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Saturday, March 04, 2006
FRONT PAGE - FIRST CAPITOL NEWS - March 4, 2006
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Criminal Violations - Widespread forgeries on Recall Petitions
Copy of letter sent by police department to more than 1000 names on Dottie Greer Recall Petitions
Click on image to enlarge.
The First Capitol News has learned St. Charles Police have uncovered several criminal violations including widespread forgeries of signatures on the petitions that were turned in for the recall election of Councilwoman Dottie Greer. The results of the investigation are being turned over to St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas with a request for criminal prosecution.
On February 24, Police Chief Tim Swope sent a letter (see letter opposite page) to more than 1000 registered voters whose signatures were on recall petitions submitted by the Citizens Empowerment Committee headed by Linda Meyer and supported and financed by Glennon Jamboretz, TR Hughes, Kevin Kast and Ken Kielty. In the letter Chief Swope told the voters that though the police detectives have spent innumerable hours interviewing many of the people listed on the signature sheets, it is not feasible for the police to expend the total number of man-hours required to verify, in person, all of the names on the signature sheets. He told them he was sending the letter to each person whose signature was on the petitions and asked that they contact the police if they had not signed the petitions.
We have learned that since the letters were sent out more than 54 individuals contacted the police. Some told the police that they had not signed the petitions other said they had been lied to. They said they were not told the petitions were to recall Councilwoman Dottie Greer but that their signatures were needed to place Dottie Greer’s name on the ballot thus leading them to believe she was up for reelection.
We also learned that during the investigation police discovered that one of the petitioners, a nurse living in south St. Louis County who was being paid per signature, had turned in signed petitions but refused to complete the notarized affidavit attesting she had collected the signatures. Then Linda Meyer, one of the leaders of the recall drive, gave those petitions to Melissa Root and Matt Root and they were to go back out and verify the signatures on the petition. When Matt Root was confronted by a resident at her front door telling him she did not sign the petition and telling him to leave her property, he reportedly returned the petitions to Linda Meyer, allegedly telling her what hat occurred. During their investigation the police found those same petitions as part of the ones turned in to support the recall of Greer.(First Capitol News January 27, 2006 “Police take Suspect Into Custody Involving recall Petitions Investigation, can be found on our web log firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com)
Earlier when City Attorney Mike Valenti attempted to take a deposition from Melissa Root, she invoked the Fifth Amendment. Root, represented by attorney Mike Kielty, refused to answer any questions regarding the collection of signatures on recall petitions.(First Capitol News January 14, 2005, available in our archives at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com) When questioned by Valenti, her attorney told Valenti, “She has invoked her rights to any and all questions on her behalf as her attorney she does not have to say anything. She does not have to invoke her rights, her rights have been invoked by me. I’m acting as counsel. This is tantamount to her sitting next to me at a criminal defense table and the State trying to get her to take the stand.” (First Capitol News January 14, 2006 can be found on our web log
firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com)
Charita Walker, admitted in a sworn deposition she signed a notarized affidavit she had collected signatures that were on a recall petition when in fact she had not collected the signatures. Walker said she had been told by Linda Meyer to sign the affidavit after she told Meyer she had not collected the signatures and did not witness them being signed on the on the recall petition. (First Capitol News January 14, 2006 can be found on our web log
firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com)
Meyer, one of the leaders of the Citizens Empowerment Committee, the group trying to recall the Council persons, is the wife of a St. Charles police officer who at one time headed the St. Charles Police Officers Association.
Meyer was also one of the members of the recall committee who received pay. She was paid $300 on November 10, 2005 $300 on November 12, 2005 and $400 on November 18, 2005. In addition TCL Bookkeeping was paid $500 on October 24, 2005 and $600 on November 14, 2005 for accounting services. We could not find a record of TLC bookkeeping on file with the Missouri Secretary of State. However a city business license was issued for the company at Meyer’s home address in St. Charles. (See First Capitol News January 27, 2006, Citizen Empowerment Committee Leaders Profit Personally From Recall Efforts. Can be found in our archives firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com.)
The police report on the investigation was turned over to St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney by the St. Charles Police with a request for prosecution.
Police Report, TR Hughes Was Aware Of Recall Petition Forgeries
By Tony Brockmeyer
The First Capitol News has learned that TR Hughes, one of the leaders and money men behind the recall efforts against Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown was allegedly aware that fraud and forgeries was being committed and did nothing to stop it.
The police investigation indicates that Hughes was at a meeting of the committee when discussions of the fraud and forgery was brought up. This was prior to any of the signature petitions being turned in to the City Clerk for verification.
The report indicates that when discussion of fraud and forgery was brought up and discussed Hughes left the meeting without any comment.
Taxpayers Money,
Tom Hughes, Mike Sellenschuetter,
Kevin Kast,
Ken Kielty,
Glennon Jamboretz,
Finance Recall Efforts
By Tony Brockmeyer
Records on file with the Missouri Ethics Commission and other sources reveal that the Citizens Empowerment Committee is being financed by taxpayer money, Millionaire developer TR Hughes, Kevin Kast former head of SSM St. Joseph Hospital who suddenly retired, Ken Kielty a former City Councilman and partner with public relations guru Glennon Jamboretz in St. Charles Citizens for Responsible Government.
St. Charles Citizens for Responsible Government was formed for the recall of St. Charles office holders. Mayor York has been accussed of funnelling money to the recall effort. (See First Capitol News October 22, 2005 available on the internet in archives on our web log, firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com )
Click on image to enlarge.
The First Capitol News has learned St. Charles Police have uncovered several criminal violations including widespread forgeries of signatures on the petitions that were turned in for the recall election of Councilwoman Dottie Greer. The results of the investigation are being turned over to St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas with a request for criminal prosecution.
On February 24, Police Chief Tim Swope sent a letter (see letter opposite page) to more than 1000 registered voters whose signatures were on recall petitions submitted by the Citizens Empowerment Committee headed by Linda Meyer and supported and financed by Glennon Jamboretz, TR Hughes, Kevin Kast and Ken Kielty. In the letter Chief Swope told the voters that though the police detectives have spent innumerable hours interviewing many of the people listed on the signature sheets, it is not feasible for the police to expend the total number of man-hours required to verify, in person, all of the names on the signature sheets. He told them he was sending the letter to each person whose signature was on the petitions and asked that they contact the police if they had not signed the petitions.
We have learned that since the letters were sent out more than 54 individuals contacted the police. Some told the police that they had not signed the petitions other said they had been lied to. They said they were not told the petitions were to recall Councilwoman Dottie Greer but that their signatures were needed to place Dottie Greer’s name on the ballot thus leading them to believe she was up for reelection.
We also learned that during the investigation police discovered that one of the petitioners, a nurse living in south St. Louis County who was being paid per signature, had turned in signed petitions but refused to complete the notarized affidavit attesting she had collected the signatures. Then Linda Meyer, one of the leaders of the recall drive, gave those petitions to Melissa Root and Matt Root and they were to go back out and verify the signatures on the petition. When Matt Root was confronted by a resident at her front door telling him she did not sign the petition and telling him to leave her property, he reportedly returned the petitions to Linda Meyer, allegedly telling her what hat occurred. During their investigation the police found those same petitions as part of the ones turned in to support the recall of Greer.(First Capitol News January 27, 2006 “Police take Suspect Into Custody Involving recall Petitions Investigation, can be found on our web log firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com)
Earlier when City Attorney Mike Valenti attempted to take a deposition from Melissa Root, she invoked the Fifth Amendment. Root, represented by attorney Mike Kielty, refused to answer any questions regarding the collection of signatures on recall petitions.(First Capitol News January 14, 2005, available in our archives at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com) When questioned by Valenti, her attorney told Valenti, “She has invoked her rights to any and all questions on her behalf as her attorney she does not have to say anything. She does not have to invoke her rights, her rights have been invoked by me. I’m acting as counsel. This is tantamount to her sitting next to me at a criminal defense table and the State trying to get her to take the stand.” (First Capitol News January 14, 2006 can be found on our web log
firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com)
Charita Walker, admitted in a sworn deposition she signed a notarized affidavit she had collected signatures that were on a recall petition when in fact she had not collected the signatures. Walker said she had been told by Linda Meyer to sign the affidavit after she told Meyer she had not collected the signatures and did not witness them being signed on the on the recall petition. (First Capitol News January 14, 2006 can be found on our web log
firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com)
Meyer, one of the leaders of the Citizens Empowerment Committee, the group trying to recall the Council persons, is the wife of a St. Charles police officer who at one time headed the St. Charles Police Officers Association.
Meyer was also one of the members of the recall committee who received pay. She was paid $300 on November 10, 2005 $300 on November 12, 2005 and $400 on November 18, 2005. In addition TCL Bookkeeping was paid $500 on October 24, 2005 and $600 on November 14, 2005 for accounting services. We could not find a record of TLC bookkeeping on file with the Missouri Secretary of State. However a city business license was issued for the company at Meyer’s home address in St. Charles. (See First Capitol News January 27, 2006, Citizen Empowerment Committee Leaders Profit Personally From Recall Efforts. Can be found in our archives firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com.)
The police report on the investigation was turned over to St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney by the St. Charles Police with a request for prosecution.
Police Report, TR Hughes Was Aware Of Recall Petition Forgeries
By Tony Brockmeyer
The First Capitol News has learned that TR Hughes, one of the leaders and money men behind the recall efforts against Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown was allegedly aware that fraud and forgeries was being committed and did nothing to stop it.
The police investigation indicates that Hughes was at a meeting of the committee when discussions of the fraud and forgery was brought up. This was prior to any of the signature petitions being turned in to the City Clerk for verification.
The report indicates that when discussion of fraud and forgery was brought up and discussed Hughes left the meeting without any comment.
Taxpayers Money,
Tom Hughes, Mike Sellenschuetter,
Kevin Kast,
Ken Kielty,
Glennon Jamboretz,
Finance Recall Efforts
By Tony Brockmeyer
Records on file with the Missouri Ethics Commission and other sources reveal that the Citizens Empowerment Committee is being financed by taxpayer money, Millionaire developer TR Hughes, Kevin Kast former head of SSM St. Joseph Hospital who suddenly retired, Ken Kielty a former City Councilman and partner with public relations guru Glennon Jamboretz in St. Charles Citizens for Responsible Government.
St. Charles Citizens for Responsible Government was formed for the recall of St. Charles office holders. Mayor York has been accussed of funnelling money to the recall effort. (See First Capitol News October 22, 2005 available on the internet in archives on our web log, firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com )
Senator John Edwards Speaks at Fund Raiser for Democrats
From left to right, Mrs. Wayne Henke, Wayne Henke Democratic candidate for State Senate to fill the unexpired term of Senator Jon Dolan who resigned, Senator John Edwards, Greg Boothe, Senator Chuck Graham at a fund raising event for Wayne Henke. Senator John Edwards spoke to a standing-room-only crowd Sunday night in St. Peters. Edwards was in town to raise funds for Wayne Henke, D-111th District, who is running for state senate. Edwards spoke of the lack of leadership in current government and encouraged Democrats to become active in changing that fact starting with local politics.
During the 2004 presidential election, Senator Edwards spoke critically of “two Americas,” one for the rich and one for everyone else. The response to Hurricane Katrina’s devastation in the Gulf Coast region made Senator Edwards’ comments of “two Americas” even more telling.
Edwards stated that he has experienced everything this country has to offer and he is a Democrat because he knows he didn’t get to where he is today by himself. He also stated that Democrats are the voice of the poor and underprivileged and said that, “...If we don’t speak up for the poor, nobody will!” Senator Edwards also challenged the belief that the poor are lazy and stated that the people he meets across the land are, in many cases, working two and three jobs to provide for their family.
Senator Edwards has become very active fighting poverty and standing up for the Middle-class. More can be read about Senator Edwards at: OneAmericaCommittee.com. When asked if he plans on running for President in the next election, Mr. Edwards commented, “I’m seriously considering it.”
RAMBLING WITH THE EDITOR - Tony Brockmeyer
EIGHTH ANNUAL
HOLLYWOOD PARTY
TO BENEFIT
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
SUNDAY EVENING
AT TONY’S ON MAIN STREET
The Eighth Annual Hollywood Party to Benefit Multiple Sclerosis will be held on Sunday, March 5, 20005 at Tony’s On Main on North Main Street. Every year Tony’s on Main Street is transformed into a gala straight from Hollywood. The event is presented by 6 Degrees Promotions and they rely on business members of our community to help by donating their services or products. Money is raised during a silent auction and raffle of items and then donated to help individuals who are coping with MS and to find the cure for this devastating disease. If you would like to make a donation it is still not too late. You can contact Mary Puelo at 636-751-4985, 636 947-9997 or Carla Serra (Schneider 636-949-8829, Gayle Gallagher 314-221-6685 or Corinne Gallagher at 314-221-6837.
Or you can drop off your auction item or obtain a ticket at Alfredo Grill at 504 Droste Road in St. Charles.
Multiple Sclerosis affects approximately 400,000 Americans and every week about 200 people are diagnosed. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system (the brian, optic nerves, and spinal cord). It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. This means the immune system incorrectly attacks the person’s healthy tissue. Advances in treating and understanding MS are made every year and progress in research to find a cure is very encouraging. (from Just the Facts 2005-2006; NMSS brochure)
WE WON’T FORGET
Why is it that so many seem to want the rest of us to forget who is the leader of the City. Three former Mayors, Boschert, Wetter and Moeller, were recently interviewed in an ad publication. They said they felt the actions of the City Council were terrible.
These three un-wise men seem to forget that the current Mayor and City Administrator have created the animosity that exists. Currently the Mayor is involved in the recall of two sitting council members. It is alleged she has used taxpayer dollars to support the recall efforts. Her father actually collected signatures in Councilman Brown’s recall petition drive. York is a master at making it look like she is above the fray but the recent revelations of illegal activities in the collection of signatures, the letter of support of Thomas Mayer ( the cop that was suing the city at the time), the still looming outcome of her signing an illegal contract with Express Scripts. The sale of the old police headquarters, York is following in the steps of our national leaders who believe they are above the law. I guess these three think it is wrong for a Council to be the checks and balance for the taxpayer dollars it is supposed to be.
HOLLYWOOD PARTY
TO BENEFIT
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
SUNDAY EVENING
AT TONY’S ON MAIN STREET
The Eighth Annual Hollywood Party to Benefit Multiple Sclerosis will be held on Sunday, March 5, 20005 at Tony’s On Main on North Main Street. Every year Tony’s on Main Street is transformed into a gala straight from Hollywood. The event is presented by 6 Degrees Promotions and they rely on business members of our community to help by donating their services or products. Money is raised during a silent auction and raffle of items and then donated to help individuals who are coping with MS and to find the cure for this devastating disease. If you would like to make a donation it is still not too late. You can contact Mary Puelo at 636-751-4985, 636 947-9997 or Carla Serra (Schneider 636-949-8829, Gayle Gallagher 314-221-6685 or Corinne Gallagher at 314-221-6837.
Or you can drop off your auction item or obtain a ticket at Alfredo Grill at 504 Droste Road in St. Charles.
Multiple Sclerosis affects approximately 400,000 Americans and every week about 200 people are diagnosed. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system (the brian, optic nerves, and spinal cord). It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. This means the immune system incorrectly attacks the person’s healthy tissue. Advances in treating and understanding MS are made every year and progress in research to find a cure is very encouraging. (from Just the Facts 2005-2006; NMSS brochure)
WE WON’T FORGET
Why is it that so many seem to want the rest of us to forget who is the leader of the City. Three former Mayors, Boschert, Wetter and Moeller, were recently interviewed in an ad publication. They said they felt the actions of the City Council were terrible.
These three un-wise men seem to forget that the current Mayor and City Administrator have created the animosity that exists. Currently the Mayor is involved in the recall of two sitting council members. It is alleged she has used taxpayer dollars to support the recall efforts. Her father actually collected signatures in Councilman Brown’s recall petition drive. York is a master at making it look like she is above the fray but the recent revelations of illegal activities in the collection of signatures, the letter of support of Thomas Mayer ( the cop that was suing the city at the time), the still looming outcome of her signing an illegal contract with Express Scripts. The sale of the old police headquarters, York is following in the steps of our national leaders who believe they are above the law. I guess these three think it is wrong for a Council to be the checks and balance for the taxpayer dollars it is supposed to be.
CASE IN POINT By Joe Koester, Councilman Ward 9
“The Price of Freedom of religion, or of speech, or of the press, is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish.”
Robert Jackson
Let us be thankful there is a First Capitol News in St. Charles - a newspaper willing to write stories that ruffle the feathers of business leaders, government leaders, and anyone fleecing city tax dollars.
Many readers of this newspaper may not be familiar with the reporters of some of the competition and the First Capitol News certainly would like to keep it that way. As the most read newspaper in town, (and more importantly, the most exciting) I hate those weeks with holidays which mean that we have to wait a little longer to get the next edition of the paper. Whereas, I can remember for weeks certain front pages of the First Capitol News, I couldn’t tell you what the other guys printed yesterday.
One local reporter who must get pressure from his boss is, Jason Lee of the Suburban Journal. Poor Jason, instead of reporting on hard-hitting issues, or doing some fact-finding about corruption at city hall has to spend his days thinking how he can rewrite the same story over and over again. The latest story titled, “Former mayors say city ‘a mess’” rehashes how everyone is fighting.
A Day in the Life of Jason Lee...
I picture the editors telling Jason, “Look, we have written our slanted editorial for the month, you’d better get out there and figure out a way to create some news about how the council is fighting.”
Jason rebuttals, “I know of a great story about how the council saved a lot of money on health insurance costs.”
At this point, things really get heated, “Do you know who our major advertisers are?” We are not going to write any stories that will upset our major supporters.”
“Well, what if we finally covered the story about Express Scripts? We could certainly talk about the mayor’s letter sent to Chief Mokwa which is prohibited by charter and which endangered a $100 million dollar lawsuit. Or even the sale of the police department — now there are some real curiosities there...or, to be fair, what if we wrote a good story on how the main signature collector refused to speak at her deposition and pled the 5th. Certainly that is worth looking into and reporting.”
“Look, Jason, we here at the GOP Journal, err umm, Suburban Journal, aren’t as much reporters as advertisement specialists. You know that. We have talked about all this before. Do you know how much money the City of Saint Charles spends with us a year? We couldn’t rent this new office in Saint Peters if they weren’t coughing up $250,000 a year with us! We understand that you went to J-school and you want to ‘make your mark’ but we here at Lee Enterprise have taken our stand and you have got to fall into line or go work for the other paper in town.”
“You mean the Post?”
“No, that’s Lee Enterprises too and they have the same bucks flowing into their bank account from the same people we do! I meant the First Capitol News.”
“Oh!”
“Write another story about how those guys are all fighting, it’s an embarrassment, yada yada yada...”
“Don’t you think we have beat that drum long enough? I mean, Saint Peters is fighting, O’Fallon is fighting and our newspaper...”
“Advertisement spreadsheet.”
“Advertisement spreadsheet...seems to really just focus on Saint Charles.”
“Here’s an idea...call some former mayors and ask them to give a comment about the city. Leave out anything good that is said, you know lead them a little - call Boschert, Wetter and Moeller. You can say something about how they give the council an “F” on their report card, it will be great and there’s no need to look through records, dig for fact, etc. you just put in a nice friendly call.”
“Wait a minute, wasn’t the charter written the way it is because folks were kinda afraid of Boschert becoming a strong mayor? And, didn’t he lose his election as well as Wetter - and Moeller made it into office with like, 20% because they didn’t have runoff elections back then? Also, you forgot Nichols.”
“Jason, those questions sound more like a reporter, and what are we?”
“I know, Advertisement Specialist.”
“Good! Now get out there and get us a scoop. I want chocolate and I think Amy wants Strawberry. And remember - NO REPORTING! Customers don’t like a paper that is controversial.”
Under his breath, “Is that why the First Capitol News is read by more people in St. Charles than our two or three papers combined?”
“I heard that!”
On a promising note, Steve Pokin has written a couple of stories that weren’t bad. Good luck Steve! I’m not sure how long you can keep up writing those stories in the GOP Journal, but I wish you luck!
On a sadder note, Don Knotts (aka Barney Fife) recently passed. I wanted to take a moment to pay my respects.
THE CITY DESK - City Council President Rory Riddler
New Mardi Gras Krewe Member
Survives Ride On The Wild Side
I’m not what most people would describe as a party animal. Alright, no one would describe me as a party animal. So when my wife Sue came home and said we had been invited to join a Krewe for the annual Mardi Gras Parade in Soulard, I think I responded with my usual level of enthusiasm for putting myself in harms way.
Part of me, the boarder-line agoraphobia part, started asking those kind of questions that are only interrogatories because we happen to put a question mark at the end of them. We have to be there how early? We have to dress up like what? The parade is how long? It’s going to be how cold?
But beneath my usual protective layer of phobias, another part of me wanted to see first hand what being part of a large Mardi Gras Krewe was all about. St. Louis Krewes may not have the old-money aristocratic mystique of some of their New Orleans counterparts, but you are “invited” to join. As everyone knows, being asked to join any group immediately elevates the importance and prestige of that organization in your own eyes.
The first challenge for organizers is picking a theme and designing a float. This year the overall theme of the parade was television shows. A few of the standout floats were a reproduction of Fort Courage for “F Troop”, a complete Gotham City on the “Batman” float, and the silver flying-saucer like Jupiter Two from “Lost In Space” large enough to be picked up by radar at Scott Air Force Base. Also represented were floats saluting “I Love Lucy”, “ER”, “Survivor”, “American Idol”, “Super Friends”, “McHale’s Navy”, “Hee Haw”, “Green Acres”, “Love Boat” and “Saturday Night Live” complete with a John Belushi character decked out as the Samurai Chef.
The creativity, detail and size of these floats was astounding. I wondered what had happened to all the engineers and designers downsized from aerospace industries. I’m not sure that model of the Jupiter Two didn’t take off at the end of the parade.
The group we were invited to join had “Mystery Science Theater 3000”, the cult-classic where wise-cracking robots and an erstwhile astronaut are forced to watch the worst B-rated horror and science fiction movies of all time. They did a great job reproducing the techno-warehouse feel of the show’s sets.
One of the biggest individual challenges is coming up with an appropriate costume. Krewes are large (ours had seventy people) and many spent considerable time on costuming and make-up. There was a perfectly detailed “Barbarella” costume (Jane Fonda’s most memorable role), what I took to be four mini-skirted neon clad 60’s “victims”, a swamp monster, two mummies, Dracula, a brain sucking monster atop its host’s head, a bevy of silver-skinned aliens and more lab-coated “mad” scientists than you can find at a Monsanto Christmas party.
My wife put together a convincing Viking costume, which all true MST3 (Mystery Science Theater 3000) fans know is from season three, Viking Women Versus The Sea Serpent…truly a B-movie train wreck. What? You never heard of it?
I found a suitably “dignified” character from the show…one of The Observers who dressed in long purple robes with hoods and carried their brains around in bowls. It turned out to have a huge unintended advantage. I was able to keep a black windbreaker on underneath and the heavy cape cut down on the cold somewhat.
The sun tried its best to stay out, but the temperature seemed to get colder as the day progressed. Maybe we were just steadily losing body heat. We had to be in front of the Radisson at 8:40 AM to get on the float for a ride to the staging area. That’s a giant waiting area for floats. In fact, you wait there for two hours. Of course you need that time to check out the other floats, get your beads ready, have a sandwich from the tailgate party at the back of the float, refill beer cups, adjust your costume just one more time and stand in line for the porta-john built into the float.
Ours was a two-tier float with the lower throwing stations resembling the spacious accommodations of a slave galley or the lower decks of a cheaper cruise line. You have to “load” the people one at a time in the order they are going to be standing because once in place, there is no getting around the ten people to your rear. Your bead supply is hanging on hooks, your arms and in a box you have to be a contortionist to reach beneath the upper tier behind you.
Once the parade starts, that’s when the fun begins. If you have never seen a half-a-million people screaming at you for beads, it’s somewhat difficult to describe. Forget tax cuts, what people really want is beads. Americans don’t pour into the streets for trivial things like protesting cartoons of religious prophets. We jam every square inch of a parade route and rooftops yelling for people to throw us brightly colored plastic beads.
There are those who take this quest to be showered in beads to excess. Probably about two-dozen women, out of the tens of thousands there, did so on our side of the street. Those who did, tended to fall into two categories. Those who perhaps paid good money to enhance what God gave them and were anxious to get a return on the investment and those for whom wisdom hadn’t necessarily come with age. The former tended to have all-over tans, the latter missing teeth. Such women of both extremes were often in cahoots with the men around them to share a cut of the excess bead bounty that seemed to rain down in their general vicinity. The women participating in the act having their hands otherwise engaged. Mardi Gras veterans euphemistically refer to such women as “Bead Bait”.
On the other end of the spectrum are the children, especially toddlers, who become the favored recipients of more beads than they can carry. Some revelers use baskets, other umbrellas to catch beads. A few had the long mechanical extension arms people use to get things off tall shelves. It seems they work well to reach over police lines and scoop up beads that fall short of the crowds. Signs with catchy slogans and dozens of “pairs” of false female accessories (yes you are very funny now sit down) are used in hopes of attracting more of the precious plastic baubles. But the world’s worst bead attracting device had to be the guy holding aloft a head and shoulders cut-out of Donald Trump. People wanted to throw something, just not beads.
Sue and I went through approximately five gross of beads or around 720. The City of St. Louis had just planted new street trees along 7th Street, so the police barricades were behind the grass medians. That meant throwing beads a little further to reach even the front rows of the crowd. By the time you’ve thrown 360 sets of beads, as far as you can, you feel like you gave the team seven good innings and are ready for them to send in a relief pitcher.
Our gracious hosts for the day were The Bone Daddy Krewe. This popular bar and nightclub band’s members are primarily St. Charles based. They are equally popular in St. Louis if crowd reaction was any indication. Bone Dadddy has been active in the St. Louis Mardi Gras celebrations for years.
Adding a live performance by a great band to any float kicks it up several notches. They played the entire route non-stop. Their song selections were appropriate to the Mystery Science Theater theme. “Blinded Me With Science” was a crowd favorite, but “Werewolf Of London” really rocked those under an overpass as it echoed off the steel and concrete.
The hour and a half parade route went by in a flash. The ride back was longer and more circuitous as parade organizers made the entire caravan of floats drive out to Gravois at Jefferson before heading back downtown. By the time we hit the new baseball stadium, the band started up again. Workmen waved from the heights of the new Cardinal’s nest. The doorman at the Adams Mark did a great dance for everyone to “Viva Las Vegas” the band was playing at a long traffic stop. Meanwhile two men were holding up a third and dragging him down Market. I bet he woke up the next day wondering how the tops of his shoes got so scuffed.
The float pulled up to the front of The Radisson, where Bone Daddy gave a free outdoor concert for the next hour, in the cold and wind for a crowd that gathered. These are guys that just love music and like making people feel good.
The Krewe moved inside to party suites they get each year where I’m sure the fun continued to the wee hours of the morning. Sue and I started to fade around 7 PM. Then again, we haven’t been in training and the day did start rather early.
It wasn’t till the ride home that it that it all started to sink in. I had not only managed to survive the day, but I had fun. The people on The Bone Daddy Krewe made it fun. They are a creative eclectic mix of people who went out of their way to help the new kids on the block. Other floats might have been bigger or cost more to build, but our float was the crowd favorite. It took a lot of years, but for one day, hanging with the band, I came close to being cool.
THE CONSERVATIVE FACTOR by Alex Spencer
Missouri Republican Party
204 East Dunklin
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
Dear Missouri Republican Party,
My name is Alex Spencer, and I live in St. Charles County. We need your help. Whatever happened to President Ronald Reagan’s Eleventh Commandment?
Did we already forget what happened when we couldn’t unite behind one candidate? Do you remember April of 2005? It was time for the special election to fill the vacancy left by State Representative Sally Faith on the all-Republican St. Charles County Council. The Republicans nominated former St. Charles City Councilman Richard Baum to fill the seat. We even brought in outside talent in the form of John Hancock (the former Missouri Republican Party Executive Director and Governor Blunt’s spokesman). The Democrats nominated Joe McCulloch, brother of St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch. A spoiler named Jerry Butterbaugh filed as an Independent. Our Republican Governor was under fire for some unpopular decisions. The Republicans in St. Charles County were bickering and Hancock was off his game. Republicans could not get it together and support their candidate.
Democrat Joe McCulloch joined the St. Charles County Council. We’re still not sure what happened. The Republican Party in St. Charles County needs your help.
A vocal minority of the Republican Party has placed its own agenda above all else at the expense of winning elections. For purposes of this letter, we’ll call this group the “green wing” of the Republican Party. Basically, the “green wing” was born when Great Rivers Habitat Alliance joined up with St. Charles County’s favorite couple – Carl Maus and Ray Stone and they conspired to stop all growth in St. Charles County. The Great White Duck Hunters were primarily concerned with stopping any interference with their playground in the floodplain, and Carl and Ray like to “go fishing” and seem to detest development of any kind. Sure, they call it “smart growth” but we all know that’s a nifty marketing ploy that really means “no growth.” The Great White Duck Hunters were on a crusade against the City of St. Peters, and so was our good friend and Republican Central Committee Vice-Chair Brandy Pedersen, ergo, a match made in heaven.
This motley crew has interfered in a number of elections and they place their own green wing agenda ahead of best interests of the Republican Party, the voters, or anyone else for that matter. They are very short-sighted and even when they lose fair and square, they run to court to achieve a different result. But, they claim to be Republicans.
Now, here we are quickly approaching the April 2006 election. State Representative Scott Rupp is the Republican Nominee to replace State Senator Jon Dolan. As you well know, Rupp is bright, articulate and energetic. While he may not have quite as much flair as Dolan, I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. Rupp would be an outstanding representative for the people of the 2nd District. Rupp is facing a strong Democrat challenger, State Representative Wayne Henke of Lincoln County who is pro-life and pro-business. Henke recently hosted former Senator (and Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate) John Edwards. That’s pretty noteworthy no matter how you slice it. John Edwards was not in town to stump for Claire McCaskill, he was in town to encourage rank-in-file democrats to get out the message and support Henke. That’s pretty scary stuff. It was certainly a main topic of conversation during our Lincoln Days Celebration last week. As always, Lincoln Days was a great party and we had a good time, but there was a palpable level of concern in the room, and we were all warned: “don’t be complacent and don’t take anything for granted.”
In attendance that evening was County Councilman Joe Brazil, who is now the poster child of the new “green wing” of the Republican Party. Brazil has consistently voted pro-labor, pro-Duck Hunter, anti-business, anti-growth. According to the rumor mill, he had a nasty divorce and used to be a democratic activist across the river someplace before he moved to St. Charles County. Can’t you check this stuff out?
Brazil’s biggest fan is a particularly annoying blogger named Chuck MacNab (outspoken friend of alleged “Republican” Brandy Pedersen). MacNab thinks that Republicans should vote for Henke this April to teach the Republican Party establishment (that would be you guys by the way) a lesson and pave the way for Brazil to win the Republican Primary in August. MacNab has a pathetic little website where he basically criticizes other Republicans (ranging from President George H. W. Bush for hanging out with President Clinton all the way down to Republican State Committeeman Roland Wetzel for towing the “party” line.) I won’t give you MacNab’s website address since I don’t want to increase his readership all the way to double-digits. Sufficed to say, he and Pedersen are more destructive to our Republican candidates than their Democratic opponents. With friends like these, who needs enemies?
It’s too early to say, but I suspect that Carl and Ray, financed by the Duck Hunters, will step in and run Brazil’s campaign for State Senate. After all, the Duck Hunters would like an ally in the State Senate. All of this will be at the expense of the Republican Party and McCulloch may not be the only Democratic victor of a special election in St. Charles County. I know that you guys are trying to ignore the whole mess, but I don’t think you can much longer.
President Ronald Reagan said: “Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican.” What is the Missouri Republican Party going to do to help us? Are you going to continue to let Carl and Ray, Pedersen and MacNab, and the rest of our “critics-in-chief” continue to destroy your Republican Stronghold? I sure hope not.
We saw what happened during the February Special Election earlier this year. St. Charles County could be next. Please send help.
Sincerely,
Alex Spencer
204 East Dunklin
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
Dear Missouri Republican Party,
My name is Alex Spencer, and I live in St. Charles County. We need your help. Whatever happened to President Ronald Reagan’s Eleventh Commandment?
Did we already forget what happened when we couldn’t unite behind one candidate? Do you remember April of 2005? It was time for the special election to fill the vacancy left by State Representative Sally Faith on the all-Republican St. Charles County Council. The Republicans nominated former St. Charles City Councilman Richard Baum to fill the seat. We even brought in outside talent in the form of John Hancock (the former Missouri Republican Party Executive Director and Governor Blunt’s spokesman). The Democrats nominated Joe McCulloch, brother of St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch. A spoiler named Jerry Butterbaugh filed as an Independent. Our Republican Governor was under fire for some unpopular decisions. The Republicans in St. Charles County were bickering and Hancock was off his game. Republicans could not get it together and support their candidate.
Democrat Joe McCulloch joined the St. Charles County Council. We’re still not sure what happened. The Republican Party in St. Charles County needs your help.
A vocal minority of the Republican Party has placed its own agenda above all else at the expense of winning elections. For purposes of this letter, we’ll call this group the “green wing” of the Republican Party. Basically, the “green wing” was born when Great Rivers Habitat Alliance joined up with St. Charles County’s favorite couple – Carl Maus and Ray Stone and they conspired to stop all growth in St. Charles County. The Great White Duck Hunters were primarily concerned with stopping any interference with their playground in the floodplain, and Carl and Ray like to “go fishing” and seem to detest development of any kind. Sure, they call it “smart growth” but we all know that’s a nifty marketing ploy that really means “no growth.” The Great White Duck Hunters were on a crusade against the City of St. Peters, and so was our good friend and Republican Central Committee Vice-Chair Brandy Pedersen, ergo, a match made in heaven.
This motley crew has interfered in a number of elections and they place their own green wing agenda ahead of best interests of the Republican Party, the voters, or anyone else for that matter. They are very short-sighted and even when they lose fair and square, they run to court to achieve a different result. But, they claim to be Republicans.
Now, here we are quickly approaching the April 2006 election. State Representative Scott Rupp is the Republican Nominee to replace State Senator Jon Dolan. As you well know, Rupp is bright, articulate and energetic. While he may not have quite as much flair as Dolan, I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. Rupp would be an outstanding representative for the people of the 2nd District. Rupp is facing a strong Democrat challenger, State Representative Wayne Henke of Lincoln County who is pro-life and pro-business. Henke recently hosted former Senator (and Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate) John Edwards. That’s pretty noteworthy no matter how you slice it. John Edwards was not in town to stump for Claire McCaskill, he was in town to encourage rank-in-file democrats to get out the message and support Henke. That’s pretty scary stuff. It was certainly a main topic of conversation during our Lincoln Days Celebration last week. As always, Lincoln Days was a great party and we had a good time, but there was a palpable level of concern in the room, and we were all warned: “don’t be complacent and don’t take anything for granted.”
In attendance that evening was County Councilman Joe Brazil, who is now the poster child of the new “green wing” of the Republican Party. Brazil has consistently voted pro-labor, pro-Duck Hunter, anti-business, anti-growth. According to the rumor mill, he had a nasty divorce and used to be a democratic activist across the river someplace before he moved to St. Charles County. Can’t you check this stuff out?
Brazil’s biggest fan is a particularly annoying blogger named Chuck MacNab (outspoken friend of alleged “Republican” Brandy Pedersen). MacNab thinks that Republicans should vote for Henke this April to teach the Republican Party establishment (that would be you guys by the way) a lesson and pave the way for Brazil to win the Republican Primary in August. MacNab has a pathetic little website where he basically criticizes other Republicans (ranging from President George H. W. Bush for hanging out with President Clinton all the way down to Republican State Committeeman Roland Wetzel for towing the “party” line.) I won’t give you MacNab’s website address since I don’t want to increase his readership all the way to double-digits. Sufficed to say, he and Pedersen are more destructive to our Republican candidates than their Democratic opponents. With friends like these, who needs enemies?
It’s too early to say, but I suspect that Carl and Ray, financed by the Duck Hunters, will step in and run Brazil’s campaign for State Senate. After all, the Duck Hunters would like an ally in the State Senate. All of this will be at the expense of the Republican Party and McCulloch may not be the only Democratic victor of a special election in St. Charles County. I know that you guys are trying to ignore the whole mess, but I don’t think you can much longer.
President Ronald Reagan said: “Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican.” What is the Missouri Republican Party going to do to help us? Are you going to continue to let Carl and Ray, Pedersen and MacNab, and the rest of our “critics-in-chief” continue to destroy your Republican Stronghold? I sure hope not.
We saw what happened during the February Special Election earlier this year. St. Charles County could be next. Please send help.
Sincerely,
Alex Spencer
COMMENTS & COMMENTARY from Charles Hill
I am beginning to think maybe I made a mistake in blaming Steve Powell for the many misuses of the tourism tax.
Recently the Convention and Visitors Bureau gave a grant of over $4000 to do a archeological dig in the South Main Street yard of one of the members of the board. I realize trying to find keys to the past might be neat but what will this dig do for the City and tourism? To pay for this dig over $40,000 will have to be spent just to get break even collecting the one percent tourism tax. Let me say to the CVB, it was better when Steve spent money at Riverport Amphitheater. At least that had some remote chance to pay for itself.
I think I was to hasty in discharging my venom on Powell.
The waste of tax money might be tied to the other person who has strong ties to the many vendors who cash tourism department checks, Councilman Riddler. We all know his passion for history but his interests should not be paid for on our dime.
This easy spending does not stop with the dig. At the same meeting with Brian Hill as the acting chairman, the CVB gave $6,500 to help seed an upstart magazine for South Main.
With all due respect to the many who hold South Main in high regard, when are you going to produce any money for the rest of the city? This street is welfare at the highest level. Now they need money to start an ad rag. The two involved with this start up venture knew who to ask. Lets ask the CVB, they won’t say no. After all this is for Main Street.
Riddler has been the longest sitting member on the honey pot CVB and we thought it was all Steve. Well Steve is gone and a new board is there and they are doing the same things the same way.
So here is my solution. Get rid of the CVB board and let the CVB Director come directly to the council. Let's strip the newly crowned king of his ability to spend tourism tax on none tourism items. We can't wait 14 years like we did with Steve.
Did you know the City sent inspectors to Kimmswick, Missouri to inspect the Robert E. Lee riverboat. We hear that Jim Reed wants to bring the boat to St. Charles and lease offices and restaurants onboard.
The Robert E. Lee had been taken from the St. Louis Riverfront to Kimmswick where it was a dismal failure. It was also moved illegally without Coast Guard permission. I wish Jim Reed good luck with the venture but I hope he is not expecting the taxpayers of St. Charles to contribute any funds either for the vessel or for our $1.5 million dock.
Recently the Convention and Visitors Bureau gave a grant of over $4000 to do a archeological dig in the South Main Street yard of one of the members of the board. I realize trying to find keys to the past might be neat but what will this dig do for the City and tourism? To pay for this dig over $40,000 will have to be spent just to get break even collecting the one percent tourism tax. Let me say to the CVB, it was better when Steve spent money at Riverport Amphitheater. At least that had some remote chance to pay for itself.
I think I was to hasty in discharging my venom on Powell.
The waste of tax money might be tied to the other person who has strong ties to the many vendors who cash tourism department checks, Councilman Riddler. We all know his passion for history but his interests should not be paid for on our dime.
This easy spending does not stop with the dig. At the same meeting with Brian Hill as the acting chairman, the CVB gave $6,500 to help seed an upstart magazine for South Main.
With all due respect to the many who hold South Main in high regard, when are you going to produce any money for the rest of the city? This street is welfare at the highest level. Now they need money to start an ad rag. The two involved with this start up venture knew who to ask. Lets ask the CVB, they won’t say no. After all this is for Main Street.
Riddler has been the longest sitting member on the honey pot CVB and we thought it was all Steve. Well Steve is gone and a new board is there and they are doing the same things the same way.
So here is my solution. Get rid of the CVB board and let the CVB Director come directly to the council. Let's strip the newly crowned king of his ability to spend tourism tax on none tourism items. We can't wait 14 years like we did with Steve.
Did you know the City sent inspectors to Kimmswick, Missouri to inspect the Robert E. Lee riverboat. We hear that Jim Reed wants to bring the boat to St. Charles and lease offices and restaurants onboard.
The Robert E. Lee had been taken from the St. Louis Riverfront to Kimmswick where it was a dismal failure. It was also moved illegally without Coast Guard permission. I wish Jim Reed good luck with the venture but I hope he is not expecting the taxpayers of St. Charles to contribute any funds either for the vessel or for our $1.5 million dock.
THE VIEW FROM THE CHEAP SEATS
The View From The Cheap Seats
By Jerry Haferkamp
First, I have to apologize to Mike Weller. A few weeks ago I stated that Don Knotts was dead and that Mike wouldn’t be able to get Barney Fife to investigate the fraud in the collection of recall signatures. I learned this weekend that Don Knotts had just died. I guess Mr. Weller could have used Barney Fife for about 4 weeks to botch the investigation, health permitting. Sorry if I inconvenienced you Mikey. However, James Best (Roscoe P. Coltrane of The Dukes Of Hazzard) is still available.
Speaking of the admitted fraud and the accompanying possibility of conspiracy to commit fraud (according to sworn depositions), there are rumors around that the findings may be swept under the rug. I’m sure our police department and the Chief will do their jobs. We will be keeping an eye on what happens after our prosecutor gets the report. Surely he’ll do his job, won’t he?
For those of you who may not have a scorecard to see the roster, we now have an attorney under contract with the city whom the Mayor won’t pay and a former City Administrator without a contract that she will pay. Only in the “Center of the Universe”, folks. I suggest any future contracts that are negotiated with Mr. Williams be printed on tissue paper about 5” wide, perforated for ease of tearing and delivered on a roll with a tubular cardboard center.
The power of the vote was evidenced at the Council meeting where our Council President defended the use of eminent domain. Being the consummate politician, he realized that the Frenchtown business owners probably don’t vote in Ward One. If their livelihood are stripped from them, he may only lose a vote or two.
He followed with an ominous warning to small business owners that if the “big bucks” want to expand and you are in their way, TOUGH! He used the example that if Bass Pro needed to expand, pack up and get out of the way. Why anyone would want to start a small business in St. Charles is beyond reason. The message is clear. We’ll bowl over anyone if the bucks are big enough.
The proponents of stripping rightful ownership repeatedly used the phrase “valuable tool” when referring to eminent domain. This “tool’ isn’t a screwdriver to fine tune, even though screwing is involved. It is a 500 pound sledgehammer being wielded by a 2000 pound gorilla known as government and is held over someone’s head until they give in to the developer. If they don’t submit, the hammer drops. Now, that’s a “tool”.
Did anyone else notice during the February 21 council meeting that the councilman who usually decries other councilmen’s use of “staff” to obtain information relating to city business has no problem tying up staff to get information on a councilman he dislikes? Mike Weller “tied up” staff to get information to deliver a five or ten minute tirade on Pearl Ridge; not on the water problem, not on public works boo-boo, but on when Mark Brown built his home.
While other councilpersons wait months to get info from our former City Administrator about real issues, Mikey gets unlimited access to useless garbage to further his handlers’ agenda.
I guess it all depends on who you are to our former City Administrator. By the way, since his “Charmin Contract” doesn’t mean anything, I guess he doesn’t have to fulfill the requirement to move here. Are we still paying his travel expenses to fly home every time he gets “in the mood”?
By Jerry Haferkamp
First, I have to apologize to Mike Weller. A few weeks ago I stated that Don Knotts was dead and that Mike wouldn’t be able to get Barney Fife to investigate the fraud in the collection of recall signatures. I learned this weekend that Don Knotts had just died. I guess Mr. Weller could have used Barney Fife for about 4 weeks to botch the investigation, health permitting. Sorry if I inconvenienced you Mikey. However, James Best (Roscoe P. Coltrane of The Dukes Of Hazzard) is still available.
Speaking of the admitted fraud and the accompanying possibility of conspiracy to commit fraud (according to sworn depositions), there are rumors around that the findings may be swept under the rug. I’m sure our police department and the Chief will do their jobs. We will be keeping an eye on what happens after our prosecutor gets the report. Surely he’ll do his job, won’t he?
For those of you who may not have a scorecard to see the roster, we now have an attorney under contract with the city whom the Mayor won’t pay and a former City Administrator without a contract that she will pay. Only in the “Center of the Universe”, folks. I suggest any future contracts that are negotiated with Mr. Williams be printed on tissue paper about 5” wide, perforated for ease of tearing and delivered on a roll with a tubular cardboard center.
The power of the vote was evidenced at the Council meeting where our Council President defended the use of eminent domain. Being the consummate politician, he realized that the Frenchtown business owners probably don’t vote in Ward One. If their livelihood are stripped from them, he may only lose a vote or two.
He followed with an ominous warning to small business owners that if the “big bucks” want to expand and you are in their way, TOUGH! He used the example that if Bass Pro needed to expand, pack up and get out of the way. Why anyone would want to start a small business in St. Charles is beyond reason. The message is clear. We’ll bowl over anyone if the bucks are big enough.
The proponents of stripping rightful ownership repeatedly used the phrase “valuable tool” when referring to eminent domain. This “tool’ isn’t a screwdriver to fine tune, even though screwing is involved. It is a 500 pound sledgehammer being wielded by a 2000 pound gorilla known as government and is held over someone’s head until they give in to the developer. If they don’t submit, the hammer drops. Now, that’s a “tool”.
Did anyone else notice during the February 21 council meeting that the councilman who usually decries other councilmen’s use of “staff” to obtain information relating to city business has no problem tying up staff to get information on a councilman he dislikes? Mike Weller “tied up” staff to get information to deliver a five or ten minute tirade on Pearl Ridge; not on the water problem, not on public works boo-boo, but on when Mark Brown built his home.
While other councilpersons wait months to get info from our former City Administrator about real issues, Mikey gets unlimited access to useless garbage to further his handlers’ agenda.
I guess it all depends on who you are to our former City Administrator. By the way, since his “Charmin Contract” doesn’t mean anything, I guess he doesn’t have to fulfill the requirement to move here. Are we still paying his travel expenses to fly home every time he gets “in the mood”?
THE PEOPLE SPEAK - Letters To The Editor
Dear Editor,
The scandal going on among conservatives’ illegal effort to unseat Dottie Greer in the city of St. Charles is typical of it’s highly volatile brand of infighting among it’s politicians but it surprises the real world enough to make headlines. Yet, amazingly, Post Dispatch right-wing columnist John Sonderegger completely ignores this scandal that may wind up in arrests of some of his associates by the County Sheriff. Instead, he writes a column bragging about Conservative politicians and himself watching one of the most corrupted news services in the history of media distortion and corporate monopolization.
It boils down to corrupt politicians and a corrupt Conservative City council recall effort being ignored in favor of bragging about a corrupt news service. Yet, in spite of their own headline, the Post-Dispatch publishes this partisan columnist that is condoning it by ignoring it. The problem intensifies by the fact that this is the guy that attends all the council meetings in most of the St. Charles County municipalities and reports on their exploits which lends a highly suspect spin to what should be factual reporting. I realize the newspaper is trying to be balanced and wants to sell newspapers in a highly conservative county but Sonderegger is so biased, it’s embarrassing. The Post should keep his column separated so readers won’t think he’s reporting facts and replace him with a real reporter for St. Charles Council meetings.
Joe Morice
O’Fallon, MO
Phyllis and Tony,
I wanted to let both of you know that this week's edition of the First Capitol News was out of the ballpark. It was one of the best editions I have ever read. I really appreciate you two being right on the top of things when it comes to stuff going on in St. Charles.
Have an excellent President's Day.
Louis Launer
P.S.--I appreciate what is being posted in the daily blog.
Received by e-mail and we were able to determine the author...
Dear Tony,
We'd really like to sign our names to this letter but St. Charles is a small county and we're not independently wealthy. Also, we like these folks, but apparently politics doesn't bring out the very best in some or all of us. If you have any questions, we'll write back. Since we're not signing we don't know how you can use this except for a laugh, but please feel free to do whatever with it. We're leaving the baby at the doorstep with this note. Here it is:
Dear First Capitol News,
We enjoyed Alex Spencer’s Chuckie Awards! But he/she missed a couple of spots. Mind if we join the fun with the UpChuckie Awards?
FOR WORST MAYOR IN ST. CHARLES COUNTY AND ST. CHARLES CITY HISTORY:
The Honorable Patti York, for substituting sex appeal for nearly everything.
SHE WINS AGAIN!
Republican Rich Chrismer as St. Charles County Election Authority, for playing footsie with the Diebold rep and spending about $1.5 million to purchase Diebold optical scan voting machines from a company that in 2003 promised to deliver the 2004 election to G.W. Bush. Chrismer says that the county was required by law to purchase the machines to replace punch card voting. Hey, that’s Rich! For months before the purchase he dodged requests for a meeting from the Rev. Dr. Judy Conoyer and others concerned that election fraud would be so much easier due to the machines hackability. Hey, Rich, can you explain the 98% returns in some St. Charles County precincts in 2004?
These days, Chrismer is making personal appearances at city halls and senior centers to explain the voting machines, but NONE are being demonstrated at local high schools to computer-savvy students, even though, thanks to Congress, a U.S. Army recruiter is on hand to encourage the students to enlist.
AND THE WINNER IS: It’s a TIE! DEMOCRACY is the loser on all counts.
FOR WORST REPORTER IN ST. CHARLES COUNTY
Jason Lee of the St. Charles Journal, for reporting that propositions and elections funded by wealthy Republicans who back Mayor York are “grassroots” efforts.
Mark Schlinkmann of the Post-Dispatch, for never examining the petitions to recall Greer or fellow council-member Mark Brown to see if they looked liked they had been signed by one person many times over. Schlinkmann also didn’t bother to interview residents in either Greer’s or Brown’s wards to determine if residents really wanted a chance to recall their council reps.
John Sonderegger, “Charleytown” columnist for the Post-Dispatch, for incessant public relations on behalf of Republican politicos, and for never, ever explaining to readers what’s REALLY going on. Well, maybe once, but his track record's so bad we're just not sure.
Steve Pokin, Journal columnist and reporter, ditto.
AND the envelope, pleaseâ! The WINNER is John Sonderegger, for mentioning Rory Riddler in a nasty way and Kevin Kast and T.R. Hughes in a nice way 1,000 times in the past year.
FYI
U.S. Senator Jim Talent hasn’t voted for anything to benefit wildlife or wilderness in so long -- maybe ever --that his promotion of the National Heritage Corridor at the confluence of the rivers is amazing.
What could be his motivation? Refer to paragraph seven, final sentence of an editorial in the Post-Dispatch on 2/22/06, ??But a national heritage designation would make the land eligible for up to $1 million a year in federal funds over 10 years, to be spent on river projects and programs??
Go to the Ducks Unlimited website and compare the map of local duck clubs to the proposed National Heritage Corridor map. They match up nicely. The land would not be opened up to the public.
The biggest duck clubs are private country clubs that, because of their location and participation in federal and state programs, get tax funds and tax breaks. Their privacy, proximity and lavish, rustic appointments, and guest services like guns, kennels filled with hunting dogs, boats, hummers, etc. and stuff to shoot (ducks, geese, quail, doves, pheasants) that duck clubs are the perfect place to lobby in the time-honored tradition of good ole boys. Women may have gained entrance to the golf course, but they don’t have similar access to duck blinds.
Great Rivers Habitat Alliance is a 501(c)3 organization run by very wealthy (probably all) Republican duck club owners like Adolphus Busch. GRHA gets public monies, including grants, for wetland and related projects. Members have purchased quite a few candidates in St. Charles County in the last two or three elections, and now are involved in the recalls of at least two pesky St. Charles officials -- Democrats, most likely.
President George W. Bush is an avid duck hunter. The ONLY environmental benefit he’s ever approved has been for wetlands. Vice president Cheney likes to shoot lawyers and quail.
The scandal going on among conservatives’ illegal effort to unseat Dottie Greer in the city of St. Charles is typical of it’s highly volatile brand of infighting among it’s politicians but it surprises the real world enough to make headlines. Yet, amazingly, Post Dispatch right-wing columnist John Sonderegger completely ignores this scandal that may wind up in arrests of some of his associates by the County Sheriff. Instead, he writes a column bragging about Conservative politicians and himself watching one of the most corrupted news services in the history of media distortion and corporate monopolization.
It boils down to corrupt politicians and a corrupt Conservative City council recall effort being ignored in favor of bragging about a corrupt news service. Yet, in spite of their own headline, the Post-Dispatch publishes this partisan columnist that is condoning it by ignoring it. The problem intensifies by the fact that this is the guy that attends all the council meetings in most of the St. Charles County municipalities and reports on their exploits which lends a highly suspect spin to what should be factual reporting. I realize the newspaper is trying to be balanced and wants to sell newspapers in a highly conservative county but Sonderegger is so biased, it’s embarrassing. The Post should keep his column separated so readers won’t think he’s reporting facts and replace him with a real reporter for St. Charles Council meetings.
Joe Morice
O’Fallon, MO
Phyllis and Tony,
I wanted to let both of you know that this week's edition of the First Capitol News was out of the ballpark. It was one of the best editions I have ever read. I really appreciate you two being right on the top of things when it comes to stuff going on in St. Charles.
Have an excellent President's Day.
Louis Launer
P.S.--I appreciate what is being posted in the daily blog.
Received by e-mail and we were able to determine the author...
Dear Tony,
We'd really like to sign our names to this letter but St. Charles is a small county and we're not independently wealthy. Also, we like these folks, but apparently politics doesn't bring out the very best in some or all of us. If you have any questions, we'll write back. Since we're not signing we don't know how you can use this except for a laugh, but please feel free to do whatever with it. We're leaving the baby at the doorstep with this note. Here it is:
Dear First Capitol News,
We enjoyed Alex Spencer’s Chuckie Awards! But he/she missed a couple of spots. Mind if we join the fun with the UpChuckie Awards?
FOR WORST MAYOR IN ST. CHARLES COUNTY AND ST. CHARLES CITY HISTORY:
The Honorable Patti York, for substituting sex appeal for nearly everything.
SHE WINS AGAIN!
Republican Rich Chrismer as St. Charles County Election Authority, for playing footsie with the Diebold rep and spending about $1.5 million to purchase Diebold optical scan voting machines from a company that in 2003 promised to deliver the 2004 election to G.W. Bush. Chrismer says that the county was required by law to purchase the machines to replace punch card voting. Hey, that’s Rich! For months before the purchase he dodged requests for a meeting from the Rev. Dr. Judy Conoyer and others concerned that election fraud would be so much easier due to the machines hackability. Hey, Rich, can you explain the 98% returns in some St. Charles County precincts in 2004?
These days, Chrismer is making personal appearances at city halls and senior centers to explain the voting machines, but NONE are being demonstrated at local high schools to computer-savvy students, even though, thanks to Congress, a U.S. Army recruiter is on hand to encourage the students to enlist.
AND THE WINNER IS: It’s a TIE! DEMOCRACY is the loser on all counts.
FOR WORST REPORTER IN ST. CHARLES COUNTY
Jason Lee of the St. Charles Journal, for reporting that propositions and elections funded by wealthy Republicans who back Mayor York are “grassroots” efforts.
Mark Schlinkmann of the Post-Dispatch, for never examining the petitions to recall Greer or fellow council-member Mark Brown to see if they looked liked they had been signed by one person many times over. Schlinkmann also didn’t bother to interview residents in either Greer’s or Brown’s wards to determine if residents really wanted a chance to recall their council reps.
John Sonderegger, “Charleytown” columnist for the Post-Dispatch, for incessant public relations on behalf of Republican politicos, and for never, ever explaining to readers what’s REALLY going on. Well, maybe once, but his track record's so bad we're just not sure.
Steve Pokin, Journal columnist and reporter, ditto.
AND the envelope, pleaseâ! The WINNER is John Sonderegger, for mentioning Rory Riddler in a nasty way and Kevin Kast and T.R. Hughes in a nice way 1,000 times in the past year.
FYI
U.S. Senator Jim Talent hasn’t voted for anything to benefit wildlife or wilderness in so long -- maybe ever --that his promotion of the National Heritage Corridor at the confluence of the rivers is amazing.
What could be his motivation? Refer to paragraph seven, final sentence of an editorial in the Post-Dispatch on 2/22/06, ??But a national heritage designation would make the land eligible for up to $1 million a year in federal funds over 10 years, to be spent on river projects and programs??
Go to the Ducks Unlimited website and compare the map of local duck clubs to the proposed National Heritage Corridor map. They match up nicely. The land would not be opened up to the public.
The biggest duck clubs are private country clubs that, because of their location and participation in federal and state programs, get tax funds and tax breaks. Their privacy, proximity and lavish, rustic appointments, and guest services like guns, kennels filled with hunting dogs, boats, hummers, etc. and stuff to shoot (ducks, geese, quail, doves, pheasants) that duck clubs are the perfect place to lobby in the time-honored tradition of good ole boys. Women may have gained entrance to the golf course, but they don’t have similar access to duck blinds.
Great Rivers Habitat Alliance is a 501(c)3 organization run by very wealthy (probably all) Republican duck club owners like Adolphus Busch. GRHA gets public monies, including grants, for wetland and related projects. Members have purchased quite a few candidates in St. Charles County in the last two or three elections, and now are involved in the recalls of at least two pesky St. Charles officials -- Democrats, most likely.
President George W. Bush is an avid duck hunter. The ONLY environmental benefit he’s ever approved has been for wetlands. Vice president Cheney likes to shoot lawyers and quail.
School District Foundation Surprises Teachers with Grants
School District Foundation Surprises Teachers with Grants
The Foundation for the School District of the City of St. Charles surprised teachers recently with news that they were selected to receive grant checks.
Fifteen teachers in the following schools won grants: Blackhurst, Hardin, Harris, Benton, Jefferson, Lincoln, SCHS, Lewis & Clark
The teachers were selected from among those who applied for the grants in November of 2005. Teachers will use their checks from the Foundation to purchase items for their classrooms to enable them to implement innovative ideas for teaching and learning.
Grants include $1,200 to Martin Hanley at Lewis & Clark Tech Center for Robotics teaching tools for 11th and 12th graders; $350 to Kathy Barnett to start an online Literary magazine at Benton Elementary; $325 to teacher Elizabeth Creer at Monroe Elementary for a math and science butterfly garden project. “We have approved grants for virtually every subject area,” said Tom Williams, Foundation President.
The Foundation solicits donations from local businesses, individuals, and national charitable organizations, and also holds an annual fundraiser to provide these special grants to District teachers for projects not covered by the District budget.
The Foundation, which was established in 1992, has given out almost $90,000 in grant money to teachers within the St. Charles district since the first grant was provided in 1996. Any classroom teacher or counselor within the district may apply for a grant. “Teachers have great, creative ideas to improve learning,” said Williams. “Our goal is to help teachers implement their ideas to help students.” Because the Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, it provides a tax-effective way for individuals and organizations to contribute money to local schools. “We try to serve all disciplines,” says board member Grace Harmon. “We have helped teachers purchase everything from first grade reading materials to sophisticated computer programs for high school students, and we are eager to do more.”
Dr. Jim Cale, St. Charles Schools District superintendent praises the Foundation’s efforts. “These grants mean a lot to our teachers, and ultimately to our students. They are another example for the students of what a caring and supportive community we enjoy.”
Information about the Foundation for the School District of the City of St. Charles may be obtained by calling Lee Phillion at 636-946-0470, Jeff Comotto at 636-940-1369 or Tom Williams at 636-925-3975, or the School District Administrative Office 636-433-4000.
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