Editorial

Seeing rural Arkansas through different eyes

When it comes to chronicling the bumpkins of darkest Arkansas, New York Times magazine writer Monica Potts is working in a long tradition. Mark Twain got there first in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” His portrait of slack-jawed “Arkansaw lunkheads” watching dog fights in ramshackle riverside towns fixed the region’s image for more than a century.

Buyers beware of flooded vehicles

Often, when a deal is too good to believe, there’s a reason. Buyers are being asked to beware when purchasing a used vehicle that it has not been flooded.

Commissioner Jim Donelon is reminding Louisiana consumers to be vigilant when purchasing used vehicles that may have been flooded in Texas as a result of Tropical Storm Imelda.

These damaged vehicles are being sold at auction and unscrupulous sellers may ship automobiles, trucks, boats and RV’s to other states and not disclose their origin to unsuspecting buyers.

Working together to give kids a head start

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The Head Start program was started in 1965 to provide comprehensive health, nutrition and educational opportunities for children and families across the U.S.

According to the National Head Start Association (NHSA), October is Head Start Awareness Month, a time to build knowledge of and support for Head Start’s whole-child and whole-community approach to supporting families on their path to success.

Millions of American children are in desperate need of the window of opportunity for success in life that Head Start provides.

Stay updated on local Halloween, harvest events

Each year, the National Retail Federation tracks Halloween trends. The figures and statistics shared by the NRF and other organizations paint a picture of just how popular Halloween can be.

• Consumers will spend an estimated $9 billion on Halloween. The average, American will spend $86.79 on the festivities, according to the NRF.

• The U.S. Census Bureau indicates that there are 41.1 million potential trick-ortreaters aged 5 to 14.

The prison blues just aren’t the same

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Imagine somewhere between Shawshank and a Motel 6.

You’ll come up with something pretty close to the Beaumont Federal Correctional Institute in Texas.

It’s a medium security prison, and we recently learned how mediocre its security really is. Inmates tend to escape and in perhaps the most interesting twist in the history of prison breaks, they come back.

It seems four inmates – that we know of – have pretty much been coming and going as they pleased. They walk out, buy liquor, cigarettes, cellphones and other contraband they can move in the joint, and they return.

Lauer’s right to defend self important part of #MeToo

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In the wake of the #MeToo movement, “he said, she said,” is quickly becoming, “she said, he cringed and remained silent.” Another variation is, “she said, he apologized profusely and then resigned.”

This would describe former Sen. Al Franken, who did what he thought was the honorable thing even though many of his former colleagues now regret forcing him out of office (except for former Democratic presidential candidate Kirsten Gillibrand, emphasis on “former”).

Down Syndrome myths debunked

Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder that is caused by an error in cell division. When a person has Down syndrome, he or she has a third chromosome 21, also called Trisomy 21. This extra chromosome causes intellectual disability and medical problems.

What happened election night in Louisiana?

As Gomer Pile insightfully said, “Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!” There were a number of them on election night in the Bayou State.Gov. John Bel Edwards’ quest for a first primary victory fell flat as several factors in the final days of the campaign caused his poll numbers to plummet. Now voters can look forward to a nasty runoff, with the airwaves filled with a boatload of negative TV and radio spots.

Mass shootings still happening but being ignored

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Official Washington might have averted its gaze from the scourge of gun violence to focus on the unfolding impeachment drama surrounding President Donald Trump. But it’s been a deadly six weeks in cities and towns across America.

Between Aug. 31 – when seven people were fatally shot in Odessa, Texas – and Oct. 9, there have been a total of 45 mass shootings across the nation this year, leaving 79 people dead and 159 more wounded.

Melissa Doise 5K: A decade of battling breast cancer

The Melissa Doise Hope for the Miracle Foundation is celebrating a decade of raising funds and awareness for breast cancer.

Louisiana has the second highest mortality rate of breast cancer in the U.S. with nearly 10,000 estimated deaths annually according to the American Cancer Society.

Each year, the Melissa Doise 5K run/walk is one way the foundation does just that. Also the money stays in Jeff Davis Parish to help locals are battling the disease that has affected over 26,000 Louisiana residents in the year 2019 alone.