—
Some would like to see a walking path extending through the entire length of the tornado devastation in Joplin and Duquesne.
Others envision a simple, symbolic statue near the former St. John’s Regional Medical Center.
While we all may feel we have a stake in deciding how the area will memorialize the tornado victims, it truly should be a public decision.
City leaders are there to guide, but the genesis of the idea should be left to area residents, especially those who lost family members.
It’s important now to provide input. You can go to www.joplinareacart.com and participate in discussion or take the survey and make your suggestions privately.
A Monday night meeting with the public did not provide enough input for a consensus.
Jane Cage, the head of the Citizens Advisory Recovery Team, said the idea of a memorial to tornado victims has been mentioned many times in public comments.
“We want to hear from citizens what they believe is the appropriate way to do that. How do they want those who died to be remembered? How should we tell their stories? I’ve said before and believe that this is personal to Joplin. We won’t know what direction we take until we listen,” Cage told the Globe.
We appreciate that approach to one of the most important pieces to Joplin’s recovery.
Opinion
Our View: Decision belongs to public
- Opinion
-
-
Our View: Connecting the town
Well before the 2011 tornado, Joplin had a problem with “connectivity.” That’s right. The flow of traffic — whether it be cars, pedestrians or bicyclists — has been a sore spot with us for years.
-
Other Views: Debt of honor
In Afghanistan, the Taliban have promised to kill Afghans who worked for the Americans and their families. In Iraq, similar threats were made by radical Islamic insurgents.
-
Your View: Bold leadership needed
Dear City Council Members, Let me first thank you for your service to our community.
-
Carol Stark: Dad took us on ‘travels’ that lasted a lifetime
This isn’t the column I had planned on writing, but it’s the one that keeps running through my mind. And so does this question: How do I cope on my first Father’s Day without my dad?
-
Herb Van Fleet, guest columnist: Big Brother is always watching and listening
Sen. Church made that statement 38 years ago. He chaired a committee that was formed to develop legislation to rein in the CIA, FBI, NSA and other intelligence agencies, which had been operating outside the bounds of the law, including the Constitution.
-
Geoff Caldwell, guest columnist: Jury still out on whistle-blower’s actions
Whether you see Edward Snowden as a hero, a traitor or something in between, there is no denying that the admitted “leaker” has opened up an industrial-size can of National Security Agency worms.
-
Trish Patton, guest columnist: Downtown group needs stakeholders' support
On Tuesday the Downtown Joplin Alliance (DJA) tabled the Community Improvement District (CID) initiative.
-
Our View: Earning a new badge
The Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland made a good decision Friday when it voted to give the community until November to develop a long-term plan to keep Camp Mintahama open.
-
Other Views: Stop farm bill gridlock
With a hopeful sound of gridlock cracking, U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Wednesday that he will vote for the House farm bill even though he has “concerns.” He reasons that “doing nothing means we get no changes in the nutrition programs.”
-
Marta Mossburg, columnist: Liberalism worldview doesn't make sense
The high priests of liberalism must be tossing and turning in their organic cotton bedding and downing more small-batch artisan whisky each night trying to cope with the abject failure of their cause
- More Opinion Headlines
-



