Season 1, Episode 22

Kecia Sandusky

Kids' librarian ready for summer reading program

I dropped by the Columbia County Library Tuesday morning and found Kecia Sandusky, the children's librarian, up to her elbows in babies and toddlers. They had come for the reading time and for 15 minutes, she kept their attention. It wasn't just reading--the kids took turn ringing the starting bell, making flowers from tissue, and of course following along in the story.

I had come out to find out about the Summer Reading Program that kicks off this week. Sign up starts Thursday, June 1 and continues through the Kickoff Party on June 8 from 11 until 1. Pick up your book bag with a book you can keep, enjoy a hot dog and get ready to start reading this summer. Kids (and adults!) can log their reading on the READsquared app to complete missions and earns prizes during summer reading. 

Lots of activities are scheduled at the library this summer, so if you have little ones, plan to involve them in one of the following:

• Babies and toddlers Storytime, Tuesdays at 10:15
• Preschool Storytimes for 3-5s, Wednesdays at 10:30, includes craft
• School-age Storytime, Tuesdays at 1:30, includes craft
• Robb Holladay's Magical Balloon Show, June 15 at 2 p.m.
• The Kinders in Concert, July 20 at 2 p.m.

Visit the library on North Jackson street to pick up your calendar of summer activities and learn more about the many resources Kecia mentions in the podcast.

And as always, click the play button below to hear Kecia tell "the rest of the story" of how this well-traveled lady became the Children's Librarian at the Columbia County Library. You may even hear her tell the difference between Pickles Gap and Toad Suck!

Season 1, Episode 21

Ken Stonecipher

New cookbook features matriarchs of Magnolia

Ken Stonecipher, one of L.A.'s most eclectic and talented artists/musicians spent some time in Magnolia recently promoting his newest magnum opus--a cookbook entitled Still...Magnolia's Matriarch's. As the subtitle explains, it's a culinary portrait of some of the finest women who ever lived in Magnolia, Arkansas.

We spent a good part of Sunday afternoon reminiscing and getting myself au courant on the latest about Ken. This interview was one of the most je ne sais quoi of any I have done. I laughed, I cried, I listened incredulously and you will too. And most surprising of all, it's my first podcast featuring live music performed by the composer himself! 

Ken said he was asked to sing at Asbury Methodist Church Sunday morning and obliged by writing a song in two short days, and one that would go along with the parson's sermon at that. My wireless mics don't do the piano justice, but listen carefully to the words and you will be in awe at Ken's talent and convicted about your relationship with God!

But back to the cookbook. As David told Ahimelek about the sword of Goliath, "There's none like it!" And there's certainly no cookbook like this. It features thumbnail sketches of the lives of some of the great women of Magnolia. As Ken tells it, he knew many of them personally and had sat at many of their tables. 

"But most important, these women knew us and nurtured us and taught us and loved us with a dedication and driving force," Ken writes. "No, not everyone has pleasant memories of their mother...a most unfortunate thing. But regardless, mothers are known the world over as that one special person we need, we turn to, we lean on and remember the longer we tread this earth."

The matriarchs range from Elsie Adams to Kathryn Brown to Maurice Groves to Sue Lovell and Mary K Wyrick to name just a few. Perusing the many names brings fond memories of the golden days of our community. And there's a special page  right up front remembering Karen Garret Pierce, who contributed mightily to the culinary landscape but was tragically taken from us too soon.

Then there are the recipes! As Ken points out, the Southern cupboard is filled with staples such as Velveeta, cream of anything soup, bacon fat and plenty of Cool Whip and Jell-O. While the use of such everyday items might suggest many of the dishes are similar, his response was, "Yes, but you haven't tasted my mama's!"

So you won't be surprised to find a recipe for Mom's Cheese Roll, Cranberry Fluff, Mexican Cornbread, Basque Style Potatoes, several Beef Stroganoffs, and Coca Cola Chocolate Cake. The recipes are divided into appetizers, soups and salads, breads and rolls, vegetables and side dishes, main dishes and meats, desserts and cookies, and candies. There's even a closing "Miscellaneous" section that will surprise you with all it includes.

The cookbook is invaluable, not only in its breadth of material, but also because of its sentimental value. It would make a great gift for newlyweds as well as for family and friends who love the food of L.A.

 You may order copies by sending a check or money order with your shipping information to Ken Stonecipher, 439 Heath Place, Smyrna, TN 37167. Cost is $35 plus $5 shipping. A limited number of copies are available locally at Asbury Methodist Church or the South Arkansas Heritage Museum.

If you're a fan of Ken Stonecipher as I am, or would like to get to know "the man, the myth, the legend," by all means--grab a box of tissue, click the play button, and get ready for an entertaining half hour of good, clean fun!

Season 1, Episode 20

 Doug Sikes

Work underway on new history for Columbia County

Doug Sikes is the publisher of Acclaim Press, the company that is currently working to produce a new volume of history for this county. He and Mike Gee, local historian, were working together this week to get the word out on the new volume. If you haven't heard about the plans for a new history of our county, here's your chance to have your family, church or business included in a keepsake reference volume that will be around for years to come!

The deadline for submitting your family information has been extended so if you haven't finished yours or been putting it off, gather up your info and send it in. The brochure on how to submit your invitation is available right off the main counter in our local library on North Jackson Street. Even if you're not a writer, the company can help you get your info in good shape for publication. 

Doug and Mike were also contacting local businesses sharing how they can get their company's information in the keepsake edition. I viewed a copy from another county during my interview with Doug and I was impressed with its quality. If you've never seen a World Book Encyclopedia, you won't appreciate the paper, binding and leatherette cover this book will boast. I was also impressed with the 200-year guarantee on the paper quality. I intend to save my receipt should there be any issues during the coming centuries!

The podcast got off to a slow start, as I was mesmerized by the tie that Doug was wearing Monday. It was gorgeous! Then when I glanced at his business card and saw that he's listed as publisher for Acclaim Press, I was further gob-struck. But I got over it shortly and things were going well until I asked if I could submit a photo of me for publication along with information about the Ford family. You'll be surprised at how diplomatically he handled that question. And an invitation to have lunch with Doug and Mike at one of Magnolia's finer eateries smoothed my faux pas completely over. When they hinted at using one or more of my drone photos of our community in the volume, we became friends for life!

Take a listen to this edition of Life in LA and learn how your family, business,  or church can be included in this new volume coming out in 2024. You can contact Mike Gee by email at mgee@arkansas.net or Acclaim Press at ColumbiaCountyBook@AcclaimPress.com or drop by the local library for more information.  Or visit the South Arkansas Heritage Museum on West Main to learn more about what our heritage is all about.