THE WAY I SEE IT ...
PUBLISHER’S LETTER
Robin Rogers, Ed.D.
can be a real jerk behind the wheel. There’s no reason to report me to the police, because as much as I trash talk other drivers, I am not one to take any chances—especially when I am responsible for an extra passenger, and that’s a given most of the time. My daughter, Emily, has to put up with a side of me that very few know: Mean Momma Robin.
Mean Momma Robin drives a wheelchair-accessible van, chauffeuring the chattiest backseat driver never to have driven an automobile. I get all kinds of regular advice on better routes, road closures, and pothole avoidances. She also sits directly behind my headrest, and despite being inches away from my ears, loud is her mode of delivery when we are driving. There’s no wonder I suffer from slight road rage; like a teenager driving with an overprotective parent, I am constantly being warned of an impending crash that never comes.
Those who truly know Emily know that she is brilliant. To say she “keeps up” with local goings-on would be an understatement; she is like the switchboard operator of lore, with knowledge of everyone and everything happening in the community. If you’ve ever met her (or even if you’re just acquainted on Facebook), I would bet you a crisp, clean $50 bill that she knows not only your full name but also your birthday, your place of employment, or the name of a relative; I’d bet $10 that she knows all three. She is our family’s go-to source when we want to know about anything going on in town, from ribbon-cuttings and construction sites to new births and retirements. She checks the obituaries on a weekly basis, reads breaking news on her phone, and has even been known to listen to the police scanner “for fun.”
She is exceptional in ways that most people can’t even imagine.
Driving a van was something that I always thought I was too cool ever to do, but life is full of little surprises, and these days, I am just thrilled that our van has cold air and heated seats. Without Emily, I’m not sure who I would be.
Emily has cerebral palsy. During her birth, the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck. She was close to making her arrival when her fetal heart monitor dropped to nothing, and the doctor had to make an emergent decision to get her out and get her out fast. That delivery room was evacuated, and the tone changed. I remember our doctor calling for forceps to pull her
INSPIRE THE
ENTERTAIN
PUBLISHER
Dr. Robin Rogers
EDITOR
Ellen Orr
GRAPHIC DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY
Shane Darby
SALES REPRESENTATIVE
Victoria Herman
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Phoebe Warren FOURSTATESLIVING
from my body. It took what seemed like forever for him to unwind the cord, not once but four times, from around her head and neck. When she finally screamed, relief washed over everyone left in that hospital room.
Emily didn’t hit some of the eagerly anticipated baby milestones at the expected times. I fretted. The late, great Dr. Nathan Wright, our pediatrician, warned us not to put labels on her; he said something to the effect that when you label a child, expectations fall, and Emily deserved more than that. Of course, he was right. Arkansas Children’s Hospital diagnosed her with CP when she was about a year old; an MRI showed she had a spot of brain damage from when she lost oxygen during birth.
Outsiders underestimate Emily because of her disability. When we are at the grocery store and run into someone I haven’t seen in many years, Emily tells me who that person is before they’re within earshot—while also holding our grocery list in her head, finding coupons on her phone, and mentally dealing with 100 other life-administration tasks. She is so smart. She is also more forgiving and gracious than anybody I have ever known.
When the accessible parking spots are full of cars without disabled placards or plates, I fume. The lady waiting for her takeout, the man “just running in for something quick” at the E-Z Mart, and the kid on a motorcycle who parks on the white stripes wheelchair users need to get in and out of their vehicles—those people all better hope Emily is with me when I see them. She will talk me down before I confront that lady, or block in that man while we wait for the police, or push that motorcycle into the Red River. We are all lucky that Emily is kind and forgiving. She’ll remind me that many people don’t “look disabled” but are and need accessible parking; she will always suggest we just park out in the middle of nowhere when there are other people who need to be closer to the entrance than she does.
We are taught by society to judge books by their covers. We make assumptions about people based on their skin color, accent, clothing, gender, mobility, attractiveness, body size, age. But Emily knows from experience that this is misguided. Human beings are much too complex. Intelligence, character, disability, health—none of these look any certain way.
Janie Wright, whose photo is our cover this month, was assumed healthy by both her peers and medical professionals, based primarily on her outward appearance; she “looked healthy”—but there is no such thing. Today, she looks almost exactly as she did this time last year, but after undergoing a quintuple bypass, her heart health is night-and-day different. Thanks to her proactive behavior and access to exceptional medical care, Janie avoided a heart attack and is now recovering from open-heart surgery. But had she brushed off her symptoms, as many people would, reasoning that she didn’t fit the stereotypical profile of an unwell person, she might have paid the ultimate price, as so many do; after all, heart disease is the top cause of death for both men and women in the U.S.
Making assumptions about people—based on appearance, age, disability status, or any other surface-level characteristic—has only negative repercussions. Janie knows that. I know that, too, though I regularly forget. Luckily for me, I have my favorite backseat driver and partner-in-kindness to remind me every day. As she likes to say, she is my heart.
Enjoy this issue, and thanks as always for reading FSLM
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Katelyn Peek
Robin Proctor
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Tony Basso
Emily Gammon
Terrica Hendrix
Jennifer Jordan
Baylor McLelland
Ellen Orr
Robin Proctor
Sarah Vammen
Phoebe Warren
Four States Living Magazine is published the first business day of every month. © Copyright 2025 by Four States Living Magazine. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher. Four States Living Magazine is distributed free of charge. Direct mail subscriptions are $40.00 per year. Reader correspondence and editorial submissions are welcome. We reserve the right to edit or reject any material contributed.
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ON THE COVER FEBRUARY 2025
Janie Wright was in good health, but she felt like something wasn’t right. Seemingly in the blink of an eye she found herself awaiting bypass surgery.
Read In a Heartbeat on page 12.
When Dr. Zachary Legan isn’t performing oral surgery on his human patients, he spends time treating animals with dental pain or disease at the Little Rock Zoo.
Read about Dr. Legan on page 44.
SCENE ABOUT TOWN
THE TEXARKANA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT HELD A RIBBON CUTTING FOR THEIR NEW FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER AT 520 TEXAS BLVD. ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 16TH.
Brooke Marshall, Fred Norton Jr., Bill Kimbro, and Dr. Doug Brubaker
Chris Sutton and Casey Purifoy
Genesis Torres, Mindy Basurto, Dana McAdoo, and Jennifer Solomon
Ricky Robinette, Davis McDaniel, Jakob Martin, and Justin Swecker
Courtney McCray, Brandy Upchurch, and Gloria DeBaro
Dearice Spencer-Shackleford, Ruby Shoals, and Brittney Haynes
Field Walsh, Dr. Doug Brubaker, and Ben Renner
Diana Hernandez, Rebekah Wagner, and Dearice Spencer-Shackleford
Anita Clay, Brooke Marshall, Dr. Robin Hickerson, and Shawn Edmonds
Brionna Wilson, Amanda Eisley, and Audrey Shumate
Berkley McKnight, Lakesha Taylor, Chelsey Gillion, and Kelly Bixler
Chad Moore, Ruby Hildreth, Elodia Witterstaetter, Tenequa Martin, and Lee Williams III
IN A HEARTBEAT
Two years after receiving a clean bill of cardiac health, Janie Wright underwent quintuple bypass
by SARAH VAMMEN
Headaches and facial pain during increased cardiac activity were Queen City–native Janie Wright’s first indication that something was amiss with her health. She never guessed this seemingly random pain was actually the result of massive arterial blockages. “I was 48 years old, not overweight, and in what most people would consider great shape for my age, awaiting open-heart surgery,” Janie said.
Thanks to her Google Pixel Watch, Janie noticed a pattern to her symptoms. “If I didn’t stop activities that elevated my heart rate, such as walking long distances, climbing stairs, or exercising, the pain would escalate from a headache to facial pain, and eventually [I’d] feel like my throat was burning,” she said. Over time, this pattern began to occur daily, particularly as she walked to and from her car and office at Domtar in Ashdown, Arkansas. “One day in August, while leading clients through the mill at work, the pain became so intense that I had to stop walking,” she recalled. Unable to ignore her symptoms any longer, Janie made an appointment with her primary care physician that same day.
Janie was referred to the Arkansas Heart Hospital (AHH) Clinic in Texarkana to rule out any issues with her heart. “After checking in at the AHH Clinic, I waited for Dr. Andrew Henry to discuss my symptoms. When he entered the room, he asked if I was there with a grandparent, surprised to learn that I was the patient,” Janie said.
Having received a clean bill of health during a “Keep the Beat” heart screening at AHH in Little Rock just two years before, Janie did not suspect doctors would find anything wrong with her heart during this visit. Following her stress test and echocardiogram, Janie learned that her heart had several blockages, including in her left anterior descending artery—a blockage commonly referred to as a “widowmaker.” Her next step, Dr. Henry said, would be to undergo angioplasty (widening of the affected arteries) and have a stent placed in her heart.
In the month leading up to her heart procedure, Janie was eager to plan for all contingencies. “I asked a nurse over the phone what would happen if they discovered I needed open-heart surgery,” she said. “[The nurse] reassured me that they would already know if that were the case.”
On October 16th, 2024, Janie’s cardiologist, Dr. Hamza Reyes, performed her catheterization at Encore Medical Center in Bryant, Arkansas. “When I woke up, I asked how many stents they had placed, and they told me none, which immediately signaled that something was wrong,” she said.
Seen here on her first day post-op, Janie underwent unexpected openheart surgery at Arkansas Heart Hospital in Little Rock. submitted photo
photo
The catheterization revealed a 98% blockage in her LAD and another artery, as well as less severe blockages in other arteries.
“My sister, Amy Giles, who was with me, recalled Dr. Reyes saying that, when he saw the results of my heart cath, he called everyone over in the cath lab to look at it, as he was just incredulous at what he was seeing,” Janie said.
Feeling as though she had a ticking time bomb in her chest, Janie was transported by ambulance to AHH in Little Rock for bypass surgery. “To say I was shocked is an understatement,” she said. “However, the ambulance ride and the four-day hospital stay before my surgery gave me time to process.”
Doctors attributed Janie’s extensive arterial blockages to genetics, as well as the increased risk of heart disease facing postmenopausal women.
After four days of waiting in the hospital, it was time for Janie’s surgery. “I was scared, but I had my husband by my side and the support of my family and friends,” she said. Dr. Michael Nolen performed Janie’s coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Following a successful surgery, Janie and her family were shocked to learn that she actually needed five bypasses, making it a quintuple bypass.
Then began Janie’s long road to recovery. “If you can avoid having your chest opened, I highly recommend it,” she said. “[After the procedure] I had numerous tubes and wires attached to me, which was overwhelming, but I understood they were necessary.” Janie’s nurses quickly got her sitting up and walking around, making each of her four recovery days in the hospital a little easier than the last.
Though she was happy to return home, Janie found her recovery frustrating. “I couldn’t prepare my own meals, do household chores,
submitted photo
“
” This surgery made me realize that health can be deceptive. I believed I was healthy, but I wasn’t.
photo by SHANE DARBY
climb the stairs to my bedroom, or even shower on my own for the first couple of weeks,” she said. She was thankful to be surrounded by a community of family and friends eager to help in any way possible.
After six weeks at home, Janie felt more like herself than she had in a long time, and she began cardiac rehabilitation at CHRISTUS St. Michael in Atlanta, Texas—an experience she speaks highly of. “The RNs overseeing the cardiac rehabilitation, Shawn Pixley and Heather Robinson, are phenomenal at their jobs,” she shared. “I truly feel that the rehab helps me improve with each visit.”
Today, Janie feels hopeful. “I’m no longer constantly tired, and I have the energy to do things,” she said. “Don’t get me wrong: I’m still recovering, so I do get drained, but I don’t wake up exhausted like I used to.”
Reflecting on her health this past year, Janie said that she has learned valuable lessons. “This surgery made me realize that health can be deceptive,” she shared. “I believed I was healthy, but I wasn’t.”
Now Janie is learning to live well with coronary artery disease, is more aware of her body, and is grateful she was diagnosed before experiencing a heart attack. “I feel fortunate because coronary artery disease often presents differently in women; my symptoms of headache and facial pain could have easily been overlooked by both me and my primary care physician,” she said. Janie advises everyone, but especially women, to pay close attention to their bodies and get any unusual symptoms checked immediately.
Thanks to her proactive measures, Janie is able to enjoy moments like this one with her grandson, Calin Lewis.
Janie with her husband, T.D., six weeks after her quintuple bypass surgery.
submitted photos
CREATING THEIR CREW
by ELLEN ORR
On August 16th, 2024, Lauren Crowder turned 40. Her 30s had been a decade full of life and milestones: at 30, she began dating Mike Crowder, the man she’d marry at 31. She grew in her career as an adult mental health support worker at Community Healthcore. She traveled with friends. She celebrated the growth of her five younger siblings, who are between three and 36 years her junior. But, as wonderful as the prior 10 years had been, Lauren did not grieve leaving her 30s behind—because the day she turned 40 was the day her son, Crew, embarked upon the world.
As a teen and young adult, Lauren did not put much thought into having a baby—in part because she always had younger siblings to pour into at home.
“Growing up, it seemed like there was always a baby crying,” she said. “My parents had my brother Brett a month after I graduated high school. So [in my 20s] it was like, ‘I’m not ready to have children. I still have a baby brother.’”
Another factor was Lauren’s reproductive health, which had never been typical. She experienced her first period at the late age of 19, as a student at the University of Arkansas. That began a series of irregular, painful cycles, which no doctor or prescription could manage. In her early 20s, she was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis—two conditions that can make conception difficult.
Lauren didn’t dwell on her potential infertility; she didn’t think much about it at all, until her mid-30s.
“We weren’t rushing [to have children],” Lauren said. “It was way down the line [before we started thinking about having a baby].”
In 2019, a few years into their marriage, Lauren and Mike began talking about trying to conceive. They knew that natural conception was unlikely, but they chose to stop all birth control and just see what happened. In late 2022, after three years without any success, they decided to take a more proactive approach, spurred on by their family’s support.
“It was Christmas, and we were at my dad’s house with [my siblings, their partners, and their children],” Lauren recalled. “My brother asked, ‘Y’all gonna have kids?’ My family knows I have [reproductive] issues, and so I was like, ‘It’s not that we don’t want to; it’s just—’ and that’s when my dad said, ‘We back you 100%. Any way we can help, we’ll step up and help. Don’t let something hold you back.’
“I was sitting there watching my nieces and nephews jumping around, and thinking back to when I was a kid with all my cousins at holidays,” she continued. “I wanted to have a kid of my own in there, playing with their cousins. So, that was the tipping point.”
In 2023, Lauren and Mike began researching fertility treatments and providers. Through internet searches and word-of-mouth, they learned of Dr. Jerald Goldstein, a DFW fertility specialist. Lauren tried
Lauren Crowder became a mother at 40 through IVF
submitted
photo
photo by
DARBY
to make an appointment with him but for various reasons hadn’t gotten in. Then, in April, she and Mike went to Mexico for a friend’s wedding. While there, they met another wedding guest—a 43-year-old mom toting around her 8-month-old daughter. It was soon revealed that they had gotten pregnant through IVF, with the help of Dr. Goldstein. To Lauren, it felt like a sign. When she returned stateside, she was determined to become one of Dr. Goldstein’s patients.
On July 31st, she had her first appointment in Plano. Less than two months later, on September 19th, she began taking injections to stimulate egg production. On October 5th, Lauren underwent egg retrieval. Of the initial 11 eggs retrieved and fertilized, five grew into embryos. Those five embryos were tested for genetic abnormalities and viability; only one embryo was healthy enough to implant.
“I was heartbroken,” Lauren recalled. The odds were against her. At 39, and with her health history, the odds of conceiving with just one embryo were small. And, while she knew she had familial support, she did not want to undergo the entire IVF process more than once; the financial expense, without any guarantee of success, was just too high—not to mention the physical and emotional costs. But, despite her concerns, Lauren trusted her intuition—and her intuition said that one round of IVF was going to result in a baby.
“I had this gut feeling that was like, ‘Give it one try,’” she shared. “So I said, ‘I’ll do one round of IVF. I know the statistics, and I know that, for most people my age, it takes at least two or three rounds.’ [The fertility specialists] tried to talk me into doing another round [of IVF so that they would have more embryos to implant], but I said no.”
On December 5th, 2023, the lone healthy embryo was transferred. Two weeks later, bloodwork revealed that Lauren’s gut had been right: she was pregnant. She shared the news online in Februrary; accompanying an ultrasound still were the words, “Made
submitted photos
Mike and Lauren pursued conception at the Fertility Specialists of Texas, with Dr. Jerald Goldstein.
with lots of love and a little science.” Lauren had expected the outpouring of support and excitement she received from her friends and family. She had not expected the vitriol from strangers and acquaintances that popped up in her inbox.
“People were telling me, ‘You’re playing God,’ and ‘You’re gonna get what you deserve,’” she recalled. “Some of this was from people I knew from around town, and I couldn’t believe these people thought that I was doing something so evil. I have thick skin; I’m not someone that cares about someone else’s opinion, and nobody was going to take away from my excitement. But no wonder a lot of people don’t come forward about using modern medicine.”
Despite the hateful messages, Lauren does not regret sharing her fertility journey with the world.
“I was an open book with [my fertility treatments]; from the start, it was not a secret,” she said. “Working in mental health made me want to be open with it.” She explained that, just as mental illness is stigmatized, so too is infertility. “But there’s nothing wrong with [either situation],” she shared. “Nobody is 100% perfect, and everybody is relatable in some way.”
Fortunately, Lauren’s pregnancy was largely uneventful. “I was expecting all the [symptoms and complications],” she said, “but, I’m not going to lie: my pregnancy was the easiest thing ever. I wasn’t sick one time. I never had high blood pressure or swelling. I didn’t have gestational diabetes. Everything they worried that would go wrong because of my age and being ‘geriatric’—none of it happened. Everything was perfect.”
At 14 weeks, Dr. Goldstein transferred Lauren’s care to local OBGYN Dr. Jennifer Thompson. Due to fetal positioning, the delivery was by cesarean section. On August 16th, as Lauren completed her 40th rotation around the sun, Crew Michael Crowder began his first.
submitted photos
On Lauren’s 40th birthday, Crew Michael Crowder was born.
Crew is now 6 months old, and Lauren and Mike are loving their venture into parenthood. Lauren said that she has no regrets about becoming a parent at an olderthan-average age.
“Everybody tells me, ‘You’re so relaxed and calm about things, and not uptight,’” she said. “People say you don’t have the same energy when you’re older, but I don’t think that’s true. I think it’s just a mentality. I don’t feel any more worn down than I did before I had the baby. I wouldn’t change a thing. I really wouldn’t.”
Lauren represents a growing population of people who are getting married and having children later in life. Naysayers may harp on the challenges of becoming an older parent, but Lauren advises fellow parents-to-be not to focus on them.
“Don’t worry about anybody else’s thoughts or any stigmas; just do it,” she said. “Live your life. You only get one.”
submitted
photo
photo by SHANE DARBY
Mike, Lauren, and Crew recently had their first Christmas together.
THE CHICKEN, THE EGG, AND A WHOLE LOT OF WORK
by ROBIN PROCTOR
“Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” This controversial topic has been debated by brilliant scholars around the world for decades. As a homesteader, the answer is: “Who cares, as long as my hens are happy and laying delicious, wholesome eggs each day!” Truthfully, raising chickens has little to do with eggs or meat but is more about the journey and embracing a simpler way of life that may evoke distant memories of the generations that came before us.
I’m not sure why I haven’t yet penned my experience with my chickens—lovingly referred to as my girls, the morning glories, and a few names I can’t mention. Possibly because it might be a better topic suited for a chapter book. So, let’s begin this journey the way all good stories start, at the beginning.
CHAPTER 1
Moving to the country felt like a dream come true for us 20-plus years ago. Fences were built to create pastures, the pond was built and stocked with fish, and we had wideopen spaces for the pups to roam and play. But there was one thing missing from this homesteader’s idyllic vision: chickens.
project would be a financial commitment; after all, who spends $1,000 on a coop unless they’re serious about chickens? But my confidence had started to emerge, and I was beginning to think that this was a journey we could handle: buy a coop, start small with four chickens, and have all the eggs we would ever need . . . right?
CHAPTER 2
It all began with my idea to purchase a prebuilt chicken coop—the kind we could put together with only a screwdriver and how-to video on YouTube. It would be cute and functional for a few hens. But that little Atwoods coop quickly became a distant memory; surely, my husband reasoned, we could build something for way less than 1,000 bucks. He began drawing up the plans for a new and improved (and, I might add, much larger) coop.
We would often admire other people’s ability to raise chickens and the creative coops they would build, some even outfitted with chandeliers. I went as far as purchasing Raising Chickens for Dummies, which was terrifying and staved off the desire for a while. But, like clockwork, spring would roll in, and the cute chicken coops would reappear in front of Atwoods, reigniting this little spark of desire to revisit the idea of raising chickens.
My husband and I would occasionally stop and look at the coops they were offering. The price tag on most of them reflected that this
Close to $5,000 later, the prebuilt chicken coop had successfully been replaced with the custom-built chicken mansion. We stood back and admired the beautiful structure we had built with our own hands. Mind you, it would not have passed inspection, but in our eyes, it was perfect. Now it was time for the chickens and the eggs—or was it the eggs and then the chickens? It’s not important.
CHAPTER 3
Raising chickens might seem simple: feed them, water them, and collect the eggs. But having someone in your corner to show you the ropes makes all the difference in the world. I was fortunate enough to have that person in my life. She had been my biggest cheerleader, repeatedly offering me hens anytime I was ready. When I finally said yes, she was thrilled. Having known me for multiple years, she knew the hens she provided would be named, loved, and obsessed over. A seasoned chicken keeper was good to have in my corner; being a responsible caregiver for my girls was of the upmost importance. These were living creatures that would depend on me for their care, and that mattered to me.
photos by
ROBIN
PROCTOR
Our chicken mentor taught us how to spot a sick bird, and not to panic when most of their feathers were falling out, because molting was natural. I had a chicken medicine kit on hand for surprises. I was ready for my girls. She warned us of the predators that could and would wipe out a flock, but my husband built a chicken Fort Knox, and I knew its security firsthand.
Early on in our chicken adventure, a terrible storm blew in across Texarkana: tornado warnings, lightning strikes all around. I had fretted over the girls in the coop, worrying that the storm door I had left open would get caught in the wind and shatter. At the peak of the storm, I could not bear to sit inside any longer. I had to protect the flock! I told my husband I would brave the storm and run in and close the door to the coop, thus solving the problem. I pulled on my boots and hopped in the car to drive out to their house. The rain was blinding, and bolts of lightning rained down around me, but still I persevered. I ran into the dry coop and closed the door behind me. After doing a quick headcount of my girls, I quickly turned around to head back outside. Sadly, at that moment, I realized I had locked myself in the coop with the girls, with no cell phone in my pocket and no way to open the door. As the storm raged on, my hopes of my husband coming to my rescue diminished, and the girls were getting a bit irritated at their new unwelcome roommate.
As a last resort, I glanced down in the dimly lit coop and recognized my only hope for escape was the “doggy door.” Houdini would have been proud as I slithered out feet-first (I didn’t want to get stuck going out head-first, what with the storm). As I came back into the house, I calmly asked Danny if he wondered why I had been in the coop so long. But I couldn’t be mad; after all, in my husband’s defense, it was my idea. All of that to say, truthfully, I pity the coyote or raccoon that has visions of chicken for dinner!
I was blessed with an incredible mentor, which meant fewer mistakes, more confidence, and a smooth start for the chicken adventure. If only she had warned me about the dreaded “chicken math.”
CHAPTER 4
Chicken math is a phenomenon every chicken keeper will eventually encounter. It starts innocently enough—planning for four chickens, maybe six at the most. And then the mind quietly whispers, “Why not
eight? That’s a much better number.” And so, the four become eight, and quickly thereafter the eight become twelve. And then, oddly enough, the mind says, “Oh Robin, what if you lose one? Then you have an odd number, and we all know even numbers are better when it comes to chickens, right?” My mind’s chicken logic was very persuasive. We are the proud parents now of sixteen beautiful girls. Daily, I am reminded of how thankful I am my husband built this marvelous chicken palace.
CHAPTER 5
Reflecting on the past couple of years, I can’t help but marvel at how much I have learned. Was it worth it? Are there regrets? Did I do everything right? These are just a few of the questions I ask myself. From building a chicken coop, to managing and treating unexpected illnesses, to the loss of a hen that I had named and loved, every step of this journey has taught me something.
Raising chickens responsibly is work. It may seem glamorously trendy and fun, but to do it right, it’s work. It’s not so glamourous when you are out at daybreak making sure their water hasn’t frozen in the winter, or scooping out chicken litter when its 103 degrees in the summer. But I don’t have any regrets—not a single one. It has brought me joy, connection to nature, and a sense of peace as I stand in the run listening to their chatter and clucks. And at the end of each day, as the sun begins to set, I collect a beautiful array of colored eggs: soft browns, pale blues, mint greens, and whites generously provided by my girls. As the girls slowly begin to meander into the coop to settle in for the evening on their roost, I quietly thank them for their eggs and tell them I love them. But I think they already know that.
Robin Choate Proctor was born and raised in Texarkana, Texas. After graduating from Texas High School, she pursued a music career which eventually led her to Nashville, Tennessee. Robin returned to Texarkana and completed her degree in education at Texas A&M–Texarkana. Robin is married to Danny Proctor and has one son, Chase Proctor, along with three beautiful grandchildren. As an amateur homesteader, Robin enjoys sharing her ideas and experiences about her time in her garden, greenhouse, chicken coop, and kitchen.
SCENE ABOUT TOWN
— — — — Out of Town!
THE TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL TIGER MARCHING BAND WAS SELECTED AND INVITED TO MARCH IN THE PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL PARADE ON JANUARY 20TH IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THOUGH THE PARADE WAS CANCELLED, TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL TIGER BAND DID GET TO PERFORM “THE STARSPANGLED BANNER” AT FORT M c HENRY IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. THE TUNE WAS COMPOSED IN 1814 BY ITS COMPOSER, FRANCIS SCOTT KEY, IN THE VERY AREA WHERE THE STUDENTS WERE PLAYING.
Scan the QR code to see a video of the Tiger Marching Band performing the national anthem.
BACK ROW: Xavier Briggs, Justin Gentry, Cameron Cribbs, Asia Junior, and Christian Adams FRONT ROW: Shuntairra Grundy, Cashay Austin, MaLeiah Rachal, and Miyanna Grady
Arnie Lawson, Ben Renner, and Jason Carter
Gray Merriman Lekeunnia Magee, Rylee Hubbard, Izabella Aguilar, and Tirani Carroll
Owen Walker and Carter George
Raeden Burton and Hayden Simon
Sophia Chavez and Ryker Meadows
Kameron Valerio, Isabelle Harmon, Jaycie Smith, and Victoria Harmon
BACK ROW: Jordan Whistle, Rylee Hubbard, Sophia Thompson, and Tamia Davis FRONT ROW: Daniyah Stuckey and Shakirria Lowe
Abigail Lauck, Terrence Hodge Jr., and Charis Quijas
Nick Talbot and Jay Jay Montoya
Shyasia Moore, Carolyn Magee, Tre Morgan, Zoey Rhone, and Kemyah Davenport
Marshall Hackworth, Jackson Carter, Emili McDonald, Grayson Davis, and Nathan Sangalli
Ellie Carter and Karlie Childs
Elizabeth Gross and Alystine Gross
THE GIFT OF A LIFETIME
Jimmy Sorenson donated a kidney to his father-in-law, Gary Williams
by JENNIFER JORDAN
Local paint contractor Gary Williams began the year on a kidney transplant list and ended it with a new kidney, donated by his son-in-law Jimmy Sorenson.
Gary’s journey with kidney disease started with cancer. Seven years ago, he underwent a nephrectomy (kidney removal) and was then to be monitored annually by Dr. Hayden Hemphill. Although Gary no longer suffered from kidney cancer, his kidney was not functioning well. In 2018, he was diagnosed with low stage 3 kidney failure. Gary’s visits with Dr. Hemphill increased in frequency from every six months to every three months, but nevertheless, he progressed to late stage 4 failure. In May of 2021, he was sent to Dallas Methodist Hospital to be evaluated for a kidney transplant.
“It took a year to get on the [national transplant waiting] list, due to his prior cancer,” Gary’s wife, Sarah, said. As he waited to rise to the top of the list (which takes, on average, three to five years), Gary’s kidney function deteriorated to 13%—stage 5 failure.
Although many biological relatives were willing to become living donors for Gary, blood-type incompatibility precluded most from being good matches. But Jimmy Sorenson, the husband of Gary’s daughter Jennifer, was type O—the universal donor. A fit person with no family history of cancers or major health issues, he volunteered without hesitation.
“I did not give it much thought,” Jimmy said. “Gary’s a really good guy. I wanted to do it.”
everything and took 11 tubes of blood,” Jimmy said. He met with the transplant surgeon as well as living donor advocates who thoroughly explained the process. About a week later, Jimmy received the call that his kidney was a match. “It was a good day to find out. That was a good day for us,” he reflected.
“We didn’t want him to take the risk,” Sarah said. “He takes such good care of our daughter and all their kids. But Jimmy was insistent.”
So, on June 9th, 2024, Jimmy headed to the Liver Institute in Dallas to find out if his kidney was a good match for Gary. They “tested for
Jimmy’s surgery was scheduled for December 6th. He arrived at the hospital two days prior to have labs performed again. The 4.5-hour surgery went smoothly, and Gary received the transplant the same day. Jimmy was released on December 8th, and Gary was released soon after. Gary was able to come home sooner than he thought.
“Jimmy’s kidney was an awesome match,” Sarah said. “The doctors are so pleased that Gary is doing well. Jimmy took such good care of his body that he was the ideal donor.”
Today, father-in-law and son-in-law both continue to recover well at home. Most of Jimmy’s post-op restrictions have been lifted, and he is eager to return to the gym.
“I’m going to keep on going as I have been,” he said. “My only hobby is exercise. I can get on the treadmill now, but I’m ready to return to lifting.”
Gary’s kidney function is now above 60%. His recovery includes more restrictions, due to his compromised immune system. He must stay home for three months. Afterward, for the following year, he will need to go to Dallas monthly for a breathing treatment.
Newly invigorated, Gary is doing all he can to stave off cabin fever.
“Weather permitting, I am able to get out and walk around the neighborhood,” he said. “I’m also using a treadmill for now to increase my strength.”
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Gary Williams and his son-in-law, Jimmy Sorenson.
“My son-in-law is amazing for loving me enough to do this. I will be forever grateful to him for giving me my life back. I could not ask for a more wonderful man for my daughter and grandkids.
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Gary Williams
“He has so much energy now,” Sarah added. “He used to sleep a lot. Now he’s an early bird like Jimmy. He’s getting up at 6 a.m.”
Gary thanks God for a new lease on life. “Without [God] I would not be here,” he said. “I also want to thank my wife for being with me every step of the way. I don’t tell her enough that I appreciate all she does. I want to thank the entire staff at Methodist Hospital and also all family and friends who called or sent prayers to bring us both through this. Something like this really shows you you have so many people that truly care.” Indeed, their granddaughter Kenzie has moved back from Florida to help Sarah care for Gary, and to help with their dogs.
The transplant has also helped Gary and Sarah to focus on future plans. “The important thing in life is to spend time with family,” Gary said. “We want to travel to Colorado and other places. We have not been able to go to many places because work always came first. I will continue to be here for our customers, but we have a crew, and my son Greg Williams is taking care of our business well.”
Gary has immense gratitude for Jimmy. “My son-in-law is amazing for loving me enough to do this,” he said. “I will be forever grateful to him for giving me my life back. I could not ask for a more wonderful man for my daughter and grandkids.”
Sarah echoed her husband. “We love Jimmy more than anything,” she said. “He’s like a son to us, not a son-in-law.”
For Jimmy, the choice was simple. “I am honored and happy to have done this,” he shared. “I have known Gary for 30 years and have been his son-in-law for 22 years. He has a special place in my heart. This was always the plan in God’s eyes. [God] let me live this long to stay with Jennifer and be able to fulfill this purpose to donate my kidney to Gary.”
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Jimmy was more than proud to be able to give this special gift to Gary.
Derek’s father, Shon, was a medic with LifeNet for 11 years.
LIFE-SAVING LEGACY
Derek Matthews continues his father’s legacy as a paramedic for LifeNet
by TERRICA HENDRIX
In 2003, when Derek Matthews was just 5 years old, he was injured in a serious ATV accident. Once he recovered, his father, Shon, felt inspired to change careers: after nearly two decades working at Alumax Mill Products, Shon began pursuing a new vocation as a first responder. He joined a volunteer firefighter department as well as the first-responder team at the mill. He went on to attend EMS school, and in 2007, he joined LifeNet part-time and concurrently pursued paramedic education. In 2009, he was hired full-time.
Over the next 11 years, Shon proved to be an exceptional medic. He was promoted to field training officer, operations manager, and—his dream job—flight medic. He also worked as an instructor at Texarkana College’s EMT and paramedic program. In 2019, he received the Star of Life award from the American Ambulance Association—an honor that included an invitation to the White House. Only 108 people nationwide received the award in 2019.
The following September, Shon contracted COVID-19. After five weeks of illness, he died at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in Temple, Texas. He was 48 years old. His death garnered national media attention, with outlets as large as People Magazine reporting on the hero’s accolades and tragic passing. Meanwhile, Shon’s family grieved and learned to carry on in Shon’s absence.
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photo by SHANE
Derek says helping people is his favorite thing about being a paramedic.
Derek, then in his early 20s, heard a calling to follow in his father’s footsteps. He is currently in the beginning stages of his EMS career and has been a LifeNet paramedic for two years now.
Derek’s 12-hour shifts are “anything but predictable,” he said. “On a good day, we will run about five calls—anything from ‘stubbed my toe’ to somebody actively dying, and anywhere in between. We may or may not get to sit around at a post waiting on the next call to come in. It might just be backto-back-to-back until we clock out later that night. Wait times at the hospital are sometimes the only breaks we get.”
The job “can get pretty stressful,” Derek said. “There are definitely times I go home at night just thinking about what I could’ve done differently.” He admitted that “there’s definitely some pressure there” with carrying on his father’s legacy. “I’ve been told by a few people that they expect more of me than others,” he said.
On November 26th, 2024, three days after what would have been his 53rd birthday, Shon was inducted into the Texas EMS Hall of Honors. Derek and the rest of the Matthews family traveled to Fort Worth to accept the award on Shon’s behalf. A plaque in his honor has been hung at the Texas Department of Health EMS Central Office in Austin.
While the national- and state-level accolades are meaningful, Derek and his family know that Shon’s legacy lives on in ways that no award could capture: Shon saved countless lives, not only through his frontline work but also through training, managing, and inspiring other medics, including his very own son.
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Whitney Williams was Shon’s EMT partner at LifeNet when Derek was a young boy.
Derek’s favorite part about being a paramedic is “helping people and the gratitude from the people who actually need us,” he shared. He said that he is considering attending nursing school in the future. “EMS will always hold a special place, but it’s just more job opportunities,” he said. “To see more, do more.”
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Derek and Shon went scuba diving in Cozumel, Mexico in May 2018.
CAMILA GUTIERREZ
by BAYLOR M c LELLAND
On average, high school students enroll in two or three extracurricular activities. Camila Gutierrez, a senior at Arkansas High School, is active in nine. She is a member of the varsity soccer and cheer teams, and she honors her artistic drive with the theater program. While most students would stop there, Camila also joined the Educators Rising Club, Student Council, the 12th grade principal’s advisory council, the robotics team, the NIKE Club, and RazorbackTV. If an event is happening on campus, Camila will be there—perhaps as a supporter, but more likely as a participant.
Camila enjoys promoting the programs that are less recognized across campus. “For my less-appreciated clubs, I hope more people join them and realize how amazing they are,” she expressed. “Especially theater and robotics, because a lot of people don’t know [our robotics team] is a three-time state champion.” Camila hopes that programs with smaller audiences will continue to grow and get the recognition they deserve.
A similar desire to support others is what pushed Camila to join the cheer squad.
“I joined cheer in middle school, and I didn’t think it was for me at first,” she explained. “But I ended up having so much fun that I ended up staying.”
Camila has found that Student Council is another way she can support her fellow students.
“I joined StuCo freshman year because I’ve always been a bit of a people person,” she said. “Giving back to the community and being able to surround myself with people who’ve got leadership qualities like I do really drew me in.”
“ ”
If a classmate of mine has a concern, them being able to bring it up to me allows me to bring attention to it.
photo by SHANE DARBY
With all of her activity, Camila has become very well-known and well-regarded across the campus by both teachers and students. However, the fame isn’t why she does it.
“A lot of people think we do it so we look good and get popular, or that we don’t have a life outside of those programs,” Camila said. “But I don’t join a club like cheer or soccer to get popularity; I do it because I like it.” She said the real reason for all of this involvement is to make the most of her time in high school and to help as many students as possible.
Such a high level of involvement requires a lot of energy, which can be draining at times. For any student already feeling drained because of just one program, imagine being in nine of them.
“I did experience a lot of burnout, and I really started noticing it going from my sophomore year into my junior year,” Camila admitted. “I ran track for four years but ended up quitting junior year because it was too much. At the time, I was also playing soccer and doing theater in the spring. And all of that just made my anxiety pretty high. It’s been with me these past few years, but I manage it as much as I can.”
Part of that is managing her time. Her schedules often overlap, but because of her relationships with coaches and sponsors, she can often find a good balance between one program and another. “I did, however, have to compromise and leave our bonfire early to come to our theater rehearsal,” Camila said, laughing at the situation. “Honestly, all my teachers know what I’m involved in, so they’re pretty flexible with me, and I really appreciate that.”
Through all of this, Camila is not alone, with support coming from friends and family alike. Her parents are her biggest motivators, but Kabrean King, her best friend and fellow student council member, is a very close second. At the beginning of their senior year, the two agreed to a “Say Yes” pact: if an opportunity arises, big or small, they’ll say yes to it. They say yes to supporting classmates. They say yes to supporting other programs. They say yes to any chance to help Arkansas High and its community.
Camila dubbed herself a “people pleaser,” and part of that is because of her time with Arkansas High’s Student Council. “I feel like [Student Council] tries to be a voice for all students, especially ones that may not have one since they might not be involved in any programs or just not talk that much,” she explained. “If a classmate of mine has a concern, them being able to bring it up to me allows me to bring attention to it.”
As her final semester continues, Camila remains an optimistic leader, encouraging others in the process. “Do it all!” she urges her classmates. “I know it seems like a lot, but you’ll gain some of your best memories and the best experiences in high school by doing all of this.”
Camila plans on attending the University of Arkansas to major in elementary education, and if her pattern continues, she will be affiliated with several additional programs as well.
Baylor McLelland is a junior at Arkansas High School. He is a reporter for the RazorbackTV program and content creator on his YouTube channel, “BaylorWuzHere.” He plans to graduate in 2026 and pursue a college degree in film.
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IN THE MOUTH OF THE BEAST
Dr. Zachary Legan volunteers his expertise at the Little Rock Zoo
by TONY BASSO
When asked about our days, many of us might reply that “work was a zoo.” Dr. Zachary Legan, an oral surgeon at Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Northeast Texas, takes pride in his office’s calm atmosphere, where he can help patients “in a way that is not anxiety-provoking,” he said. But, some days, Zachary’s passion pulls him to work at a literal zoo—specifically the Little Rock Zoo, where he treats animals experiencing dental pain or disease.
Zachary, a native Texan and the son of an orthodontist, set out to follow in his father’s footsteps. After earning his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University, he obtained a dental degree from the University of Tennessee and a medical degree from Louisiana State University. Following his residency in Shreveport, Zachary joined Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Northeast Texas as a surgeon in Texarkana. A few years after he and his wife established their roots in the twin cities, Zachary was presented with a unique opportunity at the intersection of passion and profession.
In 2021, Zachary’s colleague, endodontist Dr. Sandra Shambarger, invited him to join her on a trip to Little Rock Zoo to help a few animals in need.
“She mentioned that she was going to the zoo; I told her I’d love to go with her if she needed anybody,” Zachary said. “Sure enough, she said she’d be happy to have an oral surgeon, someone who could take out teeth, as some bear teeth are three inches long.”
Zachary said that he has performed work on bears, big and small cats, otters, and chimpanzees, among other animals. “We will be working on a lion shortly,” he shared excitedly.
Despite a difference in size and species, Zachary said that performing dental work on zoo mammals is strikingly similar to performing work on human patients, minus the convenient reclining chair and human-sized tools.
Dr. Sandra Shambarger, Dr. Zachary
Legan, Angie Satterfield, and Ashley Daniel volunteer at the Little Rock Zoo.
Dr. Zachary Legan loves animals, especially his favorite pups, Maverick (Dachshund) and Hazel (German Shepherd).
“ ”
I’m a bigtime animal lover; I always have been. I’ve always loved taking care of animals.
“We usually start like we would on anybody who came into the clinic,” he explained.
“We do a clinical exam and assess the teeth and the gums, and then we’ll take a full series of dental x-rays. Then Sandra and I will decide what we think needs to be done and which one of us should do each part. Then we tackle it.
“It’s all general anesthesia, so [the animals are] all intubated,” he continued. “They have a tube, and they’re on a ventilator breathing for them, and they’re on a table, which does make it tough. Especially for some of the bigger animals, like bears, positioning is essentially impossible. You’re just kind of over this table, and the bear’s on its side because you can’t lay him on his back, and you’re just trying to get a good view.”
Though large mammals are tricky, Zachary admitted that the smallest creatures are the most challenging patients. “It’s tough to get into their mouths and work,” he said.
Through their volunteer work at the zoo, Zachary and Sandra have been able to make a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of animals in need. Sometimes, that impact has even been life-saving.
“We worked on a cheetah one time that was losing a bunch of weight, and they didn’t know why,” Zachary said. “It turned out to be just a bum tooth. Sandra performed a root canal on
photo by SHANE DARBY
it. That cheetah snapped back to health, and two weeks later, it was eating well again. I think they thought this cheetah was about at the end of its life, and then it was just like a whole new lease on life after we worked on it.”
Zachary’s interest in animal wellbeing is nothing new.
“ I’m a big-time animal lover; I always have been,” he said. “I grew up on a farm with 60 or 70 cattle, horses, goats, pigs, and all sorts of stuff. I’ve always loved taking care of animals.”
When not volunteering at the Little Rock Zoo, Zachary continues to practice oral surgery at North East Texas OMS in Texarkana. He is proud of his office’s team and their work.
“Our entire staff has been with us for five-plus years, and nearly half have been with us 10 years or longer,” he said. “When you call our office, you’re going to get a human being who has been in our office for a long time, lives in the community, and cares about why you’re calling.”
Zachary said that, while he gets immense satisfaction from helping zoo animals in distress, he is most fulfilled by providing relief and comfort to his human patients.
“Most patients aren’t coming to see us because they want to; it’s usually a problem, and they’re uncomfortable and scared,” he continued. “The most rewarding thing about oral surgery is the ability to quickly manage someone’s pain or problem.”
Dr. Zachary Legan and Angie Satterfield perform oral surgery on a patient at the Little Rock Zoo.
The team performed a root canal on this cheetah, saving it from going hungry.
Art
ALL FOR AND ART FOR ALL
TRAHC will unveil their second location this month
by PHOEBE WARREN
The Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council (TRAHC) is inaugurating a new “community arts space for individuals of all ages,” located at 518 Pine Street. A grand opening for the public is scheduled for Sunday, February 9th, from 2 to 4 p.m. Those interested are encouraged to watch TRAHC socials for more details on the upcoming open house.
The space was donated to TRAHC by the partners of Offenhauser and Co. The Offenhauser & Company insurance agency is one of the longest-running businesses in Texarkana, founded in 1882 above Hakes’ Bank (also known as Bank of Texarkana), which now houses the Museum of Regional History. In 1894, Fred W. Offenhauser purchased the entire building. The business operated from that location until 1971, when they built a newer facility on Pine Street.
Jennifer Unger, Alisha Tarbill, and Marcus Zwiebel are excited about renovating their new space.
The robust brick structure boasts an expansive 16,000 square feet. At the time of construction, bricks from the insurance company’s first location, engraved with the Offenhauser name, were carefully extracted and integrated into the entrance wall of the Pine Street building. Visitors can still admire this unique, historical feature as they enter the building today.
The future conference room was purposely left all original to the building.
The new performing arts space
The entryway with studio spaces to the left and right
The 16,000-square-foot building has seemingly limitless possibilities.
The new kitchen and coffee bar space
The new mosaics studio
This room has its own climate control for displaying art.
TRAHC was able to preserve a beloved piece of interactive art from the Discovery Place Children’s Museum.
One of the first classes offered in the new space was a pottery class with local artisan Chris Thomas.
The Eichler Foundation and other generous community donors supported the extensive renovation of the building to transform it into a community arts center. The renovations were completed by the Restoration of Hope general construction team. “We partnered with another nonprofit,” Executive Director Jennifer Unger said. “It was a win-win.”
The TRAHC staff has myriad ideas for their second location. “We built it to be a flexible space so it would not only meet our current needs but those that we haven’t even dreamed of yet,” Jennifer said. “It can grow and change to meet the evolving needs of the community.” The team envisions a vibrant array of multidisciplinary art spaces, encompassing mosaics, ceramics, fiber arts, technology and design, painting, multimedia, and performing arts, as well as general rental spaces accessible to the community.
There will be chances for individuals to participate in legacy naming for the studios throughout the facility. Classes are set to begin in the spring, and more information can be found at trahc.org. Members will receive early access to class registration, event tickets, and more.
The future of arts and culture looks bright for the Texarkana community thanks to this exciting new space. “The staff and board of TRAHC are so excited to take on this creative endeavor and expand the opportunities to come together and create,” Jennifer said. “This arts space will become a place where everyone is welcome to flex their creative muscles, all while having fun experiencing different art forms.”
Emily in
ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING
by EMILY GAMMON
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It’s spring 2013. I’m a freshman at Ouachita Baptist University—a nobrainer school choice for me. My mom went there, my older sister is a senior, and I’ve spent two weeks of every summer on campus since I was in 4th grade. I’m sitting in Dr. Hal Bass’ history class: Contemporary World, a required course that would’ve never been on my interest list.
I know the people I’m sitting around because my personality lends itself to knowing everyone. My personality is strong—an acquired taste for some and a straight NO for others, which I can fully respect. Ironically, I shy away from people like me—loud, abrasive, nosy. In contrast, I’m also highly perceptive and typically have a gauge on my surroundings, others, and the needs of the room. I feel like one of my gifts is that I truly see people.
Two seats down, there’s a guy I’ve never noticed. He comes in, minimally takes notes, sits quietly scrolling Twitter. He misses class quite a bit for out-oftown baseball games. But, when the teacher calls on him (since he’s clearly not engaged), he still knows the answer every single time. A post-class Facebook search gives me a good bit of info, but he is still a conundrum to me.
I could not be less interested in the Cold War, but when that first test rolls around, I anticipate having the highest grade in the class. But guess who gets a near-perfect score? I think the Facebook message that followed read something like, “Seriously, did you cheat?”
As it turned out, Joey, while typically the quietest in the room, is also usually the smartest—and, as I’d find out later, the funniest, too.
His recollection of that semester is more about how loud I was typing on my purple laptop and how I tried my best to get the teacher to talk about anything besides the class content. We spent the rest of that semester “studying” together. In all fairness, the conversations started about class, but as I do, I spun them into learning more about him—the real him, buried underneath layers and layers. He was a fish out of water compared to your typical Ouachita guy, and I wanted to know why.
We were married a year and a half later, our junior year of college, and I’ve spent the last decade pulling back more of those layers. In December, we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. We’ve both had a lot of growing up to do to be able to grow old together.
I’m still learning new things about Joey. He probably never could have pictured our life now. He grew up all over the country, in big cities. I’ve reformed him into a small-town Texarkana lover. Living here, in the community where I grew up, affords our growing family the stability that he craved growing up. He was gonna have a big-wig business job, but the Lord led him into education and has made it clear that that’s where he belongs. He’s probably taught most of your kids, and more people in Texarkana know him than me! The irony is laughable.
He wanted two kids; two seemed safe. We could divide and conquer evenly, and I could drive a “hot mom car.” Well, surprise! In two months, we will welcome our fourth child (and maybe not the last—who knows!). Our minivan, with six years’ worth of stale French fries, is in full force.
We have three wild, amazing boys, with a baby sister on the way. They keep us on our toes, and we spend more time laughing than anything else. I think that’s one of the biggest secrets to marriage. It’s a working, changing relationship that requires attention, but the more you can let go of some of the ideas you have about what your perfect life will look like, the more you’ll love the life you actually have.
It comes more naturally for me, but Joey has learned to embrace the chaos, too. We don’t spend a lot of time stressed out about the little things, and we don’t lose so much sleep planning an uncertain future. We’re both dreamers with goals, but we realize everything in life is penciled in and not written in ink.
What’s on our agenda for next year? I can’t even give a certain answer about next week. None of those initial dreams were bad or wrong, but as we have grown and changed, so have our desires. And our lives—and hands—are full in all of the best ways. A typical day in the life has so many moving pieces between the boys’ schedules and our work schedules that we, genuinely, take each day as it comes.
Anything can happen.
Last year, on Valentine’s Day, Joey’s body decided he needed emergency gallbladder removal surgery, which was not on our bingo card, but it made for a fun memory nonetheless!
We checked into surgery, and they wheeled him back. I bought myself some chocolate-covered strawberries at the hospital cafeteria. Romantic. I nursed a baby in the lobby. And then, once surgery and recovery were over, I got Joey settled at home, grabbed the baby, loaded up Valentine’s treats, and still had time to make it to both big boys’ school parties.
Was the day chaotic? Yes. Did we make it fun? Absolutely. Attitude is everything.
While I am hoping for a more calm, predictable February 14th this year, I also
look forward to whatever happens. And just in case you’re last-minute and forget to grab chocolate-covered strawberries, the CHRISTUS St. Michael’s cafeteria will have some, and they’re delicious! 10/10 recommend—just without the side of gallbladder removal.
Emily Gammon is a fourthgeneration Texarkana native and the owner of Texarkana Party People, a local business dedicated to celebrating life’s big moments. She’s married to Joey, and together they’re raising three energetic boys—John Carter, Jack, and Jace—with a baby girl, Jane Kate, on the way. With a life that’s always fun, busy, and unpredictable, Emily is excited to share her experiences of motherhood, small-town life, and everything in between in her column.
Emily and Joey from their college days.
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EXQUISITE INTERIORS
WHERE OUR TREES GROW
story by PHOEBE WARREN photography by KATELYN PEEK
When Chris and David Thomas decided to move out of their home of 26 years, they knew that settling for any kind of new home was simply not an option. They wanted to build a home that was perfect for them, and luckily, they had the perfect place to build it.
David had some inherited land in Texarkana, Arkansas, with a beautiful, sprawling tree line. The land was first purchased as 100 acres in 1965, but the trees that define the property are much older. Two massive hardwoods serve as the “guardians” of David and Chris’ new home: a 250-year-old black walnut tree they named Grandmother, and a towering oak named Winnie, which has been aged to be around 400 years old (a mere seedling in the era of Shakespeare).
The 250-year-old black walnut the Thomases have named Grandmother.
The 400-year-old oak, named Winnie.
When the couple sat down with local architect and builder Justin Scurlock in November 2022 to start dreaming up their forever home, the trees dictated the design. The Thomases wanted the home to hug the tree line on their property and, of course, to ensure that the two massive guardian trees on two sides of the home could be seen from as many rooms as possible. Another key element for Chris was a custom ceramic studio. A beloved local ceramicist, she needed a space that would support her goals of both offering workshops in her own residence and improving her production process.
The groundbreaking commenced in 2023, and David and Chris were able to move in the following June. This beautiful 3-bed, 2-bath home is a reflection of the surrounding landscape, and every element has been crafted with care and intention.
Every part of the house is bathed in soft, natural light; Justin skillfully positioned the large windows to capture ample sunlight while avoiding any harsh glares. This thoughtful design not only enhances the home’s inviting atmosphere but also contributes to energy efficiency, as the gentle light complements the A/C system rather than overwhelming it. The connection to nature is reflected not just in the layout but also in the aesthetics. The beautiful slanted wood ceilings are crafted from reclaimed pine board sourced from a local Tri-State Metal building. Additionally, the home is filled with natural materials like stone, wood, and tile, creating a seamless blend with the environment.
Juxtaposing the natural elements is a delightful blend of mid-century modern style and eclectic charm. Justin selected retro-inspired lighting fixtures for the living and dining areas, perfectly enhancing the MCM furniture that Chris and David brought from their former residence. Chris has added her unique flair, enriching the space with her own artwork alongside various pieces from other artists, local and global alike. To the left of the entrance, the hallway serves as a gallery for cherished inherited art, with paintings and quilted works from her grandmothers gracing the walls.
Architect and builder Justin Scurlock
The home has been thoughtfully designed to maximize openness, not just for visual appeal but also to incorporate aging-in-place features that Justin has cleverly integrated. The hallways and entrances are spacious enough to accommodate wheelchairs if necessary, and the flooring is uniform throughout, eliminating any steps or uneven surfaces. Chris described the overall ambiance of the home as “cozy, but not claustrophobic.” Both Chris and David particularly enjoy the dining room, which features a tall row of windows that beautifully frame the trees outside. For an even more immersive experience, the couple can step into a screened-in sleeper porch adjacent to the dining area, perfect for enjoying morning coffee while taking in the stunning views.
The kitchen provides a bit of modernity to the home. The sleek cabinetry and drawers are painted in a calming sage green, and a sophisticated black island sits at the center, topped with a countertop crafted by local company Alpha Stone. A linear up-and-down light fixture illuminates the area perfectly for meal preparation. Two horizontal windows offer a view of the front yard while seated at the island and also allow for a peek at the evening sky as the moon rises on the horizon.
To the right of the common areas is the primary bedroom, complete with an attached bathroom. The suite’s design is influenced by the bedroom in Georgia O’Keeffe’s famous Abiquiú, New Mexico, home. “I was standing in her bedroom [on a tour] and was inspired,” Chris said.
Justin crafted a built-in shelf behind the bed, reminiscent of the one found in O’Keeffe’s bedroom. The bed’s wall-to-wall fabric headboard, topped with a shelf, was sourced from Mayo Furniture. And while the living areas’ tall ceilings imbue the space with a sense of openness, the bedroom offers a cozier feel, thanks to the home’s intentionally sloped roofs and ceilings.
The attached bath has a tiled wall that extends all the way from the half-glass shower to the end of the his-and-her sinks. The tiles convey an artistic sense of whimsy in this corner of the home, as the grout around each tile is purposefully varying in thickness for a “wobbly” effect. At Justin’s suggestion, Chris’ artwork is prominently incorporated into the design of this room: the ceramic reflectors in the bathroom lights were created by her.
On the opposite end of the home, a couple of guest bedrooms are perfect for accommodating family visits, particularly of Chris and David’s grandchildren. The standout room in this area of the home, however, is undoubtedly Chris’ personalized ceramics studio. A linear light fixture illuminates the worktable, while shelving units flank both sides, offering ample storage. More tall windows provide a perfect view of
Winnie. Connected to this creative space is a garage that houses the pottery kiln, where Chris brings her artistic visions to life. For safety, both the garage and the studio are constructed with fireproof materials. “It’s a joy to work here,” Chris said.
The home’s exterior is equally stunning, featuring a combination of natural wood finishes and wood paneling painted in a deep green hue. A pathway of large square stones guides visitors to the front door. In the backyard, a charming stone path, illuminated by a string of hanging lights, leads to a cozy brick fire pit crafted from a salvaged piece of an old pottery kiln.
This beautiful haven is the result of successful collaboration between the Thomases and Scurlock. Chris described this process as “the fun of dreaming, discussing, and designing with Justin. He was always open to our wishes and yet able to steer us to even better choices when needed,” she said.
SCENE ABOUT TOWN
TEXARKANA COLLEGE CELEBRATED THE LAUNCH OF ITS AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM WITH A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY AT THE TEXARKANA COLLEGE AVIATION CENTER LOCATED AT THE TEXARKANA REGIONAL AIRPORT ON JANUARY 13TH.
Aviation Maintenance Technology Program Ribbon Cutting
Dr. Robin Hickerson
Dr. Jason Smith
Dr. Jason Smith and Lora Davis
Ashley Washington, Mindy Preston, Katie Andrus, and Dori Ballard
Brandon Sanders
Brandon Washington
FEBRUARY 2025
FEBRUARY 8
Texarkana Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Arkansas
The polar plunge will take place at Big Dam Waterpark at 9 a.m. For more information, visit specialolympicsarkansas.org.
Galentine’s Brunch Fundraiser
Texarkana Resource is hosting a fun shopping and brunch event at the Texarkana Convention Center from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. Proceeds support Texarkana Resources for the Disabled Inc. For tickets and more information, go to the event page “Galentine’s Brunch Fundraiser” on Facebook.
Masterworks II: A Flair for the Dramatic
Texarkana Symphony Orchestra presents this performance featuring pianist Tatiana Roitman Mann at the Perot Theatre. The show begins at 7 p.m., and tickets can be purchased at perottheatre.org.
FEBRUARY 15
Tribute to African American Women Gala
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. will present this year’s honorees in the Truman Arnold Center at Texarkana College. The event begins at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Anita Pickett at 870-200-4028 or Gary Watson at 903-293-0436.
FEBRUARY 14
TAVC Chili Cook-Off
The 25th annual Texarkana Area Veterans Council Chili Cook-Off will be held in the Truman Arnold Center at Texarkana College. Judging will begin at 10:30 a.m., and the event will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, contact Gregory Beck at usmcgreg@aol.com.
FEBRUARY 16
Run the Line Half Marathon
The Run the Line Half Marathon will begin at 7:30 a.m. The race starts at the intersection of West Broad St. and Texas Blvd. and finishes in front of Hopkins Icehouse. For more information, visit Run the Line’s Facebook page.
FEBRUARY 20
Gladys Morriss Stone Soup Luncheon
This year’s Stone Soup Luncheon, hosted by The Salvation Army Texarkana Women’s Auxiliary, will begin at 11 a.m. The event is to
be held in the Cabe Center at First United Methodist Church. Funds raised will provide year-round activities for underprivileged kids at the Center of Hope Shelter and Red Shield Youth Center.
FEBRUARY 22
The Price is Right Live
FEBRUARY 20
Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives
Country music group Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives will be at Hempstead Hall for one night of music. The event starts at 7 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit hempsteadhall.com.
FEBRUARY 28
CHRISTUS St. Michael Foundation Gala
This year’s CHRISTUS St. Michael Foundation Gala will be held at the Texarkana Convention Center. Entertainment for the event will be Limelight the Band. To purchase tickets, visit christusstmichaelfoundation.org.
MARCH 1
Mardi Gras Parade
Celebrate Mardi Gras with this parade and party rolling through the streets of downtown Texarkana. Vendors will begin selling at 10 a.m., and the parade is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. For more information, go to arklatexfest.com.
Dancing With Our Stars
Temple Memorial Pediatric Center is hosting its annual Dancing With Our Stars event at Northridge Country Club. This year’s theme is “Enchanted Island.” The event starts at 6 p.m. For more information, check out the “Dancing With Our Stars” Facebook event.
“The Price is Right Live” is an interactive stage show coming to the Perot Theatre. Performances are at 3 and 7 p.m. For tickets and more information, go to perottheatre.org.
FEBRUARY 27
Silvermoon Children’s Theatre presents School House Rock Live
The performance will begin at noon. Those unable to attend can catch a second showing on March 2nd at 1 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at silvermoonkids.com.
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