Eye On Magazine January 2018

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THIS PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED BY: MeadowLand Media, Inc. / 504 Guffey St. / Newport, AR 72112 870.503.1150 / eyeonjoseph@eyeonmag.com.

PUBLISHER / Associate EDITOR / MANAGING EDITOR / Creative Director / AD DESIGN: Joseph Thomas ADVERTISING: Kimberlee Thomas, Adrienne Freeman PROOFING Department: Joseph Thomas, Kimberlee Thomas Staff PHOTOGRAPHERS: Kimberlee Thomas, Joseph Thomas, Robert O. Seat PRINTING COMPANY: Corning Publishing Company Eye On Magazine 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 © 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.

Cover painted by Billy Martin Cover Design by Joseph Thomas

Shalyn Carlile 870.834.9125 Associate

Trudy Hall 870.612.3566 Associate

For advertising, distribution, or editorial contribution, contact Joseph Thomas, 870.252.0013 or eyeonjoseph@eyeonmag.com.

Eye On Independence received the 2012 Innovative Project award for outstanding, innovative, continuous or effective coverage of literacy issues, resulting in positive change or improvement.

The Ozark Gateway Tourist Council awarded Eye On Independence the 2014 Wilson Powell Media Support Award for its dedication to tourism in the Gateway Region and Arkansas.

Serving Bald Knob, Batesville, Cave City, Melbourne, Mountain View, Newport, Southside, Swifton & Tuckerman.

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In This Issue 6/ Editor’s Note New Year Happy

39/ Unity Health Harris

2018 Resolution: Turn Dreaming into Doing

40/ Cherri Design

Organic Food Is Healthier...Right?

41/ Myers-Davis Life Coaching

Adventures Come In All Sizes

42/ Thyme Enough

Resolutions and Life

44/ Smith’s Verdict ***

Mitchell - Stice Wedding

46/ Cover Story

What to Expect

49/ In the Field with Randy

New Year’s Food

50/ Often Overlooked Beauty

7/ Trending @ ASUN 9/ Tasty Talk

10/ Adventures in Arkansas

12/ Tales of a Transplanted Fashionista 17/ I Do

20/ Seniors, can we talk?

21/ Great Tastes

22/ Local Faces 36/ Things To Do

Compassionate Care Laundry Room

Finding Your Passion / Meaning in Life Vegatable Soup

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl Pat Cash

Good Weather, Yields and Prices!

The Dog Did What?

53/ Notes from the Clearing The Weight of One Sock

'Most of my life I have wished for a pretty smile, but even after braces didn't get that. Dr Chunn and his staff went above and beyond to help me achieve that dream.' -Brenda R

Editor’s Note

New Year Happy Joseph Thomas

Here’s hoping this newborn year is more kind, more open and less resistant to your deepest wishes. We are glad to bring you our seventh January issue as we look forward to so much this new year. Also, happy to share another great article laden publication full of your favorites, such as: Scott Parker’s tribute to some of his best friends, Myers-Davis shares an article about meaning, Hannah Rogers talks organic and Kacey Burge welcomes Pat “Aunt Minnie” Cash to our very graced cover. I have another installment of The Weight of One Sock, Cherri Rodgers spruces up the Laundryroom and Caroline Beauchamp shares more of her medicare expertise. Tanner Smith reviews Me and Earl and The Dying Girl, the Barnetts share a Vegetable Soup recipe, Randy Chlapecka sends wishes of good farming conditions for 2018 and Karin Mohlke Huffman shares her recent scary adventure with her sister, Kat (who we wish all the best of healing).

Michelle Foshee speaks of Unity’s Compassionate Care, Adrienne Freeman shares some New Year’s Food, Leigh Keller shares another Fashionista installment, we have Local Faces, Things To Do and much more! So, tag along, read as you can and share your stories with us so that we can share them with everyone else. Enjoy and make the most of your 2018!

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photo by Robert O. Seat

WWW.KENTSFIRESTONE.COM 1316 E. Main, “at ST. Louis and Main”

6 Eye On Magazine

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2018 Resolution: Turn Dreaming into Doing Dr. Sandra Massey has been Chancellor of Arkansas State University-Newport since September, 2013.

Previously serving in student affairs and academic leadership posts in Arkansas and Oklahoma, she and her husband Ward make Newport, Arkansas home.

They have two children, Brittany and granddaughters Maggie and Ava of Jonesboro, Arkansas and Reese and granddaughter Maybelle Scout of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dr. Massey enjoys running, lake activities and spending time with her granddaughters.

It’s New Year’s resolution time again – time to dust off the treadmill, bust out the pedometer, and start setting those weight-loss goals. But, let’s admit it: despite our January 1st resolve, by January 15th we often find ourselves sliding back into old habits: the treadmill is covered in laundry, the pedometer is sitting untouched on the counter, and we’re sitting on the couch finishing off that popcorn tin.

This year, why not take a different approach – a more holistic approach. Instead of focusing on your number of steps per day, why not focus on the quality of the “steps” you take? Consider embracing the following challenge in 2018: “Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and the thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see the greatness within you” – Edmund Lee. Surrounding Yourself with the Dreamers, the Doers, the Believers and the Thinkers, and Turning Dreaming into Doing From the time we’re children, we dream about our futures and the exciting careers we’ll one day have. Perhaps you’re drawn to computers and machinery and someday see yourself in information technology or advanced manufacturing; perhaps you have a calling to serve and protect the community and envision yourself in criminal justice or law enforcement; or perhaps you’re a natural at caring for others and dream of being a nurse or EMT. Whatever your calling, at ASUN, you will be surrounded with professionals dedicated to turning your career dreams into reality. ASUN offers programs for first-time students who want to take the initial step towards achieving their dreams, plus programs for working students who may need additional training to achieve career goals. With dozens of programs from general education in business and law enforcement, to health care services including surgical technology and nursing, to applied sciences like welding and high-voltage lineman… ASUN puts dreamers on the path to being doers, and ASUN faculty and staff are here to guide you every step of the way.

Dreamers, Doers, Believers, and Thinkers Make ASUN an Exceptional Place to Learn At ASUN, students are surrounded by dreamers, doers, believers, and thinkers. The staff, the faculty, the students, the alumni, the employer partners, the donors and the community not only inspire me to be my best but encourage each other, and most importantly our students, to work hard and achieve their full potential.

Take Darbi Jaynes, for instance. As a high school student, Darbi cared for her ailing grandmother. In the process, Darbi found she was drawn to nursing. Since then, Darbi has gone from dreamer to doer by completing ASUN’s Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program and earning her Associate’s Degree in Nursing. Darbi currently works at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital – Jonesboro Clinic and is starting ASUN’s bachelor’s program in nursing this Spring!

Then there’s Danielle Hurst. While in high school, Danielle dreamed of every profession EXCEPT nursing!

She wanted to travel, meet people, fly, and simply couldn’t see herself in a traditional job. It was Danielle’s mom – a nurse – who convinced Danielle that nursing would afford her the opportunity to work anywhere in the world, meet interesting people, and even fly in rescue helicopters.

Danielle’s mom helped her realize that as a nurse, every day would be exciting and different. And Danielle listened.

Since then, Danielle has earned her LPN designation and is working at Sherwood Urgent Care where she “floats” between clinics and gets to experience something new every day. Soon Danielle will be moving on to UAMS, where she’s landed a nursing job and plans to work her way up to her ultimate dream job as a nurse in the UAMS NICU. Darbi and Danielle obviously have some things in common, but the most important thing they have in common is ASUN. Both Darbi and Danielle attribute their success to those at ASUN who walked with them every step of the way. In fact, when talking with them, both mentioned they have a special place in their hearts for their nursing instructors and the many gifted leaders who were there for them, believed in them every step of the way, and ultimately helped them turn their dreams into reality.

ASUN Sees the Greatness in You So what is your dream for 2018? Do you want to take 10,000 steps per day, or do you want to take the one big “step” that will change your future forever? If you are up to the challenge, ASUN is here for you. If surrounding yourself with dynamic people dedicated to your success sounds like a big-picture resolution worth keeping, you’ll be in good company at ASUN. You’ll find a wise team of professionals committed to walking beside you as you identify your passion, maximize your strengths, and transform those strengths into a productive, fulfilling career. Be known by the company you keep in 2018…by the ASUN dreamers, doers, believers and thinkers ready to unleash the greatness in you.

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January 2018 7

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Tasty Talk

Organic Food Is Healthier...Right?

Hannah Rogers recently returned home after serving 5 years in the U.S. Coast Guard as a cook. She enjoys time with her dog, baking, hiking, and serving others.

Hannah is currently in the process of establishing Hananel Bakery in Batesville

As the new year dawns, the resolution to eat healthy is at the top of a lot of people’s to-do list. Making the switch to all organic food, eating more vegetables, and not eating sugar is typically what one thinks is a healthy diet. But is the expensive organic food actually healthier for us? What exactly do the different organic labels mean?

First, the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) defines organic food as being produced by farmers who use renewable resources and conserves soil and water to improve environmental quality for the future generations. Meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs are all to come from animals that are not given any antibiotics or growth hormones. This refers to the treatment of animals, not their by-products. Furthermore, farmers are to produce food without the use of most conventional pesticides, fertilizers that contain synthetic ingredients 8 Eye On Magazine

or sewage sludge, ionizing radiation, or bioengineering.

To put “organic” on the label, a Government-approved certifier visits the farm to inspect their practices. If the above rules were followed, then the farm will be certified organic and can put the label on their product.

The interesting part of all this is that the companies who handle or process organic labeled food before it reaches its final destination have to be certified, as well.

Now, the USDA has three categories of organic labeling. The first is “100% organic“, which means that the product is 100% organic. The second is “organic.”

This category is labeled as organic if the product contains at least 95% of organic ingredients. The last category includes products that are made with at least 70% of organic ingredients. The other 30% of ingredients have to follow strict restrictions, in which one of those rules is that they have to contain no genetically modified organisms. The flip side of this category is that if a product contains less than 70% of organic ingredients, they can only claim that the product is made with organic ingredients. Products in this category will be labeled as “made with organic ingredients.” eyeonmag.com

Not only can some organic sprays contain harmful ingredients, organic food can also be grown using the same harmful sprays and bioengineered like its nonorganic counterpart. However, research does say that organic food contains more nutritional value than nonorganic. Some studies say it is only slightly more nutritional, while other studies say it is a lot more.

Either way, organic food does actually contain more antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals than non-organic.

So rest assured that organic is healthy, no matter how minor or large the nutritional value difference.

So how do we know if organic produce or animal by-products are not actually toxic? Making the switch to organic may provide a little extra nutrition, but are we really just eating the same thing as the non-organic version? That is why it is so important to know what you are eating. Do some research on the companies that you frequently purchase. The time spent finding out is well worth the knowledge!

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Adventures in Arkansas

Adventures Come In All Sizes Me and Kat 2 weeks free surgery.

Karin Mohlke Huffman is a stay at home mom. She enjoys hiking, camping being outdoors, and gardening. Karin is married to Nathan Huffman and mother of three children.

Hello 2018!!! I hope you all enjoyed the holiday season, and are geared up for what’s to come this year. I must say as the last few months of 2017 rolled in, I wasn’t sad at all to see them go.

I received a call from my sister, Kathleen in October that made me stop in my tracks, and the only words I heard were “brain” and “cyst.” My world stopped for a brief moment, and then my “let’s get this fixed” attitude kicked in, and asked all the stupid questions one asks when their best friend is about to get their head cut open.

What caused this? How scary is the surgery? What is the recovery time?

Then I stopped asking questions, and just said “I don’t care about any of that, let’s just get you better.”

Our little adventure started on November 21 at 5 am with as much laughter as we could muster up walking towards the surgery waiting room. My sister is timid, sweet and wouldn’t hurt a fly. She’s the type of person who makes bullies apologize and they become better people. I’ve never met a person who didn’t like her, with the exception of one girl who punched her over a boy in high school, and they became friends shortly after. All in all, she’s just a downright good person who would give anyone the shirt off her back. She rarely takes the lead in any situation simply because she wants the people around her to be happy, and she is the last person to complain. Well, this timid, quiet gal walks up the flight of stairs to her surgeon with her head held tall, and with all the confidence in the world.

I, of course, was holding back tears the whole time trying to be the strong big sister all while watching my very best friend walk into the 10 Eye On Magazine

hands of a man I had never met before. AND he was going to cut her head open!!!

Kat had a colloid cyst in the third ventricle of her brain. These little punks are fairly rare, but easy to pinpoint and treat once they’re detected. If they get bigger than about 1 cm, that’s when stuff gets real, and the outcome can be pretty bad. The cool thing about this cyst is they stick to a pattern, and once the surgeon finds out it’s there, it can be taken out fairly easily. Needless to say, the surgery was a success, and yes, that little “hitchhiker” (that’s what my sister called it) is gone for good. The cyst was just under 1 cm, and thank goodness she had surgery when she did, or who knows what the outcome may have been.

Okay, so surgery is out of the way! Now, we wait. Kat had to stay in ICU for a few days to recover.

The girls and I spent Thanksgiving in the ICU waiting room with my brother in laws parents, Ricky and Johnnie, and we made the very

best of it. Nathan showed up on Thanksgiving, and although it was an odd holiday, I didn’t want to be anywhere else but right there.

The moment I saw Kat after surgery was a moment of relief

Kathleen, vaden and Eva Mae

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Kat and Grace 3 days after surgery.

Kat and Eva Mae with Ricky and Johnnie.

The stages of Kat surgery and recovery.

and shock. I knew she had brain surgery, but wasn’t expecting to see a scar with 25 staples going down the center of her skull. There she was, smiling away with a thumbs up just like I knew she would be.

I have to brag on my brother in law, Vaden, for just a bit as he never left her side, was the best advocate she could have had in the hospital and just plain good dude showing us all what a good husband should do for his wife. One word for him. Amazing.

One word that kept swirling through my mind with all of this was warrior. Kat walked into this madness strong and educated about the situation, and never faltered. She was the queen of positivity every moment. To say that I am proud of her is an understatement.

Recovery is still ongoing, but she is tough with that as well. She was supposed to stay in ICU for 3 days, and she beat the odds on that too and was actually home on the 3rd day after surgery. She is tougher than she looks.

Kat headed back to work one month to the day after her surgery. Her scar looks amazing.

She’s back to her old self.

I want to thank every person who checked in on her, prayed for her, sent out positivity and were there for us.

I’m just glad our little “monkey poop” is back where she belongs, and that her adventure ended right where it started, in the arms of her family.

Happy New Year Everyone!

N January 2018 11

Tales of a Transplanted Fashionista Resolutions and Life

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

I used to fall prey to all kinds of resolutions at the beginning of a fresh new year, resolutions to lose weight, save money and to keep my home neat and constantly organized (ha). Walk inside any gym on the first week of January, and you’ll see lots of people who made similar plans for the new year. But the problem with resolutions is that life happens. Our kids’ schedules get busy, the weather turns colder (yuck) and let’s face it, change is hard.

Change is so hard that when faced with a blink of being uncomfortable, most people will choose to just stick with their old habits, regardless of how bad they might be for them. So much about change is changing your mindset, and to change your mindset, you have to admit that the way you have been thinking is not so good for you.

I found something on Pinterest that I introduced to my small group, and it is actually a fabulous list of eight things you CAN do to change your life in one year.

Stop complaining and realize how stinking lucky and blessed you are every day. Ouch. We seem to be addicted to complaining. It’s cold outside. It’s hot outside. I don’t like my child’s teacher. I don’t like my child’s school. I don’t like my skin. I don’t like my body. I don’t like broccoli (that last one was for my own child). If we hear any of those things come out of our children’s’ mouths, they sound a lot like whining...and whining makes most parents absolutely crazy. So, why do we allow ourselves to speak that way?

We recently found out that Cole’s school, Central, will be closing. I don’t do uncertainty well, so this took me a hot minute, but one of the blessings is he will get to be with kids he was with in preschool. Change is HARD. But changing the way you think about it, when you cannot change anything about the situation is the healthiest way to handle it.

Embrace loneliness. One of the main issues women talk to me about is loneliness. I have learned to cherish my quiet, alone time. I am an extrovert, but I love my time at home. Being constantly surrounded by people, or in unhealthy relationships, does not mean that you are not going to be lonely. Sometimes God places quiet and alone time in your life to get you to learn something in the process. (also difficult for most people to accept) Say “Girl Bye” to the people in your life who don’t bring positive energy. I read that life changing book, “The Best Yes” last summer and it absolutely changed my life. I am a pleaser and a yes woman. I would scurry around from activity to activity, helping this person and that person, only to find in the end that most did not appreciate it, and the people suffering the most were the very people I loved the most (my family). I counsel teenagers and tell them 12 Eye On Magazine

with frequency that you can dismiss people from your life.

You do not have to be cruel, but you can stop giving them precious energy.

Turn off the TV and put down your phone. My child is a talker, and can be very insightful. But when he’s playing a game, he becomes an unresponsive zombie. So, I gather that I probably seem that way to him when I am hooked into my phone. I have found that when I watch TV, most of it is just mindless fluff to me, I am watching it to rest my brain. But I love to talk to my kid, and hear his take on things.

Pick one skill you want to work on and work on it. If you pine away for a garden, then plant a garden. If you have always wanted to try yoga, then sign up for a class. Life is full of possibilities. We encourage our kids to try new things, make new friends, be positive and full of energy all the time, but we hold ourselves to a different standard.

Commit to the goals you set and don’t look back.

Regular exercise and healthier meals will make you feel better. I found a life change last year and stuck with it.

Exercise is a stress reliever, and most of the time, if you find a gym you love, you will find the accountability of other people there. The encouragement (and harassment, ha) of other women has made me stick with it. If you commit to paying off your debts, while it will be difficult, imagine how different your life will look at the end of the journey!!

Sweat every day to boost your mood. There have been so many times that I most certainly did not in any way, shape, or form want to go to the gym. But I went, and I was always happy that I did. Just taking yourself out for a quick walk can lift your spirits. I do this at work from time to time, and chances are I will run into someone who was needing to talk too.

Fall forward. Learn from your mistakes. How would we accept things if we allowed our children to make a mistake and just drop out of school and live in our basements forever? Um. We wouldn’t. So, why do you allow yourself eyeonmag.com

to do that? There is something to be learned from every closed door. I have to pray myself through rejection, and pray for God to point me in the direction I’m supposed to go, instead of sitting down in it and wallowing, which would be the easy way to handle. You can do the hard things, you can move forward, one minute, one hour, and one day at a time.

Let 2018 be the year that you break the bonds of terrible habits. If you can’t do it for yourself, then do it for the people who love and cherish you the most, your family, your children and your dog (who would love a run around the yard with you). N

Eye Services:

January 2018 13

In February 2004, Bro. Curt Howard made his first trip to Maple Springs with the intent to preach for one Sunday and move on. But God’s plan was different. In April 2004 Bro. Curt preached his first sermon as pastor of Maple Springs Missionary Baptist Church.

Listen Sunday mornings on KWOZ 103.3 at 9 am to Fire From Heaven

God has abundantly blessed Maple Springs MBC during Bro. Curt’s ministry. In March 2008, the church moved into a new building at 4225 Newport Road and celebrated an attendance in excess of 250 on that day. Since that time, the church has expanded our building twice and now enjoys attendance of 400 or more on most Sundays.

Why the focus on our numbers? Each number represents a soul precious to God and to Maple Springs MBC.

We at Maple Springs MBC want Bro. Curt Howard and the world to know how we love and appreciate our pastor. He stands firm on the King James Bible and on following the leadership of the Holy Ghost.

We look forward to many years of your leadership as you follow God’s leading for our church.

4225 Newport Road, Maple Springs

14 Eye On Magazine

We invite you to join us in worship at the following times.

Sunday School 10:00 a.m.

Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.

Sunday Evening 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday Evening 7:00 p.m.

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January 2018 17

I Do

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, four grandchildren and is an elite tree climber and recent Mushroom Hunter.

Mitchell - Stice Wedding Maison Mitchell entered a coffee shop in the fall of 2012. It was Charle’s Lil Shop of Coffee inside of Natalie’s Restaurant, at the time, located in the Cottages on College Street in Batesville Arkansas. She ordered a White Chocolate Mocha. It was a normal day, a delicious coffee and a fateful moment. For it was in that moment that Maison first met Charles Stice.

She says she was immediately enamored, “with the cute and charming barista, so I started frequenting the coffee shop.” Maison says their relationship progressed as she began to follow him on Twitter. He began messaging her and sent her his phone number. “We started dating and he officially asked me to be his girlfriend at midnight on New Years of 2013.”

“It was October 26, 2016 when Charles asked me to marry him at Mikes Place in Conway, Arkansas. He rented out the back room and decorated it with about 1,000 lights,” Maison says, adding, “He invited all of my close family and friends. After I said yes, we ate and celebrated!”

The wedding was a beautiful ceremony in the Downtown Batesville Pocket Park on Main Street, October 21, 2017. The maid of honors were Madeline Mitchell and Anna Balch; the best men were Sean Kilday and Nathan Robbins; the flower girls were Amelia Cinder Nail and Addie Ballard; and the ring bearer was Chase Dean Mitchell.

Charles is currently working at State Farm in Conway, Arkansas and Maison is in undergraduate school at the University of Central Arkansas majoring in biology and minoring in sociology. “We spend our weekends being lazy with our sweet pup, Remi. In our free time we love to travel and hang out with our family and friends,” explains Maison. She says they plan on staying in central Arkansas, enjoying each other and their marriage. Charles will continue working at State Farm and she will attend the Physician Assistant program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Science.

Eye On congratulates them both and wishes them all the continued best as they walk hand in hand into the future they choose.

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“Love is in the air for a new year! “

Creating Memories

2401 Harrison St, Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-8287

Seniors, can we talk?

What to Expect

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?’.

It’s over –the Annual Election Period – and done for this year. The commercials should stop soon and your “junk” mail should be less. Isn’t it great to have a personal agent to talk with so you don’t have to try to remember what the commercials said or read and study all that mail!

(Those plans may not even be offered where you live. It’s general information that’s not tailored to you.)

Yes, there will be changes next year – there are every year, right? Let’s talk about Medicare changes effective January 1, 2018. The Part A (hospital inpatient) deductible will change from $1316 for each benefit period to $1340 for each benefit period. The coinsurance per day of each benefit period days 61-90 will change from $329 to $335.

The coinsurance per day of each benefit period days 91 and beyond will change from $658 to $670.

There are NO changes in Part B (doctor services). The 20 Eye On Magazine

Part B deductible of $183 will remain $183. There are NO changes in the standard Part B premium. Most people who are new to Medicare will pay $134 for Part B which is the same as in 2017.

Your Part B premium is related to your income.

Specifically, your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) reported on your IRS tax return 2 years ago (2016). If you filed an individual tax return in 2016 and your MAGI was above $85,000, you will pay an “Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount” – IRMAA. If you filed a joint tax return in 2016 and your MAGI was above $170,000, you will pay an additional amount. If you filed married and separate tax return in 2016 and your MAGI was above $85,000, you will pay an additional amount.

Based on which income bracket you fall in and how you filed your tax return the additional amount you pay in 2018 may change. The amount you owe will change if you filed an individual tax return in 2016 showing MAGI above $133,500. This will also apply to you if you filed a joint tax return in 2016 showing MAGI above $267,000 and above $85,000, if you filed married and separate.

The income brackets changed but the additional amount owed in each bracket stayed the same. If you pay more than the standard premium, these changes could cause you to pay more in 2018.

Your Part D (prescription plan) monthly premium is also income related. If your income is above $85,000 filing individual, $170,000 filing joint or $85,000 filing married and separate, you will pay an income related adjustment amount. This additional amount is above your Part D (prescription plan) monthly premium. The income brackets are the same as those that apply to your Part B premium.

This may not be good news or a very positive way to end this year but you need to be prepared. If you’ve got questions or concerns going into this new year, call me at 501-868-6650 and say “Caroline, can we talk?”

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Great Tastes

New Year’s Food 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 adrienne@whimsyandwow.com.

I hope everyone has had a very merry holiday season so far. So many fun and wonderful traditions are observed in this magical time, beginning with Thanksgiving turkey right through Christmas mistletoe, but don’t forget the equally important traditions of the New Year. Not just the rowdy New Years Eve celebration!

All cultures practice different things to bring in the New Year properly.

A variety of foods that are believed to be lucky and to improve the odds that next year will be a great one.

Not all are covered here, but six major categories of food are considered fortunate - grapes, greens, fish, pork, legumes, and cakes. Whether you want to create a full menu of lucky foods or just supplement your meal, we have an assortment of choices, guaranteed to make for a happy new year, or at least a very happy belly.

Cooked Greens Cooked greens, including cabbage, collards, turnip, kale, and chard, are consumed at New Year’s in different countries for a simple reason — their green leaves look like folded money, and are thus symbolic of economic fortune. In the south, collards or turnip greens are the green of choice. It’s widely believed that the more greens one eats the larger one’s fortune next year.

Peas and Beans Legumes including beans, peas, and lentils are symbolic of money. Their small, seedlike appearance resembles coins that swell when cooked so they are consumed with financial rewards in mind.

In the South, we are all familiar with black-eyed peas on New Years for luck. Sometimes this is made into a dish called Hoppin’ John. This practice traces back to the legend that during the Civil War, the town of Vicksburg, Mississippi, ran out of food while under attack. The residents fortunately discovered black-eyed peas that were mistaken for cattle feed by the Yankees and left behind. These simple dishes got the starving citizens through the winter and thereafter have been considered lucky. Often this tasty treat is made with….

because thanks to its rich fat content, it signifies wealth and prosperity.

But Don’t Eat… Chicken is discouraged because the bird scratches backwards, which has the diner “scratching” for his food the next year. Another theory warns against eating any winged fowl because good luck could fly away. Same goes for lobster - it moves backward and can cause a “setback”.

I make a very casual “Hoppin’ John” but many families have their own traditional variations, adding red or green peppers or additional spices. All are delicious! I cook my dried peas with a ham hock and no bell pepper, and add a can of Rotel tomatoes when they are soft and adjust the seasoning. Sometimes a quick squeeze fresh lemon may be needed to cut the rich fat. Serve with piping hot rice and a nice slab of golden cornbread (sunshine!). Happy New Year!

Hoppin’ John Ingredients: 2 Tablespoons butter 1 small onion, chopped 1 can Rotel tomatoes Garlic powder 2 cups black-eye peas, cooked with ham hock 2 cups cooked rice, hot Directions: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.

Soften onion in butter for about 5 minutes. Add peas, tomatoes, and garlic powder, to taste, cook an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Adjust seasonings to taste. Serve over hot rice. N

Pork The custom of eating pork on New Year’s is based on the idea that pigs symbolize progress. The animal pushes forward, rooting itself in the ground before moving, symbolizing progress. Pork also is consumed January 2018 21

Christmas

Local Faces

At Central Magnet 2nd Place Part 1.

1st Place.

Celebrity Judges for the Christmas Door Contest were State Representative, James Sturch and Miss Independence County, Sharissa Herekamp.

2nd Place Part 2.

3rd Place.

Central Teachers recently held a Christmas door contest. The 1st place grand prize winner was 2nd grade teacher, Ms. Jessica Mead with her Grinch up the Chimney with the tree and presents. 2nd place winner was ESL teacher, Suzette Cowden with her great Difani/Grinch Christmas message. Her door is in 2 parts. The 3rd place winner was interventionist, Pam Bullington, She had lights and music on her door.

Each of the Door Contest winners recieved gift certificates from the PTO. N

Central Elementary had a Winter Festival for it's students on the last day of school before the Holiday Break. Klayton Putman and Nora Willette are racing with ornaments on spoons to see who can get all three ornaments into Teresa Toy’s bucket the first.

N

Central 4-H and K-Kids clubs went to the fairgrounds to help box all the canned and dry goods that were donated from Central students to Christmas Brings Hope. The school donated close to 2300 canned and dry goods for the Christmas Brings Hope project.

At the Fairgrounds there were over 1000 boxes being filled. Mr. Ted Hall said they had over 985 requests for food and they always get a few extra around distribution time. N

Central students from left, Melody Martinez, Jaydon Ly, and Keith Huskey load up food to put in the boxes.

22 Eye On Magazine

Shows around 700 boxes being filled with food in one of the Fairgrounds buildings. The other 300 boxes are in another building.

Central students from the bottom Lindsey Sinele, Anslee Brewer, Addie Gillmore, and Laura Miguel gather food to put into the boxes. eyeonmag.com

Christmas Brings Hope

At Central Magnet

The Central 4-H and K-Kids clubs (5-6 grades) that helped with the collections.

They are surrounded by the canned goods that had been collected at that time.

Central 4-H and K-Kids clubs collected almost 2300 can and dry goods from the families at Central this Christmas season. The two clubs worked hard collecting, counting, sorting, and boxing the goods to be sent to the fairgrounds to be packed for families this Christmas. They also took a field trip to the fairground to help with the packing and distribution.

On the left Lindsey Sinele and Matt Lloyd and Shana Headley on the right help sort through the canned goods getting them Ready for packing. In the back left Melody Martinez and Faith Bales help Ms.Teresa Toy on the right.

Central Students working at the Fairgrounds sign in first. Everyone who works at the fairground on Christmas Brings Hope needs to sign in. This helps for information on Community participation when they are applying for grant money to buy the food.

N

Central 4-H and K-Kids club members that went to the fairgrounds to help box and sort food. front Row left, Laura Miguel, Jaydon Ly, Keith Huskey, Ty Fairchild, and Jenkins Ruth. Back Row left, Shaylah Swaim, Anslee Brewer, Addie Gillmore, Lindsey Sinele, Faith Bales, and Melody Martinez.

January 2018 23

A book study conducted in Mrs. Paige Akins' first grade classroom at Central Elementary in Batesville, Arkansas. Mrs. Akins' class read the book, Junie B. Jones:Boss of Lunch. After reading the book, students visited the school's cafeteria. Cafeteria workers explained the importance of sanitation while working in the lunchroom. In addition, students were able to view the lunchroom equipment.

Lastly, the workers explained the importance of math in dealing with the lunchroom paperwork and cooking in general. The student reading the book is Reed Beal. The student exploring the hair net is Taft Ward.

N Below, Central STEM teacher, Pam Baxter, has been working on designing the perfect cup to keep things cold in the 6th grade and the students are learning about sight and the eye in the 4th grade classes. N

Above, from Left, Kaleb Finley, Anthony Espinoza and Patrick Cargill are dissecting sheep eyeballs in the STEM class. They are in Mr. Hall's 4th grade.

From the right, Addie Gillmore, Melody Martinez, Shaylah Swaim, and Laura Miguel are all trying to reproduce there cup designs for testing.

Image left, shows Central 4-H After School club, who made a float to ride in the Christmas Parade down Main Street this season. On the front row left is Taebyn Ward, Rorie Snider, Kaylee Mathews, and Tori Crabtree. Back Row left is Jaydon Ly, Taft Ward, Melody Martinez, Faith Bales, Ainsley Stolarik, and Leslie Carrosa.

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From the left, Dylan Hernandez, Chris Diaz, right back Parker Armstrong and Jenkins Ruth are working on making their design for an insulated cup. All the designs were tested to see which cup design gained the most heat in timed periods. They are in Mrs. Alison Baxter's 6th grade class.

Ms. Pam Baxter, STEM teacher is holding a sheep eyeball ready for dissection by the 4th grade classes. eyeonmag.com

Sulphur Rock Elementary Students in EAST at Sulphur Rock Elementary saw the need for directions & recipes for the Christmas Brings Hope boxes given out in Independence County. N

Here, EAST students, Blaine Baxter, Layton Neal, Gabriel Fields, & Grant McDonald put a copy of their pamphlet of cooking directions in each food box for Christmas Brings Hope. 1000 boxes were delivered.

Grant McDonald and Gabriel Fields, EAST students at Sulphur Rock Elementary, place pamphlets of cooking directions in each food box for Christmas Brings Hope. The EAST classes worked together on a project to provide illustrated cooking instructions for items included in the Christmas Brings Hope boxes.

Kindergarten Christmas crafts at Sulphur Rock Elementary.

Jenny Massey and Jessica Goodwin, parent volunteers, help kindergarteners Harper Moran, Leah Kerschner, and Ethan King decorate Christmas cookies at Sulphur Rock Elementary.

N

Corbyn Wooldridge & Lottie Wycough decorate cookies at Sulphur Rock Elementary.

Students in Carmen McDonald's & Wendy Stanfield's kindergarten classes made several Christmas crafts with the help of their teachers and parent volunteers.

Parent volunteer, Shonna Wolverton helps kindergarteners Will Buffalo, Brantley Bolin, Lola Goodwin, & Libby Castleberry add glitter to their reindeer food bags at Sulphur Rock Elementary.

Gabriel Fields and Blaine Baxter, members of Sulphur Rock EAST, place pamphlets of cooking directions in each food box for Christmas Brings Hope.

Volunteer April Pulley helps Sulphur Rock kindergarteners Ryan McLaughlin and Kendall McSpadden cut out gingerbread man ornaments.

Parent volunteers set up crafting stations for both kindergarten classes. Students made 5 ornaments to take home for Christmas.

Sulphur Rock kindergarteners, Ellery O'Neill, Trey Rhoades, Addie Jo Simpson, and Lynleigh Neal add birdseed to peanut butter on their Christmas birdfeeder during craft day. All kindergarteners made several Christmas and winter items during the event.

Sulphur Rock kindergartener, Raylee Tucker rolls out gingerbread dough along with Tatum Ottoway and Drew Henley as parent volunteer, Charity Wycough looks on. All kindergarteners made several crafts during a Christmas craft morning at the school.

Natalie Simpson and daughter, Brylie, volunteer at a craft station. They help kindergarteners, Sophia Long, Kayah Johnston, Ryder Elumbaugh, and Connor Critcher make handprint Santa art.

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Delta Medical Supply Ribbon Cutting

on BACC b b Ri

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for Delta Medical Supply Thursday, December 14, 2017 at 916 Sidney Street.

Delta Medical Supply specializes in durable medical equipment, hospital beds, walkers, wheel chairs, CPAP and supplies, oxygen, and bracing. For more information please call (870) 612-0049 or visit www.ARdeltamedical.com.

BACC Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Oscar’s Smokehouse & Grill

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Oscar’s Smokehouse & Grill on Thursday, November 30th.

Oscar’s Smokehouse & Grill is located 39 Jones Drive in Southside.

Oscar’s Smokehouse & Grill is a full service restaurant that offers smoked meats and 100% certified Angus beef and steaks. They offer catering, private party rentals, and live entertainment every Friday and Saturday night.

Their hours of operation are Monday 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. To learn more about Oscar’s Smokehouse & Grill please call 870-251-9932 or visit them on Facebook, Oscar’s Smokehouse & Grill.

White River Health System Foundation Ribbon Cutting A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the new office location of the White River Health System Foundation Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at 1989 Harrison Street. The White River Health System Foundation supports the healthcare mission of White River Health System through charitable giving and fundraising events and connects our caring community with opportunities to improve lives through better health care. For more information about White River Health System Foundation, call (870) 262-3248 or visit www.

WhiteRiveHealthSystem.com.

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Citizens Bank Blue Jean Fund Support Citizens Bank employees continue to support numerous non-profit organizations in the community through $1 weekly donations that allow bank employees to wear blue jeans to work on Fridays.

The 4-H Food Pantry on the Southside Schools campus is the latest recipient of a $500 contribution from the employees’ Blue Jeans Fund. Bank employees also donated food items.

The pantry, which was established in 2011, serves about 200 families in local communities each month. It helps parents feed their children during the school year and summer months; it also provides food to local elderly citizens who are on a fixed income.

“We are extremely grateful to Citizens Bank for the generous donation that will allow us to serve many more children and families in the Southside area,” said Jana Mead of the 4-H Food Pantry.

Earlier Blue Jeans donations this year benefited Family Violence Prevention, the food pantry at the Batesville Early Learning & Enrichment Center, Habitat for Humanity of Independence County, and the Independence County Human Services and Health Department.

The Blue Jeans Fund now has surpassed $17,000 in financial support to worthwhile causes and charitable groups over the past five years. Each time the fund accumulates $500 in donations, an employee committee selects the next charity or organization to receive a donation.

Family Violence Prevention assists individuals and families experiencing domestic abuse and sexual assault to choose options and to control their own lives by providing crisis intervention and a full range of support services, according to Patty Duncan, Executive Director. The organization also works to empower the community to understand and prevent the crimes of domestic abuse and sexual assault.

“The financial support we receive from great supporters like Citizens Bank and others in our community help to make it possible,” said Ms. Duncan. “The reality of federal funding is never guaranteed so having this support is instrumental in continuing to provide quality advocacy to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Thank you, Citizens Bank employees!”

“Our employees recognize the many needs that exist today in our community, and we are pleased to do what we can to support important organizations that do so much to improve the lives of so many of our friends and neighbors,” said Joyce Prickett, who helps coordinate the Blue Jeans Fund for Citizens Bank. -Chuck Jones N

We Care about Your Coverage

Habitat for Humanity of Independence County

The food pantry at the Batesville Early Learning & Enrichment Center

Family Violence Prevention

The 4-H Food Pantry on the Southside Schools campus January 2018 27

Mr. Mistletoe Pageant 2017

photographs by Alton T Walker

Alton T Walker shared his photos of

mybatesville.org these beauties wowing the audience

and raising money for a great cause as the Jackson County Junior Auxiliary hosted the Mr. Misletoe Pageant... as well as many eyebrows. As shown from left to right in image to the left are: Michael Wright, Eddie Smith, Jody Anderson, Brandon Johnson and Cody Coffey all bared their egos for a good cause. Just a little

intermission entertainment at the Miss Jingle Bell Pageant in the Tuckerman High School auditorium. N

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Sensory Santa Stacey Burns-Pretty shared these great images from SENSORY SANTA for Children with disabilities and their siblings!

Rib

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JJ Kids Boutique Ribbon Cutting A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for JJ Kids Boutique Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at 3244 Harrison Street. JJ Kids Boutique is a family owned children’s boutique that caries unique clothing for both boys and girls. Available sizes range from infant to adult with new shipments arriving every week. For more information please call (901) 606-5296 or visit www.Jjkidsplace.com.

Ambassadors in attendance included: Michael Johnson (Anytime Fitness), Pasha Alexander (Centennial Bank), Bill Oliva (First Community Bank), Cliff Brown (First Community Bank) Alan Price (FNBC), Rick Buie (Intimidator), Cara Richmond (Peco Foods), Brittany Biggers (S.F. Fiser & Company), Tina Paul (UACCB), and Ashley Keck (White River Health System Foundation).

30 Eye On Magazine

Local Faces eyeonmag.com

Giveaway Julie Allen

The Newport Area Chamber of Commerce and local retailers have “wrapped up” the 2017 Shop Til You Drop holiday promotion in Newport. Daniel Guth of Newport was this year’s $1,000 shopping spree winner. Guth was chauffeured by Chamber Director Julie Allen in a 2018 Ford Expedition from Harris Ford. Congratulations to this year’s winners: $1,000 Shopping Spree – Daniel Guth, Newport $150 Shopping Spree – Monice Cooper, Newport Christmas Ornament from 2 Chicks Nursery & Gifts – Regina Everett, Tuckerman Bollé Sunglasses from CustomEyes Vision Care – Angelia Gist, Newport $75 Gift Certificate from Darling’s Fine Things – Betty Ritter, Newport $30 Gift Card from Farmers Oil – Chris Shirley, Newport $30 Gift Card from Farmers Oil – Sherry Smith, Newport Metal Rake Set from Gilliaum Feed & Seed – Edward Boyce, Newport $100 Gift Certificate from Greenway Equipment – Glenn Smithee, Newport Electronic Glass Scale from iCare RX Pharmacy – John Jandak, Newport Mattress Set from Jones Home Furnishings – Linda Hill, Newport James Hayes Glass from Purdy’s Flowers & Gifts – Linda Black, Newport Free Oil Change from Scott Wood Ram Truck Center – Gloria Walton, Newport Lizzy James Jewelry from Sophie’s Jewels – Vera Brann, Newport Cookie Platter from Subway inside Walmart – Jean Gibbs, Newport

Darling’s Fine Things, Eddie’s Auto Parts, Farmers Oil Corp, Gates Eye Care Center, George Kell Motors, George’s Liquor Store, Gilliaum Feed & Seed, Greenway Equipment, Harris Ford, iCare RX Pharmacy, Jones Home Furnishings, Norman & Baker Pharmacy, Purdy’s Flowers & Gifts, Quick Lane, The Red Tie Meat Shop, Scott Wood Ram Truck Center, Sophie’s Jewels, Subway, Tickled Pink Boutique and U.S. Pizza Co. N

The Chamber would like to thank all 26 locations for their participation: 2 Chicks Nursery & Gifts, Attention Medical Supply, Cash Saver, Charee’s Emporium, Churchman Building Center, CustomEyes Vision Care,

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January 2018 31

A new generation of banking leadership in Batesville

Pioneer Nation Michael Hester

Thank you for an amazing 2017!

This week so many community members and schools have helped hundreds of families. Many of these projects are highlighted on our social media and listed below. It is such a blessing to be a blessing to others.

Thank you!

Eagle Mountain - Sponsored 68 students. They bought them a shirt, pants, socks, underwear and shoes. Each child, also, received a toy. Those with the most need received a box of food. All of their Friday backpack food kids received extra food to help during the holidays. Staff delivered to some of the families that couldn't get to school to pick up their gifts and food.

They were all so very appreciative. Makes your heart smile.

West - Collected food for approximately 30 families and helped pack food for 100's of others through Christmas Brings Hope. West also sponsored an entire family and their wish list for Christmas this year. What a blessing.

Central - The entire school participated in the Christmas Brings Hope can drive where they donated over 2,000 can goods. For the 2nd-4th grade, staff hosted the “Central Family Night in the Lights” at Riverside Park and had lots of fun with family members singing and dancing.

Sulphur Rock - During the last week of school,

students and staff bought gifts for 75 students who may not get gifts this year. Imagine all the joy spread with these efforts.

BJHS - Participated in Christmas Brings Hope can drive with their entire student body. The BJHS STUCO and FCCLA donated to Angel Tree which takes care of the needs of local families.

BHS - Student council sponsored a family. FCCLA completed a stocking project for families. Several of the teachers anonymously gave gifts to Ms. Keller, our counselor, and she gave them to students in need. The student body collected around 2,000 food items for Christmas Brings Hope and the Key Club and Jag students help deliver the food. The Beta Club and volleyball team caroled at local nursing homes.

Awesome Pioneer Spirit!

These are just some of the many projects that occurred in the spirit of love and generosity across the Pioneer Nation. Your generous and kind spirit in support of our students has touched so many lives.

Take time with family and friends and have a peaceful holiday break.

Pictured below is the DAC Staff wishing everyone Happy Holidays. May peace and joy fill your home this holiday season. N

January 2018 33

326 Lindley Lane

870-523-6539

Who is Missing?

Let us be “Sweet” to you!

Across from Post Office Downtown Newport / 201-1516

Eagle Pest

You are! kthomas@eyeonmag.com

BridgeDowntown SalonNewport & Spa

Management, LLC 1775 Porter Street Batesville, Arkansas

Haircuts /Ballet Colors- Pointe - Tap

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912 Highway 367 NJazz - Hip Hop Highlights / Perms Newport, Arkansas Contemporary/Lyrical

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

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Formal Hair 870-217-3539 - Accounting - Bookkeeping - Financial Services Payroll Conditioning Treatments Pa rtnering & Lifts Christmas Show Retirement Planing Makeup / Waxing elf Jumps & Turns Nov. 19-21 - -Tax V oice Pia no Services & Preparation Spring Recital Spray Tans / Balayage

Attorneys at Law Newport (8 70) 201-1600 B atesville (8 70) 307-0050 nancyc@batesvilletitle.com Fax: (8 00) 350-1065 Nancy Carter www.pettieandmeitzen.com Office Manager

May 20, 2018

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70-F Batesville Blvd., Batesville 8 7 0 - 6 9 8 Dakota - 1 2 0 0 / m s sWalk h a n iIns b uWelcome f f o r d @ y a h o o .Amber com 501-283-1028 w w w . f u s i o n d a n c e a c a d e m y . n e t 870-613-0065

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

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ChildrenPork, Family Weddings Fresh Beef, Chicken & Seafood Senior Portrait Birthday Parties Family Reunions Call In and Drive-Thru

ninabrowndphotography@yahoo.com

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Homemade Pies Cupcakes & Cakes Fresh Homemade Bread Family Owned

Let us be “Sweet” to you!

Across from Post Office Downtown Newport / 201-1516

Ad Space Available 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 Waymon Long - President wlong1@sbcglobal.net

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Independence Counties very contemporary Success is a own journey,local, not a destination worship station

World Wide Live Internet Stream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kbap-88-1-fm Phone: 501-203-6953

Things To Do Batesville

UACCB to offer January Photoshop class The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville’s Community and Technical Education department will offer an introductory course in Photoshop. Jim Krause, co-owner of a local art business, will teach students to use the workspace, panels, brushes, selection tools, filters and terminology in the program. Students will discover the power and flexibility of designing and creating in Photoshop.

The class will be held from 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Jan. 11-Feb. 1 in the Main Campus Building, Room 222. The registration fee is $60. For more information or to register, email communityed@uaccb.edu or call 870-612-2082.

Hutchinson Community Center Available The Hutchinson Mountain Community Center at 3370 Camp Tahkodah Road is available for rent by contacting Lea Barber at 870-612-4718.

Alzheimer’s Association Arkansas Chapter Caregiver Support Group The Caregiver Support Group provides opportunities for you to talk with others who really understand what you are going through. Join us every second Thursday at 6 p.m. in the WRMC Josephine Raye Rogers Women’s Center Conference Center. Contact Deanna Green at 870.307.1406 for more information.

Melbourne

Recycling Program The City of Melbourne has implemented a comprehensive recycling program to collect aluminum, metal cans, plastics, paper and cardboard. The collection site is located at 300 Circle Drive, next to the Izard County Sheriff's Office off Hwy 9 Spur. Collection dates are Tuesday and Saturday afternoons from noon4pm. Items you can drop-off: > Aluminum - beverage cans only (crushed cans preferred). > Metal Cans - food, beverage and juice cans. Empty foods and liquid and rinse thoroughly. OK to Leave labels on. (No paint cans or oil cans.) > Plastics - Soft Drink bottles, milk jugs, detergent bottles, etc. Containers MUST have Friends with Food Allergies #1 or #2 inside the triangle on the bottom. No paint, Our first meeting of the year will be on January oil, chemical (pesticide or herbicide) plastics. > Paper 18th at 6pm. We will be hearing about the struggles newspapers, magazines, phone books, paper, junk mail. of a mom who has two young children with entirely Please keep paper dry! > Cardboard - Boxes, dry food different food and physical limitations. Individuals with boxes, shoe boxes, etc. Flatten all boxes. Pizza delivery food allergies and their family members are invited to boxes are OK but no wax-coated or frozen food boxes. attend all our events. Join our Facebook group for more www.mymelbournearkansas.com resources and event information. For event location 2018 Adventures in Wonderland Annual Meeting & Gala Jan 26 5:30pm to 11 at the Batesville Community Center. The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce has partnered with First Community Bank, Peco Foods and White River Health System to bring chamber members and the community together to review progress over the last year and learn about what is in store for the next year. For more information contact Jamie Rayfiord at 870.793.2378.

and more information, contact Hannah Rogers at (870) 283-2343.

Friends of the Library The Independence County Library Friends Foundation has kicked off its “Friends of the Library” membership drive. Memberships in the Friends group are now available at the Library, 368 East Main Street in Batesville. Annual membership dues are $25.00 per person and renew every January, at the beginning of the Foundation’s fiscal year. Contact: Vanessa Adams, Library Director at 870.793.8814, orvanessa@indcolib. com.

Mountain View

arkansascraftschool.com (ACS) offthebeatenpathstudiotour.com (OTBP) ozarka.edu mountainviewartguild.com (MVAG)

Newport

Crop Marketing 101 Seminar There will be a Crop Marketing 101 seminar held on January 18, 2018 at the Iron Mountain Depot in downtown Newport from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The topics will touch on improving your work relationship Spay or Neuter Coupons The Humane Society of Independence County with buyers, how the future market really works and the (HSIC) wants to remind everyone that it offers coupons importance of puts and calls and why they tend to be worth $35 off the cost of having your pet spayed or misused and misunderstood. Please RSVP to Jordan by neutered. Please call the shelter during office hours January 12, 2018 For questions and more information (Tuesday through Friday from Noon-5:30 p.m. and Sat contact Jordan Thomas. Office: 501.851.7300 cell 11a.m.-4 p.m.) for more information. (870) 793-0090. 706.983.1204 or email jordan@scottagri.com.

36 Eye On Magazine

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

They are open every Tuesday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. for you. Come in and choose the items your family needs. They have partnered with the NEA food bank in jonesboro. Donate to the pantry by contacting Gail Poole at 501-473-1560 or log on to www.newportpcg. com. Accepting food donations.

If your community is not represented here, please send us any upcoming event information and we will be happy to share with our other communities. N

Ad Space Available

252-0013 or eyeonjoseph@eyeonmag.com Woodcrest Assisted Living Where old memories are cherished and new ones made!

Say goodbye to housekeeping, yard work, and chores and Hello to Possibilities!

Assisted Living and so Much More!

Call us for more information or to schedule a tour: 870-793-5808

2901 Neeley Street, Batesville, Arkansas

January 2018 37

870-793-3303 755 St. Louis Street Batesville 38 Eye On Magazine

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Unity Health Harris Compassionate Care

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.

As you may know, the mission of Unity Health is to improve the quality of health and well-being for the communities we serve through compassionate care. With many changes in healthcare, Unity Health – Harris Medical Center strives to be a healthy community by creating a healing environment which enables people to reach their highest potential for health.

In alignment with this belief, Unity Health HMC partnered with White River Area on Aging (WRAAA) in July 2016 to become the provider for Jackson County Senior Center. Not only do we provide Meals on Wheels for the entire county, we also operate the center and perform daily activities with seniors, including crafts, games, and physical fitness activities.

We are excited to announce that the Newport facility will be relocating to 400 North Pecan Street, the former Newport Elementary School Building, this month. This new facility will feature two activity/ recreation rooms, a state of the art commercial kitchen, a dining hall, and a large banquet room that will be available to rent. The Jackson County Senior Center is now under the direction of Nannette Cooper.

Approximately one third of all Arkansans age 60 or above live with food insecurity primarily caused by financial hardship, lack of transportation, limited food sources and mobility limitations. Food insecurity is associated with many negative health issues, including malnutrition, cardiovascular disease, worsening of chronic conditions, restricted access to and use of medical care. A study by the Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) showed Arkansas to be among the highest senior food insecurity rates in the country. Jackson County is one of the top counties in Arkansas with an elderly food insecurity amount of more than 20 percent. Unity Health is doing our part by providing these services to our communities.

Jackson County Senior Center, in Newport is the only center of its kind in the county. Meals are provided for individuals who are homebound and daily meals are served at the center. We hope to continue these services to lower the rate of food insecurities and continually improve the lives of our elderly. If you would like to volunteer at the Jackson County Senior Center, please contact Nannette Cooper at 870.217.0456.

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220 E. Main Street - Historic Downtown - Batesville (879) 569-8050 January 2018 39

Cherri Design Laundry Room

Cherri Rodgers has a B.S. In Interior Design from UCA. She is active in several local ministries & community projects. Most of all, she values time with her family and grandson. Cherri's Interior Design is available for both residential & commercial design or decorating needs. Cherri now has The Kitchen Shop at 2485 Harrison St. for all your kitchen needs.

This month we will discuss organizing your laundry room, as I had a request to address this forgotten room.

If your home has a large mudroom with plenty of manspace, then you probably have storage space. But if you are like most of us, then you probably need extra storage space.

Cabinets above the washer and dryer are ideal, but if this is not in the budget or you had rather have a different look, consider mounting wooden crates.

Another idea is to mount the crates on an empty wall space and add hooks on the bottom to hang brooms, clothes hangers or other items. Stack wooden crates from the floor up for a vertical storage unit. Those stacked wooden crates can also be shoe storage space.

Utilize an unused corner with some type of storage unit.

If you have a large enough room, a piece of furniture provides great storage. Recessing shelves between wall studs makes great storage, if your budget allows for a small construction project.

We often overlook behind the door space. Mount a pegboard behind the door and hang hooks or racks on the board. This space can also be used for a hanging shoe rack to clear up floor space. Remember that the shoe rack holds other items as well, such as cleaners.

Consider mounting a plastic bag holder or other types of small organizing/storage racks.

For clothes hanging space, mount a sturdy towel bar above the door. To stash clothes hangers out of your way, mount a towel bar on the bottom of the cabinets over the washer and dryer. If a drying rack is needed but you have no floor space, look up. Hang a drying rack from the ceiling or use another piece, such as an old ladder.

If you have wall space, mount a pegboard or slatboard to hang random items on and to free up cabinet or closet space. Mount various wire storage racks, bins or hooks for additional storage. A sturdy towel bar can be used to hang spray bottles on, such as spray cleaners. Hooks can be screwed into a solid wood closet door.

A rolling laundry caddy or narrow drawer unit can be rolled between the washer and dryer or beside the units, freeing up needed floor space. If your laundry room does not have an interior door, consider a sliding door if space is available. A curtain and curtain rod can be mounted inside the laundry room, if this is your only solution.

Be creative in your storage solution. Utilize every inch of available space, and like I have often said, think vertical.

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201 Hazel, Newport 870-523-1009 “The mission of the Newport Economic Development Commission is to facilitate an environment that will be conducive to economic growth and stability. The commission will work to enhance, promote, and create increased opportunities for economic well being by developing and implementing strategies that will improve quality of life, community aesthetics, and encourage new investment in Newport and Jackson County.�

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Myers-Davis Life Coaching

Dr. Edward P. Myers & Angela D. Davis founded Myers-Davis Life Coaching Institute. They both have leadership experience and are Certified Professional Life Coaches. "Doc" is the author of seven books and contributor/editor of several more. He received his Ph.D. from Drew University, is a Certified Professional Life Coach, a Certified Master Life Coach, a Certified NLP Practitioner, and a Certified Practitioner of the Law of Attraction.

Angela D. Davis, received a M.S. degree in Psychology and has been successful in promotion and personal development in chambers, schools and businesses.

Finding Your Passion / Meaning in Life If you read the title of this article and thought, “O, No. Not another article on how to find my meaning or purpose in life!” you might be right. But. You might not. So why not read on. Let’s begin by asking some reflective questions that might prime the pump.

What motivates you in life? / What inspires you? /What excites you and really gets you going? / What scares you and holds you back? / What do you do well naturally? / What do you need to improve? / What do you pretend to like, but really don’t?

If you take the time to really reflect on these questions, you will find it a challenge, but also a benefit of immense value.

Someone once said there are two important days in your life: the day you were born and the day you discover why you were born. Agreed. No one comes into this life just to breathe and live day after day without a reason for living. It goes without saying that there are things in life we all share in common. The need for food, for rest, for family and friends. And this need is met in different ways by different people according to our culture and the social activities in which we are involved. But, as we go through life doing what we have chosen to do we may or may not be pleased with our chosen vocation. If not, what shall we do? Are we stuck in a rut with which there is no out or can we find what gives our life purpose? Several questions will serve as our guide: Who is someone in your life or in history, whose life and work inspires you (why)? Man is a social being and imitation completes those who want to be like. Do you remember as a child the dreams you had of what you wanted to be. Popular answers might be something like a fireman, policeman, doctor, or some other highly visible person. As you matured, did that change? Maybe it was a family member who you watched and thought, “I would like to do that one day.” You felt like they were someone who displayed passion in their life and an excitement you wanted to have.

What are your top 5 most deeply held core values?

They are values we share with those we spend the most time with. Spoken or unspoken, they exist and often influence both our thoughts and actions. While preparing this presentation I thought I would stop and review mine. I have to tell you that I was surprised. The first three were easy, one-two-three; but then, like an unexpected cloud that hides the sun, I was stopped. What was number four? What was number five? We are not talking about popping out five things we value in life . . . we are talking about values that are at the core of our being. Things that drives us day

by day to do the things we do and to be the person we are. Recently I gave a client a page of values. There were probably 60 listed on the page and asked her to highlight the values that were important to her; values in her life that guided here day by day. After that, to circle ten that were very important. After that, number them in importance from one to ten. One, being the most important, ten the least.

When it come to doing business, would you not want your supplier to value honesty, integrity, and truthfulness? Are they worthy of your trust? When it come to the business world, we want to be truthful with others, and we wish others to be truthful with us.

What isn’t working well for you in your current life or career?

A number of years ago I had a friend who taught golf and the local high school. Everyday, after school, he took his team to our local 9-hole golf course to practice. One day he asked me to join him said after the students took off, we could play together. I told him I did not know how to hold a golf club much less hit that little white ball off the ground. He said, didn’t matter, he would teach me. I thought, why not, so I met him the next day (with borrowed golf clubs). As I lined up, took my stance, and completed my swing. It wasn’t very pretty, in fact the ball did not go close to the direction at which I looked (and I’ll leave it at that). Well, what do I do now? He quietly said, that’s okay, take a mulligan.” A mulligan, I repeated to him, what’s that. Tee up another ball and swing again --- it’s like a do-over. Wow, I thought, this is great. Then he informed me I only got one. The point of this story is this: if things aren’t working well in your current life or career, maybe you need a mulligan. Maybe you need to take the time to figure out what drains you, or makes you stressed or anxious. What is it that is wasting your time. It is only when those things are out of the way that you can find your passion.

How have your fears and limiting beliefs held you back from finding your passion? What do fear the most? Failure? Welcome aboard. This is the number one response we get when we ask the question. And yet, there is a sign in our office that reads, “If people did what they are capable of doing, the would surprise themselves.” Henry Ford is often quotes as saying, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t – you’re right.” John Maxwell’s book, “Failing Forward” is a good read to help us deal with limiting beliefs and fear of failure. Take the time to read it, you’ll be glad you did.

If you lived to the age 90, how many days do you have left to live? [90 minus your current age, times 365]. The age 90 is not the point, if you are there, pick another number. The point is, it ain’t over yet. Make something out of the time you have left to live on this planet. Leave a mark along the trail of life for others to follow and give your life meaning.

If you could be remembered for 3 things after you die, what would they be? Mark it well, everyone is remembered for something. No one lives life without leaving an imprint on our world. It begs the question, “For what will you be remembered?”

A helpful exercise for this would be to take the time to write your own eulogy. Put it in the past tense and from the perspective of someone else doing the speaking, but ask the question–What Exactly Would They Say? “Working Hard for Something We Don’t Care About is Called Stress. Working Hard for Something We Love is Called Passion.” – Simon Sinek N January 2018 41

Thyme Enough Vegatable Soup

Nelson and Sandy Barnett met in college. They have been happily married for 56 years and are still having fun cooking and living!

You know, no matter how good a cook you are (or have convinced yourself you are), sometimes you lose your mojo for a dish you thought you had mastered years before. That happened to me. I realized a few years back that what had always been a lovely, comforting homemade Vegetable Beef Soup had lost something. I think, on reflection, I had made it for so long that I had become sloppy in its preparation. I suspect I had started down this slippery slope by thoughtlessly throwing into the pot a bit of this or that that had been harboring in the refrigerator for a day or two, or perhaps I had added something suggested in some fancy culinary magazine that simply didn’t belong. For regardless of the humble offerings simmering in a pot of Vegetable Soup it is not a “dump and do recipe.”

Alas! Alas! but not for long … We were in Little Rock, following the birth of our first grandchild, when

about five o’clock, the kitchen door flew open and young Nelson’s aunt, Maria (Heringer) Jones, brought in a deliciously aromatic, life-saving pot of Vegetable Soup.

Ahhh, yes, there it was soon simmering before us the soup I had lost. Needless to say, before she left, I had quickly penciled her recipe. Here it is. And remember don’t take the simplicity of this recipe as a sign it needs altering. It doesn’t!

1 Soup Bone, and 1 pkg. Stew Meat or Sirloin cut into bite sized pieces. Simmer in enough water to cover for two hours.

Then add: 1 Small diced Potato, 1 or 2 diced Carrots, 1 diced Yellow Onion, 1 small can of, or frozen, Whole Kernel Corn (not cream-style), 1 or 2 stalks of chopped Celery, and 1 small can of tomatoes (I like to lightly foodprocess the tomatoes so there are no chunks or dices and the tomatoes blend well with the other vegetables and beef.) and Cook 1 hour longer.

So here’s to the simple pleasure of a Pot of Soup simmering on your stove on a cold winter morning, or just after Christmas when we’ve spent hours cooking and then over-eating. Yum! Naturally, a wedge of cornbread goes without saying.

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From e s a le e R w Ne uthor Batesville A Mark Rorie

About The Book: Teaches young readers about our system of government.

Words to study and discussion questions at the end of each chapter

AVAILABLE AT: 1350 Neeley St • Batesville

870-698-0605

42 Eye On Magazine

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January 2018 43

Smith’s Verdict ***

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl 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.

I might use this review as an opportunity to write about two pet peeves I have with some recent quirky, independent comedy-dramas. One is what I like to call Kind of Aware But Not Quite; that’s when a film is so self-aware of itself that it has a character point out the clichés, thinking that commenting on it will make it less of a cliché. The other is Excessive Comic Relief: desperate side characters thrown in by screenwriters who think the comic relief they have already isn’t funny enough—these people tend to A) appear as if they’ve come from another planet of social skills, B) distract away from the plot & leads, as if they should have a movie of their own, and C) are not very funny. (There’s also D) all of the above.)

It may seem a little odd that I’m going into these pet peeves in a review of a movie I like rather than a movie I dislike, but I decided to because…I came close to disliking “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.” This film has its heart in the right place, is visually interesting, and has a fresh, engaging trio of young people to focus on. It’s also a little too self-indulgent and features some strange, off-putting side characters that I’m sure are funny to some but just strange to me. (But hey, it apparently worked for everyone at Sundance, seeing as how it received the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award.) But honestly, after watching this film twice, the material I like, I find I really like. It makes up for some of the things I find off-putting in this film.

Based on the novel by Jesse Andrews (who also wrote the screenplay), “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” centers on a high-school senior named Greg (Thomas Mann). He’s narcissistic, socially awkward, has little to no ambition in life, is very neutral on school grounds (so he doesn’t make any friends or enemies), and is a classic-film lover. He also makes bad home movies, which are parodies of classics (for example, “Brew Vervet” for “Blue Velvet”), with his only friend, Earl (R.J. Cyler), whom he doesn’t label as his “friend” even though they’ve known each other since kindergarten.

Greg’s classmate, Rachel (Olivia Cooke), is diagnosed with leukemia. Greg hardly knows her, but his overbearing mother (Connie Britton) insists that he pay her a visit.

With his honest, offbeat, oddly charming manner, he manages to get through Rachel’s defenses and soon enough, they become close friends. One of the best things about this film is the relationship between Greg and Rachel. It’s not romantic; it’s platonic and very sincere. It starts out awkward (though believably so) and gets better for them along the way. You could argue that maybe they do love each other, but their interaction and bond is stronger than that in terms of friendship, and we never even see them kiss. What 44 Eye On Magazine

makes it all the more interesting and tragic is that Rachel needs a close friend or some kind of emotional asset now that her mortality is more seeming than ever. Greg doesn’t know it, but he needs one too.

The underlying drama is the best part of the film, but some of the comedy works well too. I laughed at a few lines of dialogue and some situations (such as when Greg and Earl are accidentally stoned at school). What doesn’t work so well for me are the captions that tell us which scene we’re in (for example, “The Part I Meet a Dying Girl”) and how deep we are into the “Doomed Friendship,” as Greg (our narrator) labels it. The film borders on being too cute for its own good; using voiceover narration, Greg also winks at clichés the film inevitably uses—it doesn’t really work, especially when it tries to make something predictable unpredictable. And then there are the “characters” of Greg’s weird father (Nick Offerman, often a victim of the Excessive Comic Relief— when will he find a good movie role?) who moseys about the house in his robe, cooking up strange meals; Greg’s mother who is so overbearing that it’s kind of humorous (which I guess is the point); and Rachel’s mother (Molly Shannon), who would be more interesting if we got more of a sense of how she feels about her daughter dying but is instead a strange woman who’s often with a drink in her hand and lusts over Greg at first sight, calling him “delicious” and “yummy.”

What does work in “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” is the interaction between Greg and Rachel, Greg and Earl, and Greg, Rachel, and Earl (though all three don’t get that much screen time together as a unit). Their dialogue sounds natural, their offbeat personalities are appealing, and their performances are very strong. Thomas Mann plays Greg almost like the complete opposite of who John Hughes was looking for in a high-school teen; the “anti-Ferris-Bueller” who doesn’t want to be noticed and wants to live in his own world without any worries or fears or even ambitions. When he gets an awakening, it feels less than artificial and forced, and it’s to Mann’s credit that he’s able to make us feel when he realizes something unique. Also, He’s not afraid to make Greg even unlikable at times, but he never loses sympathy and he’s always believable. “Believable” is also too big of an understatement to describe Olivia Cooke’s performance as “the dying girl.” She’s more credible than many cancer patients I’ve seen in movies and is very charming as well.

The terrific newcomer R.J. Cyler starts out as central comic relief (comic relief that is essential to the movement of the plot and the growth of the lead character) and develops into something more as the story continues. God bless Nick Offerman and Molly Shannon, but they never felt believable to me, especially in comparison to these three fine young actors.

The look and feel of this film reminds me of a Wes Anderson production in the way the camera moves or where it is placed, and that really works, especially when the film is being “cute.” It’s a good balance that makes the overall film charming. It’s when I mention the look that I realize it’s a film that really wants me to like it and tries everything eyeonmag.com

to win me over, and I just can’t help myself.

Without giving the ending away (though you probably know the inevitable result), it hammers in effectively the importance of friendship and ambition, and it delivers a true wakeup call for Greg (and without dialogue too). It’s sad, but the film really earned its sadness by this point.

Oh, and of course, I can’t forget to talk about the home movies made

by Greg and Earl. Glimpses of them are seen here and there, and they are brilliant! That’s all I’ll say about it.

“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” may suffer from Kind of Aware But Not Quite and Excessive Comic Relief, but it has strengths apart from them. It’s charming, has winning lead characters, is well-directed by Alfonso Romez-Rejon, is well-constructed, and has more than enough for me to recommend despite my pet peeves.

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January 2018 45

Pat Cash

Cover Story

Kacey Clare Burge has a Master’s degree in Professional Writing from Chatham University. She has written for a Southwest Florida lifestyles magazine and because of her outstanding work, she was featured in REAL Magazine as a contributing copy writer and editor. She has worked as a debt content writer for a financial advice website and had a successful freelance career for several years. Kacey spends most of her free time with her husband, daugther and three rescue dogs, enjoying the outdoors and exploring what the state of Arkansas has to offer.

We’ve all heard the saying “laughter is the best medicine”, but have you ever thought about what that really means for you and your health? We generally equate laughter with happiness and when we giggle, we feel more cheerful. But why? The science is simple. When we laugh, our bodies release endorphins that promote an overall sense of well-being. Those endorphins are so powerful that they can even temporarily relieve physical pain. In addition to that, the healing properties of laughter can have effects that are much more long lasting. According to helpguide. org, “Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.” So, not only does laughing offer us temporary relief from our pain but it helps build our immunity to ward off disease and remain healthy in the future. And it’s free!

Pat Cash receiving the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Annual Mountain View Chamber of Commerce.

46 Eye On Magazine

Laughter is good for the soul So if laughter is, in fact, the best medicine then allow us to introduce to you one of the best doctors in the field. Local funny woman, and Mountain View native, Pat Cash is well qualified and experienced in the art of evoking laughter. She’s been cracking folks up for almost 30 years with her hearty sense of humor, fancypants dance moves and fabulous, come-to-life alter egos.

Cash, also known by her most recognized alter ego, Aunt Minnie Miles has been taking the stage for almost 3 decades at entertainment venues in her hometown, but she’s been doing comedy and performing her whole life. “As a child, I was always creating characters, dressing up in costumes and parading down the street with my friends,” Cash shares. “And I definitely used humor a lot in school to make people smile.” Growing up in Mountain View, she has fond memories of her childhood there. Her father Buster Decker was very connected to the local community, playing a significant role in increasing tourism for Stone County. “In the 1950s, my Dad converted some old cabins into vacation rental units near Blanchard Springs Caverns,” Cash says, “We lived there throughout the tourist season.” A lot of unique childhood memories were made there but Cash was always anxious to get back to the city during the offseason.

The happy accident Cash was a business owner and an employee at a local utility company when her comedy career was launched completely by accident. Cash and her husband Jim, the Mayor of Mountain View, opened an entertainment venue called Cash’s White River Hoedown in 1984. “We were auditioning actors for a comedy bit in the show and weren’t able to find anyone,” she explains. “So, when my husband’s birthday rolled around, I decided to play a little joke.” That evening, Cash morphed into her spontaneous alter ego, Bureau Buns, a round and vivacious woman with a quick wit who could cut a mean rug. “I was in full costume when I walked up on stage to surprise Jim by singing happy birthday,” she says, “But no one recognized me so the band just kept on playing.”

Cash has always been one to roll with the punches so she just started dancing a jig, told some Minnie Pearl-type jokes and the crowd happened to love it. Soon, the funny and amusing stylings of Bureau Buns would transform into who we now know as the famous Aunt Minnie Miles, a character that would gain much notoriety over the years. “I got recognized as Aunt Minnie more than myself,” Cash laughs. And with that notoriety, Cash was often asked why she hadn’t taken her character to larger venues in places like Branson or Nashville. “I never took eyeonmag.com

it too seriously,” she said thoughtfully. “I’ve always been so connected to Mountain View. This is where I was born and raised. I’m very attached to the city and the people.”

Aunt Minnie’s Little Yellow House While business was good at Cash’s White River Hoedown and Aunt Minnie was making quite the impression, Cash and her husband decided to open a sister business in 1987 that would bear the name Aunt Minnie’ s Little Yellow House on the square. The couple ran the Hoedown and the Yellow House simultaneously

for several years. Originally starting out as a tourist shop that sold souvenirs, the Yellow House helped promote the Hoedown and the entertainment acts that were hosted there. It also used its platform to promote other tourist attractions and help market local businesses in the area. It still functions as a specialty gift shop today that caters to people of all ages and gets visitors from all around.

For the love of people Pat Cash has a unique way about her. She is dimensional and transformative, creative and January 2018 47

innovative. A friendly-natured, good-spirited woman with a genuine heart for people. “Even after I retire,” she says “I will always find a way to be surrounded by people.” This self-proclaimed jokester finds true joy in evoking laughter in all of those she comes in contact with. It’s a gift. While it may not always seem noteworthy, every little giggle to every whole hearted belly laugh, Cash is making her mark on this world. The medicine she is doling out is making a positive difference in people’s lives, and as science proves, creating happier and healthier people, one chuckle at a time.

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photos submitted by Pat Cash

48 Eye On Magazine

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In the Field with Randy

Good Weather, Yields and Prices!

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.

Happy New Year to everyone out there, especially the farmers that I work with throughout the growing season.

I hope that 2018 will be a year with good weather, good yields, and good prices.

2017 ended up being a pretty good year after all was said and done. Overall, yields were good to excellent and the harvest season was one of the best ever. There were several reasons for the good yields but the overriding one was surely the moderate temperatures during the reproductive/grain fill period. During the 52 day period from July 28th through September 17th there were only 5 days with high temperatures above 90 degrees at Newport. This timeframe coincides with a large part of that reproductive/grain fill period for rice and soybeans in our area. While I didn’t further research the records to be sure, I would feel pretty confident that it has been rare to have that few days with high temperatures above 90 degrees during that timeframe.

With those moderate temperatures, the plants can put a lot of their energy into reproductive processes and grain filling that might otherwise be used for more basic plant processes, thus the potential for higher yields.

The latest crop estimates for Arkansas that I have seen were projecting yields of around 163 bushels per acre for rice, 179 bushels per acre for corn, and 51 bushels per acre for soybeans. If that soybean projection holds up, that would be a record average yield for Arkansas.

Along with the good yields was excellent harvest weather, allowing farmers to have a very efficient harvest and get that crop into the combine rather than leaving an undesirable amount in the field. During the months of September through November, most of our area had less than 3 inches of rain total. Many got finished with harvest in October.

Prices have remained fairly stable, which has been both good and bad. Soybean prices were predicted to fall significantly over the summer due to a large acreage being planted in the U.S., but have held up better than anticipated. Rice prices have been predicted to rise due to tightening supplies, but that really hasn’t materialized yet.

For more information in planning for the 2018 crop, feel free to contact me through Farmers Supply Association at 870-318-0739, my e-mail is randychlapecka@gmail.com.

N January 2018 49

Often Overlooked Beauty The Dog Did What?

Scott Parker is a native of Harrisburg Arkansas who never felt the need to stray very far from home for any real length of time. He is an amateur Herpetologist, amateur Entomologist, amateur Mycologist, amateur Botanist, amateur Woodworker, amateur Writer, and a professional Dog and Cat lover.

One would do well in life to do nothing more than endevor to be the person that your dog thinks you are.

I like animals. All animals. Horses, Arrdvarks,Turtles, Bears, and yes, even Cats. But I love dogs. I understand dogs. I can see the world from my dogs point of veiw, and I can tell what he’s thinking. And after a lifetime of canine companionship, choosing to have a dog is no more of a question to me than whether or not I should continue to breathe.

Every dog that has passed through my life has a story or two tucked away in my memories, but there are a few that have left an indeliable mark on me.

Ruffie came into my life when I was eight. He was a Phiste/Beagle mix, full of energy and as smart as they come. Attentive, protective, and admittedly, probably smarter than me, he was the perfect sidekick for an adventuresome young country boy. We spent many a summer day sharing sandwhiches while fishing. About four years later Ruffie and I added a new member to our team.

Ranger, A Collie/Shepard mix, was the exact opposite of Ruffie. Big, slow, and God bless him, not terribly bright. While Ruffie could cut a ninety degree turn while running at full speed, Ranger could trip over his own feet at a slow walk. Ruffie could watch a thrown peanut, figure it’s trajectory, and deftly snatch it from the air in mid leap. Ranger let them hit him in the face and pick them up off the ground. And together they were a classic example of the never ending battle between brains and brawn.

There was an old rocking chair that sat in our carport and it was prime nap time real estate. One chair, two dogs.

Do the math. Ranger would often wrap up his morning roamings before Ruffie and thusly have laid claim to the chair by the time Ruffie made it in from his wandering.

Now Ranger outweighed Ruffie by eighty pounds, so brute force was not an option. But Ruffie, oh Ruffie had a secret weapon. And that secret weapon was about eighty I.Q. points. Ruffie would simply station himself at the carport door and wait a bit. Then in an explosion of barking he would tear out the door, no doubt hot on the tail of a murderous bear or possibly a mountain lion.

Ranger would groggly head out after him, blood in his eye, home defence on his mind. After a few minutes of charging around the yard barking, Ranger would return to the carport only to find Ruffie lounging in the chair.

This happened daily, and Ranger never did catch on to the ruse. And Ranger was not his only victim.

50 Eye On Magazine

Ruffie suffered a fairly serious foot injury one winter, and though it healed quickly it bothered him in the cold. He would carry his paw above the ground, gamely hobbling around on three legs. This bit of misery afforded him an extra allotment of cuddles, ear scratches and treats. And the funny thing was his foot just never seemed to get better. Then one day, later that spring, I was watching he and Ranger out of our front window. They were running around chasing a flock of Robins in our yard. No hobbling, no limping, no staring doe eyes. A few minutes later I went out on our front porch and Ranger and Ruffie both saw me. Both came running. Well at least Ranger came running. Ruffie, God bless him, couldn’t get there too fast, being hobbled by a sudden relapse of his foot injury. I and my entire family had been played. By a dog. And he continued to play the pitiful card till the day he passed away at the age of twelve.

I have loved every dog that I have ever kept company with, but there was one that quite literally changed my life. I got him for my sons, a pudgy six pound ball of chocolate adorable that we named Nestle. He was a pure bred Chocolate Lab whose round little belly barely cleared the floor when he walked. As I said he was for my sons and they absolutely adored him, but Nestle and I bonded somehow. I belonged to him and he to me. We quickly became inseparable. He went everywhere with me, riding shotgun in my truck and marching at my right hand when we walked. In no time at all that six pound puppy was a hundred and fourty pounds of chocolate covered rippling muscle. It was never too cold, the water never too deep, the walk never too long. Nestle was big. Nestle was strong. Nestle was also, through no fault of his own, spoiled rotten. That was my fault.

Oftentimes on Saturday morning, Nestle and I would load up in the truck with no particular plans other than being together. Our Saturday always started with a stop at a gas station, a soda for me and a pack of peanut butter crackers for Nestle. He would sit in the passenger seat munching each cracker, one through six, as I handed them to him. Then one day, in a fit of temporary insanity, I (gasp) ate one of the crackers. Nestle accepted the last two crackers and then sat staring at me. I talked, he stared. I scratched his chin, he stared. I apoligized, he stared. Understanding that my actions had been totally and inexcusably inapporiate and with the knowledge that Nestle could count to six, I drove back to the station and purchased another pack of crackers. What happened next, to this day makes me chuckle. You can believe me or not but he ate one. One cracker. Then he turned and looked out the window. He had made his point. The open package, still containing five uneaten crackers, sat in the cup holder for two weeks until I fed them to some birds.

Point made. Lesson learned.

Once when I had food poisioning and was in bed all day, Nestle lay beside me refusing to leave except for one short bathroom break. Late that evening he stepped out eyeonmag.com

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for a few seconds, came back and dropped a few pieces of his dogfood on the pillow beside my head.

I once, at two o’clock in the morning, took Nestle out to play because he woke me me up holding his Frisbee in his mouth. We understood each other, and cherished each others company. And when he passed away in November of 2012, I cried for days. I visit his grave often.

My current canine owner is Bob. He is mostly Norwich Terrier and he treats me well. It took him no time at all to train me to give him a Cheeto when he sat. Bob seems to harbor no malice towards anything in the world, except possibly the neighbors dog who pees on Bobs trashcan.

Bob and I see things in much the same way. Life is good, take your time and enjoy it.

N

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January 2018 51

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52 Eye On Magazine

eyeonmag.com

Notes from the Clearing

The Weight of One Sock Joseph Thomas

Part 1I

“Holy....” Maddi half muttered as she rushed to the door and had it open before she felt the knob bite her with heat. Smoke rushed at her and pushed her back with an acrid burn in her nose and the overwhelming taste of burning clothes and lint. The flames became visible as the smoke emptied out of the open door. The dryer was still running and flames were pouring out from the back of it.

Her first thought was to grab a pitcher of water to douse the flames. Then she realized she could use the hose from just behind the house. Maddi shut the door with a push on the not so hot wood, and then began to smite herself silently at the force of habit. Now she would have to open the door again and risk blistering her hand further. Then she remembered the dryer was heated by gas and was scared to do anything, but go turn the meter off. She knew the meter was right around back as well and ran to shut if off. Of course, inspecting the metal piped meter in a mad rush, she realized she would need a pair of plyers to turn the short lever to the off position. Without the slightest hesitation, she ran to get one. She ran to the closed back door and then remembered the abundant flames. She hopped from one bare foot to the blue socked one, torn as to whether she could slide past the flames. She decided to leave the flames and try the front door and her body finally moved in one steady direction. She knew that the front door was locked, because she always kept the doors locked, but had to try anyway, mostly because she didn’t know what else to do. She fed a false hope that for some reason she left the front door open and just forgot.

The unturning front door handle indeed pronounced itself locked and an inner chill worked at her. Stunned, her blistered fingers still on the handle, she studied the house and then the front welcome mat trying to find a solution when her phone, half out of her pocket, gave her an idea.

She called 9-1-1.

“This is nine-one-one, what’s your emergency?”

“My dryer’s on fire. It’s a gas dryer!”

“What is your address?

“Uhhhhh....” every number Maddi had ever seen, used in a math problem or wrote upon forms flashed through her head (along with words like SALVE that made no sense or helped her in the least). “Oh, 6900 Edward Street!”

“Okay Ma’am, the fire department is on it’s way. You need to get away from the house. Who do you have gas with?”

“Who do I have gas with?” The words made no sense to Maddi’s frantic brain. She recognized it as a question, but a viable answer eluded her.

“Yes Ma’am, what company is your gas provider?”

“Oh, Arkla! That is my gas company!”

“I’ll contact Arkla so they can send someone to shut off the gas to your home and I’ll let the police know, so

they can clear your neighbors.”

“Okay.......thank you Ma’am.....I....okay, yeah.” she wanted to explain that she tried to shut if off. That she didn’t want this to happen and realized it was all her nieve need to make sure nobody blamed her and decided on one more sentiment, “Thank you,” before hanging up.

The fifteen minutes between that hang up and the arrival of the pretty red trucks lasted three and a half years, give or take six months. Maddi’s actions in that span could be considered manic, especially on fast forward video from the neighbors security camera. She immediately ran to the back door, wanting to open the door she’d closed before she’d checked on the gas meter. She questioned whether or not it should be closed, would it burn faster with the door open? She thought it would and left it closed. She ran around to the meter thinking perhaps she could manhandle the lever anyway. She tried five times, once with a stick that she looped through the hole in the thick metal lever and broke almost immediately and four more with a stone she thought she could wedge between the lever and pipe to get it started. She even began tapping the lever with the stone, but it was all a no go. The lever was too close to the pipe and there wasn’t sufficient room to swing with any momentum.

She decided the water hose was all she had left, so she turned on the water, grabbed up the hose and pulled the end of it around the house. She blistered her hand again on the knob forgetting that was a thing. It was like turning the light switch on when the power is out, you just can’t help yourself. She finally roused up enough courage to wrap her one blue sock around the handle and jerked it open. The room was now engulfed, but she’d pulled away quick enough to miss a lung full of smoke this time. She sprayed a strong burst of water into the flaming room when the round, knobby nut of the spray handle broke loose. The nut and handle fell to the concrete between her bare feet in three pieces. She tried to use a blistered finger to direct the thick, short flow of water to no avail. She then switched hands for better finger control, but couldn’t hold the hose tight enough in her burnt fingers to manuevor such a save. Maddi then tried to put the pieces of the handle back together but when she realized the threaded stud broke and that Humpty Dumpty’s men couldn’t put it back together, she stoically dropped the hose and backed away from the house; her grandfather’s house. N

To Be Continued...

January 2018 53

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