SEASONED - OCTOBER 2022

FAVORITE

II just devoured a pumpkin cream cheese muffin and pumpkin cream cold brew all while it’s a sweltering ninety-five degrees outside – Arkansas weather can send you for a loop! I’ve yet to break out fall clothes, but I have started to dress the house in burnt orange and green hues, pampas grass, and cozy throws. I love picking out décor but putting it all together has always been difficult. Luckily, we’re featuring profiles of local home design experts! No matter what stage of home design you’re in, we have the expert to help you. We’re also proud to feature our annual Women’s Guide, full of local businesses and services to make life a little more fun and a whole lot healthier.

Each time we finish an issue, I claim it as my favorite due in large part to our incredible stories and this month is no exception. We caught up with Jerry Glidewell, recently retired after forty-three years serving the Fort Smith Girls and Boys Clubs and discovered why some refer to Fort Smith as Queen City –apparently not one, but two of the reining Arkansas State Fair Queens are from Fort Smith! We’re also introducing you to Fort Smith’s newest specialty grocery store, Farmers Direct, where not only can you shop in person, but you can order online for home delivery or curbside pick-up!

No issue would be complete without a love story. We’re thankful to Dusan and Maddie Stojanovic for allowing us to share theirs along with photos of their recent trip to Serbia to celebrate and unite their two families! Finally, you’ll meet the amazing Maurice Robinson, runner and beekeeper, who realized his dream of running the fastest one-hundred-mile race in the United States by anyone eighty and above.

Thank you for spending time with us this month! Visit our new website at DoSouthMagazine.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram daily for new content. I encourage you to visit our advertisers often – after all, they’re the reason you’re reading this right now! Happy fall, y’all, see you in November.

Catherine Frederick

Owner/Publisher/Editor catherine@dosouthmagazine.com

OCTOBER 2022

OWNER - PUBLISHER - EDITOR

Catherine Frederick

COPY EDITING

Charity Chambers

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Artifex 323 – Jessica Meadors

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jade Graves

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Catherine Frederick, Dwain Hebda, Sara Putman, Liesel Schmidt

ADVERTISING INFORMATION

Catherine Frederick I 479.782.1500 catherine@dosouthmagazine.com

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©2022 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.

OCTOBER EVENTS

October 1 - Jan 15

FRED COUSINS A

RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBIT

Fort Smith Regional Art Museum,

October 1

PAINT CHAFFEE PINK

The Vue Venue, Fort Chaffee, Fort Smith, Arkansas

October 2

FORT SMITH RIVERFRONT BLUES "BLUES CHALLENGE"

The Bakery District, Fort Smith, Arkansas

October 6-9

JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH

Breedlove Auditorium, UAFS

Fort Smith, Arkansas

October 7

HAVANA NIGHTS

Bakery District, Fort Smith, Arkansas

October 8

ARKANSAS RIVER VALLEY LAWN AND GARDEN SHOW

The Learning Fields, Chaffee Crossing, Fort Smith, Arkansas

October 8

CHAFFEE CROSSING FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET

Chaffee Crossing, Fort Smith, Arkansas

October 15

SOMETHING WITCHY BIKE SHOW

Fort Smith Harley Davidson

October 15

SURVIVOR'S CHALLENGE CELEBRATION WEEKEND

Reynolds Cancer Support House, Fort Smith, Arkansas

October 16

AUTUMN AT THE BARN: A FALL FESTIVAL FOR ALL AGES

The Barn by Two Brothers, Fort Smith, Arkansas

October 8

3RD ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL & WILLIAM H.H. CLAYTON'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

National Historic Site, Fort Smith, Arkansas

October 8 & 9

FALL FESTIVAL & SECOND SATURDAY SHOPPING Downtown, Van Buren, Arkansas

October 8

WESTERN ARKANSAS BALLET PRESENTS AN EVENING WITH SINATRA

King Opera House, Van Buren, Arkansas

October 14-16

"HEART OF THE KING" ELVIS TRIBUTE

King Opera House, Van Buren, Arkansas

October 17

PERSPECTIVES CHAMBER MUSIC

SERIES: LEGENDARY VOICES

Propack Corporation, Fort Smith, Arkansas

October 19

UNITED WAY'S 17TH ANNUAL POWER OF THE PURSE

Community Bible Church, Fort Smith, Arkansas

October 20

ARKANSAS OKLAHOMA FARM AND RANCH EXPO

Kay Rodgers Park, Fort Smith, Arkansas

October 22

COUGHRAN'S HOT ROD SHOW

Van Buren, Arkansas

October 22

MASK THE RAID FASHION SHOW

The Bakery District, Fort Smith, Arkansas

October 22

SIPS ON THE RIVER Propak Corporation, Fort Smith, Arkansas

October 22

WHITNEY'S RACE

Fort Smith Brewing Company

October 22

FESTIVUS GAMES FEATS

OF STRENGTH CrossFit 413, Fort Smith, Arkansas

October 22

RIVER VALLEY OUT OF THE DARKNESS COMMUNITY WALK Creekmore Park, Fort Smith, Arkansas

October 23

LANDMARK LESSONS: THROUGH THE ART OF JOHN BELL, JR. Fort Smith Regional Art Museum

October 25

UAFS WIND ENSEMBLE CONCERT ArcBest Corporation Performing Arts Center, Fort Smith, Arkansas

October 27

HARVEST TIME GLOW IN THE DARK RUN

Ben Geren Regional Park, Fort Smith, Arkansas

October 29

ANNUAL COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR

St. James Missionary Baptist Church, Fort Smith, Arkansas

October 29

HALLOWEEN ON MAIN STREET Van Buren, Arkansas

REGIONAL LIBRARY EVENTS AT DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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

Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout

If we must relive the early days of the pandemic, let us do so with Lucy Barton. In Strout’s latest book, Lucy Barton leaves her life in Manhattan and heads to small town Maine to weather the lockdown. Accompanied by her ex-husband and on-again, off-again friend William, the trio is stuck together, sheltered away in a little house by the sea. The relationships that are happening apart from them are the highlights in this story, and Strout’s sparse and intimate prose connects the readers and the characters to a story about grief, friendship, and abiding love.

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

O’Farrell’s newest work is inspired by the life of the woman who inspired the painting that inspired the poem “My Last Duchess” by Robert Browning. O’Farrell’s novel follows the life of Lucrezia through her fascinating childhood to the betrothal. As she sits uncomfortably for the painting which is to preserve her image for centuries to come, one thing becomes abundantly clear. In the court's eyes, she has one duty: to provide the heir who will shore up the future of the Ferrarese dynasty. Until then, for all her rank and nobility, her future hangs in the balance.

Enjoy these four must-read books from our friends at Bookish, Fort Smith, Arkansas’s only independently owned bookstore.

Night of the Living Rez by Morgan Talty

Talty’s collection of short stories is set in a Native community in Maine. His debut illuminates what it means to be Penobscot in the twenty-first century and what it means to live, to survive, and to persevere after tragedy. There are twelve striking stories, and Talty breathes life into tales of family and a community as they struggle with a painful past and an uncertain future. The collection examines the consequences and merits of inheritance. Readers who liked There, There by Tommy Orange or Empire of the Wild by Cherie Dimaline will enjoy this selection immensely.

Don’t Know Tough by Eli Cranor

Small towns, football, and murder, what else do you want in your early autumn read? Cranor, an Arkansas native, captures the ongoing strife between outsiders following a divine calling and the circumstances that surround life in the rural South. The story follows Billy Lowe, a talented but erratic running back, and his coach, Trent Powers. When a murder in town points to Billy, the days leading up to the playoffs could rip the town apart. Author Eli Cranor is scheduled to be at Bookish on November 19th – make sure you schedule plans to attend!

October Recommendations courtesy Sara Putman, Bookish

ALESHA AGE 15

Alesha is a sweet teen with a huge heart! She loves animals and has been volunteering at an animal shelter. She also loves the Twilight movie series and is very creative. She spends lots of time writing short stories and drawing! When she isn’t doing that, she likes listening to music and being outside playing soccer. Chinese and Mexican are her favorite foods, but she isn’t a picky eater. Alesha has struggled recently in school with math, but she does well in her other classes, her favorite being science. She sometimes struggles with anger, as most teens can, but she does exceptionally well at expressing her emotions and her feelings. Alesha would do well in a home where she was the only child or the youngest of siblings. She would thrive with a strong mother figure, as Alesha is very used to playing the protector role herself. An environment with lots of structure and routine would be great for her! Could your family be the right fit for Alesha? Submit an inquiry at theprojectzero.org below to learn more!

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.

IMAGE courtesy Jon Yoder Photography

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Do South ® Cares

words Catherine Frederick with Philip H. Merry, Jr., Christmas Honors

DS: How did Christmas Honors come to be?

CH: In 2009, I learned the Arlington National Cemetery decorates rotating sections of the gravesites with wreaths each December. I shared this information with a group of friends who discovered many headstones at the Fort Smith National Cemetery received little attention during the Christmas season. That group decided to change this, and Christmas Honors was born to honor every headstone at the cemetery. It would be all or none.

DS: Who does Christmas Honors serve and in what way?

CH: Our purpose is to show gratitude for the service and sacrifices made by the veterans buried at the Fort Smith National Cemetery, the veterans who are presently in the service ranks, and their families by honoring them each December with a wreath.

DS: How does Christmas Honors impact our community?

The mission of Christmas Honors is to present appreciation to veterans and their families such that they will never be forgotten. Do South ® reached out to Philip H. Merry, Jr. with Christmas Honors, to learn more.

CH: Over 1,000 volunteers give their time, money, and resources to make this event a reality. Strangers work together to prepare the wreaths and leave as friends. Stories are shared. Hugs are exchanged on the emotional day when the wreaths are laid. Volunteers include our military, city leadership, police and fire departments, veteran organizations, companies, local organizations, churches, schools, individual citizens, and many others – all with a passion to help. It is a special event that unites our community via a common goal.

DS: How can our community get involved and show support?

Christmas Honors

P.O. Box 10696

Fort Smith, Arkansas 72917 479.926.0939 ChristmasHonors.org

Next month, we’ll showcase another worthy nonprofit in our area free of charge. We will accept requests for this free page beginning in October, 2022. Send questions to catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

CH: Christmas Honors happens because of sponsors and volunteers. Volunteers are needed at the wreath workshop, participation in the event, and wreath pick-up day. As the number of wreaths each year increases, so does our need for trucks and trailers to transport wreaths on Friday, December 2nd at the workshop. If you have a truck and trailer, please arrive at the Fort Smith Convention Center (at the back loading docks) that morning. We also need monetary donations to purchase additional wreaths and bows to account for every headstone.

DS: What is something that many people may not know about Christmas Honors?

CH: Christmas Honors has helped the following communities start their own programs to honor their veterans: Grove, Oklahoma, Mena, Arkansas, Muskogee, Oklahoma, North Little Rock, Arkansas, and Siloam Springs, Arkansas.

DS: Are there any upcoming events or needs we should know about?

CH: This year’s event dates are: Wreath Workshop/Assembly, December 2, Fort Smith Convention Center, 9a – 2p. Christmas Honors Wreath Event Saturday, December 3, Fort Smith National Cemetery, Family time 8a – 11a, Public Ceremony 11a, and Public Laying of the Wreaths 11:30a. Wreath Pick Up and Storage, January 5, 2023.

Yellow, Orange, and Blue…

LLeaves are changing colors, pumpkins adorn porches, and spice can be found in everything from coffee to candles. While fall brings a relief from the heat and a welcomed change of pace to many, for some, the season marks the onset of a dark time.

SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression defined by its relationship to the change in seasons. For most individuals affected by SAD, symptoms begin in the fall and continue through the winter months. Most patients experience relief in the spring and summer, while a smaller number of individuals may experience a predominately spring/summer symptom onset. Patients with SAD will experience a recurrence of symptoms starting at almost the same time every year. Many times, patients with SAD feel a general loss of energy and low mood that does not improve over a few days or with rest. In patients with predominately

fall/winter SAD, symptoms include oversleeping and weight gain with patients often turning to high carbohydrate, calorically rich foods for comfort. Additional symptoms may include decreased concentration, feelings of worthlessness, and increased guilt.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is not a unique disorder, but a subtype of depression that mainly affects individuals four to five months of the year. While the exact cause is not fully known, as with other types of depression, there is usually an interplay of genetics, environment, nutrition, and social factors. Studies have shown abnormal levels of neurotransmitters, specifically, lower levels or reduced function of serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation. Serotonin levels have been shown to be affected by sunlight exposure (usually reduced in the fall/winter months of the year) and Vitamin D metabolism (also affected by sunlight).

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

Further, melatonin, a neurochemical essential to the sleepwake cycle has also been shown to be elevated in patients with SAD. Socially, individuals may experience boredom with reduced outdoor activities during winter. Still others may experience stress associated with the holidays that worsen symptoms of SAD.

Seasonal Affective Disorder affects approximately 0.5-3 percent of the general population. In individuals already diagnosed with depression, a worsening of symptoms during fall/winter may occur. Additionally, for individuals with Bipolar Syndrome, a condition associated with severe depression and intermittent episodes of mania (psychosis with excessive emotional response), the seasonal effect on symptoms rises to 25 percent. Some may also be diagnosed with subsyndromal seasonal affective disorder, a condition of mild changes in mood that does not reach the level of a disorder. However, such individuals may benefit from some of the interventions shown to improve symptoms of SAD.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

Treatment of SAD is aimed at reducing symptoms and improving functionality. There are three well accepted treatments for those affected. The primary treatment for SAD is Light Therapy. Light Therapy has been commonly used since the 1980’s. It is administered by a very bright light box every day, usually in the morning, for approximately fortyfive minutes. The light box is designed to filter out damaging UV rays, so the therapy is “skin safe,” while emitting light

twenty times brighter than common indoor lighting. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has also been employed to combat symptoms of SAD. The focus of CBT in this setting is to replace negative thoughts about the winter months with more positive ones and the use of purposeful engagement in enjoyable indoor activities to elevate the mood. Finally, in some individuals, treatment with a certain medication called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s) may help to address the inactivity of serotonin present in individuals with SAD. An additional medication called Bupropion (Wellbutrin) has also been shown to improve symptoms by increasing dopamine levels in individuals with SAD when taken during the fall/winter months.

TALK WITH A PHYSICIAN

As with all mental health disorders, a combination of one or more of the above treatments may be necessary to address symptoms. It is important to discuss your concerns with your physician to ensure you are receiving the most appropriate treatment. Additionally, it is not uncommon to see mental health disorders occur together. As mentioned previously, Seasonal Affective Disorder may present in conjunction with Major Depression Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or Bipolar Disorder. Unfortunately, Seasonal Affective Disorder may also be associated with an increased risk for suicidal thoughts and attempts, so it is vitally important to encourage loved ones experiencing symptoms of SAD to discuss them with their physician. Your conversation can ensure symptoms are addressed and do not progress to harmful actions.

2022

PROFILES in home design

SPECIAL FEATURE PRESENTED BY

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

Do South® Magazine is proud to recognize the talents and contributions of architects, select home builders, interior designers, and invaluable suppliers in our community. They strive for excellence and are committed to providing their clientele the very best. Join us as we salute the passion they share for their profession!

Acme Brick, Tile & Stone

With well over a century in business and a nationwide network of resources, no job is too big or complicated for Acme Brick, Tile & Stone. “When you deal with Acme, you’re not just dealing with the Fort Smith office,” says Kelly Haley, general manager. “We have forty-seven sales locations, and we have seventeen brick manufacturing plants. Having forty-seven sales offices, our ability to obtain material is considerably higher simply because of our buying power. We order in bulk; when you order pallets of something, it often makes it easier to get your hands on it a little quicker than ordering it by the piece. It’s a big plus.”

Despite its national reach, Acme’s locations don’t operate like a typical chain. Each store is invested in the community, supporting local fundraisers, and taking time to get to know their customers personally. It’s one of the main reasons Acme Brick will soon mark 132 years in business.

“We support our builders, we support our local Home Builders Association,” Kelly says. “We’re very active in the community as well, which sets us apart from a lot of our competitors. We cater to local architects, homebuilders, remodelers.”

Perhaps one of the most surprising things is the range of building and remodeling products it carries. “We’re more of a one-stop shop than what a lot of people realize,” he says. “People still don’t know that about us, even though we’ve been around for such a long time. They may not realize our showroom is open to the public, or they see Acme Brick and they think it’s just brick. They don’t realize all the things we offer.”

“We carry an excellent selection of tile. We also have outdoor grills, iron doors, plus all the masonry tools, cement and different components that pull a project together to improve the home.”

BURTON POOLS AND SPAS

Many things define Burton Pools and Spas as the premiere company of its kind in the region, but the most fundamental is the ethical and moral grounding that guides the company’s efforts each day. “We have scripture on the wall of our stores that reads, ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, the laborers labor in vain,’” says David Burton, founder. “We believe we have a duty to be good stewards of what we’ve been given. That’s number one.”

David says the company’s Christian principles are reflected in the care Burton Pools and Spas takes in providing recreation that brings families together. “We started with the desire to give all families a chance to have a swimming pool,” he says. “Before us, all the pools in our area were for the elite. We started saying, ‘Average guy, you can have a pool in your backyard.' We’ve talked about vacationing in your backyard for years, but it wasn’t until covid that people understood what a gigantic thing it was to make your backyard

a living space. Now, backyards are an extension of the inside of homes, which makes jobs more sophisticated. People went from just having a pool to showing what they can build around it.”

Since launching in 1978, Burton Pools and Spas has grown into an industry award-winning, one-stop shop for all things water. In addition to installing in-ground and above-ground pools, the company is a leading dealer of spas and provides a full line of pool chemicals, equipment, service, and repair.

It’s also branched into creating backyard elements that accentuate a pool such as fire pits, fireplaces, and outdoor kitchens. But no matter how big the company gets the joy of the business still boils down to the simple things. “In forty-four years, the one constant is people love water,” David says. “The thing that really motivated us at the very beginning was thinking about how we could bring a family together, see people smile and laugh and enjoy the product that we put in. That was a big deal to us then and it still is today.”

D & D Floor Covering

Walk into D&D Floor Covering and a few things stand out, like how the friendly and experienced staff greet you and offer expertise. You’ll also notice many different options, from hardwood and luxury vinyl to carpet to tile, stone, and laminate. You also see they offer window coverings and fabrics.

You might be suprised to know the attentive customer service and expert product recommendations have evolved through three generations of the Dean family, starting with J.D. Dean who opened Dean’s Carpet in Fort Smith with his son, Don, who would open D&D Floor Covering with his son, Donnie, in 1996. Today, Donnie and his wife Wendy own the company, a destination floor covering retailer for the entire region.

“We do things others aren’t always willing to do,” Wendy says to explain the store’s longevity. “I’ve gone out and re-stained grout

for customers. I’ve put sealer on for them, and showed them how to maintain their new purchase.”

Constantly evolving, D&D now offers window treatments, countertops, sinks, faucets and custom showers to help provide a turnkey solution for homeowners. “We have a paint deck for everything that’s sold around here,” Wendy says. “We can pull a customer’s existing, or remodel paint color or help chose one to complement their new flooring.” From free onsite consultations to an ever-changing inventory of the latest in hard surface flooring and carpet, D&D continues to do business the right way.

“We are strong Christians, and we feel blessed to have been able to serve our customers all these years,” Wendy says. “Our number one goal has always been to make our customers happy, and everyone goes above and beyond to make that happen every day.”

CHASEN GARRETT ARCHITECTS

For fifteen years, Chasen Garrett Architects has developed a reputation for designing spaces that function well for their clients, inspire their users and are beautiful to experience.

“Mies van der Rohe, a well-known twentieth century architect, once stated ‘Form follows function,’” Chasen says. “This ordering principle is our primary concern for any building or public space – it must first function properly then be beautifully formed. If it does not serve the needs of the client, then the project will not be a success regardless of its beauty and grace.

“A building certainly relies on brick and mortar to create space, but achieving an authentic human experience also requires the designer to reconcile the tangible with the intangible. Natural light and air are also building materials. A designer needs to address the transient rainstorm with their design, and they must find ways to inspire or subdue with color when appropriate. Good design is much more than black lines on white paper.”

Chasen was born and raised in the River Valley and was heavily influenced by the rural and agrarian character of the area. His family has roots in design and construction as well. This range of perspectives, combined with his own training, help craft his design ideals and create beautiful and functional structures.

“We have a long history in the hospitality and multi-family sectors,” he said. “Many of our efforts are now focused locally, but we’ve also completed projects from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area to Oregon, and from Chicago to Louisiana.

“Additionally, we’ve been blessed to be a part of several of the outstanding projects being developed by the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education. Celebration Garden and Wellness Park, Haas Hall, and the Research Institute and Health and Wellness Center at the former Golden Living corporate office building are all projects that we have been involved with for ACHE.”

Of all the functions required of an architect, client relations is what Chasen enjoys the most. Having a strong relationship with his clients is a critical element in understanding the needs of a project. "Architecture is part art and part science,” he says. “An architect must think about how metals interact with each other, how concrete reacts chemically to develop strength and how the physics of structures work. These are all issues we must be comfortable with. Architects must consider the clients’ needs first, and then place those needs into the environment of our physical world, the realm of life safety and building codes, and bring together all those regulating factors to cast the vision and create the best solution for the project.”

Don Wise Construction

Any business with a four-decade track record of satisfied customers is doing something right and that’s just the kind of long-standing reputation Don Wise Construction has built.

“We do a lot of spec houses and some custom homes and every one of them gets the same expertise,” says Don Wise Jr., whose father started the company forty-four years ago. “We’ll build twenty-five to thirty homes every year and we put a lot of pride into every one of them.”

The firm is as well-respected by its network of subcontractors and suppliers as it is by homeowners, which is one reason why Don Wise Construction stayed busy through the pandemic, materials shortages and all.

“I think it helps that our contractors and our subcontractors have been with us throughout the years,” Don says. “Some have even carried on from working with my dad. I think that’s a real advantage, because we’re using people who we know are going to deliver quality work. We have a lot of long-term suppliers as well. We take a lot of pride in relationships.”

Don says the trends for homes today lean toward smaller footprints that make intelligent use of space, extending even into the outdoors.

“One of the things we build into almost every house is a nice outdoor living area,” he says. “We take a back patio and add a cathedral porch that flows nicely from interior to exterior living spaces. We’ll add a patio fireplace or an outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill. That’s one of the main selling points of our homes that not everybody else does.”

Another feature that sets them apart is use of technology which keeps homeowners up-todate on their project. “We have a lot of technology that allows the client to track their job, change orders, make color selections, see schedules,” Don says. “The client has access to their building plans at all times and we do weekly updates where we go out to a job and do a weekly log. It gives an overview of everything, including photos of what got done all week. That’s been an extremely popular feature that we offer.”

Asked what lessons his father taught him that are still in play today, Don says attention to detail has been and still is a primary focus. “The stuff most people don’t notice, that’s where we stand out,” he says. “Dad even put extra effort into the footings, even though the customer never sees that. Because of him, we still do more than what’s called for. He used to say, ‘If you don’t have good footings, the rest of the house doesn’t really matter.’”

Elite Roofing

Excellent craftsmanship using the best materials is the formula Elite Roofing follows and it shows. The company, which services both residential and commercial projects, is one of the most respected in the River Valley for new builds, replacement and roof repair. “The consumer is really taking a risk when they shop on price alone,” says Kendall Hogan, co-owner. “Quality of materials and workmanship can really vary from company to company and most customers don’t know if the company they have hired is buying seconds or first-off-the-line quality product. They don’t know their experience or work history. They don’t know if that individual has insurance. We provide that information before a customer can even ask for it, that’s how proud we are of our reputation and how willing we are to stand behind our work.”

The company has been building their reputation since its founding in 2004, accelerated since 2012 under current ownership. Workers

are certified in the installation of every product they carry for both shingled and metal roofs. Elite Roofing is certified by building products manufacturers GAF, Tamko and CertainTeed as masters of their craft. “As new products come out, new techniques come out, we take the time to educate our workforce. We don’t have a problem picking up new information,” says Gavin Collins, co-owner. “We welcome the opportunity to refine our skills, that keeps us a top-of-the-line company”

Elite serves an area encompassing the River Valley, Northwest Arkansas and parts of Oklahoma. Free no-obligation inspections are part of the award-winning Elite Roofing difference. “Our goal is to provide exceptional service, which helps us build lifetime relationships with our clients,” Gavin says. “We have a lot of repeat customers as a result of that. When you care about what you do, it shows, and we try to go the extra mile to make the customer happy."

Kendall adds, “As we like to say, Elite Roofing isn’t here just to protect your home or business, but to protect your loved ones inside.”

Lites Etcetera

For more than 20 years, Lites Etcetera has built a loyal following among homeowners and contractors by providing the highest in customer service and providing the best selection, including the latest and newest lighting styles. But as new co-owner Kelsey Przybysz says, the real secret ingredient in the store’s success formula isn’t what’s new; in fact, quite the opposite.

“All of our employees have been with the company for ten-plus years,” she says. “This is their life – they each have a very good role, they’re knowledgeable and excellent at what they do.”

Kelsey, who took ownership of the store with her husband Hayden and business partners Kevin and Brittany Faulkner in August, said the value of the team’s experience cannot be overstated. In a world where lighting can be purchased a million different ways, the overthe-top personal touch of Lites Etcetera still manages to stand out.

“Years ago, they decided that taking care of people and making it as easy as possible was going to always be at the top of everyone’s priority list,” she says. “For example, when we deliver your lights, we don’t just drop them on a pallet in your garage. They are labeled and placed in the room where they are to be installed just to make things a little easier for builders, electricians and the homeowner. We get a lot of positive feedback on that.”

As the only store in the area exclusively dedicated to lighting, Kelsey says customer expectations of Lites Etcetera are high for knowledgeable staff, unique inventory and great advice for their lighting needs. It’s a standard the next generation of company ownership is more than ready to meet. “Our goal is to introduce a whole new generation of customers to our store for an almost boutique-like shopping experience,” she says. “We’re not the place to come if you want your home to look like everyone else’s. In the last month we’ve opened up at least three new lines of lights. We want to be able to cater to people who want something unique that sets them apart.”

LUMBER ONE

In a world full of impersonal big box chains, it’s nice to know there are still hometown stores that take the time to know their customers as well as their product needs. Van Buren-based Lumber One is such a company. “Four members of our team have been here since day one, over twenty years ago,” says Brett Green, general manager. “We’ve got several more who’ve been here over fifteen years. As a result, our people know what they’re talking about and what’s involved with the building process from start to finish.”

Lumber One offers services that truly set it apart, starting with its custom door fabrication shop. “Our door shop is definitely a strong selling point of our operation, not many lumber yards have that option,” Brett says. “We’ll take raw materials and build a door to the customer’s specifications. Which can include different door styles, sizes, and can include a wide array of window choices. That includes interior and exterior doors.”

Another service is project estimating to help give builders and homeowners a projected cost of materials for their job. “We can take a blueprint and figure out a material list to give potential customers a quote,” Brett says. “We’ve got a full-time estimator on staff and that’s what he does; he takes a blueprint, does a takeoff, then calculates an estimate on how much material a job will take. From that, we can provide the builder or potential customer with a quote on estimated materials for that job.”

Lumber One’s delivery service is another strong feature that’s helpful to keeping customers’ jobs and projects on schedule. “We have a truck fleet that allows us to handle just about any type of job,” Brett says. “You’re not going to have to wait a week to get your materials. In some cases, we can even get an order delivered the same day or next day, depending on the size of the order and if it’s in stock. This separates us from most of our competitors in the area.”

SPICER INTERIORS

Katherine Spicer has one simple philosophy when it comes to serving her growing clientele: Deliver the very best in interior design creating warm, inviting living spaces that tell a story about the owner.

“I believe that every home should be a reflection of who we are,” she says. “I make a special effort to talk to clients and ask them a lot of questions about how they live, what they like, what they dislike, what their hobbies are. I gather as much information as possible to create an environment that reflects them. I’m not interested in designing spaces that look great but don’t function well. I’m totally committed to telling the client’s story by designing a room that says something about them.”

Graduating from Sheffield School of Interior Design in New York, Katherine opened her Fort Smith studio in 2012 and has built a large and satisfied clientele of residential and commercial clients.

Whether designing for one room or an entire building, she brings the same impeccable taste and attention to detail to every job. She’s even developed three tiers of service to accommodate the different needs of her customers.

“We offer what we call a Strategy Session,” she says. “It’s a two-hour, one-on-one meeting where we go over the house and discuss the problems they’re facing and address the solutions.

"Another tier is Interior Design Plan Only, which includes a design plan for a room or several rooms. We compile a shopping list and the client orders furniture and furnishings on their own. And, of course, we offer a Full-Service Interior Design plan which covers everything from beginning to end.”

Katherine said using an interior designer makes a space function better through the most efficient placement of furniture, not to mention improving the aesthetics. “With all the stress and pressures of modern life, people should have a beautiful oasis to come home to,” she says. “Why settle for a home that looks plain when it can be fabulous!”

Rucker Fine Homes

Emily Rucker is a groundbreaker on many levels. Not only is she unique in her role as a woman builder in an industry overwhelmingly dominated by men, she’s known for building custom and spec homes that function as beautifully as they look.

“No one wants to come home and do repairs at night, so our homes have very little maintenance to them,” she says. “They’re energy efficient. They’re green, they have cellulose insulation as well as high-efficiency heating and air units, tankless water heaters, all the things that keep the utility bills low. And, they have the aesthetics to match, such as a large open kitchen/living room family-type plan that people want today. If you’re in the kitchen cooking, you can see the TV and you’re not sheltered from your family and everything going on. They’re very easy to entertain in, with large islands and powder rooms for company. They’re very beautiful homes, inside and out.”

Location is another plus, as Rucker Fine Homes are found in some of the most desirable developments in the River Valley, including Pinnacle Park in Chaffee Crossing, Cisterna Villa, Belle Chasse and Blaylock Ranch in Alma. Homes typically range from 1,800 to 2,500 square feet.

Emily knows her customers because she and her children – son Chapen Rucker and daughter Whitney Ware – take time to listen. She said the company’s ability to relate to female clients, who tend to make the majority of design decisions in a family, is a particular advantage.

“I’ve had a lot of women in the past tell me they enjoy working with us because they feel like they can say anything about what they want instead of feeling somewhat intimidated by other companies,” Emily says. “Women feel like they can explain to us what it is that they want, what they’re looking for, what they like and what they want to change. This enables me to keep them on budget and make things more compatible with their expectations.”

Monica and Jeremy Ibison of Keller WIlliams Platinum Realty, are Realtors ® for Rucker Fine Homes and vouch for the attention the company pays to its clients as well as their attention to detail that borders on the obsessive. “Rucker Fine Homes goes above and beyond,” Monica says. “Emily, Whitney and Chapen all walk through the homes they’re building multiple times. Every little detail, every caulk bead is double-checked, every cabinet door adjusted. It’s just outstanding quality that you can see and feel when you walk into one of their homes. They really pay attention to the details.”

The Paint Store

In more than thirty years in the retail business Sue Moore, owner of The Paint Store, has seen a little bit of everything, including the rise of big box and online competition that has been the demise of many Main Street businesses.

Yet under her direction, The Paint Store has not only survived, it’s become a fixture for top-quality paint, brushes, accessories and expert advice.

“I’ve sold paint to generations of people,” Sue says. “Our thirty-four years of experience has given us the ability to discuss whatever the customer is trying to accomplish. We help them work through obstacles that they may have or give them insider information that we’ve learned over the years. We like to have conversations with people.”

And ask any contractor, homeowner or commercial account who’s shopped The Paint Store and they’ll tell you it spoils them for shopping anywhere else. To understand just how far Sue’s service-first mentality goes, just look at her mammoth card catalog, arranged by customer, detailing every purchase.

“When we started The Paint Store, I felt it was important to keep records of the colors customers purchased,” she says. “You always hear, ‘I can’t ever go back and get the same thing twice. This gallon doesn’t match the first one.’

“I developed a system where we keep those records on index cards complete with a wet sample of every gallon we mix on the back of that card. This way, we can maintain the consistency of the color and sheen of the paint. Some people keep files on the computer but without that sample, you really don’t know if the paint will match, because you don’t have anything to refer to.” Other unique services include on-site color consultations in clients’ homes or with builders and designers who bring in fabric, tile and floor covering samples to match just the right shade.

“There’s only so much hard surfaces can do to make a room,” she says. “The paint is the glue that brings everything together.” A visit to The Paint Store is more than just a great shopping experience, it’s also an abbreviated tour of Sue’s life. (Which explains why it’s the only paint store on the planet that also sells certified grass-fed beef cuts and freerange chicken eggs from M&M Farms, which Sue owns with her husband Tom.) After three decades, The Paint Store has brought her as much satisfaction as it has to her clientele.

“We’re so grateful for the people who have supported us all these years,” she says. “We love being part of the community and we like to think we’ve made it a little more beautiful, one gallon at a time.”

A Time for Every Purpose

IIt’s rare these days to run into someone like Jerry Glidewell, who’s spent the entirety of his long career with a single organization. So rare, in fact, that it’s difficult to comprehend how lengthy of a stretch his forty-three years (longer if you count his working part-time during college) with the Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs really is.

For context, when Jerry joined the organization full-time in 1979, national headlines included the meltdown at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant, the taking of American hostages at the U.S. embassy in Iran and the release of two classic albums with “wall” in the name, Pink Floyd’s The Wall and Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall.

In fact, he even predates the organization’s name by eleven years as “Girls” wouldn’t be added until 1990. Just one of the many milestones passed on a long and successful career serving youth across the city and throughout the area.

“My goal in college was to teach and coach in public schools,” he says. “I just kind of fell into the Boys & Girls Clubs and loved it because of the variety of working with people and all kinds of programming and government officials and volunteers and board members. I loved it all.”

Jerry was born in Southern California where he lived until age ten when the family moved to Las Vegas. Following his sophomore year of high school the family moved again, this time to western Arkansas where he attended Hartford High School, graduating in 1974. It was a bittersweet time, not only for the culture shock but also for losing his mother.

“My mother had a terminal illness, a brain tumor, and she was about to die,” he says. “That was challenging, for sure. She had been in and out of the hospitals for seven or eight years and it was a really tough situation on the family.

WORDs Dwain Hebda images courtesy Jerry Glidewell

Jerry Glidewell and his wife Cyndi

Son Jay and daughter Emily

“My father wanted to be around his family, so that’s the reason for the move back to Arkansas.”

A standout baseball player, Jerry played for what was then Westark, now the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. After two years he transferred to the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, then known as College of the Ozarks, graduating in 1979.

“I started working part-time for the Fort Smith clubs back when I was attending Westark in 1975 and 1976,” he says. “When I transferred to the University of the Ozarks, I started working for the Boys Club in Clarksville. The director of that club left for medical reasons, so they hired me to be the executive director at that club in 1979. That’s when I started full-time.”

By 1982, Jerry was recruited to join the Fort Smith organization, starting out at the Stephens club located on North Sixth Street. In 1987, he was promoted to director of operations for the Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs and was named executive director in 1990.

Jerry had no time to ease into his new role as that same year, a capital campaign was launched to build a new club, Goldtrap, at 8800 Dallas Street, completed in 1993. It was the first of several successful capital campaigns and building projects that also included rebuilding and expanding the Stephens location after it was destroyed by tornado in 1996 and a $2.5 million campaign

and renovation of the Evans club in 2003. He also led a campaign to improve Hunts Park, raising $2.5 million in 2019.

“We completely turfed the field and made major improvements for football, soccer and baseball,” he says, a note of pride in his voice. “Activities are played there year-round, and we also lease that field; Northside Public High School uses it for their home baseball field and Trinity Middle School plays their football games there. We rent it out for various soccer groups in town along with our own soccer program and flag football. It’s really a great facility.”

Programming has grown right alongside the physical elements of the Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs. While most people equate the organization with after-school supervision and sports programs, the actual slate of programming is much broader, from tutoring and mentoring to guest speakers and scholarship programs.

“We provide meals for free at the clubs,” Jerry says. “During the summer we serve breakfast and lunch and then during the school months we have after-school snacks and a dinner meal. That comes through a state program, prepared and delivered by a local church. In 2021, we served 109,000 meals.

“We also have after-school transportation where we provide van service to pick up approximately 250 kids per day from

Jaylin Williams and Jerry

fifteen different schools and bring them to the clubs until the parents can get off work and pick their children up. I think that’s a great service.”

Jerry says the diversity of programs, from the traditional to the progressive, is one of the things that has held his interest and kept him here for more than four decades.

“There’s fundamental things in life that remain the same,” Jerry says of the club’s impact. “I think the club offers a safe haven for kids, a place for them to go to feel that they belong. It also provides a sense of security and friendship, providing new opportunities for kids to expand their horizons. Those are the main things that have stood the test of time.

“The thing that has changed is how fast paced everything is, especially with cell phones and social media and the complexity of life. The simplicity of how things were in the ‘70s, ‘80s or even the ‘90s, that’s been accelerated with all kinds of things kids face in today’s world. For good or bad, there’s been a lot of changes and things will continue to change, for sure.”

Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs executive directors have a tendency to serve long careers. Jerry, who’s just the fifth executive director since 1928, lived up to that tradition and then some. But unlike his predecessors, he hands off the baton in historic fashion, welcoming the first woman to hold the job, Beth Presley, who succeeded him in September.

“I’ll definitely miss the kids, the volunteers, the board, the staff,” he says. “But I do have a lot of hobbies. I write music; I’ve done that for many, many years and I’ll continue to do that. My wife and I love to travel. I love art, I love learning and I may be going back to take some college classes, maybe try to learn some new things.”

As he retires, Jerry leaves the organization far better than he found it, having just completed a $3 million campaign to renovate and expand the Jeffrey facility. Construction for that project is set to start later this year. He admits it will take some getting used to not driving to work every day, but he’s not ready to completely step to the sidelines just yet.

“I want to volunteer within the community, either with some United Way agencies or the public schools,” he says. “I’m on a board at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith; I want to get more involved there as well.

“I think of the old Byrds’ song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” which was based on Bible scripture from Ecclesiastes 3:1, that says there’s a season for everything. Well, I’ve had my season at the Boys & Girls Club. I’m very appreciative of the time I’ve experienced there and I’m excited about the future of the organization.”

Cyndi and Jerry

Learn more about Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs at fsbgc.org.

Direct Farmsfrom the

WORDs Liesel Schmidt images courtesy Kim Bice, Farmers Direct

In an age when so much is manufactured by machines and shipped out by faceless companies consumed by the bottom line, buying something from the source, from the hands that grew it and the people who put their heart and soul into bringing it to fruition, is incredibly special. For that reason, farmers markets have seen a resurgence, a return of people who might once have satisfied themselves with the off-the-shelf produce and meats they find at the big box store simply for the sake of convenience. But there’s nothing like the taste of a vegetable dug fresh from the ground, in-season heirloom fruits and vegetables plucked from the vine, or pasture-raised meats. The health benefits of fresh, whole foods are also undeniable.

Still, there is one glaring issue: Not everyone can make it to a farmers market to buy these glorious gifts from the ground or the many artisan goods so commonly found there. This was precisely the problem faced by four friends in Fort Smith, who instead of just shrugging their shoulders and wishing things were different, decided to make a change.

“Fort Smith hosts two incredible farmers markets, but due to hectic schedules, neither of our families could ever make it there to shop for local, high-quality goods, and we were sad to miss out on these items,” says Kim Bice, who, along with her husband Josh, and their friends Dr. Sean Baker and his wife Erica, created Farmers Market Direct, an online and brick and mortar store in Fort Smith. “We knew if we felt this way, surely others did, too. Plus, if we missed the markets and still wanted these local products, we’d have to spend hours driving from farm to farm to find them. By bringing the farmers market to the people, we could not only meet a need for like-minded consumers, but also provide a platform for farmers and artisans to sell their goods every day of the week, not just on Saturday mornings.”

Their goal, in its essence, is a simple one: “Farmers Market Direct’s mission is to connect local farmers and artisans with urban consumers,” says Kim. “By doing this, we hope to build relationships, nurture the health of our community, and boost our local economy. That’s incredibly important to us— to get back to basics in our mindset and eating habits. We also hope that by providing this sales platform, it promotes a resurgence of entrepreneurs who want to focus on their craft and enables them to do what they love and make a living from that.”

Of course, creating a “farmers market at your fingertips” meant offering the same products as weekend markets. Farmers Market Direct offers a wide variety of products including grass-fed beef; pasture-raised chicken and pork; fresh, local produce and flowers; baked goods; canned goods such as relish, chow chow, salsa, jam, jelly, apple butter, molasses, syrup, and honey; and hand-crafted items like artisan jewelry, small batch candles, soaps, natural skin care products, wall art, and more! They also feature Fort Smith’s first zero-waste soap refill station providing all-natural, eco-friendly, biodegradable, cruelty free, vegan, gluten free, US-made soap and cleaning products. In addition, they even have a small selection of non-GMO and organic foods and can easily connect customers with specialty products they may not be able to find elsewhere. “We try to source most things as locally or regionally as possible, but in some cases, there are no available options,” says Kim. “So, we try to source products that aren’t carried in other stores, and if there are certain items that people would like or need due to dietary restrictions, but haven't been able to find in other stores, we are happy to try to source them.”

Naturally, such a cornucopia of goods didn’t just materialize. Once they had the idea—as ingenious as it was—they had to get to work to source everything they would sell. “We

ran radio ads in rural Arkansas asking for ranchers, farmers and craftsmen to become partners, and the word spread,” says Kim. “We’re eager to make partners with all different vendors, which will allow us to offer more diversity. We hope that by handling the marketing and business side of things, it allows our vendors more time to work on their craft.”

“We spent four months cold calling local farmers, building relationships and asking about their farming practices and their grow methods,” adds Josh. “We want to ensure our partners grow with the most ethical and natural methods possible, without additives, chemicals, steroids, hormones or unnecessary antibiotics.” Fortunately, they were met with suppliers who were eager to talk about their products and practices and shared the information about this new venture with others in their circle, who were also interested.

While the Bakers and Bices come from different backgrounds, each team member brings unique skill sets to the table. Aside from their enthusiasm and passion for the project were individual strengths that made them invaluable to the whole. As someone who has been in grocery distribution for fifteen years, Josh, the COO, was knowledgeable about the pricing breakdown of dollars spent in the grocery store and knew how much of each dollar actually went back to the farmer— traditionally around ten to fifteen percent, while Farmers Market Direct determined to offer their partners sixty-six percent of every dollar spent at their store.

Kim, meanwhile, has worked for a number of non-profit organizations and has owned a photography business since 2009, giving her a good head for business and making her an ideal Director of Marketing. CEO Sean is a family physician at Mercy Clinic and a colonel in the Army National Guard. Having grown up in Haiti as a child of a veterinarian missionary, he developed a strong interest in farming. Erica, who serves as Chief Administrative Officer, is stay-at-home mom and the homeschool facilitator of four children, which takes an incredible degree of organizational skills. Completing the team is Bryan Patterson, Director of Warehouse Operations, and Cami Brakhage, retail associate.

Fortunately, this team of dynamic individuals received affirmation that their vision was not one without merit. Their

launch was incredibly successful, and the promise it shows is encouraging, to say the least. As great a reception as they’ve been met with, however, the Bices and Bakers are fully aware that there are challenges to not only maintaining their success, but also growing it. “Most everyone agrees this is a great concept, but for us to thrive, we need the community to jump on board with our mission and realize the importance of eating locally sourced food and supporting our farmers and artisans,” says Kim. “Breaking the box store habit is going to be one of our biggest hurdles. It might be one more stop or a little out of the way, but we try to make it as convenient as possible—not only can you shop in person, but you can easily order online for home delivery or curbside pick up in Fort Smith. We offer competitive pricing, and believe our products have superior taste and quality. Customers are welcomed in a warm atmosphere and have the satisfaction of knowing the dollars they spend here are supporting local farmers, craftsmen, and the community. We encourage everyone to break the ‘box store' habit and check out the River Valley’s new specialty grocery store!”

Open Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm; Saturdays 9am-2pm For more information and online ordering, visit farmersmarketdirect.com.

A Love Story

words Dwain Hebda images courtesy Dusan and Maddie Stojanovic

Maddie and Dusan Stojanovic

TThe most sweeping love stories often spring from the humblest of first impressions. Such was the case when Maddie Gilliam Stojanovic first laid eyes on her future husband, Dusan – nicknamed Duci by his mother – at the time Dusan was a member of the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith basketball team.

“I saw Duci when I was in high school,” Maddie says. “I went to a UAFS basketball game when I was still at Greenwood High School and the first time I saw him he was walking out of the tunnel to country music. Every other guy on the basketball team had a rock or rap song and here comes Duci. He even had a cowboy hat.

“He comes walking out of the tunnel with this hat on and he grabs the coach’s daughter and twirls her around and walks out like a cowboy. I think that would work on every other girl in Arkansas, but country music was just not my thing. All I could think was, ‘Who is this guy, and why is he walking out to country music?’”

As if that weren’t a dubious enough start, Dusan had similar misgivings later when Maddie enrolled at UAFS on a volleyball scholarship.

“Maddie, from my perspective, I knew of her when she was a freshman,” he says. “She was one of those girls who always had a boyfriend. It was the weirdest thing. I genuinely thought she was really pretty, but I never really tried even to talk to her because she always had a boyfriend.”

The couple finds such stories funny now, having got the last laugh in 2018 when they wed. Married life is still fresh enough to tinge their voices with that particular newlywed quality, all the more because they know how narrow the odds are that they should have ever found each other to begin with.

“I had every intention of moving back home [after college],” Dusan says. “As God would put it together, I had the opportunity to meet Maddie and really, that’s when everything changed for me. I knew this is where I wanted to stay and build my life and my future with her.”

Dusan and Maddie with their parents and grandparents

Dusan's family at their wedding celebration, Lazarevac, Serbia

Dusan with neighborhood kids where he grew up in Serbia

42 people

Every successful love affair is a statistical longshot, the odds of which make probability experts’ heads spin and in Maddie and Dusan’s case even more so. Born on opposite sides of the Earth – she in Arkansas and he in Serbia – there's little in their upbringing to think fate would allow them to ever cross paths, much less find in each other a soulmate.

“Our relationship really did happen according to God’s plan,” Maddie says.

On the other hand, as they are quick to tell you, having a romantic backstory straight out of a movie script is something of a family tradition. Take Maddie’s grandparents, for example, whose relationship was a product of the Vietnam War.

“My grandfather was formally trained in California as an interpreter,” Maddie says. “He had two deployments to Vietnam; on the first he met my grandmother and on the second they got married. The rest is history.”

Dusan’s mother and father met and fell in love in Serbia despite the misgivings of parents. The girl of affluence and the poor carpenter ultimately ended up running away in order to start and build their lives together.

“My grandmother still has the goodbye letter my mother wrote,” Dusan says.

The other common denominator in Maddie and Dusan’s story is athletics, in which they were both gifted and supremely competitive. Maddie discovered sports as a toddler and would play on the first state champion volleyball team in Greenwood High School history along with elite club teams. She’d also earn all-state honors in both volleyball and soccer, landing her three scholarship offers. Her choice of college proved a key element to her eventually meeting the love of her life.

“Looking back, at that time I always said I wanted to leave and go to the east or west coast,” she says. “I actually fell in love with the school there in Fort Smith. It's the reason I’m still here and it’s where I met Duci.”

Dusan was a natural on the basketball court, pushed to his best by his older brother Djordje.

“I really looked up to my brother in a lot of different ways,” he says. “He started playing basketball when he was about seven years old. I was five and not really old enough to play, but I kept bugging my dad to take me to his practices. At first, I’d just hang out and play on the bleachers until practice was over but eventually the coach said to my dad, ‘Why don’t you bring him over too?’ and my dad agreed.”

Unlike Maddie, who liked to mix it up in several sports, Dusan was laser focused on playing basketball. He got good enough

Dusan's grandma, Bigova, Montenegro

Zabljak, Montenegro

Belgrade, Serbia

that wherever Djordje played, his little brother generally followed, until one day Djordje took a step that left Dusan behind in a big way.

“Eventually my brother had the opportunity to come to the United States to the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith on a basketball scholarship,” Dusan says. “That was really hard on me when I was still in high school. Two years later, I ended up at Fort Smith, too.”

By 2016, when both were on campus and moving in the same circles as collegiate athletes, Maddie and Dusan’s life orbits finally aligned. It happened under typically, untypical circumstances for the couple.

“In 2016, Duci is just a few weeks from graduation,” Maddie says. “He’d torn his ACL and he got medically redshirted and decided with another year he might as well get a double major. He was just staying around to play another year; if he hadn't torn his ACL, I would have never met him.

“Anyway, we had a mutual friend who was a volleyball player from Brazil. She was having a birthday get-together and she invited all her friends. At that birthday dinner in downtown Fort Smith, I talked to Duci for the first time.”

“Knowing she was never single, I first wanted to test the waters,” Dusan says. “Once I found out she was actually single at that time, I was like, ‘I just have to go for it and talk to her and ask her out because I’ll never get that opportunity again.’”

From that first conversation the couple grew inseparable, as each took the time to learn the other’s unique story, immersed in the subtleties of their respective cultures and communities. It’s a process that continues to this day, helped along by personal experience.

Maddie first traveled to Europe and met Dusan’s family in 2017 and then the couple returned for an extended visit earlier this year, a makeup trip from 2020. For his part, Dusan likes to spend time with Maddie’s grandmother to compare notes on the challenges of being a first-generation immigrant. In so doing, both have learned how to keep time with the rhythms of their respective clans while still dancing to their own music as a couple.

“The GDP in Serbia isn’t very high, so people look out for each other and take care of each other,” Dusan says. “I only have one sibling, but I have about seventeen cousins. We have a really tight-knit big family. So, I pride myself on being a good team player. I want to be successful, but I’m definitely more laid back while Maddie is very, very driven. I love that about her –how she loves to push for change.”

“Duci has taught me so much about the culture in Serbia and how they maximize their love and time with family. Those are the things they place their value in,” Maddie says. “I have the same love for my family, but I've gained a new perspective as to what I value. It’s made me question, ‘What is winning? What is success?’ and he’s shown me a whole new way to look at that. Of everything I’ve ever accomplished, Duci is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Dusan and Maddie, Bigova Bay, Montenegro

QUEEN CITY

words Dwain Hebda images Sheri Stell and Suzanne McEvoy

“It’s great for women our age to realize they can still do the things that they love. Who says that you have to stop? If it’s something you enjoy, why, just because we’re getting older, should we stop?”

TThe 2021 Arkansas State Fair was one for the ages. The annual event attracted more than half a million guests, an all-time record, as well as countless head of livestock, multiple jam-packed concerts and untold pounds of corn dogs and funnel cakes consumed.

It was also a banner year for beauties from the River Valley as two of the four state fair titles handed out came home to Fort Smith. And under those tiaras are two very smart, accomplished women who have spent their respective reigns as walking examples of the power of attitude over age.

“It’s great for women our age to realize they can still do the things that they love,” says Sheri Stell, Arkansas State Fair Sr. Mrs. “Who says that you have to stop? If it’s something you enjoy, why, just because we’re getting older, should we stop?”

Suzanne McEvoy and Sheri Stell

“I just love helping promote [the state fair] not only for the pageant girls, but for the talent kids and also for the kids who show their cows, chickens and other livestock,” says Suzanne McEvoy, Arkansas State Fair Mrs. “I also hope to inspire and encourage women my age and older to do whatever they set their minds to. We’re not too old. You’re never too old.”

The duo’s respective backgrounds share a lot in common. Both competed in pageants when younger and have remained active behind the scenes in pageants ever since. Sheri won Miss Arkansas USA in 1987 and went on to represent the state at the Miss USA Pageant in New Mexico that year. Suzanne competed in local pageants in high school and then became a dedicated “pageant mom” when her daughter started competing.

Still, both needed a measure of persuasion to get back into the game last year after decades out of the spotlight.

“It actually took a lot of convincing to get me to do it again, but so glad I did,” Sheri says. “It really has changed things for me, especially my perspective on pageants and ladies my age competing again. It was great.

“I think so often we think that pageants are only for the young, that it’s a young beauty thing. Older women sometimes categorize the things that you used to do when you’re younger as things you can’t do anymore. You’re too old. There might have been some of that with me, thinking that’s not something that we do at this age.”

Suzanne has a passion for the state’s county fairs, which are a critical feeder system for state fair competition of all types. She says she saw the state pageant as a chance to promote wider participation at the local level, and since being crowned, that’s exactly what she’s done.

“I grew up around our local county fair. They’ve always had a special place in my heart,” she says. “I love helping kids out and just knowing the amount of money and scholarships that are available, I wanted to help promote that and make people aware that it’s not just about showing livestock. The county fairs have so much more to offer and that scholarship money

is available for those who participate, whether it be showing their animals or in the talent show or the girls who participate in pageants.”

The two state fair queens also stand in sharp contrast to the stereotypes that plague pageants and pageant contestants. Both women are successful in their respective careers and heavily engaged in their communities. Suzanne – who is director of the Sebastian County Fair’s pageant and talent competitions, holds a degree in criminal justice and excelled during her professional career, first as a parole officer then for thirty years in sales – is a prime example.

“A lot of times pageant contestants get a lot of flak, like, ‘Why do you want to do that?’” she says. “Some people have this negative stigma of pageant girls, but these girls are good students and volunteer heavily in their communities. And, there is scholarship money out there and that’s why a lot of these girls do it, because college is expensive.”

Sheri’s original competitive career may have ended in 1987, but she never got too far from the stage. Her singing talent has kept her booked in gigs with various bands through the years as well as special invitations to governors’ inaugural balls and the National Baseball League Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. A former director of a local Christian preschool, she now owns and operates Sheri’s Bridal and Formal in Fort Smith.

Joan Warren, Sheri, Suzanne, Bill Warren

“Being a girl, there’s nothing better than dressing up in a pretty gown. It’s my happy place,” she said. “When I walk in the door here and the sunlight hits all the sparkles and beads, I just stand there like a little girl in a candy story.

“I have absolutely made it my mission to promote self-esteem and good body image for the girls who come in here. It’s hard for the ones who just don’t feel good about themselves. Even if they never buy a dress but just look at themselves and smile as they’re walking out, which they weren’t doing when they walked in, then I honestly have succeeded. That’s the truth and that’s just how I feel about it.”

The duo has carried similar messages of empowerment and grace at any age throughout their yearlong reign. Along with the Miss Arkansas State Fair and Junior Arkansas State Fair queens, Sheri and Suzanne have been in demand since earning their tiaras last October as appearances at galas and small community festivals alike are standard fare for pageant winners.

“Since we got crowned, I have been to the Cattle Baron’s Ball in Little Rock and the Heart Ball,” Suzanne says. “I have judged and helped out with the state 4H-A-Rama and talked with some 4-H kids at their events. Here recently every weekend, I’m at as many of the county fair pageant and talent shows as I can possibly fit into a weekend. Some days I may be hitting more than one, making an appearance.”

Interactions with youth are the highest priority for the two-some, passing on encouragement and a kind word to the next generation. It’s work that will culminate at the upcoming

state fair where the final acts of their respective reigns will center on the various pageant competitions that attract contestants of all ages from across Arkansas.

“Being backstage, walking through and seeing the girls, you can spot the ones who are nervous and unsure about what’s going on,” Sheri says. “I feel like it’s almost an obligation to stop and talk to them, calm their nerves. ‘OK, let’s don't look at the big picture here; let’s take this a step at a time. Take a deep breath.’” As for taking this memorable ride at the same time, both women said it was extra special. The women have known each other for some time and their sons trained and now serve together as Fort Smith firefighters.

“Sheri is an amazing person,” Suzanne says. “She has so much background in the pageant industry and her singing career. We have had a ball. It was so exciting because it had been so long since I had competed in pageants, and I was an absolute nervous wreck at the state fair. She has this way of calming your nerves that is just unlike anything else. It was so exciting when she was crowned first and then when they crowned me, I was walking off the stage and she was standing right there at the edge just smiling. We were just like, ‘Oh my God! We did it! We did it!’ It meant a lot for both of us to be from the same town. It’s pretty cool.”

Make plans to attend the Arkansas State Fair! October 14-23, 2022 | State Fairgrounds, Little Rock arkansasstatefair.com

Sienna Miller with Sheri and Suzanne

OOne thing you immediately come to know about Maurice Robinson, he’s a guy who favors the long haul.

In his eighty-plus years of life on this planet – all spent in Arkansas – he’s enjoyed an almost sixty-year marriage which produced two children, over nearly five decades living in Benton. He can also boast of a long career as an electrical engineer, serving Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation for just shy of forty-four years. When Maurice puts his mind and his talent to something, it sticks.

THE LONG RUN

In hindsight, therefore, it should not be a surprise that once he took up running, it would be a long-term proposition and for twenty-three years and counting, it has been just that. But no one, not even Maurice himself, could have imagined where his trademark stick-to-itiveness would eventually lead him.

“I got hooked on running and racing,” he said in a landslide of understatement. “I enjoyed running with neighbors and friends and enjoyed getting trophies once in a while. That was fun. I got addicted.”

words Dwain Hebda IMAGEs Dwain Hebda and courtesy Maurice Robinson

Maurice Robinson

Addiction is the only thing that explains the audacity of Maurice’s running career, which he took up on a whim at the invitation of a family member. Although his first training run was inauspicious (“I ran about a hundred yards and just bent over,” he says) he’d soon joined a local running club and was entering local races, an activity spurred on by his wife Norma.

“My wife is a breast cancer survivor,” he says. “I started going with her to 5K Races for the Cure. She enjoyed walking them and she would jog a little. I would go with her wherever she wanted to go. We went to several states.”

Like many runners, Maurice kept pushing his limits, running longer and longer races. He’d made it up to the half-marathon distance (a little more than thirteen-and-a-half miles) when Fate put him on a more extreme path.

“In my Sunday school class, was a man who ran marathons and ultramarathons,” he says. “One day, I found out he was going to run the Arkansas Traveler 100 out of Perryville. I said, ‘A hundred miles? That’s impossible.’ When he did it, he came back and could barely walk because of the blisters on his feet. I thought, ‘Why would anybody want to do that?’”

Intrigued, Maurice entered a fifty-miler on a friend’s suggestion and has since completed numerous ultramarathons, including seventeen one hundred-mile races, by his recollection. To put that 1,700 miles into perspective, imagine running from San Francisco to Denver or Chicago to Jacksonville, Florida – and seven-tenths of the way back – in one stretch.

Then imagine doing it in your golden years and at a pace that ranked top-ten in the world in your age group, as Maurice did at age seventy-five. And even if you did all that, it pales in comparison to what Maurice set out to do next.

“I was almost seventy-nine years old and I had a desire to leave a greater legacy for my family than just being the fastest runner in the world at one point,” he says. “So, I looked at race records for eighty and above.

“We got together Christmas Eve 2020, and I stood up in front of everybody and told them about this dream I had to run the fastest one-hundred-mile race in the United States by anyone eighty and above. I begged them, four family members from

three generational levels, to be on the team to help me do this.

I don’t think they thought I was in my right mind, but they said they would help.”

Team 80, as he dubbed his squad, kicked off April 2021. Water aerobics, cross-training and of course, road work became his daily regimen under the watchful eye of training partner Pete Ireland, himself an octogenarian, who agreed to sign on as Maurice’s coach. After some tune-up ultras in September and November 2021 Maurice arrived at the Prairie Spirit Trail race in eastern Kansas for his bid at immortality. The morning of the race was dark and brisk, but dry and without wind, unusual for Kansas in winter.

“I was the last to start but I was good,” he says. “I jogged out and I threw up my arms real wide and I gave thanks to my Creator and my parents for making me like I am and getting me to the start.”

The moment was so overwhelming, he had to fight his adrenaline not to exceed the pace Pete had set for him. His first challenge was to make the turnaround at mile fifty-onepoint-five in fourteen hours; run slower than that and he’d be disqualified. Achieving that mark, the strategy called for him to reach mile sixty-one running solo, then a series of pacers would help him stay on target through the mental blur and physical exhaustion to the finish line.

“My grandson-in-law paced me about sixteen miles, then my son paced me for the next nine miles to the aid station,” he

Norma and Maurice Robinson

says. “My son’s wife paced me for six-and-a-half miles after that and Pete got me for the last seven miles.”

The last leg proved the most difficult; Maurice had gradually developed a lean in his running posture from about mile seventyfive and by mile ninety-seven, every step took concerted effort.

“The last three miles, that forward lean began to go to the side,” Pete says. “When that happens, it’s really hard to keep your balance. He was still moving well but his back was bothering him and every opportunity we came to road crossings he would run up to a roadside post and grab onto it to stretch his back.”

Pete had calculated a time cushion into the pace, but each stop and start – including more than one fall due to balance issues –were bleeding time. To reach the finish at all, let alone in record time, Maurice would have to find a gear few people ever have to reach for.

“I wasn’t sure I was going to make it,” he said. “I stepped over to a trail post and grabbed it, hugged it and momentarily stretched my back again. I could see the red inflatable finishing archway, so I doubled down to finish the course.

“When I stepped over the timing mats and hit the finish line, I couldn’t cry tears. I just cried dry tears of happiness to see my son and other members of my family waiting there with open arms. It was so emotional.”

Maurice completed the race of his life in twenty-nine hours, three minutes and change, averaging under seventeen minutes, twenty seconds per mile. The time bested the American record and is the second-fastest one-hundred-mile time in the world for a runner age eighty and over. In time, the media would come calling and the governor would send a congratulatory letter, but the best tribute awaited him upon arriving back home.

“When we returned to Arkansas at my son’s house, we were greeted by about a couple dozen friends and family members,” he said. “They were holding big cardboard signs, each with a different phrase. The cutest one was the one my granddaughter, Boyce Bethel, was holding that read, ‘My Paw Paw is faster than yours.’ That’s what I was going for.”

Despite being in superb physical shape – his heart rate

throughout the run averaged only one hundred twenty-one beats per minute – Maurice couldn’t so much as jog for a week and it took a month to fully recover. Norma made him promise he wouldn’t do another race as taxing as a record attempt, but she relented on him running more races. With her blessing, he trained for and completed his latest ultra, in Tennessee over Labor Day, making eighteen ultras in his career.

“She said, ‘You can do others that are not that intense,’” he says with a grin. “We talked about it and she’s OK’d this latest one. She’s a jewel.”

Ever thought of taking up running?

Running clubs are a great place to start!

Western Arkansas Runners 479.629.3600 | facebook.com/westernarkansasrunners/

Granddaughter Tiffany, Maurice, daughter Kristin

Kristin, son Randy, Tiffany, Maurice, Kevin Weston, and Pete Ireland

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• orange supreme or spice cake

(I use Duncan Hines)

• icing (you can tint orange or purchase

• candy eyes

• purple Skittles or black candy (for eyes)

• white tic tacs or mini marshmallows (for

• Tootsie Rolls (for stem)

• cupcake liners

HOW TO PREP

Prepare and bake cupcakes in liners as directed on box, let cool. Stir store-bought icing vigorously in the container, set aside. Remove liners from cupcakes. Spoon a generous dollop of icing on the top of a cupcake and place another cupcake, upside down, on top, pressing slightly to ensure you see the icing. Press tic tacs or halved mini marshmallows into the icing for teeth. Affix eyes with a bit of icing. Gently push Tootsie Roll in the top for the stem!

RECIPE Catherine Frederick image ltummy/Shutterstock

Charcuterie boards aren’t just for grownups!

Your little ghouls and goblins will love this Halloween-themed charcuterie board. This board comes together in a snap and is best prepared right before serving so your fruit doesn’t brown.

FRUIT: bananas, green grapes, strawberries, oranges, kiwis, Granny Smith & Red Delicious apples

OTHER: mini marshmallows, peanut butter, mini white and milk chocolate chips, cheese sticks, raisins, candy eyes, fruit dip (I use store bought), toothpicks, Ziploc® bags, serving tray, spiders (gummy or plastic if age appropriate)

TIPS: Wash and dry all fruit! Melt a few chocolate chips in separate Ziploc® bags in the microwave (just a few seconds). Snip a tiny triangle from the bottom corner of each bag so you can drizzle and draw onto the fruit and dip. Peel, cut and slice fruit as seen to create mummies, pumpkins, ghosts, monsters and more! The stems of the pumpkins are made from slivers of the Granny Smith apples! Cut marshmallows in half, or leave whole, for teeth. The bug in the fruit dip is made from two raisins! The whites of the eyeballs are thin slices from a cheese stick and the eyes are either candy eyes, affixed with a small amount of melted chocolate, or mini chocolate chips. There are so many ways to get creative and surprise the kiddos with a monstrous charcuterie board of their own!

RECIPE Catherine Frederick image lJeniFoto/Shutterstock

Spiced Baked Apples

INGREDIENTS METHOD

• ½ cup brown sugar

• ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans

• ¼ cup raisins

• ¼ cup cranberries, dried

• 4 Tablespoons butter, unsalted, cut into small cubes

• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ½ teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• ½ teaspoon ground cloves

• 4 large baking apples (we love Honeycrisp)

• ½ cup apple cider (or apple juice)

MAKES 4 APPLES

Preheat oven to 375°. Wash and dry apples. Combine brown sugar, butter, nuts, raisins, cranberries, and all spices, set aside. Cut the top ½-inch off each apple. Remove the center core and seeds from each apple using an apple corer or a small utensil, but don’t cut all the way through, you want the brown sugar mixture to stay inside the apple.

Place apples in a baking dish, top side up. Press filling into the center of the apples, mounding at the top. Pour apple cider (or juice) around the apples. Bake until the apples are fork tender, 30-40 minutes. Baste apples with juice from the dish. Let cool slightly then serve with a scoop of your favorite ice cream.

Recipe recipemagik.com Image Tatiana Vorona/Shutterstock

Spiced Apple Pear Cocktail

INGREDIENTS

for the infused simple syrup

• ½ fresh pear, chopped, keep other ½ for garnish

• ½ fresh apple, chopped, keep other ½ for garnish

• 2 cinnamon sticks

• ½ teaspoon apple pie spice

½ cup sugar

• 1 cup water

for the cocktail

• 6 ounces gold rum (omit for a mocktail)

• 4 ounces prepared simple syrup

• 2-4 cups apple cider

• cinnamon sticks (garnish)

MAKES 6 COCKTAILS

SERVE HOT OR COLD

METHOD

For the simple syrup, boil water and sugar over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Once combined, add pears, apples, and spices. Boil for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat, cool in refrigerator. Strain mixture through a mesh sieve. Add rum, syrup and 2 cups of apple cider to a pitcher. Stir to combine, then taste.

If too boozy, add more apple cider. Pour into glasses, garnish with more chopped apples, pears, and a cinnamon stick.

Recipe adapted tasteofhome.com

Image Kolpakova Svetlana/Shutterstock

Oh Christmas Tree!

words courtesy Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism IMAGE Taylor Rooney

One of the best things about the holiday season is that soothing fresh scent of the great outdoors that wafts through the house from a live Christmas tree.

Picking out your own Christmas tree can be a fun family tradition and many farms also offer fresh-cut greenery, wreaths, and seasonal fun such as hayrides! Call ahead for up-to-date hours and information.

JOHNSON FAMILY CHRISTMAS TREE FARM

Paris • johnsonchristmastree.com / 479.847.5280

Choose-and-cut or precut Christmas trees, tree shaking and netting, fresh wreaths (pre-decorated, plain, or custom), table arrangements, handmade ornaments, free hot chocolate, and candy canes on weekends. Hay bale stack for kids to play on and photo ops. You can even get an ornament made from the bottom slice of your tree's trunk for $5.

DREWRY FARM & ORCHARDS

Dover • Facebook / 479.857.0869

Living Christmas trees (to plant later), Christmas wreaths and boughs, Christmas decorations, pre-picked produce, fruit/gift baskets, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, school tours.

HILLTOP CHRISTMAS TREE FARM

Dardanelle • Facebook / 479.264.3807

Choose-and-cut or precut Christmas trees, wreaths and boughs, saws provided, free tree shaking and netting, hot cocoa, candy canes, coloring books for kids, photos, removal bags, tractor-pulled hayrides.

WONDERLAND CHRISTMAS TREE FARM

Pea Ridge • wonderlandtreefarm.com / 866.235.0863

Choose-and-cut or precut Christmas trees, trees bagged, trees tied, tree shaking provided, trees baled, saws provided, hot chocolate for sale, complimentary candy cane for kids, Santa’s mailbox, Christmas gift shop, winter hayrides, port-a-potties.

LOLLIS CHRISTMAS TREE FARM

Rudy • Facebook / 479.474.2102

Choose-and-cut or precut Christmas trees, trees bagged, trees tied, tree shaking provided, trees baled, saws provided, wreaths and greenery, stands available, free candy canes, port-a-potties on site.

CHRISTMAS TREE LANE

Ozark • christmastreelane.info / 479.667.8412

Choose-and-cut or precut Christmas trees, hayrides, a live snowman, free hot chocolate and cookies, a Christmas gift shop, shaking, baling. Also, cozy fireplace, checkers, rocking chairs, outdoor old-time toys, and an indoor “I Spy” game for the kids.

PINE GROVE CHRISTMAS TREE FARM Charleston • pinegrovechristmastreefarm.com / 479.965.4826

Choose-and-cut or precut Christmas trees, Christmas boughs, tree shaking provided, trees baled, winter hayrides, free hot chocolate, port-a-potties, petting zoo.

Missed Connections

It was there, in the black and white of shadows and light, the curves and angles of words made reality. Every thought. Every emotion. All confessions whispered in the dark to an empty room, now brought into the light.

Megan closed her eyes and held her breath. How she wished she could crawl back through time and undo what had just happened. What if she scared him off? What if the truth was just too much for him?

She exhaled and took another breath, opening her eyes and feeling the unexpected sting of forming tears. She couldn’t do this again. The first time had shattered her. To go through it all again would end her.

words Liesel Schmidt image rido/Shutterstock

From : Megan Jones <redrunnr@gmail.com>

To : Thomas Matheson <thomasjmathe@yahoo.com>

Sent : October 15, 2022

Subject : After all this time…

There’s so much I want to say to you, so much I wanted to say when we were face-to-face. But I didn’t know how—and I still don’t. Not really. I’m afraid that what I have to say will make you run for the hills and disappear from my life again.

If I’m honest, I had to hate you for a while. It was the only way I could survive. But hate is so closely tied to love, isn’t it? You were never far from my mind, for so many years. And then I had to put you away and try not to think of you.

It was easier while you were gone. When you were too far away to ever worry that I would one day look up and see you somewhere, close enough to touch. It was torture to know you’d moved back here, and that you came with a family in tow. As close as you were, you were still so far away from me. I wasn’t part of your life, and the life you had was one that I envied.

All those pictures I saw of you, of her…I would wonder why her and not me. What you saw in her that you didn’t see in me and what made you fall in love with her, when I’d wanted more than anything for you to want to share a life with and to love me back as much as I loved you.

So, I had to stop. Stop looking, stop wondering. Stop thinking about you.

But you were always there, the man who stole my heart and never gave it back.

And now you’ve come back into my life after so many years, after moving away again—at a time when we’ve both come through the other side of hell, stronger people who have grown from our pain, our mistakes and failures, our struggles. All those things I felt for you then are still here, magnified in the light of who you’ve become—and who I’ve grown to be.

So how do I live without you now that I know what it’s like to be in your arms and feel that it’s so completely right? Like two halves that have finally found each other to become whole. This can’t be for nothing.

But now I’m left in the wake of the tidal wave of everything that passed between us, so much that showed me just how much I still want what I always did, and I can only wonder if you regret it now that you’ve had time and space to think. I know I don’t regret a moment of it.

You still have my heart, Superman. Please don’t break it.

Megan

“Meg, why do you look so pale?” Sarah looked at her with concern etched on her face. As long as they’d been friends, she could tell without words ever passing between them when something was wrong. And something was definitely wrong.

“I accidentally sent it,” Megan said quietly. She buried her face in her hands and exhaled a deep breath.

“It, as in it ? The email you were writing to Thomas but were never going to send?” she asked incredulously.

Megan nodded without ever lifting her face from her hands. Her curly red hair bounced emphatically.

“Ooh, honey,” Sarah tutted. “How did that happen?”

“It was in my Drafts folder,” Megan whimpered. “When I hit the Send and Receive button, it… sent .”

Sarah sucked in a breath through her teeth and widened her eyes. “I’d say it’s not that bad, but…” she trailed off, then seemed to think better of it. “No. No . Maybe this is a good thing, Meg. How long have you waited to say those things to him? I remember what it was like the first time, sweetie, and it was hard to watch. So maybe this needed to happen.”

Megan looked at her dubiously. “Why?” she asked, shaking her head. “So he can go running for the hills because I poured my heart out and told him everything I’m feeling? That’s not what I wanted. I wanted to ease into this, to take my time and rebuild an actual relationship with him before ’I love you’ happens. So… this ? This is exactly opposite of what needed to happen.”

Sarah shrugged. “Don’t you think he’s smart enough to have figured out how you feel? You kissed him first, Megan. That’s a pretty good indicator of your feelings, and he knows you well enough to know that’s not something you did lightly.” She paused. “And from his response to that kiss, I’d say it’s a pretty safe bet he has genuine feelings for you. He could have backed off after that, and he didn’t. He wanted to see you again—he even made sure he would have time to see you before he left to go back home. Don’t forget that.”

“I’m not forgetting, but Sarah, he said he couldn’t do long distance,” I said, feeling the same twinge of sadness I always did when I thought of that conversation we’d had. “He needs to focus on his daughter, at least until next year when he has more time. There’s nothing I can do about that. What makes this hard is that I was fine. I’d put him in a corner of my mind that I never looked at, because I just couldn’t. But I was fine. Maybe never all-in on any relationship because it wasn’t him, but fine.

"And now…I just hope it’s not some cruel cosmic joke to put him in front of me only to have nothing come of it.”

Sarah looked at Megan with a sober look on her face. “I don’t think this was all for nothing. You just may have to wait for him to be ready.”

Megan hiked her backpack up on her shoulder and checked the digital boarding pass on her phone. Group three, seat 17B. She was going to be waiting awhile.

A text alert pinged on her phone, flashing words across the screen. It was from Thomas. “I’ll never run.”

She smiled, feeling her heart jump a little at the words.   “Turn around.”

She looked up from her phone and glanced around. He couldn’t be here…Could he? She’d told him she had a layover in Atlanta on her way to Amsterdam for work, and he’d offhandedly mentioned that he would be traveling overseas at the same time, as well. But what were the odds that he also had a layover here—and that he would come to find her?

And suddenly she saw him, standing across the terminal and watching her with a look she couldn’t quite describe. But it made her drop her bag and run to him, crossing the short distance between them and into his arms. He wrapped them around her and held her so tightly it felt as though they were melting into each other.

“You’re in my personal space,” he said, breathing in the scent of her hair as he held her.

Megan could feel the beat of his heart through his shirt. “I like being in your personal space,” she whispered, pulling her head back to look into his grey-blue eyes.

“I like having you there,” Thomas said, smiling down at her.

“Good,” she said, smiling back. “Don’t ever let go.”

“Now boarding Flight 5367 to Atlanta,” the gate attendant said into the intercom, prompting the restless crowd sitting in chairs at the gate to begin gathering their things and those who had been standing around to begin inching forward.

Want more fiction? Visit DoSouthMagazine.com/Fiction.

THE WOMEN’S GUIDE

An Essential Guide for Every Woman

Women work hard at all they do. From our families to our professions, there is a lot to handle, and yet, we make it look easy. At times, it's also easy to forget how important it is to care for ourselves the same way we do for others. In this issue of Do South®, we're helping you discover local businesses and services designed to make life a little more fun, a bit more sparkly, and whole lot healthier.

8000 South Zero Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.310.8444 Find them on Facebook

It's finally fall! We invite you to come check out our new craft beers and other seasonal selections. You will love our elegant, climate-controlled wine cellar storage featuring hundreds of bottles of hand selected wines. If you like to try before you buy, don't miss Thirsty Thursdays for select beer, wine, and liquor tastings. We also encourage you to become a member of our rewards program, sign up today for weekly discounts and amazing specials. Whether you are relaxing after a hard week of work, celebrating with family or shopping for the perfect gift, you'll find what you're looking for and more at 4 Corks Wine and Spirits, where we always have something new in store!

1500 Dodson Avenue, Suite 140 Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.709.1913 baptisthealth.com

Statistics show that one out of every eight women will get breast cancer. Preventive screenings, such as mammograms, are valuable tools at detecting breast cancer at an early stage, thus making it more treatable. Baptist Health Breast Center-Fort Smith is dedicated to serving women through a wide range of services including screening and diagnostic mammography, ultrasound, and breast biopsies. Breast self-examination training, genetic assessment, and testing, along with breast health education, are also available. With a comprehensive breast care clinic and experienced team of providers, including an on-site radiologist, Baptist Health is there to navigate and support women through every step.

3720 South 87th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.926.6083 thebarnbytwobrothers.com

There is no better way to celebrate fall than a festival! And there is no better place for a fall festival than around a 112-year-old original hay barn smack dab in the middle of the city! Don’t miss Autumn at The Barn on Sunday, October 16 at The Barn By Two Brothers venue – 3720 South 87th Street! Expect to see vendors set up selling their arts & crafts, lots of yummy food, live music and have your picture made in the pumpkin patch for free! A fun fall festival for all ages – Autumn at The Barn!

7200 Cameron Park Drive, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.785.3277 centerforhearing.net

Center for Hearing and Balance is finally in our new, permanent location! Many outstanding women and companies played an essential role in the building of our new clinic, and we sincerely thank them all! A few of the major players are Dr. Kelley Linton (owner, Center for Hearing and Balance), Lorrie Runion (Glidewell Construction, builder on the project), Gwen Seamans (interior designer), and Jenny McGrew and Darla Brown (Citizens Bank). We appreciate the outpouring of support from our community, our patients, and our referring doctors as we have made this transition. As always, Center for Hearing and Balance is committed to providing the best overall Hearing Healthcare in the River Valley area.

5004 South U Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.883.2223 healingtreetherapy.com

At Healing Tree Women's Counseling Center, we are proud to provide counseling services to clients throughout the River Valley, Northwest Arkansas and beyond. Although based out of Fort Smith, Arkansas, we offer telehealth appointments for clients throughout all of Arkansas, making counseling more accessible and easier for clients who move or go on vacation.

We offer Medication Management, Hypnotherapy, Counseling for Girls, Therapy Intensives, and EMDR. Our mission is to provide healing, expertise, and knowledge so that women gain the self-confidence and inner resources they need to live a healthier and happier daily life. Contact us today!

4300 Rogers Ave, Ste. 32, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.420.4008

hummingbird-boutique-fort-smith-myshopify.com

We are a unique boutique offering gifts and clothing for all ages! Founded and operated by a local mother-daughter duo, we've created beautiful and unique items waiting for you to explore. Nothing makes us happier than moms, daughters, and grandmothers shopping together at Hummingbird! Inside our 2,500-square-foot space, you'll find clothing, décor, candles, journals, books, religious items, inspirational gifts, jewelry, and more! We carry over 20 clothing lines with options for all budgets. Our newest line, Sympli, is high-end, flattering on all figures and perfect for the traveler and professional woman! Customers compliment the inviting interior, peaceful shopping experience, and close parking. We also offer complimentary gift wrapping. Lots of new inventory has arrived, just in time for fall – come see us!

Certified Gemologist

5622 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.452-2140

johnmaysjewelers.com

Another summer has passed, school is back in session, and just like that, it’s time for fall cookouts, game days, and preparation for the holiday season! We wanted to ensure you are ready for all your upcoming holiday events and parties, so during our last show in Las Vegas, we hand selected incredible new pieces from Hearts On Fire, Tag Heuer and Tane and Baggins, just to name a few. There’s so much in store to catch your eye. While you’re here, we would love to inspect your jewelry to ensure it’s in great shape and sparkling bright for all to see. Happy fall – stay tuned to Do South® for our holiday event details!

5901 Riley Park Drive, Suite B

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Call or text 479.763.3050

premierpediatricsfs.com

We know children don’t just get sick during normal business hours, that’s why Premier Pediatrics Urgent Care treats children with illnesses as well as minor trauma in the evenings and on weekends. We offer in-office x-ray, labs, splinting, laceration repair, oxygen, and nebulized treatment therapy. The urgent care is open to all children in need of after-hours care. Book an urgent care appointment online at premierpediatricsfs.com to save time in the waiting room. Our Primary Care hours are Monday-Thursday 8am to 5pm, Friday 8am-12pm. Urgent Care hours are Monday-Friday 12pm-8pm, Saturdays 9am-6pm, Sundays 12pm-6pm. Call or text today for your appointment!

Ann K. Passmore, M.D., F.A.C.S

7805 Phoenix Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.242.2442

passmoreplasticsurgery.com

Autumn leaves and cooler temperatures have arrived. Perhaps you need a little more here or a little less there to look and feel your best in fall clothes. Passmore Plastic Surgery offers contouring procedures to help you attain your desired shape.

Having practiced in Fort Smith for 25 years, Dr. Ann Passmore is proud to be a woman in business, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, and to have been voted Best of the Best for seven years running. Call or schedule an appointment online to learn about surgical and non-surgical options for every body and budget.  314.276.1680 renee@resetwithrenee.com resetwithrenee.com

If you look like you “have it all together” but you (secretly) feel like a mess…you are not alone! There’s nothing wrong with you and you are not alone! Relationships, work, and life challenges everyone at best and traumatizes at worst. Seeking support is not weak; it is empowering! Together we will assess what’s working (or not) & add in new perspectives, skills, or practices to help you feel good inside and out. Investing in your wellbeing is good self-care & healthcare. It helps you and your family, community, and calling. If you want to live, love, and lead with a whole heart, schedule your reset!

314 Lexington Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.659.3435 salonelements.com

Salon Elements is your go-to salon! We are experts in dimensional hair coloring, blonding, silvering, balayage, and vivid color and are Easihair Pro Hand Tied and Natural Beaded Row Hair Extension Certified. We also offer lash and brow services as well as truSculpt® body contouring! Need a medical pedicure? Stephanie Ebert, our licensed Medical Nail Technician, is trained to provide corrective services to restore natural nail growth, revert chronic nail issues, and provide specialized diabetic foot care. She offers state-of-the-art nail restoration along with Reflexology and Bowen-based soft tissue work as well as clay therapy for detoxification to assist in restoring the natural balance to feet and ankles. Schedule your consultation today!

479.442.6266 breastcenternwa.com

Breast cancer risk is not the same for everyone! For many women, a yearly mammogram beginning at age 40 is sufficient to screen for breast cancer. However, others are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. At The Breast Center, every woman completes a questionnaire about personal and family medical history. If her history indicates she may be high risk, the technologist will recommend a consultation with a specially trained nurse. During the consultation, the nurse will recommend a personalized screening plan that may include Automated Breast Ultrasound or Breast MRI, optional genetic testing, or increased frequency of screening. The Breast Center offers the most comprehensive breast screening available to women with different risk factors!

5905 Remington Circle, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.452.7773

totalrehabfs.com

Experience INDIBA® at Total Rehabilitation! It’s safe, non-invasive, and painless, with no downtime, and visible results can be experienced in one session. From medical aesthetics and injury, to post-op recovery and pain management, INDIBA® provides a solution. INDIBA® works to shape, tighten, and enhance the natural beauty of the skin by increasing circulation and promoting the combination of collagen and elastin. INDIBA® can also increase blood flow over the legs and be combined with manual therapy to improve lymphatic drainage and the appearance of cellulite. Sculpt your body. Tighten your skin. Reduce stretch marks, scarring, and cellulite. Call for details and to schedule your appointment today!

PO BOX 11133, Fort Smith, Arkansas contact@rivervalleyoca.com rivervalleyoca.com

Ovarian cancer doesn't discriminate based on age or race; it can happen to any female. There is NO PREVENTATIVE SCREENING TEST! A Pap Test does not detect ovarian cancer. Over 22,500 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in the US this year. Knowing the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer can help our mothers, daughters, wives, and sisters fight this disease early, when treatment is more effective. Early detection and proper treatment are the best defenses against ovarian cancer. We must pay attention to our bodies, know the symptoms and be our own advocates. Listen carefully, it whispers. Meetings the first Tuesday of each month at the Fort Smith Public Library in Fort Smith, 6:30pm.

8101 McClure Drive, Suite 301

Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.242.8300

jameskelly3md.com

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

Women’s Center for Health and Wellness

8101 McClure Drive, Suite 100

Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.459.6528 wchwfs.com

Dr. Thomas Wood and the staff at Women's Center for Health and Wellness continue to offer the best in Obstetrics & Gynecological care. We are excited to announce we now offer EmpowerRF! EmpowerRF specializes in life-changing solutions for vaginal wellness and full face & body resurfacing & subdermal renewal. EmpowerRF can improve urinary incontinence, pelvic floor weakness, painful intercourse, and sexual health. For the face and body, it can improve scarring, fine lines, deep wrinkles, cellulite, acne, acne scarring, and stretch marks. Find out how EmpowerRF can boost your self-confidence and quality of life. Visit inmodemd.com for more on EmpowerRF by INMODE. Call to schedule your appointment today!