Text The Times. Times.

Text The Times.

Times.

Some folks in West memphis are still mad Marco won. They act like marco has been the mayor for the last 8 yrs. Don’t forget that the good ole boys stole all the money from hospital and help ruin the country club. Bill Johnson has been the mayor while west memphis been declining. Every department in west memphis was headed by a white man remember that. [Editor’s Note: One thing you are forgetting is that the honest to God truth is that “some folks” are mad that Marco won simply because he is black. All of the things you mention are true… with some exceptions: The Street Department is run by Odell Slaughter.

The Sanitation Department is run by Leroy Turner. The Human Resources Department is run by Janice Coleman. The Wastewater Department is run by Paul Holloway. The Parks Department is run by Lorenzo Parker. And the City Council is majority black. No doubt, West Memphis has “been declining” for some time, but I don’t think we can 100 percent put this on “the good ole boys.”

And whatever criticisms you want to throw at the city’s leadership (and there is some criticism due), you mention the last eight years — well, eight years ago, the city was just like the rest of the country and locked in the “Great Recession.” And the City of West Memphis didn ’t cut jobs, didn’t raise utility bills, didn’t cut city services and didn’t go broke. There are definitely some folks who got away with completely mismanaging the hospital. The country club is a whole other situation, but neither of those falls under the city government’s auspices, so yeah, some folks are mad a black guy is mayor, and some are mad that particular black guy is mayor, but let’s not act like there’s nothing to worry about. There’s crime and urban blight and population loss. Let’s see what Mayor McClendon can do. And not because he’s black, but because he’s driving the bus we ’re all on and I'd rather see him keep it on the road than have him crash just so some folks can point their fingers and say, “See, I told you so!”|

5jc

So, what did that government shutdown get us? [ Editor’s Note: Well, I don’t know. Were we supposed to get a prize? I check my mailbox every day. I haven’t seen any government shutdown prize. What did it really do? Well, to quote a recent analysis, “The federal government shutdown cost the economy $11 billion, according to a new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, reflecting lost output from federal workers, delayed government spending and reduced demand.” So, I guess that makes sense… if we’re not putting $5 billion into a wall, we’re putting $11 billion into… well, nothing at all. Sounds about right for our government I’m really enjoying the newly “repaired” railroad crossing on Highway 77. Of course, I was a big fan of Evil Kaneevmany el. [Editor’s Note: Sorry to be “that guy,” but it’s Evel Knievel (also a fan as a kid).

Anyway, you can join the long list of folks who find the “ramp-iness” of the crossing a distinct non-improvement to that particular spot on the very, very busy thoroughfare between West Memphis and Marion. As someone who has to go that way at least a couple dozen times a week, I cas attest that it is not an “improvement”… at least to the road. The train tracks are probably super smooth] Since you asked, I would like to see more news about what’s going on in Memphis. What happens over there finds its way over here one way or another. Like that shooting at walmart the other day. Just my opinion [Editor!’s Note: I don’t know if you or anyone else has really noticed, but we actually have been grabbing little news bits from across the river. The Tuesday and Thursday online editions have a special “Mid-South News' section. We've been adding Memphis-area restaurant reviews there as well. And the Memphis sports teams get a decent amount of coverage. Just like we’ve made a commitment to including more State News since the Gazette stopped its home delivery in this area, we’re sticking a little Memphis news in the paper as well. We will, however, first and foremost, be a local newspaper and fill the majority of our news space with news from Crittenden County.

But thanks for chiming in!]

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