Searcy Living Issue 1 2016

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e x q u i s i t e v i e w • q u a l i t y b u i lt • l u x u r i o u s e x t r a s

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Natural State Realty SearcyLiving.com 7

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issue 1 2016

56 New Year’s (Financial) Resolutions 48 Glimpse Of Heaven Through The Eyes Of A Loved One 52 God Still Speaks 54 Giving Back 56 Wedding Barn And Searcy Living Tea

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An Afternoon With Mr. Harris

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The Heart Of The Matter 66 Cruisin’ Down The River 70 White County Kicking Cancer Foundation

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Greek Life: More Than Just Letters 78 All American Citizen: Frances Schoonover

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Adventure: Bet You Didn’t Know

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Name That Deer Contest 84 Keys For Making Life Better

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Tips For Beginning Your Fresh Start

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Publisher’s Note 11 Hope Believe 12

“Surround yourself with people who have dreams, desire and ambition; they’ll help you push for and realize your own.” ~ Unknown

Fashion Fun 22 We The People 26 Over The Counter 74 Fab DIY 92

78

Dinner And A Magazine 94 Crossword And Riddles 96

On the Cover paizlee vaughn Photo by Kimberly Brackins (501) 279-1515 www.kbrackins.com

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Publisher Christine Walker Art Director & Webmaster Garrett Johnson Editorial Assistant Cherie Sewell Makeover Coordinator Christine Locke Customer Service Angela Fisher Contributing Independent Photographers TJ Boarman (501) 416-7034 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 2016 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 2016 Shark Promotions LLC

Searcy Living Magazine is a subsidiary of Shark Promotions LLC.

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A few years ago a friend of mine invited me to a big hat party. Not just any big hat party, but her daughter’s first birthday big hat party. Thinking of it actually made me a little nervous, as I had never been to a big hat party and did not even own a big hat. I wanted to go, but was a bit afraid of feeling out of place. Wanting to expand my horizons, however, I decided to be a bit vulnerable and explained to her that I wanted to go but had never in my life worn or purchased a big hat. I would not even know where to start! She loaned me a big hat, and all was good; I saw a lot of people I knew and some amazing and interesting big hats. At the end of the day, it was a lot about just stepping outside my comfort zone and doing something a little fun and different.

Big hats were a recent conversation again when I met with one of our clients. She suggested Searcy Living co-sponsor a Mother Daughter Tea this May, along with The Wedding Barn.

Big hats, white gloves and a great lunch. Now, I am really excited about attending this special event with my daughters! We will bring you more details as we get closer to that day. Big hats encouraged, but not required. :) I am looking forward to this, as well as other special events we have planned this year! As always, thank you for reading Searcy Living. We love our readers!

Find Us On Follow Us On

Remember The Extras On

An Afternoon With Mr. Harris

Keys For Making Life Better

God Still Speaks

“Your family is important, and your life is great, but you have to take care of your soul.”

“Allow yourself to laugh.”

“God still speaks. In dreams, in thoughts, in the still small voice, in your heart, through people, in creation, in art. He speaks.”

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Hope Believe

Foster Care and Adoption Boutique

* The Searcy Living Foster Care and Adoption Boutique is simply a room in the Searcy Living business office that we have dedicated for use in helping foster & adoptive families, and sometimes emergency situations. Our awesome Searcy Living readers bring in donations, enabling foster parents to be able to ‘shop’ for what they need for foster, adopted 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!

Imagine a world where every child has a safe loving home Believe it can happen

“ Foster parenting is a leap into the unknown. The most important thing I have learned is that this is God’s ministry...He provides. One of the ways He does that is through all of the people who donate clothes and supplies to the Searcy Living Foster Care Boutique. You have blessed us many times, and I thank you.”

Marnie W.

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A Big Thank You! Elks Lodge

Pam Boggan, Anita Varnell, Michelle Rodgers, Mona Coots, Pam Kirksey

Thanks to all who give!

A Special Thank You To

White County Quilter’s Guild 2 Quilts For Foster Families

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Hope Believe

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Thank You Claudette Smith SearcyLiving.com 15

Hope Believe

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Thank you to the many groups in our community who helped provide Christmas for local Foster children!

FUMC Preschool - Billie Cornett Searcy Contours - Kristy Morris Bright Horizons Academy - Chereece Jackson Searcy Walgreens Boy Scouts - Frank Likert Pangburn Police Dept - Police Chief William Sims Pangburn Dollar General Land O’Frost - Amanda Stanisor First Baptist Church Life Group - Kristen Stafford

Amon Nguyen, Javyn Nguyen, Gabiella Nguyen

Land O’Frost filled Christmas wish lists for 10 local foster children - many of them teens!

What a huge blessing!

Thank you to Crosspointe Preparatory for the donation of socks!

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Before

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Evelyn Moss Makeover Coordinator

By Doris

Yates at

Makeup by Doris Yates at

Cosmetic Studio

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

By Kim

Grimes at

Hair by Kim

Grimes at symmetrix salon Charlestown Village 2305 W. Beebe Capps • Searcy (501) 268-4540

Outfit from

dale’s clothing

Clothing & Accessories

701 W. Race, Searcy 501-388-0086 www.shopdalesclothing.com

Turn the page for more fashion & beauty retailers.

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

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5th Annual Ball

For The White County Foster Children he Bald Knob Extension Homemakers Club, Girl Scout Troop #6448 and other T volunteers hosted the 5th Annual Fall Ball party for the White County foster children at the Carmichael Center.

As the children entered the gym they were welcomed by Sleeping Beauty, Alice In Wonderland, Cinderella, Aurora, and King Arthur in a beautifully transformed castle setting.

So the children would always be able to remember their evening they were photographed with the princess of their choice.

The children were then ready to dig for gold coins, with which they could pay the attendant to play one of the many games set up all around the castle. Each child had one or more bags they were given to hold their many prizes and candy received. Mr. Chad Snider, White County Central School’s art teacher, painted the children’s faces.

The familes then were seated at a table decorated fit for a princess where they were able to enjoy hot dogs, chips, homemade cookies, and brownies.

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Shirley & Euland Turney

50th Wedding Anniversary

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AAHP President Rob Christian, Pharm.D., presents Unity Health Pharmacist Nuria Fecher with the 2015 Pharmacist of the Year Award.

Unity Health Pharmacist Receives State Recognition Unity Health’s Nuria Fecher Named Pharmacist of the Year nity Health would like to congratulate Nuria U Fecher, Pharm. D., from the Unity Health Pharmacy Department for being awarded the 2015

Arkansas Hospital Staff Pharmacist of the Year Award by the Arkansas Association of HealthSystem Pharmacists (AAHP).

“I pray every morning on my way to work for God to guide me and help me to do the right thing for the patients in our facility,” Fecher said. “I try every day to make sure I remember that the patients we serve are someone else’s mother, daughter, father or son. I want to treat everyone as someone important.”

Fecher’s dedication to serving the patients at Unity Health can be clearly seen through her hard work and compassionate care. Fecher said her main goal as a pharmacist is to emphasize the importance of each patient and to work together as a team with other pharmacists, nurses, and physicians to heal patients and help them get well.

“Nuria is one of the best pharmacists and people I know,” said Liz Underwood, Unity Health Pharmacy Residency Program Director. “She is humble, hardworking, intelligent and truly one-in-a-million. It would be impossible to put a figure on the large number of patients whose lives she has touched directly and indirectly because of her dedication to patient care. She is very highly respected and loved by the rest of the pharmacy staff as well as the many pharmacy students and residents she has trained over the years. We are so thankful to have her on our team.”

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The AAHP’s mission i to represent pharmacists by providing leadership and support in the promotion of pharmaceutical care. AAHP serves its membership by pursuing common goals; through representation to private and public agencies and to the other health care organizations; and by promoting pharmacy as an essential component of the healthcare team.

ABOUT UNITY HEALTH – WHITE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER: As the leading healthcare provider in an eight-county area, Unity Health and its associates strive to improve the quality of health and well-being for the communities it serves through compassionate care. Unity Health is the largest employer in an eight-county area with more than 2,000 associates. The Searcy facility has a combined total of 438 licensed beds and a medical staff of 150 physicians that specialize in various areas of healthcare.

In addition to the White County Medical Center and Specialty Care Campuses, Unity Health in Searcy includes Unity Health – Clarity Health and Wellness; Unity Health – Family Practice Associates; Unity Health – After Hours Clinic; Unity Health – McAfee Medical Clinic; Unity Health - Orthopaedic and Spine Center; Unity Health – Searcy Medical Center and Unity Health – Searcy Medical Center, West; Unity Health – Westside Family Medical Clinic; Unity Health Cardiology Clinic and Unity Health Oncology Clinic.

toy donation

For The White County Foster Children Pangburn Police and Dollar General teamed up to donate toys to White County Foster Children. Pictured is new Police Chief William Sims.

“In a Child’s Eyes”

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Cub Scout Pack 98 At the recent awards meeting, Cub Scout Pack #98, sponsored by First Christian Church, celebrated their successful popcorn sale with a family pizza party and took time to pack bags for the homeless with personal care items. Leaders shown are: Jay Niederbrach, Ryan Phalen, Frank E. Likert & Willie Abrams. Supplies were provided by Cheryl Pinkley, member of Thrivent Financial Chapter #30440.

Cub Scout Pack 98 at First Christian Church gave Christmas toys to local Foster Children.

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Billie Cornett Director of First United Methodist Preschool collected toys for White County Foster Children. What a blessing!!

Chereece Jackson owner of Bright Horizons Academy collected Toys for White County Foster Children. What big hearts!

Kristy Morris owner of Searcy Contours collected Christmas Toys for White County Foster Children. Thank you for being so generous! The kids were surely delighted with their gifts!!!

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Master Gardener of

Lulynn Richards (l) presents Jean Norris (r) with her Master Gardener of the Year award.

the Year

Jean Norris of Searcy was named the White County Master Gardener of the Year. The White County Master Gardener program chooses a member who has exceeded expectations, and the minimum requirements to maintain membership in the group.

This annual award was given to Jean for her prolific contributions of time and talent to many projects and activities of White County Master Gardeners, including her tireless efforts at the Searcy Art Center, otherwise known as the Black House. She has been a member since 2007 and has been awarded the Sunshine award and a member of the 100+ Hour Club several times. Jean is a friend to many and filled with enthusiasm and warmth for the Master Gardener program and fellow members. She enjoys working in the horticulture exhibits at the county fair and on the school enrichment programs at area schools. Congratulations to Jean for her efforts and volunteer hours donated to White County.

For more information on becoming a Master Gardener, please contact the Extension office at (501) 268-5394 or email our office at ssanders@ uaex.edu for additional information. The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution.

“Over 118 Years of Experience!”

Experience Matters Mike Hart’s State Farm team offers years of experience and comprehensive coverage from Auto/Home/Life & Commercial needs.

No matter the claim scenario or underwriting situation, chances are our team members have accumulated the knowledge to handle the situation properly.

505 S. Main St. Searcy, AR 501.368.8000 L-R Front: Wendi McAfee, Lynne Woods L-R Back: Debbie Miller, Mike Hart, Anita Smithey 32 Your Hometown Magazine

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Searcy

CARTI Auxilliary

The Searcy CARTI Auxilliary met at Trinity Episcopal Church’s fellowship hall for their luncheon, hosted by Dorothy Simmons, 2nd Vice President. Jon Bucher shared a little magic with member Karen Davis by finding the stars hidden in her hands. The chairman of the Luminary sales reported a total of $4675 was raised this season, and would like to say thank you to all who supported this effort. The meal was provided

by Savory Catering. Next meeting will be the 3rd Thursday of February at 10:00 a.m. at 1st United Methodist Church.

Home abitat for Humanity of White County recently held H a paint party to help prepare the new build on Randall Dr. in Searcy for the new owner. Shown hard at work are Build Director By Miller and Stephanie Hess who is purchasing the home for she and her daughter.

Fellowship Bible Church Mission Trip To Canaan Christian Community, Montrouis, Haiti Dec 12-19 34 Your Hometown Magazine

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Recent trip to lunch with the

edythe Chambers celebrated her 100th birthday with 5 generations of her family on November 28th and December 1st with her Crossing at Riverside family. She has a sister that is 101 years old.

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Beatles at Walnut Ridge

Kensett High School:

40 year class reunion

(Sept. 23 - 25, 2016) (3 day event)

Start of 3 day (40 year class reunion, class of 76) September 23 - 25, 2016 Fri. 23: Huckleberry’s Catfish, Searcy 7 pm - 9 pm Dinner Sat. 24: Country Kitchen, Kensett Breakfast

7 am - 8:30 am

Latina Nursery, Kensett 8:30 am Line up for “Kensett Heritage Festival” Parade Grand Marshall’s Parade (class of 76)

Latina Nursery, Kensett 9:30 am “Kensett Heritage Festival” Parade Parade Starts

Los Tucanes, Kensett Lunch

12 noon - 1 pm

Tour, Kensett Elementary School 2 pm - 3 pm Cafeteria Riverview School District, Kensett

Chili’s, Searcy Dinner

7 pm - 9 pm

Sun. 25: First Baptist Church Kensett Church

The Rock House, Searcy Lunch

10 am

12 noon - 1 pm

Close until we meet again.

For More Information Please Call Robbie 512-922-1453 or E-mail rburch1958@gmail.com

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Unity Health is Top in the Nation

Unity Health – WCMC Earns Energy Star Efficiency Score nity Health – White County Medical Center is proud U to announce that it recently received an Energy Star efficiency score of 75.

Unity Health is one of only two hospitals in Arkansas and one of 37 hospitals in the United States to have an energy score as high as 75, placing the hospital in the top 1 percent in the nation for energy efficiency. The score is determined by the square footage of the Unity Health - WCMC campus, the daily measurements of the temperature outside and humidity, and the overall utilities usage (including electricity and gas) to maintain a hospital of its size. After the numbers are collected, they are certified through an energy conservation engineering firm and then submitted to the federal government to be approved.

“In 1994, the hospital was an inefficient utility user; however, through expansions and projects throughout the years, we have taken into consideration the need to be more energy efficient and more ‘green’,” said Rick Hare, Unity Health Director of Engineering. “Two and half years ago, our energy efficiency score had risen to 52, but we had plateaued. To meet our goal

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of star rating, we presented several goals and proposed projects to Unity Health’s Administration and Board of Directors. The administration team and board had the foresight and vision to approve the projects to improve energy conservation. Over the last two and half years we spent roughly $212,000 on energy conversation projects and in that same time frame, we have reduced our energy use by 18.6 percent and have saved approximately $414,000 and will continue to save.”

Projects included: modifying heating and air, remapping the chiller plant, adapting operational procedures, improving lighting sources and miscellaneous items.

According to Hare, the curbing of utility costs creates monetary savings, which can be returned to the hospital to be utilized for additional hospital equipment and facility improvements. Hospital conservation measures taken by other hospitals in the state and country also helps decrease the overall national costs of healthcare.

“The Energy Star Efficiency score shows that once again Unity Health is taking the lead in healthcare,” Hare said.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

Thank you

Service Above self he motto of the Searcy Rotary Club is “Service Above T Self,” so when our members learn of a need, they look into the possibilities of helping with that need. One such

need was brought to the members’ attention by another member when he asked what happened to children who got lunches at school when school was closed for inclement weather. We did not know the answer so we got other citizens involved to learn what we could. Charlotte Davis from Searcy Public Schools came to tell us what the schools do about feeding hungry children when school is not in session, such as the backpack program and the summer feeding program. We asked the Mayor to get involved, as we had come up with an idea to help during inclement weather. Our club voted to allocate funds to fill sacks with non-perishable foods for just such an event. A group of members got together and filled over a hundred sacks, which were then placed in containers and distributed to the three fire stations and the police station. Children can go to any of these places and ask for a sack lunch when school is out for inclement weather and they have no food in the house. We know there are many reasons for them to have no food in the house and the reasons are not the issue for this project, the important thing is that the children have something to eat. This is a new project, so it is a “learning project” and we plan to make it a yearly project.

We have furnished Coats for Kids for many years and we are now adding Lunches for Kids in Inclement Weather.

Please help us spread the word to children and their parents who need to know about this.

to everyone who prayed for and thought of me and my family following my injury in March.

GOD answered your prayers and I am doing great. It is apparent to me that many of you must have a very close relationship with GOD. My family made many sacrifices and GOD gave them the strength to get through all of the trials. The doctors seemed to be surprised at how fast I recovered and I know it was only because of your prayers and GOD’s grace and mercy.

Thank you to everyone for the cards and flowers. The flowers brightened my room and made it smell great. I am also glad I did not receive any more, because the doctors warned if any more came in Shannon would have to take them all home. The numerous cards gave me much cheer and made the time go by much more quickly.

Thank you to Tonia, Norman, and Justin Hale for getting me safely to UAMS and keeping me comforted along the way (except Tonia repeating “I can’t get this thing to quit bleeding” was a little unsettling).

Thank you to Dr. James Yuen and Dr. Ahmadi who were on call when I arrived at UAMS and kept the trauma team from removing my arm.

While my incident and injuries are strange, I have always been mindful of those suffering from cancer, degenerative diseases, and other debilitating diseases and these thoughts have kept me in check. I know I have no reason to complain and I really have no problems when I compare what I went through to other peoples’ sufferings.

Since the writing of The Searcy Living article which appeared in the last edition, I have had one final surgery.

Dr. Ahmadi at UAMS transferred a muscle from my back to my arm. He attached it to my forearm to be used as a bicep.

By the time this makes it to press I should be able to use my new bicep. That means I should be able to hold my phone using my left hand and easily eat corn on the cob. For those of you who did not see my post on Facebook, the muscle that was transferred was one that flexed when I coughed and it still does. I must admit that feels a little strange.

I also wish to thank everyone for allowing me to be one of your District Court Judges for the last 3 years. I have tried to make a difference and improve the lives of people that appeared before me. I hope you want to keep me and vote for me again on March 1, 2016.

Thank you,

Mark Derrick PAID FOR BY MARK DERRICK

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Basket 2

Basket 1

Searcy Living Hometown Shopping Giveaway

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Artistic Florist - Scarf, Candle, Burlap Red Bird, Basket Wrapping Palm Beach Tan - Tanning Products Byron’s Jewelry - Diamond Earrings (A $250 Value) Pro Tire - Gift Certificate Dickey’s BBQ - Gift Certificate

Artistic Florist - Scarf, Candle, Burlap Red Bird, Basket Wrapping Palm Beach Tan - Tanning Products Byron’s Jewelry - Diamond Earrings (A $250 Value) Pro Tire - Gift Certificate Searcy Athletic Club - 3 Month Membership

It might not make the evening news but it sure enough made Searcy Living!

“ Heading to work one recent morning I turned on Ella St. by the Searcy High School and guess what I witnessed... A Searcy City Police officer pushing a young lady out of the street because she had run out of gas. Bet that doesn’t make the evening news.”

~Mickey Gentry

“Saying a huge thank you to the White County Sheriff Patrol for being just a distance behind me when I hit a huge deer. Had a daughter, grandaughter and great grandson with me. No one hurt, just shook up. Praise God for blue lights at the exact time. Don’t know their names, but thank ya’ll for your kindness and God bless you for all you do.”

~Jean Muce

Positive News “Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.”

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Above: Rotary members Belinda LaForce and Tom Carr with the White County Centeral Interact Club. Right: Belinda poses with one of the ponies used in a fun fundraiser the Interact Club used to raise money for sponsoring Angel Tree children this past year,

Interact is a school based organization sponsored by the Rotary Club of Searcy. It calls youth to attend to the needs within their own community. They learn first hand that by helping others first and how they too will benefit from unsolicited acts of kindness.

The children that I am blessed to work with add so much to my life not to mention all of the other lives they touch by donating their time and personal attention to others in need. ~Dana Powell

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Pioneer Village Drawing Contest Thank you to all who participated in the drawing contest sponsored by Pioneer Village.

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100+ Hour Club ertificates were presented to the Master Gardeners who had contributed a C minimum of 100 volunteer hours for the year. Those recognized as members of the 100+ Hour Club for 2015 were (pictured left to right front row): Mary Ellen Nutter, Robbie Keathley, Kaye Winningham, Colleen Massengale, Bryce Roberson, Ann Wood, Clara Miller. Back row (left to right): Rose Ann Houston, Venson Henderson, Mary Collins, Randy Feagin, Marilyn Sims, Mary Gentry, Ben Williams, Belinda Williams, Ron Rupe, Billie Howard, Debbie Zimmer. Those not pictured: Carol Brown, Sue Ekdahl, Therell Mullens, Jean Norris and Don Woodford.

Total work hours for the year reported for all Master Gardener volunteers in White County was 6,792. According to the Department of Labor, a volunteer hour is valued at $23.07, thus generating $156,691.44 of payback hours to our county by volunteers.

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

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Congratulations to Jaronda McEuen for winning this Harley Davidson from East Park Autoplex!

Associate of the Quarter

Dr. Edwin Sherwood, Melissa Bauer, Jason White, Carrie Flowers, Wilma Payne, Journey Wood, Unity Health President/CEO Ray Montgomery and Unity Health AVP of Nursing Peggy Turner.

nity Health associates recently selected Wilma Payne as the Associate of the Quarter for the first quarter of 2016. She U has been with the hospital for four years and works in the Emergency Department (E.D.) located on Unity Health’s White County Medical Center campus.

“I felt a little overwhelmed and undeserving when I received the award, but at the same time honored to be selected as Associate of the Quarter,” Payne said. “I am truly blessed to be part of an amazing team that I believe goes above and beyond to make a difference in our community. Thank you for this honor.”

Attributes of the Associate of the Quarter include high values, a positive attitude and sense of professionalism. Payne reflects the core values of the hospital: integrity, teamwork, compassion, excellence, stewardship, innovation and a heart of service.

“I am thrilled that Wilma was nominated for Associate of the Quarter as I think she does an awesome job,” said Melissa Bauer, Director of the E.D. at Unity Health - WCMC. “She is always nice and helpful to others, whether they are patients, families or coworkers. She is also great about thinking forward as far as anticipating the needs of others before she is even asked to. She is always willing to help whenever needed, however she can. I feel blessed to have Wilma as part of our E.D. family.”

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Time for Some New Year’s

(Financial) Resolutions The new year has just begun. If you’re like many people, you might be mulling over some New Year’s resolutions, such as hitting the gym more, learning a new language or taking a cooking class. All are worthy goals, but why not add some financial resolutions as well?

For example …

■■ Pay yourself first. Even if you aren’t living “paycheck to paycheck,” you probably don’t have much trouble spending your money – because there’s always something that you or a family member needs, always a repair required for your home or your car, always one more bill to pay. But if you are going to achieve your long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement, you need to invest consistently. So before you pay everyone else, pay yourself first by having some money automatically moved from your checking or savings account each month into an investment.

■■ Take advantage of your opportunities. If you have a 401(k) or similar plan at work, take full advantage of it.

Contribute as much as you can afford – or at least enough to earn your employer’s match, if one is offered – and choose the mix of investments that give you the potential to achieve the growth you need at a level of risk with which you are comfortable.

■■ Focus on the long term. In the short term, you might be excused for not wanting to invest. The headlines are typically scary, the financial markets are frequently volatile and the future often looks murky. Yet, if you can look past the uncertainties of today and keep your focus on tomorrow, you will find it easier to follow a disciplined investment strategy that gives you the opportunity to meet your long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement.

■■ Don’t be driven by fear. When the market is down, investors tend to react with fear. Specifically, they rush to sell their investments, afraid that if they don’t “cut their losses,” they might sustain even bigger ones. If you can get past this feeling, you may find that a down market can offer you the chance to buy quality investments at good prices.

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■■ Forget about the “hot stocks.” You’ll hear friends, co-workers and talking heads on television tout today’s “hot stocks.” But by the time you might hear about them, they may have cooled off – and, in any case, they might not be appropriate for your needs. Forget about “getting rich quick in the market” – it probably won’t happen. True investment success requires patience and persistence.

■■ Cut down on your debts. It’s easy to pile up debts, but a lot harder getting rid of them. Yet, if you can reduce your debt load even moderately, you’ll free up money you could use to invest. So look for ways to conserve, cut back and consolidate – it will be worth the effort.

Making these resolutions – and sticking to them – can help you as you work toward achieving your financial goals.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

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by Jake Wolfe

We truly serve an awesome God.

The evidence is there out in the open for us in plain sight every single day. The only thing is, most of the time our eyes are closed to it. I’m all too guilty of this. Circumstances in my life recently have really caused me to open my eyes to the glory I haven’t been able to see my whole life. This is just a testimony I needed to share that happened a few days ago.

For Christmas last year, my college roommate gave me a one year study Bible. Being in the Word daily has been something I’ve been lacking for a long time, but keeping up with it now, it has helped reveal so many things to me that I would have completely missed otherwise. Reading out of the book of Acts about a week ago, I read Acts 2:17-18 which says, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.” It’s really one of those verses that gets you thinking. When are the last days? How do I know if a dream is from God or not? I don’t have the answers to those questions other than that if God has something for you - a dream, prophesy, etc. - you’re going to know it’s from Him. The Author of the universe and Creator of all things? If he 52 Your Hometown Magazine

wants you to know something is from Him I think He’ll be able to let you know it’s Him. Now that same day I went to a local Christian bookstore and bought the book 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper and began reading. If you haven’t read it, I won’t spoil anything too much, but it’s the story of Don’s death and the literal 90 minutes he spent in heaven before God worked a miracle. He talks of the welcoming committee that greeted him outside of the gates of Heaven and that’s where the goosebumps hit me for the first time that day. The first person he saw in Heaven was his grandfather, who welcomed and embraced him before anyone in his true home. Having lost both of my grandfathers, my Pop, Royce, from a brain bleed, when I was seven, and my Papa, Calvin, coming up on two years ago from Alzheimer’s disease, I just had chills. Don’t get me wrong, the joy of seeing my Savior face to face is incomprehensible, but the joy of seeing two of the men who have had such a huge influence on the faith I have of seeing my Savior is overwhelming, even with a long life ahead of me, Lord willing. It baffles me how someone who doesn’t believe there’s a life after death can keep going on in this life without the hope of seeing their loved ones again. It’s that hope, that faith that Jesus did die for me, that I am redeemed and, when it’s my time, I will have both my grandfathers there ready to embrace me and welcome me home that keeps me going.

I promise I’m about to tie all of this together, because on the way back to drop my mom off at work after eating lunch with her and my sister, she started to tell us about a dream my Grandma had the other night.

Ever since my Grandfather Calvin passed away a couple years ago, my mom and one of her sisters that also lives here in town make it a point to go eat breakfast with my Grandmother just about every weekday. It was during breakfast one day that my grandmother told my mom about a dream she had the night before that felt so incredibly real, it was as if she was actually there watching the event unfold. Now my Grandfather was one of the funniest men I have ever been around. There was never a dull moment when I got to spend time with him, even when Alzheimer’s began to deteriorate his memory. Even when it got to the point where he couldn’t remember my name anymore, I never left without him telling me he loved me. He was the type of man to stand out at the curb waiting for the garbage men, to thank them and give them a little extra money for what they do. You never left his presence without feeling loved and appreciated. And man could he tell stories. In my Grandmother’s dream she could see my Grandfather. He was sitting on a bench surrounded by people in Heaven. Everyone was laughing and smiling as he told story after story. No longer was he telling the same story he had told just a few minutes ago, no longer was his six foot four inch frame just bones, but he was healthy, and happy, and filled with a joy that can only be experienced in the presence of the Almighty.

As my mom retold us what her mother had told her earlier that morning, of how she told her with tears in her eyes the dream she had about her husband of several years (over half a century), the reality of what I had read the day before, both from the book of Acts and 90 Minutes in Heaven struck me. This was God confirming my faith in my home unseen. If my eyes are just now opening to things like this, what have I missed already in my life? What have you missed in yours? In the same way, look at what else is out there for us. God’s constantly drawing near to us, it’s just a matter of what we are doing to seek Him out. Live and search for Him in such a way where when you’re welcomed home one day, you not only get to embrace those you love again, but you get to hear the words every Christian so desperately wants to hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

Calvin and Joyce Mitchell

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By Casey McLeod

I am no professional artist by any

means, but I do love to paint. Todd asked me several times to paint an image of a dream he had about 10 years ago. I’m sharing because the dream was AMAZING! No painting could do it justice. I still get chills when I think of it.

Todd was standing on a hill in a wooded area looking over a lake. There was an island in the lake that looked like a volcano or mountain. People were coming from everywhere walking towards the volcano. As they reached the water, they were able to walk on the water towards the mountain. Todd began walking with them. It started raining. The rain looked like water, but when he touched it, it felt and looked like

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oil. At that point there was a rumbling sound and the earth began to shake. The mountain started turning. As it turned, he noticed that it was hollow and open on one side. There was light coming from it that was nearly blinding. Jesus was standing inside the mountain.

God still speaks. In dreams, in thoughts, in the still small voice, in your heart, through people, in creation, in art. He speaks. He longs for us to hear Him. He wants relationship with us. I am overwhelmed by His love.

“ He longs for us to hear Him. He wants relationship with us.”

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Junior Auxiliary of Searcy chooses Betsy Bailey as 2016 Charity Ball Queen Junior Auxiliary of Searcy is excited to announce that they have chosen Betsy Bailey as the 2016 Charity Ball Queen.

Betsy’s husband, Lane, will also be honored as the 2016 Charity Ball King.

Betsy and Lane live in Searcy with their two children Gowen and BelleAnn. Growing up in Searcy, Betsy Bailey remembers her mom, Jean Ann Bell, taking her to choose an angel from the Angel Tree at one of the local banks. “It was always a happy time,” says Bailey. “I remember admiring the women who sponsored the program and so many other programs in the community.” Betsy later went on to be one of those women, serving as a Junior Auxiliary Member from 2005-2012. During that time, she helped lead the organization by serving as Education Chair, Vice-President and President. Bailey says, “It was a pleasure for me to give back to an organization during my years in Junior Auxiliary.” Junior Auxiliary of Searcy was founded in 1962. The organization sponsors a number of projects in the community that focus on local children and families in need of assistance. As the School & Community Relations Coordinator for Searcy Public Schools, Betsy works with the children of White County on a daily basis. She sees the needs in our community and knows the impact that can be made by giving back.

Being a member of Junior Auxiliary made a huge impact on the person Betsy is today, leading her to continue giving back. She 56 Your Hometown Magazine

says, “I grew up in this community, but after being a part of Junior Auxiliary, I was able to recognize the needs in our community. It led to the work I have done with the United Way of White County, the Child Safety Center, and foster parenting. I learned to do my job as School/Community Coordinator better as I work with parents and students who may need community resources.”

Betsy has many fond memories from her time in Junior Auxiliary and points out that JA is truly a family effort. “One Sunday during the month of December there were a number of “angels” from Angel Tree who had not been adopted. JA always covers those children. My parents graciously agreed to babysit my toddler son, and my husband and I spent the day together shopping for children who were on the Angel Tree list. We filled the bed of his truck with bicycles. It was a time that we could spend together doing for others.” She also adds, “I don’t think the husbands or significant others get the credit they deserve when their other half is spending so much time working in the community.

They always help out, whether it is babysitting during monthly meetings or helping decorate for charity ball, the men should be commended as well.”

Junior Auxiliary of Searcy sponsors many different projects in the community throughout the year. These projects include: Covering Kids, A Day of Caring, Sunshine School, Searcy Learning Center, Food Baskets and Angel Tree.

“A Day of Caring is a fantastic project for those of us who are in education because it is held during the summer months,” says Bailey. “I loved being able to see so many in our community receive medical care and services they may not have been able to receive otherwise. I chaired it twice, and I remember inviting the entire committee over to my house to stuff brown bag lunches

“ It was a pleasure for me to give back to an organization during my years in Junior Auxiliary.”

“Through the Looking Glass” When: Saturday, April 2nd Where: Robbins Sanford Grand Hall What: Annual fundraiser for Junior Auxiliary of

the night before. We had lunch sacks spread out over my entire house!” She also shares that she is very partial to the Cover Kids project. “I see on a daily basis how it impacts children in our school district. Through my job, I often come in contact with students who may need clothing items or special educational items. All I have to do is make a call to a member of Junior Auxiliary and I know that the need will be covered.

The partnership our district has with JA is outstanding and we are fortunate to have this organization support us and our students.”

Betsy also expressed that being in Junior Auxiliary lead to lifelong friendships, “I made some of my best friends during my time in Junior Auxiliary. It was a time where I met new people and reconnected with old friends. They all know who they are.”

“The fact that I have been selected as the Charity Ball Queen is truly humbling,” says Bailey. “I could not be more appreciative! Thank you to the women who work tirelessly to make Searcy the wonderful place it is.”

Junior Auxiliary of Searcy will honor Betsy and her husband, Lane, at their annual Charity Ball fundraiser on Saturday, April 2nd at Robbins Sanford Grand Hall. The theme of this year’s event will be “Through the Looking Glass” and it will feature both silent and live auctions as well as food and entertainment.

The money raised at Charity Ball will fund Junior Auxiliary’s many projects throughout the year. “We are very excited about the 2016 Charity Ball event,” says Leah Cook, Junior Auxiliary of Searcy President. “Our annual charity ball is vital to the success of our projects. It is the one time a year where we call on our businesses and individuals to donate their time, items, and money to our organization. Without the continued support of this community, we would not be able to give back to our community in the manner in which we do.” Amanda Little, Charity Ball Chair, adds, “It has been an honor to be in Junior Auxiliary this year and see how many children in our community benefit from the projects that take place throughout the year. We want Charity Ball to be a fun and exciting event so that we can continue to help the children of White County.”

If you would like to help support Junior Auxiliary’s projects by being a Charity Ball sponsor or if you would like to donate an auction item please call 501-254-9181 or email juniorauxiliarysearcyar@gmail.com.

If you would like to attend Charity Ball, tickets will be available for purchase from any Junior Auxiliary member starting in February. The cost is $65 for an individual and $120 for a couple. You can also visit the Junior Auxiliary of Searcy’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/JAofSearcy.

Searcy

Tickets are $65 for an individual and $120 for a couple, and can be purchased from any Junior Auxiliary member.

Live auction will be conducted by Rodger Cargile of Cargile Auctions and music provided by Crown Entertainment. Dress is cocktail attire.

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Tea

Sponsored by:

The Wedding Barn and Searcy Living Magazine More details coming soon!

60 Your Hometown Magazine

SearcyLiving.com 61

A n A fternoon W ith

By Jarred Moss

“ Y o u r S o u l i s t h e m o s t i m p o r ta n t t h i n g.”

At least that’s what Mark Harris says.

T

he 70-year-old Vietnam Vet has plenty of time to reflect on life as he drives his Kubota Ranger over the more than 400 acres of pastureland on Gum Springs road that is known as Dancing Rabbit Creek

Ranch.

“Your family is important, and your life is great, but you have to take care of your soul. Nobody else can do it for you and nobody else is going to do it for you.”

Mr. Harris’ philosophy comes from seven decades of experiencing the grace of God in his own journey. And what a journey it is.

Mark never would have guessed that his first wife would pass away from cancer, but that exact, unfortunate event took place in 1999. Distraught and lonely, the Searcy native couldn’t see what the future held, but confident in the One who holds the future, he relied on God and was led rightly to his beautiful wife today, Linda.

“He came to visit me every other weekend for a year,” a smiling Mrs. Harris notes as she stands in her driveway under the warm afternoon sun. Linda, a high school classmate of Mark’s, was living in Kansas City at the time, after a season in Chicago before that, and was well adjusted to big-city life.

“I remember when Mark asked me if I could live in Searcy, and I told him I could NEVER live in Searcy again! Well. . . here I am!” she grins.

Linda suffered an almost identical tragedy in the same year of 1999, losing her husband to a chronic illness. After reconnecting with Mark, a high school friend, the two began a long-distance friendship which blossomed into a love-relationship over the course of a year and a half. Soon thereafter, the Harris couple was married and Linda moved to Searcy.

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Mrs. Harris finds joy in taking care of her beautiful, self-built home, which occupies a gorgeous lot right in the center of the land.

“She told me one of the requirements for her to live in Searcy was that she got to build her a house,” Mark recalls. “I’d thought, after a few years, surely she had forgotten, but she reminded me and here it is!”

The two-story house is custom built with each individual detail tailored to Linda’s liking. Aside from windows which provide a luscious look out onto the ranch, as well as an array of plants on the back deck which make for a relaxing environment and a playground for their cat and full-blooded German shepherd, Nicodemus, the house features a lovely kitchen, complete with gorgeous countertops and an island. At the center of the room, on display for all who enter, are two posters circa 1980’s that advertise Mrs. Harris’ Cafeteria which, according to Linda, was THE place to eat in Searcy until it burned down in the mid-eighty’s.

Linda explained that when the couple moved over to her dream house, she went through the attic of their former house and found the frames, which contained the posters. The frames were charred and burned, but the posters behind the glass were fine! With a couple new frames, and a little TLC, the memoirs hang proudly on the wall as a reminder of the past.

Outside of the home, Mark spends his time steering the Kubota around the land, checking on his cattle, and getting plenty of exercise. Even though he’s had both hips replaced, as well as both knees and both shoulders, the active gentleman gets around better than many people half his age.

“I’ve got good genes!” he says, laughingly. “My mother has 13 brothers and sisters, all over the age of 90!”

Whether it’s good genes, or just vigor, Harris doesn’t let age,

“At the center of the kitchen, on display for all who enter, are two posters circa 1980’s that advertise Mrs. Harris’ Cafeteria which, according to Linda, was THE place to eat in Searcy until it burned down in the mid-eighty’s.” pain, or circumstances slow him down from the job that he’s come to know as a pastime. Along with his right-hand man Eppy Rodriguez, Mark keeps watch over his healthy cattle, raising them from birth to full-grown cows. But it’s not the farming that teaches him the most about life, rather, observing the ranch reminds Mr. Harris what is most important.

The history of the pastureland brings life into a whole new view for each guest that takes in the beautiful hills. The land that makes up Dancing Rabbit Creek Ranch was used as a confederate-army encampment during the Civil War and still contains remnants of the war such as cannonballs, bullets, etc. In addition to its roots as a war-place, it was once governed entirely by the Choctaw Indians centuries ago and features several artifacts from their dominance in the area including grain-grinding rock holes and more.

“The grain-grinding holes remind us of the circle of life,” says Harris, pointing out a rock where the Indians once made flour. “Life is a beautiful thing, but it doesn’t last forever.”

The crowning piece of property on the edge of the land re-focuses Mr. Harris on what really matters: a little, active, non-denominational church occupies a fertile green field between rows of trees, a gathering place for locals who still call Gum Springs home, as well as believers from in town. Even though the town, which once featured a store, a school and even a cotton gin, has dwindled in populous, the few who gather here are delighted to live out their individual futures in the area.

While looking towards the future seems menacing for some people, Mark and Linda face it with confidence and joy. Even their house is built with completely handicap-accessible features and is very convenient for assisted living needs. As Mrs. Harris puts it, “You know, as you get older, you never know what will happen!”

Mr. Harris who has worked many jobs throughout his life, such as manning a soy bean processing plant in Mississippi, working on washers and dryers, and of course, raising beef for 50 years, would readily agree.

“The grain-grinding holes remind us of the circle of life,” says Harris, pointing out a rock where the Indians once made flour. “Life is a beautiful thing, but it doesn’t last forever.”

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“It’s not what you do with your day that brings peace,

b u t i t’ s W HO y o u s p e n d y o u r d ay w i t h.”

Back in his garage after a tour of the area, Mr. Harris sifts through a frozen set of packaged high quality meat, the culmination of his labor, and sits down, enjoying the sunny landscape that God has given him to steward. He talks of his two children as well as Linda’s two children, their pets, their time together and his simple love for God and people. Contemplating his future, Harris simply smiles and states, “I guess I’d just like to bless as many people as I possibly can, enjoy my family, and hopefully one day years from now, I’ll pass away in my sleep peacefully.”

There are many ways you can spend a day. You could stay at home, go out in public, or retreat to the hillside and refresh your

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spirit. It’s not what you do with your day that brings peace, but it’s WHO you spend your day with. A day with the Harris’ shows that life is simple, and that, as Mr. Harris says, “your soul is the most important thing.”

Though simple life in the country may seem too simple for some, even Linda Harris herself once upon a time, it is befitting for a man who simply enjoys the journey.

Visitors to Dancing Rabbit Creek Ranch will find peace, relaxation, calm and plenty of history and interesting stories, but perhaps the best story of all is the story of two smiling faces who have learned how to take care of their land, each other, and their souls.

“But it’s not the farming that teaches him the most about life, rather, observing the ranch reminds Mr. Harris what is most important.�

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The Heart of the

Matter

Arkansas Heart Hospital® Clinic

By Monica Sitzer

C

ardiovascular Disease (CVD) is the patients with heart disease to live long and productive lives free of

number one killer in America and the number one killer of Arkansans. Arkansas Heart Hospital is the only hospital in the state focusing solely on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Our physicians and staff are dedicated to providing you with information about CVD and making heart healthy choices.

When it comes to why we do what we do, the heart of the matter is, according to Dr. Daniel Sherbet, an Interventional and General Cardiologist and Texas native, explains what inspired him to go into cardiology and the purpose for his practice.

“I spent a summer in high school doing research in a university laboratory run by two Nobel-Prize-winning physicians. Their commitment to using medical research to cure disease ignited my interest in medicine and I entered medical school with the goal of doing medical research. That goal was derailed once I began my clinical rotations in the hospital because I realized how satisfying it was to care for patients on a daily basis, applying new treatments and therapies to individual patients to cure and ameliorate disease and improve quality of life. I switched my focus from being a researcher to being a full-time physician because I couldn’t spend months in the lab without seeing patients.

I was drawn to cardiology in particular because of the rapid technological and pharmaceutical advances allowing cardiologists to actually cure their patients in many instances, and frequently to minimize disease effects entirely—unlike many other areas of medicine. I enjoy applying minimally invasive catheter-based techniques for opening blocked arteries in the heart and in the legs.

My goals are to prevent heart disease in those who have not yet developed it and to minimize the effects of heart disease in those who have developed it. In particular I hope to help all of my 66 Your Hometown Magazine

the effects of disease.”

Dr. Daniel Sherbet earned his medical degree with distinction at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He completed his residency and fellowship at UT Southwestern. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease.

Dr. Sherbet and his wife, Dr. Monica Lo, also a cardiologist for Arkansas Heart Hospital, enjoy traveling, exploring Arkansas and spending time with their young daughter.

 Dr. Daniel Sherbet, with wife Dr. Monica Lo, and daughter Olivia, age 2. Photo by Fancy Free Photographie by Lauralee Neldon.

Are you at risk?

Coronary risk factors include: AGE For both men and women, the risk of heart attack increase with age. More than half of all heart attack victims are over the age of 65.

FAMILY HISTORY A family history of heart attacks or strokes increases a person’s chances of suffering from heart disease.

GENDER Men statistically have more heart attacks than women.

Women are twice as likely to die from their first heart attack.

Women before the age of menopause have fewer heart attacks.

Men and women often have different warning signs.

BLOOD PRESSURE Normal blood pressure is: 120/80 Pre-hypertension: 120-139/80-89 Stage 1 Hypertension: 140-159/90-100 Stage 2 Hypertension: 160 (or higher)/100 (or higher) Hypertension Crisis: 180 (or higher)/110 (or higher) Controlling your high blood pressure can be especially hard during the holidays. With every holiday season comes an influx of food you don’t regularly eat and eating more than you may normally do. It is always important to follow a healthy eating pattern, reduce salt and sodium in your diet, maintain a healthy weight, be physically active, limit alcohol intake, quit smoking, and take your medicine regularly as prescribed. And it is especially important to stick to healthy eating patterns after the holidays, which isn’t guaranteed with a new year’s resolution. Consequently, the lifestyle changes required in controlling your high blood pressure are the same lifestyle patterns required for heart attack prevention. That’s exactly how we need to view our heart health, as positive lifestyle changes, not a day, week, or month of changes to make up for the past 3 months of holiday celebrations. But small changes made every day that will last for years to come.

 Dr. Ian Cawich and family. Photo by George Dillin.

DIABETES People with diabetes or a family history of diabetes have a higher than normal risk of heart attacks.

9.6 percent of Arkansans report being diagnosed with diabetes, which is the seventh highest rate in the country, with some counties in Arkansas even reporting 20.1 percent of citizens living with diabetes.

BODY WEIGHT 30% or more above your ideal weight sharply increases your risk of developing heart disease.

Women tend to be more overweight than men.

Your body is made up of water, fat, protein, carbohydrates, various vitamins and minerals. If you have too much fat – especially if a lot of it is at your waist – you are at higher risk for such health problems as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Body fat, waist circumference and body mass are indirect ways to assess your body composition. Especially after the holidays we just celebrated with loved ones and beloved comfort foods it is always a good idea to simply become more mindful of the things we eat.

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STRESS Everyone has a certain amount of emotional stress every day, but the ability to handle stress varies a great deal.

SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE Exercise that stimulates the heart and lungs for long periods of time is essential to preventing hardening of the arteries. It keeps cholesterol down, burns calories and increases the efficiency of the heart.

PERSONALITY TYPE Research has shown that certain types of personalities are more frequently associated with heart attacks than others. For example, a hard-driving, aggressive person is more prone to suffer heart attacks.

Anger can be a risk factor. Losing your temper can double your risk of heart attack within the next two hours.

CHOLESTEROL

Photo by Fancy Free Photographie

Dr. Daniel Sherbet and Family “ My goals are to prevent heart disease in those who have not yet developed it and to minimize the effects of heart disease in those who have developed it.”

–Dr. Daniel Sherbet

Your total cholesterol level should be 200 or below.

Your HDL – good cholesterol – should be 40 or above for men, 50 or above for women. The higher the number the more protection your coronary arteries have from heart disease.

Your LDL – the amount of cholesterol you take in through your diet – should be kept below 100. If you are a cardiovascular patient, your LDL should be kept at 70 or below.

High fat foods can raise blood cholesterol and cause fat to be deposited in the arteries.

SMOKING Cigarette smoking is the most preventable cause of disability and death from heart attacks.

Smokers have four times more risk of heart attacks and strokes than non-smokers.

More smokers die from heart disease than from cancer.

A smoker’s life expectancy is reduced by 15-19 years.

What Are Some Of The Warning Signs?

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“Chest pain, chest pressure, shortness of breath, fainting episodes, and feelings of a racing heart are all possible symptoms of heart disease and should be evaluated by a physician. That being said, many patients with heart disease are unaware because they have few or no symptoms. A large percentage of new heart attacks occur in patients who were not aware they had any heart disease, and many of these patients die as a result. For this reason, assessing an individual patient’s risk for heart disease is critically important to prevent heart attacks and death. At the Arkansas Heart Hospital we offer a low cost heart risk assessment called Keep the Beat which provides this assessment.” – Dr. Sherbet, MD Dr. Daniel Sherbet’s advice for staying heart healthy long after the New Year’s Resolutions: “Regular exercise; a diet low in total calories, saturated fat, cholesterol, and salt, and rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; and avoiding smoking are the key lifestyle measures for preventing heart disease. This is because a healthy lifestyle such as this lowers the key risk factors for heart diseasehigh cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. One very simple New Year’s Resolution is to keep regular checkups with your primary care provider to monitor for and prevent these conditions—it may be hard for some of us to hit the treadmill day in and day out but most of us can find the time to visit our primary care provider twice a year. One of the key nonpreventable risk factors for heart disease is age itself—a

reminder that despite our best efforts to lower the risk factors for early heart disease, if we live long enough we will often develop heart disease despite our best efforts. Fortunately, we still have very effective treatments once heart disease does develop!�

Arkansas Heart Hospital Clinic The Arkansas Heart Hospital Clinic has been in Searcy for 5 years and is located at 205 East Race Avenue, on the corner of Race and Main Street across the street from First Security Bank and next to First United Methodist Church.

We currently have 6 providers serving the community and families of White County. There are 4 renowned cardiologists at the Searcy clinic; Dr. Ian Cawich, Dr. Patrick Flaherty, Dr. Daniel Sherbet, Dr. Wilson Wong (electrophysiologist), and two APRN; Patrick Stage, APRN, and Dee White, APRN. The clinic is open 5 days a week, Monday through Friday 8AM to 5PM. You can call the Searcy clinic at 501.268.9869.

Our providers are proud to serve the families of White County.

They bring a wide array of different specialties and backgrounds such as: being among the first cardiologist in the United States to use sophisticated new technology to avoid amputation for restoring blood flow in blocked arteries in legs and specializing in cardiac arrhythmias, and pacemakers or defibrillators.

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By Irene Gray

E

ight White Countians flew into Portland, OR for a cruise on the American Empress down the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Fall was the perfect time for this as trees were yellow and gold, along with a few reds, but they are famous for the yellow shades. Our first night was in a hotel in Vancouver, WA, where our boat would be docked. Two of our group opted to go to Mt. St. Helen’s. It was a rainy day so they could not see it as well as they had hoped to. The others opted to go to the local Farmers Market and Craft Fair which was just a couple of blocks from the hotel. We all wished we had a way to bring some of those gorgeous veggies home, as well as the flowers. Huge bouquets of all colors and sizes of dahlias for $5 each were among the offerings. One of our fellow travelers from Mobile, AL bought two large bouquets and shared some with Pat Downs and me. Our ice bucket in our cabin made a great vase for them and we enjoyed them all week.

As we left the dock in Vancouver and headed down the river, from our balcony I saw two dolphins swimming and jumping along in sync, as well as a sea lion.

Our first stop was Astoria, OR. It was a rainy morning but cleared up later. Our boat furnished us a Hop-on-Hop-off bus the entire cruise so we hopped on and made the tour around Astoria.

Some hopped off at the Astoria Column which is on Astoria’s highest point. Since I was there several years ago, they had been restoring it and only passengers on the last two cruises had been able to see it. They did a wonderful job of restoration on it. We could see the Cascade Range from there.

We were docked at the Coast Guard’s dock here. Zip lining was an option here but none of our group took them up on it.

Next stop was The Dalles. This was the end of the Oregon Trail.

Next stop was Stevenson, WA where some headed to Multnomah Falls, Oregon’s highest waterfall, and Timberline Lodge. We were going along the Columbia River Gorge at this point.

All along the way we were going in out of locks and dams.

Some had never done this and it was quite an experience for them.

We were able to see Mt. Hood. From our balconies one morning you could see clouds hovering over the river and trees, and the top of Mt. Hood showing above it.

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Richland, WA was next and we were off to Pendleton, OR. We went to Tamastslikt Cultural Institute which was on a Native American Reservation. However, the Indians in this area prefer to be called Indians, not Native Americans. We were now in an area of the real “old West.”

Our lunch was at the local Hamby Steakhouse, which had a Saloon inside as well as a portion of an old post office.

In Pendleton, the town had erected statues in various downtown spots depicting some of the famous people who had called Pendleton home in the past. The city paid for these, except for one. There was an underground part of the town, which covered 70 miles and housed saloons and bordellos among other establishments. In this area there were twenty six such establishments. The most famous madam was Madam Stella Darby of The Cozy Rooms. The townspeople refused to pay for a statue of her, but some of the citizens collected money and had it erected anyway. It is of her in her favorite silk Irene Gray and Geneva lounging pajamas. Pendleton Boyce with statue. houses the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution and the inmates there make denim clothes which are sold outside the prison. If you see some t-shirts or sweatshirts around Searcy that say “Made on the Inside, to be worn on the Outside” with a car tag on them saying “Prison Blues PRSN BLU U.S.A.” you will know where those originated.

The Pendleton Roundup Hall of Fame, which showcases the history of the Rodeo from its 100 year history was another stop for us.

No trip to Pendleton would be complete without a stop at the Pendleton Woolen Mills, so this was another stop for us.

We had good weather most of the time and some days were warm enough that when we were just cruising down the river we

could sit on our balconies and read or watch the scenery as we were going by. Sometimes we could see the dams and locks during the day, but many of those were traversed at night.

One of the things we noted and talked about on this trip was the fact that businesses and homes were all decorated for Halloween. We did not see any signs of Christmas items for sale in any of the stores we visited.

We overnighted in Richland. There were many vineyards and wineries in this area. Local wineries furnished some of their wines for us to try on the boat.

Our final stop on the boat was in Clarkston, WA, which was originally called Jawbone Flats. When we were in Lewiston, Idaho, we learned it was named for Lewis of the Lewis and Clark expedition, so Clarkston was named

“ From our balconies one morning you could see clouds hovering over the river and trees, and the top of Mt. Hood showing above it.” for Clark. Clarkston is the gateway to North America’s deepest gorge, Hell’s Canyon. Half of our group took the Hell’s Canyon Scenic Jet Boat, and they did see bighorn sheep while on this tour.

This is an area where the Nez Perce (pronounced like purse) Indians have called home, and they were there when Lewis and Clark came and were friendly to them.

We were fortunate enough to have one of their tribe come on board and tell us about them.

While at this stop we went into Lewiston, Idaho, to tour the Bridabeik/Schroeder House. The owners of this mansion, which is filled with antiques of all kinds and sits on a hill high above the town, open the home, along with docents, to those traveling on the American Empress.

They served us wine and cheese on the patio after we toured the home.

The Nez Perce County Historical Society Museum in Lewiston, was a treasure trove of Indian artifacts. Many of the Indians have allowed the Museum to put their ancestors’ items on display there.

Manito Park Formal Gardens

Hamby Steakhouse

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Pictured are Irene Gray, Pat Downs, Geneva Boyce and Mikel Causey

“Almost all of our group rode the Carousel, which by the way, goes about twice

as fast

as other Carousels.”

Our group elected to stay overnight in Spokane,WA at the end of our cruise.

The boat had a tour taking us all around Spokane before depositing us at our hotel. We went through the downtown area, out to Manito Park, where their formal gardens reminded me of many I had seen all over Europe on the grounds of palaces there. They also had a Conservatory there where we saw many plants of all kinds in one greenhouse, exotics in another, and all kinds of cactus in another. We rode through the historic Browne’s Addition, and saw many of the older homes from the early days of Spokane.

Then we were off to the area where Gonzaga University is, as sitting on the corner of this campus is the boyhood home of Harry (later Bingo, and then later Bing) Crosby. We had a tour of the house and saw many pictures, awards, and an Oscar that were part of Bing Crosby’s life.

He was very supportive of the University and when they grew and spread out, his boyhood home was on the edge of it.

The Expo of ’74 was held in Spokane and their Riverfront Park was created for that event. In it was the largest American Flyer wagon, which has a ladder to climb up the back, and you walk through it, then come out where the handle becomes a slide. It is large enough for adults to slide on it, too.

Also there is the historic 1909 Loof Carousel, which is “One of the Ten Best Carousels in the U.S.” Mr. Loof had created it and could not sell it. His son needed a job in Spokane, so Mr. Loof made a deal with the city: He gave them the Carousel, and they gave his son the job. Worked out well for all of them.

Almost all of our group rode the Carousel, which by the way, goes about twice as fast as other Carousels.

We saw roses blooming everywhere. The climate in this area is good for growing flowers as well as other things.

This was a very interesting, fun and relaxing trip down the river, so Happy Boating Everyone!

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

Your Heart and Diabetes

By Jimmy Skaggs, PharmD Candidate and Rodney G. Richmond, RPh, MS, CGP, FASCP February is American Heart Month! The leading cause of death in America is heart disease. In the state of Arkansas, we rank among the highest rates of diabetes, making us more susceptible to heart disease. There are two types of diabetes, Type I (also known as insulin-dependent, or juvenile-diabetes) and Type II (also known as insulin resistant or adult onset diabetes). Type II diabetes in particular is can be prevented or can be controlled in its early stages with a healthy life style if you are committed to making the right changes. When we talk about diabetes and its link to heart disease we need to consider 3 key health measures: The ABC’s of Diabetes A1c Test: This is a measure of how well-controlled your blood sugar has been on average over the past several weeks. When diabetes is not managed properly, uncontrolled blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels in your heart and other organs (e.g. eyes, kidneys, feet) and can, for example, affect your vision and wound healing.

Blood Pressure: Your blood pressure is very important if you have diabetes. High blood pressure can also cause damage to your heart and blood vessels and over time can lead to heart disease.

Monitoring your blood pressure regularly is important whether you have diabetes or not. The target goal for blood pressure varies for different people and you will need to ask your doctor or pharmacist what your goal should be. Pharmacies often have blood pressure machines you can use to monitor your blood pressure between doctor’s visits. It is a good idea to keep track of your blood pressure readings in a journal so you can share them with your doctor. Controlling your blood pressure can reduce your chance of having a stroke, heart attack, or developing heart failure.

Cholesterol: Managing your cholesterol is important for protecting your heart. When “bad cholesterol” (LDL cholesterol) builds up, it can lead to a heart attack or other heart problems. “Good cholesterol” (HDL cholesterol) helps our body to remove bad cholesterol and is also important to your health. A good way remember the difference is: “L” in LDL stands for “life-threatening” and “H” in HDL stands for “healthy”. Having a healthy balance between these two types of cholesterol is important for preventing a heart attack or stroke.

In the spirit of American Heart Month be sure to remember the ABC’s of diabetes. And while they are important to diabetics, these same ABC’s are important for all of us in maintaining heart health. Living a healthy lifestyle can help control these ABC’s and you can do that by: • Eating healthy balanced meals, avoiding calories in sugary drinks, and seeking healthy fats, carbohydrates and protein. Aim to eat vegetables that provide nutritious value, leaner cuts of meat and fish, and healthier fats. In addition drinking enough water can help our overall health, as well as reduce our hunger and urges to snack.

• In addition to eating healthier, cardiovascular exercise is important. If you do not currently exercise it is important to make sure you are healthy enough to do so by talking to your doctor. You may also need to start slow, walking just a few minutes every day and building up to 20 minutes daily, or every couple of days. We should aim for 150 minutes of exercise each week. I know finding this much time can be a challenge in our busy lives, but the reward of protecting your heart is well worth the price!

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White County

Kicking Cancer Foundation Jail and Bail April 1, 2016 • 9 am - 5 pm

W

hite County Kicking Cancer Foundation is continuing to raise money to help the citizens of White County with needs and expenses related to cancer treatments.

If you have ever wanted to play the perfect April’s Fool’s joke on a friend, boss or etc., then join us on Friday, April 1, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the first annual “JAIL and BAIL.” Anyone will have the opportunity to have your “chosen” individual served and arrested to appear before a judge on the White County Courthouse Square Jail. Allegations such as “Failure to Appear Happy,” “Bison Tipping,” or “Public Display of Hogwash” is only a taste of the priceless fun.

If you would like to participate in helping benefit White County in “Kicking Cancer,” please submit $25.00 check or money order to White County Kicking Cancer Foundation at P.O. Box 534, Searcy 72145 or you may call or text 501-8271588 for more information. Please include the name of the person to be arrested, place of employment and the time preferred to be served by a police officer for the warrant. You may also remain anonymous with a donation of $40.00.

Once arrested, the individual will have the chance to appear before a judge.

“BAIL” will be set and jail attire will be provided, and they will be photographed.

Phone calls will be allowed for the “arrestee.” Join us on the perfect APRIL FOOL’S Joke to benefit White County!

Have your friend, boss, etc. “arrested” and sent to “jail” on the White County Courthouse Square.

All in fun and to benefit White County!

“Keeping it in our hometown!”

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k l e I e f r e g

By Macy Anne Badger s a college freshman, moving to a new town,

leaving the friends you’ve grown up with behind, and completely starting over can be quite challenging. For me, the thought of moving away from my parents and my sister was scary because they were the people who raised me, guided me, listened to me, and looked out for me. Now, I was going to be in a new town without a lot of familiar faces and certainly no one who cares about me the way my family does. I was nervous I wouldn’t be able to find anything close enough to that feeling in Jonesboro, until I became a member of Alpha Omicron Pi. Without a doubt, I came to college with a preconceived notion of what Greek life was. I fell into the typical belief that everyone fit the sorority mold, and I was convinced I wouldn’t fit into that. I worried about being able to keep my grades up, but I also wanted to do something more. I wanted to be involved in something that would push me to be my best and help others. In the weeks leading up to going off to college, my mom and a few friends convinced me to sign up to rush.

Mandi Finley, Arkansas State University Sophomore, Alpha Gamma Delta: “Recruitment is something that I was completely terrified of, but I could not imagine not partaking in this exciting journey as part of my college experience. Now, as I cherish the letters I hold so dear to my heart, I could not be happier with the decision I made to rush. Alpha Gamma Delta has completely changed my life. From love to encouragement, the sisters and lifelong friends I have gained through Alpha Gam will forever be a part of the woman I am and hope to become. Alpha Gam has taught me how to love, encouraged me in my faith, taught me how to deal with situations with grace and poise, and how to be a sister.”

Recruitment week was eye-opening. At the beginning of the week, I made a few friends from my Gamma Chi group and 78 Your Hometown Magazine

thought this sorority was just going to allow me to meet new people and have more activities to attend. By the end of the week, I had accepted my bid to my home away from home and met 140 new faces who did not know me but were excited I was going to be part of their sisterhood. Flash forward to the end of first semester: I have gained hundreds of friendships and sisters. I have an amazing group of supporters who text me Bible verses and encouraging messages daily, and who will take me to the doctor when I don’t

want to go by myself. I now hold an office for my sorority and will be forever proud to represent them and wear the letters.

Aaryn Murdock, Arkansas State University Senior, Alpha Omicron Pi: “I’ve now been a member of my sorority for my entire college career. I have a constant motivational support team leaving sweet notes and paying to get my car out of the lot when it has been towed because I can’t park in the correct spot. I’ve logged countless hours of community service and heart-wrenching stories of families in need. I’ve served as New Member Educator and Chapter President within the last two years and have been able to initiate over 40 girls into this chapter that means so much to me. I thank Alpha Omicron Pi for developing me into the woman I am today with the outlook I have. The most important thing I’ll be taking away from my experience is the values that have been instilled in me and the genuine relationships I have created. Never have I felt more at home than I do in this group of girls. This sorority is one of my biggest accomplishments and has pushed me to be so much and accomplish so much more than I imagined.

I’m proud to represent something with a ritual and values as pure and genuine as the one I do. My heart is full for those who get to experience everything it has to offer next. You get out of it what you put into it. Alpha love and all of mine.”

Whether it be a sorority, a club, or any type of organization, they bring so much more than some people to hang out with until you graduate. These organizations allow you to grow as a person and develop values and friendships that will guide you for the rest of your life.

Sally Brown, University of Mississippi Alumni, Pi Beta Phi Alumni: “After four short years, lots of memories, and a ton of fun, it was time to start a new life without them…I mean every day without them. Who? My sorority sisters. There were 12 of us who pledged together, lived together, cried together, and [had]grown

together. Now it was time to graduate. We vowed to stay friends forever. That was 20 years ago, and we are still just as close. We have a very special bond and I couldn’t have done life without them. We have seen each other get married and have children.

We’ve had loved ones pass away, but every year in the fall, we take a trip together. This has happened every fall for the last 20 years and is a time we look forward to, to catch up, hug, cry and laugh.

Is it easy to stay together after so long? Though it takes much time and planning, we make it happen no matter what. That is where we are today.”

“The most important thing I’ll be taking away from my experience is the values that have been instilled in me and the genuine relationships I have created.”

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When Frances Schoonover moved to Searcy in 1978, she was not aware of the impact it would have on her life. Not only would it change her life, but change the lives of many others. As Frances likes to say, “The Lord works in mysterious ways.”

H

aving trained in the army cadet nursing program, Schoonover, also lovingly known as “Schooney,” began her healthcare training in 1945. Shortly after beginning her training, she met and fell in love with her husband-to-be, Albert.

It was then that she quit the nursing program to focus on raising a family, but she never gave up the dream of being a nurse and later returned to school to become an LPN. Schoonover had been working at a hospital in Amer, Mississippi when one of her friends from White County called her to suggest working at what was then White County Memorial Hospital.

“The reason I moved to Searcy was Ann Alton,” Schoonover said. “I had a friend who worked as a nursing aid and knew Ann, who was the director of nursing at the time. My friend called me to suggest that I work at White County, so I gathered my papers up from the hospital I left in Amer, Mississippi and my friend took them to Ann. I started working in 1978.”

Shortly after moving to Searcy, her husband passed away. At the age of 53 and with three grown children, she often stayed long after her shift ended.

“I worked the 3-11 p.m. shift at the hospital when Albert died,” Schoonover said. “If I was working with a lady, I would never

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leave her until she had delivered her baby – I just didn’t. It was my life. To me, that was my time to give and the Lord gave me that time. I was able to use that time not just for the person I was helping but for me. I would come home every night and write in my journal and it made my life a lot easier. Working there made my life so pleasant; helping people and helping deliver babies. … The hospital saved me,” Schoonover said.

Schoonover’s work in labor and delivery gave her the opportunity to work closely with many of the nurses and physicians, which in return quickly made her a well-known name within the hospital walls. One of the physicians Schoonover worked with on a regular basis was Unity Health physician, Dr. Jim Citty.

“Schooney was a great OB nurse and one of the best,” Dr. Jim Citty said. “I would always tell her when we worked together that if she would work overtime, we could deliver every single baby in White County. She knew her stuff and her experience and knowledge was one reason she was a great nurse, but she was also straightforward and honest, which was beneficial in our department. She was going to tell you like it was and people worked well with her.”

Now, 21 years after working together, Dr. Jim Citty is Schoonover’s primary care physician and his sons Dr. Kyle Citty and Dr. Kris Citty delivered one of Schoonover’s granddaughters and one great-grandson, continuing the New Life Center connection.

One only needs to read a few pages of Schoonover’s journal to see how much she cared for the people at the hospital and how it influenced her life. Every day she journaled details of her work at the hospital and of the people who filled her life and, to this day, she still has her journal and enjoys going back to read it.

“That’s still my hospital and the years I worked there helped me get through Albert’s death,” Schoonover said. “It did a lot for me.

I received more than I gave.”

Although she retired in 1994, she continues to give to the hospital through the Unity Health Foundation. As an LPN she served and gave to the patients in the New Life Center. Now, as a donor, she continues to bless those who enter the New Life Center.

Through generous donations from members of the Unity Health Pillars of Health and Cornerstone Partners programs, the New Life Center has been able to make renovations and additions to its facility – improving care for patients for years to come.

Funds given to the Foundation have helped purchase the following: an advanced fetal monitoring system; state-of-theart nursery equipment; a new triage area with four spaces for patients; an upgraded infant security system; and renovations to six patient rooms for labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum (LDRP) suites among additional updates.

For more information about how you can give back or about becoming a Pillars of Health member or Cornerstone Partner, please contact the Unity Health Foundation office at (501) 278-3186 or visit Unity-Health.org/wcmc-foundation.

“To me, that was my time to give and the Lord gave me that time. I was able to use that time not just for the person I was helping but for me.�

Pillars of Health members contribute $100 or more annually to the Unity Health Foundation.

Cornerstone Partners is a group of businesses interested in Unity Health and in continuing the provision of quality healthcare services. Members make a three year pledge to the Unity Health Foundation.

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Over lunch one day we discovered that Tina Reaper of Searcy is probably one of the most adventurous people we have met yet. Searcy Living asked her to send a few pictures of her life’s most daring adventures after we discovered that she went skydiving. Here are a few of her favorites.

 Took my boys snowmobiling into the interior of Yellowstone National Park.

 Skydiving 15,000 ft. over Tennessee.  Made top 10 in the Mrs. Arkansas Pageant in 2010

 Sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Petroglyph National Park, New Mexico

 Whitewater rafted the 1996 Olympic course down the Ocoee River.

 My view at 3,000 ft in a glider plane.

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 Kayaked out to the Gulf of Mexico from the Everglades.

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If you have driven by Searcy Living on Main St. lately, we are sure you noticed our newest window mascot. But it needs a name!

We are giving away a $100.00 gift certificate to our favorite name submission. Just fill out the form and mail in. We will pick our favorite one. If more than one person has the same name submission that we choose, we will have a drawing to decide the winner.

We hope this fun contest brings a smile to your face!

Your Name: __________________________________________________________________________ Address/City/State: ____________________________________________________________________ Phone: _________________________________ E-mail: ______________________________________

Deer Name: Mail to: Searcy Living Contest - P.O. Box 1922 - Searcy, AR 72145

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By Glenn Mollette

 ONE - Learn new skills. Education and training are a part  four - Live enjoyably. Allow yourself to do something of life. Do not embrace the “I am stuck” mentality. You can teach old dogs new tricks. Education does not necessarily mean college although it may. There are many trades you can learn today via self-study. Community college and vocational schools also offer a lot of learning opportunities you can complete in less than a year.

Keep learning.

 two - Live healthy. A long life is never guaranteed no

matter what we do. We can at least do our part by not being stupid.

Daily activity and cutting back on food portions are important.

Eliminate smoking and drink only in moderation. Halloween through New Year’s is a big health mess up period for many. So now is the time to beware.



three - Save money. This is very difficult to do if you are living on a meager income. Even putting a few dollars away each week or month might save you when an emergency arises. Having a little money on hand to pay cash for something instead of using credit will be a relief.

every day that you can really get into. This may be simply reading, listening to music or could be a myriad of hobbies. Enjoy your life.

 five

- Have a plan. Work toward something. Have something to look forward to. Involve your mind in a project or projects that keep you focused each day on moving forward toward accomplishing something. This could be as easy as cleaning out the garage or making a quilt. Have something you are doing today and tomorrow.

 six - Stay bright on the inside. Don’t be negative or bitter

about life. Allow yourself to laugh. Enjoy some humor along the way.



seven - Real relationships. You need a friend or two.

Close relationships whether they are family or friends give us real people to share life with. You probably aren’t going to find these on social media. Be careful of too many because a person of too many friends will soon come to ruin.

 eight - Always vote. Sounds out of place in this column

but it’s a major factor in bringing about community and society change, which impacts your life greatly.

There is never one silver bullet for making our lives happy. We can’t depend on the government or even people to make us happy.

We have to take responsibility for ourselves and do the best we can with the lives we have been handed.

Glenn Mollette is an American Syndicated Columnist and Author. He is the author of eleven books and read in all fifty states.

This column does not necessarily reflect the view of any organization, institution or this paper or media source.

Like his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ GlennMollette

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Searcy Athletic Club

Tip 1: Go Slow.

When you are just beginning an exercise routine, it may be tempting to make a dramatic change all at once. The best is to make gradual improvements over time. You will keep from getting burned out and could save yourself from injury. Exercise improves your health, but don’t risk hurting your health by doing too much.

Tip 6: There’s an app for that.

These days there are many fitness apps and devices. They can measure distance and performance. Some can train you toward a particular goal. Others are more social. Keeping it simple and just listening to music can lighten the workout load, too. Try it out!

Tip 2: Choose a Mix.

It is a good thing to stay focused, but it’s probably not a good idea to rely on one type of exercise or piece of equipment all the time.

Keep yourself from boredom and burn out and choose a variety of exercises. This could save yourself from injury by overworking one area of the body, too.

Tip 3: Don’t Be Intimidated.

One of the biggest blocks to health can be a lack of faith in yourself.

Look at your own goals and potential, not around you at what other people are doing. Improvement over time can surprise you at what you can do! It’s all about taking steps at paces to challenge yourself, not constantly comparing yourself to others.

Tip 4: Breaks Are Okay.

You need to stick with it. Don’t give up. However, things will happen and don’t beat yourself up for it. Sometimes letting your body rest from exercise is the best thing you can do to stay healthy and motivated. It’s okay to take a day off if you’re sick or just can’t do it that day.

Tip 5: Have a friend.

Someone else sharing your interests and working toward the same goals makes a workout easier and keeps you motivated. It’s also a great time to catch up on the day. Sharing bigger goals like a 5K can be good for your body and be something that brings friendships closer. It also supports your community in the process!

954 Skyline Dr. • Searcy, AR 501-268-8080 • www.searcyathleticclub.com

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Fab DIY Framed Shelves When decorating a room, adding a variety of colors and textures are important aspects. However, there is a third aspect that tends to be overlooked: dimension. Sometimes adding a flat piece of art on the wall is just not enough. An easy solution to add all three aspects is framed shelves. (This project is especially helpful to use in an apartment or dorm room where the white walls are not allowed to be painted.)

2 Remove the glass and all hardware from the back of each picture frame.

Measure both sides of each frame, making sure to account for the width of the wood used for the shelves.

Begin with as many or few picture frames as you choose to use for your space. They can all be alike or completely different in size and style.

1

4 Next, use wood glue and finishing nails to assemble a box from your wood pieces.

3

Using your measurements cut your wood boards to size. I used 1x6 boards for wider shelves but 1x4 works as well.

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6 After allowing dry time, fasten large self-leveling picture hangers to the back of each shelf.

5

7

When the box is complete, put a line of wood glue on the back of your picture frame. Lay the frame on the box and press firmly. Clamp the frame to the box while drying or simply lay something heavy on top of it to hold it in place.

Use brads or finishing nails to further secure the frame to the box.

8 After the paint is completely dry and no longer tacky, it’s time to hang the shelves on the wall and accessorize.

Finally, spray paint each shelf. You may choose to paint them all the same color or all different colors. For my space, I chose four different shades of blue.

Whether used for function or purely decorative pieces, these shelves can add a little extra “pop” to any room!

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Back in the mid 1990’s I went with some friends and their youth group from Oklahoma City to Buena Vista, Colorado to help with a Vacation Bible School. It was my first trip to Colorado and I was blown away by the beauty of everything around me! I could write an entire book about my adventures there that week, but it would have to be catagorized as a comedy; every day had its trials and craziness, but I sure had fun. A lady from the church in Buena Vista made this while we were there and was kind enough to share the recipe with me. Although it says CORNBREAD, because it has broccoli in it, it’s more like a side dish. Boy, this stuff is SO STINKIN’ GOOD! Just the ticket on a cold winter evening!

Combine 1 1/2 c. plain cornmeal (NOT cornmeal mix)

In a large mixing bowl combine the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, oil, sugar, onion, cottage cheese, eggs and broccoli in order listed and mix well to combine.

2/3 c unbleached all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 1/2 tsp salt 6 Tbsp olive oil

Bake

Melt butter in a 9X 13” baking pan in a 350° preheated oven and pour batter over the melted butter; bake for 45 minutes at 350* or until cornbread is “set”. Enjoy!

1/2 c. sugar 1 onion, finely diced 8 ounces cottage cheese

(Daisy or Breakstone are great choices)

4 eggs 10 ounces frozen chopped broccoli, cooked and drained 1 stick unsalted butter

Tanya Turner Leckie’s cookbook Cartwheels In The Kitchen is available at 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. Betsy sees the needs in our community and knows the impact that can be made by giving _____.

4. In Todd’s dream, the _____ coming from the volcano was blinding.

7. Dr. Sherbet switched his _____ because he couldn’t spend months without seeing patients.

8. Forget about getting _____ quick in the market.

10. Irene traveled where the _____ Perce Indians have called home.

When is 99 more than 100?

Down 1. A college organization brings so much more than people to _____ out with.

3. _____ relationships give us real people to share life with.

5. _____ disease is the leading cause of death in America.

6. Nobody else but you can take care of your _____.

9. God confirmed Jake’s faith to his _____ unseen.

I brighten your day but live in the shade. what am i?

Find The Answers On

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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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