Poinsett County Democrat Tribune: Opinion

Scholars, descendants seek answers in explorer's death (07/02/09)
Can modern forensic science help solve a 200 year old mystery? The descendants of famed explorer Meriwether Lewis sure hope so. The family is seeking permission to exhume his remains in the hopes of shedding light on whether their famous ancestor took his own life in 1809 or was murdered for political reasons...

Football -- a pre-preview (07/02/09)
In just about a month, the football practice fields of Poinsett County's high schools will be teeming once again with kids getting ready for what they are sure will be stellar seasons. Some of the players will have to get used to new coaches while all the coaches will have to get used too many new players...

Welcome to your new paper (07/02/09)
As you picked up your hometown paper this week you might have noticed a little something different about the front page. The Tri-City Tribune and Trumann Democrat have merged to form the Poinsett County Democrat Tribune. We are all so excited about the change, and all the new things we will have to offer you, our readers...

An introduction of sorts (07/02/09)
Since this will be our first edition of the new paper, I wanted to properly introduce myself. My name is Marissa Holiman. I am from Lepanto and a 2005 graduate of East Poinsett County High School. My parents are Mark and Kaye Holiman. ...

A week of strange happenings (07/02/09)
Last week was one of those special ones. You go all year with not much happening, and then in one week, everything happens. On Monday the big news was South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford. The week before he had taken a few days off. Now, ordinarily that wouldn't be big news, but in this case it was because he didn't tell anyone he was taking the time off, or where he was going--not even his wife...

A new and expanded direction (06/25/09)
As most of you know if you look at the pages of the Tribune and Democrat, I've never been one to write a column just to hear myself talk. If I didn't have something to say, I just didn't write a column. That's why it's been some time since I've written in this space...

Still committed to our readers (06/25/09)
You may notice something a little different about next week's newspaper. As of July 1, the Tri-City Tribune and the Trumann Democrat will merge together to form the Poinsett County Democrat Tribune. I've talked to many of you in the community about this upcoming change, and like with most change, the news was met with mixed results. ...

Mitchum's "Coyle" makes DVD debut (06/25/09)
I love classic movies. If I could only have one television channel it would be Turner Classic Movies hands down. I could sit and watch TCM all day. Even if I have seen them a dozen times before, I never grow tired of watching the greats like Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, Paul Newman or John Wayne in action...

Homeland right about extremists (06/18/09)
A few weeks ago the Department of Homeland Security released a report saying we could be facing terrorism threats from right wing extremists. Conservatives in print and on FOX News completely ignored the word "extremist" and used the report to claim the Obama Administration was accusing all conservatives of being terrorists. ...

America needs to get healthy (06/18/09)
Healthcare reform is the topic of the hour on most political talk shows these days. With a Democratic congress in place, President Obama is gearing up to make good on some of those campaign promises he made about providing insurance for every American...

Some tips for internet safety (06/18/09)
This week on facebook, the facebook scare story was circulating again. You know, the one about the undercover police officer "stalking" the 13 year old softball player that was home alone every afternoon until 6:30. The child played softball on Thursdays for the Canton Cats, jersey #7. She posted her entire life on the web page facebook...

America needs to get healthy (06/18/09)
Healthcare reform is the topic of the hour on most political talk shows these days. With a Democratic congress in place, President Obama is gearing up to make good on some of those campaign promises he made about providing insurance for every American...

Internet safety is vital today (06/18/09)
This week on facebook, the facebook scare story was circulating again. You know, the one about the undercover police officer "stalking" the 13 year old softball player that was home alone every afternoon until 6:30. The child played softball on Thursdays for the Canton Cats, jersey #7. She posted her entire life on the web page facebook...

A note back from the President (06/18/09)
I had no idea what I was going to write about this week for my column. But when I went home for lunch Monday and checked my mailbox, I noticed an oversized envelope awaiting my attention with a return address of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave...

Rude cashiers drive me crazy (06/12/09)
Please excuse me while I pull out my soap box for a moment. Last week I was going through a drive thru, and when I arrived at the window to pay for my order the cashier was talking on her cell phone. She continued to talk on the phone the whole time she took my money and handed me back my change. I gathered quickly from what she was saying that it was a personal phone call...

There's plenty to do at home (06/12/09)
Economy keeping you close to home this summer? You don't have to cancel your vacation all together. There are so many nice, beautiful places to visit and things to do right in our own backyard. There are numerous museums such as Wilson Hampson Museum (655-8622), The Painted House, Lepanto USA Museum in Lepanto (475-2384), Delta Area Museum in Marked Tree (358-4998), Southern Tenant Farmers Museum in Tyronza (487-2909), and Trumann Museum (487-7744).. ...

This Yankee can't stand the heat (06/12/09)
For many, summertime is a favorite time of the year. It's a time when school is out and people take to the road to enjoy weekends at the lake or family vacations, have cookouts and go camping. I used to love summers too. That is, until I moved below the Mason-Dixon line...

Rude cashiers drive me crazy (06/12/09)
Please excuse me while I pull out my soap box for a moment. Last week I was going through a drive thru, and when I arrived at the window to pay for my order the cashier was talking on her cell phone. She continued to talk on the phone the whole time she took my money and handed me back my change. I gathered quickly from what she was saying that it was a personal phone call...

There's plenty to do at home (06/12/09)
Economy keeping you close to home this summer? You don't have to cancel your vacation all together. There are so many nice, beautiful places to visit and things to do right in our own backyard. There are numerous museums such as Wilson Hampson Museum (655-8622), The Painted House, Lepanto USA Museum in Lepanto (475-2384), Delta Area Museum in Marked Tree (358-4998), Southern Tenant Farmers Museum in Tyronza (487-2909), and Trumann Museum (487-7744).. ...

This Yankee can't stand the heat (06/12/09)
For many, summertime is a favorite time of the year. It's a time when school is out and people take to the road to enjoy weekends at the lake or family vacations, have cookouts and go camping. I used to love summers too. That is, until I moved below the Mason-Dixon line...

An Open Letter to Blanche Lincoln (06/12/09)
Dear Blanche, Excuse me for assuming we are on a first name basis, but I have voted for you every time you have been on the ballot, and I do help pay your salary, so what did you expect? Anyway, I'm writing to you because there is some talk that you might have a hard time getting re-elected next year. ...

It's time to explore, dream and discover (06/08/09)
"Twenty years from now you'll be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by ones you did do. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -- Mark Twain...

Venting over tv commercials (06/08/09)
While watching TV last night, I was literally sick to my stomach. What is supposed to be family viewing time has exposed us to much too personal, sensitive and tasteless advertisements. It is exposing children to a few things a little too early, in my opinion. How do you explain to your small child about Viagra, condoms, male enhancement products and female personal products?...

Kids meal toys becoming pass�? (06/08/09)
I haven't been a kid for quite some time but if I were still a kid you can bet I would still order a McDonald's Happy Meal or whatever they call them at Burger King or Wendys...

Venting over television programs (06/08/09)
While watching TV last night, I was literally sick to my stomach. What is supposed to be family viewing time has exposed us to much too personal, sensitive and tasteless advertisements. It is exposing children to a few things a little too early, in my opinion. How do you explain to your small child about Viagra, condoms, male enhancement products and female personal products?...