Scouts sound off

The following letters were prepared by Boy Scouts of Troop 101 as part of their Communications Merit Badge.

The Scouts were to write a letter to a newspaper expressing their opinion on a topic that had meaning to them.

Paul Adams, Troop 101 assistant scoutmaster

On a roll

Hays can be boring sometimes. I mean face it, all the kids these days hang out at the library. Nothing exciting downtown. I think we should build an ice rink. All the neighboring towns would come to Hays to skate. My family usually has to go to Kansas City in order to have fun. We all can save gas if we build a rink right here in Hays. Once it's built money will start rolling in. It will be a great investment. One thing I have noticed is that teenagers get bored easily.

Henry Jiang

Hays

Guns good

Gun control is a bad thing. If you take away guns people can't hunt. Obama is trying to take away guns from gangs. Gangs get their guns illegally, so they would still have them. If taken away guns like that need to be kept. If a coyote is eating your chickens, are you going to be able to stop him with a knife? You need a gun to protect your farm. Hunting is another reason; you can shoot pheasants and deer to feed your cats and to eat yourself. Guns are not a bad thing. If you take away guns, you have no way to defend yourself.

Michael Lager

Hays

Summer respite

One thing, I have noticed in this town is that there is barely any videogame stations in this town. I think we should have a media parlor in Hays. It should be located at Hays Public Library. It should have videogames, like "Area 51" and a pinball machine. It should also have a drink and snack bar -- even a TV watching area. I think it would be a great place for kids to come and hang out for the summer.

Ryan Cech

Hays

All year round

I personally think that the People of Hays and Ellis County would enjoy an ice rink all year round and, if people don't know how to skate, they can take lessons. People can do figure skating or hockey. In the summer, people can cool off without going to the pool. And if you don't want to do figure skating or hockey, you can just skate if you want to. What people can also do is reserve the rink.

Adam Klausmeyer

Hays

Dog days

The dog park should be built because it will be a major step for the Hays Parks Department. Plus it can be good idea for the Humane Society of the High Plains. It can be enough space for dogs to run free. Not only it will do that, but also the owner can relax and do whatever.

Seth Beauchamp

Hays

Just imagine

It is my opinion there should be more art contests. If there were, we may be able to use a kid's ambition to inspire their imagination. If they see what they created, then they may try to aim higher and higher. The Hays Arts Council could showcase specific works. More art contests might encourage young kids to become artists or photographers.

With more kids down the path of art, we could be able to show the beauty of the world a bit better, and give kids the ability to take the time to appreciate the creations of the world. With more kids seeing life from an artists standpoint, then they may be a bit more careful with the world's resources.

Eric Adams

Hays

Green it up

Having the baseball season starting soon (for my team in Victoria) I sincerely think that Eagles Park needs a sprinkling system in the outfield.

Last year on several occasions (at practice), my friends and I would dive for a fly ball, and when we would get up the whole front of our bodies would be covered in stickers.

There are many spots that have sticker patches and sometimes even have no grass and just dirt. It's been a long year without baseball, and I would like to get the full enjoyment out of it. If we had a sprinkling system, injuries might be cut down. If injuries were cut down that might result in happier parents, players, and coaches.

In conclusion, I think that a sprinkler system should be installed in the outfield at the Victoria Eagles Baseball Park. If that would happen everybody would be happier and healthier. Thank you for taking the time to read my opinion.

David Schulte

Victoria