Dear editor,
In regards to the Sept. 3 edition of The Iola Register, what “information” would be so important to justify $10,000 for a digital sign at City Hall in Moran? Instead, why not spend that money to take stray cats and dogs to ACARF where they could be adopted rather than killed after three days.
I would further ask the Council to please, please pass an ordinance to ban the tethering of dogs in the city. Those of us who drive past and/or live near some of these poor suffering beings will thank you on their behalf.
In an unrelated subject, I have a comment about the Iola school bond issue. I have no personal stake in the outcome other than sales tax for shopping and services. However, I read with interest the statement from an audience member in the recently held forum referencing the 1951 Bakersfield, Calif., White Wolf Fault earthquake.
I’m paraphrasing her statement that the schools were not plowed down and that the parts that fell were built new next to the old parts and they’re “still running today.”
I lived there during the earthquake. My neighborhood sustained severe damage and many of my relatives lost homes including the death of a cousin in the rubble.
My school was also affected. So began two years of taking buses to an undamaged school and sharing classes while repairs were made to my school.
In 1953 we were allowed back. The extensive damage in the part that did not “fall down” was repaired but never as good as before the quakes. The new sections were visually pleasing but shoddy and inefficient. It wasn’t long before bungalows — as they were called — appeared on the playground.
These were wooden shacks from decommissioned World War II military bases. Soon I was moved from my rebuilt classroom to one of these. The bungalows mean no room for tetherball, kickball, volleyball, basketball and baseball, which us older kids still enjoyed at recess back then.
A section of city park across the street was cordoned off with tall chain link fencing for our recess and PE use. Due to old growth huge trees, we now stood around in perpetual shade for our recess.
In spite of parents’ complaints, more and more of the school budget went toward building maintenance. I went from an eager “A” student to a sullen and failing one. So what was the problem? It wasn’t the earthquake nor the teachers. There were very good ones who worked hard to try and overcome the mounting adversities in trying to teach.
The classrooms were too hot or too cold. I had constant allergies and headaches from water leaks and standing moisture. Hallways in the new and old sections became unsafe and we had to go outside and around to get to classes.
My beloved art classes were eliminated. I was in the band and the funds dried up to transport us to events. The music teacher was cut down to part time. They gym became unusable. The problems never seemed to end.
We entered high school lacking academically. Quite a few friends and family just “dropped out.” It was a nightmare and I now hated school.
The last time I visited the old neighborhood was in 1978. It had been less than 25 years since the repairs and new construction of the school. It was still in operation but most had already been replaced. So much for my old Bakersfield school buildings “still running today.”
I’m a great-grandmother on a small fixed income and I would vote “YES” if I lived in Iola.
Elle R. Dominquez
Moran, Kan.
Letter to the editor — September 9, 2014
