I have lived in MWC for 16 years and I sadly have to admit that I can no longer stand to live there. It seems to be overrun with thugs and vandals and only seems to be getting worse. Just as Del City has. I won't even go into DC unless totally necessary and only in the daytime. What has happened to our towns and neighborhoods? Can law enforcement and other city officials do nothing? It seems that today's youth could care less about anyone or anything other than themselves and the lack of respect and pride has gone completely out the window. So how do we fix this? Do we flee to other towns in hope of a better environment and just let our old towns fall the the wayside? I don't know, but I am in the process of moving my family to a safer environment. I just can't handle it anymore. It is just so sad that everyone turns a blind eye until it is too late to fix the problem. I guess that's just urbanization and adaptation.:Smiley099

Are you kidding me?

Unless you live north of NE 10th, MWC is leaps and bounds better now.

Well I do indeed live South of 10th, but that isn't the only problem area. Just look around and you will see more than the new development on 29th. I believe there are some great areas in MWC, but they too are becoming inundated. I don't know, maybe I've got burnout and am ready for a more peaceful, serene place to live.

I can kind of see some negative changes in MWC- especially north of 10th. I'm not sure what you're talking about in terms of Del City getting worse, though. It seems like DC has gotten a lot better over the past 10 years or so- especially in the past two or three years with the new development and the cleanup efforts. DC code enforcement/police/whoever seem to have really cracked down on the gang kids, etc. Yeah, there are parts of both towns that I wouldn't want to hang around after dark- or even during the day, but I think that southern MWC and also most of Del City are both less scary than they used to be.

hmmmm.... I have lived in MWC all my life and have lived from the Reno mall area (not Meadowood) to the east side by CAHS and now over here in the original square mile. Seen lots of changes , good and bad, but would rather live here than on the n/w side of town by where I work.

I don't know about you're neighborhood, the ages of your kids/family, or if you are a more private person ... but I'm glad I bought this house last summer. Surprisingly, even though close to TAFB, I don't hear much aircraft noise(maybe I've become immune) but have great neighbors, kids that play in the yards, couples walking, neighbors talking, the neighborhoods clean, safe place to live .
Sorry you don't like where you are, good luck where ever you go.

I would put my neighborhood (44th to 29th and Sooner to Sunnylane in Del City) up against any in the metro. Nice houses, people take great care of yards, no loud neighbors, and yet none of the pretention you find in NW OKC or Edmond or Norman. Great police and fire coverage and good schools. My wife and I bought our first house here, and while we may outgrow it at some point, I would not hesitate one bit to build a new house here. The same holds true for several other Del City neighborhoods - such as the area at Judy and Howard and the Burk Way/Burk Drive area along Reno.

Like Oklahomajewel, we live in the original square mile and I wouldn't trade my home or location for anywhere in the OKC area.
The homes are well-tended and the make-up of the neighborhood is diverse. Retirees watch over homes during the day. You can walk down the street about any time of the day or night and feel safe.
My property values have gone up significantly, and my insurance rates have gone down. We must be doing something right!

Where is it your trying to run to and what are you running from????
Those would be the questions
MW City is a fine community with its share of growing pains.
Del City the same. Both have great places to live and raise a family in..........both have places better boarded up and walled off from decent society.

Cant go North west cause the gangs have that area now.
Cant go to Edmond as they have a larger percentage of crime than Mid Del Area.

Cant go to the SW of OKC as the Latino gangs rule...........so
where ya gonna go??????:tiphat:

Cant go to Edmond as they have a larger percentage of crime than Mid Del Area.


Source?

I need to get shirts printed up that say, "Original Mile". Proud to live in the original mile too. Just wish everyone tended to their area though.

I need to get shirts printed up that say, "Original Mile". Proud to live in the original mile too. Just wish everyone tended to their area though.


I'd buy two adult, plus 4 cat shirts!
:Smiley199

I have lived in OKC/Edmond border area (150th and Penn). I now live in MWC 15th and Post area.

MWC is quieter, more kid freindly, you can talk to people in stores and on the streets, less traffic and road rage, feel much safer on 29th development than I can at Quail Springs.

While my only source is my experience, I can say that I feel safer and happier in MWC than I ever did on the "north side". I see less "thugs" in this area than up there as well.

4 cats? lol. Are you one of the owners of the many cat gangs that roam the area?

At any time in the night, you can go out side, and hear the cats scrapping it out. And they roam in packs. It's scary.

4 cats? lol. Are you one of the owners of the many cat gangs that roam the area?

At any time in the night, you can go out side, and hear the cats scrapping it out. And they roam in packs. It's scary.

Well, I do have one tomcat who mixes it up, but rest are elderly ladies who sleep a lot. For some reason, the neighborhood cats have decided that I'm a soft touch for a good meal!

I do have a small colony of feral cats who have encamped in my backyard, but I am calling the OK Humane Society to see about the TNR program. (thanks, sweetdaisy!)

I don't see the point of this thread as long as you're of going into any shady neighborhoods in the middle of the night like an idiot you should be okay. Ive lived in the area for 16 years and went to school there for the last three years (go Bombers!) and felt unsafe anywhere same people go. Not that I haven't been some insane places; however the point is MWC has changed for the better and even a "kid" can see it.

Like to add, I raised all three of mine here and they did just fine and two of them still live in the area,,, though unfortunately 1 (one) chose to lower her standards and live in MWC.....hahahaha
Hey, these are very nice communities and the biggest problems we still have between the two towns are from 1959 when Del City won that football game:congrats: .
MWC just never got over it.................................:tiphat:

Yeah i don't know where youre observations come from own2feet, but you're totally off base in every possible way. I've been here 26 years and I still like it, and it's getting better all the time. No we don't have a city full of new homes like Edmond, but we also have nicer people, less traffic, the same sorts of stores, etc. I can walk around ANYWHERE (south of 10th) at any hour of the day.

I've lived in the Origional Mile, Three Oaks, and near Reno and Midwest....it's been quiet everywhere I lived (as quiet as it gets with an AWACS overhead). I've never been robbed, vandalized, etc. I have always had great neighbors that are easy to talk to. People watch each other's homes when they are away or for suspicious folks.

Seriously, there is nothing wrong with MWC. Money and a big house does not equate to a nice place to live.

I live in Del City for the most part of my life and I still live here. I work in MWC almost every day. These two cities that I'm in all the time and I see nothing wrong with both cities. MWC and Del City is improving.

MWC has nice constructions going on on 29th across from TAFB. I think it is pretty much done with just some lots to be filled in.

Del City has constructions just starting on corner of 29th and Sooner, which I hope will be similar to the one in MWC on 29th. Plenty of space there. The only block is that old house, which I hope the city will take care of.

The condemed (mostly) apartment complex in Del City on 29th and Sooner should be bought out by the city and make way for retail shops.

Del City have good exposure, plenty of space next to I-40. The old grocery store on 15th can be bought out by the city, including a row or two of houses behind it (the same as MWC had done) to make way for retail shops. Across the street, the city can buy out old buildings, gas station, the car lot to make way for retail shops.

Del City just need a mayor or someone with huge vision for the city. We're getting there!

I need to get shirts printed up that say, "Original Mile".

You could count me in also if there were shirts for our area.
I was born and raised in MWC in the same house I now live in. I lived out of state for a few years and when I moved back I chose to live in MWC. I chose it for my daughters to grow up and go to school. Wouldn't have picked anywhere else. I have had family members try to talk us into moving to NW OKC but I have no desire.

I've lived in different parts of MWC since moving back and always felt comfortable and safe.
My grandfather bought this house in the "original mile" in 1964. The neighborhood has felt as safe if not safer since I moved in the past 3 years as when I was a child in the 70's.

Also if MWC were that bad I don't think KOCO would have MWC to be one of their cities for their On The Road specials next week.

I moved from NW OKC to MWC just a couple of months ago. I have to admit I love it here. MWCPD and DCPD appears to be working hard to keep the streets clean. MWCPD is much more visable and more personable than OCPD in my opinion.

I had pay a visit to the MWC police station for a background check for my job. Chief Brandon Clabes actually stopped to greet me and several other people who were doing business at the police department.

The neighborhoods are bad because of all the low rent apartment complexes that plague MWC and DC. If you have watched news recently you would see that both cities are fighting hard to take out the trash.

The neighborhoods are bad because of all the low rent apartment complexes that plague MWC and DC. If you have watched news recently you would see that both cities are fighting hard to take out the trash.

I was actually looking at MWC apartments online yesterday and saw some affordable places. Cheap, maybe, but seem nice to me on the inside.

Midwest City is up and coming with a lot of improvement ..we've done some work there. It seems like a really nice little town. We go through there when we go to Air Shows at Tinker.

I think some of the worst areas I've personally seen ( very poorly maintained areas) since living in OK are by the Airport, and by the Capital. I've noticed many cities have pockets of problem unsightly areas and a few blocks over, you'll have very nice manicured areas. It's all mixed together.

midwest city is fine, the problem I notice is robinson and s.w 42nd area by chilenos, then the capitol area, and the area around north 23rd or 29th area and portland is kinda roughed up.. Midwest city has lot to offer, to me its not going down hill as a whole, maybe a certain neighborhood maybe but not a whole.....

That's the way I've always described OKC's slum/nice areas: pockets. My wife and I are actually looking for houses in MWC. I like the area, but admit there are some cruddy pockets. The thing is, if you don't want to live in those areas, don't look for/buy a house in those areas. However, while you can escape the actual ghetto communities, they'll still bring down your property values because of the school system. Carl Albert has a great school system, but I think the property values go down once you move over into the Mid-Del school district.

The east side has more trees and better scenery than most of the metro, so that's another plus to living in MWC. In MWC you have the economic powerhouse of Tinker AFB, plus close proximity to downtown OKC from I-40. I've also noticed a lot more parks in MWC than most places in the metro, but maybe I just haven't paid much attention in other places. Lastly, the section of I-40 that runs through MWC/East OKC is the best section of interstate in the area and it's never backed up.

I have mixed feelings on MWC. I grew up in MWC, went to Carl Albert (go Titans!), and lived there until I moved out of state for a while. When I returned to OK, I moved into some apartments in MWC and for the first time in my life, had my home burglarized. Perhaps this has left a really bad taste in my mouth, but I cannot stand to go to MWC anymore. Or, it may just be my disappointment in the declining state of many business areas north of 29th street. (Anything on MW Blvd between 29th & Reno pretty much looks like garbage, sadly.) Also the Heritage Park Mall area is so depressing...at least it was the last time I was around there.

Anyway, to a certain extent, I can agree with own2feet, as it seems the areas that I used to be familiar with & call "home" are all kinda run down and ghetto looking.

Carl Albert has a great school system, but I think the property values go down once you move over into the Mid-Del school district.


Actually Carl Albert is part of the Mid-Del school district not their own.

The east side has more trees and better scenery than most of the metro, so that's another plus to living in MWC. In MWC you have the economic powerhouse of Tinker AFB, plus close proximity to downtown OKC from I-40. ... it's never backed up.

I work downtown and park at the Galleria parking garage. I can pull out of my driveway in the original square mile and park my car 12 minutes later. Of course, it helps that I leave my house around 5 AM!

Because living in MWC and working downtown is "opposite" of the heavy traffic flow to/from Tinker, I rarely have any slow downs even at "rush hour" times.

Yes, there are pockets of seedy-looking areas, but show me a town over 10,000 pop. that doesn't have a seedy area. Besides, my house is nearly paid for and twice as large as when I bought it in 1985.

MWC is a fine city and dont let anyone fool ya . Bad parts sure but that is every where.
Besides if a town like this has Ms Laurie than it cant go wrong.....:tiphat:

MWC is a fine city and dont let anyone fool ya . Bad parts sure but that is every where.
Besides if a town like this has Ms Laurie than it cant go wrong.....:tiphat:

Aw, Shucks...:redface:

Thanks!

The condemed (mostly) apartment complex in Del City on 29th and Sooner should be bought out by the city and make way for retail shops.
Del City just need a mayor or someone with huge vision for the city. We're getting there!

Well, the apartment complex has been condemned by the city ......and the out of state property owner has sued the city to stop demolition. As I heard at Tinker, the apartment complex is a threat to Tinker so they want it gone.

I have met the Mayor and he does have hugh vision for this community. Real mover and shaker so things will happen.:tiphat:

LOL How is the complex a threat to TAFB? I do want the place gone, but I'm just curious to know how can a complex that is further from TAFB than the new shopping center is a threat to TAFB?

LOL How is the complex a threat to TAFB? I do want the place gone, but I'm just curious to know how can a complex that is further from TAFB than the new shopping center is a threat to TAFB?

Isn't 29th and Sooner closer to TAFB than I-40 and Sooner?

The MWC new shopping center is on 29th, directly across from TAFB and that location is very close to the airstrips, where the planes land and take off. It is very close than the apartment complex is further west side of TAFB. I'm wondering how TAFB is complaining that the complex is a threat and the shopping center isn't. If the complex is a threat, then so is the newly rebuilt houses just to the south.

The air force has what they call APZ (accident potential Zones) 1 and 2
The apt complex is in the APZ 1 zone and dense Residential development is considered non compliant. Due to the age and condition of the apt complex Tinker would like to see the city remove it for that type of use.

It also has flood issues from the creek that runs through it. It has follded three times in the last two years. Most f the Apts by the creek have bad mold and other water damage.

Hope this helps :tiphat:

I don't really care what TAFB complains about. Sometimes they just go too far. As for the apt complex, I'd like to see that torn down.

When Albertsons built their new store in Del City, they had a huge banner sign "Thank You TAFB" and I thought it was stupid to have TAFB's permission to build there, because there is already stores all around.

I think the whole Tinker argument is MWC's way of jabbing back at Del City for stealing their retail tax dollars.

Most of that logic stems from the days when aircraft were shotty at best and the pilots had a small fraction of the training they do now. What's next is MWC going to enact an Icarus ordinance that prohibits flying to close to the sun.

If there truly is a safety issue, then everything within 10 miles of Tinker needs to be torn down.

Planes crash, big deal. If people die for living or working in the area of the base that's life. If people are uncomfortable with the idea then move to Gotebo. (BTW: An airplane can still fall on your head in Gotebo)

You stand a much larger chance of dying in a car crash on your way to work then you do dying as the result of a plane crash.

Sometime I question the skills the pilots have when they land at Tinker. Many times, I see planes go so low, about to land, but goes back up to circle another attempt. Sometime, it seem like the planes is actually going to hit a building! I think there was a day that a plane seem to graze the highway.

Thunder,
those planes are practicing takes offs and landings...... Yeah I know about the height thing, some times I think you could see the pilots eye color.

Tinker is a big part of our buying power for the region. The Shopping center on 29th at Air Depot is strongly supported by Tikner employees and military.

Its not that Tinker is Complaining about the Apartments so much as a law exists (APZ 1) that was developed by the DOD (Pentagon). Now I dont know about the wisdom of that law but it exists non the less.

But , you are right, that Apt complex is ugly and does need to come down.:tiphat:

Sometime I question the skills the pilots have when they land at Tinker. Many times, I see planes go so low, about to land, but goes back up to circle another attempt. Sometime, it seem like the planes is actually going to hit a building! I think there was a day that a plane seem to graze the highway.

These pilots know what they're doing. I can assure you these pilots are the best in the world and there is no need to question their skills or your safety.

Millie - their issue is with the NW-SE runway, not the N-S one. The area near 40-Sooner is in the flight path of that diagonal runway. Even so, it's still 3 miles from the end of the runway. Tinker lost it's battle and the thing is betting built, and I'm glad. Tinker tries to pull crap like that too often and then uses BRAC or something to try and scare people into doing what they want. It's total BS.

Millie - their issue is with the NW-SE runway, not the N-S one. The area near 40-Sooner is in the flight path of that diagonal runway. Even so, it's still 3 miles from the end of the runway. Tinker lost it's battle and the thing is betting built, and I'm glad. Tinker tries to pull crap like that too often and then uses BRAC or something to try and scare people into doing what they want. It's total BS.

Tinker doesn't volunteer itself to BRAC; those decisions are made by DOD and Congress. If you think BRAC is "total BS", you should research Kelly AFB, McClellan AFB, and the many other air bases that fell to BRAC. Tinker was being considered for death row, along with Kelly and McClellan, but Tinker commanders proved that the base was more productive in terms of output.

I understand the reluctance for many to surrender plots of land for an entity that can be seen like a bully, but you have to understand the importance of Tinker AFB to the OKC Metro. If Tinker doesn't exist, MWC doesn't exist.

It's better to have the economic power of Tinker and complaints of not being able to build nearby, than to have no base, thus no money to generate the developments in the first place. With or without Tinker, those places wouldn't develop. Realizing this, you have to pick the lesser of two evils.

When the apartment complex is down, that doesnt mean that other development cannot occur, it just is a controled development as is the New Development at I40 and Sooner...............not stopped just controlled.

Considering that my mother is one of the original Rosie Riviters from Tinker no harm is wished towards the base. I would rather see limited development outside of Tinker than nothing inside Tinker.............:tiphat:

"Tinker lost its battle".... Who ever said that Tinker or the Air Force or the Pentagon was part of a battle?? The way I saw it, there was one washed up old general who had an ax to grind, and he tried to represent himself as speaking for Tinker, the Air Force, the Pentagon, the President of the United States, and maybe the little green men from Mars. All the military has ever asked is for communities to be responsible when growing near their bases. To say that "Tinker lost" is an incredible mischaracterization.

No entirely true. The accident zoning is something that contiues to be revised every so often. The most recent one is what caused the stink here with Mr. Ex-General busy-body. If the air force/dod thought they could do it, they would clear out everything from zone 2....stripping HUGE amounts of MWC and DC out. That's obviously not going to happen. We just have to keep dealing with these retarted gripes everytime they come up.

I'm all for Tinker support, duh I live in MWC. HOWEVER, I don't believe any group should get blanket authorization for whatever they want to do. They don't deserve all of their requests, and then the surrounding communities just have to deal with it. That's why Del City has lacked commercial development for 50 years and it's long since past time to throw that argument out the window and allow projects like this to occur.

The issue with BRAC that I have, isn't so much with BRAC, but with Tinker saying every project like this they want to block is to ensure that their encroachment zones are clear so BRAC doesn't want to take the base. Again, there are valid points there, but that shouldn't mean they have a blank check to take whatever the want. If they did, then if the base ever left, then not only would we be left with an empty base, but also a how many miles wide zone of no commercial development? Even if Tinker ever left, we do still have people that live on the east side that have nothing to do with Tinker at all. We still want to have commercial development....and by the way, the people that work at tinker go spend money at the surrounding development every day....before,during, and after work.

Sometime I question the skills the pilots have when they land at Tinker. Many times, I see planes go so low, about to land, but goes back up to circle another attempt. Sometime, it seem like the planes is actually going to hit a building! I think there was a day that a plane seem to graze the highway.

they were doing touch and go's ...


pilots have to have a min number of landings a month(quarter?) and a touch down counts as a landing ..


this happens all the time at tinker ..

they were doing touch and go's ...


pilots have to have a min number of landings a month(quarter?) and a touch down counts as a landing ..


this happens all the time at tinker ..

But... The tires don't actually touch the roadway. lol

Thunder, I think you might have fallen victim to perspective. Obviously they dno't graze the highway or buildings or anything even close. Take a look next time one lands, the don't come near the ground until they are almost 1/4 mile south of I-40. Plus there is a TON of empty land all around the runways.

I know. I'm just saying, it scares some people. What if we have travellers going thru the state or tourists. They could be unaware of the vast amount of empty land down there and they see a plane so low, they'll think it's gonna crash. lol They need a sign, "Empty Land Ahead - Plane Will Not Crash". lol

I honestly don't think the police can do much other than get certain elements to "move along" to another area.

I've been living back east for 8 years but was fortunate enough to be in town a couple of weeks in early July. I had time to do some driving around. Some areas sure appear to be crime-ridden - more so than when I left. Most of these areas DID seem to be more like "pockets."

Does anyone know why the streets in poor neighborhoods always seem so dirty? Other than picking up garbage in front of my house (which most civilized people do), I am not aware of my neighbors or me doing anything special. In many poor neighborhoods, not only is their garbage that hasn't been picked up, there just seems to be dirt, in general.

East coast, I just think it is the case of the abysmally lazy who want some one else, anyone else to do for them.

Think of somewhere like the Bronx. If there is trash lining the street, who is responsible for that? The city does it's job by emptying the bins, but it's not their job to maintain everything. People have to be conscious enough to pick up after themselves and not let litter fly. More depressed areas simply have more residents that don't put as much care into how things look...hence they let the litter fly. I'm assuming you weren't reffering to anywhere in MWC because that would totally surprise me to see that somewhere here.

I just think it is the case of the abysmally lazy who want some one else, anyone else to do for them.


Which is why they might be poor in the first place.

I know, it drives me crazy.. yeah, you might not have a lot of money but it's free to walk over to the garbage can. Take some pride in your self, your home, your kids. Clean up.

Just driving to the Zoo on Wed.. we were behind a car, driving East on 44 - twice they threw cans out of their car window. and yes, they exited Martin Luther and no, they weren't going to see Journey. I'm pretty sure they lived in that area ( which is really nasty in some spots).

I took down their license plate as one can whizzed by us but don't know what to do with that info. Pretty pathetic.

..hence they let the litter fly. I'm assuming you weren't reffering to anywhere in MWC because that would totally surprise me to see that somewhere here.

No place in particular, i think most towns have the habitually and abysmally lazy,
in some areas its just more pronounced and concentrated...........

Im sure though we could all name some certain APARTMENT COMPLEXES the above statements would be totally true at....:tiphat:

You could count me in also if there were shirts for our area.


I'm actually looking at pricing for shirts. What are you guy's price range. I want to make it affordable, not profitable.


I have mixed feelings on MWC. I grew up in MWC, went to Carl Albert (go Titans!)

YES, Go TITANS!

I'm actually looking at pricing for shirts. What are you guy's price range. I want to make it affordable, not profitable.


Depends a lot on quality/style

A plain T-shirt - $10 -12 at most, less if "iron-on" type letters

Polo or baseball style - would pay up to 20.

back to the original topic of this thread now. The reason mwc and dc have gone downhill. Crimerates have more than doubled in both areas since my move to oklahoma several years ago. The originator of this thread said exactly what the problem is when he/she made reference to the teenagers and kids not giving a damn about other peoples personal property nor do they care what they do. Of course since they are teenagers and young kids the blame lies fully on those that have kids that decide to bring them up with no care for other peoples property or possesions. So if you have kids you only have yourselves to blame your the parrent. I know im probably about to hear "not my kids" They are sweet little jewels. Its funny how it allways seems to be somebody elses kids causing the problems. So the answer is parents. Take back control you are the parent you are resposible for your kids actions. Ask questions who what where when and why. Keep them on a short leash and let them earn the respect to be able to be left unattended.

I was actually thinking of doing a picture of a pony with letters above it, "Original Mile". If anyone is anyone, they'll get the pony reference.

No Iron ons, I don't do that. I'm a graphic designer, I can do a lot better than that, trust me.

Anyone else?

A pony would be cool! I get the reference, of course, but I thought the ponies only went to the children whose parents bought homes in the Meadowwood area?

Since my OM living has only occured in my adulthood, I could be simply confused.

I'd revise upward on what I'd pay for that kind of artwork!

swartz - that's a lame excuse. It's the excuse people use when they want to blame someone else for their own problems. Teenagers aren't the problem in MWC...not at all. You go drive around and see how many teenagers you see valdalizing the city....in my 20+ there years I've never seen it. Besides that, there's a curfew that prevents them from being out after like 10:00 except to go home from work. I teach teenagers and I would say that your statement is not reflective of the students at MCHS for sure.

Hey there,

I grew up in Del City, but I moved to Tulsa 27 years ago. I still have family there and have been there many times since. It breaks my heart to see the condition of the houses and the crime there. I was hoping to return for retirement years, but I am not so sure I will now.

I was hoping that the economy would turn around there and see people start to fix up the houses, but seeing how the rental rate is around 60% I doubt that things will ever change.

Before I moved to Tulsa I lived in the apartment complex facing the highway on the north side for about three months with two other ladies. We moved out because all of a sudden a huge amount of questionable characters started moving in. Parties all hours of the night, drugs being purchased out of the back of vans, groups of guys gathering in the parking lots at night - made me reeeal uneasy. After moving I heard that HUD had something to do with the sudden change. Who knows! I was glad to get out of there.

I have seen the amazing changes taking place in Midwest City and hope Del City will benefit from the growth, but I think it will take more than just a shot in the arm to fix the problem

The problem Del City has happened right from the start. Planners did not plan for the future. They had no plans for industry to move in and provide jobs for people. I guess they were relying on Tinker to always be there. Now the city is boxed in on all sides and no room now for business growth - all housing, schools and existing business.

My uncle graduated from the first class of Del city high school. All the houses round it were new and well maintained (I lived on Thomas Avenue - I could see the glass windows of the church next door to it from my front porch). Tax payers paid good money to build that school, but when students graduated, there was no way to stay in the community and support themselves. Once they went off to college they never returned. Many of the parents moved off to some where else and either sold their home or rented it out.

Just before I left I lived in a garage apartment that was in good shape for the most part, but I could pull nails out of the window seal with my fingers. It is a sad state of affairs when a community starts to die. I find it hard to believe that anything could save it now.

Vel