Since Eagle Observer area may be getting three or four inches of rain during the next few days (this is being written late Thursday), ponds may be filled and a good cutting of hay may be in the works -- quite a contrast from how last year ended. The NOAA gauge at Gravette showed more than a seven-inch deficit of precipitation in 2016. This year we're already a few inches on the plus side, which should make the gardens grow. The lawn mowers are probably going to get a good workout, too.
Warning: This is going to be one of those "C" 'cuff columns. For new readers, the "C" stands for "conglomeration" and a resulting mismatch of topics for consideration. Bear with me. The first topic will be a bear. Others to follow in no particular order may include boats and snow and armadillos, debt counselors (how did that get in there?), as well as Sulphur Springs, red clover, aspirin and kissing. How's that for a conglomerated mess?
Since bear was considered first, I've had several persons wonder what happened to the bear that was carved from an oak stump in Gravette's Old Town Park, at the same time the eagle totem was created at the top of the hill. The bear disappeared. Since it was starting to deteriorate, the bear was removed, restored and now greets visitors as they enter the Gravette City Hall -- a nice greeting. A couple of other tree carvings have appeared in the area, a giant red cardinal at the pawn shop across the highway from Kindley Park and a genuine Gravette "Lion" at a Highway 72 curve on Hendren property east of Gravette. Neat!
Since we're thinking about animals, how about a little tidbit about goats. Goats have greatly increased in popularity, especially for youth animal husbandry projects. They (goats) have been put to work clearing underbrush in a city park in Fayetteville. Sounds pretty practical since they cleared the park a few years ago. Wonder if a trailer load could be sent to Washington and clear out some of the underbrush (use your imagination) that has afflicted our nation's Capitol?
Maybe it's time to jump to one of the last items on the "C" list: Kissing. Driving around town a few days ago, I saw that Gravette's kissing tree has been trimmed; i.e.; the large mistletoe clump, the only one in Gravette is no longer growing on the small limb in the trimmed tree. I guess we could say that "kissing has taken a smack" in Gravette. Sorry about that last line.
Let's cool off a little by remembering the four-inch snow that fell in the Gravette area on the third of May in 2013. Driving around, I've noticed snow in several yards in spite of temps that hit the upper sixties. Snowball bushes have been especially eye-catching this year, and the large white balls contrast nicely with roses that are blooming. They also sort of make up for the baskets full of brown wormy blossoms that have swarmed from the oak trees this spring ... that and the green pollen that has turned windshields and white vehicles a sooty green hue.
This 'cuff seems to be turning into a nature column, so we'll head for the finish line to note that dogwood trees' white blossoms have come and gone, arriving too early to correspond with the Dogwood Festival which I believe is scheduled in Siloam Springs this weekend. In fact, everything seems to be early this year, everything, that is, except the income tax deadline which, because of April 15 falling on Easter weekend, was extended. Wonder if garbled federal tax laws will get tweaked, something that hasn't happened since ... I can't remember when.
We'll end on a positive note: Our neighboring west-side community, Sulphur Springs, was featured in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette several days ago. A portion of the article was reprinted in the Eagle Observer. Sulphur Springs was my hometown and it hasn't enjoyed the growth patterns which have occurred throughout the area.
The article, which you probably read in last week's paper, paints a picture of optimism that hopefully will occur in that community which has so many pluses that, with luck and hard work, could turn things around. The huge shady park, coupled with the historic buildings, provide a good foundation for growth. The purchase of the Shiloh properties, those beautiful native stone buildings, by Kim and Marylea Hendren, may result in the push that could make Sulphur Springs the growing jewel of Benton County in northwest Arkansas. Let the positive actions begin!
I did note, in the population table that appeared with the original article, transposed population figures for Gravette, showing 3,216 population for 2000 and 1,810 for 2015. Since I've always had troubles with numbers, I understand how that happened. The table did show the population growth of Gravette was 78 percent for the 15 year period. Decatur's growth was 75 percent and Gentry grew 54 percent.
Well, that's a few topics, which are enough for this week. Maybe, if I can get my act together, we'll tackle red clover, hummingbirds, debt counselors and even armadillos next time. Don't hold your breath.
Dodie Evans is the former owner and long-time editor of the Gravette News Herald. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 04/26/2017