LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — Thanks for hard work

Has anyone noticed the new look of Allsopp Park beginning at the corner of Cantrell and Allsopp Park roads? It is clean, beautiful and inviting.

Many thanks to the city of Little Rock and the men who worked hard for days to give us a better park.

LEE MOORE Little Rock Finding the hole truth

Just thought the fine taxpayers of Little Rock deserved a pothole update.

The potholes, it seems to me, are very much alive and thriving, and in fact, growing despite promises from City Hall that the tax increase we voted in last year was going to help alleviate the embarrassing excuse we call streets.

And we bought that. Shame on us.

Don’t know about you, but I’ve seen maybe two or three shovelfuls of asphalt thrown down randomly, which didn’t last long. However, our pedestrian and cyclist brethren didget some repaving on trails near Rebsaman Park Road.

Wonder what they would do if I drove my car on that trail? It’s the only way to avoid potholes.

WALTER TUCKER Little Rock A sign of oppression?

What was he thinking?

Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher’s move to ban church information signs and other billboards along U.S. 67/167 may be the undoing of his mayorship. The signs, for the most part, have been in that location for over 30 years by the churches of Jacksonville.

Attacking the ministerial alliance may not have been in Fletcher’s best interest, in my opinion. There were better ways to handle this. Why not invite the pastors and discuss the city’s reasons for its objection to the signs?

I urge all members of the affected churches to request to be added to the City Council agenda to speak on this action.

JERRY REICHENBACH Jacksonville Arkansans friendliest

I have been living here for almost 10 years and now am about to move out of state.

It will be one sad move as this is the friendliest state I have ever lived in. I went through a lot personally while here, and every time, there was an Arkansan there to help me.

I watched television to see the cereal drives, or some tragedy-like the tornadoes and floods-where Arkansans jumped in there to help folks.

My neighbors and friends are great. And so is my newspaper deliverer, Howard Shelton, who never missed a day-even on the iciest of mornings.

As I boo-hoo writing this letter, I’ll say as most Arkansans say: “I appreciate ’cha!” REBEKAH GREENLEE Little Rock Tribute was troubling

Regarding John Brummett’s award-winning tribute to his father: I am troubled that he registers admiration that his father painted houses while he was “retired on disability.”

As a former employer, I supposed that the disability insurance I paid for was for those employees who were disabled, and that retirement was something altogether different. I think that one who is being compensated for being disabled is not honest if he is able to work, especially at painting houses.

I do not know all the circumstances regarding J.T.

’s compensation while he was on disability, but a journalist should not leave me confused about important facts presented in his column. And those who award kudos for journalism, an industry dedicated to communication, should have presented their award to a columnist who was held to at least that standard.

In addition, fathers are supposed to teach their sons that integrity is important, and Brummett’s tribute to his father in this case leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

JUNEUS KENDALL Hot Springs Love does find a way

It has been difficult for me to read John Brummett’s columns all the way through without wanting to scream. That is, until Father’s Day.

After I finished reading his “Memories of my dad,” the only thing I felt was “just love.”

Thank you.

PHYLLIS RANEY Little Rock Honor well-deserved

Recently, Wayne Cranford was inducted into the prestigious Arkansas Business Hall of Fame. I need to say that this honor was, without question, deserved. Cranford was and is a totally selfless man. Others always come first with him.

He was our English and journalism teacher at Bald Knob High School during the 1950s. He created our school newspaper, The Knob and he was always loading students, overflowing into his car, taking us to colleges and universities, plays and to Elvis Presley’s concert in Little Rock (taking us backstage for handshakes and pictures). He even arranged a job interview for me with “The” Jon Kennedy of the Arkansas Democrat.

In the opinion of many, he and his beautiful wife, Frances, are unparalleled.

CARLETTA SAUNDERS Searcy The one we have fed

A few weeks after Barack Obama was sworn in as president of the United States, it was obvious that his honeymoon was over. Had there been a honeymoon? I taped a small Obama-Biden poster to our front window to honor the presidency itself.

Initially, the mounting criticisms, wails and shrieks centered on the campaign-promised health-care reform. However, the matter of failing banks and other lenders, the automobile crises, growing unemployment, and a bipolar Congress in the making seemed to have distracted the president.

The people, fanned by the media which, of course, have to give the people what they want, or what the media want the people to want, have never stopped criticizing this president.

If elected president, I suspect Mitt Romney will encounter an experience similar to Obama’s: As a successful businessman, he will be expected to solve the economic crises and eradicate unemployment within the first month or so of his tenure. He must create a humanized Congress to work with him.

Some people think money is America’s bottom line. I think it might be divisiveness.

A story: An old Indian tells his grandson that living within every person are two wolves. One is good. The other is evil. They fight constantly.

“Which one wins?” the child asks.

“The one you feed,” answers the grandfather.

JUDITH H. BAUM North Little Rock