February 25, 2026 ─ It is officially game time. Our Blood Institute is tipping off its February and March donor campaign, inviting the community to step onto the court and make a winning play for patients in local hospitals.

All donors who donate at the Lavaca High School Blood Drive on Wednesday, March 18, will receive a limited-edition Donor Champions basketball themed T-shirt as a thank you for showing up when it matters most. The blood drive will take place on the Bloodmobile from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In Arkansas, donors will score even more for stepping up. All successful donors in Arkansas will also receive one free ticket to the Museum of Discovery and one free Bundtlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes, adding a little extra celebration to a lifesaving act.

Whether you are a die-hard basketball fan or just love being part of a team, every donation is a clutch play for patients who depend on blood for trauma care, cancer treatments, surgeries and emergencies. There is no offseason when it comes to the need for blood.

“Donors are truly our champions,” said Dr. John Armitage, president and CEO of Our Blood Institute. “They show up day after day to help patients win their toughest battles. This campaign is our way of celebrating the teamwork, commitment and heart it takes to keep hospitals supplied with lifesaving blood.”

Blood is needed every day, but donations often slow down during late winter and early spring. By rolling up a sleeve, donors help keep hospitals from falling behind when patient needs are at their highest.

Anyone who is healthy and 16 years old* or older can give blood. Donation typically takes only about an hour, and one donation saves up to three lives. Appointments to donate can be made online at obi.org or by calling 877-340-8777. Walk-ins are also welcome. 

*16-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds and provide signed parental permission; 17-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds; 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds. Photo ID required. 

It is officially game time. Our Blood Institute is tipping off its February and March donor campaign, inviting the community to step onto the court and make a winning play for patients in local hospitals.

All donors who donate at the Magazine High School Blood Drive on Wednesday, March 11, will receive a limited-edition Donor Champions basketball themed T-shirt as a thank you for showing up when it matters most. The blood drive will take place on the Bloodmobile from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

In Arkansas, donors will score even more for stepping up. All successful donors in Arkansas will also receive one free ticket to the Museum of Discovery and one free Bundtlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes, adding a little extra celebration to a lifesaving act.

Whether you are a die-hard basketball fan or just love being part of a team, every donation is a clutch play for patients who depend on blood for trauma care, cancer treatments, surgeries and emergencies. There is no offseason when it comes to the need for blood.

“Donors are truly our champions,” said Dr. John Armitage, president and CEO of Our Blood Institute. “They show up day after day to help patients win their toughest battles. This campaign is our way of celebrating the teamwork, commitment and heart it takes to keep hospitals supplied with lifesaving blood.”

Blood is needed every day, but donations often slow down during late winter and early spring. By rolling up a sleeve, donors help keep hospitals from falling behind when patient needs are at their highest.

Anyone who is healthy and 16 years old* or older can give blood. Donation typically takes only about an hour, and one donation saves up to three lives. Appointments to donate can be made online at obi.org or by calling 877-340-8777. Walk-ins are also welcome. 

*16-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds and provide signed parental permission; 17-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds; 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds. Photo ID required. 

February 24, 2026 ─ It is officially game time. Our Blood Institute is tipping off its February and March donor campaign, inviting the community to step onto the court and make a winning play for patients in local hospitals.

All donors who donate at the following blood drives, will receive a limited-edition Donor Champions basketball themed T-shirt as a thank you for showing up when it matters most.

• Charleston Community Blood Drive; Monday, March 2, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church Activity Church. 
• Charleston High School; Thursday, March 12, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the bloodmobile. .

In Arkansas, donors will score even more for stepping up. All successful donors in Arkansas will also receive one free ticket to the Museum of Discovery and one free Bundtlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes, adding a little extra celebration to a lifesaving act.

Whether you are a die-hard basketball fan or just love being part of a team, every donation is a clutch play for patients who depend on blood for trauma care, cancer treatments, surgeries and emergencies. There is no offseason when it comes to the need for blood.

“Donors are truly our champions,” said Dr. John Armitage, president and CEO of Our Blood Institute. “They show up day after day to help patients win their toughest battles. This campaign is our way of celebrating the teamwork, commitment and heart it takes to keep hospitals supplied with lifesaving blood.”

Blood is needed every day, but donations often slow down during late winter and early spring. By rolling up a sleeve, donors help keep hospitals from falling behind when patient needs are at their highest.

Anyone who is healthy and 16 years old* or older can give blood. Donation typically takes only about an hour, and one donation saves up to three lives. Appointments to donate can be made online at obi.org or by calling 877-340-8777. Walk-ins are also welcome. 

*16-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds and provide signed parental permission; 17-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds; 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds. Photo ID required. 

By Dr. Curtis Varnell

While teaching, kids are always asking the question, “What in the world did you’ll do back then do keep from being bored to death in small towns. It certainly wasn’t possible for us to travel fifty or more miles to go to a movie or go out to eat but small towns had plenty going on to keep us occupied.

During the 60’s and 70’s, Saturday nights were cruise nights. Cars would line up, travel up and down main street with occasional stops to hang-out. Even bigger towns like Fort Smith and Conway got into the act; Conway’s becoming so large it had to be shut down because it brought all other traffic to a standstill. Most towns of any size had a skating roller-skating rink, a drive-in theater, or pool halls. The biggest events usually centered around high school athletics. You could have stolen everything in Booneville on any given fall night because the entire population was at the football game. The same could have been said of Fordyce, Barton, and Mena, all of who were athletic powers of the time.

In 1974, Larry Glass and John Paul Well decided the small town of Paris needed introduced to big time entertainment. Just out of school and not knowing their limitations, they decided to host some big time entertainment. With limited funds, a small venue, and off the beaten track, they had little success and were probably laughed at by the Rolling Stones, the Jackson Five, and Credence Clearwater. They finally located an up and coming band called STYX that just happened to be traveling through the region between shows. Early in the year, Larry was able to sign the group to a contract for the grand sum of $1,500. The concert was to occur at the local Logan Theater, a venue owned by his father.

A few weeks prior to the concert, STYX put out the single record Lady. A wonderful ballad, the song shot to the top of the rock and roll charts and reached top ten status. STYX rolled into town to fulfill their contract on August 27, 1974. Still unaccustomed to fame, they dined at the local dairy queen, a place known for its five for a dollar hamburgers.

KMAG, one of the biggest FM stations in western Arkansas really pushed the concert and the six-dollar tickets sold like hot cakes. Never mind the theater could only seat 800 people, just keep printing off those tickets! Thirty-minutes before the show, hundreds of kids were milling the streets outside. The concert opened to a standing-room crowd. Early on, some enterprising kid opened the backdoor and hundreds more poured in, breaking every fire code ever written. With a group estimated at 2,000 people, individuals crowed the aisles, filled the area in front of the stage, and overflowed to the lobby. Local rock group Whiz warmed up the crowd as the STYX prepared. One of the roadies, the one responsible for loading the pyro-technics, partook of a little too much of some of some item, and placed a full load in the cannon that opened the show. Whiz exited and excitement filled the air as the band prepared for the grand opening. The curtains opened, they pyrotechnics went off. The explosion was so great that chunks of the ceiling fell to the floor and a black cloud of smoke filled the theater. Every enterprising, John and Larry pulled the double front doors open and the smoke rolled out the door and down the street around the courthouse.

The crowd, deafened by the explosion, probably never heard the sound of the firetruck and voluntary crew who were frantically looking for the source of the fire. They may not have even heard the first song or two but STYX, by all accounts, put on one of the most incredible shows they ever performed. Sixty years later, people from all of the small towns in Logan, Franklin, and Yell county are still talking about the first and greatest concert they ever heard. Only in a small town and on a Saturday night!!!

Former Scott County Judge James Forbes has long been known as a man of many talents. From crappie fishing and catering to cooking and woodworking, Forbes brings the same patience and craftsmanship to every pursuit. But it is his work with wood—transforming raw pieces into meaningful, lasting art—that continues to draw admiration across the community.

Forbes has an uncommon ability to see what a piece of wood can become. Whether crafting American flags, custom tables, wind spinners, or crosses, his projects reflect both technical skill and artistic vision. If he can imagine it, he can build it.

That talent was recently put to the test when a local church brought him a table badly damaged by fire. Its charred top appeared beyond saving, but Forbes took on the challenge. Through careful restoration, he returned the piece to service—preserving its purpose and history while giving it new life.

Many of these projects are family affairs. Forbes often enlists the help of his grandchildren, passing along not only woodworking skills but also the values of patience, creativity, and pride in doing things the right way. The shop becomes a classroom, and each finished piece carries a story shared across generations.

Beyond his craftsmanship, Forbes remains actively engaged in county, local, and state matters. His years of public service have earned him a reputation for integrity and steady leadership. Well respected and trusted by the citizens of Scott County, he continues to contribute quietly—through service, mentorship, and the enduring beauty of work made by hand.