Bits & Pieces: Mona Lisa just keeps on smilin’ 

The Tuesday morning fire, which claimed 12 apartment units, could have been much worse. That approximately 30 people lost the roof over their heads and all the property in their possession is heartbreaking. We showed up and “read the room”, so to speak, observing the expressions on police officers’ faces — our gut told us we’d be delivering the horrifying news that the blaze claimed the lives of several people. The inferno started before dawn, when many people are still slumbering. One resident likened its spread to a domino effect. In terms of lives lost, Tuesday could have been far more tragic than the 1997 tornado. Fortunately, the residents of Valley View Apartments moved with haste, miraculously outpacing the blaze. Times like this make it hard to doubt a higher power exists. 

Superpowers always fightin’
Mona Lisa just keeps on smilin’
It’s a miracle
— Queen, ‘The Miracle’

Just an observation: On the southern end of Friendship Drive, near where the one-way street intersects with Country Club Road, there is bright-red signage warning motorists that they’re traveling the wrong way. Directly beneath that is an inviting blue sign indicating the street has been lovingly adopted for litter control. Can’t read it unless you’re traveling the wrong way.

What we like to call The Mowing Wars — when one neighbor’s mowing sparks a wave of impulsive lawn maintenance throughout the neighborhood — have officially begun. Logan, it’s your turn!

Other places where the government provides news:
• Russia
• North Korea
• China
• Iran

There appears to be a decent amount of confusion among interstate travelers wanting to enter I-30 westbound from Pine Street at its junction with W.P. Malone Drive. We’ve observed countless drivers come to a stop beneath the traffic light as it turns red for Pine Street traffic, and we’ve watched others who stick by the “right on red” adage. There is no signage indicating that turning right is not allowed there (although the right-hand turn is several yards from the intersection), but given there is one lane of traffic entering the inside eastbound lane, from Malone, makes one wonder if a right-hand turn is OK. Signage would settle this question.

Thanks, Hosea Sanders, for the kind words.

Spring Break is March 23-27 for Arkadelphia Public Schools, Gurdon Public Schools, Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University, and other local public school districts.

Clark County Real Estate and Personal Property tax bills are showing up in mailboxes. Taxes become delinquent after Oct. 15.

Joel Phelps is editor of arkadelphian.com. Opinions and blunt observations in this column are his own. Contact Phelps by email at editor@arkadelphian.com.