ITHE WAY I SEE IT ...
PUBLISHER’S LETTER
Robin Rogers, Ed.D.
n my spare time, I love to mow. My family jokes about my next career in landscaping. Recently, my oldest daughter bought her first home, and until we find her a mower that’s “just right” for her, I will lovingly load my prized possession (a 48-inch Husqvarna) onto my other prized possession (a 10-foot trailer that my kids bought me for Christmas), drive the three miles to her house, and mow her yard. If I’m feeling spry, I’ll weed-eat, rake, and blow her porches, too. But just as soon as I think, “I could make a career out of this,” I’m reminded of my greatest fear: snakes.
A couple of years ago, I was riding my mower, and I noticed a snake slithering through the grass. Instead of running over the snake immediately, I drove around and got closer, trying to see it better. I could hear two different voices ringing in both ears. In my right ear, the hiss-terrically humane said, “Don’t kill good snakes; they eat the bad ones.” In my left ear, the reptile reaper said, “The only good snake is a dead snake.” I was honestly frozen with fear, and instead of pushing the gas to the blades, I just watched him slip into hiding. I wondered if I might be a Buddhist for about half an hour that day. Then, for the next few months, I wouldn’t take the trash to the curb without wearing jeans and boots.
Last month, just after we had gone to press, I made sure I had nothing to do on a Monday except get a massage. I was worn out and super excited about 90 minutes with my phone off, my headphones on, and a person squeezing the knots out of my shoulders. I slept late, showered, and took the extra time to shave my legs so the masseuse wouldn’t be grossed out by my prickly legs. I was ahead of schedule (not a normal thing for me), and the day was mine to relax. I had my playlist picked out, and all was right with the world. I grabbed my purse, a Yeti cup of ice water, and my keys. I walked out the front door and almost immediately stepped on top of the biggest, longest, most terrifying snake, sunbathing on my porch. I stopped and pivoted so quickly that my Yeti spilled into my purse. Back into the house I ran, where I felt stranded. I dropped my handbag and dug for my phone. “Snake identifier. Snake identifier. Take the snake’s picture, Robin,” I thought. But Mr. No-Shoulders was already on the move—into the Asian jasmine, a groundcover that runs the length of my house, where any snake could stay hidden for years. I paced back and forth. There was
PUBLISHER
Dr. Robin Rogers
EDITOR
Ellen Orr
GRAPHIC DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY
Shane Darby
SALES REPRESENTATIVE
Victoria Herman
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Phoebe Warren
no way I was going outside that front door any time soon. The massage would have to wait.
After half an hour of getting up the nerve, I went out the back door and got a shovel and a rake. I carefully approached the front porch and made banging noises against the sidewalks. Nothing. Maybe I scared it off . . . or maybe it was still hiding in the jasmine. That jasmine has been around my house as a groundcover for many, many years—way before I bought the house. I hate it. It’s like a weed in that once it’s growing, it’s almost impossible to kill, and it’s ripe for snakes to hide.
But I was determined. I ran to my garage and jumped onto my trusty lawnmower. The jasmine was flourishing; it was at least six inches deep and felt like a squishy mattress when you stepped on it. I didn’t know if the snake was in there, but if so, he was going down. I put the blade settings on 1, the closest to the ground, and I went where no mower had gone before—the flower beds.
After mowing back and forth repeatedly through the side beds, I moved toward the beds closest to the front porch where I originally found the snake, and I went forward until I hit the house. As I put the mower in reverse to drive back over the jasmine, I realized that my back tires were stuck. The back tire was spinning—and I hadn’t even mowed down the majority of the greenery near the exact spot where the snake had been. What if the snake was still there?
I was stuck, and I knew I would have to pull the lawnmower out with a tow rope. I prayed that my enemy was long gone and jumped off the zero-turn with haste.
I got a tow rope and hooked it between my mower and my car, and as I drove away from my home, the mower moved behind me. What was left of the groundcover could be whacked with my weed eater.
No snakes could be seen, and finally, I felt like I could go in and out of the front door without being completely terrified. I drove to Home Depot and bought close to $100 of mothballs and Snake-A-Way. By the time I got home, it was dusk, but I was determined to put the deterrent around the exterior perimeter of my house.
If you have read this far and now you’re mad at me because you know that mothballs don’t actually deter snakes, but they do deter or harm mice, rats, skunks, moles, birds, and possibly household pets, stop. I didn’t put them out.
Mothballs create a vapor that deters small animals, and if the small animals leave, the snakes don’t hang around because there’s nothing for them to eat. It sounded like a great plan to me. I only wanted to scatter them close to the house where my daughter and I move daily.
But as I opened the first package of mothballs, I noticed a new bird’s nest in the crape myrtle right by my front door. A robin was sitting on her eggs. I, your Gardening Gandhi, took exactly one second to put the mothballs back in the box and carry them to the Waste Management bins. If, by chance, that snake got into that tree and ate those eggs, so goes the circle of life, but I wasn’t going to be responsible for a robin and her babies not getting a fair shot. Plus, the fact that the bird was a robin seemed like a sign. I decided to live and let live.
In spite of feeling spry at 55, I have decided that I may not have a second career in landscaping and mowing after all.
This month’s magazine is full of interesting people my age or older who are pursuing their passions with even more gusto than me on my mower. I hope you find them as inspiring as I do. As always, thanks for reading FSLM.
CONTRIBUTING
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Alamond Photography
Carolina’s K9 Photography
Christy Hibbs
Lindsey McMillen
Robin Proctor
Stephanie Dunn King
Photography
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Emily Gammon
Baylor McLelland
Lindsey McMillan
Ellen Orr
Robin Proctor
Brandon Shoemaker
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
JULY 2025
Beloved radio personality Fabienne Thrash’s career on the waves has spanned five decades—and she’s not finished yet. Awarded for her work by the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, Fabienne continues to reach listeners, even as the broadcast industry turns toward artificial intelligence and automation.
Read about Fabienne on page 12
Recently commended by the Texas Association of Sports Officials for their combined 133 years of service, friends Billy Lansdell, Mayor Bob Bruggeman, and Greg Bush continue to umpire baseball games in their golden years.
Read about them on page 16
SCENE ABOUT TOWN
THE 10TH ANNUAL EMS APPRECIATION WEEK FIRST RESPONDERS’ DAY WAS HELD AT CROSSTIES EVENT VENUE ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 21ST.
Dave Dutton and James Bramlett Kelley and Kelsey Coleman
Megan Pappas and Steven Brown
Greg Aucoin, Zach Wrinkle, and Mason Burrow
Capt. Michael Haynes, Trace Kennemore, and Corey Durham
Cole Roberts and Brandon Kidd
Chloe Wardlaw and Berkley McKnight
Bryan and Taniesha Ogburn
Marc Gilliam, Hunter Harmon, and Nathan Reeves
Dave Dutton, Amy Coleman, and Alyssa Haley Kevin Johnson, Rep. Carol Dalby, and George Carpenter
Michelle Walraven and Huxley Taylor Grant Minor, Randy Meadows, Alex Hicks, Caden Dovell, and Cody Eaves
Lindsey Barlow, Justin Swecker, and Nathan Steele Brooke Marshall, Dr. Erik Jacobsen, Kyndel Griffith, and Amy Tankersley
by SHANE
photo
DARBY
ON THE AIR AGAIN
by BRANDON SHOEMAKER
If you ask Fabienne Thrash when she knew she wanted to work in radio, she’ll take you back—not to a classroom or a studio, but to her childhood kitchen table, long past bedtime, where her mother—an insomniac with a transistor radio—played the late-night show helmed by Ralph Emery from WSM in Nashville. The guests included Marty Robbins, Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, and many others, talking between songs. For a wide-eyed kid up past her bedtime, it was like an undiscovered world. “I just thought it was brilliant,” Fabienne said. “Every once in a while, if I was awake, my mom would let me call in. I even talked to Marty Robbins once. That does a lot for a small kid.”
As a teenager, Fabienne worked at KMLA in Ashdown, doing whatever was necessary around the studio. Then, one Christmas in the early’ 70s, her first solo on-air moment finally came. “Oh God, I was horrible!” she recalled. “[When] my brother came to pick me up, I was crying, I was so awful. But they let me come back, thanks to the late Steve Pearce. I really appreciated that.”
Clearly, she quickly improved. Over the course of 50 years, Fabienne became that voice on the other side of the speaker—familiar, trusted, and unmistakably local. She worked across Southwest Arkansas, East Texas, and Louisiana, but Texarkana is where she has become a fixture, spinning country hits, announcing community updates, and anchoring the daily rhythm of life for so many.
From that 50-year career, Fabienne has more than her share of fascinating stories—some that you’d expect, while others are less predictable. Her strangest on-air moment? That would be the time a bolt of ball lightning—yes, actual lightning—floated across her studio. As she was preparing to give an on-air update about severe storms in the area, she heard a thundering crack. “Then down through the building, floating by my nose, over the board is a basketball-sized blue blob, and then it went through all my equipment, all the cart machines,” she said. “Bright electric blue with white edges. It blew out the newsroom.”
Fabienne Thrash discusses her acclaimed career on the radio
Above: Fabienne with her Texas Country Music Hall of Fame award
submitted photo
And then, there was the day that a man with a gun walked into the station, upset over a news story involving a family member who had been accused of murder.
“He wanted to go on the air to talk about this family member and why they didn’t do it,” she said. Luckily, her coworker talked him down and convinced the man to pray with him, which gave Fabienne the chance to call the police. “But that was the most frightening thing,” she recalled. “We could have died, over a news story. That’s never left me.”
The professional life of a DJ extends far beyond the studio microphone. Fabienne became a beloved member of the community by connecting with listeners at various events and opening concerts. In fact, working the professional concert scene offered her the opportunity to meet one of the country music heroes she grew up listening to. Prior to a concert at the Perot Theatre, Fabienne encountered the legendary Willie Nelson as he was stepping off of his tour bus.
Lawrence and Roy Orbison (posthumously). For her, the honor was emotional and validating.
“I didn’t know anybody really noticed me, ever,” she admitted. “I’d met a lot of people. I’d helped open concerts. I’d introduce people on stage . . . but I never knew that it would end up [at] the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.”
“ ”
I’ve got a lot more gas in the tank. I’m not done yet.
– Fabienne Thrash
“I said, ‘My name’s Fabienne. I just want to thank you for my career.’ And he looked, and he kind of grinned,” Fabienne recalled. She explained to him the influence his music had on her at an early age, particularly his album The Sound In Your Mind. “And I said, ‘But I have basically been in country radio ever since, and I’ve had a great ride.’ [He replied,] ‘Well, thank you, baby. Thank you.’ And I was just—I was redeemed.”
In 2024, Fabienne was honored with the DJ Award by the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, the same day they inducted Tracy
Unfortunately, not long after that celebration, her station was swept into a nationwide trend: automation, consolidation, and AI-generated voice replacement. Fabienne’s position was eliminated. “I wasn’t ready,” she said. “[The layoff] was a way to save money—I can understand it. I get that. But when it affects you personally, it’s very different.”
Fabienne sees what’s being lost in local radio— not just jobs but relationships.
“You’re losing your localness,” she explained. “People know those voices. They trust them. Sometimes you need to hear a real person tell you there’s a tornado in their area, or that there’s a serious wreck on I-30. I don’t understand how a random AI voice would be able to deliver that.”
In the light of her job loss, Fabienne was determined to keep going. She explored podcasting, continued to DJ weddings and karaoke nights with her daughter, and dreamed of opening a small, affordable event venue. “I’ve got a lot more gas in the tank,” she said, smiling. “I’m not done yet.”
Her seasoned voice is full of spark. She still lights up talking about music—from Willie Nelson and Led Zeppelin to Chris Stapleton
and her husband, Stuart.
Far
her
and even The Beatles. She loves the way country music evolves, even when it divides audiences. “Music’s not stagnant—it shouldn’t be,” she said. “‘New country’ music is more inclusive, and I like that, too.”
Fabienne’s hiatus offair was short-lived. She can already be heard again on 103.9 The Pig, an AMI Radio station, and she has also accepted a position as a 911 facilitator with Ar-Tex Council of Governments, in which she will be educating various groups on the importance of 911 communications and the proper use of those services. She is grateful for these opportunities as they pave the way for her to continue her illustrious career, which is far from finished. Driven by her strong work ethic and her love of music, Fabienne has no intention of slowing down anytime soon. “There’s a lot to be heard out there,” she said, “and I’m still listening.”
Fabienne
left: Fabienne and
daughter, Gracie, playing a wedding.
photo by SHANE DARBY
NOT CALLING IT QUITS
Mayor Bob Bruggeman, Greg Bush, and Billy Lansdell were awarded for 133 combined years of umpiring service
by LOUIE AVERY
Mayor Bob Bruggeman of Texarkana, Texas, received several phone calls from sports writers across the country in 2013. They wanted to know how he felt as mayor about Texarkanans Michael Wacha and Will Middlebrooks opposing each other in the World Series. Bob was quick to note that he had umpired many of the now-pro players’ high school games. That information changed the angle of their stories.
“On the field, you notice when players are a notch better,” said 63-year-old Bob, who has been a baseball umpire for 46 years and a mayor for 13 years. “It becomes a special memory—and the same can be said about Drew Stubbs, Craig Monroe, Tony McKnight, and Dustin Moseley.”
Greg Bush (73) and Billy Lansdell (68) have also umpired many such games. These three gentlemen have a combined 133 years of service on the baseball diamond and recently received Distinguished Service Awards from the Texas Association of Sports Officials.
Bob’s quest to be an umpire and community leader started when he was a child sitting in front of a television.
“We only had three channels—CBS, NBC, ABC,” he said. “As a little boy, I watched a lot of Major League baseball on TV, and for some reason I was always intrigued by the umpires.”
The current mayor grew up in the Beverly community of Texarkana, regularly playing sandlot ball in a vacant lot off Lumpkin Street. He was always quick to volunteer as umpire, improvising for his umpiring equipment. As a teen, he began working Dixie League games all over both sides of Texarkana and even in surrounding communities like Ashdown.
Bob worked part-time for SWEPCO while attending college locally and then went full-time in 1984. In 2002, he accepted a job at the Chamber of Commerce. The hours were great, allowing
him opportunities to umpire. Over the next decade, another dream began to take shape, again born from television—specifically watching televised city council meetings.
“I was also intrigued to see what was going on in the community— what were some of the challenges and some of the accomplishments,” he said. From 2005 to 2012, he served as the council member for Ward 4.
His next step was running for mayor in 2012. He was elected and has held the position ever since.
It was around the same time that Bob received the rare honor of umpiring in both the 2010 and 2011 UIL Texas state baseball championships, along with the aforementioned Greg Bush in 2010 and Billy Lansdell both years.
submitted photo
Mayor Bob Bruggeman, Billy Lansdell, Stuart Boozer, and Greg Bush umpired the UIL Texas baseball state championship at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas, in 2011.
Bob, Greg, and Billy were following in the footsteps of legendary MLB umpire Durwood Merrill, who worked as the athletic director at Hooks High School in the 1960s and coached the minor-league Texarkana Titans football team in 1970. After a 23-season career as an umpire in the major league, he returned to Texarkana and umpired locally until his death in 2003.
“Durwood would come to our Wednesday meetings,” Bob shared. “He would talk about mechanics, positioning, and rotations, but he would not discuss rules. He’d give you little common-sense tips.”
Greg, who was a big fan of Durwood, still carries a patch that says 33, which was the late great’s uniform number.
Bob, Greg, and Billy know each other well after more than four decades of working together. This is helpful in matters of sport and critical in matters of health.
“I’ve had seizures while umpiring,” Billy said. He has experienced seizures since he was a young child and still has
them to this day. “Bobby and Greg have been there when it’s happened. They would step back, telling others to just leave me alone. All the schools I officiate now know what’s going on. Only one school won’t let me officiate
All three umpires continue to work. Mayor Bruggeman enjoys it now more than ever and said he hopes he has “several more years left to umpire.” Greg said he knows there’s not much time left, while Billy wants to go another six seasons.
photos by SHANE DARBY
Billy Lansdell, Mayor Bob Bruggeman, and Greg Bush recently received Distinguished Service Awards from the Texas Association of Sports Officials.
Greg carries this patch from the uniform of his late friend and MLB upiring legend Durwood Merrill.
ESSIE DODD
101 years old
Born December 29th, 1923
WHAT IS THE KEY TO YOUR LONGEVITY?
I don’t really have one, but, if I had to say: I have been blessed to live a calm, Christian life, free from excessive drama and stressful situations that tend to invade and take over one’s being if you allow them to do so. I have remained pretty healthy with a fair amount of sense about the things that I think I need to do to be healthy and mobile. I walk, read, play games on my cell phone, and genuinely make an effort to be kind to everyone.
WHAT WAS THE BEST DECADE OF THE PAST CENTURY AND WHY?
From the ‘60s to the ‘70s—when our children were growing up into and through high school, becoming respectful adults, seeing them through college and obtaining professional jobs that afforded them to become good citizens, and [becoming strong enough to deal] with challenges they faced as they became productive individuals.
photo by SHANE DARBY
Essie Dodd in 1942 WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A YOUNG PERSON?
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all things you need will be given you.” (Matthew 6:33)
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY?
The simplicity of life growing up on a farm, going to church, making friends, and as the oldest child, it was fun for me to meet older children. There weren’t too many things to distract you that took our minds off each other. We shared love and respect for each other. Families were big, and we had lots of cousins. When I left home for college was when I would meet the love of my life, via pen pal. He was the brother of two friends I met right away. He was already serving in the U.S. Army, and I asked him to find me a pen pal. He asked for a picture of me, and when they sent him my picture, he responded, “I’ll be her pen pal!” The rest was history.
THE REST IS HISTORY
by ELLEN ORR
Jamie Simmons, who has been a public historian and museum director for more than three decades, entered into her career by accident.
“My academic advisor said, ‘It’s time to get you an internship,’” Jamie recounted. As a student at Ouachita Baptist University planning to pursue commercial art, Jamie was hoping to intern at an art museum, where she could perhaps design marketing pieces like logos and advertisements. However, her advisor failed to find any opportunities for Jamie in Arkadelphia, or in Jamie’s hometown of Magnolia—but then, she had an epiphany. “She said, ‘Oh, wait a minute: I think there’s a place in Texarkana,’” Jamie recalled. “And she was thinking of TRAHC [the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council], but the number she got was for the history museum.”
The Texarkana Museum of Regional History was, in fact, looking for a paid intern. Jamie, who double majored in history and art, jumped at the chance. “That was my entry to the Texarkana Museums System,” she said, “and I didn’t leave for 30 years.”
Working at the TMS proved a wonderful outlet for Jamie’s lifelong passion for history. Even at a young age, she appreciated stories of bygone times.
own Southern Arkansas University. However, two chance encounters changed her course.
The first was when she stumbled into the wrong panel discussion at a college fair. The presenters, from Ouachita Baptist University, were speaking on music. Jamie was rapt. “I’m not even musically inclined,” she said, “but the speakers were so amazing that I just stayed.” She had a gut feeling that OBU was the place for her. She was so sure that she worked full-time for a year between high school and college so that she could afford to attend the private university.
The second event occurred during that gap year, when Jamie ran into her former high school art teacher at the Magnolia Blossom Festival, where she shared her own career plans of becoming an art teacher.
“I’ve always loved history— always,” she said. “Some of my earliest memories are of my mother’s parents. My grandfather had muscular dystrophy, so he always had to be sitting down somewhere. He would sit up on the porch and watch us all play, and incidentally, I had dozens of cousins, so it was always a big group of kids. But I used to like to sit up there on the porch with him. He would just talk about family stuff, history, things from when he was a kid, and I just ate it up.”
Jamie was born in Hope but raised in Magnolia from a young age. As a teenager, she was passionate about creating art and even worked at the foregone Smitty’s Grocery from 15 to 19, creating advertising materials. She intended to be an art teacher after studying at Magnolia’s
“She said, ‘Oh no,’” Jamie recalled. “And I said, ‘Why not? Was it horrible? Were we terrible to you?’ I was kind of shocked, because she was an excellent teacher. We all loved her. She said, ‘It’s not because of that; it’s because you come across as a child. [Students are] not going to listen to you.’ Of course, it doesn’t happen to me now—I have gray hair and a grandma vibe—but back then, I always looked a little bit younger and came across a little less mature than I actually was. And I was short—not even five feet tall. She said, ‘You have to be able to look down at a child to get them to respect you. That’s not going to work for you.’” With that, her dream of teaching was dashed.
While taking all of the art and history classes she could, Jamie headed first toward a career in advertising. Then, steered by her academic advisor, who worried that working for an advertising firm might “suck the life out of [her] soul,” she considered a career as a brand specialist. During her happenstance internship at the TMS, she realized that her art background would serve her well in any number of careers—including, thankfully, that of public historian.
“There are so many ways you can leverage art education in other
Jamie Simmons became preeminent Texarkana historian by chance
photo by ALAMOND
PHOTOGRAPHY
Velvet Cool and Jamie Simmons standing outside the Museum of Regional History (the historic Offenhauser building) in 2021.
photo by SHANE DARBY
It’s just been amazing working downtown for 30-plus years. “ ”
careers, which I didn’t realize at the time,” she said. “My art major has really paid off when designing exhibits and visually telling stories.”
When Jamie’s internship ended, she accepted a full-time job as museum assistant. She later became the curator for the Texarkana Museums System. Over her 30 years there, she learned from first-person accounts, historical documents, physical artifacts, and written histories about the history of this community, from the era of the Caddo to present day. She shared this knowledge with the public through exhibits, tours, talks, and special events.
One of Jamie’s favorite exhibits was a crowd-pleaser: in the early 1990s, they displayed wedding dresses from different eras in the Ace of Clubs House. The oldest dress was from 1879.
“That was so much fun, and that was one of our most engaging exhibits,” she said. “We had people who had never set foot in the museum coming just to see that wedding dress exhibit. That exemplified to me what public history could do—these gorgeous dresses that we were able to share with the public drew them into a space they’d never been in before, a space that had a bigger history that they were able to learn about and become interested in. I think people who aren’t naturally interested in history assume it’s going to be boring no matter what—until you show them that it’s not.”
Another notable exhibit was less popular but undoubtedly more important.
“This was around 2000, and the concept was ‘the journey toward the Civil Rights Movement in the context of Texarkana,’” Jamie said. “Texarkana was formed in 1873, during the Reconstruction Era, so a large part of the population was formerly enslaved people who were moving from other areas to find work in this new town. The exhibit followed those stories up through the Civil Rights Movement in Texarkana. We were able to talk to people in the community and use their oral histories to create sound bites for the exhibit.” And, thanks to the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Writers’ Project of the 1930s and ‘40s, the museum had access to recordings and transcripts of interviews with formerly enslaved people local to Texarkana. Part of the exhibit covered the attempts to desegregate Texarkana College in the 1950s and ‘60s, with dramatic photos: young Black students surrounded by white protesters with vulgar signs.
“We got anonymous threatening calls saying, ‘You don’t need to be rehashing any of this,’ ‘This doesn’t need to be brought up now,’ blah, blah, blah,” Jamie recounted.
photo by SHANE DARBY
“And I’m like, ‘This is exactly why it needs to be brought up.’ That really was an eye-opener to me and reinforced why public history is so important.
“The people who have power don’t want certain stories to be told, so they try to brush them under the carpet,” she continued. “Public history is where you can prevent that from happening. You have the broader picture, and you have personal stories. Those personal stories show the human cost, and that can be uplifting, and that can be tragic. But regardless, that’s why the stories need to be told.”
Two years ago, Jamie left the TMS and began working at the Nevada County Depot and Museum in Prescott, Arkansas, where she acts as curator. This role includes managing 800 acres of the Prairie D’Ane, a blackland prairie and Civil War battlefield.
“That’s a treat,” she said. “I’ve never managed that kind of site before, so I’m learning new things again.”
Jamie also works at Main Street Texarkana, which keeps her tied professionally and personally to the place she knows and loves so well.
“It’s just been amazing working downtown for 30-plus years,” she said. “I came in the early ‘90s, when Broad Street was on its last leg. Comparing what [downtown] was then to what it is now—oh my, the positive change that has happened, and it’s still ongoing. It’s amazing to be part of that in some small way, to help that continue.”
Jamie received the W. L. Cook Award for Excellence in Heritage Preservation at the 2024 Arkansas Preservation Awards.
photo by
RUBY OLD
100 years old
Born April 15th, 1925
WHAT IS THE KEY TO YOUR LONGEVITY?
Love the Lord, and love the people around you. If you have both, you will never be alone.
WHAT WAS THE BEST DECADE OF THE PAST CENTURY AND WHY?
All the decades have been good in the past century! I’ve loved the whole 100 years. I never thought I would live this long.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A YOUNG PERSON?
Live one day at a time, as life is an adventure. We all have problems, but if you have the Lord on your side, you know who’s with you every step of the way.
photo by SHANE DARBY
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY?
I had a friend named Porcha when I was a little girl. I went to her grandmother’s house, and when I got there, she was not there. I waited on the front porch for her to come home, and while waiting, I noticed some sour dock grass cut in a cup. I loved sour dock grass, so I took a handful and ran off. While heading home, I felt bad about taking it, so I stopped on a sandy road at the top of a hill. I dug a hole and buried it! I never took anything else again.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED?
As a friend who loved the Lord.
Ruby Old at 24 years old
Mother Nature' s
MEDICINE CABINET
by ROBIN PROCTOR
Imust confess: I am not a huge fan of Facebook, and I barely tolerate Instagram. It is difficult for me to sit still for very long periods of time, as I find it counterproductive. Ask my husband—I often drive him nuts, flitting around, starting one or three projects at a time. After almost 30 years together, he just smiles and says, “What project are you thinking today?” knowing full well there will be a lengthy explanation to follow.
But truthfully, had it not been for Facebook or Instagram, I may have never been inspired to explore this homesteading path. It was online that I discovered the inspiring people who are living the homesteading life to its fullest—and major kudos, for they have become my inspiration to make better choices and explore a “cleaner” lifestyle (i.e., less chemicals, alternate solutions, and more independence from over-processed foods filled with who-knows-what). Yes, you will still bump into me at the local grocery store (don’t judge me), but these days
you will also see me at the local farmers market, taking full advantage of the incredible wares these good farmers are selling.
One of the many things I’ve learned is the healing power that nature provides us. It’s truly incredible. The healing power of nature is not a new revelation but indeed dates to the beginning of time. In my own life, it hearkens to my childhood. My mom was a teetotaler, but on the rare occasion that Dad would be stricken with a terrible cold, she gave him liberties to break out his famous hot toddy: lemon, honey, and a splash of whiskey (maybe two splashes). He would sleep like a baby and feel much better the next day, attributing his recovery to nature’s cold remedy.
Recalling this, I wondered what other magical ingredients awaited me at the farmers market or in my backyard. What natural, clean, readily available gifts from Mother Nature were out there for the picking?
Dandelions
On a stroll one day with my grandson, he excitedly darted over to this white puff ball of seeds. This late-stage dandelion brought on squeals of excitement, as he gently picked, in his words, “the blow flower,” and scattered the seeds while making a wish. We have all seen the beautiful small yellow flower growing in fields, along the side of the road, and in our yards in early spring. The dandelion has been viewed as the nemesis of a well-kept lawn, but in truth, it is a treasure of nature. The dandelion plant boasts many qualities. It is a natural anti-inflammatory, treats many skin conditions, supports the liver when used as a tea, and helps with digestive issues. After researching the medicinal value of this flower, I decided to harness its benefits by making dandelion salve. Fortunately, one of our pastures was filled with dandelions ready for plucking. I knew these blooms were
insecticide-free, which made them perfect for dandelion salve. The goal was to extract the oils and infuse the healing properties into an organic oil. After steeping the flowers for six weeks, the time had arrived to make the salve. I was fortunate to find fresh, pure beeswax at the local farmers market. As I carefully measured and melted the wax, I felt like I was in an episode of Little House on the Prairie. Carefully, I poured the liquid gold into jars. As it cooled, the liquid transformed into a firm salve. Success. Dandelion salve, filled with its anti-inflammatory properties, will be put to good use in this household.
Roselle (Hibiscus Tea)
While visiting the farmers market, I ran across a farm that grew and sold dried hibiscus petals for tea. My first thought was, “I’ve grown hibiscus flowers; who knew I could have made tea from them!” But this is not your ordinary hibiscus flower; these are grown for culinary and medicinal purposes. I was amazed when I learned the benefits of this delicate dried bloom. Research shows that the roselle flower is naturally packed with vitamin C, is filled with antioxidants, and has cholesterol–and blood-pressure–lowering properties. Hibiscus tea is a delicious, crimson-colored tea with a tart flavor; add a dab of local honey for a sweeter treat.
Honey
Honey is one of nature’s oldest and most versatile healing substances. Everyone needs a local jar of honey in their arsenal of healing products. Honey can be used in a multitude of ways, from wound care to sore throats (proof my dad knew what he was doing after all with his hot toddies!). Pure honey has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, making it an optimal choice in treating cuts. Raw honey also contains hydrogen peroxide, a natural antiseptic. The list of benefits seems endless: gut-health support, strengthening the immune system, antiinflammatory properties, tissue regeneration. It is indeed a remarkable product of nature. (Always remember, honey is not safe for children under the age of 1.)
Lemon Balm
When building my coop, I wanted to provide the chickens with a chicken-friendly flower garden to destroy—I mean, enjoy. I selected this soft lemon-scented plant, which not only attracts honeybees but also emits a refreshing aroma when my chicks brush against it. This prolifically fragrant herb is a must in the homesteader’s arsenal and flower garden. Lemon balm is proof that delicate plants can pack a mighty punch. It covers a wide gamut, from treating bug bites to mental health issues, making it a favorite of homesteaders and gardeners alike. Lemon balm has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety by promoting calmness without sedation, and it has been shown to improve focus and memory. It promotes restful sleep, soothes digestive upsets, and can even fight viruses. I enjoy plucking a few of the leaves, crushing them in my hand, and inhaling the refreshing scent. Lemon balm leaves are refreshing in cold or hot tea and can be used in salves. I may have found my next project.
The healing properties of plants and other products of nature are a gentle yet powerful reminder that Mother Nature provides us with more than just beauty. In every salve, sip, or soothing scent, we get a glimpse of the healing benefits from her medicine chest. Open your eyes, and embrace the gifts that Mother Nature has provided to us.
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.
CARING AGAINST ALL ODDS
Mary Adele Philips, 70, pursues master’s degree in nursing administration
by PHOEBE WARREN
Mary Adele Philips is part of a lineage of nurses: “five generations past and yet growing,” she said, explaining that her great-greatgrandmother, great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, and aunt all worked in nursing. “There is no doubt in my mind that our family has been anointed and appointed to be God’s caretakers,” she said. “This call runs as deep as my family
heritage and is woven into the very essence of who I am.”
Mary began her nursing journey in 1982, after graduating from Texarkana College. During her clinical rotation in the hemodialysis unit, the chief of staff, Dr. C. Jack Smith, extended a job offer. Mary described this as the moment that set her up
for “43 years of unwavering commitment and love for hemodialysis.” She currently works weekends at CHRISTUS Health Pine Street as a house supervisor.
During the week, Mary is pursuing a master of science in nursing administration at Texas A&M University–Texarkana. She is on track to graduate in December 2025 with a 4.0 GPA.
by SHANE DARBY
photos
I refuse to allow age to define my potential. It is never too late to pursue your dream. “ ”
Mary in September 1988 after receiving her RN licensure.
Kenya and Michelle, Mary’s daughters, are also nurses.
“My personal mantra is this: ‘Education rules the nation,’” she said. “I refuse to allow age to define my potential. It is never too late to pursue your dream. If my journey encourages even one person to embrace lifelong learning, then every latenight study session, every obstacle, and every breakthrough will have been worth it. More than anything, I pray to be a great example for my daughters, grandson, and nieces as they pursue higher degrees in the field of nursing.”
Mary is no stranger to being a patient herself. “I have endured two brain surgeries, three neck surgeries, a rotator cuff repair, and a 7.5-hour back surgery,” she said. She underwent chemotherapy and 33 rounds of radiation for breast cancer, as well as bilateral reconstructive surgery, which resulted in life-threatening sepsis. As if these medical trials were not enough, Mary was also the victim of a carjacking crime that occurred in Dallas, Texas, in 2018. The carjacker swung a knife at Mary, which she gripped in her left hand; the injuries she sustained required another major surgery and months of physical therapy. The man drove away with Mary still in the car, where she was held hostage before he was stopped and apprehended. “He did not encounter a victim,” she said. “He met a warrior. By God’s grace I am left-handed, and I lived to tell the tale.”
The future is still limitless for Mary, who continues to serve her community, pursue education, and ultimately, act as a divine caretaker of others.
submitted photo
BETH SPICER
by BAYLOR M c LELLAND
Through journalism, reporters can tell local stories that may not be told otherwise. Whether the story is a sports team going the extra mile or a local criminal case finding closure years later, it can bring insight that may not have been known before. For the past two years, Beth Spicer has been publishing stories like this through sports photography with TXK Sports and news stories with RazorbackTV.
“Growing up with my dad, we always had sports on the TV,” Beth explained. “We always watched baseball, on TV or in person. I grew up going to the Texas Rangers games every year.” Her father even has Rangers tickets from the days Beth and her younger sister, Lily, were born, along with several other pieces of sports memorabilia, including NASCAR and hockey items.
As his interest surrounded Beth at a young age, it inspired a similar passion for sports in her. However, her interest doesn’t come from playing any of the games but broadcasting them. Beth was a three-year member of Arkansas High School’s RazorbackTV program, and throughout her senior year, she was a photographer for TXK Sports.
by
photo
SHANE DARBY
Beth and her adviser, Cortez Akins, on Senior Night.
“I wanted to capture the emotion I felt during football season,” Beth said. “I could see people capturing it through photography and videos, and I’ve had an interest in working in sports media since my sophomore year.” She joined RazorbackTV to pursue this dream. As a 10th grader, Beth first worked running cameras during soccer season livestreams and later became an integral part of the streaming process for RazorbackTV as their technical director, who makes sure the livestream remains up and running despite any technical setbacks that arise. During her junior year, Beth would expand her role, continuing to capture sports moments while also reporting on local stories throughout the community.
Beth’s love of sports began when she got to bring out the game ball at a Rangers’ game.
Beth’s first non-sports story was a report on the True Crime Texarkana podcast (produced by the Texarkana Gazette) in 2023. She he interviewed host Mallory Wyatt about a case that, at the time, had been unsolved for over 40 years. However, as Beth finished her story, the case was finally closed. Beth said that the story is her favorite to-date.
Another story she covered was at the beginning of her senior year, about the Texarkana Rhinos baseball team. She wrote about the sense of community the team has been able to build, with one player coming all the way from the Philippines. That player’s family even flew to the U.S. to watch him play with the team.
Through covering these local stories, Beth gained and provided new insight on these topics that wouldn’t have been found without her budding career in journalism.
After working with RazorbackTV as a reporter, a new position as a photographer opened up midway through her junior year, which she took. Then, after one of TXKSport’s photographers left for college, Beth took on the job, capturing photos at Arkansas High. Whether shooting wrestling, football, soccer, or baseball, Beth was there. During her cramped schedule this past spring, Beth sometimes found herself taking photos for soccer, baseball, and softball all in the same night. During
football season, Beth was in charge of capturing photos of the main game as well as the halftime show performances from both the band and Arkansas High School’s Redline dance team. She performed these duties at home and at away games, which were sometimes up to four hours away.
Now, with Beth preparing for her first year of college, she uses what she’s learned about busyness and balance to prepare for her future. In August, Beth will begin attending the University of North Texas, where she will pursue further journalism education.
“I never thought just streaming some soccer games would turn into being a sports photographer for RazorbackTV and TXKSports,” Beth said. “Though I didn’t get into that class until late sophomore year, I can’t imagine a better program to leave and watch grow from afar.”
Less than three years ago, Beth was a shy reporter with dreams of going into professional sports journalism; she is now gearing up to pursue exactly that. She encourages others to follow her example and explore journalism. “People have so much to say,” she explained. “There’s so much that happens that you would never know if you don’t ask, and to just be able to dig deep into people’s lives and the stuff that they do is so cool.”
Baylor McLelland is a rising senior 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.
submitted photos
THE ANNUAL DRIVE OUT HUNGER GOLF TOURNAMENT
BENEFITING HARVEST
REGIONAL FOOD BANK WAS HELD AT NORTHRIDGE COUNTRY CLUB ON MONDAY, MAY 19TH.
Casey Hickman and Casey Hanes
Troy Lester and Aaron Jarvis
Chase Stormes, Tim Reed, Corey Jerry, and Jonathan Hammons Parker Johnson, Aiden Mayfield, and Sam Rayburn
Buck Buchanan, Buck Hawkins, Michael Hawkins, and Dr. Mike Ward
Matthew Webb and Nate Green
Sharon Buckley and Callie Buckley
Melinda Vammen, Callie Buckley, Erickah Mathis, Camille Wrinkle, and Doug Dietz
Cam Hall, Broden Brogues, Braydon McGoogan, and Cade Fennell
Ty Huie, Matt Steele, Gage Gore, and Rusty Wright
Kip Webb, Jacob Triptow, Aaron Johnson, and Tommy Wrinkle
Michael Wicks, Dana Cox, Taylor Hedrick, and Jon Beck
Parker Johnson, Landon Prejean, Aiden Mayfield, and Sam Rayburn
Craig Ledesma, Blake Santifer, Tony Hernandez, and Seth Hopkins
Cory McMurry, Casey Hanes, Casey Hickman, and Kobey Bocox
Sonny Brainerd, Bobby Fenton, Mayor Allen Brown, and David Hickerson
Damon Whitt, Benton Carter, Travis Davenport, and Micah Phillips
Mike Cheek, Ken Thompson, Ty Thompson, and Tyler O’Neal
Paul Quaid, Chad Rains, Aaron Jarvis, and Troy Lester
Bobby Craig, Aaron Bray, Steven Harvey, and John Flippo
RUTH STOKES
100 years old
Born May 23rd, 1925
WHAT IS THE KEY TO YOUR LONGEVITY?
Concern not just for me but for others as well. Living a life of service to others. I believe that’s why I am here.
WHAT WAS THE BEST DECADE OF THE PAST CENTURY AND WHY?
The ‘60s, when my husband was alive. Those were some good times!
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A YOUNG PERSON?
Love yourself so that you may love others and help them. Put other people before yourself.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED?
Someone that is kind and helpful. Someone that is helpful to their community, their church, and their family. Volunteering my service in hospitals and churches —that’s been my life.
photo by SHANE DARBY
LIFE IN MOTION
75-year-old runner Ken Endris defies age and expectations as an international track star
by PHOEBE WARREN
At an age when most athletes have long since hung up their shoes, Ken Endris of Hooks, Texas, is still lacing his up tight. At 75, he’s not just running: he’s competing. Ken sets the example for anyone who has ever been told that they’re too old to chase their passions. Ken recently competed in the World Masters Indoor Championships held in Gainesville, Florida. In his age bracket, he finished 12th in the 60-meter race (10.02 seconds), fifth in the 200-meter race (33.26 seconds), and eighth in the 400-meter race (1 minute 20 seconds). He was also selected to run on the USA’s 4x200-meter relay team, which placed second (2 minutes 19 seconds). Around 3,400 adult runners competed across all age brackets.
Ken, who served as the principal of the Fouke School District from 2006 to 2021, has enjoyed running since his senior year of high school. He has competed throughout his adult life, repeatedly earning All-American status. “Competing with and against exOlympians and nationally-ranked runners motivates me to not become lazy in this lifetime,” he said. Ken explained that he will continue running as long as there’s competition to inspire him. “My philosophy is very simple,” he said. “When you start to exercise and you are a little sore the next day, keep your activity at that same level until you are not sore. Then, you can go further, longer, lift more, or move faster.”
Ken with his wife, Debby.
Ken with his family at Christmas.
EXQUISITE INTERIORS
A MEDITERRANEAN MOMENT
story by PHOEBE WARREN
photography by SHANE DARBY & CHRISTY HIBBS
Nestled in the Arbor Meadows subdivision of Texarkana, the stunning home of Christy and Nick Hibbs is a true reflection of craftsmanship, creativity, and collaboration. With five bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, the home was built by Nick himself, owner of 5 Talent Property, and designed by Christy, who brings her eye for style and experience as a real estate professional with 5 Talent Realty. Together, they’re a dream team, drawing comparisons to the beloved HGTV Fixer Upper duo Chip and Joanna.
The house exudes Mediterranean charm, featuring arched doorways, tall ceilings, and an abundance of natural light. White walls and white stone accents are balanced by warm, natural wood beams, while a calming shade of blue is used tastefully throughout as an accent color. The result is a serene, breezy aesthetic with just the right touch of elegance.
Nick has personally built every home on their street, with one final lot still available. The Hibbs home, however, stands out with its unique blend of thoughtful design and personalized features, enhanced by collaborations with trusted local businesses like Alpha Stone for the kitchen and bathroom countertops and Brad Fincher of BF Construction for the cabinetry.
The kitchen is Christy’s favorite part of the home. Designed with both form and function in mind, the space includes an open, showroom-worthy section, as well as a partially hidden area behind a wall—perfect for handling everyday messes. As an avid cook, Christy appreciates the practicality of features like the double oven and the gas cooktops.
Nick is most appreciative of the natural light that fills every corner of the home. “I kind of wanted there to be a beachy vibe,” he said. Christy describes the overall decor as “old-world meets modern love affair,” a phrase that captures the perfect harmony between timeless elegance and contemporary comfort.
Nick and Christy share their home with their five children, ranging in age from 5 to 19. Each bedroom reflects the unique personality and interests of each child, without compromising the home’s cohesive, modern-meets-natural design.
The primary bedroom offers a cozy retreat for Nick and Christy, with a special touch just for their youngest daughter, Elliana—a built-in window bed where she can stay close to her parents. The attached bathroom is a beautiful oasis, featuring a blue-tile accent wall behind a large soaking tub and a chandelier adorned with delicate, shell-like discs. There is also a large bluetiled walk-in shower right beside it, with multiple shower heads for a spa-like experience.
Closet space in the home was also thoughtfully designed. Each bedroom closet includes built-in dressers, which is a feature both Nick and Christy love. The primary walk-in closet is no exception, offering luxury and convenience, with a hidden doggy door for the family’s two beloved pets.
Out back, the tranquil vibe continues with a comfortable seating area and a striking blue swimming pool, built with a waterfall feature. A privacy fence lines the yard, softened by a non-invasive bamboo species planted alongside it that will grow to form a lush, natural screen over time.
The front exterior is clean and elegant, with white brick, black garage doors, and white stone accents. Natural wood beams add warmth and character, while two flickering lanterns by the front door offer a final charming detail. All the lanterns in Arbor Meadows are synced to light up their artificial flame at the same time each evening, creating a cozy, unified neighborhood atmosphere. “In the evenings, it’s a completely different ambience here,” Christy said.
The Hibbses couldn’t be happier with their custom-built haven, just recently completed. Despite the inevitable challenges that come with designing and building a home, they’ve embraced the journey as a team. With this Mediterranean masterpiece now part of their story, Nick is excited for future custom builds, and Christy is ready to continue bringing dream homes to life— both through her real estate work and her eye for interior design.
VICTORY FETCHING
Maureen Noe and her German Shepherd will compete in the WUSV World Championship Universal dog trial and show
by PHOEBE WARREN
Maureen Noe, along with her dog Dani, have redefined the expression “work like a dog.” The two have qualified to compete at the prestigious WUSV World Championship Universal dog trial and show, which showcases the best German Shepherds from around the world. It is set to occur in Hanau, Germany, from July 4th to 6th.
Maureen, now 61, worked for 23 years as a police officer with Fort Collins Police Services, including as a K-9 officer. “It was working with the police dogs which gave me an appreciation for what they can do and how courageous they can be,” she said. “I think my real love for the working dog began there.”
photos by SHANE DARBY
Maureen has many awards and memoabilia on display inside her dog kennel.
Dani showing off her skills.
Maureen and Dani competing in the 2025 GSDCA IGP Nationals this past April.
photos by CAROLINA’S K9 PHOTOGRAPHY
Maureen with her trainer, Jerol Skinner, from a training session with the Northwest Arkansas Working and Police Dog Association in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Maureen moved to Fouke seven years ago and got involved in Schutzhund. Schutzhund, meaning “protection dog” in German, is a dog sport concerning tracking, obedience, and protection skills. It is known competitively as Internationaler Gebrauchshund-Prüfung, or IGP. Maureen soon attended the IGP National Championship being held in Little Rock.
“Funny how things work out,” Maureen said. “They had a fundraiser drawing at that event to attend an IGP training camp in Florida with a worldrenowned trainer and competitor, Phil Hoelcher. Well, I won the drawing! My life changed, and my love for the sport began.”
The dynamic duo participated in the 2025 German Shepherd Dog Club of America National IGP Championship and Universal Sieger Show this past April. They placed third overall. As the first-ranked team was unable to attend the world championships, Team Dani was chosen to represent the USA. “To be on the world stage with my little Dani, with the best German Shepherds in the world, is amazing,” Maureen said.
Maureen plans to keep competing with Dani (whose official registered name is Florida Scout von Telos) as long as they both stay healthy. “I stay motivated through IGP to keep moving,” she said. “I did not want to retire and feel old. I found every morning something else would either hurt, creak, pop, or not want to work. My dogs keep me going and help me focus on what I can do and not on what I cannot do.”
Maureen and her husband, David, live on a farm in Fouke, Arkansas.
OLLIE MAE GARDNER
104 years old
Born December 23rd, 1920
WHAT IS THE KEY TO YOUR LONGEVITY?
It’s my mother’s genes that have kept me here this long! Good genes run in the family. I don’t smoke or drink alcohol either; I’ve lived a pretty clean life.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A YOUNG PERSON?
Live a life of faith, keeping God first in your life and loving your neighbor as yourself. Be honest with people.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY?
My first cousin lived close by, and I have good memories of playing with him. There was a big swing out on a huge tree in a grove of trees. We built a scaffold and would climb the tree and swing off with a big rope!
Ollie Mae in 1955
18 SUMMERS Emily in
by EMILY GAMMON
Hello July! It’s sweet summertime . . . but is it? Raise your hand if you’re ready to scream!
We count the days ‘til summer in our house; my husband is a teacher, so it’s a well-earned break for him, and having him home is a welcomed break for me—except it’s not really a break with four little people in the mix. I daresay it’s busier than the school year. It can’t be, but yet it is. And it’s our own fault. Facebook says, “YOU ONLY HAVE 18 SUMMERS WITH YOUR KIDS! You better make it count!”
Country music says, “You’re gonna miss this. You’re gonna want this back!”
But 24 hours into summer break, when all the food is gone, we are breaking up argument #486 for the day, and two babies are screaming, my overstimulated brain says something very different.
Believe me: as an over-the-top, “extra” kind of mom, I’ve bought in. Summer is full throttle. It has to be fun. We have to go on adventures. One big vacation at minimum. Popsicles must be stocked at all times, and every day must involve some kind of water activity. We aren’t gonna watch too much TV or play too much on the Nintendo Switch. We definitely need to keep reading each day because we don’t want to experience the summer slide-back. We are going to eat good, nutritional meals and not garbage all summer. We are gonna clean up after each mess and keep our house tidy. We’re gonna stay on top of the mountain of laundry. Every day will end with a movie and some family snuggles, and then everyone will be ready for bed because a fun day in the sun has worn us out.
Let’s cut to reality.
Daily adventures? It takes 67 minutes to get all the people dressed with shoes and into car seats. At that point, we are all too stressed to have fun. Vacation? You couldn’t pay me to travel by car, air, or sea with screaming children. Five minutes into any outdoor activity, and everyone is hot and ready for AC. Meals? Oh, we have them . . . every two hours, or so it feels. (Why do humans eat so much? Especially little ones with tiny stomachs. I spend half the day washing and reusing the same pots and pans. They are starving—not gonna survive! And then they eat three bites and abandon their plates for whatever the next big thing is.) Laundry? HA. We only thought it was a lot fall through spring. Turns out, during the school year, they wear one outfit all day, but in summer, they change at least six times. Multiplied by four kids.
That not-watching-TV rule . . . “Well, will all of you sit still for 15 minutes and stop arguing long enough to watch? Then turn it on!” And bedtime? Yeah right. Why do we need bedtime when it’s summer? And baby sister eats every three hours through the night, so get real.
Park. The Texarkana Public Library offers great (free) activities for children all summer long, and, as a former reading teacher, I obviously can’t endorse the library enough. We love visiting the Texarkana Farmers’ Market on Saturday mornings, where we also might have a mini State Line photo shoot and get in a little morning exercise downtown. While you’re downtown, see how many murals you can spot, and capture the moments to keep for summer memories. Indoor putt-putt at Starlite Golf in the mall or outdoor putt-putt and go karts at Fun Country make for fun, low-stress outings, too. When the temperature is 90 or above, we never pass up an opportunity to visit a snow cone stand. And, as always, we have dozens of local restaurants and shops who appreciate business, as it can be slower in the summer.
Am I complaining? It might seem that way, but if you have been there or are currently in this season, then you know I’m simply telling the truth.
We have chosen to look at this summer differently in our house. We aren’t going for bigger and better things. We are aiming for simplicity and intentionality. After birthing a new baby and surviving a traumatic, near-death postpartum experience, I decided that we are going to focus on rest this summer. Maybe I didn’t actually decide that—maybe the doctor decided it for us—but either way, our whole family needs it. It goes directly against my personality and my husband’s (we aren’t sitdown-and-rest kind of people), but physically, I don’t have much of an option. We decided on no overnight travel—only day trips, and even those sparingly. We are instead spending our days exploring Texarkana and finding all the fun here.
We have so many great parks to visit for free. When it’s too hot to be outside on dry land, we’ll be using our season passes at Big Dam Water
If all of that sounds too difficult or expensive, never underestimate the power of a gallon of bubbles and a package of sidewalk chalk. Summer doesn’t have to be difficult. Maybe you don’t make it that way, but I always have. But I’ve realized that boredom is one of the greatest learning tools for our children. They don’t need to be entertained every moment. Okay, maybe when they’re bored, they argue more—but they also problem-solve, gain critical thinking skills, and learn teamwork.
Maybe the meme makers and lyrical geniuses are right. Do I feel the pressure of only 18 summers? I sure do. Am I gonna miss this and want these days back? I sure am. But making them count and building core memories doesn’t have to be a contest of who did more. Maybe it’s truly about doing less—while gaining more in the process.
Emily Gammon is a fourth-generation 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 four children—John Carter, Jack, Jace, and Jane Kate. 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.
JULY 2025
JULY 4
Bubba’s 33 Ruck for Valor
Join Bubba’s 33 as they host a one-day ruck, starting at 6 a.m. near Maud on Highway 67 and ending at the federal courthouse in downtown Texarkana. All proceeds benefit Homes for Our Troops and Boot Campaign’s You Matter Initiative. Registration is $50 and includes a custom event shirt. For more information, visit Bubba’s 33 Facebook page.
JULY 5
Catfish & Mudbug Music Festival
Get ready for food, fun, and fire performances at the Front Street Plaza from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. This event, hosted by the City of Texarkana, Arkansas, promises plenty of local vendors, food trucks, and a safe zone for children to play. Call 903-701-7040 for info, or visit the event Facebook page.
JULY 12
Teach to Prevent Conference
Children’s Advocacy Center Texarkana is hosting an in-person event designed for school professionals and law enforcement officers focused on preventing child abuse and neglect. With expert-led sessions, practical strategies, and breakout discussions on how to enhance prevention efforts, the conference will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Heritage Church. For registration and more information, visit the Teach to Prevent Facebook page.
Redbone ‘80s Prom
Redbone Magic Brewing Company will be hosting an ‘80s prom–themed dance party at their location. The band Teazur will be providing musical entertainment. For more information, visit the Redbone Facebook page.
JULY 13
Aim 2 Empower Shooting Fundraiser
Register as an individual or as a team for this clay-shooting competition, benefiting the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Youth Center. This event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Rocky Creek Outdoors USA, with lunch provided. To register, visit clayrank.com. Find more details on the Facebook event page.
JULY 14–16
Camp Create!
Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council is hosting a threeday art camp at 518 Pine St. Guided by national teaching artist Kay Thomas and educator Kay Shirley, young artists (ages 6–15) will have the opportunity to develop their skills, experiment with new
techniques, and create original works of art. For registration and more information, visit trahc.org or call 903-792-868.
JULY 19
East Texas HBCYOU Day
This free college fair for students and parents will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Truman Arnold Center at Texarkana College. Hosted by Grandfather’s Heart in partnership with NETABSE, the event will include panels and speakers, admissions and scholarship information, and student/parent sessions. Food trucks will provide meals for purchase. For more information or to register, visit grandfathersheart.com.
In Love And Rich Family Field Day
ILAR, a local custom clothing brand and community movement, is hosting a community field day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Grady T. Wallace Park. There will be activities for all ages, including a scavenger hunt, tug-of-war, kickball, and a water balloon fight. Local vendors will also be on site. For tickets and more information, visit inloveandrich.com.
JULY
21
Texarkana Young Marines Meeting
Would you like to know more about Texarkana Young Marines? This local organization invites the community ages 8 to 18 to join them for an information meeting at the Washington Community Development Center. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. For more information, visit the Texarkana Young Marines Facebook page.
JULY
28
Friends For A Cause Co-Ed Bunco
The Friends For A Cause Foundation invites the community to participate in a fun-filled night of bunco at Lost Pizza Co. Tickets are $25 per person and include refreshments as well as a raffle ticket for prizes. Bring an unopened bag of dog or cat food to donate to a local rescue, and score extra raffle tickets. For more information, call Patti at 903-733-1334 or Terri at 903-278-3521.
DOROTHY DILLARD
106 years old
Born March 19th, 1919
WHAT IS THE KEY TO YOUR LONGEVITY?
I’ve lived a life for the Lord. I never smoked or drank.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A YOUNG PERSON? Stay strong in your faith.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY?
I grew up on a farm, and we ate lots of fresh vegetables. I walked to school every day.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED?
I’d like to be remembered as someone very kind, and who loved her family. Someone who loved to cook and bake. I used to be known for my squash casserole and my peach cobbler.
Studio portrait of Dorothy
COMMUNITY and DISCIPLESHIP
by LINDSEY M c MILLAN
by
Sacred Heart Catholic Church celebrates 150 years
photo
SHANE DARBY
On Christmas Eve in 1874, the first Catholic Mass was celebrated in Texarkana by missionary priest Father Theodore Buffard, who traveled to Northeast Texas on horseback from Galveston. He arrived with a mission which continues today, a century and a half later. Parishioners of Sacred Heart Catholic Church have been excitedly preparing for their 150th anniversary, with plans spread out over the weekend of July 4th.
Originally at the corner of Third and Spruce Streets downtown, Sacred Heart was the first brick structure in Texarkana. It served as a cornerstone of community and faith for Catholics congregating in the newly formed city.
“The early history of the church in Texarkana is thanks to the ethnic immigrants who came to this part of the state to work in the railroad, gas, and manufacturing industries that were vital to putting Texarkana
and Bowie County on the map,” said Father Justin Braun, the church’s current pastor. Reflecting this, the church’s historic cemetery acts as the resting place for people of 16 different nationalities. The early church also established what may have been the area’s first formally organized school.
A fire in 1957 severely damaged the original church, and land was acquired on Elizabeth Street. In 1961, the new church was erected along with a parish hall and rectory. Both the cornerstone and bell from the first church were rescued and relocated to the new site. The congregation continued to grow, with several generations of parishioners continuing in the mission of the original parish.
Over the past two years, the church has conducted three phases of remodeling, most recently renovating the parish hall. “The renovation came from the hearts of people to update a building which served our
A formal ribbon cutting was held for the newly renovated parish hall at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on May 29th.
parish so well and to better equip us to serve the Texarkana community,” Father Braun said. The renovations have been completed just in time for the sesquicentennial celebrations.
The festivities will begin on Friday, July 4th, with a patriotic concert called “A Tribute to America,” directed by church music director Marc-André Bougie and performed by singers from the Sacred Heart choir and the Texarkana Regional Chorale. On Saturday, July 5th, the church is hosting an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with guided tours and refreshments. Father Braun hopes that many will join in the celebration of this historic moment for the church community.
The church community is diverse in many ways, bringing families together who are united in faith. The word “catholic” means “universal,” and this is the crux of the church, linking people together for the love of Christ. The heartbeat of the church is in its varied members hailing from many different backgrounds, not unlike the original settlers whom Father Buffard led in the 1870s.
“The goal is to create an environment where Jesus is the focus and a place where people who are thirsting for an encounter with Christ can experience it,” Father Braun said. “A place where those seeking to be formed in what it means to be a living disciple of Jesus can find both the guidance and community to support them.”
Father Braun with Gisel, Natalia, Augustin, and Abigail Rodriguez at a Christmas service.
submitted photos
