It's time to enjoy the Pea Ridge Fair

The 65th annual Pea Ridge Fair begins Friday and runs through Saturday with the parade set for 5 p.m. Saturday evening. The fair began with the city's celebration of the bicentennial and continued year after year thanks to the volunteerism of members of Beta Alpha.

One charter member, Dorothy Williams, remains an active participant, working much harder than many people half her age. Mrs. Williams will be honored as the grand marshal this year.

There won't be a carnival. Club members explained that various carnival suppliers require a minimum dollar amount before they commit to come and it's just too expensive. Beta Alpha contributes money to various needs, including providing prize money for the pageant winners, St. Judes and PRHS scholarships.

There will be games, booths, Bingo, pageants, music and food. There will be ample opportunity to visit with neighbors.

There will also be several other events in town Saturday, including the Pea Ridge High School Alumni Association reunion and luncheon and the community event at the new Neighborhood Market. The Pea Ridge Museum is open on Saturdays.

Some people complain about the lack of a carnival.

Some people complained about the carnival when it was here.

People are commenting and complaining about the new grocery store in town. Some people are demeaning the competition.

There's an old saying: "He'd complain if you hung him with a new rope."

There are some people you just can't please. They will complain no matter what happens.

It seems it would be wiser, and ultimately healthier, to find the good in something and focus on that.

There were things our family enjoyed about the carnival. There were things about it I didn't always like. My third daughter was born in July and we often spent her birthday taking her and friends to the fair. We have pleasant memories of the fair. I refuse to spend precious energy and time complaining about what isn't.

Pea Ridge is changing. More businesses move into town. More people move into town. More houses are built.

There are many things about which I have no choice. But, I can choose my attitude about those things.

I choose to focus on the positive and find the good.

Enjoy visiting with your neighbors when you're out and about this weekend and give someone a smile.

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Editor's note: Annette Beard is the managing editor of The Times of Northeast Benton County, chosen the best small weekly newspaper in Arkansas for four of the past five years. A native of Louisiana, she moved to northwest Arkansas in 1980 to work for the Benton County Daily Record. She can be reached at [email protected].

Editorial on 07/09/2014