Mhow often I frequent the many restaurants that dot the landscape.)
Back to my grandmother’s garden. She grew a little of everything, but she especially enjoyed the abundance of cucumbers, which she would serve as long as she could get away with it. One of her summer recipes was a delicious cucumber, onion, and tomato salad, marinated in a sugar and vinegar solution. When we got tired of that, she would make homemade ranch dip and serve thinly sliced cucumbers for dipping. And, when we swore that we would never eat another cucumber, she’d put up some pickles, made with the dill she had grown in a pot off the back of her porch.
PUBLISHER’S
LETTER THE WAY I SEE IT ...
Robin Rogers, Ed.D.
y neighbor has this really old grill that he pulls out about July 4th of every year. It is old like the grill I remember my grandparents having, with a charcoal smell and an aroma of grilled meats wafting through the neighborhood on a humid evening. Nothing smells quite like that smell of steaks on charcoal; to me, that is the smell of summertime.
Food has always been my first love, and, after steaks, the menu of delectable summer fruits and vegetables brings joy to my stomach and happy memories to mind. The perfect plate (in my humble opinion) is colorful. My grandmother created art through her plates; my mother takes after her. Cooking is an art form I haven’t explored but one I definitely appreciate. And while those talented people who enjoy cooking and feeding others can make a plate look great any time of the year, summertime plates are uniquely fresh and vivid and limited. Every year, I try to cherish the harvest while it’s here.
Growing up, I remember being dragged to the fruit stand (now long gone) on New Boston Road near Texas Boulevard so that my grandmother could purchase a bushel of purple hull peas, which she would shell in her favorite chair while watching television. Her fingers would turn purple. A ham hock would season them, along with “a little salt and a pinch of sugar.” “A pinch of sugar” was my grandmother’s secret ingredient in every dish. Those peas went well with everything she grew in her garden—a garden that I remember as being huge, but I was probably just small.
Sliced tomatoes were also a regular part of our summer plates. Unlike any tomatoes ever purchased from a grocery store, the ones right out of the garden always taste better. This year, I have grown four little tomato plants in my front yard (yep, for the whole world to watch), and the fruits of my effort have been wonderful. Dinner for one with nothing in the fridge? Slather mayo on bread, and grab a tomato off the vine; salt and pepper like crazy; enjoy. I like to say that I don’t cook, but I always eat. (I think my grandmother is probably rolling over in her grave at how seldom I cook and
INSPIRE THE PESSIMIST
ELEVATE THE OPTIMIST
STIR THE MIND
ENTERTAIN THE SOUL
PUBLISHER
Dr. Robin Rogers
INTERIM EDITOR
Ellen Orr
GRAPHIC DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY
Shane Darby
SALES REPRESENTATIVE
Victoria Herman
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Phoebe Warren
That generation lived through the Great Depression. They didn’t waste anything. They knew how to take cheap cuts of meat and cook them long enough to taste good. If they grew it, they ate it, and they expected you to, too. Just writing about her makes me feel guilty about how wasteful I can be where food is concerned. It also makes me miss her. What I wouldn’t give for her insistence of feeding me a meal.
My grandmother cooked every day. And, as unpopular as this would make her among dieters of today, every summer plate included a piece of bread of some kind. Cornbread was (and still is) always welcome on my plate, so she would often bring out her cast iron skillet and have a pan of cornbread ready. But some meals called for biscuits, and occasionally she would have rolls (the kind that were scored on top and had to be baked in the oven). If it was a particularly bad day, she would take a piece of white bread, butter it, and fold it in two. Needless to say, if you ate at my grandmother’s, you were eating a serving of freshly-baked carbs, and you were enjoying it.
The memories she made and the way she made us feel by feeding our bellies . . . Oh, please take me down memory lane again, but don’t forget dessert. About this time of year, we would feast on the wild blackberries that she picked off the fencerow along her road and the blueberries from the shrub in her backyard. She made drool-worthy berry pies and cakes, but my favorite afternoon treat was a bowl of Blue Bell vanilla ice cream topped with fresh berries (and “a pinch of sugar” for good measure, of course). The berries we didn’t immediately devour were made into preserves or frozen so that we could enjoy the flavors of summer throughout the entire year.
Where there is food, there will always be love. And if you don’t agree, you are probably too thin to be my friend, and that’s okay, too.
While numerous stories were coverworthy this month, I had to go with the good-looking young man who is chasing his American dream— owning a food truck, cooking my favorite food (pizza), and succeeding. My grandmother would tell him to add a pinch of sugar to his signature slice recipe, but I think that Tyler Traut, owner of Underground Pizza Company, has got it down pat.
Enjoy the fruits and vegetables of the season. Grill out. Love your people. Life is fleeting, and we should take advantage of every bite.
Hope you enjoy all we share this month, and as always, thanks for reading FSLM.
We welcome information regarding topics of interest for future publications. If you have a story or photos that in some way depicts living or visiting in the Four States area and would be of interest to our readers, we want to hear from you. Call 903-792 -2262 or write: Editorial Department, Four States Living Magazine, 4104 Summerhill Square, Texarkana, Texas 75503. Comments are also welcome at our e-mail address: info@fourstatesliving.com
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ON THE COVER JULY 2024
When Tyler Traut was diagnosed with a rare cancer, he worried that he may have waited too long to pursue his dream of running a pizza truck. But, three years later, both he and his business are thriving.
Read more about Tyler and Underground Pizza Company on page 12.
The Giraffe Inn & Safari in New Boston allows visitors the opportunity to commune with exotic animals from all over the world.
Read about owners Tiffany and Tony Dierolf and the wildlife they keep, starting on page 38.
SCENE ABOUT TOWN
COCKTAILS & CONVERSATIONS WITH LNK TXK WAS HELD AT HOPKINS ICEHOUSE ON TUESDAY, MAY 21ST.
Donnie Spriggs, Channen Branch, Justin Sutton, and Nadea Bowerman
Will Norton, Dr. Randall Brumfield, Gary Gathright, and Madeline Haak
Ann Hobbs and Marcia Austin
Madison Cook, Hannah Smith, and Emily Anderson
Caleb Mudford, Ruth Ellen Whitt, Lena Butler, and Will Harris
Brad Davis and Jay Davis
Brittney Haynes and Kyl’Lee Cowart
Whitney Hall, Robbin Bass, and Camille Wrinkle
Malachi Smith and Justin Sutton
Jase Bryant
Jennifer Davis and Natalie Copeland
Amy Cornish and Kelli Cameron
Tommy Dixon, Clay Wilhite, Blake Rich, and Danny Stone
Traci Pitman and Dani Hamblett
Britney Hensley, Nicole Stevens, and Paige Ball
Blake Renner, Braxton Langdon, Gary Gathright, and Jay Davis
Robbin Bass and Camille Wrinkle
Mikayla Westbrook and Jada Abner
Tommy Dixon, Braxton Langdon, and Chuck Lincavage
Melissa and Chris Fuller
Casey Boles and Mattison Carter
Blaine Martin and Morgan Harris
A SLICE OF LIFE
by TONY BASSO
Cooking professionally was always a dream for entrepreneurial pizza chef Tyler Traut. After losing his job to COVID shutdowns, Tyler ran head-first into that dream, not knowing that it would become something much bigger and more meaningful than he had ever imagined.
“Food has always been a happy place in my home,” he said. “I have always cooked and gotten a lot of satisfaction from the joy of serving food to others.”
Around ten years ago, Tyler began intentionally honing his craft. “About six or seven years before I became a full-time chef, I started trying to cook the best versions of some of my favorite foods. Whatever it was—hamburgers, steaks, brisket, lasagna, spaghetti—I got obsessed with it,” he explained. “I would cook the same thing every single day until I got it down, sometimes for months at a time. I finally got to pizza, and I realized this was my kind of wheelhouse.”
Enlisting his friends to sample his fares, Tyler tried out various pizza recipes, styles, and methods, sharpening his skills before unveiling his signature slice. These friends wanted more than a sample.
“As I got better at it, I started getting calls like, ‘Hey, I’m going to a party this weekend. Could you make me a few of those pizzas?’” Tyler recalled. “Word began to spread. My boss at the time asked me to make her a pizza. She posted it on social media, and my phone started ringing.”
Before long, Tyler had turned his hobby into a side hustle, sharing his pizzas with hungry people, even those outside the Texarkana area. Then, when he was laid off at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tyler understood that he could grow his pizza venture into something larger.
Food truck owner Tyler Traut reopened his mobile restaurant after cancer treatment
Tyler’s parents, Patricia and John Traut, and his girlfriend, Diana Aguilar, are his biggest fans and supporters.
photos by SHANE DARBY
Tyler came up with the name for his business while joking with a friend about delivering pizzas “underground.”
“I decided it was time to vamp this thing up,” Tyler explained. “Within a month, I had a full notebook of orders and was booked a week out for the next seven or eight months. I even had people who saw my posts on Facebook from all over the country who called and asked if I could make and ship them frozen pizzas.
“Around that time,” Tyler continued, “I was talking with a friend who asked what I was doing now. I told him I was delivering pizzas underground, and as soon as I said it, I knew that was the name.”
After much preparation, Tyler opened the Underground Pizza Company food truck on September 18th, 2021. Not long after, he received shocking news that put his life and business in jeopardy.
“Three months after I opened, I was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare form of cancer,” he explained. “Not only did I think that my dream-come-true was over, but I also thought my life was over.”
At that time, Tyler was forced to shut down all operations to begin his fight with the rare disease, which affects one to two people per million. After many dark months of chemotherapy and radiation, Tyler finally received the scan results he had been waiting for.
“By the grace of God, my PET scan results showed that the cancer had not spread,” he said. “I have been in remission for two years now. I’ve got another three years to go before I can ring the cancer-free bell, but I am so happy. I am happy to be alive, happy that I can still do my dream job, and happy that I still get that [child-like] satisfaction when I serve someone. Cancer taught me that it’s the little things in life that really matter.”
Underground Pizza was one of Tyler’s many reasons to push forward during those challenging months of treatment and uncertainty. Through the many trials of his battle, Texarkana supported Tyler like he never expected.
“The only way I can describe it is overwhelming,” he said. “So many people reached out with their support. People raised money for me to support me while I could not work, churches were praying for me, cancer survivors and even those currently fighting cancer reached out with positive attitudes and support. The entire city of Texarkana was behind me, and I didn’t have a choice but to fight my butt off.”
Underground Pizza Company serves its “redneck New York–style pizza” from rotating locations, though its home base at 1205 Arkansas Boulevard. Find Tyler’s current location, full menu, and hours on the Underground Pizza Company Facebook page.
by
photo
SHANE DARBY
PRODUCING WINS AT ESPN
Four-time Emmy winner Jonathan Weaver discusses his journey to ESPN
by LOUIE AVERY
During his youth at Pleasant Grove, Jonathan Weaver used to do his own play-by-play commentary while watching his beloved Arkansas Razorbacks and Texas Rangers. “I quickly knew that I didn’t want to be on-camera but wanted to create the visuals from behind the scenes,” Jonathan said from his ESPN office in Connecticut. “I took PGTV as an elective as soon as I could in high school.”
Jonathan immediately thrived in the class. His natural talent aside, his passion for video and television was palpable.
“I was obviously motivated by my parents [Paula and Bryan Weaver],” Jonathan said. “They always taught me to follow my passions, and the value of hard work. I was also very motivated by Charla Harris, my Pleasant Grove journalism instructor.
“She will be the first to tell you that she isn’t well-versed in the technical side of television, but she allowed me and my classmates to explore and experiment,” he continued. “[For example] Charla let us tear apart our entire production setup and move into the football stadium so we could broadcast the Powderpuff game. That type of trust and freedom were so exciting, and those experiences and repetitions are vital to thriving in this industry.”
submitted photo
After graduating from high school in 2007, Jonathan attended the University of Arkansas, where he continued his broadcasting education. He worked at UATV News for all four years of his studies, climbing the ladder to station manager his senior year. “Four or five days out of the week, I was in the control room making crappy TV for the ten people who just happened to be flipping through our station,” he reminisced. “But I was making true live television.” He also produced, directed, and technical directed sports-related live broadcasts and monthly shows for the university, which were hosted at arkansasrazorbacks.com.
Jonathan’s work in Fayetteville earned him multiple summer internships—his first at a local station in Rogers, Arkansas, and then at ESPN. After graduation, Jonathan was hired within the same department, and he has remained with the company for the last 13 years.
Today, as ESPN’s Associate Director II, Jonathan is a fourtime Emmy winner. His fourth came recently, for his work on the show Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli (colloquially known as Manningcast).
“There is no bigger thrill than working on something and having it instantly be seen by millions of viewers around the country,” Jonathan said. “I had grown up watching SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight. My love of sports and television blended together perfectly at the ‘Worldwide Leader in Sports.’”
No doubt Jonathan’s most memorable occasion at ESPN was meeting his wife, Katie Hennessey, a native of Corona, California. She is a three-time Emmy-winning talent producer at ESPN.
“Meeting Katie was the best thing that’s happened to me,” Jonathan said. “We actually had our COVID wedding outside
Fenway Park. With [Liberty-Eylau alumnus and former professional baseball player] Will Middlebrooks’ help, we got our name on the Jumbotron before the first pitch. Katie is the hardest working and most genuinely caring person I’ve ever met.”
Coincidentally, Middlebrooks is the same age as Jonathan, and the two competed in high school athletics. Middlebrooks played for the Boston Red Sox and other teams before an injury forced him to retire. He now works for NESN, broadcasting Red Sox games. Jonathan said that it is awesome to see what Will has done with his television career, claiming that he is a natural on camera and might even be a better commentator than he was an athlete.
Working alongside experts like Katie and Will is the best part of Jonathan’s job. “It is insanely crazy that I get to be a part of some of the most iconic sports television in the world with the best crews of people in the industry,” he said.
Jonathan met his wife, Katie, at ESPN, and they were married outside Fenway Park in Boston.
THE 9TH ANNUAL EMS APPRECIATION WEEK FIRST RESPONDERS’ DAY LUNCH WAS HELD AT THE CROSSTIES EVENT CENTER ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 22ND.
Brooke Marshall and James Bramlett
Captain Daniel Thiels, Josh Moore, Nathan Reeves, Mathew Gilley, Ethan Bounds, Heath Beck, and Jim Wall
Mayor Allen Brown and Mayor Bob Bruggeman
Phillip Moore, Grayson Ford, Christina Dupree, and Bill Norton
Buddy Allen, Robbin Bass, and Denis Washington
Lieutenant David Gipson and Deputy Ed Miller
Elliot Almond, Kelli Cowan, Amanda Smith, Thomas Culpepper, and Tanner Rankin
Joe Hankins, Chris Lyles, Justin Swecker, and Kenzie Teel
Matt Cashatt and Tracey Litton Kyndel Griffith, Bruce Townsend, and Amy Tankersley
Amy Coleman, Brandi Branch, Carington Bright, and Alyssa Haley
Thomas Shaddix, James Dean, Claudia and Chris Phelps, and Cliff Harris
Sharda James and Naydu Daza Maya
Mayor Allen and Shelby Brown with Senator Jimmy Hickey
Captain Michael Henry, James Bramlett, and Chief Kevin Schutte
ASTRONG OOTS
LET THEM EAT BREAD
by ROBIN PROCTOR
homesteader could be summarized as one who chooses to live a self-sufficient lifestyle, particularly concerning the family domain. This includes gardening, preservation of food, raising animals that produce food, creating textiles that can be sold, all in a rural area, with the goal of independence from the outside world. As romantic as it might sound, it’s a lifestyle that includes lots of chores, heartbreak, early mornings, and late nights. This concept developed around 1862 and continued throughout the American West. Even today, homesteading is alive and well in the United States, albeit with a more social media–centric flavor. There are a multitude of Instagram pages dedicated to this lifestyle. The homesteader-influencer aesthetic aside, these folks are “making it work” with little outside interference. They choose, more often than not, to homeschool their children, and much of their learning takes place in real-life, day-to-day experiences.
Now, for some people, this sounds like a nightmare from a Stephen King novel, but there are many people who find this concept intriguing—myself included.
Let me be clear, so you don’t get the wrong impression of me: I am very much on-the-grid. I love a great grocery store, and my favorite thing to make for dinner is reservations. But I find myself so drawn into these homesteading pages on the web, strangely envious of the life they project (quite edited, for certain).
As I delved deeper into the world of homesteading, I discovered an unwritten checklist of requirements to be a “serious and committed” homesteader. I checked a few of the boxes. (I would have checked at least one more, but my husband was a definite “no” on goats; there went my million-dollar business idea of artisan goat cheese.) As I examined my commitment level, staring me blatantly in the face was one checklist item
I had yet to conquer . . . I know, the anticipation is overwhelming!
Sourdough bread. I had yet to bake my first loaf of sourdough bread. How could I have let this rite of passage into the world of homesteading pass me by? In true “Robin” fashion, I needed to know the “why” before the “how” on sourdough bread. What made this the bread of choice of the original homesteaders? A quick Google search gave me all the explanation I needed. Sourdough breads were an essential part of life when traipsing through uncharted territories in a covered wagon. Obviously, without modern refrigeration, the settlers had no ability to keep yeast on hand. Starter, which is the backbone of sourdough bread, was readily accessible by combining flour and water and allowing it a short time to ferment. A wealth of lifesustaining nourishment was provided to the travelers as they plodded through the difficult terrain.
Once I knew the “why,” I was ready to accept the challenge of making my own loaf; I returned to Google for a recipe. I was
immediately overwhelmed at the process and equally intimidated by the commitment of some of these bakers. Even before the first flour was dusted, I had to have the right sourdough starter. More investigation revealed a renowned and reliable starter that dated back to the 17th century, aptly named King Arthur. I placed an order, and three days later, I had my first sourdough starter, completely unprepared for what would come next.
Unlike the male species, I started by reading the instructions, and then I reread them. I was totally, helplessly confused. I used my “phone a friend” lifeline and called my talented friend DeAnna. More than once, she walked me through the steps: first you feed your starter, then it ferments, and then you bake. Well, that seemed easy enough. I was also expected to name my starter, which made sense, since I would be doting on him on a daily basis. “Lancelot” seemed fitting, considering his noble heritage.
Though overwhelmed, I was determined to master this; after all, my homesteading membership was on the line. In the sourdough world, I encountered a whole new language: starter, hooch, feeding, proofing, crumb, hydration, stretch and fold, and so many other novel terms. The icing on the cake was the measuring system. When mixing the dough, one did not simply measure a cup of starter; that would have been too easy. Instead, I was instructed to parcel out 113 grams—not 112, not 114. I knew I should have paid attention on metric day in math class.
The next critical step was to obtain the right flour. Not just any old flour would do. The prized choice was King Arthur flour, of course. I found myself buying multiple bags, which could have been misconstrued as hoarding, but what would I do if the grocery store ran out? My family could possibly starve!
Long story short: Lancelot and I did it. I baked my first loaves, and then the fun started. There were endless combinations for flavored breads: smoked jalapeño and cheddar, lemon zest and fresh dill, everything-but-the-bagel bread. Next were the sourdough crackers, which tasted amazing and were so fun to create. Through this journey, I found a whole new world on Instagram of fellow bakers, all eager to give their opinions and share their tried-and-true recipes. We all posted pictures, like they were our children, fully expecting rave reviews. Some baking groups were purists; there, you didn’t dare mention that adding a pinch of yeast would make the bread a bit softer. Yeast was considered a treasonous offense to these people. But, as in most aspects of life, there were plenty of groups where I found I was a good fit.
Now, I can officially say: sourdough bread . . . check! Up next: goat cheese?
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.
THE FABRIC OF DOWNTOWN
Irma Zuniga, owner of The Dressmaker Shop, is living her dream in downtown Texarkana
by SARAH VAMMEN
“Only God and I know where I come from and the challenges I faced to be here,” said Irma Zuniga, who left her home and family when she immigrated to the U.S. from Honduras.
Looking for work, Irma arrived in Texarkana in 2010. She took a job at Osaka Japanese Steak House, where she worked for more than 10 years. But, a mom of two, Irma dreamed of being her own boss and showing her children the power of determination.
“I want to teach my kids that if you work towards your dreams, they come true,” she said.
Specifically, Irma dreamed of opening a sewing shop.
“I’ve been sewing since I was 8 years old, most of the time just for fun,” she said. “I would always buy materials and imagine what I would do with them.”
In 2020, it was time for Irma to take action. “COVID was a wake up call for many,” she reflected, herself included. Fearing that her children would get sick at daycare, Irma decided to go into business for herself, so that she would have the flexibility to keep her children at home. Irma immediately rented an available space on Broad Street. “Earlier that year, I had visited the building,” she explained, “so the seed was already there in my mind, just waiting on me to move forward.” The Dressmaker Shop was born.
Irma offers a broad range of services. She draws all of her designs by hand, selects the materials, and then brings her designs to life, custom-made for each individual client. She also offers styling consultations, alterations for all types of clothes (including formal- and bridalwear), and an inventory of ready-to-wear formal and semi-formal dresses.
“Sometimes people don’t know how to dress their body type or have never had a personal style,” she said. Irma primarily works with customers one-on-one, by appointment, to help her customers with a wide range of challenges, from finding the right style for their shape to learning to walk in heels.
At the heart of her business, Irma’s job is deeper than fashion.
photo by MARSHALL CHANDRA ALAM AT LAM
photo
“I am here to make people comfortable in their own skin,” she said. “We are all different, but we are all beautiful, too.”
As a mom, immigrant, and small business owner, Irma has faced her share of challenges, but her tenacious spirit pushes her through them.
“More than once I’ve been ready to shut down, but prayers, resilience, and knowing there are so many people who need me always keep me going,” she said.
Irma is always pushing herself to learn, grow her business, and continue aiming for a brighter future. “I’m pretty sure the ‘American Dream’ is different for [those born in the United States], but as an immigrant, having the shop is marvelous,” she said. “Most of us come from nothing. But, we have resilience built in our cores, and that’s why we try really hard and are extremely grateful and blessed to be here.”
Irma is particularly grateful to be part of downtown Texarkana’s revitalization. “I’m so happy that downtown is coming back to life, shop by shop,” she said. “When I moved here, downtown was desolate. Now I get an unusual feeling of happiness when I can’t find a parking spot on Broad Street. It’s amazing and inspiring.”
Irma credits organizations like Main Street Texarkana for supporting her business’ growth and success. “My experience as a small business owner here in Texarkana has been amazing,” she said. “Main Street Texarkana is always there supporting us and pushing us and the community to engage.”
Irma’s future is bright, and she is continuing to grow The Dressmaker Shop every day. “It’s not easy, but what is easy that’s worth fighting for? Nothing,” she said, “so let’s keep on hustling.”
photos by MARSHALL CHANDRA ALAM AT LAM LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
Irma with her daughters, Samantha and April, at an event downtown.
photo by SHANE DARBY
FROM PANTHER TO PILGRIM
2024 Ashdown valedictorian heads to Harvard
by LAUREN SIMMONS JOHNSON
Bannon Price, a long-time resident of Ashdown, Arkansas, will soon pack his bags and head northeast for freshman year at Harvard University. Bannon recently graduated as valedictorian of his class at Ashdown High School but said that he still couldn’t believe his eyes when he was accepted in March to the prestigious Ivy League.
“It was all so surreal,” he said. “I screamed, cried, and ran to my mom and hugged her. More than anything I was shocked.”
The whole town celebrated with him as one of their own was recognized for his outstanding achievements. Mentor and teacher Amy Silva said that Harvard couldn’t have picked a more dedicated and worthy student for admission.
“Bannon has always been intelligent and kind, but what makes him truly outstanding is the thing no one else sees,” Amy said. “It’s the small things he did in class; like when I would divide the classroom up, Bannon [would choose to partner with] the person he knew no one was going to choose. That’s just who he is.”
Bannon said that mentors like Ms. Silva have shaped his journey and encouraged him to achieve more than he ever dreamed. He also credited growing up in a small town as being a factor of his success, saying that the community of support he has received has given him countless skills and opportunities to grow.
“I truly believe that if I were anywhere besides Ashdown, I would not have been able to accomplish what I have,” he said. “It is through the incredible support of our community, through the dedication of our amazing teachers and school staff, and through my family that I have been able to achieve this success.”
Another mentor who has always been there to motivate and encourage Bannon is his mother, Jennifer Sansom. Owner of Lick Creek Cattle, Jennifer was described as a “pillar of the community” and has passed down that love for the community to her son.
submitted photo
Pictured left to right: Bryan and Governor Sarah Sanders with Bannon and his mother, Jennifer Sansom.
Bannon with his mentor, Amy Silva. submitted photo
“On a ranch, work is long, hard, hot, cold, and generally has a lot of unpleasant times, and Bannon has learned from a very young age that hard work is required in order to succeed,” Jennifer said. “He’s been able to juggle fun and academic work, future career planning like internships, programs, officer positions, and ranch life for several years.”
Bannon said that he plans to major in government and economics and will focus his professional efforts around helping small towns just like the one in which he was raised.
“Right now, the dream is running for public office and working to craft legislation that gives back to rural communities through increased funding, better education, healthcare, and overall standard of living,” he said. “I also want to work for policies that help the agricultural industry, something that has been a cornerstone in mine and my family’s lives.”
Jennifer said that the Ashdown community has played a large role in supporting her son, and he has given back the to community as well.
“Our community has been so supportive of Bannon, not just monetarily through sponsorships, fundraisers, and scholarships, but also as mentors, encouragers, and moral and verbal support,” Sansom said. “In turn, Bannon has been lobbying in DC . . . which in the long run
benefits us as ranchers, farmers, and rural Arkansans.”
While college inspires growth in many ways, Jennifer said she hopes that her son will never lose his love for learning and making an impact on others. She sees greatness in his future, stemming from the qualities he has developed throughout his life.
“My biggest hope for his future is that Bannon will be able to find a place where he can serve others in a way that will bring him joy,” she said. “He could go into any field and be successful. I plan to be first in line to vote ‘Price for President’ someday.”
Jennifer said that, while she will miss her son, she knows he can truly accomplish anything he sets his mind to.
“I hope for Bannon’s health and happiness overall as his mom,” she said. “But I also hope Bannon doesn’t forget where he has come from or what he has overcome, and that he remains as optimistic and hardworking as he is today and achieves all of his dreams with the highest of integrity and character.”
As he transitions from life as a Panther to that of a Pilgrim, Bannon said that, while he is excited for the growth awaiting him at Harvard, he will never forget the community that supported him and dared him to dream bigger and aim higher than he otherwise could have imagined.
Bannon with Senators Tom Cotton and John Boozman.
submitted photo
JANI SPEAKS OUT
by ELLEN ORR
For
Emmy
On November 6th, 2023, 19-year-old Jani Nix (then Gailey) wasn’t answering her mother’s phone calls. While this is a typical experience for many parents of young adults, Tonya Satterfield was worried.
“Normally I’d text her, and if she wouldn’t respond, because of all the things that had happened, I’d call her,” Tonya said. “And I told her that if she ever lets her phone die, I’m gonna get her.” They had an understanding: after all that Jani had experienced, if Tonya called, she was to answer.
Months prior, Jani’s husband, 27-year-old Preston Gailey, had escalated his verbal abuse to physical abuse when he attempted to strangle her. And, in September, Tonya had called the police when Preston, who was in possession of a gun, tried to prevent Jani and their infant daughter, Emerie, from leaving their home in the midst of a verbal altercation. The police arrested Preston, and he spent a week in jail, during which he called Jani repeatedly, apologizing to and guilting her. They removed the gun from the home, and the next week, the family of three was again under one roof.
“He got real mean whenever we argued,” Jani said, “but he never hit me. It was so weird when he choked me; it was almost like he didn’t know what he was doing, like he was blacked out. I hit him trying to get him off of me, and he acted like he didn’t know what he did.”
Preston’s dissociative states made Jani and Tonya suspect he was mentally ill.
“We thought it was just depression, because he had a really bad childhood,” Tonya said. “I tried to step in and be a mother to him, and we started having a really good relationship. [After he got out of jail] he apologized and told me he was sorry and that it would never happen again.”
Jani and Tonya also blamed Preston’s aggression on the testosterone he was taking, which was being illegally supplied. Jani begged him to stop taking it and begged the dealer to stop supplying it. Preston promised that he had stopped.
Jani Nix shares her story of abuse, gun violence, loss, and survival
Jani finds comfort in items like this teddy bear, which was created from Emmy’s swaddle blanket.
Jani was trying to make her marriage work. “He was a very sweet guy when this stuff wasn’t going on in his head,” she said. “I really loved him.”
Tonya, too, held hope for Preston and Jani’s relationship. Tonya’s husband felt differently, however.
“Darrin had an intuition about him,” Tonya said.
So, on that November day, when Jani’s phone was going straight to voicemail, Darrin asked if they ought to drive over to the Gaileys’ home on Glendale Avenue. They decided to wait a few minutes, hoping that Jani would return their call. To pass the minutes, Tonya sat on her porch and opened Facebook on her phone. There she saw a post from the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department, reporting a shooting on Glendale Avenue, with a photo of her daughter’s home attached.
As they sped to Jani’s home, Tonya driving, the police called. Darrin spoke with the officer, who informed him that, despite their previous removal of the gun, Jani had been shot and was being taken to Wadley Hospital. Five-month-old Emerie had been killed, and Preston had died by suicide.
Though conscious, Jani was disoriented and confused. It would be months before her family would learn the circumstances surrounding her near-fatal injuries and the deaths of her child and husband.
November 6th, 2023, had been a normal Monday for Jani, Preston, and Emerie. They had visited with family in the morning and returned home in the afternoon. Jani then realized that her pet cat was missing.
“When Preston got mad, he would let [the cat] out, and I would have to go look for her,” Jani said. “He knew how much I loved that cat, but he couldn’t stand her. He said he thought the cat would get into the crib and suffocate the baby.”
Jani confronted Preston, and an argument ensued. She recognized that Preston was dissociating. “His eyes went black,” she said. She ran into the living room. He followed, got his gun, aimed for her head, and shot. Jani instinctively raised her left hand and turned her head to the right. The bullet tore through her hand and into the side of her head, under her left ear, lodging itself in her cerebellum.
“My ear started ringing,” Jani recalled. “I didn’t even realize at first [what had happened]. I didn’t feel [the pain]. And then I passed out.”
Preston shot her twice more: one bullet went into her back, and the other grazed her side. He then shot and killed Emerie, though Jani believes that this was an accident.
“He was a great dad,” she said. “I believe that [killing Emerie] was an accident. There was a swing in front of where she was, and it was metal, and I think a bullet ricocheted.”
When Jani regained consciousness, she heard Preston’s quick footsteps in the distance. “It sounded like he was panicking,” she said. She rolled over and saw that her daughter had been killed. Then she heard a door close. Figuring Preston had fled the scene, she called 911 for help. She told the dispatcher, Kyesha Nelson, that she and Emmy had been shot and that she was about to pass out but would stay on the line.
Jani said that, right before she passed out again, she felt “a warm, comforting hug from behind.” Then she remembers waking up in the hospital, but inexplicably, she had her daughter, alive, on her chest. “I had the chance to say not goodbye but ‘I’ll see you again,’” she said. “I held her one last time before coming around [and fully regaining consciousness]. I feel that I experienced God in a supernatural way.”
“
After being taken by ambulance to Wadley, Jani, who had a traumatic brain injury (TBI), was quickly airlifted to the University of Arkansas for Medical Science (UAMS) Medical Center in Little Rock; Tonya and Darrin followed by car. At UAMS, Dr. Hector Soriano Baron, a neurosurgeon, informed the family of the severity of Jani’s condition. Due to swelling, part of her cerebellum had herniated, displaced into the opening of the skull where the brain and spinal cord connect. If they did not release some of the pressure on the brain, the doctors said, she would die.
Jani was put into a medically-induced coma; doctors hoped that this would allow the swelling to decrease. Instead, her brain continued to swell. On November 8th, they performed a craniectomy, removing part of her skull to allow extra space for her brain. Doctors informed the family that this surgery was high-risk; arteries in the back of Jani’s head had been damaged, and they said that, if she were to start bleeding, they would be unable to stop it. But, without the surgery, Jani would almost certainly die.
loss. After another week of sedation, she woke again; this time, she was lucid. She immediately asked her mom where Preston and Emmy were.
Emerie Michelle Gailey was buried at Chapelwood Memorial Gardens the week of Thanksgiving 2023. Texarkana Funeral Home provided their services free of charge, and Chapelwood donated two plots—one for Emmy, one for Jani. The service was graveside and family-only. Jani, still at UAMS, could not attend.
Our faith as a family is so strong now [that] it’s amazing. We know where our sweet Emmy is, and we will see her again one day.
– Tonya Satterfield ”
Incredibly, Jani made it through the surgery successfully, but she was not yet in the clear. Over the next 40 days, she would undergo various procedures at UAMS to fight against infection and cerebral edema (excess fluid on the brain). She spent much of that time on a ventilator. In late November, she was temporarily brought out of the coma. She was responsive but confused and experiencing memory
Preston also received a private graveside service. His obituary reads, “His family is heartbroken at the tremendous loss that he has caused, but they will forever love their son, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend.”
For the first week that Jani was conscious and lucid, she was terrified that Preston was still alive.
“I had nightmares about him trying to come kill me,” she said. “I made them show me his obituary, and even after they showed me, I was still scared. I couldn’t put it all together. It was just scary.”
In the aftermath of the shooting, Preston’s family has been supportive of Jani; they are still in regular contact. They informed Jani and her family that Preston had been diagnosed with a severe mental health disorder as a child and that he required medication but would not take it due to paranoid delusions; he thought that doctors were trying to poison him.
Jani and her family also came to learn that the gun, which had previously been removed from their home, had been returned to Preston, after he convinced the family member who was in possession of it that Jani wanted him to have a firearm to protect her.
On December 18th, 2023, Jani was released from UAMS.
“My neurosurgeon said, ‘You’re my Christmas miracle,’” Jani recalled. “And I remember pointing back at him as if I was saying, ‘No, you’re mine.’”
Since returning to her mother’s home, she has undergone extensive occupational, speech, and physical therapies. The TBI affected—and continues to affect—her ability to walk, use her hands and arms, see out of and control her left eye, hear out of her left ear, and recall certain memories. It also causes vertigo. Through hard work and determination, she has regained most of her motor functions.
Jani’s brother motivated her through her most painful physical therapy sessions. “He just had to say Emmy’s name, keep that in her head,” Tonya recalled. “‘Do this for her.’ And it took everything she had, but she did it.”
In June, Jani successfully underwent surgery on her left hand to recover functionality, though she may never regain full use.
On June 8th, 2024—what would be Emerie’s first birthday— the family held a second memorial service for the beloved baby girl. Although open to the public, the gathering was primarily for Jani, who had been in a coma when her daughter was buried. In attendance at the gathering were dispatcher Kyesha, TAPD officer Marcos Luna and Ashdown officer Dawson O’Malley (who was with TAPD at the time of the shooting), as well as countless friends, family members, and members of Jani’s church, Legacy Baptist Church. At the service, Jani shared her testimony.
“God saved me,” she said. “He saved me, and I know he has plans for me. This is just the beginning, and I hope my story can not only help bring others closer to our God but help someone live another day at least.”
Relatedly, her church community, under the leadership of Pastor Donnie Edwards, has prayed for Jani and her family, as well as supported them in tangible ways.
“[The church congregants] fed my family after my daughter’s funeral,” Jani said. “And Brother Donnie Edwards [acted as] the voice for my family when they needed one. He is inspirational to me and my family.”
Tonya reflected that, despite the unthinkable grief they have— and continue to—endure, the entire family’s conviction is at an alltime high.
“Our faith as a family is so strong now [that] it’s amazing,” she said. “We know where our sweet Emmy is, and we will see her again one day.”
Jani believes that her story is an opportunity to share her faith as well as to warn others about the realities of domestic violence. She emphasized that she hopes that more people come to understand that domestic abuse is not just about physical assault.
“Even if it’s not physical [abuse], if you’re being mentally abused— leave,” she said.
Tonya added that raising awareness of mental illness is also critical in preventing these tragedies. If Preston’s mental health condition weren’t highly stigmatized, Jani might have been made aware of it before she and Emerie were in his crosshairs.
Jani and her family want to extend their thanks to all of the people who have helped them survive this tragedy—the TAPD police department, UAMS medical personnel, friends, family, and Legacy Baptist Church.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), texting START to 88788, or visiting thehotline.org. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Jani’s family have helped tremendously with her recovery. Pictured left to right are Ryan and Lexie Satterfield, Darrin Satterfield (behind), Corey and Morgan Brazile, Tonya Satterfield, Jani Nix holding Emerie, and Jalen Nix.
submitted photo
REACH FOR THE SKIES
Tiffany and Tony Dierolf offer a safari experience in New Boston
article by PHOEBE WARREN photos by SHANE DARBY
Author and speaker Laurie Beth Jones once said, “Sometimes facing opportunity is like staring at the knees of a giraffe.” Tiffany and Tony Dierolf’s once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was just that.
When the Dierolfs purchased a game ranch in New Boston, Texas, the couple did not have in mind the life and business they would create there. “Tony bought [the ranch] for personal use to hunt,” Tiffany said. In meeting exotic animal dealers, Tony realized that they could pivot and make one of Tiffany’s long-time dreams come true.
Tiffany had always been enamored with giraffes. “It’s been on my vision board for years, like on my bucket list, to go to Africa and have breakfast with the giraffes and sleep with the giraffes,” she said. “As Tony met more people [involved with exotic animal dealing] he said to me, ‘I think I can get a giraffe.’”
At first, the Dierolfs only wanted to create a giraffe barn attached to the inn, allowing guests to feed giraffes from their windows during their stay. However, Tony’s ambition drove them to expand the facility and increase the number of animals living on the property.
“The transformation was insane,” Tiffany said. “We went from hunting lodge to safari within like six to eight weeks.”
Tony knew he wanted the giraffes to be the star of the show in terms of advertising; he wanted to ensure that, when people Googled “giraffe,” their getaway experience would show up in the results.
“At first, the name was going to be Giraffe Inn & Suites,” Tiffany explained. “Then [Tony] just got all these animals, so that there’s a petting zoo all the way down to the barn [giraffe enclosure], and there’s some free roaming animals.” The couple decided to change the name to Giraffe Inn & Safari to encapsulate everything the experience offered.
Tony and Tiffany are from Valley View, Texas. The current owner of AS Dierolf Concrete LLC, Tony was already familiar with risky business investments, but the safari is his “wildest” business venture yet. He moved onto the property this past November, while Tiffany just recently quit her job as a physical therapist to take the leap and move onto the property full-time as well. The couple built a tiny home on-site to live in while their full-time lodging preparations were being finalized. They are now all settled into their new home and celebrated the official opening of the Giraffe Inn & Safari at the beginning of June.
The giraffes may be the star of the show, but the safari also hosts a sloth, fennec foxes, alpacas, kangaroos, lemurs, a porcupine, capybaras, exotic birds, zebra, tortoises, and even a wildebeest. The freeroaming animals are the gentle deer and fuzzy Highland cows that meander along past the giant pond at the back of the property. They are content to lie under the shady trees and splash in the pond. The petting zoo has goats, miniature donkeys, a pony, a couple of camels, and an endearing brown-and-white cow named Valentine.
The Dierolfs know each animal on the property by name and personality, and it’s no surprise that the giraffes are the most dear to Tiffany. The giraffe is her long-time favorite animal, and being able to care for them is a dream come true.
“We chose to get three young [males] so that we can have them their whole life,” Tiffany explained. “It would have been easier to get an old retired giraffe from the zoo that already comes up to be fed, but we wanted them for their whole life.”
A Dream by Design: PH Companies
Lauren Callaway Francis is more than a dreamer. While working in the fashion industry, she discovered a talent for interior design and set forth to pursue her new passion. In 2019, she obtained her real estate license and officially started her design business. Over the last 5 years, her design business has grown into a local conglomerate called PH Companies. Lauren and her sister, Danielle Patterson, co-own PH Design Firm. Lauren herself owns PH Realty. Lauren and her longtime best friend, Brigette Waits-Garcia, co-own PH Property Management. All together, these various businesses comprise PH Companies.
Lauren has reached success by maintaining a standard of professionalism and staying true to her own personal values. “I take all of the businesses very seriously and believe that we play an essential part in buying, selling, building, designing, and managing homes and properties,” she said. “We have three core values that run across all three companies, and those are honesty, kindness, and courage. You must be full of all three of those qualities in order to be a part of the PH Companies family.”
Lauren set forth to accomplish her dream of design and continues to live that dream everyday. “It’s a pretty cliché answer, but it’s true,” she said. “I love helping people. I love homes. I love designing. I love creating. I get to do all of those things on a daily basis, and it fulfills me.”
PH Companies is a one-stop shop for everything related to the home. Whether you are looking to buy, remodel, or manage your property, this local business is a dream come true.
The giraffes have been patiently trained to get them comfortable with people feeding them. Tony had the honor of being the first to hand-feed them, driving a buggy into the enclosure and sitting on the bed with food. “They were surrounding him, just coming in for hay or grain,” Tiffany said. “I was outside their pen taking pictures, and I was so jealous. It was the coolest thing.”
The safari might be a dream come true, but it still requires a lot of hard work and expertise. Four zookeepers are employed full-time with the safari, and an exotic animal veterinarian comes to give each animal a check-up once a month. The giraffes are given special enrichment games within their enclosure, such as PVC pipe pieces that hide treats up high for the giraffes to discover.
Tony and Tiffany hope that visitors to the Giraffe Inn & Safari see their conscious efforts to transform this former game ranch into a lifelong home for the wildlife residing here. In addition to overnight stays, day passes are available for purchase, with special animal-encounter packages offered. Safari drive-thru adventures and petting-zoo interactions are also available for guests to book. The Giraffe Inn & Suites is available to host corporate events, parties, baby showers, and everything in between. Information about all of the amenities and adventures offered can be found at giraffeinnandsafari. com. A wild opportunity awaits.
Sixty-six years strong, Pace and Sons, Inc., dba Texarkana Overhead Door Company is family owned and operated. They sell, install, and repair residential and commercial doors. They are also the official dealers for Liftmaster Operator and C.H.I. Door products in Texarkana and surrounding areas. Pace and Sons, Inc. strives to provide the highest quality products and service they can for each customer. “The visual quality and functionality of a garage door or operator can greatly impact a property and its users,” said Jon Adams, general manager. “We carry a full selection of customizable residential doors as well as rolling steel doors, rolling sheet doors, counter shutters, and commercial track doors. We offer Liftmaster gate operators and door operators, as well as hollow metal door frames and hardware. Most importantly, we offer local service for the products we install. “
“Working with family is a huge blessing,” said office manager and wife of Jon, Marti Adams. Marti is the granddaughter of Frank and Martha Pace, founding owners, and daughter of Mary D. Pace, current owner. “I wouldn’t have it any other way! We are small but effective in our market. I love that we get to talk to each customer personally.”
The family hopes to keep the company going for many more years. “Our youngest son is old enough to help during school breaks now, so I don’t see us slowing down anytime soon,” Marti said. “We know that Texarkana is made up of many small, family-owned businesses, and it’s a tradition that we are proud to be a part of.”
A Family Legacy: Pace & Sons, Inc., dba Texarkana Overhead Door Company
Texarkana Never Looked So Good: LoneStar Aesthetics & Wellness
SERVICES INCLUDE:
Facial Aesthetics/Skincare
Medical Weightloss
In late 2019, nurse practitioner Samantha Harris enrolled in a few medical aesthetics courses and fell in love with caring for and maintaining the skin’s delicate microbiome. Having previously worked as a family practitioner, she shifted her focus to aesthetics and never looked back. She opened LoneStar Health & Wellness and got to work serving the community. In April 2024, the business was rebranded to LoneStar Aesthetics & Wellness to better clarify the services and treatment offered. For the last five years, Samantha and the rest of the LoneStar team have thrived, meeting the medical aesthetic and wellness needs of their community.
Samantha’s biggest passion is for beauty and wellness, and LoneStar Aesthetics & Wellness stands as a testament to that passion.“I strive to make clients the best versions of themselves,” she said. “It’s not just about looks around here; we want to help you achieve a higher level of confidence, well-being, and a more beautiful future.”
The clinicians at LoneStar Aesthetics & Wellness care for the whole body through a variety of services. From microneedling to body facials, there is something for every skin-care concern. LoneStar even offers services such as migraine IV drips, which treat migraine symptoms and restore hydration so that clients can feel as good as they look.
Samantha, who develops individual relationships with her clients, says that honesty is a crucial part of her day-to-day operations. “Honesty is a non-negotiable here,” she emphasized. “If we think a treatment is not right for you, we will let you know. We will always want what’s best for you.” To that end, Samantha and her team stay up-to-date on the latest medical-aesthetics research. They rely on this research, as well as a vast swath of experience, to give their clientele the best results possible. Samantha derives the most meaning from helping her patients make the best decisions for them; she uses her expertise to guide them in their medical aesthetic choices, such as selecting the most appropriate procedure based on their medical histories, lifestyles, and the results they are wanting to achieve.
There is no shortage of positive feedback regarding the customer service and quality of care that LoneStar Aesthetics & Wellness provide. “Samantha Harris is very thorough and so easy to communicate with,” Shanna, a local client, said. “I highly recommend her.”
“She made me feel very comfortable and was easy to talk to,” Brittany, another client, said. “Definitely would recommend her to anyone.”
What does the future look like for LoneStar? Samantha says that this award-winning local business will continue to grow and improve, adding more services to their already impressive lineup. New services are currently in the works; Samantha said that the public can learn of these new offerings as they are rolled out by following the LoneStar Aesthetics & Wellness Facebook page. Beyond expansion, Samantha’s future goals also include learning more about her chosen industry and to continue staying educated on trends and technologies. Above all, she hopes to continue helping others look and feel their best. “I want what everyone wants as a small business owner,” she said: “to be successful and make an impact on my clients and the community.”
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CLIMBING the
MOUNTAIN
Jason Butler, owner of Recovery Road Productions, has raised over $70,000 for local charities
by DR. JENNY M c CORMACK WALKER
Jason Butler paused for a second to reflect on his experience and then said, “The beautiful thing about life is that you can wake up tomorrow and start over brand new.” Nobody understands that sentiment more than him. Several wrong turns put Jason on a path that took him to places he never should have been. However, through faith, a passion for service, and hard work, he was able to reroute those wrong turns and navigate a new journey of purpose.
“A few years ago, I considered myself a well-traveled drunk,” Jason said. “I always had friends who were musicians, and I’d go around with them while they were playing in different venues.”
But the fun didn’t last. He began to suffer from alcohol and drug addiction, which put a strain on his family; his children struggled to have a relationship with him.
“My daughter was so ashamed of me,” Jason recalled. “She wanted to change her last name so she didn’t have to be associated with me anymore. That was a really low point.”
In 2021, Jason was arrested and placed in a local correctional facility, where he served a six-month sentence. It was there that he began to turn his life around with the help of Artie West, a volunteer who worked the Monday-night church call. Jason began to build a friendship with Artie, who ultimately became his substance-use accountability partner once Jason was released in January 2022.
Part of Jason’s mission now is to educate people about the dehumanization of incarceration and the challenges of reentering society after being released from prison.
“In the correctional system, a lot of times you don’t get treated like a real person,” Jason said. “You’re just an ID number that represents someone who made a mistake. Everything was so blackand-white. But when I got involved with [Communities Unlimited Community Facilitator] DeAnna O’Malley and the Prison Reentry Simulator, we were able to show people the importance of having gray areas.”
The Prison Reentry Simulator is an experience that allows people the opportunity to walk around in the shoes of people who have been recently released from incarceration. Participants face hypothetical challenges like homelessness, not having a driver’s license, attending court-ordered support group meetings, and finding employment with a criminal history.
photo by TOABI’S WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY
“
” When you surround yourself with amazing people, amazing things will happen.
photo
“It’s a great way for people who have never been in the prison system to see things from the other side of the desk,” Jason said. “It is a lot harder than people might realize.”
Jason, who has given talks and interviews about his experiences, said that he does not mind sharing about the challenging parts of his past because he hopes that, in sharing, he might bring positive change for others.
“God has a plan for everything,” he said. “I hope that my testimony and my story can be the words that help people stop carrying the mountain and start climbing it.”
Participating in the Prison Reentry Simulator is not the only way Jason has given back. His production company, Recovery Road Productions, combines his love of live music with his love of the community. They produce live-music events that raise money for local nonprofits. Jason said that, in 2023, Recovery Road Productions planned and executed 16 live-music events with local artists and raised more than $70,000 for non-profit organizations in the Texarkana region.
always stop and talk to me, and one day my son asked me if I was famous,” Jason laughed. “I just told him that I wasn’t famous, but what we are doing to help the community might be famous.”
Jason’s children now live with him full-time. In August 2022, eight months after he was released from prison, Jason’s ex-wife and the mother of his children was tragically killed in a car accident.
“I became a single dad in the worst way possible,” he said. “My kids came to live with me, and we were not prepared in any way.”
He and his children have persevered, he said, with the support of his community. “People stepped up to help in ways I still cannot comprehend,” he said. “Our community—Hooks ISD, especially—just took care of us.”
That August was the only time his sobriety has been tested, he said.
“There are so many amazing people in this area,” Jason said. “When you surround yourself with amazing people, amazing things will happen. We spend so much time pointing out all of the negative things around us, but if we stop to really look at the big picture, there is some really good stuff happening in Texarkana.”
Once notorious for his addiction, Jason has now become wellrecognized in the community for his work. “Everywhere we go, people
“I drove to the liquor store,” he recalled. “I sat in the parking lot for a while. Then I told myself, ‘This is not who I am anymore,’ and I thought about Jeremiah 29:11 [“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ said the Lord . . .”] , and I knew I had a future and a hope ahead of me.”
In the time since the accident, Jason has been able to heal his relationships with his children. This is what brings him the most joy.
“A lot of people tell me they’re proud of me,” Jason said. “I appreciate that, and it means a lot, but I mainly care about the people I feed. As long as they’re proud of me, I know I am good.”
Jason and his girlfriend
Carla with Santa Mark.
submitted photo
YOU, ME, & THE RV
Remote workers Terri and Rick Morgan have traveled to 44 states in four years
by DR. JENNY M c CORMACK WALKER
Remote work became a widespread phenomenon in 2020, but Terri and Rick Morgan took the opportunity to the next level. They sold their Texarkana-based plumbing company and traded it for what many think of as another type of pipe dream: working remotely and living full-time on the open road in a recreational vehicle.
“Owning a business didn’t really allow for a lot of travel time,” Rick said. “Even when we were away, we still had to conduct business. We had always said, ‘Well, maybe someday we can have an RV and travel.’”
When the last of their four children left home, the empty nesters realized there was not much holding them in Texarkana, so they began working out-of-town union plumbing and pipe-fitting jobs, traveling for short periods of time and returning to Texarkana between jobs. COVID threw a wrench into these plans, however.
“Around that time, there weren’t a great deal of union jobs because so much was on hold,” Terri said. “Also, the union jobs weren’t really giving us as much travel time as we had hoped. During that time, I found a company, ID Plans, that hired RVers to survey commercial property. I have been a contractor for them since the end of 2020, and Rick is semi-retired; I call him my driver.”
The couple uses their skills and experience to help one another on the jobs they do in the field.
“I have a construction background, so I can answer questions that Terri might have while we are on a property, and she has excellent computer skills that are necessary for the property surveys,” Rick said.
Terri, a field data specialist, said their travel must align with locations where there is work available. “In an ideal world, we would chase 70-degree weather, but it doesn’t always work out like that,” she said.
But less-than-perfect weather does not stop the Morgans from enjoying the places they do go. Over the past four years, they have traveled to 44 states, always making time to find adventure and take in the sights.
“My favorite place is easily the Pacific Northwest,” Terri said. “I loved the Bellingham, Washington, area. I would go back in a heartbeat. It’s hard [to choose a favorite] though, because we haven’t been to any place in the U.S. that isn’t beautiful in its own way.”
Rick, who appreciates a good outing for fly fishing, said he prefers Wyoming. “My favorite place has been Jackson, Wyoming, at least in the summer,” he said. “The weather is perfect, the scenery is great, and occasionally there are trout in the crystal clear water. We saw mule deer, lots of moose, elk, and even bears.”
The couple’s travels have also included many famous tourist attractions, including Niagara Falls, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and whale-watching in Washington state. Sight-seeing in San Francisco was especially memorable.
submitted photos
“When we were in San Francisco, we took a Go-Car Tour,” Terri said. “It was a small three-wheel motorcycle that had an iPad as a tour guide. The navigation system on the iPad basically tells you the history and fun facts of where you are along the streets of San Francisco. As an aside, I highly recommend doing tours rather than trying to figure out things on your own. It has saved us from so many arguments. It was very cool to get up close and personal with the Golden Gate Bridge and other landmarks of the city.”
While they have made a lot of memories together on the road, there are challenges that come with full-time RV living. Everyday errands like getting mail, filling prescriptions, making doctor visits, and getting haircuts have become more difficult. They also sometimes struggle to find a campground to park in at times when they do not have a schedule available far in advance. Perhaps their biggest obstacle is something that hits a little more close to home.
“Most of our family doesn’t really understand why we do this,” Terri said. “A lot of people think we are crazy, but we wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
The Morgans, who are currently in Atlanta, Georgia, before their next job in Florida, encourage others who might be considering this lifestyle to take a leap of faith.
“Just do it,” Rick said. “Don’t wait for the right time. Just like you can’t plan for the right time to have kids, if you spend too long planning, it might be too late.”
Those interested can keep track of the Morgan’s travel adventures through their website, www.whereintheworldarethemorgans.com, and at facebook.com/ whereintheworldarethemorgans.
submitted photos
SCENE ABOUT TOWN
TEXAR HELD ITS ANNUAL LOCAL BANDS, BREWS, & BITES IN FRONT OF THE PEROT THEATRE ON FRIDAY, JUNE 21ST.
Mary Wormington, Pam Bransford, Kelly Mitchell, and Amy Schulz
Suzy and Mike Turner with Fallon Turner
Robin Rogers, Phoebe Warren, and Emily Orr
Summer Nelson and Jennifer Smith
David and Traci Mims, Mark and Keely Bledsoe, and Blaire and Wren Williams
Kelly Mitchell and Ramona Williams
Noah Crissman and Bill Moss
Tessa and Rodney Ray
Tony McMurry and Balinda Williamson
Mike and Paula Foster
Moss Brothers Band: Cody Moss (lead vocal and rhythm guitar), Preston Moss (bass), Mark Braley (lead guitar) and Greg Lynch (drummer)
Melissa and Chris Fuller
Chrissie McJunkins, Laura Homan, and Kelly Mitchell
by MADELINE SMALLWOOD
MEET W LUCAS JORDAN
hile most recent high school graduates are enjoying their summer break, Pleasant Grove alumnus Lucas Jordan is preparing to embark on a huge journey: he has enlisted in the U.S. Army. He made the decision to do so during his freshman year.
“I was doing a lot of thinking about the future, college, and everything,” Lucas explained. “I thought about the benefits, and that pretty much gave me the decision to join.”
I think the most challenging part for me will be just being away from my family for months at a time. “ ”
Lucas’ family is supportive, though they did not pressure him to enlist. “My grandpa was in the Army, but my family never really pushed me to join,” Lucas said. “It was a decision I came up with on my own.”
Among the benefits Lucas will receive are educational funding, healthcare, and housing. These benefits will provide him with security during and after his service.
On July 1st, Lucas will leave for basic training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina, which will last for 11 weeks. Afterward, he will head to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, for 16 weeks of Advanced Individual Training to become a medic. While he’s looking forward to learning and growing, leaving home is still bittersweet.
“I think the most challenging part for me will be just being away from my family for months at a time,” he shared.
Upon completion of his training, Lucas will have the title of “68W” (pronounced “Sixty-Eight Whiskey”) combat medic. “I’ll be attached to a unit, and if they get deployed, I’ll get deployed as well,” he explained.
Lucas is both excited and determined about his future in the Army. “I’m looking forward to putting on my uniform for the first time the most,” he shared.
Despite the challenges ahead, Lucas feels a deep sense of commitment and possibility.
“I’m planning to stay in the army for my six-year contract and then go to school to study either culinary arts or animal science,” he said.
It is evident that Lucas has a clear plan for his future, both in and out of uniform.
and a
photographer. Her greatest love is sports photojournalism, and she hopes to one day capture the highs and lows of NFL football.
Madeline Smallwood is a senior at Pleasant Grove High School. She is a writer for The Edge newspaper
staff
EXQUISITE INTERIORS
LAID-BACK LUXURY
article by PHOEBE WARREN photos by CAMERON PHOTOGRAPHY
Several nearby vacation destinations are popular with the Texarkana community. Broken Bow, Oklahoma, just 90 minutes away, is one of the best spots for those in Texarkana wanting to get away from the hustle-and-bustle for a weekend or longer. There is no shortage of beautiful cabins to be discovered and leased in Broken Bow, and this recent build, named “Firefly Pines,” is no exception. This newly erected cabin is owned by Lyndsey and Brent Germany of Prosper, Texas. With four large bedrooms, two bunk rooms, and seven bathrooms, the cabin can comfortably accommodate up to 24 people. The owners brought in Brittany
Brooks of Seventh Day Design to design the interior, including paint, stain, counters, and furnishings throughout the cabin. The project began in February 2022 and has just been completed.
The cabin exterior leaves a lasting impression, with an elevated front entrance and expansive windows. Inside the structure, tall ceilings allow natural light to flood into each room from the many windows. Calming earth tones of green, brown, and tan are prevalent throughout the interior. The giant stone fireplace separating the living room and kitchen further promotes a feeling of comfort and coziness.
The kitchen is elegantly modern, with white quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, and a simple color scheme of black and cream. The gold-tone faucet in the kitchen island and bronze-colored pendant lights add a touch of flair.
The dining room exudes charm with its sleek black metal buffet, perfectly blending modern sophistication with rustic appeal. A beautifully crafted wooden dining table anchors the room, offering a warm, inviting tone that harmonizes with the luxurious dishware and foliage centerpiece. Enhanced by ambient lighting and tasteful decor, this dining space is designed for unforgettable meals and elegant entertaining.
The back-and-forth dance between quaint and extravagant is evident everywhere in the cabin. Deer antlers hang above oil paintings; a pair of golden bookends are shaped like duck heads. Each bathroom is a delicate combination of gold fixtures and gingham curtains. All the bedrooms feature classy bed frames, fun printed pillows, and the same soft earth tones. The bunk rooms are clever space-saving designs, with the bunk beds and ladders built into the walls.
The Firefly Pines cabin is a product of careful planning and coordination. It feels like a retreat, but it also feels like home. Brent and Lyndsey are proud to share it with others, offering it as a short-term rental for anyone wanting to experience the space for themselves. For more information on this rental, email Brent at brent@brentgermanyteam.com or call 214-926-3308.
THE DAILY PLANET
by KLARK KENT
Working in the ER is challenging. The only constant in this environment is constant chaos. As one of my favorite co-workers said to me years ago, “Welcome to the zoo. We can’t call it a circus because the animals aren’t tame here.” I have many wonderful memories and many horrible memories I wish I could erase from memory. Overall, I wish everyone could walk a mile in my shoes.
One of the issues I would beg the non-medical person to familiarize themselves with is basic first-aid applications and why they are critical for you to learn. Far too often, we have patients who have sustained sudden cardiac arrest (their heart stopped beating) in a public setting, and nobody started first aid on the scene. By the time they have made it to the ER, they are too far gone to bring back to life. The importance of IMMEDIATE first aid in such situations is paramount for better patient outcomes.
So, I’d love to share some basic tips. I’m sure you’ve noticed those AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) mounted on the walls in public settings such as churches, gyms, and shopping centers. This life-saving device can re-start someone’s heart. The problem is that most people are scared to touch these devices. Let me relieve your fear: you can’t accidently kill someone with these publicuse devices. If the heart does not need to be shocked, these devices will not allow a shock to be delivered. So don’t be afraid to slap it on their chest and follow the very basic, easy-to-understand prompts the device will deliver.
Don’t wait. Slap the AED on immediately. Follow the dummy-proof commands, and you just might save a life. You’ll finally be able to understand what The Fray was talking about in their popular hit song. Next on the list, call 911 immediately. Don’t wait five minutes. Call ASAP! You can slap on the AED as you’re calling 911. I see y’all driving and talking while zooming down Richmond Road, so I know y’all can multitask. Do both at the same time if you’re alone. If you’re around people, designate a single person to call 911 as you apply the AED.
Next, if you haven’t already had a CPR class, please take one. Or, if that’s too much trouble, YouTube a one-minute video to gain a basic understanding of what to do if it’s needed.
If Texarkana and the surrounding local communities would learn these three basic first-aid interventions, I assure you I would not see nearly as many dead-on-arrivals in the ER. Do your part, and familiarize yourself with the above recommendations. You can also go to redcross.org and sign up for a class if you’re feeling frisky.
I’m not saying that I expect the general public to be able to perform an emergency tracheostomy in a choking situation, but a proper Heimlich maneuver will save lives. And, trust me, if it’s you or your loved one needing the emergent application of basic first aid, you’ll be so happy that someone took the time to learn basic interventions to save their life.
Time matters! It matters a lot. For every minute an AED shock is delayed, the patient’s chance of survival decreases by 10%. Basic math here: if you slap on the AED and deliver shock within one minute, there is a 90% chance that person will live. If you scream, cry, run around like a chicken with your head cut off, and wait five minutes before delivering a shock, that person now has only a 50% chance of survival. If you really don’t like the person at all, just wait until the EMS arrives; most likely it will be over 10 minutes before they arrive, and it is almost 100% certain that the person will die.
In my opinion, the biggest issue is that most non-medical people panic in these situations, and their inability to act ultimately leads to someone’s death. Trust me: by the time they make it to the ER, 20 minutes after falling out, they are dead dead. Like, we will still try to save them, but it’s practically a statistical anomaly to “save someone” after this amount of time has passed—not to mention they will be brain dead if we are able to revive them after that long.
The take-home point is this: do not be afraid to utilize an AED if one is available. The earlier you use it, the better the chance of survival.
Until next time, be kind to all persons, and read a book!
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.
SCENE ABOUT TOWN
DR. MATT YOUNG WAS HONORED WITH THE CADDO AREA COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN AWARD AT THE HOME OF BARRIE THOMPSON ON TUESDAY, MAY 28TH.
Dr. Matt and Cindy Young
Lisa and Shawn Vaughn
Fred and Martha Norton with Manuel Western
Dr. Matt Young, Fred Markham, and Dr. Mary Ellen Young
Bennie Phillips, Robert McGinnis, and Rosemary and James Henry Russell
Craig “Crash” Lashford
J.D. Phillips and Hunter Cunningham
Craig Mueller, Dr. Chris Young, Dr. Mary Ellen Young, Dr. Matt Young, and Michael Manley
Carlos Harvey with Dianna and Tom Quinn
Dr. Ed and Gail Eichler, Micheal Manley, and Dr. Mary Ellen Young Rachel Rhodes, Joel Orr, and Dr. Matt Young
Carlos Harvey, Craig “Crash” Lashford, Ron Collins, and Tom Quinn
Lori Mueller, Dr. Matt Young, and Patricia Cunningham
Lonna Johnson and Nick Walker
Nicole and B.J. Ford
Greg and Melanie Cockerell, DeAnna Craytor, Lynn Whitt, and Cindy Young
JULY 2024
JULY 3
Story Time at the Texarkana Public Library
Listen to a new story at 10 a.m. every Wednesday with Mrs. Nancy at the Texarkana Public Library.
Self-Defense Class for Kids
We Are Washington is offering a self-defense course for children taught by former marine Laking Harris. The event will be held in the gymnasium at 1900 Marietta St. in Texarkana, Arkansas. For more information, reach out to info@wearewashington.org.
JULY 4
Rhythm and Blues Fool Festival
Beginning at 2 p.m., the 5th annual Rhythm and Blues Fool Festival will take place at the Crossties outdoor stage on Broad Street. Hosted by comic Derrick Keener, the event will feature various musical acts, a chess tournament, and a fireworks show. Purchase tickets at eventbrite.com.
JULY 9–13, 23–28, 30
Texarkana Rhinos Baseball
The Texarkana Rhinos have 12 home games this month! Cheer on the home team at the George Dobson Field at Spring Lake Park. Games begin at 7:05 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit gorhinosgo.com.
JULY 10–13
Texarkana Children Charities Open
The Texarkana Children’s Charities Open will be held at the Texarkana Country Club. For more information and to register, go to agpts. bluegolf.com.
JULY 16–18
Art Wall Camp at TRAHC
The Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council invites students in grades 1–6 to paint a panel for the TRAHC Art Wall. Students in grades 1–3 will work under the direction of local arts educator Kay Shirley, while students in grades 4–6 will paint under the direction of local muralist Darlene Taylor. The theme is “Symbols of America,” and each panel will be displayed in the TRAHC ArtsPark after completion. To register and learn more, go to trahc.org.
JULY 27
Stepping Through Time
Texarkana Museums System is hosting a fundraiser exhibit of Neiman-Marcus vintage shoes. The exhibit will be held in the Great Hall at the St. James Episcopal Church. For more information, go to texarkanamuseum.org.
