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2 Your Hometown Magazine
4 Your Hometown Magazine
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6 Your Hometown Magazine
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issue 2 volume 19
A Man Should Be... 32 Quit Dreaming & Start Flying
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Integrity 40 My Thank You Letter 44 My Solid Ground Journey 46 Do Well By Doing Good 52
Publisher’s Note 10 Over The Counter 14 We The People 16 Financial Focus 48
A Celebration Of Life 66 Searcy Is My Home 68 Finding Health & Purpose 72 The Pearl Perspective 76 New In Town 78 The Heart Of The Matter 80 Be The Revolution 84
Out & About 64 Imagine & Believe 90 Dinner & A Magazine 94 Crossword & Riddles 96
Ty Pennington amanda brinkman Photo by George Dillin (501) 268-9304 SearcyLiving.com 9
If You Can Keep It S
ometime in the past year or two I had the amazing opportunity to hear Eric Metaxas speak at Harding University. That invitation was not only extended to me, but to every citizen in White County and beyond. Anyone who wanted to attend had that opportunity… and it was an incredible night. Over the years we have all had many opportunities to hear great speakers at Harding, including Truett Cathy, the author of It’s Better to Build Boys Than Mend Men and How Did You Do It, Truett? But you would probably know his name better by the restaurant chain he founded - Chick-Fil-A. For the last month, as I occasionally contemplated what to write to you about for this issue, Eric Metaxas’ book, If You Can Keep It, kept popping up in my mind. So how does that tie into our issue theme? Well, there is something else that keeps occurring to me. Our community is different. There is a culture here that seems to be lacking in other communities. We have something special. What is that special something? Julie Gordon with Deluxe made the statement, “Does Searcy even know what they have?” I don’t know if one person could really convey that, as I think there are so many things that make up that difference. But here are just a few things that I came up with: 1. A family friendly environment filled with family activities. If you can’t find something to do with your family, you are not looking. 2. Good people that help each other. 3. A University that does so much for our community, both in service and economically.
remember
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There are so many things I could list and I am sure you could add so much to that list as well. But now, we have to work to keep it. Do we want to look like the rest of the world or do we want to keep the good things we have and add more good things? So, back to Eric Metaxas and his book. If You Can Keep It is based on the following (exerpt): “In 1787, when the constitution was drafted, a woman asked Ben Franklin what the Founders had given the American people. “A Republic,” he shot back, “If you can keep it.” This book is at once a thrilling review of America’s uniqueness - and a chilling reminder that America’s greatness cannot continue unless we embrace our own crucial role in living out what our founders entrusted to us.” And so, that is where our community lies. Such great opportunity awaits us in so many ways. But we do have a special small town that has a welcoming, family friendly culture in this area that makes us different in so many amazing ways. But the real question of the day is, can we keep it? Only time will tell, but we all have a crucial role to play to make it happen. So, go out today and shop hometown, encourage someone, make someone new feel welcomed, and remember what brought you to this area and what made you call it home. Let’s continue to be that special place. As always, thank you for reading Searcy Living Magazine.
the extras
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Publisher Christine Walker Customer Service Dorjeanne Bechhoefer Art Director & Webmaster Garrett Johnson Editorial Assistant Cherie Sewell Makeover Coordinator Evelyn Moss
Contributing Independent Photographers Kimberly Brackins (501)279-1515 George Dillin (501)268-9304 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 2019 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 2019 Shark Promotions LLC
Searcy Living Magazine is a subsidiary of Shark Promotions LLC.
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Over the Counter Harding University College of Pharmacy
Fun in the Sun By Paola Quijano, PharmD Candidate 2019; Lana Gettman, PharmD; Melissa Shipp, PharmD, BCPS
M
ost of us are used to hearing from doctors and pharmacists about common side effects of medications such as, “this medication will cause drowsiness or nausea.” However, we rarely associate medications playing any role in sunburns. To much surprise, increased sensitivity to the sun, or photosensitivity, is a possible side effect of many commonly used medications, which is important to remember during the summer months. While this reaction is not necessarily life-threatening, it is one to consider and take extra precaution when sunbathing or even spending the day traveling in the car as UV rays can also radiate through car windows. There are two types of photosensitivity reactions: photoallergic and phototoxic.
Photoallergic reactions are rare and less prevalent than phototoxic reactions. Photoallergic reactions appear as an unexplained rash from the activation of the body’s immune system due to the combination of a medication and sun exposure. These rashes may present as hives, eczema, or blisters approximately 24-72 hours after the exposure to sunlight. Photoallergic reactions require previous exposure to these medications and do not require the sun for the rash to continue. Phototoxic reactions are more predictable as some medications cause an exaggerated sunburn minutes to hours after sun exposure, due to the skin reacting more quickly to sunlight. It is speculated that the medication absorbs extra UV radiation from the sun’s rays causing these exaggerated sunburns even in those who do not usually burn. Phototoxic reactions can be prevented by taking the following precautions when you are aware that your medications could have photosensitive side effects: Limit the amount of time outside during peak sunlight hours from 10am to 4pm. Go out earlier or later in the day. Be aware how the environment changes the intensity of UV radiations. For example, altitude adds 4% to intensity of UV radiation each 1,000 feet; snow reflects 70-90% of UV radiations, and water reflects nearly 100% of UV radiations. Apply sunscreen with high SPF (at least SPF 30) 15-30 minutes before going outside and reapply approximately every 2 hours or more frequently if swimming or sweating. The coverage of UV radiation plateaus after SPF 30: SPF 15 absorbs 93% of UV rays, SPF 30 absorbs 96.7% of UV rays, SPF 40 absorbs 97.5% of UV rays 14 Your Hometown Magazine
Tips on sunscreen application: Adults need approximately 1-2 oz of sunscreen to cover the entire face and body. Remember to apply to exposed areas such as ears, back of the neck, tops of feet, and areas of the head that are bald or have little hair. Apply sunscreen before insect repellent when using both. Throw away expired sunscreen. Most are good for 3 years but can expire sooner if exposed or stored near heat. The most common culprits of these skin photosensitivity reactions are certain antibiotics, some medications for high blood pressure, and even some NSAIDs (nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications) which can also be purchased over the counter. The following medications are known to cause the highest photosensitivity reaction incidences: Antibiotics: Ciprofloxacin (Cipro), Levofloxacin (Levaquin), Ofloxacin (Floxin), Doxycycline (Vibramycin; Doryx), Minocycline (Minocin), Sulfamethoxazole/ Trimethoprim (Bactrim) Blood pressure medications: Hydrochlorothiazide HCTZ (Microzide; Hydrodiuril), Furosemide (Lasix), Lisinopril (Prinivil; Zestril), Enalapril (Vasotec), Benazepril (Lotensin), Ramipril (Altace), Trandolapril (Mavik), Diltiazem (Cardizem) NSAIDs: Ibuprofen (Motrin; Advil), Naproxen (Aleve; Naprosyn), Celecoxib (Celebrex) Before you head to the beach, vacation in the mountains, or just spend the day outside gardening, first dig through your medicine cabinet for these medications so you can take the necessary precautions to fully enjoy the outdoors! *Contact your local pharmacist with any questions regarding your medications.
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Searcy Elks lodge Presents A Check To Camp Quality
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he Searcy Elks lodge presented a check for $2,000 to Camp Quality recently. This organization is special to us. It allows kids with cancer to be normal kids for a week; and allows their families to rest for a week. They provide one on one companionship for every camper, along with some amazing activities. As Elks we are proud to support them every year. We encourage every business and individual in White County to support them, too. Here’s a little more information: Camp Quality Arkansas serves children with cancer and their families by providing year-round programs, experiences, and companionship at no cost. Camp Quality AR summer camp is June 9-14 and held every year at Camp Powderfork in Bald Knob. It costs roughly $2,000 per camper to provide a week-long camp for children with cancer and their siblings, aged 5-17. This cost is covered through monetary donations, medical professionals donating time, and organizations providing meals or supplies. Please email jeana.jucha@campqualityusa.org to learn more about supporting Camp Quality AR, and check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/campquality.arkansas.
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Searcy High School Lionsteppers Selected Congratulations to the Searcy High School Lionsteppers for being selected for the 20192020 school year. Dance team members are Maddie Treat, Hannah Schowe, Miranda Webb, Emma Duncan, Ashlynn Hightower, Mary Pulliam, Adrienne Mason, Addie Butler, Emely Truong - Manager (front), Ashlyn Starks, Kloey Hartford, Amber Zentz, Chloe Martinez, Kaley Tafolla, Mia Molechat, and Livvie Trionfante (back). Not pictured is Paige Peters.
Searcy High School Cheerleaders Selected Congratulations to the Searcy High School cheerleaders who were selected for the 20192020 school year. Squad members are Kennedy Cook-manager, Maggie Pruitt, Grace Sledge, Avery Walker, Maggie Greer, Kelsey Qualls - Captain, Addie Woods - Co-Captain, Sophia Seger, Kathryn Reardon (front), McKinley Powell, Lexie Riales, Lindley Cypert, Ashleigh Simpson,Hannah Garner, Mary Frances Oxner, Mary Grace Parsley, and McKenzie Magness (back).
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Regional
Chairman’s Award
H
arding Academy’s Team 3937 “Breakaway” received the 2019 Arkansas Rock City Regional Chairman’s Award recently in Little Rock. The highest honor given at the FIRST Robotics competition, this award recognizes the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST. They also earned a trip to Worlds in Houston by winning this award!
They were awarded the Excellence in Engineering Award at Bayou Regional in Kenner, LA. This award celebrates an elegant and advantageous machine feature based on machine, creativity, and innovation. It stands up to the rigors of competition and reflects an engineering solution to a specific problem, and it is both functional and practical.
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BLOOM WITH US
A Partnership with First Community Bank and P. Allen Smith
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n recent years, the importance of pollinators and their impact on our communities has garnered more focus and increased public awareness. People, often unknowingly, may pose one of the biggest threats to pollinators and other beneficials because of the ways we have disturbed their natural habitats with our everyday practices and the use of pesticides in our gardens. The good news is we can also be the ones to help rebuild the habitats by planting gardens with flowers that attract and are hospitable to bees, butterflies, ladybugs and hummingbirds. Recently, P. Allen Smith announced the “Bloom with Us” program, a statewide initiative with First Community Bank to design and install pollinator gardens at over 20 bank locations throughout Arkansas, with one extending into Pineville, MO. “Bloom With Us” will beautify the community while raising awareness of the benefits of pollinators and will hopefully encourage others to do the same. “We are very excited to bring P. Allen Smith’s knowledge of landscape design and gardening to our bank locations to create something unique in each of our communities,” stated Dale E. Cole, chairman & CEO of First Community Bank. “A pollinator garden seemed like the perfect thing to give back to our communities. It will offer a place for learning, fellowship and interaction.” I hope the gardens will be a breath of fresh air and everyone will be inspired by what P. Allen Smith brings to life.” 22 Your Hometown Magazine
“Creating a habitat that encourages pollinators like butterflies and bees to do their work is a critical piece of landscape design,” stated P. Allen Smith. “The first garden, at the corner of Kavanaugh and Cantrell will soon delight the eye while benefiting nature,” Smith concluded. To visit a garden near you, please visit our website at www.firstcommunity.net for a location guide and more information about the “Bloom with Us” program.
About First Community Bank
First Community Bank, which is locally owned and managed, opened August 4, 1997, in Batesville, Arkansas, and currently operates 22 full-service branches in Arkansas and Missouri. First Community employs more than 380 professional bankers and reports assets of $1.47 billion as of December 31, 2018.
About P. Allen Smith
P. Allen Smith has parlayed a lifelong passion for the natural world into a career that allows him to share garden, home, and lifestyle knowledge and insights with a worldwide audience. As a conservationist, author, and television host he is a trusted resource for tried-and-true methods as well as cutting-edge knowledge in the small farm and garden communities. Whether it’s old-school flocks, eating local or green innovations, he combines them all at the farm he designed at Moss Mountain—a place grounded in history, inspired by his southern upbringing and guided by modern day application.
“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” ~ F r a n klin D . Roose ve l t
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Master Gardener
Scholarship Awarded
E
aston Reaper was named the recipient of the White County Master Gardener Scholarship in the amount of $1000.00. Easton is the son of Jenny and Trey Reaper of Searcy. Easton is a senior at Pangburn High School and is a leader on the Pangburn Tiger baseball team and active in FFA and the Future Business Leaders of America. He will be attending the University of Arkansas where he will major in Agriculture Business. The University of Arkansas System, Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/ equal access/affirmative action institution.
“All of us go through times of spiritual, relational, or financial famines. It seems like the harvest will never come. And the temptation is to stop planting, but my advice is simple: sow a seed. Keep praying, keep obeying, keep giving, keep loving, keep serving. And if you keep sowing the right seeds, the harvest will come in God’s time, in God’s way!” ~ Mark Batterson
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Alden Graves signed her letter of intent to play basketball on scholarship at Lyon College in Batesville. Alden is the daughter of Kalen and Matt House. She is a 2019 graduating senior at Harding Academy. Asher Patten won a $2,000 scholarship to the school of his choice from The Thea Foundation. Asher competed against 130 theatre, dance and music performers from Arkansas high schools and landed one of only 10 scholarships. Asher is the son of Felicia and Todd Patten. He is a 2019 graduating senior at Harding Academy.
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Home Is Where The Heart Is
Unity Health event
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he Unity Health Foundation is pleased to announce our Home Is Where The Heart Is campaign. Our new campaign revolves around patient and associate safety. Our mission at Unity Health is to improve the quality of health and well-being for the communities we serve through compassionate care. We know your home is where your heart is and we want to help you get home quickly. Our Home Is Where The Heart Is campaign focuses on three areas:
• Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation Center • Patient Safe Handling Rooms • Xenex Germ-Zapping Robots Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation Center
Our facility at the Unity Health - Specialty Care Campus is in need of renovation to enhance patient and associate safety. Renovations will include widening of doors throughout the facility; patient rooms, family room, dining room, and gym area remodels; and a new covered entrance - all with a home-like environment.
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Patient Safe Handling Rooms
We will add ten patient safe handling rooms throughout the Unity Health - White County Medical Center Campus. These renovations and the additions of the Hoya Lift system will make caring for our patients safer for them and for our associates.
Xenex Germ-Zapping Robots
These UV-C light robots are used to go the extra mile when disinfecting patient rooms, and a way to make our hospital the safest facility it can be for patients and families. We are the first in the state in implementing the Xenex Program as a way to enhance patient and associate safety. Our goal is to add a Xenex Robot to each unit in the hospital.
Home Is Where The Heart Is
For more information about the campaign or the Unity Health Foundation, please e-mail foundation@unity-health.org or call (501) 278-3184
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Congratulations to Chick-fil-A on their Always Fresh Remodel!
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Branson
Vacation Rental $89.00-$149.00 per night!
Great Colorful Decor at this Branson Fall Creek 2BDR, 2Bath Condo. Conveniently located near Lake Taneycomo, Table Rock Lake and the excitement of the Branson strip. Loft design keeps the feel open and the fully equipped kitchen gives you the opportunity to eat in and enjoy home cooking and the savings of not eating out every meal. Next time you are headed for Branson, go to the link below to view seasonal rates and for booking.
Plan your Branson getaway in this 2 bedroom 2 bath condo priced at $89.00-$149.00 per night! P rop e rt y w e b a d d r e s s :
itrip.net/branson-vacation-rental/Penthouse-Fall-Creek-2-BDR-55-8
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A Man Should Be... “A man should understand that nothing is really about him... it’s about who he can serve, who he can make better, who he can influence, who he can encourage and who he can lift out of the depths of sorrow, pain or despair. ”
By
Chuck Hicks
I
was on a family retreat for a few days, and after finishing a family round of golf one morning we were sharing some scones and green tea, and doing email before heading back to the lodge and then to the mountain to do a little hiking. This particular morning my brother in law, my son and I were sitting on the deck sipping hot coffee. We were just talking about this and that when the topic of what men are and what we thought men “ought” to be came up. We discussed that for a while, and so I thought I might share some of the things that were considered important. A man should be... honest, trustworthy and faithful to keep his promises. A man should understand what covenant is... and be true to the covenants into which he enters. A man should be accountable for his decisions, his choices and all consequences of his actions. A man should willingly support his family financially, spiritually, socially and physically. A man should have strong character, and be kind, patient and ambitious. A man should be calm under pressure and wise in all things. A man should be ready to come to the rescue of whoever needs him, whenever they need him. A man should understand that nothing is really about him... it’s about who he can serve, who he can make better, who he can influence, who he can encourage and who he can lift out of the depths of sorrow, pain or despair. A man should possess deep convictions and well-considered values. A man should show courage when others show fear. A man should show confidence when others show weakness. A man should set goals and give his all to achieve them. A man should choose his words carefully and be conscious of how his “body language” might be interpreted. A man should never be lazy. A man should have an idea of what the “best” is in a man... and pursue that character in himself. A man should be well-read and educated. A man should be certain to learn from every situation and understand that he never loses as long as he learns. A man should have perspective gained from paying attention to the simple things. A man should learn lessons from children, from women, from old folks, from the wise and even from fools. After such a discussion, I am convinced that I have much to improve upon. That’s always good to know... because I believe the greatest men always understand that the victory is in the journey... and success is in pursuit. *
“...The victory is in the journey... and success is in pursuit.”
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QuitDreaming and
Start Flying By Roger Pearson Picture of Roger by Searcy Living Photos of Airport by Al Fowler
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f all the places I thought I would end up, Searcy Airport was surely not one of them. My life’s ambition was Law Enforcement, a career I started while in the United States Marines Corps serving as a military policeman. When I separated from the Marines, I chose Searcy because in my opinion the (PD) police department was moving in the right direction. They took the “Pride, Progress and Potential” slogan to heart. I worked for Searcy PD 23 years before acknowledging a longing to learn more about Jesus. Using my military time, I was able to take an early retirement and go back to school. After 2 years in Harding’s Center for Advanced Ministry Training, I was presented with a few job opportunities. Two were in Law Enforcement and the other was managing the Searcy Municipal Airport. I prayed and sought counsel before applying and being offered the job. I hesitated to accept, thinking, “Law Enforcement is what I know, I don’t know how to run an airport.” But little by little God revealed that He had been preparing me for the job with my career in law enforcement, coupled with the FBI National Academy and years of service in administration. I am proud to say, I have been blessed with excellent City Councilmen, Airport Commissioners and customers that have made this a great experience and a job I can love. They have a clear vision for what the airport is and needs to be, so it’s easy to follow such a unified direction. ”I am proud to say, I have been blessed with excellent City Councilmen, Airport Commissioners and customers...”
Now that you know who I am, I would like to share some things about the Searcy Municipal Airport (KSRC). It’s a shame I cannot recount the full history, but I’ll strive to hit some high points and interesting tidbits. In this article I will refer to the Searcy Airport by its (FAA) Federal Aviation Administration’s designation, which is KSRC. Much work and many people have been instrumental in developing KSRC into what it is today. After War World II, airports across the country exploded into existence as pilots returned stateside. Cities were scrambling to accommodate new demands in the aviation world, and back then they 34 Your Hometown Magazine
“Searcy’s Airport capabilities were a determining factor in the decision [for Love’s] to locate in Searcy.” couldn’t just shoot out an email. Rather, a package was dropped from an airplane onto the roof of the White County Court House. This package contained a letter from the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce requesting that Searcy join in the “Mark Your Town” campaign. This would involve Searcy businesses, and they were asked to mark roof tops with arrows and a location identifier, such as “SEARCY,” to assist pilots in locating the airport. It’s interesting to note KSRC was originally located on the east side of Main Street and the first flight to land in Searcy was a medical mission made by Captain Murray Hall. Captain Hall delivered a doctor to tend to another doctor who had recently undergone a surgery and needed medical attention. It’s all pretty much a blur from there. 1931 two pilots flew in to Searcy in a Gyspy Moth and took citizens for rides at $1.50 each. 1932 brought in a flying circus where loops and inversions were demonstrated by two aircraft, an American Eagle and a Waco. 1932 Law Enforcement discovered that flying was a good policing tool and used an airplane to locate two stills and 900 gallons of Mash in Kensett. 1933 the Mayor applied for a grant to develop the municipal airport in Searcy. The Phil Shute farm was chosen and 6,000 volunteer hours were invested in the development. 1935 the first passenger plane landed in Searcy. 1941 brought Searcy’s first home based plane. 1957 Mayor Lee Biggs, Sr. and the citizens pushed for a $35K bond issue to improve the airport and added 2,500 ft. of hard surface in anticipation of the city’s growth. Some say the citizens of Searcy were convinced that longer pavement surface options were a must after an intoxicated pilot was arrested for landing on Race Street.
1952, 1961 and 1986 KSRC suffered tornado damage. 1964 the citizens rallied 5 to 1 to improve the runway by way of bond issue and extended the length of the asphalt to accommodate Jet traffic. This move improved the quality and marketability of KSRC. Today KSRC’s runway has a width of 100 ft., is 6009 ft. long and is instrument equipped providing IFR pilots the ability to land in bad weather, under instrument flight rules. It is equipped with a state of the art weather station and a new terminal that was built in 2013. KSRC offers vital fuel options and we have plenty of room for aviator expansion. KSRC currently houses 119 home-based aircraft. To put that into perspective, Clinton International Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas houses 142 home-based aircraft.
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A 2006 Arkansas Department of Aeronautics publication documents Searcy as having 18,936 local operations (local take-offs and landings) and 12,624 itinerant operations (nonlocal or transient based aircraft). This brings total operations to 31,560 operations annually. The same study indicates KSRC’s annual economic impact to be $4.3 million. Current goals include stabilization of existing resources, enhanced safety/security/services and a Part 141 Aviation School. In addition, hangar expansions would allow us to accommodate larger aircraft, such as the jets with three engines. Currently rated as a Level 4 airport, all KSRC is required to do in order to reach the highest designation of Level 5 is to widen the runway by 50 ft. This could allow us to accommodate scheduled airlines and handle more cargo activity. Searcy has an attractive airport for the aviator for several reasons. A pilot can fly into KSRC without breaking the bank, it is close enough to other destinations, and it is the closet Level 4 field
near North Little Rock and Little Rock on the north side. KSRC is in close proximity to some of the best duck hunting in the world, recreation at Greers Ferry Lake, and access to world class trout fishing areas on the Little Red River. Currently, we are engaged in a campaign called “QUIT DREAMING and START FLYING.” It is a partnership promotion between KSRC and several sponsors, including Aircraft Interior Services, Ron’s Gyros, Edmonds Aviation, Bulldog Helicopters, Flying C Aviation and Republic Aviation. The purpose is to draw people into the world of aviation as a hobby, tool, career or otherwise. Because here is the rest of the story: Pilot demand is high and supply is low. More pilots mean more users and a better return on our economic investments. There are many instructors operating out of KSRC specializing in Gyros, helicopters, and fixed wing. Several are Designated Pilot Examiners, and we have four maintenance facilities on the airport grounds. You can get all the flight instruction you need to become a professional pilot, right here in Searcy. If you are wondering how the airport is funded, we handle almost all of our improvements and expansions by grants from the FAA
“You can get all the flight instruction you need to become a professional pilot, right here in Searcy.“
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“It is my desire that the citizens of Searcy and the surrounding areas know that they have an airport they can be proud of, and it’s their airport.”
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and ADA. The airport generates very nearly enough revenue to be selfsustaining, with the only exception being portions of grants that have match requirements. KSRC presently has a very minimal impact to the tax base/revenue of the city. We are still striving to achieve the 100% self-funded mark. This means the City of Searcy and surrounding areas benefit by the economic impact at minimal costs. Many companies utilize the airport for their business needs and consider local airport facilities when deciding on a business locale. I’m told Love’s Travel Center considered both Searcy and Beebe as possible locations. Searcy’s Airport capabilities were a determining factor in the decision to locate in Searcy (and the Love’s Jet flies in here from time to time). I also had the opportunity to spend time as an ambassador for the City of Searcy, as I represented Searcy to a Cracker Barrel representative. We talked over an hour about the qualities of the Searcy community. I introduced her to all the great attributes of Searcy and the surrounding resources. From the center out, I explained how we were rich in moral fiber and that it was often said that we live in a bubble, isolated from the rest of the world’s problems, generally. By the end of the conversation she was sold on the greatness of the community. So while impacts are nominal to the tax base, the airport is crucial at bringing in more tax revenue for the City of Searcy and all other areas in White County. It is my desire that the citizens of Searcy and the surrounding areas know that they have an airport they can be proud of, and it’s their airport. If you want to learn to fly, let us help you explore your options. If you want to sit and watch runway activity, we have a comfy observation deck and you are welcome to check it out anytime. You really have something to be proud of, especially when comparing to the other 90 public airports in the state. *
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By Dorjeanne Bechhoefer eremy Ford loves being outside. He grew up on a farm in Alberta, J Canada. He then went to college, earning his degree in Agriculture. After college he worked in the Ag industry and as a volunteer firefighter, with his leadership skills
eventually leading him to serve as Chief of his fire department. Jeremy also ran guided white tail deer hunting tours, at first as an employee, and eventually running his own service. He met Tammara on one of those snowy, winter tours. They fell in love and ultimately Jeremy moved to Searcy, where the two were married and they began their adventure together. He worked summers as a swimming pool installer, and would return to operating his guide service in the winter. His unyielding work ethic and local demand for quality pool service ultimately redirected his focus to being solely on the pool business. Thus began Integrity Pool Services. Starting with one pool build contract and a dream, Jeremy’s hard work quickly built him a loyal following of amazing customers. Customer referrals continue to pour in and the business continues to grow. And although he doesn’t have a store front, it doesn’t impede his ability to provide customers with anything they may need for pool supplies, chemicals, and equipment! Better yet, it frees him up to be able to deliver those supplies straight to his customer’s back yard paradise, without the overhead and expense. Hands on, straight forward, and honest, Jeremy‘s goal is to provide quality service that the hard working people of this community deserve. Jeremy wants his work to be synonymous with the name of his company. When someone thinks of him, his work or his employees he hopes they see Integrity. *
Jeremy & Tammara Ford
“Jeremy wants his work to be synonymous with the name of his company.”
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2019 Camp Wyldewood Schedule Overnight Sessions: SESSION 1 SHORT SESSION 1 SESSION 2 SESSION 2B SESSION 3 SESSION 3B SESSION 4 SESSION 4B SESSION 5 SHORT SESSION 2
JUNE 2-8 (7 days) JUNE 2-5 (4 days) JUNE 9-20 (11 days) JUNE 9-15 (7 days) JUNE 30 - JULY 11 (11 days) JUNE 30 - JULY 6 (7 days) JULY 14-25 (11 days) JULY 14-20 (7 days) JULY 28 - AUGUST 3 (7 days) JULY 28-31 (4 days)
day camp Sessions: WEEK 1 WEEK 2 WEEK 3 WEEK 4 WEEK 5 WEEK 6 WEEK 7 WEEK 8 WEEK 9
JUNE 3-7 JUNE 10-14 JUNE 17-21 JUNE 24-28 JULY 1-5 JULY 8-12 JULY 15-19 JULY 22-26 JULY 29 - AUGUST 2
day camp Pricing
Ages 5-7: $105 • Ages 8 and up: $120
$270 $160 $410 $270 $410 $270 $410 $270 $270 $160
activities: • Bible Lessons • Singing Times • Basketball • Softball • Ropes Course • Horseback Riding • Art & Crafts • Rappelling
• Swimming • Archery • Fishing • Air Rifles • Cookout • Hiking • And Much More
Online Registration and other information • Registration begins on January 1, 2019. • You can register online at campwyldewood.org • Day Camp deposit is $30 and Overnight $75. •42 There are discounts available for registering by the end of April. Your Hometown Magazine
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by Christine Walker
I
My Thank You Letter
think for the most part I am a pretty optimistic and hopeful person. But the past few years really took their toll on me and most people that know me are probably not aware that I actually used the word that I normally don’t believe in: defeated. I ran a business, fostered children and started a charitable effort that has served thousands. I won’t for a minute say that any of this was easy, but it was doable. Until other “extras” just seemed to pour in at once: sickness that seemed unending and led to three surgeries, two literal near death experiences (thank you to Unity Health for saving my life both times), a child that gave me difficulties that I had no experience in handling, and other challenges in many areas that were just really unfamiliar territory. The list seemed endless. Then, to top it off, one rainy day as I was doing dishes, water suddenly started pouring out from the top of my kitchen cabinets. The roofer patched the problem the next day. But then I found out I had major hail damage and needed a new roof, which forced the much needed house addition from a “someday in the future” project to a get it done in under two years to coordinate it with the roof claim necessity. Life was tough, stressful and felt impossible, to say the least. God usually felt so close and I almost never worried, knowing He had my back; but He seemed so silent and distant through some of those days, and I felt so utterly alone. My prayer went from, “Lord show me what I am supposed to learn from all this and how it can help others,” to “God can You give me a break? Mercy would be nice about now.” My Pollyanna optimistic, 44 Your Hometown Magazine
hopeful self was deflated, defeated and struggling. Rewind to eight months or so ago on a cloudy, dreary day that I was glad was almost at an end. As I walked into Southern Roots Hair Salon to follow up on an ad before press, I noticed Lindsey Edwards seemed in deep thought as she looked at her ad. Then the next thing I knew, two other ladies walked in with a dozen roses and the three of them told me that I was to be the guest of honor for the Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball. They had totally set me up for this surprise! They thanked me for the foster care advocacy and the other work the magazine does for the community. All I could think was, “Thank you God for giving me this encouragement during a season when I just really needed it.” And so, here is my thank you to the Junior Auxiliary ladies. Since starting Searcy Living Magazine eighteen years ago, I have watched you do amazing volunteer work for this community. You give your time, talents and resources unselfishly, and you may not have known it, but you gave me a gift that I really needed. You went all out to make me feel special that evening, and you gave me a gift of encouragement that was so needed and appreciated. You have my deepest and most sincere gratitude. Thank you! Things are better now in my world. My health is back to normal and life is manageable, but I will always remember those God used to let me know He was still there. I now find myself much more aware of those around me that are experiencing tough times and my heart’s desire is that I can share hope forward. *
Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them accordingly: if [someone has the gift of] prophecy, [let him speak a new message from God to His people] in proportion to the faith possessed; if service, in the act of serving; or he who teaches, in the act of teaching; or he who encourages, in the act of encouragement; he who gives, with generosity; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy [in caring for others], with cheerfulness. Romans 12:6
These ladies held a Tea before the Charity Ball and they completely surprised me by donating diapers to the Imagine & Believe Foundation Foster Care Boutique. That was such an amazing moment! If you would like to give to a foster child and let foster families know that they are not alone on their fostering journey, you can find information on this charity in EVERY issue of Searcy Living.
Junior Auxiliary Serves in Community Projects such as: For more photos of the Junior Auxiliary Ball go to: SearcyLiving.com
A Day of Caring Scholarships Covering Kids Angel Tree Food Baskets The Sunshine School SearcyLiving.com 45
my
Solid
Journey
Ground
By Lindsey Edwards
I
“Some times God closes doors because it’s time to move forward.”
46 Your Hometown Magazine
have been a Hair dresser for almost 12 years and I
actually never wanted to own my own salon. I didn’t want the stress and all the things that came with it. However, God had other plans for me and before I knew it I had my own place in 12 days! Sometimes God closes doors because it’s time to move forward. He knew I wouldn’t move unless my circumstances forced me. I felt God calling me out for several months and feeling I was called somewhere else. I remember saying, no God I’m good, I’m comfortable. Then he changed that. I no longer was comfortable, I no longer was satisfied and I fought against his plan for some time. On Good Friday of 2017 I found myself crying in the church parking lot of Whitney Lane Family Worship Center at 11 at night with my best friend Whitney and my associate pastor’s wife Misty. I had called them up and we sat there in my car, crying and eating Starbursts and just praying for an answer. I was struggling with what God’s plan was. If God wanted me to move, why hadn’t he provided answers or a place? Why was he making me so uncomfortable, why wasn’t he giving me the flashing lights and signs saying, “Here this is my plan.” That night my friend Misty said I should open my own place, and I remember laughing and saying, “No, I don’t want to do that. What is God gonna do, drop a salon in my lap?” By the end of the night I said, “Alright God, you have until Sunday to put me where you want me or I’m staying right where I am, because it’s comfortable and it’s safe!” So the next day I had interviews and drove around, but nothing felt right. I drove up to a location where a small salon had been. I was going to call about it and then convince my husband to make this move. I prayed on it all night. The next morning, which was Easter Sunday, I was in the nursery and my friend Christa texted me, telling me this dream she had had about me the night before. She knew nothing of what I was struggling with God about. Yet she told me that she dreamed I opened my own salon, and all of my clients followed me, which was great, except the building was falling apart. So, after getting that text I felt God had just slammed that door shut. I was so angry. I thought, “Why are you shutting these doors? You’re calling me to make this move and You’re not providing!” I acted like a brat that day. I wouldn’t even worship during church. I even told my friend that our music director had better not sing any of my favorite songs because “I’m not singing, I’m mad!” The day went on and the hours went by, and I pretty much ruined Easter because I was in a horrible mood and just tired of over thinking. Then at 9 p.m. that night the same friend who had had the dream texted me and said, “Hey, my mother-in-law, Leah, has a building that is set up like a barber shop if you want it!” I said, “Well, it’s too good to be true and I’m sure I can’t afford it, but for giggles what’s the rent?” I told her I had a number in my head and if it’s close I’ll take it. She called back not much later and it was $50 more than my number, and I hit my knees and cried.
I decided to just trust God to provide the $50 extra, and He provided so much more. May 1st of 2017 I opened the first Southern Roots Hair Salon. Colossians 2:7 was the verse that was where I started! Fast forward to now, my husband and I just purchased a building on the court square. How I got here I don’t even remember. I was sitting in the parking lot dropping my daughter off at guitar lessons. While waiting on her, this building caught my eye and I thought, “Hmm, I wanna look at this!” I called the real estate agent, Greg Angel, and asked to look at the building. I immediately loved it and all sorts of plans came to mind. I was thinking, “Ok, God, what is your plan. I know You have the wheel, but we are off roading right now! I’m on solid ground, I’m COMFORTABLE!” So now here we are, uncomfortable as can be but confident that God has a plan. He is going to provide. He made a way. He called me out the first time, and provided me a safe haven for the ministry he assigned me to. And He did it again! *
“Rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Colossians 2:7
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Financial Focus:
Try to Avoi d
“Titanic” Investment Mistakes It’s been 107 years this month since the tragedy of the Titanic. Of course, this disaster has
fascinated the world ever since, leading to books, movies, musicals and, ultimately, a successful search for the big ship’s remains. On the positive side, commercial shipping lines learned a great deal from the Titanic, resulting in safer travel across the oceans. And as an investor, you, too, may be able to draw some important lessons from what happened on that cold April night more than a century ago. So, to avoid some “titanic” investment mistakes, consider the following: Create a financial strategy with a solid foundation. Although considered a technological marvel, the Titanic had some real structural, foundational flaws – such as compartments that weren’t fully watertight. To withstand the inevitable rough seas ahead, your investment strategy needs a strong foundation, based on your needs, goals, family situation, risk tolerance and time horizon. Be receptive to advice. The Titanic’s crew had received plenty of Marconi wireless warnings from other ships about ice in the area. Yet they did not take precautions, such as slowing down. When you invest, you can benefit from advice from a financial professional – someone who can caution you when you’re making dangerous moves, such as pursuing inappropriate investments, which could ultimately damage your prospects for success. Be prepared for anything. The Titanic had far fewer lifeboats than it needed, resulting in a tragic loss of life that could have been prevented. As an investor, you need to be prepared for events that could jeopardize your financial well-being, and that of your family. So, at a minimum, you need to maintain adequate life and disability insurance. And it’s also a good idea to build an emergency fund containing six to 12 months’ worth of living expenses, with the money kept in a liquid, low-risk account. Don’t overreact to perceived threats. When the iceberg loomed directly ahead, the Titanic’s crew frantically tried to steer clear of it. While this move was understandable, it inadvertently hastened the ship’s demise, because it exposed a more vulnerable part of the hull to the huge ice mass. When
48 Your Hometown Magazine
you invest, you might also be tempted to overreact when facing perceived dangers – for example, if the financial markets plunge, you might think about selling your stocks. This is often a bad idea, especially if you’re taking a big loss on your sales. If your investments are still fundamentally solid, you might well be better off by staying patient and waiting for the markets to recover. Give yourself time to reach your goals. Edward J. Smith, the Titanic’s captain, apparently wanted to break speed records on the Atlantic crossing – and this desire may have contributed to his somewhat reckless passage through fields of ice. As an investor, you could also run into problems if you rush toward a goal. To illustrate: If you wanted to retire at 65 with a certain amount of money, but you didn’t start saving and investing until you reached 55, you’d likely have to put a lot more away each year, and possibly invest a lot more aggressively, than if you had started investing when you were 30. Put to work some of the Titanic’s lessons – they might help you improve your chances of smooth sailing toward all your important financial goals. * This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
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50 Your Hometown Magazine
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52 Your Hometown Magazine
photo by George Dillin Photography
Community
Independence
Friendly
e v i t a r e p o o C s e Servic y m o n o c E l a c Risks Lo Retail
Brick & Mortar
Customer Service
Me
Privately Owned
l l a m S Jobs Shop Business als o G p o P & m o M d hborhoo rchants Neig g n i t e k r a M t r Local Suppo Partnership
By Dorjeanne Bechhoefer
Do Well By Doing Good best friend. They met by sitting near each other in a college class. is a paradox, full of Amanda glows when she remembers how he was funny, so easy to juxtaposed characteristics. She is high energy, a doer talk to and the time with him just seemed to fly by. They have been that is often compared to an energizer bunny, but she is also married 15 years and have a little girl. Amanda travels a lot for mindful. She notices people and takes the time to connect work and balances that by making mindful choices about her time with them on a deeper level. She doesn’t like mornings, but at home. Spending quality time with her family vacationing or gets up early every day to go for a run. She is a type A hard visiting local haunts keeps her family close. When asked how she worker who applied for and got a makes it work, she says, “When we job at the Minneapolis Sun Times in think about marriages it comes down high school after being told she had to just partnership in life, finding a talent for writing, but when asked “ One of the first things my parents instilled someone you want to do life with and about her childhood says, “One of in me was the importance of treating people enjoy spending time with, see(ing) the first things my parents instilled with kindness. For as long as I can remember, the world in (a) similar enough way in me was the importance of treating I’ve held a belief that our purpose in this world that you are trying to achieve the people with kindness. For as long as is to make other people’s lives better, same goals. I feel very, very blessed I can remember, I’ve held a belief to be married to Michael.” Amanda even in seemingly small ways.” that our purpose in this world is to is the ying and the yang. She is just make other people’s lives better, like you, an average girl, grown ~ Amanda Brinkman even in seemingly small ways.” into an average woman living the She graduated from Winona State American dream. But Amanda had a University in just 3 years while working 20 hours a week, and dream of her own and there was nothing average about her dream. while Amanda doesn’t shy from her achievements in college, they In 2005, while working for a big advertising agency, Amanda aren’t what makes her heart sing. If you want to see her face light and her team were handed 20 million dollars for a marketing up and her eyes sparkle, ask her about Michael, her husband and campaign. It was their job to decide how to best spend those dollars
A
manda
Brinkman
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“We picked six that we really truly feel represent the entrepreneurial spirit here in Searcy and really will help inspire other small businesses across the country.” ~ Amanda Brinkman and promote the client. It was during this period that Amanda had an epiphany. If companies would take just 1% of their advertising budget and truly sow into the lives of their customers, they could make a huge impact on people’s lives and also build positive brand recognition. Amanda was raised in a family that believed in volunteering and giving back to the community they lived in. To her, it was instinctual.What would happen if we took a different path to succeeding in business. We are a results driven culture, but what if we could improve other people’s lives while adding to the bottom line? “As brands, we are standing behind huge megaphones and people are listening to everything we say, so we need to behave in a way that we are making the world better with everything that we do,” believes Brinkman. Amanda believed companies could do well by doing good, and began to move her clients in that direction. Her first opportunity came from a health care company. We all know about the astronomical cost of health care and the insurmountable problem it causes families. Rather than focusing on the symptom - high costs, Amanda approached the problem - lack of health. She initiated programs to help consumers regain their health through healthy weight loss solutions, smoking cessation programs and programs designed to help people be more conscientious of getting physical movement into their life. Many of you are familiar with these types of programs and have them in your work place, but, at the time, 54 Your Hometown Magazine
the concept of sowing into someone before they were sick was unheard of. This was just one of the companies Brinkman worked her magic for before coming to Deluxe. Deluxe was a 100 year old company that was in the process of rebranding and moving into a different market. Most people hadn’t heard of Deluxe and if they had, it was a company that printed checks for consumers. Deluxe was so much more than that. Deluxe was a company with a dream. They wanted to help small businesses market themselves in a way that was both effective and economical. They didn’t want to be just another company out there offering small businesses mass amounts of pens with their name and address on them, but yielding no true results. They had a dream, but needed someone with the vision to make that dream a reality. Amanda Brinkman also had a dream. And when the two dreams met, there was magic. Amanda spent her first year going around and meeting her customers. She was a boots on the ground girl, visiting over 100 businesses and listening to what made each shop unique, each dinner individual and each person’s storefront their passion. It was from these stories that the Deluxe, The Small Business Revolution (SBR) was born.
“Big cities tend to get all of the press, most of the glory and a disproportionate amount of the money in this country. Too often we forget about the 120 million Americans building their homes, their businesses and their lives in small towns far from the lime light. I think a lot of Americans go through their day feeling like we have lost something; a sense of community, a pace and a size of life that feels manageable and kind. An idea that we as human beings are basically here to take care of each other. But the more you get out in this country, the more you realize none of those things have disappeared. They have just been happening while we weren’t looking. But something else happened while we weren’t looking. Our economy changed fundamentally, and no one was hit harder than small towns and small businesses.” - Season 1 Episode 1 Small Business Revolution Main Street Amanda wanted to see if Deluxe could bring a spot light to those businesses, that way of life, and pour back into the small towns that made America great in the first place. The idea was to pick one small town and then highlight six small businesses within that town, providing them with $500,000 to share for equipment, product, branding and refreshing their operation. The search was on for the first town, and after receiving over 10,000 applications, Season 1 featured the revitalization of Wabash, Indiana with amazing, lasting results. Season 2 featured Bristol Borough, Pennsylvania and had similar success. Ty Pennington joined her in the 3rd season where they transformed Alton, Illinois.
Ty started out as a carpenter on the popular TV show Trading Spaces after searching for a place to use his visual and kinetic talents. He feels that all creativity needs an outlet, but that can sometimes be hard to find. In his youth, Ty and his brother bought a warehouse which contained 20 water damaged piano. Everyone else thought they were junk, but Ty turned them into tables, chairs, and candleholders. Ty discovered how God could use his gifts and turn them into something. He wanted that something to help people. Ty continued to hone his skills as he went on to work on a number of makeover shows including Extreme Make Over: Home Edition and American Diner Revival, before going SBR. Ty focused his life on the second great commandment, “Love one another,” and felt SBR was a perfect fit for his passion, stating, “That I could have an impact on so many people’s lives, just by being creative, was amazing.” With his first season on SBR under his belt, Ty was excited to see where he could make an impact next. Deluxe began the search for a small town to feature in Season 4 of SBR in September of 2018. They received over 12,000 applications from small towns all over America. Searcy, Arkansas was one of those town. In the fall of 2018, Think Idea Studios owner, Mat Faulkner, with help from Amy Burton of Searcy’s Main Street project, submitted the application to SBR, not expecting much, but still grasping at a dream. Getting into the top 20 was exciting, and making it into the top 10 seemed surreal. The people of Searcy welcomed Amanda, Ty and the producers of SBR and hoped that they would see what the residents of this little town see every day. Searcy is an amazing town that does its best to follow the two greatest commandments, Love God and Love one another. Amanda and the SBR crew believed in Searcy’s vision, thanks in part to a video created and
“Over and over Amanda and Ty have stressed how impressed they have been by the spirit of unity in Searcy. The heart of this magazine and of many other businesses in town mirrors Amanda’s, help one another toward success.”
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submitted by OakenElk Media, and put Searcy in the top six towns competing for 1st place. It was then up to the nation to vote, and Searcy blanketed television, radio and social media with pleas to vote, vote, vote! With much fanfare Searcy was announced as the winner of the 2019 SBR on February 26th. The excitement in the air was palpable and local businesses began the process of applying to be one of the six chosen to share the $500,000 prize. Through careful review 30 were chosen. hose 30 were narrowed to 12. Those 12 received personal visits from Amanda and Ty and interviews with professionals to see how SBR could help
56 Your Hometown Magazine
them. From the 12, 6 were chosen. Amanda and Ty announced those winners at Beats and Eats in downtown Searcy on March 22nd. “We picked six that we really truly feel represent the entrepreneurial spirit here in Searcy and really will help inspire other small businesses across the country,” said Brinkman. Over and over Amanda and Ty have stressed how impressed they have been by the spirit of unity in Searcy. The heart of this magazine and of many other businesses in town mirrors Amanda’s: help one another toward success. As one Searcian flourishes, so do we all. The six businesses chosen by SBR are Zion Climbing Center, Nooma Life Studios, Savor + Sip,
“Searcy is an amazing town...” Whilma’s Filipino Restaurant, El Mercado Cavadas, and ARganic Woodwork. These six will share the prize awarded by SBR. There have been so many helpers on so many levels that Searcy Living Magazine couldn’t begin to list everyone, but with your help we can recognize the people that made this possible. Go to our Facebook page and give a shout out to the folks you know were a part of putting together the applications, planning and events that made this all happen. We challenge you to continue the good work that has been started here. Honor the spirit that has brought us together. So many moving pieces had to line up for Searcy, Arkansas, population 23,000, to receive this blessing. Searcy’s revolution is about a people loving God and loving each other. “All things work together for those who love God and are called to his purposes.” In the weeks and months to come, let us continue the movement of doing well by doing good and stand amazed at the gracious blessings to come. *
Kyle Osborne
Thank you to everyone who helped with the Small Business Revolution!
shop local
Y
es, we do! As a rule, the City of Searcy purchases items locally. There are instances where an item is not sold locally and we are forced to make that purchase outside the city. We do everything we can to purchase from a local vendor and in most cases we are successful. “Our businesses are the heartbeat of this community and we must all support them.” stated Mayor Kyle Osborne.
What a beautiful painting by Artist Angela Turney #MySearcy
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Mat Faulkner
H
ulu’s Small Business Revolution (SBR) has taken Searcy by storm. There have been lights, cameras, celebrities and more press than this little town has seen, maybe ever. But how did it all start? How did Searcy even get on the SBR radar? We set out to find those answers. Mat had never heard of SBR before the summer of 2018 when one of their ads came across his Facebook page. He liked their page and explored some of their videos, watching old episodes periodically. As summer turned to fall, Mat ran across an announcement requesting small towns submit an application to be featured on the 4th season of SBR. The application was in-depth, but with some help from Amy Burton of Main Street Searcy, Mat filled it out and submitted it. He didn’t give it much thought after that until a couple of weeks later a producer called him wanting more details. Mat told them how special Searcy was, but nothing definitive came from the conversation. At this point there was a hope that there could be a hope. Nothing to write home about. Just before Thanksgiving Mat received an email saying Searcy had made the top 20. Not really grasping the weight of this email and not wanting to disturb people’s holiday, Mat didn’t make a big fuss. After the holiday, he received a second email confirming that he had received the first and conveying that out of the over 12,000 applications submitted, Searcy was on the top 20 list. Mat quickly got together with Amy Burton and others in the community to get the ball rolling. SBR required Searcy to submit a package about the community. They encouraged community leaders to take pictures, notify local small businesses and request that they submit applications and gather other letters of support from across the state demonstrating that there would be statewide support should we progress. Signs and posters began to appear across town. Volunteers pounded the pavement distributing fliers and information about the contest and asking small businesses to promote it on their social media platforms. A fury of activity generating public support culminated in the December 11th announcement that found Searcy in the top 10. “This was a game changer,” said Mat. The producers visited Searcy and really got to know the town. They met with business
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owners and the many volunteers on board to propel Searcy forward. Unbeknownst to the people of Searcy, the town had already been training to host the events that would be vital for the win. The Main Street Program had been working to revitalize downtown Searcy and draw people back to the city center with programs such as Get Down Downtown and The Farmer’s Market. The Beats and Eats Events, a community outreach designed to promote unity and growth in our community by providing a place for artisans, musicians, and entrepreneurs to share their craft while facilitating an environment that encourages conversation in a family-friendly way, perfected the art of hosting a large gathering through its monthly events. During the two day site visit, the SBR crew really clicked with Searcy and saw the vision so many had been striving to achieve. Searcy leaders continued to promote SBR while the community collectively held its breath and waited to find out if they had made the top 5. On February 12th, in a packed house at the Rialto Theater, Searcy was surprised that there was a top 6 instead of 5, and they were one of them. The theater erupted in cheers. But the work had just begun. The winner would be chosen by a nationwide vote. “We had a really good base with Harding Alumni. We had a website set up through Think, a text reminder program, media relations through Kristi Thurmon, Liz Howell alumni connections,” Mat remembers about the week before the national vote. “There was a hub of resources in an organized way. Going into voting, we came out strong. We were ahead for first 3 updates, but had fallen to 2nd by the last. It was perfect timing to light a fire and really push for a strong finish. It was great to feel the love and passion people had for our community.” The resources needed to get from an application to the top 6 where enumerable. While there was no way to mention everyone, Mat wanted to give a special thanks to Officer Tommy Norman, a longtime patrolman/officer who has worked in the North Little Rock Police Department since 1998. Norman has received national attention for his community policing methods, a real hero. Norman spent real time asking people to support Searcy, giving 2 hours of his personal time on Facebook live and 2 more on Instagram live, supporting us. All of Arkansas rallied behind the effort. Locally, Conley Graphics did all of the signs and banners for less than cost. The entire effort was community donation driven. The Small Business Counsel of Searcy made a large donation. First Security Bank and Harding University gave $500 each toward video production. Businesses donated goods, services and provided discounts whenever possible. There were hundreds of hours of manpower donated. People took time off of work to prepare food, blow up balloons, distribute stickers and so much more. There are roughly $20-$30,000 worth of trackable donations with so much more that is not trackable. February 26, 2019 it was announced that the effort, man hours and heart poured into this endeavor paid off in a big way as Searcy was named the winner of the 4th season of SBR. This opportunity is amazing and will provide Searcy with millions of dollars of free publicity and promotion. God ordained the steps and provided opportunities to grow and learn and serve. From a chance ad seen on Facebook, through an application submitted with hope and the dedication of an entire community, His guiding hands were there. Searcy has been placed on a different path and the journey has just begun. *
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Being Mindful A Conversation With
Amy Burton
L
ots of folks have heard Amy Burton’s name in connection to events in downtown Searcy, but do not know much about her. Amy grew up in Searcy and left to attend college at Arkansas State University, earning both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. There she met her husband, Brett, and upon graduation they both landed jobs and started their careers. Time went on, as it does, and they had a daughter, Kinley. Around Kinley’s first birthday, Amy began to long for home. She wanted to raise her daughter with the same values and sense of community she had experienced. She got the chance, when, in 2005, she started a Searcy chapter of The Main Street America program under former mayor Belinda LaForce. The Main Street America program is a program of the National Main Street Center focused on revitalizing older and historic commercial districts to build vibrant neighborhoods and thriving economies. Over the last 14 years Amy has seen a net gain in downtown business growth and has increased foot traffic and raised awareness through programs such as the farmer’s market, trick or treating on the square and Get Down Downtown. Locally owned businesses are the lifeblood to a small town. Burton agrees that there is a place for online and big box stores, but when you shop local first you are supporting part of the circle of life in our community. There is personal service you get from your small town business owners that you don’t get other places. Restaurants know your name and order, boutiques get to know your style and budget. Our younger generation is losing the connection with the community, but it’s so easy to build! Amy takes both of her daughters, Kinley, who is now 15, and Emma, 5, to The Farmer’s Market on the square on Saturday mornings. “It helps them know where the food is coming from and who grew it. They can get breakfast and walk the dog while getting to know other people in the community. People get to know you and you get to know people.” says Burton. This is the heart of what the Main Street program is all about. The entire 60 Your Hometown Magazine
program is donation based with a completely volunteer board. The day to day operating budget comes solely from donations, with grants going toward downtown improvements. Amy says they are always looking for volunteers and welcomes anyone to call (501) 279-9007 to see how they can get involved. There is always a lot to do and that load has increased since Mat Faulkner applied for Hulu’s Small Business Revolution in the fall of 2018. “At first,” when Mat Faulkner called her to help him answer some questions, “I just thought it was for a grant or something. I didn’t give it a lot of thought,” said Amy. “I found out we had made it into the top 20 when a friend of mine, the director of the Chamber of Commerce in Hope, Arkansas, called to congratulate us. I got off the phone with her and immediately called Mat. We began to rally the troops. We pulled in a social media person, someone with promotions, event planning, etc. There is no way to acknowledge everyone. I don’t know that the community at large can ever understand what a massive undertaking this was. 16 hour days for the last 5 months for at least 20 people. So many people have worked so hard for this to happen for the community.” And happen it has! Julie Gordon with the Deluxe Team said, “Do you think Searcy knows what they have gotten?” This is a life changing thing, not just for the 6 who will divide the prize money, but for the entire community. The spirit of excitement is contagious. Deluxe says Searcy has crowds like they haven’t seen in previous seasons. Over 385 small business owners turned out for the seminars hosted by Deluxe, dwarfing the last record holder in Texas who had 120 enroll. “Everyone needs to go online and watch the previous season, especially if you are a business owner. There is so much knowledge to glean,” encourages Burton. “Lots of people say shop local, but don’t always have their dollars follow their rhetoric. Not on purpose, but because they aren’t mindful of the things they can buy locally. This show will highlight what is special about Searcy and help folks be mindful about where they shop.” Six businesses have been chosen, 3 downtown and 3 outside of downtown. Some are just hanging on and some are looking to grow and take it to the next level. This is so much more than anyone ever expected, and the community spirit is incredible. If there was a call to action it would be shop local, eat local, and get involved. If you run a service, help other small businesses. If you are a business, buy your supplies from local companies. Mayor Kyle Osborne has recently directed all department heads to buy from local vendors whenever possible. “It’s time to look out for each other,” Burton encourages. “To truly keep this going it’s going to take the whole community.... people don’t not shop local because they don’t like a local business or they think they can’t get it (a product). They just don’t think about
it. They aren’t mindful that although they may have to get in their vehicle and drive somewhere to get something, the money they spend will stay in their community. It’s not just the business owner, it’s the employees. Those employees buy health insurance, get car repairs, and buy clothes for their kids and can do so because of those jobs.” It’s the great circle of life and through SBR we have a new focus on that circle and a boost we never expected. *
Logan “The spirit of excitement is
contagious.”
L
ogan is a smiling face that so many recognize. She is on the Beats and Eats committee and is involved in so many good things in Searcy. She loves to see a family friendly culture and she loves to see people from different businesses networking together and with the community. During the revolution you would see Logan do a million different things to help. She did everything from attending planning meetings to passing out stickers. Thank you, Logan! Logan works for ARCare.
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Liz Howell
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he Small Business Revolution gave us the spark we needed to go to the next level. The teamwork and the unity of working together for the greater good are my favorite memories. The exciting, electric atmosphere in the Benson Auditorium when we won will be a night I will always remember. We could not have won without everyone working together from all over the world, and we are grateful for everyone who voted and believed that we could win. Our civic pride and bragging rights are off the chart. Winning the Revolution impacts our town for generations. I am beyond grateful for Mat Faulkner’s vision and Amy Burton’s leadership for Main Street Searcy. Mat, Amy, Kristi Thurmon, Heather Kemper, Marka Bennett, Casey McLeod, Kelly Van Hook, Logan Russell, Will and Amber Walker, Anna Brumfield, Cassandra Feltrop, Buck Layne, Tara Cathy, Jennifer Skinner and many others worked very hard on making this happen. Searcy is a special place. If I could live anywhere in the world, I would choose to live in Searcy! Liz Howell, Vice President for Alumni and Parent Relations, Harding University
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Casey McLeod
S
mall Business Revolution has been so exciting! It is just another big push in the positive momentum for growth in Searcy. I have lived in Searcy since 1994 and owned a small business since 2003. Never in that time have I seen or experienced such unity within our community. It is a wonderful time to be a Searcy citizen!
Heather Kemper
H
eather Kemper is very familiar with volunteer activities. For the Business Revolution she literally went door to door to businesses and helped them get signed up for the Revolution. When she went into one of the businesses, they only spoke Spanish. Not speaking Spanish herself, Heather sent someone she knew who did into that business to explain the process and that business actually ended up being in the top six. So Heather knows that sometimes going that extra mile makes a difference. Heather is from Atlanta and has always been connected to community. But she made the observation that in a large city you may be connected to different groups but in a place like Searcy you are connected to the whole community which she finds very refreshing. Heather works for Harding University and she enjoys working in an environment that is connected to community and Heather mentions how fulfilling it is be a part of helping connect people. She wants Searcy to stay a great place to raise children and enjoy family activities. She understands that business owners pour their hearts into their businesses and she wants to support that effort knowing how that is imperative to having a good community. Heather is married to Lance and they have two children. Â
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Find yourself on
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A Celebration of Life: By Mark Sullivan
T
his year will be Sullivan Funeral Care’s fifth year in business, but owner, Mark Sullivan, says this has been 20 years in the making. “At the age of 13, following the death of my father, I knew that funeral service would be a career I would want to pursue,” he said. From that point on, he began researching and studying the funeral business and education requirements. He went on to complete his studies at ASUMountain Home, and received his Embalmer’s and Funeral Director’s licenses in 2010. Prior to entering funeral service, Sullivan worked as a salesman for a hardware store and lumber yard. This would prove to be valuable experience, in addition to the experience he gained from his father who was a carpenter, when presented with the opportunity to open his funeral home. Sullivan purchased the building at 111 W. Wilbur Mills in Kensett in 2014, which was previously a medical clinic. “The first renovations took place immediately, as well as a second renovation in 2016,” he said. “All the while, I had ideas and dreams of expanding the facility.” It wasn’t until 2018 that Sullivan felt the time was right to put the plans into motion, which involved a 4,000 square foot addition and a third renovation to the existing building. “I contacted a friend and local contractor, Danny Hayes,” Sullivan said, “who could help take the plans I already had sketched and create the building I had in mind.” The plans included a 4,000 square foot expansion: a 160 seat memorial chapel; an inviting and beautiful foyer with a vaulted ceiling, chandelier and fireplace; two new restrooms; a new stateof-the-art embalming suite; an in-house crematorium; as well as a portico offering covered parking for families. “Times have changed,” Sullivan said. “The needs and requests of our customers have changed as well. Gone are the days of sad, drab funerals, for the most part. More often, we hear, ‘We want a Celebration of Life’ or a ‘Party,’” he said. Sullivan said part of the change, as well, is less and less ground burials. More are choosing cremation as the preferred method of final disposition. “I have always tried to pay attention to what customers input is, and with this project, I’ve tried to include as many of those requests 66 Your Hometown Magazine
that I could,” he said. “This is why we installed the first crematory in White County, as well as installing the only refrigeration unit in the Searcy area. I feel that as more people look into choosing cremation as what they want for disposition, they will feel at ease knowing that we oversee the whole process from beginning to end.” According to Sullivan this also speeds up how quickly they can return ashes to families. “In the past, it could be a week or 10 days, but now, as long as we can get all the necessary paperwork completed in a timely manner, we can offer as little as a 48 hour return of ashes, if needed,” he said. Another service Sullivan is going to offer is receptions. “Going along with folks wanting a ‘Celebration’ or ‘Party,’ we are going to use our previous small chapel as a multi-purpose room, and we will have it furnished with tables and chairs for people who want to have dinners or receptions here,” he said. “We will also have a full kitchen area for warming or refrigerating foods.” The ability to live stream funeral services will also be available. “It wasn’t long ago that we had a service where a grandson was overseas in the military, and the family live streamed on Facebook so he could be part of his grandfather’s funeral,” he said. “It was then I made a mental note that this was something I needed to include in the future project. Sullivan reassures that the service is optional. “We know that not everyone wants their funeral televised, but for those who would like us to stream the service, we can,” he said. “The service could also be recorded for private viewing, if this is something they would prefer as well.” Sullivan said the Memorial Chapel is “probably what I’m most proud of.”
“
has always been my calling. I feel I’m just doing my part to help provide assistance that many cannot, and (that), I feel, is an honor and privilege.” —Mark Sullivan, owner Funeral Director & Embalmer
“Working with Danny Hayes, who has decades of experience in building custom homes and several commercial buildings, we finished this chapel with beautiful custom trim work,” Sullivan said. “We have two-step crown molding around the ceilings, as well as columns lining the walls, offering a touch of class and elegance. Over the doors, you’ll notice custom woodwork and classic door headers, finishes typically seen in custom homes. On the front walls, we have two 60 inch televisions for us to display the memorial slide shows we make for our families. Our sound system incorporates the most advanced technology, totally customized by Divine Sound and Terry Williams of Bald Knob. We outfitted the front of the chapel with a panel of instrument and mic inputs and a monitor output. This is for those who wish to bring their own instruments, and we can plug them right into our system. We also have our own keyboard and private sound room for those who prefer to sing and play privately. The sound is broadcast throughout six ceiling speakers in the chapel, two in the foyer, as well as two outside under the portico.” The other additions to the facility include two new restrooms, the garage and crematory area as well as a new embalming suite. “As an embalmer, I wanted to upgrade this part of the facility with the best equipment we could afford,” he said. The room, lined with storage cabinets and a fresh light blue paint on the walls, has new tables for preparation, as well as a new ceiling lift capable of lifting 1,000 pounds. Sullivan said funeral directors for years manually lifted folks into their caskets, then they came out with roll around lifts, which are great, but can be difficult to maneuver. “This ceiling lift just makes our work even easier, and makes transferring larger folks like myself safer,” Sullivan joked. The facility and upgrades are now complete, and Sullivan said that he plans to have an open house in the spring, “...after the weather warms up a little.” Until then, the facility is open to anyone who would like a tour, he added. Sullivan, along with his staff, can be reached by phone at (501) 742-3621 or visit www.SullivanFuneralCare.com. *
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By Cecelia Wilson
P
aul Howey calls Searcy home, but he only gets to step foot
in White County during baseball’s off-season. From February through September, Paul is in Florida or Georgia or traveling the country with the Atlanta Braves’ AAA minor league team, the Gwinnett Stripers, as their Strength and Conditioning Coach. It is, quite simply, his dream job. Maybe Paul has always dreamed of diamonds — baseball diamonds, that is. He grew up playing baseball in Warrensburg, Missouri, just outside Kansas City, where he began attending Central Missouri State University. After two years, he transferred to Butler County Community College, and a year later Paul found his way to Abilene Christian University. Throughout his college journey, he played baseball on each of his alma mater’s teams. But even after earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science at Abilene Christian, he wasn’t through with the game of baseball. “I coached for a year on the baseball team,” he shares, “and then I coached for a year at McMurry University.” After years of playing ball, studying, and coaching, the young graduate was ready for a rest. He and his girlfriend Liz had just gotten married and they felt a need to do some sort of ministry, to make a difference in people’s lives. In the summer of 2006, the Howeys moved to Searcy where they began working at Capstone Treatment Center in Judsonia. According to Capstone’s website, Capstone is “one of the top-rated residential treatment centers and behavioralcare programs in the United States.” It filled their need to do a ministry to their fellow man nicely, and the Howeys worked there for 3½ years as they fell in love with Arkansas. “Searcy had really grown on us,” Paul remembers. “We had made a lot of really great friendships and we decided [in 2009] to buy a house.” Paul began working at CrossPointe Prep as a P.E. coach and then taught classes at Searcy Crossfit while Liz continued working at Capstone as a supervisor to new therapists and started a private practice counseling service. The couple traveled and enjoyed their down time, but it wasn’t long before a familiar call beckoned. Paul decided to approach baseball from another angle. Having always enjoyed strength and conditioning, Paul studied for and received the certifications he needed and then began his Master’s in Kinesiology and Exercise Science at California University of Pennsylvania. It was a diploma that would open doors into baseball on a grand scale. By Spring 2014, Paul was looking for an opening into professional baseball with his strength and conditioning background. He called a friend he’d known 68 Your Hometown Magazine
since childhood who was a strength and conditioning coach with the Washington Nationals and came straight to the point, “Landon, I’m looking for an internship to get my foot back in the door with baseball. Do you have anything?” Without hesitation, his good friend responded, “Why don’t you come down and do some shadowing and a short internship?” It was a golden opportunity. As the brief internship came to an end, Paul began sending out resumes. The Seattle Mariners offered him a job, and the move to Clinton, Iowa resulted in a three-year stint with the Mariners organization as a strength and conditioning coach. When his wife Liz was accepted into medical school in Phoenix, Arizona, Paul jumped at the chance to build on his strength resume when they made the move during the off-season.
“My goal has been to build relationships with people and try to help guys meet their goals.” “There was a massage therapy school I had heard about that worked with baseball strength and conditioning coaches and athletic trainers where I could get a massage therapy license. It was in Phoenix, and it was a fantastic school, so I reached out to the school and they were very accommodating during the 2017-18 off-season,” Paul said. Mike Schofield had just taken the Strength and Conditioning Coordinator position with the Atlanta Braves that January. He reached out to Paul and offered him the position as the AA strength coach in the Atlanta Braves organization. With the support of his Mariners’ boss, Paul decided to make the transition. The job was a step up in levels and gave him the opportunity to work in major league camp during Spring Training. The move paid off and he was named the “2018 Southern League Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year.”
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“You just never know where the Lord is going to lead and what doors are going to open up.”
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“I was voted that honor by my peers,” he says humbly. “I won that for our league, and we had a really good year. We have a very talented system and I got to work with a lot of players that ended up making their major league debuts last year. And this year, I was really fortunate to get promoted to AAA.” Paul is the first to admit it is a dream job with some nice time off between mid-September and the first of February. But, when the season starts, the pace is more than hectic. Paul reported to Orlando at the beginning of February to work in the major league camp alongside the major league strength and conditioning staff, with the major league players, and the 40-man roster. He traveled with the big league team during Spring Training and moved to Gwinnett County, Georgia (near Atlanta) to be with his AAA team, the Gwinnett Stripers, around the end of March. Once the AAA season starts, he’ll be on the road with his team writing players’ strength and conditioning programs, monitoring player nutrition, and doing soft tissue work as a massage therapist. The goal: to make sure the guys are healthy and ready to play every night. It is a grueling schedule. By the middle of September (based on whether the team makes their playoffs), the season ends. Off-season means writing strength and conditioning programs to cover the time between seasons and attending and participating in S&C camps in Atlanta or Orlando before finally having down time. For Paul that meant going back to Searcy for the holidays, duck hunting in Arkansas, and visiting with friends before February rolled around once more. And what of his ambitions to make it to the majors? “When I first got into this, that wasn’t even a goal of mine. I didn’t really think a whole lot about it. There are only 30 of those jobs in the world. They are hard to come by and they don’t just pop open all the time. But I really enjoy just getting to help our players, help them reach their goals, help them get ready to play every day. So, if that opportunity comes up, then I don’t think I would say no to it. But honestly, that has not been my goal. My goal has been to build relationships with people and try to help guys meet their goals,” the Searcy resident admits. “I’ve just been really fortunate to have some opportunities to move up and to be in the upper levels here in the minor leagues and get to work with some really talented athletes.” That off-season is also a good time for reflection and for feeling blessed. “I think it’s funny. You just never know where the Lord is going to lead and what doors are going to open up. When I step back and look at the opportunities that
I’ve had, I’m pretty amazed. It has come with a lot of hard work and I’ve had a lot of favor from people I’ve worked with; I’ve had some really good people that I’ve got to work with that I’ve learned a lot from and continue to learn from. But the Lord has opened up so many doors in this whole journey. It has definitely been a dream job for sure.” Baseball has been called America’s pastime. For Paul Howey, it is his livelihood, but it is also his passion. His team’s frenzied schedule takes him to many different states (sometimes repeatedly) during the season. But when Paul leaves his dream job and the baseball diamond behind for the off-season, he and his busy wife come back to the one state with diamonds brimming in its soil. They come back to Searcy, the city they choose to call “home.” *
“....when Paul leaves his dream job and the baseball diamond behind for the off-season, he and his busy wife come back...to Searcy, the city they choose to call home.”
Paul and Liz
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By Eric McMullen, C.N.C. On most days you can find me at the Natural Food Store deeply engaged in conversation about someone’s health. I try to listen more than speak, which shouldn’t be hard because most people can talk for days about their health issues. But I’m pretty passionate about health, so there are many days where my throat is sore by 5 p.m. and I know I’ve talked more than listened. I absolutely love helping people improve their health and vitality, believe that I am gifted at it, and am confident that it is a big part of my mission here on this earth. I truly love what I do! I had no concept of wellness as a young person trying to figure out what to do with my life. In fact, I grew up having no interest in living a healthy lifestyle. My voyage into the world of health began after losing mine through crippling anxiety and depression. I don’t ever remember being depressed as a kid. As an adult, I have faced it many times. My first and greatest battle came at age 23 when I felt my world crumble around me. I was on my own without any direction for the future, and at the same time my relationship with my fiance at the time started to fall apart. My mind and emotions became a runaway train that I couldn’t slow down. My constant companions became fear and panic. I was not really talking about it to those close to me, out of embarrassment for going crazy, but inwardly I felt that I was at war for my life and was losing badly. I would have daily panic attacks and lose my grip on reality. During that same time I began to believe in a personal God who wanted to listen and also speak to His children. When I started to hear voices in my head, I wondered whether or not it was God’s voice. Most of the messages had to do with warning about my bad decisions and the voices would give me ultimatums of what would happen if I did not follow their leading. They began prompting me to tell people things that I knew were not true. Not knowing if was just me, God or something else, I was hesitant to act on them, but out of confusion and desperation to change my situation I soon began to follow, saying and doing many things I heard. I never did anything illegal or physically violent, but everything I did was deeply destructive to myself or those around me. I thought at one point I’d be institutionalized. I could not sleep and had no appetite. At 6 feet 2 inches tall, I wasted away to 135 pounds. My heart and mind constantly raced. I knew I was dying. When I could not hide my battle from those around me any longer, most of my friends recommended professional counseling. A trusted friend told me about a couple of guys from a church in Cabot that he thought could help. Alan Alford and Tim Baize counsel people using a therapy technique now known as Seed Digging, which helped guide me to the root causes for my depression. I believe everything about my time with them was healing - the processing of my emotions, as well as their wisdom and friendship. 72 Your Hometown Magazine
“Gratitude is truly a bridge between what I can give and receive; gratitude takes your mind and heart into a better place.”
One of the most impactful moments came during a conversation after a counseling session. When mentioning what I thought was God’s role in my calamity, Tim stopped and said, “Eric when you talk about God, I wonder if me and you talk to the same God!” In that instant I knew exactly what he meant, and I felt the weight of his words. The picture I had of God had helped put me in the ditch I found myself lying in. He was a God who would punish my every misstep and used fear and control to direct my life. I couldn’t have articulated this at the time, but I thought my anxiety and depression was God’s punishment! During the next few months I discovered a God who wasn’t disappointed in me and never used control and fear tactics against me. Love and kindness was how He related to me. I believe this was the greatest factor that set me free, but living free everyday since has been a process. I’ve become a student of what is life-giving for me and have helped others achieve the same freedom I have found. I can honestly say that I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. And it’s not just circumstantial. I could describe it more as a harmony I’m developing between my body, soul, and spirit. I may still be at the beginning of this journey, but I feel like I learn more almost every day.
The first critical element I’ve discovered is the power of movement. The more you move, the more everything else inside you moves - oxygenated blood, hormones, bowels, and even emotions. But emotional movement goes even further than getting out and moving your feet. I believe forgiveness to be the greatest exercise a person can do. In getting and staying out of depression, I’ve had to forgive and keep forgiving those who’ve hurt me, myself for all my screw-ups, and at times let go of anger against God for things I’ve held against him. Another important factor is diet and nutrition. For every person our diet is deeply spiritual, whether it is food and drink we consume with our mouths or the emotional, mental, and spiritual diet we take in with our eyes, ears, and heart. Since my battle with depression, I’ve discovered which foods serve me well and which don’t. One of the most crucial keys is maintaining healthy blood sugar balance. If my sugar levels are swinging around, my mood always suffers. For this reason I always try to make my breakfast meal higher fat and protein and save healthy carbs for later in the day. Your first meal sets the tone for every neurotransmitter you produce. A couple of supplements that have been game-changing for me when it comes to my emotional health is a high-quality fish oil, Vitamin D, and probiotics. More than anything else I’ve discovered in overcoming depression, nothing has been as impactful as the daily practice of gratitude. Gratitude is truly a bridge between what I can give and receive; gratitude takes your mind and heart into a better place. As the Psalmist says, “We enter His gates with thanksgiving...” As an almost daily practice, my wife Hannah and I wake up each morning and share what we are thankful for. It’s an especially good practice when things are hard. The more I practice, the more it just flows out of me through the day and changes the way I see my life. *
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It benefits you!
You keep money in your local economy
Small businesses employ over 50 percent of our nation’s workforce
schools supported
Local businesses rent/buy commercial locations keeping buildings from being vacant and unattractive
money in community Celebrate the uniqueness of your community with hometown ownership
Make this community a destination with original businesses
more local taxes pave roads Hometown entrepreneurs are the main donors to multitudes of charitable events/causes (remember where silent auction items and donated services come from)
Produced by
74 Your Hometown Magazine
Hometown Entrepreneurs. At
We love to tell their stories!
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Pearl Perspective the
By Jennifer Webb
h
ow do you want to be known?
Have you found your purpose in life yet, or do you feel rather stuck, like you are just blindly going through the motions? Do you ever stop and ask yourself, “What’s the point?” I have asked myself that same question. I have been at a point in my life where I knew that I had all the things that I should have to be happy. I had (and still have) an amazing husband. I have two of the most precious children any Mom could ask for. I have a little house, and a decent car to drive. We may not have enough money for everything that we want, but we have enough for what we need. So why did I feel like it wasn’t enough? Why did I feel like I wasn’t enough? Sometimes you wake up and find yourself trapped in your everyday life and you ask yourself, “How did I get here?” and “Why am I not happy?” Have you been there, too? I decided that I was tired of it. I wanted to feel like ME again. My purpose was out there, I just had to find it. The problem was I didn’t know where to start. I felt so much like I had lost a piece of myself somewhere. So I started praying. Even if I didn’t know where to start, at least I knew that The Man Upstairs had and still has all the answers. Like many things, the answer was NOT what I expected. We see our lives as a straight line from point A to point B sometimes. But instead of the destination that’s important, often times it’s the journey. That’s how I approached finding my happiness again - as a journey. The first step in finding your happiness is taking responsibility for your life. Only one person can make you happy, and that’s you. Your journey will not look like anyone else’s. Your journey and your challenges are unique to you. You are a pearl. You are precious, valuable and unique. There is no one else like you in the world. You have something to offer the world that no one else has: yourself. My journey started with a blog, called Contentment Questing (contentmentquesting.com) where I started sharing the things I was learning in my journey to personal happiness. I had no idea what I was doing at first, but the second step was being willing to step out on faith and take a risk. Last summer, that journey took a turn and I wrote an outline for a book in my personal journal. That book’s title was called: “The Pearl Perspective: How Changing Your Perspective Can Change Your Life.” To start finding your happiness, you have to shift your perspective.
The only thing you can change is yourself, but sometimes, that changes everything! – Gary W. Goldstein
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Shifting your perspective can be likened to decluttering your house. Some things you keep, like remembering to live in the moment and showing gratitude. Others you have to let go of, like worrying about everything, and comparing yourself to others.
“The Pearl Perspective” tells you how to do all that. It tells you what to keep and what to let go of, along with how to do it and some funny personal examples. I know that our lives get incredibly busy, so I wrote it with that in mind. It’s meant to be a quick-start guide to finding your happiness and showing you how to get the most out of your life - starting today. It launched on New Year’s Day, 2019 on Amazon. To date, over 250 copies have been distributed. It’s available in paperback both on Amazon and locally at The Bible House. I personally autographed the copies at the Bible House, to make them just a little more special. If you like to read digitally, Kindle editions are also available on Amazon. I also donated 5 copies to the White County Library system. I requested that one copy reside here in Searcy, one in Beebe, where I graduated from, and the others distributed as they saw fit. It’s received raving reviews, both from locals and from professionals in the personal development field. You can see the reviews both on Amazon and on my blog. At its highest point on Amazon, during January, it was rated as 46th out of 40,000 in the Christian personal growth category. Honestly, those are just numbers. What matters to me more is making a difference in your life. What I care about is the personal connection as well as helping and inspiring people. I set out trying to find my purpose. I think that I have found it, both through Contentment Questing and “The Pearl Perspective.” My purpose is to inspire and motivate people just like you to achieve their dreams and live a happier life.
So often we think of success as the person that lives in a mansion, drives nice cars, and does whatever they please. I disagree. Success is doing what you feel that you were always meant to do and living a happy life. For me, that means keeping my eyes focused on God and trying to do all the good I can, when I can. It means helping people to realize just how beautiful they are inside and what an incredible treasure that they are, so that in turn, they can help others. I have always said, both when I taught high school, when I started Contentment Questing, and published “The Pearl Perspective” that if my work can help just ONE person, if I can make a difference in the life of just ONE person, then it will be all worthwhile. I want that one person to be you. I have found my purpose. Let me help you find yours to help you live your best, most fulfilled life. God Bless You, and Happy Questing. *
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By Dorjeanne Bechhoefer ost of Searcy has seen the new Whole Hog Cafe that opened at 1608 W. Beebe Capps and lots have been out to visit. I recently got a chance to sit down and chat with the owner, Dan Adams. Dan is fairly new to Searcy. He grew up in and around the Memphis area and he obtained his undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Memphis and then went on to receive his MBA from the Oklahoma City University. Prior to purchasing the Whole Hog Cafe last year, Dan worked at the Department of Human Services in Little Rock for nearly seventeen years. He knew he wanted to make a change. He dreamed of running his own business and after research, he decided The Whole Hog Cafe was the best fit. Dan chose Searcy for multiple reasons. Dan said, “It’s got a small town feel, but most everything is here and if not, it’s coming. Everything is within 10 minutes, close and convenient with a close community.” Second, Searcy is centrally located. Dan still has family and friends in Little Rock, as well as Heber Springs and Memphis. Community is important to Dan Adams. He is active in the local rotary club, is a member of St. James Catholic Church, and a Fourth Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic-based fraternal organization engaged in charity (local and global in scope). Dan has donated dog food to the local animal shelter and smiles as he says, “I’m a huge animal lover!” Dan has 3 rescue dogs of his own that stand at the door to greet him each night. One is from a shelter, the other two were found abandoned. Shortly after opening Whole Hog Cafe, Dan and his employees were adopted by a kitten. It took a while for her to feel safe, but after receiving love and a gentle hand from the staff, Dan was able to get her the vet care she needed, including being spayed, at Cats Only Veterinary Clinic. Smokey, so named because she chooses to live under the smoker, is now the unofficial Whole Hog Café mascot running to greet the workers when they pull up. Dan is involved in a number of charities in Searcy saying, “I think it’s really important not to just take from a community but also give back.” He has given to the Good Samaritan Center, a food pantry; Jacob’s Place Homeless Mission; Imagine and Believe, who help foster and adoptive families; and Daughters of the Other Side, a faith based organization that helps drug addicted and alcoholic women be restored to their families and to the community.. Dan said, “It’s amazing to realize that I have moved into a community just when it’s undergoing a revolution and part of their creed is ‘do well by doing good’. How awesome is that?” It sounds like Dan Adams is a welcome addition to Searcy. If you are looking for a good meal, stop by and get to know him at the Whole Hog Cafe. You will be glad you did. *
M
“I think it's really important not to just take from a community but also give back.”
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Dan Adams, owner of the Whole Hog Cafe franchise in Searcy, presented a monetary contribution recently to the Good Samaritan Center. Accepting the donation were Scott Warrington (center) of First United Methodist, the center’s treasurer, and board member Vicki Stumpenhaus of St. James Catholic Church.
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The
of
The
By Dorjeanne Bechhoefer
B
y now,
most people know that Searcy was selected as the winner of the 4th season of Hulu’s Small Business Revolution-Main Street (SBR) and all of the amazing opportunities this affords our town. What people don’t know is all that went into helping us win. It is impossible to tell all of the stories and recognize all of the contributions, but some of those contributions tipped the scale in Searcy’s favor and we would be remiss to overlook them. When Searcy made the top 10 towns in the running to be featured on SBR, OakenElk, in conjunction with Think Idea Studios, produced a 1 minute, 40 second video that changed the course of our town. If you haven’t seen it, you can watch this video on OakenElk’s Facebook page titled #MYSEARCY. After Searcy was announced as the winner, the producers of the show revealed that this video had been shown to the staff choosing the top 6 and played an integral part in Searcy moving forward. OakenElk also produced and donated over 30 mini-documentaries of locally owned businesses spotlighting the myriad of talents, goods and
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services Searcy has to offer during this period. Countless hours of getting to know business owners, filming and editing went into these spots. Emails poured in from businesses wanting to be featured and OakenElk worked tirelessly to produce as many as they could as quickly as they could. Through this process, many have been wondering, what is OakenElk and where did they come from? OakenElk is small (Jake Reeves and his wife Elizabeth kind of small) Searcy based media company that helps elevate businesses through video, photo and design. Any given day you will find Jake Reeves of OakenElk behind a camera making movies. It is one of his many passions and his talent is unmistakable. He is comfortable behind the scenes, but to really know who and what OakenElk is, you need to know the people behind the camera. Jake Reeves was a regular old local Searcy boy. He played football, worked a job, and hung out with friends. He graduated high school and went to the University of Arkansas, but knew his future was not there. After one semester in Fayetteville he left and moved to Los Angeles. Jake attended Los Angeles Film School
in California and graduated with a degree in Producing in 2005. But while in school he discovered that creativity didn’t end with film, it just began. In the summer of 2007, Jake moved to Nashville to attend MTSU pursuing a degree in design. About the same time Elizabeth also moved to Nashville to attend school, pursuing dreams of her own. Theirs was the storybook, girl next door, boy sees her and is instantly smitten, romance. They met in Nashville and after wooing and winning Elizabeth, the couple pledged their lives and love to each other under 2 old magnolia trees, in June of 2009. It was beautiful and romantic. Life went on, as it does for everyone. The young couple worked, loved and, in 2010, had their first child. Two weeks after the 2 had become 3, the little Reeves family moved home to Searcy for the support, encouragement and opportunities being back home could afford. It didn’t take long for opportunity to knock. In 2011, Jake and Elizabeth were approached about filming a friend’s wedding. Given Jake’s training and talent and Elizabeth’s natural eye for detail, things flowed seamlessly and before they knew it, Betwixt Magnolias (a nod to their own romance) was born. Things didn’t take off all at once, but with hard work, long hours and perseverance the Reeves built a small business that could support their family. Their little production company and their little family continued to grow. As with all businesses, there were growing pains and as the children grew so did demands their on time. When the kids were smaller, Jake and Elizabeth relied on family to keep the children while they were away filming on weekends. This solution worked, but both knew it wasn’t best for their family long term. Nor did it allow them to participate as a foster family; a love that had grown out of helping to edit videos of kids longing for families in connection with Project Zero. Project Zero was just one of the many side projects Jake took on. As with most creative people, Jake was always exploring new things, pursing new projects and expanding his craft.
“Oaken Elk is a shining example of what can happen when two people work hard, chase their dreams and give back to their community.”
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OakenElk was born out of this expansion. Jake began to make commercial videos featuring local companies, beginning with MightyWhite Marine, but quickly expanding to Gatortail, Excel Boats, and Sore Lip ‘Em All, which is located in Searcy. Jake’s style focuses much more on storytelling than traditional commercials. OakenElk believes that “connecting people with not only the product, but the people and heart behind the product is the most effective way to connect to an audience.” This gives many of their commercial videos more of a ‘mini -documentary’ feel. Jake and Elizabeth have also done work for the Fish and Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservatory. You can view a full gallery of their work on vimeo.com/user55075939. Locally, OakenElk began to be recognized after they produced a video for Wild Sweet William’s, a baking house, that was new to Searcy in 2017. Since then, Jake has covered many local businesses, with a style that draws the viewer in and makes them feel like they really know the business owner. He has also teamed up with Hannah Carpenter to produce videos for both Apple apps and Audible. Viewers come away feeling invested in the people and the product. This brings us full circle, back to what OakenElk is currently focused on, the #MySearcy movement. *
Thank you to everyone who helped with the Small Business Revolution! Congratulations to
Duos
Confectionery Homemade Candies & Treats
Inside The Bee’s Knees 511 Alexis Dr. • Searcy (501) 279-2597
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Be The
R evolution By Dorjeanne Bechhoefer
A
couple of weeks back, I rushed to Eugene, Oregon to be there for the birth of my great nephew. My sister passed away years ago and I have done my best to step up for her boys and be there for their big moments. The delivery was rocky, but mom and baby arrived safely, if a bit shaken. Little Max had to spend a little time in the NICU and was smaller than any of us had expected. None of the many clothes, lovingly purchased before his birth, were going to work at all. Although I wasn’t thrilled that he was so small, I was excited to get to do some shopping for him. I am not from Eugene and had never been there before, so I googled preemie clothes and was directed to a myriad of department stores. Armed with directions from my cell phone, I headed out to see what I could find. I was sorely disappointed! I visited every department store, chain big box and trendy franchise you can think of. Over and over I was greeted with disorganized merchandise, empty shelves and no employees. In one big store, that shall remain nameless, I couldn’t find a single employee on the entire second floor! Now, I know most of you are thinking… AMAZON! But for me that wouldn’t work either. The baby was coming home the next day. There was no way that I could get clothes to the hospital before he was released, even with quick shipping. I headed back to the hospital, disheartened and distracted, and promptly got lost. What a miracle! As I searched for my way, I passed a small children’s boutique with merchandise on the side walk. Why hadn’t I thought of this before? If I had been home I would have gone to Hays 2, The Boutique, Sassy Stitch or any of the many other wonderful small businesses locally owned, anxious to provide a good product and wonderful customer service. I turned my car around, no small feat in a strange city, and went back to the small shop. I was greeted by the owner, who promptly took me to their preemie section. I was able to select 4 adorable outfits, sufficient for the time we expected Max to need them. Shopping local for the win!
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Malls and big box stores are on their way out. The news tells us that people aren’t interested in brick and mortar stores any longer, but I don’t believe that. I think consumers are interested in customer service and quality products and we just don’t find that in malls anymore. We do, however, find that in our local “mom and pop” locations. We have so many amazing businesses in Searcy, many of which have been highlighted through video on Facebook recently due the #MySearcy Revolution. I have heard people comment that they never knew we had a climbing center or how excited they were about products or services being offered that they were unaware of before. It is amazing what unique gifts you can find for your child’s birthday or for that special friend right here in Searcy. No Amazon needed. I was beaming with my preemie clothing finds and proud that I was able to support a local woman, so much like myself, rather than feeding into the pockets of a conglomeration. There is so much exciting stuff happening in Searcy right now. Small businesses are delighted to have the opportunity to learn and grow through the Small Business Revolution. We, as consumers, have a chance to be part of that Revolution. Take the time to investigate the treasures available in your own back yard. Now is the time to take the enthusiasm we are feeling about the #MySearcy Revolution and transfer it to our support of local businesses with our dollars as well as our votes. The next time you go to open your Amazon account, stop and take a second to google local stores that may offer that same item. You might be wonderfully surprised at what you will find. Shop local and shop often. *
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We would like to thank all the advertisers and readers that make this magazine possible!
We are hometown owned and hometown proud!
your hometown magazine
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Searcy Rotary Club
A Civic Club On The Move
Rotary Club of Searcy Serving Searcy for 60 Years • Find us on facebook
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What Is The
H ope Believe Foster Care & Adoption Boutique? * The Imagine and Believe 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!
L ocated I n
Imagine a world where every child has a safe loving home. Believe it can happen!
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T h a n k Y ou to a l l
Volunteers & Donors!
“Always will there be, no matter how wonderful life may be in a given moment, an ache of loneliness deep in our soul. This is the God of the universe wooing - calling out to His beloved. This doesn’t take away from, nor diminish, any other beloved we may have in our lives, but only magnifies that love we have for them. It doesn’t mean that they are lacking in their love for us. Take a step back and look at the loneliness from a perspective - not of lack - but of wonder. This is YAHWEH Himself calling out to us.”
- Regina B.
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Thank You Bisons for Christ!
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Volunteers Sydney Cook, and Carson Badger Searcy High School National Honors Society Club
Thanks to all
Volunteers & Donors!
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Buttermilk Cornbread If you’ve lived in the south your whole life you likely have a cornbread recipe you use regularly; if you’re new to this area you might need this to survive. It can be made, of course, in a well seasoned iron skillet, a baking dish, used as corn dog batter, or like the picture shows... CORNBREAD WAFFLES. To advance this recipe from regular cornbread to what is shown in the photo, simply use as waffle batter in your favorite waffle maker, top with freshly cooked pinto beans, shredded cheddar, sour cream, and pickled jalapeños. Other toppings are not only welcome, but encouraged. This is our favorite way to eat them.
Prep
1 C. Organic Stone Ground Corn Meal (Not Corn Meal Mix) 1/2 C. All Purpose Flour 1 1/2 Tsp. Baking Powder 1 Tsp. Salt 1/4 Tsp. Baking Soda 1/8 Tsp. Ground Cayenne Pepper (You Can Add 1/4 C. Or So Of Sugar Or Honey If You Like; I Don’t Normally) 1 1/4 C. Buttermilk 1/4 C. Good Quality Olive Oil
Preheat oven to 450 degrees; pour about 2 Tbsp olive oil or good quality bacon grease in a 10” (or so) cast iron skillet and allow it to become hot (in the oven) while the oven preheats. CAREFUL not to let it get so hot it starts smoking!
Mix
Meanwhile in a mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients in the order listed; stir to mix well. In a separate bowl combine all the wet ingredients and mix well. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix just until most of the lumps are gone and it’s moist throughout.
Bake
Remove skillet from hot oven and pour batter directly on the hot oil. Return skillet to oven and bake at 450° for about 18 minutes. Allow it to rest about 5 minutes before slicing it once it’s baked. Enjoy!
1 Egg
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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. For Eric nothing has been as impactful for depression as the _______ practice of gratitude. 4. Over and over Amanda and Ty have stressed how impressed they have been by the _______ of unity in Searcy. 6. Off-season is a good time for _______.
What do you drop when you need it and take back when you don’t?
down 1. Lindsey believes God provided a _______ _______ for the ministry assigned to her. 3. The first flight to land in Searcy was a medical _______. 4. To start finding your happiness, you have to _______ your perspective. 5. According to Mark, the Memorial Chapel is probably what he is most _______ of.
What is lighter than air, but a hundred people cannot lift?
find the answers
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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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