Emporia

[j_k_k]

I knew that when IBP became Tyson it would go straight downhill. Where I live now (eastern Washington) we had the same thing. If the OP is still considering Emporia, here's my background with it: parents both grew up in the next county west, thus many family members have lived in Emporia. (For some odd reason, actually, for the first time in my forty years of life, right now none do.) I would describe Emporia as a pretty peaceful, quiet place even by Kansas standards. Unfortunately, too quiet for their economic good. My aunt works at the university, which I think is now the largest employer--perhaps always was. On the good side, you're in the middle of all that great Kansas food, and Emporia is right along the Turnpike so it's an easy trip to KC or Wichita if you want something that requires a larger city. Emporia has kind of a cool old school downtown. Last I recall my uncle was helping get an old theatre there renovated. I myself would live in Emporia in two shakes, but I have roots there. (The reason I don't is that my wife's job keeps us here, plus my wife is Alaskan and she wants to live in Alaska as badly as I want to live in Kansas. So eastern Washington is about as good a compromise as we get.)

[AnywhereElse]

We stayed in our travel trailer a couple months when our son was attending college in Emporia as we were looking to relocate. Jobs were few. We found the smell very undesirable. Also, in the past the research that we have done indicates that towns with a lot of immigrants that come in regularly (my son said the bus brought in a new load every Monday to start work when the meat plant was going strong) they tend to really put a dent in the school services as well as other areas. It just seemed for the size of the town that there wasn't anything there. Coming to Kansas? Check out Salina which I consider a best bet.

[Fr. John]

Sweetpotater- Thanks for the honesty on this forum. I have been villified by liberal Minnesotans for daring to even mention the 'race issue' when it is confronting you all over the newspapers every day (we have the first (and last, God willing) 'Muslim congressperson' [Ellison] as well as jihadist recruiting centers here in Mary Tyler Moore land!

I think, with the TPartiers waking up, and the 2010 mid-terms, America just might stand a chance to return to normal, just like (it sounds) Emporia has done with the departure of the Somalis - a warring tribal culture that was illiterate, uncultured, backward, and still to this day (my wife says) doesn't grasp basic hygiene. (she works in the inner city schools of the Twin Cities)