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Monday, May 20, 2013
Advice for new grads -- and everyone else (05/15/13)
This is the time of year when people who deem themselves older and wiser find it necessary to dole out advice to new graduates.
Students deserve choices in education (05/08/13)
Talk to most educators, and one of the things almost all will agree on is that when it comes to teaching kids, one size does not fit all.
A new reason to visit Dallas (05/01/13)
With much fanfare last Thursday, the George W. Bush presidential library was dedicated on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
Boston bombers turned triumph into terror (04/24/13)
Of all the images and video that has been seen since last week's deadly terror strike at the Boston Marathon, there is one bit of footage that has stuck with me the most.
What kind of retail growth can we expect? (04/17/13)
Among the conversations you tend to hear over and over in the Blytheville area these days is on the notion of retail growth. In simplest terms, folks want to have more places to shop and more places to eat.
Just a few questions ... (04/10/13)
I've got a few questions ...
Impact of new steel mill mostly guesswork (04/03/13)
I am no expert on the steel industry. When it comes to knowing what will work and what won't work, I defer to those who have been in the business for years -- companies like Nucor Steel, or individuals like John Correnti.
Cactus, Canadians dominate spring break trip (03/27/13)
I guess I'm just not that big of a fan of cactus. That was among the things I learned during my recent spring break trip.
Legislators wasting time making a point (03/13/13)
One thing I've always liked about living in Arkansas is that our State Legislature, for the most part, has concerned itself more with the business of running the state government than with making headlines.
Believe it or not, government can be good (03/06/13)
One of the most popular pastimes in America these days is government-bashing. The government is too big. The government is inefficient. The government taxes too much. The government is a monstrous bureaucracy.
Media coverage of pope sure to be criticized (02/20/13)
When it comes to the resignation of Pope Benedict and the soon-to-be-named new leader of the Catholic Church, the mainstream news media is pretty much damned no matter what it does.
Wrestling deserves a place in the Olympics (02/13/13)
From the files of "things that annoy me but nobody else really cares about" is this week's news that the IOC -- the board the governs the Olympic Games -- has voted to drop wrestling as an Olympic sport, beginning in 2020.
Community transformation not a done deal (02/06/13)
Writing about Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe's announcement last week that Big River Steel will build a 525-job mill south of Osceola, Associated Press writer Andrew DeMillo said, "The deal will transform an impoverished region into an economic engine."
Super Bowl XLVII: The good and the bad (01/30/13)
So I guess there's some kind of football game or something being played this weekend. You'd never guess. The NFL really needs to think about doing a little marketing for this so-called "Super Bowl" -- you know, let people know it's coming.
Conjuring a fake reality can be kind of fun (01/23/13)
Around the time I graduated from college, I was in a band. We called ourselves "Red Dot," a name we came up with after wandering around the woods one weekend following a Boy Scout trail marked by red dots spray-painted on trees.
Would the Bill of Rights be ratified today? (01/16/13)
The current national flap over gun control -- a dialogue that most recently began in reaction to the Newtown, Conn., school massacre -- recently got me thinking about how it came to be that citizens of our country got the right to own guns in the first place.
A few predictions for 2013 (01/09/13)
With the new year still in its infancy, it's not too late to think about what 2013 will bring. Here are a few of my predictions:
Taking action in response to Sandy Hook (12/26/12)
It has been nearly two weeks since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., when 27 lives were snuffed from our world in a matter of minutes.
What if classic Christmas songs were written today? (12/19/12)
I've made no secret through the years of the fact that one of my favorite parts of the Christmas season is the music. The many vintage tunes and timeless classics, written and recorded through the years, each evoke different memories of holidays gone by.
City out of the woods on IRS crisis (12/12/12)
I'm a believer in giving credit where credit is due. And that's why this week, I am giving credit to Blytheville Mayor James Sanders for negotiating a deal with the IRS for the city of Blytheville to resolve its multi-million dollar payroll tax debt.
Christmastime: 'Tis the season to be jolly (12/05/12)
An angry post appeared in my Facebook News Feed over the weekend, echoing a theme that seems to be common this time of year.
These are a few of my favorite (Christmas) things (11/28/12)
It's hard to say exactly what it is that makes the Christmas season so special. So instead of trying to fully explain it, I have compiled here a list of a few of the things I most look forward to during the holiday season.
Is a skateboard board the best plan for Blytheville? (11/21/12)
The problem with the city of Blytheville's parks and recreation tax is that nobody has every really defined how it was to be used.
Sky holding its position in the heavens (11/14/12)
With the 2012 presidential election now a little more than a week behind us, I find myself particularly proud of the voting record in the Weld household.
Can Facebook get back to normal now? (11/07/12)
A few random thoughts, in the wake of the 2012 election ...
Happy Halloween? More like "bah, humbug" (10/31/12)
When it comes to holiday-related movies and specials, Halloween falls short. Sure, there's the annual rebroadcast of the classic "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," as well as the handful of teen slasher flicks that are sure to be aired leading up to the big day. But that's about it.
Blytheville community still capable of great things (10/24/12)
The Blytheville area has a lot of problems, and anyone who would argue otherwise clearly has his or her head stuck in the sand. But despite the many challenges ahead of us, this community is still capable of some pretty great things.
Flying cars? Not likely anytime soon (10/17/12)
Driving home from church with my the kids the other night, the conversation quite naturally turned to flying cars.
Are city finances back on the right track? (10/10/12)
According to an article in Friday's Courier News, the city of Blytheville was recently late with its quarterly insurance payment to the Arkansas Municipal League. The payment was due at the end of September, but apparently was not made until early October.
No easy answers on population decline (10/03/12)
I was witness to a debate a couple of days ago that dealt with Blytheville's ongoing population decline. Obviously, it wasn't the first time that topic has been discussed, nor will it be the last.
Political yard signs signal arrival of fall (09/26/12)
As of last Saturday, fall is officially here. The air is a little cooler, the leaves are starting to change colors and farmers can be seen getting their crops out of the fields. But perhaps the surest sign of autumn has been the arrival of political yard signs.
Remembering our nation's bloodiest day (09/19/12)
There were no ceremonies held on the Blytheville Courthouse lawn Monday. American flags were not flying throughout the community. The banks were open, and the kids were in school. There was no moment of silence; there was no commemorative edition in the local newspaper. By all accounts it was a typical, ordinary Monday.
Plenty of great community events in coming weeks (09/12/12)
Last Friday's thunderstorms brought with them some cooler temperatures, ending what had been several days of humid, muggy weather. We can hope that last week's heat wave was summer's last stand, and that the days of sizzling summer temperatures are behind us, at least for a few months.
Political loyalties resemble school loyalties (09/05/12)
A lot of my friends have been spending a lot of time over the past couple of weeks watching the national political conventions. The Republicans had their day in the sun last week, while the Democrats are taking their turn this week.
How does our Sportsplex really stack up? (08/29/12)
Talk to a lot of the people who play baseball, softball or soccer at the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex, and they will tell you what a fantastic facility we have here in Blytheville.
Elections mean more big changes for Blytheville (08/22/12)
2012 in shaping up to be another watershed year when it comes to Blytheville city government.
Olympics reveal the brighter side of life (08/15/12)
Three weeks ago in this space, I wrote about some of the things I was most looking forward to in the Olympic Games in London.
Western expedition generates stories (08/08/12)
This column is going to be boring. I apologize in advance. It's boring because all I'm going to do is talk about my recent vacation to Colorado. I'm not sure how much folks want to read about my vacation, but I've still got Rocky Mountain air in my brain, so it's pretty much all I can think about these days.
6 things that make the Olympics awesome (07/25/12)
Everybody loves the Olympics, right? Well, mostly everybody. Whether its the Winter Games, or the Summer Games, there's something uniquely positive about the Olympics that sets it apart from everything else.
Community clutter often goes unnoticed (07/18/12)
The difference between what is considered an "eyesore" and what is considered "normal" is often no more than a matter of one's daily habits.
Not hard to notice local gas price increases (07/11/12)
I suppose if local grocery stores regularly posted the price of milk or bread on giant plastic signs outside their stores, consumers would pay a lot more attention to ongoing fluctuations.
A beautiful manifestation of Title IX at Sportsplex (06/27/12)
It is fitting that last Friday marked the 40th anniversary of Title IX -- the landmark legislation which, among other things, paved the way for schools and universities across the United States to start up girls sports teams.
Highway beckoning with its annual call (06/20/12)
Once again, the highway is calling to me. It's a pretty typical occurrence this time of year. Summer is the time for family vacations, and hitting the road just seems like the right thing to do.
Disappointing events in run-up to runoff (06/13/12)
I guess I'm a little naive. I'd like to think that the winners of elections are the people who voters think will do the best job.
Whatever happened to the family sitcom? (06/06/12)
I read an article the other day lamenting the death of the family sitcom on primetime network TV. Indeed, it seems like a genre that has pretty much become extinct.
Gas prices, the runoff and pronunciation (05/30/12)
An interesting factoid: On Saturday night, gas prices at the Osceola convenience stores just off Interstate 55 were $3.49. Just a few miles up the road in Blytheville, the same gas was selling for $3.15.
A few more words of advice for the new grads (05/23/12)
All the local graduation ceremonies are now behind us, and for those involved, the thoughts have no doubt turned to college preparations, work plans and summer fun.
Construction zones: Something to feel good about (05/16/12)
Campuses were always under construction during college visits. There would be sidewalks torn up, streets blocked off and buildings being assembled and remodeled. Tour guides would always complain loudly about the construction
Time to decide who to vote for (05/09/12)
Seeing as how early voting is already under way for the May 22 Primary, it's probably about time for me to figure out who I'm going to vote for.
Mayor must be straightforward with public (05/02/12)
Maybe it was a communication breakdown. Maybe it was a matter of semantics. Maybe it was an intentional effort to mislead. Call it whatever you want, but the way Blytheville Mayor James Sanders handled last week's departure of city water plant manager Matt Mosley was a disappointment,
A dog bite and a trip up the interstate (04/25/12)
I like to consider myself a disciple of the "shop local" ideology. The idea is that when local people buy locally, local people benefit. That's why I couldn't help but feel a little guilty Saturday afternoon as I left town to seek medical care. But when it really comes down to it, I had little choice.
Why isn't the Blytheville area booming? (04/18/12)
I got an email from a reader one day last week that wasn't all too dissimilar from comments I've heard from folks around town for years.
Internet now an integral part of daily living (04/11/12)
I still remember when I was in college, and our university got access to a brand new service. It was called the "Internet," and when students first gained access, use was limited to about a half-dozen computers in the back row of the computer lab at the campus library.
City needs plan for using parks and rec money (04/04/12)
Perusing some old newspapers the other day, I came across a Feb. 11, 2011, article about a city of Blytheville Parks and Recreation Committee meeting.
Longing to travel into community's past (03/28/12)
One of my favorite places to run in recent weeks has been the Arkansas Aeroplex. I'll usually start on Memorial Drive, then venture either into the Westminster Village residential area, or into the more industrial-looking section of buildings that once served the Eaker Air Force Base.
Holding mayor's, Council's feet to the fire (03/21/12)
It's been a week since Blytheville voters OK'd a 1-cent sales tax to bail out the city from its multi-million dollar debt to the Internal Revenue Service. I've heard it said more than a couple of times that the tax was the "easy way out" for Mayor James Sanders and the City Council.
It's good to have a few goals (03/14/12)
Perusing the backpack of my son, Drew, the other day, I came upon an interesting sheet of paper. The 9-year-old had written in bold letters across the top: "Things to do before I'm 30."
Another Sportsplex season arrives at last (03/07/12)
Another season at the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex is under way. For the Weld family, this marks our eighth consecutive season of playing some combination of t-ball, baseball and softball.
Maybe what we need is a common enemy (02/29/12)
A friend of mine was lamenting the other day about the overall lack of community unity within the city of Blytheville, a problem that has existed for many years.
Time to get serious about solving IRS mess (02/22/12)
Well, it looks like the IRS came to play. That point was made clear last week when the federal tax agency placed liens on all city property, including city bank accounts.
Time for this nuisance to be eliminated (02/15/12)
Events of earlier this week offer further evidence that something I've been saying needs to happen, indeed, needs to happen.
Time for the veepstakes games to begin (02/08/12)
I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that Mitt Romney gets the Republican nomination for president this year.
Staying one step ahead of the demon monkeys (02/01/12)
Why won't these demon monkeys stop chasing me?!? For many of you, the above line probably makes no sense at all. But those familiar with the hottest new game being plated on iPhones and iPads know exactly what I'm talking about.
Finding wisdom at the movies (01/25/12)
As the son of a high school history teacher, I can't help but have an affinity for a good quotation from time to time.
To get past IRS mess, Harrison's got to go (01/18/12)
Like anyone else around here, I'm more than ready for this IRS scandal to be behind us. For as long as this issue lingers, it's an albatross around our city's neck, and very little else is going to get done.
Opponents of sales tax on solid ground, but ... (01/11/12)
We've gotten several letters to the editor in the last couple of weeks voicing strong opposition to the proposed 1-cent Blytheville sales tax, which, if passed, would be used to pay off the city's $3.2 million debt to the IRS.
Newspapers still top source of local information (01/04/12)
New research from the Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri shows that communities like Blytheville continue to demonstrate heavy reliance on newspapers like the Courier News for news and information.
A few more letters to Santa ... (12/21/11)
There have been a few other letters to Santa from a few other folks, that we didn't get to include in Sunday's special section. I thought I'd print some of them here:
Hoping for some changes on traffic lights (12/14/11)
I'm looking forward to the completion of the Highway 18 realignment project coming to Blytheville over the next couple of years, but not for the reasons you probably think.
Ranking my 20 favorite Christmas songs (12/07/11)
As is normal this time of year, I've been listening to a lot of Christmas music. I've always loved Christmas music; I think the fact that you only tend to hear it for a few weeks a year makes it especially appealing.
These are a few of my favorite things (11/30/11)
In a famous scene from the "The Sound of Music," Maria is attempting to calm the Von Trapp children during a thunderstorm, and she sings, "My Favorite Things."
Being thankful for more than just things (11/23/11)
As we prepare to give thanks this holiday, there are no doubt a number of things on our minds.
Latest soccer season was one for the ages (11/16/11)
I want to take a little time this week to salute a group of young people I've been privileged to spend some time with over the past few weeks.
Some things aren't as funny as they used to be (11/09/11)
So, Beavis and Butt-head are back. MTV recently began airing new episodes of the animated series, which originated in the early 1990s.
Cardinals were an acquired taste for this fan (10/26/11)
I've probably watched more baseball in the past two weeks than the rest of the summer, combined.
Cotton-picking time sparks reflection (10/19/11)
My 12-year-old daughter, Katie, and one of her friends had their photo taken Sunday afternoon in the cotton field that is behind our house. Probably a good thing they got it taken when they did, for by Monday night, all the cotton in that field had been picked.
Thought on protests, gas prices and human nature (10/12/11)
One of the growing hot topics across the country the past few days has been the "Occupy Wall Street" protest, which started in New York, and is now spreading across the country.
Community needs to keep its nice things (10/05/11)
Thunder Bayou is a great place for a run. I was out there on a Wednesday evening, just before sunset a couple of weeks ago. I was struck by how epically beautiful that golf course really is.
Nothing to do? Must not be paying attention (09/28/11)
This is one of my favorite times of the year. It's a great time of the year to enjoy the great outdoors and some of the really cool things our community has to offer.
Reports of our death are greatly exaggerated (09/21/11)
"Newspapers are dying." That was the big bold headline that appeared on the television screen in front of me at the gym one day last week as I was running on the treadmill.
Sports seasons converge in this household (09/14/11)
From a participatory standpoint, at least in my family, it's not football season. It's soccer season. And baseball season. And basketball season. And softball season. And long-distance running season.
IRS debt? Local citizens will have to pay (09/07/11)
Look at it however you want to, but when it comes to the $3.2 million owed by the city of Blytheville to the Internal Revenue Service, it is the citizens of Blytheville who are going to have to pay.
Welcoming the football season with open arms (08/31/11)
Football season is here at last. Though my wife might disagree with me, this is a good thing.
I've seen this show before (08/24/11)
You have to applaud the energy and vibrancy with which Blytheville's City Council -- half of which only took office this year -- is pursuing ways to better our community.
Which candidate is the most intelligent? (08/17/11)
The 2012 presidential election is less than 15 months away, and the campaign is already in full swing. This is especially true on the Republican side, where devotees cast ballots last weekend in a straw poll in the early caucus state of Iowa.
Warning: This column is all about poop (08/10/11)
Since the talk around town the past couple of weeks has been about community cleanup, it seems appropriate for me to mention my own area of concern: Goose poop.
October isn't that much better than the rest (08/02/11)
It seems like a lot of people around here really like October. Or at least someone is stuffing the ballot box for that month in the latest Internet poll.
End of shuttle era comes with sadness (07/26/11)
Like many other Americans, I can't help but feel a little melancholy at the end of the space shuttle program.
Gas price grumbling never goes away (07/20/11)
There seems to be lot less clamoring over gas prices these days. I don't know if it's because we've all simply accepted the notion that the days of $1 or $1.50 gas are long gone, or because paying $3.45 a gallon seems a whole lot better than paying $4.50 or $5.
River recreational area requires careful thought (07/12/11)
Kudos go to Kinder Morgan company, for its plans to donate $62,500 for a new boat ramp at the end of Highway 18 east of Blytheville.
Random thoughts from a quiet car ride (06/28/11)
It was a quiet drive during my family's road trip to Cabot and North Little Rock last weekend. The downside is that the quiet of the car left me alone with my thoughts for several hours. And that's not necessarily a good thing
23rd sports season almost in the books (06/22/11)
It's ironic that it's only officially the second day of summer, yet for many families around here, the baseball/softball season is nearly at an end.
Attendance at 20-year reunion wasn't to be (06/15/11)
My 20-year class reunion was last weekend. I did not attend.
Confessions from an overzealous baseball/softball dad (06/08/11)
Amid the euphoria that followed Monday night's dramatic win by my son's Rookie League baseball team, Drew said something which brought the jubilation down a notch, at least for me.
Summer is here: Time for vacation dreaming (06/01/11)
Now that we're past Memorial Day, I guess it's pretty safe to say that summer is officially upon us. (This week's temperatures pretty much erase all doubt.) For a lot of folks, summer means vacation time.
A bold attempt at a love story (05/25/11)
I've never been much for writing love stories. To be honest, I don't think I've even tried it one time, and I doubt I'm very good at it. But every once in a while, the situation commands a bold attempt, and this is one of those times.
A little cool, a little windy, but still good (05/18/11)
It's been a little cool this week, but if previous Delta summers are anything to go by, we ought to be pretty thankful.
One community asset stands above all others (05/10/11)
There's one local asset that has stood out over the past week or so. And local residents ought to be thanking their lucky stars we have it.
Is bin Laden's death cause for jubilation? (05/03/11)
Make no mistake -- when I heard the news late Sunday night that Osama bin Laden was dead, I was pleased.
Still confused about a great many things (04/26/11)
Like anyone else, I'd like to think of myself of a person of at least average intelligence. I listened in school, went to college and even pay attention to the news on a relatively regular basis. But despite any efforts I put forth to this end, there are some things I still just don't understand.
Andy Weld
Andy Weld is editor of the Blytheville Courier News.
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