THE TIMES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Family thankful

Thank you for the expression of kindness and love shown to us during the illness and death of our loved one Tom Bennett.

Thanks to the doctors and nurses at Mercy hospital and the doctors and nurses at Hospice in Bentonville.

The food, flowers, phone calls, visits and most of all your prayers will never be forgotten. A very special thank you to Bro. Loy Counts. God bless.

The Bennett Family

Pea Ridge, Ark.

Questions cancellation of season pass

In reading the Letters to the Editor in the Sept. 1 newspaper, I am in total agreement with the opinion of “season passes valuable” writer. It is found, in this writer’s opinion, a general wonder and befuddlement as to the causeor reason for the school to cancel the sports season pass program. My thought is this community should not have to guess or to speculate the reason(s) for the cancellation of this program. It is the responsibility of the Pea Ridge School District to communicate this to the community. Why the secret? Do other 4-A schools have sport season pass program?

The writer of the letter lists three possible reasons for the cancellation of the sports season pass program. The first reason was “low interest.” If there were low interest now, would it make sense to eliminate the season pass program as a method of increasing game attendance? Why have spent the funds to build a new multi-purpose sports facility if the school elects to diminish the hometown fan base? I suppose thismulti-purpose facility would create a nice experience for visiting teams fans. A multi-purpose sports facility that excludes the hometown fan base is wholly unimaginable.

The second reason offered was “too many people just walking in unpaid.” This opinion writer makes a point of control. Does not the Pea Ridge school have any control of their property? Are people able to walk in and out of Pea Ridge schools and facilities at will, because Pea Ridge schools lack control? A legally eligible voter has the right to vote. However, prior to voting, a control or check is made to ascertain this voter is voting legally.

The holder of a sports season pass should expect to be challenged with photo identification to verify they are the rightful holder of this pass. This would control and eliminate persons walking in unpaid.

And the third reason in the column suggested as a reason for was “coaches voted against it.” I know from my experience this reason too would be most unlikely. Pea Ridge schools have some of the very best, dedicated and fan-based coaches you would ever hope to find. My experience with any of these coaches has always ended with the final conversational statement of “see you at the game.” The Pea Ridge coaches would no more turn away fans by voting against sports season passes than a preacher of a church would turn away parishioners at the church entrance.

Pea Ridge school has indeed dropped the ball when they chose to cancel sports season passes. If problems existed with this program,remedies should have been adopted. Students are sent to school each day to learn to cope, to be challenged and to problem solve, yet there seems to be a major problem with the school ad ministration to meet these very goals.

RON SIMONS, ANOTHER UN-SEASON PASS HOLDER Pea Ridge, Ark.

Cheerleaders grateful

Thank you to Harps, Tyson Foods, HOPE Distributors, Heinz, Pea Ridge Optimist Club, Marvin’s, Harris Bakery, Mr. Neal, coach Walker, Mr. Brown, Mr. Cheek and the senior cheer parents for their help in making Pride Night a success.

JAMIE BUNTING, PRHS CHEERLEADING COACH Pea Ridge, Ark.

Opinion, Pages 4 on 09/08/2010