(no subject)
It’s easy to say this job is everything I thought it’d be and at the same time nothing I thought it’d be. I am doing things I never dreamed I would be doing in my first job and handling far more than I ever expected. It is nothing short of a love-hate relationship.
I have been credited with saving the county rest home and giving a fresh glimpse of things in the community, but on the down side it’s very hard to filter through who is lying and who’s telling the truth.
Within the past few weeks there’s been some SERIOUS drama errupting with county officials that all started before I got here with some computers being confiscated by federal investigators after allegations of child porn on them, they came up clean. Anyway, at least one of the three county commissioners is really sneaking around behind people’s backs. It’s just a big mess. People are getting fired illegally, things are being discussed in illegal private meetings by the commissioners and County Council and the public is completely oblivious to almost everything because no one is telling the truth!
So then I come in, the new girl just out of college, and thank goodness I know how to do my research and how to fact-check. But oh my goodness it is very stressful going up against the county commissioners to stand up for what I know is right.
There is a work session of the County Council tonight and they are only supposed to be working on the budget. However, over the past couple of days it has come to my attention that other things will be discussed as well. One topic includes elimintating an entire department within the county that is in charge of emergency management and is VERY important! And it will be eliminated due to the grudges of one of the county commissioners. All of this is being done behind closed doors and if I didn’t attend meetings and let the public know what’s going on there would probably be even more trouble.
The topic of discussion on the agenda for tonight’s meeting that pains me the most is the county rest home. Several weeks after I got here, I did a feature story on the rest home so that people could hopefully truly understand what it is, who lives there, etc. In my opinion it is a fantastic facility meant to be somewhere where people who may not be able to fully take care of themselves to go and have a safe place to live. It has been a part of Pulaski County since the late 1800’s and lately has seen a large decrease in residents. After the article I wrote, the home received enough new residents to be only 2 away from being at capacity. However, tonight the County Council may decide to fully get rid of the home because it is not a “money maker”...nevermind the amazing service it is for the community or the amazing good it does for others, most of the council only sees the money and wants it gone. It will be a horrific loss for Pulaski County.
Needless to say, I have been pretty nervous lately having to deal with these things. But the experience is unbeatable. I’ve covered everything from festivals and fairs, to huge fires destroying businesses and homes, suicide attempts, bad car accidents and county official drama. Who would have ever thought a little rural county would have so much drama!!
Anyway, away from the work stuff, things are going pretty well. I have definite nights and weekends where I’m really lonely, but things are definitely getting better as I’m starting to make friends.
I’m getting close to Kari, the layout designer/managing editor. I’ve hung out with her and her husband Sean and daughter Kori (who is SOOO cute) as of late which has been nice. She and I are going to Chicago on Aug. 16 to go shopping and see Wicked (sorry Katie :-( ). There’s a train that leaves from a town about an hour north of here and takes you from that point straight to Millenium Park for like $6 one way! So that’s totally awesome and we’re planning to get there via the train instead of fighting Chicago traffic.
I have NO idea when I’m going to see Jeff again. It may not be until mid-September, in which case it will be 2 months since we will have seen each other. I’m hoping it’s not that long in between, but will gas prices and everything it’s hard. And it seems like there’s always something I have to cover on the weekend or something Jeff has to do. Oh well...less that 7 months until we get married!
I should seriously attempt to update this thing more often...holy crap my entries are always super long. Sorry guys!
Have a good day everyone!
I have been credited with saving the county rest home and giving a fresh glimpse of things in the community, but on the down side it’s very hard to filter through who is lying and who’s telling the truth.
Within the past few weeks there’s been some SERIOUS drama errupting with county officials that all started before I got here with some computers being confiscated by federal investigators after allegations of child porn on them, they came up clean. Anyway, at least one of the three county commissioners is really sneaking around behind people’s backs. It’s just a big mess. People are getting fired illegally, things are being discussed in illegal private meetings by the commissioners and County Council and the public is completely oblivious to almost everything because no one is telling the truth!
So then I come in, the new girl just out of college, and thank goodness I know how to do my research and how to fact-check. But oh my goodness it is very stressful going up against the county commissioners to stand up for what I know is right.
There is a work session of the County Council tonight and they are only supposed to be working on the budget. However, over the past couple of days it has come to my attention that other things will be discussed as well. One topic includes elimintating an entire department within the county that is in charge of emergency management and is VERY important! And it will be eliminated due to the grudges of one of the county commissioners. All of this is being done behind closed doors and if I didn’t attend meetings and let the public know what’s going on there would probably be even more trouble.
The topic of discussion on the agenda for tonight’s meeting that pains me the most is the county rest home. Several weeks after I got here, I did a feature story on the rest home so that people could hopefully truly understand what it is, who lives there, etc. In my opinion it is a fantastic facility meant to be somewhere where people who may not be able to fully take care of themselves to go and have a safe place to live. It has been a part of Pulaski County since the late 1800’s and lately has seen a large decrease in residents. After the article I wrote, the home received enough new residents to be only 2 away from being at capacity. However, tonight the County Council may decide to fully get rid of the home because it is not a “money maker”...nevermind the amazing service it is for the community or the amazing good it does for others, most of the council only sees the money and wants it gone. It will be a horrific loss for Pulaski County.
Needless to say, I have been pretty nervous lately having to deal with these things. But the experience is unbeatable. I’ve covered everything from festivals and fairs, to huge fires destroying businesses and homes, suicide attempts, bad car accidents and county official drama. Who would have ever thought a little rural county would have so much drama!!
Anyway, away from the work stuff, things are going pretty well. I have definite nights and weekends where I’m really lonely, but things are definitely getting better as I’m starting to make friends.
I’m getting close to Kari, the layout designer/managing editor. I’ve hung out with her and her husband Sean and daughter Kori (who is SOOO cute) as of late which has been nice. She and I are going to Chicago on Aug. 16 to go shopping and see Wicked (sorry Katie :-( ). There’s a train that leaves from a town about an hour north of here and takes you from that point straight to Millenium Park for like $6 one way! So that’s totally awesome and we’re planning to get there via the train instead of fighting Chicago traffic.
I have NO idea when I’m going to see Jeff again. It may not be until mid-September, in which case it will be 2 months since we will have seen each other. I’m hoping it’s not that long in between, but will gas prices and everything it’s hard. And it seems like there’s always something I have to cover on the weekend or something Jeff has to do. Oh well...less that 7 months until we get married!
I should seriously attempt to update this thing more often...holy crap my entries are always super long. Sorry guys!
Have a good day everyone!