Thursday’s thumbs

In topsy-turvy world, good things still go on

Donald Trump is president. Bobby Petrino is the least controversial coach at the University of Louisville. “Will and Grace” is back on television. Apple releases an iPhone 8 and X (indicating “10”), but there’s no iPhone 9.

What the heck is going on in this country?

It’s a topsyturvy world we live in, but things never get so complicated one can’t find a few developments worthy of a thumbs up:

The War Eagle Bridge was opened to traffic just in time for last week’s onslaught of motorcycle riders visiting Northwest Arkansas for the annual Bikes, Blues & BBQ festival. But its re-opening means even more to the people who live around that area and area history enthusiasts. At 109 years old, the bridge is looking pretty good. A ribbon cutting is set for 11 a.m. Wednesday. As bridges go, the War Eagle Bridge is about more than just transportation. It’s about tourism, connection to the past and appreciation for simpler times. One of these days a bigger bridge will be a necessity, but it’s hard not to smile at the rejuvenated structure.

Speaking of the motorcycle rally, after all these years of the event featuring a Miss Bikes, Blues & BBQ contest, organizers finally introduced a Mr. Bikes, Blues & BBQ contest. Fair is fair, we suppose. A growing percentage of motorcycle owners are women, so the days of assuming a male-dominated market are gone.

If there was ever a place for art to take flight, perhaps an airport would be the right venue. At least that’s the thinking in Springdale, where a 54-by-20 foot collection of monarch butterflies made of aluminum and vinyl siding will be unveiled Saturday on the airport’s tower. It’s the latest in Northwest Arkansas’ pursuit of public art displays that are adding new character to the region’s cities. This installment also will give a lift to the plight of the migratory monarchs, the real-life ones whose numbers have plummeted in recent years.

It’s natural to debate the pros and cons of professional athletes using their fame to make political statements, but some people’s reactions have just gotten ridiculous. A firefighter in northeast Arkansas was fired this week after he posted a message on social media saying President Trump should post snipers at NFL games so that any player who takes a knee or sits during the National Anthem “should b shot in the head.” What an awful response! The fire department he worked for quickly canned the firefighter. “You devalue human life by making a comment like that,” an assistant fire chief said.

Sometimes all people need is a little nudge to go in a positive direction. That’s the idea behind a local program designed to get more of Northwest Arkansas’ Marshallese population into education beyond high school. Several agencies and organizations have joined forces to help Marshallese families get between $100 and $200 to start education savings accounts known as 529s. These accounts lower a person’s taxable income. Every dollar saved toward higher education helps shave the amount of taxes they’ll pay. The program helps Marshallese participants to get an account started and offers instruction on how to work toward better financial management. Such accounts can be a game-changer for young people, giving them a launch pad from which to start their post-secondary educational pursuits. It’s great work by the Arkansas treasurer’s office, the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese, the University of Arkansas, the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, the United Way and the Economic Opportunity Agency in Springdale.