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It seems that many do not understand where the various taxing entities get their money and for what purposes that money is supposed to go for. PILOT means Payment In Lieu Of Taxes. If the wind farm was taxed on its assessed value, the money would go to the county because the wind farm is in the county. I feel the same as Ross on this issue. The money is county money and should stay with the county.

Maybe some of this money should go for a building to house the county ambulances at the now closed Howard nursing home. It looks like this facility would also have plenty of room for the Elk County Health Dept as well.

Some of the old timers said that Elias Morgan was the best water witcher in the area. I'll ask his son Curtis about that next time I see him.

The damage to the streams and land from saltwater and sludge was going full blast back in the 1950s and 1960s. Back in about 1955 there were at least 4 oil producers that ran a LOT of saltwater down Clear Creek out 7 and 8 miles west of Howard. They ran so much down the creek that it killed the fish and some cattle. I still remember as a small boy my Dad going up the main hill that goes to the Windfarm (Killdeer Road) and stopping at the tank battery and gun barrel there. He stuck out his cupped hand under the pipe there and tasted the clear water squirting on the ground and running down the hill. It was strong saltwater.  After he got done with a cussin fit, he said get in the truck and we headed for home. He had my Mom wash up a couple of already clean pint canning jars and we went back up the hill and he filled the two jars with the saltwater and dropped me off at the house and he went on to Chanute to the State agency that oversees oilfield disposal laws.

A fairly short time later he got Noel Mullendore, a Howard attorney, to file suit against Elk Petroleum Company, Denton Oil Company, Cites Service gas Company, and, I believe, the last one was Conoco Oil for cattle damage from saltwater. He and Noel won the lawsuit and the oil companies were to build him two deep ponds for water and pay for the cattle. Harold Howell took his dozer and built the ponds. Everyone paid their fair share except Billy Denton who refused to pay. Dad submitted a bill to the estate of Billy Denton and Guy Morgan Denton, estate executor, made sure the court assessment was finally paid.  End of story as best I can remember.  I've got another saltwater story from the Sixties that I'll put up later.

Thanks Warph!

I like "Happy" especially when those beautiful Redhead Express sisters do it. They have played in Branson, but I did check and they are not booked there for at least 10 months. Darn! And no I don't know how to do the link, etc, sorry. My cut, copy and paste is done with Fiskars, Carbon paper and Elmer's.

Here's the deal Frank, you've got to face the fact that some people would gripe if their ice cream was cold. I'm not happy at all with a lot of the actions at the Fed, State or local level, however, if I was so disgusted with all that is going on in America, hell, I'd be finding myself a different country to move to. I'd get out while I could, vamose, maybe even move down to near Fred Reed (fredoneverything.com) in Mexico. To suggest this to a true griper would be met with another hot and heavy post on how that wouldn't work either and what a naughty person for the suggestion. sigh...and life goes on and most of us do the best we can under the circumstances we're in. Most days I view living in Elk County as another day in paradise.

Diane, I do remember your Uncle Ted. Back in the 50s, Dad and I were feeding cattle in the morning and had just come out of a gate out west of town when Ted pulled up in his two-toned blue Mercury. He had just stopped to chat...nothing important but a couple of minutes later we heard some shotguns going off about a mile south.Ted went on point and said to my Dad, "I think they're on your south 80!" Dad said he hoped not 'cause Doc Reid and Glenn Miller and a couple of American Legion buddies were coming out to hunt quail after lunch. He didn't want the coveys busted up and scattered all over.
Ted said lets go run em off! I'll back you up! He fired up the Merc and took off southbound with the pipes cackling and the gravel flying. He slid around the corner a mile south and pulled up behind their car about a quarter mile east. By the time we caught up Ted had already jumped out, shotgun in hand, yelling something about 'sunny beaches' from Sedgwick County just shot some more of your birds. Those guys were picking them up when Dad got there. He was fuming mad and red in the face. He asked them what they thought they were doing in there hunting on his posted land, to which one of the guys said he didn't know it was posted. Well, that did set Poppa on fire and he wheeled around to the gate we just went through and the corner that Ted slid around and two other corners with signs up pointing to all the posted signs. Then, get this Ted walked up, shotgun ready, and Dad said "Empty out all my birds out of your game bags right here on the grass and get the hell out of here and don't ever come back!"  They did as told and left in a hurry much to Ted's delight. Dad said he wouldn't have done the bird collecting if it hadn't been for you backing me up, Ted. Ted really liked that recognition and they would have a good laugh now and then talking about that day. That incident was quite a deal for a young kid to be in on, and I still think about it to this day.  Good times in Elk County!!!

Diane...As best as I can remember, Dad said Billie had a matched pair of 45 revolvers that he wore on occasion. I am too young to remember Billie, but have heard some tall (or not so tall) tales of his life and times. I can still picture the old three legged wind generator that was on his corner and remember the extensive set of lead celled batteries that powered his radio and more, that sold when the had the final sale and auction there on his corner, located at Limestone Road and 7th Road. I do however remember the Ambergs fondly and my folks thought well of them, too.

Maintenance, upkeep,repairs and new equipment are all part of facilities that get used or aged. I know people that don't have a drivers license or drive on the public roads, however they pay taxes to use the roadways. There are those that have never used a city or county ambulance or firetrucks but they have paid taxes on the service for decades.

There is however an little known alcohol tax that goes into the county as a special recreation fund. This tax accumulates and over time gets to be fairly large. Cities throughout Elk County have tapped into this fund for parks equipment, etc. I have no idea if Elk Connected has ever gotten funds from this source and will not take the time and effort to find out if they have. The point is that some of the drinkers don't use facilities that their taxes go to fund. It would not bother me in the least if the fund was tapped to help with the pool. That's just the way it is in America.

Since it was brought up, for the record, my diploma clearly says West Elk USD 282, and it is from the 60s. This post is my last on this topic lest I get branded as a Keyboard Kommando, or worse yet...an idiot. LOL. See ya!

Ross, I do get SOOOO tired of you referring and insinuating to the pool in Howard as it just being only a Howard facility. It is there and for those from all over the county area to use. I know for a fact that youngsters from all over the area get or have gotten swim lessons there in years past as well as this summer.

I grew up here when there was no pool in the county. We youngsters would have to go to Eureka or Sedan to swim safely. Thank goodness many in the area went on a drive to get money and donations to build the pool. I darn near drowned in Elk River back in the early 60s and thank goodness Joe Hebb was a great swimmer and he saved me.It was a great feeling to send my sons to pool lessons in Howard so they had proper swimming lessons in a safe environment. The kids in their classes came from all over. East, west, north and south so it's not just a Howard thing. The fact that many have learned to swim in the pool just may have saved more than a few from drowning is some creek, river, pond or lake.

I do help support the pool and am very glad that we have it available for all in the area that want to use it. Reflecting back I can name several easily recognized family names from ALL of the towns in Elk County plus some from Severy, Piedmont and even Belknap, Fiat and Busby area that have used this fine facility.
As we dwindle in population, we certainly don't need more division of the communities in the area by inferring that the pool is just a Howard thing. Nuff said!