Councilman Mark Brown addresses
the political
environment in St. Charles.
If your opinion is:
- The infighting in our city is hurting our city’s reputation
- I’m tired of the petty politics
- I wish our elected officials would work for the residents and stop all this political fighting
Please examine the following facts:
Politics in St. Charles are the same as every other city except for … controversy.
Each city throughout the St. Charles/ St. Louis area has its share of disagreement and debates.
What makes St. Charles different?
In April of 2004, a new council was elected. The council quickly recognized that big money and special interest groups were controlling the city at the residents’ expense. The majority of the council established a goal to return the city to the residents who elected them. For this reason, the mayor and her rich friends hired a public relations firm to twist the truth and degrade any accomplishment the council achieves. This has created 14 months of what appears to be negative publicity for our city.
When individuals hire a public relations firm to spin the truth and create negative publicity, are they interested in helping the community or destroying the city’s image? The answer is not quite that simple. These big money people (who for the most part are not St. Charles residents) have taken advantage of our mayor and preyed on her weaknesses.
How do the big money people get their hooks into elected officials and newspaper columnist?
They first look for the weakest personalities and prey on their weakness. Most politicians, after getting elected, try to make a positive impact in their community. However, a small percentage of elected officials begin to think they are way more important than they really are.
They allow their ego to take over their mind and they become consumed with their image of importance and stealing everyone’s ideas and accomplishments as they strive to feed their ever growing ego.
These high rollers have continued to further take advantage of these simple minded people, when they feed politician’s egos by inviting them to special events and parties where they are allowed to hobnob with the rich and famous.
Unfortunately, the rich and famous could care less about the residents in St. Charles. They only care about getting favors and special treatment even if it comes at a high cost to the taxpayers in our city.
In the city of St. Charles, the rich and famous did their homework. They knew before Patti York was elected mayor that she was an airline stewardess with low to moderate income. They recognized that she was approachable and targeted her to lead their agenda. Since that time, she now drives a high priced Lexus sports car, shops in the most upscale clothing stores outside St. Charles, and attends special events put on by these raiders who feed at the public trough at the expense of the taxpayers.
Together they had a very successful five years and it appeared that the more they took from the residents of St. Charles, the more they wanted.
This came to an end after the last election. The voters of St. Charles said they had enough. The voters of St. Charles demanded their city back.
The voters in Ward 3 were upset that developers used our mayor and former councilman and convinced them to create new ordinances to rid our city of its last existing green space. They programmed them like puppets as they lobbied to double the density previously allowed for subdivisions.
The more land they took, the more they wanted. Substandard homes were allowed to be built and inspectors and department heads overlooked violations on a regular basis.
That brings us to where we are today. Six members on the city council decided to fulfill our obligation to the residents of St. Charles. We stood up and said we are going to hold the rich and famous accountable. The council would no longer allow the rich and famous to rape the taxpayers.
This new approach to “fair government for everyone” has been costly to The Big Money People. It has also restricted their activity on issues such as getting unfair bidding practices, overlooking ordinance violations, cost over runs, selective enforcement, buying of city property and receiving special consideration. Putting a stop to this process is not an easy task. The big spenders have made it clear they will do whatever it takes to protect and save their mouthpiece at city hall. This includes hiring public relation firms to act as spin-doctors. These spin-doctors, spin the truth and make anyone who challenge them appear to be a fool and attack their integrity.
Read between the lines of a recent article that appeared on page 1 of the June 23, 2005 issue of the St. Charles County Post reported:
York defense fund nears $20,000
How far will they go to defend their unethical practices?
Close to $20,000 has been raised for a legal defense fund set up for Mayor Patti York, says Ken Kielty, a former City Council member who helped set up the fund.
Much of that amount was raised at a fundraising reception Tuesday evening at Pio’s restaurant, he said. He said that more than 75 people attended. The fund was set up to pay for a lawyer to represent York during the current council’s inquiry into her signing a pharmacy benefits agreement last year without council approval. The council refused York’s request to use city funds to hire an attorney for her.
Kielty also is treasurer of a new political committee, St. Charles Citizens for Responsible Government. He says that committee will be available to raise money for potential recall drives against some or all of York’s critics on the council.
Glennon Jamboretz, a St. Louis public relations firm owner who is deputy treasurer, said the committee also may support candidates in future city elections.
Until The First Capital News came along, these high rollers only worried about wining and dinning one newspaper columnist who began feeling important because he was invited to attend special functions and he was allowed to associate with the rich and famous. In turn, he never reported on any unethical practices that involved this group of raiders. No matter how bad their actions are, he will view the situation through his rose-colored glasses and attack everyone who attempts to seek justice. The interesting thing about this is that St. Charles is the only place the daily paper allows this unethical reporting to exist. You never find it in North County, South County or the West County papers. By and large, the newspapers normally don’t allow reporters to accept this special treatment for favorable reporting. Maybe the money is too big here and the people involved spend a tremendous amount of money advertising in their paper.
Whatever the case is, public relation firms have only one job, spin the truth and protect their client.
I want to personally thank The First Capital News for continuing to report on the issues affecting the taxpayers of our city and for exposing this public relations firm when they distort the facts and attempt to confuse the public.
The First Capital News has obviously taken a tremendous toll on this group of raiders. It has exposed them to such a point that they were forced to start a disingenuous and demonic newspaper to muddy the waters and confuse residents by getting them to a point that they just don’t care.
I ask the public to see through the spin doctors’ distorted truth and examine the facts. When Big Money talks, everybody listens and often times the less informed are fooled. Stay informed and examine the facts. Why would this group be concerned to the point of establishing a mayor’s legal defense fund? If the mayor did not do anything wrong, she has nothing to fear. The only question left now is: how fearful is the council of this group, now that they publicly announced their attempt to recall anyone who continues to seek justice? This group is among the people who raise money again and again throughout the year for the mayor for one reason or another. They are concerned that York has lost her political steam and without their political spin, they will not be able to buy a mouth piece in the up-coming election.
Our city is no different from any other city;
We have debate and disagreements.
The only difference is the negative publicity
“The Spin Doctors” create when
The City of St. Charles attempts to debate or disagree with the big spenders who continue to feed at the public trough.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Mayor’s 2005 Budget Income Projections OFF Over A Million Dollars At Mid Year
By Phyllis Schaltenbrand
It fell to City Administrator Allan Williams to deliver the bad news Tuesday evening, that income projections in the Mayor’s 2005 City Budget are off by $1,160,736 near the midpoint of the fiscal year. The report was bad news for the Mayor who had submitted the projections to the Council last Fall along with projected expenditures based on the rosier numbers.
The shortfall was most acute in projected revenues from Ameristar Casino. While casino revenues for the City are running ahead of last year (2.1%), the Mayor’s Budget had anticipated far more growth (7 + %). The City Administrator and Finance Director reported that Gaming Fund revenues are projected to be $830,000 short of projections by the end of the year if current trends continue.
Sales tax revenues, which go primarily to the General Fund to support municipal services such as Police, Fire EMS and many City Hall departments, could be off the mark by as much as $528,500 this year. This downturn is offset somewhat by increases in permit fees and interest income, but the net loss of non gaming revenues is still projected to top $330,000.
Councilman Mark Brown was particularly upset that the report was not sent out to the Council in its regular packet so Council members could study it prior to Tuesday’s meeting. “I feel like they are pulling a fast one,” he said, adding, “I’ve seen reports on how the casino is doing that are higher than how I’m being told they are performing by this Administration.”
Councilwoman Dottie Greer, speaking with the First Capitol News after the meeting, said that having a report of this importance “Just dropped in your lap during a Council meeting was wrong. By doing this it makes me think they are trying to stir something up. Trying to make the public believe something that is really not there. That’s why we have a rule that any reports to be given out to the Council are suppose to be sent to us in advance.”
Councilman John Gieseke was disappointed the Administration had missed the mark by so much saying, “We relied on the Mayor’s numbers. Time will tell if that faith was misplaced.” Gieseke also questioned the timing of the release of the report on the 21st of June since the midpoint of the fiscal year is July 1st. “In some cases you have five or five and a half months of performance compared with six months in other categories.”
City Council President Rory Riddler said disappointing sales tax numbers were to be expected with the sluggish economy and high gasoline prices. “When people are spending $40 and $50 dollars to fill up at the pump, it reduces their discretionary spending. The only people who think everything is fine with the economy right now are in Washington, D.C. and wearing rose colored glasses,” commented Riddler.
“But I am concerned that the casino numbers appear to be so far off. Had the City Council not reduced our dependence on gaming revenues, our options would be more limited..”
The City Administrator is preparing a list of recommendations on where to reduce spending, but said that the problem was not so great as to force layoffs. Under the Charter, it will be up to the City Council to decide where and how cuts should be made.
The Council unanimously supported a motion by Councilman Brown to review an updated report on the City’s financial status at the July Council Work Session, one which would use June 30th as the cut-off date and update all projections.
The City Administrator’s report appeared under the normal Council portion of the agenda, prompting the Mayor to remark that it should have been listed under her reports. The Mayor, however, did not deliver any portion of the presentation, which was handled by the Administrator and Finance Director, and made no comment during the ensuing discussion concerning the conclusions of the report.
“I’m surprised the Mayor didn’t offer any personal explanation since the problem originated with the budget numbers she submitted to the Council, “ remarked Councilman Gieseke after the meeting.
“It is a good thing this City Council has been concerned with reducing such costs as the employee’s insurance and held the line on no raises this year. Otherwise we would be looking at layoffs instead of a mid year adjustment,” said Councilman Gieseke.
It fell to City Administrator Allan Williams to deliver the bad news Tuesday evening, that income projections in the Mayor’s 2005 City Budget are off by $1,160,736 near the midpoint of the fiscal year. The report was bad news for the Mayor who had submitted the projections to the Council last Fall along with projected expenditures based on the rosier numbers.
The shortfall was most acute in projected revenues from Ameristar Casino. While casino revenues for the City are running ahead of last year (2.1%), the Mayor’s Budget had anticipated far more growth (7 + %). The City Administrator and Finance Director reported that Gaming Fund revenues are projected to be $830,000 short of projections by the end of the year if current trends continue.
Sales tax revenues, which go primarily to the General Fund to support municipal services such as Police, Fire EMS and many City Hall departments, could be off the mark by as much as $528,500 this year. This downturn is offset somewhat by increases in permit fees and interest income, but the net loss of non gaming revenues is still projected to top $330,000.
Councilman Mark Brown was particularly upset that the report was not sent out to the Council in its regular packet so Council members could study it prior to Tuesday’s meeting. “I feel like they are pulling a fast one,” he said, adding, “I’ve seen reports on how the casino is doing that are higher than how I’m being told they are performing by this Administration.”
Councilwoman Dottie Greer, speaking with the First Capitol News after the meeting, said that having a report of this importance “Just dropped in your lap during a Council meeting was wrong. By doing this it makes me think they are trying to stir something up. Trying to make the public believe something that is really not there. That’s why we have a rule that any reports to be given out to the Council are suppose to be sent to us in advance.”
Councilman John Gieseke was disappointed the Administration had missed the mark by so much saying, “We relied on the Mayor’s numbers. Time will tell if that faith was misplaced.” Gieseke also questioned the timing of the release of the report on the 21st of June since the midpoint of the fiscal year is July 1st. “In some cases you have five or five and a half months of performance compared with six months in other categories.”
City Council President Rory Riddler said disappointing sales tax numbers were to be expected with the sluggish economy and high gasoline prices. “When people are spending $40 and $50 dollars to fill up at the pump, it reduces their discretionary spending. The only people who think everything is fine with the economy right now are in Washington, D.C. and wearing rose colored glasses,” commented Riddler.
“But I am concerned that the casino numbers appear to be so far off. Had the City Council not reduced our dependence on gaming revenues, our options would be more limited..”
The City Administrator is preparing a list of recommendations on where to reduce spending, but said that the problem was not so great as to force layoffs. Under the Charter, it will be up to the City Council to decide where and how cuts should be made.
The Council unanimously supported a motion by Councilman Brown to review an updated report on the City’s financial status at the July Council Work Session, one which would use June 30th as the cut-off date and update all projections.
The City Administrator’s report appeared under the normal Council portion of the agenda, prompting the Mayor to remark that it should have been listed under her reports. The Mayor, however, did not deliver any portion of the presentation, which was handled by the Administrator and Finance Director, and made no comment during the ensuing discussion concerning the conclusions of the report.
“I’m surprised the Mayor didn’t offer any personal explanation since the problem originated with the budget numbers she submitted to the Council, “ remarked Councilman Gieseke after the meeting.
“It is a good thing this City Council has been concerned with reducing such costs as the employee’s insurance and held the line on no raises this year. Otherwise we would be looking at layoffs instead of a mid year adjustment,” said Councilman Gieseke.
Whittaker Announces New Town Grand Opening On June 25 and June 26
Save the date! Whittaker Homes announces the much anticipated grand opening for The New Town at St. Charles, a traditional neighborhood development off Hwy. 370 and New Town Blvd., on Saturday, June 25 and Sunday June 26 from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. The event will take place at the New Town Amphitheater.
The grand opening will debut the five new single-family displays and four row house displays. In addition, Whittaker Homes is releasing new sites in Phase II, known as the Island District. Some of the units planned for this phase will be directly on the water and will portray an architectural style that is similar to that found in Europe.
The days’ events will include stilt walkers, jugglers, a magician, giveaways and prizes, such as bikes and a Vespa scooter. Many on-air personalities will be live from New Town during select times on Saturday or Sunday, including talent from KEZK, KMOX, K-Hits, and 101.1 The River. There also will be live bands performing at different times both days.
During the grand opening, the amphitheater will be surrounded by approximately 50 booths. Many of the suppliers will be on hand to answer questions about the unique housing products and materials used at New Town. Some of the local churches and schools also will have a booth at the event.
As part of the grand opening festivities, Whittaker Homes is hosting a Taste of St. Charles as well. These tents will be located around the amphitheater. Attendees are invited to sample food from Hawaiian BBQ & Grill, The Coffee Cottage, Tony’s on Main, Crazy Sushi, Maui Wowi, Claudia’s Cake Café, Hawaiian Shaved Ice and St. Charles Vintage House & Wine Garden.
Attendees are invited to stay for Shakespeare in the Park. The St. Charles Arts and Cultural Commission present an entertaining circus version of Romeo & Juliet. The performances will take place on Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 26 at 7 p.m. at the New Town Amphitheater.
Priced from the $100s to $800+, The New Town at St. Charles is a new urbanism town with a mixed use of homes designed for all income levels. Housing types include condo/townhome mansions, row houses, detached townhomes, cottages, single-family homes, custom homes, live work units and senior courtyard homes.
Ultimately, this $1.3 billion project will be a thriving town with approximately 5,700 residences in ten phases, with a carefully planned mix of homes in addition to a town center and four neighborhood centers.
To reach The New Town at St. Charles, take Hwy. 370 to North on New Town Blvd., 1 ? miles to the entrance on the right. For information, call 636-949-2700 or visit www.newtownatstcharles.com.
The grand opening will debut the five new single-family displays and four row house displays. In addition, Whittaker Homes is releasing new sites in Phase II, known as the Island District. Some of the units planned for this phase will be directly on the water and will portray an architectural style that is similar to that found in Europe.
The days’ events will include stilt walkers, jugglers, a magician, giveaways and prizes, such as bikes and a Vespa scooter. Many on-air personalities will be live from New Town during select times on Saturday or Sunday, including talent from KEZK, KMOX, K-Hits, and 101.1 The River. There also will be live bands performing at different times both days.
During the grand opening, the amphitheater will be surrounded by approximately 50 booths. Many of the suppliers will be on hand to answer questions about the unique housing products and materials used at New Town. Some of the local churches and schools also will have a booth at the event.
As part of the grand opening festivities, Whittaker Homes is hosting a Taste of St. Charles as well. These tents will be located around the amphitheater. Attendees are invited to sample food from Hawaiian BBQ & Grill, The Coffee Cottage, Tony’s on Main, Crazy Sushi, Maui Wowi, Claudia’s Cake Café, Hawaiian Shaved Ice and St. Charles Vintage House & Wine Garden.
Attendees are invited to stay for Shakespeare in the Park. The St. Charles Arts and Cultural Commission present an entertaining circus version of Romeo & Juliet. The performances will take place on Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 26 at 7 p.m. at the New Town Amphitheater.
Priced from the $100s to $800+, The New Town at St. Charles is a new urbanism town with a mixed use of homes designed for all income levels. Housing types include condo/townhome mansions, row houses, detached townhomes, cottages, single-family homes, custom homes, live work units and senior courtyard homes.
Ultimately, this $1.3 billion project will be a thriving town with approximately 5,700 residences in ten phases, with a carefully planned mix of homes in addition to a town center and four neighborhood centers.
To reach The New Town at St. Charles, take Hwy. 370 to North on New Town Blvd., 1 ? miles to the entrance on the right. For information, call 636-949-2700 or visit www.newtownatstcharles.com.
KEEPING OUR WATERS SAFE - Missouri State Water Patrol
By Lynndi Lockenour
With the first official days of summer just behind us, boating season is in full swing. This means longer hours patrolling Missouri’s waterways for Corporal Mike Porter of the Missouri State Water Patrol. Porter describes his work as similar to that of a policeman. “I basically do what all other state cops do,” he said, “except I patrol the water instead of the highway and I don’t have an air conditioner.”
Porter said the season usually starts with the weather and declines after Labor Day when students go back to school. “We don’t have a set date to start,” he said, “but usually the first warm day we have, people are out here.”
The Missouri State Water Patrol has the responsibility of patrolling the major waterways in the state. This includes: 272,770 acres of lakes with 5,500 miles of shoreline, 519 miles of the Mississippi River, 533 miles of the Missouri River and the tributaries along these waterways. During his 19 years of covering the Missouri waterways, Porter said he has seen some very interesting things. “Once, when I was still on the Dive Team for the Missouri State Water Patrol, we recovered the weapon used in a murder,” he said. “Though it was found six months after the murder, the fingerprints were still detectable and the guy was caught.”
First Capitol News visited the Alton Pool, also known as Pool 26, with Corporal Porter. He said this is one of the busiest locations in the area with as many as 5,000 boats on the water during a busy weekend. During boating season there is one officer on patrol during the weekdays, and two during the weekends. “Today there is only me and my partner from here to about Iowa,” Porter said.
Porter said tickets are most frequently written to people on personal watercraft vehicles (PWC). Porter said PWC vehicles make up only seven percent of registered boats, but account for 50 percent of boating accidents. “People on PWC watercrafts are usually very unaware of their surroundings,” he said, “which causes them to have accidents.” Porter said people usually claim they weren’t aware of the rules they were violating if they get pulled over. “When you get out here on the water you are responsible for all the rules,” he said, “and not knowing isn’t an excuse.”
Porter also said most people aren’t thinking about the rules when they are out on the river. “People come out here to have fun and enjoy themselves,” he said. “I argue that they can do that and be safe at the same time.” He said the most common fatality stems from intoxicated people who jump off the boat without a life jacket and try to swim. “Too often they are too intoxicated to maneuver and they end up drowning,” he said.
Recently there was a new addition to the rule book for those traveling on Missouri’s waterways. Everyone born after January 1, 1984 is required to have a license to operate a boat. These licenses can be acquired by attending a boater’s education class offered by the Missouri State Water Patrol. Porter said three or four classes have already met this spring and they will continue into the summer. Also, any boat license from another state is valid in Missouri. For information on obtaining a boaters license, contact the Water Patrol by calling their office in Jefferson City at 573-751-3333 or visiting their website at www.mswp.dps.state.gov.
Porter said the number of fatalities differs every year. “Some years we have six or eight fatalities, but other years, maybe only one,” he said. However, Porter said it seems the hotter the weather, the better chance something will go wrong. “I’m not sure why, but when the temperature is up around 100 degrees, it never fails that there will be problems.”
Porter said he chose the job because he enjoyed working outdoors, but hates it when the weather is bad. “We get guys out here ice fishing in January, so it isn’t always pleasant.” Porter said he provides a valuable service and loves helping people when he is needed. “Everyday is different,” he said, “so that keeps things interesting.” Though he enjoys his job, Porter said it isn’t for someone who wants their weekends free. “It’s guaranteed that I’ll be out here every weekend.”
Corporal Porter gets a new boat approximately every five years. He said people are constantly asking him if he’s excited, but he said not really. “After this many years, getting a new boat is like getting a new flashlight,” he said. “It’s just another tool I need to do my job properly.” When Porter first started he patrolled in a small fishing boat, but now because other boats have also gotten larger, Porter’s is now 28 feet long. “We have to continue to get larger boats to keep up with everyone else,” he said. “Otherwise they’d just run over us and never pay attention.”
Besides patrolling the rivers, the Water Patrol serves several other purposes. They include: providing safety exhibits and inspecting safety equipment in vessels; investigating water related accidents, administering first aid, investigating complaints, criminal activities and assisting other law enforcement. Other duties are: patrolling regattas, races, fishing tournaments, skiing exhibitions and other water related events, authorizing placement of navigation buoys and investigating navigational obstructions. The Water Patrol also attends boat shows in the area to give boaters information and make sure people know the rules. “People are a lot more inclined to ask questions at a boat show than out on the water,” Porter said.
Officers from Illinois also patrol the waters. Porter said they have what is called “joint jurisdiction” with Illinois water patrol unit. This means Missouri officers are allowed to arrest or pursue someone all the way to the bank of the Illinois side, but not on the land. The same is true for Illinois officers and their right to arrest someone on the Missouri side of the river, but not on the bank.
With the first official days of summer just behind us, boating season is in full swing. This means longer hours patrolling Missouri’s waterways for Corporal Mike Porter of the Missouri State Water Patrol. Porter describes his work as similar to that of a policeman. “I basically do what all other state cops do,” he said, “except I patrol the water instead of the highway and I don’t have an air conditioner.”
Porter said the season usually starts with the weather and declines after Labor Day when students go back to school. “We don’t have a set date to start,” he said, “but usually the first warm day we have, people are out here.”
The Missouri State Water Patrol has the responsibility of patrolling the major waterways in the state. This includes: 272,770 acres of lakes with 5,500 miles of shoreline, 519 miles of the Mississippi River, 533 miles of the Missouri River and the tributaries along these waterways. During his 19 years of covering the Missouri waterways, Porter said he has seen some very interesting things. “Once, when I was still on the Dive Team for the Missouri State Water Patrol, we recovered the weapon used in a murder,” he said. “Though it was found six months after the murder, the fingerprints were still detectable and the guy was caught.”
First Capitol News visited the Alton Pool, also known as Pool 26, with Corporal Porter. He said this is one of the busiest locations in the area with as many as 5,000 boats on the water during a busy weekend. During boating season there is one officer on patrol during the weekdays, and two during the weekends. “Today there is only me and my partner from here to about Iowa,” Porter said.
Porter said tickets are most frequently written to people on personal watercraft vehicles (PWC). Porter said PWC vehicles make up only seven percent of registered boats, but account for 50 percent of boating accidents. “People on PWC watercrafts are usually very unaware of their surroundings,” he said, “which causes them to have accidents.” Porter said people usually claim they weren’t aware of the rules they were violating if they get pulled over. “When you get out here on the water you are responsible for all the rules,” he said, “and not knowing isn’t an excuse.”
Porter also said most people aren’t thinking about the rules when they are out on the river. “People come out here to have fun and enjoy themselves,” he said. “I argue that they can do that and be safe at the same time.” He said the most common fatality stems from intoxicated people who jump off the boat without a life jacket and try to swim. “Too often they are too intoxicated to maneuver and they end up drowning,” he said.
Recently there was a new addition to the rule book for those traveling on Missouri’s waterways. Everyone born after January 1, 1984 is required to have a license to operate a boat. These licenses can be acquired by attending a boater’s education class offered by the Missouri State Water Patrol. Porter said three or four classes have already met this spring and they will continue into the summer. Also, any boat license from another state is valid in Missouri. For information on obtaining a boaters license, contact the Water Patrol by calling their office in Jefferson City at 573-751-3333 or visiting their website at www.mswp.dps.state.gov.
Porter said the number of fatalities differs every year. “Some years we have six or eight fatalities, but other years, maybe only one,” he said. However, Porter said it seems the hotter the weather, the better chance something will go wrong. “I’m not sure why, but when the temperature is up around 100 degrees, it never fails that there will be problems.”
Porter said he chose the job because he enjoyed working outdoors, but hates it when the weather is bad. “We get guys out here ice fishing in January, so it isn’t always pleasant.” Porter said he provides a valuable service and loves helping people when he is needed. “Everyday is different,” he said, “so that keeps things interesting.” Though he enjoys his job, Porter said it isn’t for someone who wants their weekends free. “It’s guaranteed that I’ll be out here every weekend.”
Corporal Porter gets a new boat approximately every five years. He said people are constantly asking him if he’s excited, but he said not really. “After this many years, getting a new boat is like getting a new flashlight,” he said. “It’s just another tool I need to do my job properly.” When Porter first started he patrolled in a small fishing boat, but now because other boats have also gotten larger, Porter’s is now 28 feet long. “We have to continue to get larger boats to keep up with everyone else,” he said. “Otherwise they’d just run over us and never pay attention.”
Besides patrolling the rivers, the Water Patrol serves several other purposes. They include: providing safety exhibits and inspecting safety equipment in vessels; investigating water related accidents, administering first aid, investigating complaints, criminal activities and assisting other law enforcement. Other duties are: patrolling regattas, races, fishing tournaments, skiing exhibitions and other water related events, authorizing placement of navigation buoys and investigating navigational obstructions. The Water Patrol also attends boat shows in the area to give boaters information and make sure people know the rules. “People are a lot more inclined to ask questions at a boat show than out on the water,” Porter said.
Officers from Illinois also patrol the waters. Porter said they have what is called “joint jurisdiction” with Illinois water patrol unit. This means Missouri officers are allowed to arrest or pursue someone all the way to the bank of the Illinois side, but not on the land. The same is true for Illinois officers and their right to arrest someone on the Missouri side of the river, but not on the bank.
THE CITY DESK - Rory Riddler City Council President
Legal Questions Raised By Legal Defense Fund
Or Much Ado About Nothing
I never hesitate to answer that Shakespeare is my favorite playwright and Henry The Fifth my favorite work by the Bard of Avon. King Henry’s “feast of Crispian” speech to his troops, just before the battle of Agincourt (Act 4, Scene 3), to this day remains one of the most stirring passages of English Literature.
The return of “Shakespeare In The Park” to the summer stage prompted me to once more thumb the pages of a wonderful book entitled Brush Up Your Shakespear by Michael Macrone. It helps explain the Bard’s most memorable and oft misquoted lines in the context of the language of the time.
Polonius in Hamlet (Act1, Scene 3) gives this famous advice to his son Laertes:
This above all; to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man,
Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!
We apply our own modern meanings to the words and ascribe greater wisdom about leading an “honest” life and listening to your own inner voice than Shakespear ever meant. At the time, to thine own self be “true” meant to put your own interests above others and the part about not being “false” to any man meant not having a bad reputation. It loses a lot of its romance when understood as being advice to always act in your own selfish interests to protect your image in the community.
Shakespeare loved to poke fun at pretense and ego. His sharp pen and sharper wit would have been busy in our town, where pretense stands on ceremony. In other words, we take ourselves too seriously.
This week a group of movers and shakers hosted a party to raise money for a Legal Defense Fund for the Mayor. Letters were mailed to City contractors, Union PACS and even some members of City boards and commissions. I was surprised donation cans weren’t put out at area checkout counters. Normally you see this level of effort in raising money for someone who needs an operation...not a lawyer.
All of which seemed to me, Much Ado About Nothing.
No one is suing the Mayor. There are no impeachment proceedings...a fact that interestingly enough seems to anger the Mayor’s supporters as much as her detractors.
The City Council is simply trying to find out how a three year contract was signed by the Mayor without a copy being placed on file anywhere in City Hall, without it being reviewed and signed off on by the City Administrator, City Attorney and Contract Administrator for the City. We want to know why we are being asked to pay $200,000 for the cancellation of a contract that was suppose to have had no cost to the City. Along the way a few other questions have arisen. Like why we didn’t get any rebate checks till the issue became public? Why those rebates seem to be far less than the $40,000 a year the Mayor and HR Director thought they would be.
Our goal is to make sure it doesn’t happen again. It would also be nice if future contracts the Mayor signs are on file somewhere for public inspection. If a contract is signed by the Mayor to make a private firm money, even if there is no cost to the City, you have a right to that information.
Having failed to garner the required seven votes of the Council to subpoena witnesses, the Council’s review of this incident is winding down just as the fundraising for the Mayor’s Legal Defense Fund is kicking into high gear. Last Monday we reviewed the data assembled by the City Administrator. We will probably make some recommendations, but legal action against the Mayor by the Council isn’t an option.
The rush to create a Legal Defense Fund is more about showmanship than substance.
Hamlet: Madam, how like you this play?
Queen: The lady doth protest too much, me thinks.
(Act 3, Scene 2)
I’m also not sure the Mayor could legally accept help from such a group. There is a City Ordinance which prohibits gifts of over $75 from those doing business with or regulated by the City or who would gain financially from any action pending before the City. I know that solicitation letters went out to companies doing business with the City. Owners of establishments with liquor licenses for example, are regulated by the City and could not give more than the $75.
I don’t see how the Mayor or her attorney could accept money that may have come from these prohibited sources. Simply running it through a separate committee, I don’t feel releases the Mayor from the obligation to not accept such gifts.
Or in the words of Shakespeare's Hamlet...ay, there’s the rub (Act 3, Scene 1).
Unlike political donations, there are no limits to how much an individual or business can donate to a Legal Defense Fund. No doubt thousands (perhaps tens of thousands) of dollars will be raised by this group. But the public will never know who gave or how much unless the group voluntarily releases that information. The public will never know how the money is spent, unless the group voluntarily agrees to open their books.
Interestingly, the group raising money for the Mayor’s erstwhile legal fees, decided to use Premier Bank at about the same time the Convention Center Oversight Committee (which the Mayor serves on) tried to shift millions in deposits from Commerce Bank to Premier. Premier has yet to build their bank in St. Charles and is renting a storefront at this time.
Then we all learned last week that former Councilman Ken Kielty (who serves on the Mayor’s Legal Defense Fund) has started a committee to raise more money to recall City Council members. We presume just the ones he doesn’t like. Kielty, who until recently served on the Convention Center Oversight Committee with the Mayor, also listed Premier Bank (with their Jefferson City address) as the bank his committee was using.
What an incredible coincidence!
“If this were played upon a stage now, I would condemn it as an improbable fiction.”
Fabian, Twelfth Night (Act 3, Scene 4)
Or Much Ado About Nothing
I never hesitate to answer that Shakespeare is my favorite playwright and Henry The Fifth my favorite work by the Bard of Avon. King Henry’s “feast of Crispian” speech to his troops, just before the battle of Agincourt (Act 4, Scene 3), to this day remains one of the most stirring passages of English Literature.
The return of “Shakespeare In The Park” to the summer stage prompted me to once more thumb the pages of a wonderful book entitled Brush Up Your Shakespear by Michael Macrone. It helps explain the Bard’s most memorable and oft misquoted lines in the context of the language of the time.
Polonius in Hamlet (Act1, Scene 3) gives this famous advice to his son Laertes:
This above all; to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man,
Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!
We apply our own modern meanings to the words and ascribe greater wisdom about leading an “honest” life and listening to your own inner voice than Shakespear ever meant. At the time, to thine own self be “true” meant to put your own interests above others and the part about not being “false” to any man meant not having a bad reputation. It loses a lot of its romance when understood as being advice to always act in your own selfish interests to protect your image in the community.
Shakespeare loved to poke fun at pretense and ego. His sharp pen and sharper wit would have been busy in our town, where pretense stands on ceremony. In other words, we take ourselves too seriously.
This week a group of movers and shakers hosted a party to raise money for a Legal Defense Fund for the Mayor. Letters were mailed to City contractors, Union PACS and even some members of City boards and commissions. I was surprised donation cans weren’t put out at area checkout counters. Normally you see this level of effort in raising money for someone who needs an operation...not a lawyer.
All of which seemed to me, Much Ado About Nothing.
No one is suing the Mayor. There are no impeachment proceedings...a fact that interestingly enough seems to anger the Mayor’s supporters as much as her detractors.
The City Council is simply trying to find out how a three year contract was signed by the Mayor without a copy being placed on file anywhere in City Hall, without it being reviewed and signed off on by the City Administrator, City Attorney and Contract Administrator for the City. We want to know why we are being asked to pay $200,000 for the cancellation of a contract that was suppose to have had no cost to the City. Along the way a few other questions have arisen. Like why we didn’t get any rebate checks till the issue became public? Why those rebates seem to be far less than the $40,000 a year the Mayor and HR Director thought they would be.
Our goal is to make sure it doesn’t happen again. It would also be nice if future contracts the Mayor signs are on file somewhere for public inspection. If a contract is signed by the Mayor to make a private firm money, even if there is no cost to the City, you have a right to that information.
Having failed to garner the required seven votes of the Council to subpoena witnesses, the Council’s review of this incident is winding down just as the fundraising for the Mayor’s Legal Defense Fund is kicking into high gear. Last Monday we reviewed the data assembled by the City Administrator. We will probably make some recommendations, but legal action against the Mayor by the Council isn’t an option.
The rush to create a Legal Defense Fund is more about showmanship than substance.
Hamlet: Madam, how like you this play?
Queen: The lady doth protest too much, me thinks.
(Act 3, Scene 2)
I’m also not sure the Mayor could legally accept help from such a group. There is a City Ordinance which prohibits gifts of over $75 from those doing business with or regulated by the City or who would gain financially from any action pending before the City. I know that solicitation letters went out to companies doing business with the City. Owners of establishments with liquor licenses for example, are regulated by the City and could not give more than the $75.
I don’t see how the Mayor or her attorney could accept money that may have come from these prohibited sources. Simply running it through a separate committee, I don’t feel releases the Mayor from the obligation to not accept such gifts.
Or in the words of Shakespeare's Hamlet...ay, there’s the rub (Act 3, Scene 1).
Unlike political donations, there are no limits to how much an individual or business can donate to a Legal Defense Fund. No doubt thousands (perhaps tens of thousands) of dollars will be raised by this group. But the public will never know who gave or how much unless the group voluntarily releases that information. The public will never know how the money is spent, unless the group voluntarily agrees to open their books.
Interestingly, the group raising money for the Mayor’s erstwhile legal fees, decided to use Premier Bank at about the same time the Convention Center Oversight Committee (which the Mayor serves on) tried to shift millions in deposits from Commerce Bank to Premier. Premier has yet to build their bank in St. Charles and is renting a storefront at this time.
Then we all learned last week that former Councilman Ken Kielty (who serves on the Mayor’s Legal Defense Fund) has started a committee to raise more money to recall City Council members. We presume just the ones he doesn’t like. Kielty, who until recently served on the Convention Center Oversight Committee with the Mayor, also listed Premier Bank (with their Jefferson City address) as the bank his committee was using.
What an incredible coincidence!
“If this were played upon a stage now, I would condemn it as an improbable fiction.”
Fabian, Twelfth Night (Act 3, Scene 4)
RAMBLING WITH THE EDITOR - Tony Brockmeyer
VACATION
The next edition of the First Capitol News will be published on July 16th. There will be no edition next week because of the 4th of July holiday. The following week we will be on vacation. Even though we are taking a few days off, we will be in and out of the office and checking our voice mail and e-mails and regular mail. Any breaking news that we discover will be placed on our web log;
firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com.
Isn’t it Time To Hold The Mayor Accountable?
At the June 7th meeting of the City Council the Council indicated they would like to interview some of her proposed appointments to boards and commissions prior to voting to approve them. She told the Council that as a Councilwoman she had introduced the ordinance that required submission of appointees names to be made to the Council in advance. At the June 21st meeting Councilman John Gieseke pointed out to her that when the ordinance was passed she did not even live in St. Charles and when an amendment was made she was not even on the City Council.
She also claims to have brought John Q. Hammonds to St. Charles. He is the developer of the Convention Center Hotel. The truth is, Doyle Shockley and Jim Rice were the ones who brought John Q. Hammonds to St. Charles.
The Mayor also claims to have brought Bass Pro to St. Charles. Nothing could be further from the truth. Greater Missouri Builders were responsible for Bass Pro.
ATTEMPT TO SAND BAG?
Members of the City Council were surprised when City Administrator Allan Williams appeared at the Council meeting Tuesday evening and told them the Mayor’s budget income projections were off by more than $1 million dollars that would have to be made up. Williams told the Council members he did not include the information in their packets because he did not want it released to the press. Whenever they don’t want something released to the press I would think they are trying to hide something? What do you think?
JAYCEE PARADE the 4th
We designed the ads the City Council has been running promoting Riverfest 2005 and their Salute to Veterans and members of our Armed Forces. The FCN was told that members of the Jaycees who are also members of the Riverfest 2005 Committee were upset because we did not mention that the St. Charles Jaycees were the sponsors of the 4th of July Parade that will be held at 10am on Monday, July 4th.
We took our information from the flyer the Riverfest 2005 Committee had designed and distributed and the news release we received from TJ Slattery of the Committee. There was no mention of the Jaycees in either of those documents. Thus there was no mention in this newspaper until now.
The Parade Route begins at St. Charles High School, proceeds down Waverly to Kingshighway, to Clark Street, to North Main traveling south down Main Street and ending at Bishop’s Landing. This years parade features over 100 units including bands, floats and candy!
The next edition of the First Capitol News will be published on July 16th. There will be no edition next week because of the 4th of July holiday. The following week we will be on vacation. Even though we are taking a few days off, we will be in and out of the office and checking our voice mail and e-mails and regular mail. Any breaking news that we discover will be placed on our web log;
firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com.
Isn’t it Time To Hold The Mayor Accountable?
At the June 7th meeting of the City Council the Council indicated they would like to interview some of her proposed appointments to boards and commissions prior to voting to approve them. She told the Council that as a Councilwoman she had introduced the ordinance that required submission of appointees names to be made to the Council in advance. At the June 21st meeting Councilman John Gieseke pointed out to her that when the ordinance was passed she did not even live in St. Charles and when an amendment was made she was not even on the City Council.
She also claims to have brought John Q. Hammonds to St. Charles. He is the developer of the Convention Center Hotel. The truth is, Doyle Shockley and Jim Rice were the ones who brought John Q. Hammonds to St. Charles.
The Mayor also claims to have brought Bass Pro to St. Charles. Nothing could be further from the truth. Greater Missouri Builders were responsible for Bass Pro.
ATTEMPT TO SAND BAG?
Members of the City Council were surprised when City Administrator Allan Williams appeared at the Council meeting Tuesday evening and told them the Mayor’s budget income projections were off by more than $1 million dollars that would have to be made up. Williams told the Council members he did not include the information in their packets because he did not want it released to the press. Whenever they don’t want something released to the press I would think they are trying to hide something? What do you think?
JAYCEE PARADE the 4th
We designed the ads the City Council has been running promoting Riverfest 2005 and their Salute to Veterans and members of our Armed Forces. The FCN was told that members of the Jaycees who are also members of the Riverfest 2005 Committee were upset because we did not mention that the St. Charles Jaycees were the sponsors of the 4th of July Parade that will be held at 10am on Monday, July 4th.
We took our information from the flyer the Riverfest 2005 Committee had designed and distributed and the news release we received from TJ Slattery of the Committee. There was no mention of the Jaycees in either of those documents. Thus there was no mention in this newspaper until now.
The Parade Route begins at St. Charles High School, proceeds down Waverly to Kingshighway, to Clark Street, to North Main traveling south down Main Street and ending at Bishop’s Landing. This years parade features over 100 units including bands, floats and candy!
THE PEOPLE SPEAK - Letters To The Editor
First Capitol News,
We are very pleased you are honoring all those who serve their country. All Americans, whether they agree with the cause or not, should be thankful for all the men and women who have and are sacrificing their lives for our freedom.
I have enclosed a picture of my son who is presently serving in Afghanistan.
Florence Braun
Dear Editor:
I read with great fascination your article, “Great Rivers Habitat Alliance Caught”, appearing in the June 18, 2005 issue of FCN. Along with a number of business owners and citizens of St. Peters who formed and joined our group, I am satisfied that the true intent of GRHA has finally been brought to the forefront.
St. Peters Citizens and Business for Smart Growth was formed in July of 2004 to offer support to the Board of Aldermen and the city staff in their efforts to bring about the Lakeside 370 Business Park. Our group believed that the City Staff and Aldermen had performed professionally to bring about a wonderful project that would stabilize property tax rates, increase tax revenues for St. Peters and St. Charles County, enhance property values and, of course, produce thousands of construction and permanent jobs. We are thrilled that the City has located a developer who will provide an incredible return for the citizens of St. Peters. However, we remain concerned about Great Rivers Habitat Alliance and its shadow groups such as Citizens for Responsible Community. Early on, our group was certain that environmental concerns were not the real focus of GRHA. The City of St. Peters had offered a compromise to GRHA which included the annexation of 25,000 acres of flood plain to be placed into a conservation disrict controlled by GRHA. The group was not willing to trade its opposition to the 1,600 acre business park for 25,000 acres. We felt that a real environmental group would have jumped on this offer without hesitation.
This entire episode, along with the many money connections reported in your article, should provide a loud warning to the citizens of O’Fallon, St. Peters, St. Charles and St. Charles County. Great Rivers Habitat Alliance and Citizens for Responsible Community have maintained an anti-growth agenda and seemingly attempt to subvert progress and change. There is no question that the primary operators of these groups do not live within the city limits of the towns in question, however, they have affected elections through hard and soft money contributions and have not been afraid to brag about the outcomes and their assistance with them. It is, of course, any group’s right to push an agenda and to throw money at the politicians in an attempt to secure the agenda. However, the connections reported in FCN provide a sour taste in the mouth of politics where, once again, big money attempts to secure an outcome for a selected few and at the detriment to the majority of the people. One only has to look at the GRHA attempt to purchase the St. Peters property for $12,000,000 which would have been a terrible deal given that St. Peters will now realize $50,000,000. And, by the way, Tom Hughes, a significant developer in St. Charles County, recently joined forces with Great Rivers Habitat Alliance. Could this be mere coincidence? Or, is this developer really an environmentalist?
Our group applauds St. Peters, its Aldermen and the staff for the tremendous work that has been accomplished for the benefit of the city as well as for St. Charles County. We look forward to providing a voice for progress and growth and to counter the unidentified agendas and meddling of the outsiders who claim membership in organizations such as Great Rivers Habitat Alliance and Citizens for Responsible Community. It is our hope that all citizens will scrutinize future candidates for public office and ask those candidates about their funding especially as to what groups are providing money and support of any kind. We also thank First Capitol News for its reporting of this latest chapter of what can go wrong within our county and within the cities which comprise our great county.
Daniel K. Fetsch
St. Peters Citizens and Business
for Smart Growth
We are very pleased you are honoring all those who serve their country. All Americans, whether they agree with the cause or not, should be thankful for all the men and women who have and are sacrificing their lives for our freedom.
I have enclosed a picture of my son who is presently serving in Afghanistan.
Florence Braun
Dear Editor:
I read with great fascination your article, “Great Rivers Habitat Alliance Caught”, appearing in the June 18, 2005 issue of FCN. Along with a number of business owners and citizens of St. Peters who formed and joined our group, I am satisfied that the true intent of GRHA has finally been brought to the forefront.
St. Peters Citizens and Business for Smart Growth was formed in July of 2004 to offer support to the Board of Aldermen and the city staff in their efforts to bring about the Lakeside 370 Business Park. Our group believed that the City Staff and Aldermen had performed professionally to bring about a wonderful project that would stabilize property tax rates, increase tax revenues for St. Peters and St. Charles County, enhance property values and, of course, produce thousands of construction and permanent jobs. We are thrilled that the City has located a developer who will provide an incredible return for the citizens of St. Peters. However, we remain concerned about Great Rivers Habitat Alliance and its shadow groups such as Citizens for Responsible Community. Early on, our group was certain that environmental concerns were not the real focus of GRHA. The City of St. Peters had offered a compromise to GRHA which included the annexation of 25,000 acres of flood plain to be placed into a conservation disrict controlled by GRHA. The group was not willing to trade its opposition to the 1,600 acre business park for 25,000 acres. We felt that a real environmental group would have jumped on this offer without hesitation.
This entire episode, along with the many money connections reported in your article, should provide a loud warning to the citizens of O’Fallon, St. Peters, St. Charles and St. Charles County. Great Rivers Habitat Alliance and Citizens for Responsible Community have maintained an anti-growth agenda and seemingly attempt to subvert progress and change. There is no question that the primary operators of these groups do not live within the city limits of the towns in question, however, they have affected elections through hard and soft money contributions and have not been afraid to brag about the outcomes and their assistance with them. It is, of course, any group’s right to push an agenda and to throw money at the politicians in an attempt to secure the agenda. However, the connections reported in FCN provide a sour taste in the mouth of politics where, once again, big money attempts to secure an outcome for a selected few and at the detriment to the majority of the people. One only has to look at the GRHA attempt to purchase the St. Peters property for $12,000,000 which would have been a terrible deal given that St. Peters will now realize $50,000,000. And, by the way, Tom Hughes, a significant developer in St. Charles County, recently joined forces with Great Rivers Habitat Alliance. Could this be mere coincidence? Or, is this developer really an environmentalist?
Our group applauds St. Peters, its Aldermen and the staff for the tremendous work that has been accomplished for the benefit of the city as well as for St. Charles County. We look forward to providing a voice for progress and growth and to counter the unidentified agendas and meddling of the outsiders who claim membership in organizations such as Great Rivers Habitat Alliance and Citizens for Responsible Community. It is our hope that all citizens will scrutinize future candidates for public office and ask those candidates about their funding especially as to what groups are providing money and support of any kind. We also thank First Capitol News for its reporting of this latest chapter of what can go wrong within our county and within the cities which comprise our great county.
Daniel K. Fetsch
St. Peters Citizens and Business
for Smart Growth
STRAIGHT TALK - Councilman Bob Hoepfner
Well hello again out there folks. We have several issues to talk about today.
First off is this matter regarding our municipal judge. This matter is being researched as you read my column. I believe that it is illegal for him to be our municipal judge and also be elected to the Junior College Board. However, I am not a lawyer so we are researching this matter. If it is determined it is illegal we are going to remove him from office.
Now about the state audit. The auditor presented the audit information to the City Council. They said they found nothing wrong except they had some concerns about some things in the parks department. Being the instigator of the audit, I was very displeased. They had not covered 80 percent of the items they were asked to look at. The auditors even said they did not have to meet with the petitioners of the audit.
The Council asked the auditor to do it over and do it professionally and correctly or we were not going to pay for it. We also learned that the Mayor and department heads had met with the auditor before they came to the Council. Wonder what was going on there? What do you think? The taxpayers are once again made to suffer because of the bureaucracy.
You know the address, folks, 425 Nantucket. You know the phone 949-0956. Let me hear from you.
First off is this matter regarding our municipal judge. This matter is being researched as you read my column. I believe that it is illegal for him to be our municipal judge and also be elected to the Junior College Board. However, I am not a lawyer so we are researching this matter. If it is determined it is illegal we are going to remove him from office.
Now about the state audit. The auditor presented the audit information to the City Council. They said they found nothing wrong except they had some concerns about some things in the parks department. Being the instigator of the audit, I was very displeased. They had not covered 80 percent of the items they were asked to look at. The auditors even said they did not have to meet with the petitioners of the audit.
The Council asked the auditor to do it over and do it professionally and correctly or we were not going to pay for it. We also learned that the Mayor and department heads had met with the auditor before they came to the Council. Wonder what was going on there? What do you think? The taxpayers are once again made to suffer because of the bureaucracy.
You know the address, folks, 425 Nantucket. You know the phone 949-0956. Let me hear from you.
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
When All Else Fails! Amateur Radio provides emergency communications.
The Public and amateur radio operators in the St. Charles County area are invited to view and operate amateur radio stations set up to simulate temporary, emergency conditions. The Emergency Communications Association of St. Charles County is participating in the American Radio Relay League National Field Day 2005 Emergency Communications Test and Demonstration. This display and operation of portable communications equipment will be located at Pavilion 2 of Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Park, 2300 North Main, St. Charles City, MO. from 1:00 pm on Saturday, June 25th through 1:00 pm Sunday, June 26th. The event continues around the clock for 24 hours. Visitors will have the opportunity to operate an amateur radio station under the supervision of a licensed amateur radio operator. The new St. Charles County Division of Emergency Management Interoperability Command Post will also be on display and in operation during the event. Be sure to visit and inspect this new addition to the communications systems in St. Charles County.
The Emergency Communications Association (ECA) has a charter to provide St. Charles County with emergency communications resources in times of emergency. Field Day provides an opportunity to exercise our capabilities and demonstrate them to the public. ECA members cooperate with and assist the St. Charles County Division of Emergency Management in severe weather spotting activities, land & river search & rescue activations and river flooding emergencies. Other ECA activities include communications support for public service events like March of Dimes and MS Society Walkathons and Bikathons.
Amateur Radio Field Day is a nationwide event designed to test Amateur Radio Operators’ abilities to set up and operate portable radio stations under emergency conditions such as the loss of electricity. The event is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League. Field Day is a serious test of communications skills, and a contest for fun too. During the weekend, the Amateur Radio Operators try to contact as many other Field Day stations around the country as possible in a 24 hour period. Tens of thousands of Amateur Radio operators across the United States participated in last year’s event.
ECA consists of approximately 40 skilled members that volunteer their time and resources to assist St. Charles County residents in times of need. ECA invites the citizens of St. Charles County to visit our Field Day site in Dusable Park during the June 25-26 weekend and learn about how to become involved in an interesting and useful Amateur Radio hobby.
The Public and amateur radio operators in the St. Charles County area are invited to view and operate amateur radio stations set up to simulate temporary, emergency conditions. The Emergency Communications Association of St. Charles County is participating in the American Radio Relay League National Field Day 2005 Emergency Communications Test and Demonstration. This display and operation of portable communications equipment will be located at Pavilion 2 of Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Park, 2300 North Main, St. Charles City, MO. from 1:00 pm on Saturday, June 25th through 1:00 pm Sunday, June 26th. The event continues around the clock for 24 hours. Visitors will have the opportunity to operate an amateur radio station under the supervision of a licensed amateur radio operator. The new St. Charles County Division of Emergency Management Interoperability Command Post will also be on display and in operation during the event. Be sure to visit and inspect this new addition to the communications systems in St. Charles County.
The Emergency Communications Association (ECA) has a charter to provide St. Charles County with emergency communications resources in times of emergency. Field Day provides an opportunity to exercise our capabilities and demonstrate them to the public. ECA members cooperate with and assist the St. Charles County Division of Emergency Management in severe weather spotting activities, land & river search & rescue activations and river flooding emergencies. Other ECA activities include communications support for public service events like March of Dimes and MS Society Walkathons and Bikathons.
Amateur Radio Field Day is a nationwide event designed to test Amateur Radio Operators’ abilities to set up and operate portable radio stations under emergency conditions such as the loss of electricity. The event is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League. Field Day is a serious test of communications skills, and a contest for fun too. During the weekend, the Amateur Radio Operators try to contact as many other Field Day stations around the country as possible in a 24 hour period. Tens of thousands of Amateur Radio operators across the United States participated in last year’s event.
ECA consists of approximately 40 skilled members that volunteer their time and resources to assist St. Charles County residents in times of need. ECA invites the citizens of St. Charles County to visit our Field Day site in Dusable Park during the June 25-26 weekend and learn about how to become involved in an interesting and useful Amateur Radio hobby.
Festival of the Little Hills Committee Awards Scholarships
The interesting thing about justice and accountability is that it sometimes takes a very long time. We just saw a remarkable example of it taking 41 years. As I watched the verdict being announced in the case of Edgar Ray Killen, age 8l, I saw a mean old man who almost escaped being punished for a heinous crime. As people age, they usually adopt a more frail, harmless appearance, regardless of past conduct and crimes. Even with his oxygen in place, he looked neither weak, frail, nor remorseful.
Forty-one years to the day after the murder of the three young civil rights workers in Mississippi, Edgar Killen learned that he would spend his remaining days on this earth in prison. This was the case that prompted the movie, “Mississippi Burning.”
Throughout history we have witnessed the days when regardless of heroic effort, the Dragon wins. We can award the dragon a few battles, but hopefully, he will never win the war. The Mississippi case reminds us of the tragedy of the evil that results from arrogance, peer pressure, ignorance and abuse of power unchecked.
From the beginning of mankind, the battle between good and evil has been waged on a royal scale. We have been fortunate and blessed in times of peril, we have always had a few good men who met the challenge and rose to the occasion. I don’t believe that any of us ever know what we will do until we are actually faced with the challenge and the tough choice in determining what path we will walk down.
The City of St. Charles now faces this dilemma and has some serious choices to make, about not only what is acceptable from a practical standpoint, but also which is ethically and morally acceptable. These choices will define who we are as a society and as human beings.
We have a new publication which reared its ugly head to educate us about “honesty” and “honest issues.” The editor is Ed Watkins. He may have vested interests in economic ambitions with his cronies, however he does not nor ever has lived in the City of St. Charles. His greatest accomplishments during the past 25 years seems to be the ability to promote himself and show up at all events which may present a new deal or opportunity.
Watkins has shamelessly ignored every truth and reality and has consistently used this bi-weekly hate missile to attack decent people in St. Charles who live here and work for the benefit of this City and its future. These decent people will still be around working for their City and the quality of our lives long after Watkins has moved on to a more lucrative opportunity.
His cohorts appear to be advertising giant, Glennon Jamboretz, Great Rivers Habitat Alliance, Carl Maus and Raymond Stone of Citizens for Responsible Community, T.R. Hughes, St. Chuck Watch, and Mayor York. All these groups appear to have hired Jamboretz to do their public relations work and promote the agenda of Mayor York. At the moment, he seems to have a full-time job trying to repair her deteriorating public image.
Except for six members of the St. Charles City Council, these groups and individuals have their people in place at both the county and state level and are unchecked in getting their way. Those six St. Charles City Council members are all that is preventing the big boys from totally controlling our city government. The attacks upon our City Council and misinformation and outright lies will not stop until Watkins and his cronies have driven them from the offices WE elected them to serve as our representatives.
Individuals attending Tuesday’s City Council meeting were shocked at what they observed. Jamboretz was reported to have been communicating from his laptop computer to Mayor York who was responding to him on her laptop. It was observed Jamboretz closed up his computer and left with Stone and others. Mayor York then left to follow them out, accompanied by a St. Charles City Police Officer, who appears to be serving as her “body guard.” I do not believe that anybody is interested in the Mayor’s body or wishes her any physical harm. The public would like nothing more than the Mayor to fulfill her duties with honesty and integrity. That is not a “life-threatening” request.
Our city is at a major crossroads and the decisions we make and the path we choose will define our integrity and our future. May we all have the wisdom to make these decisions based on common sense, logic, and whole lot of conscience and soul seeking. We can rise to this challenge with dignity based on ethics, morals and compassion or we can allow self-serving people to direct our thinking and be a party to injustice.
Forty-one years to the day after the murder of the three young civil rights workers in Mississippi, Edgar Killen learned that he would spend his remaining days on this earth in prison. This was the case that prompted the movie, “Mississippi Burning.”
Throughout history we have witnessed the days when regardless of heroic effort, the Dragon wins. We can award the dragon a few battles, but hopefully, he will never win the war. The Mississippi case reminds us of the tragedy of the evil that results from arrogance, peer pressure, ignorance and abuse of power unchecked.
From the beginning of mankind, the battle between good and evil has been waged on a royal scale. We have been fortunate and blessed in times of peril, we have always had a few good men who met the challenge and rose to the occasion. I don’t believe that any of us ever know what we will do until we are actually faced with the challenge and the tough choice in determining what path we will walk down.
The City of St. Charles now faces this dilemma and has some serious choices to make, about not only what is acceptable from a practical standpoint, but also which is ethically and morally acceptable. These choices will define who we are as a society and as human beings.
We have a new publication which reared its ugly head to educate us about “honesty” and “honest issues.” The editor is Ed Watkins. He may have vested interests in economic ambitions with his cronies, however he does not nor ever has lived in the City of St. Charles. His greatest accomplishments during the past 25 years seems to be the ability to promote himself and show up at all events which may present a new deal or opportunity.
Watkins has shamelessly ignored every truth and reality and has consistently used this bi-weekly hate missile to attack decent people in St. Charles who live here and work for the benefit of this City and its future. These decent people will still be around working for their City and the quality of our lives long after Watkins has moved on to a more lucrative opportunity.
His cohorts appear to be advertising giant, Glennon Jamboretz, Great Rivers Habitat Alliance, Carl Maus and Raymond Stone of Citizens for Responsible Community, T.R. Hughes, St. Chuck Watch, and Mayor York. All these groups appear to have hired Jamboretz to do their public relations work and promote the agenda of Mayor York. At the moment, he seems to have a full-time job trying to repair her deteriorating public image.
Except for six members of the St. Charles City Council, these groups and individuals have their people in place at both the county and state level and are unchecked in getting their way. Those six St. Charles City Council members are all that is preventing the big boys from totally controlling our city government. The attacks upon our City Council and misinformation and outright lies will not stop until Watkins and his cronies have driven them from the offices WE elected them to serve as our representatives.
Individuals attending Tuesday’s City Council meeting were shocked at what they observed. Jamboretz was reported to have been communicating from his laptop computer to Mayor York who was responding to him on her laptop. It was observed Jamboretz closed up his computer and left with Stone and others. Mayor York then left to follow them out, accompanied by a St. Charles City Police Officer, who appears to be serving as her “body guard.” I do not believe that anybody is interested in the Mayor’s body or wishes her any physical harm. The public would like nothing more than the Mayor to fulfill her duties with honesty and integrity. That is not a “life-threatening” request.
Our city is at a major crossroads and the decisions we make and the path we choose will define our integrity and our future. May we all have the wisdom to make these decisions based on common sense, logic, and whole lot of conscience and soul seeking. We can rise to this challenge with dignity based on ethics, morals and compassion or we can allow self-serving people to direct our thinking and be a party to injustice.
MY COLUMN - Mike McMurran Sports Editor
O.K., so the Blues are for sale – no problem. I would be the first to admit that I am not a big hockey fan. I really couldn’t tell you the last time I attended a Blues hockey game. For my money I would really rather attend an Otters contest right here in beautiful St. Charles. From my perspective the Blues priced me right out of attending any of their contests. On the negative side it would do nothing but hurt the image of our region should they decide to leave; it would leave only professional baseball and football. Some say the void of the Blues could be filled with an NBA team – once again the likelihood of my attending such a contest is highly unlikely. Few attend more high school basketball games than I, and nothing is more exciting than the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, held annually at the Savvis Center. But the idea of watching an NBA contest does nothing for me.
Last Friday evening I took Maggie, Joe and Dee to see a River City Rascals game in O’Fallon. If I were writing a review of the contest, it would get two thumbs up. There really isn’t a bad seat in the house, with the exception of sitting in the left field outfield just as the sun sets. Thirty to forty minutes before sunset you are blinded and can’t see a thing. There are plenty of things for the kids to do in the “Children’s Village.” The up close seating really does make you feel like you’re on the field. Best of all the beer prices are reasonable. If you are looking for something to do this summer I strongly suggest taking in a game. I bet you go back – I know I am.
The next paragraph or two will be nothing other than a personal reflection; read on if you wish.
As a parent I have always wanted to have the kind of household where my kids’ friends would want to hang out. Certainly, always having the right kinds of snacks and drinks helps greatly in this endeavor, but more importantly, I think, is having a pool in the back yard. At any given moment there may be as many as 9 or 10 kids swimming in our back yard. The parents know this and spontaneous cookouts are as common as the swimming parties. I make mention of this because one the families most likely to attend one of these spontaneous parties, The Yothers, will soon be relocating to Indiana. It seems like just yesterday when Nancy Yothers first introduced herself to me and shared that she would love for her daughter Molly and my daughter Maggie (both of whom at the time were 2 years old) to grow up and be friends. At the time I thought it was a strange thing to say, but now that they are leaving, I realize that Molly and Maggie (now both 9) have in fact grown up to be friends, close friends at that. Despite the fact that the Yothers attend(ed) Becky – David, and my kids attend ASH, it was not uncommon for my kids to be waiting at the bus stop for Molly and Sam to come home so they could play. Factor in their oldest son Nate is mature beyond his middle school age years, and can be trusted to be a primary care giver. The patriarch of the family, Geoffrey, hails from Philadelphia and continues to be an Eagles fan, but other than that is a great guy. He would rather drink Bud Lite than Mich Ultra, but we all have our faults.
When we first saw the “for sale” sign in their front yard, I had a funny, sickly feeling in my stomach – even though we knew it was coming. As irony would have it, we were with The Yothers at St. Elizabeth’s Church picnic when Geoff got the call from their realtor that the next day’s open house would be cancelled because they had a firm offer at the right price. I know time cures all, but there will be a void when the Yothers move. My son Joe asked if we could visit them maybe every 10 years or so, which is a longer period of time than we have known them. I seriously doubt that we will. But as I write this I can picture us attending their children’s weddings, and vice versa. As a matter of fact I cannot imagine my children getting married without the Yothers being present.
I know this is no big deal to most, and in the grand scheme of the universe it barely warrants attention. But within the McMurran household it is a big deal – my children’s friends are moving away, and they have never experienced such. To Nancy and Geoff, good luck in life, may all your dreams be realized. The two of you are very caring, fun to be with, and just down right good friends. One request please: Look into job openings for air traffic controllers. I’ve another neighbor I would love for you to take with you.
Last Friday evening I took Maggie, Joe and Dee to see a River City Rascals game in O’Fallon. If I were writing a review of the contest, it would get two thumbs up. There really isn’t a bad seat in the house, with the exception of sitting in the left field outfield just as the sun sets. Thirty to forty minutes before sunset you are blinded and can’t see a thing. There are plenty of things for the kids to do in the “Children’s Village.” The up close seating really does make you feel like you’re on the field. Best of all the beer prices are reasonable. If you are looking for something to do this summer I strongly suggest taking in a game. I bet you go back – I know I am.
The next paragraph or two will be nothing other than a personal reflection; read on if you wish.
As a parent I have always wanted to have the kind of household where my kids’ friends would want to hang out. Certainly, always having the right kinds of snacks and drinks helps greatly in this endeavor, but more importantly, I think, is having a pool in the back yard. At any given moment there may be as many as 9 or 10 kids swimming in our back yard. The parents know this and spontaneous cookouts are as common as the swimming parties. I make mention of this because one the families most likely to attend one of these spontaneous parties, The Yothers, will soon be relocating to Indiana. It seems like just yesterday when Nancy Yothers first introduced herself to me and shared that she would love for her daughter Molly and my daughter Maggie (both of whom at the time were 2 years old) to grow up and be friends. At the time I thought it was a strange thing to say, but now that they are leaving, I realize that Molly and Maggie (now both 9) have in fact grown up to be friends, close friends at that. Despite the fact that the Yothers attend(ed) Becky – David, and my kids attend ASH, it was not uncommon for my kids to be waiting at the bus stop for Molly and Sam to come home so they could play. Factor in their oldest son Nate is mature beyond his middle school age years, and can be trusted to be a primary care giver. The patriarch of the family, Geoffrey, hails from Philadelphia and continues to be an Eagles fan, but other than that is a great guy. He would rather drink Bud Lite than Mich Ultra, but we all have our faults.
When we first saw the “for sale” sign in their front yard, I had a funny, sickly feeling in my stomach – even though we knew it was coming. As irony would have it, we were with The Yothers at St. Elizabeth’s Church picnic when Geoff got the call from their realtor that the next day’s open house would be cancelled because they had a firm offer at the right price. I know time cures all, but there will be a void when the Yothers move. My son Joe asked if we could visit them maybe every 10 years or so, which is a longer period of time than we have known them. I seriously doubt that we will. But as I write this I can picture us attending their children’s weddings, and vice versa. As a matter of fact I cannot imagine my children getting married without the Yothers being present.
I know this is no big deal to most, and in the grand scheme of the universe it barely warrants attention. But within the McMurran household it is a big deal – my children’s friends are moving away, and they have never experienced such. To Nancy and Geoff, good luck in life, may all your dreams be realized. The two of you are very caring, fun to be with, and just down right good friends. One request please: Look into job openings for air traffic controllers. I’ve another neighbor I would love for you to take with you.
FIRST CAPITOL NEWS TEAM OF THE WWWK
This week’s First Capitol News team of the week is the Misfits, a group of “younger, middle age women,” according to team captain Anne Oberle. “We have been playing together now for almost 20 years,” said Oberle, which would have made most of the players 15 years old when they started, that is if in fact “the average age of the girls is 35,” as Oberle claims.
The team is sponsored by Old Mill Chiropractic on Jungermann Road; which make Dr. Dan Coogan the team’s general manager. “The team started out almost 20 years ago without a single win,” shared Coogan, “hence the name Misfits. They probably peeked about five years or so ago when they were considered one of the better recreational teams in the area.” Past their prime or not – we are happy to acknowledge them as Team of the Week.
The team is sponsored by Old Mill Chiropractic on Jungermann Road; which make Dr. Dan Coogan the team’s general manager. “The team started out almost 20 years ago without a single win,” shared Coogan, “hence the name Misfits. They probably peeked about five years or so ago when they were considered one of the better recreational teams in the area.” Past their prime or not – we are happy to acknowledge them as Team of the Week.
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