Rob Hicks, Newspaper Resurrectionist During National Newspaper Week, we should all ask what would happen if our local newspaper suddenly disappeared. Our community would lose more than headlines. We would lose the public record of who voted for what, how tax dollars were spent and which promises were kept. We would lose the watchdog that asks the hard questions. We would also lose the chronicle of daily life: obituaries, births, honor rolls,…
Tammy Curtis, Publisher There are few things that send me into full-on rage mode. Pedophilia and children exposed to methamphetamine are at the very top of that list. But not far behind are those responsible for holding offenders accountable who fail to use the authority entrusted to them. We have seen far more than our fair share of crimes against children in the headlines over the past several months. It has to…
Tammy Curtis, Managing Editor As journalists, we are often tasked with reporting the worst times in a person’s life. During these times, it is essential to balance reporting and the prevention of re-victimizing the person whose story we are telling. This is what separates a journalist from a simple reporter. Recently, I reported one of the hardest stories I have had to write about three child sexual assault victims. I received a…
Mack Thompson, Editor Recently, we had a pretty good snowfall in north central Arkansas. Depending on where you were and who was doing the measuring, there was between 10 and 12 inches. Salem schools were out Friday and Highland was out until the following Friday. Are we to believe that the snow that fell in Sharp County was of a special variety that was impossible to remove? It seems that might…
Tammy Curtis, Publisher In America, we are seeing a trend of The People realizing the degree their rights are being compromised, or even trampled on, by any number of government entities from municipal to the national level. The number of people supporting Texas is a great example of enough is enough. Here in Arkansas we have our own war waging, one many are unaware of, yet it has the potential to effect…
