Category Archives: Video

‘THE ROOST’ PROVIDES COMPETITION FOR CHAIN STORES

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By Christine Miyawa
Delta Digital News Service

POCAHONTAS – Walking into The Roost, one may mistake the furnishings on sale as brand new. The touch of snow-white color exudes the ambiance of a rich country with a splash of Bohemian flavor.

The merchandise may look new, but most of the furnishings are from a different era. An era when quality and functionality trampled the mere aesthetic value. Quality quite elusive in most of today’s house furnishing. But don’t be mistaken, the store refurbished all the furnishings.

From a hobby to a full-time occupation, Kimberly Jo Chaffin started refurbishing and selling furnishings while still in college. She did it for five years while in business school. Chaffin taught herself from watching videos.  She began by painting her furniture.

“I had junk furniture and did not have a lot of money, so I painted it to make it look nice. I would disassemble the furniture and play around with the pieces to create a new pattern. It takes practice and patience,” she said.

It wasn’t until a year later when she could paint a profitable furnishing.

“I look back at the furniture I did when I started and say, ‘Geez, did I do that?’”

After attaining her degree from business school, she worked in the public school system for eight years. Chaffin said she felt she needed a more flexible schedule to cope with family demand.  She decided to revisit her old hobby, rented a booth in a store in Walnut Ridge and engrossed herself into refurbishing.

In 2016, she moved the business to Pocahontas. She opened her store in 2,200 sq. Feet building across the road from the Pocahontas Municipal Airport along Highway 67.

By the seventh month after the store opened, the business expanded so fast she needed more space. She moved the store to its current location in 7,000 sq. Feet building along Highway 62. She named the store “The Roost”.

Chaffin said the name ‘The Roost’ started with the coming to Pocahontas of Peco Foods Company a chicken processing plant.

She said Peco made a big difference in the economy of Randolph County and they wanted a throwback to Peco.

“I affiliate the name “Roost” with chicken and since our store theme is a farmhouse, we thought, why not use the name “The Roost,” she said.

Chaffin buys used furniture, mostly made of wood like hickory and White Oak. She refurbishes and re-sells them.

“All the furnishings in the store are mostly real wood,” she said.

Chaffin said most of her buyers like the looks of the items. The piece may remind them of their childhood. The store focuses on the farmhouse look, which most locals like. The store custom paints too.

She said to buy a dresser in a store chain, one would pay over $1,000. Whereas one can come to the Roost and find something trendy, midcentury look or farmhouse look for a fraction of that cost. Sometimes a third of the cost.

Recently, a refurbished hardwood dresser at The Roost went for the price of a new vanity dresser with a similar design at Bed Bath and Beyond, a chain store for furnishings and housewares.

“We are not a flea market. We are an upscale resale store. We base our prices on what we paid for the item,” Chaffin said.

In setting her price point, she factors in the cost of hiring someone to run the store while she moves around sourcing for items.

She sources furnishings from Texas, Illinois and upper western Arkansas. Sometimes people call them or send them messages on their Facebook page to pick up items for re-sale.

“A lady I sold to a piece of furniture two years ago and she wanted to re-sell it again, so I went, looked at it and saw it was still in good shape. Bought it and resold it a few days after,” she said.

Chaffin said her business extends to the states of Missouri, Tennessee and most parts of Arkansas. She markets her goods on Facebook and receives customers from as far as South Dakota.

“A customer was sending children to Williams Baptist College and arranged to have a two-sitter glider set shipped from The Roost to South Dakota,” she said

Myra Alexander, a frequent customer at The Roost, said she likes shopping there because the store sells authentic items.

“They are livable; they are comfortable with my grandkids. They have good stuff,” she said.

She said the store calls her when they bring in items she may like.

“I couldn’t find something for less than 1,500 at Hesner, so I called The Roost, told them what I wanted, and they went looking for it and called me. They are personable with me,” Alexander said.

She said her living room contains a modern section and she uses items from the Roost to blend her furnishings. Alexander said the art of painting furniture also inspires one to get creative and do something beautiful to their old furniture.

She said she likes shopping at places like Bed Bath and Beyond, but their products are too commercial looking, and they produce many pieces of the same thing.

“The Roost sells authentic and different items you won’t see anyone where else. If you see something at The Roost, you better get it because next time it won’t be there and it’s not like you can get the same kind at Walmart or Bed Bath and Beyond,” Alexander said.

Chef Donald Smith moved to Pocahontas from New Orleans six weeks ago to work as the new executive chef of Rolling Hills Country Club in Pocahontas.

Moving into a new town, Smith needed furnishings for his new house.  He first bumped into the Roost by chance as he walked across the road from a nearby supermarket.

“I’m the type of guy that likes antique stuff, so I don’t mind if it’s refurbished.  If it’s nice, I buy it and the price point at the Roost is good. Some of their prices are not expensive at all, but I didn’t find what I wanted,” Smith said.

Smith wanted a TV stand and not finding one at the Roost, he decided to look at Walmart. He said even though he did not find the TV stand at the Roost, he will go back there to look for other stuff.

Human resource manager at Walmart, Sherley Ringo said she knows there are other stores out there, but she is confident about the products Walmart offers.

“Walmart stocks a variety of items to meet higher demand,” Ringo said.

If spoilt for choice on a place to shop for furnishings, Smith said, “I prefer buying at the Roost because it’s local and the money stays within the community.  If I buy in stores like Walmart, the money won’t stay here in the community.”

Chaffin said the benefit of shopping at a re-sale, refurbished shop like The Roost can replicate looks at a fraction of the cost.

So far, two individuals approached her and asked if she would consider opening a branch of The Roost in Missouri. The second one offered to run the store three days a week if she would open a branch in Paragould. But Chaffin said the present store takes all her energy and leaves no time to spare nor desire to open branches.

She does not consider franchising either because she did not patent the name “The Roost.”

She said her goal is to give customers pleasant shopping experience. She wants to help them get what they want without looking through a bunch of junk to get it or spending so much money on a low-quality item at a chain store.

Chaffin said her main challenge is to keep the right attitude when running behind on a customized item. She said working with family member poses its kind of problem, especially when dealing with illness in the family. However, the store allows her flexibility to take care of her ill mother.

The popularity of her refurbished goods continues to drive up the cost of the materials she uses for refurbishing, which in turn, raises the price of the items. But the niche market for her kind of goods continues to snowball.

Zack Williams performs live at the First National Bank Arena

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By Christine Miyawa
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO – Zachary Stephen Williams, commonly known as Zack Williams, treated fans to songs from his latest album ‘Rescue Story‘ at the First National Bank Arena, Jonesboro on Oct. 24.

Excited fans started flocking the venue as early as 5 p.m. Fans stood in the isles to get a glimpse of the rock star in the pact arena.

One of the event organizers, Mitchell Cole of By His Grace Entertainment, said his job was to bring the locals and the lost community to attend the concert.

“We are 80 tickets short of selling out there were 2,300 available, so, over 2,000 sold. We want to bring the community together to know there is a personal Savior out there and he could be even here tonight,” Cole said.

Micah, who is a strong fan of Williams’ music said she bought her ticket a month earlier and was just waiting for the day of the concert. She said she started listening to Williams songs a year ago and the songs have a positive influence in her life.

“I haven’t heard any of William’s music that I don’t like. My favorite right now is ‘Rescue story’; it’s on repeat all the time,” she said.

Micah said she was excited to watch Williams perform the ‘Rescue Story’ live. Her mother and daughter accompanied her to the concert.

Williams’ branded merchandise, which included T-shirts and all his albums saw a large volume in sales at the merchandise tables near the entrance as fans flooded each table trying to buy something.

While fans settled in the concert hall, Chef Paul Fields prepared food for the rock star and his team of 50 VIPs. Fields travels with the Zack William’s crew wherever the crew goes. The menu consisted of smoked pork ribs, barbecue beef, grilled chicken, potatoes, vegetables and salad. Fields said there are always four shows a week; every night in a different city.

“Williams likes to nibble on the ribs,” he said. Fields specializes in smoked ribs.

The concert hall burst into cheers when Williams hit the stage. Williams is an Arkansas Native, grew up in Bono although he now lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife and children.

Williams said he was terrified when he first signed his first record label because of fear from a constant reminder of his past.

He said he had this idea of the song he wanted to sing, a song that would put a face on fear and that’s how his hit song; ‘Fear is a liar’ was born.

His other hits included ‘Chain Breaker‘ and ‘Rescue Story‘, which he launched this year and is on tour to promote.

“I was the kind of guy you would shut your stores when you saw coming,” Williams said.

He struggled with alcohol and drug addiction. He said he is now a changed man.

Several policemen at every corner of the arena offered tight security during the concert.

Jim Brown, the director of the First National Bank Arena said, “We take security very serious for all our events and this is one of those events.”

They did not allow bags of any kind into the concert hall.

He said the University employs different security techniques for different shows depending on what’s going on with the elements of the show.

“I think we will be fine,” Brown said. “We have several events coming; the women’s basketball is still on, the Globetrotters are coming in February, we just announced a Broadway play for kids called the ’12th Night’ is coming, and Acoustic Rock Show is coming in February 4 as well.”

“Tonight, we could have a senior in high school come to the concert and say, ‘I like what Arkansas State has to offer; I want to make that the university I go to.'”

Williams closed the show but not without singing his hit song ‘Chain Breaker’ as the crowd applauded and sang along.

“The concert was fabulous,” David Specking, a fan at the concert said. “I could not wait; I bought the tickets the first time I heard Williams was coming to Jonesboro. I wanted to hear him sing the ‘Chain Breaker’ live.” His wife Ginger helped him ride his wheelchair as they leave the concert venue.

Williams said he never imagined playing music at the Convocation Center. He said it was good to come home and see the faces he hasn’t seen in many years. He has an extensive tour schedule to promote his new album “Rescue Story”. His next stop to perform was Austin, Texas.

Farmers bring fall fun to the Delta

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By Tristan Bennett
Delta Digital News Service

BROOKLAND – Autumn in the Delta brought a business opportunity to many small family farmers.

Many farms in the area set up pumpkin patches and corn mazes as a family fall attraction to make a little extra cash after harvest. These farms draw in everyone from families to groups of college students. Jerry Whitten, who owns WF Mootown Corn Maze in Brookland, runs his business as a way to stay in the agriculture industry after retirement.

“I grew up on a farm, had cattle, my parents farmed, and I worked in the agriculture industry. So when I got a chance to retire from that job, this was something I thought I could do,” Whitten said.

Mootown offers a pick-your-own pumpkin patch, corn maze, bonfires, hayrides and a program for school children. Whitten credited great weather for the high turnout so far this year.

Matt and Anna Beth Presley visited Mootown to complete the corn maze and choose pumpkins to carve.

“She’s a nurse and I’m a cop, so our schedules are kind of busy. So this is date night,” Matt said.

The couple said they came to enjoy the fall festivity and the cool weather.

Whitten’s school program, “Spookley the Square Pumpkin,” tackles problems of bullying among young children and promotes agriculture.

Whitten said, “We have a trail set up in the woods, and it’s basically the book on boards that they read as they go through the woods, and they do a challenge at the end.”

When children visit the farm, they learn the process of growing pumpkins as well. Whitten talks to them about production and how to plant the seeds. Many teachers also prepare their students for the visit by actually growing a pumpkin in class.

Farmers who run these fall farms must start planning early in order to pull it off by the beginning of the season. Pumpkins can be especially difficult to grow. The Farmer’s Almanac suggests farmers wait until all threat of a frost is gone and water and fertilize often throughout the growing season.

“My analogy is they’re like a goat. They’re born looking for a reason to die,” Whitten said, “But they’re a lot of fun to watch because you always think there’s none there until the leaves start dropping, and you think, ‘wow there’s a lot of pumpkins out there.’”

The corn maze also draws people to the farm. Arkansas State University’s Catholic Newman Center brings a group of students to Mootown each fall. Zachary Ridgeway serves as the president of the CNC student organization.

“We do it to get all the new students to get to know each other better and have fun at the same time,” he said. “We’re doing the corn maze, which some of us have already successfully completed. We’re going to carve some pumpkins, and later we’re going to have a bonfire and hot dogs.”

Planning the corn maze also takes some time for Whitten to complete. In Arkansas, farmers plant corn in April or May and harvested in September. In order to keep it green throughout maze season, Whitten does not plant his corn until after the Fourth of July. Then, the maze must be cut out of the corn

“For years I did it the old-style way. Basically, the design is on graph paper, and every row of corn corresponds to a row on the graph paper. You just take marking paint and a lawn mower and start counting rows,” Whitten said.

Nowadays, professional corn maze cutters do the work for the farmer. They use GPS systems to mark the design in the field and cut it using a tractor and a tiller.

While a lot of hard work goes into it, Whitten said he enjoys the work he does.

He said, “I like raising it, but to me, watching the kids and the families come enjoy it and make memories. We’ve had several who have been with us every year, and it’s kind of a family tradition. That’s a lot of fun.”

Many farms like Mootown close for the season soon. Visit for family fun as well as to support local agriculture.

Editor’s Note: Feature photo and video by Tristan Bennettt.

COMPASSION IS SAVING LIVES WITH ‘DARE TO BE ‘

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By Christine Miyawa
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO – In a fully packed Wesley Hall at the First United Methodist Church in Jonesboro, Dare To Be ministry held its first conference in Jonesboro on Oct. 3. Multi-Dove and Grammy Award winner Natalie Grant and author and Pastor Charlotte Gambil founded the ministry which seeks to empower women of all ages.

Shirts are displayed while on sale during the Dare To Be ministry concert.

Grant performed at the sold-out event and it was the first time for Gambil, who lives and pastors the Life Church in England, United Kingdom, to visit this part of the United States of America.

Gambil, together with Grant, started the ministry to empower women and to help them reach their potential and be whom God has called them to be. They do so through the ministry of music and preaching.  “In the eye of the storm, there is calmness,” Gambil said.

Compassion International, a humanitarian organization helping needy children from developing countries, organized the concert. The theme of the event was “Speak to the Storm”.

Gambil gave a story of Eliezer, a 4-year-old Rwandese boy now a grown man in his 20s and a member of her church in England, whose parents and grandparents were slain by rebels during the Rwandan genocide at his watch.

Profile packets of children seeking sponsors are on display during the Dare To Be ministry concert.

Eliezer’s mother asked him to climb a tree and keep silent should the rebels come to attack his family. When rebels finally did, Eliezer climbed the tree and observed as both his parents and grandparents were hacked to death by machetes. He did not say a word and hid on the tree for two days. When he finally came down, he walked to the street; someone saw he was a child walking alone and took him to Compassion International, where Eliezer was adopted.

That story inspired Gambil. Gambil said she saw in her storm; she was able to help someone else in their storm. Gambil’s storm was lack of a child. She struggled with infertility. When she realized the possibility of adopting a child through Compassion, she saw a way to saw a seed for a miracle she was asking God for, so she became a sponsor.

Grant implored the audience during the concert to support Compassion International by contributing $38 a month to sponsor a child.  Profiles of children from several countries laid out in a packet on a table at the entrance, which she asked the volunteers to distribute to those who raised their hands.

“If you take a packet, this is a no-pressure deal. We just want to make you aware and invite you to be a part of it, but we don’t want to strong-arm you into it or anything,” Grant said.  “So, if you take a packet and you are like, ‘you know what, I just don’t think I can do this right now,’ we just need the packet back. This is why, every packet represents a real-life, so if you accidentally take it home or slip it in your bag and it gets lost, it takes months for that child on the packet to go through the system and get back on the packet, to have an opportunity to get sponsored again,” Grant said.

Volunteers passed packets; some people in the audience wrote checks.

The lead organizer from Compassion International at the Jonesboro Concert, Rachel Knoop 25-years-old, from Minnesota, said, her organization is in partnership with the Dare To Be ministry to help reach out and support less fortunate children in the developing countries.

Rachel said Compassion International was founded in 1952 by Everette Swanson, a preacher who traveled to South Korea to preach the gospel to the Army troops during the war. In his travels, Swanson encountered children orphaned by war and started the organization to raise funds to help the children with a little money every month to survive on.

Rachel said she has worked for the organization for some time.

“We are in 25 countries; recently, I was in Tanzania, Africa. I have also been to the Dominican Republic,” she said.

She said the organization is taking a holistic approach to eradicating poverty, providing clean water, nutrition for kids and their families, education and catering for the health costs.

“Compassion International is releasing children from poverty in Jesus’s name,” she said.

Rachel said the organization works with the local churches to recruit children to the program. Before, they used to hire a local staff member to do the recruiting. She said the local staff knew which children are most vulnerable. Now, it’s open and children can apply directly at compasion.com. She said they must meet critical poverty guideline, which is living on a $1.25 or less per day.

Rachel said they take in children from birth and the sponsors stay with them until they graduate out of the program at ages 18 to 22.

Once a child gets connected to a sponsor, they write each other letters back and forth. They get to know each other.

Sheila Hinson, a volunteer at the organization, handling a table where an array of profiles of children were spread out, said she has sponsored a child for the past 12 years.

Hinson started sponsoring Martha Wanjiru from Kenya when Wanjiru was only 6-years-old. She said when she picked Wanjiru’s packet, she was the only child left on the waiting list who had not found a sponsor. She said every month she spends $38 on Wanjiru and has done so for the past 12 years.

She said Wanjiru talks a lot about education. She said she hopes she can help make her dream come true and is in a place where she hears about Jesus.

Wanjiru is now 18 years old and pursuing a career in nursing. Smiling broadly, Sheila said she was also in the medical field for a long time. She sends her birthday cards and Wanjiru writes to her at least four to five times a year.

Erick Bush, 52, from Memphis, another Compassion International volunteer at the event. Bush said the organization sponsors children from South and Central America, Asia and Africa. He said to sponsor a child you pick out a packet, on the package are a photo of the child, information about the child, the child’s specific needs, their birth date and the community from where the child originates. There is a place for the sponsor to include their name and their credit card numbers. He says anyone interested can go online on Compassion.com, fill out their information and become a sponsor.

Bush is sponsoring two children from Ecuador. This is his eighth year since he started sponsoring them and plans to continue until they are out of the program. Bush sponsors the children providing food, shelter and medical services. He said he is sponsoring the children as an overflow of gratitude to Jesus Christ for the grace. When he is not volunteering for compassion International, he runs a restaurant in Memphis.

Knoop said a graduate of the program, Jonathan Almonte, ran for a political office in the Dominican Republic. Almonte is also a founder of a ministry that provides leadership training to local churches in the Dominican Republic.

Faith Benson from Nashville, Tennessee, the merchandise manager for “Dare To Be” oversaw the sales team selling branded T-shirts, jackets that read, ‘Peace is Power,’ necklaces that read, ‘Faith over Fear’ and devotional books authored by Gambil and Grant.

Benson said every night in the course of the tour, they have an honoree moment, where women at the previous event give offerings which they use to bless a woman at the next concert.  Volunteers passed baskets around in the concert hall and people made their offerings.

The Jonesboro event honored Tiffney Turner, a breast cancer survivor who has recovered from drug problems and is helping men and women who have drug problems beat the addiction through her ‘Breaking Bonds’ Ministry, was the Honoree. She received flowers, a black handbag made by women fighting addiction, and a two-day paid vacation at a hotel so she could celebrate her wedding anniversary, which fell on that same day and a 15-seater van to help transport the men and women in her ministry.

Gambil closed the event with a call on the audience to come forward and receive Christ Jesus, as Grant led the audience in a chorus of the song: ‘Whom you say I am,’ by Hillsong Worship.

The duo, together with their crew, headed to Dallas, Texas, for their “Dare To Be” performance the following day and after that to San Antonio, Texas.

Editor’s Note: Photos taken by Christine Miyawa.

Students turn out for Global Climate Strike

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By Melissa  Palumbo
Delta Digital News Service

Memphis, Tenn. – Millions of people from over 150 countries took to the streets Sept. 20 to demand action for climate change.

Protests and strikes led by young activists and students around the world will run through until Sept. 27 in a movement known as Global Climate Strike. There were local protests in Memphis and West Plains, Missouri, and a strike is scheduled at the Arkansas State University campus in Jonesboro Friday.

This new wave of environmental awareness began with 16-year-old Greta Thunberg, who walked out of her Friday classes each week to bring awareness to crises affecting the planet. 

“We will do everything in our power to stop this crisis,” the Swedish activist said Sept. 20 at City Hall in New York City.

One Memphis local brought the global climate strike closer to the Delta. Jojo Sigala, president of the Progressive Student Alliance University of Memphis chapter, led an afternoon protest in front of City Hall in Memphis. 

“Our kids will learn about the Great Barrier Reef like we learned about the dinosaurs,” she said during her speech.

While the global climate movement this week is led by the younger generations, those who have been protesting climate change for decades made appearances, as well as organizations that stand on behalf of the earth. 

For over 65 years, The Nature Conservancy has been working to combat the climate crisis in all 50 states and 72 different countries. 

Two representatives for The Nature Conservancy attended the Memphis Strike, where they were fundraising and helping to raise awareness of issues impacting the environment. 

“We focus on water shortages and pollution, and we replant trees for a more sustainable tomorrow,” Nathan Murray, a Memphis representative, said. “We’re here for the cause.”

The estimated 4 million participants from around the world this week will make this the largest climate protest in history. 

Citizens are demanding people in power to take action, as they chanted in the streets “No more coal, no more oil, keep your carbon in the soil,” with signs that read “Don’t defund the EPA.”

Jillian Johnson, an Interdisciplinary Studies student at Memphis University and environmental activist, participated in the protest at Memphis. 

“I’m here because the wrong Amazon is burning and the wrong ice is dissolving, so I think change needs to happen. The only way it’s going to happen is for us to do something about it, because, obviously, the people in power haven’t done anything and don’t want to do anything.”

Hemp Substance Helps Patients, Too

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by Denton Postlewait
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO – Cannabidiol or CBD happens one of the fastest growing medical substances in the world. The legal substance derived from hemp can be used to treat a variety of conditions.

The differences between the two compounds are microscopic. Although not marijuana, CBD often gets grouped in with the drug. CBD can be collected from hemp, the male plant used in growing marijuana. Hemp contains little or no tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in marijuana. According to Dr. Dane Flippin, owner of Arkansas Progressive Medicine, CBD can reduce chronic pain, inflammation and treat diseases like neuropathy.

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CBD Flower. Photo by Denton Postlewait

“For some people, it works a lot better,” he said. “It seems to work a lot better than the Lyricas, Gabapens and Cymbalta. At least what I’ve been told by patients.”

J.D. Fisher manages the Vapor Maven store on Johnson Avenue in Jonesboro. He said his wife suffers from cerebral palsy and that CBD has relieved some of the symptoms associated with it.

“Since she’s been using the Shaman’s Reach Honey Shots, she hasn’t had a seizure in about four years. She’s able to sleep and walk without a crutch sometimes,” he said. “It’s been really beneficial.”

Vapor Maven carries two CBD products produced in Arkansas. CannaBlast comes from Springdale, while Shaman’s Reach is made in Jonesboro by Emerald’s Triangle.

Medical marijuana became legal in Arkansas back in 2017. Now, two years later, dispensaries around the state started selling the medicine in May 2019. NEA Full Spectrum, a medical marijuana dispensary, will open in Brookland later this year.

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Shaman’s Reach Pet CBD. (Photo by Denton Postlewait)

CBD remains legal, but still faces the same scrutiny as marijuana.

Haylie Slater works for Emerald’s Triangle, running the company’s blog and overseeing research. She said the reason CBD still gets negative press comes from a lack of knowledge.

“It comes from ignorance. That’s the best word to describe it,” she said.

Flippin said although CBD works for some people, others do not respond unless the product they take contains THC.

“There’s just something magical when you add the THC,” he said. “It acts as a catalyst.”

Many places in the United States sell CBD products. In Jonesboro, it can be found at almost any pharmacy, gas station or grocery store in one form or another. Places like Super V Drug, Cash Saver, Emerald’s Triangle and Vapor Maven all carry some form of CBD products.

However, not all products are made the same. Slater and Flippin both said before starting a regiment of CBD to research developers and distributors. Not all CBD products are pure. Some products tested possessed high levels of THC. If consumed, a product containing too much THC-infused CBD could cause a person could potentially fail a drug test. To fail a drug test using a product containing pure CBD, a person would need to consume at least their body weight in grams. To be sure of a product’s purity, Emerald’s conducts third-party testing on all products they carry, along with competitors’ products. These can be found at one of three Emerald’s locations in the region.

Fisher said the reason he believes CBD carries a negative stigma is people get bad information on the internet.

“I think people don’t get the right information online,” he said. “They don’t want to walk into a vape store and ask a bunch of questions and think they are getting the right answers, so they go onto the internet.”

Slater said the reason marijuana receives such a negative stigma comes from its illegal Schedule 1 classification.

“The most friction that we receive on it is the legality of it,” she said. “How it is never OK to break the law.”

Flippin said because Arkansas legislation did not approve the sale of medical marijuana until recently, patients traveled to surrounding states to buy it. Flippin said some families move to states where medical marijuana is legal so they can use the medicine.

“We’ve had people travel to other states where it is legal; we’ve had people go to Oklahoma now,” he said. “They call back and say it changed their life.”

Slater said work blogging and researching gives people access to the information so they can form their own opinions.

“My basis, my agenda, my prerogative with being involved with the blog and the research is to inform … bottom line,” she said. “It’s to inform people about the benefits and the way an herb can completely change your life.”

Before starting any health regiment, both Slater and Flippin said to talk to a doctor to explore all potential treatments. To obtain a medical marijuana card, a person must be evaluated by a medical professional.

 

Nature Center Promotes Outdoor Education

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by Chase Gage
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO — Summer is coming and children across the nation need activities to fill their time other than cellphones and tablets. The Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center offers several educational programs for children and adults alike over the break.

In a world of technological overload, screens dominate while nature sits on the backburner. The Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature center is combating this issue through various educational programs in hunting, fishing, trapping and more.

Lifelong outdoor enthusiast and Education Program Specialist Cody Walker said he hopes to spread his passion for the outdoors through programs at the nature center.

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One of the many animals on display at the Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center is a coyote, a canine species found in Northeast Arkansas. This display, along with several others, functions as a learning mechanism for visitors at the center. (Photo by Chase Gage)

“I didn’t have a cellphone until college. I went outside to play. My parents wouldn’t allow me to stay inside and I see that trend declining. It’s important to get kids and adults outside doing these activities not because it’s my job, but because it’s a passion for me. I like passing that (passion) on to other folks,” Walker said.

The nature center provides programs across the outdoor spectrum, from Hunter and Boating Education courses to simple fish feedings. Two programs available during the spring were the “Crankin’ Good Time” introduction to fishing course, where participants learned the basics of fishing and get to create a unique fishing lure to take home, and a “Turkey Fan Seminar” that taught hunters how to mount their trophy gobblers.  

Watching screens can be addictive. Studies conducted by Dr. Piush Mandane, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Alberta, conclude that screen time in children can be directly linked to ADHD.

“Children should develop a healthy relationship with screens as young as 3-to-5 years of age,” Mandhane said in an interview with ABC News. “Our data suggests that between zero and 30 minutes per day is the optimal amount of screen time.”

With screens dominating American society, it can be hard to escape them. Televisions, tablets, cellphones and more have made their way into nearly every aspect of life. 

Some local parents are facing this issue head-on, using the nature center as an outlet for education and an escape from the digital world. Kalob Welch, a history teacher at Blytheville High School, took his 4-year-old daughter, Arden, to the center as a Saturday getaway.

“She loves being outside, she loves animals. I think it’s important for kids to get outside. We need a healthy balance (of outdoors and technology). It’s definitely nice to bring her out here to exert some of her energy,” Welch said.

The nature center provides several classes every Saturday and Sunday year-round.

This summer, residents of Northeast Arkansas have the opportunity to go outside and experience the beauty of the natural world around them, or to stay inside and strengthen addictions to screens.

Watch the full interview with Walker here.

Esports Provide Another Avenue for Competition

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by Denton Postlewait
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO — The world of Electronic Sports continues to expand into pop culture in the United States and around the world, but it includes more than just playing video games.

According to www.statista.com, over 1.435 billion people knew about esports in 2018, but the number could grow to 1.57 billion in 2019. At the collegiate level, over 130 schools and more than 3,000 students participate in esports, according to www.nacesports.org, the governing body of college esports.  A large number of the worldwide population know about esports and the number grows every year.

In fall 2015, Matthew Strack started the Arkansas State Rocket League Club with some friends. It started as something innocent; just a way to blow off steam after class. However, he quickly realized that it could become something more, especially at the collegiate level. The professional esports ranks featured players who make money playing games like “League of Legends,” “Counter Strike: Go” and of course, “Rocket League.” Strack tried to find collegiate “Rocket League” competition but realized it had not yet been created. So Strack, along with help from students at Purdue University and Rochester Institute of Technology, decided to create it and thus the “College Carball League” began in spring 2016.

“We really just played for fun. Our first real scrimmage was against Purdue’s team and we won,” Strack said. “As esports grew, ‘Rocket League’ grew, and we formed the College Carball Association, which helped found the ‘College Rocket League.’ It’s the official body for ‘Rocket League.'”

“Rocket League” is one of the newer esports on the rise with the likes of “Fortnite” and “Apex Legends,” among others. It may be easy to think competitive gaming formed recently, but quite the opposite occurred. According to www.medium.com, the first-ever esports competition began in 1972 at Stamford University, with the game of choice being “Spacewar!” From then on, the United States and the world became hooked on video games.

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Arkansas State senior Jakobe Hardee trains extensively to stay on top of his game.  (Photo by Denton Postlewait)

A-State “Rocket League” President Jakobe Hardee said he started his esports career by wanting to become a professional “Call of Duty” player. However, after discovering “Rocket League,” his gaming path changed. Hardee played video games as a child and knew early on that if he really worked hard at them, it would pay off.

“I played a lot of ‘Call of Duty’ and had hopes and dreams of becoming a professional,” Hardee said. “The first time I played ‘Rocket League,’ I enjoyed it, but it really didn’t catch my eye.”

While certainly not love at first sight, Hardee gave “Rocket League” another chance a few months later.

“I went back to ‘Call of Duty’ for a couple more months, but decided I wanted to play something else,” he said. “One day I saw it in my game library, played it again and I was hooked. I’ve been playing it ever since.”

Hardee said it takes a lot of hard work to become competitive in esports. Some days he plays for 10 hours or more, working on different skills to stay atop his game. Aside from physically playing the game, Hardee says he does a lot of replay analysis to see what areas of the game he can improve on and then practices those skills, while also learning new mechanics of the game. With  “Rocket League” only being a few years old, the way the game is played is constantly evolving.

“You have to split your time between playing the game and reviewing the clips to see where you can improve,” he said.

When he’s not going to class or training, Hardee runs a practice discord (an app that allows for communication between users in a chat) for aspiring players. Hardee says what makes “Rocket League” so intriguing is players do not form preconceptions about what the game is like. Players who compete in “Rocket League” started from the same level.

From the outside, esports may not seem to be expanding. However, the Arkansas Athletic Association recently partnered with Play Vs, an esports league from California that primarily focuses on high schools. With this partnership, over 80 schools in the Natural State have formed esports teams and will begin competition in the fall of 2019. This announcement marked a huge win for the esports community, especially in Arkansas. Within weeks of the announcement, Arkansas State University announced the launch of an esports team and over 200 interested students reached out.

Another avenue for players in Arkansas who want to become competitive is The Southern Amateur Esports League. Based out of Little Rock, SAE allows players from Arkansas a chance to grow as players and gain valuable “big stage” gaming experience. Co-Founder and Community Director of Southern Amateur Esports Drew Foote said his company formed to be basically AAU for gamers.

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Launched Feb. 4, 2019, Apex Legends boasts over 25 million active players. Photo by Denton Postlewait

“The Amateur Athletic Union is known for one thing, but they govern a lot of different sports,” he said. “With esports, each game is a different sport. I based SAE off of the AAU system.”

SAE continues to grow exponentially since its inception. Foote said the first event held only brought in about 30 people. However, the last event hosted by SAE brought in over 120 people and only 60 were players. Foote said the goal of SAE will be to give players an experience like the professional players that they’ll never forget. Foote does not just want to help players grow, he wants to grow the industry.

“I want to bring the esports experience and economy to Arkansas,” he said. “I want to create jobs in this industry. For me, it is about providing an opportunity to change lives through esports.”

Today video games seem to be more popular than ever. With revenue expected to topple $1 billion in 2019, the gaming community will see an even larger influx of interested players. Connectivity and competition form the foundation for the growth of esports. Esports represent the future of competition.

DeltaYou: A 30-Year Impact

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by Jessica Ladd
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO— An Arkansas State University department chair announced his retirement after 30 years with the institution.

Osabuohien Amienyi became chair of the department of media in 2007. For the first 18 years of his career, he taught classes including TV Production, Communication Research and Theory of Mass Communication. Amienyi also served as head of the Faculty Senate and dean of the Department of Communication.

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Family photos on Amienyi’s desk. (Photo by Jessica Ladd)

Born in Nigeria, he produced films and did videography there. After moving to the United States, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Tennessee State University, a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University and a doctorate from Bowling Green State University. His teaching specialties include video production, media management, international communication, communication theory and research. He has worked in radio and TV, while also being a published author.

“He is supportive, patient, kind and he sees every moment as an opportunity to teach. He truly cares about his students, faculty and staff. He is an inspiration and he will be missed,” Kimberly McDaniel said.

McDaniel, the media department’s administrative specialist, works closely with Amienyi and schedules all his appointments. McDaniel began working with him a year ago. She said he is a wonderful boss. She is sad to see him go and wishes him the best of luck in retirement.

More than an academic, Amienyi enjoys helping others and serves on the board of directors for Jonesboro’s Rotary Club. He joined the club in 2007.

Lisa Golden, president of the Jonesboro Rotary Club, met Amienyi when she transferred to Jonesboro in 2014. She said she always looks forward to seeing him every week.

“He is one of the nicest, energetic and most friendly people I’ve ever met. He is quick to laugh and great to work with,” she said.

He takes most of the photos for their meetings. Golden also said he is very active in the organization. He attends meetings and is currently involved in some of their ongoing projects.

Amienyi is passionate about Rotary. He said being a part of the club is fun. The organization undertakes projects to promote peace and fight disease. They help provide clean water, save mothers and children, support education and grow local economies. Their slogan is “service above self.”

Soccer is a big part of Amienyi’s life, as well. He could talk all day about his favorite sport. He learned to play the game at a young age. There weren’t many sports in Nigeria when he was growing up. He said it was something everyone played. Soccer was like a religion to them.

Amienyi (center) coaches during a youth soccer practice. (Photo by Jessica Ladd)

In Nigeria, he lived about three-to-four miles from the soccer stadium. He could hear the cheers from the crowd at his house. He also listened to the games on the radio. This is what sparked his interest in broadcasting.

He coaches in the Jonesboro Youth Soccer Program. Amienyi said there is a joke around the college that soccer is his full-time job and everything else he does is just for fun. He enjoys teaching young children about the game he loves. He has been coaching in the United States since 1990 after his eldest son joined the program.

He called soccer a thinking person’s game, as it’s all about problem-solving. Sometimes a person will have to try three or four different strategies before a move is successful. He is currently working with his youngest son, who hopes to play professionally one day.

Amienyi said it has been a long journey and he is excited about retirement. He’s not sure where he plans on moving yet, but everything else he has figured out. He wants to start his own soccer school where he will take 10-12 kids at a time and teach them the game. He also wants to focus more on research and even hopes to write some children’s books. He plans on spending more time with his family as well.

Assistant coach Welby Young watches practice. (Photo by Jessica Ladd)

Assistant soccer coach Welby Young met Amienyi in 2015. The two have been coaching together since. Young has great respect for Amienyi.

“It’s probably hard to put into words the impact he has had on the community. If you’re 12 or you’re 25, you’ve probably been coached by Osa or been on one of his teams or seen him play,” Young said. “I think this is his passion. It is not work for him.”

Amienyi said his favorite memory of A-State is being able to do the things he loves. He said he is leaving the department better than when he inherited it. He helped obtain more labs for media students. He was a part of creating Red Wolf Radio and Delta Digital News Service. He said he has enjoyed his time at A-State, and he will miss working with the students. He enjoyed seeing them develop themselves.

Earlier in his A-State career. (Photo courtesy of Lillie Fears)

Amienyi’s father use to say, “Always listen to the voice of experience.” This has stuck with him. He said often times people talk too much and don’t take the time to listen. He keeps an open mind and tries not to judge people. These are the keys to his success.

He would often be asked how long he planned to stay at A-State. He said he would give people what he thought to be a philosophical answer. He said there will come a day when he would outgrow the university, or the university would outgrow him.

“I couldn’t have chosen a better place to work,” he said. “I was allowed to do the things I enjoy. I could have gone to different places and not have had as much fun as I’ve had the last 30 years.”

Red Wolves Bowl Over the Competition

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by Denton Postlewait
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO — Arkansas State’s Women’s Bowling may be the best team in Jonesboro.

A-State picked up its first title in Dallas at the Prairie View A&M Invitational Feb. 3. The Red Wolves knocked off SEC foe Vanderbilt University 4-2 (171-130, 213-176, 194-189, 182-161, 181-167, 223-216). Prior to the win, A-State finished sixth and third, respectively in the fall semester. Since then, they bowled for the championship in four of the last five tournaments. At the most recent tournament in Dallas, the Red Wolves took sixth place. 

 A-State returned only three athletes after finishing fifth at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis last season. With such a high turnover rate, head coach Justin Kostick said it took some time for the team to mesh.

“As the season has gone on, we’ve gotten better and better and better and better. I’ve had a new team this year. I have seven new players and only three returning,” he said. “It took us a little while to get going.”

Sophomore Leah Glazer of Henderson, Nevada, said the team grew together and gathered momentum heading into the home stretch of the season.

“It’s motivating to know that with such a young team we are able to accomplish so much,” she said. “I have no doubt that we will be bowling for a national championship.”

Julia Huren, a junior from Westlake, Michigan, said the work the team puts in outside of scheduled practice sets them apart.

“We work really hard,” she said. “Even when we don’t have practice, we come in on our own and put the time in. That’s going to pay off in the long run and at nationals.”

A-State Bowling will compete in two tournaments to close the regular season: March 1-3 in Lincoln, Nebraska and March 15-17 in Symara, Tennessee. Following these tournaments, A-State will travel back to Dallas for the Southland Bowling League Championships March 22-24 and then to the NCAA Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio on April 11-13.

To stay up to date with all things A-State Bowling, go to www.astateredwolves.com, click on the Sports Tab and select “Bowling” under Women’s Sports.

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Editor’s Note: Featured photo shows head coach Justin Kostick (center, right) and assistant coach Tanner Seal (center, left) look on while the team practices. The Red Wolves practice at Hijinx Family Entertainment Center. (photo by Denton Postlewait)

A-State Grants Target Bike and Pedestrian Pathway

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By Jessica Ladd
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO— A new bike and pedestrian pathway will be built on Arkansas State University’s campus. The pathway will improve safety and connectivity across campus.

This new pathway comes as a breath of fresh air to some university students.

A-State student Christina Huynh said, “It is a good thing since we did have that accident recently here. I think anything we do to help make things safer, will make things safer.”

She also said she won’t feel completely safe on campus until drivers start obeying the university’s traffic laws.

The latest pathway project consists of two phases. According to Bill Smith, the associate vice chancellor for marketing and communication at A-State, the university received a $450,000 grant from the Arkansas Department of Transportation for the first phase. ARDOT will provide an additional $370,000, possibly $390,000, for the second phase of the project.

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Bill Smith, the associate vice chancellor for marketing and communication (photo by Jessica Ladd)

Phase one will create a multi-use path for pedestrians and bicycle riders along Aggie Road on the western side of campus. The path will also continue under Marion Berry Parkway along University Loop West. Construction on phase one began in February 2018 and finished in July 2018.

Phase two will extend the path from behind the library and continue east. It will then turn north to circle back to Aggie Road. Once completed, students will be able to make a loop around campus. The second phase is approaching the design and bid. The university hopes to start on phase two in the late spring and summer of this year. However, bid results and weather could cause delays.

Smith said these pathways are part of a master plan to link campus together. It will be easier for pedestrians and cyclist to get around. Eventually, the university wants to add more trails to connect the east side of campus to the farming area located on the other side of Red Wolf Boulevard. Smith said he hopes Jonesboro will connect its pedestrian pathways with A-State’s in the future. This will multiply the pathways for the city.

These grants come from the Transportation Alternatives Program. The money goes directly into the project and is used for engineering, materials and construction. These grants work as matching 80/20 grants: ARDOT will provide 80 percent of the funds and ASU will cover the other 20 percent. On the $450,000 dollar grant, ASU paid $120,000. The same arrangement will be applied to the grant for the second phase.

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Aggie Road Bridge — An Arkansas State University student uses the new portion of the pathway along Aggie Road. (photo by Jessica Ladd)

Aaron Vowell, a resident engineer for ARDOT, said his job is to oversee construction, bids to contractors and the building plans in Jonesboro. Every couple of weeks, he receives a payment request from the University. He then reviews it to ensure the work listed has been completed. Once he has inspected the request, he sends it on to the corporate office in Little Rock, where the grant process is handled.

Although the pathway isn’t completed, many students still enjoy it.

A-State student Latoya Taylor said, “I think it is a good project because you don’t want to be in the road so close to traffic,” she said.

The University is installing lights on the dark western side of campus along the completed portion of the path. Smith predicted the path will have more foot traffic then, especially at night. Smith said he knows what it is like to maneuver around campus without with pathway.

“I’ve lived west of campus and I ride to work almost every day,” he said. “Having that new path has allowed me to step off of the road and have fewer incidents with traffic.”

He said in the past, drivers have not been willing to give him 3 feet of the road. Smith said safety must be a top priority. Drivers must stop at crosswalks. Drivers should also pay attention to the speed limit. He urged pedestrians to make sure the driver sees them before crossing at a crosswalk; they should never assume a driver will see them and stop. Smith said the new pathway will be designed to give pedestrians the right of way with the streets it intersects.

Soul Food Comes to Jonesboro

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by Miranda Reynolds
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO – The opening of a small restaurant in the downtown area uses family recipes to bring new customers in.

Cynthia Jones, owner of Addie’s Soul Food and Grill, named her restaurant after her mother Willie Addie, who died about 10 years ago. She learned everything she knows from her mother and wants to share her recipes with others.

“I always cooked for my family. I come from a family of 10, but I never knew people enjoyed my cooking until I actually started cooking for the church and that’s when I thought ‘Maybe I should venture out and do it,'” Jones said.

Many family members work with Jones in the restaurant. A sister, nephew, cousins and friends help out when needed. Lacretia Ray, assistant director of Addie’s Soul Food and Grill and sister to Jones, said family remains important to her.

“Cynthia is a very family-oriented person. They push her to keep going. They know she likes to cook and her kids do, too. Her family steps in and helps when they can, so her family, they do a lot. They encourage her a lot,” Ray said.

Not only did Jones learn a few recipes from her mother, but so did Ray.

“When my siblings eat my food, they say, ‘This reminds me of Mom.’ She left a big impact, so every time they eat they always think of her because they say it tastes just like hers,” Ray said.

Among some favorite recipes, Jones remembers her mother’s favorites.

“Her favorite recipe, maybe her turnip and mustard greens, and her dressing was probably her favorite,” Jones said.

One of the restaurant’s employees working under Jones, Amber Hunter, says the atmosphere reminds her of family.

“The sense of family, like it feels like family even though I’m not a part of her family, I feel like I am in a way,” Hunter said.

Jones hopes many people come out and try the new restaurant in the community.

“My goal is for everyone to come out, enjoy and just try it to see if they enjoy it. Just share some of the recipes and stuff, and if they really enjoy it or not, and tell me what I can do to make it better. It’s just for the community. I enjoy to give to people,” Jones said.

Hunter said she plans on working at the restaurant for Jones in the future.

“Working for someone like Cynthia is amazing. You’ll see me here for a while,” Hunter said.

While the restaurant’s soul food cooks, it can be smelled from blocks around in the downtown area.

Gym Helps Combat Veterans

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by Miranda Reynolds
Delta Digital News Service

PARAGOULD – Organizations across Northeast Arkansas work with veterans to get them more involved; gym memberships give some another option.

CrossFit Cathal, located in Paragould and owned by Randy Vest, reaches out to veterans in the surrounding communities to help those in need. The gym has been supportive of nonprofit organizations since opening.

CrossFit Cathal joined forces with Rivers of Recovery to reach out to more veterans. Rivers of Recovery works to take veterans on trips at no cost to the veteran. Vest and Levi Crawford, Rivers of Recovery’s marketing director, knew each other from a previous encounter.

They met in 2009 during a tour in Afghanistan. During the one-year tour, Crawford suffered serious injury from direct and indirect fire. It caused him to lose vision in one eye. This caused Crawford to become involved in Rivers of Recovery.

“Upon coming home and transitioning from military life to hospital life, to civilian life, is when I was fortunate enough to go on a trip with Rivers of Recovery.  It helped me a great deal in a very hard and uncertain time in my life. After the trip, I stayed in contact with the organization and decided that it was my duty to help the organization and provide other combat veterans with the experience and help I was to grateful to receive,” Crawford said.

Vest’s decision to join forces with Rivers of Recovery came easily to him due to the local aspect of the organization.

“The reason I chose Rivers of Recovery is because it supported local veterans. These are people that are walking around in your community, they’re actually veterans I served with,” Vest said.

CrossFit Cathal gives veterans an opportunity to work with other veterans in a more personal way, said level one instructor Caroline Jarrett.

“It’s more personal this way because every class has a coach and you find your members coming to you with issues going on in their lives whereas in a regular gym, there’s somebody probably manning the door and they’re letting you do whatever you want to do,” Jarrett said.

Post-traumatic stress disorder affects many veterans. Vest said CrossFit Cathal can be one way to battle it.

“People deal with their PTSD differently: some seek counseling, others have hobbies, some people come in here and just want to sling some weight and breathe heavy, get it out of their system. That’s their therapy,” Vest said.

The partnership between the two allows Crawford to see veterans focus on their personal health.

“A goal I am already seeing being accomplished is providing our past participants a place welcoming of veterans to socialize and focus on their physical health which plays a large role in a person’s mental health,” Crawford said.

In 2012, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs, a total of 252,279 veterans reside in Arkansas. CrossFit Cathal, Rivers of Recovery and numerous other organizations continue to serve veterans in the natural state.

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