Who owns Old Drum?

Last week at the Warrensburg Sesquicentennial banquet, Warrensburg's mayor siad that he'd told the brand-designing consulting firm that he "wanted more than just the dog." That started me thinking about the issue - who really "owns" Old Drum? Warrensburg has claimed him for years, but seems to have relinquished that claim.

Let's see - Old Drum lived and died in the western part of Johnson County. The trial that made him famous was held in the Johnson County courthouse of the time; that courthouse is now a museum owned by the Johnson County Historical Society. Old Drum's official statue is on the lawn of the Johnson County Courthouse. Eureka! Old Drum belongs to ALL of Johnson County!

Now, if Old Drum is property of the county as a whole, rather than just the city of Warrensburg, perhaps the County would like my offer of a free "Brand" that would apply to ALL of us, not just the Burg. "Johnson County, A Doggone Good Place" - add "to live," "to shop," "to build a business" - the possibilities are endless.

How about it, County Commission? Are we going to grab it by the collar and unleash our creative forces, or are we going to let Marshall & Saline County get the jump on us with their Jim the Wonder Dog?