June 2022

Life is a Journey

Red has said for quite a while now that he doesn’t know what has happened to me? I’m no longer going to Jonesboro two and three times a week. Which is what I used to do all the time. March has gone on and forgot to take her atrocious winds with her. The call came from Indiana that my cousin Donald (who is like a brother to me) was very sick and in the hospital. He was struggling to breathe; his family was gathered around him. Of course, everyone was beside themselves with fear/worry/dread. It was one of those so-called, (coal of fire trips), my bags were packed quickly and thrown into the back of the car. Early, Wednesday, morning March 30th. I was headed home to Indiana alone. In the past alone was no problem, no phone was no problem, and no tip was ever a problem. Enter old age, some might say in our wisdom, we realize all the dangers now. Decided I was just going to have to put on my big girl panties and fight this growing older, worry thing, that plagues me nowadays! My first stop was in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Got out and walked around a bit to make sure I could still move. Also got something to drink to ensure that there would be another stop up the road. Back in the car, I decided to drive all the way to Corydon, Indiana to Lee’s Famous Chicken for lunch. I’m just saying you all their chicken is good and yes, my stomach was growling when I rolled into their parking lot. Kind of broke all the rules, as far as speed laws, but was in a bit of a hurry to get to the hospital. Have heard too many stories of just didn’t make it in time. Hated doing it, but passed quite a few semis, whereas they are usually the ones to blow past me. The worst thing was the winds they were just hideous that day. My Mama always said of her birth month March, it comes in like a Lion and goes out like a Lamb. Here it is April and the wind is still blowing like crazy! It had also been a very cloudy day which was fine, at least it wasn’t raining. About eleven o’clock the sun came out and the world was more beautiful! I truthfully had prayed my way home through all the tears, fears, and even the crazy winds! And something else, never even saw one deer going or coming home, which is a miracle in itself. Well, there were exceptions, those deer on the yellow triangle warning signs! Thankful too that once more you can be in the hospital with your loved ones. When it truly means the most to both the patient and their families. Donald had a room full of family, his wife Marie, their two daughters, and my forever girlfriend, Linda, and me. Our cousin Steve and his wife Patricia, actually there was an ever-revolving lot of us.

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Just Jana

Y’all, I’m stressing over a potato. Every morning I make my coffee while Mike is getting ready for work. I set him some breakfast/ snacks for the day, by his wallet so he remembers them. This morning I get some fresh fruit, sausage and a cut up pork chop out for him. As I’m passing the vegetable bowl on the counter, I see a russet potato. I think “Why not? It will be funny” and I put the raw russet with his snacks. Well, he laughed about it and went on his way, without said potato. As I was picking up the kitchen before work, I noticed the potato is gone. He didn’t put it back in the bowl. Now I’m waiting and wondering where this russet will appear. He’s diabolical…

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Way Back When

Things You May Not Have Known About Randolph County John Kizer (yes, THAT John Kizer) was the first County Agent in Randolph County. Randolph County was named for John Randolph of Virginia even though he was never here.

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Mark on Markets

As youngsters in school, it seems we are never given the whole story when it comes to inflation. In many cases this is because not many people take the time to understand it properly. In today’s column we will attempt to find some solid footing on a slippery topic. Wikipedia defines inflation as “a general progressive increase in the prices of goods and services in an economy.” I believe this definition to be misleading. A better definition of inflation is taken from Investopedia “Inflation reduces the value of a currency’s purchasing power, having the effect of an increase in prices.” Do you spot the difference? The first definition would lead you to believe inflation is simply rising prices, whereas the latter definition correctly centers inflation around the value of a dollar. The scary news here is that as inflation rises, your hard-earned money is losing value, and therefore able to purchase less of the goods and services you want and need.

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Here and There

In this column in June, 1968 my mother, Ann Carroll, penned an opinion piece entitled ”Are We A Sick Society?” Later she was awarded the National Golden Quill Award for editorial writing for her effort.

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Pat on the Back

A few weeks ago, I shared with you that I had been relegated to an emotional support plant. So, I thought I would give you an update on my plants (yes, plural! It’s been rough lately.) When I was the pastor at First United Methodist Church in Paragould, I did a funeral for an interesting man. He was a Department of Defense Photographer during the Vietnam War. But I only found this out when I was preparing for his funeral. He did not talk about what he saw. I can only imagine the horrors. So, when he passed away only a few attended his service. One person sent a plant. His niece asked me to take it because she had to fly back home, and she really wasn’t a plant person. I happily accepted the gift and named the plant after this man. Don has been with me for several years now. He lives in my office. I practice my sermons with Don. I talk through problems with Don, and he also hears me complain. I added Dolly to the office plants- but she was not thriving, so I brought her home. Only to find out, we’ve been drowning poor Dolly. I guess I was watering, and my secretary was watering, and poor Dolly was screaming out to us. Sorry Dolly.

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The Good Stuff

One of my favorite parts of Memorial Day Weekend is watching NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 from Charlotte Motor Speedway. The race is more than NASCAR’s longest race, as the Memorial Day classic also serves as a salute to America’s fallen heroes.

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PHS 4th Nine Weeks Honor Roll

All A’s - 4th Nine Weeks Honor Roll 10th Grade: Steven Baltz Lauren Berger Kirsten Bounds Allie Brooks Natalie Burns Aubree Dickson Zion Dos Santos Markus Duncan Abigail Fears Olivia Fears Zane Hibbard Lesli Martinez Makenzie Massey Paige Massey Libby McIntyre Olivia Murray Josie Niswonger Kenan Ogden Jordyn Priest Brooklyn Smith Keeley Taylor Taryn Wallis Bennett Wardlow Reagan Womack 11th Grade: Paige Callahan Steven Carson Trey Collins Hank Dubois Jacob Grider Matthew Grider Hailey Hogan Abigail Kaczmarski William Mason Martha Meloktakon Daniel Morris Danil Phillips Tim Risley III Marcus Streeper 12th Grade: Ely Baltz Mason Baltz Tucker Bonner Jake Brigance Allison Brown Hayden Byrd Payton Crow Justin DeJournett Kaylee Dickson Hanna Duff Landen Edwards Jaiden Garrett Claire Prondzinski Brinley Rose Kanyon Surles Mercycilla Tonke Trevor Tyler Pocahontas High School A-B 4th Nine Weeks Honor Roll 10th Grade: Joshua Anderson Lauren Anderson Natalie Anderson Sara Bailey Ethan Bass Angel Burgess Rowan Cannon Tayler Coffer Ashton Corona Ethan Crismon Zayli Dos Santos Zoe Harwell Alyssa Johnston Ella Kazzee Luan Le Jaron Lindquist Cole Mandrell Gage Parten Remington Plumley Emma Polley Jackson Privett Zachary Russell Elijah Shepherd Jalyn Shipley Cooper Sorg Lindsey Stimatze Brinlee Swann Jaci Teel S a v a n n a h Thompson Damien Tremblay Carly Tribble Ethan Walton Luke Waymon Tyler White Korea Williams K’tya Wray Zachary Young 11th Grade: Jessica Bennett Reed Bigger Jimmy Bryant Emily Carman Brady Curtis Jackie Edwin Emily Floyd Nena Froehlich Jonathan Gomez Kaelyn Green Londyn Hart Anna Holt Larissa Isaac Karson James Lawson James Darlynn Johnson Stayley Johnson Carlie Jones Rianna Kiech Clayton Liebhaber Collin Major Joanna Martin Abigail Morgan Kelsey Morris Chet Orick Evelyn Phelps Isabella Pogue Bryson Pratt Cameron Rice Hannah Rowe Colin Simington Julie Snyder Mallory Story Brayden Tarantino Jayce Tillie Kiley Truitt Braden Vancil Kaylee Wiser 12th Grade: Jessica Baltz Landra Brumley Breonna Carpenter Brooklyn Chipman Marissa Crosson Kailey Dean Matthew Foster Landon Golliver Makynnzie Haley Allison Hampton Molly Johnson Wyatt King Hayden Mahan M a t t h e w McCallister Makayla McMullin Marisa McVay Parker Papi Owen Rowe Austin Russell Lane Taylor Brittney Tonke Kannon Weitkamp Legacy Winspear Karsyn Woods .

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PJHS 4th Nine Weeks Honor Roll

All A’s - 4th Nine Weeks Honor Roll 7th Grade: Makenzie Adams Jacob Baltz Noah Baltz Ryder Baltz Rylie Baltz Ashtyn Bradley Jacalyn Chester Scarlett Collins Elijah Converse Rylee Daffron Sydney Earnhart Brynlee Endicott Ashlyn Guthrie Blake Hall Spencer James Mary Jansen Karli Kazzee Jessica Leathers Emercyn Massey Salsa Menaong Isaac Molina Audrey Murphy Bailey O’Donnell Daena Phillips Brayden Radcliff Libby Rawls Claire Reintsma Cambree Russ Saige Sparks Evan Thompson Jaxon Toney Mariah Vaulner Madalyn Ward Brent Whiteley Lyndon Yang 8th Grade: Presley Agee Ashley Baltz Carter Couch Iris Crismon Nicholas DeShaw Aubrey Difani Erynn Hausman Cadence Hines Audrey Holt Autumn Jones Evin Kerley Paige Lemm Le Ella Molencupp Ally Rogers Paige Schoon Saphyra Seawel Roxy Shoe Addison Ward Lacy Williams Mattison Womack 9th Grade: Luke Baltz Maggie Baltz Paisley Baltz Zane Baltz Makayla Barber Blair Baxley Mareesa Beaver Kynli Brandt Aiden Camp Jerry Cayetano Carli Chester Wyatt Converse Sharon Deshaw Noah Dilday Christa Doane Joshua Froehlich Brianna Hassell Trent Johnson Abigail Liebhaber Kaegan McMann Abby Pankey Sophia Reintsma Elijah Risley Talon Taylor Karson Weitkamp Pocahontas Junior High School A-B - 4th Nine Weeks Honor Roll 7th Grade: McKenzie Berger Dusti Betts Colton Blackwell Mallory Broadway Audrey Clark Jannie DeShaw Emma Dockens Aiden Dunham Mariana Duran Chloe Fort Bailey Fuentes Kalona Gallen Ishia Gold Hailey Greer Seth Hackworth Dustin Hall Ryker Hogland Kate Kazzee Adam Lasri Nelly Lati Landon Lee Samuel Lockhart Nathley Martin Jared Mitchell Clayton Murray Lane Murray Paisley Myers Lauren Olson Anna Overman Tyler Peoples Laina Rania Brady Rickey Lenon Rickman Sadie Roberts Blane Russell Micaela Snow Jessie Stanley Jasmine Tablong Camden Tyler Joshua Ward 8th Grade: Samantha Abshire Eli Blackwell Cory Bristow Dar Burger Mikayla Burns Brayden Burnside Logan Cernosek Mathias Duran Kaylie Ferrell Presley French Beau Gray James Hand Cheyenne Hunt Sadler Jackson Lauryn Johson Madison Johnston Mikeo Keju Shayla King Kianny Laju Trista Lindsey Hayden Lowe Levi Martin Roy Meeks Kenzie Ogden Allison Patton Austin Perkins Mason Preist Payne Swann Kaydence Tarantino Steven Thibeault Lilly Thielemier Carson Thorn Isabella Twyman Colton VanWinkle Hayden Westerfield 9th Grade: Madison Bagwell Lauren Chester David Coffey Madilynn Curtis Cameron Daffron Malora Davis Aiden Difani Phyanna Echeverria Zayden Foster Landen Gettings Jeremiah Land Caleb Lasiter Cassieh Latdrik Shiloh Libokmeto Nathan Major Mike Meloktakon Charles Menard Joslyn Nichols Angela Pritchard Allie Reagan Melanie Reagan Richard Regina Ashley Rice Caleb Truitt .

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