Another Mike Masterson Column about the NorthWest Corner of Arkansas

Seeing red in Rogers

Rogers Police Chief Steve Helms appeared on camera this week to say that enough is enough when it comes to defacing the community with gang-like, spray-painted graffiti. Helms’ comments came in the wake of numerous spraying incidents across Rogers in less than two weeks. It’s difficult to tell at this point whether all that aerosol airbrushing is an indication of genuine gang activity or just a handful of teen-agers acting the part. But it seems certain that Helms and a lot of other adults in Rogers have enjoyed all the artwork they care to see. They’ve asked Latin American groups in town to help stop the ugly mess from being sprayed any wider.

I hope those leaders will intervene to end the budding practice now. The Ozark Mountains and the way of life promoted in these parts just don’t fit with "West Side Story" or the urban ghettos of Los Angeles. Otherwise, I say it’s time to ship these relatively few gang-banging artist wannabes back to the urban blight where their "talents" can be better appreciated.

Animal torture

While I’m at it, I might as well get this off my chest, too. It’s been nagging in the background for a while now. How many of you knew about the three Pea Ridge youths, ages 13,14 and 15, who recently pleaded guilty to various animal cruelty charges related to bludgeoning a helpless cow to death over the course of several days? Last October, these boys disabled Bessie with a machete, then spent the following days returning to brutalize the terrified animal repeatedly with a wooden post until it finally died. For additional kicks, they inflicted a little extra pain and terror by repeatedly shooting the disabled animal with a BB gun. Circuit Judge Jay Finch gave the boys probation for a year and ordered them to apologize to the cow’s owner and pay restitution for his loss. The judge also placed them in counseling and instructed that they be supervised whenever they are around animals in the coming year. Having been one long ago, I know that boys will be boys. But this stunning display of brutality and cruelty to a helpless creature is a disturbing omen that still leaves my stomach churning. The adults who supposedly instilled values in these kids need to get deeply involved right now. It wasn’t that long ago that all three entered this world with clean slates.

It’s a crime

You know a more sinister side to "progress" has arrived in Northwest Arkansas when bucolic little Cave Springs in Benton County expresses interest in collaborating with local police to form a neighborhood crime watch.

Staff columnist Mike Masterson is the former editor of three Arkansas daily newspapers.

This story was published Thursday, May 05, 2005
Copyright © 2005, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc.