Hippity - April 2020 by Do South Magazine

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HIPPITY

APRIL 2020 DoSouthMagazine.com

april

Contents 04 10 12

14 18

Publisher’s Letter Pet Adoption Pet Tips: 5 Ways to Keep

{COMMUNITY}

22 26

The Kids in America

Protect Retirement Investments

in Volatile Times

Shop Local

April’s Showers

It’s the Climb

{ T R AV E L }

Your Dog Happy & Healthy Health: Increase Access to Care

{FICTION}

{PEOPLE}

30 34

Retracing Scenic Highway 7

Big Rock Candy Mountain Women of Strength

{SPECIAL FEATURE }

Medical Specialties

{ FA I T H } {ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT}

06 08

Goose Song

Fan Mail & Contest Get Bookish: April

Recommendations

Home Entertainment

OUR COVERS Image:

{TASTE}

42 44

Berry, Berry Good Grapefruit Lime Spritzer

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Ruth Black/ Shutterstock Image: elenabsl/ Shutterstock

Letter from Catherine

APRIL 2020 OWNER - PUBLISHER - EDITOR Catherine Frederick COPY EDITING Charity Chambers

ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL This one is a hard one to write. Trying to find the right combination of words to give some measure of comfort and peace. It seems the harder I try to make the words string together perfectly the more imperfect they become – I think

GRAPHIC DESIGN Artifex 323 – Jessica Meadors ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Amy Adams CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jade Graves, Dwain Hebda, Reese Kennedy, Jim Warnock

it’s because so much is simply unknown. But, I’ll tell you what I do know for certain. Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen our community, our families, perfect strangers, come together in ways I never thought possible – even as we keep our distance. We are managing our daily lives in ways I never would have imagined. The creativity shown by local businesses, churches and individuals to help keep us sustained, fed and entertained brings me immeasurable pride and joy. Do South ® has always encouraged supporting local, but our local businesses and restaurants need us now, more than ever! And, as much as they need our support, our healthcare workers need it too. They need us to take the current situation to heart, to be comfortable being uncomfortable – to be patient, allow yourself to be inconvenienced. Our healthcare system, our family, friends and neighbors, their very lives depend on each of us doing our part. Embrace this time with your children, your family. We are all in this together, all for one, one for all.

Catherine Frederick

Owner/Publisher/Editor

catherine@dosouthmagazine.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alicia Agent, Catherine Frederick, Dwain Hebda, Sarah Phillips-Burger, Sara Putnam, Liesel Schmidt, Jessica Sowards, Jim Warnock ADVERTISING INFORMATION Catherine Frederick I 479.782.1500 catherine@dosouthmagazine.com Amy Adams I 479.926.1234 amy@dosouthmagazine.com

FOLLOW US ©2020 Read Chair Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner. Opinions contained in Do South ® are exclusively those of the writers and do not represent those of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. as a whole or its affiliates. Any correspondence to including photography, becomes the property of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. Do South ® reserves the right to edit content and images. Printed in the U.S.A. | ISSN 2373-1893

Annual subscriptions are $36 (12 months), within the contiguous United States. Subscribe at DoSouthMagazine.com or mail check to 4300 Rogers Avenue, Suite 20-110, Fort Smith, AR, 72903. Single issues are available upon request. Inquiries or address changes, call 479.782.1500.

To reserve this free space for your charitable nonprofit organization, email: catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

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fan mail

FAN MAIL Send comments and suggestions to catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

Great Eye Catherine really takes the time to get to know her advertisers and readers. She has a great eye for detail and is a great writer. ~ Courtney W.

Thank You Thank you for your donation! Because of your donation, students at UAFS, like me, are able to attend the shows. Again, thank you so much! ~ Andrew J.

Beautiful Beautiful magazine with interesting articles. ~ Joseph G.

Love I love this magazine! It is always so beautiful and informative. ~ Mary H.

CONTEST (Deadline is April 15) Go to dosouthmagazine.com, click on “Contest” at the top of the page. All who enter will be subscribed to our mailing list. Please see rules and policies on our Contest page!

DO SOUTH® DELIVERED

Love Do South®? Here is your chance to have it delivered right to your door! Ten lucky readers will win a full, one-year subscription to Do South®! Visit our website at DoSouthMagazine.com to enter! CODE: DOSOUTH

CONGRATS Congrats to our contest winner from March! Arkansas Vein Clinic and Skincare: Crystal Sharpe

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community

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entertainment

Get

BOOKISH April Recommendations and image courtesy Bookish

Five must-read book recommendations from our friends at Bookish, Fort Smith, Arkansas’s only independently owned book store. Call 479.434.2917 or email sara@bookishfs.com for curbside pick-up or delivery!

The Splendid and the Vile

A Long Petal of the Sea

The Sun Down Motel

by Erik Larson

by Isabel Allende

by Simone St. James

Just when you thought you knew everything there was to know about WWII, Larson has to do another deep dive into the complicated relationships between countries and their leaders. Churchill’s role was dramatically changed after the blitz, and it was up to him not only to hold his own country together, but also to persuade FDR to align with Britain. You’ll view Churchill as a fearless leader and admire his ability to lead during one of the darkest times in history.

Allende’s novel is historical fiction and its linear plot about the Dalmau family helps bring the backdrop of regime change in Spain to life. Her story is told across generations and borders as Victor and Roser immigrate to Chile where they make a life for themselves, albeit, not a normal life. The valuable relationships between parents, children, friends, lovers, and even a beloved poet help to make the politics in the background more profound.

This book is set in Uptown New York and goes between 1982 and 2017 and alternates chapters between Viv and Carly, as we follow their parallel journeys to find answers to the mysteries of the Sun Down. Both Viv and Carly deal with supernatural entities trying to help them find answers. While “ghost stories” sometimes feel cheesy and predictable, this story was truly spooky. Part murder mystery and part ghost story, you will want to read this with all the lights on and doors locked!

Normal

Tweet Cute

by Magdalena Newman

by Emma Lord

A heartbreaking story, but one you’ll want to read. Magda’s son Nathaniel is diagnosed with Treacher Collins syndrome, and her entire life is spent working towards normalcy: Will he be able to play on the playground? Eat without a tube? Breathe easily? Nathaniel and Magda sit to tell their story all while she battles a cancer diagnosis of her own. The story of this family’s resilience in the face of so many storms will inspire, but not without tearing your heart out first.

This YA novel by debut author Emma Lord uses Twitter the way it’s supposed to be used. Pepper is the captain of the swim team, overachiever, and total perfectionist. She manages her busy life along with her family business’s Twitter account. Jack is the complete opposite, and when their “spat” becomes viral on Twitter, everything somehow gets more personal.

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pets

ENDLESS Cuddles and Kisses M

Abel M

Farrah F

Doug

T-Rex M

Tootsie

Toby

Almost Home Shelter and Rescue 3390 Pointer Trail East - Van Buren, AR | Tom Hill 479.414.3781 | Almost Home Shelter and Rescue is a 501C-3 Non-Profit all volunteer staffed facility. They work in partnership with Van Buren Animal Control to find loving, forever homes for the dogs in their care. All dogs will be spayed or neutered and up to date on vaccines when adopted. Please consider adopting or fostering one of their sweet pets. Each month, Do SouthÂŽ donates this page to local and regional non-profit animal shelters. If you work with a shelter and would like to reserve this space, please email editors@dosouthmagazine.com.

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pets

4 Ways

Pets Improve Overall Well-Being words courtesy Family Features IMAGES courtesy Adobe Stock and Amy Handegard

From reducing loneliness to keeping people more active, the perks of pet ownership can be felt both physically and emotionally and are nearly impossible to quantify. Plus, adopting a pet can be a feel-good experience, because you’re not only getting a new best friend, you’re helping an animal in need find a loving forever home. Consider some of these ways adopting a pet can improve overall well-being. For more information on the benefits of pet adoption, visit Pedigree.com.

P e t s I n c r e a s e P h y s i c a l Ac t i v i t y Adopting a pet offers a chance to improve daily exercise habits. From taking walks to playing in the yard, dog owners have numerous opportunities to be active with their four-legged friends. Cats also need playtime each day, providing cat owners with a designated time to get active while bonding with their pets.

Pets Reduce Feelings of Isolation Pets have the ability to make people feel less alone. Whether coming home from a long day or taking a stroll around the neighborhood, having a wagging tail around can make everything better. The mood-boosting effect of pets is the driving idea behind a campaign from the Mobil Delvac™ and PEDIGREE ® brands called Mutts 4 Trucks, which aims to make a positive impact on the mental and physical well-being of professional truck drivers while helping pets in need. According to research from DePaul University, nearly one-third of professional truck drivers said being alone and away from their families is a significant issue affecting their mental health. To help reduce those feelings of loneliness, the campaign is pairing drivers with shelter dogs in need of homes.

P e t s E n c o u ra g e R e l a t i o n s h i p B u i l d i n g Pets require walks, trips to the vet and grooming, which can get their parents out and into new settings and environments. When out and about, pets can Do South® encourages all our readers to consider adopting a pet from one of our many local rescues and shelters!

provide a comforting presence for their owners and serve as conversation starters, helping to put their owners at ease and encourage socialization.

Pets Help with Stress Reduction 3 Girls Animal Rescue Almost Home Shelter Jen’s Kitty Rehab Kitties and Kanines Pawzatively Canine

Almost anyone who’s ever sat on the couch with a furry friend knows pets can bring a calming presence. Having a dog in the house can also help people feel safer and more secure in their surroundings. From comforting snuggles to a friendly tail wag, pets have an uncanny ability to help ease their owners’ minds and reduce stress. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

health

BAPTIST HEALTH INCREASES ACCESS TO CARE IN CHAFFEE CROSSING

to provide convenient care for the growing community. In her clinic, Julie provides wellness exams, preventive care and tests and treatment for acute illnesses. Her clinical interests include diabetes, depression and preventive medicine. As the wife of a Type 1 diabetic, Julie knows firsthand how to help patients manage blood sugar levels with insulin, diet and lifestyle to prevent complications. “I share a life with someone who lives with diabetes every day, so I feel that I’m able to connect with diabetic patients and help them work on improving their symptoms to gain a better quality of life,” Julie said. Julie can provide guidance and treatment for those who have been diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, as well as those suffering from hypertension, asthma, acid reflux and other chronic conditions. She takes a holistic approach

Julie Rowland

to patient care and values the time she spends discussing test results, such as lab work, with each patient. Julie says WORds and image courtesy Alicia Agent, Manager Marketing Communications, Baptist Health – Fort Smith

it’s important for patients to understand what the results mean, how medication or lifestyle changes can improve their condition, and to have their questions answered.

To keep up with an increasing need for access to health care in the River Valley, Baptist Health has added a second

“I like to try to do things as naturally as possible such as

location in the growing area of Chaffee Crossing. In May

addressing a patient’s hormone and vitamin deficiencies,

Julie Rowland, APRN, will begin seeing patients at Baptist

and overall lifestyle before adding any medications or

Health Family Clinic-Chaffee Crossing.

making any changes,” Julie said. “I think what makes me different is that I like to have those patients come

Julie has been a nurse practitioner in the community for

back to review their lab work in person. For example, if a

four years. Julie earned an advanced practice nursing

patient’s Vitamin D is a little low, it’s important to explain

license from Simmons College in Boston in 2015 and a

to them what Vitamin D does and why they may need a

Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of

supplement. People are more likely to actively participate

Central Arkansas in Conway in 2011. She has more than

in their health care if they have the opportunity to ask

thirteen years of nursing experience, including working in

questions, face-to-face.”

intensive care and cardiology units across Arkansas and Oklahoma. Despite being a busy, working mom-of-three, Julie says her experience in hospitals inspired her to go back to school to become a nurse practitioner. “When you treat a patient in the hospital, you usually see them at their worst, but in the clinic you have the opportunity to educate patients at all stages of life and help them achieve their health goals,” Julie said. With numerous employers and neighborhoods being developed in Chaffee Crossing, Julie is excited to be able

Baptist Health Family Clinic-Chaffee Crossing 11300 Roberts Blvd, Fort Smith, Arkansas Same-day & walk-in appointments available Baptist-Health.com 479.709.7150 / 1.888.BAPTIST

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entertainment

Home Entertainment! words Catherine Frederick

Bored? Going stir-crazy? Need a break from the news? There are many tourist attractions from around the world - from zoos and museums, to historic homes and aquariums - that you can visit from the comfort of your couch for free!

Watch Astronauts Reading Stories from Space storytimefromspace.com

Aquariums, Zoos and Gardens Visit them online for livestreams and webcams Atlanta Zoo Panda Cam: zooatlanta.org Georgia Aquarium Webcam: georgiaaquarium.org Houston Zoo Webcam: houstonzoo.org Loggerhead Marinelife Center: marinelife.org Monterey Bay Aquarium: montereybayaquarium.org Oregon Zoo: Find them on Facebook San Diego Zoo: kids.sandiegozoo.org Volunteer Park Conservatory

Free Learning and Reading Sites Scholastic offers free daily online courses Khan Academy has free lessons on almost every subject The Smithsonian Channel features science, nature and pop culture programming Ted-Ed features hundreds of videos that educate

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entertainment

Museums You Can Tour Virtually artsandculture.google.com The Guggenheim American Museum of Natural History Armory Art Center The Art Institute of Chicago The British Museum Detroit Institute of Arts Georgia O’Keeffe Museum High Museum of Art Getty Museum The Louvre Metropolitan Museum of Art Michigan Science Center MoMA (The Museum of Modern Art) Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Smithsonian Van Gogh Museum The Vatican Museum

Historic Homes You Can Tour Virtually housebeautiful.com Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Miami, FL The Frick Collection, New York, NY Monticello, Charlottesville, VA Frida Kahlo Museum, Mexico City, Mexico Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, MA Lyndhurst Mansion, Tarrytown, NY Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon, VA The Mark Twain House, Hartford, CT Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England

Take Virtual Rides at Disney

International Landmarks to Tour Virtually Visit them online for virtual tours, concerts and more Doge’s Palace, Italy: artsandculture.google.com The Great Barrier Reef: attenboroughsreef.com The Great Wall of China: thechinaguide.com/destination/great-wall-of-china Johnson Space Center: boeingfutureu.com/virtual-field-trips Natural Parks 113 Virtual Tours: artsandculture.google.com Tower Bridge, England: artsandculture.google.com The White House: artsandculture.google.com The Garden of Versailles: artsandculture.google.com Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: YouTube Metropolitan Opera: metopera.org Opera Vision: operavision.eu The Philadelphia Orchestra: Find them on Facebook

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Find virtual rides on YouTube Space Mountain Slinky Dog Dash It’s a Small World Frozen Ever After Ariel's Undersea Adventure Peter Pan's Flight Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway Pirates of the Caribbean Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin The Seas with Nemo & Friends

community

HOW TO PROTECT RETIREMENT INVESTMENTS IN VOLATILE TIMES words courtesy Arvest Bank image Cozine/Shutterstock

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community

After the relatively calm and steadily rising stock market most investors have enjoyed during the last several years, it's not hard for retirees to feel nervous about the recent market volatility and how it has affected their investments. And market swings can rattle even seasoned investors' ner ves. But volatility is part of investing. Volatility may cause investors to rethink their portfolios and feel skeptical about investing in stocks, particularly baby boomers nearing retirement age. Within the current environment, here are some options to consider as investors refine their retirement plan.

SAVE MORE WHILE WORKING.

DELAYING WHEN TO START COLLECTING SOCIAL SECURITY

Take full advantage of any company-offered retirement plan.

WILL ALSO INCREASE MONTHLY BENEFITS.

If you participate in a 401(k) plan, contribute as much as

If an individual is currently fifty-five years old, they can start

possible and at least enough to earn the entire match the

collecting full Social Security retirement benefits at age

company may offer.

sixty-six. If they start at age sixty-two, they will only get about seventy-five percent of that amount and if they wait and start

CONSTRUCT AN AUTOMATIC SAVINGS PLAN.

collecting at age seventy, they will get about 130 percent of

Try to set a certain amount to be deducted from each paycheck

that amount.

and deposited into a separate account for retirement. Also, examine monthly household spending to see if there are ways

SPEND LESS DURING RETIREMENT YEARS.

to spend a little less. Refinancing the mortgage, increasing

Most retirees want a "full and active lifestyle" during

insurance deductibles and reducing spending on discretionary

retirement. Consider changing exactly what that "full and

items can add up quickly.

active lifestyle" means. Less travel, less expensive cars or foregoing a second home (or opting for a smaller one) will

EARN MORE ON RETIREMENT ASSETS BEFORE RETIRING.

make a difference. Take time to anticipate and set sensible

Develop a well thought out asset allocation for investments,

spending priorities in order to save more money long-term.

one that incorporates a time horizon and risk tolerance, in order to provide diversification and some peace of mind. Generally,

For older individuals with less time until their planned

the younger a person is, the more long-term investments

retirement, a serious review of their financial future may be

should be in equities. Over time, high quality stocks have

essential. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid to consult an investing professional

produced greater returns than bonds and cash investments.

who can help determine what steps need to be taken to

Keep in mind that the money invested should be working hard,

achieve desired retirement goals.

too. Take advantage of higher interest rates on accounts that provide less liquidity and on longer-term CDs if the money in the accounts or CDs can be left alone for longer periods. WORK LONGER UNTIL RETIREMENT. Delaying retirement enables individuals to have more for retirement in several ways. While working, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible to

Consumers who are looking for more resources can visit with a local Arvest branch manager or via Arvest.com for more information.

save more in a retirement plan and through regular savings, especially with a tax-deferred retirement account. If all the funds are left in the account, it enables them to grow faster. For example, if an individual delays retirement for five years and earns just five percent on the funds, they will have about twenty-seven percent more just from the earnings.

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shop

SUPPORT LOCAL words Catherine Frederick imageS Jade Graves Photography and courtesy vendors

Music Sounds Even Better with Custom Earbud Sleeves

CENTER FOR HEARING 479.785.3277

Morgenthal Frederics Twist Sunglasses

DR. STEVEN B. STILES OPTOMETRY 479.452.2020

99 Brand Liquor in a Variety of Flavors: Coconuts, Mangos, Long Island Iced Teas, Bananas, Grapes, and More

IN GOOD SPIRITS 479.434.6604

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shop

Spring has sprung and local shops are filled with all things new! Consider shopping online and ask about delivery options. Our local businesses are here to serve and are lo oking for our support, now more than ever.

Black Apple Cider, Ménage à Trois Red Blend, Truly Hard Seltzer, Ménage à Trois Limelight Pinot Grigio, Bud Light Seltzer, Ménage à Trois Gold Chardonnay, Birch Avenue Blonde

SODIE’S WINE & SPIRITS 479.783.8013

Hearts On Fire Juliette Pear Halo Engagement Ring, Featured in 18kt Rose Gold, Available in Platinum, 18kt Rose, Yellow and White Gold. Starting with Center Stone Size .33ct. and Up

JOHN MAYS JEWELERS 479.452.2140

Bee Themed Home Décor, Decorative Mugs, and Kitchen Accessories

JENNIFER’S GIFT SHOP BAPTIST HEALTH-FORT SMITH 479.441.4221

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community

The Kids in America WORDs Dwain Hebda images courtesy Children’s Shelter

Haley landed at the Children’s Emergency Shelter in Fort

Smith, now the Children’s Shelter. She had all of her emotional armor in place, the kind of interior scales that

Haley Morris remembers vividly the knock on the door that

keep people and the harm they cause at arm’s length.

changed the course of her life. Though hardly more than a child herself, she’d been essentially on her own since the age

“I was young. I was pregnant. I didn’t have any resources,

of fourteen when, following her father’s death by violence,

any good knowledge,” she said. “I was scared, honestly. I

she turned her back on a tumultuous relationship with her

felt like I had been abandoned and I didn’t really know how

mother and left. She’d seen her siblings parceled off into

to react.”

foster care and was determined to stay one jump ahead of authorities, which she did for the better part of two years.

There were more than four thousand of the state’s children in foster care at the end of 2019, per the Arkansas Department of Human Services. Sebastian County is the

Then came that knock on the door.

state’s primary hotspot for such cases; in its eight-county “I was seventeen, a couple months away from being

DHS grouping, Sebastian County had roughly one-third

seventeen, actually,” she says. “I had been running from

more children in foster care than the other seven counties

being put in DHS and basically, I was just living by myself

combined (one thousand and eighteen in 2018).

at the time, just pretty much on my own. One day, police knocked on the door. I had a warrant, I went to jail and DHS

More than that, only one other county in Arkansas had half

picked me up.”

as many foster kids as Sebastian County did in 2018, with half of those children staying in the system for a period of seven months to two years. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

community

While it should be acknowledged that the number of foster

pregnant by age twenty-one. All while lacking a lot of the

children statewide has decreased in recent years – and with

basic life skills other teens take for granted.

it, the length of time in the system – the chronic issue of children in crisis is what inspired community leaders to create

“I grew up watching my parents do things; I saw my mom

the Children’s Emergency Shelter in 1993.

paying bills on Sundays and I saw my dad sorting clothes for the laundry,” Ashley says. “These kids have never had

“In 1993 the Junior League of Fort Smith donated $20,000

a consistent human being to watch. They are moved the

and that’s what purchased our lot that we’re on today,” said

majority of their life from shelter to shelter, home to home.

Ashley Forsgren, Children’s Shelter director of development.

When they age out, they just want to get the heck out of

“We started construction somewhere around 1995 and we

Dodge. They’ve not learned anything, they’ve not built any

opened our doors November 1, 1997, to five children.”

social connections, there’s no relationships.

For the next twenty-two years, the shelter was a forty-

“They end up couch surfing and being offenders just to stay

five-day haven for kids pulled out of situations of abuse

alive and to eat and they repeat the cycle. Seventy percent

or neglect, giving them a stable roof over their heads

of youth aging out of foster care end up homeless, hungry,

and a period of normalcy, however brief. From across the

incarcerated or suicidal.”

state, children ages six to seventeen continued to attend school, received medical attention as needed, and even

To help alter these sad statistics, the organization launched

went shopping to augment the mere clothes on their back

GetREAL24, the only program in the state that combines

in which many arrived while authorities figured out a more

residential and life skills training into one. The program,

permanent familial or foster placement.

which operates without any government funding, runs out of an apartment complex adjacent to the original campus,

In 2015, the organization expanded to address issues facing

purchased by Children’s Emergency Shelter Foundation.

kids aging out of the system, most around age eighteen. This totals about two hundred young adults annually in

“In order to be a part of GetREAL24, a youth had to be

Arkansas, most of whom face a challenging future. Less than

in foster care upon their eighteenth birthday,” Ashley says.

three percent earn a college degree, half are unemployed

“They apply for the program and then they’re called in for an

by age twenty-four and seventy-one percent of females are

interview with our program coordinator along with another

Taylor Meador

Jeremiah Hays

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

Ashley Forsgren

community

shelter representative, a representative from University of

“The word ‘emergency’ goes away, our length of stay

Arkansas Fort Smith, and Gamma Rho which is a governing

lengthens to six months to a year per youth and a therapy

board from within the program participants themselves.”

aspect is added,” Ashley says of the new format. “Adding the therapy aspect was really great because these kids

Once accepted, participants follow a strict set of rules

suffer a tremendous amount of behavioral and emotional

including holding a job, attending school or both; staying

challenges due to neglect and abuse. Here, they learn

sober and clear of legal problems, paying rent and utilities

how to deescalate with their emotions. They learn how to

and attending weekly life skills classes where they learn the

cope. They learn techniques on growing in a more positive

fundamentals of independent living.

manner behaviorally and emotionally.

“They’ll build a self-sufficiency plan and that self-sufficiency

“I remind everybody it’s so important to remember these

plan defines what success looks like,” Ashley says. “It’s

kids are here at no fault of their own. They’re not juvenile

going to define, sometimes by a day, by a week, when they

delinquents; they’ve done nothing wrong to be removed.

are expected to graduate out of the program. Those plans

They are products of their environment.”

are all different and that’s the challenge. Everything has to be very individualized because your needs are different

Even

from her needs which are different than mine.”

reimbursements only account for a percentage of the

with

this

programmatic

shift,

government

funds needed to keep the organization running. One These individual differences explain the varying pace of

substantial source of funding is an annual gala; this year’s

change in participants. For every graduate that leaves

event is entitled Havana Nights and is slated for June.

the program for a stable career there’s another for whom

Funds raised will help the organization continue to create

success is learning how to balance a checkbook or master the

success stories such as Haley, for whom the future has

fundamentals of housekeeping. It’s not always a smooth path

never looked more hopeful.

but for those like Haley Morris who stick with it, it works. “I have a certified nursing assistant background,” she says “This is a place that gives teenagers hope for the future,”

proudly. “I’m in a surgical tech program and eventually, I

she says. “They just pretty much set me on the right path to

know I’m going to end up in nursing. That’s my career path,

make sure I had a great career ahead of me. They made me

that’s my goal, that’s where I see myself. I also work at the

feel like failure wasn’t an option, you know?

Boomerang Diner in Van Buren as well as being a full-time mommy to my little girl.”

“Don’t get me wrong now; me and the staff, we have had our ups and downs, absolutely. They’ve struck fear into my

The mention of her toddler flashes images through her

heart on plenty of occasions and I’m so grateful today for

mind, and she pauses.

that because I took that knowledge and learned from it.” “She’s going to know what it is to live a rough life, but she’s It would be enough for the organization to focus solely

not going to have to do it herself, you know?” Haley says. “I

on building the award-winning GetREAL24 program

made a promise to her the day she was born that she would

from the nine participants it currently serves, but time

never have to go through what I went through.”

and shifting government policy threw another challenge in the organization's path. Changes in government reimbursement within the foster care structure forced the shelter to reinvent itself as a qualified residential treatment program (QRTP) starting last fall. This changed the group’s name and, if not the overall mission, the way in which the

Children’s Shelter 3015 S 14th St, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.783.0018 fschildrensshelter.org

mission is carried out. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

community

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the CLIMB words Liesel Schmidt IMAGEs courtesy Vertical Horizons Climbing Gym

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

community

For those who love a challenge and thrill to an

provides a staff that encourages them to push themselves,

outdoor adventure, there’s nothing quite like

and develops community, and that’s why people love coming

rock climbing. The determination, the sheer grit,

here,” says Jerry, who is himself an avid climber who has

the skill to spot crimps and jugs and knowing

scaled rocks in Yosemite, California, Wyoming, Tennessee,

how best to set a cam…It’s all part of the

and New Mexico as well as Arkansas. “I got into rock

draw that’s made rock climbing such a popular

climbing because I’ve always loved the outdoors, and it gave

pursuit; and for those who love the idea of the

me a way to connect with nature in addition to providing

climb but may not have the resources or time

me with a way to push myself mentally and physically. It

to find the perfect rock face, there is no more

combines the grace of ballet, the problem solving of chess,

perfect solution than indoor climbing.

and the flexibility and strength of gymnastics.”

In short, it’s all the perks of outdoor rock

And, much like he does now in his work with climbers at

climbing without all the hassle—and far

the gym, it was Jerry’s ability to teach and impart his own

fewer risks. “Indoor rock climbing provides

passion for the sport to others that made his wife come to

a safe and controlled environment and is

love climbing, as well. “I took her climbing on our first date,

actually one of the safest sports there is with

and she did awesome,” he recalls.

proper instruction. There are fewer injuries reported from indoor climbing than with

“I had very little climbing experience before meeting Jerry,”

most sports,” says Jerry Barnett, who co-owns

Amanda adds. “It was something that I’d always had an interest

Vertical Horizons Climbing Gym with his wife

in but did not have the knowledge or resources to begin. After

Amanda. Fortunately for those who have

meeting Jerry at church and learning that he was a climber, I

more heart than skill, the sport is actually

was eager to have him show me the ropes. We finally found a

quite doable. “It doesn’t take a great deal

day we both could go and set up our first date.”

of skill to climb—determination is the most important characteristic to have. You can

“And the rest is history,” Jerry says.

have no athletic experience or have years of experience and still enjoy climbing.”

History, indeed, as it was their shared passion that inspired them to open the gym. And while Amanda, a veterinarian,

Open since late February, Vertical Horizons

and Jerry, the owner of a design and construction company,

has been climbing its way to the top of the hill as a popular way to get a workout, socialize, and challenge physical ability. “When we opened the gym, we really wanted to introduce the sport of rock climbing to the River Valley area, encourage exploration of the outdoors, and provide a place where families can play together, support one another, and challenge each other. We also wanted to develop a strong climbing community,” Jerry explains. Despite the shiny newness of the gym, its popularity promises to be one with longevity, as the Barnetts have created the perfect plan for their climb to success. “Vertical Horizons has become a place that inspires people, DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

community Jerry. “It keeps the mind and the body sharp and in top form. We have a lot of members who use climbing as a way to get into shape by providing a fun, alternative method of cardio and strength training.” “One

the

best

things

about

climbing is the mental aspect of it. It’s like working a puzzle sometimes or solving a mystery,” adds Amanda, might have been in for a steep climb when they decided

who personally loves such an intellectually stimulating

to start Vertical Horizons, it was their own dedication to

challenge. “You have to figure out how to get your body in

the sport and their ability to recognize the opportunity that

the right positions to get to the next handhold, so it’s not

gave them the confidence to begin. “We’re the only indoor

simply about the physicality of it—which is great because

climbing gym in the area, and the sport of rock climbing

it’s a total body workout, so you’re getting cardio and

is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. It will

strength training. At the same time, you’re having to think

actually be part of the 2020 Olympics,” Jerry explains.

each time you move to get to the next step and to get to the top. I love the problem-solving aspect of climbing.”

Fortunately for those who come to Vertical Horizons, it doesn’t take Olympic-level skill to enjoy the climb, and Jerry

And for anyone who would love to take the thrill of the

and his staff have the experience needed to help even the

climb outdoors, the gym has plans for working with them,

most novice of climbers. “We encourage everyone to come

as well. “We plan on taking groups from the gym to

out to the gym. We have a wonderful staff that is excited

outdoors so that they can apply the skills they learned here

to introduce the sport of climbing to anyone that comes in,

and put them to use on the rocks,” says Jerry. “It will also

and our experienced instructors offer classes for beginning to

give them an opportunity to be outside with family and

advanced climbers,” Jerry says. A combined forty-plus years

friends and to see the beauty that Arkansas has to offer.”

of climbing between them, Jerry and his right hand, Amanda, instruct climbers at the gym and show them the ropes,

Beginner or master, it’s seeing the excitement of their

giving them the confidence to begin and the support they

climbers as they tackle their next challenge, making it just

need to make it to the top—regardless of their age or ability.

a little bit higher or climbing just a little bit faster that has been the Barnett’s greatest reward in opening the gym.

“We have several people in their sixties who started

“It’s incredibly fulfilling to see the smiles on everyone’s

climbing with us and have told us that learning how to

faces, both when they walk in and when they leave,” says

climb has made them feel younger and braver. It’s amazing

Amanda. And though not every move may be a success,

to see that and to be a part of that,” says Jerry. And they’re

making the effort to tackle the challenge of climbing to the

making an impact on kids, as well. “We have kids who get

top is the most important thing; and Vertical Horizons is

so excited when they make it to the top and are amazed

definitely tackling the challenge.

that they did—it shows them what they can accomplish when they make a goal for themselves and have someone believe in them, and that’s really important.”

Vertical Horizons Climbing Gym

Confidence boosts aside, the benefits of climbing are many. “There are tons of health benefits to climbing,” says

3625 S. 91st Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas Find them on Facebook

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people

BIG ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN

ONE LOOK AT

Grayson Clayton’s six-year-old face

and you immediately see what sensory overload looks like. He’s just come into Kopper Kettle Candies’ original Van Buren showroom with his caregiver, the rough equivalent to walking into a life-sized kaleidoscope. Teresa Tankersley, third generation of family ownership and management, greets the lad, helps him narrow things down a tic and offers him a sample half the size of a playing card. One bite and he offers enthusiastic approval.

Tommy and Berry Ann Greer

It’s impossible to tell how many Graysons have come through the doors over the years, but the reaction of such tots over this real-life Candy Land never gets old for the proprietors. "It’s the people, that’s what I like most, getting to see everyone,” says Berry Ann Greer, co-owner. “The best part of it is, you get to see a lot of familiar folks and you get to meet a lot of new people, too. The worst part is you can’t remember everybody’s name right then.” It doesn’t matter how old you are – or where you’re from or how dour the weather may be, as it is on this mud-speckled day – walking across the threshold of Kopper Kettle is like stepping backward for decades. Tray after tray and row upon row of fresh, perfectly formed treats wink at you from behind the glass, strident towers of gold-boxed collections await the ride home and the air hangs heavy and sweet with the smell of chocolate. And as if that weren’t enough, a simple laser-printed sign promises the annual run of chocolate-covered Words Dwain Hebda images Dwain Hebda and Jade Graves Photography

strawberries have arrived. If that sounds like something other than the great news it is, you haven’t experienced the milk chocolate-dipped flavor bombs for yourself. “Mother and Dad had done that one time, but they have a real short shelf life so my dad wasn’t interested in continuing that,” says Tommy Greer, whose parents opened this shop in 1956. “We have some friends in

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people

Memphis who own Dinstuhl's Fine Candies which has been

the Navy to chart his own course in life.

over there one hundred-plus years. They were doing the strawberries and we got to talking about it.

“Working here, it was just necessity. You didn’t have any choice,” he says. “When I got out of school and got into

“Mr. Dinstuhl had somebody go get us some strawberries

the Navy, I never wanted to see another candy store again.

and we made some real quick. We decided then that we

Got out of the service, went to Houston and Berry Ann and

were going to do it.”

I met and got married in Houston with no intentions of ever coming back up here.”

The experiment started by producing three hundred berries per day, dipped on Thursdays and Fridays. Tommy

He shakes his head in wouldn’t-you-know-it fashion,

remembers taking unsold stock to police stations and

adding, “So, couple years later, we were here.”

media outlets to keep them from going to waste. Fate, it seems, had a sweet tooth and when Tommy’s “We did that for a few years,” he says. “Now, we’re doing

father died in 1978, he pulled up stakes and pitched in

3,500 to 4,000 a day.”

to help his mother keep things going. Despite its long tenure, Kopper Kettle was far from a sure-fire thing,

Even in those quantities, the berries are still produced just

having suffered greatly by the then-six-year-old interstate

two days a week (Thursday and Friday), two months out of

siphoning off traffic from Highway 64-71.

the year (April and May). Timing is everything in the Greer’s business, hard-earned knowledge they have honed to know

“Well, as you can see out front, this is a roadside business

the perfect size of berries for dipping in a proprietary milk

and the interstate bypassed Mother and Dad in ‘72. Right

chocolate sauce and calibrating their time window to match

over there about half a mile,” he says. “So that changed

the berries’ degree of ripeness. That’s why they get their

all of their business. When we decided to make a go of

fruit from California; local berries tend to be too small

this, we knew we’d have to have a store in Fort Smith.

and ripen too late for their needs. All of that knowledge

So, we opened the store in Fort Smith in 1980 or ‘81 and

combines for a treat fans can’t seem to get enough of.

we’ve had one there ever since.”

“I remember we had a lady that came in here, maybe the

There was no real secret to bringing the company out of

third year we did them,” Berry Ann says. “She got her a

those lean years, just simple hard work and a refusal by

little box and she went and ate one and it was like she just

Tommy and Berry Ann to fall by the wayside. The couple

melted down that wall. She said, ‘Whenever I eat these

dutifully cranked out the company’s signature handmade

things, I just turn into a pillow of mush. My legs won’t

Turtle clusters, peanut brittle, divinity and Ozarkies, a

support me, they’re so good.’”

concoction consisting of vanilla cream center surrounded by milk and dark chocolate and pecans that goes back

Tommy has been around this shop for most of his life and

to the 1950s.

nearly all of his and Berry Ann’s married life. His father, Martin, learned the tricks of the trade back in Texarkana,

But they also started introducing new flavors and

Texas, and had come to this spot in 1956 with Tommy’s

concepts, such as Tommy Truffles, the delectable bite-

mother Betty to stake his claim on confectionary. Like all

sized creations that greet the visitor as they walk in the

family-run outfits, that meant all hands on deck to help the

front door. Today, the Greers roll out a new flavor every

company succeed. And succeed it did, with a reputation

twelve to eighteen months, on average.

for quality and taste that built a foundation of loyal locals and a steady stream of highway travelers. However, the

“Some changes are inevitable,” Berry Ann says. “If they do

hours were long and the work was hard and by the time he

away with a flavoring, if you can’t find it, you can’t make

graduated high school, Tommy had had enough. He joined

it. Some of those things are out of our control.”

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people

“Chocolate is another thing,” Tommy adds. “Used to be I don’t know how many chocolate manufacturers were in the United States. Now we’re down to about four. Some of those don’t want to sell you chocolate unless you’re buying a trailer load at a time. The most we ever buy at a time is about two thousand pounds.” A quick spin around the place is like a history lesson in candy making. Some of the equipment dates back to the 1940s and 1950s and includes one conveyor-driven machine that’s a dead ringer for the one Lucille Ball famously worked over in her original comedy series. Here and there, the candy-making vats and contraptions have name plates on them, christened after longtime employees. People tend to spend many years here, but no one works forever and in the last couple of years, three workers with a combined half-century of experience have stepped to the sidelines. That doesn’t faze the Greers much, seeing as how they’ve been able to steadily add family members to the operation including Teresa, her daughter and son-in-law. Tommy

and

Berry

Ann’s

son

Thomas,

successful

restauranteur in Fayetteville, pitches in as needed. But, as Tommy says, changing times still take some adjustment. “It’s very difficult,” Tommy says with a shrug. “You’ve got to learn to step aside sometimes, keep your mouth shut and let somebody else do something.” As for that next wave of Greers, Teresa says she and the other family members not only feel the responsibility of living up to a family legacy but to continue an Arkansas institution. “Mom and Daddy made the business what it is,” she

Kopper Kettle Candies 6300 Alma Highway Van Buren 479.474.6077

says. “My grandfather and grandmother started it but my parents made it what it is. It makes me feel very proud. I grew up here; my grandparents lived in the back, so I was always around here.

Fort Smith Location: Green Pointe Center Fort Smith 479.783.8158

“My intent is to keep it all going. Seeing what Mom and Daddy have worked so hard at, just to carry it on and continue and be something my kids can be proud of.

Call for pick-up/delivery option. Order online! Kopperkettlecandies.com

That’s what I want to do. This is our heritage.”

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people

WOMEN OF

STRENGTH

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

WORDs Liesel Schmidt images courtesy Defensive Empowerment for Women

people

Throughout history, women have been known as “the fairer

and one in three women will be sexually abused. While no

sex” and considered more delicate than men, relegated to

survivor is ever at fault for the actions of their abuser, we aim

gentler pursuits deemed safe and proper. For centuries,

to provide them with tools that can help minimize their risk

they were kept from the battlefront in wars and banned

of being attacked,” Rannsom goes on. “Our goal is to help

from serving in the military or any other position requiring

women take back their voices and the power that is innately

strength and stamina. And while the world has come a

theirs with exercises that remind them that their bodies

long way in their viewpoint of just how strong women

belong to them and that they are well within their rights to

are and has reexamined the ways in which we’ve been

say no and to turn down unwanted advances. We show them

underestimated, there is one hard fact which no amount of

that there are ways to escape a volatile situation.”

progressive thinking or feminism can change: the world is a Over the past four years, DEW has grown to include Ashley

dangerous place for women.

Keenan, Rainee Easley, and Shanna Poorbuffalo, and the Statistics are staggering in their evidence supporting

team has a shared passion for empowering women that is

this truth, and countless women all over the world face

very personal. “Marylen and I started training in Brazilian

dangers every day—and some of them are all too close to

jiu-jitsu with our husbands as part of our fitness journey,

home. “Domestic violence and sexual abuse survivors are

but it quickly developed into an activity that allowed our

overwhelmingly women and girls,” says Rannsom Carey,

confidence to grow and our wounds to heal in addition

co-founder of Defensive Empowerment for Women (DEW).

to fostering a lifestyle that embodies strength and

Created in 2016 by Rannsom and Marylen Schultz, DEW

empowerment. We talked about our personal experiences

is a program of seminars and classes that teach women

regarding harassment and abuse and realized that training

the fundamentals of self-defense and the importance

helped us overcome those mental obstacles. We felt much

of recognizing dangers, working with them to build

more empowered and, because of that, decided to start a

empowerment and giving them the tools they need to make

nonprofit where we could share our knowledge with other

themselves less vulnerable—all at no cost.

women,” says Rannsom.

“The CDC estimates that approximately one in four women

“Most of the women in our organization and those who

will encounter physical violence at some point in their lives,

attend our seminars have histories rife with tragedy, abuse,

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people

harassment, and trauma. I was overwhelmed by a desire

made over the course of its existence has been invaluable,

to help them in much the same way becoming a jiu-jitsu

giving women a new source of strength and support that

practitioner helped me. The self-defense aspects of our

they otherwise might not have had. And while having the

training bring awareness to the importance of not only

strength to fight off an attack is extremely important, so,

knowing the technique, but also understanding typical

too, is knowing when to put that strength to the test and

predatory behaviors and red flags, paying attention to one’s

when to use evasive tactics to avoid a physical challenge.

surroundings, and the psychology of healing from trauma.” “We conduct our seminars from a trauma informed And with the dangers that women face, these are

perspective. We start each seminar by walking the

invaluable things to learn, regardless of who they are

attendees through a series of grounding techniques that

or where they live. “Unfortunately, the biggest dangers for women are their own intimate partners or male family members. The majority of attacks and abuse are perpetrated by someone the survivor knows,” says

Rannsom.

“Women

are

overwhelmingly the victims of violent crimes. Eighty-two percent of sexual assault victims under eighteen are female, and ninety percent of adult victims are also female. "I believe that some of the greatest

are meant to help someone who may

“Women are overwhelmingly the victims of violent crimes. Eighty-two percent of sexual assault victims under eighteen are female, and ninety percent of adult victims are also female."

dangers for women start when they

be triggered by some of the material that is covered in our course. We try to stress the importance of escaping instead of engaging in a full-on fight, as most men are going to be able to overpower a woman, but we do cover what to do in the event that a woman is brought to the ground or pinned to a wall,” Rannsom says. “We not only show women selfdefense moves but talk about what to look for in a predator and how to understand and know the signs of danger. Some of the most important

are children. We often expect girls to be quiet, soft, and

things that women take away from our seminars are self-

always pleasant. If they get emotional, we tell them that

defense skills, a greater education about predators, and an

they’re being whiney or dramatic, so they grow up with a

ability to recognize the signs.”

desire to be people pleasers. Consequently, when they see red flags, they don’t always know how to say, ‘Stop doing

In all that they do, Rannsom and the other women on

this, it makes me feel unsafe,’ because they don’t want to

the DEW team aim for one important goal: to prove

be perceived as someone who overreacts. We also live in a

that women are not powerless and that they can defend

culture where we are constantly distracted by technology,

themselves against danger. Women might once have been

so a woman can easily become a target if she is walking

considered weak, but DEW shows just how strong women

alone at night while staring at her cell phone instead of her

can truly be.

surroundings. In our seminars, we extensively cover stranger versus non-stranger tactics so that women and girls can be more aware of what warrants threatening behavior.” With their travels and the number of attendees that their seminars and classes have seen, the difference that DEW has

Defensive Empowerment for Women Find them on Facebook 114 W. Main Street, Ada, Oklahoma 580.399.9604

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faith

Goose Song Words and images Jessica Sowards

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

faith SIX YEARS AGO, in April, we signed the papers to purchase

time away. Then by flashlight, I discovered that the row of

our first home. For two weeks, we worked incredibly hard

peas I planted weeks ago in the garden beds had finally

making repairs in escrow. Then, at the end of April, we

germinated and stood two inches tall. The onion and leek

moved to our blank canvas of four acres with a dream to

sets had taken fine to being transplanted, a task I’d done

turn it into a farm. I think I must have pinched myself a

a day before leaving. I sighed with relief.

dozen times a day during that season of life. After all the years of dreaming of a little farm, we had stumbled upon

Then I went to bed early, because spring is different from

a foreclosure in the middle of the rural woods of Central

winter. Winter is time to rest and recover but spring is

Arkansas and had somehow made it ours.

time to work hard to harvest later.

Do you know how other stages of your life, in retrospect,

This morning, when I ground coffee at 5 a.m., I heard the

feel a little like they belonged to someone else entirely? As I

geese on the pond across the street. They are a quintessential

adjusted into our country home and we began to grow our

sign of the emerging warmth. Every year, through the early

homesteading efforts, my suburban life slipped into memory.

spring months, flocks of geese make their stops here on

Close neighbors, quick runs to the store and walking the kids

their migratory trip back to their summer home. Suddenly, I

to school became a thing of the past. It’s funny, though.

was taken back to six years ago.

Now, six years after that initial city-to-country adjustment, I find myself reminiscing on my days of transition into farm life

On one of those escrow-repair mornings, I woke up on the

from a vantage point where a lot has changed.

couch in the living room of this otherwise-empty house. We’d been homeowners for only a handful of days and

Yesterday I flew home from Iowa, where I’d spent four

had worked dawn to dusk on repairs, taking shifts staying

days making a video of a bird hatchery for our YouTube

home with the kids. The particular morning in memory

channel, Roots and Refuge Farm. I noticed, as soon as the

was my first morning to ever wake up here. I’d stayed late

plane began to near the Little Rock airport, green had

painting, one of my favorite renovation chores.

exploded upon the world beneath me. I walked through the automatic airport doors, wheeling my luggage and

We didn’t have curtains yet, and though I’d stayed up

toting my heavy camera bag, and immediately paused to

late, the blazing sun had kissed me awake during the early

peel off a layer of clothes. Spring had come to the south

hours. I’ll never forget sitting on the front steps, surveying

while I’d been in the still-frozen and brown north.

our blank dream-come-true and listening to the geese on the pond across the street.

It was nearly dark when I pulled into my driveway. I had just enough time to embrace my husband and boys, pet my dogs,

City girls are not accustomed to waking to the sound

and go for a walk to check on the farm. The piglets seemed

of a hundred geese just across the street. They were an

to have doubled in size in a week. The grass had begun to

anomaly to me then. They were the first realization that

grow again, thank goodness. I momentarily pondered our

life really was changing, that I was really going to have a

plans to rotationally graze the goats and alpacas to make

farm and food really would come from my yard.

the most of our two-acre pasture. While I was gone, my husband Jeremiah had used a borrowed excavator to clear

This morning, however, when I brewed coffee at five in the

three trees in our backyard. A monstrous pile of branches

morning, after the week of travel and adventure, those geese

towered above me exactly where our new high-tunnel will sit

sounded like home. The rising sun unveiled my sprawling

a couple of weeks from now.

gardens and the fresh growth of new green grass. Shortly after the light dawned, chickens began spilling out of the

I checked on the seedlings in the little glass greenhouse,

coop to scratch for early worms. It was extraordinary for how

which was glowing warmly in the middle of the garden.

long it had been desired, but at the same time it was ordinary

The peppers and flower sprouts had changed hugely in my

for the fact that it happens every day. It is simply home.

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faith

Holding my mug at the window, hearing the goose song and surveying the fruit of our labors, I couldn’t help but feel how much more life can change. Just like I used to remember our life in town with a touch of awe that things had changed, it’s strange now to remember when all of this was new. It’s strange to remember what it was like to just be completely bumbling through. We are still learning and still growing. The rooster’s crow that floats through the morning breeze is both beautiful and completely normal to me. A pantry full of food that we cultivated from seeds is both fulfilling and commonplace. We have adjusted. This is our life. However, just like we continue to grow, we continue to dream. My prayers are alive with the possibility of tomorrow. I find myself, in mornings like this one, in the great tension that lies between absolute awefilled contentment and the burning desire for more. I imagine a great glass greenhouse with a community garden, a farm to table restaurant, and an education center teaching interns regenerative farming. I dream of a day when our vision has grown to such a place that this exact moment feels a little foreign to me. But for now, I will sit at the window and drink my coffee. For now, I will feel overwhelmed with gratitude to be home. For now, I will thank God for the geese and their song that tells me I’m exactly where I belong.

To watch Jessica’s garden tours, visit her YouTube channel, Roots and Refuge.

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taste

Berry, Berry Good HOMEMADE STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKES

Recipe Adapted Sallyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Baking Addiction image Margoe Edwards/Shutterstock

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taste

INGREDIENTS

M ET H O D

° 6-7 cups sliced fresh strawberries

Preheat oven to 400°.

° ½ cup sugar ° 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Wash, hull and slice berries. In a medium bowl, combine sugar, vanilla and strawberries. Gently

FOR STRAWBERRIES

For the shortcake

° 2 cups all-purpose flour ° 4 Tablespoons sugar ° 1 Tablespoon baking powder

mash to release juices but do not crush completely. Set aside, stir occasionally.

FOR SHORTCAKES In a medium bowl, combine flour, three Tablespoons sugar, baking powder, baking soda, lemon zest and

° 1 teaspoon baking soda

salt. Using a pastry cutter or two forks, cut butter

° ¼ teaspoon salt

into dry mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.

° 1 teaspoon lemon zest

Gradually stir in buttermilk until soft dough forms, but do not overmix. Drop dough by heaping

° ¼ cup salted butter, cold & cubed

Tablespoonfuls into eight mounds, two inches

° 1 cup buttermilk, cold

apart, onto a lightly greased baking sheet. Brush

° 2 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream

with remaining one Tablespoon of sugar. Pop in the oven and bake 12-15 minutes, until lightly browned.

the tops with heavy whipping cream then sprinkle

For the whipped cream

Remove and let cool completely.

° 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream

FOR WHIPPED TOPPING

° 2 Tablespoons sugar

In a medium bowl, beat heavy whipping cream until

° ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

it starts to thicken. Add vanilla and sugar, continue beating until soft peaks form. Cut shortcakes in half, add strawberries and whipped cream to bottom of shortcake. Place top of shortcake on whipped cream. Garnish with more whipped cream and a fresh strawberry. Enjoy!

Tips: - Make sure you use cold butter and cold heavy cream. -When measuring your flour, spoon it into the measuring cup, then level.

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42 44

taste taste

Grapefruit Lime Spritzer with Rosemary Recipe adapted Minimalist Baker image Alina Yudina/Shutterstock

method Pour grapefruit juice, lime juice, vodka, triple sec, and ice cubes

ingredients

into a cocktail shaker. Shake to combine. Add ice to serving

serves 2

mixture evenly into glasses. Add a splash of Fresca to the top and

° 1 large grapefruit, juiced (you need about 1 cup of juice)

garnish with a fresh grapefruit slice and a sprig of rosemary.

glasses along with 2 Tablespoons of Fresca. Strain grapefruit

° 2 Tablespoons lime juice, fresh

Please drink responsibly.

° 3 ounces vodka

Never drink and drive.

° 1 ½ ounces triple sec ° 6-8 ice cubes (plus more for serving) ° ½ cup Fresca (sparkling flavored soda) ° Grapefruit slices (garnish) ° Rosemary sprig (garnish)

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travel

Reese Kennedy from his early 1980s drive on Highway 7

words and images Jim Warnock, black and white images, Reese Kennedy

At five years old, I approached my mother’s older brother.

After Reese’s death, I learned that he once drove Scenic

“Uncle Reese, would you draw me a Texas Longhorn?” He

Highway 7, making repeated stops to paint or take photos

was a soft-spoken art teacher and politely put off my request.

to paint from later. Passers by must have felt envious of that

Finally, after two days of repeated appeals, I said, “Uncle Reese,

free-spirited artist next to the road watercolor palette in hand.

CAN you draw a Texas Longhorn?”

Since I shared their envy, I decided to retrace his path.

Reese Kennedy, who would later become the first president

Over the years, I’ve hiked many trails that intersected Highway

of the Southwest Watercolor Society and art professor at

7 but thought of the road in practical terms as just a way of

Stephen F. Austin University, led me to his studio. I watched

getting to the trails. For this trip, I would attempt to see not

with wide eyes as his paint-splotched fingers made graceful

only with Uncle Reese’s eyes, but also through the lens of my

ink marks with a surgeon’s precision. Faint outlines of

life experiences, stopping, not to paint, but to capture scenes

eyes and horns took shape. A slight smile formed behind

with my camera. What follows are only a few of those stops.

his beard as he scraped the paper with colored chalk. In a quiet baritone voice, he said, “There, your very own

We began at the Louisiana border, south of my hometown, El

Texas Longhorn.” It was signed “Drawn for Jim Warnock

Dorado. My wife Becca served as my navigator to keep me on

Thanksgiving 1960.”

track in case I became engrossed in the scenery. Highway 7 isn’t

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travel

Downtown El Dorado

Union Pacific Railroad underpass photos 40 years apart

considered “scenic” until Hot Springs, but we saw beauty and history in the lowlands, too! El Dorado has one of Arkansas’ best examples of a revitalized downtown. Over the years, I watched its decline and rebirth that now includes gourmet restaurants, a vibrant business community, and the possibility of catching a concert at the Murphy Arts District. North of Camden, we discovered tangible evidence that we were indeed tracing Uncle Reese’s footsteps. Reese’s daughter sent several photos that he took on his trip. From his faded

Railroad underpass viewed from the road

slides, I learned that the wooden bridge where Highway 7 dips beneath the Union Pacific Railroad fascinated both of us. Standing next to the tracks that disappeared into the distance, I caught the faint smell of creosote in the still air. Walking a short distance from the rails, I found myself in a ghostly green world on the edge of Newman Slough. Staring into the distance, I thought of our state’s geographical diversity. Standing next to this swamp, I was now viewing a landform typical of the West Gulf Coastal Plains. Our trip up Highway 7 would take us through three more regions before its end. The character of the road changes as it travels north through Arkadelphia and Hot Springs. Hills and curves become more pronounced. Motorcyclists love these winding sections that snake through our second geographical region, the Ouachita Mountains. North of Hot Springs, Highway 7 crosses the 223-mile Ouachita Trail (OT). As I thru-hiked the OT in 2018, I walked the four-mile Hunt’s Loop that intersects with the Ouachita

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Swamp and cypress knees

travel

Trail here, winding south to Iron Springs Recreation Area. Reese stopped in this same spot and watched children picking through colorful pebbles below the clear water. You can easily stop your car to view this beautiful, clear stream.

Pedestal Rocks

Stream at Iron Springs on Huntâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Loop

After crossing the Arkansas River at Russellville, we entered the Ozark Mountains, our fourth and final geographical region covered by Highway 7. We came to the intersection of Highway

As we entered the River Valley, our third geographical region,

16. Five short miles to the east, Pedestal Rocks Scenic Area

we passed within a few miles of Petit Jean State Park, where

transported us to a scene from another planet with towering

I learned to love hiking as a child. Powerful water eroded

rocks and deep crevices.

surrounding land to leave Petit Jean Mountain standing in the valley. A wealth of trails and scenery await the traveler who decides to take a break here or spend a few nights. A two-mile round-trip hike from Mather Lodge leads to Cedar Falls, one of Arkansasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; most visited waterfalls. I have a favorite boulder there for listening to the roar.

Cedar Falls

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Roundtop Mountain Trail

Roundtop Mountain Vista

Lead Hill Barn

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travel

Jasper, one of my favorite Arkansas towns, is a great jumping-off point for Buffalo River floating and hiking. After hiking Roundtop Mountain, we explored the edge of the Buffalo River where Highway 7 passes over it on a bridge built in 1931. A short drive east of Highway 7 took us to the Low Gap Cafe, an unlikely location for gourmet meals. Definitely worth a few extra miles! After passing through Harrison, we came to the Lead Hill area. Becca said, “That looks like a Reese Kennedy painting.” I pulled off the road and walked back to the barn she’d seen. Buffalo River at Jasper

Reese would have liked how the cedar post fence added perspective and distance to the scene. Only a few miles farther led us to Bull Shoals Lake and the northern terminus of Highway 7. As I stared out over the water, I thought of early influences in my life. Uncle Reese couldn’t have anticipated the impact he was making on his persistent five-year-old nephew. I’m thankful for a childhood filled with stories of curious and caring adults. Isn’t this the reason we snap the camera shutter, paint the picture, or write the words? What a privilege it is to tell our children where we’ve been and the beauty we found there!

Low Gap Cafe

Reese Kennedy’s ink and chalk drawing

My name is Jim Warnock (trail name – Tater). I explore the Ozarks by trail and like to carry a camera. On my blog, ozarkmountainhiker.com, I share pictures and thoughts related to wherever the trails may lead. My trail guide, Five-Star Trails: The Ozarks , is a good tool for exploring the Ozarks. Follow Jim, me, on Twitter: @jimwarnock and Instagram: @ozarkmountainhiker

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fiction

APRILâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SHOWERS words Sarah Phillips-Burger image ND700/Shutterstock

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fiction

April’s body ached as she rolled over and nuzzled into

holidays and vacations spent together, their arms around

her pillow, the wet fabric cool against her raw face. The

each other, kissing, smiling. It was evidence of their time

memory hit her again, and it still shocked her, the pain of

together, their commitment to each other, of their love for

it. “I don’t see a future with us,” he had said. She gripped

one another. She searched his face in each one, starting

the comforter, bringing it tighter around her shoulders

from the most recent and working her way back, but

and held it against her chin as fresh tears rolled down her

they could not tell April when he stopped loving her. She

cheek and into her ears. She recalled trying to get him to

looked at her own face and wished she could go back in

change his mind, trying to get him to take it back, trying

time to the unknowing, before the veil was lifted.

desperately to postpone the inevitable. But she failed. She filled a large mug, adding extra sugar, and then

After two years together, they were done.

found her favorite olive green sweater in the hall closet. That was almost two days ago. She left his apartment

She noticed that it smelled faintly of his cologne and

and came home to her empty house. She pulled the

gathered it in her hands, burying her face in the cashmere

dark curtains closed and crawled into bed, intending to

and inhaling the familiar scent before putting it on. She

slide into the quiet pool of her grief. Instead, it violently

picked up her coffee and headed to the fireplace mantle

tossed and pushed her as though she were trapped in the

where she laid a framed picture of them face down before

turbulent waters of a river. She replayed that evening and

heading to the porch.

their entire relationship over and over in her mind, trying to figure out what went wrong, feeling she might drown

When she opened the back door, the thunder welcomed

in the memories.

her with a slow deep rumble, and she sat in one of the wood lounging chairs, pushing her back down into the deep

April rolled to her back and wiped her tears again.

arch. When she was younger, April had many boyfriends.

She heard thunder and looked around her dark room

Her mother even joked about her trying them on for size,

wondering what time it was. Her eyes burned, her mouth

only to toss them aside like an ugly shirt and moving on to

tasted bitter and stale, and her skin was sticky and smelled

the next. But now in her thirties, she couldn’t seem to find

of sweat. The room that had cocooned her and all of her

someone to share her life with. Her serious relationships

grief now felt heavy and thick as though it were slowly

always fizzled out. This one apparently had as well.

burning, filling up with smoke, on the verge of suffocating her. The next boom of thunder sent vibrations through her

The rain picked up, spilling from the sky as the thunder

chest, and she propelled herself from bed causing her to

answered the lightning. She was barely able to see

become dizzy in search of the bedroom door.

through the curtain of water that poured off the roof. She looked over at the empty chair beside her and felt a

The light that greeted her was still muted from the storm,

deep sense of loneliness, pulling her knees up to her chest

and she looked around her quiet, clean living room and at

as the pain ravaged her again. Tears burst forth and she

the clock; it was midafternoon. She grabbed her phone on

buried her face in her knees, wincing and crying out; hard,

the bar and looked at her messages, her stomach dropping

unrestrained sobs heard by only herself and the storm

with the hope that he might have texted her. He did not,

around her.

but her sister did the previous night, asking if she would like to go to dinner sometime soon. It seemed the rest of

The wind blew, spraying cold water onto April, breaking

the world was still moving forward, oblivious to the major

the trance of her tears. She looked up and again, another

shift in her life.

gust sprinkled her tear-soaked face with cool drops. She closed her eyes, letting it wash over her as she inhaled the

She knew she should eat, but instead opted for a cup of

clean air deep into her lungs until she felt calm again. The

coffee, blankly staring at the pictures on her fridge while

rain slowed to a trickle, and April opened her eyes to see

it brewed. Their relationship was captured in these photos;

the sun pushing the storm clouds away. Drops of water fell

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fiction

from the pine trees that bordered her yard, sliding lazily

A burst of anger pushed forth and hot tears threatened

down the needles and landing softly on the ground below.

to pour down her face again. She blotted her eyes with

Robins appeared from their hiding places and splashed in

a towel. No more tears today. She dressed in light blue

the puddles, eyeing the ground in search of earthworms

jeans and a blush pink linen button-down shirt before

that emerged from the rain-sodden dirt.

blow-drying her hair. She changed the sheets on her bed, replacing the damp blue ones with a crisp white set, and

April sipped her coffee for a little while, watching and

started a load in the washer.

listening to the goings-on around her before deciding it was time to shower. The hot water soothed her achy body,

Then she made the rounds in her house, gathering up all

and she stood for a long time, relishing the warmth on her

the pictures and trinkets that reminded her of him and

shoulders. She shampooed her hair, engulfing her, head

their relationship, and put them in a box under her bed.

to toe, in peach-scented bubbles. The Dove bar left her

She placed her cashmere sweater on a chair by the door so

sensitive skin smooth and clean and she opted to rinse it

that she would remember to get it dry cleaned. Picking up

with cool, soothing water.

her phone, she went online and scheduled an appointment at her favorite salon for a cut and color, and then texted

Wrapped in a warm towel, she brushed her teeth and

her sister, “How about tonight?”

applied lotion to her skin. She wiped the mirror and her streaky reflection stared back, causing her to groan. She

They made plans to meet at Joe’s for pasta and wine, and

averted her eyes, not wanting to view the aftermath of

April’s stomach growled in approval. She went back to the

the past two days before hearing a voice deep inside her.

bathroom and applied her makeup, taking special care to

Don’t look away. She apprehensively glanced up, then

even out her skin tone and brighten her eyes. She applied

decided she needed a better view before wiping at the

a light lip gloss and curled her hair away from her face,

moisture on the mirror again. Her eyes were red and puffy,

grateful that she would be getting it cut the next day and

her skin blotchy, her lips pursed and frowning.

would no longer have to struggle with it.

She searched through the cabinet drawer until she found

She removed the diamond studs that he had given her

a small jar that promised to brighten and soothe her

and replaced them with rose gold drop earrings, a gift

eyes. She dabbed the cool gel that smelled of cucumber

from her sister last Christmas, and then went to her closet

and mint around them, paying special attention to the

and got down on her knees. Somewhere in the back,

dark circles, and then applied her moisturizer. She bent

beneath empty purses and shoes of various types, she

forward, allowing her hair to cascade toward the floor,

would find what she was looking for. It took her a few

and towel-dried it before flipping it up, causing it to slap

tries, feeling her way through canvas and leather in that

her back and shoulders.

dark space, but she was finally rewarded when she pulled out the nude Louis Vuitton heels, her most beloved pair.

She looked at her reflection again, at the long blonde hair

They felt perfect on her feet, as they always had, and she

cascading around her that was not her natural color, that

grabbed a navy blazer before heading out the door.

took a great deal of time and costly maintenance, that he loved. As she brushed her hair, she began to think about

A breeze gently grazed her cheek, and she stopped to take

all the concessions that she had made the past two years,

in the sun setting behind the trees, the pinks and purples

either at his request or his suggestion or at hers to try to

casting a tender glow on everything in sight. What was

please him. She changed the hours at her job so that he

once chaotic was now calm. She turned the key in the

could see her more, spent less time at her home because

ignition and took one last look at herself in the rearview

he didn’t like the long drive. She even stopped wearing

mirror, grateful that her own storm would pass, too.

heels because he liked being taller than she was.

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MEDICAL SPECIALTIES

MEDICAL SPECIALTIES Healthcare is ever evolving. New technologies and therapies are providing added solutions for our local community! The first step is finding the right physicians, dentists and specialists who can guide you and your family on your path to living your healthiest life.

That’s where Do South ® comes in. On the following pages of our Medical Specialties guide, you’ll find important information from some of the best physicians, dentists and facilities around so you can narrow

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your search and get the expert care you deserve.

Dr. Norma Basinger Smith has been serving the Fort Smith community for over twenty years, practicing obstetrics and gynecology from 1998 to 2012 and Phlebology (venous and lymphatic medicine) since 2004. Dr. Smith treats patients suffering from varicose vein disease and venous ulcers, creating individualized treatment plans based on ultrasound studies performed by her specially trained and licensed staff who are accredited by IAC as a peripheral vascular lab. Treatments include laser ablation, chemical ablation, sclerotherapy and phlebectomy. Supporting this care is Therese Jenkins, PA-C. Dr. Smith’s aesthetic practice features Janet Newman, RN and Therese Jenkins, PA-C. Services include Botox, dermal fillers, light and laser skin care and intimate wellness procedures diVa and O-shot.

4300 Rogers Avenue #15, Fort Smith, Arkansas centerforhearing.net 479.785.3277

MEDICAL SPECIALTIES

8101 McClure Drive #101, Fort Smith, Arkansas arveinandskincare.com 479.484.7100

Untreated hearing loss can impact our lives in many different ways. Dr. Kelley Linton, Dr. Lori Boyd, and Dr. Trace Cash, understand the struggles of keeping up with busy families as well as helping those with hearing loss enjoy their lives through better hearing. The newest hearing aid technology helps bring focus to otherwise complex listening situations and ultimately helps us feel less fatigued. If you’re not hearing as well as you used to, or if you just want to establish a baseline for your hearing, call for an appointment. Do it for your health, your happiness and your relationships.

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MEDICAL SPECIALTIES

1401 South J Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas encompasshealth.com 479.785.3300

Dr. Bill Ligon and the team at Dallas Street Dental have

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Smith

designed a unique dental experience where you and

specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Simply

your family will find custom dentistry for your general,

put, rehabilitation is what we do. And that makes a

restorative and cosmetic dental needs. Our state-of-the-art

difference. We provide state-of-the-art care to patients

facility offers a relaxing, stress-free environment where

recovering from stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury,

you will feel welcomed, comfortable, and confident. From

limb loss, hip fracture and more. By providing a minimum

the moment you enter our practice, you will notice the

three hours of therapy, five days a week and 24-hour

inviting, unique atmosphere. Our team will take care of all

access to specialized rehabilitation nurses, we set ourselves

requests to ensure your absolute comfort. Coffee awaits

apart. At our hospital, you'll have a rehabilitation team to

you in the lobby as well as flat screen televisions and free

provide you with a personalized treatment plan targeting

wifi for your entertainment. With his dedicated team, Dr.

your specific needs. This comprehensive program will give

Ligon has built a strong practice based on personalized

you the direction, knowledge and tools to help you reach

care for each client.

your highest level of independence.

MEDICAL SPECIALTIES

8020 Dallas St, Fort Smith, Arkansas dallasstreetdental.com 479.452.6600

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MEDICAL SPECIALTIES

2120 S. Waldron Road, Suite 5B Fort Smith, Arkansas jordancps.com 479.769.2313

7425 Euper Lane, Fort Smith, Arkansas methodistvillage.com 479.452.1611

Jordan Consulting & Psychological Services, PLLC is an independent private practice established by Dr. Donala

Methodist Village Senior Living (MVSL) is proud to have served

K. Jordan, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist. Dr.

as Fort Smith’s only faith-based, non-profit organization

Jordan provides tailored psychotherapy, consultation, and

dedicated to enhancing quality of life for our active adult and

psychological assessment services for individuals, health care

elder population for nearly sixty years. Our thirty-acre campus

providers, and organizations needing valuable insights into

is the only complete continuum of “Life Plan Community”

human behavior, thoughts, personality, and cognitive abilities.

in the River Valley. We offer comprehensive total patient

Your privacy is important. As such, only the most limited and

care through assisted, independent, long term, memory

requisite information needed for an associated service is

care, respite, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. These

collected and maintained. Dr. Jordan looks forward to serving

combined offerings allow for a community that enables

the River Valley and Northwest Arkansas communities.

seniors to live on one campus throughout their life, as their needs change. We invite you to be a part of the great heritage.

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Find out more at www.methodistvillage.com.

MEDICAL SPECIALTIES

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5901B Riley Park Drive Fort Smith, Arkansas premierpediatricsfs.com 479.763.3050 (call or text)

3324 South M Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas reynoldscancersupporthouse.org 479.782.6302

Premier Pediatrics offers both primary care and urgent care

In 1978, the Cancer Support Foundation was organized to

for children ranging in age from infancy to adolescence. Our

provide non-medical services, counseling, transportation

compassionate providers work to make every visit to our

and support for cancer patients and their families. We

office a pleasant, relaxed experience. And because we know

offer an array of programs and services including wigs/hats/

children donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just get sick during normal business hours,

turbans and other hair loss needs, post mastectomy supplies,

Premier Pediatrics Urgent Care treats children with illnesses

transportation assistance to and from treatment, emotional

as well as minor trauma in the evenings and on weekends.

support groups led by licensed facilitators, nutritional

We offer in-office X-Ray, labs, splinting, laceration repair,

supplements, nutrition classes, medical equipment and

oxygen and nebulized treatment therapy. The urgent care is

supplies, low-impact fitness classes, emergency financial

open to all children in need of after-hours care. Primary Care

and prescription assistance, one-on-one patient navigation

Hours: Monday - Thursday 8am to 5pm, Friday 8am-12pm;

and so much more.

Urgent Care Hours: Monday-Friday 12pm-8pm, Saturdays 9am-6pm, Sundays 12pm-6pm.

MEDICAL SPECIALTIES

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MEDICAL SPECIALTIES

55 West Sunbridge Drive, Fayetteville, Arkansas 801 SE Plaza Avenue #5, Bentonville, Arkansas 502 N. Walnut Street, Harrison, Arkansas breastcenternwa.com 866.718.6266 While all women are at risk for breast cancer some are at higher risk than others. A Risk Assessment is a comprehensive consultation with a registered nurse who is specially trained to determine your risk for developing breast cancer. The nurse will evaluate several risk factors and price a customized breast care plan for you. A Risk Assessment provides crucial information about how often and what type of screenings you need such as Automated Whole Breast Ultrasound, Breast MRI, or optional genetic testing. Take our short Breast Cancer

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Risk Quiz at breastcenternwa.com to learn more.

James E. Kelly III, MD Benton Loggains, P.A. | Cassie Nolan, OT 8101 McClure Drive, Fort Smith, Arkansas jameskelly3md.com 479.709.8300

Udouj Orthodontics has provided orthodontic excellence

Our new, state-of-the-art facility offers more services, on

since 1972! At the office of Dr. Henry J. Udouj, III, we provide

site x-ray and therapies, and greater confidentiality for

exceptional orthodontic care in a friendly and compassionate

our cosmetic patients! Our office now offers Occupational

atmosphere. We utilize the latest technological advances

Therapy as well. We are independent, accept referrals from

and offer comprehensive orthodontic treatment for children,

all physicians and contracted with most all insurances. Dr.

teens and adults. This includes early interceptive and growth

Kelly provides cosmetic, reconstructive and hand surgery to

modification treatment, as well as treatment with fixed

patients in Fort Smith, Western Arkansas and surrounding

braces. From traditional metal brackets and wires to tooth

areas. His practice houses Fort Smithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only office-based,

colored appliances, we design your orthodontic treatment

JCAHO-accredited surgical facility, and he is certified in

to suit your lifestyle and personal preferences. For patients

plastic and hand surgery by the American Board of Plastic

who desire a more aesthetic look, we offer ceramic braces

Surgery. At Western Arkansas Plastic, Hand & Reconstructive

and clear aligners. Call today and let us help you create a

Surgery Center, our goal is to help you achieve beautiful

beautiful, healthy smile!

results while making you feel like part of our family.

MEDICAL SPECIALTIES

2101 Dallas Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 808 Broadway, Poteau, Oklahoma udoujorthodontics.com 479.782.3021 / 918.647.7272

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Read Chair Publishing, LLC 4300 Rogers Avenue, Suite 20-110 Fort Smith, AR 72903