by Carmella Fryer, Miss May 2016

I have a hard time when people ask me about my hometown. Is my hometown where I grew up or where I currently reside? I looked it up and as it turns out both are correct. My most natural response when asked about my hometown is Alma, Arkansas, the town in which I grew up.

For all y’all foreigners (i.e., not from Alma) it’s pronounced AL-muh. A woman recently argued with my mother and me on this matter. She told us her friends make fun of her for saying it this way. They told her it is pronounced ALL-muh. We told her the friends were wrong. She looked at us as if we were poor, uneducated souls. Mom and I both grew up here. Mom still lives here. I’m pretty sure we are authorities on the pronunciation. I don’t think we ever convinced her of the correct pronunciation. I share this now as a public service announcement.

You may have stopped in Alma many times and not realized it. For years it has served as a pit stop on the way to Northwest Arkansas. Interstate 40 intersects with Scenic Highway 71 and Interstate 49. Because of this you will find quite a few fast food restaurants, stores, gas stations and motels along the Highway 71 strip, most of which have everyday names recognized in most places. There are a couple local food establishments worth noting.  Up at the top of the hill on 71 is the Pizza Parlour. My brother and I were partially raised on the pizza in this hole-in-the-wall. The décor will take you straight back to nineteen-seventy-something. The pies are good and easy on the pocket book. The supreme and taco pizza with salsa are our family favorites.

Just south and across the road from Pizza Parlour is The Catfish Hole. This is the new fancy location. The original was a few miles north in a small, shabby house near my childhood home. I’m a traditionalist and stick with the fried catfish. I have no doubt that everything else on the menu is good, too. Be sure to get the fixin’s which include hushpuppies, coleslaw, pickles, onions, and green tomato relish.

If you enjoy shopping for antiques and good deals then visiting Alma is a must. There are several antique/flea market shops stretching along Highway 71. Three miles north of Alma on 71 you’ll find A to Z which has a little bit of everything, from crafty supplies to groceries and sporting goods. There’s even an antique/flea market shop on site. If you are looking for high-end furniture at a bargain price, head another mile or two north on 71 to Dean’s Furniture.

One of the things I love most about Alma is its juxtaposition of small town, country living with elements you might expect to find in a bigger city. In other words, Alma has always been just a little too big for its britches and I’m proud of that. Alma is host to Eagle Crest golf course which is on the Natural State Golf Tour. It is home to one of the largest Aquatic Parks in the area. Possibly the biggest juxtaposition of all is the Alma Performing Arts Center which serves to bring the arts alive in the River Valley area.

As you can tell, I’m quite proud of my hometown. I could go on and on for days talking about this little pit stop. If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll stop by for a visit.