Thrailkill elected to Arkansas District Judges Council

By Ethan Nahté

District Judge Danny Thrailkill was elected Apr. 22 to the Arkansas District Judges Council at the annual District Judges/Clerks meeting in Little Rock. The term is for two years.

The Arkansas District Judges Council provides guidance and governance to the state’s 70 District Court Judges. The Council membership includes currently serving judges of the district courts and retired judges who served as district court judges for at least 10 years. The council conducts formal business meetings in the spring and fall of each year.

Judge Thrailkill is the 24th Judicial District Judge, which includes Polk, Scott and Montgomery counties.

1168 Hwy 71S

Mena, AR 71953

Phone: 479-243-9600

Fax: 479-243-9603

Email: news@mypulsenews.com

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To the editor:

In the interest of complete disclosure, I will admit up front I am a consumer of alcoholic beverages. As we used to say in the navy, we don’t drink a lot, just steady.

As a consumer of adult beverages, I have followed, with great interest, the path Polk County has followed to the advent of legal adult beverage sales within the county. All the controversy surrounding the successful attempt to legalize sales is nothing more than a tempest in a teacup.

The people who oppose the legal sales of adult beverages must realize that the liquor laws that exist, regardless of location, do not change the drinking habits of consumers. The laws change the buying habits of the consumer. I have lived in Polk County for almost 20 years. I have been reading the Pulse newspaper every week. If one were to read the sheriff’s report one would see at least 3 DWI arrests every week. A casual observer would see many empty beer cans on the streets of Mena on any given Sunday.

The push to legalize sales of adult beverages in Polk County is nothing more than a push to make legal what is already happening in Polk County. Maybe the legal sales of beer in Polk County will allow adults to buy their product in the Polk County and not have to drive to McCurtain County, running the risk of driving under the influence.

As I stated above, I am a consumer of adult beverages. Before sales were legalized in Polk County I would stop in Fort Smith or Hot Springs to purchase what I wanted thereby giving those cities the tax revenue. Now I can change my buying habits. I am glad to see the additional tax revenue come to Polk County.

In a year the tempest in a teacup will be over. Mena will not become a Sodom and Gomorrah. There will not be drunks passed out on downtown streets. Life will be as normal as it has been for the last several decades.

I would add two closing points. There was a push to ban alcohol in America. As history has taught us, prohibition doesn’t work. And two, you can’t legislate morality. People will do what they want to do.

Want to share your opinion?

arrests made” or “Polk County burns.” Would that be considered sarcastic or show superior insight for the conservatives, or to others you failed to mention who may not consider themselves a conservative but still voted against the measure? Or, would the alternate headline be acceptable because it favors the viewpoints of some?

As for whether I advocate or not for the sale of alcohol, or even how I may have voted, is irrelevant. There are matters on both sides that I agree with as there are matters I disagree with. Regardless of intelligence quotient, viewpoints, or how a story or headline is interpreted, I do try to present the facts from all sides that are willing to provide reliable information without my resorting to yellow journalism and sensationalism as some media outlets tend to do. I also do not concern myself with tallies.

Does that mean I must limit my output to a mundane headline in an attempt to appease everyone? I learned a long time ago that it is impossible, not improbable, to appeal to everyone. Regardless, it also means I am not attempting to pick on any person or subject matter, even if neither they nor a story aligns with my personal viewpoints. Any interpretation, positive or negative, is beyond my control.

Letter to the Editor

On March 23, 2023, Donna Lay had a letter to the editor printed suggesting I take up where Mr. Shelly left off, but dictated what I should write about. Then in the May 3, 2023, Pulse she asked if I did not have anything better to do than write letters. Apparently, Ms. Lay is confused, conflicted, or not sure how she wants to impose herself on others, uninvited and unsolicited.

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.

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.

Deacon

Larry Hatch,

Mena Letter to the Editor

I lost my vote during the election over the sale of alcohol. My desire was to let the topic rest but the sarcastic headline on the April 26, 2023, Pulse was a slap in the face for the conservatives that opposed the sale of liquor in Polk County. Polk County still stands although alcohol is now legal suggests a superior insight that the rest of us folks are just too dimwitted to see.

While the writers at the Pulse try to put in opposition points in their articles, it is apparent that they have been advocates for the sale of alcohol. For my part, just attempt to report the news (minus on line tallies) without bias.

In her most recent tirade, she goes on to suggest that I volunteer. To her clueless suggestion I submit the following. In Virginia Beach for five years, I was a sworn Auxiliary police officer (volunteer). Once I made the decision to apply full time, I found a need existed that I could fill by opening a store (C.O.P.S., an acronym for Chaplains Organization, Police, and Sheriffs) that gave food and clothing to those of our community in need. This was above my duties as a paid Police Officer done in my off time as a volunteer. Once I retired and moved back home to Mena, I volunteered at the Farmer’s Co-Op for 7-8 years. I think I have done my part Ms. Lay. How about you?

family members in your social circle. If you stick your nose in their business as you try to do in mine you can sure wear out a welcome quickly. Ms. Lay,I do not know where your anger comes from, but hope you learn to manage it before you alienate everyone around you.

As always, thank you for a forum to express my thoughts though we may at times disagree. But know if your attacks become personal that I will respond.

Cove The Editor’s Response

Barbara Gibbons,

Although the headline could be misconstrued as a superior insight, it was simply a fact. It could have easily read something akin to “Several DWI

She further goes on to suggest I donate books to the local library. My wife is an avid reader and we carted back boxes of hardback books from Virginia to donate, but the donation was refused. The books were pristine. Not likely I will donate cash to them.

I retired on a work-related injury and also had to fight for my disability and now have reached the age of 73. I expect no special considerations or pity. I am just glad I can do the things I can do.

I am starting to understand why you are losing

With respect and kindest regards, Ronald Goss, retired, Mena