GAS — There’s much to appreciate about living in Gas, a handful of residents agreed Tuesday evening.
And in a refreshing look at its citizenry, few had much to complain about, either.
Perhaps some residents can be a bit more diligent in keeping junk and trash out of their yard, but for the most part, residents here are polite, friendly, and clean, locals Larry and Shirley Robertson agreed.
The Robertsons have been married 50 years, and have lived in Gas much longer than that. Larrry has called Gas home for 79 years; Shirley for 58.
“Gas goes have a neighborly feel,” agreed Don Burns, a Gas resident, and also a Thrive board member.
The Robertsons were among those who attended the community conversation hosted by Thrive Allen County.
Aside from a few jokes about their immediate neighbors — Burns and the Robertsons live in close proximity with each other, with fellow attendees Mary LaCrone and Judy Johnson living not much farther away — all agreed the community is just that: a friendly community.
Johnson went a step further, noting many of the diners at Tina’s Cafe along U.S. 54 are almost like family.
She also praised Dollar General, calling it “The Gas Mall.”
As for things that could be better, Larry Robertson, who also serves on the Gas City Council, wondered about getting better community Internet, including public Wifi spots around town.
The Council must decide soon on how it will spend about $30,000 in federal funds, given to Gas as a COVID relief package. Many such communities have used the money for infrastructure projects.
And there are other standby issues, such as housing and available child care, although those in attendance said Gas is hardly unique in those aspects.
Thrive executive director Lisse Regehr appreciated their comments, noting Tuesday’s talk differed from other communities, who usually bring a long list of topics they need addressed in their respective locations.
Nevertheless, Regehr said Thrive is eager to assist Gas if such help is necessary, such as seeking grants or reaching out to residents.
Thrive’s Community Conversations were a regular occurrence, although the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to those gatherings for a while.
But with life returning to normal, Regehr said Thrive is eager to once again reach out to communities to get their respective thoughts on things they’d like to improve.
