The Good News and the People Making it Happen
March cannot be here already!
But, it is. So, let’s celebrate that March is Women in History Month with our Premiere twist of highlighting both those who made history in our communities and those striving to “Make” history with their efforts of today.
Allison Hestand is a power to be reckoned with, for sure! You will not find anyone who is more dedicated, organized and an “out-of-the-box” thinker than Allison. She is a project master—cheerleader of teams who manages to be sweet right through some of the trying times that others would, well let’s just say, “not.” Paragould is fortunate to have Allison on its team as she continues to make Paragould a better place to live, work and play.
Alycia Stroud may head up a typical women owned business, home health care, but she started from the perspective of a nurse rather than a businessperson. The growth of her company has shown that this perspective and her experience working with insurances and programs that fund eldercare services has proven positive.
If you know me, you know I am a history buff. So, the first time I heard the story of Ritter Communication being the result of a woman wanting the communities she served to have what they needed to prosper, I knew I wanted Premiere to tell its readers about Mary Ann Ritter Arnold and her leadership in an era of male domination in most all business -- but especially in agriculture and technology.
Richard brings us the story of Mary Ann Schreit and her mission to save the Greene County Courthouse. When I moved to Paragould in 1995, I met with “the white hair posse,” ... I’m not sure which of the group coined the term but it was self-proclaimed at the time. Mrs. Schreit, Mrs. Cothren and Mrs. Allen were the first “preservation” group I had encountered, and they were a force to be reckoned with. I learned so much about community spirit and perseverance from them and the whole entourage of folks they garnered to help make the courthouse what it is today.
We salute all the women making contributions to growing their communities in positive ways and wish we had space and resources to honor them all. We hope you enjoy these few and are inspired to make your own efforts to be one of the “People Making the Good News Happen.”
-Dina Mason, Publisher
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