50 Years’ Combined Experience FORT SMITH PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Owners
Cliff Cabaness CEO Mathew Wester President/COO
CMC ASSET MANAGEMENT: PROFESSIONAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 24/7
We work to MAXIMIZE YOUR RENTAL INCOME with expert property management while keeping your tenants happy through EXCEPTIONAL MAINTENANCE AND CARE.
YOUR CHALLENGES
Owning rental property comes with constant demands:
• Maximizing income while controlling costs
• On-time rent collection and payment processing
• Accurate, transparent reporting
• Ongoing property maintenance and repairs
OUR SOLUTION
Let us handle the headaches for you. With 50 YEARS’ COMBINED EXPERIENCE , we deliver expert property management so you can relax and enjoy the return on your investment.
JULY
LLately, we've been spending a lot of time at the lake. It's my new happy place. When I'm on the water, time slows. Worries melt away. Coffee tastes better. Conversations linger.
The lake has become more than a weekend destination; it's a place where the noise of everyday life fades into the background. Deadlines can wait. Doctor appointments can wait. For a little while, all that matters is the moment. The older I get, the more I realize these are the moments, spent with the people I love most, that leave the greatest impression on my heart.
Maybe I'm feeling a little sentimental because this is our last summer before our son graduates college and begins his next chapter. Somewhere between his first day at Woods Elementary and now, the years slipped by. Our threeyear-old grandson is experiencing everything for the first time. We're not quite sure who loves the lake more, our 21-year-old or the 3-year-old. Watching those two enjoy the same place in such different ways has reminded me how quickly life moves.
My happy place happens to be the lake, but it doesn't have to be yours. Maybe
JULY
2026
OWNER
PUBLISHER - EDITOR
Catherine Frederick
COPY EDITING
Charity Chambers
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Jessica Meadors, Meadors Creative Co.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Marla Cantrell
Catherine Frederick Dwain Hebda
ADVERTISING
Catherine Frederick
To inquire about this free
email: catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.
https://www.marshalsmuseum.org/porter-exhibit/
JULY EVENTS
JULY 3, 7P / WALMARTAMP.COM
BOB DYLAN
Walmart Amp, Rogers
JULY 4, 7A / RUNSIGNUP.COM
47TH ANNUAL FREEDOM FEST 5K
Greenwood Square, Greenwood
JULY 4, 5P / FORTSMITHAR.GOV
THE MAYOR'S 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION
Harry E. Kelley River Park, Fort Smith
JULY 4, 7P / VANBUREN.ORG INDEPENDENCE DAY
CELEBRATION FIREWORKS
Field of Dreams Sports Complex, Van Buren
JULY 6-10 / GREENWOODFINEARTSACADEMY.ORG
GFAA SUMMER THEATRE CAMPS
Greenwood First Baptist Church, Greenwood
JULY 7 & 28 / MARSHALSMUSEUM.ORG
250TH STARS AND STRIPES
FAMILY SERIES
U.S. Marshals Museum, Fort Smith
JULY 8-12 / WALTONARTSCENTER.ORG
MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL
Walmart Amp, Rogers
JULY 10, DUSK / FACEBOOK MOVIES IN THE PARK: THE GOONIES
Tilles Park, Fort Smith
JULY 10-12, 6-8PM / COMMUNITYCHURCH.COM CHAMP CAMP VBS PROGRAM
Community Bible Church, Fort Smith
JULY 11 / VANBUREN.ORG
CHRISTMAS IN JULY ON MAIN STREET
Main Street, Downtown Van Buren
JULY 13 / KINGOPERAHOUSE.COM
$5 MOVIE NIGHT:
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
King Opera House, Van Buren
JULY 16, 6-9P / JOHNMAYSJEWELERS.COM
RESERVED SPIRITS AND RARE STONES
906 Lounge, Fort Smith
JULY 16 - AUGUST 1 / FSLT.ORG FORT SMITH LITTLE THEATRE: THE ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL
Fort Smith Little Theatre, Fort Smith
JULY 17, DUSK / FACEBOOK
MOVIES IN THE PARK: ZOOTOPIA 2
Creekmore Park, Fort Smith
JULY 17-18 / ARTONTHEBORDER.COM
ART ON THE BORDER
ART SHOW AND SALE
ACHE Research Institute, Fort Smith
JULY 18, 8A-1P / CHAFFEECROSSINGHISTORICDISTRICT.COM
CHAFFEE CROSSING FOOD AND ARTISAN MARKET
Chaffee Crossing Historic District, Fort Smith
JULY 18, 9:30A–12:30P / MARSHALSMUSEUM.ORG
FREE 250TH SUMMER
SATURDAY PROGRAM
U.S. Marshals Museum, Fort Smith
JULY 18-26 / ARTSONMAINVB.COM
ADULT ART COMPETITION
EXHIBITION
Arts on Main, Van Buren
JULY 18-SEPT 26 / ARTSONMAINVB.COM
DANIEL WALTERS EXHIBITION
Arts on Main, Van Buren
JULY 19, 1P / BAKERYFS.COM
3RD SUNDAY BLUES JAM
The Bakery District, Fort Smith
JULY 24, 7-9:30P / WALTONARTSCENTER.ORG ART OF WINE GOES WEST
Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville
JULY 24, 6-9P / MARSHALSMUSEUM.ORG
TRUE CRIME TONIGHT: SHERYL MCCOLLUM
U.S. Marshals Museum, Fort Smith
JULY 25, 5-9P / FORTSMITHMUSEUM.ORG
BREW ON THE BORDER: WHERE THE PAST POURS INTO THE PRESENT
Fort Smith Museum of History, Fort Smith
AUGUST 1, 7P / FORTSMITHCONVENTIONCENTER.ORG REED TIMMER
DOMINATE THE STORM
Fort Smith Convention Center, Fort Smith
ACHE RESEARCH
INSTITUTE HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER
– FORT SMITH
Class times, ages, and registration, visit: WELLNESSCENTERCLASSES.AS.ME
SUMMER CAMPS
July 7-9: Quilt Block Camp
July 7-10: Robotics / Electronics Camp
July 14: The Camp of Forgotten Skills with a Modern Twist M odern
BEGINNING AMERICAN MAHJONG
July 10: 9:30a & 5:30p
July 13: 9:30a & 5:30p CERAMICS & ART
July 7: Adult Wheel Class
Kids classes ages 5+ / Adult classes ages 18+
CREATE LAB
July 15-17: Adult CAD Camp
July 20: Cutting Board Laser Class FITNESS & DANCE
Barre: Mon. 9:30a
Strength & Tone: Wed. / Sat. 9:30a
Mat Pilates: Tues. / Thur. 12p
Yoga: Mon. / Wed. / Fri. 12p
Mixed Yoga: Thur. 5:45p
Gentle Yoga (55+): Fri. 9:30a
Moving w/ Parkinson’s: Wed. 1-2p
FORT SMITH REGIONAL ART MUSEUM
– FORT SMITH FSRAM.ORG
RAM Saturdays: 12-3p (FREE)
To Sept. 13: Jon Williams: No Reservations and Reflections in Water
RAM Permanent Collection
To Oct. 25: Our Common Ground
RAM Annual Invitational
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
– FORT SMITH UAFS.EDU
BASKETBALL CAMPS (MBB)
July 6-8: Youth Camp III
July 13-15: Youth Camp IV
July 20-22: Youth Camp V
ARTWORK BY ANGELA VENNUM. FOR MORE, SEE PAGE 40.
ohn Mays Jewelers welcomes Parle for a night of rare gemstones & jewelry paired with reserved spirits WHEN Thursday, July 16th 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm WHERE 906 Lounge 906 Garrison Avenue Fort Smith, AR
17 & 18.
History Meets Happy Hour
FORT SMITH MUSEUM OF HISTORY LAUNCHES AN UNFORGETTABLE NEW SUMMER TRADITION.
This July, the Fort Smith Museum of History is inviting guests to experience the past in an entirely new way, one sip at a time.
The museum's inaugural Brew on the Border event will transform one of Fort Smith's most treasured historic landmarks into an evening of craft beverages, live entertainment, local flavors, and immersive history. Set for Saturday, July 25, the indoor festival offers a fresh take on fundraising while celebrating the stories that helped shape the region.
Guests will have the opportunity to sample a wide variety of beverages, including craft beer, wine, seltzers, and non-alcoholic selections, from more than twenty-five vendors while exploring museum exhibits throughout the evening. Food trucks and live entertainment will add to the festive atmosphere, creating an experience that
feels equal parts community gathering and historical adventure.
For those looking to elevate the evening, VIP tickets include early admission and access to the Judge Parker's Courthouse Saloon Lounge, featuring specialty beverage selections and an exclusive performance of The Western District, a one-act play that highlights a pivotal chapter in Fort Smith history.
While Brew on the Border promises plenty of fun, the event also serves an important purpose. Proceeds will support the Fort Smith Museum of History and its ongoing efforts to preserve, protect, and share the stories of the Arkansas-Oklahoma borderland. The museum is currently undergoing significant renovations designed to enhance the visitor experience while safeguarding the historic building for future generations.
As one of Arkansas's oldest museums, the institution has spent more than a century collecting and preserving artifacts that tell the story of Fort Smith's frontier beginnings, military heritage, transportation history, and cultural evolution. Brew on the Border offers a new way for the community to connect with that legacy while enjoying a very memorable summer evening downtown.
Whether you're a history enthusiast, a craft beverage fan, or simply looking for a unique night out, Brew on the Border aims to prove that some of the best stories are even better when shared over a drink.
BREW ON THE BORDER
Saturday, July 25, 2026 5:00–9:00 p.m.
Fort Smith Museum of History Tickets available at brewontheborder.com.
Peacemaker Festival Returns to the Riverfront This October
Mark your calendars and dust off your festival chairs, Fort Smith’s biggest music weekend is set to return October 2-3, 2026, as the annual Peacemaker Festival takes over the Riverfront Amphitheater once again.
What began as a grassroots effort by music lovers has grown into one of the region’s most anticipated festivals, drawing fans from across Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and beyond. Set against the backdrop of the Arkansas River, Peacemaker has built a reputation for delivering a carefully curated mix of country, Red Dirt, Americana, rock, and blues artists while maintaining the welcoming, hometown atmosphere that keeps fans coming back year after year.
The 2026 lineup promises another great weekend of live music. Festival organizers have announced headliners including JJ Grey & Mofro, William Clark Green, and Tanner Usrey. Fans can also look forward to performances from Pecos & The Rooftops, Drake White, Drayton Farley, Giovannie and the Hired Guns, Pony Bradshaw, Shelby Stone, and Jason Scott & The High Heat.
Far beyond the music, Peacemaker has become a celebration of community. The volunteer-led organization channels proceeds back into local charities, artistsupported causes, and downtown development efforts, making the festival a source of pride for Fort Smith as well as a premier entertainment event.
Festivalgoers can expect two days filled with live performances, local flavor, and the unmistakable energy that comes from thousands of music fans gathering along the riverfront. Whether you're a longtime attendee or planning your first visit, Peacemaker offers a chance to experience nationally recognized artists in one of Arkansas’s most scenic outdoor venues.
Tickets are on sale now! With another strong lineup on deck, organizers expect significant interest as October approaches. For music lovers across the River Valley, Peacemaker once again promises to be the soundtrack of fall.
PLAN YOUR WEEKEND
Peacemaker Festival returns to downtown Fort Smith October 2-3 with an impressive lineup of Red Dirt, Americana, country, blues, and rock artists performing along the banks of the Arkansas River. General admission and VIP tickets are on sale now.
Tickets & Info: PeacemakerFest.com
words DO SOUTH // images courtesy PEACEMAKER MUSIC FESTIVAL
LOCAL FLAVOR Worth Savoring
15 DELICIOUS DISHES FROM RESTAURANTS WE LOVE.
Support local. Visit often. Eat well.
Hungry for more?
Explore these amazing spots and find your next favorite dish. The River Valley is full of flavor!
To learn more about these restaurants and others, follow them on social media or stop in and show some local love.
BIRRIERIA LA JEFA
HARVEST MOON BAKERY
SWEET BAY COFFEE CO
JOE'S GRILL & CANTINA
DAIRY DIP DINER
JC'S BAR-B-Q PLACE
FORT SMITH COFFEE CO
NEUMEIER'S WHIPPOORWILL
GOODFELLAS
PASTA GRILL VAN BUREN
AMAZING GRAZE ART'S BBQ & BURGERS
ARKANSAS BUCKET LIST
While our entire Arkansas bucket list is much longer, we’re featuring just a few of our favorites from around the state. Be sure to visit the websites for additional details and hours of operation before you travel.
1 2 4 3
ARKANSAS SCENIC 7 BYWAY arkansas.com
BLANCHARD SPRINGS CAVERNS
Fifty-Six, Arkansas blanchardsprings.org
BUFFALO NATIONAL RIVER Ponca, Arkansas buffaloriver.com
CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART Bentonville, Arkansas crystalbridges.org
5
MOUNT MAGAZINE STATE PARK Paris, Arkansas arkansasstateparks.com
6 7
OZARK FOLK CENTER STATE PARK Mountain View, Arkansas arkansasstateparks.com
CRATER OF DIAMONDS STATE PARK
Murfreesboro, Arkansas arkansasstateparks.com
8 9 10
GARVAN WOODLAND GARDENS
Hot Springs, Arkansas garvangardens.org
PETIT JEAN STATE PARK
Morrilton, Arkansas arkansasstateparks.com
RIVER MARKET DISTRICT RIVERFRONT PARK
Little Rock, Arkansas rivermarket.info or littlerock.com
GOODS THE
From lake days and backyard celebrations to thoughtful gifts and summer entertaining, this month's favorite local finds capture the spirit of the season. We've gathered stylish picks from River Valley shops that add a touch of charm, personality, and fun to every occasion.
1. GLASSES RAISED Celebrate summer gatherings with bold flavors and patriotic spirit. IN GOOD SPIRITS
2. LITERARY CHARM Thoughtful treasures for readers, gift givers, and story seekers alike. BOOKISH
3. SUMMER FUN Playful favorites designed to brighten everyday moments. COLQUITT BATH CO.
4. BEAUTIFULLY CARRIED Fashion-forward accessories for every outing. BLACK BISON COMPANY
5. POUR DECISIONS Distinctive selections for gifting and celebrating. SODIE’S WINE & SPIRITS
6. SUMMER SPARKLE Shining elegance for special occasions and every day. JOHN MAYS JEWELERS
Advanced Eye Care with a Personal Touch
WHY AM I SO TIRED?
YYou slept through the night. The coffee is brewing. The day hasn’t even fully started, yet you already feel exhausted.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Fatigue is one of the most common complaints adults bring to their healthcare providers. While it’s easy to blame a busy schedule, growing responsibilities, or simply getting older, persistent tiredness can sometimes signal that something more is going on beneath the surface. The good news? Understanding the possible causes of fatigue is often the first step toward feeling better.
BEYOND SLEEPY
Fatigue is different from occasional sleepiness. It’s a lingering lack of energy that may affect your ability to focus, stay motivated, or complete everyday tasks. Some people describe it as physical exhaustion, while others experience mental fatigue, brain fog, or a general sense of being drained. Because fatigue can have many causes, finding the source often requires looking at several aspects of your health and lifestyle.
COMMON CULPRITS
Poor Sleep Quality
Many people assume that spending enough hours in bed guarantees adequate rest, but sleep quality matters just as much as quantity.
Conditions like sleep apnea, frequent nighttime awakenings, restless sleep, and even excessive screen time before bed can interfere with the body’s ability to achieve restorative sleep. Alcohol consumption, irregular sleep schedules, and an uncomfortable sleep environment can also contribute to feeling tired the next day.
Stress and Burnout
Modern life can be exhausting. Work demands, caregiving responsibilities, financial pressures, and the constant flow of information from phones and devices can leave people mentally and emotionally depleted. Chronic stress causes the body to remain in a heightened state of alertness, which may make it difficult to fully rest and recover.
Even if you’re managing your responsibilities well, prolonged stress can take a significant toll on your energy levels.
Dehydration
During the summer months especially, dehydration can sneak up quickly. When the body doesn’t have enough fluids, the heart must work harder to circulate blood and deliver oxygen throughout the body. The result can be fatigue, headaches, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating. Even mild dehydration may leave you feeling sluggish and worn out.
Nutrition
Your body relies on essential nutrients to produce energy efficiently. Low iron levels, vitamin B12 deficiency, inadequate vitamin D, or insufficient protein intake can all contribute to fatigue. In some cases, people may not realize they have a deficiency until symptoms become noticeable. Eating a balanced diet rich in lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats can help support healthy energy levels.
Hormones
Hormones play a major role in how energetic, or exhausted, we feel. For women, perimenopause and menopause can contribute to fatigue through sleep disturbances, night sweats, and fluctuating hormone levels. Thyroid disorders, which affect both men and women, can also slow the body’s metabolism and leave individuals feeling unusually tired.
Medications
Sometimes the culprit may be hiding in the medicine cabinet. Certain medications, including some allergy medications, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and sleep aids, list fatigue or drowsiness as common side effects. If you suspect a medication may be contributing to your exhaustion, speak with your healthcare provider before making any changes.
ENERGY DRAINERS
Even when no underlying medical condition is present, certain everyday habits can quietly sap your energy. Skipping meals, relying too heavily on caffeine, sitting long hours, and excessive screen time can all contribute to fatigue. Many people also find themselves caught in a cycle of exhaustion: feeling too tired to exercise, making less nutritious food choices, sleeping poorly, and then waking up even more fatigued the next day. Recognizing these patterns is often the first step toward breaking them.
LIFESTYLE CHANGES
While not every cause of fatigue can be fixed with lifestyle adjustments alone, small changes can often make a meaningful difference. Start by maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, even on weekends. Exposure to natural morning sunlight can help regulate your body’s internal clock and improve sleep quality over time.
Regular physical activity may seem counterproductive when you’re tired, but a daily walk can boost energy levels and improve mood. Staying hydrated, eating protein-rich meals, and limiting caffeine late in the day may also help reduce energy crashes.
Managing stress is equally important. Whether through exercise, meditation, hobbies, time outdoors, or meaningful social connections, finding healthy ways to decompress can support both mental and physical well-being.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Feeling tired from time to time is part of being human. Constant exhaustion, however, isn’t something you simply have to accept. Whether the cause is poor sleep, stress, dehydration, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal changes, or an underlying medical condition, understanding the possible reasons behind fatigue can help you take steps toward feeling more energized, healthier, and more like yourself again.
COULD FATIGUE BE TRYING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING?
TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR IF:
YOU'RE EXHAUSTED DESPITE GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP.
FATIGUE LASTS MORE THAN A FEW WEEKS.
YOU'RE EXPERIENCING BRAIN FOG OR DIFFICULTY CONCENTRATING.
YOU FEEL DIZZY, WEAK, OR SHORT OF BREATH.
YOU'VE HAD UNEXPLAINED WEIGHT CHANGES.
YOUR MOOD HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY.
SOMETHING SIMPLY DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT.
PERSISTENT FATIGUE ISN'T A NORMAL PART OF LIFE. IDENTIFYING THE CAUSE IS OFTEN THE FIRST STEP TOWARD FEELING BETTER.
Dr. Ray Green, UAFS’s new provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, has spent decades helping students transform their lives through higher education. A first-generation college graduate, professor, and nationally recognized academic leader, Dr. Green shared his philosophy on leadership, student success, and how regional universities can change communities. For the full interview, visit uafs.edu/news.
Q: You’ve just been named provost after 25 years in the Texas A&M system. How are you feeling as you prepare to move states and institutions?
It’s exciting and exhilarating to think about a new adventure. I come to this position currently serving as dean of a College of Education and Human Services, and my background is in social psychology, but honestly, I’m just excited. This work is so important. We are here to serve the students who live
Q&A WITH UAFS PROVOST DR. RAY GREEN
words RACHEL PUTMAN, UAFS // image JACOB HOWELL, UAFS
here and the businesses that have made their home here, helping create the connections that allow a region to keep moving forward.
Q: What’s your philosophy on building and maintaining trust?
One is being transparent about why you are making decisions. I have found that even if people don’t agree with your decision, if they know there was a reason behind your actions and that you believe in that reason, they are more willing to trust your vision. Another thing is investing in people. I care deeply for the people I work with. And when people know you care about them, they give you more grace in allowing you to do what you’ve been asked to do, which is leading.
Q: What still energizes you about the work?
In so many workplaces, you can’t see the tangible outcomes of your work, but with college students, you see it every day. That was true when I was in the classroom, but it’s also been true when I’ve implemented administrative changes, made improvements, and worked with faculty to make their jobs easier so they can do their own work better in the classroom. Everything we do in higher education administration improves the student experience, and that’s exciting. I also still get completely jazzed about working and interacting with students.
Q: Why is keeping a connection with students important?
It’s a good reminder of what we’re all doing here. It is easy, as you move further from the classroom, to get bogged down in the administrivia and the details. So, it’s always a good reminder to talk to that college student, whether they are a traditional 18-year-old freshman or a 31-year-old returning to get their degree, and remember why they are putting in the work and making the sacrifices they are to spend time with us.
DR. GREEN'S FAST FAVORITES
Sports Team?
I’m a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees. (My dad was from the Bronx) and I pull for the Tottenham Hotspurs.
On your playlist?
My taste is pretty eclectic, but I’m a huge fan of R.E.M., The Cure, Alice in Chains, The Clash, Johnny Cash, John Coltrane and Social Distortion.
Best song?
"Thunder Road" by Springsteen. No hesitation.
Work of art?
Seeing Monet’s Water Lilies at Musée de l'Orangerie reset my brain. I must have sat in that room for an hour. I love Rodin’s sculptures, too.
DR. RAY GREEN
on
ROAD NINE GATE ANGEL
A devastating accident. A family's unwavering faith. A young man's extraordinary journey of hope and healing.
words MARLA CANTRELL images THE DODROE FAMILY
The time was 7:30 p.m., on the evening of May 4, 2025. Retired Brigadier General Leon Dodroe and his wife, Michelle, sat outside Hideaway Pizza in Fort Smith, Arkansas, waiting for their seventeen-year-old son, Angelo, who was set to meet them for dinner. That was the moment Michelle’s phone rang.
General Dodroe explained what happened next.
“Michelle identified herself as Angelo’s mom. I immediately knew something was wrong. I opened Life 360 and saw Angelo was heading towards Mount Magazine, 138 miles per hour, ground speed.
“Michelle was crying so hard, and I managed to get confirmation she was on the phone with the police, and he [Angelo] was being taken to Little Rock Children’s [by Life Flight] … We were told Angelo was in a head-on collision with a truck.”
The accident happened just before 6:30 p.m. Angelo had been riding his Kawasaki Vulcan 650 on Gate Nine Road, which runs between Fort Smith and Greenwood. A considerable number of homes line the roadway, and it is well-traveled by locals avoiding nearby Highway 71.
Police determined that Angelo (wearing full protective gear, although the crash dislodged his helmet) was only going 30 mph, as was the driver of the F-250. Angelo had reportedly misinterpreted an intersection, believing he had the right of way, which led to the crash. (Additional signage has since been installed at that location.)
The call from the police triggered General Dodroe’s thirty years of military training. “It was Mission First. I suppressed my emotions and focused on the task at hand.” Once on the highway, he ignored the speed limit. If he got stopped, his plan was to ask for a police escort. He stole glances at his wife, her sobs nearly tearing her apart. He’d witnessed a lot: combat in Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, but he’d never seen agony like hers.
General Dodroe was on medication at the time, so Michelle had been the designated driver earlier that evening. But now, the medication was of little consequence. The pilot and former commander of the 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith had served in the Marine Corps and the U.S. Army. On that drive, the most important of his life, he became more steel and iron than flesh and blood. “I knew what had to be done, and I was the best chance for seeing our son potentially one more time in this world alive.”
neurosurgeons teetering on if, or when, he was going to need an emergency craniotomy. He was only being kept alive by machines and the grace of God.”
An MRI two weeks later confirmed the worst: Traumatic Brain Injury, Diffused Axonal Injury (DAI) Grade 3, which meant there was a significant chance Angelo would die, and if he didn’t, he might spend the remainder of his life in a vegetative state. An unfathomable choice lay in his parents' hands.
General Dodroe had been diagnosed with large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in 2024. The cancer was in his tonsil, the second known documented case in the world, he said, and because of its rarity, none of his doctors could give him a prognosis. Typically, this type of cancer is found in the lung and is especially aggressive. So, he asked for a “scorched earth” plan, with no concern for the side effects he’d face. One week before, he’d undergone neck-dissection surgery at M.D. Anderson, the final step in his treatment, which had been surprisingly successful.
Once the Dodroes arrived at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the General began asking questions about Angelo’s condition, and the answers were bleak. Their son might not survive the night.
“It was living minute to minute that first week, watching him get a hole drilled in his head to relieve pressure, then watching the medical team balance how much fluid could be released safely to avoid secondary brain damage, and the
They could elect to stop Angelo’s life support and let their only child go, but they had to make a choice relatively quickly. If they waited, hoping for a miracle, Angelo’s brain might recover, but only enough to leave him unresponsive, unconscious, yet able to breathe on his own. General Dodroe described that episode as the darkest time of their lives.
With Angelo's future uncertain, his parents could not bear the thought of him passing without being baptized. They called Father Matt Garrison, who had served alongside General Dodroe in the 188th Air Guard.
“I met him at the hospital entrance by myself,” recalls General Dodroe. “After shedding a few tears as I explained the gravity of Angelo's condition, I asked him not only to baptize Angelo, but also to administer Last Rites. I told him I feared God had already given me a miracle and felt guilty that it should have been given to Angelo.”
General Dodroe would have gladly exchanged his fate for his son's, but Father Garrison explained that God didn’t parcel out miracles, one to a family. God’s love and bounty are immeasurable. The two men went to Angelo’s room, where Michelle waited. The priest baptized Angelo but didn’t administer Last Rites. Instead, he prayed for him in the name of Saint Carlo Acutis, who died at age fifteen in 2006 and is sometimes referred to as the Patron Saint of Young People.
Five hours after Father Garrison’s prayer, Angelo opened his eyes for the first time and moved his hands and arms. His medical team gradually took him off life support, and his brain began to reboot. In July, he was transferred to Shirley Ryan Ability Lab in Chicago, one of the top traumatic brain injury hospitals in the world, where he stayed until mid-November. (Angelo will return this fall for another round of intensive therapy.) Because the brain continues to grow until a person’s mid-twenties, there is much that can still be done.
Angelo spent six and a half months in hospitals before returning home. Academically, he was far enough ahead at the time of his accident that he needed only to take one class during his senior year to get his diploma. In May 2026, with much support and guidance from one of Angelo’s beloved teachers, Mrs. Martinez, he graduated from Southside High School, a little more than a year after the crash, and a year after his father was found to be cancer-free.
Before the accident, he was a competitive swimmer at Southside High School and with the Fort Smith Tideriders, a boy his father described as gregarious and full of hopes and
dreams. He’d traveled to Japan, Italy, France, England, and Mexico. Tzoday, Angelo is more introverted, his social group smaller, the scope of his world reduced, at least for now.
“We say grace as a family every evening and pray for continued healing. Angelo has come a long way, but while we celebrate the son we have, we mourn the son we lost. Now we spend our days supporting our boy, knowing he may never live on his own.”
Today, Angelo participates in physical, occupational, speech, and vision therapy each week. He has regained his mobility, the ability to speak and read, and can once again feed and care for himself. From the day doctors believed he might not survive to where he is now, Angelo has exceeded every expectation placed before him.
His journey is far from over. There are still challenges ahead and mountains left to climb, but his family remains grateful for every victory, both big and small. While life may never look exactly as it once did, they consider themselves blessed by how far Angelo has come and inspired by the determination he shows every day.
ANGELO - SHIRLEY RYAN
ANGELO - SOUTHSIDE SWIM TEAM
General Dodroe and Michelle named their only child Angelo because he is their angel. An angel who may have an angel of his own. Because after his 500-pound motorcycle collided with a 6-ton truck, a mysterious woman who said she was a nurse showed up at the crash before the EMTs did. At that point, Angelo was bleeding profusely, his face fractured, his survival prospects turning to vapor. And then she performed CPR, breathing life back into him.
In all the commotion, the woman disappeared before anyone could ask her name. The EMTs do not remember her. She is not listed in the police report. But the other driver saw her ministering to Angelo, as did a witness to the crash. The woman could be exactly who she said she was, a nurse fulfilling her duty as a Good Samaritan.
But faith tells us she could also have been the angel on Gate Nine Road, sent to save a boy whose time had not yet come. The world is full of mysteries, and angels unaware. It is the site of countless miracles, one of whom is named Angelo Dodroe.
Allied Pediatric Therapy
WHERE COLLABORATION CREATES POSSIBILITY
For children facing developmental, physical, behavioral, or communication challenges, progress often depends on more than a single therapy session. It takes a team working together toward a common goal. At Allied Pediatric Therapy, that philosophy is woven into every aspect of care.
The multidisciplinary practice provides occupational, physical, speech, feeding, behavioral, and developmental services for children of all ages and abilities. While each discipline offers specialized expertise, the team believes the greatest outcomes happen when therapists, families, healthcare providers, educators, and children themselves work together as partners.
"The concept of being allied is at the heart of everything we do," the team explains. "Rather than viewing therapy as a series of separate services, we approach care as a collaborative partnership where everyone plays an important role in helping a child reach their milestones."
That collaborative model was the driving force behind Allied's creation. Recognizing that many families struggle to coordinate multiple providers and navigate complex systems, the organization was built to offer
comprehensive services in one supportive environment. The goal remains the same today: making high-quality, family-centered care easy to access while helping children receive the integrated support they need.
Parents and caregivers play a vital role in that process. Allied views families as active members of the care team, providing education, resources, encouragement, and practical strategies that extend progress beyond the therapy room.
Some of the most meaningful moments come when a child achieves a goal that once felt out of reach. Whether it's taking independent steps, communicating a need for the first time, or gaining greater confidence and independence, those milestones represent the power of teamwork in action. As Beth Stamp, PT, DPT, PCS, notes, "When communication is open and consistent, children benefit from a team that is working toward the same goals, giving them the best opportunity to thrive."
Today, Allied Pediatric Therapy continues to build on that mission— helping children thrive through compassionate, collaborative care while reminding families they never have to navigate the journey alone.
Anchored Hope SUPPORTING EMOTIONAL WELLNESS WITH COMPASSIONATE CARE
Anchored Hope Counseling welcomes Dr. Barbara Ellington, M.D., to the team. For more than twenty years, Dr. Ellington has dedicated her career to helping children, adolescents, and their families navigate behavioral and emotional challenges with compassion and individualized care. Together with Dr. Deborah Braboy, they bring extensive experience to families throughout the River Valley.
A graduate of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences who completed her pediatric residency at Arkansas Children's Hospital, Dr. Ellington specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and medication management of a wide range of behavioral health concerns, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, trauma-related symptoms, emotional dysregulation, and school-related challenges. She also works with children experiencing difficulties with focus, sleep, social functioning, and academic performance.
At Anchored Hope Counseling, Dr. Ellington provides comprehensive screenings, ongoing symptom monitoring, and medication evaluation while collaborating closely with parents, caregivers, therapists, teachers, physicians, and advanced practice providers. She believes successful outcomes are built through communication and partnership, ensuring
every child receives support across the environments that shape their daily lives. By carefully monitoring progress and adjusting treatment plans when needed, she helps families navigate challenges while keeping the focus on long-term growth and success.
Dr. Ellington describes her therapeutic style as compassionate while also being direct and straightforward. She emphasizes the importance of involving young people in their own care, encouraging honesty, personal responsibility, and healthy decision-making throughout the treatment process. By helping children better understand their emotions and behaviors, she works to equip them with skills that extend well beyond the therapy setting and support healthier relationships, stronger coping strategies, and greater confidence in everyday life.
"My goal is to help children and teens improve emotional regulation, functioning, coping skills, relationships, academic success, and overall quality of life," Dr. Ellington says.
Through a combination of clinical expertise, collaboration, and familycentered care, Anchored Hope provides children and families with the support and encouragement to move forward with confidence and hope.
Arkansas Pediatric Therapy
A TRUSTED PARTNER FOR FAMILIES ACROSS THE RIVER VALLEY
For twenty-five years, Arkansas Pediatric Therapy (APT) has helped children build skills, confidence, and independence while providing families with the support and encouragement needed to navigate their developmental journey. What began as a vision shared by two physical therapists has grown into one of the River Valley's most trusted pediatric therapy providers.
APT was founded by Francee Doolittle and Kim Hunter, both physical therapists who recognized the need for compassionate, highquality pediatric therapy services delivered in a supportive and family-focused environment. Their goal was not only to help children succeed but also to create a workplace where therapists could thrive while providing exceptional care. Over the years, that vision has grown from a team of two therapists to more than forty therapists and support staff serving children throughout the region.
services through its Fort Smith and Van Buren locations. By offering multiple disciplines under one roof, the organization is able to provide coordinated care that supports every aspect of a child's development.
Families often come to Arkansas Pediatric Therapy seeking answers and support. Through comprehensive evaluations and individualized treatment plans, therapists help children build skills that support success at home, at school, and in the community.
What makes APT's approach unique is the way therapists collaborate across disciplines. A child receiving speech therapy may also benefit from occupational therapy strategies that support sensory regulation, while physical therapy goals may complement skills being developed through ABA services. By coordinating care and reinforcing goals across settings, therapists create additional opportunities for learning, growth, and long-term success.
Rather than viewing challenges through the lens of a single specialty, APT's therapists work together to understand the whole child. Communication among disciplines allows the team to identify connections among motor skills, communication, sensory processing, behavior, and daily living skills, creating treatment plans that are both comprehensive and individualized.
That partnership is one of the reasons families continue to place their trust in APT. Parents and caregivers are viewed as essential members of the team, providing valuable insight and helping children apply newly learned skills at home, at school, and in the community.
That commitment to partnership has helped Arkansas Pediatric Therapy build lasting relationships throughout the River Valley. Over the years, the organization has served generations of families and earned referrals from former clients, physicians, educators, and community partners.
Throughout the years, the organization has celebrated countless milestones alongside families. Some are major achievements, while others may seem small to outsiders but represent life-changing progress for families. Whether it's learning to use utensils, making a new friend, tolerating a challenging environment, or gaining confidence to participate in school activities, each accomplishment is celebrated as an important step forward.
For Lauren Moore, OT, that philosophy reflects the heart of Arkansas Pediatric Therapy. "At APT, we believe every child deserves to be seen, supported, and celebrated," she says. "We try to focus on the whole child and recognize that progress not only comes through therapy, but through connection, encouragement, and trust."
APT is excited to continue strengthening its multidisciplinary model while expanding opportunities for children and families. As awareness and understanding of neurodiversity continue to grow, APT remains committed to providing evidencebased services that help children thrive while empowering families along the way. After twenty-five years of serving River Valley families, the mission remains unchanged: helping children reach their fullest potential while supporting families every step of the way.
The Gregory Kistler Treatment Center
A LEGACY OF HOPE, ADVOCACY, AND ACCESS
For nearly five decades, The Gregory Kistler Treatment Center has helped children and families across the River Valley build skills, overcome challenges, and access the support they need to thrive. What began as one family's search for care has grown into a lasting legacy of hope, advocacy, and opportunity for individuals with developmental disabilities.
The organization was founded in 1978 by Wayne and Betty Kistler after their son, Gregory, suffered injuries in a car accident and required pediatric therapy services that were not available locally. Determined to ensure other families would not face the same barriers, the Kistlers became advocates and established a therapy center in Fort Smith. What began in a single room at Sparks Hospital has evolved into a comprehensive organization serving hundreds of children, adults, and families throughout the region.
Today, The Kistler Center provides therapy services as well as Community Employment Support (CES) and Autism Waiver programs. Through these services, children and adults receive support designed to build independence,
strengthen life skills, and create opportunities for fuller participation in their communities.
While the organization has grown significantly over the years, its mission remains deeply rooted in meeting families where they are. The team works closely with parents, caregivers, schools, physicians, and community partners to ensure every individual receives coordinated support tailored to their unique needs. Whether assisting with therapy goals, helping families navigate waiver programs, or advocating during educational planning meetings, collaboration is at the heart of the organization's approach.
Advances in medicine, increased awareness of developmental disabilities, and improved screening have helped children receive diagnoses and interventions earlier than in the past. As needs have evolved, The Kistler Center has expanded programs and services while remaining committed to individualized care and family-centered support.
One of the ways The Kistler Center stands apart is its commitment to removing barriers to care.
Through its Charitable Care Program, uninsured and underinsured children can receive therapy and other needed services regardless of a family's financial circumstances. The organization also offers scaled fees and financial assistance for families facing high deductibles or insurance limitations.
Early intervention remains one of the organization's highest priorities. By helping families access services as early as possible, The Kistler Center works to build skills that support learning, communication, independence, and participation in everyday life.
The center is equally committed to overcoming communication barriers. By providing access to interpreters, families are able to communicate openly about concerns, goals, and treatment needs. That commitment recently helped one Spanish-speaking family obtain communication devices for two nonverbal children through a partnership with a local business and support from the Charitable Care Program. The experience is a powerful reminder of how community partnerships can change lives.
For the team, the most meaningful moments are often the simplest: hearing a child's first words, celebrating a new skill, or helping a family realize they are not alone. The organization's culture is built on relationships, open communication, and a shared commitment to supporting both families and one another. As Executive Director Gina Mann explains, "Support is waiting for you. We are here to help you on this journey."
As The Gregory Kistler Treatment Center looks toward the future, its focus remains on expanding awareness, increasing advocacy, supporting families, and promoting early intervention. The organization is particularly excited about upcoming opportunities to provide additional parent education, support groups, educational advocacy, and expanded programming through its waiver services. These efforts are designed to provide families with the knowledge, resources, and support they need throughout their journey.
After nearly fifty years of service, their mission continues to be guided by the people at the center of every success story—those striving each day to become the best version of themselves and live full, productive lives.
479.785.4677
3304 South M Street, Fort Smith kistlercenter.org
Learn, Play, Grow Children’s Therapy Services
GROWING WITH FAMILIES SINCE
What began in 2015 as a small pediatric therapy practice founded by two therapists with a shared vision has grown into one of the region's leading children's therapy providers. Today, Learn, Play, Grow Children's Therapy Services operates from an 11,000-square-foot facility in Fort Smith, where a team of 22 therapists provides more than 2,000 treatment sessions each month for over 280 children from birth through age 21.
Co-owners Jennifer Marley, OTR/L, and Mandy Chilton, PT, launched the practice in a 900-square-foot office after realizing they shared similar treatment philosophies and a desire to serve families closer to home. As the practice grew, so did the need for additional space, leading to multiple expansions before settling into its current location in 2022.
The organization's name reflects its philosophy. Learn, Play, Grow believes childhood is built on interconnected experiences, and that children learn best when skills are connected to meaningful activities. Through exploration, imagination, creativity, and play, children develop the foundation for future learning, relationships, emotional regulation, and independence.
Those values are displayed throughout the clinic. Specialized environments, including sensory, creative, imaginative play, calming, and infant spaces, allow therapists to tailor sessions to each child's interests and developmental needs. The practice also emphasizes family involvement, encouraging parents and caregivers to actively participate in therapy and become part of the process.
Beyond clinical services, Learn, Play, Grow has built a culture centered on compassion, encouragement, and teamwork. With five Spanish-speaking team members and a commitment to making every family feel welcomed and supported, the organization continues to expand its reach throughout the River Valley.
As co-owner Mandy Chilton explains, "Our goal is to meet each child and each family where they are and take them beyond where they knew they could be." More than a decade after opening its doors, Learn, Play, Grow remains focused on helping children succeed while becoming a trusted part of each family's village.
Sensory Processing Disorder
Genetic Disorders
Feeding Difficulties
Articulation Disorder
Language Delay
Orthopedics & Sports Injuries
Developmental Delay
Little Hands at Play Therapy
For children, play is much more than entertainment—it is how they learn, communicate, build relationships, and explore the world around them. At Little Hands at Play Therapy, that understanding shapes everything they do.
The clinic was founded on a simple belief: a child's occupation is play.
Through engaging, play-based therapy experiences, children develop important skills while participating in activities that feel natural, meaningful, and fun. Whether navigating an obstacle course, building with blocks, participating in a turn-taking game, or exploring imaginative play, children are learning while doing what comes most naturally to them.
Little Hands at Play Therapy's child-first approach begins with getting to know each child as an individual. Therapists take time to understand a child's interests, personality, strengths, and challenges, then use those insights to create therapy experiences that encourage participation, confidence, and growth. Families are active partners throughout every stage of the therapy process, receiving guidance and practical strategies that serve to extend learning and progress beyond the clinic walls.
The environment at Little Hands at Play is intentionally designed to be welcoming, engaging, and encouraging. The team believes children make their greatest gains when they feel comfortable enough to explore, try new things, and experience success in their own way and at their own pace.
Ask the Little Hands at Play team what they enjoy most about their work, and the answer comes quickly: the children. Whether it's sharing a laugh, hearing a new word spoken for the first time, or watching a child discover something new, the joy children bring to each day is what fuels the team's passion for helping them succeed.
That philosophy is what makes the work so meaningful. “We have the best jobs a person can have, and we truly mean that. It's because of the kids we get to see each and every day,” the Little Hands at Play team shares.
Serving children from birth through age 18 in Fort Smith, Van Buren, Fayetteville, and Oklahoma, Little Hands at Play Therapy remains committed to helping children build skills, discover strengths, and reach their potential through the power of play.
Pediatrics Plus
EMPOWERING CHILDREN TO CONQUER THEIR WORLD
For many families, the search for support begins with uncertainty. Questions about developmental milestones, behavioral concerns, therapy services, and educational needs can feel overwhelming. At Pediatrics Plus, the goal is to ensure families never have to navigate that journey alone.
Serving children through a unique combination of therapy, education, and family support services, Pediatrics Plus focuses on helping children build the skills and confidence needed to thrive in their everyday lives. Through developmental preschool programs, specialized therapies, and individualized care plans, the organization creates opportunities for children to learn, grow, and succeed in ways that are meaningful to them.
Partnership with families is at the heart of that mission. The team works closely with parents and caregivers to develop individualized plans while providing guidance, encouragement, and practical support along the way. Through its dedicated Family Relations Team, Pediatrics Plus also helps families navigate resources, services, Medicaid, and TEFRA, easing some of the burdens that often accompany a child's developmental journey.
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The impact of that support can be life changing. One family came to Pediatrics Plus after their child struggled in a traditional preschool setting and was frequently being sent home due to behavioral challenges. Through the organization's developmental preschool and therapy services, the child gained new skills, confidence, and the support needed to thrive, while the family found guidance and encouragement during a difficult season.
The organization believes progress should be measured by growth rather than timelines. Whether it's making eye contact, trying a new food, speaking a first word, or building a new friendship, every milestone matters.
As Miranda Potts explains, "We want families to know that they are not alone. Reaching out for support can feel overwhelming, but from the very first conversation, our goal is to listen, understand and walk alongside them to identify a plan forward." That philosophy reflects the heart of Pediatrics Plus: empowering children to build confidence, celebrate progress, and ultimately conquer their world. If your child could benefit from the services Pediatrics Plus provides, call 479-632-4600.
Progressive Therapy Solutions
BRINGING PROGRESS CLOSER TO HOME
For many families in rural Eastern Oklahoma, accessing pediatric therapy services once meant traveling significant distances to larger communities. Recognizing that challenge, Kelsey Orendorff returned to school in 2015 to earn her master’s degree in occupational therapy with a goal that was deeply personal: bringing high-quality therapy services to the community she calls home.
That vision became Progressive Therapy Solutions, now the only outpatient clinic in Sequoyah County offering occupational, physical, and speech therapy services under one roof. Serving families throughout Roland, Muldrow, Gans, Sallisaw, Vian, and surrounding communities, the clinic was founded on the belief that children deserve access to exceptional care without leaving the communities where they live, learn, and grow.
Born and raised in Arkansas, Kelsey found her home in Sallisaw through her husband's family. There, she quickly recognized a critical shortage of local pediatric therapy services. Starting an interdisciplinary clinic in a rural community came with challenges, but she believed the families of Eastern Oklahoma deserved the same opportunities and resources available in larger cities.
That commitment is reflected in the organization's name. "Perfection is not the objective, progress is always the goal," Kelsey says. For Kelsey's team, success is measured not by comparison to a timeline, but by helping each child move forward in meaningful ways.
Innovation plays an important role in that process. Therapists utilize evidence-based practices alongside emerging tools and technologies that help children communicate, learn, and participate more fully in daily life. Speech-language pathologist Makayla Sizemore points to advances in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology as one of the most transformative developments in pediatric therapy. Today's communication devices provide children with new opportunities to express their thoughts, needs, and ideas while building independence and confidence.
The team has also witnessed a significant shift in how pediatric therapy approaches individual differences. Rather than focusing solely on developmental milestones, today's therapists place greater emphasis on helping children participate successfully in activities that are important to them and their families. Increased understanding of neurodiversity has encouraged more individualized interventions that build on a child's strengths while promoting independence, participation, and quality of life. That philosophy extends into child-led, play-based therapy approaches that use games, exploration, creativity, and everyday activities to make learning engaging.
Creativity is woven throughout the therapy experience at Progressive Therapy Solutions. Therapists often develop activities based on their own interests and the interests of the
children they serve, creating opportunities for learning through hands-on experiences. One recent project allowed children to observe the growth of butterflies before releasing them, combining communication goals, observation skills, and play into a memorable experience that reinforced learning in a meaningful way.
Progressive Therapy Solutions is also a strong advocate for early intervention. The team has witnessed firsthand how early support can change the trajectory of a child's development. One child who began services shortly after the clinic opened arrived with significant communication, sensory, and feeding challenges. Through consistent therapy, strong family involvement, and a personalized plan of care, the child developed the skills needed to successfully begin kindergarten.
Experiences like that reinforce the team's belief in the power of early intervention. Therapists often remind families that seeking support is not an indication that something is wrong. Instead, it provides valuable information, resources, and opportunities during critical periods of growth and development. By addressing concerns early, children can develop skills that support long-term success at home, in school, and throughout their communities.
Progressive Therapy Solutions is focused on being more than a therapy clinic. Guided by a mission to strengthen children, support families, and invest in the future of rural communities, the organization continues to bring opportunity, encouragement, and hope closer to home. As Kelsey explains, "A community is only as strong as the way it cares for its most vulnerable members. When we invest in children who need extra support, we strengthen families, schools and communities." 918.208.3775
210 Creek Street, Sallisaw OK progressivetherapyok.com
Spectrum Connections
BUILDING CONFIDENCE, CHANGING PERSPECTIVES
Spectrum Connections was founded on a simple but powerful belief: every child deserves to be understood, valued, and recognized for their unique abilities. Through a child-led approach that focuses on sensory and motor development, Spectrum helps neurodivergent children build skills while honoring who they are as individuals.
Founder, Emily Vernon, MS, OTR/L, was inspired to bring a different perspective on autism and neurodiversity to the River Valley after working with a clinic in Oklahoma that emphasized connection, understanding, and respect. This same philosophy continues to guide Spectrum Connections today.
Rather than focusing on compliance, the team focuses on connection. Children's interests are used as a bridge to build trust, relationships, and engagement. "Because we are child-led, we use their interests to foster connection instead of compliance," Emily explains. "With connection, trust and friendship we can build a ladder to reach their long-term goals."
Spectrum Connections also works to challenge common misconceptions about autism. The organization encourages families and communities to view autism as primarily a sensory-motor difference rather than an
Building Connections. Creating Confidence.
intellectual limitation. By operating from a presumption of competence, the team helps children communicate, participate, and demonstrate abilities that may otherwise go unseen.
Families are encouraged to be active participants in the process. Parents often join therapy sessions, learning firsthand how to support independence, strengthen communication, and build upon their child's unique strengths. The team believes even small adjustments in approach can create meaningful opportunities for growth and connection.
Presuming competence is reflected in the clinic's work with Spelling to Communicate (S2C), a method that helps non-speaking and minimally speaking individuals express their thoughts, ideas, and feelings through spelling. Beyond therapy, Spectrum Connections is committed to community education, advocacy, and inclusion through its nonprofit efforts, helping create a more supportive environment for neurodivergent individuals and their families.
At its heart, Spectrum Connections strives to ensure every child and family who walks through its doors feels understood, valued, and capable.
Every child experiences the world in their own way. Spectrum Connections helps children strengthen communication, build confidence, develop social skills, and create meaningful relationships through neurodiversity-affirming support tailored to each child and family.
Stepping Stone
Stepping Stone has been helping children with developmental disabilities and their families access the support, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive for more than 50 years. Founded in 1972 with just two staff members serving six individuals, the organization has grown into a comprehensive service provider that supports children and adults.
For young children, early intervention is at the heart of that mission. Through specialized programs for infants, preschoolers, and children with developmental delays, Stepping Stone provides educational services, therapeutic support, and family-centered care designed to help children build the skills they need for lifelong success.
The organization believes that the earlier developmental challenges are identified, the greater the opportunity for children to make meaningful progress. That philosophy guides every aspect of its children's programs, which focus on creating individualized experiences that support learning, communication, social development, and independence.
Stepping Stone remains committed to serving families who may struggle to find the resources they need elsewhere. Beyond providing direct
services, the Stepping Stone team works to educate, advocate, and create opportunities for children and adults with developmental disabilities throughout the community.
Over the years, Stepping Stone has expanded far beyond its original school model providing vital support for River Valley families. Today, its programs include therapeutic preschool services, infant care, adult developmental programs, vocational training, residential services, and Medicaid Waiver supports. While the organization has grown significantly, its mission remains rooted in helping individuals reach their fullest potential.
"Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and experience success," says Toni Wilson Ward, Executive Director. "Our role is to provide the support, encouragement, and resources that help families move forward with confidence."
More than five decades after its founding, Stepping Stone continues to serve as a trusted partner for families, creating pathways to growth, independence, and opportunity for generations of River Valley children.
A Life in Color
words ANGELA VENNUM with DO SOUTH
images courtesy ANGELA VENNUM
For Angela Vennum, creativity has never been something she does, it’s simply who she is.
From childhood drawings and handmade signs to largescale murals, commissioned artwork, and live wedding paintings, art has shaped nearly every chapter of her life.
Today, the Fort Smith native works from her downtown studio, creating colorful pieces that can be found in homes, businesses, churches, schools, and public spaces throughout the region.
A self-taught artist with more than fifteen years of professional experience, Angela has built a career fueled by hard work, faith, family, and a willingness to embrace new opportunities. Along the way, she has taught young artists, opened a creative business, raised her son, Brooks, and developed a body of work that continues to leave a lasting mark on the community she calls home.
Do South® recently caught up with Angela to discuss creativity, community, the people who have supported her journey, and the dream she’s still excited to pursue.
I'm living out my dream. It has taken a lot of hard work, but it has been worth every sacrifice.
NEON COWGIRL COLLECTION
DS: Have you always been creative?
Angela: Yes! In school, I made banners and posters for the cheerleaders and basketball teams. I even remember being hired to do calligraphy for wedding invitations when I was in sixth grade. I remember thinking, "Wow, people are paying me for handwriting!" I knew art would always be part of my life, but I wasn't sure how to make it my career. In my early twenties, I decided to go for it. I started with nursery art, door hangers, and furniture, and through word-of-mouth referrals and church friends, I jumped at every opportunity.
DS: When did you decide that you wanted to pursue art professionally?
Angela: I've always known I wanted to be an artist. I remember drawing in church as a child and dreaming of one day having my own art studio. I never imagined it would actually happen. I was about twenty-five when I decided to pursue art full time. I was blessed to have incredibly supportive parents. My dad passed away when I was eighteen after battling multiple sclerosis, but he was my biggest fan. My parents always encouraged us to go after our dreams. Between that, my faith, and hard work, I didn't really think about failing. It simply wasn't an option.
DS: Looking back, what are you most proud of?
Angela: I'm most proud of opening Cross My Art in 2012. As a single mom with a two-year-old, I needed to do something. Teaching classes and creating something new for Fort Smith became a form of therapy for me. I was able to hire amazing artists and give our community a place to create. It taught me that I could make a living doing what I love while providing for my little family. Most of all, I'm proud that my son, Brooks, has grown up watching his mom chase a dream. I hope he's learned to be brave and go after whatever he wants in life.
DS: Where does your inspiration come from?
Angela: It could be a color palette, past experiences, or even the weather. If it's sunny and warm, I tend to paint bright colors. In the fall and winter, I lean more into abstracts and subtle landscapes. Recently, I went to the rodeo and was so inspired that I created an entire series of cowgirl paintings!
DS: What draws you to creating art in so many different formats?
Angela: I think working in retail taught me how to read people. I've learned how to see someone's space, whether it's
a home or business, and understand their style. That helps me create something specifically for them. I also love the challenge of trying something new. It pushes me creatively and ultimately makes me a better artist.
DS: What does it mean to see your work become part of the community?
Angela: I've had the privilege of painting murals for churches, schools, nursing homes, the Cancer Support House, and local businesses. It's a wonderful feeling, especially as I get older and think about what I want to
leave behind. I believe using our gifts to give back is important. It feels good to create something lasting.
DS: Is there a project you can share that holds a special place in your heart?
Angela: It's hard to choose just one! I recently painted a mural for the hospice wing at Methodist Village Senior Living, and that was incredibly meaningful. Knowing what families may be experiencing in that space, I spent a lot of time praying over the design and choosing something peaceful. I'm also very proud of the mural I painted for the children's building at First Baptist Church in Greenwood. Knowing all the children and families who will experience that space makes it especially meaningful.
DS: What do you enjoy most about your live event paintings?
Angela: I remember my first one—I was so nervous because I had no idea what I was going to do. But I love a challenge and thrive under pressure. For weddings, I visit with every bride beforehand and make sure I understand what she envisions. I love being part of such joyful celebrations, and I feel it's my job to capture the emotions during the event. My hope is that when people see the finished painting, they're immediately taken back to that moment in time.
LIVE PAINTING AT FSRAM GALA
Having him by my side allows me to say yes to larger projects, knowing we (he) can figure it out together.
DS: Tell us about the people who support you behind the scenes.
Angela: There aren't enough words to describe my mother, Ruth. Whether it's baking cookies for a class, washing brushes, delivering artwork, or helping with everyday tasks, she's always there. At seventy-eight, she never slows down. We truly enjoy living together, and we're a great team! My partner, Tim, is one of a kind. He builds my frames, wooden signs, installs artwork, and somehow always makes my big ideas happen. One of our largest projects included sixtyfive pieces of artwork, some more than eight feet long. He built every frame, I painted, and then we spent days installing everything. Having him by my side allows me to say yes to larger projects, knowing we (he) can figure it out together.
DS: What are some dream projects that are still on your bucket list?
Angela: At the top of my list is painting a mural in downtown Fort Smith! With Bricktown Brewery being rebuilt just across the street from my studio, I'd love the opportunity to create something there. I'd also love to paint live weddings in Florida. I've painted murals in Panama City Beach, and I think a beach wedding would be so much fun. Another goal is to host an art show in my gallery showcasing fellow artists.
TIM AND ANGELA
ANGELA WITH SON, BROOKS, AND MOM, RUTH
DS: What would you like to leave our readers with?
Angela: Find your gift, whatever that is—art, speaking, writing—and find a way to do it every day. Even if it starts as a hobby, you'll find more peace and joy by making time for it. And who knows? Maybe you'll turn it into a career. I'm living out my dream. It has taken a lot of hard work, but it has been worth every sacrifice.
More than fifteen years into her artistic journey, Angela still approaches each project with the same enthusiasm that first inspired her to pick up a pencil as a child. Whether she is painting a mural, teaching a young artist, or capturing a wedding day on canvas, her goal remains unchanged: to create something meaningful. Connect with Angela on social media at Angela Vennum Art.
Speed Racer, Go, Go!
words DWAIN HEBDA // images courtesy CASEY COLLYAR
For most people, a trip to the go kart track is generally reserved for birthday parties or a little family fun. But for those with a serious need for speed, tracks such as K1 Speed in Rogers, Arkansas allow lead foots of all ages to take it to the next level in competitive leagues.
That’s exactly how Cason Collyar of Van Buren, Arkansas found his passion in life, something those who know him best say he was born to do. Visiting K1 Speed basically on a whim, Cason was immediately taken with the sport of racing and more than that, he was really good at it, blowing out kids his own age as well as smoking adults on the track.
“Well, I heard there was a new go kart track opening up in Rogers. So, I went there, I got a card, an invitation to the league that they have,” says the soft-spoken teenager. “I decided to join and that's where it really kicked off.”
Cason’s nonchalance doesn’t do his accomplishments justice. Not only is he all-but-unbeatable on his home track, especially among the occasional weekend warriors, but he’s a stalwart in league play among fellow competitors.
The teen racing prodigy says the learning curve was fairly smooth and something he picked up right away.
“What was hard to learn was the force pulling on you and knowing ‘Oh, I could get hurt in this,’ instead of just being on a video game with a controller and spinning out crashing,” he says. “When you crash in a kart, it hurts.”
Crashes have been few and far between for Cason, as his résumé attests. Starting in the junior age division, he took first in the league and second in state racing, sending him to the national meet. His first nationals didn’t pan out that well and inspired him to practice and get better.
CASON COLLYAR
Next time out, he moved up to the teen division, again qualifying for the national race. There, he placed eighth in the elite A-Main pool qualifier and placed sixth nationally in the final. None of this surprises K1 Speed’s franchise owner, Buster Vanhoosen, who spotted Cason’s potential right away.
“Getting to meet Cason for the first time and his family, I mean, you could tell that racing runs in their blood just like it runs in mine. They're addicted to cars and going fast,” says Buster.
“He absolutely stood out right away. You can see it in him; he's got the attitude of a professional race car driver and the determination to win.
“You can read it all over Cason's face. He kind of gets that wave across him where you're like, ‘Oh, hey, it's race time.’”
Cason first discovered a love for racing and competition as a youngster racing radio-controlled cars. His mother, Casey, recalls with a laugh the looks on the faces of his fellow competitors seeing an elementary school-aged kid literally running laps around them.
“He started out racing remote-control cars (RCC) at GS Hobby in Barling, Arkansas,” she says. “It was 2020, and he's just kicking tail. This was RCC, where it's all hand-eye coordination and there were grown men standing next to him and they were asking, ‘Where did this kid come from?’”
Cason was just starting to outgrow the activity when his grandfather, Terry Carson, took him to the K1 Speed facility to check out the go karts. “I wasn't there with them,” Casey says. “(Terry) brought him home and said, ‘Hey, Cason's going to join the league. Here's how much it is, and I'll make sure he gets to league racing nights.’”
Racing sounds like an expensive pastime, and it can be, but at the junior level that basically came down to expenses for traveling to practice and competition. At the teen division where Cason now drives, safety equipment such as a fire suit and special helmet is required due to the speeds the karts can reach at that level.
“The karts that are here locally go forty-five miles per hour,” Cason says, again as calm as talking fishing. “The ones at nationals go eighty miles per hour.”
Racers don’t foot the bill on the cars themselves because in order to keep it fair, vehicles are issued to drivers at the competition. This eliminates racers from making modifications to give them an advantage, but it doesn’t necessarily mean all the karts are created equally. K1 Speed does their best to have evenly matched cars, however sometimes one may have better tires or a stronger battery, but it comes down to the talent of the driver.
Whatever the equipment or conditions, it’s hard to imagine Cason any different than the laid-back, man-of-few-words
TRAVIS, CASON, NORA, CASEY COLLYAR AND GRANDFATHER TERRY
that he comes across as in interviews. After all, it is that levelheadedness that everyone on Team Cason agrees is part of his gift on the track.
“Well, in a race, you just got to be calm and if something happens, you just got to move on and keep on driving,” Cason says. “If you get upset and angry, you'll make a mistake and that just makes the situation worse.”
“Cason has been this way his entire life. Just cool,” Casey says. “Came into this world early, six weeks early as a preemie twin, and has just been chill all the time. It drives me crazy because I am just a very excited person; I'm in sales, go, go, go. Cason’s just chill.”
His father, Travis, says that calmness is rooted in something deeper. “Cason has a natural, God-given faith,” he says. “He truly cares about others, how they feel, and how they are being treated.” Travis points to the verse James 1:19 — “Be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger” — as one that reflects the way Cason approaches both racing and everyday life.
The past two years have been a wild ride for the whole family. While Cason was learning with each lap how to get better on the track, his family learned a few things of their own. Casey recalls with a groan how after Cason’s subpar outing at nationals as a junior, she made a fateful decision when he returned to the national event in the teen division.
“Junior league, smaller track, much slower karts, and it was honestly quite boring for his twin sister and I to watch. We love racing, but good grief, it was like six days of it,” she says. “Plus, it was on a track where he slid off in a turn and my heart went to my throat and I said, ‘I'm out. I won't come back next year and watch this when he’s going eighty miles per hour.’ I told my husband and Cason, ‘You guys, go ahead, have a good time.’
“And so, what takes place, of course, I'm just hoping that he makes twentieth place to get into that A-Main to compete and he qualified eighth. At that point I thought, ‘Why did I not go to nationals? I'm a terrible mother!’”
The teenage years often bring shifting interests and hobbies, but not for Cason. His passion for racing remains as strong as ever. He travels to Rogers once a month to practice live, and admits he’d be on the track every day if he lived closer.
When he’s not racing in person, Cason stays behind the wheel through iRacing, a highly realistic e-sport that allows competitors to race in leagues with drivers from around the world. Using a full simulator he purchased with money earned from after-school jobs, he logs more than twenty hours a week honing his skills. His success has been so dominant in the amateur division that he is likely to move up to compete against older, more experienced racers.
The path is a familiar one in motorsports, with many NASCAR drivers using simulation racing as a steppingstone in their development. Whether it’s on the track, in the simulator, or watching races from every league and discipline on television, racing remains at the center of his world.
“I am most definitely a racing enthusiast away from the track,” he says. “I watch F1, NASCAR, IndyCar, you name it. My goal is to drive for Porsche Penske Motor Sports and hopefully win championships one day. Being with Porsche and Penske is the dream.” Fans can follow Cason on Instagram at Collyar.Racing, and YouTube at CJ.Collyar.Racing.
CASON IN HIS IRACING SIMULATOR
Welcome to Peachstock
THE JOHNSON COUNTY PEACH FESTIVAL RETURNS JULY 16–18
or nearly ninety years, Arkansas families have been making their way to downtown Clarksville for one of the state's most beloved summer traditions. Returning July 16–18, the Johnson County Peach Festival combines hometown charm, peach-inspired fun, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities into three days of celebration that have become a hallmark of summer in the Arkansas River Valley.
As Arkansas's longest-running festival, Peach Fest honors the fruit that helped shape Johnson County's agricultural heritage. Throughout the weekend, visitors can enjoy a variety of peachthemed events, including the Peach Cobbler Bake-Off, Jam and Jelly Contest, Peach Pie-Eating Contest, Peach-Eating Contest, and the always-entertaining Peach Pit-Spitting Contest.
Of course, there's much more to the festival than peaches.
Families will find plenty to keep children entertained, from the Diaper Derby and Fishing Derby to the Frog Jump, Terrapin Derby, and Pocket Car Races. Other favorites include the Water Balloon Toss, Frozen T-Shirt Contest, and the legendary Greased Pig Chase—a festival
tradition that never fails to draw cheers and laughter from spectators.
One of the weekend's most anticipated events is the Cardboard Boat Regatta, where teams race homemade vessels in a test of creativity, engineering, and luck. Visitors can also enjoy a Car & Truck Show and Shine, carnival rides, vendor booths, and a variety of local food offerings throughout the festival grounds.
Music is yet another highlight. The Johnson County Idol competition kicks things off Thursday evening, followed by a downtown Street Dance that brings the community together for a summer night of fun. Live performances continue throughout Friday and Saturday on the Peach Fest Entertainment Stage, culminating with a Saturday night concert by country music favorite Collin Raye.
No Peach Festival experience would be complete without the annual Festival Parade. Winding through downtown Clarksville on Saturday evening, the parade remains one of the festival's most cherished traditions, drawing families to Main Street to celebrate community spirit and hometown pride.
Located just over an hour from Fort Smith, the Johnson County Peach Festival makes an easy day trip and offers a chance to experience one of Arkansas's most treasured summertime events. Whether you're sampling fresh peach treats, browsing vendor booths around the courthouse square, cheering on competition contestants, or enjoying live music under the summer sky, Peach Fest delivers the kind of small-town memories that keep visitors coming back year after year.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Johnson County Peach Festival July 16–18, 2026
Downtown Clarksville, Arkansas Festival Hours
Thursday: 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Friday: 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
DON'T MISS THESE PEACH FES T TRADITIONS
Peach Bowl Tournament
Johnson County Idol
Peach Corn Hole Tournament
Car & Truck Show and Shine
Peach-Eating Contest
Bass Tournament
Peach Pit-Spitting Contest
Greased Pig Chase
Cardboard Boat Regatta
Peach Festival Parade
Collin Raye Live in Concert
For a complete schedule of events, visit jocopeachfest.com.
IN JULY Christmas
RENTAL SPECIAL
Book your holiday party at the Fort Smith Convention Center between July 1-31, 2026 and receive a 50% discount on room rental!
Offer applies to new contracts issued between July 1–31, 2026. Not valid on existing holds or previously issued contracts.
An expertly paired protocol that decongests pores and stimulates collagen, revealing the
been after.
Peach BBQ Chicken Pizza
Sweet Arkansas peaches, pulled rotisserie chicken, melty mozzarella, and a drizzle of barbecue sauce come together in this easy recipe that’s perfect for cookouts, lake weekends, and casual entertaining.
ingredients
(serves 4–6 as an appetizer)
° 1 pr epared pizza or flatbread crust
° 1 cup c ooked, pulled rotisserie chicken
° ¼ cup S weet Baby Ray's Original Barb ecue Sauce, more for drizzling
° 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
° 1 rip e peach, thinly sliced
° ¼ small r ed onion, thinly sliced
° 1 Tablespoon olive oil
° cilantr o, bacon crumbles (optional)
method
Preheat oven to 425°F. Place the crust on a baking sheet or pizza stone. Brush lightly with olive oil. In a small bowl, toss the shredded chicken with the barbecue sauce until evenly coated.
Spread barbeque sauce over the crust in a thin layer. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over top. Top with the barbecue chicken, peach slices, and red onion. Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges of the crust are lightly golden.
Remove from oven and drizzle with additional barbecue sauce. Garnish with fresh cilantro and bacon crumbles if desired. Slice and serve warm.
CHEF TIPS
For extra flavor, grill the peach slices for 1–2 minutes per side before adding them to the flatbread.
Want to take it up a notch? Sprinkle a few tablespoons of crumbled bacon over the flatbread before baking.
BERRY Shortcake Board
This easy shortcake board combines buttery shortcakes, fresh berries, and fluffy whipped cream for a festive Fourth of July treat that guests can build themselves.
ingredients
(serves 8–10)
° 8 pr epared shortcakes or bakery-style biscuits
° 1 lb. fresh strawberries, hulle d and sliced
° 1 pint blueb erries, fresh
° 2 cup s whipped cream/topping
° ¼ cup s trawberry preserves, optional
° fr esh mint leaves, garnish
method
Arrange the shortcakes on a large serving board or platter. Place the strawberries, blueberries, whipped cream, and strawberry preserves in small bowls and arrange them among the shortcakes. Scatter additional berries around the board and garnish with fresh mint leaves.
To serve, split a shortcake in half and layer with whipped cream, strawberries, blueberries, and a spoonful of preserves if desired.
Stars, Stripes & Berry Spritz
A refreshing summer cocktail featuring fresh berry flavors, citrus, and sparkling lemonade. Light, bright, and perfect for warm July evenings.
Fill a glass with ice. Pour the strawberry syrup and lemon juice into the glass. Add vodka and lemonade. Stir gently. Top with sparkling water. Garnish with fresh blueberries, a lime wheel, and a sprig of mint.
ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY. NEVER DRINK, THEN DRIVE.
Red, White & BlueBeRRy Dream Float
A festive, kid-friendly treat featuring strawberry, vanilla, and blueberry flavors.
Perfect for Fourth of July celebrations, summer parties, or a special afternoon treat!
words DO SOUTH image LAZHKO SVETLANA SHUTTERSTOCK
ingredients
(serves 2)
° s trawberry ice cream
° v anilla ice cream
° blueb erry ice cream
° milk
° garnish (op tional)
° whipp ed cream
° b erries
° sprinkle s
° s traw, decorative flags, picks
method
Blend 1 cup strawberry ice cream and ¼ cup milk until smooth and thick. Divide between two tall glasses, filling each about one-third full. Place the glasses in the freezer for 10–15 minutes to help set the layer. Blend 1 cup vanilla ice cream and ¼ cup milk until smooth. Carefully spoon over the strawberry layer. Return glasses to the freezer for another 10 minutes. Blend 1 cup blueberry ice cream and ¼ cup milk until smooth. Carefully spoon over the vanilla layer. Top with whipped cream, fresh berries, and festive sprinkles. Serve immediately!
Imagine extraordinary care.
At Arkansas Children’s, every medical breakthrough begins with imagination. Visit our hospitals, and you’ll see evidence of our biggest expansion of pediatric health care ever. Our doctors, nurses and researchers are constantly imagining the next discoveries in cardiology or allergy care, or the safest treatments for diabetes or cancer. From life-saving pediatric heart surgeries to the discoveries yet to come, imagine what’s next with Arkansas Children’s.
Learn more about how we’re expanding pediatric health care at archildrens.org/Imagine.
TAKE ME THERE
FOUR DESTINATIONS TO EXPERIENCE FULLY
words DO SOUTH
Every destination has a personality. Some are bold and dramatic, defined by towering mountains and unforgettable scenery. Others reveal themselves more slowly through quiet villages, winding roads, local traditions, and unexpected discoveries. The places that leave the deepest impression are often those that make us feel connected not only to where we are, but also to the experience of exploring something new.
This month's destinations showcase four very different corners of the world, each offering its own character, atmosphere, and sense of adventure. Whether your travel style leans toward alpine escapes, coastal road trips, historic landscapes, or wide-open wilderness, these remarkable places invite you to immerse yourself fully in the journey.
And while dreaming about travel is easy, planning it can sometimes feel overwhelming. From choosing the right destination and accommodations to coordinating transportation, excursions, and logistics, there are countless details to consider. Fortunately, experienced professionals like the team at locally owned Kelly Co Travel can help simplify the process, creating personalized itineraries that allow travelers to focus less on the planning and more on the adventure ahead.
After all, the best trips aren't measured by how much ground we cover, but by how deeply we experience the places along the way.
MONTANA
IDEAL STAY: 5–8 days
BEST TIME TO GO: June–September
WHY IT WORKS:
Mountain scenery, national parks, wildlife, outdoor recreation
Montana offers something increasingly difficult to find: space. Vast landscapes stretch toward distant mountain ranges, roads seemingly disappear into the horizon, and the pace of life slows beneath the state's famously big skies.
Glacier National Park draws visitors from around the world with glacier-fed lakes, alpine meadows, and the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road. Wildlife sightings are common, and even a simple drive can reveal breathtaking views.
Charming mountain towns, working ranches, and lakeside communities create opportunities to experience the region's culture and hospitality. Visitors can spend their days hiking, horseback riding, fishing, or simply soaking in the scenery from a lodge porch overlooking the mountains.
Surrounded by open landscapes and endless skies, it's easy to reconnect with nature, slow down, and appreciate the beauty of simply being present.
SCENES FROM THE JOURNEY
Grinnell Glacier Trail Views, Glacier National Park (p.60) • Lake Josephine Glacier National Park Fly Fishing (Visit Montana) • Montana Fields • Big Timber • Missoula Skyline
OREGON
IDEAL STAY: 5–8 days
BEST TIME TO GO: June–September
WHY IT WORKS:
Diverse landscapes, coastal beauty, waterfalls, outdoor adventure
Oregon's greatest strength may be its ability to constantly surprise. Few destinations offer such a dramatic variety of experiences within a single trip. Towering waterfalls, rugged coastlines, volcanic landscapes, dense evergreen forests, and mountain lakes all exist within a day's drive of one another.
Along the coast, dramatic cliffs and windswept beaches create some of the most recognizable landscapes in the Pacific Northwest. Inland, the Columbia River Gorge reveals waterfall after waterfall tucked between towering canyon walls, while Crater Lake's vivid blue waters leave visitors speechless.
Towns and cities add another layer of appeal. Browse local shops, discover thriving food scenes, or relax with a craft beverage after a day outdoors. Whether exploring coastal villages, hiking scenic trails, or simply enjoying the changing landscape through the car window, Oregon delivers a sense of discovery that few destinations can match.
SCENES FROM THE JOURNEY
Portland Redwoods • Portland Old Town • Cannon Beach • Multnomah Falls
Willamette Valley Wine Region • Oregon Coast Highway
PERFECT FOR: Couples, active travelers, photographers, bucket-list explorers
Switzerland often feels less like a destination and more like a collection of postcard-worthy moments brought to life. Snowcapped peaks rise above emerald valleys, flower-filled balconies overlook crystal-clear lakes, and storybook villages seem untouched by time. Everywhere you look, the landscape feels impossibly polished, yet entirely natural.
What surprises many visitors is how seamlessly the country blends adventure with comfort. Scenic trains glide through mountain tunnels and across dramatic viaducts, connecting travelers to destinations like Zermatt, Interlaken, and Lucerne. One moment you may be cruising across a turquoise lake, the next ascending high into the Alps where glaciers, hiking trails, and panoramic viewpoints stretch for miles.
Outdoor cafés, local markets, and charming town squares invite visitors to settle in and enjoy their surroundings. It's a destination that rewards curiosity, offering breathtaking views around every corner while never feeling rushed.
PERFECT FOR: Couples, history lovers, photographers, cultural explorers
Scotland possesses a certain atmosphere that’s difficult to describe until you've experienced it. Mist drifts across rolling hills, ancient stone castles emerge along winding roads, and vast lochs reflect skies that seem to change by the hour.
Much of Scotland's appeal lies in the journey itself. Scenic drives through the Highlands reveal sweeping valleys, rugged coastlines, and quiet villages where local traditions remain strong.
Cities like Edinburgh balance history and energy with surprising ease. Medieval streets, historic landmarks, and lively cafés create an atmosphere that feels timeless and welcoming. Beyond the cities, destinations like the Isle of Skye and Glencoe showcase some of the country's most dramatic scenery.
Scotland invites exploration at a slower pace. Every castle, village, and winding road seems to carry its own story, making the experience feel less like a vacation and more like stepping into another world.
Pets are more than companions, they're family. From routine wellness and grooming to playtime and lifelong care, we’re spotlighting the local businesses that keep our four-legged family members happy and healthy!
Compassionate Veterinary Care for the Pets You Love
From routine wellness visits and vaccinations to diagnostics, surgery, and senior pet care, our experienced team is dedicated to helping your pets live long, healthy, happy lives. Whether you’re welcoming a new puppy or caring for a lifelong companion, we’re here with personalized care you can trust.
479.974.4199 • labahnvet.com 4100 Kelley Hwy., Fort Smith, AR Schedule your pet’s appointment today and experience the difference compassionate veterinary care can make.
4100 Kelley Hwy., Fort Smith
479.974.4199 labahnvet.com
For more than seventy-five years, Labahn Veterinary Hospital has been helping pets in the River Valley live healthier, happier lives through compassionate, personalized veterinary care. From routine wellness exams and vaccinations to dental care, diagnostics, surgery, and urgent care services, the team is committed to supporting pets through every stage of life. The hospital's experienced veterinarians and staff believe strong relationships are at the heart of great care, taking time to educate pet owners and provide guidance tailored to each pet's unique needs. Whether welcoming a new puppy or kitten, managing a chronic condition, or helping a senior pet enjoy their golden years, Labahn Veterinary Hospital remains dedicated to treating every patient like family and every visit with the compassion and attention pets deserve.
Located in historic downtown Van Buren, Lolly & Pups is more than a pet store, it's a destination for pet lovers who enjoy spoiling their four-legged family members. From wholesome treats and
durable toys to stylish collars, leashes, apparel, travel gear, and gifts, every item is thoughtfully selected with both pets and their people in mind. Owner Becky Correro has created a welcoming space where quality, personality, and fun come together. Whether you're celebrating a new puppy, searching for the perfect gift, or simply looking for something special for your favorite companion, Lolly & Pups offers a carefully curated selection designed to make tails wag and pet owners smile. It's a place where the bond between people and pets is celebrated every
Rover Valley Natural Pet
2801 Old Greenwood Road, Fort Smith 479.222.5646 rovervalleynatural.com
At Rover Valley, we treat every pup like nobility, regardless of pedigree. Think of us as your dog’s loyal staff. Straightthrough appointments ensure individualized attention—okay, we might not always be poised, but we’re professional and committed to putting your pet’s needs first! Our luxurious, high-quality products are safe and effective, and our add-on services are top tier: Warren London anti-itch foot soak, Tauro tear-stain remover, Iv San Bernard deep conditioning mask, Plaq-Clnz treatments and more. With a stylish trim fit for high tea or a sporty cut that’s perfect for going out with the hounds, your dog will leave feeling positively aristocratic. Text (479) 222-5646 for more info, because you both deserve the attention of the nobility at court, minus the drama!
THE PETS We Love
We asked, and you answered with wagging tails, whiskers, and lots of personality! Enjoy just a handful of our reader-submitted pets from across the River Valley—proof that life is better with animals by our side. View all submissions on our Facebook page!
Pet Smarts
4100 Kelley Hwy., Fort Smith, AR 479.974.4199
labahnvet.com
What
are some
health issues
you wish pet owners would catch earlier?
Heartworms - a parasite passed to both dogs and cats through mosquito bites, which can be fatal. It’s easily preventable and can be tested for by doing a quick in-clinic blood test. Treatment is extremely long, costly, and can be hard on the patient. Signs to watch for are coughing, gagging, and exercise intolerance. Also, fleas and ticks, which can spread dangerous diseases and cause severe anemia requiring emergency treatment. Signs to watch for include scratching, chewing, skin redness or inflammation, and hair loss.
What
is a preventive
care service
that can impact a pet's longterm health and quality of life?
Yearly annual bloodwork! Performing bloodwork provides a baseline in a patient's health and care and should not be reserved just for geriatric (7+ years old) or sick pets. The sooner we can catch trends or issues, the better or more likely we may be able to treat or control serious illnesses.
Trusted Advice for Happier, Healthier Pets
703 Main Street, Van Buren, AR
479.343.9532
lollyandpups.com
What is one thing every new pet owner should know?
Not every product is right for every pet! Age, size, breed, activity level, and even personality play a role in choosing the best food, treats, toys, and accessories. Focus on safety and quality first. Read ingredient labels, choose appropriately sized toys, and look for durable products that match your pet’s chewing and play style. Take the time to learn your pet’s individual needs.
How can dogs stay mentally stimulated and engaged at home?
Puzzle toys, treat-dispensing toys, and snuffle mats encourage dogs to use their natural problem-solving and foraging instincts. Short training sessions engage their minds while reinforcing good behavior. Teaching a new trick, practicing obedience commands, or even playing hide-and-seek with treats can provide valuable mental exercise. Rotating toys can keep things interesting, and interactive playtime with family members helps strengthen the bond between pets and their owners.
Rover Valley Natural Pet
2801 Old Greenwood Road, Fort Smith, AR 479.222.5646
rovervalleynatural.com
What's the biggest misconception pet owners have about grooming?
Waiting until you think your dog needs grooming. If you wait until there are tangles or matting, it’s too late. Pet grooming should be viewed as a preventative measure to keep them clean and comfortable. Brushing your pup before they get tangled prevents painful mats. Trimming nails regularly avoids uncomfortable overgrowth (long nails are painful). Regular professional grooming every 4 - 6 weeks, with maintenance at home, keeps your pet looking and feeling their best, and reduces grooming stress.
What can owners do at home to help reduce grooming anxiety?
Start young and teach your dog grooming doesn’t have to be scary. Make grooming time at home a positive experience by brushing often, handling feet and ears, and supplying lots of treats and praise. Discuss proper brushes and an at-home schedule with your groomer. For our regular clients, we offer brush-out services for keeping up with the task. We are your partners in your pet’s care!
GUIDE: ASK THE EXPERTS
Questions answered. Insights shared. Advice you can trust. Our annual Ask the Experts Guide brings together local professionals to provide practical tips, helpful information, and real-world solutions on topics that matter most to River Valley families.
2026
RESERVATION DEADLINE: JULY 18, 2026
CATHERINE FREDERICK / 479.782.1500 / CATHERINE@DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM Do South® Sponsored Content
PROFILES: MEN OF MERIT
Celebrating the men making a positive impact. From business leaders and entrepreneurs to dedicated professionals and community advocates, Men of Merit highlights the individuals whose leadership, service, and accomplishments help shape the River Valley.
