SPRUNG - APRIL 2024

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The Van Buren School District aims to foster a love for lifelong learning. Diverse course options and activities offer opportunities to unleash creativity and self-expression. Such offerings also help students develop the skills they need to succeed in the classroom, in future careers, and at every level in life.

MMother Nature has been busy, as evidenced by the symphony of colors outside my office window. Green blades of grass, leaves on the trees, and tiny blooms are everywhere. April's triumphant return sweeps away the gray and dreary, ushering in a welcoming do-over that never fails to lift my spirits.

Within these pages, achievement and happiness unfold like a captivating story. Embark on the extraordinary journey of Marguerite Carney, a 106-year-old lifelong Fort Smith resident, whose zest for life is an enduring inspiration. Venture into the cinematic realm of local prodigies from Oliver Springs Elementary School in Van Buren, whose international film awards have carved a new chapter in our community's artistic legacy.

We're exploring the unique recreational offerings that make our state unique, from the hidden treasures of Crater of Diamonds State Park to the therapeutic embrace of Hot Springs and the exhilarating world of gravel grinding. As always, you'll find our calendar of events, local good news, book reviews, and a delicious selection of recipes.

Shifting focus, we delve into the opioid crisis in Arkansas, navigating its complexities with those at the forefront, fostering solutions and understanding. It’s a topic that desperately needs our attention, as Arkansas ranks as one of the most heavily prescribed states in the nation, per the CDC.

In this edition, we proudly spotlight the pivotal roles of local realtors and healthcare specialists, providing insights into their contributions to our community's progress and our well-being.

April is full of possibilities, from outdoor adventures and live music to festivals, fundraisers, and captivating theatre and symphony performances. Join in the entertainment, savor the abundance of experiences in our backyard, and plan to relish it all. See you in May!

Catherine Frederick

BREAKTHROUGH

When Anna began experiencing overwhelming anxiety, she knew something had to change.

To reclaim the peace she deserved, she and her parents reached out to a Baptist Health therapist for help.

After taking that brave first step, she’s continued on a journey toward a happy, healthy life where she thrives in school, enjoys time with friends and is even getting her pilot’s license.

Find out how you can get the support you need to soar from Baptist Health.

FOR YOU. FOR LIFE.

APRIL EVENTS

APRIL 4, 5:30P / GIRLSINCFORTSMITH.ORG GIRLS INC. 90TH ANNIVERSARY Wyndham Hotel, Fort Smith

APRIL 4, 6, 7 / SKOKOSPAC.ORG

THE OUTSIDERS

Skokos Performing Arts Center, Alma

APRIL 4-13 / FSLT.ORG

THE LOST BOY

Fort Smith Little Theatre

APRIL 6, 8:30A – 5P / FACEBOOK

AIREDALE CAR & CRAFT SHOW

Skokos Performing Arts Center, Alma

APRIL 6, 12-4P / JLFS.ORG

JLFS PRESENTS DAY AT THE DERBY Hardscrabble Country Club, Fort Smith

APRIL 6, 12-6P / BELINGAFOUNDATION.ORG JOURNEY TO AFRICA

Freedom Farms, Barling

APRIL 6, 7P / KINGOPERAHOUSE.COM

GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA

King Opera House, Van Buren

APRIL 6, 7P; 7, 2P / WABALLET.ORG

THE WIZARD OF OZ

ArcBest Performing Arts Center

Fort Smith

APRIL 9, 7P / UAFS.UNIVERSITYTICKETS.COM

UAFS WIND ENSEMBLE

ArcBest Performing Arts Center Fort Smith

APRIL 9, 7:30P / CASAOFSEBASTIANCOUNTY.ORG CASA'S DARK NIGHT FUNDRAISER

Fort Smith Little Theatre

APRIL 11, 5-7P / ACHEHEALTH.EDU ART GALLERY RECEPTION

ACHE RIHWC, Fort Smith

APRIL 13, 9-11A / THECALLINARKANSAS.ORG BUNNY BREAKFAST

River Park Buildings, Fort Smith

APRIL 13, 11A-1P / ACHEHEALTH.EDU COMMUNITY EXTRAVAGANZA

Arkansas Colleges of Health Education Fort Smith

APRIL 13, 11A-1P / HAMILTONCCA.ORG HUNT THE FORT

Mercy Tower, Fort Smith

APRIL 13, 2P & 7P / CSAFORTSMITH.ORG

CSA: ANNE OF GREEN GABLES

King Opera House, Van Buren

APRIL 13, 7P / MAJESTICFORTSMITH.COM

THE BYNUM PROJECT

Majestic, Fort Smith

APRIL 16, 7P / UAFS.UNIVERSITYTICKETS.COM

UAFS STUDENT JAZZ BAND

ArcBest Performing Arts Center

Fort Smith

APRIL 16-21, TIMES VARY / WALTONARTSCENTER.ORG TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville

APRIL 18, 7P / UAFS.UNIVERSITYTICKETS.COM

UAFS STUDENT WIND ENSEMBLE

Fort Smith Grace Community Church

APRIL 18, 7P / FORTSMITHCONVENTIONCENTER.ORG WORLD BALLET

ArcBest Performing Arts Center

Fort Smith

APRIL 19, 6-8P / ARTSONMAINVB.COM

POETRY SLAM

King Opera House, Van Buren

APRIL 19, 6-11P / REYNOLDSCANCERSUPPORTHOUSE.ORG

30TH ANNUAL WINE & ROSES GALA

Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House, Fort Smith

APRIL 20, 10A-6P / VANBUREN.ORG

2024 EARTH DAY FESTIVAL

Main Street Historic District, Van Buren

APRIL 20, 6P / MANESANDMIRACLES.ORG

MANES & MIRACLES 5/10K

Forefront Church, Fort Smith

APRIL 20, 7P / FORTSMITHSYMPHONY.ORG

FSS: STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS

ArcBest Performing Arts Center

Fort Smith

APRIL 22, 7P / 906LOUNGE.COM

JONATHAN KARRANT

906 Cocktail Lounge, Fort Smith

APRIL 23, 7P / UAFS.UNIVERSITYTICKETS.COM

A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING

ArcBest Performing Arts Center

Fort Smith

APRIL 23, 7P / UAFS.UNIVERSITYTICKETS.COM

JAZZ CATZ

ArcBest Performing Arts Center

Fort Smith

APRIL 26, 8A / FSCRM.ORG

MISSION POSSIBLE GOLF TOURNEY

Ben Geren Park, Fort Smith

APRIL 26, 6:30P; 27, 12-10P

TRUE GRIT FIGHTER FUNDRAISER

La Huerta, Downtown Fort Smith

APRIL 26-28, 7:30P; 28, 2P / FSLT.ORG

A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING

Fort Smith Little Theatre

APRIL 27, 10A & 1P / CSAFORTSMITH.ORG

CSA: WILLY WONKA KIDS

St. Boniface Auditorium, Fort Smith

APRIL 27, 6-11:30P / FSRAM.ORG

EVENING IN AMSTERDAM

Fort Smith Convention Center

APRIL 27, 7:30P / AMPTICKETS.COM

RILEY GREEN

Walmart AMP, Rogers

APRIL 28, 7A-12P / FORTSMITHMUSEUM.ORG

GENERAL DARBY CHALLENGE

Cisterna Park, Fort Smith

Submit events online at dosouthmagazine.com or email catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

ACHE RIHWC – FORT SMITH

WELLNESSCENTERCLASSES.AS.ME

Barre: Mon., Wed., & Fri. 9:30a / Tues. & Thurs. 12p

Body Sculpting Boot Camp Mix: Mon. & Thurs. 6p

Dance Cardio: Mon. & Thurs. 5:15p

Drums Alive: Mon. & Thurs. 3p

Playful Pathways (Birth-6mo.): Tues. 1:30p (Pre-Register)

Moving with Parkinson’s Disease: Wed. 1p

Muscle Pump Exercise Mix: Wed. 5:30p

Yoga: Mon., Wed., & Fri. 12p

Apr. 4: Sugar-Free Baking – Muffin Mania 5:30p

Apr. 8: Vegan Diet Education 3p

Apr. 11: ACHE Art Reception 5p

Apr. 15: Vegan Cooking: Plant-Based Protein 5:30p

Apr. 19: Friday Night Hook Up (Crochet!) 6p

Apr. 25: Artful Healing 5:30p

Apr. 26: Women’s Self-Care Event 8:30a

FORT SMITH REGIONAL ART MUSEUM

FSRAM.ORG

RAM Saturdays: 12-4p (FREE)

Guided Tour Sundays: 2p (FREE)

Permanent Exhibit: Dr. William E. Knight Porcelain Gallery

To April 21: Empoderado and Faces and Figures of the Permanent Collection

To May 19: Kristen TordellaWilliams Precipice

To May 19: Charcoal Visions

UAFS ATHLETICS

UAFORTSMITHLIONS.COM

BASEBALL

Apr. 12: vs. Cameron University, 1p

Apr. 13: vs. Cameron University, 1p & 4p

Apr. 14: vs. Cameron University, 1p

Apr. 26: vs. University of Texas Tyler, 1p

TENNIS

Apr. 19: vs. Midwestern State Univ. Texas, 1p (Women & Men)

Apr. 20: vs. Lubbock Christian University, 10a (Women & Men)

THE BAKERY DISTRICT – FORT SMITH

BAKERYFS.COM

Trivia: Monday, 6:30p

Yoga: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:30p

Cornhole (Bags at The Bakery): Wednesdays, 6:30p

Fort Smith Jazz Jam: 2nd Thursday, 6:30p

Movie Night: 3rd Thursday, 6:30p

Segue: Every Last Thursday, 6p

Fort Smith Blues Jam: 3rd Sunday, 1p

Bikes at the Bakery: 3rd Friday, 6p

BOOKISH – FORT SMITH

BOOKISHFS.COM

Storytime: Saturdays, 11a

Apr. 4: Entrepreneur's Book Club, 12p

Apr. 8: Author Ginny Myers Sain with Kathy Watson. Book Release Event One

Last Breath (Penguin Random House), 5:30p

Apr. 11: Romance Book Club, 6p

Apr. 18: Small Press Book Club, 6p

Apr. 20: Local Author Showcase, Taylor Prewitt & Jennifer Reim, 12:30-2p

Apr 26: Mostly Fiction Book Club, 6p

ARTS ON MAIN – VAN BUREN

ARTSONMAINVB.COM

April 5: The Art of Sushi Cooking Class

Apr 12: Pulp Palette: The Art of Painted Paper, 6-8p

April 19: Springtime Spring Rolls Cooking Class

Apr 20: Steel Magnolias Auditions, 2-4p

Apr. 26: An Evening with Charles Peer, 6-8p

Apr. 27: Pastel Painting, 9a-4p

Founding Excellence

Arkansas Colleges of Health Education’s 10 Years of Impact

WORDs and images courtesy Susan Devero, Arkansas Colleges of Health Education

The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) will mark a significant milestone this month with its ten-year anniversary. From its start on land covered in pine trees, ACHE has transformed into a prominent, not-for-profit healthcare institution dedicated to positively impacting lives.

Established in 2009 with funding derived from the proceeds of the sale of Sparks Hospital, ACHE aimed to address the pressing physician shortage in Fort Smith and has since created more than $900 million in economic impact. The flagship program, the Arkansas College of Osteopathic

Medicine (ARCOM), welcomed its first class of 150 medical students in 2017 in a nationally acclaimed 102,000-square-foot facility. To date, three graduating classes have embarked on their residencies, and the program currently has about 600 student doctors.

Throughout its growth trajectory, ACHE has expanded both in terms of programs and personnel. Beginning with the hiring of Kyle D. Parker, JD, as President and CEO in 2014, ACHE now boasts a team of more than 250 full-time employees. In 2019, the Master of Science in Biomedicine (MSB) was introduced as a feeder program, responding to the growing demand. The need for student housing led to the construction of The Residents, initially comprising eighty-four units, and now expanded to 303 units, encompassing The Residents, Residents at Heritage, and Heritage Creek Townhouses.

In January 2020, ACHE added a second nationally recognized facility—the College of Health Sciences (CoHS). This 66,000-square-foot facility houses the ACHE School of Physical Therapy (ACHE DPT) and the ACHE School of Occupational Therapy (ACHE OTD). There are currently 103 PT students and thirty-two OT students in the programs, and its state-of-theart building includes a pro-bono Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Clinic benefiting the community, providing hands-on experience for students under professional supervision.

In August 2024, ACHE will launch its fifth program, the Master of Public Health (MPH), a two-year online initiative tailored for working professionals with concentrations in Rural and Community Health and Nutrition.

Over the past decade, the ACHE campus has grown substantially, expanding to 542 acres. The Village at Heritage, a mixed-use, new

urban neighborhood, has been integrated, featuring restaurants, retail spaces, wellness facilities, and student housing. ACHE recently announced that Harps Food Stores is adding a grocery store on campus, which is expected to open in 2025.

The campus also boasts the serene Celebration Garden and Wellness Park, spanning eight gorgeous acres. This thoughtfully designed space incorporates water features, a playground, labyrinth, pavilion, and a scenic mile-long walking trail, all aimed at enhancing the overall well-being of the community. The Celebration Garden holds special significance, a tribute to the anatomical donors, individuals who selflessly contributed their bodies to educate students in the intricacies of human gross anatomy. Their profound gift stands as a constant source of inspiration for the entire ACHE community, serving as a poignant reminder of the transformative power inherent in acts of generosity. Within the ACHE campus, Mercy Clinic and Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital serve as venues for clinical rotations and fieldwork for ACHE students.

The ACHE Research Institute Health & Wellness Center (RIHWC) is just fifteen minutes away, a 317,000-square-foot facility acquired in 2020. Following a generous $32 million gift, the facility is being renovated into a cutting-edge establishment focusing on health transformation. The first floor, which opened in the spring of 2023, has hosted art receptions and facilitated ceramics classes, art workshops, and lab sessions. This diverse range of activities has served as a vibrant canvas for creativity to

thrive. ACHE's commitment to health and wellness is unmistakable through nutrition initiatives, cooking classes, and garden programs. Additionally, its fitness and dance classes offer a pivotal role in enabling individuals throughout the community to embrace a healthier, active lifestyle.

Ongoing renovations on the second and third floors of the ACHE RIHWC showcase a 95,000-square-foot biomedical research facility. The second floor will host a vivarium facility, and the recently completed Center for Rehabilitation Research will be the nation's third-largest space designated for physical and occupational therapy research. The third floor will comprise five centers: the Center for Oncology, the Center for Genetics and Personalized Medicine, the Center for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, the Center for Diabetes and Obesity, and the Center for Neuroscience, Aviation, and Aerospace.

As ACHE reflects on its remarkable journey from humble beginnings to a thriving institution over the past ten years, the anticipation for the next decade is apparent. From the roots of pine trees to the flourishing branches of innovation, ACHE is poised to continue its legacy of transformative contributions. Here's to another decade of excellence, growth, and making a lasting difference in the field of health education and beyond!

All are invited and encouraged to attend the Founder’s Day Celebration, April 13, 11a-1p, on the front lawn of the ARCOM building for a picnic, food, fun and games. This event is free to the public. For more information on ACHE, visit achehealth.edu.

good news

APRIL FUN-RAISERS

APRIL 2: United Way Fort Smith hosts the Raise Your Voice Rally at University of Arkansas – Fort Smith to raise awareness to domestic violence and sexual assault. Participating agencies include Monarch 61, Hamilton Center for Child Advocacy , and Crisis Intervention Center . unitedwayfortsmith.org

APRIL 4: Girls Inc . celebrates 90 years of inspiring girls to be strong, smart, and bold! Enjoy dinner and drinks, along with a live auction, guest speakers and a short program at the Wyndham Hotel in Fort Smith. girlsincfortsmith.org

APRIL 6: The Inaugural Spring Gala: Journey to Africa a beautiful night of art & culture, is a fundraiser for The Belinga Foundation , taking place at Freedom Farms in Barling. The aim is to bring unseen culture to a thriving area of diversity. belingafoundation.org

APRIL 6: Junior League Fort Smith presents Day at the Derby at Hardscrabble Country Club ! Activities including a corn hole tournament, horseshoes, caricature drawings, food and drinks and a live viewing of the Arkansas Derby. jlfs.org

APRIL 9: CASA’s Annual Dark Night Fundraiser , in partnership with Fort Smith Little Theatre , presents a showing of The Lost Boy , a fictionalized account of the birth of Peter Pan. Proceeds benefit CASA of Sebastian County. casaofsebastiancounty.org

APRIL 13: The Call hosts the 2nd Annual Bunny Breakfast at the River Park Buildings, downtown Fort Smith. This family friendly event features a pancake breakfast, games, and crafts. Funds raised will go towards their mission of no waiting children in foster care. thecallinarkansas.org

APRIL 13: The team of adventurers with the most points at the end of Hunt the Fort , a scavenger hunt-style event benefiting Hamilton Center for Child Advocacy , will be crowned the winners! hamiltoncca.org

APRIL 19: The 30th Annual Wine & Roses Gala , benefiting Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House, an elegant evening of wonderful wines, gourmet food, music, live wine auction and jewelry raffle, is not to be missed! reynoldscancersupporthouse.org

APRIL 20: The 6th Annual Manes & Miracles Raise the Barn 5/10K & Breakfast benefiting Manes and Miracles takes place at Forefront Church in Fort Smith. manesandmiracles.org

APRIL 26-27: The True Grit Fighter 2nd Annual Fundraiser takes place at La Huerta in downtown, Fort Smith. Proceeds help fund a documentary film being produced about the life of Cruiserweight Champion of the World Bobby Crabtree. Fight night live music, guest speakers, and silent and live auctions. No cover, donations accepted.

APRIL 27: Step into Amsterdam and sample the culture, art, and cuisine at RAM’s Art ‘Round the World Gala: Evening in Amsterdam ! Funds raised will help the museum continue enhancing life for all ages in the River Valley through art appreciation opportunities. Live jazz, dancing, dinner, silent and live auctions, art viewing, and a jewelry raffle. fsram.org

APRIL 28: The Fort Smith Museum of History , the Darby House , and the City of Fort Smith host the inaugural Fort Smith General Darby Challenge . This ruck march and half marathon honors General William O. Darby and Fort Smith’s twin cities, Cisterna and Nago-Torbole, Italy. Proceeds benefit the Fort Smith Museum of History and the Darby House. Register at runsignup.com.

SAVE THE DATE

MAY 2: Sip, Shop, Support , a shopping fundraiser benefiting the GetREALU program, will take place at Hardscrabble Country Club , from 6-10p. Visit getrealu.org for tickets.

MAY 4: Get your tickets for Good Samaritan Clinic’s annual Best Night of the Year fundraiser, a country derby-themed evening which takes place at Kay Rodgers Park Expo Center in Fort Smith. Visit goodsamaritanfs.com for details and tickets.

MAY 6-11: The United Way Classic golf tournament takes place at Hardscrabble Country Club next month! There will be a free youth clinic, a pro-am, a cornhole tournament and a party on the patio! Visit unitedwayfortsmith.org for complete details.

MAY 9, 16, 23, 30: The 4th Annual Levitt AMP Fort Smith Music Series returns May 9 featuring Genine LaTrice Perez . Find the full season line up at 646downtown.com.

MAY 11: Heart to Heart Pregnancy and Family Care Center will host their spring fundraiser, Mystery at the Fort Legacy Ball, a 1940’s-themed Mystery dinner at the United States Marshals Museum. Call 452.2260 for tickets.

MAY 17-18: Christ the King Catholic School hosts its 97th annual CTK Carnival! Everyone is invited for games, food, an auction, live music, and fun! Adults can enjoy beer and wine, while the kids enjoy fresh fruit drinks, cotton candy, ice cream, and funnel cakes. Authentic dishes include egg rolls, pupusas, gorditas, Mexican corn, burgers, and more!

good news

ROUND OF APPLAUSE

Harry G. Barr Company , a leading innovator in specialty window and door design and manufacturing, announced its collaboration with HGTV's hit show Fixer to Fabulous with hosts Dave and Jenny Marrs of Bentonville, Arkansas. Renowned for transforming outdated properties into stunning dream homes, the Marrs couple selected WeatherBarr to provide a unique window solution for an episode which aired in February 2024.

NEW FACES & PLACES

United Way Fort Smith welcomes Maddie Stojanovic as the new Resource Development Director.

Fort Smith Boys and Girls Clubs welcomes Jerad Branham, Athletic & Activities Director; Ty Daniels, Jeffrey-Glidewell Unit Director; and Amaica Howard, Program & Volunteer Manager.

Rudy Ruins is a newly renovated historic wedding and special events venue, nestled on top of a picturesque hillside in the heart of Rudy, Arkansas. rudyruins.com

Baptist Health welcomes Brandi Stewart, MBA, BSN, RN, as their chief nursing officer for Baptist Hospitals in Fort Smith and Van Buren as well as the system’s River Valley clinic.

The Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House welcomes Jessie Bickerton as the new Director of Operations.

The Call is hosting an open house and ribbon cutting for their new location at 401 N. Greenwood in Fort Smith, April 17, 10am!

APRIL RECOMMENDATIONS

WORDS Sara Putman, Bookish

Enjoy these recommendations from our friends at Bookish, Fort Smith, Arkansas’s only independently owned bookstore located in The Bakery District.

Family Family

by Laurie Frankel

India Allwood is a hometown hero with big dreams. From day one, she had her sights set on the bright lights of Hollywood and she got there through one adorable idiosyncrasy, she used index cards for everything! From memorizing lines to creating confetti. Soon enough, India took Broadway by storm and graced TV screens as a superhero.

But her latest project focuses on adoption, which she knows about firsthand. When India accidentally says too much to a journalist, calling the movie a letdown, she quickly realizes exactly what a media storm looks like. Everyone is buzzing with gossip. The press is swarming, activists are chiming in, and everyone's got an opinion. India's twins, who can sense the tension and know they need to rally the troops, call for reinforcement. That's where the family comes in. But as you might imagine, India is more than just an adoptive mother. In Frankel’s newest book about the nuances of family dynamics, she highlights the complicated mix of emotions and bonds that make a family a family. It’s not blood and it isn’t love, but it is complicated.

A genuine and loveable look at what it means to be a family.

The Anatomy of Anxiety

by Dr. Ellen Vora

One effect of Covid-19 was a surge in anxiety. In Dr. Vora's book, she redefines it as a holistic concern rooted in bodily imbalances. By addressing these, Dr. Vora offers hope, guiding individuals toward true healing and growth, navigating anxiety's origins with resilience.

The Secret History of Bigfoot

by John O’Connor

In the realm of Bigfoot literature divided between believers and skeptics, John O'Connor's research is an example of balanced inquiry. Eschewing definitive proof or ridicule, O'Connor offers a smart, engaging exploration of Bigfoot's cultural allure, blending investigative journalism with literary finesse.

One Last Breath by Ginny Myers Sain

A gripping blend of mystery and romance set in the haunting atmosphere of Mount Orange, Florida. Tru finds herself drawn into a decades-old murder mystery with a paranormal twist and a sinister stalker – you’ll be hooked till the end. Author event at Bookish, April 8, 5:30p.

Do South ® Cares

words Lauren Zavala, Marketing & Donor Relations Manager, Fort Smith Boys and Girls Clubs

The Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs serve the youth of Fort Smith, fostering responsible citizens and leaders. Our mission, in affiliation with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, is to enhance their quality of life through diverse programs and opportunities.

Fort Smith Boys and Girls Clubs fsbgc.org

479.782.7093

6015 Boys Club Lane Fort Smith, Arkansas

Next month, we’ll showcase another worthy nonprofit in our area free of charge. Requests for this free page accepted beginning October, 2024. Send inquiries to catherine@dosouthmagazine.com, or call 479.782.1500.

Welcome to the Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs, where dreams are nurtured, potential is unlocked, and futures are shaped. In this glimpse into the transformative world within Clubs’ walls, we unveil an array of enriching programs that are molding the leaders of tomorrow.

Transformative Programs: Igniting Passion and Creativity: The Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs isn't just an after-school destination; it's a dynamic space full of diverse opportunities tailored to ignite the passions of every young mind. Whether it's our TJ Music Program or the exhilarating world of LEGO Robotics, where budding engineers blend creativity with technology, acquiring skills that resonate far beyond the classroom. For those with green thumbs and a love for nature, our Gardening Club provides a hands-on experience, instilling the values of environmental stewardship and sustainable living. Meanwhile, the Chess Club sharpens young minds with strategic thinking and problem-solving skills that extend far beyond the chessboard.

Beyond After-School - Power Hour: When school is over, our Clubs transition seamlessly into the After-School Program, a haven for academic support and character development. It's not just about finishing homework; it's about building a foundation for lifelong success during Power Hour activities.

Summer Adventures: The summer months come alive with the vibrant Summer Program, a whirlwind of excitement where friendships blossom, and memories are made. From engaging educational activities to thrilling recreational adventures, every moment is crafted to ensure a well-rounded and unforgettable summer experience.

Celebrating Achievements - Youth of the Year Program: Recognizing and celebrating the outstanding achievements of our youth, we proudly host the Youth of the Year program. This platform not only honors exemplary individuals but also serves as a testament to the incredible potential within every club member.

Pathways to Success, College Scholarships and Mentorship: For those with aspirations of higher education, the Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs pave the way with College Scholarships, creating a pathway for brighter futures and breaking down barriers to success. Emphasizing the importance of mentorship, the 'Stand with U' mentoring program offers guidance, support and a listening ear, fostering a sense of belonging and encouragement.

Sports Superstars: Our youth find their calling within our sports programs offered, including soccer, basketball, and dance. Excitement is on the horizon with the upcoming introduction of futsal, flag football, and volleyball, promising even more avenues for teamwork and a greater skillset.

Embrace the Journey, Where Great Futures Start: In a world where opportunities for growth and development are invaluable, the Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs stand as a testament to the boundless potential within every young person. We are a haven of inspiration, where futures are not just envisioned but actively sculpted, one program and opportunity at a time.

OUR FOCUS IS OUR CHILD’S FUTURE

A quality education is at the top of our priority list for our child’s future, so we found a plan.

No matter what higher education looks like when she’s ready for it, we’re saving today for her brilliant future.

The Arkansas Brighter Future 529 Plan allows our education savings to grow tax-deferred. And every little bit helps.

Our focus is our child’s future and we have a plan.

Help make your child’s future brilliant with an Arkansas Brighter Future 529 Plan. Open your account today.

MEET SHELDON

AGE 13

Meet our friend, Sheldon! He has a big heart that is sure to melt yours. His main goal is to make those around him smile by saying nice things.

He struggles at times trying to finish tasks or stay focused, but despite the hardships he has faced, Sheldon remains grateful and appreciative, even when things are tough. He would flourish with two parents who can give him lots of attention. Being the only child would be great because Sheldon could be the center of attention! His dream family is one that is high-energy and that loves spending time outdoors. Fishing is his absolute favorite thing to do, but he also enjoys Pokémon, singing, and his favorite food is spaghetti! Sheldon’s heart is ready to give a lot of love to his future family. Please reach out for more information.

In partnership with Project Zero, each month Do South® will feature a waiting child, or sibling group, in foster care in Arkansas. To inquire about these incredible children, please visit theprojectzero.org.

IMAGE Jon Yoder Photography

The GOODS

imageS Jade Graves Photography and courtesy vendors

Absolut® Cocktails Vodka Mojito and Raspberry Lemonade, Charbay Green Tea Flavored Vodka IN GOOD SPIRITS

479.434.6604

Eyewear by Oliver Peoples STILES EYE GROUP

479.452.2020

Hearts On Fire Ellipse Diamond Pendant, 18kt Rose, Yellow or White Gold, Starting at .25ct.

JOHN MAYS JEWELERS

479.452.2140

Protect Their Hearing with Snug Earmuffs CENTER FOR HEARING AND BALANCE 479.785.3277

Founders Mortal Bloom Hazy IPA, Juniper Tree Meadery Blackout Mead, St. Agrestis N/A Phony Negroni, Trejos Spirits N/A Gin

SODIE’S WINE & SPIRITS

479.783.8013

Better Beginnings is Arkansas’ tiered quality rating and improvement system for child care, early childhood education and out-of-school time programs.

Better Beginnings helps create awareness of the importance of early learning from birth to five years of age, when brain development is most critical.

Learning Through Play

Research tells us the most effective learning happens through play and positive interactions with adults and caregivers.

Early learning is a partnership between early childhood educators and families. Families can find activities and tips for at-home early learning in our free, online Family Resource Library.

Kindergarten Readiness

Kindergarten readiness is a big part of Better Beginnings. Our goal is to make sure all children in Arkansas have access to quality child care. Better Beginnings early

Better Beginnings is administered by the Arkansas Department of Education.

Learning through play: Research-based early education

Written by Kelli Hilburn, Better Beginnings Program Administrator

childhood educators prepare children for kindergarten with positive experiences, researchbased curriculum, and learning through play. Learning with qualified child care professionals gives children an advantage when they start kindergarten. That early learning head start can last a lifetime.

Scan the code for free activities and tips for learning in our Family Resource Library and en español en Biblioteca de Recursos.

Families can

participate in early learning at home using activities and tips from our Family Resource Library.

Reach for the Stars

Better Beginnings’ star rating system helps simplify choosing a child care program for families. The more stars, the higher the quality learning environment. Star-rated quality child care providers can be found by clicking the orange Find Child Care banner on our website. We encourage parents to reach for the stars – Better Beginnings star-rated quality early childhood educators.

Early Recognition for Prevention

Understanding Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease

This month, we are talking about two common childhood autoimmune diseases – Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. Recognizing these conditions early is crucial for effective prevention and management. Let's break down the information in simpler terms.

TYPE 1 DIABETES (T1DM)

VS. TYPE 2 DIABETES (T2DM)

Most people are familiar with Type 2 diabetes, often associated with factors like obesity, poor dietary choices, and genetics. It develops gradually over time due to insulin resistance, where

the body struggles to use insulin efficiently. Insulin is essential for extracting energy from food for cellular functions. Type 2 diabetes is most seen in adults, more rarely in adolescents.

On the other hand, Type 1 diabetes is less known. It arises when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its pancreatic cells responsible for producing insulin. As a result, the production of insulin is reduced, leading to abnormal glucose metabolism. Unlike Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 diabetes is commonly diagnosed in children.

WORDS Dr. Kendall Wagner, Chaffee Crossing Clinic Image Chinnapong/Shutterstock

DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS (DKA)

A LIFE-THREATENING COMPLICATION

Unfortunately, Type 1 diabetes often manifests very suddenly in childhood. One study found that 60% of children with Type 1 diabetes were not identified until they developed diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a severe condition where the body's inability to perform glucose metabolism results in cellular dysfunction. DKA is a medical emergency requiring intensive care unit management. Early identification of those at risk for Type 1 diabetes is crucial to prevent irreversible damage from conditions like DKA.

FAMILY HISTORY, TESTING, & DIAGNOSIS

Traditionally, physicians monitored children for symptoms like increased thirst, urination, weight loss, and low energy. However, these symptoms are nonspecific, and routine lab tests may not identify Type 1 diabetes until the individual has progressed further into the illness. Recent focus has shifted towards identifying early markers that increase awareness of the risk of developing Type 1 diabetes. Blood panels are being studied to screen for autoantibodies associated with Type 1 development, especially in first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, children) known to have Type 1 diabetes. If an individual tests positive for multiple autoantibodies associated with Type 1 diabetes, their risk of developing symptomatic T1DM increases significantly. Early identification allows for closer monitoring, and recent developments in preventive therapy, such as the anti-CD3 antibody called teplizumab, may delay severe impairment in glucose metabolism.

CELIAC DISEASE (CD)

UNDERSTANDING THE AUTOIMMUNE RESPONSE

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that targets specialized cells, enterocytes, in the gastrointestinal tract. These cells form villi, crucial for nutrient absorption. In individuals with CD, consuming gluten triggers inflammation in the absorptive

surface, leading to impaired nutrient absorption. Symptoms include poor growth, chronic pain, gassiness, bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. Gluten is commonly found in cereals, bread, and pasta but can also hide in less obvious foods like vinegars, sauces, ice creams, and puddings.

INCIDENCE & DIAGNOSIS OF CELIAC DISEASE

Historically, it was believed that around 1% of the U.S. population had celiac disease, with those of European descent being more susceptible. However, recent studies show an increasing prevalence, estimating a five-fold incidence increase. Shockingly, only half of the affected children in the U.S. are clinically identified, and studies suggest that only 10-15% of affected individuals are correctly diagnosed. Blood tests, screening for the autoantibody tissue transglutaminase, can help diagnose celiac disease. Physicians may also check immunoglobulin A levels to ensure the immune system functions normally.

PREVENTION & MANAGEMENT THROUGH DIET

Eliminating gluten from the diet is the primary treatment for celiac disease. This not only resolves symptoms but also reduces the risk of malnutrition, nutrient deficiency, and certain types of cancers associated with celiac disease. It is crucial to discuss the risk of celiac disease with your physician, who can perform screening tests and guide you on potential dietary changes.

In conclusion, early recognition plays a pivotal role in preventing and managing Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. Vigilance for symptoms, regular testing, and ongoing medical research are essential components of this preventive approach. Engaging in conversations with your physician about your risk factors and the potential benefit of screening is the first step toward ensuring the well-being of yourself or your loved ones. Embracing early recognition is the key to a healthier future.

Empowering Movement

Dancing to Slow Parkinson’s Disease: How ACHE Research Institute Health & Wellness is Making a Difference

Dancers are empowered to explore movement and music in refreshing, enjoyable, stimulating, and creative ways. But for those diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease (PD), specialized dance and movement classes may be life-changing.

ACHE Research Institute Health & Wellness Center (RIHWC) is now helping those with PD to slow the progression of the disease with a dance and movement class. Executive Artistic Director for Western Arkansas Ballet Melissa Schoenfeld has a Master of Fine Arts in Ballet Pedagogy and has

over thirty-six years teaching ballet in the Fort Smith area. However, this is not a ballet class but a research-backed dance class for those diagnosed with PD.

Melissa attended an intensive training program in Washington, DC, by the Mark Morris Dance Center to earn her certification in dance for Parkinson's Disease. She was taught choreography for those with physical or intellectual disabilities and movement adaptation for various degrees of the disease. The first day of her training started with the basic introduction that those diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease are not patients but dancers.

Melissa said, "It's hard for PD dancers to connect their body movements and their brain thought simultaneously for coordination, but through dance, we work on those coordination difficulties to make everyday movements smoother. The dance and movement class helps to internalize music and rhythm that supports the imagination and motor control that can slow the progression of PD over time." Melissa continued, "This works because dance and movement help the feet and arms to work together to increase balance and stability. With dance, we work on gait, walking, and turning while thinking about how we are using our bodies for that all-important mind and body connection."

Each class is different because the needs of each dancer vary, so classes are adapted to each person's comfort level. Melissa said, "An average class would follow this type of schedule: we do the first twenty minutes or so in a chair doing stretching, then depending on their comfort level and where they are in their progression, the dancers can either stay in the chair or stand behind the chair using it as a bar for support. This type of dance class is adaptable and inclusive to the dancer."

WORDs Anna Layne images courtesy Arkansas Colleges of Health Education

"We work on remembering steps in order, like the steps in line dancing, which not only creates energy in your body while improving balance but also works the brain. This can help those with PD keep them moving throughout the day. We have a wide selection of upbeat and energetic music, from Tchaikovsky to country and everything in between. Music selection is intentionally chosen to help with movement in rhythm," explained Melissa.

"Oftentimes, those with Parkinson's will lose the social aspects of their life, so we incorporate joking, laughter, and eye contact during the dance classes. It's amazing to see the social transformation in the dancer in just an hour of class. I have noticed more confidence in the dancers, and they leave class more engaged than when they entered," said Melissa.

A personal assessment is done at the beginning when the dancer starts the dance and movement class, and then after about six or eight weeks, there is a reassessment. This shows the progress made in comparison to where they began. The assessment is not for show but for each dancer to be encouraged by positive changes. It has been found that muscle strength tends to take the most time to develop.

In speaking with Melissa, you can feel her pride for the dancers, noting, "The feedback I get from my dancers helps me meet their needs. For example, a dancer requested more stretching movements that could be used outside of class last month. I was able to teach additional movements to help when first getting up in the morning. I encourage caregivers to take classes with them because it helps with social bonds. In addition, by understanding the theory behind the movements, caregivers can use the techniques they learned in the movements to help those with PD throughout the week."

Dance and movement classes are recommended for individuals newly diagnosed with PD because they help with stretching and balance and form connections with others who have traveled the path of Parkinson's before them. "This is a judgment-free and inclusive atmosphere. Just show up and move with us," encourages Melissa.

ACHE’s Dance and Movement Classes for Parkinson’s Disease are offered Wednesdays from 1-2p at the Research Institute Health & Wellness Center in Fort Smith. Classes are free. For questions and to register, contact Lisa Boyd, Director of Wellness Programming & Engagement, at Lisa.Boyd@achehealth.edu.

2024 REALTORS ON THE MOVE

Do South® is proud to recognize the talents and dedication of local Realtors, Agents, and Brokers who are committed to excellence and consistently go the extra mile for their clients. Join us as we salute the incredible professionals who propel our region forward!

WORDS DWAIN HEBDA AND FEATURED REALTORS

A Do South® Paid Promotion

Barbie Johnson

KELLER WILLIAMS PLATINUM REALTY

When it comes to real estate, Barbie Johnson of Johnson Realty Group with Keller Williams Platinum Realty in Fort Smith is second to none. Having created one of the largest and most successful agencies in the River Valley, there’s nothing about the buying and selling process she hasn’t seen.

“One of my favorite things about this business is the relationships,” she says. “I have clients whom I sold houses to in my very first year, 2007, and we are still the best of friends. I love people and I love the relationships that form with clients, other realtors, lenders and more."

Opening the local Keller Williams office in 2017 with twelve agents, Barbie grew the operation

to one hundred forty agents and the numberone spot in all industry categories.

“We invest in our agents, giving them the training and technology to deliver the best for our clients,” she says.

Now, the mom and uber-successful entrepreneur is branching out, sharing all she’s learned on the road to success, starting with her justpublished fourth book, SOZO Living

“SOZO means living the full, abundant life,” she says. “It’s about not settling for the so-so in any aspect of your life but being fulfilled and grateful every day of your life.”

NICK AND ELLIE GLIDEWELL

SAGELY & EDWARDS REALTORS

The husband-and-wife team, Nick and Ellie Glidewell, have been in the Fort Smith real estate industry since 2010 when they got their licenses within a few months of one an other.

The couple grew up in Fort Smith, each attending Greenwood High School. During high school, Nick began working for his family's business, Glidewell Distributing, a supplier of food, drinks, and novelties to convenience stores in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Ellie's first job after college was as a teacher at Lavaca Elementary School.

Since their marriage in 2003, they've shared their lives and home with a long list of best friends, also known as dogs. It's rare not to have at least one, and usually two, four-legged companions waiting for them to return from their workdays. Those companions have always been Shih-Tzus and Great Danes.

Lovers of the outdoors – whether it's a pristine nature trail or a Sunday drive through the lush byways of Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley – Nick and Ellie have never considered living anywhere other than Fort Smith. They share the fundamental values of home, family, and hard work, which have all helped them rise to the top of their chosen profession.

We’re a team that complements each other’s talents,” Nick says. “We both do different things well, but what we share is a commitment to the process and serving our customers to the fullest. We follow up on every single phone call and sweat all the details, crossing the t’s and dotting the i's. I think that’s the strongest indicator that this business will never fully be handled remotely. Something we tell our younger clients is that while technology is great and it makes some parts of the process a lot easier, you just can’t get the kind of hands-on service that we provide working through an app.”

Nick and Ellie place great value on helping others and being of assistance whenever and wherever possible. Nick believes this passion led him and Ellie to careers in real estate.

Of course, as anyone familiar with the industry knows, no set of values or passions will guarantee success in the ever-changing and unpredictable world of real estate. There are things you can only learn "in the trenches," a place the couple has been navigating for fourteen years. In that time, they've seen the market become so hot you could fry the proverbial egg on it. They've also seen it go through slowdowns, such as the one we're in now.

Higher-than-average interest rates have contributed to a significantly reduced inventory, with sellers hesitating to leave their homes and re-enter the market as buyers. However, those looking to buy homes are aggressive, scooping up listings often just days after they become public.

But while the real estate market seems to be on hiatus, Nick and Ellie are not. They remain at the forefront of the strategies and technologies that drive real estate in Fort Smith and the surrounding areas. This is because they know the real estate market is never truly stagnant: after a slowdown comes a boom, and with every boom, there's always a settling period afterward, and a good agent must be ready for every season. Each season brings people seeking advice and direction when entering a real estate transaction, and Nick and Ellie Glidewell plan to be here for the long haul, helping each step of the way.

When You’re Buying or Selling a Home, Everything Should Revolve Around You

Buyers: Learn about and visit only the properties that match your specific desires and budget. We’ll advise you on every move, every decision, every step of the way.

Sellers: Benefit from proven selling technologies like 3D Virtual Home Tours and stunning photo and web promotion. We pay for these strategies – not you.

Discover how simple and rewarding it is to buy or sell a home with Nick and Ellie Glidewell, Realtors who are 100% invested in your ultimate delight and satisfaction.

Call or visit:

(479) 739-6333

NickAndEllie.com

M c GRAW REALTORS®

Local market knowledge, a proven track record of results and an unmatched focus on customer service are just a few of the watchwords for McGraw Realtors ®, one of the fastest-growing independent real estate brokerages in the region.

“The McGraw Realtors ® difference is something clients love to experience,” says Principal Broker Susie Sparkman. “As we like to say, we are committed, we are loyal, and we are tenacious. We take the time to know our clients, providing individualized attention to meet their needs whether selling an existing property or buying their dream home.”

Started in Oklahoma, McGraw Realtors ® purchased Anderson Properties in 2020, giving the company a presence in Fort Smith and Greenwood. The company has quickly risen to become a preferred realty company, even gaining a Greenwood listing to be featured in this fall’s Showcase Home, built by L & L Development.

The brokerage’s concierge-level service and proven track record of success has led to new offices in rapid succession. A Hot Springs office opened in late 2020; a

northwest Arkansas presence followed in 2021 and in 2022 the company entered Benton, Siloam Springs, and Little Rock.

One of the things that sets McGraw Realtors ® apart is a support team that provides a range of services not found elsewhere, including marketing, administrative support and relocation services. Having designated individuals attend to these roles helps McGraw Realtors’ ® 830 agents systemwide focus on what they do best, on behalf of their customers.

“Our people know the local market inside and out, they have knowledge and experience and they work hard for our clients,” Susie says. “At McGraw Realtors®, our culture is the engine that drives everything we do; from how we recruit, train, and invest in our agents, to the way we serve our clients throughout the real estate process. Even as we have grown, and we have grown rapidly, we’ve never lost that hometown connection.”

106 Candles

At 106 years of age, lifelong Fort Smith resident, Marguerite Carney, recalls the best of how it used to be.

WORDs Marla Cantrell images courtesy Marguerite Carney and Cindy Clark

One-hundred-six-year-old Marguerite Carney sits in her easy chair inside the Fort Smith, Arkansas house she’s owned for seventy-five years. Her white hair is in a ponytail, and she’s wearing an emeraldgreen jogging suit. She is a tiny, blue-eyed woman with good posture, a result of a lifetime of dancing.

She points toward her front yard, where there’s a missing section of brick along the driveway’s edge. “My last boyfriend knocked that over,” Marguerite says. “Ran right over it in the dark of night.”

Marguerite is what you’d call a hoot. There is a series of pictures of her that show her dressed as Rosie the Riveter, Betsy Ross, the Easter Bunny. Her friend, Cindy Clark, came up with the idea to commemorate holidays, and Marguerite signed on.

She no longer drives, but it wasn’t that long ago she totaled her Mustang convertible when she hit a patch of black ice. Her daughter Donna was riding shotgun. Marguerite is smiling while Donna tells the story, her youngest daughter Debbie sitting nearby. When Debbie realizes Donna was in the car, she asks, “Why was Mom driving?” Donna shrugs. “You try telling her no.” If their sister Margot were here, she’d probably agree.

Marguerite and Cindy

Marguerite’s parents likely had the same problem. She was born in Fort Smith on March 20, 1918, the baby of seven, to a mother who had emigrated from Austria. Her father, whose surname was Brun, was the great-nephew of Albert Lebrun, who would become France’s president in 1932.

Nineteen-eighteen found Arkansas reeling from the Spanish flu pandemic. World War I would end, but not until November. Women didn’t have the right to vote, although a measure on that year’s ballot in Arkansas made provisions for women’s suffrage. The measure did not pass.

A total eclipse of the sun took place on June 8. Airmail began, as did Daylight Saving Time. Nine days after Marguerite was born, Walmart founder Sam Walton took his first breath 229 miles away, in Kingfisher, Oklahoma.

Marguerite’s father owned a confectionery shop on Garrison Avenue that adjoined the Boston Store. Marguerite remembers chocolate sodas selling for a nickel. She dated the captain of the St. Anne’s Academy football team, was homecoming queen, and was training to become a ballerina.

She was a young woman when soldiers came to Fort Chaffee to train for World War II. She and nine of her friends raised enough money to buy a multi-seat vehicle for the Red Cross Motor Corps. The women learned to change tires and oil and chauffeured soldiers, often showing them the local sights.

“Raising money wasn’t hard,” Marguerite says. “Everybody in town wanted to do something for the war.” In 1958, she’d return to Chaffee to watch inductee Elvis Presley get his long hair shorn. “He was a good-looking guy. Very good-looking,” she says.

In 1942, Marguerite married George Carney, a pilot in the Navy. She was at a party in Fort Smith when she learned World

War II had ended. “My brother came and told us the war was over.” And what did she do? “I took another drink, of course!”

After the war, the couple built a house in Fort Smith, and George took over for his father at the Harding Glass Plant. Eventually, George started Carney Properties, a real estate company, and Marguerite’s life revolved around her three daughters, volunteering, and her work in the Catholic church.

A cross-country vacation took the family through Las Vegas. George, a golfer, wanted to play at one of the big resorts, but they were scrambling to find a parking space. When one finally opened, Marguerite jumped out, raced over, and stood in the middle of it.

“Well, here comes Dean Martin.” Marguerite waves her hand as if to dismiss the star. ”And I said, ‘No, I’m saving this for my husband.’ He said, ‘Do you know who I am?’ And I said, ‘Yes, I know who you are. And I’m still saving this spot for my husband.’”

Laughing, she adds, “He was nice about it. Later, he gave the girls an autographed cocktail napkin and gave us tickets to his show.”

The Carneys’ marriage lasted until George’s death in 1980. He died suddenly at Central Mall from a heart attack. Marguerite was sixty-two. She’d never worked outside the home, but George had been teaching her how he ran the company. She never dreamed she’d need to know.

Marguerite took over Carney Properties and still holds a position there today. One of her acquisitions was Williamsburg Square Shopping Center, that she later sold. The only experience she’d had had been raising money for the Red Cross and serving as president of the St. Edward Women’s Guild. Turns out, she was a natural at business.

When George died, Dr. Marlin Hoge and his wife showed up at the hospital. The two couples were longtime friends and had a standing date on Wednesday nights at the Red Barn restaurant. He was also George’s doctor. “Fort Smith was a much smaller town when I grew up. We all knew each other’s family. It just came natural that after Marlin’s wife died, our friendship grew.”

103. He’s the boyfriend who ran through her driveway late one night, after he’d dropped her off.

When Marguerite tells her story, it’s happy. Although, that’s not quite accurate. She’s lost a lot in more than a century, and she’s survived four bouts of cancer. Nothing compares to the 2011 murder in Tulsa of her twenty-six-year-old grandson, Randolph Ney. “We just clicked. He’d come pick me up in his car and turn up the radio. He’d say, ‘Grandma, I know you like this music as much as I do.’” Marguerite’s lovely face stills. “I pray for him every day,” she says.

“I have a deep faith in God. That Man up above guides me and takes me over.” She points to her heart. “It’s just buried so deep in here, I can’t express it.”

So much has gone to dust. The Harding Glass Plant is a distant memory, St. Anne’s Academy shut down in 1973. The Red Barn burned to the ground in 2014, and the Boston Store ended its reign in 1984. In 2023, Newton’s Jewelers on Garrison Avenue shuttered. The shop stood for 109 years, and Marguerite was their oldest customer. “In the last fifteen minutes they were

open, I was outside sitting in the car.” She touches her throat, where a chain studded with aquamarine stones catches the light. “The Newton girls came out and gave me this.”

In 106 years, she can only think of one regret. She returns to the teenage summer when her dance teacher, Miss Madden, took her to see the New York Ballet Company. “I can see that ballerina now,” Marguerite says. “She was beautiful. She was a wonderful dancer. People back home told me I was wonderful, but seeing her, I knew I didn’t compare. I knew my future wasn’t on the stage.”

Marguerite came home and created a life filled with a different happiness, and later, she taught her girls to dance.

In her lifetime, she’s seen a man walk on the moon and the first woman on the Supreme Court. She witnessed the Arkansas Razorbacks win the 1964 National Championship. Her daughter Debbie opened a dance studio.

Marguerite still lives in the house her husband built more than seven decades ago. Outside, a section of the driveway’s edge is missing, accidentally taken out by her sweetheart on a moonless night. Every bit of the house, every inch of the driveway, reminds Marguerite of her two great loves. Everything stays as it is; she leaves it all unchanged.

Marguerite and Marlin

Marguerite and George’s Wedding

Arkansas Children’s Pediatric Surgeons

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SPRING PRODUCTIONS

Wind Ensemble

7 p.m. • April 9

ArcBest Performing Arts Center

Jazz Band

7 p.m. • April 16

Breedlove Auditorium

Jazz Catz

7 p.m. • April 18

Fort Smith Grace Community Church

A Grand Night for Singing

7 p.m. • April 23

ArcBest Performing Arts Center

Hooray for Ollywood

A group of child actors in a small Arkansas town make headlines at an international film in Rome.

There’s no red carpet, no paparazzi, and no one asking for autographs at the entrance of Oliver Springs Elementary School in Van Buren, Arkansas, but there could be. The school is home to the Oliver Springs Music Club, which is in the habit of making award-winning films, like the fan film, Indiana Jones and the Treasure of the Aztecs, which has earned more than forty international awards at the time of this writing. Film festival season is only nearing its midpoint, so there could be more.

One day, Oliver Springs could be known as Ollywood. Stranger things have happened.

Levi Bull transforms into a much younger version of Harrison Ford’s character, Indiana Jones (Best Young Actor: Rome International Movie Awards). His partner was supposed to be a boy, but when Addie Falleur auditioned for the role of Ollie, she was so good that the director/composer/screenwriter and Oliver Springs music teacher, Kevin Croxton, adjusted the script. A convincingly naive Brody Gauchat played sidekick Jock, and the Soviet villain Anton Raskin, played by a restrained Cole Anderson, nearly stole the

WORDs Marla Cantrell images courtesy Kevin Croxton

show. He even speaks in Russian, and a choir of twenty-five Soviet soldiers sings in their “mother tongue.” Addie, Brody, and Cole won Best Ensemble in Rome.

The crew shivered in the caves and sweltered in the swamp. The film took more than two years to complete, not in small part because COVID-19 hit, closing schools for a time. When filming began, Kevin and his students, ages eight through eleven, were at Parkview Elementary, where the music club had already released In the Blink of an Eye: A James Bond Fan Film, Batman: The Scheme is Sound , and The Adventures of the U.S.S. Parkview: A Star Trek Fan Production . A restructuring occurred when Oliver Springs opened for the 2020-2021 school year, shuffling Parkview students and staff to the new school.

In June 2023, Hollywood released Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny , the final Harrison Ford installment. A month later, the red-carpet premiere of the local production of Indiana Jones and the Treasure of the Aztecs , set in 1958, was held at the Malco Theater in Fort Smith. Guests got the first look at the cast of sixty in scenes shot at Van Buren’s Arkhola Preston Quarry, the Fort Smith Museum of History, Fourche Creek in Little Rock, Barling’s Springhill Park, Cosmic Caverns in Berryville, and the Old Spanish Treasure Cave in Sulphur Springs. There were llamas and horses, a World War II-era army jeep, boats, twentyfive Soviet uniforms, snakes, and special effects.

Throughout the film is music Kevin composed (Best Movie Score/Best Director: Rome International Movie Awards). Playing beneath the dialogue, it shows us when to worry, when to feel

triumphant, when to laugh. The entire movie lasts less than thirty minutes, but every second counts.

The seed for this endeavor was planted in 1981, when Harrison Ford starred in the George Lucas/Steven Spielberg film Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark . Music teacher Kevin Croxton was seven years old at the time and was caught up in the world of this archeologist/action-hero of a man. Kevin lived in Fort Smith with his mom, a piano teacher, and his dad, a jazz player who was offered a job after filling in on piano for band leader Doc Severinsen, from NBC’s Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson .Kevin’s dad turned the job down.

At home in Fort Smith, young Kevin, who later graduated from Southside High School, was pretending to be Indiana Jones. In 1984, another film was released, and five years later, yet another installment in the franchise premiered. He saw them all.

Movies were so important to Kevin that his parents let him use their garage as his studio. He recruited neighborhood kids to play the parts. He was always the director.

As the only child of two talented musicians, Kevin’s ear was trained to melody. He learned to play the piano, viola, trumpet. He started composing music in high school. At the University of Arkansas, he used his dorm room as a studio. He was particularly good at composing film scores, and soon, independent filmmakers had his number. Kevin won Emmys® for his composing. He raised a family and has taught for twenty-seven

years at Van Buren Schools. At some point, two of his loves—music and films—merged.

When he approached the Van Buren School District with his plan to bring filmmaking to Parkview Elementary, he was gladdened by the support. When he moved to Oliver Springs, the enthusiasm continued. Students organized fundraisers, the Arkansas Arts Council and Arts in Education Program stepped in, as did Arts on Main in Van Buren. Five Star Productions in Fort Smith loaned equipment and staff, and their own Clay Pruitt serves as the cinematographer (Best Cinematography: Rome International Movie Awards). They’ve had donations from parents, banks, and the Ozark Media Arts Festival presented them with one thousand dollars for winning Film of the Year.

Often, former students will return to be part of the crew. Parents jump in to help. Moms Carrie Odiorne and Maggie Adair won Best Hair and Makeup in Rome for their work with the cast. In 2021, George Lazenby, of 007 fame, played a cameo in the students’ Bond film. Kevin dreamed of getting Karen Allen, who played Indiana Jones’ wife, Marion Ravenwood, for his latest production. She happily agreed.

Already, Kevin has an idea for the next movie, also a fan film. He’s working his contacts, hoping to get another Hollywood star to participate in their Ollywood—or should I say Oliver Springs Music Club—production.

The payoffs are big. Former music club actor Mia Tucker played in both the Bond and Star Trek films. Mia was discovered by an executive producer and casting director from Los Angeles when she and her mother attended the Fayetteville Film Fest. “Mia just has a presence about her,” Kevin says. “They were fixing to shoot a feature film called Freedom’s Path, and they had searched all over for the right person. They had a casting session later that day. She joined the Screen Actors Guild. Mia was on set with a tutor for twenty days.” At the time of this writing, Freedom’s Path was playing on Paramount Plus.

If there are other public elementary schools with comparable film programs, Kevin hasn’t heard of them, but he finds

it unlikely. Dressed all in black, he talks with his hands as if words are not enough. Perhaps if music were playing, he’d feel as if the emotion was being adequately transferred, that his thoughts were zinging into the recorder like music notes. Without music, he can only talk faster.

Kevin’s newest venture is with Arts on Main in Van Buren. He’ll be overseeing a summer youth filmmaking program to show others in the area the power of original movies. The music teacher doesn’t know why children make such great actors. He says they work hard and give it all they’ve got. But something else seems to be at play. A sheet thrown over a kitchen table becomes a fort, at their age. They wave their arms and fly. When they sing, they rarely worry about their range or public image. The world is a stage. When they are older, they may lose their aptitude for whimsy. Kevin is hoping against hope that they don’t.

To watch Indiana Jones and the Treasure of the Aztecs, go to Kevin Croxton’s YouTube channel.

State of Emergency

INSIDE ARKANSAS’S OPIOID CRISIS

Staci James walks in a crowd, yet alone with her thoughts. On either side of her, other family members move in the same somber manner. They are all related, these strangers, though truth be told they wish they weren’t. No one talks, but everyone shares the same story.

It’s a brilliant day for the gathering. The website calls it a walk to remember but that’s not the half of it; this event is, at once, a reminder, a warning, a scream of anguish, a punch thrown at a cosmic wall. Every family carries a piece of poster board with a picture of those who have been lost. Teenagers in prom gowns, athletes in letter jackets, young adults at their brightest and boldest. The families hold the images aloft like patron saints.

Staci holds hers up, too, of a gentle-faced young man looking steadily into the camera. “I didn’t even know what fentanyl was,” Staci says of her son, Hagen, the young man pictured on the poster with the words “Forever 22” printed on it. “So, I began this journey into opioids, I began this journey specifically into fentanyl. Where is it coming from? What is it? How did it find its way to Little Rock, Arkansas? That’s not supposed to happen here. We’re a neighborly state, we’re good people, we raise our kids right. It’s not supposed to happen.”

Morphine, codeine, hydrocodone, oxymorphone and others were all developed to help the severely injured and terminally ill, yet today are at the heart of a plague that rivals anything the human race has ever seen.

As time has gone along, pharmaceutical companies have refined their products to overcome human tolerance to previous prescriptions. Along with potency has come abuse and addiction, even when taken as directed. In some cases, people became dependent on opioids “accidentally” while taking the pills for a legitimate malady. In other cases, physicians overprescribed the drug, sending home a month’s supply for a week-long recovery, feeding into humans’ seemingly bottomless belief that if one is good, might as well take three.

In still other cases — as with OxyContin, introduced in 1996 — manufacturers would later be found to have misled the public and the medical community, downplaying the addictive nature of the drug, turning many physicians (complicit or otherwise) into street-level pushers.

In Greek mythology, Pandora was given a box by the gods containing every evil in the world. When Pandora opened it all the miseries of mortal life escaped to infest mankind; only hope remained in the box. Over time, the legend of Pandora has been used as a metaphor for unleashing something that draws with it many other consequences both foreseen and unforeseen.

In the modern world, pharmaceuticals can be viewed as a Pandora’s box, created to ease human suffering yet also paving the way for abuse, addiction, and death. The most dangerous of these, prescription opioid painkillers, are a prime example.

However it started, opioid abuse has become a full-blown health crisis worldwide and fast, starting with OxyContin, which flooded the market both for legitimate use and through intentional and unintentional over prescription. Suddenly, an endless stream of powerful narcotics was flowing into American homes, as close as millions of bathroom medicine cabinets. Pills began spilling out into the street to be swallowed or crushed for injection or snorting. In time, per CNN’s Sanjay Gupta, the U.S. would gobble up eighty percent of the world’s supply of opioids.

By 2007, Purdue Pharma, the creator of OxyContin, admitted to lying about the addictive properties of their product and would eventually agree to pay billions in fines and to settle various lawsuits. But by then, Pandora’s box lay in splinters and even hope had fled the scene. When the settlement was announced in 2020, overdose deaths in the U.S. would hit ninety-two thousand that year, two-thirds of which were opioid related.

Even the cleanup to this toxic mess had collateral damage; when OxyContin was redesigned to reduce the addictive properties and make it harder to shoot, patients looked for something to replace it. Heroin, to be precise — cheaper, readily available, and more than happy to pick up where pills left off.

Just like the Greek myth, opioids themselves didn’t stop with OxyContin. By 2011, a little-known but powerful anesthetic developed in the 1950s called fentanyl had started to factor heavily into overdose deaths. Fifty to one hundred times stronger than heroin, fentanyl was increasingly being mixed in with other substances such as cocaine, and stories of overdose deaths after just one ingestion became more and more common.

This is exactly what happened to Hagen and many more like him.

***

“Unfortunately, that last weekend when he was out with his buddies, he encountered fentanyl,” Staci says. “There was fentanyl in the cocaine and toxicology stated that there was five times the lethal dose. Hagen didn’t stand a chance.”

And so, Staci, a paralegal, who admits she couldn’t even spell fentanyl initially, became a committed crusader to unmask the face of her son’s killer.

“When your child is murdered, you want to find out everything you possibly can about who and what killed him,” she says. “I went to the Southwestern U.S. border to attend a law enforcement briefing in that area. I’ve been to D.C. several times. I’ve been to the DEA headquarters with their family summit, and I’ve met families from across the nation. I now have knowledge that is terrifying.”

The devastating effects of opioids has caused a marked decrease in prescription rates across the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the national opioid dispensing rate dropped below forty prescriptions per one hundred individuals in 2022, compared to about forty-seven prescriptions in 2019. Arkansas, unfortunately, remains one of the most heavily prescribed states in the nation, with more than seventy-two prescriptions per one hundred people in 2022. Only Alabama ranks higher, per the CDC.

Moreover, five Arkansas counties ranked in the top fifty nationwide in 2022 for opioid prescriptions, led by Baxter County which ranked fifteenth at one hundred sixty-four prescriptions per one hundred residents. Craighead County ranks twentieth at one hundred forty-two prescriptions and Independence County was twenty-seventh at one hundred thirty-three prescriptions. Rounding out the state’s top five were Garland County, ranked thirty-fifth at one hundred twenty-nine prescriptions, and Pulaski County, thirty-eighth nationally, at one hundred twenty-seven prescriptions per one hundred residents.

Kirk Lane

Staci James

Kathy McConnell

Locally, Sebastian County is a mixed bag when it comes to drug addiction. The county prescribed seventy-three prescriptions per one hundred individuals in 2021, according to the Arkansas Department of Health, which is an average of four prescriptions below the state’s average. This occurred despite being surrounded by counties with much higher rates of prescription.

Averaged together, Crawford, Franklin, Logan and Scott issue just under one opioid prescription for every man, woman and child living in those areas.

However, Sebastian County was the highest in Arkansas in overdose deaths across all categories of drugs in the first six months of 2023 at fourteen deaths per one hundred thousand residents, the Department of Health reported. Only two other Arkansas counties averaged double-digit rates of overdose death in that period, Pulaski County at eleven deaths and Garland County at ten deaths per one hundred thousand residents.

In 2022, Sebastian County, at twenty-seven deaths, was second highest behind Clay County in a group of eleven counties to finish the year at twenty overdose deaths or more per one hundred thousand residents. Seven Arkansas counties recorded thirty or more deaths, led by Calhoun County at thirty-eight per one hundred thousand residents.

Of course, none of this takes into account the amount of opioids, including fentanyl, being trafficked illegally, particularly given the ongoing situation at the nation’s southern border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports fentanyl seizures have increased more than eight hundred percent since fiscal year 2019, and fiscal year 2023 seizures (commencing last October) have already surpassed fiscal year 2022’s total fentanyl seizure.

“We’re seeing a lot of synthetics,” says Kirk Lane, director of the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership, whose career in law enforcement and government agencies addressing drug abuse spans forty years. “The whole thing about drug dealing and the whole drug industry is it’s all about profit and money. It’s not about getting high. It’s not about getting medication.

“What’s scary about drugs today is they can end your life. We didn’t see that in the years past in my career. Yeah, there were

some people dying from fatal overdoses, you saw it in the olden days in the heroin overdoses, but what’s happened is when big pharma crossed the line, it led society into a mindset of ‘It’s from the doctor, it’s safe, my doctor wouldn’t hurt me.’ There’s still that mindset that any kind of pills are safe because they come from a pharmacy, even if I take somebody else’s pills.”

Kirk says the current epidemic is also fed by the persistent stigma that still hangs over some aspects of mental illness, such as substance use disorder.

“You still have society seeing problems of mental health and turning to law enforcement and the courts to solve those problems. That gives everything a criminal-type aspect,” he says. “Instead of looking at substance use disorder and opioid use disorder as a disease and treating it like a disease, we criminalize it, and we create the stigma that makes it so difficult for us to get past because people won’t come forward and be honest because of their embarrassment and the stigma that’s out there.”

Despite the massive scope of the problem, there are efforts being made in Arkansas to help individuals get their lives back in order, even if their addiction has led them to be incarcerated. Kathy McConnell is director of the Pulaski County Jail re-entry program, which helps inmates address issues in their lives, including addiction.

“We have a program schedule going on all the time in our unit that are peer-led groups, and we have volunteers that come in and teach,” Kathy says. “The volunteers come in and pour love

and hope into people. It’s just amazing because so many who are in our program have addiction issues, years of addiction issues and generations of addiction issues. For at least eighty percent of them, it may look like they simply committed armed robbery or breaking and entering, or battery, but it’s all fueled by alcohol or drug addiction.

"Our volunteers teach programs such as Inside Out Dads, a parenting program for men taught by a graduate of our program who got out and wants to come back and help. Series 33 Authentic Manhood is a course taught by three young men from the Nehemiah House who are all graduates of the program and are doing very well there. They want to come back and help."

Throughout talking about the program, Kathy wisecracks about being too old for this kind of work, but a note in her voice tells the listener her mission is very personal. Like Staci, she lost a child to fentanyl and sees the inmates as a chance to spare another family from experiencing similar loss.

“My son, Matthew, was in active addiction pretty much from the time he was in the tenth grade until he died at thirty-three,” she says. “We didn’t know anything about addiction when he first started. It was hidden, it was a secret, it was a moral issue. And a lot of bad stuff happened. A lot of pawn shops, a lot of police, a lot of hospitals. Just a lot of ugliness.

“You develop a lot of things between you and your loved one in addiction that prevent your loved one from really listening to you and from you looking at them objectively because they are your loved one. Now, I’ve been able to channel that and when I walk into a room it’s obvious, I’ve never been incarcerated, I’ve never had drug issues, but when I start talking, they know I know . And many of them may not realize what they’ve done to their families and that’s an important thing that we always teach is victim impact.”

Kirk says despite Arkansas’s poor showing nationwide, the state does continue to make progress. Most of the tale is a good-news-bad-news proposition, however: The good news is the state has seen a seventeen percent reduction in overdose deaths over the past several years; the bad news is, the annual

death toll due to overdose still equals more than four hundred Arkansans, roughly equivalent to the population of Subiaco in Logan County.

“People ask me, ‘What does the number need to be?’” Kirk says “Well, it needs to be zero. That’s what our goal is. One person dead is too many.”

Until that happens Staci will be there to serve families who have lost loved ones. She and two other moms who have lost children to overdose formed the nonprofit Hope Movement Coalition through which she serves the grieving, be they parents, siblings, or spouses.

“I call it an assault of grief,” she says. “In many, many ways it is like a traumatic brain injury, and I don’t say that lightly, nor do I say it to disrespect anyone that has encountered that. I don’t see life the way I did prior to March 19, 2019. It takes a great deal of inner strength that most people don’t even know they have just to get through the day sometimes. While we cannot take away what has happened, we can absolutely help them manage their traumatic grief.”

Hope Movement Coalition has grown its suite of services and operates in all seventy-five Arkansas counties. Helping others is therapeutic for Staci, who now devotes herself full time to the cause, but more importantly it helps people who need it. Like Kirk, she considers just one more empty chair at the dinner table, just one more child robbed of a parent or the addition of just one more poster at the next memorial walk to be far too many.

“We’ll never make the pain stop,” she says. “But we want to help keep that family unit together. We want to be right there with them to say, ‘Hey, we’re here to help you make this work.’”

Hope Movement Coalition, hopemovementcoalition.com

National Drug Helpline, 844.289.0879

SAMHSA’s National Helpline (treatment referral) 800.662.4357

Arkansas Department of Health, healthy.arkansas.gov

Download the ReviveAR app by the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership for information and resources, arorp.org.

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

INGREDIENTS METHOD

FOR THE SALAD

° 1-2 cans chickpeas, drained & rinsed (can substitute bean of choice)

° 4 mini cucumbers, chopped

° 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

° ½ red onion, sliced thin

° ½ cup kalamata olives, roughly chopped

° ½ cup feta crumbles (optional)

FOR THE DRESSING

° ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

° 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

° ¼ cup red wine vinegar

° juice of ½ a lemon

° 2 garlic cloves, minced

° ½ teaspoon oregano, dried

° 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

Combine chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes, onion, and olives in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper, set aside. Combine dressing ingredients in a jar or bowl. Stir or shake to combine, season with salt and pepper. Pour dressing over salad, toss to coat. Top with feta crumbles if desired.

Raspberry Lemonade Refresher

RECIPe adapted thesocialsipper.com

IMAGE Elena Vesselova/Shutterstock

INGREDIENTS

(makes 2)

• ½ cup fresh raspberries, more for garnish

• 1½ ounces Limoncello

• 2 ounces vodka

• ¾ ounce lemon juice, fresh

• ½ ounce simple syrup

• sparkling water

• lemon wheel and mint (garnish)

METHOD

Divide raspberries between 2 cocktail glasses, then muddle. To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add Limoncello, vodka, lemon juice and simple syrup. Shake until chilled. Add ice to glasses and strain mixture over ice. Top with sparkling water, garnish with lemon wheel, raspberries, and mint.

Always drink responsibly. Never drink and drive.

A Diamond Is Forever

When De Beers contracted N.W. Ayer & Son to create a tagline for their diamond ad campaign in 1947, four words became the single greatest advertising slogan ever created—A Diamond is Forever. As much as it conveyed the eternal meaning and significance of a diamond, it also served to make diamonds more accessible to the masses—without diminishing the aspirational qualities of owning them or the romanticism of giving them.

Historically, however, the mining of these beautiful stones has not been quite as romantic. In 1991, Sierra Leone began funding the feuds of their civil war with illicit diamond sales that eventually led to the term “blood diamonds” being coined. But not all diamonds come from war-torn countries. In fact, the U.S. has its very own active mine in Arkansas, just outside of Murfreesboro—one with a unique story to tell.

Prior to its discovery in 1889, a large expanse of “unusual green dirt” situated about two miles south of Murfreesboro was the cause of enough speculation that geologists eventually decided to examine the soil. What they found was that it bore distinct similarities to diamond-bearing volcanic material called peridotite in Kimberly, South Africa. Unfortunately, they failed to uncover any actual diamonds—which left the land to be considered nothing more than an oddity.

That all changed in 1906 when John Wesley Huddleston, a local farmer, purchased 160 acres of land near Murfreesboro. Consequently, the land included part of the expanse of volcanic material. Unlike the geologists who had examined the soil only years before, Huddleston inadvertently discovered diamonds on the property. Accidental though his discovery was, he saw the potential for riches, and Arkansas’s

so-called “Diamond King” soon sold his land to a commercial mining company for $36,000.

In its very own version of the Gold Rush , Arkansas experienced a diamond rush when word got out about diamonds on the land. According to reports, the Conway Hotel in Murfreesboro turned away more than 10,000 people in a single year due to the lack of availability. As a result, a tent city was established halfway between Murfreesboro and the mine, providing the influx of diamond hopefuls a place to lay their heads and set up camp.

Over the next forty or so years, the land operated as a commercial diamond mine until 1952, when it became a privately operated tourist attraction. In 1971, the Arkansas State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission voted to buy the property from its owner, General Earth Minerals, and maintain the property as a tourist attraction rather than a commercial mine—a decision driven primarily by a diamond yield too poor for commercial operation.

Covering 911 acres of heavily forested land, Crater of Diamonds State Park comprises a diamond search area of 37.5 acres. In addition to the mining area, the park operates a visitor center museum where guests will find displays on the history and geology of the state park as well as real, uncut diamonds and interactive exhibits. As one can see from the diamonds on display, the colors of the stones found at the park include white, brown, and yellow. “It’s a great way to understand how everything came to be, as guests can watch

WORDs Liesel Schmidt images courtesy Crater of Diamonds State Park and Arkansas Tourism

a video on the formation of the crater and see real diamonds on display,” says Sarah Reap, Park Interpreter II.

In the Diamond Discovery Center, visitors are given the opportunity to study displays on rock and mineral identification and are provided with more information about the geology of the park. While the park does not employ an on-site gemologist or geologist, all park staff are trained to identify diamonds and other rocks and minerals from the Crater of Diamonds search area.

“Visiting Crater of Diamonds is an incredibly unique experience as it is one of the only places in the world where the public can search for diamonds in their original volcanic source and keep any they find,” says Sarah.

In fact, there are no regulations on how many diamonds can be mined by visitors each year. According to Sarah, as of January 31, 2024, a total of 36,115 diamonds have been registered at the park in the fifty-two years since it became an Arkansas State Park in 1972. Size is also unregulated, with the largest diamond found by a park visitor being the 16.37-carat Amarillo Starlight diamond, discovered in 1975 by a man from Amarillo, Texas. However, the largest diamond ever found at Crater of Diamonds State Park was much more sizeable and weighed in at 40.23 carats. Named the Uncle Sam diamond, it was discovered in 1924 by a worker at the Arkansas Diamond Corporation, which operated the Prairie Creek pipe mine, now occupied by the state park.

As exciting as the prospect of diamonds are, the carbon-created gemstone is hardly the only thing of interest to be found on the land. Jasper, amethyst, quartz, garnet, spinel, and peridot are among the other rocks and minerals guests can find in the designated search area.

The cost for entering the search area is $15 for visitors 13 and older, $7 for children ages 6 through 12 and free for children under the age of 6. For anyone planning a trip to Crater of Diamonds, Sarah encourages doing your homework, both on

the park’s website as well as from other reputable sources. “I would learn about diamond searching methods and make sure I had everything I needed, equipment-wise,” she says. “The park has mining equipment available to rent, but during busier times like summer and school breaks, we can run out quickly. I would investigate the possibilities of bringing my own.”

As for how best to enjoy a fun, safe and accident-free visit to Crater of Diamonds, Sarah says, “We recommend checking the weather before visiting and dress suitably for being outside for a number of hours. During the summer, the state park can reach temperatures upwards of 100 degrees with very few shaded areas. To preserve the natural geology and enhance the chances of finding diamonds, the park’s diamond search area may be unlevel and rough to walk over, so we always advise caution while traversing the terrain to prevent falls.”

Other amenities of the park include walking trails and picnic sites as well as forty-seven Class AAA campsites, five walk-in tent sites, a gift shop, and the seasonally operated Diamond Springs Water Park.

For more information, visit arkansasstateparks.com or call 870.285.3113.

Crater of Diamonds State Park is located at 209 State Park Road, Murfreesboro, AR 71958.

W.W. Johnson and rough Amarillo Starlight

Discover Hot Springs

Spring break has come and gone, and summer break is still a few weeks away, but you’re hankering for a getaway. What to do?

Fortunately, living in Arkansas provides several tank trips that offer a lot of entertainment bang for the buck. Nearby, friendly, and a lot of fun, there are hundreds of attractions for a weekend excursion right in your backyard.

In choosing the perfect destination for a couples’ weekend or a quick trip with the family, look no further than Hot Springs for the widest possible variety of attractions, amenities, unique lodging, and delicious dining options. Centrally located and never closed, Spa City is known as Arkansas’ entertainment and tourism capital for a reason.

Haven’t been lately? Here’s a quick suggested itinerary for enjoying Hot Springs from sunup to sundown.

THE PANCAKE SHOP

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and this downtown landmark does it better than anyone else. Opened in 1940, The Pancake Shop (pancakeshop.com) has thrived through the decades on the strength of great food, large portions, and friendly down-home service. As for what to order, the pancakes – light and fluffy yet crispy around the edges – and the ham slabs are legendary, washed down with a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice.

The long lines are well worth the wait, and the restaurant steers hungry diners into The Savory Pantry next

door (savorypantry.com) to peruse the shop and taste some of their incredible offerings until your table is ready.

HIKE HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK

Fueled with pancakes and syrup, it’s time for a little exercise and take in some of the natural beauty the city is famous for. Head for the trails of Hot Springs National Park that wind for twenty-six miles around downtown.

There’s no fee, and you don’t need a permit to hike these well-marked and maintained trails, but comfortable shoes and water are a must. The trails range from easy to strenuous and can be taken in short stretches or linked for a longer jaunt.

WORDs Dwain Hebda images courtesy Blake Jackson, Visit Hot Springs, Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism

Start at the Grand Promenade , a brick pathway right behind Bathhouse Row , and you’ll find your entrance to several trails, including the half-mile Peak Trail , which leads to the Hot Springs Mountain Tower , a popular tourist attraction.

The one-mile Goat Rock Trail is one of the most popular trails in Hot Springs. Hikers can access this jaunt from the connecting trails starting in downtown, creating a longer hike. Those up for a serious challenge can continue onto the ten-mile Sunset Trail . Grab a trails map from the Hot Springs National Park Visitors Center downtown (hotsprings.org/explore/visitors-center) and get moving!

GARVAN WOODLAND GARDENS

After your hike, it’s time to head to arguably the most picturesque spot in the entire city. This botanical garden of the University of Arkansas provides two hundred ten acres of beautifully cultivated grounds on a peninsula in Lake Hamilton. The gardens are open year-round and showcase Mother Nature at her best in multiple formats, from Japanese-inspired formal gardens to riotous wildflowers and everything in between.

Families flock to the Evans Children’s Adventure Gardens , which offers more than an acre of interactive fun, including a waterfall and cave, an iron bridge that resembles woven tree branches, and rocks weighing more than three thousand tons.

Garvan Woodland Gardens offers a full slate of programming throughout the year and several festivals dot the calendar. Be sure to check the website (garvangardens. org) for the latest in what’s happening outside!

BATHHOUSE ROW

After all the miles you’ve logged today, you might be in the mood to relax. Head back downtown to Bathhouse Row for a luxurious experience that speaks to the very history of Hot Springs. As the name “Hot Springs” implies, thermal waters have been the city’s calling card for generations. Native Americans and early European explorers first experienced the hot mineral water, followed by entrepreneurs who advertised Hot Springs as a health resort from about 1880 to 1950.

Changing times and tastes led several of the bathhouses that make up Bathhouse Row to close, but two remain. For an authentic experience, visit Buckstaff Bathhouse (facebook.com/BuckstaffBathhouse), which has operated continuously since it opened in 1912 and still offers a traditional bathhouse experience.

Quapaw Baths & Spa (quapawbaths.com) offers a more modern take on bathing, with large thermal pools of differing temperatures. Both locations offer optional amenities, from private and couples’ baths to massage and other spa treatments.

The nearby Arlington Hote l (arlingtonhotel.com) has a luxurious spa that uses natural thermal waters in whirlpool treatments.

Bathhouse Row

Garvan Gardens

Superior Brewery

Other historic bathhouse buildings have been repurposed to keep Bathhouse Row intact. One of these, Superior Bathhouse Brewery (superiorbathhouse.com), offers a tasty menu of craft beer brewed using thermal waters paired with delicious food items. It also offers some of the best people-watching in town from the beautiful outdoor patio.

OAKLAWN RACING CASINO RESORT

No trip to Hot Springs would be complete without a visit to Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort (oaklawn.com). Steeped in history yet incredibly new and exciting, Oaklawn offers something to do around the clock.

Spa City’s horse racing tradition dates to pre-Civil War days when a pasture surrounded by oak trees was a popular site for locals to race their favorite steeds. After several mediocre attempts to build upon this tradition, three entrepreneurs finally constructed Oaklawn Jockey Club, which opened in February 1905. The Cella family assumed ownership of the track in 1914 and still owns it today, having grown it into one of the premier horse racing venues in the United States. A casino, luxury hotel, spa, and multiple restaurants have all come online in recent years, expanding Oaklawn’s appeal and increasing its visitors.

If you’re there during racing season (December to May), do not miss the chance to experience the live action, complete with the track’s legendary corned beef sandwiches. Any time of year is a good time to visit the casino, take in a show, or enjoy a special dinner at The Bugler , Oaklawn’s fine dining experience overlooking the track.

RETAIL THERAPY

Hot Springs is full of unique shops and independent retailers. Stroll through downtown, and you’ll find a little bit of everything from boutiques and collectibles to art and antiques, plus stores specializing in home décor, pets, health, Christmas décor, beauty, and more (downtownhotsprings.org/shop).

You’ll also find plenty of spots to grab a bite or enjoy a cocktail between your shopping adventures. The Ohio Club (theohioclub.com) is a local landmark where diners can sit in the same spot as gangsters Al Capone and Owney Madden, who both made it their haunt back in the day. Also downtown is Deluca’s (originaldelucas.com), consistently rated as one of the best pizzerias in the United States (it also serves a mean cheeseburger).

For something chic, visit The Waters Hotel (thewatershs.com) and its elegant rooftop bar that provides the perfect atmosphere for socializing. Or get down at Maxine’s , a long-ago brothel-turned-bar offering great elevated pub grub and live music (maxineslive.com).

Whatever you fancy — from lake life to nightlife — Hot Springs awaits you. Make plans to visit and rediscover everything that makes Spa City unique in the Natural State.

For a complete list of attractions and events, visit hotsprings.org. What destination should we discover next? Let us know at catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

The Ohio Club

Oaklawn racing casino resort

Deluca's

The Waters Hotel

Let’s Ride

WORDS Bob Robinson images Bob Robinson and Arkansas Department of Tourism

Delta Heritage Arkansas City Terminus Dedication

April is finally here. We made it through another cold winter, and it's time to get out and enjoy the great outdoors! An excellent way to explore the outdoors is perched on a bicycle seat.

The River Valley offers a wealth of scenic byways for road bikers to cruise through the rural countryside. The area also provides several dirt trail options for mountain bikers to explore.

But did you know there is a third type of biking that attracts a large following? It's called gravel grinding –bicycling on gravel roads.

Gravel grinding is the fastestgrowing bicycle market in the United States. This environment appeals to cyclists intimidated by sharing the highway with drivers who may be distracted. It also attracts bikers not fond of weaving in and around

trees on narrow rocky dirt pathways.

Gravel grinding is a marriage of both genres. Roadies can grind out the mega mileage they enjoy but under much safer conditions. At the same time, mountain bikers can ride in the natural wooded environment they enjoy on single-track jaunts through the forest, minus the technical obstacles.

GRAVEL GRINDING WONDERLAND

With the abundance of forest roads within the Ozark National Forest to our north and the Ouachita National Forest to the south, the River Valley is rich with gravel-grinding routes from which to choose.

WHITE ROCK – SHORES LAKE

The White Rock/Shores Lake area is one of my favorite places to plot a gravel-grinder bicycle adventure. The options are unlimited, and the inescapable extended climbs to crest the rolling hills provide all the challenges a cyclist could want.

FORT CHAFFEE

Area bicyclists can add even more options to the mix with the miles of gravel roads available within the 44,000 acres of Fort Chaffee. You can ride for hours on these well-maintained gravel roads and not encounter a motorized vehicle. As these roads route cyclists through oak forests, wooded wetlands, and past small ponds, they provide opportunities to view deer, wild hogs, and various waterfowl. It is like bicycling through a nature preserve.

Families will find it hard to beat Area 3 and 3A for an enjoyable bicycle outing. This area is located east of Barling on Highway 22 across from 1st Avenue, the main entrance to Fort Chaffee. Keith Brannon and children Caelan, McKenna, and Paxton use the area training for their National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) racing season.

These designated sections include miles of easy riding on mostly flat, packed dirt roads. The route takes cyclists past several ponds that offer almost guaranteed waterfowl viewing opportunities. As you pedal leisurely through dense backwoods forests and past open meadows, the road eventually parallels the banks of the Arkansas River. The backwaters created here by the numerous levees are a favorite stop for cranes, egrets, and other winged visitors.

Be sure to watch high in the trees for the fuzzy heads of eaglets peeking out of the bald eagles’ nests. Preplanning is required as this area is an active Arkansas Army National Guard Training Facility. There are rules and regulations to follow, plus required use permits. You can visit fortchaffee. recaccess.com for more information and links to apply for inexpensive user permits. It is well worth the effort.

Enjoying the view of the Ouachita Mountains.

BIKE RENTALS

If cycling sounds like something you are interested in but want to try out before investing in a bicycle, stop by Champion Cycling, located at 5500 Massard Road in Fort Smith. For a minimal rental fee, Eugene Kersh and his crew will outfit the entire family with the equipment needed for a trial ride.

TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

If you like to push your physical limits, Arkansas has many gravel-grinding opportunities that will challenge even the most competitive athlete.

How about a combination of gravel and highway roads that connect the Ozark and the Ouachita Mountain Ranges for a 1,100+ mile loop? It's called the Arkansas High Country Route (AHCR). The route's designer, Chuck Campbell, describes the AHCR as "That route don't go nowhere, it just runs around everywhere." And, if merely riding the AHCR isn't challenging enough, sign up for the Arkansas High Country Race to complete the route non-stop and self-supported.

GIVE IT A TRY

If gravel grinding does not sound like your cup of tea, you should reconsider for no reason other than to take a break from your routine. If you own a bicycle, you won't have to purchase another one to enjoy, as cruiser bikes, mountain bikes, touring bikes, and even road bikes can be used for gravel grinding, some with minor adjustments.

It’s a family thing for Keith Brannon and his children.

Scotti and Ernie Lechuga, two former winners of the Arkansas High Country Race, enjoying the view from White Rock Mountain Recreation Area.

Big River Trail

HEALTHCARE SPECIALTIES

Choosing a provider to care for you and those you love can be overwhelming.

That’s why we’ve partnered with local professionals who are committed to providing expert care. Inside this year’s guide, you’ll find information from leading physicians and facilities to help you locate the expert care you deserve!

A Do South® Paid Promotion.

4200 Jenny Lind Road, Ste. C, Fort Smith

479.561.7600

anchoredhopecounseling.net

Anchored Hope is a counseling practice helping people cope with a broad range of issues and challenges, providing a safe place for our clients to get help, hope and healing. Our trained and experienced staff is available for both in-person and Technology Assisted Counseling (TAC) for individuals who can't visit our offices. Services include individual counseling, providing one-on-one therapy addressing a wide variety of issues in a safe, caring, and confidential environment, as well as life coaching. Our Relationship Counseling helps to overcome roadblocks to deeper intimacy. Several of our therapists are also trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Repression), a unique trauma-focused psychotherapy designed to alleviate the stress associated with traumatic memories.

8101 McClure Drive, Ste. 101, Fort Smith

479.484.7100

arveinandskincare.com

Varicose vein care and venous ulcer care since 2004!

Dr. Norma Smith was the first Diplomat of the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine (formerly ACP) in Arkansas. We are an IAC-Accredited Peripheral Vascular Lab serving the Fort Smith area since 1998. Aching legs? We can help! Our friendly, knowledgeable staff is here to alleviate pain and suffering caused by varicose veins and venous ulcer. Practicing vein care for over fifteen years, you can trust our experience, training, and commitment to the community. Dr. Norma Smith and her staff are professionally trained and accredited to care for your needs, call today for an appointment, 479.484.7100.

Let Us Help Put Your Best Feet Forward

At Baptist Health Foot and Ankle Clinic-Fort Smith, our team of podiatric surgeons provide care for patients of all ages and treat a wide range of problems affecting the toes, feet and ankles.

Baptist Health Foot & Ankle Clinic

5428 Ellsworth Road, Fort Smith

479.573.7905

Baptist-Health.com

Put your best feet forward this spring with the skilled podiatrists of Baptist Health Foot & Ankle Clinic-Fort Smith. It’s the perfect time of year to enjoy the River Valley’s beautiful hiking, running and walking trails, but you can’t enjoy it if you’re suffering from foot or ankle pain. Scott Bird, DPM, and Spencer Mortensen, DPM, improve the quality of life and health of their patients by preventing, diagnosing, and treating numerous conditions associated with the foot and ankle. From sports injuries to congenital issues, the physicians treat patients of all ages and help them enjoy more active lives to promote full-body wellness. Call today to schedule an appointment.

Surgical Expertise:

• Foot and ankle fractures

• Congenital deformity correction

• Arthroscopic surgery

• Bunion and hammertoe

Clinical Expertise:

• Foot/Ankle pain & sprains

• Heel Pain

• Pediatric and congenital deformity

• Sports medicine

• Tendinitis

correction

• Diabetic limb preservation

• Ankle instability

• Revisional surgery

• Flatfoot

• Neuroma

• Diabetic and geriatric foot care

• Ingrown nails

• Wound care

5428 Ellsworth Rd, Fort Smith, AR 72903 479-573-7905 | baptist-health.com

Primary Care Services

1.888.BAPTIST

Baptist-Health.com

You only get one life and at Baptist Health, we want to help you make the best of it. With more than ten locations in the River Valley, our primary care and walk-in clinics offer convenient appointments for patients of all ages. We strive to build lasting, trusting relationships with our patients so we can guide them on their journey to optimal wellness. Whether you’re experiencing a new symptom or suddenly under the weather, our physicians and nurse practitioners can diagnose and provide treatment for a wide range of conditions. Take the first step toward living your best life by scheduling an appointment with a primary care provider near you. Call 1-888-BAPTIST or visit Baptist-Health.com.

Spencer Mortensen, DPM Scott Bird, DPM

At Baptist Health, our primary care providers connect you with the quality care you need, for whatever stage of life you’re in. From pediatrics to geriatrics and with clinics all over the River Valley, our physicians and nurse practitioners are there for your annual check-up, common illnesses or new, unexplained health issues. At Baptist Health, we’re here For You, For Life.

FOR YOU. FOR LIFE.

To find a primary care clinic near you, visit baptist-health.com

Baptist Health Women’s Clinic

1500 Dodson Avenue, Ste. 230, Fort Smith

479.709.7490

Baptist-Health.com

From your happiest day to your hardest diagnosis, the trustworthy providers at Baptist Health Women’s Clinic-Fort Smith are with you at every milestone you face as a woman. We are proud to welcome certified nurse midwives to our experienced obstetrics and gynecology care team. Nurse midwives care for women during childbirth, including monitoring both mother and baby during labor, assisting with pain management and delivering the baby. They also provide additional emotional support through the process. Our goal is to enable mothers to take an active role in their pregnancy and childbirth to make it a special and memorable experience. If you’re pregnant or thinking about growing your family, call today to schedule an appointment.

7200

479.785.3277

centerforhearingandbalance.net

Hearing health can have a dramatic impact on your overall well-being and quality of life. Hearing loss usually occurs gradually and can go undetected for years. In many cases, it’s a close friend or family member who first brings it to your attention. If someone has mentioned this to you, it may be time for a diagnostic hearing exam by a medical professional you can trust. The doctors of audiology at Center for Hearing and Balance are highly skilled and medically trained to detect problems with the ear and offer a wide range of solutions to help you hear your best. Sometimes, it’s as simple as having your ears cleaned! Call today for your appointment.

We are honored to provide the trusted healthcare you deserve. You deserve personalized care for every stage in your journey. From preconception counseling and infertility treatments to being with you to welcome your little miracle into the world and much later in life when you have time to focus on yourself, our team of women’s health experts are here For You, For Life.

Now providing Certified Nurse Midwifery Care

Mark

SaraBeth

5004 S. U Street, Ste. 100, Fort Smith

479.883.2223

healingtreetherapy.com

At Healing Tree Women's Counseling Center, we are proud to provide counseling services to clients throughout the River Valley, Northwest Arkansas and beyond. Although based out of Fort Smith, Arkansas, we offer telehealth appointments for clients throughout all of Arkansas, making counseling more accessible and easier for clients who move or go on vacation. We offer Medication Management, Hypnotherapy, Counseling for Girls, Therapy Intensives, and EMDR. Our mission is to provide healing, expertise, and knowledge so that women gain the self-confidence and inner resources they need to live a healthier and happier daily life. Contact us today!

311 Lexington Avenue, Fort Smith

479.782.1444

lpgkids.com

Learn, Play, Grow Children’s Therapy Services is a pediatric outpatient clinic, conveniently located in the heart of Fort Smith, at 311 Lexington Avenue. LPG serves the River Valley and Eastern Oklahoma by providing Occupational, Physical, and Speech therapy to clients, ages birth to 21 years. We host monthly support groups for families of individuals with Down Syndrome and Spina Bifida. LPG accepts most private insurances, AR Medicaid, and SoonerCare. We are very proud of our amazing team of therapists at LPG and are seeking to expand our team! We are currently hiring for Speech Language Pathologists and have a variety of positions available; Full-Time, Part-Time, and PRN. Call us for more information!

Appear more youthful without extended downtime. The Fraxel dual laser, a non-ablative skin resurfacing treatment, improves skin tone and texture. Morpheus8 combines micro-needling with radiofrequency energy to refine and resurface aging skin. These two innovative therapies can be used separately or together.

Learn more about the latest in skin care technology available at Passmore Plastic Surgery. Call for a consultation today — and regain your radiance.

Certified, American Board of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

> Services customized for you & your budget

> 25 years experience

> Surgical and non-surgical procedures

> Injectables, fillers, high-quality products

> Best of the Best/Community Choice Award past nine years

> Best of the River Valley past two years passmoreplasticsurgery.com

7811 Euper Lane, Fort Smith 479.452.1611

methodistvillage.com

Serving our Mission, Striving for our Vision, Sharing Stories, and Leaving a Legacy. For sixty-three years, Methodist Village Senior Living has been caring for our community’s elders through Independent and Assisted Living, Memory Care, Long-Term Care, and Rehab. Seated on thirty acres in central Fort Smith, our campus is the only “Life Plan Community” in the River Valley. We are pushing forward with innovative care and education, focusing on the whole-person, and creating a place you would be happy to call home. Call 479.452.1611 to schedule a tour today!

7805 Phoenix Avenue, Fort Smith 479.242.2442

passmoreplasticsurgery.com

A Board-Certified cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Ann Passmore has been voted Best of the Best the past nine years as well as being selected Best of the River Valley. Her practice utilizes the latest technology to help you feel more confident and appear more youthful without extended downtime. Three of these advanced treatments – EvolveX, the Fraxel dual laser, and Morpheus8 –are available in the River Valley exclusively at Passmore Plastic Surgery. Offering high quality skin care products, surgical procedures, and non-surgical therapies, Passmore Plastic Surgery can customize the right treatment for your body, your skin, and your budget. Call for a consultation today.

Josh Wilkinson, MD

5901B Riley Park Drive, Fort Smith

479.763.3050

premierpediatricsfs.com

Hey Moms-to-be, we love babies! If you’re looking for a pediatrician, we invite you to schedule a “meet and greet” before your newborn arrives so we can answer your questions and introduce you to our clinic. As your child grows, routine examinations provide the best opportunity for our team to observe your child, detect problems through screening tests, provide immunizations, and get to know one another. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends visits at 3-5 days, 2 weeks, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24 and 30 months, 3 years, and once a year thereafter. When your child is ill, you’ll have peace of mind knowing our urgent care is open nights and weekends. Schedule an appointment online or call today!

8101 McClure Drive, Ste. 301, Fort Smith

479.242.8300

jameskelly3md.com

Surgery of any kind should not be taken lightly and choosing to have plastic surgery or hand surgery requires thorough research and educated decision making. The qualifications and experience of a surgeon must be considered and ensure the facilities are certified. Dr. Kelly, Board Certified in Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, has provided quality cosmetic and hand surgery services since 1996. Our office utilizes state-of-the-art equipment, emphasizing proper disinfection and sterilization techniques for your safety and comfort. Our friendly, knowledgeable, and wellexperienced staff stand ready to answer your questions. Dr. Kelly accepts most insurances and performs surgery at Mercy Hospital, and Baptist Health in Fort Smith. Our number-one priority is your well-being!