A Better REGION 8

Change a lifetime

You can change a lifetime. There are children in Arkansas in desperate need of a home to call their own. This is National Foster Care Month. In the U-S, there are 400,000 children and youth in foster care and in Arkansas there are roughly 4,000 children in foster care at any given time. Each year, approximately 30,000 young people leave the foster care system without lifelong families. These young adults have to navigate a weakened economy that is offering fewer jobs and less support. There are so many ways you can be involved in these young lives as foster or adoptive parents, volunteers, mentors, employers and various other ways. In the state of Arkansas, we have a terrific resource to provide you with information if you've ever thought of being a foster parent or helping foster children in any way. You can log on to www.fosterarkansas.org. Get involved in a foster child's life and you will help make this a Better Region 8 and a better world.

Out of the Dark

"My heart hurts for him." That's what a Region 8 mom said about her son being arrested for a string of charges including stealing a police cruiser. Sean Whitney was arrested Friday after his mother called police to turn him in for stealing televisions from her apartment. Whitney was taken into custody after he tried to take off on foot and then stole a police cruiser to get away. Deborah Brewer told Brandi Hunter she called 911 hoping to get her son arrested so he could get help for his habit. It was so sad to me this mother felt she had no other option, but to call the police. It made me think about an organization I learned about recently called Out of the Dark. Out of the Dark is a community volunteer movement started in 2008 after several people in Jonesboro felt the need to address the horrible impact chemical addiction is having on our community. If you have a family member of friend caught up in the throes of addiction, there is help. You can call the Into the Light Hotline at 800-592-8460 or 870-336-1755. Reaching out for help will help make this A Better Region 8.

Thank you Mr. Griffin

I want to give a great big KAIT salute to Arkansas State University Alumnus Neil Griffin. Griffin returned to ASU to establish a 5 million dollar scholarship endowment fund. Griffin said he wanted to establish the Griffin Scholars Endowment Fund because he believes education is a cornerstone for the opportunities available to young people. Griffin said he's passionate about helping those who may not be able to afford it. The 1948 ASU graduate made his money in accounting and banking and it's clear to me he had a lot of choices when it came to investing his money. The fact he remembered his alma mater after all these years says a lot about Griffin's character and serves as a good lesson for all of us. Mr. Griffin said quote, "I'm sorry that I'm so late getting here in my life, but I'm glad to be a part of it." Mr. Neil Griffin, it was not late for us. Thank you for making this fund possible for future ASU students and in turn making this a Better Region 8.

Have your say on the future I-555

As I get more acquainted with Region 8, I have come to appreciate Highway 63 because it's the road I use to go see my family in Tennessee. I've become familiar with signs along Highway 63 that say Future I-555. As you probably know, these signs have been up for a long time. Too long it seems and it's time to change that. There's a group of people led by the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce who are working tirelessly to get this project moved along. Get this, when a business or industry considers locating to Region 8 one of the first things they ask is are you located on an interstate? We have to say sort of. And did you know more than 200 million dollars has already been spent on a plan that now comes down to roughly 2 miles. That's all that has to be completed in order to convert Highway 63 into I-555. Here's where you come in. The Arkansas Highway Department needs to hear from you. Log on to www.arkansashighways.com. Look under recent public meetings and find the date 4-19-12. Click on that entry and then click on the link that says Project Packet. There you will find the form to fill out. The deadline for submitting the form is May 17th. If you need any help with this, please call the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce at 870-932-6691. If you believe in this project or even if you don't, your voice needs to be heard. I believe converting Highway 63 into Interstate 555 will help make this A Better Region 8.

Free dental care

In Arkansas, 61 percent of children under the age of 9 already have tooth decay. In Arkansas, 29 percent of adults 65 and older have lost all their teeth. That's according to the Arkansas Department of Health. Access to prevention and treatment is limited. That's why you need to know about a big event coming up this Friday and Saturday. If you or someone you know is in need of dental care, you can get it this weekend at the ASU Convocation Center. That's where the Arkansas Mission of Mercy will provide free basic dental care to adults and children. It's a free two day, 100 chair dental clinic. Hundreds of dental volunteers will take part in the clinic. The free dental care will be provided to adults and children of all ages on a first-come, first-serve basis. Doors open at 6 a-m on Friday, April 27th and Saturday, April 28th at the Convo. It's volunteers like the folks with Arkansas Mission of Mercy that make this a Better Region 8.

Do the Right Thing

 

 April 16, 2012

 

The story that has "hogged" the headlines this past week was the motorcycle crash involving University of Arkansas Head Football Coach Bobby Petrino. Following the crash, Petrino lied to his superiors and told them he was alone on the motorcycle when it crashed, but then he was forced to come clean about an inappropriate relationship with a 25-year-old football department employee which then led to his firing. That's a lot to take in whether you'

re a University of Arkansas fan or not. And if you think it was tough for you -- how about the guy who had to decide whether Petrino would stay or go. I want to take a moment to commend the University of Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long. Long has handled the situation professionally and did what was best for everyone involved. It was clear Jeff Long didn't allow the concerns about winning on the field overshadow doing the right thing. The right thing in this case was to rid the University of this blotch on its reputation. I know finding a new head football coach will be difficult. But I have a feeling Long is just the right person to lead the program through this storm. We can all take a lesson from Jeff Long. Doing the right thing will help make this A Better Region 8.

Come on Mayor! We need to hear from you.

The story that caught my attention this week was an excellent example of investigative journalism by Region 8 Anchor Josh Harvison. The Mayor of Fisher, Arkansas has hired an attorney to represent him in an ongoing dispute with a company that claims they entered into two lease purchase agreements with the city for a police car and a police dog. In a letter sent to the company, the attorney for the Mayor claims the Mayor's signature was forged on the documents and a news release the company made to KAIT was slanderous toward the Mayor. In December, Mayor Homer Don Anschultz interviewed with Region 8 News and told Josh then he didn't sign the documents and never approved the purchase. Council minutes showed the Mayor told the city council the city had purchased a car from the Pope County Sheriff's Department and each council member had agreed to it. Now Mayor Anschultz has clammed up and will no longer talk to Region 8 News. Come on Mayor - don't you owe it to the people of Fisher to keep the lines of communication open? This impacts their tax dollars. Open lines of communication help make this a Better Region 8.

Counseling services can help avert family tragedies

March 19, 2012

A MOTHER AND 3 DAUGHTERS -- AGES 8 YEARS OLD, 6 YEARS OLD AND 3 YEARS OLD WERE FOUND SHOT TO DEATH OVER THE WEEKEND.

POLICE IN BOURBON, MISSOURI SAY THEY SUSPECT THIS WAS A MURDER-SUICIDE.

I WAS HORRIFIED WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE DEATHS AND EVEN MORE SHOCKED WHEN I LEARNED THESE CHILDREN MAY HAVE DIED AT THE HANDS OF THEIR OWN MOTHER.

WE HEAR ABOUT THESE TRAGEDIES AND IT'S SO HARD FOR US TO IMAGINE HOW MUCH PAIN A PERSON COULD BE IN TO KILL HER OWN DAUGHTERS.

BUT THEN I REALIZE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN PAIN OUT THERE AND THEY NEED HELP.

WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE SEVERAL COUNSELING SERVICES IN REGION 8 - PLACES PEOPLE CAN TURN TO WHEN THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN UNBEARABLE PAIN. 

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO END LIKE THIS. 

YOU CAN FIND A LIST OF COUNSELING SERVICES AND PHONE NUMBERS BY LOGGING ON TO KAIT8.COM AND CLICKING ON THE COMMUNITY TAB AT THE TOP OF OUR HOME PAGE.  YOU WILL FIND A LINK TO MY EDITORIALS THERE AND CONTACT NUMBERS.

• Better Life Counseling:  (870) 935-4673
• Life Strategies:  (870) 972-1268
• Mid-South Health Systems:  1-800-356-3035
• Hope Gilchrist:  (870) 910-3730
• ASU Counseling Center:  (870) 972-2318
• Families, Inc. Counseling Services (870) 268-7680

THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP MAKE THIS A BETTER REGION 8.

 

If You Can't Say Anything Nice, Don't Say Anything At All...

March 5, 2012

SURELY BY NOW YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE RUCKUS RADIO TALK SHOW HOST RUSH LIMBAUGH CAUSED LAST WEEK WHEN HE CALLED A GEORGETOWN LAW STUDENT A PROSTITUTE AMONG OTHER THINGS. 

LIMBAUGH CALLED SANDRA FLUKE THESE NAMES AFTER SHE TESTIFIED TO CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL HEALTH CARE POLICIES THAT WOULD REQUIRE EMPLOYERS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO OFFER GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE THAT COVERS BIRTH CONTROL FOR WOMEN.

8 ADVERTISERS ON LIMBAUGH'S RADIO SHOW HAVE NOW PULLED THEIR ADS.  LIMBAUGH'S WORDS HAVE BEEN CONDEMNED BY BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

LIMBAUGH ISSUED AN APOLOGY, BUT DEFENDED HIS STANCE ON THE ISSUE.

BUT THE ISSUE IS NOT THE ISSUE.  THE ISSUE THIS TIME AROUND IS THAT WORDS CAN HURT.

I THINK THIS IS A GOOD LESSON FOR ALL OF US.  IT'S A GOOD TIME TO STEP BACK AND THINK ABOUT TIMES WE HAVE HURT OTHERS BY SOMETHING WE'VE SAID.  REMEMBER WHEN YOU SAY SOMETHING DEROGATORY ABOUT  ANOTHER HUMAN BEING -- YOU MAY NOT FACE THE FUROR RUSH LIMBAUGH HAS FACED, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THE WORDS AREN'T AS HURTFUL.  AS MY GRANNY USED TO SAY -- IF YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING NICE, THEN DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL.  AND THAT CAN HELP MAKE THIS A BETTER REGION 8.

 

Dangers of Drunk Driving

March 12, 2012

WHEN I THINK OF DRUNK DRIVING, I TYPICALLY THINK OF HOLIDAYS LIKE NEW YEAR'S EVE.

BUT ONE OF THE MOST CELEBRATED HOLIDAYS OF THE YEAR IS COMING UP THIS WEEKEND.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY IS THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 17TH.

SO IT'S A GOOD TIME TO REMIND YOU OF THE DANGERS OF DRINKING AND DRIVING.

IF YOU LOG ON TO THE MOTHER'S AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING WEBSITE, YOU WILL FIND A SOBERING STATISTIC IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOME PAGE -- ONE IN THREE OF US WILL BE IMPACTED BY DRUNK DRIVING.

IF YOU PLAN TO DRINK THIS WEEKEND, DO SO RESPONSIBLY. 

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SOMEONE TO DRIVE YOU HOME. 

YOU CAN ALSO HELP BY LEARNING HOW TO SPOT A DRUNK DRIVER.

A FEW OF THE THINGS TO LOOK FOR ARE SPEEDING UP AND SLOWING DOWN, TAILGATING, WEAVING, STOPPING FOR NO REASON, SLOW RESPONSE TO TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND TURNING ABRUPTLY OR ILLEGALLY.  EXPERTS TELL US DON'T TRY TO INTERFERE WITH A DRUNK DRIVER -- CALL POLICE.

BOTTOM LINE - IF YOU DRINK, STAY OFF THE ROADS.

AND IF THAT'S NOT DETTERENT ENOUGH -- POLICE OFFICERS AND SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES WILL BE OUT IN FULL FORCE THIS WEEKEND.

SAVE YOURSELF A LOT OF TROUBLE AND HEARTACHE AND MAKE THIS A BETTER REGION 8.