Letters to the editor August 2, 2021

To the Editor:

I read the headlines of the August 1, News Times with a bit of "I told you so" in the back of my mind. Since its founding as a non profit hospital separate from Warner-Brown Hospital the Union Medical Center hospital board was governed by a board selected from interested citizens appointed by the Quorum Court. It was a nonprofit institution and all excess revenues were reinvested in the hospital's nonprofit corporation.

With the advent of a former administrator who incidentally had a history of selling nonprofit institutions to for profit entities, the books were "reexamined" and lo' the hospital was in "financial trouble" necessitating a sale along with a hospital physican's office who happened to serve on the Board.

Please know that MCSA is a for profit hospital whose financial responsibility is to the parent corporation. The citizens of Union County have input similar to a complaint to WalMart in Bentonville about goods and services. Granted, any for profit corporation must serve its customers at the pain of reduced profits. On the other hand it is not an eleemosynary institution with its primary objective to serve the public at no profit. Complaints about services if not addressed by the administrator should be directed to the corporate owners.

Wayne G. Elliott, M.D.

El Dorado

To the Editor:

I've been reading in the paper about all the funding requests for the El Dorado Works Board to consider & the city to approve. All seem worthwhile & are needed, as was the hanger at the airport last year($100,000+), recently, the pavilion down by the stadium ($100,000+) & all the current parks repairs & Rec Complex improvements. One item that is not being talked about is funding for the Ark Game & Fish Conservation Center planned at the airport! Only a handful of these are being built in the state & all are in northern & Central Ark-- nothing for south Ark! Here is a chance to get a true Tourist attraction for El Dorado as well as an educational tool for area schools (& north La. ) including Tech, SAU, & SouthArk! These Centers have the ability to expand ( just like the Oil Museum has done) & will bring jobs for staffing & maintenance too! The Commission indicated the estimated cost would be around $900,000 but would have to be scaled back to a smaller metal building due to cost! I think this was a nice way of asking for a partner to help with the cost so a first class facility can be built, not just a metal building! This would qualify for every requirement the EWB needs for approval! Will the City offer $400-$500,000 to the State to assist in building a first class building. The Hunt family (J B Hunt Trucking) helped with the one just completed in Springdale. It is absolutely fantastic & we could have one here in El Do too, with some financial help. Please don't let this opportunity go by as they "could" opt to build it somewhere else. That would be a shame for the area to lose it to some other "willing" town! It will be a popular tourist stop & the city will reap benefits ( increased sales taxes from restaurants, stores, & motels) for years to come! Hopefully, someone in town will get the ball rolling --Mayor Creer, Mr. Murphy, Mike Dumas, or Bill Luther? Don't settle for a small metal building! Thank you-

Kenny Solley

West Monroe

To The Editor:

About two weeks ago Richard K. McMurray wrote a letter concerning the paper. Yes our local newspaper needs significant improvement. A proof reader, to make sure words are spelled correctly, before it goes to the printer. Make the price more affordable , so that many people can get a subscription. Last but not least, the headquarters. The facility needs repair. Since the heading is in old English lettering, you need a new sign. Back behind the building it's all opened up. Bats, rats, mice, squirrels and gosh knows what else could hibernate back there. This is only constructive criticism to help you. A little improvement can go a long way. Please take this into consideration. Don't be an eyesore.

Donald Putman

El Dorado

To the Editor:

A decade after the Arab Spring Uprisings,Tunisa's President wants to restore and keep totalitarianism in his country.He illegally suspended Parliament and the incumbent Prime Minister.Both are violations of Tunisia's constituion.If Tunisia is to remain free,this present day Napoleon should be impeached,ousted and imprisoned or executed as a traitor.Too much as gone in the decade old revolt against oppressive totlatarianism.

Leslie Putman

El Dorado

Upcoming Events