Thursday’s thumbs

Finally, an in-state rivalry for Arkansas football?

As we’ve thumbed through recent news, here are a few items that caught our eye: A raging middle-of-thenight fire might not be the way most people would go about getting a new bus fleet for Northwest Arkansas, but it seems the leadership of Ozark Regional Transit is finding some good out of the tragic blaze that destroyed 20 of its buses.

The regional bus system was knocked on its heels a little more than two years ago when high wind pushed a fire through its Springdale facility. Buses parked for the night caught fire, melted and exploded. ORT was able to keep going only through the generosity of transit systems elsewhere that loaned the organization buses so it could continue serving the region’s passengers.

It’s been tough, but more recently, ORT has received the first of 12 new buses as it builds its fleet back to full strength. Using federal grant funds, the agency is on its way toward again standing on its own … tires, we suppose. And for those who like a silver lining, ORT officials say it was the first time they had ever had enough purchasing power to create custom specifications for the buses. In the past, with much smaller orders, they more or less had to buy buses off the shelf.

Getting back its own fleet also means more funding from selling ads on the sides and backs of those buses.

Sometimes, good things can happen even in the wake of tragedy.

There was a time when the future of 7 Hills Homeless Center in Fayetteville appeared as hopeless as some of its clients may from time to time feel about their circumstances. Good things, though, are always possible in both instances. A group of “angel investors” has paid off $243,000 owed on 7 Hills’ day center property

on South School Avenue. Having no mortgage payment is an incredible gift that will keep giving for this organization, which can now focus its resources on the services that directly benefit those in need. The donors were anonymous, but a big “thank you” is in order for 7 Hills’ mysterious benefactors.

It’s worth keeping in mind all year round, but the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank has kicked off is sixth annual “Fight Hunger. Spark Change” campaign, which runs through May 20. Walmart, Sam’s Club and Feeding America are busy promoting awareness of hunger in our region and across the nation. People can help out, as Walmart did with a $3 million donation to Feeding America, by making understandably smaller but still important contributions. Check out walmart.com/fighthunger for more details. As always, direct donations can also be made to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank at nwafoodbank. org.

The University of Arkansas has decided to play football against an in-state opponent, but apparently wants to keep it all in the family. The UA has announced plans to play “sister institution” University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff in nonconference games in 2021 and 2024. That’s good news for UAPB, but not exactly the match-up that’s been debated over the years, which would be Arkansas vs. Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

Maybe the Hogs-Golden Lions match-up will spark a real in-state rivalry, or not.