Category Archives: Business

Local auto shop accused of scams

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by Destini Lattimore
Delta Digital News Service

LaShea Robinson stands next to her 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

JONESBORO— A local auto repair shop faces scrutiny after recent claims alleged the mechanic scams his customers.

Jonesboro resident LaShea Robinson posted on Facebook warning her friends not to go to Mexican Ray’s Garage for service.

“Do not, I repeat, do not take your car to Mexican Ray’s body shop. He is a scam,” the post read. “Found out I need a new water pump and a starter, which he claims he put on my car earlier this year.”

Robinson said her business relationship with Ray Garza, also known as “Mexican Ray,” began when her grandmother recommended her to the mechanic.

“I was a little taken away by her saying ‘Mexican Ray’ because I thought it was insensitive,” Robinson said. “She assured me that was his name and he refused to be called anything else.”

Robinson noticed issues with her 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo when she started hearing a loud squeaking noise coming from under her hood. She also noticed her car would shake when she drove.

“After his assessment I was told that the front wheel bearing needed to be repaired and I had decided to go ahead and get a tune up, as well,” Robinson said.

The mechanic quoted Robinson $350 for the services she requested and the job took him three days to complete.

Robinson, who relies on her car for work, dropping her son off at school and making it to his soccer games, noticed around six months to a year later that she was still having issues with her vehicle.

“Within that year I had other things repaired such as thermostat, brakes, alternator and compressor. In November of 2017, I contacted Ray because my car had quit at a local neighborhood market,” she said.

According to Robinson, the mechanic assured her he could have her car towed from the market to his shop, but it would cost her an additional $50. Her car was still at the neighborhood market the next day.

The persisting issues Robinson had with her car were getting in the way of everyday tasks and some were putting her child’s health at risk.

“In the month of June the weather started to warm up. I noticed that my car would run hot when I ran the air conditioner and a greenish liquid was leaking onto the ground from my car,” she said. “My son is asthmatic and the hot, dry air can get him sick, especially riding around the car with no air.”

After dealing with Garza for over a year, Robinson said she began to question if she was being cheated. The mechanic serviced her car nearly every six months for issues he claimed he had already fixed, according to Robinson.

After the mechanic made several attempts to assure her that he was not “that kind of mechanic,” Robinson said she finally made the decision to go to another mechanic.

“I told Ray he will never touch my car again and what he did to me was wrong,” Robinson said. “He knew I was a struggling single mother and at one time attending college full-time, yet he continued to take my money without fixing my car.”

Robinson is still without a car. While her car is now being serviced by another mechanic, it will still cost around $500 to get her car up and running again.

Robinson said she made the decision to go public with her claims against Garza to ensure no one else deals with the mechanic.

“I worry about him doing this to other women and the elderly and that’s why I decided to go public because I don’t want this to happen to them,” she said.

Linda Bouey, another Jonesboro resident, also posted on Facebook claiming she had a similar encounter with Garza.

Bouey said she paid the mechanic $800 up front to work on her car. According the Bouey, after three months no work had been completed.

Garza started working as a mechanic when he was 10 years old.

Garza said the claims against him are disheartening because he tries to give all his customers a fair price.

“I try to give everybody a price before I even fix anything,” Garza said. “If I get the approval, then I go ahead. Other than that, it’s a no.”

Garza also said he feels as though the claims against him “don’t make sense” because he hasn’t had these issues with other customers and he tries to make all his customers content.

While Garza said he is not currently working because of family issues, he still values his profession.

“What I tell everybody is, ‘These cars, they might be under your name, but these are my cars.’ I’m going to fix them to the best of my knowledge and as cheap as I can, you know, so the customer can save some money,” Garza said.

Despite the allegations, Garza said he does his best to lend a helping hand to everyone.

“You do right, it backfires. You do wrong, it backfires,” Garza said. “You can’t please everybody.”

According the Mexican Ray’s Better Business Bureau business profile, the business is not accredited by the BBB. The business profile also reads indicates the business lacks a BBB rating because the organization “has information indicating it is out of business.”

A BBB Arkansas representative also said on at least one occasion an attempt to send mail to the business was made, but it was returned to the post office. In those instances, according to the representative, a business profile cannot be made on a business.

 

Chamber Provides Networking Opportunity

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by Ana Maria Baquero
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO – The Chamber of Commerce sponsors “Business After Hours” every other month to help promote different businesses around the city.

The event gives employees the opportunity to hand out business cards and get acquainted with one another.

“There are people in the building tonight that represent companies that have hundreds of employees,” said Brett Barber, a buyer specialist with Burch & Co. “There are people here tonight that represent companies that have one or two employees. But with the Chamber of Commerce, everyone is equal.”

Jerry Richards, director of sales and marketing at Courtyard by Marriott, said they reached out to the Chamber of Commerce for networking in business affirmation.

“Once we were received into the Chamber of Commerce we were able to utilize that network and just increased our business as well as the city of Jonesboro,” he said.

Lida Guinn, vice president of sales at Credit Bureau, attended the October event at The Recovery Room. She said the chamber involvement in the community helps businesses grow as a community.

The Chamber of Commerce will host a Fill the Food Bank event Nov. 15. 

Honey Bees Impact Arkansas

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Honey Bees in Arkansas from Miranda Reynolds on Vimeo.

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by Miranda Reynolds
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO – Honey bees in Arkansas create endless benefits for agriculture and give economic opportunities for businesses.

The bee industry involves many different avenues for businesses to take advantage of:

  • Cultivating honey
  • Provide pollination services for farms
  • Raising bees to sell
  • Raising queen bees for people wanting to start their own beehives

David Coy with Coy’s Honey Farm grew up around honey bees from the age of 2.

“All of my life I’ve been around honey bees. A lot of people think of beekeeping as a hobby, but it’s a business for us,” Coy said.

Coy’s business revolves around family. His dad introduced him and his brother to beekeeping and they have created a business from it. The family owns 10,000 hives at their farm north of Jonesboro.

Providing pollination services allows the family business to assist farmers. They pollinate close to 1,000 acres of watermelons in portions of Northeast Arkansas.

The honey farm produces anywhere from 500,000 to 700,000 pounds of honey in Arkansas. However, the production of honey per hive continues to decrease and Coy sees the trend continuing.

According to Steve Culp with Northeast Arkansas Beekeepers Association, 4,000-5,000 commercial beekeepers reside in Craighead County.

The loss of bee habitat in the Delta region impacts the honey bees. Farm chemicals spreading to areas of wildlife impact the honey bees. Coy says only one type of crop in a single area also impacts bees.

“Bees need a variety of plants to gather nectar and pollen from to maintain their health,” Coy said.

Kim Pittcock, associate professor of horticulture at Arkansas State University, said there must be a preservation of bees.

“We need to preserve the diversity that we’ve got in all of the plants that we have to help the bees. It’s a mutual hand-in-hand relationship with it. We need to maintain part of their habitat to use them to continue to help us work and to continue their populations,” she said.

Pittcock noted certain crops must have pollinators to remain yielding.

“Some crops could not be pollinated at all without some insect of some sort, and bees are the biggest and most natural pollinator due to the structure and the type pollen that needs to be transported,” she said.

The Coy’s business tries to adjust to supply and demand. In California, the almond industry drives the beekeeping industry on a commercial level. Coy’s Honey Farm sends bees to California in February to provide pollination services for almond orchards.

“We try to have income from several different areas that the bees can give us income from so that we’re not totally reliant on bee production,” Coy said.

With the changing of the bees’ environment, Coy hopes to remain in the beekeeping industry for many years to come.

“I hope to continue to be a beekeeper. I hope to maintain the opportunity for my children, too, if that’s what they want to do,” he said.

A honey bee pollinates plants that makeup of one-third of humanity’s everyday diet. The reality is, without bees, humans will not have food.

Business Provides Pharmaceuticals Alternative

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Kayce Wilson
Delta Digital News Service

BROOKLAND, Ark. – Arkansas residents may get away from pharmaceuticals because of the benefits of the cannabidiol oil derived from the hemp plant.

Many Arkansas businesses submitted their applications for a dispensary license in September 2017, but they will not receive clarification until official announcements expected sometime this year. One NEA business, Emerald’s Triangle LLC of Brookland, still awaits its results. Owner Richard Johnston said they planned to get into the medical marijuana industry once the store opened in 2016.

“I went to a convention in Los Angeles in February (2017) that was the big industry show that had to do with vape, CBD and medical marijuana. That’s where I decided to pick up my first company when it comes to CBD: Blue Moon Hemp,” Johnston said.

The store began to sell CBD products and contains CBD tinctures, topicals and powder in its selection. Buyers can purchase it in vape oil, edible and shatter form as well.

Employee Alfred Holland continually researches CBD.

“Israel has been on the forefront of CBD, and they’ve been doing research for over a decade,” Holland said. “It can be used for anything from fibromyalgia, general inflammation in all of the major parts of the body, osteoporosis, diabetes and some psychological issues like PTSD, depression, seizures and anxiety. Some even buy it for their animals.”

Emerald’s Triangle LLC continues to see a positive response from the community. Employee Zach Slater said the stigmas associated with the marijuana industry remain their main hurdle.

“The reception of the CBD has been great as more people learn the information, like what it does and doesn’t do, so some of the stigma behind the cannabinoid is kind of being dematerialized. I think that it will just grow bigger and bigger,” Slater said. “Some people need to realize that it’s not a fad dietary trend; we’re all at the very beginning of a new era.”

Emerald’s Triangle owns a closed group on Facebook where users can provide their input on CBD and find answers to their questions.

Paragould resident Hannah Foster said the use of CBD changed her life drastically.

“It helps with my insomnia, vomiting and nausea, eases the pain in my joints and bones, dulls my lisp so I can speak clearly, as in it helps slow down my talking and it helps anxiety dramatically,” Foster said. “You can put the tincture in any food or drink — I love it in my tea — or you can take it directly by mouth.”

What is CBD?

As the compound extracted from hemp plants, CBD allows the user to reap the physical benefits without the “high” associated with marijuana. CBD oil contains little to no traces of tetrahydrocannabinol, the chemical which causes the psychoactive effects associated with marijuana. You can read more information here.

CBD affects the endocannabinoid system within the body that regulate the body’s functions, such as sleep, pain, mood and autoimmune responses. The therapeutic effects happen when the cannabinol interacts with the endocannabinoid receptors located throughout the body system.

CBD helps to reduce inflammation, a condition that worsens many pre-existing health issues. The secret to seeing positive results from CBD involves figuring out the right method and amount that will suit the condition.

Dr. Betsy Hendricks of Conway works at the Arkansas Center for the Study of Integrative Medicine. The center’s mission combines the mental, spiritual and physical aspects of health to heal and relieve those of their pain.

Food and Health Study Group member Elene Murray said Hendricks does her research.

“She’s a super sleuth. She’s traditionally trained but uses supplements and knows the labs to run for food sensitivities,” Murray said. “She helps people heal as where traditional medication just runs around in circles.”

CBD

Shaman’s Reach, a CBD product line manufactured in Brookland. (photo by Kayce Wilson)

The staff at Emerald’s Triangle LLC recently released Shaman’s Reach, a line of CBD products that they manufacture in Brookland.

Shaman’s Reach combines CBD and medicinal herbs aiming to target inflammation, pain, fatigue and even allergies. The most popular form of this product is a tincture, which is to be dripped under the tongue. There are also capsules, salves, isolates and infused honey as well as smokable products, which makes the product accessible to all. Their informational website regarding medical marijuana can be accessed here.

As the uses for CBD increase, many common issues are expected to decrease. The staff at Emerald’s Triangle said there’s a change coming.

“It’s happened in many other states and now Arkansas has a chance. They’re going to see that the opioid epidemic is going to drop, the addiction problems will drop, the prescriptions will drop. The state will save tons of money on insurance,” Johnston said.

Emerald’s Triangle LLC. recently opened a store in downtown Jonesboro where shoppers can get access to CBD and its other products. For more information on Emerald’s Triangle and CBD, click here.

DeltaYou: Redemption in Six Strings

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By Christine Miyawa
Delta Digital News Service

POCAHONTAS, Ark. — Prison can make or break a person. It’s said some enter soft as silk but exit hard as nails. But the same cannot be said about a man who, after 12 years behind bars, has become a beacon of hope to many.

Time behind bars may have worked a number on Cameron Todd’s physical appearance, but behind the physique lies a heart of gold.

“Back in the days when he ran a martial-arts school called the Blue Dragon, he was all muscles and abs. He had tried to recruit me to join the school, but I had already enrolled in another,” said Jason Cummins, Todd’s former neighbor.

With a Dan rank (i.e. black belt) in martial arts among his accolades, one would not expect any less. Todd, 50, said he’s not worried about getting those six-pack abs back, but he’s slowly working on it.

Twelve years of confinement taught him patience, resilience and faith.

Resilience Through Adversity

Todd worked as a police officer in Houston, Mississippi and was on duty when police arrested him for sexual battery. Todd said he did not commit the crime and his original trial ended in a hung jury. During a second trial, he was convicted and sentenced to prison. Todd said his accuser retracted her statement, but the Supreme Court of Mississippi upheld the jury’s verdict in his direct appeal, as did the Court of Appeals during a second appeal.

“We were all shocked when we heard the charges brought against him. He was that guy who was just cool with everyone,” Cummins said.

When Todd went into Marshall County Correctional Facility in Holly Springs, Mississippi, he possessed only his GED. But while in prison, he immersed himself in books, finished his associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, pursued a master’s degree in music ministry and eventually graduated with a doctorate in theology from Gulf Coast Bible Institute and Seminary in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Todd, a “jack of all trades” as his former business partner Herman Lopez calls him, engaged in many businesses. Working with Lopez, he trained ex-inmates to work as freight agents. This provided opportunities to many former prisoners who found it hard to get jobs after doing time behind bars. While Todd consistently worked on new projects, Cummins said only music remained constant.

Todd said life as an inmate proved to be almost unbearable but faith, discipline, hard work and determination coupled with his guitar’s melodies brought him hope for a better tomorrow and saw him through.

An Underground Sanctuary

Todd calls the studio in his basement his “getaway island.” The bright-red walls with an occasional splash of black are strikingly inviting. The spirit of rock ‘n’ roll pours from all corners of the room.

A lonely chair in red leather sits in the middle of the room, swiveling left and right. Under the chair, a rag with a red cross lay flat on a zebra-print mat, contrasting with the rest of the floor covered by soundproof carpeting.

On the left of the room, a piano rests on a tabletop next to the wall. A painting on a black canvas of a white-and-red guitar camouflaged in a raging fire hangs on the wall above the keyboard — it looks like a masterpiece.

Adjacent to the door on the right, a small room with his guitar collection lining soundproof walls. Everything seemed carefully selected and arranged — red and black items made up his decor. Four speakers are strategically mounted in the room’s corners; two more rest on the table opposite the keyboard. That same table held two computer monitors. A long, black-leather sofa sits quietly adjacent to the door.

Cameron Todd plays guitar in his studio

Cameron Todd plays in his home studio. He said he wants to be known for contributing to music. (photo by Christine Miyawa)

“Hey, listen to this,” Todd said in an almost whispering voice while grabbing an electric guitar and striking a note. The sound of music brought a sudden calmness that instantly toned the room’s energy. Striking several notes in rapid but steady succession, his fingers gyrated back and forth on the strings as the music blared.

The bronze-looking cross dangling on a silver chain around his neck glowed from the reflection of light coming from the lampstand at the corner of the room. In a moment Todd seemed lost in his world, a world familiar to him, a man indeed in his forté.

“My interest in guitars started when I was 5 years old, but I never was serious about it. I would play and once my fingers began to get tired, I would break it off,” he said. “Besides, I was learning to play on my own, and the way the VHS and books back then taught was so difficult to master. It wasn’t until the year 2003 when the inspiration truly hit me.”

Todd said after he watched a CBS special when a man appeared on the show playing guitar using his toes, he thought to himself, if that guy could use his toes to play the guitar, he could handle his fingers getting tired. That became his turning point. He started doing what he loved.

His other inspiration came from listening to Mason Williams while he remained on the top of the classical chart in the 1960s. Todd said he doesn’t make music for money but for the passion. He only wishes to leave a legacy of music.

Todd said his genre resembles old gospel hymns, the kind of music that everyone can remember.

“Music from the ’40s, the ’50s all the way. The kind of music that people played when everything was simple, when life was so simple all you worried about was if you had air in your bicycle tires and a bologna sandwich waiting for you when you get home,” he said.

He struck the last chord and set the guitar on the chair, then grabbed a book titled “Rockin’ the Cross Guitar: Effortless Praise Guitar System,” available on Amazon. He said he published the book in 2016 to teach the guitar in a quick-and-fun way. He struggled to learn from the previous books he found.

He also published “C Scale Confident Zone.” Todd said the C scale method he developed makes basic guitar playing comfortably for beginners with its straightforward method. He said the large and easy-to-understand graphics, cut-out flashcards, practice exercise and easy-to-understand explanations make it easy to get one playing guitar in no time. He said his other books on Amazon cover topics from preferred internet marketing to mixed martial arts training.

Giving to Receive

Todd plays music regularly at Living Waters Church in Pocahontas and other events. Lopez said Todd proves to be a pro while playing the sacred gig. Todd’s wife, Teresa, only said beautiful things about the man she loves.

“Playing music is his passion, be it a keyboard or a guitar,'” she said. “But he enjoys playing guitar the most. I like to sing; we sometimes make music together. I don’t play any instrument, so Cameron plays and I sing. We do the same in church too.”

Todd interviews guest

Todd (right) interviews Bret Harris during his web-based Christian radio show. Harris is a proponent of Gospel Bluegrass. (photo by Teresa Todd)

Teresa Todd said her husband loves to inspire and make people happy. She said his positive and bigger-than-life outlook towards life initially attracted her. Todd inspires others to go beyond what they ever thought possible, she said.

Todd wants to give back to society. He stays busy helping clients building business websites. Todd also owns and runs a web-based Christian radio station that plays gospel music from all over the world. He said he’d use his studio to record others free of charge.

Although he would like to form a band, he said he still enjoys playing solo, which feels like therapy to him. He said he likes modern styles, too, and he would like to wear all leather and spiked hair.

“I’m sure people will make jokes saying, ‘Hey, check out this dude; he is so heavy-metal-Christian,'” he said. “I don’t mind doing something contemporary. I don’t just restrict myself to old Christian hymns.”

Todd said he enjoys contemporary break-up music as it’s more fun to hear somebody crying because they lost their love. He said the raw nature relates to feelings everybody feels at times. He cited examples such as Johnny Paycheck’s ’70s song “Friend Don’t Take Her She’s All I Got,” Johnny Rivers’ “Poor Side of Town” and the Eagles’ “Lyin’ Eyes.”

Todd sells his book on Amazon

Todd sells his book, “Rockin’ the Cross Guitar,” on Amazon. He wrote it to help others easily learn to play. (photo by Christine Miyawa)

Todd said he hopes to have a guitar line and would like to see every musician, church choir or interested person use the book “Rockin’ the Cross Guitar: Effortless Praise Guitar System” to learn how to play because of its easy-to-use and fun nature. He said those who want to learn to play music should find an instrument they like and learn as fast as they can.

Todd said he considers himself spiritual, but not religious. He said one should not let time go by without having some way to appreciate it.

Todd expressed his gratitude for his 24-year-old married son. He fondly remembers after his birth thinking, “‘Now I am responsible for this life. I can’t even balance my checkbook!’

“God has blessed me in so many ways; I feel like I’m trying to give back. I’ve got my hands, my fingers, but every time I see on YouTube or the web or TV somebody missing their hand or fingers, yet they are still doing amazing things.”

Over the last 20 years, Todd said he learned to give freely with no expectation of return in order to receive a blessing. He said using the time as an inmate to better himself helped him to no longer be bitter about the whole ordeal.

“I just hope people will take every minute of their lives to appreciate that they are alive and breathing. Life is not a guarantee.”

New App Connects NEA

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By Kayce Wilson
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO – ConnectNEA’s mission allows local small- and medium-sized businesses to connect with the Northeast Arkansas community.

Kent Wilson

Kent Wilson owns and markets ConnectNEA, which reaches across the Northeast Arkansas Delta. The application mirrors Village Vesl, which runs in some major cities in America. Wilson said seeing the app take off excites him.

“Once it begins to grow, the social aspect will begin to multiply among itself. It grows really fast, I think it will have a really nice impact on Northeast Arkansas,” Wilson said. “The flags that businesses will post will reach the NEA users in ways they couldn’t before.”

The app, available on iTunes or Google Play, allows businesses to post multiple geoflags at their chosen locations, which could include coupons or advertisements. Wilson said when a ConnectNEA user passes by a geoflag, their phone will “wake up” and show them the discount or ad posted at that location.

“People will be shopping at stores that they may not have known existed until now,” Wilson said.

Nonprofit organizations can also partner with the app. During each month, ConnectNEA users can vote for nonprofits they would like to see receive donations from the money the app has made.

The app also shows where construction is taking place in the area. NEA Parking Lot Maintenance keeps users updated with where they are doing renovations in the area.

Bono resident Whitney Welch said this should really help to bring together all kinds of businesses.

“I haven’t heard about this until just now, but I think it sounds great! I’m excited to know information about traffic or construction before I leave the house,” Welch said. “I feel like since technology is such a big part of our lives now, this app will only help things to improve.”

Since the app launched in October, very few businesses have created accounts. A “New Member November” contest encouraged users to invite friends to be entered into a contest to win a gift certificate.

Arkansas State University student Jazmin Selvy said this app will be a big help in Jonesboro.

“Since it’s a college town, I feel like everybody will benefit from this once they hear about it. I’m definitely going to be looking out for discounts and sales while I can,” Selvy said.

Wilson said a big reason he wanted to bring ConnectNEA to Northeast Arkansas was that he didn’t like hearing about people taking trips to Little Rock or Memphis for things that are already in this region.

Uber Serves Northeast Arkansas

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by Kayce Wilson
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO- Northeast Arkansas welcomed Uber in early August, with the Uber-friendly area reaching over 15 cities.

Jonesboro’s new development reaches toward Memphis, the first hub near the Delta region. Drivers can take people out of the region, such as if a Jonesboro resident needs a ride to the Memphis airport. However, drivers cannot pick up someone in Memphis and bring them back to Jonesboro.  

Uber began during a taxi ride in France in 2009 when the creators, Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp, wanted simpler options for travel. UberCab started the next June.

Starting as an idea about a simple phone app, Uber now acts as a new way to get around. With Uber, users can now receive packages or takeout with expanded service.

Uber operates in over 633 cities worldwide, with the 1 billionth ride occurring in 2015.

With Jonesboro being a college town, Uber acts as a newer way to limit the number of unsafe drivers on the road. Rides are mainly requested on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Uber driver Austin Sandy in front of his Kia Soul. Sandy uses his primary vehicle while working for Uber. (Photo courtesy of Austin Sandy)

Austin Sandy, a Jonesboro Uber driver, said, “I would much rather someone act a fool in my car than them get behind the wheel of their own car while they’re under the influence.”

A-State junior Gianna Confer used this service during her travels to Australia, Indonesia and Mexico. She mentioned the lack of confusion regarding your destination as a beneficial aspect.

“You put your pickup location and the destination into the app. If you can’t speak the language of the driver, they still know where you are trying to go,” Confer said.

Compared to taxis or traveling in foreign countries, Uber gives you a preset estimation and automatically selects the shortest route. Credit or debit card information is already entered in the app for direct deposit, and riders can tip their driver through the app as well.

Sandy said the flexibility of working for Uber makes it a great job. He works a full-time job and makes extra money on the weekends by turning on his Uber location. Once the location is on, passengers can see nearby drivers and request a ride.

“As a driver, you don’t have to worry about making change for your riders or people targeting you or trying to steal from you,” Sandy said.

As for ride safety, all drivers must go through a background and motor vehicle report check. When requesting a ride, the app displays a small picture of your driver alongside a description of their car and a license plate number.

Uber’s rating service ensures that other experiences will improve by letting both parties rate each other after a ride.  

To request a ride, download the app and then make an account. Once location is synced, riders can see the nearby cars in their area. Payment information is entered into the app and then all payments will be done digitally. After the passenger enters the current location and destination, the only thing left to do is hit request.

‘N’awlins’ Brings Taste of Louisiana to Jonesboro

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by Katie Woodall
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO — Jonesboro is home to a wide variety of eateries, with new restaurants popping up almost monthly. N’awlins, Arkansas recently opened as a local establishment, specializing in Cajun and Creole cuisines.

John Miller opened the restaurant in December 2016 with his father Glin. It features traditional Cajun and Creole recipes that have been in their family for years.

“It’s an underserved market in Jonesboro. It’s something we both really like to do; we’ve done it as a hobby for years and years. We knew we were going to do something unique to make it work,” Miller said.

The owners made several trips to Louisiana to taste foods they wanted to incorporate into their menu. Some of the traditional Louisiana fare N’awlins offers include gumbo and boudin, as well as classic desserts such as bananas foster and New Orleans-style bread pudding.

“I’ve been working on the gumbo recipe for about 10 years or more. We really want everything to just be as true to the style as possible,” Miller said.

While the owners are trying to promote the restaurant, some patrons said they just happened to stumble upon it while they were downtown.

Arkansas State student Jackson Ochello said he first discovered the restaurant by chance.

“I just happened to be walking by and saw the sign for Cajun food. I love Cajun food, so I decided to have lunch and wasn’t disappointed,” he said.

Miller said he’s hopeful the business will continue to grow. Although they’ve worked with East Arkansas Broadcasters, bought billboard space and used social media, Miller said word of mouth has enticed most patrons.

“The majority of people are first-time visitors. We’re building a fairly loyal following, and a lot of the first-time visits are from suggestions by other people,” he said.

Located at 303 S. Main St., N’awlins, Arkansas is open Tuesday through Saturday. For more information on the restaurant or to see the menu, visit www.nawlinsarkansas.com or the Facebook page.

Goodwill Helps Reduce Local Unemployment

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By Rachel Moore
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO — With unemployment being a constant hot topic in the news, Goodwill contributes to the solution by helping those in need find jobs.

As of March 2017, unemployment in the United States hovers around 4.5 percent. According to the Arkansas Economist, Arkansas’ unemployment reached a new record low in February: 3.7 percent. Goodwill continues work to help employ more. In 2016 Goodwill reportedly helped 4,547 Arkansans obtain jobs.

A graph showing the unemployment numbers. It narrows down from a broad, overall look at the United States, to the State of Arkansas, then to the town of Jonesboro.

“We help people with barriers to employment like prior incarceration or disability; working one-on-one with those persons to determine interests, skills, and abilities. By definition what we do helps reduce the unemployment rate in Arkansas,” said Leslie Heizman, the vice president of Community Engagement at Goodwill in Little Rock.

Forklift driver, administrative assistant and environmental services technician are just a few of the job positions Goodwill has helped fill.

In the state, there are 34 Goodwill stores but only 22 have Career Centers. Both the Jonesboro and Paragould Goodwills feature Career Centers.

The career center features a director and a few workers that work directly with employers and one-on-one with those in need. They work together to get to the root of the unemployment issue.

Many times the issue comes down to disabilities. Almost 70 percent of people with disabilities in Arkansas are unemployed; Goodwill works to combat this by providing the necessary tools to enable them to work. It loans wheelchairs, crutches and other equipment through HELP – Health Equipment Loan Program. If the item needed is available, it will be loaned out.

A lack of education causes another barrier preventing Arkansans from gaining employment. Arkansas is the third poorest state in the nation and it reflects on the education system: In the state, around 300,000 adults don’t have a high school diploma.

This sometimes prevents residents from obtaining even an entry-level job, so Goodwill developed a solution called The Excel Center at Goodwill. Starting in fall 2017, this adult charter high school will give anyone over 19 the opportunity to earn a high school diploma at no cost. Goodwill will work with Pulaski Tech and its Trade School to guide students towards a life-long career.

Derek Watson, a data specialist for Goodwill Career Center in Jonesboro runs numbers on unemployment data for the state. (photo by Rachel Moore)

Other programs Goodwill offers to help the community and lower unemployment include Books 4 Kids and Bright Futures, The Academy at Goodwill, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Employment & Training Provider, Horizons, Re-entry Beyond Disabilities and Transitional Employment Opportunity.

“Helping Arkansans with a hand-up, not a handout, is our priority,”  Heizman said.

Goodwill has managed to help so many people they had to hire a data specialist, Derek Watson. He works at the Career Center in Jonesboro and manages the statistics to help the company guarantee successful programs.

“My job is run all the numbers regarding employment and the work we do,” Watson said.

For those in search of a job who may not want to explore all the programs, Goodwill also regularly display job ads on its front doors and inside the stores.

The Truck Patch Wants Better Food For All

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By Destini Lattimore
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO, Ark. — Eat real food. Since 2010, The Truck Patch’s mission has been to deliver clean, quality food to the residents of Arkansas.

Co-owner Sarah Adler started The Truck Patch, a natural food grocery store, with her husband, opening their first store in Mountain Home. The Jonesboro location opened in October 2015 on Southwest Drive.

Adler said natural foods have become a passion for her family. Her husband handles the business aspect of the store, while she is often seen in the store interacting with employees and customers.

Jasmine Jacobs spends her time working the cash register and assisting customers throughout the rest of the store. Jacobs, a new employee at The Truck Patch, said she has enjoyed her time there so far. (photo by Destini Lattimore)

“Our hope is that we offer better quality, cleaner food that you can’t find anywhere else,” Adler said. “And I know we pull that off.”

Adler also said the store focuses on offering clean ingredients. They do not sell any food items that contain high fructose corn syrup, MSG, artificial flavors or colors.

“I want customers to have an experience where they can come in and shop with ease, knowing that we won’t ever let that kind of stuff in the products,” she said.

She also noted a number of health issues are related to the processed foods consumed each day.

“If you look at how our food has changed over the last 50 to 60 years, I mean, now we all eat processed, unidentifiable foods,” Adler said.

Though other grocery stores like Walmart and Kroger offer some natural foods, they are often mixed in with various other products. so customers must search for the healthier options.

The Adlers noticed Jonesboro lacked a natural food store. Residents drove to Memphis to shop at the nearest Whole Foods or traveled to Mountain Home to shop at the original Truck Patch location. The healthy options offered at The Truck Patch were virtually unavailable to Jonesboro residents.

“It seemed a little ridiculous for a town this size to not have those options,” she said. “We just really felt like the need was there.”

The Adler’s wanted to ensure Jonesboro citizens had easy access to cleaner sources of food without the stress of having to search through larger grocery stores.

The Truck Patch offers a variety of features to attract and maintain its consumers. They have a loyalty program available that allows customers to earn 2 percent back on all purchases.

Their store also offers monthly sales that feature about 200 items each month, along with various coupons that are available. Adler said she knows this helps customers be more cost effective while shopping at the store.

“We honor coupons from manufacturers. So if someone wants to be a fairly savvy shopper, they can really shop this way and still get their money’s worth,” Adler said. “You do have to be smart about it.”

Adler advised following specific sales, using coupons and utilizing the store’s bulk section to stretch your dollar while shopping.

Another unique feature offered at The Truck Patch is its café housed at the back of the store. The Stem and Spoon offers a variety of juices, smoothies, sandwiches and many other items. Customers can also use a salad bar.

“The café is a big thing for us as far as growth and possibility. It’s been doing really well,” Adler said.

Customers enjoy the delicious and fresh options available at the Stem and Spoon café inside The Truck Patch grocery store. The café features a Grab’N’Go section, a salad bar and various smoothie and juice options. (photo by Destini Lattimore)

The Stem and Spoon also features a “Grab’N’Go” section.

“I go every few weeks,” A-State student Emily Moran of Sherwood said. “It’s close to work, so I go for a sandwich on my lunch break.”

The Truck Patch may also be the ideal destination for Jonesboro residents with restrictive diets and food intolerances or allergies.

“I enjoy shopping at The Truck Patch because it has some of the best things nature can offer,” Arnelle Jones of Osceola said. “Likewise, it has more foods and products for more morally conscious individuals, such as vegans and vegetarians.”

Although it may be easy to make assumptions about the “typical Truck Patch” customer, Adler said there really isn’t one.

“(Our customers) are really across the board. You know, you would assume sometimes it would be a more affluent customer, but some of our best customers pay with EBT,” she said.

The same goes for employees, as well. Adler said the Truck Patch hires anyone from high school students to retirees.

“Organic is something we should get back to because you don’t have to worry about all the unhealthy stuff in foods,” employee Jasmine Jacobs said. “It’s good to eat as natural as you can.”

As the company enters its seventh year in existence, Adler said there are still a number of goals they’d like to reach.

“We just want to keep growing and help people find their health by just learning that eating cleaner food is such a key to living healthier and longer,” she said.

Adler said they plan on expanding the options offered in the Stem and Spoon Café, and will do what they can to remain above the competition when it comes to customer service. The Truck Patch employees are available throughout a customer’s shopping experience and will walk around the store to assist customers with finding products that best fit their needs.

She also said the store will continue to support the community by selling locally grown products.

As The Truck Patch continues to grow, the Adler family hopes to help the Jonesboro community develop a new, healthy lifestyle.

Taxes Fund Necessary Services and Programs

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By Rachel Moore
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO – As tax season approaches, citizens should be concerned with more than income taxes. From Jan. 1 to May 31, all Craighead County residents must have their personal property manually assessed. This includes vehicles, boats, trailers, camping trailers, tractors and airplanes.

“There is also business personal property, which is all of the assets not affixed to the physical structure of the building that are used in the regular course of business. For example, a hair salon should turn in items such as salon chairs, mirrors, drying stations, scissors, waiting area furniture, mobile stations, office supplies, a computer,” said Hannah Towell, Craighead County’s tax assessor.

Towell’s duties include appraising and assessing all personal property. She determines a property’s assessment by taking 20 percent of the market value and then multiplying that number by that person’s school district millage.

“In 2016, the collector’s office collected $66,823,765.58,” said Wes Eddington, the Craighead County tax collector. His office works alongside Towell’s in order to sort and obtain local taxes.

While most citizens know they must pay their taxes every year, not all of them know what programs the taxes fund.

“I just know I need to pay them to avoid legal trouble. I don’t really know anything about what it funds,” said Brigitte Schwartz, a hairdresser currently residing in Jonesboro.

Local taxes fund governmental operations such as the county courthouse and public schools. According to CraigheadAssessor.com, nearly 75 percent of the money goes to schools in the area. Some of the money also goes to the quorum court, county judge, mayor and City Council.

“Also, improvements such as drainage districts, timber, fire districts, city liens, mineral rights and other interests can be legally added to the tax books for collection by this office and there may be a set fee or it may be calculated differently,” Eddington said.

Overall, taxes fund services crucial to the county. Without them, over 100,000 people in the area would not be able to live as they do. But legal punishments exist for those who fail to follow local tax guidelines. This can include monetary penalties that accumulate over time.

It’s important to note real estate taxes are handled differently than property taxes.

“Real Estate is appraised on a five-year cycle. Once every five years, we re-evaluate all of the real property — houses, farm land, commercial buildings — in Craighead County,” Towell said.

The county’s five-year cycle is ending, so officials are currently compiling data that they will use to determine the current fair-market value of everyone’s real property.

Tax assessment and collection can become complicated. So for more information about personal property and real estate taxes, visit the Craighead County courthouse in Lake City at 107 Cobean Blvd. in Lake City, Arkansas, or the Jonesboro courthouse at 511 S. Main Street.

 (NOTE: Cut money image courtesy of TaxCredits.net, [CC BY 2.5], via Creative Commons)

Maintaining a Hospital: Behind the Scenes at NEA Baptist

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by Austin Hyslip

Courtesy of A-State Department of Media

550,000 square feet, over 150 beds — all taken care of by 14 guys.

“Those folks who keep the building up and running are as important as the doctors and the nurses and the other staff who are there,” patient Richard Carvell said.

He said without the people who keep NEA Baptist up and running, there would be no hospital.

“Well, the most important people in an institution like a hospital, a school are the janitors and the maintenance people,” he said.

NEA Baptist

NEA Baptist

NEA Baptist and its six stories feature a crew of 14 who work around the clock to make sure every patient is comfortable. Mark Ward, director of plant operations, said there’s a lot of things going on.

“We’re the guys who have to watch heating, cooling, water, sewer … everything that has to do with that basic function,” he said. “But then we also we also have those intricate functions of medical gases, electrical systems, pretty much any electrical system that has to do with medical equipment as well as just your normal outlets in the rooms and things like that.”

Ward said the job is never the same.

“We do everything from hanging a picture for someone in an office, to going up and checking what’s called isolation power monitors in an (operating room) suite to make sure that it’s safe providing power to that room,” he said.

NEA Baptist is prepared to handle multiple different healthcare situations. One thing most wouldn’t think of is an earthquake.

“This building is built under zone 4 earthquake standards,” he said.

All of pipes under NEA are built with braided line and sitting on rollers that allow the pipes to move without breaking. There are also shocks under all of the large appliances to allow them to absorb some of the shaking.

“The whole operation is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week operation,” he said.

Ward and his team work every day to ensure the lights come on and the hospital is comfortable for every single guest.

Buy Asian Groceries Without the Trip

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Cashier Jay Chandler totals food costs for A-State International students. The Asian Food Market opened Nov. 1.

Cashier Jay Chandler totals food costs for A-State International students. The Asian Food Market opened at 2114 S. Caraway Road. (Photo by Myful Al Sarah)

by Myful Al Sarah
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO – Traveling far to buy authentic Asian groceries ends, as new grocery stores in town are at your convenience.

Asian Food Market opened officially Nov. 1. Arkansas State college of business graduate Qiufang Lin started her own business to help citizens who like Asian foods. Now they don’t need to spend money on gas to travel to Memphis, Little Rock or St. Louis only to buy their favorite food items.

“Mainly I am targeting Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Philippines, Vietnamese who live in Jonesboro as my customers. Even local Americans can find their favorite Asian snacks, spices, vegetables in my store,” Lin said.

A number of AState international students can now buy their home-food ingredients. Lin said she is giving a 5 percent discount to all AState students. She is selling different kinds of rice, noodles, tofu, spice and snacks including dumplings, and also fresh vegetables like bok choy and cabbage.

“I am still working on my inventory. Initially, the prices may seem a little bit higher, but it will get lower as soon as I am able to order in a bigger amount. I am also thinking of having a few Indian grocery items,” Lin said.

A-State students from India purchase Indian groceries from Quick Trip. (photo by Myful Al Sarah)

A-State students from India purchase Indian groceries from QuikTrip. The store is located at 613 W. Nettleton. (photo by Myful Al Sarah)

A QuikTrip convenience store started selling authentic Indian groceries like various types of spices and lentils, rice, flour, pickles, ghee and desi snacks.
Raksha Harikrishnan, the owner, said she had the idea of selling Indian groceries in Jonesboro and her husband helped her to make it real.

“I told my husband to get a truck. We both drove to Chicago and bought a number of common items. Within a weekend, we put stuff on the shelves with price tags,” Harikrishnan said. “We are not targeting only Indians. We are targeting everybody who loves Indian foods and it’s been steady since we started.”

Harikrishnan said she planned to get frozen food items like naan, samosa and paratha, which are very popular among locals.

“I am working on getting a freezer for the frozen items. As soon as I can manage it, you will be able to buy delicious Indian snacks,” she said. “We kept the prices similar to other places, which makes it more convenient on the budget as you don’t have to drive to other cities. For some items, it may be even less.”

The growing international students’ community felt more excited, as the shopping shuttle provided by AState’s International Student Services provides rides to these two stores.

Mallory Yarbrough, coordinator of International Student Services, said, “We have over 600 Asian students at A-State, which is almost three-fourths of our total international population. Some of them came to me and said they really want to be dropped off at these new stores. Since we have such a high population of Asian students, we might as well be accommodating and help them as much as we can. I hope it makes them feel more home, being able to go places they recognize the food.”

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