Friday, November 19, 2004

First Official Thanksgiving Day Service In America at Jamestown, Virginia on December 4, 1619

Jamestown, Virginia lays claim to the First official Thanksgiving Day service in America. In the photograph of an artist’s rendering on the left is Captain John Woodliffe from Prestwood, England. Captain Woodliffe and 38 settlers in the ship “Margaret” landed in Jamestown, Virginia on December 4, 1619. The photo on the right above is a monument that honors the First official Thanksgiving DAY service in America held there by Captain Woodliffe and those settlers. The monument is located on the shore of the James River at Berkeley Plantation in Jamestown. The artist’s rendering is inside the monument along with a plaque depicting a PROCLAMATION as follows: IMPR WEE ORDIANE THAT THE DAY OF OUR SHIPS ARRIVAL AT THE PLACE ASSIGNED FOR PLANTATION IN THE LAND OF VIRGINIA SHALL BE YEARLY AND PERPETUALLY KEPT HOLY AS A DAY OF THANKSGIVING TO ALMIGHTY GOD. First Capitol News Photos by Tony Brockmeyer and Phyllis Schaltenbrand
St. Charles Resident Heads Major Heroin Ring - Nine Arrested by Federal Agents

Adrian Minnis, 32, a resident of the 900 block of Time Centre Drive in the Time Centre Apartment Homes on South Fifth at I-70 was arrested by Federal Agents and charged with attempting to smuggle 20 pounds of pure heroin worth more than $3 million into the St. Louis area. A total of nine arrests were made including his brothers Antonio Minnis, 39 of Westchester Court in St. Charles, Terrell Minnis, 30, of the 9000 block of Bessmer in Berkeley. Also arrested were Marneik Guest, 33, of the 900 block of Midland in Overland, Angela Nunaley 34, of the 1500 block of North Hanley in University City and Victoria Powell, 34, of the 4400 block of Cote Brilliante in St. Louis and three others from California.First Capitol News Photo by Tony Brockmeyer
$$ GRANT MONEY $$

Available for mobile home repairs and weatherization

STS. JOACHIM AND ANN CARE SERVICE
Has a limited amount of funding to be used solely for repairs and weatherization of owner-occupied mobile homes.

Potential applications must meet income limits.

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT THE CARE SERVICE AT 636/441-1302

This add was paid for with Community Development Block Funds
issued to the City of St. Charles.


Home Improvement Loan Program

The Home Improvement Loan Program provides low-interest/no-interest loans to low and moderate income City residents. Recipients can use the money for roof replacement, plumbing, electrical, siding, windows, for furnaces, hot water heaters, and for general property maintenance. The maximum amount of the loan is $10,000. Income eligibility is as follows: (1) person household $36,900; (2) persons $42,200; (3) $47,450; (4) $52,700; (5) $56,950; (6) $61,150. Call or write us to request a brochure: Department of Community Development, 200 N. Second St., St. Charles, MO 63301, 636-949-3222

HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The City of St. Charles will issue a grant for down payment assistance of up to $5,000 for qualified potential home buyers. Prospective clients must be at or below income levels established by HUD, and must complete a HUD certified housing counseling training program. Income eligibility is as follows: (1) person household $36,900; (2) persons $42,200; (3) $47,450; (4) $52,700; (5) $56,950; (6) $61,150. Call or write us to request a brochure: Department of Community Development, 200 N. Second St., St. Charles, MO 63301 636 949-3222
Fireplace Safety



Scott Freitag
St. Charles Fire Department
E-mail: scott.freitag@stcharlescity.com

It is getting cold outside which means it’s a good time to sit around with family and friends to enjoy a comfortable fire in your fireplace. But, before you light a fire you should consider the following safety tips:

Have your fireplace insert and flue cleaned and checked by a professional.
Never leave a fire unattended.
Clear the area around the fire place.
Use a screen to keep sparks in and children out.
Do not burn trash in the fireplace e.g. wrapping paper or cardboard.
It is recommended that you use a hardwood (oak, hickory, ash, etc.) because it burns cleaner than softwoods (fir, pine, cedar, etc.).
Use seasoned wood as opposed to freshly cut green wood.
Place ashes in a metal container away from the home.
Keep fires small and comfortable as opposed to a large raging fire that can crack a flue.
Leave glass fireplace doors open while a fire is burning.
DO NOT use liquid fuels to help start a fire.
Make sure the damper on the flue is open.
If you have a gas fire place, have it inspected at the same time you have all other gas appliances inspected.
Make sure all smoke detectors in your home work.
Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide alarm.
Practice a fire exit drill.

Following these tips will help to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable time with family and friends around a warm and comfortable fire.






Jaycees Seek Entries For Mardi Gras Parade In Frenchtown

The St. Charles Jaycees are organizing the Third Annual St. Charles Jaycees’ Frenchtown Mardi Gras Parade. The parade, is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 29th, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. This year’s theme is “Lassiez le bon temps roule!”

“The St. Charles Jaycees are very excited.” says Mardi Gras Parade Chair Christine Grote. We are working with the Frenchtowne Historical Society and are pleased to announce that the Society’s annual King’s Ball will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the Arts Foundry, following the Parade.”

The parade is a family-friendly event, therefore alcohol will not be served anywhere along the parade route. Local businesses, youth and non-profit organizations, as well as high school marching bands are encouraged to participate.

For more information about the Third Annual St. Charles Jaycees’ Frenchtown Mardi Gras Parade or for an entry form, contact Christine Grote at 314-477-4772. Entry forms can also be downloaded from the St. Charles Jaycees Website, www.geocities.com/stcharlesjaycees.

The St. Charles Jaycees, a leadership training, community service, and social organization for people between the ages of 18 & 40, have helped to build young leaders in St. Charles since 1948. For more information about the St. Charles Jaycees, visit the organization’s official website at www.geocities.com/stcharlesjaycees.

Bill Goellner Elected President of South Main Preservation Society
Goal is to unify downtown St. Charles

At the monthly meeting of the South Main Preservation Society tTursday evening, St. Charles native, Bill Goellner was elected president of the organization.

Goellner is a life-long resident of St. Charles with more than 50 years of life experience on Main Street. He is a business owner and multiple property owner on the street.

Goellner was a member of the Landmarks Board of St. Charles but was not reappointed by the Mayor when his term expired. His long service on the Landmarks Board has demonstrated not only a true concern for protecting the historic quality of the area, but a reasonable and common sense respect for the needs of business owners and residents alike. His encyclopedic knowledge of the area, his concern for preservation and his ability and willingness to serve make him a good choice.

Goellner told the First Capitol News that his goal is to unify downtown St. Charles. “I will work towards a renewed spirit of cooperation. Our organization will be promoting the spirit and ambience of downtown St. Charles. Public involvement will foster that image that we hope will bring visitors and shoppers to our historic area. There is nothing like historic downtown St. Charles anywhere in the area and we will continue to improve and promote.”

Other officers elected to the board are: Barb Stiegemeier as Vice President of Preservation. Barb is a past President of SMPS. Her dad started the Landmarks Preservation Board.

Rhonda Dyer of Thistle and Clover, Vice President of Promotion.

Bob Schuette of First Capitol Trading Post as Treasurer.

Mary Fran Rash of Main Street Books as Recording Secretary.

Ann Hazelwood of Patches Etc. Quilt Shop as Corresponding Secretary.

Directors elected were:
Cliff Rozar of Cliff’s Custom Cut-outs, Jim Brown of Riverside Sweets, Dan Satterfield a South Main Street resident, John Dengler of John Dengler Tobaconnist and Gene Wood of Cobblestone Cottage. As past president Wood automatically transfers to a director position.

Unsuccessful candidates were Venetia McEntire, V’Anne Mydler, Archie Scott and Suzanne Underwood.

Thursday, November 04, 2004

Heritage Residents Association To File Ethics Complaint Against Citizens For Responsible Community


By Tony Brockmeyer

The First Capitol News has learned that the Board of Directors of the Heritage Residents Association (HRA) are filing a complaint with the Missouri Ethics Commission against Citizens For Responsible Community and it’s president Carl Maus. Maus is also a past president of the HRA.

This action is the result of an investigation conducted for the HRA by it’s attorney Joel D. Brett of St. Charles.

At a recent meeting the Attorney notified the board that a payment of $5,000 the HRA board made to Citizens For Responsible Community (CFRC), on behalf of a local developer, gave the appearance of an attempt to launder money. The check, originally received by the board from Steve Groeper of Western Expansion Group, was apparently a misdirection of funds to avoid the appearance of CFRC accepting money from a developer, particularly since the purpose of CFRC was to prevent another developer from purchasing the property. The attorney, advised the board in a letter dated September 28, 2004; it appears the Board had issued the check prior to a vote. Two resolutions which say essentially the same thing concerning the donation to CFRC dated February 26, 2004 and March 23, 2004, appear to him to be an effort to establish a basis for the contribution. The resolutions according to the attorney are insufficient and further his opinion that the activities of the Board in making the donation and reimbursing various Board members and Association members for their activities with Cavendish Square is improper. He wrote that the $5,000 donation should be returned to the Board by CRFC, and then perhaps returned to Western Expansion and that the source of the donation was also misrepresented by CFRC.

In the May 15, 2004 edition of the First Capitol News we reported that at the annual meeting of the Heritage Residents Association on April 26, 2004 an internal fight developed and the two candidates for election to the Board representing Citizens For Responsible Community were defeated. We also reported a fight over association funds, which resulted in $3,293.75 in legal fees for the association. It involved a $10,000 donation by Groeper to the Association and later claimed by Maus and Stone as a partial donation to “Citizens For Responsible Community.”

Frank Rosner, who was treasurer of the Heritage Residents Association (HRA) at the time and is now the president told the First Capitol News, “The check was received from Groeper in January 2004 and was made payable to the Heritage Residents Association. Later Maus who was President of the Heritage Residents Association, but was not running for reelection because he was moving into a new home being constructed in Groeper’s subdivision, told the HRA $5,000 of the money was to go to CFRC. At that time another member of the HRA told us that this was apparently an attempt to bypass campaign-reporting requirements. At a later meeting that was not attended by Rosner and several other HRA Board members a check for $5,000 was issued to CFRC.

Since their inception CFRC have become involved in St. Charles City politics even though none of them reside in St. Charles, except Maus who recently moved into an apartment in the city while his new luxury home in Groeper’s subdivision is completed. CFRC has also become involved in O’Fallon and St. Peters politics and claim to be responsible for the election of Shawn Brown as Mayor of St. Peters. They have also aligned themselves with Adolphus Busch IV and Glennon Jamboretz of the Great Rivers Habitat Alliance, the group fighting a planned industrial, commercial development on 1,600 acres owned by the City of St. Peters. It has been reported that Busch, Jamboretz and other members of Great Rivers Habitat Alliance have given thousands of dollars to CFRC. It is believed that a great deal of that money was used to defeat candidates to the City Board in O’Fallon, and the Mayor of St. Peters. Attempts to defeat city council members in St. Charles were unsuccessful.

After the Mayor of St. Charles, York, denied knowing members of CFRC it was discovered that she was photographed with them at her victory party and that she later contributed more than $2,000 to their cause. She was recently photographed with them at an event in O’Fallon. Shortly after her election as Mayor she allowed them the use of her office at City Hall during City Council Meetings.

The HRA attorney also advised the Board that Maus being President of HRA at the same time he was President of CFRC was at the very least a conflict of interest and should have been disclosed to all Members of the Association (all residents) and not just the Board members. In addition, the minutes of January 27, 2004 specifically state that one half of the $10,000 paid by Steve Groeper of Western Expansion Group would be paid to CFRC because “it probably would not look good for the company to have it on the books”.

Board members and other Members of the Association were reimbursed for their “in kind” contributions to CFRC during the “Cavendish Square” dispute. The attorney reported this is also an improper use of Association assessments and funds. If it is possible to determine the amounts the members should reimburse the Association for the funds.

On March 22, 2000 the Board of Directors adopted a resolution authorizing the sale of property to B & L Real Estate Investments, L.L.C. The sale was conditioned upon the purchaser erecting residential dwellings on the property. The contract executed by the Association requires that the Association approve the plans and specifications for any buildings and structures and improvements constructed on the property and that these improvements should be residential. The contract does not provide a remedy if the purchaser does not erect these residential dwellings. The attorney for HRA questions whether the purchase price reflected the fair market value in March 2000. It is his understanding that the property was worth considerable more, but he has no documentation other than the assessor’s office valuation in the mid ‘80’s. That valuation reflects a significantly higher value. He advised the board that whenever selling or purchasing property they should obtain an appraisal for the file so that questions concerning value are not raised by future Boards.

Other recommendations he made to the board were to hire an independent accounting firm to audit the HRA books for the past 3-4 years and to take bids for services and/or materials of any significant amount.

The attorney believes that current Board members, whether involved or not on prior Boards, should attempt to recover the donation to CFRC as well as the payment to various members and Board members for the Cavendish Square dispute. He also believes that the funneling of the donation from Western Expansion Group through HRA to CFRC constitutes a violation of the Missouri Ethics statue, as well as the rules and regulations promulgated by the Missouri Ethics Commission. In closing he wrote, “I also firmly believe that the Association had no authority to make this donation. Clearly, Mr. Maus’ dual roles and the commingling of funds for attorney’s fees and contributions, at the very least, gives the appearance of impropriety, and in my opinion was improper and illegal.


Another source also told the FCN that the board was talking to several accounting firms and that plans were being formulated for a complete audit of the HRA funds.