Thumbs column

While many of us Spa City denizens continue to worry and wonder about what lies ahead for our community, there are always good deeds by good people and organizations that give us optimism, hope, and a sense of security.

And so we begin today’s column with a “Thumbs-up” and words of appreciation from local resident Carla Mouton to Police Chief

Chris Chapmond, the Hot Springs Police Department, City Manager Bill Burrough, Garland County

Judge Darryl Mahoney, Garland County Sheriff Mike McCormick and the Garland County Sheriff Department for working together for the safety of all citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a recent email, Mouton thanks Chapmond and his officers for their support of Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s mask-wearing mandate, commenting, “I applaud them for caring about the health and safety of Hot Springs by recognizing the role they play in setting the proper example for our citizens.

“Let us hope that all entities who are charged with enforcing the law follow their example in this very critical time.”

We also send out another “Thumbs-up” to The Greater

Hot Springs Kiwanis Club for recently recognizing four local teachers and a community partner they deemed as “going above and beyond to teach support, and protect Garland County area students in these challenging times.”

Kiwanis Club President Brian Canales on July 21 — during a luncheon at Hibachi Sushi Buffet — presented Teacher Appreciation Awards to Kaitlyn Hill, first-grade teacher at Mountain Pine Elementary School, Kaitlin Boles, special education teacher (grades 8-12) at Lakeside High School, Jan Sligh, first-grade teacher at Park Magnet, an IB World School, and Ji’Lana Heard, media specialist at Lake Hamilton High School.

Angela Arnaud, a dining services director with Chartwells in the Cutter Morning School District was honored with a Community Partner Appreciation Award.

Each teacher received a $250 classroom check and a $100 personal check and the recipient of the Community Partner Award received a $100 personal check. Kudos to the Kiwanians for their generous support of our schools.

Staying on the upside, we say “Congratulations” and “Thumbs-up” to the Hot Springs Sister City Program for again being named the best of its size in the country.

As announced at the Sister City International Conference in July, the program between Hot Springs and Hanamaki, Japan, received the Sister Cities International 2020 Awarenesses for Best Overall Program in America with a population between 25,001 and 50,000. The program was likewise honored in 2012.

A tip of the hat to Mary Zunick, executive director, city officials, Hanamaki friends, educators, students, sponsors and supporters, who have made the program so successful.

And another “Thumbs-up” goes out to the good news that Hot Springs National Park is renewing its Artist in the Park program that will be part of next year’s centennial celebration.

Jori Welchans, supervisory park ranger, noted in a recent story in the hometown newspaper that Park officials are bringing back the program because “artists have played a large role in the Park for over 100 years and the artists’ impact on the Park can be seen in the bath houses in both the stained glass windows and the architecture.”

Welchan also said the park hopes to have four artists, one for each season.

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 and home telephone number for verification and contact purposes. This information is kept confidential.