You may or may not have noticed that Cathy and I love history. To us, it is fascinating to discover the events and patterns that shaped the past to bring us to where we are today.
Last week, Cathy and I were in Texas to see the solar eclipse. While we were there, we visited the School Book Depository where Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots to assassinate President John F. Kennedy.
We were children when Kennedy was shot, but we remember where we were and what we were doing at the time. The assassination, Oswald’s capture, Oswald’s murder, and Kennedy’s funeral saturated the airwaves for four days. It was a little strange to recognize the rather plain drab book depository building from a distance just from old images.
Then to be on the 6th floor in the corner where the shots were fired really brought the event home. It is hard to describe the feeling that came over me while standing there. It was a mix of sadness, reverence, and oddly, peace.
Reflecting on the experience afterward, I realized once again how it is so much easier to tear down than it is to build and create. Kennedy spent his life working to be a servant to his country and asking all of us to also serve to make the nation and the world a better place. Oswald, in a matter of seconds destroyed not only Kennedy, but much of the vision he had for the country. It shattered the innocence of the idea that a President could physically mix with the public he served and be safe. It is impossible to know the total destructive impact this single act had on the world.
There are a number of lessons that can be learned from this event in history. One of my main take aways is that when people are trying to build, create, and improve they deserve encouragement and support. It is so easy to criticize and tear down especially with today’s social media. Fear of criticism may stop some from pursuing a new idea. Yeah, sometimes helpful suggestions are appropriate, but for those that are doing, we need to let them know they are appreciated and provide encouragement.
Well, on to City business.
Please help me in congratulating Mike Shepherd from the Water Department and Sjon Spens from the Wastewater Department. Mike and Sjon were both honored by the Idaho Rural Water Association this year. Mike as the Water Operator of the Year. Sjon was the Rookie of the Year. In addition, the Weiser Water Plant was named as the Water Treatment Plant Operation of the Year.
You have excellent people working for you in the City of Weiser.
On another note, this morning (Monday), Mike Campbell, the Public Works Director, let me know that the City was awarded a $120,000 grant for a city-wide traffic study. This will identify traffic patterns, help prioritize maintenance, quality of the roads, provide an inventory of street signs, and even the reflectivity of the signs. There will be more about this later.
Also, you may have noticed that E. Park Street between E. 6th Street and E. 7th Streets is closed. A water main which crosses E. Park Street has broken and needs repairs. The only way to make the repairs is to close the street while your award-winning Water Department digs down to expose the pipe and make the repairs. So, please be patient and obey the traffic pattern signs while the needed repairs are being made.
There is more news coming about our parks, but I will let the Idaho Blue Cross Foundation lead with that story.
Well, that’s it for this week. And yes, the sky was cloudy for the eclipse. I should have known that nothing could be better than Weiser’s presentation seven years ago. Weiser really is a great place to live, work, and play!
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