Thumbs column
The calendar has turned the page to August and, according to the website Pop Culture Madness, the eighth month of the year offers an abundance of trivia and some interesting quotes.
Most of us already know that August is named for Augustus Caesar, that one of its traditional birthstones is the peridot and that one of its astrological signs is Leo the Lion.
But it is also a time to celebrate Admit You Are Happy Month, National Picnic
Month, Romance Awareness
Month and Win With Civility
Month. I especially like the latter.
On the home front, it gives this writer an opportunity to say, “Thumbs up” and “Thank you” to Haven United Methodist Church, which last Friday treated Vacation Bible School students and volunteers, along with community leaders, to its second annual Community Dinner to help bring people together.
Chris Chapmond, Hot Springs assistant police chief, and Jason Lawrence, Garland County under sheriff, took part in the festivities.
By the same token, here is a “Thumbs-up” award to Stephen Ezelle, Veterans Outreach Program specialist for Pike, Garland, Hot Spring and Montgomery counties, and recent recipient of the DAV’s 2017 Outreach Program Specialist of the Year. The award was presented during a national conference in New Orleans.
Ezelle was also named Arkansas Veterans Representative of the Year in June.
We salute him for his service to our vets.
On the other hand, here is a “Thumbs-down” to the trails of litter along Section Line Road — across from the main Post Office branch. And just when the grassy area had been recently mowed and was looking so nice.
There was also another clutter of litter on the MLK Expressway close to the McLeod exit.
It seems some people are bound and determined to toss their trash on and around pubic thoroughfares.
Here is a “Thumbs-down” to a local bank whose customer service was sorely lacking, according to a Hot Springs resident.
Via email to The Sentinel-Record, he related the following:
“Recently, the bank made an appointment with the three check signers on the Oaklawn Church of God account to complete required forms. When the signers arrived, the bank did not have the forms prepared. The signers had to wait nearly an hour.
“During the wait, the two ladies (one a local business owner in her 80s and the the other a retired school teacher recuperating from back surgery and walking with a leg brace) asked to use the restroom. The bank clerk got in their face and said the bank’s restrooms were for staff only and they would have to go elsewhere.
“This is certainly not customer friendly.”
The Thumbs column appears in The Sentinel-Record the first and third Wednesday of each month. The newspaper welcomes readers’ comments and suggestions, which should be submitted in writing with a name, address and telephone number for verification.