Avenues December 2022

LocatedinthehistoricalCastleberryBuilding ontheSquareinSalem.

By Renee Janes. Left by Renee Janes

VENUES

SALES STAFF

Sales Director

SHEILA HARRIS

870-895-3207

WRITERS

Renee Janes

Elaine Brown

Vincent Marshall

John Norberg

Cheri Lynn Quattrochi

RENEE JANES

Editor

Graphic Designer DEBBIE DOWNUM

Graphic Designer

From the Editor:

Renee Janes, Editor smn@areawidenews.com 870-895-3207 Salem, Ark.

There is the saying that “the days are long and the years are short” and this does seem to apply to this year as it does many. It is hard to believe it is already December and many of us are preparing for the holidays as they grow closer.

Throughout the month there will be many great holiday events being held to attend as Vince has covered in his story for this issue of Avenues.

One great event that is held in November is Mistletoe Magic Arts and Craft Show. Event coordinators Trena Spears and Trudy Britton shared with me the history of the show as well as how it benefits Thayer High School students.

Avenues is published monthly and distributed free in Cher okee Village, Hardy, Ash Flat, Highland, Horseshoe Bend, Melbourne, Salem, Viola, Mam moth Spring, Mountain Home, Cave City, Batesville, West Plains, Thayer, Alton and other areas. Contact the office at the above numbers for information on ad vertising.

388 Hwy. 62/412 East P.O. Box 248 Salem, AR 72576 Office 1-800-995-3209 Fax 870-895-4277 news@areawidenews.com

Elaine visited with Sharp County Judge Gene Moore, who is retiring after six years in the position but served in Sharp County in the road department since 1989. As always, we hope you enjoy this issue of Avenues. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

The end of the year is coming soon at which time 2022 will be but a fond memory. As you think back over your Gardener’s Accom plishments, one may feel that the gardening season is done.  But it is not.

With December comes Christ mas and with Christmas comes some very pretty plants ready to bloom. The first Christmas flower that comes to mind is the Poinset tia. They come in many different colors and designs. The colored “flower” is actually Bracts (leaves).  The flowers are really the tiny yellow center part called Cyathia.

Poinsettias are fairly easy to take care of. They do not like the cold and should be kept away from drafts. They do not like to dry out or stand in water. Just an even watering is good. After the red leaves fall off, you can continue to care for them and they will become a beautiful house plant.

Next let’s talk about the Christmas Cactus. This cactus

is similar and gets easily confused with the Thanksgiving Cactus and Easter Cactus. The way to tell them apart is in the leaves. The Christmas Cactus leaves are flat across with segmented leaves. The Thanksgiving Cactus has broad leaves with small points on each side. And last, the Easter Cactus has a more rounded and tear-drop shaped leaf with bristles on the ends of the leaves.

The Christmas Cactus comes in a wide range of colors that include orange, pink, purple, red and white. They do not like to dry out especially during the bloom cycle. They like bright light and should stay away from the heat source. To get them to start their bloom cycle they need to be exposed to 50–60-degree temperatures.  This plant is very easy to propagate from cuttings, and prefer a small growing space and in fact, like to be root-bound.

Now, this last blooming plant is one of the easiest to grow and take care of. I am talking about the Amaryllis Bulb. This bulb has grown in popularity over the years. You can plant this bulb beginning in October, when they start showing up at your local stores. Place in a pot with a little room around the bulb. Put in good potting soil and bring the dirt level up to its neck. Place the pot in a sunny warm location.

John Norberg Sharp County Master Gardener

Give the bulb a slight amount of water until it begins to grow. You can increase the amount of water at this point. In about 7-10 weeks, the Amaryllis will begin to bloom with large flowers that come in many different colors. Cut the flower stem off after it begins to die back. Keep the leaves and continue to water for about 5 months. When the leaves begin to turn yellow and die back, cut them to about 2 inches tall. Store in a cool dry place for about 6 weeks, then start the process all over again. It may be winter. It may be December. But let’s make it a Bloomin’ Christmas.

A very blessed man served Sharp County

for six years, now steps down an even more blessed man for having served

Story by Elaine Brown photos By Elaine Brown and Submitted

When Gene Moore, local Ash Flat resident running for the office of Sharp County Judge, took the oath of office after winning the election in 2016, he had already been serving the county in the road department since 1989. He worked as a road grader and operated a dump truck, ultimately becoming road foreman under County Judge Harold Crawford.

Serving the people comes naturally to Judge Gene Moore, who has served as Sharp County Judge for six years. Now he has decided it is time to retire. That decision was not an easy one for him to make. He currently has a great group of justices he is enjoying working with, and they are accomplishing a lot of decisionmaking and allocating of funds. Leaving at such an active time may seem counter productive; however, Judge Moore has a special guider and mentor from God with whom Moore often speaks and seeks council. Moore has often been quoted saying, “I serve God first, then the people.” He has held true to those priorities throughout his career, as well as his life.

Becoming Sharp County Judge was and easy decision for him to make; it was something he had been thinking about for a long time before he actually ran for office. The timing seemed right to him then; leaving the office, the timing seems right to him now.

Moore grew up in Ash Flat and attended Highland High School, graduating with the class of 1978. He remembered the old County Judge Les Anderson who was in office at that time. Judge Anderson had come to visit them after their house had burned down. The judge bulldozed the burned remains

to clear the space for a new house. “I thought that was really special that he came out and did that for us and I thought, you know. He likes to help people. That’s what I considered a county judge to be, somebody that wanted to help somebody,” Moore reflected.

He also recalled County Judge Frank Arnold who was a close friend of his stepfather, A.V. Herron and left a great impression on Moore. “We shopped at his store back years ago. He was a good man. He liked to help people and had a good heart,” Moore continued, “That was my main concern [when entering the office], was trying to help people, and I enjoy that.”

The Arnold’s had a great impact on Moore’s life. He had worked under Judge Arnold’s brother Jim as a surveyor. Later Judge Arnold hired him in 1989 to work as a road grader in the county . roads department. He was hired as road foreman by County Judge Harold Crawford, who later passed away. When Judge Brown was elected, he became Moore’s boss and mentor while Moore was still working as road foreman. Brown added to Moore’s assignment as road foreman and appointed him as Director of the Office of Emergency Management (OEM).

During his service as OEM Director, Judge Brown had also appointed the Road Superintendent Dan Melbourne to be the OEM Deputy Director. So the Moore/ Melbourne team worked well in duo capacity managing the county road and OEM departments together.

In February 2008, a month after they began their duo team work, the big tornado came through Sharp County. Moore stated laughingly, “We got baptized with fire. Of course it hit my house as well as [Melbourne’s] house too. We both had damage through that.”

Moore reflected on how the neighbors stood up during that crisis and helped each other out. “That’s the thing about Sharp County. You’ve got a lot of good people that help out in emergency situations. We’re really blessed here,” Moore said thoughtfully.

It was when Judge Brown did not seek another term of the county judge office that Moore decided to run, feeling the time was right for him to serve in that capacity. He said a little prayer as he recalled the moment, “Good Lord help me and all my family and people of the county. It’s been a blessing.”

Remembering the floods that also came in the Spring of 2008, and the ice storm of 2009. “We’ve had our share of disasters there for several years, but we got through it… We were blessed with a lot of good help,” said Moore. One lesson Moore learned as he worked the various jobs through his career is to delegate out duties and responsibilities. “You just can’t do it all yourself,” he said. He feels he just squeaked in when he was initially elected for county judge in 2016, which ended in a run-off election. When re-elected for his second term, he did not have to run against anyone. He feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve for six years as judge, and has a good feeling about leaving at this time.

When thinking about some of his toughest challenges while serving as judge, Moore stated, “After COVID

came along, it kind of put things in a different perspective. You didn’t want to get out, you didn’t want to stir. That kind of made things a little tougher for me. But I’ve been blessed with a lot of good people making things happen for me,” expressed Moore.

During his tenure as judge, he feels he was blessed with so many talented people. He particularly was blessed with several good hard-working women, including his Administrative Assistant Denise Frame, the Circuit/ County Clerk Alisa Black, County Treasurer Wanda Girtman, County Assessor Kathy Nix and so many others who have helped him along the way. Two things he did not enjoy having to do as county judge is sometimes he had to tell people “No.” That part, along with telling people what they ought to do, he did not enjoy, “but sometimes it had to be done,” said Moore. “It’s time for some newer blood and to make things go forward,” said Moore. “You need some newer blood… new ideas and to look at things differently.”

He is looking forward to spending more time with his wife, Melissa.“We lost a daughter in 2010 to an accident on the highway just down the road from the house.” Her name was Sierra Goodman and died at the age of 24. The Moore’s have other daughters and sons from previous marriages who live in different places in Arkansas and out-of-state too. His mother lives next door in Ash Flat, and one of his daughters lives just down the road. He has a number of grandchildren as well, Judge Moore also has some brothers and sisters he

places in northern Arkansas.

When asked about his successor, Mark Counts who will be sworn in as the new Sharp County Judge on Jan. 1, 2023, Moore said, “I feel he’ll do a great job. He’s already a good public servant [as county sheriff] and he’s used to dealing with people, helping the county and making things better.” Moore has worked with Sheriff Counts for years and knows him well.

Judge Moore is forever grateful for the experience he has had serving as Sharp County Judge. “I was blessed with so many good people working with me.” Judge Gene will not be far away, and it seems he will likely be poking his head in from time to time just to see what’s “going on.”

Families,

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

Sonya Hames Wiles, D.D.S.

Family Practice Dentistry

28 E. Court St., Melbourne, AR 72556

Telephone: 870-368-6666 Most insurances accepted

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

HOME HEALTH

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.”

Preferred Home Care

Trained and Professional Staff Offering Personal Care, ARChoices, PASSE, Veterans Aid and Attendance and Private Pay/Insurance 24/7

Mammoth Spring: 870-710-7053 Pocahontas: 870-248-1031 Rector: 870-595-2100

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

NURSING/REHAB

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

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

Mistletoe Magic Arts and Crafts Show strives to help local students

Story by Renee Janes photos By Renee Janes and Submitted

Annual craft shows are a popular event for many to attend with one local show being a favorite of many attendees and vendors. Held to help students at a local school, Mistletoe Magic Arts and Crafts Show is held the first weekend of November at Thayer High School every year. “With the help of Trena Spears, the Senior Beta club usually hosts 60-70 vendors. Items for purchase range from baked goods, woodworking, porcelain, direct sales, wreaths, clothing, soaps, wax melts/candles and other miscellaneous items. Students set up for the show the night before and must mark off booth space and have everything ready for the vendors arrival early the next morning. As vendors arrive, Beta members meet them and offer to carry in their booth items. After the show begins each morning, Betas visit with vendors and offer them breaks, food options, and other requests vendors may need. After the craft show it is the members’ responsibility to help vendors transfer their items to the automobiles and prepare the school for the next day. Proceeds

from booth rentals go toward student expenses to participate/attend the National Beta Club state and national conventions,” said Beta Club Sponsor Trudy Britton.

The inspiration for Mistletoe Magic came from an arts and crafts festival that was held at Thayer High School but was discontinued.

“It was hosted by the THS FFA advisor Paul Light and his students during the 1980s and 90s. When Light left the district, the craft festival was discontinued and wasn’t brought back until Spears suggested bringing it back and having the THS Senior Beta help with everything and use booth proceeds as one of their fundraisers. When it was decided to hold the event in November, the name Mistletoe Magic was chosen since many vendors would have holiday items and shoppers would be looking for gift ideas,” said Britton.

In 2015, Spears brought the craft show back as a service project through the company she worked for at the time.

“The first year, the funds raised from the booth fees were used to purchase new choir robes for the choir. After that, Beta became involved and since then it has been a fundraiser for THS Beta,” said Spears.

Spears was inspired to come up with the name Mistletoe Magic as it was different from other craft show names she saw at the time.

Spears begins each year in May or June planning for the event. She sends out applications to the prior year’s vendors and posts about the event on social media, newspapers, radio and flyers. Then the Friday prior to the event, organizers and students get to work marking booth spaces. This year, 2022, a vendor helped mark spaces.

“It was great to have a vendor give up his time to do so much for these kids. Shout out to Gnomingo’s Design Company for helping us out this year,” said Spears. “These students definitely earn their points, and they always do an amazing job and one of the reasons I keep doing the show year after year. I have always had a big heart for the good folks at Thayer School and in some way over the years done what I can to help in some way. The show is always held the first Saturday and Sunday in November. The only year we had to cancel was because of COVID in 2020. Since the return of the show, many vendors have been returning since the first show in 2015. Each year we gain new ones and this year we had one of the biggest varieties of booths that we have ever had,” said Spears, stating her goal for the show is for each year to be bigger and better.

“This year we even had several outside vendors. We

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Mon. - Fri., 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Fred Major, ND 1504 Preacher Road Blvd. West Plains, Mo 417-255-1654 2630 Hwy. 62/412 • Hardy, AR 72542 • (870) 856-3853

Richard’s Heating and Cooling Keeping the Home fires burning! Merry Christmas!

said Spears. When asked how the event has impacted the Beta Club students through the years, Britton said, “This event is enjoyed by many Betas. Some look forward to hosting every year until they graduate. Since the proceeds from the event help pay for state and national Beta convention fees and miscellaneous costs, families have this financial burden lifted and students can participate when otherwise they might not be able to.”

In addition, students learn teamwork and communication as well as increased empathy through volunteering.

“As a sponsor of Beta for 20 years this is one of my favorite community service activities. Students use interpersonal and time management skills, teamwork, and empathy as they work together with the vendors to host a successful show. As their sponsor this is

very rewarding to observe. The students gain selfconfidence and love the positive feedback as well… Students look forward to receiving the vendor comments at the end of each craft show. As they hear the positive feedback their smiles reflect the satisfaction of a job well done,” said Britton.

Through the years proceeds have helped students pay for hotel and food costs as well as entrance fees to Disneyworld, Andrew Jackson’s The Hermitage, The Louisville Slugger Museum and USS Alabama battleship. In addition, students have had the opportunity to attend national conventions in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.

For more information about Mistletoe Magic Arts and Crafts Show, contact Trena Spears or Trudy Britton at Thayer High School.

Ash Flat

Local Taste

SIDEWINDER CAFE

962 HWY 62/412 ASH FLAT, AR (870) 751-2020 Mon., Wed., Thurs. 11-9; Tues. 11-5; Fri. 11-11; Sat. 12-11; Sun. 12-5 Call ahead, Dine-In, Carry-Out Facebook.com/Frontier-Lanes

MEACHAM’S

191 HWY 62/412 ASH FLAT, AR (870) 994-2101 Tues. - Thurs. 11-8; Fri -Sat. 11-9 Dine-In & Carry-Out Facebook.com/meachamsashflat

BUTTERCUP’S KITCHEN

922 N. Main St. Cave City, AR (870) 283-5000 Mon. - Sat. 6 am - 3 pm Breakfast till 10:30 am Facebook.com/Butter cups-Kitchen

Cave City Hardy Salem

ARTASIA MAIN ST. BISTRO / TWILIGHT APOTHECARY

112 E. Main St. | Hardy, AR (870) 209-7606 Espressos, Teas, Homemade Baked Goods,Sandwiches and Wraps

Sun. 9-3; Mon. 7-3; Thurs.-Sat. 7-3 Facebook.com/artasia

SWINGLES FAMILY DINER

126 Locust St. Salem, AR (870) 895-5008 Mon. - Sat. 6 am - 2 pm Facebook.com/pages/Swingles

What’s Cookin’ in the Ozarks? What’s Cookin’ in the Ozarks?

Holiday Oreo Balls

By Linda Welch

Ingredients

1-8 oz. pkg. Philadelphia Cream Cheese 36-Oreo Cookies, finely crushed (about 3 cups) 4-pkg. (4 oz.each) Baker’s semi-sweet chocolate, broken into pieces OR White baking chocolate melted

Directions

Mix cream cheese and cookie crumbs until blended. Shape into 48 (1-inch) balls. Freeze 10 minutes.

Dip balls in melted chocolate; place in single layer in shallow waxed paper-lined pan.

**Peppermint Oreo Balls can be made by adding peppermint extract and topping with crushed candy canes.

Church Directory Church Directory

Sacred Heart Catholic Church 3612 Best Circle, Thayer, MO 65791

Office - 417-256-2556

Sacred Heart Schedule: Weekday Mass: Thursday 11:30 a.m. Weekend Mass: Sunday 8:30 a.m.

Confession: First Sundays at 8:00 a.m. Rosary: Sundays at 8:00 am.; Weekdays before Mass Adoration: 3rd Thurs. & 1st Fri. 11:30 a.m.

Mammoth Spring Church of Christ 110 S. 3rd St. / P.O. Box 251

Sunday 10:00 a.m. & 6 p.m. Wednesday 7:00 p.m.

Barry O’Dell - Preacher Find us on Facebook or YouTube

Ash Flat Church of God 124 Arnhart St. • Ash Flat, AR 501-574-8294

Sunday School 10:00 a.m.

Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m. Sunday Evening 5:00 p.m.

Thursday Bible Study 6:00 p.m.

Pastor CL Abbott

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

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

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

Pastor Emeritus Rev. Jimmy Anderson

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

First Baptist Church of Mammoth Spring 16600 Highway 9, Mammoth Spring, AR 625-3273 • www.mammothspringfbc.com Chris Powers, 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. 870-966-4997

Don Robbins, Pastor/Brother Food Pantry Last Saturday of Each Month - 1 p.m. - 3 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. 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

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. Call 870-895-2634 or 371-2067

Pastor Holden Phillips 870-834-5852

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 - 10:00 a.m. Sunday Worship - 11:00 a.m. Email: stpaulumc@centurytel.net 417-264-3296 • Pastor Mark Coffey

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. 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

Area Christmas, holiday events for December

Story By Vincent Marshall

PHOTOS Submitted

Tis the season and there are plenty of events taking place in the area this Christmas and holiday season.

Mustard Seed Nursery and Landscaping will be offering live Christmas trees, wreaths and garland starting in the early part of December through to Christmas. They can be reached at its Face book page or call 870-6567724 for more information.

On Wednesday, Dec. 7 in Batesville, Ark., Pictures with Santa Pete will be held at Citizens Bank, located at 655 St. Louis St., from 2 to 5 p.m.

The City of Hardy will hold a “Super Hero Christmas” parade on Saturday, Dec. 10 starting at 11 a.m. with the lineup starting at 9 a.m.

The grand marshal this year is Renee Clay Circle.

The parade will go down Main Street and will feature Santa Claus, live music and local shops open for busi ness.

The Cherokee Village lighting ceremony at Town Center at the Arts Center

of North Arkansas and Innovation Hub will see Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by fire engine at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 10.

Contact Hardy City Hall at 870-856-3811 for more information.

Also in Batesville, on Dec. 9-10, Main Street Batesville will hold Old Fashioned Christmas from 3 to 8 p.m. featuring entertainment, ven dors, 50 shops to choose from, parade and a quilt walk among others. For more information, email mainstreetbatesville@gmail.com.

The annual Christmas parade in Thayer, Mo. will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. with the Christmas crowning to follow at The Whis tle Stop Stage in downtown Thayer.

At the Rockbridge Rainbow Trout and Game Ranch near Rocbridge, Mo., Breakfast with Santa will be held Saturday, Dec. 10 from 8 to 11 a.m.

On Sunday, Dec. 11, the Salem High School Band in Salem, Ark., will hold a concert at 2 p.m. at the Salem High School gym.

The Cabool Second Baptist Church, located at 13475 Industrial Drive in Cabool, Mo., will hold Christmas Dinner on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 5:30 p.m.

The Baxter County Wreaths Across Ameri ca Day will be on Saturday, Dec. 17 at noon in Mountain Home, Ark. at Plaza 2000, in Moun tain Home. The ceremony will be to honor local veterans and lay wreaths on graves for fallen soldiers of Baxter County.

On Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24 in Hardy, Ark., the Christmas Eve Candles and Carols will be held at the Hardy United Methodist Church at 5 p.m. Pastor Kay Brogdon and this welcom ing community of Faith, invite you to come, as you are. No services, Dec. 25.

ACNA’s December Artist of the Month: Margret “Maggie” Lohr

The Arts Center of North Arkansas’s December Artist of the Month is Margret “Maggie” Lohr (aka Johnson or Albright).

By Cheri Lynn Quattrochi

Maggie is a painter whose work is con stantly evolving as she experiments in various mediums. She also dapples in beadwork and jewelry.

Born in Texas and raised in Kentucky, Maggie now resides in the Ozarks. She has loved drawing and painting for as long as she can remember. Amazed at the box of crayons she re ceived for school, she fell in love with the many colors, both inside the box and surrounding her.

The absorption of herself into these colors gives Maggie’s art a distinctive flair. Primarily a self-taught painter, she uses many mediums such as pencil, acrylic and oil paint, watercolor, and pastels. Although her subjects may vary, almost all of Maggie’s work por trays an arrangement of the colors of the spectrum.

At present Maggie’s real job in at the local Walmart while the art she is inspired to create remains a hob by. For her, art is a great stress reliever and an escape from the day-to-day monotony. She likes to challenge

herself which is one reason her art covers a wide range of styles and subjects.

In her younger years (Albright), Maggie immersed herself into the fantasy world of gargoyles and drag ons. As Johnson, she focused more on landscapes and

nature.

Entering the realm of still life, Maggie understudies with Eva Haley, who has been very patient and has broadened Maggie’s understanding of concepts, tech nique, color mixing, and layout—and there’s still more to learn. Currently, they are using pallet knives to create beautiful pictures, a technique Maggie finds tricky. Inspired by the beadwork and colors of the indigenous peoples who are a part of her heritage, Maggie uses primarily glass seed beads in her jewelry with monofila ment or fishing line as thread. While feeling connected and grounded with the past as she creates her pieces, she uses a contemporary style suitable for any occasion. She often wears her work and has it on display at the Spring River Art Gallery where she is a member.

Maggie also uses her glass seed beads to create pens for the Five-River Bee Club. Hopefully, the flowers and bees attached to the pens will last longer than the ink inside.

As a newlywed (Lohr), Maggie looks forward to seeing and encompassing all she has learned as a self-taught artist into creating more pieces. Her goal is to incor porate her passionate personality and natural emotions

into each piece and to create more art for others to enjoy as much as she does.

Maggie sums up her Artist Statement, “I constant ly grow as an artist willing to try and excel in my endeavors. I currently enjoy teaching at the ACNA where I am a member. I plan to continue my art journey as I find it fulfilling and rewarding.”

ACNA/Innovation Hub Christmas Bazaar

Mark your calendars: Dec. 3 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and 5 (hours in conjunction with the Christmas tree lighting). Note the location: The Innovation Hub. Call for more details. Come and shop for unique Christmas gifts for your family and friends. Other December Activities Questions? Call 870-751-3793. Watch for flyers and newspaper notices; check ACNA’s Facebook page or website.

NOTE: Closed Dec. 21 – Jan. 2 (perhaps longer; please call.)

Writing/Visual Journaling, 1st Saturday, 10-12

Art Club, 2nd Saturday, 10-12

Photography Club, 3rd Saturday, 10-12 Sewing Club, 4th Saturday, 10-12

Mountain Dulcimer, Tuesdays, 10 Tai Chi, Mondays,10-11; Thursdays, ? (Call.) Open Studio, Tuesdays, 5-7 p.m. Mondays and Fridays, Clay classes, ? (Call.) Monday, Dec. 19, 2:30 p.m. Board Meeting

Thanks for Fishing

By: Dewayne French

It is getting close to Thanksgiving in the Ozarks and I’m very thankful for the time I get to spend outdoors. With family and friends chasing around a dream I have had since my early childhood. Fishing in general has been a major part of my life and is still today. From my day job to my weekends fishing is what I do and who I am. It has kept me out trouble as a teenager growing up, (except when I was late fish ing a few times). It also led me down the path to college and become a fish biologist and support my family.

Fishing is a back to nature sport, it isn’t the common stick and ball sport that you and I played while in high school and summers. But there is still parallels to both sports that cross over. The main intriguing fact to me about fishing is I’m outside in nature. I get to see things that some people never get to or maybe they do, but very seldom. From picture perfect mornings to birds and animals at the water’s edge it is just a great day from start to finish most days. People always ask isn’t it cold in the winter or hot in the summer? How do you stay warm? Simple answer to that is you dress for it. A deer hunter dresses warm for his day in the field hunting and a construction worker dress in lay ers for his day. As for the summer heat you go early or go late in the day wear a big hat and cool long sleeve shirts that are made to lessens the sun’s rays.

Thanks for my fishing can go as far back as I can remember, when my Mom would take me to the farm pond to catch fish all the way to tournament fishing last weekend with my stepsons in a high school tournament. All ages and ability ranges can fish and I have seen them all. Catching fish is just a bonus to my day I get to spend outside. Fishing is also a great hobby to enjoy with family and friends you can camp, set around a campfire, swim, observe the natural world, and even have a good fish fry from your catch. Fishing to me is more than just catching and eating fish. It is a life within its own weather in a boat or walking the shoreline you just get to be so close to nature.

With the surge in kayak sales in the last few years and then covid-19 shutting things down for a time I have seen the amount of people fish ing increase. All the states surrounding the Ozarks region have seen an increase in fishing license sales. This will lead to more money states can spend on this growing outdoor activity. I’m thankful for all the time I get to spend on the water fishing with family, friends, and future friends it will bring to me. I have a great friend I met while fishing a national bass tournament in Texas. I have lifelong friends formed from fishing. The memories I have from all the years are as the TV commer

cial says “priceless”.

It really don’t take a lot of money to get started fishing and enjoy ing the Ozarks region we have around us. From the clear water deep lakes of Norfork, Bullshoals, Table Rock to the rivers like the Spring, Current, 11-point and the Jacks Fork. We really do have something for everyone in the Ozarks region. Fishing can be about a relaxing enjoyable day on the water to a day of intense tournament fishing ac tion. Fishing has it all covered plus you get to be outdoors and you get to breathe nature. We all need be thankful for something during the upcoming seasons. Besides your faith and family, fishing the beautiful Ozarks water ways has to be close to the top on the list.

Remember, we all “Live Downstream” so please pick up your trash and any other trash you see out floating around! Never discard old fish ing lines in the river or lake! Wear your life jacket, and tell your family your expected return times, and a general location of where you plan to fish.

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

“Of all the liars among mankind, the fisherman is the Most trustworthy”

Bill Dance