Like all who express their opinions publicly, I get lots of appreciated responses from readers that range from good to bad.
Here are a few of your positive voices (edited for space) in response to some recent columns. I'll share negative ones later. Just feeling too good to cast a shadow over the day.
Prison's PALS program
"Great column today on the women inmates at the McPherson Unit and the PALS program. I really loved hearing from Shawna Day. I have been writing a bit about this case, and would like to pursue some further stories."--Melissa Jeltsen, The Huffington Post.
Memphis experience
From Robbie: "Several years ago, my aunt died in Memphis. I had to go there at night with my very helpless mother. My aunt was being buried the next day. I took a wrong turn off the freeway and ended up in [a less than desirable section of Memphis]. I kept trying to correct and, after a while, wasn't sure if I was going deeper into it or back out. Mother was virtually blind. I was praying hard for us to get out with our parts attached. I saw a Memphis police car and got out of the car, waving my arms in the air. That cop didn't stop. I had not told mother how bad the situation was.
"After a while, she was saying: "I don't think we ought to be here!" I finally stopped at a liquor store, locked her in the car and got directions. I said something profound like 'I'm lost!' He probably hadn't seen a hysterical white woman since the last idiot got lost.
"I normally support the police and I was impressed with those, just not favorably."
Bentonville's dam dispute
Reader Al writes: "Mike, please continue your efforts on behalf of removing the failing dam at Lake Bella Vista. Advocates of the dam frequently quote a lady who intones how the waterway, if restored, supposedly would not be a free-flowing river but a trickle. She continues with her having been able to hop, skip and jump across Little Sugar Creek before the dam was erected, making the pre-dam waterway out to be a trickle rather than a viable river or recreational waterway. Wish I could have been present to see her levitation. Frankly, I think that only makes for a good story."
Courageous Clayborns
Charlotte Moore sent: "You wrote a wonderful article on Colleen Clayborn [disabled from hit-and-run driver near Hot Springs] and family from Harrison in the January 3 paper. I am glad that this family's getting ink. They are a dedicated and loving family.
"Junette is my first cousin, our dads, both deceased, were brothers. Not many people could or can be as strong as Colleen and Johnny Clayborn are."
Moved by Burlsworth
Paul sent this: "I just wanted to take a few moments and let you know how deeply your column article about Brandon Burlsworth has resonated within my soul.
"I am a 50-year-old disabled U.S. Army veteran that attends a full-time state college. The fact that this young man had overcome his personal trials and was able to muster up enough courage to take that first step on to the field the day of walk-on tryouts for the football team ...
"I too, know exactly what it takes to walk back into the world of college, although my personal experience was academic in nature and in no way am I physically able to play or even walk very well after my military experience left me disabled but not dead. I entered the United States Army at age 29. That was a feat unto its own, but what we are made of inside helps us overcome these fears to accomplish our dreams and aspirations in life. I believe this holds true for so many of us as I am more afraid of being nothing that I am of failing.
"I wanted to send a few words to you of how deeply your article has touched upon my own experiences in life. Keep up the great work ethic and writing style you've shown us; you're an inspiration to us all."
The hog factory
Finally, reader Joe took his valuable time to write: 'As always, I greatly appreciate your interest in the 'Buffalo River' situation.
"I continue to be confused by statements by head of water quality division of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality that there are no nutrient standards for streams in Arkansas. Below, I have copied pages 5-7 and 5-8 of Regulation 2 (water quality standards). It appears to me that there are nutrient standards. If I read this right, we do have nutrient standards. Or perhaps are they saying that they don't have enough data to make an assessment? If this is the case, one must ask why not? Clearly, getting real information on streams (data) is not one of [the department]'s strong points. After all, it's much easier to make decisions without data than with it."
------------v------------
Mike Masterson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Email him at [email protected].
Editorial on 01/16/2016