LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Those who play should pay I recently heard the General Manager, Tommy Bailey, at a Property Owners Association Board meeting say that 35 percent of all property assessments are used to pay for golf. I assure you this is a much, much higher percentage than the percentage of POA members who play golf. It is $8.40 per month, $100.80 per year, for each improved lot and $5.60 per month, $67.20 per year, for each unimproved lot. Do those of us who do not play golf want to spend our money this way? Using the figures from a recent article in the Weekly Vista, 35 percent of the assessments on all lots in Bella Vista per year is $2,748,849.60. - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

It would appear I have some “splaining” to do

Douglas Grant

Recently I have received two letters, both of which are critical of what the writers say is my editorial policy. (See one of those letters on this page today). Without repeating their words verbatim, the gist of what they had to say was the newspaper’s editorials were not hard hitting enough; they didn’t have any substance. My answer to their claims is they don’t know what they are talking about. You see, what they are being critical of are my columns, which are different than the newspaper’s editorials. So, I thought I might take a little time here to educate them and others of the same ilk on the newspaper. - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

All thumbs

To everybody who is willing to examine and exhaust every non-lethal possibility of reducing the number of Canada geese in Bella Vista before using the Property Owners Association’s federal depredation permit to kill up to 100 of the birds. To everybody who attended, participated in, sponsored or otherwise were a part of this year’s Independance Day Parade. Because of you all it was a red, white and blue success. To whoever was driving the car last month that struck a bicycle rider along U.S. 71 at Town Center. You know who you are — a witness says you get out of your van and look at the injured man. Then you returned to your vehicle and drove away. You have been able to avoid the police so far, but they will find you eventually. It’s just a matter of time. To 41-year-old swimmer Dara Torres, a mother of a 2-year-old, who has qualified for her fifth Olympics earlier this month. She gives us all hope and makes us realize that age is only a number. To everybody who stopped and tried to help a little dog that had - Wednesday, July 16, 2008