Water projects making a big splash

The City of Mena has been generating some anticipation amongst residents, especially the kids. The delivery of the splash pad equipment arrived from the Canadian province of Quebec to Tapley Park on July 19.

On June 25, more splash pad equipment arrived for Janssen Park. Some of the features include a large snail and frog.

The goal is to have at least one of the splash pads operational before the end of this summer. The pad at Janssen will be installed where the old basketball court is located. The new basketball court will remain and still be for basketball. Mayor Seth

Smith does not have an estimated date. He replied, “I have not received a date from the construction crew on when they will be here. We have to use a certified installer for the equipment for warranty and liability purposes.”

That’s not all. The parks department have the Boy and Girl fountain operational once more. Water exits the finial at the top of the umbrella and cascades to the pool below. Smith said, “I did go up and look at the fountain when Wes [Kemp] called and it looked really good!”

The feedback on social media has been very positive for both the splash pads and the recently vandalized fountain, which has since been repaired.

During the July Mena City Council meeting, airport manager Fred Ogden stated that during a storm, a bolt of lightning struck the airport runway approximately where aircraft touchdown, blasting out a section over a foot wide, making it dangerous for planes and their landing gear.

The damaged area was above a section where high voltage wires run beneath the asphalt.

Ogden supplied the following photos.

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Summer has passed by quickly it seems and a new school year is upon us. All summer we have traveled through school zones not thinking about children in school. Easy to do as they are out trying to have vacations and a break from their studies.

It seems the warning lights flash all year, when they flash at all, and it is easy to ignore them and only pay attention during the school year. Bad habits are hard to break, but sometimes a reminder benefits most drivers and I hope to help raise awareness with this letter.

their shift. My sincere hope is that you share that concern as well.

I do not know who is tasked with the operation of the flashing lights at each end of the school zone, but please do your job and get them working correctly and timed to the coming and going of the school day, not the whole summer or weekends. A visual cue to warn drivers helps.

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We have two dedicated professional SRO (School Resource Officers) Deputy Wagner and Deputy Stueart. Both can be seen before the start of the school day and after the completion of school. Their sole responsibility is the safety of our most precious, our children, our future. That is a task they both take seriously and you will see them rain or shine, hot or cold, every school day not just in the school among the students, but in harm’s way directing traffic. For that reason, I ask you to put down your electronic devices and pay attention to your driving and their directions. There is nothing so important in your life worth risking harm or death to any child or either of these Deputies that cannot wait until you are past the school zone and able to pull over and text or talk.

I know both of these Deputies and their families and pray they go home each day at the end of

Conversely, a signal that always flashes is a distraction and contributes to driver inattention and complacency.

On the subject of flashing lights, those on the big yellow school buses are meant to stop vehicles from passing as students load/unload. Please watch and stop for them. It’s not only the law but another responsibility that goes along with operating a motor vehicle.

If that is not enough to warrant compliance, wonder if your violation is on camera. So much of what we do is nowadays.

As always, I thank you for a forum to express my thoughts, though at times we may peacefully disagree.

With respect and kindest regards,

Ronald Goss, Mena, retired

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