The thumbs are happy today, friends.
A lot of great things are happening in Northwest Arkansas and around the state. Who says there's nothing good in the news these days!
[THUMBS UP] It's always a pleasure every summer to learn who the new Miss Arkansas is after an impressive collection of young women from across the state compete for the title. This year's winner is Maggie Benton, Miss Greater Jonesboro. Not to be too territorial -- she is, after all, Miss Arkansas -- but Benton, 22, is also a graduate of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Some people dismiss pageants, but go see what these young people put themselves through and you'll at least have some respect for the effort. Benton's story is one of tenacity and goal-setting that will serve as a great example to all. After seeing another Miss Arkansas in 2011, she set a goal to claim the title herself. It took five years and four Miss Arkansas pageants, but now she goes on to compete for the Miss America title, which last year was claimed by Arkansas' own Savvy Shields.
[THUMBS UP] It doesn't come with a crown, but Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse was recently elected president of the Arkansas Municipal League for 2017-18. Mayor Lioneld Jordan of Fayetteville was elected the District 3 vice president. More than 1,300 city and town leaders from across the state attended the organization's 83rd convention in Little Rock last week. As leaders of the organization of municipal elected officials, we hope they'll be strong voices of influence for local communities and for the promotion of transparent government at all levels.
[THUMBS UP] Northwest Arkansas plays host this week to two outstanding events -- the Rodeo of the Ozarks in Springdale and the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship at the Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers. The former marks its 73rd year and the latter its 11th. They're both part of the region's eclectic collection of events that make Northwest Arkansas such an interesting place to live.
[THUMBS DOWN] OK, supporters of President Trump, is it really a compelling (or some might call it winning) argument in defense of some of Trump's outlandish behaviors, policy positions or comments that someone else (likely Obama) did something similar or worse at some other point in history? "Yeah, but he did it first" hasn't been an effective counter since the kindergarten playground. Any president can have good ideas and bad ideas. They all have had positive characteristics and glaring negatives. The perception or reality of a past president's shortcomings is hardly a reasonable defense of the current officeholder. If Donald Trump was born in Russia, would it be right for him to serve as president just because Kenyan-born Jimmy Carter was allowed to? What, Carter wasn't born in Kenya?
[THUMBS UP] State Reps. Greg Leding, Clint Penzo and Jeff Williams joined state Sens. Lance Eads and Jim Hendren and 34 other state lawmakers -- Democrats and Republicans -- recently in serving meals in Little Rock to raise money for the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance. It's the 10th consecutive year members of the Arkansas Legislative Hunger Caucus have served dinner to sponsors and guests in the effort that raised $121,294. The annual event was established by former Gov. Mike Beebe and his wife, Ginger. Helping those in need through generosity of service and resources is not a partisan issue, as these lawmakers demonstrated.
[THUMBS UP] From the if-you-can't-beat-them-hire-them files, Razorbacks baseball Coach Dave Van Horn hired Missouri State's Nate Thompson as the Hogs' new hitting coach and recruiting coordinator. The Missouri State Bears booted the Hogs from the 2017 NCAA regional's championship game in Fayetteville.
[THUMBS UP] What great news in Rogers for families that face the challenge of caring for someone with Alzheimer's, dementia or autism. The Rogers Police Department and the Alzheimer's Association of Arkansas recently partnered to bring free Medic Alert services to those who have family members who might wander off. The information available via the service can serve to quickly return a lost child or adult to safety.
[THUMBS UP] It is a service to Springdale elementary students that the leaders of their school district have committed to make sure they have 20 to 30 minutes each school day to read books. It's all part of a campaign called Springdale Reads that organizers hope will promote the practice of regular reading throughout the community. Any life is made richer by reading, whether it's books, magazines or, yes, even newspapers.
Commentary on 06/22/2017