Dear Editor,
“Did your town always look like this?”
People ask as they take in the overgrown yards, crumbling houses, and cones marking potholes the city says it can’t afford to fix. And every time, I tell them: No. It didn’t.
I remember marching in the Cheese Festival Parade—sweaty and proud. The streets were clean. Lawns were trimmed.
My granny helped start the Main Street Association in Watonga. Students planted flowers. Neighbors volunteered. Pride in our town wasn’t just something we felt— it was something we showed.
Now the flowers are gone. Main Street feels forgotten. The heart of our community beats quieter.
What has changed? Transparency? Leadership?
When the city manager was hired in 2021, the city was hopeful. But in the years since, things have gone downhill.
She attempted to hold a special meeting—without full council notice—to push for a $20,000 raise and $600 car allowance; she lives in Watonga. In addition, mileage to leave Watonga? Her new contract feels out of step with the city’s needs.
Then came the pound crisis. Heartbreaking. Innocent animals suffered due to preventable leadership neglect. As a rescue dog owner, it broke my heart. Her requested raise alone could fund coverage to ensure constant care.
Recently, my 90-yearold granny’s water line broke—on the city’s side. No call, no notice—just silence. She’s given decades to this town. She deserved better. It is fixed now.
And the employment application asks for banking information just to apply. I’ve passed federal background checks. I’ve never been asked that. Why does a small town demand more than the federal government? Clearly, this was not required of her… This is about accountability, transparency, and restoring pride in a place we love.
Watonga deserves better. Jaime Edsall, Watonga