JUNE 2010 |
Archive of previous Class-O-Grams here |
Thank you and God Bless you all. Do you know the history of Memorial Day? Well, would you believe that the term ‘Memorial Day’ became official in 1967? Interesting year huh? Here’s just a brief history of how it came to be: The Music Stopped For those who are unaware: At all military base theaters, the National Anthem is played before the movie begins. This is written from a Chaplain, Chaplain Jim Higgins LSA, in Iraq: I recently attended a showing of 'Superman 3' here at LSA Anaconda. We have a large auditorium we use for movies, as well as memorial services and other large gatherings. As is the custom at all military bases, we stood to attention when the National Anthem began before the main feature. All was going well until three-quarters of the way through The National Anthem, the music stopped. Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds back in the States? I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments, and everyone would sit down and yell for the movie to begin. Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place. Here in Iraq , 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward. The music started again and the Soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. But again, at the same point, the music stopped. What would you expect 1000 Soldiers standing at attention to do?? Frankly, I expected some laughter, and every one would eventually sit down and wait for the movie to start. But No!!... You could have heard a pin drop, while every Soldier continued to stand at attention. Suddenly, there was a lone voice from the front of the auditorium, then a dozen voices, and soon the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording left off: "And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave." It was the most inspiring moment I have had in Iraq and I wanted you to know what kind of Soldiers are serving you. Remember them as they fight for us! Written by Chaplain Jim Higgins LSA.
Now, without any more delay, let’s join together and wish all of our June born classmates a very Happy Birthday! Barbara Farley Nix June 2 HAPPY BIRTHDAY you guys! I wish you all great health and fun filled day celebrating your birth. Speaking of health, I have a couple of great things to let you know about. First of all Martin Tull got great news about the success of his chemo therapy and is getting ready to take on the radiation treatments. Martin continues to amaze me with the great attitude that he has maintained throughout this whole thing, and I appreciate his weekly updates probably more than any of you because I know that’s not an easy thing to do. Just like most of you I’ve also become a great fan of “The Bud Dog”, and I’m anxiously awaiting the pictures of him in Martin’s next update. Please continue to keep Martin in your thoughts and prayers as he begins the radiation treatments. The other great thing to let you know about is Charlie Harrington’s great news. As most of you know his doctors had found cancer on his vocal chords and he went in for surgery to have it taken care of. I visited with him at Baptist the afternoon after his surgery and I was really amazed at how awake and alert he was. His doctors had told him not to talk for four weeks so it was a pretty one sided conversation, but you all know that never bothered me. =) He was able to write his responses for me. He went home the next day and much to my surprise I got a phone call at work about two and a half weeks later. You guessed it, Charlie! The first words out of my mouth were “why are you talking”? After he quit laughing he said that he had gone back for a checkup and was told that he could start talking a few hours each day. The cancer was basically laying on top of his vocal chord and they were able to “shave” it off without having to do any damage to his voice. (He sounded just like before!) Not only that, but they could not find any cancerous cells or evidence of any cancer and he was NOT going to have to go through any chemo or radiation therapy as they had previously thought. I just about jumped out of my chair. I told him I couldn’t have gotten a better phone call. Then, of course, I had to scold him a bit and remind him that he had promised me that he was going to slow down his work schedule and start taking more time to enjoy life with wife Betty and his camper trailer. Prayer is an extremely powerful thing! I hope you guys are settled in wherever you are because I’ve got lots of stuff to pass along to you. Grab you a soft drink or a cup of coffee and read on. Over the years I’ve received several emails from those of you that live out of state and I understand that you feel somewhat disconnected to you ole Benton buddies. But here is something that you all can do, regardless of where you live, and it will effect generations to come. I received a letter from David Hughes and I’m posting it below. I hate to admit that I only live about 20 miles from Benton, and David, living in Virginia, had to let me know about this. Forces are mustering, primarily from "new" people who have moved to Benton since we graduated to support Superintendent Prothro's proposal to "retire" C.W. Lewis stadium. In its' stead he wants to spend between 12 and 15 MILLION dollars for a "state of the art" new stadium. The school board will borrow the money from a fund that has a short time frame to declare if the school system "wants" the money. If you feel C.W. Lewis Stadium is a part of Panther Heritage please write to the superintendent, school board members, the Courier and Inside Saline media. I am also thinking about starting a facebook page on the subject. Here is a letter Freddie Burton wrote to the local papers: Let's work to save unique, historic C.W. Lewis Stadium Also, there is a forum on www.mysaline.com on the subject. Let's hear from the Class of 67 on this ........ Thank you David and Freddie for this. Now, it’s time to set down and do your part. Write the letter today or you’ll forget it, or get too busy, or whatever excuse you find….you won’t do it. I think this is a worthwhile cause, and it’s hard to justify spending that kind of money to destroy that facility. New is NOT always better, it’s just newer! How about some more GREAT news?!? I received an email from Rosemary Dopierala Wall earlier this week and I want to pass that along to you. If you remember last month I mentioned that I had received a new email address from our very own Fred Smith. I knew a little bit of what all he had been doing but I stayed on him until I got him to email me with a synopsis of his life over the last 43 years. Man it sounds terrible when I say it like that! Anyway he gave me an update on what all has been going on with him. I think it’s one of the best “bring you up-to-date” type emails I’ve ever read, and I want to pass it along to you right now. ENJOY! I was last in Benton 18 years ago for my dear grandmother's funeral. Thanks to modern science, I discovered last year that I could "visit" whenever I wanted, after some dedicated person drove nearly every street in town taking those Google Earth car-top photos. That moved me to dig out my Panthers yearbook, and shortly after, Bill Struble (my oldest buddy, from second grade) steered me to Bill Killian's Class of '67 project. Since we're talking four decades living elsewhere, let me just hit the headlines. Well gang, that’s all I’ve got for this time. Actually I do have a little more, but I’ll save that for another time. Most of you are probably already worn out by now. Take care, have a very safe and wonderful Memorial weekend, and please remember our men and women that are serving our country in the military. God Bless & Have a Great Day! |
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Being in local government, I have seen the criticism toward our local officials. Sometimes it’s justifiable and other times not. So often those of us who don’t deal with certain issues and situations on a regular basis can become critical, not knowing all the facts and circumstances. The old saying, “Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain -- and most fools do,” has a lot of truth. 
Hopefully what I’m about to say will not be viewed as being critical or being non-progressive. 
On Monday, May 10, the Benton School Board passed a resolution 4-3 that states in part: " ... completing Phase 1 and 2 of the sports complex, including completion of sports complex field house, parking, home side bleachers and complex completion.” In brief, this would include: 
Phase 1 -- 1. Field house. 2. Scoreboard with control room. 3. Visitor side parking 4. Visitor side upgrade (bleacher expansion). 5. Visitor locker room. 6. Visitor restrooms 7. Visitor concessions. 8. Plaza (i.e., sidewalks). 9. Visitor ticket booth. 
Phase 2 -- 1. Home side bleachers (including band). 2. Press box. 3. Home side concessions. 4. Plaza (i.e., sidewalks, fencing, landscaping). 5.Home side parking. 
The project's total cost would be a little over $14 million. The funding for this project would be accomplished by the Benton School District issuing second lien bonds. The bonds would be repaid with surplus debt service millage revenue. 
Some have legitimate concerns and questions about the expense and the funding of this project. I leave that to others. But my concern, for the time being, is the preservation of C.W. Lewis Stadium in Downtown Benton. 
One thing that is obvious and has been in the works for some time is the replacement of C.W. Lewis Stadium. At this time the new athletic facility has a girls softball field, a football field that can also be used for soccer, a track around this field, and bleachers on one side, which is to be the visitor side bleachers after the home side bleachers are complete. If you haven’t seen this project, you certainly should. It has two entrances, one on Cox Street and one on the Benton Parkway. There is no denying that this project is impressive. Absolutely no expense has been spared and we all can be proud of this first class accomplishment. 
I understand that having all of our athletic facilities in one location has its advantages. Many other school districts have gone to this concept. But, C.W. Lewis Stadium in Downtown Benton is unique. For years our stadium has been listed as one of the top 10 stadiums in Arkansas to watch a high school football game. One sports writer a few years ago said, “C.W. Lewis Stadium in downtown Benton is the best place in Arkansas to watch a high school football game in the fall.” 
But, C.W. Lewis stadium has character and class. Sure, the “old guy” needs a face lift, with new turf, new home and visitor dressing rooms, expanded bleachers, and maybe even a big flat screen TV! I wish someone would do a cost analysis on totally renovating the “old guy” into a showplace, unlike anything in Arkansas. Something future generations will be thankful and proud we did. The renovation of C.W. Lewis would cost much less than building a completely new football stadium at the new athletic facility. 
In 1965, all of the business and local government officials decided it was time to replace our current Saline County Courthouse with a new, modern, efficient structure. A full page ad was placed in the newspaper with the signature of the most prominent citizens and elected officials endorsing this project. Ron Meyer had several cartoons conveying the message, “Those who are opposed to a new courthouse are too sentimental, old fashioned, and non-progressive.” In other words, the history and the tradition need not be considered. (I talked to Ron recently about those cartoons and he’s glad this idea didn’t prevail). 
But all over Arkansas this was the trend: "Out with the old, in with the new.” One elected official said, “We need to get two bulldozers, one on the south side of the courthouse and the other on the north side, and let them meet in the middle.” Letters were written to the newspaper accusing anyone who opposed a new courthouse as living in the past and being non-progressive. 
I recently saw the architectural drawings of that proposed courthouse. It was spacious with every modern convenience and had plenty of room for the present offices and space for growth. Everything about it made sense, except to the voters of Saline County, who soundly defeated the project -- to the amazement of all the elected officials. 
I’m thankful for those who stood up to the pressure of being called old fashioned and sentimental. When I give a tour of the courthouse to school children, they say to those voters back in 1965 -- not in words, but in their expression and their eyes -- "Thanks for preserving our tradition and our past.” 
Why can’t we have the best of both worlds? Why can’t we have a pristine and modern athletic complex and also a landmark of tradition and uniqueness? I’m asking everyone who feels as I do to e-mail or call our School Board members. First, thank them for their determination to build for future generations, and then plead with them to save that “old guy,” C.W. Lewis Stadium! 