Fitness didn’t just strengthen Valerie Solomon’s body and mind: it also opened doors that she never imagined and allowed her to create the life she has always desired, all in her hometown of Texarkana.

On any given morning at Oasis Beauty, there’s a quiet hum before the first brush ever touches skin. It’s the rhythm of two women who know each other well, moving easily through their space, trading glances, and finishing each other’s thoughts. Years of shared work have turned collaboration into instinct.

Their love story began as so many do: at a three-day silent meditation retreat in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. She was a just-retired music/arts teacher and mother of two grown children, who was grieving the recent death of her own mother; he was a 65-year-old ordained minister and spiritual counselor with four grown children and one child at home.

Careers are rarely built in a straight line. For Siera Nelson, every unexpected curve in her path played a role in leading her exactly where she was meant to be. Now the owner and operator of TXK Elite Crossfit, Siera’s journey was shaped not only by resilience but also a willingness to listen when her purpose called her in a different direction. 

Most couples build lives together. Drs. Janée and Jeff Atkinson have built both their lives and careers together, sharing a common desire to serve others in the field of dentistry. 

“It’s been really fun building careers in the same profession while building a life together,” Janée said. “Sharing the same field made it easy to grow together and enjoy the journey along the way.”

Finding a specific passion can be hard to do, but it hasn’t been a problem for 9th grader Maddison Franklin. Maddison has been involved in dance since she was 3 years old, and she doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon. She’s working hard as a Pleasant Grove Showstopper and colorguard performer to keep growing her skills.

For nearly 50 years, Sue & Carol’s has been serving more than home-cooked meals on State Line Avenue. The restaurant has also served dependability and comfort through familiar faces and the quiet assurance that some things—like peach pie and friendly conversation—can still be counted on.

But, unbeknownst to many patrons of this Texarkana staple, the family behind the counter was fighting a battle that had nothing to do with recipes or restaurant hours, and everything to do with survival.

FSLM Weddings: Carter-Conwill

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FSLM WEDDINGS: KYLA PRINSEN AND NATHAN JENNINGS

Last school year, 12-year-old Charlie Jack Horton noticed something troubling among his classmates at Texas Middle School. “I would see a bunch of kids that didn’t have backpacks, and so they would carry all their stuff—their folders, binders, Chromebooks,” he said. “They would carry them around to every class, and stuff would get lost. I thought that, if they had a backpack, then it would lower the chance of stuff getting lost and help with moving from class to class.”

Family movie nights, loud gatherings, and little feet pattering down the hall were always part of Heather and Adam Balmain’s shared vision of family. They are now able to live out these dreams with their three sons, whom they adopted through the foster care system.

Local Klancy Johnson-Barlow met her husband, Scotty, while he was visiting family in Texarkana. When the two were introduced, they hit it off immediately. “Of course I noticed how tall and handsome he was,” Klancy said. “I was even more impressed by his wit, sense of humor, and plethora of knowledge.”

For some, the biggest holiday conundrum is deciding on the appropriate time to put up the tree and bring out the Christmas decorations. Olivia and Caleb Coleman, Texarkana natives and new parents to twin girls, have been facing much bigger challenges as the holiday season approaches.

Most schools offer baseball, but few schools are as successful with it as Liberty-Eylau High School. In 2024, the team won the state championship. Senior Maddax Moore is an excellent team member as well as an excellent student.

“He was an integral part of winning the state championship,” said Ashley McCarter, a counselor at Liberty-Eylau. He and the team spent many days after school practicing until late in the evening, preparing for each of their games.