Instead of our county business coordinator and county commission spending time and money on the airport, I think we should develop a list of other specific needs for our county that need to be addressed. So here are some of my ideas (mostly retail), some of which are already in the works:
A theater in Washington
Farm & ranch supply store for the county
Cafe for Linn (reminiscent of the Bulldog Inn/Summit)
Car wash for Washington
More bed and breakfasts in the county
Quilt shop
Mexican restaurant
Something to fill Mayberry's
Mayor of Oz museum and gift shop (such a waste that this isn't happening)
And a little more complicated:
A public lake south of Highway 36 (State lake is nice, but too inconvenient)
Nine more holes for the golf course and residential development
Greenlinton with awesome pool (as described by smart-alec Brian Shaw)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Theater poll
The problem with the poll vote feature included in this blog is that there is no opportunity to comment on the responses. So I'm wondering what people think of the concept of a theater in Washington.
At first, poll results showed most people were for the idea and would either attend shows occasionally or all the time. Lately, there's been quite a few "I'd go to a different theater" votes. I'm just curious why. Are these folks from Hanover and just don't want to have anything to do with Washington? Are they folks recruited by a different town's theater to try to discourage enthusiasm for a Washington theater. Or are they folks from Clifton area who could go to Concordia just as easily? I'm curious what people think and why they respond the way they do.
At first, poll results showed most people were for the idea and would either attend shows occasionally or all the time. Lately, there's been quite a few "I'd go to a different theater" votes. I'm just curious why. Are these folks from Hanover and just don't want to have anything to do with Washington? Are they folks recruited by a different town's theater to try to discourage enthusiasm for a Washington theater. Or are they folks from Clifton area who could go to Concordia just as easily? I'm curious what people think and why they respond the way they do.
Half color
The color part of the press at Marysville was down again this week (different problem from last week) so we got B section in full color before it broke down (I'm glad I ran the festival pictures in B instead of A) but the front section was in black and white. I apologize for not being in color. The press problems are out of my hands and I know the press guy at Marysville is working as hard as he can to get things running smoothly.
I had a really nice blue background for the Zachary Leiszler story, but had to go to a shade of gray after losing color.
Hopefully things will be back to normal by next week.
I had a really nice blue background for the Zachary Leiszler story, but had to go to a shade of gray after losing color.
Hopefully things will be back to normal by next week.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Vice presidential debate predicton
GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin wowed voters with her initial speech in Ohio when she was named McCain's running mate and was widely praised for her speech at the Republican National Convention, but since then, we've been hearing a lot of the same quotes as part of her stump speech.
The worry wart in me wondered if she could continue to bring in new material to bolster the GOP bump she provided.
After watching her speech at an Alaskan welcome back rally tonight, I'm confident she will be able to hold her own. I don't know if she uses speech notes or a teleprompter, but she looks like her speeches are all off the top of her head. She's very good.
She was also very good in a gubenatorial debate in in 2006 in a video I found on the web.
I'm starting to think she will go all Sarah Barracuda on Biden's butt!
The vice presidential debate is scheduled for Oct. 2 at Washington University in St. Louis.
The worry wart in me wondered if she could continue to bring in new material to bolster the GOP bump she provided.
After watching her speech at an Alaskan welcome back rally tonight, I'm confident she will be able to hold her own. I don't know if she uses speech notes or a teleprompter, but she looks like her speeches are all off the top of her head. She's very good.
She was also very good in a gubenatorial debate in in 2006 in a video I found on the web.
I'm starting to think she will go all Sarah Barracuda on Biden's butt!
The vice presidential debate is scheduled for Oct. 2 at Washington University in St. Louis.
Monday, September 8, 2008
"Hotshot" airport
I was open to the idea of the county commissioners helping an airplane mechanic establish a business out at the airport. Doing lease-purchase agreements on a new building or some version of business assistance is not uncommon for governmental entities. I figured this was a better idea than just spending a lot of money on an airport plan with no promise of any benefit from the improvements.
So needless to say, I was a little shocked today to hear that the commission is still listening to suggestions for airport development projects beyond just assisting a business. The plan that was proposed to the commission today would cost $3.6 million over 20 years and the county's share would be $1.8 million.
Say what?
This plan would include a terminal building, more hangars, a runway extension, the rerouting of the county road to the north, easement and land acquisitions (the plan shows a building restriction line connected to the back side of Ralph and Pat Holsch's house so I don't know that they would be able to continue to live there).
People have called me a dreamer in the past and that probably is a fair description of me, but even I can't fathom why this county would ever want to spend that kind of money on the airport. This is a facility that has almost no activity outside of a couple crop spraying operations. There are occasional touch and go activities, a few leisure landings and takeoffs and I suppose a few people show up to conduct some business. But seriously, I can't see any reason to go after the "hot shot" completed facility (as the consultant referred to it) that is being proposed.
This isn't a project like a swimming pool where almost anyone could use it. The general use of an airport would be by a very small, select group of people. (And don't let them tell you this would be used for medical emergencies - Lifestar lands at the hospitals.)
The commissioners have not committed to anything yet. As citizens of this county, you all need to get ahold of them and tell them to stop this ridiculousness now. Don't just talk about it over coffee at the local convenience store, call the commissioners or show up at a meeting and tell them they need to commit their resources to other efforts. Otherwise they will say nobody has talked to them about the subject.
By having county business development director Christy L'Ecuyer work on it, we are already spending money on the project. It's a waste. It is time to cease and desist.
So needless to say, I was a little shocked today to hear that the commission is still listening to suggestions for airport development projects beyond just assisting a business. The plan that was proposed to the commission today would cost $3.6 million over 20 years and the county's share would be $1.8 million.
Say what?
This plan would include a terminal building, more hangars, a runway extension, the rerouting of the county road to the north, easement and land acquisitions (the plan shows a building restriction line connected to the back side of Ralph and Pat Holsch's house so I don't know that they would be able to continue to live there).
People have called me a dreamer in the past and that probably is a fair description of me, but even I can't fathom why this county would ever want to spend that kind of money on the airport. This is a facility that has almost no activity outside of a couple crop spraying operations. There are occasional touch and go activities, a few leisure landings and takeoffs and I suppose a few people show up to conduct some business. But seriously, I can't see any reason to go after the "hot shot" completed facility (as the consultant referred to it) that is being proposed.
This isn't a project like a swimming pool where almost anyone could use it. The general use of an airport would be by a very small, select group of people. (And don't let them tell you this would be used for medical emergencies - Lifestar lands at the hospitals.)
The commissioners have not committed to anything yet. As citizens of this county, you all need to get ahold of them and tell them to stop this ridiculousness now. Don't just talk about it over coffee at the local convenience store, call the commissioners or show up at a meeting and tell them they need to commit their resources to other efforts. Otherwise they will say nobody has talked to them about the subject.
By having county business development director Christy L'Ecuyer work on it, we are already spending money on the project. It's a waste. It is time to cease and desist.
Homecoming football games
Just an FYI on area homecoming football games:
Sept. 19 - WCHS homecoming vs. Immaculata
Oct. 3 – Linn homecoming vs. Hope
Oct. 3 – Hanover homecoming vs. Blue Valley
Oct. 3 – Clifton-Clyde homecoming vs. Southern Cloud
Sept. 19 - WCHS homecoming vs. Immaculata
Oct. 3 – Linn homecoming vs. Hope
Oct. 3 – Hanover homecoming vs. Blue Valley
Oct. 3 – Clifton-Clyde homecoming vs. Southern Cloud
Game vs. meeting
Pretend you are a huge and fanatic K-State football fan... and they play Nebraska on Saturday. You can't make it to the game, but it is the featured game on ESPN and the Gameday crew is in town. K-State is predicted to win, but it should be a good game and you absolutely despise Nebraska. This is the game you look forward to every year and you wouldn't miss it for the world! But you find out when you look at your calendar that you have a meeting to go to that night. Do you skip the meeting or do you feel guilty and go?
Well, I feel really guilty, but I will not be covering the USD 108 school board meeting tonight. I am a huge Minnesota Vikings fan and they are playing tonight on Monday Night Football in their first game of the season against the hated Green Bay Packers. This is the game I look forward to every year and it is only better when it is the season opener and it is against Green Bay. I just feel bad that it landed on a night with a school board meeting. Sorry. I'm a bad newspaper guy, but I hope fanatic sports fans understand my dilemma.
Well, I feel really guilty, but I will not be covering the USD 108 school board meeting tonight. I am a huge Minnesota Vikings fan and they are playing tonight on Monday Night Football in their first game of the season against the hated Green Bay Packers. This is the game I look forward to every year and it is only better when it is the season opener and it is against Green Bay. I just feel bad that it landed on a night with a school board meeting. Sorry. I'm a bad newspaper guy, but I hope fanatic sports fans understand my dilemma.
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