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Ashley Moore - General Manager

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Boys and girls! Listen!

If you do stupid stuff, sooner or later you are going to be caught.

If the police pull you over, exercise your RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT! (In other words, don’t let your alligator mouth overthrow your mockingbird butt!

Smile. Be nice. Answer the officer’s questions with “Yes, Sir/Mam or No, Sir/ Mam” unless he/she specifically asks for another response. DO NOT EXCUSE YOUR GUILT! You can do that later in court if you dare. In court you will most likely not take a beating unless you are stupid in there.

Nine times out of ten you will be warned not to repeat your behavior that got you pulled over and allowed to go on your way.

NEVER ARGUE WITH THE POLICE! They have training and tasers and batons and GUNS! YOU WON’T WIN! The time and place to argue is, again, IN COURT!

NEVER RUN! There are no good outcomes if you cause more trouble than you are worth. If you run, you are going to piss them off and you don’t want a pissed off police officer! Expect a punch or more if they catch up to you or they don’t just shoot you.

Want to share your opinion?

who turn, repent, and fall into the arms of Jesus. He is waiting.

Elaine Roth, Mena

The Bible states in Romans 1:18 that His Word speaks against ALL sin. It also gives us the solution for forgiveness of ANY and ALL sin… to repent and turn from it.

Because there is so much talk concerning the LGBTQ community, I felt to address the truth of God’s word, publicly, with our community. I first need to say that I have no malice or animosity toward the LGBTQ community. We are to love them as Christ loved them. And HE loves them SO much… to SUCH a GREAT extent…that HE is not willing to lie to them.

His Word speaks truth concerning the sin that occurs within the LGBTQ community in Romans 1:24-27. God’s love, mercy and forgiveness gives hope to those who are led astray… in no matter what sin they are in.

The Polk County Pulse welcomes letters to the Editor addressing any topic of interest to our readers. To be published, letters must not contain obscene or libelous language. Letters do not reflect the viewpoints or opinions of Pulse Multi-Media.

The letter must include a signature to be considered for publication. Signatures will NOT be held out by request. Letters will be restricted to 500 words. Any letters longer than 500 words will require purchase of advertising space.

The following contact information is required when the letter is submitted: NAME, AGE, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER.

Letters are published at the discretion of the Editor and Publisher.

The Polk County Pulse is the area’s premiere and fastest growing news publication. The Polk County Pulse is FREE and published weekly on Wednesdays, with a distribution of 8,000 and an estimated readership of 10,000. MyPulseNews.com has hundreds of visitors daily and KENA and KQOR have thousands of listeners hourly.

POLICY: The publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertisement at any time. All property rights, including any copyright interest, in any advertisement produced by Pulse Multi-Media and/or The Polk County Pulse using art work and/or typography furnished or arranged by Pulse Multi-Media and/or The Polk County Pulse shall be the property of Pulse Multi-Media and/or The Polk County Pulse. No such advertisement or any part thereof may be reproduced without the prior written consent of Pulse Multi-Media and The Polk County Pulse.

POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENTS: Advertisements of a political nature must be prepaid and must also include the name of the entity paying for the advertisement. If an entity other than the candidate the advertisement is endorsing is paying for the ad, a statement must be signed by the candidate verifying the candidate has seen and approved the advertisement.

Another good lesson is, IF YOU ARE STUPID ENOUGH TO GET HIGH ON METH OR COKE, STAY WHERE YOU ARE AND DON’T DRIVE ANYWHERE! If you drive high, you will only do stupid stuff, get caught, get a beating or get shot.

DON’T DO STUPID! SAVE YOUR OWN LIFE!

Not satire.

Ron Lyon, Mena,

Letter to the Editor

I would like to respond to the article written by Ms. Thanos-Wade on January 25, 2023.

To be clear, I have no ill feelings toward any homosexual. God loves these people and desires for them to turn from their sin and come to Him. In Romans 1:18-32 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, God warns those who suppress the truth and He has made it very clear that homosexuality is a perversion and sinful.

To perceive it any other way is a lie from the devil. There is victory for those

The Bible speaks of confession in 1 John 1:9 Confession includes true repentance. And Repentance is re-aligning ourselves to His truth.

Respectfully,

Sandy Lunsford

Eds: See page 5 for related letter

Letter to the Editor

Thanks for allowing me to speak my mind. This time I want to talk about the poor shape most people keep their mailboxes in. Some don’t keep the lids shut then blame the postal service for their mail getting wet or stolen.

A lot of people don’t even have their address on the boxes.

I know of one person who has kept the mailbox flag hanging upside for many years!

I keep my letters short unlike some people. This is all I have to say for this time. I’d like to challenge more people to write in, guess some are just plain chicken!!

Donna Lay, Mena

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.

TO SUBMIT: NEWS ITEMS / ANNOUNCEMENTS / LETTERS TO THE EDITOR / SPORTS UPDATES / CALENDAR ITEMS / CLASSIFIED ADS

Email: NEWS@MYPULSENEWS.COM

On the third week of the 2023 Regular Session, the House passed legislation that could impact everything from car tags to the start of the school year.

HB1150 which would extend the time period Arkansans have to register a vehicle. This bill would give Arkansans 60 days from the purchase date of the car or if they’ve moved to Arkansas from out of state. Currently, Arkansans have 30 days to register.

The House also passed HB1125 which prohibits level 3 and level 4 sex offenders from owning or operating a drone.

In addition, the House passed HB1091. This bill states that for purposes of employment in Arkansas, a GED shall be treated the same as a high school diploma.

Other bills making their way to the Senate now include HB1123. This bill would allow an individual who voluntarily seeks mental health treatment in a mental health institution or facility to petition the court for a license to carry a concealed handgun two years after treatment.

HB1098 would allow volunteer fire departments to operate a newborn safety device under the Safe Haven Act if they are staffed 24 hours a day. The Safe Haven Act allows a parent to anonymously relinquish custody of an infant. HB1098 would also allow a parent to leave a newborn child with a medical provider staff member after delivery of the newborn.

The House passed HB1101 which amends the law concerning the issuance of a special license plate for disabled veterans. It changes the qualifications for a special license plate to a veteran who is at least 10% disabled. Currently, a veteran must be 30% disabled to qualify.

And the House passed HB1122 which amends the law concerning dates for the beginning of the school year. It states the first day of the school year for public elementary and secondary schools shall be on or after the Monday of the week in which August 19 falls, not earlier than August 14, and not later than August 26.

The House will enter the 4th week of the session on Monday, January 30th.

You can watch all House proceedings at arkansashouse.org

The first three weeks of the 2023 legislative have session have been remarkable for the wide variety of issues the Senate has addressed.

Public schools will get more flexibility in setting their academic calendar, thanks to Senate passage of legislation that widens the window of dates in which the school may begin.

Good Samaritan legislation passed by the Senate will add protections for individuals and organizations that try to prevent suicides.

Like other government employees, school staff will be allowed to take up to 15 days of leave if they’re for emergencies if they’re in the Civil Air Patrol.

Environmental regulations will be loosened slightly, to allow the burning of vegetation as a method of disposal.

People who want to become massage therapists will be able to start at the apprentice level, thanks to legislation that allows licensing of student and apprentice therapists.

Almost every local and state government in Arkansas flies the American flag every day. Legislation approved by the Senate will require those flags to be made in the United States. The requirement applies to Arkansas flags too.

An obscure statute, which most people were not aware of, will be repealed. It required motorists to turn off the ignition of their motor vehicle when they left it unattended. In effect it made outlaws of everyone who started their car in the driveway on winter mornings to warm up while they step back indoors to finish getting ready for work.

Senate Bill 47 is a bill of one paragraph that deletes the section in the Arkansas code that required drivers to always turn off their ignitions when leaving the car.

The Senate approved legislation to classify drag shows as adult entertainment if they appeal to the audience’s prurient interest. The sponsors say it will prevent sexualized performances in front of children.

The Senate Education Committee endorsed legislation that encourages schools to dedicate the final week of January as Holocaust Education week. Beginning in the fall, all public schools must teach courses on the causes and effects of the Holocaust, which refers to the systematic murder of more than six million Jews and other people by the Nazi regime of German during the 1930s and 1940s.

A purpose of the requirement is to teach children about the effects of bullying, stereotyping, bigotry and discrimination. Designating the last week of January as Holocaust Awareness Week will be encouraged, but not mandated.

The Senate will soon vote on legislation to clarify that a GED is the equivalent of a high school diploma when people apply for a job.

The Senate also will consider legislation to prohibit serious sex offenders from owning or operating unmanned aircraft, such as drones.

By late in the week, 131 Senate bills and 262 House bills had been filed. In past regular sessions, it’s usual for more than 2,000 bills to be introduced. Between 200 and 300 of those will be budget bills for state agencies, institutions of higher education and public schools. Typically, regular sessions last for 90 to 100 days.

AARP Arkansas accepting 2023 Community Challenge grant applications

LITTLE ROCK, AR — AARP Arkansas invites local eligible organizations and governments across the state to apply for the 2023 AARP Community Challenge grant program, now through March 15 at 4 p.m. Central. Grants fund quick-action projects that help communities become more livable in the long-term by improving public spaces, transportation, housing, civic engagement, diversity and inclusion, and more.

Now in its seventh year, the program is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live for all residents, especially those age 50 and older.

“AARP Arkansas is committed to helping communities across the state become great places to live for people of all ages with an emphasis on the 50-plus population,” said Ashley McBride, State Director. “The Community Challenge has proven that quick-action projects can lead to long-lasting improvements enhancing the quality of life for Arkansans.”

Previous Community Challenge grants have led to impressive results with nearly half of grantees leveraging their projects into additional funding support from private and public sector partners and eight in ten overcoming barriers and advancing change.

In 2023, the AARP Community Challenge is accepting applications across three different grant opportunities, two of which are new this year. All projects must be consistent with AARP’s mission to serve the needs of people 50 and older along with other eligibility criteria. AARP will prioritize proposals that are inclusive, address disparities, and directly engage volunteers age 50 and older.

• New this year, the program will provide capacity-building microgrants paired with additional resources, such as one-on-one coaching, webinars, cohort learning opportunities and more for improving walkability and starting or expanding a community garden.

• Also new this year, the Community Challenge will also offer demonstration grants. A portion will be focused on transportation improvements with funding support provided by Toyota Motor

North America. Another portion of demonstration grants will focus on promoting greater awareness of the benefits of accessory dwelling units as a housing solution.

• AARP will also offer grants under a flagship opportunity to support projects that improve public places; transportation; housing; diversity, equity and inclusion; digital connections; community health and economic empowerment; and new this year community resilience; and civic engagement.

Since 2017, AARP has awarded more than $12.7 million to over 1,060 projects — including 2022 Arkansas grant winners Main Street Blytheville, City of Corning, Fayetteville Housing Authority, and Conway County Center for Exceptional Children ACTION Services — through the Community Challenge to nonprofit organizations and government entities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The program provides direct support to all community types, including rural, suburban and urban communities with a special focus on the needs of those 50 and older.

The Community Challenge is open to eligible nonprofit organizations and government entities. Other types of organizations are considered on a case-bycase basis. Grants can range from several hundred dollars for small, short-term activities to tens of thousands for larger projects.

The application deadline is 4 p.m. Central, March 15, 2023. All projects must be completed by Nov. 30, 2023. To submit an application and view past grantees, visit www.AARP.org/CommunityChallenge/.

AARP Arkansas works in collaboration with communities across the state, bringing people together, and providing resources and expertise to help make Arkansas counties, towns and cities great places to live for people of all ages. Past Community Challenge Grants in the state have ranged from public art to creating more livable communities through curb ramps, as well as community park improvements that make natural spaces more accessible for those 50-plus.

In the 8/10/2022 Pulse there was a letter by Cynthia Thanos-Wade. In general, her article concerned Roe v Wade being overturned. It seems she felt killing innocent babies was acceptable. She painted herself a victim in that she had recent surgery for a pacemaker but went to protest the Supreme Court decision anyway. She complained of heat and a headache and I was concerned for her well-being and felt her overzealous actions may have endangered her health. But in reading her letter found she brought those pains on herself and it was hard to be sympathetic for her suffering. She referred to our town as a “ Bible belt town”. I took exception to much of her rhetoric and spoke to that in a letter to the Pulse dated 8/17/2022.

Then on 1/25/2023 she again wrote to the Pulse maligning our newly elected governor who has taken steps regarding influence the LGBTQIA+ may have on our youngest. The letter went on to lament the leaving of her friend as a result of this. I wish him well in his new home.

The left has destroyed the livelihood of a business that would not bake their cakes for samesex weddings due to their strongly held religious beliefs.

There have been efforts to destroy the business and reputations of businesses like Chickfil-A, also with strong religious beliefs. I am so happy for you. It seems you have found Jesus and now know what he would want. It is good you no longer support abortion.

As a PS to her letter, she calls me out and says my uncompassionate stance promotes starving people to die at the border and that our selfish behavior needs to change. Baseless hyperbole. My letter of 1/11/2023 suggested nothing of the sort.

My letter asked we put our veterans and American citizens first. That our government wants to spend $800 million for illegal immigrants when we have our own in need of help seems misdirected. Ms. Wade seems to be of the mindset that problems experienced by others are ours to solve and I disagree. There is a legal process to come to this country. Follow it and be welcomed. Her concern for someone who starves and dies at the border seems hypocritical to me when she so willfully promoted the abortion of unborn children.

I wonder if Ms. Wade would feel so generous if someone broke into her home and stole her food, money, the future of her children, or her life. That is precisely what is going on in our country now.

The bottom line is this country is my home and I have spent my entire adult life defending it in the U.S. Navy and in my community as a police officer. I did both with dignity, pride, and purpose. I ask what the hordes of illegal immigrants have done for this country and when they manage to bankrupt us, then where do they run?

While a police officer in Virginia Beach, Virginia, I was blessed to have police chaplains ride along with me. I learned from them and respected their caring ways towards those having the worst day of their life. Many times, their presence made the difference to so many in need. They had an impact on how I conducted myself and I will forever be thankful for that.

Ms. Wade seems to think she knows me and passes judgment on how I treat others. As brief as I can be let me tell you about a program I started in Virginia Beach as an officer. My patrol area was the southern part of the city. That area has commercial farms and some of the most giving and generous people I had the privilege to serve. I witnessed waste of fresh produce that was usable. I found a closed 7-11 store in an older neighborhood and rented it for $10 a month. All my staff were volunteers, including me. The community was quick to bring clothing, furniture, food, and life’s necessities as donations. We networked with local churches to try and make sure our efforts went where needed. More than once I was called out after hours to help families whose homes burned that needed clothing to get going the following day until they could buy what they needed. We helped anyone with a genuine need. Our organization was called COPS an acronym for Chaplains Organization, Police, and Sheriffs. For almost two years I worked daily at this effort, to the exclusion of things I enjoyed. I did so without regrets. I expected no rewards or accolades.

I have tried to learn from experiences in my life and my biggest lesson was that you cannot help people that are not willing to help themselves. The money became insufficient to continue our efforts and the doors closed. I felt a sense of regret as there are always those in need.

My reason for sharing this with you is in the hopes that Ms. Wade will take into account my past efforts and rethink if I would starve anyone. I treated the criminals I arrested with respect and dignity and if I were still working as an officer, would do no different with illegal immigrants. That being said, breaking the law requires enforcement, and we need to quit encouraging people to come here illegally, and enforce our laws.

I would ask Ms. Wade what, if any, efforts has she made to alleviate the suffering of those at the border? As she so eloquently put it, “walk the talk”.

My apologies for being long-winded. I thank you for a forum to express my thoughts, though we may peacefully disagree.

With respect and kindest regards, Ronald Goss, Retired U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran and Retired Virginia Beach Police Officer

Geraldine Elizabeth Lewis

Geraldine Elizabeth Lewis passed away Monday, January 30, 2023, at the age of 87. She was born December 16, 1935, in Amarillo, Texas, to Henry Columbus Yeager and Ranie L. Lillie Yeager.

Geraldine most recently resided in Austin, Arkansas. She lived in Oden and worked in the Mount Ida glove factory for many years. After moving to Mena, she worked as a CNA at the local hospital and nursing homes.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Jerry “Jack” Lewis, her parents; her 2 brothers, Clifford Yeager and Leonard Yeager; 2 sisters, Cora Elen Hickman and Ruby Lee Moore all of California.

She is survived by 2 sons, Joseph Lewis (Mary) and Elzie Lewis (Becky); 4 grandchildren, Jennifer Halpain (Chris), Adam Lewis (Michelle), Brandi Harbour (Bryan) and Cari Overstreet (David); and 7 great-grandchildren Scarlett and Jacob Lewis, Jackson and Jeremiah Halpain, Ever Harbour, Samantha Watts and Kayla Parker.

Funeral services will be Saturday, February 4, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at the Beasley Wood Chapel with Brother Donnie Jewell officiating. Interment follows in Pinecrest Memorial Park under the direction of the Beasley Wood Funeral Home. Visitation will be at 1:00 p.m. prior to service.

Pallbearers will be Joe Lewis, Elzie Lewis, Chris Halpain, Bryan Harbour, David Overstreet, Jackson Halpain and Jeremiah Halpain.

Honorary pallbearers are Adam Lewis and Jacob Lewis. Online obituary and guestbook at beasleywoodfuneralhome.com

Edna Louise Cearley

Edna Louise Cearley (Granny), 93, of Hatfield, Arkansas, passed away on Sunday, January 29, 2023, surrounded by her loved ones. She was born on June 17, 1929, to Ira Lee Simmons and Bessie Hazel Robinson, in Bradley, Oklahoma. She was a homemaker all her life.

Edna was a frequent visitor at PCDC and everyone knew her as “momma”. She loved flowers, it didn’t matter which ones, quilting was a lifelong passion for her, and going to the lake to pick up fishing weights.

She is survived by: one sister, Nadine Kennedy of Lindsey, Ok; five daughters, Thelma Hammond (Paul) of Mena, Ruby Thacker of Hatfield, Arlene Wells (Vernon) of Alder Springs, Mary Hill (Jeff) of Hatfield, and Bessie Murphy (Ronnie) of Wyoming; twelve grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews, and her four-legged companion Lilly.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James Albert Cearley; and two grandsons James Hursh and Bobby Wells.

A memorial service will be announced on the Beasley Wood website.

Online obituary and guestbook at beasleywoodfuneralhome.com