Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Picayunish

picayune: (Cajun) two -cent's worth; little; insignificant

Did You Know . . . Perhaps most readers have never given thought to what picayune means, though it has graced the front page of the local newspaper since 1878. It is not very often you see picayune or one of its derivatives used in writing. My only experience with the word has been in a Louis L'Amour western where he used the word with which this column has been entitled.

Was It Really Important? When you begin trying to write a column, all the thoughts that have been sitting idly, brewing in your head, just completely disappear. The idea of writing a column has probably appealed to everyone. But, every writer must question whether he has anything of value to impart to the readers of his column. While we may grab someone with the way a headline is worded or if a story has an appeal that directly relates to its reader, a reader will only peruse a column for one of two reasons. They either like the writer's column and are interested in what they say, or they really dislike him and just want to see what that idiot had to say on a variety of particular subjects.

Looking More Closely . . . Prescott and Nevada County collection figures on sales taxes have come in for July. Records show Prescott collected $73,614 from its municipal three-cent sales tax burden on residents. Nevada County collected $23,775 during the month with each incorporated town getting it's pro-rated share.

Was It A Good Effort? You bet. Following the work of everyone involved in trying to locate the state's newest prison in Prescott we can only agree it was not only a good effort, but an absolute tremendous effort. A lot of work went into the project by Mayor Howard Taylor, Economic Director Walt Denton, Senator Mike Ross and the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Council, we are indeed sorry to see that prison will not be located in our community. We feel Senator Ross had the most to lose in helping bring the facility here. After all, Malvern and Pine Bluff (third choice of the ADC board) are in included in the area where he is campaigning for Congress.

Rumors Are A Big Help . . . Rumors that anything and everything are happening in Malvern to keep the prison from locating there have kept coming in since the Arkansas Department of Corrections board decided to locate the facility in Hot Spring County. We've made an effort to follow up these rumors and have discovered that they are still only rumors. Rumors that come to our attention are followed up as if they were the truth, until we find the story or determine if it is only a rumor. Most people think those associated with the media know what is going on without being informed. Rumors, for the most part, are like underwear. They are usually changed daily, sometimes smell bad, and they often appear to be the same as the day before. We really do appreciate all the calls and comments about what is taking place in Nevada County. Keep us informed so we can inform others.