Washington County Enterprise-Leader

News

State tallies 652 new virus cases, 9 more deaths Arkansas recorded 652 new cases of covid-19 Thursday, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said, as well as nine more deaths, bringing the toll to 582 since the pandemic began. by Nyssa Kruse

Virus cases grow by 703 as governor announces coalition of states seeking tests Arkansas reported 703 new cases of the coronavirus on Wednesday, as the number of test results logged by the Health Department lagged for the second consecutive day. by John Moritz

Prairie Grove Sends Off 2020 Graduates Members of Prairie Grove Class of 2020 file into Tiger Arena to "Pomp and Circumstance" for the high school's graduation ceremony Aug. 1. All graduates wore masks and sat in chairs that were spaced six feet apart. Guests were limited, had assigned seats and sat together in family groups. by Lynn Kutter

Once A Tiger, Always A Tiger PRAIRIE GROVE -- Prairie Grove's Class of 2020 didn't graduate to a standing-room-only crowd, which would have been the norm any other year, but those on hand to see it in person cheered just as much to celebrate the milestone. by Lynn Kutter

Celebrating 50 Years With PG Schools PRAIRIE GROVE -- Ann Dunham, treasurer and bookkeeper for Prairie Grove School District, had a surprise when she showed up at the administration office Friday morning. by Lynn Kutter

Lincoln Enjoys Annual Rodeo LINCOLN -- Rodeo creates a viable family atmosphere where a refreshing experience becomes tangible, reviving spirits wearied by covid-19 and all of its imposed restrictions upon the American lifestyle. by Mark Humphrey

Middle School Will SOAR With New Grant FARMINGTON -- Farmington Middle School will use a two-year, $70,000 grant to purchase technology and new curriculum, for additional tutoring and to provide staff training and professional development. by Lynn Kutter

Police Report PRAIRIE GROVE by Jackie Brooks

Sports

Lincoln Riding Club 67th Annual Rodeo MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Tatum Perkins, 11, helps a young cowgirl get off after a successful mutton busting ride Saturday while his younger brother, Tripp Perkins, moves in to help. The boys are sons of Charlie and Christy Perkins of Farmington and grandsons of legendary rodeo clown Woody Porter. by Mark Humphrey

Lincoln Rodeo Results LINCOLN -- The action flew fast and furious from Thursday's wet opening with rain dampening the Lincoln Riding Club Arena to a hot Saturday finale during the 67th annual Lincoln Rodeo last weekend. by Mark Humphrey

Loop offers drive on the wild side Among all scenes plentiful in the Ozarks are rocks, trails, rivers, lakes and scenic drives. Unfold your trusty highway map and pick any two-lane byway. A twisting, hilly scenic drive awaits. Picking a route is easier than folding that map back the way it was. by Flip Putthoff

Pageant Presents Oral History Of Cowgirls MORROW -- Vivid images portraying evolution of the cowgirl lifestyle rolled off the tongues of candidates vying for the 2020 Lincoln Riding Club Junior Queen during speech and modeling competition. by Mark Humphrey

Rodeo Activities Showcase Lincoln Community MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER/Gauge Perkins, 4, 2019 Lincoln Riding Club Lil' Mister, finds himself surrounded by 2019 LRC royalty and 2020 contestants for queen, junior queen and princess during Speech and Modeling competition held Wednesday, Aug. 5 at the Morrow Country Store. by Mark Humphrey

From The Ground Up LINCOLN -- Teigan Parker's birth didn't break the family mold, but did launch a new branch for this first generation rodeo competitor. by Mark Humphrey

Putting A Good Face On Rodeo LINCOLN -- Rodeo embodies each freedom essential to maintaining the American lifestyle envisioned by the founding fathers and because of that the sport has come under attack like never before. by Mark Humphrey

Lincoln Riding Club 2020 Royalty MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER/Elaina Knight, of Van Buren (left), was crowned Miss Lincoln Riding Club by 2019 queen Landree Cunningham during Saturday's rodeo performance at the 67th annual Lincoln Rodeo. by Mark Humphrey

Opinion

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor: by Jackie Brooks

Amendment 1: Keeping 0.5% Sale Tax For Highways There are three amendments appearing on the upcoming Nov. 3 ballot that have been referred to the voters from the Arkansas General Assembly. by Jackie Brooks

OPINION: Beauty In The Backyard Carol and I moved to Siloam Springs in November of 2008. As we drove through town in the summers, we noticed trees and bushes that reminded me of beautiful shrubbery that grew in Charleston, S.C., when I lived there in 1963-64. This tree/shrub/bush proliferates in the American Southwest. by Jackie Brooks

COLUMN: The Virus That's Really Killing Americans? Greed The holy mantra of health professionals was coined about 2,500 years ago by the Greek physician Hippocrates: "Do no harm." by Jackie Brooks

OPINION: Grateful mom sees what first jobs teach her teenage sons During what many would describe as the suckiest summer in recent history, something good happened at our house. Two of our three children have become gainfully employed with their first official jobs. by Becca Martin-Brown

Cartoon Cartoon by Lynn Kutter

OPINION: 130 Days Into Pandemic, Please No Politicking Remember back in early March, we all hoped this virus would be just a temporary pandemic, causing a simple, brief shut-down of the state and our nation? by Jackie Brooks

OPINION: Peacefully Protest According to the U.S. Constitution, American citizens have some rights. Those rights include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Each of us has the freedom to pursue our rights with one exception. You can't trample on my rights to fulfill yours. Your rights end at my nose. by Jackie Brooks

Religion

RELIGION: Continue in the true faith "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." Colossians 2:6-7 (read Colossians 2:1-10) by Randy Moll

Getting Back To Churches Safely Amid Covid-19 Pandemic People who believe in God want to worship him in their churches. However, when the coronavirus swept across our country, one of the first group meetings to go was in our churches. Obviously, such a dangerous virus would play havoc among people hugging, singing, praying and sitting close to one another in church. Therefore, it made sense to close our churches for a while, but not forever. by Lynn Kutter

RELIGION: Why was the Apostle Paul suffering? "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily." Colossians 1:24-29 by Randy Moll