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Saturday, December 10, 2005
FRONT PAGE FIRST CAPITOL NEWS - Decmber 10, 2005
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Bill Introduced By Greer For April Date For Recall
This past Tuesday night a bill was on the Council agenda for introduction setting an April date for Dottie Greer’s recall election. The sponsor of the bill is Dottie Greer. This comes after the defeat of a bill
sponsored by Councilmen Weller, Kneemiller, Reese, Muench and Hoepfner who were determined to have the recall election held in February. The five other Council members voted against that bill, many citing the Charter and the fact that the next legally available election according to the St. Charles City Charter and ordinances would be in April.
Many speculated that the Weller group of Council members wanted to have the election held in February because traditionally there is lower turnout for February elections. The weather is usually worse in February and the older voters find it difficult to turn our in numbers. It would also waste taxpayer’s money on a special election in February because those against Greer could disenfranchise many of the voters in Ward 7.
Councilman John Gieseke, Ward 8 told the First Capitol News, “The state makes elections dates available for the City to choose from. Under the charter, the voters picked April for City elections. It amazes me when those who claim to want to uphold the Charter only want to uphold the sections that serve their needs. I just wish more people would read the entire Charter. None of us ever voted not to allow for an election, we just want to make sure we uphold our oath of office and follow the Charter and laws of the City.”
When asked why she was sponsoring the bill calling for a vote on her recall Councilwomen Greer said, “This is what the Charter says has to happen and that is why I am sponsoring the bill. The Charter and City ordinance is clear on when our legally available elections can be held. If this would be the same year as a Mayoral election then a February election would be available. It isn’t. Those who sponsored the bill calling for a February election don’t want to see fair elections. They would rather disenfranchise many of the elderly voters who can’t brave the cold and inclement weather that occurs in February.”
SECTION 9.1 CITY ELECTIONS of the Charter reads as follows….
(a) Regular Elections. Regular city elections shall be held on the first Tuesday in April.
(b) Primary Election for Mayor. The city primary election, if needed, for the office of Mayor shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in February.
(c) Special Elections. The council may by resolution order special elections, fix the time for such elections, and provide for holding such elections.
(d) Conduct of Elections. All city elections shall be governed by the provisions of the charter and applicable state law. The council by ordinance may further regulate elections, subject to the provisions of the charter and applicable state law.
(Approved by electorate, November 3, 1981; Amendment approved by electorate, April 7, 1992; Amendment approved by electorate, August 6, 1996)
Councilman Joe Koester, Ward 9 told the First Capitol News, “An April election will not disenfranchise the voters of the Ward. Our Charter allows for the April election to make sure that special interests can’t buy elections. I am confident that Dottie will win if the election is held in April, Special Interest money bought the recall and I hope the voters of Ward 7 keep money from buying the election.”
The bill will have its first reading at next Tuesdays City Council meeting.
sponsored by Councilmen Weller, Kneemiller, Reese, Muench and Hoepfner who were determined to have the recall election held in February. The five other Council members voted against that bill, many citing the Charter and the fact that the next legally available election according to the St. Charles City Charter and ordinances would be in April.
Many speculated that the Weller group of Council members wanted to have the election held in February because traditionally there is lower turnout for February elections. The weather is usually worse in February and the older voters find it difficult to turn our in numbers. It would also waste taxpayer’s money on a special election in February because those against Greer could disenfranchise many of the voters in Ward 7.
Councilman John Gieseke, Ward 8 told the First Capitol News, “The state makes elections dates available for the City to choose from. Under the charter, the voters picked April for City elections. It amazes me when those who claim to want to uphold the Charter only want to uphold the sections that serve their needs. I just wish more people would read the entire Charter. None of us ever voted not to allow for an election, we just want to make sure we uphold our oath of office and follow the Charter and laws of the City.”
When asked why she was sponsoring the bill calling for a vote on her recall Councilwomen Greer said, “This is what the Charter says has to happen and that is why I am sponsoring the bill. The Charter and City ordinance is clear on when our legally available elections can be held. If this would be the same year as a Mayoral election then a February election would be available. It isn’t. Those who sponsored the bill calling for a February election don’t want to see fair elections. They would rather disenfranchise many of the elderly voters who can’t brave the cold and inclement weather that occurs in February.”
SECTION 9.1 CITY ELECTIONS of the Charter reads as follows….
(a) Regular Elections. Regular city elections shall be held on the first Tuesday in April.
(b) Primary Election for Mayor. The city primary election, if needed, for the office of Mayor shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in February.
(c) Special Elections. The council may by resolution order special elections, fix the time for such elections, and provide for holding such elections.
(d) Conduct of Elections. All city elections shall be governed by the provisions of the charter and applicable state law. The council by ordinance may further regulate elections, subject to the provisions of the charter and applicable state law.
(Approved by electorate, November 3, 1981; Amendment approved by electorate, April 7, 1992; Amendment approved by electorate, August 6, 1996)
Councilman Joe Koester, Ward 9 told the First Capitol News, “An April election will not disenfranchise the voters of the Ward. Our Charter allows for the April election to make sure that special interests can’t buy elections. I am confident that Dottie will win if the election is held in April, Special Interest money bought the recall and I hope the voters of Ward 7 keep money from buying the election.”
The bill will have its first reading at next Tuesdays City Council meeting.
Council Offers Details on Not Renewing Allan Williams
A year ago, Saint Charles City Council voted 7 to 3 approving a one-year contract with Dr. Allan Williams as City Administrator. The council reserved the right to decide whether or not to renew William’s contract after a one-year period of review. In November, the council chose not to renew the administrator’s contract and brought forward a compensation package per the original contractual agreement.
First Capitol News wanted to look into what events lead to William’s inability to muster six votes of approval by council. Here are some of the issues of concern gathered by our paper regarding this matter.
Williams came to St. Charles and there was much hope among council that he would help create an atmosphere in which the three councilmen of the opposition minority would work closer with the seven-member majority who entered city hall to try and end wasteful politics-as-usual. Early on, the majority advanced in several areas including re-bidding city employee health insurance that has resulted in a one-year savings of more than $700,000. However, as one councilman pointed out, this was achieved in spite of Mr. Williams, not because of his assistance. In fact, early on several council members noticed that the new administrator hindered efforts by council to perform its fiduciary duties including blocking a forensic audit of the health insurance prior to the change to the current provider, United Health Care.
More was expected and promised of the highest-paid city administrator in the metropolitan area. In fact, complaints have come from both sides of council regarding unanswered and unreturned telephone calls (this is particularly important because council members may not contact department heads without administration approval); slow response time or inaction on council requests; and the sluggishness of department head candidate interviews and proposal to council. Council has no direct ability to hire or fire any department head, and after losing or firing employee after employee, Williams has done little to fill the vacancies. One instance pointed out is the termination of the Public Works Director in which after seven months the administrator has brought only one name forward for council and mayoral consideration. To date, that is the only name for any open position that has been brought before the council with the exception of Police Chief Tim Swope.
Lack of communication and accessibility seem to be a regular point of frustration for many on council. Williams has yet to move his family to St. Charles. Because they still reside out of state, Williams is often gone for several days at a time and often not reachable by telephone. Travel expense for these flights are paid for over and above William’s base salary of $148,000 and his automobile expenses.
Another disappointment was the haste in which Williams went from role of mediator for all sides to that of one-sided ally of mayor and select council members. At one meeting, Williams seemed to have set a trap for Councilwoman Greer and then openly attacked her because he felt that her appeal for a department head to attend a budget meeting sounded more like a demand than a request. A few months prior, Williams had praised the same council member for being so organized and thorough in her duties.
In another instance, Mr. Williams ignored the opinion of all the city attorneys regarding a disputed bill allegedly owed by Councilman Mark Brown. Wasting the time of seven staff members and spending two days to get to the bottom of this supposed $225 charge resulted in a finding that the City in fact owes Councilman Brown $425! Mr. William’s actions give the appearance of helping developers harass council instead of doing the work of the people. To the chagrin of several council members, Williams is willing to expend great effort for $225 but impedes a forensic audit that could have resulted in thousands of dollars for city coffers and the discovery of possible corruption.
The proposed administration budget for 2006 is a sharp increase over that of 2005 in spite of budget warnings coming from city hall that indicate flat growth in city revenues. After advising council to tighten the belt on the budget, Williams then proposed inflated government causing many council members to question the fiscal prudence of Williams. Further concerns in this matter include William’s use of a city credit card for personal expenses, which is thought to be a violation of state law.
From the evaluations submitted, only one council member gave Williams high marks with several giving very low marks.
The courts will apparently decide William’s future because he now disagrees with the interpretation of the contract that he signed. Several council members have indicated that they plan on filing a case against Williams soon. In jeopardy is a severance package worth about eight months salary. Also per contract Williams would have received lifetime health insurance had he been re-approved and fulfilled a second year of service as city administrator.
One council member summed it up with the following: “We had great hopes for Mr. Williams and thought we might have gotten ourselves someone ready to help clean up rather than cover up things at city hall.”
RAMBLING WITH THE EDITOR - Tony Brockmeyer
THANKS FOR THE RULES
I sit here this evening trying to write while fighting a cold. I am also watching the St. Peters Board of Alderman meeting. Their meetings are on Thursday evenings and they can be seen on Charter Cable 10. If you have an opportunity to watch you will easily understand why the St. Charles City Council and County Council have set limits on people speaking before the boards.
The purpose of the meetings is for the elected members to conduct business. In O’Fallon and St. Peters the meetings have been taken over by residents who have their own agendas. Attempts have been made recently to take over the St. Charles City Council meetings but the attempt have failed because of rules in place that prevent such action.
JEFF MORRISON
St. Charles County Councilman Jeff Morrison resigned recently as County Councilman and also as City Prosecutor for the City of St. Peters. Morrison said that he had a professional opportunity he wanted to take. He would give no other information . Rumors abound but the one that comes from the forefront and appears to be most likely is that he has accepted a position with the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. Good luck Mr. Morrison.
RECALL LEADERS WANT TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL
It is being bandied about that Linda Meyer, the wife of a St. Charles Police Officer and leader of the recall effort against Mark Brown and Dottie Greer, has her sights set on Greer’s City Council seat. David and Cheryl Paxton who live in Mark Brown’s Ward and in his subdivision are working with Meyer in the attempt to recall Brown. Rumors have it that Paxton, who is a mechanic with American Airlines, where the Mayor’s husband Lionel is employed as a pilot, wants to take over Brown’s seat on the City Council. We are told His wife Cheryl is a flight attendant for AA and also worked at Ozark and TWA with the Mayor. Hmmmmmmm
RON BROCKMEYER REPRESENTS COUNCIL AT HEARING
Attorney Ron Brockmeyer represented members of the City Council last Friday at a hearing before Judge Ted House on a Writ of Mandamus that the recall committee filed in an effort to force the recall election of Dottie Greer in February rather than April. Some people have asked why he was there. Mike Valenti, the City Attorney had notified the City Council members that because the Council members were split on a five to five vote he was not going to represent the interests of the City in this matter.
Council members Riddler, Gieseke, Greer, Koester and Brown asked Brockmeyer to represent them because they felt there would be no one protecting their interests as City Council members. Several of the Council members pointed out to Valenti his oath of office and duties to the City. He relented and did appear in court.
WIN – WIN – WIN
Check page 11 for all the details on how to be eligible to win one of five $100 Gift Certificates. You will be able to use the certificates at any of the merchants who have ads on that page. You can enter as many times as you want and as many merchants as you want but you can only enter once during each visit. The winner will be announced in the January 14, 2006 edition of the First Capitol News. In the event of any disputes the decision of the First Capitol News is final
.
I sit here this evening trying to write while fighting a cold. I am also watching the St. Peters Board of Alderman meeting. Their meetings are on Thursday evenings and they can be seen on Charter Cable 10. If you have an opportunity to watch you will easily understand why the St. Charles City Council and County Council have set limits on people speaking before the boards.
The purpose of the meetings is for the elected members to conduct business. In O’Fallon and St. Peters the meetings have been taken over by residents who have their own agendas. Attempts have been made recently to take over the St. Charles City Council meetings but the attempt have failed because of rules in place that prevent such action.
JEFF MORRISON
St. Charles County Councilman Jeff Morrison resigned recently as County Councilman and also as City Prosecutor for the City of St. Peters. Morrison said that he had a professional opportunity he wanted to take. He would give no other information . Rumors abound but the one that comes from the forefront and appears to be most likely is that he has accepted a position with the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. Good luck Mr. Morrison.
RECALL LEADERS WANT TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL
It is being bandied about that Linda Meyer, the wife of a St. Charles Police Officer and leader of the recall effort against Mark Brown and Dottie Greer, has her sights set on Greer’s City Council seat. David and Cheryl Paxton who live in Mark Brown’s Ward and in his subdivision are working with Meyer in the attempt to recall Brown. Rumors have it that Paxton, who is a mechanic with American Airlines, where the Mayor’s husband Lionel is employed as a pilot, wants to take over Brown’s seat on the City Council. We are told His wife Cheryl is a flight attendant for AA and also worked at Ozark and TWA with the Mayor. Hmmmmmmm
RON BROCKMEYER REPRESENTS COUNCIL AT HEARING
Attorney Ron Brockmeyer represented members of the City Council last Friday at a hearing before Judge Ted House on a Writ of Mandamus that the recall committee filed in an effort to force the recall election of Dottie Greer in February rather than April. Some people have asked why he was there. Mike Valenti, the City Attorney had notified the City Council members that because the Council members were split on a five to five vote he was not going to represent the interests of the City in this matter.
Council members Riddler, Gieseke, Greer, Koester and Brown asked Brockmeyer to represent them because they felt there would be no one protecting their interests as City Council members. Several of the Council members pointed out to Valenti his oath of office and duties to the City. He relented and did appear in court.
WIN – WIN – WIN
Check page 11 for all the details on how to be eligible to win one of five $100 Gift Certificates. You will be able to use the certificates at any of the merchants who have ads on that page. You can enter as many times as you want and as many merchants as you want but you can only enter once during each visit. The winner will be announced in the January 14, 2006 edition of the First Capitol News. In the event of any disputes the decision of the First Capitol News is final
.
THE PEOPLE SPEAK - Letters To The Editor
Dear Editor:
It is rather alarming that the only major newspaper in our region employs a former sports writer as a columnist who is about as unobjective as unobjective can be. He constantly supports the recall effort of Councilpersons Greer and Brown, yet cries out loud of the injustice his friend, drinking buddy, and God knows what else, Mayor York faces in her recall.
In his column dated December 6 he quotes Roland Wetzel, editor of the publication The Republican, as Wetzel gives us all a lesson in Missouri Civics. It had to do with Council President Riddler stopping Linda Meyer and Tom Hughes from making derogatory remarks directed at Council members. It seems his interpretation of the Missouri Constitution gives citizens the right to “say, write or publish, or otherwise communicate whatever he will on any subject.” I couldn’t help but think of poor Tom Green, and how the Republican Party smeared his record, total lies mind you, but stood behind their “Freedom of Speech” to spread untruths.
Does Article 1 of the Missouri Constitution give me the right to have published, fictitious allegations against Mayor York, Roland Wetzel, pudgy (and that is being kind), washed up sports writers, Sally Faith, and others who feel they know what is best for our City. I would think not. I would think there would have to be at least some merit to the allegations. Maybe not. If the latter is the case, I would warn most dog owners to keep their canines locked up, as pudgy’s attraction and fondness for dogs has been well documented in his columns.
And as far as the Mayor goes, in The City Newsletter she shares with City residents how she likes to spend holidays, shacked up in hotels with airlines pilots.
In fairness to those who are not fair to others, Chucky is a dog lover, and not sexually, at least I do not think so. And our Mayor, well her first Christmas was spent with her husband, a pilot, on the road. I have no idea if Wetzel is married, and if he is, if Faith even knows his wife. Mr. Wetzel I know nothing about – but that is my point.
It seems these people say things, repeat them, repeat them again, and then attempt to pass them off as truths.
Now, I for one think Riddler was correct in stopping both Hughes and Meyer. Had he not they would have said things and tried to pass them off as truths; justifying their allegations by saying: “Its a fact, its in the minutes of the meeting.”
Thank you for your service to our community. I look forward to your paper each week.
Please withhold my name
Message to Councilman Funderburk
I read with interest your comments recently in a local newspaper regarding the 600-foot extension of a runway at Smartt Airport. Before I proceed, perhaps I should mention that you and three of your four cohorts opposing the extension voted to approve the 2004 budget that included $850,000 funding for the extension. WHAT HAPPENED? Enter Adolphus Busch and Charlie Hager with a lot of money and suggestions on how to defeat the extension. In fact Adolphus stood before the Council and informed the proponents of the extension that they were going to lose.
You state you do not agree with the reports finding that there have been no bird strikes in 64 years because you spend a lot of time in the area. I am sure you saw a number of planes on the ramp while making one of your trips to the area, and if you had taken a few minutes to stop and see the Airport Director, you would have found that all hangers are rented, (NO VACANCIES) and that there are more than 50, 000 take-offs and landings per year. The citizens of this County are concerned about their Airport, not Creve Couer or Marthasville.
Your other frivolous argument that is also Mr. Brazil’s crutch relates to development that will occur after the 600-foot extension. The Fountains have hundreds of acres remaining for development, St. Peters will have 1,600 acres, and the Baudendistel tract has 1,200 acres. With over 3,000 acres available with City water and sewer all within a few minutes of the Airport, why would anyone want to develop anything in the area of the Airport?
In all my 73 years in this County I have never seen such an abuse of power. Perhaps the five opponents should give consideration to what a wise man once said, “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.”
Gerald E. Ohlms
Former President Commissioner
St. Charles County
Editor First Capitol News;
I guess Ken Kielty couldn’t get the legitimate press to call TR to interview TR. You would think with all TR’s advertising power he could have pulled that off especially when he wanted to be interviewed about freedom of speech. TR had to rely on his top advertising man Ed, and spend his own money on Ed’s advertising piece. I guess, what it did cost him, did not come from any of the savings he has received or maybe be receiving when this Citizen Empowerment Committee, Kietly and Jamboretz and that police officer’s wife, get this council changed around to suit the Mayor and TR’s appetite for power and money. Money should really start flowing again when the Mayor gets her 7-3 majority on the Council. TR will probably not need Representative Dempsey’s new law that was passed just for TR and Company on the backs of the St. Charles taxpayers.
Apparently the several “great people” you TR say were insulted and demeaned in a most reprehensible way, you are talking about Caskey, Powell and Pratt. I’ve already addressed these good people in a letter to the editor and I’ll suggest the same to you. Go back and look at the tapes of the Council meetings when thee people were put on the spot for doing a lot of things that shouldn’t have taken place. Like costing the people who pay the bills of their town a lot more money than it should have. Caskey and Powell know why they are not employed any longer and Pratt does also. Check it out and ask them to respond see if they will answer you. We’ll probably never know about Jockerst. I hear it had something to do with computers and him and Chief Swope and closed sessions and all that good stuff that keeps the taxpayer from ever knowing about a lot of happenings that cost us, the taxpayers, a lot of money.
To quote TR, “Citizens should not be afraid of their government. That’s wrong and it’s also very dangerous.” TR you should make the Mayor and her two cronies Kietly and Hayden a plaque with those two sentences on for them to read daily. They could probably save face and not get caught doing threatening phone calls and alleged threats on the internet site and unsigned anonymous letters.
Seeing how I quoted you TR, here is a quote for you. “I’ve never been afraid of anybody in City government. Especially the Mayor and all her money friends like you, TR, nor her two cronies Ken and Tom nor anyone else. You should make sure Ken realized what he did is very dangerous. But then to see Ken and Tom at the 11/15 Council meeting setting next to one another. When Kevin Kast started praising TR and all his money friends and they, Ken & Tom turned around and saw myself and started making gestures like a couple school year bullies that would be real quick on their feet if actually confronted.
That’s all for now!
Bob Bredensteiner
Dear Tony,
Thank you for printing my letter and trying to find the answer to my questions. I hope you can clear up one of Mr. Spellmann's statement. Is he saying that the houses owned by Lindenwood and used for student housing are subject to taxes, or are those considered educational? Also, with the current real estate boom, virtually every property in the country has doubled or more in the last 10 years.
Another item that I though of was the amount of money that is paid by the state to the school district for each student in attendance. I have heard it is over $6,000 per student. If that is truly the case, the school district would be loosing a lot of money by the student houses not having families live there. Perhaps Mr. Spellmann could clarify these things in the next installment.
Thank you,
Mike Femmer
Editor’s response.
Mike I will have your information next week. I have been plagued with a cold this week and have not felt like doing anything.
An open letter to the Editor of the Post Dispatch from Council President Rory Riddler in response to an editorial in the Post criticizing Riddler for reporting to the St. Charles Police what he considers apparent voter fraud in the collection of signatures on the recall petitions on Councilwoman Dottie Greer.
Dear Post Dispatch Editor:
I would appreciate the opportunity to acquaint your readers with all of the facts surrounding my turning in a complaint concerning what I felt were irregularities and violations of State Law by a committee seeking the recall of Councilwoman Dottie Greer in the City of St. Charles.
1. I had exhausted other avenues to try to have these petitions and sworn affidavits reviewed by authorities. The City Clerk, whom our Charter says is to certify if the petitions are “valid”, said that she was not in a position to investigate if they were or not valid and simply performed a ministerial function.
2. Likewise, the St. Charles County Election Authority told the Clerk that they only verify if the names are on the list of registered voters or not. They do not check signatures against signed voter registration cards, nor would they have jurisdiction to investigate if false affidavits were filed.
3. I felt that I had the right to file a complaint with law enforcement if I felt a crime may have been committed.
4. To avoid the very situation you criticize me for in your editorial, I followed proper procedures under our Charter and took the issue to the City Administrator to ask that he be present and help assure that my complaint was not treated differently than any other citizen.
5. The Police Chief, for his part, asked for an investigator from the Sheriff’s Office be assigned to assist and make sure any investigation was fair and impartial.
6. Other than being interviewed to explain the concerns I had, I have had no other contact with the investigators nor sought any updates.
While your editorial offers a very helpful suggestion that the Missouri Highway Patrol should have been called in to handle the complaint, what State Law gives an individual the right to call in the Highway Patrol to investigate a local matter? What State Law says that a local official is a second class citizen and can not avail themselves of filing a police complaint?
Will this new standard be applied by the Post-Dispatch to criticize any local official that believes they have cause to report a crime?
Frankly, I was shocked that there are so few safeguards to prevent abuse of the recall process. I am further surprised that the Post-Dispatch has not done more to follow the money trail involved in this recall effort.
To date over $36,000 has been reported being spent to try to recall two members of the St. Charles City Council. Those hired to gather the signatures were from Belleville, Cahokia, Ferguson, Florissant, Kirkwood, Rolla, St. Peters, Wright City and Berkeley. They were paid $5 per signature and later as much as $10 per signature to get the petitions signed.
The two co-chairs of one committee funding this effort are Ken Kielty and Glennon Jamboretz. Glennon Jamboretz lives in St. Louis County and owns a public relations firm in St. Louis. Ken Kielty doesn’t live in the 7th Ward either. His son, however, is the attorney you quoted in the editorial criticizing my police complaint
.
Earlier this year, Mr. Jamboretz was awarded a City contract without the knowledge of the City Council. In looking into the matter, we discovered that Mr. Kielty was listed as one of the three “oral” bids that were sought for the work. It appears to be a very small world.
In conclusion, I would welcome the Missouri Highway Patrol looking into this case, or reviewing the investigative work being conducted by the Police and Sheriff’s Office. I would welcome the Missouri Attorney General looking into it. I would particularly appreciate the St. Louis Post-Dispatch looking into it.
I merely did what I thought was right and followed the proper channels. No undue pressure was brought to bear and the facts uncovered will ultimately speak for themselves.
Sincerely,
Rory Riddler
City Councilman
City of St. Charles
It is rather alarming that the only major newspaper in our region employs a former sports writer as a columnist who is about as unobjective as unobjective can be. He constantly supports the recall effort of Councilpersons Greer and Brown, yet cries out loud of the injustice his friend, drinking buddy, and God knows what else, Mayor York faces in her recall.
In his column dated December 6 he quotes Roland Wetzel, editor of the publication The Republican, as Wetzel gives us all a lesson in Missouri Civics. It had to do with Council President Riddler stopping Linda Meyer and Tom Hughes from making derogatory remarks directed at Council members. It seems his interpretation of the Missouri Constitution gives citizens the right to “say, write or publish, or otherwise communicate whatever he will on any subject.” I couldn’t help but think of poor Tom Green, and how the Republican Party smeared his record, total lies mind you, but stood behind their “Freedom of Speech” to spread untruths.
Does Article 1 of the Missouri Constitution give me the right to have published, fictitious allegations against Mayor York, Roland Wetzel, pudgy (and that is being kind), washed up sports writers, Sally Faith, and others who feel they know what is best for our City. I would think not. I would think there would have to be at least some merit to the allegations. Maybe not. If the latter is the case, I would warn most dog owners to keep their canines locked up, as pudgy’s attraction and fondness for dogs has been well documented in his columns.
And as far as the Mayor goes, in The City Newsletter she shares with City residents how she likes to spend holidays, shacked up in hotels with airlines pilots.
In fairness to those who are not fair to others, Chucky is a dog lover, and not sexually, at least I do not think so. And our Mayor, well her first Christmas was spent with her husband, a pilot, on the road. I have no idea if Wetzel is married, and if he is, if Faith even knows his wife. Mr. Wetzel I know nothing about – but that is my point.
It seems these people say things, repeat them, repeat them again, and then attempt to pass them off as truths.
Now, I for one think Riddler was correct in stopping both Hughes and Meyer. Had he not they would have said things and tried to pass them off as truths; justifying their allegations by saying: “Its a fact, its in the minutes of the meeting.”
Thank you for your service to our community. I look forward to your paper each week.
Please withhold my name
Message to Councilman Funderburk
I read with interest your comments recently in a local newspaper regarding the 600-foot extension of a runway at Smartt Airport. Before I proceed, perhaps I should mention that you and three of your four cohorts opposing the extension voted to approve the 2004 budget that included $850,000 funding for the extension. WHAT HAPPENED? Enter Adolphus Busch and Charlie Hager with a lot of money and suggestions on how to defeat the extension. In fact Adolphus stood before the Council and informed the proponents of the extension that they were going to lose.
You state you do not agree with the reports finding that there have been no bird strikes in 64 years because you spend a lot of time in the area. I am sure you saw a number of planes on the ramp while making one of your trips to the area, and if you had taken a few minutes to stop and see the Airport Director, you would have found that all hangers are rented, (NO VACANCIES) and that there are more than 50, 000 take-offs and landings per year. The citizens of this County are concerned about their Airport, not Creve Couer or Marthasville.
Your other frivolous argument that is also Mr. Brazil’s crutch relates to development that will occur after the 600-foot extension. The Fountains have hundreds of acres remaining for development, St. Peters will have 1,600 acres, and the Baudendistel tract has 1,200 acres. With over 3,000 acres available with City water and sewer all within a few minutes of the Airport, why would anyone want to develop anything in the area of the Airport?
In all my 73 years in this County I have never seen such an abuse of power. Perhaps the five opponents should give consideration to what a wise man once said, “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.”
Gerald E. Ohlms
Former President Commissioner
St. Charles County
Editor First Capitol News;
I guess Ken Kielty couldn’t get the legitimate press to call TR to interview TR. You would think with all TR’s advertising power he could have pulled that off especially when he wanted to be interviewed about freedom of speech. TR had to rely on his top advertising man Ed, and spend his own money on Ed’s advertising piece. I guess, what it did cost him, did not come from any of the savings he has received or maybe be receiving when this Citizen Empowerment Committee, Kietly and Jamboretz and that police officer’s wife, get this council changed around to suit the Mayor and TR’s appetite for power and money. Money should really start flowing again when the Mayor gets her 7-3 majority on the Council. TR will probably not need Representative Dempsey’s new law that was passed just for TR and Company on the backs of the St. Charles taxpayers.
Apparently the several “great people” you TR say were insulted and demeaned in a most reprehensible way, you are talking about Caskey, Powell and Pratt. I’ve already addressed these good people in a letter to the editor and I’ll suggest the same to you. Go back and look at the tapes of the Council meetings when thee people were put on the spot for doing a lot of things that shouldn’t have taken place. Like costing the people who pay the bills of their town a lot more money than it should have. Caskey and Powell know why they are not employed any longer and Pratt does also. Check it out and ask them to respond see if they will answer you. We’ll probably never know about Jockerst. I hear it had something to do with computers and him and Chief Swope and closed sessions and all that good stuff that keeps the taxpayer from ever knowing about a lot of happenings that cost us, the taxpayers, a lot of money.
To quote TR, “Citizens should not be afraid of their government. That’s wrong and it’s also very dangerous.” TR you should make the Mayor and her two cronies Kietly and Hayden a plaque with those two sentences on for them to read daily. They could probably save face and not get caught doing threatening phone calls and alleged threats on the internet site and unsigned anonymous letters.
Seeing how I quoted you TR, here is a quote for you. “I’ve never been afraid of anybody in City government. Especially the Mayor and all her money friends like you, TR, nor her two cronies Ken and Tom nor anyone else. You should make sure Ken realized what he did is very dangerous. But then to see Ken and Tom at the 11/15 Council meeting setting next to one another. When Kevin Kast started praising TR and all his money friends and they, Ken & Tom turned around and saw myself and started making gestures like a couple school year bullies that would be real quick on their feet if actually confronted.
That’s all for now!
Bob Bredensteiner
Dear Tony,
Thank you for printing my letter and trying to find the answer to my questions. I hope you can clear up one of Mr. Spellmann's statement. Is he saying that the houses owned by Lindenwood and used for student housing are subject to taxes, or are those considered educational? Also, with the current real estate boom, virtually every property in the country has doubled or more in the last 10 years.
Another item that I though of was the amount of money that is paid by the state to the school district for each student in attendance. I have heard it is over $6,000 per student. If that is truly the case, the school district would be loosing a lot of money by the student houses not having families live there. Perhaps Mr. Spellmann could clarify these things in the next installment.
Thank you,
Mike Femmer
Editor’s response.
Mike I will have your information next week. I have been plagued with a cold this week and have not felt like doing anything.
An open letter to the Editor of the Post Dispatch from Council President Rory Riddler in response to an editorial in the Post criticizing Riddler for reporting to the St. Charles Police what he considers apparent voter fraud in the collection of signatures on the recall petitions on Councilwoman Dottie Greer.
Dear Post Dispatch Editor:
I would appreciate the opportunity to acquaint your readers with all of the facts surrounding my turning in a complaint concerning what I felt were irregularities and violations of State Law by a committee seeking the recall of Councilwoman Dottie Greer in the City of St. Charles.
1. I had exhausted other avenues to try to have these petitions and sworn affidavits reviewed by authorities. The City Clerk, whom our Charter says is to certify if the petitions are “valid”, said that she was not in a position to investigate if they were or not valid and simply performed a ministerial function.
2. Likewise, the St. Charles County Election Authority told the Clerk that they only verify if the names are on the list of registered voters or not. They do not check signatures against signed voter registration cards, nor would they have jurisdiction to investigate if false affidavits were filed.
3. I felt that I had the right to file a complaint with law enforcement if I felt a crime may have been committed.
4. To avoid the very situation you criticize me for in your editorial, I followed proper procedures under our Charter and took the issue to the City Administrator to ask that he be present and help assure that my complaint was not treated differently than any other citizen.
5. The Police Chief, for his part, asked for an investigator from the Sheriff’s Office be assigned to assist and make sure any investigation was fair and impartial.
6. Other than being interviewed to explain the concerns I had, I have had no other contact with the investigators nor sought any updates.
While your editorial offers a very helpful suggestion that the Missouri Highway Patrol should have been called in to handle the complaint, what State Law gives an individual the right to call in the Highway Patrol to investigate a local matter? What State Law says that a local official is a second class citizen and can not avail themselves of filing a police complaint?
Will this new standard be applied by the Post-Dispatch to criticize any local official that believes they have cause to report a crime?
Frankly, I was shocked that there are so few safeguards to prevent abuse of the recall process. I am further surprised that the Post-Dispatch has not done more to follow the money trail involved in this recall effort.
To date over $36,000 has been reported being spent to try to recall two members of the St. Charles City Council. Those hired to gather the signatures were from Belleville, Cahokia, Ferguson, Florissant, Kirkwood, Rolla, St. Peters, Wright City and Berkeley. They were paid $5 per signature and later as much as $10 per signature to get the petitions signed.
The two co-chairs of one committee funding this effort are Ken Kielty and Glennon Jamboretz. Glennon Jamboretz lives in St. Louis County and owns a public relations firm in St. Louis. Ken Kielty doesn’t live in the 7th Ward either. His son, however, is the attorney you quoted in the editorial criticizing my police complaint
.
Earlier this year, Mr. Jamboretz was awarded a City contract without the knowledge of the City Council. In looking into the matter, we discovered that Mr. Kielty was listed as one of the three “oral” bids that were sought for the work. It appears to be a very small world.
In conclusion, I would welcome the Missouri Highway Patrol looking into this case, or reviewing the investigative work being conducted by the Police and Sheriff’s Office. I would welcome the Missouri Attorney General looking into it. I would particularly appreciate the St. Louis Post-Dispatch looking into it.
I merely did what I thought was right and followed the proper channels. No undue pressure was brought to bear and the facts uncovered will ultimately speak for themselves.
Sincerely,
Rory Riddler
City Councilman
City of St. Charles
THE CITY DESK - City Council President Rory Riddler
Message And Decorum Lost
When Name Calling Begins
Decorum: (noun) (2) Propriety and good taste in conduct or appearance (3) orderliness.
There isn’t much to the job description of a City Council President. You are chosen by a vote of your fellow Council members to chair the meetings of the Council. They give you a gavel and a set of rules and beyond that you get by on a winning smile and a prayer.
One of those rules (rule 9) says that the Council President is responsible for maintaining “decorum” at the meetings. The dictionary definition of the word leads off this week’s column.
How you maintain decorum is the trick. People can’t agree on what it should be...they only recognize it when it isn’t there.
I’ve tried watching meetings of the St. Peters Board of Aldermen, but sometimes it is just too painful. They have a regular cast of characters that speak for however long they care to about whatever they care to, while the public’s business gets pushed later and later into the evening.
I have a lot of respect for the members of the St. Peters Board of Aldermen. How they have the patience to sit through hours of nonsense is beyond me. They then have to take up even more of the time devoted to doing the work they were elected to do, in order to defend themselves from those who would demean or defame them. Their meetings are almost being held hostage by people who never ran for office and otherwise would probably never hold a public office themselves.
John Sonderegger has never felt constrained in allowing two diametrically opposed views to occupy the same space in his column. Last week he chided the Mayor of St. Peters for not maintaining “decorum” in their meetings, while criticizing me for enforcing Council Rule forty-nine against two individuals for making defamatory comments about individuals during public comment.
All I can think is that John Sonderegger and Roland Wetzel must be getting ready to form a local chapter of the ACLU. The latest issue of Mr. Wetzel’s newspaper, quoted by John Sonderegger, takes up the cause of those who want to use the Council meetings to make personal attacks against individuals, saying that the State Constitution prohibits anyone from constraining free speech. Of course the Missouri General Assembly doesn’t have any time for public comment on the floor of the House or Senate. I also don’t know how asking people to be civil constrains their freedom.
We require speakers to wear clothing, which no doubt rubs nudists the wrong way.
The two speakers in question are leaders of and helping bankroll a recall effort against two members of the Council. The stated reason, to the press and in their own mailings, for wanting to recall Councilman Brown in Ward 3, is that he used the word “cesspool” to loosely describe the operations of a city department.
On the night that occurred I called Councilman Brown out of order. There is Council Rule twenty-five that says members should avoid “disparaging, offensive or slanderous statements.” The night of the meeting when Councilman Brown called problems within public works a “cesspool” Councilman Kneemiller immediately and emphatically decried Mr. Brown’s choice of words. He also misconstrued Mr. Brown’s intent to criticize problems rather than individual workers. I called Mr. Brown out of order due to Mr. Kneemiller’s lurid response. Later, Mr. Brown’s comments would ring true when evidence of tampering with his files came to light.
On numerous occasions since then, he has gone out of his way to praise the activities of individual employees and has assured people that his intent was not meant to reflect on individual employees. In other words, I think he was sorry and everyone can go on about their lives.
But no. His one remark became the centerpiece of the most unjustified recall effort since...well since the unjustified recall effort against Councilwoman Greer being funded by the same group.
Now the part I find hypocritical is that these same citizens wanting the recall Mark Brown for saying something they found offensive at a Council meeting, want to stand up before the Council and question the “character” and “honesty” of individual Council members and not be called out of order the way Councilman Brown was.
Maybe John Sonderegger and Roland Wetzel, if they form a chapter of the ACLU, will champion getting rid of the rule that the Council President has to maintain decorum altogether. We could then have a parade of speakers from the Ku Klux Klan, to flag burning radicals and Jerry Springer could be guest host.
What regular viewers or attendees at meetings of the City Council already know, is that I am the most reluctant person to use a gavel you will ever find. I can count on one hand the number of times I have had to use the gavel to bring someone to order. I was thinking about sending it to John ‘Spanky” Sonderegger as a present this Christmas so he can use it to conduct meetings of the “He Man Woman Haters Club” with Alfalfa and the gang.
P.S. Darla and Dottie aren’t invited.
When Name Calling Begins
Decorum: (noun) (2) Propriety and good taste in conduct or appearance (3) orderliness.
There isn’t much to the job description of a City Council President. You are chosen by a vote of your fellow Council members to chair the meetings of the Council. They give you a gavel and a set of rules and beyond that you get by on a winning smile and a prayer.
One of those rules (rule 9) says that the Council President is responsible for maintaining “decorum” at the meetings. The dictionary definition of the word leads off this week’s column.
How you maintain decorum is the trick. People can’t agree on what it should be...they only recognize it when it isn’t there.
I’ve tried watching meetings of the St. Peters Board of Aldermen, but sometimes it is just too painful. They have a regular cast of characters that speak for however long they care to about whatever they care to, while the public’s business gets pushed later and later into the evening.
I have a lot of respect for the members of the St. Peters Board of Aldermen. How they have the patience to sit through hours of nonsense is beyond me. They then have to take up even more of the time devoted to doing the work they were elected to do, in order to defend themselves from those who would demean or defame them. Their meetings are almost being held hostage by people who never ran for office and otherwise would probably never hold a public office themselves.
John Sonderegger has never felt constrained in allowing two diametrically opposed views to occupy the same space in his column. Last week he chided the Mayor of St. Peters for not maintaining “decorum” in their meetings, while criticizing me for enforcing Council Rule forty-nine against two individuals for making defamatory comments about individuals during public comment.
All I can think is that John Sonderegger and Roland Wetzel must be getting ready to form a local chapter of the ACLU. The latest issue of Mr. Wetzel’s newspaper, quoted by John Sonderegger, takes up the cause of those who want to use the Council meetings to make personal attacks against individuals, saying that the State Constitution prohibits anyone from constraining free speech. Of course the Missouri General Assembly doesn’t have any time for public comment on the floor of the House or Senate. I also don’t know how asking people to be civil constrains their freedom.
We require speakers to wear clothing, which no doubt rubs nudists the wrong way.
The two speakers in question are leaders of and helping bankroll a recall effort against two members of the Council. The stated reason, to the press and in their own mailings, for wanting to recall Councilman Brown in Ward 3, is that he used the word “cesspool” to loosely describe the operations of a city department.
On the night that occurred I called Councilman Brown out of order. There is Council Rule twenty-five that says members should avoid “disparaging, offensive or slanderous statements.” The night of the meeting when Councilman Brown called problems within public works a “cesspool” Councilman Kneemiller immediately and emphatically decried Mr. Brown’s choice of words. He also misconstrued Mr. Brown’s intent to criticize problems rather than individual workers. I called Mr. Brown out of order due to Mr. Kneemiller’s lurid response. Later, Mr. Brown’s comments would ring true when evidence of tampering with his files came to light.
On numerous occasions since then, he has gone out of his way to praise the activities of individual employees and has assured people that his intent was not meant to reflect on individual employees. In other words, I think he was sorry and everyone can go on about their lives.
But no. His one remark became the centerpiece of the most unjustified recall effort since...well since the unjustified recall effort against Councilwoman Greer being funded by the same group.
Now the part I find hypocritical is that these same citizens wanting the recall Mark Brown for saying something they found offensive at a Council meeting, want to stand up before the Council and question the “character” and “honesty” of individual Council members and not be called out of order the way Councilman Brown was.
Maybe John Sonderegger and Roland Wetzel, if they form a chapter of the ACLU, will champion getting rid of the rule that the Council President has to maintain decorum altogether. We could then have a parade of speakers from the Ku Klux Klan, to flag burning radicals and Jerry Springer could be guest host.
What regular viewers or attendees at meetings of the City Council already know, is that I am the most reluctant person to use a gavel you will ever find. I can count on one hand the number of times I have had to use the gavel to bring someone to order. I was thinking about sending it to John ‘Spanky” Sonderegger as a present this Christmas so he can use it to conduct meetings of the “He Man Woman Haters Club” with Alfalfa and the gang.
P.S. Darla and Dottie aren’t invited.
CASE IN POINT By Joe Koester, Councilman Ward 9
City Semantics: What a Wicked Web Williams Weaves or Valenti Invalidates Veracity
From the very beginning, I was strongly opposed to the contract with Allan Williams. I lobbied some on the council and two like-minded members voted, “nay” on a contract that passed 7-3.
Besides a compensation package that would be the highest in the area, the City would agree to provide lifetime health insurance for just a few years service. This is an insult to working men and women in our City who spend thirty years to secure the same benefits. Many in our community and country are losing their benefits and pensions after a lifetime of work and for elected officials to hand out such benefits because it’s not their own money (per se — it is our tax dollars) is flat out wrong!
There was one reason I did not fight even harder against this appointment and that was because it was agreed to have a one-year contract that would have to be renewed for Mr. Williams to receive full compensation. If I was proven wrong and Mr. Williams turned out to be a wunderkind who wowed us all, then maybe his compensation wasn’t the worst thing in the world, but if Mr. Williams was mediocre or if he showed bias against council, at least the council had the ability to decide to not renew his contract. This guarantee was what was presented to us in closed session and this is what we believed in good faith!
Aaah, yes! A man’s word is worth little nowadays and yet another semantics game was surely concocted by Mr. Williams and gang from the start!
The current dilemma is what to do when someone doesn’t keep and honor his word and there is not enough political will to enforce the council decision. The council president refuses to prevent Mr. Williams from partaking in meetings. I, for one, do not recognize Mr. William’s authority any longer since his contract wasn’t renewed. What to do, what to do!
This forces us to file a lawsuit against Williams. Mr. Kneemiller is adamant that whoever hires an attorney pays full price because, he claims, someone working pro bono would be considered a gift and therefore illegal.
Mr. Kneemiller need not worry, city precedence has shown us that a legal defense fund can be set up to pay for this.
Unfortunately, we will have to litigate because Williams has chosen deception over honoring his word and the contract at hand.
This situation also makes a very strong case for the need of special counsel to the city council. Our city attorney cannot serve both the legislative and executive branches of city government without putting one side’s interests in front of the other. Our attorney drew up a contract that he later claimed violated the charter. Really, what we see is that it is better for both branches to hire private firms to represent them and do away with a city legal department; this is not uncommon in city government and it makes sense.
An aside: If you happened to watch the meetings since the council split 5 to 5 you will notice that the other “Fab Five” vote in lockstep, seem to vote out of revenge, and vote based upon politics. To read some publications in town, however, would give the impression that it is only Gieseke, Brown, Riddler, Greer, and Koester who do such!
For those out there who didn’t hear about things in O’Fallon already, Bob Lowery has taken over out there as city administrator and it appears that he is cleaning up corruption in city hall. Maybe we can get the mayors of Saint Charles and O’Fallon to agree to swap administrators…but I doubt it.
THE CONSERVATIVE FACTOR - Alex Spencer
I volunteered to babysit my niece again while the ladies were out shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. We watched a couple movies for what seems like the hundredth time (what is it with kids and repetition anyways?) and we happened to watch Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (again).
After the credits (kids seem to really like the credits), my niece looked up at me with her beautiful blue eyes and asked me in that cute little girl voice “Uncle Alex, what happened to Snow White?” I responded cautiously: “Uhhhh, what do you mean dear?”
“What happened to Snow White after the prince saved her? Did she live happily ever after?” Turns out I have some punk in her kindergarten class to thank for teaching her the life lesson that things don’t always turn out happily ever after. Eeeks. I was in the classic quandary – do I tell the truth or should I make something up?
Now, I’ve heard my sister spin a decent tale in her many years of parenting, but her pinhead husband (puh-lease don’t tell him I said that) has some “thing” about the importance of telling the truth to children, regardless of their age. Well, I figure I better not sugarcoat things, so I went ahead and told her what happened…
Once upon a time… our favorite Princess Councilmember Darling Dottie and Prince Joe Koester lived in the beautiful Golden Palace. It turns out that after Prince Joe saved Darling Dottie from her slumber, they were able to gather up Doc Riddler and his dwarfs and run off the vain and wicked Perilous Patty. Their subjects were joyous and their happy reign began.
Perilous Patty (with her Magic Mirror Kneemiller) was banished to Ghoulish Glenn Jamboretz’s nasty, rundown duck blind in the hundred year floodplain. All of the bulldozers digging (practically 24/7) and bright lights glaring (so the bulldozers could see at night) in the floodplain gave Magic Mirror Kneemiller migraines and he could no longer answer Perilous Patty’s questions. Whatever was the old hag to do?
After selling their cottage in the floodplain for a huge profit (after all, the land was in high demand now), Doc Riddler and the dwarfs moved into the Golden Palace with Darling Dottie and Prince Joe, and they began the difficult task of straightening things out after Perilous Patty’s reign of terror. Apparently Perilous Patty had entered into some questionable business dealings on behalf of her subjects. Perilous Patty had been signing contracts and spending down the gold in the city’s coffers.
In the meantime, Perilous Patty summoned her dark knights (Krazy Ken and Terrible Tom) and they began to plot and plan with Ghoulish Glenn. Perilous Patty wanted Darling Dottie out of her palace.
Just as Doc Riddler and his loyal crew began to unravel her treacherous deeds…Perilous Patty returned to the Golden Palace with Krazy Ken and Terrible Tom. They had apparently found a way to punish Darling Dottie – they had schemed to spend their ill-gotten wealth on a recall effort to oust Darling Dottie from the Golden Palace.
Perilous Patty’s band of marauders, bandits and thieves (courtesy of Ghoulish Glenn) pounced on Darling Dottie’s kingdom from neighboring lands to collect a bounty for each subject they could terrorize into signing the petition to recall Darling Dottie.
What crime did Darling Dottie commit, you might ask? No one seems to know. Some subjects cited fireworks and such, but apparently the reason is as old as time itself. Perilous Patty is green with envy over Darling Dottie and the loyal Fabulous Five and, and she will stop at nothing to see them gone. Perhaps Perilous Patty wants Darling Dottie’s seat on the dais, so she has more face time on T.V. (not that it would be a good thing in her case). Just for good measure, Perilous Patty and her dark knights have gone after Sneezy Mark Brown as well…all in a coordinated effort to end Doc Riddler’s strong and wise leadership of the Council.
With her subjects in peril, Darling Dottie has held her head high and with the help of Doc Riddler, Prince Joe and Happy John Gieseke, she continues to fight the good fight against the forces of evil. It remains to be seen whether Perilous Patty will take over control of the Golden Palace and take up her favorite pastime: fleecing the city’s coffers.
Doc Riddler has studied the matter thoroughly and has raised his concerns before the appropriate authorities. It appears to Doc Riddler that some of those bandits were so greedy to collect the bounty; they may have fraudulently added signatures to the petitions. Hopefully, Doc Riddler will prevail in preventing this onslaught against Darling Dottie, but their subjects are certainly worried.
Grumpy Bob Hoepfner is waiting in the weeds to take over Doc Riddler’s position as Council President. The question will revolve around whether the rest of Perilous Patty’s unholy alliance: Magic Mirror Kneemiller, Dopey Larry Muench (a mute for goodness sake), Bashful Jerry Reese and Sleepy Mike Weller will support him if Perilous Patty is successful in her palace coup. Methinks not, dear reader, as this motley crew is incapable of solidarity – something that drives Perilous Patty positively batty.
Here’s where it gets a bit tricky. Children, like all of us, need hope and the belief that fundamentally, good will triumph over evil in the end. Fairy tales are supposed to be about hope and imagination. So I thought I’d better explain to my beautiful, innocent little niece that sometimes things don’t work out perfectly, but the wonderful thing about a fairy tale is that we know no matter what Perilous Patty throws her way, Darling Dottie will live happily ever after…
After the credits (kids seem to really like the credits), my niece looked up at me with her beautiful blue eyes and asked me in that cute little girl voice “Uncle Alex, what happened to Snow White?” I responded cautiously: “Uhhhh, what do you mean dear?”
“What happened to Snow White after the prince saved her? Did she live happily ever after?” Turns out I have some punk in her kindergarten class to thank for teaching her the life lesson that things don’t always turn out happily ever after. Eeeks. I was in the classic quandary – do I tell the truth or should I make something up?
Now, I’ve heard my sister spin a decent tale in her many years of parenting, but her pinhead husband (puh-lease don’t tell him I said that) has some “thing” about the importance of telling the truth to children, regardless of their age. Well, I figure I better not sugarcoat things, so I went ahead and told her what happened…
Once upon a time… our favorite Princess Councilmember Darling Dottie and Prince Joe Koester lived in the beautiful Golden Palace. It turns out that after Prince Joe saved Darling Dottie from her slumber, they were able to gather up Doc Riddler and his dwarfs and run off the vain and wicked Perilous Patty. Their subjects were joyous and their happy reign began.
Perilous Patty (with her Magic Mirror Kneemiller) was banished to Ghoulish Glenn Jamboretz’s nasty, rundown duck blind in the hundred year floodplain. All of the bulldozers digging (practically 24/7) and bright lights glaring (so the bulldozers could see at night) in the floodplain gave Magic Mirror Kneemiller migraines and he could no longer answer Perilous Patty’s questions. Whatever was the old hag to do?
After selling their cottage in the floodplain for a huge profit (after all, the land was in high demand now), Doc Riddler and the dwarfs moved into the Golden Palace with Darling Dottie and Prince Joe, and they began the difficult task of straightening things out after Perilous Patty’s reign of terror. Apparently Perilous Patty had entered into some questionable business dealings on behalf of her subjects. Perilous Patty had been signing contracts and spending down the gold in the city’s coffers.
In the meantime, Perilous Patty summoned her dark knights (Krazy Ken and Terrible Tom) and they began to plot and plan with Ghoulish Glenn. Perilous Patty wanted Darling Dottie out of her palace.
Just as Doc Riddler and his loyal crew began to unravel her treacherous deeds…Perilous Patty returned to the Golden Palace with Krazy Ken and Terrible Tom. They had apparently found a way to punish Darling Dottie – they had schemed to spend their ill-gotten wealth on a recall effort to oust Darling Dottie from the Golden Palace.
Perilous Patty’s band of marauders, bandits and thieves (courtesy of Ghoulish Glenn) pounced on Darling Dottie’s kingdom from neighboring lands to collect a bounty for each subject they could terrorize into signing the petition to recall Darling Dottie.
What crime did Darling Dottie commit, you might ask? No one seems to know. Some subjects cited fireworks and such, but apparently the reason is as old as time itself. Perilous Patty is green with envy over Darling Dottie and the loyal Fabulous Five and, and she will stop at nothing to see them gone. Perhaps Perilous Patty wants Darling Dottie’s seat on the dais, so she has more face time on T.V. (not that it would be a good thing in her case). Just for good measure, Perilous Patty and her dark knights have gone after Sneezy Mark Brown as well…all in a coordinated effort to end Doc Riddler’s strong and wise leadership of the Council.
With her subjects in peril, Darling Dottie has held her head high and with the help of Doc Riddler, Prince Joe and Happy John Gieseke, she continues to fight the good fight against the forces of evil. It remains to be seen whether Perilous Patty will take over control of the Golden Palace and take up her favorite pastime: fleecing the city’s coffers.
Doc Riddler has studied the matter thoroughly and has raised his concerns before the appropriate authorities. It appears to Doc Riddler that some of those bandits were so greedy to collect the bounty; they may have fraudulently added signatures to the petitions. Hopefully, Doc Riddler will prevail in preventing this onslaught against Darling Dottie, but their subjects are certainly worried.
Grumpy Bob Hoepfner is waiting in the weeds to take over Doc Riddler’s position as Council President. The question will revolve around whether the rest of Perilous Patty’s unholy alliance: Magic Mirror Kneemiller, Dopey Larry Muench (a mute for goodness sake), Bashful Jerry Reese and Sleepy Mike Weller will support him if Perilous Patty is successful in her palace coup. Methinks not, dear reader, as this motley crew is incapable of solidarity – something that drives Perilous Patty positively batty.
Here’s where it gets a bit tricky. Children, like all of us, need hope and the belief that fundamentally, good will triumph over evil in the end. Fairy tales are supposed to be about hope and imagination. So I thought I’d better explain to my beautiful, innocent little niece that sometimes things don’t work out perfectly, but the wonderful thing about a fairy tale is that we know no matter what Perilous Patty throws her way, Darling Dottie will live happily ever after…
COMMENTS & COMMENTARY by CHARLES HILL
When will South Main’s never ending wanting of City Tax Payer money end. It isn’t enough that the city charges the residents a tourism tax when eating in their own home town, now South Main wants a retail specialist to help sell their buildings to retailers. In reality it wouldn’t be that big of a deal because the retail specialist would most likely be drawn and quartered if they brought in businesses that did not meet the standards of the clandestine South Main group that lurks in dark corners and tears down flags and cuts the Christmas lights near Lewis and Clark.
You see South Main has to find its character and draw through trial and error just like any other successful business. They can limit the trial and error by using marketing data that is fresh and updated. The business owners have to make a conscious decision of what and who would be a good fit to South Main. The new study done by Judy Randall goes some of the way of saying what has been said for years. South Main needs something other than historic buildings to make it work. There needs to be more life on South Main.
This division of North and South Main Street might be a place to start. Instead of separating the two, why not take the best of both and make Main Street whole again? North Main has done a great job of creating a feeling of fun, while failing in the restoration aspect. South Main has failed tremendously in creating fun and vibrancy needed to have economic viability. South Main has done well in the restoration and creating historically correct facades.
The problem with a facade is that what’s underneath doesn’t show. The facade of historically correct buildings has to lend itself to businesses that make money for all involved. Many have given a tremendous amount of time and effort to create a Main Street that is special. Special can’t be just the building fronts. Main Street needs ownership that has embraced the need for a vibrant and lively Main Street.
The worst thing that could happen to Main Street is to let the City meddle in the business of business. They should leave us alone to find the retail that will be successful. Give us the Randall Study let us make decisions with our property. This City isn’t what anyone would call a well-oiled machine. If they can’t run their business why should we trust them with ours? Maybe my blaming South Main for wanting a retail specialist is incorrect. Will the Mayor’s want to improve her property values on Main ever end? Now she wants someone to sell her property and using taxpayer money to do it.
You see South Main has to find its character and draw through trial and error just like any other successful business. They can limit the trial and error by using marketing data that is fresh and updated. The business owners have to make a conscious decision of what and who would be a good fit to South Main. The new study done by Judy Randall goes some of the way of saying what has been said for years. South Main needs something other than historic buildings to make it work. There needs to be more life on South Main.
This division of North and South Main Street might be a place to start. Instead of separating the two, why not take the best of both and make Main Street whole again? North Main has done a great job of creating a feeling of fun, while failing in the restoration aspect. South Main has failed tremendously in creating fun and vibrancy needed to have economic viability. South Main has done well in the restoration and creating historically correct facades.
The problem with a facade is that what’s underneath doesn’t show. The facade of historically correct buildings has to lend itself to businesses that make money for all involved. Many have given a tremendous amount of time and effort to create a Main Street that is special. Special can’t be just the building fronts. Main Street needs ownership that has embraced the need for a vibrant and lively Main Street.
The worst thing that could happen to Main Street is to let the City meddle in the business of business. They should leave us alone to find the retail that will be successful. Give us the Randall Study let us make decisions with our property. This City isn’t what anyone would call a well-oiled machine. If they can’t run their business why should we trust them with ours? Maybe my blaming South Main for wanting a retail specialist is incorrect. Will the Mayor’s want to improve her property values on Main ever end? Now she wants someone to sell her property and using taxpayer money to do it.
CITY ISSUES - R.L. Greer
In the early 1700’s there was a German printer by the name of Peter Zenger in New York who founded a newspaper called the New York Weekly Journal and his paper was in opposition to an official newspaper that supported a suspicious Governor of New York William Cosby. Peter Zenger thought people should be able to read more than one side of a story. The New York Weekly Journal published some spicy articles saying the Governor accepted bribes, he took away people’s land and he rigged elections. The Governor wanted the paper stopped so he had Zenger arrested, charged with libel and sent to jail. Zenger had some influential lawyer friends who wrote some of the articles but the Governor had Zenger’s lawyers disbarred. A man by the name of Andrew Hamilton, a friend of Benjamin Franklin and William Penn, appeared to defend Peter Zenger. The Attorney General stated that TRUTH was no defense. Today to prove libel there must be a known stated lie and that lie must hurt a person. In the 1700’s it was a crime to say anything bad, true or untrue, about the king and the Attorney General said the Governor was just like the king. Lawyer Hamilton speaking softly said “Free men have a right to complain when hurt. They have a right to oppose arbitrary power by speaking and writing TRUTHS…to assert with courage the sense they have of the blessings of liberty, the value they put upon it…their resolution…to prove it one of the greatest blessings heaven can bestow… There is no libel if the truth is told. The question before the court and you, gentlemen of the jury, is not of small nor private concern but is the best cause. It is the cause of LIBERTY.” Andrew Zenger was found not guilty. (Freedom. A history of us, Joy Hakim,Oxford University Press. 2003)
The above bit of history is presented here for the purpose of emphasizing that the challenge we all face is to discern when reading an article whether it is full of factual TRUTH or fabricated and twisted truth. I believe the articles published in the First Capitol News can be proven beyond any doubt with factual evidence. Dr. A.W.Tozer wrote, “ A true and safe leader is likely to be one who has no desire to lead, but is forced into a position of leadership by the inward pressures of the Holy Spirit and the press of the external situation.” I’m quite sure it is the “press of external situations” that motivates the First Capitol News staff to publish its newspaper weekly. At the same time I wish to state that the entire statement by Dr. Tozer is what motivated Ms. Greer to seek a seat on the City Council. There is a scripture found in 1 Samuel 16:7 that says, “God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Which further explains why Ms. Greer is seated on City Council.
No matter how a statement of fact is stated, a believable truth can only be stated one way because it can be proven with actual events or documents. A true statement should never indicate an opinion within its content. Today the residents of the City of St Charles are bombarded with opinionated statements that in many cases are hurtful and demeaning to the character and integrity of two of the council representatives as well as directed toward other members also. There should be honesty displayed in articles of criticism and to be critical of someone whom the individual making the statement has never met is incomprehensible. Stating they do not like another Council member so they are going after this person is beyond totally ridiculous and are acting as grade schoolyard bullies. I’ll not dignify the individuals I am criticizing or give any more credence to their wild statements any further.
On behalf of Dottie Greer I want to say THANK YOU to all who have called to express their support and words of encouragement. Also to those who have stopped her in public to personally express their thoughts we wish to express our warmest THANKS.
I had intended to end this article with the above note of thanks but after attending the Regular Council Meeting Tuesday night I have a few comments to make regarding the things that transpired at that meeting. First I believe this years budget discussions are the worst we have seen. Last year the budget was separated into specific departments to be discussed at any one meeting. Also last year there was more information furnished by the administration that listed out the unfinished projects and spelling out how the departments were planning on using the budgeted funds. It is very apparent this year the changes were handled by Mr. Riddler and Mayor York without input from the other council members. Two budget meetings were scheduled and the entire budget was to be discussed. The four members (Kneemiller, Weller, Reese, Hoepfner) who walked out on the November 29th meeting when budget changes were discussed are being contrary and their decisions are all made out of spite to the other five members without, it seems, consideration of the possible consequences to the residents. Kneemiller, who did not attend the budget discussion and was allowed to separate the changes approved at that meeting and thus allowing voting separately on each issue. If they were against the changes why did they not attend the meeting? I believe they are taking this City down the tubes but not willing to consider good changes that are for the benefit of the taxpayers and residents of the City. The stormwater funds for flooding in two particular wards was voted down by Larry Muench, who was to receive the benefit of $100,000.00 in his ward for flooding problems. Thus preventing the other ward residents from receiving $200,000.00 to rectify their flooding basements issue. Was this done to stay in lockstep with his other voting block members (Kneemiller, Weller, Reese, Hoepfner)? This years budget process and figures remind me too much of the very reason we voted for new council members in April 2004. Why do we have four department director positions vacant? To answer Weller’s question I have to remind everyone that effective April 2007 because of only 200+ votes for the Charter change the new Mayor will have the authority to fire existing directors and replace them with his/her own choice. Naturally the individuals who are filling those positions are questioning whether they will have the same job after April 2007. I raised the question then and I raise it again now, who in their right mind would accept a position now unless they are already aware who the next Mayor will be and are in step with him/her. If I were voting on the new budget proposal it would have to be a resounding no and suggest letting the old 2005 budget be extended 45 days to allow properly organized meetings to take place. Enough said now until another day. The aforesaid situation is only one of many that the City taxpaying residents find themselves once again at the end of the stream fighting the rough current to go upstream with a very, very, very short paddle.
If you do not know what Council Rule 43 says, ask your council representative.
The above bit of history is presented here for the purpose of emphasizing that the challenge we all face is to discern when reading an article whether it is full of factual TRUTH or fabricated and twisted truth. I believe the articles published in the First Capitol News can be proven beyond any doubt with factual evidence. Dr. A.W.Tozer wrote, “ A true and safe leader is likely to be one who has no desire to lead, but is forced into a position of leadership by the inward pressures of the Holy Spirit and the press of the external situation.” I’m quite sure it is the “press of external situations” that motivates the First Capitol News staff to publish its newspaper weekly. At the same time I wish to state that the entire statement by Dr. Tozer is what motivated Ms. Greer to seek a seat on the City Council. There is a scripture found in 1 Samuel 16:7 that says, “God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Which further explains why Ms. Greer is seated on City Council.
No matter how a statement of fact is stated, a believable truth can only be stated one way because it can be proven with actual events or documents. A true statement should never indicate an opinion within its content. Today the residents of the City of St Charles are bombarded with opinionated statements that in many cases are hurtful and demeaning to the character and integrity of two of the council representatives as well as directed toward other members also. There should be honesty displayed in articles of criticism and to be critical of someone whom the individual making the statement has never met is incomprehensible. Stating they do not like another Council member so they are going after this person is beyond totally ridiculous and are acting as grade schoolyard bullies. I’ll not dignify the individuals I am criticizing or give any more credence to their wild statements any further.
On behalf of Dottie Greer I want to say THANK YOU to all who have called to express their support and words of encouragement. Also to those who have stopped her in public to personally express their thoughts we wish to express our warmest THANKS.
I had intended to end this article with the above note of thanks but after attending the Regular Council Meeting Tuesday night I have a few comments to make regarding the things that transpired at that meeting. First I believe this years budget discussions are the worst we have seen. Last year the budget was separated into specific departments to be discussed at any one meeting. Also last year there was more information furnished by the administration that listed out the unfinished projects and spelling out how the departments were planning on using the budgeted funds. It is very apparent this year the changes were handled by Mr. Riddler and Mayor York without input from the other council members. Two budget meetings were scheduled and the entire budget was to be discussed. The four members (Kneemiller, Weller, Reese, Hoepfner) who walked out on the November 29th meeting when budget changes were discussed are being contrary and their decisions are all made out of spite to the other five members without, it seems, consideration of the possible consequences to the residents. Kneemiller, who did not attend the budget discussion and was allowed to separate the changes approved at that meeting and thus allowing voting separately on each issue. If they were against the changes why did they not attend the meeting? I believe they are taking this City down the tubes but not willing to consider good changes that are for the benefit of the taxpayers and residents of the City. The stormwater funds for flooding in two particular wards was voted down by Larry Muench, who was to receive the benefit of $100,000.00 in his ward for flooding problems. Thus preventing the other ward residents from receiving $200,000.00 to rectify their flooding basements issue. Was this done to stay in lockstep with his other voting block members (Kneemiller, Weller, Reese, Hoepfner)? This years budget process and figures remind me too much of the very reason we voted for new council members in April 2004. Why do we have four department director positions vacant? To answer Weller’s question I have to remind everyone that effective April 2007 because of only 200+ votes for the Charter change the new Mayor will have the authority to fire existing directors and replace them with his/her own choice. Naturally the individuals who are filling those positions are questioning whether they will have the same job after April 2007. I raised the question then and I raise it again now, who in their right mind would accept a position now unless they are already aware who the next Mayor will be and are in step with him/her. If I were voting on the new budget proposal it would have to be a resounding no and suggest letting the old 2005 budget be extended 45 days to allow properly organized meetings to take place. Enough said now until another day. The aforesaid situation is only one of many that the City taxpaying residents find themselves once again at the end of the stream fighting the rough current to go upstream with a very, very, very short paddle.
If you do not know what Council Rule 43 says, ask your council representative.
SPORTS - First Capitol News Sports Section - MIKE MCMURRAN Sports Editor
MY COLUMN - MIKE MCMURRAN Sports Editor
Ah yes, the high school basketball season is upon us, which means Bob Barton and I are busy beavers. This past week I had the privilege of being the public address announcer at the Trinity Catholic Lady Titan’s Third Annual Basketball Classic. Monday thru Friday a total of nine games. As fate would have it the best game was saved for last: It featured the Spartans of Francis Howell Central and their star junior forward Shakara Jones against our hometown St. Charles Pirates with their one-two punch or Tori Fenemor and Abby Schultenhenrich.
Ah yes, nine games of basketball, starting nightly at 6 and 7:30, ending around 9:15 or so. Of on Friday night there were three games, with the last game starting at 8:30. Yes, good old fate was at work Friday evening. Not only was the Championship game the best, for a number of reasons – it was the longest game of the entire tournament.
St. Charles head coach Corey Nesslage’s leading scorer Schultenhenrich secured three fouls early, and I mean early, in the first quarter; she remained on the bench the rest of the first half. In the mean time Jones pretty much dominated the game. Not to worry, Schultenhenrich would return in the second half and make a game of it – or at least that would be the plan. She did return in the second half, but gathered her 4th foul in the first minute of the second half. Things did not look good for the Pirates.
I suspect I should mention, as the public address announcer, I was to remain neutral, except when Trinity was playing. For example, on Wednesday, when St. Charles played Trinity, and Abby nailed a three, I simply said: “Schultenhenrich, for 3.” On the other hand, when Trinity’s Kim Krahl rebounded the ball and drove all the way to the other basketl for two, I would overly exaggerate: “Kim Krahlllll….goes coast to coast for two!”
Back to Friday’s championship game. Once Central built a 15-point lead Jones was pulled. At just about the same time Abby returned – and she was hot! Slowly, but surely the Pirates chipped at Central’s lead – Jones returned. St. Charles pulled within three with less than 10 seconds remaining. St. Charles was in bounding the ball beneath their own basket. Everyone in the Robert Strub Memorial Gym knew what was coming – someway, somehow, the Pirates would get the ball to Schultenhenrich for a game tying three pointer. Well, they did, and she did. As the public address guy all I could say was: Schultenhenrich, for 3. Remember, I had to appear neutral – I was anything but!
Both teams had their “go to” players in now, Jones versus Schultenhenrich. Jones down low for the Spartans, Schultenhenrich working to get open anyway, anywhere she could. At the end of overtime the game was once again knotted. “Double overtime,” my voice bellowed though out the gym.
Ultimately Central hung on for the win – but that is not the point I wish to make. Nesslage coached his butt off. With his star player on the bench most of regulation play, he kept his Pirates close enough to strike back once she returned. A balanced scoring attack: Schultenhenrich finished with 12 (3/4 from past the arc), Fenemor had 13, Lisa Witte 12. Senior Abby Schaberg was perfect from the 3 point line (3/3) scoring 9. Rounding out the scoring was Whitney Euginger 5, Katie Muir 4, and Claire Gillette 2. I couldn’t help but think if it had happened the other way, that is if Jones had been on the bench most of the game, there would have been no way Central would have been able to keep it close. I also couldn’t help but wonder, “what if Abby had played the entire game?”
Ah yes, good old fate: The two teams will play again this Thursday at 7 p.m. at Howell Central. Anyone interested in watching some top notch, girls’ basketball needs only to travel down Highway N to Central Thursday evening. You can bet Bob and I will be there.
By the way, the final score Friday was Cental 65, St. Charles 57. Jones scored all 30 of her points on two point field goals. She was 0/3 from the charity stripe.
Coming up next week: My Christmas greetings to friends and foes (which list do you think is longer?) and a special soccer announcement, which will put St. Charles County on the national soccer map. See ya next week.
First Capitol News High School Athlete of the Week
Courtney Champagne,
St. Charles West
5’ 5” Junior, Guard
Tuesday evening in the semifinals of the Nerinx Hall Invitational Tournament, St. Charles West found themselves down 34-21 at half-time. With the help of junior point guard Courtney Champagne, the Lady Warriors managed to secure a 48-46 come from behind victory. For her contributions in this unlikely win, Courtney has been selected The First Capitol News High School Athlete of the Week.
With whom do you live: My parents, Boo and Stacey Champagne, and my three younger brothers: Brannon (14), Chipper (10) and Trent (4).
How long have you been playing basketball/Where did you begin: I started playing basketball in the 4th grade for the St. Charles Flames. I stayed with them for 3 years and then began playing for the St. Louis Comets.
Favorite basketball moment: Definitely winning district last year, against Duchesne, our archrival, on our home court. It doesn’t get much better than that!
Favorite subject: Math
Favorite teacher: Mr. Voelkl, AP Literature teacher
Team goals this season: Return to the finals of district and hopefully win the Gateway Conference
Personal goals: Do whatever it takes to help the team achieve their goals. Its not about me, its about our team.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be: Someday I hope to travel throughout Europe; see as much of Europe as I possibly can
Favorite book: Divinci Code
Favorite movie: Billy Madison
Advice to underclassman: Stay focused and never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something
This week in high school sports…
Friday, December 9
Girls Basketball
St. Charles at Fort Zumwalt South, 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball
Wright City at Duchesne, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, December 12
Girls Basketball
Howell Central at Duchesne, 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball
Howell North at Pattonville, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, December 13
Girls Basketball
Elsberry at Orchard Farm, 7 p.m.
Washington at St. Charles, 7 p.m.
Troy at St. Charles West, 7:30 p.m.
Boys Basketball
Howell North at Zumwalt North, 5:30 p.m.
Orchard Farm at Valley Park, 6:30 p.m.
Duchesne at Howell Central, 7 p.m.
St. Charles at Washington, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 15
Girls Basketball
St. Charles West at Howell North, 7 p.m.
St. Charles at Howell Central, 7 p.m.
Friday, December 16
Girls Basketball
Montgomery County at Orchard Farm, 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball
Zumwalt West at Duchesne, 7:30 p.m.
Howell Central at St. Charles, 7:30 p.m.
Wrestling
St. Charles West at Raytown Invitational, 5 p.m.
RAGE GET SUPPORT IN MOVE TO SAVVIS
By Mike Thompson
I’ve never envied a writer who follows any type of formal gathering, a journalist who covers the social scene, or anyone assigned to string out a list of ‘who’s who’ in a newspaper article. They often run the risk of shaking too many hands, gathering too many names and invariably omitting someone important when the story goes to press. So rather than try to mention everyone at our party this past Tuesday night, I’ll gladly bypass the fugal attempt to name names, I’ll just say EVERYONE influential and important, and yo, did we ever have a great time!
The RiverCity Rage of the NIFL officially, this week, unveiled the banner that proclaimed this team one with the Savvis Center in downtown St. Louis. At the private residence of Dan McGuire, the C-E-O of Mac Meetings and Events, and with some special help from Colleen Barden, that organization’s Events Co-Coordinator, more than 75 business leaders, media types, and fans of the Rage gathered to hear St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay officially welcome the premier franchise in the NIFL to the St. Louis sports scene. His Honor invited the business leaders to ‘Release the Rage’ in 2006 by exploring ways to become involved with the team and promote their own venues in the process.
“The City of St. Louis is a great sports town and we have with us tonight a group of individuals who are hard core football fans. The Rage organization is working hard to insure that fans in the Gateway City will be able to enjoy exciting indoor football and lots of family fun at Savvis Center comes March of next year. I know I’m looking forward to going to some games and this is a great opportunity for you as business leaders to get involved with the success of the team and find ways to make it your own success as well.”
Hey, hey, the Mayor of St. Louis, with an official welcome, an open invitation, a pass to the Gateway to the West. And from start to finish, Tye Elliott and Scott Wilson, Rage Majority Owners, did it up right. Formal invitations were sent out about 10 days ago, cordially inviting these movers and shakers to a cocktail reception offered up to acquaint them with us and us with them. Some we already knew, some were curious about this new upstart team headed for new challenge and looking to earn it’s stripes playing with the big boys downtown. But all had one thing in common, and that was evident from the start. A love of football, the recognition of this team as a way to promote business and partnership in greater St. Louis, and hey, everyone loves a winner. These were winning businesspeople ready to hook up with a successful franchise, ready to tackle growth and success, ready to dive into an end zone of opportunity. From bank presidents to real estate developers to judges, doctors, lawyers, and yes, even several entrepreneurs...all there to explore, inquire and support.
Rage Majority Owner Scott Wilson offered these comments after Mayor Slay’s opening remarks....”It was one year ago this very day that the league informed both Tye and myself that our partnership, GST Sports, Inc. had been awarded the franchise, and since then the entire focus of this organization has been centered on bringing exciting, hard hitting, in-your-face football to the fans, along with providing family style all-round entertainment with our game night themes. We only see this coming season and our merge with Savvis Center as a chance for more success both on and off the field, in the community and with charitable causes. We’re up for the challenge, and it’s one I know this team will embrace.”
Before our guests enjoyed an open bar and buffet style food, Rage Majority owner Tye Elliott offered his comments to the crowd. “We saw our first example of how exciting things could be for us at Savvis last July when we played our opening round playoff game. We were disappointed with the result (a double overtime loss to Cincinnati) but the crowd couldn’t have been more loud, more uproarious, and so into the game all the way to the end. If we had won that game, there’s no doubt in my mind we would have packed the place the next weekend, It was then that Scott and I started working on ways to secure Savvis Center as the permanent home venue for the Rage. It’s happened, and now our coaches, players and everyone in the organization couldn’t be more thrilled. We’re ready to go.”
So, movin’ days a comin’.....but take it from someone who’s been around this team and worked with everyone involved for the past year...this football team, this franchise, would not be in the position it is in today had it not been for the loyal fans of the St. Charles area and the surrounding areas and counties. I know it, the owners know it, and chances are pretty good if you’re reading this article right now, you live in the aforementioned area....so, more than anyone or anything....YOU should know it!
This was a move precipitated by the opportunity to draw from a larger fan base and benefit from additional business connections in St. Louis....nothing more. In no way was it meant to even suggest a slap in the face of the St. Charles area. In truth, the team will still maintain headquarters in St. Charles, and continue to support and benefit from the vast number of business ventures in the area. I’ll still attend the BNI meetings at Culpeppers around the corner....we’ll still be involved in the Chamber of Commerce, and more now than ever, we’ll be looking for our loyal, hard core Rage fans to take the extra 15 minutes or so to head down the hiway and root for this team.
No, we haven’t forgotten where it began, and in many ways, still exists.....but growth is part of any business, any team. A good case in point is the Cardinals and a brand new Busch Stadium. Like many St. Louisians, I was sorry to see the old one go...I was there as a teenager for the 1966 All-Star Game....the ‘67 World Series...even camped out overnight with friends (and my steady at the time!) to be first in line for bleacher tickets for the ‘68 Fall Classic. Over the years, I saw many a game, some ordinary, some legendary, but I know in my heart that the first time I walk through the turnstiles at the new ballpark, I’ll be ready to embrace the Cardinal’s future, and I’ll be back again and again. So, because I love baseball, I’ll continue to be a fan because I understand the necessity of change, and mostly because I don’t want to miss out on Cardinal Nation, regardless of where it’s played.
That’s where we’re at with RiverCity Rage football, now and in the future. A change has been made, one we embrace and one we feel is necessary to take this team to the next level of success. But for you, the Rage fan, WHEREVER you may be, this football team belongs to YOU. Follow us into the exciting future....Release your Rage...and if you’re from the St. Charles or immediate areas, know that we would have been lost without you in the past....and will be in the future!!
Missouri River Otters Hockey
‘St. Nicholas’ Gives River Otters a Gift
Team Acquires UHL Veteran and Two Wins
By Louis J. Launer
When most of us were children growing up (if you grew up in a traditional German-American family), there was this “figure” who arrived around December 6 named St. Nicholas. There was something of that “character” roaming around South Main Street the last few weekends. Apparently, the real spirit of “St. Nick” arrived early for the Missouri River Otters organization and brought something important the team can use in December and maybe the rest of the season.
On Friday morning December 2, the team announced they signed Jim Duhart, who most recently played with the Flint Generals from 2000 to 2005, but has played with other UHL teams. Two days before, sportswriter Brendan Savage of the Flint Journal wrote in his newspaper after seeing Duhart in the stands at the Family Arena in Wednesday night’s game against the Flint Generals that Duhart was going to be acquired by the River Otters. The Otters did lose to Flint again and some evaluation had to be done to save this losing season.
Duhart is a 14-year United Hockey League veteran who has scored at least 30 goals in his last nine seasons. He played five seasons with Flint, although in 2004-05, he spent half of that season in playing for the Danbury [Connecticut] Trashers. His longest tenure in his career and his most famous was with Flint. Out of 321 games with the Generals, he scored 211 goals and recorded 175 assists. He’s also heavy on the penalties, having received 2,323 penalty minutes in 859 professional games. Duhart’s career started with the former Madison [Wisconsin] Monsters and later wound up with the Generals in 2001. In 1999-2000, Duhart was the key player with the Madison Kodiaks [the team changed names in 1999] to upset the heavily favored Flint Generals in the first-round of the Colonial Cup playoffs. After the Kodiaks moved to its current home of Kalamazoo to become the K-Wings, Duhart was sent to Flint.
Duhart’s performance as a goal scorer and a semi-enforcer with Flint helped the Generals remain as a playoff team the first few seasons. Although the team had been on the border of either making it to the playoffs most of those seasons, Duhart rekindled the traditional Flint-Quad City rivalry. His physical play and goal scoring gave Flint a chance against the Quad City Mallards, who was at that time enjoying a dynasty. Many long-time UHL fans remember an incident in 2001 in Moline, Illinois when the Generals visited the Mallards. At the end of the second period in a late-season game, a Quad City fan came out of the stands and into the area where the teams go to their dressing rooms and attacked Duhart. Generals fans didn’t like it a bit, and neither did most Quad City fans. But the incident fueled the continuation of the rivalry of both teams, even with Flint in 2003-04 and last season not making the playoffs.
River Otters head coach Kevin Kaminski welcomed the new veteran to the River Otters, hoping to save this season.
“Jim is a power forward who is a proven goal scorer in this league,” Kaminski said. “He is a physical player who we expect to help our team in all facets of the game.”
Jim Duhart did just that this past weekend. Ironically, the Quad City Mallards were in town for a Friday-Saturday set of games at Family Arena. Missouri has also had quite a rivalry with the Mallards over the years. But it was never totally intense. The only reason why there was any sense of rivalry was because both teams are close as far as driving distance (150 miles).
As usual, fans from the Quad Cities drove down to make an early Christmas weekend by visiting St. Charles. Most of those fans were expecting two easy wins from the struggling Otters. But last Friday’s game became a surprise to all fans.
Duhart didn’t hit the ice for his first shift until six minutes into the game. As a team, the Otters did show its usual inability to hold onto the puck, pass the puck and clearing the puck during shorthanded situations. At the 11:25 mark, Lars Pettersen scored first for the Otters, thanks to a Duhart pass. It was a rare moment for the Otters to score first in a game this season. Frank Littlejohn also serves on the same line with Pettersen and Duhart and picked up a rebounded puck to begin the scoring drive. At 2:15 of the second period, Littlejohn himself scored by picking up a puck the Mallards missed in their own zone. A 2-0 lead by the Otters over the Mallards in any game in the history of this rivalry is still very rare. Although by the middle of the second period, the Mallards evened it up and took the lead in the final minute of the second period, thanks to their leading goal scorer, Patrick Nadeau scoring unassisted at 19:40.
Fans noticed throughout the game that head coach Kevin Kaminski was not behind the bench for the Otters on Friday night. Kaminski was in the stands watching the game and evaluating players, seeing things from another location what he couldn’t see at ice level. Fans sensed that Kaminski is beginning to make some more big changes.
In the third period, Duhart finally showed his scoring ability, scoring two quick goals at 1:05 and 3:53. On those two goals, he got help from Damian Surma, who started centering the puck better. The River Otters had a third period lead, thanks to Duhart. But the Mallards’ Patrick Nadeau reminded everyone that the Mallards do not go down easily. At the 14:49 mark, Nadeau fired a slap shot behind goaltender Kevin Reiter with no River Otter near him. That tied the game at 4 and regulation play ended.
Fans wanted to see former River Otter goaltender Jason Tapp lose a game as a Mallard. The game came down to the rivalry between goaltenders in a shootout. Current River Otters goaltender Kevin Reiter and Tapp were teammates last season. Reiter proved that he was definitely back and his desire to be a starting goaltender for the River Otters. It took only four rounds, but Reiter stopped all four Mallards shots, including Patrick Nadeau’s final attempt as well as former River Otter Glenn Detullio. Tapp wasn’t lucky. Damian Surma and Frank Littlejohn scored for the River Otters, giving the team a 5-4 shootout victory and the first victory earned at Family Arena this season for the team.
“We needed it!” said an exhausted Kevin Kaminski, collecting the notes he made throughout the game. Kaminski noticed a lot of activity out on the ice from the upper deck of Family Arena. Would any more chances be made in the team? Kaminski didn’t say. But the acquisition of Jim Duhart could wind up being the beginning of a December jump start.
Duhart is on a path to achieve 500 goals in a career. His two goals last Friday were numbers 470 and 471. The following night, both teams met again at Family Arena. Lars Pettersen scored again, along with Tyler Butler that gave the Otters a 2-1 victory over the Mallards. The River Otters in six seasons have never beaten the Mallards twice in a row and in two straight games, even if it was a home-and-home series or two straight games either at home or on the road.
BAD BOYS: Fans were upset on Friday night when the River Otters’ Dave Stewart was called for a 5-minute major for spearing, which includes a game misconduct. Stewart claimed he didn’t spear anyone, but was escorted from the ice at the 12:13 mark of the first period. In Saturday’s game, Brad MacMillan picked on Mallards left-winger Jesse Rycroft at the 7:22 point of the second period. MacMillan did win the scrap, but wound up with a long sentence in the penalty box, receiving 2 minutes for instigating a fight, 5 minutes for actually fighting and a ten-minute misconduct. Fortunately in Saturday’s game, all of the scoring for the game was completed at 5:56 of the second period.
FAMILY ARENA SOUND SYSTEM: In Friday’s game, there was a report that UHL off-ice game officials who track scoring, count shots and serve as game spotters, could not communicate with each other because the public address system was considered to be “too loud.” Those in charge of the sound system at the arena turned off two speakers on one side of the arena, primarily the penalty box and press end, making it difficult for fans (who usually sit on that side of the arena) to hear any announcement made during the game. Fans did complain to the arena officials, who said that the UHL officials threatened to walk out of the arena and not cover the game if they didn’t have their way. The sound system is being worked on and hopefully will be rectified in time for the UHL’s All-Star Game in January.
Lindenwood University’s Kara Wall Named NAIA Volleyball All American
Senior middle hitter Kara Wall from Ballwin, Missouri and graduate of JF Kennedy High School was named to the 2005 Volleyball NAIA All American team. This marks the third year in a row that Kara has received this honor.
Kara received this honor due to being named 2005 Player of the Year in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) where she led the conference with over 4.5 kills per game while also being among the leaders in blocking and service aces. Wall is a four time 1st Team All Conference (HAAC) and 1st Team All Region V selection. She was last year’s runner-up for player of the year. She is Lindenwood University’s all time volleyball attack leader with over 2200 kills.
She is a two time NAIA Scholar Athlete and Lindenwood University’s 2003-04 Female Scholar Athlete.
The Lindenwood University Volleyball Lady Lions finished the season with a 31-8 record. They took 1st place in the HAAC with a 10-0 record and 4th in the region.
For information about the volleyball program please contact Coach Ron Young at 636-949-4634 or ryoung@lindenwood.edu.
Seven Lions Earn NAIA Soccer Post-Season Honors
Three Lindenwood University men’s soccer players and three women’s soccer players recently received recognitions for their performances this fall.
Ignacio Novas, a junior from Montevideo, Uruguay was named to the First Team NAIA All-America Team. Novas the 2004 NAIA National Player of the Year.
Martin Barreiro, a senior also from Montevideo, Uruguay and Pedro Chain, a junior from Buenos Aires, Argentina both received NAIA Honorable Mention All-America Honors.
The defending NAIA National Champion Lindenwood Men’s team advanced to the elite final eight at the NAIA National Championship before losing to eventual National Champion, Lindsey Wilson 2-0. Freshman Bryce Flynn (Tulsa, OK) was named to the National Championship All-Tournament Team.
The men’s soccer team finished the year with a 21st place final ranking and an 11-6-4 record.
The Lindenwood women’s team ended a very successful season finishing 17-3-1.
Senior Lisa van Middlesworth (St. Louis Rosary/Trinity), the 2005 Heart of America Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and junior Becky Ryan (St. Louis Notre Dame), received NAIA Honorable mention All-America honors.
Junior Caitlin Hoeh (Perryville) received NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete recognition.
A Long East Coast Road Trip A Big Success For Lindenwood’s Women’s Ice Hockey Team
The Women’s Ice Hockey team took a very long trip to the East Coast this past weekend with four games in four days against the top two teams from the east coast in the ACHA.
The first two games of the trip were at UMASS against the $5 team in the country. “We did have our concerns about that game. After a 20-hour bus ride overnight we didn’t know how we would come out. I was very impressed with our entire team. We came out pretty strong. We were able to get rid of the bus legs in that first period and after that we were playing our game the rest of the night, said head coach Vince O’Mara. The Lady Lions won that first game by a score of 6-1. The line of Kat Hannah, Amy Dlugos and Melanie Keith led the way offensively for the Lady Lions while freshman goaltender Michelle Borsa stood tall in the nets. She was helped out by standout defense from Veronica Metcalf, Sarah Wilkinson, Katy Paul, Nikki Rasmussen, Tanishah Bardai and Kristen Prest.
Game two against UMASS the Lady Lions saw themselves down by a goal at the end of the first period. “Going into the locker room after that period, the girls were not happy about being down by a goal. We came out in the second and had a much better period and finished them off with a great third period,” O’Mara said. The final core was LU 6 – MASS 1. Jennell Stam was strong in nets and the offense was led by a dominant performance from Katie Kells. Other standouts in the game were Katy Paul, Robbyn Keating, Kat Hannah and Amy Dlugos.
Games three and four of the weekend had the lady Lions up against the #5 ranked University of Rhode Island. After a short two and a half hour trip to Rhode Island the Lady Lions faced of against URI. The first game was a very hard fought battle that saw the visiting team on top at the end 4-1. “We knew going into this set of games that we would know where we stand in the ACHA. URI is a very talented team that has been a top team in the country for the past several years. Our team was up to the challenge and played very well,” O’Mara said. Jennelle Stam faced 22 shots on goal and only allowed one goal. While up front the line of Katie Kells, Marie Blanc and Kristen Dlugos had a great outing. Other offensive players like Charmaine Gosselin, Crystal Coval, Molly Hanson and Dawn Dyer had very good outings. On defense the Lady Lions were led by Veronica Metcalf, Katy Paul and Sarah Wilkinson.
The fourth and final game of the weekend was just as strong for Lindenwood as the previous three. With the final score reading LU 5 – URI 1. In this game, Lindenwood was out shot 39 to 23. Michelle Borsa looked very strong in net. The offense had a lot of layers that had great games. Kat Hannah, Amy Dlugos, Melanie Keith, Katie Kells, Marie Blanc, Kristen Dlugos and Lindsay Gordon led the way. While on defense Sarah Wilkinson, Tanishah Bardai, Veronica Metcalf, Nikki Rasmussen, Katy Paul and Kristen Prest were very strong.
With four straight victories in four days against top teams, coaches Vince O’Mara and Rick Pratt were very pleased. “With the four victories this weekend we were very happy, but more than that, we were pleased with the way each and every person did their job to contribute on and off the ice. We have a great bunch of student athletes that not only had to be ready for four tough games but also had to find time to study for finals week. The hockey is enough of a test for most people – now put the long travel and studies in there and you can see why we are so proud of this group. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us to be able to complete for a National Championship, but this was a great move in the right direction,” O’Mara said.
Ah yes, the high school basketball season is upon us, which means Bob Barton and I are busy beavers. This past week I had the privilege of being the public address announcer at the Trinity Catholic Lady Titan’s Third Annual Basketball Classic. Monday thru Friday a total of nine games. As fate would have it the best game was saved for last: It featured the Spartans of Francis Howell Central and their star junior forward Shakara Jones against our hometown St. Charles Pirates with their one-two punch or Tori Fenemor and Abby Schultenhenrich.
Ah yes, nine games of basketball, starting nightly at 6 and 7:30, ending around 9:15 or so. Of on Friday night there were three games, with the last game starting at 8:30. Yes, good old fate was at work Friday evening. Not only was the Championship game the best, for a number of reasons – it was the longest game of the entire tournament.
St. Charles head coach Corey Nesslage’s leading scorer Schultenhenrich secured three fouls early, and I mean early, in the first quarter; she remained on the bench the rest of the first half. In the mean time Jones pretty much dominated the game. Not to worry, Schultenhenrich would return in the second half and make a game of it – or at least that would be the plan. She did return in the second half, but gathered her 4th foul in the first minute of the second half. Things did not look good for the Pirates.
I suspect I should mention, as the public address announcer, I was to remain neutral, except when Trinity was playing. For example, on Wednesday, when St. Charles played Trinity, and Abby nailed a three, I simply said: “Schultenhenrich, for 3.” On the other hand, when Trinity’s Kim Krahl rebounded the ball and drove all the way to the other basketl for two, I would overly exaggerate: “Kim Krahlllll….goes coast to coast for two!”
Back to Friday’s championship game. Once Central built a 15-point lead Jones was pulled. At just about the same time Abby returned – and she was hot! Slowly, but surely the Pirates chipped at Central’s lead – Jones returned. St. Charles pulled within three with less than 10 seconds remaining. St. Charles was in bounding the ball beneath their own basket. Everyone in the Robert Strub Memorial Gym knew what was coming – someway, somehow, the Pirates would get the ball to Schultenhenrich for a game tying three pointer. Well, they did, and she did. As the public address guy all I could say was: Schultenhenrich, for 3. Remember, I had to appear neutral – I was anything but!
Both teams had their “go to” players in now, Jones versus Schultenhenrich. Jones down low for the Spartans, Schultenhenrich working to get open anyway, anywhere she could. At the end of overtime the game was once again knotted. “Double overtime,” my voice bellowed though out the gym.
Ultimately Central hung on for the win – but that is not the point I wish to make. Nesslage coached his butt off. With his star player on the bench most of regulation play, he kept his Pirates close enough to strike back once she returned. A balanced scoring attack: Schultenhenrich finished with 12 (3/4 from past the arc), Fenemor had 13, Lisa Witte 12. Senior Abby Schaberg was perfect from the 3 point line (3/3) scoring 9. Rounding out the scoring was Whitney Euginger 5, Katie Muir 4, and Claire Gillette 2. I couldn’t help but think if it had happened the other way, that is if Jones had been on the bench most of the game, there would have been no way Central would have been able to keep it close. I also couldn’t help but wonder, “what if Abby had played the entire game?”
Ah yes, good old fate: The two teams will play again this Thursday at 7 p.m. at Howell Central. Anyone interested in watching some top notch, girls’ basketball needs only to travel down Highway N to Central Thursday evening. You can bet Bob and I will be there.
By the way, the final score Friday was Cental 65, St. Charles 57. Jones scored all 30 of her points on two point field goals. She was 0/3 from the charity stripe.
Coming up next week: My Christmas greetings to friends and foes (which list do you think is longer?) and a special soccer announcement, which will put St. Charles County on the national soccer map. See ya next week.
First Capitol News High School Athlete of the Week
Courtney Champagne,
St. Charles West
5’ 5” Junior, Guard
Tuesday evening in the semifinals of the Nerinx Hall Invitational Tournament, St. Charles West found themselves down 34-21 at half-time. With the help of junior point guard Courtney Champagne, the Lady Warriors managed to secure a 48-46 come from behind victory. For her contributions in this unlikely win, Courtney has been selected The First Capitol News High School Athlete of the Week.
With whom do you live: My parents, Boo and Stacey Champagne, and my three younger brothers: Brannon (14), Chipper (10) and Trent (4).
How long have you been playing basketball/Where did you begin: I started playing basketball in the 4th grade for the St. Charles Flames. I stayed with them for 3 years and then began playing for the St. Louis Comets.
Favorite basketball moment: Definitely winning district last year, against Duchesne, our archrival, on our home court. It doesn’t get much better than that!
Favorite subject: Math
Favorite teacher: Mr. Voelkl, AP Literature teacher
Team goals this season: Return to the finals of district and hopefully win the Gateway Conference
Personal goals: Do whatever it takes to help the team achieve their goals. Its not about me, its about our team.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be: Someday I hope to travel throughout Europe; see as much of Europe as I possibly can
Favorite book: Divinci Code
Favorite movie: Billy Madison
Advice to underclassman: Stay focused and never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something
This week in high school sports…
Friday, December 9
Girls Basketball
St. Charles at Fort Zumwalt South, 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball
Wright City at Duchesne, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, December 12
Girls Basketball
Howell Central at Duchesne, 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball
Howell North at Pattonville, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, December 13
Girls Basketball
Elsberry at Orchard Farm, 7 p.m.
Washington at St. Charles, 7 p.m.
Troy at St. Charles West, 7:30 p.m.
Boys Basketball
Howell North at Zumwalt North, 5:30 p.m.
Orchard Farm at Valley Park, 6:30 p.m.
Duchesne at Howell Central, 7 p.m.
St. Charles at Washington, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 15
Girls Basketball
St. Charles West at Howell North, 7 p.m.
St. Charles at Howell Central, 7 p.m.
Friday, December 16
Girls Basketball
Montgomery County at Orchard Farm, 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball
Zumwalt West at Duchesne, 7:30 p.m.
Howell Central at St. Charles, 7:30 p.m.
Wrestling
St. Charles West at Raytown Invitational, 5 p.m.
RAGE GET SUPPORT IN MOVE TO SAVVIS
By Mike Thompson
I’ve never envied a writer who follows any type of formal gathering, a journalist who covers the social scene, or anyone assigned to string out a list of ‘who’s who’ in a newspaper article. They often run the risk of shaking too many hands, gathering too many names and invariably omitting someone important when the story goes to press. So rather than try to mention everyone at our party this past Tuesday night, I’ll gladly bypass the fugal attempt to name names, I’ll just say EVERYONE influential and important, and yo, did we ever have a great time!
The RiverCity Rage of the NIFL officially, this week, unveiled the banner that proclaimed this team one with the Savvis Center in downtown St. Louis. At the private residence of Dan McGuire, the C-E-O of Mac Meetings and Events, and with some special help from Colleen Barden, that organization’s Events Co-Coordinator, more than 75 business leaders, media types, and fans of the Rage gathered to hear St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay officially welcome the premier franchise in the NIFL to the St. Louis sports scene. His Honor invited the business leaders to ‘Release the Rage’ in 2006 by exploring ways to become involved with the team and promote their own venues in the process.
“The City of St. Louis is a great sports town and we have with us tonight a group of individuals who are hard core football fans. The Rage organization is working hard to insure that fans in the Gateway City will be able to enjoy exciting indoor football and lots of family fun at Savvis Center comes March of next year. I know I’m looking forward to going to some games and this is a great opportunity for you as business leaders to get involved with the success of the team and find ways to make it your own success as well.”
Hey, hey, the Mayor of St. Louis, with an official welcome, an open invitation, a pass to the Gateway to the West. And from start to finish, Tye Elliott and Scott Wilson, Rage Majority Owners, did it up right. Formal invitations were sent out about 10 days ago, cordially inviting these movers and shakers to a cocktail reception offered up to acquaint them with us and us with them. Some we already knew, some were curious about this new upstart team headed for new challenge and looking to earn it’s stripes playing with the big boys downtown. But all had one thing in common, and that was evident from the start. A love of football, the recognition of this team as a way to promote business and partnership in greater St. Louis, and hey, everyone loves a winner. These were winning businesspeople ready to hook up with a successful franchise, ready to tackle growth and success, ready to dive into an end zone of opportunity. From bank presidents to real estate developers to judges, doctors, lawyers, and yes, even several entrepreneurs...all there to explore, inquire and support.
Rage Majority Owner Scott Wilson offered these comments after Mayor Slay’s opening remarks....”It was one year ago this very day that the league informed both Tye and myself that our partnership, GST Sports, Inc. had been awarded the franchise, and since then the entire focus of this organization has been centered on bringing exciting, hard hitting, in-your-face football to the fans, along with providing family style all-round entertainment with our game night themes. We only see this coming season and our merge with Savvis Center as a chance for more success both on and off the field, in the community and with charitable causes. We’re up for the challenge, and it’s one I know this team will embrace.”
Before our guests enjoyed an open bar and buffet style food, Rage Majority owner Tye Elliott offered his comments to the crowd. “We saw our first example of how exciting things could be for us at Savvis last July when we played our opening round playoff game. We were disappointed with the result (a double overtime loss to Cincinnati) but the crowd couldn’t have been more loud, more uproarious, and so into the game all the way to the end. If we had won that game, there’s no doubt in my mind we would have packed the place the next weekend, It was then that Scott and I started working on ways to secure Savvis Center as the permanent home venue for the Rage. It’s happened, and now our coaches, players and everyone in the organization couldn’t be more thrilled. We’re ready to go.”
So, movin’ days a comin’.....but take it from someone who’s been around this team and worked with everyone involved for the past year...this football team, this franchise, would not be in the position it is in today had it not been for the loyal fans of the St. Charles area and the surrounding areas and counties. I know it, the owners know it, and chances are pretty good if you’re reading this article right now, you live in the aforementioned area....so, more than anyone or anything....YOU should know it!
This was a move precipitated by the opportunity to draw from a larger fan base and benefit from additional business connections in St. Louis....nothing more. In no way was it meant to even suggest a slap in the face of the St. Charles area. In truth, the team will still maintain headquarters in St. Charles, and continue to support and benefit from the vast number of business ventures in the area. I’ll still attend the BNI meetings at Culpeppers around the corner....we’ll still be involved in the Chamber of Commerce, and more now than ever, we’ll be looking for our loyal, hard core Rage fans to take the extra 15 minutes or so to head down the hiway and root for this team.
No, we haven’t forgotten where it began, and in many ways, still exists.....but growth is part of any business, any team. A good case in point is the Cardinals and a brand new Busch Stadium. Like many St. Louisians, I was sorry to see the old one go...I was there as a teenager for the 1966 All-Star Game....the ‘67 World Series...even camped out overnight with friends (and my steady at the time!) to be first in line for bleacher tickets for the ‘68 Fall Classic. Over the years, I saw many a game, some ordinary, some legendary, but I know in my heart that the first time I walk through the turnstiles at the new ballpark, I’ll be ready to embrace the Cardinal’s future, and I’ll be back again and again. So, because I love baseball, I’ll continue to be a fan because I understand the necessity of change, and mostly because I don’t want to miss out on Cardinal Nation, regardless of where it’s played.
That’s where we’re at with RiverCity Rage football, now and in the future. A change has been made, one we embrace and one we feel is necessary to take this team to the next level of success. But for you, the Rage fan, WHEREVER you may be, this football team belongs to YOU. Follow us into the exciting future....Release your Rage...and if you’re from the St. Charles or immediate areas, know that we would have been lost without you in the past....and will be in the future!!
Missouri River Otters Hockey
‘St. Nicholas’ Gives River Otters a Gift
Team Acquires UHL Veteran and Two Wins
By Louis J. Launer
When most of us were children growing up (if you grew up in a traditional German-American family), there was this “figure” who arrived around December 6 named St. Nicholas. There was something of that “character” roaming around South Main Street the last few weekends. Apparently, the real spirit of “St. Nick” arrived early for the Missouri River Otters organization and brought something important the team can use in December and maybe the rest of the season.
On Friday morning December 2, the team announced they signed Jim Duhart, who most recently played with the Flint Generals from 2000 to 2005, but has played with other UHL teams. Two days before, sportswriter Brendan Savage of the Flint Journal wrote in his newspaper after seeing Duhart in the stands at the Family Arena in Wednesday night’s game against the Flint Generals that Duhart was going to be acquired by the River Otters. The Otters did lose to Flint again and some evaluation had to be done to save this losing season.
Duhart is a 14-year United Hockey League veteran who has scored at least 30 goals in his last nine seasons. He played five seasons with Flint, although in 2004-05, he spent half of that season in playing for the Danbury [Connecticut] Trashers. His longest tenure in his career and his most famous was with Flint. Out of 321 games with the Generals, he scored 211 goals and recorded 175 assists. He’s also heavy on the penalties, having received 2,323 penalty minutes in 859 professional games. Duhart’s career started with the former Madison [Wisconsin] Monsters and later wound up with the Generals in 2001. In 1999-2000, Duhart was the key player with the Madison Kodiaks [the team changed names in 1999] to upset the heavily favored Flint Generals in the first-round of the Colonial Cup playoffs. After the Kodiaks moved to its current home of Kalamazoo to become the K-Wings, Duhart was sent to Flint.
Duhart’s performance as a goal scorer and a semi-enforcer with Flint helped the Generals remain as a playoff team the first few seasons. Although the team had been on the border of either making it to the playoffs most of those seasons, Duhart rekindled the traditional Flint-Quad City rivalry. His physical play and goal scoring gave Flint a chance against the Quad City Mallards, who was at that time enjoying a dynasty. Many long-time UHL fans remember an incident in 2001 in Moline, Illinois when the Generals visited the Mallards. At the end of the second period in a late-season game, a Quad City fan came out of the stands and into the area where the teams go to their dressing rooms and attacked Duhart. Generals fans didn’t like it a bit, and neither did most Quad City fans. But the incident fueled the continuation of the rivalry of both teams, even with Flint in 2003-04 and last season not making the playoffs.
River Otters head coach Kevin Kaminski welcomed the new veteran to the River Otters, hoping to save this season.
“Jim is a power forward who is a proven goal scorer in this league,” Kaminski said. “He is a physical player who we expect to help our team in all facets of the game.”
Jim Duhart did just that this past weekend. Ironically, the Quad City Mallards were in town for a Friday-Saturday set of games at Family Arena. Missouri has also had quite a rivalry with the Mallards over the years. But it was never totally intense. The only reason why there was any sense of rivalry was because both teams are close as far as driving distance (150 miles).
As usual, fans from the Quad Cities drove down to make an early Christmas weekend by visiting St. Charles. Most of those fans were expecting two easy wins from the struggling Otters. But last Friday’s game became a surprise to all fans.
Duhart didn’t hit the ice for his first shift until six minutes into the game. As a team, the Otters did show its usual inability to hold onto the puck, pass the puck and clearing the puck during shorthanded situations. At the 11:25 mark, Lars Pettersen scored first for the Otters, thanks to a Duhart pass. It was a rare moment for the Otters to score first in a game this season. Frank Littlejohn also serves on the same line with Pettersen and Duhart and picked up a rebounded puck to begin the scoring drive. At 2:15 of the second period, Littlejohn himself scored by picking up a puck the Mallards missed in their own zone. A 2-0 lead by the Otters over the Mallards in any game in the history of this rivalry is still very rare. Although by the middle of the second period, the Mallards evened it up and took the lead in the final minute of the second period, thanks to their leading goal scorer, Patrick Nadeau scoring unassisted at 19:40.
Fans noticed throughout the game that head coach Kevin Kaminski was not behind the bench for the Otters on Friday night. Kaminski was in the stands watching the game and evaluating players, seeing things from another location what he couldn’t see at ice level. Fans sensed that Kaminski is beginning to make some more big changes.
In the third period, Duhart finally showed his scoring ability, scoring two quick goals at 1:05 and 3:53. On those two goals, he got help from Damian Surma, who started centering the puck better. The River Otters had a third period lead, thanks to Duhart. But the Mallards’ Patrick Nadeau reminded everyone that the Mallards do not go down easily. At the 14:49 mark, Nadeau fired a slap shot behind goaltender Kevin Reiter with no River Otter near him. That tied the game at 4 and regulation play ended.
Fans wanted to see former River Otter goaltender Jason Tapp lose a game as a Mallard. The game came down to the rivalry between goaltenders in a shootout. Current River Otters goaltender Kevin Reiter and Tapp were teammates last season. Reiter proved that he was definitely back and his desire to be a starting goaltender for the River Otters. It took only four rounds, but Reiter stopped all four Mallards shots, including Patrick Nadeau’s final attempt as well as former River Otter Glenn Detullio. Tapp wasn’t lucky. Damian Surma and Frank Littlejohn scored for the River Otters, giving the team a 5-4 shootout victory and the first victory earned at Family Arena this season for the team.
“We needed it!” said an exhausted Kevin Kaminski, collecting the notes he made throughout the game. Kaminski noticed a lot of activity out on the ice from the upper deck of Family Arena. Would any more chances be made in the team? Kaminski didn’t say. But the acquisition of Jim Duhart could wind up being the beginning of a December jump start.
Duhart is on a path to achieve 500 goals in a career. His two goals last Friday were numbers 470 and 471. The following night, both teams met again at Family Arena. Lars Pettersen scored again, along with Tyler Butler that gave the Otters a 2-1 victory over the Mallards. The River Otters in six seasons have never beaten the Mallards twice in a row and in two straight games, even if it was a home-and-home series or two straight games either at home or on the road.
BAD BOYS: Fans were upset on Friday night when the River Otters’ Dave Stewart was called for a 5-minute major for spearing, which includes a game misconduct. Stewart claimed he didn’t spear anyone, but was escorted from the ice at the 12:13 mark of the first period. In Saturday’s game, Brad MacMillan picked on Mallards left-winger Jesse Rycroft at the 7:22 point of the second period. MacMillan did win the scrap, but wound up with a long sentence in the penalty box, receiving 2 minutes for instigating a fight, 5 minutes for actually fighting and a ten-minute misconduct. Fortunately in Saturday’s game, all of the scoring for the game was completed at 5:56 of the second period.
FAMILY ARENA SOUND SYSTEM: In Friday’s game, there was a report that UHL off-ice game officials who track scoring, count shots and serve as game spotters, could not communicate with each other because the public address system was considered to be “too loud.” Those in charge of the sound system at the arena turned off two speakers on one side of the arena, primarily the penalty box and press end, making it difficult for fans (who usually sit on that side of the arena) to hear any announcement made during the game. Fans did complain to the arena officials, who said that the UHL officials threatened to walk out of the arena and not cover the game if they didn’t have their way. The sound system is being worked on and hopefully will be rectified in time for the UHL’s All-Star Game in January.
Lindenwood University’s Kara Wall Named NAIA Volleyball All American
Senior middle hitter Kara Wall from Ballwin, Missouri and graduate of JF Kennedy High School was named to the 2005 Volleyball NAIA All American team. This marks the third year in a row that Kara has received this honor.
Kara received this honor due to being named 2005 Player of the Year in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) where she led the conference with over 4.5 kills per game while also being among the leaders in blocking and service aces. Wall is a four time 1st Team All Conference (HAAC) and 1st Team All Region V selection. She was last year’s runner-up for player of the year. She is Lindenwood University’s all time volleyball attack leader with over 2200 kills.
She is a two time NAIA Scholar Athlete and Lindenwood University’s 2003-04 Female Scholar Athlete.
The Lindenwood University Volleyball Lady Lions finished the season with a 31-8 record. They took 1st place in the HAAC with a 10-0 record and 4th in the region.
For information about the volleyball program please contact Coach Ron Young at 636-949-4634 or ryoung@lindenwood.edu.
Seven Lions Earn NAIA Soccer Post-Season Honors
Three Lindenwood University men’s soccer players and three women’s soccer players recently received recognitions for their performances this fall.
Ignacio Novas, a junior from Montevideo, Uruguay was named to the First Team NAIA All-America Team. Novas the 2004 NAIA National Player of the Year.
Martin Barreiro, a senior also from Montevideo, Uruguay and Pedro Chain, a junior from Buenos Aires, Argentina both received NAIA Honorable Mention All-America Honors.
The defending NAIA National Champion Lindenwood Men’s team advanced to the elite final eight at the NAIA National Championship before losing to eventual National Champion, Lindsey Wilson 2-0. Freshman Bryce Flynn (Tulsa, OK) was named to the National Championship All-Tournament Team.
The men’s soccer team finished the year with a 21st place final ranking and an 11-6-4 record.
The Lindenwood women’s team ended a very successful season finishing 17-3-1.
Senior Lisa van Middlesworth (St. Louis Rosary/Trinity), the 2005 Heart of America Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and junior Becky Ryan (St. Louis Notre Dame), received NAIA Honorable mention All-America honors.
Junior Caitlin Hoeh (Perryville) received NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete recognition.
A Long East Coast Road Trip A Big Success For Lindenwood’s Women’s Ice Hockey Team
The Women’s Ice Hockey team took a very long trip to the East Coast this past weekend with four games in four days against the top two teams from the east coast in the ACHA.
The first two games of the trip were at UMASS against the $5 team in the country. “We did have our concerns about that game. After a 20-hour bus ride overnight we didn’t know how we would come out. I was very impressed with our entire team. We came out pretty strong. We were able to get rid of the bus legs in that first period and after that we were playing our game the rest of the night, said head coach Vince O’Mara. The Lady Lions won that first game by a score of 6-1. The line of Kat Hannah, Amy Dlugos and Melanie Keith led the way offensively for the Lady Lions while freshman goaltender Michelle Borsa stood tall in the nets. She was helped out by standout defense from Veronica Metcalf, Sarah Wilkinson, Katy Paul, Nikki Rasmussen, Tanishah Bardai and Kristen Prest.
Game two against UMASS the Lady Lions saw themselves down by a goal at the end of the first period. “Going into the locker room after that period, the girls were not happy about being down by a goal. We came out in the second and had a much better period and finished them off with a great third period,” O’Mara said. The final core was LU 6 – MASS 1. Jennell Stam was strong in nets and the offense was led by a dominant performance from Katie Kells. Other standouts in the game were Katy Paul, Robbyn Keating, Kat Hannah and Amy Dlugos.
Games three and four of the weekend had the lady Lions up against the #5 ranked University of Rhode Island. After a short two and a half hour trip to Rhode Island the Lady Lions faced of against URI. The first game was a very hard fought battle that saw the visiting team on top at the end 4-1. “We knew going into this set of games that we would know where we stand in the ACHA. URI is a very talented team that has been a top team in the country for the past several years. Our team was up to the challenge and played very well,” O’Mara said. Jennelle Stam faced 22 shots on goal and only allowed one goal. While up front the line of Katie Kells, Marie Blanc and Kristen Dlugos had a great outing. Other offensive players like Charmaine Gosselin, Crystal Coval, Molly Hanson and Dawn Dyer had very good outings. On defense the Lady Lions were led by Veronica Metcalf, Katy Paul and Sarah Wilkinson.
The fourth and final game of the weekend was just as strong for Lindenwood as the previous three. With the final score reading LU 5 – URI 1. In this game, Lindenwood was out shot 39 to 23. Michelle Borsa looked very strong in net. The offense had a lot of layers that had great games. Kat Hannah, Amy Dlugos, Melanie Keith, Katie Kells, Marie Blanc, Kristen Dlugos and Lindsay Gordon led the way. While on defense Sarah Wilkinson, Tanishah Bardai, Veronica Metcalf, Nikki Rasmussen, Katy Paul and Kristen Prest were very strong.
With four straight victories in four days against top teams, coaches Vince O’Mara and Rick Pratt were very pleased. “With the four victories this weekend we were very happy, but more than that, we were pleased with the way each and every person did their job to contribute on and off the ice. We have a great bunch of student athletes that not only had to be ready for four tough games but also had to find time to study for finals week. The hockey is enough of a test for most people – now put the long travel and studies in there and you can see why we are so proud of this group. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us to be able to complete for a National Championship, but this was a great move in the right direction,” O’Mara said.
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