Eye On Independence

Eye On www.eyeonmag.com

February 2011

Independence

How Sweet it is

Love, Helping Hands, and those who wield them A Publication of MeadowLand Media, Inc.

REASONS TO OPEN YOUR BUSINESS CHECKING WITH

FIRST COMMUNITY BANK 1

No Per Item Fees

6

Cash Management Option**

2

No Return Item Fees

7

Business Debit Card**

3

No Monthly Service Charge*

8

Business Credit Card**

4

Red Carpet Service

9

Merchant Credit Card Services**

5

Safety & Security

10 Mobile Banking

Batesville 1325 Harrison St. • 3 Eagle Mountain Blvd. sOUtHsiDe 1 Allen Chapel Rd. Cave City 102 S. Main St. HigHlanD 1536 Hwy. 62/412 *No

monthly service charge if minimum balance is met. **Upon approval. Restrictions and fees apply. See bank for details.

February 2011 | 3

In This Issue 6/Letter from the Publisher Love is in the Air

7/Fork in the Road MorningSide Branches Out

9/The Morning Line

Queen Zenyatta’s Realm Includes Arkansas

10/Feature

Let Me Call You Sweetheart

14/Wandering the White River Valley

7

22

9

24

14

34

20

38

Traversing the Buckhorn Part 2

15/Main Street Thompson’s Jewelry

16/Notes from the Clearing Frosty Air Care Heaven Is Not Far Away

18/A Visit with Carmel

Demonstrating Real Love with a Healthier Lifestyle

20/Homes

Cave City home improvement crew gives family extreme makeover

22/I Do

The Walden Wedding

24/Youth

Cassondra Kellems

26/The Arts 30/Organization Humane Society

31/Note Worthy Events 34/Birds, Bees, Flowers and Trees Waste Not, Want Not

38/EOI Movie Review

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

February 2011

Eye OnIndependence

www.eyeonmag.com

How Sweet it

is.

Hands, Love, Helpingo wield and those wh. them A Publication

of MeadowLand

Media, Inc.

Cover Photo by Robert O. Seat.

Cover Design by Joseph Thomas

4 | eyeonmag.com

THIS PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED BY MeadowLand Media, Inc. P. O. Box 196, Grubbs, AR 72431 870.503.1150 kthomas@eyeonmag.com PUBLISHER: Kimberlee Thomas Associate EDITOR: Bob Pest MANAGING EDITOR: Joseph Thomas ADVERTISING: Daisy Moore Kimberlee Thomas

Independence Creative Director: Joseph Thomas

AD DESIGN Department: Kimberlee Thomas: Staff PHOTOGRAPHERS: Kimberlee Thomas Joseph Thomas CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Julie M. Fidler Robert O. Seat CIRCULATION: Daisy Moore Joseph Thomas PRINTING COMPANY: Rockwell Publishing

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

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

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

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

subscribe Subscribe to Eye On Independence to make sure you receive every edition through the convenience of home delivery!

Annual subscriptions are $48 To set up your subscription today, go to www. eyeonmag.com Call 870.503.1150 Mail payment with delivery address to: Eye On Subscriptions P.O. Box 196 Grubbs, AR 72431 For advertising, distribution, or editorial contribution, contact Kimberlee Thomas 870.503.1150 kthomas@eyeonmag.com.

February 2011 |  5

Letter from the Publisher Kimberlee Thomas These weather-worn months can be a hassle for getting to work or to play, but they can also be a warm blessing for the soul, in the form of unexpected free time with our children. And though they are always terribly upset about missing school, as I’m sure you have witnessed in your home, it’s nice to have them around a little more.

Thanks to technology, we were able to stay in touch with everyone and get February’s issue completed in spite of wintry weather With seven years spent as high school sweethearts followed by forty-eight years of marriage and counting, we found this month of Valentine’s Day fitting to share the Sweet’s story. The pep in their step and their eyes full of life speak of the longevity and healthiness that true love can nurture. Julie Fidler reports on Will and Earlene Sterling of Sterling Home Solutions and the early, warm and fuzzy Valentine they gave the Kellems Family. Julie also caught up with Mrs. Bev Finch of the Independence County Humane Society and shares with us the importance of adoption, spaying and neutering. You will also find the conclusion of Traversing the Buckhorn in this issue.

We hope that this chilly season has left you safe and warm and that this month's issue finds you happy and rejuvenated.

Oh, and before I forget, Happy Valentines Day! N

6 | eyeonmag.com

Love is in the Air

Let Us Advertise For You Try something new this new year and let’s grow together email kthomas@eyeonmag or call Kimberlee at (870) 503-1150 or Daisy at (870) 307-9595

Fork in the Road Bob Pest Since opening near the corner of St. Louis and Harrison in April 2004, MorningSide Coffee House has become an essential part of daily life for scores of coffee aficionados who crave their daily lattes, cappuccinos, or MorningSide Mochas. But outstanding coffee drinks were only part of the reason the parking lot was usually crowded.

Fresh-baked scones, melt-in-your mouth almond coffee cake, date squares, cheddar apple bread, and a variety of cakes, pies, cookies, cheesecakes, and other goodies helped build and maintain MorningSide’s popularity . Add the creative sandwich selection— tuna, turkey, ham and cheese, veggie, and corned beef—and MorningSide quickly grew into a popular lunch destination as well.

It wasn’t only the coffee drinks and the food that led to MorningSide’s initial success.

The coffee house had a laid-back, artsy vibe that attracted college students, artists, book clubs, and musicians. Ozark Foothills FilmFest started holding their annual Filmmakers Brunch at MorningSide, and festival guests from across the country added to the always growing list of folks who appreciated MorningSide’s unique atmosphere.

MorningSide moved a few hundred yards in February 2008 to a large house at 616 Harrison. The new location, divided into several large rooms, encouraged more small group gatherings. Free WiFi and some comfortable couches also added to the experience for many. The popularity of the baked goods almost demanded that MorningSide get into the catering business. Cakes and pies were especially popular during holiday season.

Wes Obrigewitsch, MorningSide’s owner, has launched a new, expanded catering menu that maintains all of the “old favorites” and introduces some innovative selections. Wes also added Cindy Woodruff, well-known for her pies, to his staff; she previously operated Cindy”s Café in Mount Pleasant.

According to Wes, “Cindy is versatile and brings lots of great recipes and ideas we are excited about and plan to implement, both in our catering business and at MorningSide.”

The catering menu features an expanded list of pies, cakes, and other baked goods. Nine varieties of cheesecake are available: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin, Coffee, German Chocolate, White Chocolate Cherry

MorningSide Branches Out : Coffee House Adds Innovative Catering Menu Almond, Chocolate Turtle, Lemon Chiffon, German Chocolate, and New York w/berry coulis. Cheesecakes range in price from $22.50 to $30.50. Other cake offerings in the same price range include Italian Cream Cake, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Ganache, and my favorite, Almond Coffee Cake. Coconut, Peanut Butter, Apple Crumb, and Pecan Cakes are priced from $16 to $18. The ever-popular chocolate or berry biscotti are $1 per piece.

The new catering menu also marks MorningSide’s first effort at complete meals. There are currently four selections: Sicilian Shrimp with pasta and roll, Prime Rib with baked potato and veggies (broccoli and cauliflower), Chicken Alfredo with pasta and rolls, and Pork Tenderloin with baked potato and veggies. The Alfredo sauce is as good as it comes, rich and creamy without being too thick. The Prime Rib is equally impressive. Dinners are priced at $8.95 for the Chicken Alfredo and Pork Tenderloin, $12.95 for Sicilian Shrimp, and $14.95 for Prime Rib. The minimum full-meal order is eight; cutlery and flatware not included.

Creativity dominates the appetizer/party food category. Veggie Bites are a healthy fun food, finely chopped pieces of broccoli, cauliflower, and other vegetables over a ranch spread on flat bread. Wes believes that the healthy veggie bites will “replace potato chips as an accompaniment to sandwiches.” I was personally “blown away” when I first tried a veggie bite; the finely chopped veggies blend perfectly with the ranch spread. The flat bread base also makes veggie bites easy to eat while standing, the perfect cocktail party food. Veggie Bites are available at $20.00 for a tray of forty-eight squares. The mini-quiches, both ham and cheese and spinach and feta, are $15 a dozen. MorningSide’s hummus has always been popular both as a dip and on the veggie sandwiches.

It is available in a large bowl with pita bread for $8. Other appetizer/party foods well worth trying are the Smoked Salmon Wrap (only $6.50 each), the Shrimp Dip, and the Tomato Crostini.

Not surprisingly, MorningSide also February 2011 | 7

“caters” coffee. The “By Joe to Go” box holds eighteen eight ounce cups. Gourmet coffee is available for $15 a box; latte and flavored coffee is higher. The boxes are extremely good at maintaining the temperature and easy to pour from; coffee is also available in a nine-serving carafe. Cups are not included.

MorningSide’s catering prices are in line with similar operations around the state.

Some items, like the Pork Tenderloin and Chicken Alfredo dinners or the Smoked Wrap are excellent bargains. Wes and his staff are cheerful, knowledgeable, and fun to work with. Hours are Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Call 793-3335 to discuss your catering needs. N

8 | eyeonmag.com

The Morning Line Mark Lamberth Every once in a great while, a figure will transcend a sport and become a popular topic in the cumulative sports world. Even more rare is the personality who will make the leap from the sports scene to land in the national consciousness and span the globe. Those that come to mind immediately are Muhammad Ali in boxing, Michael Jordan in basketball, Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus in golf, and Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio in baseball. Thoroughbred racing has also had its share of four footed stars who met this criteria and became international icons.

Secretariat and Smarty Jones are the most recent that would be immediately recognizable to those people that have no following of horseracing whatsoever with the possible exception of watching the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May. Now comes in the last four years another remarkable animal, connected to Arkansas, that has captured the world’s imagination and this time its heart. She is a 7 year old dark bay mare that stands 17.2 hands high which is taller than Secretariat and Man O War both at 16.2 hands.

Zenyatta or “Queen Z” as her admirers refer to her has been called a “Mare for the Ages”. Her name comes from the 1980 Police album Zenyatta Mondatta

“Queen Zenyatta’s Realm Includes Arkansas”

Zenyatta winning her first Grade 1 victory in the Apple Blossom Handicap. Photo credit: Jeff Coady Photography and her owner, Jerry Moss, was the founder of A & M Records. Her remarkable racing career began on November 22, 2007 as a 3 year old with her maiden or first victory coming at Hollywood Park in California which began an unbeaten streak of 19 wins that carried into November 2010. Her victories included a Breeders Cup Classic win in 2009 (the first ever by a female) over an international field of older males.

She was the first horse to win two different Breeders Cup Races (Breeders Cup Ladies Classic in 2008 and the aforementioned Classic in 2009). Stamping the quality of racing at Oaklawn Park, she has made two appearances in Arkansas with the first coming on April 5, 2008 in winning her first Grade 1 victory in the Apple Blossom Handicap.

She returned to Arkansas in 2010 winning the Apple Blossom on April 9, 2010 in a race that earlier had matched 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra with Zenyatta for a $5 million purse but failed to materialize when Rachel’s connections pulled her from consideration just a few weeks prior to the running.

Her only blemish came when she was defeated in the 2010 Breeder’s Cup Classic by the top four year old colt in the world (Blame) after her famous “last to first out of the clouds run” came up a head short. Track announcer Trevor Denman commented “she had run her heart out”.

She has appeared on her own segment of “60 Minutes” and was a member of Oprah Winfrey’s 2010 Annual Power List of “20 Women (and one amazing horse)”. Her pop culture status was even more enhanced when her patented pre-racing prancing was mentioned on “Dancing with the Stars”. Zenyatta has single handedly put thoroughbred racing back into the Zenyatta poses in her Paddock at Lane’s End Farm near world’s spotlight with her class, personality, and sheer Versailles, Ky., December 2010. Photo credit: Anne M. will to win. That is something the slick public relations firms hired by the racing industry haven’t been able to Eberhardt/Blood-Horse Continued on page 29 February 2011 | 9

Feature Joseph Thomas

Photos Submitted

Bob Sweet and Elaine Case met in the 9th grade and have been an item ever since. It is truly an AllAmerican story with faint aromas of Apple Pie and all the character of a Norman Rockwell painting. With a quick look through the 1960 B.H.S Pioneer yearbook, you will find Elaine Case as Cheerleader, Miss Pioneer, and half of the "Cutest Couple." Bob Sweet was the other half of that cute couple, campus king and co-captain of the Pioneer Football Team.

Bob and Elaine graduated in the spring of 1960. That summer, after first getting permission from Elaine’s mother, the couple made a trip to Thompson’s Jewelry and bought Elaine’s engagement ring. The couple then returned to Elaine’s home where Bob asked her father if he might take Elaine’s hand in marriage.

Shortly after the engagement the couple endured a three year separation while Elaine attended nurses training at St. Vincent’s Infirmary in Little Rock and Bob completed two years at College of the Ozarks in Clarksville and a semester at Arkansas College before joining the National Guard. The long separation elapsed with almost no vacation or allotted time to see each other, much less their families. Finally the long wait was over and on September 1, 1963 Bob and Elaine were wed. Elaine Case Sweet graduated from nursing school on September 22, 1963.

The Sweets speak of many business ventures during the adventure that is their marriage. Elaine worked at Grey’s Hospital for two years until their daughter Robin was born, while Bob worked at Case Motor Company. They later started Sweet’s Sports Mart and ran it together, during which time a son, Chuck, was born. The Sweet’s sold their Sports Mart and bought the Montgomery Ward Catalog Store and ran that together until 1984 when the one hundred and one year old business shut down. "If tears could ever bring anything back, we would still be running that store." says Elaine of their last business venture

Let Me Call You Sweetheart

together. Bob then found employment with Eastman Kodak and Elaine later began her current position with the Community School. Bob is currently retired and enjoys hunting, fishing, and watching sports on television. The Sweets also enjoy spending time with their grandchildren; Corbett and Casen Courtney, Reagan and Riley Sweet, and Makenzie and Brentley Gipson.

Mrs. Sweet recalls that before their wedding in the Parish Hall, Bob hid their car so their loving family couldn’t "vandalize" it. Of course the family found the car and, she says, the car was "plenty dressed up," by the time they left for their honeymoon. "When we said for better or worse, we meant just that. Some people say you have to work at a marriage, but Bob and I never felt that way. We have had few arguments in our time, because we talk things through and share every load before we ever decide on anything major.

Commit to a joint relationship and share the load. If we have a secret formula for a long and happy marriage, that is it." N

“Commit to a joint relationship and share the load. If we have a secret formula for a long and happy marriage, that is it.”

10 | eyeonmag.com

Bob hid their car so their loving family couldn’t "vandalize" it. Of course the family found the car and it was, she says, "plenty dressed up," by the time they left for their honeymoon.

February 2011 |  11

“Bob Sweet and Elaine Case met in the 9th grade and have been an item ever since.”

Photo by Robert O. Seat

12 | eyeonmag.com

Photo by Robert O. Seat

Heuer’s Family Shoes WINTER CLEARANCE! SALE RACKS 50% OFF MERRELL / NATURALIZER / LIFE STRIDE BORN / ROCKET DOG/ AND MANY MORE 226 E. Main St., Downtown Batesville

February 2011 | 13

Wandering the White River Valley Freda Cruse Phillips John and Sarah Lindsey Lafferty arrived here as a family in 1810.

Mourning the death of their daughter they forged a life here on the right banks of the river among the Indians. John died at home in 1816 of complications from a wound he suffered in the War of 1812 near New Orleans. The Osage had agreed in 1808 to leave with the land being designated for the Cherokee setting out the reservation of 1817. In 1799, Tecumseh brought his mother Methoataske and his older sister, Tecumpease, to the Missouri territories.

Tecumpease is buried near Gainesville, MO. In 1817, Stephen Ruddell brought his adopted Indian mother deeper into the Missouri Territories, to a place just up the river from his brother Abram and wife Mary Culp Ruddell. Documents suggest that place was Lafferty’s settlement and that Methoataske, Tecumseh’s mother and the adopted mother of Abe and Stephen Ruddell more than likely is buried in the White River Valley in Stone County or at the very least, the mouth of Lafferty Creek in Izard County. On a German map from 1814 Tecumseh is noted on the map at what is now East Lafferty Creek in Independence County. After the death of her husband in 1816, Sarah remained living in the reservation continuing the fur trading business and outpost meeting the requirements to continue to live within its boundaries. Sarah’s older children moved across the river out of the reservation establishing homes near present day Lafferty Creek.

It is likely these two remarkable women were friends in the last days of their lives.

Schoolcraft traveling down river wrote on Jan 17, 1819 about “stopping at the widow Lafferty’s on the right banks of the river.” Although surrounded

14 | eyeonmag.com

Traversing the Buckhorn

Lafferty Settlement and Landing 1810: Part 2 continued from January

by Indians he made virtually no mention of them anywhere in his journals, his purpose ore and mineral explorations. Personal hand written letters and a biography of Lorenzo Dow Lafferty, the youngest son documents his life living among the Indians in Stone County. He married Elvira Creswell. In 1836 he homesteaded the land his parents called home. The knoll on which it is believed that the home of John and Sarah Lafferty sat, is just a few hundred yards from where Sam indicated the cemetery had been.

Just to the east, Lafferty’s Landing and the bottoms where they witnessed the earth erupt, leaving the sinkhole in its wake lays. Penter’s Bluff is within sight to the west.

We marvel at the rock wall that runs from Younger Access to Cook Holler stretching almost a mile. The wall was built pre-Civil War by slaves hired for 6 cents a day and turnips for lunch. Although it later served to hold in livestock, “it was built as a defense wall, to fend off the riff raff that came along the river wanting to steal and rob. It wasn’t the Indians that folks worried about, it was other white folks,” Sam offered. With talk of civil war in the air long before it was declared, including rifle ports, the rampart was first line of defense against Union soldiers. There are numerous accounts of both Union and Confederate soldiers crossing the river at Wall’s Ferry (Lafferty Landing), including the Battle of the Buckhorn.

It is believed that Sarah and John Lafferty, among the first settlers of the White River Valley and Stone County’s first white settlers, are buried together here in this still beautiful place, that 200 years ago they called home, The Buckhorn. Today, Sam Younger, Mary Lafferty Wilson and Mary Cooper Wilson came home and remembered.

(Visit www.ExploringIzardCo.Com to view the photos, story and video of “Traversing the Buckhorn”.

Stone County native, Freda Cruse Phillips, PhD writes pre-Civil war history of the White River Valley. Her work appears in a number of newspapers and magazines throughout the Ozark Region. Author of a number of text books, her first book on the White River Valley, was published in 2009, Voices of Our People. Her second book, Places of Our People has a scheduled release date of April 2011.) N

Main Street

Kimberlee Thomas

Thompson's Jewelry 255 E Main St., Batesville, AR 2501 Owner: Bernice Thompson Managers: David & Curt Thompson Number of Employees: 3 What does your business offer the public, David?

We are a full line jewelry store. We have always offered the best deals on a wide range of goods.

We offer a wide range of jewelry including engagement rings and wedding sets in all shapes, Seiko & Pulsar watches, and Incolay jewelry boxes. We offer a line of Jim Shore Disney figurines. We also have two new lines of jewelry; Kameleon also known as jewel pops and Reflection Beads, which will work with Pandora, and other popular bead jewelry. We have a full time gemologist, jewelry repair & watch repairman on site. We can service what we sell.

When did Thompson's Jewelry open for

pre-civil-war-rampart-wall

Thompson’s Jewelry business? November 1924.

What do you like about being on Main St.?

I feel the main reason to be on Main Street is because that is where your hometown jeweler should be.

Main Street is so important to your town’s roots.

Curt and I grew up on Main Street. Having all the friends that have came & gone is a real treasure to me.

David, Bernice, and Curt Thompson, with Roger Gentry February 2011 | 15

Notes from the Clearing

Frosty Air Care

Joseph Thomas

Frosty air so clean and bright showing the stars in a brand new light.

Yet you show them as you always have. How many millennia have you had to freeze and ice and merely chill, to dare the songs of the whippoorwill.

How many days have you seen through? How many nights and twilights too?

How many races have denied your touch? How many species cannot say as much?

What is your wanting, your warmest desire as you curl around me by the fire?

When you dare to dream they warm you still, more than your icy fingers will?

Or perhaps I over-analyze the simplest of things and give flight where there were no wings.

But then why not, to dare and dream...To climb up and over the most monstrous things.

To hold a breath within my lungs and imagine the sound of its ancient tongue.

What sweet, gentle language...this melodic cold tune.

Howling through the alley of this afternoon.

Sing your songs fair, my breeze, and remember them so well For soon the Sun will be back to heat and melt your cool Winter spell.

Hearts and More Your Sweetheart will Adore

e ain h T   aisy Ch D

Insid

e Et

ta's

Attic

143 E. Main St., Batesville 16 | eyeonmag.com

Because your relationship is important to us, we wanted to update you on our progress at Southern Bank. We have the same friendly faces providing the same great service... only the name has changed. We plan to continue our growth here in Batesville and Independence County and look forward to assisting you with your nancial needs.

Whether through loans or deposits, we have a wide array of products from which to choose.

We look forward to you coming by, having a cup of coffee and visiting with us about how we can put Southern Bank to work for you. We value you as a customer and appreciate your business.

Woody Castleberry Community Bank President

Southern BANK

1583 South St. Louis Batesville 870-612-1212

Dante Zapata

Heaven Is Not Far Away

A child is born with no place to go, he walks in circles with his head hung low.

Forced to be on the road and alone, He struggles to meet life’s demands, He prays to God with dirt on his hands.

He does no right and he does no wrong.

He hides himself and he runs astray. Heaven is not far away.

When you see him don’t let him pass by, for all he needs is a helping hand to guide.

A girl is born in poverty, and she knows her destiny is giving all she has to receive none.

And now she’s grown old and gray and to this life she now says “You will not hurt me no more.”

She hides herself and she runs astray. Heaven is not far away.

When you see her don’t let her pass by, for all she needs is a helping hand to guide.

They work their fingers down to the bone. They cannot leave where the world is their home, Everything in this world is so small.

This lonely world is all they know, they need each other to help them grow.

Like the mountains they stand so tall.

They hide themselves and they run astray. Heaven is not far away.

When you see them don’t let them pass by, for all they need is a helping hand to guide.

February 2011 | 17

A Visit with Carmel Carmel Aaron

Demonstrating Real Love with a Healthier Lifestyle

This is the time of year when peoples’ thoughts turn to hearts, flowers, valentines. and love. I want to visit with you about a more enduring type of love, a love that is long lasting and bound by a true commitment to the health and well being of our loved ones.

In this fast-paced world we often find ourselves picking up dinner at the local restaurant’s drive-thru window more than we would like.

Eating out of bag or a box night after night is simply not healthy. I would encourage you to learn more about healthy eating and cooking.

Learning about whole foods and creating a dinner menu can be a fun family activity. Everyone can voice which foods are his or her favorites from a healthy whole food list you have previously prepared. Fruit

smoothies are another great way and family camaraderie. They will to consume whole foods. You can benefit from more activity and a get the kids involved in this activ- healthier diet as well as more fun ity as well by letting them make up family moments to remember. their own smoothie recipe.

Another problem we face is inactivity. Children and adults alike spend large quantities of time in front of a computer or television screen. Gather your family together and ride bikes, go hiking, or go skating.

Get your neighbors involved and have a weekly baseball or flag football game. Our bodies were created to move, so love your family enough to get them moving.

Take a little time and think about what your family enjoys; first with food and nutrition and then with activities.

“Get your neighbors involved and The entire family will enjoy have a weekly baseball or flag footthe togetherness, laughter, ball game.”

18 | eyeonmag.com

For some great kid and family food ideas and recipes check out the Healthy Monkey Smoothie video with pint size chefs and the Valentine Dance Challenge at www.squidoo.com/ Easy-Kid-Tested-Healthy-Recipes-Tips Wishing you and those you love a healthy, happy and fun filled long and enduring life. N

Today is a

“Our bodies were created to move, so love your family enough to get them moving.”

“Gather your family together and ride bikes, go hiking, or go skating. “

great day to feel good.

With Farmers Insurance you don’t just get insurance, you get ready.

Get to know a Farmers agent today, and you’ll see why

Ready Feels Good.

Janet Smart Agency 870-793-5757 jsmart@farmersagent.com 11 Eagle Mtn Blvd Batesville, AR 72501 Arkansas Insurance Producer License No. 344724

February 2011 | 19

Homes Julie M. Fidler

Cave City home improvement crew gives family extreme makeover

B e t w e e n and decided to do our part,” said said. “We wanted to give them a C h r i s t m a s Mrs. Sterling. “We couldn’t bear to new home.” and New Year’s think of a family being split apart The crew, all working for free, Eve, Will and Earlene Sterling of because of this situation. This is the repaired all of the floors, installed Cave City took on a major home first time we have ever reached out new carpet and laminate floorimprovement project for another in this manor,” she said. ing throughout the entire home, family … for free. And, they say The floors of the Kellems home replaced all of the lighting, they’d do it again “in a heartbeat.” needed to be repaired due to water installed new smoke alarms, Dennis and Darlene Kellems of damage. But, the Sterlings and painted the entire home (walls and Cord called Sterling Home Solu- their crew didn’t want to leave ceilings), repaired the dishwasher tions last October to get a bid on it at that. “After learning about and installed new mini-blinds and getting their home repaired. The the struggle this family had been curtains. doublewide mobile home had through, we wanted to do more than Mrs. Sterling did all the decoratjust fix the floors,” Mrs. Sterling parts of the floor falling. “We built Cassoning through in places. dra’s room to match her Photos by Julie M. Fidler Meanwhile, the Kelpersonality.” The teenlemses’ young daughter, ager loves country music.

Cassondra, was dealing Will Sterling designed a with a lot of medical bed frame in the shape issues, including dialyof a guitar. He lined the sis. Darlene and Caswall at the ceiling with sondra moved in temsparkly compact discs, porarily with a family lit by track lighting. The member, separating icing on the cake for Casthem from their husband sondra is a framed, autoand father. graphed picture of the country group, The Dixie A couple of weeks Chicks. after Darlene had called the Sterlings’ business, Members of The Arkansas Children’s Home Depot’s Team Hospital contacted them Depot donated the paint about the project, for Cassondra Kellems hugs Earlene Sterling while and painting supplies. which some funding a television crew from KAIT-8 films the reveal of They also sent out a had been donated. “We crew to help with some the teen-ager’s bedroom. saw a family in need, of the final cleaning.

Left; Water damage to the floor is seen here.

Right; New toilet and flooring for the bathroom.

Home photos furnished

by Sterling Home Solutions

20 | eyeonmag.com

Darlene and Cassondra Kellems enter their home to see it for the first time after an “extreme makeover.”

Looking on is Will Sterling.

An “after” picture of the master bathroom with garden tub. Photo furnished

by Sterling Home Solutions

Furniture-4-Less donated a new bed for Cassondra. Sterling Home Solutions crew members Nick Ring, Clay Smith and Robbie Dye all worked for free. “Nick Ring is our floater,” said Mrs. Sterling.

“He can do most anything. Clay Smith is our painter, and Robbie Dye is our framer and roofer.” The project took the group five days (61 hours). The result was a completely remodeled home.

“We got a warm heart just knowing this family is all under one roof again,” Mrs. Sterling said. “They were excited and emotional. They were expecting Will Sterling gets his hug for a job new floors, not a new home. Will and I well done and very appreciated received such a blessing during this proj- by Cassondra Kellems. ect. It warmed our hearts to be part of a new beginning for such a deserving family.”

She thanked Eye On Independence Magazine: “Thank you for sharing their story with your readers. Our hope is that God continues to bless the Kellems family.” N

Darlene Kellems and her daughter, Cassondra, could not believe the new look of their dining room.

February 2011 | 21

I Do

Submitted

James Walden and McKinley Case have known each other since they shared the same second grade classroom. McKinley attended a gymnastics class with James’ sister, which was coached by James’ mother, and they played together in the junior high band.

The couple had grown up around each other and passed in the school halls many times before they began dating their junior year of high school.

James proposed while the couple was in Montreat, North Carolina 22 | eyeonmag.com

Photos: KES Weddings

last March during spring break.

McKinley is no stranger to Montreat; she has spent most every summer as a child visiting there with her family. James invited McKinley to share an early morning prayer walk with him along the streets of Montreat.

The couple spent an hour wondering along the streets and strolling alongside a sleepy creek before they began making their way back up the big hill to the houses where they had been staying. James began pulling McKinley toward a very familiar house; it was the one

The Walden Wedding

she and her family stayed in every summer. He led her across the long green porch which had been sprinkled with pink rose petals and guided her to the porch swing.

Lying there on the swing she had sat in so many times as a child was a Bible engraved with the name McKinley Walden and the journal she had given James for Christmas. James sat McKinley on the swing, thanked God for putting her in his life and asked “McKinley Ellen Case, will you marry me?” to which she replied “Of course!”

The couple wed at the First Presbyterian Church in Batesville, Arkansas on the evening of December 18, 2010. Reverend Leslie Roper, Associate Pastor of the church and Reverend Bruce Case, first cousin of the bride, presided over the ceremony. A reception followed at the Eagle Mountain Country Club where friends and family wished the new couple

much happiness and success. The couple traveled to Cancun, Mexico and enjoyed an all-inclusive honeymoon at the Excellence Playa Mujeres.

James and McKinley are both 2006 graduates of Batesville High School and 2010 graduates of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. James holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business

administration. He is currently employed as a systems analyst at Windstream Communications in Little Rock. McKinley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. She is currently a student of the Physical Therapy School at the University of Central Arkansas and is working on her Doctorate in Physical Therapy degree. N

February 2011 |  23

Youth Julie M. Fidler Cassondra Kellems, 17, of Cord doesn’t know what it’s like NOT to have health problems.

The daughter of Dennis and Darlene Kellems has lived through open-heart surgery, a heart transplant, cancer and chronic kidney disease. She’s been on dialysis since early last summer.

A crib given to the family from the Make-A-Wish Foundation when Cassondra was little is still in storage at the family’s home. The foundation granted the girl’s wish for her own jungle gym.

Aside from her health issues, Cassondra is just like any other girl her age. She loves country music and is teaching herself to play the guitar. She’s an honor roll student at Cedar Ridge High School in Charlotte.

When Cassondra was 9, she donated 11 inches of her hair to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to low-income children in the United States who suffer from long-term medical hair loss. Cassondra has thick, wavy black hair.

As an infant, she had open-heart surgery. When she was three, she received a heart transplant and was then diagnosed with Burkitts Lymphoma, a type of nonHodgkin's lymphoma. Cassondra endured months of chemotherapy at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.

There were periods of time during her treatment that Cassondra could neither talk nor walk.

Now, Cassondra not only walks. She sings.N

24 | eyeonmag.com

Cassondra Kellems

Pictured above in Cassondra’s newly renovated bedroom are (from left) Dennis Kellems (Cassondra’s father), Cassondra, Earlene Sterling and Cassondra’s mother, Darlene Kellems. Photo by Julie M. Fidler

Below from left are Will Sterling of Sterling Home Solutions of Cave City, Cassondra’s father Dennis Kellems and Cassondra. Photo by Julie M. Fidler

Come in, Sit down, and Relax.

M

eet Cindy Woodruff, our new baker extrodinaire, who will be adding many innovative and exciting products to our case.

Cassondra Kellems is proud of her autographed picture of the Dixie Chicks, given to her by Will and Earlene Sterling. (photo courtesy Earlene Sterling)

Open Monday through Saturday, for the morning rush, lunch and catering. Come check out what is happening at MorningSide.

616 Harrison Street • Batesville, AR 72501

870.793.3335 Monday - Friday 7 am to 3 pm Saturday 8 am to 2 pm www.mscoffeehouse.com

Buy one, get one

FREE!

Buy one espresso drink and receive the 2nd of equal value FREE. Hurry offer ends soon.

offer valid with coupon only, ends April 31st, 2011

February 2011 |  25

The Arts The Batesville Area Arts Council will be offering an “ART IN THE AFTERNOON” each Tuesday afternoon from 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m for students ages 8 13 years old at the BAAC Art Gallery located at 246 E. Main Street. Jennifer Dickie, along with other volunteers, will work with students in various art areas. A schedule is available at the BAAC Art Gallery on Main along with registration forms. Cost is $3 per student per week or $10 per student for the month, supplies are included. Pre-registration is required. For more information contact BAAC at (870) 793-3382..

Diane Ziemski will be providing a Watercolor Workshop on Monday, February 21st from 9:00 – 4:00 at the BAAC Art Gallery on Main. For more information, call (870) 7933382 or email baac@suddenlinkmail.

Artist Diane Ziemski com to register. For information

yellow-rose-after-texas by Diane Ziemski

26 | eyeonmag.com

about Ziemski visit http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/diane-ziemski.html The Ozark Foothills Filmfest will be unveiling the winner of the Ozark Foothills Filmfest Poster Contest at the BAAC Art Gallery on February 22nd . The winner of the poster contest will exhibit some pieces of their work in the BAAC Art Gallery on Main beginning March 8th.

AIE Artist, Patty Carreras, will be providing an improv comedy piece at 6:30 p.m. February 11th, at the BAAC Art Gallery on Main during the Main Street Batesville Second Friday Event.

The Batesville Area Arts Council will be hosting their Souper Bowl Saturday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, February 5th from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. Soup for the event is provided by many wonderful area cooks and is available by the quart.

Proceeds help support the Batesville Art Gallery on Main, the Arts In Education Program, the Batesville Community Theatre and additional programs supported by the Batesville Area Arts Council. Tickets are $7 per quart and are available at Carlee’s Hallmark, Citizens Bank and BAAC Art Gallery on Main.

Tourism Henry Awards Finalists Named submitted by Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

The 2011 Henry Awards winners will be announced at the 37th Annual Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism. The ceremony will take place during the Governor’s Banquet on the final night of the conference, Tuesday, March 8, 2011, beginning at 7:15 p.m. at the Statehouse Convention Center. The Henry Awards are named in honor of Henri de Tonti, the man historians consider to be the first “Arkansas Traveler.”

Governor Beebe will address the tourism industry.

Miss Arkansas, Alyse Eady, will present awards to the recipients and Parks and Tourism Executive Director Richard Davies will preside at the ceremony. Batesville and Independence County are represented in two categories. Twyla Gill Wright, guiding force behind the Old Independence Regional Museum, has been nominated for the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award, presented annually to a community, individual, or organization that has made a substantial contribution to Arkansas’s tourism industry. Ozark Foothills FilmFest, celebrating its tenth anniversary March 23-27, has been nominated for the Tourism

Special Achievement Award, presented annually to an individual or organization that has contributed to the tourism industry through leadership “above and beyond” the normal requirements of their jobs.

Other award categories include the Media Support Award, the Bootstrap Award, the Arkansas Heritage Award, the Grand Old Classic Special Event Award, the Community Tourism Development Award, and the Natural State Award.

During the Henry Awards ceremonies the 2011 inductees into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame and the Tourism Person of the Year will also be announced. The Hall of Fame honor is presented

to individuals actively involved in tourism for many years who have made substantial contributions to the industry. The Tourism Person of the Year Award will also be presented. For more information on the conference, contact the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism at 501-682-6999 or 501-6821088. For specific information on the Henry Awards, contact Donna Perrin or Kristine Puckett at 501682-5240. N

February 2011 | 27

Kevin Rose

Community Bank President Batesville

Meet Kevin Community Bank President

Kevin Rose has joined the Liberty Bank team as Community Bank President for Batesville.

With more than 11 years of lending experience, Kevin has worked in banking since 1997. He is a graduate of Arkansas State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Corporate Finance. He later completed the Barret School of Banking in Memphis, TN, where he earned a Graduate Degree.

Kevin’s lending experience and community involvement make him a perfect match for our community banking philosophy of helping the cities, towns, and neighborhoods we serve continue to improve and grow.

Join us in welcoming Kevin Rose to the Liberty Bank team! Stop by to visit him for your next loan at 1240 East Main Street in Batesville or give him a call at 870.793.7373.

870.793.7373 mylibertybank.com

MEMBER FDIC

Continued from page 9 match.

It is indeed a tribute to Oaklawn Park and Arkansas for being chosen by Zenyatta’s connections as the venue for 2 of only 3 races that she ran outside the state of California. Queen Z has now been retired from racing and resides at the prestigious Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky where treats of carrots, peppermints and ale are part of the fare fit for Her Highness. She awaits her Prince Charming to be mated and hopefully produces a prince or princess in early 2012 that will once again electrify the world as a champion on the international stage. If that

Zenyatta close up. Jeff Coady Photography

Zenyatta winning the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita in California. Photo credit: Anne M. Eberhardt/Blood-Horse happens, the legacy of Zenyatta will perhaps become legend and I will remember back to April 9, 2010 at Oaklawn Park where I was privileged to witness firsthand another jewel being added to the crown of Queen Zenyatta. The celebration will include carrot cake and “Guinness” all round for the residents of Lane’s End including a special toast from her loyal subjects in Arkansas – Long live the Queen – Long live Zenyatta.

Editors Note: Zenyatta was voted Horse of The Year for 2010 at the industry’s Eclipse Awards on January 17, 2011. Live racing at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs continues through April 16. N

February 2011 | 29

Organization Humane Society

Julie M. Fidler What better way to share the love on Valentine’s Day than to adopt a “sweetheart?” There are plenty of them at the Humane Society of Independence County’s animal shelter in Batesville.

Whether you’re a dog person or a cat person, there’s a sweet companion waiting for you. Many of the pets at the shelter have been there for years. Many were abused, abandoned and left to fend for themselves.

Many are already house-trained, and all are spayed or neutered.

According to Bev Finch, executive shelter director, for a $50 charge, not only will you bring home your new companion, you won’t have vet fees to “fix” your friend (usually a cost of well over $50). Each pet has already had all its shots (except rabies and feline leukemia) and is guaranteed healthy.

“In six years, ONE female dog and her offspring

Patches

reduced prices at our spay/neuter clinics,” Finch said.

The Humane Society of Independence County holds fund-raisers throughout the year to cover the cost of the animals’ needs. Bark in the Park is one of those events. Finch said it was quite successful last year.

The event was held at Riverside Park in Batesville and drew a good crowd, she said. “There were activities and games for all ages. People brought out their pets, and it was just a lot of fun.”

The Humane Society is planning a “trivia night” for March as another fun way to raise money. Finch said she recently attended one such event in Mountain Home for an animal shelter there. She said people are divided into teams and asked questions similar to a game show. The exact date for the fund-raiser hadn’t been set at press time.

For those who would love to have a sweet canine or feline friend but, for some reason, are unable to adopt one, there’s still plenty they can do to help. Money is always good.

Finch said she appreciates all of the donations the shelter receives, not just the monetary ones. One can also donate time, and not necessarily a lot of it.

“People think, if they’re going to volunteer, it’s going to take up a lot of their time,” she said. “Not so. You can sign up for a few hours a year, if you want.”

Humane Society Continued on page 33

can produce 67,000 puppies,” said Finch. “In seven years, ONE female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 kittens.”

Since 2002, when the doors to the shelter opened, the Humane Society has taken in 5,252 animals -- all at no cost to the county.

“We have assisted in helping 1,077 low-income families get their companion animals sterilized at greatly 30 | eyeonmag.com

“In six years, ONE female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies”

Note Worthy Events Old Independence Regional Museum Story Time If you have a toddler or preschooler make plans to join us for stories and crafts. The museum is located at 380 South 9th street in Batesville. Story time begins at 10:30 a.m. on February 11th and 25th, March 11th and 25th, April 8th and 22nd, and May 13th and 27th. February and March story time will focus on illustrators featured in the exhibit Draw Me a Story: A Century of Children’s Book Illustrations.

This nationally touring exhibit has been on view at Old Independence Regional Museum since January 28, 2011.

Some illustrators featured include: Maurice Sendak, Rosemary Wells, Tomie dePaolo, Randolph Caldecott, Kate Greenaway, William Steig, and William Wallace Denslow. Story time is free and pre-registration is not required, but groups of five or more are asked to call ahead. Children must be accompanied by an adult. If you have questions, please contact the museum at 793-2121.

This humanities program is made possible by local support from Independence County and the City of Batesville, as well as by Challenge Grant Endowment funding from the National Endowment of the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce Primetime Business Expo First Community Bank has partnered with the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce to bring motivational instructor John Cassis to Batesville in conjunction with the chamber’s Primetime Business Expo, said Crystal Johnson, chamber president. The event will be Saturday, Feb. 19, in Independence Hall at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville. One of the most requested speakers in America, Cassis combines a rare blend of humor and entertainment to show audiences how to face head on the daily pressures of life and business challenges. During a time where change is a way of life, not a choice, Cassis inspires participants to see goals in a different light and to move in new and positive directions.

“Our country has experienced economic changes in the last few years,” said Dale Cole, First Community Bank’s chairman and chief executive officer.

“Fortunately displaced employees are finding new and exciting careers in fields they might not have considered before. Mr. Cassis’ presentation comes at just the right time to motivate us to launch into new and successful directions.”

The public is invited to visit the expo booths free

of charge to get information about the services offered by local businesses. Many vendors also provide free food and giveaways. The fee for attending the presentation by Mr. Cassis is $10. Tickets may be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce and at all Batesville locations of First Community Bank.

Cultural Events at Lyon College All events will be held on the Lyon College campus and all events are free and open to the public except as noted. For more information concerning these events log on the College’s Web site: www.lyon.edu.

Senior Exhibitions: Feb. 1 – April 1, Kresge Gallery.

Candidates for a B.A. in Studio Art showcase their work.

West Endowed Concert: Quapaw String Quartet.

Thursday, Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m., Bevens Music Room Diversity Week will be observed the first full week of February. A schedule of events will be announced in advance.

Harlequin Theatre Spring Production: “The Trojan Women” Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 17-19 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 20 at 2 p.m., Holloway Theatre.

Patterson Lecture: David Waters Thursday, Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m., Nucor Auditorium.

Business and Professionals Luncheon Area professionals are invited to the First Baptist Church annex, 610 E. Main, every 1st and 3rd Thursday for a professional and business luncheon.

Beginning at noon, with lunch provided and a 10 minute program.

Go Red Luncheon: Citizens Bank to host annual Go Red Luncheon Friday February 18th at Independence Hall on the UACCB campus. Doors open at 10:00 a.m. for the silent auction followed by lunch and entertainment at 11:00 a.m.

For more information concerning this event please contact Crystal Crow 870-698-6382.

United Way Board Meeting Tuesday, February 8th at 5pm in the George Ryder room at First Community Bank.

Main Street Batesville's Second Friday Event Friday, February 11. Select businesses will be open late and entertainmnet can be found up and down Historic Main Street during this monthly event.

Batesville Rotary Club Meets each Monday at noon at Josie's at the Lockhouse Batesville Lions Club Meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at noon at the Italian Grill Batesville Kiwanis Club Meets each Friday at noon at Western Sizzlin N

February 2011 | 31

Beevaer Sa me! like

Learn to Earn with THE MONEY BEE RE-INTRODUCING OUR

CHILDREN’S SAVINGS ACCOUNT!

Earn

3.03

%

*

APY

Interest and get in on all the Buzz!

Start with a Visiet th token of our appreciation!

Open your account with our $5 Token.

Look for me buzzing around town and get yours free! Get a Monthly Gift for making Two Deposits—PLUS, join now and get a FREE Gift!

Kid’ s Beehive located in the lobby of our Main Bank!

Coming soon to all locations!

So come see me...come see me...come see me today!

We’re friekniddly! www.thecitizensbank.net

870-793-4441

APY= Annual Percentage Yield. Minimum to open account is $5.00. Fees may reduce earnings. Rate effective as of the date of this publication.

Rate subject to change. See Bank for complete details.

Humane Society Continued from page 30 A volunteer dog-walking group meets every Thursday to take the dogs for a two-mile walk. Other volunteers are needed just to sit with animals at PetSense in Batesville each Saturday. The shelter keeps some cats at the store, which makes them more visible to customers. Dogs are brought in on Saturdays.

If you can’t give money or time, other donations are always accepted. Items such as cat litter and old bed sheets and towels are just as valuable, according to Finch. Other things the shelter always needs include laundry detergent, bleach, dog biscuits and cat toys.

The Humane Society of Independence County is located at #5 Environmental Drive, along Hwy. 167 North, adjacent to the Recycling Center. Shelter manager is Lauren Howard.

The shelter is open Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5:30 p.m.; and Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shelter is closed Sunday and Monday. The phone number is 870.793.0090. You may view adoptable pets by going to www.petfinder.com/shelters/AR65.html. N

Disco

Good Pooch!

Cheech and Chong

Luke

Bev Finch and Pooch February 2011 |  33

Birds, Bees, Flowers and Trees Autumn Hunter “Why are you catching rainwater and the runoff from your air conditioner in those buckets?” was the question that one of my dearest and longest friends asked as we played cards on the porch one day. She and I are as different as night and day; we are bound by history and mutual adoration, not common interest. I explained that I catch the water runoff for my plants, to provide drinking water for the pets, and to wash my car or scrub the bird cage. Her next question was to determine if it was another of my attempts to reduce household spending. She seemed confused when I revealed that the landlord pays the water bill.

I decided if one of my” besties” is uninformed about water conservation, then it might be an important topic to cover, especially since we just went through a summer of drought.

A NASA Institute reports that “global surface temperatures in 2010 tied 2005 as the warmest on record.” According to the KAIT weather team, Region 8 (which includes Independence County) had seventy five days of ninety degree or above temperatures from June through August. Eight of those days reached one hundred or

“A water rich state should be setting an example for efficient, long -term management of clean water supplies.”

34 | eyeonmag.com

Photos submitted

more. Overall, summer 2010 was the second hottest in our area. The heat and lack of rain left most of the area in an extreme drought. We finished the year nearly 14 inches below normal for our annual total.

When drought occurs, collecting rainwater is a good way to deal with watering restrictions. Plants like rainwater because it's naturally soft and free of chemicals like chlorine. Your hair would benefit from being washed in rain water for these same reasons. For those of us who use city water, we stand to save a considerable amount of money by incorporating just one water- conserving method in our household.

Arkansas is a water rich state.

We even have the luxury of using our lakes and streams for recreation. What is common for us is very foreign for other parts of Arkansas, not to mention the rest of the nation and other countries.

Less than 1% of the earth’s water supply is drinkable, also known as potable water. Wait a minute…isn’t the earth 70% water? Why is that potable number so low? Around the world our supplies of clean water are threatened by pollution and depletion. In third world countries, not having water is a daily reality. One in five people on earth do not have access to clean drinking water. The pollution of water impacts not only our environment but economics as well. In the US, the time is here for us to be more concerned and take action to preserve our long term supplies of clean water. Each of us make decisions about conserving water (or not) every day. We all have areas we can improve in our daily water use. My weakness is the shower. I would like to stand in there until the hot water runs out every time.

When the rain is long gone and my buckets are empty, I resort back to the garden hose to keep my flowers blooming. I too am guilty of

Waste Not, Want Not

Gandhi said “Be the change you want to see in the world.” distraction and occasionally watering the street. Conserving anything (water, energy, or money) is simply making that decided effort to be aware. It’s like committing to a daily routine of exercise, living on a budget, or reading the Bible.

It’s a lifestyle choice.

The good news is that there are simple ways to reduce your daily water use. Inside the home, more than half of daily water use is in the bathroom. An easy practice to adopt is to turn off the water while shaving, brushing your teeth, or even while soaping or shampooing. Significantly less water is used in short showers than in tub baths.

If you are remodeling or building a new home, consider installing a high efficiency toilet that uses just a little over a gallon to flush instead of the typical three gallon units. You could also use a gallon milk jug full of water in your toilet tank to offset each refill, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the equipment. It’s also important not to use your toilet as a trash can.

You can also install low-flow aerated faucets and showerheads without losing water pressure.

Other inside tips would be to insulate your water heater or purchase a water filtration system for your tap instead of buying bottled water for drinking at home. For conserving outside, try using a broom instead of a hose to clean off your porch and sidewalks. Instead of watering a large manicured lawn you could lower water use by planting

a ground cover, growing a meadow roof will yield three hundred gal- evaporation and costly refills. of native wildflowers, or making a lons of water. Also consider using Make a choice not to run ornamenrock garden with drought resistant a cover for your pool to avoid tal water features or recreational plants on different sections water toys that require a of your property. Adding steady stream of water during organic mulch around your a drought. Using a bucket plants and shrubs helps to to wash your car instead of retain moisture and requires keeping the hose running is less water. Another idea is also considerate conservato use a trigger nozzle on tion. No matter if it’s inside the garden hose and put any or outside, fix any leaky water sprinklers on a timer pipes or mend leaky hoses that comes on after dark on right away. Of course, a little designated days of the week. reading to educate ourselves Rain barrels are a great way on the subject enables us to to store water for watering make informed decisions. your lawn or garden. Just a “You can also install low-flow aerated faucets You may be thinking this half inch of rain falling on and showerheads without losing water is all good information, but a one thousand square-foot pressure.”

February 2011 | 35

Support Our Advertisers First Community Bank-------------------------2 Thompson’s Jewelry----------------------------3 Scott Wood-------------------------------------3 The Batesville Chamber of Commerce---------4 Just Chillin’ Frozen Yogurt----------------------4 Rich Realty-------------------------------------5 Western Trails----------------------------------5 The Medicine Shoppe--------------------------6 Kent’s Firestone--------------------------------8 The Flower Shoppe--------------------------- 11 Autry’s---------------------------------------- 11 Lakeside-------------------------------------- 12 Deni’s Inspirations---------------------------- 13 Huer’s Family Shoes-------------------------- 13 City Council Broadcast- ---------------------- 13 Dairy Queen---------------------------------- 13 Glen Marc Furniture-------------------------- 14 Sterling Construction------------------------ 15 Independence County Recycling Center----- 16 Elizabeth’s Restaurant------------------------ 16 The Daisy Chain------------------------------ 16 Southern Bank------------------------------- 17 Natalie’s-------------------------------------- 18 Charles’ Lil Shop of Coffee-------------------- 18 Coldwell Banker------------------------------ 19 Farmers Insurance---------------------------- 19 Etta’s Attic------------------------------------ 21 Ivory Owl------------------------------------- 23 Morning Side Coffee- ------------------------ 25 Fine Line Body Art---------------------------- 25 General Pest Control------------------------- 25 House of Flowers----------------------------- 26 M & J Wholesale------------------------------ 27 Newport Eye Care---------------------------- 27 Liberty Bank---------------------------------- 28 Teacher 2 Teacher---------------------------- 29 Ozark Foothills FilmFest---------------------- 29 Citizens Bank--------------------------------- 32 Studio Salon---------------------------------- 33 Mark Martin KIA------------------------------ 35 Carlee’s Crown Shop-------------------------- 35 Woodlawn, Inc------------------------------- 36 The Uniform Shop---------------------------- 36 Go Red Luncheon----------------------------- 37 Stanley Wood-------------------------------- 39 Frank Kallsnick, Inc.-------------------------- 39 Robert O. Seat Photography----------------- 40 Charlie’s Mens Wear/ Charlie’s Angels------- 40

36 | eyeonmag.com

why is it so important to do these things now?

As the human population continues to grow, more demands are placed on our already stretched resources. As we grow so does the industrial need for water, water needed for electricity production, and water to meet agricultural requirements. The more people there are to feed, the more wetlands are converted to crop producing fields. Wetlands reduce flood damage, recharge the groundwater, provide wildlife and fish habitats, improve water quality, control sediment deposits, provide recreation, esthetics, and contribute to the overall health of our environment. In just a few decades our national wetlands have been reduced by half. A 40% increase in water demand is predicted over the next two decades. It’s important to be open to a few moderate changes in our water use behaviors because Arkansans are still afforded the enjoyment of swimming , boating, splashing through rapids in a canoe or raft, fishing, and hunting ducks.

We also have adequate water for irrigating crops, producing electricity, and our general happiness and survival.

Gandhi said “Be the change you want to see in the world.” A water rich state should be setting an example

for efficient, long -term management of clean water supplies. If you lead by example, others will follow.

Water is an essential part of all things good in Arkansas. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. N

February 2011 | 37

EOI Movie Review Reviewed by Tanner Smith

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Smith’s Verdict: *

Man, is this movie a disappointment!

Remember the big-bang action climax at the end of the original 2007 hit Transformers? I remember how bored I was with that, yet how entertained I was with what happened before that. And here, we have its sequel Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), a boring, loud, obnoxious, stupid movie that is easily director Michael Bay’s worst movie since Armageddon. Both movies are incomprehensible and idiotic with nothing to show except for an endless amount of big-budget special effects, a poorly-constructed screenplay, and heavy-handed direction. These special effects are indeed special but they’re just special effects. There’s hardly anything special about them because the story is lame and the characters are one-dimensional.

Once again, we have the continuing war between the good Transformers (the Autobots) and the evil Transformers (the Decepticons). The Autobots have the US Army on their side now as they go around searching for Decepticons because…I don’t know, maybe if one of them was around, they might rally more from their home planet and possibly destroy the Earth or something. The movie opens with an especially LOUD opening battle in which Autobots seek to destroy a couple of Decepticons but end up causing more damage than the Decepticons did.

The Decepticons leave the Autobots with a warning: “The Fallen will rise again.” There are always lines like that in big-budget blockbusters. What is the Fallen? Apparently, it’s some type of evil force that can even control the Decepticons and cause world domination.

The Fallen is the MacGuffin—we have to watch out for it and keep 38 | eyeonmag.com

our ears open. But the movie is so loud that we actually want to shut our ears! There are many battles like the one in the beginning of the film that seem to go on forever and grow tiresome and annoying.

Sometimes, we will cut back to the original film’s returning teenage hero Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) as he deals with his parents (Kevin Dunn as the Dad and Julie White, who seems to be trying hard for a Razzie as the Mom) and tries to settle things in his off and on relationship with his girlfriend Mikaela (the beautiful but bland Megan Fox). He is also trying to fit in on his first days of college but it’s hard to do when his roommate Leo (Ramon Rodriguez) is a techno geek who is attempting to expose the Transformers that the government “covered up.”

OK, let me stop for a moment.

We learn in this movie that the big climax in the city at the end of the first Transformers was “covered up” by the government. This makes no sense. There was a city full of witnesses who saw the Autobots and Decepticons fight and kill each other. How in the world could the Government have covered up something like that?

Sam, Mikaela, Leo, and Simmons

(John Turturro) are caught up in this battle that leads the Transformers to the discovery and possible resurrection of the Fallen.

Once again, Sam must save the world while the leader of the Autobots—Optimus Prime—and the US Army (with returning characters played by Tyrese Gibson and Josh Duhamel—both of which are just standard shoot-em-up guys) fight off the resurrected Megatron, the evil leader of the Decepticons.

At one point, Sam and the group wind up in Egypt, where there is (of course) an action climax bigger than any of the big action climaxes that happened earlier in the film.

John Turturro has to get to the top of a pyramid to get…something, I forgot. While doing so, he makes this hammy speech, “The machine is buried in the pyramid! If it gets turned on, it will destroy the sun!

Not on my watch!”

Also in this climax is a Transformer that works as a vacuum.

At one point, Leo and Turturro are behind a car while this monster sucks everything into its mouth. The car is sucked in but Leo and Turturro run away like nothing is there. I’m no physics expert but I don’t think this is possible. If a car can get sucked into this huge vacuum, how can two lighter, moving subjects be unaffected? There are also many other moments in which Sam and Mikaela barely escape death without getting hurt. They even outrun explosions. The only time someone is really injured in the midst of all

this big-time action is when Sam is teleported into another place and breaks his arm (this was written into the story because LaBeouf’s arm was actually broken during production).

This is just one big action climax after another and when it stops for comedy, it doesn’t really work. The humor is juvenile at best. We see one dog humping another (twice), we see Turturro’s butt cheeks at one point, we get moments of embarrassment with Sam’s bizarre mother (actually, Julie White is funny in her scenes), and Leo is there for no good reason except to have an annoying, racist stereotype. And speaking of racist stereotype, the most annoying “comic relief” comes from two twin Autobots who act as jivetalking black stereotypes. Their dialogue is spoken so fast that I couldn’t understand anything they were saying, and they never shut up. When the film tries to attempt drama, Megan Fox has to cry. No

offense to this actress, but she can’t quite cut it here.

If you think the human characters are boring, the Transformers are far worse. They’re dumb, clanky, and their dialogue is as dumb as any of the humans’. And while in the original film they were a sight to behold, they just look like a walking pile of junk this time around.

The problem with Michael Bay is that he spends so much time

creating blockbuster elements that he forgets that other stuff is important. I enjoyed the original Transformers movie, and also Bay’s 1996 thriller The Rock. But with movies like Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, Bad Boys II, and now, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, it’s obvious what he really wants to do—impress and/ or annoy the audience with blockbuster style. The style may be fresh, but the development is rotten. N

February 2011 | 39