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What has happened to Clio?
Thursday, May 01, 2008 - 12:00 AM Updated: 10:37 AM
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Not too long ago, there was a small but inviting little town in southwestern Barbour County. We had several nice stores, clean streets, smooth roads and home folks who knew just about everyone in town. There were nice homes with well-manicured lawns. There was also the absence of blasting boom-boxes playing less-than-desirable music. We had just about everything a community needed to be selfsupporting.
Yet, in the last few years, the residents who have chosen to stay and make their lifelong homes here have seen a steady decline in the appearance and appeal of our little hometown. Gone are the quaint little stores that once dotted the main street. That alone is enough to dampen the appeal and “homey” feel.
The streets are now, for the most part, overgrown with weeds along the sidewalks, and dotted with the shells of stores that are collapsing into themselves. Those once-manicured lawns are gone except for a precious few that are still occupied by “local” residents who still have a little pride left in our town. Older homes have been abandoned or forgotten, fallen into disrepair or into the hands of “outsiders.”
Our once smooth roads have been utterly demolished by backhoes and semi-trucks speeding through our neighborhoods. Booming auto sound systems, loud mufflers and those same speeding semi-trucks interrupt the peaceful night air. More and more outsiders are moving in and taking over our hometown.
I, for one, am actually ashamed for my out-of-town friends and family to see the town in this shape. What has happened to Clio? Is there anyone who can help or save it now? If it can be saved, it is up to the few residents left living here who still have pride and morals. We need to take responsibility for what has happened and rejuvenate our town by electing and hiring more qualified city government officials and workers, attending council meetings and voicing our heartfelt opinions and concerns by making sure we are heard and understood, insist that dilapidated houses and stores be repaired, condemned or torn down completely.
Last but not least, clean it up and contact your county and state officials about repairing our roads. If we pull together, even as a small group, we can do it. If not, Clio will die a slow, agonizing death.
Tommy Enfinger
Clio
Yet, in the last few years, the residents who have chosen to stay and make their lifelong homes here have seen a steady decline in the appearance and appeal of our little hometown. Gone are the quaint little stores that once dotted the main street. That alone is enough to dampen the appeal and “homey” feel.
The streets are now, for the most part, overgrown with weeds along the sidewalks, and dotted with the shells of stores that are collapsing into themselves. Those once-manicured lawns are gone except for a precious few that are still occupied by “local” residents who still have a little pride left in our town. Older homes have been abandoned or forgotten, fallen into disrepair or into the hands of “outsiders.”
Our once smooth roads have been utterly demolished by backhoes and semi-trucks speeding through our neighborhoods. Booming auto sound systems, loud mufflers and those same speeding semi-trucks interrupt the peaceful night air. More and more outsiders are moving in and taking over our hometown.
I, for one, am actually ashamed for my out-of-town friends and family to see the town in this shape. What has happened to Clio? Is there anyone who can help or save it now? If it can be saved, it is up to the few residents left living here who still have pride and morals. We need to take responsibility for what has happened and rejuvenate our town by electing and hiring more qualified city government officials and workers, attending council meetings and voicing our heartfelt opinions and concerns by making sure we are heard and understood, insist that dilapidated houses and stores be repaired, condemned or torn down completely.
Last but not least, clean it up and contact your county and state officials about repairing our roads. If we pull together, even as a small group, we can do it. If not, Clio will die a slow, agonizing death.
Tommy Enfinger
Clio