A Better REGION 8

Honoring Our Heroes on Memorial Day

Monday we will celebrate the unofficial start of Summer with Memorial Day. For a whole lot of us that means going to the lake, an out of town trip, Barbequeing with family or friends, or just a lazy three day weekend. While most of us will take a holiday, far too many of us will forget the sacrifices that were made to give us this day off.  It is extremely important to remember that Memorial day was created to commemorate men and women who have fallen in military service to our country. If you're a parent making holiday plans I encourage you to think about the families who have members serving in the military. Pay them back by taking some time this Monday to explain to your youngsters the importance of the men and women who protect our freedoms.... including our ability to celebrate holidays. Too many men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the American way of life. Those who have died in service to our country deserve our respect. Let’s make this A Better Region 8 by doing a better job teaching the next generation about the importance of honoring our American heroes.

A Better REGION 8 - Honoring Heroes on Memorial Day

"Staycations" Are A Good Alternative

Memorial Day is coming up and traditionally that holiday kicks off the start of summer vacation time. A lot of you are planning your summer vacations right now. With the economic concerns we all have this year, those much heralded trips to the beach, or tourist destinations like Disney World, may be a little out of reach. A lot of folks are talking about staying home, or close to home this year.  And you know, that’s not a bad idea. I’ll be taking a staycation next week just to get some work done around the house. But you know, if you have the desire to get out and about, you really ought to consider the many opportunities we have right here in our own backyard. Arkansas and Missouri both offer some wonderful destinations to visit and opportunities for families to get out and explore without putting a huge dent in your pocketbook. For more information visit www.arkansas.com or www.visitmo.com. Vacationing  close to home makes a lot of financial sense AND it keeps your dollars circulating right here in our region. That certainly makes for a Better Region 8.

A Better REGION 8 - 'Staycations'

Mayor Perrin's 100 Day Transition Report

I have to tell you, when Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin shared his "100 days" transition team report this week, I was impressed. For years we in the media have used the first hundred days as a litmus test to measure the success of a president or sometimes a governor, but rarely do you hear anyone mention the 1st hundred days of a mayor. The message to the citizens of Jonesboro, well folks, we have a new captain at the helm and this captain means business. And he plans to run this city just like a business. With a handful of key advisors on board, Mayor Perrin has ascertained key weaknesses in city government and he has done that through the eyes of independent, informed citizens that have earned his trust. The document, which will be available on the city’s website soon,  is a good read. It is also a roadmap which, if you read between the lines, foreshadows the route to Mayor Perrin’s and the city of Jonesboro's success. And that is a good thing. This Mayor has a plan to get Jonesboro where he wants it to go. And I applaud this administration for taking the time figure out where the city is before embarking haphazardly on a four year trip. We have lots of issues to address, traffic, planning, quality of life and others. It would have been very easy to hit the ground running to quickly accomplish something, anything, but this approach shows all of the citizens of Jonesboro that Mayor Perrin is willing to put Jonesboro’s success before his own, even when that is very hard to do. Mayor Perrin, congratulations on a good first one hundred days. By your own admission, the city has a lot of work to do and you have only 1325 days left in your term. Make every one of them count as you work to make Jonesboro, and Region 8, a better place for us all.

A Better REGION 8 - Jonesboro Mayor's 100-day Report

Guest Editorial-Share The Road

Very soon, “Share the Road” signs will be appearing along popular cycling routes in Northeast Arkansas. 

The number of cyclists in Region 8 is growing everyday. Folks are riding for exercise and fun, or because they want a greener way to get around.  Riding a bike is fun and practical, but dealing with traffic can be intimidating, especially to a new cyclist.  Some folks think that bikes don’t belong on the road and are unaware of the laws regarding bicycle use.  Bikes do belong on the road, and they have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. 

Most drivers are polite, careful, and want to do the right thing, but are unsure of what to do when approaching a cyclist.  What a motorist should do is this: slow down and pass with care, giving the rider the minimum 3 feet buffer that is required by law.  That may mean waiting for oncoming traffic to pass, but that show of patience and courtesy will keep everyone safe.

Cyclists should return this courtesy to motorists by obeying ALL traffic laws.  That means stopping at stop signs, signaling turns, and having proper lighting at night.  A cyclist that ignores the law is subject to the same penalties as a motorist.

The Northeast Arkansas Bicycle Coalition hopes that when drivers see these signs, they will remember to be attentive and look out for cyclists on the road, and that when cyclists see these signs that they will remember that they have a responsibility on the road, too.  When all road users stay safe, that makes for A Better Region 8. 

A Mother's Job Description

If you were to write a job description for motherhood it might read something like this:

 

A woman who runs on black coffee and leftovers. She has a kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a broken relationship. A woman who heals herself when she is sick and can feed a family of six on a single pound of hamburger. Eyes in the back of her head that see what she shouldn't, and eyes out in front that can look at a child when he messes up and say. 'I understand and I love you' without so much as uttering a word.

There are a lot of mothers that fit that description plus a whole lot more right here in Region 8. This weekend as we celebrate Mother’s Day we here at KAIT want to recognize all of our great Region 8 moms. If you would like to honor your mother, log on to kait8.com, click on see it, snap it, send it, and upload your digital picture and leave a short message. We’ll show our great moms during the news starting Friday and on kait8.com through the month. All free of charge. We’re all guilty of not telling our mothers often enough just how much they mean to us. Log on today and tell your mom what she means to you. Moms have been making this a better region 8 for a long time. It’s time we recognize them

A Better REGION 8 - Tributes to our Mothers