Op Ed Colby Free Press Wednesday, April 21, 2004 Page 3

Cynthia Haynes Small town polling is being threatened It’s fashionable for politicians to to Goodland to vote in their own Open say they care about rural America. elections. ¥ Season It’s fashionable for politicians to Steve Haynes How long will city government say they are going to do something survive in small towns after this? for rural America. Along The scary thing is, state and But in truth, hardly anyone in ¥ the Sappa county officials have rolled over Washington or Topeka knows what and just accepted this dictate from We’ll take it, even goes on out here. There are not very Washington. Not one county so far many of us any more, and they have has said, “Take your fancy ma- never been here. chines and your federal money and Washington gives a nod to rural Sure. Helping America Vote may which may cost $10,000 each and just stick ’em.” if it’s white moisture America now and then, mostly have started out as a good idea, but haven’t really been invented yet No state has stood up and said, They really should call spring the which had been in full bloom, hung when the Farm Bill is up. But the that was before all the special inter- anyway. “Our small towns are important, silly season heavy with snow on its branches Department of Agriculture is more ests and pressure groups got a hold The government may put up too, and we don’t want to see them I know that term is usually re- and flowers. The tulips, which had about welfare and cities these days of it. As passed, it requires all vot- some money to buy them and the die.” served for the legislative session, been ready to open, were clamped than it is about farming. ing places to be in buildings which state may put up some money, No one planned to put an end to but Mother Nature gets downright tightly shut. In Washington, they pass laws all meet standards of the Americans though it has none. And the coun- small-town elections. But in To- giddy during the spring. I was more than an hour late get- the time, one-size-fits-all laws that With Disabilities Act. All polling ties may just get stuck with the bill. peka and Washington, no one Easter was sunny and cool, but ting to work. The roads were icy, might work in cities (though it’s places must have fancy new touch- No one has any money to make 80- knows where these towns are, flowers were popping out all over and I decided to give the plows a doubtful) and just mess things up in screen voting devices to help handi- year-old buildings accessible. though some of them may have the place. little time to do their work. rural areas. Now we have the Help- capped people vote. The result: There will never be been raised in one. Worse yet, no In front of my house, the daffo- The day warmed up, like it was ing America Vote Act, passed after Neither requirement has much to another local election in most one cares much what happens to dils I planted along a wall were all supposed to do, and Tuesday was the ballot-counting fiasco in Florida do with the problem the law started smaller towns across rural Kansas. them. It’s just collateral damage in bloom and the tulips were bud- beautiful. By Wednesday, tempera- four years ago. out to solve, but now that there are All polls will be in the county seat. from another good idea gone ded. The forsythia was fitfully tures were back up in the 70s and The voting act strikes out at some federal standards, they have to be If you can’t drive in, you’ll have to wrong. blooming and the crocuses were 80s and the snow was almost gone. real problems, but it grew to include politically correct. vote an advance ballot by mail. ***** past their prime. Even the tulips had consented to comprehensive federal standards But there are no ADA-compliant So a citizen of Brewster or Steve Haynes is co-owner of It was really a beautiful day. open up and show off their beauty. which just won’t fit rural America. buildings in most small towns. The Rexford , to vote in a city election, Nor’West Newspapers: Colby Free Steve mowed the yard and we en- Wednesday night, we got home It will centralize voting and may economy is so bad, no one has built will have to drive 10 miles or more Press, The Goodland Star-News, joyed the cool sunshine. from work early and cooked outside well mean the end of democracy in any new buildings. And rural coun- to another city. It’s already hap- The Saint Francis Herald, Bird City Then we had to go to work. We on the grill. Then we washed off the small towns all over the country. ties can’t afford more than one of pened in Sherman County, where Times, The Oberlin Herald and The always work on Sundays. Usually, picnic table and ate outside under Naw, they wouldn’t do that. those touch-screen computers, citizens of Kanorado have to drive Norton Telegram. we go in late and work until mid- our gloriously blossom-filled pear night or so. tree. I had really worried that the E-mail your comments to: [email protected], or mail to 155 W. 5th, Colby At 12:10 a.m. Monday morning, cold snap would cause all those I stepped out into the darkness and beautiful blossoms to fall off. spotted the first few tentative snow- Sitting there as the perfume of the flakes. tree drifted by and the cats took With the drought we have been turns slipping in and out of the having, all moisture is welcome and house, I know I loved spring and I I remembered the snowstorm we loved Kansas. had six or eight years ago when they However, I was wondering if almost had to cancel prom because someone didn’t need to give Mother there was such a bad storm a day or Nature a Prozac. She seems a little two before the big event. confused. Oh well, maybe she’s However, I was praying for a blonde, too. snowstorm that would melt quickly ***** — like right away, so I wouldn’t Cynthia Haynes is co-owner of have to deal with bad roads on the Nor’West Newspapers: Colby Free Doonesbury way to work the next day. Press, The Goodland Star-News, The next morning, I awoke to The Saint Francis Herald, Bird City • Gary Trudeau about six inches of snow on the back Times, The Oberlin Herald and The deck. The ornamental pear tree, Norton Telegram.

“There are people who make things happen; Today’s “those who watch what hap- pens; “and those who wonder what quote happened.” —Anonymous Check each issue of the Free Press for additional TV Listings

TV LISTINGS sponsored by the COLBY FREE PRESS

WEEKDAYS APRIL 20 - APRIL 26 THURSDAY APRIL 22

6AM 6:30 7AM 7:30 8 AM 8:30 9 AM 9:30 10 AM 10:30 11 AM 11:30 6PM6:30 7 PM 7:30 8 PM 8:30 9 PM 9:30 10 PM 10:30 11 PM 11:30 KLBY/ABC News Good Morning America Mak- Mak- The View Holly- News KLBY/ABC (5:59) Ent. Extreme Makeover: Stephen King’s Primetime News Nightline Jimmy Kimmel Live Hh eover eover wood Hh News Tonight Home Edition (CC) Kingdom Hospital Thursday (CC) (CC) (CC) (CC) KSNK/NBC News Cont’d Today Live With Regis Martha Stewart KSNK/NBC News Wheel of Friends Friends Will & Scrubs ER Just a Touch (N) News The Tonight Show Late Lk and Kelly Living Lk Fortune (N) (CC) (CC) Grace My Fault (CC) (N) (CC) Night KBSL/CBS News The Early Show The 700 Club The Price Is Right The Young and the KBSL/CBS News Friends Survivor: All-Stars CSI: Crime Scene Without a Trace News Late Show (CC) Late 1< NX Restless 1< NX (CC) (CC) (N) (CC) Investigation Moving On (CC) (CC) Late K15CG World Priscilla- Body Caillou Boohbah Barney- Dragon Lions Sesame Street Clifford- Teletub- K15CG The NewsHour Sun- Art The New This Old Frontline Son of al- World Keeping Charlie Rose (N) e News Yoga Electric Friends Tales Red bies e With Jim Lehrer flower Auction House Hour (CC) Qaida (N) (CC) News Up (CC) WGN Chang- Believer Celebrity Hillbil- Hillbil- Happy Matlock In the Heat of the Rockford Files WGN Will & Home MLB Baseball: New York Yankees at Chicago White Sox. U.S. WGN Becker Elimi- The 5th NZ ing Voice Justice lies lies Days Night NZ Grace Improve. Cellular Field. (Live) (CC) News (CC) date Wheel NICK Oddpar- Rocket Rugrats Spon- Max & Rubba- Dora the Blue’s Dora the Blue’s Little Bill Maggie- NICK Rugrats Spon- Oddpar- Sabrina- Full Full Cosby Cosby Rose- Rose- Cosby Cosby Oa ents Power geBob Ruby dubbers Explorer Clues Explorer Clues Beast Oa (CC) geBob ents Witch House House Show Show anne anne Show Show FAM Digimon- Bey- Power Digimon- Growing Living The 700 Club 7th Heaven Full Growing FAM 7th Heaven The Movie: Anywhere but Here TTT (1999) A flighty Whose The 700 Club (CC) America’s Funniest PW Digital blade Rangers Digital Pains the Life House Pains PW Tribes That Bind mother uproots her daughter and heads West. (CC) Line? Home Videos (CC) USA JAG Varied Programs USA JAG Friendly Fire Law & Order: Movie: Big Daddy TZ (1999) A goofy ne’er-do-well Movie: Screwed T (2000, PX PX (CC) (DVS) Special Victims adopts an impressionable youngster. Adam Sandler. Comedy) Norm Macdonald. TBS Saved Saved Movie Dawson’s Creek Dawson’s Creek Saved Saved TBS Seinfeld Friends Movie: Payback TTZ (1999, Suspense) Movie: Payback TTZ (1999, Suspense) Movie: Cliffhanger P^ by Bell by Bell by Bell by Bell P^ The Tape (CC) (PA) Mel Gibson, Gregg Henry. (PA) Mel Gibson, Gregg Henry. TTT (1993) (CC) TNT The Lost World The Pretender Charmed ER ER Judging Amy TNT Law & Order NBA Basketball: First Round -- Teams to Be NBA Basketball: First Round -- Teams to Be P_ P_ Humiliation Announced. (Live) (CC) Announced. (Live) (CC) DSC Paid Paid Paid Paid Assignment Monster House Designer Designer Rally Round the DSC New Detectives: ND-Structible (CC) Building the Sucking Amps The ND-Structible (CC) Building the QY Program Program Program Program Discovery Guys Guys House QY Forensic Science Impossible electric car. (N) Impossible A&E Varied Programs Movie Murder, She Wrote Murder, She Wrote City Confidential A&E American Justice A Cold Case Files The Answer in the Box; Elizabeth Smart: Third Watch Officer Cold Case Files Q^ Q^ Parent’s Nightmare Maternal Instinct & Lady in the Box (CC) Long Way Home Involved (CC) (CC) ESPN SportsCenter SportsCenter Sports- Varied SportsCenter SportsCenter Outside- Baseball ESPN Sports- NHL Hockey: Conference Semifinal Game 1 -- Teams Baseball Tonight SportsCenter (Live) Outside- Baseball Qa Center Lines Tonight Qa Center to Be Announced. (Live) (CC) (Live) (CC) (CC) Lines Tonight HBO Movie Varied Programs Movie Varied HBO (4:45) Movie: Movie: Identity TTT (2003, Chris Rock: Never Scared Taxicab Deadwood The Trial i i Batman Forever Suspense) John Cusack. (CC) (CC) Confessions of Jack McCall (CC) DISN JoJo’s Stanley The JoJo’s The Stanley Rolie Rolie Out of PB&J Koala The DISN Sister, Lizzie Movie: A Ring of Endless Recess Sister, Boy Mts. Kim Proud Even Sister, N^ Circus Wiggles Circus Wiggles Polie Polie the Box Otter Brothers Wiggles N^ Sister McGuire Light TZ (2002, Drama) (CC) (CC) Sister World Possible Family Stevens Sister MAX Movie Varied Programs Movie Movie MAX (5:30) Movie: Femme Fatale Movie: Malibu’s Most Wanted Movie: Trapped TTZ (2002, Movie: Haunting Desires OX Cont’d OX TT (2002, Suspense) (CC) TT (2003) Jamie Kennedy. Suspense) Charlize Theron. (2003, Adult) Beverly Lynne.

WEEKDAYS APRIL 20 - APRIL 26 FRIDAY APRIL 23

12 PM 12:30 1 PM 1:30 2 PM 2:30 3 PM 3:30 4 PM 4:30 5 PM 5:30 6PM6:30 7 PM 7:30 8 PM 8:30 9 PM 9:30 10 PM 10:30 11 PM 11:30 KLBY/ABC All My Children One Life to Live General Hospital Dr. Phil Judge Judge News ABC Wld KLBY/ABC (5:59) Ent. George The Big Hope & Married- 20/20 (CC) News Nightline Jimmy Kimmel Live Hh Judy Judy News Hh News Tonight Lopez House Faith Kellys (CC) (CC) Bob Cribbie. (CC) KSNK/NBC News Family Days of Our Lives Passions Inside Family Million- Jeop- News NBC KSNK/NBC News Wheel of Dateline NBC (CC) Third Watch In News The Tonight Show Late Lk Feud Edition Feud aire ardy! News Lk Fortune Plain View (N) (CC) (N) (CC) Night KBSL/CBS News Bold, As the World Turns Guiding Light The People’s Court Oprah Winfrey News CBS KBSL/CBS News Friends Joan of Arcadia JAG Posse Without a Trace News Late Show (CC) Late 1< NX Beautiful News 1< NX (CC) (CC) (CC) Comitatus Coming Home (CC) (CC) Late K15CG Reading Mister Varied Programs George Beren. Liberty’s Cyber- Arthur Zoom Busi- K15CG The NewsHour Wash. Wall- Market- Kansas Legislature Kansas BBC Red Charlie Rose (N) e Rainbow Rogers Shrinks Bears Kids chase ness e With Jim Lehrer Week Fortune Market Week World Green (CC) WGN News In the Heat of the Street Street Cosby Cosby Fresh Fresh Home Will & WGN Will & Home Movie: The Perfect Wife T (2000, WGN News at Nine Becker Becker Elimi- The 5th NZ Night Smarts Smarts Show Show Prince Prince Improve. Grace NZ Grace Improve. Suspense) Perry King. (CC) (CC) (CC) (CC) date Wheel NICK Max & Dora the Rugrats Rugrats Varied Programs Spon- Amanda U-Pick U-Pick NICK Rugrats Spon- Jimmy Danny Teenage Chalk- Cosby Cosby Rose- Rose- Cosby Cosby Oa Ruby Explorer geBob Oa (CC) geBob Neutron Phantom Robot Zone (N) Show Show anne anne Show Show FAM Family Family Step by Step by So Little Full 7th Heaven Switche- Knock Full Full FAM 7th Heaven In Movie: Picture Perfect TZ (1997, Whose Whose The 700 Club (CC) Paid Paid PW Matters Matters Step Step Time House d! First House House PW Praise of Women Comedy) Jennifer Aniston, Jay Mohr. Line? Line? Program Program USA JAG Walker, Texas Movie Varied Programs Walker, Texas Walker, Texas USA JAG Heart and Soul Law & Order: Law & Order: Touching Evil K Law & Order: Touching Evil K PX Ranger Ranger Ranger PX (CC) (DVS) Special Victims Special Victims (CC) Special Victims (CC) TBS Cosby Cosby Cosby Fresh Fresh Steve Steve Drew Drew Home Home Seinfeld TBS Friends MLB Baseball: Atlanta Braves at Florida Marlins. Pro Player Movie: Striking Distance TT (1993, Movie: P^ Show Show Prince Prince Harvey Harvey Carey Carey Improve. Improve. P^ (CC) Stadium. (Live) Drama) (PA) Bruce Willis. (CC) Licence TNT Law & Order NYPD Blue NYPD Blue Judging Amy Angel Charmed TNT Law & Order Blood Law & Order Law & Order A Law & Order Hubris Law & Order Movie: The Big Hit P_ P_ Libel (CC) (DVS) Turnaround Losing Season (CC) (DVS) Paranoia TT (1998) DSC Surprise by Design Surprise by Design Rally Round the Double Agents Varied Programs DSC Monster House Motorcycle Mania 2 American Chopper American Hot Rod Motorcycle Mania 2 American Chopper QY House QY Mad Scientist House (CC) Liberty Bike 2 Junkyard Dog 2 (CC) Liberty Bike 2 A&E American Justice Movie Murder, She Wrote Murder, She Wrote City Confidential A&E American Justice Movie: Escape From Alcatraz TTT (1979) A convict Airline Third Watch Nature Movie: Escape Q^ Q^ Spree Killers (CC) plots to escape from the notorious island prison. (CC) (CC) or Nurture? (CC) From Alcatraz TTT ESPN Varied Programs NFL Live Varied Programs Around Interrup- SportsCenter ESPN Sports- NBA NBA Basketball: First Round Game 3 -- Teams to Be NBA Basketball: First Round Game 3 -- Teams to Be Qa the Horn tion Qa Center Announced. (Live) (CC) Announced. (Live) (CC) HBO Movie Movie Varied Programs Movie HBO Real Sports (CC) Movie: Basic TT (2003, Man on Deadwood The Trial On the Record (N) Movie: The i i Suspense) John Travolta. (CC) Fire of Jack McCall (CC) (CC) Transporter (2002) DISN JoJo’s Stanley Winnie- House of House of Recess Lilo & Recess Kim Proud Even Sister, DISN That’s- Lizzie Movie: George of the Jungle Kim Barbar- That’s- Kim Proud Even Sister, N^ Circus Pooh Mouse Mouse Stitch Possible Family Stevens Sister N^ Raven McGuire TTZ (1997) Brendan Fraser. Possible ian Raven Possible Family Stevens Sister MAX Movie Cont’d Varied Movie Varied Movie Movie Varied MAX (5:00) Movie: Dreamcatcher TZ (2003) Four telepathic Movie: Cradle 2 the Grave TT Bedtime Movie: Exposed OX OX Movie: friends encounter malevolent aliens. Morgan Freeman. (2003, Action) Jet Li, DMX. (CC) Stories (2001) Julia Kruis.