ELSMORE ? It?s not easy feeling you?re the unwanted ?stepchild? of the county, but the residents of Elsmore are not letting that hold them back in trying to make the remote berg a better place to live.
About a dozen locals gathered Monday evening to discuss their grievances as part of a community conversation hosted by Thrive Allen County.
Elsmore residents met with Thrive Allen County Monday for a ?community conversation.? Front row from left, are Hellen Welch, Melissa Fewins, Dick Fewins, Sherrie Aiello; back row, Betty Hawley, Vera Isaacs, Kandy Wilson, Judy Wilson and Paul Green.
A simple outdoor basketball court would go a long way, said Sherrie Aiello, whose three young children ache for a place to shoot hoops.
Long-timer Dick Fewins said past research put a half-court at $10,000, not counting the help of volunteers. Vera Isaacs mentioned basketball hoops and goals are in storage.
Locals have raised about $1,000 to put toward a court, but fear even a half-court may be out of their reach.
Elmore has about 77 residents, of which 8-10 are youths.
?They have no place to play,? Aiello said, noting the only playground equipment is positioned in a bare lot with no trees. That equipment came second-hand to Elsmore via Thrive more than 10 years ago when a Kansas City school upgraded its playground.
Brother and sister Paul Green and Sherrie Aiello listen to speakers.
Adequate cell phone service is also on their dream list.
?It would be nice to be able to receive a call in your house,? said Paul Green. ?I can?t even walk out my front door to get service. Nope, only in my backyard is there service.?
?Sometimes I see I have an incoming call, but I can?t answer it,? he said. ?Cell service out here is the worst ever.?
Green owns 5th Street Bait N More, now in its fifth year.
While Elsmore streets were recently treated by Allen County crews, its ditches were ignored, residents said. Years of accumulated silt have clogged their drainage. When it rains, the accumulated water stands for days, creating an ideal medium for mosquitoes.
