Eye On Independence February 2015

Eye On Independence www.eyeonmag.com

Suzy Oakley Holmes - Miller Wedding Having a Heart for Heart Health A Publication of Meadowland Media, Inc.

February 2015

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In This Issue 6/ Editor’s Note All Kinds of Weather

8/ Batesville Area Arts Council 9/ Downtown Guide 10/ The Myopic Life Breaking Out the China

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31

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12/ Cover Story Suzy Oakley

14/ Feature

Having a Heart for Heart Health

18/ I Do

Holmes - Miller Wedding

20/ Smith’s Verdict ***1/2 Real Genius

21/ Notes from the Clearing The Turning Page

24/ Things To Do 26/ Faces 31/ Tales Of a Transplanted Fashionista

Mammograms, AKA, The Plight of Being Female

36/ Experiencing God in the Everyday All You Need is Love

Cover Photography by Robert O. Seat Cover Design by Joseph Thomas

Meet Your Writers...

Chad Grigsby is a 32 year old native of Tennessee but now calls Arkansas home. He is the Pastor for Teaching & Shepherding at the Compass Church. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to Jessica and they have one son, Ezra.

Leigh Keller is a high school guidance counselor and colorguard instructor at Batesville High School. She is the director of the BHS Glass Slipper Project. Leigh lives in Batesville with her son, Cole, and a pack of dogs.

Alisa R. Lancaster is an advanced practice nurse for the U of A Medical Sciences North Central. She has been in healthcare since 1983, the last 18 years with the UAMS system. Alisa and husband, Scott, have four children, two grandchildren, and two spoiled puppies. Alisa’s mission is to improve the health and wellness of others through education and practice. She welcomes feedback or comments at AlisaAPRN@gmail.com or 870.698.1023 Kristi Price is on staff with Fellowship Bible Church of Batesville as Ministry Coordinator.

She enjoys conversations about community and connection, and she loves small town living.

Kristi is married and mother to three children.

793-3303 755 St. Louis Street Batesville

THIS PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED BY: Tanner Smith is a native of Manila, Arkansas. He has written movie reviews for the T Tauri Galaxy (www.ttauri.org/galaxy) for several years and is a five year veteran of the T Tauri Movie Camp.

He has made a number of films, ranging from horror to documentary, and has won awards in filmmaking and screenwriting.

MeadowLand Media, Inc. P. O. Box 196, Grubbs, AR 72431 870.503.1150 kthomas@eyeonmag.com PUBLISHER: Kimberlee Thomas Associate EDITOR: Joseph Thomas MANAGING EDITOR: Joseph Thomas ADVERTISING: Kimberlee Thomas Creative Director : Joseph Thomas AD DESIGN Department: Kimberlee Thomas Joseph Thomas PROOFING Department: Joseph Thomas Kimberlee Thomas

Eagle Pest

Management, LLC 1775 Porter Street, Batesville

Staff PHOTOGRAPHERS: Kimberlee Thomas Joseph Thomas Robert O. Seat PRINTING COMPANY: Rockwell Publishing

Eye On Independence is a publication of MeadowLand Media, Incorporated. Editorial, advertising and general business information can be obtained by calling (870) 503-1150 or emailing Kimberlee Thomas at kthomas@eyeonmag.com.

Mailing address: P. O. Box 196, Grubbs, AR 72431.

Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements, unless otherwise noted, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Publisher or the staff. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information presented in this issue is accurate and neither MeadowLand Media or it any of its staff is responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. Copyright Š 2010 MeadowLand Media, Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the Publisher.

All pictorial material reproduced in this book has been accepted on the condition that it is reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the photographer concerned. As such, MeadowLand Media, Incorporated, is not responsible for any infringement of copyright or otherwise arising out of publication thereof.

For advertising, distribution, or editorial contribution, contact Kimberlee Thomas, 870.503.1150, kthomas@eyeonmag.com.

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www.eyeonmag.com

870-307-0582 Toll Free: 877-313-2453 Commercial and Residential Your Termite and Pest Control Services Specialist Serving North Central Arkansas Waymon Long President

wlong1@sbcglobal.net

Eye On Independence received the 2012 Innovative Project award, which is presented to an agency or organization for outstanding, innovative, continuous or effective coverage of literacy issues, resulting in positive change or improvement.

Editor’s Note

All Kinds of Weather Joseph Thomas

Welcome to February everyone! Hope the weather has been just as you like it. As much as it seems to fluctuate, it’s bound to have been just right for you at some point in the last Kimberlee and Joseph Thomas month. I enjoy the sporadic changes, kinda like my hair.

We invite you to tag along as Kristi Price breaks out the china, Leigh Keller talks mammograms, Kimberlee Thomas brings us the Holmes - Miller wedding and Chad Grigsby borrows a line from the Beatles. I visit with Suzy Oakley about her successes in running, health and faith. I also feature my thoughts on heart health. There is another installment from the clearing, we have Lyon news, WRMC happenings and upcoming things to do.

For those of you we don’t see at Alexandra PatronoSmith’s production of Hello at the Holloway Theatre February 13 and 14, perhaps we will see you at an upcoming Farmer’s Market beginning soon. Kimberlee and I hope you all have a great month full of family time and many laughs.

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6 We have our eyes on you and the light you shine ripples throughout Independence and we appreciate you!

We are proud to welcome Renee Long back to our team!

Stop by our Main Bank today and talk to Renee about your consumer loan needs!

Renee Long

Senior Vice President, Consumer Lending

February 2015 7

8 We have our eyes on you and the light you shine ripples throughout Independence and we appreciate you!

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February 2015 9

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The Myopic Life

Breaking Out the China Kristi Price

I was an old-fashioned bride. When my now-husband and I registered for gifts, we picked out our “everyday” dishes, and we also picked out our fine china. During the early, poorer years of our marriage, all our fine china lived in silver Dillard’s boxes stashed far back into our kitchen cabinets. As soon as we were able, we bought the requisite “china cabinet” in order to put all our pretty pieces on display, like a museum.

Fast-forward fourteen years and three children. Our kids took notice of our china and wondered why we never used it. Well, kids, because. Because I have to hand wash every plate twice - once before to get the dust off, and once after its use. Because we are a modern family - we throw potluck-style parties with red Solo cups and Dixie plates!

And because - in my mind - it should look like this when we use our china: we should be dressed beautifully. Think pearls. We should eat bisque and tender asparagus and veal. We should have the melodic notes of piano sonatas floating through the air. We should discuss books and colleges and theorems and revolutions.

But then I felt guilty. Guilty because I was reserving the delight of a wedding gift for a day that might never come. I looked at my children. They might just be the most important guests I will ever have in my home. Why

shouldn’t I use those plates? So we did during Christmas break. We bought scads of sparkling grape juice, baked a ham, and set the table piece by treasured piece. They laughed and chattered. It did not matter that some of us were in pajamas and a few of us had not bathed...in a while.

It did not matter that the delicate sauce dish held lumpy white flour gravy or that we tossed scraps to the dog just to watch her jump for them. It did not matter that the sparkling cider caused no end of polite (and some impolite) belching. What mattered is that we came together as a joyous family and used gifts given in love to create a festive, memorable occasion.

I remember Erma Bombeck writing how she never let her children light the beautiful pink candle sculpted like a rose. And then one day it melted while in storage. It taught her a lesson on seizing the moment. On letting our things be useful, not off limits. Our loved ones are our treasures.

Not our plates.

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February 2015 11

Eye On Cover Story Suzy Oakley Joseph Thomas

I wasn’t looking for a story of the heart for February, which is Heart Month, but when I happened across Suzy Oakley’s blog (suzyandspice.com), and told Kimberlee about her journey, she suggested February as the perfect time for it. Oakley agreed about the timing and graced me with a pleasant conversation over some MorningSide Mocha after her Cover photo shoot with Robert O. Seat.

She remarked later that it was more like a conversation with an old friend rather than an interview. It was and it was exciting to learn what else she had in store for February.

Oakley announced the start of her wellness coaching business, To Well With You, via suzyandspice.com in January with a contest asking her subscribers to help her come up with a name for a chance to win a free month of wellness coaching and a $50 gift certificate. Michele Barnett won, but Oakley credits her husband, Bruce, for the name. Her enthusiasm for health and for helping Bruce raise money to find a cure for Crohn’s and Colitus is a force that can be found within her blogs. Oakley is a prime candidate to share her story during this heart month, not only because she has recovered from heart surgery in 2011, but because she has the heart of a lion, a survivor and a warrior.

Bruce and Suzy met twenty-one years ago while they were both Copy Editor’s at the Arkansas Democrat Gazette Newspaper in Little Rock. Bruce always jokes that he was Suzy’s boss then and now the roles have reversed, but they make quite a team. They married a year to the day after their first date. Bruce and Suzy share their home with the spice dogs, ‘Salsa’ and ‘Pepper’ and they reside in Batesville.

I asked Oakley about her success in running and she says that her success isn’t a glowing endorsement for the term. She has learned to run, it has helped her loose weight, but she says her lung capacity is tiny and that it holds her back more than her legs, although she has had knee surgery in the past.

Oakley was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse in 2008, so her heart has been a factor as well. She was told to avoid burst activity, such as sprinting.

“So, I have always been the slow and steady runner watching all of the speedy runners pass me up. Bruce has taught me not to start off a race too fast and to just run my own race,” says Oakley, “and when I do that, I can be successful.” Oakley admits she will never get the trophy for the overall winner in any race, but she has won medals and does enjoy that feeling. She says she is always asking God to keep her humble. As a matter of fact, she gave me a list of things she’d written down that

morning as her payer for launching her new business: • 1.) Help me be humble.

• 2.) Help me practice what I preach.

• 3.) Help me keep you at the center of everything.

• 4.) Help me to remain grateful for your gifts.

• 5.) Help me bring HONOR and GLORY to you and you alone.

“I truly believe in the power of community and that God created us for community; to be in relationship with each other. It pushes me when someone is running up behind me and keeps me from being lazy, and that is a good thing, but it is also an amazing atmosphere out on a trail or on the street with thirty other people all running the same race,” says Oakley of her running community.

Oakley and I both admitted to speeding up while a car is passing because we didn’t want them to see us taking it easy. Oakley and her husband both got certified as running coaches through the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), and she says one of the things they talked about in training was letting yourself be loud during a race.

She’d brought this up because I had told her how self conscious I felt in the two races I’ve run about how loud my desperate panting is, of course, I realized while talking with her that it is because we push ourselves harder when racing others than when we are training. “I probably wouldn’t have started racing without Bruce,” admits Oakley, “He loves running with a passion that is a beauty to behold. Sometimes it can be annoying when I know I should be going and can’t or am too lazy, but he just loves running and helping others to love running.” Bruce trains people for free mostly, sometimes getting a dinner along the way, but mostly just because he loves it and he is good at it Oakley continues. She says it is a huge stress reliever for him.

Oakley says she began running to loose weight.

“I remember, it was December 14, 2010, a Sunday afternoon at a family gathering. My sister-in-law and I decided we would start speed walking together.

We started that night in her neighborhood. That following spring, I joined the Women’s Running Clinic. The graduation for that is a 5K race (3.1 miles), in Conway every Mother’s Day weekend.

Now Bruce and I are leaders in the Women’s Running Clinic. I think we are the only clinic with any men in it, Dewayne Dickey and Bruce, because we needed coaches.” She says she is inspired by Bruce, but also encouraged. She points out that he will never be a drill sergeant, but that when she is trying to come up with reasons not to run, he gives her what she needs to get up and get going. She has learned to self motivate and

12 We have our eyes on you and the light you shine ripples throughout Independence and we appreciate you!

Footnote.

Dr. Smith now sees patients in Newport and Batesville.

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Same- and next-day appointments are often available. To schedule your appointment in Newport or Batesville, call 870-523-9100.

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Member of the Medical Staff at Harris Hospital

that is the most75912_HARR_Smith_2_34x4_83c.indd satisfying. Oakley has some mantras that she uses when she doesn’t want to move, like, “You know you always feel better when you do it” and “You always feel bad when you don’t do it.” Oakley and I talk about how hard it is to start exercising, what ever it is that you struggle with, but if you can ever make it a routine and just do it, it then becomes second nature.

It can become a habit and you’ll begin to miss it if something else gets in the way. I enjoy running on vacation and I never thought I’d be that guy.

Spring of 2013, Oakley began feeling extreme fatigue and heaviness.

In July of that year, she was referred by her Cardiologist to a Cardiotheracic Surgeon in Little Rock for his opinion on whether it was time for heart surgery or not. He asked her to keep a journal for a week and the results of that journal were enough for him to schedule her heart surgery. She canceled a half marathon because it was going to be eleven days after her surgery. She had to cancel another

1

half marathon in 2014 because of her 3/19/14 12:14 PM blood pressure and it has given her reason to pull back from running a bit as her doctor helps her figure out how to stabilize her pressures. As hard as this is on her, Oakley is quick to focus on other positives, like her wellness coaching.

Oakley gives credit for her success to Bruce and those constant runners around her who support her and give her strength. That is why she began her wellness coaching, to give back and be that support and strength for others. “I remember how hard it was to come out and join a new group and I want to help others get through that, to overcome it and be successes to themselves. It is the struggles that teach us the most.” Oakley is the 2015 White River Roadrunners President and she loves the comradery involved.

She keeps getting up, moving forward and trying. She is still blogging, running, coaching and improving herself with prayer and community.

Suzy started blogging in October of

2007 at http://www.suzyandspice. com. She says her blog offers the

All photography submitted by Hatch and Maas Photography, except for the shots

in red which were taken by Robert O. Seat.

Suzy Oakley continued on page 17 February 2015 13

Eye On Feature Having a Heart for Heart Health

Joseph Thomas

Catching up with Suzy Oakley for this months Cover Story and modifying my 2015 New Year’s Resolutions, Heart Health has been on my mind as of late. Oakley and I discussed our own conversions to whole food in recent years and the positive effect it has made, mind and body.

Kimberlee and I began in February of 2013, testing our intolerance to foods by eliminating the foods most prone to cause inflammation or allergic reactions. We eliminated corn, sugar and artificial sweeteners, peanuts, eggs, dairy, gluten and soy for twenty-one days via the J. J. Virgin Diet. The surprising part of this process was realizing how hard it was to find any food that didn’t have sugar, gluten and corn in it (especially high fructose corn syrup).

Lucky for us, two years into this conversion, the whole food movement has begun to catch on in Arkansas. But, we realized very quickly that eating healthy is mostly fruits and veggies because they are the only foods we know the ingredients without any doubt (besides any added pesticide that is). If I pick up a sauce or drink and see more than four or five ingredients I put it down because I know it is going to have something, typically some sort of sucrose, in it that I no longer want in my body. I have never and never will count calories and I don’t believe in diets, per se, but I finally feel educated enough to know that ninety-five percent of the most popular foods in America are not nutritionally sound. Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with freedom of choice and if you are on a cheeseburger diet that consists of having fries with every meal, I say go for it...just know the consequences and face them when they come. I enjoyed smoking for years and if I ever face a cigarette related illness, it’s on me because I knew there were an abundance of toxins in each one. I quit cold turkey in October of 2012, however, and decided if I was going to give up something I enjoyed so much for health reasons, then I was going to change my ways completely (they made it easy for me by adding flame retardants to cigarettes the year prior that tasted awful to me). Unfortunately, the worst junk food out there tastes so very good. But now when I eat those sweet treats that I used to I feel sick. Before I used to not even notice because I felt that way most of the time and didn’t realize it. I know how easy it is to feel over whelmed with food expense, thousands of medical research findings that all seem to contradict one another and simple misinformation about food.

I do believe that moderation is one key word to physical, mental and environmental health, but once I learned what sugar does to the human body, I consider it an enemy to my health and want to cut it out completely; it is as hard to quit as cigarettes. That being said, artificial sweeteners are far worse for you than pure sugar every time. Something else to keep in mind, every diet recommends eating healthy and exercising regularly. If the only two common denominators between thousands

of different diet methods are a healthy diet and exercise, surely these two factors are the most important. The problem is what constitutes a healthy diet and proper exercise. I feel like in any overwhelming situation you ever face, you can always stick to basics as you are feeling it out. We know moving in any manner that doesn’t hurt you is good for you. We also know clean fruit, vegetables, grains and lugumes help our bodies work the way they want to. Of course, as it is always suggested, you should consult your physician before changing anything, but I bet they won’t recommend that you ignore either of those two subjects.

I’ve been sporadically exercising since my childhood, but I began running consistently in late 2012. I knew I felt better about myself after a nice sweaty run and wanted to know how far I could push myself. So, my 2014 resolution was simply to run 800 miles. It is so easy to let anything get in the way. That is what I learned through this process, that I have to make the time, whatever it takes. I set my alarm for 4:40 a.m. this morning so I could eat my oatmeal, lift my weights and run 3.6 miles before having to grab a shower and head for Jonesboro to be with a friend in a difficult situation. I knew if I didn’t get it done, I would come home after the day’s events and look for reasons not to do it at all, so I eliminated the opportunity to pass it over. I am just now strong enough to do that. There have been plenty of days I have missed a run, workout or both because I couldn’t make myself get up early enough to get it done or motivate myself later in the day. I tell myself all of the time, “I don’t have to like it, I just have to do it and it will get easier,” and it does.

My goal is to use food as medicine, period. The human body is a miraculously resilient organic machine and still we punish it past the point of no return just by the way we live today. It is not easy! I just heard an expert on the Paleo Diet yesterday say that there are healthier alternatives to oatmeal and that has been my heart healthy breakfast for the past year and a half, steel cut oats. There is an overload of contradicting information out there and in the mean time we are starving ourselves or eating poorly, but if you read enough you begin to see data that overlaps.

Take the overlapping positive facts about food and make

14 We have our eyes on you and the light you shine ripples throughout Independence and we appreciate you!

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the best decisions for you. I love cupcakes and well, any kind of cake, but I know that it is hurting my body as bad as smoking used to and I don’t like that more than I like the yummy little tasty precious addictive treats.... most times. It is all such a comfort after a long hard day at work or a holiday, or....every other moment of the day and night. We have been brought up to celebrate every achievement,or comfort others through tragic events with food. It is a tough fight to wage, but if you want to make better decisions and need a motivational word or tips on how to do so, log on and ask Suzy Taylor Oakley, wellness and running coach at www.suzyandspice.com or call and ask her at 501-425-5878. Good luck and much health to you and your family. N

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Sue Augustus

On Saturday, February 28, the Humane Society of Independence County (HSIC) is hosting their 5th Annual Team Trivia Game Night FUNdraiser and Chili Dinner at the Fellowship Bible Church on Main Street. The doors will open at 5:00 p.m. The evening begins with a meal of Chili (spicy, mild or veggie) and assorted “extras”.

Sodas, water, juice and coffee (regular and decaf) along with yummy bake sale items will be available. Trivia begins at 6:00 p.m. This year they have changed the format somewhat, emphasizing more Trivia questions, and offering special questions and options to help teams improve their scores in the latter rounds. Folks had been asking for more questions, and not quite so late of a night; the HSIC feels this is the answer. There will be a few silent auction items, some door prizes, a couple of package deals for a Tunica get-a-way, and more! Those in attendance will be seated at round tables each holding 8 guests. Everyone is encouarged to participate in the fun and popular “Table Decorating” contest. Feel free to improvise in whatever fashion you choose to catch the judges eyes! Cost is $15 per person ($120 per team/table of 8). Get your co-workers, your friends or your family to form a team! Challenge others! If there aren’t enough people for a full table/team, guest will be combined to make full tables. This FUNdraiser has been a blast the last four years….everyone has had such a great time, and talked about it for weeks! So consider joining in the fun on Saturday, February 28! Please spread the word so we can again have a full house! Call Bev (870-613-3045) or Sue (870-307-5305) for more information or to sign up!

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16 We have our eyes on you and the light you shine ripples throughout Independence and we appreciate you!

Suzy Oakly continued from page 13

touchy feely side of running but welcomes subscribers and clients to help improve diet and exercise specific to each individual. The link to the women’s running clinic, Women Can Run/Walk (part of Women Run Arkansas) is: http://www.womenrunarkansas.net/. Clinics all around the state begin the first week in March. N

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February 2015 17

I Do

Holmes - Miller Wedding Kimberlee Thomas

Miles Witt Boyer Photography

Mary Elizabeth Holmes and Zachary Charles Miller first met in August of 2012 at the home of a mutual friend in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Mary shared, “The first time I met Zach I was pretty smitten. We became great friends very fast. The romance followed shortly after.” Zach echoed her sentiment, “She pretty much had me at first sight.”

Time moved along as it does for all of us and the couple became inseparable. Zach planned a very beautiful evening for Mary to cherish and share when asked about the proposal. “Zach surprised me with dinner at Herman’s in Fayetteville at the very table we sat at on our first date.

After a wonderful supper we left to go meet up with our friends.” On the way Zach handed Mary his tie and asked her to put in on like a blindfold. This request resulted in an initial refusal followed by a million questions, ultimately she agreed. Upon arriving at the mystery location Zach assisted Mary from the car. “He asked me to take off the blindfold, I was really nervous by now and didn’t want to! Eventually he was able to convince me to remove the blindfold. I opened my eyes to find him standing in front of me at the overlook on Mount Seqouyah.” The couple was surrounded by roses, rose petals and candles. “I had figured out exactly what was happening and I was shaking with excitement.” Zach asked and of course Mary answered, “Yes”. Zach had arranged for friends to have everything set up and waiting; they had been hiding and taking pictures from the moment the couple arrived at the overlook. “I was so surprised when Austin, Maggie, and Anna along with our dog, Charlie, jumped out of hiding and surprised us.” After reveling in the moment the small group loaded up and headed to Theo’s (also in Fayetteville), where they were greeted by family and friends who were waiting to celebrate with them. Mary shared, “The rest is history!”

The couple wed on October 4, 2014 at the First Presbyterian Church in Batesville. Reverend Leslie Roper

and Reverend Alan Ford presided over the traditional ceremony. “Our wedding was very traditional and full of meaningful touches,” explained Mary. She wore her mother and aunt’s wedding gown on her special day, “I had it updated by Kay Wehrung.” Her bouquet held a broach belonging to one of her great grandmothers and she wore her grandmother’s necklace. Rice, cotton and magnolia leaves were used to set the tone for the décor, “Tresa Elms at Imaginations Events really listened to us and created just the look we wanted.” There was a bagpiper playing on the front lawn of the church to greet guest before the service. “Our ceremony was super traditional with lovely old prayers; and the music was just beyond beautiful.

Ceil Smith provided the organ music. My cousin, Robert Fitzgerald, sang “The Lord’s Prayer”, and Ellie Johnston graced us with “Ave Maria”.” Reverend Leslie Roper led the couple through the ceremony with love and solemnity.

“Reverend Roper does the best weddings! Reverend Ford read our scriptures beautifully and led us in prayer,” recalled Mary. The couple wanted to honor the Presbyterian ties to Scotland, “After the ceremony the Bagpiper led us out of the church piping us down the sidewalk.”

The newly weds spent a week honeymooning at the Royal Catalonia Bavaro Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Mary shared, “It was wonderful.”

The couple currently resides in Fayetteville. Zach is a closing agent with Waco Title Company located in Bentonville. Mary is the new Northwest Arkansas Advisor Acqusition Coordinator for Northwestern Mutual in Fayetteville. Mary shared, “Our plans are to stay in Fayetteville with our two English Springer Spaniels, Charlie and Carolina. We want to continue to advance our careers and eventually start a family full of little Razorback fans.”

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Smith’s Verdict ***1/2

Real Genius

Reviewed by Tanner Smith “Real Genius”—you know, some films just have accurate titles. In a decade where a lot of society’s movies are about teenagers (that decade would be the 1980s), “Real Genius” is one of the real good ones. It’s a surprise too—this film was released in 1985 and was one of three movies about teenagers and their science projects. The other two such films were “Weird Science” and “My Science Project,” two lousy teenage comedies. “Real Genius” is a real treat, however—it’s very funny and well put together.

The film’s central teenage characters are college students who are not quite the sex-crazed goons you would find in lesser teen movies. The protagonists in this movie are actually well-developed, likable three-dimensional characters who don’t always play by the rules, but there are teenagers like that around. They are—Mitch (Gabe Jarret), a 15-year-old boy genius who is the youngest person to be accepted at Pacific Tech, and Chris (Val Kilmer), another young brain who has spent four years at the school. Mitch and Chris are two of the students chosen to work on a laser experiment. But little do they know that they are being used by Professor Jerry Hathaway (William Atherton), who wants to use the experiment—if it gets finished—to sell it to a military as a weapon.

But in the meantime, Chris is a class-A prankster who uses his genius to set up all sorts of things to make life on campus less boring. For example, he turns the dorm hall into an ice-skating rink, and he turns the lecture hall into a swimming pool. He tells Mitch that he used to be just like him—nervous and socially awkward—until he learned how to relax. Now he feels like it’s his duty to take Mitch out of his shell and teach him to have fun. “Real Genius” is most fun when it comes to showing Chris’ antics. There’s another scene in which Chris and Mitch get revenge on an uptight nerd named Kent, who is also Professor Hathaway’s fink and Mitch’s bully, by disassembling his car and reassembling it in his own dorm room. Brilliant and… dare I say, ingenious.

There are two other quirky characters who are crucial to the movie. One is a scruffy-bearded strange man named Laszlo (Jonathan Gries) who used to be the top brain on campus until he cracked and is now living in the steam tunnels below the school (the way in is through Chris and Mitch’s closet, which makes things awkward at first).

The other is a hyperactive girl named Jordan (Michelle Meyrink). She never sleeps and is the kind of girl who would run into the men’s restroom to show Mitch a sweater that she made for him. She and Mitch share a cute relationship together. Chris, Mitch, Laszlo, Jordan, and another genius nicknamed “Ick” (he helped Chris with the ice in the dorm) discover about Professor Hathaway’s plan later in the film and decide to strike back.

“Real Genius” is packed with characters and jokes.

It is well-written with a real integrity and intelligence (although some jokey lines of dialogue using the word

“penis” get old). The writers know that teenagers can have the freedom to be themselves—not just slobs or sex-crazed maniacs or idiots. They’re funny enough being geniuses in this film. That’s a pleasure among many pleasures that lie within “Real Genius.” N

20 We have our eyes on you and the light you shine ripples throughout Independence and we appreciate you!

Carlee’s Hallmark 870-793-8086 / 682 Harrison Street - Batesville

1

Batesville’s stop Valentines Shop!

Balloons, flowers, candy, plush, jewelr� and tons more!

Free gift wrap and Free in town delivery.

Notes from the Clearing

The Turning Page Joseph Thomas

I have a friend with a voluminous heart, a left hand modeled out of craft, with a right hand of construction.

He finds adventure in the mundane, because when you live life outright, the brightest of days becomes the norm. His work is organization with a twist of unruliness and he performs it and every other task with a flare for the exceptional. He is a road weary traveler, far from weary with wide eyed curiosity and child’s soul still at play under the table of memory and

hope that shades his sunny life. His balance of stormy nights at sea wage silently and very hidden behind eyes of serenity and sincerity, with a wink of the amazing.

He is a Cinderella Man with the truest intention and the execution to finish the job as pure. I have a friend and a friend has he, and the palaver left to fall between will power the world with its kinetic energies and momentous wisdom.

N February 2015 21

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WRAAA serves White, Independence, Cleburne, Woodruff, Jackson, Sharp, Izard, Fulton, Stone and Van Buren counties.

22 We have our eyes on you and the light you shine ripples throughout Independence and we appreciate you!

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February 2015 23

Things To Do Cake Decorating, February 9 Julie Gosser, owner of Julie’s Piece of Cake, will teach the fundamentals of basic cake decorating on February 23 and March 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. Using buttercream icing, you will learn to ice and smooth cakes and ice and fill cupcakes.

You will drop flowers, make stars, rosettes, shell and bead border, a shaggy mum, regular roses, ribbon roses, leaves, piping, writing and more. Deadline to register: February 9.

Class is $40 plus supply fee of $80 payable to instructor on first night of class. Mondays, UACCB Fine Arts Building, Room 603. To register, email katrina.stevens@uaccb.edu or call 870-612-2082.

Eat to Live: Recapturing Your Health with Food, February 26 With more education and sophistication, we have become, as a population, much less healthy. How has that happened? The deck is stacked against us with a broken food industry that encourages all the wrong habits and bombards us with misleading and inaccurate advertising.

Instead of sustaining our good health, the way we eat has sadly contributed to chronic illness and our declining health. We all think we know what we should be eating but do we really know, and do we do it? You will leave this class with workable solutions for better eating habits to take back control of your and your family’s health. The time to do it is now! February 26, 6 to 8 p.m. for a class fee of $15. Daniela Liscio, instructor. UACCB Main Campus Building, Room 240. To register, email katrina.stevens@ uaccb.edu or call 870-612-2082.

Rathergate Ten Years After The Lyon College Convocations Committee will present Scott W. Johnson at the 2014-15 Patterson Lecture from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. February 12 in Nucor Auditorium in the Lyon Building. Johnson’s presentation is “Rathergate Ten Years After.” It is free and open to the public. Contact Hannah Keller at 870-307-7488.

Hello Hello is a semi-autobiographical play that centers around the theme of mental illness and severe family discord. The two act production will show February 13 at 7 p.m. and 2 p.m. on February 14 at the Holloway

Theatre on the Lyon College Campus. Contact Hannah Keller at 870-307-7488.

All Over Independence

Kids’ Valentine’s Workshop Students will create several Valentine's crafts with help from instructor Leia Parks. Student K-2nd grade: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 3rd-6th grade: noon to 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 7 at the BAAC Gallery on Main.

Paint Night: Date Night Bring your significant other in for a fun and relaxing evening of painting! Sign up as a pair and each will create a separate painting on an 11x14 canvas that will fit together as one painting. The Batesville Area Arts Council will provide participants with all of the supplies needed. Instructor Carla Ladd, will guide you through the paintings step-by-step. Participants are welcome to bring their own beverages and snack to enjoy with your sweetie Thursday, February 12 and 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Citizens Bank Annex. Contact Paige Dirkson at 870-793-3382.

Gallery Reception: Internal Extensions At 6 p.m. Jennifer Rospert will give a short talk about her show on Friday, February 20. The reception is from 5 to 7 p.m. in the BAAC Gallery on Main.

Crochet Workshop Learn crocheting basics at the BAAC Gallery on Main February 26 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Monthly Fish Fry and Chicken Dinner The Hutchinson Mountain Community Center at 3370 Camp Tahkodah Road will be hosting their monthly Fish Fry and Chicken Dinner on Friday, February 6 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Cost for adults and children 12 and up is only $10.00. Children 11 and under eat FREE. Buffet, drink, and dessert are included. Take-out is available $10.00 for adult and $5.00 for children. For more information you may call 870-251-3458. The center is also available for rental by contacting Lea Barber at 870-612-4718.

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Photo by Stacy Pretty

Kennadi and Ethan Pretty hanging with the pumpkins.

24 We have our eyes on you and the light you shine ripples throughout Independence and we appreciate you!

Red Hot Luncheon To Benefit WRMC Submitted

The 2015 "Red Hot" Ladies Luncheon will benefit WRMC's Ribbons of Hope Program. Ribbons of Hope is a fund established in 2013 to help meet the immediate needs of cancer patients receiving treatment through White River Health System's Batesville Oncology or Cancer Care Center. It is our goal to ensure that these patients have transportation to their appointments and treatments. We want to make sure that they have access to prescription medications and that no one goes hungry because of the burden that cancer adds

to someone. We want to support these patients and their families in a way that best meets their needs. The luncheon is Friday, February 20 at UACCB. DR. Khan from WRMC's Oncology will be the guest speaker for the event. There will be a silent auction starting at 11 a.m. followed by lunch from 12 a.m. to around 1 p.m.

Tickets to the event are $25 a person or $200 for a table of 8. If you would like to attend and support Ribbons of Hope, please contact Joyce Pricket at 870-698-6349.

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Your Invited to a Free Breast Cancer Screening!

Submitted

If you are 40-64 years of age, 20-39 years of age with a family history or significant clinical risk or haven't had a mamagram in the last 12 months, You will receive a FREE clinical breast exam, a referral for a mammogram, an opportunity to schedule your mammogram before leaving and an opportunity to qualify for a free mammogram

Screening is FREE, but appointments are necessary! To schedule, your appointment, please call (870)269-6495.

Monday, February 9 at Stone County Primary Care Clinic at 2202 East Main Street, Mounitain View, AR. N

February 2015 25

Faces WRMC Administrator CEO Gary Bebow with Survival Flight Pilot Laura Wood in front of the newest Survival Flight helicopter at White River Medical Center. Survival Flight will be providing 24/7 emergency transport services to Batesville and surrounding communities.

CASA’s coffee and information-sharing event at the Mark Martin Racing Museum January 24.

Citizens Bank Donates Westside Branch Building to Sheriff’s Department Chuck Jones The Independence County Sheriff’s Department has gained a much-needed training and meeting facility with the donation from Citizens Bank of its former Westside Branch building in Batesville. The building will be used by the Department’s Community Relations Team for meetings and preparing programs that the team will be presenting to the community.

“Citizens Bank has always been there for us as a community partner,” said Sheriff Steve Jeffery, who acknowledged that the bank in 2011 allowed his department to use part of the branch as a substation for the protection of the city’s Westside neighborhoods. More recently, he said, the Sheriff’s Department was in desperate need of an area for training and meetings.

“We could not have afforded this type of expansion without the assistance of Citizens Bank,” Sheriff Jeffery said. “This donation will increase the quality of law enforcement in our community, which will increase our quality of life and the quality of our economy.”

“We appreciate the efforts of Sheriff Jeffery, his 40 fulltime officers and the 50 volunteer reserve officers who work tirelessly to protect and serve our community,” said Phil Baldwin, Citizens Bank President and Chief Executive Officer.

“Citizens Bank is pleased to be able to facilitate the conversion of an unused structure to a productive use by the Independence County Sheriff’s Department.” N

SHERIFF ACCEPTS BUILDING – Independence County Sheriff Steve Jeffery (far left) and Chief Deputy Jermey Qualls (far right) accept the donation of Citizens Bank’s former Westside Branch from Robin Brock and Phil Baldwin of Citizens Bank.

26 We have our eyes on you and the light you shine ripples throughout Independence and we appreciate you!

Scott Johnson to present “Rathergate Ten Years After” at Patterson Lecture Hannah Keller

The Lyon College Convocations Committee will present Scott W. Johnson at the 2014-15 Patterson Lecture from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Feb. 12 in Nucor Auditorium in the Lyon Building. Johnson’s presentation is “Rathergate Ten Years After.” The lecture is free and open to the public.

Johnson is a Minneapolis, Minn. attorney. He practiced law for 35 years as an associate and partner at the Faegre & Benson law firm and as corporate counsel in the law departments of two Minnesota-based companies.

He is cofounder of, and contributor to, the website Power Line (powerlineblog.com), which was named Time Magazine’s first and only blog of the year in December 2004 for its role in exposing the CBS 60 Minutes Rathergate fraud regarding President Bush’s service in the Air National Guard. He has written articles for a variety of professional publications and conservative magazines. Johnson is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of Minnesota Law School. He lives with his family in St. Paul, Minn.

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Liberty Tax Service ribbon cutting

Gary Bebow, White River Health System CEO, presents a gift to Brad Slade from the Surgical Services Department at White River Medical Center (WRMC) during the recent 2014 Employee of the Year Reveal Ceremony. Slade was chosen by employee votes as WRMC’s First Employee of the Year. Nominees consisted of the 2014 Employees of the Month: Dianne Melton, Jamie Winston, Brenda Bowers, Stephanie King, Brad Slade, Amy Thompson Bullard, Brandi Fagan, Annie Solis, Julie Branscum, Jennifer Coleman, Shaun Asay, and Brook Cossey.

February 2015 27

Blake Caldwell accepted a scholarship to join the trap team at Lyon College for the 2015-16 academic year. Caldwell is a senior at Cedar Ridge High School. Pictured are front row from left Shawn Caldwell, Blake Caldwell, and Kerri Caldwell; and back row from left Dave Heringer, vice president for administration and Landon Downing, assistant director of admissions.

Emergency Helicopter Service Adds Base In Batesville Annie Solis

When tragedy occurs, every second counts. Survival Flight Transport Services, an emergency helicopter transport service, recently opened Survival Flight 4, a base located in Batesville at White River Medical Center. This addition to the emergency care will improve access to life saving trauma care by decreasing or eliminating the time needed to bring an emergency helicopter to Batesville or the surrounding area.

Survival Flight 4, which is the first Survival Flight base in Arkansas, will keep a helicopter at White River Medical Center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and will always be ready to serve critically ill patients. Shaine Keasler, Base Clinical Manager of Survival Flight 4, says the benefit to having the helicopter based here is twofold: a patient can now be transported to a facility a couple of hours away in under 30 minutes or the helicopter can be dispatched to a remote location to bring a patient to WRMC. In the past, it has taken nearly 40 minutes for a helicopter to arrive at WRMC from another facility, according to Keasler.

“This helicopter, which is a Bell 407 model, is the fastest scene response aircraft being used in Arkansas for emergency transport,” says Keasler.

The Survival Flight 4 crew, which consists of pilots, registered nurses, and medics, will be housed in Batesville during their shift. “We require the Survival Flight crew to have a minimum of three years in their specialty. Most of the crew on our team have anywhere from seven to more than twenty years of experience in emergency medical transportation,” said Keasler.

Pilots must have a minimum of 2500 flight hours.

All of the RNs have certifications as Emergency Medical Technicians and most have Critical Care Certifications.

Many of the paramedics have Flight Paramedic Certifications.

According to Keasler, a unique feature is the size of the interior of the helicopter. “We have the ability to allow an additional family member or friend to ride with their loved one, which is something unique to us. With a higher weight capability, weight restriction is less of a concern,” he said.

In addition to the qualified staff, the aircraft also holds top-of -the-line equipment such as a LifePort mobile

stretcher system, which makes the ride more comfortable for the patient, and makes it easier and more efficient for the staff to provide care to the patient.

Survival Flight Transport Services has an exceptional safety record and is dedicated to maintaining it through rigorous staff training and meticulous maintenance of the helicopter.

“In a rural area such as ours, it’s important to have quick access to care, especially when critically ill or injured,” said Gary Bebow, CEO of White River Health System (WRHS). “Survival Flight Transport Services gives patients in critical condition the advantage of receiving care quickly, and we are excited to be able to offer this unique service to our patients.”

With a very large coverage area, the helicopter will be able to transport patients from any WRHS facility, and be able to assist patients at accident scenes even beyond the WRHS service area. In the very near future, a backup aircraft will be on hand to allow for extra coverage.

To find out more about Survival Flight, including membership plans, visit www.survivalflightinc.com.

To find out more about the services offered, or for questions regarding helicopter emergency transport services in your area, call Shaine Keasler at (870) 476-5825 or email skeasler@survivalflightinc.com. N

(From Left) Shaine Keasler, Survival Flight Base Clinical Manager; Laura Wood, Survival Flight Pilot; and Karissa Jackson, Survival Flight Registered Nurse/EMT, stand in front of the newest Survival Flight helicopter at White River Medical Center.

28 We have our eyes on you and the light you shine ripples throughout Independence and we appreciate you!

WRMC Welcomes First Baby of 2015 Annie Solis Karen Henley of Cherokee Village rang in the New Year with an unexpected surprise--she is the mother of the first baby of 2015 at White River Medical Center (WRMC) in Batesville.

Zeplin Ray Henley was born on January 1, 2015 at 11:39 a.m. He came into the world weighing 6 pounds, 15.8 ounces, and was over 18 inches long. He is named after Led Zeppelin, a favorite band of Karen’s late Mother, Chris, to honor her memory.

On New Year’s Day, Karen awoke at 4 a.m. with strange pains, and decided to wait and call her Obstetrician, Dr. Meriden Glasgow, of the OB/GYN Center when the office opened. “When I told my sister, April Collins, that I was going to call the doctor’s office, she reminded me that it was New Year’s Day and the doctor’s office would probably be closed.” But it wouldn’t have mattered, because by 6:30 a.m., Karen realized her baby wasn’t waiting until his scheduled delivery date of January 6 to make his appearance.

Since April had already left for work, Karen’s dad, Johnny Henley, drove her to WRMC. By noon, Karen was holding her newest bundle of joy, Zeplin.

Karen and her family members (sisters, April and Jenny; nieces, Alena and Sydney; nephew, Jacob; dad, Johnny; and stepmother, Tracy) are beyond excited; however, the happiest family member might just be big brother Hayden, age 6. He had yet to hold his baby brother, but upon seeing a picture of the new addition, he exclaimed, “Oh my mama makes cute babies!”

www.eyeonmag.com

(L to R) Aunt, April Collins; Mom, Karen Henley; and cousin, Alena are proud of the newest member of their family, baby Zeplin Ray (being held by mom). Zeplin was White River Medical Center’s first baby of 2015.

Both mom and baby are doing well. The family returned home the weekend after New Year’s Day and, instead of going through with the original plans of packing bags to prepare for Zeplin’s arrival, they adjusted to life at home with a new baby.

“I didn’t expect to have a New Year’s baby, but I feel like I’ve started this year with the best blessing,” she said.

“Jesus blessed me with a perfectly healthy baby boy. This has been a more than perfect start to the year.” N

February 2015 29

HWY 167 @ 1601 Batesville Blvd.

870-793-4461

www.markmartinkia.com

30 We have our eyes on you and the light you shine ripples throughout Independence and we appreciate you!

Tales Of a Transplanted Fashionista

Mammograms, AKA, The Plight of Being Female Leigh Keller

“Have you scheduled your mammogram?” “When are you going to schedule your mammogram??” “You know. You really need to do that, like, yesterday.” I have the voice of my mother in my head daily, and while she is usually 98% right about everything, for some reason (I blame my genetic code), I am bullheaded and refuse to listen (I am getting payback for this in my mini me form, BTW). Several years ago, we lost my beautiful, successful, and also bull headed Aunt Doris Rossi to breast cancer. My mother has always gotten regular mammograms, and I of course knew that with a family history of breast cancer, even though a paternal history, that I desperately needed to schedule a baseline one. So, I put it off. And then I put it off again. Then I went to my yearly and everything was fine, so of course I still put it off. This system of avoidance and procrastination has served me well for many years, so why learn new healthy habits now, right?

Then it happened. I woke up one morning last month with a weirdo, painfully swollen lymph node in my armpit. Of course I didn’t call my doctor about it, like most rational grown ups would do, I took to my primary care physician, google. After I passed out and came back to, in my office, nonetheless, all doped up on ibuprofen, the strongest meds I ever really take, I came to terms with the fact that I was going to have to call my doctor, not because my mama said I should, because I didn’t tell her about it, but because google said I could have dyptheria, an STD (nope, closed for business) or breast cancer. After much complaining one day to my friend, Sarah, who also usually has all of the answers too, and my other primary care physician, the school nurse, they told me that I had to call my doctor immediately. After three attempts to get my mammogram scheduled, I was finally successful.

I dreaded it and stressed, in the meantime just telling my friends and family, minus Sarah, who has all of the answers, that I was finally having my baseline mammogram done. YAY ME! GIRL POWER! At the same time, after my sweet mini me Cole would go to bed, I would get out my phone and google survival statistics for breast cancer and swollen armpit lymph node pictures. Commercials and films were all about breast cancer. In short, I was terrified.

The day came for my mammogram and my mama opted to come with me, sensing my neurosis, I think.

I checked in and looked all around me and was hit with the reality that so many women face. One in four women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.

One in ten will develop breast cancer (National Cancer Registry, 2014). I have lost so many precious people in my own lifetime to cancer, and my father is a cancer survivor. So why did I wait so long to go for an easy, ten minute test? Because the fear I had of the unknown.

They called my name, and the precious nurse

greeted me at the door (who I later found out was a grandmother of a student, I see what you did there, God). She even let my mama come back with me. After being taken into a small, locked room (my mother said so that I couldn’t escape, not even funny at the time) to change in my gown (and take off all of my jewelry, of course) I was to then go into the room with THE machine, you know the one, ladies. It looks innocent enough, with it’s jaws of death. The nurse put some “jewels” on me, and led me to my fate, the mammogram machine.

Now I will be the first to say that it was not as bad as I thought it would be, but I also did not nearly, in my wildest dreams, ever imagine that this most delicate part of my body could be tugged and contorted in this way. Just when I thought it was over and I was home free, then I had to turn to the side and hold on to the dreaded machine for dear life (and somehow hold my breath), and try to maintain some type of dignity.

When it was all finished ten minutes later, I felt such a sense of girl power and accomplishment. Why would anyone living in our great country, not take advantage of the medical resources we have for women? I am forever thankful that we have such resources readily available to us, after a few phone calls, lots of tears and lifetime movies about breast cancer later. I would encourage every woman I know who has any family hisotry of breast cancer to schedule yours immediately.

If you won’t do it for yourself or your children, then think about anyone you know who has been affected by the horrors of cancer.

As I prepared for my mammogram, I was shocked to find how many of my dear friends and family members have had “scares” that I never knew about, and how many more were just as terrified as me. It took ten minutes from start to finish, and if you need someone to go with you, and buy you a coffee afterwards as a reward, I will go (WRMC has an amazing gift shop too, just as a bonus).

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February 2015 31

Lyon officially opens Hatcher Wrestling Center Hannah Keller Lyon College officially opened the Hatcher Wrestling Center on a Tuesday afternoon in mid January as Lyon welcomed dignitaries from the community and across the state to recognize the hard work that went into building the first-year program and the 7,800-square feet facility.

The Hatcher Wrestling Center, named after the major donor of the project, Greg Hatcher of Little Rock, is part of a plan by the insurance broker, who has been instrumental in seven other collegiate wrestling programs and 65 high school teams as well.

“I am very passionate about wrestling,” Hatcher said at the ceremony. “Loretta Lynn said you had to be first, best or different. I love that slogan. For us, in business it’s our goal to be all three. Lyon College is part of that history.

You've got the first women's college wrestling team in the state of Arkansas. You've got the first NAIA school to come in and have wrestling and you want to be the best at it.”

Hatcher continued, “Years from now (the student athletes) will come back and your picture will be up on the wall as the first college wrestling team here. It'll be something you'll be very, very proud of. The reason wrestling is working in colleges is that it brings in students.

A high school wrestler's chance of competing in college is less than any other athlete. Only 2.5% of high school wrestlers get to wrestle in college.”

Lyon men and women’s wrestlers were on hand for Tuesday’s ceremony, which took place just hours before the College’s first home match in the history of the institution.

The Lyon women defeated Lindenwood UniversityBelleville, 28-10, and then Scot men dropped a 34-16 decision to the Lynx.

“The reason wrestling can be so successful so quickly is because there is no politics in the rankings,” Hatcher explained. “You go get a wrestler; you recruit him; you train him; and if he goes out and beats the other guy he moves up toward the top of the rankings. And that's what I love about wrestling, no politics, no time outs and no excuses; you just have to get out there and wrestle. And that is what life is like when you get out (of college). And of all the sports I've ever played, none are more valuable in getting

you ready for that.”

The 60’x130’ Hatcher Wrestling Center consists of a 5,400 square-foot (60’x90’) open practice facility, men and women’s dressing rooms, two coaches’ offices and a welcome center.

Lyon is in its first season of wrestling. The men’s team began the year with 23 athletes, while the women’s team started with 13 competitors.

Lyon President Dr. Donald Weatherman said he is proud of the newest facility on the Batesville campus.

“This is a great facility,” Dr. Weatherman stated. “I'm delighted, on behalf of the college, to have wrestling here at Lyon. We're the first college in the state to have both men and women's wrestling.

“Mr. Hatcher has done more for wrestling across the state and beyond than anyone I know and I am grateful that he has planted one of the seeds for a program here at Lyon. Not only did he give us money to build this building, but he gave us all the start-up costs for our wrestling program. We are, indeed, blessed by his generosity.”

The next home matches for Lyon College will be men’s events held on February 3 and 10 in James C. Becknell Gymnasium. Both duals begin at 7 p.m.

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More than 100 attend ribbon cutting of 7,800-square feet facility.

Greg Hatcher talks about his passion for wrestling.

32 We have our eyes on you and the light you shine ripples throughout Independence and we appreciate you!

FREE EDUCATIONAL EVENT

QUALITY INITIATIVES

What WRMC is Doing to Provide Quality Care

Join us for a free presentation by Dr. Chris Steel Tuesday, February 10th 12:00–1:00PM Josephine Raye Rogers Center for Women & Imaging Conference Center Lunch is on us!

www.WhiteRiverHealthSystem.com

1710 HARRISON STREET | BATESVILLE, AR White River Health System is an Equal Opportunity Provider & Employer

Alexandra Patrono-Smith

Lyon senior will see original work come to life on stage Hannah Keller

Alexandra Patrono-Smith, a senior at Lyon College, will see her first full-length play come to life in February in Lyon’s Holloway Theatre.

Hello, a semi-autobiographical play that centers around the theme of mental illness and severe family discord, will show at 7 p.m. February 13 and at 2 p.m. February 14. The two-act production will last about an hour and a half with intermission. Admission is free and open to the public.

Smith said the play is a dramatized version of events she experienced in her own life.

“It’s basically my interpretation of what I think may have happened if I had not gone to live with my father. It tells the story of Abigail, a young woman trying desperately to deal with her mother’s unmedicated schizophrenia as well as her own fragile psychology. As the story unfolds, Abigail must face a past she is unable to confront, a present she is unable to resolve, and a future she is unable to escape,” Smith said.

Smith is a triple major at Lyon who will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in English, French and Theatre Studies this springs. She began writing Hello as part of an independent study project last spring with Dr. Fonzie Geary, assistant professor of theatre.

“My goal with the play is to give an accurate representation of what life is like for those with mental

illness and their families. I’ve known several people in my life with mental illness and have seen the stigma they face because of how they are portrayed in theater and on television,” Smith said.

Last semester, Smith wrote a 10-minute play as well as a one-act production. She’s currently working on a oneact play written in French as an independent study for her French major. She will also be doing costume design for Hello. Fellow classmate Aurianna Prince-Colbath is directing the production. Smith said casting was an exciting experience.

“We had about 14 or 15 students show up for auditions, which was really exciting. It was interesting to see the different interpretations of the characters. I feel very positive about the final casting,” Smith said.

The cast includes Madeline Roberts as Abigail; Lindsi Edgar as Linda; Nathan Mabry as Derek; Jason DeMoulpied as Reed; and Jacob White as Asher.

Smith said that she struggled with the structure of the play when she first began writing.

“One of the biggest problems I had when I first began was writing too much like a novel. Even though it may read well on paper, the action fell flat. It wasn’t until I took the playwriting course that I really began to understand how to structure a play,” Smith said. N February 2015 33

WRMC Partners with The BridgeWay to Provide Mental Health Treatment Annie Solis

One in four adults experiences mental illness each year, according to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI). More specifically, NAMI’s statistics also indicate a lack of available inpatient mental health facilities in Arkansas.

In an effort to meet those needs, White River Medical Center (WRMC) has partnered with mental health organization, The BridgeWay, to bring an Inpatient Acute Adult Psychiatric Unit to Batesville.

The BridgeWay at White River Medical Center is located in a secure space inside WRMC. The unit consists of 12-beds, a lounge area, a quiet room, and community room.

The BridgeWay at WRMC offers an inpatient program that serves adults, ages 18 to 55, who are experiencing acute psychiatric problems such as depression, schizophrenia, suicidal thoughts, or other issues. The program is designed to give patients the encouragement and tools needed to improve their overall quality of life. The BridgeWay at WRMC adds to the list of comprehensive care provided by WRMC to meet the needs of those affected by social, psychological, and behavioral conditions. Other services currently being provided by WRMC include Senior Haven (WRMC’s Geriatric Psychiatry Unit), and the White River Health System (WRHS) Behavioral Health

Clinic, an outpatient facility in Batesville.

A treatment team, consisting of psychiatrists, advanced practitioner registered nurse, therapists, nurses, and patient advocates, work together to create individualized plans for each patient. Treatment plans include setting goals, learning to manage medication, crisis stabilization, and participation in group therapy, family therapy, educational therapy, and activity therapy.

The team aims to help patients develop interpersonal communication skills and positive relationship skills to regain healthy lifestyles and routines.

“Statistics tell us that there is a need for mental health treatment in our area,” said Gary Bebow, CEO of WRHS. “We are proud to partner with The BridgeWay to meet the needs for our area and offer a service that will have such a positive impact on lives.”

Shay Carter, Director of the unit, says they began accepting patients January 12. “We look forward to working with our patients to help them improve their overall quality of life, and we are fortunate to have WRMC as a partner in this endeavor,” she said.

The BridgeWay at White River Medical Center accepts most insurance plans including adult Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance.

For more questions about The BridgeWay at White River Medical Center, call (870) 262-1641 anytime, day or night.

N

Mon - Thur 10am to 10pm Fri & Sat 10am to 11pm Sunday 11am to 9pm

60 Batesville Blvd.

870-569-4894

Representatives from the Batesville Chamber of Commerce, The BridgeWay, and White River Medical Center participate in a recent ribbon cutting ceremony at the open house of the new Inpatient Acute Adult Psychiatric Unit. The new unit is designed to give adults with psychiatric problems the encouragement and tools needed to improve their overall quality of life.

34 We have our eyes on you and the light you shine ripples throughout Independence and we appreciate you!

The new Inpatient Acute Adult Psychiatric Unit.

Accepting New Patients (870) 569-4909

Call to Schedule your FREE Consultation

920 Harrison St., Suite A Batesville, AR

Dr. Dustin Taylor , D.C., CCEP February 2015 35

Experiencing God in the Everyday All You Need is Love Pastor Chad Grigsby

It’s February and love is in the air. Especially at our house. My wife’s birthday is February 15, the day after Valentine’s Day. Two weeks after Valentine’s and her birthday is our anniversary. Needless to say I have to bring my A-game this time of year!

As we are thinking about love this time of year I’m reminded of a passage in the Bible that has a lot to say about the subject. At most weddings I have been a part of there is a section of the ceremony reserved for Scripture reading. Naturally, this leads many couples to 1 Corinthians 13, the most famous passage in the Bible on love. And it is a beautiful passage. “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (I Corinthians 13:4-8, 13 ESV) What an amazing picture of self-giving, sustaining love. But we often miss whom this passage is really talking about. We read the words but we often forget the context.

The context is crucial in any passage of Scripture but this one more so than most. Why you might ask? Because the love that the Apostle Paul is speaking about here is not romantic love between a man and a woman, but rather the love that is supposed to be found in the church.

Ouch.

But how can we be sure this is the correct interpretation? Surely this can be applied to romantic love? It has wonderful implications for marriage for sure, but that is not the main context. Paul is dealing with a Corinthian church that is very divided. A casual reading of the whole letter reflects this throughout. They were a very gifted people. They had much to offer the kingdom of God. God was doing miraculous things among them and through them. But although they possessed great knowledge, great gifts, much faith and hope, what they lacked most of all was love. They did not really love each other, not in the way that they should. They did not love each other the way that Jesus loved them. If you look at 1 Corinthians 13, this type of love is not easy to come by. It’s a rather perfect love. It’s the way that Jesus loves us. Paul is trying to show the church that they should love each other the way that Jesus loves them. That is what they most need. And that if they fail to love each other the way that Jesus loves them, they really are nothing and everything they have to offer amounts to nothing in the end. Jesus himself taught on the importance of our love for one another when he said, “By this will all men know that you are my disciples IF YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER.” (John 13:35) This February 14 it is absolutely crucial for the church to consider how we love each other. We have denominational saturation and a church on every corner but do we love each other? We have doctrinal differences

but do we love one another? We have different ways of practicing our faith but do we love one another? Do we love the people in our own body of believers? These are questions we must answer as the church of Jesus. How else will people know that we are really his?

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (I Corinthians 13:1-3 ESV) N

Eye On

Independence

36 We have our eyes on you and the light you shine ripples throughout Independence and we appreciate you!

3 WAYS TO A WOMAN’S HEART o n Val entin e’s Day

With a R eal R ose of your choice tr immed in Pure 24K G old that lasts forever, an 18” Freshwater Pear l Neck lace & Russell Stover Chocolates.

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