New State Park named after outgoing governor

[Phil Lilley]

http://www.hannibal.net/news/20170107/new-state-park-named-after-outgoing-governor

[Jerry Rapp]

this is not going over very well at all in my area.   Plus there is another side story on how this land became available.  To sum it up, the guy who owned that abandoned house shot and killed the adjacent landowner over an easement issue.  This was in 2010.

 

http://dailyjournalonline.com/news/local/new-state-park-upsets-local-lawmakers/article_48d4a672-9e88-5856-9476-29b2500639e6.html

 

 

[SpoonDog]

I've hunted and hiked a fair bit around that part of the world, saw my first collared lizard in the state down there nearly twenty years ago.  Really cool area.  Glad to see part of it won't be turned into a smelter or a tailings pile. 

[fishinwrench]

I'd be happier just calling Jay Nixon a Collared Lizard.

[Al Agnew]

Maybe somebody can explain this for me...

Leave aside naming it for Nixon.  That's just politics.  Of course the Republicans are going to complain about it being named for a Democrat when they hold majorities in everything.  So what?

What I really want to know is, what the heck is the big deal about it being part of a big dispute between two individuals, one whom shot the other one?  Did DNR have anything to do with that?  Are there possible heirs who should have gotten the land and didn't?  Should DNR not have bought it just because somebody was shot over it?  I don't get that objection at all.

As for the ASARCO funds being used for it...that's a whole different story, and I'd have to ask whether the remediation and clean-up that the ASARCO money was supposed to go to is being done or is finished?  In other words, are they really taking money away from the remediation in order to buy a park?

 

[Gavin]

Seems a bit narcissistic for Nixon to name a park after himself while still Governor (Out just yesterday) but he has expanded the park system allot. Is what it is. Does the property tie into Johnson Shut Ins SP off the Taum Sauk Trail? Might be a good addition, but not sure where it is. Don't think I want the State to sell it back no matter who it is named after. Remote Land with no public access is a good metaphor for Nixon though.

 

[Terrierman]

4 hours ago, Jerry Rapp said:

this is not going over very well at all in my area.   Plus there is another side story on how this land became available.  To sum it up, the guy who owned that abandoned house shot and killed the adjacent landowner over an easement issue.  This was in 2010.

 

http://dailyjournalonline.com/news/local/new-state-park-upsets-local-lawmakers/article_48d4a672-9e88-5856-9476-29b2500639e6.html

 

 

What do you think about milkweed though?

[Old plug]

It should be named for some guy got hiself killed at war.

[jdmidwest]

Nixon did fight several wars about spending funds meant for other reasons on State Park lands. Does that count?

[Brian Jones]

16 hours ago, Gavin said:

Seems a bit narcissistic for Nixon to name a park after himself while still Governor (Out just yesterday) 

Felt the same way.  

Actually voted for him twice.  Initially, I liked his stance on the second amendment and felt that he was more of a centrist who would work with both parties for the good of the whole.  Have really disliked a lot of his decisions since and felt he really pandered to the far left in his last two years of office which I figured was in preparation for a future senatorial run.  

I'm probably being selfish but I doubt I ever visit a state park with no facilities.  However I'm sure there are those who'll really enjoy the rugged aspects and primitiveness (sp?) of the area.