ALL THUMBS
Posted: August 29, 2009 at 3:58 a.m.
Appearing each Saturday, "All Thumbs" is The Benton County Daily Record's take on the people, events and issues deserving a "thumbs up" for a noteworthy accomplishment or good deed or a "thumbs down" for magnificent failure or just general stupidity.
Thumbs up to the Anadarko (Okla.) Daily News for continuing to put out a product despite a fire last weekend that destroyed the newspaper's office, including its printing press and 60 rolls of newsprint. The 4, 200-circulation paper managed not to miss a day of printing, thanks to the cooperation of another area paper, which permitted the Daily News to use its press. Resilience is seen in many forms; the folks at the Daily News are one example.
Thumbs down to those responsible for the Dollar General burglaries. Since May, three Benton County Dollar Generals - in Bentonville, Gentry and Rogers - have been victimized, and stores in several neighboring stateshave been hit in similar fashion; in most cases, the burglars are gaining access through a ceiling or wall, disabling the security system and taking off with money from the store's safe. Gentry Police Chief Keith Smith said the burglars are well equipped and "doing it like it's their job." But sooner or later, these guys are bound to be caught - right?
Thumbs up to the Rogers School District for collecting the funds necessary to keep 16 pre-kindergarten classes open this school year. Public schools are not allowed to spend tax dollars on pre-K because the state mandates only kindergarten-through-12th-grade education.Rogers, then, had to scrape the money together from stimulus funds, grants and other sources to keep pre-K alive. That's great, because evidence shows that pre-K education helps kids avoid problems in school down the road, thus increasing the likelihood that they will graduate and become productive citizens.
Thumbs down to prescription medication as a popular option among today's teens who are seeking to get high. As pointed out by Isabel Burk, an expert on drug prevention who spoke this week during a drug-education training program in Bentonville, teens easily can be duped into believing it's safe to abuse prescription drugs. Those drugs are ubiquitous, aren't they? It seems everyone takes some kind of drug, and we constantly see these pills in advertisements on television and in print. Truth is, any drug that's abused can be quite dangerous - a lesson for all, but especially our children.
Thumbs up to the recovery of the remains of Pfc.
Johnny Herbert Mayberry, an Arkansas soldier reported killed in action in 1950 in the Korean War. A team of U.S. military personnel went to North Korea in 2004 and discovered bone fragments that later were confirmed to beMayberry's - a testament to the outstanding forensic technology available today. His remains will be buried in Fort Smith with military honors. At last, Mayberry may rest in peace.
GOT THUMBS?
E-mail us your thumbs at thumbsline@nwanews.com or write to us at Thumbs Line,The Benton County Daily Record, P.O. Box 929, Bentonville,AR 72712.
When writing, please include your hometown. Keep submissions under 100 words.
Opinion, Pages 3 on 08/29/2009
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