Yep ... it's the weather, or rather the record-breaking rainfall that occurred in Eagle Observer country, that takes top billing this week, even if it is a week or so late. Since the rainfall this April set a record for the month at the NOAA rain gauge in Gravette, the armadillo and aspirin and red clover, and even debt counselors, which were postponed in the last 'cuff will have to take back seats.
The 14.57 inches of rain that fell during April edged the 14.15 inches that fell in April six years ago, in 2011. The 88-year average for the month is 4.38 inches. The driest April on record occurred in 1989 when only 0.27 inch was recorded.
To put everything in perspective, only three months during the past 88 years (is that more than a thousand months?) exceeded the deluge that hit northwest Benton County last month. Those months were May, 1943, when 16.48 inches fell; April, 1935, when 16.04 inches were recorded; and October, 1941, when 15.18 inches fell.
Interestingly, the most rain on a single April day at the local station was not the 5.43 inches that fell on April 29 this year, but rather 5.62 inches that were recorded just six years ago on April 25, 2011. Creeks out of banks, bridge damage, heavy road damage, some structure damage and on and on and on were recorded in the monthly reports for both 2011 and 2017.
Every area suffered damages but, southeast of Gravette, Stagecoach Road was rendered impassable both years. And something Yankee catcher Yogi Berra said and made famous years ago might be appropriate: "It's deja vu all over again."
Most of the Spavinaw Creek bridge which was dedicated May 20 last year didn't serve quite a year, as approaches on both sides of the new bridge washed out. A news account from that dedication noted the new structure cost $400,000, the same amount former President Obama received for a speech before a stock market gathering recently.
Before hitting armadillos (hey, they are fast runners), red clover and debt counselor topics, just for good measure, here are a few more of Yogi's famous sayings: "I never said most of what I said," "It ain't over 'till it's over," or "I usually take a two-hour nap from two to four," and, "It ain't the heat, it's the humanity."
Now, on to red clover: Have you noticed red clover blossoms along some Arkansas highways? The clover that was seeded along the highway approach to the overpass in Gravette bloomed brightly again this year. It was seeded there some 15 years ago -- a pretty darn good record. Wouldn't it be attractive to have all highways bordered with flowering annuals?
Crrraaaakkkk ... let's change gears. Is it my imagination the armadillo population has exploded because of recent mild winters? They're everywhere -- at least in my front yard. Ugly critters, aren't they? But it could be worse. Believe it or not, recently I was watching a PBS nature program and saw pictures of huge, ugly critters they call armadillos which roam in the forests of Brazil. Double ugh. Let's build a fence to keep them out of America. Our armadillos migrated from south of the border. Do you remember the first time you saw armadillos in Benton County? It was about 50 years ago when I took a picture of local kids with one of the strange invaders that their dad had killed. One of the kids called it "cute." What do we call them today? Your move.
Let's move on to aspirin. The wonder drug. Research is continually finding what some term to be positives for the little white pill that has been around so long and has probably cured more headaches than the aches caused by bottles of booze. The aspirin-a-day regimen seems to help prevent or slow down heart attacks. And recent research seems to indicate such an aspirin regimen may be helpful in battling some types of cancer. I can't verify when or where that tidbit slapped me in the face.
Now on to a final topic, debt counselors. Recently there has been a rash of ads on the tube which promote debt counseling and assure financial problems of overspending individuals or families could be cured. What this country really, really needs is a nonpartisan debt counselor for all the improbable debt makers in Washington. Think they would get the message? Don't hold your breath.
A final item is a little wish to add to the several personal wishes I noted a few weeks ago: I wish the entrance pillars at Kindley Park in Gravette would get a new coat of stucco or paint or whatever before the Fourth of July ... that, and good weather to help speed completion of the Gravette Main Street project.
An additional note: Bids have been approved for paving sections of Gordon Hollow and Dickson Roads in the Hiwasse area. Hopefully recent rain damage will not delay that project.
Dodie Evans is the former owner and long-time editor of the Gravette News Herald. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 05/10/2017