Eye On Jackson March 2017

March 2017

www.eyeonmag.com

Radiology Renovation Josephine Raye Rogers Unity Health Run Lizard Creek at Portfest A Publication of Meadowland Media, Inc.

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4 | How long has it been since you’ve whiled away the hours in the breeze blown crook of a tree?

Eye On Jackson 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 © 2013 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.

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THIS PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED BY:

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MeadowLand Media, Inc. P. O. Box 196, Grubbs, AR 72431 870.503.1150 kthomas@ eyeonmag.com PUBLISHER: Joseph Thomas ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Kimberlee Thomas MANAGING EDITOR: Joseph Thomas

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ADVERTISING: Kimberlee Thomas Adrienne Freeman

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In This Issue 6/Editor’s Note Into The Ides

6/Unity Health Harris Radiology Renovation

7/Cooperative Service

Common Food and Fitness Mistakes

8/Great Tastes

What’s in a Name?

10/Cover Story

Josephine Raye Rogers

17/Newport Chamber News

Unity Health Run Lizard Creek at Portfest

18/In the Field with Randy Planting Season

18/Notes from the Clearing Happy Rails

21/Central Baptist Brief The Cool Family

22/Seniors, can we talk?

Claim Questions

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

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We Care about Your Coverage

Editor’s Note Into The Ides

Joseph Thomas Well, it has been an extremely mild winter, no complaints here...its hard to hold two feet of snow so very dear when you have to drive through it to get to work and have no time to play in it.

But, if you need a reason to pretend to be snowed in, you can read this full issue of Eye On Jackson and we’ll keep you warm.

We have: a submission from CASA, Josephine Raye Rogers is our brilliant cover and I had the recent honor to sit with Mr. Eddie Johnson for our feature, Adrienne Freeman has a tasty recipe to

share, Randy Chlapecka talks of planting season, Jarred Elliot speaks on The Cool Family, Caroline Beauchamp asks if you have any Claim Questions, Julie Allen announces the Unity Health Lizard Creek Run, we are pleased to welcome Taylor Hastings as our new Extension Service writer, Michelle Foshee discusses the recent Unity Health HMC renovation and there is so much more. Please, read on, we hope you enjoy and have a great March.

Oh, and I just wanted to express my appreciation for Newport’s Delta Visual Arts Show and all of those who have made it possible for our community. It was a treat to this writer and resident, even on the only cold day in February.

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Unity Health Harris Radiology Renovation

Michelle Foshee is a wife, mother, dog lover, and Newport native who promotes Unity Health Harris Medical Center to improve the quality of health and well-being for the communities we serve through compassionate care. She is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and prior to joining Unity Health, she worked in sales and marketing in Little Rock. She challenges herself and others to be Health Centered – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

Unity Health Harris Medical Center is currently renovating the Radiology Department to house an in-house MRI unit and mammography machine. The new MRI suite will contain a Siemens AERO MRI 1.5 Tesla Big Bore which was recently purchased by Unity Health HMC. This MRI unit is not only the newest platform on the market, but it performs faster, has 70 percent less sound pressure, and is better for utilization. We are expecting to have the machine and suite ready for patients by late March.

Unity Health HMC also purchased a GE Senographe Pristina mammography machine. We will be the first in the state with this

platform available. It is upgradable to the latest software in the industry and is expected to arrive by the end of February and will be in full operation by the first of March.

We are also proud to announce that in late February our new T-2100 Treadmill and Cardiac Assessment System for Exercise Testing (CASE) were put in full use for patients. The CASE* Cardiac Assessment System for Exercise Testing (Stress Test) from GE Healthcare emphasizes performance.

With industryleading algorithms, it enables us to quickly and easily assess cardiac function during exercise for greater diagnostic confidence.

Unity Health Harris Medical Center is now able to offer the newest platforms of equipment and advanced modern technology to our communities to better serve our patients.

Some may be unaware that we recently renovated the New

photo by Robert O. Seat

Life Center here at Harris Medical Center.

Renovations began in October and were completed in December. The makeover included cosmetic updates and remodeling.

The New Life Center now has freshly painted walls with new flooring, furniture and cabinets.

The renovation also included a new sink, hopper, break room, and nurse’s station for associates. The patient rooms were also updated with fresh paint, new flooring, and new sleepers and chairs for families are expected to arrive soon. The New Life Center delivers many blessings in our community and this renovation gives the families we serve a wonderful place to welcome their bundle of joy.

At Unity Health Harris Medical Center we are proud to serve our county and community with quality care and continuously strive to provide the best facilities and treatment possible.

Learn more about Unity Health | Harris Medical Center by visiting unity-health.org/harris-medicalcenter. N

6 | How long has it been since you’ve whiled away the hours in the breeze blown crook of a tree?

Cooperative Service including a variety of healthy foods from all the food groups.

Common Food and Fitness Mistakes Excluding a food group may result in weight loss, but may

Taylor Hastings is Jackson County’s Family and Consumer Science agent with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service. She has a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Arkansas State University and is currently working on a Masters from the University of Arkansas.

When she’s not educating the community, she enjoys running, hiking, and spending time with her two nephews.”

Its two months into the New Year, and many resolutions to eat healthier, exercise, live a healthier lifestyle may still be well under way. Hopefully with those resolutions you are making changes to live a healthier lifestyle. If so, avoid common food and fitness mistakes based upon what is trendy in foods now.

Probably one of the more common health and fitness mistakes is skipping meals. We need breakfast because it jump starts our metabolism. It basically, breaks the fasting mode your body is in overnight. Consider grabbing a piece of fruit, chunk of cheese, or whole wheat toast as you head out the door. Avoiding lunch or dinner can cause you to over eat later. Instead, eat sensibly, with three well balanced meals and at least two healthy snacks daily.

Avoiding gluten is another mistake some make. While people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities have to avoid gluten, banishing gluten for weight loss can lead to nutrient deficiencies. Grains that contain gluten, such as whole wheat, rye, etc., also contain beneficial micronutrients like iron, magnesium, folate and fiber that our bodies need.

Fiber is important to a healthy system, but getting too much can stress your intestines. Get fiber from real foods like whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds, fruits and vegetables. Not from the processed insulin fiber enhanced products.

Coconut oil isn’t heart healthy as some tv personalities would like for you to believe. In fact, it is mostly saturated fat – 92 percent saturated fat to be exact. Compare that with 63 percent saturated fat in butter. That should make you think. The main thing to remember here is that despite all the hype about coconut oil, replacing all the fat in your diet with coconut oil will not benefit your brain, heart or waistline.

Remember there is no one “superfood” that has the ability to protect our bodies from disease. That’s why variety is the key to a healthy diet. It must be well balanced

not provide you with all the vitamins and minerals you need to stay healthy.

Avoid the temptation to rely on packaged foods.

Although the packaged foods can be calorie controlled, such as the snack size treats, they tend to be heavily processed and may contain large amounts of fat, sodium and or sugar.

Instead rely on whole foods such as fresh fruits or vegetables.

Giving up exercise because you think that the gym is the only place to exercise is another common mistake some make. Get moving wherever you are, physical activity counts anywhere you do it. To meet the latest recommendations, adults should accumulate at least 150 minutes of moderateintensity activity each week or 75 minutes of vigorousintensity activity. In addition to moderate or vigorous exercise, include muscle strengthening and stretching exercises at least twice each week.

The Jackson county Extension Office has many great exercise programs going on right now. Are you a walker just trying to get in your steps for the day? Walk Across Arkansas is a great program to count your steps and compete with others across the state. Are you more of a runner? Jackson County Extension Office programs are pairing with the Women Can Run Clinic to teach you how to walk/run a 5k.

Would you rather focus on relaxed strength training? We have programs for that too.

Lastly avoid the mistake of skimping on sleep. It is such an important part of your health routine. Try to get between 7 to 9 hours every night.

Avoid common food and fitness mistakes and start living a healthy lifestyle, and always talk with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. If you would like to receive a free copy of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans which can guide you in healthy food choices or for more information, contact the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture at the Jackson County Extension Office, call 870-523-7450, or e-mail me at thastings@uaex. edu. Also follow us on facebook at www.facebook.com/uaex. jackson/. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. N

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March 2017 | 7

Great Tastes

What’s in a Name?

Adrienne Freeman is a Jackson County based food writer whose work is published statewide. When not at the keyboard, she can be found in the kitchen, focusing on recipes and techniques that can be easily replicated by fellow enthusiastic home cooks. She always welcomes reader response at newport. foodies@yahoo.com.

While making preparations to recognize April 24 as the day set aside to heap well deserved praise to perennially favorite Pigs-in-Blankets, tiny bite size sausages, or frankfurters, wrapped in a pastry and served hot from the oven, curiosity arises. What the heck are all these foods with silly names?

Pigs-in-blankets is relatively easy to decode with a little logic. Pigs (pork) wrapped in soft ‘blankets’ (puffed pastry, biscuit dough, refrigerated crescent dough, etc.), but how do you find logical meaning in Devil’s on Horseback (dates stuffed with cheese and wrapped in flavorful bacon before baking?) An internet search helps explain other mysteries.

How about an order of SOS (Stuff on a Shingle – sometimes a

crude word takes the place of ‘stuff’.)

SOS, the meat based gravy popular with military cooks, evolved out of necessity. While the true name is Creamed Beef on Toast, made with either browned hamburger or dried chipped beef, was a way to maximize and utilize the ingredients aboard a ship or on the field of war. Daily grocery runs aren’t the norm and there aren’t many cows in the middle of the ocean.

Ever try to beat Uncle Henry for that prized chef’s treat, the Pope’s Nose, at Thanksgiving? That is the bite-sized tailbone piece, triangular in shape and delicious with a little fat for flavor and perfectly roasted skin for crunch.

Order a Toad in the Hole at breakfast and the waitress will produce a pan-sautéed piece of buttered toast with a perfectly fried egg in the center.

When dining companions want the same thing in different parts of the country, they may ask for a Hen in a Hole or Popeye Toast.

Americans has inherited a couple of tasty dishes from Britain. Try a traditional dinner of Bangers and Mash (sausage and mashed potatoes) or a bowl of Bubble and Squeak (cabbage and mashed potatoes.) A basket of steaming hushpuppies would be welcome here too, knowing that the cornmeal based fritter has nothing to do with cuddly canines.

Here come the three ugly stepsisters of fruit desserts – Slump, Grunt and Dowdy. Actually, the three are all close cousins to the

American fave, fruit cobbler. Each is made with a sweetened fruit or fruit combination, topped with crust and baked until warm and bubbly. If that doesn’t satisfy your sweet tooth, there is always Shoofly Pie, a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch pie with a molasses filling similar to chess pie.

This pie is also popular in Southern cooking and has its own catchy jingle.

Legend says name stuck because the sugary filling would attract flies while cooling in the window, so “Shoo fly!”

PIGS IN BLANKETS ½ package puff pastry sheets (1 sheet), thawed 1 egg 1 Tablespoon water 20 cocktail sausages (like Lil’ Smokies) Hot, Dijon or Regular prepared mustard, for dipping Directions: Heat the oven to 400°F. Beat the egg and water in a small bowl with a fork or whisk. Set aside.

Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Cut the pastry sheet into 20 (1/2 inch) strips.

Wrap the pastry strips around the frankfurters and press to seal. Place the pastries onto a baking sheet, seam side down. Brush the pastries with the egg mixture.

Bake for 15 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown. Remove the pastries from the baking sheet and allow to cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Serve the sausage pastries with the mustard for dipping.

TOAD IN A HOLE 1 slice sandwich bread

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Terms and conditions apply. See bank for details. Kasasa is a trademark of Kasasa, Ltd., Registered in the U.S.A.

Kasasa is a trademark of Kasasa, Ltd., registered in the U.S.A.

8 | How long has it been since you’ve whiled away the hours in the breeze blown crook of a tree?

1 egg 1 ½ Tablespoons butter, softened Salt and pepper to taste Heat a non-stick pan to medium. Butter bread on both sides, reserving a ½ Tablespoon.

Using a biscuit cutter, cut a 2- to 2 ½ inch circle from the center of the bread slice. Place bread (and cutout ‘hole’) in hot skillet. Brown for one minute, turn. Add reserved ½ Tablespoon of butter to the center of the toast.

Break the egg in the center. Cook 2 minutes on each side, turning once. Season and serve. N

Submitted At the recent annual convention Arkansas Festivals and Events Association ALFIE (Arkansans Love Festival’s and Events) Awards were announced during the Association’s 33rd Annual Conference held in Little Rock January 25-26. The ALFIE Awards honor the best and brightest of Arkansas’s festivals and special events.

Newport’s musical heritage festival, Depot Days, which celebrates its 20th Anniversary in 2017, was recognized for excellence in two categories. The allvolunteer event that is free to the public won the Bronze Medal for Event of Year, an award presented to an event or other special celebration which stands out among all events in Arkansas by its creative approach, crowd appeal, media coverage, and/or enhancement of community pride, thus benefitting the state’s quality of life. Depot Days also won the Bronze medal for Best Photo. The winning photo is one of 2016 Headliner Jason D. Williams, a boogie woogie, rock ‘n’ roll pianist like no other.

Event founder and organizer Henry Boyce accepted the awards, saying, “The festival concept grew from a belief that Jackson County’s musical heritage was historically significant beyond local interest. We couldn’t put on this show without our sponsors, volunteers and the fans. I am glad we are preserving the history of Rock ‘n’ Roll Highway 67 with Depot Days and the Rock ‘n’ Roll 67 Highway Museum. I can’t see what the next twenty years hold.”

N March 2017 | 9

Cover Story Josephine Raye Rogers

Joseph Thomas is a native of Grubbs, a graduate of ASUN and owns and runs Eye On Magazine with his powerhouse wife, Kimberlee. He is the graphic designer, editor and one of the various writers of this publication. He is elevated by five children, three grandchildren and is an elite tree climber.

I have seen Mrs. Josephine Raye Rogers numerous times in my work as a journalist at various events and have had the great fortune of meeting and speaking to her in some of those occasions. We are always well met and I find her so very charming, full of grace with an air of respect that not just anyone can pull off. I thought it

only fitting to honor this Greyhound graduate within the pages of Eye On Jackson.

A fraternal twin, Josephine Raye Jackson was born in Balch, Arkansas, on June 14, 1922. Her sister Sarah Faye Jackson weighed 4.25 pounds to Josephine’s 4.5 pounds. The doctor wasn’t sure that either child would live but their mother’s hope won out. So mother, Minnie Camp Jackson, placed the children in a buggy with Faye in one end and Josephine in the other and opened the oven door as a makeshift incubator.

Josephine moved with her family at the age of two years to Newport, Arkansas. Her father was a school teacher in Balch, Arkansas. He studied law and passed the bar exam and then ran for the House of Representatives, having served several terms in his lifetime. She was a twin, growing up with sister Faye and an older brother.

Josephine remained in Newport until she married Doyle W. Rogers in 1941.

Doyle and his family moved to Newport where his father was a Missouri Pacific Railroad telegrapher for many years and his mother ran a boarding house. Doyle met Josephine at Arkansas State University where they were both attending classes. They very quickly had their first date, a mixed-doubles tennis match. They married fourteen months later and were only separated

by Doyle’s service to the United States Air Force. He was first stationed in Salt Lake City, Utah and then to Burma where he ran the military post office. Josephine speaks of visiting him on her two weeks vacation and two days that she had off each week...not wanting to leave his side after each visit.

“I always knew there was Doyle Rogers,” laughs Josephine, “He was a star quarterback and four years older than me.” She says he worked his way through college doing hand laundry. “I knew of him much longer than he knew of me, in other words,” Josephine adds.

She says she worked at the telephone service at the airbase as night cheif operator, “We were busy with calls for and by the over 5,000 service men. I loved that job, you couldn’t even think of getting sleepy, we were on the go all night.” She explains that on the last day of high school, she’d heard there was a position at the telephone company. She applied for the job immediately and soon got the call. “It was in the upstairs of an old building with wooden steps leading up and I was so excited I hit those steps running as fast as I could, slammed opened the door and they thought a cyclone was coming through.

And, there was Ms. Ruth Hunter, the cheif operator and she interviewed me. She told me later that I was so eager for the job, that they hired me out of six others. From day one I loved it.” Her reverie of being able to work mulitiple stations at once was captivating. She says it kept her from having to be transferred to Walnut Ridge, much to her relief.

Her travels back and forth to Utah became a bit

10 | How long has it been since you’ve whiled away the hours in the breeze blown crook of a tree?

much and she missed Doyle dearly, so she called Ms. Hunter and resigned from her work there. She began looking for work in Salt Lake City and found and an ad in the paper for Knights Transportation Zone as the receptionist. “I had to pass a civil service exam, well, I don’t know if I passed or if they just took me, but they gave me the job,” jokes Josephine. She left Utah one year to the day of having moved there. She enjoyed working at Knight’s Transportation as well, and worked until Doyle was transferred to another base and she came home to Newport where Barbara was born on Christmas Eve. “What a nice Christmas present, huh?” asked Josephine.

She explained to me that Barbara was born at her parents home. She said the doctor brought the delivery table and set up in the house. She further explained that the government would pay for the delivery in full as long as the baby was born in her home, but would not pay 100% if she’d gone to the hospital. Five years later, son, Doyle “Rog” Rogers, Jr. was born.

It was when Josephine made the move back to Jackson County that Doyle moved on to Cadet School at Wichita Falls, Texas for six months of cadet training. He later enlisted to serve both the Royal Canadian Army, as well as the U. S. Army in World War II. After returning to Jackson County and his lovely wife and children, they

soon made Independence County their home to found Doyle Rogers Realty in 1953, later named Doyle Rogers Company.

Doyle and Josephine moved to Batesville, Arkansas in 1949. 361 Lawrence Street was their first Independence home, built with Doyle’s G.I. Bill. Josephine says that Carol Barnett was the first person to call and visit, “In fact, she brought her two month old baby. I so loved living there. I drive by real slow now and can visualize my kids playing in that yard. I had the Cub Scouts, the Girl Scouts and the Brownie Scouts. Doyle ended up being the president of the Quapaw Council for the whole state...some 15,000 boys.” Josephine emphasises Doyle’s character to give one hundred percent to the things he loved.

While Josephine raised their children, Doyle developed, owned and operated the Excelsior Hotel (later the Peadbody of Little Rock and now Little Rock Marriott). Josephine says of living in the penthouse suite, “I would get up every morning and check on the patrons, as well as the staff and see if they needed anything.” She remembers meeting Hillary Clinton’s mother one day after realizing Hillary was calling to her across the hotel. She enjoyed the vision that Doyle had and being at his side through it all. Doyle was also behind the Statehouse Convention Center that adjoins the now Marriott. Doyle led the twenty-five story Rogers Building development (now the Stephens Building), along with many retail centers all through the U.S. Also, after the acquistion of Metropolitan Bancshares, Doyle became Chairman of the Metropolitan National Bank in 1983.

Josephine speaks of the dynamic team that she and Doyle were. She loves him still and is quick to express high praise of her husband of seventy-two years. Doyle Rogers passed away in their Batesville home in 2013 at the amazing age of 94. She says that not many days passed in their marriage that she didn’t hold his face and ask him what she would do without him.

The power couple were philanthropist before the term was a common phrase. In 2001, they gave one million dollars to seed White River Medical Center’s Josephine Raye Rogers Center for Women & Imaging.

2005 saw a pledge of one million to renovate and expand Lyon College’s gymnasium now known as the Rogers Health & Physical Education Center. According to Little Rock Soiree Magazine’s August 24, 2015 artice by Amanda Hoelzeman titled Giving Hope With UAMS Gala for Life, in 2007, the couple and their children, Barbara and Paul Hoover and Rog and Carolyn Rogers, gave four million dollars to UAMS for medical center expansion and Arkansas Cancer Research Center. Hoelzeman also touted the 2009 honor Doyle and Josephine were given of becoming that years Pat and Willard Walker Tribute honorees for their lifetime support (as well as Josephine’s lifetime position of UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Foundation board member).

All this giving is just how this couple chose to be, not expecting anything in return for themselves, but March 2017 | 11

what goes around... One night in 2012 Josephine not feeling well, paid a visit to WRMC for a CT scan. Barbara and Rog dropped everything and took their mother to Little Rock to see Dr. Jeanne Wei of UAMS Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging. Of Dr. Wei, Josephine calls her, “My doctor and my friend.” Josephine had Stage IV cancer (exactly what took her sisters life years earlier).

Doyle was very sick at the time, but he told her he couldn’t live without her. So, Josephine simply said, “I’m not going anywhere,” and decided right then and there she wasn’t. Oncologist Dr. Konstantinos Arnaoutakis sent her biopsy to Massachusetts General Hospital.

They noticed a receptor in her system that had shown promise with an experimental drug. Given eight months to live, Josephine opted to try it and within six weeks, a noticable change had taken place. She still takes this treatment and though her fight is not won, eight months is now four years and counting.

Josephine hopes that her story can help someone out there who has been diagnosed, that has given up.

She hopes they keep fighting, teatment is right here in Arkansas and more and more research is helping to wage this war. With the giving of those shining examples Josephine Raye Rogers and late husband Doyle, the research is ever increasing.

Josephine is a part of a bridge club and very much enjoys her time with the ladies. She has been for fiftytwo years the memorial chairman for the American Cancer Society. She is on the White River Health System

Foundation Board of Trustees. Josephine has been on more boards than she can count, as community minded as her husband.

Josephine and Doyle were married 72 years.

Josephine says, “He loved me so much. He would be waiting on me at the bottom step of that telephone office every day I got off work. I used to ask him when he worked?” She says he was a caring man of secret handshakes, openly expressed feelings and endearments of love to his entire family...oh, and front porch discussions about the moon.

I was not able to have met Mr. Rogers, but Josephine is a delightful, blinding star with a mind as bright as her presence and it is always a pleasure and an honor to speak with her. She is a powerful woman among so many within our community and has a fond connection with her Jackson County roots.

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12 | How long has it been since you’ve whiled away the hours in the breeze blown crook of a tree?

Mr. Eddie Johnson Joseph Thomas

Feature

Mr. Eddie Johnson is saying farewell to Jackson County. He will be moving to Florida, very near his daughter. But he also wanted to thank the community of Jackson County for their help in some of the projects he commited himself to on his return to Newport.

He was born in McCroy, Arkansas and was moved to Blackville when he was in the second grade. Blackville was located between Amagon and Erwin (southeast of Newport). He attended Branch School from his ninth grade year through his Junior year.

Johnson’s Senior year was spent in Newport High. He said it was a whole new world with new opportunities. He talks of David Black helping to convince the basketball coach to let Johnson play.

It was 1971 and the beginning of desegregation and Johnson was proud of it.

Johnson joined the National Guard after high school, which led him to join the Army, so he could see the world. He went on to become a 101st Airborne Ranger.

Johnson returned to the area to care for his mother.

When home, Johnson volunteered with the Newport Junior High for two years and then two more years with Senior High under Ronnie Kay Erwin. Both Johnson’s son and daughter attended Newport High and both went on the UCA. Johnson’s pride won over as he laughed and told me about his grandaughter’s upcoming beauty pageant (which was the same day as his farewell party and birthday party, February 17).

Johnson ran for and has been a part of the city council since 2007. He was nominated Man of the Year and Sheridan Chadwell was the Woman of the Year in ‘07. “That was a good year,” admits Johnson. He considers it a great accomplishment to have been the first black Man of the Year, as meaningful as his military accomplishments.

He is appreciative of the opportunity to be stationed in Virginia, Europe, Australia, Hawaii, but his proudest success, Johnson says, was becoming the Food Advisor for the entire Army. He was responsible for the daily menu of all American Army soldiers state-side and overseas. Johnson was recommended for the job by a two star general he has yet to meet and was selected out of more than two hundred. This was after twenty years of service, but it speaks to Johnson’s character and work ethic.

He regaled me with many stories of his service as Food Advisor that speaks to such character. His return home brought about a new mission; helping to open Branch as a community center. This soon expanded to a Jackson County Soup Kitchen for two years under Johnson’s supervision. This became the perfect place for Johnson to feed the kids in the afternoon, with then Superintendant Ronnie Brown’s help. Johnson speaks very highly of Mr. Brown and says he helped him

in every way he possibly could have. He also sings the praises of Dr. Larry Williams saying, “He is the greatest.

He was my mentor.”

He is very appreciative of his fellow council members and all those he was fortunate to work with on community projects. Johnson is proud of the work he has done and we are appreciative of the care he has shown to this home community. We wish him all the best in his travels and future life. May the service he has performed for our country and community be multiplied back to him.

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Open at 1pm Daily Closing at 8pm Sun., Tue., Wed., & Thur.

Closing at 10:30pm Friday & Saturday CLOSED on Monday

Nina Brownd Photography

220 E. Main - Batesville 870-569-8050

Children Family Weddings Senior Portrait Birthday Parties Family Reunions

ninabrowndphotography@yahoo.com

Hazel’s

Bakery

YOUR LAND AND CRUISE EXPERTS

Have you got

Cruisitude?

Homemade Pies

We’ve got it in spades!

W e ’ v e b u i l t o u r Cupcakes t r a v e l b u& s i nCakes ess c o m b i n i n g aFresh p o s i t iHomemade v e o u t l o o k Bread with our love of cruise vacations.

Family Owned

In a word: Cruisitude.

Let us be “Sweet” to you!

Sheila Bennett 501-203-0434

119 N. Spring St., Searcy Open: Tuesday - Friday 3pm & Saturday at 1pm

Across from Post Office 220 E. Main Street - Historic Downtown - Batesville Downtown Newport / 201-1516 sheila.bennett@cruiseplanners.com www.vacationsbysheilabennett.com

Who is Missing?

You are! kthomas@eyeonmag.com

Eagle Pest Management, LLC 1775 Porter Street Batesville, Arkansas

912 Highway 367 N Newport, Arkansas

(870) 523-3689 http://dltcpa.com 870-307-0582 Toll Free: 87-313-2453 Commercial and Residential Your Termite and Pest Control Services Specialist Serving North Central Arkansas

- Accounting - Bookkeeping - Financial Services - Payroll - Retirement Planing - Tax Services & Preparation -

Waymon Long - President wlong1@sbcglobal.net

Success is a journey, not a destination

14 | How long has it been since you’ve whiled away the hours in the breeze blown crook of a tree?

Open: Tuesday - Friday 3pm & Saturday at 1pm

220 E. Main Street - Historic Downtown - Batesville

Who’s CASA? Submitted The dedicated volunteers, staff, and board members of Gateway CASA have been asked these questions many times. Let’s explain: the acronym means Court Appointed Special Advocates for children. CASA is a national, state and local non-profit organization that serves children in the court system. Judges appoint CASA specially trained volunteers to represent the best interests of children who are somehow in the court system or have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. For many children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence in their lives.

Many families have been positively impacted by a CASA volunteer that advocated in adoption proceedings.

One local family, Paul and Dr. Kelly McKinney said, “When we adopted our son in 2015, it was our first time to navigate through the foster care system and the adoption process. As we were battling through the anxiety of being first time parent, compounded by the unknowns before us from a legal perspective, we were blessed to come to know our wonderful CASA representative. We began looking forward to the times she would visit. She provided a wealth of information on his personal history, and brought a great deal of peace to our home as she helped all three of us prepare for what was ahead. After the adoption was finalized, we have continued to keep in touch. She attended his ‘Gotcha Day’ party we threw for friends and family.

We have remained in frequent contact through social media. It’s hard to imagine what it would have been like without his CASA representative. We will forever be grateful to her for advocating, speaking up, and loving our son and our family.”

Bobby and Sherry Churchman’s daughter, Ashley’s life was forever changed with the help of a CASA volunteer. Ashley was a volunteer at a women’s drug rehabilitation facility when she was introduced to a little girl that needed a home since her mother would be going to prison. Ashley went through the adoption training process and all the investigations that it entailed. Throughout the many months that it took for Ashley to finally become a forever mom to a beautiful

daughter, the CASA volunteer assigned to the child was the constant stability that Ashley could turn to for immediate help and information. The volunteer truly did everything possible to ensure that a precious child would have a loving home. The whole family considers the volunteer a personal angel and is a champion for CASA. Locally, our CASA coordinator is Margaret Price and the CASA office is located at 2313 HWY 367 North.

Her number is 870-307-4614 and email is mprice@ gatewaycasa.org. A special training session will occur on two days, April 28th and the morning of the 29th on the campus of ASU Newport in the Student/Community Center Arkansas Steel Association A/B rooms. More information about Gateway CASA can also be found on Facebook.

Since CASA depends on grants and donations to exist, a fundraiser will be the Second Annual Kentucky Derby Day, Saturday, May 6 at Newport Country Club from 2:00-6:30. The event includes choosing a winner and watching the race live, bingo, a horseshoe pitching competition, silent and live auctions, an adult hobby horse race, heavy hor d’oeuvres, voting on a favorite lady’s hat and picture opportunities! Tickets are $35 and are available through the CASA office, volunteers, or the Jackson County board members, Third Judicial Prosecutor Henry Boyce, Judy Felts, or ASUN Chancellor Sandra Massey.

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Kelly McKinnon family

Mary Medlock March 2017 | 15

Faces TION C A S N TRA TROL CON

1.

2.

3.

Member

FDIC

1.) Coming in the Spring of 2017, Scott Wood Ram Truck Center featuring new Ram trucks of all sizes, Promaster vans and pre-owned vehicles! Located at 1920 Malcolm Avenue. Thank you for investing in Newport!

2.) Magnolia and Malcolm Ave. - Future office of Attorney Randy Rudisill.)

3.) We are excited about the future home of the Jackson County Department of Human Services, which will be located next to Churchman Building Center on Malcolm Avenue!

tickets.asun.edu 16 | How long has it been since you’ve whiled away the hours in the breeze blown crook of a tree?

Newport Chamber News Unity Health Run Lizard Creek at Portfest The 2017 PortFest Festival organizers have announced a new event to this year’s event. The Unity Health Run Lizard Creek 5k Julie Allen has served as the executive director of the Newport Area Chamber obstacle challenge will be held at of Commerce since 2002. She is a 1994 graduate of Arkansas State University PortFest on June 10 at Jacksonport with a degree in Communications - Radio/ Television.

State Park near Newport.

A sponsorship by Unity Health - Harris Medical Center will bring this exciting new event to PortFest. Run Lizard Creek will develop the course that includes 20+ mud obstacles to run, climb, swing, and slip and slide through. The race route will begin in the pecan grove adjacent to Jacksonport State Park and end just inside the festival gates thanks to a partnership with Holden-Conner Farms.

Event cost is $65 per person, which includes registration for the course, an armband for entrance to PortFest for Saturday, June 10, a Run Lizard Creek t-shirt and dog tag. The event is open to anyone 18 years of age and older. Corral times will start at 9 a.m. on June 10. Additional waves will be sent off in 15 minute increments until all registered participants have entered the course.

Online registration is now open at www.raceroster.com. If registering the day of the event, a particular wave time is not guaranteed. A time will be assigned that has not reached capacity. For more information, go to www.portfest.org, call the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce at 870-523-3618 or email director@newportarchamber.org.

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1 p ie c e 1 6 o r 2 h r im p nS Popc or ra B a c k fo T ime ! d e it L im

755 St. Louis Street Batesville 870-793-3303

326 Lindley Lane

870-523-6539

March 2017 |  17

In the Field with Randy Planting Season program in rice is to prevent the weeds useless when not activated timely.

Randy Chlapecka is an agronomist with Farmers Supply Association. He is retired from the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture - Cooperative Extension Service where he served as a County Extension Agent for over 32 years. He is an avid ASU Red Wolves fan and has announced Newport Greyhound sporting events since 1996. He also enjoys vegetable gardening.

March is here and that means planting season is upon us. A large percentage of the fields are ready to plant. It probably wouldn’t hurt for March to be a little cooler and wetter so everyone doesn’t get too crazy about planting. I know that every year is different, but the last couple of years have shown that we don’t necessarily have to push these March plantings of rice and corn like some have in the past to maximize yield potential. It seems that soybeans may be the crop where we need to be pushing the earlier planting, but even there not before April.

I want to focus on preemergence herbicides in rice with this article.

Like with other crops, the main thing you can do to have a good weed control

Notes from the Clearing

Happy Rails

from ever emerging, especially when it comes to the grass weeds. Several things can make postemergence control of grasses difficult including resistance issues, environmental conditions, and getting fields sprayed in a timely manner. So if you can keep the grass from ever emerging, you have a huge advantage and much greater chance of being successful.

The next few years will see the introduction of some very good new rice herbicides and technologies.

These include the new herbicides Loyant and Rogue, the new technology Provisia Rice, and potentially a couple of new preemergence herbicides. But for this year we must rely on pretty much the same arsenal as the last few years.

The list of preemergence grass herbicides for rice basically includes Command, Facet, Bolero and Prowl.

You can also throw in Newpath in Clearfield rice, although I think many see it more for its postemergence activity. The main considerations for each of these herbicides are timing of application and spectrum of grasses controlled. Of course, it goes without saying that moisture for activation is critical. All of these herbicides are excellent when activated and nearly

Command and Facet can both be applied as true preemergence herbicides, which means they can be applied beginning immediately after planting to fields where the rice seed is covered by soil. Bolero and Prowl are considered delayed preemergence herbicides meaning they can be applied after the rice seed has imbibed the moisture it needs for germination, which is typically around 5 days after planting with good moisture conditions.

RICEONE herbicide is a new premix of the active ingredients in Command and Prowl which can be applied beginning delayed preemergence.

These herbicides generally have good activity on most of our major grasses. The exceptions would be that Facet has no activity on sprangletop and Bolero is weak on broadleaf signalgrass.

Always read the label for more specific recommendations on each of these herbicides.

For more information you can contact me through Farmers Supply Association. My cell number is 870318-0739 and my e-mail address is randychlapecka@gmail.com.

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Joseph Thomas The elongated steel rails stretched into the horizon and disappeared in a curve two miles ahead. She wanted nothing more than to be in this seat, upon these rails leading into her future. Though still in the town of her birth, the train was powering up as the last of the passengers hopped aboard and they would

soon be north bound to Chicago. This is where her chance for a new start would begin and as scared as she was, she was equally excited to be all that she could become. She knew now that she was the only person who could stop her and she was no longer going to remain stagnant.

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4.) The Newport Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting recently at Attention Medical Supply, which is now open in the former Kroger building. Stop by and see Tim Martin and staff for your medical supply needs!

5.) WRMC Medical Complex Newport grand opening and Newport Diagnostic Medical Clinic 10th anniversary celebration was held today in their newly renovated complex in the former Kroger building. Includes an after hours clinic on Friday, Saturday and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Walk-ins welcome.

4.

18 |

5.

4 Dogwood Lane $340,000 Brick executive home near Newport Country Club. 4 br, 4 ba, formal living, den w FP, formal dining, screened porch

2200 Missy Circle / NEW LISTING $189,900 Beautiful 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, new floor and windows, jacuzzi tub, downstairs master large shop

2900 Dowell Street $185,000 4br, 2.5 bath, formal living and dining 2 fireplaces, basement strom cellar, corner lot with privacy fence, large bedrooms, tons of closets, double car garage.

2904 Smith Drive $175,000 Brick 3 br, 2.5 ba, formal living/dining, den with fireplace, sunroom, inground pool, detached office/storage

4203 Finegan, Airbase $158,500 2 units move in ready

124 Greenhaw Street, Tuckerman REDUCED $149,900 Built 2014, brick 3B/2B home with open floor plan, recessed lighting, vaulted ceilings, alarm system, all electric, double garage, laminate wood floors, and above ground pool.

305 Lakeside Lane $149,000 3 bedroom, 2 bath, brick, formal dining, den, 2 fireplaces, near high school and country club.

Lots of storage.

8 Park Place $139,000 Two story, Brick, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath.

Den/dining/sunken living room with fireplace.

Recently remodeled. Double garage.

102 N. Holt, Tuckerman NEW LISTING $134,999 3 bedroom, 2 bath, brick, fireplace, huge yard, shop with electricity and overhead door, double garage

2806 Tammy $119,900 3 bedroom, 2 bath brick home on double lot in Galeria

1108 Nancy Ave PENDING -REDUCED $115,000 Very Nice 4 bedroom, 2.5 Bath, Brick home with privacy fence, fireplace, den, living room, dining room, double garage.

1217 Nancy / NEW LISTING PENDING $110,000 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, great neighborhood in ground pool, beautiful backyard

2102 Galeria Drive PENDING $87,500 3 bedroom, 2 bath, single carport, all recently remodeled with new flooring, new sheetrock, fresh paint and carpet. Fenced back yard.

Storage building.

201 Adabelle, Tuckerman $85,000 3 bedroom, 1 bath brick home near school

707 Hodges $82,500 Brick, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, den/living room, large fenced back yard, double carport with storage.

New floors, new CHA, new windows.

1943 Jackson 1, Bradford $68,500 3 bedroom, 2 bath, fireplace on 2 acres with large shop/storage

415 Main St 2br, 1ba $37,000 115 Clay St 2br, 2ba $19,000 414 Logan St 2 br, 1ba $19,900 1318 Dill Street Church building $68,500 1300 Dill Street - PENDING - $3,500 3.5 acres next to Wal-Mart $145,000 212 Devine Street, Tuckerman $65,000 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath Brick

Mary Reid, Realtor (870) 512-8660

102 Cameron Tuckerman $60,000 Brick, 3 bedroom, 1 bath, New CHA with carport 8 x 16 storage building

316 Third Street $19,900 Commercial Building Downtown Newport

732 Malcolm Avenue, Newport (870)523-5100 office / www.bratcher1.com

Lauren Sampson, Realtor (870) 512-8951

Central Baptist Brief The Cool Family

Jarred Elliott is the Teaching Pastor at Central Baptist Church Newport Campus. Jarred was called into the ministry in 2012 and has been pastor at the Newport Campus since the fall of 2014. When he is not tickling his son, Ethan, he enjoys flying airplanes and other types of aircraft with friends. You can learn more about Central Baptist Church and Jarred at www.centralbaptist.com.

You love your kids. It’s obvious.

You try to cultivate an atmosphere of love and warmth in your home. Your house has rules. Even grandparents that utterly and uncompromisingly spoil your children and send them back home, have certain rules. You have curfews, expectations and even chores. You expect something out of them not only because you provide for them but because you care for them. Then comes along the “cool family.” You know what I’m talking about. They have the cool house, the

JCHS

cool parents who don’t believe in the whole “discipline thing.” The cool mom and the cool dad who proclaim to be more so friends with their kids than the archaic and rusty traditional expression “parents.”

They’ve got the cool pool, the cool bonus room, the cool table, the cool silverware, the cool dog. Then they ask your kids to come over and have a cool time at their cool house for a cool sleepover party. The following morning comes and your kids come back from the cool family to their very own, all-too-average and notso-cool, family. It breaks your heart to find that your kids hearts are now divided. They are still reeling from the hum and the appeal of the short-lived freedom and the “what could be” they saw in their friends’ parents. If you ever have experienced this, you know the river of emotions

Happy New Year from the Jackson County Humane Society! We are pleased to report that, thanks to your generous support over the last year, we have been able to help a record number of abused and abandoned dogs and puppies to find forever homes.

However, one week prior to Christmas holiday, the shelter experienced a heavy blow when the outdated wallmounted heaters stopped working. We had hoped that they would live through the winter to no avail. The good news is that new central heat, duct work and foam insulation have been installed. Dogs are warm and dry, and the new equipment and insulation puts the pups in a generally

Things To Do

Word of Mouth Attention all towns in Jackson County. We are always looking for upcoming events that you may want to make our readers aware of. So, send me an email of what you have coming up (a month early if possible) and we will be your word of mouth. eyeonjoseph@gmail.com. Also send along any pictures of that great party or banquet and we will share.

ASUN Patron Series

The 2016-2017 ASUN Patron Series will wrap up Saturday April 8 with “Sounds of Summer,” a tribute that tells the story of America’s band - The Beach Boys.

Individual tickets for each performance are on sale now, but choice seats may be purchased now by supporting the series through Patron Sponsorship. Patron Sponsorship, at

that you experience as a result. But you see behind the “cool curtain.”

You see the low hanging fruit of disobedience from their children due to a lack of structure and discipline.

You see the unrest in their marriage because of the debt load they carry to keep their social status. You can see the discontent that possessions ultimately deliver and the emptiness in their eyes when they speak to you in conversation. Their joy comes when fun arrives and evaporates when fun packs up its things and goes. You can clearly see that all that they truly possess is appearance. This illustrates all too well what happens between God and His people when they forget their true citizenship. Don’t be swept away by all the superficiality that the world has to offer, but rather in childlike faith, trust in the unchangeable God who knows what’s best for you and remember that your home is in the heavens where Christ is.

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healthier situation.

Now the bad news: We have to pay for it. These expenses supersede general expenses. Cost of project is $8,600. A few donations have come in but we are needing help. As a result, we have kicked off our “winter campaign” to help with this unexpected, hefty expense for the shelter.

If you would like to donate to the winter campaign, please send payment to: JCHS, P.O. Box 154, Newport, AR 72112 Or contribute online at: https://www.gofundme. com/jchs-winter-campaign. The Humane Society is a 501(c) (3) organization and donations are tax deductible. If you would like a receipt for your donation, please include your contact information with your donation. Thank you for your support. Sincerely, Ann Hout, JCHS President. N

just $100 per couple $50 per individual, allows the sponsor to then select and purchase their season tickets in advance at more than 50% off the regular price. To become a Patron Sponsor or for more information, contact Sandra Pankey at 870.523.5453 or 870.217.3711.

Manna Manna Food Pantry is located in the Newport Pentecostal Church of God at 205 Ray street in Newport.

They are an open door pantry which means people that are in need can come in and choose the items that their family will enjoy. They do not go by any kind of income guide lines and are open every Tuesday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. They have partnered with the NEA food bank in jonesboro and so are able to help more people in need. Anyone looking to donate to the pantry can contact Gail Poole. at 501-4731560 or log on to www.newportpcg.com. They also accept food donations. N March 2017 | 21

Seniors, can we talk?

Claim Questions

Support Our Advertisers 2 Chicks Nursery & Gifts---------------------------- 17 ASUN Patron Series----------------------------------16

Caroline Beauchamp is a local insurance agent for M & P Insurance & Investment Services. She offers personalized life and health insurance solutions and is known for her widelypublished informational column, ‘Caroline, Can We Talk?’.

Ruth brought a friend, Hannah, to my office because Hannah needed help. She enrolled in a Medicare supplement policy “on line” using her computer. Now she has a claim and has questions about how it was paid.

She called the insurance company and didn’t get a satisfactory answer or an answer that she could understand. Ruth asked if I could help her.

Since she enrolled “on line”, the insurance company is not allowed to give anyone but Hannah information about her policy. I called the insurance company and got a “release” that Hannah signed that authorized them to provide me information about her policy. I was then able to get information and help Hannah with her claim questions.

Hannah told me the reason she enrolled “on line” is because she thought the premium would be less. You may think the same thing.

Actually if you enroll “on line”, directly with an insurance company on the phone or with a qualified, professional agent, the premium is the same. The advantage of having an agent is that you have someone who you can always contact directly; you’ll always talk with the same person and that person has a true interest in you and your well being.

Then later that week a customer’s daughter called. She and her mother were both in a panic. Her mother needed to get her prescriptions filled and could not find her Medicare prescription ID card. She could not remember what company it was with – she could not find any of the information I had given her or that the insurance company had mailed her. They had no idea where to go to get help to find out what prescription company she enrolled in. She had already paid all the premiums for the year but the check had not cleared and it was not in her check register.

Oh, my! Then they called me. Since her daughter has power of attorney, I was able to give her all the information she needed for her mother to get her prescriptions filled. I also ordered her mother a new ID card. After the panic was gone, the daughter took a deep breath and said “Oh my, what if mom had enrolled directly with an insurance company or didn’t keep your business card nearby? How would we have ever known?”

Am I biased about working with a qualified, professional agent? Yes, and these two recent issues are reasons why.

Will you need help like Hannah and my customer? Who will you call?

As Ruth tells her friends, work with an agent. Work with someone you trust and you feel is looking out for you and your well being – someone who will take care of you.

Did you know that most agents represent several insurance companies? This way they can help you find the company and plan that fits you.

Got questions? Just call me at 501-868-6650 and say “Caroline, can we talk?” N

Bank of England--------------------------------------19 Bratcher Real Estate-------------------------------- 20 Bridge Salon & Spa-----------------------------------14 CIX Tapas Bar & Restaurant------------------------19 Cruise Planners---------------------------------------- 4 Custom Eyes Vision Care---------------------------- 13 Debra Thompson, CPA------------------------------14 D Q Grill & Chill-------------------------------------- 17 Eagle Pest Control------------------------------------14 Eagle Pest Control------------------------------------19 Fortune Inn and Suites------------------------------23 George Kell Motors, Inc------------------------------ 3 Jackson’s Funeral Home----------------------------23 KBAP 88.1 FM----------------------------------------- 7 Lindley Health & Rehab Center, LLC-------------- 17 May I Be Of Service...--------------------------------14 Merchants and Planters Bank-----------------------16 M & P Insurance and Investment Services

5

NEA Baptist Clinic-----------------------------------19 N E D C------------------------------------------------- 4 Pettie & Meitzen--------------------------------------14 Red Tie Meat Shop-----------------------------------14 Robert O. Seat---------------------------------------- 12 Shelter Insurance, Mark Manning------------------19 Southern Bank----------------------------------------- 8 St. Michael’s Place------------------------------------- 3 The Kitchen Shop------------------------------------23 Unique Nosh------------------------------------------14 Unity Health Harris Medical Center---------------24 Unity Health Harris Medical Center---------------- 2 U S Pizza-----------------------------------------------14 White River Medical Center-------------------------- 9

22 | How long has it been since you’ve whiled away the hours in the breeze blown crook of a tree?

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Drink

hot tea

Warm up this winter - and reduce calories with a mug of piping hot tea containing antioxidants that have multiple health benefits.

(870) 523-8911 | Unity-Health.org