Our city is changing in many different ways. What was once a sleepy little town is now changing. The changes in attitude could be seen at the recent planning and zoning meeting addressing the proposed concrete batch plant at the intersection of Laming Road and County Road 5. It was obvious that the crowds of people do care about the way that we look to the metropolitan community. Pride can be seen in the VFW park, the two major investments by local lending institutions, the redevelopment of Fourth Street and recent new home subdivisions. Our new city park and the soccer fields, and walking paths along with the new sports stadium reflect pride in our community.

Pride of ownership can and should be promoted in our community. Each of the above-mentioned locations is a reflection of pride. There are certain locations in Tonganoxie that everyone has ignored for years. We have allowed them to set the “image” for Tonganoxie within the metropolitan community for the last 10 to 20 years. Anyone passing through our city, and stopping at the only stoplight in town, sees weeds 24 inches to 36 inches high that reflect on our city. When weeds, untagged vehicles, trash bags on front porches and other problems are ignored, Tonganoxie suffers. When it should be cleaned up but isn’t, Tonganoxie suffers.

Which “image” do you want? Weeds or a “Small community with lots of pride”?

Talk to your neighbors. Talk to the people that you go to church with. Talk to anyone and everyone that can help support the leadership in our community.

We need to remedy some of the problems, of what in other communities, would be seen as blight. We have let these “image problems” go on for too many years. Pride of ownership should be promoted. Let our city leadership know your feelings. With input and support from you, we can promote pride of ownership, pride in community. Tonganoxie is a great small-town community, wanting to stay that way with a lot of pride.

Larry Shepek,

Tonganoxie.

Plea for family court

To the editor:

As the holidays approach, everyone can think of at least one person who has been adversely affected by our present system of divorce and custody.

I am deeply concerned, and ashamed, of the way divorce and custody is done in our state.

If you had a sane judge, or a competent CASA worker, and you are not a woman fighting for custody in Doniphan County, count your blessings.

One attorney put it this way: “I have found that the most irrational person, or the one with the most money, usually wins.”

A friend put it this way: “Not even Satan wants this system any more.”

Moms, dads, aunts, uncles, grandparents: Write to your local officials, the governor, the Kansas Supreme Court, telling them you want a family court system adopted in Kansas a system in which only pro-family judges and attorneys can operate, who know family law.

To quote Edmond Burke: “All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

Sheryl W. McIntosh,

Atchison.

Hype it up

To the editor:

Like the two ladies who have written, I have been preaching the century and millennium mistake everyone is making. The year 2000 is the last year of the 20th century, and also the last year of the millennium. Celebrate all you want New Year’s Eve but know that next year will be the time to celebrate the arrival of the new century and millennium.

I called a TV station and told them their reporters were wrong but they like the hype and keep on saying it.

Thamar Barnett,

Jarbalo.

Make the holidays happy

To the editor:

In response to the article, “Home for the Holidays,” which ran in the Dec. 1 issue of The Mirror:

I remember the family getting together as being a lot of fun for the children and adults. I don’t remember anyone all stressed-out or walking around on eggshells and even afraid to talk to each other.

When families get together for the holidays, it is to talk, laugh and hug each other. To have food and drink with loved ones. That is what I remember.

There are lots of people who need to travel a long distance to get home to be with family and friends. I don’t believe they would travel this distance just to stress out. I hope that not a lot of people take this article to heart. To me, it is just some more left-wing doom and gloom people that want you to think we can’t get along without the help of a mental-health counselor or some kind of support group to take you by the hand and walk you through life.

I think the article was very depressing.

Be happy when you are with your families and friends, and enjoy the holidays.

Ron Bollet,

Tonganoxie.