This week marks the end of the Weekly Vista's Troop Fund program.
Begun in November 2007, the Weekly Vista's staff, with overwhelming support from the community, has shipped more than three tons of books, toiletries, non-perishable food and other personnel items to our troops overseas, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The brainchild of former office manager Barb Paulos and former assistant editor Jennifer DeShields, the troops fund took off with the support of former Northwest Arkansas Newspapers president Jeff Jeffus. NAN funded the shipping costs for the first six months of the program.
After that time period, the program became self-sustaining, Paulos said. People would come to our office and give us money to pay for the shipping. The American Legion was a big supporter in helping fund the shipments.
The Vista's front office staff for many years of Jan Burgess and Pam Coates as well as Paulos helped pack the boxes and prepare them for shipping. When they had time, the editorial staff also chipped in to help.
Paulos thanked the NAN officials this week for allowing our office to use company time to prepare the boxes for shipment.
The Vista received lots of cards from the troops overseas, thanking us for our shipments. We even received a nice plaque that we have on display from the 51th Security Forces Squadron in appreciation of our efforts.
While I can't speak for them, I know from my experiences living in military communities that our troops appreciated the packages. It brought them a moment of home and acknowledged we supported their efforts.
We at the Vista want to thank everyone who has supported this program over the years, whether it was supplying items or funds for shipping. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. We couldn't have made this program as successful as it was without your support.
Thanks again.
------
As I was going home to Centerton Sunday evening on Elm Tree Road, there were two law enforcement vehicles running with lights (and later as they drew closer, I could hear the sirens.)
The first vehicle was a sheriff's white Charger with lights on top and its head and tail lights flashing. The second vehicle was a black law enforcement vehicle, with flashing head and tail lights. It also had the lights normally seen on top hidden inside the front and back windshield. I'm not sure who's vehicle it was, but I am assuming it also was a sheriff's vehicle.
Unfortunately in the all-too-near future, you and I won't be able to tell a sheriff's vehicle from any other car on the road. And that's the way Sheriff Kelly Cradduck likes it as he continues to outfit his office's vehicles in black with subdued gray reflective identification.
In an article last month in the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Cradduck was quoted as saying the subdued vehicles that aren't covered in lights and decals -- "The element of surprise keeps everybody safer."
Patrol vehicles, though, need to be recognizable, spokesmen for Northwest Arkansas police and sheriff's offices told the Democrat-Gazette article. Police studies have recommended traffic units be well lit and highly reflective -- regardless of vehicle color -- for the safety of officers on a traffic stop.
A well-marked vehicle has good emergency lighting and has reflectors built into markings so it can be seen at night, according to a traffic safety study by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
I can understand the need for a few darker vehicles, but -- call me old school -- I don't see a need for a whole fleet of black cars. I find it interesting that most of the law enforcement units in Benton and Washington counties use one-color vehicles, but it isn't black. Even the Washington County Sheriff's Office uses white vehicles.
If law enforcement is supposed to "Protect and Serve" the citizens, hidden decals and dark colors serve only one purpose -- to "Surprise and Ticket."
Not that it will do much good, but we encourage the Sheriff's Office to rethink its continuation of all black vehicles. We like to know where law enforcement officers are because we might behave ourselves better.
* * *
Throne is managing editor of The Weekly Vista.
Editorial on 08/26/2015