Ep 26. The Keeper of the Records: Joanie Howell's Vision for Lonoke County Clerk

Summary

AR NET Podcast: Ep 26 — "The Keeper of the Records: Joanie Howell’s Vision for Lonoke County Clerk"

Date: February 24, 2026
Host: David Bratton
Guest: Joanie Howell, Candidate for Lonoke County Clerk

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Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, David Bratton sits down with Joanie Howell, a lifelong Cabot resident and candidate for Lonoke County Clerk. Joanie delves into her robust background in administration, community engagement, and music promotion, before outlining her vision for bringing transparency, accountability, and much-needed modernization to the County Clerk’s office. The conversation provides a candid look at the challenges facing Lonoke County government and Joanie’s commitment to positive change.

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Guest Introduction and Personal Background (00:40–07:11)

Early Life and Education

• Joanie is from Cabot, Arkansas, and has witnessed its growth from a small town of 2,500 to its current size.
• She went back to school for business at ASUBB after her husband’s heart attack, motivated by the need to provide for her family.
• Her career has included roles in administrative work, accounting, and homeschooling her children.

Professional Experience

• Worked in medical records early on and then as a claims processor at Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, advancing from entry-level to increasingly responsible positions.
• Experience includes accounts receivable and coordination of benefits, requiring high attention to detail and a strong foundation in record-keeping.

Community and Music Engagement

• Relocated to Mountain View, Arkansas, for her husband's health, where she was invited by the mayor to revive the local music scene.
• Organized music events, managed bands, and was nominated for "Promoter of the Year" by the Arkansas Country Music Association in 2021.
• Served as president of the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce, growing membership and increasing the budget by $25,000 post-COVID (05:55–06:44).
• Led efforts drawing weekly audiences of 400–500 to downtown music events, providing economic benefit to the community.

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Understanding the Role of County Clerk (07:11–08:17)

• Joanie explains: “The county clerk’s office is like the record keeper of the county…marriage licenses are recorded there, all of your voter registration, everything is done through that office. It’s the HR too of the county. Payroll is handled out of there.” (07:29)
• The clerk oversees handling money paid out for county bills, manages elections, and supervises payroll for all county employees.

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Problems and Opportunities in the Clerk’s Office (08:18–15:22)

Audit and Accountability Issues

• Joanie reveals troubling findings from state audits in 2022 and 2023, noting unauthorized payments and recurring payroll errors due to lack of oversight.
  • “Employees in the county clerk’s office were getting paid for time that they did not earn.” (08:31)
  • Raises for two employees ($2,000 each) were given without quorum court approval, creating ongoing taxpayer liability. (09:52)
• She criticizes the absence of leadership and accountability, stating, “I know last year I worked in the courthouse and I saw [the current clerk] in January and didn’t see her maybe till June. This is an elected official…not even been there.” (10:44)
• “That’s the whole reason that I’m running for this office…there just doesn’t seem like anybody’s held accountable or…changes that are just not being made because ultimately that’s going to cost the taxpayer.” (09:22)

Culture and Treatment of Employees

• Describes a hostile work environment and poor employee treatment in the office, including an ongoing federal discrimination lawsuit against the county.
  • “There’s also a friend…a federal discrimination lawsuit against the county that…stems from the county clerk’s office. Why can’t people just be treated with common decency and respect?” (14:35)

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Need for Modernization and Transparency (15:22–18:37)

Technological Lags

• The office still relies on paper timesheets, which are open to manipulation or error.
  • “In 2026, people are still using paper…paper time sheets that they fill out their self.” (16:04)
• The website and digital access to records are inadequate, forcing residents to travel physically for many services. Joanie suggests a total revamp for public convenience and accessibility.

Vision for Technology and Service

• Emphasizes prioritizing up-to-date systems and a customer-service mentality: "Everything that I can do to make it best for the citizens of Lonoke County." (18:17)

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Howell’s Vision for the Clerk’s Office (18:37–21:50)

First-Term Goals

• Update internal processes and institute new technology for efficiency.
• Audit current systems and practices comprehensively.
• Build a new, user-friendly website with accessible public records.
  • “I would love to have a lot of those updated processes in place. I would like to have brand new website.” (18:48)
• Attend Association of Arkansas Counties training to learn best practices and innovations.

Values and Commitments

• Promises to be present and accountable: “I will be at work. I will be ever present.” (21:23)
• Advocates for open communication, an open-door policy, and transparency in every aspect of her service.

Notable Quote:
“My motto was the change the voice. The change we need, the voice you deserve.” (21:50)

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Why Voters Should Support Joanie Howell (20:25–22:15)

• “Because I will fight for them.…Their voice at all times should be able to be in that office. And it should be that it is centered around working for the voters of Lonoke County. I plan on going in there and doing the very best job I can for them.” (20:34)

Her Promise:

• Defend taxpayer interests
• Ensure government works for the people
• Bring a fresh, energetic vision to the office after 18 years under the current incumbent (22:15–22:25)

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Social Media and Contact Information (22:35–23:28)

• Facebook: Joni Howell — Lonoke County Clerk (22:41)
• Personal Facebook: Joanie Howell
• “I’m just the kind of person that likes to talk to people. I like to look them in the eye…and I think that you can tell that more face to face.” (22:54)

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Final Reflections and Closing (24:12–25:06)

• Joanie reflects on service and faith: “My grandmother had a plaque on her wall that said, the will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you. If it’s God’s will, I’ll be in this position and he will give me the absolute grace that I need to do this job for the citizens of Lonoke County.” (24:55)
• Emphasizes readiness to lead and the necessity of stepping up when no one else will.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On accountability: “Everybody needs to be accountable to somebody.…We’ve got taxpayers that we work for and we're accountable to them.” (12:13)
• On modernization: “There’s a lot of antiquated systems that need to be updated.…I’ve looked at other area county websites and there’s so much more accessibility to records that would help the public so very much so.” (17:06–17:51)
• On her motivation: “I was living a pretty easy life.…But when you recognize that there’s a job that needs to be done, but there’s nobody that wants to do it, there’s nobody that’s going to step up to the plate.…I’m stepping up to the plate.” (24:12)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:40 — Joanie’s roots and upbringing in Cabot, Arkansas
• 01:47 — Motivation for business education and returning to work
• 04:02 — Transition into music promotion and Mountain View community leadership
• 05:55 — Revitalizing the Chamber of Commerce and local economy
• 07:29 — Duties of the County Clerk explained
• 08:31 — Audit findings and lack of accountability
• 13:04 — Need for cultural and process change
• 15:39 — Discussion of technological deficiencies in the office
• 18:48 — Vision for success and first-term goals
• 20:34 — Why voters should support Joanie
• 21:23 — Commitment to being present and accessible
• 22:35 — Social media presence and direct outreach
• 24:12 — Closing thoughts on faith, service, and public trust

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Summary

This episode spotlights Joanie Howell’s candidacy for Lonoke County Clerk. Through personal stories, she builds a case for why her background in administration, passion for service, and firsthand knowledge of the county’s challenges prepare her to modernize and reform the office. With a focus on accountability, transparency, and public service, Howell invites voters to choose fresh leadership and a renewed commitment to serving the citizens of Lonoke County.

Transcript

[A]

Hello and welcome to arnet, the show that shines a light on the trailblazers, game changers and hardworking heroes driving Arkansas forward. From bold entrepreneurs to community champions, we bring the stories that inspire and ignite progress. Now here's your host, David Bratton.

[B]

Hello. Hello and welcome everybody to the arnet podcast. I'm sitting here in the mo in the Mallard Island Mobile Studios and I am sitting here with Joni Howell. Joni, how are you?

[C]

I'm doing good.

[B]

And you're running for Lonoke county clerk, is that correct?

[C]

Yes, sir, I am.

[B]

Oh, that is awesome. Hey, for our listeners who don't know you, who is Joni Howell? What, what's your personal background?

[C]

So most of my, as far as my work has been in business. I started when I was about 30 years old, went to ASUBB for some business and most of my work has been either like in the administrative type work.

[B]

Now you're originally from Loanoke county, correct?

[C]

I'm from Cabot, Arkansas.

[B]

Oh, there you go. Okay. So you are a Cambodian?

[C]

I am. My mom moved me and my sister there in 1978. Twelve years old, sure. And loved growing up in Cabot. But of course back then the population was less than about 2500 folks. So it was a small town and I've got to see it grow and I still love it. It's home.

[B]

Gotcha. So you went through the school system right here?

[C]

I did.

[B]

And. Okay. And then you went and you were saying you went to asubbe.

[C]

I did. I went, you know, for, for business. My husband had had a heart attack and I was pretty much a stay at home mom. But he was 35 and I was 29 when he had his heart attack. So my fear was, am I going to be able to do anything to provide for my kids, you know, if something should happen to him? So I went back to school. 30 years old, absolutely loved it. And it provided me, you know, jobs. One of the first jobs that I got, I was working for an administrator of a nursing home over in Beebe. Okay. And handled all the accounts receivables. So you were doing books there? I was doing books, yes, sir. And then of course, there was a little bit of a break that I had because my. We chose to homeschool our children. So I took a break off, you know, from work to take care of family, you know, take care of my kids and homeschool them, of course. And then when they were grown up and teenagers and doing their jobs, I went on to work at Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

I love that job. Good group of people to work for over in the health advantage part and I was a claims processor.

[B]

I was fixing to ask you, what were you doing with Blue Cross and Blue Shield?

[C]

I was the low man on the totem pole at first, but I worked my way up through the ranks and was processing medical claims comparisons. We had reports that we had to pull and work. And then I moved on to hospital claims, which are big money claims. And so just a lot of evaluation and reviewing records to know how to process that claim. And then moved on in that same department to what's called clb, the coordination of benefits. So then I just worked with people in their insurances for Blue Cross and then if they had any other insurance, I just coordinated that.

[B]

Okay, so you've been in record keeping for a while.

[C]

I surely have. I mean, even at my younger years before school, I worked in medical records at a nursing facility. So yeah, I've always been dealing with pretty much the business side of things.

[B]

Okay, now for one point in your, in your life, you. You touched the music industry a little bit, is that correct?

[C]

I did. So again, my husband, who had the heart disease, he. At 49, he had a five way bypass and so he could no longer work. And so we retired up to Mountain View, Arkansas. Beautiful Ozark mountains.

[B]

Nice. A little slower pace.

[C]

Yes. And that's.

[B]

I love Mountain View. It's such a spectacular place.

[C]

Absolute. I just love Mountain View.

[B]

A lot of good music up there.

[C]

Oh, a lot of good. I've got to sing with some of the best, actually. Yeah. But so when we moved there, I was approached by the mayor. Mountain View had just lost a lot of the music. Venues were closing down. A lot of the pickers in the pick and park just were passing away and so businesses just started shutting down left and right. So he approached me about volunteering to bring music to that in front of the court. There's a stage that used to be just for cloggers there, but perfect to bring bands in there. And so I started in, in 2017, not really knowing what I was doing, but in six years, actually I played about 36 bands in those six years. I was nominated in 2021 by my bands for promoter of the Year.

[B]

Promoter of the year. And that would have what the. Arkansas country music.

[C]

Arkansas country music.

[B]

Oh, that's a spectacular event. Actually, it's coming up again. I'm not sure the date, but I went to it last year and I just really had a good time.

[C]

Oh, it's Arkansas has so much musically talented people. Right. So and so I've done that and then circumstances. Well, actually I was Chamber of Commerce too. I was Chamber of Mountain View Commerce, the president of the Chamber of Commerce.

[B]

You're the president of the Chamber of Commerce. Well, that's a lot more than just being a part of the Chamber of Commerce.

[C]

So I kind of moved from which I was still volunteering, I was still doing that. I was working for Mountain View all the time is what I was doing. And put on festivals, did handle budgets, did handle money. Actually when I got in there, it was right after Covid and the funds were low. Everybody got hit because there just wasn't a whole lot going on. But within about three or four months of me working as the president, as the director of the Chamber of Commerce, I just went out, spent a day, a week going out talking to the businesses and told them I was working for them already and that I'd been trying to bring people to Mountain View. And I gained about 15 new members in about four or five, about four or five months. And we went. We jumped up about $25,000 in that period of time.

[B]

Oh, that's great.

[C]

Yeah. I mean you just want to see growth, right? Right.

[B]

You're out there promoting, promoting the the city of Mountain View and actually growing the chamber coming together.

[C]

That event still goes on every Friday and Saturday night. Are you a lady that a friend of mine that took over, she emcees that show and she does a fine job of carrying it on. But when I left, we probably had consistent crowd of, you know, about four or five hundred people every Saturday night. So that was just beneficial for the town.

[B]

Yes, ma'. Am. Okay, well let's pull back here and get back to Lonoke County Clerk, this office you're running for. And in layman's. Could you explain to me what the county clerk does? Because I really didn't know anything about the county clerk until. Until you were going to be on my show.

[C]

Yes sir. So it's the county clerk's office is looked like the record keeper of the county. You know, if you get, you know, marriage license are recorded there, your. All of your voter registration, everything is done through that office. It's the HR too of the county. Payroll is handled out of there. Out of there.

[B]

The whole county.

[C]

For the whole county.

[B]

Okay. And did not realize that. And for all the county employees.

[C]

Yes sir. And, and, and they obviously they record any of the monies that are paid out for bills in the various offices. So that's handled. And of course, the elections, they're handled in the county clerk's office? Yes, sir. Wow.

[B]

Okay. Okay. See, you are in charge of all the elections, of results and everything.

[C]

Yes, sir.

[B]

Okay, that's interesting. I didn't know how that worked. Looking at the clerk's office now, what do you think needs to be improved?

[C]

There's quite a bit that needs to be improved. I've been working for the county for a little over two years, and I've been observing and observing things that just are not right that's coming out of that office. We had a 2022 audit. Every year the state does. It's called a state legislative audit. And it's done. You know, it's done for all the offices in the county. And in 2022, an audit came out that was showing that employees in the county clerk's office were getting paid for time that they did not earn. You know, when you get something like that, you have to reevaluate everything. Right. Let's find out where we're making this mistake. But then the 2023, it came out, and there were still issues in these same areas, but there's nobody that's held accountable for these situations. I've. The whole reason that I'm running for this office is because I have seen so many discrepancies in this office that it just doesn't seem like anybody's held accountable or there are changes that are just not being made because ultimately that's going to cost the taxpayer.

[B]

Sure. You've got to have accountability and you've got to have transparency.

[C]

Yes, sir.

[B]

You can't have. Things can't be hidden.

[C]

Yes, sir. Like last year. Now, at the beginning of every year, the county usually gets a cost of living increase. It's been 4, 5%, you know, depending on what the quorum court deems. And so in the middle of last year, there were a couple of employees in that office, in the county clerk's office that received annual salary increases in the amount. There were two employees, and it was $2,000 each employee without approval by the quorum court. And so ultimately, when you increase somebody's salary that much, then the taxpayer is going to pay for that, not just one time, but they're going to continually pay that year after year because the

[B]

cost of living, the 5% or 3% or whatever, the percentage is exactly on top of that from now on.

[C]

Exact. So when their. Their annual salary is increased, $2,000. And I just don't see anybody that's been accountable for this, the current Lonoke County Clerk. I know last year I worked in the courthouse and I saw her in January and didn't see her maybe till June. You know, this is an elected official that was elected to do a job, and she's not even been there. And so when all of this is questioned about this money that's being in the audits, it's just a bunch of finger pointing because the clerk's not there. And then was that get brought up

[B]

in like the Quorum Court in front

[C]

of the AP's and the judge actually did last night.

[B]

Really?

[C]

Yeah. And we were actually on the 2000. We were supposed to discuss the 2023. It. But that didn't happen. It wasn't put on the agenda conveniently. But the 2022 has been around for a long time now, and nobody has addressed the situation. I. I stand amazed and I scratch my head, and I have for these two years at everything that's going on in that office, but still no one is held accountable.

[B]

There's no accountability.

[C]

And everybody needs to be accountable to somebody. And to me, you know, we've got taxpayers that we work for and we're accountable to them, but when you have no leadership and you have nobody in there guiding anything or, you know, processing things the way they should be, then you just end up with just a lot of trouble that again, there's no answers, there's no accountability. That's the whole reason I've. I ran. You know, I've just sat and watched it. I've been to quorum court meetings and have watched the abuse. The abuse of the taxpayer dollar. And so that's why I. I ran. You know, there's got to. I'm not saying I'm a miracle worker, but I promise you, I will be accountable to the people.

[B]

Well, you know, if you see something that needs changed, you have to be the change.

[C]

Yes, sir.

[B]

You know, you can't always rely on. Sit back here and say, hey, this has got to change. That's got to change. No, you got to get in there and change it yourself if you see something that needs change.

[C]

Exactly. I mean, after that 23 audit, it should have been that we, you know, that they sat down and said, okay, what can we do to prevent this from happening next year?

[B]

Sure.

[C]

Okay. That's what you have to do. These. These are to find those problem areas. And if a system's not working, change it, fix it, whatever you've got to do to make sure you're not making these same mistakes over and over because ultimately they cost the taxpay. And I've just not seen anybody really being held accountable for what's been happening. The treatment of other county employees. I've seen it's been horrible. If there's something that they disagree with that you might have a stance on, you're going to pay for that. I've had an elected official that I've seen with my own eyes that was absolutely verbally attacked by everyone in that office because she was taking a stand for something. And that was right. And I don't understand that. I don't understand how that can happen today in a public county office. I don't think it's. I don't think it should be happening. There's also a friend that she actually has. It's a federal discrimination lawsuit against the county that.

[B]

It sounds like that's going to cost some money.

[C]

If it will cost the county and it stems from the county clerk's office. Why can't people just be treated with common decency and respect? You know, you can't just easily throw together a lawsuit. She had to have the proof and the EEOC told her that she had the proof. So it's happening. People don't see it. They don't know what's going on.

[B]

So you tell me, because I didn't know anything about this, there's actually a federal lawsuit going on right now.

[C]

Yes, sir.

[B]

Against county.

[C]

Yes, it is. And so. So that will cost the county, right?

[B]

Yeah. It's going to cost us taxpayer money.

[C]

All because of. Of just belittling and harassing a person. Just non stop. No peace at all.

[B]

I knew nothing about this. Hadn't heard of her. Okay, interesting. Moving along to technology and stuff. How far behind is the county on technology?

[C]

Okay. So until I get in there and can see what systems are in place right now. But I do know like timesheets that are used which is really the cause of these, these problems with these audits. Employees are doing their own timesheets and their paper timesheets that can be manipulated. And not even just manipulated, but there could be human error.

[B]

Sure.

[C]

You know that needs to go.

[B]

We need something in 2026. People are still using paper.

[C]

Paper. Yeah, paper time sheets that they fill out their self. Now not. I'm not saying that for every office I know, the office that I work in, the assessor's office. Donna Peterson, she's my boss, she's the Loanoke County Assessor. She does all of our timesheets. There's no way we can Go in there and change anything. There's no way we can manipulate anything. It is what it is because she's the one that's keeping up with our time. But when you have a county clerk that's not there, I mean, the acting Loan Oak County Clerk is never there. So it leaves an office of these employees in charge. But then when something comes up and they're asked about it and they're held accountable for it, they point fingers at each other, you know, well, you need to talk to the Lonoke county clerk. Well, she's not there. Well, how can we talk to her? She's never there. And so I just sat for two years going to quorum court meetings and watching everything that's been happening. And it really just makes you scratch your head and say, what can happen? Why is this going on in a public office, in a county public office? And so, I mean, I knew that when I threw my name in to run for this position that it wouldn't be something easy. I'm not just walking into something real easy. There's a lot of antiquated systems that need to be updated. I know that, you know, they have a website, but it's not up to par. It's really not. I've looked at other area, you know, county websites and there's so much more accessibility to records that would help the public so very much so.

[B]

You know, if I need to go get some documents or something right now, I believe I would have to go to physically drive to Lonoke and go to the clerk's office myself.

[C]

Yes, sir. And there are some on their website. They're. They're just kind of uploaded. They're PDF files that you could print off. But there is. It really could be revamped and it really needs to be.

[B]

And online customer service stuff.

[C]

Exactly. Because the mindset to me of accounting clerk should be everything that I can do to make it best for the citizens of Lonoke County. I mean, that's what you run for. You know, you're a public servant and you want to do everything that you can do to make it better for them.

[B]

Sure. Okay, well, tell me this. What would success look like to you? What would be. What would success look like to you at the end of your first term?

[C]

I would love to have a lot of those updated processes in place. I would like to have brand new website. There's so many. I've just been looking at area counties and there's so many other additions that can be put to that that would benefit the citizens.

[B]

Sure.

[C]

And. And I've just got to go in there and I've got. First thing I've got to do is just audit everything so I can know what I need to do. I know, you know, I'm going to be that there's an association of Arkansas counties. They take care of all the counties in the state and they train newly elected officials. So I will get the opportunity to go and learn. Right. And I'll be able to learn about all of these upgrades or these processes that can be made better.

[B]

You'll be a fresh person with a fresh start.

[C]

Yes, sir. And. And while I know it's a job that I'm walking into, I know that I am willing to do that. You know, I'm just at a good place in my life and I feel kind of like I need to defend. I'm a taxpayer too, you know, and, and just what I'm seeing it. The citizens of Loanoke county deserve a whole lot better than that.

[B]

Definitely. We need. You got to have public trust and transparency for sure.

[C]

Yes, sir. And I'm just, you know, I've been praying about it and I just ask anybody listening to say a prayer, you know, and I just want to do God's will and I want to go in there and I want to do a good job for the citizens of Loanoke County.

[B]

Awesome. Heck yeah. Now, you may have already mentioned this, but just tell me, why should voters choose you?

[C]

Because I will fight for them. There's nobody. They literally, you know, the whole time I've been watching everything that's been happening in that office is that knowing I don't have a voice in there. They don't have a voice in there. But that's what county offices are for. Their voice at all times should be able to be in that office. And it should be that it is centered around working for the voters of Lonoke County. I mean, that's what they elect you to do. And I plan on going in there and doing the very best job I can for them. And I'll have an open door policy, you know, hey, you got a problem, you need something you need to discuss, please come talk to me.

[B]

And you'll be at work?

[C]

I will be. Yes. I will be there. I will be ever present. Yes, sir.

[B]

That's awesome. So that's what you want people to remember when they're about Joni Howe, she'll be at work. And when they're standing in front of that voting booth casting that vote within the next week, you just want Them

[C]

to know that, you know, I'm there fighting for them. You'll bring and I will be that voice. You know, my motto was the change the voice. The change we need, the voice you deserve.

[B]

Oh, there you go.

[C]

And so there is a change that's needed. This has been going on for far too long. And I have fresh ideas, I have new ideas. I have a lot to learn and I know that. But I've got a good group of people that are absolutely helping me. And with the desire to go in there and do a good job for the citizens of Lonoke County. Yeah, I have that drive to do that.

[B]

That's awesome. Now, the current clerk, how long has she been in office?

[C]

About 18 years.

[B]

18 years. Well. And she's not running again, correct?

[C]

No, sir.

[B]

Okay, so it's time for. For a fresh start and catching us up to 2026.

[C]

Exactly.

[B]

Maybe some technology, too.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Speaking of technology, what is your social media and how can people find. Find you online and follow you?

[C]

Okay, I'm on Facebook. I have. It's Joni Howell and Lonoke County Clerk

[B]

Joanie Howe for loan.

[C]

Just Joni Howell Dash Lonoke County Clerk.

[B]

Okay, Joni, how. Lonoke County Clerk.

[C]

And then if you want to reach me personally, hey, I want you to go to my. Even my personal page. It's just Joanie Howell and I've actually my brochures. I've got my phone number out there. I'm just the kind of person that likes to talk to people. I like to look them in the eye and I like them to be able to look me in the eye because when I tell them what I'm telling them, it's the absolute truth. And I think that you can tell that more face to face. And I've tried to get out there and talk to as many people as I possibly can.

[B]

Yes, ma'.

[C]

Am. You know, so that people can understand and know the purpose and why I'm wanting to do this. We just need a change. It's time for a change. And I want to go in there and I promise you I will absolutely do the best possible job I can for you.

[B]

Sure. I would think, you know, 18 years with the same. Same person running the show is. And she's not running again.

[C]

No, sir.

[B]

So it's time. It's definitely time for a change. And catch us up to 2026 and which when you take office will be 2027. It will be even more technology.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

So that's awesome. Joni, is there anything we're leaving out anything you'd like to stress before. Before we wind it up here.

[C]

You know, I just want people when they're at that booth just to realize that I'm standing for them. I really am. I mean, I was living a pretty easy life. You know, my kids are grown, my grandkids are practically. Practically grown. And I could have sat at home in my recliner and watched TV like everybody else. But. But when you recognize that there's a job that needs to be done, but there's nobody that wants to do it, there's nobody that's going to step up to the plate. And so this was my trust in God. I'm stepping up to the plate. My grandmother had a plaque on her wall that said, the will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you. And I feel like if it's God's will, I'll be in this position and he will give me the absolute grace that I need to do this job for the citizens of Lonoke County.

[B]

Oh, wow. That is. That is really good, Joni. Well, Joni, I wish you luck.

[C]

Thank you.

[B]

Thank you so much for coming out to the Mallard Island Lawn Service mobile Studio.

[C]

And thank you so much for having me.

[B]

Yes, ma'. Am. Absolutely. And good luck. I hope it turns out good for you. And Mr. Producer, we are sending this back to you, sir. Thank you.

[A]

That's a wrap for this episode of the ARNET podcast. We're grateful to have you as a part of our community. If you enjoyed today's show, share it with a friend or leave us a review. It really helps us keep telling these important stories. And don't forget to check out the podcast description for more on our guest and topics. Thanks again for listening and make sure to follow the show so you'll never miss an episode of the ARNET podcast. This has been a Mallard island Media and Mr. Producer Production.