
OOI mural receives restoration
Several years ago, the Ozark Opportunities, Inc (OOI) office in Marshall was a busy Head Start center. The classrooms may not be being used at the moment, but the building still serves a vital role for Searcy County. It is the Early Head Start Training Center for OOI staff, the main office for the Healthy Families Arkansas Ozark Mountains program, and an outreach office for the SUCCESS program and utility assistance. The office grounds just were not outwardly showing the energy that this Community Action Agency was putting out there on a daily basis. The retaining wall next to the old playground area had faded, chipped, and just no longer brightened the place up. So, contemplating this one day, Ryan Clayborn (Child Development Manager at OOI) discussed repainting the wall and possibly putting a new mural up. So, Melissa Smyth, the Program Manager for the Healthy Families program, decided to ask her mother Brenda Smyth if she would consider the project.