The Emporia Gazette

Prairie Dog exterminations

I'm wondering about the article in today's Gazette about the Prairie dog habitat fires taking place in Colorado, by Brandy Nance.

It was a compelling article, quite shocking and very sad. But something people need to know about to prevent it from happening in their own area.

Is this practice going on in Lyon County? Or are there plans to use this method to kill prairie dogs in Lyon county?

If there's been another article about it, I missed it.

March 23, 2011 at 6:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Robbery reported in Madison

Wow, just wow. That big a crime in Madison? Scary.

February 8, 2011 at 5:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Public opinion slows project

I agree with jellybelly51. In a time of affluence, where other things didn't need so much tending, I'd say go for it. But in a time of need, the expenditure is inappropriate.

I always thought "infrastructure" was the nuts and bolts that hold a town up, like its services (sewer, police, utilities, etc.,) plus road quality, the library, building safety, and so on. Stones and other decorations are not a necessity and are just icing on the cake, certainly not infrastructure. But then, maybe I have the wrong idea of what the word means.

Are the people who voted this in naive about how life is in parts of Emporia? The money could have been so much better spent on quality of life for some folks there.

But I'll tell ya what. Emporia will survive. When we drive past the monuments we can get a chuckle and shake our heads at the excess in spending on such a thing during a time of need. The community will survive, and in the future this will be a mere bump in the road.

My suggestion is for everyone to pull together and show those guys what you are made of. Get out there and do some work. Obviously you can't fix the sewers or drive the police cars, but you can do other things.

I recall hearing that the flowers in the beds downtown are planted and tended by volunteers. I don't know if that is true, but it was what I heard. They are beautiful. See what a bit of elbow grease can get a town?

Fix up your own yards, and help a neighbor fix up his. Do things to brighten that town up.

Things are as they are. Yes, they did a thoughtless thing during a time of such need. So, vote them out if you want to. Then start working on making the town reflect its residents in a wonderful light.

I no longer live there, but our family roots are deep there, and we care a lot about Emporia. Plus we shop there every week and our sales tax is going to these stones too.

I do have to say though, I wish I could vote there!

January 27, 2011 at 10:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

New forest exhibit planned for Emporia zoo

This will be simply wonderful. We will enjoy taking our grandchildren there. Another reason to come visit Emporia!

January 26, 2011 at 9:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Defending the Monument

Just a note about "permanent" for the infrastructure. There is a permanent need for police cars and sewers and good roads. Nothing at all is actually permanent, even stones over a long time deteriorate.

I would have no questions about the wisdom of this in better times. But right now the money is really needed elsewhere, from what I've read, on permanent needs.

I would not, in personally hard financial times, buy a stone welcome sign for my front yard for any amount of money. It goes to home maintenance and personal maintenance.

So, I'm not sure how it is okay to do these stones right now. How about saving this project until the economy improves? That doesn't mean it'd never happen, but that it'd happen at a more appropriate time for the taxpayers.

Community pride can be shown in so many other ways that actually benefit everyone.

Those stones are unlikely to attract tourists.

I'm an old roadtripper from way back, and can tell you that I stop for interesting, quirky, fun, stuff. I like to see color.

AND, I do my homework before I travel by road. I'll go out of my way to see the quirky and obscure, the beautiful and truly historic and interesting. But I know from research and word of mouth what I'm going to see first.

I love that stone artist's work. I've seen it in person and met him a couple of times. He's a great choice for the job.

I no longer live in Emporia. But I do shop there, eat there, have friends there.

To me this seems like a matter of priorities. Is right now really the right time for this? Are there greater needs?

Quality of life was mentioned. How do the stones increase the quality of life?

Like I said, the stones would be a great idea, but maybe better done in more affluent times.

January 24, 2011 at 3:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Snow removal required

When we lived in Emporia, we had a double sized corner lot. When it snowed, it was a LOT of work, but my husband shoveled the entire sidewalk. He did not do that under threat, but because it needed to be done. Sidewalks can be dangerous when they become blocks of ice.

BUT, for the city to say five hours doesn't make sense. It isn't practical because people have jobs they are also responsible for.

The street we lived on was not cleared of snow or ice. It was one of the streets that stayed icy longer than most as well. But we still shoveled the sidewalks around our property.

I think what bothers me is the threat of a fine for not doing it within five hours, when people usually work eight hours.

January 20, 2011 at 1:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

None

How about Walburn's other places? There's a Health Club in Madison. Is that still open? Will it be staying open? Who owns it?

February 21, 2010 at 2:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Plans for entrance signs hit snag

Thank you for clarifying and fixing that Gwen. I'm relieved!

October 29, 2009 at 1:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Plans for entrance signs hit snag

Replace the W.A. White signs??? No way! W.A. White did some very important work for Emporia. He lived here for a very long time, and still has family living here running the newspaper. He and his family who have passed on are buried in Emporia.

William Allen White is absolutely pivotal in Emporia history and where Emporia has been, is, and even where the town will be. He is part of Kansas history. He is part of United States history.

I'm shocked that anyone would even consider removing the W.A. White signs at the entrance to the community. I cannot imagine such a thing.

William Allen White is a long term, lasting source of pride for Emporia and for Kansas.

October 28, 2009 at 7:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

H1N1 death in Lyon County

Thanks for the information. That's what I was curious about.

October 23, 2009 at 7:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )