298: Maggie. R.I.P.

Several day ago I caught a glimpse of an image. This morning I could think about little else. So here is the story.

Several years ago I started a project of documenting all the cemeteries in the county. I now have a new, very special one. Early in this blog I introduced Maggie, the dog living with some of the local homeless Guys.

It seems that Maggie was involved in a fatal accident several weeks ago and an appropriate memorial service followed. It was attended my many of the local homeless, along with some friends of the homeless. The memorial service was conducted by 5 local pastors representing various churches and denominations in our community. I say all this to say: The homeless are just like everyone else. The have feeling and they care. They cherish true friendship and a pleasant greeting.

The Guardian

When I got to the location, this morning, I visited with Bob for a while while "Lady", a recently arrived stray dog, kept watch from a distance. As I walked out of the camp toward the grave she got close to Bob and made sure he was OK. She continued to watch me as I walked to the grave site and paid my respects. After I took this image and was walking back to my truck I looked back over my shoulder and noticed that she went over to the grave site and made sure everything was OK, before returning to bob's side. Maggie will never be forgotten but it seems Bob has a new companion.

204: The Fire Place

8 of ?

Today as I headed out for my daily walk I passed the area of the tent camp where the homeless were evicted and I felt compelled to stop for a visit. No one is home anymore. It was kind of like visiting an "old home place" and you think back;

The Fireplace is Cold

There was the fire place, now cold, A abandoned chair is waiting for some one to sit in it and pick up a magazine from the stack beside the fireplace. I then thought of Maggie (see post 23) coming over from laying beside her food and water bowls (upper right from the fire place)and nudging you to get a ball to throw for her. As I looked up and left I noticed an abandoned tent. This tent was the guest house, where anyone in need was welcome to stay until better arrangements could be made. A tear wants to come to my eye.

As I walked around for a few more minutes, I noticed details about the camp I had never noticed before. These folks were resourceful, the used what was available to meet the need at hand. I was tempted to pick up some little trinket for a keepsake and remembrance. I know they would not have minded, as they always would share what they had, but I kept thinking, they might need that when they get back. Wishful thanking I guess.

199: Homeless and Horseshoes

Part 6 of ?

Horseshoes
The Clang of these will no longer
Ring through the camp.

This image will remain embedded in my mind and remind me of John. As mentioned in the last post I helped carry John's cherished possessions to a place he thought might be safe. Among the items John kept was this set of horseshoes that had been used at Dodge City tent camp.

It seems to me the biggest issue relating to the homeless is we know nothing about them, most consider them a bunch of druggie alcoholic derelicts. So lets meet John. I wanted to use a picture of John but due to my respect for him and his feeling about being homeless, the one image I have of him well remain as a memory for me.

I first met John in November of 2008 when he first came to the camp. Prior to that John had been a cabinet maker. In this day and age of pre-made and ego branded cabinets , the demand for a true cabinet maker is limited. As the construction business faltered his work dried up. He survived for a while on his benefits and savings. When his resources ran out he found himself homeless.

John kept up hope he would go back to work so he kept his essential tools he would need to go to work. These tools bared him from living in a shelter because they could be used a weapons. His only alternatives were to give up hope of getting a job or move to the tent camp. John had hope so the tent camp was his only alternative.

Several months later as the building industry continued to dwindle his son, a carpenter, joined him in the camp until they could get enough money to get him to WV where he could be with family. You might ask why John did not go. According to John the family could only afford to help one and he felt his son should be the one. The one high point of this whole sad eviction affair is as John and I parted company late yesterday he looked at me and said " The longer I know you. the better I like you. You are not one of the typical fly by night do-gooders."

At the beginning of this post I mentioned that John kept his horse shoes. While helping him load his things I noticed another item he brought with him, His Lunch Box. After all this John still has hope.

I must admit this story is not true of all homeless people, but after being around most of the homeless in the area for the past two years it us typical of the group the police targeted. Others has asked, if I was so concerned why I did not open my home to them. I did check and as I have a reverse mortgage (the only thing that keeps me from being homeless) I am prevented from having non-family members living in my home. As I feel that if the police found out they were here, the mortgage company would find out.

198: Graffiti and Coincidences

Part 5 of ?

Graffiti

Oh, do not bother looking for a defaced sign this was Photo-shopped

As for coincidences, I learned late yesterday evening that another local homeless group was being evicted and had to be out by 12 noon today. They will not say why.

Another coincidence was yesterday evening when I was carrying John, one of the homeless guys being evicted, to Hemby Bridge; a local city police car was traveling the same route a short distance behind us.

197: Ghost Town and Flag

Part 4 of ?

Flag Still Flies at Ghost town

The sun sets over Dodge City, now a Ghost town. As of this evening the Homeless guys have gathered up what they could and left the site.

I need to apologize to Wingate University for my less than flattering remarks in post # 194. At that time I was repeating what the Police at the scene told me. Well it seems now the local police chief has admitted this was a scheme cooked up by some policemen inside her department and was not provoked by Wingate University as previously stated. It seems the local police approached Wingate University laying out a very bad situation and Wingate Officials believed the police.

According to the now revised local Police story the "situation" was pan-handling. As many know I have spent a lot of time over the past couple of years visiting with the local homeless folks. During that time I discovered that yes the evicted guys pan-handle on occasion but the full time pan-handlers are a group living in a house about a mile away.

Again Wingate University I apologize, both you and I were lied to by a segment of the Monroe Police Department. Wingate University did what it thought best based on the "evidence" presented and I reported on the "evidence" presented, both were Bold Premeditated Lies.

Monroe Police Department SHAME ON YOU. We rightly deserve the name DODGE CITY when a segment of local law enforcement can decide to run someone out of town. Right now I am asamed that I ever served in law enforcement (Deputy Sheriff in Texas).

As an after thought I might mention even after getting caught with their hand in the cookie jar the police made absloutly no visual effort to assist with or relieve the 24 hour time limit they imposed. Is this their thought; "Ok so we lied we got what we wanted. So What? we the law." .

Welcome to Dodge City.

196: The Dodge City Trail

Part 3 of ?

Leaving Dodge City

This is John. John, a homeless person, takes his meager belongings and heads down the Dodge City Trail after being evicted by Monroe City Police. The were declared a nuance because of pan-handling. I can attest as an eye witness that these guys were not causing the problem. Yes on occasion they did pan-handle to meet there needs, but the problem pan-handlers were a group living in a house up the street.

The ones up the street had to pan-handle excessively to cover their expenses of living in a house. The evicted guys, however, were trying to live within their means by living in tents.

195: Packing to Move

Part 2 of ?

Moving Day

Came back by the house to warm up and get some coffee. And though I would post this. For those that do not know this is packing for a group of homeless the local police running out of town. As os to day their plot has bee uncovered. Shame on them. More too follow.

194: Homeless Evicted

Part 1 of ?

To Be Evicted

It is with a heavy heart I relay the news these homeless guys and the others living in this camp are being evicted. They were given 24 hours to get out. The reason, an educational institution in another city has "decided" to get the land clear cut. From what I understand there is no intent of building any thing only to clear cut the area.

Not to mention the homeless what about the environment? Do we not require timber companies to replant trees where they clear cut. Do we not criticize other countries for allowing people to clear cut to gain needed farm land. Something does not seem to add up here. This thought is amplified because this tactic has been used over and over to dislocate homeless camps. By using the clear-cut excuse the powers that be can hide behind it and not look like they have no heart by just evicting the homeless. Oh, what evil learks in the heart of man!!

And the worse part is I feel at least partially responsible. Over the past couple of years I have put forth great efforts to get help for these guys. In doing so their camp location has become known to others. Shame on me for stepping out and trying to help those less fortunate than I.

Bloggers NOTE: Please read entry #197 for updated information, including an apology To Wingate University. I was repeating what the local police told me and the News Media.

175: I'll Be Home For Christmas

Another from the Tent City

I'll Be Home For Christmas

I started to name this "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" as it was a recurrent topic of discussion. The white on the ground is dirt that is over exposed in the reflected sun light, not snow.

174: Fire Place at Christmas Eve

Fire Place at Christmas Eve

There is a lot of controversy among street photographers about photographing the homeless. The discussion centers around exploiting the less fortunate for image impact. Today I felt compelled to photograph these homeless folks to remember a very special event.

This afternoon after it warmed up to the mid 40's I headed out to the homeless tent city to get a picture. But this was not the first time I had been there today. Earlier in the day I had met some church folks to facilitate them delivering some much needed items to the homeless in the tent camp. The items were specific items on a list I made by talking with the guys at the camp.

While I was there, this afternoon, a young couple with 1 2/3 children showed up and wanted to set a time to bring them christmas dinner. The Homeless Guys agreed to any time but 5 this evening because they were going to a Christmas Eve service at yet another church.

The events of the day have proven to be A Christmas to remember for me.

I stayed for a couple of hours and sat around the fire chatting. One comment stuck in my head. They said the they really appreciated all the help they received over the Christmas Season, But they wished some of it could be spread out through the year. So that begs the question; Do we have year round compassion or is it seasonal? Now You Know The Rest of the Story.

May your Christmas be as Joyous as mine and remember we are honoring the greatest gift ever given to man. Happy Birthday Jesus.

*****
ps: Just in case you are wondering that is a pork chop and roll on the grill.

96: Dawg Gone

DAWG GONE

Homeless People and Homeless Pets Need Love too.

77: Street Photography -- The Homeless at Sunset

Chatting while Enjoying the Sunset

Today is another snapshot day. I went out looking for an image this evening and found Danny, Bob and John setting out enjoying the sunset. I stopped and chatted with these homeless guys for a little while. Then I realized the light was gone, but making picture of ones friends is not that bad either

23: Portrait or Snapshot

A couple of days back, when I was talking about the homeless guys, I mentioned Maggie had returned after a short absence. This prompted some questions as to “Who is Maggie?” Well meet Maggie May.



It seems that one day last week Maggie decided to take her provider (one of the Homeless Guys) out for a walk. She thought her provider was well trained and would behave so she did not put a lease on her provider. Well she was spotted by the police and was promptly carted off to jail, for violating the leash law. She was incarcerated for a couple of days. As a precaution she was given a physical, tortured with shots, and other indignities. As a condition of her release she is required to take regular monthly treatments. These treatments were supplied in advance by the puppy jail.

As you can see Maggie is a happy camper now he is back home in the “jungle”. She was so glad when she saw me today she let out a yelp and treated me to two big muddy paw prints on my shirt.

20: Street Photography -- The Less Fortunate

Back on Image 3 I introduced one of my pet peeves about modern so call street photography, today I hit the other, the less fortunate. Most people who shoot street have images of the homeless, shown in some less than desirable situation. These types of photographs have become some of the most recognizable images from true street photography, such as Dorothea Lange’s
Migrant Mother. The difference is Ms Lange took the time to learn about the subject and the surroundings. Most modern photographers snap off an exposure and think how lucky I am and how unlucky the subject is, and go on. If we take the picture we need to know the story. And the desired results from the image.



Meet Buggy. I met Buggy several months ago as I was making inroads into the homeless community, as was my Christian duty. It would be unfair of me to diagnose any issues concerning Buggy, but in my opinion it would be impossible for him to hold a job, yet his personality precludes him being institutionalized. Buggy is one of many unfortunate individuals who have fallen through the cracks in our system.

The middle of May he was picked on an FTA (Failure to Appear) warrant, the original charge was an “open container”. He stayed in jail over thirty days awaiting trial. At the trial he was given 15 days as a sentence. He then served another 15 days, no credit for time served, and got out yesterday. Also yesterday Maggie another member of the homeless community had been missing several days, returned to the camp. It was time for celebration and Buggy celebrated a little too much. The image above is Buggy early this morning. I checked late this afternoon and with a little of the hair of the dog that bit him, he is feeling much better.