Hot Springs On The GO!

Greetings, Hot Springs! You may have noticed a new face as you opened up this month's issue. Born in Illinois and raised in Hot Springs since infancy, most of my 27 years have been spent in the Spa City with my parents and younger brother.

I'm a graduate of Magnet Cove High School and have been with The Senti

nel-Record team for nearly a year and a half. As the new associate editor of this magazine, I can truly say I've found the place I'm supposed to be.

The theme of this month's issue is especially important to me as it focuses on something very near and dear to my heart: pet appreciation. I have two “fur babies” of my own, and anyone who knows me knows that the first thing I would do if I won the lottery is build an animal refuge for rescued animals.

This month, you'll meet Nera, the 14-year-old border collie/chow mix who has lived at the Humane Society of Garland County since the age of 3. A quiet and shy dog, she's been looked over, ignored and forgotten, sitting in a cage for the past 11 years of her life. We're telling her story and documenting the process of her pet makeover in this issue, in hopes that she will catch someone's eye and find her “furever” home.

As winter will soon turn into spring and we'll begin spending more time outdoors with our four-legged companions, we'll cover the do's and don'ts of taking care of our pets and showing them the appreciation they deserve.

Whether you're enjoying the races at Oaklawn Park, walking downtown and basking in the unusually warm weather (temperatures in the high 60s, low 70s in February!), or attending one of the many events that our artsy, quirky town has to offer, I hope 2016 has in store for you new memories, health and happiness and I look forward to this new adventure!