NWA editorial: It's that time of year ...

Volunteering, fall football are in the air

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, so there will be lots of opportunities to use a borrowed finger to finish tying the bows on Christmas presents. With a free thumb, we're ready for another round of up- and down-turned digits for early December.

[THUMBS UP] OK, the holidays aren't quite upon us, but here's a thumbs up for the people who will go out of their way to help their less-fortunate neighbors in the spirit of the season. Maybe it sounds odd, but we recommend saving some of that spirit up and spreading it throughout the year. Nonprofit organizations and people in need don't just need the help during the holidays. They need it year round. Among the best gifts people can give themselves is an opportunity to help others.

[THUMBS UP] There are few things as frustrating as setting out on a journey only to be delayed or prevented by the unexpected. When the thousands of students at the University of Arkansas finish tying up the loose ends of the fall semester, many of them will depart Fayetteville for holiday visits back home. A good many will hop in their cars expecting them to always work as they always have, having done little more than put gas in them. The University of Arkansas Police Department, however, is stepping outside the traditional expectations of a law enforcement agency to offer a basic "car check" in partnership with O'Reilly Auto Parts and Life Source International. They're not mechanics, but they're offering people a chance to let someone knowledgeable about cars look them over for any noticeable issues that might cause trouble on a long journey. Sometimes, just checking lights, fluids and tires can be a life-saver. The event is set from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at 600 S. School Ave. in Fayetteville. It's free, although a canned or nonperishable food item can be accepted for Life Source International. We commend these organizations for the effort to watch out for the student body, improving their chances for a safe return in January.

[THUMBS DOWN] How do you give a thumbs down to Mother Nature? It's going to just take its course, and that's what's happened around Gatlinburg, Tenn., in recent days as wildfires have consumed beautiful scenery, homes, churches and more in the tourist-oriented area. Some fires were likely caused by lightning -- Mother nature strikes again -- but our down-turned digit is reserved for the human causes of wildfires. Every year, humans contribute to scorched earth by either arson, a particularly heinous act, and by accident, often through campfires left unattended or poorly extinguished. People who venture into nature in most cases are there because they love it. How awful it is that some of them, through carelessness, do damage to what they love. Folks, it's not rocket science. It's just being careful. As if Smokey Bear hasn't preached enough, visit https://smokeybear.com for tips on fires so you never have to live with the damage arising from carelessness.

[THUMBS UP] By the time this hits print, Fayetteville fans will know the outcome of Friday night's Class 7A state championship game vs. North Little Rock. The Tigers of Prairie Grove will have brought down the Lumberjacks of Warren or watched their Class 4A championship hopes come crashing down. The possibilities were the same for Shiloh Christian and Pea Ridge in their semi-final game Friday night. Charleston was set to play Glen Rose for a shot to play a championship game in 3A. Games are set today for Greenwood in a 6A battle with Russellville. It's a thrilling time to be a high school sports fan, player, coach, bus driver, concession stand volunteer, etc. The young players have battled through, rising to the tops of their classifications. It will serve as little immediate consolation to those who lose, but these gridiron warriors have a lot to be proud of. Some folks aren't fans of athletics, and that's fine, but this time of year reflects the impact of their efforts beyond the field in helping to foster unity in the teams' respective communities. All of these young contenders are deserving of kudos, whatever the outcomes of these final games.

[THUMBS UP] If we sat on the Springdale Planning Commission and votes were taken with thumbs, we'd turn ours upward for the long-debated Piney Ridge facility at 5060 E. Robinson Ave. The treatment center for young people in need of rehabilitation services got a positive, although controversial, vote from the City Council on the rezoning of the land. Now, the commission is in the process of reviewing the facility's large-scale development application. Certainly, the project should be scrutinized to ensure it meets with all the expectations of the city, but this should not become a whole new debate on whether the facility ought to have a chance to build. It's location along a major U.S. highway is not out of place, and the services the facility provides are needed for Northwest Arkansas. Some neighboring landowners will no doubt show up and be forceful. The commission should listen to their concerns and apply them where necessary, but should also take into account the needs of the young people this facility will be designed to treat.

Commentary on 12/03/2016

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