In the past locals have talked about hearing locals of neighboring communities express the opinion that 56572 is not a safe place.
Once again this week, the fear reappeared.
We wish that our neighbors who feel 56572 is unsafe would share their reasons with us here on 56572. We are most curious to hear what they might be and would like to help you work through your fears.
Locals are welcome to use the comment button to answer the question "Do you feel safe in 56572?"
Be honest about it.
You might have a point in saying that driving styles and habits are different in 56572, that defensive driving is advised.
You might have a point in saying that more people use the sidewalks than in your town.
You might have a point in saying that not everybody wears blue jeans, sneakers and baseball caps.
Next time you do drive through 56572 our advice would be to get out and walk around. Have coffee, a meal or a drink. Buy some flowers. Buy some groceries you will not find in your local market.
Feel for yourself if your fears are real.
If they are, talk to us about them.
If they are not, please bury the Boogeyman.
3 hours ago
9 comments:
This most recent information is from greatschools.net, which gets part of it's information from FBI statistics.
In the violent crime index of 1 out of 10, with 1 being the lowest and 10 the highest, you will find the following community results. Pelican Rapids, Perham, Underwood and Lake Park had violent crime scores of "1". Detroit Lakes, Hawley, Rothsay, and Battle Lake had scores of "2". Barnesville had a score of "3". Fergus Falls was "4". The state average was "2" and the US average was "3". So bad here in PR, no.
I have lived here for several years, and I fail to see any validity to what the simple-minded people claim is so bad about Pelican Rapids. Is it safe to walk the streets in Pelican Rapids? Yes! Are looks deceiving? Yes! Does our school do many things better than the other area schools, Yes! Some neighboring communities may claim to be a flagship community, but I don't really see the cohesiveness that we have here.
What's the worst things about living here? The watchdog group? The concerned taxpayers group? The CAVE men? Could be..
I am always amazed by the prejudice in our area when it comes to other cultures. I have been to other communities in the area and have had people ask if I feel safe in Pelican and how they don't want to come here. They ask how I can send my children to school here. I answer, "so they can see the diverse world we live in and so they don't grow up with attitudes like they have just displayed". I believe that Pelican Rapids needs some sort of positive community campaign that focuses on our diversity and the good thing it is. Pelican has great things - the school system and the library are just 2 of them. Remember, the diverse cultures that have recently moved here have done so for the some of the same reasons your anscestors did a century ago or more ago. Realize that everyone wants freedom, safety, and a way to make a living. We have that in Pelican Rapids - embrace it!!!
The only thing scary about Pelican Rapids is the element in the area that refuses to fund the schools and other community interests.
Unforutnately, it would be hard to describe Pelican as progressive due to a small group that has 100% voter turnout - the challenge for the intelegisia of Pelican is to use the power of the polls - get out the vote!!!!!!!! The intelligent people have no excuse for not voting!!!
I agree about the small group element. WHY would an objective person want to move here with such a vocal bunch of cheapskates? It's going to be the biggest challenge this area is going to have to face.
Anonymous
May 20, 2007 5:45 PM
What you said. You rock.
It’s not the ethnic diversity that gives Pelican Rapids a bad ‘rap’ in the surrounding communities. It’s the lies and half truths that come from this ‘watch dog’ group. The outlandish and fear mongering rhetoric that is spread by them is not a true representation of the community. They are the ones who are holding the community back. But being they are the ones with the loudest voice, some more than others (Kathy), they are perceived to be the consensus opinions amongst Pelican Rapids residence.
Your blog comment moderator here....I need to remind readers looking here in vain for their comments that attacks on your neighbors, even so far as to name them, will have little success in being published. The second reminder is to refrain from veering too far off the topic.
Think Golden Rule. These are your neighbors you are talking about.
If you disagree, start your own blog. You might be surprised by the comments you'll get.
How can you say its "a small vocal group" with the margin it was on the vote for new school facility? Also why is it that if someone has a different view and did not support the huge price tag of the new school or the way it was going to be funded is considered not intelligent? Insulting others in the community is not consensus building.
It will be difficult to generate support for additional school funding either for capital improvements or an operating levy when 1.) we have 70+ families that have chosen to open enroll out of the district, 2.) we have a large lake population that is not connected to the community of Pelican Rapids, and 3.) we have a voting population that are on fixed income (retired). The first two do not see Pelican as the community where they shop or where they call 'home'. It is not their social base. The increase in real estate values and corresponding increase in property taxes are financially draining and affect all three. The price tag of the new school would have been a financial strain for rural landowners. That is my response for being called a cheapskate (and I don't believe that I am in the minority for the way I voted on the school issue).
Lastly, do I feel Pelican is a safe community? Overall, I don't feel as safe as I did twenty years ago in this community. I honestly can say I don't think it has to do with multicultural issues. Society in general has changed, the pressures and issues that used to affect larger cities are now in our small town.
Uff, when is the school vote going to be a dead issue among both sides? You can only kick a dead horse so many times. Over 2 years have gone by, can't anyone seem to get on the same page and figure out what we need to do? Maybe comprimise?
I was a "NO" voter-only because the need wasn't clear and presented well. I believe I speak for a good number of voters here. It wasn't so much the increase of our taxes.
Reading the 11:16 post, is it the school's fault that that many students are opening enrolling in other schools? 70+ families seems pretty inflated. Maybe more course offerings, better school promotion, a new or remodeled building, might change that? More and more of reading this blog, I am beginning to believe some of this may help. As for fixed income people, I know some fixed income people who were yes voters. I know of rural farmers who voted for the referendum. Not everyone in these catagories sided with your view of why the vote failed. Drop it anyways!
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