@Urban Magazine October 2013 Issue

CONTENTS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Catherine Frederick MANAGING EDITOR Marla Cantrell CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Marla Cantrell Marcus Coker Catherine Frederick Stacey Little Fred MacVaugh Tonya McCoy Anita Paddock Gloria Williams Tran CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Marla Cantrell Mark Mundorff Jeromy Price Stacey Little DESIGNER Jeromy Price

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WEB GURU David Jamell PUBLISHER Read Chair Publishing, LLC

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Features

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07 28 54 58

58 EAT, DRINK, AND BE SCARY! We’ve got you covered for Halloween, with jazzy candy apples, a drink for the over-21 crowd, and a frightening wreath to wow even the bravest trick-or-treater.

HONEY MAN HARDIN Meet James Earl and his 51 hives of bees. Then hear the story of how he started, what almost killed him, and why he keeps on keeping on.

THE NOVICE’S GUIDE TO A WEEKEND IN THE WOODS Always wanted to go camping but feel overwhelmed by the challenge? We’re breaking it down, from where to go, what to wear, what to bring, and what to cook.

THE DARK STREETS OF LITTLE ROCK Dare to confront the supernatural world of the capital city on a tour that includes a cemetery, a museum, and a tour guide who’s had her own encounters with ghosts.

ADVERTISING INFORMATION Catherine Frederick 479 / 782 / 1500 Catherine@AtUrbanMagazine.com EDITORIAL INFORMATION Marla Cantrell 479 / 831 / 9116 Marla@AtUrbanMagazine.com ©2013 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.

FOLLOW US Subscribe to @Urban and receive 12 issues per year for only $20, within the contiguous United States. Details: AtUrbanMagazine.com.

letter from Catherine

her red shirt, peddling up on her bicycle, friends in tow, stopping only long enough to ask, “Dad! Is this your new friend?” As soon as he answered, “Yes!”she looked at me, waved and said, “Hi! Bye!” and sped away, back to her business. Thirteen years sped by faster than she appeared that day on that bicycle.

Soon she’ll be on her own, in a sea of strangers at a college even farther away than she is now. When I think of it too long, it’s almost more than I can bear. But then I think of that strong little girl riding up on the bike and I know she’s going to be just fine. And I will be too. I still have two more kiddos to fuss over!

But you? You’ve no time for fussing! You need to get ready for Halloween. What better way than our “Eat, Drink, and Be Scary” DIY that will have you ready for a party in no time. Worried about

I

what to serve your own little brood before they head out for

can feel it. Fall is finally here, albeit in spurts. I can drive

a night of trick or treating? How ‘bout some hearty Ghoulash?

my son to football practice with the windows down and not

Ready for a night away from the kitchen? Read our restaurant

dread watching his team for two hours in the sweltering

review and then head to one of the best smokehouses we’ve

heat. It’s no secret I love this time of year. The weather is

ever visited.

changing and I’ve got my four favorite things: family, football, fall colors, and food!

But that’s just the beginning. We’re taking our bravest readers to Little Rock for a haunted tour that will leave you shaking in

Then there’s Halloween. I love a good scare. I don’t like being

your boots. We’re introducing you to a Fort Smith author whose

scared as much as I enjoy being the one to deliver it. My step-

werewolf series is winning awards and wowing those who can’t

daughters love haunted houses, but me, not so much. You

wait for her next book. Ready for a little sweetness? You’ll find it

combine dark, small spaces with a clown holding a chainsaw

in Honey Man Hardin, one of the best beekeepers in our region.

and you’ll see me move faster than the speed of light,

All this, plus camping tips that will have you hankering for a

screaming the entire way. Don’t even think of asking me to

night in the woods, huddled around a campfire and telling ghost

lead you out to safety. One rip of that chainsaw, I’m gone, and

stories. It’s the perfect time of the year to get out and enjoy the

you’re on your own.

bounty of Arkansas. And while you’re at it, make a few family memories. Because your kids grow up way too fast. Believe me,

Speaking of being on your own, Lauren, my oldest, just turned

I know this all too well.

eighteen. It just doesn’t seem possible. When I met my husband, she was five, her sister Leah not quite two. I can still see her in

To reserve this free space for your charitable non-profit organization, email: Editors@AtUrbanMagazine.com

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lifestyle

At Their Golden Anniversary @lines Fred MacVaugh

The reporter questions the birder beneath the burr oak.

Beside him, his white-haired wife squeezes his hand in hers.

She’s silent, her patience steady and practiced.

With one ear raised, he waits and concentrates.

“Hear him?” he asks, pointing to an Indigo Bunting.

“He repeats himself to be heard.”

“The secret,” his wife whispers, “is his attention.

For fifty years, he’s listened.”

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Jason Haid

Co-owner / Chef

River City Deli 7320 Rogers Avenue, Suite 7 Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.434.6474 myrivercitydeli.com

UPCLOSE&PERSONAL Favorite food as a child?

My mother’s lasagna – amazing!

Always do the best you can for the people you love.

Favorite Halloween costume when you were a kid?

I was Wilson from Home Improvement one year. I made a small fence on a stick, put on a fisherman’s hat, and held the fence in front of my face.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Fly a plane.

What’s the first thing you bought with your own money?

I cashed my first paycheck at 13, bought a cup of coffee, took a sip, and promptly spit it out. Wasn’t quite ready to grow up, I suppose.

Last book you read? Fatherhood by Bill Cosby.

Last road trip? Dallas

What’s the one thing you want our readers to know about your business?

Farthest you’ve been away from home?

Tokyo. Best. Food. EVER. I was served tuna toro (belly) that was caught, fileted and plated sashimi style right in front of me in less than 7 minutes.

At River City – we’re more than just a deli. While we

If you could have a super power, what would it be?

Hmm...teleport, I guess. Certainly would save on gas.

do serve some of the best New York Style delectables, like our house-roasted Pastrami and the best Rueben in town, we’re a full-service restaurant and caterer that focuses on using the freshest, highest quality ingredients to make our menu items from scratch each day. We’re a family at River City Deli and we provide the kind of service that makes our customers feel a part of that family. We’re currently serving lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch and can’t wait to serve Fort Smith for many years to come!

Strangest place you’ve called the Hogs? Tokyo – I scared the natives.

Most sentimental thing you own?

My grandfather gave me his ring before he died - I keep it with me for all of life’s big moments.

What did you want to grow up to be when you were a kid?

A musician, an NHL player, or a chef!

Favorite holiday, and why.

Thanksgiving – great food, great family, and lots of relaxation.

What cheers you up?

My love - Peyton, and our kids - Isaac and Carter. And, of course, cooking.

What’s the 1st thing you’d do if you won the lottery?

Take my family, friends, and River City Deli crew to Vegas!

What’s on your perfect pizza?

Thin and crispy homemade crust, lightly salted San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, parmigiano reggiano, fresh basil, finished with a few drops of olive oil.

Favorite animal?

I’m fascinated by sharks. From a culinary perspective – definitely the duck.

What’s on your playlist right now? Blues Travelers, “Price to Pay”.

Best advice you’ve ever been given? “Taste everything!” – Susan Tucker, my mom.

What smell reminds you of home? Homemade chicken broth.

Favorite National Park, and why.

Redwood National Park, San Francisco. It’s like something out of a fairytale.

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lifestyle

Living on the Sunny Side @story Tonya McCoy @images courtesy John Gerrard

Each month in our Ignite series we bring you stories we hope will inspire you, give you new ideas, and bring you inside the lives of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

lifestyle

J

ohn Gerrard sits on the porch of his Tontitown, Arkansas home

“This is where we came to vacation. We came to Heber Springs

snapping green beans from his garden. He’s getting ready for

and Eureka Springs, and Bentonville and Table Rock Lake. We

a fish fry he’ll be hosting for his co-workers this weekend. The

travelled and fished and camped. We had pop-up campers.

sun and the soil have provided a good harvest this year, but it’s

We’d roll into a campsite and take over and catch all the fish out

the sun in particular that changed John’s life.

of the ponds and rivers.”

If you walk into John’s 1,900 square foot home and simply flip on

At age fifty-eight John still loves fishing. “There’s nothing that

a light switch you can see just how important “sun” is to John’s

can keep me and a fishing pole apart on the weekends.”

lifestyle. Nineteen solar panels line his rooftop, collecting solar rays that scientists call photons, which convert to energy. This

And while he never became a trout fishing guide, his marketing

energy helps run the lighting, air conditioning and water heater

and sales background did bring him back to northwest Arkansas.

in John’s house, and it saves him a lot of money.

In 1997, his wife and two daughters, one in first grade and one in kindergarten, made the move. John became the area sales

“If I’ve got a forty dollar energy bill in the summer it makes me

manager for Dictaphone Corporation, a company that sold

mad,” John says

products used in storing recorded dictations, like those used in medical records. John raised his daughters and worked various

“I like for the inside of my house to be cool, so I run my air

marketing/sales jobs including holding positions at JB Hunt and

conditioner. The beauty of solar is that during the times when we

Marvin Windows.

use the most energy, and in Arkansas language that means in the summertime when it’s hot as Hades and everyone’s got their air

John enjoyed working in these fields, but it wasn’t until a couple

conditioner running, ninety-nine percent of the time that’s when

of years ago when he found his niche with a final career change.

you’re making the most solar energy. So that’s when you’re off-

When he went to the Green Fair in Rogers, Arkansas, he met

setting those high electric bills you see in the summertime.”

Pam Speraw and Garret Roth, a brother and sister who’ve made solar energy a family business since 1983. They each have

But it’s not just about saving money by using alternative energy,

businesses, one in Little Rock and one in Tulsa.

he’s also made solar power his career.

John was interested in starting his own business, so Pam and “The reason I went into the solar business is that I just feel this

Garrett mentored him and within a year, John opened his own

is the right thing to do, and it’s the right time to do it. We have a

solar business branch of Sun City Solar in 2006. He has been

lot of issues in the world and in this country that are energy and

doubling his installations almost every year since the beginning,

energy security based.”

and you might be surprised to learn who’s using solar power.

Conserving energy and living greener are beliefs John was

When University of Arkansas swimmers in Fayetteville stand on

raised on.

their marks, poised to dive at SEC swim meets, they probably don’t give a thought to how the pool is heated. But it was on the

He grew up in the Mississippi Delta town of Cleveland where

minds of the university’s administration when they switched

he spent a lot of time outdoors and where his father and

to solar thermal heating for the Health, Physical Education and

grandfather taught him to hunt and fish. When he was a

Recreation Building. More than 700 thousand gallons of water

teenager, he even dreamed of guiding trout fishing tours as

are heated through energy from the solar panels on the roof.

a career. And northwest Arkansas played a role in his love

About seventy percent of the energy used for the pool comes

for the outdoors as well. John’s relatives including cousins,

directly from those panels.

aunts, uncles, and grandparents, all made family trips to the Natural State.

A couple of blocks away, the smell of parmesan and mozzarella cheese melting over fresh baked pizza crust wafts through the

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lifestyle

Rolf Wilkin and John Gerrard

air. Eureka Pizza is now using solar energy to bake their pies.

and many businesses are also taking advantage of federal tax credits for solar power.

“All those ovens are going all the time over there, and the air conditioning is running in that building. When they open up at

John says making alternative energy is more important than

ten o’clock in the morning until when they close at nine o’clock

just saving money. “The right way to go is to use the energy

at night, they’re offsetting a huge amount of energy there.”

God gave us. You know, the sun and the wind and the water to make energy, sustainable energy, where we’re not destroying

A quick drive north to Eureka Springs is the location of another

our environment the whole time, but where we’re still thriving

of John’s projects. The city’s trolley car system is popular among

as a species, as human beings. That just makes more sense to

visitors, and it’s a lot greener than it used to be.

me than going the other way.”

“They decided that instead of using a bus washing system that ran off diesel, back in the visitor’s center, that also put out some smelly fumes, they were going to use natural gas

For more information on solar panels for your home

and supplement it with hot water,” John says. “So we actually

or business, contact John Gerrard at Sun City Solar by

installed a solar hot water wash system at the Eureka Springs

calling 479.422.7037 or log onto www.suncityenergy.

Visitor’s Center.”

com for more information.

Many businesses are choosing to use solar now because the prices for the panels have fallen over the past couple of years

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Charleston Dog Shelter Give them a new leash on life.

Visit us on Facebook at The Charleston Dog Shelter for more pictures and complete descriptions of all our lovable dogs. If you’re ready to meet your new best friend, call for an appointment today.

Bogey Male – Beagle Mix

Camden Male – Red Bone Coonhound Mix

Chelsea Female – Boxer/Lab Mix

Jack Male – Australian Cattle Dog Mix

Lennox Male – Catahoula Mix

Skylar Male – Black Lab Mix

Donations are always needed and greatly appreciated.

Charleston Dog Shelter | Charleston, AR 72933 | 479.965.3591 | Find us on Petfinder™ |

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lifestyle

EAT

Eye Candy @recipe Catherine Frederick @images Jeromy Price

6 Granny Smith apples (wash, dry, remove stems) 6 wooden candy sticks (cut to desired length)

Purple candy apples? A colorful twist

1/2 cup clear (light) corn syrup

on an old favorite that’s sure to delight.

3 cups sugar

Purple not your color? Choose another

1 cup water

and make it your own by adding your favorite flavoring.

1/2 teaspoon flavoring ( I used vanilla, you could use butter, cinnamon, etc.)

Gift Idea

2 tablespoons white food coloring (I recommend AmeriColor® Brite White Soft Gel Paste)

Place apple in a decorative cupcake liner, wrap in cellophane, and tied with a ribbon.

1-2 teaspoons of coloring (I recommend AmeriColor® Regal Purple Soft Gel Paste) Candy thermometer Rubber spatula Non-stick spray Cookie sheet

NOTE: A food grade wax is typically applied to apples. Be sure to wash them (I recommend Fit Wash) to remove the wax or the candy coating won’t adhere to the surface.

1

Spray baking sheet with non-stick spray. Set aside.

2

In a medium saucepan, over mediumhigh heat, combine corn syrup, water and sugar. Stir to dissolve. Insert candy thermometer to the mixture, but not touching the bottom of the pan.

3

Bring the mixture to a rolling boil and maintain the boil until candy thermometer reaches 302 degrees (25-30 minutes), also known as the hard-crack stage.

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While waiting, insert a wooden candy stick to the top, center of each apple.

Set aside.

5

Once the mixture reaches 302 degrees, remove pan from heat and quickly add flavorings and colorings.

Using rubber spatula, stir to combine.

Apples are ready to be dipped after bubbles have subsided.

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Dip apples, one at a time, turning until completely coated. Dip only once and allow excess to drip back into saucepan. Double dipping will make them too hard.

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Place apples on prepared cookie sheet and allow to dry.

lifestyle

Wicked Candy Corn

DRINK

@recipe Catherine Frederick @images Jeromy Price

A spirited Halloween treat for adults only. Candy corn is combined with your favorite vodka for a sweet taste sensation!

1 oz. of infused candy corn vodka (recipe below) 1/2 oz. of Pinnacle Whipped Vodka 3 oz. Pineapple juice Orange and green sprinkles 1

To prepare candy corn vodka, combine one cup of candy corn with two cups of vodka in a mason jar. Cover and let sit for five days.

Stir mixture thoroughly then strain through cheesecloth or a strainer.

2

Wet the rim of a martini glass with a lemon slice.

Then dip the rim into a mix of orange and green sprinkles, twisting the glass clockwise to cover the entire rim.

3

In a shaker with ice, combine candy corn vodka, whipped vodka, and pineapple juice. Shake and strain into prepared cocktail glass.

Please drink responsibly.

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lifestyle

Be Scary

A Darkened Door @recipe Catherine Frederick @images Jeromy Price

This time of year, it’s all about the front door.

And why not? It’s the first line of defense between you and all your hard-earned candy. But bell-ringers beware! This DIY transforms the mundane to insane.

Grapevine wreath Black, flat spray paint Glitter in colors of choice (I used black, silver and metallic grey) Décor of choice, I used: Plastic snake Skulls in various sizes Spiders Spider webbing “Spooky” wooden word cut out Hot glue gun and glue sticks

1

Spray paint the grapevine wreath with the black spray paint and allow to dry.

2

Glitz out ordinary plastic spiders, snakes, skulls and wooden letters or words with a little glue and loads of glitter and allow to dry. On some skulls and the snake, I only added glitter to the eyes. The spiders were already glittered in black, but I added glue over the top, and added a different color glitter to change their appearance.

3

Stretch spider webbing over sections of the grapevine wreath so that the webbing thins out, snagging random pieces of the grapevine on the wreath until it gives the appearance of an actual spider web.

4

Plug in the glue gun and allow to heat thoroughly. Apply hot glue to the back of spiders, skulls, and other decorations, then press directly on to the grapevine wreath.

TIP: Check your local big box retailers and dollar stores for simple Halloween décor that you can customize with glitter. Many items are sold in a bag or on a card so you get several pieces for one low price.

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SHOPLOCAL

The Great Outdoors

Joseph Joseph® Wash & Drain™ Dishwashing bowl with straining plug.

Toas-Tite™ Prepare sealed-in, drip proof, hot toasted sandwiches over the campfire.

C R E AT I V E K I T C H E N

C R E AT I V E K I T C H E N

Charcoal Champion Telescoping Marshmallow Fork set with glow in the dark handles- great for hot dogs too.

C R E AT I V E K I T C H E N

Crow Canyon Red marble patterned enamelware coffee cups.

C R E AT I V E K I T C H E N

Living Accents® 28” portable fire pit. Four steel legs for easy packing.

Charcoal grid, fire tool, carry bag included.

Yeti® Yeti Tundra 45 cooler. Built to withstand rugged abuse, keeps ice longer and contents colder. 26 can capacity, easy portability.

Y E A G E R ’ S A C E H A R D WA R E

Y E A G E R ’ S A C E H A R D WA R E

SHOPLOCAL

Get out of town. Seriously, put down the iPad, walk away from your needy little phone, and head for the hills.

Or the Buffalo River. Anywhere that’s glimmering with the beauty of Arkansas in the fall. It will give you time to reconnect with nature, your family, and your friends. You’ll need one more shopping spree before you unplug.

Here are a few things that will make your outdoor adventure even better!

Quarrow® 70 Lumen Head Lamp. Water-resistant, LED, head tilts 90 degrees, up to 70 meters viewing distance.

J E N N I F E R ’ S AT S P A R K S REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

NEBO® Bend Brite hands-free flex light with magnetic base and clip. Two light settings, LED, red in flash mode.

J E N N I F E R ’ S AT S P A R K S REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

S’well™ Insulated, reusable bottle will hold the contents of a bottle of wine.

J E N N I F E R ’ S AT S P A R K S REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

Rivers Edge Bullet flashlight with 9 LED lights, AAA battery operated, on/off push button.

J E N N I F E R ’ S AT S P A R K S REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

CQ Products Camping Cookbooks Campfire Cooking (124 pages) and Campfire Treats (64 pages), with recipes such as Fireside Pizza and Fireside French Toast.

J E N N I F E R ’ S AT S P A R K S REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

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entertainment

tolerates him and often berates him. Charlie is tall and slim and good-looking. Eli is not. They are hired to leave their Oregon home and travel to the heart of the California gold rush to kill a man named Herman Kermit Warm. They don’t know why they are hired to kill Warm, nor do they care.

The story is told in a series of episodes that happen to them along their way. It is dark humor at its best, and some of the scenes are a little gruesome.

Strangely enough, there’s also a lot of talk about dental hygiene.

After having a tooth pulled by a dentist in a small town, Eli is given a toothbrush and dental powder with instructions to brush up and down daily. Eli is fascinated with this new invention, and in spite of all the unsavory happenings that occur on the trip, he never forgets to brush. “It is highly refreshing to the mouth,” Eli tells Charlie, who replies that Eli looks “like a rabid beast with a mouth full of foam.”

Amidst the killing and robbing committed by the Sisters brothers, there is sadness also. Eli acknowledges his loneliness when he meets a washerwoman at a saloon/hotel. “The creak of bedsprings suffering under the weight of a restless man is as lonely a sound as I know,” Eli laments.

When the brothers finally find Herman Kermit Warm, the novel turns frighteningly bizarre. Worm has invented a chemical solution

The Sisters Brothers

By Patrick deWitt Ecco: an imprint of Harper Collins: $2499 @review Anita Paddock

D

that illuminates gold dust along river bottoms. Prospectors who wade the river face disfigurement or even death.

This book isn’t for the squeamish. But it is worth the read. Think of it as a combination of author/playwright Cormac McCarthy, whose work includes No Country for Old Men and All the Pretty

iscovering a new writer is like finding gold in California.

Horses, and director/screenwriter Quinton Tarantino, whose

I want to shout out Eureka! A friend of mine, whose

films include Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill. I laughed out loud many

son recommended the book to her, told me about The Sisters

times long into the early hours of the morning. I don’t think I’ll

Brothers, which is written by thirty-eight-year-old Patrick Dewitt.

ever forget the Sisters brothers. Their creator, Patrick deWitt is a genius.

This quirky book uses the wonderfully formal language of the 1850s. It reminds me of the way Charles Portis tells the story of Rooster Cogburn and Mattie Ross in True Grit.

Charlie and Eli Sisters are hired killers. Eli, the narrator, is the nicer of the two. He idolizes his older brother, but Charlie only

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entertainment

Submit your events to editors@aturbanmagazine.com

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Funky Junk Roundup Saturday, October 5 // 10AM – 4PM // $3 Admission // montagefestivals.com Fort Smith, AR // 405.596.1687 If you think one person’s junk is another’s treasure, the Funky Junk Roundup is just the ticket. This one-day shopping bonanza includes a hodgepodge of arts, crafts, vintage and handmade items, antique décor, “junktiques,” and much more. The roundup will be held in Hall B at the Fort Smith Convention Center at 55 South 7th Street.

King Biscuit Blues Festival October 10 – 12 // See website for details // kingbiscuitfestival.com Helena, AR // 870.572.5223 // Drive time approx. 4 ½ hours from Fort Smith Held in the heart of Historic Downtown Helena, this festival is one of America’s foremost showcases of Blues music. The lineup features renowned Blues artists like the Gregg Allman Band, Robert Cray, and Marcia Ball. There will be three full days of non-stop music, a BBQ cookoff, a 5K / 10K / 1 Mile Fun Run, and a Bit-o-Blues children’s area. So bring the family, blankets, chairs, and sunscreen to Downtown Helena and enjoy the show.

Story Fest at the Bay Saturday, October 12 // $10 advance, $15 door // somedaystartstoday.com Fairfield Bay, AR // 501.884.6010 // Drive time approx. 3 ½ hours from Fort Smith Come celebrate the art of ‘Story Telling’ at the Our Towne Conference & Visitor Center in Fairfield Bay. Featuring nationally known acts like Andy Offutt Irwin and Pippa White, StoryFest explores the history and craft of spoken storytelling. This event will be part of the Our Towne Conference Center Grand Opening.

Arkansas Zombie Challenge Saturday, October 12 // see website for details // arkansaszombiechallenge.com Hector, AR // 479.880.1195 // Drive time approx. 2 hours from Fort Smith Flee from zombies, tackle obstacles, raise funds, and help kids at the same time! The 1st Annual Arkansas Zombie Challenge is a fundraising event benefiting CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), and will feature a 5K obstacle race complete with “infected” zones full of zombies. There will be awards for runners and most creative zombie makeup, live entertainment, and food vendors.

entertainment

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The Poteau Balloonfest October 18 – 19 // see website for details // Poteauchamber.com Poteau, OK // 918.647.9178 // Drive time approx. 45 minutes from Fort Smith The Annual Poteau Balloonfest offers something for everyone, including tethered balloon rides, a mud pit race, carriage and carnival rides, a freestyle motorcross event, zipline, and so much more.

It’s being held at the LeFlore County Fairgrounds in Poteau.

2nd Annual Paws on Pinnacle Saturday, October 19 // Starts at 8AM // FREE // arkansasstateparks.com Little Rock, AR // 501.868.5806 // Drive time approx. 2 ½ hours from Fort Smith If you like to hit the trails with man’s best friend, here’s an event just for you. Paws on Pinnacle features informative programs on dog care, hiking safety, and a working dog demonstration. The final event will be a “Howl-O-Ween” dog costume contest. It will be held at the West Summit Picnic Area at Pinnacle Mountain State Park.

Spooktacular 100 Saturday, October 26 // see website for details // morgannick.com Fort Smith, AR // 479.632.6382 The Morgan Nick Foundation is hosting the 1st Annual Spooktacular 100 Ride, a one-day fundraiser to help educate and empower children to stay safe. The event will be held at Chaffee Crossing in Fort Smith, and features full route support including meals, snacks and drinks at “ghost town” rest stops. A cookout will also be provided for participants starting at 10:30a.m..

2013 Arkansas Cornbread Festival Saturday, November 2 // 11AM – 4PM // arkansascornbreadfestival.com Little Rock, AR // 501.663.4181 // Drive time approx. 2 ½ hours from Fort Smith The 2nd Annual Arkansas Cornbread Festival kicks off with live music, delicious food, family fun, and of course, amazing cornbread! The event features a cornbread and side dish competition, kids activities and play area, and even a few surprises. There will also be vendors from all across Arkansas selling handmade crafts, clothes, jewelry, and more. The event will be located from 13th to 15th streets on South Main in Little Rock.

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Martin says what he loved about making this album was that he got to slow down from the traditional fast-paced bluegrass he usually plays, and in doing that the nuances of the banjo shine through. He talks about how important the space between the notes are, the harmonic vibrations when one string hits another, and how that allowed the album to be so heartfelt. His agent agreed, telling Martin he believed this was the best thing he’d ever done.

As for Brickell, writing these folk songs was an absolute joy. She would hear a tune Martin emailed her, click play, and a story would rise to the surface. When she listened to the melody that became “Sarah Jane And The Iron Mountain Baby,” she started singing the phrase “woo woo,” and knew the story had something to do with a train. After researching train names, she discovered the Iron Mountain line that ran in the early 1900s. And then she found the story of a baby boy who’d been tossed from a train, inside a suitcase, and how a man found the boy unharmed and took him home to his wife, who fell instantly in love.

Love Has Come For You

There are other highlights, such as “Sun’s Gonna Shine,” which

Steve Martin/Edie Brickell Rounder Records, $999

another line that’s hard to forget. And then there’s “Friend of

starts “You got the power, you got the faith, you got the El Camino,” Mine,” which celebrates the strength of long friendships.

@review Marla Cantrell

This album combines what is best in both Martin and Brickell.

W

Martin shines on the banjo. Brickell, whose earlier work with the

banjo playing. Not long after, Martin returned the compliment

her home in Paris, Texas, and makes her miss her old relatives.

by sending Edie one of his tunes and asking her to write a song

Pick up this album and you might find yourself reliving your own

to go with it. And boy, did she. The outcome was the title song,

old good times. Wouldn’t that just be the icing on the cake?

hen singer/songwriter Edie Brickell saw actor/

New Bohemians produced pop hits like “What I Am,” and “Good

comedian/author/musician Steve Martin at a party,

Times,” seems to find her stride in these rootsy ballads. In a recent

she couldn’t wait to tell him how much she loved his

interview she said that Love Has Come For You takes her back to

“Love Has Come For You,” a song that starts with this intriguing line. “She had a child by that man from the bank.”

Who could NOT listen to lyrics like that? It turns out not too many people. The album that came from that one exchange contains thirteen songs highlighting Martin’s instrumentals and Brickell’s lyrics. Often, Brickell’s writing was swift. When she received the tune for “When You Get To Asheville,” she was in the midst of cooking dinner. She listened to the melody again and again, and by the time she set the table, the song was finished.

I Rate It

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Honey Man Hardin @story Marla Cantrell @images Mark Mundorff

J

ames Earl “Honey Man” Hardin points his cane to the entrance of a hive where bees have congregated. They’re moving their wings so

rapidly you can hear them buzzing. It’s a hot day, nearing ninety-five degrees, and these little guys are working to keep the queen, who’s inside, who’s always inside, cool enough to survive.

“This hive here is so gentle I can work it without nothing on,” James Earl says. “It’s one I caught on some property I own in town, not too far from here.”

This hive is just one of fifty-one that he keeps on and around his Booneville, Arkansas property. In a good year like this one – lots of rain, not a sizzling summer – he’s likely to produce 500 pounds of honey.

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Already, he’s stopped robbing the hives. All the honey that’s

ball up and you can get ‘em to drop in a bucket pretty easy. So

produced from now until next spring will be eaten by the bees.

it’s not real hard to catch ‘em. I was wearing regular clothes, and

In a few weeks James Earl will begin treating the hives. “I’ll start

I got stung three or four times.

putting out powdered sugar and garlic powder to take care of the mites. I take a pound of each and give each one of my hives

“Well, I just love good honey. And then everybody found out I

a quarter pound. I just put it all over them bees, I just make ‘em

had it, and they wanted it. I started peddling my own products.

solid white.”

It’s been nothing but an explosion ever since. The first honey I sold was at the Booneville fair. I give my grandson fifty cents for

The mites he controls with his home remedy have caused

every jar he sold, and he was walking around with a jar in each

massive problems for beekeepers across the country. In recent

hand, and he was hustling.”

years, some have reported losing up to ninety percent of their colonies.

At the same time, James Earl was learning

None of that seems to bother James

all he could. “I’m not bashful,” James Earl

Earl, who believes doing things like

says, “that’s the most important thing.

keeping bees away from locations

I don’t like television. I read a hundred

where pesticides are being used and

books. In the early seventies they opened

watching them closely, helps them

Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas

stay healthy.

Bee club in Fort Smith and I had a friend who was going, so I went along. I learnt

The proof of his good work is in the

quite a bit. You really need to be with a

honey. He has both clover honey,

beekeeper to learn. I’m as tight as bark on

produced only in spring, and a darker

a tree, so I don’t have none of this fancy

wildflower honey. “I keep some of them

gauging stuff that tells you when honey’s

in Paris on the soybean fields, and that’s

ready. I don’t need any of that.”

a really pretty honey. I learnt ten, twelve year ago if you gonna make it you gotta

James Earl learned quickly and soon

be in the bottoms. That clover honey is

became a local expert. And so, when a

real mild. You have to get the clover before everything else is

fellow beekeeper found himself in trouble, he was more than

blooming. I’ve got about thirteen buckets of it left. The wildflower

happy to help.

has a stronger honey flavor. When I’m at craft fairs I eat a little jar of the dark honey and a couple of spoons of bee pollen for lunch.

“In Fort Smith, Arkansas, on Avenue H, there was a gentleman who was old and set in his ways. The neighbors got to raising

“You got good honey, people will buy it. I got people now been

Cain – they had a swimming pool and didn’t like the bees. He

with me over twenty years, a lot of them from the Fort Smith

had twenty hives in a small backyard. The City ordered him to

Farmers Market. A lot of people don’t know my name, they just

get rid of half his hives, and I went in to get ‘em. I had one bee

know ‘James Earl the Honey Man.’”

suit, and I let my friend wear it. I picked out ten hives, and we started moving ‘em. The last hive, we got it to the truck and it

James Earl didn’t grow up around bees. It wasn’t until he was

fell apart. I was covered in bees. I got stung twenty-seven times

nearly forty that he became interested in the honey trade.

and I quit breathing. They loaded me up and carried me to the

“About thirty year ago, I got my first swarm. They’s a little old

fire station and gave me a shot of Benadryl and pulled out the

tree back here,” he says and points behind him. “I seen the bees

stingers. That was in 1977. I’ve never forgot it.”

when I come off the road there. I was afraid, I was. Anybody tell you they’re not is lying. When they’re swarming like that they’ll

At this point, many would have walked away from the bees. But not James Earl. “I got two bee suits after that and I was kindly scared

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for a while,” he says. “After that I got allergic to the bee stings, so I

So there it is. After an hour of finding out about how James Earl

have to be careful now, but I never thought about stopping.”

tends bees, I’ve just discovered why he does it. The bees he rescued from a tree near his house in Booneville rescued him

At sixty-nine, the bees are one of the things that keep him going.

in return. He looks across his land, past his asparagus bed, past

He wonders why more people aren’t keeping bees and then he

the home he and his wife paid for before they ever darkened

answers his own question. If there’s any deterrent, he believes

the doors, past the shed where all across the walls are ribbons

it’s the initial investment for things such as the bee suit and the

he’s won for his honey at fairs across the region, and photos of

boxes where the bees live. And it is a lot of work. He shakes his

friends he’s made through his business, Hardin’s Pure Honey.

head, “Sometimes I think ain’t nobody wants to work this hard.”

“I’ve met a lot of good people. Even got cards and letters from customers when I had my open heart surgery. They mean a lot

Well, nobody but James Earl and his fifty-one hives of bees. “The

to me, and I guess I mean a lot to them.” James Earl smiles and

worker bees just live twenty-one days, and they work and work

then says, “That’s really something isn’t it?”

and work, and I just love them. When I had my heart worked on, I just sat out there. I had me a chair and I’d sit out there for hours

It is really something. And so, I think, is James Earl “the Honey

at a time, watching them carrying pollen in and out.

Man” Hardin.

“I hate to even tell you this, but I used to hang out in those old bars all the time. And I had a motorcycle and all that. One day I found the Lord and I gave up all that and I got into my bees and

You can meet James Earl and buy Hardin’s Pure Honey

that really settled me down. The most important thing in life is

at the Fort Smith Famers Market at 2nd & Garrison on

to have a good woman, which I do in my wife, and forget about

Saturdays from 7 a.m. until noon. You can also call

them iPods and televisions, and get to work.” James Earl pauses

James Earl at 479.206.1806 to find out more about

and then says this. “In a way, I think the bees helped me more

his products.

than I can say.”

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Leader of the Pack @story Marla Cantrell @images courtesy Quinn Loftis

people

I

n 2010, Quinn Loftis was living in a fantasy world. By day,

The three main characters are loosely based on Quinn’s high

she worked as a nurse in a doctors’ office in Little Rock.

school friends. But not so loosely that they didn’t recognize

Her two bosses, both surgeons, were often at the hospital

themselves. “One of my friends called after Prince of Wolves

or taking time off for vacation, and that left Quinn with too

was out and said, ‘I’m Jen, aren’t I?’ I really liked the Jen

much time on her hands. She’d recently read Twilight, the wildly

character because she says what she thinks, all the time. Girls

popular book about teen vampires.

are so candid behind closed doors. I tried to bring that through.”

That book led her to other supernatural stories. She started

Quinn held onto her book for a while. “A year after I wrote it, I got

reading a lot – often a book a day – and she grew more and

on Barnes and Noble’s self-publishing site and then Amazon’s

more dissatisfied with them. “I got to a place where I couldn’t

site for Kindle. I uploaded it and then I told everyone I knew. The

find a book that had the relationships I wanted,” Quinn says. “So

first month, which was June, 2011, I sold ten copies. The next

I thought maybe I could write a book.”

month I sold ninety.” But in August she sold 1,261.

And so she did. It took her only seven days, writing eight hours a day, to complete her first book. She typed at her desk at work, she went to bed thinking about the

The reason for the bump in sales was due in part to the generosity of one of Quinn’s fans, who loved the story. She did not, however, love the cover. “It was a

characters she’d created, she woke

really bad cover,” Quinn says. “One

with the next chapter just itching

of my readers contacted me and

to be told.

said ‘I read your book and I’m in love with it, and my husband’s a

When she finished, she’d written

graphic designer and we made

240 pages. Prince of Wolves is

you a cover.’ The change caused

set in Coldspring, Texas, a town

my sales to skyrocket.”

of 700. The story revolves around three seventeen-year-old girls named Jacque, Jen, and Sally, who are killing time over the summer before their senior year in high school, hanging out at each other’s houses, sunbathing, and drinking a lot of

So there Quinn was, a new author with a growing fan base, and a desire to keep telling stories. “When I first sat down to write, I had no idea there would be seven books in this series.”

hot chocolate.

Less than three months later, she’d finished her next novel. When The action starts when a limo pulls up across the street from

Blood Rights, the second in her Grey Wolf Series, was released in

Jacque’s house and drops off an exchange student from

November of 2011, sales were much stronger. She sold 1,950 the

Romania, who just happens to be a werewolf, and the prince

first month, and 3,730 in the second.

of his pack.

By then, Quinn was starting to realize she might have to give If Quinn had taken writing classes, if she’d spent much time at all

up her career as a nurse and write full time. She and her family

researching just how hard it is to write a book and get it published,

had recently moved to Fort Smith so that her husband, who’s

she might have been discouraged. But she had not. And so she

an attorney, could take a position with a firm in town. Then, in

dove in, creating a world of mystery, where anything is possible.

January, 2012, just a month before her third book came out, she

The hardest part, she says, was coming up with the right names for

quit her job at a local hospital.

her characters. Once that happened, she could see and hear them and the story spilled out as fast as she could type it.

As she talks about her success – total downloads of her books

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recently topped 1 million - she seems to be as in awe as those

supernatural genre. “I was up against some big name authors

who hear her story. At thirty-three, with no formal training, it

and I nearly fell in the floor. My husband had to help me up, and

is astounding. But she did study diligently to learn everything

I just balled and balled. Such an honor,” Quinn says.

she could about writing after her first book was finished, and she’s a gifted storyteller. Which is why she made the USA Today

So much has happened in such a short amount of time. But

bestseller list recently.

Quinn’s just getting started. Already she’s decided to write a new series about aliens, which will also have a good amount

There is another reason Quinn’s been so successful. She’s

of romance in them. She’s writing a spinoff of the Grey Wolf

done her homework, studying the self-publishing business,

series, and she’s working on another series. And she has

finding out how to get her books reviewed on blogs her

a mainstream novel. It’s a lot to take in, though she doesn’t

readers follow. And then there’s her husband, who is now

seem to worry. She has never once found herself lacking for a

working full time helping Quinn with legal matters involved

story idea, or burdened by the thought of another deadline. It

with publishing, and helping her with the business end of

is a joy for her, this gift she has for the written word, and the

writing. “He sets a quota for me and a deadline, and I really

imagination it takes to create magical lands where good and

need that,” Quinn says, and then laughs. “Without him, who

evil clash, where werewolves race through the woods at night,

knows what would happen.”

and where three girls from a small town in Texas discover their lives are every bit as extraordinary as any other living creature

Much of what she’s learned in her marriage she carries over into

on this great earth.

her romantic lives of her characters. They have to complement each other. They have to be each other’s best friend. And they have to help each other. “I cannot stand a heroine who is so strong that she has no need for the hero. To me, that’s a pointless relationship. But you don’t want somebody who can’t do anything for herself. You have to find an extremely fine

Meet Quinn Loftis

balance between a heroine who is strong but realizes she can’t

October 17, 2013

do everything alone.”

Fort Smith Public Library, Teen Reader Group.

479.783.0229

Quinn’s readers range in age from ten to seventy-three, and she knows her characters are role models for her younger readers.

October 26, 2013

There is never anything graphic in her books, and the male

Indie Mash Up, Springdale, Arkansas.

werewolves are worth the trouble since they never, ever cheat.

indieauthorevent.com

What she didn’t realize was just how much her books might

For more on Quinn’s books,

mean to some of her fans. “I had a mom email me who had a

visit quinnloftisbooks.com.

two-year-old daughter who has cancer, who was in the hospital being treated. She said at night she gets out her Kindle and reads my books. She said, ‘It was so nice to laugh and to get away from what’s going on.’ She was twenty, so young, with a two-year-old.” Quinn shakes her head at the thought of it. “To think that my book could help her during something so difficult, and to think that she took the time to email me.”

This year alone, Quinn’s won four awards, including author of the year, at UtopYA, a convention for women writers in the

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The Other Paris

@story Gloria Williams Tran

Culture shock. That must be what I’m feeling.

I slapped another mosquito on my arm as I sat on the rickety back steps of Uncle Edward’s white wood frame house. The backdoor faced a coal slag hill about twenty yards away. Trees and brush grew from its sides, but a steep rough path led up to

the words, I didn’t understand their meanings. Exactly what was a “commode”? How much of something was a “mess,” as in a “mess of green beans”? Although the food was delicious – deviled eggs, fried okra, fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese spread, blackberry cobbler – I yearned for California comfort

the flat, blackened top where nothing grew.

foods, such as large, handheld burritos full of beans and chunks

I often went up to the top to get away from the noisy, crowded

refrain: Why did I come here? How could I go back?

kitchen where aunts and uncles of my husband Jim exchanged stories. Walking through the grass to the slag hill, I felt a wave of homesickness and misery wash over me. I missed California’s informal lifestyle, the dry heat of its summers, and the familiar

of beef. As I climbed the slag hill, my mind repeated a familiar

But I knew the answers to both questions. After graduating from college a few years previously in the early seventies, I had drifted through several jobs without much success. Now I had

foods and ways of home.

followed my husband in a reverse migration back to Arkansas

A stranger in a strange land. This summed up my first days

parents had fled so long ago. And no, there was no way to

in Arkansas. When store clerks spoke to me, they might as well as have been speaking a foreign language. I just didn’t comprehend. Often even when I did understand the sound of

from California, back to his grandparents’ homestead that his return. All our earthly possessions, such as they were, filled two Chevys. We were close to broke, and I didn’t want to ask my dad for a handout.

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Surveying the small town of Paris, Arkansas, below me, spread

Uncle Edward had the back lot brush hogged, and Jim and I

out like a park with its many oak and mimosa trees, crape

took shovels and turned over the rich, dark earth. A child of the

myrtles, and lush green lawns, I felt a rush of awe. It was all

desert, I had never had a garden, never picked a fresh tomato

so beautiful. I pivoted to marvel at the panoramic view from

or bell pepper from the bush. Even the lush, spacious lawns of

the top. White, fluffy clouds in a clear blue sky completed the

Paris were a wondrous novelty to me. Jim, a city boy from Los

picture. Reluctantly, I trudged down the hill to face the crowded

Angeles, was almost as inexperienced as I was at growing things.

kitchen again.

We planted two rows of tomato plants and then promptly forgot them as we looked for jobs and settled in.

“Hey, babe,” Jim called me when I entered the kitchen. “Uncle Edward has made us an incredible offer.”

The tomato plants grew, but so did the Johnson grass. The

summer rains watered the plants, and the Johnson grass grew

“That house next door belongs to me,” Uncle Edward said. A

so high that it shaded the tomato plants from the scorching sun.

smile crossed his weathered face. He hitched up his faded

One hot July day I walked to the back edge of the mowed yard

overalls. “I thought y’all might like to rent it, seeing as my

and peered at the lot of five-foot high grass. In amazement, I

tenants moved out.”

saw large bright red tomatoes on every plant. Wandering onto the lot, I picked the red globes, pulling out my t-shirt to catch

“How much?”

them all. I thought they had died, just withered up.

“Well, how does $35 a month sound?”

In my kitchen, I washed a perfect tomato, cut a large wedge, and placed it in my mouth. A tangy sweetness spread across

“Thirty-five dollars?” I echoed.

my tongue. I paused and remembered the rubbery texture of the flavorless L.A. supermarket tomatoes. And just then, a smile

“Yep.”

spread across my face as I popped another wedge of tomato in my mouth.

Jim put his arm around my shoulder, and I slipped my arm around his waist. “Isn’t that a great deal after paying hundreds

I was finally home.

of dollars for that cramped L.A. apartment? And there’s even room for a garden.”

I smiled weakly, feeling trapped by the generous offer. I looked around and saw Jim’s aunts staring at me, their faces friendly and open, waiting for my response.

“Sure,” I heard myself say. “That sounds like a good idea.” I hugged my husband a little tighter and hoped I spoke the truth.

The next week we moved into the white clapboard house across a large lawn from Uncle Edward’s. It had a slightly slanted greyfloored front porch and two front doors, one from the living room and the other from the front bedroom. The cramped bathroom was on the enclosed back porch. Behind the house was a small lawn with a clothesline and a weathered, unpainted dirt-floor shed. Beyond that was a large lot where five-foot tall Johnson grass grew. I had never seen grass so tall.

Gloria Williams Tran was born and raised in Needles, California.

In the early 70s she moved to Paris, Arkansas, where she worked as a disc jockey at KCCL Radio for several years. Gloria earned her masters degree from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.

She has recently retired after teaching for 36 years in Arkansas public schools, including Paris High School, Southside High School, and, for the past 30 years, Northside High School.

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The Joy of Jane Hartfield @story Anita Paddock @images Jeromy Price

people

It is apparent when you walk into the studio of Jane Hartfield that you are in the midst of a true artist. Color and texture define her art, and it is all around. The deepest blues, the brightest yellows, the vivid pinks, the somber browns, all found in swatches of silk, cotton, rayon, wool, gauze, organza, and African prints.

Her design wall is covered with her work. Some are finished, but some are not. This Fort Smith artist ponders each one, wondering if each piece is complete or needs just another bit of texture. She reminds me of the old saying about poetry: a poem is never finished until the poet is dead.

Her artistry is poetry. It is music to the eye. It is the language of a story.

Jane began her journey in Winnsboro, Louisiana, as the daughter of a lawyer and a nurse turned stay-at-home mom. “My mother sewed, but she didn’t like it. I learned to sew in junior high,” Jane says. “And I remember liking to feel the material between my fingers and loving to pick out colors. I liked it so much that

Jane Hartfield

my mother gave me a sewing machine for a wedding gift.” whole process. She loved the camaraderie of her fellow quilters Jane met and married her husband, Jerry, while they were

who were eager to teach her everything they knew. She learned

attending Mississippi State University. Their two children were

the lingo, what stitches to use, and how to lay out patterns. That’s

born in Memphis, and they moved to Fort Smith in 1976. Jane went

when she recognized the joy of working with color and textures.

back to school at Westark Community College and graduated as a

“I knew I didn’t want to be a traditional quilter,” Jane says. “But I

registered nurse three years later. After working for Sparks Regional

also knew I had to learn the rules before I broke them.”

Medical Center for twenty-one years in labor and delivery, she worked for Sparks Guild, managing the gift shop.

By the late ‘90s, Jane’s artistry with colors and fabrics blossomed.

“I began considering myself an artist, not just a quilter,” she

During those years, Jane lived through some frightening events.

explains. Soon, her art was hanging in quilt shows both locally

She and her mother were both diagnosed with breast cancer

and at large international shows in Dallas and Houston.

in 1985. Her mother died two years later, but Jane survived.

“I was given a poor prognosis, so I was sure I would die too,”

She studied under famous quilters and artists, learning

Jane says. She also became a grandmother during that time,

numerous techniques. Books written by famous colorists such

and the concurrence of those events caused her to examine her

as Kaffe Fassett and Hundert Wasser inspired her. “Fassett

priorities. She vowed to seize the day, enjoy life and nature.

taught me that if one color doesn’t work, use twenty more of the same color to make it work.”

Jane dabbled in quilting in the 1980s, but she found the tools available weren’t top quality, and she didn’t take to it. Later, in

One book, written by Ann Johnston, which Jane calls her

the mid-1990s, she saw an article in the newspaper about the

cookbook, has taught her how to dye her own fabric. She

Belle Point Quilt Guild in Fort Smith, so once again she tried

orders her dyes from Dharma Trading Company, and it is

her hand at quilting. This time, she became fascinated with the

obvious from her animated gestures and frequent smiles that

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she loves experimenting with the colors she can produce in a

In her studio and adjacent screened-in porch, designed by

variety of fabrics.

her and her supportive husband, this twenty-six-year breast cancer survivor finds true happiness. “I find myself humming

It was a great time for her, learning all she could and getting

and singing along with the music I always have playing while I

better at every turn. And then, in 2008, Jane’s son was in a

work. It is here that I am the happiest, working with colors and

serious motorcycle accident. “It’s hard to bear having your child

textures that tell a story,” Jane says.

suffer,” Jane says. “I realized we weren’t bulletproof, but family, faith, and friends can see us through anything.” Her son now

And there are so many stories to tell. Jane believes that if you’re

has his Master’s in engineering and works for Tyson Foods in

lucky enough to find something that makes you really happy,

Fayetteville. Her daughter lives in Greenwood and works for the

you must stick with it. And for those of us lucky enough to see

school system.

her art and perhaps own a piece, it makes us happy too.

In 2011, Jane returned to her hometown in Louisiana for an art show held in the Old Post Office Museum in Winnsboro. She titled her show, Fiber and Color = Layers of Joy. Her father was there, and he was beaming. “I think he now understands what

Jane’s works will next be on display in the Stephens

I really do, what being a fiber artist is.” Jane was comforted

Gallery at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville

by those who came, telling her how proud her mother would

until October 22; the Fine Arts Gallery at Arkansas State

have been.

University in Jonesboro from November 9-29; and the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies in Little Rock from

Jane was selected, along with four other fiber artists, as one of

December 13-February 2014.

“Arkansas Women to Watch in 2013.” Their works were chosen as best representing the relationship between art, nature, and spirituality. One of her pieces, Bulletproof, is a 40 by 48 inch story quilt with circles that look like targets. Her other pieces are Oil Slick, Tree Bark, and Fred Meets Jane. The exhibit will travel throughout the state.

To see more of her work, visit janehartfield.com.

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Lily

@story Marla Cantrell @images Jeromy Price and Kat Hardin

S

usan Pruitt is piping icing onto cupcakes inside the kitchen

There was no Ronald McDonald Room at Mercy when she gave

at the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Mercy Women’s

birth to her third child in 2010. Her pregnancy was normal,

Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas. As she works, she smiles.

but when Susan’s daughter was born, the nurse whisked her

Cooking is one of the things she loves. Another is this place,

away. There was something wrong, though Susan had no idea

where parents whose children are facing serious medical issues

how serious it was. After the genetic tests had been completed,

can stay free of charge, just one floor up from the Neonatal

Susan was given the worst possible news. Her newborn, Lily,

Intensive Care Unit.

had Zellweger Syndrome. The longest she might live was only six short months.

Each time she shows up, she feels a little better than she did before. There’s something about helping others, something

There were nights after Susan was released from the hospital

about making a trying time a little easier that makes Susan want

when she came back and slept in empty labor and delivery

to come back again and again.

rooms, or in the hall in front of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,

people

waiting for visiting hours. Her husband would relieve her as soon

So there Susan was, dealing with immeasurable grief. It is

as he could, the two working as a tag team to make sure they

incredible that all this sorrow didn’t stop Susan and her

were there for Lily, and that their two older sons always had one

husband. But they had each other, and they weren’t about to

of them around. “I’d spend the days with Lily, and my husband

become another sad statistic. And they had faith that Lily had

would take the night shift,” Susan says. “Sleep is so important. If

been put on this earth for a reason.

I hadn’t slept, I couldn’t process what the doctors were saying.

While Lily was still alive, Susan heard about the Ronald McDonald Room that was

“The NICU is stressful. Every beep

being built at Mercy. She took Lily there,

that goes off, you’re turning to see

walking through the bedrooms, through

if something’s wrong. It would have

the living room and dining room. She was

been so nice to come up here for a few

certain this place would be a godsend to

minutes. And I wasn’t eating – I wasn’t

families like hers. It was a beautiful space,

thinking about food. To be able to take

and Susan likened it to a five star boutique

a nap and grab something to eat and not

hotel. “I realized how nice it would be to

worry about the cost. That takes such a

be inside a hospital but not have one thing

burden off these families.”

that felt like a medical space.”

After Lily’s stay at Mercy, she was admitted

Immediately, she decided to volunteer. In

to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little

the months after Lily’s death, she worked

Rock. Lily was just over a month old when

behind the scenes, certain that her grief

Susan finally brought her home.

was too fresh to interact with families facing a medical crisis. But she also realized

“I had a choice. I could mourn her life

that ninety-nine percent of the children

while she lived, or I could embrace it, and

involved would go on to live long and

my husband and I decided to celebrate

happy lives. That was a joy to Susan, this

her life in the time God gave her. Our boys

thought of a good outcome. And so she

were very young and we did not want

began to cook for the families. She’d once

them to be in fear. And we did not want them to be in fear of

been a caterer, and she saw food as a ministry. She also started

loving her and holding her and we did not choose to tell them.

throwing milestone parties. If a baby had been in NICU for a

My faith is my lifeline. We felt that God would allow us to tell

month, Susan put together a baby shower, complete with a cake

them at the right time. After we told them, she died about two

and decorations. She’d set it up, and then slip away before the

hours later. My younger one was too young to process it. My

families returned to the Room.

older one, it was difficult for him.

Slowly, she began to realize that she could face these families.

“I have an amazing husband who’s truly a gift. The statistics

Most never know Susan’s own story, but there is a bedroom – one

say that eighty percent of marriages where a child dies will not

of four in the Room – that bears Lily’s name. “She would have

last. We truly love each other. I understand now why people

gone to a private school, so we added up what we’d spend on

become alcoholics, why people get addicted to drugs, why

that and we donated the room in Lily’s honor. It feels so good to

marriages break up. I get it. We chose to see a grief counselor.

be able to do that, to know that parents are benefitting from Lily’s

We went for our kids, we wanted to make sure they were okay,

life. The first time I came through the doors, the first time I visited

and then we found out we were the ones who were screwed

the NICU, well, the anticipation of how I’d feel was just awful.

up.” Susan laughs. “They didn’t have to go anymore, but we

But you know what?” Susan asks, as she touches the crucifix she

had to keep going.”

wears on a chain around her neck, “It was okay. As soon as I saw

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people

the parents staying here, I was completely at ease. And I knew

not have been involved in this charity. I’d have thought it was

immediately that I’d be volunteering here for the rest of my life.”

a great thing, but I wouldn’t have known anyone who used it.”

In February, Susan joined the board that oversees the Ronald

When she was told her daughter would surely die, she chose to

McDonald Room in Fort Smith, and the Ronald McDonald House

celebrate every day God gave her. And after Lily was gone, she

in northwest Arkansas. “I was very honored and intimidated

chose to remember her by giving back to others. It’s a beautiful

because I’m a stay-at-home mom with all the CEOs,” Susan says.

story, filled with heartache and joy. And every day Susan makes

“But I figured they know the business part of it but I know what

someone else’s life a little easier, a little bit better, because

the families need.”

there was once a beautiful baby girl named Lily.

Part of what families need is hands on help. So, often, Susan shows up to do laundry. “This washer and dryer are always going,” she says. “Always. So I’ll come in and clean and throw in a load of clothes. I bring a home-cooked meal once a week. I do

Want to help? The Ronald McDonald Room needs

a lot of speaking to groups and school. I’m kind of the odds and

home-cooked meals for the families, as well as

ends person here. If it needs doing, I’ll do it.”

supplies. To find out more, visit rmhcofarkoma.org.

Susan is smiling again. She has found her calling. She returns

Tip: You can involve your church group, club, or just

to the cupcakes, diligently frosting each one. It doesn’t take big

a group of friends by making casseroles and freezing

sweeping acts of kindness to help. It only takes the ability to

them. The families can then heat them up for their

show up, the determination to make a tough situation a little

evening meal.

better, and a heart filled with love. Susan has all of that. “I think a lot about how short Lily’s life was,” Susan says, and for the first time since she started telling her story, she cries. “It was only four months, but in four months she impacted so many people. People knew about her and people connected with her life, by the grace of God. I sit sometimes and I think, if it wasn’t for those four months and her life, so much wouldn’t have happened. I think of the parents who come up here and sleep in the Lily Room and get a good night’s sleep so they can go downstairs and be with their child and help them go on. I would

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taste

Steele Creek Smokehouse opened in February, 2013 in a tiny building off old Hwy 71 North in Alma, Arkansas. In only their second month of business, with little to no elbow room for barbecue loving fans, owners Scott Eveld and Jeremy Loney knew they needed to find a larger location.

Now located just off West Cherry Street in Alma, they’ve got ample room to serve up mouthwatering goodness to even more die-hard customers.

Naming the restaurant came easy to Ozark native Scott. He and his family spent years camping up near Jasper, off Hwy 74 at a place called Steele Creek. To Scott, bringing people together to share in good times and good food seemed a natural fit. The new location has two rooms which can accommodate large parties, especially on game days, and they cater events too. But be warned, if you’ve craving

Dang Good Barbecue Steele Creek Smokehouse aims to smoke the competition @review and images Catherine Frederick

Style Nothing fancy. Just good barbecue.

Cuisine Barbecue and more barbecue.

Even barbecue nachos.

Kid’s barbecue sandwich and

ribs, you can only get them on Friday and Saturday after 2pm, and once they’re gone, you’re out of luck.

Scott served up a sampler so we could try a bit of everything. From smoked sausage and hot links to bologna and pulled brisket and pork, Steele Creek Smokehouse did not disappoint. Everything was

350 West Cherry Street Alma, Arkansas 479.304.0812 steelecreeksmokehouse.com

smoked to perfection and the meats were moist

Tuesday – Saturday: 11- 7 Ribs after 2pm Friday and Saturday only until they’re gone

plus a few other secret ingredients. Don’t snub your

and melt-in-your-mouth tender. We also tried their house made sides. Barbecue baked beans, two kinds of slaw and a twice baked potato salad packed with red potatoes, sour cream, green onions and bacon, nose at the apple cider vinegar coleslaw. It married up just right with our pulled brisket sandwich.

chips only $4.50.

Ribs: $12 - $18

Any fan of BBQ will tell you, when it comes to

You’ll Find

Chicken: $6

barbecue, it’s not about the tablecloths or the choice

Sandwiches: $4.75 – $6.50

of paint color on the walls. It’s about the food. Pure

Hot sauce that will light your world on fire.

A laid back, casual, friendly atmosphere.

Big screens for sports enthusiasts.

Like them on Facebook for specials.

Meals: $4.50 -$8 Nachos: $5 - $7

and simple. You won’t find anything fancy when you walk in the door to Steele Creek. What you will find is what Steele Creek does best. Smoke up some of

Sampler: $15

the best barbecue in our area with their sides and

(three meats, two sides, feeds two)

sauces made fresh, in house daily. Eat-in or take it

Family Meal: $30

out. Get it in a sandwich or by the pound. Either way,

By the pound: $6 - $12

it’s time to belly up for some dang good barbecue.

taste

Bring the Heat Sampler

{ ORIGINAL } Tangy and a bit on the sweet side. Great choice for the kiddos and those who don’t have an appreciation for heat.

Baked Beans

{ HOT } Twice Baked Potato Salad

I can handle it. Just enough heat to give it a kick without melting off your taste buds. The heat dissipates quickly and the smoky flavor of the meat shines through.

{ INSANE }

Traditional Slaw

I’m out. Too hot for me. When it stings your nose, you know it’s hot. But if you like a little fire with your barbecue, you’re in business. Great flavor, packs a wallop.

Apple Cider Slaw

{ REGRET } Made from chocolate 7-pot chili pepper, one of the hottest peppers in the world, you have to request this sauce because they keep in the back. Probably because a drop of the stuff will burn a hole through the floor. It’s a heat that’s immediate and keeps on building.

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taste

@image Jeromy Price @recipe Jeff Price, Bar Manager, MovieLounge

1 1/2 oz. Jager 5 oz. root beer 6 oz. ice cream Mix half the ice cream and root beer, then pour into glass with half the Jagermeister. Mix well.

Top with remaining ice cream, Jagermeister and rootbeer.

To see an extensive lineup of other great drinks and dining options, visit movieloungefsm.com/menu

Sponsored by

7601 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith 479.226.3595 | MovieLoungeFSM.com Enjoy this and other premium cocktails at MovieLounge.

Please drink responsibly.

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taste

Ghoulash! @recipe and images Stacey Little

taste

Halloween has always been a fun time of year for me.

The days leading up to it were spent crafting and fixing, sewing and decorating the perfect costume. Then we’d all scamper onto the streets to see what character we’d each chosen to become that night. Trick or treating was different then, too.

There was little worry about the kinds of things we worry about today with our own children. Sure, our parents would look through the candy just to ensure it was safe, but for the most part we were sent out to visit the neighborhood, going house-to-house, in search of the best treats.

Today, Halloween traditions with my own child are a little different. We spend the weekend in a beautiful campground with family and friends. Folks bring their travel trailers and RVs and decorate each of their camp sites for the special occasion. Some people really go all out, too. One night we host a huge potluck when everyone from the campground fixes a dish and we meet at the pavilion to gather and eat, talk and laugh. It’s fun because many of these folks we only see on this particular weekend, so it’s an opportunity to catch up. The next night is when the kids don their costumes and go from campsite to campsite trick-or-treating. It’s so much fun and it’s a safe alternative to allow our kids to have the same kind of experience we had as children.

When I was a kid, we lived in a huge neighborhood with lots of other children. Our house was usually a gathering spot for lots of reasons, but mainly because there was always food.

Mom always had something tasty simmering on the stove or a freshly baked cake or cookies under the heavy lid of the cake plate – and everyone knew it. On Halloween, she would make a huge batch of some hearty, cling-to-your-ribs kind of meal and everyone would end up back at our house to sort through candy and for a delicious supper. Many Halloween nights were met with this easy and super-delicious Goulash.

It’s an inexpensive meal that will feed a crowd and can be customized in just about any way you like. You can add in your favorite vegetables like carrots, squash or even canned beans for more protein. It also works great with ground turkey. This is one of those meals that is better the second day. So even though it comes together pretty quickly, it works great to make it a day or two in advance and just heat it up when it’s supper time. Happy Halloween! Y’all enjoy!

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taste

Ingredients

DIRECTIONS

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

1. In a large Dutch oven brown the ground beef over

1 large onion, diced

medium high heat until it is no longer pink. Drain the

3 cloves garlic, minced

grease and return the meat to the pan. Add the onions

1 (28 ounce) can tomato sauce 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained 3 cups water

and garlic to the meat and reduce heat to medium. Cook until the onions are translucent.

2. Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with juice, water,

1 tablespoon paprika

paprika, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat and simmer

2 teaspoons salt

uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

1 teaspoon black pepper 1 (15 1/4 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained

3. Stir in uncooked macaroni and corn and simmer

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni

uncovered for 20 minutes or until the macaroni is done.

shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

Serve topped with shredded cheddar cheese.

Stacey Little

is the author and publisher of SouthernBite.com, an award-winning Southern food blog dedicated to sharing his family’s Southern recipes.

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travel

@story and images Jeromy Price

There’s nothing quite like the adventure

of camping. Experiencing the beauty of nature, the thrill of conquering a trail, or simply spending quality time with family, a weekend in the woods can be refreshing. But to the inexperienced it can seem intimidating. So we’ve put together a simple guide to get started.

The Bare Necessities

A common mistake is to overpack. Here are some ways to keep it simple.

CAMPING Places to Go Arkansas is home to some of the most beautiful places on earth. Plan your next adventure by visiting the sites below.

Arkansas.com BuffaloRiver.com AllTrails.com Arkansasstateparks.com AdventureStateParks.com Most campgrounds provide receptacles for trash and recyclables. Be a good steward and keep any waste collected.

WHAT TO WEAR Always bring weather-appropriate clothing and durable footwear you don’t mind getting dirty on the trails. For cooler weather, layering is best so you can adjust for changing temperatures. In certain areas, nights can get pretty chilly, so be sure to pack some cozy PJs.

ESSENTIAL EATS Stick to foods that requires little preparation, such as hot dogs, beef jerky, and trail mix.

You can also prepare meals in advance to heat over a campfire, like Campurritos (see recipe on page 56). Using an ice chest with wheels will keep food and drinks cold and double as a luggage carrier for your gear.

NEVER keep food in your tent. Animals are attracted to the scent of food and will seek it out. Instead, place any extra food in your vehicle to keep it (and you) safe.

Wearing the color blue attracts mosquitos.

Instead, opt for warm or earth-tone colors, especially during warmer, bug-heavy weather.

Your Home for the Weekend

Setting up camp is the most important part of the trip. Here are a few tips to keep it cozy.

THE RIGHT SETUP Find the most level ground to pitch your tent. If there’s a slight incline, be sure to face the tent so your head will be pointing uphill when you sleep for optimal comfort.

During seasonal changes, dew can build up under your tent. Place a tarp underneath to provide a dry barrier.

SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS Sleeping bags are great, but having a few extra blankets will help during cooler weather.

If you use an air mattress, be sure to place one blanket underneath, and one on top, to prevent the mattress from getting cold.

Tying an extra tarp over your tent will trap heat inside, providing an extra layer of warmth for chilly nights.

travel

55

Gear Up

What you’ll need TENT TENT PEGS RUBBER MALLET TARPS (recommended)

On the Trail

SLEEPING BAGS OR BLANKETS AIR MATTRESS & PUMP (optional) LANTERN (battery operated)

HIKING

The trail can be a place of abundant beauty, selfdiscovery, and accomplishment. Without proper planning, it can also be a place of stress and anxiety. Packing the right gear can mean the difference between headache and happiness.

FIRST AID KIT Most kits come packed with basic necessities for minor injuries, such as disinfectant for scrapes and scratches.

FLASHLIGHTS POCKET KNIFE FIRST AID KIT FOOD & DRINKS EATING UTENSILS Use reusable silverware to avoid excess waste ROASTING FORKS TOILET PAPER Just in case APPROPRIATE CLOTHING Opt for layers to adjust to changing temperatures HIKING SHOES Choose footwear that will provide adequate support and grip for any terrain

POCKET KNIFE Definitely a handy tool for any number of situations.

Choose a locking blade knife to prevent accidental closure.

TRAIL MAP A must-have. You can find countless trail maps online or by visiting the ranger station or visitor center nearest your destination.

There are also free apps available for your smartphone, such as AllTrails, which contain downloadable maps, directions, and other recommendations.

BACKPACK Even with a modest load, your pack can become cumbersome on certain trails. Choose a pack with adjustable chest and waist straps to evenly distribute the weight.

FLASHLIGHT An absolute necessity. Choose a flashlight that can take a beating and is water-resistant. Check your batteries before you head out, and always pack a backup.

BAG FOR DIRTY LAUNDRY TRASH BAG Hang the bag if possible to keep critters from making a mess INSECT REPELLENT FIREWOOD LIGHTER FIRESTARTER (we used Duraflame® Stix )

WATERPROOF MATCHES Better safe than sorry. In the off chance you become stranded or lost, it’s ideal to have these for building a fire to keep warm.

FOOD & WATER Opt for dry snacks that require little packaging, like trail mix and beef jerky, which provide a good balance of carbs and proteins. Be sure to pack plenty of water to stay hydrated.

So how much water should you take?

A basic formula is 8oz. of water per mile. For strenuous trails or warmer weather, increase to 10oz. per mile to keep hydrated.

DO NOT drink water directly from a creek, stream, or other natural water source without proper water purification. It can contain any number of contaminants or parasites.

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travel

Campurritos COOKING

The easiest way to take the hassle out of campsite cooking is to prepare meals in advance to heat up over a campfire. Here’s a simple recipe for a delicious meal you can enjoy any time, even on the trail.

Ingredients MAKES 8 – 10

1 DOZEN EGGS 6 MEDIUM POTATOES 1 (16oz.) PACKAGE OF TURKEY SAUSAGE 1 SMALL BAG OF SHREDDED CHEESE 1 PACK OF FLOUR TORTILLAS FAVORITE SEASONING

Directions 01

Cut potatoes into small bite-size pieces. Boil until tender.

02

Thoroughly whisk the eggs and seasoning together in a large bowl.

03

Brown the sausage, gradually breaking it into small pieces.

04

Place all ingredients, including cheese, into a large skillet.

Cook at a medium-high heat, stirring frequently until eggs are thoroughly cooked.

05

Place about 2 scoops of cooked ingredients onto a tortilla.

06

Fold the ends of the tortilla first, then the sides, so that the campurrito is completely sealed.

07

Wrap each campurrito in foil and roll up the ends.

Seal the campurritos in a ziplock bag and place them in an ice chest. When you’re ready to heat and eat, simply toss them on the camp grill for 10 – 12 minutes depending on proximity to the heat, flipping occasionally. Avoid heating directly over the flames to avoid burning them.

You’ll be able to smell the campurritos about the time they’re ready to eat.

Build a Proper Fire

Building a campfire can be quite frustrating when not done properly. Follow these steps to get your campfire burning bright.

01

Place the firewood in a criss-cross pattern, stacking pieces closer to the middle with each layer in a pyramid shape.

02

Place kindling and dry debris in the center and carefully light it.

03

Adjust the wood using a fire poker or long stick as the fire begins to build to allow air to circulate.

For a quick and easy fire starter, fill an empty egg carton with dryer lint. Place it underneath your wood stack and light it up.

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travel

@story Marcus Coker @images courtesy David Hoge and Linda Howell

travel

I

t’s a Friday night in October, and Linda Howell is dressed all

in the basket,” says Linda. “You try to reason it every possible

in black. Standing in the shadows, she’s looking down the

way, but there was no explanation.”

staircase as her guests begin to arrive at McArthur Museum

of Arkansas Military History—a place many say is haunted.

Linda’s tours always start at McArthur Museum of Arkansas

Shortly, Linda will join them as their host for Haunted Tours of

Military History. The Tower Building, which is part of the museum,

Little Rock, and they’ll visit a cemetery, the site of a murder, and

is known as one of the most haunted places in the South and

a haunted bed and breakfast. But first, they’ll start by gathering

houses weapons and other items used in military combat.

together and talking about ghosts, black cats, and things that go

“Supposedly, no one has died there, but hauntings have to do

bump in the night.

with attachment—to a person or place or an object. And there are plenty of objects at the museum a ghost could attach to.”

“If you’ve ever had a paranormal experience, it makes a believer out

As the tours begin, Linda’s guests share

of you,’” says Linda. “When you feel a

their own ghostly experiences with

ghost, you know it. You get a chill that

ghosts. Some say they’ve simply felt

goes straight through you.”

the dead’s presence, smelled the scent of a loved one long since passed away,

Since Linda grew up with an aunt who

or even been pushed by someone they

conducted séances, she talks about

can’t see. “Sometimes death by trauma

ghosts like most people talk about the

results in lingering spirits, and some

weather. But it wasn’t until 2008 that she

people can see them and hear them.

started having haunting experiences of

Those people are really in tune. But

her own. Linda was working as a tour

the dead want to be recognized. They

guide at Curran Hall—the Little Rock

want to be consoled. They are always

Visitor Information Center—when a

passing around us. There’s just a thin

visitor said he saw the ghost of a woman

veil between our dimension and theirs.”

named Mary Eliza following her around.

Linda assumed it was Mary Eliza Walters,

Linda mixes in plenty of history during

the first owner of Curran Hall who died in childbirth before ever living in the house.

the next two and half hours of the tour, explaining the origins of some of our rituals around death. At McArthur Museum, she uses props, like pictures of a man in a

Linda says, “I contacted The Arkansas Ghost Catchers, and

coffin or the death certificate of Curran Hall’s James Curran, to

they came to investigate.” Using an EVP (electronic voice

help set the mood.

phenomena) recorder, which is a device believed to record the voice of spirits, Linda asked if Mary was present and if she’d like

As the tour progresses from McArthur Museum, Linda and her

to say something. A whispery voice answered, “Mary—that’s

guests board a trolley that takes them around town to several

who I am.”

haunted locations. At the Empress of Little Rock Bed and Breakfast, they learn about the poker games men used to play

For the next couple of years, Linda did a lot of research into

in the attic, where ghostly figures are often seen in windows.

the paranormal, and strange things began happening at Curran Hall. She says rocking chairs would rock back and forth for

Those who come for the tour are encouraged to bring cameras

no explainable reason. Pictures would fall off the wall. Then

and ghost meters that measure electromagnetic fields.

one night after a special gathering, the coffee maker, which

“Sometimes ghosts will show up in pictures as a white haze or

was turned off, began to make coffee. “It seemed impossible,

glowing orb,” says Linda, “and ghost meters are a method for

considering there was no water in the reservoir and no grounds

detecting paranormal activity. It’s common for people to come

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travel

with brand new batteries that end up getting drained at haunted

Channel. That was last year, the same time Linda’s book called

places. Yet when they leave, the batteries are fully charged and

Haunted Little Rock was published through The History Press.

workable again. The spirits deplete the energy of batteries. It’s

In the book, she talks about over a dozen haunted locations

one of the ways they can communicate.”

in Little Rock and encourages people to use the book for selfguided tours if they are not able to come to one in person.

When it comes to the haunted and the paranormal, there are plenty of skeptics and logical explanations, but Linda says, “I

Not everyone walks away from Haunted Tours of Little Rock a

don’t have to fake things like they do on television. I deal in the

believer in ghosts. But perhaps they walk away with a different

spirit world. Your body is eventually going to give out, and when

perspective about what happens after death. And Linda hopes

you die, you exist in another life. In fact, that is your life. And you

they won’t fear the unknown. Sometimes by taking a look at

can always observe. There’s too much evidence that’s life after

what scares us, we come to know more about our history, our

death. That doesn’t really need to be proven.”

world, and ourselves.

At Mount Holly Cemetery, Linda’s guests hear about people who used to be buried alive. People were buried with a string attached to a bell that they could pull in the event they woke up. That’s where we get the term “dead ringer.” It’s also where

Tours are every Friday in October and the first Friday

we get the term “midnight shift,” for those who stayed in the

in November, start at 7 PM, and last 2.5 hours. Cost

graveyards late at night waiting for someone to wake up.

is $35 per person and is appropriate for ages twelve and up. Once registered, you’ll be sent an information

The last stop on the tour is Curran Hall, the place where it all

sheet with more details.

started for Linda. There’s a curio cabinet filled with original objects from the home, and there’s a video you can find on

For more information, visit hauntedtoursoflittlerock.

YouTube in which there are strange lights believed to be a ghost

com or call Linda at 501-681-3857.

that flicker inside the cabinet in response to questions asked by someone off camera.

Many of Linda’s strange experiences at Curran Hall have been recorded on an episode of My Ghost Story on the Biography

62

back story

@fiction Marla Cantrell

back story

I

look like Penelope Cruz, if Penelope was blond and weighed

“As for my voice, you can blame my daddy, who couldn’t

twice as much as she does on her worst day. It gets me a

distinguish between inside and out, I guess, since he smoked

lot of attention, especially when I wear fancy clothes, like

unfiltereds from the time I was born. Right by my crib, Mama

the kind you see Penelope wear all the time, little wrap dresses

said, even though she told him smoking was only for outdoors

and heels so high you could fall off them. Add a limp from a

and in the car with the windows rolled down. I can bring a

pedicure gone terribly wrong, and we could pass for sisters.

doctor’s note. Something about not getting tubes in my ears

But here’s where we part ways. While she’s feisty and sexy, I’m

when I needed them. Sick from the smoke and what not.

considered confrontational and inappropriate, at least that’s

Allergies. So I can’t hear good, and I talk a little off, I know,

what my latest performance review says.

and a little loud, which I believe would be covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act.”

Like I care what the folks at the Stop and Swap think. Ever since they got all highfalutin’, adding cappuccino to the

Everett squirmed, just like they do in the movies when a big-

drink machines and making us wear red polyester dresses as

time lawyer stares down a rotten cop in a court of law. He took

uniforms, it’s gone to H-E-L-L. And yeah, I say that out loud,

a napkin from the dispenser that was shaped like a Nascar race

sometimes when customers are around, so I guess that’s where

car, and wiped his brow.

the confrontational thing comes in.

“Look,” he said. “I like you, Gilly, I do. Ever since we were kids Everett, my boss, sat across the counter from me, a plate of

back in Mrs. Whitlow’s class and you beat up Tommy Hawkins for

nachos between us, and went over the whole thing. I got good

picking on your little brother. And I don’t care what you do with

grades for hygiene. I wash my hands real good. Tip: sing the

Hoss or whoever else you spend your time with, but you can’t

birthday song, all the way through, out loud so you don’t forget

be saying things out loud like” – and here’s where he picked up

any parts. And yeah, I do that, about thirty times a day, which I

the paper again, and read – “Oh, Hoss, if you were here I’d be

reckon could bother some folks.

losing my religion. I’d break the law for a man like you.”

“The problems start here, Gilly” he said, and pointed to the

I looked around. The Stop and Swap was dead silent; all my co-

section titled Personal Conduct. “Your sound of your voice is, uh,

workers were probably in the break room with the door cracked,

distinctive, so when you’re on break, on the phone, talking to your

listening to Everett talk to me like I was a criminal. Soon, the

boyfriend, the rest of the staff can hear you. I have your reprimand

after school crowd would wander in. Kids forced to eat healthy

here, which I expect you to sign before this meeting is over.”

in the new and improved lunchroom would be in here raiding the candy shelves, like shaky addicts who got the key to the

Everett, to his credit, blushed.

dealer’s stash.

“We had a complaint on 03-02-13 from a co-worker, who

I sat stone still and stared Everett down.

requested to remain anonymous, so don’t ask.” Everett said, and then he began to read. “The complainant reported that Gilly

“So sign the thing,” he finally said, “and we’ll put this behind us.

Lamproe, while on a company-owned phone, proceeded to

If you sign it I can take it to corporate and tell them we had this

describe events that transpired between herself and a man she

talk. That’s all I need,” Everett said, and then he handed it over

called Hoss, which involved a motorcycle, a bottle of tequila,

to me. “You’re a good employee, all things considered.”

and an act deemed illegal in at least three Southern states.”

Well, Everett didn’t know the half of it. Lucy, the eight-to-five I laughed. “Heck fire, Everett, riding a horse on Sunday is against

lady, stole Snickers bars every single day. Tracy ‘borrowed’

the law over in Newton County. I read it in Willie Thompson’s

money from petty cash all the time. Hazel snuck off and visited

column in the Examiner last year.

the casino on her lunch break. Half the time she didn’t come back. That’s what’s wrong with America, in my opinion. Hard

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back story

working people who give a dang and have a opinion about

behind me, and leaned against Hoss’ bike. When I told him what

things get run over. And I worked hard. That’s why the health

had happened, he shook his head. “Dang fool,” he said. “Think

inspector ain’t breathing down our necks. I throw out the hot

he could ever find anybody better than you?” He revved his

dogs after three days in the cooker. I dump out the old grease in

motor again. “Want me to go in there and give him what for?”

the deep fryer. I freakin’ mop the bathroom floor!

Something like that will make your heart melt. A man all riled But I did not say any of that. No, I did not. I stood up then,

up, ready to defend your honor. I shook my head no. No need to

pushing the nachos into the trash as I did. I put my hand on my

get Hoss in trouble with the law. And then I took his face in my

hip – a Penelope move if ever there was one – and looked down

hands and I kissed him hard, right in front of the Stop and Swap.

on Everett and felt just a little bit sorry for him. He wasn’t a bad

A bunch of kids had come over from the high school, the ones

guy, just a company guy who didn’t know squat about working

not yet old enough to drive. They started cheering us on, me in

in the real world.

my little red uniform I’d hemmed up a little too high, and Hoss clutching me like I might run away if he let go.

Everett stood up too. He shoved his hands in his pockets, a move I’d seen a hundred times in school when some yahoo

“Nah,” I said. “Everett,” he ain’t worth the trouble.”

asked him for lunch money. “Give me a quarter,” they’d say.

“Give me a dime.” He always handed it over, no backbone at all,

Hoss motioned for me to climb on behind him, and so I did, the

which makes you wonder how he ever got into management.

two of us tearing out of there like the last scene in a picture

He tried to stare me down, but he’s not very good at it, so he sat

show that makes you cheer for the underdog, that makes you

down again and started shuffling papers.

proud you live in the great U.S. of A.

Outside, Hoss had shown up. He was revving the engine on his Harley, just the way I liked it. He had a tattoo of his grandma, feeding a flock of chickens, on his bicep. A proud woman who probably didn’t expect to show up on someone’s flesh, and every time he gunned the engine, she seemed to shake her butt.

“I don’t know,” I said, and reached out for the papers he was holding. “I got a lawyer looks things over for me,” I said. “And you’ve upset me something awful, I got to be honest. And like I said, I got a disability that I believe the United States Constitution protects, unless the U.S. got invaded by the USSR and nobody bothered to tell me. So I’m leaving now. I’ll be back tomorrow,” I said. And then I chewed my lip a little, and changed my mind. “I might be back,” I said, “depending on what the lawyer says.”

Everett looked confused, like a kid in a corn maze on a moonless night.

“OK,” he said, in a little creak of a voice. “I don’t want any trouble.”

And then I walked – no I sashayed – out the door, the bell ringing

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