Governor says shutdown pain worth gain if it brings change. New IDNR Director Wayne Rosenthal has 20 + years expierence, tauts leadership. Former IDNR Ron House must repay $7,200, it does not state what for. So it looks like a shutdown is coming. This is the latest news printed in Southern Illinoisan Newspaper, Illinois greatest read paper. Gary Bryant Dr.longshot
You must be new to politics. This posturing will continue at least until the eleventh hour. Nothing has been decided yet. Looking forward to Sparta.
That is the problem. It will be year to year every year to the last hour. You guys deserve the pain. Criminals bargaining with criminals about our love for the sport. Begging for tax dollars we do not need. This sport deserves to die after this debacle. May it rise again without the current leaders.
Something has been decided. The WRSC has been slated for closure by Governor Rauner. That fact exists. Rauner has decided. That the complex may yet be pulled from the fire doesn't remove Rauner's decision. Politically speaking, Rauner has to include a Republican-friendly tax drain, as he is forced to go after Democrat-friendly tax drains across the state. Rauner can't appear biased by protecting a pork project that his base enjoys. The WRSC had ten years. It isn't making money as promised. It's losing 1.5 million, every year. How does Illinois justify keeping it open?
According to friend in Illionis we have a couple inner city politicians pushing for a sale of the property for a retirement center with golf and all the other things retirees need. Sounds like the Chicago nuts have lost enough gun cases in court they want payback now. Personally I can't see the value in the WSC to anyone other than gun related sports but I wouldn't be quick to spend money to purchase it because you have a nice shooting range in the middle of nowhere with no planned facilities to support it. If the state wanted to donate it to get out from under it that might work.
If the State donated it the maintainance and cost to operate the facility is mind numbing ... The State says it costs $1,889,000 and change per year before a dime (which there has not been) has been made ... The cost can only escalate as the facility ages and needs more and more up keep ... The WSRC is a born loser, hope the State keeps it open and operational to honor the lease it has with the ATA ... WPT ... (YAC) ...
If you could get the Trap, Skeet and Sporting Organizations together with the NRA you might overcome the financial burden as they could all use it but Skeet and Sporting already have their own home. And if they all came together you'd still be in the middle of nowhere in a less than friendly gun state that makes sales difficult at best. Interesting to see what changes if anything at all does.
The Skeet, Sporting Clays, and NRA are all established and have home grounds/head quarters ... The ATA is establised on paper according to the initial lease and an extention of same for an additional 10 years ... Obviously we will all see if the State of Illinois is obligated to honor its agreement and extention of with the ATA at some time in the future ... The State has so many outs they can close the door tomorrow and there is nothing that can be done from a legal standpoint ... The ATA is not professionally managed so there is always the outside chance that a problem can arise that could of possibly been avoided ... WPT ... (YAC) ...
It's mind boggling the we (the ATA) got ourselves into such a mess, at the start everyone had good intensions with the only option open to us at the time but as always the unexpected happened. there were signs before now but it appears that nobody paid attention to them and no plan "B" was developed as any good business would have done. Speaks volumes for our management dosen't it. Who knows where we will go from here. I suppose the old addage time will tell applies here.
The new and latest numbers have not been made public as if yet, there is nothing for them to figure on if they do not have the figures ... The Politicos from the local area (Randolf County) are trying to present a case to the State to keep the faciliuty open and operational ... The State looks at the numbers and cannot justify the expense on a facility that cannot even break even, so that make a weak case ... Time will tell but if there is anyone with any common sense the facility will be closed ... Sad to say but the facts is facts ... WPT ... (YAC) ...
Now THAT is funny. Thank you for joining up. I was starting to wonder when we would get a few more of the "ATA is all knowing" followers on this new site. What kind of cartoon do you have ready when the taxpayers in Illinois pull the plug on the place? And remember, NONE of the 1600 that shot the GAH last year would have ever thought the date 9/1/15 meant anything. I would be willing to bet that this year that date gets mentioned more than a few times. Flyersarebest
That pic will work a lot better after 9/1/15. Think about it. The laugher is thinking " I told you so". The crying one? Well he doesn't know WTH is going to happen. That and he probably just crapped in his pants when he heard about the "shutters" And if that small print at the bottom referring to Ohio is supposed to somehow take a swipe at me you screwed up. I don't live in Ohio. Flyersarebest
Where you live means nothing to me. Lets all wait and see. Hopefully it will all work for the trap shooters !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kind of like the last "shot in Vandalia thing" lol ... I'm not to sure this is the final shoot in Sparta, though it probably should be based on the numbers but time will tell and we will all see ... The State of Illinois has been known to make some major mistakes and go against the wishes of the voters many times over the years ... The WSRC was under the radar until recently and now a lot more of the voters are aware of its existance and the drain it has on the Illinois budget ... What ever happens, what will be will be ... WPT ... (YAC) ...
Pre-squad was up last year as well but attendance didn't increase. Pre-squad is up again this year but I don't think we will see an increase. I am happy to be wrong maybe some of you guys will make the trip. Good luck and safe travels to all who attend.
I was at the SCTP Nationals, watching of course. Two of my kids participated. One will be at the Grand. It is a long way from So Cal. Sounds like you will not be?
I will be there during Grand week, couldn't make the prelim. Good luck to your child and I hope they both enjoyed the SCTP Nationals.
Of course they did, though it wasn't the venue per se, it is the sport. Wasn't much fun sitting in the stands until way too late Thursday night but I think it will be different next year. I hope anyway, for the attendees next year. Because of the location there was some technical issues as well, in the scoring or tracking of scores, that led to another disappointment. Things happen though, we all (most) understand that. Yes, I know I pointed that out, which is why it was strange you posted you think it will be the same or similar. I actually also think it will be up. We will see shortly. What is the range of similar, +/- .5% or less?