hometownkid (anonymous) says...

That's Awesome !! Isn't it amazing when a group of people get behind something what can happen...I mean for the good of the community.

Thanks Clint !!

July 24, 2011 at 7:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

Perhaps, the funds from this type auction/public donation fundraisers could fund the RDA, CVB and others. Then " All " of the taxpaying citizens of Emporia would not be forced to give to these " Fat Cat " leach organizations via " Forced or Lame excuse taxation . Then just maybe the City Commission would see fit to " Lower " taxes and just maybe you would see the economy of Emporia, pick up a " smidgeon " and the people of Emporia would be " Happier " and in a better frame of mind and the City' s infrastructure could start to be repaired/maintained, " PROPERLY " .

After all, Emporias people been " Touted " as being very giving, to any worthy/worthwhile cause. Perhaps if the RDA,CVB, ARTS COUNCIL, EMPORIA MAIN STREET, etc., would really find out what people thought of them, if they " Street Panhandled " for operating/expense funding, instead of demanding the raising of taxes .

C' mon all you " Fat Cat " organizations, just go out and ask the people, person to person, face to face for operating/payroll/expense funding /donations and see what happens, FOR A CHANGE . Or are you afraid, you might really find out what people really think of you, if you did ?

Or would that be way to humbling/humiliating an experience for you. You know, to actually show the people that you are just people, like everyone else in Emporia or are you afraid to really find out, that you are not the " Kings/Queens of Emporia " that you think you are ?

July 24, 2011 at 8:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

GOOD JOB, TO ALL INVOLVED!

I know there was a lot of work involved from Clint's foundation and his racing team, the city golf course staff, Ed Rathke at the civic auditorium, Bruff"s catering, and everyone else who made this a success. And made a good impression on our small town.

THANK YOU ALL !

July 24, 2011 at 8:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sail (anonymous) says...

Nice job Clint, thanks.

July 24, 2011 at 11:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

hometownkid (anonymous) says...

Hey Meth-

Do you donate your time...or money back to the community??? do you do anything besides being upset??? I'm not talking about you working for the railroad and paying your taxes like a good tax payer....what do you do now?

I don't get on the blogs much but you always seem so upset about everything.

Do you go to city or county commission meetings???

Hometownkid- from this town...don't always agree with the decisions of folks...but very proud to be from this town !!

July 24, 2011 at 2:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

americus1987 (anonymous) says...

Couldn't agree with you more hometownkid.

Meth- 90 percent of news is "bad" news. Is it really necessary to rant and rave when we get a little bit of the good?

July 24, 2011 at 2:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

goodoleboy (anonymous) says...

People like Meth are necessary, they are the antithesis of the idiots that put up the rocks, gotta balance out the equation.

July 24, 2011 at 3:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

hometownkid,

I was born in a house here, going on 70 years ago . My family goes back as being Emporians, at least 4 generations.
My children were born here and 1 grand child was born here. So you see, I am proud to say that my family and I are Emporian' s.

Yes I have donated my time and my money, not taxpayer money , to try and bring jobs, etc., to Emporia, for the betterment of people like you, your kids and grandkids, great grandkids, etc.. And yes I have attended Public City and County meetings .

I complain and rant, because I " hate " what a few self appointed, self serving, self indulgent leaders are doing and have been doing to " MY/YOUR " home town and everyone else, who pays taxes, and suffers and does without, so these few can have what they want and then pat themselves on the back and congratulate one another for putting Emporia and everyone in Emporia and Lyon County some $43,000,000 dollars in debt, while letting Emporia' s infrastructure, jobs, businesses and citizens, " Go to Hell " and not give one damned, solitary care about doing so.

I have but one thing to ask you hometownkid, are actually satisified with the ever increasing demands for higher and higher public service fees, higher and higher tax burden and ever increasing demands by these so called leaders for more and more funding to spend on usless, unnecessary wants, while the City dies, crumbles away beneath your feet, homes, etc., businesses and jobs are lost, people move to a place they can afford to live ?

If you are happy with that, then by all means, be happy, because you and your off spring and future generations will have to pay for it.

Oh, just one more question. Do you own property in Emporia that you will soon see a, most likely, heavy, heavy, tax mil levy increase on, and do you anticipate an increase in pay that will equal the mil levy increase that will most likely happen very soon?

If so, then you will, most certainly be, one of the lucky few, who do.

I rant and rave, on these forums and at the public meetings, because there are only a few of us who will and I and the others are only saying what many others would like to say .

I might ask, hometownkid, what have you done or tried to do for your " Home Town " ?

I would also venture to say you have not been around long enough to have really seen the good times that Emporia once experience. Because if you are satisfied that Emporia is now experiencing " Good Times ", you are truly living in a dream world.

July 24, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Merry_Carol (anonymous) says...

Methusla, I wasn't born here. But my husband was. In the years I've lived here, I have seen things I didn't like. But I have also seen things I do like. There have been changes, some good, some not so good.

Then there are things I don't understand, like the costs of the clock tower, and the new stones at all the entrances to town. I just don't understand. No judgment, just simply don't understand.

Methusla, I would love to hear what was good way back, what made it such a great place. Do you have stories to tell on that topic? Can you cite just "stuff" that used to be better and good about Emporia? I would love to hear it.

July 24, 2011 at 7:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

Merry_Carol

When I was growing up in Emporia, the self appointed leaders of the community, truely cared about everyone in Emporia, no matter where they worked, where they lived, what their social status was, how much money they made, etc., and they had the time and the inclination to talk to you, as though you were just as important as they were, and the most impressive thing about these past leaders was, the fact that listened to you and considered what you had to say. The Citys leaders did not spend taxpayer funds on unnecessary, unneeded wants , but rather the City' s infrastructure, streets, etc.and the needs of the people, " All of the people " were the most important thing to these leaders, such as W.A. White, W.L. White, Carl Didde, Don Glaser, Dan McClenney, Ray Call, Earl Sauder, Joe Cannon, etc..

From the time of W.A. White to the early 1980' s, Emporia had more Industry, Businesses, jobs and population that it has had in the past 20 to 30 years, less unemployment, lower tax burden, and better economy and management of taxpayer funds.

To me, and this is just my opinion, the self appointed, self serving leaders of todays Emporia care for only one thing ... Their individual well being and their continued " avarice/greed/pursuit of gaining even more wealth for themselves and don' t care who they ruin/destroy in the quest of their monetary/avaristic goal.

All you have to do is drive around Emporia and take a look at where the vast majority of taxpayer funds have been spent. And while you are driving around Emporia, looking at the clock tower, entrance Rocks, library statues, etc., notice the condition of the streets you are driving on, next time it rains hard, notice how many streets are flooded, due to the lack of interest in keeping the storm drainage system repaired or upgraded, take a look at all of the " For Sale Signs " in the yards of properties/houses, because the tax burden is so outrageous and jobs are so few the people are selling their properties and moving to someplace they can afford .

Then listen to what these self centered, avaristic, self appointed leaders of today are saying about the economy of Emporia and see if you agree with them.
And yet these leaders just keep demanding more and more unnecessary, unneeded spending and funding of organizations that have really not done, but very little to improve the quality of life for all Emporians.

I have been here, in Emporia for a long time and have seen much good, but have seen only small amounts of percievable good in the last 20 to 30 years. On the contrary, all I have seen is " waste " and " greed " and not much else.

It would seem that the leaders of today, seem to think " Tourists/Tourism " is/will be the savior of Emporia, however I do not think a high cost, high maintenance cost industry is a saving grace, but only for a few places that are well suited to Toruism/Tourists and Emporia is not well suited for either.

July 24, 2011 at 8:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

landinkansas (anonymous) says...

Back to the original subject..... Great job to all of you who donated your time & money. Good people doing good things.

July 24, 2011 at 8:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

Mary_Carol

I can remember when the street I lived on was not paved, had no curb and yet it was maintained and in better shape that a lot of paved streets in Emporia, to day,
Why ?

I will let you decide the answer to that.

And I believe the answer is not, because it costs more today than yesterday . If Emporias taxpayer funds, were used as they should have been being used, Emporia would be a lot better looking and affordable city to live in .

July 24, 2011 at 8:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

What a great thing these good people have done for Emporia. Despite the intense heat, they got out there and did their best for the game and for the charity too. It doesn't get better than that. Thanks to all who participated, and a great big thank you to Clint Boyer for caring enough about his home town to sponsor this activity.

As one who is often critical of the way things are done in the city, I'm blown away with good impressions of this happening, and I don't mind saying so.

Nice job, everyone involved!!!

July 25, 2011 at 8:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

EmporiaRocks (anonymous) says...

meth,

I think it was maintained better back then because Emporia was smaller and there wasn't so much to cover.

July 25, 2011 at 9:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

EmporiaRocks,

I tend to disagree, that size is not why maintenance of Emporias infrastructure is falling apart.

Here is but one reason Emporia' s infrastructure is falling apart,

Household income:

Less than $10,000: 1564
$10,000 to $14,999: 942
$15,000 to $19,999: 738
$20,000 to $24,999: 981
$25,000 to $29,999: 744
$30,000 to $34,999: 837
$35,000 to $39,999: 531
$40,000 to $44,999: 595
$45,000 to $49,999: 542
$50,000 to $59,999: 781
$60,000 to $74,999: 830
$75,000 to $99,999: 789
$100,000 to $124,999: 205
$125,000 to $149,999: 86
$150,000 to $199,999: 63
$200,000 or more: 38

And these are mean/average household incomes for Emporia as of 2009 . And I would almost bet that the figures for 2011 are even lower.

And yet those who consider themselves as leaders, just do not have the ability to figure this whole thing out and still want/demand more and more for unnecessary " wants " .

Go to http://www.city-data.com/housing/hous... and look at the statistics yourself . Apparently our City leaders do not care to .

July 25, 2011 at 11:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

hottopics (anonymous) says...

I agree with Methusla but thank you Clint.
I wish his money did more for our debt but we have no say over that. He tries to help, we just have the wrong people managing it.

July 25, 2011 at 12:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sail (anonymous) says...

For a community at 65% of the median state income per household ,I think 300,000 dollars was awsome.

July 25, 2011 at 1:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

Let me make one thing perfectly clear .

I also think what the effort by Clint Bowyer and friends is totally awsome and I applaud you whole heartedly.

What I was trying to point out in my earlier post, was this, Why in the world can't the RDA, CVB and any other so called not for profit, for the benefit of the people and community do the same thing, that is have a public donation rally, auction, picnic, fair, raffle, what ever to raise their operating capitol to pay for wages, building rent, health care insurance, retirement funds, vacations, business " trips ", car/plane/boat/train rentals/fares, etc., instead of just demanding that the taxpayers take care of them . That way if they do not raise enough " donated " booty, then someone will have to either be laid off, fired, take a cut in pay or just plain, go out of business, be evicted from their building, for none payment of rent/mortgage, have no power for none payment of utilities, like the rest of us who live in the real world have to deal with each and every day !

All I am saying is, why should these, for lack of a better term, " Welfare " reciepiant organizations not have to worry about anything that the ordinary taxpaying citizen constantly has to consider and think about ?

Think about this, with the prevailing unemployment figures, income figures, poverty rates, mil levy and these figures likely to get worse, how much longer can Emporia taxpayers continue to pay more and more for services of taxpayer funded organizations, given the success rate of the organizations in making quality of life better for the people of Emporia. Something is going to " Break " and I am afraid it is going to be sooner, rather than later.

For instance, here is the latest gimmick by the State of Kansas' s leaders to try and lure more people to Kansas.

" Would a tax break lure you to rural Kansas? "

The state is hoping to lure new residents to less-populated areas with student-loan aid and income-tax forgiveness.

http://realestate.msn.com/blogs/liste...

July 25, 2011 at 3:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

I know I am way off topic with the previous post and this post. But I feel that this will or should make our civic leaders and all Emporians do some thinking.

5 cities where Americans are relocating
U.S. migration may be down overall, but these vibrant metro areas are still attracting newcomers.

The cities that made the list share similar qualities: more business opportunities, better weather and more affordable housing. The top three areas according to the data are Raleigh, N.C., ranking first, which jumped 4.29% to nearly 1.9 million; Austin, Texas, which came in second, with a 3.77% increase to almost 1.7 million; and Charlotte, N.C., which moved up 3.36% to 1.7 million.

Notice the very first paragraph, above.
" The cities that made the list share similar qualities: more business opportunities, better weather and more affordable housing. "

Now ask yourselves, which of these does Emporia, Ks. have ?

http://realestate.msn.com/article.asp...

These statistics and info are not hard to find, all one has to do is be be willing to find it and comprehend the information .

July 25, 2011 at 3:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

solong (anonymous) says...

Everything in Emporia started going out in the late 1980's when approximately 500 of the best paying jobs in town went to Kansas City with the Santa Fe Railroad. There was no organized effort of any kind I know of to deter this and it may not have helped, but it couldn't have hurt and in my mind at the time nobody really cared because so many thought they were a bunch of no good overpaid spoiled people. This loss of economic power had a tremendous effect on our community, and the trend just continues. For those of you like meth I would join the migration and move on before you blow a gasket, for those who stay switch to a "happy in a small town where ignorance prevails mindset because things are not going to change." Emporia is an area that is even being offered no state income taxes for 5 years as an incentive to move here, I suggest it will take a great deal more than that, the hand writing is on the wall for those who can read backwards. Thanks you for your finger in the dike efforts Clint and they are substantial, but even a superhero couldn't save this town from itself.

July 25, 2011 at 7:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

O.K. We all have our issues, and we all have our problems.

ONCE IN A GREAT WHILE , something GOOD happens in Emporia. This weekend, something good happened in our town. Can we just enjoy it and celebrate it today? Can we say, thanks Clint Bowyer and friends, and let it go? There will be plenty of forums left for us to bitch and moan. Do we have to do it now?

July 25, 2011 at 8:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

Steve,
Yes, something good did indeed happen, and I agree that we should celebrate the efforts of all those involved. They all did a fabulous job.

However, while I agree with you, I also believe that much of this contentiousness is based on the fact that we are all very frustrated at the way things are going economically, not only locally, but nationally as well. People are angry and they are going to let off steam wherever they can. As soon as the word "money" is mentioned in the same breath as local need, the vuvuzela horns begin.

Remember those damn things?

July 25, 2011 at 9:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

create,

I know you are right in what you said. I am just thinking, as much as we are complaining about things, (and rightly so), every so often we need to step back and enjoy and savor the things that are going well for us. This fund raiser was a great thing for Emporia, Why can't we leave it at that and continue our complaints on another thread? JMO

July 25, 2011 at 9:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

oh, and I stopped watching soccer on t.v. because of those darn things.

July 25, 2011 at 9:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )