A Better REGION 8

The Great Central U.S. Shakeout

Like many of you, I have spent most of my life living near the New Madrid Fault Line. This year marks the 200^th anniversary of the great New Madrid Earthquakes. While our region has not experienced major quakes in a couple of centuries, we do feel a tremor every now and then to remind us that someday, there will be another major earthquake right here in Region 8.  The quake that hit Japan earlier this spring and other recent quakes around the globe captured the attention of many. Scientists tell us that a damaging earthquake could strike the central U.S. at anytime. It would be great to know exactly when “The Big One” will occur but we all know Mother Nature doesn’t work that way. So, the next best option to plan for the inevitable is to stage “The Big One”. And that’s exactly what will happen this Thursday at 10:15 in the morning. They are calling it the Great Central U.S. Shakeout. Almost 2 and a half million people, businesses, and organizations in eleven states have registered to participate. You can link to the site here.  Because far too few of us take the threat of a major earthquake seriously, we believe everyone, registered or not, should take some time this Thursday to get informed, to get prepared and learn how to drop, cover and hold on.  Being prepared for a disaster that never comes is far better than the alternative.  It will make this A Better Region 8.

Officer Jonathan Schmidt

Most people get up every morning, get dressed and head out to work in relative safety. There are very few that walk into work each day assuming someone might try to kill them.  But the men and women who wear a badge, live with that assumption. They know that when they put on their uniform and report for duty, they might not go home at the end of the day. That reality hit home for all of us this week and has left a Trumann family reeling without a father and husband, the Trumann police force without a valued officer, and Region 8 without a good man. Officer Jonathan Schmidt gave his life in the service of his community. His peers will tell you he was a solid officer, a commended hero, and Region 8 is left worse with his passing. He leaves three children and a loving wife behind. A benevolent fund has been established at Regions Bank and in his honor this station along with our sister station WMC in Memphis, The Jonesboro Radio Group, East Arkansas Broadcasters and area law enforcement officers will be stationed at the Wal-Marts in both Trumann and on Highland Drive in Jonesboro all day Monday working to raise funds to help support his family.  We are all blessed to live in an area with little crime, and because of that, incidents like this one are all the more devastating. If you can join us Monday please do and if you cannot, find a police officer and thank them for putting their lives on the line every day to make this a Better Region 8.

Guest Editorial-Paint The Town Green

You’ve heard of the three Rs, right?  Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle?  Together, they demonstrate how we can be better stewards of our natural resources and our pocket books.  Jonesboro has declared the week of April 18 Paint the Town Green Week to call our attention to some of the things we can do as individuals and businesses. 

Monday the 18^th, we’re planting trees.  Trees are a proven way of reducing the high cost of heating and cooling buildings.  Healthy trees also absorb large amounts of storm water to help prevent flooding and erosion.  Tree leaves also remove pollutants like carbon dioxide from the air.

Tuesday, the 19^th, we’re challenging you to start recycling at home and at work.  Metal, electronics, and plastic all need to be kept out of our landfills.  Bins in the Indian Mall parking lot will provide a one-day drop-off point for your household and business recyclables.  Also, an art competition among area students using recycled materials will be on display at Turtle Creek Mall all week. 

Wednesday, the 20^th, Jonesboro will be hosting the CEO of Nordex, the wind turbine plant in Jonesboro.  He’ll be speaking to a group of business leaders and elected officials about ways renewable energy can reduce our dependency on foreign oil.  The renewable energy industry is bringing jobs to Region 8 and we are eager to see that trend continue.

Thursday, the 21^st, we hope to see you at the Earth Day celebration at ASU.  Visit your favorite community calendar for a full list of activities.

Paint Your Town Green the week of April 18 so we can make this a better Region 8!

Beverly Nix, Chair

Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce

 

Child Abuse Prevention Month

Child abuse is a pervasive and deadly problem.  Nationally, in 2009, more than 700,000 children were victims of physical or sexual abuse or neglect - 1,700 were killed.  While national totals actually declined over the last three years, our Craighead County numbers did just the opposite.  In 2010 the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline received 1,300 calls from Craighead County alone.  Of these, 417 were substantiated - a 68% increase from the previous year. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.  Join with the Northeast Arkansas Children’s Advocacy Center to make a difference in a child’s life.  Talk to your child and keep an eye on every child you see.  Teach them that, if someone is touching or hurting them, to ‘First Say No – Then Tell Someone.’  If they confide in you, call the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline at 800-482-5964. The health and well-being of our young people is the responsibility of each and every member of our community. Thank you for getting and staying involved!

Stay Focused and Drive

Smart phones are to today’s fast moving world what Swiss Army Knives were a century ago. They have almost everything you need in a little computer that fits in the palm of your hand. For a lot of people it is the first thing they grab in the morning and the last thing they put down when they go to bed. Some folks, me included, are attached at the hip to our phones and we allow the availability of instant communication to overtake more important and more pressing parts of our life. Simply put, we don’t know when to put it down. One of the most important times to put it down is when you get behind the wheel of a car. In this 24/7 world we live in, text messaging is becoming the primary way some folks use their phone to communicate. Mix texting with driving and you literally have an accident waiting to happen. I’m told that 95% of people age 16-29 are texting. When you factor in a recent study by Virginia Tech which found those who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in some type of accident, the results could be staggering. No text message is worth getting into an accident. that’s why we have launched the Stay Focused and Drive campaign. Go to kait8.com and sign the personal pledge that you will not text and drive. By doing so,you can help ensure that Region 8’s roads are safer. Make it official. And ask your family and friends to do the same. It will make this a safer Region 8.