Opinion

Bob Ballinger will tell you, if you’ll listen and not ask any pesky questions, that the focus on his candidacy for the District 28 seat in the Arkansas State Senate should be on his “record.” He’ll also tell you that he’s finally paid his debt for three years of advertising in the Ag Days program, and that he doesn’t owe any state taxes...

For most people, Sunday was Mother’s Day. For me, it was just another day. There was no breakfast buffet, no presents to give, no social media posts to share. My grandmother died years ago, and my wife, the mother of my two stepdaughters, died in 2016. My mother died on October 15, 2020, after contracting the COVID-19 virus...

I make no secret of the fact that I believe in journalism that is aggressive, objective and accurate, in ascending order of importance. That’s the kind of journalism we strive to practice at Carroll County Newspapers. Sometimes that makes us unpopular in some circles, and that’s OK. ...

Dear Readers: This column was originally published on May 9, 2017. It is one of my favorites and I share it again today in memory of my mom...

I don’t get out on county roads that much. I usually prefer to stick to pavement, and — despite the driveway where I live and parking lot where I work — gravel just doesn’t do it for me. It’s bumpy, dusty and makes weird noises in my wheel wells when my tires kick up a rock or three...

I t was January 2020 and I was a little bit cranky. “No news!” I said at the time. “There is absolutely nothing going on!” I’ve made a solemn vow never to say such a thing again. As a career newspaperman, I love news. I love the thrill of chasing breaking news, of shining light into a dark corner, of telling a story someone doesn’t want told...

Back in December, I shared my experience in dealing with an online scammer who decided I was ripe for picking. That was only the beginning. Now, as Paul Harvey used to say, it’s time for “the rest of the story.” For those of you who missed out, I was randomly contacted by someone using the hacked account of an elderly female — a former neighbor — and was informed that I qualified for a $65,000 “cash prize” from the Department of Health and Human Services. ...