Opinion

“Blessed are you Lord our God, King of the universe, who has commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.” With these words of blessing, Jews across the globe will begin a holiday celebration this week, a celebration older than any December tradition observed in the West...

Last week, my dad celebrated his birthday. I messaged him saying I hoped he had a great day and I love him, and he returned the sentiment. We talked a little about plans for the holidays — the kind of small talk most people would consider normal. But that wouldn’t have happened two years ago...

Dr. Robert Emmons is a professor of psychology at the University of California-Davis, who specializes in the “science of gratitude.” Yes, the science of it, as he and his colleagues have discovered quantifiable, measurable proof that gratitude is good for you...

One year ago this week, Carroll County Newspapers lost an incredibly talented graphic designer and I lost one of the best friends I’ve ever had. Melody Rust embodied adventure. She taught those around her to pause every now and then to enjoy the moment, especially in nature — the river was her absolute favorite place in the world. She was never more herself than at the river...

Each year, Carroll County Newspapers makes sure to have a presence at the Veterans Day ceremonies in our community. We cover school assemblies from Green Forest to Eureka Springs and citywide commemorations like the popular Veterans Day Parade and rifle salute in downtown Eureka Springs. We’ve done that since I started working here in 2014, but I wanted to learn even more about our local veterans this year...

An elected official is caught on a recording using a homophobic slur to describe another elected official. It’s the kind of thing that might lead to a resignation or a firing. In Carroll County, it led to both, but the man whose actions caused the entire episode wasn’t the one who resigned or lost his job...

“We all know things are bad — worse than bad, they’re crazy,” began the fictional Howard Beale in the film entitled, “Network.” An emotionally disturbed news anchor whose life had begun to unravel, Beale revitalizes his career by “articulating popular rage.”...

To Whom It May Concern This is an open request to my elected officials of Carroll County to do the right thing and act upon serving per written request for Randy Mayfield to surrender his resignation and officiating capacity as Sheriff, following his “appalling abhorrent bigoted remark” toward District 3 JP Lamont Richie Eureka Springs.Prosecuting Attorney and County Judge “do have the authority” to implement this...

When Reese Harrison arrived at his dental office in Lynn Haven, Fla., the day after Hurricane Michael made landfall, the devastation was beyond imagination. Dr. Harrison’s building was intact, but his neighborhood looked like it had been carpet-bombed...

Last week, I received an email from a gentleman in Green Forest. He explains that he is canceling his subscription to the Carroll County News because he believes it “has lost its focus on real news for the county and its readers.” He goes on to refer to our recent coverage of an incident involving Carroll County Sheriff Randy Mayfield and District 3 Justice of the Peace Lamont Richie. ...

I’m a firm believer in the power of a good vacation. Taking time off can help you clear your head, try yummy new food and see places you’ve always dreamed of. Last week, I did just that. Leaving Gideon and the kitties behind, I took off on a road trip with one of my oldest friends, Kasey...

Dear Editor, I have great news for all those who love Berryville: The Friends of the Berryville Library is back! In May 2017, the Friends of the Library was reorganized after being inactive for over 20 years. Since then, we have grown to over 80 members and raised over $22,000 to help support the Berryville Library...

One of the more articulate poets of antiquity was the harp-playing shepherd boy turned warrior and king, known as David. He wrote roughly half of the Psalms found in the Old Testament, and these ancient poems range far and wide over the emotional spectrum. He is overcome with joy and praise one minute, raw with vengeance and anger the next. He is confused by God’s silence or his own circumstances; and he is depressed, bordering on the suicidal...

If you missed last weekend at the Native Plant Garden Project, please make plans to attend the next event. The booths were full of plants, a table of pamphlets, books, raffles and so many gardeners that took the time to answer question after question. ...

The “good ole boy” attitude in Carroll County has gone on way too long. Magnetic Road is a heavily traveled road. It has been over two years since the leaves and logs from broken trees have been cleaned out from the ditch. This causes water to run across the road and wash out our driveways. ...

To the citizens of Carroll County, I have worked very hard these past four years to make the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department the most diverse agency in the county as far as race, gender, sexual orientation and age. My actions and associations in both my professional and personal life demonstrate how out of character the use of a derogatory term is for me. ...

It was this week more than 75 years ago, that one of the most harrowing personal dramas of the Second World War played itself out on a watery stage in the Central Pacific Ocean. Carrying a classified communication to Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Eddie Rickenbacker and his crew ditched their plane into the water after straying off course...

We appreciate your press coverage in both the Citizen and Carroll County News. You helped us bring in around 400 audience members to our third annual Fall Performance Series, Multiverse. We were fortunate to have Kenn Woodard lead the production and bring seven world premiere micro-plays to our artsy little community.  Many locals gave generously, both financially and with their valuable time. ...

Drug stores have had signs heralding the 2018-19 flu season for weeks. Meanwhile, if you’ve visited your doctor recently, he or she has most likely reminded you to get your flu shots in a timely fashion this year.  However, notes the Association of Mature American Citizens, there continues to be widespread reluctance, based on indifference and fear, among Americans to be immunized against the flu. Most years only about half of those who should seek protection get a flu shot. As a result, too many at risk individuals, including elderly Americans, succumb to influenza and too many of them die.. ...

Traditionally, King Solomon has been regarded as the primary author of three books of the Old Testament. Some interpreters say he wrote Song of Songs while he was a lusty, young man (a book that should carry a PG-13 rating). In mid-life, he collected his Proverbs, moving on to less sensual and more substantial work...

Last year I attended one of Steve Womack’s town halls.  His arrogant tone, his dismissive attitude, and lack of empathy was shocking. This led me to research his congressional record and investigate if he was conscientiously serving his constituents and actually voting to achieve “a common good.”  My findings were sobering...

Dear Editor, Halloween is upon us again and I am excited to announce that the White Street Candy Bank is open for business and accepting donations. Last year the Candy Bank accepted and distributed a whopping 300-plus pounds (street value of $750) of candy from 45 donors, making it possible for more Upper Historic Loop residents to participate in the fun without breaking their budget. ...

Jim Fixx was the person most responsible for popularizing the fitness benefits of jogging. His best-selling “The Complete Book of Running,” published in 1977, got millions off their butts and couches and onto the streets. Thus, the nation was shocked when Fixx, age 52, died a few years later of a heart attack while on his morning run...

I am the father of two sons. They are 21 and 26 years old, and I worry about them every single day. That’s part of my job as a parent. I cannot imagine what it would feel like to lose one of my sons. I can’t imagine how painful that must be. Unfortunately, at least two families of adolescent boys in Carroll County don’t have to imagine that pain. They feel it every day...

It was Dr. Bill Leonard who best described my religious upbringing. Speaking for many who came to Christianity in the fire-and-brimstone of Appalachian fundamentalism, he said, “Some of us were saved hard, sweating like we had been to hell that morning, and came back to the revival to tell about it that night!”...

It’s almost time to flip the calendar to October, and that means the 2018 election is just around the corner. It’s an important one, both nationally and, perhaps more importantly for the people of Carroll County, on the local front. We’ll be electing a new sheriff, for sure. There are also contested races for county judge, county clerk, the mayor’s seats in both Green Forest and Eureka Springs, just to name a few...

As my friend Betty Ann unpacked her young family in my Deep South hometown, it didn’t take long for the neighbors to arrive with a strangulating dose of hospitality. Their silver hairdos teased to perfection, and smelling of powder and lilac, they arrived on Betty Ann’s front porch with peach cobbler and smiling faces...

Mid-term elections are creeping up on us, slowly but surely. Historically, mid-term races have had much less participation than the presidential election. Most of us are excited to vote for (or against) a presidential candidate, but we rarely talk about the local races that affect us most...

Seventy years ago, cartoonist Chuck Jones created two epic characters who would go on to star in 48 short-run animated films (though there seemed like there were thousands of them): Wile E. Coyote and his archrival, the Roadrunner. Those of the Saturday morning cartoon generation, like myself, knew these characters intimately, and each episode by heart...