Weekly Publication
Moments from America’s History: Beyond Presidents’ Day
CONTRIBUTED BY JEFF OLSON
olsonjd@arkansas.net
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history
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raditionally, Presidents Lincoln and Washington have garnered most of the attention in February and on Presidents’ Day, given their birthdays are this month. However, before we get much past February, I would like for us to give recognition to more of the 45 men who have served as President of the United States over the past 228 years. I will do so as much as space permits. I have chosen to do this by providing quotes from some of our presidents. These quotes represent some of the fundamental values, philosophy, faith, and collective wisdom which characterized our nation’s founding and form of government, and which have also helped to sustain our ordered liberty under law and self-government. While the scope of the presidency is limited to within the confines of the Constitution, every president has contributed to the office and country in his own unique ways. I will start from our earliest years and proceed to those more recent. “We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We’ve staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity… to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.” -James Madison. “Before any man can be considered as a member of civil society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe. And to the same Divine Author of every good and perfect gift we are indebted for all those privileges and advantages, religious as well as civil, which are so richly enjoyed in this favored land.” -James Monroe. “It becomes us in humility to make our devout acknowledgments to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for the inestimable civil and religious blessings with which we are favored.” -James K. Polk. “I do believe in Almighty God! And I believe also in the Bible...Let us look forward to the time when we can take the flag of our country and nail it below the Cross, and there let it wave as it waved in the olden times, and let us gather around it and inscribed for our motto: “Liberty and Union, one and inseparable, now and forever,” and exclaim, Christ first, our country next!” -Andrew Johnson. “Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet-anchor of your liberties; write its precepts in your hearts and practice them in your lives. To the influence of this book we are indebted for all the progress made in true civilization, and to this we must look as our guide in the future. Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people.” -Ulysses Grant. “All must admit that the reception of the teachings of Christ results in the purest patriotism, in the most scrupulous fidelity to public trust, and in the best type of citizenship.” -Grover Cleveland. “The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country.” -Calvin Coolidge. “If you think too much about being re-elected, it is very difficult to be worth re-electing.” -Woodrow Wilson. “The whole inspiration of our civilization springs from the teachings of Christ and the lessons of the prophets. To read the Bible for these fundamentals is a necessity of American life. -Herbert Hoover. “Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country.” - Franklin Roosevelt “The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.” -John Kennedy. “A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.” -Gerald Ford. “You can’t divorce religious belief and public service... I’ve never detected any conflict between God’s will and my political duty. If you violate one, you violate the other.” -James Earl Carter, Jr. “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” -Ronald Reagan. “Any definition of a successful life must include serving others.” - George H.W. Bush.
CONTRIBUTED BY BARBARA M. TOBAIS
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he directors of Mary Poppins, the next OLT musical, have announced their cast following three days of auditions that included the budding talents of 65 actors and actresses. “The multitude of talent and enthusiasm displayed is a mixed blessing for those of us who are charged with deciding on who is cast in what role. There were truly two, three, or more candidates that could have filled each of the limited number of roles available. As directors we are charged with presenting the most esthetically pleasing show and need to take many factors into account, not only acting, singing and dancing, but also things over which you have no control,” said directors. Lana Coogan and Jerod McPherson will play Mary Poppins and Bert, two of the main characters. Brakiah Burk and Robby Burt have been cast as Jane and Michael, the two youngsters Poppins is charged with caring for. With the excellent cast of old and new players, the show is sure to be a hit. The complete list of characters cast in the show are (in alphabetical character order): Admiral Boom - Larry Kropp; Bank Chairman - Tom McClanahan; Bank Clerks - Morgan Caldwell, Brithney Dilbert, Marvin Glenn, and Justin Richmond; Bert - Jerod McPherson; Customer and Sweeps Dance Team - Brandon Bartow, Jimmy Dilbert, Hanah McDonald, Zoe McPherson, Caroline Morgan, Kelsey Wiggins, and Gabriel Sims; Customer and Sweeps Dance Team & Neleus - Brynn Harvey; Customer and Sweeps Dance Team & Toy - April Burt; Customer and Sweeps Dance Team Leader - Abi McPherson; George Banks – Scott O’Rear; Jane Banks – Brakiah Burk; Katie Anna & Kite Flyer/Nannies/Moms group – Sherry Hughes; Kite Flyer/Nannies/Moms group – Miranda Burt, Anna Burt, Naomi Curry, Evette Harner, Gabriel Jackson, Linda G. Johnson, Kristie Kenyon, Mikel Kenyon-Ortiz, Jordyn Prewett, Elizabeth Richmond, Donna Sloan, and Winnie Smith; Marry Poppins - Lana Coogan; Michael Banks - Robby Burt; Miss Andrews and Bird Woman – Brandy Benner; Miss Lark – Jane Buttermilk; Mr. Northbrook – Chris Benner; Mrs. Brill – Renee Hendrix; Mrs. Corry – Gini Burt; Park Keeper – Bill Hays; Park Strollers – Patience Broach, Nick Fairless, Shylee Head, Mystrey James, Jocelyn Parsons, and Amanda Wiggins; Policeman – Ian Cameron; Queen Victoria – Ann Glenn; Robertson Ay – Daniel Green; State Crew – MaKayla Kenyon-Ortiz, Carol McClanahan, and Kate McDonald; Statue-Nymph – Blanca Carol; Statue-Nymph & Customer and Sweeps Dance Team – Alexandria Junghans and Isabela Junghans; Toys – Abigail Baker, Annalyse Baker, Madilyn Dees Quaker, Kiylee Hughes, Matt Lyle, Addyson Prewett, and Emily Ryan; Valentine & Bank Clerk – Brandon Purvis; Von Hussler – Roy Vail; Winifred Banks 6, – Jennifer January 2016 McPherson. Rehearsals for Mary Poppins begin this week. Performance dates will be May 5 – 7 and May 11 – 13. For more information, go to www.oltmena.com or give them a call at 479-243-0186.
citizen
ena Art Gallery is holding its annual art competition for young artists in April. If you are between the ages of 5 and 17 (including 18 if still in high school), this one is for you! Older than that? Do you know of a young person who is a budding artist? Tell them about this one. This competition includes home school, independent and others. You can find full details including entry forms on our website: www.MenaArtGallery.org. Work should be brought to the gallery (607 Mena Street) on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you cannot get your work to the gallery on April 4, be sure to make an appointment PRIOR to the 4th to set up a date when you can bring it in. Just call the gallery at 479-394-3880. There will be a reception on Saturday, April 8 from 1 to 3 p.m. with children and their parents invited. Awards will be presented at 2 p.m. McDonald’s of Mena and the Mena Title Company are again sponsoring this show, and we very much appreciate them making it possible. Shows featuring professional artists such as the Art of the Heartland exhibit in the fall are great, but the young artists are our future. We are extremely happy to be able to help support them.
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BY MELANIE BUCK
news@mypulsenews.com
arts
Young Artists Competition Cast Selected for OLT’s Mary Poppins
citizen
January 6, 2016
Weekly Publication
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