Sara Michael Honored As Rising Star

By Sherry Guess Staff Writer

Sara Michael has always been someone to be admired here in the Bay, but now her fame is spreading out over the state of Arkansas. She has been chosen as one of the Top Twenty To Watch in 2012 by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. She was recently invited to attend a luncheon to be honored and to receive a certificate of recognition. After receiving a hot tip from one the many Friends of the Library volunteers, I asked for an interview to get in-depth with Sara. She graciously accepted my request on the spot. How does one get “on the list” I asked? While Sara had no clear cut answer for me, she said that she has been interviewed a couple of times in the past concerning our outstanding private library which rivals the best of the best public libraries in the state of Arkansas. Once Sara accepted the position as Director of the FFB Library, she began to do plenty of research finding out just how to go about forming partnerships with local organizations as well as qualifying for assistance through the Arkansas State Library Association. Sara’s warm personality has drawn many volunteers to work with her in providing a top notch facility offering a full array of services and information, including all types of literature, books, movies, dvd’s, periodicals and computer work stations for internet access, student and young children’s work stations. Sara found ways to get technical support and assistance with a Summer Reading Program. By demonstrating a need, she was able to secure improvement funding for internet computers, new chairs, even an updated youth section. Sara feels lucky to have the support of the Fairfield Bay Community Club and the City, the cooperation of Wyndham, and the many organizations who provide donations that help keep up with expenses. The Library is well supported by the Artist community including the Artists League and Stas’ Productions performing arts. Volunteers provide more than 6,000 hours of volunteer work each year. Being a volunteer at the library requires only a cheerful attitude and a willingness to pitch in where needed. If you’re better suited to working at the front desk greeting patrons and helping them find what they’re looking for, that’s great. If you prefer working more behind the scenes, keeping the cataloging up to date, checking new book orders or boxes of donated dvd’s, that’s just as great. According to the criteria explained by the judges at the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, those chosen among the 20 honored have accomplished much, but have much more to offer. We applaud you, Sara Michael, for your energy, your accomplishments and your untiring efforts in helping to put Fairfield Bay in the limelight right along with you. We are fortunate to have you in our midst and count you as a leader and more importantly as a friend.

Zachary Holder Takes 1st Place At ATA Nationals

12 year old Zachary Holder of Greers Ferry placed 1st in four events at the ATA TaeKwondo Fall Nationals tournament held in Orlando, Florida. The tournament took pace inthe ESPN Wide World Sports Complex. Zachary is a student at Terry Floyd’s Black Belt Academy in Greers Ferry.

Fairfield Bay Police Assist Cancer Project

Corporal Chris Waring preps boxes for shipping Care Caps across the country.

As part of public service, officers of the Fairfield Bay Police are helping Care Cap Connections™ each month. “Care Caps” is the trade name for headscarves made for women and girls undergoing chemotherapy. Over 35,000 have been given away since 2006. The project is an IRS-approved public charity, registered in the State of Arkansas, a 501(c)(3). Ingram Philips, township constable and association president, reports, “The Bay’s police force has undertaken chores in our shipping department. On a volunteer basis since January, they stepped in to count and box Care Caps and to load them for our nationwide shipments. Each month when there are no duty calls to perform, they pack about 800-1000 garments for the American Cancer Society and 23 other cancer support facilities.” The police join many more volunteers in Fairfield Bay and in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas in the project started and managed by Mary Philips. Visitors to the area are also invited to participate in the effort. As most participants discover for themselves, “working” on a Care Cap day is as much fun as it is “sweat”. Volunteers cut, pin, sew, iron, package and perform the several tasks that go into making one cap. In one day, a team effort will produce anywhere from 50-400 caps, depending on group size and experience level. Sewing skill or even knowledge is not required. Mary leads each team in a production line method and is an able teacher of any newcomer. In the summer, several youth join the work—but no small children. The Care Cap group meets each month at the Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church in the Fellowship Hall behind the main building. The times are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. but are flexible for each volunteer. Coming early is best for Mary to plan her production day. Several men also help the project in set up/take down and on the line. As a coincidence, a retired detective is also part of the project volunteers, demonstrating that public service for law officers does not stop when his badge is retired. Fairfield Bay Police Chief Kerry Brown says, “We are pleased to support the community through the Care Cap project. I know all the officers who volunteer receive a certain satisfaction when they can help. Care Caps can be a real encouragement to folks in time of need.” Ingram mentions that the most common comment by corporals and patrolmen is: “Call me anytime.” Mary stopped counting the numbers of volunteers more than two years ago when over 1,500 had participated. Many of those started with Care Caps five years ago continue. Newcomers come forward every month. Care Cap Day for Fairfield Bay this month is Thursday, July 14, to set up (8 a.m.) to join the line (9 a.m.), at the Kirk. There are also Arkansas teams in Heber Springs, Greenbrier, Jacksonville, Little Rock and Pine Bluff. Their schedules are posted at http://www.ccvols.org.

Indian Thong Tree at Woodland Mead Park?

By Paul Wellenberger

Mr. Robert Gaut, from Alread, Arkansas, here in Van Buren County, visited on June 27 to ask directions to a reported Indian Thong Tree at Woodland Mead Park in Fairfield Bay. Not having any idea what an Indian Thong Tree was, I asked lots of questions and Mr. Gaut was a wealth of information. While we use highway signs, billboards, GPS navigation systems, etc. to get to our desired destination, for centuries, Indian tribes in this region ingeniously pioneered trails and avenues and secretly marked certain trees in the forest to designate areas that had water sources, caves that provided shelter and safety, medicinal herbs, burial and ceremonial sites, villages, and good hunting spots. Travelers from different tribal groups who were unaccustomed to the area depended on this general timber language to aid in their survival. The ‘Thong’ was a forked branch that was used to form the contorted shape in saplings. It was easy to form a thong tree. It could be done with a stone axe and two large “Y” shaped forked branches. These branches had to be tough enough to enduring the pounding with the axe to drive them in the ground and firm enough to withstand the tension of a growing sapling. White oak was the preferred tree variety to use as marker ‘thong’ trees due to its flexibility and hardiness. The first process of shaping the sapling was to drive a forked branch into the ground, close to the foot of the sapling, then bending the small, pliable trunk through the fork to form the first bend. Then the other forked branch was placed over the trunk about three feet towards the crown of the tree, using the stone axe to pound the two prongs into the ground. Although the sapling’s trunk was now confined horizontally, the tree top was left to grow towards the light and mature into what we see at Woodland Mead Park as a “thong tree”. Mr. Gaut has taken pictures of the tree at Woodland Mead Park and sent them off to the Mountain Stewards in Georgia for official authentication. While I have always thought of the tree at Woodland Mead Park as an odd freak of nature, it may very well have been done on purpose by Indians who populated this area long ago. If the tree is authenticated, you will see a historical marker placed in the park.

City of Fairfield Bay Establishes Partnership With ASU-Heber Springs

Dr. Chris Boyett, Vice Chancelor from ASU-Heber Springs and Mayor Paul Wellenberger sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).            Photo by Dan Feuer

A resolution authorizing Mayor Paul Wellenberger to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Arkansas State University-Heber Springs, a Center of ASU-Beebe, and the City of Fairfield Bay was approved at the City Council Meeting on July 11, 2011. This MOU describes the relationship, roles, and responsibilities between the two entities as the City of Fairfield Bay creates a Community Education Center. Dr. Chris Boyett, Vice Chancellor from ASU-Heber Springs, and Mayor Wellenberger jointly announced plans for the association. Dr. Eugene McKay, Chancellor of ASU-Beebe, signed the MOU on behalf of the University before the meeting anticipating the Council’s approval. According to Dr. Boyett, “the University’s decision to partner with the City of Fairfield Bay is due in large part to several factors: the overwhelming public response to a survey done this spring, the availability of instructors, and the commitment of Mayor Wellenberger and the Fairfield Bay Chamber of Commerce. We look forward to offering personal enrichment courses to the people of Fairfield Bay.” The Community Education Center will be located in the Village Mall in what is known as Building 5 (above Spare Time Bowling). Facility upgrades are required before classes will begin. The target date for completion and Grand Opening is September 6, 2011. When complete, the Community Education Center will include two lecture-style meeting rooms, one computer lab, and one culinary arts lab. A fall schedule for personal enrichment courses is in production and should be complete in the near future. Additionally, the City is committed to making the computer lab available to allow local students to complete work required for online college courses when the lab is not being used for scheduled on-site courses. The computer lab will have computers with high speed internet and Microsoft Office 2010 software. Mayor Wellenberger thanked Robbie Ingle, Sharon Luxon, Roger Goodwin, and the whole team at Shirley High School, including Board Members, for working through all the details to turn this project into a reality. Robbie will lead this activity for the City. Further, Mayor Wellenberger expressed his appreciation to those community members who responded to the survey that indicated a desire in the community for continued education. Dr. Boyett expressed gratitude to University staff on the Heber Springs, Beebe, and Searcy campuses for their work on this project. All parties are looking forward to working in a positive teaming environment. Watch for more to come as classes are scheduled and announced. Also look for more information on the establishment of a foundation to help with expenses for the Community Education Center as we progress.

Community Spotlight

Donald Ware
Birthplace: Heber Springs
Current Hometown: Greers Ferry
Employment: City of Greers Ferry

Q: What is your favorite thing about where you live now?
A: The people
Q: What is your least favorite thing about where you live now?
A: Can’t think of anything
Q: Where is the farthest you have traveled?
A: California
Q: Who is the person you admire most and why?
A: My dad, he was always there for me.
Q: What is the best advice you have received?
A: Treat others like you would like to be treated.
Q: What would be or has been your dream job?
A: Working with heavy equipment.
Q: Where would you go on a dream vacation?
A: Overseas
Q: What’s your biggest pet peeve?
A: People with power jobs that go to their heads.
Q: What would you do if you won the lottery?
A: Pay off bills and help the city.
Q: Who is the one celebrity you would like to have lunch with?
A: Charlie Sheen
Q: What is your favorite book or movie?
A: The Bible
Q: What is the one thing about you that would surprise people?
A: I would help anyone, even if we don’t get along.
Q: What is the one thing you would change about yourself?
A: My health
Q: What is your favorite memory from childhood or school?
A: My senior trip.

Thomas Temple’s Bumper Crop Of Tomatoes

Thomas Temple of Fairfield Bay stopped by the newspaper office to show us his photos, just taken in his garden patch. He says his secret includes preparing the soil, adding cow manure, epsom salt, fertilizer (3/13) and Miracle Grow. He grows several kinds but his best results this year are with Celebrity Tomatoes. If you have six hours of sunlight and prepare the soil with proper nutrients, per Thomas, you can grow some of these too.Somehow, Thomas unless you can show us the secret to developing a green thumb, most of us will be lining up at the produce stand for our tomatoes next year, too! But thanks for giving us hope.

Friends of Library Make Donation

“Tee It Up Donation”…Kay Otis and Luellen Brown of Friends of the Library present a check for $8,000 to Sara Michael, Director of the Fairfield Bay Library.  These funds were raised at the spring TEE IT UP for Literacy golf tournament and the June Art ‘n Bloom Artist and Garden Tour.  Thank you to all of the Friends of the Library who work so hard putting these events together, as well as of those who participate and attend. The Friends not only raise much needed funds for the library….they also create fun and interesting events for our community. Watch for their next big event…another first….this fall.  You won’t want to miss it.  Thank you to everyone.

Jason Rapert Coming To FFB Rotary

Senator Jason Rapert will be speaking on Wednesday, July 13 at the Fairfield Bay Rotary Club meeting at Indian Hills Country Club. The public is invited however, seating will be limited. If you would like to eat lunch at the Country Club before the meeting, the cost will be $9 and you will need to RSVP by calling the Edward Jones office at 884-3326 before July 12. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. If you are not eating lunch, there will be no charge to attend the rotary Club meeting that begins at 12 p.m. Lunch and the meeting will be in the Fairfield Room.Jason Rapert was elected as State Senator for District 18 on November 2, 2010. He represents parts or all of seven counties in Arkansas, including: Perry, Saline, Conway, Van Buren, faulkner, Pope and Cleburne.Jason is a husband, father, rancher, businessman, and humanitarian. He resides in Begelow, Arkansas with his wife, Laurie and their two children.Jason’s term began January 2011, a year that marks the centennial anniversary of the first convening of the Arkansas Legislature inside the historic Arkansas Capital building.For the 88th General Assembly, Jason serves on the following committees: Arkansas Legislative Council, Joint Budget (JBC), JBC Peer review, Judiciary, Public Retirement & Social Security Programs, Children and Youth, and Legislative Joint Auditing Committee.He is the Vice Chair of the Insurance & Commerce and the Chair of the Financial Institutions Subcommittee.A native of Maynard, Arkansas, Jason graduated from the University of Central Arkansas and has been in the Insurance and financial service industry since 1995.He has been involved with various organizations including; Rotary International, Gldeons International, the Conway Christian School foundation, the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, the Arkansas farm Bureau, the Arkansas Cattleman’s Asociation, the National Rifle Association, and the Christians United for Isreal.An accomplished musician, Jason is the lead fiddler and vocalist for Living Grace Blugrass Gospel. They perform at civic and church events all over the region.Jason is currently the co-owner and managing partner of Rapert & Pillow Financial, which provides investments and wealth management.An ordained minister and humanitarian, Jason is the founder of Holy Ghost Ministries, a missions organization committed to alleviating poverty, hunger, disease and poor living conditions throughout the world. The ministry has sponsored several humanitarian water and sanitation projects throughout Africa and the Republic of Philippines.

Community Spotlight

David Burnett
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
Current Hometown: Stone County
Employment: FFB Police Dept.

Q: What is your favorite thing about where you live now?
A: I have a small farm and I love everything about it.
Q: What is your least favorite thing about where you live now?
A: Ticks and snakes.
Q: Where is the farthest you have traveled?
A: Out west to California and Wyoming
Q: Who is the person you admire most and why?
A: Jesus, my savior. he is awesome!
Q: What is the best advice you have received?
A: Treat others as you would want to be treated.
Q: What would be or has been your dream job?
A: To have my farm operations full time.
Q: Where would you go on a dream vacation?
A: Take the family to Alaska
Q: What’s your biggest pet peeve?
A: A lie. It’s always best to tell the truth.
Q: What would you do if you won the lottery?
A: Pay off bills and give the rest to missions.
Q: Who is the one celebrity you would like to have lunch with?
A: Rev. Billy Graham
Q: What is your favorite book or movie?
A: The Bible, without question!
Q: What is the one thing about you that would surprise people?
A: No clue
Q: What is the one thing you would change about yourself?
A: No clue
Q: What is your favorite memory from childhood or school?
A: Going on treasure hunts with my dad.

 

Jo Campbell IRV Employee Of The Month

Indian Rock Village’s June employee of the month is Jo Cornell. If you have been to any of our big events you have tasted Jo’s yummy creations. She is a valued member of our team and goes above and beyond to ensure the residents get a wonderful menu. It is common to walk into the kitchen and see her with 5 cookbooks at a time open on the counter. There are sticky notes on everyone that she has tried. Thank you, Jo for everything you do!

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