Comments about comments to the blog: I messed up

The beauty of a blog is that one can get instant feedback.

This was one of the main purposes in using this format.

However, I discovered that I had the "moderate comments" section turned on on the community blog and in addition it had deleted my e-mail address so that I wasn’t being notified of comments.

Therefore, no comments were being posted.

I have now rectified this and all the numerous comments made previously are now available.

In fact, I have copied some of them below so that they can be read all at once.

Any response to thesecan be in the form of a comment to this entry.

Also, I have changed the settings so that comments will go through immediately.

If you want to read the comments go back through the blog entries or see below.

Open any blog and look on the left side under archives to see a list.

At the bottom of the first entry, it will tell how many comments have been posted.

Comments are a great way to express your opinions.

This can be done anonymously or you can give your name.

You have that option when posting.

All I ask is that you keep the language clean and the discussion on a high level.

I apologize to all those who posted earlier and it didn’t show up.

Thanks for your participation.

Some previous blog comments:

I don't see the other executives that Patterson has moving to Snyder. These are not the kind of country folk that would enjoy small town life. However there are some small benefits to Snyder that you need to work on. One of the benefits I see to the corporate office staying in Snyder is the low cost of labor here. If the corporate office moves, they are going to have to pay people more in a bigger city. I was working at Patterson, and I was making 18,000 per year with a college degree. I moved 80 miles away to make over double that amount.Also, I am sure that the Patterson property in Snyder is paid for. If they move to Houston, they are looking at a big expense for renting or purchasing a building.I can say to the people of Snyder, do something now before this place dries up and withers away. This boom will again go away, and you don't want to be stuck like you were in the 80's. If Patterson leaves or even if KinderMorgan leaves, where will you be???
Love,A Former Snyderite

YES, KEEP PATTERSON DRILLING IN SNYDER. AND OTHER MAJOR BUSINESES.WE DESPERATELY NEED A NEW SWIMMING POOL FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THE OLDER YOUTH DO NOT HAVE ANY THING TO DO IN THE SUMMER. I WAS BORN HERE, GRADUATED FROM SNYDER HIGH IN 1953. MOVED TO IRVING WHEN IT WAS A SMALL COUNTRY TOWN. THE CITY FATHERS WERE VERY AGGRESSIVE TO HELP IT TO GROW. WE NEED OUR COMMUNITY TO BE MORE PROGRESSIVE AND AGGRESSIVE. THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN NEEDS THEIR ROADS TO BE RE-PAVED AND UPDATED.WE HAVE A SMALL CONSTRUCTION CO. WITH THE HIGH PRICES OF BUILDING MATERIAL THEN WE HAVE TO FIGHT CITY HALL ON UTILITIES AND PAVING WE NEED HELP TO BUILD HOMES FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION .ONE OF OUR SUB-DIVISIONS HAS 16 LOTS NOT PAVED OR GUTTERED AND HALF OF THOSE LOTS HAVE ACCESS TO UTILITIES THE COST TO US TO HAVE THESE LOTS READY TO BUILD ON IS COST PRO-HIVITED,BUT THE CITY COULD DO THIS FOR HALF THE PRICE . WE HAVE CACULATED THE REVENUE BROUGHT INTO SNYDER WITH TAXES, CITY SEWER AND WATER WOULD BE CLOSE TO $50,000.A YEAR THIS IS NOT INCLUDING OTHER UTILITY SERVICES AND THE FACT THAT PERHAPS HALF OF THESE BUYERS WOULD BE NEW FAMILES MOVING IN. WE NEED GROWTH AND TO GET MOVING WE NEED HELP. HOPEFULLY MY COMMENTS WILL HELP.
SHIRLEY

Snyder has been my home over 50 years. I have seen it up and down several times.I agree with the comments 100%. We need to do whatever it takes to keep Patterson and Kindermorgan here.We have lost families due to lack of jobs, housing, schools and facilities were not updated. The revenue we have had over the years was not used to the highest and best use and we are paying the price now.We need to all face the facts that small West Texas towns are dying and I for one do not want to be left to "turn the lights out".Let's get more aggresive and take some pride in our community. I want to have something to leave my grandchildren.
Faye BlackledgeHeritage Homes Realtors

You make some excellent points including the fact that Snyder is a small town that lacks the amenities of a metropolitian area. The limitations of size and location alone should dictate that our political, civic, and business leaders be prudent and efficient with their financial decisions.It is difficult to mandate accountability of leadership when being politically incorrect is viewed as personal. Such is life in a small town and I do not see that changing.
AnonymousWhen times are good is the time to make prudent investments and build reserves. I hope our leadership has the expertise and discipline to prepare this community for the times when our cash-flow isn't what it is today.
Anonymous

If there is a real possibility, as you state, that Patterson is eventually heading to Houston, is this community prepared for the impact?Your solution seems to be that we need to offer the activities and amenities that are readily available in the metropolition areas. Is it economically feasible to do so? What do the demographics of Scurry County suggest? Anonymous
The county needs to keep Rick Mammolite in the Pro Shop with the same arrangement as he now has. Because of the number of hours he is there, he could not be replaced by even a minimum wage employee for the same money.
Anonymous

No Brainer is an understatement. Excellent example of local politics. The commissoners court doesn't have a clue about what they have gotten into or what to do with it. They were simply bought off with a nice endowment.
Anonymous

I grew up out past Union & we had an incident with a Cat & a rattlesnake. They were pretty much having a stand off on the concrete footing of the house, then my Dad went out & killed the snake. Also while clearing out some pasture, we over turned some brush to find a pair mating! That was quite a sight! They were united & entangled in a large moving ball. I have encountered many, but never been bitten or had any animals bitten. A cousin of mine did get bitten out at the Ranch & it was just terrible. I do find the myths you had somewhat amusing!
Posted by Jenney

Thank you Scott for all of your hard work and service
Anonymous

I to ,would like to know the reason behind Scott leaving the job.but in Snyder. alot of things remain a misstry like Charles Church being kicked off the Hospital board and why so many nurses have quit at codgell.I belive it will all come out sonner or later, thank you Scott for all your hard work, and I wish the best for you and your family
Anonymous

I thought Larry Thompson was over the coliseum. What is his title?
Anonymous

Why would anyone have "trouble" with the commissioners? They are all fine upstanding people with the best intentions for our community. I don't always agree with what they do, but I can't help but think, if Scott had "trouble" with them, there was a good reason.
Anonymous

I heard that the coliseum is booked almost every weekend of the year. I think because most of the time it's for private parties, people might not realize it's being used. We should find out for sure.
Anonymous

In looking at the possibility of the commissioner's court running or in overseeing the running of a golf course, I would ask questions about another "could be" community asset. I am speaking of the coliseum. Is the coliseum costing the tax payers or is it turning a profit for the tax base? Has this community asset been overseen in such a way that it truly is a benefit to Scurry County? Not merely a marginal asset, but a real benefit? These are not comments, they are viable questions.
Anonymous

life is good
Anonymous

Why else have other people left suddenly around here lately? Jody Nelson ring a bell? Look a little deeper and see how "burnt out" he really was...
Anonymous

why is the blog not immediate any longer?
Anonymous

I lived in Snyder most of my life and thought it was a great place to live. The biggest complaint I have about small towns like Snyder is the back-stabbing gossip. A quote I read recently was, "the greatest thing about living in a small town is that you know everybody and they know you. The worst thing about living in a small town is that you know everybody and they know you."
Anonymous

I can no longer be silent regarding the situation at CogdellHospital. The hospital is a great assest to Scurry County and has the potential to be a greater assest to the surrounding communities, but if the current trend continues, we won't have the staff to run a band-aid station.The atmosphere at best is oppressive! The employee morale is at an all time low. Following are a just a few reasons why: 1. Secrecy-communication is a joke, administration says nothing, managers say nothing, there is no reasoning given for anything that is done, just a lot of political "to serve the greater good" mumbo-jumbo. 2. No equality in anything, the payscale that was board appoved is apparetnly out the window. Folks that come in to apply for jobs are offered above what employees doing the same job are currently making. What about loyalty? Most employees could get jobs at other facilities and make more money, but they CHOOSE to stay in Snyder. Also no equality in discipline. Two employees can do the same thing and only one getreprimanded. 3. EVERYONE is concerned that their job or department will be deleted. People have been moved around, people have left, are leaving. Policies are made everyday that have employees wondering if they are created simply to give administration a reason to fire them! 4. Prices are being raised in the dietary department to equal those in the Snack Bar! Most hospitals give employees a discount for their meals because most of them aren't allowed to leave the building for a break. Who is bennefiting from this? Then there is talk of adminisatration wanting to close the snack bar because they don't want to pay for the upkeep. How much money has the auxiliary donated to CMH? How much equipment have they bought? How many nurses and doctors have put through school? Not a good idea. 5. Then there is that whole internet thing. We do not work at IBM, I thought we wanted a family atmosphere. What do you think we are doing on the web. Spying? If you are allowed breaks, you should be able to use the internet. Install all of the filters you want, most folks only want to read the news, check the weather or look for a quick bargain. And we are trustworthy enough to do our job before we take a break. Why can't you just trust us enough to the job we were hired for. 6. Cutting staff, we don't work in a factory. You must maintain a level of staff so that you can take care of any situation that arises. We take care of people. Emergencies and disasters happen. Employees that are always sent home for low census will eventually quit. Then when the census goes back up, you will want them to come back and guess what, THEY WON'T!! We are tired of worrying about our jobs. We are tried of worrying that someone will walk by when we have just sat down, thinking "they must not have anything to do, we must not need them".This is the atmosphere we deal with everyday. We are weary!CMH Board of Managers come talk to us (because we aren't allowed to talk to you or we will be fired), find out if these things are true.IF YOU DON'T DO SOMETHING SOON, YOU WON'T HAVE ANYONE TO MANAGE!!
Anonymous

The employees at the hospital are occasionally asked what can be done to retain employees and encourage new nurses come to work at Cogdell. I am shocked at how rarely the nurses bring up the issue of money. Usually other issues come up far more frequently such as being shown respect and all nurses being treated equally but most of us have given up on that ever happening. It is sad when people that routinely skip lunch breaks are treated like common criminals if they take 5 minutes to check their email at work. Living in a glass house is not something I would recommend to administration at the hospital. You want to encourage a nurse to come to Cogdell, you make the nurses that work there are happy. I have been asked by many nurses in town how things are going at the hospital and I am honest with them. Would I recommend they apply at Cogdell? I tell them NO!
Anonymous

Questions from a Reader

Message:: I have a few questions, and was hoping you'd know the answers. The first one I have asked everyone I know, and NOONE has an answer. 1. If Snyder is home of the White Buffalo, why is our mascot a Tiger? Doesnt Tigers EAT White Buffalos? 2. I read online, that supposably, the coliseum is haunted by a young boy. The young boy was chasing after a bat, fell down the steps, broke his neck, and died. Did this truly happen? If so, what year? 3. Also online, I found on www.lubbockonline.com on 6/04/97 that there was a murder in Texas. It says that a murder happened at a convenient store, but doesnt list the stores name. What convenient store did this happen at? Thank you for your time. My kids and I, have been seeking an answer to the first question for years! Hopefully, someone, somewhere knows the answer.

This is an e-mail sent to SnyderTexas.net.

I am going to give what info I know in this post. If anyone has more info, you can give it in the comments section of this blog or you can send it through the Contact Us section of SnyderTexas.net.

I believe the White Buffalo theme was begun in earnest when the Chamber started the White Buffalo Days in the early 1980’s.

The Tiger had been the mascot of our public school teams for many years before this.

I have never heard of a movement to change the Tiger mascot to that of the White Buffalo.

Possibly a Tiger could kill and eat a White Buffalo. However, I don’t believe they ever existed in the same physical environment so that we could find out.

It is conceivable that a White Buffalo could gore a Tiger and certainly a herd of buffalo could seriously injure a Tiger to the extent that the Tiger would not mess with them.

However, a Tiger is probably the more formidable creature.

It is true that a young boy fell through the coliseum roof to the floor below while his parent or parents were practicing for a play.

He had been able to climb up to that area through an unsecured ladder.

I remember it happening. I think in the 1970’s.

I don’t know if he were chasing a bat or just playing around.

I have never heard that the coliseum is haunted.

Finally, according to official records, Dorsi Johnson was executed on June 4, 1997 for the death of Jack Huddleston, 53, a convenience store clerk in Snyder.

He was shot in the head with a .22 caliber pistol after being told to lie on the floor. The robbery netted $161.92.

I am not sure when the incident happened.

Terrorist Organization Number One

If a terrorist can be defined as someone who causes extreme discomfort and anger to innocent people, then I have a new candidate for terrorist number one:

Consumer relations departments at large corporations.

These entities hide not in murky rat infested caves like Bin Laden but rather behind the crackling wires of phone banks.

When you hunt for them, you are met with a barrage of menus, each demanding that you punch a number in response to myriad questions.

A wrong answer to these confusing requests leads down a blind alley forcing your search to begin all over.

If after relentless pursuit, you apprehend one of the lower level lieutenants, your interrogation rarely leads to information of any value.

You receive only clues as to how to contact a higher up and hints as to where he might be found.

No matter how many levels of the organization you may penetrate, they never have the info you need.

Nor are they the ones responsible for giving you that information.

That person is always beyond the next phone extension.

And so you search on and on, peeling back layer after layer of the group, traveling in an endless circle, often arriving back at the very department at which you started.

Al-Quaida has nothing on these terrorist organizations.

They are self perpetuating, each cell independent of all the others.

They are supposedly ruled by a mastermind, but where does he reside and how does he communicate with his subordinates?

No one seems to know.

But it is obvious that when you try to find him, he can immediately submit you to an exquisite torture which will finally force you to scream:

JUST FORGET IT!