That was my immediate response as I sat in the June city council meeting. I was sitting directly behind Luther Blagg, Brenda Blagg, and Tammy Blagg. We along with several other friends, co-workers, and family members were listening to a very fitting proclamation being read by the mayor. It was a proclamation outlining all the many ways Larry Blagg had dedicated himself to making Trumann a better place for us all. This was final step to a process that had been started about four meetings prior. Finally, Anthony Patterson's humble idea had come to fruition. Simply erecting a sign to memorialize the road on which chief Blagg departed this life. Or so I had thought. I heard them do the usual motions and seconds for the proclamation to be voted upon. Then the city clerk begins the roll call vote. The first I heard was Councilwoman Winkles. A loud, resounding "NO". I thought "What?" Then the others followed. In the end Atkins, Owens, Evans, and Henderson had voted for the motion. Winkles, Wilson, Cole, and Moon had voted no. To further my amazement, Councilman Hargrove abstained from voting whatsoever. Unfortunately, one alderman was missing from the meeting. Councilman Baker. I don't blame Councilman Baker for not attending due to the personal circumstances he was dealing with at the time. I don't want this to seem like a dig at him in any way. That couldn't be farther from the truth.

I sat there in complete amazement. Why in the world would four people want to deny a simple act. The street's name wasn't being changed. It wouldn't have inconvenienced anyone. The city of Jonesboro had even manufactured the sign. NO one was out one penny or would suffer even the smallest annoyance. I could not figure out one good reason not memorialize that stretch of West Main by putting an honorary sign stating "Larry N. Blagg Blvd." A simple sign. A small token for someone who gave so much. As a matter of fact, a small token for someone who gave their life for this city.

Chief Blagg is the first and only line of duty death for the Trumann police department. The things Chief Blagg did alone for the city and children are too many to name.

I listened as Councilman Cole told us:

"I think Larry would finally say 'folks, this is enough,'" And the man that he is, he would say 'come on, stop. I think we've gone far enough with this. Let's move on.' I don't think he would want us to keep going with this. This is something I don't think Larry would want."

This amazed me even further. Someone who really barely knew Larry Blagg appointing himself as spokesmen for him. The most important word in the whole statement is the second word. "Think". That means he really doesn't know. Let me tell you, he really doesn't know. I don't recall seeing Mr. Cole hanging out at the Police department in the last ten years. I don't recall seeing him at Larry's house or at any of the gatherings I attended over the years. Point being, I find it quite arrogant for him to assume to be able to speak for Larry in any way whatsoever.

I do believe there was some reason for these votes but could not figure it out. So, after the meeting adjourned I approached the four councilmen and asked them myself.

Councilwoman Winkles told me due to a spontaneous reaction from Brenda Blagg she decided not vote for the proclamation. She did not want the family to have to suffer seeing the sign every day. I could understand that if the family had not all ready given Mr. Patterson their blessing before approaching the council last February. Councilwoman Winkles told me about fifteen people had approached her with concerns against this sign. I brought to her attention that it was fifteen out of probably a thousand in her ward. She told me they weren't all from her ward. Councilman Wilson brought up the fact of what if every time someone passed they wanted to rename a street. He offered Erich Smallwood as an example. I told him I would completely support renaming any street in Trumann for Erich Smallwood. They can change my street today to Erich Smallwood memorial drive. I'm all for it. I'm not sure who wouldn't be. Councilman Moon only told me people had contacted him as well.

When I spoke with Councilman Cole he again repeated the earlier quote. He added people in his ward had approached him as well who weren't for the memorialization of the road. I asked him how many and he had no answer. I asked him again and he refused to answer. I brought to his attention how he had chastized Councilman Henderson for keeping information from the public concerning section 8 housing. He alluded to a "secret society" that Henderson must belong to. I suppose Councilman Cole must have joined the same "secret society" he so aggressively opposed Henderson taking part in. He then attempted to shift the subject to illegal aliens. How very political of him. At any rate he never answered my question and refused point blank. Another man brought to my attention that several people in his ward had contacted him. I asked his name and he told me Roy Kilgore. I'm not sure why people would be contacting him when he is not even a councilman but he claims they had. I later heard he commented that the city would not shut down due to Larry Blagg's untimeley death nor would the quality of life change.

Mr. Kilgore, I beg to differ with you. The quality of life for EVERYONE in Trumann has gone down since Larry's passing. Ever hear that old saying of you don't know what you got until it's gone? Well, Mr. Kilgore you truly have no idea.

The point is, what harm is there in erecting a sign to memorialize the road where Larry Blagg died? I can't think of any real reason and apparently the councilmen had their own reasons and not the reasons of the people. They memorialize streets every day with flowers, wreaths, and crosses. Why not a simple sign?

I can only hope that this could be brought up before a full council for a full vote. Especially something that was so divided in votes.

I don't see any good reasons for not erecting a simple sign in Larry Blagg's honor.

Apparently from the answers I received from the dissenting council members, they don't have any good reasons either.