It's all in the vision
Dear editor:
Experiences I had several years ago completely changed the way I've looked at things like bond issues or single-issue sales tax requests for quality of life improvements. And those experiences impact my view of the Sept. 10 vote on the Majestic Field project.
I moved to Hot Springs from Little Rock. In my Little Rock days, then-County Judge Buddy Villines was promoting a bond issue to pay for the river trail. I was among those invited on a trip up the Arkansas River. The judge, pointing to the shoreline, described his vision of what is now a paved bike/walking trail that stretches from Downtown Little Rock, goes over the dam, and goes back down the river on the North Little Rock side. He pointed out we owed it to future generations to protect and preserve that special property for leisure and recreation. He convinced me and others he was right.
In a separate vision, he made the same point when asking for a temporary sales tax for the construction of what is now Verizon Arena. Again, he convinced me and others that vision for the future was worthwhile.
And here's why I write about it today. I love living in Hot Springs. But I still go to Little Rock for some activities. Whether I'm biking on the river trail or attending a concert, I so enjoy the experience that I don't even think about having paid that tax or the bond issue. It's a distant memory.
I think those who oppose the Majestic project would be well served to consider the vision of those promoting the project.
I urge a "yes" vote for the same variety of reasons most readers have heard already. It's not a new tax, it's just the authority to use an existing tax to fund those bonds. And there are several other strong reasons to favor this project.
So I ask readers to consider this. When we have the pleasure of watching our grandchildren round third base and head for home or catch the game-ending pop-up in the ninth inning for the win, we'll be smiling. We'll revel in their pride, accomplishments and enjoyment. We'll be thankful for the vision that led to the Majestic Field and gave our future generations a place to play ball. And I doubt we'll be thinking about how the opportunity for those accomplishments was funded. We'll just be happy.
Baseball great Nolan Ryan said, "One of the beautiful things about baseball is that every once in a while you come into a situation where you want to, and where you have to, reach down and prove something." In my book, Hot Springs has a chance to prove something to future generations. We believe in them. This project is not just a home run. I think it's a Grand Slam.
Neal Gladner
Hot Springs
Re: Sheriff's column
Dear editor:
Last Thursday, Sheriff Mike McCormick published a scathing letter as a guest columnist in The Sentinel-Record with his ire directed at journalist David Showers. I have met both gentlemen having encountered Mike when he first ran for sheriff. I was also on the business end of David's questions when I served on the election commission during that same period. I have high regard for both who I have observed do great work in the community.
David has written several articles recently on areas falling under Mike McCormick's area of responsibility. None, in my opinion, have been overly critical and are quite informative. However, Mike has taken considerable umbrage over one article covering the juvenile detention center and a second regarding a fund with some $500,000. Again, both articles as I read them were generally neutral and hardly smeared Mike as he so angrily wrote in his opinion piece. I doubt anyone in the community has any problem with the sheriff having control of that fund outside the purview of the nickel-busters on the quorum court nor is a decline in the population of the juvenile detention center a sign of mismanagement.
Mike's letter also accused David of a lack of ethics, which I strongly disagree. The missive Mike published in the paper hardly countered or refuted anything in David's articles but offered supplementary information. The problem from where I sit is an invasion of the territory controlled by the sheriff, who is obviously very protective of his turf. I might also say this missive was written angrily without considering the impact his lack of self-control on this matter which would have on his public image. I, for one, expect our senior public safety officials to have self-control in all matters even with those who annoy them.
Mike, next time you decide to write another missive, put it in a drawer for three days and then decide if it still has value. Try it, you may not like it, but it works.
Dennis L. Bosch
Hot Springs
Editorial on 08/21/2019