Letters to the editor

Time for a change Dear editor:

I read in your paper where our city manager spent over $50,000 to remodel his office. Approximately $25,000 was paid for furniture? Are you serious? And if that wasn’t enough, now the board of directors wants to raise the base rate for water. I am extremely disappointed in the city manager and the board for what seems to be poor stewardship of the ratepayers’ money.

According to Wikipedia, the median income for a household in the city was

$26,040. What does it say about a board of directors and city manager that do not consider those in poverty in their city? Maybe their goal is to force poor people out of town.

I attended the board meeting on Oct.

17 when the city manager stated the “remodel was poor timing” and he “takes full responsibility for this act.” So he admitted it was his decision to spend our money on his office, and the poor timing was due to the board intended to pass along a rate increase that very night. After going into “executive session for personnel matters” there was no action taken. Really? The board could have relieved him that night, but chose not to.

I am not feeling very confident in our current form of government and request more accountability. Maybe the citizens should consider returning to a strong mayor/alderman style. Maybe more citizens should call their director and ask for an explanation. It’s your money they are misusing.

W.R. Cowan Hot Springs

Proud of GOP senators Dear editor:

I want to shout from the rooftops how proud I am of Sen. McCain, Sen. Corker and Sen. Flake for demonstrating the courage to denounce our unqualified and disgraceful president for his lack of dignity, his constant untruthfulness and his childish actions that demean and put in danger our democracy with his rhetoric and his avenging spirit.

I am well aware that all three are still fiscal conservatives, but thank our God they have the courage to speak to the matter of character, which our citizens once demanded of politicians. Former President George W. Bush, whom I disagreed with strongly on the Iraqi invasion, also has denounced such behavior as not matching with the ideals of our country.

I know the POTUS has support of many in Congress because they live in fear of the future jobs, even though they disagree with his un-presidential acts. I pray every day some of those will join the few courageous ones and speak up to let their constituents know they, too, are servants with character. The saying is still true that evil exists when good people remain silent. If someone reading this letter agrees but has remained silent, I beg you to write and let others know you stand for character.

All you out there who are not pleased with the actions of our supposed leader, where is your courage? Do you who supported him and still do, really believe that his rhetoric is good for our great USA? Do you really think he is practicing effective behavior that benefits this great land?

As world leaders begin looking for real leadership, which they have in 100 years looked to us for, can we really say honestly, with character, that we can still provide it?

Do you folk who support him as born-again-believers and as good Christian people really believe that the president week after week demonstrates the qualities outlined in the New Testament for a practicing disciple of Christ? One passage states, “Be ye doers of the word, not hearers only, be ye doers of the word.”

This good paper of ours should be flooded with letters supporting the great courage of Sen. Flake and Sen. Corker and former President Bush, for they are concerned with character, not policy. Does character not matter anymore? Black Lives Matter, White Lives Matter, All Lives Matter, and character, especially of our elected representatives, matter.

I implore you out there to support these men of courage! John W. ” Doc” Crawford Hot Springs

Vote out Trump supporters Dear editor:

Finally some very smart GOP senators are calling out “enough is enough” regarding Trump!

I only took one year of psychology in college, but what little I learned taught me this president is not going to cut it as a commander in chief. He is a liar, a thief, a con man, a braggart, a bully, a bigot and womanizer, to name a few of his obvious flaws. And a “- - - - - - moron” according to his own security of state. He reminds me of Caligula, the crazy Roman emperor, totally out of control and no clue what he is doing to our country and our allies around the world. He is an embarrassment and a total incompetent.

Meanwhile, while “America burns,” our entire Arkansas congressional delegation hang around with their tails swinging like lemmings up a tree, doing nothing except: rubber stamp his dismantling the EPA, build an unwanted and useless wall, working on tax and health bills that benefits only the rich while plundering Medicaid, Social Security, denying climate change, etc. What are they waiting for? Making sure they get re-elected, of course, and that we won’t notice they are neglecting the same people who put them in office. The clock is ticking and our GOP reps are sucking their thumbs!

While Trump’s nonstop “tweets” obnoxious, frivolous, childlike attacks on anyone who dares to question or criticize him, his actions are like a spoiled brat with a “Daddy was mean to me” complex.

Every day this unstable hologram of a man is in office, he is a danger to our country and it will affect every Arkansas family in a very serious adverse way. Would you buy a used car from Donald Trump?

My advice, for what is worth, is let’s vote out every one of our congressmen

and senators who support this insanity.

You may also be concerned that his hatchet man, Steve Bannan, is out to get rid of every representative that is not an ultraconservative bigot. He is today’s version of the Nazi propaganda chief, Herman Gobbles, who you will remember from in World War II and the Holocaust!

R. Bruce Smith Hot Springs

Drug misuse kills

Dear editor:

Drugs don’t kill people, the misuse of drugs kill people.

There will be more deaths from suicide than opiates are killing now. Pain to the elderly (especially the elderly) is far harder to live with than a younger person who can be active and those who use alcohol will increase considerably. My back pain and general pain level are intolerable. The painkillers only dampen the pain, but it makes it tolerable. When I have to go without painkillers, I can’t begin to sleep more than a few minutes at a time and simple errands to the store, etc., are out of the question. Back surgery is out of the question as I have tried several back surgeons and none will attempt surgery, one even admitted that it will simply be worse after surgery than it is now. From what I gather, they are afraid of paralyzing me.

My wife has had seven surgeries and is still in severe pain. As I said, the pills only help make life tolerable. My wife actually cries (sobs) many nights out of desperation.

Do you know why pain is used in torture? Because people cannot tolerate tremendous levels of pain. I heard the ill-informed president give a boring and ignorant two hour speech on how he is going to abolish pain pills. He will drive more people to hard street drugs than you can imagine. … Many people will resort to illegal drugs, even heroine if that’s what is necessary to exist out of pain.

Those who are not in pain cannot imagine and are not considerate of those who have severe pain. The VA got me started as a result of “complications of surgery.” Fifteen years ago, the VA bungled my colorectal surgery and the opiates were prescribed to prevent my colon from involuntary and very painful contractions that kept me in the bathroom for hours every morning until I swallowed an OxyContin, and that would eventually allow me to leave the throne and literally scream in my recliner for hours at a time. After several years, I got to the point I could almost trust myself to nine holes of golf, 18 holes was out of the question and I had to try to be close to the restroom at times. The only help was from painkillers that slowed the rhythm of my colon. After several years, the pills allowed me to resume an almost normal life, but I was still unable to travel to see my son, who lived an airplane trip away. Out of the question!

I now use painkillers mainly for intolerable back pain, among other lesser problems. Unfortunately, I have experienced a painful life since it all began at age 57 with colon cancer.

Poetic justice would require that the president comes to understand the same level of pain. Then he will be more qualified to make such medical policies.

Darryl Foshee Hot Springs

‘Five-star’ care

Dear editor:

I recently was an inpatient at Health South/CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs Rehabilitation hospital for 11 days, originally to be 14-16 days but was able to achieve all goals to go home after 11 days. Prior to the rehabilitation stint, I had two surgical procedures in St. Vincent Little Rock with a 12-day stay, five of which were critical care as I had a disc pressing on the spinal cord. So, Health South Team North at Hot Springs helped me with a remarkable turnaround to be able to go to my Hot Springs Lake Hamilton cottage.

The design of the Health South facility consisted of 40 spacious handicap rooms and beds with HD 30-inch TVs and cable. Services were provided by teams North and South, 20 beds each. The medical and rehabilitation physicians were Dr. Amy Reid, rehab hospital director and medical consultants Drs. Diane and Steve Bodemann. I was seen daily by Dr. Diane Bodemann, except on weekends, her brother, Dr. Steve Bodemann. Dr. Amy Reid saw me every three days. My medical care was outstanding.

I was on Team North for my 20-bed nursing care. Call buttons were answered courteously and promptly. The RN staff consisted of Raquel, Tammy, Corie, sisters Penny and Pat, Rhonda, Brenda, Mary and Megan. Nursing techs were Laneice and Danny. Danny recently completed a threeyear stint as an Air Force EMT and now AF is sending him to RN school and he’s a federal reservist drilling at Jacksonville Air Force Base. He and Laneice were both “top notch,” a military term!

My physical therapy team consisted of Brad, PTA Chelsea and a student, Paris, a UA doctoral PT attendee.

My occupational therapy team consisted of OT Vicki, OTA Skylar, who was exemplary, and Jonathan in the Ph.D. inaugural class for occupational therapy and he was well chosen by my alma mater, Arkansas State University.

The dietitian, Haley, met with me ever three days and food was tops for what I chose.

Respiratory therapist, also from Arkansas State, Sarah performed other duties, e.g. passing food trays and did her duties well as an RT.

The pharmacist I dealt with was Katie and she answered all my questions, even after I was discharged, about timing of all my 22 medications.

I can’t possibly name everyone, but I’ve enjoyed trying.

The facility and staffs were all five-star. This is not often seen anymore, but this “pearl” is quite a find in our community!

Gary L. McGrew Hot Springs

‘Thanks’ for support

Dear editor:

Our community came together on Oct. 10 to support Teen Challenge of Arkansas’ faith-based recovery program. The 12th annual Teen Challenge Golf Tournament was played by 144 golfers. This couldn’t have happened without an army of volunteers and sponsors that remind us, once again, of the compassion and generosity of people who care.

The tournament raised funds that helps us offer residential care to the adult men we serve. We do offer sponsorships based on the families ability to pay. Families who have exhausted resources and emotional and spiritual energy turn to us, desperate for their loved ones to find hope and healing. This golf tournament helps us answer their calls and offer a safe place where healing from life-controlling problems can begin.

We are so grateful to our many volunteers — Lynn and Bud Lowry, Jerry and Dessie Clark, Diane McClendon, Richard Peck, Richard East, Linda Ballard, and Jill and Joe Adams. Our fantastic sponsors — Crossgate Church, Murphy Oil USA, Rolando’s Nuevo Latino Restaurant, Team Jennings - Allwell, Village Construction, Mitchell Products, Bob Warner and Chicken Express — all helped to make this tournament a great success.

On beautiful days like this past Oct. 10, we are so grateful for the support offered to those who have made mistakes, but have emerged from their darkest hour and are finally able to live in light. Thank you, Hot Springs and Hot Springs Village! We couldn’t fulfill our mission without you.

Tim Culbreth Executive director Teen Challenge of Arkansas