Community should give young people chance

Published on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 8:38 AM MST

If you want young people to return or to come to Richland County, the signs are not clear. If you want younger people to start taking over leadership positions in the community, you aren’t showing it.

Time after time, we hear residents go on about how important it is for our young people to stay or return here. These people understand that our community will slowly die if we don’t have more young adults.

But we wonder if our area really is committed to the young people, or is it that we just want them to commit to living here, spend money here, pay taxes here and raise their kids here.

During the past few weeks, we’ve seen occasions where organizations could have put younger individuals on their board of directors. The trend, however, was to stay with the status quo. Not in any way are we trying to downplay the contributions that veteran members have done for their organizations. We realize Richland County wouldn’t be the same great place without these people.

But we do wonder, when is the time for new blood? If not now, when will members of organizations and boards welcome these enthused younger people by electing them to serve?

We realize there are exceptions and that, for instance, the chamber has some younger adults involved. We are just worried too many of us are missing the boat by not taking advantage of these fresh minds in our area and are not willing to put them in decision-making positions. So the next time a board position comes up, think for a moment and give younger people a chance to get involved.

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Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of the Sidney Herald.

2 cents worth- wrote on Nov 23, 2008 11:38 PM:

" While I fail to see what shopping locally has to do with the article I do wish to add my 2 cents. I didn’t realize how much I appreciated the availability of items until I moved here. I have looked for items here in Sidney and with the exception of our local grocers; every store has attempted to get what I am looking for. No, they are not always successful and yes, I’ve gone to Williston and guess what? I didn’t have any luck there either! I quickly learned that Williston does not have any better shopping than Sidney. Yes, they have Wal-Mart. And yes, I do shop there once in a great while but it is not worth driving that far just to go to Wal-Mart.
How much does gas cost you? What about wear & tear on your vehicle? I only get 18 mpg so breaking it down: 18 mpg @ $2.49 gal x approx 100 miles = approx $14.00. Wear and tear @ .485 per mile = $48.50 Now how about your time? Yes, your time has a value! I earn $10 an hour. Consider 2 hours drive time, and minimum of one hour shopping equals 3 hours x $10 per hour. Another $30. Are you going to have lunch/dinner while you are there? Add that to your expense. That shopping trip to Williston has cost me approx $92.00 To save a buck or two on an item. I simply don’t see how it is worth it!
Williston is doing a lot to attract the oil businesses and I also agree that our city, county and RED should be doing more to attract businesses to Sidney. However, let’s look on the bright side – at least our property taxes are not sky rocketing like Williston’s! "

DD wrote on Nov 21, 2008 7:29 AM:

" I will just make a comment about shopping locally. They never have anything or it is considerably higher than in Williston, to the point that it IS cheaper to drive over there and buy it. So many times I have entered various Sidney stores only to find that what I am looking for is "sold out" or not in stock but they can order it but we only send in orders every Tuesday so it won't be in until next week. Most often I can wait but what really irks me is the day to day stuff that is never on hand. If Sidney businesses want residents to shop locally, expand your inventories, read the Wal-Mart add and at least post a price that would make it non profitable to drive over there to pick it up. "

someone wrote on Nov 20, 2008 8:43 PM:

" Why shop in Sidney when the prices are so inflated due to the oil? Sorry to disappoint but I will never buy anything from the local stores when I can buy them at a fraction of the price elsewhere. When that changes, let me know and I'll think about it.

And the infighting here is ridiculous. No wonder this area is going downhill. None of the old guard wants to teach the younger generation to run and love the town, yet they complain that no one will want to come back to raise families. Can't have it both ways, now can you? "

Sidney Native wrote on Nov 19, 2008 9:27 PM:

" OK, OK. You have convinced me Randy. I will never ever shop in Sidney again. Christmas will be here soon. Watch out Walmart! I'll be there soon! "

HEY wrote on Nov 19, 2008 10:16 AM:

" How many does Pamida employ? If pamida doesn't have it,you don't need it! "

Randy wrote on Nov 18, 2008 1:47 PM:

" To Sidney Native
Buy local? Do you shop at Pamida? Of course you realize that Pamida is based in Omaha, NE .... don't you? "

Buddy wrote on Nov 17, 2008 9:22 PM:

" It just aint gonna happen people. That will never happen. "

Sidney Native wrote on Nov 17, 2008 9:20 PM:

" To Why:
Because your supposed to shop local. Support your local this and that. Business owners (as well as others) cringe at the thought of people going to Williston to shop. Sending $20K per month to CA has to be far worse. That guy doesn't give hoot about Sidney. He only cares about his renters paying on time. "

Why not wrote on Nov 17, 2008 12:01 PM:

" To Sidney native:
What is wrong with someone from California owning the apt. where you live? This is still the USA, and you have the right to own property in any state you want and live in any state you want. I agree there is need for more and cheaper housing in Sidney, but to get that the county has to intice other industries to come and set up shop in Sidney. The oil industry is boom and bust and no one involved with the oil industry will invest much in a town that has only the oil industry because they know one day soon in the future it will all come to an end. Wake up Richland county, invest the money wisely. Is there any reason Richland county can not have a huge ethonal plant between Sidney and Lambert? Is there any reason IBM or some other major company is not building a plant beside the Yellowstone river? Is there a good reason old fort Gibson is not reconstructed and other parts of the river made into tourist attrations to bring in revenue? "

Why not wrote on Nov 17, 2008 11:28 AM:

" Why does Richland county not invest some of its profit from the oil industry into trying to intice other industries into the area (the boom will not last forever, and the county needs to be prepared) Right now Williston is more attracive to business than Sidney, why is that? What could Richland county do? Offer cheap land? Low taxes for so many years? Available labor force? Available power source? Pleniful resouces? Richland county has loads to offer if our local goverment would get busy and plan for the future. If you want young people to stay or come to the county there has to be jobs besides farm labor and the oilfield. "

Moved back wrote on Nov 17, 2008 8:05 AM:

" My husband and I moved back to Sidney to raise our family, and it was the right choice, I do often get asked why we moved back though....I don't understand why so many of you older people question us moving back??? You complain about young people not doing anything and when some that actually want to be proactive move back you question why they moved back.
I am sorry you can't have it both ways, the community had the opportunity to elect a "young" person into a Commissioners position and from what I gather a lot of people didn't vote for him because he was to young...well he was trying to do something....I myself thought about running but was told by many "older" people first you are a woman and second what do you know about being a policitian??? Well I served on lots of different committees, while gaining my college education and represented my university at a national level at a conference. I also worked for a multi-million dollar corporation and many other things...why would I be any less qualified...because I am not 50 or because I am not a man??? Or is it because I am don't have enough money??? Because guess what most of you "older rich" people in town didn't have money yet when you were my age and many of you didn't have the college education's my husband and I have, so sure if we hadn't went to college to better ourselves maybe we would have more money now, but we wouldn't have the life expereinces we gained either.
I also know people who have applied for jobs in town at different places and pretty much didn't get the jobs because the "older" people that worked there thought the person was "to" young...because 25 is apparently to young to have a college degree and be more qualified than anyone else who has ever held the particular job.
So Mr. Wiggins...maybe you shouldn't tear the young people apart, just because the only one that you come in contact with aren't do anything doesn't mean we aren't all doing something.
I am really sick of this community saying the only thing young people around here do is cause problems...because just because those are the ones you see doesn't mean that is the actual trend.
I thank the Sidney Herald for printing this because it is time to wake and realize without us, you don't have anything...who do you think is paying your Social Security????
Maybe more community members should support the ideas that "young people" are bringing up, maybe they aren't that bad...just new....oh my...CHANGE....heaven forbid! "

john larsen wrote on Nov 16, 2008 11:18 PM:

" We all need to practice what we preach. Why doesn't the Sidney Herald form an editorial board that includes younger people in the community? John Larsen "

Sidney Native wrote on Nov 16, 2008 9:59 PM:

" To Mr. Bill Wiggins
I more then likely would seek employment in the oil field. The fact of it is that I am a single parent with two young children and I might be considered to be too old for that sort of work. That line of work just isn't right for me. Sidney also is lacking in child care services. "

Bob wrote on Nov 16, 2008 6:33 PM:

" It was stated that the only benefit of the oil business in this area, for the majority, is an increase in price for every item that you purchase locally--HOW TRUE--it is very clear that the RED group is working only for the wealthy and a few other interest groups--HOW TRUE--the youth of the area really have no chance to develop--HOW TRUE-- "

wayne wick wrote on Nov 16, 2008 9:54 AM:

" I find it very curios that Mr. Wiggins would point out that young people know very little about anything... it would seem to me that Mr. Wiggins would have at one time been young and therefore would have known very little about anything, however the question remains, how did he or any other person learn what they know today. Perhaps by being put in positions that gave them the opportunity to learn. Keeping the same people in charge only makes for stangnancy in society, perhaps we should give the younger generation a chance. "

Bill Wiggins wrote on Nov 15, 2008 7:02 PM:

" Dear Sidney Native,
You have astutely pointed out many truths about living in Sidney-right now. Your error is in that you believe the current trends don't make sense or that they are somehow wrong. You must remember, that we do not live in a zoo where all the beasts are behind bars. We live in a jungle where inflation and deflation, boom and bust, new hires and new layoffs, are all part of a properly functioning economy. You brought up the Law Of Supply and Demand. The principle rule of the law of supply and demand is that those who benefit the most from the boom MUST BE INVOLVED in the boom. When a strong wind is blowing we can either stand around and get dirt in our eyes, or raise a sail and let the wind take us someplace. Or, we can go someplace where the wind isn't blowing at all. You have to work, so why not try a job in the booming oil industry? "

Sidney Native wrote on Nov 15, 2008 6:44 AM:

" To wrote:
In order to improve the housing situation we need to increase the supply of apartments. That in turn will create more competition. Increased supply and competition should help to bring down prices. At least in theory that's how it works. We need to bring down property values. If rent is based on property values the reduced property values will bring about lower rent. Lower property values will also make it easier for people to purchase a home. There ya go "wrote". How can we make these improvements happen? It really doesn't look like any one is willing to increase the supply because of what happened in the oil boom of the early 80s. Maybe we can stop all oil activity right now. That would cause everything else to fall right in line. Or maybe all local employees should be given pay increases to match the higher costs of living. Or Richland County could distribute the massive oil revenues it takes in to help people out. The only thing that we get out of this oil boom is an ever increasing cost of living with an income that just won't keep up. What's the point of even living here in Sidney if that is the case? These higher costs of living also mean that I have to do more and more of my shopping else where because prices are cheaper else where. So you see how that works. Tell me that I am wrong here. Yes and one more very interesting fact that I would like to make people aware of, the owner of the apartment complex that I live in, lives in California. How does that strike you. That is $20,000 each month that he is taking out of Sidney. This is amazing! My ever increasing rent money goes to California. That in turn causes me to shop outside of Sidney in search of more affordable goods. Now how does that grab you! Please tell me that I am wrong here in anything that I have said because I just don't see how I am. It's funny because we are just cutting our own throats here people. "

Randy wrote on Nov 14, 2008 1:04 PM:

" Bill Wiggins has some good points - education and work ethics. However, he drops the ball when he essentially states that the younger generation should be good little worker-bees by working hard, paying taxes and be productive citizens, but not be allowed to have a voice in how the beehive operates. It reminds me of a job that I had years ago where the methods being used had been established long before most of the crew had been born. A co-worker (youngster) made a suggestion to improve the method that would be faster, cheaper and much safer. The reaction from the foreman? "Boy, we've been doing it this way for 40 years, and by God its going to be done this way for the next 40 if I have anything to say about it!" The long-time workers appreciated and relied upon the younger workers to handle the demanding physical aspects of the job, but they didn't want the "youngsters" to have any opinion about how the job was done, and just wanted them to be "good little drones".

Mr. Wiggins - Change is inevitable. As you may have noticed, we no longer drive horse-drawn buggys from our sod houses to the settlement 3 times per year for supplies. We need cannot maintain the status quo and expect to grow and prosper. Unless the younger generation is encouraged to have a voice in the community and assume leadership roles, the exodus of the area's youth will continue. Will the youngsters make mistakes? You can be assured that they will, but didn't we all? However, true Leaders learn from those mistakes and pass that knowledge along to those that will take their place. Every major corporation encourages their employees to make suggestions for improvements to methods, safety and products. Successful communities do the same.

BTW ... The youngster that I spoke about who made the suggestion to improve the work methods? He ended up as the President of the company at ripe-old age of 32. "

wrote on Nov 14, 2008 8:06 AM:

" Come to a housing meeting or the county conference. Be part of the solution. "

Sidney Native wrote on Nov 14, 2008 5:18 AM:

" You say you want young people to come to or return to Richland County. OK. There is no place to live in Sidney. There are no apartments available. The rent is too high anyway and what kind of a fool would purchase a home in Sidney with the present prices? Now what are you prepared to do to resolve this issue? "

Bill Wiggins wrote on Nov 13, 2008 8:45 PM:

" Modern life has given you the time to ask questions like "is our community committed to young people"? If you commit the community to young people, will it then be uncommitted to older people? Committing your community to anything other than freedom is a foolish notion. Young people have the same chance that everyone else has. Get yourself educated, work hard, save money, live honorably, and remember, noone owes you anything except a free society. And no, young people should not be in leadership positions unless it only involves other young people. Why? Because young people only know what they know. Which is very little about anything. "

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