Thumbs column

OPINION

The stars have recently been aligned so as to focus a bright light on several Hot Springs individuals who have distinguished themselves in various and highly competitive fields.

And so we begin this column with a "Thumbs-up" and "Bravo" to Andrew Igbokidi whose recent blind audition performance on NBC's "The Voice" was indeed a chair-turner -- the four-judge kind.

The former Lakeside Ram basketball player and son of Hot Springs cardiologist Dr. Oyidie Igbokidi and Belle of Hot Springs owner Gregory Igbokidi mesmerized the judges with his version of the Billie Eilish hit, "When the Party's Over," using a mix of multiple music styles to make the pop hit his own.

The Lakeside graduate and UAMS student has long had an ear for music and we applaud him for sharing his obvious gift with a national audience and wish him all the best as he continues to showcase his talent.

By the same token, here's another "Thumbs-up" to Hot Springs senior athlete, Maxine Dickerson, who again rose to the top at the Sunflower State Senior Games.

Dickerson -- whose perseverance and outgoing personality make her a popular competitor with other senior games' participants -- won the gold in the shot put and javelin throws with distances of 5.20 meters and 10.81 meters respectively and placed second in two other events -- the hammer throw with a distance of 16.92 meters and the discus throw with a distance of 10.27 meters.

Now qualified for the National Senior Games in 2023 in Pittsburgh, Dickerson plans to also compete in the Arkansas Senior Olympics, which will be held Oct. 22-23 in Fayetteville.

"Cheers to you, Maxine."

Here is a "Thumbs-up" to Leah Harris, a Hot Springs writer who is among the 2022 recipients of Individual Artists Fellowships recently announced by the Arkansas Arts Council and the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism.

Harris was one of three persons awarded a fellowship in the Literary Arts: Flash Fiction or Flash Creative Nonfiction Category. She studied advertising and journalism at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and has a master's degree from Johns Hopkins University. With her literary arts category application, Harris submitted three writings -- "all based on real experiences." She now writes fundraising letters for nonprofit organizations.

Stacy Hunt, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, recently said, "The Individual Artist Fellowship program shines a spotlight on the amazing talent our state has to offer."

Meanwhile, we send out a big "Thumbs-up" and "Thank-you" to the Hot Springs Board of Realtors for bringing back the Senior Olympics Fishing Derby.

This year's derby -- the organization's 25th and its first since 2019 --offered a lot of excitement and prizes for students who ranged in age from kindergartners to 12th-graders.

Derby organizer Rachel Mundy noted that the Arkansas Games and Fish Commission stocked the Family Park pond with 400 catchable fish and the Lake Hamilton Bass Fishing Team conducted a professional weigh-in.

Sounds like all of the participants caught a lot of fun in the sun.

On the other hand, here's a "Thumbs-down" to the litterbugs who persist in trashing sections of the King Expressway and several Spa City streets that have recently been given much-needed "facelifts."

The paper bags and other kinds of waste show up really well on the newly paved areas. Let's all make a concerted effort to take more pride in the looks of our home community.

And, on the sports front, here is a "Thumbs-down" to the lack of humanity shown much-heralded WNBA star Brittany Griner -- now a Russian detainee -- by her former Baylor University coach, Kim Mulkey.

Mulkey and Griner won two NCAA women's basketball championships together, but the current LSU basketball tutor has eschewed numerous opportunities to publicly address Griner's situation.

Perhaps Mulkey -- who has 658 career wins, a .857 winning percentage, and an eight-year $25.6 million contract --should at least try and emulate the class and heart of South Carolina women's coach, Dawn Staley, and current Baylor coach, Nicki Collin, both of whom have regularly -- and with much compassion -- addressed the Griner matter.

The Thumbs Column appears in The Sentinel-Record on the first and third Wednesday of each month. The newspaper welcomes readers' comments and suggestions, which should be submitted in writing with a home address and telephone number for contact and verification purposes. This information is kept confidential.

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