Opinion

LITTLE ROCK – For decades prison overcrowding has sparked a financial tug-of-war between the state and Arkansas counties. In recent months the issue has taken on a greater urgency.

On Monday, the 93rd General Assembly will convene at the State Capitol to address the budget for Fiscal Year 2023. Fiscal Sessions began after Arkansas voters approved what would become Amendment 86 in 2008.

I must admit I don’t listen to country music much. Three Christmases ago my daughter gave me a subscription to SiriusXM, a gift she has made a tradition. I keep it tuned to the sixties station. I listen to it in the car and, thanks to another great gift from her sister, I can simply say, “Alexa, play 60’s gold on SiriusXM” and enjoy it in my home as well. I do love those oldies!

Last week was pretty eventful for it be the dull time of the year. I sucked one of my best shoes up in the vacuum cleaner; I decided to double the recipe for caramel popcorn which was a definite mistake and then the Northerner that blew up Sunday night nearly blew me and my popcorn out of town.

It’s easier to say we are in physical pain than to say, “My heart is breaking.” Everywhere you look as you go about your lives in town there are people all around you who are experiencing the ravaging effects of grief or worry. It’s the people you shop among at the 10Box and General Dollar store, your friends, work colleagues, social media acquaintances, and for some, the people you may see sitting at your dining table. It could be you. Life is challenging and attempts to break us down sometimes and nothing and no one can protect us from this reality.

Ode Smith, a barber, employed at Reno’s Shop, became violently insane for a short time this afternoon and was taken to jail. Smith became overheated while working at the fire up town this afternoon and while in that condition took some whiskey, when he became crazed and attempted to shoot himself in the head with a pistol, the bullet look some hair, but doing no damage. Then he rushed out of the barbershop with a pistol and two razors and created wild consternation from Reno’s Shop to Harb Brothers store where he was forcibly disarmed and arrested. Fortunately the pistol contained but two cartridges, the second one was discharged in Vandover’s Saloon. At a meeting held in the Bank of Corning last Saturday, that institution was incorporated, with a capitol of $30,000 with the following officers: G. B. Oliver, president; D. Hopson, vice president; W. D. Polk, cashier: J.W. Harb, E. V. Sheeks, Dr. N. J. Latimer and R. Whitaker, directors. This bank was established about five years ago and conducted up to this time as a private institution by Mr. Polk as proprietor and cashier. It has from the beginning, been a safe and reliable bank. Now with an increased number of such competent and conservative businessmen, bids fair to make more rapid progress as one of the foremost banking institutions in Northeast Arkansas At the City Council meeting last Friday night, William Fisher was appointed city marshal. He was the successful applicant over many others for that position. The new courthouse, which has just been completed in Corning, was received by the commissioners last Saturday. C. Hans who was in jail at this place, awaiting the action of the Grand Jury charged with the murder of his brother-in-law a few days ago at Knobel. escaped from the jail Wednesday by walking out the door of the iron cage and crawling through a hole in the brick outer wall. Staley Drug Store is headquarters for chess players in this section. T. B. Staley, E. V. Sheeks, Drs. McKinney and Latimer, Lee Brown, Dan Schandi and G. B. Johnson (Newport) are among the number of local players and several of them have solved some very difficult chess problems lately. At the school election last Saturday J.W. Harb was elected school director, and the proposition to build a new schoolhouse, not to cost over $10,000.00 and the 50-mill tax. for building funds, also carried.

The big game’s a’comin’ and every year there’s a lot of talk about the commercials. Normally commercials are a thing I avoid. During a commercial break, I usually take a stroll or engage in light banter. I might fix a snack or even, on occasion, check the laundry.

Hello everyone. I hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day and didn’t eat too much chocolate. I had a nice one. But every day is Valentine’s Day if you’re with the right person. I’m lucky to say I have one special husband. He tries his hardest to make every day special. I am very lucky to have such a hardworking and caring, sweet husband that goes beyond to make the family happy. He still finds time in his busy days to do something special.

Anyone can be a songwriter, anymore...In case you haven’t noticed most of today’s songs have only one or two lines which are repeated over and over. This modern music is usually so loud that the words don’t matter anyway...they can’t be heard.