Washington County Enterprise-Leader
PG Chamber Hands Out Annual Honors
PRAIRIE GROVE — In light of Valentine’s Day, it might be appropriate the Prairie Grove Chamber of Commerce recognized two couples on Monday night during its annual banquet at Prairie Grove High School.
The Chamber honored one couple as the 2018 Citizens of the Year and the other as owners of the 2018 Business of the Year.
Crescent Department Store, located in downtown Prairie Grove and owned by Travis and Shannon Stearman, received the Business of the Year Award.
Rick and Kara Ault, who have lived in Prairie Grove about 13 years and are involved in the community, their Prairie Grove church and Northwest Arkansas,
were named Citizens of the Year.
About 130 people attended the banquet in the high school commons area. Members of Arvest Junior Bank Board helped to serve and the meal was catered by Steve and Mary Bartholomew. State Rep. Charlene Fite gave the invocation. Prairie Grove High Jazz Band provided entertainment.
Dale Reed, chamber president, said a committee looking at nominees for Business of the Year and Citizen of the Year considers businesses and individuals who have shined in the last year or two and usually several rise to the top.
“Every year we come up with what we believe are some great recipients for these awards,” Reed said.
For the business award, the committee is looking for one that has made an impact not just from being a local business but from the business owners’ involvement in the city and community.
“And they do this while also involved while running their business,” Reed said, noting, “We have a lot of small business owners in here tonight and as you know that’s not always easy. We’re blessed in Prairie Grove to have so many businesses and so many business owners that call PG home.”
When it comes to selecting a Citizen of the Year, the committee is looking for those who desire to make Prairie Grove a better place, said Larry Oelrich, a member of the Chamber board.
“What it takes to be a good citizen is easy. You see a need and you reach out and try to help fill that need. You support the community and make yourself available when needed.”
Crescent Department Store
Crescent Department Store opened in downtown Prairie Grove in 1924 as a dry goods store. Travis and Shannon bought the store in 2007 and kept the name to continue the Crescent tradition.
Reed, who presented the business award, said he remembered going to the store as a child with his mom to buy a “brand new pair of shiny blue jeans.”
Crescent Store still sells blue jeans but the marketplace has seen a lot of changes over the years, especially since 1924, Reed said.
Today, the Crescent Department Store sells a variety of fashion apparel, jewelry, unique gifts, purses, hats, bags and monogrammed items, including clothes and bags to support Prairie Grove Tigers, Farmington Cardinals and Lincoln Wolves.
“Travis and Shannon have done a very good job of changing with the marketplace. They’ve overseen the transformation from a traditional department store to the unique, local boutique it is today,” Reed said.
Reed noted the retail industry has been hit hard by the push of online sales and big box stores but these large retailers are missing one thing and that’s what local stores provide.
“They cannot match the local service or the local products offered by smalltown businesses such as Crescent’s. They know what the people of this community like and they are involved with this community and that’s what makes a local business local.”
Along with their local business, the Stearmans also are involved in the community and help the community in many ways. Reed said he was proud to present Crescent Department Store as the 2018 Business of the Year.
Rick & Kara Ault
Oelrich, in presenting the Citizens of the Year award, described Rick and Kara Ault as a “dynamic duo.”
The two have established themselves as a couple not afraid to give of themselves and to share their talents, energy and passion for others, Oelrich said.
“They support this community and share their appreciation of it by giving to others. Like so many of us who weren’t born in Prairie Grove, they have adopted this town as their home,” Oelrich said.
Rick is a longtime employee with Wal-Mart and currently is director of security and risk. Kara is publisher of Fayetteville’s Macaroni Kid, an online newsletter and blog that highlights family activities throughout Northwest Arkansas.
Both are active in their church in Prairie Grove and in the community. Rick chairs a new steering committee to try to get Prairie Grove named to the Main Street Arkansas program. Kara volunteers with the school and many organizations in the area.
Most visibly in Prairie Grove, they are the owner/ operator of the new Prairie Grove Town Center, the former city building that once housed the police department, district court, water department and long ago, the Magnolia Gas Station.
Rick has slowly been renovating and restoring the old building. Today, a new coffee house occupies one side of the building and another part of the building is being used for exercise classes, dance classes, parties, reunions and as a place for community events. A Little Free Pantry to help those with food needs has been placed outside the building.
Oelrich shared that Rick and Kara met in a chat room.
“What they were chatting about we’ll never know … But whatever the conversation was, Prairie Grove is fortunate they did,” Oelrich said. “This dynamic duo has embraced the giving spirit that makes this community special. Their compassion and enthusiasm for others set them apart in a community that has many compassionate and enthusiastic citizens.”