Bolstering recycling

We all know recycling is a commonsense way to be responsible stewards of our environment – but recycling also strengthens our economy and creates hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs nationwide. This is something I believe everyone can agree is truly a “win-win.” Since 1970, we’ve recognized April 22 as Earth Day. In the spirit of this occasion, we’re working to strengthen recycling and composting to better protect our planet.

Sen. John Boozman

Embattled McCurtain official resigns following recorded meeting

By Patrick Massey

Most Arkansans are familiar with traditional recycling efforts in their communities that encourage citizens to recycle household or business goods such as paper, soda cans and bottles. However, recycling is much broader than these common practices. It is a $200 billion industry that has created more than 680,0000 jobs in our country and entails much more than just traditional municipal recycling programs.

And there’s even more good news –it’s a bipartisan solution. Waste reduction is not a red state issue or a blue state issue. Nor is it a big city problem or a rural problem. That’s why I’m a proud co-chair of the Senate Recycling Caucus. Alongside Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-DE) and other members, we’ve engaged with the recycling industry to create opportunities to improve and increase our ability to cut down on waste and reuse materials.

We’ve hosted numerous events to help our colleagues as well as the public and private sectors understand how recycling is commonsense and why it’s good for the economy, job creation and the environment. We’ve learned about sustainability practices that corporations and manufacturers have implemented.

We can be proud some of the leaders in the recycling industry are here in Arkansas. Businesses such as steel producer Nucor, Walmart and Bryce Corpora- tion have developed some great examples for others to follow.

One of the biggest obstacles facing the industry is the sheer lack of reliable, consistent data that is critical for formulating policy solutions to address our nation’s recycling challenges. With upwards of 10,000 individual recycling systems in the U.S. at local and state levels, it’s difficult to fix the recycling problem in America without baseline data to work with. We’re working to change that with the “Recycling and Composting Accountability Act.”

This legislation would require the U.S. Environment and Protection Agency (EPA) to collect and distribute data on recycling and composting rates across the country to provide an accurate reflection of performance both nationwide and on the state level. This information is critical to form meaningful, long-term solutions to improve recycling throughout the country.

We’re also aiming to expand participation among families and businesses in rural, underserved areas so they can play an active role in preserving our resources and improve our nation’s recycling and composting capabilities. The Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act would allow the EPA to create a pilot program to improve recycling services within these communities.

I appreciate the leadership of Chairman Carper and EPW Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) who are committed to building off the momentum from last year to advance these legislative initiatives.

As we mark the 53rd anniversary of Earth Day, we are committed to maintaining the beauty of Arkansas and throughout the country by reducing landfill waste, preserving natural resources and saving energy through recycling.

IDABEL, Okla. - A McCurtain County commissioner has resigned following the release of audio earlier this month in which he and several other officials are allegedly caught making racist remarks and discussing the murder of two local reporters.

District 2 Commissioner Mark Jennings submitted his resignation on April 19. The resignation has since been accepted by Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt. Jennings is one of several embattled officials in McCurtain County – including Sheriff Kevin Clardy – after the audio was recorded by the publisher of “The McCurtain County Gazette” during a March 6 commissioners meeting.

The widely-circulated audio records several individuals discussing killing and burying two McCurtain Gazette reporters and lamenting their inability to lynch a Black man in 2023. The Gazette identified those in the recording as Clardy, Jennings, sheriff’s investigator Alicia Manning and jail administrator Larry Hendrix.

In a statement, Oklahoma State Senator George Burns said he is calling on Clardy, Manning and Hendrix to submit their resignations along- side Jennings. Burns, who resides in McCurtain County, said the horrible comments allegedly made by the officials “do not represent the heart and spirit of our citizens.”

He added that the incident has damaged the county and state and that innocent people are being impacted.

The comments sparked protests in Idabel on Monday with those in attendance calling for the immediate resignation of the accused officials. Gov. Stitt is also calling for those involved to resign.

Last week, the Oklahoma Sheriff’s Association voted to suspend the membership of Clardy, Hendrix and Manning.

During a news conference held over the weekend, Gov. Stitt reiterated his call for those officials to resign. He added that he was directing the state’s attorney general to investigate whether Clardy is failing to “keep and preserve the peace” of McCurtain County.

In a post on its Facebook page earlier this week, the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office claims the recordings were altered and illegally obtained. That position has done little to quell the uproar following the release of the audio.

ALCOHOL continued from page 1 not a big deal in the area. Some of those chiming in may not be from the area and realize all of the debate or history of Polk County.

Facebook metrics show that the subject is definitely of interest to the public, regardless of which side of the issue readers are on. Within the first four hours of posting, there were 34,534 impressions; a post reach of 32,899; and a post engagement of 13,429.

By Monday at noon, those numbers had risen to 133,403 impressions; 154,291 posts reach, and 64,818 who had engaged. It had received in excess of 1,300 comments, 3,100 reactions ranging from love to anger, and 350 shares at that time.

The comments were the same rhetoric… more of what’s been argued time and again either during the petitioning to get the option to sell alcohol in Polk County on the ballot, or the results of the election, or during the recent beer fest.

On the side supporting alcohol, the arguments included the purchases at local stores kept sales tax dollars in Polk

County; or that those who would purchase alcohol regardless of whether it was sold here or there, could now do so without traveling as far, and more than likely would take it straight home versus the potential for popping the top on a cold one as they drove home from a location outside of Polk County or Arkansas.

On the opposing side were several statements on how there will be increased crime, traffic accidents, tickets, littering, and the potential for drunken and disorderly conduct; a few comments of people claiming Polk County does not have a drug or crime problem; and a few people commenting on alcohol being a gateway to other drugs.

During the beer festival, there had been one reported charge of public intoxication and disorderly conduct at the event. The Mena City Police had stated reports from the April 8 event did not seem more than normal for the weekend regarding traffic stops or arrests.

As for this past weekend when retail liquor was first sold, Polk County Sheriff Scott Sawyer stated, “We did not notice an uptick in crime, disturbances or alcohol related incidents over the weekend I’m going to check our arrests over the next few months to see if we have any increases.”

The Mena Police Department was also asked if they had any incidents they would attribute to the stores selling beer and wine, as well as any change in traffic stops or disturbance calls compared to a typical weekend. They replied, “No.”

Besides local law enforcement, there is a governing body that oversees that all rules are being followed for those granted a permit to sell alcohol in any manner.

Section 6.3 of the State of Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Division rules states, in part, “When a permit is issued, the permit may be disciplined according to various code provisions contained in the Acts of the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas and Regulations adopted by the Board. Discipline of a permit can include, but is not limited to, administrative sanctions of revocation, cancellation, suspension, levying of a monetary fine, the imposition of more restrictive hours of operation, placement of a warning letter in the file, or an order of reprimand… .”

It is likely there will be incidents when people break the law involving liquor being purchased in Polk County. That is no more surprising than stating a person will break the law when purchasing a vehicle in the county, even if it’s for speeding or having a busted headlight.

Regardless of what statistics people want to present on accidents while under the influence vs. not under the influence, the point is that there will always be someone who is doing something dangerous and/or illegal. It’s unfortunate some people cannot act responsibly and their actions either causes harm or sheds bad light on others, but it’s a reality. Regardless of where or how a product is purchased, be it a vehicle, alcohol, prescription drugs, etc. it will be misused at some point.

The argument between those for and those against will likely never cease. The minds of a few on either side might be changed for any number of reasons, but there will always be an abundance of pro and con advocates. Perhaps there will be a point in the near future when the subject is no longer newsworthy, when there will be less vitriol, and Polk County will still stand and not become a modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah as some have predicted. Time will tell.

ECLIPSE continued from page 2

Wilhelmina State Park, have a fourday minimum stay and have already reserved all of their lodging. It should bring in a significant amount of revenue.

The meeting explained what to expect with viewing parties such as the festival that will take place at Janssen Park, along with the live music downtown every night, because people will arrive early and stay late (as in a few days) for the event; the population surge; traffic management; infrastructure stresses; emergency operational support for public works, law enforcement, supplies and cellular communications; health, safety and welfare; and the April weather and cloud cover. Texas, southeast Oklahoma, Arkansas and southeast Missouri are the locations meteorologist Matt Standridge (KFSM-TV) believes will be the best locations to avoid cloud cover.

Arkansas Tourism is providing guidance and assistance with many things related to the eclipse. It’ll also be a great opportunity for local small businesses to show off their crafts and wares for tourists enjoying the scenic beauty of Mena and the surrounding mountains and creeks. It’s a perfect reason to start painting and sprucing up your businesses and homes, because once first-time visitors see what Mena and the Ouachitas area all about, the goal is to make it such a memorable and pleasant visit they’ll want to return, which will be great for the local economy in the long run.

For more information, search Mena Eclipse 2024 on Facebook, or go to the VisitMena.com website.

Caasastro.org also has information on the eclipse and other astronomical events around the state.