25 October 2014

Opinion: Spoons in the Persimmons

Spoons in the Persimmons

Today is a beautiful fall day yet, there are individuals calling and stopping by the house, telling me that there are nothing but big double spoons in the bumper crop of persimmons.

Now that is an old way of telling me there is a really bad winter filled with snow and ice coming soon.

As a journalist, I got the true answer I was looking for from my community crews: Less winter road supplies were ordered this year than last year.  Creekside News Journal™  HISID expense spread sheets put the truth out front.
 
It has been 12 years since the road department was allowed to order a new plow. This information came out of HISID commissioner's meeting last week.

In the State of Arkansas, we have a very good set of Opening Meeting Laws and a Freedom of Information Act to obtain those records but,

"it takes people in charge to get things done for the health and welfare of the community."

So, here I sit enjoying the weather but thinking about how to get out of "the holler" for emergencies.

Everything is great in this new world of technology that we all enjoy at our finger tips but there are some real downfalls.

For years I kept my old rotary dial analog phone so, when the electrical power went out I could call out for help and check on friends and neighbors.

Now those places that you need to call for help, all have digital recordings telling me to Press 1 or Press 2 and so forth. Now with a rotary phone you can not Press those numbers.

With NO electrical power, charging that cell phone does not work.

Guess I am looking for those DIY tutorials on building a solar battery to get that phone charged up.

Then again, I remember back in 2009, having an ice storm and needing to walk a quarter mile down the road on ice to get a signal that lasted less than two minutes. Reference: In my area, living in a "dead zone" is not about a person's age.

Time to get all survival gear in order and Be Prepared! 

rls
Update editing: March 8, 2023