Posted on 11/16/2005 11:35:50 AM PST by martin_fierro
Texas town renames itself 'Dish' to get free TV
40 minutes ago
CHICAGO (AFP) - A Texas town has changed its name to DISH in exchange for 10 years of free satellite television service.
All 125 residents of the town formerly known as Clark will get basic service and a free digital video recorder satellite TV receiver, a move that has some people joking that the Fort-Worth suburb will become a town of couch potatoes.
"We joke that in ten years everyone will come out and say wow when they see the light," said secretary Michelle Going, 32.
Going is not worried that her three boys will go square-eyed because she is going to stick to her old rules of only allowing two hours of television a day, and only after homework and dinner.
And the new system also has parental controls which will allow her to limit the channels the boys can watch.
Despite the jokes, the switch is incredibly popular, said Mayor Bill Merritt. The city council meeting to vote on the name was packed on Tuesday night and about 12 people -- 10 percent of the town's population -- stood up to support the name change, which passed unanimously.
"I'm sure there are some people who are attached to the name (Clark) like the man who founded the town and named it after himself," he told AFP Wednesday. "At the meeting last night we had no naysayers."
The town made the change for more than just a 50 dollar monthly savings per household, Merritt said. The hope is that publicity and a budget-neutral giveaway will lure new residents.
"The getting our name out there is working and the second part is really to market ourselves - come here and you get something out of it," he said.
The best part of the contract, Merritt said, is the free television will be extended to anyone who moves to Dish and any land that is later annexed by the town. The new town signs, designed and paid for by DISH Network, were a bonus.
This undated handout image received from the DISH Network, shows Mayor Bill Merritt posing next to the Dish, Texas city limits sign. The town officially changed its name from Clark to Dish in return for ten years of free satellite television service.(AFP/DISH Network)
Now you know why my town changed its name to "Booze"...
They can Dish it out. . . .
Welcome to Rough Lovin Michigan.
Dish will soon be home to a bowl game.
Oh yeah.
So if I change my name to.....
Nah - not gonna go there.
They should have picked a town in the state of Washington.
what kind of deal did 'virgin, utah' make ?
Located next to Forks.
That, or free candy bars:
This must be why Dime Box, Texas went broke and why everyone in Cut and Shoot, Texas is dead.
If you want a glass of wine, go to Grapevine, Texas.
You don't want to know about Cuero, Texas.
The Palestinian's in Palestine, Texas have not blown themselves up. Yet.
I don't know if Claude is still living in Claude, Texas or Floyd is still in Floyd.
Everyone in Swisher, Texas is gay.
Deaf Smith still can't hear. No chicken allowed in Turkey, Texas.
Stop me before I go on....Please!
Naming rights that benefit taxpayers, brilliant. Besides, Clark isn't exactly going to be missed.
Just in case I wanted to know, where is Dish, TX.
Where Clark Texas used to be.....
I thin its a burb of Fort Worth
, TEXAS
Next new name: Chicken Express, Texas.
In the Panhandle?
Did they move Fort Worth and not tell us?
I finally found Clark, Tx last night. It is just north of Justin on FM 156. It's history might be less than 10 years.
Don't forget Blue Ball, Pennsylvania.
Yes. You can drive through Blue Ball on your way to Intercourse.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.