to speak.
INDEX Opinion Events COVID Update Sports
No. 10
Vol. 2
1 2 3 4
July 15, 2021
Comic by Blanton Matthews
Celebrating Independence as a nation Juliann Reaper Contributing Reporter
Independence day, or the Fourth of July, is a national holiday my family celebrates every year. We have cookouts and do fireworks and even pool parties. Some years, such as this year, fireworks are few, but we always celebrate. Part of the reason for this is that my family teaches us to appreciate the freedoms we have from a young age. We may have had to fight to abolish slavery and give women the rights they have today, but we would not be here if not for that day. I have grown up with a love and respect for both my nation and those who fight to protect these freedoms. My great grandfather, uncle, cousins, and other relatives have served in the military. While none of them specifically fought for our freedom, many soldiers did. Many sol-
diers sacrificed everything so that they could form this nation. Some people feel that this day does not represent their freedom. I can see that. I will be the first to admit that, in the beginning, the United States was far from perfect. It was a flawed and underdeveloped nation. We had slaves, women had no rights, and even those of color who were not slaves did not have the same rights as white men. I understand that people of color’s ancestors were not free, and I will not downplay this fact. If they so choose, I will not judge them for not celebrating this day as their Independence day. They have the right to decide not to celebrate because it is a free nation. However, would they be free as they are now if the United States were not a free and independent country?
The people in the north that fought to abolish slavery would have had absolutely no say had we still been under the control of Great Britain. So, while I see where this holiday does not mark the day all individual people became independent and free, I want to point out that it is the day that their country became independent from Great Britain. It is the day that The United States of America was formed. The United States of America belongs to everyone. It belongs to white and colored, men, women, and children. It belongs to the straight and the LGBTQ+ or whatever and whoever a person might be. It belongs to all of these people equally. They may see themselves as separate communities, but that does not change the fact that they all live in one nation. A nation that, before the war for independence, did not exist. Despite the flaws and the
struggles that the nation has faced, it is free. That freedom came at a price. The people who fought for this freedom would not want us to be divided. They fought for the freedom of any who came to seek safety from oppressing nations. So, with respect for the decisions others will make, I will celebrate. Not only that, but I encourage everyone around me to celebrate. It doesn’t just have to be on the Fourth of July either. Americans should celebrate and enjoy this freedom every day because there is no way to know what the future holds. One day, our children or their children may have to fight again for this freedom. Let us leave them with memories of what this nation grew into and not just the flaws that it used to have. The United States of America has come a long way from where it was as a nation.
Courtesy of the City of Arkadelphia
Why is housing so expensive in Arkadelphia? Lance Brownfield Editor-in-Chief
According to bestplaces.net, Arkadelphia’s median home cost is 60% higher than nearby Malvern. College students may have to deal with expensive housing for a few years while they study here, but for long term residents there is no end in sight. “Property conditions are better here,” said Kim Byrd, a realtor at Crye-Leike Realty.
“We have two colleges which keep our demand greater and I think the community has more to offer. That always correlates with the prices of property.” Cory and Kelly Styles have lived in Arkadelphia for two years while Kelly finished her studies at Henderson (and worked at the Oracle) and they now pay $625 monthly for a 890 square foot apartment. Before moving to Matt Stone Apartments, they lived in a 450 square foot rental house
and paid $500 per month in rent. That is over a dollar per square foot. It is typically cheaper to buy a house than to rent an apartment and doing so helps to build equity whereas renting does not. While some areas are cheaper than others in Arkadelphia, the town is generally consistent in prices with a median home price of around $140 thousand. “It all comes down to the price per square foot when
buying a home,” said Byrd. “With the pandemic, it created a shortage on housing and that created a demand for housing. So right now property values are really really good.” Since the pandemic began, there has been a sharp increase in out-of-staters moving to the town. Byrd says that she sees the trend slowing down as more homes go on the market and the demand reaches a plateau. People from California,
Michigan and every corner of the country have flocked to the town because their work has become remote. They can buy a home in Arkadelphia for much cheaper than other parts of the country and it offers so much with the universities, recreation and its proximity to Hot Springs. Arkadelphia is slightly cheaper than Benton/Bryant and Hot Springs, which are significantly bigger areas. On a housing prices index by
bestplaces.net, Arkadelphia comes in at a 60.8, while Hot Springs scores a 62.2 with 100 being the national average. On the horizon is a new subdivision on Malone Drive to accommodate Arkadelphia’s new citizens as the town continues to grow. The groundbreaking is set for the end of July or the beginning of August. This may help stabilize housing prices, but is unlikely to bring them down.
From Weather.com
FRI - July 16 scattered thunderstorm
SAT - July 17 scattered thunderstorms
SUN - July 18 scattered thunderstorms
MON - July 19 scattered thunderstorms
TUE - July 13 scattered thunderstorms
WED - July 14 partly cloudy
THU - July 15
90o 69
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88o 69
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89o 68
Precipitation: 36% Wind: SSW 7 mph Humidity: 76%
Precipitation: 17% Wind: SW 5 mph Humidity: 75%
Precipitation: 38% Wind: SW 5 mph Humidity: 79%
Precipitation: 36% Wind: WSW 6 mph Humidity: 78%
Precipitation: 36% Wind: NNE 6 mph Humidity: 72%
Precipitation: 24% Wind: ene 6 mph Humidity: 64%
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Precipitation: 24% Wind: WSW 5 mph Humidity: 66%