Vol. 1
O
ACLE No. 9
March 18, 2021
Mourning the cancellation of CG Honors Program Hot Springs’ famous parade awards three students
Photo by Levi Dade.
Ouachita’s Carl Goodson Honors Program members (from left) Cora Sadder, Maddie Bailey and Jael Winterholter were awarded 2021 thesis research grants during the Honors Program’s annual Black and White Ceremony held on Wednesday, March 3. Lindsay Hyde realistic scene there while Ouachita Baptist University also forging my own path as
Photo courtesy of ShortestStPats.com.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders spent their time at The World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade exuding the same spirit they show on the football field. Kelly Stiles previous year, an Arkansan grew to over 30,000. Folks Hot Springs and surroundHSU Oracle Editor in Chief of Irish descent shared a few from all over the world travel ing areas gain a lot of tourism The World’s Shortest St. pints of malted beverage with to Hot Springs to enjoy the and press coverage from the Patrick’s Day Parade did not get some friends on Bridge St. The St. Patrick’s Day’s festivities, event which brings revenue to any luck this year. The annual conversation that night devel- including the concert a couple the community. Unfortunately, event in historic downtown oped the idea to incorporate hours after the parade. A mu- this fun money-making tradiHot Springs is cancelled due the street’s short 98-foot length sical performance ensues on tion will not be found at the end to social distancing restric- into an Irish holiday associated Bridge St. by artists and bands of the 2021 rainbow. tions put in place by Gov. Asa with a short mythical being -- such as Blues Traveller and “I am excited to make up for Hutchinson. the leprechaun. Smashmouth. lost years in 2022,” Solleder. “Even if the pandemic had A few thousand people gath“Enjoy the holiday anyway,” “The parade is already special; ended today, there wouldn’t ered to view that first parade. In Solleder said. “Do the ‘kiss me this next one will be extra, extra be enough time,” Bill Solleder, 2019, the number of attendants I’m Irish’ from six feet away.” special.” director of marketing for Visit Hot Springs, said. While many state-ordained social distancing guidelines have been lifted, Solleder and his coworkers had to decide about a year in advance whether or not the 2021 parade would go on. This year’s parade was cancelled to avoid the disappointment that ensued after the highly anticipated parade of 2020 was called off. “It was sad and difficult to call everyone and cancel,” Solleder said, “It sucked.” Solleder manages the logistics of the parade, including the lineup and pacing as floats make their way down Bridge St. “40 highly creative floats strut their stuff down Bridge Street,” Solleder said. Each year, a celebrity is granted the ceremonial title of “grand marshal.” Those who hold this title typically walk or ride down the street first. Famous stars such as Joey Fatone, Kevin Bacon, Alfonso Ribeiro, Mark Martin, and Mario Lopez have previously participated as grand marshals. “Everyone who comes to watch the parade has the best time of their life,” Solleder said. Photo courtesy of ShortestStPats.com. According to ShortestStRalph Macchio, the same man who crane kicked himself into our hearts in “Karate Kid” and Pats.com, the first ever World’s recently starred in that film’s sequel television series “Cobra Kai” was feeling green when he Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Pawas grand marshal of the famous parade. rade occurred in 2004. The
Ouachita Baptist University’s Carl Goodson Honors Program hosted its annual Black and White Ceremony on Wednesday, March 3, awarding three honors students with thesis research grants, inducting 123 new members and presenting 63 students with badges for their successful thesis proposals. “This is by far the largest group of thesis badge recipients we have ever had,” said Dr. Barbara Pemberton, director of the Carl Goodson Honors Program and professor of Christian missions at Ouachita. “Over 60 students are now working on wonderful thesis projects that will be published later this spring. We are very excited for them!” The three Honors Program students recognized and awarded research grants to further their honors theses include Maddie Bailey, Carl Goodson Scholar; Cora Saddler, Ben Elrod Scholar; and Jael Winterholter, Garrett Ham Scholar. Bailey, a junior political science major from Bauxite, Ark., plans to attend the JuST conference, one of the nation’s leading conferences on juvenile sex trafficking, in Washington, D.C., this November. “While there, I will have the chance to hear from top leaders in the fight against trafficking,” Bailey said. “It’s truly a dream come true to have the opportunity to attend.” Saddler, a junior English and Spanish double major from Cabot, Ark., plans to research the impact of surrealism on art and literature in New York City this summer. “I’ll be exploring as many museums and literary locations as possible, especially as it pertains to surrealism,” Saddler said. “The goal is to be inspired by the sur-
a novice surrealist writer.” Winterholter, a junior Christian studies/biblical studies & theology major from Fort Wayne, Ind., plans to research the biblical concept of the glory of God. “The Garrett Ham travel grant will allow me to interview several more academic experts and learn how their understanding of God’s glory affects their theology and their ministry,” Winterholter said. “I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to Mr. Garrett Ham, Dr. Pemberton and Dr. Danny Hays for awarding me this grant so I can further my research and deepen my learning!” In place of a guest speaker, this year several Ouachita Honors alumni – Garrett Ham, Cole Jester, Mattie Mae Motl, Alex Nelson, Evan Nelson, Elizabeth Peevy, Dr. Abby Dekle Russ, Bailey Walter, Dr. Dustin Walter and Philip Williamson – sent in video clips to address current and new members during the ceremony. The Carl Goodson Honors Program encourages intellectual growth and academic excellence for highachieving students. Students in the program take 16 honors hours while maintaining a minimum of a 3.5 grade average. The Honors Program was established in 1964 to encourage and challenge students academically and offer them the opportunity to explore subjects not offered through Ouachita’s regular curriculum and conduct research under a professor for a directed study and thesis. For more information about the Carl Goodson Honors Program, visit www. obu.edu/honors or contact Dr. Barbara Pemberton at pembertonb@obu.edu or (870) 245-5541.
Hutchinson on
Five states join forces to end passage of SB410 excessive speeding after record year Arkansas State Police Public Affairs Office Five neighboring statewide law enforcement agencies are sending a unified message urging drivers to slow down. The warning follows a year best described by highway patrol troopers in each state reporting excessive highway speeding across the central U.S. region. The Arkansas State Police, Iowa State Patrol, Kansas Highway Patrol, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and Nebraska State Patrol all report a substantial increase in speeding violations that began to occur coinciding with the COVID-19
pandemic. “We communicate regularly with our law enforcement partners in neighboring states, and the increase in excessive speeding has been a common theme in those conversations over the last year,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “NSP is proud to partner with these neighboring states in reminding motorists of the dangers of excessive speeding and the need for us to all work together to make our states safe.” Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska comprise Region 7 of the National Highway Traffic Safety Admin-
istration. Each state tracked the increase of excessive speeding in different ways, but every method told the same story: A year that felt incredibly long was also the fastest on the roads in recent memory. “With every mile per hour over the speed limit, the reaction time a driver has to avoid a crash is reduced even faster, and with excess speed comes a greater risk of serious or fatal injuries,” said Colonel Bill Bryant, Director of the Arkansas State Police. “Driving 10 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit won’t get anyone to their destination that must faster, but it will increase
the odds of a crash or a speeding ticket.” A comparison of the increases in speeding violations documented by each state is provided below: As the winter months give way to more favorable driving conditions and busiest travel seasons, each agency is asking all motorists to do their part to keep the roads safe. Obey the posted speed limits, eliminate distractions, never drive impaired, and always buckle up. Troopers in each state will continue to patrol day and night to enforce traffic safety laws and assist any motorist.
Asa Hutchinson AR Governor
“Today was an important moment in this legislative session with the Senate passing the ARHOME (formerly Arkansas Works) legislation with overwhelming support. This new initiative will assure continued health care coverage for over 300,000 Arkansans with accountability measures in place to
improve maternal health, drug addiction support and mental illness. I applaud Senator Missy Irvin, Representative Michelle Gray and many other legislators who spent countless hours in working with my administration to develop this plan that will now move to the House.”