Yesteday I had a chance to read Don Esteps Column in the news journal. I do like some of Don's points from time to time but he is certainly pulling the wool over everyone's eyes with yesterdays babbling buffunery.
Congressman Rogers has certainly been a good friend of this area and has worked hard, but again, that's what we pay him to do.
Don is attempting to make this a Vote for or Against the Congressman, when in all actuality it is all about Industry and the appreciation at the local level & the drive to create more and better paying jobs. The many accolades heaped on the Congressman made for good press and the 4000 jobs Don quoted that the Congressman had created.
But unfortunatley after 20 years we are one of the poorest areas in the nation with an average income level around 19K per year for our people, so let's not be so fast in handing over the mantle of greatness to any of our elected officials quite yet.
Don may want to tell the family making that 19K per year and paying 3-Dollars a Gallon for gas this Thanksgiving how great the Congressman is and how much he has done for the area?????
The Homeless, the people living below the poverty level, the unemployed, shyroketing fuel, groceries, home heating oil, natural gas increases, interest rates and the worst mortage mess we have seen in 50 years, all going out of sight.
Once again the people at the 19k per year level here in the Tri-County area got your memo in the news journal yesterday and what a great job everyone is doing watching out for them.
Estep's boss's article said he employed over 2100 people through all of his holdings. I wonder what the average salary and benefits for his staff are. Actually, what the average salary and benefits for his non-management staff are.
since Estep does not work for the city or state i don't think it is anyone's business what his salary is. He doesn't have to tell anyone and what does it matter what his salary is?
I'm sure Estep would be pleased to know that so many on this board religiously read every word he writes in the newspaper. His columns are very good and he has a devoted following.
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Since Estep does not work for the city---------- (Huh?????)
He does work for the city as he can spend city tax payer dollars through the tourism commission, if tax payer business and money is involved Don should release his income tax returns especially if he continues to tout the great things and all of the business Contressman Rogers or anyone else has brought to the area?
He should simply back up his Column with actual salaries and facts, start with his own business, the News Journal and let's see who has benefited from all these great achievements by the Conrgressman and how it has increased the Salaries of our local population?
Start with the employee's at the News Journal, including Estep?
When Estep is responsible for city taxpayers money, that makes it my business with whatever he does in any aspect of anything. He's been given a position of responsibility and trust with the public's money. My problem is when he suddenly decided not to press Carpenter for an accounting of the $25K for nibroc this year. Makes you wonder where it actually went?
Where did the Money go, no politics, no Ego's, just tell these folks where the Money was spent this year on Nibroc.
As for Estep, I agree with the above posters as I would like to see your salary and the people who work for ya?
Those are good points in the above posts, sounds like some Money has vanished into thin air. This should be easy to clear up as soon as you release this past years audit & expenditure of all funding.
I would bet that some money may be missing or this audit would be public???
i think it is crazy that you think his salary is your business and i think it is crazier that you think any employee at the news journal's salary is your business. Do you think your salary should be printed in the newspaper? How is this anyone's business? WOuld you put your name, occupation and salary in the newspaper?
Estep sets himself up as a know-it-all for our area with a barrell of ink at his disposal. That makes him a public figure. Just like any reporter he likes to air the dirty laundry of others. How about his own? And that of his hired people. Good idea?
I think when you handle the publics money, there should be a financial background check ran on you.
It'll be interesting to see when Estep goes off the chairman of the Tourism board, first of all who is the next chair, and then, to see if that person will require an accounting of the money. If Tipton gets it, as the rumor has it, will he just write a check and hand it over with no accounting of it at all? He's an attorney, I sure hope he doesn't. If there's some improprieties afoot, then he could be disbarred if he knows about it.
If one of he other members take over, then I'd say ol Bruce will have to submit an expense sheet, especially if Suze, Missy, or Steve takes over.
I don't care a bit what Estep makes in his job, he'll be at mandatory retirement soon and he'll be drawing like the rest of us and then the real world will be in his face, worrying about how much a tank of gas costs.
I doubt that either of the three you mentioned will ever do anything. They were all three just hot air on the tourism website deal. You had best place your faith somewere else. Steve will not do anything to make life hard for his dad. Missy managed to dodge two meetings in a row to avoid the issue and should be removed. Suzie voted no and threw a hissie fit after the vote but that was about it. Mandatory retirement? You are dreaming.
When people accept mediocrity in place of quality you know you are in trouble. After having a website of substance and quality they cooked up this price issue for Estep to punish someone he got mad at. The State reimburses them 50% of their costs for a website.
If a community, team, business or any entity does not want to do things better than others it will always be part of the herd instead of standing out as a leader.
Why is our tourism commission satisfied with mediocrity? Why don't we want to be the best in presenting things about our community? Why don't we have any guts?
Yes, I too love to read Don's column. If you'll notice, weekly it gives us plenty to talk about and discuss on this board. He sometimes has some good points, but, usually, he blows.
