Siloam Springs Herald-Leader

News

Arkansas sees 751 new cases; hospitalizations climb by 8 Arkansas recorded 751 new cases of covid-19 Friday, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said, as hospitalizations climbed by eight to 402. by Nyssa Kruse

Start date for 2020-21 school year delayed almost 2 weeks, governor says Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Thursday that the start date for K-12 education in Arkansas is being moved back to allow districts extra time to prepare for on-campus learning amid the coronavirus pandemic. by NWA Democrat-Gazette

State sees 734 new virus cases; hospitalizations drop by 11 Arkansas recorded 734 new cases of covid-19 Wednesday, a higher figure than seen on previous days this week. by Nyssa Kruse

City board passes mask resolution The city board passed a resolution encouraging citizens to wear face masks while out in public and businesses to require patrons to wear face masks while in their establishments during Tuesday night's city board meeting. by Marc Hayot

Tiny homes give homeless a new start The Genesis House Jump Start Program and Launchpad of tiny homes gives families without a home a place to rebuild their lives. by Janelle Jessen

WSS Fire department hosts annual donation dinner WEST SILOAM SPRINGS, Okla. -- The West Siloam Springs Fire department will host its annual donation dinner on July 11 at the fire house. by Marc Hayot

LOOKING BACK: NWA All-Stars win championship 50 Years Ago by Jackie Brooks

HEALTHY LIVING: Outpatient services available at Northwest Health Emergency Department Fayetteville Northwest Health Emergency Department Fayetteville now offers outpatient imaging and outpatient lab services at the new facility located at 1255 S. Shiloh in Fayetteville. Patients with a doctor or provider's order will be able to utilize the location for lab work, CT scan and X-rays.

Sports

On the same team For nine seasons, Brandon Craig and Aaron Meier went head to head coaching against one another in Oklahoma Class 4A football. by Graham Thomas

OPINION: Football in spring? Idea is out there Typically, the first Monday after the July 4 holiday means the end of the Arkansas Activities Association dead period, the re-start of summer practices for high school sports and, in particular, the beeline toward the start of football season. by Graham Thomas

Boys soccer returns to field for first time For the first time since March 16, the last day of in-person school, the Siloam Springs boys soccer team held a team workout Monday morning at Panther Stadium. by Graham Thomas

No baseball for Naturals, Travs this season Northwest Arkansas Naturals General Manager Justin Cole had anticipated the news. It still didn't take away the sting. by Paul Boyd

HS football to stay in holding pattern High school football teams in Arkansas wanting to increase contact didn't hear the news they wanted Tuesday. by Jeremy Muck

JBU lands 115 on Commissioner's Honor Roll The sixth annual Sooner Athletic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll was released on Tuesday afternoon, and a record 115 John Brown University student-athletes, more than 75 percent of those eligible, qualified for the list.

Series help generate interest in EFL leagues Major League Baseball announced plans last week to start the 2020 season more than three months after spring training came to a screeching halt because of the covid-19 pandemic. by Graham Thomas

Football staff now complete The Siloam Springs football team's coaching staff is complete for the 2020 season. by Graham Thomas

Opinion

OPINION: Masked intent Oh, how easy it is to blame the experts for our troubles. Let us taunt and ridicule those who sought to better themselves with higher education. Jeer at the scientists warning of continued epidemics. Question their credentials, call it fake news. Go ahead, widen the divide between "them" and "us" with your conspiracy-driven rants on social media. Democrats are the snowflakes wearing masks, brave Republicans refuse to be masked! How low have we set the bar for patriotism? by Graham Thomas

OPINION: Strange political season begins, few events for 'politickin' What a strange political season we are in. by Maylon T. Rice

Letter to the Editor Christian love and Christian hate by By Oren Piper, Siloam Springs

RELIGION: In God we trust In our Pledge of Allegiance we say, "...one nation under God..." That phrase was added during a time when atheistic communism was threatening America. But today that slogan rings hollow. Is America still one nation under God? Another slogan, "In God we trust," is on all of our coins as a national motto. Looking at the turmoil lately, is it still true? by Ron Wood

OPINION: Dust in the air "In a divided society, only the church can model unity." That's the good news. The bad news is that the church frequently falls short of promoting ethnic respect or racial reconciliation. Truly born-again people, by God's grace, can love one another. By experiencing the love of God through Christ, strongholds of bigotry are dismantled. by By Ron Wood

OPINION: The fragile social fabric A local veteran talked about his service in Afghanistan. He had seen ancient relics destroyed by the Taliban. Huge Buddhist statues had been blown to bits. Taliban leaders knew little about Buddhist history, but they wanted its symbols annihilated. by Preston Jones

Letter to the Editor In Defense of the 'Credentialed Class' by By Trisha Posey

Strawberry memories Strawberries and sulfur water. The commingled fragrance of those two items prompts memories of summer days spent at my grandparent's home. The annual trek from the desert of eastern New Mexico to the little community of May in Missouri was eagerly anticipated during my childhood years. by Graham Thomas

Religion

RELIGION: A very good question The following is a question from a girl I love, and my response to her. by Gene Linzey

RELIGION: A Series of Devotions on Colossians "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: as ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit." Colossians 1:1-8 by Randy Moll

RELIGION: 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners' "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." 1 Timothy 1:12-17 by Randy Moll

OPINION: One nation under God For some time now, our government has felt obligated to divorce Christ and Almighty God from the public domain. For those of you who either haven't studied history or don't believe the historical record, I pray that the following reflections on history will help you to understand the path we have trod that made us a great nation -- under God. by Gene Linzey