Four States Living Magazine

08/11/2026

Great profile.
When you do business, always think local first. The Primary Commons is such a nice addition to the four states area. Cody Peek is a home grown champion (from a farm to table menu to the people building the premises. And Farmers Bank & Trust? Local as long as anyone can remember.

08/10/2026

THE GREATEST ADVENTURE
How Homeschooling Became Our Family’s Story�
By Nichole Holze

Homeschooling was not on my radar as a parent. Our family moved to the Texarkana area in the fall of 2013 for my husband’s career. All too quickly, it came time for our son to attend kindergarten—full day, five days a week—and we felt unsettled with the choices that lay ahead of us. While no choice was a lesser or inferior option, we took time to sort out what felt best for our family. The rather surprising choice we landed on was homeschooling, which we tried after my husband suggested it and I recovered from the absurdity of the idea. Neither of us was homeschooled, and it wasn’t anything we had ever considered. Well, as it turns out, 11 years in, it’s the best decision we’ve ever made.

Over the years, three simple ideas have shaped how we do this. The first is what I call being responsibly brave: saying yes to new experiences even when they feel a little intimidating, while still being prepared and thoughtful. The second is building rhythm instead of rigid rules. Our week has anchors, like a nature walk on Wednesdays or a history read-aloud on Tuesdays, but there’s always room to follow a rabbit trail if the kids get excited about something else. The third is letting the world outside our front door be as much a classroom as anything else; an afternoon at a local museum can teach just as much as a morning at the kitchen table.

Read about Nichole's homeschooling journey here:
https://www.fourstatesliving.com/feature-stories/2026/7/31/the-greatest-adventure

08/08/2026

LINES OF LEGACY
Poet and professor dr. brittny ray crowell’s debut book, Cord Swell, honors generations of Texarkana residents�
By Ellen Orr

A published poet and professor at Clark Atlanta University, brittny ray crowell grew up in and around Texarkana, Texas, as the youngest in a four-generation home.

“Writing about my folks is really important to me,” she said. “I always say that this book is a work of extending elegy beyond lament; grief can only go so far, and so I try to think of different ways to make connections to people that I love and hang onto the kite string. I [ask my predecessors], ‘How can I show you that I still love you in every dimension of where you may be?’”

brittny attended TISD elementary schools and graduated from Texas High School in 2003. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Spelman College and then won a Fulbright, which allowed her to teach English in Thailand for a semester. She applied to graduate programs for creative writing and was rejected. “I didn’t know what I was going to do,” she said, “so I came back home.”

Read dr. brittny crowell's full story here:
https://www.fourstatesliving.com/feature-stories/2026/7/31/lines-of-legacy

08/01/2026

As the newest member to the FSLM family, Katie is ready to help Texarkana businesses get noticed, attract new customers, and grow. Give her a call or send her a message. We'd love to help your business shine!

https://www.fourstatesliving.com/whyfslm

08/01/2026

A FAMILY IN FOCUS
Circuitous paths led Crystal and Clint Smith to careers in education. Now, they empower their children—and countless others—with the strength to soar
By Jaime Knighton

At the Smith family dinner table, conversations don’t always begin with, “How was your day?” Instead, they’re often filled with discussions about lesson plans, student successes, journalism deadlines, classroom leadership, photography competitions, and the occasional string of educational acronyms that would leave outsiders completely lost.

For Crystal and Clint Smith—and their adult daughters, Allyson and Annie—education isn’t simply a profession. It’s a thread woven throughout their family, shaping their lives and their futures and, as Clint put it, “changing our family tree.”

If you or your children have gone through the Texarkana Independent School District, you may already be familiar with the Smith family. Clint Smith has been a media technology teacher, photography adviser, and online media adviser for the past 20 years. Crystal Smith is entering her third year as assistant principal at Nash Elementary School. Prior to moving into administration, she spent eight years in the classroom, teaching third- and fourth-grade English and science. Neither Clint nor Crystal initially set out to work in education, however.

Read the Smiths' full story here:
https://www.fourstatesliving.com/feature-stories/2026/7/31/a-family-in-focus

07/31/2026

07/31/2026

It's Back-to-School time! The August issue is going out today and it celebrates education in all its forms. You’ll meet outstanding teachers, inspiring students, accomplished authors who began in our local classrooms, college professors shaping tomorrow’s workforce, Bible-based educators, homeschooling families, and community members who invest their time and hearts into helping children succeed.

Grab a copy today! As always, you can view it on our website too:
https://www.fourstatesliving.com/

07/20/2026

MARFA ARTIST PROFILE:
CINDY HOLMES

Last year, local artists Cindy Holmes and Kenisha Webster were selected to showcase work in the 2025 Marfa Invitational Open. The Marfa Invitational Open is a major exhibition showcasing top Texas talents. It features over 150 artists, including newcomers and established figures across various mediums. The event aims to discover new talent while honoring Texas’ most celebrated artists. One year later, Cindy and Kenisha reflect on their Marfa experiences, as well as their lives as artists more generally.

Read Cindy's interview here:
https://www.fourstatesliving.com/feature-stories/2026/7/1/marfa-artist-profile-cindy-holmes

07/19/2026

SHOWING UP
Recipient of the Red Shield Youth Leadership Award, 18-year-old Brandon Bowman credits the local Salvation Army for providing him and his sisters with a home—and a family
By Phoebe Warren

“Family is not who you’re related to. Family is who shows up when you need them most,” said Brandon Bowman, 18, the inaugural recipient of the Salvation Army Red Shield Youth Leadership Award, for both Texas and Arkansas. When Brandon and his sisters were taken in by the Salvation Army’s Center of Hope in Texarkana, they were carrying the weight of circumstances no children should have to navigate. What was to come, however, became a testament to the power of community. The people Brandon met through the Salvation Army became far more than staff members or volunteers. They became role models, and, in many ways, they became family.

Read Brandon's full story here:
https://www.fourstatesliving.com/feature-stories/2026/7/1/showing-up