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Tonight's agenda

Here is what is on the agenda for tonight's worksession:
Prairiefest 2010 requesting authorization to have a fully enclosed wine pavilion at Prairiefest for Paris Park.
Proclamations for National Law Enforcement week; National Food Drive day; and National Music Week.
Lease of land bank property at 802 South F Street
Ordinance revising solicitor and peddler license requirements.
Consider merging the planning commission and zoning appeals commissions.
Authorizing agreement between FAA and Strother Field
Resolution declaring properties as blighted areas.
Donation of two pieces of property from AC Industries

Thursday morning

Greetings everyone.
I posted a reminder of the city commission worksession.
Also on the site, I posted a story about Cowley naming its male and female athletes of the year and their banquet. It was mentioned that Cowley's athletic department ranks first in the nation in overall athletics, based on performance of all its teams. That is a pretty amazing feat.
Still the Cowley athletic teams do not get that much support. Cowley athletics is something Arkansas City could be proud of.

Live city commission

Just a reminder of tonights city commission meeting. Hopefully it will work. If not, Ill go ahead and type it all in, and post it after the meeting.

Immigration reduces crime: Study shows

Bet this story will get you going.
Study on the cultural impact of immigration.

Midweek update

Ive been away from the blog for a few days, but it looks like the conversations have gone on just fine without me.
I had a cold, which is a fine excuse for not doing much for a few days. One bad thing about allergies is that you really sometimes have a hard time knowing whether it is a cold or just more allergies. I was also busy with a freelance project. The freelancing is actually going very well these days, and taking more of my time.
I am trying to maintain things here as much as I can.
City Commission worksession is Thursday, 5:30 p.m., I will try to do a live blog. I think I have it figured out, but as you know, sometimes it doesnt work. Please check it out and see if it is on.
I would like to have more public input into the site. Write and article and send it to me.

On the Arizona immigration law. I have mixed feelings. I understand the sentiment, and the fact that the federal government has done nothing to help the states at all. But at the same time, it looks like there could be a lot of abuse with this law as it is. But if it wakes up the feds and helps us develop a workable national policy, then it will have been a good thing. We need to make legal immigration easier, and tighten up on illegal immigration.

There is also a story floating around where a group of evangelical explorers claim they have found Noahs Ark on Mt. Ararat in Turkey. They have found a very old wooden structure way up in the mountains, at something crazy like 12,000 feet. They claim carbon dating puts it at 4,800 years old.
I dont mind saying I have my doubts. I do beleive in the story of the Ark as an actual event, but I really dont think it will ever be found. Noah and his family would surely have taken it apart and used the wood as they started a new civilization.
It is possible I suppose, but ...
I am not among the young-earth thinkers. I believe the earth is much older, and even the Ark is much older than what is claimed. I dont know how old, but it wouldnt surprise me if the Ark and Noah happened well over 20,000 years ago.
Regardless, we are talking a very long time ago, and I really doubt anything could have survived that long. Whether it turns out to be the real thing or not, does not affect my faith.

Outdoors

Just posted the latest outdoors column on the webstie.
Ive been feeling pretty lousy this. What i thought was allergies turned into a cold.
That is why ive not been posting as much.
No spider bites yet.

Eight wonders of Kansas History

Eight wonders of Kansas History

The Arkansas City Landrush Museum is on the list of finalists. Go there to vote. It would also help if you would subscribe to the blog this takes you to and leave a comment there. Its free to subscribe.

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City Commission

Below, in a previous post, is the live blog from the city commission. I was not sure it would work, so i did not promote it. Didnt want to let anyone down. But a few people showed up anyway on the blog and there were some comments.
Anyways, Patrick McDonald was chosen as Mayor, and Jay Warren was chosen Vice Mayor.
It was only mildly surprising, as on Thursday at the worksession the matter was left unsettled.
Traditionally the person with the second highest vote total is named mayor in the off year - when there is no election, after the highest vote getter has served one year as mayor. Jean Snell had proposed that the tradition be broken, and that Warren stay on another year.
At the meeting Thursday, neither McDonald nor Warren would say whether they wanted the position or not, but both said they would serve at the commission's desire.
Snell said at Tuesdays meeting he had some discussions among members - though he said he only did one at a time - which would be legal - and they apparently resolved the matter.
At the meeting, Warren said the tradition has worked and there was no need to change the tradition, so he nominated McDonald. Warren was then named mayor.
McDonald praised the job Warren had done during his year as mayor.
Commissioners have discussed changing the way things are done in this regard, and it could still happen.
In the last two elections, the high vote getter was a newcomer to the commission, and that meant the person was thrust into the mayor's role without any experience. Some commissioners have felt it would be better for anyone to wait a year before becoming mayor.
You may read the entire account of the meeting in the live blog that is below.

homeless employed

Here is an interesting story about North Dakota, where there is low employment but nowhere for them to live. The oil fields are booming apparently.

city commission live

National Day of Prayer

A federal judge ruled last week that the national day of prayer is unconstitutional. It really has not gotten that much media attention which is interesting in itself.
I have real mixed feelings about this. Of course i dont agree with the judge, but at the same time, why does it matter if the government sets a said a day of prayer or not. Its sort of an unofficial holiday. No one gets the day off.
Two points.
1. In the ruling the judge notes that the Freedom From Religion group - who brought the suit - felt left out and had their feelings hurt ( I kid you not) and she agreed that they were excluded. So that means that it doesn't matter that millions of religious people have their feelings hurt. I really think this will be reversed because of the silly logic usedl.
2. Obama administration opposes the ruling and plans to appeal. He will still sign the proclamation declaring the day as usaul. The emails you have received saying obama cancelled the day are lies.
So, how will conservatives twist this into another Obama evil act?


Here are several liniks for your reading pleasure
First is the ruling itself

Snopes on Obama and the day

National Day of Prayer website

Here are some more general reactions
Linda Seger
CBS News
another one

State representatives

Cowley County's state representatives talked taxes and budget issues Saturday morning at a forum held at the Brown Center in Arkansas
City.
The state is facing about a $70 million shortfall this year, and about a $500 million shortfall over the next two years.
The economy has still not recovered, and there is not any easy way out, they said.
The idea of a one-percent sales tax is being talked about. Rep. Kasha Kelley and Sen. Steve Abrams oppose the idea. Rep. Ed Trimmer did not specifically come out in
favor of it, but he said he does see a need for "revenue enhancements."
All three local representatives support the idea of the state selling off some of its assets to raise money. The state owns several buildings - some of which are empty - and it owns a lot of property that could be sold.
One problem is that there is no comprehensive list of what property the state owns. Trimmer said that list should be available this summer.
There were not a lot of people there, maybe 25. A few people from social services - such as mental health - were there to express concern about budget cuts.

Go to the web site, www.arkcityrevived.com, for a complete report on the meeting. You may read the story and then notes from the event.

Interesting article, paranoia

Here is an article from The National Review about politics, paranoia and short memories.

Liberals may want to act like Tea Partiers have brought a new kind of crazy into American politics, but according to the National Review's Rich Lowry, anyone who thinks so has a pretty short memory. Wasn't it just a few years ago that liberals were wringing their hands over the decline of civil liberties under the Bush administration? Didn't the Patriot Act inspire a great deal of the-end-is-nigh rhetoric from the left?

To be mayor, or not to be

It was like taking the last piece of pie. Everyone wants it, but no one wants to be the one to take it, even when others say its ok to do so.
Such was the case at the City Commission worksession Thursday night in Arkansas City.
The mayor is sort of a figure head in Arkansas City. Voters choose the five commissioners, and the commissioners choose one of their own to be mayor, whose main job is to conduct the meetings. There is some power there though, as a representative of the city and the "face" of the city and the commission.
There is no law regarding how this is done, but tradition plays a major part.
Traditionally, the person with the most votes during an election is picked to be mayor, and the one with the second highest votes is mayor the next year.
This has meant that someone with no experience at all on the commission can come in and be mayor immediately. Such is the case currently with Jay Warren, and Dotty Smith was major when she got elected.

It is time to select another mayor, and Patrick McDonald is in line to be selected. Commissioner Jean Snell recommended that they break with tradition and allow Warren to continue another year as Mayor. He said there are a lot of programs going on, and he would like to see the commission have continuity on those programs.
He also noted that McDonald is busy as a businessman, and Warren has more time to take care of various things with the city.
The other commissioners asked both Warren and McDonald what they wanted, and that is where neither one wanted to take that last piece of pie.

Warren said he has time to give to the office, and is willing to continue. McDonald said he was willing to go along with whatever the commission wanted. He said he liked the idea of tradition, and he feels that tradition is what people want. He feels that the voters spoke in the election, by implication at least, and that he would like to see the voter's wishes met.
Smith asked for one of them to say he wanted the position. Neither did.
Mell Kuhn said he understood both sides, and he too, wanted either Warren of McDonald to say what they wanted.
Usually issues are decided at the worksession - though no vote is taken. Usually the vote on Tuesday is what was agreed on at the previous work session. No agreement was reached, so they will vote on the matter next Tuesday.

Smith brought up the point that breaking tradition is good at times, and that it might be a good time to look at some things like how the mayor is chosen.
She has said in the past that it might be good for a person to serve on the commission for a year before becoming mayor.
The commission can change how it is done. What is currently done is based on tradition and not on law.

What do you think?
Should the commission change how things are done?
Please vote in the poll on this blog.

City Commission worksession

Had some technical difficulties with the live blog.
The notes from the meeting are posted on the website.
www.arkcityrevived.com

Cop notes

Cop notes are up to date and posted.
Just a reminder, the web site now has Winfield and Cowley County Sheriff notes as well as Arkansas City.

Cowley's Spencer throws perfect game

Spencer tosses perfect game as Cowley posts shutout victories
By Rama Peroo
Showing why she has signed to pitch at the University of Kansas next season, Cowley College sophomore Ashley Spencer gave a dominant performance on the mound on Tuesday by tossing a perfect game in a 6-0 win over Independence.
Spencer gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about as she struck out 13 of the 21 batters she faced.
“She was in control all the way,” Cowley head coach Ed Hargrove said. “It was just a dominating performance.”
After tossing seven shutouts as a freshman, Spencer had thrown only two complete game shutouts this season prior to Tuesday. However, she demonstrated her dominance on the mound from the outset by striking out the first two batters she faced, and capped the perfect game by striking out Ashton Bruce to end the game. Spencer is now 21-5 and lowered her earned run average to 1.73.
“Going into tomorrow’s doubleheader with Johnson County it was important that Ashley have that kind of outing,” Hargrove said.
The only time Independence threatened to get a hit was when Megan McCall sent a one-hopper into the hole between shortstop and third base with one out in the seventh inning. However, Lady Tiger shortstop Alysha Poteat made a great stop of the ball and threw to first to beat McCall by a step.
“If it were any other shortstop other than Alysha (Poteat) that ball is probably a hit,” Hargrove said.
Sophomore outfielder Taylor Cantillon provided Spencer with all the run support she would need by going 3-for-3 with two doubles, a triple, and three runs scored.
“Taylor has been hitting the ball really well and is feeling comfortable at the plate,” Hargrove said.
Cantillon is now tied for second on the team with a .368 batting average.
In game two, Cowley got a three-run triple from Alysha Poteat in the bottom of the third inning and took control of the game with four more runs in the fourth inning.
Spencer doubled leading off the fourth, advanced to third on a single by Alyssa Allison, and came around to score on a single by freshman catcher Charlotte Myrtle. After Myrtle stole second, freshman Ali Unrein came through with a two-run double to make the score 6-0. Unrein would advance to third on an error and put a cap on the four-run inning by scoring on Bri Akers’ sacrifice fly.
Freshman Starr McLeod went the first four innings on the mound and allowed just two hits and no runs. Fellow freshman Cassie Schlesener pitched the final two innings and surrendered just one hit.
Hargrove was pleased to see his freshmen pitchers step up when called upon.
“Those two have grown up a lot over the last two to three weeks,” Hargrove said.
Cowley would finish off game two in the bottom of the sixth inning. Myrtle walked leading off the sixth, advanced to second on a walk by Unrein, and scored the final run of the game on a single by Akers.
After going 4-for-4 in the doubleheader, Akers is now batting a team-leading .461 on the season.
The Lady Tigers, which are 26-10 overall and 17-3 in the Jayhawk East, remain three games behind conference leading Johnson County (18-0) in the loss column. Cowley will attempt to make the conference race a little more interesting when they play a doubleheader at Johnson County Thursday at 2 p.m.
“If we win two games tomorrow then we will still have a chance,” Hargrove said. “We are going up there with the intent of putting some pressure on them in the conference race.”

tea party

This is disturbing to me. Tea party people - and lawmakers - in Oklahoma want to start a new militia to protect themselves from the federal government.
Here is the story from AP

I guess democracy isnt working out to well for them. They didnt like the results of the last election, so now they want to start up an army to get their way.
The majority did elect the current administration.
I think the tea party is essentially a good idea, but when they go to starting up militias - especially with lawmakers helping them - that is reason for concern.
I dont know how they can say the will of the people is being subverted when we had elections and the majority spoke.

Here is another story about how tea party opponents are trying to disrupt the party. Just radicals on the other side.

It is interesting that they - the tea partiers - are talking about states rights. That was the issue in the civil war. Slavery was part of it, but the real deal was states rights.
I really dont like what im seeing out of the radical right at this point in time.

Police warn about sick raccoons

Press Release: Health Issue concerning the City’s Raccoon population



The Arkansas City Police Department Animal Control Unit would like to alert the citizens of Arkansas City of a potential health problem with the area’s raccoon population. ACO Officers have picked up several raccoons that have been obviously ill; acting very listless, having difficulty walking, drooling, pale almost white gums, and some may have been feverish. The Police department ACO Unit wants citizens to be aware of the potential health issue with these wild animals and alert citizens coming into contact with raccoons NOT to have any interaction with these animals, touch them, or attempt to trap them. Make sure household pets have proper immunizations including the DHLPP. Consult your veterinarian for more information.

The raccoons in question have not shown any aggression toward humans. However, they are wild animals and if they don’t run from you they may be sick. Our observations have been passed on to local veterinarians and they suggested that we alert residents so pets can be properly immunized to avoid spreading any type of disease.

If anyone sees a raccoon acting strange and sick, call 620-441-4448 and leave a message for Animal Control to come and dispose of the animal. If after hours, call 620-441-4444 and the Dispatcher will contact someone to dispose of the animal. The Arkansas City Police Department’s Animal control Unit thanks the citizens of Arkansas City for their cooperation helping keep our city’s pets healthy and safe.

Burning fields

People were burning fields north of town yesterday afternoon.
It was quiet a spectacle to see. There are a few more pictures on the site.
I was watching from a high bluff, so had a really cool viewpoint. I was amazed at how fast the fire spread through a field. I can see how they could get out of control easily. I did not hear of any out of control.
This was quiet a culture shock when I moved to Kansas. I had never heard of burning off fields. When I first saw it, I thought it was an act of terrorism or at least criminal activity.

Tulips

I posted a travel piece about Bartlet Arboretum, in Belle Plain, on my gravel blog.
You may see it here, along with some pictures.

It was a nice event on Saturday, and it continues today. The arboretum isnt open all the time, so check their web site.

End of the world?

Here is a comment - question posted a couple days ago. Below that are my comments.
(We are still on moderated status for the moment. May not last all that long.)

Here's an off topic subject!
There are rumblings amoung various people and groups that 2012 has a significant place in history! Some are prediciting specific events and that there are radical groups that see it a critical point in which they must proceed with their agenda!
I think there is some sense amoung the general population that there are people in the World today that see their mission is to disrupt the General well being and prevent "PEACE"!
Maybe to stop a ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT?
Maybe to bring back their Deity?

Are we accelrating and/or racing to some sort of Climax?
>>>

The Mayan calendar ends in 2012, with some veiled prophecies of end times destruction. The Mayans were great astronomers. They understood astronomy and math at a higher level than the europeans did. Unfortunately most of their writings were destroyed, and the spanish invaders didnt bother to learn to read what was written.
So we dont really have any context. We have no way of knowing what it meant to the people at the time. This would have been from about 300 - 500 a.d. I guess?
(So many interesting things about the Maya. Sometime after 500, before 900, they all simply abandoned their cities and they went back to stone age type living. No one knows why, but many theories abound.)
One weird thing is that the Maya didn't have the concept of zero, or they had no symbol for it. So maybe they just got tired and stopped on their calendar.
Modern mayans dont really think its any big deal. Its just a few people trying to make it into some big deal, and those people are not mayans.
I would say if current day mayans were heading for the hills, then, maybe we would have something to worry about.
There is just so much not known about the maya. Its real easy to manipulate anything concerning them. There is a stone carving at a temple in Tulum, Mexico. looks like someone in a spaceship, ive seen it, and it does look like that, but ... could also be someone in a coffin. or just decorations... but books have been written about the space flying mayans.

but END TIMES is always a big deal.
Every century there have been people who were absolutely sure that the end would happen at their time. Yea, they knew others had been wrong before them, but they were so sure the bible was telling them exactly about their own culture.
And that is true today.
Now you know I love the bible. I believe it contains the words of God. I believe every word is true. But I believe it means ONLY what it says in its context.
People read the book of revelation - and Daniel too - which has a lot of imagery of end times calamity. But you need to realize, there was a lot of end times writing at that time. What did the original writer intend - and how did people perceive it at the time? That is the question.
There are 4-5 major theories on Revelation, and more minor ones, but most fit into those 4-5. Most scholars try to fit into one of those. Which kinda makes sense.
But the thing is, you have to do some heavy duty theorizing and reading into the text to get any of their theories to work.

A plain reading of revelation, does not say anything about any specific time. It says these things "will soon come to pass."
well, that was 50-60 a.d., Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 a.d. ... could have been that revelation was about that?

The thing is, whenever there are hard economic times, or uncertainty, the end times thing gets going. The 1840s through about 1870 was big. and many new denominatinos and religions got started then. the 1920s was another era. the 60s. and now ... there were other minor ones as well.

There is money to be made off fear. Theres power to be gained in tumultuous times.
Im sure some may think they are hastening the end. but they are just gaining power for whoever it may be.
But the bible clearly says, NO ONE. not even Jesus, knows when the end will be. ONLY God knows. Those dates are set and they cannot be changed. Whether that's this afternoon or a million years from now ...

If the economy turns around, you will hear less about end times calamity.

moderation

Ok, someone is being ridiculous.
i am putting the blog on moderation for the time being.
You may think you are cute, but you are spoiling things for everyone that is trying to participate in the blog.
You may post as usual, ill just have to approve them before they are posted.
Which should I do, not allow anonymous posts or put all posts on moderated status?

deleted post and comments

I deleted the post about the fire chief. Comments were too personal, and someone figured out that i cant delete the "name" of the person, so they put their comment in the name section.
It is not censorship. You do not have a "right" to post here. You are allowed to post here.
Some of the same people who moan about entitlements for the poor are the same people who feel entitled to post nastiness here anonymously.
Does anyone else see any hypocrisy there?
I am just not going to be a part of assassinating someones character, especially when the person doing the assassinating is too chicken s*** to stand behind their words. People have said nasty stuff about me on here too, and of course, dont have the guts to put their name on it or say it to my face.
I do allow anonymous posts, but i do not respect them or take them very seriously.
I am getting pretty tired of people being nasty and being anonymous.
If you dont like it, dont read it, or start your own blog.
they are free to start.
Ok, now that ive ticked everyone off, im going back to work.

Hunting and fishing

The latest hunting and fishing column is posted on the site. Our writer tells about his latest adventure, this one in Jamaica.
Check out his column here

City Commission

live blog city commission

7 p.m. today, city commission live blog
just a reminder

test

Good morning

Ill have the cop notes posted in a little while.
I was busy with a freelance project last week, and then I was involved with Easter.
I will have a live blog at city commission this Tuesday.
Some interesting things are happening electronically. I should continue to be a lot more mobile and will be able to do more live blogs.
I have become involved in some freelance work, so I dont have as much time to hang out on here and write stuff. I hope to still get something up every day.
The political battles still rage. That debate is so pointless. Right versus left. To me, the reality is, neither left nor right, is "right."
Both are interpretations of reality, but not reality itself.
Both sides want control.
Neither side is all that interested in progress.
So I think we should take a look at both sides and reject them both.

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