It's been no secret that this blog has been on life support for a couple of months. Actually, it's never really been much of a blog, but merely a repository for my weekly newspaper column.
Well, we're officially shutting down. Thanks to a new-fangled website at the Courier News, readers can now access my columns over at that site. The link is here.
So there's not much point in keeping this blog going. Thanks to all who occasionally stop by (all six of you), and be sure to visit the CN's new site when you get a chance.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
This is the time of the year when, if you complain about there being nothing to do in Blytheville, you're just not paying attention.
Indeed, for the next several weekends, the community events are lined up, ripe for the picking for anyone who wants to take advantage of what their community has to offer.
A few of the highlights:
THIS WEEKEND
— "The Velveteen Rabbit," will be performed at 7 p.m. this Friday and Saturday nights and at at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Ritz Theater. The Act 2! community theater production features an all-local cast. Admission is $5, with those under 5 are free. (As a matter of disclaimer, I should note that both of my children are among the cast.)
— The Fifth Annual Air Base Reunion will be held all weekend long. Anyone who worked on the air base at any time is invited. For more, call 870-762-6319.
— Fall Litter Pickups are being coordinated for this Saturday by Mississippi County and the city of Gosnell. The county landfill will be open from 7 a.m.-3 p.m., and the city of Gosnell will have two dumpsters on the Community Center parking lot.
— The Miss Northeast Arkansas Pageant and the Northeast Arkansas’ Outstanding Teen pageants will be held Saturday at Blytheville High School. The pageants are open to the public.
OCT. 2
— The K-9 Kapers Dog Show will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Blytheville, beginning at 10:30 a.m. There will be categories for small, medium and large dogs, as well as a bake sale and other food items. Proceeds benefit community needs and local and global mission work.
— "Fowl Play At The Gilded Cage Lounge," a murder-mystery event, will be presented from 6-10 p.m. that night at the Holiday Inn in Blytheville. The Fourth Annual Murder Mystery Gala will benefit the Northeast Arkansas Chapter of the American Red Cross. For more, call 763-4481.
— "Tales of Terror!," a radio play by Sarah Jackson, based on the short stories of Edgar Allen Poe, will be presented at 7 p.m. that night at the Ritz Civic Center. The play is a production of the Act 2! community theater group.
OCT. 7-9
— The 20th Annual Cotton Festival will be held in Gosnell. The festivities kick off Thursday, Oct. 7, with the Little Mr. and Miss Cotton Festival Pageant at 7 p.m. in the Gosnell High School Auditorium. Registration is $30, and fees must be in by Oct. 5. Participants should dress like they're going to the cotton field. Events for Friday, Oct. 8 will begin at 6 p.m., and will include live entertainment, food and crafts. Saturday, Oct. 9 will feature live entertainment, food, crafts, rides for kids, a car show and a tractor pull, with events kicking off at 10 a.m. For more, call Gosnell City Hall at 870-532-8544.
OCT. 16
— The 30th Annual Championship Chili Cook-Off will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. that day in downtown Blytheville. The cook-off is sponsored by the United Way of Greater Blytheville. This event will include chili booths — $30; info booths — $30; craft booths — $30; and food booths — $75. There will also be the United Way Chili Cook-Off 5K Run/Walk, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Youth Sportsplex. For more, contact Mary Helen Moody at 870-763-7522 or P.O. Box 866, Blytheville, AR 72316 to reserve a booth space.
OCT. 17
— "What Dreams May Come ...," a choral concert, will be presented at 3:30 p.m. that day in the Adams/Vines Recital Hall on the campus of Arkansas Northeastern College. Admission is free. The event will include performances by the college's Concert Singers, Women's Choir, Chamber Singers and Community Choir.
Events like these are the type of things that make you feel good about where you live. I urge everyone to make a point of taking in at least one or two of them.
Indeed, for the next several weekends, the community events are lined up, ripe for the picking for anyone who wants to take advantage of what their community has to offer.
A few of the highlights:
THIS WEEKEND
— "The Velveteen Rabbit," will be performed at 7 p.m. this Friday and Saturday nights and at at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Ritz Theater. The Act 2! community theater production features an all-local cast. Admission is $5, with those under 5 are free. (As a matter of disclaimer, I should note that both of my children are among the cast.)
— The Fifth Annual Air Base Reunion will be held all weekend long. Anyone who worked on the air base at any time is invited. For more, call 870-762-6319.
— Fall Litter Pickups are being coordinated for this Saturday by Mississippi County and the city of Gosnell. The county landfill will be open from 7 a.m.-3 p.m., and the city of Gosnell will have two dumpsters on the Community Center parking lot.
— The Miss Northeast Arkansas Pageant and the Northeast Arkansas’ Outstanding Teen pageants will be held Saturday at Blytheville High School. The pageants are open to the public.
OCT. 2
— The K-9 Kapers Dog Show will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Blytheville, beginning at 10:30 a.m. There will be categories for small, medium and large dogs, as well as a bake sale and other food items. Proceeds benefit community needs and local and global mission work.
— "Fowl Play At The Gilded Cage Lounge," a murder-mystery event, will be presented from 6-10 p.m. that night at the Holiday Inn in Blytheville. The Fourth Annual Murder Mystery Gala will benefit the Northeast Arkansas Chapter of the American Red Cross. For more, call 763-4481.
— "Tales of Terror!," a radio play by Sarah Jackson, based on the short stories of Edgar Allen Poe, will be presented at 7 p.m. that night at the Ritz Civic Center. The play is a production of the Act 2! community theater group.
OCT. 7-9
— The 20th Annual Cotton Festival will be held in Gosnell. The festivities kick off Thursday, Oct. 7, with the Little Mr. and Miss Cotton Festival Pageant at 7 p.m. in the Gosnell High School Auditorium. Registration is $30, and fees must be in by Oct. 5. Participants should dress like they're going to the cotton field. Events for Friday, Oct. 8 will begin at 6 p.m., and will include live entertainment, food and crafts. Saturday, Oct. 9 will feature live entertainment, food, crafts, rides for kids, a car show and a tractor pull, with events kicking off at 10 a.m. For more, call Gosnell City Hall at 870-532-8544.
OCT. 16
— The 30th Annual Championship Chili Cook-Off will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. that day in downtown Blytheville. The cook-off is sponsored by the United Way of Greater Blytheville. This event will include chili booths — $30; info booths — $30; craft booths — $30; and food booths — $75. There will also be the United Way Chili Cook-Off 5K Run/Walk, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Youth Sportsplex. For more, contact Mary Helen Moody at 870-763-7522 or P.O. Box 866, Blytheville, AR 72316 to reserve a booth space.
OCT. 17
— "What Dreams May Come ...," a choral concert, will be presented at 3:30 p.m. that day in the Adams/Vines Recital Hall on the campus of Arkansas Northeastern College. Admission is free. The event will include performances by the college's Concert Singers, Women's Choir, Chamber Singers and Community Choir.
Events like these are the type of things that make you feel good about where you live. I urge everyone to make a point of taking in at least one or two of them.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
5Ks draw all kinds of participants
It was about 18 months ago that I signed up for my first 5K run.
I called it "throwing my hat over the wall" — a metaphor for committing to doing something, the notion being that once you've thrown your hat over the wall, you have no choice but to climb over and get it.
I remember the nervousness I felt as race day approached — days of both excitement and anticipation, as well as fear and anxiety. What if I don't finish? What if I'm slower than everybody else? What if I make a fool out of myself?
At times, I entertained dark imaginings of a field of runners, decked in high-end running gear, leaving me in the dust and wondering who let this newbie in.
So I trained hard. I hit the treadmill and the pavement, preparing myself for the distance. I purchased some modest "running" gear, so I wouldn't look like a complete novice. Mostly, I reminded myself over and over why I was doing it — to get healthier — and what anybody else thought about it didn't matter.
It turned out that my anxiety was for nothing. The 5K I ran in was full of runners and walkers of all shapes, sizes and experience. Sure, there were the gung-ho types in their fancy shoes who seemed to nearly sprint through the course. But it was also plainly evident that for many in the field, running a 5K wasn't an everyday experience. There were medium-speed runners, slow-runners and walkers. There were some that did a little of both. Some pushed baby-strollers. There were young kids and senior citizens.
Almost all were just like me — people out to do something a little healthier. There was nothing noteworthy about my presence among the runners and walkers.
Since then, I've done a handful of other 5Ks in communities across the area. Some have had only a few dozen participants; others have had thousands. But the thing I've observed is that every race is the same as far as the participants. You will always have your superstars; but you will also always have your plodders. I think that's my favorite thing about these races — the vast diversity in the abilities of the participants. Yet everyone is united by the great common denominator of living healthier.
I bring this all up because we are approximately one month away from Blytheville's 5K run, the Second Annual Chili Cook-Off 5K Run, set for 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16. The race is being held in conjunction with the annual Chili Cook-Off, and will raise money for the United Way.
There was a decent field of runners and walkers last year, but we need more this year. I know there's lots of folks out there who are dabbling with healthier living. I've seen them walking in their neighborhoods or running at the Sportsplex. Well, here's their chance to throw their hats over the wall, and make an even stronger commitment to living healthy. There's nothing like the feeling of accomplishment that comes with completing a race like this, and it's a great motivator to staying on the healthy course.
The 5K will take place at the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex on a course that has been certified by Jim Stearns of Jonesboro. Preregistration is $20. Participants can register online at racesonline.com, or they can pick up entry forms at the United Way Office, Ultimate Fitness, the ANC Fitness Center or the Great River Medical Center’s Fitness Center. Deadline for online registration 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 11. Race day registration is from 6-7 a.m. on the 16th, and is $30. For more, call Dave Freeze at 870-278-9281 or Rick Ash at 870-740-1914, or check out the "Blytheville Chili Run" page on Facebook.
I urge anyone looking to live a healthier lifestyle to take part. It will be a great way to spend an autumn morning, and it supports a good cause. So throw your hat over the wall and sign up. You won't regret it.
I called it "throwing my hat over the wall" — a metaphor for committing to doing something, the notion being that once you've thrown your hat over the wall, you have no choice but to climb over and get it.
I remember the nervousness I felt as race day approached — days of both excitement and anticipation, as well as fear and anxiety. What if I don't finish? What if I'm slower than everybody else? What if I make a fool out of myself?
At times, I entertained dark imaginings of a field of runners, decked in high-end running gear, leaving me in the dust and wondering who let this newbie in.
So I trained hard. I hit the treadmill and the pavement, preparing myself for the distance. I purchased some modest "running" gear, so I wouldn't look like a complete novice. Mostly, I reminded myself over and over why I was doing it — to get healthier — and what anybody else thought about it didn't matter.
It turned out that my anxiety was for nothing. The 5K I ran in was full of runners and walkers of all shapes, sizes and experience. Sure, there were the gung-ho types in their fancy shoes who seemed to nearly sprint through the course. But it was also plainly evident that for many in the field, running a 5K wasn't an everyday experience. There were medium-speed runners, slow-runners and walkers. There were some that did a little of both. Some pushed baby-strollers. There were young kids and senior citizens.
Almost all were just like me — people out to do something a little healthier. There was nothing noteworthy about my presence among the runners and walkers.
Since then, I've done a handful of other 5Ks in communities across the area. Some have had only a few dozen participants; others have had thousands. But the thing I've observed is that every race is the same as far as the participants. You will always have your superstars; but you will also always have your plodders. I think that's my favorite thing about these races — the vast diversity in the abilities of the participants. Yet everyone is united by the great common denominator of living healthier.
I bring this all up because we are approximately one month away from Blytheville's 5K run, the Second Annual Chili Cook-Off 5K Run, set for 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16. The race is being held in conjunction with the annual Chili Cook-Off, and will raise money for the United Way.
There was a decent field of runners and walkers last year, but we need more this year. I know there's lots of folks out there who are dabbling with healthier living. I've seen them walking in their neighborhoods or running at the Sportsplex. Well, here's their chance to throw their hats over the wall, and make an even stronger commitment to living healthy. There's nothing like the feeling of accomplishment that comes with completing a race like this, and it's a great motivator to staying on the healthy course.
The 5K will take place at the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex on a course that has been certified by Jim Stearns of Jonesboro. Preregistration is $20. Participants can register online at racesonline.com, or they can pick up entry forms at the United Way Office, Ultimate Fitness, the ANC Fitness Center or the Great River Medical Center’s Fitness Center. Deadline for online registration 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 11. Race day registration is from 6-7 a.m. on the 16th, and is $30. For more, call Dave Freeze at 870-278-9281 or Rick Ash at 870-740-1914, or check out the "Blytheville Chili Run" page on Facebook.
I urge anyone looking to live a healthier lifestyle to take part. It will be a great way to spend an autumn morning, and it supports a good cause. So throw your hat over the wall and sign up. You won't regret it.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Both sides might be right in BGRAA issue
For anyone who has been paying attention to the rumor mill for the past few months, it shouldn't come as any surprise that outgoing Blytheville Mayor Barrett Harrison was selected to replace the retiring Joe Gurley as director of the Blytheville/Gosnell Regional Airport Authority.
What was somewhat surprising, however, was that the vote was so close.
Harrison was tabbed to take over the Aeroplex gig during a BGRAA board meeting last Thursday. Board members actually split, 4-4, on the vote, and it took a vote from board chairman Don Houseworth to break the tie.
Though it was no doubt contentious, I personally found the split vote to be refreshing, and I commend those who voted on both sides. It always scares me when I see governmental bodies voting unanimously time after time. It's not human nature to be in constant agreement, and when there's never any dissent on boards, councils or committees, it's often a sign that the fix is in.
And when it comes to this particular split vote, it could be a case when everybody's right, at least in some ways.
Those voting against making the job offer were basically saying it was about the money, citing the $100,000 salary the Aeroplex director apparently receives. With rising utility and fuel costs, not to mention impending equipment costs and the impending loss of a major tenant, the argument was that BGRAA could save money by hiring from within, or leaving the executive director's post vacant.
On the flip side, those in favor of the the job offer argued that it would be a step backward for the Aeroplex to go without a director, that BGRAA needs a leader who will bring direction and vision to the organization.
I think both sides make great points. On one hand, I agree that you need a forward-thinking leader to head up the Aeroplex. Like anything else in our community, the Aeroplex needs to be, and can be, better than it is. There's more to do than manage day-to-day operations. Besides, once you take the viewpoint that you'll do something "when you have the money," it's a safe bet that you'll never do it.
Likewise, there's some financial realities that must be taken into consideration. At Thursday's meeting, board member Dick Reams said BGRAA is over budget on 57 line items, as of July 31. And with costs going up, and income potentially going down, there's obviously some tough decisions to be made.
The point here is not to debate whether or not Barrett Harrison is the best candidate for the job. As someone with 12 years of municipal management under his belt, he seems as qualified as you could expect a candidate for the Aeroplex job to be. And since BGRAA determined that the personal privacy of the 11 other applicants outweighed the public's interest in evaluating candidates for the job, we have no way of knowing if any candidate is better than Harrison.
But Harrison does have a way to remedy this situation in a manner that could benefit everyone: As executive director, he could recommend a pay cut for himself.
As Blytheville mayor, Harrison makes in the ballpark of $65-70,000 a year. As Aeroplex director, he stands to make upwards of $100,000, according to comments made at Thursday's meeting.
What's stopping Harrison from proposing that his salary be reduced to say, about $80,000 a year? Everybody would benefit — Harrison would still be getting a raise over his old job; BGRAA would have a solid leader at the helm; and there would be an extra $20,000 a year to put into the Aeroplex. It's a win-win-win possibility.
Of course, it would take a pretty selfless executive director to propose such a sacrifice for the common good. Is Barrett Harrison community-minded enough to propose such a thing? Who knows.
But one thing's for sure — Harrison will have some challenges ahead of him when he begins his new job. And some of those challenges may require some out-of-the-box thinking. Here's hoping Harrison considers all alternatives when it comes to making the Aeroplex prosper.
What was somewhat surprising, however, was that the vote was so close.
Harrison was tabbed to take over the Aeroplex gig during a BGRAA board meeting last Thursday. Board members actually split, 4-4, on the vote, and it took a vote from board chairman Don Houseworth to break the tie.
Though it was no doubt contentious, I personally found the split vote to be refreshing, and I commend those who voted on both sides. It always scares me when I see governmental bodies voting unanimously time after time. It's not human nature to be in constant agreement, and when there's never any dissent on boards, councils or committees, it's often a sign that the fix is in.
And when it comes to this particular split vote, it could be a case when everybody's right, at least in some ways.
Those voting against making the job offer were basically saying it was about the money, citing the $100,000 salary the Aeroplex director apparently receives. With rising utility and fuel costs, not to mention impending equipment costs and the impending loss of a major tenant, the argument was that BGRAA could save money by hiring from within, or leaving the executive director's post vacant.
On the flip side, those in favor of the the job offer argued that it would be a step backward for the Aeroplex to go without a director, that BGRAA needs a leader who will bring direction and vision to the organization.
I think both sides make great points. On one hand, I agree that you need a forward-thinking leader to head up the Aeroplex. Like anything else in our community, the Aeroplex needs to be, and can be, better than it is. There's more to do than manage day-to-day operations. Besides, once you take the viewpoint that you'll do something "when you have the money," it's a safe bet that you'll never do it.
Likewise, there's some financial realities that must be taken into consideration. At Thursday's meeting, board member Dick Reams said BGRAA is over budget on 57 line items, as of July 31. And with costs going up, and income potentially going down, there's obviously some tough decisions to be made.
The point here is not to debate whether or not Barrett Harrison is the best candidate for the job. As someone with 12 years of municipal management under his belt, he seems as qualified as you could expect a candidate for the Aeroplex job to be. And since BGRAA determined that the personal privacy of the 11 other applicants outweighed the public's interest in evaluating candidates for the job, we have no way of knowing if any candidate is better than Harrison.
But Harrison does have a way to remedy this situation in a manner that could benefit everyone: As executive director, he could recommend a pay cut for himself.
As Blytheville mayor, Harrison makes in the ballpark of $65-70,000 a year. As Aeroplex director, he stands to make upwards of $100,000, according to comments made at Thursday's meeting.
What's stopping Harrison from proposing that his salary be reduced to say, about $80,000 a year? Everybody would benefit — Harrison would still be getting a raise over his old job; BGRAA would have a solid leader at the helm; and there would be an extra $20,000 a year to put into the Aeroplex. It's a win-win-win possibility.
Of course, it would take a pretty selfless executive director to propose such a sacrifice for the common good. Is Barrett Harrison community-minded enough to propose such a thing? Who knows.
But one thing's for sure — Harrison will have some challenges ahead of him when he begins his new job. And some of those challenges may require some out-of-the-box thinking. Here's hoping Harrison considers all alternatives when it comes to making the Aeroplex prosper.
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