WONDERLAND - DECEMBER 2021 by Do South Magazine

WONDERLAND

december 2021 DoSouthMagazine.com

december

Contents 04 13

Letter from Catherine The Wonder of Christmas

{COMMUNITY}

08 10

{ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT}

06 07

What’s New: December Events Get Bookish: December

In Good Spirits

12 14

Profile Series:

Local Restaurants

Special Feature:

Holiday Gift Guide

Project Zero

40 42

Hot Cocoa Charcuterie Jingle Juice

Recommendations

{ T R AV E L }

Shop Local Advertiser Spotlight:

{TASTE}

{PEOPLE}

20 24 28 32 36

National Vacation

Spirit Animal Hooked on an Eight-Second Ride The Long Road Home

{FICTION}

Love Waits

Setting the Captive Free Finding Family

OUR COVER Image Credit:

{OUTDOORS}

Walking in Winter Woods

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Bogdan Sonjachnyj/ Shutterstock

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Letter from Catherine

MERRY

The holidays are upon us, and I am in my element. It’s hectic, and sure, I complain, yet I secretly thrive. I am making lists and checking them twice - Santa’s got nothing on me! My tree has been up since November 21, and I may leave it up year-round because that’s how much I love those sparkly lights. Something about it just warms up the house, and my soul.

Thanksgiving was a whirlwind at our house. All our family, tons of food, lots of laughter, and feeling thankful for stretchy pants. The day after Thanksgiving, hubby and I hit the road to Texas to watch our son and his team play basketball. The next few weeks will be more of the same, and once again, I’ll be in my happy place. It's hard to believe this year is almost over, we’ve packed so much into our pages over the last eleven months, and we end the year no different. We’re introducing you to a local cowboy famous for his eight-second rides, taking you on a national vacation, offering up winter hike suggestions, and if you’re looking for the perfect gift, our annual gift guide will help you find it. We’re also continuing our profile series, this month focusing on local restaurants and their owners. Pay them a visit over the holiday season, your family, and theirs, will thank you. You’ll also meet several incredible women. Sarah, who recently found her family,

DECEMBER 2021 OWNER - PUBLISHER - EDITOR Catherine Frederick COPY EDITING Charity Chambers GRAPHIC DESIGN Artifex 323 – Jessica Meadors CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jade Graves, Dwain Hebda CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jeanni Brosius, Scott Faldon, Catherine Frederick, Dwain Hebda, Sara Putman, Liesel Schmidt, Jim Warnock ADVERTISING INFORMATION Catherine Frederick I 479.782.1500 catherine@dosouthmagazine.com

Janice, who has made it her life’s work to keep families together, Angela, whose family includes the furry, four-legged variety, and lastly, Nicole, who is on a mission to form a tribe, a family, of women helping women through the ups and downs of life. As this year comes to a close, I hope you’ve been more nice than naughty! I wish you a wonderful holiday season filled with love, laughter, cheer, and good health. May peace and hope fill your life in the New Year. See you in January!

Catherine Frederick

Owner/Publisher/Editor

©2021 Read Chair Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner. Opinions contained in Do South ® are exclusively those of the writers and do not represent those of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. as a whole or its affiliates. Any correspondence, including photography, becomes the property of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. Do South ® reserves the right to edit content and images. Printed in the U.S.A. | ISSN 2373-1893

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

catherine@dosouthmagazine.com

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

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entertainment

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DECEMBER EVENTS ICE SKATING RINKS, FORT SMITH: DECEMBER 1 – JANUARY 2 / VAN BUREN: DECEMBER 3 - 31 Lace up your skates and take the family out for some fun in Fort Smith and Van Buren! Visit fscrm.org for the Fort Smith Rink, and vanburen.org for the Van Buren Rink. ELF THE MUSICAL — DECEMBER 2-5 Based on the beloved holiday film, this comedy follows Buddy in his quest to find his true identity. This modern-day holiday classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner elf. Visit almapac.org for tickets. HOLIDAY EXPRESS/PAJAMA TRAIN , VAN BUREN — DECEMBER 3-7 Catch a ride and enjoy all the Holiday Express Train has to offer! Visit Santa at the depot, enjoy hot chocolate, cookies, and Christmas songs on your trip from Van Buren to Rudy! Reservations encouraged, 479.725.4017. CONCERT 3: IT’S CHRISTMASTIME — DECEMBER 4 Fort Smith Symphony presents holiday favorites such as, It’s Christmastime, Sleigh Ride, The Nutcracker, Carol of the Bells, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, and more! Visit fortsmithsymphony.org for tickets.

FORT SMITH LITTLE THEATRE “THE CHRISTMAS MOVIE” — DECEMBER 9 - 11 Don’t miss this mash-up of singles falling in love, celebrities finding down-to-earth connections, charming inns, tree farms, holiday sweaters, and hot chocolate. Tickets sold at the door!

CHRISTMAS PARADES ALMA: DECEMBER 10 / Facebook: almafestivals FORT SMITH: DECEMBER 11 / Facebook: fschristmasparade VAN BUREN: DECEMBER 11 / Visit oldtownvanburen.com Christmas parades are a tradition and this year, they are back, better than ever! Don’t miss the parade in your hometown. Send comments, suggestions and advertising inquiries to catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

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entertainment

Get BOOKISH

Enjoy these four must-read books from our friends at Bookish, Fort Smith, Arkansas’s only independently-owned bookstore. Shop hours: Monday 11am-4pm, Tuesday - Friday 10am-6pm and Saturday 10am-4pm. Need curbside delivery? Call 479.434.2917 or email orders@bookishfs.com.

Dear Fort Smith

Let’s Do Dinner

Atlas of the Heart

The Smart Cookie

by Jennifer Burchett

by Antoni Porowski

by Brene Brown

by Jory John illustrated by Pete Oswald

Local author and photographer Jennifer Burchett chronicles our year in pictures. Spanning the spring of 2020 through the summer of 2021, Burchett’s eye for our community is captivating and her eagerness to unite us is inspiring. This full-color photo book brings to light the neighbors you love, the businesses you frequent, and the folks you didn’t know who were working to make sense of the world right alongside you.

Antoni’s recipes are simple yet satisfying, complete with clean protein and loads of veggies! Don’t worry, there are smatterings of carbs and delicious desserts, too. This is the perfect cookbook for families who need to make exciting, flavorful dinners out of pantry staples. He even has a surprisingly flavorful vegan grain bowl. Any cook, no matter the experience level, will find something delicious in this gorgeously illustrated cookbook.

Did you know there are eighty-seven emotions defining us as human? Embarking on a journey through a labyrinth of emotion and experiences, Brown offers skills that allow for meaningful connection and language needed to access a universe of second chances! Through Brown’s extensive research and storytelling talents, we are shown how “naming an experience doesn't give the experience more power, it gives us the power of understanding, meaning, and choice.”

Jory John’s newest work follows Smart Cookie! This little cookie has never felt smart, no matter how hard she tried. It seems all the other cookies are cleverer, cupcakes are witty, and rolls in the bakery are near genius. Are creativity and confidence enough to learn there is more to smarts than getting perfect scores? This picture book is empowering and hilarious. Best for kids 4-8, suitable for perfectionists of all ages!

December Recommendations courtesy Sara Putman, Bookish

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shop

Local Christmas Shopping words Catherine Frederick imageS Jade Graves Photography and courtesy vendors

Shop local this holiday season and find something for everyone on the nice list. Happy shopping and Merry Christmas!

Face à Face Eyewear

DR. STEVEN B. STILES OPTOMETRY 479.452.2020

Hearts On Fire Diamond Bar Huggies Available in 18kt White, Rose and Yellow Gold

JOHN MAYS JEWELERS 479.452.2140

The Yamazaki Single Malt Japanese Whisky, Cherry Pie Pinot Noir, Anne Amie Estate Dry Riesling, Belle Glos Pinot Noir, Tenjaku Blended Whisky

IN GOOD SPIRITS 479.434.6604

Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Raen Fort Ross-Seaview Sea Field Pinot Noir, Holiday Glassware, Twine Mulling Spices

SODIE’S WINE & SPIRITS 479.783.8013

Holiday Chocolate Assortment Give the Gift of Better Hearing, with Oticon More™

CENTER FOR HEARING 479.785.3277

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KOPPER-KETTLE CANDIES Fort Smith 479.783.8158 Van Buren 479.474.6077

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advertiserSPOTLIGHT

ADVERTISER SPOTLIGHT

IN GOOD SPIRITS

Karen Hawthorne

DS: WHAT SHOULD CUSTOMERS EXPECT FROM IN GOOD SPIRITS?

General Manager

IGS: For thirteen years, we’ve provided top quality products and the best customer service, and

When founded: 2008

those are here to stay! We pride ourselves on serving our customers well. If there is a product

12100 US 71 South, Fort Smith ingoodspiritsfs.com 479.434.6604

you can’t find, let us know and we will do our best to locate it and carry it for you. We are also happy to act as your personal shopper using our extensive knowledge to select the perfect wine or liquor for your personal or gifting needs. We’ll even wrap it for you!

DS: TELL US ABOUT SOME OF YOUR LATEST MUST-TRY PRODUCTS. IGS: One of our newest products that we encourage our customers to try is Sugarland Moonshines! We also carry a unique selection of gift items, including favorite seasonal liquor and wine gift sets, unique glassware, wine glass charms, bar supplies, even gift bags!

DS: WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND AS A HOSTESS GIFT DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON? IGS: When in doubt, go with wine! You can never go wrong with a nice bottle of wine – it always makes a great gift, and we are happy to help you select the perfect bottle!

DS: IN YOUR INDUSTRY, WHAT DO YOU FEEL SETS IN GOOD SPIRITS APART? IGS: Our wine cellar! The wine cellar truly is the heart of our store. We hand-select the wines to display in the cellar and ensure our premium wines are stored at a controlled temperature of 54-56°, which is important because intended taste of each wine can easily be affected by temperature.

ABOUT IN GOOD SPIRITS In Good Spirits is an upscale liquor store offering a large selection of fine wines, craft beer, top shelf liquor and fine cigars.

DS: HOW DOES IN GOOD SPIRITS INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY? IGS: In Good Spirits is a proud supporter of local charities and fundraising events, including the Red Shoe Shindig which benefits our local Ronald McDonald House and Wine and Roses, which benefits Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House. We donate 100% of the liquor and wine, hand-select the wines to ensure attendees receive a top-of-the-line, premium product.

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18 12

community

TRYSTIN & BRYSTOL AGE 13 and 10

Meet Trystin and Brystol two sisters looking for their forever home! Trystin, the older of the two, is a straight-A student who loves to read and does very well in school. Like many teenage IMAGE courtesy Jaylee Davis Photography

girls, Trystin loves her phone! She also enjoys gaming and is really into Pokémon. Brystol is an all-around athlete. She enjoys gymnastics, soccer, and swimming. She also loves going to church and was recently baptized! According to their foster parents, Trystin is a hard worker, she is respectful, and well-mannered, but she does struggle with social skills and anxiety. Brystol struggles with feeling unwanted, jealousy, and has recently been diagnosed with depression. It is important that the girls are adopted in a two-parent home where they are the youngest of the children and a family where they are allowed to express their own beliefs and discover who they are in a positive and open-minded environment.

In partnership with Project Zero and the Arkansas Heart Gallery, 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.

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faith

The Wonder of Christmas A ME SSAG E O F H O P E WORDS and RECOMMENDATIONS Solid Rock Bookstore

For most, Christmas evokes all kinds of emotions. There is

herself to God’s will and submitted to His plan for her to bear

grief of loved ones lost and possibly anxiety about how to

the Son of God. In You Were Made for This Moment pastor

handle difficult relationships at family get-togethers. Then

and New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado reminds

there is stress when we add yet another item to our ever-

us of another girl who listened to God in His plan for her life.

expanding Christmas to-do list.

The book will give you hope as you read the story of Esther. You will be encouraged to put your hope in the God of all

However, there is a sense of wonder as we drive through

creation and gain courage during the challenging times you

town and gaze up at all the lights and wreaths reminding us

might be facing. There is no better time than the Christmas

to hold on to the excitement we felt as a child on Christmas

season to discover the calling and role God has for your life.

morning. Most of all though, Christmas inspires hope. There is joy to be found in sharing that hope with others and taking

One thing we have learned at the Solid Rock is that God has

time to surround ourselves in the wonder of Christmas.

always been there and we are thankful that He sent His only

During this time of year, it’s easy to get lost in the hustle

Son in human form so that we may have eternal life through

and bustle of the holidays, and for this reason, we adore the

Him. The celebration of the birth of Jesus gives us so much

daily advent devotional by Susie Larson, Prepare Him Room.

to be thankful for as we have seen His promises come true. We know that life is not easy, but Jesus says to us, “but take

This advent book encourages us to set aside time and allow

heart” for He has overcome the world. (John 16:33)

ourselves to create a sacred space on our busy holiday calendar to ponder the miracle we celebrate. During this time, we can

Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year to

journey through Luke’s account of Christ’s birth, life, death,

share the true hope of Jesus Christ. From our family to yours,

and resurrection. Open your heart to the Lord and let Him

we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

transform you and bring hope during this Christmas season! Sometimes, we find we need courage to trust in the hope Christ brings us. Mary showed such courage as she opened

Solid Rock Bookstore, 3325 S 74th Street, Ste. C, Fort Smith solidrockbookstore.com | 479.452.4844

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2021 Restaurant PROFILES SPECIAL FEATURE PRESENTED BY

WORDS Dwain Hebda and Catherine Frederick some interviews have been edited for length and clarity

Do South® is proud to recognize the talents and contributions of select restaurants and owners in our community. They set the bar for excellence and are committed to providing their customers the very best. Join us as we salute the passion they share for their profession!

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won many local and regional awards for best home cooking and best

Calico county

breakfast,” Lance says. “Some customers have been coming here a long time and they expect a level of consistency. We always strive to exceed their expectations.”

A restaurant is the most demanding of Main Street businesses. So, when

Classic American comfort food is the headliner here, the kinds of

an eatery can boast nearly four

meals that stick to your ribs until you’re back for more. One bite of the

decades of serving the community,

chicken fried steak, or any of the pancake-laden big breakfasts, and

you know they’re doing something

you’re hooked. And then there’s the cinnamon rolls. “Those cinnamon

right. That’s exactly what you find at

rolls are amazing,” Laroche says. “We bring them to the table before

Calico County Restaurant, a family with a winning formula of good

your meal and it’s really become our calling card.”

food, fair prices, and the friendliest customer service in town. It’s clear the love Calico County has for the community is mutual; “We love being part of Fort Smith,” says Lance Laroche, second-

after a devastating fire in 2012, the response from customers was

generation owner and partner. “This is a small community and we have

overwhelming. “The outpouring was amazing and inspired us to

been here many years, so we’ve formed many personal and business

re-open as soon as we could, which we did in 2013,” Lance says.

relationships with the customers who’ve come through our doors.”

“So many of our customers checked on me, my partners and our

Lance, like his parents Gerry and Carole before him, knows what his

employees. It was a true example of them being like family. We love

customers like and Calico County delivers it to the utmost. “We’ve

being a part of that.”

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Revel Restaurant & Bar Ever since Revel Restaurant & Bar opened its doors in May 2021, Fort Smith has been buzzing about the casually elegant restaurant and its fresh, inventive menu. Owner and Chef Jason Haid set out to create something completely new to the local dining landscape and judging by the response, he’s succeeded. “I describe our menu as New American Fusion with Low Country, Northeastern and West Coast influences,” he says. “We only use the best available ingredients, from organic freepasture eggs to USDA Prime beef and fresh produce. We try to showcase and elevate different products by using strong technique and innovative preparation methods.” The gorgeous dining space, located in The HUB at Providence in Chaffee Crossing, was designed to be as pleasing to the eyes and spirit as to the palate. Diners enjoy this sensory tour de force from the moment they walk in. Everything about Revel has been designed to appeal to the senses, from the indooroutdoor bar to the heated patio dining area that allows use ten months out of the year. Patrons can even rent out part or all of the restaurant for special events. Live music monthly rounds out the atmosphere. “Our restaurant and bar showcase one thing above all else – experience,” Jason says. “From the symphony and swag of our bar, a mishmash ambiance of our urban and rural backgrounds, to our innovative indoor - outdoor bar and patio, our mission is to bring a unique dining experience unlike any other to the Fort Smith area. Through this, we echo our core values of culture, inclusivity, intentionality and creativity.” And, of course, there’s the food and beverage which rivals fine restaurants in much larger cities and satiates Fort Smith’s rapidly evolving culinary scene. Highly recommended are the braised short ribs, the prime filet mignon with black truffle butter, fresh flown-in salmon and Wagyu meatloaf. Pair these or any of Jason’s creations with a New York sour, hibiscus rose margarita, or house specialty cocktail, to complete the experience. Located in the city’s first designed live-work-play neighborhood, The HUB, many of Revel’s diners are from within the area. Jason says he enjoys interacting with people who are literally his neighbors. “I love being a part of the community here at The HUB,” he says. “ This neighborhood and Fort Chaffee area is very special and I’m excited that Revel can be a big part of that going forward.”

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River City Bistro

of home. “Our secret ingredient is fresh, quality ingredients,” Bruce

Looking for simple, delicious fare

spread perfectly paired with a tasty mimosa or Bloody Mary.

says. “We roast our meats in-house and make our soups and chicken salad by hand, from scratch. That’s what keeps our customers coming back.” The restaurant is also popular for Sunday brunch, a delicious

that takes you back? Make the short drive to River City Bistro for the

Michelle says the elements that make River City Bistro are greater

comfort-food you crave in a relaxed

than the sum of their parts. Their uncomplicated but essential

and friendly environment. “When

formula for success includes friendly people, great food, and a

guests come to our restaurant, they

genuine, welcoming atmosphere. “Together, Bruce and I have more

can expect to be greeted like family,” says Michelle Spinas who owns

than forty years of restaurant experience,” she says. “Food quality

and operates River City Bistro with her husband Bruce. “We are

and excellent service are very important to us, and it shows through

hands-on restauranteurs, and we personally do everything we can

the many awards we have been blessed with over the years for best

to make sure that our customers are delighted with their experience.”

sandwich shop, best catering and our brunch.

The establishment is known for its hand-crafted sandwiches and

“We love this business because we get to interact with a lot of

slow-simmered soups, perfect for taking the chill off a winter day.

wonderful people, both team members and customers alike. It’s hard

Popular choices here include the cranberry walnut chicken salad,

work, but it’s worth it when you see the smiles on people’s faces, and

Reuben sandwich and turkey Devonshire. Every bite will remind you

they tell you it was the best sandwich they’d ever tasted.”

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Uncork’d For the perfect pairing of fine food and

creative

beverages,

there’s

no place quite like Uncork’d. The restaurant serves familiar dishes with a sophisticated twist that has foodies raving. “I call it fine dining with a Southern twist; beautifully plated foods to remind you of your Southern roots,” says Sarah Brownfield, event coordinator. “Our menu is vast, providing something for everyone, from shareable tapas plates you can enjoy with friends to steaks that reward you for getting through the week’s grind.” The restaurant’s wine list, regularly voted the best in town, as well as craft beer and innovative cocktails, provide the perfect companion to Chef Jasmine Williams’ (aka Chef Jas) inventive-but-approachable fare.

“Uncork’d’s vibe feels like a cool Colorado pub, with wood adorning the walls and floors and beautiful wooden tables throughout,” Sarah says. “You can choose from forty craft beers on tap as well as our awardwinning wine menu. We also have a wall of Enomatic machines, holding thirty-two wines that you can self-serve and discover something new.” The age 21+ establishment prides itself on ambiance, with a relaxed feel that’s always welcoming, whether catching the big game at the bar, a special occasion dinner in the dining room, or toasting the holidays with your company in the party room. “The experience makes it unique, and we can customize that experience for any occasion,” Sarah says. “Our private room holds about fifteen people; we have a cigar room that can be private that holds about twelve. The cigar room opens onto the heated patio, which can also be private, accommodating an additional twenty-five to thirty guests. You can even bring your dog on our patio. We are perfect choice for business lunches, weddings or other events, both on- and off-site. Chef loves these opportunities because it allows her to be creative with her food options.”

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people

Spirit Animal words Dwain Hebda images courtesy Angela Meek

ANGELA MEEK WASN’T LOOKING FOR A DOG. Dogs she had, along with an assortment of other four-legged friends on the family spread in Shady Point, Oklahoma, reminiscent of her upbringing in Alma, Arkansas. But as had been the case her entire life, dogs have a way of finding her. “I think I was born into it,” she says over cat mews in the background and two hounds lolling nearby. “Our whole family is animal lovers. We all have cats and dogs and horses and cows and goats. I grew up on eighty acres and we had horses and cows, cats, dogs, chickens.” In 2012, Angela’s pack already included a handful of dogs, including the mother hen of the bunch, a blue-eyed Husky named Anna Bell. And it was Anna Bell who announced the approach of another candidate

for

the

collection,

scraggly-thin

Staffordshire Terrier. Again, Angela wasn’t looking for a dog and she sure wasn’t looking for a pit bull. “I never had a Staffordshire Terrier before. All I heard was pit bulls are the dogs that’ll kill you or kill your kids or do something bad,” she says. “And I’m like, I don’t need that up here with my cats and kids.” Nonetheless, Angela fed the black pup with the golden-oak eyes and immediately took to social media to try and find either its previous owner or a new one. “I was hoping nobody had dumped him. I hoped he just wandered up or jumped out of the back of a truck,” she says. “I posted pictures everywhere. At that time, I was leaving to go on a cruise with my family and I told my husband, ‘When I get back, that dog needs to find another home.’” When the family returned to the green grass of Oklahoma, Angela discovered the squatter had indeed found a home – hers. “He was the first one to greet me,” she says. “He Bart

just worked his way in.”

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people

The fluffer, dubbed Bart, soon demonstrated well-tuned

Angela learned of transport organizations which existed

instinctual tendencies that allowed him to fall right in step

solely to connect rescue operations with waiting owners in

with the family, particularly Angela. “He just wormed his

other parts of the country. Overnight, the mission horizon for

way in and kind of had my thoughts,” she says. “When I

3 Girls broadened substantially into a pool of owners-to-be

would think of something, he was looking at me and I’d go

for whom distance was no longer an issue. "We discovered

to do it and he was right there.

Going Home Transport in the Tulsa area. We visited with them and started sending ten to twelve of our dogs every

“He was like, ‘Okay we’re going to do this. We’re going to

two weeks with them,” Angela says. “Then, we reached

go somewhere. We’re going to get the cows out of the yard.

out and got some more organizations involved, some no-kill

We’re going to go take care of the kids and walk to the pond

shelters. Their adoptions were so quick; we’d send a dog up

and go fishing. I’ve got to make sure the kids don’t fall in or

there and two days later, I’d call to check on it and they were

fall off the porch.’ I thought, OK, you’re not going anywhere.”

like, ‘She’s already in a home.’”

The following year, Angela would realize a long-held dream

Two years ago, 3 Girls connected with ASPCA Transport to

– a nagging, biting compulsion, really – to start an animal

send dogs to the East Coast and the floodgates opened – a

rescue. She’d seen the many dogs in the local kill shelters

thousand dogs one year, twelve hundred the next, sixteen

and felt the same pull of their eyes that all animal lovers do.

hundred and counting in 2021. Meanwhile, there were funds

“Are you the one?” they asked her, “Is today the day?”

to be raised, a processing facility to open that put new dogs (and now cats) through health checks before transport and a

She finally couldn’t take the shadow of their faces on her

myriad of paperwork.

mind any longer and with two friends, formed 3 Girls Animal Rescue. Her partners lasted a hot minute once they saw how

Bart, the organization’s de facto mascot, added community

much work and commitment it would take, and for most of

relations to his growing list of responsibilities. “We would have

its existence she’s been the organization’s lone driving force.

yard sales to raise money and Bart was there. He was at every

That is, if you exclude Bart, which you really can’t do given

event we held, and everybody got to meet him, especially kids,”

how instrumental he was to giving the mission its momentum.

Angela says. “We had schools that wanted to do donations at Christmastime, and they were like, ‘Can you bring Bart? We’ve

“He went to the pounds at the very beginning, because his

heard about him.’ And I’m like, ‘Of course.’”

nature was the best of any dog,” she says. “He could sense the dogs and whether they would get along with other dogs

During that first visit, as Angela proselytized the good

and kids and stuff. He saved a lot of lives with his demeanor

news of spay/neuter and other elements of responsible pet

of just being laid back and letting them sniff and play a little

ownership, Bart worked the room, coming to rest at one

bit and if they got too rough, he’d tell them, ‘You don’t need

student’s feet, then another.

to do that or you’re not going to get to go.’ “He was the out for most of the dogs in the pound. If Bart said yes, then they got to be saved.”Together, Angela and Bart saved four hundred pups that first year, farming them out to foster families until they could be placed, and doubled that total the next year. But it wasn’t enough for them. “I was still walking into those kill shelters and looking at the animals knowing that if we didn’t get them out, tomorrow they would be put into a gas chamber,” she says. “I thought, there’s got to be people out there besides me who want to Angela and Bart

help get these animals into another home.” DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

people

“I told Bart, ‘OK, go see everybody,’ and when everybody

“At first I didn’t feel like writing was helpful. The book could have

was petting and rubbing all over him, I asked the teacher,

been a thousand pages, because every day of my life we were

‘Do those children...?’” Angela says. “And she said, ‘Yes;

doing something, herding the cows or we were going somewhere

one of them has really bad anxiety and the other one is in

that he had to be all prim and proper and behave himself, or he

a bad family situation.’ Bart knew that they needed extra

was out there running, playing, swimming in the pond.”

attention and that he needed to be the one for them, that they were okay when he was there. Then the next classroom,

But write she did and Bart...Best Dog Ever! written in Bart’s

he did the same thing. Then that teacher gets to talking to a

voice and words, became a reality. Angela remembers the day

teacher at another school and I get other emails, ‘We would

cases of the book were delivered to her home; she looked at

like for you to bring Bart.’”

the cover and once again into the eyes of the dog she never expected, but that came to command such a huge part of her.

Angela would have Bart certified as a therapy dog, but it was a mere formality; the gentle pittie was already a caregiver

“I’ve read and picked up a lot of books, but I’ve never rubbed

to the core. More schools beckoned, then hospitals, nursing

the cover of a book,” she says. “I was like, OK, now I can

homes; she even reached for him when her own anxiety took

take a breath. Now, I’ll be okay.”

hold. And he always reached back. “I know he gave me a lot of comfort,” she said. “He just had that power. And he

Angela wasn’t looking for another dog after Bart’s death,

didn’t have to do anything except be himself. He could do

but per usual, some have managed to find her. She’s learned

tricks, but it wasn’t a trick. It was just the look in his eyes,

how each has been put in her path for a reason and she

and the sigh, and then the way he would lean on me. Then

appreciates each animal’s true gift of self in ways she feels

he’d want me to hold his hand.”

Bart would approve.

Angela’s voice trails off, knowing a terrible question is

“I wish people would be more like him, just to put others

coming, the one that asks about the events of November 1,

first,” she says. “He always did. He put other animals’ lives

2020, exactly one year prior to this interview. Of how they’d

first to help them. Just to be kind and put others first and

received a large donation of dog food, pallets of it, more than

think about the choices that you make, because they will

they could use before it expired, and how a Little Rock rescue

impact somebody else. Most of all, I want people to know

offered to take it off their hands. Bart was there, as always,

that he had a kind soul.”

while the pallets were being moved by a skid steer. The driver turned, the load shifted, then fell off. Bart was gone. Shortly after the accident, Angela got a call from Pat Walker, host of the Oklahoma City TV show Dog Talk. Pat had met Bart and, like everyone else, fell in love with him in 2015. She urged Angela to write a book as grief therapy, as a way to preserve Bart’s memory and continue his work. It was not an idea Angela originally welcomed. “I was like, ‘I can’t write a book. I’ve never even thought about writing a book.’ This happened in November and she’s calling me the end of December? I’m like, I can’t even,” Angela says, her composure starting to fray. “And she said, ‘His story needs to be told. That breed needs to be talked about and the wonderful things that he did and the impact on the children’s lives that he made.’

Bart...Best Dog Ever! can be purchased online at 3girlsanimalrescue.com. All proceeds go to fund the Bart Best Dog Ever scholarship for students headed for veterinary school.

3 Girls Animal Rescue 28871 North Side Lane, Poteau, Oklahoma | 918.564.2483

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people

Hooked on an eight-second ride WORDS Dwain Hebda IMAGES Dwain Hebda and courtesy Hayden Leavell

Hayden Leavell

The American cowboy is one of those legendary titles that many aspire to, yet few can legitimately claim. Plenty of candidates can dress the part, but all hat and no cattle get you only so far. For most would-be ‘pokes, the too-new boots, the hat with the wrong crease, and the overly shiny buckle are as close as they are ever going to get to a share of this sacred heritage. Hayden Leavell has no such concerns. Hayden is as authentic as they come, wellschooled in the cowboy ethos and culture. Meeting him for the first time, the lean lad from Ozark looks like something out of central casting, right down to his molasses drawl and horizon-scanning squint. But he more than looks the part; Hayden is country to the bone, broken-in at seventeen with more rodeo and ranch cred than most people earn their entire lives.

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people

“We’ve got a big cattle ranch and poultry operation. We’ve got

Bareback riding is one of the oldest and most fundamental

five houses of chickens and a bunch of cattle. Then we’ve got

of rodeo events. Like everything else in the sport, it traces

horses,” he says. “Before I got hot and heavy into rodeo, I was

its lineage directly to ranch work where cowboys who could

showing livestock, and then I kind of swapped direction there. I

break horses were prized for their skills. Unlike other events,

guess it was about when I started rodeoing in 2018.”

it is also the most physically demanding and among the most dangerous, accounting for a quarter of rodeo injuries, second

Hayden’s made the most of four short years in official rodeo

only to bull riding.

competitions, but truth be told, his love for the sport – and the ranch skills it honors – goes back to before he could walk. His

In the bareback event, the cowboy must ride a Roughstock

family was involved in rodeo and his earliest memories are on

bucking horse for eight seconds without use of a saddle or

horseback or at the arena, watching and waiting for his turn

rein. The cowboy can only hold on with one hand, inserted

to get in there and compete. By age ten he was perfecting his

into a rigging that looks like a leather cinch with a suitcase

team roping skills; in junior high school, he found bareback

handle attached to it. Other rules dictate the placement of the

riding and last year, added steer wrestling to his repertoire.

cowboy’s feet and spurs coming out of the chute, out and over the break of the horse’s shoulders, with additional style points

“People are just like, ‘Why would you do bulldogging?’ You

for the movement of said feet during the ride. It’s a fast, violent,

have no idea how many times people have asked me that,” he

and ultimately elegant event showcasing the power of the animal

says. “I told them, ‘Well, you know me. I kind of like to have the

and the skill of the rider. Only the difference is when the rider

roughest event of all.’ Be known as the macho guy or whatever.

wins, he generally walks away; when the horse wins, such is not

I saw other people do it and I’m like dang, I want to learn how

always the case. Hayden has only suffered a major injury once,

to do that. It’s a rough man’s event.”

but it was enough to get his attention.

Today, Hayden is one of the top-ranked high school rodeo

“It was 2020. I broke my collarbone riding bareback horses,”

competitors in the nation in all three events, making him a

he says. “I was on a horse, and I got thrown off and I hit the

serious contender for the all-around title at any rodeo he enters.

pipe fence just good enough to hit my collarbone right on the

“This past year, I qualified for the national high school finals,

fence and it snapped it. I mean, I’ve had other broken bones

and I was reserve state champion for Arkansas in the bareback

and other crazy stuff, but a broken collarbone? That’ll take the

riding,” he says. “Then in September, I went to Texas, and I

breath out of you.”

won second place in the Texas Region and qualified for Las Vegas for the Junior Roughstock Association.

A sly grin and shrug follow. “That’s about it on major injuries.”

“I’m sitting fourth in the bulldogging in the whole state. We’re

Hayden discovered his gift for riding bareback a few years ago

sitting sixth in the team roping. I am second in all-around for

while visiting friends, PRCA stock contractors, who threw a

the whole state. I’m first in the bareback this year.”

church rodeo every year in Colorado.

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community people

“At that time, I was just team roping and I told them I kind of wanted to do something else other than just team roping,” he says. “They were like, ‘Well, you can try bareback riding,’ and I was like, all right. It just started from there. That was in 2018.” He won that event, the Morgan Ministries Rodeo, and was hooked. He started riding in junior rodeos, ultimately qualifying as a junior for the Cowboy Regional Rodeo Association finals. With each successful ride – and, it should be noted, with each faceful of dirt – he learned something useful about his chosen craft. “I’m one of them guys that if I can’t do it, I’m going to keep trying until I get it done. I was like, I’m going to get this down,” he said. “After maybe twenty or thirty horses, it started coming together and I covered a horse and just gradually I got better and better. “Each horse is different. When you draw a horse at a rodeo, if you’ve got a really good, straight, down-the-pen, honest bucker, I mean, that’s one to win it on. Sure enough, he’ll blow up and buck. And you’ve got some that come right outside the chute gate and just sit there and spin and blow up and stuff like that. Each horse has its own preference on how they want to buck.” It goes without saying that rodeo isn’t for everyone; heck, it’s

takes it to another level, trying to be competitive in all three. I’ll

not for anyone else in Ozark High School, where Hayden is the

practice team roping two or three nights a week and then steer

only competitive cowboy. He’s the only one of his siblings to

wrestling two or three nights a week. Then on the bareback

take it as far as he has, too.

riding, that’s mostly just being in shape. I go to the gym five days a week. I work out seven days a week.”

“My brother, he’s more into being intelligent. He works for a lumber company. He didn’t really have much to do with any

Such effort is an investment in his future in the sport, something

of the agriculture or rodeoing,” Hayden says with a chuckle.

he knows can’t last forever. Hayden plans to compete in

“My sister, she lives in San Antonio and she’s like a CEO of an

college while pursuing a degree in ag business. He’d like to ride

electric company. They’re all into office jobs.”

professionally, but if he doesn’t, he’ll be just as happy to come back to the life and land he loves most.

But for Hayden, the squeal of the gate, the smell of rope and leather, and the duel with a beast trying to knock him loose and

“It’ll definitely be something I do for my whole life. Far as going

stomp him cold are intoxicating beyond description. He even

pro, I’ll possibly join the PRCA and go pro for a couple years,”

dropped off his high school football team in favor of his true

he says, casually. “But we’ve got a farm and I kind of want to

passion. As his training routine attests, there’s just not enough

be more of an entrepreneur than rodeoing my entire life.”

hours in the day to be the best without total commitment. “Rodeo definitely teaches you integrity and responsibility,” he says. “It’s just like any other sport; you’ve got to practice for it. Heck, I practice almost every night. Having three events

Hayden will go for rodeo glory during the 2021 Junior World Finals, December 2-6 in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information on the event, visit nfrexperience.com/juniorworldfinals.

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people

The Long Road Home WORDS Dwain Hebda IMAGES Jade Graves Photography and simona pilolla 2/Shutterstock

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people SOMEWHERE IN ARKANSAS TONIGHT, a child gets off a

“I don’t know that I can give you percentages or not, but

bus or climbs out of a stranger’s car or just hunches against a

we do deal with a lot of kids who are what I call typical

wall, feeling their feet hurt. They’re hungry, and if this is their

teenagers,” she says. “Teenagers, because of the spot they

first time on the streets, a little scared. They look around as the

are in in their lives, are on their way to becoming an adult

cold reality of their decision to run away begins to really sink in,

and they’re going for their own independence. They are trying

not knowing what to do first.

to become adults. It’s hard for parents, because you want to keep your child a child and they rebel. They think they need

Most of them try to act like they belong here but there’s a look,

to be calling the shots, kids do, and the parents don’t. It’s just

a mannerism shared by the people used to street life, even the

typical stuff that most families go through.

younger ones that don’t want to be found, who can’t or won’t go back. Those that see in the dark in ways the new arrivals don’t. The other ones are betrayed by the youth of their faces and the darting of their eyes for what they are – prey. Janice Justice has spent the last forty-four years tending these lost sheep in Fort Smith through Comprehensive Juvenile Services, Inc. She came aboard one year after the organization was incorporated and has served the last three years as the group’s executive director. There isn’t much that can walk in between the ages of eight to seventeen that she hasn’t greeted at the door. “It’s such a big range these days, just a variety of reasons,”

“We see a lot of kids who are just struggling to get along at home for that very reason. They see themselves as almost adults or as adults and their parents don’t. There’s where the conflict comes in and it happens in most every family, maybe not to the extent where they run away, but we do see that.”

Janice says to explain why kids run away. “They could have had trouble at school, they could be upset with their boyfriend or

Runaways get the lion’s share of the public’s attention –

girlfriend. There’s just all kinds of reasons. It’s not necessarily

runaway prevention even has its own awareness month, in

because they’re bad kids. They are kids who don’t realize the

November – often because these are the kids most people

dangers that are out there for them when they do run.

think about being at highest risk for predators and trafficking. In fact, they represent a very small percentage of the kids

“Some of them have a plan, others don’t. A lot of times, their

Comprehensive Juvenile Services serves through its programs

plans come from somebody they met on social media, I think.

and its Western Arkansas Youth Shelter (WAYS), a cramped,

They think whoever that is is going to be their person to help

leased space in Cecil, Arkansas.

them out of whatever they don’t want to be in anymore. I think the biggest thing that has really taken off and influenced kids

For every dozen or so runaways every year who see the light

today is the internet, social media, those kinds of things. They’re

and come in for a shower, a bed and a bus ticket home, there

just so disconnected from the people in their own home, but

are more than a thousand who are at-risk or have no home to

they’re so connected with the outside world. Sometimes that

go back to. These youth, Janice says, make up the bulk of the

can be in a really scary way."

nonprofit’s work, whether housed in the shelter or not.

Janice balks at the two broad categories into which most people

“Runaways and the shelter are just a very small portion of what

sort every runaway – either fleeing abuse and dysfunction or

we do,” she says. “We have services which will connect them

they’re simply a bad kid – neither of which is accurate in one

with any resources they need. We have case workers in our

hundred percent of cases.

six-county area. We also have our Sanctions Program which is community service. If kids have been in trouble with the law and they are ordered to do so many hours of community DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

18 30

community people

service, we have workers who supervise them while they do that, or we reach out to other nonprofits for supervision in partnership there. “We work with juveniles who have been sent away for treatment and come back and we provide their after care. We subcontract with a girls shelter in Fort Smith; all the girls you see at the girls shelter came through our case workers.” Comprehensive Juvenile Services also invests time and resources into proactive programs, things that are designed to help head off issues before they start or give the youth a

Janice Justice

fighting chance at a productive future. “We have a workforce program where we help older

Dealing with children and families in crisis can be taxing

teenagers find a job, covering the basic skills you don’t really

work, especially over the course of a long career. But these

learn in high school,” Janice says. “We teach them how to

days, there’s hopeful things on which to focus, such as the

complete a résumé, fill out a job application, how to look for

drive to open a new shelter, one that is larger and more

a job, how to interview correctly, how to dress correctly. We

accessible, for the organization's youth.

really work to help them find a job.” That effort took a big step forward recently and Janice hopes Perhaps the most ambitious prevention program is also one of

the community will continue to respond to the group’s

the newest and something of which Janice is most proud.

capital campaign needs to raise the funds necessary to create a space that is a beacon of welcoming and hope.

“The latest, most exciting one that we have started in the last few years is our Strengthening Families Program, currently

“Recently been very blessed. We have had a building donated,

being held at Central Christian Church in Fort Smith” she says.

the former Dollar General building in Mulberry, Oklahoma”

“The idea is to foster better communication between members

she says. “The location is so much better because it’s

in the entire family.

accessible to Interstate 40 which will make it more accessible to runaways for sure and also right there on Highway 64.

“In this program, the entire family starts with a free meal

Right now, it’s just a big box and we are basically building a

that we provide where they sit around a literal dinner table.

shelter inside there.

We take their cell phones away and they learn the lost art of communication around the dinner table. After they eat, the

“We still need a considerable amount of money; I believe

parents go into one session and the teenagers into another.

the latest estimates from the architect is $1.8 million as the

They learn similar things in their sessions, in a different way

total that we need. We currently have about $850,000 to go

that’s geared toward their ages. Then they come together

toward that, we just need to try to raise the remainder of it.

for a family practice time to do activities and things related

We hope the community will help us turn that into our youth

to what they’ve learned.

shelter. We are very excited about it.”

“It’s all about better communication, treating each other in the way you’re supposed to be treated. It’s been really successful. Our courts have been very supportive and are sending us a lot of families. We’re currently working with about twenty families in the current session.”

Runaway Hotline: 1.800.508.2946 Comprehensive Juvenile Services 1606 South J Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas | 479.785.4031

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Setting the Captive F ree WORDS Liesel Schmidt images courtesy Monarch 61 Project

While women have only in the last century received any kind of equality with men, there are still massive gaps, enormous inequities, and tremendous struggles surrounding womanhood. Women in so many countries face abuse and exploitation, subjugation, repression, and persecution; and even though the U.S. is considered to be on the right side of gender parity, there is still so much to be done for women in underserved communities and those who face abuse. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

people It is for these women that Monarch 61 Project was created, and

A second program, MINT (Mentor, Illuminate, Nourish,

since launching in August of 2020, the organization has been

Thrive) is a four-part mentoring program in which women

having tremendous impact. Founded by Nicole Walton, M61 has

learn to form friendships, increase their self-esteem, learn

a mission to connect, mentor, and empower women through

important life skills, and find their ability to lead. “Women in

a creative hub of community, art, and wellness. Officially

MINT are carefully matched with a mentor who will help them

opening its doors in September 2021, the organization has seen

grow in areas of weakness, elevate their circumstances, and

over two hundred women attend various classes and trained

recognize their true beauty and worth. Mentors celebrate

fourteen mentors as well as forty volunteers.

their mentees in very special ways as they achieve milestones along their six- to twelve-month journey,” Nicole says.

Called Monarch 61 for the monarch butterfly, the analogy is an important one to the organization and its mission in helping

The space is a hub of creativity and community, with art

women. “The name was inspired by the transformation that

classes, a café, and a wellness and care center. “Within the

happens in the lifetime of a monarch butterfly,” Nicole says.

hub, women find various ways to connect, be creative, grow

“One of my favorite quotes is by Beau Taplan: ‘Perhaps the

stronger, and find healing all under one roof,” says Nicole, an

butterfly is proof that you can go through a great deal of

RN and sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE), which makes her

darkness yet become something beautiful.’ The 61 in the name

uniquely qualified for her position as founder and executive

comes from Isaiah 61, which is a call to heal the broken hearted

director. “Every area of our hub is designed to celebrate our

and set the captive free. M61's ultimate vision is to see women

individual beauty and inspire growth and healing.”

nourished and thriving in relationships and opportunity.” The café provides a haven, offering a space to establish value, What makes M61 more than just a women’s advocacy center

create a sense of community, and find self-worth as well as a

is its approach in bringing women to a place of wellness and

place to exchange stories of healing and victory. “It’s a space

empowerment. “Targeted programs are designed to connect

where the women of M61 can introduce their art, ideas, or

women through shared trauma experiences, mentor women

goods to be sold,” says Nicole. Tapping into the healing power

to rise above poverty and existing circumstances, and give

of art, the hub’s art studio provides a place to explore creativity

control of mind and body back to survivors of abuse,” Nicole

and allows women to find their voice through art classes,

says. “We start by offering free art and wellness classes to

groups, and individual exploration. “The art studio is a place

any woman in the community during free-flow hours. We

that restores, a safe space for women to express themselves

hope these women will find a safe community to engage and build relationships. Free-flow hours are an easy way to experience the space and ask questions, and we hope meeting women during this time gives us an opportunity to

Summer Shook, Vicki Anderson, Gabrielle O'Neal, Nicole Walton

offer a deeper level of care when needed.” All classes are offered free of charge so any woman can participate, regardless of socioeconomic status. Classes include RISE (Resilience, Identity, Strength, Empowerment), a four-week program for survivors of trauma and abuse in which they work to regain power over their lives through meditation, mindfulness, trauma-informed yoga, and self-defense instruction. During their time in RISE, women spend time each week in a range of activities designed to strengthen and empower themselves. “Dignity, identity, and self-esteem are restored as survivors take back the power over their lives that was once lost,” Nicole says. “It’s incredible to see and be a part of.” DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

people

through various forms of art,” Nicole explains. “We offer a

As with all nonprofits, M61 faces the need for funding.

space to share your story.”

Ultimately, the goal is to become a sustainable organization. Funding is received through their marketspace as well as

Growing stronger and taking steps towards a positive

from individual and business donations and their partnership

relationship with the body and mind is crucial, and the wellness

program with monthly donors. “Being a new nonprofit

studio focuses on attaining that strength and positivity.

competing

Offering mentor-led sessions, the wellness studio is a place to

makes fundraising challenging,” Nicole admits.

for

resources

post-pandemic

climate

learn how to approach life and healing. “We understand that every woman has a unique story and a unique set of needs,”

Their biggest challenge, however, is in helping the women

Nicole says. “Our hope is that we can give women any resource

themselves. “The healing journey for a trauma victim is long and

they may need to grow and thrive. The wellness studio provides

unique to the individual,” Nicole says. “Our biggest challenge

a space to strengthen the body and empower victims. It’s a

will be to continually create a safe and trauma-informed space

space where women take steps towards a positive relationship

for community and creative healing that is flexible enough to

with their bodies and discover the power in movement as well

encourage and celebrate each unique woman.”

as a space to discover gratitude, acceptance, and appreciation for themselves by letting go of shame and judgment that has

Still, M61 is doing something that is incredibly important to the

kept them imprisoned.”

health of the community, both now and in the future. “We have a beautiful space; and when a woman walks in, we want her to

Building on that need to gain a sense of physical and emotional

know she is worthy of something beautiful and fun, and we have

wellness, the M61 Care program offers a space to strengthen

created that space for her. We expect women to find welcome,

resolution and to establish new truths that are so crucial to

hope, refuge, friendship, and support. Women need to engage

creating a healthy future. “It’s a place for friendship and

in both individual exploration and creative community, and our

discipleship, and we have a network of mentors that can be

space allows them the freedom for both,” Nicole says. “The

matched to an individual's personality and needs,” Nicole notes.

community has been so supportive of us and what we’re doing. We have a very generous community that has rallied behind us in

Clearly, M61 is focused on more than offering quick

this new project. Every day, we have someone bringing a friend

solutions that will take care of the initial problem but ignore

to see the space, dropping off donations, or inviting a friend to

the underlying one—the one that keeps so many women

a class. The community has stepped up to embrace and support

in the bondage of sexual abuse, domestic violence, and

our work in such an amazing way.”

even generational poverty. “M61 recognizes all of these as existing issues for women in our community, and long-term aftercare and mentoring solutions are limited,” Nicole says. “We exist to bridge the gap for women and provide a safe space for community and healing in the long journey after the trauma has happened.”

Monarch 61 Project is located at 105 N 28th Street, Suite D, Van Buren, Arkansas. For more information, call 479.410.4225 or visit monarch61.com.

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Sarah Wells and family

WORDS Jeanni Brosius images courtesy Sarah Wells

After thirty-seven years of searching, the first time Sarah Wells

The cancer had created fluid around her major organs. Once

saw her father, she melted into his arms, sobbing. Her anxiety

she discovered the cancer, she began treatments, but Sarah said

faded away, and she finally felt a sense of belonging. She had

they weren’t to save her; it was only to prolong her life. She died

finally found her father.

a year later.

When Sarah was a teenager, her world turned upside down.

“I was at the lake with friends when I got a call saying, ‘We’re putting Marcia on morphine,’” said Sarah, who was only fifteen

On May 10, 1999 – the day after Mother’s Day – her mother,

at the time.

Marcia Priest, died of a rare type of cancer after battling her illness for over a year.

Sarah said she had written a poem for her mother, but because she wasn’t there at the time, her cousin read it to her. “We

Sarah said they found out her mother had cancer after she

were each other’s universe; it was just the two of us,” Sarah said

collapsed at work and was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

about her mother. “I was her caretaker.”

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people

Over the years, Sarah had inquired about her father, but it was not a welcomed conversation with her mother, but before she died, Sarah asked her again. “Mom wrote a letter about who could be my dad, she mentioned a young man stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base.” Dealing with the trauma of losing her mother, Sarah kept the idea of her father in the back of her mind. After a few years passed, Sarah said she tried to figure out who her father could be by calling the Air Force Base, but of course, that lead nowhere. She began to believe that finding her father might just be an impossible task. Marcia Priest

In her mind, she had created multiple scenarios about her father, none of which turned out to be reality. Earlier this year, Sarah, now thirty-seven, decided to put those stories in her mind to the test and use a DNA sample as one last attempt to find her father. “For three or four years, I toyed with the idea of taking a DNA test, but I worried, do I really want to open that can of worms?” Sarah, who now has three daughters, said. Some of the scenarios that ran through her mind seemed to always turn out bad, so the thought of discovering who this stranger was had its risks. She decided to do the DNA test after watching a YouTube video about Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame finding his daughter, Phyllis, through a DNA test. That video was the final push for Sarah to send her DNA off in the mail. “I decided to do it, and when I got the results, the blood drained

Sarah and her mom

from my face.” There was his name: David (Bones) Garner. David, stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base, was only twentythree when he met Marcia, twenty-nine, a line dance instructor, at a local country and western bar. It was their mutual love of dancing that brought the two together. “I sent him a message and about twenty minutes later, he messaged me his email and his phone number,” she said. “My whole reality totally flipped upside down.” Sarah and her mom

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people

Sarah and her dad

Grandmother Norma Jean Garner and Sarah Wells

David never knew he had a daughter with Marcia. After

message. The family was a little shocked when I told them, but

connecting, the father and daughter talked daily for a week.

they were all excited to meet Sarah,” he said.

Then Sarah got scared and said she “freaked out a little.” Sarah said she guarded her heart, to not get it broken. She had to take a moment and gather her thoughts. David gently pushed her to meet, and Sarah said she’s so happy he did. A little over a month after connecting, Sarah and her husband, Aaron, flew to Florida to meet with David and his wife, Renee, in person for the first time. From the moment Sarah hugged her father, the emotions she’d struggled with melted away. A hole in her heart had been mended.

“As soon as I saw Sarah, I saw my mom’s nose. She looks so much like my mom. It catches my breath sometimes that she looks so much like her.” – David Garner Sarah said even though they only met a few short months ago,

“Growing up, I was always asked, ‘Do you miss your dad?’,

the relationship already feels natural. Along with a father, Sarah

and I’d respond with, ‘You don’t miss what you never had.’

gained siblings, a stepmother, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

I look at life as putting together a giant puzzle. You are

“You can create a lot of stories of what it might be like,” one

constantly collecting pieces to put together the full. Even

of Sarah’s sisters, Chelsea, chimed in, “We are making new

though I said I wasn’t missing anything, I always had a missing

memories and making the best of the time we have now.”

piece out there and when we connected, the puzzle came together perfectly. I can finally see the big picture of who I am

Recently Sarah wrote on her Facebook page: “I’ve come to

and where I came from.”

realize I’ve had a whole lot of my identity wrapped up in not ever having a dad and then not having any bio parent for a large part

David said when he saw he had a daughter on the DNA test site,

of my life. It’s really been a weird internal experience for that

he felt as if he had been punched in the stomach. “As soon as

to be totally shattered. It’s also been a blessing... I already see

I saw Sarah, I saw my mom’s nose. She looks so much like my

God healing things in my heart that needed healed. I’ve been

mom. It catches my breath sometimes that she looks so much

totally blown away, yet again, by the way God orchestrates all

like her.” David said. “I fell in love with her when I read her first

the things in life. God is always the best Father, and His timing is always perfect.”

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taste

Hot C

c u r t a e h r i e C a o oc

image Albina Bugarcheva/Shutterstock

TOPPING IDEAS caramel • marshmallows • biscotti • cookie butter • chocolate shavings chocolate syrup • sprinkles • whipped cream • chocolate covered pretzels • candy canes • gingerbread cookies

HOMEMADE HOT COCOA INGREDIENTS

¼ Cup unsweetened cocoa powder 4 Cups whole milk • ¼ Cup granulated sugar • ½ Cup semisweet chocolate chips • ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

METHOD Combine milk, cocoa powder, and sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Warm until hot, but not boiling, whisking constantly. Add chocolate chips and continue to whisk until chocolate is melted, then stir in vanilla. Pour into mugs, add toppings of choice – enjoy!

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taste

Jingle Juice Recipe adapted the tablespoon.com image Yulia Furman/Shutterstock

INGREDIENTS (makes 1) ° 1 oz. vanilla vodka ° 1 ½ oz. crème de cacao ° ½ oz. amaretto ° ½ oz. grenadine ° 4 Tablespoons whipped cream ° peppermint, crushed (optional garnish for rim)

METHOD Rim the glass with water, then press the rim into the crushed peppermint to coat (if using). Add remaining ingredients in a mixing tin filled with ice and shake until whipped cream is dissolved completely. Strain into serving glass.

Please drink responsibly. Never drink and drive.

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outdoors

McWater Falls at four degrees

WALKING IN WINTER WOODS:

SEEKING NEW LOWS words and images Jim Warnock

Frost flower on the Ozark Highlands Trail

When large swaths of the country are closing for hiking due to deep snows, the Ozarks of Arkansas are just hitting their prime! I’ve met many hikers from other parts of the country who are envious of our winters. I also meet many locals who avoid winter hiking, some only going outside in temperatures between sixty-five and seventy-two degrees. When asked my favorite seasons for hiking, I always answer winter, followed by fall and spring. If we limit our hiking to comfortable temperatures, we’re missing great days in the Ozarks. I want to challenge you to expand this seven-degree comfort-range and see what happens. Among other benefits, we avoid ticks and annoying warm-weather critters while

Venture out on a frozen morning, and you might see frost

increasing our activity level during the season of larger meals

flowers. Their endless variations entice me to spend a few

when extra pounds want to stick to our waists.

extra minutes gathering these little icy souvenirs for my wife with my camera. I was excited to find one heart-shaped frost

If you’re reading this article, you’ve already identified yourself

flower on my thru-hike of the Ozark Highlands Trail. A couple

as someone outside the norm because you’re a hiker, or

of years later, I came across my second heart frost flower on

becoming one, and you want to experience more outdoors

the Ouachita Trail.

during the winter months.

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outdoors

What To Know Before You Go

Seeking New Lows

As temperatures drop, we need to dress in layers. Layering

To gain confidence and see what’s possible, try “seeking

comes naturally for our northern friends and is a commonsense

new lows” in temperature. Experiment with your clothing

approach to keeping warm. As our body warms and cools

and preparations as temperatures creep lower. If you’ve

during exercise, we can add or take away layers. I stuff extra

underestimated your layers, you can easily bale out and try

layers in a small daypack and pull them out when I take a

again after making adjustments in your clothing.

break or stop to visit with other hikers. Practicing at lower temperatures led me to the frozen waterfall Wear a base layer against your skin. I like silk-weight long

shown at the beginning of this article. I had never experienced

tops, and bottoms made from synthetics or wool blends.

hiking through snow in four degrees, so last winter, I strapped

Avoid cotton since it’s slow to dry and pulls heat from your

on my hiking shoes, put on my layers, and walked from my

body. Follow the base layer with a shirt, then an insulating

home to the Lake Alma Trail. The result was a wonderful hike,

layer like a sweater or down jacket and top it off with a shell

an uncrowded trail, and a new low temperature for my dog

to block the wind. Gloves, a hat, and wool blend socks (not

and me in the future.

cotton) round out the wardrobe. Behind the falls

Pack water and snacks. Even when you’re not sweating, you need water. Staying hydrated helps your body function and stay warm. Snacking as you walk also helps warm the body and gives an energy boost. Hiker-dog next to Lake Alma

Where To Go By now, you might be wondering where to hike in the winter. I like cold weather day hikes close to home because it’s easy to get warmed up afterward. The Lake Alma Trail is a favorite, especially when followed with a meal or coffee in a local restaurant. Who knows? Maybe Hiker-dog and I will meet you on the trail one of these cold winter days. If so, I’d enjoy taking a photo of you in front of our frozen McWater Falls or another beautiful winter scene.

What About Our Canine Hiking Buddies Dogs need to acclimate to the cold and hiking surfaces just like humans. Their paws hold up well if they’re used to being outside. Be sure they are well-fed and have access to water.

Jim Warnock is the author of Five Star Trails: The Ozarks, a guidebook that covers day hiking trails in the Ozarks of Arkansas and Missouri and includes the Lake Alma Trail. He has thru-hiked the 180-mile Ozark Highlands Trail and 223-mile Ouachita Trail in Arkansas as well as the 210-mile John Muir Trail in California. Follow his, and Hiker-dog’s, adventures at OzarkMountainHiker.com.

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travel

WORDS Scott Faldon Image Wilson Ye

Since 2020, the U.S. National Park Service has seen an

traffic that makes Rogers Avenue during holiday shopping

unprecedented surge in visitors. In 2020, the total number of people

season look mild? You go in the winter.

who visited national parks dipped twenty-eight percent from the previous year. But that was solely due to a number of parks being

Sure, you could head to Dry Tortugas National Park off the

closed for at least two months due to Covid-19 restrictions. For

coast of Key West, Haleakala National Park in Hawaii, or Virgin

example, Big Bend National Park posted six consecutive months of

Islands National Park to escape the gray winter days. But the

record visitation after the park reopened in 2020.

best wintertime parks to hit this time of year are to the west. During the summer, they are insufferably hot and incredibly

That boom in late 2020 continued into 2021 with preliminary

crowded. Winter brings milder temperatures (often much warmer

data showing an eighteen percent spike over the last

than in Fort Smith) and more opportunities for solitude.

pre-pandemic figures from 2019. So how do you manage to enjoy some of our nation’s greatest sights without sitting in

Here are a few to explore between now and spring.

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travel

Image Mick Haupt

Image Solo Travel Goals

Image Alex Donnachie

Zion National Park – Utah

Arches National Park – Utah With more than 2,000 natural stone arches, spires, and

Winters at this park in Utah are usually warm with temps

balanced rock formations, some of the most beautiful

in the fifties. But half of the park’s precipitation falls in the

scenery in the world can be found at Arches. Temperatures

winter, so some trails and roads might be closed due to snow

in the thirties to fifties in the winter provide exceptional

and ice on cold days.

hiking opportunities on trails that range from fifteen-minute During the summer, the only way into Zion Canyon is via shuttle

excursions to more than five hours.

bus. But when “shuttle season” ends, Zion allows visitors to Prime stargazing spots abound the farther away from Moab

drive themselves on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. That short

you drive. Park rangers suggest Balanced Rock Picnic Area,

window of time usually runs from January to mid-February. It’s

The Windows Section, Garden of Eden Viewpoint and

not unusual to not see another hiker on the Zion trails in the

Panorama Point.

winter. Even iconic Angel’s Landing will see few daily visitors during this time.

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travel

Image Pietro De Grandi

Death Valley National Park – California Known as the hottest place in the USA, Death Valley is best visited in the winter – unless 128-degree heat is your thing. During the winter, daytime temperatures are usually in the sixties and seventies. Overnight lows can drop into the low thirties. With sixteen designated trails in the park, hiking is a big draw in the winter at Death Valley. Must-see sights like Badwater Basin Image Josh Hill

and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are much more tolerable as well. Death Valley is a designated dark sky park, which means a lack of light pollution enables visitors to see thousands of more stars than in other parts of the nation. Visitation begins to pick back up after Christmas, so reservations are recommended. Thanks to the surge in visitors to our national parks, reservations are required at most for camping. That might not be the case in the winter. Covid-19 restrictions are also in place at most parks as well. Visit NPS.gov to check on the guidelines and closures for the park you plan to visit. The site will also have information about local weather conditions affecting park attractions such as scenic drives and hiking trails.

Grand Canyon National Park – Arizona Winter is often called the “secret season” for the Grand Canyon as low numbers of visitors and cleaner air means better viewing experiences. But visitors should be prepared for dramatic weather changes. Several inches of snow may fall one day, and it be in the mid-fifties the next. While the North Rim of the world’s most famous canyon is closed in the winter, the South Rim is mostly open. Ranger talks happen at eleven o’clock in the morning Thursday through Monday throughout the year. Mule trips and bicycling are popular in the winter as is hiking. However, the National Park Service must often turn off water spigots on some of the more popular trails due to freezing weather. Take extra water or plan to filter creek water on longer day hikes.

Image Josephine Lin

Planning your next outdoor adventure? Visit The Woodsman Company in Fort Smith, Arkansas for all your adventure needs! 5609 Rogers Ave, Suite D, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.452.3559 | thewoodsmancompany.com

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fiction

Love Waits

words Liesel Schmidt image oatawa/Shutterstock

From: Alexandria Harris <lexgirl@hotmail.com>

year-old bald guy, and the answer that comes to mind would be

To:: Jack Miller <jmill@yahoo.com> To

another question: Do you know of any almost thirty-five-year-old

Sent:: December 13, 2007 9:55:52 EDT Sent

bald guys looking for a single almost twenty-four-year-old

Subject:: A shot in the dark.... Subject

redhead? That has been a question on my mind for the years I've known you, but you were always in a relationship. So, I guess

Hey, Jack-

I'm seizing the moment to put the idea out there and pose the question. I might regret laying myself so bare, but I think I'd most

Feeling any better since Sunday? Hopefully a restful afternoon

regret not taking the chance in the long run.

helped recoup everything you put yourself through with your training. I’m amazed at your ability to just set your mind to

You are someone I highly respect, whose friendship I value,

something like an Ironman and actually do it.

and a man whose interest I would be privileged to hold. I know there's an age difference, but I've learned that age is

Now would be the part where I get to the real reason for this

insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Great things can

e-mail. I've been mulling over your question about whether I

come from unexpected places, from unexpected people, if we

knew any thirty-ish women looking for a single almost thirty-five-

open ourselves to possibility.

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fiction That said, I'm going to close now and hope a response comes

many times over, wondering what if and wishing things had

soon, whatever outcome it brings.

been different. But now, as a thirty-eight-year-old, I could see his point. Thirty-five and twenty-four. What had I known

Goodbye for now,

at twenty-four? The world looked so different then, life so

Alex

simple somehow. But now I was a woman whose world had shattered and rebuilt itself several times over, creating scars that shaped my perceptions as well as who I was.

From:: Jack Miller <jmill@yahoo.com> From Date:: December 13, 2007 22:10:26 EDT Date

“I’m….” I struggled for an explanation, no doubt looking like

To:: Alexandria Harris <lexgirl@hotmail.com> To

a deer caught in the headlights in the process.

Subject:: Re: A shot in the dark.... Subject “Torturing yourself, Lex,” Megan supplied helpfully, the Alex, I am extremely flattered that an energetic young lady

worry—and slightly disapproval—clear on her face as she sat

like you would even consider a guy like me. And, yes, it does

down on the couch next to me. As my best friend since we’d

take a lot of courage to lay it on the line. But let me attempt

worn training bras, she knew how far down the rabbit hole

to explain this based on my experiences. Example: You

I could fall on this. Jack was one of those subjects that we

asked about Leslie on Sunday. Although we were very

danced around on occasion, like when I’d come home from a

compatible, the age difference was noticeable. Not necessarily

date unimpressed because whatever guy I’d just seen wasn’t

in the social aspect, but more in the way we viewed the world

quite… “He’s not Jack, Lex, no one is. And you have to be okay

and the barriers we faced. Please understand that if I were in

with that.” It was her popular refrain to me on those nights.

my twenty’s instead of my thirty’s...

At eleven years older than me, Jack had always seemed like

But the biggest thing, if you remember, I mentioned "out-of-

an impossibility, someone I’d had to admire from afar, even

sight, out-of-mind." The bottom line is that I will be leaving

though we had a good enough relationship to email on a

soon. I have a RNLTD (report no later than date) of 15 Jul

regular basis. Somehow the quick exchanges we managed at

for Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea. I will be departing the

church every week had become supplemented with lengthy

area sometime in June, so I can get some overlap with the

missives that gave me much more insight into his personality.

APO on station.

Consequently, such exchanges—and the fact that he took

enough time out of his day to respond, at length and with

With all that said, although the "idea" is enticing, the timing

thoughtfulness—gave me a glimmer of hope. Maybe it was

is not in our court.

a misguided hope, but I’d never really known until that email

whether he’d ever even considered the possibility. And maybe

You are a great young lady, and Mister Right will find you in

he hadn’t up until that point—that shot in the dark—when I

due time.

expressed my own interest.

See you Sunday.

I stared at Megan and shook my head. “No, I’m okay,” I said

Jack

firmly, pushing down the question I posed to her too often. “Why did he talk to me this way—and still stay in contact—if

******************

he didn’t feel something?”

“What are you doing?”

Her answers were always unsatisfying.

The voice startled me, I’d been staring so hard at the

Megan leveled a dubious gaze at me and shrugged. “So, you

computer screen, reading and re-reading. Those emails were

haven’t been on a date in a while…What brought on this dive

fourteen years old, something I’d held on to and re-read

into those emails?”

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fiction

I shifted my gaze back to my computer screen, avoiding her eyes

No?” It sounded more like a question than an answer. “No, I

as I answered. “Jack’s moving back next month,” I murmured.

mean, I don’t have plans for them tonight.” Jack smiled again, amused. “Good, let me take you to dinner.

******************

It would be nice to catch up.”

“Jack?”

I nodded dumbly. Jack had just asked me to dinner. Twentyfour-year-old me could hardly believe it.

Even at twenty feet away and after all these years, I could still recognize Jack from behind. It was the way he carried himself,

***********

his build, and—of course—the bald head, which he’d always shaved for ease and comfort.

We’d been seated at the back of the restaurant, in a quiet spot that gave us privacy. Really, though, I had no appetite. I

The man in front of me turned, surprised to hear his name. It

was too nervous.

really was Jack. Jack, by contrast, seemed completely at ease. He moved with “Alex?” His voice sounded somewhere between stunned and

confidence and intent, the same as he always had. The years

happy to see me.

had been good to him, and he was still the athletic, handsome man I remembered, just aged a little.

“How have you been?” I asked, shifting the weight of the basket in my hands. Should I hug him? We were standing in

I stared down at my plate. We’d come to a lull in the

the middle of the produce department—not somewhere I’d

conversation, the small talk about the things we’d been

really pictured for our reunion after all these years.

up to lately having run out. I wanted more than just idle conversation, but it had been fourteen years. I would have to

He cocked his head and gave me a crooked smile. “Good,” he

be patient.

said. “It’s strange, being retired now, but it’s good. And I’ve missed it here, so I’m glad to be back. For good.”

“So, not married or anything,” Jack observed. He already knew I’d been married once—briefly—to someone that had

I’d almost forgotten how he sounded.

been a mistake from the moment we’d met. I’d told him about it in my messages to him, after it happened.

“I’m glad, Jack,” I said, feeling myself smile nervously. “Nope,” I agreed. I considered my next words. “And you— “I’ve lost touch with a lot of people here, though,” he admitted.

you’re still single. If I wanted to be funny, I’d say you were waiting for me,” I said jokingly, regretting the words as soon

Not me. The thought flashed through my mind. You’ve never

as they were out of my mouth.

lost touch with me. Why?

Jack’s expression was inscrutable, his eyes holding mine. It

He nodded to the basket in my hand. “Are you free for dinner,

seemed impossible to look away, even though I wanted to

or do you have plans for those fish sticks tonight?”

crawl under the table.

“What?” I stammered, looking down at the items I’d piled in

“Maybe I was,” he said simply.

my basket. Fish sticks was a last-minute bad decision. “Oh…

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

y a d i l Ho de i u G t Gif 2021

Searching for the perfect gift this holiday season? We’re happy to be your helper elves! No matter what, or who, you’re shopping for, local small businesses in our community are ready to help you select

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just the right gift for everyone on your list!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Black Bison Company 7805 Phoenix Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas passmoreplasticsurgery.com 479.242.2442

3716 South 87th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas Find them on Facebook 479.551.2880 No need to travel for the very best in holiday shopping, we

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have something for everyone on your list! Shop early for the best selection during our special Holiday Hours: Monday – Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 12-5. Inside our 110-year-old barn, originally the Ozark Mountain Smokehouse, you’ll find one-of-a-kind items including Arkansas-made products, fine art, jewelry, baby gifts, and even gourmet foods! We’re also a small batch coffee roaster, selling our whole beans by the bag – enjoy a free cup of coffee while you shop. Our unique gifts are perfect for the holidays, special occasions, weddings, birthdays, or just for yourself. Come shop the best holiday gifts – we hope to see you soon!

Black Bison Company

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MORE THAN JUST COFFEE

HOLIDAY HOURS: Monday - Saturday 10 to 6 Sunday: 12 to 5 3716 South 87th, Fort Smith, AR

One-Stop, Unique Gift Shop!

479.551.2880

blackbisoncoffee.com

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4300 Rogers Avenue, Suite 23 Fort Smith, Arkansas 7209 Chad Colley Boulevard, Suite H Barling, Arkansas cardandclothshop.com 479.522.0512 / 479.974.7209 Natalie Hedrick and Kaci Collins, Fort Smith natives, opened in GreenPointe Shopping Center. They then launched cardandclothshop.com a year later and in 2020, opened a second storefront location at the beautiful Heritage Community in Chaffee Crossing. Card + Cloth offers women’s clothing in sizing XS-3X, home décor, specialty baby gifts and more! Follow along on their IG handles: @cardandclothshop and @cardandclothhq for behind the scenes!

The holiday season can be especially challenging for people with hearing loss. We can help you enjoy conversations again with a hearing solution customized just for you. Properly fit hearing aids help reduce listening fatigue and make visiting with friends and loved ones far more enjoyable. Don't miss out this holiday season, give us a call!

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Card + Cloth’s first storefront location in March of 2018

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

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4300 Rogers Avenue, Suite 32 Fort Smith, Arkansas Hummingbird-boutique-fort-smith.myshopify.com 479.420.4008

3112 Cavanaugh Road, Fort Smith, Arkansas kswonoftherivervalley.com 479.649.3542

We are a unique boutique offering gifts and clothing for all

Kuk Sool Won of the River Valley is a family martial arts center.

ages! Founded and operated by a local mother-daughter duo,

Since 2005, we’ve provided amazing programs for kids and

we've created beautiful and unique items waiting for you to

adults to get more focused, fit, and confident! Our vision is to

explore. Nothing makes us happier than moms, daughters, and

build a healthier and safer community by helping people get in

grandmothers shopping together at Hummingbird! Inside our

shape, teaching smart self-defense, and to instill the life skills

2,500-square-foot space, you'll find clothing, décor, candles,

and character of a true martial artist by upholding important

journals, books, religious items, inspirational gifts, jewelry,

values like courtesy, patience, respect, self-control, integrity,

and more! We carry a variety of clothing lines including

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Sympli with options for all budgets! Customers compliment

high self-esteem, a positive outlook, a spirit of constant

the inviting interior, peaceful shopping experience, and close

improvement, and an attitude of humility that refuses to give

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up. These values and life skills lead to remarkable improvements

has arrived, just in time for Christmas – come see us and enjoy

in academics, careers, and relationships!

our extended hours this month!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

5401 Phoenix Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas mysodies.com 479.783.8013 Experience the best holiday shopping at Sodie’s Wine & Spirits. Shop the Sodie’s app or online at MySodies.com for all your holiday essentials. Pick up in our drive-thru or have them delivered directly to your door. For gifts everyone will love, shop our gift sets or let us create a custom gift basket. We also specialize in party planning to help you order the perfect mix for your holiday parties. From stocking stuffers

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to corporate gifts to office parties, shop Sodie’s!

5622 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas johnmaysjewelers.com 479.452.2140 We hope you are getting in the holiday spirit and gearing up to enjoy time with friends and loved ones. We sincerely thank each of you for a wonderful year amid the trying times we have all faced. We’re excited to welcome in a stunning new silver line to the store and thanks to a late couture jewelry show this season, we are stocked and ready for the holidays! Join us for our Holiday Open House December 10, from 5pm-7pm, and December 11, from 10am-5pm, to see what the excitement is all about. We look forward to serving you for years to come. Warm wishes for health and happiness from John, Kathy, John, and Kevin Mays!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

6207 Grand Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas riverpointewineandspirits.com 479.434.6202

314 Lexington Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas salonelements.com 479.649.3435 This holiday season, give our Elements gift card and share our products and services with everyone on your Christmas list! Salon Elements is one of the River Valley's most unique

Great holiday parties don’t just happen by chance. They’re a

and engaging hair salons. Marcie Comstock and our Salon

result of careful, detailed planning. Let us help you plan and

Elements team of incredibly talented stylists provide cuts,

host an event that’s stress-free and enjoyable for you and your

styling, blowouts, hand tied hair extensions, hair replacement,

guests! We offer one of the area’s largest selections of wine,

color, individual eye lash extensions, skin care, massage,

beer and liquor and our friendly and knowledgeable staff is

wigs, men’s barbering, hot shaves and sugaring! Salon

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love, and haircuts. Call to book an appointment or purchase

Retail hours: Mon-Thurs 9AM-10PM, Fri & Sat 9AM-12AM,

your gift cards today!

online pickup hours: Mon-Sat 11AM-8PM.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Fort Smith, Greenwood, Van Buren yeagershardware.com At Yeagers, we have something for everyone on your Christmas list. Looking for ideas? Check out our 10 favorite gifts of 2021! (1) Cozy Chiminea or Fire Pit. (2) Smokeless Indoor Electric Grill. (3) Cup Call Phone Holder. (4) Traeger Wood Pellet Grill. (5) Battery Daddy Battery Storage. (6) Wireless Earbuds. (7) HZ Connect Smart Motion Video Doorbell. (8) Puzzles and Games. (9) Ooni Pizza Oven. (10) Blackstone Griddle. Remember, Yeagers makes easy to shop! Shop in store, buy online and pick up in store, or buy online and get curbside pickup. As always, Yeagers will meet

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or beat any advertised price!

SHOP AT AUTHORIZED HEARTS ON FIRE RETAILERS OR HEARTSONFIRE. COM

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

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

Friday December 10, 5PM–7PM Saturday December 11, 10AM–5PM 479.452.2140 | 5622 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith johnmaysjewelers.com

WONDERLAND - DECEMBER 2021

Articles inside

Special Feature Holiday Gift Guide

Love Waits

National Vacation

Hot Cocoa Charcuterie

Walking in Winter Woods

Finding Family

The Long Road Home

Setting the Captive Free

Hooked on an Eight-Second Ride

The Wonder of Christmas

Spirit Animal

Letter from Catherine

What’s New: December Events

Get Bookish: December