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Hilt's Tilt

By Shirley Hilt

To E-mail Shirley - shirleyh24@earthlink.net

If you wish to make a comment on any editorial, just say which editorial, what you want to say and if you want it published on my web site!! If you don't want published or your name used please let me know!!

I would love to hear from you

E-mail to Shirley

shirleyh24

@earthlink.net

Editorial

SAYING GOODBYE By: Shirley Hilt

When I settled here in Mapleton, I thought “this is home at last.” Having moved around all my life, I finally felt I found a place where I could put down roots, but here I am—getting ready to move again! It only took me 15 years to be accepted and not be referred to as a “city slicker,” and now I’m going to be facing new challenges in Florida. However, I want all my friends in Mapleton to know that I don’t think any other place will replace you or your little town in my heart.

I predict good things for Mapleton. With Mike Hueston as Mayor, the town will be broke in two years—tops. That’s a good thing, because then the town would revert back to Timberhill Township or Bourbon County and then people who live outside of town will have a say in how things are done. People who do not have a personal agenda, or need their ego fix once a month will run things without bullying, intimidation, or lying, all of which has occurred. I attended City Council meetings where I heard the Mayor say, “I meant too,” “I forgot,” “I dropped the ball,” “I didn’t have time,” as excuses for not getting things done. Not once did I ever hear him say, “I did that.” I have nothing against Mike Hueston as a person, but if he can’t give the town of Mapleton and the office of Mayor the time and dedication required, then have the gumption to step down, because the people of Mapleton deserve better.

It would be wise for the City Council to hope that Mapleton will revert back to Timberhill Township or Bourbon County, then they could look forward to working with other responsible, dedicated citizens who care about their community and what’s best for it. I can only hope they have the fortitude to stop any plans to sell the arena that may arise in the future (another prediction). Anyone who knew Jean Shields, knew that she wanted the arena to benefit the Town of Mapleton, and it to be used openly by the citizens of Mapleton without a lot of encumbrances, locks and keys.

I wish only the best for the people of this community. You all deserve it. I will miss you all, and will think of you often. My Irish forefathers summed up what I wish for you better than I ever could:

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields

And until we meet again—

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Comment By Mike Hueston Mayor of Mapleton, Kansas

I was born and raised in this town and I don't have to finally call it home because it is home to me and always will be.
There are some issues I want to addrress about the comments made. First of all if anyone knows about how city government works they would know the council are the ones who has the right to spend money not the mayor. Also Roy and Jean Shields were like grandparents me and they wanted the arena to benefit the town as a multipurpose arena not just a horse arena. Im not sure where the information came from about selling the arena but IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AS LONG AS I'M MAYOR. Even at that the city can't sell anything without going through the proprer channels which agian the council controls instead of the mayor.
You know maybe I dont have the time I need to do my job efficiently but at election time I don't see anyone else stepping up to the plate. Most Weeks I work about 96 hours or more and try to do city stuff by phone as much as I can. But maybe I need to come to the cafe of a morning instead of going to work so I can find out from the people there,who don't elect me, how they want the town ran. Maybe I do need to think about stepping down and letting someone else put up with the city stuff. If you will remember when I took office the streets were gravel but now they are chipped and sealed with ditches to carry the water, which was put in place in the previous administration and was carried through. Also the town didn't have storm shelter's or storm siren which are in place now. The street project and storm shelter and siren projects was all done with grant money which wouldn't have been available in an unicooperated town as some think Mapleton should be.
The council meetings are open to the public thats were complaints are heard so everyone in the administration will know whats going on.
I love this town and I'm proud to say I'm from Mapleton, the biggest little town in southeast Kansas because we are. We all need to promote the town instead of bringing it down.
Im all for editorials but correct facts are good too.

Mike Hueston
Mayor City of Mapleton

Editorials

How to Fix Congress By Warren Buffet

The following was written by Warren Buffet, and it makes no difference what political preference you have, this makes sense!

Congressional Reform Act of 2011

1. No Tenure/No pension. A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when out of office.

2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the rest of the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans can.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with the members of Congress. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

Please send your comments to me and I will publish here!! E-mail to Shirley shirleyh24@earthlink.net

The Community Family By: Shirley Hilt

One has to look at your community as an extended family, with in-laws and out-laws, good guys and bad, scholars, angels and heroes. Mapleton has a vast array of people and personalities, and we have our bickering and squabbles as even the best of families have. Some of us are quick to let our thoughts be known when we don’t like a particular situation, and some of us just bury our feelings and go on, letting things go until something trivial sets us off. However we handle these situations, the important thing is that eventually the air is cleared and we go on with our everyday lives.

The City Council meeting last night was one of those “clearing the air sessions” that I think was good for everyone involved. After the smoke cleared, everyone seemed to be in a much better mood, and laughter rocked the walls of the community center. The thing that I love about this community is the fact that I can have a “tiff” with someone one day, and call them the next needing help of some kind, and they would be right there. You don’t find that kind of solidarity in the big city.

I write about Mapleton and the happenings here because I love to write, and I really care about my community. Sometimes I have to be the bad guy and call attention to things that I think are wrong, and it’s a rotten job, but someone has to do it. I do try to be fair, and sometimes it’s difficult when emotions are involved. I really enjoy writing about the good things that go on here, but I’m only one person, and sometimes this old brain is in meltdown and I run out of ideas.

This website is an open forum. I encourage you to email me your thoughts and responses, and I welcome your story ideas. If you want your name used—great. If you would rather remain anonymous—that’s fine too. Just let me know. If you hear a rumor, and you want to get to the bottom of it—let me know, and I will do my best to get the real story for you. Think of this as Mapleton’s virtual newspaper and me as the busybody keeping you abreast of what’s going on. Thanks for taking the time to pay Hilt’s Tilt a visit!

Comment By Jan Laughlin

I would like to make a comment on your newspaper work. I believe you are doing a wonderfully fair job on your reporting. Since you are from our community, sometimes it might be hard to be fair, but I feel that you are looking at everything from all sides. I am proud you are working for a good community for all of us!! Mapleton really is a special City!

Jan: Thanks a bunch for the input. I wish more people would respond because I would like this to be a community effort. Good, bad, or indifferent--I welcome all comments.

Editorials

OUR CITY GOVERNMENT

I recently had occasion to attend a couple of meetings held by the Mapleton City Council, and write articles for the Linn County News covering those meetings. After those articles appeared in the paper, I was amazed at the number of people in the Mapleton area who approached me, voicing their opinions about our City Government. The majority of those people were very dissatisfied with the City Government, stating that they feel like a select few run everything, and if those few can’t get what they want by conventional methods, they resort to dirty tricks and back-biting. Then, these concerned citizens proceeded to ask what I could do about it. I can’t do anything.

I noticed at the few meetings I attended, the attendance varied, depending on how the topics would impact the citizens. At the meeting for the Post Office, there were quite a few people there, as well as for the Mapleton Gas meeting. The attendance was not as great for the regular City Council meeting, however. The citizens of Mapleton (and this includes me) have become very complacent.

The City Council includes 8 council members, of which 5 members have voting rights. The Mayor can vote to break a tie. We happen to have some very good City Council members who are trying their best to address the concerns of our town, but they cannot do it without us—the citizens. I know, we’re all busy people, and sometimes it’s hard to set aside that hour or two on the third Monday of the month to go sit at some dull meeting. However, the council members do it— month after month, year after year.

I noticed things that could be changed at the City Council meeting that I attended, and I realized—I can’t really say anything about it. Where had I been all these past months? I certainly wasn’t at any of the meetings, so I really had no right to say anything about the way things have become. However, I will be attending all the City Council meetings from now on, and I urge the citizens of Mapleton to do the same.

There may be some officials that you don’t approve of, or their methods, but not attending the meetings resolves nothing. In fact, your absence escalates the problem, enabling those elements to achieve their goals. Bad city government is like a cancer—if you leave it unchecked, it continues to grow until it chokes the life out of the host. You can’t change things sitting at home, and let’s face it—everything our City Council discusses affects us all in the long run. There are a lot of you out there who are unhappy with one common element, and you may think you can’t change anything by yourself—but if you all band together, you might be surprised at the changes we could make. If we’re not part of the solution, then we’re part of the problem. See you at the next meeting, October 17^th at 7PM, Community Center.

Comment Anonymous

Our City Government,
You called it perfect. People get complacent and let every one else take over, and the politician loves this. Over time they gets a big head and decided that they know what the people need and that they have to take care of the people, after all they were elected. It works this way with Federal, State and local government and then the people wake up and don't like what is happening to them.