The folks who are fortunate enough to have green thumbs -- and those who can afford to pay landscaping companies -- have a lot to show for it this spring. The flowering plants and budding trees look amazing, and even though our ink-stained thumbs will never be mistaken for the green-tinged variety, we can sure appreciate the results as we've pondered this week's Thursday thumbs.
[THUMBS UP] We really never had any doubt that former Razorback basketball coach Mike Anderson would end up coaching again. It's what he does and it's who he is. But we'd have never guessed he'd in up in New York City coaching St. John's University. Going from Bud Walton Arena to Madison Square Garden is quite a journey. Naturally, this being a college coaching change, there are people questioning whether Anderson's hiring makes sense. That's the nature of the beast in college basketball: Everyone will just have to wait and see. One thing is certain. There will be a lot of Razorback fans here in Northwest Arkansas pulling for the Red Storm next season because Anderson departed the University of Arkansas with no hard feelings. We wish him and his wife, Marcheita, the very best in the Big Apple.
[THUMBS UP] Representatives of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission got a question in a public meeting this week in Springdale: Was it really necessary for the agency to prohibit transferring bait fish or crawfish from one body of water to another? A fishing guide from Beaver Lake said it was having a negative impact on the fishing experience of his customers. It's a legitimate concern, but we're glad the commission recognized a bigger danger to game fishing in the state, and that's the spread of Asian carp and other invasive species. Their presence can disrupt the entire food chain within a lake. Consider this from the state agency: "Asian carp, particularly silver carp and bighead carp have been a nuisance to many waters connected to the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers since their escape from aquaculture and research facilities during floods in the 1970s. In addition to consuming vast amounts of plankton, which are the base of the food chain in many fisheries, silver carp have become a hazard on many waters where they are abundant because of their habit of jumping out of the water when startled." They're a big enough problem as it is. There's no sense engaging in practices known to spread them.
[THUMBS UP] The recent news about higher education in Arkansas is how more students are graduating across Arkansas' higher-education institutions. The Arkansas Department of Higher Education reports state colleges and universities last year awarded their highest number of credentials, 44,571. That's a step in the right direction in a state that needs more people in the workforce with degrees or post-secondary training that can help Arkansas compete for jobs and industry. Beyond that, it's always beneficial when more people in the state obtain more education. We're not just talking degrees or diplomas, but real expansion of knowledge. The more everyone learns, the better off the state will be.
[THUMBS UP] It turns out this week was a great one to hire coaches. The Fayetteville School District announced its tentative agreement with former Arkansas quarterback Casey Dick to lead its high school football program. The University of Arkansas announced it has hired Olympic gold medalist Jordyn Wieber to lead the gymnastics program. And new UA basketball coach Eric Mussellman hired his first assistant coach in Corey Williams, formerly a head coach at Stetson and a member of the 1993 NBA champion Chicago Bulls. Congratulations to everyone. Let the games begin.
Commentary on 04/25/2019