As a son of a Master Sergeant in the Air Force who served for 23 years, I understand the unique challenges veterans and their families experience and how Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, programs and care are critical for men and women called to serve in our nation’s uniform. This is what drove me to serve on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and work with Arkansas veterans and Veterans Service Organizations in our state and nationwide to improve services and benefits veterans earned. Through our collaborative efforts, we’ve made positive reforms and updates to VA care and benefits.

I hope everyone made it through last weekend’s plunge into the arctic. Bitter cold temperatures, a bit of winter precipitation and near blizzard conditions hit much of this country, including our neck of the woods.

Each year at this time I put out a Christmas wish list. Some are serious in nature, while others are just whimsical wishes. 

It’s common to hear from Arkansans all over the state about their friends and family members in need of help regarding a problem with a federal government agency. 

We had a nice visitor to The Record last week drop by to thank us for reporting the news in an unbiased way. We always enjoy hearing from the public.  

I saw a young boy with a yellow hat on, the kind of hat worn by actor Bob Denver as the lead role in the TV show “Gilligan’s Island.” The boy was looking at underwear or some other item of clothing while the hat sat atop his little head. I saw two young girls who eyed a sparkly, red dress. I saw a boy trying on a pair of shoes with the concentration a man of my age has when looking at new tires for his car. One young boy was excited about some socks. Another was thrilled at a T-shirt in camo pattern. Another girl giggled as she picked out not one, but two pair of leggings that matched a new shirt.

Growing up in a military family, Richard McKinney learned at an early age about service and sacrifice. These lessons inspired him to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the U.S. Air Force after graduating from Greenwood High School.

I took in my first basketball game last Tuesday at the new AT & Georgia Mae Smith Activity Center. The beautiful facility still has the “new-car” smell to it. The Huntsville School District and those who voted for a millage increase to build it should be very, very proud of the activity center.

When my daughters were growing up they were very active in 4-H and would show livestock we raised on our property in Benton County. To help develop their handling skills, the girls would put harnesses on the lambs and walk them on the sidewalks around town. This drew many curious looks, and with surprising frequency, questions about what breed of dog the girls were walking.

A week ago I wrote about the surprise discovery that there used to be an indoor pool and spa in Huntsville. The pool used to be in the same building as the skating rink, where today the Open Arms Food Pantry is located on West Street. The pool is still there, beneath the floor. It was covered up many years ago.

Our country is shaped by individuals who take initiative to serve others. In Arkansas, we can give thanks for all these givers who are willing to serve causes greater than themselves.

I love history, especially on a local level. I’ve heard, seen and read a lot about Madison County and Huntsville since coming to work at The Record in 2017. But, last week I heard something I knew nothing about.

There’s an event in our nation’s past that, though catastrophic and heartbreaking, hasn’t ever received the attention it truly deserves. For Arkansans, it should be something we learn about thoroughly and feel connected to perhaps more than most of the other dates and milestones we read in textbooks and hear about from educators.

Madison County voters on Nov. 8 approved the building of a county jail, elected a new mayor in Huntsville, and chose a new county judge. They also helped elect state and national leaders.

Agriculture is the cornerstone of Arkansas’s economy. It’s a way of life for families in rural communities across our state. For generations, men and women have proudly devoted their lives to producing the food and fiber that feeds and clothes the world. Their job is vital as we confront new global threats and we must ensure they have the tools and the resources to rise to the challenge.

Veterans Day is a time for us to pay our respect to those who served in the military. For one day we stand united in respect for our Veterans. 

What an honor it was to speak to a couple of members of the Douglas family last week for a story in this week’s paper for Veterans Day (Page 7A).

C.R. Crawford Construction and the Huntsville School District on Friday will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the AT & Georgia Mae Smith Activity Center, located at 400 Cain Ave. I went to a basketball practice there last week, and walked through its entirety on another visit. It is an amazing facility that this town should be very, very proud of.

Madison County voters are faced with a few choices: how much to spend on a jail and where and how big to build it. 

I spent a little time last week at Ozark Mountain Produce near Marble with the family of Brent and Betty Jo Hargis. The family will be profiled next month when we celebrate them being named the 2022 Farm Family of the Year for Madison County.