WAR IN HOT SPRINGS
The consortium of the arts community and arts-related businesses FIRED the
first shot that will be heard for years to come. They want the county to
pay for bad financial decisions. They have taxed the tourists so much
and provided so little, that tourism is down. Now they want to raise
the taxes on the businesses that are outside the city limits. The county
never voted on the new convention center; the Mid America Science Museum,
the Math and Science school. Why should the county bail-out the AD
commission? If the AD commission spends their millions correctly, why is
tourism down? Taxation without representation is against the law! If the
county voted on the $34,000,000.00 convention center, I doubt if it would
have passed. The county quorum court doesn't support it. A Call to
Arms! Remember the National Foundation of the Arts; Congress is still
trying to resolve that MAJOR mistake. Let's not repeat it.
Vote for the Worst ART in Hot Springs.
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March for Jesus a Success!
Hot Springs recently had a "March for Jesus" starting at First Presbyterian church and ending at Hill Wheatley Plaza. The march, part of a world wide event, was a march to just promote Jesus. Marchers did not bring signs or banners that "protested" any issue, but only carried signs that "promoted" Jesus.
Similar events were held in 600 U.S. cities and 85 countries, including Russia, Argentina and Israel. The march in Washington DC was expected to draw only 12,000 participants this year - half of what attended when the event was started in 1992. Hot Springs, however, seems to be going the other direction. Traditionally, the Hot Springs event only draws 300 participants. This year the crowd was estimated at 1,000!
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Hot Springs "Patriotically Incorrect"
Much to-do has been brought up about the politically incorrect sculpture downtown that shows mother nature with a deer with backwards antlers. However, many of those who complain to the local newspaper have not noticed the wood sculpted sign of President Clinton placed in Hill Wheatley Plaza. Behind our president's face is an American Flag with the outside stripes that are white. Any patriotic citizen should know that the outside stripes of the American flag are red. This reporter has not noticed one letter to the editor of the local printed newspaper on this issue. Are our deer hunters patriotic?
Are the animal rights folks patriotic?
See the unpatriotic flag
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What's Wrong with Hot Springs?
The local city police chief recently updated the Hot Springs Board of Directors on efforts made by the police dept. to reduce crime in the city. Our fine police dept. has spent extra efforts to make arrests and to crack down on drugs in our city. In spite of the notable efforts of the police dept., in early May of 1997, Hot Springs had its 7th homicide. During the previous year there were only 6 homicides reported for the whole year!
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Museum-asaurus
The Mid America Museum has made plans to reverse the trend of declining attendance and revenue this year with a robotic dinosaurs exhibit. Current attendance and revenue are down 9 percent compared to the same time last year. "Mid America Science Museum believes that hands-on experiences provide a profound learning experience and the animated dinosaurs in this new exhibit will be fun and educational at the same time." stated Jerry Porter, the museum director. The museum, located miles from Hot Springs, is situated in the middle of an industrial business complex.
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Have We Got a Deal For You!
In order to collect back taxes and fees, the city of Hot Springs has hired a collection agency to "bring in the cash." Medical & Dental Credit Bureau was retained to collect overdue revenue that the city is not capable of collecting. Although the city now can assign all delinquent accounts to the agency, Hot Springs will receive 60 percent on all revenues collected by it.
City Director Bill Edwards was quoted as saying, "If we collect half of what is owed, it is money we can put to streets, lights, salaries. It will be money that we otherwise wouldn't get at all."
The city is currently owed $35,951 for 1995 delinquencies and $70,888 for 1996 tax due March 31. Calculations show that the city will relinquish $42,735.60 to the collection agency. And since the city is willing to take 60 percent on amounts owed, then all business owners could consider just sending in 65 percent of fees due from now on. Not only would the businessman gain 35 percent, but the city would gain 5 percent over the 60 percent that it is really willing to receive. If the city would enact a penalty of 40% of the delinquent taxes to pay the collection agency, then everybody would be treated fairly. But good ideas never happen in Hot Springs! Have we got a deal for you!
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City of the Arts
The political leaders of the City of Hot Springs have designated Hot Springs
the "City of the Arts." In the past few years, several artists have moved
to Hot Springs and rented empty downtown storefronts to put in their
galleries. The city recently held a "celebration of the arts" week,
in which artists brought sculptures in and placed them in front of the
bathhouses in Historic Downtown Hot Springs.
These works of art may have looked good in New York City, but the
contrast with the early century bathhouse architecture is like a fish
out of water! We have displayed some of these works for our Internet
Newspaper viewers to vote on. You, the reader, can vote for the gawdy.
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Clinton's Hometown Politically Incorrect?
Many citizens of President Clinton's hometown have been writing
letters to the editor about the "Mother Nature" sculpture at the fountain
downtown. It seems that people are unhappy that the sculptor, who is a
resident of Hot Springs, sculpted a deer with the antlers facing backwards.
Since our president has been accused of being politically correct, is the
deer sculpture correct or incorrect? Our reporter contacted POLCAT, the
Politically Correct Animal Treaters, and found that this sculpture is
really correct. A POLCAT spokesman told us that "backwards antlers"
actually prevent the macho male deer from hurting anyone. POLCAT wants
us all to live in peace, and believes that if there ever was a mother
nature, that she would have created a deer just like the sculpture.
Bambi Killers Anonymous could not be reached for comment on this issue.
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Trashing the County Officials
Recent reports state that the Concerned Garland County Property Owners Association is planning a lawsuit to prevent mandatory house-to-house trash collection. The trash collection would be forced on all citizens in the county who live outside of the city limits. The county judge and justices of the peace have been aware of Garland County's trash dilemma for 2 years now, and have decided to do nothing to prevent the problems that have caused the county to "break the law" with the current green bins.
As these Garland County officials will be placing a possible $120.00 yearly burden on each household, they need to reconsider their re-election bids coming up in November of 1998. How can the citizens of Garland County continue to support politicians who do not represent the people?
Q. Byrum Hurst Jr., the attorney for the property owners association, will seek an injunction against the Garland County Judge from spending any taxpayer money on the mandatory collection project.
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A & P Commissioners do the Flip-Flop
The Hot Springs Advertising & promotion Commission fired its advertising agency after an alleged conflict of interest was discovered. The advertising agency, Combs and Co., got verbal approval from 6 of the 7 commissioners concerning its work with gambling mecca Tunica, Miss. (no conflict of interest) A local newspaper report stated that some commissioners later changed their positions. When the A & P commission hires a new ad agency, what conflict of interest will they find? What if the new agency also represents Branson, Missouri - or Little Rock? Or what if the new agency also represents a company in Florida that is trying to attract retirees? Will that be a conflict of interest? Or what if the new agency represents Coca Cola, which is sold in Las Vegas - will that be a conflict of interest? Without a written conflict of interest policy, the commissioners will have to depend on "flip-flopping" to make future decisions!
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Governor Wants the Church to Help
Gov. Mike Huckabee is asking church people to help alleviate society's problems, that were mostly caused by the government. He says that churchgoers who are interested in lowering taxes, should take as much interest in the needy. Huckabee's intentions are admirable to say the least, and he points to the fact that if the church had been meeting the needs of the poor, the government would not have had to step in.
But didn't President Johnson's "New Deal" in the 1960's usher in a new focus on helping the downtrodden? When govt. got involved, someone had to foot the bill - the taxpayers. And when citizens were overtaxed to pay for the new "entitlements", they could no longer afford to donate to their local churches to the same extent.
Arkansas enacted welfare reform measures this year during the legislative session, and the governor is right - the church people need to take up the slack. But until the state and federal governments get their hands out of the pockets of citizens, this could be a "catch 22" situation.
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Death to Downtown
"Cornerstone", a 54 acre shopping center located halfway between the Hot Springs Mall and Downtown Hot Springs, is destined to kill businesses in historic downtown Hot Springs. A community leader recently stated at a local Rotary meeting "It (Cornerstone) is going to be the single most important retail project since the mall." After years of decline because of the mall, historic downtown Hot Springs was just springing back. Many of the boarded up buildings were being rented and renovated, and life was coming back to the area where the new Civic Auditorium is to be built.
If the new site of Cornerstone is so great, why wasn't the new Civic Auditorium built there? Cornerstone is not only located right in the middle of the new growth for the area, it is right on a major bypass that surrounds much of Hot Springs. But its presence in the area is not a compliment to the new Civic Auditorium, but a distraction.
Potential shops include TJ Maxx, Books a Million, and Shoe Carnival. Shoe Carnival could be a major hit against "Arky House Shoes," a locally owned landmark business in Hot Springs. Many citizens feel that Hot Springs, with population of only 35,000, cannot support a mammoth store like Books a Million.
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Hot Springs Unsafe for Tourists?
On Saturday, April 19th, the Hot Springs 9-1-1 dept. received a bomb-threat call at 11:04 am. The caller stated that a bomb would detonate in the Arlington Hotel in 15 minutes. Hotel personnel decided not to evacuate the guests staying in the hotel. Local newspaper reports stated that police and hotel staff did not search for a bomb until after a second threat was called into the hotel at 2:35 pm. With the second anniversary of the bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City, perhaps local hotel officials should have been a little more concerned for the guests. No bomb was found.
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President Gives Thumbs down to Home Town
Will the presidential library be in President Clinton's birthplace at Hope, or in his hometown of Hot Springs? Neither. Little Rock, the town he spent 12 years in as governor, was chosen by our President. President Clinton was born in Hope, but moved to Hot Springs when he was 4 yrs. old. He spent his formative years in Hot Springs, and moved away to attend college. Fayetteville Mayor Fred Hanna is irked! He insists that Fayetteville is the most appropriate place for the library. Fayetteville is where the Clinton's were married, it is where Mr. Clinton taught law, and the university is the largest and the leading university in the state. Many other presidential libraries are located in birthplaces or towns that they grew up in - Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, and John Kennedy.
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Hot Springs A & P Commission Gives Away Tax Dollars
In order to rid itself of excess gift items bought with local tax dollars,
the Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission auctioned off items
from the Hot Springs Mountain Tower Gift Shop. People bought rubber
alligators by the hundreds and bottle openers by the thousands, some selling
for $.02 on the dollar. Deeply indebted taxpayers, who owe $34,000,000 in
bonds, wish we could build the New Convention Center at
that rate!! In order to avoid competition with local businesses, the gift shop will only sell items that are momentos of the tower, or represent Arkansas or Hot Springs National Park. Then why did the A & P rid itself of 2,477 Hot Springs bottle openers and 828 Hot Springs non-spill mugs?
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Who's in Touch With the People?
The Arkansas Legislature and Governor Huckabee seem to be out of step with the president. Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee called partial-birth abortions an "embarrassment" as he signed an Arkansas law banning the procedures. Arkansas legislators said they hope to "send a message" to President Clinton, who has threatened to veto a similar measure if passed by Congress. While banning the killing of a baby that is seconds from birth, the Arkansas law still makes exceptions when the mother's life is in danger.
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City Axes Advertising Agency over Gambling Issue
The Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission abruptly canceled its contract with the advertising agency Combs & Co. because the agency also works with Tunica County, Mississippi. Tunica is a gambling mecca, and Eric Jackson, general manager at Hot Spring's Oaklawn Race Track, (and on the A & P Comm) did not want to see a conflict of interest. Although the Combs agency has tried to get a written explanation of "conflict of interest" from the city for 6 years, the commission gave it the ax. Is the A & P Commission trying to promote tourism, retirement and industry, or is it focusing on "gambling" conflicts of interest?
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Good News from Arkansas
Republican Governor Mike Huckabee has made some great strides in education
in the state of Arkansas since his appointment as chief of President
Clinton's home state. Not only did he loosen the noose around home
schoolers, but he promoted a law that encourages government schools to
teach proper character and citizenship. (what a novel idea!)
"We are going to tell kids that it's wrong to lie, that it's wrong
to steal, that it's wrong to be disloyal." Huckabee claims.
"That it's right to be faithful, responsible, kind, forgiving,
cheerful."
The law requires the state Education Department to distribute
the character materials to all 311 government school districts,
but each district can decide whether or not to use the curriculum.
Amazingly, having the 10 commandments posted on the walls of the
classrooms during the early history of our country, also promoted
the concept that it was wrong to steal and lie!
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Bad News from Arkansas
In an unprecedented move, the Arkansas legislature voted to strip
Republican Governor Huckabee of the authority that governors have had
during the history of Arkansas. The mostly democratic legislators passed
a bill that would move discretionary spending from executive branch control
to the dominion of the legislative branch. This bill was passed during
the next-to-last day of the regular session, and was railroaded through
by lawmakers who are "on their way out" due to term limits. Of the 100
members in the House, 50 will not be able to return next term.
The governor will have authority over 18 million dollars for
emergencies, while 62 million dollars of building project funds will now
go to pet projects of legislators. Previously, all of these funds were
under the direction of the governor, who is answerable to voters in all
75 counties where the funds are needed.
While Governor Mike Huckabee is expected to veto the bill, the
legislators have enough votes to override his veto. The governor was
quoted as saying that this move would "forever change the course of
Arkansas politics." Only in Arkansas, folks!
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New Tourism Director Promises Nothing
Ross L. Fordyce, the new director of tourism development for the Hot
Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission once ran for Mayor of
Blytheville, Arkansas. During his campaign he made one promise, that
he would not make any promises.
Since Mr. Fordyce is promising nothing, then the citizens of
Hot Springs can expect nothing. His comment, "I'd like to think I
had a magic wand.... or magic dust, but it's going to take time" buys
him 2 to 3 years of "no results" before he can be evaluated.
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Mr. Smith Comes From Washington
U.S. Rep. Jay Dickey, R-District 4 has a reputation for town meetings
and citizen input. During a recent meeting, Congressman Dickey met
with Hot Springs city officials to hear their pleadings for more affordable
housing and support for funding of job training. Dickey's slant was that
job training needs to be designed to the vocation. "The best job training
is on the job" Dickey said, explaining that in his private enterprises many
college students applied for jobs and had to be retrained, undoing what
they had learned. Perhaps our country should return to the apprenticeship
system.
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