The Independence Day weekend kicks off today and for many in our area and across the country that means one thing above all -- fireworks.
A lot of people love them. And they aren't bothered that much by laws such as we have in the Twin Cities prohibiting fireworks within city limits.
And that's a problem for some friends and neighbors.
The noise from fireworks has a negative affect on some people. Especially those dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder or other nerve conditions. And many pets cannot tolerate the noise, either. They become frightened and agitated.
For these folks, fireworks are anything but part of a celebration. They want their neighbors who enjoy fireworks to show some courtesy and understanding. And, failing that, they want police to more strictly enforce the ban within city limits.
And that's our question of the week. Are you or a family member negatively impacted by fireworks? Do you have a pet that is negatively impacted? Should police step up enforcement of fireworks laws within city limits? Or are fireworks just good clean fun a few times a year and objections unreasonable?
Send your response (50 words maximum) to [email protected] by Wednesday, July 6. 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: Day Off?
Last week's question was about the Forney, Texas Independent School District banning dresses, skirts and skorts for students older than fourth grade.. Should a school district be able to ban all skirts, dresses and skorts for students above a certain age? Or is that unreasonable?
From facebook.com/texarkanagazette
- It's completely unreasonable, as is the ban on hoodies and coats/jackets with hoods.
- And basketball shorts and t-shirts are professional -- go figure ,again targeted to one group
- Telling 17 and 18 year olds how to dress in unreasonable.The students should go on strike. When my daughter was a senior she was suspended for wearing the wrong color socks, then again for not wearing a belt! She dropped out and graduated the next year from a different district Nip this in the bud.
- Sounds very much like they want to punish girls for clothing items rather than address a deeper issue.
- And let's not even get started on how the "thicker" girls unable to wear leggings, with a hoodie, like most girls are comfortable in, but boys can wear shorts above their knees, tight sweatpants and tank tops if they want
- But volleyball spandex and wrestling singlets are acceptable and "standard" for school sports? Makes a lot of sense. 
- Unreasonable
- No! Terrible!
- I don't think it's unreasonable the clothes some of them wear is more like they are going to a nightclub instead of school
- They are also banning hoodies, and other types of clothing. It's more like they are trying to go to more of a uniform look if you read the actual new dress code instead of pulling certain elements out to focus on.
- As a teacher, I applaud the ban on hoodies. Kids " hide" in them, and in many places hoodies are identified gang attire that can put innocent kids in danger unintentionally by rival gangs. Dresses, skirts and skorts, however, are professional attire if at proper lengths. I realize not every family can afford the same thing, but I can't see the purpose in banning traditional female attire, unless your true agenda is gender neutrality.
- So funny since that was what we were required to wear all throughout my schooldays. No pants or jeans allowed, ever.
- What about girls who wear dresses all the time. In fact, some religions mandate the wearing of dresses. This is totally geared toward females and I promise you of my girls went there, they would be getting pushback for discrimination towards females.
- Dress codes aren't the problem. These are just power plays.
- Require uniforms.
- Long skirts are fine. It"s the up to there shorts, sagging and ripped jeans and low cut shirts that's the issue.
- Why do they wear hoodies over their head in the middle of the summer.
- Are we banning cheer and volleyball uniforms as well? 
- It is totally unfair and I think it should be overturned yes the dress should probably have to be a certain length but not banned
- When I went to school, dress and skirts is all girls were allowed to wear..
- Ridiculous! What about those why only wear skirts?
- Will this include cheer, drill team and volleyball uniforms? Oh what about teachers wearing dresses and skirts?
- My sister is a teacher at Forney ISD and I know she knew the conflict was coming. She agrees with the students and parents. They are focusing on what the children are wearing and not their education. Students don't pay attention what other people are wearing while in class. I agree with not wearing certain things but come on all this is ridiculous! Let them express themselves just not to over board but they have gone to far
- I'm curious if it says "females" can't wear dresses or does it just say dresses, shorts aren't allowed?
- Ban the cheerleader outfits !
- As long as there's been public schools, students and parents have been pushing the limits of acceptable attire, always have, always will! School districts tend to go a little overboard with those pushing the limitations in mind. Hoping that when the dust settles, the school will have a very slight upper hand.
- I thought Forney ISD wore uniforms?
- It goes against some (me being one) beliefs for women/girls to wear pants therefore I say I should not be banned. If you have a debate just require them to be a certain length or longer.
- This will bring up a biblical outlook. If you look at things they are first telling everyone that believe in the Bible and what it says is believing wrong for many people back than ware a type of dress yet to go farther than that they are telling kids that it's only okay to be a boy learning an education than to be considered a girl.
- So ...a boy wants to wear a dress, skirt or skirt. You guys gonna be ok with that? It's all or nothing.
- A dress CODE is fine ... let's not be provocative at school. But uniforms, etc.? NO! It does nothing to teach children how to think for themselves!!!
- Unreasonable, good grief, I remember when it was pants for girls were unprofessional
- Unreasonable
- I think they ought to wear uniforms. My older kids wore uniforms in Bossier City Louisiana. No problems.
- We had a dress code in the 50s and didn't know it.We dressed proper with pride and respect.You go to school to learn, not show what you have.
- Let the kids vote on it.
- When I was in 9th grade we finally got to wear Pants,
Jeans but no rivets on the jeans.
- No banning skirts, AND DRESSES, APOSTOLIC ladies and their little girls wear skirts or dresses. That is our DRESS CODE!!!
- Schools should just go with jeans or khakis, a solid color shirt. Period. Make it simple. Keep it easy for parents and kids.
- Maybe all of the parents should start protesting monetary donations to the schools that the schools seem to always be needing.
- Just another right being stripped away
- I wear only skirts and dresses.... how dare a school to ban such on a female!!
- Another ban on women. Disgusting but then again it's Texas  so not that surprising 
- Going to be fun for those students' parents trying to find coats and jackets that have no hoods. Then there's the families whose religions require females to wear dresses and skirts. And head coverings. The start of the new school year in that district is going to be mighty interesting.
- Are we going backwards? In my day we couldn't wear pants or shorts. It would have been nice to wear pants or shorts on some days. Our skirts had to be below the knees, until we rolled them up.lol
- I got sent home for peddle pushers by Mr Nance. Skorts, shorts, mini's ... no. If we couldn't show under knees, don't show your thighs !
- I understand the hoodies . Students come in hoodies on to hide their ear phones wireless or not that does not work in a classroom.
- It ridiculous they are idiots
- Guess cheerleading wears pants huh! Lol
- Ban wearing tights as pants not skirts and dresses. No skirts, dresses, skorts, or shorts shorter than your finger tips.
- Ridiculous
- I teach in this district and am on board with the changes. Forney has always done what is best to create the best learning atmosphere for our students. I trust that the school board and administrators have done extensive research on this topic before making changes. Forney is a very successful district in both academics and extracurricular activities.
- Absolutely absurd
- Then what exactly does the cheer team wear?