More than a light show for Hodo

By Harold McIlvain II

VAN BUREN, Ark.--An elderly woman knocked on the door during March three years ago at the house of Richard Hodo.

When he answered the door, the woman had a gift for Hodo: an afghan blanket she had been working on since Christmas.

She explained the blanket was finished despite the rough times experienced during the holiday with inspiration from viewing the light show at the Hodo house that features over 80,000 lights synchronized to music.

Hodo never found out why she had gone through a rough time. But it was the memory he was able to provide through a light show that opened his eyes.

“There was no telling what she was going through,” Hodo said. “She might have lost a husband or something. But she watched the light show and said it really got her through Christmas. That was worth it all to me.”

After building the house 15 years ago at 1205 Woodland Creek Circle, the 66-year-old Van Buren business owner had always put lights up for the holiday season.

Five years ago, he wanted to take it to another level and add music, make the lights flicker to Christmas songs and provide a free show to the surrounding area.

“I just wanted something different,” Hodo said. “I got with a friend of mine. He puts the lights on the house for me and he had a franchise for bright ideas, so I bought my lights from him. It has kind of expanded from there.”

Hodo said there was a lack of inexpensive entertainment during a time when families spend time together.



“This is a time to give back to the community,” Hodo said. “It seems like everywhere you go, you have to pay for everything you do. No one seems to want to give. But this is the season for giving.”

And the popularity has shown as 300 cars have lined up at once winding down the street and down the main part of town.

“They appreciate it,” Hodo said. “If people didn’t respond or show that they loved this, we would think people don’t really like it. But we get the phone calls and letters throughout the year. We just watch night after night how people line up.”

The stories of the experiences the show has provided for local residents never gets old for Hodo. Last year, a woman and her two sons said they were having a hard time. But the light show was something the family was able to enjoy, Hodo said.

“She said they were able to come here and forget about their problems,” Hodo said. “She said it just lifts them up and got them throughout Christmas. It’s worth all the effort and expense that I go through.”

Hodo gave away 15,000 candy canes last year and gave way 2,700 just during the Thanksgiving weekend this year while over 7,000 cars watched the show last year.

But more is expected this year.

“There will probably be 9,000 people watch the show this year,” Hodo said. “We are just expecting more because it’s already picking up in pace early. When it gets closer to Christmas, only more people keep coming.”

Armeda Holmes, a nearby resident of the light show, said the popularity has started something that people will want to come to for years to come.

“The tradition is really growing because of it going on for a while now,” Holmes said. “Kids are starting to go because they remember going when they were younger. It is a great thing for our community to bring the spirit of the season.”

And because of the popularity of the show, Holmes said alternative routes have to be found for people who live in the area.

“At times it is so busy you have to go around the town just to get back home,” Holmes said. “I had to wait about 20 minutes trying to get back before I just turned around.”

Hodo admitted he didn’t want to think too much about the future of the light show. But he wants to keep providing memories for those you just need an activity.

“I hope I’m around in 10 years,” Hodo said laughing. “I’m sliding down the mountain. I don’t know if I can do it any different. I might just have real reindeer out there in 10 years.”

Newspaper merge leaves writers with questions

By Harold McIlvain II

Bart Pohlman knew finding a job in the journalism industry was going to be difficult.

The 2008 journalism graduate from Arkansas read stories during his senior year about The Rocky Mountain News folding and how the Seattle Post-Intelligencer went inclusively to a Web site.

Not finding a job relating to his degree was a scary thought for Pohlman.

And after not being able to find a job in the industry since he graduated, the finalization of the joint venture Sunday between Stephens Media LLC and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc., is another obstacle young journalists are now facing.

“The merger demonstrates the current state of the job market: more firings, less hirings,” Pohlman said. “Here I am, seven months after graduation, and I still haven’t found a job.”

It has been a daily struggle for Pohlman to search through over thousands of jobs on Web sites, hoping for an opportunity to break into the industry.

“The sad part is that out of the over 100 jobs I’ve applied for, I've had three interviews - and two were with the same place,” Pohlman said.

The Memphis, Tenn., native said he knew it would be difficult to compete for a job - but not as difficult as it has been so far comparing resumes with veteran journalists who are, too, looking for opportunities after layoffs and mergers.

“I had no idea it’d be this absurd,” Pohlman said. “With so many newspapers and news organizations letting go of so many veterans, it’s difficult to compete.”

Columnists Nate Allen and Bob Caulde were not offered jobs back with the merged news organizations. But with more than a decade of combined experience between the writers, both were able to get job opportunities back - something Pohlman has been searching for.

“Whenever there is a job opening, the employer essentially has their pick of the cream of the crop,” Pohlman said.

But the merger and job loses were not a surprise to many writers. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette has reduced its staff by about 10 percent over the past year because of the financial trouble the organization has faced.

Jeff Jeffus, the new president of the Northwest Arkansas Newspapers, said it was necessary for the newspapers to regroup with a new plan after the merger - which included letting people go.

“I think this is in the best interests of both companies and our readers and advertisers, too,” Jeffus said to the Associated Press. “We were both losing millions of dollars. You had to have a model that would succeed.”

After advertising revenue has dropped by 18.5 percent in the first nine months of this year, Jeffus said the company hopes the merger will bring financial stability to the Arkansas newspapers.

But staff writers who were able to keep their jobs have been advised to not talk about the merger.

“We are not suppose to talk about it,” a journalist employed by the new joint venture said. “We will pretty much lose our jobs if we talk about it.”

The Arkansas newspaper industry hasn’t been the only organization to feel the affects of a poor economy, and Pohlman knows that too well.

Editors around the nation are able to sift through resumes from top talent that have more experience than younger college graduates.

Pohlman said it’s a vicious cycle that is keeping recent graduates from moving up into upper level journalism jobs.

But Mathew Petty, a Fayetteville Alderman, said the merger could be a positive for younger journalists through independent news organizations.

While visioning the future of the Arkansas newspaper market, Petty predicated independent news providers could become a factor in the Natural State now that the decade of competing has ended for the two big newspapers in Arkansas.

“This will be the moment when independent news producers prove local commentary can be a livelihood for any dedicated writer,” Petty said. “It will be a moment that only further accelerates the growth of the independent news market, and it will scare the newspaper to death.”

Pohlman said anything - including independent opportunities - would be something that needs to happen to further the field of journalism for recent graduates.

“Someone needs to give the younger crowd a chance,” Pohlman said. “They just might have a solution to the problem facing newspapers. If you keep recycling the same grizzled veterans of the industry, you have no chance of getting up-to-date on the future of journalism.”

But for now, the search for a job is still ongoing for Pohlman and thousands of recent journalism graduates.

Pointer program confident despite decade of losing

Despite only winning two games last year, the Van Buren Pointers believe they are on the right track. (Photos by Harold McIlvain II)

By Harold McIlvain II

VAN BUREN, Ark.--Pointer assistant coach Cody Hamlin remembers what it was like to play for Van Buren.

Sometimes games were close. Other times they were blowouts. But mostly games were lost, as the Pointers won only seven games while Hamlin was in high school.

Despite the program winning only four games since the 2006 graduate left, Hamlin said Pointer fans still pack the stadium whether it’s at home or away. And it’s something Van Buren second-year head coach Mike Lee has been amazed by since arriving at the school.

“It’s puzzling sometimes,” said Lee, who previously coached at Morrilton, Ark. “The support we get from our community is unique. They have every opportunity to bail. But they are educated people that have true intentions (of supporting the program). They know where we are as a program.”

Hamlin said the Van Buren community and district has provided the Pointers with one of the nicest stadiums in the conference with Blakemore Field with synthetic turf, which includes an indoor practice facility and brand new weight lifting equipment.

The former college football player at Arkansas Tech said he really didn’t know how much support the community gives the team until he left.

“With me being lucky enough to play college football, I’ve been to several stadiums,” Hamlin said. “When you talk to other teams and see their facilities, you can tell they are not fortunate enough to have the community support the Pointers have. You really take it for granted when you see other communities.”

Junior quarterback Tyler Spoon said the support from the fans is something that drives the Pointers.

“The community is great,” Spoon said. “They are always supportive of the team no matter what, and it helps us a lot. The community knows just like we do that things are going to change for the best.”

Playing for a high school team that has only won 20 games, averaging two wins a year, during the last decade has certain pressures for winning.

But Spoon said the Pointers don’t look at what previous teams have done despite being reminded of it at times.

“We don’t worry about the past and we just look forward to the future,” Spoon said. “We know things are getting better, and we are getting that desire to win. We are looking forward to getting the program back to where it used to be.”

Not always the norm

Losing hasn’t been always the case for Van Buren.

Former Pointer football coach Gary Deffenbaugh, who started coaching sporadically from 1985 to 2003, said the Pointers use to expect conference titles when he started coaching.

Van Buren wins in the last decade: 2009: 1* 2008: 2 2007: 1 2006: 2 2005: 1 2004: 4 2003: 0 2002: 2 2001: 5 2000: 2 *The 2009 season isn't over.

“When I came back here to start in 1985, we were on a pretty good run as district champions,” Deffenbaugh said. “It use to be pretty normal.”

Although the program hasn’t had much success since Deffenbaugh started his career at Van Buren, he said the fans are still a passionate group.

“It’s only natural that the program loses some fans because of the results,” Deffenbaugh said. “But this community still has really supported this team throughout the past few years of losing.”

But Hamlin said the Pointers are on the right track to rekindling the more successful years of the Pointer program.

“Van Buren recently hasn’t been up to tradition in the ‘90s and the late ‘80s,” Hamlin said. “But the kids are figuring it out. But we have worked hard in the off-season. There isn’t at team in our conference that doesn’t outwork us in the weight room.”

And Lee said the work ethic is something that could be the great equalizer for the Pointers.

“Off-season weights is something that gives us a chance to win,” Lee said. “We pour a lot into our year around strength and conditioning program. The district has really made a commitment, which is unique. Not a lot of districts in the state of Arkansas have done that.”

Despite the recent struggles, the district recently hired a athletic trainer to help with all sports.

“We feel that gives athletics in general - but specifically football - a chance to compete,” Lee said. “It’s a work in progress, but we feel like things are on the right track.”

Hamlin said the students are starting to see the efforts payoff from the weight room to the field.

“They are seeing what they do in the off-season is attributing to their play,” Hamlin said. “It’s one step in front of the other. Getting the kids to now they know they can be good. It’s the work ethic.”

Emerging from the shadowed past

Ever since Hamlin rejoined the staff during this season, he noticed things he didn’t normally see from previous Pointer teams.

Players were confidently preparing in the weight room for wins. After years of losing, there was talk about turning things around and setting a new mindset.

Hamlin said the change in the tone of the program is evident in practice daily.

“There has been a great deal of mentality change,” Hamlin said. “Now the kids know they are right on the cusp of being great. You can tell it in each practice they have the talent to compete and achieve.”

And Hamlin said the change took place when Lee began the 2008 season as the fourth Van Buren head coach in five years.

Lee led the Pointers last year to their first postseason appearance since 1999 despite having a losing record and only winning two conference games.

But Lee said it was a positive start for the program.

“The playoff game was a great experience for our team,” Lee said. “But now everything is easier in year two. Expectations from players to me and from me to players are understood. Day-to-day operations have been better because of the experience.

“But we are missing just one piece of the recipe with wins on Friday.”

And despite more ease preparing for the season, success still hasn’t happened this year for the Pointers (1-5-1, 1-3 7A-Central).

“The season hasn’t gone the way we hoped,” Lee said. “I feel like we are getting better as a team. But it isn’t correlating into a bunch of victories. There are a few plays that decide victories. And we just hadn’t done that yet.”

Lee said the Pointers have been plagued with injuries and missed opportunities this season - including plays that just haven’t gone their way.

A dropped interception here against Russellville High School and a dropped pass there against Alma High School are moments that have added up to another losing season so far.

But Lee said the results just haven’t come for the Pointer program - yet.

“We feel confident about where we are right now and where we are going,” Lee said.

Southwest Classic: Old Traditions, New Benefits

The Arkansas Razorbacks expect benefits from longtime rival Texas A&M (Courtesy Photo).

By Harold McIlvain II

The Arkansas Razorback football team hasn’t played Texas A&M since 1991 when the Razorbacks left the old Southwest Conference.

But now with a 10-year contract pairing the teams to play at the new state-of-the-art Cowboys Stadium, the Razorbacks are expecting benefits from the Southwest Classic and the old rivalry.

When building the $1.1 billion Cowboys Stadium, owner Jerry Jones wanted the facility to be a spectacle.

The Arkansas graduate said he had a vision to create a stadium that would remind him of his former college town.

“My dream when I was building Cowboys Stadium was that it could become Arkansas Razorback Stadium west,” Jones said during a press conference in Northwest Arkansas. “And I think that is what it is. I envision one side of the plaza to look just like Fayetteville, Ark.”

Jones said the facility would show potential recruits a stadium they could play at.

“It’s important that fans know that you are supporting the Razorbacks with a ticket purchase,” Jones said. “But it also shows support to the North Texas area, which is the greatest recruiting area in the country. They have the best football players in the country. North Texas is critical for the future of the Razorbacks.”

And Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino said the evidence has shown with more than 20 players currently on the roster.

But Petrino said Arkansas needs to do keep doing a good job in the state that has produced a starting quarterback, a defensive end, a middle linebacker and two safeties for the team.

“It’s an area that we have said would be more of an emphasis (for our staff),” Petrino said. “We are wanting to work hard and get the best players out of there. We have had some success from there in the last recruiting class.”

Texas natives in recruiting classes at Arkansas: 2010: 2* 2009: 7 2008: 2 2007: 8 2006: 8 2005: 5 2004: 8 *The class of 2010 is not final.

But Petrino said there is more talent to obtain in Texas.

Texas has produced more than 970 college football recruits in the last four years, according to SI.com recruiting writer Andy Staples.

Jones, who was a co-captain of the Razorback football team during the national championship season of 1964, said the Southwest Classic was a needed strategic move to add more players from Texas.

“This is a strategic move for the university and for the fans to support the Razorbacks playing in Dallas, Texas,” Jones said. “Because that’s how you are going to get the attention of some of the finest athletes to come play football in Northwest Arkansas.”

Jones said the NFL connection with the team should help sell recruits who have interest in Arkansas.

“Grandmothers and mothers of high school athletes like to know they will see their son play in Razorback Stadium west,” Jones said. “Kids love to have a connection to the NFL. And there isn’t a mothers and grandmothers that doesn’t envision their son playing in the NFL.”

With Texas schools having spring practices--which Arkansas doesn’t have--players are able to gain more football knowledge and experience over a high school career.

“If the NFL allowed the Cowboys the ability to draw a line around North Texas and let us have just those players, we would win a Super Bowl every year,” Jones said.

However, Arkansas will miss an opportunity for recruits to make official visits during this weekend because of it being a neutral site game, which is critical part of the recruiting process, an Arkansas official said.

Arkansas plans to offset the negative by heavily recruiting the area during the weekend while also getting exposure with the game being televised in primetime.

But the Razorbacks will not benefit from just recruiting visibility. Both Arkansas and Texas A&M are guaranteed $5 million for the game, according to the Southwest Classic contract.

The two schools will also split evenly the use of 16 suites while also receiving staff to manage the game at no cost from Jones, which creates an opportunity for more revenue for the schools.

Jones said he expected the two schools to sell out the 82,000 seat stadium despite tickets starting at $150 and ranging to $300 for club seats. Student tickets for the event is $50, which costs over six times more than a student season package.

As of Thursday afternoon, tickets were still available for the event.

But because of the nature of the rivalry, Petrino said he expected fans to show up in great numbers.

“Ever since I’ve got here, there has been a lot of people who have talked about the rivalry,” Petrino said. “And the Dallas area has been a great source of our fans base. I know to restart the rivalry from the Southwest Conference days is huge for our fans.”

According to the contract, the Razorbacks were given approximately 34,500 tickets that went on sale to the general public in March. Despite having about 37,000 less tickets to sell if it were a Fayetteville, Ark., home game, the Arkansas program expects to make more money.

And the additional money will help the program with funds outside of the yearly Southeastern Conference revenue sharing plan, which distributed $132.5 million last year to the 12 conference schools.

However, Texas A&M has sold more tickets than Arkansas by pricing lower quality stadium locations for $85.

But because of scheduling conflicts, Arkansas had to push another rivalry out of the way with the Texas Longhorns until after 2014 to make way for the Southwest Classic.

And because of having to schedule a bye week so early in the season, the Razorbacks played only one game into the season before taking a week off from the schedule.

“There were some issues with the bye week,” Petrino said. “It was something we couldn’t get around. It’s something you don’t necessarily want early on in the season.”

Meeting Mr. Paul

Paul's Bakery has served customers for 50 years at four different locations in Van Buren, Ark. (Photos by Harold McIlvain II)

By Harold McIlvain II

VAN BUREN, Ark.--Things have changed after 50 years for Paul Lehnen.

After opening a bakery at a Van Buren, Ark., location in 1959, the 74-year-old still shows up to work every day.

But the location has changed four times. The number of employees has increased significantly. And the products have been altered.

Lehnen has gradually given more control of the store to his family throughout the years, but Lehnen still helps out with the dream store he built.

“I don’t do it much anymore,” Lehnen said of making donuts. “I started out with three people working with me. But now I have 20. My vision was to have an elaborate donut shop someday.”

And he has done it.

The store features elaborate cakes, cookies ranging from state shaped to local mascots and balloons and party favors.

Lehnen said he started with donuts. But Lehnen challenged himself to find what the customers want, which has included cookies that are bright green and shaped like a frog.

“It’s fun to do different things with the classic products,” Lehnen said. “We do things with different cookie cutters. I’ve even made things as simple as a green frog cookie that recently sold over 300 dozen to a company.”

Although customers will usually stay with their favorite product, Lehnen said people want to try new things.

“I just roll with the punches,” Lehnen said. “You just have to take your chances on something new. I’m always looking for an opportunity to better our product.”

And that has been the case with the cake making side of the business, Lehnen said.

With extravagant cakes being made on several television shows on multiple networks, Lehnen said customers are looking for more than the usual birthday or wedding cake.

“Today they want tiered birthday cakes,” Lehnen said. “Customers want different designs and airbrushing. I taught my girls how to decorate. But my goodness they have surpassed me now.”

But Lehnen said he didn’t always know he would be successful in the industry.

After football season was over in high school, Lehnen said he needed extra money for school supplies. One of the customers he delivered newspapers to had just opened a donut shop, so Lehnen asked if he needed any help.

A week later he was on the job, learning the craft he still tries to perfect today.

“I thought it was something I could learn about and have something to fall back on,” Lehnen said. “Now 50 years later, I’m still learning.”

After returning from the Army as a cook in 1958, a mutual fund investment at the age of 18 was enough money for Lehnen to make a down payment on a building.

And ever since Lehnen opened the doors at the bakery, he has wanted to extend that same opportunity he was given to local high school students.

“I’ve always hired a lot of high school kids,” Lehnen said. “My proudest moment is that I have always hired local high school kids. It’s just a real treat.”

Lehnen said he learned important life lessons like hard work and determination while working at bakery in high school. And watching the development of character with his younger employees in the same environment Lehnen learned has been important to him.

“I feel like I have a feather in my cap when I see youngsters who have gone from high school to bigger and better things,” Lehnen said. “I use to wash dishes, too, and that was apart of the job. If you can do a good job at washing dishes, you can do good in what you want to do.”

Former employees have gone on to work as engineers, bankers and for the state of Arkansas.

“It’s a real gratifying thing,” Lehnen said. “It gives people a pat on the back in the right direction.”

Food or tradition?

When Lehnen opened Paul’s Bakery, he wanted the name to be short and sweet, something people could associate with.

“I wanted them to know about me,” Lehnen said. “I didn’t want it to be named sweet shop or anything else.”

Customers ever since have gotten to know the Fort Smith, Ark., native for a half-century.

“All the kids still ask where Mr. Paul is at the store,” Lehnen said. “Getting to know the kids over the year has been a lot of fun. As long as they are happy, I’m happy.”

He has seen some of the same faces enter his store after 50 years. But even after meeting so many people, Lehnen still enjoys greeting nearly all of his customers.

“Kids tell me that their grandma use to come here,” Lehnen said. “It’s something special.”

And it’s that tradition that keep some coming back for more.

UCA student Megan Batey said she recalls going to Paul’s throughout her childhood.

“My grandma would often take me and my siblings there after school to get a treat,” Batey said. “I can recall going to Paul’s as far back as I can remember.”

But Batey said the food wasn’t the only aspect that attracted her to the store.

“I think it is a nostalgic landmark for almost everyone from Van Buren, Ark.,” Batey said. “The sweets are decent, but I think the memories are what keep the locals coming back.”

Others find the taste of the treats enough to keep them coming back for more.

John Lewis, who has eaten at Paul’s for over 20 years, said the product is always great.

“It’s a place that always has good eats,” Lewis said. “It always does. Once in a while there are mistakes, but 99 percent of the time you get good, wholesome food.”

Former police officer Jonathan Evans said he has been to his fair share of donut shops across the nation. But Evans said he hasn’t found one as successful as Paul’s.

“You don’t see them like this anymore,” Evans said. “It’s just a style of business you can get behind and support. It’s a nice change these days.”

Lehnen said making a quality product has been a big factor in the business throughout the years.

“People are still going to eat quality products,” Lehnen said. “That isn’t going to change. After 50 years, people still want quality products. And they don’t mind paying for it.”