MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS
Jace Roberts CHIEF OF STAFF, MALVERN SCHOOL DISTRICT
WHAT MAKES MALVERN SPECIAL TO YOU? It’s a small town where the people genuinely care about one another and work to make it the best it can be. We have a great group of committed community leaders in town working hard for Malvern. WHAT MAKES MALVERN A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE? It is a caring, smaller community where people really look out for one another. Folks will go out of their way to help anyway they can. WHAT IS SOMETHING ABOUT MALVERN THAT YOU WISH MORE PEOPLE REALIZED? We are frequent visitors of the Ouachita River Park. It is a beautiful area for families to hang out and enjoy being outside together. DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN? IF SO, WHAT MAKES MALVERN A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY? It is a smaller community where everyone is very invested in the success of our kids. Kids are given the ability, along with hard work, to be successful in life and do anything they desire. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOBBIES? Hanging out with my family, sports and playing golf WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB AS CHIEF OF STAFF? I enjoy working with our students and staff and seeing the difference we can make in students’ lives.
Clare Graham INTERIM DIRECTOR, MALVERN-HOT SPRING COUNTY LIBRARY
WHATAT THE HAVE LIBRARY? YOU ENJOYED MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB Working with the local community and developing beneficial programs and services WHAT’S THE BEST-KEPT SECRET IN MALVERN? It is 3rd and Main Street Sweets in the downtown district — one of the best places to grab a sweet and a fresh lunch — and a lovely smile from the owner, Julie, is sure to brighten your day. WHAT SIGHTS/SOUNDS DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR VISITORS TO MALVERN? The historic Ritz Theater offers family-friendly entertainment and a classic atmosphere, or a stop at our local Keeney’s Food Market provides ribs or pulled-pork barbecue. WHAT IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE LIBRARY THAT YOU WISH MORE PEOPLE REALIZED? Libraries are more than just books. We offer programs and services that benefit our community. From computer and painting classes to resources for employment and education, we take pride in bringing information and recreation to you. HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN MALVERN? 20 years
Kinney Black U.S. ARMY RETIRED COLONEL, VICE PRESIDENT OF HOT SPRING COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
WHAT AFFILIATIONmomentWHATThe discoveryHAVEIS that SOMETHINGpromptsWITH YOUof long-hiddenTHE ENJOYEDme to HISTORICALABOUTlook historicaldeeper. MOST THE SOCIETY?facts. ABOUT HISTORICALIt’s the YOUR“aha” SOCIETYCountyThe annual historicalTHAT publication,YOU facts, WISH much The MOREof Heritage, which PEOPLEis is full provided REALIZED?of Hot by Springthe public.more than We a have family-tree members place,in almostand we 30 are states. locatedWe areat 118 much W. Second St.; the phone number is 501-229-1600. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO FOR FUN? I have raised nine litters of German shepherds. My puppies are all over Arkansas, and one is in Georgia. It’s kind of a catharsis. I spend time every morning with them for the six to nine weeks that I have them; then I do the same thing again that evening. So by the time somebody comes to get a puppy, they’re very comfortable going to somebody when you call them. When I call the puppies to come running, they don’t run under the porch and hide. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPOT IN MALVERN? My back porch. I can finally sit still, breathe deeply and ponder much.