I was sitting in my chair watching a show when my phone rang last night around 8:30. It was a friend that informed me a Detainee at the Chase County Detention Center had been released earlier Friday and was sitting in the lobby of the Grand Hotel. It was getting close to closing time at the Grand and they needed help with the Detainee so the staff could go home.
I drove up to the Grand Hotel and made contact with the Detainee. He didn’t speak any English so I used a translator service on my iPhone. Luckily he had a ride coming to get him that would be there shortly. The Detainee called a bilingual friend and she filled me in on what was going on. Sure enough, within five minutes his ride showed up and the Detainee was on his way.
Not sure what the Detainee story was or how long he had been at the Grand. I have been told he came in the Grand wearing a t-Shirt and shorts and had sandals on. It was snowing out when I went up to check on him. The Grand Hotel had found some warmer clothes for him somehow.
I will check with the Captain of the Detention Center Monday to find out the back story. I am full of gratitude to the owner and staff at the Grand Hotel for caring for this Detainee until his ride showed up.
We have got to come up with a solution for this problem. It is creating a community issue. Not sure if the Detainee was offered a place to stay at the Detention Center or if he had to leave. I will get some facts Monday.
I think I need to put together an advisory panel of some sort and include a City and or County representative, someone from the Detention Center, clergy in the community and a couple of other interested parties to come up with a solution to this issue. It is bigger than I can handle alone with Love In Action. I am told this only happens once or twice a month but not sure that is true.
Today has been a quiet day at home. I did drive up to the Dollar General store and got some night lights so I could light up Kathy’s new bathroom. I got a package of three so will see tonight when it is dark if the light in the bathroom is enough or if I need to put one in the storage room too.
Am working on printing my blog. I had to start printing from May 1, 2025 and print the rest of 2025. My printer only allows me to request printing for about six or eight items. If I give it more than that to process, it stalls out or prints gibberish. It did that once today. It takes me a bit to get them all printed and then I have to three-hole punch them to put them in the binders.
Worked on my personal income taxes for a short while. I rented all three properties to family and it makes it a bit of a challenge to find all I need. I didn’t have a property manager keeping records for me. I also sold all three properties so have extra paperwork to find for all of that. Not my favorite thing to do.
I may try to go to Emporia tomorrow and pick up my AARP tax computer. I reread the text about the meeting Monday night I have to go to and in the text she requested we pick up our computers and do two tests prior to the meeting. Best get that done!
I delivered two of the blooming hyacinths to neighbors today. I had seven of them blooming with six more coming later. Both neighbors seemed pleased to get one. I’m afraid I have not taken the chance to get to know either one of the neighbors well.
I am beginning to think I may be allergic to the hyacinths. I love the smell of them but have been very snotty ever since they started blooming. Dang it anyways.
Tomorrow I will go to Emporia and pick up my AARP computer and a few groceries. Hopefully after I get home I can do the two tests that I need to have done prior to the meeting Monday night. Monday I take my car in to have the oil changed. I also need to go to the post office and purchase some stamps and take them up to the Center. While I am there I will talk to the Captain about the Detainee that was released Friday and also pay for the ice cream treats Love in Action is providing the Detainees for Valentine’s Day.
I made the mistake of reading some comments about a post covering the rally in Emporia today. I know better! I should not be surprised at some of the responses but it still disappoints me when I read what someone I know posts. I guess we all see what we see and believe. I refuse to argue with those that see things differently than I do as I don’t think that I can change anyone’s mind. Yet, not responding feels like agreement.
I will continue to do what I do and focus my energy on Love in Action. I also send regular emails to my elected representatives. Sure doesn’t feel like enough but I also know I don’t have the power to change what is happening. My heart hurts watching the fighting and divide and murder that is happening. What will it take for all of us to realize we are in this together?
Grateful the Detainee found a way home last night, grateful for the care and concern he was provided by the Grand, and grateful for neighbors that accepted a gift of a hyacinth.