Sheriff's comments
Dear editor:
I was shocked to read the column by Sheriff McCormick, accusing a private citizen of unethical and unprofessional reporting. If anything, the personal attacks from a powerful, elected official were unethical and unprofessional! He could as easily stated his disagreement and concerns without getting personal; will the reporter have to worry about any other repercussions?
The articles I read in The Sentinel-Record were facts taken from public documents, just the facts! There were no accusations made, no opinions, no assumptions, just facts! The Hot Springs area has a long reputation of working behind closed doors (back to the days of Al Capone) and pure facts are a welcome relief to the politics of power. The rank and file of our police and sheriff deputies are outstanding individuals, doing their jobs daily. We need the continued flow of facts that precipitate local management decisions and actions (in all city/county departments) to see if the leaders follow facts or politics.
Jim Pumphrey
Garland County
Bravo to 'expose'
Dear editor:
David Showers has done an excellent two-part expose on the workings of the Garland County Detention Center.
We believe that he has reported the majority of his findings through information he obtained from the GC Sheriff's Office correspondence via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This is because sheriff's management has not responded to his calls for his reporting. This is a terrible shame!
Is not the sheriff's office a county agency responsible to the people?
This ongoing issue with our county detention facility reminds one of the Three Stooges -- Moe, Larry, and Curly!
Want to see the 2019 edition? Just walk into the lobby of our sheriff's office and look at the photos of Sheriff McCormick, Deputy Lawrence, and Deputy Elrod (he of last month's $10,000 raise)!
We are eagerly awaiting Mr. Showers' next report!
Joe and Cynthia Andrews
Hot Springs
Panhandling problem
Dear editor:
Once again I see we have an issue with the panhandlers. Thanks once again to David Showers for his article about Facebook and panhandlers. I personally did not know Facebook had a page concerning them, let alone that our Hot Springs Board of Directors paid any attention to it. I guess it doesn't look good on the tourism business.
I once wrote an article to alert people that instead of giving the panhandlers money, give them a list of resources that help to feed, clothe and house them. It's very easy to go on the internet and find the Garland County resources available for housing, food pantries, job assistance programs, clothes closets, etc. I run off several copies of the resources available, including addresses and phone numbers, and when I am at a red light where a panhandler is at, I give them a list. There is even information for the veterans, elderly and children under the age of 18, not to mention those with addiction problems that need help.
When you stop providing money and start giving a solution to their problems, chances are we will not be seeing a panhandler on the corners. If they are walking to the streetlights off Higdon Ferry and Section Line Road; Airport Road and the expressway, I'm quite sure they can find their way to these places offering help.
L.J. Gibson
Hot Springs
'Thanks' for tour
Dear editor:
On Aug. 14, the Garland County Historical Society board of directors and its volunteers were given a tour of the main Arkansas Career Training Institute building by ACTI Assistant Director Lily Kersh. We want to thank her and the other staff members who generously gave of their time to show us this remarkable facility and share their passion for the institute's history and its life-changing mission.
As the Army and Navy General Hospital and later a regional Arkansas Rehabilitation Institute, the site on Reserve Street has been the location for healing and recovery for countless Americans since 1887. Its historical importance cannot be overstated. The tour brought to life a campus we have researched and recorded the history of for many years. We're very grateful to Assistant Director Kersh and the staff of ACTI.
Liz Robbins
Executive director
Garland County Historical Society
Is it possible?
Dear editor:
Is it possible, that Hillary and Barrack began the involvement of the FBI and the Justice Department for the purpose of getting Hillary elected by inventing false information on Trump? (The illegal FISA warrants, Russian Intervention, and other made-up lies). If so, then it would appear that they are the ones who attempted to rig the 2016 election -- and not the Russians. Is an attempt to rig a national election a crime?
Is it possible, that after Trump won the 2016 election, Hillary, Barrack, the FBI, and the Justice Department -- as well as numerous elected members of Congress (House and Senate) then continued the coup to overthrow a sitting president of the United States? Possibly the largest coup in U.S. history? Is this "treason" -- the crime of betraying one's country by attempting to overthrow the government?
John Grillo
Hot Springs
Be aware
Dear editor:
Judith Zitko has a point regarding the labeling of shooters and the correlation with mental illness. I am so glad to know I am not crazy. I was disturbed to find that because of our easy access to firearms and our perceived bigotry and intolerance we have developed a recipe for disaster; in whose eyes? What is intolerance to you? You failed to mention that all of your labels are reserved for anyone in disagreement with your liberal views and gun ban policy. I call this intolerance! Personally, I am tired of being called a racist, xenophobe, white nationalist, white supremacist, and bigot.
I have tried to stay out of the fray of the liberal definition of lawful gun owners as racists, white nationalists, white supremacists, xenophobic, bigots, and intolerants. You describe other countries as not having the same levels of gun violence due to the fact that they do not have the availability of firearms our citizens have. The big difference with other countries and ours is that most people are herded like cattle by their government and politicians. Their guns were taken long ago. Our people do not herd well, because of our constitution and the guaranteed gift of allowing us to defend ourselves against just such government. There is no denial among most legal, law-abiding, mentally fit, freedom-loving American gun owners, regardless of race, that you will not take our guns.
Call us crazy, but the real mental problems are the ones that will come knocking on our door, for owning such weapons. To try and confiscate, or pass a law making these same people criminals is not going to work out well for the have nots. Liberals need to go back to mind-bending problems like trying to decide which restroom you should use. Look at the current crop of Democratic candidates and their pandering to the anti-gunners. The vile, vitriolic statements they make in describing lawful gun owners makes me sick. The left is never going to be happy until all weapons are forbidden.
You will argue that you only want to take away so-called assault weapons and semi-automatic weapons. Personally, I want to be able to fight back against this type of self-serving, all-controlling, socialistic type of government.
I promise you, Judith, if you really want to see Americans rise up, and become totally mentally ill, pass such laws and watch what happens. Through the liberal, socialistic rhetoric, we the people have been pushed about as far as we are going to be pushed without fighting back. Be aware our founders knew Government desire for power could cause it to lurch out of control. This is why the Second Amendment was added to the Constitution. The only difference in you and me is that I believe our country is worth fighting with or for. Our Second Amendment gives me that right, even if, heaven forbid, our government becomes the enemy. Our founders knew this could happen and wanted us to have a means to fight back. When we allow self-serving politicians to become our police our country is over.
Edward K. "Rick" Cherry
Hot Springs
Editorial on 08/18/2019