A barb to the person who barbed me >for hitting your dog. Does it take a rocket scientist to know that if you tied your dog on County J, they wouldn't get hit whether you're speeding or not! - Anonymous>
A barb to our city fathers. >If they want to replace the income lost from taking out the meters on the Square, they can station an unmarked car at the entry to Piggly Wiggly grocery and arrest the drivers who run the stop signs. In the 30 minutes while I was shopping today, I saw six drivers ignore the stop sign. - Z>
A huge barb to those of you that use the handicapped spots and are not handicapped at all. >Just because you drive a handicapped person around does not give you the right to use them when they are not with you. Or you park in a spot with person in vehicle, but you run into store, not the handicapped person. You should be ashamed that you are doing this and I hope someday you don't really need this spot. Someone upstairs will be watching over you. - Irritated>
A blossom to the Green County Fair Board >for a job well done on this year's fair. The carnival company that you hired was a great fit. There were plenty of rides for kids small and large with clean, polite workers for all the rides and games. All the shows from the animals to the grandstand provided great family entertainment. I'd have to say that this was one of the best Green County Fairs in recent history.
A barb to those individuals who hit women and children>, especially in the case where the abused want to move on and you have the gall to abuse them further by threatening to harm yourself if they leave. Using these methods to "control" someone and feed off their low self-esteem makes you nothing less than a coward. It's a shame that so often these cases go unreported, as no child or women should have to ever deal with this. - Rob McCarthy>
A barb to the two women >who were walking east in the street on 28th Avenue between 13th and 14th streets. It was almost 8 o'clock on a cloudy night and you walk in the street when there is plenty of sidewalk available. I almost hit you both as I turned the corner! It's sad that you aren't the only two people to make such a stupid decision. ... I see this happen often. I'd like to see the police department fine any pedestrian who walks in the street when there is sidewalk available! - Anonymous>
A big blossom to the Green County Fair Board >this year for the great midway. I barbed the fair last year for the broken rides and the workers who couldn't have cared less about what they were doing. This year I was actually told to have a nice day by a worker as I was getting off a ride. I felt that they really took their jobs and the safety of the riders seriously. I loved the fact that there were benches to sit on while waiting for my kids to get off the rides. To all the people involved ... you rock! - Happy Mom>
I hate to barb, so this is just a small one to the Green County Fair, >not too harsh but I still hope to make a point. The fair is too expensive to get into. I understand it takes a lot of time and money to make the whole thing happen, but by charging $8 for an adult you are turning people away. I remember when it was $5 and I would go several times during the week. I had no problem paying that amount, but in talking with people I know, many of them did not go because the price of admission did not work with their budget, even though they love fair food. With times being so tough and change happening so rapidly, I just don't think people are comfortable paying that price. They are more worried about keeping food on their tables and really cutting back on entertainment. I know the price will never go down, but I read that the fair numbers this year were only average - cost may have hurt you. Maybe a small consideration for next year if the times haven't changed - a deal for families, or a free admission day like you used to do. Numbers may go up even if the weather is bad. P.S. I don't think it was a bad idea to charge for the grandstand. - To the Fair Board>
I would like to thank the Green County Fair Board, Monroe Lions Club, Ag Chest Trailer, FFA Alumni Trailer, Monroe Optimist and Swiss Colony for the beautiful basket with goodies I received. The Fair Trivia Challenge was great - I enjoyed learning all about the past and present events of the Fair. I wouldn't have been able to go this year with costs and all, so I truly appreciate the gift basket of donated items! My husband and I had a great night out. Thanks to all the wonderful people involved. Blossoms to the Fair Board >for booking Neal McCoy. Sorry for the Neal McCoy concert, as I have seen him before and it was exciting for Monroe to bring him to the Green County Fair. Thanks again and God bless. - Penny Thompson>
I'd like to send out a huge blossom to my personal Fair Pit Crew >made up of 4-H kids and one of their leaders. I had a flat tire on our cattle trailer at 11 p.m. one evening at the Green County Fair. It topped of an already very bad day. I nicked one of the many inconveniently placed metal posts put up by a somewhat overzealous group of parking officials, and it was flat as a pancake within 30 seconds. My maneuvering abilities aside, after the Elite Security Guard came out and expressed his concern over my getting my trailer out of his way so he could leave that evening - offering no help whatsoever in solving my dilemma - a group of about six young men came to my rescue (and, yes, they are probably some of the same ones who participated in the notorious water fight on Sunday afternoon). They cheerfully changed the tire and had me on my merry way in about 20 minutes. What a testament to the quality of kids we have here in this county! I can think of many places where kids that age wouldn't have had a clue what to do, much less willingly, no questions asked, helped out this distressed woman. If farm kids were going to take over the running of this country, the future would look very bright! So, thank you Dean and Brock Reeson, Andy Boeke, Tommy Butts and David Meier. And, by the way, the Elite Security guard got home on time, too! - Trish>
A barb to WEKZ and The Monroe Times >for not covering the comments from the audience at the Monroe council meeting on Wednesday, July 29, particularly sincee they said they were interested in our comments. There were comments other than mine and nobody's were mentioned. If Rex Ewald takes the job as city administrator, I think it would be a conflict of interest. If the city did decide to go with a city administrator, I believe it shouldn't be rushed through, but advertised because I understand there is interest from other parties. I made the comment, "We used to have an elected city attorney that worked for us full-time and we paid him far less than we're currently paying the part-time one. So I don't believe there will be any savings and we would definitely lose some of our Democratic input." - Mr. and Mrs. La Vern F. Isely, Monroe>
A barb in reference to a bicyclist who wrote a barb >about bicycle lanes to the Square. First of all, he or she must have their head in the sand. I quote, "millions of bicycles through our front yard." Dream on. Second, we have seen all the lanes and trails you need, and you don't follow them anyway. As we see in the country, where trails are next to the highway, and you ride on the highway anyway. Third, when you start paying for upkeep and new trails, then you have the right to complain. P.S., if you have the nerve to complain, at least have the guts to sign your name. - Ernest P. Beutel>
A huge barb to Harvey Kubly. >As chairman of the Green County Tourism Committee, I can't believe he voted to remove 3 to 4 miles of ATV trail. Mr. Kubly, drive to Monroe on a weekend and go past the motels. See what is in the parking lots! Mr. Kubly, rail never will come back to Monticello. Get over it, and think about the whole county impact! - ATV User>
A blossom to all the dedicated people who sacrifice >to provide food and supplies to those who need and look forward to receiving it each week.
A barb to our local extension services >for not providing provisions, lessons to help. During the Depression, we were even taught to sew our own mittens. Remember the wise American Indians who provided a day's supply of fish and vegetables to the white man? Then they said, we teach you to fish and grow supplies and then you can be supplied forever. We found necessity is the mother of invention.
A blossom to Habitat for Humanity >for all it has accomplished throughout the years and how it requires recipients to prove they have made progress in managing finances, etc., to better their lives. - Anonymous>
A blossom to everyone who contributed at the Green County Fair,> office people, fair board, 4-H and FFA leaders, auction buyers, auctioneers, service groups, police and security, cleanup crew, parking crew, and ticket takers. Excellent job this year, and look forward to seeing you all in 2010.
However, the fair would not be the fair without the exhibitors, so a big blossom to all the youth and adults >who did an excellent job on their projects. And, kids, it doesn't matter if you got a blue ribbon or a pink ribbon or ribbons in between, you all put forth one heck of an effort and you should be darn proud of what you did, and you are inspirations to many others around you!
A blossom to WEKZ Big Radio >for all the broadcasting they did during the fair and the youth meat animal auction.
A blossom to The Monroe Times> for their superb coverage of the fair and its events.
A blossom to the Monroe School District >for allowing the marching band to be formed. Not sure what we will talk about now next Cheese Days, except maybe how awesome they look marching through the parade.
A blossom to the Green County Beef Producers and Alissa Grenawalt >for working together to set up a modified Green County Farm Bureau Family Farm Adventure tent at the fair. We heard a lot of positive comments and the kids had a blast in the corn boxes again.
A blossom to farm machinery operators and vehicle drivers >on the road who cooperate while traveling our busy highways. And for those who don't yet ... try a little harder, please, and as always remember, there are five fingers to wave with.
And a blossom to all the teachers and bus drivers >and anyone else who helped out with summer school. - Jeff Ditzenberger, Monticello >
A belated blossom to the Green County Humane Society >for the great job in organizing and supporting Pedal for Paws. This is a great event, with a choice of routes and well-stocked aid stations. It's getting bigger every year, but still deserves a lot more riders. If you've never done it, put it on your calendar for next July. - George Vernon >
A barb to the Green County Humane Society >for not bothering to have a display booth or even make an appearance at the Green County Fair! As the Times article stated, the fair is all about the animals - is that not the purpose of the Humane Society, finding caring homes for its animals? They certainly missed the opportunity to reach thousands of animal lovers and potential adopters! Another missed opportunity by GCHS. - Longtime Fair Attendee>
A huge barb to the Humane Society, and board members >... shame on all of you for caring so much about animals! Shame on you for giving your free time to help out! Shame on you for not being perfect! And a huge blossum to all of those criticizing >you all the time. I am sure they give their free time to the Humane Society all the time! I am also sure they are perfect in every way. - Swiss Miss>
A blossom to The Monroe Times >for the awesome coverage of the 4-H dog show. A lot of time and effort is put into it by various community members, and it is great that you are helping get the word out. Also, a blossom to the Green County Fair Board for letting us move the day of the show from Sunday to Wednesday. Hopefully that will also spread the popularity of the Dog Project. Lastly, a blossom to all four of the trainers, Krista Bethke, Tonya and Jarett Kelly, and Linda Roth, for all of their volunteer work. - Rachel Wellnitz, Monroe>
