On The Record : ‘We Want The Truth’ about ‘We Want Your Soul’

GARY BURTON

By now, most of Siloam Springs — and the rest of the country — has heard about the visit earlier this month to the city by two people offering to buy a woman’s soul. - Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Arkansas needs a trauma system

KIM HENDREN State Senator

Arkansas, Kentucky and South Dakota are the only three states without a statewide emergency trauma system. Arkansas has large hospitals in urban areas with well-staffed and well-equipped emergency rooms. One problem, however, is a lack of specialists on call at all times. It's a nationwide problem. Hospitals report difficulties finding hand specialists, ear, nose and throat specialists, neurologists, orthopedic specialists and plastic surgeons who will agree to be on call. In the 2007 legislative session, Arkansas lawmakers were close to finalizing a plan to create a statewide trauma system, but the session ended before they could reach an agreement on how to pay for it. Since then legislators have continued work on a trauma system. Many are optimistic that creation of a trauma system will be a top priority in the 2009 regular session, which begins in January. - Wednesday, July 23, 2008

EDITORIAL : Just do it

According to Dr. Paul Halverson, director of the Arkansas Department of Health, the leading cause of death of people between the ages of 1 and 44 in Arkansas is injury. Add that realization to Arkansas being home to the highest rates of motor vehicle accidents in the country, and that children’s deaths from motor vehicle accidents in Arkansas tend to double the national average. Each fact says the same thing. That while Arkansas has excellent medical professionals at its disposal, these fine people may not have all the tools they need to get the job done right. Actually, that’s an understatement. It is estimated that 200-600 Arkansans die annually simply because they can’t reach the emergency care they need quickly enough. - Wednesday, July 23, 2008

LETTERS

Thanks for those who helped local baseball Siloam Springs Youth Baseball just completed its fifteenth year at the James Butts Baseball Complex. This year over 440 boys and girls signed up to play America's favorite past-time, baseball. There were over 15,000 volunteer hours dedicated to teaching the fundamentals of the game, raising funds, operating the concession stand, administering the league and maintaining the Butts Complex. This year Cal Ripken Baseball became the first youth sports organization to require certification of coaches, and SSYB was 100 percent compliant with the mandate. SSYB sent eleven teams to district tournaments in post-season play this year. All but one team qualified for state tournaments in their age group. There were four district champion teams, two district runner-up teams, and two state tournament runners-up. Two teams were invited to play in upcoming regional tournaments. We were selected to host two district tournaments and a state tournament this year. Many of our guests were - Wednesday, July 23, 2008