Let’s make Washington “Something to believe in”
I thought this comment from under the tax post deserved its own post.
From “Something to believe in”
Let’s pretend we all want Washington to remain a viable community. Which I’m sure we all do.
Now I know this is a stretch, but let’s pretend that we need some sort of medical care here. Whether it be a new hospital, a renovated hospital, or even a chopper service, we WILL need physicians here to accomplish that, to maintain any level of sustainability.
What would the community say to these prospective physicians to settle in this community? Regardless of how amazing you and I know Washington is, she has competition.
The shortage of primary care physicians is only getting worse, and I can promise you, communities all over Kansas are vying for them. Offering state of the art hospitals, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cancelled loan debt plus huge sign-on bonuses, some even throw in a new house and Harley Davidson Motorcycles!
I assure you that regardless of what we do, we need doctors. As talented and hard-working as Doctor Hodgson is, he can’t do it on his own forever. So what makes Washington so special? What could we possibly offer them? I can tell you right now that regardless of how wonderful our town is, how determined we are to make Washington a better community for years to come, no young physician will ever take the time to fall in love with it without this new hospital. It speaks volumes to young physicians when a community can unite behind a common goal to accomplish something that will benefit the whole of the area in the long run, even during hard times.
Because when an emerging doctor decides to settle somewhere, especially in primary care, they are taking a risk, the risk that the size of Washington will not do what it takes to survive. And he or she will have to start all over somewhere else, with little or nothing to show for their hard work. And I’m sure that is how many entrepreneurs of Washington County feel as well.
But it isn’t too late. Washington has so much going for it that many others never did! And despite the fact that there are differing opinions on almost every post on this site, there does seem to be one commonality, one inspirational fact – everyone is trying to do what they think is right for Washington, for us, and that speaks volumes to any family considering making Washington their home, especially a physician.
Now let’s show them that Washington is worth believing in. We may have been here for 150 years, but lets how ‘em we can make it another 150!
Very well stated and I think you are absolutely correct.
DITTO
Looking for more constructive comments to show prospective residents that we are a positive community looking for further progress!
We have a wonderful Munchkinland park, a soon to be brand new swimming pool, a great fire/ems department (thank you workers!), and a good school! Just to mention a few of the good things about living here!!!! Safe, good place to raise your children. Keep moving forward Washington!!!!
At first glance, I thought you said a “firearms” department. Since I’m currently addicted to Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, I thought that’d be really cool!!
Anna,
The second part of your message was off topic and deconstructive to the community, that’s all.
I don’t know about you all, but I’m feeling optimistic about the future. Here in Washington in 2010, we’ll be getting a new swimming pool, new intersection at 15×36 which will spruce up the 36 corridor, hopefully a new hospital… the only thing Washington really hasn’t had lately are very many new homes built. Hanover (and some rural areas) are the only places that have had several new homes built. We’ve had one here and there in Washington, but not many and I think it would be a good thing for the community.
It wasn’t off topic at all. You’re simply a censor and a suck up.
Who are you anyway?
Hmm, sorry but I agree. Anna’s post was off-topic and deconstructive. I’m glad some of it was removed.
I forgot about the 36 intersection. I think Washington needs to do a beautification project on 36 from city limit to city limit. It could use a little sprucing. I think about how many times we’re just on a road trip somewhere and you drive through town (much like a vacationeer driving on 36 in Washington.) I definitely get a first impression on the town by just driving through it….wether it looks clean and put together or just ‘dirty’. Most tourists driving through are only going to see whats along 36. I think there are several properties that could be cleaned up, or put up fences on the back part of the property so we can’t see into the yard. Maybe a nicer sign that points to where the park and pool is. Repair some of the curbs that crumbled….plant some grass, flowers, etc…I don’t know. Maybe do something pretty at the corner of 36 and C street.
Oh and I think we need an arcade and like a black-light mini golf or something….like the Dawgs house in Marysville. I’d do that myself, but ya know, gotta have money. Maybe if I win the lottery.
Now this might seem really trivial, but I think most women would agree with me on this. Washington has good convenience stores but none have all of these in restroom facilities: new looking, spacious, separate restrooms for men and women. I don’t think any have baby changing stations, but I don’t know since I haven’t had a baby in quite awhile, so I might just not notice.
The restrooms are clean so that’s something good.
The restaurants in town have nice separate restroom facilities, but travelers would not normally stop in a restaurant if they’re just getting fuel and snacks.
I do make a point of stopping in at one of the convenience stores when I’m in Washington. The food and customer service are excellent, so that’s the main thing, I guess.
Dan:
In my opinion you just made everything posted on your blog worthless. I didn’t see Anna’s post but , by censoring part of Anna’s post and puting on part of it, you are taking her out of context. How am I to know how often you do this? If you can’t put the whole post on, then remove all of it. Now I don’t know what to believe on here. TD
I’m shocked TD. You’re such a huge fan of mine! If you find this blog so worthless, then do me a favor and quit reading it.
Anna was personally attacking administration at WCHS and after a while, I get sick and tired of being host to other people’s attacks. If it is personal, she needs to either put her name to it or go to the school board. Nothing of that personal conflict will be solved by posting on here. I’m the only one that ever catches flack for everyone’s lack of discretion on here and I get sick of it.
Besides, her attack goes against guideline #2 on the Guidelines tab. (Which were created after a previous series of attacks over a year ago.)
To “Something to Believe in”
I hope you realize that some of comments on here are not reflective of our community as a whole. There are a handful of people who comment on here that are very negative on most subjects (especially if it is something I believe in, since they don’t like me.) I don’t think Washington County is unique to have individuals like that – they exist everywhere.
For the most part, I’ve found that Washington people really like their town and school and the same goes for the grand majority of the county’s residents and their respective schools and communities.
While we have areas in which we could improve, I believe we are starting from a better point than many counties. We do have projects in place that will show progress. We do have plans for more. We do have citizens and businesses willing to do what is needed to keep this community succeeding.
In Washington especially, a new generation of business owners is starting to make an impact on the community. I started here almost 10 years ago and for a few years, I was the youngest person at every business/chamber/board event I went to. Now, even at 36 years old, there are several active people who are younger than me. And there are more to come.
For Washington especially, which is where I spend almost all my time, I think high times are ahead. I think the new hospital would be a centerpiece of that progress and I look forward to being part of the supporting push for it.
There are many things being done right here and I believe we’ll start seeing the results of those things in the next few years.
Dan, I don’t mean you can’t censor the blog, It’s yours, you can do what you wish with it. If a poster breaks a guideline, get rid of that post. My objection is to your taking only a sentence or paragraph, which may not reflect the intent of the post at all, whether it is positive or negative.
Sounds fair.
I removed the rest of the post and I’ll put that in the guidelines.
How can you believe in Washington when you hear, If you don’t like it don’t read it , or as I’ve heard before on the blog if you don’t like Washington, leave. Not very friendly sounding is it?
I also believe the area along highway 36 needs improving but part of it that needs inproving is outside the city limits, so what can be done? The motels usually have flower planters out which looks very nice , maybe more business could do that,
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13555_3-9821584-34.html
An article on something related to the online world from November 2007 is probably a little outdated. (Did they even have Facebook in ’07? Probably, but not Twitter.)
Anyway, I’m well aware of the legal aspects of this blog. We go over these topics at every annual convention and through industry news.
So I guess I don’t know what you’re trying to point out here.
21-4004
Chapter 21.–CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS
PART II.–PROHIBITED CONDUCT
Article 40.–CRIMES INVOLVING VIOLATIONS OF PERSONAL RIGHTS
21-4004. Criminal defamation. (a) Criminal defamation is communicating to a person orally, in writing, or by any other means, information, knowing the information to be false and with actual malice, tending to expose another living person to public hatred, contempt or ridicule; tending to deprive such person of the benefits of public confidence and social acceptance; or tending to degrade and vilify the memory of one who is dead and to scandalize or provoke surviving relatives and friends.
(b) In all prosecutions under this section the truth of the information communicated shall be admitted as evidence. It shall be a defense to a charge of criminal defamation if it is found that such matter was true.
(c) Criminal defamation is a class A nonperson misdemeanor.
History: L. 1969, ch. 180, § 21-4004; L. 1992, ch. 239, § 187; L. 1993, ch. 291, § 135; L. 1995, ch. 251, § 14; July 1.
“To prove libel, which is the same thing as written defamation, the plaintiff has to prove that the blogger published a false statement of fact about the plaintiff that harmed the plaintiff’s reputation” you know who hard that is to prove . Any one can sue anyone today . I dont think our Co Attorney would take someone to court over a blog . If everyone is going to start taking every letter on here and dissecting it then pull the plug on this Dan . Try to sue/prosecute someone over a blog and see how far you get . You will not get passed the Attorney office with it . And im sure getting info from Dan about who is who on here is not going to be easy . He would do the same thing I would ,pick up the phone and call the attorney and say “out of my cold dead hands you can get the info” .A news person falls under some different laws then most of us do . Its just not as easy as asking who is “intheone” A good lawyer would have something like that in the court system for years .Do you want to spend the next 2 years in court over a blog ? The blog is nice to have put you also have to know if and when Dan does not like it or gets sick of us he WILL pull the plug on this fast . Im sure that would make Jen happy to .
opps “iamtheone” sorry i got your name wrong .
Twitter started in 2006.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter
I’ve been out of the loop for a couple of weeks but I’m confused….How did we get from “Let’s make Washington something to believe in” to “some sort of arguement (that I can’t seem to follow for some reason)?
I think it would be great if we could get back on topic. I haven’t had much time to think about this and give an answer but I will put my 2 cents in shortly.
Have a great day everyone,
Dawn
Okay people. We’re way off topic here.
)
Just an FYI, when my topic gets hijacked in a new direction, my liability ends. This has been discussed and tested in court. If there was the possibility of me getting sued for defamation when my topic was “Something to Believe in” then here is something else that could happen. Let’s say the city posts a request for cars to be moved for snow removal. If someone posts a request for volunteers for a political assassination attempt, then can the city be sued for having that Facebook post? No.
Now if you’re suggesting one of the anonymous commenters could get sued for commenting something defamatory. I suppose that could happen. I’m only giving up information that I have if there is a court order though.
What this is now coming to, is removing the anonymous option. There are plenty of people who post with their names now so I’m at the point I think that would be a valid option and would allow me to keep the blog for breaking news purposes or “wouldn’t it be cool if…” purposes.
(And nobody really heard of Twitter until 2007, but more so after that, punk.
Back to the “Beautification of Washington” topic. I heard of a group called “First Impressions” it has something to do with the Huck Boyd Institute. They send objective people out to visit your town for the “first time”. They look at things like, signage (to schools, parks, hospital, downtown, etc) amenities, services available and how well the community communicates this. Also friendliness, cleanliness, customer service, etc of the businesses. They report all this to the community and the community can change what they think is most important. I’m not sure if this costs, but it might be a good investment. I think the extension office might have some information about this.
I think we live in a great community we just don’t always let others know that!
Ugh. Dan, can you just move the arguementive commments off of this thread to a different one. This thread is about “making Washington something to believe in”…ie…positive comments. I get really sick of the negative and the bashing…maybe you could move them all to a “post your negative comments here” thread.
Really people, it gets old fast. And if you don’t like Washington, then move. I have lived elsewhere, and in bigger towns/cities. Very happy that we came back to Washinton. People in Washington don’t have it as bad as they think they do.
OR….maybe if you don’t like the blog…don’t read it..OR go start your own blog!!!!!!!
there it is again , the comment , “if you don’t like it move” . Can’t someone have a different opinon without being told to move? Can’t we have different opinons about improving the area without being told to leave? I also have lived in other towns, other states,, everyone has a right to an opinon as long as they don’t insult others. A town doesn’t improve with only same same thinking?
Different opinions are fine. I’m talking about the people who are consistently negative, bashing, and can’t find a single positive thing to say. There is a difference between different opinions and repeative rude bashing.
I am the author of the original article, and I have been keeping up on the comments. First of all, the reason I posted this here anonymously was to get an idea of what your community stands behind, what you’re proud of, and what you truly see in the future of your town. You see, I AM an up and coming primary care physician who is exploring his options for his future location. But more importantly, it’s not “your” community, it’s “our” community. I am a former resident and graduate of Washington who is deeply vested in the future of Washington, whether it becomes my home once again or not. Why you ask? Because I love it. From the very first day I arrived in Washington, I was treated like family. The relationships I built there continue to grow and will undoubtedly be lifelong. I’ve met so many caring, hard working people that refuse to give up on the future of Washington that I can’t help but be enthusiastic about it as well. Unfortunately, enthusiasm for one great idea is often met with equal enthusiasm for another great idea. Instead of turning on each other, I hope the people that I speak so highly of can weigh the pros and cons of each in a dignified manner, take a chance, and compromise on something that will contribute to the community as a whole and benefit future generations. Especially when the potential benefit is great and the individual cost is quite small. We are making some great headway in making this great place even better. Comments have been posted about great things we’ve done, great things in the works, and great things that could be proposed! GREAT, GREAT, GREAT! Bet let’s not get ahead of ourselves. There is still a long way to go if we are to ensure our children, and our grandchildren, will have the opportunity to experience the small town lifestyle many of us had and love so much! The life Washington offers to me and my eventual family is the single most important factor in my choosing to become a rural primary care physician! A not so popular choice among physicians nowadays I might add, but YOU have inspired me. Whether you are the neighbor down the street who invited me fishing, the teacher who pushed me to achieve my potential in class, the coach who taught me discipline, or the convenient store clerk with a friendly smile who made my day every time I stopped in there. Yes, these are all real cases from my life, and yes, it is because of you that I have faith in Washington. It is because of you that Washington is “Something to believe in.”
Fun Fact: Washington High School’s class of 2004 graduated 3 students who are now in medical school to become doctors. Proportionate to class size, I believe that is the highest in the entire state for that year and definitely something to be proud of!