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UA Little Rock presents Distinguished Alumni and President’s Awards on May 11
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Troy Wells and Mauri Douglass will be honored on Friday, May 11 at the Great Hall of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library.
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Historic dwellings: THE
explores homes in the Central High School Neighborhood Historic District
The Quapaw Quarter Association presents their 54th Annual Spring Tour of Homes on May 12–13. Gear up for the event and preview some of the featured abodes in the historic neighborhood as well as learn more about the QQA’s mission on page 12. (All photos by Mark Wagner) REALTORS
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Open House Tour Schedule Calendar of Events Code of Ethics Realtor Safety PG 3
Law & Government Business & People Real Estate Public Notices PG 6
Man Suffered Cramps, Pain, Waited Two Days To Go To ER Defense Verdict PG 15
FIND INSIDE Financial Focus » PG 4
Are We There Yet? » PG 5 House to House » PG 15 Natural State of Architecture » PG 5 Critic’s Corner » PG 16
Dave Says ... » PG 17 Games » PG 16-17
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Bowen School of Law launches program to address rural attorney shortage The UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law launched the state’s first law firm incubator program on April 16, 2018. The kick-off event took place at the law school. According to studies done by Arkansas Access to Justice, Arkansas has an attorney shortage. The national per capita ratio is 4.11 attorneys per 1,000 residents. Arkansas’s ratio is 2.04 attorneys per 1,000 residents
(Arkansas Access to Justice Policy Brief, 2016). However, in the 25 most rural counties in Arkansas, the ratio is 0.72 attorneys per 1,000 residents. The population of attorneys in these counties is aging; 28 percent of these counties have no attorneys licensed in this millennium, and only 14 attorneys have moved to any of these counties since 2008. (Arkansas Access to Justice Policy Brief, 2015).
OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT 1,900 Square feet of office space available for rent beginning May 1st. Office space is located in the Kemp Building in Riverdale area. All utilities and cleaning services provided. Price negotiable. Please contact John Ogles at (501) 982-8339 for more information.
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY/SSI DENIED Disability/SSI? NEVER, EVER Give Up! Appeal Today! NEVER, EVER Give Up Thousands of $$$$ in Back Pay! Hearing Scheduled? No Attorney? NEVER, EVER Go Alone! NO FEE EVER Unless YOU WIN!
501-557-7384
In addition to these considerations, many lawyers in rural communities “wear two hats” in their practice, serving as a county/city attorney and in private practice. In some cases, the lack of local attorneys means residents are waiting for legal assistance or representing themselves. Bowen’s Rural Practice Incubator is designed to help with the attorney need in these counties by supporting new attorneys to set up innovative business practices in underserved rural communities. “Bowen is already reaching out to fill this gap,” said Incubator Director and Visiting Assistant Professor of Law Amy Pritchard. “Our students are involved in existing programs in rural counties such as the Delta Experience and the Delta Clinic, the Business Innovations Clinic, and the Judicial and Prosecutor Practica. The Rural Practice Incubator is the next logical step to helping Arkansas’s residents and the legal community as a whole.” The Incubator program is open to Bowen alumni and current Bowen students who are graduating in May 2018. To be considered for the program, applicants will submit a statement of interest explaining why
Leasing • Management Brokerage • Consulting Specialists in the business of helping businesses with their places of business
Jeff Yates 501.352.3325 Jeff@ARKcire.com www.ARKcire.com
Justice Wynne discussing the need for rural attorneys at the William H. Bowen School of Law on Monday, April 16 during the official launching of the first law firm incubator program. (Photo by Tina Medlock)
they are interested in a solo legal practice, how they chose their county of practice, and why they wish to practice there. They will also submit a transcript, recommendations, and a short business plan. Participants must pass the Arkansas bar exam before entering the program, and they will be required to maintain legal malpractice insurance. “The Rural Practice Incubator is a perfect example of Bowen’s core values of professionalism, public services, and access to justice in action,” said Bowen’s Dean John DiPippa. “Our graduates want to give back to their communities and fulfill their dreams of becoming thriving, practicing attorneys.” Four participants will be selected, with new participants selected every six months to a year thereafter. During their first 18 months of practice, each participant will receive: – Training and mentoring with the program director and local attorneys – Free case management software, legal research programs, law library access, and legal
document automation programs – Free legal document templates and forms – Access to legal referrals through legal services and other sources – Access to scholarships for continuing legal education – If available, office space with a desk and chair. Participants will be expected to provide their own computer, printer, phone, and Wi-Fi – A one-time stipend of $3,000 for business related expenses. Participants will apply for reimbursement from stipend funds The program is designed so that, at the end of the 18 month incubator term, participants will have the necessary skills, professional network, and client base to continue in practice on their own. The first legal incubator was launched in New York in 2007. There are now 60 existing or planned programs in 33 states and four countries (The Iowa Lawyer, June 2017). Source: William H. Bowen School of Law v
We are pleased to announce
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Over 23 years of title experience Carrie@PulaskiCountyTitle.com (501) 537-3700 8114 Cantrell Road, Suite 300, Little Rock, AR 72227
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NOTICE: Material published in The Daily Record is compiled at considerable expense and is for the sole and exclusive use of our subscribers. The contents of The Daily Record may not be republished, resold or reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part without the consent of the publisher. Any infringement may be subject to legal redress. The records contained in The Daily Record are taken from those filed for public record and do not necessarily reflect the financial standing of the parties involved. Care is taken to publish suits, judgments, other documents exactly as they appear in the public record. However, The Daily Record assumes no liability for errors or omissions. Persons who rely solely on these contents do so at their own risk. Any explanation of these items, as well as correction of any erroneous information, will be published upon timely notification by proper correspondence. Publisher shall not be liable for errors in an advertisement, including those with respect to publication of public notice. If there is an error for which the publisher assumes responsibility, that responsibility shall be limited to a single republishing of that advertisement, or for a suitable adjustment on the billing not to exceed the cost of one advertisement. Under no circumstances will any judgment, decree or other matter of public record be knowingly withheld from publication by this newspaper. All subscription payments nonrefundable.
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South Central Arkansas Realtors Association
410 Hwy 5 North, Benton, AR 72019 • P.O. Box 322 • Benton, AR 72018 phone: 501-847-3171 • fax: 501-881-4398 • e-mail: debbie@myscara.biz
OPEN HOUSE TOUR SCHEDULE: TOURING OFFICE Old South Thomas Crye-Leike/Benton Old South Thomas
TOUR DATE 5-2 5-9 5-16 5-23 5-30
REMINDER Anytime you have any kind of change to your contact information, whether it’s a change in your email, cell number, office change or even a name change, please notify the Board office at 501.847.3171 OR debbie@ myscara.biz. I will them make the necessary changes in NRDS database system, as well.
sociation for information on your state delegation’s Hill visit. *State associations may schedule meetings with their Congressional delegation outside this time frame due to Congressional schedules. .Realtor™ Domain As a member of the National Association of Realtors, you have access to the exclusive .Realtor™ top-leveldomain and are entitled to claim your first .Realtor™ web address FREE for the first year. Go to: https://www.get. Realtor to set up your web address now.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS – General Membership Meeting/May 2, 2018/11:30 a.m./Western Sizzlin’ – RPAC Phone Bank/1:30 p.m./SCARA – Trivia Nite/May 3/5-9 p.m./Benton Event Center – Mid-Year Meetings/May 14-19/ Washington DC – REN Event/May 14/5:30 p.m./Riveria Maya – Christmas Committee Meeting/May 17/1:30 p.m./ SCARA – Next Executive Board Meeting/May 23/1:30 p.m./ SCARA – New Member Orientation/May 24/8:30-11:30 a.m.
CODE OF ETHICS TRAINING ALL Realtors are mandated by the National Association of Realtors to take Code of Ethics training every two years in order to remain in good standing and maintain membership. The current “cycle” or period will end Dec. 31, 2018. If you are no certain as to whether or not you need COE training, I will be sending your broker a list of those remaining to take the course. You can also call the association office. The course CAN BE TAKEN ONLINE for FREE at www.Realtor.org/codeofethics. New members who have not attended a new member orientation class yet are required to take the course before doing so. Renewing members can also take the course FREE online. You can also complete this requirement by taking a CE class that has this requirement in its course outline and email your certificate of completion to the SCARA office. I will update this information in the NRDS database so you will be in compliance.
May 14-19, 2018, Washington, DC The Realtors Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo is where NAR members take an active role to advance the real estate industry, public policy and the association. Realtors come to Washington, DC, for special issues forums, committee meetings, legislative activities and the industry trade show. YOU SPOKE, NAR LEADERSHIP LISTENED! For the first time ever, we’ve cleared the schedule between the hours of 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m/on Wednesday, May 16* for Capitol Hill visits. We want to see YOU on the Hill Wednesday afternoon! Contact your state as-
THE SAFETY MINUTE: 5 SAFETY TIPS Posted in Book Reviews, Business Challenges, Safety, by Melissa Tracey on September 10, 2007 QUICK SKIM In the face of an attack, 60 percent of victims will become paralyzed with fear, about 20 percent will fight back unsuccessfully, and slightly more than 10 percent will use self-defense moves to get away. “What would you do?” author Robert Siciliano asks in his second edition of “The Safety Minute”. FROM THE BOOK: 5 SAFETY TIPS Pleading and crying have been shown to be ineffective defense strategies against an attacker. Instead, Siciliano suggests the following: 1. Embrace your fear. If you get a feeling that something isn’t right about a situation, trust your gut. Fear can be good for averting danger and it brings an adrenaline rush, providing you with an extra boost of strength. Fear also can sharpen your senses, allowing you to be more aware of your surroundings and acute to anything that seems out of place. Anticipate an assault so you’ll be ready to avoid or counter it. But don’t carry your fear on your sleeve — attackers look for vulnerability. Project confidence and strength. Be aware, alert, and ready. 2. Arm yourself with safety products. Whistles, personal alarms, self-defense sprays, and portable property alarms can offer you some defense. For example, personal property alarms are small and can be attached to a purse strap or belt. If you’re in trouble, you can use the device to emit noises as loud as 110 to 130 decibels, much louder than a whistle. Pepper spray is a more forceful deterrent, since the chemical when sprayed into an attacker’s eyes can temporarily debilitate him and give you a chance to get away. 3. Appear as if you’ve been defeated. If you are being overpowered by an attacker, suddenly stop struggling. This is the reversal technique. As you fall prey, observe
BOARD OFFICERS: President: Vicki Elmendorf Vice President: Bill Tremor Sec/Treas: Leslie Sample Immediate Past President: Sarah Bailey Association Executive: Debbie Collins
every detail of your environment, scanning for escape routes, weapons, and strike zones. Weigh your options for your next move. Once you have a plan, go from zero to 100 percent resistance with your body and voice, which will throw your attacker off guard. 4. Fight back. Your brain is your best self-defense, Siciliano writes. Strategize and visualize how you will defeat your attacker. But sometimes your brain may be telling you: Fight back! Use self-defense moves, such as gouging the eyes of your attacker to temporarily blind him or stomping down hard with your heel on top of his foot. Out of 26 bones in the foot, you’re bound to break at least one. 5. Survive. That’s your chief goal, after all. But how do you know if your survival rests on fighting back or playing victim? Experts in the past recommended not fighting an assailant, believing you’d be more likely to become injured. That perspective has slightly changed, depending on the circumstance. If an assailant wants your watch, money, or purse, hand it over and don’t risk getting killed or hurt over material possessions, Siciliano says. But if they want to relocate you or you feel the situation has become more of a threat to your safety, then fighting back may save your life. SNEAK PEEK “At no point does anyone sit us down and say, ‘Somebody, some day, might try to cause you a great deal of harm. Here is everything you need to know to prevent it.’ As a result, we are unprepared to confront violence. … Most of us when confronted in an attack situation freeze up and become overwhelmed with fear and panic. … All is not lost. With a little reprogramming we can get you into a frame of mind for avoiding dangerous situations and removing yourself from them.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Robert Siciliano is a speaker, trainer, and consultant on personal safety. He’s also a frequent speaker to real estate practitioners on staying safe while on the job. Siciliano is the president of the Safety Minute Seminars Co.
Contact Vicki Elmendorf, Chair of SCARA’s Public Relations Committee or anyone on this committee for your tickets TODAY! And you could be saying … ALOHA! v
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Jason Edington – Expires ‘18 Casey Reed – Expires ‘18 • Danny Riggan – Expires ‘18 Heather Hern – Expires ‘19 • Joe Jorgensen – Expires ‘19 Denise Hipskind – Expires ‘20
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BY TOMMY HOWARD
Financial Focus
Jack Nelson Jones, P.A. is located in Little Rock, Arkansas. Jack Nelson Jones represents a wide range of clients across the state and the nation, including First Security Bancorp, Crews & Associates, Inc., American Fuel Cell and Coated Fabrics Company, Bank of the Ozarks, the University of Central Arkansas, and North Little Rock School District. Some of Jack Nelson Jones’ other more well-known national clients include Mr. Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.
www.edwardjones.com
HERE’S A CHECKLIST FOR CHANGING JOBS
A
few generations ago, it was not uncommon for workers to stick with a single job for their whole careers. But for many of us today, frequent job changes are a fact of life: The average employee tenure is just over four years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. So, assuming you’re going to switch jobs a few times, you’ll want to be prepared. Here’s a checklist of things you can do to smooth these transitions and help your financial situation: – Build an emergency fund. Some of your job changes may be involuntary, so you’ll want to have a cash cushion handy – just in case. One smart move would be to build an emergency fund, containing three to six months’ worth of living expenses, with the money kept in a liquid, low-risk account. – Consider your options for your former employer’s 401(k) plan. If you had a 401(k) plan with your former employer, you have three main options: You could leave your money in the plan, if the employer allows it; you could move the money into your new employer’s plan, if permitted; or you could roll the funds over to an IRA. You’ll want to weigh the “pros” and “cons” of these choices carefully before making a decision. – Choose investments from your new retirement plan. If your new employer offers a 401(k) or similar plan, you’ll need to choose the investments within the plan that are most appropriate for your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. Contribute as much as you can afford to the plan, and consider increasing your contributions every time your salary goes up. – Make sure you’ve got health insurance. The health insurance offered by your new employer may not begin the minute you start your job. Given the high costs of medical care, you’ll need to make sure you are protected until your coverage kicks in. So, for that interim period, you may need to consider the federal health insurance marketplace, COBRA continuation coverage or private medical insurance. You might also be eligible to be covered under your spouse’s health insurance. And you may want to learn what your options are for health savings accounts (HSAs), if available. – Review your new benefits package – and take steps to fill gaps. Your new benefits package may include life and disability insurance, but these group policies may not be enough to fully protect you and your family. A financial professional can help you quantify your protection and insurance needs and offer guidance on how much coverage you may require. – Understand your income tax considerations. Getting a new job may involve income tax implications, such as changes in your tax bracket, severance pay, unused vacation and unemployment compensation. And if you are thinking of exercising stock options, be aware that this, too, can be a taxable event. Finally, if you have to move to take a new job, you may incur some relocation and job hunting expenses that could be deductible. You will need to discuss all these issues with your tax professional. Starting a new job can be exciting – and challenging. But you may be able to make your life easier by putting the above suggestions to work. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
IF YOU’RE NOT AT YOUR LAST JOB, YOUR 401(k) SHOULDN’T BE EITHER.
To see why it makes sense to roll your 401(k) to Edward Jones, call today.
Tommy Howard
Financial Advisor .
14309 Cantrell Road Suite 4 Little Rock, AR 72223 501-224-7699
www.edwardjones.com
Member SIPC
Cagle v. Van Buren Sch. Dist., 2018 Ark. App. 259 (April 18, 2018) This appeal comes from the Crawford County Circuit Court, Honorable Michael Medlock presiding. This case concerns the application of the Teacher Fair Dismissal Act (“TFDA”) to the termination of a teacher. On April 14, 2015, the Van Buren School Board (“Board”) voted unanimously to terminate teacher Denan Cagle’s employment after the principal and assistant principal of Northridge Middle School presented the board with student statements describing two incidents in which Cagle slapped students. In the first incident, Cagle was accused of slapping a disruptive student in November 2014. Cagle later signed an acknowledgment of receipt of a letter in which she was reprimanded for the conduct, advised that it was unprofessional and might violate district policies, and warned that further such behavior would be grounds for discipline, including possible termination. Cagle was subsequently accused of hitting another student on January 28, 2015. In this incident, students described Cagle as having grabbed and slapped the student, who was tapping or hitting another student with a mechanical pencil. According to the reports, the slap was hard enough to leave a red mark in the shape of a hand on the student’s shoulder. Additionally, according to the student reports, Cagle instructed the student not to tell anyone because she could lose her job. On February 2, 2015, the superintendent issued a letter to Cagle informing her that he was recommending termination and stating that she had signed a January 30, 2015 statement in which she admitted that she put her hands on a student in her classroom “with enough force that you felt compelled to ask him if he needed to see the school nurse.” In the letter, the superintendent specifically advised Cagle of the allegations against her. A hearing was held before the Board on February 14, 2015 at which Cagle was represented by counsel who cross-examined both witnesses against her (the principal and assistant principal). Cagle chose not to testify and did not call any student witnesses. She did submit her written statements which were introduced to the Board. The Board voted as to the veracity of each of the allegations against Cagle, unanimously returning a “true” finding on each charge, and then voted to terminate her
employment. Cagle was present when the Board’s decision was read aloud. A court reporter who had transcribed the hearing certified that a transcript of the proceedings was completed on April 20, 2015 and that a copy had been hand-delivered to Cagle’s attorney. Cagle appealed to the Crawford County Circuit Court for review, and the court held a hearing on June 13, 2017. Cagle testified, along with two students who witnessed the incidents. The circuit court issued an order affirming the Board’s decision, and this appeal followed. The Court of Appeals noted that the applicable standard of review in TFDA cases is whether the decision of the circuit court was clearly erroneous. This occurs when, although there is evidence to support the decision, the reviewing court, after considering the record as a whole, is left with the firm conviction that an error has been committed. Cagle’s first argument on appeal was that the district violated the procedural requirements of the TFDA by failing to provide her with a written copy of the Board’s decision within ten days of the hearing as required by the statute. However, the Court rejected this argument noting that she was provided with a copy of the hearing transcript through delivery to her attorney within the prescribed ten days. While she argued there was no proof of delivery other than the argument of the district’s attorney at the hearing, the Court noted that the transcript contained the certification of the court reporter that it was delivered. Cagle’s second argument was that, even if delivered to her, a transcript of the hearing before the Board did not meet the requirement of substantial compliance with the statutory requirement of “written findings.” The TFDA required the Board to deliver “specific written conclusions with regard to the truth of each reason given the teacher in support of the recommended termination.” While the Court agreed that delivering a copy of the hearing transcript was not what was intended by the statute, based on the specific facts of this case, it held delivery of the transcript constituted substantial compliance with the statutory requirement. Specifically, the Board separately addressed each allegation against her, voted as to the truth of each allegation, and voted whether to terminate her. The transcript was a written record of those findings. To the extent that Cagle argued that the writtenfindings requirement mandated
more than a simple statement of the Board’s actions, the Court noted that the plain text of the statute simply requires written conclusions as to the truth of each allegation and the transcript contained that. However, the Court did warn that, “Going forward, school districts should be mindful of the statute’s written-findings requirement. Our holding in this case is based on the specificity of the board’s votes, as memorialized in the transcript, and the lack of prejudice to Cagle. However, delivery of a transcript of the hearing should not be relied on in the future to satisfy the statute.” The saving grace here was the Board’s separate consideration and determination of each allegation. A less careful articulation could have well run afoul of the requirement of “written findings.” The Court also noted that since Cagle was present at the hearing and heard the determinations of the Board, she received actual notice of the decision and was able to make a timely appeal to the circuit court. Thus, the prejudice generally required to establish a violation of the TFDA was not present. Cagle also challenged the absence of the student witnesses from the hearing and the use of their written statements without their testifying subject to cross examination. The Court rejected these arguments noting that the Arkansas Rules of Evidence do not apply to school district hearings and that Cagle was free to call students as witnesses but elected not to do so. Certainly, she was aware of the allegations against her because they had been presented to her in the superintendent’s letter. Next, Cagle alleged that it was a violation of her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination to deny her request for a continuance and to hold the termination hearing while the possibility of criminal prosecution for these events still loomed. The Court rejected this argument noting that Cagle only had protection in a criminal prosecution from the use of statements she was compelled to make in the course of an internal investigation by a public agency. There is no such protection where she was not compelled to provide a statement or to testify. Finally, Cagle argued that the force she used was consistent with school district policy on the allowable use of force, in this case, to prevent a student from harming another student. The Court rejected this argument as well noting that she had been previously warned about striking a student and that future incidents could result in termination. In this case, she struck the student hard enough to leave a red hand print on him. The Court found that this was sufficient evidence for the fact-finder to justify her termination. For the above reasons, the decision of the circuit court was affirmed. v
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BY JAY EDWARDS
Are We There Yet?
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April 30 - May 6, 2018 // 5
Natural State of Architecture
jedwards@dailydata.com
W
ith Mark Zuckerberg being in the news recently, over having my top secret data at risk, I decided to take a look at just what I have on my Facebook page that the Communists, or worse, Illinois Nazis, want to steal from me. So I opened up the world’s largest social media site (2.2 billion users as of last December), but, as usual, I was distracted for a minute or two… OK, 27, if you’re counting. The first post was from a high school friend I’ll call Bill (since that’s his name). Bill shared something from “West Coast Conservative,” who looked to be a girl of about 14. WCC was giving a long, defiant diatribe about how Democrats don’t care about minorities. I didn’t listen long. I pretty much avoid political rants, from either side and always from 14-year olds on the West Coast or any coast for that matter. Surprisingly (not) was that the next post was political, as well. This one was from one of my Democrat friends, who I’m pretty sure does care about minorities. This friend has a unique name so I’ll call her Bill, too. Her post was a picture of the president, holding a phone to his ear, and the question was, “If President Trump called you right now, what would you say?” Good one, Bill. No, that’s not what I’d say to the president, although it’s better than most of the comments, of which there were over 36,000. That seems like a bunch, but remember, there are 2.2 billion of us looking at this junk. If the president really did call I guess I’d ask something like, “Are you as shocked as I am that you are really the president?” Or better yet, maybe I’d just try to talk him into a free round at one of his golf courses. Moving down, Barbara commented on a page called “No Pues, Guau,” which translated apparently means “words used to make fun of someone else.” However, it can also be the way a dog barks in Spanish. The pictures here were of different women’s feet in sandals. They all had very very long toenails. So the sandals made sense. But I can’t figure out if this was just an ad for sandals, or a post informing us that very long toenails cause Hispanic dogs to bark. Next from Gary, a story out of Minneapolis about a mummified monkey that was found in an air duct at Dayton’s Department Store. This one has local authorities baffled. Then from Kissing Fish, an article from Huffington Post about a little boy asking the Pope if his atheist dad was in heaven. Apparently, the pontiff gave a great answer, but you’ll have to look it up for yourself because the publisher has asked that I keep this column secular. Update. I see that Gary has posted there’s been a break in the mummified monkey case, thanks to a historic Facebook page called “Old Minneapolis,” who posted a photo of the dead monkey and asked if anyone knew anything, which of course, anyone did. Alan Freed (not the disc jockey), one of the “Old Minneapolis” administrators, said a person who had worked at Dayton’s for many years, posted that a monkey had escaped from a pet store back in the ‘60s, and ended up trapped in the air ductwork. Then another post came in from the mayor of Robbinsdale, Minnesota, Regan Murphy, who said when his dad Larry died in 2001, his best friend, Tom Netka, told him about the time he and Larry stole a monkey from Dayton’s. (Minnesota’s statute of limitations on monkey theft is 50 years, so Netka could finally come clean) Mayor Murphy has a theory – “They were probably 14 or 15, skipped school, took a bus downtown and ended up taking this monkey that they found in the department store. They brought it home, either wrapped up in a jacket or backpack and didn’t know what to do with it so they put it in Tom’s bedroom. The monkey tore up the room, pooped all over and destroyed everything. His mom found out and said ... ‘Get that monkey out of here!’ So they took the monkey back on the bus, went downtown, brought it back to the store, went inside and just kind of let it go.” “The timeline makes sense,” said Freed. “If it’s not true, I’d be very surprised.” The real tragedy here is not the poor monkey, but that Zuckerberg didn’t have this story in time for his congressional appearance, to show that, while Facebook may be sloppy with our top secret data, they’re a great resource on cold cases. But the Facebook founder could always plead the fifth, which oddly enough in Spanish is also, “No Pues, Guau.” Source: WCMH Minneapolis See all of Jay’s past columns on our website at www.dailyrecord.us.
MARKHAM METHODIST by MA SO N TO M S
For many of us historic houses of worship are places of quiet contemplation and serene wonder. The graceful architecture that was commonly used in historic church designs created lofty spaces that were filled with a riot of color from stained-glass windows. Some would say these qualities were lost in the 1950s when the explosion of church construction resulted in a multitude of mass-produced, utilitarian spaces. However, there were some churches designed during that time that managed to capture the feeling of the old churches while still appearing Mid-Century Modern. One such building is Faith United Methodist Church on Markham Street in Little Rock. Some of you may be searching your minds to picture this building. Surely, you have passed it while driving down Markham either to or from West Little Rock. However, the quiet design of the building with its brown brick and cedar-clad exterior blends so perfectly with the landscaping that it does not announce itself from the road. The church was originally called Markham Methodist Church and was founded in 1951 at a tent revival on the same property. At the time that location was ten miles outside of the city limits and consisted of a few houses and scattered farms. However, the congregation, like the City of Little Rock, grew rapidly over the next fifteen years, and by 1964 they needed a larger builder. A project manager at the architectural firm Cowling & Roark and Markham Methodist Church member and project manager at the architectural firm Cowling & Roark, David Kennedy, suggested they hire his firm to design the new building. The church’s building committee wanted something “modern” to attract young families, but also something that had the
Designed by Fred Perkins of Cowling & Roark in 1964, Markham Methodist harbors both modern elements while nodding towards the grandeur of older churches. (Photos by Mason Toms)
atmosphere of old churches. The resulting design was something far more. The architect for the project was Fred Perkins of the firm Cowling & Roark. Perkins had graduated from the University of Arkansas’s architecture program only three years prior; however, his expert education at the hands of famed architect E. Fay Jones more than equipped him for the task. The influence of Jones and Frank Lloyd Wright, Jones’s mentor, is seen everywhere in the design, from the extensive use of wood and stylized dentil detail to the natural color palette of the stained glass and custom designed furniture pieces. The sanctuary feels tall, but cozy due to the various levels of ceiling and the central raised section which not only allows for a series of colorful clerestory windows but is also a nod to historic ceiling designs of Gothic and Renaissance churches, complete with stylized wooden pendants that hang from the glue-lam arches. Red and yellow light dances at the rear of the altar space behind the hanging wooden cross thanks to large, Frank Lloyd Wright inspired stained-glass windows, which are mirrored in the bright ves-
tibule. The overall space strikes the perfect balance between the quaint church in the woods and the High Modern designs of famed architects such as Eliel Saarinen and his son Eero. Interestingly enough the present sanctuary was not actually meant to serve as the permanent sanctuary space but was intended to eventually become a multi-purpose gymnasium space once the church had expanded, which was also designed by Perkins. Since that expansion never came, the space has remained in its original use. This was probably for the better since it would have been a monumental task to create a new sanctuary space that could surpass the charm and beauty of the original. Though the church has changed names a few times since it was originally constructed, the same warm welcome and friendly congregation awaits any who visit. In Faith United Methodist Church Fred Perkins created a space that successfully blended the old with the new in a way that was wholly unique to his work. For some contemplation and natural harmony is the natural state of architecture, at least this is true of the work of Mr. Perkins. v