The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings to ever one in Western Illinois and all readers of "The Quill".
Won't be long now and we will be in the month of March. Some of our biggest snowstorms have come dure'n this month.
The boys got a, "big laugh" at Sally Day argu'in fer rural address'n so the UPS driver or rural postal deliverer can deliver packages. Thank goodness after over 176 years of existence Henderson County will soon make it possible to deliver the mail ta ever one.
But, one of the boys pointed out that Sally sez, "The government, or even the internet already knows where you are". If'n ya don't believe her, she sez, "Look up any property on Google Earth". The boys went on ta question the need fer rural addressing if'n what she sez about Google Earth is true. Why not just give all emergency personnel, sheriff's department employees and bus drivers a cell phone that will, "Google Earth"? Wouldn't that be cheaper and less disruptive?
The county could begin with substitute bus drivers. Maybe simply any common flip-top phone would be sufficient. That a way the driver could call back to the school and find where the child lives. Or better yet, maybe he should be sure of where every child on his bus lives before he even leaves the school!
It is bothersome that any bus driver would leave a school not know'n where he's gonna deliver his passengers and that the school would hire someone who does not know the delivery point of all his passengers at all times. This seems, it was expressed, the height of irresponsibility both on the part of the school and the driver.
Would it be too complicated fer every bus driver ta have a map show'n the location of every child on his bus, since this now seems such a complicated job, all of a sudden!
Well, the boys sez, it is only taxpayers money and after 14 years, taxes have gone up enough now, that Henderson County can afford all the nonsense they wants. The boys wondered how many lives were lost, buildings burnt down, children left on buses, and mail undelivered in the last 14 years because no one had, "brightly colored sign-age' to display their address. Was data provided on these matters or were they in too big a hurry ta find out the facts?
The boys felt the depth of concern fer their county's welfare was evident, when its members don't even know where their chairman lives. That concern alone, it was felt, was reason enough ta force everyone in the county to stand the expense of what was described by a board member as, "a large expense". Who knows then, fer sure, maybe he is not even a legal resident! They fer sure don't know, by their own admission.
It was pointed out that rural addressing "is not mandated yet" but it will be according to a board members quote in the newspaper. The boys felt if'n it were ta be mandated, those do'n the mandate'n would provide funding and save Henderson County taxpayers the expense. "Fat chance of that," one of the boys said.
The boys wondered why the board did not think of check'n with Sally Day before contract'n with an outside company ta locate by GPS where ever one lives. She could then point them ta "Google Earth" and find the answers they was look'n fer. They could even provide her a fat taxpayer funded fee fer her wisdom!
As fer me, I listened ta the whole debate at a safe distance. It seemed things were too emotional and too theoretical fer anyone ta come up with good answers.
The one point that did come up, that seemed ta make sense, was in reference ta Richard Clifton's point that, "We were elected to make tough decisions. We need to go ahead with this as soon as possible."
The boys wondered if'n this rural address'n had been 14 years in the make'n, why did the subject not come up in the most recent election. Board members could've run on the platform of their support fer rural address'n and all of the expenses involved and all of the project total costs. No business would initiate a project such as this without listing the project cost. A thorough discussion could of been had as ta why this is a better alternative than "Google Earth". Dialogue would've been properly held and votes given by voter preference. The "tough" is not giving them a choice!
After 14 years in the make'n why was it so important ta, "go ahead with this rural addressing as soon as possible". Could it be, the boys wondered, that our county board took their lessons from our current president and are gonna shove this down our throats whether we want it or not. "Tough decisions" might be influenced if voters were given adequate time fer their input, either at the ballot box, such as any of the elections held the last 14 years, or perhaps with voter input ta directors that might influence the board members vote.
The boys wondered what made this such a "tough decision" that had to be decided so quickly. Was any data provided by Officer Seitz, emergency personnel, UPS, or postal service demonstrat'in the need. Was there a long list of bus drivers that "almost didn't find' the house of the children they signed on ta be responsible fer?
Perhaps, the boys felt, the decision was made on theory, such as the fictional conversation Sally Day made up to defend her cause. Why did she have to make up fiction? Why not give true stories that may have happened over the last 14 years in Henderson County?
Well, with those thoughts be'n expressed by the boys, I paid fer my coffee and bowed out ta go do chores. I personally was once a rural volunteer fireman and also an EMT, an ambulance driver, and help'n folk in need. Therefore, I simply listened as the boys ranted and raved, and smiled when it was appropriate and sipped on my coffee, when smile'n did not seem in order. Their thoughts and dialogue have now been expressed so that should satisfy them.
Beyond that, I have no opinions ta express on the matter, either pro or con. With cold weather, yet this winter friends in the nurse'n homes and hospitals ta visit, funerals ta attend, and neighbors ta help, I am not a gonna get me shorts bound up tight in matters such as this rural address'n. After all, it was said by our very own President Obama, "Elections have consequences"!
Have a good week, keep warm, check your furnace oil level, or keep an extra chunk of coal on hand, and remember church this weekend. Where ever ya is, whatever ya be a do'n "BE A GOOD ONE!"
Keep on Smile'n
Catch ya Later,
Barnyard Bruke