It is easy for me to talk about and write about my love for and pride in Siloam Springs.
It was a bit more than 20 years ago, readers who know me might recall, that my husband and I moved here from Iowa. It was time. In our mid-50s, we had raised our four children; they were all grown and the youngest was coming to attend John Brown University and to play some basketball. We loved high school and college basketball, still do, and our family business had been the old-fashioned service station whose time had run out. I always said everyone was rushing toward the bright, shiny convenience stores rather than the older service station/tire businesses like my husband ably ran, so we made a decision to follow our daughter to Arkansas, watch her play ball, and be involved in the lives of our other children here in this area.
We have never regretted the decision, and believe God had a hand in bringing us here. Speaking of God's Hand, He has quite a number of churches available to residents here. I have long voiced the opinion that, if one cannot find a suitable church here, it must be because he is not truly trying.
And the town of Siloam Springs has grown from about 8,000 people to now close to 16,000 and still going. It has been exciting to be a part of such a growing area. Remember, we had lived in a very small town in Iowa in a rural area that seemed to be going nowhere. It is still a wonderful place to live and raise a family, don't get me wrong, but not a vibrant place to watch things happen. So we became Arkansawyers and, though we remain Iowa Hawkeye fans for sure, we have grown to be solid Razorback fans. I often say it was an easy transition from being "Hawks" to becoming "Hogs"!
During the years we have lived in Siloam Springs, my husband Don and I, and our daughter Rebecca, lived and worked here in three of the most people-oriented entities we could ever have chosen. Don worked for the city of Siloam Springs, I worked for the Herald-Leader, and Rebecca, worked for the Siloam Springs School District. Don and I have since retired but Beck still teaches and coaches and helps keep us active and interested in all things connected with young people who will make you laugh, smile, cheer and cry -- if you have any emotions left in your being. She since has married and they now have a wonderful little 9-month-old baby daughter Ashlin who brings us more joy than can be explained, although I keep trying -- as my readers know!
The physical improvements we have seen in Siloam Springs include many (in no particular order): The widening of Highway 412 around the south side of the city; the building of Progress Avenue running north from Highway 412 to Highway 43; the building of the new City Hall, then more recently the move of the Police Department to 412; the move of Walmart to the east side and the resulting development out there of retail places, including Lowe's.
Medical facilities have also found their way to the east side of Siloam Springs, including, of course, the new hospital of a few years ago, on Progress Avenue and Tahlequah, along with the Pediatric Clinic, a nearby dental office, and the Community Physician's Group's new location on Highway 412 where ground was recently broken. A road was built from near the hospital out to Highway 59 and was a good move to help expedite the movement of traffic to and from the high school, the hospital and nearby entities. There are veterinary clinics, dental clinics, physical therapy clinics, fitness places and other entities designed for our and our animals' well-being, of interest for prospective residents to take a look at. Exciting stuff, all.
Then, there was the new high school which was built, also just a few years ago close to the hospital (or vice versa, whichever way you see it). It offers a spectacular Panther Activity Center where a very successful Class 6A State Basketball Tournament was hosted in 2015, with hopes for more in the future. The new football stadium will open in fall 2015 where soccer activity is also now found. My husband and I are so very proud of all those facilities and were especially proud to be a self-appointed welcoming committee for the afore-mentioned state basketball tourney where people came from various points across the state to watch their teams compete -- and see the local Panther girls qualify for the state championship game in Hot Springs. Wait until 2016, I say!
While we are thinking about schools, let me say that Allen Elementary School has been a wonderful addition to the school system of Siloam. And the "old" high school was improved immensely to fit the junior high students now there. It was fun last winter to attend a few games in the "old" Panther Arena, which was brand new when we first moved to Siloam, although we were reminded of the too-close seating with cramped legs while watching the games, and no railings to hang onto while climbing the bleacher steps. But I always grabbed onto friends and strangers alike to keep from falling and people always smiled at me in return. Thanks, fans.
John Brown University has grown by leaps and bounds since we arrived in 1994, with many new structures added. The one we appreciate the most, and use the most, is the newer basketball arena which was so badly needed for so long. The walking trails that go by and around JBU offer some great physical activity, especially the one along the creek where one can stop and use the stationary stretching and reaching structures put there for the walkers to enjoy and improve their bodies. JBU also gives community folks many musical and dramatic productions. And the big library is for use to the public, too. I love living in a small Christian college town!
The retail shops in Siloam offer much to us shoppers across town. Walmart leads the pack, of course, like they do in every town in America. I still grieve over the loss of J.C. Penney. But progress dictates we move along. I love the little shops in downtown Siloam, now a vibrant and lively spot whereas just a few years back it was pretty unlively (as in "dead" maybe?) but now there are very few empty places among the buildings there. The new bridge across Sager Creek on University was a wonderful project, and beautiful, too. We like to go downtown on a Saturday afternoon to stroll around, catching the little unique shops on Broadway and adjoining streets. The Farmers Market on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings at City Park, managed by the Main Street Siloam people, is a great place to fellowship with others as well as to shop for produce and other things. I recall the widening of Dogwood Street north from University and it was a wonderful deal allowing a lane for bicyclers; then the same street was recently widened going south and it makes for much smoother driving.
Under the heading of "entertainment" in Siloam Springs, I would include Siloam 6, offering current movies. There is no longer a roller-skating rink, sad to say, but there is fishing in Sager Creek, the previously mentioned high school sports, and there is the Kayak Water Park, south of town on the Illinois River where the Walton Foundation built a beautiful outdoor facility next to the newly-built Fisher Ford Bridge. It makes a lovely destination for a Sunday afternoon drive with free splashing -- in a life jacket. The annual Dogwood Festival in late April, held in downtown Siloam with crafts for sale, and lots of entertainment for the weekend, is wonderful fun. The annual rodeo at the rodeo grounds near the new high school lets the cowboys and cowgirls ride and rope in competitions in late June. The grounds can be reached on the newly built Sue Anglin drive, which connects Highway 43 to Tahlequah St. which goes on east to Highway 59. And I almost forgot to mention the new city library, which we will very soon see rising from the ground at the corner of Jefferson and Mount Olive streets -- a fantastic new addition to our city; I cannot wait! We will see what becomes of the present library then; I have heard what that building might become but I hesitate to say until I know it to be a fact.
I have tried to recreate, in my mind as I write, all the improvements to our town and all the pluses as I see them. For those I might have skipped, I apologize.
All in all, Siloam Springs, with its lovely dogwood trees all over, is a great little town to live and work in, to raise the family in. We are glad we live here with gazebos in the downtown parks, several parks along Sager Creek, like pearls on a chain and a gorgeous new postcard-sign on a wall off Broadway Street near the creek. I would say to all comers, "Come and park in Siloam Springs!"
Or better yet, come and move around while in Siloam Springs!
-- Jan Mullikin is a Siloam Springs resident and former employee of the Herald-Leader. She can be reached at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Community on 06/24/2015