This country store lives on!
Life in LA Today
Philip Story grew up his formative years in the small community of Macedonia, some seven miles south of Magnolia at the intersection of Arkansas Hwys. 19 and 160. He grew up walking up the road to one of the two Franks' grocery stores that served the community. Nearly everything was sold there, including ice cold Coca Colas and those lemon flavored Jackson cookies that were sold out of the big glass jar. Today, Philip is the co-owner not only of his own country store but the one remaining Franks store building as well. In December of 2022, the ribbon was cut on Keith's Grocery...
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Meet the mayor of West Lamartine!
Life in LA Today
When it rains in these parts, I often open the Facebook page of a guy that I know is going to post the amount of rainfall he received in West Lamartine. When I heard him called the Mayor of West Lamartine, I was intrigued. But when he repaired my mother's favorite clock, I knew I had to get a microphone on him and learn more about Larry Polk. Larry and his wife Jean live just about a mile off U.S. 371 in Lamartine. As befitting a "public servant" in the role of mayor, Larry's Facebook profile and background picture both feature a highway sign bearing the name of his community. Larry...
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Archeologist explores lives of early LA residents
Life in LA Today
Long before those of us who speak our particular version of English inhabited what is now Lower Arkansas, early man inhabited the countryside. Dr. Carl Drexler is research archeologist for the Arkansas Archeological Survey stationed at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia. He is intimately familiar with all periods of cultural development in this region and recently expanded upon them at a talk at the Columbia County Library. Dr. Drexler was born three years before the release of the first movie featuring the exploits of Dr. Henry Walton Jones, Jr. and admits he did not see the...
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Eyewitness encourages all to see eclipse
Life in LA Today
Take it from John Harden: the solar eclipse coming up April 8 is an awe-inspiring event with spiritual impact that you don't want to miss. As a father who took his family to see the last, John has first-hand experience. Back in 2017 they drove from Magnolia to Lebanon, Tennessee to witness the eclipse. "You've got to get into the region of 100 per cent totality," John told me. "I drove eight hours to see it the last time, that's probably the extent I would have done it in 2017 but knowing what I know now, I would have driven two days for it. It is that much of a must see. It's incredible."...
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Hearing from 'The Voice' of LA
Life in LA Today
It’s hard to believe a full decade has passed since the quintessential voice of Lower Arkansas announced not only his retirement but also his departure from Magnolia for eastern Tennessee. After more than 60 years with Magnolia Radio—KVMA and KFMV as they were known—Ken Sibley turned off the mic, hung up the headphones and left the studio. He and Carol moved to Collierville, TN, where three of their five grandchildren lived, of course with their parents. Ken had held nearly every leadership position imaginable in church, city and county, in addition to his work in radio. He’s a...
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Making the (economics) message clear!
Life in LA Today
As a young man, David Rankin had never given any thought to becoming a college professor, let alone an administrator of higher education. His mother had moved back to Arkansas from Tennessee--first to Hot Springs, then to Junction City--after his father had died in World War II and he had just begun college. After a stint at factory work, he decided he preferred higher education and was attending Louisiana Tech University. "David, have you ever thought about being a college professor," asked E. Carl Jones, professor where David was then currently enrolled. "It never crossed my mind the first...
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Adapting to the pace of life in L.A.
Life in LA Today
For Dr. Mimo Lemdja and her family, adapting to life in L.A. has been a breeze--a warm, summer breeze that is. Originally from Cameroun in Central Africa, she moved to Canada where she completed high school, then moved to Minnesota. She finds the climate in South Arkansas much preferable to either of those locations! Her medical studies took her from Minnesota to New York where she met her future husband. She and Mathias Groghue, have three children. David, Kelly and Matt attend Magnolia Public Schools and together the family has made South Arkansas their home. Mathias is...
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40 years of faithfulness to the vision
Life in LA Today
Some 40 years ago, a young letter carrier walking his route in the south part of Magnolia became convicted that a certain neighborhood needed to hear the Gospel. Because of his conviction that God was calling him to start a new work, Larry Roach planted the seeds for what would become Greater Harvest Church of God in Christ. Larry and his wife Wanda began the work with Bible study and worship in what had been a barbershop on Lodge Street. From those humble beginnings came the growing ministry that now seats up to 200 people and from which the Gospel is proclaimed regularly. Larry's fruit in...
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An LA legend is "born"
Life in LA Today
Fresh out of broadcast school in Missouri, the young man was hired on his first interview with Radio Station KVMA in Magnolia, Arkansas. Not only was he hired, he was told he was going on the air! With just minutes before opening the mic, Bill Bigley and Bill Merrell asked, "Is that the name you are going to use on air?" What was wrong with his name? He had used it all his life up until now. But suddenly, it was time to choose a "radio name". His Spanish teacher in high school had told him there was no Spanish equivalent for his first name, so she said she would call him by a similar name. His...
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LA roots in the heart of Texas
Life in LA Today
If you listen to my podcasts, you've heard his voice plenty of times. You just didn't know that the talent behind the intro and outro belongs to my son, John. Born right here in Lower Arkansas, John Ford, Jr. has spent but few years in the Natural State. His upbringing in West Africa and Portugal, along with multiple postings by the U.S. Army, have just about erased any hint of the South Arkansas drawl. Like his dad, he likes to say he has a voice and a face made for radio, but that's an exaggeration--he's a handsome fellow and would have done well in television or movies. But...
info_outlineTake it from John Harden: the solar eclipse coming up April 8 is an awe-inspiring event with spiritual impact that you don't want to miss. As a father who took his family to see the last, John has first-hand experience. Back in 2017 they drove from Magnolia to Lebanon, Tennessee to witness the eclipse.
"You've got to get into the region of 100 per cent totality," John told me. "I drove eight hours to see it the last time, that's probably the extent I would have done it in 2017 but knowing what I know now, I would have driven two days for it. It is that much of a must see. It's incredible."
John recommended watching the weather forecast carefully. Depending on what the regional forecast holds, you might want to get up early to go north or south to be on the line of totality.
"It's a deeply spiritual experience," John told me. "Some Bible passages will never read the same again after you experience this: Psalm 19:1, 'The heavens declare the glory of God and the expanse proclaims the works of his hands." And Genesis 1:3, 'Then God said let there be light and there was light.' These passages will never read the same."
John noted that many people are moved to tears by the experience of seeing the eclipse. He compared it to making a trip to the Holy Land.
"The Holy Land will take you back to the time of Jesus, this (the eclipse) will take you back to the time of Creation," John explained.
John also recommended getting to your location early, expect traffic delays and be prepared with food and water in the event you are stuck in traffic.
As you prepare to view the 2024 Solar Eclipse, take a moment to listen to my interview with John Harden recorded on March 29.