It's all thumbs again today, and this time they're all pointing up, a clear indication there's a lot to be proud of in Northwest Arkansas and the state.
(Thumbs up) We are continually grateful for the people who have a knack for recognizing the little, and sometimes big, pieces of history that need to be preserved so this and future generations can understand all that came before. The Rogers Historical Museum recently marked its 40th anniversary. It's an institution born of concerns that the area's history could be lost without an active pursuit of preservation. Today, the museum has about 40,000 artifacts. Not everything can be learned from books, although that's a pretty important place to start. Museums, however, give stories of our history depth. Especially in today's world, where some things are obsolete just weeks after their debut, we appreciate the people who save history until the rest of us start appreciating it.
(Thumbs up) Lou Holtz, who coached Arkansas' football team from 1977 to 1983, recently told his bosses at ESPN he's leaving the network to go someplace he says people don't recognize him: home. The Hall of Fame coach is 78 years old and stopped coaching in 2004 when he left South Carolina, but remained in the limelight as a football analyst on television. Through the years his humor has intermittently entertained or worn thin, depending on the timing, but he's still a legendary coach and personality. We wish him the best in his post-football life.
(Thumbs up) A recent run-in with a backyard raccoon led one Fayetteville resident to have his first experience with a city animal control officer. Even though it was the weekend and early in the day, the officer arrive within about 15 minutes of a call to the police department. The officer hauled off the sickly creature quickly, doing the job with skill and professionalism. It can no doubt be a tough job, but it was handled well.
(Thumbs up) Every year, the second full week in April is designated to honor a group of people local police and fire departments could not function without. It is, of course, the public safety telecommunicators, or more commonly known as radio dispatchers. In Rogers, a dispatcher recently played a key role in helping officers rescue a woman after a man forced his way into her car. The woman secretly dialed 911 but was unable to communicate her situation. With skill, the dispatcher was able to discern few hints about her dangerous circumstances. Police were able to track the woman's movement through her cell phone location, and they made an arrest. Kudos to the professionals who calmly ensure communications happen in the most stressful of situations. They're doing a real community service.
(Thumbs up) Here is a shout-out to the benefits of having good copy editors: Hillary Clinton's campaign quickly moved to correct a news release on her campaign's website after readers noticed something odd about a sentence. The release said Clinton "fought children and families all her career." That doesn't sound very nice at all. Turns out the sentence was missing a word and should have said "fought for ..." It's amazing how much difference a word can make.
(Thumbs up) If you hear anyone mutter something about how they can't find anything to do in Northwest Arkansas this weekend, tell them they're not looking hard enough. The Champions for Kids RazorFest, the annual spring red-white University of Arkansas game, the Wal-mart FLW Tour on Beaver Lake, the Dogwood Festival in Siloam Springs, the Joe Martin Stage Race, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. All of those are happening plus dozens of other smaller events. It's a great time of year to be out and about in Northwest Arkansas.
(Thumbs up) New Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge will dive into the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act pool today with a statewide telephone meeting designed to help educate the public about the law, which provides for keeping both meetings and records about government activities open to the public. Participants will be able to ask the state's attorney questions about the law and how Arkansans can use it. It starts at 3 p.m. If you're interested in participating, email [email protected] with your name, telephone number and city so you can receive and automated phone call just prior to the meeting with instructions.
Have a suggestion for awarding a thumb to someone? Email your nomination, with the subject "Thumbs," to [email protected] or contact Editorial Page Editor Greg Harton at (479) 872-5026.
Commentary on 04/23/2015