Comments by lithoguy
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Well, let's see now. Recessionary times, record unemployment, bankruptcies and foreclosures are all around us and being discussed on the news on a daily basis. Additionally, we recently saw Snorkel employees try to get greedy and vote for unionization only to be met with layoffs. We all know trying to unionize had nothing to do with that, right? Oh yeah, the union brothers over at MGP in Atchison thought going on strike was a brilliant move too. Un huh, go on strike against a company that is losing money. Brilliant, just brilliant. Now the local brain trust over at Smurfit-Stone think they understand the economics of a recession and decide to go on strike. You do realize that Smurfit-Stone has other 21 other facilities just in the Midwest that are within a one day drive of St. Joseph and that the current work load can easily be divided amongst several of these plants while you stand in the snow with your picket signs, don't you? Way to go, union members, way to go.
On Smurfit-Stone workers strike
The main webpage is at http://www.stjosephmusicfoundation.org/i.... Try this.
On Group hits high note with own radio station
While I agree that this city really needs high paying skilled jobs, my experience has been that there is not a lot of skilled talent around here that is available. By skilled, I do not necessarily mean a craftsman with many years of experience and knowledge in their particular trade. Instead, if someone like an Intel wanted to build a chip making facility here or Disney wanted to build a computer animation studio here, where would the talent needed for those type of businesses come from? I am afraid it would not come from around here. The talent pool just does not seem to exist in this area.
I have to agree with you njones60. I have been commuting to Kansas City for about 15 months now. Initially, it was out of necessity as I could not find employment in St. Joseph that pays anything close to what I am making in KC. Now I am doing it out of preference. Great job, great pay, great area. I definately want to move down here but I first must sell my house. That will not be an easy thing to do either.
RH, you are right about the availability of certain types of jobs. There just are not very many upper management or executive jobs available in St. Joseph. It forces those of us with those particular types of qualifications to look elsewhere. I do like St. Joseph and the neighborhood that I live in but I can definately see myself moving south in the near future. The cost of gas and the wear and tear on my car and me just is not worth it.
The Ramada is in business in order to make a profit and offer something additional to the travellers who frequent our area. It is probably not too concerned about trying to appease the local freeloaders who continue to look for a handout. If you are not prepared to pay out up to $ 180.00 to stay there, it is very simple: don't go there!
I agree with several of the above comments about the Aquatic Center being a more cost effective alternative for the local community. That is what it is there for. To offer an inexpensive and family oriented place for the community to gather and enjoy themselves. With the good, comes the bad as jayhawkbabe had mentioned. When you do go to the Aquatic Center, be prepared to deal with some of the undesirables who frequent the place.
I also must side with heritage as the price is quite prohibitive for the types of rooms that the local Ramada does offer. They really should consider some sort of family weekend package at a reduced price to entice the area residents to stay there and make use of their facilities.
On Hit the pool
It already is open to the public. Reserve a room and you can use it as much as you want during your stay at the hotel.
On Hit the pool
You can do all of the Six Sigma, Black Belt, Total Quality Management studies you want but until you address the real problems, you will continue to receive low public scores. Some of the issues that seem to be ignored are things like understaffed Emergency Room personnel, misdiagnosis of illnesses, indifferent employee mentality due to being the only hospital in town, inability to make an appointment to see a doctor for weeks, sometimes a month or longer. The list goes on. Like it or not, the underlying fact is that the general consensus here is that if you should require medical attention and live in St. Joseph, try your best to make it down to Kansas City if at all possible. When the day finally comes that the decision makers quit staying in their offices studying flow charts, financial spreadsheets and hypothetical simulation models and instead occasionally walk the floors and observe what is really going on, maybe some positive change can be made. Until then, status quo.
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