holiday updater

The UpdaterHoli

day

Covering Pine Bluff, Southeast and Central Arkansas

NEW LOCATION!

Doc’s Resale Shop

Doc’s Resale Shop has moved to a new, convenient location!

Since 1946

4323 Dollarway RoadPine Bluff

870-535-2020

Great gift selections! Beautiful jewelry, musical instruments, electronics, car stereos and much more!

Watch batteries, one-day jewelry repair, glasses repaired same day. We also do computer repairs. We buy gold.

Owners, Michael and Lann KelleyThe Pawn Shop With Class!

www.issuu.com/pinebluffupdater

The UpdaterHoli

day

Covering Pine Bluff, Southeast and Central Arkansas

For more information or to learn about sponsorships, email [email protected], call 870.536.7600

or visit www.PineBluffFestival.org.

Enchanted Land of Lights & Legends

OPEN NIGHTLYPINE BLUFF - JEFFERSON COUNTY REGIONAL PARK

6PM - 9PMNOVEMBER 18 - DECEMBER 31

Free Admission.Donations generously accepted by community volunteers.

Arkansas Largest Drive Thru of Holiday Displays.T R A N S F O R M E R S

NEW LOCATION!

Doc’s Resale Shop

Doc’s Resale Shop has moved to a new, conieient location!

Since 1946


870-535-2020

Great gift selections! Beautiful jewelry, musical instruments, electronics, car stereos and much more!

Watch batteries, one-day jewelry repair, glasses repaired same day. We also do computer repairs. We buy gold.

Owners, Michael and Lann KelleyThe Pawn Shop With Class!

www.issuu.com/pinebluffupdater

Shop local. Shop Sissy’s Log Cabin. See page 10 for more.

Looking for an extraordinary gift?

Recipes Galore!S e e i n s i d e !FRE ETa k e on e

Shop Local. Shop Sissy’s Log Cabin. See page 10 for more.

Looking for an extraordinary gift?

Recipes Galore!S e e i n s i d e !FRE ETa k e on e

FALL/WINTER 2014

| SPRING 2014

Mayor’s Holiday Messagehis Holiday Season I wish to thank the citizens of Pine Bluff for their ongoing commitment and support in achieving a greater

level of excellence in our community. We are continuing to promote the revitalization and stability of our neighborhoods, the enrichment of edu-cation in our public schools and the overall beautification and prosper-ity of our great city, which equates to an increase in local employment opportunities.

The progress and success within our community is also due to the hard working employees of this city and their dedication to serve the public with quality and conviction. As this Christmas season approach-es, I extend my appreciation to the Pine Bluff City employees, elected officials and the numerous collective of volunteers who grace our city with their time and talents each year. In addition, I and my staff would like to express to you and your families; Season’s Greetings and Merry Christmas to one and all.

Sincerely,Debe HollingsworthMayor

T

The Honorable Debe Hollingsworth

Mayor

ine Bluff Mayor Debe Hollingsworth hopes the municipality can lay the

foundation for population growth and new jobs in 2015, utilizing an analysis of a consultant hired last year to evaluate the city’s strengths and weaknesses.

Hollingsworth said she was impressed by the major population growth and thousands of new jobs added to local payrolls in Jonesboro after the city hired a consultant to evaluate the Northeast Arkansas town’s good and bad points two decades ago.

Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin cited the accuracy of the evaluation made during the term of one of his predecessors, Hollingsworth noted.

Hollingsworth said the

consultant researched Jonesboro’s image, workforce, transportation infrastructure, utilities, water source, strengths and weaknesses before suggesting the city target companies that manufacture prepared food.

Jonesboro recruited Frito-Lay, Post cereal and Nestle, along with others, to build manufacturing plants. Each company has since expanded production lines and added employees, Perrin noted.

“We need to understand the dynamics of our city,” Hollingsworth explained during a recent interview in her City Hall office. “We need to understand where we are and where we can go.”

The city’s chief executive officer noted she is not interested in reinventing the wheel, noting

the Pine Bluff Image Campaign Committee has been functioning for a decade and the 20/20 Initiative launched in 2007 by then Mayor Carl A. Redus Jr., drew more than 700 to a series of public forums.

“We must realize the existing dynamics,” she said, “to form a vision for our city. For too many years we depended on International Paper and the railroads.”

An analysis of the 20/20 Initiative – which took three years from organizational efforts to a report – was detailed in a Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation study.

A key individual involved in the 20/20 Initiative noted early in the process that Pine Bluff suffers from “an inferiority complex we need to reverse.”

“Getting communities to see their strengths rather than their weaknesses are an extraordinarily important step in a change process,” observed a consultant working for the Rockefeller foundation.

“It’s not a process that will be done quickly,” Hollingsworth observed. “The best way to change an image is changing the attitude of the residents of our city.”

City officials will be busy through the end of the year working on the 2015 municipal budget, Hollingsworth said, adding she does not have a time frame for the consultant to complete the analysis.

“I do know it will not happen overnight,” the mayor said. “We want to do this right. You can’t change a city’s image with billboards.”

‘You Can’ t Change a City’ s Image with a Billboard’

P

FALL/WINTER 2014

SPRING 2014 | PAGE 3facebook.com/theupdater

Christmas is Coming!

Pictured are Reggie and Lori Cole,owners of Natural Bliss.

See page 31 for their advertisement “Becoming Healthier the Natural Way.”

Stop by Imagine, a new unique gift shop, for your Holiday Shopping! See more on pages 30 and 31.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from

State Representative Mike Holcomb and wife Dee

We are living our dream: To open a health and wellness

store that offers natural, organic and healthy alternatives for custom-ers looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Some of the items offered at Natural Bliss: Natural supple-ments, vitamins, bath & body prod-ucts, Non-Gmo foods, Gluten-free foods, gourmet oils, aromatherapy oils, natural hair vitamins, local honey and much more!

Health & Wellness Haircare • Bath & Body

Gourmet Foods • Vitamins Supplements

Natural Bliss is located in White Hall. We are dedicated to promoting and providing products that help encour-

age health and wellnes. Natural Bliss’ focus is to offer natural-

ly-derived items that are designed to complement the total

body health of our consumers. Rest assured that if you make

a purchase from us, your product was made with your best in

mind! Many of our items are made by other small businesses

near and far. Remember to visit us at Natural Bliss!

Phone: 870-247-2500 • Email: [email protected] • www.ournaturalbliss.com

Naturally Nourishing ... from head to toe!

7203 Sheridan Road, Suite K, White Hall, AR 71602

Owners, Reggie and Lori Cole

Our Mission: Natural Bliss’ purpose is to affect community understanding that healthy living is a choice. Choose health!”

2015 Mrs. Arkansas Crowned!Kimber Bennett - Mrs. Tri-Lakes wins title!

imber competed for the very first time in our pageant Saturday night among 16 other beautiful accom-

plished women, according to Ex-ecutive Director, Lynn DeJarnette. Kimber lives in Hot Springs and is married to Blake. She is employed as a PTA, by Arkadelphia Physical Therapy Center. Because of her platform of being diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, she found new strength and confidence through her decision to compete for the title and empower and inspire others! We are so proud of the la-dies like her who use this organiza-tion to help others through the crown and help change lifes! It is our purpose to spread the positive messages all of the ladies bring to us to as many others as we can!

K

FALL/WINTER 2014

Looks delicious!

See Jane’s delish recipe for 7 Minute Icing! Like the Pine Bluff Updater!

Jane Nixon baked her famous Devil’s Food Cake for Nancye McNew to benefit our wonderful Pine Bluff Symphony.

“We love Southeast Arkansas!”

The Pine Bluff Updateris published by

Brainard PublishingP.O. Box 8022

Pine Bluff, AR 71611

Beverly Madison Publisher/Editor/Sales

(870) 718-3136

Jennifer AshmorePublic Relations/Production

& Circulation Manager/Co-Editor(501) 733-4454

Graphics TeamPatrick Jones

Christy HendricksOnline: issuu.com/pinebluffupdater

For advertising:(870) 718-3136P.O. Box 8022

Pine Bluff, AR [email protected]

Haley is the granddaughter of Mr. & Mrs. Archie Sanders of Pine Bluff

See Archie Sanders Advertisement on page 7.

Haley wishes you A Merry Merry Christmas &

Happy New Year!

PAge � | SPRING 2014 SPRING 2014 | PAge �facebook.com/theupdater

| SPRING 2014

200 East 8th Avenue, Pine Bluff, AR 71601

Saracen Landing

Lake Saracen

19 Park Locations

Pine BluffParks and Recreation

870-536-0920www.cityofpinebluff.com/pbparks/

he Pine Bluff Festival

Association, the not-for-

profit corporation that owns and

operates Arkansas’ largest drive-

thru of holiday lights has been

working on this event all year.Opening night this year will be

on Tuesday, November 18. KATV Channel 7’s Ned Perme will help us get the lighting ceremony started off right with his “Live at 5” and 6pm weather shows live from the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Regional Park. You can also be a part of the show by arriving at 5:30pm, park at the boat ramps, and catch a shuttle to the beginning of the displays where at approx at 6:10pm we flip the switch and you can walk behind one of our local high school bands as they march and play Christmas music and be one of the first to see the lights.

Open nightly from 6:00 to 9:00pm from November 18 until New Year’s Eve. This 1.3 mile drive thru continues to grow even in its now 18th season, and shows no signs of slowing down. This year we have added more new displays, making our total of over 240 displays in 175 positions. Many of which are animated making Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Regional Park a

real Holiday Winter Wonderland.The Admission is free but

donations are greatly accepted at the end of the drive-thru by our great community volunteers. This money along with sponsorships and memorial stars helps us pay for all the operational costs, buying of new displays, electricity and also the 4th of July Celebration.

For a $10 donation you will receive, as long as supplies last our souvenir Christmas ornament that each year changes and this year, oops almost told you, you will just have to wait to see what it is and add it to your collection.

This year’s “Transformer Sponsors” are Central Moloney, Inc., City of Pine Bluff, Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc., Evergreen Packaging, Jefferson Regional Medical Center, Relyance Bank and Simmons Bank.

For more information or to learn how to become a sponsor, contact Greg Gustek, Executive Director at 870.536.7600 or email him at [email protected]

Come celebrate the Holiday Season with us at Regional Park where we make our hometown, Pine Bluff the brightest place on the planet.

“Enchanted Land of Lights & Legends”

is almost here!

Photo courtesy of Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

T

FALL/WINTER 2014

A Holiday Season of Celebration is upon us again! It is time to come together as families reunite ‘Around the Table’… sharing a Thanksgiving that is ‘stuffed with love!’

Our Town is coming alive with crimson colors, and Christmas is in the air! I have chosen Pine Bluff as my place this season to reunite my family for the upcoming holiday feasts! There is ‘No Place like Home!’

Let us remember our servicemen and servicewomen past and present as we so appreciate them protecting our freedom.

“Oh…and Santa Claus is Coming!” Children young and old are still putting out the cookies and milk anxiously waiting for Christmas morning to arrive ... of course to open special presents

from their loved ones and of course Santa! And, don’t forget the Stockings!

Always remember those less fortunate and be sure to donate for the season and throughout the year.

We always should remember the true Reason for the Season!

As you shop for your families remember to shop locally with our merchants as they keep Our Town alive and busy!

Enjoy this special issue that ties both Holidays together as Recipes Galore are throughout for you to try and enjoy,

and Much, Much More!

As always thank You, My Readers, for continuing to support the Pine Bluff Updater and Our Town!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving! & A Very Merry Christmas! See you all soon!

Love,Beverly & Jennifer

PAge � | SPRING 2014 SPRING 2014 | PAge �facebook.com/theupdater 5FALL/WINTER 2014

WHOLESALE & RETAILWE DO BRAKE & FRONT END WORK

LOCALLY OWNED SINCE 1971 • SAME LOCATION SINCE 1979

BRAKE & DRUMSUPPLY

Make Time This FallTo Get Your Brakes Ready For Winter!

1714 WEST 6TH (AT HICKORY)870-535-2540

MON - FRI 8 - 5RONNIE MUSGRAVE ~ OWNER

H Happy Holidays H

Tha

nk

s for a great yea

r

Delos McCauley, an avid birder with the local Three Rivers Audubon Society, snapped these photos of a Cardinal and of Mockingbirds in the snow. His photography has won numerous awards Delos volunteers his expertise and talent showing these beautiful pictures throughout Pine Bluff Arkansas and nationally!

Thank you Delos!

Winter is coming!

It’s That Time Again…

PAge � | SPRING 2014 SPRING 2014 | PAge �facebook.com/theupdater6 FALL/WINTER 2014

Ole South AntiquesJust in Time for the Holidays!! Antiques, Juntiques, Vintage, Gifts & Collectibles

(Cell) 501-690-0164/870-766-9977 (Shop & Country Store)

Have a Very Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year!

Pictured left Cola

Elm’s Specialty Pecan Pie ChefPictured right Miranda

JL’s Country Store& Kitchen Manager

A customer came to JL’s all the way from Michigan and named Cola’s Pecan Pie “The Proposal

Pie!” He exclaimed, “I will come every Duck Season from Michigan just to have some of this pie...it should be named

The Proposal Pie It’s so dang good!”

Serving Breakfast, Lunch

& Dinner! Stop in JL’s

for one of their many customer

favorites!Homemade

Burgers, Fresh Cut Fries,

Fried Pies, Homemade Chili!

Every Wednesday - Plate Lunch

Specials

Open 7 days a week during duck season! Shop our selection of unique gifts – Arkansas Cookbooks and other local favorites!

We have your perfect gift for Christmas!

Secrets of The South select spices • Homemade Jellies

G r a n d O p e n i n g !

Kimberly V. Freeman, owner 16501 Hwy. 79 N., Altheimer, AR 72204

Just a peek at what’s in store at Ole South Antiques!

PINE BLUFF TITLE COMPANY

Serving our Community & Arkansans for over 20 Years!

DOWNTOWN PINE BLUFF728 S. Main Street

870-536-4943In the heart of our town.

Locally owned and operated, Attorney Jimmy Dill

HIGH RISK & PREFERRED

Maynard Insurance

Maynard JB (Bucky) • Independent AgencyMedicare Supplements • Commercial • Business • Home • Bonds • Motorcycles

Life • Trucks • Work Comp

AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE AS LOW AS $25 A MONTH

Newcomer Welcome Service

Businesses, Merchants and Industries: Call About Having Us Represent you To Newcomers Moving To Pine Bluff & Whitehall. (Your best Prosects)

Newcomer Welcome Servie Guarantees: Teste Proven Methods - More CustomersPriceless Goodwill - Local Prestige - Founded 1952 - Locally Owned

534-1166 or 534-2841210 S Walnut • Pine Bluff


FAILLAJanitor & Housecleaning

O� ce & Residential CleaningA tradition in SE Arknasas

“We � ght dirty so you don’t have to” 1319 W. 6th • Pine Bluff • 534-8236A TRADITION IN

DISASTER RELIEF!

Merry Christmas

& Happy New Year!

COOTER AND KAYE FAILLA

8

reg Gustek needs an extra large business card to list the many jobs he works on a daily and weekly basis.

He is director of the Pine Bluff Convention and Visitors Bureau; serving his fourth four-year term as elected city treasurer; executive director of the Pine Bluff Image Campaign Committee; executive of the Lake Saracen Project Association (walking and bike trail); chairman of the Lake Saracen Splash Park Committee; and executive director of the Pine Bluff Festival Association and Enchanted Land of Lights and Legends, where work has started on the 18th annual Christmas wonderland of lights and displays at Pine Bluff’s Regional Park.

Tourism is a major dollar generator in Pine Bluff, he notes with pride, and is the fifth largest employer in Jefferson County, generating a payroll of $21.26 million last year.

Travel expenditures totaled almost $113 million last year, he noted, responsible for 1,299 jobs. The city counted 1,352 tourism-related jobs in 2007, when travel expenditures reached $105.7 million, Gustek noted.

“That’s not bad considering Pine Bluff is not classified as a ‘destination’ city,” he added.

Gustek is proud of his hometown and can spend hours pointing out Pine Bluff’s great points, from people to the city’s unique history. He has lived all of his life here except for five-years attending Louisiana Tech University to obtain a degree in music education.

Work on the degree required long hours and

Gustek said he learned to “work long hours to accomplish goals.”

He began work on “Enchanted Land of Lights and Legends” in September to prepare for the 18th edition, which includes more than one million lights and displays, many of which are animated. The nightly extravaganza, which has received state honors, opens on the third Tuesday in November and continues through Dec. 31.

The holiday display was honored with the top state award in the Grand Old Classic Special Event Category.

The Lake Saracen Walking and Biking Trail is drawing attention from across the state and several

officials from other Arkansas municipalities have come to Pine Bluff to look it over, Guestek said.

It’s easy to brag on Pine Bluff, he said, when the city can show off the Delta River Nature Center at Regional Park and hosts two air shows annually and has a top-notch railroad museum.

The city’s many attractions drew 443,397 visitors to Pine Bluff in 2013, Guestek added, and generated more than $2.28 million in local taxes and $6.26 million in state taxes.

Many local residents pass our attractions daily, he explained, and don’t realize the wealth of enterprise in Pine Bluff – from the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas to the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Historical Museum, Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame, the UAPB Museum and Cultural Center, historical homes, murals on Main Street and The New Community Theatre.

Pine Bluff and Jefferson County are noted for recreational opportunities, Guestek notes with pride, including the nature center, Hestand Stadium that is home to a regional rodeo and countless horse shows, camping, Civil War sites, golf, public parks, a model airplane mini-airport, fishing, hunting, and Taylor Field, built for a minor league professional baseball team that has been home to national baseball tournaments.

“I’ll call anyone for help because I am a hometown boy,” Guestek said with a smile. “I enjoy spreading the good word.

“We have a lot to be proud of in Pine Bluff,” he concluded.

Greg Gustek: Proud of Pine BluffG

Greg Gustek

FALL/WINTER 2014

9FALL/WINTER 2014

Dane Reed, Owner

870-534-3263

DANE’S

Merry Christmas fr� Dane’sDANE’S AUTO SALES, INC.

BUY • SELL • TRADE • WE FINANCE

4909 DOLLARWAY RD. • 535-DANE (3263)

DOWN PAYMENTS STARTING AT

$395 THANK YOU FOR MAKING 2014 A BIG SUCCESS

Mon-Fri. 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m, Sat. 8:00 a.m. to Noon4901 Dollarway Road • Pine Bluff

HOLIDAY SPECIAL

HOLIDAY SPECIAL

HOLIDAY SPECIAL

$10 O

FF

OIL

CHAN

GE

&

LUBE

�

and Banquet Barn

Delicious Down-Home Cookin’Just The Way Santa Likes It.

• BREAKFAST • • LUNCH • • DINNER •

PRIME RIB Best In Arkansas

4322 DOLLARWAY ROAD. PINE BLUFF870-535-4767

OPEN MONDAY - FRIDAY 5:30AM - 8:30PMSATURDAY 5:30AM - 1PM

CLOSED SUNDAYS

Locally owned and operated by J. Mark McCool, Jayson McCool, and Jeremy McCool

THE COUNTRY KITCHEN

Best Diner/Coffee Shop

Roast TurkeyAllow 3-4 lb. turkey per person.

Remove container with neck, gizzard and liver. Reserve for gravy. Wash turkey inside and out with warm water. Dry thoroughly. Truss the bird so that the wings are bent flat and leg bones close to body. Tie leg bones together. Place the bird breast side up on rack in roasting pan. Brush the breast, legs and wings with unsalted, melted fat. Dip a cloth in the fat or use a piece of aluminum foil to cover and place over the bird. Roast the turkey uncovered in a slow oven, 300 degrees or until tender. Allow 25 minutes per pound for a bird under 12 pounds or 20 minutes per pound for a larger bird. Baste the turkey every 1/2 hour with the pan drippings. Season it with salt and paprika when it is half cooked.

Remove the cloth for the last 1/2 hour with the pan drippings.

Turkey Jiblet Gravy

After the turkey is done and placed on tray or platter for carving, prepare the roast pan for gravy. Depending on the amount of gravy needed and the size of bird for 4 cups of gravy, use six to eight tablespoons of flour and stir in 4-6 cups of pan drippings and stock from cooking giblets. Add chicken broth if more juice is needed. Reserve some of giblet stock for dressing. Add the chopped giblets and if required salt and paprika. If gravy is rich it may separate, if needed add a little cream of whole milk.

Holidays at Mimi’s


THE ESTATE SHOPPEEclectic & A� ordable Home Furnishings & Decor

Antiques & Collectibles • Jewelry & Gift ware • Complimentary Gift WrappingEVERYDAY LOW PRICES! • SHIPMENTS ARRIVING DAILY! Adjacent to Sissy’s Log Cabin in parking lot

Open Tues - Sat 10am - 5:30pm & by appt.2301 Camden Road • Pine Bluff , AR

THE ESTATE SHOPPEUnequivocal Gifts Availa� e Now At

OHIO STREET THRIFT SHOPPE

1507 Ohio StreetOne block behind USA Drug Store on Harding

Owners Buddy & Sharon Morse870-535-5568

Mon - Fri 8am to 5pm • Sat 8am to 12pm

THRIFT SHOPPE1507 Ohio Street

A Boutique Flair for the Junker in all of us!

OHIO STREET

Gift finds that keep a little more your jingle in you pocketbook!

Listings from Pine Blu� , White Hall, Rison, Fordyce, Star City, Wabbaseka,

Altheimer, Sheridan, Red� eld... We are your Southeast Arkansas’ Realtor!Choose us to � nd the perfect home for your family!

www.PineBlu� Realty.com

7401 Dollarway Road, Suite 103 • White Hall, AR 71602870-534-3800 • 877-534-3808

From your friends at First Realty!

Marilyn Hu� man CRS, GRI, Broker 543-0117Kelly Howard 395-1999Alicia Stewart 692-2806

Becky Bilgischer 718-8122

Jeanie Corkins 717-4986Leslie � omas 718-3870

Verna Puckett, O� ce Manager/Realtor 534-3800

2013 2013

Best Real Estate Agency

Sissy’s Log CabinNot Ordinary Gifts But Extraordinary Gifts For The Holidays.

Shop Locally. Great Gifts At Sissy’s Log Cabin. Unique Gift selection. Home Decorative Accessories.

Also including our new Pandora display. Bridal registry. Rolex.

1825 North Grant Street Little Rock, AR 72207

2900 Parkwood RoadJonesboro, AR 72401

404 Grove Park Road SouthMemphis, TN 38117

2319 Camden RoadPine Bluff, AR 71603

Locations


www.fairfieldcreditunion.org

Apply today!

* APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Rates based on creditworthiness and term limits apply. Auto and RV rates apply to new, used and refinanced vehicles. Refinances may only be applied to non FFCU loans. Offer valid for a limited time only. Federally insured by NCUA.

Pine Bluff : 866-536-6665 White Hall : 870-619-1204 Watson Chapel : 870-879-9200

Auto Rates from

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Fair�eld Fansfor

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3.99%APR*

from


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GET A TOP SELLING BRAND AT AN INCREDIBLE PRICE!

I 530 & HWY. 270 • WHITEHALLTRUSTED BRANDS • CONVENIENT LOCATION • OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE

2400 E. HARDING AVE. • PINE BLUFF

For Over a Century Serving Our Customers!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!


Cardell Meadows870-879-2161870-540-6465

Furonda Brasfi eld870-535-5000479-422-4577

Lou Taylor870-541-0463870-692-1196

Lou TaylorRealty, PLLC

OFFICE: 870-535-5000 FAX: 870-535-5015EMAIL: [email protected]

NOTHING FEELS MORE

LIKE THE

HOLIDAYSTHAN

COMING HOME

Arkansas First Choice

Insurance

Arkansas First Choice

Insurance

Tim LampirezOWNER/AGENT

Cecelia ReedARKANSAS’ FIRST CHOICE AGENT

1601 BELMONT(Across from George Motes Auto Group, next to Red Barn)

Pine Bluff, AR 71603 • 870-536-4355Hours: Mon - Fri 8:30 - 4:30

� anks for a great year! Have a wonderful

Holiday Season!

otpourri—Encore, ASC’s signature fundraising event, will take place December 5th and 6th, 2014. As part of this fundraising

endeavor, now open is an exhibition of artwork by Arkansas artists which will be available at the silent and live auctions at the Saturday night gala. Not only does this exhibition share great art with Southeast Arkansas, it directly benefits both ASC and the artists: proceeds from the silent auction sale are split 50/50 between ASC and the artists. Local artists exhibited include James Hayes, Danny Campbell, V.L. Cox, Tim Jacob, Sheila Parsons, and many more. A full listing with images of available works and pricing is located on ASC’s website at ASC701.org. The exhibition will remain on display through December 6, 2014.

Potpourri helps fund free gallery admission, free hands-on activities, and free school field trips. Last year, ASC served over 32,000 visitors with arts, science, and theater programming fulfilling ASC’s mission to “Serve as a cultural crossroad: engaging, educating, and entertaining through the arts and sciences.” Potpourri—Encore tickets are required to be eligible to purchase exhibition artwork. Tickets are available by calling 870.536.3375 or visiting ASC701.org.

Potpourri is sponsored by Relyance Bank, M.K. Distributors, Simmons Bank, and Jefferson Regional Medical Center.

Gallery admission is free. Also on view at ASC are the temporary art exhibitions SUB|URBAN: Work by Dennis

& Jason McCann, the Annual Pine Bluff Art League Juried Exhibition, the temporary science exhibition from the Arkansas Discovery Network, Nanotechnology: What’s the Big Deal?, and the ongoing Tinkering Studio.

The Arts & Science Center (ASC), located at 701 S. Main St. in Pine Bluff, is open Tuesday–Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 1–4 p.m., and closed on Sunday and Monday. Gallery admission is free. Support for The Center is provided in part by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Hands-on science exhibitions are offered through ASC’s partnership with Arkansas Discovery Network, a consortium of museums in Arkansas funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. For additional information call 870-536-3375 or email [email protected]. For invitations and information visit www.asc701.org and sign up for the free e-mail list.

Potpourri-Encore: Art Exhibition & Sale

P

“We are grateful to Entergy for their support of the SUB|URBAN exhibition. Our Curator, Courtney Taylor, selected works of art with an architectural theme from artists Dennis McCann and Jason McCann. A common element, and foundational art concept, is single-point perspective and this offers a great lesson in mathematics for students” said Dr. Lenore Shoults, ASC Executive Director.

Entergy’s support of the arts and education helps to fund free gallery admission, free school field trips, and free hands-on arts and science.

The Arts & Science Center (ASC), located at 701 S. Main St. in Pine Bluff, is open Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 1-4 p.m., and closed on Sunday and Monday. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Gallery admission is free. Support for The Center is provided in part by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Hands-on science exhibitions are offered through ASC’s partnership with Arkansas Discovery Network, a consortium of museums in Arkansas funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. For additional information call 870-536-3375 or email [email protected]. For invitations and information visit www.ASC701.org and sign up for the free e-mail list.

410256 421617

November 18 - December 31: 18th Annual Enchanted Land of Lights & Legends, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Regional Park. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted at the end of the drive-thru.

November 19: The Mass Clinic, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Pine Bluff Convention Center

November 22: UAPB vs. Alabama A&M University, 2:30 p.m., at Golden Lion Stadium at UAPB.

December 5 & 6, 2014: 2014

“Potpourri - Encore!” at the Arts & Science Center. Cost is $60 for Friday night, $100 for Saturday night or $150 for both nights. Friday, December 5, will feature heavy hors d’ouvres, beer and wine, dancing with award-winning DJ Mario Luna, and a Beer & Wine Pull. Saturday, December 6, begins with the art auction, Silent Auction, and rolls into a sit-down dinner, Raise Your Hand, entertainment and the live auction with Matt Soto serving as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies.

December 6: Old Towne Christmas, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Pine Bluff Convention Center.

Enjoy live musical entertainment, children’s activities, balloon artist, magician, story time with Mrs. Claus, strolling historical characters from Pine Bluff’s past, and of course - a visit with Santa!

December 6: 67th Annual Pine Bluff Christmas Parade, 2 p.m. at Downtown Pine Bluff.

This year’s theme will be “Christmas in the City”. The registration fee will be a minimum of 2 toys per entry to be donated to the local Salvation Army for less-fortunate children. Deadline for

entries is Monday, November 24.December 11 & 12: ASC presents

“The Little Mermaid,” at Arts & Science Center. See times at www.asc701.org. Admission is $5.

December 12: SEARK Fall Graduation, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Pine Bluff Convention Center.

December 14: PBSO presents “The Spirit of the Holidays: Music of the Season,” 4 p.m. at Pine Bluff Convention Center/Auditorium.

Our traditional Holiday spectacular, with an entertaining

variety of symphonic favorites by Bach, Handel, Rimsky-Korsakov, Victor Herbert and more; popular Christmas and Hanukah selections, and our annual Christmas carol singalong! This family-oriented concert includes special appearances by area singers and instrumentalists.

For ticket information, call 870.536.7666 or visit www.pinebluffsymphony.com. Season or single concert tickets are available.

March 21: PBSO presents “Exotic Inspirations,” 7 p.m., at Pine Bluff Convention Center/Auditorium.

For ticket information call 870.536.7666 or visit www.pinebluffsymphony.com. Season or single concert tickets are available.


Commu n i t y Ca l e n d ar

Photo courtesy of Jillian Bogy

The charm of the past with state-of-the art production at Pine Bluff’s historic Community Theatre.

Imagine the atmosphere of an early 20th century theatre with state-of-the-art lighting, digital video, and surround sound. That’s what you’ll find in the meticulously renovated Community Theatre in Pine Bluff.

Our restoration is functionally complete, but we continue work on tweaks and details. We suspect that in a building this old, attention to tweaks and details are de rigueur activities.

www.pbcommunitytheatre.org

Congratulations Helen Majewska on all your awards at the recent

Southeast Arkansas Rodeo and Fair.


isha D. Arnold, who heads up the Office of Communications at the

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, is a renaissance woman capable of handling every task placed on her office desk or kitchen stove.

Her secret, she explained, is “making time for the things you like,” including a role in the Arts and Science Center of Southeast Arkansas production of “Hairspray,” decorating cakes and work with her church.

The Chicago native graduated from UAPB with a general studies degree. Her goal was working in education. While a student she polished her skills in radio and on the Internet.

After working as an instructional aide with the Pine Bluff School District and teaching for a semester in a private school, she returned to the UAPB campus to work in the office involving planning and research.

After then Chancellor Lawrence Davis Jr. inquired in 2006 about her future plans, she was selected to head up UAPB’s communications mission.

“We need a voice in that field,” Arnold explained. “It is time for us to be proactive and aggressive.

“It is coming to fruition now, with the consolidation of communication services,” she added over a recent lunch with her husband, Thomas, an administrator with the state Department of Human Services.

By utilizing print, radio spots, TV

and the Internet’s social media to reach students and alumni, Arnold observed that UAPB is “in position to catapult to a different level.”

“Pride” magazine was launched in June 2013 to communicate with UAPB’s alumni, for example. She designs and publishes communications programs to reach out to her audience.

“Telling stories of the alumni is a joy for me – telling stories of our products,” she added.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to do what I do at UAPB,” she observed.

Arnold grew up in church and developed her musical skills, leading to the “Hairspray” role. She recently checked off an item on her bucket list by taking the stage at a jazz lounge in Little Rock.

With three daughters – age 6, 10 and 13 – cooking is a major role in her home. “You have to take time to do the things you like,” she explained, including assisting with singing and dance programs at her church, Victory Faith Church of God in Christ.

The church has an annual food program involving different colors used to tell Bible stories. The color was purple, last year, and yellow this year, Arnold explained.

Those programs led to her picking up skills with cookie and cake decorating.

In addition to her professional and church work, she is serving as volunteer chairman of the Pine Bluff Image Campaign Committee.

nn Williams, director of the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce,

had plans to become an elementary school teacher before a detour brough t her to Southeast Arkansas.

Following graduation from Elizabeth City State University in her native North Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in child psychology, she was offered a job as a test examiner for the Pine Bluff School District.

She continued to hone her educational skills, earning a master’s degree in rehabilitative counseling at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2007 and a doctorate in experimental psychology in May at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

In 1999 she went to work for the chamber as a receptionist, being elevated six years later as director of member services and assumed the role as executive director of the chamber’s Leadership Pine Bluff program, a role she still holds.

She was named co-director of the chamber in 2009 and director in 2012.

Ann said she agreed to accept the role of director on the condition she could continue working with Leadership Pine Bluff and the Junior Leadership Pine Bluff program she launched in 2007.

Education is vital to the area’s future, she noted in a recent interview, explaining the Junior Leadership program involves students from four Jefferson County public school districts, a private Christian school and home schooled students.

She also is a “dance advisor” for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Golden Girls dance team.

“I like the honesty of working with people,” Ann said as she described the long hours.

Ann is a proud member of The Links, Inc., where she currently serves as financial secretary.

Her 21-year-old daughter, Christen, is an education major at Southern Arkansas University with a goal of becoming an elementary teacher.

Husband Kim Williams, a science tech at the Pine Bluff Arsenal, has become accustomed to his wife’s hectic schedule. She recently concluded an 18-month term as president of the West Pine Bluff Rotary Club, which ran six-months longer than normal when her predecessor resigned early because of health issues.

Despite the long hours, Ann describes herself as a “homebody” and enjoys spending time with her family.

“I cook a mean spaghetti meal,” she said with her trademark smile.

Tish ArnoldAnn WilliamsTA


ine Bluff Downtown

Development Inc., a

nonprofit organization supported by

members, has played a major role

in the city’s downtown area for a

number of years.

Housed in the Dexter Harding

House, 110 N. Pine St., immediately

west of the Jefferson County

Courthouse, the restored home

is the city’s and region’s official

tourist information center

open Monday through Friday.

Joy Blankenship, who heads up the

nonprofit, is also the director for the

Arkansas Land of Legends, which

includes Jefferson, Grant, Cleveland

and Lincoln counties.

Blankenship has been working

with other volunteers to develop and

renovate the central business district

from Fifth to Eighth Avenue, the Old

Towne area, the Civic Center area

and the farmers’ market. The latter

relocated from a former grocery

store parking lot to Saracen Landing

with the help of what she described

as “seed money.”

Grant money and local

contributions were utilized to

develop Saracen Landing, including

the walking trail, she noted.

The nonprofit and volunteers

painted the exterior of buildings

in several downtown blocks,

helped obtain property for the

Donald W. Reynolds Community

Center, developed Barraque Plaza

and worked on the University of

Arkansas at Pine Bluff Business

Incubator “with the help of a lot of

people.”

Other projects:

– Helped bring the first Nature

Center and the Arkansas Entertainers

Hall of Fame to Pine Bluff;

– Partnered with numerous

entities for more than $100 million

in downtown investments over more

than 25 years;

– Planned and provided 13

historical murals; and

– Downtown Development pays

the salaries of two individuals

who utilize string trimmers to cut

grass and pick up trash daily in the

downtown, she added, writes grants

and worked with engineers on the

streetscape project.

“We do it one step at a time,”

Blankenship explained. As a member

of the Pine Bluff Image Campaign

Committee, she said “we work on

improving the city’s image. It can’t

be done overnight and without the

help of many individuals.”

Joy BlankenshipP


delightful Fall Luncheon took place at the home of Susan Norton.The theme of the ladies’ study group was focused on Great Homes

of the South, starting chronologically in the 1700’s in Williamsburg, VA. The Norton’s home is a replica of the Blair’s Brick House, now known as the Red Lion.

The food prepared was authentic Virginian, the recipes taken from several cookbooks such as The Virginia Housewife and Favorite Meals from Williamsburg.

Enjoy the recipes for this Holiday Seasons and years to come!

Menun Pumpkin/Sweet Potato/Squash Soup (root vegetables straight from the garden)n Chesapeake Crabs cakes served over thinly

sliced Virginia ham and a fried green tomato topped with Dijonnaise saucen Pears Stewed Purple

n Sweet Potato Biscuitsn Virginia Apple Custard Tart

Fall LuncheonA

Sweet Potato Biscuits2 cups all-purpose flour1 tablespoon baking powder1 tablespoon granulated sugar1/2 teaspoon fine salt1/4 teaspoon baking soda3/4 cup butter milk1 cup baked, mashed sweet potato (about 1

medium potato)8 table-spoons unsalted butter (1 stick), frozenHeat the oven to 400°F and arrange a rack in

the middle. Combine all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and set aside. In a separate large

bowl, mix together milk and mashed sweet potato until evenly combined.

Grate frozen butter through the large holes of a box grater and toss with dry ingredients until butter is coated. Add milk mixture and mix lightly until dough forms a shaggy mass.

Turn out mixture onto a floured surface and knead just until it comes together. (The dough will not be smooth.)

Pat into a circle and use a floured rolling pin to roll dough to a thickness of about 3/4 inch. Using a 3-inch biscuit cutter, cookie cutter, or glass, cut the dough into rounds. Gather leftover dough into a circle, reroll, and cut until you have 8 large biscuits.

Place biscuits on a baking sheet, and bake until the bottoms are golden brown, about 12 to 15 minutes.

Butternut Squash, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato Soup

1 onion, diced3oz ginger, minced3 cloves garlic, minced1 tsp. chili powder1 tsp. salt1/2 tsp. pepper3 tablespoons of olive oil6 C. chicken stock

peeled, diced butternut squash (20oz.)peeled diced pumpkin(20oz.peeled diced sweet potato (20oz.)1. On medium heat add onion, ginger and

garlic to pot and sauté in olive oil2. Add chili powder, salt & pepper and sauté

a couple minutes more.3. Add chicken broth, squash, pumpkin and

sweet potato. Bring to boil, reduce and simmer until cooked and soft.

4. Remove from heat and blend with immersion blender (or use regular blender) to desired consistency.

Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Cakes

Find more recipes from the luncheon on the Pine Bluff Updater Facebook page.

Pictured is Susan Norton with Swanne Bennett, Deputy Director and Chief Currator for Historic Arkansas Museum.

Trammell’s Beauty & Barber Supply Inc.2700 Pullen Pine Blu�

870-535-7863 • Fax 870-535-2130Open Mon. - Sat. 8:30 - 5:30

Celebrating 46 years in business

Boutique & SalonOpen Tues. - Fri. 8 am - 5:30 pm • Sat 8 am - 1 pm

870-534-7085Beautiful holiday fashions & accessories

Have a Happy Thanksgiving & a Very Merry Christmas

Holiday Sale BOUTIQUE ONLY


PINE BLUFF, Ark. – The annual University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Homecoming Parade was enjoyed by alumni and members of the community and received participation from areas such as service, municipal, education and social entities in and outside the State.

The overall winners of the parade were judged in the area of design, construction, creativity and effectiveness in use of the theme, “Fear the Roar” and are as follows: first place – Pine Bluff High School (float); second place – Kosmic Kidz (float).

Other participants included: #1 Promotion; Arkansas Department Of Corrections; 34th Ave Elementary School; 34th Ave Elementary King/Queen &Court; Broadmoor

Elementary School Drill Team;

Bikettes; Boy Scout Troop 3911; Byron

J. Bishop; Capital City Corvette Club;

Corvette Club of Pine Bluff; Craigmont

High School; Creating Hope Through

Talent; Creative Focus; Davis Life Care

Center; Dazzling Divas Dance Team;

Detroit Johnny; Divas Of Olive Branch;

DJ Deck Productions; Dollarway High

School; Dollarway Jr. High Drill Team;

Down To Earth Riders; Earle High

School; Eastside Panthers; Effie Brooks

Civic Club/ Lil Miss Rose Bud Queen;

First Baptist Church; First Missionary

Baptist Church; Foxtrot Therapy

Services; Full Counsel Ministries;

Girl Scout Troop 1302; Golden High

Steppers; Graduate and International

Student Association; Greenville High

School; H.A.V.E.; Jack Robey Junior

High School; Jacksonville Lighthouse

Charter School; Jefferson County

Single Parent Scholarship Fund Board;

Kurvy Kuties; Ladies Of Elegance

#22 Order Of Eastern Star; Lakeside

High School; Legend Riders and

Legendettes; Liberty Utilities Stars

Little League Football Team; Little

Angels Football Team; McClure South

High School; Meme’s Playhouse; Miss

Essence of a Woman; Oakhaven High

School; Pine Bluff Light House Charter

School; Prairie Lake Missionary Baptist

Church; Ravens Little League Football

Team; Samone’s T-shirts; Sigma

Mustangs; Southern Belles Dance

Team; Space In My Place; Spring ’09

Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,

Inc.; The Arts Production, Inc.; The

Dazzling Diamonds Of Pine Bluff;

Titan Little League Football Team; Tri-

County Rural Health Network; Tulsa

Central Jr. & Sr. High School Marching

Bands; Twinkle Little Totz; UAPB

School of Aquaculture, Fisheries and

Human Sciences; Vietnam Veterans

Of America Chapter 815; Washington

High School; Y.E.S. Across America;

and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Homecoming Parade winners announced

UAPB News

Happy Thanksgiving

The Pine Bluff Updater wishes you a


KIDS PICS


Christian Way Funeral Home, Inc.

“The Christian Advantage”3705 West 6th • Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71601 • christianwayfh.com

(870) 536-2800 • Fax: (870) 535-7311 • Mon - Fri 9am to 5pmDeWitt Hill, Owner/Manager

Merry Christmas andHappy New Year

Rogers Home Furniture5207 DOLLARWAY, PINE BLUFF NEXT TO SHELL STATION

(870) 247-4435 Marshall rogers, owner

Create a Mood This Holiday!Check out our beautiful Entertainment Fireplaces!

Five styles and Finishes! • hurry in while supply lasts!

Shop Rogers Furniture’s Black Friday Closeout Sale!!!

Prices Slashed! • Easy Financing!

The Rogers Family Thanks You our Customers for Making Us

a Huge Success! Have a wonderful Holiday Season Ahead!!

pictured are Marshall rogers with his two sons (center) chris(left) & corey(right)

no credit check • 24 Month terMs$3,000 approvals

Celebrate the Reason for the Season with

First TrinityFirst Trinity

Church of God in Christ

Pastor Dewitt Hill800 Catalpa St. • Pine Bluff, AR

870-534-2873

Weekly Telecast on KVTN Channel 25 (10 Cable)Saturday, 1:30pm • Sunday, 3am & 5pm

1201 South Catalpa Street • Pine Bluff, AR 71603870-267-5953

Weekly Service ScheduleSunday School • 9:30am-10:45am

Church Service 11am •Bible Study 7pmSunday School Classes comprise of Women’s, Men’s, Advanced Classes,

Juniors, Intermediate and Seniors - for all Ages!

St. Peter’s RockM i S S i o n a r y B a p t i S t C h u r C h

activities for the whole family

Pastor: Reverend Darren D. Edgerson

Join uS in CeleBrating the Birth of the riSen king!

Welcome Vendors Booth Rentals Daily & MonthlyCall Will 870-536-3532



Welcome Vendors Booth Rentals Daily & Monthly

TOOLS - MUSIC - FLOWERSCD’S - WALL DECOR

COLLECTIBLES GALORE

� urs. - Sun. 9am - 5pm407 N. Blake Street ~ Pine Blu�

PINECRESTPINE BLUFF’S LARGEST INDOOR FLEA MARKET

CHRISTMAS HOURS: THUR. DEC. 17-CHRISTMAS EVE DAY

Welcome Vendors Booth Rentals Daily & Monthly

TOOLS - MUSIC - FLOWERSCD’S - WALL DECOR

COLLECTIBLES GALORE

PINECRESTPINECRESTPINE BLUFF’S LARGEST INDOOR FLEA MARKET

CHRISTMAS HOURS:

LAST MINUTESantaIdeas!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Happy Holidays!From the Pine Bluff Updater staff


Pastor, Pam Estes

Lakeside United Methodist Church1500 Olive St., Pine Bluff 870-534-6241

www.lakesideumc.com [email protected]

Come Worship With Us - Youth • Women’s • Men’s • Mi Casa Ministries

Lakeside United Methodist Church welcomes you to celebrate the Reason for the Season!

“Remembering Advent allows us to reflect prayerfully on the entire narrative of God’s salva-tion history. We hear the words of the prophets; we sing the songs of yearning; we sing songs of praise! When we decorate the sanctuary and the rest of our beautiful building, we prepare for the coming of Christ. When we decorate our homes and light Advent candles each week, we invite the full presence of God into our hearts.

We invite you to enjoy our Lakeside traditions which include very special events! As we have always done in the past, we invite YOU to join US so that the fullness of the Good News is known in our community. Music is an integrical part of our celebration here at Lakeside and also in our community this holiday.” Shalom, Pastor Pam

Candle Light ServiceWEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24:

Christmas Eve. Traditional candles, communion worship at 5:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.

The Remarkable Processional Celebration of Mary & Joseph’s Journey to Bethlehem - Come to Las Posadas with our Hispanic Group, Sunday, December 21st

he Christmas in the South Holiday Foods Show will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, November 7 at St. Joseph’s Catholica

Church Hall, 412 W. 6th Street, Pine Bluff.Cost is $10 per person, includes a cookbook and

must be pre-paid. Checks can be mailed to: Jefferson County Extension Homemakers, 500 S. Idaho Street, Pine Bluff, AR 71691.

For Information, call Mary Ann Kizer, CEA-FCS, at (870) 534-1033 or e-mail [email protected].

Special guest speaker will be Janet Carson.Janet is an extension horticulture specialist with the

U of A Division of Agriculture - Extension. She has a bachelor of science degree in urban horticulture and landscape design, and a master of science degree in general agriculture with a minor in horticulture, both from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Janet is currently a Extension Horticulture Specialist with the State office of the Cooperative Extension Service; serves as the Arkansas Master Gardener Coordinator, and gives statewide leadership to the

program of consumer horticulture. She is responsible for providing information to the 75 counties for all areas of horticulture related to home gardening, with an emphasis on ornamentals. Media work includes weekly gardening columns in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Monthly columns in Arkansas Gardener Magazine. Television spots on KARK taped at Garvan Woodland Gardens. In 2003, was the recipient of the John White Award for Excellence in Extension Education. In 2010 she earned the Extension Educator Award from the American Society for Horticultural Science. Her first book was published in June 2010 titled “In the Garden.”

She has also served as County Extension Agent- Agriculture for the Pulaski County office of the Cooperative Extension Service, where her primary area of responsibility was in horticulture program, both consumer and commercial. She started the Master

Gardener volunteer program in 1988. For 28 years she hosted a weekly call in radio show

on Saturday mornings.Janet is married and has two grown

children. The event is presented by Jefferson

County Extension Homemakers: Bettye Johnson, President; Judy Cox, President-Elect; Jo Ann Carr, Vice President ;Elizabeth Crosby, Secretary; Marnette Reed, Treasurer; the University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture and County Governments Cooperating

The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Christmas in the South Holiday Food Show November 7


Held October 11 at Lakeside United Methodist Church Mi Casa

he Good Faith Carr United Methodist Church Annual Holiday Craft Bazaar will be held Saturday, November 22nd from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Everything you need for your Holiday Shopping in one place!n Hand Made Crafts, Decorations, Baked Goods, Candies, Frozen Casseroles, Jellies, n Hand Painted Purses, 18” American Doll Clothes, Furniture and Gift Traysn A soup Lunch (soup, corn bread, dessert & drink) for $6.00 will be served from 11:00

a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Carry outs are also available for 1 quart of soup only for $6.00.All of the proceeds go to the Lord’s work.Good Faith Carr UMC is located at I 530 and Hwy. 79 So. (Across from McDonald’s)

Annual Holiday Craft Bazaar atGood Faith Carr United Methodist Church

T

T

Fiesta de Colores

What are you making?” the questions came through open car windows on Olive Street

this summer. We were working with bricks and wheelbarrows filled with dirt. We looked like we were going in circles! And we were. With the substantial help of the Quad W Interns of the Southeast District of Arkansas Conference of The United Methodist Church, Lakeside United Methodist Church was constructing a Trinitarian labyrinth.

“And what is that?” A labyrinth “is a path of prayer. a walking meditation that can become a mirror of the soul. . . A labyrinth is not a maze. A maze is designed for you to lose your way; a labyrinth is designed for you to find your way.” The Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress, Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool. Our labyrinth is made with bricks laid in the ground in paths which turn back upon themselves. You cannot get lost in the prayer labyrinth. Children, youth, and adults from Lakeside and the Quad W interns placed the bricks and then leveled the path with six loads of dirt. We worked during some of the hottest, most humid days of July but we did it with prayerful joy! Even as we worked on the labyrinth, we were praying with our bodies. At times the prayers were simple. “Let me lift this wheelbarrow.” Sometimes in the rhythmic swing of shovel into dirt, we found ourselves singing a prayer, “Let my people go!” Always, we kept ourselves focused on the purpose: to build a labyrinth so that we could walk in prayer the faith we believe.

“Why are you making it?” We decided to build a labyrinth because we felt the need to demonstrate and to share our prayers with our community. Often we as religious people seem to practice our lives only in our heads. Many of us follow the advice of Jesus to pray in the privacy of our closets, communicating with God in solitude. However, we who claim Christ are heirs of the Jewish tradition which had an important emphasis on public, corporate prayer. That is, we know that sometimes we ought to pray with others and we ought to pray in ways that involve all of who we are made to be.

So we made a labyrinth to give to one another to use in public, embodied prayer.

In our service of dedication, we said, We present this labyrinth to be consecrated to the glory of almighty God and for service in this community. We accept

this labyrinth as sacred trust and will guard and use it reverently with our neighbors.

How do we use a labyrinth? You begin at the entry and pray, aloud or silently, in whatever ways are comfortable. Some pray the Lord’s Prayer. Others say a few words, letting the repetition of those sink deeply in as you walk at a pace which shall come naturally. Some find singing familiar hymns or songs is a prayer which walks well. Our labyrinth has three circles; one for each of the Persons of the Trinity. We may consider the first circle God the Father or Creator, the second Jesus the Savior Son, and the third the Holy Spirit, Eternal Presence. We enter the circular path from the entry and go left to the center of the circle. Pausing there we then proceed and find ourselves, turning with the path’s turn, to the beginning of the next circle. When we reach the third circle our returning brings us around it, back through the second, and home to the first, until we walk back out into the world.

Our prayerful journey may be short and swift or lengthy. Sometimes we find ourselves wanting to exit after walking/praying only part of the path. That’s permissible. The point is to pray with all we are, aware that we are mind, body, soul, and strength made by God, the Holy Trinity, for the purpose of glorifying God, enjoying God, and serving God by loving our neighbors as we love ourselves.

Lakeside offers this means of grace to everyone. This path is not simply for Methodists or even only for Christians. We believe that God’s grace shall work in anyone who enters the path trusting that God is present. Everyone who enters will be change.

So, we give you a place and we continue to pray: Most loving God, without You neither words nor work has meaning. Accept and bless the work of our shared labor. May this labyrinth be a place where praise ascends daily, where souls find rest, the discouraged find comfort, and all see Your glory. Grant us the blessing of blessing others as we walk and pray here in the sight of your angels and the communion of saints. We pray in gratitude for all You, holy and mysterious Three in One, One in Three, everlasting God. Amen.


Building a ‘Path of Prayer’

“By Pastor Pam Estes, Senior Paster Lakeside United Methodist Church


Taste of Trinity, 2014, sponsored by the ECW (Episcopal Church Women) of Trinity Church, will be

held at Trinity Episcopal Church at 703 W. 3rd Avenue, Pine Bluff, AR, on Saturday, November 22, 2014. It will be held from 9:00 to 12:00. A Taste of Trinity is a long-standing tradition in Pine Bluff, drawing many people to buy and sample some of the many food favorites from the great cooks at Trinity Church.

The venue will be different this year. Because of the popularity of the casseroles from Trinity, the casserole committee expanded their offerings. These casseroles are frozen and perfect to put in

the freezer for Thanksgiving the following week. Some of the many casseroles will be homemade Chicken Spaghetti, Lemon Spinach, and Beef

Tamales. There will be an expanded bake sale of many varieties of baked goods. Instead of a sit down lunch, there will be a tearoom offering complimentary tea,

coffee, and a hot drink, as well as several varieties of cookies.

There will be a drawing for a Miller’s Mud Mill original plate donated by Gail Miller of Dumas.

Several special items including an original artwork piece, a beautiful

heirloom style infant gown, and several collectibles will be sold at a

silent auction.Come early to get the best selections.

Some of the officers of Trinity Episcopal ECW. Left to right are Jane Bettison, Carol Davis, Donna Coker, Merry Tom Dorris.

A Taste of TrinityTrinity Episcopal Church, Pine Bluff

ATwo recipes that will be used in the tearoom

are from the church cookbook, A Taste of Trinity.

Hot Mulled Party Punch (Carol Davis)

1 ½ quart cranberry juice2 qt. apple juice or cider½ c. brown sugar4 sticks cinnamon1 ½ tsp. whole clovesPour juices into 30-cup coffee maker. Place

sugar, cinnamon sticks and cloves in the basket. Perk or brew. Serves 20-50.

Fruit Cake Cookies (Ann Hilgeman)

6 eggs1 stick butter, softened1 ½ c. brown sugar1-lb. (1 box) golden raisins4-5 lbs. candied fruit6-8 c. chopped pecans3 tsp. baking soda3 T. milk4 c. flourPreheat oven to 300°. Cream butter and

sugar; add eggs, 1 at a time. Mix well and add milk. Mix together flour and baking soda. Dredge fruit with 1 cup of the flour mixture. Add nuts. Combine the egg batter with the rest of the flour. Pour over fruit and nuts; mix. Drop by spoon onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 300° for 15 minutes. Makes 5-6 dozen.

Find more recipes on the Pine Bluf Updater Facebook!

Chicken Dressing(In Memory of

Beebe Schmieder)1 sm. pan cornbread1 sm. pkg. Pepperidge

Farm herb-seasoned stuffing

2-3 biscuits or sliced white bread

1 onion, chopped3 ribs celery, chopped3 T. ground sage2 T. poultry seasoning1 c. chicken broth3 eggs1 c. cream of chicken

soupSalt & pepper to tasteMix cornbread, stuffing

mix, biscuits or white bread, onion, celery, sage, poultry seasoning, broth, eggs, soup, salt and pepper together. Stir well. Pour into greased 9x13-inch pan; bake 30-45 minutes.

Cranberry Frozen Salad

(Luncheon Committee)2 (3-oz.) pkgs. cream

cheese2 T. mayonnaise2 T. sugar1 (16-oz.) can whole

cranberry sauce1 (9-oz.) can pineapple

tidbits or crushed, drained½ c. chopped nuts1/3 (10-oz.) pkg. mixture

marshmallows1 c. Cool WhipCream cheese, mayon-

naise and sugar. Add fruit, nuts and marshmallows. Fold in Cool Whip. Freeze.

Fresh Apple Cake

(Charlie Schmieder)1 ½ c. oil2 c. sugar2 eggs3 c. flour1 tsp. soda

1 tsp. salt2 tsp. vanilla1 tsp. cinnamon1 tsp. nutmeg1 tsp. clovesMix all ingredients

together and then add 3 cups fresh chopped apples (about 4 apples) and 1-cup pecans. Cook in a tube pan at 325̊ until test comes out clean. I grate the apples and my oven takes 1 ½ hours to bake.

Holiday Beef Tenderloin

(Billie Z. Mahaffy)1 T. salt1 ½ tsp. onion powder1 ½ tsp. garlic powder1 ½ tsp. pepper1 tsp. ground red pepper½ tsp. ground cumin½ tsp. ground nutmeg1 (5-lb.) beef tenderloin,

trimmed½ c. olive oilCombine salt, onion

powder, garlic powder, pepper, red pepper, cumin and nutmeg. Rub tenderloin with oil; coat with spice mixture. Place in a roasting pan’ cover and chill 8 hours. Bake at 500 ̊for 15 minutes or until browned. Lower temperature to 375̊ . Bake for 20 more minutes or until desired degree of doneness. Let stand 10 minutes. Slice; serve with horseradish mayonnaise. Garnish, if desired, with fresh rosemary sprigs, fresh sage sprigs.

Spinach and Artichoke Casserole

(Alyce Carraway)1 (10-oz.) packages

frozen chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed dry

1 (13 ½-oz.) can artichoke hearts, drained, chopped

½ c. heavy cream


CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE, 10 P.M. DEC. 24CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE, 11 A.M. DEC. 25

SUNDAYS AT TRINITYHoly Communion at 8 and 10:30 a.m.

Sunday School at 9:30 a.m.

703 W. 3RD, PINE BLUFF • 534-3832 • VISIT US ON FACEBOOK!

Congratulations Episcopal

Church WomenTrinity Episcopal

Church hosted the 2014 Arkansas Episcopal Church Woman Fall Gathering November 7-8. Below is the welcome message from Donna Coker, president ECW Trinity Church.

I would like to warmly welcome you to the 2014 ECW Fall Gathering at Trinity Church in historic Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

Trinity Church is the oldest Episcopal Church Building in the state of Arkansas.

Not only will you enjoy the loving fellowship of women frmo all parts of Arkansas within the confines of our breathtaking church, we hope you will also enjoy some of the rich history andnatural beauty in our delightful city of Pine Bluff.

Pine Bluff boasts the J.W. Bocage home, the childhood home of Martha Mitchell, the Arkansas Railroad Museum, the Delta Rivers Nature Center, beautiful murals painted on downtown buildings as well as man other impressive points of interest. We are excited to host the ECW Fall Ingathering and are looking forward to getting to know you better.Donna Coker,PresidentECW Trinity Church

Trinity Episcopal Church invites the community to its annual presentation of “A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 703 West Third Ave. The service of scripture and song will be presented by the Trinity Chancel Choir, readers and guest musicians.

This historic service tells the story of the fall of humanity and the promise of the Messiah as told in nine short Bible readings, interspersed with the singing of carols, hymns and anthems.

Originating in cathedral in Cornwall, England, in the 1870s and based on a medieval vigil service, the Lessons and Carols service was first made popular in the early 20th century at King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England, which continues the tradition to this day.

The service will be presented by the Trinity Chancel Choir, readers and guest musicians. The service is free and all are encouraged to attend. For further information please call 870-534-3832.

Trinity Episcopal Church To Present ‘Lessons And Carols’

1/8 tsp. salt1/8 tsp. coarsely ground black

pepper2/3 c. grated Parmesan cheese1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese,

softened1 c. milkPreheat oven to 350 .̊ In bowl,

combine artichokes, cream, salt, pepper and 1/3 cup Parmesan. In small bowl, beat cream cheese at medium speed until fluffy, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Reduce mixer to low and gradually add milk, mixing until well blended. Spoon spinach mixture into a shallow 1 1/2 –quart casserole or 8x8-inch glass baking dish. Pour cream cheese mixture evenly over spinach mixture. Sprinkle with remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese. Bake 25-30 minutes or until edges bubble and top is brown.

Trinity’ s Holiday EatsFor Thanksgiving

For Christmas

Find more recipes on the Pine Bluf Updater Facebook!


appy holidays food lovers! I can’t wait to offer you my newest cookbook and share some recipes with you from

“The Holiday Hostess Cooking Clinic, A Seasonal Sampler.” This glorious book has 300 pages of menus and recipe for every month, every season, beginning with a January German meal and New Year’s Day specials to December’s many Christmas occasions and every special event you can think of including a section on “Wellness” and a section with “Funeral Fare.” You can order this fabulous book on my website at http://bluegrasscooking.com for $38.00 plus shipping. It will make the ultimate Christmas gift to yourself and others. Here are some of my favorite holiday recipes from this new and fabulous cookbook.

Autumn Fruit PieA new pie I put together just for this book as so delicious

that it will replace your mince pie recipe in a jiffy.10 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced1 cup Medjool dates, chopped and pitted½ cup dried apricots, chopped1 cup dried cranberries½ cup sugar1 Tab. fresh lemon juice2 Tabs. Bourbon1 tsp. ground cinnamon½ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg2 Tabs. butter, diced1 egg beaten with 1 Tab.

cream for wash2, 9 inch pie crustswhipped cream for servingIn a Dutch oven, mix the fruits, sugar, lemon juice,

bourbon, cinnamon, nutmeg and flour. Heat simmer over medium heat stirring and cook until the apples are tender and the mixture begins to thicken. Ladle into the pie crust and dot with the butter. Cover with a second crust that has been vented. Brush with the egg wash and bake at 400 degrees F. for 35 – 50 minutes until brown on to and bubbling somewhat.

Beer Cheese BreadAnother new creation, this is perfect for tailgating with

chili or even for gifting at Christmas. Hot from the oven it’s down right awesome.

1 ½ cups whole milk1/3 cup sugar¼ cup butter1 Tab. salt2 pkgs. Rapid Rise

yeastanother ½ cup

warm water1 egg, well beaten1 ½ cups good beer cheese6 cups all purpose flour or more if you need it

2 Tabs. melted butterScald the milk (bring almost to a boil) remove from

heat and add the sugar, butter and salt. Let cool a little as the butter melts. Dissolve the two pkgs. of yeast in the ½ cup of warm water and let proof for five minutes (this means look for tiny bubbles rising from the bottom to the top to know that the yeast is active). Stir the yeast mixture into the milk mixture and beat in the egg and beer cheese with a wooden spoon. Beat in 3 cups of flour until smooth and beat in the remaining 3 cups of flour. Stir until the dough leaves the sides of the bowl. If it seems too wet and sticky to handle, add more flour, little by little, up to a cup, and take out on a floured surface to knead for ten minutes. Let rise in a greased bowl, covered with a towel in a warm place until double in size. (I use a heating pad set on low). Punch down and put in a very large greased loaf pan and let rise again, covered until double in size, about an hour each time. Brush the top of the loaf with melted butter and bake at 375 degrees F. for 30 minutes. The whole house will smell like beer cheese bread...wonderful.

Pumpkin Shaped Cheese BallPerfect for Thanksgiving, this cheese ball looks like a

pumpkin but tastes like a savory delight from the sauteed bell pepper inside mixed with creamy goodness for fall.

2, 8 oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened

8 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded

½ tsp. cayenne pepper2 tsps. paprika1 tsp. onion juice2 green onions, diced1 green bell pepper (save the stem), diced and sauteed in

a little olive oil until tender and drained on paper toweling4 oz. Cheddar, shredded for rollingIn a large work bowl mash the cheeses together with

a fork or pastry cutter, stirring in the cayenne pepper, paprika, onion juice, green onions and sauteed bell pepper. Mix well with a wooden spoon until creamy and well blended. Refrigerate for two hours and shape into a pumpkin. Roll in the extra 4 oz. Of cheese and put the bell pepper stem on top. Wrap in plastic wrap until ready to serve, storing in the fridge.

Magic Nut Pumpkin CakeThis cake is perfect for Halloween next year or

Thanksgiving this year! I am now using a Bundt pan to bake it in since one cannot find metal coffee cans any longer, that the original recipe called for to make it look spooky.

3 eggs1 pound of pumpkin puree¾ cup of canola oil½ cup water

2 ½ cups all purpose flour2 ¼ cups sugar1 ½ tsps. baking soda1 ¼ tsps. salt¼ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg¾ tsp. cinnamon1 cup raisins½ cup walnuts, chopped¼ cup walnuts for garnishlemon cream cheese icingBeat together the eggs, pumpkin, oil and water, then

beat in the flour, sugar, soda, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, raisins and walnuts. Pour the batter into a well buttered Bundt pan and bake at 350 degrees F. for 1 hour and 15 minutes until a long wooden skewer comes out clean. Cool for ten minutes and turn out to cool. Ice with the cream cheese icing and sprinkle with the extra chopped walnuts.

Lemon Cream Cheese Icing4 oz. cream cheese3 Tabs. softened butter1 tsp. lemon juice½, 1 pound box of powdered sugarMix all ingredients with a hand held mixer until smooth

and spread on top of cake. Sprinkle top with extra walnuts.New Year’s Eve Bread Pudding

with Pink Champagne SaucePerfect recipe to usher in the New Year, served after

a delicious meal of chicken livers and country ham over noodles and a black eyed pea salad dressing to die for.

4 cups of Parker House style rolls (frozen and thawed is fine), torn into small pieces

2 eggs1 cup milk½ cup sugar2 Tabs. melted butter½ tsp. vanilla½ tsp. almond extract½ cup chopped maraschino

cherriespink Champagne sauceButter and 8 x 8 inch glass

casserole dish and strew the roll pieces on the bottom. Beat the eggs, milk, sugar, butter and extracts until frothy. Whisk in the cherry pieces and pour over the rolls. Bake in a 350 degree F. oven for 30 minutes until set. Serve in stemmed martini glasses with the sauce ladled over each offering.

Recipes for the HolidaysH

Like the Pine Bluff Updater on Facebook! ... For More From Barbara! ... Her Old Fashioned Open House Chip Dip, Orange Blossom Turkey and Dressing, Bluegrass Cooking Clinic Egg Nog and Cream of Christmas Soup Recipes!


Around the Blu ff


he Shepherd’s Center of Pine Bluff held its fall session Wednesdays from September 10 through October 29 at

Lakeside Methodist Church. Classes included line dancing, an art workshop and computer course, needlework, photography, canasta card game, bird watching, and Bible study with Rev. Pam Estes of Lakeside Methodist Church.

For more information on future classes, call Bettye Johnson at 870-535-8037, or email [email protected].

Fall session at Shepherd’s Center of Pine BluffT

ANNE’S COUNTRY CAFEa family owned restaurant that has been offering great food for years.

we do breakfast anytime as well as offer freshly smoked meats

Arkansas Times’ Best Breakfast and OmeletBuffet day & night m-f • lunch sunday • 6am-8pm 7 days a week

3714 camden road • pine bluff • 879-0057Try our coffee and sweet tea...it truly is the Best!

PLATE LUNCHES SERVED SUNDAY TO FRIDAY ALL DAYENTREES CHANGE DAILY • FISH ALWAYS ON FRIDAYS

We Deliver!5 orders or more

Thank You To Our Customers for a Fantastic Year!

Have a Merry Christmas!

Maxey’s Barbershop9101 Hwy. 270, Whitehall • 247-7407 • Mon-Fri 8-5 • Sat 9-12

MAXEY’S BARBER SHOP A TRADITION OF QUALITY SERVICE & AUTHENTIC BARBERING FOR OVER 50 YEARS!

Best Barber Shop

We Appreciate Our Customers and Friends!

Tammy Maxey HulseMaster Barber

Jan LunsfordCosmetologist

Francis Maxey LunchMaster Barber


DINE IN OR CARRY OUTSERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER

870-247-0900

LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF BRYANT AND PRINCETON PIKE AT 6000 WEST BARRAQUE870-247-0900 • 5:30AM - 7PM ~ MON. - SAT. ~ CLOSED SUN.

DINE IN OR CARRY OUT

A Tradition in Pine Blu� & Southeast Arkansas for

over 10 years! RICK WILLIAMSON, OWNER

In The Old Southwestern Bell Building

in Historic Downtown Pine Bluff

401 West Second AvenuePine Bluff

(870) 536-8998

DUCK INN

WE KEEP THE PARTY GOING FROM CHRISTMAS ALL THE WAY THROUGH NEW YEAR’S EVE!

WE CATER!!!!!128 MAIN STREET • PINE BLUFF

870-850-7887Owners - Rose Pettigrew & Niche’ Walters

OPEN SUNDAY - 11am - 3pmHours on Mon - Fri 11am - 2pm

Sports Bar Hours - Tues - Sat. 6pm - 1amCarry-out Available

WEEKDAY LUNCH SPECIALS

RENT OUR BUILDING FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT

Try Our Caramel Cake • Oxtails • Cabbage • Candied YamsBread Pudding

Home Cookin’At It’s Best!

BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY EVENT TODAY!WEDDINGS • CORPORATE EVENTS • CONCERTS • FUNDRAISERS

PJ’s Event Center

WISHING PINE BLUFF A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

• VARIETY OF MUSIC FORMATS • HEATED INDOOR SWIMMING POOL • PRIVATE VIP ROOMS• 7 VIP BOOTHS WITH BOTTLE SERVICE • 3 FULL SERVICE BARS • LAVISH MAIN DANCE FLOOR

2411 UNIVERSITY DR.PINE BLUFF, AR 71601

[email protected]/PJsEvent Center “Always Open”

The Martin Family Wishes You a Happy Thanksgiving & A Very Merry Christmas!Martin Piano Co. & Furniture Moving

6589 Hwy. 190 East870-535-8173


magine – Furniture & Décor Store,

located at 7203 Sheridan Road, Suite

L, in the Woodlands Plaza, held their

grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremonies

last week. City officials, members of the White

Hall Chamber of Commerce, family, friends and

business associates turned out to welcome the

new establishment. Following the ceremonies,

everyone attending had the opportunity to browse

through the business which boasted many one-of-

a-kind items, as well as vintage and other decor.

The business comes as a joint venture with

Richard Michael Butts and fellow business

associates, Kaye Peden Failla and Linda Hayes,

who are described the is the perfect mix for the

business, as each member brings to the table their

own specialty to the establishment that offers

new and estate furniture and home décor, as well

as hand crafted, vintage, designer and costume

jewelry and women’s accessories while striving

to create an elegant boutique décor shop where

anyone can come and find something unique and

wonderful for their home, and to ultimately become

the premier home décor boutique in Southeast

Arkansas. In addition to estate furniture, Imagine

also carries Riverside Furniture, as well as lamps.

In addition to collecting all kinds of things,

Butts also enjoys refinishing old furniture, art,

designing and making jewelry. Many of his hand

made gemstone masterpieces can be purchased

there. Also on display are the many art works of

White Hall’s Richard Davies who also produces

one of a kind items.

In addition to the fact that White Hall is his home

town, Butts says their decision on the location was

also due the amazing growth that is constantly

occuring. It has always been our preference,” said

Butts. “The Hwy 270 shopping corridor was also

our preference because that is where much of the

growth is taking place,” he added.

Imagine will be open from 11 a.m., until 6 p.m.,

on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 11 a.m. until 7 p.m.

on Thursday; 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., on Friday; 11

a.m., until 5 p.m. on Saturday; and closed Sunday

and Monday. Their phone number is 870-540-

7078. They can also be found on Facebook.

Thank you, Vicki Kelley, White Hall Journal.

Imagine opens in Woodlands Plaza

IArticle by Teresa Bennett, White Hall Journal

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony held to welcome in the new Furniture & Décor store


We are living our dream: To open a health and wellness

store that offers natural, organic and healthy alternatives for custom-ers looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Some of the items offered at Natural Bliss: Natural supple-ments, vitamins, bath & body prod-ucts, Non-Gmo foods, Gluten-free foods, gourmet oils, aromatherapy oils, natural hair vitamins, local honey and much more!

Health & Wellness Haircare • Bath & Body

Gourmet Foods • Vitamins Supplements

Natural Bliss is located in White Hall. We are dedicated to promoting and providing products that help encour-

age health and wellnes. Natural Bliss’ focus is to offer natural-

ly-derived items that are designed to complement the total

body health of our consumers. Rest assured that if you make

a purchase from us, your product was made with your best in

mind! Many of our items are made by other small businesses

near and far. Remember to visit us at Natural Bliss!

Phone: 870-247-2500 • Email: [email protected] • www.ournaturalbliss.com

Naturally Nourishing ... from head to toe!

7203 Sheridan Road, Suite K, White Hall, AR 71602

Owners, Reggie and Lori Cole

Our Mission: Natural Bliss’ purpose is to affect community understanding that healthy living is a choice. Choose health!”

11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday - Friday

Open til 7 p.m. Thursdays

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays

HOURS

7203 Sheridan Road Woodlands PlazaHwy. 279 White Hall, AR 71601

(870) 540-7078

Closed Mondays

Have a Happy Thanksgiving & Very Merry Christmas!

Come by and shop with us for all your Holiday Season gifts - we have a special something for everyone!

Watch for upcoming feature story!


Colonial Steak HouseD

ana Gateley has a simple mantra: “Customer service is what I do. That’s my thing.”

Gateley, the new owner of the Colonial Steak House, 111 West Eighth Ave. in downtown Pine Bluff, acknowledges that the business will continue to succeed only if its customers continue to be happy with top of the line food and service.

She knows food and service: Working at the Holiday Inn, Shoney’s South as a training director, Taco Bell as an administrative manager and the past 25 years as a waitress at Colonial Steak House.

“I like to think of our customers as friends, not customers,” she explained. “I get to visit with my friends as my vocation.”

She and her husband, Wayne, purchased the Tudor-style restaurant, constructed in 1912 as an elementary school, from Joe and Donna Coker, who had operated the steak house since 1993. Gateley knew the business, having worked as a waitress serving steaks there for some 25 years. The Cokers acquired the property from Scott Mouser, who purchased the business from the original owner who opened the restaurant in a nearby location in the summer of 1973.

Their business plan calls on Dana running the service side of the restaurant, with Wayne, working as the “handyman/maitre’d/butcher/bookkeeper and the computer guru.”

He had earlier filled in for the Cokers during

holidays, special events and a five month period when Coker was ill, she noted.

She said Wayne has made repairs, upgrades and improvements expected of the owner of any 102-year-old building. The redecorations involve a Tuscan theme.

Customers and the business community responded to the ownership change, Dana told a visitor, with photographs, vases, a buffet and other items linked to the restaurant.

Recent customers have come from Clarksville,

Cabot and Texarkana, she noted, after hearing Coker was retiring and Dana was taking over.

The long hours expected of a restaurant owner won’t faze Dana: She has often held two jobs at the same time, working on one during the day and a second at night.

The steak house is open from 5-9 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and for some special events.

Dana said the steak house’s usual fare, including popular desserts, will remain on the menu, adding she has added Balitmore-style crab cakes and pasta.


(870) 247-1843

MEK

Buckles

LA Idol

American Eagle

True ReligionDaytrip

VocalMiss Me

Britt B’s BoutiqueStudio 7101 Salon

Fab Juniors Selections

MEETING ALL THE FAMILY’S FASHION NEEDS FOR OVER 19 YEARS

7101 Sheridan Rd, Suite A, White Hall, AR 71602

(870) 247-1843Owner Phyllis Huddleston

BE THE FASHION STAR OF YOUR HOLIDAY

Smashing BashArmaniEt Cetera

Jones of New YorkElileen FisherKasperHarve BanardRuby Road

Ann TaylorTalbots

Polo

Ralph Lauren

Guess

Large Selection of Ladies Designer Apparel - Sizes 0 to 4X!

hite Hall Mayor Noel Fos-ter has a reputation as a fru-gal administrator. He does

not like to see money wasted.When the White Hall City Council

began discussing a community center and an amusement attraction several years ago, Foster called for a city-wide survey and a pool or water feature rated high with 88 percent of survey respon-dents.

White Hall voters approved a maxi-mum $4.5 million bond issue to help fi-nance the $7.5 million community cen-ter and aquatic park. The bonds will be retired with revenues from the 2 percent sales tax on prepared food and motel rentals adopted in 1997.

Foster and several members of the council traveled around the state to look at municipal pools and water features, hoping to benefit from the experienc-es of other cities and towns. The notes from those trips were incorporated into the plans for Crenshaw Springs Water Park, constructed at the intersection of Dollarway and Hoadley roads in White

Hall and now Southeast Arkansas’ only aquatic park.

The James “Jitters” Morgan Commu-nity Center is under construction nearby and should be open in January or Febru-ary, the mayor said.

Told a large swimming pool would be expensive to operate and more at-tractions would help make White Hall a destination and fulfill requests from vot-ers in the survey, the council decided to

“think big.”Foster said the water park, which

opened during the summer, provided jobs for 80 Jefferson County youths. Be-fore Crenshaw Springs opens in 2015, Foster said some adjustments will be made in operating schedules and fees.

“It was a learning process for us,” Foster said during a recent interview.

The investment in the water park paid off for White Hall, which was named recipient of the 2014 Cities of Distinc-tion award for tourism development in municipalities of 5,000 to 20,000 popu-lation.

The award, presented by the Arkansas Business Publishing Group, cited White Hall’s new municipal museum, the wa-

ter park and a fire sub-station.While Foster and other city officials

checked on water attractions around the state before building Crenshaw Springs, they now find other municipal represen-tatives coming to see what White Hall has accomplished in developing a “fun, family environment.”

The Jacksonville Parks and Recre-ation Department has checked out Cren-shaw Springs, while a large delegation from Jonesboro recently looked at the water attraction and community center under development.

Representatives of the latter city of 70,000 population indicated they were impressed by what White Hall has ac-complished with management skills.

Noel FosterW

The intersection of Dollarway and Hoadley roads in White Hall will soon become the home to Southeast Arkansas’ only aquatic park. The James “Jitters” Morgan Community Center is under construction nearby.

White Hall voters earlier approved a maximum $4.5 million bond issue to help finance the $7.5 million community center and aquatic park. The bonds will be retired with revenues from the 2 percent sales tax on prepared food and motel rentals adopted in 1997.

With $3.5 million generated by the food and rental tax held in reserve, residents were asked in a 2012 municipal survey how they wanted the money spent. A pool or water feature rated high with 88 percent of survey respondents.

Following the survey, Mayor Noel Foster and several aldermen toured a number of municipal water attractions “to learn what works and what doesn’t.” The lessons learned on those trips were incorporated into the plans for Crenshaw Springs Water Park.

Aldermen decided to “think big” after being told a large swimming pool would be costly to operate and more attractions would help make White Hall a destination and fulfill requests

from voters in the survey.The park, which will contain

two large pools, flume slides, splash facilities, a rock climbing wall and a “lazy river” for leisurely floating, is scheduled to open in mid-June, said Barbie Parsley, who will manage the recreation complex.

While there will be ample activities for the young, the park has designed with adults in mind, both Foster and Parsley noted. A zero-depth entry on the largest pool will allow participants to walk into water at a depth where they feel comfortable.

The park will include a

number of rest areas and ample shade, said Parsley, in addition to changing rooms, showers and a concession stand.

Foster said the water park will be marketed to an area from Redfield south, including Sheridan, Stuttgart, Dumas, Star City and Monticello.

While there will be ample activities for the young, the park has designed with adults in mind, both Foster and Parsley noted. A zero-depth entry on the largest pool will allow participants to walk into water at a depth where they feel comfortable.

The park will include a number of rest areas and ample shade, said Parsley, in addition to changing rooms, showers and a

concession stand.Foster said the water park

will be marketed to an area from Redfield south, including Sheridan, Stuttgart, Dumas, Star City and Monticello.

Parsley said park rules will be strictly enforced and a uniformed White Hall police officer will be on the premises when the park is open.

Rates, fees and hours are subject to change once the park opens, Parsley said.

She has been busy conducting interviews of prospective seasonal employees, a majority of which will consist of certified lifeguards.

Initially the water park will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 1-6 p.m. Sundays.

Daily gate admission will range from infant to toddler, free; child 4-8, $6; 9-12, $8; and 13 and older, $10. A 10-trip punch pass for all ages will sell for $75, while a family of four can purchase a season pass for $200. The family pass is restricted to residents of the White Hall School District.

White Hall grew up around Crenshaw Springs on Dollarway Road, hence the name for the water park.

A two-acre fishing pond is under construction near the center and water park, Foster said.

White Hall Aldermen Think Big with New Water Park

SUMMER 2014 | PAGE 33facebook.com/theupdater


Colonial Steak House THE SOUTH’S PREMIERE STEAK AND SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

111 WEST 8TH AVENUE • PINE BLUFF 536-3488

Open 5pm until 9:00pm ~ Tuesday thru Saturday ~ Closed Monday

OVER 40 YEARS, STILL FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED

W E D D I N G R E C E P T I O N S . R E H E A R S A L D I N N E R S . C O R P O R AT E PA R T I E S A N D A L L O C C A S I O N S .

All New Wine List!I N Q U I R E A B O U T O U R R E S E RV E V I N TA G E S E L E C T I O N S .

NIGHTLY FEATURES SUCH ASN E W Y O R K S T R I P W I T H K I N G C R A B L E G S

S H R I M P S C A M P IB L A C K E N E D O R A N G E R O U G H Y W I T H N E W P I N E A P P L E S A L S A !

Carry out available.

Owners Dana & Wayne Gateley

Chili1-2 lb ground venison of beef

½ large onion, chopped

6 stalks celery, chopped

Cayenne pepper/chili pepper to

taste

½ tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

Salt & pepper

28 oz stewed tomatoes

14 oz tomato juice

1 can kidney beans

1 pouch of your favorite chili

seasoning

1 TBS brown sugar

Brown meat, onion & celery. Add

all ingredients & simmer 30-45

minutes or place in crock pot & cook

all day. Sprinkle with cheese when

ready to serve.

Christmas Cookie Bar14 whole Oreos, broken up

1½ cups pretzels, broken

1 cup Christmas colored M&M’s

1lb white chocolate or almond

bark

Christmas colored sprinkles

Line a baking sheet with waxed

paper. Mix on the sheet the Oreos,

pretzels, and ¾ cup of the M&M’s

Melt chocolate or bark in a

microwave safe bowl for 1½ min.

& stir. Continue to heat in 30 sec

intervals until thoroughly melted.Drizzle over the candy mixture

& top with extra M&Ms and sprinkles.

Allow to dry @ room temp or in the fridge until hardened.

Break into chunks & serve.

Cinnamon Roll Casserole - Christmas

Morning2 tablespoons melted butter2 cans (12 4oz each) refrigerated

cinnamon rolls with icing4 eggs½ cup heaving whipping cream2 tsp ground cinnamon2 tsp vanilla1 cup chopped pecans (optional)¼ cup maple syrupHeat oven to 375: Pour melted

butter into ungreased 13x9 glassed baking dish

Separate canned rolls into 16 & cut each roll into quarters. Place pieces over butter in dish.

Medium bowl, beat eggs, cream cinnamon & vanilla until well blended. Pour over roll pieces. Sprinkle with pecans; drizzle with ¼ cup maple syrup.

Bake 20-28 min or until golden brown cool 15 min Heat icing from rolls in microwave 10-15 seconds & drizzle over top.


KEVIN BONNETTE

your state farm

agent

3077 West 28th Ave870-535-2233

www.insuremekevinb.com

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!Thank you for making my fi rst year serving you a huge success!

Holiday Recipes from Tanja Bonnette

Pictured are Tanja Bonnette and daughters Raygen, Abbi and Emily.

Pictured are Tanja abd

husband Kevin Bonnette.

y wife and i recentley returned from an amazing trip to the philippines.

It was my 1st time there and her first time in nine years. We left home about 3:30 am new years day for little rock, ar., And passed a few night clubs still going strong. The flight from dallas to seoel, korea was 15 hours. I can’t sleep well on a plane, i guess i’m paranoid that it will crash, but the service was great on korean airlines and beautiful stewardesses.

The flight to manila was another 3 ½ hours. Manila airport was hectic, to say the least, late at night. I was relieved to see many police men at the airport. We took a van to my wife’s home town area of balatan. It turned out to be a 12 hour drive, i strongly suggest the bus over the vans, including the longer “jeep” vans. It was nerve wrecking most of the time. 80 Mph (stop-n-go). No seat belts, packed in like sardines but our driver marlon loves to drive & got us there safely after many harrowing experieces.

Balatan is probably typical of many philippine areas, very loving but impoverished people. No running water, few refridgerators, open doors and windows, cooking in big pots outdoors, straw roofs, hand pump wells. My wife’s family was a few steps away from the ocean, but spared recently from the tremendous typhoon (yolanda). Many days we ate fish freshly caught from a wooden boat.

Last night we went to an annual festival (saint anthony) de padua for the area and were honored by a very nice chief of police, and several alder men.

Today many men put up a tent in honor of my wife’s mother’s i year death. Tomorrow many people will bring food after church. The alderman donated a nice wood table etc. My wife’s relatives fixed pancit, a local dish, for the workers.

These are a loving, constantly sharing, imporverished people whom share had-me-down traditions for decades.

Being married to a philippino i have learned that anytime friends get together a philippinie dish like lumpia, pancit, nilaga, etc. Is cooked by both sides.

The women are beautiful, the men hard working but both caring and loveable, and thoughtful. Their houses are so close that there are practically no yards.

In balatan, there are almost no vehicles but a lot of motor cycles (tri-cycles with cages).

Priest rev. Father diosoro ibanita performed a

mass for my wife’s mother’s first anniversary of her death. I couldn’t understand the togalog but afterwards he come to blessthe house in english. I’m not sure if it was for me or traditional but at least i could understand. He reafirmed what a generous, close and caring the philappine people are, and that the philippines includes over 7000 islands. I told him how i used to hear mike huckaby preach in my hometown of pine bluff, ar. He had heard of him.

One of my most enjoyable pasttimes was saying “cuma sta” to the kids as they walked down the dirt road in their school uniforms. Many seemed shy and most of their eyes would follow me as i walked or as they walked to schools. Most would say “bye” with a big smile as if they’d never seen an american. A neighbor said i was like an “alien “to them. Their holidays and festivals are expanded to many more days than ours.

In manilla traffic signals are rough guideliners.We may wait 3 or 4 years before returning

due to the expense and long travel hours, and then i hope to write another experience.


My Interesting Trip to the PhilippinesM


ob Abbott is a man of many trades and talents: He is skilled in mechanical work, has peddled newspapers,

shined shoes, repaired watches, been a railroad telegrapher, restored old structures, and even owns a foundry.

And that is just a fraction of his accomplishments in 79 years.

He is the owner of Abbott Tachograph, Abbott Enterprises and ATROL. His office and headquarters are located in the 900 block of W. Fourth Ave., in Pine Bluff, immediately north of the Martha Mitchell childhood home at 902 W. Fourth.

The house was built about 1887 by Martha’s maternal grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. C.M. Fergusson, who moved to Pine Bluff from Chester, S.C., to establish a wholesale grocery company. Martha was born in the old house on Sept. 2, 1918, and graduated from Pine Bluff High School in 1936.

Later, she met and married, John Mitchell, the attorney general during the Nixon Administration. The Mitchells separated in 1973 and three years later, she died in Washington at age 57. She is buried in Pine Bluff’s Bellwood Cemetery.

Abbott watched the old home deteriorate and elected to restore the structure for its historic value.

A graduate of Sparkman High School in Dallas County, he signed up for a correspondence course to learn to repair watches. The course cost $150, paid at the rate of $5 a month.

Then he signed up for a correspondence course to learn Morse code to become a telegrapher. He was working at a saw mill at the time and “didn’t know they were doing away with the telegraph.”

He was hired by the Cotton Belt Route as a student telegrapher in 1954 and paid $1 an hour, which was better than the 60-cents an hour at the saw mill.

He was assigned to Weiner in Poinsett County and ended up working at every depot between Bell City, Mo., and Shreveport, La.

Moving to Pine Bluff in 1958, he began buying old watches to repair and sell. The correspondence course was paying off.

He said he received a call from Wheeling Pipeline asking if he could repair recording

tachographs on their trucks. The key to the device involves a clock. “I got to thinking there are other people with big trucks and investigated the market,” Abbott recalled.

He rented one-half of the Trailways bus depot in Pine Bluff in 1964 because the rent was cheap and quick shipping was available. Abbott Enterprises was born.

He observed a change coming with electric speedometers and devised a way to repair the electric models and manufacture the devices. “It saved our lives for 10 to 15 years,” Abbott told

a visitor.Devices that keep track of production on oil

wells were added to the production lines.As more electrical tracking devices were

added to vehicle fleets, Abbott developed a link he dubbed “Cable X” to allow older products to be updated.

He said he spends half of his days trying to come up with new products, buying a small foundry at White Hall in 1985 to make handles for boats.

Since many large tires for tractor-trailer trucks are leased today, a market for a “Hubodometer” to keep track of mileage is in production, Abbott added.

When he is not busy working on ideas for his company, Abbott spends a lot of time and money working for the Kidney Foundation. His father required dialysis treatment and it is not available in many small towns.

He has received the highest national award for work in behalf of kidney patients and two state awards for his services. Then Gov. Dale Bumpers appointed Abbott to the Arkansas Kidney Disease Commission.

For fun he builds 1901-1903 Oldsmobile replicas by hand in his garage.

Now he is thinking about slowing down and selling off the red replica cars and the foundry.

He said he can trace his wealth to learning watch repairs. “It has been a wonderful ride,”

Bob AbbottB


Tomato Aspic1 envelope plain gelatin½ cup tomato juice1¼ cup tomato juice½ teaspoon sugar1/8 teaspoon Tabasco2 tablespoons lemon juice¼ teaspoon salt½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce½ teaspoon grated onionIn a pan, sprinkle the gelatin on ½ cup

tomato juice. Place over low heat and stir until gelatin dissolves. Remove from heat and stir in other ingredients. Place in refrigerator until mixture resembles un-beaten egg white consistency.

Add and gently fold in:¼ cup sliced stuffed olives¼ cup chopped celeryPour into four individual molds and

refrigerate. This recipe can be doubled and tripled, but

cut down on the amount of sugar used.

Sweet Potato Casserole3 medium/large sweet potatoes1/2 cup [1 stick] butter, softened1/8 teaspoon saltGrated peel of one orangeBourbon to taste [1/4 – 1/3 cup]

Put sweet potatoes in a pan large enough to cover potatoes with water. Boil until done: one to one and a half hours. Remove peel. Cut crosswise in ½” slices [to cut fiber]. Put in bowl with butter and salt. Mash until well mixed. Add orange peel and Bourbon and mix well. Put in a 1½ quart Pyrex bowl. [Freeze if desired – thaw before cooking.]

When ready to serve, heat in 350 degrees oven until hot. Place marshmallows on top and brown in oven.

Asparagus Casserole2 tablespoons butter2 tablespoons flour1 scant cup cream2 tablespoons asparagus juice2 boiled eggs, chopped4 oz. can sliced mushrooms¾ pound sharp cheddar cheese, gratedSalt & pepper to taste3 15 oz. cans asparagus spearsMelt butter, stir in flour. Gradually add

cream and asparagus juice, stirring until thick. Stir in ¾ of grated cheese until melted. Add eggs and mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper.

In a Pyrex dish make two layers: asparagus spears, then sauce. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Bake 20 minutes in 350 degrees oven.

Continued on page 39

The late Dr. Robert Nixon with his lovely wife Jane.

Jane Nixon enjoying some creative time outdoors.

Recipes for the Holidays from Jane Nixon

Like the Pine Bluff Updater on Facebook to see Jane’s Ambrosia and Plum Pudding Recipes & More!


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Continued from page 38

Buche de Noel [Pat Brown]

Genoise:½ cup butter6 eggs [room temperature – 5 large eggs are

enough]1 cup sugar1 T. vanilla1 cup sifted cake flourButter 15x10x1” jelly roll pan. Line with

wax paper, then butter the paper. Set aside. Melt the butter over low heat, then set aside to cool. Combine eggs and sugar in top of double boiler over hot, not boiling, water and beat with rotary beater for 15 minutes. At this point the mixture should have tripled in volume and be firm enough to hold soft points. Take off the heat and stir in vanilla. Sift the flour, a little bit at a time, over the egg mixture and fold in carefully with a rubber spatula. Finally, add cooled butter and fold in carefully until well mixed. Pour in pan and bake at 350 degrees

for 15 minutes. Turn out at once onto towel [covered with sifted powdered sugar], peel off wax paper gently and sprinkle with sifted powdered sugar. Trim crusts from edges and roll up while still warm, starting with narrow end, towel and cake together. Cool.

Mocha filling:¾ cup [1 1/2 sticks] butter¾ cup sifted powdered sugar2 egg yolks, slightly beaten 1 teaspoon powdered instant coffee dissolved

in 1 Tablespoon hot water – let cool

Cream butter with beater – when soft, gradually work in sugar and continue beating until mixture is very smooth. Beat in yolks. Mix in coffee.

Unroll the cold cake and spread with the Mocha filling almost to the edges. Roll up neatly like a jelly roll. Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate.

Chocolate glaze:1 square unsweetened chocolate 5 squares semi-sweet chocolate1 Tablespoon honey 6 Tablespoons butter, softenedMelt the chocolates over hot, not boiling,

water. Stir in the honey and butter, stirring until butter melts. Beat until cool and somewhat thickened.

To finish the Buche de Noel, place the roll on a platter. Slip short pieces of wax paper under the cake all around to catch drips. Cut a thin slice from each end and affix on sides with tooth picks – ice these in swirls like knots. Spread icing the length of cake roughly like bark. Press chopped nuts on knots and on ends of cake.


reen bean bundles, Ginger Beebe’s pecan pie recipe and

smoked pecans. My brother-in-law Danny always request pecan pie. I like the green bean bundles...not to fattening! Smoked pecans are great snack food, when you have company coming over.

Green Bean Bundles

3 cans of whole green beansBacon strips1 cup of brown sugar½ stick of buttersalt and peppercreole seasoningjuice from one can of green

beansWrap green beans in ½ of

bacon strips. Use toothpick to hold. Place bundles in casserole dish and pour juice from one can of beans. Slice butter and put on top. Sprinkle brown sugar on top. Sprinkle salt, pepper and Creole seasoning to taste. Bake at 350˚ for 1 hour or until bacon is done.

Smoked Pecans3 Tbl. of butter3 tsp Liquid Smoke½ tsp. salt4 cups of pecansHeat oven to 275̊ . Slowly melt

butter in shallow pan. Stir in Liquid Smoke. Add nuts. Mix until all nuts are coated. Heat in oven for 45 minutes. Stir every 15 minutes.

Ginger Beebe’s Pecan Pie

½ cup brown sugar½ cup white sugar½ cup Karo¼ cup PET MilkPinch of salt3 eggs, beaten½ cup butter, melted1 cup pecans, chopped1 teaspoon vanillaMix and pour into unbaked

pie shell. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake 30 minutes.

Dee Holcomb’s Winter FavoritesG

Dee and Mike’s beautiful country home, right here in our neck of the woods!


essica “Dee” Holcomb of

Pine Bluff is putting skills

earned as a volunteer

worker, the political world and area

supervisor for Shelter Insurance

Companies by opening a Shelter

agency here and has already won

the Shelter “Rising Star” award for

January through July.

Those people skills were honed as

a member of the Pine Bluff Regional

Chamber of Commerce Redcoats

for three years, on the board of the

CASA (Committee Against Spouse

Abuse) shelter for battered and

abused women for eight years, and

three years on the local Red Cross

chapter board and the University

of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Recruit,

Retain and Retention Committee.

A 2009 graduate of Pine Bluff

Leadership Class, she was appointed

by Gov. Mike Beebe to a six-year

term on the Southeast Arkansas

College Board of Trustees.

And that doesn’t include working

as a campaign manager for her

husband, Mike Holcomb, since

2006 when he was elected to three

terms as Jefferson County judge

and then to the Arkansas House of

Representatives District 10 (portions

of Lincoln, Cleveland, Grant, Drew,

and Jefferson counties) seat in 2012.

The Watson Chapel High School

graduate received a marketing

degree in business management

from Ashworth College of Georgia.

She later worked as an assistant

librarian at Watson Chapel high and

as a secretary for two Shelter agents

without giving much thought to

becoming an agent.

Tommy May, former Simmons

Bank president and CEO, hired her

to direct the bank’s Classic Club

and she was later hired as a regional

supervisor for Shelter’s Hot Springs

agency field office.

She had to obtain a license to sell

insurance to supervise the three

dozen agents in assigned territory. In

July 2013, Dee recalled, she received

a letter from Shelter asking her if she

knew anyone interested in an agent’s

job in the Watson Chapel area. She

did – Dee Holcomb.

Dee told a recent visitor to her

office that she asked to her husband

to accompany her to the interview,

explaining “we have worked together

many years and I value his opinion.

You could say the rest is history.”

“Since she opened (in January),

the business has really flourished,”

Mike added.

He helps his wife with the

agency work, taking photographs

of structures she has signed up for

insurance coverage.

The office at 3800 Camden Road,

Suite 13, is not far from where

they live in the Sulphur Springs

community, so the daily commute is

short, they observed.

JThe Woman Behind the Man

The Dynamic Duo


aylor Jaggers is a young woman who cares about others and is preparing

for her future before graduating from Rison High School in the spring.

She provides dance lessons to girls at the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County several afternoons a month and teaches 3- and four-year old students at a Pine Bluff studio, in addition to maintaining a busy schedule at school.

The captain of the Rison cheerleaders, she plays a flute in the school band, is an honor student, and member of the Beta Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Spanish Club, Science Club, school newspaper staff, cross country team and track team.

Her mother, Lynda Jaggers, said dance has provided Taylor with the confidence to accomplish her goals. Following graduation, Taylor plans on majoring in dance and business at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

“I want to operate a dance studio and I’ll need the business skills to

run the studio,” Taylor explained.She has entered several Miss

Arkansas preliminary pageants with an eye on scholarships and increasing her confidence level.

Confidence is a byproduct of the dance lessons, Taylor explained, and the key reason she decided to give the lessons to girls at the Boys & Girls Club. “Building confidence will help them in life,” Taylor explained.

“Taylor provides each child a chance,” Lynda Jaggers said with pride.

Greg and Lynda Jaggers own Re/Max Solutions, a Pine Bluff real estate agency, and support their daughter’s involvement and helped one girl in the Boys & Girls Club class obtain a scholarship from FBT Bank and Mortgage and the real estate firm picked up the cost of dance shoes for one girl for a recital.

Taylor said contestants in the Miss Arkansas preliminary pageants must have a platform and her “A Chance To Dance” decision was an easy choice. “You can give back to children through dance,” she added.

Taylor is also a dance student Monday through Thursday at MK Studio in Pine Bluff. The owners, Miranda McHan and Kyle Plunkett, put her talents to work helping with the younger students.

“The first day the face of a girl at the club who had not been exposed to dance before would just light

up,” Taylor said. “We get more of a blessing than she (the student) did,” said Lynda Jaggers.

Students at the club study hip hop, jazz and contemporary dance for a different exposure.

Club personnel have been very helpful and the students have “been great,” the mother and daughter said.

Taylor Jaggers: Preparing for her future

T

Taylor Jaggers and Miss Arkansas Ashton Campbell


EASTWOOD’S GARAGE2901 S. Camden, Pine Bluff

870-536-1554Locally owned and operated by Glen Eastwood

Thanks to our customers for the GIFT OF YOUR BUSINESS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

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wo Pine Bluff real estate firms have merged to provide an expanded offering of services.

Marty Reed, office manager for the consolidated operation at 1801 South Olive, said services include real estate sales, rental and property management.

Reed’s brother, Jason owns Century 21 operations with lcoations in Pine Bluff, Little Rock, El Dorado, Shreveport and Bossier City in Louisiana. They acquired Wilson-Rodgers and Associates, consolidating the two Pine Bluff operations located in the Wilson-Rodgers office on Olive Street.

“Wilson-Rodgers had an outstanding reputation for serving Pine Bluff for its real estate needs,” Marty Reed said. “We felt like it would be a good opportunity to give Pine Bluff an office that could better serve the community, White Hall and Redfield.”

Nine active agents, including seven formerly with Wilson-Rodgers, work in the consolidated operation, he noted, with over 75 residential, commercial and acreage listings.

The property management team includes more than 180 rental properties.

Shawn DunnOwner/Contractor

Cell: 870.692.5458 • Fax: 870.275.4858

Michael McLemoreSuperintendant

Cell: 870.692.0336

State License Contractor • Residential & Commercial BuildingOVER 35 YEARS EXPERIENCE SERVING YOU

A Season of ThanksFor Helping Us Build

on a Great Year

T‘We Look Forward to the Future’

Marty Reed Jason Reed

FORMERLY WILSON RODGERS & ASSOCIATES

870-535-3223www.pinebluffarkansasrealestate.com

1801 SOUTH OLIVE • PINE BLUFF

Thanks to our clients for anamazing year!Merry Christmas!

| SPRING 2014

Mayor’s Holiday Messagehis Holiday Season I wish to thank the citizens of Pine Bluff for their ongoing commitment and support in achieving a greater

level of excellence in our community. We are continuing to promote the revitalization and stability of our neighborhoods, the enrichment of edu-cation in our public schools and the overall beautification and prosper-ity of our great city, which equates to an increase in local employment opportunities.

The progress and success within our community is also due to the hard working employees of this city and their dedication to serve the public with quality and conviction. As this Christmas season approach-es, I extend my appreciation to the Pine Bluff City employees, elected officials and the numerous collective of volunteers who grace our city with their time and talents each year. In addition, I and my staff would like to express to you and your families; Season’s Greetings and Merry Christmas to one and all.

Sincerely,Debe HollingsworthMayor

T

The Honorable Debe Hollingsworth

Mayor

ine Bluff Mayor Debe Hollingsworth hopes the municipality can lay the

foundation for population growth and new jobs in 2015, utilizing an analysis of a consultant hired last year to evaluate the city’s strengths and weaknesses.

Hollingsworth said she was impressed by the major population growth and thousands of new jobs added to local payrolls in Jonesboro after the city hired a consultant to evaluate the Northeast Arkansas town’s good and bad points two decades ago.

Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin cited the accuracy of the evaluation made during the term of one of his predecessors, Hollingsworth noted.

Hollingsworth said the

consultant researched Jonesboro’s image, workforce, transportation infrastructure, utilities, water source, strengths and weaknesses before suggesting the city target companies that manufacture prepared food.

Jonesboro recruited Frito-Lay, Post cereal and Nestle, along with others, to build manufacturing plants. Each company has since expanded production lines and added employees, Perrin noted.

“We need to understand the dynamics of our city,” Hollingsworth explained during a recent interview in her City Hall office. “We need to understand where we are and where we can go.”

The city’s chief executive officer noted she is not interested in reinventing the wheel, noting

the Pine Bluff Image Campaign Committee has been functioning for a decade and the 20/20 Initiative launched in 2007 by then Mayor Carl A. Redus Jr., drew more than 700 to a series of public forums.

“We must realize the existing dynamics,” she said, “to form a vision for our city. For too many years we depended on International Paper and the railroads.”

An analysis of the 20/20 Initiative – which took three years from organizational efforts to a report – was detailed in a Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation study.

A key individual involved in the 20/20 Initiative noted early in the process that Pine Bluff suffers from “an inferiority complex we need to reverse.”

“Getting communities to see their strengths rather than their weaknesses are an extraordinarily important step in a change process,” observed a consultant working for the Rockefeller foundation.

“It’s not a process that will be done quickly,” Hollingsworth observed. “The best way to change an image is changing the attitude of the residents of our city.”

City officials will be busy through the end of the year working on the 2015 municipal budget, Hollingsworth said, adding she does not have a time frame for the consultant to complete the analysis.

“I do know it will not happen overnight,” the mayor said. “We want to do this right. You can’t change a city’s image with billboards.”

‘You Can’ t Change a City’ s Image with a Billboard’

P

FALL/WINTER 201446

Pictured from left are Tiffany Thompson, Jana Chapman, Alexis Akines, Ashley Lovette and Cindy Allen.

reg James, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pine Bluff Cotton Belt Federal Credit Union, anticipates doubling the financial institution’s membership and loans with the opening of a branch in White Hall at 8540 Sheridan Road (U.S. 270).

“We have a large number of current members, railroad employees and retirees, in the White Hall and Sheridan areas,” James noted during an interview in his office.

Membership is not limited to railroad employees and retirees, he emphasized, with 65 employee groups eligible. The 65 groups range from Pine Bluff Sand & Gravel, CPAs, law firms, churches and retail companies.

Five full-time employees – four tellers and a loan officer previously assigned to the main office – are now working at the branch on Sheridan Road, James said.

He praised Shawn Dunn and his construction crew for finishing the branch building one month ahead of schedule and $10,000 under budget.

“The new branch is a big asset to our company,” James added. “It is 100 percent efficient as far as energy usage, with all LED lighting.

“We utilized the most efficient insulation product and the most energy efficient heating and cooling equipment on the market,” he concluded.

G

Pine Bluff Cotton Belt Federal Credit Union

TO LEARN MORE. CALL 870-535-6365 OR GO TO PBCottonBeltFCU.coopPINE BLUFF COTTON BELT FEDERAL CREDIT UNION1703 RIVER PINES BOULEVARD • PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS 71601

8540 HWY. 270 IN WHITE HALL, ARKANSAS

NCUAYour savings federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. National Credit Union Administration, a U.S. Government Agency

We do business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law and Equal Opportunity Act.

Some Christmas Gifts just need a little Financial Backing.

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New Year


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PAge � | SPRING 2014 SPRING 2014 | PAge �facebook.com/theupdater 47

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Thank you for allowing me to work

for you in Southeast Arkansas

Happy Holidays

H State Representative District 10 HThis ad paid for by the Political Committee to Elect Mike Holcomb for House

MIKE HOLCOMB

holiday updater

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