NWA EDITORIAL: Thursday's thumbs

Organizations deliver chances to know candidates

It's just a few days before early voting opens for the Nov. 6 General Election, with Northwest Arkansas voters having plenty of decisions to make when the poke there thumbs (or any other fingers) at the electronic screens that now pass for voting machines.

Voting is a great use of a thumb. Just form your hand into a four-fingered fist with the thumb resting on top pointing forward. You'll look like Bill Clinton when he was trying to make a point. And voting is an excellent way to make a point.

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].

So get ready, registered voters. Your chance to speak with your votes is coming up quick.

Until then, we're going to exercise our thumbs to get read for the big day. Up. Down. Up. Down. Up. Down.

Man, these Thursday thumbs are making us thirsty.

[THUMBS UP] All the organizations, from chambers of commerce to local unions to civic organizations, deserve kudos for efforts to hold political candidate and issue forums these election cycle. Every opportunity -- particularly public ones -- for people to get to know those who seek to represent their fellow Arkansans takes us closer to an informed electorate more capable of making quality decisions. As noted above, time is getting short. Early voting starts Tuesday, then it's just two weeks until Election Day. Learn everything you can about your neighbors who are asking for your votes and the ballot issues you'll find on the ballot.

[THUMBS UP] We're beyond relieved that two Springdale Police Department officers injured last Friday as teenagers fled in a stolen car are back home recovering after they were hit by a car. Officers Ashley Booth and Annelisa Hoffman were struck by the fast-moving car. It's one more example to demonstrate how our law enforcement officers are in the line of fire every day, and that doesn't always mean someone has to be shooting at them for there to be serious dangers. It's ludicrous that anyone believes a stolen vehicle is worth doing harm to another human being. We're thankful there are men and women ready to stand up for protecting their communities.

[THUMBS DOWN] It hardly seems possible that we've entered flu season, but Wednesday's newspaper carried the news that the Arkansas Department of Health had documented the first (and we'd hope the last) flu death of the season. The individual, between the ages of 45 and 64, according to the department, had not received a flu vaccination. Can you believe 227 deaths were reportedly flu-related last season? Flu shots are not a guarantee, but they certainly increase the odds for avoiding the bug and reducing its severity if one does catch it. We think it's a wise choice.

[THUMBS UP] It's outstanding news for residents near downtown Fayetteville, the Washington-Willow historic district and surrounding areas that Ozark Natural Foods has, after all, move into the former IGA grocery store location at Lafayette Street and College Avenue. The vacant building has for years served the grocery needs of Fayetteville's center, and a natural foods store is a natural for that market.

[THUMBS UP] As the death toll from Hurricane Michael continues to rise, we commend the volunteers who are actively working to meet the needs of the survivors of this destructive storm that flattened entire neighborhoods. Sadly, there are reports of widespread looting and communication problems because of outages. But in the midst of it all are fellow Americans giving of themselves to help their countrymen and women. Hurricane Michael will go into the history books as one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the United States mainland. Before it's all done, it's likely fellow Americans will pour out a record level of compassion and assistance, too. It's never too late to help with money or donations.

Commentary on 10/18/2018

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