Four States Living Magazine February 2024

THE WAY I SEE IT ...

PUBLISHER’S LETTER Robin Rogers, Ed.D.

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aybe because it’s been really cold lately, with gray skies and short days, that I am feeling bummed. Maybe Old Man Winter has jumbled my circadian rhythms, and I’ve quit caffeine, and lack of sleep has created a more sluggish me. For certain, every time I encounter the news, I am saddened by the conflicts between countries, political parties, neighbors, and families.

Everything these days seems depressing to me. And so, as I opened my laptop to write this editorial, which is supposed to be about love and partnerships, I thought, “Of all people, I am the worst person to write about this subject right now.” So . . . I closed my laptop and binge-watched the last season of Ted Lasso.

That’s what people do, you know: we binge-watch TV shows. There’s great comfort to be found in escaping under a heated blanket, with the lights off and a television on; to escape from the dings of a cell phone and ignore everything that makes you blue. And, for this purpose in particular, I highly recommend Ted Lasso. That show will make you laugh until you cry. (It is definitely worth subscribing to Apple TV+ to get access to this show—along with Shrinking and For All Mankind. For All Mankind is extra special to Texarkana, as native son Ben McGinnis just won a second Emmy for that program earlier in January.)

Laughing is something I love to do.

There was a time in my life when I thought that material obsessions would bring me joy. In my early twenties, I sold cars while I was in graduate school. My motto was, “Sell a car; buy a dress.” But through that experience, I learned that the tangible “prize” of the dress didn’t evoke the kind of happiness I was seeking; the “new” faded fast, and soon enough, there was another prize to strive for. What I loved more than a new outfit was the fun of selling: working hard, defying expectations (there weren’t, and still aren’t, many car saleswomen), and finding or creating win-win deals for customers.

In a way, the lessons I learned on the car lot led me to my career with FSLM, where we, too, hustle hard, shatter glass ceilings, and prioritize our clients and readers—and we have fun while doing it.

Now that I’m thinking about it . . . If you asked me to list the “things” I love most in this world, I would give you a list of verbs, not nouns. I love to laugh, to travel, to attend concerts, to play cards with my kids, to mow my lawn, to sunbathe at the beach, to cuddle my goldendoodle, to write silly PUBLISHER Dr. Robin Rogers INTERIM EDITOR Ellen Orr INSPIRE THE PESSIMIST EL E VAT E T H E O PT I M I S T STIR THE MIND EN T ERTA I N T H E S O U L W W W. F O U R S TAT E S L I V I N G .C O M

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Shane Darby SALES REPRESENTATIVE Victoria Herman EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Phoebe Warren

F O U R S TAT E S L I V I N G M AG A Z I N E F O U R S TAT E S L I V I N G

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jingles, to make good deals, to tell worthy local stories, to collaborate with my team.

Sometimes I need a helping hand to pull me off of the couch after too many bummed-out days in a row. But once you get me up, I will book the tickets, start the car, don a Four States Living t-shirt and baseball cap, and ask what the plan is. If it’s not illegal or immoral, count me in. I’ll be Thelma or Louise in any convertible, on any road, as long as laughter is on the itinerary.

(If you let me sing my jingles, we’re sure to laugh!)

I’m counting down the days to convertible weather. And, in the meantime, I’m committed to having more indoor fun; I want to build a fire in my fireplace, order Lost Pizza’s olive bread on DoorDash, and play games into the wee hours of the night with the people I love.

In February, many people are thinking about romantic love. As a culture, we tend to think that this is “true love” or the most important love. If you have found your soulmate and maintained a relationship with them, thank your lucky stars. Most people bumble relationships, even the best ones.

Statistics being what they are, we all know that, if you are on the “winning” side of marriage, you are an anomaly.

I admit I have always loved thinking about and celebrating these anomalies. I enjoy watching Hallmark movies, listening to romantic duets (oldies like Kenny and Dolly, not Jelly Roll and Lainey), and reading sappy books that end with a walk down the aisle. This idea of “love” is truly intoxicating. However, these days, my favorite love stories are not about romantic relationships at all; they are about families, friendships, creative partnerships, community, and people who are in love with their lives. These love stories inspire me to action in a way romantic stories never could. They make me want to pour more love into the people, places, and vocations that matter to me.

Traci Pitman and Dani Hamblett, who are featured on the cover, are two people who inspire me, as individuals and especially as a duo. These branding and marketing specialists own For All Brandkind as well as Fab/co, a co-working space on Texas Boulevard. Watching them grow as a team has reminded me that partnerships are stronger than individuals; no singleton can know it all or do it all or be everything to everybody. Traci and Dani are smart, talented, creative, and ethical in their practice; because of those traits, their business keeps growing. Their style, commitment to growth, and kindness inspire me.

This issue is filled with “love stories,” though none of them center on romance. We have delighted in telling them, and I know you will delight in reading them. Plus, in recognition of American Heart Month, we have included a couple of stories about heart health, in the hopes that they will motivate readers to be proactive in avoiding and addressing heart disease.

Thanks to the top-notch experts and services available in the Ark-La-Tex, we can prevent and treat cardiovascular illness and live longer, more joyful lives.

Newton’s third law states that, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Feeling gloomy, I did not want to write this editorial. Yet, as I wrote, I became inspired to act—to get up, play some Salt-N-Pepa through the speaker, dance with my daughter, Emily, and make things happen. It’s time to get busy. Love truly is an action verb. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to plan my next great adventure with the people I love.

As always, thanks for reading FSLM.

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Chloe Sanders CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jennifer Jordan Klark Kent Ellen Orr Madline Smallwood Sarah Vammen Jenny McCormack Walker Phoebe Warren

Four States Living Magazine is published the first business day of every month. © Copyright 2024 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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CONTENTS VOLU M E 31 • IS SU E 2 • FEB RUARY 2 02 4

ON THE COVER FEBRUARY 2024

Dynamic duo Traci Pitman and Dani Hamblett run For All Brandkind with creativity, passion, and style.

See A Fab Friendship on page 12.

INSIDE: SISTERHOOD OF MOTHERHOOD As the area’s only team of home-birth professionals, midwife Christina Winton and doula Jaimee Hunter care for mothers and babies throughout the region.

Read about them on page 40.

TABLE OF CONTENTS A Fab Friendship Creating Community One Mom at a Time Labor of Love The Beat Goes On Sisterhood of Motherhood New Lease on Life Forged in Washington

12 20 28 32 40 48 58

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE The Way I See It—An op-ed piece from the publisher Exquisite Interiors FSLM Student Profile: Meet Jeb Baugh The Daily Planet Events Scene About Town 8

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SCENE ABOUT TOWN

Morgan Bennett with Madge and Maxwell Bennett

HOSPICE OF TE X A R K A N A H O STE D B U S I N E S S A F T E R H O U R S FO R TH E T E X A R K A N A CHAMBER OF CO M M E R C E O N T H U R S DAY, JA N UA RY 1 8T H .

Dr. Robin Rogers, Cindy Marsh, and Dr. Kelly Pack

Lindsey McMillan and Andrea Sparks

Denis Washington and John O’Shaughnessy

Julie O’Shaughnessy, Marjorie Hudson, and Robin Dempsey

Jaimie Alexander, Leigh Davis, and Jeff Brown

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Morgan Pritchett and Amber Adams

Chad Moore and Max Brackeen

Jakob Martin, Malachi Smith, and Katie Stone

Marcia Austin and Ann Hobbs

Justin Sutton and Channen Branch

Mark McMillion and Hampton Fontenot

Dr. Robin Rogers and Branden O’Neal

Michael Rhodes & the Jive Band

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A FAB

FRIENDSHIP Business partners Dani Hamblett and Traci Pitman run innovative For All Brandkind marketing agency

by J EN N I FER J O R DA N

C

reativity flows from many sources. For business partners Dani Hamblett and Traci Pitman, pop culture has provided a wealth of inspiration. In particular, the duo cites a popular phrase as key to their shared philosophy: “Walk it like you talk it,” inspired by the hit song by hip-hop group Migos. This motto describes the ethos of the local marketing and brand development agency For All Brandkind.

For All Brandkind (Fab) developed out of a continuing education course that Traci and Dani designed and taught at Texarkana College.

The two first met in 2010, when Dani was serving as the editor for Appeal magazine, and Traci, then the design and creative services coordinator at TC, provided freelance design work for the publication. The women began to see each other in the OB-GYN waiting room in early 2011, bonding over being pregnant at the same time. A few years later, the tables turned when Dani, at this point a freelance writer, invited Traci to lunch and asked her to review the copy on Dani’s website.

“Traci liked my ‘conversational tone’ so much that TC hired me to do some copywriting for their website redesign—one of my first freelance gigs,” Dani said.

In 2015, the two mothers had the idea to teach a continuing ed course called Building Your Brand Online. “That’s the kind of thing we do for fun,” Dani laughed. A small business owner taking the class asked them to manage their social media, and from there, For All Brandkind was born.

The marketing agency combines Dani’s writing and business acumen (she holds an MBA) and Traci’s writing and design prowess (bolstered by a bachelor’s in journalism and a master’s in corporate communication) to offer a full-service experience for clients. Fab works its magic not only on social media strategies but also in branding, graphic design, digital advertising, website design and hosting, and public relations projects.

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photo by SHANE DARBY

Traci and Dani opened Fab/co, the area’s first co-working space, in 2020.

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submitted photos

What’s more, Traci and Dani also provide physical working spaces for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and more at Fab/co, their co-working space located on Texas Boulevard. Fab/co launched out of Traci and Dani’s own needs for a dedicated space as well as the needs of their clients. Living in Hooks prior to forming the agency, Dani needed a place to work while her son was in school in Texarkana.

“I would work from Starbucks or sometimes at TAMU–T where I taught on and off as an adjunct,” she recalled. “Traci and I had a regular work night once a week, where we would meet at the State Line Starbucks for two to three hours and work on projects or even have client meetings.

During that time, I was reading about coworking spaces in other communities and wished we had something like that here.”

Dani started tinkering with a potential business plan for a local coworking space, and in January 2020, the perfect spot became available. She emailed Traci a pitch, and Traci loved it. Fab/co’s grand opening was “on the Friday in March when the world shut down for COVID,” Traci said.

“And look—we’re still here!”

Fab has served a variety of clients, from preschools and local colleges to nonprofits and political campaigns. Traci and Dani have set some strategic goals to expand even further. One of their priorities for 2024

Transforming Mission Texarkana’s coffee concept, now known as Humble Troll Coffee, was a Fab favorite project of 2023.

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photo by SHANE DARBY

Traci and Dani hope to take on more full-scale branding projects—which incorporate logo design, verbiage, merchandising, and more—in 2024.

submitted photo

Brainstorming sessions flow when selfinterest is set aside. “There’s no ego when we work together,” Traci said.

is to hire another graphic designer, which will allow them to take on more all-encompassing projects, such as their 2023 redesign of Mission Texarkana’s coffee concept, Humble Troll Coffee. They cite the branding project—which encompassed naming, creating a logo, designing packaging and merchandise, and more—as one of their favorite projects of 2023.

Outside of work, Traci and Dani are the current co-chairs of the United Way Community Impact Committee. They also serve on the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce’s marketing committee, helping to plan and promote the local “Solarbration” of the April 8th eclipse.

As co-creatives, business partners, fellow community servants, and friends, Traci and Dani spend countless hours together. They leverage their complementary personalities and skill sets, as well as their deep respect for each other, to benefit their art, their clients, their community, and themselves.

“Dani is curious, hilarious, kind, giving, and fun,” Traci said. “We started this venture as colleagues, but she has become one of my closest friends. There’s no ego when we’re working together. Half the time, we can’t even remember which one of us came up with that good idea from our brainstorm sesh. We both want the outcome that makes our client shine the most.”

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Dani concurred, adding, “We help fill in the other’s gaps. We complement each other well in that way. We truly do work as a team.

I’m thankful for Traci. She’s an awesome teammate and has also become a great friend.”

Now nine years after the founding of Fab, Traci and Dani encourage new businesses and young creatives to heed three pieces of advice. The first is to act.

“Traci and I have learned so much by doing,” Dani said. “Just start somewhere. If something isn’t working, learn from it and pivot, but keep going.”

The second piece of advice they offer is to be patient and resilient.

“We’re kind of in an instant-gratification culture right now, and one thing that I’m learning every day from our clients who are successful is that success is not immediate,” Dani said. “Hard work, discipline, following through on what you say you’re going to do, and treating people with kindness are the most important building blocks for any small business.”

Aligning actions with The third piece of values is a key ethos for the Fab team. advice? “Walk it like you talk it.”

Dani and Traci, pictured here at Crossties, are friends as well as business partners.

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ONE MOM AT A TIME

Joy Sandefur and Audrey Anderson help moms find support, community, and joy through exercise

by S A R A H VA M M EN

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otherhood bonded them, and the need for community pushed them to build a business.

Friends Audrey Anderson and Joy Sandefur are the owners and operators of Fit4Mom Texarkana—a pre- and post-natal fitness group for moms of all ages and stages of motherhood.

Audrey is a New Mexico native who relocated from the Dallas-Fort Worth area to Texarkana in 2020 with her husband, Luke. Together they have two children, Ada and Owen. Audrey worked as a speech-language pathologist for 13 years and is currently a stay-at-home mom. Joy was born and raised in Texarkana. She has been married to her high school sweetheart, Ray, for seven years. A former elementary school teacher, Joy now stays home with her two children, Emma and Ben. Audrey and Joy became friends first and business partners second. Their friendship grew organically. “We were both members of Junior League of Texarkana,” Audrey said. “Our daughters both went to school at Williams (The Williams School), so the more we were around each other, we just clicked and became friends from there.”

When Audrey was still living in DFW, she searched for a local community of moms in hopes of finding support after her daughter was born. “I actually typed into Google ‘mom and baby friendly activities,’ and Fit4Mom came up,” she said. “I showed up not knowing a soul and met mom friends

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photo by SHANE DARBY

Creating Community

photo by SHANE DARBY

“

Joy’s strengths are my weaknesses. I’m the ‘right brain,’ and she’s the ‘left brain.’

”

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Fit4Mom offers two categories of classes: “stroller-based programs,” to which moms can bring their babies and young children, and “mom-only classes,” which are kid-free.

who really validated the highs and lows of motherhood.” When she moved to Texarkana, Audrey set out in search of a similar community of moms but found nothing. As her friendship with Joy grew, the two began bonding over this shared need for a community of moms who knew what they were going through. “We both shared the perspective that Texarkana as a community and as a whole needed support for moms and their families,” Audrey said. “We didn’t find that here.”

So, the two friends sprang into action and partnered together to open their own Fit4Mom franchise in Texarkana. While developing a business relationship may be challenging for many friends, it was a natural and seamless transition for Audrey and Joy. “Nothing has changed in our relationship since we’ve started this business,” Joy said.

“We’ve had to work through really hard things and really fun things. We’ve accomplished really huge things. We’ve had monumental highs and worked through really hard lows.”

They say their resilience is thanks in part to their complementary personalities.

“Joy’s strengths are my weaknesses,” Audrey said. “I’m the ‘right brain,’ and she’s the ‘left brain.’” Harnessing Audrey’s big ideas and Joy’s pragmatism, they’ve been able to put on fun-filled events while building a close-knit community.

Now in its second year, Fit4Mom Texarkana has been steadily growing a community of moms since day one. Joy and Audrey want to promote the idea that Fit4Mom Texarkana is more than just exercise classes for mothers. “We are also big on community and helping moms to find their fit and village,” Audrey said. “We offer ‘Moms’ Night Out’ once a month and play groups (for kids) to cover all aspects of community.”

Though showing up to exercise with a small child in-tow can feel daunting for many moms, Joy and Audrey work hard to make the experience a fun one for moms

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photo by SHANE DARBY

“

”

We spend a lot of time planning these events and working with businesses and other people in the community to put this on for the moms and for the kids.

– Joy Sandefur

submitted photos

In addition to regular “Stroller Strides” classes, Fit4Mom Texarkana frequently hosts community events, kid-centered activities, and other types of exercise experiences.

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and babies alike and encourage moms of any age and stage to try it out. “We definitely understand it’s vulnerable.

You’re moving your body in ways you maybe haven’t in awhile, or you’re worried about how your child is going to act in the stroller,” Audrey said. “But what we want moms to know is there is absolutely no judgment whatsoever.

It’s a very comforting environment because, even though our backgrounds are all different, we all unite in that we’re mothers and we completely understand what each other is going through.”

While moms who attend get the benefit of exercise, friendship with other moms, and time to bond with their children, the kids get a fun experience as well. “The kids are so entertained watching their moms run around crazy,” Joy said. “We’re singing to them, reading books, or blowing bubbles.”

In addition to Joy and Audrey, the Fit4Mom Texarkana team also includes Mia Ray, who is a class instructor, and Shelby McElhany, who serves as the social media manager.

The whole team encourages anyone who is interested to check out a class or community event. “Audrey and I have a lot of fun things planned for the next few months,” Joy said. “We spend a lot of time planning these events and working with businesses and other people in the community to put this on for the moms and for the kids. We hope to see more new faces and continue to see our same community at these events.”

Moms who are interested in learning more about Fit4Mom Texarkana or attending a class or community event can check them out on Instagram at @fit4momtexarkana, on Facebook at Fit4Mom Texarkana, or at texarkana.fit4mom.com.

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SCENE ABOUT TOWN

Dusty Baker, Emily Tarr, Edith Thomas, and Tika Rowe

Dr. Jennifer Davis and LaMoya Burks

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TE X A R K A N A MUSEUMS SYST E M H E LD IT S P E R S O N A LIT Y LU N C H EO N AT S I LV E R M O O N O N B R OA D O N TH U R S DAY, JA N UA RY 1 1T H .

Madie Westmoreland and LeAnne Wright

Buddy Hawkins and Dr. Johnette Hawkins Magner

Debra Embrey and Christine Bevers

Scottie Burnett and Suzy Hlavinka

Lon Waters and Betty Williams

Emily and Gabe Tarr

Chayta Mills, Tammie Duncan, Melissa Harris, and Jessica Plant

Camille McGinnis, Remica Gray, Dr. Johnette Hawkins Magner, and Christine Bevers

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LABOR of

LOVE OB-GYN professionals Morgan and Sudheer “Dr. Jay” Jayaprabhu share their story of infertility and adoption

by J EN N Y M c CO R M AC K WA L K ER

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submitted photos

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organ and Sudheer Jayaprabhu met through their work in labor and delivery. Over the course of their careers, Morgan, a nurse practitioner, and “Dr. Jay,” an obstetrician and gynecologist, have welcomed thousands of babies into the world. Despite treating a whole gamut of women’s health issues, nothing prepared the couple to face their own challenge of infertility.

When they married in October of 2017, Sudheer had already developed a wonderful relationship with Morgan’s two teenagers, Davis and Lexie, but he had no biological children of his own.

“I really wanted that for him,” Morgan said. “We decided early on that we wanted to have a child together.”

About the same time, the couple made another important decision: to completely surrender their lives to Jesus.

“I was searching for happiness,” Sudheer said. “We were Christians, but we really had not turned our lives completely over to God. We decided that we wanted to focus on what he had for us individually, as a couple, and as a family. We wanted to be intentional about focusing on Christ.”

While the couple’s decisions to expand their family and center their life on their faith were made separately, over the next year, those decisions would become inextricably interwoven.

“I never had fertility issues with my older children, and I didn’t expect it to be difficult,” Morgan said. “We tried for a year with no success, and [then] we met with a doctor in Shreveport, who gave us a few options to consider.”

After several unsuccessful intrauterine insemination procedures, the couple had to decide whether to move forward with in-vitro fertilization.

“Despite the challenges, we still believed we would be parents,” Morgan said, “but IVF is very expensive. So, we prayed about the specific amount of money we would need, and within a month, we had a surplus of money that we had never had before and have never had since. We knew God had provided that as an answer to our prayer.”

The Jayaprabhus were excited to move forward with the IVF procedure. Three embryos were implanted, and Morgan became pregnant. However, after only six weeks, the pregnancy ended in a miscarriage.

“It took two years for me to work through the feelings that came with that,” Morgan said.

“As a woman, it’s hard not to be able to do what my body is meant to do. We knew God’s plans were not ours, but we still did not have a quench for the desire for us to have a child together.

We just prayed, ‘Lord, if you have another idea for us, show us the way.”

As news of their desire for a child began to travel through their professional circles, several nurses approached Sudheer about babies who had been dropped off at the hospital under the Safe Haven Law. They were open to adopting one of the “Moses babies,” but after being presented with four different babies whose adoptions ultimately did not come to pass, Morgan and Sudheer began to feel like God was shutting doors.

“We didn’t understand why God brought us on this journey,” Morgan said. “But, as a family, we were committed to praying through it.”

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One day, they received a text message from a church friend, and their prayers were answered.

“We learned about a local woman who was about 20 weeks into pregnancy and was looking for a family to adopt the baby,” Sudheer said.

“Our first meeting was with the birth mom’s sister-in-law, and then we met with the birth mom. Our third meeting was with the entire family. She had been looking at other families—some out of state—and we were so thankful that she chose us.”

Over the next few months, Sudheer provided prenatal care for the birth mother, and Morgan was with her at all of her medical appointments.

“She could have made a different decision, and we commend her for choosing life,” Morgan said. “She knew there was a perfect family for him. She made a lot of sacrifices in her own personal life to have this baby, and we are so grateful she did.”

When it was time to have the baby, Morgan and Sudheer were right at home in the delivery room—but, this time, they were not celebrating the birth of one of their patients’ children. They were rejoicing in the birth of their own

submitted photos

Beloved members of their work and church communities, Morgan and Sudheer were far from alone in celebrating the arrival and adoption of baby Asher.

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New brother of teenagers Davis and Lexie, Asher joined the family through adoption, which the Jayaprabhus believe was ordained by God.

son. Sudheer delivered the baby, Morgan cut the umbilical cord, and Asher Daniel Jayaprabhu made his debut into the world.

“He’s such a happy and smiley baby,” Morgan said. “He gets that from his dad. The name Asher means ‘happy and blessed,’ and that description fits him perfectly.”

Through this experience, Morgan and Sudheer gained valuable insight into infertility, which now helps them with patient care.

“Being able to experience the emotions that come with infertility gives us a new perspective on treating patients who share those issues,” Morgan said. “We don’t just know it from a medical standpoint, but we now also understand it from an emotional standpoint. That really is a different insight we did not have before this journey with Asher.”

Aside from the professional lessons this experience taught them, the biggest lesson came through relying on their faith.

“We would sometimes wonder why God would give us this desire and then make things so difficult,” Sudheer said. “But, we learned that it’s okay to ask God those questions. He can handle that.”

Morgan agreed.

“I know without a doubt that God led us through IVF,” she shared. “I believe he took us through that whole experience so that we could learn an important lesson: we needed to learn that everything would happen in his time and his way, not ours. I was so focused on having a biological child, but all along, he knew that he had Asher waiting for us.”

Morgan said that their journey is an illustration of God’s love.

“I think adoption is a perfect example of how we are adopted into God’s family,” she said.

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THE

BEAT GOES

ON

Testing and an unexpected quintuple bypass surgery saved District Attorney Jerry Rochelle’s life

by S A R A H VA M M EN

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photo by SHANE DARBY

“I

had no idea I was walking around with a ticking time bomb in my chest.” These words from District Attorney Jerry Rocehlle reflect his surprise upon learning that he was experiencing significant heart disease. Now recovered from bypass surgery, he is grateful for a second chance at life.

A fifth-generation Texarkana resident, Jerry graduated from Texas High School and returned to Texarkana after finishing law school at the University of Arkansas. In 2011, Jerry was sworn in as the district attorney for Texarkana, Texas, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

Due to a genetic predisposition to heart disease and the stressful nature of his job, Jerry’s wife, Lori, insisted for several years that Jerry get his heart checked.

Jerry resisted. “I led a pretty active life,” he said. “I’m no athlete, but I was healthy.”

Therefore, Jerry did not see any reason to be concerned about his heart health. However, Lori won out in the end, and in mid-2023, she and Jerry each underwent Keep the Beat heart screenings at Arkansas Heart Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas. Keep the Beat is a screening and educational program offered only at AHH that enables anyone to take control of their cardiovascular health for the low price of $99.

“ photo by SHANE DARBY

My philosophy now is that I have been granted a second chance without going through all the pain of a heart attack.

”

– Jerry Rochelle

After a Keep the Beat screening at Arkansas Heart Hospital, Jerry discovered that he needed immediate bypass surgery.

submitted photo

Lori’s test results revealed that her heart was in perfect shape. Jerry’s results, however, were alarming. “I went into the appointment thinking they would say that, given my age, I needed to cut back on salt and lower my cholesterol,” Jerry said. On the contrary, the screening revealed that Jerry had significant blockage in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. “The blockage I had was called a widowmaker,” he explained. “That got everyone’s attention.”

Jerry reported to Dr. Joseph J. Saporito at Texarkana Cardiology Associates for a cardiac catheterization to determine the extent of the blockage in Jerry’s heart. When Jerry woke up from the catheterization, the news was grimmer than expected: Jerry’s heart had five blockages and would require surgery. Jerry’s first question was, “When?”

“I had my uncle’s funeral that day, and work, and my daughter had just gone back to Texas A&M University after the summer break,” Jerry said. “Dr. Saporito looked me dead in the eye and said, ‘What are you doing this afternoon?’ I realized, ‘If these guys are so serious that they want to cut me open in five hours, this must be significant.’

“The doctors said I could live the next 10–15 years without a problem, or I could

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With the support of his daughter, Olivia, and wife, Lori, Jerry Rochelle has served as District Attorney for Bowie County, Texas, since 2011.

drop dead in the cardiologist’s office in 10 minutes,” Jerry continued. There was no time for fear or second guessing; Jerry acted quickly. “I went to my uncle’s funeral, went home, got an overnight bag, and went back to the hospital.”

Jerry underwent quintuple coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery the following morning to repair the blocked arteries. The surgeons removed veins from his left leg and grafted them onto the blocked arteries to create detours for blood flow. “My surgeon, Dr. Reginald Baptiste, and his team are true leaders in their field,” Jerry said. “I was fortunate to get to them when I did, and they were fortunate to get to me before it was too late.”

The first few days after the surgery were foggy. Though Jerry doesn’t remember much, he does remember feeling grateful to be alive, grateful to see his wife and daughter again, and grateful for the exceptional care he received at St. Michael Hospital. “The staff treated me as one of their own,” he said. “Everyone from the receptionist to the person who rolled me out of the hospital in a wheelchair was perfect. I trusted everyone to do the best they could, and they did.”

After a long and careful recovery, Jerry is doing well. “I won’t be running a marathon any time soon, but I feel great,” Jerry said. “I just saw my daughter graduate college. I will be here to walk her down the aisle and see her finish her post-grad education.”

Jerry is now a major advocate for cardiovascular screening. “I would urge anyone I know to go get tested,” he said, emphasizing that testing is the only way he ever found out something was seriously wrong. “I didn’t have any symptoms. We wouldn’t have known until I was dead. My philosophy now is that I have been granted a second chance without going through all the pain of a heart attack. Everything is a little brighter and more intense because you never know when that last breath is coming—and I don’t want to rush it along.”

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SCENE ABOUT TOWN T H E SA R A H B E R RY C PA TE A M H E LD IT S 1 0 Y E A R A N N I V E R SA RY C E LE B R ATI O N AT C R O S STI E S O N SAT U R DAY, JA N UA RY 1 3TH .

Keisha Booth, Erica Fisher, Sarah Berry, Sallie Alsup, and Jodee Thomas

George Merrill and Sarah Berry

Crystal and Jake Casteel

Lilli Cheramie, Danielle Smith, and Melissa Rose

Bradley Berry, Vincent Chapman, and Sean Booth

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David and Carla Rowton with sons Taylon, Cason, and Weston

Sydney Bennett and Cristie Whetstone

Temeka and Johnny Harris (back) with Shakyra Harris

Catie and Scott Swenson with children SJ, Grant, and Tyler

Lisa McEuen and Autum Berry

Suzanne and Gary Owen

Madelyn McCrary and LaTisha Nichols

Richie Wicks, Vincent Chapman, and Jordan Emerson

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SISTERHOOD of MOTHERHOOD Midwife Christina Winton and doula Jaimee Hunter serve mothers and babies throughout the Ark-La-Tex

by EL L EN O R R

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aimee Hunter, a certified labor doula, came to her calling later in life. After earning multiple degrees and establishing successful careers in first marketing and then public education, her life changed when she happened to attend her sister-in-law’s midwife-supported delivery. A natural caregiver, Jaimee poured love and attention onto her sister-in-law as she labored. After a healthy birth, the midwife asked Jaimee if she was a doula.

“I didn’t know anything about doulas—had never even heard the word,” Jaimee recalled.

She was not alone; many Americans are unsure about the roles of various birth workers, such as doulas and midwives. Doulas are service professionals who provide educational, emotional, and physical support to pregnant people before, during, and briefly after delivery— both for hospital and non-hospital births. Midwives, meanwhile, are educated healthcare providers with expertise in uncomplicated or low-risk OB-GYN care. They offer prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care. While some midwives have privileges at hospitals, many only serve individuals and families interested in birthing at home or in a birthing center.

After Jaimee recovered from the whirlwind of her nephew’s birth, she got online to research doulas. Immediately, she knew in her gut that she had stumbled upon her life’s next chapter.

With her husband urging her to enter a profession that “loved [her] as much as [she] loved it,” Jaimee left teaching and embarked on a new chapter.

In contrast to latecomer Jaimee, certified professional midwife (CPM) Christina Winton has known since she was a teenager that birth work was the vocation for her. Attending high school in the Pacific Northwest, she was surrounded by birth workers and women who had given birth using midwives. “I was

photo by CHLOE SANDERS

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seeing and hearing their stories, hearing how they were treated and their bodies were respected,” she recalled.

However, Christina did not pursue her midwifery education immediately, instead getting married becoming pregnant with twins, whom she delivered in a hospital with an OB-GYN, where Christina’s desires were not respected. “I realized through that [experience] that, absolutely, for sure, I was going to be a midwife—because of the lack of bodily autonomy I was given, because of the choices that were taken out of my hands because of protocols,” she explained.

“I was like, ‘Somebody needs to make this better. This can be better.’”

Certified professional midwifery, which requires years of academic study and apprenticeship followed by formal certification, was not immediately available to Christina as a career route, given that she was raising children while her husband was deployed overseas. She instead worked only as a doula until 2013, when her husband retired from the marine corps and the family relocated to DeQueen, Arkansas. She was finally positioned to pursue midwifery education. Four years of schooling, eight years of apprenticeship (completed partly concurrently with her schooling), and stateand national-level board certification exams later, she Our clients became licensed in 2020. become our Since then, Jaimee and Christina have worked together as the only doula-midwife pair in the Ark-Lafamily, our sisters.

Tex. Prior to their professional partnership, Jaimee and It is a sisterhood Christina became friends, bonding quickly over their shared passions and values. The women are strong of motherhood. supporters of bodily autonomy for all people and especially pregnant people.

– Jaimee Hunter

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Doula Jaimee, a natural caregiver, provides emotional and educational support to mothers and mothers-to-be.

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“Our clients become our family, our sisters,” Jaimee said.

“Any woman can give birth any way she wants; I just want people to be educated and empowered in their decisions that they make for their body,” Christina emphasized.

Jaimee agreed. “I don’t support only non-medicated, low-intervention births,” she said. “I tell everybody that it’s their desired birth. I have some folks that come in and say, ‘I know I’m gonna get an epidural,’ and I’m like, ‘Sister, awesome.’”

While Christina and Jaimee both are huge advocates of home births, which are necessarily without pain medication (as using pain medication requires medical monitoring that is unavailable at home), they are firm in their belief that hospitals and medical doctors serve an important role in maternal healthcare.

“Christina operates in the ‘yellow flags,’” Jaimee said, explaining that, if a planned home birth becomes suddenly risky, an immediate transport to a hospital is initiated. “It’s not ‘home birth or nothing.’”

“My end goal is a healthy mom and a healthy baby at every birth, not a home birth [at all costs],” Christina added.

Though she and Jaimee are trained in emergency situations, they endeavor never to need to employ those skills.

“We have really good relationships with the OBGYNs in town,” Jaimee said. She recalled that, in 2020, CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital even threw a party for local birthworkers, signifying a new era of maternal care in the Texarkana area, in which pregnant people, birth workers, doctors, and nurses all work together to serve parents and babies.

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Christina and Jaimee have had to fight stigma against professional birth workers, caused by unlicensed midwives, who lack proper education and training. Ethical midwives and doulas are constantly correcting misconceptions about the work they do. Only about 1.5% of births in the United States are home births, though roughly 12% are attended by a midwife. Relatively few people therefore understand the roles that birth workers can play in a society that values maternal empowerment. One of Christina’s top priorities is “getting the word out and letting people know that homebirth midwives are safe and trained,” she said. “We’re here—I’m here—to serve our community.”

Looking to the future, Jaimee and Christina both dream of a day when all pregnant people are educated in their birthing options and receive the care they want, need, and deserve. The U.S. maternal mortality rate is staggeringly high, with almost 24 deaths per 100,000 live births overall; in comparison, the Canadian rate is 8.4, and Denmark’s is 1.6. Within the United States, Black women experience more than twice the risk of maternal death than white women.

“The maternal mortality rate of our sisters of color is absolutely atrocious,” Christina said. “It’s absolutely disgraceful, the disproportionate rate at which women of color are passing away. They need to be empowered, and they need to be supported.”

Christina and Jaimee are staunch advocates of maternal support—and not just for six weeks postpartum. Though technically a midwife’s role ends at that point, the need for care does not spontaneously end 42 days after delivery. While they dream of a society in which the standard postpartum recovery period is 12 months, in the meantime (in addition to on-going support customized to each family’s needs), Christina and Jaimee host monthly “mom coffees,” where former and current clients can meet, bond, and receive unofficial support from a community of mothers.

“Our clients become our family, our sisters,” Jaimee said. “It is a sisterhood of motherhood.”

For more information or to contact Christina or Jaimee, visit their websites: midwifechristina.com and fourstatesdoulas.com.

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NEW LEASE ON LIFE Diagnosis and repair of a torn mitral valve changed Rebecca Beasley’s life

by P H O EB E WA R R EN

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ake a deep breath. Exhale. Feeling your lungs was inevitable, and the thought was nerve-wracking. expand and sink in your chest is something that many “Knowing I had to have surgery immediately sent my of us take for granted. For Texarkana local Rebecca anxiety through the roof,” she recalled. “I also knew Beasley, however, a deep breath of air is something that that, without it, I would not live long at all. My ejection inspires endless gratitude. fraction was 11%, meaning my heart was pumping my Breathing issues were a constant, unwanted blood at a very low percentage rate.” (A normal ejection companion to Rebecca from childhood. She became fraction is 50% or higher.) accustomed to “spending days and weeks in the The mitral valve repair surgery took place on hospital,” as a result of what her care providers believed November 7th, 2011, at Baylor Heart Hospital. The to be asthma. surgeon performing the operation was Dr. Thomas In 2011, at age 37, Rebecca knew that something Hoang, who now continues his work as a cardiothoracic was truly wrong. She struggled to recover from walking surgery specialist at CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital pneumonia, which can be fatal if left untreated. “For here in Texarkana. Rebecca felt that she was in great days, I would get up hands, calling Dr. and have shortness Hoang “the best of breath so bad I surgeon ever.” She was could barely make placed on a ventilator it to my restroom,” for three days post-op she explained. “It to help her weakened took almost five heart pump. She minutes to get there, describes the threewhich seemed like day period as being Knowing I had to have an eternity.” Rebecca transcendental, surgery immediately decided to consult her detailing a “beautiful doctor, Dr. John Nix place” she saw. sent my anxiety through of Family Medical “Long story short, the roof. I also knew Group, and x-rays this changed me as that, without it, I would were taken of her a human,” she said. heart at the beginning “I see things in a not live long at all. and end of a week. different light.”

The short interval of Today, Rebecca time revealed that her is a creative and heart had enlarged. confident community Her doctor sent her member. She runs to the hospital, and a home-baking after weeks of inbusiness called “Becci patient testing and Beez” and excitedly care, Rebecca was diagnosed with a torn mitral valve. describes her day-to-day experiences as “a new lease on Rebecca was then referred to Baylor Heart Hospital for life.” She admits that she constantly reminds herself a second opinion, where the diagnosis was confirmed. she isn’t as young as she feels. “I have more energy now After a lifetime of suffering and uncertainty, Rebecca than I did growing up; as a child I always felt tired,” she finally had an answer as to what was compromising explained. “I [now] have energy through the roof. I feel her health. She knew a big surgery in her near future great.”

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TISD EDUCATORS AWARDED 33 INNOVATIVE TEACHING GRANTS The Texarkana ISD Education Foundation recently awarded $73,621.33 in innovative grants to teachers in the district. The Foundation Board made surprise visits to twelve of the district’s campuses and instructional services offices. They presented 33 awards to excited administrators, teachers, staff, and students. The grants are given to maximize educational opportunities for the students of Texarkana ISD.

The TISD Education Foundation members surprise staff members from Wake Village Elementary.

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Terri Whitt, of Highland Park Elementary, receives an innovative grant.

Whitnie Jones, from Theron Jones Elementary, receives her education grant.

TISD Foundation Board member Tonja Hays excitedly displays a grant check in the amount of $73,621.33.

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EXQUISITE

INTERIORS M AS C UL I NE . COZY. EL EVAT ED.

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his completely rebuilt cabin, hidden in the woods of Yellow Creek Hunting Club and owned by Dr. Rand Doyle, overflows with the spirit of hunting. Set in the deep pines and hardwoods of Hempstead County in a hunter’s paradise, this magnificent retreat has been crafted with masculine decor and state-of-the-art finishes.

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Rand, a veterinarian and dog breeder, is not a native of Arkansas. Like many, he was drawn to the area’s natural beauty and rich conditions for deer and waterfowl hunting. He purchased his property and began an extensive rebuild, creating his perfect getaway and hunting retreat. Yellow Creek is one of five historic clubs in Southwest Arkansas, located where the Little River meets the Red River. Formed in 1946 with around 2,200 acres, Yellow Creek boasts over 24 duck blinds and more than 20 deer stands.

Rand employed Eppinette Construction to create his hunter’s paradise. Many cabins have existed at Yellow Creek over the years, some more rustic than others. Jason Eppinette and Rand partnered to design a luxurious, modern home away from home that any discerning guest would label as “five stars.”

Stunning outdoor living spaces surround the home, including a wonderful outdoor kitchen with a bar, expansive deck space, and a fire pit for relaxing after a hunt. The interiors showcase exposed wood walls and beams, with hardwood floors and an open

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floor plan. The kitchen, equipped with top-tier appliances, specialty cabinets, and granite countertops, opens up to the living area and back deck, with plenty of windows offering ample lighting.

The bedrooms are cozy, and the bathrooms are dreamy, with bold green subway tile throughout and a freestanding tub inside the shower.

The design and implementation of this project turned out perfectly for Rand and his guests. The phrase “cabin in the woods” evokes simpler and more rustic images; in contrast, this handsome retreat is a place to enjoy the great outdoors and rest in the lap of luxury.

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The 3rd Annual James Black’s Bowie Heritage Festival, scheduled for April 20, 2024, will celebrate heritage trades in Historic Washington, Arkansas

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he iconic Bowie knife: this weapon and hunting tool, identifiable by knife enthusiasts and novices alike by its sword-like crossguard and sloped blade shape (called a clip point), carries the name of James “Jim” Bowie, the notorious knife fighter who perished at The Alamo.

For this reason, Bowie is often associated with the Lone Star State, but the legacy of his knife is rightfully alive in Washington, Arkansas.

The exact origin of the Bowie knife’s design is debated by historians; there is relatively little historical documentation about Jim Bowie himself, and his modern image is largely the stuff of legends.

However, there is no doubt that acclaimed bladesmith and Arkansan James Black contributed significantly to the version of the knife we know today.

Black, originally from New Jersey, was born in 1800. He ran away from home at eight and became a silversmith apprentice. As a young adult, he took various jobs along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers before accepting a position as a deckhand on a Red River steamboat.

In about 1820, that steamboat deposited him near present-day Washington, Arkansas. Black worked as a bladesmith, providing knives to pioneers heading westward. He lived in Washington for the rest of his life.

In 1830, Black forged his version of the Bowie knife, providing Jim Bowie with the primary weapon he would use at The Alamo. The long, wide, sharp blade was strong yet flexible; some of his contemporaries believed that he had rediscovered the process of making the legendary Damascus steel. Word quickly spread of Black’s exceptional knife, creating unparalleled demand for the tool. The Bowie knife remains to this day a popular “pattern” among collectors.

Thanks in large part to Black’s work, Historic Washington Historic State Park is home to the headquarters of the American Bladesmith Society. On April 20th, in conjunction with the City of Washington, Arkansas, and the University of Arkansas Hope–Texarkana

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Foundation, the park will host the third annual James Black’s Bowie Heritage Festival. Open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., the festival will honor Black’s life and work, as well as promote a variety of Arkansas heritage crafts and trades.

Knife enthusiasts will experience no shortage of events, educational opportunities, and chances to meet big names in bladesmithing. A star-studded lineup of celebrity guests The Discovery Channel’s “Naked and Afraid” will be in attendance, including Discovery Channel’s reality star and outdoor “Naked and Afraid” star and outdoor survivalist Melissa survivalist Melissa Miller (Melissa Backwoods) and History Channel’s “Forged Miller, aka Melissa in Fire” stars Jason Knight and Doug Marcaida. In addition, Backwoods, will be a several world-class bladesmiths (such as Lin Rhea, former special celebrity guest resident mastersmith at the Historic Arkansas Museum) at this year’s festival. will be there to showcase their knives. Guests are invited to attend exhibits and workshops, enjoy period music, attend a knife show, and witness a cutting competition organized by mastersmith Jerry Fisk and former “Forged in Fire” champion Ricardo Vilar, both of Nashville, Arkansas. Mark Zalesky of KNIFE Magazine

The History Channel’s “Forged in Fire” judge and weapons specialist Doug Marcaida will be a special celebrity guest at this year’s festival.

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The History Channel’s “Forged in Fire” judge Jason Knight will be a special celebrity guest at this year’s festival.

will display authentic Black-crafted knives and other antique Bowie knives. Mark will also host a “knife roadshow” for visitors, allowing guests to have their knives evaluated by one of the most esteemed knife historians in the country.

The festival is not only for knife-lovers, however. Anyone interested in folk art or heritage crafts will want to attend to view, learn about, and perhaps even purchase items created and presented by folk artisans. Additionally, folk music and dance will be enjoyed by all who attend. History buffs, too, will find excitement at the festival, as reenactors depict stories of Jim Bowie’s travels. Visitors also will have the opportunity to learn how to forge a blade at the James Black School of Bladesmithing and Historic Trades. And, this year boasts a special addition to the festival: a charity auction conducted by “America’s Auctioneer” Myers Jackson. There will be a dedicated kids’ corner where children can learn about heritage crafts and even take home a free wooden replica of the Bowie knife.

Food will be available for purchase from various local vendors.

The festival will be held throughout Washington; locations include the James Black School of Bladesmithing and Historic Trades, the W.P.A. Gymnasium, Washington Pavilion, the Old Town Square, and the midway area near the 1874 Hempstead County Courthouse.

Admission is free. Parking for the festival will be $6. For more information, call 870-648-5084 or visit facebook.com/ visitwashingtonar.

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FSLM STUDENT PROFILE

MEET

JEB BAUGH

by M A D EL I N E S M A L LWO O D

he humming of the engine, the jostling from turbulence, and the occasional beeping are all sounds most people are accustomed to while aboard a plane, but few know what it’s like hearing those noises from the cockpit. At 17 years old, Pleasant Grove High School junior Jeb Baugh is one of those few.

While many of his peers are working towards obtaining their driver’s licenses, Jeb is working towards his pilot’s license. “I’ve always liked aviation and planes, and [flying] was something I was interested in,” he said. “I’ve always told my mom that I wanted to be a pilot, so she started talking to people and found my instructor, Mr. Brandy.

“I just thought it would be a good career,” Jeb continued. “I don’t really want to go to school or college for that long, and piloting is about a two-year program.” He explained that his goal is to be a commercial pilot, working for airlines, believing that this career will allow him to maintain a “good balance between family, life, and career, since you fly for a few days and then get to chill for a few days,” he said.

There are three main piloting licenses: private, involving private companies jets; commercial, involving airlines; and instrument rating, involving intense training focused on referencing instruments. With about 16 hours logged, Jeb is on his way to obtaining his private pilot’s license, which requires 40 hours of experience. Beyond that milestone, Jeb plans to obtain his commercial piloting license, which requires 1000 hours and generally takes two additional years to complete.

Flying a plane is a huge undertaking, requiring the utmost care and focus. “It’s a big responsibility to fly, and there’s not really any room to mess up,” Jeb shared. While he harnesses the attention needed to pilot the plane, he also finds peace and enjoyment in the experience. “To be honest, I just like looking around,” he said. “When I’m up there, I like looking at the scenery.”

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M a d el i n e S m a l l wo o d is a junior at Pleasant Grove High School. She is a writer for The Edge newspaper and a staff photographer. She can always be found shooting Friday night lights and hanging with her friends at Raising Cane’s after the game.

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It’s a big responsibility to fly, and there’s not really any room to mess up.

photo by SHANE DARBY

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THE DAILY PLANET

by KLARK KENT

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t’s February, which means that, deep in the heart of Texas, we are in the thralls of influenza season. That dreaded sudden chill, body aches, fever, and malaise come over you faster than it takes you to drive thru Chick-Fil-A. Without much warning, you’ve been taken over by a nasty little viral invader. You make your way to your PCP or nearest urgent care, and a test confirms that you’ve got the flu.

Until 2018, we really only had one popular medication option for treatment: Tamiflu. However, I’m here to scream from the proverbial rooftop about a new and much better option, Xofluza. Xofluza is an antiviral medication formulated and made by Genentech, a Japanese pharmaceutical company, approved for patients ages five years old and above to treat influenza. Its FDA approval was significantly overshadowed by COVID-19. So, although we’ve had a much better flu medication option available for five years, I would not be surprised if you’ve never heard about Xofluza until now.

Why is Xofluza better? Because, on average, the majority of your flu symptoms will practically disappear within 36 hours of taking a single pill. Literally—you take one pill, and then you’re only sick for one and a half days. The same cannot be said for Tamiflu, which requires patients to take one pill twice daily for

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five days. On average, patients remain sick for three to four days on Tamiflu. #aintnobodygottimeforthat In 2018, I was a skeptic. My bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Xofluza drug rep, Jennifer Ray, came by my office, said her marketing piece, and left me a few samples. I reluctantly kept them in my sample cabinet until I was able to review more scientific data about an ongoing trial.

Then, about one month later, I tested positive for influenza. I knew I had to work the next five days in a row, all 12-hour shifts, regardless of how I felt. So, I decided to give it a run. I took one pill at 9 a.m. on a Saturday morning, and by the end of my Sunday shift at 11 p.m., I was back to 95% normal. I was amazed at how fast I felt better. Since then, I’ve used it three more times with the same result. Much like the kids who love Justin Bieber, I’ve become a Belieber of Xofluza.

Now, don’t get me wrong—Tamiflu does a great job of keeping people out of the hospital and from developing more serious complications of influenza. Tamiflu taken along with Xofluza significantly decreases mortality associations and hospitalization rates if taken within the first two days of symptoms onset. But if you want to feel “back to normal” within 36 hours, you should take the Xofluza.

However, it may not be as easy for you as it was for me to take the Xofluza I needed. Not only is it a battle to go get tested and fight the line at your doctor’s office when you’re feeling sick, but you’ll also likely have another battle to fight at the pharmacy. Unfortunately, Xofluza is a brand-name drug without a generic version, so your insurance company—being the cheapskate sketchy uncle they are—will likely not cover it. You as a consumer have a choice. Do you take the insuranceapproved Tamiflu and stay sick for longer? Or do you pony up the price difference out of your pocket and get back to productivity days earlier with Xofluza?

That decision is yours to make. If you’re financially struggling, have

time to take off work, and/or don’t mind being down for three extra days, go with the Tamiflu. But if you are a person of better financial means and prefer to get back to life three days earlier, demand the Xofluza.

Regardless of your decision, both meds work more effectively the earlier you take them (as soon as possible after first symptom onset), so don’t delay getting tested and acquiring medication. After four days of symptoms, both meds are of negligible benefit to help you at all.

As always, the first and most important line of defense is taking a yearly flu vaccination. Regardless of your “feelings,” the science is clear: 80% of pediatric flu deaths occur in unvaccinated individuals. The future will offer many new, exciting options for influenza management, but in the meantime, the vaccine is the best option we’ve got. Although vaccines are far from perfect, they are pretty darn close. Until next time: be wise, be kind to all persons, and read a book.

Peace, Klark Kent PA-C, MSBS MBA (Disclaimer: I have zero personal financial vested interest in Xofluza or its parent companies.)

Originally from Tom, Oklahoma, Klark Kent earned his master’s of science in engineering at Louisiana Tech University and his PA at The University of Toledo Medical Center.

He currently works as a physician assistant (PA-C FM/D) at Texarkana Care Clinic. Husband to Alex and father to Keller and Kix, Klark cherishes his family and enjoys writing (often humorously) about his personal experiences, life, and medicine.

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EVENTS | CALENDAR

FEBRUARY 2024 FEBRUARY 3

Atlanta ISD Foundation’s Blue Jeans and Bling 2024 Presented by State Bank and Peace Wealth Advisors, the 2024 Blue Jeans & Bling will be held at Crossties. The event starts at 5 p.m. All proceeds directly benefit the Atlanta Independent School District.

Tickets and more information can be found on the event page on Facebook.

Masterworks III: Voices of Power Texarkana Symphony Orchestra presents this performance featuring internationally renowned violinist Sharon Roffman at the Perot Theatre. The show begins at 7 p.m., and tickets can be purchased at perottheatre.org.

FEBRUARY 9

Puppy Pals Live Puppy Pals Live is an action-packed show of family fun where rescued dogs perform spectacular stunts and breathtaking feats. The performance begins at 7 p.m. and will be held at the Perot Theatre.

Tickets can be purchased at perottheatre.org.

FEBRUARY 9–18

TexRep presents Rumors: A Farce by Neil Simon Texarkana Repertory Company presents Rumors: A Farce in the Stilwell Theatre at Texarkana College. For showtimes and to purchase tickets, go to texrep.org.

FEBRUARY 10

Galentine’s Brunch Fundraiser Texarkana Resources is hosting an event “for the gals, by the gals.”

Proceeds support Texarkana Resources for the Disabled, Inc. The event will be located inside the Texarkana Convention center and begins at 10 a.m. For tickets and more information, go to the event page “Galentine’s Brunch Fundraiser” on Facebook.

Mardi Gras Parade Celebrate Mardi Gras with this parade and party rolling through the streets of downtown Texarkana with the theme “Beads on Broad.”

Vendors will begin selling at 10 a.m., and the parade will start at 6 p.m. For more information, visit arklatexfest.com.

FEBRUARY 16

24th Annual TAVC Chili Cook-Off The Texarkana Area Veterans Council welcomes the community to enter the contest or simply participate in the fun. The chili will be served in the Truman Arnold Center at Texarkana College. The doors will open to the public at 11 a.m., and tickets cost $8. For information on how to enter the contest, call 903-556-1613 or email USMCgreg@aol.com.

FEBRUARY 17

Tribute to African American Women Award Gala Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. presents this year’s honorees in the Truman Arnold Center at Texarkana College. The event starts at 7 p.m. More information can be found on the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Gamma Kappa Zeta Facebook page.

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Wheel of Fortune Live The Perot Theatre presents Wheel of Fortune Live. This event will consist of all of the classic game’s elements you know and love. Lucky audience members will have the chance to spin a replica of the iconic wheel. The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets can be purchased at perotthreatre.org.

FEBRUARY 18

Run the Line Half Marathon The Run the Line Half Marathon race will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. The race starts at the intersection of W. Broad Street and Texas Boulevard and finishes in front of the Hopkins Ice House.

For more information, visit Run the Line’s Facebook page.

FEBRUARY 22

Texarkana Museums System: Hotel Grim Tours Mr. William Rhodes Grim himself will bring the history of the Grim Hotel to life. Tickets for this tour are on sale now for $25.

Reservations are required for this event. Tickets can be purchased by phone (903-793-4831) or in-person at the Museum of Regional History.

FEBRUARY 22–25

Silvermoon Children’s Theatre presents Holes Tickets on sale February 8th and can be purchased at silvermoonkids.com.

FEBRUARY 23

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 the Emerald City Band. To purchase tickets, visit christusstmichaelfoundation.org.

Fairytales on Ice: Peter Pan and Wendy’s Adventures “Fairytales on Ice” will be at Hempstead Hall for one night of magical storytelling. The event starts at 7 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit hempsteadhall.com.

FEBRUARY 24

Texarkana Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Arkansas The polar plunge will take place in the Sportsplex by Healthcare Express. On-site registration begins at 9 a.m., and the event starts at 10 a.m. For more information, visit flipcause.com/secure/about/ MTk4MjQ4.

MARCH 2

Dancing with Our Stars Temple Memorial Pediatric Center is hosting its annual Dancing With Our Stars event at the Northridge Country Club. This year’s theme is “Havana Nights.” The event starts at 6 p.m. For more information, check out the “Dancing With Our Stars” Facebook event.

Kiwanis Club of Texarkana 66th Annual Pancake Day This event will be held in the Truman Arnold Center at Texarkana College. The event will run from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets are $7.

MARCH 8

18th Annual Wine & Jazz Gala Harvest Regional Food Bank’s annual Wine and Jazz Gala at the Silvermoon on Broad invites attendees to enjoy expertly selected wine and gourmet food pairings, live music, and a silent auction.

Tickets are $75. Call 870-774-1398 for more information.