LETTERS

Smell not quite ripe

Regarding the recent hog farm and Buffalo River tour by legislators, Rep. Homer Lenderman was quoted saying that from 30 feet away, he “could barely smell the hog operation.”

At this date, the farm is just beginning operation, and there are very few hogs and piglets producing waste at this time, and the spreading of detention pond waste has not begun yet. I’m anxiously awaiting Rep. Lenderman’s return to the farm in August when the farm is nearly at capacity with thousands of hogs and piglets, and when detention ponds are full, and when the waste is being spread all over the 650 acres of the farm. I’d like to hear what he says about odor then.

I hope the organizers of this Cargill public relations tour will organize a follow-up tour with these legislators when ripeness is in the air and the water.

LIZ LOTTMANN Bella Vista Stifling participation

I tried to file a petition of limited appearance with the Arkansas Public Service Commission on May 3rd, the deadline, and I was told that sending via USPS on that date, thus having it postmarked on the envelope, would not be considered to be sent on time and thus I would have no opportunity to be part of a coming hearing. They did assure me that my petition would not be thrown in the trash bin, however.

The hearing will not be for another three or so months, so it is not like my postmarked envelope arriving on May 6th would have been holding up any hearing.

My question is, why does the IRS accept the postmark rule on filings or pleadings but not our state government? Is it because the state government really does not want the citizens of this state to participate in state democratic proceedings especially when large utility companies are boasting about all the jobs they are creating and that their coal is as clean as a whistle?

There is no mention of the massive amounts of herbicides that will be sprayed that will get into our water, as well as the jobs that will be lost and property taxes that will be lowered when all of us are left with rooms and tables that are harder to fill. And forget about the retirees that would have come to retire here so they could enjoy their remaining years with clean air and water.

Forget about that.

SUSAN PANG Garfield Value of pontification

Like Bobbie Horton from Mayflower, I too, am tired-to the point of outage, no less!-by the recent AT&T commercials in which children let their imaginations run wild when confronted with questions that an adult would answer in a far more serious fashion.

When they get older, these little tykes will learn the value of pontification, and the shame of letting anyone think they are less than wise. Why not start now? Perhaps we could have commercials in which kids who don’t give “serious” answers must stand in the corner for half an hour.

Then again, I sort of enjoy the quick-wittedness of the kids, and their logic is at least as good as that of many “adults” who write letters to the editor, or post on Facebook.

RICHARD S. DRAKE FayettevilleUA makes state proud

It was thrilling recently to visit with the outstanding young people who plan to invest three years of their life teaching Arkansas’ youth in underserved areas. I see this as one more example of the leadership that the University of Arkansas offers our citizens.

Our College of Education is recognized in the top 20 by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

U.S. News and World Report ranks UA 65th among public national universities and ranks the School of Law 42nd among public law schools. In 2012, the university had 28 specialties or academic programs ranked by U.S. News; 24 are in the top 100, including nine among the top 50. Supply Chain Management and Logistics are ninth and 10th-graduate and undergrad respectively. Rehabilitation Counseling is ranked 14th. Industrial Engineering ranks 18th, Biological and Agricultural Engineering is 19th, Business School is ranked 25th in graduate school and 27th in undergraduate programs, with part-time M.B.A. in the 29th position.

DesignIntelligence ranked the architecture program at 20th nationally. Kiplinger ranked UA as the 53rd Best College Value in 2012.

Hats off to our administration and teaching staff for making a great state even better. Kudos to those students who use their gifts for our state. Thanks, UA.

SISSI BRANDON Little RockThe courage to fight

Recently my husband and I saw the movie 42; it was one of the best movies we have seen in a long time. As I was born and raised in Chicago, I attended many baseball games at the home of the Chicago Cubs. Being 74 years old, I remember many of the players who were in that movie. We have lived in Arkansas for 20 years and realize how black people were treated in the South. When we first married, we lived in Pensacola, Fla., and it was the first time I saw separate bathrooms and water fountains.

I can’t imagine what Jackie Robinson had to take in, being the first major-league black baseball player. I am happy he was one of the first to have the courage to fight for his rights.

MADELYN SPILLER RogersProof in the put-upon

I see that studies show humans are getting dumber. The average IQ is down 14 points from what it was in the Victorian age.

It is certainly no surprise, given what is coming out of the Arkansas Legislature and members of Congress.

NANCY SAVULA Rogers

Editorial, Pages 15 on 05/29/2013

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