Ozarks at Large

On today's show, examining another month of a pandemic’s effects on Arkansas. Plus, The ancient history of the osage orange, and much more.

We check in, one last time, with journalists at Arkansas COVID to explore how the virus affected Arkansas in November.

Remnant Osage Orange trees which were once plentiful across the eastern U.S. continue to grow on the Ozark Highlands as well as in a few other southern states. The unusual trees produce a highly valued decay-resistant wood, as well as large strange-looking green fruit – that only extinct megafauna relished. Noted author, Steven Foster, meets us under an elder Osage Orange on Mt. Sequoyah Center to share stories about the remarkable and little-understood tree.

This week's archives from the David and Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History take us back to December, 1968. We hear Arkansas' Democrats consider what the new president, Republican Richard Nixon, might do and learn how we could send telegrams faster.

“Seven Lucky Bunnies and the Magic Muffin Dance,” is a delightul new children's book authored by long-time Eureka Springs resident, Cheri White. The story is inspired by a whimsical illustration of rabbits created by Fayetteville artist, Christina Smith. The book also contains a recipe for magic muffins as well as several magical songs performed by the late Christy Simpson. Proceeds from all sales will be donated to the Berryville Public Library construction fund. White will sign copies of “Seven Lucky Bunnies and the Magic Muffin Dance” this Saturday from 10am to 2pm at the "Story Maker Book Fair" hosted by Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow, staged in Highlander Hall at the Eureka Springs Community Center.

On today's show, a world of magic influences a mint in West Fork. Plus, a new children’s book with magic at the heart of the story, some musical magic from the Firmin-Garner Performance Studio, and much more.

Michael Tilley, with our partner Talk Business and Politics, explains why the Fort Smith Metro has already set a new record in building permits and will set a new record for annual hospitality tax collections.

Twenty years ago, West Fork native Tom Maringer brought home a machine press and made himself a coin. Today, the Maringer family runs Shire Post Mint, a coin manufacturing facility where you can find products for Lord of the Rings, Labryinth, and the official Game of Thrones coins. Plus pizza coins.

Becca Martin Brown, the features editor with the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, says you can't do everything this weekend. You just can't. But you can have fun trying.

Traci Rae Manos is a sixth-generation Arkansan, a poet, and a songwriter. Her latest album Ozark Daughter, was released in late October. Traci, along with collaborator Ben Bergstrom, recently paid a visit to our Firmin-Garner Performance Studio to talk about the album, and to perform a few songs for us.