I've got it! Finally!!! I did not understand why there still seemed to be discontent in Clay County about the 9-1-1 until yesterday when all the pieces came together.
When we lived in Jasper County, with 9-1-1, our address had gotten changed to 15980 E. 1750th Ave.. I didn't like to have to write or to remember all those numbers but after I got the hang of it I could pretty well take myself to any auction or other place in the county using the numbers. I didn't know anything about GPS (and still know very little) which is what those numbers are supposed to be based upon. I had heard just enough to believe that 'big brother' knew where I was at all times and could exactly use a bomb or laser or something to eliminate me from this world.
When we moved back to Clay County, I liked our simple little address of 46 Amber Road. I still don't know why '46' or why a 'road' instead of a 'street'. As far as I know we are the only ones who live on this street/road. I have learned that in Clay County, roads go north and south and lanes go east and west. So here in Ingraham, the main road going through town is a lane. I always thought that a 'lane' was a road which was too narrow for two to use at the same time.
But anyway........do you think that, if I paid for the sign, we could get this pavement out in front of our house and our address changed to #1 Butler Street??? I'm digressing..........
Well, my husband and I were traveling in Clay County the other day and I commented about the addresses. I express my thoughts that I thought that they were cute (Bob white, Pig Tail Alley, etc) and really express country but that outsiders might think that we were all dumb hicks. My husband expressed his opinion that they were useless and couldn't understand why supposedly intelligent people would spend all that money on them. I asked him to explain. He wouldn't (he doesn't like to argue). I now understand his comments.
I came to understand that there are glitches in the current system when a few days later I needed to call 9-1-1. I understand that most of the emergency personal don't know in their heads (haven't been to rummage sales all over the county) where all these little streets are and that they rely upon that GPS to get them to where they are going. During my call, the directions which I gave were so simple and exact that even I could have followed them but the 9-1-1 operator wanted to know if it was by a certain lane with a certain number, etc.. To me, the name of that old road (actually a lane) had no bearing upon getting them to the location exactly. Had I'd been telling them that it was straight west and the number of miles out of Louisville, I would have told them if it was on the Vandalia or the Kimnundy Road but my directions should have been a no-brainer. In this case, the emergency personall did get there very promptly and the 9-1-1 operator did a very good job conversing with me but I understand that this isn't always the case.
So, County Board, can I change the name of my location in Ingraham without moving? And, if we have to call the ambulance (and we will sooner or later) for our disabled daughter, do I tell the operator 2724 Ingraham Lane or do I tell them the old Ingraham Grade School?
Praying that everyone is warm and not hungry in this wintery mix/mess
Judy Butler, Ingraham
