Change at United Way
a reason for sadness
I read, with sadness, the editorial in Aug. 14’s Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette about … the United Way in Bentonville. The decision by the leaders of the United Way to destroy the organization by focusing their efforts on the one need of children’s poverty is antithetical to the “United Way” goal.
The leadership is sadly mistaken about the needs of charitable organizations in Northwest Arkansas and the needs and motivations behind our businesses and individuals to satisfy those needs. One organized giving drive to satisfy many needs is much more effective and efficient than many drives by many needy organizations.
They have destroyed the concept of being united by being focused on only one need.
RICHARD EGGERT
Bella Vista
An approach to consider
in Benton County?
I have followed with interest the discussion in regard to the new Benton County Courthouse.
I am currently a circuit judge in the 12th Judicial District in Sebastian County. We went through some of the same discussions prior to the opening of our new courts building in 2008. We decided early on that it wasn’t necessary to have the courts in the same facility as the rest of the county administrative offices. To facilitate this division, the citizens of Sebastian County voted to change some of the duties of the circuit and county clerks. This is permissible under Amendment 55 of the Arkansas Constitution. Probate filings are now done in the circuit clerk’s office and she is now the effective clerk of all the courts. In return, all real estate filings formerly done in the circuit clerk’s office are now done in the county clerk’s office. This way, unless someone has business before the courts there would be no reason to come to the courts building. The offices contained in the new building are the six circuits judges, three district judges, district court clerk, circuit court clerk, and prosecuting attorney. This has allowed us to maximize our available space and provide a better efficiency for officials and the citizenry.
Would this work for Benton? That is for others to decide, but it works well for us.
JIM D. SPEARS
Fort Smith
Anti-Trump pile-on
a disappointment
Congratulations to the Democrat-Gazette. Thursday’s Editorial Page reached an all-time low on reporting opinions about the upcoming election. Both political cartoons, three columns and seven of the eight letters were venomous, rambling, left-wing propaganda. How can you call yourselves a newspaper? You are a biased, Democrat mouthpiece much like the New York Times, MSNBC, Bloomberg and, of course, the Clinton News Network (CNN).
Like those outlets of propaganda, your rag can’t seem to spew enough hatred of Republicans to satisfy your liberal audience. Does it ever get old talking about insulting that beloved Gold Star family, kicking the baby out of the rally, suggesting an assassination of your anointed presidential candidate, while claiming the Republican candidate is a racist, homophobic Klan member. We get it already. Who are you trying to convince? Your loyal readers already believe everything you say. Can you give those of us who don’t care a break and talk about something anything, else?
You don’t even pretend to report news or share opinions. All you do is trash talk the right. Of course, you won’t print this since it doesn’t march in lock-step with your left-wing agenda. Give it a rest already. Your bias is embarrassing and making us wonder if you are truly OCD about this subject.
They have medication and treatment for that. Maybe you should seek one of those options.
DON LANDRUM
Fayetteville