April 2024

Full Circle

It is not that I have difficulty finding things to write about for my column, but rather the difficulty in choosing what I think might be beneficial to both you and myself. The complexity of the world we live in offers no ends of ready subjects rife for discussion. Let’s just start with the recent news making events. You will find, upon opening the discussion, that we have an overabundance of armchair analysts and experts, many without ready credentials to back up their opinions. Let’s try the recent horrible incident with the bridge in Baltimore that was struck with the container ship. I had just finished my nightly reading of a wonderful book and had opened Tik-Tok to let my mind un-focus. If you wish to un-focus your mind, TikTok is the place to go, lol! It must have been a bit past 12:30 a.m. CST when a clip came across my feed from a security camera somewhere of the bridge falling in, and the ship against it. That fast it was on the air. Within 24 hours the absurdity was already flowing, everything from ‘the Russians did it,’ to ‘it was Joe Biden’s fault.’ I dare say the President was deep in slumber at the time, and I doubt he would have wanted to add another fallen bridge to his already heavy load of repairing infrastructure. One guy said that the Democrats did it. Nah, that didn’t fly either. There were a few more, most too stupid to list. Then there is the solar eclipse that is going to turn parts of the country from bright day light to starry bright nighttime on April 8th. By the time you read this that will have come to pass.

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Letters to the Editor

Thank you for your well written editorial, “The definition of patriot”. Newspapers, large and small, should be writing about the effort by extremists to hi-jack our democracy. Laurel Johnson Alton, MO

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Arkansas Public Service Commission Announces National Safe Digging Month

The Arkansas Public Service Commission announces that April has been designated as “National Safe Digging Month.” Accordingly, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a proclamation on March 29, 2024 recognizing April as National Safe Digging Month in Arkansas. This designation acknowledges the significance of calling 811 before you dig. Along with the Governor, the Arkansas Public Service Commission’s Pipeline Safety Office, the Arkansas Attorney General, the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission, Arkansas 811, and the Common Ground Alliance encourage excavators and homeowners to always call 811 before digging to prevent unintended consequences such as service interruption, environmental damage, personal injury, and even death. In addition to dialing 811, customers can also contact Arkansas One Call at 800482-8998 or https:// arkansas811.com/.

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From courier files…

August 24, 2017 For a moment in time, young and old lifted their eyes to the skies on Monday, August 21st as the first solar eclipse in 99 years to cross the United States, put on a scientific and beautiful show. Above and Upper Left: Crowds gathered at the Corning Welcome Center to view the solar eclipse.

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