Our country, "Our County" is just coming out of one of the worst economical times in recent history and I read in the Chieftain yesterday that a project is being considered to build a bike path from Joseph to the head of Wallowa Lake...5 miles of path could cost anywhere from $21,000,000.00 to $36,000,000.00....Middle of the road estimate is $28,000,000.00...Yes that is MILLIONS...It was calmly reported in the paper like it was mere pennies, even stating that it might be more feasible to do it one mile a year, rather than all at one time...Is anyone else shaking their head over the blatant stupidity of how to spend ones money?..After all, you can call this grant money, or state money or special funds money but when it comes down to it, it is TAXPAYER MONEY...
"Our County" has been hard hit over the years, starting with the loss of the timber industry in the 80's/90's resulting in less money for schools and roads, counties and cities...Belt tightening in all areas...Enterprise lost its outdoor swimming pool, when it was in such a state of disrepair that it was bulldozed under...The Enterprise City Cemetery, once a beautiful spot, has now become a haven and playground for rodents, since the city can no longer afford to irrigate...Joseph, home of the Main street beautification project is struggling to keep enough volunteers to maintain that beauty...Joseph City streets are more potholes than blacktop as the city fathers try to come up with answers.
Our County schools all have their own fundraisers so children of this county can have Art and Music along with other programs that were dropped from the curriculum when the timber industry went out...Josephs school are now having a fund raiser for money to put new playground equipment in after moving the grade school onto the high school campus.
When attending my water therapy class at a small motel pool in Enterprise (the only indoor pool in Wallowa County) I see preschool kids flocking to this pool for lessons...75 kids are signed up for the latest sessions where a dedicated volunteer and her helpers take small groups and teach them how to swim...Where will these kids practice their new skills?...In Wallowa Lake of course...In years to come for two months out of the year they can watch the bikers riding along the lake on their million dollar bike path, as they freeze their little butts off in the icy waters, because no one could come up with the money to build an Aquatic Center...A facility that could be used daily, summer and winter by every citizen of this county!..Gotta go take a blood pressure pill....Hugs To All....OWAV:)
You tell 'm, Della!
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