Four States Living Magazine August 2026

ALSO

ON THE COVER AUGUST 2026

For the Smith family, education is more than a career—it’s a legacy. Crystal and Clint Smith, along with their daughters, Allyson and Annie, have built lives rooted in learning, creativity, and a shared passion for empowering future generations.

INSIDE: LINES OF LEGACY

Award-winning poet and professor brittny ray crowell draws inspiration from her Texarkana roots. Her debut collection, Cord Swell, weaves together poetry, family history, and archival photographs to honor the generations who came before her.

Read about dr. crowell on page 22.

Authors of the Ark-La-Tex

CONTRIBUTOR SPOTLIGHT

A lifelong Texarkana resident, Jaime Knighton joins FSLM as one of our newest writers. Jaime graduated from Texas High and earned her associate’s degree in business from Texarkana College. She works full-time in human resources for Bowie Central Appraisal District and enjoys spending time with her partner, Gary, and her 14-yearold son, Chance, who keeps her busy and inspired. When she’s not working or writing, you’ll likely find her with a good book, traveling, dancing, or enjoying live music. A devoted New Kids on the Block fan, she hasn’t missed a tour since the band reunited in 2008.

26, 36, 50

10, 24, 51, 62

ITHE WAY I SEE IT ...

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

Robin Rogers, Ed.D.

f there were ever a song that deserved a rewrite, it would be Willie Nelson’s “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys.” With all due respect to cowboys, my heroes have always been teachers.

Teaching is not for the faint of heart. It requires equal parts patience, persistence, creativity, diplomacy, detective work, referee skills, a sense of humor, and the ability to explain the same concept seventeen different ways before the light bulb finally comes on. Teachers celebrate victories no one else notices, carry burdens they can’t talk about, and somehow find the energy to greet their classrooms full of students every single morning with hope. That’s hero material if you ask me.

Education is woven into my family’s story. My mother was an English teacher, I taught English, and my oldest daughter, Ellen, is now an exceptional teacher herself. Three generations of women have spent our lives armed with red pens, writing manuals, and strong opinions about grammar. We are the people who quietly correct restaurant menus, mentally edit billboards, and occasionally bite our tongues in polite conversation.

Words matter—and punctuation matters. I remain fiercely loyal to the Oxford comma. Without it, breakfast could easily become “toast, eggs and jelly,” which sounds far less appetizing than “toast, eggs, and jelly.”

Years ago, when I taught advanced composition, I’d hand out a paper I intentionally filled with grammatical disasters, misplaced modifiers, punctuation mistakes, dangling participles, spelling errors, and enough writing sins to make an English teacher need smelling salts. The assignment was simple: find all the errors.

Nobody ever did—not one person. Watching students argue over commas, debate sentence structure, and suddenly realize English isn’t nearly as simple as they thought was one of my favorite classroom memories. They weren’t just memorizing rules; they were learning.

Most of my English students dreaded my class; sophomore-level composition was required for graduation, so naturally, many waited until their last semester to take it.

“I hate writing.”

“I’m terrible at writing.”

“I have writer’s block.”

And, my favorite: “I’ll never use this”—to which I silently wanted to reply, “You’ll spend the rest of your life writing emails, text messages, job applications, presentations, social media posts, reports, proposals, and maybe even love letters!”

Education has a funny way of preparing us for things we don’t even know are coming.

Looking back, I can still name the teachers who changed my life: Vicki Melde. Stephanie James. JoAnn Day. Wendell Boozer. Mike Burks. Lois Toombs. Lori Ables. Charla Harris. Vernon Wilder. Beverly Tye. Mary Copeland.

I’m 56 years old, and I still remember them—not because they were funny or easy, but because they cared. They believed their subjects mattered, but more importantly, they believed their students mattered.

PUBLISHER

Dr. Robin Rogers

EDITOR

Ellen Orr

GRAPHIC DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY

Shane Darby

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Victoria Herman

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Phoebe Warren

Outside my mother and grandmother, these were the adults I admired most. I wanted to grow up and be like them.

College brought another remarkable group of educators into my life. If you’ve ever had the privilege of sitting in one of Dr. Tom Wagy’s history classes at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, you know exactly what I mean. Great teachers don’t simply teach facts. They make you curious. They challenge you to ask better questions. They leave you thinking long after class has ended. That’s a gift. This issue of Four States Living celebrates education in all its forms. You’ll meet outstanding teachers, inspiring students, accomplished authors who began in our local classrooms, college professors shaping tomorrow’s workforce, Biblebased educators, homeschooling families, and community members who invest their time and hearts into helping children succeed. What strikes me most is that every one of them understands something important: education changes communities.

Texarkana USA is positioned for tremendous growth, and our schools have been preparing for it for years. Outstanding school districts, expanding colleges, career and technical education, innovative programs, and first-class facilities are helping prepare students for careers that didn’t even exist when many of us were in school.

Businesses don’t relocate because of pretty brochures. Families don’t move because of catchy slogans. People invest in communities where children have opportunities.

If you haven’t walked through one of our schools lately, you owe yourself a visit. Schedule a tour of Parks Elementary on Texas Boulevard. Visit Arkansas Middle School on Jefferson. See the outstanding Career and Technology Education Center on Kennedy Lane. See the Aviation Mechanics program at Texarkana College. Drive down University and watch the progress of TAMU–T’s exciting new sports complex. Visit any campus across our four states area. You’ll find teachers pouring everything they have into helping young people become confident, capable adults. You’ll leave optimistic.

These days, my favorite classroom is very, very small. It includes a 6-year-old, a 3-year-old, and one very curious baby girl who will soon be convinced that her RoRo knows almost everything (for a little while, anyway). These children are teaching me as much as I’m teaching them. We’re sounding out words together, and the rhymes are somehow hilarious. Yahtzee is secretly a terrific math lesson— especially if everyone remembers to blow on the dice for good luck. And just when I think I’m the teacher, they remind me that Pluto is no longer a planet or drop a fact about whichever dinosaur is their favorite that week. Every Thursday, after a few too-short hours together, they send me home smiling—and a little smarter than I had been when I picked them up from school. Perhaps that’s the real magic of great teachers: they never stop learning.

Today, the teacher I admire most is my own daughter Ellen. Watching her challenge students, encourage them, believe in them, and inspire them to love learning makes this former English teacher incredibly proud. I know there are hundreds of educators across our region doing exactly the same thing as they prepare for another school year.

So here’s to the people carrying backpacks full of lesson plans, trading summer vacations for classroom bulletin boards, spending their own money on supplies, cheering at ballgames and performances, answering late-night emails, and believing in students who don’t yet believe in themselves.

My heroes have always been teachers. I have a feeling they’ll always be.

All of us at the magazine are wishing every student, teacher, administrator, staff member, and family across the area a joyful, successful, and unforgettable 2026–2027 school year. As always, thank you for reading FSLM

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Scarlett Stussy Chaidez

Madeline Haak

Nichole Holze

Jaime Knighton

Ellen Orr

Brandon Shoemaker

Do You Have a Story or a Photo?

We welcome information regarding topics of interest for future publications. If you have a story or photos that in some way depicts living or visiting in the Four States area and would be of interest to our readers, we want to hear from you. Call 903-792-2262 or write: Editorial Department, Four States Living Magazine, 4104 Summerhill Square, Texarkana, Texas 75503. Comments are also welcome at our e-mail address: info@fourstatesliving.com

Phoebe Warren Four States Living Magazine is published the first business day of every month. © Copyright 2026 by Four States Living Magazine. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher. Four States Living Magazine is distributed free of charge. Direct mail subscriptions are $40.00 per year. Reader correspondence and editorial submissions are welcome. We reserve the right to edit or reject any material contributed.

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SCENE ABOUT TOWN

The Texarkana Symphony Orchestra invited the community to its Encore Club Season Kickoff & Recruitment Night on Tuesday, July 14th. The event took place at the Eagle Bourbon & Wine Lounge. Exclusively for those aged 22–49, the Encore Club makes experiencing the symphony incredibly easy and social. For a low monthly membership, members receive a ticket to all TSO performances, a complimentary drink at the Perot Theatre Bar at every concert, and invitations to exclusive Tune-Up Parties and Pub-Previews with the Maestro.

FOCUS A FAMILY IN

Circuitous paths led Crystal and Clint Smith to careers in education. Now, they empower their children—and countless others—with the strength to soar

by JAIME KNIGHTON

At the Smith family dinner table, conversations don’t always begin with, “How was your day?” Instead, they’re often filled with discussions about lesson plans, student successes, journalism deadlines, classroom leadership, photography competitions, and the occasional string of educational acronyms that would leave outsiders completely lost.

For Crystal and Clint Smith—and their adult daughters, Allyson and Annie—education isn’t simply a profession. It’s a thread woven throughout their family, shaping their lives and their futures and, as Clint put it, “changing our family tree.”

If you or your children have gone through the Texarkana Independent School District, you may already be familiar with the Smith family. Clint Smith has been a media technology teacher, photography adviser, and online media adviser for the past 20 years. Crystal Smith is entering her third year as assistant principal at Nash Elementary School. Prior to moving into administration, she spent eight years in the classroom, teaching third- and fourth-grade English and science. Neither Clint nor Crystal initially set out to work in education, however.

Crystal spent her children’s earliest years as a stay-at-home parent, raising her two daughters while also helping run the family’s photography business. Once Annie started school, however, Crystal decided to return to school herself. She chose to pursue a career in education, in part because it would allow her to have a schedule similar to those of her husband and children. Higher education wasn’t something inherent to Crystal’s upbringing, but she embraced the challenge. She spent eight years teaching before moving into administration, a decision motivated by a desire to help amplify other teachers’ voices and support their work, particularly in connecting with the kids in their classrooms. “I want [teachers] to build relationships with their students,” she said. “I think that’s the foundation of education—those relationships.”

Clint also took a circuitous route to becoming a teacher. As a young person, his passion was aviation. He was accepted into the Army’s early commissioning program and expected to attend the New Mexico Military Institute. Due to health issues, however, his plans to “fly helicopters and blow things up for a living” had to be put aside. Instead, he took journalism classes in college and began

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working for KTAL Channel 6 as a photojournalist. Later, while he was a video production specialist at KLFI TV/Beech Street Communications, he worked on a project with the then–TISD communications director, who told him of a media technology position with TISD. He applied, got the job, and ultimately revamped the course, creating a media program that bridged the gaps between the television and print-media programs.

In the two decades that Clint has spent educating and mentoring young journalists, he has made an impact far beyond the walls of his classroom. In April, he received the Pioneer Award from the National Scholastic Press Association, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a scholastic journalism educator. The honor is particularly meaningful to Clint because it wasn’t something he applied for: he was nominated and selected by his peers.

“It means that I’d either impacted [fellow teachers], impacted their students, or they had seen that I impacted other students or other teachers,” Clint said. “And that was big for me.”

“ ”

I want [teachers] to build relationships with their students. I think that’s the foundation of education—those relationships.

– Crystal Smith

Alongside his wife, Clint has also clearly impacted his own children. The Smiths’ oldest daughter, Allyson, is entering her senior year at Texas A&M University–Texarkana, where she is pursuing a degree in education. She will begin her career in education this year, teaching at Wake Village Elementary while completing her studies concurrently.

“We’ll all be in this,” she said with a smile.

A digital artist, Allyson hopes to incorporate her creativity into her classroom. Annie, her younger sister, is similarly creative. An incoming first-year at Texas A&M University in College Station, she established herself as a photography superstar in high school: as a senior, she earned the highest point total on the Texas Imagemaker Team through the Association of Texas Photography Instructors. Each year, ATPI recognizes the top 10 photography students in the state, based on awards earned throughout the year—and, last year, Annie finished at the top.

Now, Annie looks forward to working with TAMU student media, continuing to develop her skills and push her limits. After all, as Allyson said, their family’s motto is, “You can do hard things.”

It’s easy to see how deeply family, education, and creativity are intertwined for the Smiths. In their home, the lines between parenting and teaching, family and school, work and play sometimes blur. Perhaps that’s because, for the Smiths, these passions have always been connected. Crystal and Clint seem to have found a balance that has not only enriched the lives of their own children but also the lives of countless others across TISD and beyond.

Cassandra Speer is an author, trauma-informed theologian, and pediatric chaplain. A graduate of Pleasant Grove High School in Texarkana, Texas, she recently earned her master of arts in biblical and theological studies from Denver Seminary. She serves as vice president of Her True Worth, a global women’s ministry. She also hosts the Hard & Holy podcast, where she creates safe spaces to explore life’s toughest questions with curiosity and courage. Cassandra has been featured on Good Morning America’s “Faith Friday” and is currently writing her fourth book, which is scheduled for publication in 2027. She and her husband are rooted in Oklahoma City, where they live with their three children.

What first made you think, “I want to be a writer?”

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t until our third child was born eight weeks premature that I began sharing my writing publicly. While navigating life as a NICU mom, I wrote about our experience online, and one day a brand carried by Target reached out asking to feature one of my blog posts. They told me my words made them feel seen, and in that moment I realized I wanted to spend the rest of my life writing words that make people feel a little less alone.

Where did you grow up? Does that influence your writing?

I spent my early childhood in Wisconsin before moving to Texarkana, Texas, at 16 years old. My childhood was complicated, and it undeniably influences my voice. I often joke that I don’t use AI to write; I use my childhood trauma, like a real author. In all seriousness, I think our deepest wounds often become the places from which we learn to love others well, and that’s the heartbeat behind every word I write.

Describe yourself in three words. Awkward, empathetic, advocate.

What book are you currently reading?

I recently finished Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. I usually gravitate toward theology and nonfiction, so diving into a science fiction novel was a fun reminder that great storytelling can make us think deeply about what it means to be human.

Which author has influenced your writing more than anyone else?

The theologians who most shaped my thinking during graduate school were Katherine Sonderegger and Fleming Rutledge. I wrote my master’s thesis on a trauma-informed theology of the sovereignty of God in human suffering (light and fluffy stuff). My favorite professor, Dr. Don Payne, also left a lasting mark on me by modeling rigorous scholarship with remarkable humility and pastoral compassion. As an author, Beth Moore has been one of my greatest influences because she showed me that biblical depth and accessibility don’t have to compete. She has always been willing to tell the truth, even when it comes at a personal cost, and I deeply admire both her courage and her faithfulness.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three non-essential items would you bring?

A hammock, my favorite study Bible, and a pen with a stack of blank journals. If I’m stranded, I might as well take epic naps and write about it.

If readers could take away just one feeling or lesson after finishing your work, what would you hope it would be?

I hope they leave believing that they don’t have to pretend with God. Wrestling with God is an honest act of faith, not a sign of a lack of faith.

What fictional world would you love to live in for one week?

The Shire from The Lord of the Rings. There’s something appealing about a place where good food, beautiful gardens, and introverted habits are treasured. I’m just trying to live my best hobbit life.

photo by SHANE DARBY

What’s one book you think everyone should read at least once? Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. It’s one of the most beautifully written novels I’ve ever read, weaving together faith, mystery, family, and hope in a way that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

What’s one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you?

I was a hairstylist and makeup artist for over a decade.

THE BUSINESS OF BUILDING

What began as a Christmas gift has quickly grown into an entrepreneurial venture for four Pleasant Grove Middle School students. After receiving a 3D printer in December 2025, Zander Ames discovered a passion for designing and printing articulated toys and novelty gadgets. “I’ve always loved building things and figuring out how they work, so I thought it would be fun to print fidgets and other cool things for me and my friends,” Zander said.

The first item Zander printed was a small boat. Since then, he has gone on to design and print numerous items, but his favorite creation is “The Rocktupus,” an articulated octopus with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s face on it. “It’s one of those things that makes people laugh every time they see it,” he said.

Seeing an opportunity, friends Davis Meador, Davis Early, and Coleman Craig joined forces with Zander to launch Build Bros TXK, a small business specializing in 3D-printed toys, fidgets, keychains, and novelty items. Operating from Zander’s bedroom workshop, the friends design, print, and sell their creations. “I do most of the printing because the printers are at my house,” Zander said. “My friends help come up with ideas, sell products, and help set up and run our booths at events.”

The students have quickly learned what it takes to run a business, reinvesting profits into new equipment and materials to expand the business. “I’ve learned that, if you want your business to grow, you can’t spend all the money you make,” Zander said. “We used our first profits to buy two more printers, so now we can make more products and fill orders faster.”

Four Pleasant Grove Middle School students are using 3D printing to start their own business

by PHOEBE WARREN

Their products have found a following among fellow students and friends, but Zander says that anyone can order from Build Bros TXK. “We’ve sold at community events and hope to do even more this school year,” he said. “We’d also like to start selling online soon.”

Supported by parents who encourage both innovation and a strong work ethic, the four friends meet regularly to collaborate, develop new products, and explore ideas for growing their business. While Build Bros TXK began as a fun project, it has evolved into a hands-on exploration of teamwork, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship.

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LINES OF LEGACY

Poet and professor dr. brittny ray crowell’s debut book, Cord Swell, honors generations of Texarkana residents

by ELLEN ORR

Apublished poet and professor at Clark Atlanta University, brittny ray crowell grew up in and around Texarkana, Texas, as the youngest in a four-generation home.

“For the first five years of my life, we stayed in a trailer out behind my grandparents’ house in Macedonia, and my greatgrandmother was there, too,” she said. Her great-grandmother, Frankie “Big Mama” Greenwood, passed when brittny was 8; she

“That elegy may have been the very first poem [I ever wrote],” she recalled.

That poem, written over 30 years ago, features in brittny’s debut book of poetry, Cord Swell, which was published in 2025 by W. W. Norton & Company. The entire collection is a memorialization of her ancestors, crafted in part from historical documents such as journals and obituaries. Interspersed throughout the book are archival collages: photographs and original handwritten documents layered with intention. In her poems and collages alike, brittny craftfully records her family history and invites new imaginings.

“Writing about my folks is really important to me,” she said. “I always say that this book is a work of extending elegy beyond lament; grief can only go so far, and so I try to think of different ways to make connections to people that I love and hang onto the kite string. I [ask my predecessors], ‘How can I show you that I still love you in every dimension of where you may be?’”

brittny attended TISD elementary schools and graduated from Texas High School in 2003. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Spelman College and then won a Fulbright, which allowed her to teach English in Thailand for a semester. She applied to graduate programs for creative writing and was rejected. “I didn’t know what I was going to do,” she said, “so I came back home.”

Though returning to Texas was emotionally difficult, brittny emphasized that “it wasn’t anything about Texarkana, period; it was that the plans I’d made were not unfolding. But, you know, God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, and it was what needed to happen.” She began teaching at Texas High, alongside many of her former teachers, whom she adored and described as “the greatest English teachers.”

brittny honed her teaching craft at the high-school level for 10 years, which she said has benefited her greatly in her current role as assistant professor at CAU. “I’m so grateful because teaching high school made me so much better as a professor,” she said. “Most professors don’t get that type of training in discipline or organization. You can be an expert and smart and still be a horrible teacher.”

Though she grew up determined to be a writer and not a teacher, brittny said that, in hindsight, everything worked out exactly as it should have.

“I believe a lot in the inheritance of certain skills,” she said. “I come from a long line of teachers: my grandfather, my aunt, and my great-grandmother were teachers, and my great-greatgrandfather, Paul Matthis, even started a school in Jefferson [the Macedonia Rural School]. So it kind of was in me, but I just didn’t see myself as a teacher—maybe because of society and what we all perceive teachers to be—because we don’t get the respect that we deserve. Maybe it wasn’t even that. I just think that I had in my head [that I wanted to be a] ‘writer,’ and that meant something in a certain way for me. I just didn’t have the good sense to know that writing is teaching, and that teaching makes you a better learner of the craft.”

While teaching in Texarkana, brittny wrote for Four States Living Magazine, a gig that “made me feel like I was still a writer,” she said, despite a hiatus from writing fiction and poetry. She also pursued an MA in English from Texas A&M University–Texarkana, studying under Dr. Doug Julien and Dr. Corinne Hinton—“these great people who were really progressive,” she said. “I think that sometimes people think that Texarkana is very slow to change, and that’s true to some degree, but there are a lot of people here who welcome progress and innovation, and they were that for me.”

In 2017, brittny moved with her husband, Kenny, and their then–4-year-old daughter, Iris, to Houston, where brittny began her PhD at the University of Houston. In 2021, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, she gave birth to their second child, Lotus. “When I had to take my oral exams, I didn’t have a sitter, so I had to nurse her while I gave my oral comps virtually,” she recalled.

In 2023, brittny moved back to Atlanta to accept a poetry professorship. “It’s been beautiful being back in the [Atlanta University Center Consortium, a collaboration of four HCBUs],” she said. “I remember walking on Spelman’s campus [as an undergraduate] and just being like, ‘I cannot believe I’m here, this is so special’—and I feel that way every day I walk on campus.”

Still, brittny said that, while she intends to remain at CAU for many years to come, the city of Atlanta does not feel like home to her. “Atlanta is great for people who want a big city—

and I thought that I wanted to be in a big city when I was younger,” she said. “I have never found another place like Texarkana, that feels like that in my heart.

“Atlanta is so far [from Texarkana]—I can’t just drop in, and that’s difficult for me. I still listen to the radio station here, and I check the weather here every day,” she continued, with tears in her eyes. “There’s nothing like the navel of your existence.” She said that she and her husband talk about the possibility of retiring here one day.

In the meantime, brittny will remain connected to this area, not only by making the 10-hour drive to visit but also by continuing to center much of her literary work on Texarkana. Among other ventures, she is pursuing a project about Carver Terrace, which was once a flourishing, predominantly Black neighborhood and is now an EPA Superfund site.

“I’m really interested in writing about what it meant for these Black people to have been placed in this [development] that they thought was a paradise for them, and to have that totally ripped up from under them,” she said. “[I’m also interested in] the toxicity of that environmental racism, but also how people survive that toxicity.”

Through physical relocation and her work as a poet, brittny has again and again returned to the sites of her past—and to her hometown of Texarkana in particular. She invoked the concept of sankofa, a Ghanaian word meaning “to go back and get”; it is found in a common proverb, translated as, “It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten.” brittny intends for her ancestors, and for the people of this region, never to be truly forgotten.

“I think of the altar work that is poetry for me—like, I feel like I’m doing the work of making sure [ancestors] are alive,” she said. “There’s [a saying] about how you only die when the last person says your name—and I’m like, ‘Not gonna happen,’ because even after I’m gone, this book is here, and people can read it.

“I want Texarkana folks to know that story is important,” brittny continued, “and it’s a part of our inheritance to pass stories on—and poetry is a way of doing that.”

SCENE ABOUT TOWN

Dr. Doug Brubaker held a come-and-go reception on Wednesday, July 22nd at the Texas High School CTE Commons to personally thank the Texarkana ISD community for many wonderful years together. Dr. Brubaker has accepted the position of Superintendent of Chesapeake Public Schools in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Lee Sanders is the author of the coming-of-age novel Under the Light of Fireflies. He currently works as a landman for the Texas Pacific Land Corporation. Born and raised in Texarkana, Texas, he graduated from Texas High School and later East Texas State University with a degree in history. Living in Fort Worth with his wife, Zina, and two daughters, Emilia and Caroline, he likes to spend his time working the grill. His novel has received numerous national and state accolades, including The Texas Institute of Letters 2026 Jean Flynn Award for best young adult book.

What first made you think, “I want to be a writer”?

I’ve always been creative. As a teenager I’d play guitar for hours without end, creating phrases and songs. So the day my aunt and tenth grade English teacher pulled me aside and told me that my writing stood out, that I had a real gift, I knew I’d write a book.

Where did you grow up? Does that influence your writing?

I grew up in Texarkana, Texas. Yes, that definitely influences my writing. Being raised there in the ‘70s and ‘80s, as soon as you got your first bike, you took off. Having that type of freedom allowed my mind to explore and evolve, all the while filling a wanderlust. The kids in my book lived just how I lived—outside roaming the world. Many of the landmarks like Spring Lake Park, the Hotel Grim, and Waterworks (now Bringle Lake) made it onto the pages [of my book]. In addition, Texarkana itself is unique. It’s a twin city centered at the crux of four distinctive states, floating in an orbit far away from any urban center. As such, it’s developed its own brew. That offers the perfect setting for a coming-of-age novel.

Describe yourself in three words. Dreamer, believer, swashbuckler.

What book are you currently reading?

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.

What author influenced your work more than anyone else?

F. Scott Fitzgerald. His command of the English language was almost supernatural. He didn’t just possess style, he brandished it. What made him special, though, was substance; his ability to see into people’s hearts and to flawlessly depict a situation, a reaction, or a veiled truth. I want to write not only great plots and vivid prose, but [also] stories focused on conditions and themes that shape us, like pain, sacrifice, and validation. Fitzgerald’s work encourages that.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three non-essential items would you bring?

A Bible, a guitar, and a Swiss Army knife.

If readers could take away just one feeling or lesson after finishing your work, what would you hope it would be?

When we learn to let go of our idols and the things beyond our control, we find peace.

What fictional world would you love to live in for one week?

The Simpsons.

What’s one book you think everyone should read at least once?

The Gospel of Luke.

What’s one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you? Family ties—I’m the husband of a Romanian immigrant and the brother of three Australian half-siblings.

THE GREATEST ADVENTURE

How Homeschooling Became Our Family’s Story

by NICHOLE HOLZE

Homeschooling was not on my radar as a parent. Our family moved to the Texarkana area in the fall of 2013 for my husband’s career. All too quickly, it came time for our son to attend kindergarten—full day, five days a week—and we felt unsettled with the choices that lay ahead of us. While no choice was a lesser or inferior option, we took time to sort out what felt best for our family. The rather surprising choice we landed on was homeschooling, which we tried after my husband suggested it and I recovered from the absurdity of the idea. Neither of us was homeschooled, and it wasn’t anything we had ever considered. Well, as it turns out, 11 years in, it’s the best decision we’ve ever made.

Over the years, three simple ideas have shaped how we do this. The first is what I call being responsibly brave: saying yes to new experiences even when they feel a little intimidating, while still being prepared and thoughtful. The second is building rhythm instead of rigid rules. Our week has anchors, like a nature walk on Wednesdays or a history readaloud on Tuesdays, but there’s always room to follow a rabbit trail if the kids get excited about something else. The third is letting the world outside our front door be as much a classroom as anything else; an afternoon at a local museum can teach just as much as a morning at the kitchen table.

One of my favorite homeschool memories still makes me smile. My son went through a space obsession around age seven, so we built a few weeks around it: library books on the solar system, a hand-built model of the planets, edible moon phases made from cookies. The best

morning of all came when we set our alarms for 5 a.m. to watch a live spacewalk from the International Space Station, eating pancakes in our pajamas while my kids watched astronauts float above the Earth with genuine wonder in their eyes. Much later, we made the memory even more real with a family trip to NASA Houston for one of their Family Camp Out events.

That is the heartbeat of homeschooling: following what lights your child up, then building the lesson around that spark instead of forcing the spark to fit a lesson. A love of gardening can teach botany, math, history, and language arts all at once. A fascination with the ocean can carry an entire semester, especially with bonus points for a trip to explore in real life what you studied in books. You do not need to be a specialist to make this happen. You simply need to pay attention to what your kids already cannot stop talking about.

If you are considering homeschooling here in the four states region, know that you’re joining a community that has grown tremendously over the last decade. Texarkana sits in a unique spot: not only do we get to explore two states, we get to expand our learning to the four states area and beyond. It’s a wonderful base camp for homeschooling, and one of our favorite reasons why is the proximity to adventure within a two- or three-hour drive in any direction.

When it comes to the legal aspect, the states do differ. Arkansas requires homeschool families to file a notice of intent to homeschool by mid-August of the upcoming school year, and the state’s new

LEARNS Act provides funding for educational expenses, though the program is still evolving. Homeschoolers aren’t required to participate in standardized testing unless they’ve opted into the EFA program, which does require it; our family chose the Stanford 10, taken at home. Arkansas also mandates that homeschoolers can participate in public school athletics and band. My son had the honor of playing tennis for Arkansas High School his ninth-grade year and is looking forward to playing again this year. He made varsity, played at conference, and advanced to state, earning his spot in tryouts just like every other player.

Texas differs quite a bit from Arkansas, and its homeschool legislation has been a hot topic in recent years. Currently, Texas requires no notification or paperwork to homeschool. Last year, the state began offering its own EFA program, which families can opt into if approved. Texas also leaves the athletics decision up to each school district; New Boston is one of the few districts in our area that allows homeschoolers to participate. It’s worth keeping an eye on updates as this continues to evolve. Trinity Christian School allows homeschoolers from either state to participate in athletics for a fee.

When we started homeschooling, the number-one question was always, “What about socialization?” It’s a fair question, but the opportunities for social outlets and extracurriculars here are plentiful and still growing, with countless other ways for homeschoolers to enrich their experience. Both of my children have found passions and stuck with them: tennis for my son, and soccer, first recreational, then travel/club, for my daughter, who also discovered a love of theater and has been a loyal participant in Silvermoon Theatre for six years. We’ve also been members of the TEACH homeschool organization for nine years. I helped start our local Wild + Free group, and this fall I’m launching a homeschool leadership and honor society for high schoolers called Northstar Fellows.

This area is full of resources many people don’t realize exist. Local co-ops and support groups meet throughout the school year, offering everything from academic classes to simple friendship and community. State parks on both sides of the state line host homeschool days, junior ranger programs, and educational tours, many of them free. One event worth adding to your calendar: the Four States Homeschool Expo, which brings together local groups, co-ops, and vendors from across Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma.

For families just beginning this journey, my best advice is to give yourself permission to figure out your own rhythm before comparing it to anyone else’s. Visit a few co-ops before committing to one, research the resources available to you, and give yourself time to try new things and see what works. Pay attention to your children’s interests, and set a purpose for your homeschool that becomes your why, the lens through which you pass every decision.

Eleven years in, I can tell you that homeschooling was never about creating a perfect replica of traditional schooling. It was about building a life where learning and adventure were never separate, where we cultivated connections and experiences based on our family’s needs. Some days it looks like sitting quietly with a book; other days, we’re paddling out to an island on a lake to camp under the stars. Currently, it looks like online classes for high school, engaging in community sports and other extracurriculars, and continuing to chase wonders wherever we wander. Homeschooling has been the best choice for our family, and it’s enriched our lives in countless ways, creating moments and memories that we will never forget. It has been the greatest adventure our family has ever taken.

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EYES ON THE WATER

Local teen Aiden Kendricks is recognized for his lifesaving rescue at Big Dam Waterpark

by PHOEBE WARREN

Aiden Kendricks, a sophomore at Texas High School and a dedicated member of the Tiger football team, took on a summer position at Big Dam Waterpark on May 23rd, initially as part of the kitchen staff. Caden Markham, the former assistant manager of operations at Big Dam Waterpark, motivated Aiden to enroll in the Ellis & Associates International Lifeguard Training Program, which was available on-site the following week. “He believed I would be a great fit for the job,” Aiden said.

Luckily, Aiden took the advice and began his new role as a lifeguard at the park on June 6th. On June 10th, only a few days into his new position as a lifeguard, Aiden was diligently watching the water, as per his training. As he surveyed the surroundings of the pool, he noticed a young boy sprinting away from his mother, putting considerable distance between them. “He came over beside me, and I told him not to jump in because he didn’t have a lifejacket on, and there was no jumping allowed since the water was too shallow,” Aiden said. “He sat down on the edge for a moment, then stood up and jumped in.”

Immediately, the boy began to struggle in the water. Aiden first reached for his hand but realized the child was too far away. He reacted quickly and calmly. “I blew my whistle, entered the water, and rescued him,” he said. “When I was making the rescue, everything else went out the window, and my training took over.”

After the emergency had subsided, Aiden recalled feeling “shaky, but also very happy” because he had made a difference so early into his new role as a lifeguard. “Right afterward, someone I didn’t know at the time came up to me and told me I had done a great job,” he said. “About 24 hours later, I saw the encouraging post she [Cindy WareDavidson] wrote about me on Facebook. I want to thank her.”

After word of Aiden’s heroism spread, the Texarkana ISD Board of Trustees honored Aiden with the Tiger Courage Award. On July 1st, Coach Gerry Stanford, executive director of athletics, presented Aiden with a certificate of recognition and a commemorative medal celebrating his courage and service to others.

“I was recognized, honored, and congratulated by the school board for something I never imagined would happen when I decided to become a lifeguard,” Aiden said. “Between being recognized, meeting families at the water park, and doing interviews, I’ve had the chance to meet many people and share my experience. I hope when people hear my story, they also understand how important water safety is and how much proper training can make a difference.”

SCENE ABOUT TOWN

The Total Court Takeover Pickleball Tournament, hosted by Total Medical Supply, Inc., was held on Saturday, July 18th at Pleasant Grove High School. The fun-filled day of pickleball, food trucks, vendors, family fun, prizes, and giveaways supported the local nonprofit organization We Are Washington.

Cason O’Banion is a writer and educator originally from Texarkana, Texas. Pieces of his fiction, nonfiction, and reviews can be found in The Southern Review Literary Journal, Whalebone Magazine, and other publications, both in print and online. He got his bachelor’s and J.D. from Louisiana State University and has an MFA from Antioch University and the University of Southern California. His work focuses on his friends, East Texas, “the great indoors,” and Mexican chain restaurants. His debut novel, Chinese New Year, was nominated for the Thurber Prize in American Humor. Last year, he published Fire Ants, a collection of essays. He lives in Baton Rouge with his wife and kids and teaches writing at LSU. O’Banion is a graduate of Pleasant Grove High School, where he still holds the record for most bunt base hits in a season.

What first made you think, “I want to be a writer”? My middle school English teacher once gave us an unfinished version of a Hank the Cowdog story and asked us to finish it. I wasn’t much of a reader in sixth grade, so I didn’t read the book and made up the ending—but she liked it enough to sign me up for the UIL competition that year, where I wrote a poem about getting rid of my sister, Mary Claire, which I liked more (the judges did not).

There was [also] that moment when I got to college: I was an architecture major for two days before I found out it was a five-year, five-day-a-week program, so I opted into creative writing.

Where did you grow up? Does that influence your writing? I grew up in Texarkana, Texas. It probably influences everything about me—I am keeping the Chili’s in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, open and thriving.

Describe yourself in three words. According to my resume: prompt, professional, and adorable.

What book are you currently reading?

Drift by Victoria Patterson.

Which author has influenced your writing more than anyone else?

Shalom Auslander is a writer I’ve always enjoyed—he’s creative, and his stories, essays, and novels are things that make me laugh and think, which is what I’m going for most of the time.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three non-essential items would you bring?

Velveeta cheese block + Rotel tomatoes + tortilla chips.

If readers could take away just one feeling or lesson after finishing your work, what would you hope it would be?

The simple things are what make life ridiculous and interesting—have fun, hard times pass, steal at the Walmart self-checkout, etc.

What fictional world would you love to live in for one week? Waterworld. I’m beautiful in the water.

What’s one book you think everyone should read at least once? Any Calvin and Hobbes—specifically The Revenge of the Baby-Sat. A book without pictures: Lord of the Flies.

What’s one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you? I got an email telling me I was in the top 10 viewers of Frasier during its run on Netflix.

COMMUNITY CLASSROOM

Local director Erin Alexander prepares to launch a Bible-based program for North Heights Community School

Beginning in August, students at North Heights Community School will have the opportunity to participate in LifeWise Academy, a Bible-based character education program offered during “released time”—hours when students at public schools can go off-campus to receive religious instruction, with parental permission. The first two LifeWise programs began in Ohio in the fall of 2019. LifeWise has since expanded to more than 1,000 schools in 37 states.

Leading the local effort is Texarkana native Erin Alexander, who holds a bachelor of applied arts and sciences degree from Texas A&M University–Texarkana. In addition to owning Organized by Erin, a professional organizing business, Erin has spent nearly three decades serving in various church ministry roles, including volunteer, assistant director, and preschool minister.

Erin said she did not seek out her new role with LifeWise Academy. “I was approached by an individual who asked if I would consider interviewing for the [director] position,” she said. “Rather than making a quick decision, I spent several weeks praying about

the opportunity, seeking wise counsel, and thoroughly researching the role.”

Erin ultimately decided to accept the position as the new LifeWise Academy director for Texarkana, Arkansas. “It became clear that this was a position where I could use my gifts and experience to make a meaningful impact,” she said.

As director, Erin oversees day-to-day operations, including fundraising, coordinating volunteers and staff, working with an advisory board, building relationships with churches and community partners, and collaborating with school administrators.

LifeWise Academy requires staff members and volunteers who work directly with students to complete a comprehensive background check, child safety screening, and training before serving in the program. “The safety and wellbeing of every child is one of our highest priorities,” Erin said. “We are committed to creating a safe, secure, and nurturing environment where students can learn, grow, and experience the love of Christ.”

by SHANE DARBY

The LifeWise Academy curriculum is intentionally non-denominational and centers on Bible stories. Transportation to and from the off-site classes will be provided by LifeWise Academy. “A local church has generously donated a bus to LifeWise Academy Texarkana,” Erin said. “We’re currently transferring ownership and preparing it for service, including wrapping it with LifeWise branding. The [signature] bright red buses have become one of the most recognizable symbols of LifeWise Academy.”

Looking ahead, Erin hopes to expand the program beyond its initial launch. “My vision for LifeWise Academy Texarkana is to expand the program into all five [TASD] elementary schools and the middle school within the next three years,” she said. “We are excited to begin serving students at North Heights Community School, and we are already working toward launching a second elementary school by January.”

Erin said that she believes in her goal because of the community that has formed to make LifeWise Academy a reality. “The support from our community has been overwhelming,” she said. “This is just the beginning.”

The Drive-Thru Dilemma

Back-to-School Season and the Eternal Struggle of Eating at Home

by SCARLETT STUSSY CHAIDEZ, MCN, RD, LD

Growing up, we ate almost every meal at home. I know my mom liked to cook, and I’m sure it was an intentional choice for several reasons, but as a kid, it was just normal for us. I wasn’t even 100% sure that most restaurants were open during the week because we only went out on weekends or special occasions (shout out to the old Red Lobster in the Ramada Inn for hosting many of our birthday dinners!). Looking back, I’m sure the reasons for eating at home had a lot to do with affordability, being able to influence our palates and overall nutrient intake, and dedicating time for us to connect as a family each day.

As an adult, I now see how much time and energy go into making meal after meal at home. Thankfully (and this may not come as a surprise, given my career choice), I actually enjoy planning meals, grocery shopping, and preparing foods at home—most of the time. Yes, there are days that I get home late and would much rather not turn on the stove, but when you have the ingredients you need and you actually like the meals you’re planning to eat at home, it’s usually faster than ordering takeout anyway. (A disclaimer: my version of “cooking,” especially on work nights, typically looks more like heating and assembling than starting something from scratch.)

So, as the chaos of finding the family routine for another school year begins, let’s talk about meals that make driving past McDonald’s on the way home more exciting than pulling into the drive-thru line.

Plan meals you’re excited to eat

When grocery shopping, I always encourage my clients to look for foods that pique their interest rather than focusing too much on the nutrition content. I know this sounds weird coming from a dietitian, but you’re already reducing the sodium and saturated fat in your meal by simply eating at home; the goal of grocery shopping should be to buy foods that make you excited to do so.

IDEAS TO GET EXCITED ABOUT:

Theme nights

• Breakfast for dinner

• Upcycled pizza night: buy uncooked pizza dough and make your own pizza with a variety of toppings

• Homemade Chick-fil-A night: air-fry Aldi’s red-and-white bag of frozen chicken nuggets (which taste surprisingly like Chick-fil-A’s) and serve on top of a salad or paired with oven-baked fries

• Taco Tuesday

• Meals from movies: Make a meal inspired by the kids’ favorite movie (e.g., The Princess and the Frog Gumbo) or a meal they’ve seen their favorite character eat on TV

Build-your-own

• Chipotle bowl: ground turkey, beef, or chicken with avocado, brown rice, corn, salsa, lettuce, beans, cilantro, cumin, garlic, chili powder

• Sushi bowl: cooked shrimp, imitation crab, or cooked salmon with shelled edamame, rice, shredded purple cabbage, avocado, shredded carrots, cucumber, scallions, and seaweed strips, topped with ponzu sauce, sriracha, or spicy mayo

• Picnic plate: cheese cubes, deli meat, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, carrots, celery, hummus, peanut butter, wheat crackers, nuts, seeds, grapes, berries, apple slices

• Spring roll in a bowl: cooked shrimp, rice noodles, shredded purple cabbage, cucumbers, carrots, jalapeno, avocado, green onions, and cilantro, topped with peanuts and an Asian-style peanut dressing

Extra special ideas

• Kids’ restaurant night: The kids plan a meal they can assemble or cook, and everyone tries it. Depending on the level of commitment, the kids can even make menus, and the parents can be customers who get “waited on”

• Eat-Dessert-First Night

I realize that between school pick-up, work, sports practice, church, and homework, there aren’t many hours left to make and clean up meals. Having a bank of meal ideas that match different energy levels and time constraints is key for busy school weeks. So, plan your quicker and easier dinners for the nights that you need them most.

Ideas for when you “can’t even”

• Frozen pizzas + bagged salads

• Frozen Asian-style skillet meal (like Kung Pao chicken) + add more frozen veggies (like an Asian-style vegetable medley) to the skillet

• Crockpot meals

• Sandwiches or wraps + a side of fruits or veggies

• Frozen pasta skillet meal (like garlic chicken primavera) + add more frozen broccoli to the skillet

It seems like most people view meal prepping as the gold standard of “healthy eating,” but many people (including myself) don’t want to eat the same meal on repeat for five days a week. Since we crave variety, meal prepping doesn’t work for a large majority of people. After day three of the same meat + veggie + starch, we’re more likely to abandon all the time and energy that we put into meal prepping for something that tastes different! So, let’s look at tips for being prepared for the week without having to eat the same meal over and over again.

Preparing for the week without “meal prepping”

• Have a grocery shopping routine. Find a day of the week that typically works for grocery shopping/ordering/delivery, and try to stick to it. The best intentions for eating at home won’t work if you don’t consistently have what you need.

• Set up your fridge for success. Do you find yourself throwing away more food from the refrigerator drawers than you actually eat? Put produce and other time-sensitive foods front and center on the shelves in the fridge, and put things that you won’t forget about (like condiments and drinks) down in the drawers.

• Cook your “go-to” proteins in bulk so that you can just reheat and add them to different meals throughout the week. You can even season or marinate the proteins in different ways so that they pair well with the meals you’re planning to make.

• Chop and prep veggies on the weekend so you can immediately use them on the nights you’re trying to cook. Keep ready-to-go veggies in a tupperware in the fridge so they’re easy to use on the days you need them. If that isn’t realistic, buy pre-cut frozen veggies!

As we move into the time of year when the days get shorter and fuller, I hope these ideas inspire some creativity and family bonding. Maybe, with some planning and practice, your family can get to a place where the phrase “there’s food at home” isn’t such a dreaded phrase.

Stussy Chaidez, MCN, RD, LD, is a senior dietitian at Doherty Nutrition in Fort Worth, Texas. She was raised in Texarkana by parents in the medical field and saw firsthand how science can help people. As a dietitian, Scarlett uses her love of the culinary arts and her knowledge of evidence-based science to inform her care while treating clients who have prediabetes, diabetes, and cardiovascular concerns.

Interested in working with a dietitian like Scarlett?

Scan the QR code to see if your insurance will cover a telehealth visit with Doherty Nutrition.

EVERY CHILD HAS A STORY

Area students published a book through a 12-week program at Washington Community Development Center

by MADELINE HAAK

Nine local students can now say they are authors, thanks to a project overseen by Tina Jones, a teacher at Kilpatrick Academy of Public Service and the founder of the Four States Urban Development Project, a nonprofit organization providing after-school and summertime programs for children. A subset of the organization, the Read and Rise program provides literacy tutoring for first- through seventh-grade students at the Washington Community Development Center.

Read and Rise started as an initiative to build stronger literacy skills and has grown to include the opportunity for students to write their

own book, thanks to sponsorship from the Texas Pioneer Foundation. Local children’s author Cynthia Tyous was recruited to guide the kids through the process of illustrating, writing, and publishing their book, all of which occurred over a 12-week period. The process was designed to show them how they can bring their ideas to life and create something meaningful.

“We took literacy to the next level, moving beyond reading to creative expression and taking ownership of their words,” Tina said. “It reinforced reading and writing skills while boosting their confidence

by SHANE DARBY

and the belief that their voices really do matter. Seeing them become published authors was a powerful way to show them the real-world impact of strong literacy skills.”

The nine student writers—Amiyah Clayton, Ameerah Cornelius, Princess Davenport, Kaitlyn Dupree, Brooklyn Guidry, Daija Kendrix, Devin Kendrix, Zaniya Kendrix, and Janyla Morgan—are a range of ages, from third grade to seventh grade. They titled their 32-page book A Friend Like You and Me. It is about friendship, kindness, and navigating differences. The book was independently published in March and can be purchased on Amazon.

Tina’s goal for leading the project was to help her students build confidence and discover an outlet for self-expression—while also learning life skills such as planning, editing, collaboration, and seeing a project through to completion. “During the writing process, I saw that our students had powerful stories but often lacked the confidence to share them,” she said. “Publishing a book gave them a place to express their voices, see their ideas in print, and experience the pride of completing a project they could share with others.”

As an educator, Tina realizes the importance literacy can play in her students’ futures, which is why it concerns her that only about one third of students nationally are reading proficiently. She also recognizes that literacy can have a profound impact on their lives now, as she was a child who used reading to feel a sense of adventure, sneaking a flashlight under the covers at night just to be able to finish whatever story she was wrapped up in. “I believe that the ability to read well opens doors of opportunity to succeed in life,” she said. “I grew up in a hardworking family that didn’t have much materially, but we always had books: a dictionary, encyclopedias, and classic novels. That childhood experience showed me that, if you teach a child to read, you give them hope and the ability to dream bigger.”

Seeing the students adapt and develop their ideas was exciting for Tina. However, her

proudest moment was seeing her granddaughter become one of the students whose work was published in the book. “She used to dislike writing, but with the support of excellent teachers at Kilpatrick Elementary, and through the publishing project at Washington Community Development Center, she has developed a genuine love for it,” Tina said.

Her granddaughter wasn’t the only student who felt accomplished after finishing the project, and this is why Tina hopes the book publication workshop will become an annual program. “The students were so excited with the finished product. Sending a copy to the Library of Congress made it feel really official and important to them. They’ll get their own copies at our book-signing event later this year,” she said. “It was such a powerful experience for the students that we’d love to give more groups the same opportunity to become published authors.”

Tina has worked hard to expand her organization’s efforts, securing grants to help fund additional projects—not only creative literacy activities but also STEAM projects and other hands-on learning opportunities. Remaining funds from the Texas Pioneer Foundation’s grant will go toward upcoming projects. “This fall, students will participate in a poetry slam and other creative projects with TRAHC,” she explained. “We hope to have them publish a poetry book. We are also planning monthly visits to the Four States Ag Center to explore agriculture, from soybeans to dairy to pollinators. Students will also write an expository book on their journey.”

As a result of her work through the Four States Urban Development Project, Tina was recognized as one of 16 national Afterschool Ambassadors by the Afterschool Alliance. “The program continues to be mindful of the needs of our community by always staying free for families while helping more students close learning gaps and build confidence in their learning,” she said.

Tina hopes all who read A Friend Like You and Me will understand the significance of the students’ collective undertaking. “I hope readers see that every child has a story worth telling,” she said. “It’s important to give our students the tools and opportunities they need to succeed. Every child has a story. Every child has a voice. And every child has a dream waiting to be fulfilled.”

Hollis Cole Thompson is the artistic director of the Biblical Drama Institute, an English faculty member at the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana, and the host of the Sunday Morning Superheroes and Comicstory podcasts. His main interests include biblical literature, drama, and superheroes. His academic writing has appeared in Persuasions: The Jane Austen Journal. He is the author of the vampire novella Vivienne and the MC of the monthly open-mic poetry nights at The Stained Page.

What first made you think, “I want to be a writer”?

I have always loved telling stories since I was a small child, but it wasn’t until I met Caleb Gammons and Norris Rettiger in high school that I realized I wanted to be a professional writer. I started seriously working on creative writing then and (hopefully) have only improved since.

Where did you grow up? Does that influence your writing?

I spent most of my childhood in Tennessee, but my family moved to Texarkana when I was about 13. I think being in Texarkana was important because of who it brought me into contact with. Caleb, Norris, and I really helped each other become better as we shared our works with each other and got critiques (which were brutally honest and super helpful). Norris also got me to read a lot more than I ever had, including authors who changed my life: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. In many ways, I modeled my professional life off of those writers, so I would never have become who I am today without that influence. Getting my undergraduate degree from Texas A&M–Texarkana was also a huge blessing because the professors there—Brian C. Billings, Doris Davis, Doug Julien, and Joe Burzynski—taught me so much about craft and exposed me to so many types of literature that I would not have read on my own.

Describe yourself in three words. Insane, loud, and compassionate.

What book are you currently reading?

I’m reading the novel by S.D. Perry. I’m also reading the comic book Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Evely. I usually try to also read a nonfiction book simultaneously with novels and comics, but I don’t have one I want to read at the moment.

Which author has influenced your writing more than anyone else?

C.S. Lewis remains the greatest influence. In many ways, I feel like he

is a mentor, even though he died before I was born. I chose to become a writer and scholar because that was what he did. I learned so much of the basics of good storytelling from him. I still go to his academic works for inspiration because his style is so beautiful and effective. His thoughts on the Christian faith also still speak to me. Even though the subject matter of most of my creative work is different from his, I still feel that I’m trying to carry on his mission of communicating spiritual truths through genre fiction.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three non-essential items would you bring?

A notebook, a pen, and a copy of The Hobbit

If readers could take away just one feeling or lesson after finishing your work, what would you hope it would be?

This depends on the book, but, for Vivienne, it would be the combination of sadness and joy that comes from a friend laying down their life for you when you don’t believe you deserve it. I’d say more, but that would spoil the ending.

What fictional world would you love to live in for one week?

Without question, the Hundred Acre Woods. It’s beautiful and cozy, and the worst thing that could happen to you there is falling out of a tree. I would also love to interact with the characters, especially Tigger and Eeyore. In a weird way, I think everyone can relate to all of those characters because they connect with different parts of our personalities. I tried to capture that idea in my poem “The Pooh Bear Emotion Wheel.”

What’s one book you think everyone should read at least once?

This is a hard question for an English faculty member to answer because I have a whole syllabus full of books I think everyone should read (I’m very opinionated)! If I had to choose one, it would probably be Charles Purralt’s collection of French fairy tales. These stories, like “Cinderella,” “The Little Red Riding Hood,” and “Puss in Boots,” are centrally important to our culture but also packed full of meaning [still relevant in] the modern world (in some cases, they are more relevant now than they ever have been). I also think Disney really butchered some of these in adaptation; people should be exposed to the originals. I’ve made new translations of some of these stories, which were printed in issues of the Aquila Review They will also be collected together as part of a larger anthology I’m working on with Kelly Guenter and Crayle McDonald, which should come out in the next couple of years.

What’s one thing readers would be surprised to

I often wear a cowboy hat while I’m lecturing. I have embraced my Texas roots!

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SCENE ABOUT TOWN

PG Nail & Spa held its grand opening and ribbon cutting at their Cascades Boulevard location on Wednesday, July 22nd.

EXQUISITE INTERIORS

A BIT OF BLUE, A LOT OF LOVE

The beautiful brick home of the Cummings family is a treasure chest full of memories and personality. With five bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and two half baths, this spacious residence was built in 1995 by Richard Grounds and purchased by the Cummings family in May of 2020. It has since undergone minor renovations including updates to paint, fixtures, and appliances, while still preserving its original character.

Kelli Cummings enlisted Hollis Boyette to design the interior space, sourcing furniture and decor from Four States Furniture, Lafferty’s Home Center, and Merchant House. Kelli’s favorite color is blue, and hints of blue can be found in almost every room of the house. New light fixtures from Logan Electric were installed throughout the home, and new kitchen appliances were purchased from Lafferty’s. The result is a gem of transitional design, a warm and harmonious space that combines traditional and modern sensibilities.

In the entryway, a crystal chandelier with faux candles illuminates the space. A console table is topped with flowers and a carved wooden bowl, while a woven rope ottoman adorned with pillows and blankets and a large amethyst geode completes the space. There is one more piece of surprising furnishing here: a deer mount, prominently displayed to welcome guests. This is a meaningful memento for Kelli and Kyle Cummings: when Kyle was returning home from that particular hunting trip, Kelli informed him that their first child together, Ashbrook, would be a boy.

To the left of the entryway lies what Kelli calls her “girl room,” which is her favorite area of the house. “It’s relaxing, and a good small, intimate space for visiting with family and friends,” she said. This room holds special artworks made by dear friends, including a piece by Alison Mayo. A standout piece of decor in this room is the ornate carved chess set in the very center of the room, atop a circular stone coffee table. This was a Father’s Day gift for Kelli’s late father, Tim, something she selected for him while traveling in Cozumel, Mexico.

Past this sitting room is the living area, where a comfy sectional and accompanying reading chairs invite guests to relax. The sectional was a custom build ordered from Lafferty’s Home Center. Blue pillows, a printed rug, a faux-fur blanket, and silver metallic wall plates bring modern fun and flair to the space, while the grand built-in bookshelves and brick fireplace bring a subtle nod to tradition. Atop a side table sits a wooden bowl from Ecuador—a gift from Kelli’s mother. The bowl holds a collection of rocks, which were carried back home from a family trip to Amalfi.

Past the living area is the kitchen, a blackand-white palette with the signature pops of blue decor. In the far corner of the kitchen is a small reading nook, furnished entirely from Merchant House. The colorful pillow, delicate blue lamp, round rope ottoman, and funky carved wall decor bring interest to the space with a variety of colors and textures. To the right of the reading nook is a bookshelf that holds glassware, decor, and a small painting by Joseph Raymond of a cardinal—something that reminds Kelli of her grandfather.

Beyond the kitchen is the dining room, which is not just a gorgeous showpiece but also an important room for the family. “It’s important to me that we sit down together as a family, have

dinner, and tell each other about our day,” Kelli said. “It may be 8 o’clock before that happens some nights, but we try to always have dinner as a family!”

On the opposite end of the home, past the laundry room, lies the primary bedroom and bathroom. The hint of blue here happens in the decorative pillows and printed throw on the bed. A large window lets in plenty of sunshine. One side table holds a multitude of framed family photos. The adjoining bathroom is mostly neutral but brings a tiny touch of glam into the home with a leopard-printed ottoman and a crystal chandelier above the bathtub.

Upstairs, the house becomes the domain of children Alexandria, Ashbrook, and Anthony. Each has their own bedroom up here, alongside a small bedroom reserved for guests. The family game room is also upstairs, full of board games, books, keepsakes, a pool table, and a television. The colorful carousel horse immediately draws attention from one corner of the room. This piece was purchased from Ladies in Waiting, a children’s boutique located in Shreveport, Louisiana. “I was going there to shop [while pregnant with Alexandria], and right when I walked in,

I saw that horse being used as decor,” Kelli said. “I asked the store owners to sell it to me, and I used it to decorate my daughter’s nursery.”

In the backyard of the home, the lush landscaping and sparkling pool welcome summertime hangouts for the Cummingses, as well as their family members and friends. Originally, the back patio ended at the support beams and sloped downward. When the Cummings family moved in, Kelli and Kyle decided to build a brick staircase and wall, creating a stunning entrance to the pool and a more prominent way to display various shrubs and flowers around the space.

This monumental brick home is not just beautiful; it radiates warmth from every corner. It’s a place where everyone is invited to unwind, kick off their shoes, and sink into the comfort of the couch. This residence is the backdrop for family dinners and friendly get-togethers, where laughter echoes through the halls and guests linger in the entryway. The Cummings family home exemplifies transitional design, with a bit of blue and a lot of love.

SCENE ABOUT TOWN

Families in Texarkana got a head start on the new school year as POL CARE Inc. hosted its fifth annual Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway on Saturday, July 18th at Texarkana College. The giveaway was open to students in 1st through 12th grades. POL CARE Inc. is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to serving children from infancy to 18 years of age.

NOTES FROM THE SHOE BOX

by BRANDON SHOEMAKER

I’ve never been much of a New Year’s resolutions person. Somehow changing one digit on the calendar in the middle of winter has never convinced me I should suddenly become a better version of myself. For someone such as myself, who has always been either a student or teacher, New Year’s Day holds the melancholic air of the end of winter break and nothing more. However, the scent of a freshly uncapped Expo marker signaling the beginning of a new school year invigorates me with limitless possibility and potential. Every August, I have the chance to reinvent myself for a new roster of students, many of whom are likewise hoping for their own reinvention.

The promise of a new school year ushers in the hope that we are all merely one Trapper Keeper away from personal and professional organization, one fancy pen away from writing the Great American Novel, one planner away from becoming a person who meal preps, or one perfectly crafted outfit away from popularity.

This forward-looking hope is reserved for August. Retailers, of course, have no respect for this timeline. Much to the chagrin of every teacher, the back-to-school season kicks off every year the week after the Fourth of July, when patriotic tablecloths and a smattering of sparklers are relegated to the clearance aisles of the local Walmart. The seasonal shelves are restocked with notebooks, pencils, Post-its, highlighters, and every other school and office supply known to mankind. As soon as those bins of discount erasers and loose-leaf paper pop up in the middle of the aisles, teachers walk through with

caution, shielding their eyes like horses with blinders, avoiding the visual cues of the death knell of summer.

The back-to-school shopping list has evolved into a monstrosity the likes of which would make even the inhabitants of the island of Dr. Moreau shudder. When I was in elementary school, your teacher told you at registration what you needed, which usually consisted of a notebook, loose-leaf paper, pencils, and maybe some folders. Now, those lists are sent directly to Walmart, Target, Sam’s, and every other potential retailer in town, and they look like a packing list for an expedition on the Oregon Trail—minus the dried venison.

First, “notebook” is no longer sufficiently descriptive. Did they mean spiral? Composition? Wide-ruled? College-ruled (please, not college-ruled)? Five-subject? Pocket folders? Or did they actually mean a binder? Because now we’re discussing one-inch, two-inch, or three-inch; clear- view cover or opaque; with pockets or without. Somewhere along the way, buying school supplies started feeling less like shopping and more like configuring a new vehicle. And, for some reason, some teachers want their one specific type. They’ll sometimes even request a specific name brand! Personally, I have never been this picky with my students. I’ve been lucky enough to teach in one-to-one laptop schools for the past several years, so my materials list has long consisted of “laptop, earbuds, paper, pencil.”

Now, I don’t begrudge those teachers for requiring their specific brand and type of protractor and compass. No doubt, they have a story behind that request. I know that the yellow Ticonderoga Number 2 is the universal writing utensil of elementary education. I don’t know why—I’m a high school theatre teacher. In my world, if a student shows up with a pencil at all, I consider that a small miracle.

Despite all my grumbling, I inevitably find myself wandering the school-supply aisles every August. I don’t need another calendar. I certainly don’t need another journal. (I do, however, need several packs of pens: specifically the Pilot G2-10—the thick one. Yes, I am a pen snob, and my thieving little students, God love them, steal them left and right.) Yet somehow I end up standing there in the notebook aisle, thoughtfully thumbing the paper like a sommelier evaluating a fine cabernet.

“Ooo, this one has pockets!”

“This one is leather!”

“This one has gold-foil Chinese characters that probably translate to, ‘We’ll see how long this lasts.’”

Somewhere deep inside, I still believe that this might be the notebook, the planner, the pen—the one that finally transforms me into the organized, disciplined adult I’ve been trying to become since approximately third grade.

Maybe that’s why August has always felt more like New Year’s Day than January ever could. January asks me to change because the calendar says I should. August hands me a fresh notebook with blank pages and whispers, “Want to try again?” Every year, I say yes. Then I crack open the stiff cover of that notebook, click my brandnew Pilot G2-10, uncap that fresh Expo marker with its whiff of possibility, and begin.

Brandon Shoemaker is the director of theatre at Texas High School, where he spends his days bringing stories to life onstage and his nights overthinking them on paper. He is also the co-host of From Art to Atoms: The Ultimate Curiosity Show, a podcast that explores everything from pop culture to science, with equal parts insight and curiosity. When he’s not directing productions or chasing deadlines, he’s likely tending to a creative project from woodworking to bonsai styling, or falling down a pop culture rabbit hole. With a deep love for humor, nostalgia, and the beautifully absurd parts of everyday life, he blends wit with heart to find meaning in the mundane.