Chris is more than content with his career based in the State.

After graduating from the University of Arkansas, the former Offensive Guard and Tackle went to law school. He was in private practice as an attorney before becoming a deputy prosecuting attorney in Little Rock. After working at Stephens Sports Management, where he managed the Razorback football and basketball coaches’ shows, he moved on to Merrill Lynch to begin his current career as a financial advisor. In 2007, Chris opened his own financial investment firm named “American Coaches Wealth Management.” He specifically targets that niche of people with whom he has much in common: college football and pro football assistant coaches, defensive and offensive coordinators, special team coordinators and head coaches. And mixing football with business just makes Chris love what he does for a living that much more.

In addition to that penchant for playing football that Chris “inherited” from his father, Chris can probably thank his father for his financial background as well. The elder Bequette was a State Farm Insurance agent for several years and, after relocating to St. Louis in 1968, he became an agency manager and then an agency director. In all, Mr. Bequette was with State Farm for 48 years until his passing, and Chris is quick to point out, “He loved every minute of it.”

Whether it is common in life for most people to love what they do each day is debatable, but the Bequette men seem to thrive on hard work in their personal lives and their professional lives. “I’ve never worked a day in my life, to be honest with you,” Chris says with fervor. He credits his father with instilling that enthusiasm in him, specifically through two lessons his father taught him early on: hard work and preparation. “To do anything that’s worthwhile in life (that earns you a living, that brings you joy), you’ve got to work hard,” Chris says with conviction. “[If] you want to be a Razorback football player like I wanted to [be] growing up…you’ve just got to work incredibly hard. And if you want to be a good prosecuting attorney, you’ve got to work hard. There were many nights before a jury trial where I went to bed at 3:00 in the morning just preparing, preparing, preparing. Preparation was a word that my Dad used a lot. Preparation, preparation, preparation. Just because that’s the genesis of all success: Preparation + Hard Work = Success almost every time.”

That strong character and zest for life isn’t fading away any time soon. There’s another Bequette in the wings ready to put all his own preparation to the test. Luc Bequette lives with his father, Chris, in Little Rock and will be entering his Senior year at Little Rock Catholic High. It is football that flows in Luc’s blood, and the Center/ Noseguard is eager to step out into the limelight to make a name for himself. Though father and son are looking forward to Luc’s last year of high school football, college is looming ever closer and the possibilities on the field are endless. After receiving offers from several colleges (Memphis, Army, Navy, Air Force and LouisianaMonroe, to name a few), Luc has committed to California, so more road trips are in order for Chris as he will, no doubt, be in the stands when Luc runs in to play from the sidelines.

George Jules Bequette, Sr. passed away in 2011, but he left a legacy that is being passed on to the next generations of his family: a passion for preparing, playing hard and working hard…and loving every minute of it.

 Left to right: Luc, George, and Chris Bequette  Chris Bequette and father George Bequette

 Chris and son Luc Bequette

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By Kim Mote

...that’s how community used to come together to help one another and love on one another years ago. This week a real barn changes hands: One family of 5 grown kids passing their authentic transformed “barn” home into the hands of another family of 5. On the eve week of this move, we gathered to worship in this home, older women with younger, and the “barn raising” began. No hammering and sawing of boards this time. No meals were being prepared in this modern day barn raising moment. Community on this night looked like an 80 year old woman sharing a bit of her story, and her love for Harding, and love for her husband, and love for God to the ears of younger women starving to hear of God’s faithfulness. Wow. Blessed us ALL. It also looked like women sharing scripture with one another of God’s faithfulness. It looked like women singing of His faithfulness. It also looked like friends admonishing and speaking life to each other, but especially to the one whose barn is being built. It looked like prayer, tears and laughter. It looked like a few 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 PLUS year old women gathering around 2 families and doing what God created the body to do: encourage one another. And that’s what happened tonight.

The Mote Family

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“Thank You Lord for Your presence. Thank You for modern day ‘barn raisings.’ Thank You for the material blessings of new homes. But Lord, we know it’s not these material blessings that satisfy. It’s only You that satisfies. Tonight it wasn’t the ‘Barn’ that blessed us. It was You dwelling in us. Your very presence in our temporary ‘tents’ that filled that barn. We felt You. We saw You. Thank You for the wisdom of those that are older. Thank You especially for Lou Lawyer and Charlene Prock. Thank You for their testimony. Thank You for their faith. May we all be different as we have moments like this tonight to encounter You. May we daily go out looking for ways to joyfully serve others wherever we find ourselves, participating in the ‘barn raisings’ You put before us, which means living out loud in community and loving others, in Jesus name.” Amen.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

“...It wasn’t the ‘Barn’ that blessed us.

It was You dwelling in us.”

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE E

This is the family that is moving into that barn. The “barn raising” was for them, to bless them. The Kevin Chism family.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

“God created the body to encourage one another.”

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE E

Thank you for blessing us with words of wisdom.

The “Barn”

SearcyLiving.com 73

Over the Counter Rodney G. Richmond, RPh, MS, CGP, FASCP Harding University College of Pharmacy

Safe Methods for Storage and Disposal of Medications

By Timothy Cheum PharmD/MBA Candidate, Kejal Patel, PharmD/MBA Candidate Prescription and over-the-counter medications are valuable in treating medical conditions, managing chronic illnesses, and helping to maintain normal daily activities of living. However, it is important to properly store your medications in order to maintain their safety and stability. It is also important to maintain security of your medications because prescription drugs are frequently diverted and abused for recreational purposes. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration nearly 70% of the people aged 12 and older who abuse pain relievers say they got them from a friend or relative who had a prescription. We hope to share some tips that will help you responsibly store and dispose of medications in a safe and appropriate manner.

Medication Storage General Tips: It is recommended that medications for different individuals be clearly labeled and stored separately.

This will help to prevent a potential mix-up that could result in someone taking another person’s medication. Medications for pets should not be stored in the same location as human medication. Medications intended to be taken by mouth should be separated from those that are applied topically—this is particularly important for liquid medications. Cleaning products and test reagents should also be stored in a separate location from all medications. Medications stored at room temperature should be kept between 59-86°F. Medication containers should be closed securely and should not be cracked or soiled.

Medication expiration dates must be checked regularly and any expired, contaminated, or deteriorated drugs should be properly discarded.

Storage Location: The location where medications are stored should be kept clean and orderly. The most popular place in the home to store medications is the bathroom, however, for a variety of reasons this might not be the best place. The temperature and humidity in the bathroom frequently changes and can affect the stability of some medications (i.e. nitroglycerin, aspirin) which in turn can reduce their potency or effectiveness. For similar reasons certain areas of the kitchen, such as over the sink or stove, are places where medications should not be stored. In some instances by-products can form as a result of drug breakdown (degradation), causing some drugs (i.e. tetracycline) to become toxic.

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Refrigerated Medications: Medications requiring refrigeration should be stored between 36-46°F in a closed container that is separated (i.e. drawer, compartment) from food products. While some medications can remain stable for brief periods of time outside of refrigeration, that may not be the case for all refrigerated medications. If you encounter a situation where a drug has been left unrefrigerated for an extended period of time, you should consult your pharmacist or the product manufacturer. Some medications such as insulin and Vitamin B12 are actually stable at room temperature, but because the vials are used to deliver multiple-doses it is recommended they be kept refrigerated for infection control purposes. All multi-dose vials should be dated and an expiration date recorded on the label when they are first used; once opened most multi-dose vials expire in 28 days. However, products can vary and you should consult the labeling or your pharmacist. Any open vial that appears to be contaminated or discolored should be discarded and not used.

!

Pressurized or Flammable Drugs: Some medications come in pressurized containers that can explode when subjected to extreme temperatures. These medications are best stored at room temperature and should not be exposed to heat or left in direct sunlight for long periods of time.

Examples of medications that come in pressurized cans are antifungal sprays, sunscreen products, and oral inhalers to name a few. Other potential safety hazards are products that are flammable. Alcohol-containing products, like hand sanitizers, certain cough & cold liquids, and wart removers are flammable and should be used with caution near open flames or heat sources including lit cigarettes. Some lice treatments and hair growth products are flammable, and exposure to a heat source immediately after application can create a risk of causing the hair to catch fire. Therefore, users should be cautious before using a hair dryer or wait until the hair is completely dry before using a curling iron or straightener. For the best results and a safe outcome, always follow the directions for use and read the product labeling to see if a medication requires special storage conditions.

Medication Disposal As stated, medications play an important role in treating medical conditions but when they are no longer needed it is important to dispose of them properly to prevent misuse or abuse. You may receive disposal instructions when you pick-up your medications, but if not you can visit www.dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, search the drug name, and review the Information for Patients and Caregivers, Patient Information, Patient Counseling Information, Safety and Handling Instructions, or Medication Guide sections of the prescribing information. Alternatively, there is a variety of appropriate methods that are recommended by the FDA for disposal of expired or unused medications.

Medication Take-Back Programs: The best method for drug disposal is through a medication take-back program. These programs are periodically sponsored in the community and present the safest and most environmentally sound option. Locally, the Harding University College of Pharmacy conducts a biannual takeback program in the fall (September/October) and spring (March/ April). This program is held on the Harding University campus at the Farrar Center for Health Sciences located on the corner of Dr. Jimmy Carr Drive and Park Avenue. The White County Sheriff’s Office will also help you dispose of medications, although they do not accept needles or other medical supplies. Their office, located at 1600 East Booth Road in Searcy, is open throughout the week.

Finally, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration sponsors a National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, the aim of which is to provide yet another responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs while educating the general public about the potential for abuse. You can get more information on this program by visiting www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback.

DONT’S 88 Don’t leave medications in places easily accessible to children or others at risk.

88 Don’t leave medications that pose a risk of abuse in plain sight or in unsecure areas.

88 Don’t repackage medications in unmarked containers.

88 Don’t share medication with someone for whom it was not intended.

88 Don’t mix different kinds of medication in the same container.

88 Avoid taking medication in front of children who might inappropriately mimic the behavior.

Adapted from the National Community Pharmacists Association, www.safeguardmymeds.org

DO’S 99 Most medications should be stored in a cool, dry place.

99 Lock-up medications that pose a risk for abuse. (Ask your pharmacist.)

99 It is best to store medications in their original containers.

99 Keep track of how many pills you have during the course of treatment.

99 Discard medications that are no longer needed or that have expired.

99 Refrigerated medications should be stored at the proper temperature, avoiding freezing temperatures.

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Household Trash: The next best method for discarding medication is in the household trash. In the absence of product-specific methods for destruction outlined on the instruction label, or if there are no drug take-back programs available in your area, you can follow these simple steps for disposing of medications in the trash.

1. Mix any unused medication (i.e. tablets, capsules, liquids) with coffee grounds or kitty litter to make it undesirable for use.

2. Before throwing away an empty prescription container, be sure to scratch out any identifiable personal information to make it unreadable.

3. Place the mixture in a sealed container to prevent it from leaking.

4. Throw the container in the garbage.

Flushing: Although flushing medications down the sink or toilet has been a common method for disposal in the past, it has become a generally less preferred option because of concern for potentially harmful effects to the environment. However, some medications can be especially harmful and perhaps fatal with even one dose if taken by an unintended user. Prescription drugs such as powerful narcotic pain relievers and other controlled-substances carry instructions for flushing to reduce the potential of

unintentional use, illegal abuse, and overdose. Fentanyl adhesive patches deliver a potent amount of medication through the skin. The product label contains instructions to flush a used patch because, even after it has been applied to the skin, a significant amount of active ingredient still remains in the patch. To dispose of a used patch fold it in half immediately after removing it from the skin so that the sticky sides meet and then flush it down the toilet. The FDA maintains a continually updated list entitled Medicines Recommended for Disposal by Flushing of other drugs that can be destroyed in this manner. For more information visit the Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You Should Know page at www.fda.gov.

Inhalers: When discarding an inhaler the FDA recommends that you first review the product label. Older inhalers may contain chlorofluorocarbons, an environmental pollutant, while newer ones are more environmentally friendly.

Disposal procedures may vary depending on the type of inhaler you have. When throwing an inhaler in the trash, at a minimum wrap it in a plastic bag along with food scraps to discourage it from being picked out of the trash.

Needles & Sharps: Medical devices with sharp points or edges that have the potential to cut or puncture the skin are used on a daily basis by people as well as for pets. Examples of sharps include needles/syringes, lancets, auto-injectors, infusion sets, and connection needles/sets.

Used sharps are dangerous if not disposed of properly because they can cause injury and spread infection (HIV or hepatitis). Safe sharps disposal is important whether you are at home, work, or in other public areas. Sharps should always be placed in a sharps disposal container, and never in a trashcan, recycling bin, or flushed down the toilet. For more tips on the proper handling of sharps the FDA publishes some do’s and don’ts for the Safe Disposal of Needles and Other Sharps at www.fda.gov/safesharpsdisposal.

Rodney Richmond, RPh, MS, CGP, FASCP, is an associate professor of pharmacy practice and a board-certified geriatric pharmacist.

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By Casey McLeod, Medical Center Pharmacy

I

t’s that time of year again! School has started, which means the beginning of football season…then basketball…then baseball…and volleyball….and soccer…and cheer….and the list goes on and on. High school athletics is a great opportunity for kids to get connected, be involved, and be active. Many friendships are formed and life lessons learned while playing sports. Athletics clearly play a major role in the growing years of hundreds of children.

High school athletes spend several hours each week training and conditioning for the sport they play, often in extremely hot temperatures. It is possible to lose over a liter of fluid from sweating for each hour of exercise. Sweat is the primary mechanism that cools our bodies down when we get overheated. Because we sweat during exercise, it is important to replace those fluids to prevent dehydration.

78 Your Hometown Magazine

It is important to properly prepare for practices or ballgames by taking in plenty of fluids before, during, and after periods of exertion. A good rule of thumb is 8 ounces of water 2 hours before exercise, 4 to 8 ounces 30 minutes before exercise, then 4 ounces every 15 minutes during exercise. The need for fluids, however, will vary slightly depending upon other conditions, such as outside temperature and how strenuous the activity is.

The type of fluid to take in should also be considered. Before and during physical exercise, water or diluted sports drinks are the best choice for hydration. Water is rapidly absorbed and therefore works best in maintaining hydration and keeping body temperatures as cool as possible. Water intake is also important because becoming dehydrated during exercise can have a negative effect on performance. Muscle cramps, increased heart rate, headache, and decreased alertness can occur with even slight dehydration, which may interfere with an athlete’s ability to play their sport well.

After periods of physical activity, our bodies have a continued need for hydration. The best choice for postgame hydration would be a sports drink with good amounts of carbohydrates, electrolytes, and protein. Electrolytes lost from sweat during exercise need to be replaced in order for your body to restore proper hydration and muscle function.

Post-exercise muscle cramps are often due to electrolyte imbalance. It is important to read the label of your sports drink, however, to be aware of the amount of sugar present.

Too much sugar is (unfortunately) never a good thing.

One item to make our student athletes aware of is the danger of energy drinks. Many of these athletes are juggling their schoolwork with extracurricular activities and find that they are running short on time and energy to get it all done. It is tempting to give in to the thought that an energy drink will give the boost needed to make it through the big game.

Energy drinks contain high amounts of caffeine and other stimulants, such as guarana and ginseng. Caffeine raises the heart rate, and in high doses can be dangerous during periods of strenuous activity. Caffeine also promotes dehydration, which is counter-productive for health and good athletic performance. It is best to avoid energy drinks completely, but especially before, during, and after exercise.

Early symptoms of dehydration: Headache Dry mouth Thirst Dizziness or drowsiness Dark urine

Symptoms of more severe dehydration: Confusion Little or no urine output Sunken eyes Fever Rapid heart beat Low blood pressure

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The making Of A

Razorback Fan

By Christine Walker

The winding road to the Holts home

Checking out the creative Hog wear while stuck in traffic

My tailgate friends the Williams

Great job they did at half time

Yes we were THIS CLOSE!

Yes, it’s true. All these years living in Arkansas, and I had never been to a Razorback football game.

Nope, not even one. But, someone offered me tickets they could not use and I thought, “Why not?” It was last minute, but as long as I could secure a weekend sitter, I could make it work. And really, so much of my life is spent taking care of others, I knew I needed a weekend that was kinda just all about me. Don’t we all need those occasionally? Just a different pace, different scenery and no responsibilities.

So, I picked up the phone and called my friends from Springdale, the Jim Holt family, and asked if there was room at their house for one more on Saturday night.

And, hey, I had an extra ticket for a Holt family member to go with me to the game. I had not seen the Holts in years. Maybe five or six? I don’t remember how long it had been, but I knew they had at least one new threeyear-old family member that I had never met before, it had been so long.

Before leaving town, I told Phil and Patty Williams that I was going to my first game. I knew they were big fans, as we had just featured their Hog wild home for this issue of the magazine. I was so excited when they extended an invitation to join them for a tailgate snack before the game!

Leaving early Saturday morning, I was excited about this new adventure, and also to reconnect with friends that I consider like family. Having not been to the Fayetteville area in so long, I had forgotten how pretty the drive was. I drove straight to the Holts’ home, and it was just like I had seen them yesterday. Their daughter Kristian had decided to go with me. I had not seen Kristian since she was a young teenager, and now she was 23. I felt a little better when she told me she had never been to a Hog game either. At least I wasn’t the only person in Arkansas who had never been.

There were a few drops of rain as we left for the stadium, and crowds of people dressed in all kinds of Razorback wear along the way. Being stuck in traffic was not so bad with the entertainment of seeing so much creative Hog attire! We made it to our parking lot and went in search of the Williams. Three different people had given us the same directions to “lot 74,” but it turned out to be lot 47. Strange that we met three dyslexic direction givers in a row, but we finally found the right place and connected with the Williams family; then headed into the stadium a short while later. Our

Again...

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Small fan

seats were awesome! Yes, look at the pictures. We were really THAT close. The weather was perfect. Cloudy and in the 70s, with a breeze. Unusual August day in Arkansas. (Unusual weather this whole Summer, for that matter.)

I made friends with the nice people sitting next to us, and she was kind enough to explain anything and everything that I didn’t understand about the game.

They had been sitting in the same seats for about 20 years, and she told me her husband had every player, their number, and pretty much everything else Hog, memorized. He and his friends even quizzed each other. Hmmmm. I’ve got a lot to learn.

The half time show was spectacular, the snacks were great, and we saw like a ton of touchdowns by the Hogs. Some would say that a game where we are that far ahead was not exciting. But, I was ok with it.

The game might have been over, but my free, no-stress weekend had just started. We went back to the Holt home just in time for dinner. I really lucked out, as it was family night. Once a month, the Holts have family night, with the grown children coming home for dinner and family time. I was able to meet Stephen’s wife and 2-year-old child. Precious family.

The last time I saw Stephen, he was still a little kid. On family night the ping pong table and Trails with video games come out. I’m not amazing views much on video games, but I can jam at ping pong. We played doubles, with Kierra as my team mate. She was pretty good for a six-year-old! :) The next morning, I was the first one up. I made coffee and started searching the fridge, thinking I would just cook everyone breakfast. I promise, I don’t normally just dig through other people’s cupboards and refrigerators, but like I said, the Holts are like family.

I didn’t get very far when one of their teens got up and offered to make breakfast. Not wanting to crush the boy’s feelings or hinder his confidence with cooking, I quickly agreed. Before long, I found myself eating the best omelet ever, along with fresh orange slices.

He explained that I almost had fresh squeezed orange

Kristian Holt all grown up

Friendly neighbors

I’m just speechless...

Hope this won’t become the future of Searcy:( Raccoon won’t get these shoes (you have to be an avid Searcy Living reader to get that one).

Snake snake go away! Lol The Holt Family

juice, but something went wrong. I’m still a little curious, but his mom assured me that I didn’t really want to know. I’m good with that.

Before I left, we had a devotional. We almost went to visit the Duggar family as we had the last time I was there, but I really wanted to hit the road and hike a little at Mt. Magazine on the way back. Plus, I think I’m going to wait till the Duggars have at least 20 kids before I visit them again. Hey, last time I saw them they only had 12 or 13. It could happen.

I headed to Mt. Magazine with little to no expectations, except for plans on hiking to the top of the highest point. Jim Holt told me that it was an awesome place to pray. It was my first visit there, but I am pretty sure it won’t be my last. It is spectacular. I found the trail to the highest point and started climbing.

I hadn’t planned on this excursion before leaving Searcy, so I didn’t bring anything but View from the sandals. However, I had my Croc sandals, lodge balcony in and they have seen a lot tougher trails. You the evening know, the shoes I had to buy to replace the ones I lost in the raccoon “incident.”

On the way up the trail I started to notice it was quite desolate. No other hikers. Then I started thinking of bears. And large spiders. I could handle a snake, if it wasn’t poisonous, but what if I stepped on a copperhead? I mean, really, my feet were pretty vulnerable. I had heard they don’t like noise so I chanted “snake, snake go away” a few times. Then I laughed at myself for being stupid. It was a very stressful first five minutes of the hike.

I made it to the top with no other psychotic moments. Don’t judge me; I know you have them too. Then, I knelt on the rock formation of Arkansas and prayed. Jim was right. Very good place to pray. I sat in the middle of the Arkansas rock and tried to revel in the peaceful moment.

Then I started thinking of bears again, and headed out. Hey, there really was a “watch for bears” sign on the way in. In case another hiker was headed up, I decided to play music on my phone instead of chanting. I found “I Hear a Sound,” which was a perfect fit for that day. Then I enjoyed the solitude and beauty of the outdoors on the way down.

This should be I then drove over to the lodge. The view renamed Prayer behind the lodge was so beautiful that I Rock

The lodge

Hmmm... Wonder if I’m supposed to send my kids here

Yes the hills looked blue and the wildflowers were beautiful

immediately called the sitter and begged for one more night. Then I booked a room. Later, I went to the dining room to order dinner.

Have you ever eaten at a restaurant in public by yourself? I have, quite a few times, actually, and it’s really not so bad. But it was awesome sitting outside on the patio with that view. I really love Arkansas.

The next morning, I ate breakfast on the other side of the patio.

I was going to eat alone again, but there was a woman at a table next to me who was waiting for someone from the convention she was attending to join her. They obviously were sleeping in, and she finally told the waitress she was giving up on waiting for them and was ready to order. I then invited her to join me at my table, and she enthusiastically did so. We talked about our families, jobs and the great view. She was anxious to come back for another visit and bring her husband the next time. I agreed that everyone in Arkansas should see Mt. Magazine, at least once. We traded businesse cards and agreed we should keep in touch. You can never have enough friends.

I then checked out and headed home. Well, actually to the office, since it was officially a work day. And, what is the point of this story?

I really don’t have one. But, I think I am now a Razorback fan! :)

Last look at view before leaving to return to reality. I let my breakfast buddy play with my camera.

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A

lmost everyone played sports during their childhood,

with many going on to take part in high school athletics and a select number to compete in college. After graduation comes and goes, it is easy to get lost in the demands of work and family life, and push personal recreation to the side. That does not have to be the case anymore. Searcy Parks & Recreation offers solutions to adults who are seeking to get some friendly competition and fun exercise back into their weekly schedules.

There has been a market for an adult softball league in Searcy for many years now. Searcy Parks & Rec took over managing the league seven years ago and has continued to build momentum and excitement for the league ever since. This fall, there are 17 open league teams and 18 church league teams signed up to compete.

Within both the open and church leagues are men only and co-ed divisions. The league games take place on Tuesday and Thursday nights with games being played at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30. To kick off the fall season, the co-ed church league held a tournament.

After a week of single elimination games, Kensett First Baptist was victorious over Searcy New Life Church in the championship Thursday, August 21.

The atmosphere on game night is competitive and everyone is driven to do their best, but there’s more to it than that. Dillon Swain, member of the championship Kensett First Baptist team, has fond memories of his softball experiences. After having worked at the concession stand and kept the stat book the first year Parks & Rec took over, he decided to join a team the following year and has played for six consecutive years since. “My favorite part about playing in the league is the camaraderie and togetherness that is created between teammates,” he said.

Dillon was right, the league does present many opportunities to network and create lasting friendships. In addition, league coordinator Rob Stewart points out another benefit that comes as a result of adult softball participation. He explains that in the church league divisions, each church team is allowed to add 3 nonmembers to their roster. Though on the surface this may only seem like a way to add more skill to your team or to guarantee having enough players each week, it can end up being another blessing in

“My favorite part about playing in the league is the camaraderie and togetherness that is created between teammates.”

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disguise. Many teams have had non-member players enjoy their softball experience and getting to know fellow teammates so much that they decided to make that church their home on Sundays as a result! Who would have thought that softball and evangelizing could go hand in hand so effortlessly?

Without a doubt, there are many exciting things happening at the adult softball leagues. Feel free to come out on Tuesday or Thursday to watch the action, cheer on the teams and see if it is something you would be interested in for future seasons. The adult softball leagues boast a family friendly environment that is always open to the public. If softball isn’t your sport of choice, Searcy Parks & Rec also offers a men’s basketball league that starts in November and a women’s basketball league that begins in March.

Embrace your inner competitive edge that has been lying dormant since high school and get plugged into one of the awesome leagues that Searcy Parks & Rec has to offer!

“Searcy Parks & Recreation offers solutions to adults who are seeking to get some friendly competition and fun exercise back into their weekly schedules.”

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“In any team sport, the best teams have

consistency and chemistry.”

– Roger Staubach

Coach Ronnie Huckeba from Harding University

Coach Roddy Mote from Harding Academy

Coach Jeremy Poole from Searcy

Coach Mike McCain from Riverview

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Andouille One Pot Skillet Pasta Serves 4-6

This dish looks innocent enough, but has fabulous flavor due to the sausage, as well as the spicy cheese. Freckle Face Farm* andouille sausage usually has 5 links of sausage in a 1# package, so this uses 4 of those links. Reheats beautifully, and most folks will draw straws for leftovers.

It’s THAT good! I highly recommend using as much organic ingredients as possible, but the incredible taste will still be present regardless of whether you use conventional or organic. This would be a great dish to celebrate “back to school,” the coming of Autumn, a day of the week ending in the letter “Y,” ...whatever!

INGREDIENTS 1 Tbsp olive oil 1 onion, diced 12 ounces andouille sausage links, sliced thinly 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 c. chicken broth or stock 14 1/2 ounce can diced tomatoes 1/2 c. milk 8 ounces elbow or small shell pasta salt and pepper to taste 1 to 2 c. shredded paper jack cheese (NOT processed cheese food product; Monterey Jack with jalapeños)

cook

In a large skillet, over medium heat, cook onion and sausage in olive oil until onion is clear.

ADD

Add remaining ingredients except cheese and gently stir. Bring ingredients to a boil then reduce heat and place a lid on it. Simmer 12 - 14 minutes, until pasta soaks up liquid and cooks thoroughly. Sprinkle cheese on mixture and replace lid so cheese melts.

enjoy

Serve with your favorite vegetables, a salad, and good bread. Once you have this, you’ll be stocking up on the andouille so you can make it again!

*Freckle Face Farm is located just south of Searcy (but is normally at the Searcy Farmers Market every Saturday) and they provide “clean meats,” meaning no hormones, pasture raised pork, grass finished beef, no MSG, nitrates or nitrites in their minimally processed meats like this andouille. Good Measure Market also carries some of their meat products.

Tanya Turner Leckie’s cookbook Cartwheels In The Kitchen, is available at Tonya’s Consignment, Midnight Oil Coffee House, as well as through Tanya by e-mailing her at lazydaygourmet@sbcglobal.net.

Partial proceeds through sales benefit the Makonde Team mission work in Tanzania, Africa.

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Across

2. Miles Watson says that life is not about living for _____.

5. The Daughters of the American Revolution's national building is located here.

7. The softball league presents opportunities to _____.

8. Miranda Long says there is not a set schedule on _____ _____.

What number do you get when you multiply all of the numbers on a telephone’s number pad?

Down

1. Phil's mother made this for cherished events.

3. Preparation + Hard work = _____.

4. Christine went to her first _____ game.

6. Searcy has a _____ running community.

9. It is best to avoid _____ drinks completely.

Find The Answers On

What building has the most stories?

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Keep your head up. God gives His hardest battles to His strongest soldiers.

Show your support for life and help raise money at the same time! Purchase an Official Choose Life Arkansas License Plate for the rear of your car. You can obtain one through direct purchase from the Department of Finance and Administration.

Let’s make the readership of Searcy Living the BIGGEST supporters for life in the state!

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