Sprinkle - July 2019

®

SPRINKLE

July 2019 DoSouthMagazine.com

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july

Contents 04 08

Pets Adoption:

Chasing Miracles

Publisher’s Letter

13 United Way Fort Smith 14 Shop Local 24 Like a Swiss Watch 52 Priceless {ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT}

06 12

July Events Get Bookish

{PEOPLE}

20 32

Arkansas Makers

42

We Are The 22

Arkansas

46

{ FA I T H }

16 28

{ T R AV E L } Arkie Travels: Prairie Grove,

Upper Cumberland,

Tennessee

Praising God Through the Storm The Sick Kid

{SPECIAL FEATURE}

56

Senior Life

{TASTE}

36 41

Sweet Summer Snacks

OUR COVER

Peach Rosemary Fizz

Elena Shashkina -Shutterstock

{HEALTH}

10

When Men Avoid Seeing

a Doctor DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

04

publisher's letter

JULY 2019

No One Stands Alone It’s difficult to wrap our mind around tragedy. The event itself is bad enough, but the aftermath can be even worse. Tragic events, like the recent tornado and flooding, can be much like a funeral. Those affected are grieving, friends and family come from all over, to lend a hand or bring food. But before we know it, they’ve moved on with their lives and we are left, barely able to tread water in the wake of our grief. But not the River Valley, not our community.

Coretta Scott King once said, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate action of its members.” It’s times like these that we want to know why – but the harsh reality is sometimes there is no answer.

What we’ve lacked in answers from the recent tragedies, our community has made up for in action. Our region has rallied and rescued. Cried tears of sorrow and triumph. Trudged through the trenches, alongside our friends and strangers, as they begin the process of putting their lives back together. We cannot let these acts

OWNER - PUBLISHER - EDITOR Catherine Frederick COPY EDITING Charity Chambers GRAPHIC DESIGN Artifex 323 – Jessica Meadors CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jade Graves CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alicia Agent, Jennifer Battles, Marcus Coker, Catherine Frederick, Rick Gering, Dwain Hebda, Sarah & Paul Heer, Megan Lankford, Sarah Phillips, Sara Putnam, Jessica Sowards, Stoney Stamper ADVERTISING INFORMATION Catherine Frederick I 479.782.1500 catherine@dosouthmagazine.com

of compassion ebb with time. We must continue to let our friends and neighbors know that they do not stand alone.

United Way of Fort Smith has been instrumental, along with a long list of other businesses, individuals and churches, in coordinating relief and volunteer efforts.

To find out about current needs, volunteer opportunities, or to make a financial donation, please visit unitedwayfortsmith.org. #rivervalleystrong

Catherine Frederick

Owner/Publisher/Editor

catherine@dosouthmagazine.com

FOLLOW US

©2019 Read Chair Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. The 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 Do South® or Read Chair Publishing, LLC., 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.

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

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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calendar

Fan Mail

The Calendar July 2019

Send comments and suggestions to catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

Thank you for Do South ® I am not much of a magazine reader, but I truly enjoy reading Do South®. The personal stories are extremely real and genuine. The article published about our mayor was fantastic. A few months ago, you did a

July 4 Mayor’s 4th of July Celebration Fort Smith Little Theatre Fort Smith, Arkansas

story about a new book store in downtown Fort Smith called Bookish.

I loved reading how someone turned their dreams into reality. The June issue is exceptionally good. 50 Years in the Making is a true to life “Hallmark Story.” The Desires of Your Heart was also captivating.

When I read where Jessica Sowards finally got her dream, I rejoiced with her! Of course, I also look forward to your publisher’s letter. You always set the tone for what’s inside each issue.

July 2 & 20 River Valley Artisan Market Ross Pendergraft Park Fort Smith, Arkansas

I hate watching the news these days and I rarely read the newspaper because all their stories tell us what is wrong with our lives, our country, and our world. Do South is full of positive, inspirational stories. That is ®

probably the reason I look forward to each month’s publication. Back in 1983, Ann Murray had a hit song titled “We sure could use a little good news today.” Do South® is my “Good News” publication. My apologies if I am rambling. Please keep up the good work.

Sincerely, ~T. Tuell

Contest Go to dosouthmagazine.com, click on our “Contests” button at the top of the page. All who enter will be subscribed to our mailing list. Please see rules and policies on our Contests page!

Olde Fashioned Foods Celebrate 60 Years with Olde Fashioned Foods, your one-stop shop for vitamins, natural foods, organic produce, body care, herbs, spices, and essential oils with a $25 gift card!

Congrats

July 25 - Aug 10

July 8-26 Wonderful World of Art Camps Center for Art & Education Van Buren, Arkansas July 18-20 Johnson County Peach Festival Johnson County Court House Square Clarksville, Arkansas

(Deadline is August 15)

CODE: OFF

July 4 Freedom Fest 5K Greenwood Town Square Greenwood, Arkansas

July 19-21 Fort Smith Hunting and Fishing Expo Fort Smith Convention Center Fort Smith, Arkansas July 19-21 Eureka Springs Multi-Sport Festival: The Eurekan Around Town Eureka Springs, Arkansas July 27 Annual World Championship Cardboard Boat Races Greers Ferry Lake Heber Springs, Arkansas

Congrats to our contest winner from June!

Do South® Magazine Annual Subscription: Pamela Haley DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

Beauty & The Beast Fort Smith Little Theatre Fort Smith, Arkansas

July 29 WWE Monday Night Raw Verizon Arena North Little Rock, Arkansas Month of July Art by the People – For the People Fort Smith Museum of History Fort Smith, Arkansas Fenix Gallery Our Universe Art Festival The Fenix Gallery Fayetteville, Arkansas Tuesdays in July Jazz Tuesdays Larry B’s Rhythm Room Van Buren, Arkansas

Submit your events to catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

L ive !

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calendar

Don’t-Miss July Concerts

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Alabama’s 50th Anniversary Tour Alabama is the band that changed everything with 21 straight #1 singles.

They brought youthful energy, sex appeal and a rocking edge that broadened country's audience. Their journey led to the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Walmart Amp Rogers, Arkansas

Wynonna & The Big Noise She’s respected by millions drawn to her music and talent. Her commanding voice has sold over 30 million albums and her career has spanned an amazing 34 years. Wynonna describes her new sound as “ vintage yet modern” and a “return to the well.”

Temple Live Fort Smith, Arkansas

JULY 12

3 JULY 14

Hootie & The Blowfish Group Therapy Tour With the rich, bluesy vocals of Darius Rucker and harmonies of guitarist Mark Bryan, bassist Dean Felber & drummer Jim “Soni” Sonefeld, Hootie & the Blowfish sold 25 million records worldwide with hits such as “Hold My Hand,” “Let Her Cry ” & “Only Wanna Be with You.” Walmart Amp Rogers, Arkansas

JULY 13

4

JULY 19

Chris Young Raised on Country Tour Multi-platinum entertainer Chris Young is traveling coast-to-coast! Praised for his “rangy baritone and classic meets contemporary production,” the ACM and Grammy-nominated singer, is thrilled to launch his new headlining tour in 2019.

Walmart Amp Rogers, Arkansas

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JULY 26-27

5th Annual Peacemaker Festival A music festival created by music lovers for music lovers, set on the banks of the Arkansas River in Downtown Fort Smith. The lineup includes Ryan Bingham, Josh Abbott Band, Lucero, North Mississippi Allstars, Samantha Fish, William Clark Green, Dylan Earl & JD Clayton.

Riverfront Amphitheater Fort Smith, Arkansas

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pets

Rescued Is Our Favorite Breed F

F

F

Biscuit

Nova

M

F

Jessie

Ringo

F

Lola

Skye

Chasing Miracles Animal Rescue 40941 S CR 4500, McCurtain, OK 74944 chasingmiraclesanimalrescue@gmail.com | 918.448.5143 | Foster homes are always needed. Follow us on Facebook.

Each month, Do SouthÂŽ donates this page to local and regional non-profit animal shelters. If you work with a shelter and would like to reserve this space, please email catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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health

ASK AN EXPERT:

When Men Avoid Seeing a Doctor Clinic-Massard. “Being diligent and responsible enough to do WORds and images courtesy Alicia Agent, Director Marketing Communications Baptist Health – Fort Smith

the right things is more difficult.”

The latest statistics on mortality from the Centers for Disease

“I’m fine.”

Control and Prevention (CDC) show heart disease, cancer and

“I don’t have time.”

stroke are among the top five causes of death in the U.S., and

“I’d rather tough it out.”

women tend to live a few years longer than men.

If you’ve ever suggested your boyfriend, husband or father go

There are many reasons as to why, but Dr. Voris says often

to the doctor, you’ve probably heard one of those lines a time or

busy work schedules and home lives prevent men from seeking

two. It’s no secret that some men skip out on yearly screenings

preventative care.

or trips to the clinic when they feel sick, even though you both “I do find that men seem to be a little more resistant to seeking

know they should go.

health care; unless, they have a strong presence of family or “We all know we should drink more water, eat less, and get

friends that encourage them to partner with a physician for

more exercise,” said Justin Voris, M.D., of Baptist Health Family

health care,” Dr. Voris said.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

health

As a family medicine physician, Dr. Voris sees patients of all

Dr. Justin Voris

ages but stresses it is important for men as they age to undergo routine tests like blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes screenings to stay healthy. Any age is appropriate to seek care with a primary care physician; however, health screenings for cholesterol typically begin at the age of thirty-five, he says.

“As men age, multiple factors come into play, including how they have treated their bodies when they were younger to things that they cannot control such as genetics,” Dr. Voris said. “Family physicians are capable of taking care of many complex health conditions.”

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is the leading cause of strokes and heart attacks. High cholesterol can also increase a person’s risk of heart disease. Genetic factors likely play a role in high blood pressure, heart disease and other related conditions, according to the CDC. However, catching symptoms early and treating them properly with lifestyle modifications and medication are important to improving health.

“If there is a family history of health problems, seeking care sooner is advised,” Dr. Voris said. “Depending on your health conditions, it may be recommended to seek care yearly or as

“If a man notices that something doesn't seem right about his

often as every three months.”

health or someone is showing concern regarding his health, Other screenings such as colorectal cancer or prostate cancer

it is probably worthwhile to have a simple discussion with a

screening can be done with the help of a specialist, which may

physician,” Dr. Voris said.

require a referral. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in American men after skin cancer, while colorectal

For more information on how to find a local physician to

cancer is the third leading cause of death in the United States.

meet the health care needs of you and your family, visit

Screening tests can find both diseases early – sometimes before

baptist-health.com, or call Baptist Health HealthLine at

symptoms develop, when treatments are most effective.

1-888-BAPTIST.

Memory, vision and bone density also become more important topics for discussion for a primary care physician, according to Dr. Voris. Depending on age and overall health, vaccines may also be required like a seasonal Influenza shot, Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Td/Tdap) vaccination every 10 years, Zoster to prevent shingles, and the pneumonia vaccine series.

Baptist Health Family Clinic-Massard 6100 Massard Road Fort Smith, Arkansas 72916

So, what should you do if the man in your life refuses to see a

479.709.7250

doctor? Be supportive and keep it simple, Dr. Voris says.

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entertainment

Get BOOKISH words and Image courtesy Bookish

Five must-read book recommendations from our friends at Bookish, Fort Smith, Arkansas’s only independently owned book store.

The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna

by Juliet Grames This family saga takes on the weight of a hundred years. Through war, immigration, abuse, and marriage, readers are catapulted into the life of the second Stella Fortuna - cursed by the ghost of the first.

You will find yourself celebrating Calabrese culture while reflecting on Stella’s inherited trauma of motherhood and survival.

Rules for Visiting

by Jessica Francis Kane As we age, we often find ourselves drowning in the hustle and bustle of our own lives. This is the beauty of Kane’s novel; she hilariously relates to the reader as she describes the “female Odyssey” May Attaway embarks on after finding herself unexpectedly granted some leave from her job. Along the way, May’s journey will inspire all of us to master the art of slowing down, enjoying the ice cream, and visiting with friends.

This little reminder is exactly what summer is all about.

Save Me the Plums

by Ruth Reichl Even if you’re not a foodie, you’ll love joining Reichl on her journey to become the editor in chief of Gourmet magazine. With a smattering of recipes for Spicy Chinese Noodles and Jeweled Chocolate Cake, adapted from her own adventures, you’ll find the story of a woman choosing to make her mark on the world.

By the end of the book, you will be taking stock of your own dreams and passions because, as you will see, they often come to fruition when you least expect them.

The Guest Book

Summer of ‘69

by Sarah Blake This novel follows three generations of Milton women uncovering the secrets they haven’t realized they kept. The story uncovers who our families are and why we value traditions, but it’s more than a family saga. It depicts the moral evolution of a part of American society. The story of the Miltons engages more than history and politics, Blake’s beautiful prose also engages the beauty of the natural world.

by Elin Hilderbrand If you love a little bit of history mixed into your summer intrigue, look no further than Hilderbrand’s newest release. Four siblings experience upheaval when everything they know changes.

Details from the era (remember when Ted Kennedy sunk that car in Chappaquiddick?) shape the novel in much the same way that it shaped our own history. This is a summer novel that holds equal parts drama and substance.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

community

Our Community Cares words Catherine Frederick with Eddie Lee Herndon, President, United Way of Fort Smith

DS: United Way of Fort Smith has been instrumental in coordinating and providing relief to those affected by the 2019 flooding. What are some of the ways our community can help?

The response from the community has been extraordinary. The community can continue to help those affected by the flooding by making donations of non-perishable food items or cleaning supplies. In addition, as flood recovery progresses, there will be families with specific needs. Those needs will best be met with monetary donations.

DS: Regarding donations, what are the current needs?

Currently, non-perishable food items, specifically foods that are easy to open and do not need to be cooked. In addition, cleaning supplies and trash bags.

United Way of Fort Smith Area has

DS: For members of our community who would like to make a financial donation, what is the best way to do so?

We have a text to give option, you can text flood2019 to 91999. Also online

provided change in our area, mobilizing

at unitedwayfortsmith.org or simply mail a check to, United Way of Fort Smith

our community in ways that no single

Area, P.O. Box 2300 Fort Smith, AR 72902. If mailing a check please put

agency, individual, or government can

flood2019 in the memo line.

to enhance the ability of people to care

DS: For members of our community who would like to volunteer, what is the best way to do so?

for one another. United Way addresses

You can volunteer online at unitedwayfortsmith.org. You will be contacted

the needs important to people who

as projects become available. Most of the projects that we are getting now

live and work in Crawford, Franklin,

require specialized training. There will be more projects available as the

LeFlore, Logan, Sebastian and Sequoyah

recovery phase progresses.

counties. Do South® reached out to

DS: In what ways does United Way Fort Smith support our communities?

Eddie Lee Herndon, President of United

United Way of Fort Smith Area was established in 1928 and for the past 91

Way Fort Smith, to learn more.

years has been connecting people in the River Valley with resources in the areas of health, education, and financial stability. We have 33 Community Partner Agencies in our six-county area. That area includes Crawford, Franklin, Logan and Sebastian counties in Arkansas, and LeFlore and Sequoyah counties in Oklahoma.

320 South 18th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72902

In addition, United Way is the local affiliate for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

479.782.1311

Through this program we send an age appropriate book to a child from birth to

unitedwayfortsmith.org

age five. At present we have 2,600 local children on this program. We partner with FamilyWize, a prescription discount card, and in 2018 saved area residents $229,765 on their prescription medicines.

Next month, we’ll showcase another worthy charity in our area free of charge. If you have a non-profit you’d like to see recognized, email us at catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

What is your next event that our readers should know about?

Our next event is Fill the Bus. This event is held annually, the date this year is July 26th and 27th. We ask individuals to help us fill a bus full of supplies. The supplies are given to school districts in our six-county service area.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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shop

words Catherine Frederick imageS Jade Graves Photography and courtesy vendors

Beautiful Flasks, FitVine Wines in Pino Grigio, Rosé and Sauvignon Blanc Hearts on Fire Hayley Paige Collection, Behatti Silhouette Power Band, .23cts., Available in 18kt White, Rose and Yellow Gold

SODIE’S WINE & SPIRITS 479.783.8013

JOHN MAYS JEWELERS 479.452.2140

Lafont Eyewear

DR. STEVEN B. STILES OPTOMETRY

Trace® Dietary Supplements: Ionic Potassium, TM Sport Electrolyte Concentrate, Low Sodium Mega-Mag, Trace Mineral Drops, NO! Muscle Cramps

479.452.2020

OLDE FASHIONED FOODS 479.782.6183 / 479.649.8200

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shop

Summer was made for fun! Come along as we share a few of our favorite products from our local advertisers. Grab them up and you’ll have a summer that’s made in the shade!

CaptionCall Amplified Phone Featuring Written Captions of What Callers Say on a Large, Easy-to-Read Screen

Smirnoff Red, White & Berry Flavored Vodka, American Anthem Vodka, Smirnoff Ice Red, White & Berry Limited Edition

IN GOOD SPIRITS

CENTER FOR HEARING

479.434.6604

479.785.3277

Dietary Supplements for Healthy Veins and Lymphatic Systems

ARKANSAS VEIN CLINIC & SKIN CARE 479.484.7100

Mary Square® Tumblers and Home Décor

JENNIFER’S GIFT SHOP BAPTIST HEALTH-FORT SMITH 479.441.4221

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faith

words and imageS Rick Gering, Lead Pastor East Side Baptist Church, Fort Smith, Arkansas

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faith

In November of 2017, my wife Cindy and I moved into our dream home we lovingly named the Empty Nester. We were so excited, not only because it was the house of our dreams, but also because we had it built on a piece of property with a water view. We always wanted to do both.

Everything was just right! The house was built in a no-flood zone in a 500-year flood plain. That means there would be a .02% risk of flooding each year.

Because of the nearly impossible chance of flooding, the bank didn’t require flood insurance and our insurance company didn’t offer it. We were not aware we could have purchased a policy through FEMA. On a number of occasions, people would ask if we were worried about it flooding. We would simply respond, “No, because it would take a catastrophic flood.” Well, that catastrophic flood happened eighteen months after moving in.

It was Wednesday, May 29, 2019, and the flood crest was to be thirty-three feet. We weren’t concerned about it, because our neighbor had experienced a flood on two previous occasions at thirty-four feet, and although the water had crept fairly close in the back, it never reached their home.

sandbagged the back and front porches. We sealed all windows and doors. We bought a pump and were ready to put it into action. On Saturday, dozens of people from our church helped us pack up our belongings and move them to storage. We tried to save all we could including doors, cabinet drawers, even carpet. On the next day,

We placed plastic sheeting over our fence in the backyard and secured it with sandbags. Although we weren’t worried about the house, our goal was to try to prevent water from getting into our pool, which sits about eight feet lower than the level of the house. We knew it would be close, so we took precautions. My wife took a picture of me cleaning the pool with flood waters rising behind me.

In her blog, fortcindysblog.com, she wrote, “Is he crazy, confused or committed?” I guess you could say I was a little of all three.

It was now Thursday, May 30, and all of a sudden the crest forecast jumped to forty-one feet. We panicked because we knew our home was now going to be threatened. We had several people come over and give their professional

Sunday, the flood finally invaded our home. The pump was useless.

We stood in shock watching the water slowly permeate the house.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

The only way I can explain the feeling and emotions of that moment was that it felt like a piece of our soul was being ripped apart.

This home is where we hung our hearts and rested our souls at the end of every day! It was an incredibly helpless feeling to know that we did everything we knew to do, and it wasn’t enough! In the end, two to three feet of water would sit for six days in our home.

opinion. Their response, “There’s no way the water will As of this writing, the water has finally receded and we have one

reach your home.” I mean, .02% chance, right?

more day to wait for the remediation process to begin. We now look On Friday, we knew their predictions were wrong and that

towards the rebuilding phase.

we would take in water. We did everything we could. We DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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faith

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faith

I’m not going to lie, this has been one of the most difficult

the sacrificial love of Christ to all people regardless of race,

things we have been through in our thirty-three years of

gender, socioeconomic status, and denomination. It has been

marriage, but I will also say, it’s all about perspective.

a special time of the community coming together in the midst of a crisis situation.

I wrote the following shortly after this picture of flooded home was taken:

And with any disaster, it’s the rebuilding process that will be critical. We can’t allow ourselves to fall back into a routine

“Let me give you my top five things about this picture. 1) Even

and begin to forget about all who have been directly impacted

though it sits in flood waters, it still looks as beautiful to me

by this flooding. I was deeply moved by a gentleman, who in

as when we moved in a year and a half ago. 2) The flag is still

the last three years, has lost his son, had his home hit by a

waving, reminding me of how blessed I am to live in these

tornado and now by a flood. He sent the following to me, “I

United States of America. 3) The only bag that can still be seen

have been given so much needed help with sandbags, trees,

is a big deal to me. It’s symbolic of the incredible effort and

moving stuff, etc…but I fear that help will quickly fizzle and

energy of many who helped us empty our home and tried to

I, like many, will be left with a half fixed house for years and

protect it. 4) How about the water? It’s as ugly as it gets; but

years to remind us of our pain.”

notice how peaceful it is. It reminds me of the peace of God my wife and I have, even in the midst of the flood, no flood

His words are a great reminder to us, and it is this: Yes, lots

insurance, and no timeline of when we will be back in. 5)

of work has already been put in for flood victims. Help that is

Then there’s the trees. Green as can be. It reminds me of the

greatly appreciated. But the hard work has really just begun.

new life that will give way once the water recedes and they

Therefore, we can’t forget the flood victims. We must make

make me thankful of the new life I have in Jesus Christ. It’s

sure we don’t stop until every person has been put back in

all about perspective, isn’t it? Although very difficult to watch

their home and that we remain alongside them as they move

- more than you will ever know - and although it’s taking

through the process. Remember, we are River Valley strong!

forever to end, this one picture gives me comfort, believe it or not. Thank you, God, for giving me the eyes to see the good beyond the pain. May You get all the glory, praise and honor you so richly deserve. Yep, knocked down, but not destroyed.

Hit in the gut. Heck, smashed in the face, but not out. Yep, discouraged, but not defeated. Yep, tears shed and more to come, but God has replenished those tears with a fountain of hope and a greater faith and trust in Him.” One thing that has been abundantly clear to me is that Fort Smith and the River Valley will not only get through this natural disaster, it will become stronger because of it. As Mayor McGill of Fort Smith has been saying, “We will rise up! We are River Valley strong!” He’s absolutely right! I’ve seen the community reach out to help its fellow citizens in ways that have been truly amazing. We’ve seen people feverishly sandbag in hopes of saving homes. We’ve seen people tirelessly load trucks and trailers with personal belongings. Generous people have offered their place to those who have been displaced from the flood. Companies have made donation after donation for flood relief. City officials have stepped up in leading this community through this disaster. Churches have shown DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

Rick and Cindy Gering

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people

From Their Hands to Your Heart Arkansas Makers & The American Dream words Dwain Hebda imageS courtesy featured makers

Arkansas is a land filled with artisans, those who spin, weave, work with glass or metal or clay, who create in the kitchen, in the workshop, the forge. These items bear the mark of the artist’s passion and skill; one-of-a-kind keepsakes that beautify our homes and enrich our lives.

There’s nothing quite like putting something handmade into your home. Knowing someone leveraged experience and God-given talent to create something beautiful out of components that are greater than the sum of their parts is a joy that commercially-manufactured, mass-produced items simply can’t touch.

Do South ® set out to find a few such makers in our area. Check them out at their places of business or at a maker’s fair near you.

KOPPER KETTLE CANDIES 6300 Alma Highway Van Buren, Arkansas 479.474.6077 kopperkettlecandies.com Pulling from recipes dating back to the 1920s and operating out of a 1950s Van Buren storefront, with a second location in Fort Smith, Kopper Kettle is as authentically Arkansas as you can get. The Greer family, now in its fourth generation of candy making operations, run the place and crank out the sweet treats that have delighted thousands of natives and tourists alike from around the state and all over the world.

The confections are made right on site, ensuring the freshest possible product. While you can’t go wrong with anything in here, Kopper Kettle die-hards will likely direct you to the signature Ozarkies, a concoction of dark vanilla and milk chocolate, pecans and a vanilla cream center. Traditional favorites like chocolate covered cherries, divinity and nut bark Tommy Greer

are also popular and come in several flavor varieties. Seasonally, you’ll find decadent chocolate covered strawberries and delicious caramel apples. Kopper Kettle also ships worldwide in case you find yourself hankering from afar.

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people

wide range of decorative items from beads, marbles and wine stoppers to pendants, jewelry and monument pieces.

When not at the farmer’s market, the couple runs the business out of their home, tucked around their full-time jobs. But even this hectic schedule doesn’t preclude them from promoting causes they are passionate about, such as advocating for mental health awareness, substance abuse disorders and prison reform. In fact, a long-term goal for their business is to start a nonprofit glass art therapy center in the community.

Aaron Newman

AARIAH SOL GLASS Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.462.4595 Find them on Facebook Like many couples, Aaron and Mariah Newman can be found every Saturday at the local farmer’s market. But the Fort

RETHREADZ

Smith natives aren’t there for produce or jams and jellies,

711 Main Street

they’re manning their own booth chock full of their hand-

Van Buren, Arkansas

blown glass creations.

479.474.0020 Find them on Facebook

The couple got into the art form more or less on a whim and enjoyed it enough to open Aariah Sol Glass about two and a

What do you get when you combine vintage t-shirts, upscale

half years ago. Aaron got into glassblowing first, having seen

denim, flowing bohemian blouses and add a dash of creativity?

a buddy do it and becoming instantly fascinated, and he in

You get ReThreadz’s custom clothing creations that are unlike

turn showed Mariah the finer points. Together they create a

anything you’ve ever seen.

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people

Operating out of an interior design storefront on main street

The true provenance of the Bowie knife may be in question,

Van Buren, sisters and artisans Shannon Gross and Tracy

but what's not up for debate is Gary Goree's hand in another

Burba create “up-cycled and repurposed” couture out of

legendary knife, this one immortalized in film. Gary got his start

just about anything. Within their creative lair, they assemble

in the early 1970s working for the late Jimmy Lile, a renowned

pieces of this with bits of that, combining clothing in a way

Arkansas knife smith. During his seventeen years there, he

that produces something entirely fresh and new, yet wearable

had the opportunity to learn beside the master, an experience

every day. Their line of jeans, jackets, tunics, dresses, novelty

culminating with producing the famous mission knife sported

tees and fan wear is one part recycling, one part mad scientist

by Sylvester Stallone in the Rambo movies.

and altogether fabulous.

Gary still cranks out his share of twelve-inch monsters, as well While you’re there, accessorize your new threads with the

as many other knives of more practical dimensions. From his

attendant jewelry and other finishing touches Shannon and

Pottsville shop, he crafts blades that give years of service to the

Tracy stock in-store, located smack dab in the middle of Van

sportsman in the field at a price that is more than reasonable.

Buren’s historic district. And before you go, don’t forget to tip

A variety of blade and handle configurations are available and

Mater, the store’s mascot hound, with an ear scratch or two.

all his quality fixed-blade knives come with lifetime sharpening and a custom leather sheath.

GARY’S CUSTOM-MADE KNIVES 5801 Hwy 64 East Pottsville, Arkansas

CHATEAU AUX ARC WINERY

479.967.5049

8045 Champagne Drive-Highway 186

garyscustommadeknives.com

Altus, Arkansas 479.468.4400

Arkansas has a long, proud knife-making tradition; in fact,

chateauauxarc.com

one of the (disputed) origins of the famed Bowie knife was by James Black of Washington in Hempstead County.

About forty-five minutes east of Fort Smith sits Altus, the

Black claimed to have made a knife for James Bowie, which

heart of Arkansas wine country. And smack in the middle of

prompted the local press to dub him the inventor of what

the rolling vineyards of this lovely spot sits Dragonfly Ranch,

was even then a knife that captured the public’s imagination.

home to Chateau Aux Arc Winery.

Incidentally, you can view Black's actual article, Bowie No. 1, at the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock.

Chateau Aux Arc (pronounced “Ozark”) offers a compelling backstory. Its founder, Audrey House, fell in love with the DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

people

idea of wine and winemaking while attending the University

SUBIACO ABBEY

of Oklahoma in Norman. She returned to Altus and promptly

405 N. Subiaco Avenue

bought her first twenty acres, pitched a tent and planned what

Subiaco, Arkansas

would become the winery and elegant tasting room to come.

479.934.1001

That dream would slowly come to fruition and along the way,

countrymonks.org

House became a vocal advocate for the industry. Her work to promote the Cynthiana grape – first discovered in Arkansas –

The Benedictine monks of Subiaco Abbey produce a variety of

resulted in the fruit being named the state grape. And oh yeah,

items to support themselves, guided as they are by the Rule of

there’s the award-winning wine she makes, too.

St. Benedict, which calls followers to a balanced life of work and prayer.

Truth be told, there are plenty of charming wineries up here – nearby Mount Bethel provides another tremendous experience

Just to see the church and other buildings, perched on a

– and quality wineries can be found outside of Altus altogether.

Logan County hilltop just outside Paris, Arkansas, is worth

But the first-timer would do well to make Chateau Aux Arc

the trip. The abbey and its attendant monks provide a

their introduction to this special spot in The Natural State.

manicured, serene setting for the many handiworks that are produced here.

The most famous of the monks’ creations is the acclaimed Abbey Brittle peanut brittle, which is shipped to candy lovers across the globe. Also on display are many beautiful carvings and other woodworked items that come out of the wood shop. Monk Sauce, a habanero hot sauce that brings a little hellfire into any dish, is another signature; made from peppers the monks grow right on site. In recent years, younger monks have expanded the product line to include candles and soap.

Check these out in the Coury House Gift Shop overlooking the lush valley below.

And before you go, wet your whistle with the abbey’s signature beverage. The monks recently began practicing the centuries-old monastic tradition of brewing beer, launching Country Monks Brewing in 2018.

Know of more Arkansas makers we should know about? Tell us about them! Email us at catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

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Like a Swiss Watch words Stoney Stamper IMAGEs April Stamper

The Stamper Family

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people

I woke up Saturday morning grumpy. I had a long week at

have my wallet. My cards are in order, my insurance cards are

work and when something went wrong, it went way wrong.

in the back, my driver’s license is just in front of them, and it

Employees didn’t show up for work, I made silly, costly mistakes,

is always in my right, front pocket. I looked in the console,

caused more than one HR issue, and I had been fighting a

thinking maybe for some reason I’d pulled it out and laid it

kidney stone nearly all week. All I wanted to do was lay around

there, but no. It was not in my pocket and not in my truck.

and do nothing. I didn’t want to talk to anyone, I didn’t want

There’s a small compartment where I keep loose change and

to do anything, I was generally being a scrooge.

random dollar bills in case I need toll money. I dug through it and came up with twelve dollars.

But, it was the day before Easter, and we had made plans to go to my parents’ house for the weekend. My wife, April, and our daughter, Abby, had gone to shoot pictures for a wedding, and our other daughter, Emma, had a track meet. So, our six-year-old daughter Gracee and I prepared to head on down to their house, and the rest of the crew would meet us there later that evening.

Gracee was so excited. “Me and Dad are going to see Nan and Pops! Come on, Dad! We’ve got to get packed so we can go!” she said. Begrudgingly, I got my grumpy butt up and packed our clothes. She was bouncing off the walls with excitement.

Shrill squeals mixed with bouncing rabbit hops. She could not conceal her elation. This is why we moved back to Oklahoma from Texas, I reminded myself. We wanted to be closer to family, so we could do things like this. I finished packing, fed the horses, loaded Gracee in the truck, and we were off.

It’s about an hour and a half down to Chickasha, where Nan

I pulled forward and reached for my wallet. It wasn’t there! I always have my wallet. My cards are in order, my insurance cards are in the back, my driver’s license is just in front of them, and it is always in my right, front pocket. I looked in the console, thinking maybe for some reason I’d pulled it out and laid it there, but no. It was not in my pocket and not in my truck.

and Pops live. Not a bad drive, but not near as close as Gracee June would like. An hour and a half to her, especially when she’s super excited, must have felt like an eternity. After listening to

When the young man came to the window to collect my money,

her talk nonstop, asking “How much longer ‘til we get there?”

I looked at him sheepishly, embarrassed of my situation. I told

and telling me stories about her friends, her teachers, her dogs,

him I forgot my wallet at home, the entire time thinking, he

her dream that she had last night, and anything else under the

probably hears that all the time. I asked him to take the fries

sun that her amazing little six year old brain could think of, it

off the order and see if I could cover it. He looked at me for a

felt like an eternity to me, too. Did I mention I was grumpy?

split second and replied, “Hold on just a minute,” then closed

I just wanted out of that truck. Somewhere I could enjoy my

the window. Great, I thought, he’s telling his manager there’s

grumpiness in grumpy solitude.

some broke dude at the window trying to scam him out of a Beef ‘n’ Cheddar.

We were almost to Guthrie when Gracee exclaimed, “Daddy, I’m hungry.” I pulled in to an Arby’s drive-thru – Gracee loves

He returned moments later, handed me a sack and said, “Here

their ham and cheese sliders. I ordered two sliders, fries and a

you go, have a great day, and happy Easter.” I said, “I haven’t

drink, and got myself a meal as well. The voice in the speaker

paid you yet.” He replied, “That’s ok, this one’s on me.” Taken

bellowed, “Fourteen-twenty-three will be your total.” I pulled

aback, I told him, “No sir! There’s no need for that! I can pay

forward and reached for my wallet. It wasn’t there! I always

you twelve dollars!” He replied, “No, really, I work two jobs, this one is just for some extra spending money. I used my

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employee discount, so it was only seven-fifty.” I insisted he

I left my wallet at home. This was what I had left for tolls, but

take at least seven-fifty, which he reluctantly did.

I’ll be alright.” She replied, “Just put ten in, and you can catch us again the next time you are through.” I said, “Take my five

What a nice young man, I thought as I pulled out of the

dollars at least and I’ll bring you another five later next week.”

parking lot. That young man’s generosity had momentarily

She wouldn’t take it. I walked out of the store with a bit of a

lifted my scrooge-ness. We’d only driven a couple of miles

pep in my step.

before my fuel light came on. I had about forty miles to empty and a measly five dollars left. I knew it was about seventy-five

As I was pumping my gas, I saw a young man, who looked to be

miles to Nan and Pop's house and five dollars would get me

around thirteen, pumping gas in a car. He was smiling from ear

two more gallons of gas. I could borrow some money from my

to ear. He had special needs and absolutely oozed happiness.

dad, if needed. And, April could bring my wallet that night.

“My mom is letting me pump the gas in the car!” he exclaimed.

A solid plan.

I couldn’t help but smile right along with him. “Wow,” I said, “that’s awesome!” He replied, “Yeah, I am getting to pump

But then, we hit standstill traffic. I’m talking zero mph, a dead

gas in Mom’s car and we are going to the park! And it’s a

stop. Gracee, who had just finished her sandwiches, started the

beautiful, sunny day, and I get to wear shorts! This is the most

nonstop talking again. I looked at my fuel gauge. After fifteen

awesome day ever!” His happiness was contagious, and I had

minutes, we began to move slowly. The gauge showed twenty

caught it. He was right. It was a beautiful day. Nothing terrible

miles to empty. I was back to being grumpy.

had happened. Just a few minor bumps in the road.

We drove slowly down the interstate and I finally saw the

We got back out on the interstate and it looked like clear sailing

reason for the delay in traffic. A red pickup had rolled off the

from there. Then, I had a random thought. I didn’t think I took

highway and it was completely demolished. My mind went to

my wallet out of the jeans I’d worn the day before. My bag

the day I was hurt so badly in a wreck about a year and a half

was sitting in the passenger seat. I dug out my jeans, reached

ago. My stomach knotted up as I surveyed the scene. I said a

in the pocket, and pulled out my wallet. I’d had it the whole

quick prayer for all involved and immediately looked at Gracee

time! But if I’d known that, I likely wouldn’t have been on the

in the mirror and realized our situation was not so bad.

receiving end of all that kindness. It really is true that God’s timing is always perfect, and I’d say His timing runs smoother

We made it to a gas station I stop at often. I went in and

than a Swiss watch.

handed the attendant my five, single dollar bills and said, “I need five dollars on pump four.” She recognized me and said, “Five dollars won’t get you very far!” I smiled and said, “Yeah,

Stoney Stamper Stoney Stamper is the bestselling author of My First Rodeo: How Three Daughters, One Wife, and a Herd of Others Are Making Me a Better Dad (WaterBrook) and author of the popular parenting blog The Daddy Diaries. He and his wife, April, have three daughters and live in Oklahoma, where they are heavily involved in agriculture and raise and show a variety of animals.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

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THE SICK KID Words and image Jessica Sowards

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W

When I was just a few years old, I started to have some issues.

My teeth yellowed. My digestive system suffered. We didn’t

I don’t remember that of course, but I grew up hearing the

know a thing about gut health but looking back, I can see

same thing repeated to doctor after doctor, “She potty-

the clear consequences of having a completely dead gut. I

trained early but then regressed before she was three.”

couldn’t be in the sun because the antibiotics could cause phototoxicity in my skin. So, during the summers, I learned to

I was a sick kid. It was the kind of sick that makes you pee

stay inside during the heat of the day. I spent the days at the

your pants and pee the bed when you stay at friends’ houses.

baseball park for my brother’s game sitting in the shade while

I didn’t really stay at friends’ houses. Instead, I stayed pretty

the other kids played.

embarrassed and kept it quiet. A failing ureter, a bad case of kidney reflux, just a few little issues that hung heavy as a

When I was sixteen, I went in for my yearly series of tests, an

storm cloud over my childhood.

ultrasound and a procedure called a VCUG. It was the very same test that had determined I was not just regressing in

I remember pleading with teachers that failed to remember

potty-training because my brother had been born, as they

I had special permissions to take bathroom breaks when

had originally supposed.

needed. I remember walking out of classrooms because I’d rather have the disciplinary consequence than wet my pants in front of a room full of my fourth-grade peers.

It didn’t feel that different. Didn’t everyone have difficulties feeling misunderstood and embarrassed in childhood? Were my difficulties really unique? I spent so much time in the children’s hospital, I never counted my circumstances as bad ones. Did I not seem like a perfectly healthy child walking down those hospital hallways, with my long sandy brown hair and long, willowy legs? With my working arms and sharp eyesight?

When I passed mothers pushing wheelchairs containing teenagers they’d never be able to hold a conversation with, I couldn’t help but consider myself whole.

I took medicine for years though. Round after round of antibiotics. Thankfully, my mother had a sense of the importance of food and even though raising kids on soda wasn’t frowned upon at all in those days, it was never a staple in our house.

I imagine my case would have been exponentially worse had I

The words of the doctor weighed a million pounds that day. I was shown the dark areas of my kidneys that were scar tissue, and I was told the rate of which that was expanding. Phrases like “Never have children” and “Dialysis by thirty” were hung around my neck in that little room. There was a picture of elephants on the wall, and I stared at it for a while before I was sent along my way.

It’s weird, but I don’t remember being particularly upset at being told I’d likely never carry a healthy pregnancy. I

not been taught to drink water instead of caffeine and sugar.

guess, at sixteen, I was probably more preoccupied with

Even still, I never was quite well. I continued to have infections,

about becoming a mother. Maybe I’d become so accustomed

some more serious than others, and over and over the doctor scrawled his messy signature on that little white pad and tore it loose. At first the medicine came in a liquid that tasted of bubble gum flavored chalk, but I could swallow pills by the time I was seven and swallow pills, I did. Day after day.

Sometimes the prescriptions were for six months, and no sooner than they were over, infection would move back in so the pills would come back to my bedside table.

my job making pretzels at the mall than I was concerned to keeping my issues quiet, because of their embarrassing nature, that I just tucked away the emotions that surely existed in being told my renal system had about ten years left to function.

I do remember one instance in an AP Biology class, learning about all the parts that make up the urinary tract, and there in that classroom, I started to cry. My lab partner, a red-haired

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boy with freckles that matched his hair, leaned over and

“Alright,” she said, “we are going to change plans today. We

asked if I needed a tissue. I choked out the words, “I need a

are going to learn about healing.” For the next hour, we did. I

kidney.” He awkwardly withdrew and I swallowed my tears,

heard scriptures I’d never really known and heard testimonies

and that is the only time I ever remember expressing a word

I could hardly argue with. As soon as she finished teaching,

of disappointment about my broken body.

before I realized what I was doing, I was walking to the front.

I got married when I was eighteen. That, in itself, is another

I marched right up to the woman. Then, like a kindergartener

story altogether, but in marrying my first husband, I gained

at story time, I plopped down on the floor, my legs crisscrossed,

his mom, Kathy. She loved Jesus in a way I’d first dubbed

and in front of the whole church I looked up at her and said,

as completely crazy. She would talk about the Bible and I’d

“You can pray for me. But I’m not falling down.”

just roll my eyes, but that never stopped her. She talked about healing and miracles and all sorts of stuff I had no

I was healed that day. Actually, completely, totally healed. I

context to believe.

knew as months stretched into years with no infections that it must be the case. Then, when I was twenty-four, another

It was because of Kathy that I ended up in a little church

VCUG confirmed what I knew. My scar tissue was gone, my

in a shopping center in Waller, Texas one random Sunday

failing ureters were healed. I was no longer at the children’s

morning. I was nineteen. I’d never been there before and

hospital and the doctor had not reviewed my 12-inch stack

I never did go back, but that Sunday morning, my life

of medical charts. When I was dumbfounded at the results

changed. I was uncomfortable. I called churches like that

of the test, he simply shrugged, saying “Your urinary tract

“Holy Ghost Churches” and seeing people fall to the floor

is completely normal,” as if it was no big deal, and I guess,

when they got prayed for made me think they were all just

in most cases, normal things are no big deal.

as crazy as Kathy.

My thirtieth birthday came and went, growing smaller in the A woman stood up and shared a dream she had about a

rearview and I had a quiet celebration at the fact that I’ve

young lady with an affliction in her body, and instantly

never had to have dialysis. I gave birth to five healthy sons,

something gripped me. She went on to show the region she

all full-term, with no issues. Kathy and I are still very close

had felt this nameless woman’s health issues were, waving

friends. We talk about Jesus in a way that probably makes

her hands across her abdomen and then up her sides and

people think we are crazy. And these days, I may mention in

across her lower back, and even though I didn’t trust a single

passing that I was a sick kid, but usually I don’t go into more

one of the crazy, Holy Ghost church people, I knew. She was

detail than that.

talking about me.

At this point, I’ve been healed and well longer than I was She made an altar call and asked if anyone wanted to receive

sick. These days, I am normal, and unlike more cases, that is

their healing. She waited. The room full of people squirmed a

the biggest deal in the world.

bit. But I did not move.

To watch Jessica’s garden tours, visit her YouTube channel, Roots and Refuge.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

The River Valley's #1 Christian Station

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Left: Chris Fields, Mikel Brooks, Johnny Brown, Rob Evans

Leave No One Behind WORDs Dwain Hebda images courtesy We Are The 22

We Are The 22 is a nonprofit group whose mission is to combat

No one was more surprised than he was, not just for having

veteran suicide through direct, peer-based suicide prevention.

come back, but that a suicide attempt could give him a purpose.

Their teams are on standby twenty-four hours a day to respond in person to Arkansas veterans in suicidal crisis to provide peer

“When I had my suicide attempt, at that moment, I was a

support and get them the help they need. This is their story.

homeless veteran,” he says. “I knew there were plenty more vets like me. So, I began going around talking to veterans asking,

Veteran Mikel Brooks was born February 17, 2017, for the second

‘Why are we not doing more? Why can’t we do more? What’s

time. Earlier in the day he’d decided he’d reached his limit, that

stopping us from doing more?’

the homelessness and the pain and the drugs had finally used him up. He made the decision to take his own life, closed his eyes

“An idea began to grow, and I began to get some very good

and waited for what was next.

people around me. We began to work out details, figuring out how we could save vets’ lives.”

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Incredibly, just ninety days after trying to take his own life,

“It’s all I ever wanted to do,” he says. “I graduated infantry

Mikel founded We Are The 22, a nonprofit dedicated to taking

school in 2001; a month later September 11 happened.”

the gun – sometimes literally – out of the hands of veterans who are facing many of the same desperate conditions he did.

It was a sacred responsibility, deployment, but it was also a wild adventure for a kid from Bald Knob, Arkansas. His first two

“When I founded this, there was nothing to go off of. There

tours sent him to Egypt for six months on the Sinai Peninsula by

was no blueprint. There was nobody else doing it to this degree

the Israeli border then as part of the invasion of Iraq. Coming

anywhere that I could find,” Mikel says. “We literally had to

home, he was sent to the rising black waters of Hurricane

draw it up from scratch to figure out what worked and what

Katrina where he stood on the Super Dome and helped evacuate

didn’t. The first year was a learning curve.”

people from the overloaded Convention Center.

That curve may have been steep, but Mikel and his band of

All in all, it was a dream come true until on his third trip to

fellow vets proved fast learners. Last year, We Are The 22

the Middle East – this time as a combat engineer – things went

teams responded to one hundred Arkansas veterans in crisis

sideways. The end came seemingly faster than the time it takes

and didn’t lose a single one of them. In meth houses and from

him to tell it.

behind locked doors, through tears of rage and the tortured souls of the wounded and addicted, they pulled every one of

“I was wounded,” he says, “I was decorated for valor, so I have a

them back from the brink.

Purple Heart, and I was retired from my injuries in ‘09.”

“When we show up and knock on their door at two a.m. and

When asked if it was worth it, Mikel replies, “Absolutely,” blinks

we take that gun out of their hands, we say, ‘Hey, man, we

quickly. “Traveled the world.”

get it. We understand.’ And when they tell us that we don’t, we can point to the scars on our own bodies from our own

***

attempts and our own struggles and we say, ‘Yeah, we get it,

Any way you look at it, the issue of suicide among America’s

brother. We’ve been there.’”

heroes is a national tragedy. According to Department of Veterans Affairs figures released last June, suicide among veterans ages

***

eighteen to thirty-four jumped thirty-two percent between 2001

From his earliest memory, Mikel Brooks knew he was born for

and 2014; ten percent between 2015 and 2016 alone. And in

the military. At seventeen, he convinced his mother to sign his

January of this year, the VA reported 2018 saw record suicides

papers allowing him to enlist in the United States Army.

among active personnel too, with fifty-seven Marines, sixty-

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eight sailors, fifty-eight airmen and one hundred and thirty-eight

families have told us what was going on,” Mikel says. “We just

soldiers ending their own lives.

show up out of the blue, knock on their door and say ‘Hey, man, we heard you’re struggling.’

The reasons for the spike vary depending on who you talk to, but all seem to agree that difficulty in adjusting to civilian life plays

“Just the fact that two veterans showed up and sat down in the

a major factor as do physical issues or mental illness arising from

dope house or sat down with them in whatever the situation

one’s service. And all the contributing elements are magnified

may be to talk to them and genuinely look them in the face and

when drug or alcohol abuse enters the picture, as it often does.

care, to help them get the help they need right there on the spot, tends to get through to them.”

Mikel is the poster child for these risk factors. His war injuries left him prone to seizures and therefore unable to work, not

We Are The 22 has also developed connections with police

to mention gaining him a nasty addiction to pain meds dating

departments and the VA in order to work together to save lives.

back to before he was discharged. He found himself back home

It’s a key component to the program and especially for the next

with nothing to do but self-medicate in mourning the loss of his

chapter of Mikel’s dream, which is to see We Are The 22 chapters

health, his job and his very identity.

all over the country. That one will take time, but time, once so cheaply given away, is suddenly back on Mikel’s side with his

“I struggled when I got out,” he said. “I felt like I had lost

comrades at his back.

everything that made me who I am. Like, my uniform was my own image of myself and when they took that it threw me into a

“A lot of [the organization’s volunteers] are on disability. A lot

pretty deep depression. That’s when I began abusing the opiates.

of them are disabled veterans themselves,” he said. “A lot of

That pretty much set the path.

them don’t work because of their disability, but they can do this.

They can get up and they can go share their time with other

“Understand that for ten years, from ‘09 until now, I spent a

veterans. There’s nothing that compares to the feeling of going

majority of that time homeless, strung out on drugs. I was an

to a veteran who’s struggling and talking him down, taking the

intravenous methamphetamine user. I went down the worst

weapon or whatever out of his hands, getting him to the VA.

paths. And when I tried to find my way back out in 2017, because I have seizures, I’m unemployable.”

“We provide the veterans in our teams with a uniform, with a purpose and a mission. To be honest with you, we’re saving

Waking up from his suicide attempt, he started to picture how

as many veterans by simply giving them something to do that

many other veterans – male and female – were fighting the same

makes a difference, as we are actually responding to calls.”

battles he was. And while the problem was receiving a lot of news coverage, nobody seemed to be doing anything. So, he

At that he pauses, as if marveling at the awesome responsibility

rose to volunteer for the mission.

that We Are The 22 has come to carry in such a short time.

We Are The 22 (the name is a reference to the average

“We have some of the most dedicated veterans that get out

twenty-two vets that die daily by their own hand) numbers

there and do this without any glory, without any publicity,

forty-five volunteers across the state of Arkansas and growing.

without gain of their own at all,” he says. “We have a bunch

When a call comes in over the group’s hotline, two-person teams

of guys who get up at the drop of a hat and respond to

mobilize to personally intervene with a fellow vet in distress. The

another veteran. To me, that is one of the most amazing

teams, which include female vets to serve their sisters in arms,

things about all of this.”

are specially trained to talk a person down and get them some help, a ride to the nearest VA hospital, anything.

“A lot of the times we’re in route at two or three in the morning.

They don’t even know we’re coming because their friends or

For more information on volunteering or to make a donation, please visit WeAreThe22.com.

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Celebrate the Red, White & Blue

Sweet, Summer Snacks words and images courtesy Family Features

There’s no time like a hot summer picnic to let your patriotic spirit show. These all-American snacks featuring the classic favorite fruit – watermelon – are the perfect solution for any summertime celebration. Watermelon is sweet, cool and refreshing, making it a favorite for all ages. It’s portable, versatile, and a great value – just one watermelon can feed up to three dozen people! Find more ideas for incorporating watermelon into your summer festivities at watermelon.org.

Watermelon Infused Water ingredients ° 2 cups watermelon balls or cubes ° 1 cup other fruit, such as berries or honeydew ° Herbs, such as basil or mint

method

Place watermelon, fruit and herbs in pitcher and cover with water. For best flavor, allow to chill in refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving.

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Red, ingredients White and Blue Watermelon Parfait

째 1 cup blueberries 째 1 container (6 ounces) Greek yogurt

(vanilla, lemon or coconut)

째 1 cup watermelon, plus more for garnish 째 Whipped cream, for serving

method

In a glass, layer blueberries, yogurt and 1 cup watermelon. Top with whipped cream and garnish with diced watermelon pieces. Note: To make ahead or make thicker, strain Greek yogurt with cheese cloth or thick paper towels to absorb some liquid.

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Patriotic Fruit Salad

method

Slice ¼ inch off bottom of watermelon, lengthwise, to create stable base.

Use pencil to draw zig-zag lines for basket opening. Using paring knife, make cuts through rind. Carefully remove top section, pull out large chunks of flesh

ingredients

and cut them into 3-by-3-inch squares. Trim ¾-inch thick slices off squares to use for cutting out stars with 1 ½ to 3-inch, star-shaped cookie cutters.

° 1 watermelon ° Honeydew ° Blueberries

Use ice cream scoop to remove flesh from inside basket and cut scoops into quarters for fruit salad. Place in bottom of basket. Add honeydew and blueberries; stir to combine. Cut out white stripes from honeydew. Garnish top of fruit salad with watermelon stars, honeydew stripes and blueberries.

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Patriotic Charcuterie Board ingredients ° ½ medium seedless watermelon,

cut into wedges

° ½ cup fresh raspberries ° 1 ½ cups fresh blueberries ° 10 strawberries (dipped in white

chocolate, if desired)

° 5 ounces fresh goat cheese ° ½ cup toasted, salted cashews ° 2 ounces cured meats (prosciutto,

pancetta, salami, soppressata,

sausage, pepperoni)

° 1 Honeycrisp apple, cored and sliced ° Lemon juice ° Fresh basil leaves

method

On large board or platter, arrange watermelon, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, cheese, cashews, meat and apples. Drizzle fruit with lemon juice. Garnish with basil leaves before serving.

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38 40

taste taste

Flag ingredients Kebab Cake

° 1 pt. fresh, washed blackberries ° 12 wooden skewers ° 1 seedless watermelon, flesh cut into 1-inch cubes ° 1 angel food cake, cut into 1-inch cubes (white part only) ° Dips, such as yogurt, chocolate, caramel or marshmallow (optional)

method

Thread five blackberries on each of five skewers, followed by alternating watermelon and cake cubes. On remaining skewers, alternate watermelon and cake so first and last cubes are watermelon.

Place skewers on platter; fruit and cake will create stars and stripes when lined properly. Serve with dips, if desired.

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taste

ingredients ¾ cup sugar

•

1 ½ cups water

•

2 Tablespoons lime juice

•

4 large ripe peaches,

•

halved, pitted, and

cut into 1-inch slices

3 sprigs fresh rosemary

•

4 cups Chardonnay

•

4 cans LaCroix Peach

•

Sparkling Water

Ice

•

Peach Rosemary Fizz

method Bring water and sugar to boil, stir until sugar dissolves.

Add peaches and rosemary, bring to a simmer. Remove from heat. Cover & cool.

Discard rosemary. Transfer entire peach mixture to a container. Add lime juice, cover & chill for at least 1 hour. Fill glasses with ice, add ½ cup peach syrup and peach slices. Add ½ cup wine to each glass,

Recipe adapted from balduccis.com image Anna_Pustynnikov

top with LaCroix peach sparkling water. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and lime wedge if desired.

Please drink responsibly.

Never drink and drive.

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travel

If you're like us, you love little overnight trips. Not too

TRAVELS

far, but just far enough to have you feeling like you're on

ARKIE

42

vacation. I've always told Mr. Arkie, if we ever decide we want to live somewhere else, it's going to be Northwest Arkansas. No matter what time of year we go, we always discover something new!

One of our favorite new discoveries is the sweet little town of Prairie Grove. About thirty minutes outside of Fayetteville, it doesn't look like much on the map, but it exudes all the charm and southern hospitality the South is known for.

Plan on making a weekend out of it and stay at our favorite place in the state, Flamingo Springs. You will literally be taking a step back in time to a 1950's era Palm Springs style trailer resort. The owners of this unique lodging have gone over the top collecting vintage campers and turning each into originally themed experiences. Our favorite was the “Friends” inspired Airstream they've dubbed “The One with the Trailer.” And don't miss the vintage game room, yes, that is paint by number art on the walls. Stick with their motto for the weekend and “Retreat Yo' Self”!

We are pretty big on breakfast at Arkie Travels and Mel's Diner did not disappoint. Located in downtown Prairie Grove, they serve up old-fashioned diner favorites and homemade pancakes bigger than your face. The atmosphere made us feel like we were stepping back in time to the days of milkshakes and roller skates.

Walk off all that good eating with a stroll through the antique

Prairie Grove, Arkansas words Paul and Sarah Heer, Arkie Travels images courtesy Paul and Sarah Heer, Arkie Travels and the venues

shops in downtown Prairie Grove. While the blocks are short, they're jam-packed with unique treasures all the way up Buchanan Street. Don't miss High on the Hog, Southern Mercantile and Daisies and Olives for those unique touches you won't find anywhere else.

Before you head out of town, make sure you stop by the Prairie Grove Battlefield. This Arkansas state park is known as one of America's most intact Civil War battlefields and marked the last major Civil War engagement in Northwest Arkansas.

With over 900 acres, the park is beautiful and offers walking and driving tours, as well as a biennial battle re-enactment in December to commemorate the anniversary.

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travel

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travel

As you're driving up Highway 62 towards Fayetteville, watch for the Fayettechill Smokehouse on your right. While the outlet store is no longer open to the public, they are known to have food trucks parked outside and they are now offering a Buffalo River shuttle in partnership with Buffalo Outdoor Center from the Fayettechill Basecamp store in downtown Fayetteville. Make sure you try their all new River Water Lager made exclusively through Ozark Beer Company.

If you're in the mood for the outdoors, swing through Devil's Den State Park. You can drive right up to the Lake Devil dam and see a beautiful spillway waterfall or take the Devil's Den trail on a 1.5-mile moderate hike that includes waterfalls and caves with natural air conditioning. The Civilian Conservation

We love exploring The Natural State and want to encourage you to too! We eat local, shop local and stay local and we're proud to support Arkansas businesses. For more information on our travels and routes we've designed all over our home state, follow us on socials @ArkieTravels or visit our website at www.arkietravels.com.

Corps used native materials to build the park’s rustic style wood and stone structures and the park stands as one of the most intact CCC sites in the U.S. Take Highway 71 South and enjoy the scenic way home. Stop

by Ozark Folkways for handmade artisan goods from local artists, as well as folk entertainment. There's also a wonderful view at Artist Point, perfect for a scenic photo opp. If you're lucky, you may be able to catch a beautiful sunset off the other side of the mountain.

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travel

Take Me To

UPPER CUMBERLAND, TENNESSEE words and images Marcus Coker

A few months ago I visited the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee as a guest of Tennessee Department of Tourism Development. Nestled in between Nashville and Knoxville, the Upper Cumberland is plush with rolling hills, mountaintop overlooks, record-setting waterfalls, and some of the nicest folks you’ll ever meet.

Several locals told me they originally came to the area for vacation and later moved there because there’s just something about it. It’s rich with history and natural beauty. It’s close enough to the big city, but the air is fresher.

The two “big” cities in the Upper Cumberland are Cookeville and Crossville, Cookeville being an hour east of Nashville and Crossville being an hour east of that. If you visit, I’d recommend using one of these towns as your home base, since

the

Upper

Cumberland’s

tourist attractions are a bit spread out but mostly within an hour’s drive of Cookeville or Crossville.

For wine, coffee, and canoe and kayak lovers, go with Cookeville.

Nearby you’ll find two wineries, a

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travel

handful of coffee shops, and Canoe the Caney in Silver Point, where you can paddle below an 1800’s train bridge used in the movie The Green Mile. The night I spent in Cookeville, I stayed at TownePlace Suites, where my stay came complete with a kitchen, oversized furniture, and a continental breakfast.

For most of my trip, I stayed on the outskirts of Crossville at Cumberland Mountain State Park. This is the way to go if you’re into retro cabins and cooking all your own meals (or walking or driving a short distance to the on-site restaurant).

Saltbox Inn

Plus, there are hiking trails, a lake you can kayak, and even an owl sanctuary where you get an up-close view of these rescued birds. If you’d prefer a play or musical, downtown Crossville is home to Cumberland County Playhouse, said to be the nation’s second Broadway.

Below are my top picks of things to do in the Upper Cumberland. To keep it easy, I’ve divided the region and its activities into three sections—Cookeville, Crossville, and

Broast

Dale Hollow Lake, which is near the Kentucky border and has its own charms. Whatever you choose to do in the Upper Cumberland, you can’t go wrong.

Cookeville Area TownePlace Suites Father Tom's Pub

1250 Sam’s Street, Cookeville 931.510.4306 towneplacesuites.com

Broast

Newly built and right in the middle of town, this is the place

17 W Spring Street, Cookeville

for any city slicker like myself.

931.559.2326 broasttn.com

Saltbox Inn

Start your day off right with locally brewed coffee and a darn

537 Hutcheson Road, Cookeville

fine cinnamon roll. Ask for the cascara tea, which is a cherry-

931.510.6787

flavored drink made from the hull of the coffee bean.

saltboxinn.net A little off the beaten path and perfect for a bed and

Father Tom’s Pub

breakfast experience, the Saltbox Inn is ideal for small groups

32 N Cedar Avenue, Cookeville

or even large events. A former residence has been converted

931.854.9484

for lodging, and a newly built barn is available for whatever

fathertomspub.com

you can imagine.

If the weather’s right, have lunch or dinner at Father Tom’s, a laid-back joint with a fabulous burger. Ask for a beer by Calfkiller here or elsewhere on your trip. Calfkiller is some of the finest local brew!

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Ebel’s Tavern 104 E 3rd Avenue, Carthage 615.588.1888 Now we’re getting outside, west, of Cookeville. Ebel’s Tavern catered a meal at one of the wineries listed below, and it was some of the finest fare I’ve had in a while— raw and baked oysters, scallops, steak, broccoli, and cheesecake. Delicious!

DelMonaco Winery & Vineyards Ebel's Tavern

600 Lance Drive, Baxter 931.858.1177 delmonacowinery.com Tennessee is known not only for their sweet people, but also for their sweet wines. Take a tour of DelMonaco, a beautiful winery where you can spend the day or even get married. For a little more adventure, tour the region via a 168-mile train ride that stops at DelMonaco for live music, games, and hayrides. Go to tcry.org, click on Train Rides, and search for DelMonaco Winery Trip.

DelMonaco Winery & Vineyards

Cellar 53 Winery 115 Oak View Drive E, Brush Creek 615.934.3353 cellar53winery.com Spend an afternoon on Cellar 53’s patio sipping homemade wine and nibbling on cheese. Be sure to ask to play Table Skittles, also known as Devil Amongst the Tailors, where you try to knock down standing pins with a swinging ball attached to a string. It’s harder than it looks!

Edgar Evins State Park

Cellar 53 Winery

1630 Edgar Evins State Park Road, Silver Point 931.858.2114 tnstateparks.com/parks/edgar-evins Near Canoe the Caney, Edgar Evins State Park boasts a gorgeous lake excellent for boating or dinner on the pier.

Spend the day in this 6,000-acre park or simply unwind on the water after a day of hiking nearby trails.

Edgar Evins State Park

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travel

Cookeville Area Cumberland Mountain State Park 24 Office Drive, Crossville 931.484.6138 tnstateparks.com/parks/cumberland-mountain A wonderful place to stay the night and grill out with the family.

Or just come for the day, hike some trails, and kayak Byrd Lake, a project built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Eat some fine downhome cooking at Homestead Harvest Restaurant.

Cumberland Mountain State Park

Black Mountain Overlook 2000-3398 Black Mountain Road, Crossville 931.484.6138 Nearby Cumberland Mountain State Park, this is the perfect spot for an evening hike. The trail is easy, can be hiked in well under an hour, and ends with a picturesque view that will leave you wondering why you don’t get out of the house more often.

Black Mountain Overlook

Grinder House Coffee Shop 73 N Main Street, Crossville 931.707.0440 grinderhousecoffeeshop.com This is hands down one of the top coffee shops I’ve ever been to. The atmosphere is fabulous, and the staff serves up a delicious breakfast with a side of southern charm.

Forte’s Restaurant 27 E 4th Street, Crossville

Grinder House Coffee Shop

931.787.1744 fortesonthesquare.com On the square in downtown Crossville and just around the corner from the Cumberland County Playhouse, Forte’s is a delightful gem of an Italian restaurant where you can lean back, rest your feet, and fill your belly.

Ozone Falls State Park 14563 TN-1, Rockwood 931.484.6138 tnvacation.com/local/crossville-ozone-falls East of Crossville, Ozone Falls is home to a gorgeous 110-foot waterfall used in the 1994 movie The Jungle Book. You don’t want to miss this!

Forte's Restaurant

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Fall Creek Falls State Park

Highland Manor Winery

2009 Village Camp Road, Spencer

2965 S York Highway, Jamestown

423.881.5298

931.879.9519

tnstateparks.com/parks/fall-creek-falls

highlandmanorwinery.com

Southwest of Crossville, Fall Creek Falls is home to two

Tennessee’s oldest winery, Highland Manor offers much in

gorgeous waterfalls and one awesome swing bridge (also

both taste and atmosphere. Ask to see the wine cellar, a

used in The Jungle Book) that will leave you feeling like a kid

lovely spot for a picnic or even a wedding proposal!

again. Spend the morning and afternoon here. Take a picnic lunch or eat on site.

Dale Hollow Lake Area Sunset Marina on Dale Hollow Lake 2040 Sunset Dock Road, Monroe 931.864.3146 sunsetmarina.com If you love the water, spend your time on Dale Hollow Lake

Fall Creek Falls State Park

at the Sunset Marina, the place Luke Bryan filmed his music video Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset. Rent a cabin or even a houseboat; just don’t forget your sunscreen!

Standing Stone State Park 1674 Standing Stone Park Highway, Hilham 931.823.6347 tnstateparks.com/parks/standing-stone Like Cumberland Mountain State Park, Standing Stone offers retro cabins, many of which were built by the Works

Sunset Marina on Dale Hollow Lake

Progress Administration. With its own lake and a large facility ideal for groups, Standing Stone also hosts a world-famous marbles championship each September. Don’t forget to take your shooters!

Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park 2609 North York Hwy, Pall Mall 931.879.6456 tnstateparks.com/parks/sgt-alvin-c-york Visit the home of Sgt. Alvin C. York, the famous World War I hero. Originally a conscientious objector, Sgt. York is

Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park

credited with capturing over a hundred enemy soldiers and was the subject of the 1941 movie Sergeant York starring Gary Cooper. Be sure to visit the replica of a WWI trench behind the home.

For more information, visit tnvacation.com, uppercumberland.org, and visitcookevilletn.com.

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people

Priceless words and images Sarah Phillips

On days when the weather is good, you will almost always find her outside, rocking gently in her swing.

Only the tip of one shoe pushes against the grey wooden porch; her short stature is turned slightly in the seat, raising her other foot just out of reach. Her long blonde hair rests on her shoulders, and behind her glasses are blue eyes that are smiling.

Her wide porch covers the entire front side of the house and wraps around the right corner where the swing hangs, giving her resting place the best all around view. The walkway that leads to the front door is bordered by rectangular flowerbeds. Though they are currently empty, there is a cluster of wild violets growing nearby, every year creeping closer to the beds as if making their way home. The door is framed by white pillars and railing that leads down and away from the steps, giving the feel of arms open wide, Mae Ann (Means) Burger

welcoming one in.

“I used to live down the street,” Mae says as she points a few houses down. It is easy to strike up a conversation with her. With almost 80 years of memories under her belt, she has more than plenty to speak of. “But then this house came up for sale and I told my husband, ‘Larry, I want to buy that house.’

He said, ‘What on earth for?’ and I told him, ‘If for nothing else, that great big porch.’”

“I brought this tree with me from that yard and replanted it here,” she continues as she glances proudly up at the pecan tree that encompasses the entire front yard. The large, soft-shelled pecans it produces are her yearly reward and a favorite snack of squirrels, birds and passersby alike. Just like the pecan tree, Mae has deep roots in Fort Smith, though her story began in Van Buren.

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people

“We grew up on Mt. Vista,” she says thinking back. “My daddy had to

Mae Ann (Means) Burger and Russell Larry Burger

keep building onto our home to hold all six of us kids.” Her father worked for the Missouri Pacific Railroad.

“And you may think I’m short, but my mother was even shorter. She was a little bitty thing, but she did anything she put her mind to.” Mae’s mother canned everything that she grew from her large garden and cooked every meal from scratch. “Even when other kids stopped by or family came to visit, she always had something to feed them, no one was ever turned away. She made bread that melted in your mouth. On warm afternoons, she churned homemade ice cream out on the front porch.”

Mae walked to school at Sophia Meyer each day with

laughing as they reminisce about the past. Mae can hear the

her brothers, travelling down and then back up the hill.

train whistles blowing at the bottom of the hill which makes

“When it was cold or snowing, we would put our coats on

her think of her hardworking father. Behind her, down the

backwards and then take turns buttoning each other up to

road, her mother would be waiting to welcome her home,

try and keep warm while we walked.” When it was hot,

offering freshly made biscuits or ice cream. And beside her,

they stopped and bought Cokes on the way home, putting

the love of her life, his arm around her holding her close.

the charge on their father’s account.

When Mae and Larry married, she wore an A-line floor Mae and Larry met on a blind double-date while she was still

length dress covered in lace. He wore a black suit and tie.

in high school. He was chosen by her friend to be her date

“He looked so handsome that day,” she says with a smile.

because he owned a car and could drive the four of them

Waiting for them after the ceremony was Larry’s Chevy,

around. They went to the Sky-Vue drive-in movie theater and

covered in ribbons and “Just Married” written in shoe polish

were inseparable after that. They dated for a couple of years,

on the sides. Along with their first home they also purchased

taking the time to get to know one another and fall in love,

that piece of land on Mt. Vista that they loved so much.

not just with each other, but also their families. “He would sit and talk with my father for hours about history or the Bible.

Larry worked at a dental lab and Mae worked at Shipley

He was that kind of person, patient, kind.”

Baking Company for a short time and even ran the elevator at the First National Bank downtown as a favor to her

The two of them frequently found themselves at an empty

father-in-law when he was shorthanded. “He loved to show

lot by her home on Mt. Vista. The piece of land sat on the

off his new daughter-in-law,” she grinned. Eventually, Mae

corner of a bluff that overlooked the Arkansas River and the

landed a secretarial position for the Chief of the Fort Smith

northside of Fort Smith, where Larry lived. It was always quiet

Fire Department.

there, the view never disappointed and it became one of their favorite spots. One can imagine them there, sitting in his 1956

In the evening she went home to her husband and made

turquoise and white Chevy Bel-Air, planning their future and

dinner, but more often than not she had to put it in the oven

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people

and keep it warm for him until he arrived home. “His mother

the fact that she has owned the car going on 60 years. She

had a nursery down the street in her home. She needed to

loves telling its history, her behind the wheel, cruising from one

make the kids their dinner, so she always called Larry to go

major life event to the next.

over and tell the kids a story to keep them busy.” Larry told the best stories, and he loved children. Unfortunately, he and

She visits her land on Mt. Vista often, gazing out at the expansive

Mae were unable to have any of their own.

view, remembering her husband and the joy she has always felt there. She isn’t the only visitor to this property. Family, friends

“My brother was the administrator of the hospital up in

and even strangers find themselves captivated by the view. Her

Springdale. He knew that we desperately wanted to have a

son, among others, have held weddings there.

child of our own. Then, one day, he called and said that there was a baby available for adoption and asked if we would

Over the years, Mae has received many offers to buy the old car

like to come and pick him up.” They couldn’t get there fast

and sometimes it’s from the same person over and over, “Are

enough. “Of course, Mother had to go with us and so we all

you ready to sell her yet?” She’s had just as many inquiries on

hopped into the Chevy. She held him in the back seat on the

the piece of land on Mt. Vista. Especially since all of the other

way home. She said it wasn’t safe to have him up front. Every

plots of land on the hill are occupied.

time the sun shined in our baby’s face she slid over to the other side of the car, back and forth the whole way home,”

Her answer is always the same, “No.”

she says with a giggle and a shake of her head. When Mae arrived home, waiting for her was a new crib, courtesy of

When Mae looks at her husband’s beautiful, old Chevy or her

some of the guys at the fire department.

plot of land on the hill, she doesn’t see a price tag. Both the car and the land are physical manifestations of her love, her

Time passed quickly, and their son grew up. Along with

memories, and of her life. “And when something brings you

her job at the fire department, Mae also worked nights

that much joy, it’s priceless.”

at the old Wal-Mart on Midland. Larry drove the train at Creekmore Park during the summer and the Christmas Holiday. “He always took a bag of quarters with him to work, in case any of the children couldn’t pay for a ride. He didn’t want anyone to miss out.” He drove the

Mae Ann (Means) Burger

train for ten years before his death in 2004.

Mae retired from the fire department and filled her time with her family, her granddaughters in particular.

She had the “old ’56 Chevy” completely

refurbished

in

her husband’s memory and took it to several car shows in town. People still marvel at

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SENIOR LIFE

Senior Life

Now you have the time to do what you’ve always wanted! Perhaps you’re looking to travel or spend more time with family. No matter what’s on your list, we want you to take care of yourself and have fun too! Do South® has partnered with local businesses to help with everything from assisted living options, expert health care, exploring new hobbies, awesome entertainment and more!

Norma Basinger, M.D. and Janet Newman, RN 8101 McClure Drive, Ste. 101 Fort Smith, Arkansas arveinclinicandskincare.com 479.484.7100 From childbirth to menopause, the female body can experience remarkable changes. As rewarding as these changes may be,

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they can sometimes impair vaginal health and lead to vaginal stretching, loss of sexual temptation, and urinary incontinence.

To help restore your vaginal health, we offer diVa™ laser treatment, which can improve the quality of your vaginal tissue by resurfacing the vaginal wall. For women suffering from sexual dysfunction or urinary incontinence, we offer the O-Shot. The O-Shot harnesses your own body’s healing abilities to stimulate collagen production and cellular regeneration in tissues that have lost elasticity and sensation.

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SENIOR LIFE

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4300 Rogers Avenue, Suite #15 Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.785.3277 centerforhearing.net

3400 Choctaw Road Pocola, Oklahoma 918.436.7761 choctawcasinos.com

Have you considered how much your hearing health affects

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DBKJ Numismatics Rare Coins & Currency 711 Garrison Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.783.5881 dbkjcoins.com

1401 South J Street Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.785.3300 encompasshealth.com

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Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Smith You might be asking, what does numismatics mean? Simply

specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Simply put,

put, it’s the study or collection of coins, paper currency

rehabilitation is what we do. And that makes a difference. We

and medals. Since 1991, DBKJ has been buying rare coins,

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currency, gold and silver and is the largest full-time coin

brain injury, spinal cord injury, limb loss, hip fracture and more.

dealer in Fort Smith and the largest coin dealer in Western

By providing a minimum three hours of therapy, five days a week

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appraisal services on large coin collections for estate or trust

give you the direction, knowledge and tools to help you reach

purposes. Visit us and see what’s in store!

your highest level of independence.

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Fort Smith: 8820 Rogers Ave., 479.452.0278 Fort Smith: 5701 Jenny Lind Rd., 479.646.2971 Charleston: 621 E Main St., 479.965.2244 medisav.com MediSav is a local, family-owned pharmacy with 3 locations, serving western Arkansas for 55 years with free delivery around Fort Smith and Charleston with convenient front

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door parking and drive-thru windows. We offer custom compounding and provide immunizations as well as compression hosiery and orthopedic braces. We even make flavored medications for pets! We carry Jobst and FLA Orthopedics, durable medical equipment-lift chairs, diabetic supplies and shoes, walkers, canes, wheelchairs, oxygen, and hospital beds. We also carry a great selection of home decor items, clothing, jewelry, candles and Razorback gifts.

We would love the opportunity to serve you and your family.

Stop by and see us, we look forward to meeting you!

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7425 Euper Lane Fort Smith, Arkansas methodistvillage.com 479.452.1611

2705 Central Avenue Hot Springs, Arkansas 800.625.5296 oaklawn.com

Methodist Senior Living offers comfort and variety, with a

At Oaklawn, Monday Funday is our special day for age

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50+ guests with exclusive perks, benefits, food specials,

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our exciting promotions throughout the week. Follow us on

Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or a related disorder.

social media or visit Oaklawn.com for details!

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Read Chair Publishing, LLC 4300 Rogers Avenue, Suite 20-110 Fort Smith, AR 72903