When you’re retired, you’ll likely have some financial concerns — just like all retirees. However, if you’ve invested regularly and followed a long-term financial strategy, you should be able to address most issues that come your way. But there’s one important action that’s sometimes overlooked by retirees: sharing their financial situation with their grown children. And this knowledge can benefit everyone in your family.
You might be surprised by the concern your children have for your financial well-being. Consider these findings from a 2023 study by Age Wave and Edward Jones:
• 66% of millennials (generally defined as ranging from 27 to 42) worry that their parents or in-laws may not have enough money to live comfortably in retirement.
• 83% of millennials would rather know their parents are financially secure in their retirement, even if it means their parents pass on less money to them.
If you have children in this age range or older, or who soon will be, how can you address their concerns and potentially improve your financial outlook? Communication is the key. By openly communicating with your family about your financial status, you can reduce anxieties and misperceptions. If you’re in good financial shape, your adult children may be reassured that you won’t be needing their assistance. And if you are feeling some financial pressures, you can inform your children of the steps you are taking to improve your situation.
One such step may be to reduce your cost of living — the less you spend day to day, the better your ability to preserve your investment and retirement accounts. You may be able to reduce costs in many small ways, such as ending streaming services you no longer use, but you could make an even bigger impact by downsizing your living arrangements. In fact, 72% of today’s retirees have downsized or are willing to downsize to reduce their housing costs, according to the Age Wave/Edward Jones survey. Downsizing isn’t for everyone, but if it’s a possibility for you, it may be worth considering because the savings could be significant.
You may also be able to reduce or consolidate your debts. Start by understanding how much and what kinds of debt you have. Then, consider ways to lower your payments, such as refinancing. For example, if you’re carrying a balance on multiple credit cards, you might be able to transfer the amounts you owe onto a single card with a more favorable interest rate.
Here’s another move to consider: Adjust your investment mix to possibly provide you with more income in retirement. During your working years, you may have invested primarily for growth — after all, you could be retired for two or more decades, so you’ll need to draw on as many financial assets as possible. But once you’re retired, your investment focus may need to shift somewhat toward income-producing opportunities. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll still need some growth potential to help keep ahead of inflation.
One final suggestion: Let your children know if you already have a strategy in place to meet the potentially high costs of long-term care, such as a nursing home stay. This burden is certainly something you won’t want your children to take on.
By informing your children about your financial picture, and how you’re trying to improve it, you can ease everyone’s minds — so keep the lines of communication open.
This article is provided by
Jeffrey O’Neal, Financial Advisor
Edward Jones
20 N Express St, Paris, AR 72855
479-963-1321
jeffrey.o’neal@edwardjones.com
edwardjones.com/jeffrey-o’neal
Edward Jones, Member SIPC
Talk Finances With Your Grown Children
Paris’ Leadership Logan County Program Makes Donation to Paris Senior Activity Center
PARIS- Paris Area Chamber of Commerce continues to be active in the Logan County area, supporting businesses and non-profit organizations as part of their mission. Last week, it was the Chamber’s “Leadership Logan County Class #3” that culminated its year with the end of a service project they performed in Paris.
Each year, according to the Chamber’s executive director, Tonya Fletcher, the Leadership Logan County classes vote on proposed service projects that they would like to perform to help during the year. In 2022-23, Class #3 voted to help the Paris Senior Activity Center. The Center is a place for retired persons to come and socialize, receive meals, and to engage in activities to enhance their quality of life. Funding for the program is always a challenge, and the Leadership Class’s decision to help raise funds for the Center was very much welcomed.
In addition to raising money for the Center, members of the Class donated their time and effort, along with resources from around the community they were able to access as a result of networking with others to perform much needed improvements. Improvements to the Center included work performed on both the interior and exterior aspects of the Senior Center building. New paint, ceiling fans, landscaping, etc., are among the several improvements donated to the Center by the Class. In addition to these improvements, the Class donated the remainder of the funds raised in the form of a check given to the Center for a little more than $2300.
Members of Class #3 and the Chamber’s executive director were on hand last week to present the check to the Senior Center. After the ceremony, Tonya Fletcher and others remained to call the weekly BINGO game at the Center. A wonderful gesture of support and involvement by the Chamber in the Senior Center as well as in all aspects of the Paris and surrounding areas.
Anyone interested in making donations to the Paris Senior Activity Center can do so by contacting the Center directly. The phone number is 479-963-3475, or you can email them at parisseniorcenter@centurytel.net The Center is on a tight budget and performs a much-needed service for the local community.
Congratulations on a successful project performed by the Leadership Logan County Class, and thanks to the Paris Area Chamber of Commerce and the Paris Senior Activity Center for their work in our community.
River Valley Graduating Seniors Participate in All-Star Weekend in Conway
CONWAY- In a summer celebration of high school sports, the Arkansas Activities Association’s All-Star weekend was held June 23-24 in Conway at the University of Central Arkansas. High School All-Stars in football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, and soccer, participated in games that divided players from the East and the West in Arkansas.
The River Valley was well-represented in all of the games. Highlighting the weekend was the play of Charleston quarterback Brandon Scott who led the West to a victory over the East with a second half touchdown pass.
The West volleyball squad defeated the East in five consecutive sets. The 5-0 win for the West was the first victory over the East in nine years.
The state champion Booneville Lady Bearcats led the West to a victory over the East in the All-Star softball game.
River Valley athletes who represented the West in the All-Star games this year included:
BASEBALL
Brooks Herrera, Booneville
Drew Vega, Dardanelle
BOYS BASKETBALL
Braden Tanner, Dardanelle
Aundrae Milum, County Line
Trent Johnston, County Line
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Karley Williams, Lamar
Karys Washington, Northside
FOOTBALL
Malachi Henry, Van Buren
Ben Haulmark, Russellville
Brandon Scott, Charleston
Hunter Houston, Greenwood
Maddox Noel, Lavaca
Damien Hendrix, Lamar
Javian Velazquez, Russellville
Alex Moats, Pottsville
Hayden Webb, Greenwood
Dale Smith, Charleston
BOYS SOCCER
Nestor Crisostmo, Russellville
Andy Moreno, Northside
GIRLS SOCCER
Bridget Dennis, Dardanelle
SOFTBALL
Ireland Cooper, Greenwood
Leigh Swint, Booneville
Brooklyn Adams, Mansfield
Kyndall Haney, Charleston
Emberlin Calwell, Van Buren
Lexxi Gooden, Atkins
VOLLEYBALL
Natalie Allison, Mansfield
Brailey Forst, Paris
Landis Luke, Greenwood
Brianna Ball, Van Buren
Hogs Name New Assistant Softball Coach with OU Ties
FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas softball head coach Courtney Deifel named DJ Gasso the program’s newest assistant coach Friday. Gasso will serve as the program’s primary hitting coach.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome DJ, his wife Grace, and their son Parker to Fayetteville and the Razorback softball family,” said Deifel. “DJ brings an incredible understanding of mental preparation and offensive strategy, along with an infectious passion for the game that our players will love. He has learned from and worked alongside some incredible coaches in his career. He will deliver an aggressive and exciting style of Razorback softball that I can’t wait to see in action.”
Gasso just completed his third season as the hitting coach for the Utah Utes in 2023. Since being hired as an assistant coach in June 2020, Gasso has navigated Utah’s offense to unparalleled success, a Pac-12 Tournament Championship and a Women’s College World Series appearance in 2023 – the program’s first WCWS appearance since 1994. Gasso was promoted to associate head coach in December 2022.
Following the 2023 campaign, Gasso was part of a staff that earned ATEC/NFCA Pacific Region Coaching Staff of the Year along with being recognized as D1Softball’s National Coaching Staff of the Year.
“My family and I are thrilled to be part of the Razorback family. Coach Deifel and her staff have been so welcoming, and I cannot wait to get started with this team,” said Gasso. “I want to thank Coach Amy Hogue for taking a chance on me and giving me the opportunity to live out my dream as a coach. The memories and relationships built at Utah will forever hold a special place in my heart. To be representing the great state of Arkansas in front of the best fans in the country will be an incredible honor. I am extremely excited to be in Fayetteville and get to work.”
During his three-year stint at Utah, 11 Utah hitters garnered NFCA All-Region status while one clinched NFCA All-America accolades.
Under Gasso’s tutelage in 2023, the Utes increased their batting average by nearly 40 points compared to their mark in 2022 and finished 15th nationally in scoring (6.05). The Utes seized single-season program records in runs (351), RBIs (316), slugging percentage (.483), doubles (84) and steals (99). Utah also tied for fifth nationally in batting average (.327) and blasted the program’s most home runs (47) since 2006.
Gasso continued to make strides with Utah’s offense in 2022, helping the team improve its batting average by 22 points to .289 compared to its .267 average in 2021. Four hitters were named to the All-Pac-12 team, three named to NFCA All-Region squads and one claimed NFCA All-American status.
Making an immediate impact on the Utah program in his first season in 2021, the Utes hit 46 home runs, the most by a Utah team since 2012, and scored 237 runs, their most since 2017.
A native of Norman, Okla., Gasso earned his bachelor’s degree in communication from Bradley University in 2017 where he spent two seasons as a standout baseball player after one year at Hutchinson Community College.
Gasso completed his collegiate baseball career at Central Oklahoma in 2018, slashing .303/.395/.364 as a senior. Beginning his postgraduate work at Central Oklahoma, Gasso finished his master’s degree in intercollegiate athletics administration at the University of Oklahoma while serving as a graduate manager for Oklahoma softball from 2018-19.
A graduate of Norman North High School, Gasso is the son of Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso and the brother of Oklahoma assistant coach JT Gasso. His father, Jim Gasso, is the head softball coach at MId-America Christian University in Oklahoma City.
DJ and his wife Grace have a son, Parker.
For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
– ArkansasRazorbacks.com || On Twitter @ArkRazorbacks || Facebook.com/ArkansasRazorbacks
Note to Our Readers: The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Grace Taffola.
“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor
By Sheri Hopkins, Lifestyle Contributor
Hello everyone! The dog days of summer are here. Hope everyone has a safe and happy Fourth of July.
If I repeat my story, I’m sorry. Just read them and act like it’s the first time you heard it. I’m sure I’ve told y’all all the crazy sayings my mom would say as I was growing up. Not just my mom, but all the moms and grandmas. My mom told me not to hang upside down on the monkey bars, I would turn my liver over. Let me add, she was serious. The summer before third grade, daddy and momma bought us a swingset and got it all put together and on the end was a monkey bar. Of course, in mom fashion, she told us not to hang upside down on the monkey bar or we would turn our liver over. Her and dad took off with the box to take them to the burner at the sawmill (which was in the backyard of our house). Guess what I did? Yep, I climbed on that monkey bar to try to turn my liver over and was hanging from my knees and fell off and broke my arm. So, don’t worry about turning your liver over.
She also said not to spin in circles, that would turn your liver over. Also, you have to wait 30 minutes to swim after you eat or you will get leg cramps and drown. I believed this one because I wasn’t fond of water. I sure didn’t want to get leg cramps and drown. The biggest problem was trying not to eat every 30 minutes so I could get in the water.
Don’t sit too close to the TV or you would go blind. So, me and my sister would scoot back, we didn’t want to ho blind. But, if you eat carrots, it will help you see better. So, I guess if you set too close to the TV, you could munch on a carrot to counteract the sitting too close.
Do not pick up frogs, because if they pee on you, you will get warts on your hands. We didn’t listen to that either. I sure would scrub my hands though, because those frogs always peed on me. I sure didn’t want to get warts on my hands.
Don’t step on a crack or you will break your mother’s back. That one traumatized me so bad, to this day I can’t hardly step on a crack. I could envision my poor momma with a broke back, all crippled up because I stepped on a crack.
One of my favorites was don’t eat any junk food before supper, you will ruin your supper and won’t eat. I will be 60 in July and I have never ruined a meal by having a snack beforehand.
I hear my mom’s words coming out of my mouth so much. I wish you could have seen Ella’s face when I told her not to hang upside down or spin circles, she would turn her liver over. She thought I was crazy. I remember the old saying, ”scream bloody murder.” One day we were shopping and I told her if anyone tried to grab her to scream bloody murder. As innocent as could be, she said, ”Nana why would I yell out ’bloody murder’?” I laughed so hard, she had no clue that I meant just to scream loud. She thought I wanted her to yell the words ”bloody murder.”
Good times, and good memories.
This week’s recipe comes from my friend Diana Hattabaugh and she said it is delicious. I haven’t had the chance to try it yet, but I’m going to.
CHOCOLATE NUTTER BUTTER ICEBOX CAKE
1 lb. package of Nutter Butter Cookies
2 small boxes of chocolate cook and serve pudding, has to be cook and serve.
4 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 8 oz. tub of Cool Whip
1/4 cup peanut butter
Combine pudding mixes, milk, sugar and vanilla in a medium saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Once softly boiling remove from the heat. Spoon 1/3 of the pudding into the bottom of an 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish. Add a single layer of the Nutter Butter cookies on top of it. Pour another 1/3 of the pudding over the cookies then add another single layer of the cookies, top with the remaining pudding and let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes then refrigerate until completely chilled. Top with Cool Whip. Melt the peanut butter for 20-30 seconds in the microwave and stir until then enough to pour and drizzle over the Cool Whip and serve. I would probably crush a few of the cookies and sprinkle on top. Keep in the refrigerator. If you want to make a 9×13 size, just double the recipe. The warm pudding softens the cookies. Enjoy!
Things To Consider When Restoring an Old Rocking Chair
Restoring an old piece of furniture is a fun, fulfilling pastime with challenges. Even if you’re up for the task, ensuring you learn these things to consider when restoring an old rocking chair first can make the process less stressful and more fun. We will outline guidelines on how to succeed in your restoration project while maintaining the chair’s longevity.
Identify the Chair’s Era and Style
An essential step is identifying your rocking chair’s era, style, or origin. Knowing this information improves your search for appropriate materials and techniques that don’t compromise its historical integrity or decrease its value. Examine the material, including fabric coverings, wood carvings, joint construction, and other design elements to determine the chair’s age and style.
Gather Necessary Tools and Supplies
Before grabbing any tools, research what supplies to buy for your project. Typical items like sandpaper, woodworking tools, wood glue, and clamps are commonly used for restoration projects. So, ensure you have the right items for a smooth refurbishing project. Also, consider whether you need new cushions, paint, varnish, or replacement parts like spindles, legs, or arms.
Examine the Furniture’s Structure and Stability
Carefully inspect your rocking chair’s stability. Pay attention to any broken or cracked joints on the chair, and especially look for loose or missing screws. Minor repairs might suffice, but looking at the chair thoroughly helps determine if the chair needs a complete reconstruction. Prioritize safety and structural integrity!
Preserve Original Design Features
Preserve the essential design elements of the chair, such as carving and paint patterns. You preserve the chair’s character and historical value by maintaining the original design features. Try to keep as much of the original detail as possible so the chair retains its origins, and its era is easily recognizable.
Refinishing and Painting
Be mindful of refinishing and painting. Restorers often debate between refinishing the whole piece or keeping the original patina. It’s best to consult a furniture restoration expert for advice on retaining the furniture’s identity while refinishing and painting it. Ensure the paint and refinishing styles are in tune with the original designs.
Restoring old rocking chairs adds a fresher style to a timeless piece. Feel accomplished restoring an old rocking chair, and remember these considerations if you ever need a reason not to change something drastically. To help maintain the life of your restored piece, we suggest following these tips for maintaining a swivel rocking chair to keep it rocking smoothly for years to come. Trust us—an old chair might seem pleasant to admire, but restoring it to its former glory is more fun. You’ll enjoy it more when you can use it in your home.
AGFC adds new crop of Florida bass to Lake Ouachita
Fisheries biologists and staff from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Andrew Hulsey State Fish Hatchery in Hot Springs recently added a boost to Lake Ouachita’s largemouth bass genetics by stocking more than 150,000 Florida bass fingerlings to the lake in two locations.
Roughly 100,000 Florida bass fingerlings were stocked directly to the Rabbittail area on the lake’s north shore by boats to deposit them in prime nursery cover that will enable the fish to have an increased chance at survival. An additional 52,000 fingerlings were placed in the Lake Ouachita nursery pond for about four weeks to grow and eat a supply of fathead minnows before release into the lake via an underground pipe into the west end of the lake.
Florida bass are a species of black bass that have increased potential to reach trophy sizes. Ultimately, growth rates in both northern largemouths and Florida bass are dependent on the right nutrients, water conditions and growing season length, but Florida bass trend toward a larger size potential given enough time.
This is not the first stocking of Florida bass into Lake Ouachita. According to the current Lake Ouachita Management Plan a pilot study to introduce Florida bass into the lake was initiated in 2007. Fingerlings were stocked at a rate of 100 fingerlings per lake surface acre for eight consecutive years. Evaluations following this pilot study indicated a significant increase in the number of bass with Florida bass genetics, prompting a continuation of the project on an every-other-year basis, alternating Florida stockings between Lake Ouachita, and DeGray Lake in Arkadelphia, which also showed promising results from a similar pilot project.
Sean Lusk, AGFC staff biologist, says the goal of these stockings is not to add more fish to Lake Ouachita, but to increase growth potential by adding Florida bass genetics to the existing population.
“Lake Ouachita produces plenty of bass on its own and these fingerlings will essentially replace some that would have been produced through this year’s spawn,” Lusk said. “Sure, an angler may catch one of these fish if it reaches trophy size, but the real goal is for these fish to reproduce and increase the Florida genetics in the lake.”
During the pilot project, stockings were conducted at Rabbittail and Buckville on the north side of the lake. Once the project was expanded, biologists added the nursery pond at the west end of the lake to provide another point for Florida largemouth introductions.
Rabbittail and the nursery pond received stockings in 2021, and they will again this year.
This is all being done to provide anglers an increased opportunity to someday catch a trophy-size bass.
Brett Hobbs, AGFC regional fisheries supervisor in Hot Springs, said the fingerlings from the pond will see some advantage over those stocked at Rabbittail. Aside from a lack of predators, these bass were able to feed heavily before their addition.
“The nursery pond was stocked with fathead minnows earlier this year,” Hobbs said. “They have been allowed to spawn to provide an abundance of forage for the young bass. The bass fingerlings consumed all the minnows and we opened the pond gate that flows directly into the lake.”
Hobbs says the fingerlings in the nursery pond averaged 3½ inches when released, giving them a jump start on survival.
Visit www.agfc.com/en/fishing/sportfish/black-bassfor more information on bass management in Arkansas. Visit the AGFC Fisheries Division Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AGFCFisheriesDivision.
WMA Deer Permit Hunt applications available July 1-31
Deer hunters shooting for some of Arkansas’s best public land opportunities will have the full month of July to apply for one of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Wildlife Management Area Deer Permit hunts. Applications for these hunts are available from 8 a.m. July 1 until midnight July 31 through the AGFC’s licensing system at www.agfc.com.
Hunting deer on privately owned land and many WMAs throughout the state requires only a hunting license with big-game privileges, but many of the AGFC’s most popular areas can become crowded or overhunted without special restrictions. On many of the most popular areas, the AGFC conducts special draw hunts to maintain healthy deer herds and high-quality hunting experiences.
WMA Deer Hunt Permit applications are available for $5 per application type. Successful applicants receive their permit without additional fees. Each hunter may submit one application for each type of permit hunt: youth hunt, archery, muzzleloader and modern gun. Mobility-impaired individuals also may apply for special mobility-impaired hunts through the permit system. Hunters must be at least 6 years old by the beginning of the hunt, and hunters applying for youth hunts must be at least 6, but no older than 15, the day the hunt begins.
To apply for a youth hunt, the youth hunter must be logged in under his or her own Customer ID in the licensing system. Youth hunts do not appear as an option to choose in the licensing system for any hunters older than 16.
Hunters applying for regular modern gun and muzzleloader hunts may do so as individuals or they may apply as a group of up to four, using the AGFC’s party hunt system. To apply as a group, the party hunt leader applies normally. Once the permit application is completed and paid for, he or she will receive a party hunt code listed underneath the application line on their updated hunting license via email. They may then share that code with up to three other individuals. The rest of the party will then apply, and respond “yes” when asked if they are members of a party hunt. They may then enter the code and continue with their application and payment. Applying as a party does not increase the chances of each individual being drawn.
ADEM issues extreme heat safety tips
With dangerously high temperatures expected in the coming weeks, the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) urges Arkansans to take precautions to reduce the risk of heat overexposure.
Find cooling centers in your area: Cooling Centers – Arkansas Governor – Sarah Huckabee Sanders
ADEM, a division of the Arkansas Department of Public Safety, recommends getting educated on watches and warnings.
Excessive Heat Watch
Forecasters expect a prolonged period (2 to 3 days) of exceedingly hot and humid weather conditions.
Heat Advisory
Issued within 12 hours before dangerous heat conditions are expected. Daytime heat indices of 100ºF–104ºF for two or more hours. The heat index is a measure of how hot it feels when relative humidity is factored in with air temperature.
Excessive Heat Warning
Daytime heat indices of greater than or equal to 105°F for two or more hours.
Extreme heat can be very dangerous – even life-threatening – if people do not take precautions to maintain a normal body temperature. Some individuals are at a greater risk of heat overexposure than others, such as children, the elderly and those who are disabled or have medical conditions. No one is immune, however. It’s important to monitor yourself and others for signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses.
Heat-related Illnesses include:
HEAT CRAMPS are muscular pains and spasms caused by heavy sweating that usually occur in the legs or abdomen. Get the affected person to rest in a comfortable position in a cooler place. Give them water or fluids with electrolytes to help them rehydrate.
HEAT EXHAUSTION occurs when people overexert themselves in a warm, humid place and often affects those doing strenuous work in hot weather. Body fluids are lost through heavy sweating and blood flow to the skin increases, which causes the blood flow to vital organs to decrease. This results in a form of mild shock.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include skin that is cool, moist, pale or flushed, nausea, dizziness, headache, weakness and/or exhaustion.
Treat it by helping the affected person rest in a comfortable position in a cooler place. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths (such as towels or sheets). If the person is conscious, give them half a glass of cool water or fluids with electrolytes every 15 minutes, making sure that they drink slowly. Watch them carefully for changes in their condition and call 9-1-1 if it doesn’t improve.
HEAT STROKE is the most serious heat emergency and is life-threatening. It develops when systems in the body begin to stop functioning due to extreme heat. Heat stroke may cause brain damage or death if the body is not cooled quickly.
Symptoms include extremely high body temperature, hot and red skin (dry or moist), loss of consciousness, changes in level of responsiveness rapid and weak pulse, rapid and shallow breathing, vomiting, confusion and/or seizures. Someone suffering from heat stroke needs immediate assistance. Call 9-1-1 and move the person to a cooler place. Immerse the individual in a cool bath, wrap in cold wet sheets, or cover the person in bags of ice if possible.
During times of extreme heat, it is important to:
— Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.
— Do not leave pets outside for extended periods of time.
— Find air conditioning, if possible.
— Check on family members and neighbors – especially those without air conditioning.
— Avoid strenuous activities.
— Watch for signs and symptoms of heat-related illness (such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke).
— Wear light-colored, loose-fitting and lightweight clothing.
— If you must be outdoors, limit your outdoor activity to the morning and evening hours.
— Try to rest often in shady areas so your body temperature will have a chance to recover.
— Use sunscreen with a high SPF and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
— Drink plenty of water even if you aren’t thirsty. (Avoid drinks containing alcohol and high amounts of sugar and caffeine.) Make sure that pets have access to water.
— Eat regular meals that are well balanced and light.
— Never leave people or pets in a closed car, even with the windows cracked open.
For more information from FEMA about managing extreme heat: Extreme Heat (fema.gov)
Timepiece: Hot Springs Underground
By Dr. Curtis Varnell
Much of Arkansas history revolves around Hot Springs. Before European settlers ever arrived in America, natives were bathing in the magical warm waters that flowed down the steep slopes along what is now Bathhouse Row. Legends state that Hernando de Sota and other early Spanish explorers visited the site in search of the fountain of youth but there is no clear evidence those events occurred. It is known that William Dunbar, in an expedition coinciding with Lewis and Clarks exploration, conducted a four-week study of the springs during the Christmas season of 1804.
Attracted to the area, settlers constructed homes, businesses, and bath houses along the stream flowing through the middle of the town. Crossed by numerous footpaths and small bridges, water collecting in Hot Spring creek flowed south carrying effluent of every type down-stream to the Ouachita River.
The Arlington, beautiful bath houses, and even a building used as a back-drop to a superman movie now adorn the main streets of Hot Springs but the stream is nowhere to be found- that is unless you are one of the brave souls that will venture into the world beneath the streets.
Introduced to the tunnels during a trip with the USGS several years ago, I was intrigued to discover the world that existed just feet beneath the surface and extended for great distances through the city. Going into the darkness was like entering a large dark sauna. Huge vaulted columns of native rock formed arches up to twelve-foot high and fourteen foot wide. The walls of novaculite and granite are three foot thick. Water slurped through the bottom of the tunnel, carried downward by gravity to a distant exit. Trudging even short distances in the 115 degree, 100 per-cent humidity atmosphere will leave one longing for the surface above.
The tunnel construction began in 1884 directly in front of Bathhouse Row and has been extended over the years. With the city’s association with bootleggers, gamblers, political crooks, and outright criminals, stories concerning the use of the tunnel abound. Many of the building, especially those connected to infamous deeds, constructed escape routes into the tunnels. Historians believe that Al Capone partied at the Southern Club on Central Avenue. The Southern Club site is where Madam Tussauds wax museum is now found. When trouble threatened he would disappear down an entrance way into the tunnel and exit at the Arlington Hotel. The Arlington was one of Capone’s favorite places, one where he leased the entire fourth floor for his entourage. One can still visit the Arlington and the Capone’s room but he wasn’t the only one using the tunnel. With illegal gambling rampant, the police would raid a den only to find the place mysteriously vacated upon their arrival. It is not known how many escape holes existed but openings today exist at the First Presbyterian on Whittington, and entrance on Central avenue and one close to the Hot Spring bus depot.
The tunnels still conduct the important function of draining water from the central part of the city during frequent and heavy rainfall. The walls are still stable for the most part and the city maintenance crew surveys them on a regular basis to ensure safety. In recent years, the tunnels themselves have been deemed unsafe and the public is not allowed exploration. As you shop along the main avenues of walk the sidewalks through the National Park, it is hard to envision the world that exist just beneath your feet.