A
VENUES
1 AVENUES • July, 2021
July 2021
A Free Magazine for the Ozarks
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Hometown Strong
is a way for GTS as therapists and member of community to give back to the communities that we love and live in. Each month employees of GTS donates a portion of their paycheck and GTS rounds that amount up to make a donation to a local charity. Each staff member that donates to this fund is entered into a drawing and once per month we draw a staff member name. Carol Martens, OTR/L chose Relay for Life and the Children’s Shelter in Walnut Ridge to receive $500 each. American Cancer Society – Relay For Life Our mission is to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer. Whether it’s fueling breakthrough research or providing essential services throughout someone’s cancer journey, our fundraising makes a real difference in the fight against cancer. The Children’s Shelter mission is to provide an atmosphere of safety and comfort for children who have been displaced from their homes through no fault of their own. • Victims of family violence • Victims of neglect • Victims of physical abuse • Victims of sexual abuse • Providing them with an immediate, safe environment • Providing them with a caring, stable environment until a suitable relative or foster care becomes available
Pictured is Kristi Harris, PT and Carol Martens, OTR/L Come see Kristi at the Pocahontas or Walnut Ridge location! Thank You Carol for choosing these 2 important organizations to receive the Hometown Strong donation! Good Luck in your new adventure!!
2 AVENUES • July, 2021
Children’s Shelter • 107 Benson Drive, Walnut Ridge, Arkansas 72476 Phone: (870) 886-5191 • Fax: (870) 886-5353 • childrensshelter@suddenlinkmail.com Tonjia Miles, Administrator • Kathy Wells, Administrative Assistant Contact information for Relay For Life • Jennifer Clay, Development Manager • 870-926-9552 Jennifer.clay@cancer.org
PROPERTIES
Strawberry River Land & Homes America’s Land Specialist
Pamela Welch Broker/Owner
520 N. Main, PO Box 483, Cave City, AR 72521 pwelch@mossyoakproperties.com Cell: 870-897-0700 www.ArkansasLandAndHomes.us • Office: 870-495-2123 • Fax: 870-416-3191 LIFE INSURANCE
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AVENUES • July, 2021 3 520 N Main St Suite A, Cave City, AR 72521 | www.backroadsco.com
JULY
6 17 24 26 34 35 44
Thayer Chamber of Commerce hosts one of the largest fireworks shows in the area each July 4. The event is held at the Thayer High School football field. Photo/ Kelly Steed 4 AVENUES • July, 2021
ACNA Spotlight
Free Dinner GIveaway
8
Construction delays move in: Harper family now enjoying space for the whole family
19 27
Cave City Watermelon Festival info
36 45
Binkley Wedding utilizes two local vendors for event Family farm turned into event venue Vernon Holloway proudly displays woodcarved dozer
ON THE COVER Lake Norfork hosts a spectacular fireworks show each year on July 3. Photo/ Donell Russell
AVENUES
From the Editor: Kim Break, Editor kbreak@areawidenews.com 870-895-3207 Salem, Ark.
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Sales Director STEPHANIE PIERCE 870-895-3207 HANNAH SMITH 417-264-3085
WRITERS
Kim Break Renee Janes Elaine Brown John Norberg Cheri Lynn Quattrochi
KIM BREAK Editor Photographer Graphic Designer
DEBBIE DOWNUM Graphic Designer
Avenues is published monthly and distributed free in Cherokee Village, Hardy, Ash Flat, Highland, Horseshoe Bend, Melbourne, Salem, Viola, Mammoth Spring, Mountain Home, Cave City, Batesville, West Plains, Thayer, Alton and other areas. Contact the office at the above numbers for information on advertising.
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An Areawide Media Publication Concord Publishing, Inc. Rust Communications
T
his is edition is packed with information and interesting stories! We are so thankful to the Harper family for sharing some of the construction process of their new home in Caufield, Mo. The family of six had outgrown their home and began building at the end of 2020, about 12 years after they first thought they were going to build. It was well worth the wait for the Harpers and it will be well worth the wait for Avenues readers as well. We have included information about the upcoming Cave City Watermelon Festival. Did you know it was named the most missed festival in Arkansas for 2020? It is a very well attended event in Sharp County and I know Cave City is excited to host it again in 2021. I teamed up with two local wedding vendors for a story this month to highlight them both! Debbie Gray owns and operates The Rose Trelis and recently designed all floral arrangements for her granddaughter’s wedding. Colby (Bouland) and Cody Binkley chose Echoes of the Past Village in Thayer, Mo. for their wedding venue, so we also found out more background from the owners on the village. Renee took the time to visit with the owner of Rubydoo’s Vintage Event Center. They are also a wedding venue, but also so much more. They also host fun community events which benefit local organizations. With special ceremonies and traditions such as weddings and funerals being closed down last year, we are happy to see both vendors staying busy and planning to stay that way. I also visited with Vernon Holloway. He is a Fulton County native, but now lives in West Plains. He has a unique hobby which produced a unique item of which he is very proud. I would be too if I were Mr. Holloway. I hope you are all staying cool this July!
AVENUES • July, 2021 5
Gardening in the Ozarks When “Iris” eyes are smiling…
W
ell June has finally closed the door for this year, and July has opened a new one. Most of your garden has been planted. Everything is growing, blooming, about to bloom or has bloomed. Your vegetables are John Norberg beginning to produce and you Sharp County are enjoying the fruits of your Master Gardener labor. You think it is now time to sit back and just water as needed. Well, there is something you can do now that will benefit you in the long run. This year the irises seemed to have out-shined themselves. There are more than 300 species of irises, with the Bearded Iris being the most common. They come in a wide range of colors like purple, white, lavender, orange, blue, brown, yellow and pink. They are either solid in these colors or have multiple colors and hues. The flowers have six petals. The outer three will hang down and are known as the “falls”, while the three inner petals stand up and are known as “standards”. Well, most of your irises have bloomed and you are wondering what you should do with them now. First off, trim off the spent flower all the way down to the ground. The seed pod that is forming will produce seeds you can plant to grow new ones, but by letting that seed pod mature, it is taking energy from the plant and can make it less productive. 6 AVENUES • July, 2021
Dividing it is the best way to get more irises. Irises do well with lots of “breathing” room. When they become crowded, they will slow down or even stop blooming. So dividing is the answer. In late July you could begin to divide your irises. Start by carefully digging up a clump of irises. You will see the parent rhizome with several smaller rhizomes coming off it. With a sharp knife cut these smaller rhizomes off. After you have separated them, brush off the excess dirt and examine each rhizome and discard any soft, squishy or smelly ones. At this point, cut the leaves back to about three to five inches. This is so the rhizome can put all of its energy into making new roots. Now that your new space is prepared, you can plant these new rhizomes. The ideal place is in full sun, either in a raised bed or in mounds, as irises like well-draining soil. You should plant them about one to two feet apart to give them three to five years of growth before you have to divide them again. Spread the roots out and back fill the hole with dirt, making sure part of the rhizome and all of the leaves are uncovered. If you plant them too deep, or mulch over them, you might get all leaves and no blooms or they may rot. You usually have so many rhizomes when you are done, this is the perfect time to share with your gardening friends and get some new color from them. Now that you have completed this task, you can sit back knowing that next year your “Iris” eyes will be smiling for all to enjoy.
Kelley Thomas Landscape • Garden Center & Gift Market
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EVERYONE LIKES A LITTLE RECOGNITION
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AVENUES • July, 2021 7
Construction delays move in Challenges don’t deter family’s excitement
Story BY Kim Break
Photos by ASHLEY HARPER
For Caufield, Mo. Harper family of six, building their dream home has been discussed for more than 10 years. Scott, Ashley, Braxton, Braymer, Brayda and Branch Harper are happily living in their brand new home, approximately one year after Scott and Ashley decided they were going to build. As young farmers 12 years ago, the Harpers started the home construction process through a USDA loan. However, they were told the funds wouldn’t cover a log home and that was Ashley’s dream at the time. Though a log home isn’t what they went with in the end, Ashley said the disappointment led to better opportunities. “We put it on hold. It was a blessing in disguise as my home plans have changed and even where we were going to build,” she said. 8 AVENUES • July, 2021
A few years later, once the family had officially outgrown the four bedroom/ two bathroom home they were living in, they discussed a remodel. “Adding on to that house was going to cost us a lot. It was way more than we wanted to put into a remodel knowing one day we wanted to build a house. So we held off again. In March or April of 2020, some things went in our favor.” Originally, they had planned to build on family land of Ashley’s. The house they began building in 2020 is on what was once Scott’s great grandfather’s. “We had the opportunity to buy the land we got from his dad. We decided ok, let’s do this. So I started again then.”
They had another rocky beginning. By July, it was evident the Harpers wouldn’t be working with the contractor they had originally chosen, after she had worked closely with Tate Batterton of AllSteel Inc. (with locations in Arkansas and Missouri), on house plans. “We got a within reason quote from a new contractor and started a new process with him,” said Ashley. The land was closed on in July, so next was Scott’s job of clearing the land for where they wanted to build their dream home. Contractors were on location Dec. 3,2020 to start with forms for concrete. On Dec. 14, Ashley said the first walls were going up. In the beginning, it was important to
AVENUES • July, 2021 9
Your smile is in good hands!
Ashley to not go over budget. While staying on budget was very important, it was also important to have her home complete all at one time. They discussed possibly not building a garage in the beginning to save money. “We took off the garage at first and we knew we could add that on later. The more we got to talking about it, and we’ve remodeled before and that is for the birds, so when we did this, we said if we are going to build a garage, we are going to
do this now,” she said. Making that decision was the right one for the Harper family. “We went in with this knowing it was our forever home. I will only move, as of now, if one of my kids wants it when they are older.” As a “just in case” or “future” need, Ashley and Scott decided to make the whole first floor of their home wheelchair accessible on the whole first floor, equipped with a large walk-in shower and wide enough walkways in the kitchen and pan-
We’re All About Smiles! 1171 Hwy. 62/412, Ash Flat, AR 72513
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try. If anything ever happened to us or one of the kids, heaven forbid something happen, but we wouldn’t have to remodel in the middle of that too.” When asked if they were affected by prices increasing for materials, she said, “we should’ve done this two years ago, we would’ve spent less on our lumber. We got lucky, when we started, our contractor had secured lumber at a lower cost.” Car siding, which is also known as tongue and groove and similar to shiplap, was used throughout the home and was a cost savings. Ashley said she doesn’t have one particular style. She chose finishes and decorations based on things she likes and always liked. She tends to lean toward rustic farmhouse type of décor, but if she likes it, she will incorporate it. “I didn’t worry about trends or what was popular, I went with with stuff I like right now or things I have always liked. We a lot of different styles of
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AVENUES • July, 2021 11
wood. We like to see the grain in the wood, but too much can be overwhelming.” They also chose functionality for their flooring and went with concrete floors on the first level. “We are a farm family. We have had chickens and ducks and a lamb in the house so far,” laughed Ashley. She didn’t want to worry about the condition of the home’s floors. Overall, the home is 7,660 square feet and that includes the three wrap around porches, garage and two levels of the home. Be sure to check back in the fall for the finished product!
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132 N. Pickren St., Salem, AR 870-895-2551 Inside Bank of Salem 870-895-6122
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12 AVENUES • July, 2021
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AVENUES • July, 2021 13
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Where in the World is Avenues? Pictured are JR Schaufler and Katelyn Estes, of Salem, on the beach in Destin, Florida.
RegistRation is open FoR summeR and Fall
Email: admissions@ozarka.edu • www.ozarka.edu • 870-368-2300 Melbourne • Ash Flat • Mammoth Spring • Mountain View ozarkacollege AVENUES • July, 2021 15
We remain open for all your Covid-19 ConCerns
16 AVENUES • July, 2021
MEDICAL DIRECTORY
COUNSELING SERVICES
HOME HEALTH
NURSING/REHAB
Families, Inc. Counseling Services Ash Flat - 870-994-7060 75K Hwy. 62/412, Ste. J Ash Flat, AR Mountain Home - 870-425-1041 700 S. Main, Mountain Home, AR
Elite Home Health 111 N. Main St. • Ste. 1, Salem, AR 72576 Phone: 870-895-2273 • Fax: 870-895-5515 www.lhcgroup.com Hours of operation: 8:00-4:30 Monday-Friday RN on call 24/7 We provide home health services of nursing, physical, occupational, and speech therapy and in-home aid services in the comfort of your home. “It’s all about helping people.”
Shady Oaks Healthcare Center 715 S. State Route 19, Thayer, MO 65791 417-264-7256 Dr. Christopher Cochran - Medical Director Leigh Kincheloe, RN, LNHA - Administrator Lynsey Miller, RN - Director of Nursing Long Term Care • Rehabilitation Services Wound Care • Hospice Care In House PT OT ST Services • IV Services
DENTISTS Sonya Hames Wiles, D.D.S. Family Practice Dentistry 28 E. Court St., Melbourne, AR 72556 Telephone: 870-368-6666 Most insurances accepted MCNA Dental & Delta Dental Smiles Mammoth Spring Dental Clinic Main Street, Mammoth Spring, AR 72554 870-625-3262 Dr. Mike Kersey, DDS Tuesday thru Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. www.mammothspringdental.com
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT Delta Medical Supply www.ARdeltamedical.com facebook.com/ARdeltamedical 15 Choctaw Trace, Cherokee Village, AR 72529 870-257-4445 916 Sidney St., Batesville, AR 72501 870-612-0049 401 Hwy. 5 N., Mountain Home, AR 72653 870-656-4140 Tri-County Medical Supply We’re Here To Serve You” 260 Hwy. 62 E. Salem, AR 72576 Toll Free: 888-476-2234 www.tricountymedicalsupply.com
MENTAL HEALTH Joe Hackworth, LCSW Southern Missouri Community Health Center West Plains • 417-255-8464 1137 Independence Dr., West Plains Thayer • 417-264-2990 U.S. Hwy. 63 North, Thayer
Shepherd’s View ALF Alton, MO 65606 417-778-7959 Level 2 Assisted Living for Seniors Activities of Daily Living Diabetic Care • Restorative Care • Rehab Care SouthFork River Therapy & Living 624 62/412 West, Salem, AR 72576 870-895-3817 Mincie Thomas - Administrator Emma Cooper - Director of Nursing Doug Cameron - Admissions
PHARMACIES Alton Drug Store 201 State Hwy. 19, Alton, MO 65606 417-778-7000 Mon.-Fri. 8 am to 5 pm • Sat. 9 am to noon Becky Peace RPh Matthew Combs RPh RX--drive thru--mail--delivery Home Health Services Gifts Available
To reserve your listing in Avenues’ Medical Directory, contact Areawide Media at 800-995-3209
AVENUES • July, 2021 17
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A little history… The first watermelon festival was held in August 1980. The one day Chamber of Commerce event, The Cave City Watermelon Parade, showcased “The World’s Sweetest Watermelons” and the businesses of Cave City. Vendor booths were scattered throughout town to encourage parade goers to visit city merchants. The parade drew over 2,400 people to town.
Former Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton was the guest of honor and Paula Johnson was crowned the first “Watermelon Queen.” The park was filled with music, games, food and people. The only thing in short supply was WATERMELONS! The summer of 1980 was exceptionally dry, and by the time parade rolled around most of the area growers melon crop had dried up. AVENUES • July, 2021 19
Fortunately, there was one exception. Herschel Runsick had planted his melons in the Strawberry River bottoms and had enough for that first free watermelon feast. In the years that followed the parade grew into a three day event. Catfish dinners, pancake breakfasts, talent shows, watermelon judging contests, 5K runs, ice cream making contests, car shows and local entertainment have filled the event calendar. Throughout its history, several different individuals and groups have organized the festival. Events changed with the changing of time, but some things have remained constant. The focus of the festival is still “The World’s Sweetest Watermelons” and the businesses of Cave City. The festival has grown into a sort of homecoming. Family and class reunions are planned around the festivities and at any given time during the 3 days you will find old friends reunited once again. For three days every July, people from across the country come here to enjoy one of Arkansas’ best festivals. If you’ve never been, or have been away too long, we invite you to grab a lawn chair and join the celebration.
Schedule
20 AVENUES • July, 2021
Thursday- July 29
Friday- July 30
ORILLA VALLIE STAGE 5:00 p.m. Melons for the “Prize Melon” Judging are due at the park. 6:00 p.m. Live Music: The Ellis Family 7:00 p.m. Live Music: Believers Worship Group 8:00 p.m. Live Music: Jordan Family Band
BANK OF CAVE CITY MAIN STAGE 6:00 p.m. Live Music: Erin Walters 7:00 p.m. Live Music: MaryBeth Byrd 8:30 p.m. Live Music: Danielle Peck
Saturday- July 31 CITY PARK 7:00 a.m. Melon Dash 5K 7:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast at First Baptist Church FLEC Building, Tickets $5 10:00 a.m. Watermelon Parade ORILLA VALLIE STAGE 11:30 a.m. Welcome to the Festival! 12:00 p.m. Live Music: Deadwood Grove 1:00 p.m. Live Music: The Gravel Yard Bluegrass Band 2:00 p.m. Live Music: Anna Brinker
Growers • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
3:00 p.m. Watermelon Growers Games 4:00 p.m. Free Watermelon Feast 5:00 p.m. Prize Melon Auction benefitting Arkansas Children’s Hospital 5:45 p.m. BANK OF CAVE CITY MAIN STAGE Live Music: Steve Boyster 6:45 p.m. Live Music: Dixon Street 8:30 p.m. Live Music: Tracy Byrd
See y you ou a at t the
feSStival! fe feStival! tival!
Brian Carter Watermelons Tim Carter Watermelons Edwardson Family Johnson Brothers Watermelons
Cave City Auto Parts 301 N. Main, Cave City, AR 72521 • 283-5493
Miller Farms Perkey & Wooldridge Farms J.W. & Wendell Perkey Farms Patterson Brothers Kevin Moore Farms Dennis Walling Watermelons Hunter Brothers
Cave City Florist Sheila Mize, 138 South Main Cave City, City Ar 870-283-5121 After Hours Cell 870-307-2886 keithmize@yahoo.com
AVENUES • July, 2021 21
Strengthening Our Hometowns
Some of the special services we offer • Orthopedic Aftercare • Vestibular/Balance Training Control/Pelvic • Continence Floor Program BIG and LOUD for • LSVT Parkinson's Disease • Dry Needling Capacity • Functional Evaluations • Impairment Ratings • Power Wheelchair Evaluations • Full line of Braces/Supports
Whether you need Home Health or Outpatient PT, OT or ST...
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Mountain Home • Salem • Pocahontas • Batesville • Highland • Viola • Calico Rock Newport • Walnut Ridge • Cave City • Melbourne • Southside 22 AVENUES • July, 2021
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AVENUES • July, 2021 23
ACNA’s July Artist of the Month: Joy Tegels
By Cheri Lynn Quattrochi
T
he Arts Center of North Arkansas’s July Artist of the Month is Joy Tegels. A realistic artist, she likes to paint subjects that inspire her, usually some aspect of nature. After having experimented with various mediums, she prefers oils. Growing up on a farm in Iowa, Joy has always enjoyed the outdoors. Only subsequent to her retirement in 2000 after working thirty-six years in the insurance field, mostly as an independent agent, and her family’s relocation to an acreage in rural Arkansas did that love of nature find a creative outlet when she discovered a latent talent for painting. She was fortunate to take art classes from Eva Haley in Evening Shade. Joy loves painting all the wonders God has given us—landscapes, birds, flowers, animals. With those as her focus, “Artkansas” serves as her painter’s paradise during the summer months. Another painting always waits just around the next curve in the road. During the winters, that road takes the Tegels to Florida where her paintings shift to vibrant flowers, various lighthouses, and vivid sunsets. Striving to capture their beauty before they become extinct, Joy especially enjoys painting old barns. While she loves her “nature” pieces, she is also passionate about preserving history through her art. Joy is a breast cancer survivor—twice. Her art provided great comfort during the darkness of chemotherapy and radiation. Having emerged from that tunnel, she affirms, “I feel each day is a gift from God, and I hope I can contribute my art each day to make a difference.” Although painting is Joy’s hobby, occasionally, she sells a piece which allows her to purchase another canvas or tube of paint. Her work has found homes throughout the Midwest—Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri—as well as Tennessee and Florida. She hopes those who purchase her work will enjoy the finished product as much as she enjoyed the creation process. Her business cards, “Enjoy Joy’s Art,” reflect this sentiment. Joy has entered a few art shows. She once won People’s Choice at a Palette League show in Yellville for Harmony, a painting of chickadees. Another time she won honorable mention at a SPRAG show for Santa Fe Trail, a painting of an old truck. A member of the Spring River Art Guild and the Arts Center of North Arkansas, Joy’s art is on display in the Spring River Art Gallery and at ACNA’s Touch of Class, both located in downtown Hardy, Ark. After her painting Iowa Storm received the most customer votes, Joy was named the May Artist of the Month at Touch of Class.
BUYING OR SELLING, CALL ME!!
ACNA July Activities PROTOCOL: CDC COVID recommendations will be observed. Call 870-751 to 3 p.m.793 for up-to-date information. Writing Club, first Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12 noon —Visual Journaling: (870-710-1392) Art Club, second Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12 noon Sound Immersion, second Sunday, 1-2
NCI
North Central Insurance Brandy Corter 1242 E. Main Street Melbourne, AR 72556 cell: 870.373.4009 Office: 870.916.2008
24 AVENUES • July, 2021
The Tegels have two grown children and one granddaughter. Last fall, Joy and her husband of 62 years, moved into Homewood Senior Housing in Ash Flat. This move has provided her with more free time in which to paint—something she intends to keep doing as long as she can hold a paintbrush.
Pride In Independence
1896
Since
Tiffany Sitton Agent
P.O. Box 420 • 67 North Lunen St. • Melbourne, AR 72556 Fax: (870) 368-4999 Phone: (870) 368-4311 E-Mail: nci.jem@centurytel.net Toll Free: (888) 811-8505
Photography Club—Cancelled for July (Check Facebook for updates.) Sewing Club, third Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12 noon Tai Chi, Mondays, 10 to 11 a.m. Zoom Yoga, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Mountain Dulcimer Jammers, Tuesdays, 1 to 3 p.m.
Richard’s Heating and Cooling Helping Helpi elping You Y When W T he Se Season eason Chang Changes anges
2630 Hwy. 62/412 • Hardy, AR 72542 • (870) 856-3853
Open Studio, Tuesdays, 5 to 7 p.m. Sword Tai Chi, Thursdays, 10 to 11 a.m. July Board Meeting—Check Facebook for date and time. July 2, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Non-Painters Class with Sheila Donley (260-445-3585)—Create a piece of frameable art. Non-members, $20; members, $15 July 12, 1 to 3 p.m., Poured Acrylic with String Pull with Barb Massie (407-766-5506)—Non-members, $20; members, $15 Wire Wrap for Beginners Instructor: Kay V. (870-257-2307 or 710-2625); Cost per class: Non-members $20, members $15 July 17, All about wire––weave patterns, coils, scrolls, etc. July 24, Memory wire bracelets; sailor knots (part l) July 31, Sailor knots (part 2); wrap a cabochon (part l) Aug. 7, Cabochon (part 2); bails; etc.
Barker Funeral Home and Crematory W are your full service We funeral home and the only crematory in Fulton County. County
870.971.1128
128 E. Main Street, Hardy, Arkansas 72542
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Church Directory Ash Flat Church of God 124 Arnhart St. • Ash Flat, AR 501-574-8294 Sunday Morning School 10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 a.m. Sunday Evening Worship 5:00 p.m. Thursday Services 6:00 p.m. Pastor Colton Abbott
Mt. Zion Baptist Church, SBC Hwy. 9 South, 3 miles North of Oxford, Union, AR • 870-895-3336 Pastor - Rick Hellums Schedule of Services Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m. Sunday Afternoon Bible Study 12:20 p.m. Salem First Assembly of God 118 Pinto Place, Salem, AR Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. Sunday Evening 6:00 p.m. Wednesday/Student Programs 6:00 p.m. Call 870-895-3414 Facebook: Salem First Assembly First Missionary Baptist Aba Highway 62 West At Spruce, Salem, AR Sunday School-9:45 a.m. Sunday Worship-11:00 a.m. Sunday Night Services - 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Services - 6:30 p.m. Monty Anderson, Pastor - 501-236-1039 Call 870-895-2634 or 895-4728 Welcome Hill Church of Christ 16309 Highway 9 South, Mammoth Spring, AR PO Box 495 / 417-293-6355 Sunday Morning Bible Study 10 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship 10:45 a.m. Sunday Evening Worship 5 p.m. Wednesday Evening Bible Study 7 p.m. Minister: Erman Croney - 417-264-3371 Brandsville Church of God 10902 US Hwy. 63, West Plains, MO 65775 7 miles South of West Plains and 7 miles North of Koshkonong on Hwy. 63 Come Meet The Lord! Sunday School - 10:00 a.m. Sunday Worship - 11:00 a.m. Pastor Bruce Underhill • Call 417-204-9288 Salem United Methodist Church 205 Church St., Salem, AR 72576 Sunday School 10:00 am Worship 11:00 a.m 870-847-6030 • 870-895-5157 Pastor Ken Anderson
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Peace Lutheran Church 4 Iroquois Dr. • Cherokee Village 870-257-3957 Pastor Brian Pummill 9 a.m. – Traditional Worship 10:15 a.m. – Adult Bible Study & Sunday School 11:15 a.m. – Contemporary Praise Service Hardy Church of Christ 305 Johnston, Hardy, AR 870-847-6024 Sunday Morning Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Sunday Evening Worship 5:00 p.m. Minister: Don House 501-412-3532 Cherokee Village United Methodist Church Worship Service 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Sunday School (all ages) 9:45 a.m. Choir Practice Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Coffee Talk 8:45 a.m. Located in Cherokee Village at 21 Otter Dr. (between Keno & Navajo Dr.) Senior Pastor Rev. Angie Gage - 870-257-3869 Associate Pastor Rev. Jimmy Anderson First Baptist Church of Mammoth Spring 16600 Highway 9, Mammoth Spring, AR 625-3273 • www.mammothspringfbc.com Charles Morgan, Pastor Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Evening Worship 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Evening Service 6:30 p.m. New Hope Baptist Church 1244 Hwy. 175 • Hardy, AR 72542 Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m. Sunday Discipleship Training 5:00 p.m. Sunday Worship 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Awanas 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study 6:00 p.m. St. Michael’s Catholic Church Corner of Tekakwitha Dr. & Hwy. 62/412 Cherokee Village, AR • 870-257-2850 Email: stmichaelcv@yahoo.com www.stmichaelscv.org Daily Mass: Mon., Thur., Fri. - 9 am; Wed. - 6 p.m. Saturday Vigil - 4 p.m. Sunday - 9 a.m. (Latin 12 p.m., 1st & 3rd Sunday) Rev. Amal Punganoor • 870-257-4456 Hardy United Methodist Church Fourth & Spring / Every Sunday Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Open Hearts ~ Open Minds ~ Open Doors
Wheeling Church of Christ Hwy. 9 South, Wheeling, AR 870-219-9067 Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study 6:00 p.m. St. Paul United Methodist Church Business Highway 63, PO Box 241 Thayer, MO 65791 Sunday School - 10:15 a.m. Sunday Worship - 11:30 a.m. Email: stpaulumc@centurytel.net www.stpaulthayerumc.org 417-264-3296 • Pastor Pam Ekey Faith Presbyterian Church 1001 Third Street, Horseshoe Bend, AR 72512 Sunday School - 9:00 a.m. Sunday Worship - 10:30 a.m. 2nd Day Bible Study - Monday, 10:30 a.m. Email: faithpresby@centurytel.net www.horseshoepresbyterian.org Rev. David Schaller – Call 870-670-4103 Horseshoe Bend United Methodist Church 600 West Church Street 870-670-5392 Christian Conversation Wednesday - 12 noon Sunday Worship - 9:00 a.m. Pastor Ken Anderson First Baptist Church of Hardy Highway 63-412, Hardy, AR Sunday School-9:30 a.m. - Worship-10:45 a.m. Evening Worship - 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Prayer Meeting - 6:00 p.m. Dr. Larry Kindrick, Pastor - 870-847-0897 First Christian Church “Disciples of Christ” 7th & Archer Street, Mammoth Spring, AR Sunday School - 10:00 a.m. Sunday Worship - 11:00 a.m. Bible Study Wednesday Evenings - 6:00 p.m. Pastor David Langston • 417-372-7531 www.fccms.org Spring River Presbyterian Church 151 Wahpeton Hill Rd., Hardy, AR 870-856-3426 Pastor Jim Ratliff Sunday Service 10 a.m. Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m. - noon Closed on Mondays Email: springriverpres@outlook.com
To reserve your church’s listing in Avenues’ Church Directory contact Areawide Media at 800-995-3209
Wedding utilizes local vendors
Colby (Bouland) and Cody Binkley, of Jonesboro, Ark., were married at Echoes of the Past in Thayer, Mo. on Saturday, May 15. The wedding followed a Spring Country theme with simple, but elegant and beautiful touches. The venue, Echoes of the Past, couldn’t have been a more fitting location for the couple’s wedding. With many options for where a ceremony can be held, as well as the reception, the outside appearance of the venue matches the Binkley’s theme, country with elegant and beautiful touches. Colby was a lucky bride in that her grandmother, Debbie Gray, has been in the wedding industry for 45 years. Debbie stayed true to what her granddaughter wanted and the result turned out beautifully. Over the next few pages, readers will learn more about Echoes of the Past and Gray’s history as a wedding expert in the area. Colby is the daughter of Brad and Allison Bouland, of Jonesboro, Ark., and Colton is the son of Keith and Kristy Binkley, of Walnut Ridge, Ark. Binkley Wedding Photos by Chelsey Duff Photography
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Self proclaimed Wedding Guru discusses years making dreams come true Story by Kim Break Photos Submitted After 45 years as a wedding designer, director, decorator and planner; Debbie Gray dubs herself the “Wedding Guru” and after four decades (and counting) in the industry, no one disputes that title. She currently owns and operates The Rose Trelis in Highland. As a young adult living in Walnut Ridge, Ark., Gray met her mother, who lived in Hardy, in Pocahontas for shopping one day. The pair stopped in a flower shop who had their business for sale. She was just wanting to display flowers in an antique pot for her mother, but the store owner said the whole inventory was $3,000. Gray told her father about the conversation and he told his daughter the flower shop would be the perfect business for her, and that is where it began. She had several locations in Pocahontas before she moved to Jonesboro, where she had a full event center and space to display all of her wedding items. Diana Smith, who works with Gray at the Highland florist, was her neighbor in Pocahontas and Gray talked her into working for her. The pair became lifelong friends and even after Smith retired from a large florist in Little Rock, she moved to Cherokee Village and began working for Gray again. One year after her shop opened in Pocahontas, she moved to a larger location and began selling wedding dresses. Three years after that, she moved again and began renting tuxedos and selling prom dresses. Her final location in Pocahontas is where
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the old Walmart was located and she expended there as well. In 1998, 20 years after she had opened, a factory shut down in Pocahontas which effected her business greatly. “It was like when COVID hit us last year almost,” recalled Gray. That is when she made the move to Jonesboro. Her event center in Jonesboro, Petals and Lace the Wedding Place, was over 11,000 square feet on Airport Road. She added a catering business, had a 30-person wedding chapel and banquet hall. There were a number of rooms available for her to stage cakes, dresses, tuxedos, bouquets, etc. “I built a business that no one else has ever built under one roof; which is the wedding chapel, catering business, tuxedo warehouse, wedding gown ordering and samples, the children’s playroom. I searched worldwide when I went to Ozarka to see if I could find anybody in the world and no one else had that... It was devastating to me to lose it all,” said Gray. It was her first property in Sharp County where she would end up taking a six year break. In 2007, she moved to Hardy because her mother was in bad health and needed Gray to help care for her. They bought the property across from Valero gas station in downtown Hardy. When her family first moved to the area, her mother worked in the building when it was an office and before Gray moved to the Walnut Ridge/Pocahontas area, she worked in it when it was a restaurant. “I was so excited about buying that property and I made it so beautiful,” said Gray. At Petals and Lace: Creekside Loft, she created an elegant dining room and had the property in perfect shape. Three months in, they experienced their first flood and built back. Nine months later, another flood destroyed what Gray had built. Then another... “God gave me five floods in four years,” and in 2014, Gray was unable to financially recover. After the six year break, when coming back, she had to adjust her prices slightly as everything she needed had increased in cost as well. Though prices had changed, her knowledge of the wedding industry had not. The “Wedding Guru” was ready to put her vast knowledge of every avenue of wedding planning back to work. Over the years her children have helped in the business as well. Her husband Mike Gray, who is well-known in the area for his lifelong musician career, assists her full-time now, as he is retired. Her children: Allison, Garrett and Lauren, have all also helped
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throughout the years. Gray has designed an eclectic style of weddings and arrangements, some of which she has ordered globally. The wedding featured on these pages was that of her granddaughter, Colby (Bouland) Binkley. She was very excited to help give Colby the wedding of her dreams. Gray said she was like many modern day brides who find their inspiration on Pinterest. Colby would send photos of things she liked to her grandma and grandma definitely delivered. The simplicity in the colors used in the arrangements went perfectly with the serene atmosphere of the venue, Echoes of the Past Village in Thayer, Mo. Binkley utilized two local vendors to accomplish her dream of having a simple and elegant wedding. Gray has seen many trends come and go, and come back again, over the years. Knowing what is in style and what colors complement each other are helpful to Gray when building an arrangement. She is also a local “go to” favorite for funeral arrangements. The Rose Trelis delivers in the tri-county (Fulton, Sharp and Izard) area and is available to accept orders through online florists for those who may be out of the area and looking to have something delivered locally. llc Gray also works with other local florists in the area. Open Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm & Sunday 1pm-5pm Though 2020 shut down a (870) 613-0825 lot of weddings and funerals, Antiques, Collectibles & Vinyl Albums those traditional ceremonies are on the rise again Advertising Signs and Home Decor – meaning Gray is ready for 143 E. Main, Batesville, AR 72501 another stretch of success.
Etta’s Attic
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870-793-2241 • Monday - Saturday 9 AM - 5:30 PM 129 E. Main Street • Historic Downtown-Batesville 30 AVENUES • July, 2021
Wedding venue created to share love of Village Story by Kim Break Photos Submitted Echoes of the Past Village is owned by Larry and Diane Pugh, and operated by their daughter Jody Mills. Though the various buildings on site give off an “old time” vintage vibe, they are not that old. Echoes is a small “village” created in the 1970s for use as a church camp. They are old enough, however, to have needed much repair when the Pughs took ownership in 2009. Larry and Diane originally planned to use the property as a Christmas tree farm and/or pumpkin patch. Their first round of Pine trees didn’t go well and there wasn’t a good location for planting pumpkins, so they began looking at other options. They utilized the space for family functions, then family members began bringing friends out to the property. That is when they
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decided to start opening it up to the public more. The first wedding hosted at Echoes was the couple’s daughter, Joyce, in 2004. It was an old-time themed wedding. In 2010, people began asking to use the property for weddings. Prior to becoming a wedding venue, they would allow their grandchildren to host Halloween parties. The adults involved in the planning process often had just as much fun as the children. They also began opening up the village to the community at Christmas. Each year they decorate the various buildings and areas of the property. Christmas 2020 was their biggest year yet. Personally, for me, as someone who loves Christmas lights, this is an amazing feature our area has to offer. The first year they started Christmas decorations, they went with a vintage theme to follow the village. They had an old-time Santa and remember cars being lined up to the highway. It was a bigger hit than any of the family members had anticipated. Diane recalls one fond memory of a wedding. “I walked out to the groom who was waiting on the dock and he just said, ‘I get to marry my best friend today.’ and that is why we do it.” She loves seeing the raw emotion of couples and families on one of the most important days of their lives. It has also been rewarding to Larry and Diane to see the final product of the many projects they have taken on to update the facility. A small chapel is the most recent renovation to be complete, and one they are especially proud of. Turning a non-usable space into something that can be utilized and enjoyed is one of the things they love most. They have also preserved pieces of Oregon County history along the way; moving a cabin from Alton and a barn from the Couch
Spring River Chiropractic
The
Quilted Heart Quilt Shop
870-625-3355
MeMory Lane MaLL We Buy, Sell & Trade Glassware, Collectibles, Antiques
Over 60 Dealers Open 7 days
870-856-4044 118 E. Main St. Hardy, Arkansas 72542
Two Shops! Visit Both Locations!! Two Shops!
Brent Garrison, D.C. 350 Bethel Avenue Mammoth Spring, AR 72554
FAR OuT & Funky
Antiques & Collectibles
32 AVENUES • July, 2021
3022 Hwy. 289S (3 miles South of Glencoe) Horseshoe Bend, AR 72512
870-670-4292
Machine Quilting, Fabrics, Notions Mon-Fri 9am - 4pm • Closed Sat - Sun
Free Carfax * 3 months/3,000 mile warranty on all vehicles sold!
417-264-2558
C.A.R.S
516 Hwy 19 Thayer, MO
11 Main St. Ash Flat, AR
(870) 994-5000 Closed: Sun. & Tues.
2010 Kia Soul + 116,xxx miles
$6,900
2009 GMC Yukon Denali AWD 178,xxx miles
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community to Echoes. Though the buildings aren’t true to the history of Echoes, they fit the theme and still have stories behind them. Diane also talked about special artwork which came with the property and plans it put to use again some day. Though Larry and Diane have many fond memories of managing the property over the years, they are ready to enjoy some relaxation and have passed the torch onto Jody. There are no weddings being held during the heat of the summer, as it is just too hot. Jody oversaw the property during the Binkley wedding. She commented on how it was one of the prettiest weddings she had seen and that was largely in part because of the flowers, giving compliments to Debbie Gray of The Rose Trelis in Highland. She also commented on the flowers for another wedding at Echoes which Gray had recently provided the florals. Please follow Echoes of the Past on Facebook, and if you know of someone looking for the perfect wedding location, have them give the village a call.
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Restaurant Business Guide SMOKIN’ RICK’S BAR-B-QUE 922 N. Main St. Cave City
Open Mon. - Sat. 6am - 3pm Serving breakfast till 10:30 Also daily lunch specials
(870) 283-5000
895-5008 6 am - 2 pm Mon. - Sat. 126 Locust Street, Salem
3844 Hwy. 62/412 Hardy, Arkansas
Wed - Thurs 11 am to 6 pm Fri - Sat 11 am to 7 pm
870-751-0970 WHY GO FAST WHEN YOU CAN GO FRESH? WE NOW OFFER A FULL SERVICE ESPRESSO & COFFEE BAR
1667 S. US. Hwy 63, West Plains, MO 65775 • Next to Dairy Queen 417-372-8926 • Monday-Sunday 11am-9pm
To have your restaurant business featured on this page all it takes is $35! Contact Areawide Media at 870-895-3207 to learn more about this business opportunity.
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What’s Cookin’ in the Ozarks? Island Grilled Chicken Salad Submitted by: Linda Welch 1/4 cup pineapple juice 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon packed brown sugar 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 28 oz. boneless chicken breasts 1 package Dole® All Natural Asian Island Crunch Kit (salad kit) 1 cup red bell pepper, thinly sliced 1/4 cup red onion, thinly slice 1-2 tablespoons pineapple juice 1 cup pineapple chunks Combine 1/4 cup pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar and garlice with 1 tablespoon provided sesame ginger dressing in small sauce pan. Bring to boil and reduce to 1/3. Heat grill, brush grill lightly with oil or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Baste chicken with pineapple mixture. Grill chicken, turning once (and continuing to baste). When fully cooked, remove chicken from grill and slice. Place salad blend from kit in a large bowl with provided accompaniments and toss with remaining dressing plus 1-2 tablespoons pineapple juice. Arrange salad on plates; top with bell pepper, onion and chicken. Place pineapple chunks around edges of salad.
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Family farm turned into wedding and event venue
Story by Renee Janes Photos by Renee Janes and Submitted
L
ocated outside West Plains in the serene countryside of an old family farm, is Rubydoos Vintage Events. Owned and operated by Ruby Collins, the venue hosts an array of events from birthday parties to weddings. A job that allows for artistic creativity, Collins was inspired to start the business after helping friends with their weddings. “I have always done weddings for all my friends, and I’ve done proms. I was the junior sponsor at Dora for two years and the junior sponsor at Koshkonong for five years. I loved doing weddings,” said Collins, who is a retired Missouri teacher and works at Howell Valley as a K-8 art teacher. “I have a friend that her friend got married in Dora and we used their old barn,” said Collins, stating she discussed the topic with her husband. They initially were planning to 36 AVENUES • July, 2021
remodel an old hay barn on the property. “The money was not allotted. They told me they would rather give me money to build a new barn. Everybody was really pretty reluctant. I had a lot of people say this was not going to work. So, six years later, I am like it worked,” said Collins. “This farm is our family farm. My husband, Mark, grew up here on this farm. The little yellow house, he grew up there,” said Collins. His parents passed away when they began building the barn. Rubydoos opened March 28, 2015, with the first event being Dora’s prom. “It was really special to me because my first teaching job was at Dora,” said Collins. Featuring a variety of options to choose from, customers can choose from numerous colors as well as themes and fabrics from burlap to satin and sequins. For decorations a few of the items includes lanterns, bird cages, glassware, mirrors, wood boxes and wood pieces as well as numerous theme items such as 50s, 80s, jungle, baby showers, movie theatre, patriotic, sports, nautical, beach, siesta, Chinese lanterns, etc. “We have tons of mason jars, marbles, rocks and diamonds, all in different colors and flowers. If we don’t have what you want, it is kind of surprising,” said Collins. The venue offers rectangle and 30 round tables and over 250 each style of chair, the popular picnic chair and banquet. For place settings, they offer enough to set for 300 people with mismatched China and white bone China. A selection of fake flowers is available for each event to choose from. “As long as they want to use fake flowers on
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the tables, we provide all of it,” said Collins, stating if she does not have the flower wanted, she is not opposed to acquire if she feels can reuse, which most of the time she can. When planning a wedding, Collins stated the bride’s pick out everything. Occasionally, she has had a bride feel overwhelmed, send pictures of what they want and ask Collins for the closest to it. Once a deposit is half paid, brides visit the venue to pick out what they want. “Some spend five hours, some spend 10. I had a lady here today spend 20 minutes and she was done,” said Collins. Wedding packages based on number of attendees and food is based on RSVP. Party packages differ from the wedding packages. It is $10 a plate for a meal, which includes one meat, a potato, two vegetables, a roll and unlimited tea, water and lemonade all night long. Everything is served on glassware or China and real stemware. The business has not changed their prices since opening in 2018 and keeps the prices consistent with each offered package. Collins stated people compare prices no matter what. She has been told her prices are high, but she hopes they realize all that is offered at her venue. Fees for Christmas parties are charged per head based on the menu picked. There is no building fee. For birthday parties it is $400 for the building for four hours including all the setup, decorations and clean-up. The staff at Rubydoos, including teens from the school Collins teaches at, does all the preparing for the event including setting up and the clean-up. “We have it set up on Fridays so the bride can come in and give us their final okay and if there is something they don’t like, it gives me an opportunity to change it,” said Collins, stating the bride and groom are the first to see the finished product.
HAPPY TEETH HEALTHY SMILES!
Michael Kersey, DDS General Dentistry
(870) 625-3262 180 Main Street Mammoth Spring,AR www.mammothspringdental.com
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“I want it to be special for them. Our goal is we want to make it easy,” said Collins. The yellow house, which has been remodeled, provides a place for brides to prepare for the big day. It also is available for the brides wedding party to stay the night before the wedding. It used to be rented out the night of the wedding but discontinued doing so. Recently, a building was installed for grooms to get ready in. Weddings are held on Saturdays, and they only have one wedding per weekend. “We don’t do any other event that weekend. We don’t do anything on Friday or Sunday, so that it is yours. I don’t want to be spread thin because I want to be able to do the best job that I can do for you,” said Collins. It is advised when planning for a certain date to plan a year out from it because dates fill up fast. However, they have planned a wedding in a month before. When researching venues across the state Collins was told not to numerous times to not be greedy and think more than one wedding can be held in one weekend. There are plans for expansion with working on entering the Airbnb industry. “Our next marketing tool is to go out after destination wed-
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dings and give them somewhere to stay,” said Collins, stating they will be able to sleep up to 22 people at a nearby house and can sleep 12 at the yellow house. Collins has dreams of turning the old barn on the premises into a church for another option for weddings. “I have a lot of ideas…options are really important,” said Collins. They have also purchased a 1951 Chevy to place by the pond for an additional option for pictures, which are for event guests. ***** “It’s everything I thought it would be. I do tell my husband we didn’t have a big wedding, so I think it is his fault,” said Collins. Other events held at the venue include proms for area schools including Alton, Dora, Koshkonong and Mammoth Spring. Rubydoos hosts themed annual events including father-daugh-
MOSS ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES 205 East Main Street • Hardy, Arkansas 72542
MOSS FLEA MARKET 206 Main Street • Hardy, Arkansas 72542
Phone: 870-847-0626 Tues. - Sun. 10am - 5pm
Salem Glass Company :H GR DOO W\SHV RI JODVV ZRUN
Windshield Rock Chip Repair Insurance Work Custom Cut Glass Mirrors
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Door & Window
Monthly specials Experienced, friendly help Overnight access on hard to find parts Large inventory
Salem Auto Supply
242 East Highway 62, Salem, AR 72576
870-895-3305
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ter dances, mother-daughter tea and mother-son fright night. All the money from these events is donated. This year proceeds from the father-daughter dance went to Cystic Fibrosis and St. Jude. The mother-daughter proceeds were donated to Cystic Fibrosis. They were also able to donate to help Howell Valley students raising money to go to Washington, D.C.
Collins stated helping in the community is important and seeks to help teach children that. “Sometimes teaching is really sad just because you don’t know what a kid’s day has been like… where this is always happy. Everything you are doing, you are celebrating something,” said Collins. There are plans in the works to host father-son camp out in September,
with proceeds from that to be donated to St. Jude. “This past year, because of everything being how it was we did drive through and gave away hot dogs and chips on Halloween. They could just drive thru and not get out of their cars,” said Collins, stating they will probably hold the event again. They also hold events making Christmas cookies, which costs $300
TRI COUNTY MEDICAL SUPPLY AND RESPIRATORY SERVICES INC. & SO MUCH MORE
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AVENUES • July, 2021 41
for six kids to make Christmas cookies, and everything is provided. This past year, the business was greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Collins discussed how they business was impacted. “It was kind of heartbreaking when you go from December being my biggest month, I make the most money and we went to being the month that I made zero money, but we overcame that and people are
coming back…it’s coming back,” said Collins, stating for summer there are not a lot of events scheduled, but this is due to people going on vacation and getting married there. The venue is booked from the middle of September to the middle of January. Collins has plans to expand on what is offered at the venue for guests. Recently, a building was installed for grooms to get ready in. The yellow house is provided as a place for brides to prepare for the big day. It also is available for the brides wedding party to stay the night before the wedding. It used to be rented out the night of the wedding but discontinued doing so. For more information about the venue check out Rubydoos Vintage Events Facebook page.
July Cutie
Theodore Emerson Williams
Isabelle Wiest of Ash Flat proudly announces the birth of her first Great Grandchild Theodore Emerson Williams. Born on May 17, 2021 at 8.8 lbs and 20 1/2 in. Teddy is the first child of Ethan and Therese Williams of Conway, AR. Therese is a 2003 graduate of Highland High School. Grandparents are Eugene and Toni Prohl of Mountain Home, AR and the late Michael and Gail Pollard.
Community Cuties Community Cuties
We all have them - those precious pictures of our children. Avenues would like for you to share them with our readers. Each month we will randomly choose a picture to be published in Avenues. Email your picture in a high resolution jpeg format to news@areawidenews.com. Remember to include along with the picture, the child’s name, parent’s name, age, city and contact information.
42 AVENUES • July, 2021
Do you YAK By Dewayne French This isn’t your normal day to day talk with co-workers, I mean do you KAYAK. Kayaking and especially kayak fishing has exploded around the Ozark region in the last few years. Families use them, anglers use them and even people just wanting to exercise and experience nature. Getting involved in kayaking is relatively easy and less expensive than going out and buying a bigger bass boat to start off. Using your kayak to reach “off the beaten path” areas is one of the reason I got a couple for us to fish out of this year. We have already had some great times with more to come. To start with, our trips have been small and to areas we have been to before. Areas we fish so far have been small and with easy access to and from the water. Part of the fun of the kayak for me is the simplicity involved with it.
A boat, a paddle, a life jacket—(PFD), and small box of lures, your favorite rod/ reel combo and your set for a great day of family fun in the Ozarks. Some of the best fishing we have in the Ozarks can be reached by kayak. A short afternoon float from one low water bridge on a county road to another and you have some great fishing action. Small city lakes can also provide a fast after work trip. The whole family can join in on the action for a smaller price than an expensive weekend to one of those “high dollar” theme parks. I’m geared different, I guess, because the sound of a smallmouth bass peeling off drag and the gentle sound of riffle area on one of our Ozarks steams is way better to me than that theme park. Getting stated with kayaks can be as simple or as complicated as you choose. There is a kayak out there for anybody’s taste it is all dependent upon your needs. From white water kayaks to slow water and then fishing kayaks, each with a little different application. Also, depending weather you are tall/short, experienced/
novice, want to take extra equipment or just paddle and enjoy. Kayaking as a sport has brought many families back together in the outdoors. Kayaking for whatever reason you choose will help with your state of mind. Whatever you do on an Ozark stream, river, pond, small lake, or big lake in a kayak will help to build up your self-esteem, awareness, and provide you and your family with a lifetime of memories. Kayak fishing is my choice and I chose an 11’ entry level model with some tackle storage to get me stated. My wife got a shorter version, but still within the fishing kayak. They seem to have better seating for what we like and paddling is still easy with them. They have performed great so far and we have caught fish out of them and shared many a great afternoon out in the beautiful Ozarks. We have a couple of small forest service lakes we are looking at trying real soon. If you get a kayak remember clean up our water ways and leave them better than when you got there.
Check out my social media pages and follow my fishing adventures around the Ozark waters we call home. Facebook: Dewayne French Fishing Twitter: @French_fishin Instagram: french_fishin Youtube: Dewayne French or French fishing
There is always time for one more CAST
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AVENUES • July, 2021 43
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LAST MONTH’S WINNER:
Name: Address: City:
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Phone: RULES: To register for the drawing, fill out the reply coupon and bring it to any of Areawide Media’s offices in Thayer, Highland or Salem before July 21 or mail to: P.O. Box 248, Salem, Ark. 72576. LIMIT TWO (2) ENTRIES PER HOUSEHOLD.
THE NEXT DRAWING FOR A FREE DINNER GIVEAWAY FOR TWO WILL BE JULY 21. 44 AVENUES • July, 2021
Mandy Freeman Thayer, Mo.
Wood-carved bulldozer holds special meaning to Holloway family
Vernon Holloway was 43-years-old when Rover resident Johnny Cline took this photo of him and the dozer carv- Story and Photos by Kim Break ing.
V
ernon Holloway resides in West Plains, Mo., but growing up, he was a boy from Fulton County, Ark. He recently made his way back to Salem over the Memorial Day weekend to see some familiar faces. He was excited as some individuals had brought along photos from first or second grade. “I didn’t even recognize myself,” said Holloway. Holloway graduated in 1961, and school is where he learned to “widdle”. While many others were playing in sports, Holloway was always carving something. When he was little, and see factory made toys, he would try to make himself replicas knowing he couldn’t afford the new toys. In junior high, Holloway said he would even make a little money from students at school asking for his latest carving. He was disappointed to learn at the recent class reunion of the passing of a classmate who had bought one of his carvings. He was looking forward to sharing with him what all he had done with carvings since middle school. Though he didn’t make a career out of woodworking, he worked at places where he received wood to make two special pieces, his “most prized carvings” he calls them. He learned to operate a dozer early in life and was fascinated by the way they operated. So much so, he decided to create a wood replica of a Caterpillar D6 model. “People ask me, ‘well is that metal?’ Well how could I carve it out of metal? I did use ink pen springs to use for the gear shift so they would pull back,” said Holloway. Even details such as the steering clutch boosters under AVENUES • July, 2021 45
the seat. Not all details are visible right away, but when Holloway starts showing how he designed the dozer so realistically, the details become evident. Prior to living in West Plains and after graduating from Salem High School in 1961, Holloway stayed around the area and worked for the Langston family. He worked on various jobs such as the old nursing home and the lake at the Salem City Park. He learned to operate a bull dozer during this time, so he would operate a dozer during the day and worked on carving a replica at night. He began the carving in 1969 and finished it in 1970. His father-in-law owned a similar model at the time, so if he needed to see how something looked, he could look at a real life model to make his similar. “That is why it is copied down to each detail,” said Holloway. He even carved brake pedals and the tracks along the bottom. When he moved to West Plains, he had the folks at West Plains Glass create a customized cover for it.
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They custom designed a wooden ledge with legs for the dozer to be displayed on, and a glass encasement which protected the art piece and attached to the ledge. They displayed the dozer for quite some time once the case was complete. “You can advertise your glass work and show people my dozer too,” said Holloway, who still
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has the glass case. “He really did good.” Over the years Holloway has proudly shown off the carving. In his younger days, it was easier for him to show each detail. He did not have a drill or any kind of equipment to assist in his carvings. He used a pocket knife he traded a fellow classmate for in high school. Some change and a cheaper knife is what he used to trade the student. He did use a chisel for the front-loader of the dozer. Wires were used for the injector lines and popsicle sticks and toothpicks were also used for various items and mechanisms. While working at Amicks Manufacturing, he would equalize eight food boards and would end up with scrap pieces. “You had to cut off the end to square it and some would be cracked – you had to cut the wood
back where it wasn’t cracked, so [the scrap] was plenty long for me to use,” explained Holloway. He would pick up wood from crates as well to use for his carving. For the holes in the grill and for other “drilling” details, he would use the sharp end of the knife. His daughter, Fonda, was five-years-old at the time, and he would let her help drill holes. His son, Jason, is very proud of the dozer and has already claimed it for the taking. His second “most prized carving” is a walking stick he carved. When Holloway worked at Dawson Harper Quarry, he was given a Mimosa branch and told to create a walking stick from it, so he began planning. At the time, approximately 1996, a prominent family in West Plains, the Cochrans, had a sick monkey they took to the local hospital to treat. It made headlines at the time,
so everyone in the community knew about it. Holloway was inspired to carve a monkey on the top if his walking stick. When he told everyone his plans to carve a monkey, they didn’t believe he could make it happen. “My wife [Donnie] had a whatnot, a monkey, when I got to the top on a Sunday evening, I sat that monkey in the window of my carport where I could look at him,” he explained. He ended up coloring the monkey to look like the collector’s item belonging to his wife. “I put a little bit of everything on it and I took a colored marker and marked it up.” Not many people have the talent or patience to create such a detailed replica without kits. The fact Holloway designed every piece is a truly unique feat and he deserves to be proud and enjoy showing off his art work.
Milestones 60th ANNIVERSARY JB and Arlene Etheridge, of Viola, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on June 5. The couple married June 3, 1961 in Grapevine, Texas. Birthdays 90 years and over and anniversaries 50 years and over will be picked up from the Villager Journal, The News and The South Missourian News and placed in Avenues Milestones when space allows. AVENUES • July, 2021 47
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48 AVENUES • July, 2021