2023 Chamber Banquet Awards

By Ethan Nahté

Food commodities distribution on April 18

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) commodities will be distributed Tuesday, April 18 at the Polk County Fairgrounds from 1:30 -3:30 p.m. The information for the Commodity Distribution is listed below. We are still following all safety precautions therefore this will be a drive through only distribution.

The above income guidelines are based on 130% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Add $512 for each additional family member. You cannot pick up commodities for more than two households.

Rules for acceptance and participation in the program are the same for everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, or handicap.

1168 Hwy 71S

Mena, AR 71953

Phone: 479-243-9600

Fax: 479-243-9603

Email: news@mypulsenews.com

KENA 104.1 - KQOR 105.3

MyPulseNews.com

Our Team:

Ashley Moore - General Manager

Ethan Nahté - Production Manager/Editor

Patrick Massey - Contributing Reporter

John Russell - Graphic Design

Josh Barker - Account Executive

Alexis James - Account Executive

Curt Teasdale - Programmer / On-Air Personality

Ariel Varner - Receptionist/On-Air Personality

Distribution & Insertion Staff: Danielle Stewart, Chaz Welch & Sahil Bahn

I am writing in response to the letter written by Lynn and Sue Cowden in the March 15th paper. You mention your religious beliefs and emphasize that the keyword is “children” in your issue with what you call the “agenda” of pro-homosexuality. It appears we are mutually vested in the best interest of children, however, you made a lot of unsubstantiated claims about the LGBT+ community.

One outrageous claim insinuated the grooming of children by LGBT+ people when in fact the Southern Baptist Convention released a list of over 700 entries of cases of sexual abuse of children committed by pastors and church personnel from 2000-2019 alone.

Not to mention the historic settlement from the Boy Scouts to their child sex abuse victims. What’s that verse about the plank in your own eye again?

Truth be told the biggest threats to children are within their own families. How about we protect children from things that we know actually harm them like school shootings, domestic violence, food insecurity, and lack of healthcare? Oh wait, our new governor just vetoed a republican led bill that would have raised the asset limit for food stamps so people could use their money to lift themselves out of poverty and still eat.

You mentioned parents rights and I wholeheartedly agree so how about you let me worry about whether I want a man dressed in drag to read my children a book about two gay penguin dads and you worry about your own grandchildren?

Have a blessed day,

Ashley Midgette, Mena

The Polk County Pulse is the area’s premiere and fastest growing news publication. The Polk County Pulse is FREE and published weekly on Wednesdays, with a distribution of 8,000 and an estimated readership of 10,000. MyPulseNews.com has hundreds of visitors daily and KENA and KQOR have thousands of listeners hourly.

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Want to share your opinion?

above, honey is the most fraudulent food that is sold in the world. Tainted honey products are dangerous because consumers are most likely unaware of the risks associated with the hidden chemicals and even prescription drug ingredients that can interact with other drugs and supplements that the consumer may take. Education in terms of honey traceability and authenticity will help consumers to choose reliable local honey of high quality and to avoid tainted honey.

In 1883, Dr. Harvey Wiley became the first chemist at The United States Department of Agriculture to analyze commercial honey. He found, to his surprise, that products claiming to be honey were often just corn syrup plus additives. He used a polariscope from Germany to help him analyze honey and test it for purity. He became a crusader and coalition builder in support of The National Food and Drug Regulation. This work earned him the titles of “Father of the Pure Food and Drugs Act” and Father of The Food and Drug Administration.

China is the world’s largest producer of honey. Chinese honey is diluted with high amounts of fructose com syrup, and it is high in heavy metals. It is also tainted with dangerous chemicals and antibiotics. One of those antibiotics is a carcinogenic antibiotic called chloramphenicol. It is currently banned by the United States FDA.

The Polk County Pulse welcomes letters to the Editor addressing any topic of interest to our readers. To be published, letters must not contain obscene or libelous language. Letters do not reflect the viewpoints or opinions of Pulse Multi-Media.

The letter must include a signature to be considered for publication. Signatures will NOT be held out by request. Letters will be restricted to 500 words. Any letters longer than 500 words will require purchase of advertising space.

The following contact information is required when the letter is submitted: NAME, AGE, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER.

Letters are published at the discretion of the Editor and Publisher.

Letters may be submitted by e-mail to news@mypulsenews.com; mailed to P.O. Box 1450, Mena, AR 71953 or dropped off at 1168 Hwy. 71 South, Mena, AR. A drop-box is provided by the front door for after-hour convenience.

Letter to the Editor

I was reading an article in the “American Bee Journal” and I was shocked to find out about honey fraud. The article was written by: “M.E. Mcneal” [Eds. Possibly M.E.A. McNeil]. This article was about how the honey that is being imported by other countries such as: China and Vietnam are not the same type of honey that American Beekeepers produce. It doesn’t contain the same nutrients that the American Honey does.

There is very little that is known about honey fraud. Honey that is made by honest, American beekeepers is very nutritional. It contains antioxidants that protect the body from inflammation as well as antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. So, I am not talking about these beekeepers.

As a local beekeeper in Mena, I was appalled when I found out what the Inspectors found when they inspected honey that was being imported into the U.S.A. from other countries. According to the article listed

In 2013, a federal investigation called “Operation Honeygate” was the first thing that gave honey fraud national attention. This operation discovered the largest food fraud in United States history. By the time the investigation was over, eleven people and two of the United States’ largest honey producing companies (Honey Solutions of Baytown and Groeb Farms in Michigan) were charged with dumping honey imports from China, including honey that contained chloramphenicol.

According to the FDA and The World Health Organization, the one test that authenticates real honey is the presence of pollen. If the liquid gold doesn’t contain pollen, it isn’t real honey.

So, the next time you want to buy honey remember that there is a lot of honey fraud continuing today.

If you want real honey that can contains a lot of nutrients, I would buy it from farmers’ markets, co-ops, locally owned farms, herb stores and any local friends that are beekeepers. All of these places will guarantee that you are buying real honey that is good for you and not something that is fake and dangerous. Don Cost, Mena

April 18 tax deadline

This year, the filing deadline is April 18 for most taxpayers, but automatic six-month extensions of time to file are available for anyone for free. See Extension of Time to File Your Tax Return for instructions.

Taxpayers should be aware that filing Form 4868 only extends the time to file tax returns. Those who owe taxes should still pay by April 18 to avoid late payment penalties. IRS Free File is available to any person or family who earned $73,000 or less in 2022. For taxpay- ers who are comfortable completing their own tax forms, Free File Fillable Forms may be a good option. MilTax is a free tax resource available to the military community, and it’s offered through the Department of Defense. Qualified taxpayers can also find free one-on-one tax preparation help nationwide through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs.

Visit IRS.gov for links and more information for filing your taxes.