-
A look into the life of ‘Col.’ Morgan Magness
Morgan Magness was born to Jonathan and Patsy Magness about 1797 in Davidson County, TN. When the family came to Arkansas in 1813, they purchased some of the richest bottom land in the county. Magness was commissioned a lieutenant colonel in the county militia in …
-
Private water companies partner with fracking lobby
Two of the country’s largest private water utility companies are participants in a massive lobbying effort to expand controversial shale gas drilling — a heavy industrial activity that promises to enrich the water companies but may also put drinking water resources at risk. The situation …
-
Grateful for a father who…
School had just gotten out and my scout troop was working on putting together a campout. “Where’s Searle?” one of the boys asked. I looked around group and sure enough, Searle wasn’t there. That really surprised me. Searle was the perfect young man. He never …
-
Bird rescuer hopes crow isn’t on menu
Two crows were in the road. The older bird was dead; the younger, we’ll call him Frankie, was standing guard and wouldn’t budge. I moved the dead bird off the pavement hoping the little guy would follow. But Frankie, about three or four weeks old …
-
Learning from dad
Even though my dad is gone I still feel like I am learning from him. It seems to hit me out of nowhere why he did some of the things he did. When I was younger, he did a lot of things that made no …
-
Judges, please know your stuff
Larry Stroud “What the ???” Folks who are chosen to judge photos submitted by the public, whether at a county fair or another level, need to just say no if they are unfamiliar with animals, because in any such photo contest will be lots of …
-
Charge for profanity
According to the Associated Press, residents of Middleborough, Mass. have voted 183-50 to approve a proposal from the police chief to impose a $20 civil fine for loud, profanity-laden language in the downtown area and public parks. Yes, I know about slippery slopes, unintended consequences, …
-
Positive reinforcement
What happens when you walk in the door at night? Do you dread coming home, or are you excited? A friend of mine has a long commute. It takes him an hour and a half to get home. When he walks in the door he’s …
-
Policing the government
The balance between the police and the policed is getting way out of whack — and we better restore it now. I speak of a spate of new technologies — high-tech cameras, satellites and now, drones being flown over U.S. soil — that are giving …
-
Enjoying life now
I’m counting on last autumn’s funeral to help me put Father’s Day in the proper perspective. The day after Thanksgiving our beloved 14-year-old cat Mewsilla surrendered the last of her nine lives. My wife suggested that it would be a good father-son bonding experience if …
-
Ledge update
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas is the first state in the country to launch Smart 911, an enhanced public safety and emergency dispatching system. Other cities and counties across the country have installed Smart 911, but Arkansas is the only place it is available on a …
-
Problems? You’re not the only one
There was a whole passel of sour looking fellows in the room that night, looking like deer caught in the headlights. Even our pastor wore a plastic smile, and he was the one who’d recommended this 12-session marriage building seminar. The class began innocently enough, …
