Text The Times.

Text The Times.

Profiles in Arkansas black history, I cannot believe you miss one of your own. Looking at Sonny Liston, I thought about Big John Tate, born in West Memphis and a carrier of the Evening Times. [Editor’s Note: That particular piece was on statewide black history. Hopefully you saw the photo and write-up on “Big John” in the follow-up section that highlighted local athletes and entertainers. I did not know Tate was a carrier for the times back in the day, though, so that’s pretty cool.

Thanks!]

*** I read about the young man who took a gun to school last week at West Jr. High, I’m sure someone asked why he took it, was he being bullied.

My granddaughter knows him she said he is an excellent student and never has been in trouble in school. If bullying is the case it is a shame that he has been suspended from school because of being afraid. I hope all is resolved and he may continue his education. [Editor’s Note: First off, from what I know it sounds like that situation was handled about as well as it could have been. Now, I don’t know the young man and I can’t speak to his reasons for bringing a gun to school.

What I do know is that my daughter was sitting about six feet from him when they came and got him out of his science class, so I’m not really going to be on his side here. I happen to know the administration and the counselor at West pretty well, and I feel like if there was any bullying going on they would have been aware of it and would have taken action. Again, I don’t know the kid and I won’t speculate, because you know what they say, when you speculate, you make a “spec” out of “u” and “late”… oh wait, that’s “assume”]

*** Please, please have someone check out the Sudoku puzzles. They have been messed up (I think) since last Friday. I ask so little, just keep the puzzles coordinated. Wednesday, did not have a puzzle, just 2 answers and they did not match.

Thank you. [Editor’s Note: Yep, that’s a mess. Sorry.

While I do make a point to check the puzzle page every day, I never see the classified page (where the solutions are) until it’s actually in the paper, so it’s too late by then.

But we will be doing a crosscheck before going to press from now on. Hopefully this will not be a problem going forward]

*** To the countless people that are constantly putting down the new mayor of West Memphis. Why don’t you give him a chance, he is new at the job who’s to say what he’s doing is all bad. There needed to be some changes in West Memphis. And to you that are bad mouthing him you probably don’t even live in WM. So give the guy a chance let’s see what he can do. Stop being so critical of him and give him some slack that’s all I’m saying. [Editor’s Note: Maybe you and I run in different circles, but I actually haven’t heard too much in the way of negative talk about Mayor McClendon and how he’s doing the first two months into the job… except for some moves made at the Fire Department, and while I get that he can appoint who he wants how he sees fit, there are definitely some head-scratchers in that area]

*** I hope that Freddie Williams won’t just be remembered for the recent things that have happened, but the good he did for our community. Freddie did more good than bad for Marion. [Editor’s Note: Man, if there was ever a story I didn’t want to run, it was that one. Now that the story is out there, here’s how I came to learn of this terrible situation. I was at home one Saturday afternoon in early January, when my main contact over at Channel 3 texted me and asked me if I had heard anything about a lieutenant in the Marion Police Department being investigated, but she did not have a name. I told her I had not heard anything but that there was only one lieutenant in the Marion PD and that was Williams. I then added, “But I would be shocked if it turned out to be him.” And at the time I didn’t even know what exactly the investigation was. Well, by Monday morning, those in the know had leaked enough information that it was all over Facebook, although no one would put his name out there. So, it took about a month for everything to become official and for charges to be filed. All that time, I kept thinking, like you, about what a positive influence he has been in the community. I mean, I’ve played softball and volleyball with the guy, he’s helped me out on a number of occasions both personally and professionally, and I know folks appreciated the work he did keeping up with the department’s Facebook page. So, yeah, it’s sad.

And it is important to remember the concept of “innocent until proven guilty,” here and in other cases. So, while just from what I’ve heard from credible sources, it does look like the allegations have some credence, it’s important to let the judicial process play out, and it may be that Williams’ contributions to the community could play a role in how the case is ultimately adjudicated]

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