Marked Tree, Arkansas ~ Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Visiting veterans share thanks (10/02/08)
Letters to the editor regarding The Wall Dear Editor, "The Wall that Heals" was a very successful venture for Marked Tree and all of Poinsett County. The event leaders and planners committee wants to thank everyone for their help. We could not have done it without each and every one of you. We are thankful for all the monetary donations, food and drink donations but mostly all the volunteer hours...

They're leaving one fine mess (10/02/08)

A place for reflection and healing (10/02/08)

100 years is plenty of anticipation (10/02/08)

Remembering "Buck" Guin (10/02/08)

Why can't politics be simple? (09/11/08)
I think I'm guilty of trying to over simplify politics. To me, you decide which issues are most important to you, and then you find the candidate who most closely matches your views on those issues. Are you pro-life or do you support abortion? Do you think the government should be less involved in our everyday lives or more involved? Should the government keep taxes low and find ways to cut overspending out of the budget or should they raise taxes to make up for budget shortfalls? Should we remain in Iraq and finish what we started -- no matter if you supported the war to begin with or not -- or should we pull out now, cut our losses and hope it doesn't come back to bite us in the butt. ...

My vote probably won't count (09/11/08)
Do you realize that in less than two months we will elect a new President of the United States? At least some of you will. I won't. That's because I'm going to vote for Obama, and I don't expect him to carry Arkansas, which will make my vote null and void...

September is National Cancer Awareness Month (09/11/08)
On Aug. 26 President Bush signed a Proclamation stating that September is National Cancer Awareness Month. It is also for awareness of for certain types of cancer such as ovarian/gynecological, prostate, childhood and thyroid.) October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.)...

Confessions of a band nerd (09/11/08)
Its football season and it has me reminiscing. I remember after the long games at Jonesboro High being thoroughly exhausted. Saturated in sweat and gasping for air, I was ready to enjoy the weekend to recuperate. ...

My Quarterly Quota for Venting (09/04/08)
I grabbed my stuff and returned to my car livid. "What is it with this young generation?" I vented mentally. After collecting all my goodies, the cashier reluctantly check out my products. After she swiped my debit card she basically hurled the pen at me, yearning for the transaction to conclude. ...

If We Don't Take A Stand, Who Will? (09/04/08)
In the news, August 2008... Jonesboro AR: Cat mutilation of family pets in Griffen Park; Wynne AR: Kitten set on fire. U.S. Humane Society puts up $2500 reward for information leading to the person responsible, also area residents raise amount to $3500 through donations (note: 16 year old confesses and says he did it as a joke); Hasty AR: puppies stomped to death, cattle prods used and they video taped the whole thing.. ...

A big thanks to John McCain (09/04/08)
Thank you, John McCain. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You've finally got me thinking that Obama might just beat you. Many pundits agree that choosing a running mate is the first semi-presidential decision a nominee makes. The nominee always claims that they have chosen the one person in America that is ready to become President at any time. Let's see how you did...

Where do you hide your dirty laundry? (09/04/08)
I guess you could call it procrastination. I like to think of it as not having enough hours in the day to get it all done. However you label it, I awoke Saturday morning with a sense of anxiety and a realization that do or die, it had to be done...

The rich just keep getting richer (08/29/08)
Now that school has started, social studies teachers across the country are about to tell their students that one of the great things about America is that we're all equal. They will also tell them that, in America, justice is blind. In both cases they will be lying their behinds off...

Too much testosterone for me (08/29/08)
Up until last March, our sports writer Dan was the only full-time male employee of our paper, and we only had one other man who worked part time once a week. On Tuesdays poor Dan felt especially outnumbered as it was me, Desha and Carin in our Marked Tree office working on putting together the Tri-City Tribune and the Trumann Democrat...

My short venture as a rock-star (08/29/08)
Everything culminated in that moment. I was sitting across from my college advisor about to unfold the news that I was no longer attending UCA. I still planned to live in Conway, but decided that college wasn't the route for me. ...

Debate on lowering the legal drinking age (08/29/08)
In case you have been under a rock lately and haven't heard, there is a national debate going on whether or not to lower the legal drinking age from 21 to 18. About 100 college and university presidents of around the United States think it would be good. But good for who?...

My Public Confession (08/22/08)
My name is Josh Martin and I have an addiction. Isn't that the first step to recovery? But I'll have to admit this is an addiction I hope never subsides. I'm not necessarily addicted to the caffeine, but the concept of coffee itself...

Democratic convention to dominate airwaves (08/22/08)
If you aren't already sick of seeing Barack Obama every time you turn the TV on, you will be by this time next week. Next Wednesday will be the third night of the Democratic Convention. On CBS, NBC and ABC it will be all Obama during prime time...

Phelps story goes deeper than a pool (08/22/08)
This was definitely an interesting week in history with the deaths of both comedian/actor Bernie Mac and musician/icon Isaac Hays as well as Michael Phelps breaking seven world records and one Olympic swimming records...

Remembering first day of school jitters (08/22/08)
There are a lot of things about being an adult that aren't that much fun. For instance, we have to pay bills and we don't get out for summer vacation. One thing I don't miss about being a kid, though, is the first day of school...

Gatlinburg part two (08/14/08)
Okay, so I didn't mean for this to be a 2-parter but I promise this will be the last column I write about my vacation. We went to the Great Smoky Mountains. We found ourselves at the Newfoundland Gap which is on the Tennessee and North Carolina border. ...

Feeling Patriotic During the Olympics (08/14/08)
It was late Sunday night. I knew I had to get up in the morning to begin the weekly grind at work, but I didn't care. This was the Olympics. I don't know if it's because I'm getting older, I've never watched any of the Olympics, but for some reason I've been drawn to prime-time while NBC broadcasts our American teams torpedoing through the waters and slinging around like elastic during gymnastics. ...

Edwards proves he's a deomcrat (08/14/08)
Well, John Edwards proved he's a real Democrat Friday when he admitted he had had an affair. When Republicans have a scandal it's always about money, and when Dempcrats do, it's always about sex. In fact, you could say that Democrats are obsessed with sex the same way Republicans are obsessed with money. ...

Can I have some ketchup please? (08/14/08)
The world is a changing place. I suppose I'm officially "getting older" when I begin to use phrases like "I remember when it used be like such and such." Well, this is one of those moments. Our society has become increasingly self-centered, focusing not on service but rather on the bottom line, a line that often points right to ourselves...