Posted: 11/23/2015 6:49:16 PM EDT
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Hi all - I may have a job offer soon and wanted to know about the local environment: best places to live, shooting ranges/matches (especially 3 gun) and anything else you can think of. Thx in advance for your candid comments.
Have a safe and happy thanksgiving. |
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I'm in top city, capital city gun club has idpa ipsc type stuff west side is generally nicer....
Main industries are .gov and health care. Hot air balloon community, lots of public land to hunt near by, lots of commuters tween here and Lawrence (Lawrence is our Austin/blue in a sea of red state) Kansas City is close ..... What ya want to know???? Where do you live now??? |
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Topeka is a shithole. The city and state government is incompetent on an epic scale. Gangs are rife from Macvickar East, tweaker trailer park trash from the Kansas River North to Menninger road and the areas Southwest of the V.A. and the old White Lakes Mall.
Topeka is best known for its fail. Brown versus Topeka board was a lawsuit we lost, the 1966 tornado was one of the largest disasters at the time and the name Topeka is synonymous with Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist Church. At one time we had more mentally ill people per capita than anywhere else with 5 mental hospitals making the town the Nut Capital of the World. There is Capitol city gun club, if you like shooting uphill 300 yards. The indoor range over by Goodyear is small, cluttered and last I heard the owner was in bad shape due to cancer. There's another half dozen shooting really nice ranges in the area paid for by your tax dollars but are off limits as they are LEO only. There is literally no night life in this town, the downtown area closes up after 5 and people drive to KC or LAwrence to hear any good live music or eats, unless your idea of culture is a dinner at a franchise restaurant and a $20 movie at 16 screen theater. I lived there for 30 years and moved out 15 years ago. I transferred to a job in Emporia in 2010 and now only go back when I absolutely can't get out of it. If you can't get out of working there I strongly recommend living anywhere but inside the city limits and if possible outside the county. Jackson, Wabaunsee and Osage counties are great places to live, Douglas to the East is home to KU a.k.a. Chairman Mao University and home to the state's largest group of ISIS apologists. The KU leftist academia has completely fucked up the area politics. Pottawatomie county is nice but the SSPX cultists around St. Mary's have outbred the locals and unless you're hip to the Catholic version of the Taliban might not be your cup of tea. I'd take a bullet to the head before I moved back. Good luck. |
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I spewed Dr. Pepper all over my compooter screen.......twice!.......at all of that! Quoted:
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Topeka is a shithole...............Douglas to the East is home to KU a.k.a. Chairman Mao University I spewed Dr. Pepper all over my compooter screen.......twice!.......at all of that! I really did try to offer the OP the best features of Topeka that I could, not my fault the town has none. 
I had someone ask me after a post I made on a Topeka related FB page if I had any suggestions to make Topeka better. I posted this. 
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Topeka is a shithole. The city and state government is incompetent on an epic scale. Gangs are rife from Macvickar East, tweaker trailer park trash from the Kansas River North to Menninger road and the areas Southwest of the V.A. and the old White Lakes Mall. Topeka is best known for its fail. Brown versus Topeka board was a lawsuit we lost, the 1966 tornado was one of the largest disasters at the time and the name Topeka is synonymous with Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist Church. At one time we had more mentally ill people per capita than anywhere else with 5 mental hospitals making the town the Nut Capital of the World. There is Capitol city gun club, if you like shooting uphill 300 yards. The indoor range over by Goodyear is small, cluttered and last I heard the owner was in bad shape due to cancer. There's another half dozen shooting really nice ranges in the area paid for by your tax dollars but are off limits as they are LEO only. There is literally no night life in this town, the downtown area closes up after 5 and people drive to KC or LAwrence to hear any good live music or eats, unless your idea of culture is a dinner at a franchise restaurant and a $20 movie at 16 screen theater. I lived there for 30 years and moved out 15 years ago. I transferred to a job in Emporia in 2010 and now only go back when I absolutely can't get out of it. If you can't get out of working there I strongly recommend living anywhere but inside the city limits and if possible outside the county. Jackson, Wabaunsee and Osage counties are great places to live, Douglas to the East is home to KU a.k.a. Chairman Mao University and home to the state's largest group of ISIS apologists. The KU leftist academia has completely fucked up the area politics. Pottawatomie county is nice but the SSPX cultists around St. Mary's have outbred the locals and unless you're hip to the Catholic version of the Taliban might not be your cup of tea. I'd take a bullet to the head before I moved back. Good luck. This man speaks the truth. I live east of Lawrence. I read the OP and was going to answer with two words. Shit. Hole. but was beat to the punch. I used to do service work and any time I had to go to Topeka, I fought it. Still do. My wife's family is from there. Her parents got out in 1975. The rest of the family still there is full of so much fail. If relocating there is a requirement, the countryside east of T-town towards Lawrence isn't bad. Puts you closer to KC as well... |
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I grew up in Jackson County, Kansas (Holton) The man speaks the truth about Topeka, I left as soon as I could and only go back for funerals. It was a cesspool 25 yrs ago. Tweakers, Gangs, idiots and mentally ill...3 basic foodgroups and of course the truly untouchable, politicians and bureaucrats, whilst not food groups per se, certainly eat off of the rest of us. |
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I retired after 28 years as a deputy in Shawnee County, (Topeka), to call it a shithole is giving shitholes a bad name. I try to stay away but, somtimes I have to go there for stuff. But I leave ASAP. So you were a deputy during the dark days of corruption for the Shawnee county sheriffs department?????? Might explain a lot. Not a lot of trust for cops that steal weed from evidence lockers, or coked up sheriffs and officers. Topeka is not nearly as bad as some make it seem, and has generally been improving for the last 10 years. The shift away for institutional mental health care did plague Topeka for quite some time, with Kansas neurological institution downsizing, the Topeka state mental hospital closing down and Carl Meninger's hospital closing. On the subject of tweekers, well they are all over the Midwest. And on the subject of the mentally ill, most have moved to warmer climates. |
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and of course the truly untouchable, politicians and bureaucrats, whilst not food groups per se, certainly eat off of the rest of us. Quoted:
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I grew up in Jackson County, Kansas (Holton) The man speaks the truth about Topeka, I left as soon as I could and only go back for funerals. It was a cesspool 25 yrs ago. Tweakers, Gangs, idiots and mentally ill...3 basic foodgroups and of course the truly untouchable, politicians and bureaucrats, whilst not food groups per se, certainly eat off of the rest of us. And about the politicians and Bureaucrats, while they can't handle money, this group has been the best friends any gun owner has ever had, nfa ok, ccw now, constitutional carry, campus carry, syg. Do I really need to go on? Some people would bitch about the taxes after winning the lottery
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And about the politicians and Bureaucrats, while they can't handle money, this group has been the best friends any gun owner has ever had, nfa ok, ccw now, constitutional carry, campus carry, syg. Do I really need to go on? Some people would bitch about the taxes after winning the lottery
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I grew up in Jackson County, Kansas (Holton) The man speaks the truth about Topeka, I left as soon as I could and only go back for funerals. It was a cesspool 25 yrs ago. Tweakers, Gangs, idiots and mentally ill...3 basic foodgroups and of course the truly untouchable, politicians and bureaucrats, whilst not food groups per se, certainly eat off of the rest of us. And about the politicians and Bureaucrats, while they can't handle money, this group has been the best friends any gun owner has ever had, nfa ok, ccw now, constitutional carry, campus carry, syg. Do I really need to go on? Some people would bitch about the taxes after winning the lottery
If you're not bitching about taxes, you aren't paying any, or you aren't paying attention. One of the problems with having lived a long time and having seen and done things besides collecting participation trophies is, because of all that experience, one gains the realization that the hand what gives, can also take away. And in your case, you haven't made the cognitive leap that it then also follows that the hand that takes away, can also give, and then take away again. You are quite proud of our political class who have given us back, in a somewhat limited fashion, the very same rights that they stole away from us in the first place. Be warned that political expediency, not any sense of duty to the electorate or the Constitution, brought them to partial and submissive restoration of these things, and the instant they think they can take them away from us, they'll come like a thief in the night to rob us again. |
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I am old enough to have never gotten a participation trophy, the fact that it is politically expedient shows a reflection of the people of Kansas, also you mistake my lack of contempt, for admiration. The fact is Kansas is one of the most firearm friendly states in the union. That is a fairly new thing in this state. Also in my observation at least, our latest group of politicians have stayed true to the ideals that they have campaigned on. Our state lawmakers have given the metaphorical middle finger to the fed on more than one occasion. I'm proud of that, even if it is only a show. Kansas is a good reflection on many of my personal values,( with a few social exceptions).
A truly free man is governed my his morals and ethics, not some paper in the state office building, I understand What you are saying ,but on the the political climate, things are going nicely here in Topeka, Kansas. As much is I personally despise the wbbc, I think it is awesome that they can say what they believe, Free speech does apply even if you don't like what the others have to say. Eta, no one I know of takes the phelps church seriously. They are but a minor annoyance, and I wish they would find another place to live. |
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I am old enough to have never gotten a participation trophy, the fact that it is politically expedient shows a reflection of the people of Kansas, also you mistake my lack of contempt, for admiration. The fact is Kansas is one of the most firearm friendly states in the union. That is a fairly new thing in this state. Also in my observation at least, our latest group of politicians have stayed true to the ideals that they have campaigned on. Our state lawmakers have given the metaphorical middle finger to the fed on more than one occasion. I'm proud of that, even if it is only a show. Kansas is a good reflection on many of my personal values,( with a few social exceptions). A truly free man is governed my his morals and ethics, not some paper in the state office building, I understand What you are saying ,but on the the political climate, things are going nicely here in Topeka, Kansas. As much is I personally despise the wbbc, I think it is awesome that they can say what they believe, Free speech does apply even if you don't like what the others have to say. Eta, no one I know of takes the phelps church seriously. They are but a minor annoyance, and I wish they would find another place to live. Put down the rose colored Flavr-Aide son... BTW I personally knew most of the players involved in that incident with Shawnee Sheriff on both sides. There was way more to that case than a coverrup of some drug addicted undercover deputy that your great and wonderful State politicians on both sides didn't want let out. Kansas is a great state, Topeka's still a shithole. |
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Thanks to everyone for their input. I just returned from the interview and can honestly say I was less than impressed with the local environment. The gov building and operation I would manage is in a shambles. I don't think it has had a coat of paint since it was constructed in 1962. The organization itself is 10 years behind the times, but trying to make great strides given a limited budget. They made the mistake of asking me about security - which was laughable. The look on their faces when I provided a candid explanation of all the weaknesses and vulnerability was priceless.
I have a few other pending options so I will have to weigh each carefully. The one nice thing about KS is that it is NFA friendly. That means all of my toys can travel with me. So, this is going to be an interesting. Now, about those twisters... |
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Thanks to everyone for their input. I just returned from the interview and can honestly say I was less than impressed with the local environment. The gov building and operation I would manage is in a shambles. I don't think it has had a coat of paint since it was constructed in 1962. The organization itself is 10 years behind the times, but trying to make great strides given a limited budget. They made the mistake of asking me about security - which was laughable. The look on their faces when I provided a candid explanation of all the weaknesses and vulnerability was priceless. I have a few other pending options so I will have to weigh each carefully. The one nice thing about KS is that it is NFA friendly. That means all of my toys can travel with me. So, this is going to be an interesting. Now, about those twisters... You're from Florida, tornadoes are short lived hurricanes that do concentrated damage in a way smaller area.  The area does have a very good warning system of volunteer storm spotters, ham radio operators who have been doing it for over 35 years. Get a couple good weather radios, prep for a possible shelter in place scenario for a couple days without power or gas and have a good homeowner's policy and you're GTG.
Best would be a home with either a safe room built in the basement or a dedicated concrete/fiberglass underground storm shelter. Next would be a basement, finished or unfinished, with either something sturdy to hide under or lots of walls to hold up the flooring above from collapse.. Avoid anything with a slab foundation and a concrete closet above ground like the plague, seen too many where the steel doors failed to hold, breached and the walls won't support impact from normal tornado debris like Buicks and shit moving at 150 mph. |
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Daughter and her family are in the Topeka area. I agree 100% with the shithole description. Luckily they are out in the country about 15 miles outside of town.
On the plus side, it's not Nebraska. OP, I see that you're from Florida. I have lived there twice in my life. You are going to hate winter, and the never ending wind. A 20 mph wind is a normal breeze in Kansas. I was up there recently to visit and the first day I was there the wind was 35 with gusts to 48, it was worse the next day. On top of that, the summers will be hotter than you're used to. If you're a deer hunter you probably already know about the big white tails. Don't expect much in the fishing department. |
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Topeka is a shithole. The city and state government is incompetent on an epic scale. Gangs are rife from Macvickar East, tweaker trailer park trash from the Kansas River North to Menninger road and the areas Southwest of the V.A. and the old White Lakes Mall. Topeka is best known for its fail. Brown versus Topeka board was a lawsuit we lost, the 1966 tornado was one of the largest disasters at the time and the name Topeka is synonymous with Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist Church. At one time we had more mentally ill people per capita than anywhere else with 5 mental hospitals making the town the Nut Capital of the World. There is Capitol city gun club, if you like shooting uphill 300 yards. The indoor range over by Goodyear is small, cluttered and last I heard the owner was in bad shape due to cancer. There's another half dozen shooting really nice ranges in the area paid for by your tax dollars but are off limits as they are LEO only. There is literally no night life in this town, the downtown area closes up after 5 and people drive to KC or LAwrence to hear any good live music or eats, unless your idea of culture is a dinner at a franchise restaurant and a $20 movie at 16 screen theater. I lived there for 30 years and moved out 15 years ago. I transferred to a job in Emporia in 2010 and now only go back when I absolutely can't get out of it. If you can't get out of working there I strongly recommend living anywhere but inside the city limits and if possible outside the county. Jackson, Wabaunsee and Osage counties are great places to live, Douglas to the East is home to KU a.k.a. Chairman Mao University and home to the state's largest group of ISIS apologists. The KU leftist academia has completely fucked up the area politics. Pottawatomie county is nice but the SSPX cultists around St. Mary's have outbred the locals and unless you're hip to the Catholic version of the Taliban might not be your cup of tea. I'd take a bullet to the head before I moved back. Good luck. Pretty much this. The only places to live are in the West/SW or by Lake Shawnee. Everywhere else is terrible. |
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So you were a deputy during the dark days of corruption for the Shawnee county sheriffs department?????? Might explain a lot. Not a lot of trust for cops that steal weed from evidence lockers, or coked up sheriffs and officers. Topeka is not nearly as bad as some make it seem, and has generally been improving for the last 10 years. The shift away for institutional mental health care did plague Topeka for quite some time, with Kansas neurological institution downsizing, the Topeka state mental hospital closing down and Carl Meninger's hospital closing. On the subject of tweekers, well they are all over the Midwest. And on the subject of the mentally ill, most have moved to warmer climates. Quoted:
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I retired after 28 years as a deputy in Shawnee County, (Topeka), to call it a shithole is giving shitholes a bad name. I try to stay away but, somtimes I have to go there for stuff. But I leave ASAP. So you were a deputy during the dark days of corruption for the Shawnee county sheriffs department?????? Might explain a lot. Not a lot of trust for cops that steal weed from evidence lockers, or coked up sheriffs and officers. Topeka is not nearly as bad as some make it seem, and has generally been improving for the last 10 years. The shift away for institutional mental health care did plague Topeka for quite some time, with Kansas neurological institution downsizing, the Topeka state mental hospital closing down and Carl Meninger's hospital closing. On the subject of tweekers, well they are all over the Midwest. And on the subject of the mentally ill, most have moved to warmer climates. I've thought the complete opposite actually. |
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Perhaps, but I'd love to have Banjo's biscuits & gravy and Larry's Short Stop's Gonzo w/gravy (both joints are on the South end of town near Heartland Park) close enough to me in KC to buy on a regular basis.  Quoted:
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Topeka is a shithole. Perhaps, but I'd love to have Banjo's biscuits & gravy and Larry's Short Stop's Gonzo w/gravy (both joints are on the South end of town near Heartland Park) close enough to me in KC to buy on a regular basis. OMFG I haven't been to Larry's in years. I remember going in there in the late 80's/early 90's and the Old Man yelling at you to "STAND BY" after taking your order. 
My cast iron gut's too rusty anymore to stomach a Gonzo w/gravy anymore.  Besides it's pretty much where all the tweaker whores that live in the area motels eat at
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