LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Little Rock needs improvement, golf prospering in state + more

Needs improvement

First, I do not live in Little Rock but I am a lifetime resident of Arkansas. This city is the capital of the state and as such has more responsibility to be an outstanding city than the rest of state. However, in recent years the news coming from our capital city is presenting a bad image to the state and the country.

Following is a list of concerns: crime; no first-rate softball or baseball parks like Conway or Maumelle to have tournaments; park closings; Riverfest stoppage; budget problems.

As an outsider it appears that Little Rock has relinquished its leadership role to Northwest Arkansas.

I have lived outside Little Rock all my life and have traveled there for many events from Barton to War Memorial to Robinson, and for Razorback games, and always felt that the city has never made it easy for outsiders to attend events in our capital city. The state and city should do more to make this a mecca for sports and cultural events in a safe and friendly environment, and sadly, the opposite has occurred during my lifetime. The attitude is we are Little Rock, the capital; we do not have to sell ourselves to the rest of the state.

Well, those days are over.

DAVID FAUCETT

Camden

In horrible conditions

I am horrified at the conditions that children are facing in immigration facilities at the southern border, and if Senators Boozman and Cotton and Representative Hill are not also horrified, I don't know how they can call themselves caring human beings.

A recent New Yorker report states, "The conditions the lawyers found were shocking: Flu and lice outbreaks were going untreated, and children were filthy, sleeping on cold floors, and taking care of one another because of the lack of attention from guards. Some of them had been in the facility for weeks."

Many of these children have family in the U.S. who want to take care of them, and our government is refusing to release them. Some of them also came over with family, were separated from them (which was found illegal in a court case last year), and were reclassified as unaccompanied.

I don't care what my elected officials' political views are about immigration. I don't want to hear that this is a "complicated issue." These are living, breathing children who are being treated like animals in cages when our law requires that they are provided safe, sanitary conditions. I urge Boozman, Cotton and Hill to have some empathy and do something. This is despicable and un-American.

LISA STINE

North Little Rock

Don't get worked up

Folks, it doesn't matter! I'll repeat for emphasis: It doesn't matter. It seems it can be 80 million to 1, but the "winner" will be chosen by the electoral college. All the hype and hyperbole are for naught. It's in the Constitution, where the word democracy is omitted.

Watch cat videos on YouTube, post your outrage on Facebook. It doesn't matter.

PAUL E. HECKATHORNE

Jacksonville

Golf courses needed

First, Wally Hall talks about his slice, then he laments about looking for his ball in the rough. Maybe if he had learned to play golf he wouldn't be so quick to pull the plug on Hindman and War Memorial golf courses.

There is as much need for these courses as there is for (bleah) soccer fields. By the way, soccer fields? Ever even walked Hindman?

GENE BAKER

Little Rock

Little Rock closures

Having just read Wally Hall's column about the golf-course closings, I feel the need for a rejoinder. I do not believe as Wally says that golf is declining in Arkansas. Indeed, it seems to be prospering. Just recently the Palmer Cup, one of the most prestigious amateur events in the nation, was played in Roland at the Alotian Club, the site I believe for another nationally prominent amateur event coming this year. The LPGA has a regular tour stop in Northwest Arkansas that has been very successful.

The two courses being closed are played largely by senior golfers. How will one working man's club, Rebsamen, handle more golfers? First Tee has only nine holes. The repurposed courses are not going to be very purposive for men and women 50 and over. Golf is one of the very few sports older folks can play well into their 70s and beyond. How many older Arkansans are going to be playing soccer and softball when this repurposing takes place? The closing of these courses disadvantages a substantial Little Rock and satellite community demographic.

Another inaccurate observation was that golf has priced itself out of the market. I don't even have to check to know that green fees at the closed courses were in the $35 range for 18 holes. Where can you spend an entire morning or afternoon with friends for that price? I just went bowling for the first time in several years and an alley cost $23 an hour, not including shoe rental.

One last point: Hindman has status as a wildlife refuge, as I recall. The number of birds alone make this a beautiful place to bird and walk. When you consider the timber and babbling brooks, you have to give much thought to how that property will be changed for the better. By the way, I belong to a private club that has been accessible to golfers whose organizations schedule tournaments there. I played Hindman last year with a neighbor and had a great time. I will, as many, I believe, miss these courses.

ART ENGLISH

Little Rock

Editorial on 06/26/2019

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