MyPulseNews.com Mena Arkansas News covering Polk County and the surrounding area 
Sharon Chambers notes the excellent workmanship that created the hand-pieced, hand-quilted raffle quilt to be given away at the Ouachita Quilt Show during the Lum and Abner Festival June 3-4. Chambers chairs the quilt show. She says she’s looking forward to seeing the work of area quilters at the show, adding “just bring your quilts to Mena’s Historic Armory on Wednesday, June ...
May, 2016
March, 2016
- 16 March
Thanks for the Retirement Party!
BY KIM HUGHES – Last Friday, March 11 was my retirement party. I won’t officially retire until March 31, but this was the only date everyone from the Extension office could make it. I want to thank everyone that came out – I was really surprised and pleased to see so many people. We had cake, punch, and all kinds of ...
- 9 March
Saucer Magnolia
BY KIM HUGHES – As I drive around Mena, I see that one of my favorite spring-blooming trees is showing off its beautiful white and purple flowers. Some people call it a tulip tree, but it is really a Saucer Magnolia. Every gardener is a bit of a gambler or they would never plant saucer magnolias. This beautiful tree blooms ...
- 2 March
House Cleaning 101
BY KIM HUGHES – Are you ready to clean your house but can’t figure out what area to tackle first? Does it really matter? The answer to this question is maybe yes, maybe no. If you haven’t tackled house cleaning for a while, just making any kind of dent will probably be just fine. Don’t get too bogged down on ...
February, 2016
- 24 February
Gluten-Free Grain Quinoa Gaining in Popularity
BY KIM HUGHES – There is a gluten-free grain gaining popularity, called Quinoa, pronounced KEEN-wah. Quinoa contains more protein than any other grain. It’s a complete protein, containing all essential amino acids necessary for good health. Quinoa was first harvested in Bolivia thousands of years ago. It has a mild flavor and light crunch, which makes this gluten-free grain a ...
- 17 February
Walk Across Polk County
BY KIM HUGHES – If folks can come from all over the world to walk across our beautiful county and enjoy its scenery, couldn’t you and a group of friends walk across Polk County for better health? Through a modest increase in daily activity, most Americans can improve their health. “Walk Across Polk County” is a program that persuades and ...
- 10 February
Care & Maintenance of Ornamental Grasses
BY KIM HUGHES – Ornamental grasses are valued as low maintenance plants and have become increasingly popular in home landscape use. The two maintenance requirements that ornamental grasses have are annual cutting back of spent foliage and the division of large grass clumps. Fertilizer – Ornamental grasses require relatively low levels of fertility. By keeping the level of nitrogen low, lodging ...
- 3 February
EHC Apron Workshop Coming Up Soon
BY KIM HUGHES – The Extension Homemakers Council (EHC) is planning a workshop to teach people how to make an apron from a pillow sham, quilted fabric, or just regular fabric. This event is planned for Saturday, February 13 from 10:00 am until noon at the Extension Education Center at 211 DeQueen Street in Mena. Extension Homemakers started in Arkansas 104 years ago. Since 1912, members ...
January, 2016
- 27 January
The MIND Diet
BY KIM HUGHES – Newly published research suggests that a specific diet called the MIND diet may reduce the incidence of brain disease that increases a person’s risk in developing Alzheimer’s disease. The recent study shows that the MIND diet lowered the risk of Alzheimer’s by as much as 53 percent in participants who adhered to the diet rigorously, and by ...
- 20 January
January in the Garden
BY KIM HUGHES – Happy New Year, and let us hope we will have a great growing season in 2016! Our December was much kinder and gentler than last year, so let us hope that trend continues in January and February. The warmer than normal December had some plants confused and we had a few spring blooming plants thinking spring ...
