Controversy will die down
Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Editorial/236149/
Count me among those still stunned a
week after learning of the two
daycare teachers who lost their jobs for allegedly prompting fights between preschoolers entrusted to their care. Police began investigating after a parent alleged that 3- and 4-year-old children in day-care at Fayetteville’s Central United Methodist Church were being forced to fight with each other during their “circle time.” Police Sgt. John Warren said that the preschoolers were told not to tell their parents about the alleged punching, kicking and pushing “game,” which also came under immediate investigation by the state Department of Human Services. It so happens that Laurie and I know many fine people who attend this church in which we exchanged vows. Its day-care center has operated for three decades without a hint of any problem until this shocker. Church administrator Brian Swain said the staff was reaching out to parents and reassuring them that the allegation against the teachers was an anomaly that had been handled with the dismissal of both teachers, who have not been identified. Counseling and other forms of assistance also were made available. It appears that the 18 preschoolers at the center were telling one version of events to officials while the teachers were telling another. I’m sure the authorities will get to the truth. Meanwhile, the congregation at Central must be incensed over this incident and the headlines it made at the time the church is opening its state-of-the-art youth building. Knowing the leadership at Central, I’m certain this, too, shall pass. Crackdown Code enforcement officers in Springdale are cracking down on temporary signs directing potential customers to their yard sales. Not only are increasing numbers of folks selling their possessions to help make ends meet, now they risk breaking the law by placing these cardboard signs without following The Law. Our reporter Richard Massey wrote that the signs pose no danger to public safety, but the city has deemed them offensive to improving Springdale’s image. The code officers boast that they removed a total of 373 such image-tainting signs in July alone.
Yard sale signs are valid for only two days and a permit cannot be issued to the same address more than twice in the same calendar year. The signs must be free-standing, they can’t be placed more than two days before the sale and they must be removed by the day after. Got that ? You may be tested later.
Mike Chamlee, official chief of the Springdale code upholders, said he and his staff don’t like to nitpick, so they’ve seldom issued tickets. However, one Springdale violator did plead guilty to a yard sign infraction this year and was fined $ 50.
Fighting yard sale sign crime apparently is no easy matter. Sometimes crafty offenders place a sign containing an arrow with no incriminating address to raid come Monday morning. It also can get tricky when cardboard boxes used to create some signs are weighted with everything from rocks to shoes.
Chamlee recalled that one yard-saler once used an ax head to secure a box sign. It was a potential problem that I suspect the Springdale codesters found difficult to hack.
James Willett, who oversees code enforcement for Rogers, summarized the no-nonsense attitude of yard sale sign crime fighters this way: “Someone wants to make a quick profit on their junk and have someone else clean up after them.”
Yeah, so says the government, all you junk-selling, high-rolling, profiteering yard sale sign violators. Hit-and-run
How about Bradley Wilson of Mayfield, who likely saved his younger brother’s life when he pushed him out of the path of an onrushing car that instead struck and injured Bradley ?
Recently, the 12-year-old middle-schooler was walking with brother Cody, 6, on a Washington County road. Suddenly, a small, green, four-door car with a spoiler or fin in the rear appeared and veered straight toward them without slowing. Bradley pushed Cody into a roadside ditch and took the impact. The driver then sped away.
When Cody saw his brother bleeding beside the road, he sprinted for help. Bradley was Air-Evaced to Washington Regional in Fayetteville, where fortunately his injuries were called minor.
I’d say these brothers will have a bonding moment to share well into old age. Meanwhile, the Washington County sheriff’s office continues to search for the driver. Call if you know anything. More problems
The struggling Huntsville School District, which already finds itself overcrowded and in some jeopardy by the state after three millage failures, has had more problems crashing around it.
Its administrators have been dealing with thieves who last Monday broke into offices at the middle and intermediate schools, as well as the gymnasium, and stole money, laptops, cameras and PalmPilots while kicking in numerous doors.
The intruders also pillaged desks before flipping some over, spilling their contents onto the floor. Huntsville police officer Mike Livermore told the Madison County Record that there was a great deal of property damage. Two suspects ages 18 and 17 were arrested on Thursday. The Record reported that each has been charged with burglary, felony property theft and felony criminal mischief. Livermore told the newspaper that a parent found some items she knew were not her son’s and, having read about the burglary, phoned a local law enforcement officer. Some (but not all ) of the stolen items have been recovered.
—–––––•–––––—Staff columnist Mike Masterson is the former editor of three Arkansas daily newspapers.