The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Repentless Tattoo and Piercing.

Repentless Tattoo and Piercing offers customers a variety of body art designs and styles in a bright and spacious location on Sidney Street. With a commitment to exceptional customer service, their experienced team boasts a remarkable 40 years of combined expertise in tattooing and piercing.

"Everyone on the team is knowledgeable, friendly and professional. They are all about providing excellent customer service to every client, and I have experienced that firsthand," said BACC Director of Membership and Programs Courteney Muse. 

Repentless's team consists of two accomplished tattoo artists, Carmelo and Nash, a skilled licensed piercer, Hilary who is also a tattoo artist apprentice, and co-owner Mary, who creates and designs the shop's branded merchandise. 

Inside the shop, sample artwork by the tattoo artists hangs on the walls to provide customers with inspiration, but the team is also happy to work with clients to create original designs or help bring ideas to life. They also work on old tattoos. "Carmelo is especially skilled in cover up work and bringing aged tattoos back to their vibrant state," said Muse.

Located at 908 Sidney Street, Repentless Tattoo and Piercing is open 10am-7pm Tuesday through Saturday. Tattoos and piercings are available by appointment or walk-in. 

Ambassadors in attendance included: Mary Duvall (Bad Boy, Inc), Tammy Foster (First Community Bank), Eva Henriksen (Merchants & Planters Bank), Megan Renihan (Batesville School District), Lori Tacker (Batesville Eye Care Center), Christina Watts (LaCroix Precision Optics), Lucy Rodriguez (George's Inc), Jesse Cargill (UAMS), Micah Moody (White River Health), and Amy Finster (White River Health).

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Jay Chafin State Farm.

The State Farm location is celebrating new ownership following the retirement of Kenny Allen. Jay Chafin has been with State Farm for over 25 years, serving the Mountain Home and surrounding areas. He will split his time between Mountain Home and Batesville locations, spending three to four days each week serving the Batesville community.  

"Insurance is about protecting what you value most," and to Chafin and his team, that means being more than just salespeople. 

"We're community educators and advisors," continued Chafin. "We want to be someone that blends into the community and cares for our people."

As a customer service-focused and community-oriented insurance and financial service location, Jay Chafin State Farm knows that quality service begins with a quality team. "A huge blessing to my left here is my team," said Chafin. "Every day, I get up and look forward to coming to this place to serve customers, to take care of the community, whoever else we can touch, but this is the special group I get up for every day. These are the ones that light up my world. I can't say thank you enough."

Ambassadors in attendance included: Mary Duvall (Bad Boy, Inc), Tammy Foster (First Community Bank), Eva Henriksen (Merchants & Planters Bank), Christina Watts (LaCroix Precision Optics), Lucy Rodriguez (George's Inc), Jesse Cargill (UAMS), Micah Moody (White River Health), Aaron Herndon (Citizens Bank), Ashley Engles (Citizens Bank), Peter Rouiler (First Community Bank), Justin Russell (Bank of Cave City), Cameron Cox (Wood Family Dealerships), Dana Millikin (White River Now), Adam Curtwright (Centennial Bank), and Lindy Hopper (First Community Bank).

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a Ribbon-Cutting ceremony for the new Pioneer Financial Education Center. The ceremony will occur at Batesville High School Charter at 1 Pioneer Drive in Batesville on Tuesday, October 17, at 10 a.m. 

Citizens Bank is partnering with local school districts to open student-operated banks that bring students real-world financial education and practical experience.

The program will equip young individuals with essential financial literacy skills, enhance their customer service abilities, and foster leadership qualities among students. The partnership includes an opportunity for eligible candidates to undergo specialized training to serve as student bankers.

All community supporters, chamber members, ambassadors, board members, and staff are invited to attend.

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a Ribbon-Cutting ceremony for the Grand Opening of Tranquility. The ceremony will occur at 3050 Harrison Street, Suite G, in Batesville, on Thursday, October 19, at 10:30 a.m. 

Tranquility is a new tanning salon and relaxation destination in Batesville. As a full tanning salon, Tranquility will have Level 1-4 beds, a red light bed, and a stand-up bed for all your tanning needs. Tranquility will also offer personal sauna rooms, ice baths, botox services, and more. 

All community supporters, chamber members, ambassadors, board members, and staff are invited to attend.

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a Ribbon-Cutting ceremony for Access Medical Clinic. The ceremony will occur at 1583 S St. Louis Street, Suite B, in Batesville, on Thursday, November 2, at 10:30 a.m. 

Access Medical Clinic is a family and urgent care practice that has just opened a location in Batesville. In addition to walk-in urgent care, the clinic offers a variety of medical care services including physicals, preventative care services, vaccinations, women’s health visits, and more. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology and on-site laboratory testing, Access Medical Clinic and its staff are committed to helping every person stay as healthy as possible at every age and stage of life.

All community supporters, chamber members, ambassadors, board members, and staff are invited to attend.

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a Ribbon-Cutting ceremony for Lainey Mae Clothing Co. The ceremony will occur at 682 Harrison St, Suite A, in Batesville, on Friday, November 3, at 10:30 a.m. 

Lainey Mae Clothing Co. is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate their new store location in the Midtown Plaza extension. A family-owned western wear boutique offering outdoor and western apparel and accessories for the whole family, Lainey Mae Clothing Co. specializes in beautifully crafted custom-burned hats. 

All community supporters, chamber members, ambassadors, board members, and staff are invited to attend.

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a Ribbon-Cutting ceremony to celebrate White River Health Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine’s new building. The ceremony will occur at 1710 Harrison Street in Batesville on Friday, November 17, at 10:30 a.m. 

White River Health Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine provides diagnosis, management, and treatment of general orthopaedic conditions as well as treatment, rehabilitation, and training recommendations for sports injuries. With six specialized doctors and APRNs, the Orthopaedic and Sports Clinic utilizes the latest innovations in surgical and non-surgical care to treat a full range of orthopaedic conditions, from stress fractures and sprains to full joint replacement. 

All community supporters, chamber members, ambassadors, board members, and staff are invited to attend.

The Batesville Area Arts Council will host the seventh annual Artoberfest, an arts and music festival on Main Street, Saturday, October 21st, 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. The festival will feature local and regional artist vendors, art demonstrations, live music by Ed Casper, Low Level Echoes, and Erin Walters, along with other family fun activities! We want you and your family to participate in this event, including engaging in our coloring contest and chalk contest!

Students in grades K through 12th grade are invited to participate in the Artoberfest Coloring Contest. To participate, simply print the coloring page from our website below, and return to the BAAC Gallery on Main (226 E Main) by October 14. The top 10 entries in each of the three categories will be displayed on the BAAC Facebook page, allowing the public to cast their votes between October 17th and 20th. The winner of each category will receive a Halloween Swag Bag filled with candy and other goodies, available to be picked up during Artoberfest on the 21st. A selection of the entries will be displayed at the Independence County Library during Artoberfest. You can find the coloring page and instructions on our website (batesvilleareaartscouncil.org/artoberfest).

Artoberfest will also feature a sidewalk chalk art contest, a competition that engages our community by creating temporary public art. Trophies will be awarded to the top designs in two age groups, Kindergarten - 5th grade and Junior High - College. K - 5 th grade students will compete 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. and Jr. High - College students will compete from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. All contestants must pre-register to compete. Find full details and the free registration form on our website (batesvilleareaartscouncil.org/artoberfest).

We hope you will join us for Artoberfest and enjoy these activities and many more! This festival is free for the community to enjoy thanks to our generous sponsors: Citizens Bank, Wood Family Dealerships, First Community Bank, Bank of Cave City, and Fuller Bumpers Attorney at Law.

University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB) will host the 2 nd annual Run the College 5K on Saturday, October 28 beginning at 8:00 a.m. at UACCB’s Independence Hall.

The registration fee is $25 per runner with proceeds benefitting the UACCB Foundation Student Emergency Fund. The UACCB Foundation Student Emergency Fund serves to assist students through financial challenges, allowing them to remain in school and meet their needs.

The race will begin and end on the east side of Independence Hall on the UACCB campus, with packet pick up beginning at 7:00 a.m. Awards will go to the top 3 overall male and female competitors and all participants will receive a finisher’s medal.

Further race information and sign-up can be found by visiting https://runsignup.com/Race/AR/Batesville/RuntheCollege5K. 

Lyon College is gearing up for ScotsFest, the ultimate fusion of the Arkansas Scottish Festival and the Lyon College Homecoming, from Friday, Oct. 27, to Sunday, Oct. 29, on the Lyon College campus at 2300 Highland Rd. in Batesville.

The much-anticipated Kilted Fun Run, where participants don kilts and take a leisurely stroll or run through Batesville, is set for Sunday, Oct. 29, following the bonniest knees contest at 1 p.m. in the entertainment tent. Event sponsor is White River Health.

Registration for the fun run is $25 and $10 for students and children. Participants can register at https://alumni.lyon.edu/events/scots-fest/tickets or by contacting Pam Palermo at Pamela.Palermo@lyon.edu.

The Arkansas Scottish Festival, which originated in 1979 as a humble fair on Lyon College's intramural field, has evolved into one of Arkansas' premier festivals. It's a heartfelt tribute to the Scottish heritage of the college's Presbyterian founders, and this year marks its 43rd anniversary. To add to the excitement, it's the third consecutive year that the festival will be combined with the Lyon College Homecoming celebration.

Last year, this unique event attracted over 5,500 festival-goers and had a substantial economic impact, injecting an estimated $1.2 million into Independence County's economy. The festival's rich history and community significance are undeniable.

Presented by Lyon College and lead partner Experience Independence, ScotsFest 2023 promises new and thrilling additions. These include a vintage swap meet, a comedy show featuring "America's Got Talent" alumnus Cam Bertrand, a free rocket-building workshop, and captivating performances by the Piper Jones Band and Celtic musician Misty Posey.

The festivities kick off at noon on Friday with a delectable food truck fair, a wide array of vendors, and exhibitions highlighting the heritage of Scottish clans. The Ozark Beer Co. entertainment tent will come alive with talented performers throughout the day. Notable acts include third-generation Arkansas musician Garrett Duncan and his wife, Ashton, at 4 p.m., central Arkansas country rock band Drasco at 6 p.m., and the award-winning Arkansas bluegrass ensemble, The Gravel Yard, at 8 p.m.

On Saturday, the festival gets underway at 8 a.m. with historical reenactments, a Highland heavy athletics competition, Scottish clan reunions, sheep dog demonstrations, rocket demonstrations, pipe band exhibitions, Highland dancing, a British car show, the Li’l Highlanders Fun Zone, a dog show and entertainment throughout the day featuring Celtic songstress Posey. There will be a vintage swap meet from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., showcasing the best in vintage toys, sports memorabilia, fashion, crafts, collectibles, jewelry, artwork, and culture.

The Ozark Beer Co. entertainment tent keeps the party going from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with performances by the Piper Jones Band, known for their energetic renditions of traditional tunes from Scotland, Ireland and Appalachia. A traditional Scottish ceilidh rounds out the day's events.

On Sunday, the festival opens at 8 a.m. with historical reenactments, sheep dog demonstrations, Highland dancing, and a Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan worship service at 11 a.m. in the entertainment tent. At 1 p.m., it's time for the bonniest knees contest, followed by the Kilted Fun Run for adults, students and children. 

The festival wraps up at 4 p.m. on Sunday, bringing an end to an unforgettable weekend.

General admission to the festival is free, though some individual and alumni events require separate registration.

For the complete schedule, visit arscottishfest.com.

The Batesville Area Arts Council is pleased to present Fading Away, an exhibition by Beverly Buys, at the BAAC Gallery on Main (226 E Main St) October 3 – November 18, 2023. Buys is a retired educator based out of Hot Springs, AR who received her MFA from the University of Memphis and taught photography at Henderson University for 19 years.

Beverly Buys finds inspiration in the Arkansas Delta Region and its enduring remnants, capturing the essence of a place where history clings tenaciously. In her meticulous, slow photography process, Buys crafts prints that, like memories, bear a rough and uneven texture. Buys states, "The weather, the way the light falls, and the seasons and their effects on my subjects are so intertwined that they too become a primary concern in my photographs." Through a unique technique involving film and cyanotype-coated paper, she exposes her prints to the sun, determining exposure times by instinct and the discerning eye. Her aim is to kindle reflection and curiosity, inviting viewers to delve into the truth within her evocative creations.

The gallery reception for this exhibition will be held on Friday, November 10, from 5 - 7 p.m. with a brief artist talk at 6 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB) student Eli Skelton was selected as the recipient of the 2023 Regional Industrial Safety Alliance (RISA) Scholarship.

Skelton was awarded the RISA scholarship at the regional conference on September 28, 2023. RISA is dedicated to promoting safety and excellence in the industrial sector and the RISA Scholarship recognizes outstanding students pursuing careers within industrial technology fields of study. Skelton's exceptional academic achievements and commitment to safety set him apart as a deserving recipient.

"Eli's dedication to his studies and potential to make significant contributions to the field make him an excellent selection for this scholarship," commented Dr. Zachery Harber, dean of workforce education. "We are incredibly proud of Eli's achievements."

Batesville Area Arts Council is pleased to announce Juli Howard as the new Gallery Assistant for the organization as of August 26, 2023.

Kim Whitten, BAAC Board President said, “We are excited to welcome Juli to the Batesville Area Arts Council team! Her educational background in the arts and passion for serving the Batesville community will be an incredible asset. With the addition of the gallery assistant position a couple of years ago and under Carly Dahl’s leadership, the Batesville Area Arts Council has grown and expanded programming. Juli’s experience will no doubt help us continue that growth and fulfill our mission of enriching our community through the arts. We hope residents and visitors to Main Street will stop by the gallery and welcome Juli in her new role.”

As Gallery Assistant, Juli will assist in programming for BAAC, which includes gallery exhibitions, workshops, and fundraising. “I am absolutely delighted to serve as the Gallery Assistant for the Batesville Area Arts Council! Having participated in their programs in the past, I look forward to supporting the gallery as a member of the BAAC team and connecting with the community through the arts. The Arts Council does such important work in making art accessible, and I am grateful to be a part of it,” says Juli about her new position.

Juli received her BA in Art and Economics from Lyon College in Batesville, AR, in 2023. Outside of her work with the BAAC, she runs a small studio and produces illustrations, prints, and ceramic works.

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The Lyon College Kresge Gallery will showcase the two-dimensional works of artist Alexandra Giannell, assistant professor of painting and drawing at Utah Valley University, from now through Friday, Nov. 3, in the historic Alphin Humanities Building on the Lyon College campus, 2300 Highland Rd., Batesville.

There will be a reception and artist talk on Thursday, Nov. 2, from 5-6:30 p.m. in the gallery. The event is free and open to the public.

“Unbound” consists of select abstract two-dimensional works by Giannell, which consider the broader theme of restriction and expansion. The compilation of oil paintings and graphite drawings is comprised of three of Giannell’s currently developing series --“Breathturn,” “Fallacy of Structure” and “Inside on the Outside,” all of which attempt to confront and unpack aspects of contemporary and historical displacement, incarceration and genocide, informed by Giannell’s time and research in as an artist in residence with The Alabama Prison Arts + Education Project collaborating in men’s medium security prisons as well as with The Pienkow Foundation in Poland studying the Holocaust’s Majdanek Concentration Camp in 2019. 

Exploring conversations of perception and architectural structures of penitence, the works often allude to landscapes of such control while simultaneously emitting qualities of freedom or being unbound. This tension is enhanced through the symbiosis of ephemeral qualities and guttural, physical mark-making processes in the work, visually charging the gallery space and passages between.

Giannell is an American artist who also spent several years growing up in Europe. She earned a diploma in visual arts from the North Carolina School of the Arts before earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts cum laude in painting with a minor in art history from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master of Fine Arts summa cum laude in painting from Clemson University in South Carolina.

Currently, Giannell lives and works in Utah as an assistant professor of painting and drawing at Utah Valley University.

Kresge Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Admission is free.

Batesville Preservation Association taking applications for grant program

The Batesville Preservation Association has announced the opening of its annual Preservation Grant competition.

BPA makes up to three annual matching grants of up to $1,000 to assist property owners with preservation and restoration efforts.

Properties eligible for BPA’s matching grants include downtown commercial property and historic property owned by non-profit organizations. Residential property is not eligible.

Past grants have assisted in restoring tin ceilings, re-painting exteriors, replacing deteriorated awnings, and reopening closed doorways. They have assisted in major projects like the restoration of the Melba and the creation of Maxfield Park.

Property owners interested in applying can go to BPA’s website, preservebatesville@gmail.com, for information on the application process.

The deadline for submitting applications is December 15.

As Fall brings change to the world around us, may it also bring change within. Explore the benefits of therapy and take the first step towards healing, growth, and self-discovery. Feel free to text or call 501-570-6959 for scheduling or questions you may have.

Low Power Community Radio Station
FCC will be accepting applications November 1 - 8 for a Low Power FM radio station that would cover Batesville and the surrounding areas. Pre-registration is required & only non-profit organizations with an education program may apply. Need not be tax exempt, just a state recognized non-profit. For more info call (870) 213-7179 or review the Public Notice at: https://www.fcc.gov/document/november-2023-lpfm-new-station-application-filing-window

There is Hope. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to connect with compassionate care and support for mental health-related distress. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, 988 provides a 24/7 connection to confidential support.

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce is the leading voice of business in Independence County, providing chamber members advocacy, promotion, and resources. The Chamber works to set the standard for service, collaboration, growth, and high quality of life in the Batesville area. We are unwavering in our commitment to strengthening our business community.