Century has many problems but mostly based on the large percentage of second and third generation welfare recepients. That is no secret. Century has to stop viewing itself as a “grant hole” based on poverty. That does nothing more than breed the generational feeling of being poor and receiving handouts. Jack you are on that same bandwagon, you want to make your money and notoriety for bringing relief to the poor and downtrodden of Century by getting grant after grant. You and Mr. Barnes, the man you so complain about, are very similar both of you have spent your time and energy trying to get grant after grant but really have nothing concrete to show for those efforts.
How about thinking of Century as a town of achievers, therefore the residents will begin to see themselves as successful and not just a town full of the poor and downtrodden?

Several of the executives, key-management employees would be asked to relocate with the company, but most of the daily production workers would be new-hires from the area of the new location. The next step in selecting the final location was to engage the spouses of these key employees. We ask the wives of the key-management executives to make a list of the elements of Life Qualities they desired to find in a new community. Their lists were not surprising, but very different from the men.

The wives and mothers wanted to know about things that contributed to and stimulated the lives and future of their children. They wanted to know about the availability of ballet and dance classes; tumbling and gymnastics classes; karate classes, piano lessons, horseback riding lessons, voice lessons, and recreation centers like the YWCA or Boy’s Club. They also wanted to know about churches, libraries, hospitals, the performing arts theaters, adult and children’s chorus and festivals. They wanted to know about the house they might buy, or at least the neighborhood where they might build a new house; they wanted to know how safe the neighborhoods were.

I think it is obvious but I will say it anyway; these lists narrowed the short list of acceptable locations drastically! The final location selected offered the most community involvement in creating a quality of life, especially for the children.

If Century wants jobs, the community has to focus on developing the elements of Life Quality for the Children! Playgrounds, school crossings, after school activities – and all of the things on mother’s lists.

“Build It and They Will Come” is not just a line from a movie called Field of Dreams.

Jack Moran
Bratt/Byrneville