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By Fred Paillet, OS Education Chair The mention of lotus blossom conjures up images of Chinese maidens strolling under decorative umbrellas beside garden ponds in the Forbidden City.  Or an Egyptian river boatman dressed in white robe and red fez wading in the Nile and handing a freshly plucked blossom up to an English matron waiting aboard her tour boat.  Lotus blossoms frequently appear in oriental art, such as the pedestal for images of the Budha or decorative carvings in Hindu temples.  My own first direct encounter with the lotus was in the form of small slabs of sparkling white and pleasantly crunchy vegetable served at a formal reception dinner during an academic exchange at the University of Beijing.  The oblong slices of these root vegetable pieces were punctured with round tube-like holes that were handy in picking them up with the heavy steel chopsticks provided as our only utensil.  When I asked my host, Prof Zehao, what exactly this condiment was, he called it lotus root.  The crisp feel of the exotic root seemed like a real taste of the orient.  A few times before that, any thoughts of exotic lotus on these American shores were assumed to be [...]

By Dana Steward, Youth Grants Committee      The Ozark Society Youth Grant Committee has announced its grant awards for this year.  Nine school and non-profits agencies have received $11,700 in grants ranging from $370 to $2,500. Students in kindergarten through grade twelve from the Ozarks Region and chapter regions are eligible for Ozark Society Youth Grants, with this year’s nine recipients coming from Arkansas, Missouri, and Louisiana.         The Ozark Society initiated its Youth Grant awards in 2020.  Recognizing that education in hands-on conservation and environmental sustainability is critical to our future, the Society determined to inspire the next generation to take part in protecting the Ozarks and nearby natural areas. With the addition of this year’s awards, since its inception, the Youth Fund has distributed $62,482 to 42 schools and non-profit groups, which have involved 9,500 children and youth engaged in building gardens and greenhouses, community clean-up and restoration, interactive education, watershed conservation, trail building, and more.      This year’s winners and their exciting projects include: PTA Arkansas Congress Pulaski Heights Elementary, $2200…Birds In Our Backyard Ozark Natural Science Center, $970…Turtle Tracking Leverett Elementary School, Fayetteville, $573.85…Native Plant Pollinator Garden Trail Mix NWA, [...]

By Brian Thompson, Ozark Society President      Chris Dixon, a native Arkansan from Sheridan, is a recent recipient of the Ozark Society Sassafras Hiking Award, which he qualified for by completing the Ozark Highland’s Trail, the Buffalo River trail, the Ouachita Trail, and the Ozark Trail in Missouri.   Chris is in his forties, works two jobs, plays competitive golf, and has five teenagers, so “it really does me some good to get away every so often.”      Chris has actually hiked the Ozark Highland’s Trail and the Ouachita more than once, section hiking them the first time around.   But, it is notable that his most recent outings on the Ozark Trail, Ozark Highlands, and Ouachita, have all been through hikes, meaning he organized resupply points    so he could complete them end to end.   “I hiked all three of them in the Spring.  On the Ozark trail, I would hear turkeys every morning.  This went on 13 days in a row.  They were my alarm clock.”      When asked about weather, Chris said that he actually had pretty good luck, except that on the Ozark Trail, a tornado had come through the West [...]

By Janet Parsch, Highlands Chapter [Janet says: This news item is tardy by only three years (!), but it is still worthy of some attention.]       On March 31, 2022, the Ozark Society Highlands Chapter and the Ozark Society Sugar Creek Chapter hosted a celebration called “Buffalo River … and Beyond” at Mt. Sequoyah Center in Fayetteville to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Buffalo National River. During the event Mark Foust, the National Park Service Buffalo National River Superintendent at the time, presented Ken Smith with a Ranger’s Coin. Foust recently described more about the Ranger’s Coin to me.      The Ranger’s Coin project, which started 20 years ago, is not an official National Park Service coin, as it is done by folks in their private capacities. Every year rangers nominate parks to be considered, so Mark nominated the Buffalo National River for 2022. The coin is produced in recognition of excellence in “rangering.” The ranger duties listed around the edge of the coin bring attention to the wide variety of work rangers do in, and on behalf of, national parks. The coin can be purchased to collect or distribute.   Mark [...]

By Carolyn Shearman, OS VP and Pack & Paddle Editor It’s a Big Ole’ Party Ya’ll! The Pulaski Chapter is planning to celebrate David Peterson receiving the Neil Compton award on June 28th at Alan and Janet Nye’s House from 2-4pm.  Everyone is invited - all Chapters and its free!  Just RSVP to Mary Schlatterer at: pulaskichair2@ozarksociety.net so we can get a count for the food. We will have catered hors de oeuvres, cakes, music by the Peterson’s son Everett, a special song by Alisa Dixon and Linda VanBlaricom, Pictures, Video, and plenty of ways to celebrate David’s accomplishments. The Nye’s Address is: Alan and Janet Nye 80 Belle River Point Maumelle, AR 72113     House Concert - After the Party For folks who are interested, Everett and his band, Big Love Car Wash, will be performing the same evening at a house concert. Doors open at 6pm, Concert at 7pm at the home of: Ann and Rick Owen 2501 Pierce St. Little Rock, AR 72207 This concert is $20 and you can mail Ann a check or pay her at Venmo @Ann-Owen-6.  To contact Ann, call 501-960-0063. www.biglovecarwash.com

By Brian Thompson, Ozark Society President     In November of 2024, just prior to the legislative session, we were advocating for public notification language to be restored to Rule 5 for permitting large swine CAFOs.   There was strong public response (thanks to many of you).  Rule 5 was finally withdrawn by the Department of Agriculture for “additional review.”  The rules review process was then suspended as a result of the start of the legislative session, which apparently is standard protocol.  The question of public notification in Rule 5 would go on hold, to be addressed following the adjournment of the 2025 legislative session.     The Arkansas Legislature then went into session.  Almost immediately, Senator Blake Johnson of Clay County, introduced SB84 “to prohibit a moratorium on the issuance of permits in watersheds.”   The specific target of SB84 was the moratorium on hog CAFO permits near the Buffalo.  Our coalition of conservation organizations (Ozark Society, Buffalo River Watershed Alliance, Arkansas Canoe Club, and the National Park Conservation Association) all mobilized members to oppose SB84 by writing the Senate Agricultural Committee members.   The bill would appear on the Senate Ag Committee’s agenda each week, with plenty [...]