Midweek 8-17-16

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PRS RT S TD U.S . PO S TA G E PA ID

Little Rock, AR 72202 Permit No. 471

Wednesday, August 17, 2016 Number 33, Volume 37

MID-WEEK

MARKETPLACE

Servin g th e H ot Sprin gs / G a rla n d C ou n ty a rea s in ce 19 77

Local CEO to enter outdoor hall of fame MAX BRYAN

The Sentinel-Record

The CEO of a local boat manufacturer was shocked to learn he will be inducted into the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame. Rodney Herndon, CEO of Xpress Boats, who has been with the company for 37 years, said he is humbled to be receiving the award. “I tell people, ‘All I did was come to work every day,’” Herndon said, with a chuckle. “It was quite a shock to me that I had been selected for the hall of fame.” Herndon was formally inducted at the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet, which was held on Aug. 12 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. When Herndon joined Xpress Boats in 1979, the company was owned by Kermit Bryant, his father-in-law. Although the company had accomplished the feat of manufacturing an all-welded aluminum boat, which was the first of its kind, they still were barely recognized in the boating industry. Herndon, who was promptly made president, began to expand the company’s vision. Since joining the company, Herndon has made innovative moves to keep Xpress on par with the best in the business, such as introducing the company’s hyper lift hull, bay boats and pontoon line. Thanks to Herndon’s innovation

FAME, PAGE 3

The Sentinel-Record/Max Bryan

BUILDING BOATS: Rodney Herndon, right, CEO of Xpress Boats, shown with his son, Rory, president of Xpress Boats, in their company’s boat factory, was inducted

Ayg. 12 into the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame.

Women’s group gathers in Spa City MAX BRYAN

The Sentinel-Record

Submitted photo

GREEN THUMB: Vanessa Tomczak, secretary for the Hot Springs

Community Gardens Network, shows the new seed ball vending machine that will be housed at the Garland County Library.

Seed ball vending machine at Garland County Library The Garland County Library is now home to a Seed Ball Vending Machine, courtesy of the Hot Springs Community Gardens Network, according to a news release. Vanessa Tomczak, secretary for the Hot Springs Community Gardens Network, approached library Director John Wells about housing a re-purposed toy or gumball vending machine in early June. According to Tomczak, instead of candy or trinkets, the machine would dispense seed balls — plant seeds encased in dried newspaper pulp. After some discussion among the Garland County Grows Seed Library committee, a partnership was created between the Library and the HSCGN. In exchange for housing the seed ball vending machine, the library will receive organic seed donations from the Park Haven Community Garden beds. At only 50 cents per seed ball, the machine is not expected to generate considerable revenues for the HSCGN, but displaying the machine in a prominent location inside the library may help to raise awareness about the group and its contributions to the gardening community, the release said. Income from the machine will help maintain and repair garden beds at both the HSCGN locations, on Park Avenue at the Park Haven Community Gardens and the garden on Palm Street just

SEED BALL, PAGE 3

The Bucket List Bunnies, a club devoted to making it possible for women aged 50 and older achieve lifelong dreams, held its first convention in Hot Springs this weekend. The convention began Aug. 11 at the Baymont Inn & Suites. From there, the club members enjoyed events such as a Lunch & Style Show at Back Porch Grill, a ’70s Pool Party & Dinner at Clarion Resort and a competition shoot at The Gun Cave. Members of any of the club’s chapters were welcome to attend. The Bucket List Bunnies began when founders Cynthia Distefano, Karen Boyd and Deanna Rader were conversing by the pool at the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa. The three were bringing up “bucket list” items to each other, and from that, the club was born. Since it was founded in Hot Springs, BLB has grown into four chapters, each of which represent a different state — Arkansas, California, Oregon and Texas. “It’s growing across the United States, and we hope it’ll go international,” said member Vicki Gamble, of Hot Springs. Gamble said that the club holds a luncheon every month. At each luncheon, the members decide what “bucket list” item they will cross off that month. “We put little eggs in a basket, and then we pick one out every month, and that’s what we do for our bucket list,” Gamble said. “Each one of us has an opportunity to do what’s on our bucket list.” With their luncheons and their events, BLB gives middle-aged women the opportunity to enjoy each other’s company and be there for one another. Jan Morgan, owner of The Gun Cave and a BLB member from Hot Springs, became a member of the

The Sentinel-Record/ Max Bryan

AT THE RANGE: Cynthia Distefano, of Hot Springs, Karen Wieman, of Arkadelphia, Jan Morgan, of

Hot Springs, Vicki Gamble, of Hot Springs, Beth Butler, of Hot Springs Village, and Jami Anderson, of Bakersfield, Calif., all of The Bucket List Bunnies, show off their targets at the Gun Cave in Piney. group after making an appearance as a guest speaker on women’s self-defense at BLB. She said that her favorite part of the group is the camaraderie. “It’s just a different stage in life for women,” Morgan said of the age demographic of BLB. “It’s a time in life where we can all connect and help each other through personal problems. It’s a support system.” Morgan said that, overall, the group is marked by a sense of loyalty and genuineness to one another. She said that this is what sets BLB apart from other women’s organizations. “It’s the classiest bunch of ladies I’ve ever been around in my life,” Morgan said. “Classy, authentic, unpretentious and real. What I’ve seen in this organization is not something I’ve seen in other women’s organizations.”

The Sentinel-Record/Mara Kuhn

ON THE RUNWAY: Deanna Rader, one of Bucket List Bunnies’

founders, models during the Bucket List Bunnies’ inaugural national convention lunch and style show Aug. 11 at the Back Porch Grill. Throughout the weekend, the women heard from several speakers, had dinner on the Belle of Hot Springs and held a competitive shoot at The Gun Cave, among other events.

20th annual HS Blues Festival returns to Hill Wheatley Plaza The Spa City Blues Society will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Hot Springs Blues Festival Sept. 3-4, as it returns to Hill Wheatley Plaza in downtown Hot Springs. For $20, listeners will get access to the festivities for both days, according to a news release. Headliners for this year’s festivities include California’s The Delgado Brothers, Ohio’s Noah Wotherspoon Band, and Barbara

Blue, the reigning queen of Beale Street in Memphis, Tenn., the release said. Winners of the 2016 International Blues Challenge held in Memphis, the Delgado Brothers, combine Latin flavor with a bluesR&B vibe that carried the members to various venues across the globe. With strong guitar similarities to the likes of Santana, many are drawn to the rhythmic styles the brothers have to offer, the re-

lease said. English blues legend John Mayall recorded some of the Delgado Brothers’ songs from their 1999 album “Let’s Get Back.” Also making an appearance at the festival are two-time IBC finalists and trio Noah Wotherspoon Band. Named the “Best Guitarist” at the 2015 International Blues Challenge, Wotherspoon and his band would go on to win second place at the competition the same year. Since the age of 13, Woth-

erspoon has opened for Derek Trucks, jammed alongside Bobby Blue Bland and shared the stage with Joe Bonamassa. Headlining the festivities Sept. 3 is singer-songwriter Barbara Blue. With strong comparisons to Etta James and Janis Joplin, many listeners are intrigued with the singer’s soulful voice mixed with urban blues, the release said. Blue has toured artists including Delbert McClinton, Jeff Healey, and Taj

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Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band. This year’s music festival will also include Little Rock-based keyboard and drum duo Stuart Baer and Lance Womack, and Spa City Blues Society’s Hump Night Blues Jam host band, The Big Chiller Blues Band, made up of Brent Frazier, Shannon Sabbatini and Darin Williams. Little Rock-based duo and 2016 IBC finalists Trey Johnson and

BLUES, PAGE 6


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