Small town boom / LJWorld.com

Archive for Sunday, July 2, 2006

Eudora, Tonganoxie face new issues as population grows

July 2, 2006

Until about a year ago, Tonganoxie resident Diane Bretthauer didn't own a house key.

She also left her purse in her car, which she kept unlocked.

"But those days are gone," Bretthauer said. "We are no longer able to do those things."

Last year, Bretthauer's housekeeper was startled one day when she walked into the kitchen and came face-to-face with a stranger. He didn't steal anything, and he didn't threaten violence. But he did scare Bretthauer enough to put locks on her doors.

Bretthauer, who is chairwoman of Tonganoxie's planning and zoning commission, is a fourth-generation resident in a town that she said was no longer what it once was.

Rapid growth

Tonganoxie has been growing at an unprecedented rate. According to the U.S. Census, between July 2000 and July 2005, the population there skyrocketed from 2,785 to 3,774 - a 36 percent jump.

Photo by Thad Allender

John Cass Lenahan, 83, is keeping a watchful eye on the growth in Tonganoxie, where he has been a lifelong resident and owns Lenahan's Hardware. Lenahan said, "We've got a whole bunch of people moved in here. I don't blame them. This is one of the best towns I've ever been to."

Other towns are getting a boost, too. Eudora's population is up 21 percent since 2000, and Basehor's has increased by about 44 percent.

All three towns are considered bedroom communities because many of their residents commute to cities such as Topeka, Lawrence or Kansas City to work.

Sarah Goodwin is one such resident. She and her husband just moved from Norfolk, Va., to a new housing subdivision in Tonganoxie. Her husband will take classes at Kansas University, and she'll commute to Kansas City to work.

Goodwin says she likes the idea of driving 15 minutes just to get coffee at Starbucks.

"I love it. I was born in Leavenworth," she said. "I'm just a small-town girl."

Growing pains

While this flood of new, young residents has led to school expansions, the arrival of bigger businesses and better recreation facilities, it also has brought growing pains to the small towns where, Bretthauer said, everyone used to know one another.

John Cass Lenahan, 83, has lived in Tonganoxie all his life. Lately, he's kept a watchful eye on the town's growth.

Explore population trends in census data for Lawrence and other Kansas cities from 1900 to 2005. Go Â»

"We've got a whole bunch of people moved in here. I don't blame them. This is one of the best towns I've ever been to. Of course, I'm prejudiced because I've lived here 83 years," Lenahan said.

His shop, Lenahan's Hardware, is going out of business after 35 years. He said the town's new residents didn't shop in Tonganoxie, but instead spent money in bigger towns close by.

David Taylor, Tonganoxie's mayor, said the same.

"I think a lot of people in this city shop in Lawrence," Taylor said.

Lenahan isn't just worried about business. He said the growth was causing problems for the whole town.

Photo by Mike Yoder

Sarah Goodwin, center, sorts furniture and other items for her new home in Tonganoxie as movers unload. Goodwin and her husband, Justin, are moving from Norfolk, Va., to Tonganoxie so Justin can attend Kansas University after serving in the Navy, and Sarah can commute to Kansas City International Airport for her job as a flight attendant.

"One of the only assets we've got is population. That doesn't always mean peace and prosperity," he said. "If you double the population, you double the problems."

One of those problems is crime. And while it certainly hasn't doubled, some residents in Tonganoxie and Eudora claim it's on the rise.

Tonganoxie Police Chief Kenny Carpenter said there have been two armed robberies this year. They were the first he's seen since he started working in Tonganoxie in 2000.

"We have more businesses, so there's more things to pick from to rob," Carpenter said.

"Other than that, it really hasn't changed a lot," he said. "We've always had some vandalism. We've always had a few cars stolen."

Occasional speeder

Tom Pyle, mayor of Eudora, said the growth hasn't led to much more crime.

Karl Gehring/Journal-World Graphic

"Oh no ... this is very low-crime here. A speeder now and then, or illegal parking. We haven't had an attempted break-in here in quite some time. 'Course, you never know," Pyle said.

Pyle owns Pyle Meat Co. in downtown Eudora, an area that he says is being revitalized by new residents.

"The new people in town are coming downtown and just walking up and down the streets of Eudora. The people who were born and raised here, they just don't do that," Pyle said.

He said the city planned to improve downtown streets, sidewalks and storefronts to make it more appealing.

The recreation commissions in Eudora and Tonganoxie have added programs to meet a growing demand for activities in town. Sports, dance troupes and various social gatherings are on the rise, said Gayle Parker, director of the Tonganoxie Recreation Commission.

Pyle said Eudora was planning a rec center and new swimming pool. Though Tonganoxie doesn't have a rec center, Parker said he hoped they'll begin planning for one soon.

Lenahan said he didn't have a problem with people moving to Tonganoxie. It's change that he doesn't like.

"I'm from the old school who likes everything the same," Lenahan said. "We enjoy a little old town to ourselves - which is selfish."

Discussion

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2 July 2006
at 6:38 a.m.

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DownHomeDude (Anonymous) says…

I like both Eurdora and Toganoxie! I wouldn't mind

buying a house and living in Eudora when I retire

someday!
DHD
2 July 2006
at 7:49 a.m.

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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…

If you want to make a lot of money, buy small properties in Tongie.

Eudora is already too expensive but there is a narrow window of time to profit from the coming growth in Toganoxie.

If you snooze, you lose!

Thanks.

Marion.
2 July 2006
at 8:11 a.m.

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reginafliangie (Anonymous) says…

I still can't beleive how people are with their possessions. I lock up everything, even when I am home. Why take the chance? Why give that would be thief the oppourtunity? Just be causious. Be aware. These criminals know people in these little towns are lacks with security, so why not go where the action is? Don't leave things sitting in your car out in the open. Thats just an invitation. If they see something of value, they will break the windows to get to it. It amazes me how many people leave laptops, purses, wallets, check books, etc laying out in the open and with the car unlocked. I'm thinking that even somebody who is not a thief, that might be too big of a tempation to avoid. Small towns are great, so lets keep them that way and keep the thiefs out!
2 July 2006
at 8:48 a.m.

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mike_blur (Mike Blur) says…

I dunno, Marion, I believe most of the land speculators that have wrung every last nickel out of Lawrence properties have snapped up tracts in Tongie, as well. That barn door has closed.

However, there are other places in and around the Tongie/Eudora area that no one has heard of that's ripe for the picking.

In Jackson County, Kansas, the fine for illegal parking is $10. There were 17 offenders listed in last week's paper.

Also, Reginafliangie, the plural of “thief” is “thieves.” “Causious” is spelled “cautious.” Egregious spelling errors like these tend to detract from your credibility.
2 July 2006
at 8:54 a.m.

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lunacydetector (Anonymous) says…

what?????? i thought growth NEVER paid! - at least this is what the lunatic fringe in lawrence wants everyone to believe. notice how everything in lawrence is so expensive - got worse when they put the brakes on OUR growth. funny, isn't it?
2 July 2006
at 8:58 a.m.

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monkeyhawk (Anonymous) says…

I'm sure much of the appeal of Tongie is the fact that is not in Douglas Co.

I bet if you ask Boog, et. al. how to whip your city into shape, they would be very willing to endoctrinate you as to the ways and wisdom of smart growth. You, too, could have a happy and harmonious community just like we do.
2 July 2006
at 9:05 a.m.

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reginafliangie (Anonymous) says…

Sorry Mike, I never claimed to be a good speller. But maybe you should go after enforcer or mommax3, they both are horrible at it and punctuation too.

That aside, I truly wish we lived in a world were everyone could be trusted. But I have to say alot of the small towns around Lawrence are great. It's nice to knowyour neighbors and to get along with most.

2 July 2006
at 9:28 a.m.

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just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…

Funny, I didn't see any evidence that the growth in these communities is paying for itself. But I do see plenty of posters here repeating their favorite article of faith.
2 July 2006
at 9:39 a.m.

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Smarmy_Schoolmarm (Anonymous) says…

Mike, you missed a few. I hope you don't live in a glass house.

Reginafliangie, as long as you get your point across it doesn't really matter here. This isn't a resume or a dissertation. It's an exchange of ideas.

Raspberries to picky people.
2 July 2006
at 9:42 a.m.

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mommy3 (Anonymous) says…

I live in Tonganoxie, and grew up in McLouth. It's not just about the growth it is the things that are happening all around us. I see drugs being sold at the park while my kids are playing!! I never had to deal with that as a kid. Our police department is totally unprepared for the growth and they act as though we are still living in a small town. Were not. The people that move here from the big cities think this is small, but truth be told it's growing as a scarry rate. How come no one said anything about the atempted child abductions????? That stuff is coming here, and it's very sad, I used to be able to allow my kids to play out back alone, but those times of freedom are gone. We have had several things stolen from right by the house, including an old broken go cart! It didn't even work, but it was my 5 year olds dream project. Oh, well I'll just make sure the dorrs are locked and my indoor German Shepherd is always close by!
2 July 2006
at 9:43 a.m.

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just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…

While nitpicking about occassional misspellings, typos and poor grammar is pointless on this forum, there is quite often a correlation between sloppy writing and sloppy thinking.
2 July 2006
at 9:49 a.m.

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reginafliangie (Anonymous) says…

Thank you smarmy, I appreciate the support. Thanks to you too, bozo.

Mommy, I totally agree! The officers in the smaller towns are trying to be the good old boys of yesterday day when nothing happened and small infractions of the law were ignored. These towns are growing too fast to let the “little things” slide. If they crack down now, maybe some of the real criminals will think twice.
2 July 2006
at 10:04 a.m.

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BrianR (Anonymous) says…

Personally, I liek misplellings and Typ3os.
2 July 2006
at 10:28 a.m.

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mommy3 (Anonymous) says…

Thank you reinafliangie! I've watched as our police pulled a man over while riding his 4 wheeler in the street at a very dangerous speed, just to see what time his party was going to be the next night! They still go by the “good ol' boy system” and it's not working. They need to make it clear to these kids that selling drugs at our park, that it is not allowed, not wait for the right situation to step in. And then say “what happened?” In McLouth, problems do happen but are less likely, because everyone knows everyone, and the “problem” people are afraid to be seen by someone who knows their parents or someone they might run into at the gas station. We've lost that in Tonganoxie, and the big city people, want something to do, they are making they own fun. Oh, sorry for the typos!
2 July 2006
at 10:48 a.m.

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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…

It should be remembered that the “3” in “typ3os” is silent.

Thanks.

Marion.

2 July 2006
at 10:51 a.m.

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reginafliangie (Anonymous) says…

Oh they are big on the 4 wheeling down the street in my town too, and little tiny kids are on the back, no helmet, and they are popping wheelies and dodging the regular traffic and this is fun??? Then we have the bozos who park facing the wrong way on the street. All over town, very annoying, they are showing my kids who are learning drivers ed that you can do whatever you want. It's so frustrating!!
2 July 2006
at 11:12 a.m.

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eotw33 (Anonymous) says…

of course were gonna shop in lawrence and kc, all the resataruants, grociery stores, gas stations, and liquor stores are more expensive in tonganoxie
2 July 2006
at 12:33 p.m.

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angelofmine (Anonymous) says…

I live in Tonganoxie, and I agree that we already do have a drug problem here. But if the police do not have specific “probable cause” such as information from a witness to the crime, what are they expected to do? The police do what they can with what they have. They don't exactly have the funding to post cameras all over town, or have an officer present at the park all the time.

I've dealt with them several times because of a certain situation I had, and know a several by name. They are a small department, so of course they all know each other and are close-knit. They escorted me, make extra rounds near my home, and in the end, I they followed through this long, twisted case to the end in the best manner possible. They had to come to my aid numerous times. The only way they knew what is going on, was that I made a police report on the incident and continued to call every time I had a problem with the psycho. Granted it wasn't the first time this had happened, but they made sure it certainly was the last time.

If they are not there, the only way they can know that a crime is occurring is if you, the witness, call them up. But in today's society, people don't do that. Its snitching, or they feel like they are endangering their own lives. We have a police department of what, seven or eight full time officers? On the average shift we have 2-3 working I think, weekends, special events and some holidays they up the number on duty. Nobody around here wants to up taxes more to pay for more police officers, more training for each officer, more police cars. I'm not fond of more tax myself, but with the amount of growth we have, soon we will need to have a few more on standby at least. The only way we're going to get those positions filled by is to offer better incentives. Police officers put their lives at risk every time they pull over a vehicle. Most do not apply to Tonganoxie PD because they're one of the lowest-paid departments in the area, starting at around $11.00 per hour to be a police officer, and as the article says, they are having to deal with the “big city” crime here, as well as the dopeheads that every city has.

Call it the 'good 'ole boy' system all you like. If it wasn't for those 'good 'ole boys' in Tonganoxie working their tails off, going the extra mile on my case, I sometimes wonder if my little girl wouldn't have a mother today.
2 July 2006
at 1:17 p.m.

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reginafliangie (Anonymous) says…

oh trust me angel, I am very good friends with most of the officers and even when I do complain the about a certain situation I get told that they don't want to make the people mad, since so many of them haved lived there for so long and they never had any problems with people parking that way. So why should they bother to write tickets when the chief just tears them up as not to upset anybody. This department does an excellent job of crime fighting and other issues in my town, it's just the damn parking that seems to be the issue. And not everything has to be witnessed, you can call about something and make a complaint, they will go and check it out.
2 July 2006
at 1:26 p.m.

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mommy3 (Anonymous) says…

I am not putting the officers down, I am saying that if the guy down the street does something and gets away with it because he is friends with the reporting officer, then the guy that just moved into town sees this and does the same. It is not right. I think they should get paid more for what they do. We have had a small town for so long, the the residents didn't see the need for more incentives, more officers. Now we are in a times where if we don't get control now, then it will be hard to do later. It's like a child, if you don't get control at a young age while they are growing, then your going to have more problems later. Like I said, I grew up in McLouth, and know MANY people in Tongi, everyone I know is seeing the bad things happening, and they all say the same thing…What now? Whats going to happen? We know whats going to happen, history shows us that. But that doesn't mean we can't slow it down, and take a stand. Yes, they need probable cause, but when I call them and say Hey my brother in law is selling drugs, and growing dope in his house. They do nothing. All they while he's out selling the stuff to kids. I've called several times to get him and his friends caught, but to this day he walks around free to do what he pleases. He loves Tongi…I wonder why??? They need to beef up the department, and quit being so nice about things. We all have the small town mentality, but the small town is fading away fast. I know some kids from church who know the people who vandelized the fair grounds, they went to the police and told them…but nothing happened for a long time, because they had no reason to even question these guys. They know about the drugs at the park, but still they do nothing. I like our police department, they just need to wake up a little and start taking things a little more seriously. They did a wonderful thing for you, I am happy for that. They do great things everyday, but they need more help to take care of the “small” problems before they get out of hand.
It's they same thing with the school, when the bully problem arrived, no one said anything. “Oh, it happens.” “Kids are Kids.” But then the truth came out when someone really got hurt, and then they say,”Oh, maybe we should do something!” Now, they are tight on bullies, and want to stay out of the public eye. They city is waisting money on sidewalks in parts of town that have no purpose, when they could be paying our police officers more. See the problem?? OH, sorry for the typos!
2 July 2006
at 2:03 p.m.

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reginafliangie (Anonymous) says…

Yes, exactly mommy3. That is what I am talking about, although I think the officers in my town may of done more about that drug problem. But the feeling is the same. Some things are not messed with because for how many years has the police department not bothered by it, so when it does start to become an issue all the folks who have lived there for years start getting upset because the law is being followed. Those people have to realize that we need to correct the problem now before it gets out of control. It's already happening with new people in town getting into the old habits of all of the older people and then get upset when they get in trouble because “so and so does it and doesn't get in trouble”. Lets start enforcing the law now before it gets bad.
2 July 2006
at 2:12 p.m.

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senegal66025 (Anonymous) says…

The problem with Eudora is that Boss Hog and the Dukes are in charge.
2 July 2006
at 5:53 p.m.

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Godot (Anonymous) says…

Monkeyhawk has a good idea: Boog and Rundle can be the “outside consultants” for the ban wagon that is sure to hit Tongie soon. It'll give them something to do when they lose the next election.

2 July 2006
at 6:31 p.m.

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angelofmine (Anonymous) says…

When Tongie starts putting in roundabouts….I will worry. LOL
2 July 2006
at 10:02 p.m.

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FormerCentralKansan (Anonymous) says…

I lived in Eudora from 1998-2000 and I couldn't wait to leave. At that time, the 2 big hang-outs were Casey's and “The Gilded Cage”…everyone I met was really standoff-ish and incredibly small-minded. I can't imagine things have changed.
3 July 2006
at 7:01 a.m.

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picky (Anonymous) says…

Nothing has changed in Eudora, live in Eudora myself. Police are lazy and the chief of police, all he can think about is wearing a suit and acting like he owns this town. I think he thinks he is an CSI. We are still paying for the carnival that comes to town once a year, with the high cost of electricity. We don`t need this!! Who elected who to be in charge, not I. I`ve to go to work in Tonganoxie and back to Eudora, and you can never find a cop when you need one. You break down and no one stops to help like in the past. You leave your vehicle for a bit and come back to it and there is a cop getting ready to have a tow company come and get it. they never tow cars off of Highway 10.
3 July 2006
at 8:13 a.m.

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reginafliangie (Anonymous) says…

Picky: thats right Eudora police don't tow cars off of K10, its the KHP that does it. They are in charge of that highway and will tow vehicle off. You have a 48 hour time frame to get it off the road, unless it's hindering traffic, or you were arrested. If your car breaks down, get it off the highway in 48 hours. No need for it to sit there longer than that. If you car breaks down in or around Eudora, call dispatch, let them know and they will inform the officers of the situation and if you can get it moved in a reasonable time, or if it isn't hindering traffic, they won't tow you. Gotta communicate though, they don't read minds and don't know why the car is sitting were it is.
3 July 2006
at 1:30 p.m.

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picky (Anonymous) says…

reginafliangie: Car was broke down, but moved it on country road off of Route County 1. Family came and got us and they came back in an hour and was being issued a tow on car. I don`t drive, my daughter takes me to work and back home. She was on way home from when her car broke down and cops came by and did not brother taking her where she needed to go, it was cold and snowing. Just told her to jump around to keep warm until her help showed up.
3 July 2006
at 1:32 p.m.

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picky (Anonymous) says…

conservativeman come on move to Eudora. It depends what you want to live, rent or buy?
3 July 2006
at 4:34 p.m.

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reginafliangie (Anonymous) says…

Picky: I understand about the car. Why was your daugher outside in the elements instead of waiting in the car, even broken it's warmer than outside. I'm sorry that the officers didn't give her a ride, it is possible that they got an emergency call that they needed to respond too. Think of it this way, your in an emergency that is life or death, do you really want the dispatcher to tell you that you will have to wait cause the officer is busy giving somebody a ride?
4 July 2006
at 2:54 a.m.

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crazyks (Anonymous) says…

Being stranded in weather that is cold and snowy very well could become life or death itself if no one helps. People have died waiting on the road for help in the winter.

4 July 2006
at 8:43 a.m.

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picky (Anonymous) says…

reginafliangie……sticking up for cops? Must be married to one……….plenty of police, but not willing to help stranded people, we pay their wages to help and protect us. And who said we needed a ride with an officier? Just stating that they don`t help out by trying to give anyone a ride. Even though this officier was on his way home after getting off from work.
4 July 2006
at 9:48 a.m.

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reginafliangie (Anonymous) says…

picky: lets not “assume” anything. I am NOT married to an officer or anybody that is even remotely connected to the police department or any law agency. So know somebody before you accuse them. Who should the officer have called to give your daughter a ride? Taxi service? Who? Just curious. I agree, the nice and decent thing would of been for him to give her a ride. But as you claim he was off work. Was he in a police car? If your car was indeed off on a county road then the department in charge would be DGSO if it was in DGCO so bashing the Eudora PD seems pointless with this problem.
5 July 2006
at 11:11 a.m.

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picky (Anonymous) says…

not assuming anything, it just seems that you are defending the officiers. Am just making an comment just like everyone here is. No he did not need to call a taxi (way eo expense to call one). Happened in Leavenworth county and the police officier was in a police car heading back to Douglas County to the police station. I think he was an state trooper.