Arkansas Times | March 2022

HEIGHTS YARD ART CONTROVERSY | BUTT SWELLING IN BALD KNOB | ROCKEFELLER’S WILD IDEA

ARKANSASTIMES.COM

MARCH 2022

THE TALE OF KEVIN AND JOHNNY KEVIN KRESSE’S MONUMENT TO JOHNNY CASH IS HEADED TO THE NATION’S CAPITOL

BY STEPHANIE SMITTLE

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MARCH 2022 1

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MARCH 2022

FEATURES

22 CASH IN CLAY

IRVIN RIVERA

Sculpted in Levy and bronzed in an Oklahoma foundry, Kevin Kresse’s Johnny Cash statue will represent Arkansas at the U.S. Capitol.

By Stephanie Smittle

28 HARRISON STREET HOUSE: ART OR JUNK?

A lawn in the Heights neighborhood is either an eyesore or an exercise of artistic freedom, depending on who you ask.

By Leslie Newell Peacock PRIME TIME: We talk with actor Justin Cunningham, a Juilliard grad and Pope County native, about his role on NBC’s “Grand Crew.”

9 THE FRONT

Q&A: With Capi Peck, Arkansas Food Hall of Fame’s Proprietor of the Year.

The Big Pic: Nate Powell and book banning.

13 THE TO-DO LIST

Adia Victoria at the White Water Tavern, Sulac art at Library Square, Yola at The Hall, a photographic mapping at UA Pulaski Tech of The Underground Railroad, Slipknot at Simmons Bank Arena and more.

19 NEWS & POLITICS

The state’s greentree reservoirs are in peril, and land managers are observing the duck population for answers.

By Ariana Remmel Arkansas Nonprofit News Network

37 SAVVY KIDS

Spring break is back, and the calendar is full.

By Katherine Wyrick

50 CULTURE

A Q&A with Justin Cunningham, the Pope County native who’s charming audiences on NBC’s “Grand Crew.”

By Stephanie Smittle ON THE COVER: Kevin Kresse by Brian Chilson.

4 MARCH 2022

ARKANSAS TIMES

52 FOOD & DRINK

Locally made salads that deserve a second look. (And a third.)

By Stefanie Kennon-McGill, Guy Choate and Rhett Brinkley

56 HISTORY

On Winthrop Rockefeller’s quest to tame Petit Jean Mountain.

By John A. Kirk

64 CANNABIZ

A look at the three petitions to legalize cannabis in Arkansas.

By Griffin Coop

74 THE OBSERVER A COVID-19 diary.

BRIAN CHILSON

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R A C I N G • C A S I N O • H O T E L • S PA • E V E N T C E N T E R • D I N I N G L I V E R A C I N G D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 - M AY 2 0 2 2 • O A K L AW N .C O M

PUBLISHER Alan Leveritt EDITOR Lindsey Millar CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mandy Keener SENIOR EDITOR Max Brantley MANAGING EDITOR Austin Bailey ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Stephanie Smittle ASSOCIATE EDITOR Rhett Brinkley CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Mara Leveritt PHOTOGRAPHER Brian Chilson DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL STRATEGY Jordan Little ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR Mike Spain GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sarah Holderfield DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Phyllis A. Britton ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Brooke Wallace, Lee Major, Terrell Jacob and Kaitlyn Looney ADVERTISING TRAFFIC MANAGER Roland R. Gladden IT DIRECTOR Robert Curfman CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Jackson Gladden CONTROLLER Weldon Wilson BILLING/COLLECTIONS Charlotte Key

ALWAYS A ROCKET

PRODUCTION MANAGER Ira Hocut (1954-2009)

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VOLUME 48, ISSUE 7 ARKANSAS TIMES (ISSN 0164-6273) is published each month by Arkansas Times Limited Partnership, 201 East Markham Street, Suite 200, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72201, phone (501) 375-2985. Periodical postage paid at Little Rock, Arkansas, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ARKANSAS TIMES, 201 EAST MRKHAM STREET, SUITE 200, Little Rock, AR, 72201. Subscription prices are $60 for one year. For subscriber service call (501) 375-2985. Current single-copy price is $5, free in Pulaski County. Single issues are available by mail at $5.00 each, postage paid. Payment must accompany all orders. Reproduction or use in whole or in part of the contents without the written consent of the publishers is prohibited. Manuscripts and artwork will not be returned or acknowledged unless sufficient return postage and a self-addressed stamped envelope are included. All materials are handled with due care; however, the publisher assumes no responsibility for care and safe return of unsolicited materials. All letters sent to ARKANSAS TIMES will be treated as intended for publication and are subject to ARKANSAS TIMES’ unrestricted right to edit or to comment editorially. ©2022 ARKANSAS TIMES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

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6 MARCH 2022

ARKANSAS TIMES

E V I L H WONAATRC KANSAS PBS

THURSDAY, MARCH 10 CLASS 5A GIRLS · NOON CLASS 5A BOYS · 1:45 P.M. CLASS 6A GIRLS · 6 P.M. CLASS 6A BOYS · 7:45 P.M.

FRIDAY, MARCH 11 CLASS 1A GIRLS · NOON CLASS 1A BOYS · 1:45 P.M. CLASS 2A GIRLS · 6 P.M. CLASS 2A BOYS · 7:45 P.M.

SATURDAY, MARCH 12 CLASS 3A GIRLS · 11:30 A.M. CLASS 3A BOYS · 1:15 P.M. CLASS 4A GIRLS · 6 P.M. CLASS 4A BOYS · 7:45 P.M.

Games will be available to watch on demand the following week at youtube.com/arkansaspbs.

Download the Engage Arkansas PBS App to follow scores, join the conversation and more at myarpbs.org/engageapp.

Photos from the games will be available at myarpbs.org/photos.

The most up-to-date programming schedule is available at myarpbs.org/schedule.

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ARKANSAS TIMES

THE FRONT Q&A

HOSPITALITY INHERITED A Q&A WITH TRIO’S OWNER CAPI PECK.

Your grandparents owned Hotel Sam Peck and some of the menu items live on at Trio’s, like the Peck’s Special Salad. Is the Bing Cherry Jello Mold also a vintage recipe?

Oh, yes. I don’t think I would’ve come up with the idea of serving Jello in a restaurant in this century (laughs), but people love it and it’s not just women — women and men love it. It goes with the chicken salad. That’s straight from the hotel.

BRIAN CHILSON

In February, Trio’s owners Capi Peck and Brent Peterson won the 2022 Proprietor of the Year award from the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame.

Peck and Peterson opened Trio’s in Pavilion in the Park in 1986. The restaurant won the Arkansas Times Readers Choice Awards for Best Restaurant in Central Arkansas six times.

Peck is also serving her second term as a city director for Little Rock’s Ward 4. We caught up with Peck after a very busy Valentine’s Day at Trio’s.

AGE: 69 FIRST RESTAURANT JOB OUTSIDE THE HOTEL SAM PECK: Tracks Inn (at Union Station). It was a happening place in the ’70s.

OK. I could talk forever about the disparity between the front of the house and the back of the house. The front of the house servers, it was Valentine’s Day last night, they all walked out with a couple hundred dollars cash in their pockets plus their paychecks, and it’s just not equitable. One way we try to address that is with a tip pool where everybody gets a cut. We got really aggressive with it during the pandemic because we morphed into curbside and delivery only for several months. We’ve maintained it, even if it means the restaurant having to supplement that to make it more equitable.

You’re in your second term on the board of directors for the city of Little Rock. How has running a restaurant prepared you for your role in city government?

I’m not a lifelong politician. I never dreamed of getting into politics. I represent my ward and the city the same way I run this restaurant. Be accessible and transparent, helpful and kind. Be nice to people, just listen and help them navigate the bureaucracy. You might not be able to get them the response they want, but you can be kind and try.

ALWAYS IN HER FRIDGE: What’s the biggest lesson you learned from Vanilla yogurt, homemade hummus your grandparents that you attribute to your and orange juice. Not to be eaten success at Trio’s? together.

I would say to treat staff like they’re members of your family. I think that’s why we have so When we spoke in October of 2020 you’d just much longevity, so little turnover. We’ve got 10 made the decision to close Sundays and give people with 25 years plus and three or four who are in the 30 years yourself a break. Could you talk about that decision and what your plus range. My grandparents lived in the hotel, so it truly was their plans are for Trio’s as you’re closing in on your 40th year in busiextended family, and so that whole hospitality gene I inherited, that’s ness? Do you want to do this forever? my No. 1 takeaway. And not just staff, but customers and clients, too.

I can’t imagine myself doing anything else. It’s hard as hell and these last two years have been the hardest yet, but it’s still the most gratiThe restaurant landscape looks different after two years of a global fying job I can imagine. If somebody chooses to come into Trio’s and pandemic. What’s going to be the most important thing that comes spend money and let us pamper them and cook for them and nurture out of the pandemic for restaurant workers? them, that’s huge and you get instant gratification when you go out I think that unless we start paying people a living wage, we will have and they say, “I love the voodoo pasta,” or, “This is the best key lime more and more trouble attracting new folks. I’m fully supportive of pie I’ve ever had.” You walk away just feeling great about a tiny little moving toward $15 an hour. Does that mean prices will have to go difference you’ve made in somebody’s daily experience. Profit margins up? Yes. Do a lot of my colleagues freak out at the thought of a $15 are slim. It’s a tough business, but it’s so rewarding. I love it. I have no minimum wage and hate me for it? Yes. But you know what, that’s plans to retire. — Rhett Brinkley ARKANSASTIMES.COM

MARCH 2022 9

THE FRONT BIG PIC

TRAGICOMIC ARKANSAS’S NATE

POWELL DRAWS DOWN ON BOOK BANNERS.

A

cclaimed graphic novelist and Central Arkansas native Nate Powell got smacked early by the recent book banning wave. In 2014, a school librarian passed on buying his National Book Award winner “March” out of fear that parents would complain. That Indiana middle school librarian’s reticence over a book about the universally beloved John Lewis clued Powell in to what’s become a raging national debate over what materials students should have access to in schools.

The drumbeat to ban books has only grown louder since those rumblings in 2014. In Arkansas, a number of new groups are attacking public libraries and pressuring schools to scrub their shelves of content on sexual development, LGBTQ issues, racism and gender identity.

10 MARCH 2022

ARKANSAS TIMES

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MARCH 2022 11

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SULAC’S “THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM”

BY STEPHANIE SMITTLE AND LINDSEY MILLAR

‘SULAC: NEW ARTWORK FOR THE NEW YEAR’ THROUGH SATURDAY 5/28. GALLERIES & BOOKSTORE AT LIBRARY SQUARE.

Local visual artist Sulac has managed to build an entire universe with marker, paper and colored pencil — one populated with donkeys ferrying giant eggs and cats named CATherine O’Hara and overly ambitious water towers and women wearing tiny houses as hats. To call the work whimsical is to understate its bite; Sulac’s smiling suns and heavy-lidded flowers often seem one click away from mischief, macabre deeds or flat-out existential crisis. Or maybe they’re just suns and flowers to be taken at face value? You be the judge; this show of new work is up through May at Central Arkansas Library System’s Library Square in the River Market. SS

The omicron variant has yet to fade out of view, and continues to suspend artists and hospitality industry workers in a state of calendar limbo. If you’re staying in, now’s a great time to buy a gift certificate from your favorite bar (buy your future self a beer!) or order merch from your favorite local musician. If you’re going out, may we suggest that you booster up, mask up, have that vaccination card ready and tip well? Gathering safely for live performance is a work in progress; be on the lookout for cancellations, policy changes or date changes, and handle them with all the grace you can summon.

ARKANSASTIMES.COM

MARCH 2022 13

JEANINE MICHNA-BALES’ “WADING PIOR TO BLACKNESS”

‘THROUGH DARKNESS TO LIGHT: PHOTOGRAPHS ALONG THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD’ THROUGH WEDNESDAY 3/16. UA PULASKI TECHNICAL COLLEGE. FREE.

This exhibit in the Windgate Gallery at UA Pulaski Tech’s Center for Humanities and Arts comes from the camera of Jeanine Michna-Bales, a photographer who meticulously researched and documented over 2,000 square miles of the Underground Railroad, routes traveled by an estimated 100,000 freedom-seeking enslaved people between 1830 and 1865, “guided from one secret, safe location,” the press release states, “to the next by an ever-changing, clandestine group.” SS

‘SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY’

TUESDAY 3/1-SUNDAY 3/20. ARKANSAS REPERTORY THEATRE. Just before the pandemic darkened theaters across the globe, Jocelyn Bioh’s comedy about teenage girldom in Ghana was eliciting big belly laughs from audiences in packed playhouses. Now, the tale of schoolgirls clamoring to define beauty and to seek acceptance is headed to the beloved stage at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, with Shá Cage directing and a dream team — local theater cornerstones Verda Davenport and Crystal C. Mercer — working on costuming; consulting; Mercer’s artwork adorns the lobby. Get tickets at therep.org. SS

PICASSOS

SATURDAY 3/12. THE MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY. $30. 6:30-9 P.M. Local art aficionados know all about Pulaski Heights Elementary’s long-running biennial art auction benefit. The money from ticket sales and auction proceeds goes to support the Hillcrest elementary school (full disclosure: my kids go there), in particular the school’s garden program, annual visits to the Children’s Theatre at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, student academic competitions and free extracurricular books for every child. Baxter Knowlton, John Kushmaul, Tonya McNair, Jennifer Perren, Sulac and Emily Wood are among the artists whose work will be on sale. The ticket price covers food and drink. LM

SLIPKNOT

COURTESY OF ROADRUNNER RECORDS

FRIDAY 3/25. SIMMONS BANK ARENA. 6:30 P.M. $40-$140.

14 MARCH 2022

ARKANSAS TIMES

If your psychic ever gazed into her crystal ball and uttered the unthinkable — “In the 2020s, Slipknot becomes cool” — it’s time to get her on retainer. While you’re doing that, we’ll take a moment to hoist our jaws from the floor. Highly anticipated in certain metal circles, the nine masked Midwestern dark lords of nu metal are about to release a follow-up to 2019’s “We Are Not Your Kind,” foreshadowed with the single “The Chapeltown Rag,” which frontman Corey Taylor described as “a punisher,” saying “it documents what happens when the distortions of mass media circulate within the echo chambers of social media.” (The dystopia thing works even better now than it did in 1999, right?) They appear in North Little Rock with openers In This Moment and Jinjer. Get tickets at simmonsbankarena.com. SS

DAVID ALLEN

BEYOND THE EATS: ALTON BROWN LIVE

If, like me, you learned from Alton Brown how to make beef jerky with a box fan and some air filters, or about the virtues of marinating red potatoes in a little vinegar before using them in a potato salad recipe, you’re the target audience for this Alton expansion pack, a live variety show that features, Brown’s website trumpets, “audience interaction, maybe a gameshow segment, strange devices, and other generally foodie stuff.” Get tickets at celebrityattractions.com. SS

HOT SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL

SATURDAY 3/12-SUNDAY 3/13. CENTRAL THEATRE, 1008 CENTRAL AVE., DOWNTOWN HOT SPRINGS. $10-$50.

Organized by Women in Film Arkansas, this two-day film festival in Hot Springs features a variety of films from directors who are women, including this year a dual portrayal of Cleopatra and Mary Wollstonecraft (Berite Labelle’s short, “Time Is Eternal”); journalist Dina Amer’s directorial debut drama (“You Resemble Me”); Susan Kucera’s expose on money and climate change, produced by Jeff Bridges (“Hot Money”); and Melissa Jo Peltier’s “The Game Is Up: Disillusioned Trump Voters Tell Their Stories.” With the embarrassment of film riches Arkansans get from bigger events like the Bentonville Film Festival, Arkansas Cinema Society’s Filmland and the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, it’s a delight that smaller fests like this are still going, and still finding compelling work to put up on the big screen. Follow the festival at facebook.com/HSWFF for updates, and find tickets at hotspringswomensfilmfestival.com. SS

BRIAN CHILSON

WEDNESDAY 3/30. ROBINSON CENTER. 7 P.M.

ADIA VICTORIA

FRIDAY 3/18. WHITE WATER TAVERN. 9 P.M. $18-$20.

South Carolina native Adia Victoria has been calling white Southern nostalgia on its bullshit for years now, but 2020’s “South Gotta Change” distilled those ideas into a 4-minute manifesto: “The veil before your face is falling, and it’s falling fast/I won’t go blindly in the night/I would drag you to the light.” Her latest, “A Southern Gothic,” channels her unblinking ethos and wickedly smart sensibilities into her own humid, menacing brand of blues, on full display in the video for “Magnolia Blues,” which Victoria filmed at Little Rock’s White Water Tavern with Joshua Asante as producer (and with cameos from a bunch of Little Rock locals). When we spoke to Victoria in 2017, she pointed out that she’d grown up only “about a 20-minute drive away” from Nina Simone’s home of Tryon, North Carolina, and in the interim years it’s been stirring to watch Victoria disrupt the music industry’s expectations in sorta the same way as did Simone. Get tickets at whitewatertavern.com. SS ARKANSASTIMES.COM

MARCH 2022 15

‘WARRIORS DON’T CRY,’ WRITEOUS POETS

WEDNESDAY 3/2. REYNOLDS PERFORMANCE HALL, CONWAY. 7:30 P.M. Combining music by Toshi Reagon, spoken word, and video projection, Donnetta Lavinia Grays and Tamilla Woodard’s stage play “Warriors Don’t Cry” positions Little Rock Nine member Melba Pattillo Beals in conversation with a contemporary young activist, grappling with themes of social justice, responsibility and social media’s power and pitfalls.

The play is followed by a performance from Writeous Poets, a spoken word collective from Central High School founded by 2019 Arkansas Teacher of the Year Stacey James McAdoo. Get tickets at uca.edu/ publicappearances. SS

ARKANSAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: TRIBUTE TO THE QUEEN OF SOUL, ARETHA FRANKLIN SATURDAY 3/12-SUNDAY 3/13. ROBINSON CENTER. 7:30 P.M. SAT., 3 P.M. SUN.

JOSEPH ROSS SMITH

Brooklyn-born singer and actor Capathia Jenkins was the powerhouse behind “Caroline, or Change” on Broadway, and she’s landing in Arkansas in March for an Aretha Franklin tribute, joined by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and by Grammy-nominated soul musician Ryan Shaw. On the program are Aretha’s cornerstones “Respect,” “Think,” “A Natural Woman,” “Chain of Fools,” “Amazing Grace” and more. Get tickets at arkansassymphony.org. SS

YOLA

TUESDAY 3/22. THE HALL. 8 P.M. $25-$50.

Meet Yolanda Quartey, better known mononymously as Yola — native of Bristol, England, and current vocal powerhouse of Nashville, Tennessee. If you’ve missed her 2019 track “Ride Out in the Country” on SiriusXM radio, give it a spin and catch her later this year when Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic drops, with Yola in the role of Cotton Plant (Woodruff County) native and rock godmother Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

After Yola performed at the Newport Folk Festival in 2019, word of her live performance spread like wildfire, and you’re likely to discover exactly why at this Little Rock stop on her 2022 tour. Get tickets at littlerockhall.com. SS 16 MARCH 2022

ARKANSAS TIMES

ERIC CHURCH

SATURDAY 3/26. SIMMONS BANK ARENA. 8 P.M. $39-$169.

With a legion of fans that refers to itself devoutly as “the Church Choir,” CMA’s 2020 Entertainer of the Year Eric Church was one of the first country superstars to return to touring during the pandemic, accompanied by, he told CMT last year, an all-vaxxed stage crew and COVID-sniffing dogs Church swears are more accurate than rapid tests. Sporting aviators and spreading the gospel of cannabis with tunes like “Smoke a Little Smoke,” Church’s swagger is part and parcel of his stage appeal, crafted over the course of nearly 20 years in Nashville and on the road. Here, for the “Gather Again” tour, Church will perform in-the-round from the center of the arena, surrounded by choir members undoubtedly crooning in unison: “Dig down deep/ Find my stash/Light it up/Take me back!” Get tickets at simmonsbankarena.com. SS

FAMILY FUNERAL HOMES

JOIN US! Tues., March 29 | 6-8 p.m.

UA Little Rock’s premier culinary and social event returns!

Enjoy a “taste” of signature dishes from restaurants across Little Rock - all under one roof! Ticket sales benefit the Alumni Association’s student scholarships.

Our 2022 honoree is alumna Dr. Sara Tariq, assoc. dean of student affairs in the UAMS College of Medicine.

We will celebrate the success of Giving Day 2022.

Learn more and purchase tickets at ualr.at/taste or call 501-916-3208.

18 MARCH 2022

ARKANSAS TIMES

WHY ARKANSAS’S BEST DUCK HUNTING WOODS ARE DROWNING THE TREES THAT SUSTAIN THE STATE’S FABLED DUCK POPULATIONS ARE DYING AFTER YEARS OF EXCESSIVE FLOODING. BUT NEW PRACTICES AIM TO CHANGE THAT.

BY ARIANA REMMEL ARKANSAS NONPROFIT NEWS NETWORK

I

f you walk through Henry Gray Hurricane Lake Wildlife Management Area, the towering hardwood stands might look like a beautiful place to hunt. But once you know what to look for, you can see the trees are drowning.

Wildlife management areas like these woodlands just outside of Bald Knob are protected public land set aside by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to conserve The Natural State’s wildlife and promote outdoor recreation. Hurricane Lake WMA is best known for its greentree reservoirs, human-made wetland structures that attract ducks — and duck hunters — from miles around.

Levees built around the forest are designed to hold water on the forest floor, imitating the seasonal flooding that occurred naturally in bottomland hardwood forests across the Mississippi Delta before dams and levees tamed the major rivers. Most of those ancient bottomland woods were long ago cleared for timber and to make way for agriculture.

A greentree reservoir is meant to reproduce a flooded forest environment in a controlled manner. Extensive hydrological infrastructure gives land managers control over the timing and depth of floods, allowing them to open and close gates to adjacent waterways. The Game and Fish Commission manages more than 50,000 acres of greentree reservoirs spread across more than a dozen wildlife management areas in the state, and private landowners manage reservoirs of their own. That’s made Arkansas a duck hunting destination.

ARKANSAS GAME AND FISH COMMISSION

NEWS & POLITICS

DUCK CAPITAL: More mallards spend their winter in Arkansas than any other state in the country.

Yet many of the forests are in poor health. For decades, scientists say, land managers flooded them too early and too deeply, and for too long.

What was once believed to be the best strategy for conserving migratory waterfowl populations has inadvertently decimated the cornerstone tree species — specifically red oaks, like willow oaks and Nutall oaks — that make these precious wetlands attractive to ducks.

A 2014 Game and Fish Commission survey of willow oaks in the state’s greentree reservoirs found that 40% of the trees were already dead or irreversibly damaged.

While many private duck hunting clubs have modernized reservoir infrastructure and management strategies for their members, public lands have fallen behind. Now the Game and Fish Commision is trying to make up for lost time. But infrastructure updates alone could cost upward of $70 million over the next 10 years, according to an agency spokesperson.

Last fall, the agency announced major changes to water management plans at three of the state’s most popular greentree reservoirs, including Hurricane Lake WMA. The agency chose not to intentionally flood these highly sought-after hunting grounds during the 2021-22 duck hunting season, which ran from late November through January. The flooding regime will also shift so that the reservoirs are filled more slowly and to depths that will vary with the seasons of nature, not the hunting calendar.

It’s an investment in the future that ruffled feathers among some Arkansans frustrated by

disruptions to access to public lands. The Game and Fish Commission hosted town halls across the state last year to educate duck hunters on the science behind the changes and build trust in a strategy that could take many years to show results. At one such event in November in North Little Rock, more than 100 community members attended a presentation and asked questions of state wildlife managers.

“I know people are bothered because they want to duck hunt this year. But I’m thinking 30 years from now,” said Jessica Homan, a biologist with Game and Fish. She wants to preserve this habitat not just for today’s hunters, but for generations to come. “I can’t do that if I don’t make changes now,” she said.

IF YOU BUILD IT, DUCKS WILL COME The gleaming emerald plumage of a male mallard duck — and the flash of iridescent blue on the wings of the refined females — make this species “the poster child of the duck,” habitat biologist Jake Spears said. Mallards are the most abundant duck species in North America and are particularly important to hunters in Arkansas.

“More mallards spend their winter in Arkansas than any other state in the country,” said Spears, who works for the nonprofit waterfowl conservation group Ducks Unlimited. Mallards are good table fare, readily available and fun to hunt, he said.

“If they’re circling your decoy spread and you hit the call, it’s pretty magical to see them actually respond, turn and come start flying back towards ARKANSASTIMES.COM

MARCH 2022 19

20 MARCH 2022

ARKANSAS TIMES

ARKANSAS GAME AND FISH COMMISSION ARIANA REMMEL ARIANA REMMEL

THE TREES ARE SUFFOCATING The problem is that, like us, trees breathe.

Though plants create their own food by taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen through their leaves — a process called photosynthesis — they still have to convert that food into usable energy.

This second process — called cellular respiration — requires oxygen gas and is the same reason humans need air to survive.

Tree roots do an excellent job of “breathing in” oxygen from the porous soil during the growing season. When the trees lose their leaves and go dormant in the fall, their energy needs decrease dramatically. This generally happens around the same time of year that water levels begin to rise on the forest floor, which saturates the soil and pushes out the oxygenated air.

If trees are flooded before they go dormant, or if water is still standing on their roots after they start waking up in the spring, they start to drown.

Cypress and tupelo species in greentree reservoirs are the most resilient to flooding, but these trees “really don’t serve much value to a duck at all,” said Douglas Osborne, a waterfowl ecologist with the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the Five Oaks Ag Research and Education Center.

What the ducks want are acorns. Biologists working in these wildlife management areas began noticing forest degradation at some reservoirs in the early 1980s, but it wasn’t until the early 2000s that scientists discovered how poorly

ARIANA REMMEL

you,” Spears said.

Though some mallards live in one place yearround, others prefer to breed in the northern United States and Canada before migrating south to spend the winter in habitats where food is easier to find.

Filled with starchy acorns and protein-rich invertebrates, Arkansas’s bottomland hardwood forests fit the bill. Though these wetlands once covered around 5 million acres of the state, more than 60% have been destroyed.

The first greentree reservoir was created by accident. In the late 1920s, a rice farmer near Stuttgart looking for a way to store irrigation water built a levee around the woodlands abutting his fields. The artificially flooded timber resembled the natural wetlands once prevalent throughout the state, and the ducks arrived in droves. Soon, private landowners across the state began building these modified forests, and the Game and Fish Commission recognized an opportunity to create its own greentree reservoirs on public lands.

“We have a lot of different habitat types that people can hunt on, but hunting in a greentree reservoir is the top of the line,” Homan said.

“That’s what people want.”

Tens of thousands of duck hunters now seek out flooded timber and rice fields every year, according to the Game and Fish Commission.

But after more than 50 years of artificial flooding, the trees have paid the price. Without drastic changes, there may be nothing for the next generation of hunters to enjoy.

SCENES FROM THE FIELD: (From top) Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Luke Naylor hunting in a greentree reservoir, AGFC biologist Jessica Homan holds Nutall oak (left) and overcup oak acorns, the waterline in a greentree reservoir and Homan pointing out the damage to a tree.

— and disproportionately — the keystone oak species had fared.

Looking out across the forest at Hurricane Lake WMA, the trees show a dark green watermark left behind by previous years’ floods. A natural bottomland hardwood forest would only hold water about a foot deep, but the sludge stains on these trees show they’ve been steeped in stagnant pools at least 5 feet deep. That has caused the base of their trunks to distend in what forest managers call “butt swelling.”

Above the waterline, you can also see open, weeping cracks where the trees’ bark has split open. Homan, who is working on restoring the forest at Hurricane Lake WMA, said these are all signs that trees are struggling to take in oxygen.

“The trees [have] just got to the point where they do what they need to do,” she said. “They’re being suffocated.”

A 2014 study of one greentree reservoir by Game and Fish Commission staff showed that 82% of willow oaks had been damaged by flooding, almost half of which were dead or irreversibly compromised. Of the two families of oaks found in greentree reservoirs, red oaks — such as willow and Nuttall oaks — are faring worse than white oaks like overcup oaks. That’s more bad news for ducks, because only red oak species produce acorns small enough for mallards to eat.

In a naturally flooded forest, insects thrive in sunken leaf litter and topsoil. But invertebrate populations suffer in the stagnant, nutrient-poor water of a greentree reservoir that’s been flooded too deeply, Homan said. This deprives ducks of another crucial food source to help them beef up for their spring sprint north.

MOVING LIGHT AND WATER Though the Game and Fish Commission has been aware of the issue for years, it has only recently taken sweeping steps toward addressing the problems facing greentree reservoirs on its lands. Agency officials say that it’s taken time to conduct the forest health and hydrology studies needed to design an effective restoration strategy.

This data has been important for building trust with land users and securing the necessary permits and money to execute the agency’s plan.

One such project was completed in December 2021 when the Game and Fish Commission installed a $2.8 million infrastructure upgrade at Hurricane Lake WMA that should make it easier for land managers to move water off the reservoirs.

Of that amount, more than $1 million was contributed by Ducks Unlimited. The conservation group has secured a grant for an additional $2 million for continued work at the site.

If land managers can keep the land dry, the final step is to propagate the next generation of red oaks. Saplings need at least five years of healthy growth before they can withstand a full flood season, and these small trees need enough sunlight to establish a strong root system. Now, forestry specialists with the Game and Fish Commission and its partners are selectively killing

undesirable trees and clearing underbrush to get light on the ground for the young red oaks in some reservoirs.

“If we can get some good establishment of seedlings and [the greentree reservoirs] can be drier longer into the season, I think we can really kick-start the forest,” Osborne said.

Though many hunting clubs have already modernized flooding practices on privately owned greentree reservoirs, their membership fees can be expensive. That means hunters who rely on public lands could be disproportionately affected by restoration-related closures on WMAs. But this is also why it’s so important to take proactive steps to preserve this natural resource, according

Game and Fish Commission construction crews to work through December, the last few years of wet winters have filled many of Arkansas’s watersheds to overflowing well into late spring. And wet cycles like this may become more frequent due to changing climate patterns that have increased flood risks across the southern United States.

Much of the flood control infrastructure built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Arkansas was authorized because of a similar series of wet seasons in the 1920s, said Mike Biggs, a hydraulic engineer with the agency’s Little Rock District. For example, the Corps operates dams on the White River for flood risk management.

When Corps reservoirs in North Arkansas grow

FOR DECADES, SCIENTISTS SAY, LAND MANAGERS FLOODED GREENTREE RESERVOIRS TOO EARLY AND TOO DEEPLY, AND FOR TOO LONG. WHAT WAS ONCE BELIEVED TO BE THE BEST STRATEGY FOR CONSERVING MIGRATORY WATERFOWL POPULATIONS HAS INADVERTENTLY DECIMATED THE CORNERSTONE TREE SPECIES THAT MAKE THESE PRECIOUS WETLANDS ATTRACTIVE TO DUCKS. to hunters like Morgan Harris of Prairie Grove.

Harris is an executive member of the Arkansas chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, which advocates for the protection of public lands to promote outdoor recreation.

Harris hunts on greentree reservoirs in eastern Arkansas and other states and says these wetlands are his preferred duck hunting grounds by far. He and other hunters have been frustrated by the recent disruptions, Harris said. But he also understands that flooded timber is doomed without drastic interventions. “[The Game and Fish Commission] is going about the science and restoring these habitats in the right way,” he said. “I think long term we — the general public — will be much happier knowing that we took the time and the means available to us to improve these habitats.”

PLAYING THE LONG GAME These steps are the first in a long-term restoration strategy that could take many years to show results. And due to the cyclical nature of climate systems and waterfowl migration patterns, scientists still have many questions about how current efforts will play out. In addition to studying forest composition, Osborne and his colleagues are tracking the movements of ducks fitted with satellite transmitters to better understand how waterfowl move through the reservoirs.

“We’re trying to let the mallard tell us what the forest needs to look like,” he said.

The restoration effort is further complicated by shifting weather patterns in the region. Though Hurricane Lake WMA remained dry enough for

full, engineers slowly release water into the White River Basin. That water eventually makes its way to Central Arkansas and onto Hurricane Lake WMA and other greentree reservoirs. Even with a key to the floodgates, Biggs said, the Corps only has control over about 45% of the water in the White River Basin.

“We’re pretty good at doing what we do, but Mother Nature always bats last,” he said.

Because Arkansas typically gets less rainfall in autumn, Game and Fish Commission land managers have less trouble controlling water levels on greentree reservoirs at the beginning of waterfowl hunting season. But the combination of upstream releases and increased precipitation creates a big problem in the spring, when it’s time to move water off the forest in time for the trees to start a new growing cycle, Homan said.

The changing forest composition on greentree reservoirs could have long-lasting implications not just for waterfowl, but also the songbirds and mammals that subsist on the bounty of oak trees. Only time will tell if these efforts are enough to restore the hardwood stands remaining on Arkansas’s public greentree reservoirs.

Looking out across the dying oaks at Hurricane Lake WMA, Homan says she doubts she’ll see the forest restored during her career. “It’s sad, but it’s also hopeful,” she said. “We’ve done a lot of work and I’m seeing progress, but it’s going to be a longterm project.”

This story is courtesy of the Arkansas Nonprofit News Network, an independent, nonpartisan news project dedicated to producing journalism that matters to Arkansans.

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Kevin Kresse is building a high-profile statue of Johnny Cash, one piece at a time.

BY STEPHANIE SMITTLE PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN CHILSON

22 MARCH 2022

ARKANSAS TIMES

LEVON, LOUIS, ROSETTA: An accomplished painter, Kevin Kresse has turned in recent years to sculpting the state’s rich legacy of pioneering musicians.

ARKANSASTIMES.COM

MARCH 2022 23

O

n a hilltop in the Levy neighborhood of North Little Rock there’s a colossal but battered former orphanage called the St. Joseph Center, run by an order of Benedictine nuns from Fort Smith between 1907 and 1978. In one of its 80-plus rooms, Kevin Kresse has been having some lengthy conversations with Johnny Cash. Or with a 3-foot likeness of Cash, anyway. An accomplished painter-turned-sculptor who grew up only a few miles away from the St. Joseph Center, where his studio now sits, Kresse was selected by members of the Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission in 2019 to create an ambassadorial statue of The Man in Black to represent Arkansas at the National Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol Building. When all’s said and done, likely this fall, the existing marble statue of Arkansas Gov. and Sen. James Paul Clarke will be taken down after sitting in the Capitol since 1921, and in will go Kresse’s creation, an 8-foot, 1,200-pound Johnny Cash in bronze, with a Martin D-35 acoustic guitar strapped to his back and a Bible in his right hand. Or, as Kresse put it, “the thing that took him around the world, and the thing that got him through it all.”

Elsewhere in the Capitol, a statue of civil rights legend Daisy Gatson Bates will go up in place of a monument to Uriah Milton Rose, a Kentuckian who worked as a recordkeeper for the Confederacy and went on to become a prominent Arkansas attorney. Whether the tradeout was a matter of cutting ties with Confederate nostalgia depends on who you ask. Some legislators (including Clarke’s own great-great-grandson, Democratic state Sen. Clarke Tucker) cheered the move to replace the existing statues with Bates and Cash. Others proposed a statue of Walmart founder Sam Walton in lieu of Cash. Governor Hutchinson, who lauded the venture and steered efforts to raise funds for the new monuments, did not address Clarke’s and Rose’s Confederate connections upon signing the bill in April 2019. He cited instead the need “to update the statues with representatives of our more recent history.”

Kresse’s studio at St. Joseph’s is a strange sight — a tiny cube within a long room, cordoned off by sheets of white cloth hanging from the ceiling, adrift and aglow from within, thanks to a naked lightbulb atop a floor lamp Kresse positions around the sculptures to get a sense of how the light falls. There’s a case of Kroger brand soda water, a bag of trail mix and an array of sculpting tools, many of which are actually medical tools Kresse got from a cousin who’s a dentist. On the floor, a sink-sized, clay-spattered electric slow cooker warms hunks of tawny brown clay into a relaxed, pliable state. The knob has long since broken off, but Kresse knows how far to turn the remaining metal shaft to get the right temperature. His other commissions stand guard at the perimeter — busts in that same shade of brown, bearing the faces of Arkansas musicians Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Al Green, Glen Campbell, Louis Jordan. Levon Helm, drummer for The Band, is there, too; Kresse’s bust of Levon became in 2018 the centerpiece of a legacy project preserving Helm’s boyhood home in Phillips County. Despite being monochromatic, the work is full of depth and shading — quite a shift for an artist whose painting portfolio thrived on rich color.

Outside in the garden where St. Joseph holds a seasonal farmstand, Kresse’s monument to Saint Fiacre — patron saint of gardening — basks in the sun, a hint of a smile under his beard. “Also the patron saint of Parisian taxi cab drivers,” Kresse noted. “He’s a multitasker.”

Kresse didn’t visit the St. Joseph Center much as a kid, but his Catholic family ties connect him to the place, anyway. His parents met there, in fact, during the carnivals St. Joseph would hold for the local parochial schools. They’d go on to have 11 children, of whom Kresse is the second-youngest — “six older sisters,” he said, “so really I was raised by seven mothers.” His great-uncle, Matthew Kresse, had a woodworking shop in what’s now St. Joseph’s goat barn, and made much of the cleanly utilitarian cabinetry lining the walls of the communal living quarters. St. Joseph lore says Matthew signed some of the

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ARKANSAS TIMES

PATINA AND PROPORTION: At Kresse’s studio in the St. Joseph Center, the divinity is in the details.

furniture he crafted, but Kresse’s never found a signature. (And he’s looked.)

Where the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica once prayed and cooked and shepherded orphans from one activity to another, an artist paints quietly in a rented sunlit studio, and the occasional Americorps student passes by on the way to an assignment or to grab a snack in the community kitchen. And there in the middle, rotating on a lazy Susan is Cash circa 1971, when he was doing “The Johnny Cash Show” on ABC, sporting pastel ruffled tuxedo shirts but only months away from becoming universally recognized as “The Man in Black.”

When Kresse talks about the statue, he uses the pronoun “he,” not “it.”

“You shoulda heard me talking to Johnny through this whole sculpting process,” Kresse said. “I’m like, ‘Come on, buddy, help me out here.” A selfdescribed “frustrated musician” who was once roommate to beloved Little Rock band The Gunbunnies, Kresse’s taste in music ranges far and wide. Cash makes frequent appearances on Kresse’s studio playlist, but so does Steve Earle and a host of jazz musicians. When I visited, meditative classical guitar emanated softly from his cell phone in the corner. He’s cordial and perpetually gracious, answering questions like, “What does that tool do?” with patience and humor. Still, I bet he’d just as soon be sculpting than doing press coverage.

When I thanked him for his time and for the tour of St. Joseph, he seemed to be grasping to justify the act of self-promotion, and uttered, “Well, you know, anonymity is the death of an artist.”

When Kresse’s finished with the miniature, he’ll separate Cash’s head, legs and torso, load the segments into his car and make the five-plus-hour drive to The Crucible Bronze Foundry in Norman, Oklahoma — a drive he’s been making for 20 years, more than once while pleading with the clay not to soften and languish in the summer heat. At the foundry, it will be scanned in 3D, enlarged and rendered by a lathe in sculptable foam. From there, Kresse grabs his sculpting tools and mends any flaws the upscaling process might reveal, and the foundry’s experts use that to create negatives of Cash’s disassembled body parts in ceramic and wax, later melting the wax out so that a gap is left in which to pour in the 2,000-degree bronze. (Insert “Ring of Fire” punchline here.)

Finally, the metalworkers chip away at the ceramic exterior with hammers so that only the bronze remains, and welders put Humpty Dumpty Johnny back together again. “I never understood why bronze was so expensive,” Kresse said. “I thought they were shipping it in from Mars or something. But it is so labor-intensive. After you see the process, you kinda go, ‘Oh, I see why this is such a costly project.’ ” Knowing what we know about Cash’s puckish sense of humor, he’d probably get a kick out of the idea of his decapitated head rolling down I-40 in Kresse’s Toyota. This is the man, after all, who picked up Shel Silverstein’s “A Boy Named Sue” and set it to music, and who damn near sparked a revolt while heckling prison guards from the stage at San Quentin State Prison in 1969. For Kresse, though, the statue’s concept draws from another Cash moment, albeit an imagined one. “The dream sequence that this is coming from, for me, was after having been to the festival in Dyess when they set the stage up next to that boyhood home. I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if he was playing that festival?

And hadn’t seen the house redone and refinished? And coming through the house and reliving everything and then coming out onto the porch getting ready to play and pausing and reflecting on everything. The fields. His growing up there. His losing his brother there. … So if I can have that in mind, I know whether I’m hitting the right tone.”

Yet another phase of Cash’s career, though, is the one Kresse thinks on most often, “when he was playing to a couple hundred people in Branson [Missouri].

Before Rick Rubin. That his greatest stuff was still coming, and he was still out there pitching and still doing it?! As an old fart artist, that’s very inspiring.”

(Kresse just turned 60 but brims with energy and spark; chalk it up, perhaps, ARKANSASTIMES.COM

MARCH 2022 25

“You shoulda heard me talking to Johnny through this whole sculpting process. I’m like, ‘Come on, buddy, help me out here.”

‘DREAM SEQUENCE’: Based on a trove of video and photo documentation, some of which came from Cash’s daughters, Kresse’s sculpture blends the realistic and the imagined.

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ARKANSAS TIMES

to his and wife Bridget’s steady routine of yoga, meditation and long walks.)

When I talked to him in late January, he was in a quandary over patina — the chemical coating applied over the bronze to achieve a particular coloration and effect. Dr. Michele Cohen, curator for the Architect of the Capitol, had just taken Kresse on a tour of the building to make plans for how the statue will be lit, and what type of stone — Arkansas stone, Kresse hopes — will cover the three-foot stainless steel pedestal on which it will be mounted. It’s a delicate balancing act; a Rodin-style black patina could be gorgeous under a skylight, but too imposing under artificial can lights. There are structural details to consider, too.

The tuning pegs on Cash’s guitar, for example, will be mounted closer to the headstock of the instrument, lest any sharp protrusions cause injury when a horde of middle schoolers comes through the Capitol on a field trip tour. Other details were informed (and later given blessing)

by Cash’s daughters, Rosanne and Tara; Rosanne sent Kresse a photo of Johnny’s boots for reference.

I asked him when he would know that he was done sculpting. “Probably when they come take it away from me,” he said.

And when it’s installed and the project is wrapped? Likely, Kresse said, he’ll keep chiseling busts of Arkansas musicians in clay and metal until he can’t anymore. “I think Arkansas has this kind of inferiority complex mixed with this independent spirit,” he said. “After I got the commission of Levon and found out about all these visitors from all over the world coming to his doorstep and seeing that nothing was there, it just hit me. I was like, ‘OK. I’m just gonna start sculpting all these people.’ ” His dream, he said, would be to find a way to get funding from foundations, “where I can just self-fund them and then gift them to the [artists’] hometowns.

Hopefully, the high-profile aspect of getting this commission might grease the skids.”

ARKANSASTIMES.COM

MARCH 2022 27

FREE SPEECH: A house on Harrison Street has raised aesthetic questions among neighbors and code enforcement officials.

BUT IS IT ART?

Frenetic Heights lawn decor elicits mixed reviews from neighbors, trepidation from code enforcement officers and soul searching for Arkansas aesthetes.

BY LESLIE NEWELL PEACOCK PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN CHILSON 28 MARCH 2022

ARKANSAS TIMES

A

n “overzealous” (his boss’ word) city code enforcement officer gave notice to a Southwest Little Rock resident recently that she was in violation of the city’s nuisance code for having “excessive balls” (the playing kind, per the citation’s description) in her yard. She didn’t want to be fined, so she removed most of the balls rather than contest the notice.

But code enforcement has not acted on the many complaints — which it calls service requests — about piles of rocks and other items on property at the corner of Harrison Street and Kavanaugh Boulevard in the Heights. The difference, new city code enforcement division chief Brian Contino insisted in a telephone interview, does not have to do with location. The Heights house’s assemblage — which includes painted croquet mallets in a bucket, a chalkboard hung from a post and a straw-covered yard and driveway — is art, which is not a violation under city code. It’s art because the property owner says so; it is free speech.

CROQUET, ANYONE?: City housing director Kevin Howard says the Harrison Street display falls into a “gray area.”

Contino said the city had reached out to Michelle Herrera, the Southwest Little Rock resident whose numerous soccer and other balls (briefly) earned her a foul, over what Contino acknowledged was overreach by a new employee trying to “keep the peace within the neighborhood.” Complaining neighbors feared the balls indicated an illegal day care operation, he said. “We don’t regulate the number of toys people have in their front yards,” he said.

Under city code, residents can be fined for such things as overgrown weeds or grass and building materials and offcast appliances in the yard. Safety, rather than aesthetics, gave rise to the nuisance law; it notes such items can attract mosquitos and critters.

Contino insisted that if the yard at 2000 N. Harrison St. were south of Interstate 630, in poorer neighborhoods, there would still be no violation.

Kevin Howard, city housing director, said the rock mounds, bricks, poles and other items arranged in the Harrison yard, on property owned

by Peter Moschel, fell into a “gray area” and were, after an inspection in October, considered to be Halloween decorations, and not something that an environmental court judge would find to be a violation. Howard said there were several complaints about the property, the most recent filed in January. (Attempts to chat with Moschel for this story were unsuccessful.)

Howard could not recall other yards that the city deemed as containing art rather than building materials, appliances, furniture and other objects that fall under premises violations.

Perhaps Arkansas’s best-known case of residents vs. yard art was in Conway, over sculpture in artist Gene Hatfield’s yard on

Donaghey Avenue. The retired University of Central Arkansas art professor’s yard was filled with sculpture made from such things as stacked bicycles, bed frames and colorful found objects.

A website on the artist, who died in 2017, noted that one of his sculpture garden’s creations, Dum Wayter, built of metal parts from grills and other detritus, was registered in the Smithsonian Institution’s Save Outdoor Sculpture program of the early 1990s.

Detractors, however, called the yard art trash and in 2002, city officials took Hatfield to court.

Many in the community rallied against the censorship and the city lost its case, the ruling deeming the creations art.

Of course, the debate over what constitutes art began long before Arkansans started arguing about the aesthetic merits of bed frames and croquet mallets.

In 1917, Marcel Duchamp bought a porcelain urinal, painted “R. Mutt” on its side and called it art. “Fountain” was not initially greeted with streams of praise by his own artists’ association, the Society of Independent Artists, but has since come to be seen as perhaps the most influential artwork of the 20th century, introducing conceptual art.

Tonie Atkinson of Hot Springs, however, was fined $10,000 by the city in 2015 for numerous toilet planters in her yard. “Just because you can’t appreciate it doesn’t make it not art,” Atkinson told television station KTHV, Channel 11, when it reported the fine. She also said it fit the quirky vibe of Hot Springs. “I mean, you’ve got an alligator farm,” she said.

Atkinson fought the charge — illegal disposal of solid waste, ironically — all the way to circuit

court, where she was found guilty and fined a mere $25 plus court costs of $195.

Brad Cushman, gallery director and curator at UA Little Rock, has himself been the target of complaints over an art form: his art car. As a teacher in Oklahoma in the late 1990s, he and his Oklahoma State art students transformed what had been called the Peanut Mobile, a 1976 Delta 88 Oldsmobile, into the Tie Rod, covering it bumper to bumper with more than 1,400 neckties submitted by art car enthusiasts from around the country. Cushman brought the art car to Arkansas in 2000 when he accepted the job at UALR, and to freshen it up for a parade in Houston, he let schoolchildren paint the ties.

“It was like putting on a costume,” Cushman said. “If I was [in the car] in the Heights, I got glares and stares.” South of Interstate 630, however, he got cheers and honks, and kids would run out to get a closer look at the Tie Rod. Once, when he parked it in Hillcrest during a Razorback game, someone left a note on the car that said, “I love you and I love this car.”

But back in Durant, as he recalls, he got a citation from the city asking him to move the car, ostensibly because it had been parked in front of his address too long. His neighbor in Little Rock, in the Kingwood neighborhood, complained about its looks and asked him to cover it up with a tarp. “I told him, ‘I really feel sorry for you,’ ” Cushman told his neighbor, because he found objectionable a project that children had worked on for a parade. (Eventually, Cushman moved it to a friend’s garage, where it died an honorable death.)

In Arkansas, one man’s art car is another man’s bright red concrete pig, but while the pig gets ARKANSASTIMES.COM

MARCH 2022 29

a pass, art cars and toilet planters cross an aesthetic line. Sometimes, calling something art doesn’t work — it didn’t for Tonie Atkinson.

A case recently decided in Little Rock’s Environmental Court indicated that simply saying trash is not trash — that the city’s definition of rubbish should not include items a landowner does not intend to throw away — won’t fly, either.

The lawyer for a woman who was charged with a rubbish, trash and debris violation argued before Judge Mark Leverett that the items filling her carport and part of her driveway — bird baths, wooden pallets, pots, potting mix, empty garbage cans, a china cabinet, a table, pet crate, chairs and boxed pergolas — were not discarded and so did not meet the city’s “solid waste” definition. “They are her possessions, her property — items that she values and wants to keep,” attorney Leon Holmes argued in his case before the judge.

Leverett called the case “interesting,” and said it “really challenged the city attorney’s office to focus on what is rubbish.” He ruled for the city, however, saying the items amounted to litter, had vessels that if filled with water would allow mosquitos and other pests to breed and that the “sum total of the objects on the property were either unsightly, unsanitary or unsafe based on their placement, volume or state of deterioration.”

However, Leverett found for the defendant and against the city’s complaint of high grass and/or weeds in her yard. “I felt horrible for the city’s witness,” Leverett said, after she was asked on the stand how she knew the vegetation was weeds.

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ARKANSAS TIMES

Little Rock’s fine for a first rubbish, trash and debris violation is $120 plus court costs of $65.

A Heights resident pointed out to the Arkansas Times another house whose owner was expressing himself in an exuberant way, a cottage at 1903 N. McKinley St. The house, almost hidden behind a tall row of shrubby trees, has various metal signs affixed to the siding above the house, including Harley Davidson wings, eyeballs, a sun and the words “Una Alla Volta (one thing at a time).” A birdcage hangs from a branch, a fountain is wrapped in plastic.

The McKinley house decorations are all very orderly, an assemblage mostly of found graphic art — “readymades” to Duchamp — rather than the helterskelter nature of the Harrison Street yard.

Cushman, inspecting a photo of the untidy Harrison yard, said it appeared to be a work in progress. He didn’t find it objectionable. Another Heights resident interviewed for this story, however, said that while he wasn’t “terribly irritated” by the house, “it is an eyesore” that has prompted some folks to yell at the home’s owner from their cars as they pass by and has neighbors wondering if there is anything to be done to get it cleaned up. On the other hand, some people like it and take photographs of it, the Heights resident said.

“Thank God there is variety in the world,” Cushman said. “It would be really boring” otherwise.

That variety also includes large, red and perhaps unsightly concrete pigs in the yard. Leverett said the familiar Razorback statuettes in Arkansas yards wouldn’t bother folks enough to draw complaints — “unless you were an LSU fan.”

OUTDOOR ART ON MCKINLEY: Metal signs, flags and sculptures adorn a house elsewhere in the Heights.

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11501 Financial Centre Parkway Little Rock, Arkansas 72211 501.223.3322 | 800.880.3322

PinnaclePointe Hospital.com ARKANSASTIMES.COM

MARCH 2022 33

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The Centers is committed to meeting the unique and evolving needs of individuals by providing comprehensive, integrated care that promotes physical, emotional and social wellness for all.

We are a nonprofit mental and behavioral health provider with locations in Little Rock and Monticello and are the designated Community Mental Health Center for individuals residing in Pulaski County south of the Arkansas River.

Our programs address typical concerns that individuals today encounter along with serving specific populations, such as socially and emotionally challenged and at-risk youth, runaway youth, foster children and families, survivors of human trafficking and adults suffering from a variety of mental and behavioral challenges.

Life is not picture perfect. Traumatic events may cause emotional and social challenges that make daily living seem impossible for you, your child or loved one. We are here for you.

Centers for Youth & Families; 5800 W. 10th St., Suite 101; 501-666-9436; CFYF.org.

With 10,000 people turning 65 every day in the United States, more people are finding themselves taking on the role of caregiver for an aging family member. CareLink knows the challenges that come with caregiving, especially for a family member, which is why it strives to alleviate the stress and worry many people experience. Whether it’s assisting with the needs of an older person through Meals on Wheels or allowing a caregiver to focus on their own health needs through respite care and fitness classes, CareLink is here for caregivers and their families.

Headquartered in North Little Rock since 1979, Carelink, Central Arkansas’s Area Agency on Aging, helps older people and their families overcome the challenges of aging by connecting with the older community when and where they need it most.

For more information about helping a family member, call 501-372-5300 or visit CareLink. org.

Since 1899, when we began our legacy of care as the Arkansas Methodist Orphanage, Methodist Family Health has helped rebuild the lives of Arkansas children and families who have been abandoned, abused, neglected and struggle with psychiatric, behavioral, emotional and spiritual issues. Today, Methodist Family Health’s complete, statewide continuum of care includes the Methodist Behavioral Hospital in Maumelle; psychiatric residential treatment centers in Bono and Little Rock; qualified residential treatment program homes throughout the state; a therapeutic day treatment program in Little Rock; Arkansas Center for Addictions Research, Education and Services (Arkansas CARES) in Little Rock; community- and schoolbased counseling clinics throughout the state; and the Kaleidoscope Grief Center, which is focused on helping grieving children and their families. Our mission is to provide the best possible care to those who may need our help.

If you or someone you know needs help, call us at 866-813-3388 24 hours a day, seven days a week, email Info@MethodistFamily.org or visit MethodistFamily.org.

hope Is The Foundation. recovery Is The Journey.

Quality Care Rooted in Arkansas

The pandemic has caused people to consume alcohol at unprecedented levels. The BridgeWay offers hope and recovery for adults struggling with alcohol or other substances. Led by Dr. Schay, a board-certified psychiatrist and addiction specialist, our continuum of care includes: • Medical detoxification • Partial hospitalization • Intensive outpatient program To learn more about our continuum of care for substance use disorders, call us at 1-800-245-0011.

Physicians are on the medical staff of The BridgeWay Hospital but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of The BridgeWay Hospital. The facility shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. Source: Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Dr. Schay

Medical Director of Substance Use Disorders

TREATMENT. SUPPORT. 24/7/365.

THE CENTERS IS PROUD TO BE THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER FOR INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN PULASKI COUNTY SOUTH OF THE ARKANSAS RIVER. OUR INTEGRATED APPROACH TO MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE INCLUDES 24/7 CRISIS SERVICES, OUTPATIENT COUNSELING, RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT IN LITTLE ROCK AND MONTICELLO, THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE, DAY TREATMENT SERVICES, AND PREVENTION SERVICES.

501.666.8686 www.TheCentersAR.com ARKANSASTIMES.COM

MARCH 2022 35

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Now hiring: • Entry-level through management • LPNs, RNs, APRNs • Nurse supervisors • Therapists • Teachers • Direct care staff • Office managers • Cooks • Housekeeping • Maintenance • and more We Provide a Full Continuum of Behavioral Healthcare Services

It's Not Just a Job. It's Your Chance to Help the Lives of Children METHODIST FAMILY HEALTH Apply TODAY at MethodistFamily.org/work-for-us.html

Competitive pay and incentives

11501 Financial Centre Parkway Little Rock, Arkansas 72211 501.223.3322 | 800.880.3322

Pinnacle Pointe Behavioral Healthcare PinnaclePointe provides a full continuum of behavioral inpatient care Hospital.com health •• Residential Day treatment services care services.

We specialize in mental health School-based services • TRICARE® hospitalization treatment for children and adolescents ages •• Partial Certified Acute inpatient care Outpatient services 5-17•who are struggling with emotional or behavioral health issues. Our programs include: acute inpatient care, residential inpatient care, partial hospitalization, schoolbased services, outpatient services and day treatment services.

Pinnacle Pointe also includes statewide services provided by The Pointe Outpatient Behavioral Health Services.

The services provided include intensive outpatient and school-based outpatient.

Pinnaclepointehospital.com, 501-223-3322, 11501 Financial Centre Parkway, Little Rock, AR 72211.

CareLink has been caring for families since

in

Central

1979.

Arkansas

Whether

you’re

looking for respite, someone to care for an aging loved one, or someone to care for you, CareLink

has

the

resources

to help the aging community and their caregivers care for themselves.

Call CareLink’s Information & Assistance Specialists today to find out how we can help you or a loved one get quality care and support at 501.372.5300.

36 MARCH 2022

ARKANSAS TIMES

We are your local pharmacy, available to help with all of your health care needs. After you drop off your prescription, browse for great gifts you won’t find anywhere else, You never know what you’ll find! As a traditional pharmacy since 1922, we take care of all of your prescription needs, including curbside pick-up and delivery. We accept all major insurance coverage and Medicare Part D plans.

As a neighborhood gift shop, we have something for everyone. We even throw in free gift wrapping! facebook.com/RheaDrug, 2801 Kavanaugh Blvd, Little Rock, 501-664-4117.

WELL,SORT OF

SEE INSIDE FOR THE BREAKDOWN.

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MARCH 2022 37

2022-2023 PCSSD REGISTRATION OPEN Registration for the 2022-2023 school year is now open for new and returning students to the Pulaski County Special School District.

PCSSD’s mission is to provide equity and excellence for all students through rigorous college and career readiness instructional strategies. We serve 26 schools across Pulaski County which include 16 elementary schools, four middle school campuses, one junior high campus, four high school campuses and an online K-12 school.

RETURNING STUDENTS Current PCSSD families can submit a letter of intent to return to the District next school year. The letter of intent will replace the need for returning students to re-register this year. The letter of intent can be found at bit.ly/PCSSD-22-23LOI. NEW STUDENTS Parents of students who are new to the district can register their children through the online registration portal. The NEW STUDENT registration portal is only for students K-12 who did not attend a PCSSD school in the 2021-2022 school year and reside in the PCSSD attendance zone. The online registration portal can be found on the PCSSD website.

PRE-K The PCSSD Pre-K program is part of the Arkansas Better Chance program and supported by the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. It provides students with a strong foundation of knowledge and skills to build on through kindergarten and into elementary school.

Students must meet certain requirements.

Contact prek@pcssd.org for more information.

SCHOOL CHOICE For families who do not live within the PCSSD school zone but wish to attend one of the schools, the Arkansas School Choice Act is an option. The Arkansas School Choice program enables a student in kindergarten through grade 12 to attend a school in a nonresident district. School choice applications are being accepted through May 1 this year.

If you have specific questions related to registration and school choice within PCSSD, please contact the Office of Equity and Pupil Services at 501-234-2021.

ABOUT PCSSD Pulaski County Special School District spans more than 600 square miles in central Arkansas and requires highly skilled and passionate personnel to adapt educational policies and personalization to 26 schools. Every school is

REGISTER NOW

accredited by the Arkansas State Board of Education. PCSSD has served schools across Pulaski County since July 1927.

PCSSD is committed to creating a nationally recognized school district that assures that all students achieve at their

pcssd.org/register 38 MARCH 2022

ARKANSAS TIMES

maximum potential through collaborative, supportive and continuous efforts of all stakeholders.

MARCH 2022 ACTIVITIES & FUN

DON’T MISS THESE EVENTS!

IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?

March 2

There is! And it’s his birthday. Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss! Fun fact: “Green Eggs and Ham” started as a $50 wager between Dr. Seuss and his publisher, who bet the author that he couldn’t write a book using 50 or fewer words.

PARTY EN POINTE March 5, 6-10 p.m.

“Confetti,” Ballet Arkansas’s 10th Annual Turning Pointe Gala, supports world-class programs and performances that uplift, enrich and inspire more than 30,000 Arkansans each year. Attendees will enjoy a cocktail reception and silent auction with live music from JAZZ R US, a seated dinner with live auction, signature performances by the professional dancers of Ballet Arkansas in the Wildwood Theater, plus dessert, dancing and a moonlit farewell with live music by the Dizzy 7 Band.

Black-tie optional.

March 5

SO CHEESY Hooray for National Cheese Doodle Day (or cheeze to be more accurate). Are you team puffed or crunchy? And why isn’t there an Andy Capp’s Hot Fries Day?

March 10

OLD SCHOOL National Landline Telephone Day Push button or rotary — you choose.

HBD, MOD! March 11

This date marks the 95th anniversary of Museum of Discovery’s founding. In addition to a birthday bash at its Science After Dark (6-9 p.m., March 31) event, it’s celebrating with: a goal of receiving 1,000 $95 donations and 95 $1,000; an inaugural Bernie Babcock Brunch on June 11, in honor of MOD’s founder; and membership giveaways.

IF YOU HEART ART . . .

Pulaski Heights Picassos

YOUTH NEWS FROM AMFA The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is now accepting applications for the 2022-23 Teen Advisory Board. TAB participants learn about the inner-workings of the museum, plan and organize student-centered activities, and serve as the youth voice for many AMFA initiatives. Talk about a resume builder!

Formed in 2020, TAB is open to all high school students in the Greater Little Rock area. Applicants should be in grades 9-12 in the upcoming 2022-23 school year and able to meet twice a month (virtually or in-person) starting this August. Selected applicants will receive certified volunteer hours, industry connections and a year of artistic opportunities. The deadline for applications to the AMFA Teen Advisory Board is April 1, 2022. For more info, visit arkmfa.org.

LET THERE BE LIGHT!

March 12, 6:30-9 p.m.

A magical night of music, food, drinks and stellar art — Picassos, the popular fundraiser for Pulaski Heights Elementary, returns to The Museum of Discovery in downtown Little Rock for its 19th year. This adults-only event includes opportunities to bid on art in both a silent and live auction.

March 20 GO GREEN

March 17

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! The one day on the calendar that everyone gets to claim Irish heritage (and pinch people).

Spring Equinox Celebrate this first day of spring by taking a mindful walk in nature, reading a picture book about spring (this Kevin Henkes one is a favorite), planting seeds or getting a jump on eating Easter candy.

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MARCH 2022 39

The

Ferncliff

ancy Conser v N ature

The Little Rock Zoo

THE SPRING BREAK BREAKDOWN

BY KATHERINE WYRICK

A

s we did a year ago, we find ourselves posing the question: What will spring break look like? This time, the answer is (dare we say) a bit brighter. Though we’re still in the midst of a pandemic, getting out and about safely feels possible. There are some international travel restrictions still in place, but people are more willing (read desperate) to venture to far-flung destinations. Being the trepidatious type, however, I’m focusing on three options closer to home: day camps, a day trip and a road trip. Because complex times call for simple solutions.

Wherever you go, make sure to check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s online COVID data tracker and get up to speed on the latest numbers and guidance. And, of course, get vaccinated and mask up.

DAY CAMPS As of this writing, many places are still ironing out the details. Check social media for updates.

The Athletic Clubs March 21-25 Times and costs vary Ages 5-12 Three different camps at three different locations, all of them fun. The North Little 40 MARCH 2022

ARKANSAS TIMES

Rock Athletic Club, Little Rock Racquet Club and Little Rock Athletic Club each offer an action-packed week. Kids will keep busy with gym games, arts and crafts and field trips. Registration is open. lrac.com/ happenings/spring-break-camps.

Central Arkansas Library System Spring Break week will happen at four locations; alas, it is still in the planning stages.

Grab-and-go meals, grab-and-go activities

and story times will continue to be available throughout the week. cals.org.

Ferncliff March 21-25 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Grades 1-5 Cost: Price varies depending on tier chosen Spring Break Day Camp is for kids who want to enjoy some outdoor fun in a peaceful, natural setting. Expect a week full of

R E V O C S I D THING NEW

CRATER OF DIAMONDS STATE PARK

SOME T

Looking for new adventures for your family and friends? Come together at Arkansas’s 52 state parks and experience endless possibilities.

TOT COS SA ATE T RIVER S K R A P

Pick up your FREE PASSPORT at the nearest state park today.

Plan your adventure at

ArkansasStateParks.com.

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MARCH 2022 41

summer discovery camps ages 6-13

unicorn biology

mess makers junior zoologist

code bots

awesome activities where campers can play outside, make friends and “grow in faith.” Kids will play games, make crafts, hike, fish, explore creeks, visit the garden and farm, take aim on the archery range, slide down the 120-foot Shady Chute slide and more.

Convenient options for extended hours (drop-off and pick-up) are available.

Registration ends at noon March 18. The cost starts at $249, but there is a tiered pricing system. ferncliff.org The Little Rock Zoo Zoofari Camp March 21-25 Zoofari Camp is a go! Details TBA. We do know that you can opt for a half day or whole day, and that campers will get lessons with certified teachers on science, animal health and zoos, and will enjoy special encounters with animals.

Spring break is celebrated throughout the whole Zoo for all guests March 18-27, so even if you don’t participate in the camp, you can enjoy the festive atmosphere. The theme of the week is “cruise ship.” We’re envisioning penguins playing shuffleboard, one of the red river hogs in a captain’s hat, and a bush dog working a buffet, but we could be wrong. littlerockzoo.com Museum of Discovery MOD says TBA. Camps are happening; details forthcoming. museumofdiscovery.org

see more at museumofdiscovery.org

RIDE FOR LITERACY

Saturday, Saturday,April April30, 30,2022 2022| |11 11am am

Cheryl Tidwell, Cheryl Tidwell, FIC FIC 501-590-4528 501-590-4528

Register at www.BikeReg.com/tour-de-toad ||Learn www.facebook.com/TourDeToad/ Register at www.BikeReg.com/tour-de-toad LearnMore Moreatat www.facebook.com/TourDeToad/ 42 MARCH 2022

ARKANSAS TIMES

The Nature Conservancy Spring Break Adventure Camp 2022 March 21-24 Grades 9-12 Mississippi River State Park, Marianna TNC is offering an awesome adventure for teens at beautiful Mississippi River State Park in Marianna. It’s sure to be an enriching experience. Here’s a preview: Monday, drive to park and set up camp. Tuesday, paddling with the Quapaw Canoe Company.

Wednesday, horseback riding and fishing. Thursday, paddling and head back home. Contact Devan Mayer to reserve your space and for more information, devan.mayer@tnc.org. Coronavirus safety protocols will be followed. All participants must be fully vaccinated and boosted. A negative COVID test, taken within 72 hours of the start of camp must be presented when you arrive Monday morning. $100 registration, space is limited. Sign up deadline is March 11.

Wildwood Spring Break Jr. Naturalist Camp In Partnership with the Central Arkansas Master Naturalists March 21-25 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Ages 7-11 Bill Toland, a certified Arkansas Master Naturalist and an NAI Certified Interpretive Guide, leads the naturalist programming with additional certified Central Arkansas Master Naturalists.

Campers will enjoy a week of fun, hiking Wildwood’s winding trails, playing outdoor games, and engaging in hands-on instruction. Topics include lake ecology, reptiles and insects native to Arkansas. They will also learn how to stay safe in the woods.

Drop-off begins at 8:30 a.m.; pick-up begins at 4 p.m. and goes until 4:30 p.m. wildwoodpark.org.

ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, HERITAGE AND TOURISM

2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR REGISTRATION FOR PRE-K

Petit Jean Cedar Falls Trail

For more details:

TO DO AROUND TOWN: Lake Life Lake Nixon, which has an outdoor preschool and popular summer day camp, does not have a spring break camp, BUT did you know it allows (encourages!) visitors to come for FREE? You can hike, bike and boat to your heart’s content.

Follow a 1.5-mile loop hiking trail around the lake or take a kayak, paddleboard or paddleboat for a spin. The camp is in the process of building 6-7 miles of mountain bike trails that will be open to the public.

If you’re going with more than five people, they suggest signing up at lakenixon.com. As mentioned, visiting is free, but they do appreciate donations, which go to support their programs. Lake Nixon also offers facility rentals for birthday parties and other gatherings. The setting is so pretty, and the vibe gives you all the pleasantly nostalgic camp feels (without the homesickness).

Arkansas State Parks Arkansans are fortunate to have an abundance of beautiful, accessible state parks. This year, some are offering special spring break programming that every member of the family will enjoy.

Check back closer to break time for specific schedules at Pinnacle, Petit Jean and other locations. We can tell you that there will be guided nature hikes, games, tours, stories and s’more. arkansasstateparks.com

http://www.lrsd.org/earlychildhood

We’re saving a seat for you!

• FULL DAY SESSION • AGE-APPROPRIATE LEARNING ACTIVITIES • BREAKFAST, NUTRITIOUS SNACKS, AND LUNCH PROVIDED • CDC GUIDELINES ARE FOLLOWED If you have any questions please contact us at:

ECC@LRSD.ORG 501-447-7366 (English) or 501-447-7364 (Español) ARKANSASTIMES.COM

MARCH 2022 43

WEEKEND TRIP: St. Louis We spoke to a family man who knows and loves this city. This father of a 12-year-old son gave us the lowdown.

seum City Mu

is | St. Lou

Areas of interest: The Hill is an old Italian neighborhood that’s fun to explore. And there are great old-school Italian restaurants where you can grab dinner.

The Delmar Loop is, in the words of our man on the ground, “a beautiful stretch of urban delights — restaurants, shops, people watching, etc.” He recommends Fitz’s, a place that makes and bottles their own soda; Corner 17, an Asian noodle place where they make fresh noodles right in front of you; and Blueberry Hill, a family joint that has “the most bonkers celebrity autographed photo hall I’ve ever seen. In one photo the owner is with Chris Rock and Burt Reynolds AT THE SAME TIME.” As if that’s not enough, there’s also a funky grocery store selling strange foreign candies, a cool comic book store and several vintage/ thrift stores.

The Grove is a centrally located, buzzworthy district that stretches nearly a mile along Manchester Avenue. It’s a bustling scene with over 50 businesses — places to eat and drink, grab coffee or beer, shop, people watch, in general just hang. There are mercifully no chain restaurants in this groovy section of town. There is craft beer, barbecue, soul food and over-the-top ice cream and a gastro pub. Very of the moment.

Downtown at Union Station has the giant enclosed ferris wheel, lit up at night and always festive. There’s also the Aquarium, not too big with lots of hands-on stuff. The Gateway Arch is another must-see and has an excellent gift shop. (And, as we know, not all gift shops are created equal.) You have to reserve tickets for the Arch, but it’s usually not too busy.

Busch Stadium, with Ballpark Village next door, is a classic, family-friendly venue if you’re looking for an all-day immersive experience.

It’s near some fun restaurants and historic Dred Scott Way as well as some lovely public gardens.

Aquarium | St. Louis

Zoo | St. Louis

44 MARCH 2022

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To do: Catch a Cardinals game; wander the grounds of Laumeier Sculpture Park, one of the largest sculpture parks in the country, free and open daily; or spend the whole day at the City Museum. Housed in the 600,000 square-foot former International Shoe Company, the City Museum is a creative combination of children’s playground, funhouse, surrealistic pavilion and architectural marvel made out of found objects.

An added bonus: They sell beer and snacks on the rooftop playground.

It costs extra for admission but is worth it for the insane installations and views of the city. Or you can grab a pint and a bite at The Sliced Pint nearby after your visit.

Magic House is also a must, and, of course, the St. Louis Zoo is famous — and free! Our insider said, “The whole park that the zoo is in [Forest Park] is interesting, too, with places to visit and play.” It has the advantage of also being within walking distance of the Delmar Loop.

To stay: Hotel St. Louis is a hip/historic place that is nice but is located in a kind of urban desert. As our insider pointed out, St. Louis’ city center, like Little Rock’s, feels a bit like a ghost town. It is, however, safe. At night, his family walked from their hotel through Civic Center to Union Station to ride the ferris wheel and reported that “the only thing we saw was an army of rabbits ... . Yes, there are tons of bunnies hopping around the green spaces in downtown St. Louis at night.” So not so deserted after all.

The Moonrise is a cute boutique hotel located on the Loop. You can even bring your dog! And it has a great rooftop.

Our insider said he’s yet to discover a good place to stop en route, though we hear that Sikeston is a possibility.

Memphis Botanic Garden

MEET DENA: ARTIST, CAR ENTHUSIAST, DRIVEN WOMAN “When I overheard that women my age don’t really walk again after this type of injury, I thought: Just watch me.”

READ MORE ABOUT DENA PECKHAM AT SNELLARKANSAS.COM

RESTORING MOBILITY AND INDEPENDENCE SINCE 1911

Little Rock n Bryant n Conway n Fayetteville n Fort Smith n 800-342-5541 Hot Springs n Mountain Home n North Little Rock n Pine Bluff n Russellville

A QUICK TAKE ON A DAY TRIP: Memphis We have it on good authority from a mother of three who’s originally from Memphis and returns often that these spots are not to miss: To do: Visit the Memphis Zoo (they have pandas!), Rainbow Lake Playground at Overton Park (not-your-average-setup and surrounded by shady trees), My Big Backyard (a family garden) at Memphis Botanic Garden, The Children’s Museum of Memphis and the Fire Museum (downtown) if you have a real firetruck enthusiast. Sun Studios and the National Civil Rights Museum both warrant visits but would be appreciated more by older kids. And then there’s Graceland. And don’t forget Stax Museum of American Soul Music.

There’s also Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid, and, though she was loath to admit it, our Memphis connection said it should be included. Did you know that it houses the world’s tallest freestanding elevator and 13 lanes of underwater-themed bowling?!

You might want to plan your trip around the much anticipated opening of “Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience,” on March 25 at Graceland Exhibition Center. We heard rave reviews from someone who saw it in New York.

SAVVY kids PUBLISHER BROOKE WALLACE | brooke@arktimes.com EDITOR KATHERINE WYRICK | katherinewyrick@arktimes.com SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE LESA THOMAS

FIND MORE AT SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

To eat: Café Eclectic, Central BBQ, Memphis Pizza Café (four locations) and Muddy’s Bake Shop (worth the drive from LR for the cupcakes alone). Round things out with a paleta from La Michoacana on Summer Avenue.

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MARCH 2022 45

SPONSORED BY VISIT HOT SPRINGS

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN HOT SPRINGS THIS MONTH

IT’S TIME FOR A ROAD TRIP!

MARCH 17

World’s Shortest St Patrick’s Day Parade

Bridge Street Join our celebrity guests, Grand Marshall Cheech Marin and Parade Starter Danny Trejo at the Official World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas! Save the date and make sure to join us for 98 feet of Irish fun! It’s free! shorteststpats.com The 2022 World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade King and Queen will be Coach Sam and Jamie Pittman!

3 p.m.: Entertainment District opens 4 p.m.: Blarney Stone Kissing Contest 5 p.m.: Pre-parade with the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders 6:25 p.m.: Measuring of the 98-foot parade route 6:30 p.m.: Parade Begins 8 p.m.: Live music from Foghat!

MARCH 10-12

AAA High School State Basketball Championships

LIVE MUSIC! MARCH 18

Sugar Ray live in concert

Bridge Street Hot Springs’ world-famous celebration of St. Patrick’s Day will be extended an extra day on March 18,, with a free public concert by famed rock band Sugar Ray. The Bridge Street Entertainment District will open at 5 p.m. DJ Kramer opens at 5:45 p.m. and Sugar Ray will take the stage at 8 p.m. hotsprings.org

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MARCH 18-20

Valley of the Vapors Music Festival

Cedar Glades Park Live music, camping, hiking, vendors, kids activities, art and more! For the second time in its history, VOV is taking place outdoors! If you haven’t already, come experience a whole new dimension to your favorite Arkansas music festival. Cedar Glades Park, 461 Wildcat Road, Hot Springs. valleyofthevapors.com

Bank OZK Arena The best teams from across Arkansas compete for the state championship. See some of the best basketball talent before they go on to play college ball. For more information check us out online at ahsaa.org. You must purchase a ticket to gain entry into the games. AAA passes will be accepted ONLY with valid ID.

Come See US For Saint PatriCk’S Day! Brewery • Pizzeria Dine-in • Takeout • We Deliver

236 Ouachita Ave • Hot Springs (501) 609-0609 • sqzbx.com

Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day with Cheech Marin with Taco Mama’s “up in smoke” cocktail!

LATE FEBRUARY TO MID-APRIL

Garvan Woodland Gardens Tulip Extravaganza

550 Arkridge Road Garvan Woodland Gardens offers a spectacular sight of over 150,000 breathtaking tulips from Late February to mid-April, depending on the weather for the peak bloom time. To learn more, visit garvangardens.org.

TACO MAMA | SIDE TOWN 510 Ouachita Ave., Hot Springs • 501- 781-3102 TACO MAMA | MALVERN 1209 Malvern Ave., Hot Springs • 501-624-6262

tacomama.net

APRIL 2

Arkansas Derby

Oaklawn The Arkansas Derby is the most lucrative thoroughbred horse race in Arkansas with a purse of $1 million. The 2022 Arkansas Derby will be held on Saturday, April 2. oaklawn.com.

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MARCH 2022 47

Oaklawn has all you need for the ultimate getaway. Book yours at Oaklawn.com.

SPONSORED BY

ARKANSAS’ ONLY CASINO RESORT DON’T MISS HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS THESE SHOWS! 1-800-OAKLAWN No racing on Easter.

Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700.

March 26 Grand Funk Railroad

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT Cliff and Susan Every Friday and Saturday, 4-8 p.m.

Thursdays, March 17, 24, 31 The Juice Friday, Saturday March 4-5 9 p.m.-1a.m.

STAKES SCHEDULE & RACING CALENDAR March 5 No Double $150,000 Downthedustyroad $150,000

John Calvin Brewer March 11-12

March 12 March 31 Mayday by Midnight March 11 Azeri $350,000 R A C I N G • C A S I N O • H O TTina March 18-19 E L – Tribute • S PA • E V E N T C E N T E R • D ININ G Bill Engvall to the Queen of 7 p.m., 9 March 19 Oreo L I V E R A C I N G D E C E M B ERock R 2N’ 0 2Roll 1 - M AY 2 0p.m.

2 2 • O A K L AW N .C O M Blue Essex Handicap $500,000 March 25-26 Whitmore $200,000 March 26 Purple Martin $150,000

WIN BIG!

April 2 Arkansas Derby $1,250,000

RACING PROMOTIONS March 5 Dawn at Oaklawn Jockey Meet N Greet Live Music: The Fraze March 12 Dawn at Oaklawn Infield: Craft Beer Festival, St. Patty’s Day Live Music: Parker Francis Band March 19 Whitmore Day Dawn at Oaklawn Infield: Car Show Live Music: TBD March 26 Dawn at Oaklawn Live Music: Dexter Rowe Band 48 MARCH 2022

ARKANSAS TIMES

LUCKY LOOT DRAWINGS •6 p.m.-10 p.m. on Saturdays in March.

•Guest must swipe their Oaklawn Rewards card at any promotional kiosk to activate their entries.

•Guests can receive one free entry in the drawing from 6 p.m.-10 p.m.

•Guests may earn one additional entry for every 20 points earned on Thurs., Fri., Sat. and Sun. •Guests may earn 4X entries available on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

•Every 15 minutes from 6-10 p.m., the Fun Squad will draw two names.

•Each guest will pluck a lucky four-leaf clover.

•Each four-leaf clover will have a prize on the back.

TAKE TIME TO RELAX!

$150,000 MONEY MADNESS GUARANTEED PROGRESSIVE GIVEAWAY •5-9 p.m. every Sunday in March.

•Guests drawn every 15 mins.

•Each Sunday at the last drawing at 9 p.m. one prize pod will be dropped in for $12,500 CASH. •Last Sunday, March 27, one winner will win ALL the no-show prizes left from previous weeks PLUS that night’s prizes.

•Prizes include hotel stays, food offers, free play and CASH.

ASTRAL SPA AT OAKLAWN RACING CASINO RESORT Escape to the ultimate retreat in Hot Springs to focus on your well-being. Engage your senses while indulging in our luxurious signature treatments. Our spa services are enhanced with access to our full-service locker rooms and lounges where you can find a peaceful space to quiet your mind. Your visit to Astral Spa will leave you with a profound sense of relaxation and rejuvenation. Hours: 9 a.m.-7p.m. Mon.Thurs., 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Fri.-Sat, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun.

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The Albert Pike Memorial Temple Dedicated May 12, 1924

SPONSORED BY

MARCH AT OAKLAWN

Illustration by Richard C. DeSpain: despainprints.com.

The Albert Pike Memorial Temple is located at 700–724 Scott Street in Little Rock. On November 13, 1986, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural and historical significance.

The temple is named for Albert Pike, a prominent figure in the history of Arkansas, who played a major role in the establishment of Freemasonry in the state.

The Albert Pike Memorial Temple houses the headquarters of the state governing body of Freemasonry, the Grand Lodge of Arkansas. It was built to replace the original Masonic Temple, located on 5th and Main streets, which was destroyed by fire in 1919. The building is owned by the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and houses another local Masonic section, the York Rite Bodies.

Mason have been present in Arkansas since the early 1800s. The evolution of Masonry in the state is closely linked to its history. Several members of the fraternity have served as important figures in Arkansas, becoming governors and judges. The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry was introduced in Arkansas by Albert Pike, a native of Boston, Massachusetts. After settling in Arkansas in the 1830s, Pike pursued diverse professions including working as a teacher, writer, newspaper editor and publisher, and lawyer. In 1850, Pike became a Mason. In 1858, he was elected as an active member of the Supreme Council for the Southern Jurisdiction, one of the two administrative areas of the Scottish Rite in the United States. In 1859, Pike became the Grand Commander of the Supreme Council. His major contributions to Freemasonry include the revision of the rituals of the Scottish Rite and the publication of Morals

and Dogmas of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.

In its current form, the Albert Pike Memorial Temple is the result of successive transformations to the original structure. In 1901, a first building, called the Albert Pike Consistory Building, was erected on the corner of 8th and Scott streets. In 1913, the building was enlarged to accommodate a growing membership. After the fire of 1919, the consistory was remodeled and enclosed in the new Albert Pike Memorial Temple, designed by architects George Mann and Eugene Stern. The building was dedicated on May 12, 1924. On May 7, 1952, a fire destroyed mainly the older part of the building, at the south end. The rebuilt temple was dedicated in September 1956.

The Albert Pike Memorial Temple covers an entire block from 7th to 8th streets and half of a block in the opposite direction. Two double-headed eagle sculptures—the emblem of the Scottish Rite—stand in front of the entrance on Scott Street. The building is a monumental three-story structure in the Neo-Classical Revival style, lined on its front facade with nineteen Greek Ionic columns.

Inside the building, on the first floor, are two dining rooms, kitchen facilities, and offices. On the second floor are an auditorium, a library, and several rooms. Unique features of the temple include a room—the Lodge of Perfection—with stained-glass windows, and a massive chandelier in the auditorium. On its exterior, the temple features Bedford limestone.

In the northeastern corner, the cornerstone is a block of Batesville marble carved with the date of the laying of the cornerstone, the name of the building, and the names of the members of the 1924 board of trustees.

The Albert Pike Memorial Temple Endowment Fund was created by Dr. C. James Graham, 33˚, Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Arkansas in 2019. This endowment is part of the Arkansas Scottish Rite Foundation which is a 501c3 charitable organization that provides funding for the Speech and Literacy clinics at the campuses of both UALR and the University of Arkansas, as well as funds for the maintenance and preservation of this historic edifice. This endowment seeks to secure the future of this Arkansas Treasure for second century. All donations made to the Arkansas Scottish Rite Foundation are tax-deductible and our benefactors include both Masons and non-Masons. We truly believe this magnificent building was “Built to Celebrate!”

501-375-5587 • 712 Scott Street • Little Rock • www.apdowntown.com

CULTURE

‘LAYERS, Y’ALL’ IRVIN RIVERA

A Q&A WITH JUSTIN CUNNINGHAM.

‘OUTLET FOR MASTERY’: Cunningham picked up boxing during the pandemic.

50 MARCH 2022

ARKANSAS TIMES

P

ope County native and University of Arkansas graduate Justin Cunningham is an avid boxer, a self-taught guitarist and a Juilliard-educated actor whose stage roles have ranged from “King Lear” on Broadway to Ava DuVernay’s “When They See Us.” His latest project is “Grand Crew,” a shrewd comedy from the creators of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” It premiered in January on NBC. I understand you grew up cutting and baling hay on a farm, yes?

Yeah! I’m from Atkins. We had a commercial farm out there, where we grew hogs and chickens. So my whole youth was spent working — cutting hay, baling hay, catching cows and taking them to sale, riding horses. Just doing lots of things that I didn’t like. Eventually I found my way up to the University of Arkansas [at Fayetteville], finished the acting program there, and was producing some improv in Fayetteville and Bentonville when a professor at the University of Arkansas said, “You should apply to [The Juilliard School] for the acting program. They’re starting a master’s program.” So I thought, “All right, I’ll do that,” and auditioned and messed around and got in.

Let’s talk about “Grand Crew.” The opening sequence of the pilot confronts some historical representations of Black men, countering with a correction: “We got layers, y’all. Our multitudes got multitudes.” What does it mean for you to be in this show with an all-Black cast — and that doesn’t position its characters as accessories to a main timeline that’s centered around white people?

I got the sides to audition for it in early 2020, and there was a lot of buzz in the acting community around here — that a script was going around and it was really funny. And these characters were Black characters, but that wasn’t the main focus. With the lens that it was being seen through, I was able to play an actual human being and not just put my Blackness in front of me before I even start saying words. That’s what drew me to it. The show opens with talking about the Black experience, but it’s focused on humanizing Black people. … I think it’s necessary that network television start pursuing these types of projects that center around opening up the perspective of how people are seen.

ONE OF MY OLD PROFESSORS AT JUILLIARD, ONE OF HIS MAIN THINGS WAS THAT WHEN YOU’RE BUILDING A CHARACTER YOU LEAD THAT CHARACTER WITH CURIOSITY AND DISCOVERY. THAT’S SOMETHING THAT I LEAD WITH IN MY LIFE.

I watched an interview in which you described your character on “Grand Crew,” Wyatt, as a person who “leads with optimism and wonder.”

After watching you in interviews, I do get the sense that you have that in common with your character.

Absolutely. One of my old professors at Juilliard, one of his main things was that when you’re building a character you lead that character with curiosity and discovery. That’s something that I lead with in my life. We’d actually started shooting the [“Grand Crew”] pilot when COVID started happening and we got shut down for an entire year. And I went home to Arkansas. For a year, in my mother’s garage, trying to figure out what in life was next. I didn’t know if I was going to have a job. So I had to take a chance and start to redirect that anxiety about not knowing what the future was going to hold. I had to look for wonder in myself, and curiosity and optimism.

And I think that’s what Wyatt as a character brings to his friends. That’s why I wanted the character to have glasses. I wanted him to see.

Wide-eyed.

What kind of feedback on the show have you gotten from friends and family so far?

Oh, yeah. Well, there’s an episode where I’m naked-crying. And I think my mother and my sister texted me immediately after and expressed their concerns. But it’s just television.

I saw a video of you rocking some Prince on your Instagram feed. What role does music play in your life?

You know, I sang a little bit in church, but didn’t really know I could sing until I went to the University of Arkansas. I got cast in a few musicals, and the music director there, whose name was Jeanie Lee — love her — she just put me in a room with another student and started playing and said, “You can sing, so you’re gonna do this.” And since then, most every theater show I’ve done, I’ve had to play music or sing. I did a musical off-Broadway called “Little Rock,” about the Little Rock Nine, and sang in that.

And another play called “Broadbend, Arkansas,” where I recorded an album. But I’m self-taught.

I picked up the guitar around 2006 or 2007 and have been learning ever since. It’s an outlet for mastery, for me, like boxing.

— Stephanie Smittle

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HONEY AND LIME: The Brussels and Kale Salad at The Fold is rounded out with goat cheese, pickled red onion, pepitas, a protein and a sweet citrus vinaigrette.

SALAD DAYS

SOME LEAFY CENTRAL ARKANSAS FAVORITES.

BY STEFANIE KENNON-MCGILL, GUY CHOATE AND RHETT BRINKLEY

52 MARCH 2022

ARKANSAS TIMES

T

here’s a 1995 episode of “The Simpsons” from season 7 titled “Lisa the Vegetarian” and Lisa asks why there can’t be any vegetarian options on the menu for some event they’re having.

Bart tells her, “You don’t win friends with salads.” Then Homer joins Bart in a catchy “You don’t win friends with salad” chant and the two form a train and start marching around. They exit the frame, and when they return, Marge has joined the train and the chant, much to Lisa’s chagrin.

Salad might not be the most fun or exciting choice, but in the days of farm-to-table dining and with the creative strides chefs have made over the years, Lisa’s stance is aging better. We decided to try to win some friends with some of our current Central Arkansas favorites.

STEFANIE KENNON-MCGILL

FOOD & DRINK

STEFANIE KENNON-MCGILL

MOVE OVER, NOODLE BOWL: With a tea-scented egg and pickled vegetables on top, the Three Fold Salad is among the best in Little Rock.

THE FOLD: BOTANAS & BAR BRUSSELS & KALE SALAD Raw Brussels and kale may sound wholly unappealing to many people, and with good reason. While I love Brussels sprouts if they are roasted and drenched in bacon fat (but of course, roasting in bacon fat can turn pretty much anything into a flavor explosion), I am not a huge fan of them raw, nor am I a fan of kale. If not prepared the right way, Brussels sprouts and kale can both impart a certain bitterness that can ruin a dish. That is not the case with the Brussels and Kale Salad at The Fold. The typical bitterness is tamed by The Fold’s signature honey lime vinaigrette, which is sweet without being cloying. The pickled red onions also add another subtle layer of sweetness and balance. Savory goat cheese and crunchy pepitas round out this healthy and flavorful salad. While you can add a variety of protein options to the salad, including bison, steak and crab cakes, I recommend ordering your salad with shrimp or tender shredded pork so as not to overwhelm the flavors of the rest of the ingredients. Plus, when you order this salad you can feel a little better about your inevitable choice to devour the chips and queso beforehand … or perhaps that’s just me. — SKM THE PANTRY ARUGULA PEAR You know those last few bites of a good salad?

The ones that are packed full of flavor from all the little bits of salad fixings and dressing that fall to the bottom of the bowl after eating all the greens?

I have dreams of those last bites of the Arugula Pear Salad from The Pantry. Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of this salad’s name. This salad is loaded with intense layers of flavor, thanks to the savory blue cheese and capers, the sweet

pears, and the tangy vinaigrette. Although the salad is studded with pungent bits of blue cheese and capers, they don’t overwhelm the subtle sweetness of the pears or the vinaigrette. I prefer to add grilled chicken to this salad, as the crispy, char-grilled bits of chicken elevate the flavor of the salad into another realm. Even if you are someone who either doesn’t like fruit with savory foods or doesn’t like blue cheese (you know who you are), I guarantee the Arugula Pear Salad will please your palate. — SKM THREE FOLD NOODLES & DUMPLING CO. THREE FOLD SALAD If you are looking for a change of pace from standard American-style salads, Three Fold has your back. While the pork noodle bowl is possibly my favorite dish in all of Little Rock, I will occasionally veer from the noodles and order the Three Fold Salad when I feel like cutting carbs without cutting the complex flavors for which Three Fold has become known. The Three Fold Salad comes with spring greens, the restaurant’s signature slaw (packed with carrots for an extra boost of nutrients), pickled veggies, cilantro, house dressing and my favorite — a teascented egg. You choose your protein and level of spiciness; I recommend going for the roast pork and medium spiciness. The salad bowl is loaded with tangy, vinegary shredded cabbage and carrots, providing crunch and depth of flavor while remaining a healthy, nutrient-packed choice. The pickled veggies, cilantro and house vinaigrette layer in even more flavor, which is all rounded out by the savory and slightly sweet tea-scented egg.

Tea-scented eggs, which are typically made by simmering eggs in a savory liquid of traditional Chinese flavorings and black tea, are hard to come by in Central Arkansas, so I was thrilled the first

Karlah

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In recognition of Women’s History Month, we celebrate our ‘Women of Water,’ whose knowledge and contributions help us protect public health and the environment. We acknowledge women like Karlah, Accounting Clerk, who ensures our partners are compensated for the work they do to assist us in helping the city thrive.

Learn more about our Women of Water, their positions and our diverse people and processes at LRWRA.com.

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MARCH 2022 53

MARCH

BEST HAPPY HOUR BEST LATE NIGHT SPOT BEST PLACE FOR TRIVIA

LIVE TRIVIA

EVERY TUESDAY AT 6 P.M.

SALADS TO WIN FRIENDS WITH: The Grilled Salmon Salad at Cheers, the Peck’s Special Salad at Trio’s and the Thai Chop at Big Orange.

1316 MAIN ST. • (501) 372-9990

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

COME SEE US! KILWINS LITTLE ROCK 415 President Clinton Ave. Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 379-9865 littlerock@kilwins.com 54 MARCH 2022

RHETT BRINKLEY

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ARKANSAS TIMES

time I ordered the Three Fold Salad and spotted that beautiful marinated, soft-boiled egg resting on top of the slaw. It may be hard for me to make the healthier choice to order a salad instead of the noodle bowl at Three Fold, but I never regret it when I do, and I hope you won’t either. — SKM CHEERS IN THE HEIGHTS GRILLED SALMON SALAD A former Cheers waitress turned me on to this salad, and I’m glad she did. Usually when I hear people order a salmon salad I think to myself, “Well, that’s a responsible yet sophisticated order, probably the healthiest choice on the menu, too.

Perhaps I should try the salmon salad.” Cue the waiter.

“I’ll have the fried chicken, please.”

“Would you like macaroni and cheese with that, sir?”

“That’ll be fine.”

I was wrong to think that healthier is synonymous with boring. The Grilled Salmon Salad at Cheers has flavor profiles that are fun and mysterious. It seemed so simple: a bed of spinach, sliced strawberries, dried cranberries, cucumber, tomatoes, onions, sugared pecans and a grilled salmon filet doesn’t sound complex. But it is. The tip from my former waitress friend is to order it with creamy bell pepper dressing and the white vinaigrette and mix the two together. But after returning home and sampling the creamy bell pepper dressing, I decided to go all in with it,

the hell with the calories. I’m being mostly good, right? The creamy bell pepper dressing is subtle enough to magically work for both the savory and sweet elements of the salad. You might be thinking strawberry and creamy bell pepper don’t go together at all, but they do. Some bites taste like a not-too-sweet, somewhat healthy dessert bite, some taste more savory and uniquely delicious.

All the ingredients blend together in salad harmony, and I imagine that if you took one away, it would lose something. I can conjure the flavor sitting here at my desk, and I want it now. And I don’t have much budgetary regret ordering a $17 salad twice in a month. — RB TRIO’S PECK’S SPECIAL SALAD Time travel may not be possible, but while eating Peck’s Special Salad I can almost picture myself sitting at a classic hotel bar in the ’50s.

Perhaps one of the most iconic salads in Little Rock, Peck’s Special Salad dates back to the Hotel Sam Peck at 625 W. Capitol Ave., which was owned

by Trio’s owner Capi Peck’s grandparents Sam and Henryetta Peck.

There’s a reason it’s stood the test of time. It’s a simple formula, but it works and it tastes like a classic. A bed of fresh crispy romaine and leaf lettuce is topped with roasted pulled chicken breast, toasted almonds and bacon. It’s served with the original vinaigrette from the Sam Peck Hotel, which has a wonderful balance of tart and

Lauren

sweet flavors. — RB ZAZA FINE SALAD AND WOOD OVEN PIZZA CO. PETIT JEAN RANCH There was a time (a single time) in my life a few years ago when I was working out three days a week and pasta sounded inexplicably gross and it appeared for a brief moment like aging might not be so bad. That seems like a lifetime ago. Now, I’ve just celebrated my 40th birthday, I can’t even bring myself to walk my dog around the block, and the idea of going to a restaurant and choosing leafy greens sounds absurd to me in the same way that telling someone settling into the electric chair they shouldn’t smoke sounds absurd. I recognize the melodrama in my words, but what I’m trying to convey is that I have decided to adopt a defeatist’s approach to personal health now that we are nearly two years into a pandemic that feels like it might last forever.

Deep down, however, I know — as I continue to gain weight — that I must one day get back to eating salads and working out. To that end, my strategy will be to eat salads that fall on the guilty-pleasure end of the spectrum and work my way slowly back toward something my doctor might be proud of me for ordering.

So, please don’t @ me with the judgmental information that my go-to salad right now has the signature ingredients of ham and ranch dressing. If I didn’t order this salad, there’s a

RHETT BRINKLEY

RHETT BRINKLEY

r issione Comm

chance I would order ham and ranch dressing by itself. I’m doing my best to sneak some leafy greens and colorful peppers into my diet and that feels like progress in this new year. My next baby step will be to order it without the croutons, which seem like expendable carbs whose elimination won’t affect the overall flavor we’re working with here. A profile that feels familiar (ranch, ham, cheese, tomatoes, bacon bits), but also dynamic (bell peppers, mushrooms, red onions). — GC BIG ORANGE THAI CHOP Big Orange’s signature salad is likely on everyone’s list. A quick Google search revealed that it’s already made an Arkansas Times list, as did the same “Simpsons” reference! Kudos to Dana Vickerson for beating me to the punch. From Dana Vickerson comes this tip: “This is truly a salad that can be enjoyed by omnivores and vegetarians alike — either enjoy this excellent salad with the listed steak or fish, or simply ask for black beans instead of the protein. The staff at Big Orange are friendly and incredibly accommodating to dietary preferences. What makes this a really great salad are the flavors. Chopped romaine, shaved cabbage, red peppers, spicy jalapenos, cilantro and toasted peanuts are all tossed in a delicious ginger soy dressing. It all works together to make a spicy, salty and sweet flavor combination that makes this one of my favorite salads in the city.”

— RB

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In recognition of Women’s History Month, we celebrate our ‘Women of Water,’ whose knowledge and contributions help us protect public health and the environment. We acknowledge women like Lauren, Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority Commissioner, who makes decisions on policies that protect our ratepayers.

Learn more about our Women of Water, their positions and our diverse people and processes at LRWRA.com.

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MARCH 2022 55

HISTORY

WINTHROP ROCKEFELLER COLLECTION, UA LITTLE ROCK CENTER FOR ARKANSAS HISTORY AND CULTURE

IN GUAM: Winthrop Rockefeller during World War II.

THE PRELUDE TO ROCKEFELLER’S RISE IN ARKANSAS AN EXCERPT FROM A NEW BIOGRAPHY OF WINTHROP ROCKEFELLER.

BY JOHN A. KIRK

56 MARCH 2022

ARKANSAS TIMES

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his is my show!” declared Winthrop Rockefeller, as he took Saturday Evening Post journalist Joe Alex Morris on a tour of his recently built Winrock Farms atop Petit Jean Mountain in Arkansas. “It doesn’t have anything to do with any Rockefeller family project. This is all my own.”

It was September 1956, and Winthrop was 44 years old. At six feet and three inches tall, and weighing in at a bulky 225 pounds, he was a commanding presence. He was still handsome, though the creeping signs of middle age were beginning to show in his thinning, dark, slicked back hair and receding hairline. Soft brown eyes hinted at an underlying shyness, contrasting with his more genial, carefree and outgoing demeanor. Winthrop’s aquiline nose was unmistakably inherited from his mother’s Aldrich side of the family. Full and shapely lips formed a big, cheery, welcoming smile to guests, which revealed

WINTHROP ROCKEFELLER COLLECTION, UA LITTLE ROCK CENTER FOR ARKANSAS HISTORY AND CULTURE

tobacco-stained teeth, a product of the strong- of underground waterlines, and 2 miles of portable tasting, unfiltered Picayune cigarettes he liked to aluminum sprinkler pipes to defy the received habitually smoke. wisdom and keep the green grazing pastures on Winthrop’s work shirt and the summit irrigated. khakis were standard issue.

Over 350,000 tons of rock When he was out working on were shifted for fill or retaining the farm, he liked to blend in walls. Another 50,000 tons with everyone else. He wore of rock were crushed to his favorite hand-stitched build roads to make the cattleman’s boots, but their farm accessible. Three large fancy swirling patterns and barns were erected, along the WR initials emblazoned on with two 300-ton silos to the shins remained modestly hold feed, cattle corrals with tucked away underneath his iron fences, horse stables, a pant legs. The WR trademark fully equipped garage and was visible everywhere machine shop, underground around Winthrop’s various storage for 3,000 gallons of enterprises. It took pride of gasoline, a firehouse with place above the corrals at a fire engine, a laundry, a Winrock Farms, and it was locker room with shower seared into the hides of his facilities for farm workers, four hundred cherry-red and a suite of air-conditioned Santa Gertrudis cattle herd offices for administrators. purchased from the King Winrock Farms even had its Ranch in Texas, including own airfield, complete with a his $31,000 (equivalent to hangar, a waiting room, and YOUNG WINTHROP: In Maine $297,000 today) showpiece a 4,600-foot lighted runway in 1922. bull called Rock. that was large enough to Winrock Farms had fast accommodate a four-engine become one of Arkansas’s top jet plane. tourist attractions. It was located just outside the It was Winthrop’s secular version of a city on town of Morrilton and some 65 miles northwest a hill that his namesake, Puritan John Winthrop of the state capital of Little Rock. More than the elder, would surely have been proud of.

60,000 people traveled from near and far to stare John Winthrop the elder told his flock, as they in wonderment at the miracle that had occurred headed to the Americas from England to found on Petit Jean Mountain. In just three short years Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, that their between 1953 and 1956, and at a cost of $2 million new home would be a spiritual “city upon a hill,” (equivalent to $19.1 million today) — an eye- and he warned them that “the eyes of all people watering amount anywhere in the United States, are upon us.” In Winthrop Rockefeller’s case, as but especially so in one of the poorest states in always, it was the eyes of the rest of the Rockefeller the nation — Winthrop had transformed the family that were upon him. scrub and woodland into a model cattle-breeding Winthrop’s move to Arkansas followed a third operation. After an initial purchase of a 927-acre time in his life that he had failed to meet his tract of land, Winrock Farms had grown to 2,400 family’s expectations in New York. The first time acres split between the top of the mountain and was in his unsuccessful academic career, which the valley below. culminated in his resignation from Yale University Everyone told Winthrop that it was far more in 1934. His three older male siblings in the sosensible to build Winrock Farms entirely down called brothers’ generation of the family, John in the valley, right next to the water supply that Davison Rockefeller III, Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller it needed to operate. But the view was better from and Laurance Spelman Rockefeller, together the mountaintop, and Winthrop’s ever ebullient with his younger brother David Rockefeller, all enthusiasm never stopped him from believing managed to navigate their way through school and that any obstacle could be overcome. Engineers to graduate from Ivy League colleges or universities. devised a system that included constructing four Winthrop was disappointingly and disapprovingly lakes, a riverside pumping station, a 25-gallons-a- left the odd one out. minute filter plant, auxiliary power plants, 3 miles Redemption came in the southwestern oil

y Lyndse

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In recognition of Women’s History Month, we celebrate our ‘Women of Water,’ whose knowledge and contributions help us protect public health and the environment. We acknowledge women like Lyndsey, a Lab Technician who analyzes various samples to test for bacteria, nutrients, solids and more.

Learn more about our Women of Water, their positions and our diverse people and processes at LRWRA.com.

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MARCH 2022 57

MEET CHASE PURNELL, M.D., FAAD WINTHROP ROCKEFELLER COLLECTION, UA LITTLE ROCK CENTER FOR ARKANSAS HISTORY AND CULTURE

A board-certified dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon. He has specific interests in high-risk skin cancers, scar revision and skin cancer prevention.

Dr. Purnell is now accepting patients at the following locations: Conway, Midtown, Little Rock, Hot Springs

Learn more at www.arkansasdermatology.com

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ARKANSAS TIMES

WINROCK FARMS: The scene atop Petit Jean Mountain in the 1950s.

fields. Winthrop was the first family member to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather John D. Rockefeller Sr. (known as Senior) by going into the oil business where the family fortune had been made. Senior cofounded the Standard Oil Company in 1870 and built it into the world’s first multinational corporation, becoming one of the richest men alive in the process. Winthrop, who started out as a lowly roustabout laborer, earned the respect of his fellow workers and the acclaim of management. His efforts made up for his scholarly shortcomings and in 1937 it earned him a coveted place in the Rockefeller family office located in Room 5600 (which was, in fact, an entire floor of the building) in midtown Manhattan’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza, where he joined his older brothers and his father John D. Rockefeller Jr. (known as Junior).

The second time Winthrop failed to meet Rockefeller family expectations was in his business and civic career in New York prior to World War II. Winthrop returned from the oil fields with the idea of becoming a junior executive in the oil industry. He dabbled in banking for a while, but he found it deadly boring. He tried philanthropy and fundraising by co-chairing the Greater New York Fund, but this met with mixed results. He then secured an appointment at Socony-Vacuum Oil Company in the Foreign Trade Department as liaison officer with the Near Eastern Development Company. Socony-Vacuum, formerly Standard Oil of New York, was one of the many derivatives of

the Standard Oil Company that were formed after the U.S. Supreme Court broke up its operations under antitrust laws in 1911. Socony later morphed into Mobil, which in 1999 was absorbed into ExxonMobil. Although Winthrop enjoyed his time at Socony, it did not ignite his passion in the same way that performing practical manual work with his hands in the oil fields had. Meanwhile, his brothers were well on the way to pursuing their lifelong vocations in philanthropy, politics, business and finance. Winthrop struggled to secure himself a similar role in which to represent family interests.

Redemption came in military service. Winthrop enrolled in a Citizens’ Military Training Camp before joining the Army as a volunteer in early 1941. He crisscrossed the United States in training, rising through the ranks to major. In 1944, he was deployed overseas. Island-hopping with the Seventy-Seventh Infantry Division in the Pacific during World War II, Winthrop participated in the battles of Guam, Leyte and Okinawa. It was a grueling 16 months that involved many brushes with death, including surviving a Japanese kamikaze attack on his transport ship, the USS Henrico. He returned a decorated war hero, the only one of the Rockefeller brothers to see active combat duty in service to his country. Again, it had been in the cut and thrust of the field — this time in the battlefield, rather than in the oil field — that Winthrop had thrived and proved himself adept at dealing with its workaday issues and concerns.

WINTHROP ROCKEFELLER COLLECTION, UA LITTLE ROCK CENTER FOR ARKANSAS HISTORY AND CULTURE

GENTLEMAN RANCHER: Rockefeller at Winrock Farms in the 1950s.

The third time Winthrop failed to meet Rockefeller family expectations was in his marriage and family life after World War II. He returned from war the only bachelor among his brothers and the only one childless. With time to make up, he became a fixture in New York’s postwar cafe society nightclub scene. He was linked with a string of female stars of stage and screen and frequently described in the press as America’s most eligible bachelor. On Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 1948, Winthrop married actress and divorcee Barbara “Bobo” Paul Sears at an impromptu ceremony in Lake Worth, Florida.

Bobo was pregnant with Winthrop’s only child, future Arkansas Lt. Gov. Winthrop “Win” Paul Rockefeller. Within 18 months, the couple separated, and protracted and acrimonious divorce proceedings followed. The sensationalist headlines alarmed the private and secretive Rockefellers. Winthrop and Bobo eventually arrived at a divorce settlement in 1954.

By then, Winthrop had moved to Arkansas. The failure of his marriage prompted a good deal of soul-searching and reflection. For the third time in his life, Winthrop sought redemption. But this time, it was different. He craved a more permanent fix, rather than just a temporary escape. It was, he decided, time to finally take his destiny into his own hands and to define his own place in the Rockefeller family firmament. To do this, he once again returned to the field. This time, it was not to the oil field, nor to the battlefield, but to the

fields of Winrock Farms. Although all three were very different sorts of propositions, they shared a common denominator. Whereas his brothers were contented pen-pushers with office jobs, happily pulling the strings and making decisions behind their desks at major organizations, Winthrop had always craved to work with his hands, to deal with practical matters, to grapple with issues face-to-face daily, and to constantly interact with and shape the environment around him. He lived his life, metaphorically, and often quite literally, in the field, with his boots planted firmly on the ground.

The same central theme that profoundly shaped Winthrop’s life as a New Yorker continued to dominate his life as an Arkansawyer: the everpresent tension between seeking to embrace and fulfill the high demands of being a member of the Rockefeller family and forever striving to step out of its shadow and to become his own person. In Arkansas, Winthrop found a place where he could continue to sow the seeds of the Rockefeller legacy, but one that would also allow him to grow them in his own independent and distinctive way.

John A. Kirk is the George W. Donaghey Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. His new book “Winthrop Rockefeller: From New Yorker to Arkansawyer, 1912-1956” is being published by the University of Arkansas Press this month.

Tonya

ager m Man Progra ities) (Facil

HERstoRy: is

OuR StoRy

In recognition of Women’s History Month, we celebrate our ‘Women of Water,’ whose knowledge and contributions help us protect public health and the environment. We acknowledge women like Tonya, a Program Manager who is responsible for facilitating repairs to our large diameter collection system, and managing assets, capital improvement plans and annual budgets.

Learn more about our Women of Water, their positions and our diverse people and processes at LRWRA.com.

+

ARKANSASTIMES.COM

MARCH 2022 59

ARKANSAS BEER IN MIDST OF BIG BOUNCE BACK SAMPLE A WIDE RANGE AT THE MARCH 25 ARKANSAS TIMES CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL.

BRIAN CHILSON

BY BRIAN SORENSEN

T

he past two years have been challenging for the state’s breweries. Taproom restrictions, market disruptions and tightening supply chains led to a drop in overall production in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to numbers recently released by the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Administration, output dropped from 40,819 barrels in 2019 to 38,066 barrels in 2020, the first year of the pandemic. That was 7% less Arkansasmade beer for us to enjoy.

By every qualitative measure, 2021 seemed to go much better for brewers. Taprooms reawakened, new breweries opened and overall enthusiasm for Arkansas beer returned. It’s not beyond reason to expect double-digit growth when the year’s production numbers are fully tabulated.

2022 is already off to a great start. Breweries are expanding and additional startups are on the way. More beer is being produced, and more of it is making it onto the shelves of grocery and package stores across the state.

Creativity from the brewers appears to be growing, too. It once seemed as though Arkansas beer was 10 years behind the rest of the country.

Not only has the gap closed, but now the state’s brewers are regularly winning awards and earning recognition on a national scale.

One feature of a thriving beer scene that has been slow to return is the beer festival. Yes, a few events took place last year, but attendance was generally limited and special protocols dampened the mood. While it was good to see a few familiar faces, there’s nothing like drinking a few ounces of beer at a time with hundreds — if not thousands — of your closest friends.

The upcoming Arkansas Times Craft Beer Festival is the kind of full-throttled experience 60 MARCH 2022

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Arkansans have been waiting for. It represents another step toward the “normal” that beer drinkers used to know. And, as in years past, the festival’s lineup of breweries will be impressive, with a mix of in-state and out-of-state beermakers.

It’s happening Friday, March 25, at the Argenta Plaza, 510 N. Main St. Find all the details on page 61.

Here are some of the Arkansas breweries confirmed as of this writing: Lost Forty Brewing Co. is top dog when it comes to beer production in Arkansas. The Little Rock beermaker’s last official tally was 14,224 barrels brewed in 2020. That’s nearly three times more than second-place Ozark Beer Co., which produced 4,471 barrels the same year. Lost Forty recently opened an offshoot brewery in the former home of Rebel Kettle Brewing Co., aka East Sixth Brewing Co. Camp Taco provides a quirky creative outlet for Lost Forty’s award-winning brew team.

Other Little Rock breweries in attendance include Stone’s Throw Brewing and Vino’s Brew Pub. Stone’s Throw opened for business in 2013 in the MacArthur Park neighborhood. Homebrewers at heart, the ownership team ensures a constant rotation of beers is on tap. A second location — the Stifft Station Taproom — opened in 2019. Stone’s Throw Shamus Stout is one of the most beloved beers in the state.

Vino’s is the O.G. of the Arkansas beer industry.

Craft beer as we know it was virtually nonexistent when Henry Lee and his partners fired up their cobbled-together brew system in 1993. It is now the longest-running brewery of any type in the state. Rhett Brinkley and Lindsey Millar compiled an oral history of Vino’s for the February issue of the Arkansas Times that is a must-read for fans of

the brew pub and punk rock venue.

Speaking of O.G.s, Diamond Bear Brewing Co. in North Little Rock is the oldest production-style brewery in Arkansas. It was founded by Russ Melton in Little Rock in 2000 and moved to its current location 14 years later. The brewery was the first Arkansas medalist at the Great American Beer Festival, taking home silver in 2003 for its English-style pale ale.

Tucked into North Little Rock’s Argenta Arts District is Flyway Brewing, a 10-barrel brewery that started on a half-barrel system in 2012.

Lord God Imperial Chocolate Stout is one of the brewery’s most anticipated releases each year.

Bluewing Berry Wheat is a reliable thirst quencher, especially during those dog days of summer.

Ozark Beer Co. recently expanded production, replacing its 15-barrel brewhouse with a system twice the size. The Rogers brewery has been a steady force in Arkansas beer since it opened in 2013. One of the first breweries to can beer in the state, Ozark has built a reputation for consistency (APA, Cream Stout, IPA), big flavors (Bourbon Double Cream Stout) and experimentation (Our Hazy Distant Youth).

Other Northwest Arkansas breweries planning to be at the Arkansas Times Craft Beer Festival include Bike Rack Brewing Co., Core Brewing & Distilling Co. and New Province Brewing Co. Bentonville’s Bike Rack is well-established in the city’s 8th Street Market and caters to the two-wheeled crowd. The brewery seems to have found stable inspiration from Hawk Moth Brewery & Beer Parlor’s Bradley Riggs, who now leads brewing operations at both places. Bike Rack’s Biking Kviking Black IPA has been garnering attention in Northwest Arkansas as of late.

Core is increasingly known for its hard seltzer

and ready-to-drink canned cocktails. In fact, it might be considered a “beverage company” more so than a brewery these days. There’s no denying the success of Core’s fizzy concoctions, as they are ubiquitous across the state. That said, the brewers are still making delicious beer. Especially those of the hazy variety.

In Rogers, New Province benefits from the steady hand of brewer Kort Castleberry. Fallen Queen, a Belgian witbier, and Philosopher King IPA come delivered in some of the most striking cans you’ll find in Arkansas beer.

Black Apple Hard Cider doesn’t make beer, but the Springdale cidery can be found on taps and package store shelves throughout Arkansas. In an increasingly crowded beer market, it stands out as the only state-made cider option for nonbeer drinkers. Black Apple’s cider is drier (i.e., less sweet) than most of the big brand alternatives.

Two of the newest breweries in the state break the mold used by their predecessors. Blade & Barrel in Jacksonville is the place to grab a cut or shave and a brew. It’s one of a handful of breweries in the state to set up in dry areas (Jacksonville is dry even though Pulaski County is wet). Saracen Craft Brewing Co. is located inside the casino in Pine Bluff. Its brewing vessels sit prominently behind glass in the casino’s sports bar.

Another recent entrant to the Arkansas beer industry is Point Remove Brewing Co. in Morrilton.

It’s one of the larger breweries in the state in terms of real estate, occupying a 60,000-square-foot former Coca-Cola bottling plant. Two of Point Remove’s most popular beers include Petit Jean Pilsner and Motown IPA. There will be plenty of non-Arkansas breweries in attendance this year, including fan favorites American Solera, Cigar City, Mother’s Brewing, New Belgium, Prairie, Sierra Nevada and Toppling Goliath.

Fortunately, there is enough great beer being produced in Arkansas these days that drinking local doesn’t mean sacrificing taste or quality. The Arkansas Times Craft Beer Festival will feature beers produced all across the United States, but the spotlight will be on beers made right here at home. Come out and enjoy some — a few ounces at a time.

ARKANSAS TIMES CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL Arkansas’s favorite craft beer festival returns to the Argenta Plaza on Main Street in North Little Rock from 6-9 p.m. Friday, March 25. Earlybird tickets are $30 and available to purchase at centralarkansastickets.com.

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LITTLE ROCK WATER RECLAMATION AUTHORITY

HERstoRy is OuR StoRy

March is Women’s History Month, and in celebration of the contributions women have made to history, Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority (LRWRA) recognizes some of the talented women whose knowledge and contributions help us protect public health and the environment which allows our city to thrive. We salute the honorees for our fourth “Women of Water” (WoW) Campaign as we present “HERstory is Our Story.”

This year, we celebrate Lauren who serves as a Little Rock Water Reclamation Commissioner, Lyndsey who analyzes various waste samples as a Lab Technician, Karlah who ensures our partners are compensated for the work they do to assist us in protecting our residents, and Tonya our Program Manager (Facilities).

We share their stories for all that they do to help us honor our mission “to protect public health and the environment while leading and serving our community today and reclaiming water for a more sustainable tomorrow.”

In addition to celebrating this year’s Women of Water, we encourage ratepayers to acknowledge women across various fields who have made a significant impact on the history and culture of our city, state and country. “Unfortunately, our progress when compared to our male counterparts is currently viewed as unique or uncommon,” said Commissioner Lauren Waldrip. “My hope is that the more we celebrate our success now, the more it will be accepted as the norm in the future.”

Learn more about this year’s “Women of Water,” and their daily contributions that help preserve our city’s quality of life and support its growth. Visit LRWRA.com to read their stories.

There will be food to purchase from: The Crepe Coop La Casa De Mi Abuelita Mawmaw’s House Lili’s Mexican Street Food The Prickly Pickle Twisted Fries ARKANSASTIMES.COM

MARCH 2022 61

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New this year, a VIP section for a limited number of attendees: For $100, you get early entry to the fest at 5:30 p.m., limited VIP parking, access to special beers, complimentary food from Mr. Cajuns Kitchen and a swag bag.

Arkansas Breweries Bike Rack Brewing Company Black Apple Blade and Barrel Brewing Co. Core Brewing Diamond Bear Brewing Company Flyway Brewing Lost Forty Brewing New Province Brewing Co. Norfork Brewing Company Ozark Brewing Co. Point Remove Saracen Crafted Brewing Co. Stone’s Throw Brewing Vino’s Brew Pub Regional/National Breweries Abita Beer American Solera Bell’s Brewery Boulevard Brewing Company Breckenridge Brewery Cigar City Brewing Coop Ale Works Deschutes Brewery Einstök Beer Elysian Brewing Company Flying Embers Founders Brewing Co. Golden Road Goose Island Beer Company Independence Brewing Company Jackalope Brewing Company Karbach Brewing Co. Komes Kona Lagunitas Brewing Company Lazy Magnolia Brewery Left Hand Brewing Merchant du Vin Mother’s Brewing Company New Belgium Brewing O’hara’s Brewing Company Oskar Blues Brewery Piney River Brewing Co. Pipeworks Brewing Co. Prairie Artisan Ales Rahr & Sons Brewing Company Shacksbury Cider Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Squatters Brewery St. Bernardus Brewery Stone Brewing SweetWater Brewery Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. Wasatch Brewery Wiseacre Brewing Co.

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MARCH 2022 63

CANNABIZ

PUFF, PUFF, PASS

COMPARING AND CONTRASTING THREE PETITIONS TO ALLOW ADULTS TO USE MARIJUANA RECREATIONALLY.

BY GRIFFIN COOP

A

rkansans have a chance to add their names to three petitions for state constitutional amendments that would legalize recreational marijuana for adults. But the three proposals differ in how they would shape cannabis use in the state.

Those differences come in how they would increase the number of dispensaries and cultivators, how cannabis would be taxed and whether past criminal convictions for marijuana would be expunged.

Organizers for the three proposals each need 89,151 verified signatures by July 8 to make the November ballot. If two or more measures make the ballot and receive more than 50% of the vote, the amendment with the highest vote total will become law, according to Kevin Niehaus of the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office.

Arkansans can sign each of the petitions once, Niehaus said.

Arkansas voters passed Amendment 98 to the Arkansas constitution in 2016, legalizing medical

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marijuana in the state. The 2016 amendment allows for up to 40 dispensaries and eight cultivators who serve patients who qualify by having one or more of 18 qualifying conditions.

The state Medical Marijuana Commission has issued 38 of the maximum 40 dispensary licenses, and all eight of the cultivation licenses. The medical marijuana amendment does not allow residents to grow their own marijuana plants.

ARKANSAS TRUE GRASS The first amendment was filed last year by Arkansas True Grass, a group of volunteers who describe themselves on their website as a “grassroots movement to legalize cannabis in Arkansas.” Called “The Arkansas Recreational Marijuana Amendment of 2022,” this proposal takes the least restrictive approach to cannabis legalization, allowing for an unlimited number of dispensaries and cultivators in the state.

The Arkansas True Grass proposal is also the only proposal that would allow Arkansas residents

to grow their own marijuana plants. According to the amendment, Arkansas residents could grow up to 12 plants of their own out of public view and may possess an unlimited number of seeds.

The amendment would also expunge convictions for some marijuana offenders. Under the amendment, anyone incarcerated or serving probation or parole for a violation of the Arkansas Uniformed Controlled Substances Act as it pertains to marijuana and whose only conviction was for a marijuana-related offense prior to Nov. 9, 2022, would be released and their convictions would be expunged.

“It’s the best [amendment] for the people, for the poor people mostly, people who can’t afford to participate in the medical program,” said Briana Boling, who filed the amendment for Arkansas True Grass.

Boling provided an example of a friend with health issues who lives on a fixed income. The friend can’t afford a medical marijuana card and can’t afford the prices at dispensaries, she said, so

LISTEN WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS!

Terror Tuesdays: Back to the Future Trilogy: The Rocky Horror Picture Show Doors and bar open at 6 p.m.

Doors and bar open at 6 p.m.

(1975, R) Films start at 7 p.m.; $7 admission. Films start at 7 p.m.; $7 admission. Saturday, March 26: Doors Thursday, March 17: Back to the March 1: House on Haunted Hill and bar open at 7 p.m. Film Future (1985, PG) (1959, NR) starts at 9:30 p.m.; $10 general March 8: The Brain That Wouldn’t Thursday, March 24: Back to the admission, $10 prop bags.

Arkansas Sounds: Doors and bar open at 6 p.m.

Events start at 7 p.m.

March 15: Night of the Living Dead Thursday, March 31: Back to the Future Part III (1990, PG) (1968, NR)

Saturday, March 19: The Godmother of Rock & Roll: Sister Rosetta Tharpe (2011, NR); $7 general admission.

Die (1962, NR)

Future Part II (1989, PG)

March 22: Dementia 13 (1963, NR) March 29: The Little Shop of Horrors (1960, NR)

Saturday, March 5: An Evening with the Legends of Radio: Live & Unscripted; $100 general admission.

CALS RON ROBINSON THEATER

We’re reopen and bringing back fan favorites! Film screenings, the Legends of Radio, and two nights with the WellRED Comedy Tour. The full schedule and tickets are available at RonRobinsonTheater.org.

ARKANSASTIMES.COM

MARCH 2022 65

Arkansas Recreational Marijuana Amendment of 2022

NAME

Arkansas Marijuana Amendment of 2022

Arkansas Adult Use Cannabis Amendment

Who are the organizers?

Arkansas True Grass, Briana Boling

Melissa Fults

Responsible Growth Arkansas, Eddie Armstrong

Can you grow your own?

Yes. Residents may grow up to 12 plants

No

No

How many dispensaries will there be?

Unlimited

173. There would be 1 dispensary license for every 17,500 residents in the state

120

How many cultivators will there be?

Unlimited

11. There would be 1 cultivation facility for every 300,000 residents in the state.

20 total cultivators. Eight Tier 1 cultivators may grow unlimited amounts, 12 Tier 2 cultivators will be allowed to grow no more than 250 plants at a time.

When will it go into effect?

Nov. 9, 2022

Nov. 9, 2022

Nov. 18, 2022

When can dispensaries begin selling recreational marijuana?

Nov. 9, 2022

Jan. 1, 2023

March 8, 2023

What will the taxes be on recreational marijuana?

13% comprised of an 8% excise tax and a 5% local sales tax.

15%

10.5% - Recreational marijuana will be taxed at the same rate at which medical marijuana is currently taxed.

Where will the tax money go?

All tax revenues will go to the general fund with priority given to implementing the provisions of the amendment.

In addition to supporting the state’s marijuana program, the taxes will go to pre-K and afterschool programs, a fund to help low-income patients afford medical marijuana, the UAMS National Cancer Institute and general revenues.

General revenues, UAMS cancer research, drug courts, and a stipend for law enforcement officers.

Will medical marijuana still be taxed?

Yes. Medical marijuana will continue to be taxed at its current rate of 10.5%

No

No

How much money have they raised?

$14,208.58

$0

$1.75 million

Will some past marijuana convictions be expunged?

Yes. Any person serving incarceration, parole or probation for violating the Arkansas Uniformed Controlled Substances Act for marijuana and whose only current offense was for a marijuana violation shall be released and records expunged.

Yes. Nonviolent felony and misdemeanor convictions for the possession or sale of 16 ounces or less of marijuana, six or fewer plants or marijuana paraphernalia will be expunged.

No

What are the limits on purchases and possession of recreational marijuana?

Up to 4 ounces. Residents may possess up to 12 plants and unlimited seeds.

Up to 5 ounces.

Up to 1 ounce.

66 MARCH 2022

ARKANSAS TIMES

he still buys marijuana off the street even though it’s legal for medical use. The friend is also a felon who was convicted for selling marijuana, Boling said.

“It’s the people like that that we’re wanting to help,” Boling said.

Recreational marijuana would be taxed at 13%, according to the amendment, with an 8% excise tax and 5% sales tax. Medical marijuana would continue to be taxed at 10.5%. Arkansas True Grass has raised $14,208.58, according to filings with the Arkansas Ethics Commission.

MELISSA FULTS The second amendment was filed last year by marijuana advocate Melissa Fults, who serves on the state board of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).

Called “The Arkansas Marijuana Amendment of 2022,” Fults’ amendment takes a more restrictive approach than Arkansas True Grass. For instance, whereas Arkansas True Grass would allow for an unlimited number of dispensaries and cultivators, Fults’ plan would limit them based on the state’s population.

Under Fults’ amendment, there would be one dispensary for every 17,500 in population or part thereof. Based on Arkansas’s population of 3,025,891 in the 2020 census, the amendment would allow for 173 dispensaries, but the number could increase as the state’s population grows.

There would also be one cultivator for every 300,000 residents in the state, which would permit 11 cultivators, based on census figures.

The amendment would also increase the number of plants dispensaries can grow from 50 to 400. Fults said this would allow the dispensaries to be less reliant on cultivators for their product.

Fults said her amendment is right for Arkansas because it strikes a balance between restrictive and unrestrictive approaches to cannabis legalization.

“It’s middle of the road,” Fults said. “It’s open enough to satisfy consumers but also restrictive enough because people who won’t partake but want people to legally do it can live with it.”

Fults’ amendment also expunges some criminal convictions related to marijuana. According to the proposal, all nonviolent felony and misdemeanor convictions before Jan. 1, 2023, for possession, cultivation, manufacture, distribution or sale of 16 ounces or less of marijuana, six or fewer marijuana plants, or marijuana paraphernalia would be expunged.

Fults’ amendment would also expand the medical marijuana program. The amendment would allow Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) to certify patients for the program, in addition to doctors. The amendment would also expand the qualifying conditions to include any condition the certifying doctor or APRN believes would benefit from cannabis-based therapeutics.

Patients would also be able to use telemedicine for new certifications and for medical card renewals.

Fults’ amendment would eliminate state taxes on medical marijuana while taxing recreational

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ZERO SUBSCRIPTION FEES. marijuana at 15%.

Fults has not raised any money to date.

HEATHER AND POOLBOY - MORNINGS 6-10A

NEED TO RECRUIT QUALITY PEOPLE? Make your life EASIER!

Call 501-375-2985 ask for Luis or send your quote request by email at: luis@arktimes.com 68 MARCH 2022

ARKANSAS TIMES

RESPONSIBLE GROWTH ARKANSAS The final amendment is from Responsible Growth Arkansas, a ballot question committee led by former state Rep. Eddie Armstrong. Called “The Arkansas Adult Use Cannabis Amendment,” the proposal has the support of five of the state’s cultivators, who each chipped in $350,000 for a total of $1.75 million.

The amendment takes the most restrictive approach of the three proposals, increasing the number of dispensaries to 120 and the number of cultivators to 20. The cultivation licenses would be split into two groups. The original eight cultivators would be granted Tier 1 licenses and would be permitted to grow unlimited amounts of cannabis.

The remaining 12 cultivation licenses would be considered Tier 2 licenses, and those cultivators would be permitted to grow up to 250 plants each.

Armstrong has compared the smaller cultivators to being like craft breweries.

The amendment does not expunge any marijuana convictions and does not expand the medical marijuana program.

Like Fults’ amendment, Responsible Growth Arkansas’s proposal would eliminate taxes on medical marijuana. Under Responsible Growth’s plan, recreational marijuana would be taxed at the same 10.5% rate at which medical marijuana is currently taxed. Revenue from the taxes generated by recreational marijuana would go to the state’s general revenues and would also support cancer research at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and fund a stipend for law enforcement officers.

Armstrong said the industry leaders behind his amendment did a lot of work to draft an amendment with a highly regulated marketplace that could pass. He said the amendment is not a “shot in the dark.”

“I think [this amendment is] the right one, because it’s the most tightly regulated and most responsible approach that the industry took upon themselves to really work through before presenting anything to the people of the state,” Armstrong said.

The cultivators who donated to Responsible Growth Arkansas are Bold Team LLC of Cotton Plant; Good Day Farms Arkansas LLC of Rogers; Osage Creek Cultivation LLC of Berryville; DMCC LLC of Jonesboro; and NSMC-OPCO LLC of White Hall.

Armstrong said he believes his amendment provides a regulated market that will appeal to voters, rather than the more unregulated medical marijuana market in neighboring Oklahoma.

“It’s industry-led, it’s responsible,” Armstrong said of the proposal. “It’s tightly regulated. It’s not Oklahoma, and we don’t want that.”

see page 61 for a full list of all the breweries!

50 over

participating breweries to be announced and a seltzer section.

new location! argenta plaza on main street

north little rock

food for purchase from local food trucks:

early bird

$30

$40 at the door

vip tickets

$100

(only 100 being sold)

vip tickets includes:

access to special beers, limited vip parking, early entry (5:30p.m.) private bathroom, food from mr. cajuns kitchen and a swag bag full of goodies.

sponsored by

• lilis mexican street food • maw maw’s house • the prickly pickle • twisted fries • the crepe coop

music by mike poe and many more surprises!

tickets available at centralarkansastickets.com

Women of Cannabis

Celebrating International Women’s Month In honor of International Women’s Month and Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting the fast-growing new industry of medical cannabis and the women who have helped pave the way for its success in Arkansas.

Join as we celebrate a cannabis workforce that embraces diversity and equality, and as we honor the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of these Women in Cannabis.

When we think about women in cannabis... ...we get stoked about ours! From all different backgrounds and skill sets, The Source has the most incredible team of women. Not only are they passionate about healing the world with cannabis, but they’re also learners and teachers, climbers and artists, yogis and music enthusiasts, friends and mothers. Each woman on our team brings a unique perspective, which makes The Source an extra special place to visit.

Cheers to all our wonderful women!

Marijuana is for use by qualified patients only.

Keep out of reach of children. Marijuana use during pregnancy or breastfeeding poses potential harms.

Marijuana is not approved by the FDA to treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of marijuana.

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s

s!

n

n nt

SPECIAL ADVERTISTING SECTION

Women of Cannabis

Celebrating International Women’s Month

Plant Family Therapeutics Sandy Yanez- Working as a registered nurse for many years, I gained a deep understanding of the limitations and frustrations of conventional medicine. Most patients felt lost in the medical system, uneducated in their disease process and hopeless for the future. I became a medical cannabis consultant because I was fed up with working in a corporatized traditional medicine setting.

A change was needed. As an RN specialist, I supervised and worked in areas including ICU, ED, transplant, neuro psych, flight nursing and skilled care. Continuing my education, I graduated from the extensive program at Pacific College of Health and Science, as a medical cannabis consultant. For well over a decade, I have witnessed thousands of patients reduce their medications and stop the use of opioids, heroin, methamphetamines and alcohol with medical cannabis. Being the director of education and the medical cannabis consultant at Plant Family Therapeutics means many things to me. I have the professional and ethical obligations of a nurse to live up to. I am an advocate for the patient and fight for the rights of the patient, while continuing my education to ensure that the patients, staff and community receive the most accurate and current information available.

From left: Sandy Yanez, Hannah Gilmer and Linda McAnally

Hannah Gilmer- The dispensary director at

Plant Family Therapeutics in Mountain Home. My career in cannabis started in 2013 with a Colorado medical cannabis dispensary burgeoning on the edge of the recreational market. My tenacity, attention to compliance and work ethic led me to a management position, which I held in some form my entire tenure. After spending seven years growing and learning at the Colorado dispensary, I craved to be closer to family. This led me to relocate to Mountain Home and work for Plant Family Therapeutics. Starting Plant Family Therapeutics from the ground up has been a rewarding experience. The long hours and hard work cannot be boiled down to a single sentiment. It was a fully encompassing experience that forced me to wear lots of different hats. I was an IT technician, inventory specialist, menu creator, POS expert, cost and profit analyst, researcher, manager, floor cleaner and much more. The personal stories and anecdotes from patients, recreational users, friends and family members are my motivation. Normalizing cannabis consumption and dropping the stigma that surrounds this plant are my personal mission.

I am grateful my passion aligns with Plant Family Therapeutics to create a successful partnership.

Linda McAnally - My mission and purpose in

being in the heavily regulated medical cannabis industry as a part-owner and grower at Plant Family Therapeutics has always been health-centric, with a desire to provide a non-addictive, safe alternative to synthetic opioids to those who wish to pursue that option. As a woman grower, it is interesting to work with a plant (female specific) that contributes so much to the well-being of others, has endless variations, is constantly changing according to its environment, is tough while appearing fragile, and is amazingly resilient, much like a woman herself.

I have the privilege of working with an amazing group of younger women in key positions at Plant Family Therapeutics. Women in the cannabis industry are, in my opinion, a perfect fit, and I see tremendous opportunities for women to find fulfilling careers in this growing industry.

Marijuana is for use by qualified patients only. Keep out of reach of children. Marijuana use during pregnancy or breastfeeding poses potential harms. Marijuana is not approved by the FDA to treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of marijuana.

AND OLD DOMINICK DISTILLERY PRESENT

Sunday April 10

Argenta Plaza in North Little Rock

11 am -2pm | TICKETS $30

Enjoy great brunch dishes from your favorite local restaurants, Bloody Marys, cocktails crafted by Old Dominick Distillery, and mimosas!

While you enjoy brunch and drinks, DJ Mike Poe will be spinning hits.

GET TICKETS AT

CENTRALARKANSASTICKETS.COM

Follow us @arktimes_events

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination must be presented before entering.

72 MARCH 2022

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MARCH 2022 73

THE OBSERVER

WELL, THE OBSERVER GOT COVID

I

t finally happened. After two years of masking and avoiding indoor dining and having no social life to speak of, The Observer tested positive for COVID-19. It’s one of those “I don’t know how I got it,” “I’ve been so careful,” “I always wear my mask” situations you see on social media. And it’s true. I was working from home, I upgraded my masks, I ordered takeout and occasionally visited the grocery store.

That’s been my life.

On a chilly Thursday January morning I woke up with a scratchy throat and an intense thirst for something cold and carbonated. I noticed that my partner had been coughing a bit in the night, so I thought, “Is this it?” I got out of bed and slammed a zero-calorie raspberry seltzer (it was incredible) and thought about taking an antigen test I’d purchased a few weeks before.

Ordinarily I would’ve elected to save it because I didn’t really feel sick, but I had a meeting scheduled that day to sign papers to close on my first house. The signing would be my first face-to-face with people outside of my bubble since the holidays, so I figured the test might be necessary. Rather than getting dressed and going on with my day, I took the test in my boxer shorts. After completing the process, I walked over to my phone to set the 15-minute timer and saw some text messages from my Wordle group chat. The word that day was robot. Distracted by my almost preternatural word-game skills, I forgot to set the timer. It had been roughly four or five minutes when I walked back over to the test. It already had solid bold lines on both the “C” (control) line and the “T” (test) line, 74 MARCH 2022

ARKANSAS TIMES

indicating that I was, indeed, COVID positive as shit.

Standing there in my underwear with a nose full of COVID, I assumed I could no longer close on my house. A woman at the title office told me over the phone that they’d all contracted COVID recently and that I could sign the papers from my car. So, I put on a KF94 and a cloth mask over it and drove to the title office, and a woman who recently recovered from COVID fed me the papers through a small slit in my driver side window. It took less than 10 minutes. Was that in the best interest of public health? Probably not.

Was there champagne and balloons? Absolutely not. But it seems worth mentioning that The Observer bought a house and got COVID on the same day. Could be tombstone worthy.

Days Two and Three were the worst. I woke up with flu-like symptoms both days and had congestion in my upper airways. I guess you could call it mild, but in non-COVID times, I still would’ve been like, “this fucking sucks.”

I took my second antigen test on day seven. I was still strongly positive, which confirmed my suspicions that the new CDC guidance is more about business, the economy and lack of tests than about omicron’s contagiousness. It’s the Wild West out there. I wasn’t forced to isolate or report my test status. I could’ve walked into a store without a mask if I wanted to and faced a bunch of unmasked people. COVID isolation is about to be a thing of the past. Choosing to wear a mask is about to be the only protection we have. Personally, I find that wearing a mask is a fun thing to do; it’s a trip to Wild River Country

(RIP) compared to COVID. I had the faintest positive test on day 10, so I decided to move on my own. I borrowed a van from a friend who rarely uses it, and he threw me the keys from across his yard. Moving is always horrible, but try doing it with COVID, and on your own.

We ordered a pizza one night. The special instruction to the delivery driver read: “Sick, please leave order outside by the door. Thanks.”

The note the driver left with the receipt had a little drawing of a masked face and a “get well soon,” which was one of the bright spots of the week, some much-needed empathy in a time when it’s fair to question whether or not we collectively care about each other anymore.

Since contracting COVID, I’ve had unsettling heart palpitations that I feel in my abdomen. I also woke up one morning and could strongly feel my pulse in my right shoulder. I wrote my doctor about it because I think COVID is having some kind of effect on my circulatory system.

Good stuff.

Some friends have told me how much fun I’m going to have since I’m fully vaccinated and have now been infected, as if it’s party time and I’m immune from ever catching COVID again. I’d love for that to be true, but I doubt I even have 90 days of immunity in me. There’s another omicron variant on the loose, and I don’t trust it. I don’t trust anyone. I’m going to continue to watch the numbers and mask in public because Wild River Country ruled back in the day. If those two damning lines show up positive again, it won’t be because I didn’t try.

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