Stories by Kim Dishongh

Different high schools didn't deter young love It was almost game over for Lacy Barnes and Brandon Lambert before it even began. Lacy went to high school in Benton with Brandon's cousin and with one of Brandon's friends; Brandon went to school in... July 4, 2021

Banquet recognizes athletes, coaches Buffalo Bills quarterback Jake Fromm was the keynote speaker at the ninth annual Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps Award Banquet June 19, at the Statehouse Convention Center. Before the ba... July 4, 2021

Habitat for Humanity hosts beanbag celebration The sky was bright and the beanbags were ready as about 200 Habitat for Humanity of Central Arkansas supporters gathered for Baggo, Brats 'n Blues at The Rail Yard on June 12. The CornStars from Pros... July 4, 2021

George Mobbs, 101, was WWII flying ace George Mobbs still regrets violating a rule he set for himself while flying for the U.S. Air Force during World War II, even though everything turned out OK in the end. "There's an old saying that th... June 27, 2021

She quit her job to date her first supervisor Amy Glasgow was so nervous about interviewing for her first job that she barely noticed the store's assistant manager, though he would end up being part of her life far longer than the job. The assis... June 27, 2021

He didn't interest her at all — but that changed William Allen saw a girl moving down the sidewalk at Lincoln High School in Star City, and he knew immediately that he had to meet her. "She was kind of dance-walking," William says. "I thought, 'Wow... June 20, 2021

Girl, intrigued by farm, is now family historian Anne Prichard visited her family's farm near Kessler Mountain, just south of Fayetteville, every summer when she was a little girl. "I grew up coming to the farm in the summertime because Houston was... June 13, 2021

Uncertain in his career but certain about her Dana Glover felt like she knew Eric Spann before she even met him. He had his eye on the future, though, and he didn't see her in it just yet. In 1989, Dana had just finished college, moved to Little... June 13, 2021

Couple raising awareness of hunger with fundraiser Mica Strother enjoys whipping up things in her kitchen for friends and family. "I just generally like cooking," says Strother, who is the senior director of development for the Razorback Foundation. ... June 6, 2021

Chat at funeral starts couple on path together Kayla Ragsdale's first memorable conversation with Rayce Dauber happened when she was 11 years old and he came to her mother's funeral. "Really, my first conversation that I remember having with Rayc... June 6, 2021

Jenga, jumbo Connect 4 part of BrunchFest fun The Emerging Leaders Young Professionals hosted the Centers for Youth and Families annual BrunchFest on May 22 at Heifer Village. BrunchFest supporters picked up their BrunchFest passes, valid throug... June 6, 2021

Military life helps Joplin travel the globe, offer aid Retired U.S. Army Col. Paul Joplin knew from his 27-year career in the U.S. Army that he enjoyed working with people from around the world. He had already spent time in Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia and ... May 30, 2021

From an on-the-fly dance to an on-the-fly proposal Amy McDonnell didn't want to go to the fraternity party in 1993 where she met Pat Wike, and she didn't want to dance with him when he asked. She didn't even want to be in Fayetteville at the Universit... May 30, 2021

A 'shellabration' to last throughout the years About 300 species of turtles exist in the world, and 16 of them can be found in Arkansas. "That may not seem like a whole lot, but it's actually close to about 5% of the diversity in the whole world ... May 24, 2021

Acquaintances become couple after golf game Ardith Winters and Richard Wharry were acquaintances for years, occasionally playing bridge together and seeing each other at church. They were married, and then, over time, each was widowed. "We did... May 23, 2021

Don't box them in: World Turtle Day celebrates reptiles There are about 300 species of turtles in the world, and 16 of them can be found in Arkansas. "That may not seem like a whole lot, but it's actually close to about 5% of the diversity in the whole wo... May 18, 2021

Turtle rehab is best left to the experts Turtles have protective shells, but they aren't invincible. They are commonly injured by lawn mowers, cars, pets, propellers and gunshots, and sometimes they just get sick. "They get damaged a lot," ... May 18, 2021

HIGH PROFILE: Nancy Clowes Leonhardt learned selflessness at early age Nancy Leonhardt has not always had everything she needed, but both working and volunteering for nonprofit organizations is her way of helping to make sure other people do. "I had to grow up real fast... May 16, 2021

With a job in education, a hobby in sculpture art Robert Cavanaugh didn't enjoy school growing up, but he went on to have a successful career in higher education. When he retired, he embraced hobbies that allow him to spend most of his time outside. ... May 16, 2021

Two childhood friends become plus-ones for life James Harkins was just 7 years old when he declared that he would marry Amy Kemp. Years later, she agreed to be his plus-one for life. "I was in Hot Springs with a friend of mine and we were at these... May 16, 2021

Praiseworthy: 46 young men honored for year’s work with Champions of Hope The Centers for Youth and Families celebrated the 46 high school juniors and seniors who completed the Champions of Hope program this year during a barbecue April 25 in the pavilion at Blue Bird Field... May 9, 2021

Stars align for wedding after 6-year friendship There were no fireworks the moment Lauren Baker and Josh Kinder met, but a shooting star lit the way for them to move from friendship to romance. They had seen each other around Arkansas State Univer... May 9, 2021

Germinating idea: CALS Seed Library loans seeds to future gardeners The ways Central Arkansas Library System serves patrons is growing all the time. There are, of course, books, movies and music available for loan, as well as fishing poles, toys, tools and now ... see... May 8, 2021

Retired teacher touched many lives over decades Bettie Lu Lancaster has taught troubled students, college students and English as a second language students. "I probably learned as much from them as they learned from me," she says. Lancaster, 92 ... May 2, 2021

Ramsey podcast piques interest across state lines Dr. Chara Green and Reggie Fisher set out on individual paths to cull their debt, and they found their way to an enriched life together. Reggie first saw Chara across the foyer at Fellowship Bible Ch... May 2, 2021

Love overpowered history for American in Vienna Kurt Tweraser noticed that 18-year-old Gene Cohen was the most serious of the group of American girls studying in Vienna who spent time in the cafe he frequented in February 1958. He noticed that she ... April 25, 2021

His Natural State hikes reeled him in from LA Pete Ireland chose the more languid pace and natural beauty of Arkansas over that of his native Los Angeles years ago, and he has yet to run short of the urge to see it. At 80, Ireland has run more t... April 18, 2021

Overnight plane trip leads to 'happily ever after' Emily Argue and Jeff Stotts were at the same college for two years, but it took some randomly assigned plane seats to get them talking. Emily was a business and economics major and Jeff was a biology... April 18, 2021

Man asks for her hand -- third time's the charm George Cunningham watched as his friend talked with Ruby Foster, and he realized instantly that he just had to talk with her himself. "My friend was showing me around," says George, who was new to th... April 11, 2021

From living off pennies to running for governor Reginald Jeffery Hampton bought a house when he was just 14 years old, started preaching at 16 and was president of a college by the time he was 30. Now 85, he has done two stints as president of his... April 4, 2021

'Grumpy Gus' turns out to be husband material Cindi Provancha chirped good morning to Larry Eaton every morning for a couple of months before she got his attention. Larry, generally having been up late the night before, grumbled in reply to thos... April 4, 2021

She stole his parking space — he stole her heart Lynnette Romero and her friends admired Keith Rancifer from afar, and she at once declared that she would marry him ... and then he spoke to her. "He said, 'You're in my parking space,'" she says. H... March 28, 2021

He aided infrastructure, took part in I-630 project Sanford Wilbourn took an aptitude test in high school and the results pointed him toward a career in farming or engineering. "I grew up in England, Ark., and I knew all I wanted to know about farming... March 21, 2021

Pool league sticks Tim, Tracy together; cues a call Tim Holder and Tracy Goode were pals throughout their billiards league season. Afterward, Tim followed up on a cue that he missed hanging out with Tracy and gave her a call. Tracy was a student at Wi... March 21, 2021

Date confused as business meeting has happy end When David Maddox invited Colleen Considine to lunch, she thought they would be discussing "a fruit phone," which was industry code for the then-soon-to-be-released iPhone. They both worked at Alltel... March 14, 2021

Master brick mason, 99, built his kids a better life Editor's note: This is the first in a continuing, twice-monthly series on senior Arkansans and their lives and accomplishments. Chester G. Hood dodged bombs during World War II, ate unpalatable soup ... March 7, 2021

'Surprise party' match that was made in college Edwin Strickland showed up to a surprise birthday party a childhood friend was hosting for her roommate. The surprise was on him -- his friend masterminded a matchmaking. Edwin was a student at the U... March 7, 2021

Kitchen renovation builds a romance, marriage Laura Remmel's search for home renovation led her to the kitchen -- and the man -- of her dreams. Laura had heard Jim Powers sing with his brother in North Little Rock years before she actually met h... February 28, 2021

Her red hair got his attention right off the bat Jim Owens saw a beautiful girl walking down the hall while he was at work in late 1970 and he knew he had to meet her. "She caught my eye, and I asked people around the hospital who she was," he says... February 21, 2021

HIGH PROFILE: Judy Simmons Henry walked 'from the gym into the courtroom' Judy Simmons Henry's focus was on getting a medical degree, but a book altered her path. Henry was working toward a master's degree in general science at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, par... February 14, 2021

Blind date, broken kneecap lead to romance Gwen Green had never been on a blind date, and at 34, she wasn't sure she wanted to change that. In 2008 Gwen, a Hoxie native, had just moved back to Arkansas after living in Mississippi for several ... February 14, 2021

Nurse, orderly took 10 years to take the plunge Bob Stobaugh jokes that when Shelia Upton Baxley handed him a defibrillator the first time he saw her, his heart skipped a beat. Shelia didn't notice Bob then; he had just started working as an order... February 7, 2021

Bus trip with his head in her lap sealed the deal Wanda Caldwell and Earnest Merritt went to crosstown rival high schools in Midland, Texas, but they formed an alliance that has seen them through more than 40 years together. They were in the same fo... January 31, 2021

Cousin's equation equals pair's 60-year marriage Barbara Luebker had algebra class with Robert McCarley in ninth grade, but it was her cousin who completed the equation that got them together. Barbara went to Catholic schools until ninth grade, whe... January 24, 2021

Trip to Hot Springs the start of 30-year marriage A guy from Prattsville insisted that Chris Cloud, who was from Fort Smith, needed to drive from Arkansas Tech University at Russellville, where he was a student, to meet a girl from Hot Springs who wa... January 17, 2021

HIGH PROFILE: Angela LaVonne McGraw helps women and kids ‘during some of their darkest moments’ Twenty-four years ago, Angela McGraw spent two months living out of her car to keep her and her then-18-month-old daughter safe from her abusive husband before a blizzard drove her back home to him. ... January 10, 2021

She declined July 4 party, but sparklers were lit There were no fireworks for Chotsy Robertson and Ed Sheppard when they met on the Fourth of July but sparks flew soon after. Within months they were husband and wife. Chotsy was a business education ... January 10, 2021

Annoying weekly calls paid off in job, marriage Wendy Coffey called Rob Slattery at 8 a.m. every Friday for weeks before he gave her the job she wanted. He would later ask her to marry him twice before she said yes. Wendy was a community college s... January 3, 2021

Car 'trouble' leads to love firing on all cylinders Roz Riley's first solo foray in the family car was bedeviled by the dreaded "check engine" light. Kevin Newton worked at a service station and was happy to check out Roz -- and her car. Roz was one o... December 27, 2020

Seemingly inconsequential meeting leads to 50 years of marriage Jane Altom's friends had husbands and they wanted her to have one, too. After graduating from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, in 1968, Jane began a two-year mission trip in Chicago. Her ... December 20, 2020