Done or Delayed?

Have you completed your census form?

All year, Americans have been encouraged to complete their 2020 U.S. Census forms. Still, far too many of us have yet to do so. Here in the Twin Cities, for example, only about 55 percent of households have completed and turned in their census form.

Texarkana, Arkansas, Mayor Allen Brown and Texarkana, Texas, Mayor Bob Bruggeman have even set up a competition between to the two cities to see which side can collect the most completed forms. While census data is important nationally and on a state level, it’s also important locally as it means federal money allocated for the cities.

We want to know if you have filled out your census form? If not, what’s stopping you?

Send your response (50 words maximum) to opinion@texarkanagazette.com by Wednesday, August 5. You can also mail your response to the Texarkana Gazette Friday Poll, at P.O. Box 621, Texarkana, TX 75504 or drop it off at our office, 101 E. Broad St., Texarkana, Ark. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. We will print as many responses as we can in next Friday’s paper.

Last Week: Sports and Music?

Last week’s question was about sports and band during coming school year. In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, are you comfortable with your children playing high school sports or participating in band activity in the coming school year?

From www.facebook.com/texarkanagazette

■ Absolutely okay with it, COVID-19 is the label applied to the fear campaign, much like the “sport” of fake wrestling has the label of WWE.

■ Yes let them resume to their normal activities. Just monitor them.

■ It’s no worse than the flu. Still has a lower death rate than the flu. So I say play on!

■ In military band they are 6 paces (inches) apart already.

■ Yes! Bring on cheer and soccer!

■ Yes I’d be OK with it.

■ I would like to know what they are going to decide about the academic competitions. They start up in September and I need to know if I should make plans for our annual math/science meet. I get that academics (though the entire reason for education) aren’t as interesting as athletics but my kids deserve to know how this year will look and if they will be able to compete for the scholarships they get through academics.

■ Absolutely YES!

■ I think education should be the main thing about going back to school.