Letters to the Editor

Court facility logically should be near jail

For the benefit of the general public, the sheriff's office, the judges and those who operate the courts, the logical location for the new Benton County court facility is on 14th Street next to the jail. It's either the congestion and difficulty of driving into downtown Bentonville, possibly parking in a fine garage, still having to walk some distance in whatever kind of weather to wherever the court you seek may be located -- or, driving along 14th Street, turning into a parking lot and walking a few feet into a spacious building knowing that's where the court you're looking for is located. Also of no small consideration is the sheriff's office either busing prisoners downtown and securing them for court appearances or walking them a short distance out of the jail and over to the court.

However, common sense and routine politics have been absent in Benton County for some time. A number of editorials in the Northwest Arkansas edition of this newspaper have made a commendable effort to enlighten Benton County residents of what has been happening. There was an election, which involved an $80,000 campaign fund, the power to influence numerous voters or those who failed as a responsible voter; so the qualified candidate was not chosen.

Consequently, the door was opened for the past several months of the Quorum Court spending money and haggling over the appropriate location for the courts. Now a parking garage has been promised for downtown Bentonville, but with a qualifier. If this puzzles you, there's the misguided and selfish belief that to preserve the historic atmosphere of downtown Bentonville, "everything needs to be kept downtown."

For the benefit of the people, Benton County court facilities should be on 14th Street, and for the benefit of the tourists -- who won't know or care where the courts are -- our 90-year-old courthouse along with the Walmart museum containing Mr. Sam's pickup truck (which is special) will still be on the square. The unsurpassed generosity of that company, the family and the foundation deserves appreciation, but an unfortunate disservice is being done to Benton County.

Barbara Foreman

Siloam Springs

Trump questionable?

Same true for Clinton

Thank you, [Woody] Bassett for your opening comments stating yourself as a lifelong Democrat and ardent Hillary supporter in your Aug. 18 Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette column.

The rest of your comments fall right in line expressing your opinion on Mr. Trump's qualifications to hold office.

Interestedly the same type of comments can be said concerning Mrs. Clinton. However, the comments concerning Mrs. Clinton would include numerous facts showing she has a long track record showing few meaningful accomplishments and at-a-best questionable legal behavior. Not to mention the constant drama that follows her and does not allow true focus on the real priorities.

So I guess we will have to respectfully disagree on what is worse in order to hold the office of presidency. Who do you pick? One who speaks frankly and, yes, many times in a way which makes many uncomfortable, or one who has had a chance, several to be factual, and again at-best will be business as usual.

I'm going to trust in our three-branch government and go with the unique choice versus business as usual. One fact I think everyone agrees is "business as usual wont get the job done," and we truly need focus.

In closing, I did notice you also share Mrs. Clinton's profession as an attorney. I am curious if your legal opinion sits right with Mrs. Clinton's qualifications to hold office? Does that or will that soil anything?

George Sayre

Rogers

Commentary on 08/23/2016

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