The State of Kansas

Bo-Nose

Bo-Nose

Five-Star Recruit
Sorry if this is blog-like but I have to ask...

I've worked for General Motors for about 8 years now. Here at the Shreveport factory, we build Chevy Colorados and H-3 Hummers... two overpriced trucks that don't sell very well in today's automobile market.

Last year we have been laid off for 10 months (from October to August) and GM has been extending transfers from Shreveport to other factories around the country. So far the few factories that have run all year have been in Ohio, Texas and Kansas/Missouri. A lot of people in my seniority group have transferred to the Fairfax Kansas plant and I get to talk to them often on the phone.

Last year I turned down the Kansas transfer because I wanted to sell my house first. Today, I am in an apartment and the house has been sold. From what the UAW union tells me, the Kansas factory is still looking for more transfers as they prepaire to launch three shifts. Currently, here in Shreveport, we are all working only one shift (mornings). I have a decent chance at getting called to Kansas.

The purpose of this thread is for me to ask you guys... What is Kansas like?

The factory is right on the river border between Missouri and Kansas... Kansas City I think. From what my co-workers tell me on the phone, it is very nice up there. Supposedly, it is a HUGE step up from Louisiana and there is plenty of things to do. Plus it's closer to Lincoln, Nebraska so some of the Husker fans can just drive north in a matter of hours.

But they also tell me the industrial area is a hell-hole and the Kansas factory is at least 50 years old.

So, once again... to you Kansas Huskers who may be in this area... What is Kansas City / Fairfax like? Thank you! :thumbs

 
That would put you right north of downtown. Right near the downtown airport (not the main city airport though).

I'm in south Kansas City...a totally different feel than where your plant is. That area of downtown has some cool lofts if you're into that kind of living style. Up north a bit more, in Riverside/Parkville you have some really nice homes...more expensive though. The suburbs are in the south and you can find some affordable places to live.

KC has a lot. I really like the city. I more away to Orlando for awhile and hated it. This is a perfect size city for me. And yes, a plus is that Lincoln is only a few hours away. Although, I still wish it was as far as Lawrence is sometimes. But there are a lot of places to watch Husker games around KC and of course we get all the games that are on TV since we're in the same region as Lincoln.

I don't know if that helped, lol. What else do you want to know?

 
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Thanks for the response! I'm kind of thinking this up as I go but one question springs to mind.

What are your favorite and least favorite things to do there?

 
I lived in Kansas City for 2 years and I think it's a great city. KC has a lot to offer. The downtown area has been going through a big time face-lift for a number of years now (and is now where a lot of people go out), the Plaza is still great, and Westport is a fun area as well. I lived in Westport for a year (just south of downtown) and in a south suburb for one year.

If your transfer happens, you should be happy. Good luck!

 
Bo-Nose said:
Thanks for the response! I'm kind of thinking this up as I go but one question springs to mind.

What are your favorite and least favorite things to do there?
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lol, I'm kind of a weird one, so don't decide based on my answers. It's hard to exactly say my favorite/least favorite thing since I've lived here pretty much my entire life. To me...it's just Kansas City.

I love to eat out and I like the choices we have here for restaurants. I also like going to Irish pubs...and like the ones we have here for that too. Our sport teams suck unless you want to travel out to KU or KSU....so don't come here if you want a sports team to follow. There are Chiefs/Royals fans but really the city has been so crapped on by their records lately I feel as if no one really cares they are even here. The downtown scene is getting cooler if you like the city atmosphere. They've been putting a lot of money in the the P&L district as well as the Sprint Center. It's kind of THE new place to be...and not just some run down neighborhood of downtown. The music/art scene around town is pretty cool too. You can catch a lot of small bands and local artists...not to mention the normal big name bands or theater productions that come to town.

Again, since I've lived here most my life it's hard to say what I DON'T like since it's pretty much all I know. But having lived in Orlando for a bit and traveling to other cities...I hate our mass transportation system. If you're living actually IN the city I guess it's okay, but we're a BIG city. They need to branch out and offer more transportation options OUTSIDE the city. I live right across stateline in a suburb called Prairie Village. It's a 5-10 minute drive to work for me and I mainly only take one road to get there (75th street). Now, the drive isn't bad...but it would be much cheaper in gas and greener if I could take the bus. About 100 feet from my office on the Missouri side is a major bus stop (lots of buses stop there). Not ONE of those buses goes by my house (or even remotely nearby). And 75th street is one of the major streets in this area. You think at least one would take me to that major stop by my work. If I wanted to take the bus I'd have to drive somewhere, park, get a bus and about an hour or so later arrive at work. Ain't gonna happen.

Back to things I like (and related to the driving aspect)...one thing I do like is that there is about 20 different ways to get everywhere. When I lived in Orlando, because there are so many lakes everyone has to take a handful of roads to get around them. So there is always traffic (or you take the tolls). Here, you learn back roads to bypass traffic lights, construction, traffic, ways to get you to somewhere faster. It may take you awhile to learn, but I love having multiple options to get one way.

Have you visited KC yet? I definitely say take a trip up here before you visit. Although probably not here soon...since we're going to be getting into the nasty weather months. Not too nasty...but gray, snowy, cold, ugly weather. KC doesn't shine too bright during the winter months.

 
Moved to NE Kansas to a smallish city 30 mi northwest of KC (just west of KCI, in KS) 9 years ago from northern Nebraska. Its people are mid-western enough - generally like Nebraska - friendly, hard working. I find the weather warmer than I was used to - more ice storms than in NE. I don't do too much, being really boring, but there are lots of good sized lakes close to KC, and bigger ones in the Ozarks and Tuttle Creek north of Topeka (which they build ON TOP OF AN EARTHQUAKE FAULT) so fishing, hunting, boating is easy to get to. Lawrence reminds me of a shrunken Lincoln.

 
That all sounds cool. North Louisiana is the so-called "Sportsmans Paradise" because of all the forests, swamps and land so we have a lot of hunting and duck-shooting. The only thing I'd miss about this place would be getting to shoot my guns, really.

And if the weather in KC is as bad as you say it is, bring it on. It can't be any worse than Shreveport.

The decision was already made on my end to go to Kansas and only the company I work for can stop that. From what you fellas posted, everything seems like a drastic step-up from where I am now. Plus I've always wanted to leave this place because Shreveport tries to kill you on a daily basis.

My stepfather said he lives over the river in Missouri so he has to drive cross-state into Kansas to work. He has to pay two state taxes for that move so... I'm sticking to Kansas. Thanks for all the insight!

 
Funny...I don't remember Kansas even being in color :dunno

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Not from the kansas city area but when I go up there I always go to the panio bar, I think its called bark at the moon? Also in the legends area there is tons of stuff to do

 
Bo-Nose said:
That all sounds cool. North Louisiana is the so-called "Sportsmans Paradise" because of all the forests, swamps and land so we have a lot of hunting and duck-shooting. The only thing I'd miss about this place would be getting to shoot my guns, really.

And if the weather in KC is as bad as you say it is, bring it on. It can't be any worse than Shreveport.

The decision was already made on my end to go to Kansas and only the company I work for can stop that. From what you fellas posted, everything seems like a drastic step-up from where I am now. Plus I've always wanted to leave this place because Shreveport tries to kill you on a daily basis.

My stepfather said he lives over the river in Missouri so he has to drive cross-state into Kansas to work. He has to pay two state taxes for that move so... I'm sticking to Kansas. Thanks for all the insight!
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There are plenty of places to hunt and fish within 3 hours of KC, and yes, the dual-state taxes can be a killer. I moved away from KC about 10 years ago, I like where i'm at now, but would move back in a heartbeat. The Chiefs and Royals do suck, but they have pretty decent facilities and the games are still a blast to go to.

 
kansas husker said:
Not from the kansas city area but when I go up there I always go to the panio bar, I think its called bark at the moon? Also in the legends area there is tons of stuff to do
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Howl at the Moon.

If you get a chance, go check out KC's other piano bar, Ernie Biggs...in Westport. I like that one a ton better. I think it's larger, has two bars, and I think the musicians are more fun.

 
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