The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for Evolve Therapy Solutions, PLLC. The ceremony will take place on Tuesday, March 4, at 1 p.m. at 235 S 3rd Street, Batesville.

Since its opening in 2023, the practice has provided high-quality mental health care to the community. Recently rebranded to Evolve Therapy Solutions, PLLC, the new name reflects their mission to support individuals on their growth, healing, and transformation journey.

Led by Mary Banks, LCSW, Evolve Therapy Solutions offers a range of services, including individual counseling, family therapy, and personalized support to help clients navigate life’s challenges. Their approach integrates evidence-based practices with a warm and welcoming environment, ensuring that clients feel heard, understood, and valued. From managing stress and anxiety to overcoming trauma and major life transitions, Evolve Therapy Solutions empowers individuals and families to thrive.

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

The City of Batesville, in partnership with Olsson Engineering and Construction Manager TOLM Group, broke ground on Batesville’s new water treatment plant. This milestone marks a significant step in modernizing Batesville's water infrastructure, ensuring a safe, reliable, and sustainable water supply for future generations.

The new plant, designed to replace the aging 1960s-era facility, will meet the needs of Batesville's growing population and provide cost-effective, high-quality water service. The project's development reflects the strong collaboration between the City of Batesville, Olsson Engineering, and TOLM Group, all working to meet both present and future demands.

Community members gathered to celebrate the project's launch, highlighting the City's commitment to infrastructure improvements and growth.

"Critical infrastructure projects like this do not happen without a strong community, strong partnerships, and strong leadership," said Crystal Johnson, CEO of the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce. "Thank you to all who are helping us build a better Batesville."

"In 2023, Batesville citizens overwhelmingly supported this key project at the polls," said Mayor Rick Elumbaugh, emphasizing the importance of public support. "Water infrastructure is essential to any community's survival. I want to thank our citizens for stepping up time and time again. In 2017, we completed our award-winning wastewater treatment plant. Now, this new facility will continue our progress."

Elumbaugh also acknowledged the City Council's past and present role in supporting this vision.

Damon Johnson, Public Works Engineer for the City of Batesville, expressed gratitude to the community for their dedication, thanking the citizens of Batesville who voted to fund this facility with their sales tax. He also thanked the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce for communicating with and educating the public about these ballot measures, saying, "without their efforts, I'm not sure we would have been as successful as we have been."

"This new 16-million-gallon-a-day system is an investment in our future, securing high-quality water for residents, industries, and future growth across the community," continued Johnson.

President of TOLM Group, Brian Rohlman, underscored the project's significance: "Drinking water is something people take for granted, but it's the most basic necessity of life. We're honored to steward this project because we understand its importance."

Mayor Elumbaugh noted the years of planning that led to this moment: "This project has been over five years in the making. Here in Batesville, we don't kick the can down the road; we face challenges head-on."

Greg Smith, Vice President of the TOLM Group, added: "The collaboration between the TOLM, Olsson, and the City has been remarkable. A great team is assembled to execute this project over the next three years."

The new water treatment plant is part of a long-term effort to strengthen Batesville's infrastructure, supporting future development and ensuring the community's ongoing prosperity.

"I can't wait to see you all here in three years for the ribbon cutting," concluded Johnson.

Ambassadors in attendance included: Andrea Bruner (Network of Community Options), Amy Crouch-Howard (Weichert, Realtors - The Property Shoppe), Adam Curtwright (Centennial Bank), Amy Finster (FARCO), Julie Hinkle (Bank of Cave City), Lindy Hopper (First Community Bank), Tammy Jeffrey (First Community Bank), Michael Kelley (Peco Foods), Roxanne Rananudo (Family Violence Prevention), Sarah Ring (Southern Bank), Peter Rouiler (First Community Bank), Lori Tacker (Batesville Eye Care Center), Christina Watts (LaCroix Precision Optics), and Rickie Westbrook (Centennial Bank).

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of White River Commons, located at 1325 North Saint Louis Street in Batesville.

White River Commons is a new 100-unit apartment complex offering studio and one-bedroom units with all utilities and internet included. The development meets the growing demand for quality housing in the area, providing residents with a convenient, hassle-free living experience. Amenities include onsite laundry, and the community is family- and pet-friendly.

“We’re here to celebrate The Dels Corporation’s investment in White River Commons,” said Jamie Rayford, Chief Operating Officer of the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce. “We’re excited to see this reimagined space and the additional affordable housing opportunities it provides for our residents.”

The property is owned and operated by Dels Corporation, headquartered in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Dels Corporation is dedicated to creating sustainable, community-focused housing. With a focus on minimalism and eco-conscious living, the company offers modern, energy-efficient spaces that prioritize convenience and affordability.

“We’re thrilled to be here in Batesville,” said Abbie Poche, leasing director at The Dels Corporation. “We currently have 23 properties open and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Our mission is to bring affordable, high-quality housing to communities in need.”

For more information about the complex and current availability, visit thedelscorp.com.

“We’ve received an amazing response from the community about revitalizing this property,” Poche added. “It’s truly been a fantastic experience.”

Ambassadors in attendance included: Silje Antonsen (Venture Realty Group), Andrea Bruner (Network of Community Options), Jesse Cargill (UAMS), Amy Crouch-Howard (Weichert, Realtors - The Property Shoppe), Adam Curtwright (Centennial Bank), Ashley Engles (Citizens Bank), Eva Henriksen (Merchants & Planters Bank), Aaron Herndon (Citizens Bank), Julie Hinkle (Bank of Cave City), Katelyn Holt (Family Chiropractic Care), Tammy Jeffrey (First Community Bank), Michael Kelley (Peco Foods), Peter Rouiler (First Community Bank), and Sydney Wood (Main Street Batesville). 

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of Family Violence Prevention’s Anti-Human-Trafficking Resource Center at 2026 Byers Street in Batesville.

“It’s a wonderful day to welcome this vital new resource to our community,” said BACC COO Jamie Rayford. “We’re thrilled to celebrate the opening of the Anti-Human-Trafficking Resource Center, hosted by Family Violence Prevention, an organization that plays a crucial role in preventing and healing the wounds caused by violence in our community.”

“We want to raise awareness about this horrendous crime happening right before our eyes,” said Anti-Human-Trafficking Specialist Marilee House. “This center is open to the community, and we hope to offer a safe place for those in need.”

The center aims to provide a sanctuary for human trafficking victims to recover and heal. One key feature of the center is the “soft room”—a calming, comfortable space designed to help victims feel safe and at ease.

“Victims can come in and not feel like they’re being scrutinized or judged,” House explained. “A comforting environment makes it easier for them to recall events and share their stories.”

Family Violence Prevention’s Anti-Human-Trafficking Resource Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. The center offers advocacy, resources, and shelter to individuals in need.

Ambassadors in attendance included: Silje Antonsen (Venture Realty Group), Amy Crouch-Howard (Weichert, Realtor - The Property Shoppe), Katelyn Holt (Family Chiropractic Care), Michael Kelley (Peco Foods), Cassidy Mitchell (Lyon College), Roxanne Ranaudo (Family Violence Prevention), Brenda Rivera (First Community Bank), Lori Tacker (Batesville Eye Care Center), Tiffany Traw (University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville), Christina Watts (LaCroix Precision Optics), Sydney Wood (Main Street Batesville).

Introducing the all-new Experience Builder app—your ultimate guide to Batesville!
 
Plan personalized itineraries, explore top attractions, and stay updated on local events. With features showcasing the area’s culture, history, and natural beauty, you’ll never miss a thing.
 
Now available on the Apple and Google Play stores, the app enhances visits while supporting local businesses with exclusive deals and prizes for those who check into destinations with the Batesville Insider’s Pass.

The Lyon College Center for Career and Professional Development will sponsor its spring 2025 Career Expo for current students, alumni and the community from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, in the Becknell Gymnasium Garner Student Recreation Center on the Lyon College campus, 2300 Highland Rd., Batesville.

Recruiters from business and industry, as well as university graduate programs, will be on hand for the event designed to introduce both Lyon College students and other interested persons to potential future employers, internships and graduate studies.

"We’re excited to welcome employer representatives back to campus to connect with our students, faculty and community," said Patrick Lynch, director of the Center for Career and Professional Development. "With demand for talent at an all-time high, employers are eager to engage with the Lyon College community."

Attendees are encouraged to update their resumes and LinkedIn profiles, wear professional business attire, create a list of target companies, research the companies, prepare insightful questions and practice a 30-second elevator speech. 

More than 30 companies and organizations are scheduled to participate in this year’s event. The Lyon College Marketing and Communications department will offer complimentary professional photographs suitable for use in LinkedIn profiles.

The Center for Career and Professional Development works year-round to help students land full-time jobs and internships, offering programs for both students and companies. Students are offered one-on-one training in essential skills such as resume preparation, interviewing skills and career search.

Companies interested in being a part of the Career Expo can contact Patrick Lynch at Patrick.Lynch@Lyon.edu or call (870) 307-7227.

Gallery 246 is pleased to feature the watercolors of multi-talented artist, Aline McCracken during the months of February and March. Her watercolors of U. S. Highway Route 66, the Mother Road, the famous U. S. highway that connected the Midwest to the East Coast, helps remind us that we should "Always Take The Scenic Route." Aline was born in Stuttgart, Arkansas. She received degrees from the Memphis College of Art and Ole Miss. She studied Art Education at the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut to become certified to teach public school art. After 50 years of teaching art at all levels she is retired and now painting, sculpting and most recently returned to woodblock printing. Her work has been shown in many regional competitions and has won numerous awards. Aline can be found each week at the gallery painting and teaching. There will be an artist reception in her honor on March 7 from 5-7 p.m. at the gallery.

The Batesville Landing has a 3 bedroom, 2 bath bottom floor apartment that will be move-in ready by the 21st of February. Check it out: https://p7q.21a.myftpupload.com/

Is 2025 the year you leave the 9 to 5 job and step into your life's work? If you are ready to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families, we want you on our team! The Children's Advocacy Center of Independence County is hiring a Child & Family Advocate to support child abuse victims and their families. If rolling up your sleeves to support and help others is second nature to you, this is your chance to trade the ordinary for something extraordinary! Submit your resume to Rhonda@cacindependence.org and start making a difference today!

Urgent Community Appeal for Donations

A severe blood shortage is impacting the community, and Our Blood Institute needs your help. Recent illness outbreaks have removed the ill and their caregivers from the donor pool. Preemptive school closures and corporate and institutional drive cancellations are piling up due to impending severe weather. Work from home precautions have removed donors from their routine habits of giving blood. The net result is thousands of lost blood donation appointments. As a result, OBI’s ability to maintain a stable blood supply is critically strained. With a storm approaching, we are suffering disruptions at a time when the blood safety net is already weakened. Immediate community support is essential to support vital medical care.

Compounding this challenge, blood centers nationwide are struggling. Typically, in times of emergency, other blood centers could be relied on to help each other with the blood supply. However, with widespread illness and technical disruptions affecting one of the largest blood centers in the U.S., many other centers had to divert their reserve, sharable supplies to assist, leaving the national blood inventory severely drained. Without this safety buffer, we must rely on our local community to ensure patients receive the lifesaving blood they desperately need on an every-day-without-fail basis, not just achieving collections success measured by week-to-week or monthly averages.

“The situation is dire,” said Dr. John Armitage, president and CEO of Our Blood Institute. “It’s like discovering your pantry is empty just when you need to prepare a meal—except the stores are closed, and the shelves are bare. We must act now to replenish the supply before things become a lot worse than a missed lunch or dinner.”

The urgency is further intensified by one of the most severe flu seasons in 15 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "one indicator of flu activity is the percentage of doctor’s office visits driven by flu-like symptoms. Two weeks ago, that number was clearly higher than the peak of any winter flu season since 2009-2010, when a swine flu epidemic hit the nation." This widespread illness has directly impacted donor turnout for many weeks now, making blood donations more critical than ever.

Blood donations are essential for cancer patients, trauma victims, burn survivors, mothers giving birth and others facing life-threatening conditions. Right now, demand is high while donations are declining, leaving hospitals with dangerously low supplies. Every donation can mean the difference between life and death.

We urge all eligible donors to make an appointment today. Your donation is a direct lifeline for those in need. Visit www.obi.org/appeal to schedule your lifesaving donation now.

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.

[Batesville, AR] Independence County Library is proud to share its 2024 Year-in-Review, highlighting significant accomplishments and community engagement that demonstrate the library’s vital role in Independence County.

Throughout 2024, the library welcomed an impressive 89,757 patrons, with the library open 265 days to the public. This marks a daily average of 339 visitors, showcasing the library’s ongoing commitment to accessibility and service.

Circulation reached new heights, with 98,756 physical items borrowed and an additional 53,899 e-materials accessed through the library’s digital platforms, ensuring resources are available anytime, anywhere.

In 2024, 1,127 new library cards were issued, connecting even more community members to the wealth of resources and services offered by the library. The library’s dedicated volunteers generously contributed 2,340 hours, supporting daily operations and special projects.

The library also served as a hub for learning and community connection through its programming efforts. A total of 689 programs were hosted throughout the year, with a combined attendance of 12,369 participants. These programs ranged from educational workshops and cultural events to activities for children, teens, and adults.

The genealogy department remained a vital resource for patrons exploring their heritage, with 169 genealogy sessions facilitated by the library’s skilled staff. Technology access was another key service, as 4,013 individual sessions were logged in the public computer lab, highlighting the library’s role in promoting digital literacy and bridging the digital divide.

“Our 2024 statistics tell a story of growth, impact, and community connection,” said Sloane Lott, Community Engagement Liaison. “We are grateful to our patrons, volunteers, and staff for making these achievements possible. Together, we’re creating a space that fosters learning, discovery, and belonging for all.”

Looking at 2025, Independence County Library remains committed to innovation and service, continuing to adapt to the evolving needs of the community.

For more information about library services, programs, or upcoming events, please visit https://indcolib.com/ or contact Sloane Lott at 870-793-8814 or sloane@indcolib.com.

The Batesville Area Arts Council is pleased to present Lowkey Mixtape Metaphysic, an exhibition by Justin Tyler Bryant, at the BAAC Gallery on Main through March 7, 2025. This exhibition is sponsored by First Community Bank.

Bryant is currently an Assistant Professor of Visual Art and Curator of the African Art Collection at Philander Smith University in Little Rock, AR. His recent work investigates the past and present imagery of African-Americans to reflect a multicontextual narrative. In his work, he uses found objects, paintings, drawings, and videos to suggest a fugitive notion of Blackness.

Lowkey Mixtape Metaphysic is a series of paintings that reflect on Black fugitivity and cosmology. It uses a multifaceted aesthetic approach to show a multitude of Black modalities as to say that we are multidimensional, ontologically bountiful, and quasi quasar like; as it is believed that a quasar is the brightest star and contains massive black holes.

The Batesville Preservation Association has an exciting opportunity to present to the downtown residential and business district. The Sulphur Rock Elementary EAST Program has approached us with a project to create virtual tours for our historic homes and businesses within the historic district. This is at no cost and brings the benefit of access while promoting our area. I have attached an infographic with more details and included the links to apply for this service and an example tour. You may choose a portion, single room, exterior only, or entire structure. These tours will be uploaded to the brand-new BPA website www.historicbatesville.org. We are very proud to bring this initiative. These girls are very talented and we wish them success in their endeavor to create Timeless Tours. You can sign up today! Please share this as you see fit for any of your historic home/business owners. Thank you for your support of this BPA + EAST Collaboration. 

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.