Signal Hill?

loveschihuahuas wrote:

Oh have you considered Freeburg? I wasn't going to even mention a town because like I said there's really no safe place. Then I read that your really feeling bad about Belleville. I have heard good things about Freeburg but I have never lived there so I don't have any personal experiences only word of mouth information. One thing I wanted to tell you also was that you may also want to purchase at the cop shop on N IL street in Belleville is a bottle of mace and a body alarm I have them both for precautionary measures. Like I said just be smart and no matter where you move to you will be alright. Again Good luck to you.

Thank you for all of the helpful suggestions.

Also, I will look into Freeburg. Is it much different from Belleville?

From what I have been told Yes it is. I do not have the personal experience to tell you if it truly is though. You take care you hear and good luck to you..

loveschihuahuas wrote:

From what I have been told Yes it is. I do not have the personal experience to tell you if it truly is though. You take care you hear and good luck to you..

Thanks again for the help.

After that guy being shot by the police yesterday, and the credit union robbery, also yesterday, I'm really thinking twice about Signal Hill, and Belleville in general.

The best things about Freeburg is that it has no Metro transportation going into it, limiting the crime from Belleville, East Boogie and St Louis, and that the school system is its own, unlike Millstadt, which goes to Belleville West. The majority of the new arrivals into Belleville public schools are from East St Louis and Cahokia. They start fights with the other kids, and the teachers have to spend too much time teaching kids in the 4th and 5th grade to actually read, instead of advancing the other students to appropriate levels.
I'll be honest. Do I miss home sometimes? Sure. I grew up there and lived there through my twenties and early 30s. However, after I got married and started having kids, I knew there was no way they should have to grow up there. Belleville PD used to be allowed to keep order, there were business all down West Main, and while there's always been theft, the open drug sales and use, and violent assaults weren't that common. Yes, they did a nice job getting the little streach of East Main and around the square hipped up, but get a block or two back of that, and its still a mess. The city is mostly rentals. That tells you something.
While I miss the proximity to certain restaurants and parks and metro activities, the kids can be there in less than an hour, and the town we're in has a rec center, a movie theater close by, an exceptional school district, etc.
I'm afraid Belleville is on that long slide down the hill into East St. Louis. I wish I was wrong...but I'd bet a lot of money against it.

According to the National Crime Index, Bellevilles Crime Index rating in 2008 was 450.0 and 2009 was 411.2, while the National average was 319.1. I couldn't find the most recent that quick, but I don't see too much of a change.

ROTFLMAO Joker wrote:

The best things about Freeburg is that it has no Metro transportation going into it, limiting the crime from Belleville, East Boogie and St Louis, and that the school system is its own, unlike Millstadt, which goes to Belleville West. The majority of the new arrivals into Belleville public schools are from East St Louis and Cahokia. They start fights with the other kids, and the teachers have to spend too much time teaching kids in the 4th and 5th grade to actually read, instead of advancing the other students to appropriate levels.
I'll be honest. Do I miss home sometimes? Sure. I grew up there and lived there through my twenties and early 30s. However, after I got married and started having kids, I knew there was no way they should have to grow up there. Belleville PD used to be allowed to keep order, there were business all down West Main, and while there's always been theft, the open drug sales and use, and violent assaults weren't that common. Yes, they did a nice job getting the little streach of East Main and around the square hipped up, but get a block or two back of that, and its still a mess. The city is mostly rentals. That tells you something.
While I miss the proximity to certain restaurants and parks and metro activities, the kids can be there in less than an hour, and the town we're in has a rec center, a movie theater close by, an exceptional school district, etc.
I'm afraid Belleville is on that long slide down the hill into East St. Louis. I wish I was wrong...but I'd bet a lot of money against it.

Thanks for a very good post. I'm sure that it will help the original poster make a decision where to move.

You made a good point about the Millstadt kids having to go to Belleville West high school. If someone is looking to move his family from Belleville to escape the bad element, it's better to go to Smithton or Freeburg, where the kids can attend Freeburg schools.

Good point, too, about the facelift given to the downtown area -- sure, it looks nice, but if all of the residential neighborhoods are declining rapidly, a pretty downtown doesn't do much good.

Very bizarre that someone is posting under my name and pretending to be me. At least the posts are polite and something I would say. It's just unusual.

Just another good reason for legalizing conceal and carry! Protect yourself

By the way, someone I was talking to recently suggested that I look into Clinton County, IL.

He mentioned a couple of towns, Germantown and New Baden. I don't know much about them. I looked on a map, and they are a bit far from my elderly family member, but I could probably make it work.

Can anyone give me any info about that area?

Monya Ratster wrote:

Why don't you move to Cahokia? There is plenty of section 8 housing there and you can have all the black men you want.
I lived there for years and I loved it!!

Actually i got out of Cahokia before it was taken over. I see you stayed so why dont you tell me how all the black men are treating you? Jerk

Nicki wrote:

By the way, someone I was talking to recently suggested that I look into Clinton County, IL.
He mentioned a couple of towns, Germantown and New Baden. I don't know much about them. I looked on a map, and they are a bit far from my elderly family member, but I could probably make it work.
Can anyone give me any info about that area?

Nicki, I'm sorry, but I don't know too much about the towns that you are asking about. What little I have heard about them has been good, though.

Gumdrop wrote:

<quoted text>
Nicki, I'm sorry, but I don't know too much about the towns that you are asking about. What little I have heard about them has been good, though.

Thanks anyway. From what I've gathered from most of the posts here, I think that I'd be better off staying out of Signal Hill, and the Belleville area in general.

I still have to take care of my ailing family member, though, so I have to stay fairly close by.

I hope that someone does give me more information about Clinton County, and maybe some other counties surrounding the immediate Belleville area.

Pick a town within 30 miles of Belleville and it is catching the East St Lois back flu.

What me Worry wrote:

Pick a town within 30 miles of Belleville and it is catching the East St Lois back flu.

Well, then, where is a safe place to move?

Nicki wrote:

<quoted text>Well, then, where is a safe place to move?

Washington Park is a great place to live, honestly.

Millstadt69 wrote:

<quoted text>
Washington Park is a great place to live, honestly.

Never heard of it. Is it a nice place?

By your name, I'm guessing that you live in Millstadt. Is that a nice place?

Nicki wrote:

<quoted text>
Never heard of it. Is it a nice place?
By your name, I'm guessing that you live in Millstadt. Is that a nice place?

I really am sure that you wouldn't like Millstadt. It doesn't have a whole lot to offer to outsiders.

Belleville does have a lot to offer. There are all kinds of stores, and a good school system. Lots of neighborhoods to choose from. Just keep looking.

Wild Bill of Millstadt wrote:

<quoted text>
I really am sure that you wouldn't like Millstadt. It doesn't have a whole lot to offer to outsiders.
Belleville does have a lot to offer. There are all kinds of stores, and a good school system. Lots of neighborhoods to choose from. Just keep looking.

Could you please be more specific? Why are you so sure that I wouldn't like Millstadt?

I'm guessing by your name that you are in Millstadt. If so, and you think that Belleville is a better place than Millstadt, then why are you staying in Millstadt?

Nicki wrote:

<quoted text>
Never heard of it. Is it a nice place?
By your name, I'm guessing that you live in Millstadt. Is that a nice place?

No Washington park is not a nice area! I'm not sure why anyone would write that suggestion. Also, some residents of Millstadt do not like people if they are not born and raised in Millstadt....

Washington Park is a friendly place to live and work. You can leave your house unlocked and party with the neighbors. Your kids can walk to school and participate in city activities like swimming and tennis. Wild Bill would agree with me. Millstadt doesn't have near as much to offer!