Siloam Proud

Siloam Springs Proud 4C n Wednesday, June 24, 2020 Siloam Springs Herald-Leader gates.com GATES IS THERE WITH THE RIGHT PRODUCT, IN THE RIGHT PLACE, AT THE RIGHT TIME. DRIVEN BY POSSIBILITY. Starter, Alternator, Generator Service - Hydraulic Hose Assemblies • Quality Aftermarket Automotive Parts 880 S. Lincoln St. Siloam Springs 479-524-3760 FINALIST A Real Automotive Parts Store that supports its community A Real Automotive Parts Store that supports its community 200 Progress Ave Siloam Springs, AR 72761 479-524-6605 | dogwoodjunction.biz BRANDS WE CARRY BEFORE YOU BUY YOUR NEXT BIKE OR TRIKE, VISIT OUR SHOP! ➤ Free Cycling Advice From Our Experienced Staff ➤ Indoor Test Track for Test Riding ➤ We Fix Most Bike Problems ➤ Full Service Bike Repairs ➤ All Bikes Are Guaranteed ➤ All Newly Purchased Bikes Are Assembled by Professional Mechanics ➤ Bike Accessories Available Our hometown We weren't expecting another trip yet, and we can't just git-up-n-go when pulling a trailer; it takes planning. But last October when I heard that my brother in California was deathly ill (not from covid-19), I wanted to see him. Although we planned to be gone for a month, we were gone for almost three months. Life is short, and we never really know what will happen from one year to the next. Not even from one day to the next. We didn't know that co - vid-19 and the related po- litical battles were about to hit the world when we packed up and hit the road. Although uncertain- ties on several fronts were abounding, and staying home was much more ap- pealing than traveling, I needed to see my brother. We really enjoyed the time with him. We played Rook a lot, ate grapefruit and oranges that grow in his backyard, and made lemonade from his lem - ons — yep, growing in his back yard. He's not out of the woods yet — meaning, we still have reasons to be concerned — but he's do- ing better. But can you believe it? I missed our home. Turn- ing east on I-8 as we left the San Diego area, I told Carol, "I can probably put this rig on auto-pilot, and it should be able to find its way home." She laughed. As we crossed the Ar- kansas border in Siloam Springs, Carol and I surprised each other by spontaneously erupting in unison: "HOME! WE ARE HOME!" We broke into joyous laughter. Carol is a native Wash - ingtonian from Seattle, and I'm a native Califor- nian from San Diego; so, why do we call Siloam Springs "Home"? The compound answer is simple, and I'll elucidate on several factors. Some years ago, one of my cousins near San Di - ego asked, "What's the dif- ference between Southern Cal and where you live?" I understood his intent, and responded, "Jim, in Southern Cal, you use a freeway to go almost everywhere. In Siloam Springs, we have to look hard to find a freeway." That answered it for him, and is one of the reasons we like it here. Everywhere man lives, there are problems be - cause many people haven't responded to our Savior, Jesus Christ. But from my observations in our travels, we have much fewer problems in our town than in a great many other places. If you remember, back in 2012 the Smithsonian magazine named Siloam Springs in their list of the "20 Best Small Towns in America." I agreed with Smithsonian then, and I still agree. It is peaceful here. For the most part, people in our town want to get along with others. Our citizens are intelligent. Our police department is staffed with upstanding, trustworthy, caring men and women who strive to keep us safe. People are willing to help others. One of the most important benefits of living here is the seren - ity that we experience. I understand that not ev- eryone feels it, but Carol and I do. Siloam Springs is in an ideal setting. We have safe- ty, security, serenity, and solitude when we desire it. We don't have the crush of humanity pressing in on us from all sides, yet we're close to several busy and bustling towns such as Rogers, Bentonville, Fay - etteville, and not too far from Tulsa. When we need to satisfy our desire for the Big Town Feel, those towns are available. While on travel, people ask me where we live. When I tell them "Siloam Springs, Arkansas," most people don't know where that is. But for those who do know, they normally respond with, "Oh, I've been to Siloam! It's a beautiful and peaceful town, and I understand why you moved there." I know why we moved here, too. It is one of the nicest towns we've ever been in. Anywhere in town I might need to go is within walking distance. Walmart and Braum's are only three miles from home, other places I frequent are closer, and the town has provided walking trails for the adventurous souls. While the controver - sies regarding covid-19 were flooding the nations' headlines, we went out only to get food, Carol and I did a lot of reading and writing, and we did not get cabin-fever. We didn't even feel imposed upon by the governmental decrees. Why? We were HOME. We have the peace of God in our hearts, and the peace of Siloam Springs all around us. We enjoy living in Si - loam Springs: Our home town. — S. Eugene Linzey is the author of 'Charter of the Christian Faith.' Send com- ments and questions to masters.servant@cox.net. Visit his website at www. genelinzey.com. The opin- ions expressed are those of the author. Gene Linzey Reflections on Life "They are amazingly positive people and pres- ent a very good face for our high school, for our people coming into the office, and represent us well," said Superintendent Jody Wig- gins, who worked closely with Rakestraw and Smythe when he served as assistant principal and athletic direc- tor at the high school. A good team Sit down and talk with Rakestraw and Smythe and you will quickly notice they finish each other's sentences. During the past 15 years they have been working to- gether, they have never had an argument or been mad at each other, they said. "They are just a wonder- ful team," Lindley said. "It almost seems like they live inside each other's brain, they finish each other's sentences, they comple- ment each other very well and know each other's next move." Their institutional knowl- edge is very helpful, he said. Smythe started work- ing in the district in 1999 at Southside Elementary School and then moved to Northside Elementary School. Rakestraw has been working in the district since 1990 and has worked at the junior high, high school, Northside Elementary, the library counselor's office and in the migrant pro - gram. In 2005, they both came to the high school at the same time and have worked together ever since. "We are pretty easygo- ing," Smythe said. "Cheryl is easy to get along with. We work well together." "We are a good fit," Rakestraw added. "She is the computer-savvy person and I'm the yakker. I can talk to anybody that comes into the office and I do, but we just kind of complement each other." "My strengths are her weaknesses, her strengths are my weaknesses and we are a team," Smythe con - tinued. Rakestraw and Smythe's responsibilities include an- swering the phone, buzzing people into the school, enrolling new students, making announcements, delivering the mail, send- ing transcripts for former students, taking care of the copy machines, gathering homework for students who are absent and gener- ally taking care of the needs of teachers, students and parents in addition to other assorted tasks, they said. Multitasking is the most challenging part of being an administrative assistant, they agreed. "I think people don't re - alize how much just goes on," Rakestraw said. "That you're multitasking with a phone call, and a parent standing there and a kid needing a schedule, just something that has got you (going) in five different directions. I feel like we are really good at it, it's just that sometimes it's overwhelm - ing." For example, at the end of the day Smythe some- times looks at her phone to see she has received some- thing like 112 phone calls, made 58 phone calls and missed 10. "During the school year we might start telling a story at the beginning of the day and as we are walk- ing out to go home in the evening, it's like "Oh yeah I've got to finish telling you that,'" Smythe said. Even though they are busy, they find time to have fun. Recent graduate Abby Hornbuckle remembered a time that Rakestraw took a child-sized bicycle on a ride around the office for a test drive to lighten the day. Rakestraw has Chuck Nor - ris' name on the back of her name badge and Smythe has Sylvester Stallone's. "If we have to be tough guys we can, or we can be Cheryl and Ann," they said with a laugh. Students the real motivation Rakestraw and Smythe love working together and love their co-workers, but the students are their real motivation. "We love the kids," Rakestraw said. "That's the reason we are all here anyway." Many times, all students need is to have someone to listen to them, Rakestraw and Smythe said. They especially try to watch out for new students and fresh - men who are still learning the ropes. "High school kids are just fun," Smythe said. "They're adults without much expe- rience, you know, and they come in and we listen to a lot of kids that come in. They don't want to go to the counselor, they don't want to tell their teacher, mom doesn't listen and they come in and talk to us." Hornbuckle worked as an office aide with Rakestraw and Smythe last year. She knew she could always count on the two women for a laugh, encouragement and to help her relax and cheer her up if she was hav - ing a bad day. "They were so much fun, first of all," she said. "They were super sweet but al- ways got the job done. To just be around them was super fun and it was kind of like a change of pace for my day." Librarian Ashley Pledger, who just completed her first year at the high school, said Rakestraw and Smythe welcomed her and helped her feel like she was adopt - ed into the school family. "They are the face of our school. … It is a very large school but it has a small town feel to it because of how caring they are," she said. The two women take ownership of the school, they know the students and their parents and they are problem-solvers, Pledger said. "They are not putting in their time, they are truly caring about the school community, the Siloam Springs community at large," she said, describing Rakestraw and Smythe as kind and funny. "They love kids. They are not just here to run an of - fice, they are here because they love teenagers. They act like teenagers them- selves," she said with a laugh. 'You will love it here' When new students and their parents come to sign up, Rakestraw and Smythe tell them "you will love it here," and they mean it. Rakestraw chose to bring up her two sons in Si- loam Springs Schools and Smythe's two daughters also came up through the school system. Now Smythe's grandchildren are attending Siloam Springs Schools, she said. "When somebody comes to tour your school and they are (from) out of town or out of state, you want to make the best impression, you want to tell them the most positive things about your school," Rakestraw said. "We don't just tell them that, we believe it," Smythe said. "We're not just saying that to be nice. We raised our kids in this school." If it seems like they enjoy their jobs, it's because they do. "I think we are the face of Siloam Springs High School, simply because when they walk in the door, we are the first people they see," Smythe said. "I think that whenever … the new parents come in, that have never been in our school before, it's important to be kind, be friendly, smile like we enjoy our jobs, because we do. All of that is real. It's not something that we pretend to do, because we really do (love our jobs). I think it's important to show them that this is a good place, this is a welcoming place." WELCOME Continued from Page 3C T hey are the face of our school. … It is a very large school but it has a small town feel to it because of how caring they are. Ashley Pledger SSHS librarian Photo submitted Ann Smythe (left) and Cheryl Rakestraw are known for their friendly smiles and sense of humor. ARAUNP42454 *Farm Bureau® Mutual Insurance Co. of Arkansas, Inc. *Southern Farm Bureau® Casualty Insurance Co. *Southern Farm Bureau® Life Insurance Co., Jackson, MS FaveRates.com 1601 SW A Street Bentonville, AR 72712 479-273-7786 2125 East Main St., Ste. 13 Siloam Springs, AR 72761 479-524-8400

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