Helicopters have been circling over my house for the past 3 hours. Enough already!

Our quaint little suburb is home to the infamous Michael Devlin (kidnapper of Ben Ownsby and Shawn Hornbeck (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/missouristatenews/story/EED72841D131FE0A86257261001214F9?OpenDocument) )

Tonight, several people were shot at our City Hall just a few blocks from my house. The mayor was shot and 6 people were killed, including a councilwoman (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/C9F47E8DFBA0B871862573E90007E20F?OpenDocument). Geez! I need to move back to the city where it's safe. :worried:

ETA - The old link no longer works. New story link: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/DF9F175C2F225844862573E9001BDB9A?OpenDocument

What's worse is the justifications heard from the neighborhood. Worst thing Kirkwood did was annex Meacham Park. They should have known better.

What's worse is the justifications heard from the neighborhood. Worst thing Kirkwood did was annex Meacham Park. They should have known better.

There are definately some people in the community with chips on their shoulders, thankfully, there are also people there who agree his final actions were not appropriate or those of a 'hero'. I think the sensationalized comments are treated as more interesting news ... so they get more exposure.

I don't know much about Meacham Park, but the neighborhood filled with residents was obviously there pre-annex. I read that Kirkwood rebuilt houses free of charge and paved the previously gravel/dirt streets. Obviously residents also have the benefit of Kirkwood Schools, emergency services, utilites, etc. What do you think would have happened if they hadn't annexed the area? With no prior knowledge, I'd assume they aquired the area due to issues the neighborhood couldn't handle on their own. I have a feeling Kirkwood would be considered just as bad, if not worse, if we had ignored the needs of the people altogether.