News

From patrolling morning rush hour to responding to a domestic call late at night, we ask a great deal from our men and women in law enforcement. We cannot thank them enough for their selfless service.

On behalf of all Arkansans, I’m honored to mark National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day by paying tribute to our law enforcement officers in The Natural State and across our country. These men and women who swear an oath to protect and serve their communities are committed to keeping us safe and upholding the law.

Hello, hope you are enjoying this warm weather. I’m just about ready to get the air conditioning unit installed. Ok, well Saturday was hot enough for AC but less than 24 hours later I’m ready to turn off the fan.

Hello to all of you Marshall Mountain Wave readers and greetings from the jewel of the Ozarks, Leslie, Arkansas. This week the town of Leslie lost a very important intangible treasure in Victor J. Massey. He was a local historian and lived in Leslie Most of his life with excursions into the world when he was younger. He told me the best stories about the history of this beautiful town I call home. He was real keen on details of a story when he told it and he was a great storyteller. A favorite story that he had recounted to me was one morning he woke up to the sounds of wild animals. Like lions and tigers and monkeys, as well as elephants. He thought he was dreaming but then his mother said come look outside. He said he looked out on High Street, and there was a whole circus that was coming down the hill. There had been an accident up on Hwy 66 and so the traffic was coming down old Hwy 66 which is High Street here in Leslie. They say when an old person dies it is like a library has been burned to the ground. Victor was not old he was 57 but he had the stories of an old man. He had worked with his father who was a much older man when Victor was born, as Victor was a surprise change of life baby for the Masseys, they had their first child Rudy and then 18 years later they had Victor. Victor told me his mother announced his pending arrival to his father and brother by saying someone at this table is pregnant he said Rudy and his father both said. Who? So Victor was taught the ways of rural living that had gone on since the dust bowl days and the Great Depression.

Hello folks! Time for a few News lines. We attended a baseball game this week for the 4- to 6-year-olds. Great granddaughter Dru was one of the players. These little guys are so fun to watch! They try so hard and learn a lot about baseball from their coaches. Time spent with children is invaluable.