Strength. Grit. Determination. These are all traits that Liberty-Eylau senior Kamariee Ellis exhibits.

Creativity flows from many sources. For business partners Dani Hamblett and Traci Pitman, pop culture has provided a wealth of inspiration.

Motherhood bonded them, and the need for community pushed them to build a business. Friends Audrey Anderson and Joy Sandefur are the owners and operators of Fit4Mom Texarkana—a pre- and post-natal fitness group for moms of all ages and stages of motherhood. 

We knew God’s plans were not ours, but we still did not have a quench for the desire for us to have a child together. We just prayed, ‘Lord, if you have another idea for us, show us the way.”

Jerry Rochelle underwent a Keep the Beat heart screening at Arkansas Heart Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas. Keep the Beat is a screening and educational program offered only at AHH that enables anyone to take control of their cardiovascular health for the low price of $99.

Doulas are service professionals who provide educational, emotional, and physical support to pregnant people before, during, and briefly after delivery—both for hospital and non-hospital births. Midwives, meanwhile, are educated healthcare providers with expertise in uncomplicated or low-risk OB-GYN care.

Take a deep breath. Exhale. Feeling your lungs expand and sink in your chest is something that many of us take for granted. For Texarkana local Rebecca Beasley, however, a deep breath of air is something that inspires endless gratitude.

The humming of the engine, the jostling from turbulence, and the occasional beeping are all sounds most people are accustomed to while aboard a plane, but few know what it’s like hearing those noises from the cockpit. At 17 years old, Pleasant Grove High School junior Jeb Baugh is one of those few. 

Every year in January, Four States Living Magazine presents some of the most beautiful and exclusive weddings of people hailing from the Texarkana area. In the following spreads, we proudly showcase happy couples’ most anticipated days through photos they have shared with us.

Ben Rice has music in his blood. His parents are former music ministers, and his four siblings all share a love of music. Many musicians are similarly inspired, but few have the opportunities and drive to achieve the success that Ben enjoys. From Texarkana to Hollywood, artistic wishes have paved his path.

Jayce Keil and Brian O’Reilly are luxury destination wedding photographers who have traveled the world helping couples document the happiest days of their lives. They invest a lot of time studying wedding trends and finding ways to infuse cultural influences into their work.

Hillary Cloud is a former soccer player and coach. She’s a mom to two young children. She’s a manager of a youth sports league for kids with disabilities. She’s also the co-owner of a business in downtown Texarkana. All of those things require guts, and thankfully, Hillary Cloud has no shortage of those. 

It’s the week after Christmas break. Students mill around and fill the desks at Pleasant Grove High School. But one desk remains empty. It belongs to Caleb Hackleman.

For much of my adult life, I’ve been in the “waiting room.” Throughout my twenties, I prayed fervently for Mr. Right. One day, in a sweet revelation, I realized Jesus fulfilled every character trait on my list. However, I still desired a husband.

You probably know Dawn Olivieri from her work in the hit television show Yellowstone and related miniseries 1883. However, during the SAG/AFTRA strike of 2023, Dawn stopped telling neo-Western stories and started living one. She traded working with horses on-set to rescuing horses facing slaughter.

Emma Cooley is a curly-haired, spirited seven-year-old from Hope, Arkansas. Though Emma’s life now seems quite normal, this is not a reality that any of the Cooleys take for granted. Only 11 months ago, after two and a half years of treatment, Emma completed her final round of chemotherapy.

Texarkana native Peyton Sims became interested in the region’s most famous crime as a teenager when she wrote an article about Texarkana’s Moonlight Murders for the Texas High School student newspaper.

It is April 29th, 2023. The Texas A&M–Texarkana Eagles baseball team is playing at Spring Lake Park; they’re in the fifth inning. Freshman player Matthew Delaney is excited to have a break from his normal “freshman” gameday responsibilities. Standing in the left-field bullpen, Matthew throws a football with one of his teammates, and then—

Bang.

Sisters Sherry Watkins (née Hall) and Karen Hall are, in some ways, stark opposites. Sherry is a type-A introvert who loves quiet nights at home, sharing takeout with her husband before an early bedtime. Karen, meanwhile, is the life of the party.

Everyone has a different experience with grief. For Autumn Phelps, a tremendous and tragic loss is driving her to help others.