Whitewood is famous!
As we all know there has been a lot of press over the issue of changing Hooker St. It’s amazing how fast this story has been spreading. Today Keloland was in Whitewood conducting interviews.
(Click the photo to watch the video)
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WHITEWOOD BLOG VISITS!
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November 28th, 2007 at 8:28 am
I saw Pastor Baer on the KELO news last night. I thought they did a very nice job of covering the story. That’s the kind of publicity that will be good for Whitewood!!
Dawna/Sanborn Central Horizons
November 28th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
Tammy, I am working to see if there is a fix from Griff to add the Keloland embed code…stay tuned!
I found out that there is a block on that particular type of embed file, so I created a little workaround so your readers can just click the photo to go directly to the video. Hope that is helpful!
November 28th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
WOW! the video is COOL! Thanks Tammy, Griff and Cheryl!
November 28th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Thanks Cheryl for working with Griff and getting our Keloland interview embedded on the site and getting it to stay! You are awesome!! Thanks for all the work that you do!
November 28th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Thank goodness all our Newell streets are numbers, trees, or after colleges/universities… lol. Sounds like your next council mtg will be an interesting one - when is it?
November 28th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
So, I have lived in Whitewood for 25 years. It is my home no matter where my future takes me. I technically live on Hooker Street and I like it. I would not care if it was changed to General Hooker or Joseph Hooker Street. It is just a name. I think that if the town does decide to change the name they will be taking away town history. Yes, it is good to get Whitewood on the map and in the media, however this is not the way to do it. Others, in larger areas, are going to hear about this and think we are closeminded. I think there are more important “street” issues to fix first. Besides, I know Pastor David Baer does not live on my street, so why should it matter to him. Let those who live on the street decide.
November 29th, 2007 at 12:12 am
Heather,
The council meeting that will decide this issue is on December 17th and yes I’m sure it will be interesting!
November 29th, 2007 at 1:40 am
Dear Hooker Street:
Part of the problem with current news coverage is that they are focusing on me as the source of the suggestion to change the name of Hooker Street.
It has made for a lot of sensationalized and trivialized news stories. It is kind of a fun story if it is about a pastor trying to battle the forces of evil in the form of a street name which is how it has been portrayed in much of the news media. That’s why it’s spread far and wide.
The idea to change the name of Hooker Street did not come from me. That does not mean that I don’t think that changing the name isn’t a good idea. I went to the council at the encouragement of others. I brought several suggestions for action by the council including several options for names and the option of embracing the Hooker name and keeping it.
Some have suggested that we should have a Hooker Street Festival and capitalize on this publicity by making it an annual event for Whitewood. Imagine how this could be a boon for our community and the beginning of a new identity.
My willingness to try to help our community has resulted in nasty e-mails and being attacked on internet blogs and in sensationalized news stories.
I’m sorry you feel the need to remain anonymous in your internet posting. I encourage you to go to the city council meeting on Dec. 17 to voice your opinion to those who will consider this issue or if you are reluctant to reveal your identity in public, you could talk to the council members separately or send an anonymous letter.
November 29th, 2007 at 9:49 am
This is democracy in action and that’s a great thing! EVERYONE in Whitewood has the ability, the opportunity and the right to voice their opinion on this subject. Whether that is through a blog, a TV or Newspaper interview or in person at a City Council meeting.
Of course we always hope that it is done in a respectful way that results in a cooperative effort that is in the best interests of the community of Whitewood.
I’d love to know the significance of using the Civil War names. Was there some connection to Whitewood that was important enough that the city named them that in the first place? Perhaps the Hooker Street Festival is not such a crazy idea? It would certainly put Whitewood on the map!
November 29th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
First of all, I want to apologize to “Hooker Street” for my harsh response especially about the choice to remain anonymous.
I can tell this is taking an emotional toll because I should be able to be more understanding of those who post here.
David
November 29th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
In answer to Cheryl’s question about why Whitewood has streets named after Civil War generals:
My understanding is that Whitewood (and many towns in SD) was plotted by the railroad as the area was settled. This was probably in the first decades following the Civil War. These guys were American folk heros and a natural choice for those naming the streets. I’m guessing the railroad folks tried different things in different towns — numbers and lettered street names some places, etc. In Whitewood, it is Civil War generals on the east-west streets and trees for the north-south streets.
November 29th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
David,
I just wanted to post to you that I’m sorry that you are taking the brunt of the abuse here. Just know that I know that you did not set out on a crusade to change street names and this was not about this at all!!! This press has gotten crazy about this whole issue. I honestly didn’t even think this would turn out like this. I didn’t even put the connection with you being a Pastor and Hooker St when this thing was first talked about. Hang in there! Please let me know if you need anything!
December 6th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
I AM A MOTHER OF 4 CHILDREN IN AGES RANGING FROM 8 YRS OLD TO 17 YRS OLD I HAVE RAISED MY CHILDREN IN WHITEWOOD..EXCEPT FOR A FEW YRS WE LIVED IN CALIFORNIA. MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A HOUSE IN WHITEWOOD AND IT HAPPENS TO BE ON HOOKER ST..MY HUSBAND WAS RAISED HERE.ALL HIS LIFE..AND WE LOVE OUR TOWN AND THE PEOPLE.IT IS A GREAT COMMUNITY TO RAISE A FAMILY.WE WELCOM NEW PEOPLE AND NEW BUSINESS..BUT AS A CITIZEN OF WHITEWOOD I THINK WE SHOULD PUT OUR FOCUES ON SOME THING ELSE RATHER THEN A STREET NAME..HOOKER ST WAS HERE BE FOR WE ALL WERE IT IS A PART OF HISTORY LETS NOT TAKE THAT AWAY. PEOPLE ARE SO CONCERNED FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND THE FAMILY VALUE OF IT. THEN ANSWER ME THIS ONE QUESTION..IF YOUR CONCERNED WHAT THE NAME HOOKER ST DOES FOR US WAHT DOES IT SAY ABOUT ALL THE BARS THIS SMALL TOWN HAS??AND THE GAMBLING..WHAT DOES THAT TEACH OR CHILDREN?? AND YOU WANNA FUSS OVER A STREET NAME..NOT ONCE HAS MY CHILD EVER THOUGHT OF IT AS SOMETHING OTHER THEN A STREET NAME ..UNTELL WATCHING PASTOR BAER ON THE NEWS..WE NEED TO EDUCATE THE CHILDREN AND PEOPLE NEW TO THIS COMMUNITY TO WERE HOOKER ST GOT ITS NAME .. AND THE MEANING OF IT.. LETS NOT FORGET WHAT GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER DID.. AND WHAT HE FOUGHT FOR.. HOOKER ST NEEDS TO STAY HOOKER STREET AND I WILL NOT GIVE UP WITH OUT A FIGHT.. PLEASE LOOK AT THE HISTORIC POINT OF THIS NAME AND THE MAN IT IS NAMED AFTER WHY SHOULD WE LET IT BE TAKEN AWAY.. SAVE HOOKER ST