COMMENTARY: Small Towns Deal With Big Tragedies

In the parking lot at Gravette High School, you still will find the number 56 painted on numerous vehicles. Also, one parking space remains blocked off, reserved in memory of the boy who had a knack for making people smile.

KIDS TALK: Expressing an Attitude of Gratitude

Being able to express thankfulness to others and to ourselves is an important skill to develop. Having an attitude of gratitude keeps us open to possibilities and able to visualize positive steps in a forward direction.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Health Care: Yellow Lights, Red Flags

Editor’s Note: This is the first of three guest columns from Professor Leflar about health policy.

HOW WE SEE IT: Taxes Could Go From Bad To Worse

Property taxes went up in Benton County because of a 2008 reappraisal while real estate prices crashed in 2009. The response was outrage and a call for action.

PUBLIC VIEWPOINT: Lamenting War, Thanking Veterans

War was bondage of threads shredded bare and barren. Souls were lost and lonely, sewn and treaded for one cause. Death was the norm. And the normal were lost. Lost were the innocent in a sea of crimson, clay and mud. Dirty was the day. Night sweats they all wore in vain. Soldier and civilian alike were in bondage.

COMMENTARY: A Quick Reassurance

Nobody in Bentonville wants to read a long letter to the editor on Fayetteville High School,” I said Tuesday.

RAZORBACKS BASKETBALL TEAM Coach Did Right Thing

WIN OR LOSE, FANS SHOULD STAND BEHIND PELPHREY

Sports radio this week has been filled with commentary on the suspensions of several University of Arkansas basketball players, some of it critical of the coach who handed them down.

COMMENTARY: Middle Ground Needed

MORE CHARTER SCHOOLS, BUT HOW MANY MORE?

President Obama and his education secretary, Arne Duncan, nontraditional liberals on education policy, want states to approve more charter schools.

HOW HOW WE WE SEE SEE IT IT Justifying Judge Finch’s Decision

Benton County Circuit Judge Jay Finch deserved to be pulled over for driving with an expired tag on his vehicle, but his decision to disregard a constable’s attempt to stop him last month is justifiable.

COMMENTARY Senator Lincoln’s Unlucky Year

One day next week, perhaps Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will propose passage of a motion to proceed to consideration of his health care reform bill.

PUBLIC VIEWPOINT Response On School Priorities

In the Letter “Get Area School Priorities Right,” I was sympathizing with Ms. Spencer on the failure of the millage increase to build a new high school, at least until she convoluted this bipartisan issue to vent her partisan views of the Republicans, the tea party, and the Republican Party. I do not know a Republican that doesn’t think for themselves or that blindly follows anyone — if we did, McCain would be president instead of Obama. Unfortunately, the Party didn’t listen to those it is supposed to be representing who did not want a moderate/liberal and stayed home rather than support one. Unlike the Democrats who decided to blindly vote a straight ticket whether they supported the views of the candidate or not, Republicans are losing because they refuse to stop thinking. As a result our Republic and Democracy are in danger with Capitalism rapidly being ushered out and Socialism rapidly being ushered in. This was the underlying fear of those thoughtful teaparty participants and what they were protesting —

Casualties Of War

To honor the men and women in our armed forces and remind our readers of their sacrifices, the Springdale Morning News is publishing Department of Defense announcements identifying Americans killed in active military operations. Spc. Brandon K. Steffey, 23, of Sault Sainte Marie, Mich., died Oct. 25 in Laghman province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 178th Military Police Detachment, 89th Military Police Brigade, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas.

Casualties of War

To honor the men and women in our armed forces and remind our readers of their sacrifices, the Springdale Morning News is publishing Department of Defense announcements identifying Americans killed in active military operations. Maj. David L. Audo, 35, of Saint Joseph, Ill., died Oct. 27 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered from a noncombat-related incident. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 22nd Military Police Battalion, 6th Military Police Group, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Correction

The demise of renowned novelist Donald Harington was not a long, losing battle with cancer, as said in Thursday’s editorial. Harington had beaten cancer earlier and died from complications of pneumonia.

PUBLIC VIEWPOINT Jobs Are Key, Not War Spending

It’s the jobs, stupid! Start with 10 million nonexportable jobs as a down payment. Move from paying people not to work, to paying for work. Build our tangible economic capacity and global competitiveness.