A graduation gripe
Today I'm on a rant...
I understand that Cuba school's started nearly a month late because of construction–that's acceptable.
What I can't understand is why the school is wanting to have graduation on Memorial Day weekend. Granted the weekend is actually a time set aside for us to remember those fallen in combat and veterans who have defended our freedoms.
The problem with that is that the majority of the American public or Cuba's public for that matter doesn't observe the whole veteran thing–not that I'm discounting it because I'm a military brat.
So the school in its infinite wisdom decides to have graduation on the Saturday of Memorial Day at 7 p.m of all times. I could understand maybe if it were earlier in the day, but not at 7 p.m. Most people want to be gone. Floating down the river, sitting around a campfire, tossing a lure in their favorite fishing hole, visiting relatives and getting away from home.
I've heard the argument that 'they' decided to have it at night because the gymnasium was so hot during the day. I can understand that, but hey newsflash....the school has a football stadium complete with bleachers and a public address system. Novel idea, huh?
I'd like to think I came up with that all by myself, but unfortunately I didn't. Schools have been doing that for years. As a matter of fact it wasn't that long ago that I walked across the stage and received a diploma–all outside.
I also recognize the importance of graduation, but I also recognize the importance of family time. Which could be doubled if the school would have re-evaluated the situation and maybe had graduation a week later or maybe even a week earlier, or hey maybe even on Friday night.
But now that I've got that off my chest, hopefully I'll survive and make it to graduation and provide everyone with great photos.
The city council meeting last night came and went and no matter what your opinion is, property owners will be required by city ordinance to have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in their home by July 1, 2008. I think this is a step in the right direction for the city. No matter what the enforceability issue is, the spirit of the ordinance is to protect lives and that is what is important.
Also newly elected alderman Harold Halbert voted no. Why? Well because he really didn't know too much about it and wanted to research it some more. He also said that property owners need to take some responsibility.
In my opinion, if Halbert had no clue as to what was going on, like he alluded to, maybe he should have abstained from voting. As to property owners taking responsibility, there are some people, what the general public calls "slum lords," that maybe need that extra push. I think however, most people are good people and would respond to this as a good idea whether they have them in their properties or not.
That's all for now.
Council meeting tonight!
While county employees were enjoying a day off for Harry Truman's birthday, everyone else was working this morning. Go figure, bureaucrats taking off for a deceased president's birthday who was not even from Crawford County, while state employees worked. Anyway enough on that rant.
Looking forward to tonight's council meeting. The agenda is pretty lengthy–a two-pager. Rumor has it Fox2 will be there tonight to follow up on the Putnam Ordinance. You can probably scoop them by watching the public access channel on Charter Cable (channel 97). Or you can watch the 9:00 news or even better, check back here and get all the information at cubafreepress.com.
The city is slated to have three public hearings violating the current nuisance ordinance and will later discuss a new nuisance ordinance that has been in the works for quite some time.
The highlight of the evening will most definitely be the Putnam Ordinance (Bill 1450).
Putnam Ordinance, industrial parks and baseball
Looking Forward
For those of you who saw Fox 2 News the other night, you found out some information regarding the city of Cuba that I've been reporting on for weeks now. It looks like Monday night will be an interesting night as Fox2 is set to show up at the Cuba City Council meeting–that's what Mayor Brad Bouse has told me anyway. John Gadson was in front of city hall reporting and has spoke with Linda Heflin, again something that we at the paper have already hashed over.
Monday night's meeting should be an interesting one as the second reading of the proposed Putnam Ordinance will happen. This time around there has been virtually no opposition and it had gone through the council unanimously until April 16's meeting when something or someone apparently got to Alderman Kevin Copling and he let loose on a rant declaring that the ordinance was not good for Cuba. We'll see if he sticks to his guns this time around.
Alderwoman Faye Howard seemed a bit wishy-washy on the issue citing enforceability–much like Copling– but it was her position that if it could help save someone's life it would be worth it.
It is still unbeknownst to me as to why freshman Alderman Harold Halbert voted 'no.' If he does the same thing this time around, I'll be sure to find out.
Another industrial park?
We received a bit of misinformation this past week that I've followed up on regarding the donation of 68 acres of land to the city for another industrial park.
Apparently what happened was that Jim Barnett, of Peoples Bank, was going to attempt to purchase the land at Ridgetop Farm in an auction and then would donate it to the city of Cuba for the use of an industrial park.
After talking to the mayor, I found out that he called each alderman individually to get a general consensus–not an official opinion. Rumor has it there was a 3-3 vote and Bouse made the decision. He told me that he told Barnett that this was the general consensus and that things could change come the city council meeting.
As it turns out the $285,000 that Barnett bid was the highest bid, but not enough to get the land–it sure would have been a nice tax write off though. I'm not sure that I would agree with the city taking the land for an industrial park. We already have two and the newest one only has one building.
Baseball season
Baseball leagues around the area have officially kicked off.
The Crawford Conductor's–the vintage baseball
team in the area–kicked off the season last weekend, splitting a double header with the St. Louis Unions. Vintage ball is a family friendly treat and the Conductors are the defending state champs. Get out and see them sometime. Talk to me I have their schedule if you're interested as I'm on the team. By the way, that's me in the photo to the left, playing catcher or what we vintage ball players call "the behind." Go figure.
So I was asked to coach a city league team, right. Last night was our first practice and I'm sorer than all get out. I'll tell you what those guys (11-14 year olds) are some fine ball players and I'm looking forward to helping them out on the diamond.
Labels: baseball, cuba, industrial park, putnam ordinance
