Elodia Witterstaetter is the principal of Westlawn Elementary School. She is a devoted educator and was recently honored by the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association for her outstanding leadership.

Texarkana native Sandra Dodd Young graduated from Texarkana ISD in 1965—the year that the district began a slow process of racial desegregation, starting with the first grade and moving up year by year.

The wedding of Hannah Massey and Ethan Eppinette caught our attention for a number of reasons, and we knew our readers would want the first look.

Most would assume the glimmering girls strutting across the pageant stage would be unwilling to get their hands a little dirty. However, this stereotype is wrong, especially in the case of the newly titled Miss Texarkana’s Teen, Katie McClure.

History happens and then, sometimes, gets buried. Pieces of our heritage get chipped away, and the lessons of the past must be relearned by future generations. Even our physical landmarks often erode in such a way that the story of a place becomes modified.

Mikayla Langford, owner of One Sweet Soirée, is known locally as “The Balloon Girl.” After moving around the country from Missouri to Nashville to Pennsylvania and beyond, Mikayla and her husband, whom she met in high school, moved back to East Texas.

Mark Braley realized this accomplishment on June 24, 2021, at the ripe age of 50. On this date, after years spent tinkering, Mark devoted himself full-time to being a luthier.

Lynnlee is a student at Genoa Central High School, where she participates in the gifted and talented program, yearbook, track, cross country and cheer. Outside of school, she takes multiple dance classes and is an assistant teacher at TDA, where she assists with the Darby’s Dancers class.

David Freeman has left many marks on the Ark-La-Tex. Currently, he is working on a new mural in downtown Texarkana: the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales on the side of Crossties Event Venue at 324 East Broad Street.

“Broncy Donkey is a business born from adversity,” Founder Misti Calhoun said. “In 2018, I was struggling to get by. I was working six days a week and not getting near enough time with my kids. My desperation to make more money, combined with impulsiveness, caused me to reach out to a guy who had advertised a set of old leather-working tools for sale in a Facebook ad.

When Lisa Garner (née Barr) was 20 years old, she quit her job and then drove straight to the fairgrounds because “the first place you go when something’s wrong is to your grandma, of course,” she recalled.

Fay J Durrant is no stranger to serving the Texarkana community, from business owner to volunteer. Fay J is a member of the Texarkana International Rotary Club, where he has served as a member and past president.

On July 15, 2021, Felicia was awakened by a phone call from her pastor. She thought it was a “butt-dial” and didn’t think anything of it, but when her grandfather Jim called immediately after, she knew something was wrong.

Texarkana is home to many talented interior designers and decorators. FSLM asked several local professionals to offer insight into their craft. Whether your space needs a quick makeover or a full-scale renovation, look no further than these experts for your interior-design needs.

Yufan is still in the infancy of her musical career, but with her bow in-hand, she knows that she can conquer anything thrown at her.

The owners of Colley Cottage Trading Co. aim to offer unique, personalized pieces of home décor that are sure to fit any style. Bubba and Leah Colley work hard to create custom pieces of furniture, home décor, and floral arrangements that honor the past while looking to the future.

There are so many things Grace House could mean, and yet, to those who need Grace House, and those who serve at Grace House, it’s much more than just one thing. In fact, it is THE thing.

Robin Clem and Amy Clem Coleman are sisters who love to sell.  Following in their parents’ footsteps, they run their family business with expertise, hard work, and care.

Texarkana boasts an incredible 2,000 acres of maintained parks and protected wilderness. These spaces enable all people to engage with nature, exercise, play, compete, relax, and gather safely.

Jerry and Yulin Brewer have been partners in business and life for over 30 years. They have raised a family, run a successful business, and consistently support the Texarkana community in various ways.