Opinion

Learns Act LITTLE ROCK – More than 3,000 families applied for Education Freedom Accounts during the first week of August, bringing the total number of applicants statewide to 15,365. The Internet portal for applications had been closed over the summer and reopened on July 29, when about 12,000 applications had been approved.

As a city councilman in Bull Shoals, I must abide by the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). I taught Constitutional Law at the college level for about 25 years. I have read many court cases, and I am pretty good at interpreting the law.

How would you feel if you had been denied a raise for 3 years in a row, even though your Administrative Board had approved said raise each year. Along with having an excellent review each year, your department has been running efficiently with low employee turnover and running well below budget. Keep in mind that you have the highest level of education achievable for your position, you have 18 years of Library experience, as well as 7 continuous years in your current position as Director.

Marion County Justice of the Peace elect Tommy Dean Johnson has called out the National Park Service & Buffalo National River Administration for violating his 1st Amendment rights. On July 28, Johnson was handing out information leaflets to inform campers and floaters of the legal limitations of NPS park rangers outside the river boundaries and the contact information needed to file a complaint if they were ‘treated with disrespect or in an unprofessional manner’ by park personnel and about the incident of the death of Jonathan Bolger at the hands of Ranger David Sullivan in 2017.

Jeff Ramori killed a wild turkey last October in Crawford County not far from Steelville and checked it legally. He then cleaned it and froze it. Shortly afterward a young conservation agent showed up and knocked on his door and wanted Jeff to show him the turkey and take him to where he had killed it.

The Baxter Health Auxiliary will be holding a 2-day Fundraiser. Anita’s Accessories Summer Sale, Monday, July 29, 7-5 and Tuesday, July 30, 7-3.

Drop LITTLE ROCK – The state Department of Finance and Administration has published new income tax withholding tables. That’s good news for 1.1 million Arkansas taxpayers, because it means they will take home more money on their next paycheck.

Griffin: ‘[P] relying on the trust Arkansans have in the law enforcement community is especially heinous’ LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following statement warning Arkansans about a common scam in which callers claim to be a law enforcement officer and demand payment to resolve an alleged criminal matter: “I have received reports of an uptick in fraudulent phone calls to Arkansans involving scammers representing themselves as law enforcement officers. These unscrupulous individuals, whether live or in a pre-recorded message, employ common tactics: They claim that the person they have called has committed a criminal offense and pressure them into paying money under threat of being arrested.

Considering recent events, why are local community leaders enduring a constant barrage of negativity? Speech has consequences! Singling out people, especially in small communities, could have dire consequences for those individuals. We have witnessed these consequences at a national level.

For over 50 years, this area of North Central Arkansas has lived with the presence of the Buffalo River being under the authority of the National Park Service (NPS) and named the Buffalo National River. A camping and floating getaway that is known nationwide and visited by generations beyond before it was established as a national icon.