Finch home recognized

The home of April Payne Finch at 115 Northview Ave. was chosen as Monette "Yard of the Month" for June.

On June 14, Monette City Beautification Committee members Tina Carmichael and Ernestine Harrell presented Finch with a certificate, which read: "The Home of April Finch has been recognized as having the most beautifully landscaped and manicured yard in the entire Monette Community for the month of June, 2016."

A large yellow and brown Yard of the Month sign was placed in the Finch front yard to acknowledge the beautification award. The committee also presented her with a beautiful pink hydrangea plant.

Finch's two story home was originally built by Mike Estes and sits on a spacious corner lot in Northview Estates. The home contains a kitchen and dining combination, living room, entryway, laundry room, master bedroom and bath downstairs and two large bedrooms, bath and storage upstairs. Covered porches line both the front and back entrances. A safe room and sprinkler system has been added since Finch purchased the home in 2010. She has also landscaped the entire property. The backyard landscaping includes an in-ground pool, arbor and fountain. This has become a popular hangout for her son Ty and his many friends.

Finch spends many hours doing her own landscaping and maintaining the large yard but always appreciates the help of family members and friend Craig Landscaping in Jonesboro. She says gardening is her therapy. Finch has included many varieties of plants, shrubs and flowers including crepe myrtle, lilies, Knockout roses, azaleas, cannas, holly trees and shrubs. She has planted a tremendous amount of annuals surrounding both the outside fencing and inside the pool area for color which include vinca, petunias, marigolds, and potted hibiscus and geraniums. An arbor features hanging baskets and statuaries are strategically placed in areas near the pool. Her favorite is a set of metal goats. The goats represent the time she loves to spend with her many 4-H kids as Craighead County livestock leader. They lovingly call her the "goat whisperer".

April and her husband Jeff Finch were named the Craighead Farm Family of the year in 2015. They have two children, their 23 year old daughter Madison lives in Leachville and is married to Heath Hawkins. They are farmers and have a 16 month old son, Slade, which is the Finch's only grandchild. Their son Ty is 15 and will be a sophomore at BIC this fall. He works on the farm with Jeff in the summer, shows livestock with BIC FFA, and loves to play basketball in the winter. In addition to gardening and 4-H activities, April also teaches kindergarten at BIC West Elementary.