‘Thumbs down’

Dear editor:

On Friday (July 31), letter writer Mike Jared lamented the lack of coverage of the Trump rally/boat parade on Lake Hamilton last week. Actually, I did find a short piece on it online at hotsr.com. As someone who lives on Lake Hamilton and actually saw what was happening, I think Mr. Jared might have preferred no coverage at all if our local newspaper had been there to cover it objectively.

What I witnessed from my deck was the height of irresponsibility and disregard for laws and public safety. Being a Trump rally, I guess that’s standard operating procedure.

Very few people were wearing life jackets or sitting down while boats were operating. Fewer still were wearing the mandated COVID-19 facial protection. The Belle of Hot Springs was apparently part of, or sponsoring, the event, and there was zero social distancing onboard. People on the upper deck were elbow to elbow, hanging over the railings, not wearing masks or flotation devices.

People were jumping in the water while boats drove by less than 15-20 feet away, so it’s a miracle no one got hurt. Finally, the wake created by the influx of boats and the Belle was tossing docks, boats, and recreational watercraft homeowners have violently. I’d be shocked if some property wasn’t damaged in the wake of this irresponsibility.

So if Ms. Gassaway wants to give a few “thumbs down” in her weekly column, start with the participants, move on to the ownership of the Belle of Hot Springs for not enforcing safety protocol, and finally, the Garland County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol division for not simply shutting the whole thing down. Sue Thomas Hot Springs