A Better REGION 8

Gun Safety and Teens

It was with great sadness I read on kait8.com about another Region 8 teenager losing his life in an accidental shooting.

Investigators said 16-year-old Zane Riddiough of Independence County was with a group of friends and he was handling a gun when the gun went off, hit him and he died.

Just a few weeks earlier, we reported another shooting death of a teenager named Dillon McKinnis Brown.  Dillon was just 14-years-old. Investigators said Dillon was accidentally shot and killed after a duck hunt.

These two incidents alone are enough for those of us who are parents of teenagers or friends of teenagers to at least talk to the young people we know about the dangers of handling guns.

Please don’t misunderstand me – I support our right to bear arms and am not against the responsible use of firearms especially in self defense and for hunting.  But as the mother of a 20-year-old son – I know teenagers and young adults often feel they are invincible. 

Please do what you can to talk with your teen, your young adult and their friends about the dangers of guns. 

Maybe, just maybe, you can help save a precious life and in turn make this a Better Region 8

 

Tracey Rogers : Joining the Region 8 Family

Region 8 joined together recently to welcome Coach Gus Malzahn as the new head football coach at Arkansas State University. Cheers went up from the crowd as Coach Malzahn spoke about his plans for the future and talked about taking the ASU Football program to the next level.  Coach Malzahn declared he is here to win championships and is looking forward to building on the success at ASU.  He called ASU a program on the rise and said he knows this is the place for him. 

Like Coach Malzahn, I am also joining the Region 8 family and I also know this is the right place for me.  I am the new Vice President and General Manager of KAIT 8 taking the reins from the incomparable Tim Ingram who has moved to Cape Girardeau, Missouri to lead KFVS-TV.  I am excited to be taking over “a program on the rise”.  KAIT 8 is known for the highest quality of journalism and programming and I look forward to serving you in the years to come as we work together to make this a better Region 8.   

 

Tim Ingram : My Final A Better Region 8

Four and a half years ago I became the General Manager of KAIT and began this editorial series I called "A Better Region 8." Although I have been accused of being a little preachy from time to time, my intent has always been to encourage thought and initiate conversation promoting the betterment of our part of the world. Region 8 is a very special place and that makes it extremely difficult to stand before you and offer my final commentary. You see, because of the good work of the team we have assembled here at KAIT, I have been blessed to receive a promotion with our company . My family and I will be moving north to Cape Girardeau, MO where I will be General Manager of the Raycom Media station there.  I have been very fortunate in my 20 plus year career to work with some fantastic broadcasters and you should know that KAIT has some of the best I have ever had the pleasure to work with-both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. The good folks here make this one of the top small market stations in the country. That ‘can do’ attitude can be seen not only at KAIT, but in every town across Region 8.  That’s what makes us so special.  I am blessed to have had the opportunity to serve as the leader of this wonderful team and call Region 8 home.  For four and a half years our commitment to you has been to be a little bit better each and every day. I hope that has been evident. You will never know how much I have appreciated your inviting me into your home every week; How much I have appreciated your comments, even when we disagreed, and how much I have loved serving as the general manager of your television station. It is never easy to say goodbye, so I won't. Until we meet again,  I hope you will all continue to make this a Better Region 8.    

Making time for a little Thanksgiving

We have little ones at home and for every holiday that comes around we have this tradition. We buy these clingy things that go on our patio doors. If you have children, you know what I’m talking about. For Easter we had eggs and baskets, for Halloween it was bats and ghosts, and for Thanksgiving we have a Turkey- A single, solitary Turkey. This turkey has been a point of contention in our household. You see, after hunting all over town, all we could find for Thanksgiving was this lonesome little Turkey. It seems the decorations for the holiday were completely skipped  as retailers committed more shelf space earlier in the year for Christmas.  This is not a new problem. Each year Christmas decorations go up in stores a little earlier. Sales start a little sooner. For Instance, If you download an app or search Black Friday online, you will find all the ads instantly that you used to buy a Thanksgiving Day newspaper for.  There are pre Black Friday sales that run through Wednesday and sales that start on Thanksgiving  night and somewhere sandwiched in the middle of that we are supposed to allocate a little time to eat some turkey, spend some time with family and give thanks.  Everyone wants a deal. I get that. But let’s not get so caught up in the buying frenzy that we overlook everything we should be thankful for. This Thanksgiving, try to pause, give thanks, and celebrate with your friends and family. Make a meaningful memory and make this A Better Region 8.

Fill the Food bank

Did you know that each week, right here in Region 8, over 5,000 people seek emergency food assistance from a food pantry, a soup kitchen, a shelter, or other program associated with the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas. You would think that since we live in the land of plenty that no one should ever risk going hungry.  Well, think again. Arkansas continually ranks in the top 4 for the highest rate of hunger in the United States The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas is doing everything possible to put food in the hands of the hungry and this year we are asking for your help once again. This Thursday KAIT and the Jonesboro Radio Group are partnering with the Food Bank to help raise food donations. The Food Bank  has 94 partner agencies and programs located in 12 counties across Region 8. They work to collect food donations on behalf of all to take to their communities to serve families in need. We’ll be set up at Kroger on Caraway Road in Jonesboro all day long Thursday and we would love to see you there. There is no reason for anyone to go to bed hungry in this great country of ours. Come out Thursday and help make this A Better Region 8.

Interstate Rehab Plan

In 1999 Arkansas voters passed the Interstate Rehabilitation Program. It helped to repair over 350 miles of interstate highway across our state. The only problem is,  Arkansas has over 650 miles of interstate. Do the math. It’s time for our state to again address this issue. If you haven’t gone to the polls for early voting, and I’m willing to wager that most haven’t, there is an issue on the November 8th election ballot to authorize the 2011 Interstate Rehabilitation Program. This bond issue is identical to the one passed in 1999. It allows the Arkansas Highway Commission to issue Garvee bonds to fix 400 miles of Interstate highway in Arkansas. AND…No new or increased taxes will be required for the 2011 program.  We believe that good roads bring with them good jobs, good business, and good people to our state and we support passage of the 2011 Interstate Rehabilitation program. Whether you agree or not, we encourage you to make the time to go to the polls and execute your rights as a voter.  It will make this a Better Region 8.

National EAS Test

 

On Wednesday, November 9th The Federal Communications Commission and FEMA will conduct the first nationwide test of the New Emergency Alert System or EAS. That’s next Wednesday, November 9 at 1pm. This nationwide test will be seen or heard on television, cable, satellite and radio. The test will last for approximately three minutes and then you will be returned back to regularly scheduled programming. The national EAS is an alert and warning system established to enable the President of the United States, if needed, to address the American public during emergencies. It is a critical communications tool that can protect the public and strengthen our nation’s resiliency. As Federal, State, and local governments use this test to measure their capabilities and to prepare for possible disaster, this event should serve as a reminder that everyone of us should establish an emergency preparedness kit and emergency plan for ourselves, our families, our communities, and our businesses.  For help in your planning, click here http://www.fema.gov/plan/index.shtm.  Remember on Wednesday November 9^th at 1pm KAIT and others will be conducting a test of the EAS system. It is only a test, Intended to help make this A Better Region 8.

Sexual Assaults in Jonesboro

Do you remember playing the old telephone game when you were a kid? You go around in a circle, each person passing on what the previous whispered only to have the last one in the line blurt out a result to the group that’s completely different than what was actually said at the beginning? Well that game is being played, right now, in Jonesboro with far more serious consequences. Jonesboro Police are trying to investigate what might or might not be a string of sexual assaults in the western part of the city.  As we reported last week the Police say that the rumors and information being spread about the cases, particularly on the internet, are actually hampering their investigation. I know that there are people who are concerned, some who are even frightened, worrying about what has happened, wanting every last bit of information and wondering why it hasn’t been wrapped up. After all, we have been trained to expect the instant gratification of finding answers on Google. We’ve become expectant that forensic experts should be like those prime time CSIs and solve any crime in the course of an hour. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. If you see something or know something that can contribute to catching the perpetrators of these or ANY OTHER crimes, please notify the police. It is your responsibility. However, if you don’t have facts then don’t contribute to the criminals by muddying the waters for law enforcement and getting in the way of arrests and prosecutions. Fortunately, we live in a part of the world where crime doesn’t dominate the first ten minutes of a newscast. Unfortunately, there are bad people in this world. And that means that we must be prepared;  always aware of our surroundings, always on the lookout for anything suspicious, and knowing always what to do when confronted by a criminal.   Knowing how to keep ourselves, our families, and our communities safer will help keep the bad guys at bay, and make this  A Better Region 8.  

Interim Leadership at ASU

In case we haven’t shouted it loud enough, for the second year in a row, Arkansas State University has been ranked by the editors of U.S. News & World Report as a Tier I southern regional institution of higher education.  While it certainly seems that the university is doing a lot of things right, the institution has continued its growth with far too many leaders who have temporary, interim titles. In some areas interim department chairs are reporting to interim deans who in turn report to an interim chancellor. This situation needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. Losing Dr. Les Wyatt and Dr. Robert Potts so close together followed by lengthy searches has not been in the best interests of the school or its leadership. When the search for a new chancellor was opened, I was so very encouraged to hear that Dr. Dan Howard, the “interim” chancellor, was the first to apply. Dr. Howard has never let that interim title get in the way of providing sound leadership for the university and for Region 8.  This was most evident recently when a delegation from China was here in Region 8, touring rice farms and processing facilities. Dr. Howard was impressive opening a dialogue with Region 8 farmers and the Chinese. An opportunity that might result in two hundred million dollars annually in Arkansas.  ASU needs solid leadership going forward and folks, Dr. Howard wants the job. While the search committee must look long and hard for the right candidate, it is our belief they already have the right man for the job. Removing the interim from Dr. Dan Howards title and installing him as the new chancellor of Arkansas State University will make this a Better Region 8.

Pay Raises for Politicians??????

A lawsuit filed last week in Pulaski circuit court alleges that the practice of allowing our legislators to be reimbursed for expenses without providing receipts or documentation of the expense, is unconstitutional. While the lawsuit names two politicians, neither from Region 8, the practice is considered rather common. The non profit group that filed the suit says their reason for filing is “not to deprive legislators of income but to require the state to obey the constitution and pay them straightforwardly”. There are two steps that should be made to address this issue. The first-all government officials should provide receipts for all expenses. That would seem to be the most straightforward solution.  The second step however is more precarious. We seriously need to consider raising the pay of state legislators. Typically, we would never support giving a politician a raise. However, in this instance, it bears discussion. You see, our state legislators represent you and me for a little more than $15,000 a year. It’s a little more than you would make if you worked a full time job at minimum wage. A salary that small attracts a lot of folks that don’t need it in the first place. We can do better. Increasing the salary for the position should attract a broader range of candidates that better represent our state and doing so will make this a Better Region 8.