Fix overflows
Dear editor:
Maybe Lake Catherine's Spencer Bay should be renamed. During rain events, the bay and Gulpha Creek are host to a tremendous amount of untreated sewage from the city of Hot Springs. Almost every time it rains, raw sewage, meaning everything you flush down your toilet, freely flows into Gulpha Creek, which then empties into Lake Catherine at Spencer Bay.
Yes, the city says it is working on a fix for these sewer overflows, but is it tackling this long-ignored problem quickly enough?
Since the beginning of the year, a total of over 35 million gallons of untreated sewage was reported by the city to have been released into Gulpha Creek. When sewer overflows occur, the city often issues Code Red alerts to residents living near the creek and bay who have signed up to receive them.
These Code Red alerts include the following language:
A No Swimming Advisory has been issued for the Gulpha Creek/Spencer Bay area due to a wastewater overflow. Hot Springs Utilities will monitor the water quality in the area until it is safe for human contact.
The "wastewater overflow" referenced in the alerts sounds better than sewer overflow, but, either way, exposure to it may pose a potential threat to public health, which is why the no-swimming advisories are issued.
Supposedly, no one was swimming before May 1. So, the Code Red alerts issued on Jan. 25, Feb. 24, March 3, March 9, April 6, April 21, and April 25 were probably not of such great concern. But May 1 starts the official swimming season, at least as far as the state's water quality regulations are concerned. Consequently, the no-swimming advisories issued by the city on May 4, May 11, and May 20 should have been more unsettling for the public, which begs the question, how far are the Code Red alerts broadcast? Are my neighbors living elsewhere on the lake aware of the no-swimming advisories issued for Gulpha Creek and Spencer Bay? What about people visiting Lake Catherine in boats, who could unknowingly wander into the no-swimming zone, anchor and jump in or tow their kids through it in those big floaties?
The point of this letter is to say, for the sake of public health, the city must focus on fixing the problem of sewer overflows into Gulpha Creek as quickly as possible. It has already allowed too much time to go by without doing anything.
Hopefully, there will be no swimming advisories in effect over this holiday weekend. And maybe it will remain dry for the rest of the summer.
Ellen Carpenter
Hot Springs
Senior center needed
Dear editor:
After talking with the city manager (who was so kind as to return my call), the information that I received on the status of the Hot Springs Senior Center (or lack thereof) was very disheartening.
The property on Woodbine, which used to house the old senior center, is undergoing considerable improvements and updating. Mr. Burrough informed me that this facility will be used for government offices and other "needed" community activities. I inquired as to the status of the much-needed senior center and why this building wasn't being repaired for this use. We discussed the need for a place for seniors to come and enjoy activities, exercise, nutritional meals and informational programs which are so important for the aged. After suggesting the continual increase in sales tax collection might be partly used for this project, the city manager told me that not everyone would benefit from this action. He assured me that a senior center needed a space and that a space has been decided on but the seller was not interested in accepting the offer made by the city. He also assured that this project was on the front burner. I didn't respond, but was thinking the flame must have gone out under this burner.
We have a large community of seniors here in Hot Springs. We pay taxes. It seems to me that we are being put to the back of the line. Even much smaller towns in our part of Arkansas have nice senior centers. I shared the problem of no senior center in Hot Springs when touring the Cabot Senior Center and the people there could hardly believe this.
This is a direct plea to Mr. Bill Burrough, city manager, and County Judge Darryl Mahoney. Do the right thing and help us attain a senior center.
Priscilla Davis
Hot Springs
Faces Foundation 'thanks'
Dear editor:
Thank you for helping us "Change Lives One Face at a Time."
The Faces Foundation would like to thank all the individuals and community organizations that supported our recent Mother's Day Smoked Butts Fundraiser. The fundraiser assists in providing facial and reconstruction surgery for children and young adults with facial deformities, who would otherwise not have the financial resources to have adequate and appropriate surgical corrections performed. The Faces Foundation would not be able to provide these surgeries without the backing and support of the Hot Springs Community.
Over 160 smoked butts were purchased and smoked in the parking lot of the Arkansas Center for Surgical Excellence. This year we required eight smokers that were offered by Fred Bradshaw, Bob Edmonds, Dr. Randy Hill, Bobby Brown, Joey Clampit, Tim Kellstrom, Arvest Bank and Southern Bancorp. All the firewood was supplied by JoJo Gargano and The Lawn King, and the delicious "rub" seasoning was custom made by the chefs at Vault restaurant. We truly appreciate everyone's involvement and support.
We want to extend a special gratitude to all those individuals who sold tickets, helped with setup, distributed the pork butts, prepared and tended the smokers from early Friday morning until noon on Saturday. All of this could not come to fruition without volunteers willing to presell the pork butts, work through the night preparing, cooking and then delivering the finished product. Thank you to this amazing group of volunteers: Kin Bush, Hunter James, Daniel Mann, Vance Dobyns, John Hoefl, Bo Knutson, Matt Cox and the staff at the ACSE including, Christy Kerberskey, Chelsea Carr, Austin Westgate, Brittany Cole, Devin Williams, Rhonda Cooper, Allene Winfree and Tori Jensen. A special thank you to Vicki Hinz for always being there to help and support me.
A very vital person that is both a Faces Foundation Board member and a tireless supporter is Rollin Caristianos. The success of this event is only possible because of his willingness to oversee and coordinate the Smoked Butts Fundraising that was, and continues to be, a fun and successful event for the Faces Foundation.
Thank you to those that purchased the Smoked Boston Butts. Your support of this event and the Faces Foundation makes it possible for us to Change Lives ... One Face at a Time.
Ernie Hinz
Dr. Daron Praetzel
Faces Foundation
'Coppelia' a delight
Dear editor:
The Hot Springs Children's Dance Theatre Co. once again delighted audiences with their presentation of "Coppelia," a comedy about an engaged couple and the attraction for a life-size doll, Coppelia, held by the groom.
I was not familiar with the story of Coppelia and I found the unfolding storyline fun and the dancing mesmerizing. I encourage our community to attend these very entertaining performances presented by not only local dance students but also by seasoned professionals. I must mention that the "Costumes by Hannah" are outstanding and an integral part of the storytelling. I was fascinated by the second intermission with the changing of the set from the doll maker's studio back to the street scene. This was truly interesting. I wanted to applaud the stage crew and the set designer, Sara Riley.
Edmond Cooper, artistic director, states that the Hot Springs Children's Dance Theatre is an independent incorporated, nonprofit dance theatre. The performers come from a wide variety of training and experience.
We have a diverse art scene in the area and the HSCDT performances should be on your "must-do" list.
Shirley Chauvin
Hot Springs
Arkansas LEARNS
Dear editor:
I do hope the people of Arkansas are learning -- learning to be better citizens.
Didn't you love the campaign ad for Gov. SHS when one of her children tells on the others for watching CNN? I suppose all would be well if only her children were getting their news from Fox or Newsmax or perhaps from Tucker Carlson.
Have you seen the billboard in Benton? Not the one that says something about the end being near -- that one has sat there for our edification for 50 years -- but the one about scary books in the library. The people who paid for that billboard probably weren't thinking about Dracula or Frankenstein but about books by Judy Blume or Margaret Atwood. But who knows: the joy is in the banning.
About a hundred years ago, Hemingway shipped his mother a box of signed copies of "The Sun Also Rises," first editions. She sent the box back with a note that said she wouldn't read such trash. Of course, he eventually won a Nobel Prize and worked on "For Whom the Bell Tolls" right here in Arkansas.
Do you remember back in the fabulous '60s when some people said you couldn't tell girls from the boys with long hair -- how scary?
Some of us old folk remember Milton Berle on prime time TV and even remember Uncle Milty dressed up in drag, but then so did Sid Caesar, Jack Benny, and others. Who knew how dangerous and harmful such antics might be?
So, as good citizens of Arkansas, we have learned that CNN and books are dangerous, that Hemingway's mother was right, and that long hair and dresses for guys can be harmful.
Of course, Jesus seems clad in robes and long hair, begging us to love our brothers (and sisters) as ourselves, but that can still be a tough call for so many of us living in Arkansas.
Gov. SHS seems to have no tough calls. She knows what's what but seems to have forgotten St. Matthew: hungry people don't need a work requirement and prisoners don't need more prisons and sick people don't need to be removed from the Medicaid rolls. Most of us in Arkansas already know what's right. We just need a governor to help us do it.
Ken Cook
Hot Springs