RETURN - AUGUST 2021

®

RETURN

August 2021 DoSouthMagazine.com

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august

Contents 04 05 14

18 54

Letter from Catherine

{ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT}

What's New - Contests

10

Advertiser Spotlight:

Recommendations

Chuck Fawcett Realty Profiles in Dentistry

13 16

Get Bookish: August

{TASTE}

46 49

Summer Shrimp Zoodle Bowls Margarita Floats

Play On All That Jazz

{FICTION}

50

Special Feature: Back to School

Finding Family

{PEOPLE} {COMMUNITY}

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Nonprofit Spotlight:

Reynolds Cancer Support House

08 Project Zero 11 Framed 12 Shop Local 28 Bringing Back the Barracks

24 32 40

Covid Versus Cupid

OUR COVER

Let the Good Times Roll

Image Credit:

The Ride Continues

{ T R AV E L }

36 42

The Bright Side of Darkness Big Fun on Country Boulevard

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inacio pires /Shutterstock

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Letter from Catherine

B

RETURN

Before long, summer will be winding down. Many of us are returning to our early morning routines, the alarm clock blaring, jolting us from our slumber. For me, this time of year always comes too soon – I could spend another month or two soaking up summer.

But let’s not rush things – there’s still plenty of summer left to enjoy and we’re here to help! Discover big fun in Branson without leaving your vehicle, and superhero fans should look no further than Hot Springs for a portal to the past to relive childhood memories. Car fans can get their motor running thanks for three car clubs in Arkansas, from antiques to classic Corvettes and Mustangs – the gang’s all here!

Closer to home, Lloyd Sumpter is a man on a mission to bring life back to twentyfive former buildings on the base at Fort Chaffee. He has big plans to transform the barracks into a combination of retail, multi-family housing, and restaurants in a walkable setting.

And, while it’s no revelation Covid has changed our lives – from the economy, school, work, and healthcare – a relationship expert explains how Covid affected our personal relationships and how couples move through various levels of love capacity.

We also have fiction, recipes, an upcoming fundraising event, a new local frame shop, and information on the Southside band reunion!

Never fear, parents, we also have our annual Back-to-School Guide! You’ll find local experts weighing in with educational opportunities, where to go for your student’s healthcare needs, activities to ensure they are strong and confident, and a local church offering backpacks full of supplies for those in need.

Thank you to all the local business owners and professionals who put so much back into our community. I am grateful to each of the businesses within our pages who made it possible for you to enjoy this issue of Do South® and thank you for reading.

Enjoy your last few weeks of summer break, my friends. I know I'll enjoy every last minute of mine. See you in September!

Catherine Frederick Owner/Publisher/Editor

AUGUST 2021 OWNER - PUBLISHER - EDITOR Catherine Frederick COPY EDITING Charity Chambers GRAPHIC DESIGN Artifex 323 – Jessica Meadors CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jade Graves, Dwain Hebda CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jeanni Brosius, Scott Faldon, Catherine Frederick, Dwain Hebda, Sara Putman, Liesel Schmidt ADVERTISING INFORMATION ADVERTISING INFORMATION Catherine Frederick I 479.782.1500 catherine@dosouthmagazine.com

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©2021 Read Chair Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner. Opinions contained in Do South ® 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 including photography, becomes the property of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. Do South ® reserves the right to edit content and images. Printed in the U.S.A. | ISSN 2373-1893

Annual subscriptions are $36 (12 months), within the contiguous United States.

Subscribe at DoSouthMagazine.com or mail check to 4300 Rogers Avenue, Suite 20-110, Fort Smith, AR, 72903. Single issues are available upon request. Inquiries or address changes, call 479.782.1500.

catherine@dosouthmagazine.com

To reserve this free space for your charitable nonprofit organization, email: catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

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what's new

FOLLOW US Send comments and suggestions and advertising inquiries to catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

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FAN MAIL I had to express how much I enjoyed the article, "Country Tales." Stories about how America used to be and how families used to live are fascinating. Most young people of today, have no idea what it is like to gather eggs from the hen house, hang laundry on the clothesline, or live in a home where the only heat for winter is a wood stove in one room of the house.

I could listen to stories all day about life during those early years. There is something special about that era and the people who lived them. Thank you, Dorothy Johnson, for sharing a small glimpse into your life. Thank you, Do South®, for publishing the story. ~T. Tuell

CONTEST (Deadline is August 31) Go to dosouthmagazine.com, click on “Contest” at the top of the page. All who enter will be subscribed to our mailing list. Once notified, winner must pick up prize from the participating business. Please see rules and policies on our Contests page!

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What’s better than enjoying every page of Do South® each month? Having it delivered right to your mailbox, of course. Enter to win a one-year subscription!

CODE: DOSOUTH Interested in hosting a contest with us? Contact Catherine at 479.782.1500 or email catherine@dosouthmagazine.com for details!

SHOP LOCAL Jose Cuervo Ready-To-Drink Margaritas available from our friends at In Good Spirits in Fort Smith, Arkansas! 479.434.6604 Discover more shop local items on page 12.

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community community

Nonprofit Spotlight words Catherine Frederick with Susan Steffens, Executive Director, Reynolds Cancer Support House

DS: How did Reynolds Cancer Support House come to be?

In 1978, local business leaders and medical professionals organized the Oncology Foundation. As more treatment options became available, so did the need for ancillary assistance such as hair loss needs and emotional support for patients and caregivers. In 1997 a community partnership was formed to provide non-medical needs for cancer patients, and the organization was formally changed to the Cancer Support Foundation. After receiving a gift from the Phillips Pro-Charity Golf Classic, the Cancer Support Foundation was able to open the Phillips Cancer Support House, which provides patients support groups, wigs/hats/turbans, cancer prevention, and other health-related classes/events. In 1998, the Cancer Support Foundation received a $2.4 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, and the Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House opened in 2000.

The Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House provides cost-free, ongoing support

DS: Who does Reynolds Cancer Support House serve, and in what ways?

for patients fighting cancer. The House

We serve cancer patients and their families. From the time of diagnosis through their

is a haven where patients join others to

life, we are here. We help with transportation, and we have a beautiful salon for wigs

accomplish a shared goal – survivorship.

and head coverings. We help with mastectomy and other supplies, nutrition, and

The Reynolds Cancer Support House is the

emergency financial assistance. We also partner with medical professionals to offer

largest free-standing cancer support facility

educational classes. Screening events are held each year, and we promote sun safety

in the country. Located away from a sterile

with our Sun S.M.A.R.T. program and Take A Stand, Don’t Tan, in partnership with

hospital or clinical setting, the Support

the River Valley Skin Care Alliance. We offer a variety of emotional support groups for

House provides individuals a comfortable

men, women, and children. We have cancer survivors who have been a part of our

and inviting place of recovery and hope.

support groups for over two decades, sharing much more than the commonality of a

Do South® reached out to Susan Steffens,

cancer battle. They share life!

Executive Director, to learn more.

DS: Tell us how Reynolds Cancer Support House impacts our community.

We register approximately 500 new patients annually, all with unique needs, some 3324 South M Street

large, some small. Sometimes the request is financial, and the need is immediate. If

Fort Smith, Arkansas

we cannot help, we work to find an organization that can. We provide non-medical

479.782.6302

programs and services that would be impossible for patients and their families to

reynoldscancersupporthouse.org

receive elsewhere.

DS: How can our community support Reynolds Cancer Support House?

We rely on our community to keep the ship afloat! Due to Covid-19, we cancelled Next month, we’ll showcase another worthy charity in our area free of charge. If you have a nonprofit you’d like to see recognized, email us at catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

our major fundraisers in 2020 and several events we receive proceeds from were cancelled. For 2021, we took a ‘Reimagined’ approach with Wine & Roses and will have a ‘Mini-Series’ on three dates with limited capacity. Our 30th Annual Survivors’ Challenge event on Saturday, October 16th, and Sunday, October 17th features our 10K Run, 5K Run/Walk and Celebration Walk at the Cancer Support House on Saturday. On Sunday, we have the Inaugural Triathlon event at Marvin Altman at Baptist Health. Financial sponsorships for Survivors’ Challenge are welcome, and we need volunteers! For info, call Natalie Swearingen at 479.424.1812.

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community community

DWYNEA Age: 15

We love to see a young person with ambition and a clear sense of who they want to be in the world. Our friend Dwynea is one of those people! She has her heart and mind focused on becoming an attorney, which we think is fantastic. We know she'll be a wonderful advocate and force for good in whatever she does! Her path to that goal has not been an easy one. She struggles at times with her past trauma and can get depressed and act out in some negative ways, but she always pulls herself back to a good place and moves forward. At her core, she's a young woman like any other teen her age. She loves her snacks, like Takis and Snickers, and she enjoys her summers and the freedom they bring. But she knows she has a purpose in this life, and she needs you to help her fulfill it. The best family for Dwynea is one led by a single mom where Dwynea can be the youngest or the only child in the family. If that sounds like your family, Dwynea may be the piece your family is missing!

IMAGE courtesy Ashley Carson

In partnership with Project Zero and the Arkansas Heart Gallery, each month Do South® will feature a waiting child, or sibling group, in foster care in Arkansas. To inquire about these incredible children, please visit theprojectzero.org.

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community entertainment

Get BOOKISH

Enjoy these four must-read books from our friends at Bookish, Fort Smith, Arkansas’s only independently-owned bookstore. Shop hours: Monday 11am-4pm, Tuesday - Friday 10am-6pm and Saturday 10am-4pm. Need curbside delivery?

Call 479.434.2917 or email orders@bookishfs.com.

Malibu Rising

The Maidens

The Guncle

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

by Alex Michaelides

by Steven Rowley

Get ready for the perfect summer read with Reid’s newest sweeping family saga featuring surfers, love, heartbreak, rock and roll, and the most beautiful sibling bonds. Nina is the oldest of four, a surfer turned swimsuit model. The main plot follows the storyline of Nina and her three surfer siblings as they prepare for their annual Riva Party the biggest party in Malibu.

Through the glitz and glamour that surrounds the setting of the book, you will connect to the relationships Reid creates.

They are intricate and nuanced, steadfast and loyal. Through tragedy and heartbreak, the Riva siblings show us that there is nothing in the world a family “shred” can’t fix.

Summer is for thrills, and Michaelides is a master. This suspense thriller takes place in Cambridge and weaves in ancient Greek tragedies to modern day murders. Marina Andros is a brilliant group therapist who is grieving the death of her husband Sebastian. Through group counseling, she gets in touch with her grief and feels strong enough to comfort her niece Zoe when tragedy strikes. There are twists and turns, everything else you need: murder, strange cult-like groups, references to Euripides, and smug American professors teaching in England. It’s sexy yet sophisticated.

“Never love anyone who thinks you're ordinary,” this quote from Oscar Wilde opens the novel. Patrick is a once-famous sitcom star who finds himself the sole guardian of his niece, Maisie and nephew, Grant. So, when tragedy strikes and Maisie and Grant lose their mother, and Patrick’s brother has a health crisis of his own, it’s up to Patrick to take up the role of primary guardian. The Guncle will remind you of The Birdcage, but with children.

As you might imagine, taking care of his niece and nephew is a learning experience for all involved, and in the end, Patrick finds that giving in to your heart can often cure the deepest wounds.

August Recommendations courtesy Sara Putman, Bookish

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The Final Girl Support Group

by Grady Hendrix Hendrix is back with the wildest theatrical read you’ll see on the page this year. While blending serious pop culture analysis with a plot that feels like it was made for the big screen, Hendrix is banking on our love for the 80s especially the horror movie genre. In his newest book, we meet Lynette Tarkington as she continues to deal with the aftermath of being a final girl. Action packed with lots of graphic imagery, it is definitely in the horror genre, but nostalgic and will have you reconsider our consumer culture, especially when it comes to entertainment.

community

framed

FOR FOUR GENERATIONS , Allison Sales of Fort Smith has flourished in the market as a local purveyor of quality interior supplies, most recently in the flooring and glass space. The company’s latest venture continues that proud legacy as the only independently-owned framing studio in the city.

WORDS Dwain Hebda

“The last independent [framing store] was Art of Framing in Van Buren,” says Chase Allison, manager. “They had just shut their doors when we got into shower doors last January. A lot of people that wanted shower doors also wanted mirrors, so we started thinking about framing mirrors.

From there, custom framing seemed like a good opportunity. It has been pretty popular.”

Opening the only independent custom-framing shop in the vicinity had its perks. First, Chase says, it helped the three-month-old business stand out.

And second, it meant there was some experienced framers to be had in the market who were looking for a change from a chain-store environment.

“We were able to talk to the right people and hire the right people. We were very fortunate,” he says. “In a couple of months, we’ve been able to hire three people who brought about twenty-seven years’ experience.”

Having these professionals on staff is just one thing that sets Allison Sales Custom Framing apart. Another is the close personal interaction between staff and customers, ensuring each project gets the attention to detail it deserves.

“If somebody is needing help in choosing a frame, we have somebody with experience who can help them right away, one-on-one,” Chase says.

“We have a nice space that shows off several different frames, pictures, framed canvases, different canvas options, different mirror options. We have, I would say, four hundred-plus different frame samples and maybe one hundred and fifty different mat samples here. So, we’re always giving people a variety of options for their project.”

“I think another big deal about being an independent versus a corporate store is we’re doing everything in-house. You give us your piece of artwork, something that’s sensitive and important to you, one of a kind, whatever, it’s staying here. The work’s being done and given right back to you. You know your stuff’s not going to be shipped and you don’t have to worry about it being damaged or lost or anything like that.”

Allison Sales Custom Framing 7101 Highway 271 South, Fort Smith, AR 479.649.9989 | allisonsalesonline.com

“We even have an open workshop where it’s like an open kitchen; you can go back there and see everything that’s being done if you like.”

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shop

SUMMER SHOPPING IS HOT! words Catherine Frederick imageS Jade Graves Photography and courtesy vendors

You can shop ‘til you drop and stay cool when you visit small businesses in our community. Show your support to friends and neighbors and be sure and tell them Do South® sent you!

Sunglasses by Oliver Peoples

DR. STEVEN B. STILES OPTOMETRY 479.452.2020

Dominga Mimosa Sour, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, Starmont Sauvignon Blanc, Desert Door Texas Sotol, Jim Beam Bourbon & Seltzer, Bell’s Lemon-Lime Flamingo Fruit Fight Ale, OIe Smoky Moonshine Blackberry Lemonade Cocktail

SODIE’S WINE & SPIRITS 479.783.8013

Tag Heuer, Carrera Automatic Chronograph, Heuer 02 Movement, 80-Hour Power Reserve

Protect Your Hearing Aids from Moisture with the PerfectDry Lux

JOHN MAYS JEWELERS

CENTER FOR HEARING

479.452.2140

479.785.3277

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community

THE SLOGANS, "WITH TRADITION UNSURPASSED"

Play On

Southside Band Reunion WORDS Dwain Hebda images courtesy Karen Schwartz

and "Play like a

champion today" describe the Southside Band Program in both its past accomplishments and present endeavors. These words ring true long after band members graduate high school and move into the next chapters of their lives.

Band alumni of all eras are invited to attend the 2021 Southside Band Reunion, scheduled for Oct. 8 and 9 in Fort Smith.

“We’ve had a tremendous response already just from people who are interested in going. We’ve been trying to reach out a lot to former members, especially the younger ones who are more recent grads,” says Sean Carrier, retired band director and a member of the reunion organizing committee.

“We’re trying to communicate through social media and stuff that might grab them and just try to tie all that tradition together, really.”

The Southside Band Program is known across the state and region for producing outstanding individual musicians as well as exceptional performances by the marching band and all three concert bands. Since its inception in 1963, the band has earned nearly 3,200 positions in the All-Region Bands, 1,029 seats in the All-State Concert Bands, 260 spots in the All-Region Jazz Bands and about 100 positions in All-State Jazz Bands.

The bands have also earned the ASBOA Sweepstakes Award for thirty-one consecutive years, scored by having earned first division honors in marching, concert and sight-reading adjudications.

The program has twice earned Southside designation as a top school in the U.S. for music education and a trophy shelf full of national awards and prestigious invitations to perform through the years. The band has appeared in concerts and events in Hawaii, New York, Chicago, Indianapolis, San Antonio, Washington D.C., Orlando, Kansas City, St. Louis, Houston, Nashville, Hot Springs and Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

The reunion weekend starts with a tailgate prior to the Oct. 8 Southside vs. Fayetteville football game; kickoff is 7 p.m. On Oct. 9, attendees will meet at the Southside band room for a meet and greet and a tour of Southside’s new facilities including new library, offices, commons area, cafeteria, freshmen center and gym. A BBQ lunch will be served providing plenty of opportunities for catching up.

For more information, email southsidebandalumni@gmail.com,

Four former band directors – including Stan Cate, Richard Peer, Steve Kesner and Sean Carrier – will be attending as will former directors from Chaffin and Ramsey Junior Highs. Longtime administrators Wayne Haver, Dr. Benny Gooden and Jim Rowland will also be present for the event.

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advertiserSPOTLIGHT

ADVERTISER SPOTLIGHT

CHUCK FAWCETT REALTY

Chuck Fawcett

Becky Ivey

Betty Lyles

Larry Stanfill

Principal Broker

Executive Broker

Executive Broker

Executive Broker

FORT SMITH

CHAFFEE CROSSING

VAN BUREN

GREENWOOD

OWNER

BRANCH OFFICE

BRANCH OFFICE

BRANCH OFFICE

ABOUT CHUCK FAWCETT REALTY

4720 Rogers Avenue Fort Smith, AR When founded: 1993 Number of employees: 80 Agents ChuckFawcettRealty.com 479.484.5588

Chuck Fawcett Realty can service all your real estate needs, whether they be residential or commercial.

We serve Western Arkansas & Eastern Oklahoma.

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advertiserSPOTLIGHT IN A CROWDED MARKETPLACE, WHAT SETS CHUCK FAWCETT REALTY APART? Chuck Fawcett Realty has been in business since 1993. Not only are we one of the most tenured and experienced locally owned and operated brokerages in the River Valley, but we also have the most reach with over eighty agents in four offices across the metro area. Our BEYOND Collaborative fosters, coaches, and trains agents with a shared vision that is focused on helping our team and our community grow and prosper.

There's really nothing like our culture and attitude that I've seen in the River Valley.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST CHANGE TO YOUR BUSINESS OVER THE YEARS AND HOW HAVE YOU ADOPTED THESE CHANGES AND TURNED CHALLENGES INTO POSITIVES? Real estate is an ever-changing business. We've been here through financial crisis and boom times alike – what hasn't changed is our dedication to the community and to our agents and brokers.

We're here for the party and we'll stay to clean up afterwards!

WHAT ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS HAS REMAINED EXACTLY THE SAME OVER THE YEARS AND WHY IS THAT AN IMPORTANT FOUNDATION TO YOUR COMPANY? We're all about people and our community. We've had agents with us for 23 years and we've just welcomed some new folks looking to make a future for themselves and their families just this week. Our brokerage is completely invested in the growth and independence of our agents which is why, I'm sure, we've grown so much over the years. There are a lot of brokerages in the area with decision makers who live somewhere else.

We live right here in the River Valley. We've invested in the Children's Emergency Shelter, Special Olympics, and Community Services

Clearinghouse, amongst so many other noble and worthy organizations. Our focus is not only on our own growth and the best interests of our clients – it's also in the place we've all chosen to call home. That will always be important to us and to our clients.

title, insurance and others. I'm very excited about our BEYOND Collaborative. This is a group that is accepting of new members – young, old, experienced, or a little green, and whose core foundational principles are the projection and embodiment of our larger business' culture.

HAS TECHNOLOGY HAD AN IMPACT ON YOUR OPERATIONS?

WHAT ADVANTAGES DOES OUR REGION PRESENT FOR YOUR COMPANY?

Technology has changed us, our business, and the way in which our clients seek us! In this business, as with so many others, if you're not providing information to people the way in which they wish to consume it, you're doing yourself and everyone a disservice. We work with folks from all walks of life and all ages. Want to give us a call? Great!

Text us? Sure! Virtual tours? OK! If you care to interact with a website and seek our feedback in whatever way you feel most comfortable – we're there for you. For the past 28 years, we've strived to adapt to all the changes in the ways consumers approach real estate (both buyers and sellers).

I'm proud to say that Chuck Fawcett Realty meets people where they are: tech savvy ... or face to face folks. We're here for our clients.

I've been a lot of places and I've seen a lot of things; there's no place like our community! From the development taking place in the Chaffee Crossing Community, to the recent accolades of our arts culture, to the influx of economic development from the activities of our military bases – there's really too much to mention. I love the place we've all chosen to live, and I'm humbled by the support and patronage the people of our community bestow upon us every day.

IF YOU HAD TO SUMMARIZE THE PHILOSOPHY OR CULTURE OF YOUR BUSINESS, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT? People, Community, and Service: These are our guiding principles, and we strive to inject our passion for all these things into every conversation, every transaction, every time.

WHAT'S THE FUTURE FOR CHUCK FAWCETT REALTY? Of any brokerage in our area, Chuck Fawcett Realty has the most influence in not only the sum of our people, but in the spirit of our actions. We will seek to capitalize on our people and their passions by further building upon the foundations of partnership we have with our folks in finance,

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HOW DOES CHUCK FAWCETT REALTY INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE YOUR EMPLOYEES TO DO THE SAME? Chuck Fawcett and all our agents are very involved with giving back to our communities. A few of the local causes that we support are Kitties & Kanines, Public Schools, Special Olympics, Sack Lunch Program, and several programs that benefit veterans. I am blessed to have agents who give back to the communities. No encouragement is needed from me as far as giving back. Whether volunteering, providing needed supplies or making monetary donations everyone at Chuck Fawcett Realty is committed to doing what they can to make a positive difference in the communities we live and work in.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FOUR-LETTER WORD? SOLD!

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community

All That Jazz Manes and Miracles

Bringing equine-assisted therapy to children with special needs is the goal of Manes and Miracles. The nonprofit organization provides therapeutic riding to those with a wide diversity of physical, cognitive, mental and emotional disabilities.

The group is happy to announce the return of its live event, headlined by

WORDS Dwain Hebda images courtesy Manes and Miracles

Manes and Miracles, a semi-formal benefit slated for September 18. This year’s event will be held at the Bakery District in Fort Smith, starting at 6:00 p.m. Interest in the event has thus far been substantial, says Amber Williams-Herndon, director of development.

“We have had a great response,” she says. “People are really excited to be able to have something local that they can go to. They’re really in for a fun time in a great venue.”

Manes and Miracles employs hippotherapy, which is the use of horses to benefit individuals with various conditions. Horseback riding mimics the human gait, helping the rider improve posture, muscle control, sensorymotor skills, balance and more. The rider also makes internal progress including self-awareness, self-confidence, self-discipline and concentration, while gaining feelings of freedom and mobility they are often unable to experience on their own.

“Before we existed, the closest two facilities would be over an hour and a half drive in different directions for children to receive hippotherapy,” says Amber. “[Hippotherapy] is very unique and there aren’t very many places that offer it in the state of Arkansas.”

“Prior to just a few years back, if they were going to receive that type of treatment, they were going to have to drive a long way, once a week in order for it to be effective. That is a lot of car time for patients and their families.”

The All That Jazz fundraiser includes live music by the Don Bailey Jazz Quartet, Creole-inspired dishes by Chef Paul of PT’s Manor and live and silent auction items. Proceeds go to help the organization grow into a new facility, which when completed will feature an enclosed arena to provide allweather access as well as more space to expand programs.

Tickets are $75 for one seat and $140 for a couple. A half-table (four

All That Jazz Benefiting Manes and Miracles manesandmiracles.org

seats) is $265, and a full eight-seat table is available for $500. In addition, event sponsorships are available ranging in price from $265 to $5,000.

Parties or organizations interested in sponsoring the event should contact Amber at the Manes and Miracles website. Deadline to sign up as a sponsor is September 1.

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2021

PROFILES in

DENTISTRY PRESENTED BY

WORDS Dwain Hebda and Catherine Frederick some interviews have been edited for length and clarity

Do South® is proud to recognize the expertise and contributions of local dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and other dental professionals, who set the bar for excellence and are committed to providing the best in care for their patients. Join us as we bring attention to their expertise and discover how they improve the health of their dental patients!

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

Dr. HenRy Udouj, III Udouj Orthodontics Henry Udouj III, D.D.S. said exceeding patients’ expectations, literally putting a smile on their faces, is the highest reward of providing expert, compassionate orthodontia services.

Returning home in 1999, he joined his father Henry Udouj Jr., who’d had a successful practice since 1972. The duo worked side by side until 2017 and today, Henry carries on the lessons his father taught him. “We stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in the orthodontic world and constantly attend continuing education courses,” Henry says. “We specialize in all types of orthodontic cases from simple to complex procedures that require jaw surgery. Our practice treats kids through seniors.”

The practice has expanded to include a location in Poteau, Oklahoma, as well as the original Fort Smith clinic, employing ten.

“I love orthodontics because it is not monotonous,” he says. “Every case is different and therefore must be treated differently. There is no one way to treat case properly, therefore, it keeps me on my toes.”

Henry graduated from Fort Smith Northside High School in 1987 and earned a bachelor's degree from Trinity University in San Antonio.

He completed Baylor Dental School and holds a master's degree in orthodontics from St. Louis University School of Orthodontics.

“Customer service is key to a great practice,” he says. “Our staff is very friendly and greets all patients warmly. We take a special interest in all our patient's lives and our office is fun and bright.”

“In diagnosing and treating a case, I begin by saying, ‘What would I do if this were my child?’ When you genuinely care about your patients' lives, it shows.”

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Dr. Brooks Fiser Fiser Family Dental Fiser Family Dental dates back nearly forty years, serving multiple generations of patients in the River Valley. And under the skilled care of Drs. Brooks Fiser, Doug Brittain and Hannah Cabe, that legacy of expert, compassionate dental care is in very good hands.

“I love that dentistry gives me the opportunity to help people, whether that is helping them out of pain or helping them feel comfortable smiling again,” Brooks says.

“To do that well, I take every opportunity to keep up with new techniques as they are developed and to refine my technique on existing skills. I also strive to do my treatment as effectively and efficiently as possible, because I understand that my patients' time is just as valuable to them.”

Brooks holds a degree in biology from the University of the Ozarks, graduating magna cum laude in 2010. He completed his dental training in 2014 from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Ever since he started in practice in Fort Smith, Brooks has constantly looked for ways to provide value and convenience for patients. Fiser Family Dental treats patients of all ages and offers comprehensive care including cleanings, fillings, crowns and bridges, dentures and partials, dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, Botox and Xeomin injections and dermal fillers.

“One of our specialty offerings is same-day crown and bridge restorations using CEREC chairside technology,” Brooks says. “Previously, getting a crown meant a first appointment to prepare and have a temporary crown made. That was followed by two to three weeks of wearing the temporary followed by a second appointment to permanently cement the crown in place. With CEREC, we can complete the crown or bridge in a single two- or three-hour appointment, no temporary needed and no messy impressions.”

Brooks says another thing that sets his practice apart is the level of customer service all patients receive. “Even though we do have a healthy patient population of seniors and young kids, the bulk of our practice is families,” he says. “That’s fitting, because good customer service to us means treating each patient like they are close family.”

“Many of our staff have decades of experience at our office, so they know many of our patients very well. At the chairside, I plan and perform treatment on each patient to the same level as I would for my mother or father. As a result, the majority of our new patients come from internal referrals by existing patients. That’s the highest compliment we can receive.”

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Kim Skelton Dental Compliance Solutions Kimberly Skelton knows what it takes to run an efficient, safe and effective dental practice.

She’s combined her on-the-job experience with specialized training to create Dental Compliance Solutions, a consultancy that helps clients provide safe work environments for employees and patients simultaneously.

“I saw firsthand the need for employee safety and proper infection control management, which is what led me to provide expertise on these subjects,” she says. “We’re the first in the area to fill this niche.” Kimberly began her career in 1990 as an expanded functions dental assistant working in oral surgery as well as in general and cosmetic dentistry in Northwest Arkansas.

Noticing the persistent need for staffing in such practices, she launched the first temporary dental staffing company in the Northwest and River Valley regions of Arkansas.

As time went on, she also saw the need for employee and patient safety/compliance consulting, so she expanded the company to provide clients help in meeting mandates and recommendations by various regulatory agencies. Among these are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Dental Association (ADA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). “I’ve earned the nicknames ‘The OSHA Lady’ and ‘OSHA Kim,’” she says with a chuckle. “It’s an area of expertise I am very passionate about and I'm very proud to have that title.”

Kimberly has also become a sought-after trainer and public speaker on the topics of safety and infection control, providing site-specific education for dental team members. Her multimedia educational programs engage attendees and encourage audience participation with an immersive combination of lecture, audio-visual resources and hands-on demonstrations using the most current infection prevention products and protocols. "With the ever-changing guidance and mandates addressing the pandemic situation and its impact on the dental field, ensuring adherence to these requirements in the field is paramount," she says. "It is my goal to assist every dental practice in achieving their compliance goals with as little transitional stress as possible.”

Over the years, Kimberly has earned numerous certifications and accreditations, including as an OSHA authorized consultant and trainer in health care employee safety and health, bloodborne pathogens and hazardous communication. She’s also a certified CPR/BLS instructor through the American Heart Association. Her expertise, impartiality and clear communication style make her an invaluable partner to companies in their continuing efforts to maintain employee and public safety.

“Our company's goals for our clients are simple,” she says. “Reduce incident rates, boost morale among staff and provide the confidence of knowing patients are receiving the best, safest care available."

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Chelsea Wakefield

COVI D versus

Cupid WORDS Dwain Hebda images courtesy UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute

To all of the ways Covid-19 has changed our lives – economic, academic, work habits, health care – add relationships. For every family that suffered extra stress for not being able to see their relatives during the 2020 pandemic, an equal number suffered from being in too close of contact with their family, specifically their significant other.

This, says one relationship expert, is likely to have far-reaching consequences as fallout from troubled marriages driven to the brink of fracture continues to play out, possibly for years to come.

"When we went into sheltering in place, people came home, and children came home," says Chelsea Wakefield, associate professor at UAMS in the Psychiatric Research Institute in Little Rock.

"So, what happened in the mix of that is roles got disrupted, and the balance and the rhythm of family life got disrupted. In couples that have difficulty in resolving things or were already in the midst of a high-conflict relationship, their conflict escalated their sense of unfairness, of resentment, both conflict and disconnection."

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"Some people were thrilled because they got to spend more time with their family. Some people really had a difficult time because being home and in the family environment was the least safe and least rewarding place in their lives."

Chelsea's analysis, codified in her book, The Labyrinth of Love: The Path to a Soulful Relationship, which came out July 1, sorts out the stressors that all relationships face. While the book's strategies are meant to be applied in the routine of daily life, the nagging specter of Covid-19 makes its precepts particularly useful.

"The book has been in creation for about four years; 2020 and

While a lower divorce rate is an undeniably positive statistic, it

Covid really validated everything the book is about," she says.

is hardly an accurate barometer of the health of U.S. marriages

"The book is about how in meaningful, enduring relationships,

across the board. Study after study cautions that a lower split-up

we move beyond need-meeting, which is why most people

rate does not automatically translate into happier couples. In

get into a relationship, and why most people get out of a

fact, the American Family Survey, released in December 2020,

relationship when they think the other person is no longer

found thirty-four percent of married men and women under

meeting their need." Chelsea says this fundamental disconnect

age fifty-five reported increased stress on their marriage directly

was amplified by various elements of the pandemic, souring

related to the pandemic.

some good relationships and hastening the disintegration of marriages that were already in trouble. It's a pattern that has

This leads many experts to conclude couples likely stayed

been seen and reported the world over.

together for practical reasons (such as the cost of a divorce and job security issues) rather than romantic ones. Chelsea

Impakter.com reported in March how many relationships the

said this suffering-in-place scenario became a familiar one

tide of Covid-19 washed up on the rocks worldwide. In Japan,

throughout 2020 and is likely continuing.

marriages were down one hundred thirty-seven percent last year; Italy's marriages were off twenty percent in 1Q-20 and

"In close proximity, when people feel like they don't understand

eighty percent in 2Q-20 compared to the prior year. Russia

each other and the other person feels unsafe, they withdraw

and Turkey also showed substantial drops in the number of

into their turtle shell. So, we had a lot more arguing and a

couples tying the knot.

lot more withdrawing depending on that person's attachment style," she says.

Back here in the U.S., Bloomberg reported in January, the number of marriages and divorces were both down for the

"Having children at home and all of this dis-regulation

nation and plummeting in some states. Florida, Arizona, New

escalated the anxiety in the relationship, particularly affecting

Hampshire, Missouri, and Oregon all showed a significant

people who had mental health problems, to begin with. It was

deficit in the number of marital unions and dissolutions

the intensity of everything in close proximity; it's sort of like

compared to 2019. As a nation, the U.S. was trending to

being in a pressure cooker."

nearly 340,000 fewer marriages and 191,000 fewer divorces.

Covid-19 may have been a once-in-a-century health crisis, but Meanwhile, in December, the Institute for Family Studies

the factors governing healthy relationships have grown more

noted the U.S. divorce rate was the lowest in fifty years and

numerous and complex over time. Which helps to explain why

even predicted the trend would continue in 2021. However,

Chelsea's marriage counseling clientele has steadily increased

other outlets braced for the worst when it came to the

in older couples, those married long enough for most people

divorce rate.

to assume any fundamental issues had long been resolved.

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"One of the things that's happened, and my book talks about this a great deal, is that in the twentieth century and before, what was most important was stability and being good role mates," she says. "In other words, we divide up the responsibilities. We fulfill our roles. We raise children. We're stable in good parts of

What's Your Relationship's Love Capacity?

The core of The Labyrinth of Love is author Chelsea Wakefield's examination of how couples move through

the community. We do what we're supposed to, and that's it."

various levels of love capacity. That includes:

"Those couples will get along fine as long as they're role mates

COMMITMENT – "It's important to be committed to a person.

or maybe when they play tennis together or take a cruise where they have lots of tours and activities that don't require them to talk to each other. If we sleep in separate bedrooms, if we don't speak except to argue a little bit here and there, that's not relevant. What's relevant is that we've fulfilled our roles and been good people. That's the parallel track that we've seen so many of our parents on."

But you also have to be committed to a process. And then committed to presence. Person, process, presence."

CURIOSITY – "I often tell couples, 'You need to move from furious to curious.' When you get angry, start seeking to understand what is going on between the two of you.

What's going on in you? What's going on in me? Move to curiosity, not to attack and defend."

"Well, in the twenty-first century, which we are now well into, people are saying, 'You know what? There's no meaning in this relationship.' So, the question of meaning has come to

COURAGE – "It takes a lot of courage to stay on the path of a relationship. I believe courage is something that we

the forefront."

develop out of a trust in the context of a relationship. It is

Chelsea's book also reframes many of the easy culprits

succeed, we gain more courage."

something like a muscle; we grow it. We take a risk, we

that tend to come into the discussion when marriages enter choppy waters.

COMMUNICATION – "People always come in and say, 'We're having problems communicating.' But they're actually

"A perfect example is, 'If we just had more sex, I'd be happy.'" she says. "But when they have more sex, one of them is not present. They're just offering their body to the other, usually the female, but she's totally checked out. She's running her laundry list or her grocery list for the next day and saying, 'OK, just get this over quickly.' Well, that's not satisfying. What people are longing for is presence. Sex is one form of that, and I am not negating the importance of a healthy sex life, but

having bigger problems and their inability to communicate is the symptom of other problems. Communication raises other questions, such as, 'Who in you is speaking?' If you get two little kids arguing, they have a really difficult time resolving differences. As adults we often get into arguments that are really about our inner little kid."

COMPASSION

–

"Compassion

doesn't

mean

being

presence can be done through a variety of forms."

responsible for being who you need me to be but being

"Sometimes I say a relationship is an anthropology study;

compassion comes from understanding someone deeply,

you may be speaking the same words, but those words mean something different in that other person's dictionary. You have to find out what they need and why they need that."

compassionate both towards myself and about you. When it's an automatic thing. Knowing why the other person does the things they do, what's their history, what it is that they need."

CREATIVITY – "Every couple has to co-create a world that Find The Labyrinth of Love on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and chironpublications.com.

they both want to live in. And it's up to those two people to create that world and to update it over the course of their relationship."

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BRINGING BACK THE BARRACKS THE BARRACKS AT FORT CHAFFEE words Dwain Hebda images Rival CRE and courtesy Lloyd Sumpter

For eight years in the Oklahoma Army National Guard, Lloyd Sumpter honed his soldiering skills at Fort Chaffee in Fort Smith.

He couldn’t have known then that life would lead him back to these very grounds, but looking back, he sees the experience as a formative one in his life overall.

“From 1987 to ‘95 our unit would come train at Fort Chaffee, and our summer training camps would be held here as well,” Lloyd says.

“I served here with my father, Larry, who’s a Vietnam vet. When I was in high school, he was in the National Guard, so I joined to serve with him. Both he and I served at Chaffee.”

Lloyd, president of Rival CRE LLC, has now come full circle to the historic military address. Over the past four years, he has assembled or has under contract twenty-five former buildings on the base, which he is transforming to become The Barracks at Chaffee. The development will include retail, multi-family housing, and restaurant/brewery businesses in a walkable, mixed-use development. “[The barracks are] a nice blank slate to start with,” he says. “The location is excellent, we’re less than two miles from the medical college where there's going to be over one thousand students this fall and a staff of one hundred and ninety people. We’re going to be an area, with the retail and restaurants, to service the college and all the other 3,500 houses on this side of Fort Smith.”

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The $20 million, roughly 121,000-square-foot development is a game-changer for both the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority and Rival CRE. With that kind of money on the line, Lloyd focused on business potential, not nostalgia, in the deal.

But he said revitalizing a piece of Fort Smith history is a nice bonus.

“It’s a good feeling, the barracks are close to the active base,” he says. “You can hear the bugles playing and the live-fire procedures going on, so it almost feels like we’re still on the post. It’s also a great feeling to have a master plan to restore these. It’s really important to me because at one time, Fort Smith was planning on tearing them down.”

In May, the FCRA approved the sale of nineteen barracks buildings, two other buildings, and a gravel parking lot to Rival for just over $660,000. Those buildings join Rival’s other properties there, purchased over the past four years. One of those initial structures has been completed and is now home to Primetime Barber, Seiter Design, Hum Salon, Rival CRE, and The Barracks at Chaffee construction office.

The buildings themselves were built during World War II and included both one and two-story construction. Over the years, the barracks were used to house various refugees, including the Vietnamese who were located in Arkansas after the fall of Saigon in 1975 and decades of soldiers and their commanding officers undergoing combat training.

Despite their age, Lloyd said the condition of the structures was sound.

“The buildings haven't had use, they’ve been empty since 1993, and sometimes that's the worst thing for a building, just to be unoccupied,” he says. “But as for the current condition of the buildings, a tornado touched down here in 2013, so they got new roofs and metal siding. They’re in good shape.”

“One of the big things people ask is, ‘What are the concerns with asbestos and lead paint?’ With older buildings like the barracks, we’ll be going through an abatement process the same way they take care of older buildings downtown, so they’ll be safe and inhabitable. Other than that, we’re doing a new water

The Sumpter Family

line, and FRCA did a new sewer line two years ago.

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We’re working with an electrical provider to get all-new

“A couple of the buildings are two-story; we’re working on

underground electrical, as well.”

designs where we’ll take the second floor out, and it’ll be the dining area for a restaurant or brewery, and we’re going

As with every good real estate deal, Lloyd said the timing was

to connect the two buildings with commercial kitchens.”

critical. On this, he was right on point as the neighborhood has all the markings for future prosperity. The Fort Chaffee

Lloyd is enlisting the help of architectural firms, but design

neighborhood looks and feels unlike any other community

and construction is all being handled in-house. He said even

in the city; he says, something not lost on prospective

with the building materials shortages seen over the summer;

residential and commercial tenants.

he expects the entire project to be completed over the next thirty months.

“If you compare this to other areas in Fort Smith, it feels different. It has more of a country feel than being in the city

“I’ve always worked in construction, started as a carpenter,

itself,” he says. “The neighborhood connects to trails. A lot

and I’ve always been in design,” he says. “I love design

of this has come about from the FCRA, which was set up to

work. I’m good with a vision; I can look at something and

help with the redevelopment of this area.”

tell people what it could be before it’s finished.”

“It’s taken years to get to where we are, and

With that vision, Lloyd sees the potential for The Barracks and ways that the development can help serve the wider Fort

now everything is snowballing. There’s over

Smith community and area nonprofits.

two thousand planned residences in the works

“We have an event parking lot we’re designing that’s going

now, and they’re going to be adding to that,

to have an outdoor stage area,” he says. “We are working

so it is going to continue to grow out here.”

lot. We’re all about community, and we want this to be an

with local nonprofits to host their events here on our parking amenity that will help serve them and their event needs.”

In addition to those that have already moved into The Barracks, Lloyd said more are showing an early interest in the forthcoming commercial and restaurant spaces as spelled out in the master plan.

Find out more about The Barracks at Chaffee on Facebook.

Lloyd said the master plan not only outlines the number of commercial spaces but provides a framework for the kind of business mix the company would ideally like to attract.

“Along the development, we’re building a twelve foot by 1,200-foot walking/bike trail and along that trail, there are going to be commercial spaces,” he says. “We’re specifically looking for more retail than office because we want it to be an outdoor shopping district.”

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Let the Good Times Roll Words Dwain Hebda images courtesy Razorback Corvette Club, Fort Smith Antique Automobile Club, Arkansas Valley Mustang Club, Donna Redding, and Mickey Calicott

1939 Oldsmobile 4-door sedan 1931 Ford Model A coupe 1929 Ford Model A 4-door sedan 1965 Ford Mustang convertible owned by Carl and Valorie Albertson

J

Jan Marshall, the spitfire events coordinator for the Razorback

me that instead of an engagement ring, I would probably

Corvette Club in Fort Smith, is caught in a delicious memory.

marry them on the spot.

Asked when she first fell in love with the iconic sports car, her mind races back to Cedardale High School.

"I aspired to own a Corvette by the time I was thirty, and I did that. I've been a gearhead pretty much my whole life. I

"Well, I was a senior in high school and saw my first one,"

didn't need any other car; I didn't care about Mustangs."

she says, her age transposing from seventy-one to seventeen in an instant. "It was green; I don't remember what shade

To rival car enthusiasts, them's fighting words, West Side

of green, with a tan interior, and I lost my mind. It's the

Story-style. Ask members of the Arkansas Valley Mustang

lines that make my heart beat faster. It's not necessarily the

Club, and they'll take up as passionately for their choice of

colors; it's the lines and the aerodynamics. It just called my

ride as Jan does hers.

name and said, 'You need me.' That was it for me."

"I like to get on the crooked road; I raced go-karts for years Jan has owned multiple Corvettes in her life; her latest, a

back in the day when I was young and could get into the

2009 c6 and red, clean to the underside of the hood where

things," says Mickey Calicott, club president. "I like the

a big snorting Razorback graces the liner, is undoubtedly a

twisty roads, and the Mustang is a good car for that.

looker. But the native of Uniontown and retired high school teacher admits to one as-yet-unattained model, the thought

"I really did not know anything about [Mustangs] until I

of which still makes her go weak in the knees.

got this first one, and I've had a ball with it. I go coastto-coast and don't really worry about it; I just keep it up. I

"My very favorite one is a '63 split-window," she says.

can see why Ford sold so many of these Mustangs because

"That's the one I would love to have, and if someone gave

they are fun."

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Mickey's introduction to his now-ride of choice was a family affair and came about largely by happenstance.

A dyed-in-the-wool Pontiac fan growing up, he bought a 1968 Mustang coupe six-cylinder for his daughter as high school transportation. When she got a new car to go to college, Mickey's son John claimed the hand-me-down.

John was as interested in restoring the car as he was driving it, and in following his son around to various car shows, Mickey got the notion to have 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 4-speed, owned by Perry and Martha Jones

a Pony Car of his own.

"I'm seventy-five according to some; if you ask others, they'll tell you I'm twelve," chuckles Mickey. "I told my son I'd like to have a Mustang too, but I want one to drive; I don't want a show car. We started looking for a fastback '67 and found one that had been wrecked in the back and was going to the crusher; no engine, no interior.

But that's all we could find for a fastback because, after the movie Gone in 60 Seconds, everyone was buying them and making Eleanors out of them. I think I paid $300 for it."

Both Jan and Mickey were led to their respective car clubs out of a desire to share their car passion with like-minded peers. And both clubs mirror each other in many ways: camaraderie, mechanical

1930 Model A town sedan owned by Ron and Starla Plunkett

know-how, the occasional car show, and rally. Both clubs are getting back to live meetings after missing most of 2020, and most are thinning in numbers, too, fifty for the Corvettes, founded in 1983, and twenty for the Mustangs, formed in 1980.

"Well, the original concept, and I don't think it's changed very much, is a group of people in Fort Smith owned Corvettes, they were all friends, and they said, 'Why don't we form a club for anybody who had an interest in the Corvette?'" Jan says.

"We share all of our experiences and create new ones, and hopefully, other people want to join us.

It's just for anyone who wants to get out, drive their car, have a good time, and travel all over the beautiful state of Arkansas."

1950 Ford custom convertible owned by Dale and Carolyn Johnson

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Gary Whitcher and Wayne Schulte

Mickey says in addition to the social benefits of the

While the club is agnostic when it comes to the make of

Mustang club, there's a wealth of technical and mechanical

members' cars, they require the models to be original and at

information to be had as well.

least twenty-five years old to qualify as "antique." Members include a little bit of everything, including people who don't

"When my son wanted to take over his first Mustang, I told

even own an antique car but simply hold an interest in them.

him he needed to get a shop manual and join the Mustang club," he says. "There are a lot of individuals in that club who

In fact, Donna herself was not a car enthusiast until she

have won national championships and been involved for years.

started dating her husband, retired longtime Fort Smith

It's a wealth of information. They really helped us with parts,

businessman Don Redding.

where to get them, all the technical advice, because they've been there and done it."

"We did not meet at the club, but that was one of the first activities I went on," Donna says.

The two clubs have one other thing in common – they are both come-lately whippersnappers compared with the Fort

Today, however, she can rattle off car facts and specs with

Smith Antique Automobile Club. That group, currently about

the best of them. She also gets a kick out of the reaction the

forty-five members strong, was formed in April 1962.

couple gets when out driving their 1949 fastback Cadillac or their 1956 Cadillac Special.

"It's about sharing the old cars, the friendships you make through the years," says Donna Redding, club president.

"They turn heads; everyone loves the old cars," she says.

"Just enjoying going out in the old cars. We do parades if

"People are honking, waving, reminiscing, talking to us

we're asked, some of the members have been asked to do

about them. It's just the beauty of the body of the car—

weddings and we get involved in things like that, too.

that’s what it is."

"One of my favorite things to do is at Petit Jean Mountain; they have a car show and a swap meet every year in June that's on the Museum of Automobiles grounds. My husband's been going to that since 1970. We enjoy that because there are people from different states that we've gotten to know there. It brings back a lot of memories for everyone."

For more information on club events, visit these car clubs on their respective Facebook pages: Arkansas Valley Mustang Club Fort Smith Antique Automobile Club Razorback Corvette Club

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WORDS Jeanni Brosius images Jeanni Brosius and courtesy Jon Clowers

THERE IS A GRAY BRICK BUILDING on Ouachita

Walking through the museum and seeing all the old toys

Avenue in Hot Springs wrapped in pictures of various Star

and memorabilia evokes memories and feelings from one’s

Wars characters and superheroes. Inside the building is much

youth. “I had one of those when I was a kid,” a man in the

more than just a Star Wars museum. It’s a portal to the past.

tour group excitedly said.

Walking through the front door, customers can meander

Over time, The Galaxy Connection has become more of a

around a gift shop filled with action figures, comic books

pop culture museum rather than strictly Star Wars. But for

and other fun things. But once the tour of the museum

Star Wars fans, the interactive part is cool. Visitors can play

begins, guests are transported back in time to a retro

with lightsabers and try on helmets and other props.

arcade with old TVs connected to Ataris. Guests can take a little time to lounge in a 1980s living room and have a

When it came to the interactive part of our tour, members

Polaroid picture taken while sitting on a plaid sofa that

of the group laughed and played with the lightsabers, one

came straight out of the past.

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young man wielded the Infinity Gauntlet while another

As Jon grew, so did his collection, which consists of costumes,

picked up Thor’s hammer.

props, comic books, toys and much more. He began the collection by looking at yard sales and flea markets for

“I want people to feel free and have a good time,” said The

various collectible toys.

Galaxy Connection owner Jon Cowers about the people who enter the museum. “I want it to help other people and

Jon’s favorite item in the museum is the life-size replica of

encourage them not to worry about hatred, a virus or politics.”

Han Solo frozen in carbonite, which you will see hanging on the wall midway through the tour. Jon researched online for

Tour guide Andrew Holland has been working at The Galaxy

about a year until he finally found a replica mold in California.

Connection for about four months. Excitement is evident in his voice as he talks to a group about the history of some of

The revenue from the museum tours helps fund a nonprofit

the toys and comic books on display.

Jon started to help families in need and help encourage kids and adults.

“I’m a big fan, and I love how a character can go back so far in our culture,” Andrew said. “I can come to work and geek out with

“I had a few costumes on display [at the museum], and

other people who think the same way.”

people started asking us to go to special needs events to help raise money,” Jon said.

In 2013, Jon had a vision. He also had a large collection of Star Wars memorabilia that he had been collecting since

Jon knows the power of the dark side. He began going out in

childhood. His vision included giving to others.

his Darth Vader costume, and that seemed to inspire people.

He reflected on the difficult times he had in his life and going

“I was trying to think of a way to give back to the community,

out in his costumes to help others made him feel as if he

because I’ve been very blessed,” Jon said. “I was born in

was making a difference. He said he figured out how to turn

1977 – the year Star Wars came out – I remember by the time

this into a way to give back to people. That is when the

I was three or four, I started getting this stuff for Christmas. I

nonprofit, The Galaxy Heroes, was born.

was always so excited to get the toys and watch the movies.”

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Jon and his wife Bridgett, along with a group of volunteers

Jon recounted a story about a child who had been seriously

began receiving invitations to fund-raising events and

injured and spent several months in Arkansas Children’s

other activities. They would show up as characters such as

Hospital. Jon said he put on his Darth Vader costume and

Superman, Batgirl, Spiderman, Luke Skywalker, and Darth

was discretely ushered by the hospital staff into the child’s

Vader. Jon’s daughter even appears occasionally as Princess

hospital room. “We came to his bedside and handed him a

Leia. The Heroes have made appearances at hospitals, nursing

lightsaber and a carrying case for his action figures. He was

homes and kids’ events, where everyone gets a comic book

very surprised and overwhelmed. We are always looking for

and trading cards.

new ways to outreach to help families in need.”

During the Covid-19 pandemic shut down, Jon was able to keep the museum open only for family VIP tours. “We would find a family who needed some inspiration and offer them a VIP tour. Then we would give them toys and help with other needs the family had,” said Jon.

To learn more about The Galaxy Connection and The Galaxy Heroes, visit thegalaxyconnection.com or on Facebook, search The Galaxy Connection.

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The Ride Continues words and images Scott Faldon

Scott Chapman

Scott Chapman never expected to get back into

During those years, Scott also realized he needed help

the cycling industry – despite being immersed in it for most

coping with the curve balls life had thrown at him. He began

of his life. But as a man of faith, he knows second chances

attending Celebrate Recovery at Community Bible Church. “I

are always possible.

knew I needed to turn to something, and I turned to God,” Scott said. “I let go control. I turned it over to Him. I said

He started at Bicycles of Fort Smith, assembling and repairing

‘Lord, you’ve got to take this, I can’t do it.’ It was a dark time

bikes for owner Buster Brown in early 1994. While he’d

in my life, but once I did that I have never felt more free.”

ridden bikes his whole life, he’d never raced. He and his friends would go on all-day rides from Fort Smith to Alma

As he healed, Scott dusted off his bike. The passion for cycling

and back on whatever junker bikes they owned. Brown,

began to return. Then one day he got a phone call. Bryan

Scott’s first boss in the cycling world, was a Master’s national

Dobbins, owner of The Woodsman Co. in Fort Smith, had

champion in the time trial – a race against the clock. After

begun thinking of adding bicycles to his store’s mix of outdoor

seven years with Brown, Scott helped to open the original

apparel, fly fishing rods, backpacking gear and kayaks. He

location of Champion Cycling. Then in 2005, he opened his

needed somebody with experience in the cycling world.

own eponymous store – Scott’s Bike Shop – in the east end of Fort Smith in the former Ozark Mountain Smokehouse.

“I was actually riding my bike and was on Dallas Street right

by Community Bible when I got his call,” Scott said. “He told

“I really enjoyed owning the shop, I made a lot of great

me he wanted to open a shop. We talked for several months,

relationships thanks to it,” Scott said. “But, also, I was

bouncing ideas off each other.” Scott began to feel the pull

running the store by myself. The bicycle business was

of the cycling industry. “I knew I was designed for more than

booming at the time, but I was so stressed and missing so

what I was doing, and I needed more,” Scott said.

much time with my daughter.” So, in 2015, Scott sold his store. His plan was to spend more time with his daughter,

Scott joined The Woodsman Co. earlier this year as the

Nora. But that plan quickly changed.

bike department began to take shape. After owning a 1,600-square-foot shop years ago, he’s now managing a

The buyer of the shop struggles to keep it afloat and then

5,400-square-foot department with four service stations.

passed away. The nest egg Scott expected from selling his business and the building disappeared. He suddenly worried

“After I turned everything over to God, it just didn’t feel right

about losing, well, everything. With so much stress, Scott

to walk away from the business,” Scott said. “I didn’t like how

put his bike into a corner of the garage and did not touch

it ended. That’s just not how it was supposed to end.”

it for several years. His financial plans wrecked, he began taking any odd job he could get.

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travel

words and images courtesy ExploreBranson.com

If this is the summer of the great American road trip, we’re going to suggest that the very best road to travel – one that offers the most intriguing views before you even step out of your vehicle – is Missouri Highway 76, also known as “Country Boulevard” in Branson, Missouri. Branson truly puts the “family” into the concept of “family fun,” boasting a tourism industry that’s fueled by local families who take great delight in entertaining their multiple generations of guests.

Tourism here is a cooperative effort, with neighboring attractions working together to promote the concept of non-stop fun to the millions of families who come to town each year in search of new adventures. Though there’s a

it painted a vivid picture of these mountains and their people.

very strong cooperative spirit, there’s also just a smidge of

The Rosses became the inspiration for two beloved characters

competition as each venue tries to outdo its neighbors and

in that book, Old Matt and Aunt Mollie Matthews.

get the attention of all those visitors traveling along Highway 76, through Branson’s famed Entertainment District. As part

The book met with popular success, ultimately becoming the first

of that attention-grabbing effort, several tourism-related

novel to sell one million copies in the United States. Its countless

businesses have discovered that BIG does a great job of

fans began coming to Branson to try to find that same beauty

getting visitors to take notice.

– in both nature and humans – that Wright had captured in his novel. A pivotal stop on their journey was “Old Matt’s Cabin,”

Before you read about and see some of the massive roadside

which became so popular with visitors that eventually the Ross

attractions in Branson, we invite you to start at a site that went

family moved out of it. Today it serves as the ticket booth for

“big” in a completely different way. “Old Matt’s Cabin” at

a site that plays host to an outdoor drama that retells the tale

Shepherd of the Hills isn’t huge, but this is the place where

of the Shepherd of the Hills, the preserved historic farm that

Branson’s tourism industry all began… so it seems like the fitting

figured in the novel, and an adventure park – complete with zip

start to your journey. And it’s on the west end of Highway

lines, canopy tour and mountain coaster – that gives modern-day

76, so it works not only from a historical standpoint but also a

visitors a chance to have your breath taken away by both the

geographical one. Here’s the scoop:

incredible views and the stimulating adventures.

In the early 1900s, a preacher named Harold Bell Wright came

And that’s how Branson’s tourism boom began. Visitors won’t

to Branson and fell in love with both the natural beauty of this

quickly run out of fun things to do – or see – on a visit to this

part of the Ozark Mountains and the friendly people who made

Ozark Mountain town, which offers something exciting for every

their homes here. He was especially close to a couple named

member of the family, from tallest to smallest. Here’s a roundup

John and Anna Ross, who allowed him to camp outside their

of our favorite mega-messengers, large reminders of the huge

homestead. It was there that he dreamed up a story called

amounts of fun to be had throughout Branson. Heading from

Shepherd of the Hills, a novel that mingled fact and fiction as

west to east along Highway 76, you’ll encounter the following:

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travel

THE BRANSON FERRIS WHEEL SPINS ALL DAY, ROCKS THE NIGHT

3335 W. Highway 76 Country Boulevard If you want the very best view of the Entertainment District along Highway 76 from sky level vs. road level, take a spin on the Branson Ferris Wheel. This famed amusement ride used to grace Chicago’s iconic Navy Pier. When a new model entered the scene in 2015, the fate of this 1995 version was in question until The Track Family Fun Parks decided to move the entire contraption to Branson. The Wheel stands 150 feet tall and boasts forty gondolas, each of which can hold up to six riders.

TOY SOLDIERS GUARDING THE WORLD’S LARGEST TOY MUSEUM COMPLEX

It’s impossible to miss this behemoth not just because of its incredible size but also because it’s decorated with 16,000

3609 W. Highway 76 Country Boulevard This pair stands outside one of the entryways to this complex, which features six different museums highlighting more than 1

LED lights that truly spark up the night during synchronized music performances. By day, riders get incredible views of the entire entertainment corridor up and down Highway 76 and the Ozark Mountains in the background.

million toys that trace the history of play from the 1800s to today.

Multiple floors in two buildings boast more than 26,000 square feet of display space, offering every member of your family the chance to relive past Christmas mornings and birthdays as they reminisce about favorite toys throughout the decades. You’ll find everything from model trains and action figures to dolls and board games within these walls. The complex is home to The National BB Gun Museum, The Stearnsy Bear Museum and The World of Checkers Museum. It’s also the site of the Harold B. Wright Museum. If you stopped by the Shepherd of the Hills complex on your way in and are inspired by that story, this is where you’ll find the book’s original manuscript alongside the reverend’s personal furnishings and paintings.

THE MOST FAMOUS SHIP IN HISTORY IS TITANIC MUSEUM ATTRACTION

3235 W. Highway 76 Country Boulevard As you travel eastward on Highway 76, you’ll see a giant ship stranded in a parking lot to your left. If you have an hour or two to spare – trust us, you’ll be so captivated by the stories inside that you’ll need some time here – park your own vessel in the lot and go inside. You’ll be transformed into a “passenger” here, literally being handed a boarding pass that DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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travel

assigns you the identity of one of the people who traveled or worked on the world’s most famous luxury liner. Then you’ll walk authentically-sized hallways and ascend a replica Grand Staircase as you embark on a self-guided tour of the parlors and cabins of the ill-fated ship and learn its stories through 400 artifacts that were sourced directly from the Titanic and her passengers. History becomes reality as you try to endure a hand-dip into 28-degree water, stand on sloping decks or find room in a lifeboat. At the end of your interactive journey, you’ll learn the fate of the person whose name you received at the start. All along the way, crew members are available to shed additional light on the fascinating tales of everyone who was on Titanic – including its canine passengers – and point out interesting tidbits about the people and objects whose

KING KONG HANGING OFF THE HOLLYWOOD WAX MUSEUM

stories are intertwined with those of this ship.

3030 W. Highway 76 Country Boulevard The giant ape climbing up the exterior is what initially lures you to this complex, but it’s the four different entertainment experiences you’ll find on property that will keep you amused for hours. The Hollywood Wax Museum offers the opportunity to walk the red carpet, grab some props, step into the spotlight to sing a song, or visit a celebrity cocktail party, all while being surrounded by wax figures of your favorite stars. The wax museum also provides fun facts and interesting glimpses into those celebs’ lives, sharing details about everything from pets to pet peeves. Also, on site you’ll find a 5-D theater, mirror maze and mini-golf course.

GIANT FORK AND MEATBALL AT PASGHETTI’S

3129 W. Highway 76 Country Boulevard If you’re easily distracted by great-looking food, you won’t know what to do as you drive by this giant, spaghetti-entwined fork poking out of a meatball. Italian food is often a family favorite, and Pasghetti’s is incredibly popular with vacationers seeking kid-friendly menu items served in a family-focused environment. With themed dining rooms throughout the restaurant, the vibe here is always friendly and fun. Besides delicious food, the restaurant also features a game room and indoor Ferris wheel. The signature dish here is the Pasghetti & Meatball plate, but you’ll also find everything else you’d want from your favorite Italian place, including chicken or eggplant Parmesans, lasagna, and chicken alfredo.

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travel

UPSIDE-DOWN BUILDING FLIPPING OUT AT WONDERWORKS BRANSON

arrive at one of Branson’s newest attractions, an aquarium

2835 W. Highway 76 Country Boulevard

that managed to open last year despite the pandemic. The Aquarium at the Boardwalk is home to ten different zones of undersea fun that have brought the wonders of the world’s

The building’s iconic exterior – with its massive upside-down

oceans to the Midwest. Explore a jellyfish infinity room,

columned porch – is just the beginning of a 48,000-square-

underwater tunnels that lead to a mermaid palace, and all

foot experience where visitors can enjoy more than 100

the twists and turns of a submarine adventure. There are

hands-on exhibits. Aimed at making the worlds of science

countless opportunities for you to get close to thousands of

and technology both accessible and fun, WonderWorks takes

incredible sea creatures, some of which can even be touched.

the concept of “STEAM” education to a whole new level. In

The Aquarium is the anchor (no sea pun intended) for the new

the meteorology section, you can experience the force of a

Boardwalk, an entertainment complex that will soon welcome

hurricane, and in the physics department you can blow your

other attractions, dining venues and shops.

own mind by lying on a bed of nails. Try on a space suit, get enveloped in a bubble or go on a dig in other parts of the facility. Though there are other WonderWorks centers across the United States, this one is special in that it features a few exhibits that are unique to Branson. These include exhibits on American innovation, Route 66, Ozark history and the U.S. military. This year the WonderWorks Art Gallery also features OZART, a collection of works by young artists from Missouri and Arkansas.

GIANT ROOSTER STRUTTING ITS STUFF IN FRONT OF THE GREAT AMERICAN STEAK AND CHICKEN HOUSE

2421 W. Highway 76 Country Boulevard

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, there’s a 43-foot-tall rooster wearing a patriotic vest and bowtie as he welcomes the new day and all the visitors to this restaurant at the east end of Branson’s Entertainment District. And that day starts out right with a hearty breakfast that features all the predicted fixin’s including a unique farmers market fruit bar.

OCTOPUS HUGGING THE AQUARIUM AT THE BOARDWALK

The Steak and Chicken House also offers lunch and dinner,

2700 W. Highway 76 Country Boulevard

where specialties often feature – you guessed it – steak and chicken. The restaurant is justly famous for its roasted chicken, but still best known for that giant rooster that measures six

This massive sculpture of a giant Pacific octopus wrapped

feet taller than its biggest competitor, a similar fiberglass bird

around the entryway is your welcoming committee as you

that roosts in France.

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taste

SUMMER SHRIMP

ZOODLE BOWLS Recipe and images howsweeteats.com

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INGREDIENTS

taste

F O R

T H E

Z U C C H I N I

» 2 zucchini squash, spiralized » 1 Tablespoon olive oil » 2 garlic cloves » 8 to 10 shishito peppers » 2 ears of sweet corn, grilled or charred » ½ pint cherry tomatoes, halved or sliced,

sprinkled with salt and pepper

» ½ cup fresh mozzarella balls » 2 Tablespoons fresh basil » 2 Tablespoons fresh oregano » salt and pepper to taste

F O R

T H E

S H R I M P

» 1 pound raw, peeled and deveined shrimp

(I like the larger grilling shrimp)

» ½ teaspoon salt » ½ teaspoon pepper » ½ teaspoon smoked paprika » ¼ teaspoon ground cumin » 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter » 2 garlic cloves, finely minced or pressed

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taste

M E T H O D Start by spiralizing the zucchini and hitting it all with a pinch of salt.

Place it on a towel and spread it out, allowing it to sit and release moisture for a few minutes. Press another towel on top of it to soak up some of the water.

At this point, you can grill the corn and prep the shishito peppers! If you don’t want to turn on your grill, you can heat the broiler in your oven and place the corn and peppers on a baking sheet. Stick them under the broil as close as you can, watching the entire time, and rotate as they both char and get golden. Remove from the oven (or grill) and let these things cool. Slice the corn from the cob.

I start the shrimp below, then set it aside on a plate. You can toss the zucchini noodles in the skillet that you used for the shrimp (which is DELISH!) or you can use a new skillet with a bit of olive oil and garlic. I toss the noodles over medium heat for a few minutes until they are just barely cooked. Taste one and determine if you need some salt and pepper to taste. Place the zoodles in one large bowl or a few separate bowls. Build the rest of your bowl, adding on the tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, grilled corn and peppers. Add a few herbs over top and you’re good to go!

Pat the shrimp completely dry with paper towels. Once they’re dry, season them with the salt, pepper, paprika and cumin. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the butter. Once it’s melted and begins to sizzle, add the shrimp in batches (don’t overcrowd it!) and cook on both sides until pink. The butter will brown as the shrimp cooks, and you can whisk it occasionally to prevent it from burning. When the shrimp are finished, stir in the garlic (I stir a little in each batch of the shrimp) and cook for a second then place the shrimp on a plate. Repeat with remaining shrimp!

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taste

Margarita Floats » t a j i n o r m a r g a r i t a salt for the rim » lime wedges » crushed ice » 4 o u n c e s B l a n c o tequila » 4 o u n c e s f r e s h l y squeezed lime juice

» 3 o u n c e s s i m p l e s y r u p » 2 o u n c e s G r a n d M a r n i e r or other orange liqueur » 2 t o 4 s c o o p s o f l e m o n , lime or orange sherbet/sorbet (or a swirl)

Recipe and images howsweeteats.com

Please drink responsibly.

Never drink and drive.

Use a lime wedge to rim 2 glasses, then dip the rims in the tajin (chili lime seasoning) or salt. Fill the glasses with crushed ice. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the tequila, lime juice, simple syrup and Grand Marnier.

Shake for 30 seconds, until the mixture is frothy. Pour the mixture evenly between the 2 glasses. Add in 1 or 2 scoops of sherbet. Serve!

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fiction

Finding Family words Liesel Schmidt image Mariaprovector/Shutterstock

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fiction

The shadows on the ceiling seemed to dance

She sighed and looked back at the clock. A half hour had

in the dim light of dawn that crept through the edges of the

passed. There was no way she was getting to sleep. Not

blinds, growing more animated as the headlights of passing

now. Lily tossed the bedcovers aside and swung her legs

cars swept by. Lily sighed and turned over, catching a glimpse

over the side of the bed, planting her feet on the floor. Her

of the digital clock on her nightstand.

bare feet sunk into the carpet, and she wiggled her toes, noticing that they needed to be repainted. Red, her favorite

5:00 a.m.

color. Something else to put on her list—a list that seemed to constantly grow and never shorten, no matter how hard

She’d been awake all night, her thoughts running rampant.

she tried to keep up with it.

What if she doesn’t settle in? What if she doesn’t like me?

And you think you can handle being a mother?

All the home visits and evaluations had been completed,

Lily shook her head, wondering how she was ever going to

every I dotted, and T crossed. But that still didn’t guarantee

do this. Maybe it wasn’t too late to change her mind. She

the adoption would go smoothly. There were no guarantees.

could just call the agency and tell them that this really wasn’t

Only question marks.

the right time, that she needed to hit pause and think about the adoption some more. But that picture—that picture of

And a whole lot of sleeplessness.

the beautiful little girl with the gummy grin and eyes that looked like pools of melted chocolate—was everything. Lily

She rolled over again, onto her back and stared up at the

had fallen in love with her the minute she had seen her, and

ceiling. She wished she could find answers written up there,

she had known this little girl was meant to be her daughter.

something to give her some small measure of reassurance.

Still, none seemed to be forthcoming. Lily closed her eyes and

She stood and stretched, then padded to the bathroom to take

took a deep breath, silently praying she would be granted

a shower. Her flight was in four hours, the first in a series to

the mercy of sleep, even if it was only for an hour. At least

China to pick up the little girl she had been waiting on for so

it would give her an escape from all the worry, all the “what

long. She’d been packed for days, her anxiety and excitement

ifs” swirling around in her head.

so intertwined she didn’t know where one ended and the other began. There was a low level of nausea that seemed

She was so tired. Exhausted from all the cleaning and

to accompany the embroiled mess of emotions, and it had only

shopping and preparing. It had taken weeks to get everything

seemed to grow more acute as this day had gotten closer.

ready, just the way she imagined every little girl would want—the way she would have wanted when she was tiny.

Lily showered quickly and combed her hair, carefully applying

The bedroom had taken two coats of paint, and that had

makeup and grimacing in the mirror at the wrinkles and the

been after all the wallpaper had been stripped. But now it

bags around her eyes. When had she gotten so old?

was beautiful and the perfect shade of pale pink.

When did you decide you were going to do this all on your But what if she doesn’t like pink?

own?

The thought came like a shot through the darkness, making

The question in her mind seemed so loud it was as though

her eyes pop open.

someone had announced it into the room. It almost echoed.

What if—

When?

She shook her head. Stop it, Lily. Just stop.

When? It was a loaded question. When Mike had left her three days before their wedding. When all the dates she had gone DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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fiction

on after putting the pieces of her heart back together seemed

See, you’re not cut out for motherhood. Why did you think

to prove to her, time and again, that what she thought she

you could do this alone?

wanted just didn’t exist anymore. When she realized she still wanted a family, even if that meant something unconventional.

There it was again, that voice of doubt that screamed at her when she was tired or overwhelmed by her new life—

She’d started researching adoption and then reached out

and the new little life that had become part of her world.

to adoption attorneys, checking into all the angles and

Three months had gone by since she’d brought home her

requirements to make it happen. It had been demanding and

tiny girl—Hannah, she had named her—and it had been both

emotionally exhausting, waiting and hoping and praying that

everything she had dreamed, and everything she had feared.

if—when—it happened, when the call came and she was matched with a little girl, that it wouldn’t fall through. She’s

At two years old, Hannah was sweet and intelligent. But she

seen that movie, heard that story, too many times. She knew

was also having trouble adjusting. The first few weeks in her

she couldn’t take it if that happened. And she had prayed

new home, she didn’t sleep well in her crib—especially in a

like she had never prayed before.

room all by herself. The strange surroundings were something she took time getting used to, but Lily had been slowly

God, please let this work out. Let me have a family.

helping her acclimate. Lily was teaching her how to identify things in English, working on helping her understand a new

Her prayer had been answered one afternoon. The call came,

language. Still, there was something that Lily wasn’t sure

followed by an email and all the details about this tiny little

would ever happen. Would Hannah ever call her “Mama”?

girl with big brown eyes and a smile that could light up a room. She was magical.

The silence in the room could have easily lulled Lily into sleep, she was so tired. Hannah was down for her nap in her crib,

Lily dressed and made breakfast for herself—coffee and two

surrounded by a menagerie of small stuffed animals. The

eggs with toast—then gathered her bags to head to the

pink zebra was her favorite, then the little lavender elephant.

airport. She hit the button for the garage door and tossed

She had named them all, took them to bed with her every

her suitcase and carryon into her trunk, circling back to the

night, and kissed them all in order.

driver’s side door. Her eye caught the car seat in the back.

Lily smiled to herself and reached for a book on the coffee She’ll be sitting in there soon. Very soon.

table, realizing that she hadn’t picked it up since before she had gone to get Hannah from China. Maybe she should just

Lily closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then climbed

start again, from the beginning?

into the driver’s seat.

Twenty minutes later, she realized she had dozed off. A noise I’m coming. It’s time. This is it.

from the monitor had shaken her awake, gently pulling her from sleep. “Mama, up,” Hannah’s little voice said.

She backed out of the garage and drove down the driveway, pointing her car in the direction of the airport.

It was a word Lily had been afraid would never come, and now she had heard it. It was like the voice of an angel

I’m on my way, baby girl.

calling her name. She got up from the couch and made her way to Hannah’s room, carefully peeking in to check on

*******************

her daughter.

Lily rested her head on the back of the couch and closed her

“Mama’s here, Hannah, love,” she whispered with tears in

eyes. She felt as though she had been awake for months. And

her eyes. “Mama’s here.”

as though she hadn’t had a real shower in about as long.

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BACK TO SCHOOL Special Feature

Whether your student is headed back to school in person, or online, it’s TIME! It's time to buy new packages of crisp, lined paper, glue sticks, three-ringed binders and number two pencils. This year, perhaps in anticipation, we aren’t so grouchy about setting our alarm clocks in preparation for early mornings.

In the following pages, you’ll find that Do South®, along with local experts, are here to help with information on various educational opportunities, where to go for your student’s healthcare needs, activities to ensure they are active and confident, and a local church offering backpacks full of supplies for those in need.

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Let’s get back to school!

Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) is a private,

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7000 Chad Colley Boulevard Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.308.2243 acheedu.org

3205 Jenny Lind Rd, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.785.2501 fortsmithschools.org

not-for-profit institution located in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

ACHE’s first college, the Arkansas College of Osteopathic

From

Medicine (ARCOM), graduated its inaugural class of 145

unforgettable kindergarten trips to the farm, Fort Smith

osteopathic medical students in May 2021. ACHE opened

Public Schools provides incredible opportunities and strong

its second building, home to the School of Physical Therapy

instruction for each of the almost 15,000 students in its

and School of Occupational Therapy. Our School of Physical

nineteen neighborhood elementary schools, four middle

Therapy welcomed its first class in June 2021. A $32.3 million

schools, two senior high schools, one alternative learning

gift was received to renovate the ACHE Research Institute

center and one adult education center. With nationally

Health & Wellness Center, as well as a variety of health

recognized schools, students, educators and organizations,

and wellness programs. ACHE is the first and only private

Fort Smith Public Schools are always the best choice. For

institution in Arkansas solely dedicated to healthcare and

information, visit www.fortsmithschools.org.

unmanned

aerial

systems

programming

to

wellness. Visit the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education at www.acheedu.org.

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622 North 7th Street #2018 Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.431.8695 200 North 15th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.782.5068 fsfumc.org

Future School of Fort Smith (Future School) envisions a future where each student graduates equipped with the tools to succeed and enthusiastic about their future due to their time spent at the school. We prioritize a learning environment that is open, inclusive, relationship-centered, and focused on

in downtown Fort Smith. We are passionate about faith,

student success. With a small advisor-to-student ratio, our

family, friendships and finding our calling. Through Jesus

educator-mentors guide students through the process of

Christ, we offer help, healing, and hope. We believe in the

identifying interests, connecting with potential internships,

grace of God that accepts us as we are and the love of God

and envisioning their plans upon graduation. Future School

that won't leave us as we are. We want to encourage you

strives to earn its reputation as an innovative and impactful

on your spiritual journey, no matter where on that journey

leader in education in Arkansas through its combination of

you find yourself. We offer ministries for children, youth,

personalized learning plans, internship network, concurrent

families, and seniors. Check us out online or in person. We'd

college credit program, and robust partnerships with area

love to be your church home!

businesses and the Fort Smith community.

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First United Methodist Church is a historic congregation

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"Wisdom comes 223 South 14th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.783.6798 icschools.org Immaculate Conception Catholic School, following the

not from age, but from education

example of the Blessed Virgin Mary, develops the whole child, academic excellence in a diverse, nurturing community. We believe the hallmark of quality education is learning and the

and learning."

appreciation of learning. Therefore, the teachers and the administration of Immaculate Conception Catholic School (preschool through 5th grade), in partnership with parents, pledged themselves to achieve and maintain professional and personal excellence to share knowledge, develop useful skills, teach Catholic doctrine, and instill a high Christian value system that reflects Christ-like attitudes.

-Anton Chekhov-

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instils Gospel values, inspires a love of learning, and promotes

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344 Fayetteville Avenue, Alma, Arkansas Alma Clinic / 479.632.4600 2010 Chestnut Street, Van Buren, Arkansas Van Buren Clinic / 479.471.9600

3112 Cavanaugh Road, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.639.3542 kswoftherivervalley.com Our mission is to provide the public with a safe and positive facility to grow stronger and learn to succeed in all walks of

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life through the practice of traditional Korean martial arts.

Pediatrics Plus is thrilled to expand our services in the River

Our classes are taught in a group environment, but we pride

Valley to Alma and Van Buren this August. At Pediatrics

ourselves in providing our students with individual attention

Plus, our vision is to Empower Children to Conquer their

from highly-qualified instructors, making us the premier

World, and we strive to do that every day through our

academy for martial arts training in the Fort Smith River Valley

developmental preschool and therapy services. Each child

area and other surrounding areas including Oklahoma. At

can receive applied behavior analysis, occupational, physical,

Kuk Sool Won of the River Valley, you and your family will

or speech therapy services within our preschool program or

have the opportunity to learn a unique system of self-defense,

outpatient therapy. To learn more, visit us at PediatricsPlus.

increase your level of physical fitness, and enjoy an activity that

com to get started today!

promotes longevity, discipline, and personal development.

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Trinity Catholic School Grades 6-8 ensures academic

The Guidance Center is the Community Mental Health Center

mastery and prioritizes the foundational skills necessary

serving the communities of western Arkansas. We provide a

for success through choices students learn to make as

wide array of care for children, adolescents and adults. These

young adolescents. At Trinity, this includes sharing our

services are for the treatment of mental, behavioral and

Catholic faith as the foundation of our decision making and

substance use disorders. Our staff includes licensed counselors,

teaching life skills through the lens of our common beliefs.

clinical social workers, psychologists, APRNs and psychiatrists

With parents as partners, our faculty and staff provide an

who are educated and specialize in the treatment of mental

exceptional academic and extracurricular experience focused

and substance use disorders. With this multi-disciplinary

on spiritual, emotional and social development. Trinity values

approach, we are able to care for a multitude of needs.

each student as a unique gift from God. Our mission is to

Our services include outpatient counseling, substance use

prepare young men and women to build futures dedicated to

treatment, psychological testing, medication management,

service, morality and justice while recognizing the necessity

group therapy and a variety of additional programs for children

of Christian faith as the foundation of a meaningful life.

and adolescents, as well as adults and families.

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1205 South Albert Pike Avenue Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.782.2451 thinktrinity.org

Fort Smith, Van Buren, Ozark, Booneville, Paris, Waldron, Mena Main: 479.452.6650 / Warm: 479.452.6655 24 Hour: 1.800.542.1031 wacgc.org

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4201 Windsor Drive, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.783.7327 unioneagles.org

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5901 Riley Park Drive, Suite B Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.763.3050 (call or text) premierpediatricsfs.com

Union Christian Academy is the only fully-accredited Premier Pediatrics offers both primary care and urgent care

preschool through 12th grade private Christian school

for children ranging in age from infancy to adolescence.

in the River Valley. At Union we are a family where your

Our compassionate providers work to make every visit to our

student can start here and finish here. Each day starts with

office a pleasant, relaxed experience. And because we know

scripture and prayer. With an average student-to-teacher

children don’t just get sick during normal business hours,

ratio of 15-to-1, our teachers are able to create dynamic

Premier Pediatrics Urgent Care treats children with illnesses as

learning environments that encourage all our students to

well as minor trauma in the evenings and on weekends. We

reach their highest God-given potential. The success of

offer in-office X-ray, labs, splinting, laceration repair, oxygen

our model is seen in our 100% graduation rate and 100%

and nebulized treatment therapy. The urgent care is open to

college acceptance rate. And our income-based tuition

all children in need of after-hours care. Primary Care Hours,

model means that more families than ever before can

Monday-Thursday 8am to 5pm, Friday 8am-12pm. Urgent

afford an excellent Christian education. Call to set up a

Care Hours, Monday-Friday 12pm-8pm, Saturdays 9am-6pm,

tour or enroll today, 479-783-7327.

and Sundays 12pm-6pm.

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