Devoted - May 2011

may2011 AtUrbanMagazine.com

devoted

like us? We’re hoping let us know how much you to go you uld wo far w Ho ile you’re heading out the next few months, wh g rin Du y. wa g lon g, it’s a lon e, or even traveling on your vacation of a lifetim to your favorite campsite, ine (it doesn’t have to be our little 8.5 x 8.5 magaz e business, try this. Pack e wonderful spot, and tak ue will do), take it to som iss any n, tio edi y ny, Ma the your granny, your nan can have your dog in it, a photo with @Urban. You you don’t have to have significant other. Heck, or your superhot (G-rated) there. long as the magazine is anybody in the photo, as

TIMELINE

Contest runs from 2011 MAY 1st – AUGUST 31st, BER 1st Winner announced OCTO

LOOT

your amazing Besides getting to share tes, Facebook photos with other Urbani ers, the friends, and Flickr follow wcased sho be l wil top three entries n. The tio edi n in our October @Urba eiv rec e a prize three winners will each rchandise package with @Urban me ice that will be PLUS a photo of your cho by our friends turned into a work of art ng! And take us at CanvasHQ. So get goi to see how far with you. We can’t wait go with the help one little magazine can ative Urbanites! of our determined and cre

Once you’v e got your perfect shot , email it to editors@AtU rbanMagazi n e.com and we will post it on ou r F lic kr account (flickr.com/p hotos/urban magazine) for all to se e. Be sure to include yo and tell us ur name a little abou t the photo (where it was take n, who is fe atured in th e shot, etc). Perio dically, we’ ll post a few on our Facebook p age (so ple ase LIKE u s!), and at the end of summer, w e’ll declare the top three winn ers, based on creativity , photo quality and your ability to make us smile.

Marcus Coker

DESIGNER

Jeromy Price

WEB GURU

David Jamell

PUBLISHER

Read Chair Publishing, LLC

COVER ART

Gazoomin Designs zazzle.com/gazoomin

lifestyle

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Marla Cantrell Marcus Coker Cat Donnelly Catherine Frederick Laura Hobbs Doug Kelley Jim Martin Tonya McCoy Anita Paddock Todd Whetsine

entertainment

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Marla Cantrell

20 22

Turkey Track Now Hear This

people

MANAGING EDITOR

Catherine Frederick

Volatile Weather in the Night Loving Belgians Urban Gardener Where’s the Organic Beef Mother’s Day Gift Guide

24 26 28

A Mother’s Gift Spy Planes, Rockets & Fans Pages of Hope

taste

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF PRESIDENT

7 8 12 14 18

32 34

Panzanella Salad The Miami Vice

destination

@INSIDE

36 40 44

Drennon-Scott Crossing the Cossatot Crushed Grapes

Advertising and Distribution Information

Catherine Frederick at 479 / 782 / 1500 Catherine@AtUrbanMagazine.com Editorial or Artwork Information

Marla Cantrell at 479 / 831 / 9116 Marla@AtUrbanMagazine.com ©2011 Read Chair Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.

The opinions contained in @Urban are exclusively those of the writers and do not represent those of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. as a whole or its affiliates. Any correspondence to @Urban or Read Chair Publishing, LLC., including photography becomes the property of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. @Urban reserves the right to edit content and images.

@LETTER FROM CATHERINE

I

only began to re-celebrate Mother’s Day six years ago when my son was born. For years before his birth, I’d ignored that day in May. It only served as a devastating reminder that my mom was gone. She died in 1991 from heart failure. I was sixteen and still in high school.

For years I kept busy, trying to keep that sorrow at bay. It was only after my son arrived that I began to accept the enormous legacy of loss. My mom never saw me graduate from high school or college, get married, have a child - the list grew with every thought. I craved her voice, her advice, her approval.

Not a day goes by that I don’t think about Mom. I wish I could call her up and tell her that my son received an award, took gold at his last Kuk Sool Won tournament (twice) or said something hilarious. My mom must have known I’d need a stand-in, so she arranged the best “other mother” a girl could have - my mother-in -law. She’s the one I call for advice, when I need a pep talk, when I have good news to share. I even call her “Mom” and I know my mom would approve and she would love her too.

That’s the universal bond of mothers; we want what’s best for our kids. When our staff started kicking around the “one word” on the cover that defines us each month, we went through list after list. When we hit “devoted” we knew we had it.

In this month’s issue we have the stories of all kinds of devotion – from a local couple whose Belgian draft horses take up a great deal of time, and a whole lot of love, to a photographer who’s found a way to give families in crisis a gift beyond measure, to the story of a mother and daughter who share the “writing gene.”

We’ll also take you on a rip-roaring ride on the Cossatot, wind our way through the state’s wine country, and whip up one mean panzanella salad. So enjoy!

Still looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift? Be sure to check out our gift guide starting on page 18. And this Mother’s Day- celebrate.

Honor your mom, sister, or girlfriend - even yourself! Being a mom is a challenge - thankfully moms rise to the occasion, time and time again. So tell your mom “thanks,” give her a hug, and tell her you love her.

Sign up on our website, AtUrbanMagazine.com, & get our weekly e-news, @Urban Mix!

5

@LIFESTYLE

On Salvador Dali’s birthday

peepers croak in the woods

as winds whip the branches green skies rain, hail

wind chimes

clang in the night

and the White River is rising sounds of a freight train where there are no tracks big dog sentry paces the yard little dog hides under the bed

candles, matches, flashlights

and Buddha

lined up on the kitchen counter

next to the Mother’s Day flowers

and down south

the King River is rising

tornado warning averted

at midnight

four cats ‘wrastle’

in and around a paper bag

while a hot bath and wine

help to beckon Morpheus.

7

@lines Cat Donnelly

V

ictor stands in the barn at his home near Greenwood, tethered by a blue lead rope,

while his trainer, Kelly Hughes, outfits him in the black patent leather trappings he usually only wears when he’s competing at state fairs or Belgian draft horse competitions.

As Kelly works, Victor’s big head moves up and down, like a parishioner who’s in constant agreement with a fiery Sunday sermon. His hooves, big as dinner plates, are perfectly aligned.

Kelly guides him a few steps back, and even these small movements cause the dust to stir. Victor is a powerful animal, weighing more than 2,000 pounds. If he wanted, there is nothing or no one in this barn powerful enough to stop him.

His owner, Dr. Ann Passmore, feels none of the anxiety of those unfamiliar with Belgians. She pats Victor’s long neck and then holds her hand out to him. At five feet, five inches, she barely reaches his withers, the point between the shoulder blades where a horse’s height is measured. He licks her, once, twice, and then her entire hand disappears inside his soft mouth. It seems like a reckless move for a plastic surgeon, whose skilled hands drive her livelihood, but she knows the nine-year-old powerhouse as well as she’s ever known anyone. “These guys,” she says, “are gentle giants. They’ll do anything for you.”

Victor, whose awards fill the wall, has done plenty for Ann. Her husband, Powell Sanders, first saw the

loving belgians life changes on a lark @story Marla Cantrell @images Marcus Coker

@LIFESTYLE

red Belgian draft horse at a Denver stock show in 2002. In

She controls this one-ton horse with a pound of line, a

2004, they brought him home to Arkansas. Today, he lives

whip she holds but never uses, and three words: Vic (his

in a barn with their other Belgians: Big Sir, Gorgeous, Kyle,

shortened name gets his attention), gee (forward) and

and the clown of the bunch, Jessie, who likes to get loose

haw (stop).

and play keep-away in the corral where they go to train.

Victor struts by, going faster as Ann allows, and starts Outside the barn is an orange Peterbilt. Its fifty-three

the trot that wins blue ribbons. He is a beautiful sight,

foot trailer carries the horses to shows. They are hitch

his white socks flash as he passes, muscles flex from his

horses, not farm class. “Think of Clydesdales,” Ann says.

shoulders to his hips. The motion is like pistons: regular,

“That’s a good comparison. They pull show carts that

rhythmic, syncopated.

are the size of the Budweiser hitch wagon. What makes Victor so good is his desire to please, his intelligence – he absolutely knows when he’s in a show – his form and his action. He’ll pull his knees straight up to his chest during a show. The judges look for that. We get him ready, I braid his mane, and you can see him change. He can’t wait to get out there.

“If you’re driving him and he’s 2,000 pounds, he can do whatever he wants. He knows his place; he knows his responsibility. He responds because he wants to please

Ann is showing as much control as Victor. She sits tall

me. It’s a partnership; it’s a marriage.”

in the seat, her back straight, the wind whipping her red hair across her face. She doesn’t stop to pull it back; she

On this day, Kelly and Ann get Victor ready for a few laps

doesn’t seem to notice. It is as if the two of them have

inside the corral. He bends his head, his white blaze bright

entered a place all their own. Jessie, who’s still in the

against the black leather, and lets Ann adjust his collar.

barn, leans his big head as far out of his stall as he can and cranes his neck to watch. Ann’s dogs run along the fence

As Kelly leads him out, Ann grabs the football receiver’s

row, making as much ruckus as is possible for two rowdy

gloves – made for young boys – that she wears to protect

canines. Traffic rumbles by, birds sing out, a horn blows.

her hands. She steps onto the round metal step, no bigger than a hamburger bun, and lifts herself into the

None of it matters. In the corral, there is only Victor and

cart’s driver’s seat.

Ann, a cart with big white wheels, and the glint off the silver on the Belgian’s fancy collar.

9

@LIFESTYLE

That’s the reality of loving horses. It’s not hard to outlive them, but losing them is like losing family. “Our first two Belgians were Lucky and Tom. My husband Powell and I bought them after we’d gone to ride them for a second time at Petit Jean.

[The second time] the guy told us they didn’t have shoes so we couldn’t ride and Powell asked, ‘Then can we buy them?’ And just like that, on a lark, we had these two big horses.”

That was well over a decade ago. Both Tom and Lucky are gone now. There is a burial plot on the property, as sacred as any Back in the barn, Kelly starts the process of taking off Victor’s

other cemetery. “If a horse is down, work stops,” Ann says. “I

gear that took him an hour to put on. Ann gets a brush and

come home. That’s part of your family. It’s like your child. It

runs it across the great horse’s coat. Sweat falls in sheets, like

gets very emotional.

water that’s been squeegeed from a shower door. Victor, ever submissive, bends again so the collar can come off.

“With Lucky, we even got a wrecker here to try to hoist him up, to help him stand. When one of these guys goes down and you

He can pull a cart alone, like he did on this day, with a hitch mate,

can’t get him up, it’s potentially lethal.”

or even with three other Belgians. Ann also rides the big guy, using a Quarter Horse saddle with special cinches to make it fit. “I love

The wind blows through the open doors of the barn, rattling the

summertime,” Ann says. “I’ll come home from work and Kelly has

halters that hang in neat rows. Ann’s eyes glisten. “Then,” she says,

him ready to ride. It’s addictive because you keep wanting more.

moving past the worst part of the story, “you’ve got to call your

There’s a peace to it because it takes you away and you have to have

friend who has a backhoe. This ground is rocky, so even digging

such total concentration.” Ann smiles, scratches the underside of

the hole is hard. Well,” she says finally, “it’s just horrible.”

Victor’s chin and says, “Troubles just evaporate.”

Even knowing that, she can’t stop. Ann loves these horses. She Kelly puts Victor back in his stall and brings out Big Sir. He is

loves the shows where no one knows what her day job is. Where

easily six inches taller than Victor, but a good deal thinner. “He’s

the day is filled with Belgian draft horses, friendly competition,

nineteen now,” Ann says, a small frown showing as she adds up

and the joy of life around these amazing animals. “If we didn’t

the years. “He’s a little skittish. But Big Sir would do anything

do this, we’d probably live in a fancier place. I don’t care about

for me. A child comes around and he’s so careful.

a fancier place. And my husband, who’s an attorney, would probably never have learned to drive an eighteen-wheeler,” she

“Every night,” Ann says, “no matter what, no matter how late it is, I

says, and then smiles. “Everything considered, I think we made

come out and pet this guy because I know he’s getting older.”

the right choice.”

10

In the past, the only plan I had was to till up some soil, make a long trench, dump in a bunch of seeds, then water and wait for the inevitable mass of sprigs I would then spend hours thinning the plants out, destroying several plants in the process. Well, the days of mass carrot suicide are over! Square Foot Gardening swooped in just in time to save the day- and my garden.

Last winter, a friend gave me the book, “Square Foot GardeningA New Way to Garden in Less Space with Less Work.” I shelved it for a while; it was a gardening book after all and I had not even begun to contemplate my spring garden. But several weeks ago, I got the itch, picked it up, and couldn’t put it down.

You see, even with all my hard work, last season’s garden ended in a sea of weeds, pests, and few vegetables. Now I was reading a book illustrating how I could grow a neat, attractive, weedless garden (if planted in raised beds), producing a rich harvest with less work.

Rich harvest, less work? Count me in- I was a SFG fanatic.

urban gardener

What’s so great about square foot gardening, you say? For me, square foot gardening removes the guesswork and takes

going squarefoot

gardening back to the basics. It’s not just another planting method, it’s a different mindset on how to garden. No more

@story Catherine Frederick

digging trenches and dumping in seed. Anything can be grown in a SFG and it’s adaptable - large garden spaces or containers on

S

pring has arrived, Jack Frost made a quick exit, so now’s the

apartment balconies, feeding one person or feeding the masses

time to get your hands dirty and plant your garden. Some

– if you have twelve inches of space, it can work for you.

of you may be interested in a better way to garden while others of you stare at that space of grass in the backyard and wonder

SFG starts with a master plan. The bonus for me was that the

where the heck to start. Many people will tell you it’s all about

plan is very visual with no room for error. It’s not about starting

the soil – and I agree. If you grow your soil, your soil can grow

small, it’s about starting smart. You simply decide how much

anything, but first you need a plan.

space you have to allot, how many people you want your garden to feed, and what type of vegetables to plant.

12

@LIFESTYLE

As the name implies, SFG is about planting in squares not rows.

And for goodness sakes, stay off of the soil! Walking on the soil

Each square is twelve inches by twelve inches - an area of one

packs it down, destroying the air pockets roots need to grow. When

square foot. Each square contains a different vegetable or herb.

laying out your SFG, give yourself just enough room between each

The exact number of plants grown in each square depends

twelve inch square to weed (if you’re not using the raised bed

on the type of vegetable and how much room the vegetable

method) and harvest without stepping on the growing soil.

needs. Think that’s too much guess work? Think again! SFG details how many of each type of plants a twelve inch square

Now, it’s time to decide whether you’re going to plant

can accommodate. It really is as simple as dividing up your area

organically or commercially. Don’t be intimidated by an organic

in twelve inch squres, looking up how many of each plant can fit

garden! The difference between organic and conventional

into each one, and then planting.

gardening is simply the decision to use natural fertilizers and compost in conjunction with organic seeds/plants. You can find

Take my garden for example. I don’t have a ton of room- eight

a full selection of organic seeds (I like Burpee Signature, USDA

foot wide by three foot deep- a total of twenty-four square

100% Certified Organic- it’s around .25 cents more per package

feet. I’ve planted carrots (sixteen/sq. ft.), tomatoes (one/sq.

than commercial seed) and bags of organic soil mixtures and

ft.), peppers (one/sq. ft.), garlic (nine/sq. ft.), radishes (sixteen/

additives at several local lawn and garden stores.

sq. ft.), onions (sixteen/ sq. ft.), heads of lettuce (four/ sq. ft.) and cucumbers (one/ sq. ft.). In just twenty-four square feet, I

While it may take a bit more research on the front end, the

have the following plants: forty-eight carrots, four tomatoes,

additional cost is minimal and you’ll be repaid time and again

eight peppers, nine garlic, thirty-two radishes, thirty-two

when you harvest the delicious, chemical free vegetables you

onions, eight heads of lettuce, and two cucumbers! Several

aren’t afraid to feed to your family, right off the vine.

of those squares can be succession planted (replanting a new crop as soon as the original is harvested) and interplanted

Next month, we’ll take a look at chemical-free pest controls for

(plating two crops simultaneously in the same area) - allowing

you and your plants, easy-to-build structures to protect your

for a larger, continual harvest.

plants from animals and weather, and even some bugs you’ll be happy to welcome into your garden.

Once you lay out your garden on paper (see, I told you- it’s visual) it’s time to prep your soil. Do a quick soil test. Grab a clump of

Square Foot Gardening:

soil and squeeze it in your hands. Sandy soil feels gritty, silty

A New Way to Garden in

soil like wet powder and clay soil is sticky. Depending on your

Less Space with Less Work

soil condition, you may need to add compost, mulch, peat moss,

By Mel Bartholomew

or vermiculite- all of which breakdown and feed your soil. (You can find the Perfect Soil Mixture at AtUrbanMagazine.com)

13

youngblood grass-fed farms @story and images Marcus Coker

T

he sun breaks over the rural town of Grannis, just thirty

wonder why the Youngbloods are often talked about at the

minutes south of Mena, and Tracy Youngblood stands by

local coffee shop.

her kitchen sink in socked feet. Her rubber work boots sit by the front door. As her children begin to rise, Tracy finishes

For the majority of their lives, Andy and Tracy were like most any

hand washing the electronic milking machine she purchased

other farming family in Arkansas. They raised cattle, chickens,

on Ebay. Her husband Andy comes in from moving the cows,

pigs, goats, and sheep. They leased land to a timber company.

pours a cup of coffee, and rests at the breakfast table. Nothing

They both had full-time jobs away from the farm, and their two

groundbreaking seems to be taking place, so one might

children, Ben and Matti, attended public schools.

@LIFESTYLE

“We were apart all day long. We didn’t spend a lot of time

to Andy, keeps cows’ PH levels balanced, producing CLA

together,” says Tracy. “[But we] had a vision of what we wanted.

(conjugated linoleic acid), a cancer fighting substance, and a

We knew something had to change. We wanted to spend more

beneficial proportion of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.

time together as a family. [Now] we eat breakfast together, we eat lunch together. We spend ninety-five percent of our time

He says that in conventional systems, calves are often born

together. We all work together on the farm.”

in the winter, out of sync with nature. Additionally, there are standard vaccinations once or twice a year, as well as chemical

In 2003, Andy quit working for Tyson, and Tracy quit teaching

dewormings. The crowded environments at feed lots can be

school. They built large-scale houses for their animals and

a breeding ground for illnesses which are often treated with

decided to concentrate on farming full time. They also started

antibiotics. Andy and Tracy believe all these chemicals and

home schooling their children. “It’s a rarity that both husband

medications, in addition to the pesticides and herbicides many

and wife can farm. Usually one or the other has to work a town

use to treat their land, have a negative impact on the meat sold

job,” says Andy.

to consumers. “It’s a whole system,” says Andy. “You can’t just pull one piece of the puzzle out.”

Few years they continued to be part of a conventional system, a system in which calves are raised by their mothers for five to

Andy learned about organic farming alternatives while researching

seven months and then sold at a sale barn. The calves are then

ways to increase the number of cattle he could raise per acre.

purchased by buyers and eventually sent to feed lots. Sometimes

When Tracy’s father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, they

the calves are fed grass for a few months but ultimately end up

considered their own health and were faced with a big decision.

eating grains, usually corn.

They knew they were not moving and that they couldn’t change their genetics, so they decided to make lifestyle changes. In 2006 they switched from conventional farming to organic.

Andy explains that you are what you eat, and cows are no exception. Tracy says that although cows like eating corn, “It’d be like us feeding on a buffet of Snickers and 3 Musketeers and

Because cattle genetics have changed over the decades and

chips all the time.” Andy adds, “Above a certain rate, grain will

most mother cows have grown accustomed to grains, Andy and

start to affect them pretty seriously, as well as their meat or milk

Tracy have had to “hunt hard” to find cattle that can survive on

that they produce.”

grass alone. They recently bought a bull and ten heifers that are part of the American Devon breed, a breed with a smaller

Cows have four stomachs, a unique feature that Andy says

frame that better supports grass feeding. “We want a good end

allows them to produce “incredible meat value” living solely

product, [and] they do everything we want,” says Tracy. “They’re

on grass and sunshine. “Natural grass-fed meat has a lot of

good mothers. They raise a crackerjack calf on grass alone. It’s

good properties for you and me.” Andy says the health benefits

all about meat quality, and the conventional is about weight.”

of natural grass-fed meat are significant. The diet, according

15

@LIFESTYLE

Andy and Tracy no longer sell their animals at sale barns. Their

It’s a great deal of trust, and folks want that, they like that. We’re

cattle no longer end up at feed lots. “We sell meat. We do the whole

not going to take chances with hindering that relationship.”

system. The difference is we’re keeping those animals on the farm,” says Tracy. Consequently, the animals aren’t exposed to pesticides

Tracy adds, “We will raise that animal and make sure it’s done

and herbicides, to unnecessary chemicals or antibiotics.

right. We have customers whose children are autistic, and they’ve found that they are at a higher level of functioning if

Once the animals have matured, they’re taken to a USDA

they’re on totally organic products, things without preservatives

(United States Department of Agriculture) processing facility

or dyes or any type of additive. They will not compromise, and

in Oklahoma. “We market that [finished product] to individual

we take that very seriously.”

customers, farmers’ markets, and online markets such as locallygrown.net. We have a couple restaurants we’re looking

Tracy says their product “is more expensive because we’re not

at.” Tracy travels up to four hundred miles a week delivering

tied into a system that’s subsidized by the government. We

product, often meeting customers in parking lots. Fort Smith is

have to travel a long way for a USDA processor. That’s more

her farthest drop off point.

expensive because we’re not able to volume him a thousand animals this month. But I think it evens out. If you’re not buying

Andy and Tracy respect and value their customers. “When we

Cokes and boxed foods, you’ll be able to afford it. Our ground

were in the conventional system, we didn’t consider the guy at

beef is $4.95 a pound.”

the end who was eating that meat,” says Andy. “[But now], there is a great deal of trust involved in our customers. They know us,

Andy and Tracy are looking toward the future. They hope to have a

and they know our farm. We have a transparent operation. They’re

retail store and larger delivery routes. They want an educational

welcome to come any time and look and see what we’re doing.

facility where people can learn about organic farming, cooking, canning and preserving. “I think it will be necessary at some point to know where your food is coming from,” says Tracy.

Also, they’d like to teach other farmers about their methods.

Andy says, “Sadly, farmers are a group of people that are the slowest to make change.” He smiles as he puts his elbows on the table and clasps his hands. “We get talked about a lot in this community. We’re the odd balls. But I’m finding if we’re not coffee shop talk every now and then, we’re probably not on the edge enough. We’re not pushing the letter enough.”

For more information, visit youngbloodgrassfed.com.

SUDSY

Does your mother live for her time alone soaking in a big tubs of bubbles? Would she rather have a really good shower gel than a really good day at the beach? Shower her with Crabtree and Evelyn products from the Now and Then Shoppe.

SWEETIE

If your mom could have her way, would she start dinner with dessert and work backwards?

She’s our kind of girl! Treat her to the decadent chocolate covered strawberries available at Kopper Kettle on Thursdays and Fridays through the end of May.

SIZZLIN’

Does your mom watch the Food Network for inspiration? Has she starting calling Rachel Ray simply “Rach?” Show her you get her by giving her the “I Love My Momma” Apron by Julia Junkin Textiles and “My Momma Made That” cookbook by the Junior League of Hampton Roads, available at Creative Kitchen.

SENTIMENTAL

If keeping you close to her heart is the only thing your mom wants, surprise her with a personalized necklace, engraved with her children’s (or grandchildren’s) names on this lovely silver necklace from Katiebug’s.

18

@urban’s ultimate gift guide

STUNNER

Have you done such a good job on past Mothers’ Days that your mom has everything on her “want list?” Then she needs a better list! For the discriminating mom, you can’t go wrong with designer Jay Strongwater’s exquisite pieces of art for the home, available at John Mays Jewelers.

STYLIN’

Does your mom style it up even when she’s just running errands around town?

We have one word for you: BVLGARI. Trust us, she’ll know what it means. And with the summer hot on her heels, she’ll need these designer sunglasses from Stiles Eye Group to protect her peepers and even stop a little traffic (even if it’s just in the carpool lane)!

SASSY

Does your mother put on lipstick before she picks up the mail? Is her makeup bag one of her prized possessions? Then she needs a trip to the Brow Bar to find the best makeup and skincare products on the market.

SENSATIONAL

Did your mom stay up nights with you when you were sick, love you through your terrible twos, and your tempestuous teens? Then she deserves flowers, and not just any flowers. She deserves an arrangement from Johnston’s Quality Flowers!

Established in 1976, Turkey Track Bluegrass Park began as a dream project for founders Bill and Juanita Churchill. At the time, Freddie Sanders was hosting a fairly successful indoor festival in McAlester, Oklahoma. After attending several of the shows there, the Churchills decided to try their luck hosting their own. They purchased forty acres in what seemed to be the middle of nowhere and began clearing brush, making the area festival ready. “During the clearing stage,” says Linda, “they came upon so many wild turkeys that Juanita started calling the place Turkey Track.” The name stuck.

With the park ready to go, the Churchills enlisted the advice of Bill Grant from Hugo, Oklahoma, a man already well-versed in the business side of hosting larger events. With his help, as well as the helping hand of Freddie Sanders, they were able to settle many of the finer details of hosting the upcoming festival, such as the actual times for the fest, setting the property up to accommodate campers, and of course, booking the acts. The

turkey track

first festival featured bluegrass legend Mac Wiseman. It was considered a success with ten campers set up in the camping

where bluegrass grows

area with fans sitting on bales of hay as they enjoyed the show.

@story Jim Martin @image Courtesy of Bill and Linda Lovett

The Churchills hosted the event for eighteen years, watching as it grew larger and larger. When it became too much for the older couple to handle, they sold to Bill and Linda Lovett. With

O

n June fifteenth through the eighteenth, the hills of

the park in various shades of disarray, the Lovetts immediately

southern Scott County will come alive with the sound of

set about remodeling, bringing the remote destination back up

music. Music aficionados from all over the United States will

to par with today’s standards. After replacing the single low-

gather southeast of Waldron for the annual spring session of

water bridge at the entrance with two super bridges, adding

the Turkey Track Bluegrass Festival. Celebrating its thirty-sixth

new picking sheds and restroom facilities, building a new ticket

anniversary this year, the festival continues to grow. Linda Lovett

booth, and completely restoring the stage, the Lovetts were

knows why. “It’s because of Bill Lovett,” she says, referring to

ready to reopen the now eighty acre park to the public.

her husband. “All the credit goes to him.”

20

@ENTERTAINMENT

With Bill handling the business end and Linda working on a

and her band took their acoustic instruments, climbed off stage

more personal basis with all involved, the festival features

and performed amid the appreciative crowd. When the power

family oriented entertainment with no drugs or alcohol allowed

came back, she returned to the stage and the show went on.

on the premises. Anybody caught with such are politely asked to leave. “In the eighteen years that we’ve had it,” says Linda.

It’s easy to see why Turkey Track keeps growing. There’s a free

“We’ve only had four offenses.” The Lovetts have turned Turkey

hog roast, vendors selling everything from bottled water to

Track into a way of life.

mandolins, and a chance for return visitors to catch up with the friends they’ve made in previous visits. The performers come

And what a life it is. They live on a farm just three miles from

out and meet their fans, the Lovetts keep everyone happy, and

Turkey Track. Bill’s dad, Buck, is a spry eighty-three. He helps

the days fly by.

out during mowing season, on his Massey Ferguson that he’s had for years. The Lovetts bought him a new mower, but he

This year The Boone Carlon Old Time Fiddling Hour starts the

won’t use it. “Working at the park keeps him young,”Linda says.

show. Marty Stuart, Marty Raybon, Hickory Hill, Hurricane Creek,

“He has a girlfriend who’s fourteen years younger than him and

and The Roys will be performing, along with many other big

they go dancing every week.”

names. Louisiana Grass, with two members from Waldron, will close the show, just as they do every year, performing until

Other family members work the two yearly festivals as well. Bill

everybody’s gone. And Bill still plays guitar, so you might get to

has a niece and two sisters who work the gate. Linda’s sister

see him performing, when he’s not busy running the show.

runs the general store. Bill’s brother-in-law parks the cars and campers. “Without family and volunteers,” Linda says, “we just

A few words of advice: bring sunscreen, a poncho in case of rain,

couldn’t do this.”

and a lawn chair if you want to get close to the stage.

The festival is one of the best in the nation. The proof is in

The Lovetts look forward to this festival every year. “Life wouldn’t

this one fact: visitors start showing up as early as Mother’s Day

be the same without Turkey Track,” Linda says. “We might have

for an event that doesn’t start until the following month. They

more money, but it’s so much fun. Bluegrass people rally around

set up camp, bring in their RVs, and get involved in some of

each other. If it were just for the music, you could put a CD in.

the pre-show jam sessions. “We don’t have an exact count but

People come for the music, but stay for the atmosphere.”

thousands and thousands of people show up,” Linda says. “It’s For a full lineup, and ticket costs, check out the

eighty acres of door-to-door campers.”

Official Turkey Track Bluegrass Fan Page on Facebook.

Every year the big names in bluegrass perform. Once when IBMA entertainer of the year Rhonda Vincent was performing, the electricity went out on stage. That didn’t stop Rhonda. She

21

@ENTERTAINMENT

throughout. His distinctive vocal style and unmistakable guitar tone show up on so many tracks that I began to wonder why they didn’t just record a complete collaborative effort. I think it would have been a stronger release if they had.

After the first four tracks, things start slowing down, becoming almost boring as they do. While the songs aren’t bad, they’re certainly don’t measure up to Robbie’s compositions of the past. In fact, the best way I can describe them would be as good

now hear this

background music—something to play low in the background as you’re concentrating on something else. Is it too much to ask for another “The Weight,” “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” or

robbie robertson — “how to become clairvoyant”

even “It Makes No Difference,” all classic hits from Robbie’s days as the lead songwriter of “The Band?” Of course it is, but we still

@review Jim Martin

never stop.

Rock & Roll legend and former member of “The Band,” Robbie Robertson, is back with his first solo album in thirteen years. After

High points are Clapton’s guitar work (he appears on more than

releasing 1998’s new-agey “Contact From The Underworld Of

half of the album, it’s a shame he didn’t show this much life on

Redboy,” Robbie appeared to leave the music scene. But, looks

his own latest release), Track four, “The Right Mistake,” (one of the

can be deceiving. He only moved more “behind” the scenes,

better songs I’ve heard from Robbie in a long time), and opening

serving as musical director for several of friend Martin Scorsese’s

track, “Straight Down The Line.”

projects, producing soundtracks, and working as an A&R (Artists Low points, definitely Track 9, “Axman,” a so-called tribute to

& Repertoire) man for Dreamworks.

Robbie’s favorite guitarists featuring guest Tom Morello. It’s so simplistically written that it becomes embarrassing.

Now he is back and concentrating on his own work. Was it worth the wait? Hmmm, well, maybe…

Overall, if you’re looking for another “Music From Big Pink,” don’t “How To Become Clairvoyant” starts strong with four tracks that

look here. But if you’re looking for some relaxing music to play

could easily stand alongside any of his other solo work to date.

in the background of a candle-lit dinner, this may be just what

Try not to tap your foot as opening track “Straight Down The Line”

you’re looking for.

plays. You can’t do it. This album also features a number of guest stars including Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Robert Randolph,

I Rate It

and plenty of others, though it’s Clapton’s influence that is felt

22

hard at work on her third one. She’s won prizes and awards and been paid good money by Simon & Schuster in New York and Penguin UK in London. She’s accomplished everything I only dreamed of doing.

Seeing my name under an article or a poem in a magazine like @Urban is thrilling. More thrilling is having friends call me or email me and tell me they love what I’ve written. Why does that matter so much to me? Is it because I’ve always wanted people to like me? Is it because I need praise to make me feel worthy and smart enough for my words to matter?

a mother’s gift

When I was a little girl I lived out in the country, off Highway

the writing gene

64 between Van Buren and Alma. There were no other children close by, so I entertained myself during the summers and after

@story Anita Paddock @images Jennifer Paddock

school by reading. I’d spread one of my granny’s old quilts under a big pecan tree and read away the day. I pretended to

S

everal years ago I discovered a singer-song writer named

be the characters from the books and play out the scenes with

Iris DeMent who was born in Paragould, Arkansas. I loved

my dolls and our two dogs, Taffy and Jake.

her mournful voice, with a purity traced to mountain music brought here by immigrants from Europe. On one of her albums,

I’m sure this rather lonesome childhood made me a writer

her mother, Flora Mae DeMent, is the lead vocal for the song,

because every writer is first a reader. Reading entertains us and

“On Higher Ground.” Iris introduces her mom by saying that

says, “Hey, I bet you too, could write a book.”

no voice inspired her more than her mom’s, who had dreams of singing on the Grand Ole Opry.

Lying in wait were the writing genes I passed down to my daughter. They lay there through her years of playing tennis

I’d like to sit down on my back porch with Iris’s mom. I’d serve her

every single day for more than a decade. Jennifer loved tennis,

some lemonade, the real stuff, and I’d ask her if she was proud

the singularity of tennis, the zone she could get into where

of her daughter. I know what her answer would be of course. I’d

nothing mattered except the rhythm of the racquet hitting the

then ask her if she was a little jealous of her daughter.

ball, over and over, tossing out any thoughts other than those on the court.

I have been asked that question many times. My daughter, Jennifer Paddock, is a writer with two published novels. She’s

At the rather late age of twenty-four, after working in U.S. Senator

24

@PEOPLE

Dale Bumper’s office in Washington, Jennifer told her daddy

Since the time Jennifer moved to New York, she and I have

and me that she wanted to be a writer. I did not encourage

experienced great sadness. Her daddy didn’t live to see his

her. It’s too hard to make a living, I told her. Getting published

daughter’s name on two books, but she dedicated the first one

is comparable to becoming a movie star, I told her. You’ll get

to his memory.

rejected, and then your feelings will be hurt.

Jennifer was divorced in 2010 from another writer.

“But, Mom, I love writing as much as I love tennis.”

Their

marriage was the perfect setup, I thought. They were able to bounce ideas off each other and critique each other’s work. But,

And with those words said, I knew she’d make it. And by golly, her

sadly, writing can be a competitive sport, with one scoring more

daddy and I would do everything we could to see that she did.

points than the other.

She applied to the best creative writing graduate programs, was

She’s writing alone now, and I think she’s probably a better

rejected by Columbia and Iowa, the biggest and most highly

writer than she’s ever been. She still asks my opinion, and I

touted. But then the letter of acceptance came from NYU,

take great delight in giving it.

which was ranked third. Accepted totally on her writing skills, big shots in New York City thought my little girl from Fort Smith,

And guess what her day job is? She’s a tennis pro at the Grand

Arkansas, was a student they’d like to have on their roster of up

Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama. How lucky is that, to be able to

and coming talent.

do both things you love.

Was I proud? Yes. Was I jealous? Heck, no. I would never have the guts to move to New York City all by myself without knowing a soul. I knew then that I didn’t have the drive she did.

I knew she’d make it.

And she did. Her first book, “A Secret Word,” was about three girls from Fort Smith. “Point Clear,” her second, was about The Grand Hotel, an old resort on Mobile Bay. The third, which is almost completed, is about the same three Fort Smith girls now that they are in their forties. Its working title is “The Weight of Memory.” In this novel, the women are trying to come to some understanding of their fathers and the burdens all of them bore because of their paternal relationships, both good and bad.

Jennifer will be in town to support the Fort Smith Library May 15th and 16th.

Writers’ Workshop May 15, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. at the Miller Branch Library Cost: $20 646.3945

Luncheon with Jennifer May 16, 11:30- Phoenix Expo Center Cost: $35 (tickets at all four libraries) 783-0229

spy planes, rockets and fans

programmed into the navigation computers. Only thing at the time that could keep up with the airplane.” Later he was involved with maintaining the internal systems of Minuteman III program, ending up at a missile silo in South Dakota.

tom newcity

After his career with spy planes and rockets, Tom headed south

@story Doug Kelley @images Marcus Coker

with his family, ending up in Arkansas, buying a house near the Jenny Lind community, south of Fort Smith. There, an interest

T

om Newcity restores old desk fans, the kind with a wire cage

in antiques and a lifetime of working with electronics led him to

around the blades and that oscillate back and forth. They

a hobby of restoring old radios. “Desk sets, console models, all

are remnants from an earlier time, a time of black and white

kinds.” He enjoyed working with them, with their old tubes and

movies and men in hats, nearly a hundred years old now and

rotary dials, but after refurbishing about a hundred sets he quit

narrowly saved from the trash heaps and landfills. Restoration

doing radios. “Not much money in it,” he said.

has saved them, or as Tom likes to say, “resurrection.”

After radios, Tom went to telephone handsets, again focusing on

Before old fans, he spent a career working with some pretty high

the old styles. Eventually, though, he developed an interest in

tech stuff. In the United States Air Force he worked with the on-

electric fans, and it was with those machines that he has found

board navigation equipment on the top secret (at the time) SR-71

a more satisfying avocation. He may have been attracted by the

Blackbird, the fastest true airplane ever built. “It was so fast,” he

challenge of combining electricity with motors and movement,

says, “we had to use astro-inertial navigation. It had a star catalog

26

@PEOPLE

which radios and telephones did not have, and he began

Tom starts with a relic, disused and discarded, and spends about

collecting old desk fans and restoring—or resurrecting—them

three to four weeks on each fan. “The first thing I do is make sure

to their former glory. “I like the utility,” he said. “I like old things

it works. Turn it on and see that it runs. You don’t want to put a

we can still use.”

lot of work into a fan and then find that the motor is no good.”

Once he determines the motor is all right, that the field windings are good and the bearings turn freely, he goes to work.

Old fans, like many things old, have a beauty of workmanship and materials that modern appliances rarely seem to have.

Plastic is inexpensive and easy to mold, but blades and housings

His backyard shop is a cozy little barn, the dark ceiling almost

of such lightweight material cannot come close to the style and

completely hidden by some two hundred old fans, black and

class of a fan with a gloss black cast iron base and polished

dusty, hanging at crazy angles from the rafters, waiting their

brass blades. Once restored by Tom Newcity, a thing of utility

turn. The walls, too, are covered, with pegboards of tool and

becomes again a thing of beauty.

parts, test equipment, a couple old style pin-up girl calendars, and snapshots of family members taken when everyone was

He likes fans manufactured by the Emerson Electric Company. “They

a good bit younger. Along one wall is a paint booth, large

were the most reliable and best built. And they were very innovative

enough to accommodate a full-sized radio console, its back

with their motor systems, especially with the oil bath lubrication.”

wall crusted with black globules of dried paint drawn there by a

Then he shrugged and said, as a sort of disclaimer, “Some people

hidden ventilation system. There is a metal lathe, a drill press,

think General Electric is the best. But then there is the joke that

sanders, and five bench grinders—each with a different buffer

G.E. stands for Good Enough.” Emerson started building fans in

or wire brush wheel—and a coffee pot in the corner. There is a

the 1880s, almost as soon as electricity became widely available,

stroboscope, the flickering light of which can seem to “stop” the

and reached the apex of their quality, in Tom’s opinion, in the years

fan as it turns, to see how well the blades are aligned. After an

between World War I and the mid 1930s. It is fans of that period

hour spent looking around, new tools and items of interest still

that he focuses upon, although he does have one fan of distinctive

reveal themselves, even though they have been there all along.

design from 1910 or 1911. It is not yet restored, but Tom seems

There is much to see.

proud to have it in his possession. “It’s not rare,” he said, in an In this compact but efficiently arranged shop, Tom works

interesting conjunction of words, “but it is scarce.”

meticulously, using only original parts or only the most faithful Emerson fans were “Built To Last”, and in Tom’s hands they become

of reproductions, not hesitating to repaint for the slightest flaw,

proof of the slogan. His fans are carefully restored, as close to the

not declaring a fan finished until it looks right, runs right, is right.

original as possible, and he clearly takes pride in his workmanship.

“The people who buy these fans,” he said, “are not buying just

It is not just a matter of hitting the fan with a can of Krylon and

the fan. They are buying the restoration.”

sticking on a modern day power cord from Home Depot.

They are buying Tom Newcity’s art.

27

pages of hope

worth more than a thousand words @story Marla Cantrell @images Kat Hardin, Pages of Hope Foundation

L

ast year, four emails came in quick succession, all in one day, each from a parent of a sick child.

By the time the fourth message arrived, Fort Smith photographer Kat Hardin felt something shift inside her. “They were from Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee. The emails came within twenty-four hours, and each one was from a parent who had seen my work with children and was looking for a photographer. And they each said they had a special story to tell, because these kids were facing life-threatening illnesses. I knew it was more than a coincidence; I felt God’s hand in it.”

So what do you do when you believe you’ve been handed a task from on high? And how can you charge a family for photos when they’re already dealing with astronomical medical bills? These were the questions Kat worked through as she sat in her downtown Fort Smith studio, re-read the

four messages, and tried to figure out a way to help. “I brainstormed with a friend and we’d already decided we’d do the photographs free of charge. She finally said, ‘Let’s just do this. Let’s get it done.’ We whipped a board together and started a not-for-profit 501c3.

@PEOPLE

They’re the real story here because I couldn’t do any of this without them.”

Kat’s two children helped her name the organization, and Pages of Hope Foundation was born.

The first shoot was with an Alma boy. “I already had three lined up, but then I read this story in the paper about a band fundraiser. This little boy was eight when he’d fallen off a swing.

“When I look at her photos now, I see that first handshake, I hear

They found a bump on his leg and then they found out he had

her poetry, I think of her holding up everyone around her.

cancer. He lost his leg. I contacted his mother. I can’t tell you how appreciative they were.

“These kids can talk about their own mortality with such strength. They try to comfort those around them and tell them

“I love children, and I talk to these guys just like I’d talk to any

it’s all going to be okay. I’m great at the shoot. We’re having fun,

other child. We have fun; there are no tears. But you hear these

but as I work through the hundreds of photos to get the ones

stories,” Kat says, and her voice quivers. “His mother told me he

that will end up in the bound album I give them, it hits me. I press

motivates the kids in P.E. who get lazy. He has one leg and he

on. When they get the photos, there are tears. Tears everywhere

says, ‘Look at me. I know you can do it.’ He’s won Presidential

and hugs. I get letters and updates from the kids. Those kids will

awards for his grades and he’s says, ‘If I don’t make it, all I want

send me birthday wishes. To me,” Kat says, astounded by the

is for my friends to go to college.’”

bond that’s been forged.

“I cannot tell you what a joy these children are. They’re so strong

“I took a picture of a little girl, Bishop, who has a tumor on her

and just old souls. I think you can learn from them.” Like the girl

brain stem. She has collapsed so many times, she’s been in the

who took over the conversation as soon as she met Kat. “Gigi

hospital so much, she’s had chemo several times, and she just

she came up, she’s just a little spitfire, and she stuck her hand

will not give up. Every day I wake up, and I think no matter how

out and shook mine. I said, ‘Wow! That’s quite a handshake,’ and

bad it gets, I’m not going to give up. I’ll have something ordinary,

she said, ‘My friend says that symbolizes strong character.’

like car trouble, and I’ll have a little panic moment and then I think: you know what? This is nothing. What I face, what most

“Gigi has cancer and had gone through chemo several times. She had

of us face, is nothing compared to what these kids face.”

a twin sister she’d lost to cancer when she was four. She’s thirteen, a tiny little thing. She’s a poet. I got a blanket out and a tablet and took

The Pages of Hope project hit close to home when one of Kat’s

pictures of her while she wrote poetry. She was amazing.

dear friends, Susan, called just after her baby was born. “They’d flown Lily to Little Rock. At that time they had no idea how long

29

she had. She had an extremely rare medical condition. The

that supports the Pages of Hope Foundation. “We get notes from

family wanted me to photograph Lily at home, with their dog,

the parents and it kind of puts everything into perspective. You

on their favorite swing. I don’t really know what gets me through

get to know the parents, you know the kids, it doesn’t leave you.

a shoot like that. I’m not all business. But during that shoot, it “I do wonder what we’ll do if we suddenly have 100 kids who need us.

was very calm, very peaceful. It was just love.

But we’ll make it work, and we’ll love every minute of it. I’ve actually heard from several photographers in the area wanting to get involved, so the bigger we grow, the better it will be for these families.

“We’ve had so much support from the community, and it’s all been word of mouth. People understand what we’re doing. Who hasn’t been touched by cancer, or some other life-threatening illness? So they want to help.”

So far, Kat has photographed seven children, and has several “That baby had such a presence around her. She was like a little angel

other shoots lined up. It’s been a whirlwind of a year, since that

and I was in awe of what a gift this child was to the whole community.

day when she logged on to her email account and scanned four

Susan said people were telling her they hadn’t prayed in years but

messages, so similar it brought chills. She feels humbled by the

they were praying for Lily. That’s huge. She was three months old

mission that was dropped in her lap, and so grateful for the way

when I took her pictures. She died right before Christmas.

this project is changing her life. “I’ve grown so much through this whole thing. I’m not going to say it’s not difficult, because

“Susan told me she looks at the photos every day. She said it

it is. But it’s not about me and how I feel. It’s about these kids

gives them something tangible to hold and look at.”

who stare their mortality in the face every morning and then get up and keep going. One of the little children prays like this: ‘Dear God, this is your day. I am your child. Show me the way.’

Kat stops for a moment to gather her thoughts and begins to tell another story, this one about a little boy who’s getting better. “And then there’s Joseph. He’s had two brain surgeries and he’s just five.

“Now I say that every day. My two kids say it with me. That’s just

His mother sent me an email saying God’s glory shines through

one example of how I’m on the receiving end of all this. I’m thankful

him daily. She said, ‘He’s still under construction, but aren’t we all?’

every day, and the little things, the annoyances that happen, boy are

He’s doing really well now. That makes me so happy.”

they little now. I feel so honored I was chosen to learn that.”

Kat, who’s gone as far as Nashville to take photos, repeats the

To learn more about this project, log on to

claim that the work she does should be attributed to the board

pagesofhopefoundation.com

30

goat cheese – but something told me I could make a few tweaks - and make it just a little better.

Sunday morning I set out early to go to Panera for bread. I was among several other bleary-eyed patrons, but luckily I was early enough to

panzanella salad @recipe & images Laura Hobbs

S

dodge the brunch rush. I grabbed the loaf, and with ironclad selfcontrol avoided the heavenly pastries that called out to me.

Later in the day, I got to work on the salad. I started by cubing half of my loaf of bread (I’ve got the other half in the freezer, waiting to

unday, May first, was my dad’s sixty-third birthday. He’s

be turned into a Sunday morning French toast). Into a frying pan the

been everything from a mailman to an archaeologist

bread went with a liberal drizzle of olive oil. I kept a close eye on

to a cartoonist, and spouts famous Tuckerisms (his first

the cubes as they began to brown, turning them and arranging them

name is Tucker) like, “never wake a sleeping anything” and

as necessary to avoid burning them. Don’t get distracted, here! Five

“lowered expectations mean a happier life for you,” which

minutes after Real Housewives sucks you in, you’ll be wondering,

are heeded and repeated by friends and family (like yours

What in the world is that burning smell, and why is my frying pan

truly). He has the loudest, most infectious guffaw you will

spewing flames?

ever hear, he has a special place in his heart for dumpster diving, and he makes a mean cinnamon toast.

After a quick chop to some fresh veggies like cherry tomatoes and cucumber, and a good handful of basil, I got to work on the super-

Every year on his birthday, he wants the same thing: “a

easy vinaigrette. Three main ingredients in this dressing - olive oil,

steak that breaks the don’t-eat-anything-bigger-than-

vinegar and garlic – make it quick, delish and a no-brainer. I tossed

your-head rule” (which is yet another Tuckerism). Steak

the veggies with the dressing, and just before dinner, I tossed in the

has always been dad’s default special meal. If it’s on the

beautiful fried bread. You want to wait until the last possible second,

menu, he orders it at any restaurant - and I mean ANY

here – the bread gets soggy quick, and no one wants a soggy salad.

restaurant. He’s even gained the moniker “T-Bone Tucker”

A few plugs of goat cheese on top and the salad was good to go.

from family and friends.

I have to say, this salad was an amped-up version of mom’s. Sorry, But this post isn’t about steak; it’s about a salad that Mom

mom, but it’s true! Frying the bread gave its flavor more depth and

made alongside dad’s birthday ribeye. Mom had acquired

toastiness, the cucumber was cool and refreshing and the briny olives

a panzanella-esque recipe from a friend, who acquired it

and capers added a salty bite. This is a great spring and summertime

from “one of those checkout counter food magazines.” The

salad; think about adding grilled chicken or even grilled salmon for a

salad was good - toasted baguette, tomatoes, basil and

light, tasty meal on its own. Enjoy!

32

@TASTE

INGREDIENTS SALAD 1/2 3 1/4 1 1 1/4 2 1/4 4

loaf crusty bread, cubed into 1” pieces garlic cloves, cracked cup olive oil cup cherry tomatoes, halved cup cucumber, seeded and diced cup Kalamata olives, chopped Tbs. capers, rinsed cup fresh basil, chopped oz. goat cheese, crumbled

DRESSING 1/3 3 1 »

cup extra virgin olive oil Tbs. red wine vinegar garlic clove, minced salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS In a large frying pan, heat the ¼ c. of olive oil over medium heat. Add the cracked garlic cloves and the bread cubes. Keep an eye on the bread as it begins to brown, turning them as necessary until they’re evenly golden brown. Remove the bread from the pan and cool it on a wire rack.

Combine the tomatoes, cucumber, olives, capers and basil in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl (or in a jar with a tight fitting lid), combine the dressing ingredients, whisking or shaking vigorously to combine.

Toss the vegetables with the dressing and just before serving the salad, toss in the fried bread. Top with crumbled goat cheese and serve immediately.

@TASTE

@image Marcus Coker

» 1 oz. White Rum » 3 oz. Strawberry Daquiri Mix » 1 oz. Coconut Rum » 3 oz. Piña Colada Mix Blend separately then combine in glass.

Top with whipped cream if desired.

Provided by Mojo’s Ivory House 479.434.5434

34

the house that john built @story Marla Cantrell @image University of Arkansas – Fort Smith

I

f Thomas Phillips had been a savvier businessman he might

could see the steamboats that chugged along, fueled by the

never have sold the land that became Van Buren. But he

firewood he’d sold them for their journey. If he strolled down

did sell it, in 1836, to John Drennen and Drennen’s ill fated

the hill below his house, the wide expanse of the river town

brother-in-law, who died shortly after sealing the deal on the

spilled out before him, full of possibilities.

$11,000 transaction.

By then he had already served as co-chairman of the Just two years later, Drennen built his homestead on a bluff

Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He had a general store

overlooking the Arkansas River. From the property Drennen

in downtown Van Buren, and a cotton plantation in Chicot

@DESTINATION

County. The government appointed him to serve as the Choctaw

found feathers from a flapper’s headdress, letters from Civil War

superintendent over the Five Civilized Tribes. Before his work

soldiers, and wedding silver.

was done, there were eight tribes assigned to him. His census of the Cherokee treaty signers - called the Drennen Roll - is still

She also found the letter, written in 1855, from a hotel employee,

used today, for those seeking proof of their ancestry.

telling Drennen’s wife he’d succumbed to yellow fever. “What happened after he died is the reason we’re here today,” Wing

Tom Wing, director of the site, and an assistant history professor

said. “The family inventoried Drennen’s holdings and decided

at UA Fort Smith, sits in the same room where Drennen’s office

not to divide the property. Instead they chose to pay the

used to be. When he speaks of Drennen, whose closest friend

inheritees off the profits for almost twenty years. If it had been

was writer and Confederate officer Albert Pike, the excitement

diced up at the beginning, I doubt we’d be here today.”

builds. “Drennen was a Western expansionist,” Wing said. “He had a true entrepreneurial spirit. He’d fit into today’s world very

The house is filled with the family’s antiques, paintings, books

well. He was diversified, helped establish a railroad here, and had

and china. But one of the most interesting items is neither

a steamboat captain live in the house with him so that he would

expensive nor ornate. “The family legend goes like this,”

have a chauffeur when he needed one. All the furniture, windows,

Wing said. “During the Civil War this family owned slaves

the hardware on the doors, all of it came by steamboat.”

and were pro-Confederate. When Federal troops approached Van Buren after the Battle of Prairie Grove the family packed

The reason Wing knows the origin of the trappings that make up

up and moved to Little Rock. That was from about 1862 to

the house is because Drennen’s family didn’t let the property,

1866. When they came back to their mercantile store in Van

or the majority of his possessions, out of their hands until it was

Buren the only thing that was left was this tombstone that

acquired by UA Fort Smith in 2005.

had been ordered before the Civil War. We’re wondering if the buyer rejected it for some reason. Maybe they [the family

When Jennifer Carman, who specializes in determining the

of the deceased] didn’t like it. We’ve never found who the

value of decorative American and European Art, visited the

‘Mary Shirley,’ whose name is on this headstone, was. The

home, she marveled at the family’s careful conservation of some

Drennen family brought it from the mercantile and turned

of Arkansas’ greatest history. When she toured the property

it upside down and used it as a countertop. From that time

she described the “intermingled smell of old books, walnut

until 1976 it was used in the detached kitchen. When they

furniture, and the sweet smell of pine.”

renovated and added a new kitchen it went in there.” Wing tilts the stone from where it leans on the wall near the entry

Carman was thrilled when she discovered a daguerreotype

and points to the groove worn by years of use. “It’s dipped

(an early type of photography produced without negatives)

out in the middle,” he said, and then laughed. “They rolled a

of Drennen at the bottom of a cardboard box, since the family

lot of biscuits on this thing.”

believed there were no photographs of the patriarch. She

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@DESTINATION

There had been hundreds of biscuits baked by the time

went back to visit with his wife. They took her personal servant,

Drennen’s daughter, Caroline Scott (the Scott in Drennen-Scott),

who was a teenager. They were staying in Pittsburg at the

inherited control of the estate after her father’s death.

Monongahela House. While Drennen and his wife were eating dinner, members of the Underground Railroad broke into his

She is only one of several Carolines in the family line. The

hotel room, stole his luggage and his fourteen-year-old slave

Caroline who has Wing’s unfailing devotion is the second Caroline

girl. He went to the sheriff and the sheriff got his luggage back,

Scott, who raised Great Danes on the property, was educated in

but said, ‘I don’t know where the slave girl is.’”

Philadelphia, and witnessed both the family’s glory days and its darkest hours. “She lived the early part of her life with great

Wing tells the story like a true historian, laying out the tale in

wealth. She lived the last part of her life in near poverty. She

a wave of facts, family lore, and footnotes that show the world

rode the trolley to downtown Fort Smith and worked at the

Drennen inhabited. He knows more about John Drennen than

Boston Store [one of Fort Smith’s oldest department stores].

most of us will ever know about our own relatives. This man who grew up in the late 1700s and early 1800s, the son of an

“Caroline was the keeper of this place from the 1930s or ‘40s until

Irish immigrant, whose father fought in the Revolutionary War

she died in 1976. She lived her whole life in this house. She never

in George Washington’s army, captivates Wing. He is thankful

married. She could have done anything she wanted with her life and

that he is involved in a project that opens this important house

she chose to live in Van Buren and take care of her parents until they

to tourists, schoolchildren, history buffs, and the UA Fort Smith

died, and then took care of the property until she died. She sold one

historical interpretation students who will work and study at

little corner of the property during World War II because they were

the Drennen-Scott Home.

struggling, and she sold some papers to the University of Texas.

They wanted those papers because John Drennen was business

The University has decided not to charge admission for tours

partners with Sam Houston. She sold a portrait of Albert Pike to a

when the house opens on May 12. Instead, donations will be

Masonic lodge in Billings, Montana. But she kept the property. She

accepted. “This house has so much to offer. Researching its

made sure it stayed in the family. It says a lot about her.”

history has been one of the greatest joys of my life. And getting to know how the Drennen-Scott family held on to the history, how they kept all this together, it’s just been amazing.”

When Wing describes Drennen he’s careful to show a loving patriarch and intuitive businessman, but he’s also forthcoming

Beginning May 12, the historic Drennen-Scott Home at 221 North 3rd in Van Buren, will open. Hours are Thursday and Friday afternoons from 1 to 5, Saturdays from 10 to 5 and Sunday afternoons from 1 to 5. The restoration project, which began six years ago when the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith acquired the property from the family, is now complete, offering visitors a glimpse into the lives of one of the most influential families in the state. Photo gallery available at AtUrbanMagazine.com

about the often tumultuous history that surrounds Van Buren’s founding father. “He’s not perfect,” Wing said. “The fact that the Cherokee remember him is bittersweet because they were being paid for the loss of their land. He had slaves and we have a documented report that one of them escaped via the Underground Railroad. Drennen, who was from Pennsylvania,

38

T

he Cassatot River, southeast of Mena, gets its name

Putting in at the Brushy Creek access next to Highway 246

from early French explorers who named the whitewater

starts the thrilling ride. Floaters quickly encounter rapids

wonder Cossatot, meaning skull crusher. It’s now known for

and drops, beginning with the “Zig Zag” (Class III). At the

occasionally crushing kayaks and canoes, as well as your pride.

Cossatot River Falls you’ll encounter the “CossaTosser” (Class

Be warned! There is a lot to do on the Cossatot, but you should

III-V), “Eye Opener” (Class III), “B.M.F.” (Class III), “Washing

exercise caution when the water is high, or if you’re a novice.

Machine” (Class IV-V), “Whiplash” (Class III), and “Last One”

Optimum river levels are anywhere from 3.5 to 5.5 feet.

(Class III). This is the roughest section of the river.

arkansas’ whitewater wonder @story Todd Whetstine @images Wild Woods Photography

@DESTINATION

Past the falls the trip gets easier. Within a mile you’ll float past

skills required by experienced boaters. The RCT provides a more

“Deer Camp Rapid” (Class III) followed by “Devils Hollow Rapid”

laidback approach to view this beautiful boulder-strewn river. The

(Class III). “Devils Hollow Falls” (Class III-IV) is a six to eight

trail winds through a craggy canyon with thirteen bridges in the

foot drop that many believe to be the toughest on the river.

first five miles, providing excellent overlooks for photography.

Celebration time begins just downstream from the 278 Bridge; surviving the Cossatot is no small feat.

Shelley Flanary, the Cossatot River park interpreter, tells me there have been no fatalities on the Cossatot River for the last three or four years. It is no doubt an extraordinarily challenging course, and I have seen the river when the levels were high and the water raging. Local canoe clubs realize the danger and go through great instructional courses on whitewater floating and river rescue. These clubs have formed quite a brotherhood on the Arkansas waterways, and sometimes set up along the river, in case other boaters get in trouble while they’re around.

No interest in braving the rapids? Floating the river isn’t the only way to enjoy the Cassatot. Fishing just got easier with the River Corridor Trail, which opened on March 12. The steep gradient of the Cassatot provides oxygen rich water. The most pursued fish are small mouth, large mouth, and rock bass. Shelley says

Camping is prohibited on the trail except in the designated camping

catfish over five pounds are not uncommon. Many species of

areas. The RCT is a great weekend hike, allowing two or three days

bream also reside in the waters of the Cassatot. Insects found

to take in all the spectacular sights this area has to offer. Only have

in the river such as hellgrammites, popular among fishers, are

a day? You can still take in much of the wonder that is the Cossatot,

great bait and also indicate a healthy river with exceptional

even if you have to go at a quicker pace. The 15,000 square foot

water quality.

visitor’s center west of Highway 278 marks the trail’s end.

The River Corridor Trail (RTC) travels the rugged river’s edge for

Ed Banks, Sandbar Bridge, and the Cossatot River Falls provide

fourteen and a half miles. Starting at the Brushy Creek access

excellent places to camp along the river. All campsites are on

on Highway 246, the trail provides recreational opportunities

a space available basis, no reservations allowed. Campsites

such as backpacking, hiking, bird watching and photography.

are equipped with fire rings, picnic tables and level tent pads.

One of the prettiest places in the state can viewed without the

Vault toilets are available, with no running water. Camps are

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@DESTINATION

secluded and provide great access to the river. Even when the river is not roaring, the park is loaded with swimmers – attracted to the many pools – as they try to beat the summer heat.

On the last night of our trip, my dog Bo and I were smack dab in the middle of the river. As we watched the crimson sunset fade to black I thought back to day one on the Cossatot. I was out very early waiting to photograph the boaters coming through “Washing Machine.” Waters raged and the mist was thick - I could barely see my hand in front of my face as I watched a group of men, wild-eyed, frantically scouting their float path. As I watched, I imagined the rush they must be feeling. That’s the power of this incredible waterway. As the darkness set in, Bo and I headed back to camp, loaded our gear and headed north for home.

Small waves, no obstacles.

Rapids of moderate difficulty with passages clear. Requires experience plus a suitable outfit and boat.

Waves numerous, high, irregular. Rocks, eddies, and rapids with passages clear though narrow, requiring expertise in maneuvering; scouting is usually needed.

Long rapids, waves high, irregular. Dangerous rocks, boiling eddies. Best passages difficult to scout; scouting mandatory first time.

Powerful and precise maneuvering required.

The Cossatot River State Park includes 5,484 acres and a staff that specializes in outdoor recreation. There are many programs

Exceedingly difficult, long and violent rapids, following each other almost without interruption. Riverbed extremely obstructed, big drops, violent currents, very steep gradient.

Close study essential but often difficult. All possible precautions must be taken.

available through the visitor’s center. Those interested in visiting the Cossatot River State Park are encouraged to call Shelley Flanary, 870.385.2201 or email shelley.flanary@arkansas.gov .

Kayaking and snorkeling are other popular activities that can be scheduled during low-water conditions.

Formerly classified as unpassable by any craft.

crushed grapes arkansas’ wine country @story Tonya McCoy

W

ine country? In Arkansas? Believe it!

In fact, Arkansans have been making wine longer than Californians. Drive the curvy roads through the Ozarks on a warm afternoon.

If you know where to look, you just might catch a glimpse of the Arkansas state grape Cynthiana, as it winds its way up wooden stalks.

Grab a basket, some wineglasses, some cheese, and let’s hit the road for a wine tour.

@DESTINATION

Cowie Wine Cellars

Mount Bethel Winery

101 North Carbon City Road

Signature Wine Summer Pick

Paris

5014 Mount Bethel Road

Robert’s Port $18 Trish’s Passion $10

479.963.3990

Summer Pick 479.468.2444

This expert wine maker can tell you a thing or two about wine, but don’t ask how he makes his own. He guards his secrets; they’re his life’s work.

“Some I’ll tell you and some I won’t. Once someone asked, ‘What’s this made out of?’ and I answered, ‘Grapes.’ I may take my recipe for Robert’s Port to the grave.”

Their signature wine is a rich, ruby Merlot. It has a distinctive berry flavor which pairs well with beef or cheese. Their top wine for summer is their light, semi-sweet Vignoles.

Robert’s Port is the Cowie signature wine, having won twenty-four gold medals. It’s aged for six years and goes perfectly with a little dark chocolate. Robert recommends Trish’s Passion for summer. It’s a light Niagara reminiscent of eating fresh grapes off the vine.

Wiederkehr Wine Cellars and Vineyard

Post Familie Vineyards and Winery Signature Wine Summer Pick 479.468.2741

MountBethel.com

Mount Bethel Winery located in the foothills of Altus also is a family tradition. Not to be confused with Post Familie Winery, this winery is also owned and operated by a Post family member. This branch of the family is also proud of their wine-making heritage and has been open since 1956. Family members work together to make classic wines like Merlot and Chardonnay, as well as varieties native to Arkansas like Cynthiana and Muscat.

Robert Cowie began making wine from elderberries when he was just fifteen. Still working his winery at the age of seventy, he has no plans to retire. Stop in this sleepy little town of Paris to taste his wine and you’ll see why he’s been in business so long.

1700 St. Mary’s Mountain Road

Merlot $11 Vignoles $10

Signature Wine

CowieWineCellars.com

Altus

3324 Swiss Family Drive

Signature Wine

Altus

Prophesy $18 Vignoles $8

Summer Pick 479.468.WINE

PostFamilie.com

Wiederkehr Village

Muscato Di Santa Maria $10 Sangria $6 Wiederkehrwines.com

Discover the Swiss winemaking heritage of Wiederkehr Wine Cellars.

Atop St. Mary’s Mountain, the Wiederkehr family carries on a tradition that began when Johann Andreas Wiederkehr emigrated from Switzerland to Altus. In 1880 Johann made his home in these Ozark Mountains. The family has been making wines for over a century.

Since 1880, five generations of Posts have cultivated grapes to make Post Familie wines in Altus. The founder was Jacob Post, a German horticulturist who arrived in America in 1872. The winery has numerous national and international awards for taste. Plus, it’s Arkansas’ largest grower and buyer of grapes.

While you’re there, check out the Wiederkehr Weinkeller Restaurant, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Posts have been known throughout the years for their Muscadine wines. But now they have a new favorite called Prophesy. In 2007, decades of viniculture led to Prophesy, a new grape created by the Post family by crossing a European Cabernet with an American Munson. This deep to red table wine has a hint of boysenberry, a velvety finish and is especially tasty with robust cheeses. One of their summer favorites is their Vignoles, which has apple and pear flavors.

A signature favorite is their award winning Muscato Di Santa Maria. It’s a pale gold, and has a soft, sweet quality that pairs well with desserts. For the summer, the winery recommends their Sangria, a premium red wine blended with the natural flavors of oranges, lemons, and limes.

45

@DESTINATION

Keels Creek 3185 East Van Buren

Signature Wine Summer Pick

Raimondo Family Winery and Tasting Room

Eureka Springs

Chambourcin $18 Vivant $15

479.253.9463

149 County Road 820

Signature Wine

KeelsCreek.com

Summer Pick

Keels Creek Winery in Eureka Springs is the marriage of chemistry and art. Dr. Doug Hausler once worked a chemical analyst for Philips Petroleum. His wife Edwige Denyszyn is an artist who grew up in France. The two work together to blend some fantastic tastes in their boutique winery.

Gamaliel

Passion Red $17 2009 White Bordello $16

870.467.5115

RaimondoWinery.com

They create unique tastes from blends of Chambourcin and Cynthiana to Cab Franc and Red Zin.

An Italian family recently made their home in Arkansas. The Raimondo heritage traces back to Sicily, but they’ve been making Italian wines in California for decades. Then six years ago, part of the family picked up and moved here to Arkansas. They use grapes from California to make Italian varieties of wines like Zinfandels and Viognier at winery in Gamaliel, near Mountain Home.

Step into one of their tasting rooms and enjoy a sip while sitting at tables fashioned from wine drums.

Their summer pick is the 2009 White Bordello. Their signature is Passione Red, a blend of Syrah and Zinfadel.

Their signature wine is their Chambourcin, which has won several medals.

This heavy-bodied spicy wine has hints of blackberry, and goes fantastic with lamb. Their summer selection is the lively Vivant, which is dry, cool and refreshing - perfect on a hot summer’s day.

Tontitown Winery 335 North Barrington Road

Signature Wine

Chateau Aux Arc 8045 Highway 186, Champagne Drive

Signature Wine Summer Pick 479.468.4400

Summer Pick

Altus

479.361.8700

2009 Altus Chardonnay $10 Altus Altag $16

Tontitown

Italian Red $9 Pink Catawba $10 TontitownWinery.com

Our last winery is in Tontitown, where the Grape Fest has been held for over a century. Italian families began emigrating to Tontitown in the 1890s. One of these families, the Renallis, has been making wines for decades. Last October, Chris Renalli and his daughter Heather Peachee decided to share their tradition by opening the Tontitown Winery.

ChateauAuxArc.com

Audrey House is a newcomer who’s already impressing critics. She opened Chateau Aux Arc (pronounced Ozark) with ten acres of Chardonnay, a little over a decade ago. At thirty-four, she is the youngest winery owner, and only female winemaker in the state. Audrey has the largest crop of Cynthiana grapes in the U.S., and she played a large role in getting the Cynthiana grape recognized as the Arkansas State Grape.

Heather says, “I have enjoyed working alongside my daddy since I was a little girl making small batches of ‘homebrew’ wine in our basement.

We always shared a dream that we would open a winery some day.

Well, our day has come!”

Their signature wine is their Italian Red, which is a semi-dry wine with fruit flavors. Their summer pick is Pink Catawba, a semi-sweet wine with floral tones and fruit flavors.

Audrey’s signature is the 2009 Altus Chardonnay. The taste is light and crisp with a hint of lemon. The summer pick is Altus Altag a sweet, fruity wine.

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