Thursday, July 21, 2005

LETTER TO THE SPORTS EDITOR

A Letter To The Sports Editor
Mike,
I have enjoyed most of your pieces in the First Capitol News concerning the sports coverage. What is amazing is how much
Rage coverage you have been able to do this season, even with the “former” owner of that team now being editor of the other
tabloid.
I have a slight tip for you and I’m not sure if you could bring an article about this. Over the last few weeks, I talked to a number of Missouri River Otter season ticket holders, some who have bought season tickets since the team started in 1999. A number of them aren’t renewing because of the possible fear that Mike Shanahan, Jr. could get an ownership group together to buy the St. Louis Blues and if that happens, the Otters fold or get relocated someplace else. There aren’t any guarantees, even with the UHL All-Star Game scheduled here. By the way, that All-Star Game didn’t get announced around here until three weeks after it was awarded. I got my tip from someone who read the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette and they are =always= on the ball with the UHL and NIFL in that city. Also, a number of patrons who attend Family Arena are upset about the parking situation that is there. It is the main reason why you only see small numbers attend sporting events there. There are more parking places than there are seats at the facility. Yet, there are parking attendants there who charge $5 or $6 for parking and force cars to park as far away from the facility as they could. That is one of the reasons why season ticket sales for the Otters continue to decline. And although the team announced they are “committed” to the 2005-06 season, because of the Blues situation, fans are very unsure that the management/ownership of the teamwill be dedicated to the River Otters this season. There have been some good player signings and the schedule has been announced (www.theuhl.com).

But fans are still not sure if the River Otters are determined to play in St. Charles the entire
season. I think some fans are upset from last season when the playoff games were moved to Savvis Center because of
“schedule conflicts.” Something isn’t right and I don’t think that some who live here and feel that Family Arena has been a great place really feel that the operators of Family Arena itself (not the sports teams) really don’t have the hospitality that they should have to keep the teams from bolting over to St. Louis for playoff games. There’s something quite suspicious when we have two of our mainstream teams play regular season home games at Family Arena and then when the playoffs take place, the games are moved to Savvis Center. I think Rory Riddler had some points he made in an article he wrote earlier this year about Family Arena. But he failed to point out that people don’t like paying for parking at all and they don’t like when the parking attendants tell the patrons where to park.

I think what confuses St. Charles County residents is that they will attend baseball games at T. R. Hughes Ballpark in
O’Fallon and the parking is free and no one tells them where to park. But at Family Arena, people pay to park in a
parking lot that is never completely full and patrons are ordered to park as far away from the facility as possible.
Finally, I have seen the conditions of both parking lots at T. R. Hughes and at Family Arena. T. R. Hughes does have a very
good parking lot and is well maintained. The Family Arena parking lot looks like it has never been maintained or even
repaired after its initial layer of asphalt was poured. The neglect that has been given to Family Arena since the “controversy” that took place in 2000 (New Year’s Eve, 1999) has really affected the conditions of what could be a great building. I wish every sports reporter and mainstream reporter would write about this.

Also, I have been told that no one who attends Family Arena understands why Arena Parkway can’t be lit better at night from the Arena to Route 364 and from the Arena to Fifth Street. In the winter, it can be very dark, even with the little snow we
have received in the last several winters.

My wife and I plan on attending more Rascals games because of their friendliness. But we’re not sure if we plan on attending hockey games in the fall and winter. Hockey is my more favorite sport compared to baseball. But since I have a stepdaughter in high school this fall, it looks like I’ll be watching Mid-States Club Hockey again more than I will be watching the minors. At least I don’t have to be told where to park at either the St. Peters Rec Plex or at the Wentzville Ice Arena.
Keep up the good work.
Louis Laune

DON’T LEAVE HOME WITH YOUR IDENTITY SHOWING Valuable Information from First Bank to Avoid Identity Theft on Vacation

DON’T LEAVE HOME WITH YOUR IDENTITY SHOWING
Valuable Information from First Bank to Avoid Identity Theft on Vacation

Vacation was great! The beach was more beautiful than you could have imagined. The resort staff catered to your every need. The food was exquisite. The hotel was comfortable and relaxing. You arrive home refreshed until you discover that someone charged hundreds of dollars using your credit card number.

You’ve been the victim of identity theft. “Identity theft and identity fraud,” says Chris Kieffer, Vice President for Electronic Banking at First Banks, Inc. “refers to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person’s personal data to commit fraud or deception typically for economic gain. In this case, someone else may be living it up in a hotel room while you’re looking at a lot of work getting back what was stolen.”

But there are ways to minimize your susceptibility.

PRIOR TO VACATIONING

Contact your bank when you have confirmed your vacation plans. Most banks monitor suspicious activity (including geographic shifts in cardholder usage) and may choose to temporarily restrict the card for your protection until the activity can be validated. By informing your bank up front, you can prevent unnecessary inconveniences while vacationing.

Make a list of debit card, credit card, and bank account numbers as well as the associated customer service telephone numbers (typically located on the back of the card). Keep this list in a safe place so that you can use it to contact the necessary banks to prevent any potential fraud in case you lose your wallet or purse.

WHILE YOU’RE VACATIONING

Never leave your Personal Identification Number (PIN) anywhere but in your memory. Do not write it down where it could be detected. Visit your bank to determine if they will allow you to change your PIN to something easily remembered, but it is a good idea never to use the last four digits of your social security number, date of birth, address, or other numbers that could easily be discovered by identity thieves.

When vacationing, be aware if a merchant takes your card somewhere out of your sight for an extended period of time. Most merchants will process transactions within your view. You might call your financial institution to warn of possible violations against your account.

Do not leave keys, debit/credit cards, checks, receipts or other sensitive documents in your hotel room. Many hotels provide a safe or other type of secure location for safekeeping your documents until you need them or check out.

Always keep those receipts for credit card purchases or withdrawals. Never throw them in a public trash container where someone will eventually find them.

Never give out your debit or credit card numbers over the telephone unless you have a trusted business relationship with the person or company. When vacationing, be mindful of schemes that ask for your card number (i.e., “To enter this sweepstakes, give us your card number”).
Carry only cards necessary for the trip. It is often wise to carry two cards in case one is lost on vacation or inactivated. Prior to your trip, cancel any cards that you do not use or secure them in a safe place while you are away.

Have a trusted neighbor or family member retrieve your mail to prevent identity thieves from obtaining credit card statements, bank statements, or credit card offers that could be used inappropriately.

WHEN YOU RETURN FROM VACATION

Upon returning home, contact your bank and credit card companies to review recent activity on your account. If anything looks suspicious or unfamiliar, tell the bank right away.

Destroy any unnecessary documents or receipts to prevent someone from finding and stealing any sensitive information.

“Your fingerprints are yours. They cannot be given to anyone else to use,” Kieffer points out. “But your personal identity data - Social Security Number, bank account and credit card numbers, even your telephone calling card number can fall into the wrong hands, if you are not careful, and the losses can be significant.”

First Bank is one of the largest family owned banks in the country with more than $8.7 billion in assets and nearly 170 locations in Missouri, Illinois, California and Texas.

MY COLUMN - Mike McMurran Sports Editor

The letter from Louis Launer published this week brings up some very interesting points, many of which I will address here. I too was somewhat surprised at the reception given by the Rage early in the season. At one point I thought the previous owner might have stepped in and voided an agreement with the FCN and the Rage in reference to the ad displayed on the first page of the Sports Section the entire Rage season. Not so! Scott Wilson informed me first hand “We black list no one, and we appreciate the coverage given to us by the First Capitol News.” The Rage have gone out of their way to make Bob Barton and myself feel very welcome. Add to that list head coach Mike Wyatt, who has made himself available for interviews whenever asked. My contact person 99.9% of the time is Morris Groves, a transplant from Canada and Lindenwood University graduate. No, the Rage are a quality act, from top to bottom. Their owners are what I call “football guys.” Football guys understand and respect other football guys.

Will the Missouri River Otters return next season? I don’t know. As of press time the Otters have yet to return my phone calls. This is not to say they are avoiding me; in terms of journalism I am about as far down on the food chain as you can get. I did contact Dan Silver, the “voice” of the Otters on KSLQ radio. Dan was asked to comment on Launer’s concern – he said he was not the person to ask. He also told me Mike Shanahan was a very hard person to reach. I understand. He referred me to the team’s general manager, who has yet to return my calls. If I were a season ticket holder, I think I would try to contact the team directly and ask them.

Parking at the Family Arena – I agree 100%. The last thing I want to do is anger those at the Family Arena. Jamie Newell, director of public relations, has been nothing but great to Barton and I. No matter what the event, she insures we have full access passes. If Launer is surprised at the friendly reception by the Rage, imagine my surprise at the reception from the Family Arena. Considering our County Executive personally approves all of whom perform – let’s just say I was, and remain respectful with those at the Family Arena I have come in contact with. Parking does seem to be a deterrent to many. I remember last year when the Lewis and Clark celebration was held at Frontier Park and they advertised and ran “free shuttles” from different places around town. I’ll never forget how surprised I was that I had to pay to park. “The shuttle is free, but you must pay to park,” is how it was explained to me. As luck would have it I ran in to at least two people who parked at Duchesne High School to take their “free shuttle.” At Duchesne, not only was the shuttle free, so was the parking. I think, and this is just me thinking out loud, they need to make the bottom line more impressive than it really is – and they do this by charging $5 for parking. Yeah, I bet Shanahan and Wilson wish they would drop the fee – its as if the County is charging a $5 tax for tickets. Of course since this County is run by those who think “tax” is a four letter word, they simply do some creative financing. Whomever it is in charge had better wake up, and wake up fast! If the Otters and Rage leave the Family Arena, it might just become more than a symbolic “white elephant” of those in charge. While attending the Rage playoff game at the Savvis Center, I heard more than one person say “this isn’t as much of a ‘courtesy’ as it is a ‘courting.’” I cannot help but think the same was being said when the Otters played their “home” playoff game some 20 miles from the Family Arena.

If I may, back to Bob Barton for a second. Bob and I have known each other for over 28 years, although most of it in a previous life, or rather life-style. Bob and I hung out together on a regular basis in the late 70’s. Time and careers separated us, but the FCN reunited us. Strangely enough, both Bob and I turned very much into family men – which is not what we were in our previous life. Enough said about the past. Bob and I both have acted upon our dreams; mine is to write, Bob’s is to capture life on film. One of my favorite motivational sayings I tell my children, students and athletes goes something like this: “Success comes to those who dare to act upon their dreams.” Bob likes to tell the story of how he finished high school in record time – or something along those lines. Maybe it was just how short his high school career lasted – a semester or two. I mention this because Bob’s current position has something to do with engineering, civil engineering at that. Bob doesn’t have a civil engineering degree, but he does have an Associate Degree in some sort of engineering. Presently he has something to do with the Metro Link extension – A job he seems to love as much as photography. Being the quick thinking individual that he is, Bob decided to combine two of his passions – construction and photography. It seems there is a national monthly publication entitled “Urban Construction,” and this monthly periodical has purchased a pack of Bob’s pictures of the Metro Link construction. Congratulations to Bob Barton, who now is a nationally published photographer. He will be the first to admit though, nothing can top working with yours’ truly. Good job Bob.

Otters are Staying in St. Charles “Mike Shanahan is dedicated to bringing minor league hockey to the Family Arena, no matter what happens down the r

By: Mike McMurran Sports Editor

Responding to a letter received from First Capitol News reader Louis J. Launer, in an exclusive interview with Missouri River Otters General Manager Frank Buonomo, FCN has learned not only are the Otters staying in St. Charles, they have plans for expansion and growth. “These plans were in motion long before the Blues situation presented itself,” said Buonomo in a phone interview. “Mike Shanahan is committed to the Missouri River Otters. And anyone who knows anything about Mike Shanahan knows he is a man of his word. We have a signed contract to play the 2005-2006 season in the Family Arena, and we will proudly honor that contract,” he said.

More importantly the First Capitol News has learned that the Otters are, and have been for some time, negotiating with “four or so” National Hockey League and American Hockey League franchises. If successful in their negotiations, the Otters would become a minor league affiliate for one of the teams they are talking with. “In a perfect world, should Mike become owner of the Blues, and believe me, that is a long, long way down a long, long road, the Missouri River Otters could become a farm club for the Blues.” This means players would move up and down the franchise ladder, depending upon injuries and team needs. Much like the Cardinals rely upon their minor league team in Memphis to fill gaps when presented, very soon, “hopefully even next season,” shares Buonomo, the River Otters will be in just such a position. “There are different levels of minor league play,” Buonomo says, “and the chances of the Otters becoming a top level minor league team right off the bat are unlikely. At the same time, that is the direction in which we are heading.” So for those season ticket holders who are having second thoughts about renewing their orders, worry not. If anything they might wish to hurry and secure the same tickets they had last season.

Family Arena to host United Hockey League All-Star Game

Family Arena to host United Hockey League All-Star Game
River Otters release 2005-2006 schedule

By: Mike McMurran
Sports Editor

The United Hockey League announced recently that the Missouri River Otters will host the 2006 UHL All-Star Classic, set for Wednesday, January 25 at the Family Arena.

The league also released the entire 76-game schedule for the 2005-06 Season, which starts for the River Otters Friday, October 21 when the Motor City Mechanics come to St. Charles.

The River Otters, who will battle in the Western Division, home games are scheduled for one of five days; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Of those days, the Otters play the most home match-ups on Friday, with thirteen games scheduled for that day. There are eleven games on the docket for Saturday, seven on Wednesday, six on Sunday, and one set for a Tuesday face-off.

The busiest month for the Otters will be March, as they are scheduled to play fifteen games. November is the second most frenzied month for the team, with fourteen contests, followed by January and February with twelve apiece, December with eleven, April with seven, and October, with five.

Individual and season ticket information is available at 636.896.4200.

Pingel and Blue Represent Rage at NIFL All-Star Game

Pingel and Blue Represent Rage at NIFL All-Star Game
Wide receiver Scott Pingel travels to third consecutive classic appearance
By: Mike McMurran
Sports Editor
Two Rage players will represent the team at the NIFL All-Star game to be played in Odessa, Texas the weekend of August 5-6th, 2005. Rage wide receiver Scott Pingel will be making his third straight All-Star appearance and entering the game with some impressive statistics for the year. Pingel finished 8th in scoring with 23 touchdowns, 14 XT-pts, good for 152 points over 14 games. A league leader in receptions, he hauled in 88 passes for 863 yards, an average of 61.6 yards per game.
On the defensive side, Big number 99, defensive end Bruce Blue ends his rookie season for the Rage with trip to the elite post-season contest. Blue wound up fourth on the NIFL list for Tackles for Loss with 16, and was a league leader with 37 unassisted and 43 assisted tackles on the year, good for 58.5 lost yards for the opposing team. Bruce was the Rage team leader in sacks, totalling 11 for 2005.
And for guiding his team to the best record in the Atlantic Conference, Rage Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt has been tabbed as a co-head football coach for the All-Star team. He will handle the sideline duties with Everett Hawks head coach Dan Maciejczak, whose team went undefeated in the 2005 regular season. Wyatt, the Atlantic Division Coach of the Year in 2004, says the selection is an honor and a good opportunity to “meet and get to know some of the other high caliber players from other teams, and see what makes them tick.”