Letters to the Editor, 6-21-17

To the Editor:

I saw a bumper sticker on a pickup truck in downtown El Dorado the other day which stated “Save the Ouachita Remove the Locks.” I began to think what that would really mean to our river, our city and way of life? The Ouachita River was given to us as a natural resource. It is like fish for food and trees for lumber, given to us to sustain life and comfort. The river is a gift to our area. Without our river and dams we would not have been able to save the Sparta Aquifer.

The initial investment in the Ouachita-Black River Navigation Project, Louisiana and Arkansas resulted in the construction of four locks and dams, two in Arkansas – the H.K. Thatcher Lock and Dam (completed in 1984) the Felsenthal Lock and Dam (completed in 1976) and two locks and dams in Louisiana at Columbia (1970) and Jonesville (1972).

The initial primary purpose was commercial navigation for economic development. As the navigation project continued to mature over the years, other direct and indirect benefits beyond navigation resulted from the navigation project. These benefits include both public and commercial water supply and discharge benefits, recreational benefits, fish and wildlife conservation benefits, and flood damage reduction benefits. All these benefits including navigation benefits all together enhance and improve the economic and quality of life of the people in the Ouachita River Basin in Arkansas and Louisiana.

Without the river water behind the Thatcher Lock and Dam, several of our industries would be reducing operations and certainly not expanding. That would mean the loss of jobs across the area. Without the pool of water behind the Felsenthal Lock and Dam we would not have the recreational benefits that every fisherman and hunter enjoys. I have been involved in maintaining the Ouachita River for more than 30 years and when we say without the locks and dams we would have the “Ouachita Ditch”….and that is a fact!

Mike Dumas

El Dorado

To the Editor:

I would like to know why El Dorado is not embracing “Chicken Express” the way they did “Dairy Queen.” Both are good places to eat and an asset to El Dorado. Dairy Queen is still lined with cars, but only a few at Chicken Express! We need to patronize both in order to keep them here. I hope El Dorado will show Chicken Express some love, too.

Jan Cooksey

El Dorado

To the Editor:

On behalf of the 2017 Bandit Run, Restore a Muscle Car, Arklahomatex Corvette Club, Murphy USA and fans of Smokey and the Bandit movie, I would like to thank KAGL radio station, Bud Cross, El Dorado Police Sergeant Shannon Griffin, Private First Class Latisha Ridgell, Officer Shelly Rowland, Deputy Sheriff Johnny Brewer, Arkansas State Police Corporal Chris Lynch, for all their great attitudes, smiles and hard work.

Thanks to all the wonderful fans who lined the streets for making all the participants of the run feel so welcomed to El Dorado during their refueling stop.

A special thanks to Office Lynch for his great interaction with all the fans, posing for pictures, taking pictures and bringing so much fun for everyone. Bud Cross did an exceptional job keeping the event on track with his listeners.

Joe Gallea

El Dorado

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