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What? You've got to be kidding!Posted Friday, June 12, 2009, at 2:46 AM
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. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
Ptl. Gary Henry has been with the Trumann Police Department for over ten years. He lives in Trumann with his wife and children.
Ptl. Henry is very active in the community and he is a very social and funny person.
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I'm just curious, what will be enough for you? If the street is renamed, will that be enough? I think the city is beginning to see that it will never be enough. Many people die everyday. There is no question that Larry was a great chief and a great man. Since Mr. Blagg did his job right, we have all the great things he did for Trumann to carry his name on forever. Let the achievements that he made for this city be his legacy, not some street name.
Gary,
I feel so bad for you and the family. I was totally shocked that our council would not vote for this "Honorary" sign. Disgusting! I still can't believe it.
I ditto your remarks in this article. This town is so "POLITICAL"! Seems a few of our councilmen only want to agree to disagree.
I wish there was something we could do.
Take Care and know that others feel the same as you do.
TO PROUDLY TRUMANN:
To satisfy your curiousity, I would say I don't know. In my opinion the city couldn't ever do enough to honor Larry Blagg's memory. I suppose you can blame Larry Blagg for my thinking. Because Larry felt there was never enough we could do to improve the quality of life for the people of Trumann. In Larry's mind, there was never enough. I, as well as the other officers who served under him, learned this not only from Larry's words but from his actions. This is a goal he motivated all of us to strive to achieve. Doing the best we could for the city of Trumann. Larry showed us that it wasn't about just wearing a badge and carrying a gun. It wasn't about just arresting someone and throwing them in jail. It was above making things better and changing lives. Even if it was only one person at a time. So, I guess I could never do enough to honor Larry's memory and feel the city couldn't either.
Believe me, I am fully aware that people die daily. VERY aware. I am glad we agree that Larry was a great man and a great chief. True the legacy he left behind in his works alone is an awesome one. However, memorializing West Main was something Mr. Anthony Patterson started months ago. It is not a continuation of many things. It is not a "renaming" of West Main. It is simply a memorialization and simply one thing brought to the council. The other memorials are very nice. True there are several other nice memorials and these were awarded from the city as well as several other organizations. NO one is talking about renaming the town or continuing on and on. Just seeing something through to the finish that was started. I could continue but you have read my blog. It pretty much sums it up.
I'm sure you'll understand I have strong feelings for this matter as Larry Blagg was a Chief, leader, mentor, friend, and brother. I feel that some things are worth standing up for and he would do the same for me if the situation was reversed.
Thanks for your comment, I appreciate it.
Gary
People do die every day--and if those people were good, then their friends and family, and sometimes even strangers, want to do everything they can to preserve their memories.
I can't understand why the naming of West Main as a memorial would even thought of being declined.
It does not matter if Larry were to say it is 'enough'--this is something that he DESERVES for his dedication to this town. He put his life on the line on that street..and his life was taken on that street because he wanted to, as always, do something for Trumann.
It shouldn't even be a question.
Just my opinion.
I agree with you--it should not even have been a question. I am so disappointed in the Aldermen that voted this down. I hope it will be remembered at election time.
Thanks Gary and Anthony for trying, and yes other people feel like you two.
It should be brought up again, if possible.
God Bless you both
Gary, you know that Trumann has always seemed to run on the OLD politcal "Good Old Boy" system. Sounds ike there were a few who has some type of disike for Larry, or it could even be a family member. All it takes is one person to talk others into following their lead, and then what would have been a great honor is voted down. I thought Trumann had come far from the Good Old Boy era, evidently not. Such a shame that they could not honor a person who had done so much for the city the short time he was in office. Shame, shame!
I think the overall problem with Trumann is that the Mayor and City Counsel is focusing on this one thing, and its affecting the city negatively. Yes, Trumann has gone down since his death because the Mayor and Council are too busy dedicating memorials and getting streets renamed, when they should be fixing roads, cleaning up the blight, and finding ways of bringing new jobs to Trumann. I guess they don't care about this since the roads in front of their houses are good and they currently have jobs. Trumann has gone down hill in the past 20 years because everyone who gets elected make promises that they can't keep. You want to see proof of broken promises and the state of Trumann.....Go stand at the corner of Ozark and Main Street. Trumann's downtown is nothing but abandoned buildings and liquor stores. Instead of letting Walmart build on the bypass that killed Trumann, they should have demanded that they either built on the their old site by McDonalds or build more in the Center of town. They let Walmart go to the bypass that killed Trumann, and now Marked Tree and Bay shoppers don't even have to come to Trumann to shop. If Walmart was downtown or even its old location, it would have at least brought them into town. The north end of Trumann is dead and now sits a abandoned Walmart building no one wants. Trumann needs to clean house starting with the Mayor and then take it to the streets. Trumann was once a great city, but now sits almost like a ghost town that no one wants to live in. Any abandoned building that is not up to code needs to be torn down and lot cleared. No new laws need to be created, just the ones on the books need to be enforced. If you want to see a change in Trumann, it has to come from the residents...If you are waiting on the Mayor or City Counsel, hope you have awhile.....
The city should feel honored to have had such a man as Larry Blagg heading their Police department. In an age when there are so few heros for young people to look up to, the street sign would remind them of how much someone cared and gave for their city. What can a sign hurt? I have a house on the street in question and I know I would be happy to see his name up there. Erich Smallwood was a hero too and I am 100% sure that he would be pleased to know his hometown honored their cheif in such a way.I believe in moving on too, but I also think you should do what needs to be done first. It isn't going to cost the city anything and I agree that those objections sound pretty stupid.
Dear Mr. Gary Henry:
I think that what you all in Trumann were trying to do for Larrys memorial was a very good idea. Let the board put it this way, when Larrys wife, kids, and friends drive by that place it will bring back memories anyways, so if it was my Dad I would love to drive by there and see the sign and be able to tell my friends that didn't know him well, that is where my dad had his accident and lossed his life doing what he loved best, which serving others. I've knew Larry for many years and alot of the times was due to me getting into trouble but he never judged me he just wanted to save my life, and that was the business that Larry Blagg was in thinking of others more than himself. The right thing to do would put the memorial up, Larry was more than a Police Chief, He was my friend so let the politics go for one minute and let your hearts do the choosing and talk to the family let them decide.
Sincerely,
Brian Inzer
Keep up the good work Gary Henry
I guess I must have missed something. You stated in your blog that Winkles, Cole, Moon and Wilson voted no to the name change on the street. You also stated that Evans, Henderson, Atkins and Owens voted yes for the name change. Baker was not there and Hargrove abstained. Am I correct?
This looks like a 4-4 tie vote to me. In this case wasn't Mayor Walters supposed to cast a vote to break the tie? Did she not vote on purpose or was there some other reason?
I'm just curious and question everything. If you find out more please update your blog. It just looks like parlimentary procedure was not followed to me.