Saturday, October 22, 2005

FIRST CAPITOL NEWS Front Page October 22, 2005

Apparent Election Fraud Uncovered Against Group Seeking Recall Of Councilwoman Greer



By Phyllis Schaltenbrand


According to City Council President Rory Riddler, there appears to be significant problems with petitions turned in by a recall committee against Councilwoman Dottie Greer, including identical handwriting on different signatures and petitions that appear to have been circulated by persons other than those attesting that they did so.

These problems were brought to the attention of the City Clerk by City Council President Rory Riddler. So far, the Citizen Empowerment Committee has spent $36,000 on the effort to try to recall Councilmembers, more than was spent in any Council race during the regular election.

Council President Riddler says he was visiting with City Clerk Marilyn McCoy on other City issues, when he noticed and asked to look at a copy of the petitions on her desk. “I was struck right away by how many signatures appear to be identical. I asked for a copy to study and within an hour had identified dozens of what appear to be falsified signatures,” explained Riddler.
“I brought my concerns to the attention of
the City Clerk and asked that she contact the County Clerk to ask that each signature be verified against the signature on that individual voter’s registration card. I heard back from her today that the County Clerk’s Office would be doing that as they had already noticed some of the same discrepancies.”

The Citizen Empowerment Committee, headed by Linda Meyer, turned in petitions this week purporting to bear the signatures of 951 registered voters in the 7th Ward. 740 valid signatures are required to put the issue of recall before the voters. Meyer is also leading efforts to recall Councilman Mark Brown in the 3rd Ward, even though she doesn’t live in that ward.
Riddler also found an even more troubling problem with the petitions turned in. “I noticed that several of the packets that were stapled together had incomplete sheets. At the top of these sheets were different names. On some packets, the names on top matched the name of the person swearing they had circulated the petitions and witnessed each signature themselves. But on others there were several different names bundled together and Linda Meyer attesting and swearing that she personally had collected those signatures,” explained Riddler.
“It appears that she did not and that she filed a false affidavit with the City and Election Authority to have done so. I believe any potential fraud should be investigated thoroughly and those signatures thrown out.”

Riddler speculates that many of the problems with the petitions are the result of the Citizen Empowerment Committee paying $5 per signature to workers from outside of the area. On some of the petitions turned in the amount of money paid for them is written right on the bottom of the sheets.

Records show that the majority of signatures collected were by workers who don’t even live in the city of St. Charles. The list of workers includes addresses in Cahokia and Belleville Illinois, Wright City, the City of St. Louis, Ferguson, Florissant, Kirkwood, St. Peters and Rolla. Almost no one from Ward 7 other than Linda Meyer collected signatures or circulated petitions. “When you have to pay workers and can’t even hire citizens from your own City, it shows how little popular support there is for this group and their efforts,” observed Riddler.


SEE DOCUMENTS PAGE 16

Page 16 Documents

Mayor Caught - Taxpayers Out $15,475

By Tony Brockmeyer

Early editions of the First Capitol News were placed in the St. Charles City Hall on Thursday, October 6th. The First Capitol News reported that three different fictitious names, using the same federal tax ID number were paid over $15,475. The investigation showed documents where the City signed a contract with Sarah Collins and Associates and made a series of three payments to Lafayette Partnership and the tax ID number traced back to the Glennon Company. All three companies were owned by Glennon Jamboretz. The First Capitol News Investigation showed the money was paid out for paper when in fact the contract that the payments went for said for layout and design work for a State of the City report.
The purchase order for these same payments reads, Paper Newsprint for State of the City Report.

The FCN questioned how you could have a contract with Sarah Collins and Associates for layout and design and the check was written to Lafayette Partnership for paper and the money went to Glennon Jamboretz. In the real world this is often times referred to as money laundering.

The First Capitol News also questioned the fact that the City made a payment to Lafayette Partnership for $2300 on February 15th and the Lafayette Partnership registered under a fictitious name with the State of Missouri on February 1st. We also pointed out this is the same time a mailing to recall Councilwoman Dottie Greer was mailed in Ward 7. Councilman Mark Brown, who owns a printing company, told the First Capitol News the cost of this mailing to recall Dottie Greer would have been around the same amount, $2300. At the time we went to press this was all the information our investigation was able to uncover.

After the First Capitol News was placed in the City Hall wheels began to spin. Councilman Riddler, after reading our paper marched straight to the clerk’s office and demanded to see the invoices, check register and all documents and contracts pertaining to these purchases. Council President Riddler stated he was concerned that the City was capable of signing a contract for one company, paying another and yet have the money go to a totally different company. He questioned how the City Administrator, the Finance Director, City Attorney were unable to detect the series of financial irregularities contained in the documents we printed in our October 8th edition. Council President Riddler then and there requested to see the work product the City received for the $15,475. City Administrator Williams told the Council President he would have him the work product no later than Friday, October 7th. At the end of the day on Friday, Council President Riddler did not receive the work product and was unable to make contact with the City Administrator throughout the entire weekend. On Monday Riddler called City Hall and requested to speak with the City Administrator and was told the City Administrator had too much work to do and was not coming into the office but was staying at home so he could get his work done. Also on Monday Councilmen Brown and Gieseke said they read the FCN and they also made several attempts to contact Williams to no avail. On Tuesday, October 11th the Council held a special meeting along with their regular work session. Included on the agenda for the special Council meeting was bill #8720, an ordinance amending certain revenues, expenditures and fund balance accounts for the budget fiscal year 2005, commonly referred to as budget amendment Number 9. Included in this amendment was a series of transfers of funds and new appropriations for several items including one item which was the funding of the Pearl Ridge Estates flooding project. This project drew the most attention in the budget amendment and was a topic of discussion in every news media including the FCN in the City. Also included in this budget amendment was $15,000 additional funds to be allocated to the same paper account in which the alledged money laundering occurred.

This drew a series of heated questions to Mayor York. Councilman Gieseke challenged her on why she failed to produce any work product pertaining to the State of the City Report for which the $15,475 was paid. Councilman Gieseke went on to question her on why she not only paid for a product that was never received but why she paid the same person who was renting and receiving a business license from her rental property located at 338 South Main St. He questioned the fact that this same person, Glennon Jamboretz was responsible for the recall efforts against two of the current Council members, Councilwoman Greer and Councilman Brown. He also noted Glennon Jamboretz, who owns the public relations company, Glennon Company, represented Sgt. Thomas Mayer when he filed his $104 million lawsuit against the City a year ago.

Councilman Joe Koester chimed in stating he felt this violated the public's trust, having the Mayor give $15,475 to a company who has represented and worked in conjunction with attempting to rob the taxpayers of $104 million with a lawsuit he described as frivolous. He chastised the Mayor for doing business with a company in which they were attempting to do a recall on Council members and the payments were consistent with the payments that would have been paid for printing against the two Council members.

The Mayor told the Council she had received a work product and that it was on a disk and that each member of the Council could have a copy of it the following day. She stated that the $15,475 was used to prepare a State of the City Report and she said it was finished with the minor exceptions that she had two pages still to write, the City Administrator had a page, the Park Department had a page and the City Council still had a page to write. She estimated the report would be between 12 and 20 pages depending on how many pictures they were going to place in it.

Councilman Koester continued to question why she didn’t know how many pages it was going to be if the product was done. The Mayor responded by saying, “it depended on how many pictures we have and how long each of us use when we do our own statements.” Councilman Koester asked, :What size is the report layed out to be?’ The Mayor stated, “It is not layed out yet.” The Mayor then said on three separate occasions, “We are going to layout and design this report in house.”

On Wednesday, several Councilmen were contacted by the FCN after the meeting and asked why the City would be doing the layout and design work when under the contract the City made a $15,475 payment and the stated purpose was for layout and design to be done by Sarah Collins & Associates. We also asked the Council members if they received the disk containing the ten pages of typed information which the Mayor said she was going to give them. They said they had not received the disk and they were trying to get a copy.

On Friday, a frustrated Councilman Gieseke, filed a Freedom of Information request under the Sunshine law mandating the Mayor produce any work product pertaining to the contract and payments to any of the three fictitious names used by Glennon Jamboretz. As of Tuesday, October 18th 7PM Council meeting, Councilman Gieseke nor any other Councilman received any work product.

This led to more than an hour of heated questions in which the Mayor unsuccessfully attempted to justify her actions. The Mayor stated that she put on each Councilman’s desk over 400 sheets of paper which contained reports and that was the work product she had. Councilman Gieseke quickly challenged the Mayor stating, “Mayor these reports were all prepared by staff. None of this is work done by any of the three fictitious companies to which we paid $15,475 to.” The First Capitol News obtained a copy of the reports which were given to the Council members. The papers given to the Council by the Mayor were just copies of year end reports that have been given to the Council by Department heads over the past several years. Several Council members went into in depth questioning asking how the Mayor could funnel $15,475 to fictitious companies and the City Administrator did not do anything to protect the taxpayers money.

The City Administrator said, “I have done everything I can. I have requested a copy of the work product and I have not received it either. If this was one of my department heads I could make them produce it or I could fire them. However, I cannot require any elected official to produce a document.” Councilman Koester asked Williams why he signed off on the payment when he had not received the work product? Williams said, “I asked if the work product was in hand and I was told by the Mayor it was. If I was lied to there is nothing I can do about it.” Williams indicated he trusted the Mayor when she gave him her word.

The FCN had provided Councilmen with additional information pertaining to financial disclosure reports filed by Citizens Empowerment Committee and St. Charles Citizens for Responsible Government that we had discovered during our investigation. Councilman Brown pointed out the reports disclosed all payments made by the City, which totaled $15,475, were consistent with the payments made in the efforts to recall him and that were reported in the disclosure report. Brown stated, “It was so obvious, the last check written by the City was for $13,175 and the campaign disclosure report for that period revealed the committee showed receipts of $13,185.

Councilman Brown also pointed out the St. Charles Citizens for Responsible Government was headed by Glennon Jamboretz and Ken Kielty. Brown said, “I am disgusted to see there was an attempt to launder money through these committee also and the St. Charles Citizens for Responsible Government, headed by Glennon Jamboretz was making payments to the Citizens Empowerment Committee who in turn were paying Glennon Jamboretz to run the recall campaigns.

The First Capitol News will continue the investigation of this matter which may ultimately lead to criminal implications. We will disclose additional information in our next issue if the proper authorities give us permission.

RAMBLING WITH THE EDITOR - Tony Brockmeyer

THE MAYOR, WHO SHE REALLY IS

There has been recent talk of term limits and changing the way City government is run. Usually when you have talk of term limits its because those who want power can’t win an election.

Lets look at St. Charles over the past 5 years. When this paper first started we interviewed all the newly elected officials. Eight of ten of the City Council members were political newcomers. Richard Baum and Rory Riddler were the two who won re-election. In my opinion the ballot box limits the terms of politicians. In the last election, six of ten were new to public office. The only person that would be affected by term limits is Councilman President Rory Riddler. The residents of Ward 1 have voted him into office for over 25 years. If the voters in his Ward want term limits they can use the ballot box like everyone else.

In doing this editorial I began to look at the one constant in the City over the past six years. The majority of the council has turned over twice and we have had four City Administrators. The one thing that hasn’t turned over is the Mayors position.

The CEO of the City has presided over what I would say is one of the most dysfunctional times in St. Charles history. Many like to blame the City Council and the City Administrator but is that blame being placed on the right people? It would appear to me that somebody in the position of CEO can’t work and play well with others.

York has served with three councils all of which had a hard time moving things forward. The Spellmann curve was the beginning of the Mayor not being able to gain consensus and create a positive image for the City. Instead, she allowed infighting and backbiting among the Council members. She still has not shown any leadership.

The next Council experienced the Mayor’s inability to lead with the Cavendish Square controversy and the convention center. Both of these items divided and created an atmosphere of distrust.

This council has experienced York with the Chief of Police issue, Thomas Mayer and Pearl Ridge. York stands in the way of many things, takes credit for everything, and gets away with it. In the 90’s they called Gotti the Teflon Don in St. Charles we have the Teflon Mayor.

From the unethical sale of the old police headquarters, signing illegally the Express Scripts contract to the payment of Glennon Jamboretz and his fictitious companies for his political efforts to oust her political foes, York seems to walk away from the fights without a scratch.

York has continually placed her own selfish interest above that of the average resident. The question of whether or not York used public tax dollars to run a recall effort against Councilman Mark Brown and Councilwoman Dottie Greer doesn’t differ from her running the campaign for the Convention Center using public tax dollars.

York is self-serving. Self-serving is not what you want in a public servant. Some call things contradictions others call them lies. You be the judge. I am hopeful that the residents start to see York for the person she really is.
ttt

THE CITY DESK - City Council President Rory Riddler



Belated State Audit Useful...
If Awakening From A Coma

It’s hard to get excited about news that arrives a year late about events that took place two and three years ago. Citizens who started a petition drive in 2002, finally have a State Audit of the City of St. Charles for the year 2003. It’s belated arrival is about as useful as learning Boston won the World Series last year.

That could be one reason State Auditor Claire McCaskill ended up speaking to a nearly empty room to present the audit findings. Another reason for poor attendance could be that her staff had booked the meeting on the same night as a Cardinal’s playoff game. That’s what we get having the State Capitol in the middle of the State...too many Kansas City Royals fans.

The State Auditor did her best to spice up the show. Borrowing a page from Dr. Phil, she even tried her hand at “marriage” counseling between the Council and Mayor, urging everyone to try to get along.

State Audits rarely turn out to be what the petitioners expect. Unlike television’s CSI, which can convict someone on the evidence of a hair follicle ten years after the crime, State Audits rarely end up putting someone in jail. Those who signed petitions demanding a State Audit, and expecting it to uncover some nefarious criminal activity, were probably disappointed. More disappointing must be the lack of any mention (pro or con) of issues the petitioners committee tried to raise with the Auditor’s Office in the first place.

Here was one of the more (yawn) dramatic findings. The City sold the old Police Station without advertising it widely enough and probably for less than we could have gotten. An obvious straw party then flipped the building to others who probably made a tidy profit.

The City Administrator at the time, who recommended the sale, is gone. Half the current members of the Council weren’t on at that time. Most of those who voted for the sale are gone. In fact, the transaction was a factor in the defeat of former Councilman Richard Baum, when it was raised by Councilman Jerry Reese in his campaign back in April of 2003. Two of the five returning Councilmembers, including myself and John Gieseke voted against the sale at the time. As a result of that sale, I sponsored and the Council passed an ordinance over a year ago to keep straw parties from doing what happened on the old Police building.

All of this is very old news to everyone but the employees of the State Auditor’s Office. I hate having to be so hypercritical of the Auditor. Claire McCaskill is a very smart woman who is running for the United States Senate. But she was ill served by her staff in the conduct of this audit and needs to make some major operational changes.

If State Laws or local ordinances are broken or money is missing then say so. If no laws are broken and no money is missing then have the decency to say that. The personal opinions of the State Auditor’s Office are just that...personal opinions. The Auditor’s Office also needs to conduct and present its reviews in a timely manner. When it goes beyond six months the Auditor should roll up her sleeves and work side by side with her staff to see what the hold up is.

One of the criticisms by the State Auditor was that beer was served as a beverage to a rather large delegation of Germans from our Sister City of Ludwigsburg back in 2003. For the record, I don’t drink beer, but I have it on good authority that many Germans do.

In the movie Casablanca there’s a scene where the French head of the local Viche Police is ordered to shut down Rick’s nightclub and casino. When challenged as to why he is ordering the place closed, pocketing his own winnings, he says something to the effect of, “I’m shocked, shocked to learn that gambling is going on here.”

It was hard for the State Auditor to keep a straight face while saying how “shocked” she was to learn that beer was served to a German delegation at a dinner reception. Given the power Anheuser Busch has in the Missouri General Assembly, I was actually surprised there wasn’t a law mandating beer be served. Of course, no State Law was broken, but you can’t audit a $98 million dollar budget and tell people you didn’t find anything.

It is the same reason the State Auditor feels compelled to routinely tell communities they can’t have holiday parties at Christmas for public employees or buy flowers for the funeral of a public employee killed in the line of duty. All such non crimes will result in a stern finger wagging from Missouri’s public watchdog...ready to spring into action and respond in a matter of years.

EDITORIAL CARTOONS


THE PEOPLE SPEAK - Letters To The Editor

Dear Editor,

In the recent edition of the City Newsletter Mayor York talks about the heroes her children have to look up to in their magazines. Her attempt to make herself sound like she still has teen and pre-teen kids is just another attempt at creating the false persona she carries. York’s kids are grown, her youngest, a daughter now lives in the office that Glennon Jamboretz is supposed to occupy. I take great offense to her trying to play this motherly figure. York has done this in the past when she was accused of wrongdoing of the Express Scripts contract.

Having been a co-worker with her and her husband I can tell you that she is not the person she is trying to convince everyone she is. This paper has done a great job exposing the real truth and what she is all about. I encourage you to continue. There is a lot more to uncover.

Ozark forever

To The Editor

Though I’m not an advocate of recall in general, I do know that if the citizens of St. Charles are not happy with a duly elected official, they certainly have the right to petition for a recall vote of that official.

However, there is something wrong when people who do not live in the city, let alone a Council Ward, decide they have an interest in overturning the duly-elected Ward officials, and so they hire professional petitioners (who are being paid by the number of signatures they can obtain) to go from door to door with half-truths, innuendos, and pressure tactics until enough signatures are gathered to put the recall on the ballot. This seems to be the case in the recall petitions of both Councilpersons Greer and Brown.

According to an article in the Oct. 18th Post-Dispatch, a large sum of money was spent by Glenn Jamboretz of St. Louis Co. and T.R. Hughes of St. Charles Co. as well as a committee headed by Jamboretz and St. Charles resident Ken Kielty who, though a St. Charles resident, lives in neither Greer’s nor Brown’s Ward. Ward voters might wonder why out-of-towners and people who do not even live in their Wards should have more of an interest in their councilperson than the voters themselves. Are Mr. Jamboretz and Mr. Hughes planning to move to one of these Wards? What’s the motivation here for spending large sums of personal money to affect a recall for an official who will never be their representative?

You can bet that if the recall vote occurs, these Wards will start receiving expensive, colored brochures advocating the recall, they will see full-page ads in all the local papers advocating the recall, and their phones will be ringing with paid solicitors also advocating the recall. The voters of these Wards will be subject to the best negative advertising money can buy, all bought and paid for by non-residents of the targeted Wards. Perhaps the voters should start to question who is really going to benefit from these types of political shenanigans. Do we really think these out-of-towners would be spending thousands of dollars to overturn an election if there was no financial gain for them?

Eleanor McCune

An Open Letter About The Convention Center Complex

The St. Charles Convention Center and adjoining Embassy Suites Hotel has been a work in progress for the past 10 years. As a business owner in the community, I was anxious for it’s completion and was enthused with the business prospects the center would generate. I shared my enthusiasm with friend, business associates and guests of my Bed & Breakfast.

When I learned the Working Women’s Holiday show, held September 20 through October e2, 2005 was scheduled at the Convention Center I immediately reserved my place as a vendor. Please note the announcement of the show to be held at the Convention Center was nearly a year ago. I worked very diligently for many months spreading the word of the show, passing out flyers and displaying posters with local shops and stores.
On September 30th my husband and I prepared our booth and readied ourselves for the show. The following are observations made during our weekend: The Charles Convention Center and Embassy Suites Hotel are not vendor or guest friendly. The event was designed for the ease of the Convention center and did not accommodate vendors, who paid for vending space, or guests who paid to attend the event.

Guests were not permitted to enter through the front doors nor through the hotel. The guest entrance was in the back of the building and was not mentioned in any of the show’s advertisements. Guests were advised by small signs affixed n the doors to enter from the “back lower level”. The Convention Center’s lovely front exterior and parking lot were blocked off. Many people parked in the commuter parking across the street from the front facility only to learn the front entrance was locked and they were to walk quite a distance to the back of the building, an extremely difficult task for many of the show’s older guests. I personally saw many women trying to access doors only to find them locked.

On Sunday, my husband and I wanted to treat ourselves to a nice lunch at the Embassy Suites Hotel dining room. We walked to the adjoining door between the Convention center and the hotel where we were confronted by a Convention Center employee who would not allow us to enter. The guard directed us out the back of the building and around the front to enter through the hotel’s front entrance. After a weekend of vending, making the long trek around the building to reach a destination that could be seen through the doorway made our lunch plan less than inviting. We decided to skip lunch at the Embassy Suites. The security guard’s behavior was unprofessional and discourteous.

When the show was concluded, I have a very negative feeling about the Convention Center complex. Others that I spoke with, guests and vendors alike shared the negativity.

St. Charles has worked long and hard for the Convention Center complex and its success will depend on its ability to accommodate its vendors and guests. With the shoddy treatment given to the Working Women’s Holiday Show, I will not be surprised to see the business going elsewhere.

If you were involved in or attended the Working Women’s Holiday Show I would appreciate your input concerning the Convention Center complex.

Sincerely,
Rhona Lococo
Lococo House II Bed & Breakfast
1309 N. Fifth St. St. Charles, MO 63301
636-946-0619 Rhonaloc@charter.net

Editor, First Capitol News

In reading an article in Saturday’s Post-Dispatch, first I had to ask myself why Justice Thomas got himself involved in Missouri State Law in the first place, “Justice Thomas Blocks Abortion Order”? Why the state is refusing to take this young woman, an inmate in a correctional institution who is paying personally for her own access to clinical abortion as is allowed by Missouri law, saying it is too costly and time consuming to allow it with two guards back and forth to the clinic, and instead is now insisting that we, the taxpayers force her against her will to carry this child; to pay for medical care and delivery of a child while she is in prison, literally forcing her to go through 9 months of an unwanted pregnancy in a prison environment, stressful and unhealthy for carrying a baby, certainly much more expensive and more time consuming and problematic for the prison, as is stated in the P.D. article Oct. 15th, than to have her make one trip to the clinic, and then force her to go through the emotional stress of either giving the child up after birth or trying to find someone to take it? She knows she won’t be able to take care of it upon her release which will be traumatic for both mother and child. Another thing that really upset me, aside from all the remarks that I’m used to by now from our self professed Christian Governor who takes from the poor to give to the wealthy and proclaims to know what’s best for everyone rather than letting anyone make their own decisions, is the fact that it was a POST-DISPATCH reporter who contacted a St. Charles republican state Senator Chuck Gross, to “tip him off” and get a bunch of anti-abortionist protesters firmly in place outside a clinic where this young woman was to have her procedure is beyond my belief just in case she made it there before Justice Thomas stepped in and stopped it. What is the Post-Dispatch planning to do about that? What is St. Charles and it’s voters planning on doing about Senator Gross?

Sandra Vago

Dear Sirs,

i was wondering if you could check the grammar in the Mayor’s letter to Chief Mokwa? Should the word “incidence” be “incident” in this official letter? I was also wondering if your find paper could put a picture of Linda Meyers in and a biography of where she came from and what she is trying to accomplish from all the pamphlets, postcards, mailings and phone calls we citizen are getting to recall our Council persons. Is she planning on running if they get recalled/ What is her agenda?

Thank you
A concerned Citizen and Loyal reader.

Dear Editor,

Mayor, don’t worry. Be happy. You’ve got your good parishioners at Borromeo to stand behind you. Well I do not know how true that statement really is.

At least you have Henry and Father Tillman in your corner for your legal defense fund. You yourself are a Eucharistic minister as well as that Ron guy on the recall committee to recall Dottie Greet so you can get that power back.

Then you have some judges, doctors, lawyers, labor people and people like me who used to attend and many still do.But for whatever reason they are afraid to say anything about your reign as Mayor of this town unless it is a back slapping get together.

Mayor, you asked a question (Council meeting of 10/18) about if anyone thought you would do such a thing as to funnel money to Jamboretz to pay for the recall of Greer and Brown, giving the people of this City (taxpayers) the impression you would never do such a thing. Well I’m here to tell you, you and Father Tillman better get together. He could tell you that you could probably go to hell for lying. You, Henry and Father Tillman and the movers and shakers of this town seem to think the principals and or commandments of God do not belong in politics.

I would like to give you one example to show what happens when coverups occur in our town.

Back about 25 years ago on Decatur Street between 4th & 5th streets where the church sits, Msgr. Michael Owens, Pastor, and a young priest who was known as Father Duck were ministering to the parishioners of this parish.Story has it that Father Duck was doing more than his priestly duties with young men in the parish. You can imagine the rumors going on around the town as this was taking place. I know at the time Henry was very active in the parish and was on the parish council as he was a good friend of Msgr. Owens. There was also a high ranking law enforcement official who attended mass very frequently at this church and could have been a parishioner.

I’ve recently talked with the David Clohesy organization that tracks these types of priests and found out the Duck is alive and well and living in south county and has been sued numerous times by individuals he has taken advantage of. He has been defrocked and the Catholic Church has paid off on two of the suits against him and two are pending.

So you can see Mayor, people like Henry, when he says in your campaign literature that, “Patti gets things done” and then I see you do get things done that are really not good for the taxpayers of this town. We have Henry and friend Kevin , Father Tillman, TR, Jamboretz, Kielty, Baum and Watkins etc raising money for your defense, makes them look pretty silly when you insist that you would never do anything wrong. (illegal that is)

How about ethically and or morally wrong? Would you admit to that? Look at her record folks and you make the call.

Bob Breidensteiner

CASE IN POINT By Joe Koester, Councilman Ward 9



Just a few weeks have past since our guests from Ludwigsburg, Germany paid us a visit. If you watched the City Council meeting from that week you may have heard that the size of the Ludwigsburg city council is much larger than our own for a city of comparable size. We have ten members here, and Ludwigsburg has forty!

This made me think about how a larger council could impact St. Charles. I would like to consider a thirty-member council in this story. Some drawbacks of a larger council are considered first.
Obviously a thirty-member council would increase our expenses. Each council member would have a small stipend along with an expense account bringing this cost to around $360,000 — $450,000. The current chambers would not be sufficient to seat all these members so we’d have to build a new place and that could cost anywhere from $1M — $10M — $?M. If we incorporate the council chambers into our community center’s design, we may be able to get away with a lesser amount for chambers at, maybe, $3million.

Council members attending conferences and professional events would rise from current costs to, let’s say, around $30,000. There are certainly other residuals that would drive up the cost per councilman, so let’s add another $100,000 to be on the safe side.

Next, everyone knows that with thirty members comes thirty opinions (at least) and thirty sets of interests and this could make debate much longer — if the length of the meeting were 200% longer, we would have to meet twice a week, starting at 5:00 PM to get through the agenda.

On the other side of the coin, a thirty-member council might be too many council members for any one person to try and unduly influence. Certainly, the dynamics of the Council would change from month to month because members would have more places to turn to seek support.
In addition to greater fluidity in alliances and sides there would be far more members of council to take on individualistic tasks, committees, studies, etc. Each member could limit the committees he or she serves on to three.

Another benefit to a thirty-member council would be the possibility of two forms of representation within one body. Here’s how I think this could work: Each ward of the City still elects its own council representative so that we retain a ward system (practical because residents can contact one member rather than all ten with concerns they have and because each member can keep better watch of the area around his or her home). The ward council members currently equals ten. Then, ten more members would be elected at-large during even years and ten members on odd years. The council members serving the wards would serve three-year terms while the at-large council members would serve two-year terms. For the sake of simplicity, let us use as our base year, 2010. In this year the three-year ward council members would be elected. In 2011 the first round of ten at-large members would be elected. In 2012, the second round of ten at-large members would be elected. The council is now complete with thirty members.

In 2013, the entire body of ward representatives and those at-large elected members from 2011 would share an election date. Then, the next time the ward representatives were up for election would be in 2014 along with the second group of at-large members or the “even-year” at-large council members.

Cyclical elections would help citizens to have constant input and provide continuity at City Hall at the same time. This ability for some wild cards to get elected would provide for greater scrutiny of operations at City Hall.
The larger body would help protect against developers from as easily buying up council members to obtain a majority vote. Currently, six council members are rather easily persuaded with a few dollars and a few invitations to some swanky occasions as was recently made clear by council members voting against the interests of their City in favor of a few “movers and shakers.”

Council elections would be held every year providing constant voter input! Now, if you think that the American electoral system can be convoluted, you should talk to someone from Germany and make sure to ask about first vote versus second vote! As a safeguard, a simple equation could be put into place that would prevent any one ward from having more than, let’s say, 5 at-large members elected during any one election year. Now, to be sure, any one ward could generate eleven council members, however, this still wouldn’t give them the necessary 16 votes needed to siphon off all tax dollars to one ward and the at-large members are elected to represent the City in its entirety! Voters would have to be watchful, but I think that more input rather than less by the voters would help create greater interest rather than diminish it.

Now we have taken a real step towards a participatory electorate fully engaged every year in the most basic level of government. Later, maybe we can talk about publicly financed elections, and our general elections becoming public holidays replacing Presidents’ Day. Hey, cleaner government is expensive, but consider the far greater cost of bad government!

On another note, a real question regarding the integrity of our elections has been brought before the Election Authority in St. Charles County. The problem is that all of the current options for vote tabulation depend on computers that can be hacked, manipulated, are difficult to audit and even impossible to recount with any degree of certainty.

We should all encourage our county council to research a system that can be checked against a paper trail. They can start by looking at a site called, BlackBoxVoting.org. Anyone in our land who considers him or herself a patriot should invest a little time researching the scandals that have already come to be due to touchscreen voting. With so much attention abroad, we need to remember that there are many serious battles here on the homefront that must be fought in order to keep our land free from being purchased wholesale by the highest bidders!

CONSERVATIVE FACTOR Alex Spencer

It’s October. The air is cool, the leaves are crisp, and the children are looking forward to Halloween. With luck, we can all enjoy hayrides, carving pumpkins, spooky ghost stories, and the thrills of a local haunted house.

But this week, a truly scary story appeared in the press about the ownership of the new haunted house in St. Peters —The House of Terror. Reportedly, this enterprise is owned by a motley crew that includes St. Peters Mayor Shawn Brown. Sit back dear readers and listen to the story of Shawn’s Haunted House of Fraud…

Not so long ago, on a dark and creepy night, Shawn Brown and his partners decided to cash in on the innocence of Halloween. This unholy trio decided to use an empty building in St. Peters to create a haunted house. Shawn, in appropriately Halloween deviousness, decided that he should be the silent, “ghostly” partner. How nice. How neat. How fraudulent.

One of Shawn’s cohorts went before the St. Peters Planning and Zoning Commission to obtain permission for the haunted house. His partner claimed that the proceeds of the haunted house would go to charity. But he neglected to mention that the business had been set up as a business for profit, not a not-for-profit. The owners, including Shawn, get to keep the money. How nice. How neat. How fraudulent.

Shawn sits on the Planning and Zoning Commission. He has a vote. But Shawn can’t legally vote on something he owns. So Shawn abstained. But he lied about why he had to abstain. He never mentioned that he owned part of the business. Instead, he said he was abstaining because the proceeds from the business would be going to two charities with which he was involved. How nice. How neat. How fraudulent.
Apparently, after the permit was secured and the House of Fraud came into being, Shawn quietly traveled about town to herald this wonderful “charitable” cause. Ever so quietly, like a ghost in a graveyard, Shawn promoted his latest business venture as Mayor without mentioning that he owned it. How nice. How neat. How fraudulent.

This past weekend, we learned that one of Shawn’s partners in the House of Fraud is a convicted thief. Because of another business deal that did not go so well, he has been ordered to pay $14,000 in restitution by December 31st. Maybe he can use the profits from the House of Fraud to cover it. How nice. How neat. How fraudulent.

We also learned that in an effort to be the “ghostly” partner of this House of Fraud, Shawn lied on a government form. When he filed the form to start his business, he used a Monroe City address. The address he used was fictitious. And according to the Secretary of State’s office, because the form was signed under penalty of perjury, lying on the form is a felony. How nice. How neat. How fraudulent.

But a clever reporter uncovered the scam. When the reporter asked Shawn why he had put a false address on the form, he said that “nobody needed to know it was the Mayor.” How nice. How neat. How fraudulent.

Shawn is trying to act like this is just a “little mistake.” After all, he has gotten away with a remarkable number of “little mistakes.” He just didn’t know any better.

Remember the “little mistake” he made when he forgot to pay his property taxes and got kicked off the ballot during his run for Mayor. Even though the St. Charles Court and the Court of Appeals said that Missouri law clearly requires you to pay your taxes to run for office, the Missouri Supreme Court forgave little Shawn and ordered him put back on the ballot. He just didn’t know any better.

Remember the “little mistake” he made during the campaign when he forgot about his outstanding arrest warrant for filing a false police report. But that was old. No reason to hold that against little Shawn. He just didn’t know any better.

Remember the “little mistake” he made in using his city office to run his re-election campaign fundraising operation. But the press quickly forgave little Shawn—it was just a paperwork thing. He just didn’t know any better.

How many “little mistakes” with the law does Shawn get to make before we all stop forgiving them as just “little mistakes?”

Perhaps our favorite ghoul, Glenn Jamboretz can spin little Shawn’s latest “little mistake.” After all, as the Great Rivers Habitat Alliance’s political spin wizard, he has saved little Shawn before. And Ghoulish Glenn knows something about setting up sham businesses to defraud taxpayers. He might be the right ogre for the job. But as this paper showed last week, he has made a few “little mistakes” with his own paperwork.

And this time, little Shawn has admitted that he made his “little mistake” because he wanted to hide that he owned the haunted house: “nobody needed to know it was the Mayor.” Prosecutors call that evidence of “intent.” (Okay, maybe I watch too much Law and Order.)
Perhaps our county prosecutor, Jack Banas, will look into this messy witches brew and seek the truth. But he recently closed an investigation against little Shawn about his business dealings with a local builder. However, our esteemed county prosecutor may be “duck” blind: he concluded that the home builder in question made no donations to Shawn’s campaign. He apparently chose to ignore that company’s big contribution to little Shawn’s illegal little PAC.

Dear readers, this Halloween please be careful in our dark political woods. And I humbly suggest that to avoid sleeplessness and nightmares, you steer clear of Shawn’s Haunted House of Fraud. Take the kiddies to the Haunted Hotel in St. Charles instead. It is open and actually run by a not-for-profit. Let Mayor Shawn “Trick or Treat” some other poor soul.

LFCS Receives Grant to Help St. Charles County Kids 

LFCS Receives Grant to Help St. Charles County Kids 
 
Social services organization to provide multimodal emotional trauma treatment to students 
 
Lutheran Family and Children’s Services of Missouri has received a $24,950 grant from the Children and Family Services Authority of St. Charles to provide individual and family counseling services to residents of St. Charles County. 
 
The grant funds LFCS’ Multimodal Emotional Trauma Treatment project, which serves children and teenagers grades kindergarten through 12. METT is available to St. Charles County children and youth who are experiencing symptoms of emotional trauma. 
 
“Children who are eligible for the METT program may have experienced several different kinds of trauma, ranging from news-making events like natural disasters, accidents or family violence to more common events like parents’ divorce or even a transfer to a new school,” said Paul Fullerton, an LFCS counselor. 
 
Different than most counseling programs, the METT program focuses solely on youth affected by trauma. The program includes counselors going into schools to obtain records, talk with faculty and observe kids in their classrooms. In addition, participants are assigned an individual therapist who will work with the student and their family during their involvement in the METT program. LFCS welcomes referrals from pediatricians, public and private school counselors and other 
professionals. Parents or guardians should call to initiate services. 
 
LFCS has three counselors dedicated to the METT program in St. Charles and has already received a number of referrals. The St. Charles LFCS counseling office is located in the Old Parish House at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 2800 Elm St. The phone number is 636/949-5522. 
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THE NEW TOWN AT ST. CHARLES HOSTS A LOCAL AUTHOR BOOK SIGNING

THE NEW TOWN AT ST. CHARLES HOSTS A LOCAL AUTHOR BOOK SIGNING

Three well-known local authors will be at The New Town at St. Charles on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 1 – 3 p.m., signing books and answering questions on how to write your own book and the process it entails. The book signing will take place in front of Main Street News and The Coffee Cottage near the outdoor amphitheater.

One of the authors in attendance, Laura Bradford, recently published her debut novel, Jury of One, a murder mystery that takes place in a small beachside town of Ocean Point, New Jersey. While the book has received national acclaim and Bradford has traveled the country for book signings, she is from the St. Charles County area. To find out more, visit www.laurabradford.com.

Ann Hazelwood, author of 100 Things to Do in and Around Historic St. Charles, is a local in every sense of the word. A St. Charles native, Hazelwood explores historic Main Street, the Katy Trail, local bed-and-breakfast restaurants, festivals and more in her newly published book.

Joseph Cusumano will be another author on hand at the book signing. He has published two books, Transforming Scrooge and If You Build It. According to Cusumano, Transforming Scrooge is an analysis of the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, and If You Build It centers on the timeless messages in the film Field of Dreams. Joseph Cusumano will talk about self-publishing as an option for authors.
“Whether you simply enjoy reading or writing books, are an aspiring author or are seriously considering publishing a book, this book signing will be a great event for you,” says Greg Whittaker, president of Whittaker Homes, the developer of The New Town at St. Charles. “These events play a major role in making this development a true town. New Town is becoming another great destination place in St. Charles where people can hang out and stay awhile. These free events allow people to slow down and spend quality time with their family.”

Ultimately, this $1.5 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 large 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 New Town on the right. For information, call 636-949-2700 or visit www.newtownatstcharles.com.

Main Street Gym has kicked off a fundraising campaign for Parkinson’s Disease.

Main Street Gym has kicked off a fundraising campaign for Parkinson’s Disease. Wendy Black, owner of the gym, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s several years ago and believes it is vital to educate people about the disease and raise money for the cure.

Wendy is producing a 2006 calendar using her members as models. Gym members agreed to shed their clothes to “Pose for Parkinson’s.” Gym equipment was strategically placed around the individuals to give the calendar a new twist and emphasize the importance of exercise when dealing with Parkinson’s. Exercise is the best relief of depression that follows the disease and helps alleviate the tremors. For every person diagnosed with PD, there are two morepeople who have it but have not yet been diagnosed. “Working out has helped me enormously and I want to help others get the benefits as well,” says Black. Parkinson’s Disease affects people in different ways but occurs evenly across all occupational and socioeconomic groups.

Through personal training, the gym offers workout programs for people with the disease. Wendy also gives of her time to counsel and work with individuals who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s as well as Multiple Sclerosis.

Wendy has operated a business in St. Charles since 1980. She was only 21 years old when she and her husband, chris, opened Cafe Beignet on South Main. Chris went on to start his computer business and Wendy ran the Cafe. It very quickly became one of the hot spots in St. Charles because of the personal service Wendy so easily gives her customers. She is extremely hard working, honest and has a great sense of humor she loves to share with those around her.

Wendy started working out shortly after opening the Cafe because she needed the stress relief of the hectic restaurant business. After 18 years, Wendy sold the restaurant and her her certification for personal training and opened Main Street Gym on North Main.

One year after opening the gym, she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. It was a blow to her and Chris, especially because of how active she is and how dedicated she has been to working out and eating healthy. They didn’t know what Parkinson’s was and learned it is a deficiency in the brain in the production of dopamine.

Ironically, working out regularly is the best thing anyone with PD can due to help the symptoms. Depression is very common among people with PD, but Wendy’s determination and uplifting attitude towards life in general has come out even stronger.

She has worked with clients that have Parkinson’s and M.S. and is encouraging everyone that weight training needs to be incorporated in their daily lives, no matter how old! The benefits definitely outweigh the monetary output.

Wendy preaches one less soda a day or one less trip to the store for stuff you really don’t need, and there is your gym payment for the whole month.

wendy’s strong desire to help find a cure for PD has prompted her to make a calendar of Main Street Gym with the proceeds from the calendar going to AAPDA. She used real members of the gym and they are celebrating their bodies by giving up their clothes to raise money for Parkinson’s.

Wendy’s Main Street Gym has a goal to raise $5,000 by the end of this year. For additional information about the fundraising campaign or calendar sales, stop by Main Street Gym, 334 N. Main Street or call 636-946-4100. Calendar orders are now being accepted. Proceeds will be donated to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association.

Carmel/Pecan Apple Time At J.Noto’s 336 South Main



Pictured above is Jasper Noto and his daughter Kendall of J. Noto’s Fine Italian Confections at 336 South Main Street in Historic Downtown St. Charles.They are very proud of their Carmel Apples at J. Noto’s. “We only use Granny Smith Apples,” said Jasper. “They are a hard apple and they work well when dipped in hot Carmel. Golden Delicious will turn brown if dipped. They can’t handle the heat. The Granny Smith is a tart apple and it tastes good with the contrast of the sweet Carmel.” Jasper says that you can also use Winesap and Jonathon apples.

At J. Noto’s you can buy a Carmel Apple for $3.50 and a Carmel/Pecan Apple for $3.75. J.Noto specializes in Carmel Pecan Apples dipped in Chocolate. They are $6.50 each. J. Noto’s has the apples available thru Christmas. According to Jasper, Niemann Marcus charges $27 for their Carmel Apples. First Capitol News Photo by Tony Brockmeyer

Foundry Art Centre Presents Three Exhibits For Holiday Season

Foundry Art Centre Presents Three Exhibits For Holiday Season

The Foundry Art Centre in Historic St. Charles will present three exhibits over the holiday season, from November 11 to January 6, 2006, including the nationally acclaimed “Norman Rockwell’s Family Life Series,” the annual “Paperwork In, On and of Paper II,” and the “Collaborative of 13” exhibits. The opening reception for these exhibits is Friday, November 11 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Norman Rockwell’s Family Life Series
“Norman Rockwell’s Family Life Series,” curated by the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, is part of a series of traveling exhibitions. This exhibit includes 80 framed prints that offer poignant reflections on American family life, from youth to old age, as portrayed by Rockwell during the mid-20th century.

The works in the collection originally were commissioned in the 1950s and 1960s by the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company for its national advertising campaign. These popular images appeared in such leading publications as The Saturday Evening Post, Time and Newsweek, with advertising copy that inspired readers to consider purchasing life insurance. Many of Rockwell’s Stockbridge neighbors, as well as the artist himself, appeared as models in the series.

“This exhibit exemplifies the impact Rockwell has had on art, society and popular culture,” said Laurie Norton Moffatt, director of the Norman Rockwell Museum. “The general public has an abiding affection for Norman Rockwell. His paintings continue to touch people in a way that transcends age and culture.”

Norman Rockwell’s Family Life Series is one of the largest collections of advertising images created by this American icon for any single company. The Foundry Art Centre will showcase some of the artist’s most famous black-and-white illustrations such as “Lemonade Stand,” “Welcome Mat” and “Family with Pups.”

PaperWork In, On and of Paper II and Collaborative of 13
“PaperWork In, On and of Paper II” will be on display in Gallery I and II and will feature any work in any media that utilizes paper as an integral component of expression.

The Ameristar Gallery will feature the “Collaborative of 13” exhibit, a collection of artwork created by a group of award-winning women artists with the common goal of raising funds for St. Louis arts organizations by selling a series of original collaborative pieces. The 13 artists chose the medium of collage as the most universal and flexible for the exhibit.

The Foundry Art Centre is a fine arts gallery overlooking the Missouri River at 520 North Main Center, in the Frenchtown district of Historic St. Charles. The Foundry features a Smithsonian-caliber art gallery hosting juried exhibitions plus 20 working artist studios where visitors can watch the creative process and buy art directly from the artists. This nonprofit organization also provides community meeting rooms, event space and a children’s art gallery. Hours are Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., Wednesdays from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 4 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. For more information, call (636) 255-0270 or visit www.foundryartcentre.org.

A Little Bit of History by Clara Scott



A Little Bit of History

By Clara E. Scott


The story this week will be on the Benjamin L. Emmons Home located at 1201 North Fifth Street in St. Charles.

The home is situated on one of the highest of “the little hills” and provides a glorious view of the Missouri River. Emmons Abstract No. 352 shows that in 1831, the property consisted of four acres. June 1 of that year, Augustus Dorlac was granted a 999-year lease of $70.00 per year to farm the four-acre property. By August 20, 1838, the land had increased in value to $176.00 when Basille Pallardee and his wife, Annie purchased the tract. They erected a one-story, four-room house with three fireplaces here. The house had a glass front door with sidelights of beautiful red, blue, and green Siegel glass.

In the early 1900’s, the property was subdivided and Ben L. Emmons, the noted local historian, acquired the home and a lot measuring 98 x 170 for a consideration of $1,800. Emmons added a front porch, side entrance, and four rooms in 1902. Interior walls that were 13 inches thick reportedly impeded remodeling. A Grand Hall measuring 6’ x 30’ runs through the main floor. Original small glass windows remain. Since 1960, the Henry Jadrich family has resided there.

Note: Henry Jadrich is a past president of the St. Charles County Historical Society.

(Information on this article obtained from McElhiney’s Guidebook to Historic St. Charles, Missouri, dated 1992, with the permission of the author, Richard G. Sperandio, grandson of Edna McElhiney Olson).

MY COLUMN - Mike McMurran Sports Editor

In typical Mike McMurran fashion I must start this week’s column with an apology, an apology to the two most recent high school athletes of the week. First there is St. Charles High offensive lineman Bobby Goebel, then there is St. Charles West soccer player Scott Naumann; Goebel I interviewed at Lindenwood University and Naumann at Trinity Catholic. In an attempt to save Bob Barton from driving all around town to take pictures, yours truly tried to take them – neither one turned out. I am known for making mistakes, well known at that. I think I am equally well known for not making the same mistake twice. This translates into that from now on I will rely on the professionalism of Barton for photography.

While I am at it, in this week’s edition you will find some Barton photos of the Gateway Athletic Conference – North Division cross-country meet. As promised we covered the event with Barton, however, trying to get the results of the meet is not so easy. I have personally left messages with at least one cross country coach and one high school a.d. asking for the results so that they might be published – I have yet to receive a reply. In defense of the a.d., who shall remain nameless, he has been nothing less than unbelievably supportive in the past – maybe, just maybe, it is just the nature of the beast that cross country is not given much attention. Maybe we will have better luck at the district meet.

How about something positive now? I was going to write about some terrible service I received at a local business – rude and as apathetic as possible, when my lovely wife suggested, “why not focus on the positive in life, if you must write about service, write something positive.” As usual, I will do as she suggests.

Columbus Day, me and my three kids, Tammy, Eric and Elizabeth Francis, Anne and Sean Coogan and Jane, Jack and Hannah Pruess decided to ride the Katy Trail. In the course of less than two miles, my son Dee’s chain came off his bike no less than four times. We were in trouble. Joining us on our trek was my boyhood friend Joe Santel, who suggested Dee and I stop at The Touring Cyclist on Main Street and have the bike looked at. So we did. Frankly, we were completely at the liberty of the employees; without their services our bike trip would be cancelled. The young man on duty grabbed a tool or two and had the bike fixed in less than ten minutes. When I asked him how much I owed, he simply replied: “Go ahead man, have a fun time riding your bike with your son.” He could have milked me big time – that is, he could of charged me whatever he wanted and I would have had to pay. Nice way to establish a customer base if you ask me.

Another good experience I had recently was a week or so ago when I was “closing” my pool for the winter. I have heard horror stories from people who tell me when they “open” their pools how green, or brown, or whatever color their water is, and how they must pay hundreds of dollars just to get back to ground zero. Not me. A gentleman by the name of Denny, I have no idea of his last name, tells me exactly what to do to my pool, and I do. During our conversations he has told me how repeat customer business is what he is after, and he would never guide someone down the wrong road. Now, what he suggests is not always the least expensive road traveled, initially that is. But in the long run, the employees of S & K Pools will save you time and money. You have my word on it. Furthermore, and this is something Denny doesn’t advertise, but I have picked up on – many of his employees are graduates of alternative high schools. This means Denny is willing to go out of his way to give a kid a chance. All of his employees are knowledgeable of the products, polite, and buy into Denny’s philosophy of return customers keep us in business.

Now, for those like Don Oelklaus and Amy Almus, both whom are regular readers, as well as regular complainers that I don’t stick to sports, both swimming and bicycling are sports – so even they should be happy this week.
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“Second” season set to begin

“Second” season set to begin

First seven games mean nothing to State Playoff standings

By: Mike McMurran
Sports Editor

Seven weeks of high school football are complete and yet every team presently posses a 0 – 0 ledger – in the eyes of the State Playoffs. A process called, at best, a “necessary evil,” and at worst, “completely worthless,” the Missouri State High School Activities Association’s District playoffs are scheduled to begin though out the State this Friday.

Each district is assigned four teams. Over the next three weeks those four teams will play in a round robin format; at the end of three weeks the team with the most victories in each district will advance to sectional play, usually. It is not uncommon for two, or sometimes even three teams to end up with a 2-1 district record. When this occurs there is a rather simple tie-breaking system that takes over. The tiebreaker has to do with points scored and points allowed – up to 26 points. For example, in Class 2A, District 4, where Orchard Farm, Wright City, Winfield and Lutheran – SC are assigned, it seems the district is wide open. Entering district play all four teams have identical records of 2-5. Lets say Orchard Farm, Winfield and Lutheran SC all end up with 2-1 district records, and Wright City finishes 0-3. The team that scored the most points would be declared District Champion – sort of.

In an attempt to prevent teams from running the score up, the most points the state will recognize (for tie breaking purposes) is 26. The entire process is less than equitable, as exhibited be above-mentioned district. One of those four teams will advance to the next level with a record of 5-5; possibly 4-6. The process is far better than its predecessor, yet years behind the Illinois State Playoffs format.

Below are the St. Charles City attendance area schools, including their current and overall records:

Class 6A; District 5
Team Overall District
Howell N. 6-1 0-0
DeSmet 5-2 0-0
Howell C. 4-3 0-0
Zumwalt S. 1-6 0-0
Class 4A; District 7
Team Overall District
Duchesne 5-2 0-0
West 5-2 0-0
St. Charles 3-4 0-0
Parkway N. 3-4 0-0 Class 2A; District 4
Team Overall District
Luth. SC 2-5 0-0
Wright C. 2-5 0-0
Winfield 2-5 0-0
Orchard F. 2-5 0-0
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MISSOURI RIVER OTTERS SEASON PREVIEW - It’s ‘The Real Deal’ This Season

MISSOURI RIVER OTTERS SEASON PREVIEW
It’s ‘The Real Deal’ This Season

By Louis J. Launer

There is a definite buzz among Missouri River Otter fans this October. To some of the long-time fans, this particular buzz is a feeling that hasn’t been felt in four seasons.

The River Otters have a number of new players. As training camp started on October 10, the team signed Dan Carney, a ten-year veteran of the East Coast Hockey League. Earlier this summer, Carney signed with the Texas Wildcatters of the ECHL. As a result of Hurricane Rita, the Beaumont-based Wildcatters have suspended operations.

River Otters Head Coach Kevin Kaminski expressed keenness with the new veteran forward.

“Dan will bring veteran leadership and a terrific worth ethic to our hockey team,” Kaminski said. “He’s a very tenacious and gritty centerman who we expect to be a role model for some of our younger players.”

The 33-year-old Carney also spent one season (2004-05) with the San Angelo Saints (Texas) of the Central Hockey League. Carney’s ECHL experience includes several seasons with the Roanoke Express and the Hampton Roads Admirals. He helped win a Kelly Cup for the Admirals in 1998.

Defenseman Leif Thorkelson arrived in training camp with a bruised shoulder and was not able to practice due to the injury. He is out for the season.

Veteran Lars Pettersen is back in a River Otter jersey and will be joined by new team members Jim Murphy and Brad MacMillan on one scoring line. “MacMillan looked excellent and is very excited to get back on the ice after an injury-plagued season last year,” Kaminski said.

The River Otter defense features many new players. Kaminski said that Tim O’Connell and Jared Newman could highlight the tough position. “They both have great attitudes,” he said. “O’Connell and Newman both have a lot of size and leadership abilities. O’Connell is a big, physical defenseman who really has a great presence about him. He’s a very smart hockey player and we’re expecting him to be a leader for us this season.”

Fans are also watching Tyler Butler. “He’s a very heads-up player,” Kaminski said. “So far in camp he’s displayed a great ability to pass the puck and he has great anticipation. We’ll look for him to be our power-play quarterback this season.”

Other defensemen to look for are Martin Vasut and Mark Lindsay. Both were considered to be very hard workers according to Kaminski.

Just before an October 14th exhibition game between the River Otters and the Quad City Mallards in Davenport, Iowa, goaltender Kevin Reiter was again called up to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League. The Atlanta Thrashers’ top minor league affiliate faced a goaltender shortage after the Thrashers called their goalies to replace two injured goaltenders for the NHL club.

Reiter could re-join the River Otters as early as November 1st, depending on his needed service with the AAA level club.

Forwards Brad Church and Damian Surma along with defensemen Jared Newman and Tim O’Connell could bring consistency to the team during the regular season. If the team is successful, these four players may give the team the edge to move on in the playoffs in April. This foursome played together last season with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL.

Forward Jim Murphy is sure to get the fans attention. Last season in the SPHL, he averaged nearly a point a game (either a goal or an assist) last season at Jacksonville.

The River Otters hope that United Hockey League rule changes will help them get to the next level, both in the regular season standings and the playoffs. Several key rule changes are in place for 2005-06. The no-touch icing that became a controversial topic in the minors last season has been reversed. Players will have to touch the puck in order for an icing whistle to take place by the official.

If you see a red line in the center of the Family Arena ice this season, it is only symbolic. Eliminated from the rules is the enforcement of the two-line pass, which would have included a red line and a blue line. Players can pass from blue line to blue line without being considered “off-side.” The red line will only be a dividing of the two sides and is sometimes used in other leagues, mainly high school and college.

Officials will delay enforcing the new specifications on goaltender equipment. Equipment companies cannot meet the demand of the NHL, minor league teams, along with college and high school teams, who adopted the same rule change. The UHL announced that the goaltender equipment rule will be enforced beginning on December 15.

All players must wear half-shields on their helmets to protect their eyes when the season begins. Hockey in general is trying to minimize head and eye injuries.

UHL team rosters will contain a maximum of 19 instead of 20. Each team must have at least four rookies and can still have seven veterans. A rookie is considered anyone who played fewer than 60 professional games. Veterans are those who participated in 300 or more professional games. This season, only one player is allowed to be on a team’s “injured reserve” list.

The River Otters have adopted a new theme this season. “Otters Hockey – The Real Deal” is the slogan for this season. The team wants to use the slogan and marketing this year to let fans know that “old time hockey is alive and well in the St. Louis metropolitan area.” Part of the new campaign is to bring back attendance at Family Arena to the levels the River Otters once had in its inaugural 1999-2000 season.

“[The campaign] focuses on the authenticity of the hockey, the players and the experience for the fan,” River Otters General Manager Frank Buonomo said. “Otters hockey is as real and genuine as a professional sport can be. It also says that players aren’t amateurs, they’re professional hockey players. Fans can expect high-level, exciting hockey at every game. It’s an opportunity for an entire family to experience professional hockey at an affordable price.”

This year’s promotion of the River Otters includes advertising on billboards and Metrobus shelters throughout the greater St. Louis area. Part of the advertising campaign focuses on the Route 364 Page Extension, where Family Arena is only five minutes away from Westport Plaza in Maryland Heights and I-270. The River Otters also plan on using “The Real Deal” advertising on radio and TV commercials throughout the season.

The River Otters will play in a very tough Western Division with the Rockford IceHogs and the Fort Wayne Komets expected to dominate the top. The Quad City Mallards are experiencing a complete rebuilding. The intensity of the old rivalry could return this season. With some exciting hockey thanks to several new players on the River Otters roster and some increased fan support, the seventh season of this UHL club could truly be “a real deal.”

First Capitol News High School Athlete of the Week Collin Magilligan, Senior, Duchesne High School

First Capitol News High School Athlete of the Week

Scott Naumann, Junior, St. Charles West High School

By: Mike McMurran
Sports Editor
AGE, HT., WT.: 18, 5’ 10”, 125
FAMILY STATUS: Lives with parents, Bob and Linda Naumann
PEOPLE WHO INFLUENCED ME THE MOST/WHY? Certainly on the top of the list would have to be my dad; he has pushed me my entire life to do my very best. “If it is worth doing it is worth doing right,” he has said to me numerous time. After him it would have to be all the coaches I have played for, including Coach Stahl.
BEST ADVICE ANYONE EVERY GAVE YOU: Again it would have to be my dad: “Never give up.”
HOBBIES: Fish and playing poker.
CAR: 1997 Ford Ranger
FAVORITE ACTOR: Will Ferrell
FAVORITE MOVIE: “Out Cold”
FAVORITE TV SHOW: “Family Guy”
FAVORITE MUSIC: Rock ‘n Roll
FAVORITE PROFESSIONAL SPORTING TEAM: Cardinals, who else could it be?
BEST TIME OF MY LIFE: Playing soccer my junior year we won district and fell one win short of making the final four; we lost to Duchesne.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT IN LIFE: Funny you should ask; it was that very loss in the quarter-finals to Duchesne.
PLAYERS I LEARNED THE MOST FROM: No one player. I’ve learned from ever player I’ve ever player with or against – not to mention the pro players I have watched.
THE CHARACTERISTIC I MOST ADMIRE IN A PERSON: Confidence and sportsmanship on the playing field.
ttt

RAGE by Mike Thompson

RAGE PLAYERS HEAR OPPORTUNITY KNOCKING
 
By MIKE THOMPSON

It’s a league to be proud of, for sure, this NIFL...Now entering it’s 6th year of play, with more expansion, better local media coverage, a greater fan base and more and more quality players securing roster spots on each individual team, it’s a league that has pole-vaulted over it’s various obstacles into an end-zone of opportunity in 2006. In just reaching this point in terms of operation, it’s already outlasted the WFL, The USFL, and various other fly-by-night upstarts that have started up and then disappeared in six yards and a cloud of dust.
 Even super showman Vince McMahon’s circus on turf, the XFL, (remember He-Hate-me?) mercifully only hung around for one season. Yes, this is one solid, fan-friendly, player-quality set of teams calling itself the National Indoor Football League.
 
So why would anyone want to leave?? Because as great as it is and as great as it will be, for most players in the league, there is still the dream of the NFL, The CFL, or the Arena Football League, and while many, if not all, are loyal are true to the goals of The Rage, The Guard, The War birds, etc., the reality is that football is what these guys live and breathe 24-7. Most have been stars since they were in Peewee league, stars in high school, and standouts and stars at their respective colleges and universities. Yes, this NIFL is a showcase league, but a league filled with the chance for a shot at the next level, and for athlete’s striving to achieve the next goal, that brass ring looms large.
 
 Last week, four Rage players took their best shot at movin’ on up. And while if any or all of these guys were to be gone next season, no one understands this process better than Rage Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt himself “In many ways, I see myself and our league on somewhat of a mission, if you would, to help these guys move on to the next level. Sure, it would be a challenge to replace any of them, but you’d have to be happy for the players, and remember this, too, any of our guys make it to the Arena League, don’t kid yourself, that would open the door for top-notch players to FLOCK to this team, wanting to play. But the reality is that I understood all this when I signed on to coach this team. There is always the possibility you may lose a quality guy to a different level.”
 
So let’s run ‘em down..........
 
Scott Pingel...Scott’s off season has consisted on coaching football at CBC High School and teaching math, but he spent this past weekend at an invitation only workout for the Utah Blaze of the AFL. Pingel, the most prolific receiver in NCAA history, had a training camp shot with the Buffalo Bills of the NFL, and worked out for Blaze Head Coach Danny White on Saturday, participating in 3 on 3 drills and had an opportunity to display his skills going one-on-one against the D-Backs of the Blaze. His reaction? “I felt good, actually better than I expected. I matched up well and they seemed impressed, but whatever happens, happens. I can live with whatever decisions come down.”
Coach Wyatt on Scott:  I told them (Utah) If you’re looking for a speedster or someone who will bench press 25 reps of 225, he’s not your guy. But if you want someone who will catch the football, and get himself open to be in a position to grab it, you won’t find better.”
 
Bruce Blue...Finishing up a degree at Western New Mexico, but took the time to take a second go-round with the Utah Blaze. The Blaze organization was impressed with Blue at the NIFL All-Star Game in Odessa back in August, and gave him a chance this past weekend to show his ability at both defensive end and fullback (AFL players go both ways).
Coach Wyatt on Bruce: “ He’s got a great first step, and you need that to get hip-to-hip on an offensive lineman. He also has great pass rush capacity. Remember, he led the team that led the league in sacks last year.”
 
Hurtis Chinn...The Rams and Seattle Seahawks expressed interest in Hurtis last season and he went to an NFL type combine tryout in June. The Blaze asked about him, Coach Wyatt responded with game film, and Chinn found himself trying out as an offensive specialist and return man.
Coach Wyatt on Hurtis:  “I always felt if the right person saw him, he would get picked up. He has blazing speed and that makes it hard for opponents to get a ‘jam’ on him. He’d make an excellent return man or go-to receiver.”
 
Rob Findley...Coaching football at Brentwood High School, but secured through his agent a tryout with the Columbus Destroyers of the AFL. An All-Division defensive back for the team in 2004, Rob was injured in the last game of the season and was used sparingly by Coach Wyatt this past year. Recovered, he hopes to take the next step in his football career.
Coach Wyatt on Rob:  He’s an exceptional athlete. Here’s a guy who high jumped 6’11” and was an All-American track star in college. Those skills come in handy when working one-on-one against top-notch receivers.”
 
So, there it is.... four guys who love the Rage, have contributed much to the team’s success, and who will be ready to go again for coach Wyatt should that be the case in the coming months. But as I stated before, no one know the process better than Wyatt himself. “I am in constant contact with scouts from the NFL, the AFL, even the CFL...scouts who want game film on our players. I never know who might next be headed for a tryout, a workout, a look-see with the next level, but they do it with my blessing and the blessing of the owners, too. We understand the nature of this business is looking ahead all the time in terms of advantage and opportunity. I’d hate to lose any of my quality guys, but if they did move on, I know I’d feel some pride in knowing myself and the Rage and the league as a whole had a hand in making it happen.”
 
Stay tuned!!!

Local High School Students Attend Missouri Business Week (MBW)



St. Charles County students attending Missouri Business Week were: Zach Guerrant, Monica
Martinez and Kirstyn Smith from Francis Howell North; Grace Semke and Bradley Wehmeier from Orchard Farm; Tim Stahlman and Logan Webb from St. Charles West; Ashylynn Bowder and Whitney Watson from Wentzville Holt; Lydia Farmer from Ft. Zumwalt West; and Angelique Rohlfing from Timberland. Applications are due to the school counselor in March for the next Missouri Business week. For more information go to the website at : www.missouribusinessweek.com

Local High School Students Attend Missouri Business Week (MBW)

Missouri Business Week (MBW) is an interactive summer conference for a maximum of 200 high school juniors and seniors from the state of Missouri that teaches the students how to manage and market a business in a very enjoyable environment. Student teams or “companies” are advised by business people who represent real estate, banking, insurance, tourism, manufacturing and other industries. Sponsored by the CENTER for Education & Private Enterprise (the CENTER), the not-for-profit foundation of the Missouri Association of REALTORS® , MBW is held annually at the University of Missouri in Columbia. It is a statewide program in every sense because REALTORS® and other business professionals from all over Missouri become involved with this major event.

All students attend on $450 scholarships, and REALTORS® not only donate to the scholarship fund but also assist the CENTER with raising money from a variety of companies. They help with recruiting students from their respective areas of the state and keep the interest going by networking with area schools. REALTORS® who actually participate on-site have the privilege of working with eager young learners that are opening their minds to future career options.

To simulate the business experience, the MBW student companies are involved with the management and marketing of imaginary retail products. Six companies make hats, the other six, T-shirts. The groups learn how to make management decisions by playing a computer game that follows the financial history of their products through eight business quarters. Marketing is accomplished through the production of 30-second television commercials, new business profile and web page designs . The energy and enthusiasm of the MBW students definitely make these experiences seem “real”. The “companies” become viable business teams, challenged to compete for the best bottom line and the best marketing strategies.

Missouri Business Week is co-sponsored by the College of Business of the University of Missouri-Columbia. Program Assistance is provided by the Missouri Department of Elementary and secondary Education (DESE) and The Education Department of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce. The 2005 program was held June 26 - 30, 2005.