Prairie Star will carry the following legal notice in this week's edition, in addition to a news story about same. The USD 282 Board of Education took this action at Monday night's meeting:
PUBLIC NOTICE OF HEARING FOR CLOSING SCHOOL BUILDINGS
(Pursuant to K.S.A. 72-8213b)
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Kansas law of a public hearing to be held on the 4th day of January, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. at the West Elk Jr/Sr High School Auditorium, Howard, Kansas, regarding the Unified School District No. 282, Elk County, Kansas proposal to close Moline Elementary School located at 416 North Plum, Moline, Kansas 67353 and Severy Elementary School located at 203 South Severy Street, Severy, Kansas 67137, for the following reasons:
1. Steady decrease in district enrollment;
2. Decrease in State Aid;
3. Increased operational and maintenance costs.
Students attending Moline Elementary School and Severy Elementary School Buildings will be reassigned to West Elk Jr/Sr High School campus.
A representative of the board of education will present the proposal to close Moline Elementary School and Severy Elementary School Buildings and the board will hear testimony as to the advisability of the proposed closing.
***The Public Hearing is scheduled to adjourn at 9:00 p.m. Testimony will be limited to 5 minutes per person. Written testimony may be sent to the Board Clerk, Paula McAlister, West Elk Central Office, PO Box 607, Howard, Kansas 67349.
Do I understand that if you wish to speak, you must have your name on the agenda? Or will you be given a chance to just stand up and speak your piece?
Good question. I'll find out.
When people arrive, they can sign up. That's the best way to make sure those wanting to speak are actually there.
Yes, I just talked to the board clerk and she agrees with Mom70x7.
You MAY submit your testimony so it will be a matter of record, but that's entirely your choice. Everyone wishing to speak will be required to sign in ... that's the only requirement, other than limiting your comments to five minutes.
And they plan to end at 9 pm, so that it's not a long, drawn-out night.
No idea what the plans are if 50 people sign up to speak.
I think somebody had better look into Plan B.
Lots of folks will want to talk, don't you think?
;D
I hope all that voted against building the new school are happy now......................
Nothing like cutting off your nose to spite your face~~
We were at the High School tonight for the grade school Christmas program. My mother and I got there in plenty of time to get a seat.. 20 minutes early.. Guess what..?
All the seats were full.. so we stood at the back of the auditorium .The people just kept coming in. Of course it was Severy and Moline combined.. It was so overflowed and crowded that lots of people had to stand out in the commissary.
Couldn't even squeeze another person in there so some parents had to stand in the other room and didn't get to see their children performing.. :(
Once again... hope those who voted against our kids and our new school are extremely proud of themselves..
That's just what I was thinking. So what happens from here. Is there enough room in the current building for the added students or is something else going to have to be done?
I was at the board meeting on Monday night...
Maybe someone there took notes; all from memory and may not be ENTIRELY ACCURATE.
Board is looking at a shortfall of about $400,000 next year due to declining enrollment and cuts due to the state's shortfall. The ONLY way to save that much money is to close both grade schools.
They do have some cash which they can use to purchase some 'modular' classrooms and setup at the WEHS campus.
There will be a LOT of shuffling around of classrooms and staff members. There will be some grade school kids in the HS building, and/or high school kids moved out into modulars (or both). All of the 'who goes where' discussions will take place (I'm sure) AFTER the board officially moves to close both schools, which HAS NOT YET happened, and still is to be voted on. By law, they cannot close a school without first having a public hearing.
Regardless, they're in-between a very large rock and a hard place. There simply isn't enough money to keep all 3 campuses going. Things are going to be C-O-Z-Y at the high school for a few years, so keep the staff and students in your thoughts and prayers.
Let's just hope that the communities can pull together and use this as a temporary transition into an new facility. I'd hate to see a new 'Trailer Park' Alumni added to the list of other alumni organizations we have floating around. :laugh:
Well said Mark. You are so right about keeping West Elk and the Board in our prayers. These are hard times for the District, and we all want to see them maintain the incredible students and treachers, and those amazing test scores; at the same time crunching a very tough budget.
Quote from: Teresa on December 16, 2009, 12:31:36 AM
We were at the High School tonight for the grade school Christmas program. My mother and I got there in plenty of time to get a seat.. 20 minutes early.. Guess what..?
All the seats were full.. so we stood at the back of the auditorium .The people just kept coming in. Of course it was Severy and Moline combined.. It was so overflowed and crowded that lots of people had to stand out in the commissary.
Couldn't even squeeze another person in there so some parents had to stand in the other room and didn't get to see their children performing.. :(
Once again... hope those who voted against our kids and our new school are extremely proud of themselves..
So explain to me what the crowded auditorium has to do with the vote on the new school? Both jr/senior and gradeschool programs were scheduled back to back on the same night. How would a new school have alleviated the crowded auditorium?
Mark I love it!! I graduated from West Elk the Trailer Park one!!! LOL!!! JK!! You do have good points!! Thanks for the recap!
Quote from: jensarlou on December 16, 2009, 03:20:32 AM
That's just what I was thinking. So what happens from here. Is there enough room in the current building for the added students or is something else going to have to be done?
I would hope that the board thought of that before deciding on closing the schools.
Quote from: Teresa on December 16, 2009, 12:31:36 AM
We were at the High School tonight for the grade school Christmas program. My mother and I got there in plenty of time to get a seat.. 20 minutes early.. Guess what..?
All the seats were full.. so we stood at the back of the auditorium .The people just kept coming in. Of course it was Severy and Moline combined.. It was so overflowed and crowded that lots of people had to stand out in the commissary.
Couldn't even squeeze another person in there so some parents had to stand in the other room and didn't get to see their children performing.. :(
Once again... hope those who voted against our kids and our new school are extremely proud of themselves..
I didn't attend the program but I was wondering why on earth both were scheduled for the same night? Unless of course, it was out of spite for Howard losing their new school. Also, how many in attendance were there to see their grandchildren/niece/nephews? If it were just the parents would there have been enough seats?
As far as being proud of themselves...they should be. It seems that the major issue is declining enrollment. Why build a new school when you're losing students?
Those that voted against the new school were excrising their rights as citizens of elk county. Instead of blaming them, why not lay the blame at the administrators and board members who mishandled and neglected the other schools and the budget? They couldn't budget well enough to keep the other schools open and yet we were supposed to trust them 5.5million for a new school?
It's not actually the board or higher ups mishap, it's the down fall from the state that is the problem with lacking budget. Plus, if your going to blame board members and higher up, you better start with the ones that were on the board about 10 years ago!! Because this is not a new problem, its been happening for the past 10 plus years. Declining enrollement equals less money from the state.
As for the program being held together, it needed to be. Many parents have kids in both schools, plus we are trying to unite the kids into one school. How would you say that they do it??
Whether many of you want it or not, they are trying to get the kids to unite into one school. They all end up in Howard together, so why be so divided??? That's how all the communities should be anyways. Why not support this????
What would you do? You are in the prime of your life, at the peak of your earning power. You own a big house, lots of rooms. You have enough income to keep up with the expenses of owning a big house. As the years go by, your income starts slipping. You no longer can do all the repairs and pay the taxes and insurance. Finally there is not enough income to keep the old house from falling down. What would you do?
The program could have been in the gymnasium. If there was still not enough room w/bleachers, then folding chairs could have been set up. I know all about the new floor but there are ways of covering the floor to protect it. A stage and risers could also be set up in the gym. Someone said the sound system might not be adequate, but if you've ever attended a grade school program in the past, you should be used to that! It's about time the grade schools got together and did one program. It makes sense. Some people even have children in all 3 buildings.
It was a good idea, the program was wonderful, people--including all the children, worked very hard to make it a success. Regardless of whether the schools close or stay open, I hope they continue to do the programs this way.
We have 1 school here in Longton, preschool through senior years. Some of you should just bring your kids here. We held our Christmas program in the gym, preschool through 12th grade, all in one night, in one gym and plenty of room! I'm gonna have to agree with Varmint on this one and it does look a little suspicious on holding everyone's program on the same night, in a dinky little auditorium to "prove" to everyone that they were stupid for not voting for a new school that would alleviate the overcrowding....Do you all feel guilty or just pissed that there weren't enough seats?
WHATEVER! ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)
Bits and pieces:
Since this was a first program with all the grades, no one was certain how many would attend. Moline programs have been held at West Elk with plenty of empty seats. Junior high / high school programs have been held at West Elk, sometimes with empty seats, sometimes not. For most, it was a surprise the place was that full. The weather helped, also. On a bad weather night (icy, etc.), not as many people would have attended.
Junior high / high school programs have been held in the gymnasium in the past.
If anyone has a viable alternative to closing both elementary schools, I hope they either attend the hearing on the 4th and sign up to speak or write a letter to the school board. I've spoken with several members and they would welcome more options.
In thinking about the modulars (if that's the final decision) - where do you think they should be placed? It was suggested a minimum of eight additional classrooms would be needed. Four sets of two classrooms each? Two sets of four classrooms each? All on the north side of the school? Northwest corner? Northeast corner? Southeast corner?
Which classes would you place in the proposed modulars? The elementary students? Or refit the high school for the elementary students and put the high school students in the modulars? Put the Junior High in the modulars?
If the grade school are closed and modulars brought in, these are some of the decisions the school board will have to make.
What's your opinion? Let the school board know.
From what I've heard, I think there will be a lot of people at the hearing, quite a few wanting to speak. If the comments are cut off at 9 pm, there might be people still waiting to talk. So send a letter. Make sure your opinion is heard.
I thought the program was excellent. When my kids were home, there were a couple of years I had three programs to go to. I would have appreciated just one. Scheduling is sometimes a major problem.
I liked the serving of snacks during the intermission.
I liked the program the way it was. I don't feel that they were trying to get back at anyone for voting the way that they did. They did this also because the High school teacher has been helping the 4, 5, and 6 grades. Made sense to me to have them all together. Yes, it was crowded, but what do you expect?? It was nice for a change!! Not that I am against Longton, but sorry my kids won't be attending school anytime soon. Just can't take them to the bus, and they are doing fine where they are at. Most of the kids are doing fine with the changes this year, so I imagine they will do fine with the changes that are going to be made next year. West Elk will survive this. And from reading other news, we are not the only school that are having budget problems. The state has cut lots of dollars from education, so other schools are hurting, too. West Elk will survive!!! Keep ALL schools in your prayers!!
Quote from: angtown3 on December 18, 2009, 09:28:01 AM
It's not actually the board or higher ups mishap, it's the down fall from the state that is the problem with lacking budget. Plus, if your going to blame board members and higher up, you better start with the ones that were on the board about 10 years ago!! Because this is not a new problem, its been happening for the past 10 plus years. Declining enrollement equals less money from the state.
You're right Ang, the board should have dealt with this issue a while ago. Planning for the future and setting aside a certain percentage of the budget for emegerency funds is just common sense.
Quote from: angtownAs for the program being held together, it needed to be. Many parents have kids in both schools, plus we are trying to unite the kids into one school. How would you say that they do it??
HS/Jr. Hs on one nite elementary the next. Its really a simple problem that requires a simpler answer.
As for uniting the kids, okay fine, but why do it in Howard? Why not move modulars (if thats the plan) to moline or severy? What is the ratio of high school students to jr. high and elementary students?
I should think it would be more economical running the buses to Howard instead of crisscrossing all over the district. Key here is I think.
Aren't they going to have to do that anyway to bring the kids to howard?
They are going to have to still run buses. But I think they are thinking that they will cut some positions this way. Don't you think? One central kitchen, less custodians, and that sort. Not sure but I think that is probably what they are thinking. Not that that is good, but probably what they are thinking. As for putting the modulars in Severy or Moline, why??? That makes no sense to me. Then why not just keep those buildings open. I think they are going for one central campus for all. Which makes the most sense to me.
What I was wondering was if the number of middle and elementary school students was greater than the high school students then why move the elementary kids? Maybe I am just jaded but it seems to me like another way for Howard to get something while the rest go without.
I just assumed that the schools started at the same time, so while you were hauling kids to Severy from Moline you would be hauling kids to Moline from Severy. Then you are hauling from all over the district to Howard. Seems unorganized to me, but what do I know. After all I grew up in Latham and had to go to school in Leon. :P
Give me a break.
No room for parents to sit down at the Christmas play, a community storm shelter for Howard outside of the city limits????
What does all that have to do with education of children????
You plan on loosing more students yet you continue to want to spend more money, why?
Close on of the grade schools and save the money you have for maintenance. Or just keep wasting money for the effort of getting Howard a grade school, and eventually lose your school district. Not a good choice.
The remarks "I hope all that voted against building the new school are happy now......................
Nothing like cutting off your nose to spite your face~~" Shows that the vote was all about Howard not education. And shows this person apparently doesn't appreciate our country's democracy and voting system.
The remark " I graduated from West Elk the Trailer Park one!!! " is up to the school board if that is what they want, or they can keep one of the grade schools open and bus Howard's poor little children to the school like everyone else does.
There are more options if the board were to work at the problem.
They are going to try to tell you that the state will reimburse the school system for the trailers. Get the money first.I wonder where the state will get the money??? Haven't you heard the state is cutting back everywhere and the state is being sued by school districts for more money? Will you have the money to maintain the trailers???
Are you aware that those portable buildings will cost $44,000 each? That probably will not be the total cost of installation, installing electricity etc. Let's see all the details, and then ad 20% for error. What is to be done for tornado protection in a portable?
Oh well, shut down perfectly usable school buildings that are worth maybe a million or two and let them deteriorate then the voters can be forced into providing Howard with their very own brand new muti-million dollar grade school to hose a few students, maybe. That is if they still have enough kid to keep a school district.
Fuzzytoes, let me straighten you out on at least one of your points. Quote,"---and bus Howard's poor little children to the school like everyone else does." That is exactly what has been happening for the past 38 years. Howard grade school children have been bussed to either Severy or Moline. Did you get that, 38 years? Some of those children are grandparents now.
One more point, the school buildings in Severy and Moline are not worth a million dollars put together. In case you haven't noticed, there isn't much market for used schoolhouses even for use as a schoolhouse.
Wilma,
You are correct about the Howard kids riding the bus to Severy and Moline for 38 years, but don't forget the 7th - 12th grade kids from Severy and Moline have traveled to Howard for those same 38 years.
When are people going to realize this isn't Howard vs. Moline or Howard vs. Severy. The location of the school was decided 30+ years ago. People forget that the current location wasn't the first choice, they wanted to build out @ the 160 & 99 Jct. but it wasn't feasible because of the blasting @ the quarry. People also forget that the evil citizens of Howard passed and paid for bond to run City water to the High School.
I can't imagine anyone wanting the trailers, but what other options does the board have. They have clearly stated that they can not continue to operate the 2 grade schools. They simply don't have the money to do it. They proposed a bond, it failed. It's over. What's next? Go bankrupt trying to keep everyone happy?
Since building new failed, and keeping the old is not doable. What are the options? trailers? remodel? What else? I don't know. Complaining about busing and worrying about a location that was decided decades ago is not productive.
patriotdad, you have just told me something that I didn't know. Imagine that, me not knowing something. I didn't know that the first choice for the school was at the junction. That would have been my choice and I wondered why it was passed by.
I see no reason to complain about anyone's children being bussed. It has been done for a long time and it is still going to be done. Trying to keep a school at Severy or at Moline is not going to change the bussing situation.
I do not like the idea of trailers for classrooms. But what does a person do when there is no money to keep the old house from falling down? They move into a trailer house.
Had you been at the board meeting in December, you would have been presented with the money situation and all of the options that the board is considering. This meeting was moved to the high school gymnasium to accomodate a large crowd. Guess what? The crowd of concerned citizens didn't show up. It was the regular group, plus a few (very few) citizens from Howard and Severy. I only saw a couple of forum members there also. I find it amazing how so many can sit back and complain about the situation, yet not go and listen to the discussions and hear the facts as far as budgeting is concerned.
Yes, this should have been taken care of 10 years ago, but it wasn't and something must be done now. No more prograstinating. The budget for the upcoming school year is being cut approximately $500,000. It is not just our district that is being cut, schools all over Kansas are facing cuts. Why are these cuts so drastic for us? We have three campuses to run rather than one. We have three sets of janitorial staff, three sets of cooks, three sets of office staff, three buildings with utilities. This takes much more money to run, and if you were at the last board meeting you would have seen the outrageous budget it takes to run these and the money that would be saved by consolidating to one campus. As far as the busing goes, I don't care who rode how long for how many years. That does not have anything to do with our financial circumstances. Right now, students arrive to the school they attend up to 30 minutes before school starts and must wait to catch a bus home up to 30 minutes after school is dismissed. One central location and everyone gets there at the same time and leaves at the same time. Had you been at the meeting you would have known that.
As far as the remark that the board has more options if they work on it. They have been working on it for many years, time has run out! Their options are not popular with everyone, but they make sense financially.
Sorry if my rant offended any, but it irritates me to no end to hear people say that we "should do this'" or "should do that" yet they have not made themselves available to go and hear what the board is facing and listen to the facts. It is easy to have an opinion, but it is work to have an "informed opinion".
Gina and Patriotdad, you two have made the best informative, reasonable and mature posts that have been made on this thread.
You are both right on with the problems and the fact that to many people complain but few of them show up to be informed and voice their ideas.
You put it out there and you got it right, sweet girl.
And if your post "riled anyone up" --- then So Be It! Truth is truth, and there is no gray areas involved. The school situation is
located smack dab in the middle of a rock and a hard place. There will be a solution and an answer, and we will all have to abide by it.
Merry Christmas to all that are reading the forum.
Jo
Seems to me that there have been many alternatives and options offered, at least on this forum. The folks that make up the board were put there as representatives of the citizens of Elk county, yet you want to know how many that I have heard from...zero, zip, nada. Not one letter, phone call, email. As far as I know none have even made an apperence on the forum. Yet I am supposed to believe that just because I show up at a meeting they are going to listen to what I have to say and actually consider it??
Yes.
Really? Because the way I have heard it told, every solution that has been presented has been shut down. Except for building a new school (in Howard), or locating everyone to a central campus (in Howard). Those that voted against the bond (a very clear majority, by the way) get accused of "voting against our children" by the same folks that complain about nobody coming the board meetings. Meetings that are held where?...oh yes, in Howard.
Seeing as how spread out our county is, here is an idea. Why doesn't the school board come to the people? They could hold meetings in senior centers, town halls, community buildings, etc. I would be more likely to attend if the meetings were held in Grenola.
Varmit, I thought I understood that your children attend a different school district. Do you live in Dist. 282 and send your children to another district? Or did I misunderstand a post quite aways back?
Nope. You're right. My kids go to Central. So what? Doesn't mean that I can't have an opinion on the matter.
Wilma, Varmit may live in Grenola and send his youngsters to Central. I live in Moline and do not have any children, and you live in Howard and do not have any children. However, this issue will affect every town in the area in the end. All people in the area should have a say, no matter if you or anyone else agrees with it. I seldom agree with Varmit, but must stand with him on this issue. Sorry. ;)
Billy, you make a comment with a very "snide" sound to it. The USD #282 offices and school building is IN HOWARD --- now, really,
don't you think that is where the meetings should be held? Where does Central of Burden have their meetings??? Not in any of the surrounding towns, do they? Where does the different city councils have their meetings?? Come on -------This is taking the "Howard" thing a little too far, don't you think?
I was just wondering if the decisions our school board makes will affect his taxes. Since his children do not attend West Elk, the board's decisions won't affect his children. He can have his opinion, but why should his opinion affect West Elk's board's decisions. Why should he have a voice at a meeting that has nothing to do with his life. Now, SDM and I live and pay taxes in USD West Elk. Our opinions do count, whether we agree with each other or not.
No matter. The decision has been made as far as I can see. If there were a viable alternative, I think our board would have addressed it a long time ago. I just don't like the way trailers will look out there on the campus when we could have had an attractive new building.
Jo, I understand what you're saying. And if this were an issue that only affected those living in Howard I would agree with it. But this is something that affects the entire county. Yes, Central hold its meetings at Cental. As for the City Councils, their decisions only affect their respective cities, not the county.
Wilma, my tax dollars, like yours, go to the county. If they did not then the County would have no grounds for raising my property taxes. I live in Grenola, which in case you missed it, is in Elk county. Children here go to either West Elk or Central. Regardless of that, I am a Citizen of Elk County and therefore have just as much right to voice my opinion on county matters as the next guy.
By the way, were You in attendence at the last board meeting??
Jo, I think, by reading the newspaper some time back, Central used to go to the surrounding towns to have there monthly meetings. I could be wrong, but I thought I saw this.
Gina, you are so right. I have been a bad one that hasn't been attending. Not that I didn't want to, but I have so many meetings a month to go to, and the last couple ones have been on the same night. But you are right, and no one should be mad, we as citizens should be attending the meetings. Not just the important ones. And if you attend these meetings, and it's open forum, you can voice your opinion, other wise call and get on the agenda!!!
varmit, you are a citizen of Elk County. Are you a citizen of USD 282? If you are not, your school tax dollars are going to another district. Regardless of where you live, if your children are attending another district, your school tax dollars are going to another district, along with whatever state and federal aid that is being paid for that child. If your child is attending another district, USD 282 is losing dollars. Now, if I am wrong in this, please correct me.
When my brother and I decided to attend Piedmont rather than Howard, whose district we lived in, we had to get permission from the Howard district and the Howard district had to pay Piedmont. At age 17, I didn't understand it then and I am not sure that I understand it now, but I think that if a child attends a school outside his home district, that his home district has to give permission and pay to the other district that share of the child's school tax.
Please, someone, explain to us what I have been trying to say.
No, I do not attend board meetings. I have nothing to add. I helped elect the board and they are good honest people that are doing the best they can under the circumstances. I trust them to to do that. Maybe they aren't the best qualified but it is a hard job and not many people want to take it on. So we have to go with the best that are willing.
Varmit,
What is the difference to what West Elk is trying to do now and what Central Burden did. Did they not close 2 old grade schools, put thier kids in trailers for awhile, and then build a new grade school? And aren't grenola, cambridge, atlanta kids bussed to Burden. It the exact same issues West Elk is facing. Has it not worked out for them? why are you so judgmental of WE when Burden did the same thing. Besides if you are in the burden school district and your kids go to burden none of this will affect you anyway.
Patriot, I am aware of what Central did. I was not living in Ks at that time, nor was I a father at that time. However, if I had been I would have argued against it. And if it isn't going to affect me then I shouldn't see my taxes go up. Considering the services that Elk County provides the increase in taxes cannot be justified. Not only that but this will affect me in that I am a citizen of Elk County and do not wish to see towns like moline and severy lose out in the way that Grenola has.
Then you chose to move to Grenola where you already knew that your children would be bussed to another town. Grenola losing their school isn't necessarily the cause of it's decline. Severy still has a school and doesn't have nearly the businesses that they used to have. I don't think that you can blame the lack of a school for the decline in a small town. In MHO, losing their school is not going to cause a decline in Moline because the people of Moline won't let it. If you ever want to see a small town supported by it's citizens, take a good look at Moline.
The schools follow the population - they don't drive it.
Our population declines, we lose schools. If the towns in Elk county would GROW - so would the schools.
I missed the part where someone posted the solution to a $400,000 shortfall. I'm a business owner, a former teacher, and pretty good with numbers. For the life of me, I don't see any other solution when you're looking at almost half a million shortfall.
Here's the thing that drives me nuts about Elk county - we can't work together on ANYTHING. We fight among ourselves while our children grow up and move away.
If we could direct this energy into economic development.... wow, that'd be something to see!
Wilma, I'm not blaming the decline on a loss of schools. I am just saying that I don't want those towns to lose part of their community, thats all.
Mark the population isn't going to grow without schools, that is a major factor in someones decision to move into an area.
The economic situtation isn't going to improve when we can't even get decent water.
Maybe we fight among ourselves because the "good ole boy" system is alive and thriving in this county.
Good ol' boy system? There are so few of you, how does that work?
Diane, Even a few good ole' boys can do a lot of good. We're aren't "city-fied" so common sense does kick in and add to the end result.
Quote from: Diane Amberg on December 24, 2009, 04:40:22 PM
Good ol' boy system? There are so few of you, how does that work?
In all reality it doesn't work and never will work. Grew up in good ole boy country and they keep the towns small and run off any potential business that might come in cause they want to keep it a small town. Eventually one day, if population increases enough wichita will move out here this way and develop the area. But without water, that won't happen. THey will bypass elk and move on to a county that has water and a county that will lower or make it tax free for 10 years or so for businesses to move in. Thtas the only way to get businesses in here for jobs.
If you want water and 10 year tax breaks go to Wichita. I haven't had to worry about any drive by shootings or worry about going for a stroll after dark. There is always trade offs in this world. I'll take this life any day of the week. Patriodad, I agree with you in the fact that WE is just a few years behind the rest of them.
Quote from: greatguns on December 24, 2009, 11:28:58 PM
If you want water and 10 year tax breaks go to Wichita. I haven't had to worry about any drive by shootings or worry about going for a stroll after dark.
One of these fine upstanding neighbors here decided i didn't need my things about a couple months ago broke in and helped themselves.
Srkruzich, we've had an occaisional run in with those type around here also. Usually they end up being trash from wichita. Tall fences, a good dog, and a well aimed gun make for fine neighbors.
But if Steve got burgled anyway, what good did all that do? Ya can't spend all your time peering out a port hole and the tall fence keeps you in as well as keeping others out.
Jo, I didn't think Varmit's comment about "the good ol' boys" was meant as a compliment. I just wondered how he meant it. I wasn't criticizing, honest! Steve answered it.
"Good ole boys" is a term I use when I mean that nothing gets done because the good ole boys don't want it done. They have never done it that way. It was good enough for Grandpa. It's good enough for us.
Quote from: Varmit on December 25, 2009, 08:22:43 AM
Srkruzich, we've had an occaisional run in with those type around here also. Usually they end up being trash from wichita. Tall fences, a good dog, and a well aimed gun make for fine neighbors.
No, because whoever took what they took knew it was in there. It wasn't something obvious and so it was someone that knew him. In other words, someone local and yes, dogs do make a nice deterrent to anyone that would seek to do something naughty.
Quote from: Wilma on December 25, 2009, 10:51:30 AM
"Good ole boys" is a term I use when I mean that nothing gets done because the good ole boys don't want it done. They have never done it that way. It was good enough for Grandpa. It's good enough for us.
it might have been good enough for grandpa but grandpa lived over 100 eyars ago. IF its good enough for grandpa, can we have the taxes grandpa paid instead ofthe taxes we got now???
If ist wasn't obvious and someone took it, it must be someone that frequently goes to his house. Did they break a lock or window?
Quote from: greatguns on December 25, 2009, 04:12:17 PM
If ist wasn't obvious and someone took it, it must be someone that frequently goes to his house. Did they break a lock or window?
Nope no one comes here.