Independence Day is just around the corner and the fireworks buying has begun in earnest. In our youth, more than one thumb turned black and blue from injuries related to fireworks, so be careful out there, and make sure those kiddos are well supervised when you hand them explosive materials. And just because you might have survived bottle rocket wars when you were a kid doesn't mean it was ever smart to engage in them. No eyeball is worth giving up for a momentary blast. Finally, keep those thumbs safe by not holding firecrackers and other explosives as they're lit.
There's this week's collection of digit-al feedback:
Give’em a thumb
Want to give some brief feedback on news? Someone who deserves a pat on the back? An idea that needs a dose of common sense? Recommend a “Thursday thumb” by calling Greg Harton at (479) 872-5026 or by email at [email protected].
[THUMBS DOWN] A reader wonders if the Arkansas Legislature might learn a lesson or two from Tyson Foods, which recently announced the installation of a camera monitoring system in its poultry plants to help ensure animals are treated humanely. "Tyson has a lot of money and influence with the Legislature. Could they get this same camera system installed wherever the Legislature meets so the citizens can monitor what they do and how they think about issues, so we can more humanely (to the citizens) decide who we elect?" The state House of Representatives has a live-streaming and video recording system for its proceedings, including committee meetings, but not the Senate. So the thumb goes to the folks in the state Senate. Are you listening, senators?
[THUMBS UP] Who knew juggling involved some valuable life lessons? Most of us know a thing or two about the difficulty of keeping too many things in the air at once, but Norman, Okla.-based Kelsey and Jeremy Philo recently told youngsters at the Bella Vista Public Library that they can do anything "if you're OK with being bad at it at first." The pair performed their juggling exhibition, acknowledging they're not perfect and that failure preceded success. Kids (and adults) hear a lot of talk about success, but there's value in embracing what can be learned from failure. It is often the response to one's setbacks that determines whether success can ultimately be achieved.
[THUMBS DOWN] The family of the late Rex Grimsley gives us downturned thumb for an editorial this week regarding the Bentonville School District's adoption of pricing guidelines to be used in determining the value of future "naming rights" for school district facilities. District administrators requested the guidelines because of inquiries after the Grimsleys were granted naming rights for a discount of $1 million on the district's purchase of 80 acres of family land. It was the catalyst for the discussions of the new policy, and that's what our editorial said. Still, some in the family felt the mention of Rex Grimsley was not appreciative of his contributions to the community, including as an educator, businessman and as a former school board member. If we deserve a downturned thumb, it's due to our lack of clarity because we intended no disrespect to Mr. Grimsley or the family. So we'll be clear: Mr. Grimsley earned respect and distinction in his life and nothing in our viewpoint about naming rights should be construed to suggest otherwise. The family's generosity is also deserving of recognition.
[THUMBS UP] Supporters of the nonprofit TheatreSquared had a well-deserved celebration and groundbreaking the other day on its planned $31.5 million, 50,000-square-foot performing arts center adjacent to the Walton Arts Center in downtown Fayetteville. The project is truly a joint effort involving city taxpayers ($3.1 million from the city of Fayetteville, $3 million from the Advertising and Promotion Commission), the Walton Family Foundation ($12.5 million) and a collection of other (and ongoing) donors. When it opens in 2019, the theater facility will add to Fayetteville's reputation as a strong home for the arts and to the already impressive level of activities happening downtown.
[THUMBS UP] The Benton County Sheriff's Office opened its fourth substation, this one near Prairie Creek. Such substations give deputies a place to work without repeatedly having to drive back to Bentonville, where the sheriff's office is. The addition should help keep deputies on the road doing patrols and in service, stretching the benefit taxpayers get out of their local law enforcement agency.
[THUMBS DOWN] State Sen. Linda Collins-Smith of Pocahontas successfully got the backing she needed for an interim study of the so-called bathroom bill she proposed in the last session of the Arkansas General Assembly. Thankfully, her bill never made it out of committee amid the all-too-predictable protests and concerns about discrimination. Gov. Asa Hutchinson himself said he did not see the need for Arkansas to get into legislation such as that adopted in North Carolina attempting to keep transgender people from using restrooms corresponding to the gender with which they identify. North Carolina lawmakers partially repealed that law in the face of an economic boycott and stiff criticism. If there's a silver lining in the interim study in Arkansas, perhaps it's that hearings or study might demonstrate the minuscule need for such legislation here, and even that might be overstating it. The legislation is more about ginning up fear (and votes) at the expense of a tiny population that's easy to pick on.
Commentary on 06/29/2017