Opinion

Hunting until recent decades was very much a part of our rural Randolph County lifestyle. When fall came that part of subsistence living began.

Ransom Sutherland Bettis is considered to be the founder of Pocahontas. He certainly deserves as much credit as any and more than most.

The first school in the state was reported to be in a cave near Ravenden Springs sometime before 1820 and taught by Caleb Lindsey. There was very little educational activity in this area before the Civil War. Scattered communities had a few weeks of “subscription” school each year. These schools were commonly held in homes of prominent citizens or in church houses. During the period from the close of the Civil War and 1880, educational conditions improved dramatically, as a general desire to have the children secure at least an elementary education was encouraged. The desire of most to have a place to attend church and a place for the children to attend school resulted in a building being used for both purposes. Over the years, about 100 school districts have existed in Randolph County, whereas by about 200 years later, only 2 county schools remain (Pocahontas and Maynard) plus 1 private school (St. Paul). Logistics, technology, and the State Education Department have deemed our children are better served this way. (Hmm, I guess) Our parents remembered several of the community schools, such as Shipper, which stood near the old “Doc” McCleskey house on Highway 62 West, where my dad, Duel Grissom attended and taught by my great aunt, Betty Grissom. My mom, Mary Hufstedler Grissom, attended school at Old Union in the Birdell community, which has been restored and is placed on the National Register of Historic places. Efforts from several years ago have preserved a list and pictures of the teachers that taught school there. I remember 5 of the remaining school districts in the county. They were Pocahontas, Maynard, Biggers-Reyno, Ravenden Springs (later Oak Ridge Central) and St. Paul. These schools were very competitive and the county basketball tournament was usually hotly contested each year. But, no more. Our rivalries today may be halfway across the state. Community pride was built on the backs of the schools, just as Harmon Seawel recollects of the baseball games back in the day, such as between Attica and Oakland or others in the area. Yes, we have come a long way from the one room schoolhouse holding 6 to 8 grades together to our multi-million dollar structures today with computerized everything holding unlimited information at our finger tips, but I doubt very seriously the contribution of today’s students will out perform the hard work and determination of the students who attended these small community schools of yesteryear.

There is an old market saying that goes, “Sell in May and go away.” For those of us who follow markets closely, it is easily observable that the stock market tends to drift lower during the summer months, with an eventually pick up into late fall and year-end. While there are several instances where the market performed well during the summer, it is good to discuss the philosophy of seasonal market trends and prepare for several possible outcomes.

What a special Mother’s Day this year has been! To begin with at church this morning every mother had received flowers! Actually, some very sweet teenagers thought to do this! Early they had gathered various wildflowers, so there were many colors in their bouquet. Each one had worn a big smile, as we received those flowers! The service would certainly make one reflect on life and how it should be lived. Seems every mother in the County was out to lunch. We ate too much, celebrated too much, and visited too much, so good to see Sharon, her daughter Michelle and little grandson (neighbors for years in the long ago) we hugged big. Red and I sat on the porch long enjoying the sunshine. Then, In the late afternoon, I went upstairs to read in what we refer to as the beach room, colors and decorations are, just like at the beach! Though there is no ocean to see out the windows, nor crashing waves to hear. Did you by chance happen to see the skies that evening? I was distracted from my book, watching them. The colors were spectacular, ever-changing, as evening drew on. They seemed to be lit from within as they went skittering past. It was all so very calming I drifted and dozed. But I kept nudging myself back to wakefulness to not miss this show. Put on as it were for Mother’s Day, by the hand of God! A Mother’s Day for the books!

ME: Mike. Roll over.

As promised, for this week we will look at the fresh faces expected to be on the sidelines for Butch Jones’ Arkansas State football squad in 2022. Former Cincinnati Covington Catholic standout quarterback AJ Mayer announced in mid-April he would be leaving Miami University of Ohio and transfer to Arkansas State as a graduate transfer.

Jean Pearcy has gotten herself into a mess and I don’t think she can ever get herself out of it. A few weeks ago, thinking she was doing a one-time good deed, she gifted me a bag of red hots from the 131-year-old Schimpff’s Confectionery in Jeffersonville, Indiana. They were so good that I bragged on them over and over, hoping she would take the hint. Hint was taken. Last Friday, Jean came by the office to pick up a paper and my friend had a bag of red hots and as a bonus, a bag of chocolates. I’ve been eating red hots for days.

Another cool, windy but beautiful day. The first day of May so we know summer is just around the corner.