After open interviews and public input last night, the Ruston town council appointed Bruce Hopkins to serve as mayor until the end of 2009. Mr. Hopkins and his wife have frequently attended council meetings to express his concern about activities at the Unicorn Tavern, which is located across the street from their home. He has not held elected office in Ruston.
The general theme was to put our differences behind us and move forward. Hopefully a new face in the mayor's seat will help that process.
Karen
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There have been a few comments that have come in regarding this issue. I've posted them on the Free Ruston web site (www.freeruston.proboards.com) under Ruston Politics.
Congratulations Bruce and Ruston, a brighter day for Ruston would be nice. Very best wishes, Porkchop
Much thanks to Kim and Bruce for being brave enough to put in for Mayor. Kim had a lot of good ideas for grants. I think he came up with them years ago, per usual no one would act on it. No more excuses.The harbor fund as been exposed. Get it done. Take the credit. And thank Kim Wheeler for once again saving our Town.
I have never looked at the "Free Ruston" website up until today because I have heard it's the same few people who spew hatred. I chose to post on the "Home" website instead because this better reflects the Ruston I remember.
I believe the residents of Ruston will benefit from Bruce Hopkins as their Mayor. I find it frustrating when people take the side of the Tavern and label him as a "Yuppie complainer". Very immature.
Let me provide you with a little background:
I am a 4th generation of Ruston. I lived in the town for 41 years and moved to Gig Harbor this past January.
When I purchased my home over 20 years ago on 49th St by the Unicorn it was quiet. A few Harleys and occasionally you heard the live music. Then it changed owners.
Initially the loud music was a big problem, and then it changed owners once again. This is when the problems escalated to a new whole level.
The loud music tapered off, but still existed. The real problems evolved when they started drawing in a rough crowd that still exists today.
Some of the issues are, screaming, fighting, racing cars, public urination and garbage strewn about the general vicinity.
A typical routine for me at bedtime was lock the front gate, take a sleeping pill, put in earplugs, go to bed, be woken up by drunken patrons, then wake up in the morning, go out and get the paper, pick
up beer bottles, cigarette containers, empty whiskey bottles, repair my mailbox, wipe off the gang graffiti..you name it! This is happening in Ruston, but if people don't experience it first hand, then they'll just call us complainers.
The day after Bruce and I showed the video at the town meeting is when I decided that Ruston was not a place that I wanted my daughter to grow up in any longer.
People actually verbally attacked us; "The video was taken from somewhere else!" The audio was altered!" "Your anti-business!" "Your anti-Police!" All not true. Do these people actually support this kind of behavior in the town? Really?
I moved out of a town that I loved and moved into a gated community with a HOA. I moved because of the Unicorn. They won, plain and simple.
Now I live somewhere that reminds me of what it was like growing up in Ruston back in the 70's & 80's and we now sleep though the night on the weekends. The only thing left in front of my house is the newspaper.
If Kim Wheeler was voted in, I sure wouldn't go to meetings and give him a hard time just because I'm still a land owner in Ruston. I would support him even though I didn't always agree with how he carried out his term as Mayor.
Show respect to all of your elected leaders and if you can't, enjoy your golden years, go sit on a beach in Hawaii and leave the residents of Ruston alone.
When I told Bruce that I've had enough and was moving, he was upset with me. He said, "Hang in there, Ruston will only get better". He genuinely loves and cares about the town.
Anyone that has gotten to know him is already aware of this and would not sling arrows. Integrity is something that seat has been missing for a while now, give him a chance and stop the drama.
The town has many important issues ahead of them with significant growth and an aging infrastructure. One thing's for sure; it will never be the same.
I wish all of the residents of Ruston good luck.
I've had a change of heart and decided to delete the last two comments. They contained personal references and attacks that I feel were not helpful.
maybe everyone should start using the free ruston site for comments, and leave this site for information only. I will admit Karen puts up good information and I do appriciate that.
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