The Emporia Gazette

Board looking for grants to finance new baseball complex

Why do we want a multimillion dollar baseball complex on the northwest side of town when we haven't been able to take care of the fields we own. Even if grant dollars pay for some of the construction will we be able to afford the up keep and enhancements. Isn't baseball one season in Kansas? This will be a uni-tasker facility. Is that the best use of our mill levy? Why not make modest quality of life enhancements to what we already own? I thought that's what they researched. Why are they using a 2002 study...that's 10 years old. Our city or county economy looks nothing like it did in 2002. Wasn't that study done for parks, not sports complexes? Didn't the staff at the Rec Center recommend upgradings and renovations on existing facilities rather than building new? Wouldn't those folks who work in Rec programs day-in and day-out have a very good idea what would best serve our community within our needs? What's going on here...someone needs to watch this issue. I hope the Gazette and KVOE are paying close attention.

November 23, 2011 at 1:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Our test drive

Not getting off BIG oil can be very dangerous and toxic. Maybe buying an electric car or a hybrid is about doing the right thing, not just for our own ego driven self but for the good of the whole. JMO

November 12, 2011 at 11:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Help the Arts

I would call upon all artists in Kansas to find their most shocking voices. Find your controversial stuff that takes viewers, readers, and listeners to the edge of their comfort levels. For examples you might look at the work of Robert Mapplethorpe or Serrano's Piss Christ. Artists, make a bold statement about "what is art" in Kansas. As soon as you do, people will begin to complain. Politicians will say, "we can't have that sort of thing going on in the Bible belt." Of course the only way to gain editorial control over the question of what is art...well, that would be to control the purse strings. Just watch the money come flowing back when the Gov and company want to regain control over art-in-Kansas

June 9, 2011 at 12:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Governor abolishes Kansas Arts Commission

Steve, it's not that cuts aren't needed...but why not spread it out as a percentage across most department budgets rather than eliminate whole agencies? He is also seeking a constitutional amendment to eliminate both the State Board of Ed and the Board of Regents. Then he will transfer power to the executive branch and appoint an education czar. Story feed is posted on KVOE website. It seems like the gov is using a difficult situation for personal power gains rather than power to the people.

February 12, 2011 at 7:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Hungry Kids

Excellent article, Ashley. All of our inequalities, including hungry kids, achievement gaps, and "AYP" challenges begin with the growing poverty gap in our community, region, state, and country. Your efforts to send home, even small amounts of food, should be commended. I hope those who can will fill up the Gazette offices each week with an abundance of food.

January 26, 2011 at 12:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Seasonal celebration

From the movie American President...

For the record, yes, I am a card-carrying member of the ACLU, but the more important question is "Why aren't you, Bob?" Now this is an organization whose sole purpose is to defend the Bill of Rights, so it naturally begs the question, why would a senator, his party's most powerful spokesman and a candidate for President, choose to reject upholding the constitution? Now if you can answer that question, folks, then you're smarter than I am, because I didn't understand it until a few hours ago.

America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say, "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours." You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms.

Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free.

...as good today as it was in the movie, I think.

December 14, 2010 at 1:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Committee: Close both Lowthers

Heating, cooling and maintaining 91,000 square feet of space for use by 275 people does not seem like the best use of our resources (Lowther North estimates). In fact, it seems rather elaborate. I thought this group was fiscally conservative. Price per pupil is pretty high with those two figures. I'm interested in learning why this is efficient? Thanks for any information.

December 8, 2010 at 10:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Committee: Close both Lowthers

Karmadog is NOT paid by the school district. Karmadog is a taxpayer, parent, and community volunteer. Karmadog wishes that you, Steve and Co., would add your names to the volunteer and/or elected official list.

December 7, 2010 at 12:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Committee will recommend adding onto EMS

Dear Meth, Busc, Corbin, Sail, and Co...

Where are you guys? Why do you continue to sit behind your computers and complain about things?

Way back last spring the school dist put out a call for volunteers on the K-8 Study Committee. Did any of you march down to your neighborhood elementary buildings and say, "Hey, sign me up, this could be important work for the future of all Emporians." I'm guessing you did not since you would not be asking such questions and making such complaints on this site.

All of the information you are asking for is public. There are no secrets in this process. At anytime you could have attended a K-8 meeting. Under open meetings act, those meetings were open, so in fact, even if you missed signing up for the committee you could still have kept yourself informed. All board activity is in the newspaper and on the radio and on the USD253 website and I know you know how to use the internet to gather information. So, where are you?

Several weeks before the November school board meeting, the public was made aware that the board would be soliciting public feedback at the meeting. Were you there? Did you speak up and ask these questions? I can tell you the answer because I was there and NO ONE spoke up during the public comments time. Where were you?

One of you suggested that the board had a holier-than-thou attitude. I'd say that you guys are no better. Not willing to do the work to answer your own questions. Not willing to do the hard work of community service. Instead, waiting for some media outlet to give you the answers on a silver platter or worse, hearing it from a friend of a friend of a friend and taking it for truth.

Honestly, get out from infront of your computers and get involved. Your credibility is declining and your comments are an insult to the good men and women who volunteer in our community. Who step up to the plate to make the hard decisions. Who miss family board game night and little league games to keep this town afloat. Get off your couch and get involved!

December 7, 2010 at 9:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

County commission votes to approve demoliton of Quonset Huts

I like the rocks. I know quite a few people who know who William Allen White was and who don't know anything about Clint Bowyer. I think the Bowyer building will be great. I'm also looking forward to getting rid of those antiquated Lowther buildings and that antiquated Rec Center.

November 18, 2010 at 1:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )