By John Worthen
For Between Editions
Numerous reports of hail rolled into the News-Times Thursday morning. At approximately 8:20 a.m. en route to El Dorado from Camden, pellet-sized hail hit my vehicle for several miles.
Hail was also reported within the El Dorado city limits Thursday morning.
According to the National Weather Service, heavy rains are forecast for the remainder of the day with possible hail.
By John Worthen
For Between Editions
One of my favorite Mexican restaurant activities is chips and salsa. It’s the perfect precursor to a fine fajita meal. Once, while out with friends, someone dipped a chip that already had a bite out of it.
“Hey, you’re double dipping,” I protested.
There is reason to fear the double dip. Thousands of bacteria can be transfered from your mouth to the dip in such a transaction. The New York Times wrote an interesting piece on this subject. Click here to read it.
And remember, on Super Bowl Sunday, watch out for those pesky double dippers.
By John Worthen
For Between Editions
While you’re home in your easy chair munching on Doritos, the rich and famous will be living large in the Valley of the Sun — Phoenix, Ariz. — at the biggest game of the year.
Here’s a look at how the rich do the Super Bowl. Warning, it’s a little mind numbing. Oh, and if you’re thinking about buying a ticket, you might want to mortgage your home. It could cost as much as $77,000 for a single seat.
On the Web:
Superbowl.com
New York Giants
New England Patriots
National Football League
By John Worthen
For Between Editions
Reports are coming in from all over South Arkansas about icy road conditions this morning. If you have to be out, please drive slowly and be mindful of other drivers. Coming from north Ouachita County this morning, I saw numerous wrecks. Roads there in many places are solid sheets of ice.
There have been no reports of road closures in either Union or Ouachita counties as of 9 a.m. this morning. Salt trucks are out working on the roads at this time.
Road conditions seem to be better the further South you travel, but black (invisible) ice is still a problem. The National Weather Service is calling for a mixture of freezing rain/sleet/regular rain for the remainder of the day with a high of 35.
Madison Murphy, former chairman of Murphy Oil, was appointed by then-Governor Mike Huckabee to the Arkansas Highway Commission in 2002.
He joined other Arkansas businessmen in the endorsement today. Here’s a press release from the Huckabee camp:
Columbia, S.C. — Today, the following businessmen from Arkansas released a statement in support of former Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee: Scott T. Ford, President and CEO, Alltel Corporation; Warren A. Stephens, President and CEO, Stephens Inc.; Madison Murphy, Former Chairman, Murphy Oil Corporation; John Tyson, Chairman of the Board, Tyson Foods, Inc; and French Hill, Chairman and CEO, Delta Trust and Banking Corporation:
“We are a traditionally bi-partisan group of executives of several of the largest corporations headquartered in the State of Arkansas, each with considerable exposure to the Administration of Governor Mike Huckabee,” the businessmen stated in a joint quote.
“Of late, Governor Huckabee has attracted what we believe to be unwarranted criticism regarding his business record. Our experience with Governor Huckabee indicates that he not only values greatly the freedoms of religion and liberty, but of the free market as well.
“He is an atypical leader who garnered the respect of not only the professional business community but of the working men and women across our State as well.
“When he became our Governor, he inherited our long sub-standard education system, infrastructure, and regulatory climate.
“Under his leadership, we were able to grow our businesses, increase our employment, reduce our litigation exposure and enjoy, along with all of our fellow Arkansans, a healthier economy, improved schools, updated highways, and new healthcare delivery facilities.
“In our support of Governor Huckabee’s truly conservative, small government business outlook and his pragmatic, yet compassionate style of governing, we invite you to look past the shallow rhetoric of yet another campaign season to see what we have experienced first hand — that with the right political leadership in place, businesses and citizens can jointly prosper and as they do, they contribute so much more to the economic and societal fabric of a community than simply tax revenues.”
The Cafe Du Monde is seen in this AP file photo just after
its restoration in 2005.
By Joan Hershberger
For Between Editions
My husband and I finally took the time to visit New Orleans. We had our goals and objectives for going. I wanted to see the D-Day, WWII museum. We both wanted to see some aspect of the post-Katrina change and we wanted to check out a couple tourist spots: The Camellia Grill and Cafe Du Monde which serves coffee, tea, cocoa, sodas and beignets … and nothing else, but has prospered for decades doing just that.
Cafe Du Monde still flourishes.
The floor remained stickier than ever from the mound of confectioner’s sugar dumped on the square pillows of doughnuts. The Flea Market in the French Quarter thrived with plenty of sellers and while no one stood outside waiting for a seat at the bar at Camellia Grill, it kept four waiters and two or three cooks busy and no bar stool remained empty long.
Our first indication of change came as we passed the supports of the on and off ramps. Under the bridges about 250 people camped out in small rounded tents and pup tents. The city provided the area with a port-a-potty on each block.
A sign declared “Homeless Pride.” We puzzled over that. Although we have been to the city a number of times over the past 27 years, although we have met and talked with homeless folks, we had never seen tents. Since then I have read that it is part of the reaction to the doubling of the homeless in New Orleans — even in the face of the departing population after Hurricane Katrina.
We also spent several hours at the WWII/D-Day Museum. There are corners and documentaries in the museum which definitely earn a rating of PG-13 or above. The documentaries had comments from soldiers from both sides of the war.
A few things stood out: I knew that both sides had a huge propaganda machine going dehumanizing the enemy. I did not know that in Japan, the citizens reacted with suicidal terror when their country fell. Old film footage showed family suicides off the cliff rather than face the supposed bestiality of the American soldier.
They thought the women would be raped and the men and children tortured and punished severely. One elderly Japanese man told of having to fulfill his family duty with his brother — to protect his mother and siblings from the invading armed forces, they had to kill them. Before they fufilled their duty and committed suicide, they went into hiding and were found by the Americans.
One American soldier was told he would get used to the killing of war. 60 years later, it was evident he still had not accepted this reality. It was more graphic than watching “Saving Private Ryan” to see the original news film footage of the soldiers washed ashore after D-Day and to see and hear about the effect of nature on the dead, but unburied, Japanese soldiers in the jungles of Okinawa.
Definitely not a documentary for young children. But a sharp reminder of the inhumanity of war … and underscoring ‘why’ the Americans stayed out as long as they did.
The Japanese soldiers also talked about the training for the Kamikaze pilots. They learned how to fly a plan, how to take off, but never how to land a plane. It reminded me so sharply of the mindset of modern day terrorist.
The astonishment of the sailors on the ships attacked by these kamikaze planes also is reminiscent of the terrorists. Such intense desire to destroy and conquer.
It was a fierce dedication to a cause. It took many lives and an equally fierce dedication on the part of the Allies, including the Americans, to end it. One wonders if citizens are that dedicated today in their fight against the suicide bombers and terrorist attacks.
By John Worthen
For Between Editions
Although the official holiday is next Monday, today is the actual birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. No matter how many times I read the “I have a dream” speech, it always gives me renewed hope for this nation.
Here’s an excerpt: “This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with a new meaning, “My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.”
“And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!
“Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!
“Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!
“But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!
“Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
“Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
“And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”
For a full text of the speech, click here.
On the Web: The New York Times reprinted their coverage of King’s assassination in Memphis, complete with the actual front page as it looked on April 5, 1968, the day after King was shot. Click here to view.
By John Worthen
For Between Editions
NewsMeat.com allows anyone to search political campaign donors with the click of a button. While I won’t expose anyone’s name on here, I did find some local folks — and at least one El Dorado city council member — who have made pretty hefty contributions to several presidential campaigns.
It’s interesting reading.
A reveler enjoys Fat Tuesday 2006
By John Worthen
News-Times Staff
I think I’m finally going to make the leap and head down to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. There’s just something irresistible about colored plastic beads and throngs of people moshing together to get their hands on them.
And the food. Who can resist that?
Before I go, though, I’m researching the history of Mardi Gras. After all, if you’re going to experience something, you might as well know as much about it as you can.
I’ve found everything I needed to know — and more — here at Mardi Gras headquarters.
Are you planning a trip to the Big Easy for carnival? Let us know if you are.
Mardi Gras fact sheet:
• This year, Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras in French) falls on Feb. 5.
• Carnival, which is Latin for “kiss your flesh goodbye,” is a long season between Christmas and Lent. Contrary to popular belief, Mardi Gras only happens on one day, Fat Tuesday. The rest of the festivities are known as carnival.
• Many Mardi Gras parades are family friendly and encourage children and families to attend. The bawdiness mostly occurs in the French Quarter. And, yes, you are likely to see some nudity here, according to seasoned Mardi Gras veterans.
• Mardi Gras did not originate in New Orleans. Several cities in North America lay claim to the first Mardi Gras celebrations on the continent, among them, Mobile, Ala. Carnival festivities date back thousands of years to Europe.
By John Worthen
News-Times Staff
It was bound to happen, and today, it did. Felix Jones and Darren McFadden both decided to enter themselves into the NFL draft, meaning next season, the Razorbacks really WILL experience a rebuilding year.
Have a favorite candidate? Prefer Obama over Clinton, Huckabee over McCain? Tell us about it. Click on the “comments” link below, and write us a line. We want to hear from you.
By John Worthen
News-Times Staff
According to a Little Rock Police report, star Razorback Darren McFadden was involved in an altercation at a Little Rock night spot on Wednesday evening. The report states that D-Mac was placed in handcuffs for a brief period but wasn’t charged.
Here’s the report from LRPD Officer Bauldree:
“I was in the 300 blk of President Clinton Ave. and noticed some form of a disturbance spilling out of the front door to Ernie Biggs Piano Bar. I realized it was some fight that occurred and radioed for backup to a large disturbance.
“I obtained the names of the five suspects, but was told by both Victim 1 [Brant Hankins, the bouncer] and Witness 1 [Kevin Anderson of Ernie Biggs] that there were several more. Victim 1 (Hankins) stated that he was trying to prevent Suspect 1 [Bilal Mohammad] from hitting someone and began to escort Suspect 1out of the bar, but before he could get downstairs he was attacked by several persons striking him with fists to his face.
“Victim 1 refused MEMS and was advised to obtain warrants. Witness 1 (Anderson) stated that he observed Suspects 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 striking Victim 1 along with several other unknown suspects.
“Suspect 1 (Mohammad) stated that he was just trying to get to his brother and didn’t know why the bouncer, Victim 1, was grabbing and pushing him out. Suspects 2, 3, 4 and 5 all stated that they werte just trying to leave when some unknown persons were fighting.
“Suspect 2 (McFadden) was handcuffed by Officer Thomas because Suspect 2 was agitated and provoking aggressive behavior inciting the incident so to control and calm him down he was handcuffed.
“He calmed down and after investigation was released from the handcuffs. Suspect 1 had a nosebleed but refused MEMS.”
Will this at all hurt D-Mac’s NFL chances? Doubtful. It’s an interesting turn of events, though.
NBC’s Today Show visited El Dorado. Here’s the story.
A volunteer for Hillary Clinton arranges campaign signs
at Clinton’s Little Rock headquarters.
By John Worthen
News-Times Staff
Thanks to Senate Bill 235, passed in March 2005, Arkansas is now part of “Super Tuesday,” the day when residents in more than 20 states cast their votes in the Republican and Democratic primary races.
Arkansas holds 47 total delegate votes. The Democrats require 2,025 delegates to secure a candidate’s nomination for president, while the Republicans need 1,191.
It’s a mind-numbing process, and we’re likely to see an onslaught of television advertisements and junk mail in the days leading up to Super Tuesday. But will we see any candidates on the ground here?
It’s possible, said Dennis Milligan, state chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas.
“I can’t say that they won’t make a pass through the state, and I can’t speak for (Mike) Huckabee, who is well known throughout the state, but there certainly is a chance someone will show up here to campaign.”
Milligan said it’s important to note that candidates like Huckabee and Hillary Clinton, both of whom have strong Arkansas ties, aren’t ignoring the Natural State just because they don’t campaign here. “They’re simply trying to get their names and faces shown in states where people may not know them as well,” he added.
“Candidates want to go where they are least known,” Milligan said. “It’s the same for both of them (Hillary and Huckabee). Hillary has been to Arkansas two or three times already, and there’s not much sense in coming back to a place where you already have a pretty good hold.”
Strong voter turnout expected
Voters will likely turn off their coffee pots, put down their newspapers and head to the polls in record numbers on Feb 5, giving a boost to their favorite candidates.
Arkansas Democratic Party Chairman Bill Gwatney said he expects that voter turnout will be “higher than we could have ever expected.”
Gwatney speculated that because Huckabee and Clinton have such strong Arkansas connections, voters here will likely want to be part of the Super Tuesday process.
“It’s going to be a big day, for sure,” Gwatney said. “But there will still be more than 50 percent of the delegates out there after (Super Tuesday). There will still be a long way to go. But there is definitely more interest in this thing in Arkansas, simply because of Senator Clinton and Governor Huckabee. Arkansas has the national spotlight again in politics.”
A recent New York Times article — dateline Bearden — says that Arkansas has been a fertile training ground for political candidates through the years.
Who knew?
For some perspective on the primary nominations from both sides, visit “The Green Papers.”
The Toyota Prius hybrid, which touts nearly 50 miles per gallon
in the city, could be one option for the El Dorado Police Department.
By John Worthen
News-Times Staff
Now that the City of El Dorado is shopping around for Hybrid vehicles for the EPD, everyone’s doing their research into these gas-sipping cars. On Jan. 8, the El Dorado City Council agreed to advertise for three hybrid vehicles, which could be used by school resource officers and EPD detectives.
Depending on the make and model, Hybrids can average more than 50 miles per gallon. Some perspective on Hybrid police vehicles can be found at Northern Illinois University, where campus officers switched to Hybrids more than four years ago.
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