by jimhinckleysamerica | Jun 17, 2009 | Uncategorized
Yes, it has been unusually cool here and no, it hasn’t been cold enough for snow in June. This photo of Chloride, Arizona was taken in mid February on one of our afternoon “search for lunch” adventures.
My wife’s family has a long association with this old mining town and we are adding to that tradition by profiling it in our forthcoming book, Ghost Towns of the Southwest. That and its close proximity to home made it an ideal candidate as we sought a location for a suitable cover shot for that book last Sunday.
As always our visit was a pleasant one even though it lacked the excitement of our previous adventure when we decided to test the prowess of the Jeep in the mountains that loom above town. Friendly folks, quiet streets, and stunning desert scenery are but a small part of the charm.
For more than a century Chloride has mirrored the ebb and flow of the southwest. Today that reflection is one of change.
New construction and new faces have added a “yuppie” aspect that wasn’t there just a few years ago when my son and his cousins traveled the streets on well worn ATV’s. Change in a favorite place is always difficult to see but, perhaps, this is why we have been blessed with memories and photographs.
Change seems to be a primary topic in our lives this past few years. Lets see, I am now a grandfather and the milestone of turning fifty is fast becoming a distant memory.
Promotion of new books has served as the catalyst for many a grand adventure. Development of new books and projects, such as a series of limited edition photographic prints, promises even more.
We have acquired a Jeep Cherokee that ensures our standard for what constitutes an adventure will be raised a notch or two. This was evidenced on our trial run for the new “family truckster” and plans to seek out alignments of Route 66 not used in at least sixty years.
Obviously change is not always a good thing. The pressure associated with the never ending learning curve of new technology as well as the current state of the economy often has me seeing Amish farmer as an upward career move.
Well, my closing thought of the day is this. Working like this is a sure death but it is a slower one than starvation.
by jimhinckleysamerica | Jun 17, 2009 | Uncategorized
Noise ordinances are a popular subject of debate and discussion if on line forums present an accurate reflection of public sentiment. This piece from the Williams News in Williams, Arizona, is rather interesting.
First, it is not about Harley Davidson’s. Second, it is from a town that openly promotes itself as a haven and destination for motorcycle enthusiasts.
Patrick WhitehurstReporterTuesday, June 09, 2009
Patrick Whitehurst/WGCN WILLIAMS – A new ordinance to control noise levels in the downtown area is in the works, following a discussion on the matter by members of Williams City Council during their regular meeting May 28. Officials plan to look at the creation of a new ordinance, controlled by decibel levels, which may limit the volume of live music in the area during evening hours. The current noise ordinance, they said, is far outdated and no longer applicable to downtown Williams.Grand Canyon Hotel owner Oscar Fredrickson spoke to council members about the possible noise ordinance during the meeting. He said the noise issue stems from live musicians who play downtown at night, particularly during the summer months, but also during off-peak times as well. According to Fredrickson, the noise is so loud that many of his customers complain.”This came about two months ago when we had an incident with one of the bars in the central area,” Fredrickson said. “The difficulty we had is that we live and work in the same hotel, so we don’t actually close the doors at 5 p.m. and go to Country Club or go to a different part of the community where we don’t hear any of the noise.”
The feature continues with, “Council members spoke about the possibility of purchasing a device that would read decibel levels, should they enact a noise ordinance.According to Williams Police Chief Herman Nixon, using decibel levels to enforce city ordinance would be easily accomplished.
This is the section I found of particular interest. Most discussions on this topic that I have followed are full of whining but little substance. It would seem the old adage talk is cheap is timeless in nature. “There is a state statute that covers noise disturbance. The problem with that is that somebody has to be a victim and come to court with all this,” Nixon said. “Most people don’t want to do this. A decibel figure would work out perfectly for the police department.”
Content © 2009 Williams News/williamsnews.com
Yes, it has been unusually cool here and no, it hasn’t been cold enough for snow in June. This photo of Chloride, Arizona was taken in mid February on one of our afternoon “search for lunch” adventures.