Bonuses vs. merit
Dear editor:
I read this week's headline about the board of directors considering a 2% "bonus" to all city employees, in addition to a 2% cost of living increase. No doubt the board will rubber-stamp this; they've proven time and again they are incapable of showing any fiscal restraint, since it's not their money, but ours, the taxpayers'.
A "bonus" is something that by definition is earned and merit-based. I ask all taxpayers of Hot Springs if they think conditions have improved to the point where city employees have truly earned a bonus? Our city streets are in terrible condition, poorly marked, cutouts and potholes everywhere. Traffic congestion is awful in some areas because the engineering department seems to want to install traffic lights every quarter mile. The same engineering and planning department can't keep certain parts of Central Avenue from flooding every time we have sustained rainfall.
Crime at one point this year became almost out of control, and one only needs look at the front of this newspaper every day to see we have a major drug problem in the city.
Then there's the still-vacant downtown site that used to be the Majestic Hotel. The city spent almost $2 million in the cleanup, then this same board of directors recently turned down a $2.1 million offer from a private developer who wanted to put a luxury resort hotel there.
So no, I do not believe the city employees have earned a 2% "bonus," in any way, shape, or form. I would urge all taxpayers to contact their respective representative on the board, but even if they got ahold of them, it would fall on deaf ears. Cynthia Kehely is the last board member I can remember who was accessible and had some common sense and integrity.
Noah Little
Hot Springs
Into the rabbit hole
Dear editor:
Rep. Bruce Westerman was in full campaign picture mode in the Nov. 8 edition of The Sentinel-Record. He is very proud to represent the timber industries who are big Trump donors, making Bruce believe it is his common cause to be re-elected but not support environmental laws nor protect public lands.
Do not blame Bruce -- look at his role models in Washington: the secretary of state, the attorney general, education secretary, and dozens of other appointed political power brokers who dare not rock the Trump boat. With these powerful examples Bruce understands his job, and paycheck, require him to vote against an impeachment investigation, not to believe in our Constitution and separation of powers, and not to fulfill his sworn duties. Instead, he has been pulled into the rabbit hole of a dictator. Remember, it is not Bruce's fault, he has a job to do, but not for American democracy.
The real reason the Republican Party is fighting against this impeachment investigation so hard is that they, as all of us do, know the truth about this despicable person who disgraces our wonderful country, daily! Fear of Trump and personal greed rule their actions!
Jim Pumphrey
Garland County
Shred Day a success
Dear editor:
A few weeks ago, Arkansas Records Management arrived at CCMC's parking lot on a mission with their enormous shredding truck: to raise funds to support the mission of CCMC. For several hours, people brought their old records and documents that needed shredding and the truck gobbled every bit of it up at no cost to those who took advantage of our Shred Day! A donation bucket was next to the truck for those who received this free service and close to $1,000 was raised during this unique event! We are so grateful to Kathy Gruber of Arkansas Records Management who organized this Shred Day, and to their president, David Reagler, for their innovative support of our mission to reduce poverty in this community! Thanks to them and all who came to shred and who left a donation to help us continue our work.
Kim Carter
CCMC executive director
Atheism skeptic
Dear editor:
Some months ago, as I was waiting for my wife to complete her shopping, a middle-aged woman sat down next to me and began complaining about the lack of powered scooters for those with disabilities. She saw a young person using a scooter and said, "Now look at that! No respect for those who need them. Why are people so inconsiderate?" she asked. I replied, "It's because of sin in the world." Before I could counter her objection she rode away on an available scooter.
I don't believe in atheism. Romans 2:15 says everyone who comes into the world knows right from wrong; it is part of our makeup as a person. Those who have read or heard the Word of God and His laws will be judged by them, whether or not they choose to live by them (James 4:17).
Those who deny the infallible truth of God's Word will follow the eternal plight of the rich man of Luke 16. He enjoyed life to the fullest by wearing fine clothes and eating "high on the hog" every day, never concerning himself with those less fortunate souls like the beggar, Lazarus. His friends laid him at the rich man's gate in hopes he would be fed scraps from the food-laden table. Eventually Lazarus died and went into paradise; the rich man died later and was cast into hell. He was able to see Lazarus existing in comfort while he was suffering heated torment. The man begged Abraham to send Lazarus to him with cool water, but was told it wasn't possible.
Then the man begged Abraham to send Lazarus to his five brothers to warn them about hell. Abraham pointed out that it was their responsibility to find out from God's Word. The man said his brothers would not take the time to study it, but if Lazarus went to tell them they would believe. Abraham said they wouldn't believe even if they saw one coming out of their grave.
I recently read about an avowed atheist who was a hospital patient that had gone "code red." Medical personnel rushed to revive him with a defibrillator. When his heart started to beat again he shouted and screamed, "The heat! The heat!" Then he flatlined again and the medic brought him back a second time. He shouted, "The flames, oh, the flames!" They lost him again.
The patient died four more times and was revived, each time screaming about the heat or flames. Finally, they couldn't bring him back, and with his last gasping breath he was crying in agony. The doctors and nurses stared at the body and knew the man went to hell.
Lost atheist, or those who deny the sacrificial payment Jesus Christ made for your sins, don't wait until it's too late to get your eternal destiny worked out. Receive Christ today!
Donald Cunningham
Hot Springs
Editorial on 11/17/2019