Welcome to the July 29th Edition of the FIRST CAPITOL NEWS. Due to damages suffered because of the recent storm and power outages this edition is available only online. The next printed edition of the FIRST CAPITOL NEWS will be next week, August 5, 2006. Thank you for being a reader of the FIRST CAPITOL NEWS. To read the entire edition just scroll down. To enlarge graphic and photos just click on them.
PHYLLIS SCHALTENBRAND
Publisher
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Court Finds Sexual Misconduct In Leadership of Missouri Youth Soccer Association
Joseph L. Green of the law firm of Leritz, Plunkert & Bruning, PC represented Rhonda Entwistle of St. Peters, Missouri and Megan Drury of St. Louis County in a lawsuit against Missouri Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) and Mr. Mike McCrary of Columbia, Missouri. The Jury allowed justice for both Rhonda Entwistle and Megan Drury.
Rhonda Entwistle had brought a lawsuit against Missouri Youth Soccer Association for wrongful discharge. Megan Drury had brought a lawsuit against MYSA for breach of promise and against Mike McCrary for sexual battery. In the lawsuit filed by Rhonda Entwistle against Missouri Youth Soccer Association (MYSA), she charged that members of the MYSA Board of Directors had intimidated and caused undue stress resulting in her loss of employment for being a witness in a hearing that had occurred in January 2001 regarding a sexual harassment incident between Mr. Mike McCrary and Megan Drury in 1996. Mike McCrary had resigned from the Board of Directors in 1996 after the incident occurred. It was Megan Drury’s understanding that Mike McCrary would not be allowed to return to the Board of Directors of MYSA if she did not pursue any further action.
However, Mr. McCrary returned to the MYSA Board of Directors in 1999. Megan became aware of Mike McCrary returning to the Board of Directors in August of 2000 and filed a complaint to Geoff Butler, President of the MYSA Board of Directors in 2000. Mr. Butler was not on the Board of Directors in 1996. Mr. Butler took action to investigate the incident. There were four sitting members on the current MYSA Board of Directors that where present at the time of the incident in 1996. Further investigation of the Mike McCrary incident by Geoff Butler resulted in a hearing that was held in January 2001 in which the Central District of MYSA where Mike McCrary was the District Commissioner.
The hearing panel found Mike McCrary guilty of sexual misconduct but did not feel that Mike McCrary should be required to leave the Board of Directors of MYSA. Mr. Butler felt that this was a potential liability to the MYSA organization to have someone that had been found guilty of sexual misconduct to be a member of the Board of Directors for the MYSA especially since MYSA is a youth organization. He pursued the matter further. It appeared that this upset some members who supported Mr. McCrary.
Rhonda Entwistle was required to testify in the hearing regarding the sexual misconduct that had occurred and had stated that she was concerned about intimidation from various Board Members, but she did the right thing to protect the members and youth players of the MYSA organization. Due to medical reasons brought on by their actions she was required to leave work for a period of time on medical leave when the MYSA Board of Directors decided to eliminate her position.
On Friday, June 9, 2006, Rhonda Entwistle and Megan Drury received justice from the Jury. Rhonda Entwistle was awarded actual damages in the amount of $75,000.00 dollars and punitive damages in the amount of $75,000.00 dollars against Missouri Youth Soccer Association (MYSA). Megan Drury was awarded damages in the amount of $30,000.00 dollars against Missouri Youth Soccer Association as well as actual damages against Mike McCrary in the amount of $20,000.00 dollars and punitive damages against Mike McCrary in the amount of $40,000.00 dollars.
Rhonda Entwistle had brought a lawsuit against Missouri Youth Soccer Association for wrongful discharge. Megan Drury had brought a lawsuit against MYSA for breach of promise and against Mike McCrary for sexual battery. In the lawsuit filed by Rhonda Entwistle against Missouri Youth Soccer Association (MYSA), she charged that members of the MYSA Board of Directors had intimidated and caused undue stress resulting in her loss of employment for being a witness in a hearing that had occurred in January 2001 regarding a sexual harassment incident between Mr. Mike McCrary and Megan Drury in 1996. Mike McCrary had resigned from the Board of Directors in 1996 after the incident occurred. It was Megan Drury’s understanding that Mike McCrary would not be allowed to return to the Board of Directors of MYSA if she did not pursue any further action.
However, Mr. McCrary returned to the MYSA Board of Directors in 1999. Megan became aware of Mike McCrary returning to the Board of Directors in August of 2000 and filed a complaint to Geoff Butler, President of the MYSA Board of Directors in 2000. Mr. Butler was not on the Board of Directors in 1996. Mr. Butler took action to investigate the incident. There were four sitting members on the current MYSA Board of Directors that where present at the time of the incident in 1996. Further investigation of the Mike McCrary incident by Geoff Butler resulted in a hearing that was held in January 2001 in which the Central District of MYSA where Mike McCrary was the District Commissioner.
The hearing panel found Mike McCrary guilty of sexual misconduct but did not feel that Mike McCrary should be required to leave the Board of Directors of MYSA. Mr. Butler felt that this was a potential liability to the MYSA organization to have someone that had been found guilty of sexual misconduct to be a member of the Board of Directors for the MYSA especially since MYSA is a youth organization. He pursued the matter further. It appeared that this upset some members who supported Mr. McCrary.
Rhonda Entwistle was required to testify in the hearing regarding the sexual misconduct that had occurred and had stated that she was concerned about intimidation from various Board Members, but she did the right thing to protect the members and youth players of the MYSA organization. Due to medical reasons brought on by their actions she was required to leave work for a period of time on medical leave when the MYSA Board of Directors decided to eliminate her position.
On Friday, June 9, 2006, Rhonda Entwistle and Megan Drury received justice from the Jury. Rhonda Entwistle was awarded actual damages in the amount of $75,000.00 dollars and punitive damages in the amount of $75,000.00 dollars against Missouri Youth Soccer Association (MYSA). Megan Drury was awarded damages in the amount of $30,000.00 dollars against Missouri Youth Soccer Association as well as actual damages against Mike McCrary in the amount of $20,000.00 dollars and punitive damages against Mike McCrary in the amount of $40,000.00 dollars.
THE CITY DESK - Rory Riddler, Councilman Ward 1
Gemini Storms Batter Region But Fail To Break Our Spirit
Sometimes I think of God as an old cobbler, mending “soles” worn down by life. He carries their weight on his back…an impossibly large collection of old shoes. Then as He goes from place to place, he sometimes stops and has us try them on…just to give us a chance to walk for a while in someone else’s shoes.
On July 20 and 21, 2006 a large part of St. Charles and much of the St. Louis region got a wake up call from mother nature and came to appreciate, with a little more clarity, the suffering experienced by those left in the wake of great storms like Katrina.
Unlike the great hurricanes that batter our coasts, large storms here go nameless. One particularly brutal storm that hit St. Louis in the 19th Century to this day is referred to as The Great Cyclone. I decided someone needed to start naming our bigger storms. With the one-two punch of these back-to-back storms, I propose referring to them as the Gemini Storms. Besides, it sounds a lot more ominous than Amanda or Bertha, or whatever part of the alphabet the latest hurricane may fall on.
We can in no way compare what happened here directly to the areas of the world that have experienced massive loss of life from natural disasters. We came through with a minimum number of casualties, save our shaken pride in all things electric. But hundreds of thousands of our neighbors and friends learned something of what it’s like to be displaced persons, without the surety we once had that a cool home, clean water, electronic entertainment, e-mail and even workable cell phones would always be there for us.
As I write this column a week later, some of our residents are still without power. Those who had electric meters torn from their homes by falling limbs are told by Ameren they have to hire private electricians to make the repairs. Needless to say those private electricians are very busy. One retired resident reported an Ameren worker simply taped off the end of the downed wire and told them not to have anyone touch it! They didn’t take the time to loop it up and place it somewhere high on the structure till the private electrician could get there.
Overwhelmed by work, perhaps shortcuts were taken, but ones that could put the life of a child at risk are not acceptable. Ameren regrettably lost one of their own workers to just such a downed wire.
Everyone has their own story of “survival” and how the Gemini Storms disrupted their lives. We were more fortunate than many families. Our power only went out after the second storm and was back on in about two hours. My in-laws, part of the mass exodus from St. Louis after the first storm, were staying with us and my parents stayed with my brother to keep cool. Unlike New Orleans and the Gulf Coast after Katrina, where refugees had to leave for other states, those areas hit less hard in St. Louis and St. Charles were able to provide shelter with relatives or friends for many.
Still, I am told hotels were full as far as Cape Girardeau from the massive number of people without power in St. Louis. Every convenience store with power looked like a refugee center with people looking for ice, basic essentials and asking if clerks knew of any hotels in the area with rooms.
Haggard, tired, aggravated and hot, tempers began to flare. After the second storm, when traffic signals were down, we had reported fistfights between drivers at highway interchanges in St. Charles. My wife Sue had her own brush with people’s frayed nerves. She stopped by a local convenience store and bought a gallon of milk only to have an exasperated woman behind her exclaim loudly, “That #*&+! just got the last gallon of milk!” Getting cursed at the check-out isn’t something we’re use to.
Fortunately, the vast majority of stories are about the good side of human nature. People dealt with the heat in different ways, with a great deal of stoicism. They looked after one another. They looked in on elderly neighbors. They pitched in to help clean things up.
Our own City employees on call were phenomenal. I can’t say enough about their dedication to duty, professionalism or concern shown for people. My hat’s off to our City Firefighters, Paramedics, Police, Dispatchers, Street Department Crews, Water and Sewer workers. I don’t have room in this column to relate all of the compliments I heard from people about these individuals responding quickly, working in stifling heat, working long hours or going the extra mile. Just one brief example would be a female firefighter on a crew responding to a call from a Senior about downed wires. She cut the limbs away from the downed wire to secure it. Then she took the time to haul the large branches to the street, seeing that the Senior might have had trouble getting it done.
I think we also appreciate what the vast majority of Ameren’s employees went through, but that doesn’t temper my feelings towards the management of this utility company. Acts of God are going to happen. But cutting tree trimming to the bone to drive up company profits, and cutting back on essential levels of employees to adequately respond to emergencies, is as criminally negligent as Ameren’s negligence in the case of the Taum Sauk dam failure.
To try to put in perspective what that negligence has cost, I heard from a reliable source that 40 supermarkets in one chain were without power for more than three hours, necessitating throwing out all meat, dairy and other refrigerated foods. The plight of grocery stores like these, restaurants and convenience stores, mirrored the waste experienced by individual customers. Take 600,000 homes without power times an average of just $100 in spoiled food. That comes to $60 MILLION taken out of the pockets of Ameren customers. I couldn’t even begin to calculate the lost wages and productivity experienced by area businesses.
Did I mention Ameren UE on July 7th filed for a rate increase that will cost the average residential consumer over $700 more per year? Maybe we could get Dorothy to drop a house on them in the next storm.
Sometimes I think of God as an old cobbler, mending “soles” worn down by life. He carries their weight on his back…an impossibly large collection of old shoes. Then as He goes from place to place, he sometimes stops and has us try them on…just to give us a chance to walk for a while in someone else’s shoes.
On July 20 and 21, 2006 a large part of St. Charles and much of the St. Louis region got a wake up call from mother nature and came to appreciate, with a little more clarity, the suffering experienced by those left in the wake of great storms like Katrina.
Unlike the great hurricanes that batter our coasts, large storms here go nameless. One particularly brutal storm that hit St. Louis in the 19th Century to this day is referred to as The Great Cyclone. I decided someone needed to start naming our bigger storms. With the one-two punch of these back-to-back storms, I propose referring to them as the Gemini Storms. Besides, it sounds a lot more ominous than Amanda or Bertha, or whatever part of the alphabet the latest hurricane may fall on.
We can in no way compare what happened here directly to the areas of the world that have experienced massive loss of life from natural disasters. We came through with a minimum number of casualties, save our shaken pride in all things electric. But hundreds of thousands of our neighbors and friends learned something of what it’s like to be displaced persons, without the surety we once had that a cool home, clean water, electronic entertainment, e-mail and even workable cell phones would always be there for us.
As I write this column a week later, some of our residents are still without power. Those who had electric meters torn from their homes by falling limbs are told by Ameren they have to hire private electricians to make the repairs. Needless to say those private electricians are very busy. One retired resident reported an Ameren worker simply taped off the end of the downed wire and told them not to have anyone touch it! They didn’t take the time to loop it up and place it somewhere high on the structure till the private electrician could get there.
Overwhelmed by work, perhaps shortcuts were taken, but ones that could put the life of a child at risk are not acceptable. Ameren regrettably lost one of their own workers to just such a downed wire.
Everyone has their own story of “survival” and how the Gemini Storms disrupted their lives. We were more fortunate than many families. Our power only went out after the second storm and was back on in about two hours. My in-laws, part of the mass exodus from St. Louis after the first storm, were staying with us and my parents stayed with my brother to keep cool. Unlike New Orleans and the Gulf Coast after Katrina, where refugees had to leave for other states, those areas hit less hard in St. Louis and St. Charles were able to provide shelter with relatives or friends for many.
Still, I am told hotels were full as far as Cape Girardeau from the massive number of people without power in St. Louis. Every convenience store with power looked like a refugee center with people looking for ice, basic essentials and asking if clerks knew of any hotels in the area with rooms.
Haggard, tired, aggravated and hot, tempers began to flare. After the second storm, when traffic signals were down, we had reported fistfights between drivers at highway interchanges in St. Charles. My wife Sue had her own brush with people’s frayed nerves. She stopped by a local convenience store and bought a gallon of milk only to have an exasperated woman behind her exclaim loudly, “That #*&+! just got the last gallon of milk!” Getting cursed at the check-out isn’t something we’re use to.
Fortunately, the vast majority of stories are about the good side of human nature. People dealt with the heat in different ways, with a great deal of stoicism. They looked after one another. They looked in on elderly neighbors. They pitched in to help clean things up.
Our own City employees on call were phenomenal. I can’t say enough about their dedication to duty, professionalism or concern shown for people. My hat’s off to our City Firefighters, Paramedics, Police, Dispatchers, Street Department Crews, Water and Sewer workers. I don’t have room in this column to relate all of the compliments I heard from people about these individuals responding quickly, working in stifling heat, working long hours or going the extra mile. Just one brief example would be a female firefighter on a crew responding to a call from a Senior about downed wires. She cut the limbs away from the downed wire to secure it. Then she took the time to haul the large branches to the street, seeing that the Senior might have had trouble getting it done.
I think we also appreciate what the vast majority of Ameren’s employees went through, but that doesn’t temper my feelings towards the management of this utility company. Acts of God are going to happen. But cutting tree trimming to the bone to drive up company profits, and cutting back on essential levels of employees to adequately respond to emergencies, is as criminally negligent as Ameren’s negligence in the case of the Taum Sauk dam failure.
To try to put in perspective what that negligence has cost, I heard from a reliable source that 40 supermarkets in one chain were without power for more than three hours, necessitating throwing out all meat, dairy and other refrigerated foods. The plight of grocery stores like these, restaurants and convenience stores, mirrored the waste experienced by individual customers. Take 600,000 homes without power times an average of just $100 in spoiled food. That comes to $60 MILLION taken out of the pockets of Ameren customers. I couldn’t even begin to calculate the lost wages and productivity experienced by area businesses.
Did I mention Ameren UE on July 7th filed for a rate increase that will cost the average residential consumer over $700 more per year? Maybe we could get Dorothy to drop a house on them in the next storm.
CASE IN POINT - Joe Koester, Councilman Ward 9
“I’m the commander in chief – see, I don’t need to explain – I do not need to explain why I say things. That’s the interesting thing about being the president. Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they say something, but I don’t feel like I owe anybody an explanation.”
George W. Bush
For those of you who missed 60 Minutes on Sunday, July 10, here’s a little recap: oversight of the spending in Iraq is just about non-existent. Dick Cheney’s old employer has done quite well for itself with no-bid contracts and fleecing us out of millions of dollars. The total amount of money that is left unaccounted for exceeds 700 billion dollars!
I suppose Fox News can somehow frame this story so that things seem rosy, but the rest of the population can only conclude that this administration has enjoyed a rubber-stamp Congress that doesn’t hold the president accountable for squandering huge sums of money making a lot of hand-picked people stinking rich.
Every one of us appreciates our soldiers and salutes them for their sacrifice but we can still disagree with the president on policy. This isn’t about their work – we hold them dear for their noble duty to what has been asked of them.
The simple fact of the matter is, this President’s failed foreign policy and contrived cowboy stance has meant that our country must pay nearly alone in both blood and currency. This didn’t have to be the case – everyone was on our side after terrorist attacks. Think back to the quote coming out of Paris that declared, “We are all New Yorkers now!”
Expeditiously, the President squandered all good-will by ignoring calls for deliberate and well-founded action - sending our soldiers into a war that was on the drawing boards even before he took office. Paul Wolfowitz, Dick Cheney, George Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, and Co. knew what they wanted to do and that was wage war in Iraq. These same characters found ways to get out of the draft back in the day when duty called them, but they have no problem sending our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters off to fight. Then, having hastily decided to go to war, these same chicken hawks don’t send our soldiers well-prepared, but rather let family and friends finance body armor and steel plating privately. I guess their dream of the privatization of every aspect of life reached new highs or lows depending on one’s perspective.
Furthermore, while our own towns and cities have serious needs, Iraq becomes a financial drain on investment at home. Anyone remember the old school lessons about the fall of Rome? A couple of examples to chew over from recent budgeting:
4.6 billion dollars for Iraqi water and sanitation and 3.1 billion for our own; $290 million for Iraqi first responders and $200 million for our own.
When our pseudo-cowboy president chased away our major allies, he also chased off those who had helped cover the military and financial side of things in past operations.
But wait, Donald Rumsfeld says, we have (increasingly had) many allies making up the “Coalition of the Willing.” Yes, it may be true that South Korea sent 24 soldiers and Lithuania sent a dozen or so, but this touted “Coalition of the Willing” (COW) was meager and left the American taxpayers pretty much paying all the bills and Halliburton and friends decided that they saw a COW, so they might as well milk it for all it’s worth.
From what I could gather from the 60 Minute report, even if a company is fined for fleecing us all, they simply pay a relatively small fine but still keep a nice fat profit.
Where is the outrage? Where is the outcry? 700 billion dollars unaccounted for – money that could have gone to repair our infrastructure, teach our children, help develop alternative energy for our own country, or simply bolstered Social Security for our Baby Boom retirees.
Today, gas was more than $3.00/gallon – oil companies have gotten a pay raise and now it’s time that the American worker does too.
Health care costs are hindering job creation in both the private and pubic realm. When our city sees rising health insurance costs in the double digits every year, it scares us from hiring and likewise, when the manager or business owner sees the same thing, he usually decides to forgo hiring another worker because of these peripheral costs. That 700 billion dollar COW sure could have helped do much here at home but while the corporate buddies of this administration got the milk, the American people were left holding the bucket.
George W. Bush
For those of you who missed 60 Minutes on Sunday, July 10, here’s a little recap: oversight of the spending in Iraq is just about non-existent. Dick Cheney’s old employer has done quite well for itself with no-bid contracts and fleecing us out of millions of dollars. The total amount of money that is left unaccounted for exceeds 700 billion dollars!
I suppose Fox News can somehow frame this story so that things seem rosy, but the rest of the population can only conclude that this administration has enjoyed a rubber-stamp Congress that doesn’t hold the president accountable for squandering huge sums of money making a lot of hand-picked people stinking rich.
Every one of us appreciates our soldiers and salutes them for their sacrifice but we can still disagree with the president on policy. This isn’t about their work – we hold them dear for their noble duty to what has been asked of them.
The simple fact of the matter is, this President’s failed foreign policy and contrived cowboy stance has meant that our country must pay nearly alone in both blood and currency. This didn’t have to be the case – everyone was on our side after terrorist attacks. Think back to the quote coming out of Paris that declared, “We are all New Yorkers now!”
Expeditiously, the President squandered all good-will by ignoring calls for deliberate and well-founded action - sending our soldiers into a war that was on the drawing boards even before he took office. Paul Wolfowitz, Dick Cheney, George Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, and Co. knew what they wanted to do and that was wage war in Iraq. These same characters found ways to get out of the draft back in the day when duty called them, but they have no problem sending our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters off to fight. Then, having hastily decided to go to war, these same chicken hawks don’t send our soldiers well-prepared, but rather let family and friends finance body armor and steel plating privately. I guess their dream of the privatization of every aspect of life reached new highs or lows depending on one’s perspective.
Furthermore, while our own towns and cities have serious needs, Iraq becomes a financial drain on investment at home. Anyone remember the old school lessons about the fall of Rome? A couple of examples to chew over from recent budgeting:
4.6 billion dollars for Iraqi water and sanitation and 3.1 billion for our own; $290 million for Iraqi first responders and $200 million for our own.
When our pseudo-cowboy president chased away our major allies, he also chased off those who had helped cover the military and financial side of things in past operations.
But wait, Donald Rumsfeld says, we have (increasingly had) many allies making up the “Coalition of the Willing.” Yes, it may be true that South Korea sent 24 soldiers and Lithuania sent a dozen or so, but this touted “Coalition of the Willing” (COW) was meager and left the American taxpayers pretty much paying all the bills and Halliburton and friends decided that they saw a COW, so they might as well milk it for all it’s worth.
From what I could gather from the 60 Minute report, even if a company is fined for fleecing us all, they simply pay a relatively small fine but still keep a nice fat profit.
Where is the outrage? Where is the outcry? 700 billion dollars unaccounted for – money that could have gone to repair our infrastructure, teach our children, help develop alternative energy for our own country, or simply bolstered Social Security for our Baby Boom retirees.
Today, gas was more than $3.00/gallon – oil companies have gotten a pay raise and now it’s time that the American worker does too.
Health care costs are hindering job creation in both the private and pubic realm. When our city sees rising health insurance costs in the double digits every year, it scares us from hiring and likewise, when the manager or business owner sees the same thing, he usually decides to forgo hiring another worker because of these peripheral costs. That 700 billion dollar COW sure could have helped do much here at home but while the corporate buddies of this administration got the milk, the American people were left holding the bucket.
THE PEOPLE SPEAK - Letters To The Editor
TO THE EDITOR
I am writing to correct the information Tony Brockmeyer has received
regarding the alleged embezzling of funds in the St. Chalres City Finance
Department. I know this person was NOT fired from thier job to date and
that the situation has nothing to do with embezzling but rather with more
personal issues with the Director of Finance. This employee did NOT steal
any money and, if there was an issue of theft, the police certainly would
have been contacted immediately. Mr. Brockmeyer should check his facts and
question his sources before writing something damaging about someone, thus
jeopardizing their integrity.
Received by e-mail
EDITOR'S NOTE
We stand by our earlier stories.
DEAR EDITOR
I'm curious as to how Mr. Douchant, recent letter writer to editor in P-D,
conducted his own personal survey on (in his words) the "lefty lunatics"
whom he describes as "rarely getting anything right".
Sounds to me as if he has a few prejudice bones in his head
concerning why the bill of rights - Amendments 1-10 - were added to the U.
S. Constitution and perhaps his perceived superiority over said "lunatics"
is exactly why our forefathers felt adding these amendments was so
important. It might behoove some of us spewing self-importance to re-visit
the Amendments and understand why they are so very important to us, aside
from the information given in his diatribe as to the particulars of when it
was adopted and by whom, etc. Perhaps our forefathers had the foresight to
realize there would be those whom might feel themselves superior and
therefore endanger the rights of "all Americans" to freedoms of speech,
freedom of the press, freedom to peaceably assemble and to petition the
government for a redress of grievances. Seemed like a good idea to those
writing the Bill of Rights at the time and in the current atmosphere of
secrecy, re-writing of laws and attempts at changing the U.S. Constitution
in order to remove citizens rights rather than protect them, I'd say it was
and is important to us all to see that those rights are protected now more
than ever. Carrying placards and signs and voicing individuals concerns
about government decisions without the benefit of Congressional approval or
public debate is not only a right but a duty, whether you happen to be a
Constitutional scholar or a layman. It also gives you the right to make
public your opinions no matter how prejudice or one sided those opinions
might be; so embrace them now and fight for them as they become endangered,
lest we become that which we fear the most.
Sandra Vago
10241 Tesson Valley Ct.
St. Louis County (un-incorporated)
63123
314-544-5000
I am writing to correct the information Tony Brockmeyer has received
regarding the alleged embezzling of funds in the St. Chalres City Finance
Department. I know this person was NOT fired from thier job to date and
that the situation has nothing to do with embezzling but rather with more
personal issues with the Director of Finance. This employee did NOT steal
any money and, if there was an issue of theft, the police certainly would
have been contacted immediately. Mr. Brockmeyer should check his facts and
question his sources before writing something damaging about someone, thus
jeopardizing their integrity.
Received by e-mail
EDITOR'S NOTE
We stand by our earlier stories.
DEAR EDITOR
I'm curious as to how Mr. Douchant, recent letter writer to editor in P-D,
conducted his own personal survey on (in his words) the "lefty lunatics"
whom he describes as "rarely getting anything right".
Sounds to me as if he has a few prejudice bones in his head
concerning why the bill of rights - Amendments 1-10 - were added to the U.
S. Constitution and perhaps his perceived superiority over said "lunatics"
is exactly why our forefathers felt adding these amendments was so
important. It might behoove some of us spewing self-importance to re-visit
the Amendments and understand why they are so very important to us, aside
from the information given in his diatribe as to the particulars of when it
was adopted and by whom, etc. Perhaps our forefathers had the foresight to
realize there would be those whom might feel themselves superior and
therefore endanger the rights of "all Americans" to freedoms of speech,
freedom of the press, freedom to peaceably assemble and to petition the
government for a redress of grievances. Seemed like a good idea to those
writing the Bill of Rights at the time and in the current atmosphere of
secrecy, re-writing of laws and attempts at changing the U.S. Constitution
in order to remove citizens rights rather than protect them, I'd say it was
and is important to us all to see that those rights are protected now more
than ever. Carrying placards and signs and voicing individuals concerns
about government decisions without the benefit of Congressional approval or
public debate is not only a right but a duty, whether you happen to be a
Constitutional scholar or a layman. It also gives you the right to make
public your opinions no matter how prejudice or one sided those opinions
might be; so embrace them now and fight for them as they become endangered,
lest we become that which we fear the most.
Sandra Vago
10241 Tesson Valley Ct.
St. Louis County (un-incorporated)
63123
314-544-5000
THE CONSERVATIVE FACTOR - By Alex Spencer
A couple weeks ago, I took a trip to the emergency room. Mind you, it was not voluntary visit – they really never are. I had to have my appendix out. It was a fairly unpleasant couple days, but I’ll survive. An appendix is of those things that the doctors can’t really explain. See, we have one, but apparently we don’t actually need it. At some point many, many years ago, we might have needed it. (If you believe in evolution – not trying to spark a great debate, jut letting you know about my surgery). Well, mine’s gone now and I am one appendix lighter, although I experienced no significant weight loss, and I was confined to jello for several days.
One of the things that really struck me while I was in the hospital was the absence of politics. I mean really – here’s this captive audience right, folks who can’t leave or do anything else for that matter, and there is no politics.
As far as I know, St. Joe’s doesn’t allow candidates to campaign door-to-door at the hospital, but imagine the possibilities. You could hit hundreds of doors and your doors-to-square-mileage ratio would be outstanding. You can’t really discount the importance of the doors-to-square-mileage ratio when everyone wants 3-acre lots. You would think the politicians would object to 3-acre lots. With the houses so spread out, it’s harder to knock on all the doors and meet your potential constituents. But back to the hospital.
So, you could have the candidates sign up for times during visiting hours and have them divide up by floor and ward. Now, I’m not really sure how that would work with some of these races. Ignoring the token Democratic candidate – there are six candidates on the Republican ballot for Sheriff. There are also so many candidates for judge, I’ve lost count. It reminds me of that old saying: you can’t swing a dead cat around here without hitting…(in our case, a candidate for sheriff or judge). But anyways, these candidates would go around and see the patients and distribute their literature. The patients/voters might actually pay attention since the cable TV station line-up is sadly lacking.
Some of your more industrious candidates would be able to come back periodically to hit the votes recovering in the outpatient surgery ward. I really think I’m on to something. The seriously ill patients are marked outside their doors for the staff, and I am assuming that the candidates would be respectful and simply skip those rooms. The real bonus includes the friends and family visiting the patients. The real problem is trying to determine which folks are registered voters. Your odds are pretty good. I would think that citywide and countywide candidates would be okay working St. Joes, here in St. Charles. I think that the same would apply to Barnes in St. Peters and the new new hospitals out west. State Reps, Aldermen and Councilmembers would need to find a slightly different system since it would be nearly impossible to determine if the hospital patient lived in their district/ward, but maybe the hospital could reorganize them? I also think it might be handy for the older guys like Pagano, Hollingsworth and Hoepfner to be near cardiac care while campaigning.
Besides, if the candidates were going door-to-door inside, then we wouldn’t have to listen to that dunce, Barclay, over in St. Peters tell us all about his sunburn from going door-to-door in the summer being much more sunny than going door-to-door in the spring. Of course, I think he had to run like 3 times before he finally won an aldermanic seat in St. Peters, so he might want to invest in a bunch of sunscreen, it may take him a few more tries to win a County Council seat. His consistently silly mentions of his knocking exploits remind me of all the times I heard Perennial candidate Lennie Miller tell the story of wearing out his shoe leather going door-to-door. Maybe I’ll devote an entire column to stupid stories told by candidates, but that is for another day.
The candidates could also post signs in the hospital. Everyone has to look at the signage to find their way around anyway, so they might subliminally process the signage better while they are trying to find the Family Waiting Room. Now, I think there would have to be some guidelines about tasteful signage – this will probably rule out most of the Sheriff candidates and those ridiculous signs that Gartner and Thornhill have put up, but it’s a thought.
Seems that the hospitals are always looking for breaks from the politicians, so it only seems fair the hospitals open their doors to the folks that will ultimately help them out. Think about it, might be kind of interesting. Seems like a timely issue with the elections coming up next month.
I’m not really sure what to think about this year’s Primary Election. There are a lot of contested races, but nothing that makes you want to run out to the polls and vote. Don’t get me wrong. I’ll be there to vote, because I believe that’s the responsibility of all Americans, but I’m not really sure that I feel strongly about the outcome.
I’ll be sharing my own voter’s guide with you in my next column, which comes out right before the election, and there are so many races and so many candidates to consider – that was SIX Republican candidates for Sheriff, too many to count for Judge, and a few RINOs to boot. After all, I had plenty of time to think about it while I was waiting to have my appendix out and then, recovering.
Much more to come on the upcoming election, but in the meantime, give some thought to my idea about politicians being allowed to campaign at the hospital…I really think I’m onto something here.
One of the things that really struck me while I was in the hospital was the absence of politics. I mean really – here’s this captive audience right, folks who can’t leave or do anything else for that matter, and there is no politics.
As far as I know, St. Joe’s doesn’t allow candidates to campaign door-to-door at the hospital, but imagine the possibilities. You could hit hundreds of doors and your doors-to-square-mileage ratio would be outstanding. You can’t really discount the importance of the doors-to-square-mileage ratio when everyone wants 3-acre lots. You would think the politicians would object to 3-acre lots. With the houses so spread out, it’s harder to knock on all the doors and meet your potential constituents. But back to the hospital.
So, you could have the candidates sign up for times during visiting hours and have them divide up by floor and ward. Now, I’m not really sure how that would work with some of these races. Ignoring the token Democratic candidate – there are six candidates on the Republican ballot for Sheriff. There are also so many candidates for judge, I’ve lost count. It reminds me of that old saying: you can’t swing a dead cat around here without hitting…(in our case, a candidate for sheriff or judge). But anyways, these candidates would go around and see the patients and distribute their literature. The patients/voters might actually pay attention since the cable TV station line-up is sadly lacking.
Some of your more industrious candidates would be able to come back periodically to hit the votes recovering in the outpatient surgery ward. I really think I’m on to something. The seriously ill patients are marked outside their doors for the staff, and I am assuming that the candidates would be respectful and simply skip those rooms. The real bonus includes the friends and family visiting the patients. The real problem is trying to determine which folks are registered voters. Your odds are pretty good. I would think that citywide and countywide candidates would be okay working St. Joes, here in St. Charles. I think that the same would apply to Barnes in St. Peters and the new new hospitals out west. State Reps, Aldermen and Councilmembers would need to find a slightly different system since it would be nearly impossible to determine if the hospital patient lived in their district/ward, but maybe the hospital could reorganize them? I also think it might be handy for the older guys like Pagano, Hollingsworth and Hoepfner to be near cardiac care while campaigning.
Besides, if the candidates were going door-to-door inside, then we wouldn’t have to listen to that dunce, Barclay, over in St. Peters tell us all about his sunburn from going door-to-door in the summer being much more sunny than going door-to-door in the spring. Of course, I think he had to run like 3 times before he finally won an aldermanic seat in St. Peters, so he might want to invest in a bunch of sunscreen, it may take him a few more tries to win a County Council seat. His consistently silly mentions of his knocking exploits remind me of all the times I heard Perennial candidate Lennie Miller tell the story of wearing out his shoe leather going door-to-door. Maybe I’ll devote an entire column to stupid stories told by candidates, but that is for another day.
The candidates could also post signs in the hospital. Everyone has to look at the signage to find their way around anyway, so they might subliminally process the signage better while they are trying to find the Family Waiting Room. Now, I think there would have to be some guidelines about tasteful signage – this will probably rule out most of the Sheriff candidates and those ridiculous signs that Gartner and Thornhill have put up, but it’s a thought.
Seems that the hospitals are always looking for breaks from the politicians, so it only seems fair the hospitals open their doors to the folks that will ultimately help them out. Think about it, might be kind of interesting. Seems like a timely issue with the elections coming up next month.
I’m not really sure what to think about this year’s Primary Election. There are a lot of contested races, but nothing that makes you want to run out to the polls and vote. Don’t get me wrong. I’ll be there to vote, because I believe that’s the responsibility of all Americans, but I’m not really sure that I feel strongly about the outcome.
I’ll be sharing my own voter’s guide with you in my next column, which comes out right before the election, and there are so many races and so many candidates to consider – that was SIX Republican candidates for Sheriff, too many to count for Judge, and a few RINOs to boot. After all, I had plenty of time to think about it while I was waiting to have my appendix out and then, recovering.
Much more to come on the upcoming election, but in the meantime, give some thought to my idea about politicians being allowed to campaign at the hospital…I really think I’m onto something here.
The View From The Cheap Seats - By Jerry Haferkamp
(This column was written several weeks before publication)
I have just finished reading the intellectual desert known as the editorial column of the St. Peters Advertiser (A.K.A. the St. Charles Journal) referring to our city’s fireworks ordinance as a “joke”. Whoever this “Editor” is that wrote that column, he or she fails to address the real problem. Here it is, faithful readers:
Our fireworks laws are no more of a “joke” than our speed limit laws are. What is the real “joke”, you ask? The real joke is the resident who is so wrapped up in his own self-gratification that he has absolutely no respect for his neighbors. Like the speeder on our streets, the ones that put our property in danger and ruin our night’s sleep are the ones who think laws only apply when it is convenient to their purpose.
This source of constant comedy, the Journal’s “Editor” assails our council for passing an ordinance restricting discharge of fireworks. In the next issue he or she will probably assail the council for restricting speed in school zones. Since some morons don’t obey our laws, the Journal editor blames the council. The Editor can’t seem to gather up enough guts to address the real culprits, the violators of our laws. That certainly wouldn’t be conducive to his duty to getting our mayor’s message out that all ills in St. Charles are born of anyone who doesn’t bow to the throne of the Queen of the Center of the Universe.
As I stated in my last column, the Journal has pretty much always been out of step with the citizens of St. Charles. One can only assume that the Editor considers all laws a “joke” if some jerks don’t abide by them. Since there is murder being committed in our society, this editor must think our laws forbidding murder are a “joke”. Cars are stolen; therefore car-jacking laws must be a “joke”. Some people drive drunk. Are our drunk driving laws a “joke”?
The column fails to note that absent this ordinance there would be no restrictions on how late these morons could violate your peaceful sleep. St. Peters has completely banned fireworks, but that hasn’t stopped the use of them in their city. St. Louis County is the same story.
Our ordinance gives the real celebrants of Independence Day the opportunity to celebrate. The people shooting fireworks at 1 or 2 a.m. are celebrating only their own self-centeredness.
No, our fireworks ordinance isn’t a joke. Neither are our speed laws. There are just too many self-centered morons who violate them.
The “joke” is the Journal editorial.
Of course, that's just the view from the cheap seats.
P.S. (Question) The mayor’s pit bull Mikey has missed a lot of meetings. Did he break free from her leash?
I have just finished reading the intellectual desert known as the editorial column of the St. Peters Advertiser (A.K.A. the St. Charles Journal) referring to our city’s fireworks ordinance as a “joke”. Whoever this “Editor” is that wrote that column, he or she fails to address the real problem. Here it is, faithful readers:
Our fireworks laws are no more of a “joke” than our speed limit laws are. What is the real “joke”, you ask? The real joke is the resident who is so wrapped up in his own self-gratification that he has absolutely no respect for his neighbors. Like the speeder on our streets, the ones that put our property in danger and ruin our night’s sleep are the ones who think laws only apply when it is convenient to their purpose.
This source of constant comedy, the Journal’s “Editor” assails our council for passing an ordinance restricting discharge of fireworks. In the next issue he or she will probably assail the council for restricting speed in school zones. Since some morons don’t obey our laws, the Journal editor blames the council. The Editor can’t seem to gather up enough guts to address the real culprits, the violators of our laws. That certainly wouldn’t be conducive to his duty to getting our mayor’s message out that all ills in St. Charles are born of anyone who doesn’t bow to the throne of the Queen of the Center of the Universe.
As I stated in my last column, the Journal has pretty much always been out of step with the citizens of St. Charles. One can only assume that the Editor considers all laws a “joke” if some jerks don’t abide by them. Since there is murder being committed in our society, this editor must think our laws forbidding murder are a “joke”. Cars are stolen; therefore car-jacking laws must be a “joke”. Some people drive drunk. Are our drunk driving laws a “joke”?
The column fails to note that absent this ordinance there would be no restrictions on how late these morons could violate your peaceful sleep. St. Peters has completely banned fireworks, but that hasn’t stopped the use of them in their city. St. Louis County is the same story.
Our ordinance gives the real celebrants of Independence Day the opportunity to celebrate. The people shooting fireworks at 1 or 2 a.m. are celebrating only their own self-centeredness.
No, our fireworks ordinance isn’t a joke. Neither are our speed laws. There are just too many self-centered morons who violate them.
The “joke” is the Journal editorial.
Of course, that's just the view from the cheap seats.
P.S. (Question) The mayor’s pit bull Mikey has missed a lot of meetings. Did he break free from her leash?
Lane Being Changed at Cave Springs/Truman to Accommodate Storm Sewer Installation
The northbound lane of Cave Springs Road/Truman Boulevard near Highway 370 will be moved on Friday to allow crews to install new storm sewer pipes. The road project is part of Lakeside 370 levee construction.
Northbound traffic will be moved in this area of Cave Springs/Truman so that it passes next to southbound traffic. Currently, northbound and southbound lanes are separated. Signs will be posted to help direct traffic. The speed limit will be 25 mph. Motorists are asked to use caution driving through the construction zone.
Storm sewer installation is expected to last about two weeks. After the storm sewers are installed, pavement will be removed from Cave Springs/Truman to allow for levee construction across the road. The road will be reconstructed over the levee. Motorists can expect periodic lane changes during the project, which is expected to be complete in October.
Northbound traffic will be moved in this area of Cave Springs/Truman so that it passes next to southbound traffic. Currently, northbound and southbound lanes are separated. Signs will be posted to help direct traffic. The speed limit will be 25 mph. Motorists are asked to use caution driving through the construction zone.
Storm sewer installation is expected to last about two weeks. After the storm sewers are installed, pavement will be removed from Cave Springs/Truman to allow for levee construction across the road. The road will be reconstructed over the levee. Motorists can expect periodic lane changes during the project, which is expected to be complete in October.
New Town Kids Decorate Recycling Bins to Help Spread the Word
(click on image to enlarge) Contest sponsored by Anheuser-Busch Recycling, Allied Waste and New Town St. Charles to emphasize importance of recycling
Thirty young residents of New Town St. Charles put their artistic talents to work decorating recycling bins last Saturday morning, July 22. They used paint and recyclables stuck on the bins to convey why they think recycling is important. More than 250 residents voted throughout the afternoon on the “Best Bin” with prizes awarded to four winners.
The contest was sponsored by Anheuser-Busch Recycling Corporation, New Town St. Charles and Allied Waste to encourage residents to recycle. “It is exciting to have these groups helping us push recycling. Currently we recycle only about 10% of our waste,” said St. Charles Councilman John Gieseke who represents the New Town area. “I know we can do better than that. We must. We need to push recycling to save our natural resources and help keep our trash costs from rising.”
Those decorating bins were asked to why they thought recycling was important. “In reading these kids’ statements, it’s clear they know how critical it is for communities to step up recycling efforts,” said Steve Campbell, Director, Marketing, Anheuser-Busch Recycling Corporation. “Through this contest and other outreach efforts underway in New Town, we hope residents start talking to each other about the many reasons to recycle and how easy it is.”
Those participating picked up their bins at the end of the evening, and many residents also picked up extra bins for their own households. “It was fun to see the kids so excited about the reason for the contest and the actual act of decorating the bins,” said Gieseke. “And now we have 30 households in New Town with uniquely decorated bins…each caring an important message!”
The winners by age category were:
Girl -- 10 years and under: Lexie Lehmuth
Boy – 10 years and under: Sam Wallut
Girl – 11 years and older: Chelsea House
Boy – 11 years and older: Anthony Burton
Each of the four winners received a gift certificate provided by Anheuser-Busch Recycling for a new bike.
Open House Aboard Corps’ Largest Diesel Towboat in Alton, Illinois
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, will host an open house aboard the Corps of Engineers’ M/V (Motor Vessel) Mississippi, which will be docked at the Melvin Price Locks and Dam in Alton, Ill., from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., Saturday, August 5.
The public is invited to take a self-guided tour of the Corps’ largest diesel towboat and flagship to the Mississippi River Commission. The M/V Mississippi is 241 feet long, 58 feet wide and five stories high. Three 2100-hp diesel engines power the vessel.
The vessel’s primary mission is to move barges in support of bank stabilization work on the lower Mississippi River. However, each spring and late summer, the Mississippi River Commission conducts a series of public meetings aboard the vessel, with the late summer trip including the St. Louis area. The Commission, established by Congress in 1879, holds the meetings to maintain a dialogue, and to exchange viewpoints and ideas with its stakeholders and the public. The St. Louis District will host its public meeting August 18 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Melvin Price Locks and Dam.
The public is invited to attend the open house and will have the opportunity to talk with Corps of Engineers’ representatives, as well as the motor vessel’s crew. Melvin Price Locks and Dam is located at #1 Lock and Dam Way off of Hwy 143 in Alton, Illinois.
For more information, or if you require special accommodations, contact the National Great Rivers Museum at 618-462-6979.
The public is invited to take a self-guided tour of the Corps’ largest diesel towboat and flagship to the Mississippi River Commission. The M/V Mississippi is 241 feet long, 58 feet wide and five stories high. Three 2100-hp diesel engines power the vessel.
The vessel’s primary mission is to move barges in support of bank stabilization work on the lower Mississippi River. However, each spring and late summer, the Mississippi River Commission conducts a series of public meetings aboard the vessel, with the late summer trip including the St. Louis area. The Commission, established by Congress in 1879, holds the meetings to maintain a dialogue, and to exchange viewpoints and ideas with its stakeholders and the public. The St. Louis District will host its public meeting August 18 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Melvin Price Locks and Dam.
The public is invited to attend the open house and will have the opportunity to talk with Corps of Engineers’ representatives, as well as the motor vessel’s crew. Melvin Price Locks and Dam is located at #1 Lock and Dam Way off of Hwy 143 in Alton, Illinois.
For more information, or if you require special accommodations, contact the National Great Rivers Museum at 618-462-6979.
Annual Boy Scout District Planning Meeting Set
Boone Trails District of Boy Scouts of America, which covers St. Charles, Lincoln and Warren counties, will hold their annual program preview on Tuesday, August 1st 2006 at Lindenwood University Hyland Performance Arena. The Performance Arena is located on John Weber Road, off First Capitol Drive in St. Charles. The pre-opening begins at 7:00pm, with the opening ceremony at 7:30pm.
There are more that 150 units in the Boone Trails district, providing a Boy Scouting program to over 6,000 youth members. These units are sponsored by local schools, churches, and civic organizations. Scouts benefit the local community through service projects, Eagle projects, and area wide “Good Turns” like Scouting for Food.
Information will be provided on 2006-2007 scouting programs, events, activities, camping, training opportunities, advancement and membership recruitment. All registered Boy Scout and Cub Scout leaders should attend in order to plan a well-rounded scouting program in their individual units.
To help facilitate the meeting, unit leaders are requested to bring the name, address and phone number of their unit’s coordinators for School Night to Join Scouting, Scouting for Food, Trails End Popcorn Fundraiser, and the date for Friends of Scouting presentations.
There are more that 150 units in the Boone Trails district, providing a Boy Scouting program to over 6,000 youth members. These units are sponsored by local schools, churches, and civic organizations. Scouts benefit the local community through service projects, Eagle projects, and area wide “Good Turns” like Scouting for Food.
Information will be provided on 2006-2007 scouting programs, events, activities, camping, training opportunities, advancement and membership recruitment. All registered Boy Scout and Cub Scout leaders should attend in order to plan a well-rounded scouting program in their individual units.
To help facilitate the meeting, unit leaders are requested to bring the name, address and phone number of their unit’s coordinators for School Night to Join Scouting, Scouting for Food, Trails End Popcorn Fundraiser, and the date for Friends of Scouting presentations.
CRISIS NURSERY-SAINT CHARLES ASKS FOR YOUR HELP WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES
It’s almost back-to-school time again and the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery-St. Charles is asking for your help with school supplies. Backpacks, pencils, rulers, paper, socks and underwear are needed. Monetary donations would also be greatly appreciated.
Supplies may be delivered to the nursery located at 315 First Capital Dr., across the street from St. Joseph Health Center.
The Saint Louis Crisis Nursery provides safe care for children whose families are in crisis, parent education, community referrals, and extended family support and operates in four locations across the St. Louis and St. Charles regions.
Supplies may be delivered to the nursery located at 315 First Capital Dr., across the street from St. Joseph Health Center.
The Saint Louis Crisis Nursery provides safe care for children whose families are in crisis, parent education, community referrals, and extended family support and operates in four locations across the St. Louis and St. Charles regions.
First Capitol Counseling Connection - By Dr. Howard Rosenthal
Dr. Howard Rosenthal
Power Walking On Main Street
An insightful interview with Louise Cheli first place winner of the 2006 Healthy Woman Award
HR: Louise, congratulations are in order. I understand that you just snared the 2006 Healthy Woman Award conferred via St. Luke’s Hospital. When did you become interested in health and fitness? Were you into sports and exercise as a child?
LC: Thank you Howard. I think I first became interested in health and fitness in about 5th grade. I started keeping a journal as part of a class assignment, and I loved it. I found that it really inspired me to reflect on my own behaviors,inspirations and attitudes. I started to keep a “Health File”. It contained information about health, fitness, nutrition, stress management, the aging process, prayers – essentially, anything that I thought would help me become the best I could be. I loved to play many sports, and to be outdoors in nature, climbing trees or riding my bike or skateboard. I think I was about 16yrs. old when I “officially” saw that my interest was in “Health & Wellness”. It was about this time that I then expanded my “Health File” to include files about: children, marriage, and aging as well. I knew how wonderful it felt to be fit and active and I wanted this for everyone.
HR: Bye the way, I know you grew up in South St. Louis. How did you end up in St. Charles and what is it that you like about our town?
LC: My husband Dave and I both grew up in the Carondelet area of South St. Louis. We decided that we wanted to consider buying a house with some land. Dave’s Mom and Dad had moved to St. Charles from South St. Louis, and Dave’s sister and her husband also lived out here. So we decided to look in St. Charles, and when we found our home with replete with a lot that is nearly an acre. It’s a great fit for us.
I really like our children’s school, the Academy of the Sacred Heart, our church, St. Charles Borromeo, our St. Charles libraries, the parks, Main Street stores – like the new Picasso’s, and the friendliness/thoughtfulness of the people. I like the closeness of the community here. I have met life-long friends here in St. Charles, and I feel blessed.
HR: What are the nuts and bolts of a healthy lifestyle?
LC: I am glad you asked! I am currently working on a “Health and Inspiration Manual” for children and adults. I hope to have the book published within two years –by 2008! The nuts (right away I think of protein!) and bolts of a healthy lifestyle are, in my estimation, can be viewed in light of six main areas: Spiritual, mental, emotional, occupational, social and physical. When I was in college I designed a Wellness model I named the “Balance Ball”, to teach wellness. Without a picture of the “Balance Ball” it is difficult to explain the concept, but I can say it is about wholeness and balance in each of these areas. One must find fulfillment and support for each of these areas to be “balanced and whole.” Let me give you an example. Let’s just look at two areas of a person’s being – spiritual and physical. If a person decides that they feel very spiritually “full/whole” because they pray often and attend Mass, services etc., but do not take care of their physical self by being active, eating healthfully, managing stress in healthy ways, getting enough sleep, tending to safety on the road when driving etc., then, we might say this person was a little out of balance. One must view a person’s “Balance Ball” in light of all six areas/components to get an accurate view of one’s degree of balance. It seems obvious that we, as human beings, have similar needs in the various areas of health I mentioned (spiritual, mental, emotional, occupational, social and physical), but there is much variation, of course. This model is simply a guide to assess where one is currently. Then, it is important to see where one is going – towards illness or high level wellness.
HR: How do you handle the scientific confusion? I mean today it’s fruits and veggies, tomorrow we’re supposed to measure a palm full of food in our hand to get into the Zone, the next day the rage is a caveman diet with enough meat and fat to make an Atkin’s dieter blush and God only knows what diet Oprah will be suggesting next . . . and she will be suggesting one.
LC: I consistently depend on conservative, reliable health organizations like the American Heart Association, the National Dairy Council, the Lung Association, the Diabetes Association, the Mayo Clinic, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the National Dietetics Association and many others. Dr. Kenneth Cooper, who first coined the term “aerobics”, has a fitness/wellness center/complex in Dallas Texas, and he is another good resource. St. Charles has another great, local resource which is Healthy Communities St. Charles County (a program of Community Vision St. Charles County, Inc.). The website is: www.healthycommunitiesscc.org. I am a skeptic when it comes to new health news. It has to stand the test of time and scrutiny by committed professionals before a claim is to be seen as legitimate.
HR: Do you personally ever cheat when it comes to diet? I must tell the readers that I once . . . yes just once . . . spied you seemingly enjoying . . . dare I say it . . . a slice of fast food pizza!
LC: Pizza is tasty isn’t it! I truly never think of anything I eat as “cheating”. There is room in one’s diet for any food one likes – in reasonable amounts. It is a matter of balancing energy in (food/nutrients/calories) with energy out (calories/energy expended in exercise/activity). I don’t think anything is “forbidden.” It really doesn’t fit a healthy mindset towards food. When I teach children about nutrition, I tell them to erase the words good and bad food from their vocabulary.
I tell them, “There aren’t “good foods & bad foods,” unless we are talking about taste, and then of course there are! Some taste good & others taste bad. These terms can be replaced by more appropriate terms: “more nutritious & less nutritious.” I teach that (excluding allergies to certain foods for certain people) all foods can have a place in our diets.
Food should be enjoyed in moderation in a healthy eating plan. We have to watch our portion sizes too. A serving of meat, for instance, is 3oz. of lean meat, which is about the size of a deck of playing cards! It is a wonderful thing to have the immense variety and nutritional value we enjoy here in the United States. It is our responsibility to use our abundance to benefit our health as a nation, not diminish or damage it! I do believe US citizens are on our way to healthier days!
So, I shall restate your question to allow you to get at the answer you are looking for. Do I ever overdo it? Occasionally, I probably have too much “dairy” in my diet. Translation: I enjoy ice cream. (It is usually low-fat. ☺)
HR: I’ve seen you zoom past me as you power walk down Main Street or Fifth Street on numerous occasions. What is your personal daily exercise workout like?
HR: The YMCA is my favorite place to exercise besides the KATY trail or my neighborhood. I work out at least three times a week at the YMCA. I do at least 30 to 60 minutes of strictly aerobic exercise such as stair-climbing, the treadmill, or riding an exercise bike. I also engage in 20 minutes of weight-lifting for all the major muscle groups. It is a blast! I love to walk (when I have seen you) and thus do it nearly every day.
A lady at the YMCA asked me why I was smiling so much when I was running on the treadmill and I said, “Because it is fun, and I love the challenge of it.” She shook her head and said, “Well, I am not there yet.” I encouraged her and told her it is great she works out at the Y, and to stick with it. She smiled and said she intends to.
HR: How does one achieve emotional well-being?
LC: Let’s have a clear understanding of what emotional well-being is first, before we proceed. According to the psychiatrist Dr. Karl Menninger co-founder of the well-known Menninger Clinic, emotional health is a matter of degree. We all have in our minds what we consider the ideal emotional maturity and well-being we seek on some level. But because of the many facets of our personalities, we exhibit signs of emotional health and well-being as well as emotional difficulties. Here are some of Menninger’s criteria of an emotionally mature person: Ability to function under difficulty; capacity to change; control over tension and anxiety; capacity to find more satisfaction in giving than in receiving; consideration of other persons; curbing hate and guilt; capacity to love. I would add that an emotionally healthy person is realistic about one’s own strengths and weaknesses, and accepts their own feelings about those traits. An emotionally healthy person is assertive (not abrasive) in communicating their feelings both positive and negative to themselves and others. An emotionally healthy person can accept criticism with the dignity of an adult, not the grief of a child. An emotionally healthy person continually tries to be the best they can be by utilizing their God given talents.
I think one achieves emotional well-being by first going to the bed-rock … the foundation of what is the truth: each person possesses unsurpassable human dignity. John Paul II said, “Nothing surpasses the greatness and dignity of the human person.” If a person knows and believes this to be true, one would naturally cherish oneself and all others. To cherish is to love and hold dear. We are indeed worthy of the best possible care and love. Out of this truth, we become dedicated to caring for ourselves the best we can so we can care for others –the best we can. Respect is grown from this vine of greatness and dignity. By appreciating others, we learn to live in relationship to others with increased openness and better communication which fosters emotional well-being also.
We achieve emotional well-being through perseverance. We maintain emotional well-being through perseverance, and as M. Scott Peck put it in his wonderful book, The Road Less Traveled, “mental health is dedication to reality at all costs.” An emotionally healthy person pays attention to the red flags, or the symptoms which indicate that things are getting out of balance, and takes steps to get things back in balance as readily as possible.
HR: I know you consider yourself a very spiritual person. Tell us about that. How does spirituality fit into the health equation?
LC: To me, spirituality is the very essence of who we are. I think it is the foundation of everything we do. It is life, meaning, growth, change, intensity, relationships. In a word: LOVE. God is LOVE. For me, it all grows from the two great commandments: Love, God and love your neighbor as yourself. That is it. Spirituality demands that whatever state of health we are in, we do the best we can, where we are with what we have. We do the best we can at what? At loving God and loving one’s neighbor as oneself. Will we love others if we do not love ourselves? Can we give to others what we do not have? That is where health fits in, to me, in the spirituality equation. There is a responsibility to do one’s best in taking care of oneself because others who are less fortunate may need you to help them in their suffering, struggling and hardship. Taking care of yourself enables you to take good care of others too! Plato said, “The soul by its own excellence ensures that the body be as fit as possible.”
An example may prove helpful. Let’s take a 15 year old who has allowed himself (due to inactivity, poor eating habits and lack of sleep) to become out of shape and out of balance. He may not be able or mentally willing to help an older man next door who would like help in cutting his lawn. Possibly, too, the young man becomes so preoccupied with himself and his own imbalance that he is not conscious of those around him who may need him.
If I were to put this into an equation it might read:
Healthy living (good habits etc.) + Spiritual living (sacraments and loving God and your neighbor) = fully alive/responsible life
HR: You have always looked up to Father Richard Tillman, a trained social worker and the Priest at St. Charles Borromeo. What is the most important thing you’ve learned from your discussions with Father Rich?
LC: I certainly do look up to Father Tillman. That isn’t to say we always agree. The most important thing I have learned and reinforced from discussions with Father is to respect and love all life: human beings and nature. This has helped me become more accepting of people and less judgmental.
HR: Some studies indicate that fitness in kids is at an all-time low. Should we force them to get involved in organized sports? And if I’m not being too personal: Have you ever forced your children to play soccer, baseball or whatever?
LC: No, a parent shouldn’t force a child to become involved unless the child has an interest in participating. Encouraging/expecting and requiring a certain amount of outdoor activity/exercise is reasonable however. No, we have never forced our children to play a sport or participate in something they didn’t show an interest in. It would seem to be an unhealthy thing to do!
HR: Your husband Dave is an accomplished businessman and a consummate musician. Does music play a part in one’s quest for total health?
LC: What a great question Howard! Yes! Music comes into the equation by being a source of spiritual, mental, emotional, social, physical and possibly even occupational health. Think about this: Music is a universal language…like a smile. People can relate and connect even if we are from different cultures…or different centuries! Bach once commented that music’s gift to our health is that it can wipe away the dust of everyday living.
Music is one of the best ways to handle stress! Like prayer and exercise, music can transport you to a beautiful place to give you a respite from your troubles. It is a healthy way to cope! Playing an instrument involves one’s whole self (spirit, mind and body) and thus enriches one’s whole self. We have no idea how deeply music can affect our spirits, our minds and our bodies. Norman Cousins unearthed the wisdom of laughter and its positive effect on our immune system. I believe music’s power is similar. It heals and lifts us up. Of course, some types of music can have the opposite effect as well. One must be selective. Another aspect of music which is so powerful is its ability to free us from being too complacent at times. It touches us deeply.
HR: Are there any final gems of wisdom you’d like to cast at our readers?
LC: I don’t know if this is a “gem of wisdom”, but I would like to cast this line into the waters:
Try waking up THANKFUL each and every day. Before your feet touch the ground from your bed, try saying a prayer of gratitude for LIFE and LOVE, and FOR THOSE MOST IN NEED.
Thank you, Howard, for your thoughtful questions, and the time you took to interview me.
Dr. Howard Rosenthal is professor and program coordinator of Human Services at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley and a multi-book author. His book Therapy’s Best: Practical Advice and Gems of Wisdom from Twenty Accomplished Counselors and Therapists (Haworth Publishing) will be released this summer. His website is www.howardrosenthal.com Copyright 2006. Dr. Howard Rosenthal
Power Walking On Main Street
An insightful interview with Louise Cheli first place winner of the 2006 Healthy Woman Award
HR: Louise, congratulations are in order. I understand that you just snared the 2006 Healthy Woman Award conferred via St. Luke’s Hospital. When did you become interested in health and fitness? Were you into sports and exercise as a child?
LC: Thank you Howard. I think I first became interested in health and fitness in about 5th grade. I started keeping a journal as part of a class assignment, and I loved it. I found that it really inspired me to reflect on my own behaviors,inspirations and attitudes. I started to keep a “Health File”. It contained information about health, fitness, nutrition, stress management, the aging process, prayers – essentially, anything that I thought would help me become the best I could be. I loved to play many sports, and to be outdoors in nature, climbing trees or riding my bike or skateboard. I think I was about 16yrs. old when I “officially” saw that my interest was in “Health & Wellness”. It was about this time that I then expanded my “Health File” to include files about: children, marriage, and aging as well. I knew how wonderful it felt to be fit and active and I wanted this for everyone.
HR: Bye the way, I know you grew up in South St. Louis. How did you end up in St. Charles and what is it that you like about our town?
LC: My husband Dave and I both grew up in the Carondelet area of South St. Louis. We decided that we wanted to consider buying a house with some land. Dave’s Mom and Dad had moved to St. Charles from South St. Louis, and Dave’s sister and her husband also lived out here. So we decided to look in St. Charles, and when we found our home with replete with a lot that is nearly an acre. It’s a great fit for us.
I really like our children’s school, the Academy of the Sacred Heart, our church, St. Charles Borromeo, our St. Charles libraries, the parks, Main Street stores – like the new Picasso’s, and the friendliness/thoughtfulness of the people. I like the closeness of the community here. I have met life-long friends here in St. Charles, and I feel blessed.
HR: What are the nuts and bolts of a healthy lifestyle?
LC: I am glad you asked! I am currently working on a “Health and Inspiration Manual” for children and adults. I hope to have the book published within two years –by 2008! The nuts (right away I think of protein!) and bolts of a healthy lifestyle are, in my estimation, can be viewed in light of six main areas: Spiritual, mental, emotional, occupational, social and physical. When I was in college I designed a Wellness model I named the “Balance Ball”, to teach wellness. Without a picture of the “Balance Ball” it is difficult to explain the concept, but I can say it is about wholeness and balance in each of these areas. One must find fulfillment and support for each of these areas to be “balanced and whole.” Let me give you an example. Let’s just look at two areas of a person’s being – spiritual and physical. If a person decides that they feel very spiritually “full/whole” because they pray often and attend Mass, services etc., but do not take care of their physical self by being active, eating healthfully, managing stress in healthy ways, getting enough sleep, tending to safety on the road when driving etc., then, we might say this person was a little out of balance. One must view a person’s “Balance Ball” in light of all six areas/components to get an accurate view of one’s degree of balance. It seems obvious that we, as human beings, have similar needs in the various areas of health I mentioned (spiritual, mental, emotional, occupational, social and physical), but there is much variation, of course. This model is simply a guide to assess where one is currently. Then, it is important to see where one is going – towards illness or high level wellness.
HR: How do you handle the scientific confusion? I mean today it’s fruits and veggies, tomorrow we’re supposed to measure a palm full of food in our hand to get into the Zone, the next day the rage is a caveman diet with enough meat and fat to make an Atkin’s dieter blush and God only knows what diet Oprah will be suggesting next . . . and she will be suggesting one.
LC: I consistently depend on conservative, reliable health organizations like the American Heart Association, the National Dairy Council, the Lung Association, the Diabetes Association, the Mayo Clinic, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the National Dietetics Association and many others. Dr. Kenneth Cooper, who first coined the term “aerobics”, has a fitness/wellness center/complex in Dallas Texas, and he is another good resource. St. Charles has another great, local resource which is Healthy Communities St. Charles County (a program of Community Vision St. Charles County, Inc.). The website is: www.healthycommunitiesscc.org. I am a skeptic when it comes to new health news. It has to stand the test of time and scrutiny by committed professionals before a claim is to be seen as legitimate.
HR: Do you personally ever cheat when it comes to diet? I must tell the readers that I once . . . yes just once . . . spied you seemingly enjoying . . . dare I say it . . . a slice of fast food pizza!
LC: Pizza is tasty isn’t it! I truly never think of anything I eat as “cheating”. There is room in one’s diet for any food one likes – in reasonable amounts. It is a matter of balancing energy in (food/nutrients/calories) with energy out (calories/energy expended in exercise/activity). I don’t think anything is “forbidden.” It really doesn’t fit a healthy mindset towards food. When I teach children about nutrition, I tell them to erase the words good and bad food from their vocabulary.
I tell them, “There aren’t “good foods & bad foods,” unless we are talking about taste, and then of course there are! Some taste good & others taste bad. These terms can be replaced by more appropriate terms: “more nutritious & less nutritious.” I teach that (excluding allergies to certain foods for certain people) all foods can have a place in our diets.
Food should be enjoyed in moderation in a healthy eating plan. We have to watch our portion sizes too. A serving of meat, for instance, is 3oz. of lean meat, which is about the size of a deck of playing cards! It is a wonderful thing to have the immense variety and nutritional value we enjoy here in the United States. It is our responsibility to use our abundance to benefit our health as a nation, not diminish or damage it! I do believe US citizens are on our way to healthier days!
So, I shall restate your question to allow you to get at the answer you are looking for. Do I ever overdo it? Occasionally, I probably have too much “dairy” in my diet. Translation: I enjoy ice cream. (It is usually low-fat. ☺)
HR: I’ve seen you zoom past me as you power walk down Main Street or Fifth Street on numerous occasions. What is your personal daily exercise workout like?
HR: The YMCA is my favorite place to exercise besides the KATY trail or my neighborhood. I work out at least three times a week at the YMCA. I do at least 30 to 60 minutes of strictly aerobic exercise such as stair-climbing, the treadmill, or riding an exercise bike. I also engage in 20 minutes of weight-lifting for all the major muscle groups. It is a blast! I love to walk (when I have seen you) and thus do it nearly every day.
A lady at the YMCA asked me why I was smiling so much when I was running on the treadmill and I said, “Because it is fun, and I love the challenge of it.” She shook her head and said, “Well, I am not there yet.” I encouraged her and told her it is great she works out at the Y, and to stick with it. She smiled and said she intends to.
HR: How does one achieve emotional well-being?
LC: Let’s have a clear understanding of what emotional well-being is first, before we proceed. According to the psychiatrist Dr. Karl Menninger co-founder of the well-known Menninger Clinic, emotional health is a matter of degree. We all have in our minds what we consider the ideal emotional maturity and well-being we seek on some level. But because of the many facets of our personalities, we exhibit signs of emotional health and well-being as well as emotional difficulties. Here are some of Menninger’s criteria of an emotionally mature person: Ability to function under difficulty; capacity to change; control over tension and anxiety; capacity to find more satisfaction in giving than in receiving; consideration of other persons; curbing hate and guilt; capacity to love. I would add that an emotionally healthy person is realistic about one’s own strengths and weaknesses, and accepts their own feelings about those traits. An emotionally healthy person is assertive (not abrasive) in communicating their feelings both positive and negative to themselves and others. An emotionally healthy person can accept criticism with the dignity of an adult, not the grief of a child. An emotionally healthy person continually tries to be the best they can be by utilizing their God given talents.
I think one achieves emotional well-being by first going to the bed-rock … the foundation of what is the truth: each person possesses unsurpassable human dignity. John Paul II said, “Nothing surpasses the greatness and dignity of the human person.” If a person knows and believes this to be true, one would naturally cherish oneself and all others. To cherish is to love and hold dear. We are indeed worthy of the best possible care and love. Out of this truth, we become dedicated to caring for ourselves the best we can so we can care for others –the best we can. Respect is grown from this vine of greatness and dignity. By appreciating others, we learn to live in relationship to others with increased openness and better communication which fosters emotional well-being also.
We achieve emotional well-being through perseverance. We maintain emotional well-being through perseverance, and as M. Scott Peck put it in his wonderful book, The Road Less Traveled, “mental health is dedication to reality at all costs.” An emotionally healthy person pays attention to the red flags, or the symptoms which indicate that things are getting out of balance, and takes steps to get things back in balance as readily as possible.
HR: I know you consider yourself a very spiritual person. Tell us about that. How does spirituality fit into the health equation?
LC: To me, spirituality is the very essence of who we are. I think it is the foundation of everything we do. It is life, meaning, growth, change, intensity, relationships. In a word: LOVE. God is LOVE. For me, it all grows from the two great commandments: Love, God and love your neighbor as yourself. That is it. Spirituality demands that whatever state of health we are in, we do the best we can, where we are with what we have. We do the best we can at what? At loving God and loving one’s neighbor as oneself. Will we love others if we do not love ourselves? Can we give to others what we do not have? That is where health fits in, to me, in the spirituality equation. There is a responsibility to do one’s best in taking care of oneself because others who are less fortunate may need you to help them in their suffering, struggling and hardship. Taking care of yourself enables you to take good care of others too! Plato said, “The soul by its own excellence ensures that the body be as fit as possible.”
An example may prove helpful. Let’s take a 15 year old who has allowed himself (due to inactivity, poor eating habits and lack of sleep) to become out of shape and out of balance. He may not be able or mentally willing to help an older man next door who would like help in cutting his lawn. Possibly, too, the young man becomes so preoccupied with himself and his own imbalance that he is not conscious of those around him who may need him.
If I were to put this into an equation it might read:
Healthy living (good habits etc.) + Spiritual living (sacraments and loving God and your neighbor) = fully alive/responsible life
HR: You have always looked up to Father Richard Tillman, a trained social worker and the Priest at St. Charles Borromeo. What is the most important thing you’ve learned from your discussions with Father Rich?
LC: I certainly do look up to Father Tillman. That isn’t to say we always agree. The most important thing I have learned and reinforced from discussions with Father is to respect and love all life: human beings and nature. This has helped me become more accepting of people and less judgmental.
HR: Some studies indicate that fitness in kids is at an all-time low. Should we force them to get involved in organized sports? And if I’m not being too personal: Have you ever forced your children to play soccer, baseball or whatever?
LC: No, a parent shouldn’t force a child to become involved unless the child has an interest in participating. Encouraging/expecting and requiring a certain amount of outdoor activity/exercise is reasonable however. No, we have never forced our children to play a sport or participate in something they didn’t show an interest in. It would seem to be an unhealthy thing to do!
HR: Your husband Dave is an accomplished businessman and a consummate musician. Does music play a part in one’s quest for total health?
LC: What a great question Howard! Yes! Music comes into the equation by being a source of spiritual, mental, emotional, social, physical and possibly even occupational health. Think about this: Music is a universal language…like a smile. People can relate and connect even if we are from different cultures…or different centuries! Bach once commented that music’s gift to our health is that it can wipe away the dust of everyday living.
Music is one of the best ways to handle stress! Like prayer and exercise, music can transport you to a beautiful place to give you a respite from your troubles. It is a healthy way to cope! Playing an instrument involves one’s whole self (spirit, mind and body) and thus enriches one’s whole self. We have no idea how deeply music can affect our spirits, our minds and our bodies. Norman Cousins unearthed the wisdom of laughter and its positive effect on our immune system. I believe music’s power is similar. It heals and lifts us up. Of course, some types of music can have the opposite effect as well. One must be selective. Another aspect of music which is so powerful is its ability to free us from being too complacent at times. It touches us deeply.
HR: Are there any final gems of wisdom you’d like to cast at our readers?
LC: I don’t know if this is a “gem of wisdom”, but I would like to cast this line into the waters:
Try waking up THANKFUL each and every day. Before your feet touch the ground from your bed, try saying a prayer of gratitude for LIFE and LOVE, and FOR THOSE MOST IN NEED.
Thank you, Howard, for your thoughtful questions, and the time you took to interview me.
Dr. Howard Rosenthal is professor and program coordinator of Human Services at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley and a multi-book author. His book Therapy’s Best: Practical Advice and Gems of Wisdom from Twenty Accomplished Counselors and Therapists (Haworth Publishing) will be released this summer. His website is www.howardrosenthal.com Copyright 2006. Dr. Howard Rosenthal
Friday, July 28, 2006
JULY 29TH EDITION WILL BE ON WEB LOG BY Noon Saturday
BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WE ARE EXPERIENCING BECAUSE OF THE RECENT STORM AND POWER OUTAGE THE JULY 29th EDITION OF THE FIRST CAPITOL NEWS WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE ON THIS WEB LOG. IT WILL BE AVAILABLE BY NOON SATURDAY IF NOT EARLIER. THE NEXT PRINTED EDITION OF THE FIRST CAPITOL NEWS WILL BE AUGUST 5TH.
FIRST CAPITOL SPORTS - MIKE MCMURRAN Sports Editor
It seems to me it has been a rather long time since we last visited; much has happened in the realm of sports we cover here at the FCN. Most know that I am far, far from a soccer fan. That being said I can proudly say I sat and watched the entire World Cup Championship match between Italy and France. What I saw only reinforced my dislike for the sport. First of all the player from France who head-butted the player from Italy should be banned from the sport for life! That type of behavior would not be tolerated in any other sport I know of. So he was ejected and his team played a man short. He deliberately tried to injure an opponent. Unacceptable. Of course my dislike for the sport didn’t end there. As most everyone knows, the score was tied at the end of regulation play. Then they played two 15 minute overtime periods. Score still tied. Then they revert to the penalty kicks to decide the World Champions. Let’s see, in baseball do they play 15 innings and then have a home run derby? NO. In football do they play and overtime period and then see who can kick the longest field goal? NO. In basketball when the contest is tied do they have a free throw shooting contest? NO, NO, NO! If soccer is ever going to take off in the United States it is going to have to change the penalty kick rule.
Since our last publication Bob Barton and I attended the Corey Spinks fight at the Savvis Center. Everyone I talked to said the crowd was nothing compared to his most recent fight downtown. If that is true the first fight must have been quite something. I am sure for true fight fans (Barton is; I ain’t) the fight itself was the most exciting part of the event. For me it was the crowd. Highly diverse, very fashion conscious, technologically advanced, as most everyone there was talking to someone on their cell phone. I don’t know, maybe they were all talking to the same person, or maybe they were talking to each other. I just know I’ve never witnessed so many people at one gathering with the need to talk to someone not there. Maybe it was just me. I on the other hand kept bothering Barton asking him question after question about the action in the ring until finally he said, “Hey Mike, can I buy you a cold beer?” Don’t think I didn’t know what he was trying to do – I reluctantly gave in to his offer.
Lastly, I am rather sure most are on the edge of their seats wondering how the Titan baseball team finished their season. If you will remember, the team is coached by yours truly and assisted by Brian Green and Joe Murray. Our season began on the same day as the Cardinals’, April 10. The team competed in Atom division of the St. Peters Athletic Association playing a 12 game schedule. The squad started out slowly, winning only 1 of the first 3 games. Ah, the pleasure of coaching smart, well disciplined children. After starting with a 1-2 record, the Titans ran off 9 straight wins, twice defeating both of the teams that beat us early in the season. The 10-2 record was good enough for first place. Clearly the team’s strength was pitching, finishing with the lowest team E.R.A. (just a tad over 4.0) of all 25 Atom division teams. We concentrated on “team effort.” We had no super stars, and from one game to another you never knew who would step up with a key hit or key defensive play. The pitching was led by Tyler Hash, Derek Griffits, Griffin Palmer and Alex Solomon, all of whom threw lots of scoreless innings – a rarity at the Atom level (often times the scores are 23-22). Solomon did something you’ll probably never see again at the Atom level, threw out a kid at home plate from deep center field. That can take the wind out of the other team’s sail. On most other Atom teams, once the ball gets into the outfield its time to run the bases – not so with the Titans. On most balls that managed to get by the infielders, our outfield core of Sean Coogan, Andrew Heying, Matthew Murray and Evan Oelklaus got the ball back to the infield quickly enough to hold the bad guys to a single. That, as much as anything contributed to the low team E.R.A.
As a coach one of the first rules you learn is “not to have favorites.” So I didn’t. That being said, the most coachable young man on the squad, at least from my perspective, was Will Fairless. Will is the kind of young man who only has to be told things once. His glove at second base was one of the most constants of our team – throwing out two in the all important final game of the season. As coachable as Will was defensively, Carson Green takes the prize at the plate. After a terrible beginning of the season, Carson worked and worked and worked on his batting to the point by the end of the season he was regularly smacking doubles and triples. The all important catching position was shared most of the season by Brody Tinkham and a kid named Joe McMurran. There were some nights when I wondered if the two of them could handle the heat with all that equipment. Both said they would do whatever it takes to help the team win – both boys must have some remarkable dads.
The entire season we stressed team, team, team. “The team is only as good as the weakest link of the chain,” we often told the boys, so we really have no MVP award. On the other hand ladies and gentlemen, and I know it is hard to tell from Atom baseball, there is a young man going into the third grade by the name of Griffin Palmer who can flat out play the game – all aspects of the game. His arm, his bat and his legs are something special. All Griffin did was reach base 27 out of 32 chances, reaching home 17 of those chances. When he hit the ball often times I was afraid he might hurt someone. When our season ended with a must win over the Eagles, Griffin was on the mound for us.
Heh, told you I had a lot to say this week.
Is Minor League Sport Really Unstable?
By Louis J. Launer
The recent purchase of the River City Rascals by a new ownership group and the recent crash and burn of the Missouri River Otters has opened some eyes among the skeptics. Although fans don't want to see any team fold, but many fans have been asking for assurances that the team that has been purchased by an ownership group last for a long time, not just one season or two of mediocre success.
The Frontier League is a stable independent minor baseball league with a commissioner and staff dedicated to assure longevity in their franchises and to satisfy all of their fans in the preservation of baseball, keeping it family-friendly and price conscious. Lately, the Frontier League has been more the exception, rather than the rule of minor league sports. Leagues such as the United Hockey League have been battered and bruised by bad business practices by its leadership and its franchise holders, including one franchise holder forced to fold after being arrested on charges of racketeering.
The UHL itself has also been under investigation into improper activities and criticized for its handling of the folding of six franchises and the relocation of two. Also, two new expansion franchises are about to begin the league’s 16th season. It has left two major markets of Detroit and St. Louis and is now in Chicago, slicing at least one-third of its well established and rebuilt Rockford market. They have also entered Bloomington, Illinois to what could be quite a success in the beginning, but could see demise beyond the control of the potential fans and civic leaders in Bloomington and MacLean County. The people of Bloomington have welcomed their UHL franchise, known as the Prairie Thunder, with open arms. Some fans and business leaders in at least four cities, including here in St. Charles County and the greater St. Louis metropolitan area, do not want to even do business with the Lake Saint Louis-based UHL. It boils down to whether or not the UHL will meet its obligations and meet financial responsibilities—including the responsibilities of its franchise holders.
The UHL also has a slight public relations problem. In greater St. Louis, there was already a conflict brewing between the UHL and the United States Hockey League. The USHL had the Heartland Eagles playing at the Summit Center in Chesterfield, a much smaller rink (seating 1,500) compared to the UHL’s venue of the Family Arena (seating 10,000). An interview with a few of the USHL officials revealed that they felt that the UHL and their leadership was “snotty.” But there have also been reports of the UHL muscling their way into such markets as Green Bay and Indianapolis, where there were two established USHL teams. As a result, the USHL considers those cities to be their major markets and officials in those areas who operate arenas will not talk to the UHL.
Another adverse incident involving the UHL was in the city of Port Huron, Michigan. After the 2004-05 schedule was released in the summer of 2004, there was an apparent shouting match between the UHL Commissioner Richard Brosal and officials who operate the McMorran Arena. It seems that the Port Huron franchise at the time forgot to mention to the UHL that McMorran Arena was the traditional home of the North American Silver Stick Championship, an invitational youth hockey tournament that takes place during January. That meant that three Port Huron UHL games had to be rescheduled. In fact, McMorran Arena officials would have been able to save one game and keep it on the schedule, but move it to an early afternoon game instead of an evening game. But two other games had to be changed and that did not sit well with the UHL Commissioner. Port Huron still has a UHL team. The fans want it. But Port Huron has had a total of five different UHL franchises in the last 16 seasons.
But it’s not just the UHL that has been “shady” as a minor league. Remember the International Basketball League? The IBL had a strong franchise in St. Charles, known as the St. Louis Swarm. They won two IBL Championships. There were problems with the IBL. One was that they had different rules compared to the NBA. They played international rules and the markings on the floors of their venues reflected that. People wanted to see basketball the way it should be played, either following something similar to the NBA or the NCAA. Also when the IBL folded, the NBA was coming out with a new development league and the CBA was going to hold off for a season. That caused the St. Louis Swarm to fold and disappear. Basketball did return to the Family Arena with the American Basketball Association’s St. Louis Flight. But poor attendance and poor marketing by the franchise itself led to a quick folding. Another ABA team has been granted to St. Louis, known as the St. Louis Stunners. They plan on playing in St. Louis, but they haven’t selected a venue yet. We asked the Stunners if they will be playing at the Family Arena in St. Charles and their answer was “we aren’t considering being there. We’re not satisfied with the place.”
The ABA has 60 franchises going into the 2006-07 season. Whether or not all of them plays is yet to be seen. But because of the checkered track record of the Family Arena, the ABA won’t be playing in St. Charles County. They will be someplace else in greater St. Louis.
Years ago, there was the Minor League Football System, led by former St. Louis Cardinal player Jim Otis as this league’s commissioner. The Riverboat Gamblers played at Lindenwood University in 1989. It was St. Charles County’s first-ever minor league professional team. It lasted one season in St. Charles. What was the reason for such a short existence? According to the Gamblers ownership group, they claimed that the press refused to cover them, or even the league. They tried to market, but they fell short. Minor league football is the most difficult organization. The NFL doesn’t recognize any true minor league, not like baseball and not like the NHL. The NBA is coming around to developing a minor league system for developing players. Despite Major League Baseball’s difficulties on their level, their minor league system, going down to the independent leagues such as the Frontier League, the “minors” are alive and well in baseball. Hockey has a little way to go. Maybe just the UHL needs better leadership.
It’s really doubtful to think that the press would ever “refuse” to cover minor league sports. Long-time sports writers such as the St. Louis American’s Earl Austin, has covered Frontier League games. He also covered the IBL and currently covers high school and occasionally St. Louis University basketball. Radio stations KSLQ-FM in Washington, Missouri and KFAV-FM out of Warrenton have broadcast a number of minor league baseball, basketball and hockey games. KFNS-FN 100.7 out of Troy, Missouri currently covers the River City Rascals. St. Charles itself doesn’t have a commercial radio station. But that’s not at the burden of the St. Charles-based minor league sports teams. The reporters and the media are there. It’s not really the Post-Dispatch or any of the major-market television and radio stations. But small market media is just like the minor league sports teams—small. No one would expect any of the St. Louis-based media to go out to St. Charles to broadcast a game
But why do the leagues have to be so “fly-by-night?” Gary Baute, who writes for the O’Fallon Community News, said “that’s how minor league sports goes. It’s a crazy business.” Gary was involved with the River City Rascals organization as well as the St. Louis Swarm. The recent purchase of the River City Rascals by an experienced baseball group definitely ensures the city of O'Fallon, St. Charles County and baseball fans everywhere that there will be minor league baseball in St. Charles County for at least the next five to ten years. Dedication and a fan following definitely keeps a minor league franchise going.
Recently, the Frontier League has strengthened their policies on franchises and the conduct of their owners. No professional minor league wants to reduce their amount of franchises, which would also reduce the number of potential markets.
But is the rest of St. Charles County cursed from having sports of other minor leagues? Will the Lake Saint Louis-based United Hockey League show some real leadership and help their franchises on the brink of disaster, instead of folding teams and moving them to other locations, only to disappoint dedicated fans of the sport a few seasons from now? The UHL definitely has their cornerstone teams in cities such as Moline, Rockford, Kalamazoo and Fort Wayne. But just recently, the Kalamazoo Wings and their long-time majority owner, just sold his shares of ownership stock to another concern. Rumors in Kalamazoo point to both the possibility of Kalamazoo trying to get a better arena in their downtown area to replace aging and out-of-date Wings Stadium. Or the owner might be tired of seeing a number of teams fold in the league each year. The irony is that Kalamazoo are the defending UHL champions. Would an owner really want to abandon his long-time hockey team after they won a championship? Well, in Major League Baseball, that was proven when the Florida Marlins won two World Series. The owners the following season sold the team—twice! A lot of evidence there points to pure and simple greed. Greed and personal pride seem to run rampant in several minor leagues and in a number of minor league franchises. Sports franchises need to make money. But if people can't afford going to the games, they won't attend.
No one wants to pay $40 for prime seats to a minor league hockey game. But that's what was charged at a minor league hockey game in Kansas City a few years ago. On the other hand, Springfield, Illinois had open seating and a general admission price of $5.00 for the Frontier League's Springfield Capitals. Lamphier Park which is an historic minor league baseball park had seen better days, prior to the Capitals’ existence in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The place was falling apart and the owners refused to do any marketing or even welcome any media. Their games weren't even broadcast on the radio. Even the local Springfield residents said that Lamphier Park was in a "rough" part of town. If one owns a minor league franchise, there needs to be some compassion, even if the stadium is falling apart.
Just recently, the Frontier League All-Star Game was held in Evansville, Indiana, in historic Bosse Field. The stadium was built in 1915 and is the oldest minor league ballpark still in use. It's the third oldest ballpark in baseball (Wrigley Field in Chicago and Boston's Fenway Park are older). It was featured in the movie "A League of Their Own," and the Evansville Otters who have been there for ten years are committed to staying there for a long time.
It is also true that Family Arena and their management difficulties over the last eight years have not helped matters. The entire Family Arena disaster can be blamed on several fronts. The folding of the IBL (which took out the Swarm), the conflicts between the UHL and St. Charles County certainly is on top of the list. But the St. Louis Steamers Indoor Soccer team and the River City Rage indoor football team has taken advantage of good deals in downtown St. Louis at the Savvis Center—and may be there longer than anyone anticipates.
There is only one minor league sport surviving. It’s not in the city of St. Charles. The Frontier League has shown some real class to baseball. It's always a pleasure to go to a Rascals game in O'Fallon.
STORMS IMPACT BASEBALL: The River City Rascals did lose a few dates due to the recent storms and the rain but their games were easily made up with doubleheaders and one date rescheduled for August, but across the river in Sauget, Illinois, the Gateway Grizzlies could not play four games because of the power outage from both the July 19 and 21 storms. Sunday, just to salvage one series, there was a game held at GCS Ballpark (the same size and similar configuration to T.R. Hughes) between the Gateway Grizzlies and the Windy City Thunderbolts. There was no scoreboard, public-address announcer and working bathrooms. There was only a limited supply of concessions available and a small amount of running water.
Gateway played the games with the anticipation that somewhere the games would be made up. They lost a complete three-game series against the Chillicothe Paints and could only play one out of three games against Windy City. Not knowing when power would be restored at GCS Ballpark added to Grizzlies General Manager Tony Funderburg's frustration level. This past Monday’s game against Windy City, which was scheduled for 7:05 p.m., got bumped up several hours due to the lack of power. Funderburg said that the games had to be played.
"The bottom line is we have to get these games played," he said. " We have guys that have been sitting at home for three days wanting to play baseball.
The Grizzlies are taking a huge financial hit because of Wednesday's severe storms that knocked out power at the stadium.
Over 4,000 tickets were sold for all three nights, and Saturday's crowd was expected to reach 6,000.
Since our last publication Bob Barton and I attended the Corey Spinks fight at the Savvis Center. Everyone I talked to said the crowd was nothing compared to his most recent fight downtown. If that is true the first fight must have been quite something. I am sure for true fight fans (Barton is; I ain’t) the fight itself was the most exciting part of the event. For me it was the crowd. Highly diverse, very fashion conscious, technologically advanced, as most everyone there was talking to someone on their cell phone. I don’t know, maybe they were all talking to the same person, or maybe they were talking to each other. I just know I’ve never witnessed so many people at one gathering with the need to talk to someone not there. Maybe it was just me. I on the other hand kept bothering Barton asking him question after question about the action in the ring until finally he said, “Hey Mike, can I buy you a cold beer?” Don’t think I didn’t know what he was trying to do – I reluctantly gave in to his offer.
Lastly, I am rather sure most are on the edge of their seats wondering how the Titan baseball team finished their season. If you will remember, the team is coached by yours truly and assisted by Brian Green and Joe Murray. Our season began on the same day as the Cardinals’, April 10. The team competed in Atom division of the St. Peters Athletic Association playing a 12 game schedule. The squad started out slowly, winning only 1 of the first 3 games. Ah, the pleasure of coaching smart, well disciplined children. After starting with a 1-2 record, the Titans ran off 9 straight wins, twice defeating both of the teams that beat us early in the season. The 10-2 record was good enough for first place. Clearly the team’s strength was pitching, finishing with the lowest team E.R.A. (just a tad over 4.0) of all 25 Atom division teams. We concentrated on “team effort.” We had no super stars, and from one game to another you never knew who would step up with a key hit or key defensive play. The pitching was led by Tyler Hash, Derek Griffits, Griffin Palmer and Alex Solomon, all of whom threw lots of scoreless innings – a rarity at the Atom level (often times the scores are 23-22). Solomon did something you’ll probably never see again at the Atom level, threw out a kid at home plate from deep center field. That can take the wind out of the other team’s sail. On most other Atom teams, once the ball gets into the outfield its time to run the bases – not so with the Titans. On most balls that managed to get by the infielders, our outfield core of Sean Coogan, Andrew Heying, Matthew Murray and Evan Oelklaus got the ball back to the infield quickly enough to hold the bad guys to a single. That, as much as anything contributed to the low team E.R.A.
As a coach one of the first rules you learn is “not to have favorites.” So I didn’t. That being said, the most coachable young man on the squad, at least from my perspective, was Will Fairless. Will is the kind of young man who only has to be told things once. His glove at second base was one of the most constants of our team – throwing out two in the all important final game of the season. As coachable as Will was defensively, Carson Green takes the prize at the plate. After a terrible beginning of the season, Carson worked and worked and worked on his batting to the point by the end of the season he was regularly smacking doubles and triples. The all important catching position was shared most of the season by Brody Tinkham and a kid named Joe McMurran. There were some nights when I wondered if the two of them could handle the heat with all that equipment. Both said they would do whatever it takes to help the team win – both boys must have some remarkable dads.
The entire season we stressed team, team, team. “The team is only as good as the weakest link of the chain,” we often told the boys, so we really have no MVP award. On the other hand ladies and gentlemen, and I know it is hard to tell from Atom baseball, there is a young man going into the third grade by the name of Griffin Palmer who can flat out play the game – all aspects of the game. His arm, his bat and his legs are something special. All Griffin did was reach base 27 out of 32 chances, reaching home 17 of those chances. When he hit the ball often times I was afraid he might hurt someone. When our season ended with a must win over the Eagles, Griffin was on the mound for us.
Heh, told you I had a lot to say this week.
Is Minor League Sport Really Unstable?
By Louis J. Launer
The recent purchase of the River City Rascals by a new ownership group and the recent crash and burn of the Missouri River Otters has opened some eyes among the skeptics. Although fans don't want to see any team fold, but many fans have been asking for assurances that the team that has been purchased by an ownership group last for a long time, not just one season or two of mediocre success.
The Frontier League is a stable independent minor baseball league with a commissioner and staff dedicated to assure longevity in their franchises and to satisfy all of their fans in the preservation of baseball, keeping it family-friendly and price conscious. Lately, the Frontier League has been more the exception, rather than the rule of minor league sports. Leagues such as the United Hockey League have been battered and bruised by bad business practices by its leadership and its franchise holders, including one franchise holder forced to fold after being arrested on charges of racketeering.
The UHL itself has also been under investigation into improper activities and criticized for its handling of the folding of six franchises and the relocation of two. Also, two new expansion franchises are about to begin the league’s 16th season. It has left two major markets of Detroit and St. Louis and is now in Chicago, slicing at least one-third of its well established and rebuilt Rockford market. They have also entered Bloomington, Illinois to what could be quite a success in the beginning, but could see demise beyond the control of the potential fans and civic leaders in Bloomington and MacLean County. The people of Bloomington have welcomed their UHL franchise, known as the Prairie Thunder, with open arms. Some fans and business leaders in at least four cities, including here in St. Charles County and the greater St. Louis metropolitan area, do not want to even do business with the Lake Saint Louis-based UHL. It boils down to whether or not the UHL will meet its obligations and meet financial responsibilities—including the responsibilities of its franchise holders.
The UHL also has a slight public relations problem. In greater St. Louis, there was already a conflict brewing between the UHL and the United States Hockey League. The USHL had the Heartland Eagles playing at the Summit Center in Chesterfield, a much smaller rink (seating 1,500) compared to the UHL’s venue of the Family Arena (seating 10,000). An interview with a few of the USHL officials revealed that they felt that the UHL and their leadership was “snotty.” But there have also been reports of the UHL muscling their way into such markets as Green Bay and Indianapolis, where there were two established USHL teams. As a result, the USHL considers those cities to be their major markets and officials in those areas who operate arenas will not talk to the UHL.
Another adverse incident involving the UHL was in the city of Port Huron, Michigan. After the 2004-05 schedule was released in the summer of 2004, there was an apparent shouting match between the UHL Commissioner Richard Brosal and officials who operate the McMorran Arena. It seems that the Port Huron franchise at the time forgot to mention to the UHL that McMorran Arena was the traditional home of the North American Silver Stick Championship, an invitational youth hockey tournament that takes place during January. That meant that three Port Huron UHL games had to be rescheduled. In fact, McMorran Arena officials would have been able to save one game and keep it on the schedule, but move it to an early afternoon game instead of an evening game. But two other games had to be changed and that did not sit well with the UHL Commissioner. Port Huron still has a UHL team. The fans want it. But Port Huron has had a total of five different UHL franchises in the last 16 seasons.
But it’s not just the UHL that has been “shady” as a minor league. Remember the International Basketball League? The IBL had a strong franchise in St. Charles, known as the St. Louis Swarm. They won two IBL Championships. There were problems with the IBL. One was that they had different rules compared to the NBA. They played international rules and the markings on the floors of their venues reflected that. People wanted to see basketball the way it should be played, either following something similar to the NBA or the NCAA. Also when the IBL folded, the NBA was coming out with a new development league and the CBA was going to hold off for a season. That caused the St. Louis Swarm to fold and disappear. Basketball did return to the Family Arena with the American Basketball Association’s St. Louis Flight. But poor attendance and poor marketing by the franchise itself led to a quick folding. Another ABA team has been granted to St. Louis, known as the St. Louis Stunners. They plan on playing in St. Louis, but they haven’t selected a venue yet. We asked the Stunners if they will be playing at the Family Arena in St. Charles and their answer was “we aren’t considering being there. We’re not satisfied with the place.”
The ABA has 60 franchises going into the 2006-07 season. Whether or not all of them plays is yet to be seen. But because of the checkered track record of the Family Arena, the ABA won’t be playing in St. Charles County. They will be someplace else in greater St. Louis.
Years ago, there was the Minor League Football System, led by former St. Louis Cardinal player Jim Otis as this league’s commissioner. The Riverboat Gamblers played at Lindenwood University in 1989. It was St. Charles County’s first-ever minor league professional team. It lasted one season in St. Charles. What was the reason for such a short existence? According to the Gamblers ownership group, they claimed that the press refused to cover them, or even the league. They tried to market, but they fell short. Minor league football is the most difficult organization. The NFL doesn’t recognize any true minor league, not like baseball and not like the NHL. The NBA is coming around to developing a minor league system for developing players. Despite Major League Baseball’s difficulties on their level, their minor league system, going down to the independent leagues such as the Frontier League, the “minors” are alive and well in baseball. Hockey has a little way to go. Maybe just the UHL needs better leadership.
It’s really doubtful to think that the press would ever “refuse” to cover minor league sports. Long-time sports writers such as the St. Louis American’s Earl Austin, has covered Frontier League games. He also covered the IBL and currently covers high school and occasionally St. Louis University basketball. Radio stations KSLQ-FM in Washington, Missouri and KFAV-FM out of Warrenton have broadcast a number of minor league baseball, basketball and hockey games. KFNS-FN 100.7 out of Troy, Missouri currently covers the River City Rascals. St. Charles itself doesn’t have a commercial radio station. But that’s not at the burden of the St. Charles-based minor league sports teams. The reporters and the media are there. It’s not really the Post-Dispatch or any of the major-market television and radio stations. But small market media is just like the minor league sports teams—small. No one would expect any of the St. Louis-based media to go out to St. Charles to broadcast a game
But why do the leagues have to be so “fly-by-night?” Gary Baute, who writes for the O’Fallon Community News, said “that’s how minor league sports goes. It’s a crazy business.” Gary was involved with the River City Rascals organization as well as the St. Louis Swarm. The recent purchase of the River City Rascals by an experienced baseball group definitely ensures the city of O'Fallon, St. Charles County and baseball fans everywhere that there will be minor league baseball in St. Charles County for at least the next five to ten years. Dedication and a fan following definitely keeps a minor league franchise going.
Recently, the Frontier League has strengthened their policies on franchises and the conduct of their owners. No professional minor league wants to reduce their amount of franchises, which would also reduce the number of potential markets.
But is the rest of St. Charles County cursed from having sports of other minor leagues? Will the Lake Saint Louis-based United Hockey League show some real leadership and help their franchises on the brink of disaster, instead of folding teams and moving them to other locations, only to disappoint dedicated fans of the sport a few seasons from now? The UHL definitely has their cornerstone teams in cities such as Moline, Rockford, Kalamazoo and Fort Wayne. But just recently, the Kalamazoo Wings and their long-time majority owner, just sold his shares of ownership stock to another concern. Rumors in Kalamazoo point to both the possibility of Kalamazoo trying to get a better arena in their downtown area to replace aging and out-of-date Wings Stadium. Or the owner might be tired of seeing a number of teams fold in the league each year. The irony is that Kalamazoo are the defending UHL champions. Would an owner really want to abandon his long-time hockey team after they won a championship? Well, in Major League Baseball, that was proven when the Florida Marlins won two World Series. The owners the following season sold the team—twice! A lot of evidence there points to pure and simple greed. Greed and personal pride seem to run rampant in several minor leagues and in a number of minor league franchises. Sports franchises need to make money. But if people can't afford going to the games, they won't attend.
No one wants to pay $40 for prime seats to a minor league hockey game. But that's what was charged at a minor league hockey game in Kansas City a few years ago. On the other hand, Springfield, Illinois had open seating and a general admission price of $5.00 for the Frontier League's Springfield Capitals. Lamphier Park which is an historic minor league baseball park had seen better days, prior to the Capitals’ existence in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The place was falling apart and the owners refused to do any marketing or even welcome any media. Their games weren't even broadcast on the radio. Even the local Springfield residents said that Lamphier Park was in a "rough" part of town. If one owns a minor league franchise, there needs to be some compassion, even if the stadium is falling apart.
Just recently, the Frontier League All-Star Game was held in Evansville, Indiana, in historic Bosse Field. The stadium was built in 1915 and is the oldest minor league ballpark still in use. It's the third oldest ballpark in baseball (Wrigley Field in Chicago and Boston's Fenway Park are older). It was featured in the movie "A League of Their Own," and the Evansville Otters who have been there for ten years are committed to staying there for a long time.
It is also true that Family Arena and their management difficulties over the last eight years have not helped matters. The entire Family Arena disaster can be blamed on several fronts. The folding of the IBL (which took out the Swarm), the conflicts between the UHL and St. Charles County certainly is on top of the list. But the St. Louis Steamers Indoor Soccer team and the River City Rage indoor football team has taken advantage of good deals in downtown St. Louis at the Savvis Center—and may be there longer than anyone anticipates.
There is only one minor league sport surviving. It’s not in the city of St. Charles. The Frontier League has shown some real class to baseball. It's always a pleasure to go to a Rascals game in O'Fallon.
STORMS IMPACT BASEBALL: The River City Rascals did lose a few dates due to the recent storms and the rain but their games were easily made up with doubleheaders and one date rescheduled for August, but across the river in Sauget, Illinois, the Gateway Grizzlies could not play four games because of the power outage from both the July 19 and 21 storms. Sunday, just to salvage one series, there was a game held at GCS Ballpark (the same size and similar configuration to T.R. Hughes) between the Gateway Grizzlies and the Windy City Thunderbolts. There was no scoreboard, public-address announcer and working bathrooms. There was only a limited supply of concessions available and a small amount of running water.
Gateway played the games with the anticipation that somewhere the games would be made up. They lost a complete three-game series against the Chillicothe Paints and could only play one out of three games against Windy City. Not knowing when power would be restored at GCS Ballpark added to Grizzlies General Manager Tony Funderburg's frustration level. This past Monday’s game against Windy City, which was scheduled for 7:05 p.m., got bumped up several hours due to the lack of power. Funderburg said that the games had to be played.
"The bottom line is we have to get these games played," he said. " We have guys that have been sitting at home for three days wanting to play baseball.
The Grizzlies are taking a huge financial hit because of Wednesday's severe storms that knocked out power at the stadium.
Over 4,000 tickets were sold for all three nights, and Saturday's crowd was expected to reach 6,000.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
FRONT PAGE FIRST CAPITOL NEWS - July 8, 2006
Click on images to enlage. To read entire edition just scroll down please.
Wanted For Stabbing 500 block San Juan
St. Charles Police are looking for three male subjects who they want for First Degree Assault and Armed Criminal Action involving a stabbing.
Suspect one is a white, male, 19-20 years of age, 5’ 10”, 150 – 170 pounds, with a visible mark on his left cheek (possibly a laceration), wearing a red ball cap.
Suspect two is a black male, 19 – 20 years of age, 5’ 10” – 6’, wearing a dark shirt and blue jeans.
Suspect three is a black, male, 19-20 years of age, no further description.
At approximately 2:50 am Thursday morning the St. Charles Police were called to a stabbing that occurred in the 500 block of San Juan in St. Charles.
A male victim was assaulted and stabbed by the three wanted subjects. He is in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries in a local hospital and was scheduled to undergo surgery. The victim, police are not releasing his name, was stabbed twice in the back.
Anyone with information regarding this crime is requested to cal the St. Charles Crime stoppers hotline at 636 949-3333 or the Detective Bureau at 636 949-3320.
Suspect one is a white, male, 19-20 years of age, 5’ 10”, 150 – 170 pounds, with a visible mark on his left cheek (possibly a laceration), wearing a red ball cap.
Suspect two is a black male, 19 – 20 years of age, 5’ 10” – 6’, wearing a dark shirt and blue jeans.
Suspect three is a black, male, 19-20 years of age, no further description.
At approximately 2:50 am Thursday morning the St. Charles Police were called to a stabbing that occurred in the 500 block of San Juan in St. Charles.
A male victim was assaulted and stabbed by the three wanted subjects. He is in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries in a local hospital and was scheduled to undergo surgery. The victim, police are not releasing his name, was stabbed twice in the back.
Anyone with information regarding this crime is requested to cal the St. Charles Crime stoppers hotline at 636 949-3333 or the Detective Bureau at 636 949-3320.
Money Laundering or Smart Politics The people have a right to know
By Phyllis Schaltenbrand
and Tony Brockmeyer
THIRD IN A SERIES
When we began our series in early May on “Money Laundering or Smart Politics, The Public has a right to know,” we were told State Representative Tom Dempsey and other leading Republicans were commenting we were just playing politics and we had no substantial information to provide to our readers. Imagine our surprise when a Post article, co-authored by Dempsey on June 15, was brought to our attention.
In the June 15, 2006 edition of the Post an article appeared authored by Charles Shields, R, St. Joseph, Majority floor leader of the Missouri Senate and Tom Dempsey, R, St. Charles, majority floor leader of the Missouri House of Representatives. The headline for the article was, “CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM IS A STEP FORWARD”. Quoting from their article, which can be found on page D11 of that edition, “Even more alarming, more than $34 million was funneled in 2004 to political parties and legislative committees in Missouri. Yet no one seems to know where these incredible amounts of money are coming from.” That is an absurd statement for them to make; in fact, they are part of the attempt to hide the information from the public.
In the May 6th edition of the First Capitol News we introduced our investigative report headlined, “MONEY LAUNDERING OR SMART POLITICS? THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW”. Quoting from their June 15th article, “Every Missourian has the right to know how much money candidates are raising and what the sources of the funds are. These committees engage in a legal form of money laundering. Millions of dollars are donated to these committees and directed to specific candidates, all behind the scenes.”
In their article they also commented about the campaign finance reform bill saying, “This bill passed because it is a step in the right direction toward reigning in the legal forms of campaign money laundering and hidden transactions that plague our elections today. By combining technology, media focus and the public’s attention, the bill would bring transparency and accountability to every political race in Missouri.”
Our investigation uncovered TEN of these questionable and suspicious Republican Legislative Committees headquartered at 320 Monroe Street in St. Charles. City and County records on file show that Thomas W. Smith, a legislative aide to State Representative Tom Dempsey, owns the aforementioned residence. Smith is also listed as the treasurer of all 10 suspicious committees and is evidently responsible for any and all money laundering that is being accomplished through those committees. A political expert close to the situation told the First Capitol News, “Anyone who does not think Dempsey is controlling the millions of dollars that is flowing through those legislative committees is pretty naïve. There is no way they would allow a legislative aide to control that much money alone. The power of the majority floor leader of the House is what controls that money.”
It was only after the First Capitol News began publishing our investigative report on these money laundering legislative committees that Dempsey and Shields wrote their article on how bad they thought the money laundering of the millions of dollars of secret campaign donations was. Had they been sincere in what they now want the public to believe, they could have stopped these money laundering legislative committees at any time, but they waited until their scheme was exposed.
Coming next in our investigative series you will learn who is funding these money laundering legislative committees. Later in our series you will learn where the millions of dollars involved are being sent.
The First Capitol News believes the public has a right to know.
and Tony Brockmeyer
THIRD IN A SERIES
When we began our series in early May on “Money Laundering or Smart Politics, The Public has a right to know,” we were told State Representative Tom Dempsey and other leading Republicans were commenting we were just playing politics and we had no substantial information to provide to our readers. Imagine our surprise when a Post article, co-authored by Dempsey on June 15, was brought to our attention.
In the June 15, 2006 edition of the Post an article appeared authored by Charles Shields, R, St. Joseph, Majority floor leader of the Missouri Senate and Tom Dempsey, R, St. Charles, majority floor leader of the Missouri House of Representatives. The headline for the article was, “CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM IS A STEP FORWARD”. Quoting from their article, which can be found on page D11 of that edition, “Even more alarming, more than $34 million was funneled in 2004 to political parties and legislative committees in Missouri. Yet no one seems to know where these incredible amounts of money are coming from.” That is an absurd statement for them to make; in fact, they are part of the attempt to hide the information from the public.
In the May 6th edition of the First Capitol News we introduced our investigative report headlined, “MONEY LAUNDERING OR SMART POLITICS? THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW”. Quoting from their June 15th article, “Every Missourian has the right to know how much money candidates are raising and what the sources of the funds are. These committees engage in a legal form of money laundering. Millions of dollars are donated to these committees and directed to specific candidates, all behind the scenes.”
In their article they also commented about the campaign finance reform bill saying, “This bill passed because it is a step in the right direction toward reigning in the legal forms of campaign money laundering and hidden transactions that plague our elections today. By combining technology, media focus and the public’s attention, the bill would bring transparency and accountability to every political race in Missouri.”
Our investigation uncovered TEN of these questionable and suspicious Republican Legislative Committees headquartered at 320 Monroe Street in St. Charles. City and County records on file show that Thomas W. Smith, a legislative aide to State Representative Tom Dempsey, owns the aforementioned residence. Smith is also listed as the treasurer of all 10 suspicious committees and is evidently responsible for any and all money laundering that is being accomplished through those committees. A political expert close to the situation told the First Capitol News, “Anyone who does not think Dempsey is controlling the millions of dollars that is flowing through those legislative committees is pretty naïve. There is no way they would allow a legislative aide to control that much money alone. The power of the majority floor leader of the House is what controls that money.”
It was only after the First Capitol News began publishing our investigative report on these money laundering legislative committees that Dempsey and Shields wrote their article on how bad they thought the money laundering of the millions of dollars of secret campaign donations was. Had they been sincere in what they now want the public to believe, they could have stopped these money laundering legislative committees at any time, but they waited until their scheme was exposed.
Coming next in our investigative series you will learn who is funding these money laundering legislative committees. Later in our series you will learn where the millions of dollars involved are being sent.
The First Capitol News believes the public has a right to know.
Great Jazz, Free Giveaways, Specialty Food Samples, Beer Tasting, July 22 at NEW TOWN!
Imagine a day filled with a beer-tasting event, specialty food samples, free giveaways and great jazz tunes. On Saturday, July 22, New Town is home to its second beer-tasting event, the Marsala’s Market, Toy Box and Lotions & Potions Grand Opening, and the first annual Jazz Festival!
The Marsala’s Market Grand Opening is a day of specials, complimentary food and wine samples and fun prizes for all. Come see why Marsala’s is quickly becoming one of the favorite markets in town, known for it’s USDA Choice Meats, hand-cut, fresh-daily, Boar’s Head Deli, Oberweis products and more. Many specialty food representatives will be on hand to talk about their products and give away free samples! Mark and Debbie Hohenshell, owners, have surpassed expectations with a wide variety of products to satisfy even the most discriminating buyers. Best yet, they cook for you several nights a week with their prepared foods so you don’t have to.
Lotions & Potions, a specialty bath shop, and The Toy Box are now open in the south kiosks at the New Town outdoor amphitheater. Enjoy grand opening specials all day on July 22 …. There will also be fun giveaways, including bath and body samples from Lotions & Potions and bubbles for the kids (and kids at heart) at The Toy Box while supplies last. Lotions & Potions carries all-natural products from the renowned Bee Natural and Renaud line. If you’re looking for that unique gift or scent, you’ll find it at this elegant bath shop. And The Toy Box … what can we say? It’ll take you back to the days of classic army figures, wooden puzzles, plush stuffed animals, unique arts & crafts, wind-up toys and more …real finds!
The word is out on the second beer-tasting event at the Prancing Pony Books & Caf̩ back courtyard from 2 Р5 on July 22. For $5, residents and visitors are invited to taste 20 import beers from around the world. Participants must show up between 2 Р4 p.m. to participate in the event, and we are limiting the event to 200 participants. Of course, you have to be 21 to participate.
Once you’ve checked off the 20 beers on your card, wander over to the outdoor amphitheater for a fun-filled night of great jazz tunes under the stars, beginning at 5 p.m. Richard Kennison, Entertainment Director, has rounded up some of the best bands in the St. Louis area, including The Readus Miller Project, ptah Williams, Da’ Jazz Club, and New World Harmonica Jazz Featuring Sandy Weltman.
For more information on The New Town at St. Charles or these specific events, visit www.newtownatstcharles.com or call 636-949-2700.
The Marsala’s Market Grand Opening is a day of specials, complimentary food and wine samples and fun prizes for all. Come see why Marsala’s is quickly becoming one of the favorite markets in town, known for it’s USDA Choice Meats, hand-cut, fresh-daily, Boar’s Head Deli, Oberweis products and more. Many specialty food representatives will be on hand to talk about their products and give away free samples! Mark and Debbie Hohenshell, owners, have surpassed expectations with a wide variety of products to satisfy even the most discriminating buyers. Best yet, they cook for you several nights a week with their prepared foods so you don’t have to.
Lotions & Potions, a specialty bath shop, and The Toy Box are now open in the south kiosks at the New Town outdoor amphitheater. Enjoy grand opening specials all day on July 22 …. There will also be fun giveaways, including bath and body samples from Lotions & Potions and bubbles for the kids (and kids at heart) at The Toy Box while supplies last. Lotions & Potions carries all-natural products from the renowned Bee Natural and Renaud line. If you’re looking for that unique gift or scent, you’ll find it at this elegant bath shop. And The Toy Box … what can we say? It’ll take you back to the days of classic army figures, wooden puzzles, plush stuffed animals, unique arts & crafts, wind-up toys and more …real finds!
The word is out on the second beer-tasting event at the Prancing Pony Books & Caf̩ back courtyard from 2 Р5 on July 22. For $5, residents and visitors are invited to taste 20 import beers from around the world. Participants must show up between 2 Р4 p.m. to participate in the event, and we are limiting the event to 200 participants. Of course, you have to be 21 to participate.
Once you’ve checked off the 20 beers on your card, wander over to the outdoor amphitheater for a fun-filled night of great jazz tunes under the stars, beginning at 5 p.m. Richard Kennison, Entertainment Director, has rounded up some of the best bands in the St. Louis area, including The Readus Miller Project, ptah Williams, Da’ Jazz Club, and New World Harmonica Jazz Featuring Sandy Weltman.
For more information on The New Town at St. Charles or these specific events, visit www.newtownatstcharles.com or call 636-949-2700.
EDITORIAL ENDORSEMENTS
Editorial Endorsements
Charles Karam For Congress
Democrats have a golden opportunity to select a strong candidate on August 8th to be their standard bearer against incumbent Congressman Todd Akin in the Fall. Charles Karam is an engaging, well qualified individual with a great family. But it is his strong stands on vital issues that set him apart from the incumbent.
Charles Karam (pronounced Care-um) is willing to stand up to the big money special interests, the high priced Washington lobbyists, big oil and big drug companies. He’s fighting for the issues of greatest importance to the working families and Seniors: the high price of gasoline squeezing the middle class, the need to stop illegal immigration, providing affordable health insurance and lower prescription costs and holding companies that stole billions of our tax dollars in Iraq responsible for war profiteering.
Charles main opponent in the Democratic Primary, Richard Lesh, is a Lindenwood University professor, who has had several business failures and whose wife is running for a State Representative seat at the same time. Lesh seems too far to the left to be a viable Democratic candidate. Karam is more moderate and has the strong support of organized labor.
Todd Akin has been the poster child of the Bush/Cheney Administration, being nothing more than a rubber stamp for the President. He’s voted against efforts to stop big oil from price gouging and against Americans being able to order cheaper prescription medications from Canada, even when those medicines were made in the United States to begin with. Akin is also clearly out-of-step with 2nd District voters on the issue of stem cell research and the tremendous promise of medical breakthroughs from continued scientific research.
People seem ready for a change in Washington. Charles Karam is the best choice of Democrats to carry that message and banner in November. The First Capitol News is proud to give Charles Karam our editorial endorsement.
Joe Koester For State Representative – 18th District
Joe Koester is the son of the late Sheriff Robert Koester, a man that served the people of St. Charles County for many years with honor and distinction. But Joe Koester is also a proven leader and thinker in his own right.
Joe Koester decided to run because of the special favors he saw the incumbent granting developers to the detriment of City taxpayers. The First Capitol News has since uncovered millions of dollars of special interest money being funneled through a local gentleman who works for Tom Dempsey. Joe Koester is committed to ending the influence of special interest money in Jefferson City.
Koester, a public school teacher, will also be a better advocate for the St. Charles School District which has suffered severe cutbacks and school closings despite Representative Dempsey holding a powerful Republican leadership position in Jefferson City.
Joe Koester also supports giving Seniors real tax relief and freezing reassessments for those over age 65. In the 18th District, Joe Koester is the best choice for a new direction and breath of fresh air in the State Capitol. The First Capitol news is proud to give our endorsement to Joe Koester for State Representative.
Charles Karam For Congress
Democrats have a golden opportunity to select a strong candidate on August 8th to be their standard bearer against incumbent Congressman Todd Akin in the Fall. Charles Karam is an engaging, well qualified individual with a great family. But it is his strong stands on vital issues that set him apart from the incumbent.
Charles Karam (pronounced Care-um) is willing to stand up to the big money special interests, the high priced Washington lobbyists, big oil and big drug companies. He’s fighting for the issues of greatest importance to the working families and Seniors: the high price of gasoline squeezing the middle class, the need to stop illegal immigration, providing affordable health insurance and lower prescription costs and holding companies that stole billions of our tax dollars in Iraq responsible for war profiteering.
Charles main opponent in the Democratic Primary, Richard Lesh, is a Lindenwood University professor, who has had several business failures and whose wife is running for a State Representative seat at the same time. Lesh seems too far to the left to be a viable Democratic candidate. Karam is more moderate and has the strong support of organized labor.
Todd Akin has been the poster child of the Bush/Cheney Administration, being nothing more than a rubber stamp for the President. He’s voted against efforts to stop big oil from price gouging and against Americans being able to order cheaper prescription medications from Canada, even when those medicines were made in the United States to begin with. Akin is also clearly out-of-step with 2nd District voters on the issue of stem cell research and the tremendous promise of medical breakthroughs from continued scientific research.
People seem ready for a change in Washington. Charles Karam is the best choice of Democrats to carry that message and banner in November. The First Capitol News is proud to give Charles Karam our editorial endorsement.
Joe Koester For State Representative – 18th District
Joe Koester is the son of the late Sheriff Robert Koester, a man that served the people of St. Charles County for many years with honor and distinction. But Joe Koester is also a proven leader and thinker in his own right.
Joe Koester decided to run because of the special favors he saw the incumbent granting developers to the detriment of City taxpayers. The First Capitol News has since uncovered millions of dollars of special interest money being funneled through a local gentleman who works for Tom Dempsey. Joe Koester is committed to ending the influence of special interest money in Jefferson City.
Koester, a public school teacher, will also be a better advocate for the St. Charles School District which has suffered severe cutbacks and school closings despite Representative Dempsey holding a powerful Republican leadership position in Jefferson City.
Joe Koester also supports giving Seniors real tax relief and freezing reassessments for those over age 65. In the 18th District, Joe Koester is the best choice for a new direction and breath of fresh air in the State Capitol. The First Capitol news is proud to give our endorsement to Joe Koester for State Representative.
RAMBLING With The Editor - Tony Brockmeyer
WHY WEREN’T THE POLICE INVOLVED?
In our last edition we reported that a City employee in the finance department was suspected of embezzlement of City funds. We contacted assistant City Administrator Brent Schultz and he said it was a personnel matter and refused to make any comment. He refused to confirm or deny the embezzlement. The First Capitol News has since learned that the employee has been fired. We also learned that no report was made to the police regarding the alleged theft. Why? The theft of City funds is a matter that should be investigated by the police not by some director at City hall. When embezzlement was suspected federal law enforcement officials were called in and the person responsible was prosecuted in Federal court. Why is this not being done in St. Charles? Why is this person receiving special treatment? Stealing is stealing and is to be handled by law enforcement officials. This matter needs to be corrected now.
WELLER BREAKS GOULD’S ABSENTEE RECORD
I never thought anyone would break the absenteeism record of former Councilman Dan Gould but lo and behold Councilman Mike Weller has already missed more meetings and still has several months to go. Mike don’t you think you should return the money you have been paid to attend the meetings. I heard that he did not want to come back from the lake to attend the last meeting. It is time for Mike to be replaced.
WEEDS ALONG THE RIVER
Last year the City did a great job and mowed down the weeds along the river bank so that the river could be seen. This year the weeds have not been cut and the view of the river is blocked. Why would they allow such a great asset to be overrun by weeds preventing residents and visitors alike from enjoying one of the great assets that are available to us.
CVB STEPS STILL NOT FIXED
We reported in our last edition that the steps at the CVB had been blocked for several months and were not being repaired. As of today the steps are still blocked and have not been repaired.
In our last edition we reported that a City employee in the finance department was suspected of embezzlement of City funds. We contacted assistant City Administrator Brent Schultz and he said it was a personnel matter and refused to make any comment. He refused to confirm or deny the embezzlement. The First Capitol News has since learned that the employee has been fired. We also learned that no report was made to the police regarding the alleged theft. Why? The theft of City funds is a matter that should be investigated by the police not by some director at City hall. When embezzlement was suspected federal law enforcement officials were called in and the person responsible was prosecuted in Federal court. Why is this not being done in St. Charles? Why is this person receiving special treatment? Stealing is stealing and is to be handled by law enforcement officials. This matter needs to be corrected now.
WELLER BREAKS GOULD’S ABSENTEE RECORD
I never thought anyone would break the absenteeism record of former Councilman Dan Gould but lo and behold Councilman Mike Weller has already missed more meetings and still has several months to go. Mike don’t you think you should return the money you have been paid to attend the meetings. I heard that he did not want to come back from the lake to attend the last meeting. It is time for Mike to be replaced.
WEEDS ALONG THE RIVER
Last year the City did a great job and mowed down the weeds along the river bank so that the river could be seen. This year the weeds have not been cut and the view of the river is blocked. Why would they allow such a great asset to be overrun by weeds preventing residents and visitors alike from enjoying one of the great assets that are available to us.
CVB STEPS STILL NOT FIXED
We reported in our last edition that the steps at the CVB had been blocked for several months and were not being repaired. As of today the steps are still blocked and have not been repaired.
THE CITY DESK - Rory Riddler, Councilman Ward 1
St. Charles July Fourth Parade
Is Rockwell Painting In Motion
If famed illustrator Norman Rockwell had wanted to portray a slice of Americana, he would have found no more engaging subject than our own Fourth of July Parade. Looking for something As American As Apple Pie? Look no further than the red, white and blue pageantry of the flatbeds and floats, civic groups, politicians, and bands that blend together so well on this day of celebration.
Study each crepe paper creation on its own for too long and they can lose their luster. This isn’t the Rose Bowl or Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Every petal isn’t meticulously glued in place. No Broadway stars illuminate the floats. No armies of balloon handlers choreograph the flight of giant cartoon characters down the streets of our town.
Yet each Fourth of July, no matter how many summers we’ve managed to live to that point, we all receive a very special gift. We have the opportunity to once more watch the parade with the eyes of our youth…where every blemish fades in the haze of a hot summers day. No greater proof is needed of the appeal of this parade than the large crowds and the fact people were putting out blankets and chairs to hold their spots along the parade route, two hours before it began.
This year our household arose early to help assemble one of the floats and blow up balloons. That left me free to be a spectator this year, from the front porch of my brother’s home, and to write this chronicle of the 2006 July Fourth Parade in the City of St. Charles, on this the 230th year of our nation’s birth.
The Jaycees (who organized the parade) were well represented on their antique fire truck at the head of the parade. The Mayor and several of my fellow Council members were each riding in their own classic convertible. As far as I know, they don’t get to keep the convertibles. Councilman John Gieseke chose to walk the parade route shaking hands and kissing babies. Or was it shaking babies and kissing hands?
Here are a few of the groups, businesses and individuals represented in no particular order of appearance: There were civic and charitable groups, like The Red Cross and St. Charles Kiwanis. There were also youth groups like the Boys & Girls Club, 4-H, Junior Football (seems too hot for football) and the Boy Scouts, closely followed by a bevy of Girl Scouts. Or is a claque of Girl Scouts? In the over specialization category, there were the members of the Fort Zumwalt High School Junior Varsity Ice Hockey Cheerleaders or the FZHSJVIHC for short. “Give me an F…etc., etc., so on and so forth.”
In the performance category the crowds were aptly entertained by the St. Charles Municipal Band en masse on a flatbed truck, a ‘50s era float featuring songs by the talented Patt Holt Singers, the patriotic samplings of the St. Charles West Marching Band and the flag twirling precision of the Hardin Middle School Color Guard. My personal favorite had to be the Moolah Shrine precision drill team and Drum Corps. Each member resplendent in red fez and golden sash, the twenty- man drill team performed close order drill moves that thrilled the crowd. Fortunately they weren’t wearing scimitars in those sashes or they could have done themselves physical harm.
I don’t want to forget the business entries. Allied Waste, Yellow Cab, Baue Funeral Home, Jehling’s Hardware, Bogey Limousine Service, The Montgomery County Speedway and the Verlo Mattress Factory demonstrated their community spirit. It’s sometimes too easy to dismiss commercial participation in civic events as self-serving. But each of these businesses seems to take genuine pride in being part of the fabric of our hometown and I thank them for it.
Tony’s Barber Shop shied away from reminding guys like me to get a haircut with a simple heartfelt message to Support Our Troops. The Orchard Farm VFW also came out to show their patriotism and support for our men and women in uniform.
There were numerous Churches and religious groups represented among the entries. It was hard not to see the Knights of Columbus in their red and black capes and ostrich plumed hats. It takes an act of faith to dress in a black suit and walk in a parade in July around here. Ridgecrest Baptist, St. Johns United Church of Christ and Church of the Shepard showed their colors as well.
Also looking a little hot in their wool clothing and stiff tall collars were the men of the Discovery Expedition in the period uniforms of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (circa 1804). At least they were able to ride in one of the replica boats of the period. Lewis and Clark’s men would have spent most of their time pulling the boat against the current upstream.
There are female members of the group who help portray frontier women they would have encountered here in St. Charles. The women looked a bit cooler in classic Empire dresses of the period, but my wife reminded me that the square openings on the bodices pose their own unique sunscreen challenges.
Also touting another annual events, were the entries advertising the Festival of the Little Hills. It was good to see both Bob and Clara Scott on their float, having donated so many years of their lives to the event and numerous other civic and community groups.
Which brings me to perhaps the largest sub-group of participants…the candidates for public office. The July 4th Parade seems to be the one time they are truly welcomed at an event. Other events during the year usually try to run them off. That’s harder to do at a celebration of the birth of representative democracy in America.
Pat Riley, Republican candidate for Sheriff, had in tow the front end of a fighter jet. Not a paper-mache mock up…a real fighter jet. It made we wonder just how tough he was going to get on crime.
Also causing me to scratch my head, was an entry by the “Conservative Ladies Association Sharp Shooters” or CLASS. Their float sported a painting of a woman with an elephant’s head and an automatic pistol in her hand. As a gun owner myself, I support our 2nd Amendment rights. I also remember we have a 1st Amendment and a bunch more that Congress doesn’t seem to want to stand up and defend anymore.
I guess I was just wondering why there also wasn’t a painting of a woman with a donkey’s head and a hunting rifle? I also thought the woman in the painting looked way too thin to have an elephant’s head. An anthropomorphic figure (yes that’s a real word) of a cross between an elephant and a human being, would likely have a bigger…but I digress.
Rick Zerr and Rich Veit, both Republicans running for judgeship positions, had red, white and blue strings of beads. It was a nice give-away item, but didn’t get the crowd too excited. I felt sorry for the candidates with the lame give-away items. You know, rulers and pocket calendars. Imagine you’re a kid enjoying your summer vacation and someone hands you a ruler for school. It has the same depressing effect as back to school sale signs in stores.
City Councilman Joe Koester, who is taking on incumbent State Representative Tom Dempsey in November, had a large contingent of volunteers and was working hard to shake every hand along the parade route. I get the impression that race is heating up faster than the asphalt.
County Councilwoman Sally Faith had her volunteers dressed in yellow shirts. Right behind her was Doug Saulters, another Republican running for Sheriff, who had his volunteers in yellow T-Shirts. I wonder if they felt the same way some women do when they go to a party wearing the same dress?
I also want to thank parade organizers for still allowing candy to be thrown from floats. Catching it in bags, baseball caps or free hand is one of the great joys of youth. Those parades that don’t always say tossing candy will put someone’s eye out, but never seem to produce the one eyed victim who seems more a product of urban myth.
This year’s hot items with the kids were the white helium balloons given out by Charles Karam, Democratic candidate for Congress in the 2nd District, and frozen flavored Icees given out by Scott Shipman, running for County Assessor.
Charles Karam was there in person shaking hands. That puts him one up on the Republican incumbent Todd Akin, who wasn’t. It also plays into Karam’s favorite theme, that he’s running against the “invisible” Congressman.
Republican United States Senator Jim Talent wasn’t here, but had a float and workers. Strangely, his Democratic challenger Claire McCaskill, who is ahead in the polls, didn’t.
The arrival of the City aerial fire truck, LSV, motorcycle policeman and the Mounted Patrol, marked the end of the parade. I estimated 700 people were in the parade itself. At least 4,000 watched the parade and my estimate is probably low.
If you were a kid and walked away from this parade with a Karam for Congress balloon, a Scott Shipman Icee and pocketful of candy, it was a good day. If you were an adult and walked away feeling proud of your country, proud of your hometown and a little bit like a kid again…it was a good day too.
Is Rockwell Painting In Motion
If famed illustrator Norman Rockwell had wanted to portray a slice of Americana, he would have found no more engaging subject than our own Fourth of July Parade. Looking for something As American As Apple Pie? Look no further than the red, white and blue pageantry of the flatbeds and floats, civic groups, politicians, and bands that blend together so well on this day of celebration.
Study each crepe paper creation on its own for too long and they can lose their luster. This isn’t the Rose Bowl or Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Every petal isn’t meticulously glued in place. No Broadway stars illuminate the floats. No armies of balloon handlers choreograph the flight of giant cartoon characters down the streets of our town.
Yet each Fourth of July, no matter how many summers we’ve managed to live to that point, we all receive a very special gift. We have the opportunity to once more watch the parade with the eyes of our youth…where every blemish fades in the haze of a hot summers day. No greater proof is needed of the appeal of this parade than the large crowds and the fact people were putting out blankets and chairs to hold their spots along the parade route, two hours before it began.
This year our household arose early to help assemble one of the floats and blow up balloons. That left me free to be a spectator this year, from the front porch of my brother’s home, and to write this chronicle of the 2006 July Fourth Parade in the City of St. Charles, on this the 230th year of our nation’s birth.
The Jaycees (who organized the parade) were well represented on their antique fire truck at the head of the parade. The Mayor and several of my fellow Council members were each riding in their own classic convertible. As far as I know, they don’t get to keep the convertibles. Councilman John Gieseke chose to walk the parade route shaking hands and kissing babies. Or was it shaking babies and kissing hands?
Here are a few of the groups, businesses and individuals represented in no particular order of appearance: There were civic and charitable groups, like The Red Cross and St. Charles Kiwanis. There were also youth groups like the Boys & Girls Club, 4-H, Junior Football (seems too hot for football) and the Boy Scouts, closely followed by a bevy of Girl Scouts. Or is a claque of Girl Scouts? In the over specialization category, there were the members of the Fort Zumwalt High School Junior Varsity Ice Hockey Cheerleaders or the FZHSJVIHC for short. “Give me an F…etc., etc., so on and so forth.”
In the performance category the crowds were aptly entertained by the St. Charles Municipal Band en masse on a flatbed truck, a ‘50s era float featuring songs by the talented Patt Holt Singers, the patriotic samplings of the St. Charles West Marching Band and the flag twirling precision of the Hardin Middle School Color Guard. My personal favorite had to be the Moolah Shrine precision drill team and Drum Corps. Each member resplendent in red fez and golden sash, the twenty- man drill team performed close order drill moves that thrilled the crowd. Fortunately they weren’t wearing scimitars in those sashes or they could have done themselves physical harm.
I don’t want to forget the business entries. Allied Waste, Yellow Cab, Baue Funeral Home, Jehling’s Hardware, Bogey Limousine Service, The Montgomery County Speedway and the Verlo Mattress Factory demonstrated their community spirit. It’s sometimes too easy to dismiss commercial participation in civic events as self-serving. But each of these businesses seems to take genuine pride in being part of the fabric of our hometown and I thank them for it.
Tony’s Barber Shop shied away from reminding guys like me to get a haircut with a simple heartfelt message to Support Our Troops. The Orchard Farm VFW also came out to show their patriotism and support for our men and women in uniform.
There were numerous Churches and religious groups represented among the entries. It was hard not to see the Knights of Columbus in their red and black capes and ostrich plumed hats. It takes an act of faith to dress in a black suit and walk in a parade in July around here. Ridgecrest Baptist, St. Johns United Church of Christ and Church of the Shepard showed their colors as well.
Also looking a little hot in their wool clothing and stiff tall collars were the men of the Discovery Expedition in the period uniforms of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (circa 1804). At least they were able to ride in one of the replica boats of the period. Lewis and Clark’s men would have spent most of their time pulling the boat against the current upstream.
There are female members of the group who help portray frontier women they would have encountered here in St. Charles. The women looked a bit cooler in classic Empire dresses of the period, but my wife reminded me that the square openings on the bodices pose their own unique sunscreen challenges.
Also touting another annual events, were the entries advertising the Festival of the Little Hills. It was good to see both Bob and Clara Scott on their float, having donated so many years of their lives to the event and numerous other civic and community groups.
Which brings me to perhaps the largest sub-group of participants…the candidates for public office. The July 4th Parade seems to be the one time they are truly welcomed at an event. Other events during the year usually try to run them off. That’s harder to do at a celebration of the birth of representative democracy in America.
Pat Riley, Republican candidate for Sheriff, had in tow the front end of a fighter jet. Not a paper-mache mock up…a real fighter jet. It made we wonder just how tough he was going to get on crime.
Also causing me to scratch my head, was an entry by the “Conservative Ladies Association Sharp Shooters” or CLASS. Their float sported a painting of a woman with an elephant’s head and an automatic pistol in her hand. As a gun owner myself, I support our 2nd Amendment rights. I also remember we have a 1st Amendment and a bunch more that Congress doesn’t seem to want to stand up and defend anymore.
I guess I was just wondering why there also wasn’t a painting of a woman with a donkey’s head and a hunting rifle? I also thought the woman in the painting looked way too thin to have an elephant’s head. An anthropomorphic figure (yes that’s a real word) of a cross between an elephant and a human being, would likely have a bigger…but I digress.
Rick Zerr and Rich Veit, both Republicans running for judgeship positions, had red, white and blue strings of beads. It was a nice give-away item, but didn’t get the crowd too excited. I felt sorry for the candidates with the lame give-away items. You know, rulers and pocket calendars. Imagine you’re a kid enjoying your summer vacation and someone hands you a ruler for school. It has the same depressing effect as back to school sale signs in stores.
City Councilman Joe Koester, who is taking on incumbent State Representative Tom Dempsey in November, had a large contingent of volunteers and was working hard to shake every hand along the parade route. I get the impression that race is heating up faster than the asphalt.
County Councilwoman Sally Faith had her volunteers dressed in yellow shirts. Right behind her was Doug Saulters, another Republican running for Sheriff, who had his volunteers in yellow T-Shirts. I wonder if they felt the same way some women do when they go to a party wearing the same dress?
I also want to thank parade organizers for still allowing candy to be thrown from floats. Catching it in bags, baseball caps or free hand is one of the great joys of youth. Those parades that don’t always say tossing candy will put someone’s eye out, but never seem to produce the one eyed victim who seems more a product of urban myth.
This year’s hot items with the kids were the white helium balloons given out by Charles Karam, Democratic candidate for Congress in the 2nd District, and frozen flavored Icees given out by Scott Shipman, running for County Assessor.
Charles Karam was there in person shaking hands. That puts him one up on the Republican incumbent Todd Akin, who wasn’t. It also plays into Karam’s favorite theme, that he’s running against the “invisible” Congressman.
Republican United States Senator Jim Talent wasn’t here, but had a float and workers. Strangely, his Democratic challenger Claire McCaskill, who is ahead in the polls, didn’t.
The arrival of the City aerial fire truck, LSV, motorcycle policeman and the Mounted Patrol, marked the end of the parade. I estimated 700 people were in the parade itself. At least 4,000 watched the parade and my estimate is probably low.
If you were a kid and walked away from this parade with a Karam for Congress balloon, a Scott Shipman Icee and pocketful of candy, it was a good day. If you were an adult and walked away feeling proud of your country, proud of your hometown and a little bit like a kid again…it was a good day too.
CASE IN POINT - Joe Koester, Councilman Ward 9
Baseball is green and safe. It has neither the street intimidation of basketball nor the controlled Armageddon of football.... Baseball is a green dream that happens on summer nights in safe places in unsafe cities.
-Luke Salisbury
The past couple of weeks have been pretty quiet at city hall. This made me think that maybe all legislation on all levels needs to be conducted in the summer. You can imagine how quickly lawmakers would finish up business and work together if it meant spending the long, warm days of summer in a room
with florescent lighting and bad coffee.
Regardless, the city council can be happy about one issue where we have taken the lead on a local level while up in Jefferson City they have dropped the ball – tax relief for seniors. Those in our community who have fixed income have watched their real income shrink from rising fuel costs, rising health care costs, and fast-rising home assessments that make the tax bill harder and harder to swallow. Certainly, tax relief could be more substantial on a federal or state level; however, we have taken steps to help out here locally.
For debate, I have asked that the bill be discussed at work session in order to include assistance for others in our community. My thoughts include: raising the income level to adjust for inflation where citizens can ask for the same tax break regardless their age, and offering the same tax break to those in our community with three or more school-aged children. Regardless whether or not this additional section becomes reality, the legislation was a good step in reducing taxes on local retirees.
A serious issue that we have to face head on in St. Charles is the state of our public schools. While we are in the middle of shuttering schools, Fort Zumwalt and Orchard Farm are or will be constructing new schools just to the west and north of us, respectively. In the case of Zumwalt, the new Zumwalt East High School will be right on the border of the St. Charles City School District. The St. Charles School District, while faced with a student bodythat isn’t growing, has already lived those big growth days of the 70s -
building, splitting the school day into two shifts, and using trailers for classroom space. When Francis Howell was in the thick of their financial troubles, St. Charles schools seemed to be financially sound. In fact, the public passed a bond issue for millions of dollars to repair and modernize our schools. I think the fact that this bond issue was passed just a few years ago added to the public’s surprise at the announcement that schools would be closed unless a new tax was levied in April. The general thought was that we should have made the latter decision first and then we would have had more bond money to invest into the schools that would be remaining open. For many, this was the thing that stuck in their craw the most about closing schools. Our property values and quality of life are directly bound to how well our schools are doing, how far the neighborhood school is from home (especially elementary schools/middle schools), what are the classes and programs -offered and what is the average class size.
Development and redevelopment within the school district should help our schools for the next several years. The Noah’s Ark site is under contract for development, the Montgomery Building is under construction on South Main Street, the casino is constructing a large hotel on its property, and the old SSM property on West Clay is currently under construction to name a few.
One deleterious influence on the funding for our local schools is Lindenwood University. Each house bought for student housing removes the property taxes off the books. From that tax, a large portion did go to our city schools. The university has acquired a couple hundred properties – including some commercial space that would have put in an even greater amount. This situation needs to be changed but it will take legislation on a state level in order to do that.
Next, while gasoline prices are the most glaring example of inflation, other basic products have been skyrocketing too - today, a 1⁄2 inch, 10’ section of copper pipe at the hardware store runs about $17.00. The past six years have been good to the oil industry and other multi-national corporations. It’s only the working stiffs who have lost ground lately. It’s time to change government from D.C. to Jefferson City!
Finally, the question whether we should have a full-time or part-time mayor should be going back before the voters now that the matter has been explored and citizens have been given a chance to examine just what is meant by this definition. If you simply ask someone, “Should the mayor be full or part time?” Most would say that a full time mayor would be good. The question that needs to be asked is, “Should we have strong-mayor form of government that allows the mayor to hire and fire department heads at will. Or, do you prefer to keep a city government with a professional city administrator who hires and fires by procedure and who promotes based upon performance? Should the council have input in the hiring process? Full-time and Part-time does not well describe the changes that are involved with the vote of the people. We have to make certain that we make this clear so people can make an informed decision.
-Luke Salisbury
The past couple of weeks have been pretty quiet at city hall. This made me think that maybe all legislation on all levels needs to be conducted in the summer. You can imagine how quickly lawmakers would finish up business and work together if it meant spending the long, warm days of summer in a room
with florescent lighting and bad coffee.
Regardless, the city council can be happy about one issue where we have taken the lead on a local level while up in Jefferson City they have dropped the ball – tax relief for seniors. Those in our community who have fixed income have watched their real income shrink from rising fuel costs, rising health care costs, and fast-rising home assessments that make the tax bill harder and harder to swallow. Certainly, tax relief could be more substantial on a federal or state level; however, we have taken steps to help out here locally.
For debate, I have asked that the bill be discussed at work session in order to include assistance for others in our community. My thoughts include: raising the income level to adjust for inflation where citizens can ask for the same tax break regardless their age, and offering the same tax break to those in our community with three or more school-aged children. Regardless whether or not this additional section becomes reality, the legislation was a good step in reducing taxes on local retirees.
A serious issue that we have to face head on in St. Charles is the state of our public schools. While we are in the middle of shuttering schools, Fort Zumwalt and Orchard Farm are or will be constructing new schools just to the west and north of us, respectively. In the case of Zumwalt, the new Zumwalt East High School will be right on the border of the St. Charles City School District. The St. Charles School District, while faced with a student bodythat isn’t growing, has already lived those big growth days of the 70s -
building, splitting the school day into two shifts, and using trailers for classroom space. When Francis Howell was in the thick of their financial troubles, St. Charles schools seemed to be financially sound. In fact, the public passed a bond issue for millions of dollars to repair and modernize our schools. I think the fact that this bond issue was passed just a few years ago added to the public’s surprise at the announcement that schools would be closed unless a new tax was levied in April. The general thought was that we should have made the latter decision first and then we would have had more bond money to invest into the schools that would be remaining open. For many, this was the thing that stuck in their craw the most about closing schools. Our property values and quality of life are directly bound to how well our schools are doing, how far the neighborhood school is from home (especially elementary schools/middle schools), what are the classes and programs -offered and what is the average class size.
Development and redevelopment within the school district should help our schools for the next several years. The Noah’s Ark site is under contract for development, the Montgomery Building is under construction on South Main Street, the casino is constructing a large hotel on its property, and the old SSM property on West Clay is currently under construction to name a few.
One deleterious influence on the funding for our local schools is Lindenwood University. Each house bought for student housing removes the property taxes off the books. From that tax, a large portion did go to our city schools. The university has acquired a couple hundred properties – including some commercial space that would have put in an even greater amount. This situation needs to be changed but it will take legislation on a state level in order to do that.
Next, while gasoline prices are the most glaring example of inflation, other basic products have been skyrocketing too - today, a 1⁄2 inch, 10’ section of copper pipe at the hardware store runs about $17.00. The past six years have been good to the oil industry and other multi-national corporations. It’s only the working stiffs who have lost ground lately. It’s time to change government from D.C. to Jefferson City!
Finally, the question whether we should have a full-time or part-time mayor should be going back before the voters now that the matter has been explored and citizens have been given a chance to examine just what is meant by this definition. If you simply ask someone, “Should the mayor be full or part time?” Most would say that a full time mayor would be good. The question that needs to be asked is, “Should we have strong-mayor form of government that allows the mayor to hire and fire department heads at will. Or, do you prefer to keep a city government with a professional city administrator who hires and fires by procedure and who promotes based upon performance? Should the council have input in the hiring process? Full-time and Part-time does not well describe the changes that are involved with the vote of the people. We have to make certain that we make this clear so people can make an informed decision.
The View From The Cheap Seats - By Jerry Haferkamp
There will be a non-binding referendum in the upcoming elections. It will have to do with the proposed salary of the incoming mayor, but only if the position will become full-time.
With little information as to the pros and cons, the voters were hurried into voting on the issue of full-time mayor. We approved the change. Almost immediately, many questioned whether their decision was the proper one. I am among those.
At the time this is written, the council is discussing whether the issue of full-time mayor should be placed on the ballot along with the salary issue. The St. Peters advertiser (formerly the St. Charles Journal) editorial came out in opposition to allowing your voices to be heard. This is no surprise, since they have pretty much always been out of step when it comes to St. Charles issues. They claim that the people have already spoken. I wonder if that was their stance when the voters approved the Charter that called for the present structure. Did they stand up and decry the later effort to change to a full-time mayor? No, because it fit their agenda.
Many residents would vote the same way they did before, but many on both sides of the issue may have rethought the issue and would change their vote. Since there is little expense adding this to an already scheduled election, I see no harm in doing so. I have always felt that allowing the citizens as much voice as possible is the right way to go. Times change and so do folks’ positions on issues. Now is the time to address this issue, before the change would take effect. The resulting vote may change or may not, but residents should have the final say.
No matter how you vote on that issue, be sure to cast your vote that would set the mayoral salary if the position does become full time. As I stated in my last column, Councilman Hoepfner originally suggested a salary that was $10,000 more than we pay our governor. He has more recently let a little of the hot air from his balloon and come a little more “down to Earth”, but his proposal is still too high. You will probably be given three salary ranges from which to choose. Consider carefully and choose one!
Lastly, we should all support the tightening up of the recall provisions. We can’t afford the type of activity that we have recently witnessed that attempted to make a mockery of our election process. Our elections are too dear to us to have them turned into the farce that the Citizens Empowerment Committee attempted to foist upon us. Recall should only be used to remove someone from office for abuse of office or criminal acts in the performance of official duties.
Of course, that’s just the view from the cheap seats.
With little information as to the pros and cons, the voters were hurried into voting on the issue of full-time mayor. We approved the change. Almost immediately, many questioned whether their decision was the proper one. I am among those.
At the time this is written, the council is discussing whether the issue of full-time mayor should be placed on the ballot along with the salary issue. The St. Peters advertiser (formerly the St. Charles Journal) editorial came out in opposition to allowing your voices to be heard. This is no surprise, since they have pretty much always been out of step when it comes to St. Charles issues. They claim that the people have already spoken. I wonder if that was their stance when the voters approved the Charter that called for the present structure. Did they stand up and decry the later effort to change to a full-time mayor? No, because it fit their agenda.
Many residents would vote the same way they did before, but many on both sides of the issue may have rethought the issue and would change their vote. Since there is little expense adding this to an already scheduled election, I see no harm in doing so. I have always felt that allowing the citizens as much voice as possible is the right way to go. Times change and so do folks’ positions on issues. Now is the time to address this issue, before the change would take effect. The resulting vote may change or may not, but residents should have the final say.
No matter how you vote on that issue, be sure to cast your vote that would set the mayoral salary if the position does become full time. As I stated in my last column, Councilman Hoepfner originally suggested a salary that was $10,000 more than we pay our governor. He has more recently let a little of the hot air from his balloon and come a little more “down to Earth”, but his proposal is still too high. You will probably be given three salary ranges from which to choose. Consider carefully and choose one!
Lastly, we should all support the tightening up of the recall provisions. We can’t afford the type of activity that we have recently witnessed that attempted to make a mockery of our election process. Our elections are too dear to us to have them turned into the farce that the Citizens Empowerment Committee attempted to foist upon us. Recall should only be used to remove someone from office for abuse of office or criminal acts in the performance of official duties.
Of course, that’s just the view from the cheap seats.
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