NWA EDITORIAL: Thursday's thumbs

As we worked Wednesday, the awful events at the U.S. Capitol continued to play out. It will take time to fully absorb and consider the implications of the shocking assault on the seat of power of American representative government.

The day was to be historic no matter what. The dramatic process of Congress certifying the states' votes for the Electoral College that will formalize the election of Joe Biden as president was set to play out, but it only got so far as Arizona. After Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar filed objections, the Senate and House broke up for two hours of debate. Only a few lawmakers got a chance to begin that debate.

By now, readers certainly know of the chaos that followed: rioters breaking into the Capitol building, forcing a lockdown and eventual evacuation of Vice President Mike Pence, senators and representatives. Standoffs between law enforcement and pro-Trump demonstrators in the streets of Washington, D.C. A complete interruption of the American process for selecting its chief executive in what, usually, is a peaceful transition of power.

As we noted, it will take time to fully evaluate what happened Wednesday, but it's clear the day will be recorded among the saddest in the nation's nearly 250-year history: Americans on the losing side of the U.S. presidential election threw a hissy-fit that became an insurrection against the country some of them profess to love.\

Making America great again? No. The actions of those at the U.S. Capitol were an assault. It should anger every American to see the United States Capitol, such a symbol of representative democracy, invaded through violence. The fact it was insufficiently protected should be investigated.

More comments to come, but not quite yet. Instead, let's consider a few of our semi-weekly "thumbs" on a few other subjects:

A reader offers kudos for ongoing efforts of a dedicated group to preserve the 1853 home of Judge Jonas Tebbetts' family, better known as the Headquarters House and the home of the Washington County Historical Society. The care of this property traces its beginnings to the beloved W.J. Lemke and Lessie Stringfellow Read. In the 1960s the antebellum home was carved up into a set of rundown apartments, but by local efforts it was rescued, restored and became a historical treasure in Fayetteville. Through three years of local fundraising by historical society members, aided by a local matching preservation grant from the Community Foundation, a new roof, lots of replacement of aging exterior boards, rehabilitation of window frames, and a new coats of primer and paint have been accomplished. Retired Circuit Judge Kim Smith, current WCHS President Jim Spillars, David Martinson, Lou Beland, Jon Cigainero, Mike Wiederkehr, Maylon Rice and others have kept the process moving. The Yell Law Office, the oldest law office in the state, is also folded into this program. A big thanks is also due to the Washington County Bar Association for its annual contribution and support to the upkeep of this historic property. A new roof on the law office is set for spring, just about the time the gardens will be in bloom.

We're sure it's not going to be like a "normal" tournament, but news that the NCAA plans to hold its "March Madness" tournament in 2021 is welcome. Organizers say all games will be played at locations in Indiana instead of sites across the country as the tournament usually plays out. Last year, the NCAA basketball tournament was one of the first major event cancellations that gave Americans a fuller appreciation of the sacrifices and challenges that lay ahead as a result of the pandemic. Naturally, limits on attendance and other precautions will change the look and feel of the tournament, but even with those adjustments, it will be a thrill to watch 67 teams compete for the national championship. Oh, and one more thing: Go Hogs.

One of the unfortunate outcomes of the Republicans' apparently botched effort to keep Georgia's Senate seats in the GOP column will be that Sen. John Boozman of Arkansas will not become chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee in the current Congress. Arkansas is a strong agricultural state and no doubt having someone from a state affected by agricultural policies chairing that panel would have be a benefit. Boozman will remain on the committee as the senior Republican member if Georgia's Tuesday election results hold up.

It's great business news that Hytrol Conveyer Co. of Jonesboro expands its Arkansas footprint with a $20 million investment in manufacturing operations in Fort Smith. The company expects to create 250 jobs within five years on the western side of the state. President and Chief Executive Officer David Peacock said it was an easy decision to stay in Arkansas, even as the company considered 12 other states. Hytrol has been part of Arkansas since it moved here from Wisconsin in 1962. Keeping expansion of existing companies in the state is a home run for everyone.