The “Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022” includes a Boozman-au thored provision to expand benefits to Vietnam War-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange during their service in Thailand after Arkansas veteran Bill Rhodes shared his benefits were denied because the VA didn’t allow him to prove toxic exposure based on his service lo cation. Agent Orange was an herbicide mixture used by the U.S. military in jun gle-type environments. It contained a chemical known as dioxin, a dangerous contaminant.“WhenIfirst heard the story on Agent Chris Jones, the gubernatori al democratic nominee, stopped by The Polk County Democratic Party “Bean and Jeans” fundraiser dinner to discuss some key cam paign issues he is passionate about to a room full of people at The Daisy Room on Monday evening, August 15 . He discussed his background, with his family coming from south Chris Jones accepts a campaign donation from Linda Johnson and the Polk County Democratic Party. (Ethan Nahté/Pulse) ern Arkansas and how he grew up in Pine Bluff, which he explained has a stigma of being a bad place to live and nicknamed “Crime” Bluff. Jones knows Pine Bluff as a great place to call home, seeing it from a viewpoint non-residents are un aware of for the most part. He also spoke to both the crowd, and to Pulse Multi-Media earlier in the day, about flipping the narra See JONES continued on page 2
By Ethan WASHINGTONNahté (August 10, 2022)
— President Joe Biden signed landmark legislation championed by U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) to deliver all eras of toxic-exposed veterans their earned Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care and benefits into law.
Jones walks a mile in Mena Winning a toxic battle for vets
“Providing generations of men and women who served in uniform the ben efits they deserve honors the promise our nation made for their service and sacrifice. This is a long overdue day for veterans and their families living with illnesses as a result of toxic exposure who will now be able to get the care they earned,” Boozman said.
See PACT continued on page 5
FREE WEEKLY 1168 Hwy 71 S Mena, AR 479.243.960071953 Your DAILY News Sources: KENA 104.1 FM & MyPulseNews.com THE POLK COUNTY Pulse August 17, 2022 INSIDE: AGFC Hunting GuidebookPage 16 Polk County Rodeo Pages 12-13 School Zone & Bus SafetyPage 22
Jones takes a selfie of some, not all, of the audience who came to listen to him speak. They were setting out on a walk around Janssen Park as the sun began to set. Jones took time to answer questions from the walkers, and spoke with passers-by and neighbors out in their yards. (Ethan Nahté/Pulse) the entire state.
Incentivesapplications.formore industry and jobs will help create more business and create higher wages. These are only a few of the things Jones hopes to accomplish if elected governor.Healso took questions from the audience, ranging from seniors ask ing questions about healthcare and broadband, to children interested in how Jones plans to help the environ ment, honeybees in particular.
More of his interview can be heard throughout the week on KENA 104.1 FM news.
JONES continued from page 1 tive. Just like Pine Bluff is thought of as having a high criminal rate, Jones explained that Mena has a reputation outside of the area as a racist town. It’s no secret that Mena was known as a Sundown Town, and most of the areas throughout Polk County was a white community for decades. Long time residents had either heard stories or may be old enough to remember the warning sign that once hung in town.Jones believes that the narrative for both Mena and Pine Bluff can be flipped, as can the narrative for any place in Arkansas. He also spoke about how Arkansas averages fourth to last on several lists amongst national rankings. He wants to bring Arkansas to the top of the lists, if not making it No. 1. Part of what he believes will help make that happen is by spreading PB&J. Instead of having a clump of one good thing here and a clump of something else there, if his PB&J gets spread evenly, it comes out good for
2 THE POLK COUNTY PulseAugust 17, 2022News In the Business of YOU. Member FDIC | www.ffb1.com | @FFBank1 600 HWY 71 S | Mena, AR | 479-394-3552 Summer Loan Special Make great memories on your new ATV/UTV with a loan from First Financial Bank.* Call or stop by today! • 3.99% APY** • Finance your new ATV/UTV at FFB! • No Closing Costs or Fees at Origination • Terms available at 36, 48, and 60 months Greg Goss Retail ggoss@ffb1.comNMLSPresidentMarket#541555 ScheppmannDarbi Loan Officer NMLS dscheppmann@ffb1.com#1401433 *Must be used for an ATV/UTV purchase. No down payment required, Loan must be fully amortized, rate may not increase after**3.99%origination.APR
PB&J stands for Pre-School, Broad band and Jobs. With the laying of the foundation by improving and expand ing upon the building blocks during Pre-School, the education levels of the students will improve, teachers will be paid more and there will be more incentive for teachers to come to Ar kansas or to rural areas. By ensuring all residents have af fordable and reliable broadband, that will improve education, communi cations, and business, including job training or
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The following contact information is re quired when the letter is submitted: NAME, AGE, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER. Letters are published at the discretion of the Editor and Publisher. Letters may be submitted by e-mail to news@mypulsenews.com; mailed to P.O. Box 1450, Mena, AR 71953 or dropped off at 1168 Hwy. 71 South, Mena, AR. A drop-box is provided by the front door for after-hour convenience. NEWSSUBMIT:ITEMS TO THE EDITOR UPDATES CLASSIFIED ADS NEWS@MYPULSENEWS.COMEmail: Stephanie Murr seeks election to Mena city clerk/treasurer position Submitted by Stephanie Murr Mena resident Stephanie Murr has filed as a candidate for the position of Mena’s city clerk/treasurer for the November 2022 election. She would be replacing Linda Rexroad who is retiring at the end of the Originallyyear. from Dallas, Texas, Murr has lived in Mena for the past 19 years. She and her family chose Mena as a great place to raise her two children in a safe environment. She graduated from high school in Texas and attended col lege at Richland Community College, North Texas State University and Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas. After working for Hunt Oil Compa ny in their services division for sever al years, Murr was employed in Plano, Texas, as a business analyst at the cor porate offices of JCPenney Company for 13Sinceyears.moving to Mena, she has been employed as a bookkeeper and office manager for several small businesses in the Mena area, including Double C Transportation, Inc., Mena Newspapers, and 5 Star Equine Products & Supplies inMurrHatfield.isenthusiastic to take on the re sponsibilities of City Clerk and Treasur er for the people of Mena, Arkansas. She is dedicated to the possibility of incor porating positive change and revision to the town, aspiring to make certain that Mena’s laws and regulations, as well as any necessary documentation, are read ily available to the public. Murr states that she is interested in looking into aspects that could better advance our town.Murr is a team player and dedicated to any task at hand. With her advanced knowledge of and background in book keeping and other areas of business, she is prepared to provide the residents of Mena with the necessary duties of a City Clerk, including the delivery of accountability in regard to the city’s ex penditures.SherryBalkenhol, a co-worker of Murr’s at several jobs beginning with Double C Transportation, stated that when Murr was first hired it was her job to check Accordingreferences.toBalkenhol, “When I spoke to her supervisor at JCPenney, he told me that if I could get Stephanie, I would be very lucky. He said she was ‘all that and a bag of chips.’ It was a funny reference at the time, but I have found it to be an apt description of her work ethic, her organizational abilities, her attention to detail, and her excellent customer service skills. She has always been a pleasure to work with and is a people-oriented person. We need more people in government like Stephanie Murr.”
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Pulse August 17, 2022 3 THE POLK COUNTY Politics Radio - Print - Web 1168 Hwy 71S Mena, AR 71953 Phone: 479-243-9600 Fax: 479-243-9603 Email: news@mypulsenews.com KENA 104.1 - KQOR MyPulseNews.com105.3
Some lawmakers wanted to con sider ating the depreciation of their assets and allow for an easier calculation of their tax bill. Act 1 and Act 2 also grant a nonrefundable income tax credit of $150 to taxpayers with income up to $87,000 and $300 to couples filing jointly with income up to $174,000. The Department of Fi nance and Administration says the agency will issue revised payroll with holding tables to more than 80,000 employers across Arkansas within the next month. The agency anticipates they will be effective October 1. This will give employers adequate time to program the changes and also ensure Arkansans see more money in their paychecks as soon as possible. In this special session, the General Assembly also passed Act 3. This act sets aside $50 million from the reve nue surplus for the purpose of fund ing a school safety grant program. The grants will help districts fund the recommendations of the School Safety Commission.Youcanwatch the recorded com mittees and House floor proceedings at www.arkansashouse.org.
From the House of Representatives From the State Senate
John
(870)Nashville,P.O.Larry.Teague@senate.ar.govCall:Mena,520arkansashouse.orgJohn.Maddox@MaddoxChurchAvenueAR71953(479)394-6060LarryTeagueBox903AR71852845-5303
The legislature concluded a quick, three-day special ses sion after approving income tax cuts that will save 1.6 mil lion Arkansas taxpayers about $500Themillion.taxsavings will come mainly from moving up the effective date of previously ad opted tax reductions. Last December the legislature lowered the top in come tax rate over four years, so that it would be 4.9 percent in 2025. Thanks to legislation enacted during the special session, that re duction becomes effective this year. In similar fashion, the legislature moved up the effective date of pre viously approved tax reductions that lowered the top rate for corporations over three years, to 5.3 percent in 2025. The top rate will take effect in 2023. For tax year 2022 the top rate will remain at 5.9 percent. Moving up the effective date will save businesses in Arkansas about $18.6 million this fiscal year. The savings increase the following year to $27.8 Anothermillion.provision enacted during the special session will save Arkansas businesses $29.4 million this year. The legislature approved a change in how they can claim deductions for depreciation and expensing of prop erty, making the Arkansas tax code similar to depreciation schedules in section 179 of federal tax codes. This will allow Arkansas business es to claim deductions for the pur chase of new or used equipment, up to about $1 million, in a single year. Previously, state tax law limited the amount that could be deducted and required deductions to be spread out over the life of the equipment. Individuals with incomes up to $87,000 will get a $150 nonrefund able tax credit. Married tax payers who file separately may each claim a $150 cred it. Married taxpayers filing jointly with net income up to $174,000 will receive a $300 nonrefundable income tax credit.Those income tax credits will save Arkansas families more than $156 million in Fiscal Year 2023.Even after passage of the tax cuts, state government is on course to have a budget surplus of about $400 million at the end of the fiscal year, according to the bill’s sponsors. Also during the special session, the legislature authorized the state Edu cation Department to use $50 mil lion from reserve funds for grants to school districts that need school safe ty upgrades. If necessary, the legisla ture will consider additional funding of school safety measures during the 2023 regular session, which begins in January.TheArkansas School Safety Com mission is finalizing a list of recom mendations to protect students and staff in the event of a school shooter. The commission recommends that an armed school resources officer be present in all buildings at all times when there are students. Another recommendation is that all school doors be locked, with elec tronic controls. Teachers should be able to lock classroom doors from the inside, the commission recom mended.Security cameras, accessible to school staff and law enforcement, as well as two-way radios to connect school personnel with local police officers, are recommended.
John Boozman 1120 Garrison Ave. Suite 2B Fort Smith, AR 72901 Phone: (479) 573-0189 Fax: (479) Bruce575-0553Westerman 101 Reserve St. Suite 200 Hot Springs, AR 71901 Phone: (501) 609-9796 Fax: (501) 609-9887
After passing legislation to accelerate tax cuts and provide funding for school safety, the 93rd General Assembly ad journed from a special session onInThursday.December of 2021, the General Assembly passed leg islation outlining the largest tax cut in state history. That legislation lowered the state income tax from what was then 5.9% to 4.9% incrementally over a period of 4 years. The first reduction took effect on Jan uary 1, 2022 lowering the income tax toAfter5.5%.a record surplus and a period of rising inflation, the Governor called the legislature back for a special ses sion to accelerate the implementation of the tax cut. As a result, the General Assembly passed Act 1 and Act 2. Those acts are identical pieces of legislation reducing the income tax to 4.9% and making that rate retroactive to January 1, 2022. The legislation also lowers corporate income taxes from 5.9% to 5.3% on January 1, 2023. In addition, it aligns Arkansas law with the federal depre ciation schedule which will provide relief for business owners by acceler
4 THE POLK COUNTY PulseAugust 17, 2022Politics
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it would be success ful. “I was pretty positive because I was working a claim for myself and had been denied. Some of the reasons they gave didn’t make sense. I started research and found a lot of documents. Their decision just didn’t make a sense. I made a copy of 38-CFR, the code of regulations vet erans administration. Once I read them, I realized that the documents disagreed. They were something altogether different. When I wrote down information for this, I included this [opposing] information. When you find that the law is something different than the regulations, something had to be done. I never gave up on it. We just had to continue. “I had three diseases associated with either Agent Orange or herbicide expo sure: coronary artery, diabetes type II and prostate cancer. It was relief, an accom plishment. I finally accomplished a mis sion. I’m proud to see it done. I feel like
Rhodes, a Mena resident, said, “They took a lot of legislation rolled it into one package. It was pretty high, in the billions of dollars, scattered over 10 years: The Vietnam Era, Thailand, Laos & Cambo dia, Guam, American Samoa, and other places. Some of the places are still active. My legislation got introduced and rolled into the ‘PACT Act.’”
whoment.ourchangedcanonepicture,butsomething,complishedside,atually.onemoreaccomplishedIthanthing,acFrompersonalIacinabiggerthatpersongetthingsingovernRhodes,isnowaboardmemberfortheMilitaryVeteransAd
• Guam or American Samoa or in the territorial waters off of Guam or American Samoa from January 9, 1962, through July 30, 1980
PACT continued from page 1
• Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kam pong Cham Province from April 16, 1969, through April 30, 1969
Rhodeswrong.rightfoughtBoozmanensixBoozmansueingbeganbelievesVietnam.RhodesheworkontheiswithSen.orsevyearsago.tothishadfaith
• Any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand from January 9, 1962, through June 30, 1976
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) came into existence on July 9, 1970 and began operation December 2 that same year.
Rhodes joined the U.S. Marine Corps around the age of 18. He was a sergeant in the Marine Corps at Nam Phong, Thai land (nicknamed the Rose Garden) in ‘73. He called it a bare bones operation. He left the service in ’79 as a staff sergeant.
Rhodes explained the dioxin lasts ac cording to both the EPA and Washington University studies. “On the surface of the soil, it lasts from nine to 15 years…a little less if it’s in the human body. If it gets bur ied underneath the soil as much as one centimeter, the half-life can be up to 100 years that the dioxin will lay there.”
vocacy, predicts that the legislation he helped introduce will probably be of val ue to an additional two to three hundred thousand veterans. “All I really know, if you have a pre sumptive disease, if you are one of those veterans, you no longer to have to prove you were exposed. If you were exposed and have a disease and documentation to prove where you were at, it’s a matter of processing the paperwork.”
How much dioxin was in the herbi cides.? Rhodes said, “I was curious how much they sprayed. I think it was five parts per million. The EPA states the maximum exposure level is so small in comparison to the five parts. It’s a lot. One acre of spray was enough to contaminate two million plus. “Adding insult to injury, being a jun gle environment to keep the vegetation down, they sprayed monthly.”
5 THE POLK COUNTY Pulse August 17, 2022 Orange, I wondered what they were talking about. Once I dug into it, I real ized it was something serious.”
• Laos from December 1, 1965, through September 30, 1969
Rhodes described his time at war. “Thailand was an area where there were several large air force bases and only one marine base. They were all aviation units. All branches of service were there as sup port for the Vietnam War. They were based in Thai land and flew combat mis sions from Thailand into
Rhodes attended the signing ceremo ny at the White House on August 10. He seemed relieved, but possibly a bit of dis belief. “You don’t too often to get an in vitation to the White House,” he laughed. “They are supposed to furnish me with what they call a Red Line. What that boils down to is I get a signed copy of the leg islation.”Rhodes is thankful to Sen. Boozman for working so hard to help push the Act through and for supporting veter ans. “This goes to show that one person can make a difference. I appreciate the senator’s leadership and guidance for getting the PACT Act across the finish line,” Rhodes said. This is the latest successful push by Boozman to ensure toxic-exposed veter ans get the benefits they earned. In June, President Biden signed into law the “Dr. Kate Hendricks Thom as SERVICE Act,” legislation authored by the senator requiring the VA to conduct mammograms for all women who served in areas associated with burn pits and other toxic exposures regardless of age, symptoms or family history. The VA website has added the follow ingWe’veinformation:addedthese 5 new locations to the list of presumptive locations:
• Johnston Atoll or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll from January 1, 1972, through September 30, 1977 If you served on active duty in any of these locations, we’ll automatically as sume (or “presume”) that you had expo sure to Agent Orange.
Sen. John Boozman presented with a desk pen set by Bill Rhodes. It was created in Mena, Arkansas. (Photo courtesy of Bill Rhodes)
HeavenlytoageElaineSheilaLewis,49,wentmeetherFa
Please contact Jordan Gossett for more details.Online obituary at beasleywoodfu neralhome.com
Leatha Carrell Smith Rigby, age 47, passed away August 10th, 2022, after a hard battle with Cancer in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Lea was born in 1974 in Vicksburg, Mississippi, to the late Linda Lee Price and James Larkin Smith.
LeathaCarrellSmithRigby
Wednesday, August 10, 2022, in Hot Springs.Shewas born October 30, 1941, in Mena, Arkansas, to the late A.J. Burris and the late Sarah Campbell Burris. She was married to Robert Bruce Milne and was a bookkeeper by profession. Linda loved to travel and sew as well as taking lots of pictures. She enjoyed reading and loved her flowers and plants, most of all she loved spending time with her grandchildren and family. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and a broth er, Frank Burris. She is survived by her sons, Andy Milne and wife Kim, Mitch Milne and Robert Milne; grand children Amy Milne, Drew Milne and Hannah Milne; great-grandchild, Dani May Barthel and a sister Fran Whisen hunt and husband Audry as well as a host of other family and friends. Mrs. Milne was sent for cremation under the direction of the Beasley Wood Funeral Home. No services are scheduled at this time. Online obituary at beasleywoodfu neralhome.com
ther on August 14, 2022, in Texarka na, Texas. She was born November 16, 1972, in De Queen, Arkansas. She lived in many places throughout her life, mostly in Texas. She enjoyed fishing, camping, and spending time with family and friends. She worked in different positions in her life, but truly enjoyed being a home health aide. She is survived by her parents Joe and Elaine Williams and Leroy Shores. Her fiancé Matt Woodall. Her two sons Dustin Ellis and Cody Ellis. Brothers; Jerry Franks, Larry Williams, Chris Lyons, Lesley Shores, Mark Shores, Danny Ray Shores, and Leroy “Bubba” Shores. Sisters; Sonja Harwood, Don na Shores, and Cora Shores. A host of Aunts, Uncles, nieces, nephews, cous ins, and friends. And her dog that she loved dearly, Scrapper. There will be a memorial service Aug. 21, 2022, at the home of Joe and Elaine Williams. Dinner at 1 and ser vice to follow at 3. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Bates-Cooper funeral home of Mount Pleasant.
RobertCalvinWillis
ElaineSheilaLewis
Lea Married the love of her life Van Rigby III on December 3rd, 1999. Lea graduated from Warren Central High school in Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 1993. Her time in school is what fueled her love for sports and music, specifi cally soccer. She was a proud member of the “Big, Blue Band” for four years. She dedicated most of her life to play ing, coaching and volunteering her time out at the Aubrey Tapley Sports complex. Where she was ‘Coach Lea’ to many, including two of her children and two grandchildren. Nothing made her more happy than spending her days out on the field. Lea had a servant’s heart; she was always doing her best to make sure everyone had everything they needed. If you were lucky enough to be loved by her, you know how much her family and loved ones will miss her. Lea is preceded in death by her mother, her father, her paternal grand parents Hubert Ray and Nancy Smith, and Her Maternal Grandparents, Sam and Leatha Price. She is survived by Her Husband of 22 years Van Rigby, her oldest daughter Jordan (Tyler), her daughter Megan (Jeremy) and her baby boy, Van IV (Ciara) and Her Ad opted son Ethan. Her grandchildren, Timrie and Titan, who were by far her two most favorite people in the world. She is also survived by her sister, Ash ley Frantz (Steven), Her brother Chris Smith (Shannon); Nieces and Neph ews, Summer Watkins, Phoenix, Gabe Walter, Olivia, and Logan. And a host of other family and close friends. Pall bearers are Tyler Gossett, Taylor Red ding, Jake Sullivan, Chris Smith, Jere my Stuckey, Blake Watkins. Honorary pallbearers are, James Price, Steven Frantz, Van Rigby J.r., David Rigby, and JamesVisitationSullivan.will be at Beasley Wood Funeral Home in Mena, Wednesday, August 17, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The family wants to invite all friends of Lea’s to attend the visitation. Services for Lea will be Saturday, Au gust 20, 2022, at Carpenter Methodist Church in Carpenter, Mississippi, with Brother Craig Cluff officiating. There will be a graveside to follow at Car penter Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for monetary donations to be made to the family, for the youth soccer association in Mena, Arkansas.
Linda Lou ise Milne, age 80 of passedArkansas,Mena,away
6 THE POLK COUNTY PulseAugust 17, 2022
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Mr. Robert Calvin Willis, age 83, passed away AugustSunday,14, 2022, in Mena, Arkansas. He was born April 24, 1939, to the late Syberian and Naomi Harroff Willis. Mr. Willis was an outdoorsman at heart, he enjoyed fishing, camping, and birdwatching. Additionally, he loved his work, Robert was a timberman by profession. Mr. Willis was united in marriage to the late Delois Ann Buck ley on April 11, 1953, until her passing. Mr. Willis is preceded in death by his loving wife, Delois Ann Buckley, of 59 years; his parents, Syberian and Naomi Harroff Willis; and by his sons, Robert Dale Willis and James Calvin Willis. He is survived by his daughters, Martha Pearson and husband Glen of Mt. Ida, Mary Dukeshire and husband Thomas of Mena; sons, Larry Don Wil lis of Mena, Tony Lee Willis of Mena, and George Steven Willis of Mena; 21 grandchildren; 70 great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and neph ews; and a host of other family and friends.Services for Mr. Robert Willis will be held Friday, August 19, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at Beasley-Wood Chapel in Mena, Arkansas. Brother Ron Tilley will offi ciate, and interment will follow at Ow ens Chapel Cemetery in Acorn, Arkan sas.Pallbearers are Johnny Lane, Bruce Willis, Tony Willis, Donny Drake, Rob bie Lane, and Jason Hadley. Honorary Pallbearers are Thomas Dukeshire, Steve Willis, Larry Willis, and Glen Pearson.Online obituary at beasleywoodfu neralhome.com
Obituaries
Cremation arrangements are entrust ed to Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena,OnlineArkansas.Guestbook: bowserffh.com
TownsendBenlyDon
7 THE POLK COUNTY Pulse August 17, 2022 Obituaries
SwedoskiSherrillElliott announced at a later date. Online obituary at beasleywoodfu neralhome.com
A memorial service will be held at Penuel Assembly of God in Hatfield, Arkansas on Saturday, August 27th at 10:00 a.m., with Brother Daniel Egger officiating.Specialhonorary pallbearers are her great-nieces and -nephews which she lovedCremationdearly.
Mrs. Sher rill Elliott Swe doski, age 84, passed away August 8, 2022, in Mt. Ida, Arkansas. She was born May 5, 1938, in Houston, Texas, to the late Mervyn Leon and Erma Jewell Elliott. Mrs. Swedoski was a woman of many talents; she was good at everything she did and amazing in every way. She wrote poetry, played violin, painted, and could sew anything without a pat tern; the only thing she couldn’t do was row a canoe. She had a wonderful imag ination. Sherrill worked for NASA, in Webster, Texas, and she retired from the Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Control Division. She was the oldest of 4 girls and knew it too, she would often tease her sisters that she was Wonder Woman. Sherill was a strong Christian lady and raised her children to be “no-nonsense”. Mrs. Swedoski is preceded in death by her husband, Richard; her parents, Mervyn Leon and Erma Jewell Elliott; and by her sister, Sue Ann Elliott. She is survived by her son, Larry Davis and wife Rita of Mena, Arkansas; daugh ters, Phyllis Caldwell of Mena, Ar kansas, Pamela Rossoni and husband Chris of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas; grandchildren, Tiffany Crawford, Cal lie Gallagher, Joe Evans, Andrea Cald well, Mac Caldwell, Katy Kesterson, Greg Davis; 12 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Bev erly Johnson of Teague, Texas, Lanis Harwell and husband Billy of Waldron, Arkansas; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other family and friends. There are no services planned at this time for Mrs. Swedoski, cremation arrangements are entrusted to Beas ley-Wood Funeral Home. There will be a private gathering for family to be
Karla Ann Bruce, age 68 of passedOklahoma,Plunketville,away Wednesday, August 10, 2022, in Ida bel, Oklahoma. She was born March 1, 1954, to the late Carl Grogan and Car olyn Horstman Grogan in Berryville, Arkansas. She married Chris Bruce October 6, 1990, in Cove Arkansas. Karla was a loving and kind wife, daughter, sister, aunt and friend to KarlaAnnBruce many. She loved spending time with her family and crafting. Karla loved the Lord and was a member of Hatfield As sembly of God church for many years. She is preceded in death by her par ents, Carl and Carolyn Grogan. She is survived by her husband, Chris Bruce; sister, Sandra Broach and husband Ricky; brothers, John Grogan and wife Glenda; Jerry Grogan and wife Lau ra; Charles Grogan and wife Patti and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
services are entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena, Arkansas. It is with pro found sadness that the fami ly of Billy John Bates, age 88, of Mena, AR announce that he passed away Saturday, July 30th, surrounded by his loving family. Bill was born November 20th, 1933, to Luther and Vida Esther Bates in Black Springs, AR. He was well known as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses having dedicated his life and been baptized on January 2, 1971. He treasured his rela tionship with his heavenly father, Jeho vah, and spent much time teaching his children about Jehovah and sharing his faith with others. Bill married his beloved wife, Wanda, on March 28th, 1959, and together they raised five children. Bill was a very hard worker, dedicated and determined to provide for his family. He worked as BatesBillyJohn a mechanic here in Mena, operated heavy equipment in the copper mines of Arizona, sold sewing machines in Kansas, and performed various other jobs along the way. But eventually the family returned to Mena, and Bill start ed his career of drilling water wells. Bill enjoyed many hobbies through out his life, including cars, drag racing, gardening, spending time with fami ly and friends, eating good food, and playing music. Bill learned to play the guitar at an early age but was in later years better known for his fiddling. He passed this love of music on to his chil dren and grandchildren, all of whom have wonderful memories of listening to Bill play and sing with his son, Steve, his cousin, Billie, and many other friends along the way. If you knew Bill, you know he also loved his westerns, and could often be found watching them with his beloved dog, Little Odie. Bill was a generous and loyal friend, an entertainer, and often told wonder ful stories about his life and history. He was full of advice, whether solicited or not. He was a loving grandfather, and he will never be forgotten but forever remembered and missed by his family andBillfriends.wassurvived by his wife, Wan da, his son Steve (wife Kim, children Brandon, Kaylyn, and Kyle); daughter Brenda (husband Michael, children Stacie, Amber, Chelsea, and Celorah) daughter Aneta (husband Duane, chil dren Drew and Aubrey) daughter Lin da (husband Chad, children Trace and Dylan) and son, Mark (wife Liz, chil dren Danielle, Katie, Lane, Walker, and Gray) a sister, Kathleen Herndon, and thirteenMemorialgreat-children.servicesfor Bill will be held Saturday, August 13th at 2:00 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 1509 S Reine St., Mena, AR 71953.
Benly homefullypassedTownsendDonpeaceinhisonAu gust 8, 2022, at 87 years old, surround ed by his family. He was born on Jan uary 19, 1935, to John William and Clara Townsend in Van Zandt County, Texas. Benly was the youngest of eight children. He married Janell Johnston on October 31, 1953, in Vandervoort, Arkansas. Together they had Cindy (David Davis) and Michael Townsend. Six grandchildren: Dustin, Devon, and Ethan Davis along with Benly, Bailey and Blair Townsend. He is also sur vived by nine great-grandchildren and honorary granddaughter, Brooke Fer guson. The family would like him to be remembered for his relentless work ethic and joking nature. No services are planned at this time.
The Western Arkansas Plan ning & Development District (WAPDD) announced a $190,416 grant to be awarded to The Me na-Polk County Senior Center. Some of the grant will be uti lized to purchase two Ford Transit Connect Vans and one Jeep Ren egade Sport 4x4. These vehicles will be for the Meals On Wheels program, allowing the center to deliver food to those who have a difficult time leaving their home. The Senior Center will also up grade their existing coolers and purchase a new 10’x10’ outdoor freezer.TheFacebook announcement stated, “None of this would have been possible without the sup port and approval for the grant through the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, thank you for the continued support for our communities and state!”
Auditions for OLT’s ‘Silas Marner’
Auditions will be held at the theatre on Tuesday, August 30, from 6 - 8 p.m., and Thursday, September 1, also from 6 - 8 p.m. The third day of auditions will be Saturday, September 3, from 9 a.m. - noon. Performance dates will be the last two weekends of October, in cluding Oct. 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30. The director has numerous roles for men of all ages, several roles for young women, and one for a more mature woman.
The Mena-Polk County Senior Center awarded major grant
8 THE POLK COUNTY PulseAugust 17, 2022News
Submitted by Julie Ulmer Coming off two successful performanc es this summer, Ouachita Little Theatre is announcing the next production. It will be based on an original script writ ten by our director, Brad Storey. He states, “Our fall play will be the story of Silas Marner. I’ve adapted the orig inal novel into a stageplay for OLT; it’s something I’ve always wanted to write. The play is neither a musical nor a com edy, and it’s certainly not a tragedy. It’s a beautiful story about a man’s life with a bit of mystery and a deeply moving portrayal of how a surprising gift can come to someone, bringing them out of loneliness to the greatest joy. I hope you’ll come see it.”
Polk County Extension Office offers ServSafe Manager Course
Submitted by Bridgett Martin ServSafe has been the industry standard since 1919 in training millions of people how to receive, store, prepare, and serve food safe ly. Through the Cooperative Exten sion Service, we offer training and certifications for the ServSafe Food Handler, ServSafe Manager, and ServSafe Instructor & Proctor pro grams. The Arkansas Department of Health is now requiring each food service facility to have at least one supervisory employee who has Certified Food Manager training. A ServSafe Certified Food Man ager Course will be offered on Oc tober 27-28, 2022 at the Polk Coun ty Extension Education Building lo cated at 211 DeQueen Street, Mena, AR. The training will take place from 8:30 am-12:00 pm on October 27 and 28, with the review and test on Monday, October 31. The course will cost $140 for New Managers and $60 for re-certifications. The course cost pays for the book and the exam. Participants who pass the exam will receive a ServSafe Food Manager Certification good for five years. All participants must pre-register and pay by October 1, 2022. Class size is limited. Once the Servsafe books are distributed, they are non-refundable. If you have any questions or would like to register, please con tact the Polk County Extension Of fice at 479-394-6018 or stop by our office at 211 DeQueen Street, Mena, ARThis71953.workshop is open to all eligi ble persons without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gen der, age, disability, marital or veter an status, or any other legally pro tected status. Persons who require ADA accommodation, language and/or interpretation services for your Servsafe course instruction, and/or examination should notify the county Polk County Extension office as soon as possible prior to theTheactivity.University of Arkansas Sys tem Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/af firmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommoda tion to participate or need materials in another format, please contact your local County Extension office as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Ar kansas Relay.
Town of Hatfield Linda Denton Mayor 8/4/22
City of Mena Seth Smith Mayor 8/3/22
Larry Denton City Council, Position 2 8/4/22
David Chote City Council, Position 4 8/9/22
Final Polk County municipal candidate filings for 2022
Name Position Date of Filing Name Position Date of Filing
Town of Vandervoort Terisia Hartley Mayor 8/5/22
Stephanie Murr City Clerk/Treasurer 8/3/22
Kacie Rose City Clerk/Treasurer 8/8/22
Town of Cove Joan Headley Mayor 8/3/22
Robert A. Hartley Alderman, Position 1 8/5/22
Jason Boyette Alderman, Position 2 8/5/22
Lawana D. Callahan City Council, Position 3 8/10/22
Linda Gillaspy Alderman Position 2 8/3/22
Mary Ferguson Alderman Position 3 8/3/22
Brittany Phillips Alderman, Position 4 8/5/22
Patrick McDaniel City Attorney 8/9/22
NONE Alderman, Position 1 Chris Frachiseur Alderman, Position 2 8/5/22
Rick McKenzie Alderman, Position 5 8/5/22
Deborah K Neal Alderman, Position 3 8/5/22
Billy Richardson Alderman, Position 4 8/5/22
Pulse August 17, 2022 9 THE POLK COUNTY Politics
Mary Alice Head City Council, Ward 2, Position 2 8/4/22
Boyd S. Smith City Council, Position 3 8/3/22
Polk County political happenings
Dwight Douglas City Council, Ward 2, Position 1 8/3/22
Darris Burk City Council, Position 5 8/3/22
Bryce Brower Alderman, Position 5 8/5/22
Janet Henry City Council, Position 1 8/9/22
• Cynthia Thanos-Wade an nounced that if you need a voter registration form mailed to you, message her noswade/.Facebook.com/cynthia.thathrough
Barbara Vallee Recorder/Treasurer 8/9/22
Larry S. Stewart City Council, Ward 3, Position 2 8/5/22
Maricela Avila Alderman Position 4 8/3/22
Stanley Craig City Council, Ward 1, Position 2 8/9/22
Barbara Frachiseur Recorder/Treasurer 8/5/22
Larry R. Watkins Alderman Position 1 8/3/22
NOTICE: Voting for municipal candidates will take place on the general election ballot November 8, and throughout early voting.
Election Day is Tuesday, Novem berDue8. to the voter registration deadline being Sunday, October 9, the deadline will advance to the fol lowing business day, Monday, Octo berIn10.other party news:
Diane Garcia City Council, Position 5 8/4/22
• Two representatives from the Democratic Party of Polk County, David Ray and JoLee Erickson, attended the 2022 Democratic Party of Arkansas State Convention, held August 13 in Conway.
Town of Wickes Melinda Kight Mayor 8/3/22
Tracy Morris Recorder/Treasurer 8/3/22
Andy Brown City Council, Ward 3, Position 1 8/3/22
Michael Callahan Recorder/Treasurer 8/10/22 Paige Self City Council, Position 1 8/3/22
Town of Grannis Dwight Billings Mayor 8/5/22
James Earl Turner City Council, Ward 1, Position 1 8/5/22
By Ethan Nahté The political season is ramping up as party members and candidates make the rounds before the general election.Please notice, if you are announc ing your candidacy, please keep submission to 450 words or less, and include a high resolution photo. Early voting begins Tuesday, Oc tober 4, between the hours of 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., Monday - Friday, and 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday. Early vot ing will end at 5 p.m. on Monday, November 7.
Nicholas Phillips Alderman, Position 3 8/5/22
Katherine Chambers Alderman Position 5 8/3/22
• Both the Republican and Democratic parties have an nounced they will have booths at the Polk County Fair, August 31-September 3. At press time, Rep. Mark Lowery (R) is con firmed to be in attendance.
Charlotte Crump City Council, Position 2 8/9/22
Danker Mize City Council, Position 4 8/9/22
Terri Neugent City Council, Ward 1, Position 2 8/3/22
Samantha Boyette Recorder/Treasurer 8/5/22
Kevin Burkett Mayor 8/10/22
plained to his disciples, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’”ThePharisees didn’t like that Jesus asso ciated with sinners. Why were they so up set? Why were they unwilling to associate with them? We find the answer in the story of the older brother found in Luke 15. In this parable, the older brother represents the Pharisees, who grumbled at Jesus’ re ception of sinners. In the story, the older brother is working in the fields when his younger brother, “the sinner,” returns. The older brother does not know of his young er brother’s return until he hears happy sounds coming from the house. He be came outraged and refused to join the par ty. When the father came out to ask him to join in, the older son refused. We find the story in Luke 15:29 (MEV), “But he answered his father, ‘Look! These many years have I served you. Nor have I ever transgressed your commands, yet never have you given me a goat, so that I might be merry with my friends.’” The old er brother was at work in the field when his younger brother, “the sinner,” returned home. He thought his works were the basis for obtaining his father’s love. This empha sis on works was the error of the Pharisees. They were hard at work, keeping the law as they interpreted it, thinking it would win God’s approval and blessing.
The older brother continues complain ing to his father in Luke 15:30 (MEV), “But when this son of yours came, who has de voured your living with harlots, you killed the fattened calf for him.” This complaint is the flip side of the first complaint. Because the older brother expected a reward for his work, he expected his younger brother to be disowned because of his lack of work.
The father answered in Luke 15:31-32 (MEV), “He said to him, ‘Son, you are al ways with me, and all that I have is yours. But it was fitting to be merry and be glad, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” The father was not celebrating because of the younger brother’s sins but because of his return. The older brother not only failed to comprehend grace, but he resented it. His self-righteousness is so intense that he resents the grace of God and refuses to re joice in Gentleit.Reader, don’t be an older brother. Don’t resent the grace that God so freely offers to others. I challenge you today to see all people the way Jesus sees them, peo ple to associate with and love. Remember that Jesus throws a party whenever one of his lost sheep comes home, and he wants you to join the party.
By Richie Lawry
wife and her nieces were very successful. It is satisfying to be able to pull off a good Everyonesurprise.lovesa good party. Even the Bible loves a party. One of my favorite chapters in the Bible is Luke 15; I call it the party chapter. It is Luke’s account of three parables, each describing a lost item that is found and a party that was held to share the joy and happiness of finding the lost item.The audience for these stories were the Pharisees, who were complaining about Jesus’ lifestyle and his welcoming of tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees used the term “sinners” for any people they felt were not following Jewish law properly or had questionable occupations. Foreigners or anyone they felt were beneath them were re ferred to as erstheiseesthesays,the32Lukethem.atethemreceivedsus,ingwereoutcastsreligioussocialThesesinners.andcomtoJeandheandwithIn5:30-(NIV),Bible“ButPharandteachofthelawwhobelongedtotheirsectcom
Terry and Bunny Boyd at their 50th wedding anniversary party (Photo by Regina Lawry)
Joke of the Week:
An Arkie’s Faith The teal envelope
10 THE POLK COUNTY PulseAugust 17, 2022Faith
Accordion to a recent study, 7 out of 10 people don’t notice when a word in a sentence is replaced with a musical instrument. Replacing windshields in Polk County for forty years. Give Richie a call at 479-394-9938 Located at 3008 Hwy 71 South
After checking the price of an airline ticket, my wife was ready to back out. Pric es had risen a couple of hundred dollars since her last trip to Oregon. But we decid ed that she should go. How often can you attend your sister’s 50th wedding anniver sary? Once we purchased the ticket, my wife had an idea she thought would make the trip more fun. She envisioned keeping her plans a secret from her sister and sur prising her by just walking into her house. The more my wife thought about it, the more she wanted to try to pull it off. To make her surprise work, she need ed the help of her nieces. As her plan de veloped, she decided that the best way to surprise her sister would be for her niec es to arrange a family get-together at a restaurant on the evening her flight land ed in Portland. Her niece picked her up at the airport, and when they arrived at the restaurant, my wife waited outside un til she was sure that her sister was in the restaurant. Then as her niece was filming, my wife strolled in and walked beside the table. Her niece said, “Oh look, my sister is here. Or maybe it’s yours.” After a squeal of delight, her sister said, “How did you do that?” Her niece answered for her, “She had a little help from her nieces.”AsI sit at my com puter writ ing this article, my wife is ning,ininvolvedpleeralwhenatoIt’smarriage.50celebratenyandastheenjoyingOregon,inpartyTerryBunBoydyearsofnoteasypulloffsurprisesevpeoaretheplanbutmy
The teal envelope stood out from the white envelopes of the bills, credit card of fers, and an “urgent notice” from a health insurance company. When we opened the envelope, there was a card with beautiful branches and green and teal leaves cov ering the top third. Below the leaves, the card proclaimed, “We do, again. Celebrat ing 50 years of marriage.” My wife’s sister from Oregon was renewing her vows and celebrating her 50th anniversary in a few weeks.Just a few days before the teal envelope came in the mail, my wife and I had rent ed a VRBO and finalized plans for a long weekend trip to the beach in Gulfport, Mississippi. As my wife was reading the in vitation, she said, “I wish we hadn’t made plans to go to the beach; I would really like to go to Oregon for my sister’s 50th.” After we discussed the situation for a few min utes, I said, “I wouldn’t be able to go, but why don’t we see what it would cost for you to fly out for the weekend.”
Pulse August 17, 2022 11 THE POLK COUNTY Letters Letter to the Editor In the Pulse dated 8/10/2022, was a letter to the editor from Cyn thia Thanos-Wade of Mena. I read her letter and though I normally do not respond, I cannot help but do so in this case. After surgery for a pacemaker and guidelines to follow, you chose to disregard. I am not a medical professional, but your headache may have been a blood pressure issue that you may want to watch in the future. To start your letter making yourself a victim of your poor decisions to put yourself at risk does not elicit sympathy. To ask why others have dropped out and your support has waned may answer your own question. To cast disparagement on Mena as a “Bible Belt” town shows your judgmental attitude towards the wonderful town I was born and raised in and call home. If you were maligning the Bible, shame on you. I respect all life no matter what stage it may be in. May I ask you, what, if given your recent medical procedure and age, there were younger people that felt your life had no value and an adult abortion was the answer? That they are not prepared to take care of you. Is that OK?Iapplaud your efforts to pass out condoms and to try to avert un wanted pregnancies to begin with. I am however, constantly amazed at the prevalence of STD’s and won der why their use is not more com mon or prudent. I wonder what liability your group may incur if one of those condoms fails. From my life’s experiences the result of poor decision making has consequences. You note that “maybe they never wanted children in the first place”. To follow that conclusion to its log ical end, I think by the time they reached the age to be sexually active, that surely, they know where babies come from and what causes them. I could not agree more that the importance of vot ing is an issue. No matter which way you vote, that you are informed and let our politicians know we are holding them accountable to do what we elected them to do is something we have failed to make a strong enough point of. I also agree that there should be a few exceptions allowing abortions such as rape, incest, or danger to the mother. We should be providing options to abortion and offer support to young mothers not prepared to bear the burden of raising a child. Adoption to me trumps abortion. Please know I intend you no dis respect but do disagree to some extent with your premise and point of view. I wish you a long life with your new pacemaker and only hope you find value in ALL life as much as your own. Having said that, it is what makes our Republic what it is, that we can peacefully disagree and work on solutions. As always, thank you for a forum to express my thoughts.RonaldGoss, Mena My argument against the death penalty is simple: 189 people have been exonerated and released from death row since 1973. 1,548 people have been execut ed in the U.S. since 1973. For every eight people executed, one person on death row has been exonerated.Ifaninnocent person is sentenced to life in prison, and the state later declares them exonerated, then that person is set free. However, if an innocent person is put to death, and later the state determines that person was truly
Donna Lay, Mena
Letter to the Editor
I’m writing in response to the is sue of train whistles. They blow their whistle for a reason. It’s to warn people of danger. Police & firetrucks run their sirens, it’s to warnDoesyou!this person want to not have any noise at all? I don’t know of any place like that. My husband grew up in a house about one block from the train tracks in town. When we married in 1977 the first house we lived in was about 1/2 block from a train track. My husband was used to it but I wasn’t. That first night we stayed at this house it felt like it was coming through the house! But I got used to it. Where we live now it’s about 3 miles (as the crow flies) from a train track. We still hear it but that’s fine. One of our neighbor’s have chicken houses, we can hear the fans run but we’re used to it. Does this person want to stop the fireworks in town? Should mo I Wish to give accolades to the members of the Quorum Court who did not take their position on the court to press for alcohol sales out in the county. Unlike the Mena City Council who chose personal preference, the court appeared to be leaving the decision to the vot ers. When that option is available, it should always be the first choice. Patsy Tarlton, Cove Letter to the Editor innocent there is no recourse to reverse the error. I would consider that the execution of an innocent person amounts to nothing better than state sponsored murder. As of January 1, 2022, there were 2,436 people on death row in the U.S. A study based on 30 years of data estimated that 4.1% of the people on death row are innocent of the crime for which they are sen tenced to death. That would mean that if all 2,436 people were execut ed the state would have killed 100 innocent people! Sincerely yours, Robert Tomlinson, Mena torcycles be banned? What about auto horns? What about the pickup trucks that take the mufflers off so they make noise? We have several pickup trucks that do that where we live.Just speaking my mind
Letter to the Editor
Photos by Ethan Nahté
12 THE POLK COUNTY PulseAugust 17, 2022Rodeo
Pulse August 17, 2022 THE POLK COUNTY
Nimble Thimbles Quilt Guild will meet at the Extension Education Build ing, 211 Dequeen St., Monday, August 22, 1 - 4 p.m. It will be a work day to catch up sewing blocks and sew comfort quilts. Bring sewing machines or plan to help press sewn blocks and line up pieces for those who are sewing. There will not be a new pattern this month. It’s easy to have your event listed in Around Town, which will be read on radio stations KENA and KQOR daily. Simply send your Around Town an nouncement to news@mypulsenews.com or call (479) 243-9600 and let us know about your event! To have it in the Polk County Pulse newspaper, we need to know by FIVE on FRIDAY. We look forward to con tinuing to serve the community!
All entries into the Polk Coun ty Fair that will isteredtered/regpre-enmayBuildingucationinshowcasedbetheEdbeatthe following link: http:// polkar.fairwire.com/.Thispre-registration ends at 11:59 p.m. Wed, Aug. 17. Exhibitors are strongly encouraged to pre-register online.After Aug. 17, all entries must be brought to the Education Building Tuesday, Aug. 30, or Wednesday, Aug. 31. No late entries will be urday,fairdayatherevolunteers,day,onafteraccepted10a.m.WednesAug.31.Also,Fairwillbeclean-upattheonSatAu
Fair entry registration and clean-up
Around Town
gust 20 at 8 a.m. followed by training at 11 a.m. If you would like to volun teer to check in exhibits for the fair, please attend the training. Training will be held at the education building at the fairgrounds.
Hatfield First Baptist Church “Shepherd’s Closet” Open Wednesdays, 10 a.m. - Noon. Large selection of good, used clothing & a limited supply of non-perish able food items. Free to anyone in need.
The Polk County Housing Authority has Rental Vouchers available. They are also in need of Applicants and Landlords. Contact them at 509 S. Morrow, Mena, (479) 394-1565 or polkarhousing. com Alcoholics Anonymous meet at The Crossing Church, 3 p.m., Sundays; at 5 p.m., Tuesdays; and at 8 p.m. Saturdays at the old bus barn. For information call (479) 234-8366 or (479) 216-3786.
The Cossatot Senior Center in Wickes has re-opened. All meals and activ ities have reverted to their original schedules. If you need to make delivery arrange ments or changes call (870) 385-2373.
The Polk County Growth & Advancement Committee meets every Wednesday at 5 p.m. at The Ouachitas located at 821 Mena Street. All interested community members are invited to attend.
GriefShare continues to meet every Thursday from 10 a.m. - noon at First Presbyterian Church Mena for anyone in the community who is grieving the loss of a loved one.
14 THE POLK COUNTY PulseAugust 17, 2022News
Narcotics Anonymous meet at 7 p.m., Monday; at 7 p.m., Thursday; at 7 p.m. Friday; and at 6 p.m. Saturday at the old bus barn at the Crossing Church. For information call Erica at (479) 216-7249.
The Mena/Polk County Senior Center will have The Gator and Friends band performing in Mena every Thursday, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. The Center will also start having an exercise class on Mondays and Thursdays, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Contact Trena Looney with questions, (479) 394-5459.
Board Camp Baptist Church will distribute food to anyone in need at 107 Polk 63 on Thursday, August 18, 10 a.m. - noon. The church is located at the corner of Hwy. 8 E and Polk 63, approxi mately nine miles east of Mena.
Submitted by Ann Glenn and Deb bie Thompson
American Legion meets every 2nd Tuesday at the Legion Hall in Acorn. Potluck at 6 p.m., meeting follows. Come play Bingo, Saturdays and Mon days, starts at 6 p.m., doors open at 4 p.m. Reynolds Gardner Community Men’s Breakfast every Tuesday, First United Methodist Church, Mena, 8:00 a.m. (full breakfast for small donation). All men from the community are invited to attend. Alcoholics Anonymous meet at 8 p.m. Fridays at the First United Methodist Church, 9th & Port Arthur. Discussion/Book Study for information call (479) 243-0297.
Pulse August 17, 2022 15 THE POLK COUNTY Humor
Hogspore News: A doghouse gets mighty cold in February
When I explained to him he can’t buy beer us ing food stamps, he didn’t believe me. He onlyingJimmygossipspreadpromptlytown,everyoneaskedinwhotheaboutbepoorandconcernedabout
I sez, hoo.comContact“Nopeski.”atBobsimpson1947@ya.Youknowyouwanna.
By Clet Litter as told to Bob Simpson Jimmy Suspenders is starting a lawn care service, so he won’t have to work in the winter. This all start ed cause of something he told me a few weeks ago. He said, “I need to find more work. I gotta cash flow problem. Sara makes a pretty fair income, but she’s got the attitude of most smart women. What’s hers is hers, and what’s mine is hers too. Every wife thinks that way. Once she finds out what’s mine is noth ing, she’s gonna be committing some domestic psychological abuse, with maybe a few playful jabs to my stomach.“That’s why I applied for food stamps to soften the blows, but I only got 20.00 dollars a month. At least it’s enough for a case of beer and a small bag of beef jerky.”
buying beer. I gotta give him credit. He come up with the idea of mowing lawns for a liv ing before the word got back to Mrs. Suspenders’ ears. Jimmy reported this morning, “She’s happy with the yard cutting notion. Anything to get me out of the house all day and make me too tired at night to bother her. She didn’t like the sug gestion of me being in the house all winter, so she bought me heavy-dutya snow shovel and ordered me to offer snow shoveling in the winter. “Then, she reminded me how cold it can get in the doghouse in Febru ary. Her dog can sleep in the people place in the winter and there’s an air conditioner for the dog’s com fort in his outdoor summer retreat. That makes the canine igloo kennel available for a shiftless goldbricking husband.”Isez,“I mighty glad to see it worked out and she ain’t mad at you.” We were sitting outside on my truck tailgate and he got up to leave. I noticed he was moving kinda slow. I asked him about it. He said, “I told you that Sara’s not mad. I shoulda added, not mad any more. She did give me a few playful jabs in the stomach. Hey Clet, You gotta Brewski?”
• The Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone was expanded to include Ashley, Bradley, Ran dolph and Union counties after detection of CWD-positive deer within 10-miles of these counties.
• Any deer, turkey or bear killed by vehicle collision must be reported to the AGFC Radio Room (800482-9262) before it may be taken into possession.
“Many programs the AGFC promotes, such as Archery in the Schools, Project WILD, and Fishing in the Natural State, can be funded through these grants,” Kinion said. “But they can also be used to purchase equipment unique to con servation education and even help offset the costs of field trips to AGFC nature centers, hatcheries and other outdoors learningKinionopportunities.”saysallAGFC nature centers are free to the public, and through these education grants, educators can even use funds to help offset some travel ex penses to get the kids to their learning destination.Moreinformation on the program, a link to the application site, and a coun ty-by-county list of grant money is avail able at life-education-grant.Rural-Services/division/grants/wildhttps://www.arkansasedc.com/
“Each year, we look forward to part nering with AGFC and together sup porting the students of our state by en hancing access to conservation educa tion,” Secretary Mike Preston said. “Our communities, our students and our economy benefit when children have abundant opportunity to experience just how much Natural State has to offer.”
AGFC Chief of Education Tabbi Kin ion says the grants can significantly en hance learning opportunities for youth, especially in rural areas of Arkansas.
• Modern Gun — Nov. 12 In addition, this season’s Special Youth Modern Gun Hunts are Nov. 5-6 and Jan. Private7-8Land Antlerless-only Mod ern Gun Hunt — Dec. 29-31 Visit agfc.com/guidebooks for down loadable versions of all AGFC hunting and fishing regulations guidebooks. AGFC and AEDC grant In other news, the Arkansas Econom ic Development Commission’s (AEDC) Division of Rural Services announced August 15 that it will award $808,146.04 to Arkansas schools and educators to support conservation education pro grams in the 2022-23 school year. Funds for these grants come from wildlife fines collected by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC).
• Muzzleloader — Oct. 1
• Other changes include one that now requires a valid hunting or fishing license, or an AGFC camping permit, to camp on AG FC-owned wildlife management areas.
16 THE POLK COUNTY PulseAugust 17, 2022Outdoors 8/22Golf - Cossatot @ Hope 8/18Golf - Mena @ Arkadelphia 8/22 - Mena @ Fountain Lake 8/18Soccer-UARM @ Coffeyville Community College (Men and Women) 8/22 UARM @ University of the Ozarks (Men)
• In addition, bear archery season in Bear Zones 1 and 2 open seven days earlier than deer archery sea son.
• Trail cameras on WMAs must have the owner’s contact information visibly affixed.
AGFC Hunting Guidebook for 2022 has important changes
• Guiding while under the influence is now Additionalillegal.changes were made to some wildlife management areas as well as changes that impact waterfowl hunters, which will be highlighted in the 2022-23 Waterfowl Hunting Guide book available this fall. And finally—we know this is the important part—Statewide 2022 Deer Season Opening Days are as follows:
• Archery — Sept. 24
• Modern Gun Bear Hunting is now allowed in Bear Zones 3 and 4 through a limited quota hunt. Zone 2 encompasses northern Se vier and Howard Counties as well as all of Polk. Southern Sevier and all of Little River are in Zone 3, which historically has prohib ited the hunting of bears. That, however, changed following new AGFC regulations passed this spring. See tails.big-game/bear/bearzonesagfc.com/en/hunting/ forde
By Patrick Massey The latest edition of the Arkansas Hunting Guidebook is at the printer and will begin to appear in sporting goods stores throughout the state this month. You don’t have to wait to catch up on this year’s regulations. A down loadable version of the guidebook is available now at agfc.com for people who want to take a sneak peek or save a digital copy to their phones. Some notable changes that are high lighted in this year’s guidebook include:
AEDC awards conservation educa tion grants to schools in the same coun ties where the fines are collected. Any school or conservation district in Ar kansas may apply through Oct. 27, 2022.
17 THE POLK COUNTY Pulse August 17, 2022 Puzzles
- YARD SALETrain Station Antiques immediate emer gency sale, $18,000. Everything in the build ing included—antiques, display shelves, and more. 521 Sherwood, blue building behind Mena train depot, next to De Queen Apart ments. Call Tom or Tim (479) 234-3578 or (479) 394-3509. T0817
18 THE POLK COUNTY PulseAugust 17, 2022Classifieds
- FOR SALEEstate sale Saturday, August 20th, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Very nice lamps, furniture, table and chairs, outside grill, outside furniture for sale. Almost end of Ransom Road, 112 Peaceful Lane. Mary Dixon (479) 234-3335. T0817
CLASSIFIEDS - SERVICESLand Management, Tree Service, RC Customz can handle your construction needs, mulching and more. Military discounts available. Insured. Call (479) 216-2976 for Free estimate. T0831 Tree services, storm cleanup, stump grinding. Signs and light replacement. Give RC Customz a call at (479) 216-2976 for Free estimate. T0831 Mena Shuttle - Ground transportation to AR and TX airports. Doctor and emergen cy appointments. Also, light deliveries. (870) 490-1191 T0817 Wendell’s Tree Service - Tree Removal and Trimming. Experienced and fully insured for ALL your tree-trimming needs. Call (479) 394-0227 or (479) 216-4328. T0921 Mobile lawnmower repair and repair flats. Minimum, $20 service call. For details, call Bill Duff (479) 216-5204. T0817
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, call 9-11.
cial-session-successes/.news-media/weekly-address/spehttps://governor.arkansas.gov/MP3ly radio address canHutchinson’s weekbefoundinformatanddownloaded:
Arkansas motorists will begin to see more Arkansas State Troopers, sheriff’s deputies and local police on patrol later this week. The in creased presence of law enforce ment officers on state highways and local roads is part of a joint mis sion with the U.S. Department totrationSafetyNationalTransportation’sofHighwayAdminis(NHTSA)stopimpaireddriving.BeginningFriday,August 19, law enforcement agencies across the country will step-up patrols through the remainder of the summer and during the upcoming Labor Day holiday that ends on September 6. Drivers should always remember, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
19 THE POLK COUNTY Pulse August 17, 2022 News
Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address Special Session successes
End of summer patrols aimed at impaired drivers
LITTLE ROCK – Today [August 12] I’d like to talk about the excel lent position our state is in to pro vide additional financial relief for Arkansans.InDecember, we cut nearly $500 million in taxes which was the larg est tax cut in Arkansas history. This gave the people of Arkansas some financial relief and continued my promise of cutting taxes for every one.But as the cost of living contin ues to go up, Arkansans need more money in their pockets now. Be cause of the work we have done to be more efficient in state gov ernment, we have created a record surplus in the last fiscal year, and it is clear the state is collecting more than it needs. This gives us the abil ity to provide financial relief in a time when Arkansans need it most. Just eight months later, I have signed into law an acceleration of the historic December cuts while also signing into law funding for a new grant program to help schools better protect our children. With the support of the Arkansas General Assembly, we have been able to lower the individual tax rate to 4.9%, which will save taxpayers a total of $295 million just this year. In 1929, the state income tax was at 5.0%. In 2014, the state income tax was at its highest level at 7%, but our reserves were empty. Less than eight years later, we will have the lowest income tax in state history since its creation, all while having more than $2 billion in state re serves. We also created a $150 non refundable tax credit for low- and middle-income Arkansans, saving taxpayers another $156 million this year.This means the total individual tax relief this year alone is more than $400 million. My other goal for this special ses sion was to ensure our children are protected in their schools. When parents drop their children off at school, they want to have confi dence their children are going to be safe. I proposed we transfer $50 million from the state surplus for the purpose of a school safety grant program. The General Assembly concurred with this plan. At the beginning of the month, the Arkansas School Safety Com mission presented an interim re port to me highlighting recommen dations for schools to ensure the best protections for our children. With this grant program, we can provide funding for school districts to increase security measures on their campuses. This will benefit all schools, but especially those who need the most help meeting the rec ommendations.Iapplaudthework of the General Assembly for putting more money back into the pockets of Arkansans and for ensuring schools have the proper resources to keep our chil drenGovernorsafe.
Statistical reports from NHTSA indicate 11,654 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2020 that involved an alcohol impaired driver. On average, more than 10,000 peo ple were killed each year from 2016 to 2020, and one person was killed in a drunk driving crash every 45 minutes in 2020. “We want Arkansans to under stand it’s our first priority to keep people safe,” said Colonel Bill Bry ant, Director of the Arkansas State Police and the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative. “No one gets a free pass; drunk drivers go to jail.” Planning ahead, before the festiv ities or travel begins, can eliminate the risk of injury, death or someone being placed in jail. The Arkansas Highway Safety Office recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:
• If you know someone who is about to drive or operate a motorcycle or any other vehicle while impaired, take their keys and help them make other ar rangements to get to their destina tion safely.
• Designate a sober driver or plan to use pub lic transporta tion. Consider a ride service to get home safely.
• Always buckle up. A seat belt is your best defense against the drunk driver.“We need commitment from all motorists they will keep our road ways free of drunk drivers so that everyone can travel safely. Increased patrols are part of an awareness ef fort to get the message out that drunk driving is illegal, and it can be deadly,” said Colonel Bryant. “It’s a partnership between law enforce ment and drivers. Help us protect all roadway users and put an end to this senseless behavior”. For more information on impaired driving, visit
ing preventableZeroabouttycallgov/risky-driving/drunk-drivinghttps://www.nhtsa. ortheArkansasHighwaySafeOfficeat501-618-8136.LearnArkansas’ongoingTowardDeathscampaigntoeliminatetrafficfatalitiesbyvisitwww.TZDArkansas.org/.
August 9
A traffic stop on Polk 37 near Potter led to the arrest of Richard Cheshire, 60 of Mena on a Felony Warrant for Possession of Methamphetamine with Purpose to Deliver. Information has been forwarded to the Prosecuting Attorney for further consideration.Deputieswere dispatched to a resi dence on Pebble Lane near Board Camp in reference to a verbal altercation. Deputies responded to a residence on Polk 4 near Grannis in reference to a sto len trailer. Polk County Sheriff’s Office worked 0 vehicle accidents this week.
The following information was received from Polk County law enforcement agencies. The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts. Individuals charged and whose names appear in this column may submit documentation to us at a later date that the charges have been dismissed, or that they have been found innocent, and we will include that information in this space in a timely manner.
August 7 Colton Phillips, 22, was charged with DWI, Refuse to Submit to Alco hol Test, Fleeing in a Vehicle, Reckless Driving, Driving Left of August 7 Colton Phillips, 22, was charged with DWI, Refuse to Submit to Alco hol Test, Fleeing in a Vehicle, Reckless Driving, Driving Left of Center, and Improper Passing after an attempted traffic stop on Pine Avenue.
MENAREPORTSPOLICE
August 13 Joseph Lucas, 18, and Ryan Hill, 22, were both charged with Disorderly Conduct after a disturbance call to Executive Inn. Police August 12, 2022 Deputies responded to a residence on Davis Street near Hatfield leading to the arrest of Joshua Heifner, 20 of Hatfield on a charge of Public Intoxication. August 13, 2022 Deputies were dispatched to a resi dence on Polk 181 near Acorn in refer ence to an unwanted person on the prop erty. August 14, 2022
August 11, 2022
Deputies responded to a walk-in com plainant in reference to harassment.
POLK SHERIFF’SCOUNTYLOG
Elijah Williams, 21, was charged with Theft at Walmart. August 8 A report of criminal mischief was taken at a residence on Jerry Lee Drive.Kathleen Suire, 36, was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia af ter a traffic stop on Reine Street.
August 8, 2022 A traffic stop on Hwy 71 near Mena led to the arrest of Chad Goutierez, 29 of Metairie, LA on charges of Public Intox ication, Driving on a Suspended Driver’s License and Possession of Drug Para phernalia.LarryJoseph, 44 of Mena was arrested on a Felony Probation Violation Warrant. Deputies responded to a walk-in com plainant in reference to a Violation of an Order of Protection. Information has been forwarded to the Prosecuting At torney for further consideration.
August 9, 2022 No reports. August 10, 2022 Zachary Smith, 37 was arrested for Contempt of Court. Donnie Jennings, 44 of Mena was ar rested by an officer with the Arkansas State Police to be held for another agency.
20 THE POLK COUNTY PulseAugust 17, 2022
Arthur Shurley, 71, was charged with Dog Running at Large after a complaint on Reeves Avenue. Bobby May, 34, was charged with Violation of a Protection Order and served with a warrant after a distur bance call to a residence on Hickory Avenue. A report of financial identity fraud was taken from a walk-in com plainant. August 10 Donavan Hunt was served with a warrant after a traffic stop on 4th Street.Abri Evangelista, 18, was charged with Theft at Walmart. Mark Lewis, 45, and Misty Lewis, 45, were both charged with Disorder ly Conduct after a disturbance call to a residence on 10th Street. August 11 A report of a dog bite was taken at a residence on Valley View Drive. August 12 A report of contributing to the de linquency of a minor was taken after a traffic stop on Dallas Avenue. A report of a missing person was taken from a walk-in complainant. A report of battery, criminal mis chief and disorderly conduct was tak en at RobertChiquita’s.Heath, 38, was served with a warrant at the police department.
Polk County Detention Center Jail Population: 19 Incarcerated Inmates, with 12 Inmates currently on the Waiting List for a State Facility.
Mena Ag Department expanding
Polk County District Judge Danny Thrailkill swears in new Mena Police reserve officers Tuesday, August 16. (l-r) Elicia Field, Jimmy Self and Keith Saltkill. (Jodi Croft/Pulse) Mena Parks Department, along with the Mena Water Department, plumbed the new lines and did the ground work prepping for the new restrooms on both the northeast (pictured) and southwest sides of Janssen Park. (Ethan Nahté/Pulse) / Installing the new restrooms Tuesday morning. (Jodi Croft/Pulse)
Submitted by Mark Hobson
The Mena Fire Department is pleased to announce that Mena Volunteer Fire fighter Captain Eric Turner has filled the position as full-time firefighter following the June 2022 retirement of Captain Tom Hairston. Turner got involved in the fire ser vice at an early age. He would respond with his father to fire calls leading to an interest in becoming a firefighter. Turner joined the Shaw Volunteer Fire Department in central Arkansas at the age of 18, where he served 9 ½ years. In 2003, Turner joined the ranks of the Mena Fire Department upon mov ing back home continuing his dedi cated service as a volunteer firefighter. Turner has 28 years’ experience in the fireTurnerservice.and his wife Emily have two children, Emma (17) and Jacob (10). They like to go camping, boating, jeep ing, hunting, fishing, and love spending time together as family. Eric says, “Being a career firefighter has been my life’s goal and dream, and I am honored to serve the wonderful community of Mena.”
New reserve officers inducted
Pulse August 17, 2022 21 THE POLK COUNTY Community Turner newest Mena full-time firefighter
The Mena Agriculture Science De partment recently received approval to procure some of the school’s property to utilize as a natural resource labo ratory for the Forestry and Wildlife Ecosystems, and Managing Natural Resources classes. Work is already underway in pre paring the lab for students to utilize during the upcoming school year We would like to thank the NRCS, Rich Mountain Conservation District for their assistance in getting this proj ect off the ground.
Submitted by Chief Steve Egger
Sgt. Dalton Myers of the Mena Police Department said, “The Polk County Sher iff’s Office has the SRO [School Resource Officer] throughout the county. They have two full time police officers this year in Mena. For the Mena Police Department, we’ll start setting up at Louise Durham.” Additionally, they will probably have an officer set up near the cross walks on Mor row Street, across from the Polk County Housing Authority and the Morrow Street Apartments, just down from the crossing at Dallas Avenue where an officer directs traffic and students. Myers said, “Safety is our main thing as a police department, especially in the mornings. We try to get at least one offi cer watching for speeders and people on their phones. We’re paying attention at the crosswalks.“AtLouis Durham Elementary, we don’t have any crosswalks over there.”
Myers wanted to remind drivers, “You can’t stop and impede traffic on Highway 8 or Sutherland, whichever name you want to call it. Louis Durham is a nightmare because there’s nowhere for the cars to go. We try to encourage drivers to get off in the parking lot or maybe make the block. It’s a blind corner. We try to keep an eye.” He also added, “There is no phone usage in a school zone and no speeding. When children are present, the speed limit’s 25 miles per Dependinghour.”on how many offenses a speeding driver may have in a school zone, the fines range from $25 - $250; pos sible jail time of one to 25 days; even the suspension of their driver’s license for up to six months.
Practicing bus and school zone safety
By Ethan Nahté Polk County schools are back in session beginning Monday, Au gust 22. You can bet that in addition to parents driving their children to school and buses being out and about, that law enforcement will also be on hand. It’s a time to be safety conscious while driving in school zones and in the proximity of school buses to keep children safe.
The parking lot at Louise Durham can fill up rather quickly when it is time for dropping off or picking up students. Not to mention, the school sits on a busy high way with a blind curve. “We encourage parents, especially at Louis Durham, to re ally pay attention and use common sense.”
22 THE POLK COUNTY PulseAugust 17, 2022Education
If found guilty and convicted of passing a school bus, the misdemeanor will result in a fine of no less than $250 and no more than $1,000 or confined in the county jail not to exceed 90 days, or both fined and imprisoned. It could also result in up to 400 hours of community service and a driver’s license suspension no less than 21 days and no more than one year.
§ 27-51-1001(d) reads a person who vi olates the provisions of § 27-51-1004 shall be fined not less than $500 nor more than $2,500.There are several other rules and fines, but what it boils down to is stop when the bus is stopped, watch for children, watch your speed, and pay close attention. Myers said, “We try to enforce a lot of the bus stopping and we ask people try to get a license plate tag and report that be cause it’s dangerous. Anything that has to do with a school bus, if I see you pass a school bus, I’ll get you.”
Remember: Flashing Red. Kids Ahead.
Bus Safety Drivers being inattentive or in a hurry are a danger in school zones, but also out on the highways and streets around school buses. Some drivers ignore the flashing lights and stop signs on a bus, either pass ing a bus from behind, oncoming, or turn ing.The Arkansas PTA (arkansaspta.org) has a page on school bus safety. It states School Buses keep an estimated 17.3 mil lion cars off roads that surround schools each morning. “Nearly 100,000 bus driv ers reported that 88,025 vehicles passed their buses illegally on a single day,” said National Association of State Direc tors of Pupil Transportation Services. One problematic area is on Morrow Street approaching Nidec. Not only are people ignoring the speed limit and bus signals, but the issue is compounded by the fact there is a shift change at Nidec close to the time school lets out, in creasing traffic both directions. Then there is the added traffic for the hospi tal, medical facilities orMyersUARM. said, “There’s a lot of prob lems up there we had to deal with last year. If a school bus stops to load or unload, the sign will come out, and there are flashing red lights on the front and back. You don’t move. You wait until the stop sign comes in off the bus. It doesn’t matter if you are behind it or you are meeting the bus, you should stop not less than 30 feet away.”
Wireless Devices When it comes to phones and other electronics in a school zone, Myers said, “The state actually changed the statute § 27-51-1605 regarding restrictions in a school zone. The minimum fine is $185, I think.”Nobody operating a motor vehicle can be on a wireless telecommunications de vice while operating a motor vehicle, including a motorcycle, when passing a school building or school zone during school hours when children are present and outside the building. Myers added, “Even hands-free, unless it’s an emergency. We use discretion and assess every situation, so you better have a very good excuse. It’s something we can’t tolerate in the school zones. We’ve got to keep the kids safe.”
Photographs or video footage recorded by an automated school bus safety camera can be admissible as evidence to a certain extent but not required for prosecution.
I don’t know for sure, but I have to think that the death of a king was the homecoming of a singer—a sing er saved by grace into a new life with his King. If so, Elvis Presley’s search was finally over as he moved from Graceland to the Promised Land.
Yes, a king had died but Elvis Pres ley never considered himself a king or “The King” as many referred to him. Gospel singer J.D. Sumner recalls a woman approaching the stage in Las Vegas with a crown sitting atop a pil low and Elvis asking her what it was. She answered, “It’s for you. You’re the King.” Elvis took her hand, smiled, and told her, “No, honey, I’m not the King. Christ is the King. I’m just a singer.”
his way into a 23-year future all the way to the top. In the years to come, Elvis Presley would openly acknowl edge that Marion Keisker was the first to see his potential. Elvis stated at an awards presentation in 1970, “She is the one who made it all possible. Without her I would not even be here.” Accounts from his closest friends and family indicate that Elvis never abandoned or rejected his Christian roots. They said he was a true believ er with a spiritual hunger in search of peace. Presley once stated, “All I want is to know the truth, to know and ex perience God. I’m a searcher, that’s what I’m all Throughoutabout.”his life, gospel music was his constant element of solace and escape in a world (and often a prison) of fame and fortune. The only Gram my Awards Elvis received were for three of his gospel records. According to his stepbrother, Elvis recommitted his life to Christ in December 1976 in the presence and with the prayers of evangelist Rex Humbard and his wife. As successful as he was, Elvis still would at times express doubts to those closest to him about his longevity and legacy. In several instances, Elvis asked if he would be remembered af ter he was gone. The response from one close friend was, “Yes....they will remember you, there’s no doubt about it.” Forty-five years have more than validated this reassurance to Elvis. His music lives on through over 700 re corded songs (16 number ones) heard over the airwaves, on CDs, cassettes, 8-track tapes, and vinyls. His perso na and charisma live on through his 33 movies and nearly 1,700 concerts. And, even in 2022, he is celebrated in a motion picture, which to-date is among the top 10 of the year.
Sam Phillips, owner of Sun Records, was on the lookout for unique talent, someone who could appeal to Black audiences as well as white. As he ex pressed it, “If I could find a white man who had the Negro sound and the Ne gro feel, I could make a billion dollars.”
Pulse August 17, 2022 23 THE POLK COUNTY History
By Jeff Olson This week I want to reflect on an event from history which many of us may remember and one which struck a deep blow within our culture. For ty-five years ago this week the “King of Rock and Roll” died at the age of 42 in his home in Memphis, Tennessee. Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Missis sippi, to Vernon and Gladys Presley. Elvis had an identical twin brother, Jesse Garon, who was delivered still born 35 minutes before his own birth. After Elvis’ birth, Gladys was close to death and was immediately taken to a local hospital. Jesse’s death would al ways deeply affect Elvis, leaving him with feelings of loneliness and guilt throughout his life. It was said that this loss was perhaps the singular strongest driving force in his life. Elvis’ mother reportedly told her son “He was living for two people.” His family attended an Assembly of God church, where Elvis found his first musical inspiration. Howev er, he would sometimes sneak off in the middle of the service to listen to the preaching and singing at a nearby Black church. While in grade school, after impressing his teacher with a rendition of “Old Shep,” he was en couraged to enter a singing contest at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy show in October 1945. This was his first public performance and he placed fifth. For his eleventh birthday, he received a guitar. Though he took some lessons, he was still too shy to want to sing in public again. When Elvis was 13, his family moved to Memphis. His grades in school were average, and those in mu sic were sometimes worse. His teacher told him he had no aptitude for music, but he set out to prove otherwise by bringing his guitar to school and sing ing during lunchtime. As a Hume’s High School senior, he competed in the school’s annual minstrel show, and that’s when his talent and popu larity began to be noticed locally. He later recalled that music was the only subject he ever failed, perhaps because he was not very interested in learning how to read music. In August 1953, he went to the Sun Records studio to record two songs as gifts for his mother. He recorded two additional songs the following Janu ary, but none garnered much atten tion. He also auditioned for a quartet and a local band, but he was told that he had no ear for harmony and that he would never make it as a singer.
Reflections from History and Faith: The Death of a King
Elvis Presley performing at the Rodeo grounds in Tucson Arizona, June 10, 1956.
Sometime in the afternoon or eve ning of August 16, 1977, I awoke from a much-needed sleep after a long shift on a forest fire in northern California. What I heard then was a radio pro gram paying tribute to Elvis Presley. I wasn’t sure just why, but I learned soon enough. It didn’t seem real at first—a world without Elvis... but then I realized that this world would never really be without Elvis Presley.
Marion Keisker, Phillips’ business partner, was so impressed by Presley from his earlier recordings that she re peatedly suggested to Phillips that he should bring him back in for another audition. In early July 1954, Phillips fi nally agreed and had Keisker call him. Phillips sent two of his favorite session musicians, guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, to meet with Elvis and report back to him with their as sessment. After talking and jamming with Presley, Moore told Phillips, “He didn’t knock me out, [but] the boy’s got a good voice.”
Phillips decided to schedule a re cording session with Presley for July 5. He had him sing as many songs as he knew, but it was only when Elvis un expectedly launched into “That’s All Right” with Moore and Black follow ing him with backup that things began to click and gel. Phillips knew this was what he’d been looking for, so he began taping. Upon playing the recording on his radio show, the phone calls start ed pour ing in and the rest, as they say, is asnotitudemusichadtoldwhohistory.Theboywashenoapandfutureasingersomehowsuccessfullysang
24 THE POLK COUNTY PulseAugust 17, 2022
