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I read with much interest an article in Monday’s Tribune stating that Pratt County is a safe place to live and raise a family, something most of us already know. But it’s always nice to hear, especially coming from someone as knowledgeable as Pratt County Sheriff Vernon Chinn as written by the Tribune’s Carol Bronson. We all know it was Carol because she was not ashamed, nor afraid to put her name on it.
Ironically, earlier this same day I read with great interest and disbelief a document (in all capital letters, no less) that was sent to Pratt City Commissioners Gary Skaggs, Jeff Taylor and Bill Hlavachick, but apparently not to Vic Graf and newly elected Karen Detwiler, alerting them that “WE ARE COMING TO GET HIM,” a reference to Pratt City Manager David Howard. The letter went on to state that the commissioners “BETTER GET RID OF YOUR CITY MANAGER NOW, WE DON’T WANT HIM HERE, THIS IS OUR TOWN NOT HIS,” blah, blah, blah. “GET RID OF HIM NOW BECOUSE (sic) WE WILL KEEP COMING AND YOU CAN’T STOP US,” the letter continued. “YOU CAN’T STOP US.”
It is obvious to me that this person was not proud of his/her work, nor should they be. In fact, so ashamed is this cowardly author that he/she chose to hide behind the poorly penned work in anonymity. Maybe this person was persuaded by a faction of other poorly informed citizens to do this “watchdog” group’s dirty work. I can’t tell you exactly who wrote this letter, or why, although the word-crafting and all-capital letter format is eerily similar to other poorly written letters delivered before (Maple Street is a good example). Who knows the reason, other than those involved?
What I find alarming is the threatening content of this letter. It definitely states intention. Commissioner Hlavachick mentioned more than once when addressing the letter at Monday’s meeting that he “felt somewhat threatened” by it. Did this author cross the line that divides a misinformed nutcase from a terrorist? The line is fine and this person may have stepped over it.
As seen on TV, it wouldn’t be too difficult for law enforcement agencies to determine where it originated. Personally, I hope an investigation is forthcoming. I’m sure that all five of the commissioners would be willing to authorize such spending to protect their city’s manager. I also can’t imagine any of these elected officials would want people believing the falsehoods being spewed about the city they proudly represent. I recommend we go after the coward or cowards responsible – if not for terroristic threat then for distributing such a poorly written document.
People choose to live in Pratt and Pratt County for various reasons, among them the safety and security Sheriff Chinn spoke of. But Pratt, we have a nutcase on the loose. I know I will feel safer knowing this potential terrorist is no longer allowed to operate the keyboard of a computer and turn our city commission meetings into a three-ring circus.
I read with much interest an article in Monday’s Tribune stating that Pratt County is a safe place to live and raise a family, something most of us already know. But it’s always nice to hear, especially coming from someone as knowledgeable as Pratt County Sheriff Vernon Chinn as written by the Tribune’s Carol Bronson. We all know it was Carol because she was not ashamed, nor afraid to put her name on it.
Ironically, earlier this same day I read with great interest and disbelief a document (in all capital letters, no less) that was sent to Pratt City Commissioners Gary Skaggs, Jeff Taylor and Bill Hlavachick, but apparently not to Vic Graf and newly elected Karen Detwiler, alerting them that “WE ARE COMING TO GET HIM,” a reference to Pratt City Manager David Howard. The letter went on to state that the commissioners “BETTER GET RID OF YOUR CITY MANAGER NOW, WE DON’T WANT HIM HERE, THIS IS OUR TOWN NOT HIS,” blah, blah, blah. “GET RID OF HIM NOW BECOUSE (sic) WE WILL KEEP COMING AND YOU CAN’T STOP US,” the letter continued. “YOU CAN’T STOP US.”
It is obvious to me that this person was not proud of his/her work, nor should they be. In fact, so ashamed is this cowardly author that he/she chose to hide behind the poorly penned work in anonymity. Maybe this person was persuaded by a faction of other poorly informed citizens to do this “watchdog” group’s dirty work. I can’t tell you exactly who wrote this letter, or why, although the word-crafting and all-capital letter format is eerily similar to other poorly written letters delivered before (Maple Street is a good example). Who knows the reason, other than those involved?
What I find alarming is the threatening content of this letter. It definitely states intention. Commissioner Hlavachick mentioned more than once when addressing the letter at Monday’s meeting that he “felt somewhat threatened” by it. Did this author cross the line that divides a misinformed nutcase from a terrorist? The line is fine and this person may have stepped over it.
As seen on TV, it wouldn’t be too difficult for law enforcement agencies to determine where it originated. Personally, I hope an investigation is forthcoming. I’m sure that all five of the commissioners would be willing to authorize such spending to protect their city’s manager. I also can’t imagine any of these elected officials would want people believing the falsehoods being spewed about the city they proudly represent. I recommend we go after the coward or cowards responsible – if not for terroristic threat then for distributing such a poorly written document.
People choose to live in Pratt and Pratt County for various reasons, among them the safety and security Sheriff Chinn spoke of. But Pratt, we have a nutcase on the loose. I know I will feel safer knowing this potential terrorist is no longer allowed to operate the keyboard of a computer and turn our city commission meetings into a three-ring circus.
