LETTER: Love the paper, and what's going on with downtown maintenance
City workers remove statues from pedestals in downtowm Moses Lake last December so the artwork could be sent for refurbishment. Many of them have been re-installed, but a few were also moved to new locations more appropriate to their themes.
FILE PHOTO
Mr. Miller,
I enjoyed your editor's letter! I enjoy the desert living! What I also enjoy is my morning newspaper. Lord, we have the BEST paper carriers in town! I give them treats once in awhile! Never get to visit because they’re here and gone!
The other thing is I love and enjoy the printed news. My neighbor, Mr. Carlile, 95 years old, enjoys it too. I’m 78. In my senior year, I worked at the McPherson, Kan., newspaper. That’s when we had lead, fire, furnaces, line-o-types, etc. I did drop-offs and was an inserter. Me and Mr. Carlile aren’t computer nerds, we enjoy the printed page and all the advertisements. Also, all the super pictures you guys print out each day.
However, the city is hiding some secrets from the public. Like that they going to do with large concrete cement blocks downtown, use to have artwork on them? Weird? Why are parks not better taken care of. All parks. My Hayden Park trees need to be trimmed, roads wearing out. Replace art statues on lake walk behind Danny’s? The city holds many secrets.
Your Friend,
Cal Bergen
Moses Lake
Cal,
Thank you for writing in with your compliments. Honestly, there are days my staff and I need that sort of encouragement and I appreciate it.
I am going to disagree a bit on the city having secrets. Moses Lake’s new city manager, Rob Karlinsey, and I are meeting regularly to ensure transparency — at his request. I think some of what you’re seeing is that things are taking some time.
In December of last year, we covered the project to take care of maintenance on the statues. They had been removed to be refinished to extend their lifespans and be enjoyed for years to come. Most of them have been returned, but a few have new homes by Surf ‘n Slide because they fit with the motif of that area better.
We’ll reach out to the city on the maintenance at the parks and let you know what we find out in the next few days. If you’re asking questions, I’m sure others in the community are as well.
Thank you for your readership and feedback.
In appreciation,
Rob Miller
Managing Editor
Columbia Basin Herald
Basin Business Journal