About Readers Choice
Readers Choice is an online, voter based contest to celebrate the amazing businesses, individuals, and organizations in St. Francis County. All nominations and voting is completed online. The winners will be announced in our Readers Choice special edition.
Nomination Guidelines
Nominations for the Times – Herald Readers Choice contest will begin April 1, 2026. Nominations will be accepted until April 15th at 8:00 a.m.
All nominees are vetted by our Readers Choice staff. Here are the guidelines we use, with exceptions as noted below:
Businesses, organizations and businesspeople within St. Francis County are eligible. We reserve the right to disqualify a business or organization from a category that does not represent a significant focus of its activities or falls outside of the SFC County limits. Nominations for individual categories must include the nominee’s full name and place of business. Individuals may submit multiple nominations per subcategory/category per day.
Voting Guidelines
Voting will be open April 20th – May 1st. Voting is limited to one vote in each category per registered user per day. For nomination and voting questions, please email digital@thnews.com
2024 Readers Choice Winners
Automotive
Auto Body Shop – Hicks Body Shop
Auto Dealership – Jackson Used Cars
Auto Detailing – Keaton Sandage
Auto Repair Shop – Broadway Motors
Oil Change – Broadway Motors
Towing Company – Triple J Wrecker Service
Community
Birthday Venue – Wheely T’s
Boss – Tony Cummings
Church – Beck Spur Baptist Church
Civic Organization – Junior Auxiliary
Community Service Program – Junior Auxiliary of SFC Angel Tree
Elected Official – Craig Jones
Farmers Market Booth – Summersweet Cattle
Firefighter – Zakk Jumper
Police Officer – Trooper Eric Varner
Secretary – Tammy Roberts
Volunteer – Jamie Busby
Youth Program – EACC Kid on Campus
Education
Bus Driver – Carl Sparkman
Cafeteria Worker – Charlotte Miller
Child Care Center – Teach and Tend Daycare Center
Counselor – Amanda Holman
Elementary Campus – Palestine-Wheatley
Elementary Teacher – Cody Jackson
High School Athlete – Brody Bass
High School Campus – Palestine-Wheatley
High School Coach – Tyler Paschal
High School Teacher – Becky Lee
Junior High Athlete – Adron Cooper
Junior High Teacher – Mattie Ricker
Paraprofessional – Taylor McLean
Financial
Bank – First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas
Bank Teller – Mercedes Mitchell
Food & Dining
Appetizer – Mrs. Vernie’s
BBQ – Burt’s BBQ
Breakfast – Mrs. Vernie’s
Burgers – Mrs. Vernie’s
Casual Dining – Crazy Donkey Palestine
Catfish – Catfish Island
Cheese Dip – The Crazy Donkey
Coffee – Shebrews
Dessert – The Coffee Cone
Dinner – Legacy
Energy Drinks – Shebrews
Family-Friendly Restaurant – Mrs. Vernie’s
Lunch – Mrs. Vernie’s
Mexican Restaurant – The Crazy Donkey
Sandwiches – Burt’s BBQ
Seafood – Cajun Express
Smoothies – Shebrews
Steak – Legacy
Take-Out – Mrs. Vernie’s
Wings – Wings Reloaded
Health & Medical
Dental Office – Graham Family Dental
Dentist – Dr. Caitlin “Cricket” Graham, DDS
EMT/Paramedic – Cara Lansford
Mental Health/Therapy – Sage Counseling
Nurse – Courtney Rice
Nurse Practitioner – Jacqueline “Jaci” Brown, DNP, APRN
Nurse Practitioner’s Office – The Little’s Pediatric Clinic
Pharmacist – Jared Caldwell – FC Family Pharmacy
Pharmacy – FC Family Pharmacy
Pharmacy Tech – Misty Boileau
Physician – Dr. George Conner
Physician’s Office – East Arkansas Children’s Clinic
Home Services
Appliance Service – Kevin Brown’s Appliance Service
Flooring Store – Colvin’s
Heating & Air – Cummings Heating & Cooling
Lawn Service – Brown’s AllCare
Pest Control – Ray Houser
Plumber – Harrison Devazier
Plumbing Service – Devazier Plumbing
Roofing Company – Terry Pike Roofing and Construction
Professional Services
Attorney – Austin Easley
Attorney’s Office – Easley & Houseal PLLC
Funeral Director – Regan Hill
Funeral Home – Stevens Funeral Home
Hair Salon – Southern Tangles
Hair Stylist – Klara Kay Harris
Insurance Agency – SFC Farm Bureau
Insurance Agent – Frank Adams
Real Estate Company – Kelly Lewis Real Estate
Realtor – Shane Dallas
Senior Care – Elite Home Care
Retail
Furniture Store – Southern Furniture
Gift Shop – Antique Rose
Home Decor – Antique Rose