Arkansas Blog: Piracy on the high seas

This is too rich.

I've written sarcastically about NLR Admiral Pat Hays' designs on adding another derelict naval craft, the USS Orleck, the rusting destroyer pictured above, to the Dogtown Fleet Ready Reserve on the Arkansas River. This, even though the fabled Hoga tug has failed to materialize to join the old submarine and assorted flotsam moored on the north shore. The Orleck is being booted from a shipyard in Orange, Texas.

Skimming my hometown newspaper, the Lake Charles American Press, I find that my birthplace may snare this prize from North Little Rock, which coincidentally is the city where I took up residence when I arrived in Arkansas in 1973. The Lake Charles City Council has given the Orleck Foundation a permit as a first step to put the ship beneath the Interstate 10 bridge, just around the corner from the city's namesake lake and just yards up the Calcasieu River from a floating casino. After sundown, the view from the Orleck's deck will be a wonderland by night -- a twinkling skyline of chemical plant structures, their stacks flaring gas and belching back-lit vapors in a scene worthy of Dante.

Lake Charles still must clear some hurdles. So damn the torpedos, Mayor Hays. Maybe you can still snag that scow. You might also look into bidding on that $24 million Wetland Discovery Center that Lake Charles is about to land (also mentioned in the linked article). But, no, on second thought, maybe not. To quote you: wetlands are bug-infested swamps, best drained for taxpayer-subsidized sporting goods stores.

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Too much military. The AT folks don't feel comfortable with military type attractions. I think that it is great. We toured the submarine and got a greater appreciation of the sacrifices that sailors made to protect the homeland. A carrier would be really nice.

Posted by: strangelove | August 21, 2008 05:17 PM

A homeless shelter or food pantry, or more PUBLIC (wink, wink) parking, or better streets, etc. would be much nicer and benefit a far greater number of people. If the ship is such an enhancement, let's hold it up to the perils fo the free market. $100 tours of an old rust bucket, anyone?

Posted by: whacked | August 21, 2008 05:46 PM

Wouldn't the infamous 'dam bridge' fall into that same category? How much money did it cost?

Posted by: strangelove | August 21, 2008 05:54 PM

I sure wish Fort Baptist had that rusting fleet.....I'm jealous.

Posted by: Deathbyinches | August 21, 2008 07:18 PM

Hey, I'm with strangelove; love that naval buildup on the north shore. May it continue to grow!

Posted by: durangokid | August 21, 2008 07:43 PM

"Wouldn't the infamous 'dam bridge' fall into that same category? How much money did it cost? -Posted by: strangelove"

Actually no it would not.

Even having to ask how much it costs means you don't know or care know to jack about it. You've obvioulsy never been on it because if you were you'd see how immensly popular it is for all sorts of reasons.

Lots of nay sayers when it was being constructed saying no one will uver use it except may 10 a week. A casual observation will reveal 10 people, per 50 yards per night.

Egg on the face and marginalized. Would you like to join them?

Posted by: Ron Rizzardi | August 21, 2008 08:52 PM

When it is something that you like you see no conflict with helping the poor. When it is for something that you don't like, you cry for the poor. What's the difference? None really, just human nature.

Posted by: strangelove | August 21, 2008 09:40 PM

Not only do I have fears of the waterfront being turned into a floating junkyard (the Razorback is cool... the Orleck looks worn out), I can't understand how The Admiral can spend money for old boats while planning to close fire stations.

Posted by: cozmosis | August 22, 2008 06:55 AM

Arkansas Blog

Piracy on the high seas

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