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7 comments
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November 2, 2009 at 9:46 am
Patti Frank
Your film will have important things to say, and I’m glad you’re covering this topic. The trailer is dynamic. I’d love to know when your film’s available for viewing and wish you the very best.
I’m working on a Web zine that supports small towns. Small towns are the heart of America.
I grew up in a small town of 13,000 in Pennsylvania, went to a small town college in Kalamazoo Michigan, then moved to the Big City (San Francisco). About five years ago, my husband and I returned to a small town of 5,000 in North Carolina.
I’ve never been happier. For me, it’s all about community, connections, and caring. That’s harder to find in large cities. But I sure found this caring community in my little town. And an amazing amount of creativity and lively minds.
Great good luck on your venture. Kansas is a pretty place filled with friendly folks. I’ve always loved the gorgeous sky and clouds of Kansas…the blueness of the sky and the shape-shifting of the clouds. Breath-taking.
Patti Frank
November 2, 2009 at 10:59 am
Wynn Ponder
Thanks for the thoughts and comments, Patti. Glad you’re enjoying your own version of small town, USA.
February 27, 2010 at 6:15 am
Lynn Norris
Patti can sure link to our website. We need supporters to keep small town America alive. We lived in North Carolina where she mentions – us in Goldsboro, NC. It was great there. We are enjoying our tiny town in KS since moving back – Dexter, KS America.
IMG’s project is unbelievable. Their staff are professional & their equipment is awesome. After several years of building a library (Lighthouse Library) for our town, it was always amazing to run across others who supported those who live in small spaces with big dreams. Thanks so much! Lynn Pettigrew-Norris
July 28, 2010 at 11:21 am
mike
The problem with Small towns is without sustainable employment you cannot live in them. If there are any jobs in a small town available for someone it probably pays minimum wage.
The larger cities offer a varied set of employment opportunities and things for a young person to do such as museums,libraries,movie theaters,night clubs,etc… something for everybody.
July 28, 2010 at 11:51 am
mike
I want to add on another not the the Meth issue that Small towns are suffering, horrible and it seems to stem out of the effects of sheer bordom and probably depression amongst the young living in a place with lack of things to do/social interaction.
I would rather raise a Family in Manhattan than Small Town USA, which means a much more well rounded child with exposure to different cultures and ideas.
July 28, 2010 at 2:31 pm
tiffanysowa70
Mike, it is obvious from your comments that you have never in your life lived in a small town.
I gladly moved to a population of 850 from Denver, and I can assure you there are far more problems with raising children in a large town than a small one. For instance, in Denver, three times in one school year I received a note home from my son’s school that a child had been attempted to be abducted while walking home from school. Upsetting, to say the least. This is hardly a problem in a small town where everyone knows everyone. We have museums, a fabulous lake for fishing, boating, skiing, etc., movies, restaurants, sports, libraries…heck, we even have cable TV and internet.
I have not seen any more of a drug problem among the residents here than proportionally anywhere else in the nation. The problems associated with drugs here are the thieves that come from OUT OF TOWN to steal anhydrous ammonia tanks from our farmers and ranchers who use these chemicals for a far more valid purpose. The kids here work from the time they are old enough to drive, help mom and dad on the farm or ranch at an even younger age, and are some of the most responsible and respectful young people that I know. I challenge you to show me a drug problem among the young people of my town. I’m almost offended by your comment.
And on the job note, my husband and I brought our employment with us when we moved. Our jobs did not exist here, but that didn’t stop us from wanting the small town lifestyle and figuring a way to bring our careers with us. Since moving here, our careers have employed others and enabled others to have jobs…jobs that did not exist before we moved here. No, not minimum wage jobs – skilled jobs to intelligent, talented people. How many people in Manhattan can say they are self-employed? Yet I would wager that probably more than 75% of the people in my county are self-employed…small business owners, farmers, ranchers…and the remaining 25% are mostly healthcare providers or educators. They all provide a service or a product that is VITAL not only to our small town but also to thousands of other people around the nation.
Living in Denver, my (older) step-son loved sports and always tried out for basketball, but could never make the team when trying out against 250 other kids for maybe 15-20 spots on the team. Here, my kids can actually PLAY on any sports team they want in their school – football, basketball, track, tennis, volleyball, golf, baseball…they get the experience of being part of a team, the exercise and the athletecism. That never would have happened in a big town unless they were the next Peyton Manning. They get core education courses as well as vocal music, art, band, foreign language, drama, debate, photography, etc. I believe my children are FAR more well-rounded than any big city kid.
I work in higher education, and it is my experience that the small town kids that come to our college are extremely well-prepared for higher ed. They’ve been well educated, their transcripts, awards, and accolades are the best, and they are well-socialized and respectful.
In fact, now that I think about it, you’re probably right Mike. Stay where you are. There’s nothing to do here. I probably just wrote this whole thing out of sheer boredom. Good grief, I even wear my pants up around my waist where they belong. I’d better go cook up some more meth and turn on another episode of Hee Haw…
July 28, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Carolyn Popp
Mike,
I respect your comments and your opinion, however, I have a much different opinion of small towns in Kansas.
Meth in small towns is not due to boredom anymore than meth in cities are due to boredom. Meth is in every town, large or small! Let’s talk about crime. We have very little crime in small towns. Turn on your TV and watch the evening news and you will see tons and tons of crime in the city. Now, think about all the crime not covered by the news, probably even more. I wonder if this is due to that thing you called ‘boredom’?
Small towns are the safest place to raise your children. I’m not afraid of predators, nor the city traffic for children to ride their bikes, walk down the street to a friends, etc. I know my neighbors, all my neighbors, in fact probably everyone in town. Can you say the same?
If my car breaks down, (or my teenage daughters’ car) I am not afraid to flag down someone for help. However, that isn’t usually necessary because people in small towns know who you are and stop to help you without you even asking. Now I ask you this, would you recommend your wife or daughter do that in the city?
In small towns, everyone comes together in times of need, crisis, and/or tragedy like nowhere else on earth. If you have a car accident, will your neighbors from miles around come do your farm work for a month while you are in the hospital, or do your job in your absence or see that your family is cared for? I’m not talking your family, I’m talking your friends and neighbors, even people you may hardly know. I have seen it time and time again, small towns have the most caring people around. Why? I don’t think it’s because they are nicer than people in the city, I’m sure all the city people are nice too. But in a small town, you have a bond with everyone, you care/they care, they are your friends, and they will rally behind you in your time of need!
Jobs. Our small town has jobs of all shapes, sizes and price ranges. I know this is true because I am the one who puts most of them on our community website job bank page. Plus we don’t have the long commute like some in the city do. We have extra perks too, for example my job allows me to take off for ALL my children’s school activities (I HAVE VERY ACTIVE TEENS IN SPORTS AND ACTIVITES). Can you do the same or do you have to burn all your vacation time, sick leave, or just not go? Yes, I am very blessed!
If you look at our community website at http://www.discoverhillcity.com you will see there are many things for people of all ages to do in a small town. We have an awesome community owned movie theatre for half the price as the city, and yes, we get current and just released movies. Nice thing about living in a small town is that sometimes, when you wish to, you can have the best of both worlds. We can go to the near by big city for extra activities when wanted, although that happens way less than your would expect!
Mike, the next time you want a break from the city, give us a visit. I’d be more than happy to show your around! Do you hunt? We have some outstanding hunting in our area. How about coming to our county fair the end of July every year? Golf? We have a really nice golf course too. Movie theatre? We have a state-of-the-art community owned movie theatre, where you will pay half the cost of the city and still have all the luxury of an outstanding theatre. And yes, we do get new releases and current movies too – I knew you’d be wondering that. Instead of a relaxing beach vacation, how about coming to small town Kansas for some equally relaxing time. We have many breathe taking views and you just might find the quiet a bit more relaxing and enjoyable.
God Bless You and Good Luck in everything you do,
Carolyn Popp
Hill City, Kansas