At 26, I thought I’d have my style figured out. You know, chic capsule wardrobe, timeless blazers, maybe a go-to “signature look” like those women in coffee commercials who always seem perfectly put together. Instead, I’m caught somewhere between “cute college girl at brunch” and “trying to look like I have a 401(k).” … … Living in a small town like Texarkana makes the style struggle even more real. We don’t exactly have Zara on every corner or a stylist waiting in Neiman Marcus to guide us through the racks. Most of us young women are figuring it out piece by piece, literally.
… The Texarkana Children's Advocacy Center honored Kelley Crisp with its 2025 Texas Hero of Hope Award on Friday, Sept. 5. As Bowie County's First Assistant Criminal District Attorney, Crisp serves on the advocacy center's Multidisciplinary Team alongside professionals from various agencies. Her fellow team members nominated her for the award. … Those nominated are individuals who demonstrate extraordinary dedication and service to the mission of delivering hope, healing, and justice to child abuse victims and their families.
… At Haven Homes, every mile matters—because every story matters. Just ask Trent Lipps, a Haven Homes graduate whose life is now a testament to God’s redemptive grace. … “I grew up in a broken home with the most loving mother anyone could ask for, but an absent father. That void led me down a path of destructive choices—drugs, violence, arrests, and years spent cycling through jails and prisons. But God had another plan. Through the Haven Homes Recovery Program, I met Jesus Christ. His love broke through my hardened heart.
When I first approached the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana (UAHT) as a nontraditional student, I was filled with uncertainty. With only a ninth-grade education and a GED, I wasn't sure I was "college material." I shared my concerns with the director of the UA Texarkana campus and explained what I needed to succeed. I was immediately met with compassion, support, and a clear path forward. From day one, UAHT believed in my potential, even before I fully believed in myself. … I arrived as an unemployed single mother, unsure how I'd provide for my children or pay for college.
