LOYAL - JULY 2022 by Do South Magazine

LOYAL

july 2022 DoSouthMagazine.com

july

Contents 04 18 54

Letter from Catherine Beauty Profiles Senior Life Guide

{COMMUNITY}

09 12 13

Shop Local

Do South Cares: STEPS ®

July Events July Book Recommendations

{HEALTH}

Bites, Stings, and

Listening Up

Winged Things

Red, White, and Berry Trifle Starry Night

{FICTION} {PEOPLE}

On the Border and Beyond We Believe in Magic

38 40

Project Zero

{ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT}

06 08 14 30

{TASTE}

Much More than Coffee

{ T R AV E L }

42 44

Mended Hearts

From the Heart – The Tommy Norman Story Part II

Arkansas Bucket List Splash Around in Arkansas

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OUR COVER Image Credit: Rawpixel/Shutterstock

Top right image, original art by Olivia Lee Hiller

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Letter from Catherine

S OA K

When I started Do South® in 2011, our son was entering kindergarten. This week, he had his senior picture taken in a cap and gown. My emotions are all over the place. I am extremely proud of the young man he has become and so excited about what his future holds, yet I can’t help but think of the things that will be the last, like the last first day of school or the last AAU basketball tournament. This momma is not ready for the months to come! I’m sure many of you will feel the same rollercoaster of emotions when summer winds down. Before long the back-to-school alarm clocks will jolt us from our slumber and our days will be filled with homework, practices, performances, and games. But until then, I will soak up every second of summer with my boy. Officer Tommy Norman understands what it means to take nothing for granted. This month we feature part two of his incredible story. Tommy is famous for his community policing, but the recent passing of his daughter, Alyssa, followed quickly by a heart attack that could have easily taken his life, led him to add educating others on the dangers of addiction and heart disease to his mission. We’ll introduce you to Carey Thompson and Josh Palmer, owners of Black Bison Coffee Company located in the century-old barn that once housed the Ozark Mountain Smokehouse. Black Bison is much more than coffee, in fact they’re not a coffee shop at all, but a unique one-stop gift shop filled with housewares, home décor, apparel, and of course their delicious, fresh-roasted beans.

We’re also sharing stories of two must-attend events in July. Students from Future School of Fort Smith’s first summer drama camp will perform Xanadu, Olivia NewtonJohn’s zany 1986 disco roller skating musical, on July 15 and 16 inside the Bakery District in downtown Fort Smith. And Art on the Border is back, July 22-23! This year’s event showcases more than seventy artists featuring a wide variety of mediums and styles to admire and purchase, including oils, pastels, acrylics, watercolor, fiber, hand-blown glass, jewelry, sculptures, gourds, digitally enhanced photographs, wood turning and baskets, and high-quality prints as well as originals. The event helps raise funds for the Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House, the Gregory Kistler Treatment Center, Art’s at Bost and the Good Samaritan Clinic. Much more awaits you inside these pages! Discover several spots around Arkansas to splash around and beat the heat, delicious recipes perfect for summer picnics, beauty profiles, our annual Senior Living Guide, book reviews, and local shopping. Special thanks to our beloved advertisers who made this issue possible. Please visit them often and enjoy your summer – I’ll see you in August!

Catherine Frederick

Owner/Publisher/Editor catherine@dosouthmagazine.com

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JULY 2022 OWNER - PUBLISHER - EDITOR Catherine Frederick COPY EDITING Charity Chambers GRAPHIC DESIGN Artifex 323 – Jessica Meadors CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jade Graves CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jenny Boulden Catherine Frederick Dwain Hebda Sara Putman Liesel Schmidt ADVERTISING INFORMATION Catherine Frederick I 479.782.1500 catherine@dosouthmagazine.com

FOLLOW US ©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.

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JULY EVENTS Greenwood Freedom Fest July 3-4: Greenwood Town Square, Greenwood

Mayor’s 4th of July Celebration July 4: Riverfront Amphitheater, Fort Smith

2nd Saturday Shopping July 9: Downtown Van Buren, Van Buren

Xanadu Presented by Future School of Fort Smith Drama Club July 15-16: The Bakery District, Fort Smith

Christmas in July: A Holiday Market July 21: Downtown Fort Smith, Fort Smith

Art on the Border Art Show and Sale July 22-23: ACHE Research Institute Health & Wellness Center, Fort Smith

UAFS Men’s Little Lions Basketball Youth Camp July 25-28: Stubblefield Center, Fort Smith

Peacemaker Festival July 29-30: Riverfront Amphitheater, Fort Smith

Walmart AMP Events July 1: Willie Nelson Outlaw Music Festival July 4: Fireworks Spectacular July 12: Santana July 15: An Evening with James Taylor July 16: Darius Rucker July 17: Train with Jewel July 21: Josh Groban July 29: Chris Stapleton Send comments, suggestions and advertising inquiries to catherine@dosouthmagazine.com. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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entertainment

Enjoy these five must-read books from our friends at Bookish, Fort Smith, Arkansas’s only independently owned bookstore. July Recommendations courtesy Sara Putman, Bookish

The Book of Form and Emptiness

by Ruth Ozeki Author Ruth Ozeki is a Zen Buddhist whose practices and philosophies are profoundly ingrained in her latest book. Benny Oh is dealing with the death of his father and begins hearing the murmuring of inanimate objects. It isn’t until he finds a book that shows him how to listen and find his own voice that his healing can continue. This wise and poignant novel will enable you to take a thoughtful look at the things that clutter your thoughts.

by Dave Malone

How to Raise an Antiracist

This Poison Heart/ This Wicked Fate

by Ibram X. Kendi

by Kalynn Bayron

Malone’s poems exhibit the nostalgia often associated with summer time reads. Whether pondering the poems of Philip Larkin or growing up in the Ozarks, the roots of Tornado Drill go deep into our shared experiences of growing up in the region. These poems unlock vivid memories of practicing tornado drills or hitching a ride in the back of the truck. Malone balances humor and grief and offers something new to discover even while relishing the familiar.

Kendi sheds light on his experiences growing up Black in America and raising his daughter to be antiracist. He’s candid and vulnerable about how difficult it can be to discuss race with our children – which is encouraging because he’s a pro. The chapters follow the stages of childhood and offer guidance to parents who are working to raise antiracist children. With accessible language and easy-to-follow guidelines this book is a must-read for parents or anyone who works with children.

We cannot get enough of this YA series full of adventure and centered on diverse and fascinating characters. There is so much wonderful world building and representation in this series that by the time you get to book two, Bayron has added threads of ancient mythos to the storyline. There is enough action to keep boys reading and the characters are so fantastic that readers of all ages will want to stick around to see what happens next.

Tornado Drill

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shop

Sweet, Sweet Summertime! words Catherine Frederick imageS Jade Graves Photography and courtesy vendors

Shop local all summer long and be sure and tell them Do South® sent you!

Tom Ford Sunglasses for Women

DR. STEVEN B. STILES OPTOMETRY 479.452.2020

Hearts On Fire Signature 11 Diamond Band, Available in Platinum and 18kt Yellow, White and Rose Gold, Starting at .50ct Total Weight

JOHN MAYS JEWELERS

Smirnoff Red White & Berry Vodka, Daily’s Poptails™ Alcohol Infused Freezer Pops, Hard Ice Vodka Freezies!™ Variety Pack, Daily’s Spiked Snow Cone in Tiger’s Blood, Blue Raspberry and Mango Margarita, Arkansas Crown Club Grand Reserve Small Batch Whisky

IN GOOD SPIRITS 479.434.6604

479.452.2140

Coco Rum and Vodka, Great Raft Tropical In Nature, Kim Crawford Peach Iced Tea Wine Spritz, House Wine Cocktail Blueberry Citrus Lemonade and Strawberry Lemonade, Kurvball BBQ Whiskey

Oticon More™ Hearing Aid Available in Four Styles, with Rechargeable or Disposable Batteries

SODIE’S WINE & SPIRITS

479.785.3277

479.783.8013

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CENTER FOR HEARING

health

Bites, Stings, and Winged Things WORDS Dr. Kendall Wagner, Chaffee Crossing Clinic Image MIA Studio/Shutterstock

It’s summertime!

You are spending more time

FLEAS

outdoors, so it is inevitable you will cross paths with bugs

Fleas do not require a human host as they can also feed on pets

whose bites or stings may result in attention by a physician.

and birds. Their bites appear as red bumps that are very itchy.

The arthropod class of insects includes bees, wasps, fire ants,

Many patients have a reaction like hives or fluid-filled blisters

bedbugs, fleas, and lice. Let’s discuss!

around the bite site. Topical treatment is recommended. The main concern is fleas can transmit infections between animal

BEES, WASPS, FIRE ANTS

and human hosts. Historically, fatal diseases such as tularemia,

Bees, wasps, and fire ants deliver a painful sting from a

typhus, and even the plague have been linked to fleas. Regular

venom-injecting rear stinger. Local reactions such as pain,

veterinarian care and flea control are important to prevent

redness, and swelling are common. Serious reactions include

these infections.

severe itching, facial swelling, and hives and can progress to wheezing, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, severe

LICE

abdominal pain, temporary loss of consciousness, and rarely,

Lice only feed on humans and are tan to grayish white in

cardiorespiratory failure.

color. Head lice are the most common. The three stages of lice growth are egg (nit), nymph, and adult. Symptoms are feeling

Severe reactions require the prompt use of an EpiPen at the time

something moving in the hair, itching, or visible nits, nymphs, or

of exposure. Local reactions can be managed by removing the

adults. Treatment focuses on egg removal with a fine-toothed

stinger, applying a cold compress, and taking Tylenol or Motrin

comb combined with topical solution at the onset, repeated in

for pain. At times, your physician may recommend a short

one week to eliminate any lice that may have hatched following

course of oral antihistamine, such as Zyrtec or Benadryl, and/or

the initial treatment.

treatment with an oral corticosteroid for severe infection. TICKS BEDBUGS

Ticks have eight legs, an ovoid body and feed by cutting a

Bedbugs are small, flat, ovoid-shaped, red brown in color,

hole in the skin and injecting anticoagulants. While bites are

and can be found in crevices in walls, floors, mattresses,

initially painless, they often progress to red, itchy bumps with

cushions, bed frames, and other structures. They must have a

surrounding redness and swelling. After the initial reaction,

human host to survive. Bites usually occur at night and appear

rashes and other dermatologic symptoms may follow. Tick-

as small, red bumps or punctures in the skin with minimal

borne illness includes Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted

surrounding reaction. Your physician may recommend topical

fever, ehrlichiosis, and southern tick-associated rash illness. It is

steroid treatment and oral antihistamines to decrease itching.

imperative to quickly remove the tick to limit the transmission

Occasionally, secondary bacterial infections may require

of tick-borne illness. Remove the tick with fine-tipped tweezers,

prescription topical or oral antibiotics.

grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible and pulling upward with steady, gentle pressure. Ticks should not be

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health

removed with fingernail polish, alcohol, or hot items as they

black widow and brown recluse. The brown recluse is yellow to

may cause regurgitation of the tick, increasing the chances

brown and has a violin-shaped marking on its back. While not

of disease transmission. Treatment of the bite area includes

aggressive, they typically bite when disturbed or threatened. Bites

topical steroid ointments and antihistamines as directed by your

are felt as a sharp, stinging sensation, but are often minor and

physician. Secondary infections or tick-borne illness should be

painless. Some bites develop an area of loss of color or darkness

evaluated by a physician and treated appropriately.

of the skin. Hemorrhagic blisters may occur, and skin death can occur around the bite. Initial care consists of cleansing with soap

CHIGGERS

and water, confirmation of tetanus vaccination status, and a

Chiggers are tiny red mites found in tall grasses, weeds,

cold compress to decrease activity of skin-damaging enzymes

and woodlands. Infestations occur when they reach areas of

found in the spider venom. Physician evaluation is necessary if

constricting clothing such as the ankles, thigh, or waist as they

skin necrosis occurs. The black widow is dark brown to black

feed on human skin. While initially painless, an allergic reaction

with a rounded shiny abdomen with a red/orange hourglass

develops within a few hours, leading to extremely itchy red

shape. Often found in woodpiles, attics, and crawlspaces, bites

papules. Chiggers can be seen as tiny red dots on the skin and

occur when there is a perceived threat. The bite feels like a sharp

can be easily removed with soap and water. Topical steroid

pinprick-like sensation followed by a dull aching or numbness.

treatment and antihistamines are used to decrease the itchiness.

Two red punctures and redness usually develop within sixty minutes of the bite. While many bites have minimal symptoms,

SCABIES

serious reactions such as muscle spasms and pain of the chest,

Scabies are very small mites which burrow into the superficial

abdomen, and lower back can occur. These symptoms can be

layer of the skin where it lays eggs. The initial infection is

followed by elevation of blood pressure, sweating, shortness of

asymptomatic, but then the body develops an allergic reaction

breath, and nausea/vomiting. While local necrosis does not occur,

which results in an intensely itchy rash often in the webs of

cleansing the bite with soap and water followed by confirming

fingers and toes, folds of the wrists and elbows, and on the

tetanus vaccination is important. Tylenol may be given for pain.

buttocks or genital area. Diagnosis is confirmed by microscopic

However, systemic symptoms may require management in the ER

evaluation of skin scrapings which reveal the mites, eggs, or

or an urgent care.

fecal material excreted by the mite. Scabies is treated with permethrin 5% cream applied from the neck down at bedtime

PREVENTION IS KEY

and washed off the following morning. Treatment should be

Wearing longer, lightweight clothing when outdoors, avoiding

repeated in one week to address any mites that might have

woodpiles, tall grasses and weeds, and removal of cardboard

hatched following initial treatment.

boxes from attics and crawlspaces go a long way in prevention. Showering with soap and water after outdoor activities and

SCORPIONS

examination for visible organisms is also important. Bedbugs,

The United States has only one species of scorpion, the bark

scabies, and lice can be prevented with good hygienic practices

scorpion, that contains venom with potential to cause systemic

of washing bedding, routine hair inspection, and quick

toxicity. Most stings produce only localized pain, similar to a

elimination of the organisms when found.

wasp or bee sting, and are managed by removing the stinger and cleansing the wound, followed by an ice compress.

Kendall Wagner, M.D. is a regular healthcare contributor to Do South® Magazine.

Topical steroid and oral Tylenol may also be used for pain.

Chaffee Crossing Clinic 11300 Roberts Boulevard, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.242.5910 | chaffeecrossingclinic.com

SPIDERS In Arkansas, only two spiders have the potential to cause significant morbidity: the

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community

Do South Cares

words Catherine Frederick with Karmella Montgomery LPC, Executive Director

DS: How did STEPS Family Resource Center come to be? STEPS, Inc. was co-founded by Mark and Susan Hooks in February 2010. STEPS began offering supervised visitation to children affected by trauma, neglect and abuse. Currently STEPS offers a variety of services from Supervised Visitation, classes for Anger Management, Nurturing and Co-parenting, Domestic Violence, Parenting Without Violence, Life Skills, as well as case management services with 100 Families initiative, and mental health counseling services for children, individuals, couples and families.

DS: Who does STEPS serve, and in what ways? We serve all ages! We not only have families and clients in Sebastian County but from surrounding counties and in some of our classes have participants from across the state.

DS: How does STEPS impact our community? STEPS offers services by trained staff and are a part of the Supervised Visitation Network. Our Nurturing Parenting classes are free of charge to those with an open

The mission of STEPS Family Resource

DCFS case. The Purple Patch thrift store, located on Towson, is a place individuals

Center is to promote healthy lifestyles

in need can volunteer and receive a voucher for use in the store. We also offer

and strengthen families in our

the ability to volunteer at the store to pay for their class or visit. Our 100 Families

community by offering Safety, Training,

Case Manager works with clients to help them go from crisis to career by assisting

Education, and Prevention that provide

with housing, educational needs, employment, transportation, food, and recovery

Solutions. Do South reached out to

issues. Our Mental Health Counseling program works with individuals to help them

Karmella Montgomery LPC, Executive

process what they need to in order to get them where they want to be mentally and

Director, to learn more.

emotionally. We offer Brainspotting services that work on dealing with trauma and

other underlying issues and TOVA testing to aid in the assessment for ADHD. STEPS Family Resource Center

DS: How can our readers get involved and support your organization?

706 Garrison Ave

We always have need for volunteers at both the STEPS office and The Purple Patch

Fort Smith, Arkansas

with various duties. Donations are also accepted through our Network for Good link:

479.782.7837

https://thestepsinc.networkforgood.com/projects/129816-steps-in-the-right-direction.

thestepsinc.org

DS: Are there any upcoming events or immediate needs our readers should know about? Our annual Duck Day Event is August 20 at Parrot Island Waterpark. Our Family 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.

Fun Festival starts at 10am with duck-themed games for kids of all ages to play and win prizes. Vendors will have items and information about their business. The day ends with our Rubber Duck Derby at 1pm. Our rubber ducks race around the Lazy River in hopes of their adoptive parents winning one of our prize packages! Visit the STEPS office to “adopt” a duck and receive a token duck to take home and get your name in the race. You can also visit our booth at Greenwood Freedom Fest or on the day of the event as well.

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community

TONJA AGE 16

Meet Tonja, a teenage girl looking for her forever home! Tonja loves fun activities and outdoor adventures; trampoline parks and water parks are some of her favorite places to visit. Tonja also enjoys reading. Fun fact – the Twilight series is one of her favorites! Tonja IMAGE courtesy Ashley Carson Photography

does well in school, but she struggles with math and science coursework. She also finds personal

and social boundaries are challenging. For these reasons, Tonja would thrive best in either a single or two-parent household with a strong mother figure and few, if any, other children. Her forever family should have solid boundaries in place. Could your family be the right fit for Tonja? Submit an inquiry at theprojectzero.org 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.

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On the Border words Liesel Schmidt images courtesy Art on the Border

and Beyond

Artist - Lynette Horn

Artist: Mary Lou Christie

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Oils, pastels, acrylics, watercolors…These are

Artist - Vicky Hensley

just a few of the mediums in which art finds its form, taking shape on a canvas or a board or paper. Or even built from the sludge of clay under the hands and fingers of someone whose mind’s eye is guiding each touch. Regardless of what form it takes, art is a powerful form of expression, a way to communicate without words, to tell a story. It is celebrated the world over, revered in museums and galleries, coveted by collectors who want a piece of this beautiful genius. And whether from the societies of Paris or the backwoods of a rural mountain town, art knows no class. It knows only the passion of the person behind it. For the artists of Art on the Border, the chance to showcase their art for the people of their community and from across the region is an invaluable opportunity, a chance to celebrate their work and see the impact it makes on the people viewing it. First created as the Western Heritage Art Show in 2014, two years proved that the festival needed to be more—to break out of the box of clearly defined “western art” and become a place welcoming to all of the varied and wonderful styles, techniques and mediums found within the world of art. By 2016, the festival was rebranded as Art on the Border. At its first year, Art on the Border had a small beginning, numbering only fourteen artists. By 2019, it had grown to more than sixty, though the next two years were cancelled because of the pandemic. Now back for its fifth year, more than seventy artists will be featured at the highly anticipated return of the festival. Additionally, the event will be held at the newly renovated and spacious event center ACHE Research Institute Health & Wellness Center. Taking place July 22 and 23, Art on the Border is a great draw to the city of Fort Smith, benefitting the local community through DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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Artist: Theresa Cate

Artist: Stephanie D. Lee

tourism and commerce—but there’s so much more to the

oils, pastels, acrylics, watercolor, fiber, hand-blown glass,

story than that. “Our community benefits from exposure to

jewelry, sculptures, gourds, digitally enhanced photographs,

the arts: beauty, purpose, stimulation,” says Joan McCoy,

wood turning and baskets, and high-quality prints as well as

event chair. “By purchasing the unique artwork, jewelry,

originals. “This is a unique and wonderful opportunity to meet

baskets, glass, sculptures and so much more, they are

regional artists and see their original artwork and perhaps

contributing to the support of the charitable organizations

purchase it for your home or office,” Joan says. “Art is such an

in the River Valley. We estimate that more than 1,000 people

important means of expression—both for the artist as well as

will attend the two-day event.”

the viewer. It has also been found that art improves our wellbeing. It nourishes our approach to daily living, mobility, health,

Those two days of art raise much needed funds for four local

and wellness. That is why celebrating art and those who create

charities: Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House, Gregory

it is so crucial. Art needs to thrive, and communities need to

Kistler Treatment Center, Art’s at Bost and Good Samaritan

support their artists so that it can.”

Clinic. “Funds for these local charities are generated through sponsorship, donations, and sale of the artworks,” says Joan.

As it has grown, so, too, has Art on the Border’s demand in artists who wish to participate. “Artists have been recruited

As they attend Art on the Border, art patrons will find a wide

and invited to participate in the past, but we have grown to

variety of mediums and styles to admire and purchase, including

the point that now we have a waiting list wanting to attend

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Artist: Steve Brewster

Artist: Karrie Evenson

the event,” Joan notes. “The artists come to us from across the state of Arkansas as well as Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas. They all have the opportunity to show their artwork to Fort Smith, and connections have brought them commission work and additional sales. Plus, they like us because we treat them so well. It’s just a taste of Fort Smith hospitality!” Honorary hosts will be Susan and Sam Fiori, strong supporters of the arts and “all good things in Fort Smith,” as Joan says. The event kicks off Friday evening with the “Show Opening Meet the Artists” reception from 5pm until 9pm. This offers sponsors, past buyers, charity supporters, interested newcomers, invited guests and art collectors the opportunity to meet the artists

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/artontheborder.

and have their first choice of purchase while they mingle and enjoy refreshments. On Saturday morning, the doors open to the public to enjoy the art and shop from 10am to 4pm.

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2022

BEAUTY PROFILES 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 expertise of local health and beauty professionals who are committed to excellence for their clients.

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ONYX Aesthetics and Wellness

This medical training makes all the difference in the success of the practice’s services and overall patient satisfaction. Once pre-work has been done, Jamie says, services are administered professionally and efficiently in a relatively short time, requiring minimal recovery.

When it comes to beauty and wellness treatments such as Botox, dermal fillers or hormone replacement therapy, there

Julie said the duo’s extensive training also allows them to match

are lots of places for today ’s consumer to choose from. Seeking

the right product with the right patient. Onyx ’s hormone therapies,

out a trained professional is key, says Jamie Powers and Julie

for instance, come in a customized implant, a topical cream or a

Rowland, owners of Onyx Aesthetics and Wellness.

lozenge, each with its own advantages and limitations. “ The key to success is customizing treatment to meet patients’ individual

“What sets Onyx apart is you’re dealing with nurse practitioners,”

needs,” she says. “We’re not just looking at numbers on a

Jamie says. “Julie and myself have had extensive training not only

sheet, we sit down face-to-face to discuss symptoms and other

on the products we sell, but also on treating side effects.”

considerations. Our medical training has taught us to approach each patient as an individual and that’s what we’ve carried over

“We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all,” Julie adds. “We do a

into our business.”

thorough consultation where we discuss symptoms and medical history. We make sure we cover everything the patient needs to

Fort Smith's newest luxury medical spa and beauty clinic, Onyx

know and ensure they understand what the information means.”

Aesthetics and Wellness will open in Fort Smith’s Chaffee Commons on August 1.

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Dr. Ann Passmore Pa s s m o r e P l a s t i c S u r g e r y Dr. Ann Passmore, a leading cosmetic surgeon based in Fort Smith, says more women are seeking a comprehensive procedure to improve their appearance. Called Mommy Makeover, the surgery allows patients to reclaim much of what time and family life have cost their physiques. “Patients often feel disappointment with the shape of their bodies after having a baby and raising children,” Ann said. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be just post-pregnancy, however. We’re also seeing women who have lost significant weight.” Mommy Makeovers address issues with both the breasts and the abdominals in one outpatient surgical procedure. In the abdominal area, patients typically look to address extra skin that’s been stretched during pregnancy or from weight loss. Breast procedures can include augmentation, lift or both depending on the individual case. “Over time, women often lose volume in their breasts,” Ann says. “If they still have a nice shape, they may simply need a volume replacement which is a breast augmentation. Sometimes the skin is too stretched, and the breasts have to be lifted as well. The two procedures are rarely performed at the same time, however.” Ann spends a good deal of time prior to the operation assessing her patients and talking them through what to expect. She’s equally diligent in post-operative work, seeing patients on follow-up appointments for weeks or even months afterward to ensure proper healing. “As with many cosmetic procedures, we can’t restore a patient’s physique identically to when they were younger, but we can get quite close,” Ann says. “It’s always rewarding to hear clients tell you they have a better self-image and greater self-esteem as a result of our work.” A Fort Smith native, Ann began her career with Cooper Clinic. She then practiced at Mercy Clinic before opening Passmore Plastic Surgery in 2020. Her practice continues to grow thanks to her outstanding medical expertise and a staff as passionate about customer service as she is. “I love my patients and I want them to have the best experience possible,” she says. “I surround myself with people who care about the same things, such as serving the patient compassionately and conducting oneself as a professional. That’s what makes my practice what it is.”

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health

Listening Up WORDs Dwain Hebda images courtesy Center for Hearing and Balance

Anyone who knows Dr. Kelley Linton

“And when that all falls into place, it is an amazing feeling.

knows she doesn’t believe accidents happen in life. Everything

We know we are called to be the best at what we do and out

that someone experiences is part of a plan and a purpose,

of love for our community we want to deliver care in the best

even if they can’t see it at the time. It’s how she lives her life

way possible.”

and how she’s run her Fort Smith audiology practice, recently Kelley’s latest hint that God’s very pleased with His good and

renamed Center for Hearing and Balance.

faithful servant has been taking shape in the form of a new, “We are very faith-based here. Most everything I have done

larger home for her practice. The 7,000-square-foot space,

since 1998 I did when I had just the right feeling, which I feel

almost triple the square footage of the existing location, is

is divinely driven,” she says. “I believe God gives us talents

set to open in July, capping a journey nearly a decade in the

and they are designed for us to make a living and raise Godly

making.

children. But I also think the intent is for us to give of our talents. Certainly, my talent is helping people hear better and

“We purchased the land seven or eight years ago with the

so I need to give my talent to those who can receive it.

intent of building a clinic,” she says. “We thought of building a time or two before, but this was just when all the pieces fell into place. We waited on God’s time.”

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health

Even for someone as devout as Kelley, it took a lot to summon patience enough to let God point the way on something she’d been dreaming of for so long. After all, she got into the audiology field out of a recognition of the dire need for hearing services in western Arkansas. “Audiology is dealing with frequencies and decibels,” she says. “It is the most common disability that babies are born with and every single person who lives long enough will have hearing loss, especially since we live in such a noisy world. There’s just a lot of hearing loss out there, which means there’s a tremendous need for what we do.” Seeing how immediately and profoundly she could help people, Kelley dove in with an all-consuming intensity, first in

Kelley and Kevin Linton

her studies, and then her career. Being a lifelong resident of the River Valley, she saw every person she treated like a friend or a neighbor, which in many cases they were.

with them on everything involving the vestibular system in the Once she founded her practice, expansion was always in her

inner ear.”

plans, but God seemed to be using that end goal as a way to get her to slow down and focus. Then, when she finally saw

The vestibular system is a sensory system that controls balance

the green light from on high, she could scarcely believe the

and spatial orientation, according to the National Library of

timing in which her vision was to at last take shape.

Medicine. Damage to the system, which can come because of trauma or birth defect, causes vertigo, dizziness and nausea.

“On the surface, it probably was the worst time to build,

In addition to being debilitating on its own, this disorder can

because it was the middle of COVID,” she says. “And yet here

lead to increased falls, especially in seniors, which can cause

we were, during a pandemic, where things just happened to

secondary injuries.

start falling into place.” As usual, the Almighty knew what He was doing. Despite supply chain snarls and labor shortages, the stateof-the-art clinic grew steadily and surely out of the ground. And with the new space comes an added medical specialty, targeting the body’s balance center known as the vestibular system. “We will be doing neurodiagnostic testing of the vestibular system,” Kelley says. “We are affiliated with the American Institute of Balance, which is in Tampa, Florida. We will collaborate

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health

“It can be something as serious as a lesion, an inner nerve brain lesion, or something more minor such as medication they took or motion sickness or car sickness,” Kelley says. “Some conditions cannot be fixed, and we will be able to determine if this is something that can be treated and repaired, or not.” Typical treatment for vestibular damage or disease is largely limited to medication, but Kelley says the new clinic will introduce additional, more advanced protocols. “Medication can help a person cope and continue functioning a normal life. But it does not always get to the root of the problem,” she says. “We are going to be doing the testing and evaluation to determine where the patient’s dizziness is coming from, where the injury is within the inner ear system, and then devise a treatment plan we will follow through with locally. “Some of these treatments will be vestibular rehabilitation therapy which will be done by physical therapists in the area. We can also do follow-up testing to make sure we have accomplished our objective of improving their balance or

Dr. Kelley Linton

reducing their dizziness. What we’re looking to build here, there’s really nothing exactly like it in the River Valley area or pretty much anywhere in Arkansas.”

“If we were going to do it and build a clinic like this, then we had to be top of the line. It’s going to have to be right,” she

Kelley says while the diagnostic and treatment system can be

says. “I wanted to be affiliated with the American Institute of

applied to newborns through geriatric patients, Center for

Balance so I would be able to collaborate with them on patient

Hearing and Balance is going to focus on adults and seniors.

treatment plans. I did not want to just be out on my own. It

She says statistics show about 90 million adults suffer from

is very, very expensive to do and a very large undertaking. But

falls every year, which underscores the crushing need for

again, having the level of equipment that we have, the same

balance-related medical services.

found at the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins, is the only way I would want to do it.

“It was in our scope of practice to do this, and it’s something that many audiologists are not super-excited about doing,”

“That’s not just for our patients, but for our staff as well. I

she says. “You either love it or you do not. I was faced with a

want everybody who works here to be proud when they come

couple of personal situations of dizziness and balance issues

to work. We want them to know that they are delivering the

as well as the frustrations of finding help. And so, I was like,

best care and using the best technology, because we want

‘Why don't we just do this? Why don't we?’”

them to feel good about how they’re serving our patients.”

It was an expensive question. The clinic’s affiliation with the American Institute of Balance isn’t cheap, nor is the top-ofthe-line equipment that will fill the new $3.5 million clinic. But Kelley would have it no other way.

Center for Hearing and Balance 479.785.3277 | centerforhearing.net

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people

From the Heart

Tommy and daughter, Alyssa

Tommy, Rosalynd, and stepson, Riley

Tommy and Mom, Modena Mills

The Tommy Norman Story, PART II

WORDS Dwain Hebda IMAGES courtesy Tommy Norman

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people

Tommy Norman looks down at the

needed her dad, her dad needed her. As part of her recovery,

piece of paper, weighs it in his hands. It’s an actual letter, the

having her dad back was huge. I don’t think I realized how

kind no one gets anymore.

huge it was.”

“Dad, I miss you,” it began.

***

The letter was written last summer by Tommy’s daughter

The reunion helped father and daughter bring back some of

Alyssa, who was living at Harbor Home in Conway. Harbor

what time had cost them, time they both had had to share with

Home calls itself a place for women “coming out of the

Tommy’s career in law enforcement. It was a calling that had

darkness of addiction” and at that point in her life, that fit

turned into a movement, dominating his time and giving him

Alyssa like a glove. Drugs had landed the young mother in

a measure of fame for his unique style of community policing.

trouble, got her arrested a couple of times and, as drugs will, wrecked many of the more promising elements of her life,

It’s not that Tommy hadn’t always prized his children – he

including her relationship with her dad.

almost dropped out of the police academy because it kept him away from them – but from the day he started with the North

“We didn’t talk for a while,” Tommy says. “I can say that it

Little Rock Police Department, his was a singular and lofty goal

was me being prideful. I can say that it was the choices she

that he was unconditionally committed to upholding. “I was

made in life. But there were times in life that we would go six

lucky to grow up in the Levy community of North Little Rock,”

months, a year, and wouldn’t talk.”

he says. “My mom was known for being nice to everyone and I learned to love people at a young age. White, Hispanic, Black,

The situation was complicated, even for Super Cop Tommy

brown, I learned not to focus on color.

Norman, who’d gained international attention for his hands-on community policing. Through social media, millions saw Tommy

“When I graduated from the academy, I had different goals

interact with kids, show love to those who had received precious

than others in law enforcement. I wanted to be able to help

little of it, and preach hope to those who’d lost their way to the

people, I wanted to meet people, I wanted to love people, I

very beast with whom his daughter struggled.

wanted to hug people.” This mission put Tommy into a class entirely by himself as a police officer. Every day, he got out of

None of that adulation and notoriety really mattered; no

the cruiser and walked his assigned neighborhoods, trying to

family is out of reach of the dragon, not even the man sending

connect with people. At first, backs were turned, and blinds

so much positivity into the universe. Through Alyssa, the

were drawn, but this didn’t stop him from chipping at the

poison cackled and sneered at him, and the light melted into

walls standing between the neighborhood and the police

darkness, which slapped him daily across the face. Of course, the uniform carries certain responsibilities and And then with one letter from Alyssa, a door cracked open.

Tommy was committed to upholding the law. Over time, the

“I can’t make any phone calls, but I can write letters,” it read.

goodwill he’d garnered let residents accept he was just doing

“We can have visitors on Sunday. They have a church service

his job, but it was an uneasy understanding at times, even

every Sunday afternoon.”

from his peers.

Tommy showed up the following weekend, embraced his

“There’s been times I went to arrest people and as I’m taking

daughter and they cried. From a rare place in their souls, they

them off to jail, I hear, ‘Hold on. You’re supposed to be the

said how they’d missed one another, how much they loved

cool cop. You’re supposed to be the officer that everyone

one another. How they would make things right together. It

likes,’” he says. “I also got bagged on by some of my fellow

felt like the last mile to home.

officers for keeping an ice chest in the trunk of my police car. At the beginning of every shift, I would put cold drinks in

“It was just a beautiful, beautiful moment,” Tommy says. “She

there, Gatorade; I would keep peanut butter crackers and Pop

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community people

Tarts and I’d hand them out. There were officers who didn’t

“I asked the coroner, ‘Can I see my daughter?’ Well, I already

agree with that type of approach, but I can tell you, there have

knew the answer, because I’ve been a police officer for so

been a lot of crimes solved from information forwarded to me

long,” he says. “He put her in the back of the van and the van

because of peanut butter crackers and a cold drink and a visit

drives off. I can hear every piece of gravel the tires of the van

on the front porch.”

are hitting.”

Throughout his career, Tommy engaged people with an

In the time since, Tommy has searched out the meaning in

authenticity of spirit everyone could see. More than once a

Alyssa’s life, refusing to let her twenty-six years be defined by

mother called to say her child had committed a crime and

the numbing senselessness of her death. There’s much there

would surrender only to him. Once, a homeless man in Little

that shows even in her pitched fight for sobriety and soul, Alyssa

Rock called into the NLR police station asking for him, a call

never changed at the core of what she believed and had been

that led Tommy to cross the river to meet, where the man

taught about loving people. Rediscovering her faith, she was

confessed to murder. The man specifically wanted to surrender

baptized and afterward hugged Tommy in a warm, enveloping

to him because of his positive reputation, a reputation that

sense of peace. During her recovery, she spoke candidly and

had now helped solve a homicide.

publicly about her addiction in order to inspire others, rekindling her bright inner light to illuminate those still in the dark. These

It was heavy stuff, especially with the media adulation he

and many other moments combine to reveal the true fiber of her

received. Tommy’s mother ensured he stayed grounded.

character, indelibly shaped by her dad’s example.

“I’ve spoken all over the United States. I’ve been invited to the

“She faced a lot of demons in life, but she never stopped

Grammys, the Dr. Phil show, and I’ll be honest, there’s been

being nice to people,” he says. “I don’t know what it’s like

a few times I’ve gotten close to being sidetracked by all the

to be an addict, but from what she told me, going through

attention,” he says. “But my mom taught me to stay humble.

withdrawal was like having the flu times ten. When you’re

She would always say, ‘You may be at the top, doing great

going through that, it’s easy to stop being nice, but she never

things, but there’s going to be people out there that want to

did. She would always connect with the new girls at Harbor

bring you down.’”

Home because she wanted to make them feel better. Alyssa was a great, great woman. Everybody loved her. But she had a weak moment. And we all have weak moments, but Alyssa’s

***

weak moment took her life. It was terrible. It was the worst That point came home to roost November 17, 2021, when

day of my life.”

Tommy’s phone buzzed at the station. It was Harbor Home. Alyssa had overdosed the night before and just like that, she

As easy as it is for him to celebrate his daughter, Tommy finds

was gone.

it just that hard to mourn her. For months now, he’s waited for the dam to break, to weep, but something in the universe

“I just screamed and yelled. Luckily, I had two other officers

won’t give him that. Instead, his broken heart masqueraded as

with me because I started to collapse, and they lifted me up,”

a heart attack in March and no ordinary one at that. When his

he said. “When I got to Conway, she was still in the bathroom

wife brought him to the emergency room it was discovered he

and the coroner was already there. I waited until they carried

had ninety-five percent blockage and required two stents. In

her body out. I remember it was a white body bag.”

other words, something most people don’t come back from.

Tommy had spoken to Alyssa the night before and remembers

“This is probably the most powerful thing I can say about it,”

thinking she sounded off. But she’d been doing so well that

he says. “My wife, the medical personnel, my heart doctor

he chalked it up to fatigue after a long waitressing shift.

and God all played a big role in this, but Alyssa Norman saved

Sometime after that, she relapsed, and it killed her.

my life. Alyssa said, ‘Dad, not today. You’re not coming to see me today.’”

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people

Having dodged the widow maker’s best punch didn’t go

raise awareness about heart disease. I feel like I have so much

unnoticed, however. Tommy took stock of his health, started

more to offer, so much more to give.”

exercising and took off some weight. As he had done for everyone else, he was now doing for himself. If you or someone you know are struggling with

“Alyssa used to tell me, in the months leading up to her

drug addiction, there is help available. Please call

death, ‘Dad, just rest,’” he says. “Well, I’m pretty stubborn,

any of these national hotlines for assistance in

but this heart attack that I had, I have started listening to

locating treatment programs in Arkansas.

that. My health is more important than anything. It’s more important than my job, it’s more important than what I do in the community.”

National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence Hopeline: 800.622.2255

***

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA):

As we talk, Tommy is getting ready for his return to duty. He won’t do anything differently, he says, but nothing about his

800.622.HELP (4357)

life or his vocation can be the same. From now on when he

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

hugs a child, greets a neighbor or reaches out to the addicted

Administration (SAMHSA): 800.662.HELP (4357)

and afflicted, he’s cloaked in a glowing light. Daddy's girl is

/ 800.487.4889 (hearing impaired)

protecting him, holding him steady and uplifting others. If you are experiencing the symptoms of a heart

“It’s hard that Alyssa’s gone, but she’s saving lives today,”

attack, call 911 immediately. For more information

he says. “There’s a hashtag that went viral, ‘Do it for Alyssa.’

on heart health for you or a loved one, visit the

What does that mean exactly? Well, it doesn’t necessarily

American Heart Association website (heart.org).

mean stop using drugs; it can mean smile at someone, it can mean say hello to someone, it could be give someone a hug, because Alyssa did all those things. “I don’t know what is waiting for me on the other side of this, but I do know it’s going to be something big. There’s a silver lining through Alyssa’s death in that it’s saving other addicts’

Follow Officer Tommy Norman at facebook.com/tommy.norman or on Instagram at tnorman23. Part I of Tommy’s story appeared in our June issue. You can find it online at DoSouthMagazine.com.

lives. The silver lining of my heart attack is using my story to DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

entertainment

We Believe in Magic DISCO-SKATING INTO THEIR F UTURE: FIRST FUTURE SCHOOL DRAMA CLUB STAGING XANADU WORDS Jenny Boulden IMAGES courtesy Elliot Nemeth

L to R: Emily, Kai, Brianna, Parker, Kat, Damian, Dwight Curry, Alisha Smedley

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entertainment

You have to believe they are magic, nothing can stand in their

But in December, he happened to run into Beth, who told

way … They’ll bring all their dreams alive … for you.

him she missed working on the productions they used to do together. Then, within a matter of weeks he had dinner with

Forgive the paraphrasing of “Magic,” one of the signature

Alisha, also a past collaborator, who brought up the idea. Finally,

tunes in Xanadu, Olivia Newton-John’s zany 1986 disco roller

he ran into Heather, who was also on board with the idea. “It

skating movie musical that was transformed into a Broadway

got me thinking maybe I could get these different people who

hit. That Tony-nominated musical is this month being staged

I’d worked with in the past back together for something new,”

by students at the Future School of Fort Smith’s (FSFS) first

Dwight says. “It was always a team effort.”

summer drama camp. Alisha, who teaches choir and drama at Poteau High School The musical is popular for the pure joy of its commitment to

and is heavily involved with Poteau’s community theater,

embracing all the campiness of its movie predecessor. The story

does drama camps every summer, and has directed Xanadu

is about an immortal Muse who comes to Earth temporarily from

twice before, but says she’s still excited about engaging these

Xanadu to inspire (and, of course, fall in love with) a struggling

particular students.

artist to help make his dreams come true. Which dreams? Why, a 1980s-style roller disco, of course. Worthy cause, right? The theater camp got underway June 28 (the camp had not yet started as this magazine went to press). The students are spending several hours each day to prepare for their performances July 15 and 16 inside The Bakery District in downtown Fort Smith. Dwight Curry is directing, with the assistance of music director Alisha Smedley, choreographer Beth Knox, stage director Heather Carroll, creative director Blakely Knox, and 2022 FSFS

“The biggest thing I love about music theater is watching the kid who is super-shy then come alive when they get to play someone else. That’s so fun to watch, and to watch their confidence grow."

graduate Emily McKinney is designing makeup and costumes. John McIntosh is handling publicity for the school’s first “I’m really pumped that this is going to be a new group of

production.

kids I’ve never worked with before,” she says. “The biggest Dwight has a strong background in community theater and is a

thing I love about music theater is watching the kid who is

Broadway enthusiast.

super-shy then come alive when they get to play someone else. That’s so fun to watch, and to watch their confidence grow. It’s

“The night I saw Xanadu on Broadway, Olivia Newton-John was

extremely rewarding to go from Part A to the final production

there sitting two rows in front of me,” he says. “Being able to

and watch people grow and change. I direct adults, too, here

see that fantastic production, and see her reaction to it, was

in Poteau, and it’s amazing to me how it works the same with

so fun.”

them as well. There’s something special about learning to put yourself out there and do that in front of an audience. It helps

Getting the gang back together

us all grow.”

Dwight, who has been a strong supporter of FSFS for about United Methodist Church in Fort Smith. He said the school had

Inspiring growth, no immortal skating Muses required

been wanting to stage some sort of Future School production

Personal growth is at the core of the Future School of Fort

for years, but the timing was never right – including having

Smith’s mission. It is an alternative public high school that

plans set back by two years of pandemic.

provides nontraditional educational approaches for students

four years, previously ran a theater program through First

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

entertainment

who aren’t thriving in traditional high school environments and

access to free, open, comfortable programs. We’re trying to

could benefit from personalized attention. Emily, who attended

remove a lot of barriers to entry that might keep people from

from 10th through 12th grades, was one such student.

being involved in drama otherwise,” he explains.

“It’s a really good school. To be honest, I hated, dreaded going

Dwight says that although The Bakery District doesn’t have a

to school every day in middle school. I couldn’t force myself

stage, they’ve been accommodating about the Club’s vision

to focus and do work in the traditional way. They knew that

for a temporary stage. “We’re working with Annidale Sound

people were like that, so the school caters towards that kind

to bring some sound in, and with a vendor from Northwest

of student,” Emily explains. “But because of how different

Arkansas on audience risers. We’re going to perform the show

the teaching style and the environment is there, I actually

on the floor, so the audience will be built up to see everything,”

enjoyed going to high school. I really started shining, started

he says.

getting A's, started to do stuff like Cosmetology Club and Student Council stuff. It’s very directed towards supporting

That “everything” includes catchy tunes, outlandish costumes,

you, yourself, as a student.”

disco balls and, yes, roller skating. The skating is integral to the play, but Dwight says for safety’s sake, they won’t be doing

All-inclusive silly fun

as much of the heavily choreographed, whole ensemble skate

Dwight says he chose this particular musical for its humor,

numbers as the show originally contained.

life-affirming heart and its scalability. “It's a great show. It's campy. It’s fun. It’s a little bit over the top. Eighties pop music is

Theater wise, he says, plans for what kind of FSFS theater school

highly singable, and it can be done with a cast as small as nine

programming and productions come next are still up in the

or as large as thirty,” Dwight says. “When it was revived on

air. But he thinks the extracurricular drama club will continue

Broadway, they did it with nine actors and actresses and double

through the school year for the “theater kids.”

cast a lot of parts. Plus, the show’s never been done in Fort Smith. It celebrates diversity. It celebrates humanity, the arts. I

“We’re really trying to create something that will be a good

think the students and our audiences will enjoy it.”

basis for the drama club and core to light a spark and see where it takes us,” Dwight says. “I’m not a trained educator, but I’m

Emily is headed this fall to the Downtown Dallas School of

grateful for the opportunity to be involved. This is about the

Design. She started in early summer digging into her makeup

love of theater. This is about the joy. This is about working

and costumes planning, saying weeks before the camp started,

together. This is about discovering talents. That’s what our

“So far, I’ve been researching makeup looks for the 80s and

whole purpose is. To give students who have an interest in or

making sketches, going off TV and movies that were in the 80s

a talent for theater a place to explore that and develop it. I’m

or based off them. I’ve also asked my mom, who was a teenager

glad the stars aligned so we finally could do this production.”

in the 80s. She said big, poofy hair and blue eyeshadow. It’s going to be fun to create. And I like how it doesn’t take itself

And if that production has plenty of leotards with leg warmers,

too seriously.”

heavy blue eyeshadow, cheeky dialogue and talented teens singing their heads off while disco roller skating their way to

Dedicated hours

that theatrical and personal development? Well, then. You

The students will meet from 10am to 3pm on weekdays, and

have to believe it’s magic.

some on weekends. The schedule should allow students to maintain summer jobs and other activities, Dwight says. While primarily made of members of the newly formed Future School Drama Club, Dwight says they intentionally made the free three-week theater camp available to any local high schoolers with an interest in theater. “There are some who don’t have

Performances will be held July 15 and 16 at The Bakery District, at 70 South 7th Street in Fort Smith. Tickets available at the door or XanaduFS.com.

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people

MUCH MORE THAN COFFEE words Liesel Schmidt images Jade Graves Photography

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people

“Coffee as bold as the bison.” It’s a phrase that’s in their tagline, a simile befitting a company that seems as rooted to the land as the massive beast is. And for Black Bison Coffee Company, the bison is the perfect spirit animal, representative of abundance, self-nourishment, prosperity, and contentment. Established in 2019, Black Bison is the result of perseverance and passion for owners Carey Thompson and Josh Palmer. Housed in a century-old barn that was once the location of the iconic Ozark Mountain Smokehouse, the company has perfectly filled the space, creating a home for itself in a way that only a company with deep community ties could—and those ties and personal relationships were part of the driving force behind creating the brand. “We wanted to bring the barn back to life, to bring something new and unique to our hometown, where people could come enjoy a cup of our fresh roasted coffee and walk through the 100-year-old barn and experience something different,” says Carey. “While our barn does sell our locally roasted fresh coffee, we really are much more than just coffee. Before we launched Black Bison, we were involved in another coffee business that was more of an e-commerce business, so we didn't really connect with our customers. We wanted to be more focused on a local business with more personal one-on-one relations with our community.” Both born and raised in Fort Smith, Carey and Josh have lived in the community their entire lives. “Our business more or less evolved from our desire to own a piece of Fort Smith history,” says Carey, who, prior to becoming an owner at Black Bison, worked at ABF Freight System for twenty-five years, while Josh worked in real estate development and investment. “Like so many long-time Fort Smith residents do, we have fond memories of going to the Ozark Mountain Smokehouse for lunch. We look forward to continuing our efforts to improve and repair the barn over time to ensure its preservation and use in the community.” Officially opened to the public in 2020, Black Bison is different in that when it comes to their coffee, the first focus, above all else, is roasting. “Since we started as roasters first, not a specialty coffee house, we focus more on the bean flavor and characteristics,” says Josh. “Many other coffee shops begin roasting after first being in the drink business.” As small-batch coffee roasters, they buy their beans in small quantities from a wholesaler that helps them find quality beans from several origins around the world. With that dedication to excellence, it’s little wonder the company has established such a following. From sourcing to roasting, each batch is a labor of love that ensures a delicious cup with rich, superior flavor. Originally intending to operate as a coffee-only business, Carey and Josh saw the potential of the historic barn to be much more than just a roasting facility. With such a strong brand identity, great product, and, of course community ties, they evolved into a unique boutique gift shop which also happens to produce locally roasted coffee beans. Within the walls of their notable location, Black Bison has DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

people

created an atmosphere that draws people in to see, to explore, to taste. And to smell. That incredible smell of freshly roasted beans, that rich aroma seems to charge the air. It’s an undeniable draw, and the very best advertisement for their product. And, of course, there is the patent charm of the building itself. “The atmosphere is very rustic, with wood floors, crooked walls and windows, a tin roof, and the occasional visiting squirrels in the attic,” says Carey. “And when you come through our doors, you will always be greeted by the ‘shop girls,’ Rockit and Bleu, our dogs. They are sure to put a smile on your face as you enter the barn.” As much as Rockit and Bleu do to welcome customers, however, it is the people behind the brand that bring their customers in, and bring them back, time after time. “Carey is the driving force behind our business,” says Josh of his partner. “She is here to help select that special gift or offer a free cup of our coffee to our customers while they shop. We strive to do anything we can to make life a little easier, from specialty gift wrapping to delivering a gift basket for our customers.”

Josh Palmer and Carey Thompson

Among their wares at the shop are, of course, the requisite

Two years in, Black Bison has a lot to be proud of—especially

bags of fresh roasted coffees—with their three signature

as a company that was brand new at the start of the pandemic.

blends of Buffalo, Sunrise, and Thunder as well as “De-Calf”—

“Our devotion to going the extra mile has helped the success

but there are also teas, housewares and gifts in a specially

of our business through the recent obstacles of the pandemic

curated collection that keep shoppers browsing as they sip

and beyond,” says Josh. “With all of that, we would not have

on a complimentary cup of the coffee that has made Black

been successful without the support of our family and friends.

Bison such a force. And for anyone who wants to be a part of

We are very lucky to continue to collaborate with many local

the Black Bison community, there are branded, logoed items

businesses, realtors, and local small business owners for special

including hats, shirts, and coffee mugs that all bear the name

occasion gift baskets. We are very thankful for the support of

of the company.

our local community during the past two years and hope to continue for many years to come.”

All of this has served in establishing the brand, in making it a recognizable part of the Fort Smith community, of strengthening

Abundance, self-nourishment, prosperity, and contentment.

it beyond just the coffee they sell. And in the future, they have

Those are the characteristics represented by the bison. And as

plans of strengthening it even more. “We are currently working

they grow their business and deepen their ties to the Fort Smith

on acquiring a location to expand our business and move

community, Black Bison embodies that ethos, offering a strong

forward with a more conventional coffee shop that will serve

cup of coffee and a smile to all who enter their doors.

specialty drinks and more,” Carey says. A portion of the coffee tip money received at Black Bison helps support the efforts of the Children’s Emergency Shelter, whose mission is to offer a safe and stable home providing long-term, family-focused, and loving care to foster kids who exhibit emotional and behavioral disorders due to neglect or abuse.

The Black Bison Company 3716 South 87th Street, Fort Smith 479.551.2880 / blackbisoncoffee.com

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taste

Red, White, and Berry Trifle Recipe adapted poetryandpies.com image Elena Veselova/Shutterstock

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taste

ingredients • 1 angel food cake, cubed • 1 box vanilla pudding, instant • 2 Cups milk, cold • 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature • 8 oz. Cool Whip • 1 Cup confectioners’ sugar • 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1½ pints blueberries • 1½ pints strawberries • 1 pint raspberries • zest of one lemon • mint sprigs

method Wash, rinse, hull, and slice strawberries. Place in a small bowl, covered with 1 Tablespoon of sugar. Cover and place in refrigerator. Wash, rinse and dry blueberries and raspberries, place in refrigerator. Prepare the vanilla pudding with the milk, set aside. In large bowl, beat cream cheese and vanilla extract until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add confectioners’ sugar slowly while beating on low. Increase speed and beat until combined. Fold pudding mixture into the cream cheese until combined. Fold in Cool Whip and mix gently until combined. To assemble, layer angel food cake, fruit, and Cool Whip mixture, until you get to the top. Add a final layer of the Cool Whip mixture and garnish with additional berries and mint sprigs. Sprinkle lemon zest over the top, cover and refrigerate or serve immediately!

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taste

Starry Night

Recipe adapted under500calories.com Image Elena Shashkina/Shutterstock

ingredients ° 8 cups seedless watermelon, cubed ° 1 ¼ cups blueberry syrup (recipe below) ° ¼ cup fresh lime juice ° 2 limes, cut into 8 wedges ° 2 bunches fresh mint leaves (about 45 leaves) ° 12 oz. unsweetened lime-flavored seltzer ° 1 ¼ cups white rum ° watermelon, blueberries, lime wedges, mint (garnish)

for the blueberry syrup ° 1 cup water ° 1 cup blueberries, fresh ° ½ cup sugar ° ½ teaspoon lime zest

method for the blueberry syrup Boil syrup ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat, simmer 15 minutes. Remove from heat, press berry mixture through a strainer, reserving only the liquid. Place in refrigerator, will keep for two weeks.

for the cocktail Puree watermelon in a blender and then strain, reserving only the liquid. Muddle mint and six lime wedges together. In a pitcher, add watermelon juice, blueberry syrup, lime juice, rum, and seltzer. Add ice and divide lime and mint mixture into 6 glasses. Pour watermelon mixture over ice and garnish as desired. Omit the rum for a mocktail!

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Please drink responsibly. Never drink and drive.

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travel

ARKANSAS BUCKET LIST

While our entire Arkansas bucket list is much longer, we’re featuring just a few of our favorites from around the state. Be sure to visit the websites for additional details and hours of operation before you travel.

1 2 3

ARKANSAS SCENIC 7 BYWAY arkansas.com

BLANCHARD SPRINGS CAVERNS Fifty-Six, Arkansas blanchardsprings.org

BUFFALO NATIONAL RIVER Ponca, Arkansas buffaloriver.com

CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART Bentonville, Arkansas crystalbridges.org

MOUNT MAGAZINE STATE PARK Paris, Arkansas arkansasstateparks.com

OZARK FOLK CENTER STATE PARK Mountain View, Arkansas arkansasstateparks.com

CRATER OF DIAMONDS STATE PARK Murfreesboro, Arkansas arkansasstateparks.com

GARVAN WOODLAND GARDENS Hot Springs, Arkansas garvangardens.org

9 10

PETIT JEAN STATE PARK Morrilton, Arkansas arkansasstateparks.com

words Catherine Frederick IMAGEs courtesy Arkansas Tourism

RIVER MARKET DISTRICT RIVERFRONT PARK Little Rock, Arkansas rivermarket.info or littlerock.com

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travel

Splash around in

ARKANSAS WORDs and IMAGES courtesy arkansas.com

Pack your swimsuit and come splash the summer away on an Arkansas beach or swimming hole! Among the twenty-three state parks located on lakes or rivers, many offer Arkansas beaches.

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travel

L A K E D E G R AY 2027 State Park Entrance Road, Bismarck, Arkansas 877.879.2741 Near Hot Springs and Little Rock, Arkansas’s resort state park is located on the shores of beautiful DeGray Lake. Here, you’ll find first-class lodging and amenities along with outdoor fun and adventure year-round. DeGray Lake Resort offers a ninetyroom lodge with conference center just offshore and on an island; eighty-one Class B campsites, and three Rent-A-Yurts; an eighteen-hole championship golf course with driving range, practice green, and pro shop; disc golf; swimming; tennis; and hiking trails and guided horseback riding that are available in the park with world-class mountain biking trails nearby. The full-service marina has bait and tackle, fuel, and boat rentals

The lodge offers stunning views of DeGray Lake and includes

L A K E C AT H E R I N E S TAT E PA R K 1200 Catherine Park Road, Hot Springs, Arkansas 877.879.2741

a conference center, heated swimming pool, indoor hot tub,

This peaceful park is located on Lake Catherine, one of five

fitness room, and more. The lodge’s Shoreline Restaurant

lakes in the beautiful Ouachita Mountain region. The only full-

offers a full menu, plus banquet catering services that can

service marina on the lake is here at the park and open in the

accommodate groups and special requests. Swimming beaches,

summertime for bait, snacks/drinks, and fuel. The park also

boat launches, pavilions, bicycle rentals, and an amphitheater

includes a launch ramp, pavilion, picnic sites, playgrounds, and

round out DeGray’s offerings. It’s also known for its interpretive

a well-marked trail that leads to a waterfall.

including party barges, kayaks, and pedal boats.

programs, including sunset cruises, snorkeling trips, guided hikes, birding tours, and more. Outdoor workshops and

The park has twenty fully equipped cabins, including one

special events are held throughout the year, including winter

two-bedroom cabin with a patio overlooking the water and

eagle watch tours on DeGray Lake. For mountain bikers new

private access to the lake from its own fishing pier. The park

to the area, the Iron Mountain Trail System is located nearby

offers seventy campsites (forty-seven Class AAA and twenty-

and hosts a variety of events throughout the year. DeGray

three Class B), six primitive tent sites, and one Rent-A-Yurt.

Lake Resort State Park is a perfect place to stay if you’re in

Many of these sites are on the lakeshore. Park interpreters offer

town racing or riding.

hikes, lake tours, and programs year-round.

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travel

L A K E C H A R L E S S TAT E PA R K 3705 Hwy. 25, Powhatan, Arkansas 877.879.2741 A half-hour from Jonesboro and about one-and-a-half hours from Memphis, Lake Charles State Park is a peaceful place located on a 645-acre lake filled with bass, crappie, bream, and catfish. In fact, it’s the place where the largest number of twenty-inch bass have been caught in Northeast Arkansas. A full line of bait and tackle is available at the visitor center from March through October. There are sixty campsites, a third of which are Class AAA, with many spots right on the water. A yurt offers an additional lodging option. The park is also a great getaway in fall and winter months with four hiking trails and a 3-D archery range (open November through February).

L A K E D A R D A N E L L E S TAT E PA R K 2428 Marina Road, Russellville, Arkansas 877.879.2741 This park is located in two areas on Lake Dardanelle, a 34,300acre reservoir on the Arkansas River. The main site is in Russellville where you’ll find the Sport Fishing Weigh-in Pavilion, a fishing pier, swimming beach, boardwalk, trail, and visitor center with five aquariums, and the Lakeview Room meeting facility. Park interpreters lead a variety of programs and lake tours. There are fifty-seven campsites in the Russellville area of the park (sixteen Class AAA, fourteen Class AA, and twenty-seven Class B) with eighteen Class B sites in the Dardanelle area of the park. Lake Dardanelle State Park is a certified Trail of Tears National Historic Site. The visitor center, located on the Russellville side of the park, offers spectacular views of the river, along with exhibits that tell more of the removal story.

W O O L LY H O L L O W 82 Woolly Hollow Road, Greenbrier, Arkansas 877.879.2741 This is a classic state park experience with fishing, boating, and swimming on forty-acre Lake Bennett in Greenbrier about eighteen miles north of Conway. It offers a launch ramp with canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, and fishing boats for rent at the park. Bring your own pole, bait, and tackle. A snack bar is open near the lifeguarded swimming beach in the summer. Park facilities also include thirty AAA campsites, ten tent sites, and a bathhouse for hot showers. The 9.4-mile Enders Fault is a mountain biking destination. Hikers have four trails to choose from. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

travel

V I L L A G E C R E E K S TAT E PA R K 201 County Road 754, Wynne, Arkansas 877.879.2741 Village Creek State Park encompasses nearly 7,000 acres of beautiful, forested hills and clear streams to create an environment found nowhere else in Arkansas. There are thirtythree miles of multi-use trails, campgrounds with bathhouses, an equestrian campground with stable facilities (includes Class B campsites), ten cabins, two lakes, a day-use area with pavilions and picnic sites, outdoor and indoor theaters, a small museum, and a visitor center with a gift shop. The park features an Andy Dye-designed twenty-seven-hole championship golf course, the Ridges at Village Creek. Three distinct nines offer outstanding golfing with water coming into play on twelve holes.

L A K E O U A C H I TA S TAT E PA R K 5451 Mountain Pine Road, Mountain Pine, Arkansas 877.879.2741 Arkansas’s largest lake, Lake Ouachita offers 40,000 acres of clear, clean water surrounded by the scenic Ouachita National Forest. Swimming, skiing, scuba diving, boating, kayaking, and fishing are enjoyed here. Bream, crappie, catfish, striped bass, and largemouth bass can be caught in open waters or quiet coves. The park has ninety-three campsites (fifty-eight Class AAA, twenty-three Class D, and twelve walk-in tent sites), some right on the water. There are eight fully equipped cabins with kitchens and the comforts of home, most of them overlooking the lake. Four camper cabins are an affordable option and are right in the campground. They include one room sleeping for four, screened porch, heat/air, picnic table, outdoor grill, and lantern hanger. A bathhouse is nearby. Bring your own linens, cooler, and cooking supplies. They are dog friendly. There are also exhibits and a gift shop inside the visitor center. Interpretive programs such as guided hikes, eagle cruises, and kayak tours are offered year-round.

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travel

CROWLEY'S RIDGE 2092 Hwy. 168 North, Paragould, Arkansas 877.879.2741 Atop the forested hills in Northeast Arkansas, Crowley’s Ridge

SWIM ALL SUMMER

State Park is situated on a unique geological formation and

Fifteen U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes in Arkansas

has a rich history. Native log and stone structures, constructed

have sandy shores. The crystalline blue waters of Beaver,

by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, set the tone

Bull Shoals, Greers Ferry, Norfork, and Table Rock lakes are

for this park’s rustic quality. Facilities include five bunk cabins

all tucked away in the mountains. Three of the sparkling

for group lodging, four duplex cabins with kitchens and

Diamond Lakes, Ouachita, DeGray, and Greeson, are Corps

fireplaces, one rustic cabin with kitchen, twenty-five campsites

properties. Lakes Catherine and Hamilton are two privately

(seventeen Class B and eight tent sites), picnic areas, hiking

owned bodies of water.

trails, pavilions, a thirty-one-acre fishing lake, and threeand-a-half-acre swimming area. The park offers fishing boat,

Eight watery playgrounds are located in the confines of the

kayak, and pedal boat rentals.

tree-shrouded Ozark and St. Francis national forests. Cove, Spring, Horsehead and Shores lakes, plus Lake Wedington

JACKSONPORT ON THE WHITE RIVER 111 Avenue Street, Newport, Arkansas 877.879.2741

and Long Pool are located in the Ozarks. The St. Francis in

In the 1800s, steamboats made Jacksonport a thriving river

Knoppers Ford recreation areas are on the banks of mountain

port. During the Civil War, Confederate and Union forces

streams and small lakes. Lake Sylvia and Shady Lake are also

occupied the town because of its location at the confluence

popular swimming destinations.

the eastern part of the state has Bear Creek and Storm Creek lakes. In the Ouachitas, Albert Pike, Charlton, Jack Creek, and

of the White and Black rivers. Jacksonport became the county seat in 1852, and the restored courthouse now

Other

stands as a museum. Admission is free. Facilities also include

properties such as Lake Leatherwood in Eureka Springs,

swimming

destinations

here

include

twenty Class A campsites (50 amp service), a swimming

Beaverfork Lake in Conway, and Hill Wheatley Park on Hot

beach, pavilion, picnic sites, a playground, and the half-

Springs' Lake Hamilton.

mile Tunstall Riverwalk.

Visit Arkansas.com for additional details on the destinations listed. Be sure to call before you travel for up-to-date availability hours of operation and rates.

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city-owned

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fiction

Mended Hearts words Liesel Schmidt image Mark Rossbach/Shutterstock

Staring into his eyes, it was like she could see every constellation

lunch and some advice, having taken the afternoon to run

in the sky, every planet in the universe, all the nebulae in a

some errands that I’d been neglecting.

swirling spectacle of color, light, and indescribable matter that was almost too incredible to look at. And in that moment, she

She looked at me quizzically. “How do you mean?”

knew she wanted to stare into those eyes forever. I shook my head. “I don’t know,” I sighed. “Sometimes I feel

“Do you think I’m deluding myself, Mom?” I asked, picking

like I’m doing all of this alone. Like I’m the only one putting

at the label on the soda bottle I’d opened. I’d come over for

any effort into this relationship. I love Ethan—I’m in love with

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fiction him—but sometimes I wonder if I’m just convenient or if he

***********

feels the same for me.” “Ethan?” I called out. I stopped picking at the label as tears started forming in my eyes. “I’m not sure how to talk to him about this,” I admitted.

I shut the door behind me and tossed my keys onto the

“Most of the time, I’m perfectly happy. But there are times

entryway table. I’d left my mother after having a good cry and

when I don’t know what he’s thinking, or if we’re headed in

some more talking. But I still didn’t feel anymore resolved than

the same direction.” I pulled my hands into my lap and stared

I had when I’d left home.

down at them. I looked at my watch. Two thirty in the afternoon. Ethan worked My eye caught on the ring he’d given me for my birthday, a

from home, so I knew he’d be here. At least, he hadn’t told me

simple band of colored stones he said represented all the color

he was going anywhere. He’d been working on some projects

and light I brought into his life.

in the garage when I’d left, elbows deep in the guts of a lawnmower he was repairing for a friend and covered in grease.

“You sparkle,” he said when I opened the box. “Every day with you in it is brighter, and you color my world in a way it never

“Ethan?” I called out again.

was before. I love you.” No answer. That had been months ago, months that we’d had arguments that left me wondering if he still felt that way, or if there was

Maybe he was outside. I kicked my shoes off and shuffled down

a crack in our relationship that couldn’t be repaired, one that

the hall towards the bedroom. I was exhausted, mentally, and

would widen with time.

emotionally. All I wanted was to crawl into bed and sleep, even though it was the middle of the day.

I looked up to see my mother studying me, head tilted and blue eyes serious, mouth pursed as though she was holding back

I reached the bedroom and took the knob in my hand, turning it

the words that were forming behind them.

and pushing the door open. My tired brain didn’t even register the fact the door hadn’t been shut when I’d left home. Maybe

“What, Mom?” I asked, knowing she had something to say.

Ethan was taking a nap. He did that often in the middle of

“Just tell me what you’re thinking, please?”

the day, having spent hours into the night and early morning working without sleep.

“If you feel like you’re a convenience instead of a priority, you need to examine that,” she said gently. “Listen to what your

The door swung quietly on its hinges, opening into the room.

heart is telling you.”

And what I saw when it opened tore my heart.

I felt tears roll down my cheeks. “I want him to want me,” I

***********

said, hearing my voice break as I said the words. “And I feel like he stopped. Maybe I want so badly for him to want me

It had been six months since that day, six months since I’d had

that I’m letting myself be blind to all the ways he’s telling me

my reality shattered into a thousand shards that pierced my

he’s done.”

heart like daggers.

A look of heartbreak crossed my mother’s face. “Oh, baby,”

I’d moved out and found a place to heal—or try to. I was still

she said, reaching up to wipe the tears from my face. “Know

raw enough, though, that sometimes in the dark hours of night I

your worth, my girl. Always remember you are a treasure and

was overtaken by an overwhelming need to cry, wracked by sobs

never settle for less than you deserve.”

that escaped my body and went unheard in the empty room.

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fiction

“Hey!”

practice,” I countered.

I looked up to see Jason, a friend of Ethan’s, standing over

Jason nodded. “True. We should fix that,” he said. “I’m going

me. I’d been sitting at a table outside a little café downtown,

out for drinks later with some friends. There’s cornhole boards

reading a book I’d been meaning to get to for months.

there. You should come.”

“Jason,” I said, feeling surprised, mixed with a fresh stab of pain.

It sounded so simple. You should come. But it felt complicated.

He was a reminder of Ethan and everything that had happened. “I don’t know,” I said. “May I?” he asked, indicating an empty chair at the table. Jason leaned forward in his seat. “Come on. It would be good I nodded, and he sat.

for you. And it would make me feel better to see you having some fun.”

“How are you?” There was genuine concern in his eyes. “I know what happened, and I’m so sorry.”

I bit my lip. “Maybe,” I said.

I gave him a small smile and looked away for fear that looking

“Maybe is better than no,” he said, standing up. “Eight o’clock

into his eyes would break down the wall I was trying so

at Stan’s on Fifth. I’ll save you a beanbag.”

desperately to keep up. “Me, too,” I said quietly. *********** I took a deep breath and looked back at him. “I’m fine. Really.” I hoped I was convincing, but even to my ears, the

Stan’s was crowded, not surprising for a Saturday night.

words sounded hollow.

I spotted Jason in the crowd with a small group of people I didn’t recognize. At least no one who knows what happened

“You deserved so much better than that.” Jason shook his

with Ethan and me, I thought with relief.

head in disgust. “I told Ethan what a big mistake he made. He’s just too much of an idiot to realize what he lost.”

“There she is!” I heard him call out.

The words made me smile slightly—genuinely this time, but still

I made my way over, and Jason gently placed a hand at the

tinged with sadness. “Maybe I was the idiot,” I replied. “Maybe I

small of my back, guiding me closer to the group. “Everyone,

ignored all the ways he was telling me it was over for him. Maybe

this is my teammate for cornhole tonight, so prepare to get

I wanted so badly for it to work that I wasn’t seeing the signs.”

your butts kicked,” he said with a wide grin, giving me an almost imperceptible wink.

“If he wanted out, he should have told you,” Jason returned. I smiled back at him, feeling relaxed for the first time in I shrugged. “It happened. It’s over.”

months. Our eyes met, and in the quickest of flashes, I could see something…something that made my heart catch.

“It’s his loss. Remember that. And you’ll find someone who knows how great you are.” He grinned at me. “Even if you

The broken shards began to move, and I could feel that maybe,

can’t play cornhole to save your life.”

just maybe, they could become whole again. There would always be a scar, but it didn’t have to end me.

I laughed, feeling the unexpectedness of it like a slap in the face. It had been a while, and it felt good to just have that release.

“Thanks for coming,” Jason said quietly.

“No argument there. But to be fair, I haven’t had a lot of

“Thanks for asking me,” I said back. “Now let’s do this thing.”

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SENIOR LIFE

Lucigerma/Shutterstock

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