Trouble in Horseshoe Bend

Trouble, oh we got trouble,

Right here in River City!

With a capital “T”

That rhymes with “P”

And that stands for Pool . . .

-Robert Preston as Professor Harold Hill in Meredith Willson’s The Music Man.

WHO WOULD have thought it could happen in peaceful, serene Horsehoe Bend in scenic Izard County? The place wasn’t chosen as a Retirement Community for nothing. It’s got golf, lovely vistas, good folks, and . . . trouble. With a capital T. Because it also has the occasional crime, which can happen anywhere.

But the town may not have a police force of its own much longer, at least if its economy-minded mayor and his allies have their way. Mayor Bob Barnes would like to shut down the police department and contract with the Izard County sheriff’s office to provide protection. Others disagree. Forcefully.

The town is divided on the question. Alderman James Davis is one of those who don’t go along with the mayor, while David Huff is an outspoken critic of the police department. When heand the alderman played in a “friendly” pool tournament at the golf course, things, well, escalated, as the military would say. The two exchanged heated words and, according to the police report, the alderman struck Mr. Huff with a pool cue. Both men were arrested.

What’s this all prove? That even talking about doing away with the police department soon results in violence?

This sounds like the kind of news Centerton used to make in its bad old days. Where will it all end? To quote the mayor when he was pushing his idea, “If we don’t do this, we’re looking to be like Walnut Ridge.” Shocking.

Anyway, there’s trouble in River City-uh, Horsehoe Bend. But maybe if Messrs. Davis and Huff could get away for a while and regain their perspective, their outlook might improve and their tempers mellow. All those scenic views can get on a fellow’s nerves. Maybe all that’s needed is a little time and distance to heal the trouble in Horseshoe Bend.

How could this happen in such a quiet little town?

Why, when we first heard the news, you could have knocked us over with . . . a pool cue.

Editorial, Pages 16 on 07/20/2013

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