MyPulseNews.com Mena Arkansas News covering Polk County and the surrounding area 
By Jeff Olson Much has been written about The Declaration of Independence, but none of it can compare to actually reading this venerable document. The principles and truths which undergird the Declaration predate 1776 by centuries. This week I will expound upon this as we recognize and celebrate our nation’s 244th birthday. Let me begin by making a few fundamental ...
July, 2020
June, 2020
- 24 June
Reflections from History and Faith The Eagle Still Soars!
By Jeff Olson The bald eagle has been a national emblem of the United States of America for 238 years, since June 20, 1782. This is the day Congress adopted the Great Seal of the United States, which featured a widespread eagle. The idea for including an eagle can be credited to William Barton, a young lawyer with ...
- 17 June
Q & A with Youth Counselor Jason Waller
Q: Why did you get into counseling and working with children and teens in particular? A: I started out working with adults…And, you would see the outcome of a childhood issue that never got resolved, or a prevention that never happened. I wanted to get away from the back end, 40 years of people trying to cope with the issue ...
- 17 June
Reflections from History and Faith Iwo Jima Remembered
By Jeff Olson Father’s Day has its own unique American origin and symbolically represents a foundational component of our culture. The inspiration for the first Father’s Day came from William Jackson Smart, an Arkansas veteran of the Civil War. Smart raised five children on his own after his wife died giving birth to their sixth child in 1898. His daughter, ...
- 10 June
Reflections from History and Faith Happy Birthday, Old Glory!
By Jeff Olson Two hundred forty three years ago this Sunday, June 14, 1777 during America’s War of Independence, John Adams introduced a resolution before the Continental Congress in Philadelphia mandating a United States flag, stating, “…that the flag of the thirteen United States shall be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white on ...
- 3 June
Reflections from History and Faith Priorities & Conflicts in the Kingdoms
By Jeff Olson Since the mid-1970s, America has experienced a strong resurgence of Christian influence in the political spectrum. Movements such as the Moral Majority and the Christian Coalition became viable forces in the process and outcome of elections in our country. Beyond these organized groups, other people of faith have become more informed and active as citizens and some ...
May, 2020
- 27 May
Reflections from History and Faith An Unconventional Convention
By Jeff Olson Two hundred thirty three years ago this week, May 25, 1787; the Constitutional Convention began in Philadelphia. At the outset, the states were bitterly divided. The Continental dollar was extremely inflated and the economy was very depressed. The instability was so severe that England and Spain were postured to pick up the pieces of the colonies ...
- 20 May
Reflections from History and Faith The Navajo Code Talkers
By Jeff Olson Two weeks ago, America observed the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, commemorating the end of World War II in Europe. After Adolph Hitler committed suicide in April 1945, Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz briefly succeeded him as Germany’s leader. Doenitz arranged for Germany’s surrender, and on May 7 chief of staff of the German armed ...
- 6 May
Letter from Sue Rowe (Polk County Prayer Coordinator) for the National Day of Prayer event next Thursday, May 7th.
It is once again time for Americans to unite and pray! This year with the Covid-19 crisis our annual nation observance will not be held on the courthouse lawn. However, we are excited to announce that we will observe The 69th Annual National Day of Prayer! First Baptist Mena has setup a Facebook page, Polk County AR – National Day ...
- 6 May
Reflections from History and Faith Victory in Europe DAY
By Jeff Olson As we continue to recognize and commemorate the 75th anniversary of the sixth and final year of World War II, this week we will do so for one of the two greatest milestones of the war. VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) is the day on which Allied forces formally announced the surrender of Germany, which brought ...
