On the Line

This week's "On the Line" reviews highlights from our first 10 episodes.

It's a great way to introduce someone new to the podcast — and to take a look back at all our fascinating guests so far.

If you like what you've been hearing, please take a minute to rate and review "On the Line" wherever you get your podcasts. A high rating on the Apple Podcast app is especially helpful.

And please help spread the word. You might be surprised how much difference a single recommendation can make, especially on social media.

THANK YOU for helping get "On the Line" off to a wonderful start!

As president and CEO of economic development organization AR-TX REDI, Rob Sitterley leads local efforts to bring new businesses and well-paying jobs to Texarkana.

Host Karl Richter talked with Sitterley about what it will take to rev up the regional economy and how REDI has been working to do so since its beginning in 2018.

You may be surprised by his ambitious vision for Texarkana's future. And you'll hear how you can help make it a reality.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and for this week's episode host Karl Richter spoke with some of the people leading the regional and local efforts of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

First, you'll hear a phone interview with Jacqueline Sharp, Arkansas Area Director for AFSP, and Sarah Allen, the group's North Texas and Oklahoma area director.

Then you'll hear Karl's conversation with Betty Jackson Carpenter, lead organizer of Texarkana's AFSP events, including two coming up in September and the annual Out of the Darkness Walk in November.

Betty shared the story of her daughter's suicide and how she chose to begin helping others in its aftermath.

You'll hear how to get involved, as well as what to do if you or a someone else is having thoughts of suicide and how to support those coping with the suicide of a loved one.

 

WHERE TO GET HELP, LEARN MORE AND GET INVOLVED

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

800-273-8255

The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

 

Crisis Text Line:

Text HOME to 741741

Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, high-quality text-based mental health support and crisis intervention by empowering a community of trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need.

 

Links:

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

AFSP Arkansas

AFSP North Texas

AFSP Texarkana

Texarkana Out of the Darkness Walk on Facebook

Gazette reporter Aaron Brand interviews longtime Texarkana journalist Sabrina McCormick about her recent travels and studies in Northern Ireland — and Sabrina plays a couple of traditional songs on the harp.

As executive director of the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Clark is responsible for one of the Twin Cities' most prominent cultural touchstones.

Since 2008, Clark has been in charge of TSO's long range planning, fundraising, development, marketing and administration.

It's a big job but — for someone who has devoted his professional life to bringing more music to more people — it's a labor of love.

This year, his work got even harder when TSO won a contract to manage Texarkana's historic Perot Theatre.

Clark and host Karl Richter talked about the orchestra and its role in Texarkana, as well as plans for improving the Perot and filling it with a wide variety of performances.

Ark-La-Tex Comic Con founder Ray Couch has a passion for all things fantasy and sci-fi that's infectious.

Host Karl Richter and Couch talked about what's in store at this year's convention — coming up Labor Day weekend — and dug a little deeper into what makes so-called geek culture so popular.

Whether you're a geek, a gamer or someone who doesn't quite get it, you'll enjoy Ray's enthusiasm, insight and personal story.

For more on the convention, visit arklatexcomiccon.org.

In this week's special episode, arts and entertainment reporter Aaron Brand takes the wheel to introduce and interview local musicians Heather Linn and Jase Bryant.

They talked about their musical partnership and performed a few of their original songs.

Where to follow Heather and Jase, and their band The Deacons:

Facebook — facebook.com/heatherlinnandthedeacons

Instagram — heatherlinn_music

YouTube — youtube.com/channel/UCdJyjX7vpL4d2taXkUdrUsA

TikTok — @heatherlinn_music

Dr. Ben Neuman talks about the science behind the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus that caused it and the vaccines that promise to bring it to an end.

Neuman didn't intend to become one of the most trusted science communicators of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But as the virus he helped name began to spread last year, requests from journalists and questions from ordinary people prompted him to begin sharing his expertise.

Now his video explanations on Facebook and YouTube have stacked up thousands of subscribers and views.

Neuman trained at the University of Toledo, University of Reading (United Kingdom) and The Scripps Research Institute before faculty positions in California, the U.K., Texarkana and now College Station, where he is a Professor of Biology and chief virologist of the Global Health Research Complex at Texas A&M University.  

Neuman has been involved in coronavirus research since 1996 and published more than 50 peer-reviewed papers on coronavirus molecular biology.  

He has grown and studied SARS and other coronaviruses, and his work includes discovering new corona-like viruses, understanding the way coronaviruses rearrange our cells as they grow and testing out new ways to stop coronaviruses.

Neuman serves on the international committee that names new coronaviruses, including the COVID-19 virus SARS-CoV-2, and he regularly shares his scientific perspective with the public through media appearances and his video series called "Ask Dr. Ben."

Host Karl Richter talks with Texarkana, Arkansas, City Manager Jay Ellington about his career, learning about the city and his three-point plan for making it better.

After a look at some of the week's news, Texas-side Interim City Manager David Orr talks about his deep Texarkana roots and all the latest in city government, including some of the big projects coming up in the second half of the year.

To participate in the State Line Avenue improvement input survey Orr mentions, visit statelinecorridor.com.